Post by Shokande on Nov 16, 2023 22:40:51 GMT
"I worshiped dead men for their strength, forgetting I was strong."
Name: Hargath Deathskull
Titles: Mentor of Heroes, The Mountain of Bloodshed
Age: Early 40s
Gender: Male
Race: Orc
Height: 7'8"
Eye Color: Storm gray with hints of light blue (turns crimson red when bloodlust)
Hair: Ebony black with some gray, giving it a charcoal hue
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Appearance: Even by Orcish standards, Harg was built for battle. He’s a tower of raw muscle and sinew with his skin beuing a shade of rich green decorated by numerous scars, some fresher than others though he wears them all proudly. Like most Orcs, Harg has tattooed himself with a black line from the bottom of his lip down to his chin. Although he’s no longer a young Orc, he’s still in peak physical condition and shows no clear signs of slowing down yet. The only evidence of his age is the slight graying of his black hair and a few wrinkles forming on his face. His hair is slicked back, with the long ends neatly braided.
Alignment: Chaotic Good. During his youth, Harg embodied the warrior spirit of his people. Many Orcs, including his own Grimfang clan, romanticize him as a honorable warrior and hero who led his people to countless victories and triumphs. Few mention the darker aspects of his younger self, the byproducts of being raised in a warrior culture like the Orcs. For as honorable and noble as Harg appeared to his peers in the Imperium, he was just as ruthless and destructive to his enemies. When his eyes filled with bloodlust, he became nothing more than a violent force of nature that cut through both innocent and guilty alike. It is because of this wanton disregard for life that Harg is oftentimes in internal conflict with himself.
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Armor:
- Aarunosh – The “Heart of Aaru” is a glorious set of armor modeled after the set Harg wore as a gladiator fighting in the grand Colosseum Mundus. After Harg retired from the Colosseum, his bloodstained armor fragments were given to the noble warrior smith Alistar. Perhaps the greatest blacksmith on Aaru, Alistar repaired and reforged the shattered set to give it a renewed sense of purpose. Once Harg returned from his hiatus and joined the Western Imperium of Shokande, Alistar presented the armor to him as a welcoming gesture to the great Orc warrior. Of course, he added his own special touch to his set, called Aarunosh, to hint at Harg’s newfound role as the Defender of Aaru. All the individual pieces were made nigh unbreakable. Magical runes and wards were also embedded into the armor to further protect Harg from the harsh elements and any powerful magic wielded against him. His natural attributes (strength, agility, durability, etc.) were all significantly increased as a result of Alistar’s runes.
Weapons:
- Oshu’Trk’hsk – The “Mountain of Bloodshed” is Harg’s legendary great axe that he wielded in his youth as a gladiator in the Colosseum Mundus and then once more as a death knight. It is truly as intimidating a weapon as its name aptly describes. Oshu’Trk’hsk was forged in the blood of those slain in battle and as a result, the massive axe has taken on a life of its own. It slowly but steadily feeds off the life energy of Harg’s enemies in order to strengthen and nourish itself if enough damage is sustained. For every enemy that Harg slays in battle, that process is accelerated and the slain one’s strength is added to Oshu’Trk’hsk to further enhance and augment its capabilities. Over time, as Harg fights more battles and wars, the blade’s potential appears limitless.
Paraphernalia:
- None
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Powers, Abilities & Skills:
- Warrior Spirit – Harg is perhaps one of the mightiest warriors in all of Aaru, with unsurpassed strength and incredible skill with just about any melee weapon ranging from a sword to an axe or even his own bare hands. His skills such that he can match almost any warrior in the Wheel in a contest of arms. His agility and dexterity are also comparable to his raw physical power, and he is able to move and strike at unparalleled speed. A highly experienced combatant, his instincts and tactical mastery have been forged in the crucible of a thousand battles. He has overcome countless opponents in contests of brute strength and warrior skill. His fighting prowess is legendary to the extent that Harg’s even able to summon the spirits of fallen Orcish soldiers that are able to fight alongside him for a brief period of time.
- Berserker's Rage – Orc berserkers are able to channel their race’s innate lust for blood into raw, frenzied power. Empowered by the thrill of battle, Harg is able to absorb less damage while dishing out significantly more. When berserk, his fists appear to be on fire, his muscles and veins are much more prominent and his eyes turn an intense crimson red. Physical pain is a nonfactor even as his senses and reflexes are heightened. While enraged, Harg can deliver rapid flurries of strikes that send enemies flying through the air. He can also deliver earth-shattering stomps and blows that generate seismic shockwaves. He becomes the ultimate killing machine, though this can be a double-edged sword as he’s unable to tell apart friend from foe.
- Elemental Shamanism – Shamanism is a deeply spiritual form of elemental magic that involves a connection with both the natural and the spirit worlds. It’s based on the premise that the visible world is pervaded by the invisible force of spirits that affect the living in a very strong and meaningful way. Shamanism can therefore be seen as the practical application of the concepts of animism through specialized knowledge and abilities. The power imparted by the elements to the shaman has a wide berth, and encompasses many forces. A shaman can diagnose and cure ailments, harness the power of the elements to defeat their opponents, and enhance the natural power of themselves and other. And these abilities are but a mere fraction of the ability of a shaman. Harg learned the shamanistic philosophy from his close friend, the reclusive but powerful Orcish shaman Lone Wolf. He’s able to perform basic calls, such as imbuing his weapons with elemental power or summoning a small lightning storm. Due to his brush with death, Harg has an intricate relationship with the spirits but whether that’s beneficial or not for him remains to be seen.
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Inspiration:
- Harg is one of my core characters. Although he's seen a few changes through the years, his essence remains the same.
- When it comes to fantasy settings, I've always loved orcs whether they're from the Tolkienverse, Warcraft, Warhammer, Elder Scrolls. Harg is in the stereotypical orc barbarian/berserker mold but has more of a nuance to him than being a simple brute.
- I was greatly inspired by Kratos from the recent God of War video games and made Harg's background similar to his in the sense that he had a very violent past slaughtering both innocent and guilty and is now looking to atone for his past sins.
- I was also inspired by the historical gladiator Spartacus especially when it came to Harg’s early years fighting as a combatant in Aaru’s version of gladiatorial games.
- He is the only known orc in the Imperium as many of his own people are considered too savage and uncouth by Imperial standards. Accepting Shokande's invite to come to the Imperium has served as a second chance for Harg in a way.
- Although he is supposed to be this hulking, imposing warrior, Harg has taken pride and grown to love the next generation of heroes he's training within the Imperium.
