Description
You see before you what can only be easily described as wild. Looking to be
just under five feet, the frame of this duergar is not so thick as many of
his kinsmen, but not so thin either. His black skin is darker than many
duergar you have seen, seeming to almost absorb the light around it. His
hair, however, is quite striking. It has dirtied over the years, but it is
clearly white, and pulls back across his head almost like a mane of white
dreadlocks. The sides of his heads are shaved, and ghostly, almost silver
tattoos of snarling wolf's heads adorn either side with the snouts stopping
just behind his eyes on either side. His eyes are bright yellow-white and
peer out at you from his savage visage. This duergar's beard matches the
color of his hair, although is even dirtier, if that were possible. It is
flecked with pieces of bone, flesh, sticks and other detritus, as if he
makes his bed on the forest floor. You notice he carries a small, wolf-hide
bag at his hip that he clutches instinctively from time to time.
Role
Graevnik Background
Added Tue Sep 29 11:19:22 2020 at level 15:
Graevnik comes from a clan of duergar that lived far to the north near the
Pine Forest. For a reason forgotten to even the elders* they left the caves
and made their home in a dark forested canyon. Over the generations, they
became prolific hunters of dire-wolves, and the dire-wolf became the symbol
of their clan. The clan shamans, a role filled by older women, became quite
prolific readers of natural signs, specifically the reading of wolf-bones.
*A savage priest of Ergush was the one that led them out of the Underdark
and taught the first of them how to divine natural signs.
At a coming-of-age ceremony, held once a year on the first Day of the Moon
in the Month of the Winter Wolf, the young men of the clan would have their
bones divined by the Crone, the high priestess of their clan, as it were.
The young men would then set out on their path in the world. Most commonly
this reading would NOT require the young men to venture far into the world
of Thera, thereby protecting the clan from outside influences or attack.
Because of this, the clan knows very little of magic, or the gods, beyond
Jullias and Enlilth, ancient duergar gods, represented most often by ravens
or crows, and alpha wolves of a pack respectively.
Graevnik was one of the few, and the first in three generations of his clan
sent out in the world. He was sent to seek out a pack of savage hunters
near a primordial forest. When he made it to Udgaard and began to ask
around. One of the duergar he approached told him to go to Arkham and look
to the north, where packs of wild savages made their home. The duergar in
Udgaard of course knew where he was sending the naive tribesman, most
likely to his death. Graevnik survived his encounter and made his way for
about a year in Arkham engaging in various schemes to survive. Eventually
he stole enough money to be able to enroll in the academy.
After he left the academy, he made his way back to the canyon where his
village was. When he arrived, he found it burned, and no one left alive. A
pile of burned wolf bones was all he could salvage, and he now seeks for
someone that can read the bones for him, and help him sort out his path.
Graevnik Character Notes
Added Tue Sep 29 11:20:43 2020 at level 15:
- Graevnik is somewhat naive of the goings-on in the wider Theran world,
he is very distrustful of both priests and wizards, and a bit in awe of the
powers of both. As he learns and grows, he will come to hate these things,
in the way that people hate what they don't understand.
- Graevnik has come to realize that the savage hunters he was destined to
seek out is the village. But he is not entirely sure why. What he is not
yet aware of is that anti-paladins slaughtered his clan and burned his
village. If he learns how to "read the bones" or someone else can read the
bones for him, this will make his path much more clear, and he will become
more certain in his dealings. At that point, any chance of him taking a
path different than the village would become impossible.
- His white hair and beard are a result of his mother being struck by
lightning in child birth, which is also why he was born under the sphere of
Storms. His last name means White Wolf in the ancient duergar tongue.
- Stories of natural diviners in the Virgin Forest will lead him into
contact with Ergush, thereby fulfilling the fate of his clan. One of the
ultimate goals of this character would be to become a tattooed priest of
Ergush.
