Karth Maheto's page

Karth was born to inauspicious circumstances, and his earliest memories are of a Kellid man he called his father. This man, Barek, was a hunter, trapper, and when opportune, a river pirate. He plied these trades between Sevenarches and Daggermark in the River Kingdoms, assisted by a band of low men and women Karth knew as his 'neighbors', and were the closest thing he had to a family.

His youth was spent learning to hunt, trap, and eventually take up bow and blade against the denizens of the area, be they animal, magical beast, fey, or man. As he grew older, he would occasionally be pressed into joining raids on caravans. Sometimes, between his own intimidating mien and the heavily armed band, these confrontations ended with minimal bloodshed. When things went poorly, however, it always left a terrible lump in his stomach. This lack of guts brought both pity and scorn from his family.

Barek made known in no uncertain terms that Karth would ship up or ship out, and the half-orc chose the latter. He has since put his talents as a woodsman, scout, and guard to use for the same people he once waylaid, trying to figure out where to go from here.

What would make Karth take the step from local employee to full fledged adventurer? Has he just finally decided he needs to earn more coin or is he looking for some excitement?

He has obviously covered a lot of the River Kingdoms in his career, is this his first time in Brindenford? Does he already know his way around the city and if so, would the locals possibly know him as a brigand or as a guard/woodsman?

He chose to leave, but how does his father feel about the departure? Is he hurt or might there be conflict if they crossed paths again?

I imagine it's a combination of the duldrums and a feeling that, maybe, he can put his talents to better use (though he probably wouldn't consciously acknowledge this yet). A more comfortable budget never hurt anyone, either, so money is probably the point he actually uses to convince himself. Early on, he'll probably be a bit conflicted, thinking he's left a profession where he was making up for past wrongs to adventure for selfish reasons.

Daggermark and Sevenarches are both on the western end of the River Kingdoms, and that would be the area he knows best (though it's likely he hasn't been there since parting with his 'family'). The more central or east Brindenford is, the more likely it is he's spent significant time there, but I'm sure he's been there a time or two as it is on a trade route. He probably knows the highlights (taverns, stores/smiths, and anywhere caravaneers might be looking for a hired hand). And, of course, the Delve.

What the locals know him as likely depends on the length of their memory and again their proximity to Daggermark. He was never highly active as a bandit (more below), but there were certainly survivors, even large bands, if they surrendered, who might be able to recognize him. Ultimately, though, he is better-known (though hardly reknowned) throughout the majority of the Kingdoms as simply a quiet, tough, and capable woodsman and guide.

Here is probably as good a place as any to note that Karth has probably been at this for a couple of years, whereas the time period he was being expected to join in his father's activities was longer, but less active. His childhood (at least prior to his teenage years) probably saw minimal banditry.

(note: this bit is mostly about Barek himself, but it eventually actually gets to the question)

Now, Barek. This is a subject I hadn't put much thought into 'til you asked. I'm honestly not even sure if Barek is Karth's real father; he may well have been a foundling. That detail is largely unimportant except that it might speak to the man's character. I imagine that in any case, Barek was on the run from something at the time, and raising Karth in the woods was a product of happenstance more than choice. In fact, having read up on the Kellid, I'm leaning towards Barek having adopted Karth after having come across the scene of a slaughter. Undecided as to whether Karth himself knows this.

Though Karth was certainly fed, clothed, and taught his trade, I imagine there was a degree of emotional neglect. To this day I imagine Karth has no idea if his father ever actually loved him or if he was raised out of a sense of duty or simply because, whatever his morals (or lack thereof), Barek couldn't just let the child die. Being a half-orc, remanding him into someone else's care probably wasn't a stellar option either.

While I'm sure Barek was never an upstanding citizen (especially as he hailed from Numeria originally), his nature warped over the years from more of a stoic survivalist to a greedy, even cruel bandit as he realized it was a simple thing for the strong to take from the weak, and now, at least, he was amongst the strong.

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Now, as I've touched on above, Karth was never too keen on the whole raiding thing, and he was usually coerced or pressured into it. He believed more in his father's earlier years, honest work to provide for yourself, while his father was going for an easier way. (A gamist note, Barek is probably a Barbarian, somewhat explaining why he prefers force-of-arms). From Barek's point of view, Karth wasn't pulling his weight in this new operation. No doubt Karth was providing via hunting, trapping, etc., but that just wasn't good enough (anymore).

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Thus, we finally got to the question itself; if Barek and Karth crossed paths, they would most likely nod and pass like two ships in the night. Barek sees Karth's leaving, at best, as a respectable decision to not engage in this sort of life, and at worst, similar to someone defaulting on a debt (all those years of raising him). Karth sees his father's actions as reprehensible, but at the moment, at least, would rather escape from it than deal with the internal conflict of loyalty to his parent and loyalty to his ideals.

Now, if the meeting is star-crossed (Barek is actively plundering), there could be active, even bloody conflict, as neither man is well-equipped nor prone to resolve such disputes verbally.