Description:
Shesikor is a veritable mountain of a man, standing about 7'4" and possessing a swimmer's physique that ripples with muscles. His dark complexion has an odd, gray tint, and his short, wiry hair sparsely covers his head. The holy symbol of Gozreh is tattooed on his forehead. The man is dressed in simple clothing fit for a fisherman, over which he wears a heavy-looking breastplate, and his gait is slowed by the occasional shamble.
Background:
Born in a Bekyar tribe in Central Garund to a Dagonist slaver and one of her favored "personal" slaves, Shesikor never experienced the evils for which his people are notorious. Following his mother's death during childbirth, Shesikor's father—and, as the son of a slave, Shesikor himself—were gathered with their fellow slaves and prepared for sacrifice or sale, a fate determined by the strength of each individual. Luckily, though, before Shesikor's tribe was happened upon by a group of Andoren relic hunters, who managed to fight off the defending warriors and liberate the oppressed people, then cutting their journey short to bring the former slaves aboard their ship and transport them to a place where they could start lives as free individuals; Shesikor's father requested that the Andorens bring him and his child to Andoran, settling in the fishing village of Chimera Cove.
As he grew up, Shesikor flourished in this new environment, developing into a hale and intelligent man with a strong faith in Gozreh. Inspired by his father's account of the encounter that gave them their freedom, Shesikor developed a strong work ethic and a readiness to provide help to his fellow villagers when he could, as Shesikor hoped that, one day, he would be seen as just as great a hero as the Andorens who helped his family. Shesikor took naturally to the physical elements of life, as he was strong enough to perform feats of athleticism even when encumbered, and was able to swim at astounding speeds; as a young man, he often joked that his ancestry included a magical fish that gave him its aquatic aptitude (luckily, he claimed, he managed to inherit the looks of a human relative). Fittingly, Shesikor could often be found on Apso Bay, as he felt a longing for the water that gave way to deep feelings of serenity and, and seemed to heighten his senses; indeed, when on the waves Shesikor felt somehow attuned to the water and its inhabitants, and it was there that the man discovered that he could subtly and magically manipulate elements of the natural world. Ultimately, these feelings would influence Shesikor to pursue a quiet life as a fisherman, putting his heroic aspirations on hold.
During his third decade of life, though, Shesikor began to experience a series of odd events. His once-long stride began to stiffen; his hair began to thin; and he began to notice a subtle, yet noticeable change in his skin's hue. At first, Shesikor dismissed these minor problems as early signs of aging, but, following his father's death the next month, Shesikor became aware of a more frightening possibility. While sifting through his late father's belongings, Shesikor discovered a hidden diary the man had kept during his time as a slave; the book detailed a wide array of injustices, the surprisingly positive relationship between Shesikor's parents, and, most interestingly, the final hours of Shesikor's mother. His interest piqued, Shesikor eagerly read on, only to learn of his father's assertion that Shesikor's mother's death was caused by a mysterious illness; to Shesikor's horror, the symptoms his father recorded were identical to the unexplained changes Shesikor himself was now dealing with.
Concluding that he would soon succumb to some fatal hereditary condition, Shesikor realized that this grim revelation actually provided him with a solid excuse to finally attempt to fulfill his long-held aspirations and make a name for himself as a force for good; conveniently, it was around this time that Shesikor heard of the Bountiful Venture Company's second expedition, which he viewed as a perfect opportunity to achieve his goal. Shesikor traveled to Almas that week and applied for a spot on the crew of the Peregrine; the interview was not easy, though, as Shesikor became aware that he was inexplicably distant during the process, and he found difficulties maintaining the conversation. Shesikor now awaits a response, confident that his strength, fishing skills, and minor magical talent will grant him a seat on the Peregrine.
For the record: the backstory was told using a somewhat limited scope of information. Unbeknownst to Shesikor and his "father," Shesikor was sired by a foul deep one, contacted by Shesikor's mother, who passed a rare and fatal corruption Shesikor's mother that was responsible for her death.