A Dark Meeting
Added Wed Oct 21 07:50:05 2020 at level 51:
The grimy duergar duergar slipped into Crellun's House of Grog just as the
sun started making a rare appearance over dark city of Udgaard. He made his
way through the tables and approached two hooded duergar seated at a table
in the back. These two were cleaner looking at least. Their blood red,
hooded cloaks were devoid of the grime of the city, their black beards were
well oiled, and expertly braided, tied off with silver beard rings in the
form of a skull. Closer inspection would reveal expert craftsmanship that
show the skulls rotting, with bits of flesh peeling away from the facial
structure.
"Well then, what do you have for us?" Only one of the duergar spoke, but it
sounded like the whispers of a hundred tortured souls.
"Found 'em," the grimy duergar replied, and thrust out his dirty hand. He
would be sure to be paid, he didn't trust these slick wizards. A grunt from
the silent wizard and he pulled out a small bag of rubies and dropped it
into the greedy grasp of the informant which elicited a yellowed, gap-tooth
smile.
"Dis dumb, white-haired youngin came a searchin, eye's bigger'n millstones
at da big city. Came askin' bout a savage village close ter a primordial
for'st." The grimy duergar cackled at his own story. "I sen' 'im ta Arkham!
the dum' git. He prolly kilt already. Tha' pack a pansy-sniffers prolly
strung 'im up in 'at big tree." He laughed some more.
A mailed fist slammed the table, and the eyes of the hooded duergar flared
red in anger. "Where is the clan?" he snarled, and the grimy duergar could
almost FEEL the tortured voices in his head. He recoiled from them and
winced, his perverse joy at sending another to his death disappearing. He
cleared his throat.
"Uhh, they uhh, 'at Pine For'st, jest off da road, look to da east... you
gonna see felled tree 'cross a tight can'yin, you kin crawl un'er." He
swallowed nervously, clearly unsettled by the two across from him, but
still held out his greedy, grimy hand for the rest of his payment. The two
hooded duergar stood quickly, and the silent one stared at the informant
until the informant's eyes broke away down at the floor. The near-silent
ruffling of the cloaks signaled their departure.
The grimy duergar, hands shaking, snarled and grabbed a passing barmaid.
"Gimme ale, wench!"
A Dark Night
Added Wed Oct 21 07:51:01 2020 at level 51:
Darkness settled over the north, and one of the blood-red robed duergar
sneered to the west as the sun disappeared over the horizon. It had been a
crisp, clear day, as many are in the Month of the Frost Giant near the Pine
Forest, but as darkness came, so did the anger of winter. A mix of rain
and snow started falling, highlighted by vicious strikes of lightning. It
would be a good night for death, and the Lord of Malice would gorge on the
tortured souls of this clan of wolf-hunters. His cadre of dark knights,
twelve in all, would pull their essence into their blackened swords of iron
and grow in strength. The time was coming, and soon the Black Conclave
would strike fear into the hearts of the weak once again.
The anti-paladins slipped into the canyon, the sound of the storm masking
the faint clinking of their black, adamantite armor, emblazoned with the
rotting skull of Vilhazarog. The sentries died silently, knife work, not
sword and spell. Not yet. These souls could escape so that the strong souls
of the famed dire wolf hunters could strengthen this band of dark knights.
The twelve spread out in the darkness, the only light in the village came
from inside the hovels and huts, no torch could survive the freezing rain
and sleet of the winter night. Death closed in around the Wolf Clan, and
there was nothing they could do.
A Dark Death
Added Wed Oct 21 07:52:31 2020 at level 51:
The chieftain snarled and tossed the wolf bone to his dog, the blood and
bits of meat slapping the wooden floor of his hut. His mind was on his son.
The crone had sent him away, and assured him it was best for the clan. The
chieftain would prefer no one left their vale, except to enter the great
Pine Forest. His warriors were tested by the most savage beast in all the
lands, his women gave birth to strong duergar. There was always meat, and
the occasional traveler brought news, and typically a few shiny baubles to
add to their treasure hoard. The occasional traveler of course, never left.
