Name: Quartermaster-Chief Kavu Brokentusk
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Breed: Full-Blooded South Plains Orc
Appearance:The South Plains Orcs tend to be taller and thinner than other Orcs, with their bodies built for endurance rather than pure brute strength, however Kavu is an exception to these rules, producing speculation that he might have dwarvish blood in his ancestry. While not exceptionally tall for an Orc, Kavu is well-proportioned with prominent musculature that gives him an edge in intimidation over other Orcs, even those who are taller than he is. His skin is a darker, sun-scorched green, and his black eyes are set far back in his face. Kavu's moniker “Brokentusk” comes from his shattered left tusk; while his right one curls prominently past his nose, the left tusk is broken at the base. Kavu has forged a metal cap for that tusk, which he wears constantly. A substantial scar reveals the cut that destroyed that tusk, running from Kavu's left ear down his jaw, about a quarter of an inch thick. His black hair is braided loosely down his back, or kept in a tightly wrapped bun under his helmet. Finally, if investigated, his hands show the peculiar set of calluses that come from mixing a life of both archivism and warfare.
Skills/Abilities:
Equipment:
Personality and Psychological profile:
Relationships and Acquaintances:
Age: 32
Sex: Male
Breed: Full-Blooded South Plains Orc
Appearance:The South Plains Orcs tend to be taller and thinner than other Orcs, with their bodies built for endurance rather than pure brute strength, however Kavu is an exception to these rules, producing speculation that he might have dwarvish blood in his ancestry. While not exceptionally tall for an Orc, Kavu is well-proportioned with prominent musculature that gives him an edge in intimidation over other Orcs, even those who are taller than he is. His skin is a darker, sun-scorched green, and his black eyes are set far back in his face. Kavu's moniker “Brokentusk” comes from his shattered left tusk; while his right one curls prominently past his nose, the left tusk is broken at the base. Kavu has forged a metal cap for that tusk, which he wears constantly. A substantial scar reveals the cut that destroyed that tusk, running from Kavu's left ear down his jaw, about a quarter of an inch thick. His black hair is braided loosely down his back, or kept in a tightly wrapped bun under his helmet. Finally, if investigated, his hands show the peculiar set of calluses that come from mixing a life of both archivism and warfare.
Skills/Abilities:
- Writing, Numbers, and Archivism: Kavu's upbringing working as a guard for a small isolated store afforded him the unusual opportunity to become more than competent in precise, clear, and concise writing and accounting. Furthermore, Kavu keeps organized notes about the arms, tactics, and numbers of all foes that Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi encounters, as well as studying other written accounts of human battle tactics wherever he feels that information might be useful. His extremely good memory and detailed notes have made him invaluable as an advisor.
- Logistics: Kavu has adapted his unusual talent with numbers to become extremely influential in the organization of the Campers. While officially retained to the Chosen, Kavu regularly spends most of his time out of combat poring over log books and coordinating the efforts of the Quartermasters of the Supply Train to ensure that the supply of food, leather, and fresh metal remains strong. While he doesn't control the company purse, Kavu has some leeway with spending decisions on the acquisition of new goods, and therefore also keeps detailed notes about the company finances.
- Halberd/Axe Combat: Kavu, though far more learned than the average Orc and spending less time than most on combat training, is hardly an incompetent fighter, and retains his position as Quartermaster Captain by being stronger, faster, and more brutal than most Orcs in the company who attempt to mock the importance of logistics or record-keeping. Kavu used a halberd for much of his career after leaving the pikes, but has recently switched to using an extendable large-headed long-axe of his own design.
- Siege Weaponry Engineering and Use: Kavu also proves useful to the company in his understanding of the creation and use of siege weaponry. Whereas many Orc raiding parties resort to iron-headed battering rams or crude counter-weighted catapults, Kavu has played an instrumental role over the last few years in adapting more refined human and elvish designs for Orcish use. With the help of some other talented Orcs and halfies in the Supply Train, Kavu has even managed to create (as a side project) a small group of “engineers” willing to experiment with ways to add an Orcish touch to siege warfare. Despite all this, Kavu is still far from being as good a siege-master as those retained by many human companies, as his education only began after he joined Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi and seriously lacks any formal training.
- Languages: Finally, Kavu speaks Orcish, “Human” (or at least the local dialects for Ceril), Elvish, and some Dwarvish. Though he obviously has a strong accent when speaking Elvish or Dwarvish, he can be understood.
- Logistics: Kavu has adapted his unusual talent with numbers to become extremely influential in the organization of the Campers. While officially retained to the Chosen, Kavu regularly spends most of his time out of combat poring over log books and coordinating the efforts of the Quartermasters of the Supply Train to ensure that the supply of food, leather, and fresh metal remains strong. While he doesn't control the company purse, Kavu has some leeway with spending decisions on the acquisition of new goods, and therefore also keeps detailed notes about the company finances.
