Karrdas Ember-Scorched's page

Karrdas grew up in Trunau listening to tales of his Shoanti ancestors, some of whom were present when the people of the town first made their stand against the orcs of Belkzen. He was just a young man when he first joined Trunau’s militia hoping to embody the strength of his ancestors. There was not much honor and glory to be found guarding the walls of the village, but it was a duty he took very seriously. Among his companions, he was happy to just to take orders. Despite his pride however, deep down he was dissatisfied with his role. Nonetheless, he kept such feelings to himself, though he was always sure to practice his fighting skills when he had the chance.

It was not until that fateful night at the Killin’ Ground that it occurred to Karrdas that there was something he truly wanted to do with his life; to meet his ancestor’s people and learn their ways. At least then, he could perform his duty with peace of mind. Thanking Halgra and bidding his companions farewell, Karrdas looked into making the journey to the Storval Plateau. Taking a horse and some basic supplies, he rode off, declaring that he would not return until he became a true Shoanti. It was a long and arduous journey, but before long he came across Shoanti raiders of the Sklar-Quah, just as they were finishing off some orcs.

Unfortunately, their initial impressions of Karrdas left much to be desired. Despite his Shoanti heritage, or perhaps in spite of it, the Sklar-Quah did not know whether it could trust him. It was only when they recognized his hopeknife that they relented. They knew the Trunauans to be a strong, honorable people that much like them, would defend their territory from the orcs of Belkzen at any cost. They were willing to give the outsider a chance, but he would have to prove himself to them. The quah, after all, could not accept a weakling into their midsts. Eager for acceptance, Karrdas agreed to undergo their trials.

The combat training Karrdas had received with the Trunauan militia was deemed woefully insufficient by the warriors of the quah. They instead taught him to use their own unique fighting style, using their own favored weapons. Asides from fighting like the Shoanti, Karrdas learned how to speak like them, to recognize their traditions, to know the lay of the land, and of course, to ride. His skills were tested against the members of the quah, and on occasion, against some of the invading orcs. Karrdas managed to impress several members of the quah, but only barely.

To truly become a member of the quah, Karrdas had to face their rite of passage - the Burn Run. Karrdas was to mount his horse and ride through the Cinderlands, an ashen wasteland rife with dangerous beasts, oppressive heat, and fearsome emberstorms. He could never hope to match the skill of the quah’s famed burn riders, but he rode valiantly and competently at best. By the end he was a little worse for wear, having acquired more than his fair share of burns. But in the Sklar-Quah’s eyes he had completed the trial nonetheless. With the exception of a few grumbling dissenters, Karrdas was accepted into the tribe as a full member. They granted him a tribal name that was perhaps a little tongue in cheek, but he graciously accepted it as his own regardless.

As the years went by, Karrdas learned to deal with his shortcomings, becoming a better warrior for it. Of course, even as a member of the quah, he had to deal with a great deal of strife. The young warrior had adopted many of the Shoanti’s traditions, but he could not share in some of their core ideologies. Their intolerance of half-orcs, for one, never sat well with him. Despite having finally come to terms with his heritage, Karrdas was still a Trunauan at heart. And so with the end of the five years soon approaching, it would almost be time for him to part with the quah. Karrdas was allowed to leave with the Sklar-Quah’s blessing; they granted him one of their traditional earthbreakers as a parting gift, telling him to kill as many of the orcs of Belkzen as he could.

Karrdas stands at about 6 feet 4 inches and has a broad, muscular frame. He has hard facial features and a wide jaw, his skin having a tanned complexion. He keeps his head shaved largely out of habit, after years spent on the Storval Plateau, close to the sun. His head, back and arms are adorned with tribal tattoos, depicting iconography of the sun. Likewise, numerous spots on his body are covered with burn scars, many attained during his Burn Run, and others during subsequent encounters in the Cinderlands. Karrdas typically wears tan or beige clothing, preferring to dress lightly. Thus, his breastplate leaves his muscular arms exposed, allowing for free range of movement. He does wear a cloak when appropriate, sweeping it over one shoulder when preparing for a fight.

Most Trunauans might remember Karrdas as a proud, willful young man eager to serve the village. Despite his rugged appearance and sometimes blunt personality, he is actually quite friendly, especially to a fellow warrior. He is much the same after his five year journey, though he has been humbled by his experience. Karrdas has grown a bit of a thicker skin through his interactions with fellow tribe members, though he still takes insults to his heritage seriously. Confident in his fighting skills, he is always willing to take on a challenge, even if it means facing insurmountable odds. He intends to uphold his Standing Vow by going down fighting if necessary; the thought of being forced to take his own life fills him with disdain.