Zaburathkancha

From RPGwiki

Creating a record of Zaburathkancha (Zabu for short) is made somewhat problematic as he doesn’t understand more then two dozen words from any of the languages commonly spoken on the continent of Taladas. Whilst he clearly speaks a language that shows much evidence of complexity there has been no major effort made to translate it. This can be put mainly down to the cause of his extraction from his native continent of Challenga by the Airriders. When they have had need to communicate with him they simply resorted to magic.

Zabu was a member of a small tribe from the continent of Challenga, who lived in a settlement the jungles of the eastern coastline. They had no access to magic of their own and limited experience of those who used it before one of the Airrider family expeditions on the continent came across them. What drew the Airrider’s attention was that whilst this experience was limited, they clearly did have some. They seemed to view those who used magic as either some form of god or demon. Whichever way, it was not for them to learn its use and they held those who did in fear and awe.

Though they never came across enough evidence to conclusively prove who the magic users that had been there before them actually were, the Airriders theorised that it could well have been members of the Waverider family, rumours of which had drawn them to the continent in the first place. They noted on their map the location of their settlement, intending to stop off on the way back from the original goal of the trip. Unfortunately not only was the goal a false lead, but when they returned they found the settlement in ruins, apparently destroyed by a vicious storm. The only survivor was Zabu. After some swift and subtle usage of magic they deciphered that he had been away hunting and had returned to find his home in the condition they bore witness to.

Not wishing to lose this last clue, especially as they suspected possible foul play, they resolved to take him with them back home. Having nothing left and still in a state of shock Zabu came easily. Once back in Waltdorf they began questioning him in earnest but only found that most dealings with the god/demon/magic-users had been conducted with the tribal elders, and that this hunter knew very little. Seeing that he was uncomfortable being subjected to magic and seeing no further need to keep him they let him go.

Zabu wandered off into the wild, and little is known of what became of him for some time, presumably he acclimatised himself to this new wilderness and settled into a new life.

The next definite recording of his presence was during the Slave Riots of the Minotaur War. Sometime over the intervening time Zabu must have been caught by the Minotaur empire, and enslaved. When Noman broke free the slaves and started a riot, Zabu was amongst the forces he led. Like many of the other freed slaves Zabu followed the ogre back to Waltdorf, and as he had shown some respectable ability Noman selected him to join up to the watch upon the ogre’s appointment as Commander.

It was during this return to Waltdorf that Peregrine Airrider encountered him again, and apparently feeling somewhat ashamed as to how his family had treated him, befriended him.

It can be assumed that being dragged to Ravenloft must have been to much for the magic fearing primitive as following a quest that dragged him there he abandoned city life, returning to the wilds.

Most recently he was sought by Krath to join in his expedition to Zabu’s home continent of Challenga. He took a liking to the lizard-man and has joined him on his journey.