Post by iapetus on Jun 26, 2017 0:40:32 GMT -5
Your username:
iapetus
Character's name:
Karzhan
Character's age:
20
Character's attitude:
Karzhan has always been light-hearted and rather innocent. This love of life was subdued by the attack on his tribe by the Shade Rider, but has returned to a degree in the years since. A certain scatterbrainedness permeates his actions, and he is likely to get distracted by anything he finds interesting - which is virtually everthing. Karzhan learns as much as possible from those who are willing to teach him, and hopes that in this way he can learn how to save his people from dangers that can barely be imagined.
Character's Race:
Urgal
Character's appearance: Karzhan is a bit short for an Urgal at 6' 3”, with grey skin, yellowed fangs, a large head and a respectable set of horns. A neck as thick as a bull's connects head to chest, which is ripped with enough muscular popping and definition to make Mr. Universe jealous. The physical signs of his strength continue from the chest through the arms and legs, far exceeding that of an average man, and lead to hands and toes with sharp, pointed nails that bear more resemblance to talons or claws than to the digits of any other sentient race. A knotted rope bracelet adorns his wrist, but while not in battle gear Karzhan usually goes about in nothing else besides a loincloth and brightly coloured baldric, showing plenty of a thick hide that is lightly coated with black wiry bristles. During war his armour consists of an iron helm and leather breastplate, as well as a relatively short iron sword that hangs from his baldric when not in his hand.
Character's allegiance: Dragon Riders
Weapons: Horns, talons, fists, a plain sword
Other Info: While he doesn't know it, Karzhan has enough affinity with magic to enter into others' minds. He'll probably "discover" this either when someone else initiates the contact for the first time or in a life-threatening circumstance, whichever comes first.
History: Life as an Urgal cub was not how Alagaesian humans grow up. The ram cubs run around in nothing more than a loincloth. Games are almost the only schooling they receive. While the dam cubs play 'house' on a grand scale in preparation for the day they may be among the Herndall, the young rams learn from their games prowess both of the mind and the body. What little formal education they do have comes either at the hands of their father, regarding the ways of war, or of the tribe's Grishkorkn. The Grishkorkn is charged with remembering the tribe's history and relating it to each new generation, and is a highly honored position in every tribe.
Karzhan's family was a prominent one. His grandfather was the warchief for twenty years, and after that his mother was an influential member of the Herdall. This changed when Karzhan's father died in the last month of the Second Dragon War and his mother left the Herndall to care for her cubs.
When Karzhan was eight his village was raided by Katriana and most of the tribe residing there was either killed or drafted into the new Shade's growing military. The village itself was largely destroyed by falling rubble from the ruined fort in which they lived. Among the victims was Karzhan's twin brother, Rriskbaz. The loss of the closest person in the world coupled with the destruction to his home made Karzhan begin to realise that he and his tribe couldn't continue to be helpless if they wanted to live as they always had. Rebuilding took many long years, but the community has finally regained a semblance of life before the massacre. Now Karzhan is hoping to see his tribe restored to their former prominence among the Urgals, and his own clan to their positions of respect within the Gronth tribe.
Exposure to a Shade has opened his natural curiosity to magic, but the shamans who live in close proximity to him can do very little and understand only a small portion of that. With no explanations available and no way to tell if he himself can use magic, Karzhan devotes himself to the normal duties of an Urgal – family and war.
Role Play Sample: The Gronth rams were representing their tribe well at the Meet. With the national Sounder approaching where all the Urgralgra's rams would compete to show their prowess, this Meet between the Gronth, Ngeb and Batrazhid was one of the last chances to earn an honourable place in the opening events.
