Description
He is a great fat minotaur with a nasty sneer. Disheveled and dirty
otherwise, his mighty horns look clean and polished to a brilliant shine that
would be impressive even without the contrast of a body covered by long,
ruddy hair matted with old food, dried blood and unmentionable filth of every
kind. The armor he wears is a mismatched collection of dented plates, grimy
ringlets and scuffed leathers struggling to contain his girth and often
failing. He stomps about gracelessly yet somehow conveys a sense of arrogant
strutting that would more befit a handsome prince or tournament champion. As
he goes he leers openly at every passerby, male and female alike, sometimes
licking his thick lips for quite unnecessary emphasis.
Role
Backstory 1/2
Added Wed Feb 19 20:27:16 2020 at level 5:
Zahgrud lay in some nameless alley of Seantry Modan, wallowing in self pity
and a muddy puddle. Monster they had called him and beast, abdomenation and
other names he couldn't pronounce. Stupid children. It wasn't true that he
was bad, he was just a normal minotaur doing his best not to starve. He
wanted to just stomp them, but he didn't, did he? Maybe once or twice he
swung a fist, but mostly in defense. And not very often did Sure, he wasn't
perfect, but he wasn't so bad, was he? Maybe if he stayed away they'd leave
him alone.
Nope.
They kept on saying mean things and he gradually became what they said. If
they called him a pig he'd eat a whole sow, if they called him smelly and
violent he'd roll in shit and chase them. And so on.
But he felt bad about it. Until he met the stranger.
"Look at me" Zahgrud heard a voice say one day. And Zahgrud looked up from
his favorite puddle at... something. Manlike in form, but by some unknown
sense wholely other.
"Penny for your thoughts?" it said, extending a golden coin.
Zahgrud hesitantly took the coin felt truth bubbling up unbidden.
"I am bad. I should die. "
"Or..." it said "You could embrace it."
"Huh?"
"What if I offered you a solution?"
"Um." Zahgrud said unhelpfully.
"I can give you peace. Not in death, but in a life of reveling."
"How?" said Zahgrud. He wasn't sure what reveling was, but he got the gist.
"First, I offer this." it said, extending a black box.
Zahgrud took the box turning it over with a confused look.
"What is it?" he asked
"The final leg of the journey you are on. Maybe unnecessary, but it won't
hurt to be sure." it said oh so very mysteriously.
"Just repeat, 'darkness reigns' thrice"
Zahgrud, being the credulous young minotaur that he was, went ahead and said
what was surely just some words, no big deal. Nothing happened at first, but
with a little help from the stranger he tried again and this time the box did
some rattling and a queer sensation rolled over him.
Backstory 2/2
Added Wed Feb 19 20:28:22 2020 at level 5:
"Now, we make a little deal. You get power and we give you purpose. You learn
and you serve."
Zahgrud didn't think to ask pertinent questions like "who is we" and "what if
I change my mind?" Still, he asked apprehensively "Will I be a slave?"
"No, we do not proscribe your footsteps, only the path." it said with a
smile.
Proscribe wasn't a word Zahgrud really knew, but somehow the stranger's
comforting tone made it easy to feel relieved even without really
understanding.
"Yuh. I agree." Zahgrud said, perhaps rashly, after just a few moments.
"Good, then the second sacrament will take but a trice." said the stranger,
producing a serpentine dagger.
After a little bloodletting, rune painting, oath swearing and suchlike, it
was done. The stranger didn't return, but in his stead Zahgrud's first
teacher came. Over weeks and months Zahgrud soon learned the basics of
shamancraft and the channeling of divine forces. Very useful. But even
better, he learned a philosophy that brought his first taste of happiness. He
learned that it's good to be bad. That there's no sense in shame and that
vice is to be celebrated. And he learned his first commandment:
I. Sin. Indulge.
Update 1 (Religion/Cabal)
Added Sat Mar 14 23:56:03 2020 at level 25:
Religion:
Zahgrud recieved the blessing of Morius, and was glad. In his encounter with
Imbreia the Gluttonous he got some interesting insights on gluttony. He
notably got a new perspective on how it relates to pride, which had been a
struggle. He continues to try to practice sinning in every way. He hasn't
done much lust, but is making good progress on the rest, but is very much a
student still.
His practice of religion focuses on trying to embody sin
himself and bringing other peopleto Morius. He hasn't gotten a lot of
converts so far, but a couple of people are potential candidates.
He wonders why Morius doesn't care about envy and plans to ask.
Here is a summary of his understanding of sin
Gluttony is ambition. It is the driving force behind all action above minimal
survival. Without gluttony nothing much would happen. Gluttony makes the
world turn.
Sloth is efficiency. It is doing things without wasting effort and ignoring
stupid stuff that doesn't need to be done.
Rage is not just anger writ large, but passion and dedication in general. It
is going all-in when you are forced to take action.
Vanity is confusing to Zahgrud. He thinks maybe it's about self-interest and
introspection or about being persuasive. Needs improvement.
Pride is about self-respect and knowing your worth regardless of the opinions
of others or circumstances. It is resiliance and toughness and the ability to
rise above failure.
Greed is about competition and struggle for survival. Not just wanting
things, but specifically wanting to take things from others.
Lust is about pure visceral experience and enjoyment. It's about what the
point of living is to begin with. It's about the satisfaction of indulging a
desire.
Empire
He joined the Empire to spread the will of Morius. He figures that he'll
inevitably become Emperor, and as Emperor he can demand that everyone pray to
Morius. He also just finds the structure comforting and likes the opportunity role + to throw his weight around.
