|
Character Description:
Aragrym Ravenmane was the third child born of Hakim
Ravenmane, a shaman of the Tree Ghost tribe. He was born in a
small village just ten miles north of the Grandfather Tree.
However, he visited the Grandfather Tree every year during the
autumn equinox and had fond memories of there where he was
reunited with some of his friends and relatives who lived at or
were visiting the larger village there at the time.
He has always had a competitive spirit and enjoyed athletic
sports with the other youths of his village. He was a well-rounded
person who was somewhat of a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none”
as far as his abilities went. He was very fond of nature and
enjoyed strolling through the woods and taking in all of the trees
and wildlife. He dreamt of one day perhaps becoming a ranger, but
he was under pressure from the tribe to become a brave warrior.
Aragrym had only few memories of his mother, Lyssa, because she
died giving birth to Aragrym's younger brother, Tarim, when
Aragrym was only three years old. All that he remembers is that
she was a mysterious woman from the Black Raven tribe, but
sometimes he has strange dreams about her that he cannot explain.
Because she died in birth of Tarim, Aragrym's sister, Lyrra, was
charged with caring for Aragrym and Tarim when they were small
children. When Tarim was born, he was very weak and nearly died
several times, so Lyrra sacrificed her childhood in caring for
him.
Aragrym also had an older brother named Caradrym, but he had
few memories of him due to the fact that he left the village to
become a druid. He did remember that Caradrym was very attuned
with nature, and Aragrym learned some interesting things of it
during his older brother’s infrequent visits.
Aragrym, like most of the barbarians of his tribe, worshiped
Uthgar and the Tree Ghost beast totem spirit, showing a fierce
devotion to his deity. He often looked to the Tree Ghost beast
totem for guidance when he had a problem. Also, during his
training to be a warrior when he was a youth, his typical response
to an enemy would be to charge into the melee with a great roar of
“Uthgar!” However, Hakim had taught him not to let his pride
outweigh good caution. He would only do this when it was apparent
that his side already had the upper hand in the battle. When it
was apparent that this was not so, he was also capable of
releasing a more discreet, but undoubtedly devastating barrage of
arrows from his shortbow.
It quickly became apparent to Aragrym that his younger brother
possessed great wisdom and intelligence beyond his young age.
Aragrym had always respected him for this, but jokingly called him
"the little runt." Tarim usually responded by calling him "the big
dummy." It was apparent that Aragrym loved Tarim as a brother, but
he tried to keep up his "big, tough barbarian" appearance by
hiding his emotions, even though he knew Tarim saw right through
the facade. Aragrym often protected Tarim from any village
children who tried to tease Tarim, and there were few who would
try to hurt Tarim when Aragrym was around. They were all quite
aware that Aragrym was capable of fiercely protecting his younger
brother.
One time, Hakim had a mysterious graybeard visitor. That night,
Aragrym was waiting in his tent when he saw Tarim sitting outside
by the campfire. Then the strange man approached Tarim, and
Aragrym saw the man hand Tarim a strange-looking book. Aragrym
could see that the graybeard spoke to Tarim, but he was too far
away to be able to hear what he had said. Aragrym thought he heard
a noise behind him and turned around to regard it. When he turned
back, the graybeard was gone, and Tarim appeared similarly
surprised. After this strange incident, Aragrym noticed a distance
growing between Hakim and his youngest son. He began to grow
suspicious that for some unknown reason Tarim wasn't fulfilling
his father's hopes of becoming a tribal shaman, but Aragrym kept
his suspicions to himself.
When Aragrym turned fifteen, he participated in the Ritual of
the Runehunt, in which the youths of the tribe compete to seek
victory over one of the tribe's ritual enemies. Aragrym decided to
use his familiarity of the forest to aid him. He slid through the
forest, as quietly as a barbarian of his size would allow, and
came upon some orc tracks. He followed them until he came upon a
small band of orcs, grunting loudly and gorging on some rancid
meat. Most proud barbarians would have stormed in recklessly, and,
although Aragrym had a desire to do just that, he knew he should
heed Hakim‘s words about not letting his pride outweigh good
caution. Aragrym quietly climbed up a tree nearby. He readied his
bow with an arrow from his quiver, took aim of one of the orcs,
and released his arrow. It streaked through the air and thudded
into the orc's chest, collapsing its lung. The orc fell backward,
gasping and clutching its wound, and died a few moments later.
The rest of the orcs responded by frantically running around in
a frenzy, trying to find out who had killed their companion while
Aragrym’s volley of arrows furiously continued. Then a group of
Tree Ghost barbarians heard the commotion and stormed in,
defeating the orcs by use of greater numbers. However, their
victory was due to the arrows that streaked down from Aragrym's
bow.
Aragrym was proudly welcomed back to the tribe. Having passed
the Ritual of the Runehunt, he was initiated into manhood during
the Telhut, a ritual in which the young boys of the tribe become
men.
One day, Aragrym's father, Hakim, mistakenly summoned a strange
monster, but lost control of it. It went on a rampage through the
village, killing and injuring many people before Tarim and Aragrym
drove it into the High Forest.
When they went back to consult Hakim about the strange
occurrence, they found his mutilated body inside the deer hide
tent where he had made his fatal error. Although Lyrra tried to
convince them otherwise, the newly-orphaned Ravenmane brothers
told her that they must leave to avenge their dear father. With
only a short embrace and a good-bye, Tarim and Aragrym started
into the High Forest. Shortly after, they found the beast’s tracks
and started after it.
Appearance
Aragrym Ravenmane is a twenty-year-old barbarian. He is about
six feet tall and moderately muscled. He has thick, jet-black
hair, which he neglects to even brush or comb, and its wild,
untamed appearance reflects his wild spirit. He wears a coat of
studded leather armor, along with an outfit for cold weather,
including a wool coat, linen shirt, wool cap, heavy cloak, thick
pants, and a pair of furred boots. On his back he carries an
overstuffed quiver or arrows for his shortbow, his bedroll, and a
backpack containing his trail rations, waterskin, and his potion
of hiding, a gift from his father, Hakim. Hanging from his waist
are his greataxe and shortbow. Aragrym is fair-skinned and has
piercing blue eyes. |