- Halberd/Axe Combat: Kavu, though far more learned than the average Orc and spending less time than most on combat training, is hardly an incompetent fighter, and retains his position as Quartermaster Captain by being stronger, faster, and more brutal than most Orcs in the company who attempt to mock the importance of logistics or record-keeping. Kavu used a halberd for much of his career after leaving the pikes, but has recently switched to using an extendable large-headed long-axe of his own design.
- Siege Weaponry Engineering and Use: Kavu also proves useful to the company in his understanding of the creation and use of siege weaponry. Whereas many Orc raiding parties resort to iron-headed battering rams or crude counter-weighted catapults, Kavu has played an instrumental role over the last few years in adapting more refined human and elvish designs for Orcish use. With the help of some other talented Orcs and halfies in the Supply Train, Kavu has even managed to create (as a side project) a small group of “engineers” willing to experiment with ways to add an Orcish touch to siege warfare. Despite all this, Kavu is still far from being as good a siege-master as those retained by many human companies, as his education only began after he joined Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi and seriously lacks any formal training.
- Languages: Finally, Kavu speaks Orcish, “Human” (or at least the local dialects for Ceril), Elvish, and some Dwarvish. Though he obviously has a strong accent when speaking Elvish or Dwarvish, he can be understood.
Equipment:
- Breastplate and chainmail: Kavu chooses not to wear the full half-plate in order to provide him with some increased dexterity and allow him to carry heavy siege equipment if needed. However, he does retain enough metal plating to cover his joints, groin, and torso. He makes use of thick toughened leather beneath the chainmail when he predicts close combat, but will often choose to just go with a lighter padded jerkin and chainmail when working the siege train. His helmet is the most beautiful part of his armour, a visored piece designed to look like a skull when fully closed. He has, in true Orcish tradition, painted his helmet a dark rusty red.
- Axe: Kavu's Axe is collapsible, which makes the metal haft both slightly weaker than other halberds and also a bit heavier. When used one-handed, the entire axe is about three feet long, but goes to almost five feet when fully extended and used in both hands. It's best suited for wide, sweeping strikes, and for catching foes off-guard when the underestimate the ingenuity of an Orc. He keeps it in a frog over his right shoulder.
- Siege Equipment: Kavu monitors a collection of scavenged, stolen, and bought carpentry and engineering tools, as well as various parts that he's salvaged from siege weaponry encountered on the battlefield. While limited by having to work with a very modest collection of tools, Kavu has been attempting to develop ways to utilize superior Orcish strength to make siege weapons more useful on a mobile battlefield.
- Dagger: Kavu carries a standard company issue dagger strapped to his left boot.
- Books: Kavu keeps close to thirty thick books and scrolls containing his notes in a locked chest in his tent, as well as having a secondary chest containing some of the most influential Elvish and Human test on warfare. Because parchment is so expensive and difficult to come by, Kavu guards these possessions jealously and uses every last piece of a page when taking notes. Day-to-day logs are often made with chalk instead.
- Axe: Kavu's Axe is collapsible, which makes the metal haft both slightly weaker than other halberds and also a bit heavier. When used one-handed, the entire axe is about three feet long, but goes to almost five feet when fully extended and used in both hands. It's best suited for wide, sweeping strikes, and for catching foes off-guard when the underestimate the ingenuity of an Orc. He keeps it in a frog over his right shoulder.
- Siege Equipment: Kavu monitors a collection of scavenged, stolen, and bought carpentry and engineering tools, as well as various parts that he's salvaged from siege weaponry encountered on the battlefield. While limited by having to work with a very modest collection of tools, Kavu has been attempting to develop ways to utilize superior Orcish strength to make siege weapons more useful on a mobile battlefield.
- Dagger: Kavu carries a standard company issue dagger strapped to his left boot.
- Books: Kavu keeps close to thirty thick books and scrolls containing his notes in a locked chest in his tent, as well as having a secondary chest containing some of the most influential Elvish and Human test on warfare. Because parchment is so expensive and difficult to come by, Kavu guards these possessions jealously and uses every last piece of a page when taking notes. Day-to-day logs are often made with chalk instead.