It was only his hunter's sense that alerted him to the danger and he leapt
from his seat with a roar, grabbing up his spear as he charged at the door,
his dog yelping in fear and jumping back out of the way. His spear found
its mark, driving through the throat of an hooded figure with yellow eyes,
words of magic dying in a gurgle of blood. He drove the figure out into the
wet, black night and down into the cold mud. Warm blood sprayed against his
face as he fell roughly against the body of the dying anti-paladin.
He came to his feet and jerked his spear free, turning to find the next foe
and then something hit him. he felt sharp pain at the back of his neck and
actually heard his soul scream out in torment. The light faded from his
eyes and it was an eternity as his head, now separated from his body fell
to the muddy ground. It hit with a wet thud, and he felt the mud warm up
as it mixed with the last of his blood. He blinked and the last thing he
saw was an unnatural fireball forming at the hands of his killer. The last
thing he heard were a hundred tortured souls screaming out - yucandusbarr.
The knights of the Black Conclave lost only one of their number that night,
and the unholy flames of Vilhazarog consumed the village of strong hunters.
The bodies wholly burned to ash, and the souls trapped within the twelve
black blades of the blood-red robed duergar. One blade which now rests in
their hidden tower without an owner.
A Mystery of Ash and Bone
Added Tue Nov 3 07:19:11 2020 at level 51:
Something was... off, wrong, different. Graevnik couldn't be sure, but it
was just... too quiet. Even the small stream that made its way through the
canyon seemed muffled. He pulled the long knife he had acquired from its
sheath, the blood of it's previous owner causing it to stick a bit. A snarl
and a jerk freed it. He made his way silently down the hidden trail, and no
sentry challenged him, everything was too still, his senses heightened even
further, listening for any movement, sniffing for any smell, but the only
scent that reached him was... ash. His eyes narrowed and he crouched low as
he made the last few turns in the trail with a quickened pace, ready to
move quickly into action. He came into the opening in the canyon where his
village was supposed to be and there was nothing. Nothing but scorched rock
and dirt, a few blackened stumps, and scattered piles of ash.
Graevnik relaxed, and walked slowly across the desolate ground. He dropped
the knife back into its sheath and kicked a piece of skull away. At the
head of the canyon, he found a small pile of burned wolf bones, all that
remained of the crone and the seers were bits of blackened bone, but he
did find a small pile of wolf bones, scorched from the heat, but otherwise
intact. He gathered them up in his small wolf-hide pouch and cinched it
shut. Maybe there were others in the wider world who could read the signs.
He poked around a bit more, kicked a few small piles of bone, looking for
something, anything that would help him understand, but he couldn't see
anything. He even scrambled up the side of the canyon, to search his hole
of treasures he had collected as a child. It was empty, and he suspected
one of his now-burned clansmen had found it before their fiery demise. He
turned and looked down on the village, and noticed, but did not understand
what seemed to be eleven blackened circles, almost like the ripples one
would see form in water when you drop a rock in, but stopped, seared into
the ground instead of slowly disappearing.
He shrugged, maybe the clan had angered the Old Crow, or the Proud Wolf. He
never understood the things he could not put his hands on. He had learned
of something called magic while he was in the academy, some invisible force
that some men and women could call on while mumbling absolute gibberish. He
had also learned about a pack of savages that fought against this unseen
force. He smiled to himself as he realized his path, and touched the bag of
bones as he slid down the side of the canyon, ash puffing up as he landed
on the ground. Storm clouds gathered and a single bolt of lightning struck
the center of his village as he left it and slipped onto the hidden path
again. He knew what the crone meant, he knew his purpose. He set out to the
south, looking for the blood of mages.
Graevnik Character Notes - Update
Added Tue Nov 3 07:31:00 2020 at level 51:
- While Graevnik still does not understand what magic really is, or how it
is used, he understands that it is used by some, although he still refers
to just about anything he doesn't understand as magic.
- He has become the Drillmaster of Battle and taken well to the role. It
suits him and his worldview and helped him fully embrace the path he is on.
As he grows in the position he will trend towards honoring the past and
possibly even try to organize some sort of event or quest for the others to
honor the past as well.
