Greetings my fellow brother in the
search for true lore,
I
have here compiled a brief understanding of a character of interest for both you
and I. the Character in question is of course Voadkyn the werewolf. I hope the
following information comes to you in good stead with your own research and
creates mirth where there might not have been.
As
always, birth is a good beginning and for Voadkyn this occurred in Moonwood[1]
to a werewolf[2] tribe
of the "People of the Black Blood."[3]
Voadkyn received his name from an elder who had travelled to Cold Wood and met
the local inhabitants - Voadkyns[4]
-tree giants known for their dislike of jovial behaviour and preference for
brooding and silence.
Voadkyn
exhibited the traits of his namesake not willingly joining in the play-fights
of his brothers and often throwing fights organised by the tribes. Wary of the spotlight
he preferred to remain in the shadows. When it was revealed that his lycanthropic
nature was playing second fiddle to the Tuathan[5]
blood in his veins the tribe was all too happy to comply.
Despite
his more passive shape change forms, the tribe did not disown him and welcomed
the fruits of his hunting. Voadkyn had an unnatural endurance and could remain
motionless for days with his longbow ready, waiting for the opportune time to
strike.
He
would have lived out the rest of his days in the same way if not for a
travelling priestess of Malar. While his tribe were devout followers of Malar, they
rarely had contact with a priest or priestess. This lack of contact had let
Voadkyn and his longbow slip through a crack. While they themselves did not use
bows or ranged weapons, the tribe did not condemn Voadkyn for doing so. This
was rectified when the travelling priestess announced that the tribe would
celebrate the High Hunt[6]
and chose Voadkyn to be the mark due to his heretical hunting style."
Taste the blood of those you slay, and never kill from a distance."[7]
Using
a combination of stealth and traps Voadkyn easily escaped the bloodthirsty
werewolves his tribe had become. Knowing that he was therefore exempt from
further High Hunts and the unlikeliness that the priest chose him in the first
place, Voadkyn asked for a prized tribal Carrikal. The carrikal has immense
significance for the tribe as it was made from the jawbone of one of the tribe's
great leaders. Voadkyn then vowed to make his kills as bloody as the jagged
weapon would allow, uphold the tribal law and hold to the teachings of Malar.
However,
it was not long before he could feel the piercing eyes of his fellow
tribe-members and their jealousy that a runt would receive such an esteemed
weapon. A tribal outcast was a bad thing to be in werewolf territory but that was
what Voadkyn found himself becoming. One day whilst hunting a quarry, that
would create respect in the eyes of his tribe and Malar, he went beyond his tribe's
border. Losing his quarry despite a hunt that made Malar proud, Voadkyn's
Tuathan blood cried out to continue. To continue the hunt of prey unknown in
lands unknown. At this turn of events, the night that had always been Voadkyn's
friend began to bear its fangs. As Voadkyn continued he heard the howls of
wolves in the air and saw the shadows move with images of ghostly wolves, the
tribe was hunting him.
Running
from a tribe that he continued to see in the shadows and following the wonder-lust
of his Tuathan blood he ventured towards civilisation. When Voadkyn first
encountered the creatures known as sheep, he was pleasantly surprised that such
a dumb animal existed for his consumption. Unfortunately, simple dogs or
farmers with sticks (not much of a challenge for a werewolf runt who had
mastered his shape-changing and stealth techniques) often guarded the sheep.
The adventurers that soon followed proved to be more difficult. Nevertheless,
the equipment they possessed was an adequate reimbursement. Thus too was
Voadkyn's life until arriving in Moonstair.
In
Moonstair Voadkyn heard the summons to create an adventuring party. The goal
was to investigate strange disappearances in the surrounding forest. While the
mayor was apparently clueless to the contributing forces to Voadkyn's keen
senses there was the smell of undeath. For the Voadkyn's tribe, who revelled in
blood and the thrill of the hunt, the scourge of the undead was an unnecessary
evil that would be best back in the ground. The possible sojourn to the
fey-world solidified the deal; a chance to return to the land of his ancestors
was an unmissable opportunity. However, this sojourn to the undead-tainted
fey-world had an unforeseeable side effect for Voadkyn. The taint on the land
attached itself to Voadkyn making a shadowy character literally shadowy.[8]
Now
this story has not yet reached a conclusion, and using my vast unknowable
powers I have seen into Voadkyn's soul. I have seen his wishes and desires,
what he hopes to attain in the short and long-term, such information that I am
willing to share with you for your reading pleasure. Voadkyn is currently choosing
to continue with this adventuring party confident that he can disappear into
the shadows should things go awry. He is reluctantly optimistic that this
party, this tribe can and will protect its members should or when his past life
catches up to him. Until that time it seems that Voadkyn will continue to train
his stealth techniques, master his bloodthirsty fighting style, all the while
stretching his legs for the inevitable time when again he will be on the run.[9]
P.S. I
have yet to research the particular tribe that Voadkyn was born into or even
the fate of his sires, as I am sure that you would be better able to find
information on such topics. A clarification should be made into the reason why
Voadkyn runs. I for one have not found any evidence that his tribe is actually
hunting him. I am currently entertaining the possibility that his mind is
simply creating these fantasies as result of worshiping his bloodthirsty deity
and the guilt that often accompanies those fellows who seek paths of evil
rather than good.
P.P.S If
any clarification needs to be made please write me and I will be hasty to
respond.
Your friend, the one writing this letter
[1]
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Moonwood
[2]
Werewolves have the shape-changer sub-type however, as a Tuathan I do not. Can
I? If I did then I should probably also be allergic to silver, or maybe because
I am a runt I did not pick-up that weakness. Another awesome feature of lycans
is that they are bearers of disease, that would be another one of those little
perks that I love adding to my characters :P
[3]
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/People_of_the_Black_Blood
[4]
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Voadkyn
[5]
Tuathans are born with fey blood however they are not qualified as fey. Can I
be?
[6]
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/High_Hunt
[7]
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Malar
[8]
Haunting shade [multiclass skill] changes my origin to shadow, having written
this footnote last it might be that you can only have one origin, if in the
case this is true then I don't really need to have the fey Origin as well.
Because I can't :P
[9]
Paragon path (Intrepid Scout)
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