Krath

From RPGwiki

Whilst they were hatched within years of each other in the Blackwater Glade, Krath was brought up in an entirely different world to Schallat. The priest was born to a lower caste brood and, before being chosen for greatness by Chislev, he trained as a lizard-herder. On the other hand (claw?) Krath was the hatchling of one of the finest Lizard-Riders of the Bakali (amongst the Lizard-Men they are considered the elite of the elite in their armies) and having the right qualities Krath was thrust into his father’s footsteps.

Throughout his training he did not disappoint his mentors or his father. He quickly grasped the skills to survive not only in the swamps of the Blackwater Glade but also in the wilds beyond, he became an able warrior, fostering the innate hostility between his breed of Lizard-Men and the Jarak-Sinn who share the swamplands and he was eventually deemed ready to learn the skill of the Linking (the method of attaining the almost sacred tie to their mounts that only the most capable Lizard-Men rangers are taught) and forged his bond to the giant-lizard Thrak.

At first he had taken extremely well to the path his father forced him onto, but shortly after the completion of his training he suffered a crisis of faith, and began to keep the company of a thief from the neighbouring community of Swamp-Elves. During this time he begun his first major excursions in the world outside the swamp along with the Elf, Remy. They would remain a lifelong friends.

Upon his return to the swamp he was present at one of Schallat’s earliest public sermons, and this young priest spoke more to him then any of those in the higher echelons of the priesthood had managed for many years. Over the following years he found himself going out of his way to catch any oratory function that Schallat would be speaking at. Realising that his faith in the Chislevite cause was returning he began offering his services once again to the Bakali armies, and whilst he never rejoined the forces on any official basis he did stand by his people and proved his mettle against the Jarak-Sinn on many occasions (this of couse didn't overly concern the priesthood rulers, as Chislev is a god of chaos, and so tends to hold this sort of attitude in high regard). Between his renewed fight for the Bakali cause he continued his adventuring out in the mammal dominated world during times when the swamp knew peace.

It had been recognised amongst those in the higher ranks that Shallat had possessed a huge potential for bringing glory to the name of Chislev, and whilst the idea of sending a whole brigade out to protect him whilst he spread Chislev’s word was vetoed it was agreed that it would be a good idea for him to have a personal bodyguard (other then the Kobold that had taken to folowing him...). Knowing that he held Schallat in high regard and taking in to account his skill in combat and his knowledge of life outside the Blackwater Glade made Krath an obvious choice. They made the suggestion to him and he eagerly agreed to take up the task (though he still refued to take this as a direct order, remaining a free agent even when working with his idol, Shallat). So it was that Krath became an occasional comrade in the Heroes of the Vale.

Recent times have been difficult for Krath. He sustained serious injuries during the fight against Spatterblood and his Draconian forces and was rushed off back to the Blackwater Glade where he was fully healed by the Chislevite priests. Unfortunately this triumph was soon to be followed by tragedy as his mount, Thrak, was reaching the end of his lifespan. Krath retreated deep into the swamps to make his trusted giant-lizard’ s last few months as comfortable as possible. Upon emerging he gathered a circle of friends and set off to the continent of Challenga, where he claimed his new mount was to be found.

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"Krath was a good friend of mine, and most handy when something needed to be killed. A swamp warrior of the finest sort, I worried a little about taking him from the battle against the Jaraksin in Blackwater glade. Perhaps he can slay a few while we searches for a new mount. In truth through, I think Kraths exodus from the Glade was one more sign from Chislev of things to come..."

— Schallat