Riinak's page

Riinak was once a member of the Pitstrider tribe of kobolds, a relatively prosperous tribe that live a few miles from Kassen proper, never close enough to conveniently raid, though both are aware the other exists. Riinak was hatched with golden scales, fairly short (even for a kobold), and a habit of making shadow puppets, which he used to entertain hatchlings while watching the nursery, but sadly found little for elsewhere in the tribe. As a result, he was mocked incessantly for his odd looks and quirky behavior, driving him to ever greater and more dangerous self-imposed "tests", intent on proving he belonged among his tribe mates. His desire for approval came to a nearly disastrous end when, in another bid to prove himself, got separated and driven off from his tribe while attacking a band of chokers roaming too close to the tribe's snarl.

Alone and nervous, Riinak was approached by a curious, pure white toad who seemed to take a liking to the kobold, but never came too close. Using his last torch, Riinak did the only thing he knew how to do properly: make shadow puppets. His canny imitation of the toad seemed to win the creature over, and on befriending the lonely kobold led him down a winding stretch of caverns. Their destination shocked the kobold immensely: the toad (whom he'd come to call Blot) had led him into the den of an ancient golden dragon, named Dovarinox. Groveling before the mighty creature, Dovarinox took the kobold in and under his wing (literally and figuratively), teaching the kobold in a variety of subjects, chiefly about Apsu and how to fight in his name. He also did his best to help the kobold rebuild his self-esteem, realizing that much of what held Riinak back was his own feeling of inadequacy.

For two years, Riinak trained relentlessly under Dovarinox's tutelage, but the ancient dragon grew worried that his pupil would never grow further if he did not have courage to leave the dragon's lair. Dovarinox decided to bring the kobold above the ground and into the small town of Kassen, a village he had watched over since its founding ages ago. Under the guise of a human, Dovarinox brought Riinak to the local cathedral, speaking with Father Prasst about the kobold continuing his studies in the church, hoping that exposure to other races and religions would help broaden the Riinak's mind and improve his outlook. Father Prasst relented upon realizing who Dovarinox was, and agreed that the kobold could take up residency within the church so long as he behaved himself and understood that the people of Kassen would likely be nervous about him living here. Although reluctant to leave the safe familiarity of his master's den, Riinak agreed to the dragon's request. And Riinak would not be alone - his constant companion, Blot, would be at his side, helping to guide and watch over him. Dovarinox told Riinak that the toad was special, and that he should look out for Blot's safety, a task Riinak would've gladly done without prompting.

For the past year, the residents of Kassen have kept a watchful eye on the church, waiting for the day Riinak would slip up and attack someone. However, Riinak has pushed himself to not only rise to the high standards of the townsfolk, but stand tall above them, continuing his daily training in the art of war, religion and, hardest of all, gaining confidence in himself. However, with the annual quest for the Everflame coming up, Riinak (on Father Prasst's suggestion and encouragement) has asked to participate in the quest, hoping that by completing the quest, he can win over the townsfolk and prove once and for all that he is a peaceful resident of Kassen.

Riinak suffers from severe self-esteem issues, stemming from years of mockery at the hands of his former tribe mates in the Pitstriders. As a result, Riinak continues to strive higher in spite of his accomplishments, believing that no matter how well he has done, he can and should do better. The harsh glares and cautious looks the people of Kassen give him do not abate his belief that he must always strive to do better. As a consequence, Riinak suffers from a consistently low opinion of himself, tending to overlook his successes in favor of focusing on his errors, making him a tough self-perfectionist. However, he tries hard to put up a confident and solid front, though neither Dovarinox nor Father Prasst are fooled by this show; both are able to see right through his show.

Riinak's gold scales, odd habits and short stature are things the kobold is not particularly proud of, and is constantly working to prove that his small size and relative weakness are something that he can overcome. This makes the subjects a sensitive topic for the kobold to discuss, and as such, can get easily riled up and eager to challenge those who would belittle or demean his abilities. In particular, calling him a "lizard" gets him hopping mad, and despite his best efforts, he has trouble restraining himself against those who mock him with such a name. Despite his relative unease with other people, Riinak is remarkably good with animals (he enjoys visiting the stables to feed the horses when he can, and Father Prasst's visitors usually concede the kobold is well suited to taking care of their beasts of burden). Riinak's bond with animals is most obviously exemplified by his close relationship with his toad partner, Blot, who is rarely away from the kobold's side. Although he appears a simple toad, Blot seems to have a strange 6th sense about a variety of things, and if he insists on heading a particular way, Riinak readily follows.

In spite of his perceived flaws, Riinak is a very devout and kind soul, ready to step up and protect those who need help. His years of training, meditation and study have made him more knowledgable and smart than he gives himself credit for, and his daily training has helped to overcome the weaknesses his race is famous for, able to walk in broad sunlight and hit harder than even some of the town guards. Those who break through his facade as a calm, collected creature will not only find his low perception of himself, but also a loyal and dedicated friend who will readily lay down his life for justice, peace, and the prosperity of others.