Karzhan rolled his neck back and forth, loosening and cracking the muscles as he eyed up his opponent. The Ngeb at the other end of the lists was a little taller and heavier than him but not enough to cause concern. Where many rams fought in the Meets to best show their strength, Karzhan couldn't afford to imitate them. While his shorter height made him less of a threat, his adversaries usually found out that stature belied the mind between the horns. In the current event, the goal was simply to be the last ram standing. Both competitors were put at opposite ends of a long, narrow corridor marked out by wooden posts and rope. The common practice was to charge and aim your horns at the opponents chest – or, if you were particularly skilled, at his head. It was adjudicated by a single dam whose word was law.
In the last seconds as the list-judge raised her arm before signaling a start, the ram down the track bellowed a challenge to the audience.
Karzhan, looking for his brother in a neighbouring competition, jerked his head back at the primal noise just as the arm dropped. Both ran towards each other, picking up speed at a pace faster than most chargers could. The raucous cheering of the crowd vanished for them underneath the noise of their feet pounding against the hard, dry dirt. When they were within twenty feet, the other competitor dropped his head and set his horns to be sent straight into Karzhan's chest, ready to pick them up and throw him to one side at the instant of contact.
Unfortunately for the ram, Karzhan had other ideas. As soon the other Urgralgra's eyes were too low to see what he was doing Karzhan skidded to slow down and prepared for impact. In just a moment the horns were mere inches from him, and the Gronth quickly twisted to one side and drew his adversary past, grabbing and twisting the horns, then sticking his leg out for good measure.
The force of impact spun Karzhan around and into a wooden pole holding up the list guides, cracking his nose. His pain was quickly forgotten as the list-judge raised Karzhan's arm over the fallen body of his competition, declaring him the winner of the round.
When formality had been satisfied, Karzhan extended a hand to help up the Ngeb.
“Well run, thick-horns,” he gave the fallen warrior an epithet of some honour.
The ram eyed him for a moment, then accepted the help up. “Had you run against me, you would have fallen,” he said as he rose. “But you did not, and have won the match with honour. I look forward to meeting you in the lists at the Sounder.”
The challenge brought a smile of bared teeth to both faces as they enjoyed the prospect of a future rematch.
iapetus
Character's name:
Karzhan
Character's age:
20
Character's attitude:
Karzhan has always been light-hearted and rather innocent. This love of life was subdued by the attack on his tribe by the Shade Rider, but has returned to a degree in the years since. A certain scatterbrainedness permeates his actions, and he is likely to get distracted by anything he finds interesting - which is virtually everthing. Karzhan learns as much as possible from those who are willing to teach him, and hopes that in this way he can learn how to save his people from dangers that can barely be imagined.
Character's Race:
Urgal
Character's appearance: Karzhan is a bit short for an Urgal at 6' 3”, with grey skin, yellowed fangs, a large head and a respectable set of horns. A neck as thick as a bull's connects head to chest, which is ripped with enough muscular popping and definition to make Mr. Universe jealous. The physical signs of his strength continue from the chest through the arms and legs, far exceeding that of an average man, and lead to hands and toes with sharp, pointed nails that bear more resemblance to talons or claws than to the digits of any other sentient race. A knotted rope bracelet adorns his wrist, but while not in battle gear Karzhan usually goes about in nothing else besides a loincloth and brightly coloured baldric, showing plenty of a thick hide that is lightly coated with black wiry bristles. During war his armour consists of an iron helm and leather breastplate, as well as a relatively short iron sword that hangs from his baldric when not in his hand.
Character's allegiance: Dragon Riders
Weapons: Horns, talons, fists, a plain sword
Other Info: While he doesn't know it, Karzhan has enough affinity with magic to enter into others' minds. He'll probably "discover" this either when someone else initiates the contact for the first time or in a life-threatening circumstance, whichever comes first.
History: Life as an Urgal cub was not how Alagaesian humans grow up. The ram cubs run around in nothing more than a loincloth. Games are almost the only schooling they receive. While the dam cubs play 'house' on a grand scale in preparation for the day they may be among the Herndall, the young rams learn from their games prowess both of the mind and the body. What little formal education they do have comes either at the hands of their father, regarding the ways of war, or of the tribe's Grishkorkn. The Grishkorkn is charged with remembering the tribe's history and relating it to each new generation, and is a highly honored position in every tribe.