He has made friends-ish with the War Master who he likes because he shares
Minotaurdom. He met the High Priestess twice and she declined to promote him
him off. He's pretty obedient at this point, so he's not going to outright
rebel, but he'd be happy to take a chance to screw her over.
Update 1 (Personality)
Added Sat Mar 14 23:58:32 2020 at level 25:
Personality
Still insecure at this point in his life because of his childhood he is very
obedient and subservient. Grateful to Morius for saving him, he knows he
isn't highly competent yet so he is focused on growing into a paragon of sin.
He is taking a fake it 'til you make it approach, trying to act proud until
he really feels it.
does have a sense of humor and some of the things he says are, in fact jokes.
He also has the wisdom to know that he's dumb and likes the idea of
concealing his dumbness by making people unsure if he's joking or not.
As a minotuar he struggles with speech, so he tries to avoid the sounds that
are hardest because it troubles his vanity and doesn't fit the self-image he
is trying to build of someone you would never make fun of. Knowing he has a
speech impediment reminds him of his childhood.
He's become kind of a chatty Kathy despite this. It's part of pride/vanity.
RP/Gameplay notes (edges, shaman paths, lastname)
Added Sun Mar 15 00:03:37 2020 at level 25:
Shaman Paths - Hell's Pact, Breaker
I don't know if I get to pick these, but if I do here's what it is:
Hell's Pact - He made a deal to get out of Seantryn with some kind of Devil
Breaker - Once almost broken-willed he wants to inflict the pain he once felt
Lastname Ud
Without a family name, he just decided to name himself and wanted
something he could pronounce. It also sounds like his name is reverberating
which he thinks is cool.
Warpriest - Heavy Armor
He's a big tough guy and thinks big tough armor looks cool.
Edges:
Don't have these yet but they seem RP-appropriate (other edges may or
may not have obvious rp links)
Curse of parching - His understanding of
gluttony aids his ability to evoke unquenchable thirst in others
Gatherer of the flock - Emblematic of his focus on proselytizing
Moving forwward
Added Wed Apr 29 17:46:08 2020 at level 41:
Zahgrud walked halfway across the black bridge, gaved deep into the black
pit, and with little hesitation flung himself in. Not an impetuous act, but a
minotaur feels no fear so need not hesitate when a decision is made.
As he plunged towards oblivion he heard a voice.
"Tsk, tsk, Zahgrud" came the stranger's mocking words.
Zahgrud was confused as he continued to fall.
"Is this what you know of sin? Despair?"
Zahgrud "Not sin, but why not?"
"Because it is not what is required of you. It is not your duty to die. Tell
me what has happened"
"Dieing much. No point in going on."
"I do not care how much self-pity you want to wallow in. You made a pact,
remember?"
"Aye..."
"You have been given much. Your lord's power and Imperial station. "
"Still die always, Empire crumbling, dunno if doing right as priest. "
"Awwww, poor poor Zahgrud. " You could hear the sneer. After a vacant
silence, it continued "Your only real problem is you have forgotten an
important sin"
"Zahgrud forget no sin"
"Sloth, Zahgrud, you are not wielding it."
Zahgrud was confused. He felt he was slothful in a number of ways, if not
perfect, but didn't see the relevance.
"Think, you thick-headed fool. What is sloth?"
"Sloth is not doing much. Said is being efficient before."
"Maybe... but what does a person who displays Sloth show"
Zahgrud stared into the blackness, stumped.
"Disregard, Zahgrud. Unconcern. A person who exercises Sloth doesn't care."
Zahgrud began to undertand.
"Zahgrud can embrace sloth to not care about bad times."
"Yes, now you begin to see. It doesn't matter to me if you suffer, Zahgrud as
long as you do your duty. But use Sloth to set aside your despair so that you
can be effective."
The voice spoke no more, but Zahgrud, still falling into oblivion began to
think about this. A bottomless pit is an excellent place for quiet
reflection. Time passed - an hour, a day, it's passage held little meaning
here. And Zahgrud changed. Not completely, but in parts.
He still wants to rise in the Empire, but no longer will be frustrated when
he goes years unpromoted. He still wants to stand up to his enemies, but will
no longer despair that he cannot defeat them. He still wants to serve Morius
but will no longer doubt himself when not contacted.
He thought long about where he stood. An imperial priest, now, an acolyte of
Gluttony, empowered in his pact. There is much he had to be proud of. Morius
never asked him to be a renowned killer. He had converted a priest, brought
others to the church, inducted new oaths. If murder wasn't to be his forte he
could focus on other things. If his exploits in the Empire were to go
unrecognized, so be it. He could live his life. His gluttony and thirst for
more need not have a miserable mirror. It remains that he bears the scars of
his youth and strives for pats on the back and recognition, but he knew now
that he could do without, and must.
Future plans.
Added Wed Apr 29 17:46:41 2020 at level 41:
Things to do: Organize the faithful of Morius, present sin to the world.
Learn and grow. All his old ambitions are still possible, he just has to be
patient. And to stop whining. It is ill-befitting a priest of Morius and
makes him no happier. He will continue to learn and grow and figure out
each sin.
Zahgrud is ready to live again.
Shaman Path - Pain
Added Wed Apr 29 21:13:04 2020 at level 43:
Breaker no longer makes sense, still not sure if I choose this but pain makes more sense
PK Wins
Mar 18, 2020|Lv 26|Delar-Tol|Tikkan vs 1: [26] Zahgrud (100%, sickness)
Mar 20, 2020|Lv 26|The Past Grove|Muzabbak vs 3: [25] Marceluis (0%), [26] Zahgrud (0%), [24] Gharzhak (100%, venomous slash)