- He has also started down the path of learning Ergush's religion. He will
continue to seek and learn about the laws of nature, and I suspect this to
tie in nicely with his views on magic and how things should be.
- I'd like to find a way to tie in more about storms with Graevnik, but am
not quite sure how to do that yet. I suspect it will come as part of him
learning about Ergush's religion.
PK Wins
Oct 1, 2020 |Lv 20|Galadon|Sorn vs 2: [17] Ytrael (25%), [20] Graevnik (74%, crush)
Oct 2, 2020 |Lv 24|The Open Plains|Faemii vs 1: [24] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Oct 2, 2020 |Lv 24|The Eastern Road|Fauas vs 1: [24] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Oct 4, 2020 |Lv 26|Galadon|Maslin vs 2: [26] Graevnik (58%, crush), [25] Ulitius (41%)
Oct 5, 2020 |Lv 26|Udgaard|Birbmwn vs 2: [26] Graevnik (49%, crush), [28] Xerzketh (50%)
Oct 5, 2020 |Lv 26|Azreth Wood|Volen vs 1: [26] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Oct 7, 2020 |Lv 33|Galadon|Camrynn vs 1: [33] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Oct 10, 2020|Lv 35|Akan|Tolic vs 1: [35] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 11, 2020|Lv 35|The Eastern Road|Kaelgrhil vs 2: [36] Kachaqa (0%), [35] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Oct 12, 2020|Lv 35|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Meaga vs 1: [35] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 12, 2020|Lv 35|The Ruins of Ostalagiah|Birbmwn vs 1: [35] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 12, 2020|Lv 35|The Eastern Road|Kaelgrhil vs 1: [35] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 13, 2020|Lv 35|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Meaga vs 1: [35] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 16, 2020|Lv 44|Galadon|Birbmwn vs 1: [44] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 17, 2020|Lv 48|Voralian City|Birbmwn vs 1: [48] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Oct 17, 2020|Lv 48|The Dwarf Forest|Tydius vs 1: [48] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Oct 20, 2020|Lv 48|Outskirts of Galadon|Neajess vs 1: [48] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Oct 20, 2020|Lv 49|The Eastern Road|Faemii vs 2: [51] Neajess (8%, flaming bite), [49] Graevnik (91%)
Oct 20, 2020|Lv 49|Feanwyyn Weald|Neajess vs 2: [49] Graevnik (36%, wrath), [51] Ulitius (63%)
Oct 21, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Birbmwn vs 3: [35] Graldon (2%), [51] Ulitius (31%, pierce), [51] Graevnik (66%)
Oct 21, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 22, 2020|Lv 51|The Oryx Steppes|Kithervroy vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, drumming maces)
Oct 22, 2020|Lv 51|The Ruins of Ostalagiah|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Oct 22, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Birbmwn vs 2: [51] Graevnik (47%, smash), [51] Ulitius (52%)
Oct 23, 2020|Lv 51|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Cedany vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 23, 2020|Lv 51|Ayr'Trinil, the Arial City|Ghorvendor vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Oct 24, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Leuoa vs 2: [51] Graevnik (48%, slash), [41] Zenabi (51%)
Oct 24, 2020|Lv 51|The Ruins of Ostalagiah|Zodslag vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Oct 25, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Gnimos vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, cranial hit)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|Organia, the Veil of Shadow|Pawit vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|Mortorn|Pawit vs 2: [51] Graevnik (27%, slash), [51] Ulitius (72%)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Graldon vs 2: [51] Ulitius (86%, freezing bite), [51] Graevnik (13%)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|Ruins of Maethien|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 26, 2020|Lv 51|The Seaport of Hamsah Mu'tazz|Limdabod vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 27, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Pawit vs 2: [51] Ulitius (51%, aimed shot), [51] Graevnik (48%)
Oct 27, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Graldon vs 3: [51] Kachaqa (47%, magic), [51] Ulitius (52%), [51] Graevnik (0%)
Oct 27, 2020|Lv 51|The Ruins of Ostalagiah|Kaelgrhil vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Oct 28, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Graldon vs 2: [51] Graevnik (12%), [51] Halimar (87%, disembowelment) *Disemboweled*
Oct 28, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Nikovyr vs 3: [51] Graevnik (83%, parting blow), [41] Modasien (0%), [51] Ulitius (16%)
Oct 28, 2020|Lv 51|The Dragon Sea|Graldon vs 2: [51] Ulitius (89%, freezing bite), [51] Graevnik (10%)