History:
Kavu was born as a poor orc on the southern plains of Ceril, a member of an unnamed group of roaming Orcs that gained seasonal employment working on human farms and taking odd jobs in towns and grunt labour. Thus, Kavu's early years of life were characterized by constant movement, insecurity, starvation, racism, and violence. In particular, the latter was everpresent, whether the violence came from angry townspeople directed at the Orcs, between Orcs within the group fighting over limited supplies, or from the Orcs themselves directed at isolated towns or villages when in desparate need of food or supplies. From these years of strife, Kavu's only understanding of other races was one of contempt; humans were ugly, weak, and vile little creatures that hid behind silly inventions, while elves were even worse, being arrogant and wasteful. Nonetheless, despite the violence, Kavu was never desperately unhappy, and did have some camaraderie with his fellow Orcs.
This all changed when Kavu's father Grelt openly challenged the unofficial leader of the wandering Orcish tribe for control of the group when Kavu was seven. Grelt, despite being one of the most accomplished brawlers in the tribe, was bested and in an uncharacteristic (even for Orcs!) display of vengeance, was beheaded on the spot. Kavu's mother was promptly taken as a mate by another Orc, and it was only her pleas that kept Kavu alive; he was simply cast out on the spot and left behind outside of a small human village. Alone, terrified, and hungry, Kavu attempted to steal food from a nearby store at night, but was caught by the proprietor, an old human man called Hermann Kindle. Hermann, despite despising Orcs, found himself unable to cast the Orcish child back out into the night, fed him, and let Kavu sleep on the floor of his store.
From that point on, Kavu was worked to the bone by Hermann, who saw the child as a reliable source of free labour. He was not a sadistic overseer, but was not particularly kind either. As Kavu grew, he took on guard and stocking duties for the aging Hermann, rarely leaving the vicinity of the store due to the suspicion and violence directed at him by the other villagers. Hermann, however, refused to expel his free labour, and the other villagers gradually came to resentfully permit Kavu to stay. Kavu, however, grew bored with his limited life, and chafed at his bounds. Still, his caution and paranoia was well developed even at twelve, recognizing that he would be hunted down if he stole food and fled. And where could he flee to in any event? So, Kavu stayed. However, he slowly began, lacking any other outlet for his energy, to take an interest in the running of the store. While Hermann never allowed Kavu to actually do anything important, Kavu was able to watch from the corner of his eye and listen as Hermann discussed prices and numbers, as well as made notes in his log book. At night, Kavu would sneak out from the back room and open these books, staring uncomprehendingly at the pages.
It was perhaps a sign of Hermann's softening heart, his increasingly limited strength, or just perhaps an eccentricity born of senility, that caused the old man to suggest of his own accord that Kavu learn how to read writing and use numbers such that he could do business on Hermann's behalf. Progress was slow, but once Kavu discovered how useful a knowledge of writing and numbers was in a world where few people expected Orcs to be even able to read, Kavu began to pursue it with a passion in all his spare time. Unfortunately, after a couple years, Kavu's eagerness in showing off his skill is what lost him his tusk, as a villager took offence to an “uppity Orc” calling him out for overcharging Hermann's store for produce, and struck him viciously with a sharpened hoe. Kavu, in a blind rage, killed that man. Unable to shield him from the villager's hatred any longer, and already near death, an angry yet sorrowful Hermann gave Kavu a set of books and writing implements, as well as some food, and sent him on his way, insisting that he never return.
From then on, Kavu wandered, living on the edge of poverty, but managing to sell himself as a caravan guard or merchant assistant, revealing only a little of his skills, but continuing to gain experience by exposure. For example, he spent some years on the edge of Torceleblas, which did not improve his opinion of Elves, but did give him a passing understanding of Elvish. Still, by the time he was in his late twenties after a decade of odd-jobs, skirmishes, near-death experiences, and spending all his spare coin on books, Kavu still had no real purpose.
That purpose came when he encountered Koloch “The Butcher” while defending a small merchant caravan from an Orcish raiding party. Surprised to see an Orc disciplined enough to not switch sides when fighting alongside humans against Orcs, Koloch decided to spare his life and offer him an opportunity to join what was a fledgling (at the time) Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi. Over the past five to six years, Kavu has worked his way through the pikes, and made himself indispensable to the company through his skill in writing and reading, allowing for the adaptation of the most prominent written human works on massed warfare. Two years ago, he took over full-time work as one of the Quartermaster-Chiefs of Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi, as well as joining the Chosen due to his consistently strong performance on the battlefield and willingness to advise on tactical matters.
This all changed when Kavu's father Grelt openly challenged the unofficial leader of the wandering Orcish tribe for control of the group when Kavu was seven. Grelt, despite being one of the most accomplished brawlers in the tribe, was bested and in an uncharacteristic (even for Orcs!) display of vengeance, was beheaded on the spot. Kavu's mother was promptly taken as a mate by another Orc, and it was only her pleas that kept Kavu alive; he was simply cast out on the spot and left behind outside of a small human village. Alone, terrified, and hungry, Kavu attempted to steal food from a nearby store at night, but was caught by the proprietor, an old human man called Hermann Kindle. Hermann, despite despising Orcs, found himself unable to cast the Orcish child back out into the night, fed him, and let Kavu sleep on the floor of his store.
