Khrondak Iron Forged's page

Heavy Horse
N Large animal
Init +4; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
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DEFENSE
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AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +2 Natural, –1 size)
hp 19 (2d8+10)
Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
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OFFENSE
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Speed 50 ft.
Melee 2 hooves +4 (1d6+5), bite +4 (1d4+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
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STATISTICS
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Str 20, Dex 18, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 17, Cha 11
Base Atk +1; CMB +7; CMD 19 (23 vs. trip)
Feats Endurance, Run
Skills Perception +8
SQ combat trained Tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, heel
Mount Gear military saddle, saddlebags, bit and bridle

Khrondak's uncle, Tarel Goblinslayer (formerly Tarel the Odd), was one of the few Sklar-Quah to leave the tribe and venture in the occupied lowlands beyond the Storval Rise. His later epithet - Goblinslayer - was earned fighting alongside a group of adventurers against the various goblin tribes around Sandpoint. After Tarel returned to the tribe to retire from a life of adventure, he would often speak highly of his former allies, despite them being tshamek (non-shoanti). Tarel's praises about the cleverness of the varisians and the willforce of the chelaxians would later have a large influence on Khrondak's tolerance of them, making his hatred and xenophobia towards the tshamek lessen to mere contempt. When Khrondak decided to leave, as he said farewell to his terminally ill uncle, Tarel told him to look for one Daviren Hosk should he ever reach Sandpoint. Daviren had made him a promise long ago, and Tarel gave Khrondak permission to cash in that favor. Not wanting to deplete the tribe of their warhorses, Khrondak traveled by foot till meeting Daviren, who gifted him with a powerful steed and all necessary mounting equipment - though not before asking about Tarel and spending a couple of hours reminiscing about their famous goblin hunts.

As predicted by the venerable shaman of the Sun Clan, Khrondak arrived to this world during the peak hour of the longest day of summer, under the scorching sun of the Cinderlands. The shaman announced the newborn as his successor and pleaded their ancestors and totem spirits for their blessings. Khrondak’s spiritual schooling began early, and much like any other infant of the Sklar-Quah, his childhood was short: in no time he was expected to behave like a man and hold up the tradition and fierceness of his tribe. Though destined to act as spiritual guide and religious figure, Khrondak was trained in battle just as any other member of the clan, regardless of gender or social role; in this, too, he excelled, though the hours spent learning from the old shaman would eventually prevent him from developing the same kind of combat prowess of the elite shoanti burn riders. His aptitude to war and the many battles fought against foreign invasions made him more of a warrior priest than a spiritual leader, but the tribe saw it with good eyes.

Many years Khrondak spent riding along his brothers to face the orc raiders, preventing then and again the expansion of the Hold of Belkzen. Yet, despite the continued success of the Sklar-Quah against their foes, Khrondak watched many friends join their ancestors, giving their life to protect not only Varisia and the Shoanti people, but also the chelaxian invaders. Though the thought often crossed his mind, Khrondak, in typical Sklar-Quah fashion, was too proud to admit these wars were the Shoanti’s as much as of all of Varisia’s inhabitants. To admit so would mean acknowledging their right to these lands, and that was unnaceptable.

This kind of hubris led to a deadly encounter when Khrondak, riding alongside a group of scouts, was met by a roaming orc band. The shoanti riders engaged their enemy, despite being outnumbered, and as his brothers fell one by one, Khrondak could not help but foresee a slaughter in the making. To help his allies, Khrondak invoked the insight of their ancestors, the power of their totems, but to no avail; it seemed like no help was on the way. Fighting desperately for their lives, the shoanti regrouped, completely surrounded. A brief moment of clarity amidst the blinding rage of battle struck Khrondak, and he remembered the new gods, as the old shaman called them. The Azghat, the ancient gods, had long ago turned against his people; could it be that their totems now deserted them too? Yet, there was still someone to turn to. With an urgent cry, before a group of startled shoanti warriors, Khrondak called out to the Lord in Iron, the master of war, Gorum, and offered devotion in exchange of victory. Khrondak rallied his fellows and, together, they fought their way to survival. From then on, the orcish blades were no longer able to drop any more men, and the group resisted the invaders long enough to allow reinforcements to arrive. No orc went home that day.

Ultimately, the tale of Gorum’s intervention swept the tribe, and Khrondak was thus baptized with his current tribal name, the Iron Forged. After that, Khrondak held up his end of the bargain. Despite the shaman’s opposition, Khrondak pursued more information about the Lord in Iron, and without the rigid structure of a church, interpreted and mixed what he learned with his traditional spiritual teachings. After making peace with the ancient spirits, Khrondak embraced the worship of the two faiths as though they were one. He spent another many months living with his clan before dreaming of a call to arms. A time of great danger approached and war was imminent. Khrondak knew he had to move west, not knowing exactly why. He took it upon himself to preach war against the orcs, finally having the rest of Varisia assume responsibility for its protection, and eventually wound up in Sandpoint, where he is to meet war from enemies his people thought long gone. As the Runelords rise, once again it is time for a shoanti to defend his homeland.

Khrondak is as proud and arrogant as they come, and thinks less of all non-shoanti; yet, he is not nearly as xenophobic as his fellow tribesmen. He values tradition and honor and is generally mistrusting of the tshamek; a quick way of gaining Khrondak's respect, if not his trust, is by displaying good fighting skills. He always speaks bluntly and directly, and doesn't like lies, innuendos and hypocrisy. Despite his agressive nature, he is a level-headed man. The religious tenets of his faith naturally instill in him a sense of duty and an eagerness to fight whenever he feels his land or beliefs are threatened, and he is more than willing to protect the helpless - though, in his mind, anyone needing such protection is weak. Living in a tribal society and fighting alongside other warriors against the deadly orc raids has taught him the value of teamwork, and he knows how to put aside personal feelings when fighting with a group against a common enemy or for a common cause.

Standing 6'5", Khrondak is powerfully built. His bronze skin, blue tattoos and shaved head scream of his barbaric origin, which he proudly displays in honor of his ancestors. The dark eyes seem to have a touch of ember, and his voice is thunderous.