The strong dominate the weak. Predator dominates prey. Ulam knows these things for truth. But Ulam wishes to dominate no one. Ulam wishes only to be free.
Amongst the younglings of the Skull Eater Clan, tucked away in the mountains of Whisperfell Pass, Ulam was always seen as weak. He didn’t aways rush to the head of his pack, but hung back and observed how his siblings faced the challenge. He often pondered things before rushing in. This was only seen as hesitation, and weakness. He suffered greatly as a youngling at the hands of his ruthless brothers. He was constantly challenged to test his strength against them and ruthlessly tortured when he failed.
The treatment drove young Ulam mad with rage. It sparked a fury in his heart towards his own people. It drove him to the solitude of the wild, where he could be free to ponder the meaning of his divergence.
Only in this solitude could Ulam rise to his potential. He found one could survive by more subtle means then brute force and savagery alone. Strength was a tool at his disposal, but he had more to offer. As his lived off the land by his own means, he grew more curious of it’s ways. He began a journey out of the mountains, and into greater Ustalav.
Most curious to him were the humans. They were so weak, but capable of such great things. Instead of attacking them on-sight, he began to stalk and observe them. Things changed one day when he was stalking a group of Scholars, traveling along the hills of Versex. Rumors of a strange city atop an ancient mound proved to be true when he followed the travelers. But one day, they got themselves into trouble they would not soon forget. Their camp was raided in the night by a pack of Ghouls, and their only watchman was asleep on duty.
Ulam was familiar with the creatures, and saw little risk in bringing them down to protect the poor humans. After all, he wanted to see what they might discover here. He expected nothing in return, and planned to flee and find cover once they Ghouls were brought down. He expected shrieks and flames thrown and perhaps a new scar or two. He never expected the kindness he received. The first kind words spoken to him in his life.
“Wait! Brave One! You must let us give thanks!” Professor Petros Lorrimor cried out, as he tried to run away. And Ulam stopped, and pondered, and decided it might be a good idea to stay.
The professor was impressed with his skills against the undead and his prowess in the wild. He kindly fed him and offered a paying position with the traveling party. He wanted Ulam for his strength, but also for his wisdom, and for this Ulam was proud. He accompanied the party for several days, serving as a scout and guide, and the Professor rewarded him handsomely before they departed. Ulam knew the Professor’s companions thought low of him. He did not care. They had no power over him. Ulam realized, he was free.
Ulam continues to live off the land and under the stars. He occasionally serves as a guide or bodyguard in the various hill-lands throughout Ustalav and along the Belzken border. He has a certain panache for hunting the undead, and is happy to destroy these threats for local humans, often for a price. Although he prefers to keep to himself, his wonderment of human kind makes him amenable to protecting them from time to time. This doesn’t mean he blends with them well, though not for lack of trying. At times, Ulam’s simply misunderstood.