Karzhan's family was a prominent one. His grandfather was the warchief for twenty years, and after that his mother was an influential member of the Herdall. This changed when Karzhan's father died in the last month of the Second Dragon War and his mother left the Herndall to care for her cubs.
When Karzhan was eight his village was raided by Katriana and most of the tribe residing there was either killed or drafted into the new Shade's growing military. The village itself was largely destroyed by falling rubble from the ruined fort in which they lived. Among the victims was Karzhan's twin brother, Rriskbaz. The loss of the closest person in the world coupled with the destruction to his home made Karzhan begin to realise that he and his tribe couldn't continue to be helpless if they wanted to live as they always had. Rebuilding took many long years, but the community has finally regained a semblance of life before the massacre. Now Karzhan is hoping to see his tribe restored to their former prominence among the Urgals, and his own clan to their positions of respect within the Gronth tribe.
Exposure to a Shade has opened his natural curiosity to magic, but the shamans who live in close proximity to him can do very little and understand only a small portion of that. With no explanations available and no way to tell if he himself can use magic, Karzhan devotes himself to the normal duties of an Urgal – family and war.
Role Play Sample: The Gronth rams were representing their tribe well at the Meet. With the national Sounder approaching where all the Urgralgra's rams would compete to show their prowess, this Meet between the Gronth, Ngeb and Batrazhid was one of the last chances to earn an honourable place in the opening events.
Karzhan rolled his neck back and forth, loosening and cracking the muscles as he eyed up his opponent. The Ngeb at the other end of the lists was a little taller and heavier than him but not enough to cause concern. Where many rams fought in the Meets to best show their strength, Karzhan couldn't afford to imitate them. While his shorter height made him less of a threat, his adversaries usually found out that stature belied the mind between the horns. In the current event, the goal was simply to be the last ram standing. Both competitors were put at opposite ends of a long, narrow corridor marked out by wooden posts and rope. The common practice was to charge and aim your horns at the opponents chest – or, if you were particularly skilled, at his head. It was adjudicated by a single dam whose word was law.
In the last seconds as the list-judge raised her arm before signaling a start, the ram down the track bellowed a challenge to the audience.
Karzhan, looking for his brother in a neighbouring competition, jerked his head back at the primal noise just as the arm dropped. Both ran towards each other, picking up speed at a pace faster than most chargers could. The raucous cheering of the crowd vanished for them underneath the noise of their feet pounding against the hard, dry dirt. When they were within twenty feet, the other competitor dropped his head and set his horns to be sent straight into Karzhan's chest, ready to pick them up and throw him to one side at the instant of contact.
Unfortunately for the ram, Karzhan had other ideas. As soon the other Urgralgra's eyes were too low to see what he was doing Karzhan skidded to slow down and prepared for impact. In just a moment the horns were mere inches from him, and the Gronth quickly twisted to one side and drew his adversary past, grabbing and twisting the horns, then sticking his leg out for good measure.
The force of impact spun Karzhan around and into a wooden pole holding up the list guides, cracking his nose. His pain was quickly forgotten as the list-judge raised Karzhan's arm over the fallen body of his competition, declaring him the winner of the round.
When formality had been satisfied, Karzhan extended a hand to help up the Ngeb.
“Well run, thick-horns,” he gave the fallen warrior an epithet of some honour.
The ram eyed him for a moment, then accepted the help up. “Had you run against me, you would have fallen,” he said as he rose. “But you did not, and have won the match with honour. I look forward to meeting you in the lists at the Sounder.”
The challenge brought a smile of bared teeth to both faces as they enjoyed the prospect of a future rematch.
Speaking of which, if you notice anything too OOC or otherwise weird, feel free to mention it. I would much rather rewrite something than have it cause problems later on, and I don't mind nitpicky comments. 
