 About Kitambo“I’ve crossed the Tablelands, survived the Ivory Triangle, slipped away from Hamanu’s half giant thugs, and sold sand to a tarek. I’ve fought bloodthirsty raiders, greedy slavers, and hordes of inhuman savages overrun the wastelands. I’ve seen it all, and there isn’t much left that can surprise me.” – Anonymous Dune Trader Background:
The Tablelands, a vast expanse of burning sand, salt, and rock, where water means life. It is a hard and unforgiving land that has produced hard and unforgiving people that stalk its wastes. Ktambo is one such product, a Dune Trader considered by many to be the life blood of Athas. Kitambo was born to the trader’s life and spent his childhood in crowded marketplaces or in caravans traversing the difficult wastes to isolated settlements and the trading hubs between the great city-states. Regardless of the location his family was always pushing their wares on anyone they encountered. When times were good they primarily dealt in grain, ceramics, and obsidian with some small trade in hardwood, and exotic animals. However, when money became scarce and their debts mounted they weren't averse to dealing in slaves, stolen cargo, or other contraband. When things were really tough they earned coin collecting bounties on thieves, murderers, and runaway slaves. His mother, Thiana, died at the hands of bloodthirsty raiders before the boy could walk and he was raised by his father and the ever changing faces who traveled in their caravan. Khalik, his father, was a large and massive man with a fierce and imposing demeanor who bragged of the giant blood running through his veins. Under his father’s heavy-handed tutorage Ktambo learned the skills a needed to survive as a trader in the Tablelands. He spent much of his childhood wishing he was bigger and better like his father. Hard time and steady work in the caravans helped with his youthful desire to be bigger and his steadfast determination helped with the latter. Overtime, Ktambo learned to survive the dangers of both the marketplace and the wastelands gaining his father’s trust and taking on more responsibility within the caravan. In spite of the pair’s skill, and success, the small family of Dune Traders found it increasingly difficult to compete with the great dynastic houses of the city states and had to take on more dangerous and less lucrative cargo. As a result, their precarious financial situation grew worse, and his family became indebted to one of Urik’s princes, Ninshabur of House Eannatum. Ninshabur was a harsh and demanding taskmaster and not one to let a debt go unpaid or let a resource be unprofitable. To that end the prince would often task Ktambo and his father with the procurement of a much desired antique or crumbling map from a faraway market. As Prince Ninshabur’s confidence in the pair grew he required more and more of their time, as a result trading became a part time enterprise. As fate would have it, few months ago, his father, Khalik, died while trying to retrieve an artifact from the dead city Yaramuke for the prince. As a relult of his father’s demise the family’s debt fell onto Ktambo’s shoulders. Grudgingly, Ktambo continued to work off his debt to the prince but despite his best efforts he did not make any real progress in paying it off. Eventually, the prince devised a way for Ktambo to discharge the debt once and for all. It was dangerous, and highly illegal assignment, but it could be the windfall Ktambo needed to start over. The task sounded simple enough, smuggle water into the city, without paying the taxes, and both he and the prince would profit. Unfortunately, the intrepid smuggler was caught when he stepped on a wasps nest and the irate insects attacked him and the animals pulling his wagons. The ensuing commotion drew the attention of the Templars and Ktambo wound up in chains. Hamanu's Oppressive Code called for a severe punishment for those who stole water. The offender would be submerged in a pool of water for ten minutes, a virtual death sentence. Although the Templars extensively questioned Ktambo about his employer he held his tongue despite their best efforts to extract the information. However, Ktambo didn't hold his tongue due to any great sense of loyalty to the prince, rather he was unable to speak due to several wasps stings that had swollen his tongue, throat, and mouth shut. With little fanfare Ktambo was taken to the great walled fortress in the center of Urik, known as Dedstiny’s Kingdom, wher the Templars were headquartered. Where the smuggler was bound and submerged in the pool for the required time. His lifeless body was removed and unceremoniously dumped on the ground by the efficient Templars. It came as a surprise to all when Ktambo prone form took a deep and ragged breath, followed by him throwing up, and taking another breath, and then another. Inexplicably, the smuggler had survived the drowning and according to the law was legally born again, all of his previous life's possessions confiscated and his old debts discharged. Naked and coinless, like a newborn babe, Ktambo began his new life. His new freedom from debt was short lived, with few other prospects he returned to Prince Ninshabur's estates. Fortunately the prince mistook Ktambo's silence under interrogation for loyalty and was will to give him a small loan at a reasonable interest rate. Thus, Ktabmo’s debt and service to Prince Ninshabur continued. ++++++++++++++++ Personality:
Ktambo is a product of the Tablelands and the brutal City-States interspersed throughout the wasted land. As a result he is opportunistic, moving from place to place, always happy to take whatever comes along to make some easy money. He believes that ethics are for the squeamish, and morals for the weak and Ktambo is neither. He will exploit, lie, steal and, if necessary, kill if it is in his own benefit. The Dune Trader is first and foremost a survivor, slow to trust, always looking out for his own self-interest. He has no great compulsion to keep his word or stick his neck out for others. Despite his selfish nature Ktambo understands the value of working with others and is willing to use his companion’s talents to help him survive. Ktambo is also quick of tongue and wit which often lands him in trouble at inopportune moments. He enjoys sharing a good joke, strong drink, and a nice smoke with his companions, preferably in the shade. Appearance:
Ktambo is a giant and massive man standing a full head over six feet, broad shouldered and deep of chest, with a massive corded neck and heavily muscled limbs with gnarled callused hands that attest to a life of hard labor. The dune trader is well tanned, from constant exposure to the elements, with walnut colored, weathered skin, that accentuates the hard, dangerous lines of his body. The large man has sinister, yet handsome face that always looks like he’s about to laugh or scowl. His face is framed by slicked dark flowing hair with a luxurious mustache and a well-trimmed beard the same color. His gaze is knowing and penetrating with grey eyes, the color of the sky right before a storm, that appear to miss little. The imposing Dune Trader looks older than his years and carries himself with an air of confidence. He usually stands with his head cocked to the side and eyes darting as if always scanning for danger. He walks with the swagger of a veteran, usually on the balls of his feet, judiciously picking his path, while producing little sound when he chooses. Ktambo favors loose linen clothing in shades of tan and brown that is usually worn over armor made from the hide of one of the great dessert beasts. Around his head is wrapped a long sandstone colored scarf, to protect him from the desert sun and sand, and a fringed girdle the same color adorns his waist. There is usually an assortment of pouches, bandoleers, scroll cases, and containers strapped to his body and he always has his great grandfather’s aklys within easy reach. Background:
The eight pillars 1. The gnome known as the Jester was raised in a traveling troop of entertainers, troubadours, and acrobats.
The Goals
2. ”I told ye not to be going down into the well,” The Jester angrily rebuked the still form in the cleric’s arms. Is she number ten or eleven,[/b] he wondered, trying to remember the number of adventures he has accompanied to their final rest. After a moment’s thought he concludes, [i]ten, she’s definitely number ten. ”We best be burying the lass. There is a nice spot next to Aelrik Ravenmane that I’ve had my eye on,” he told the others. 3. The Jester looked down at his handy work and muttered, ”that be fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen.“ With his maniacal grin plastered on his face he reads the three headstones he has made;
Here lies Ryk
Larik's last words:
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