From that point on, Kavu was worked to the bone by Hermann, who saw the child as a reliable source of free labour. He was not a sadistic overseer, but was not particularly kind either. As Kavu grew, he took on guard and stocking duties for the aging Hermann, rarely leaving the vicinity of the store due to the suspicion and violence directed at him by the other villagers. Hermann, however, refused to expel his free labour, and the other villagers gradually came to resentfully permit Kavu to stay. Kavu, however, grew bored with his limited life, and chafed at his bounds. Still, his caution and paranoia was well developed even at twelve, recognizing that he would be hunted down if he stole food and fled. And where could he flee to in any event? So, Kavu stayed. However, he slowly began, lacking any other outlet for his energy, to take an interest in the running of the store. While Hermann never allowed Kavu to actually do anything important, Kavu was able to watch from the corner of his eye and listen as Hermann discussed prices and numbers, as well as made notes in his log book. At night, Kavu would sneak out from the back room and open these books, staring uncomprehendingly at the pages.
It was perhaps a sign of Hermann's softening heart, his increasingly limited strength, or just perhaps an eccentricity born of senility, that caused the old man to suggest of his own accord that Kavu learn how to read writing and use numbers such that he could do business on Hermann's behalf. Progress was slow, but once Kavu discovered how useful a knowledge of writing and numbers was in a world where few people expected Orcs to be even able to read, Kavu began to pursue it with a passion in all his spare time. Unfortunately, after a couple years, Kavu's eagerness in showing off his skill is what lost him his tusk, as a villager took offence to an “uppity Orc” calling him out for overcharging Hermann's store for produce, and struck him viciously with a sharpened hoe. Kavu, in a blind rage, killed that man. Unable to shield him from the villager's hatred any longer, and already near death, an angry yet sorrowful Hermann gave Kavu a set of books and writing implements, as well as some food, and sent him on his way, insisting that he never return.
From then on, Kavu wandered, living on the edge of poverty, but managing to sell himself as a caravan guard or merchant assistant, revealing only a little of his skills, but continuing to gain experience by exposure. For example, he spent some years on the edge of Torceleblas, which did not improve his opinion of Elves, but did give him a passing understanding of Elvish. Still, by the time he was in his late twenties after a decade of odd-jobs, skirmishes, near-death experiences, and spending all his spare coin on books, Kavu still had no real purpose.
That purpose came when he encountered Koloch “The Butcher” while defending a small merchant caravan from an Orcish raiding party. Surprised to see an Orc disciplined enough to not switch sides when fighting alongside humans against Orcs, Koloch decided to spare his life and offer him an opportunity to join what was a fledgling (at the time) Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi. Over the past five to six years, Kavu has worked his way through the pikes, and made himself indispensable to the company through his skill in writing and reading, allowing for the adaptation of the most prominent written human works on massed warfare. Two years ago, he took over full-time work as one of the Quartermaster-Chiefs of Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi, as well as joining the Chosen due to his consistently strong performance on the battlefield and willingness to advise on tactical matters.
Personality and Psychological profile:
Kavu, despite his education, is still an Orc and is quick to anger and resort to violence if his station or skill is questioned. However, his time in Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi has given him some restraint and self-control, and given him more time to pursue his interests in engineering and research. Taken together, this makes Kavu a very cautious tactician with an eye for catching traps set by opponents. Though he isn't particularly skilled at designing plots and intrigue himself, Kavu's near paranoia on the battlefield makes it hard to take him by surprise.
Kavu is also keen on innovation, though his tendency towards caution can mean that he is very reluctant to use new ideas on the battlefield until he is absolutely sure that they will work as intended. His stubbornness is not enough to outweigh his immense loyalty, however, so though he will express his doubts openly if allowed, he will never fail to carry out an instruction if ordered to by his superiors. Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi is everything to him, and without it Kavu would feel a distinct lack of purpose in life.
Kavu is also keen on innovation, though his tendency towards caution can mean that he is very reluctant to use new ideas on the battlefield until he is absolutely sure that they will work as intended. His stubbornness is not enough to outweigh his immense loyalty, however, so though he will express his doubts openly if allowed, he will never fail to carry out an instruction if ordered to by his superiors. Nar Mat Kordh-Ishi is everything to him, and without it Kavu would feel a distinct lack of purpose in life.
Relationships and Acquaintances:
TBD