Oct 28, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Oct 29, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Neajess vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 29, 2020|Lv 51|Ruins of Maethien|Granip vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Oct 30, 2020|Lv 51|East Sumner's Road|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 31, 2020|Lv 51|Mortorn|Dresma vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Oct 31, 2020|Lv 51|The Dwarf Forest|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Oct 31, 2020|Lv 51|A Virgin Forest|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Nov 1, 2020 |Lv 51|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Vhist vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Nov 2, 2020 |Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Thurin vs 2: [51] Graevnik (88%, bleeding), [51] Birbmwn (11%)
Nov 2, 2020 |Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Birbmwn vs 2: [51] Itzenxilaatl (26%, disruption), [51] Graevnik (73%)
Nov 2, 2020 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Thurin vs 2: [51] Graevnik (12%, wrath), [51] Itzenxilaatl (87%)
Nov 2, 2020 |Lv 51|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Vhist vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, bleeding)
Nov 3, 2020 |Lv 51|Galadon|Nikovyr vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Nov 3, 2020 |Lv 51|Hamsah Mu'tazz|Khremzwu vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, cut)
Nov 3, 2020 |Lv 51|A Virgin Forest|Taranya vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, piercing venoms)
Nov 4, 2020 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Varinka vs 2: [51] Graevnik (87%, wrath), [51] Itzenxilaatl (12%)
Nov 4, 2020 |Lv 51|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Labkost vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Nov 5, 2020 |Lv 51|Galadon|Limdabod vs 2: [51] Graevnik (16%, wrath), [51] Itzenxilaatl (83%)
Nov 5, 2020 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Arfinol vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, piercing venoms)
Nov 5, 2020 |Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Arfinol vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, piercing venoms)
Nov 5, 2020 |Lv 51|Hamsah Mu'tazz|Primdella vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Nov 5, 2020 |Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Nov 9, 2020 |Lv 51|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, flurry)
Nov 10, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Vondersita vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, hit)
Nov 11, 2020|Lv 51|Outskirts of Galadon|Malgous vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Nov 12, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)
Nov 13, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Vondersita vs 2: [51] Graevnik (41%, cut), [51] Vizzar (58%)
Nov 13, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Khilan vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, flurry)
Nov 13, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Khilan vs 2: [51] Vizzar (26%), [51] Graevnik (73%, flaming bite)
Nov 15, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Gubir vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, wrath)
Nov 16, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Aehwic vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Nov 16, 2020|Lv 51|The Inn of the Eternal Star|Birbmwn vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, cut)
Nov 17, 2020|Lv 51|The Ruins of Ostalagiah|Leuoa vs 2: [42] Ytrael (0%), [51] Graevnik (100%, black light)
Nov 17, 2020|Lv 51|Voralian City|Khilan vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Nov 18, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Khilan vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Nov 18, 2020|Lv 51|BattleRager Village|Alisani vs 2: [51] Halimar (39%), [51] Graevnik (60%, cranial hit)
Nov 18, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Bequinblek vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, crush)
Nov 19, 2020|Lv 51|Galadon|Limdabod vs 2: [51] Graevnik (78%, beating), [51] Ollmurath (21%)
Nov 19, 2020|Lv 51|Ruins of Maethien|Bequinblek vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, blazing slash)
Nov 19, 2020|Lv 51|Ruins of Maethien|Khilan vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, blazing slash)
Nov 19, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Gubir vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, slash)
Nov 19, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Falkreen vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, beating)
Nov 20, 2020|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Khaen vs 1: [51] Graevnik (100%, parting blow)