Korax, The Beast in Black Race : Human (Extraplanar) Age: 31, physically mid-20's due to planar interference. Class : Barbarian Physical Description Korax is a massive beast of a man, both owing to his racial heritage and the diet of raw protein and alchemical infusions his caste of warriors were fed from childhood, even among their own people he and his fellow 'Tetekura', the name in the People's Tongue given to the warriors picked by the Witch Queens to become berserkers. Standing comfortably over seven feet tall and built thick with slab-like, heavy working-man muscle; Korax weighs in at a staggering 398 pounds, and looks it. Dark skinned, his sun-baked brown complexion stands him apart the pale-skinned races of the Sword Coast, as do the intricate, body-spanned tattoos he has, rough, primitive works: each one leaving raised scars in addition to pigment in a twisted, interlocking pattern centered on his chest and covered his arms like layered armor plates. He takes care of his appearance, despite his savage origins, and keeps himself fairly clean and groomed, his hair oiled and neatly braided, long and jet black, it hangs in three braids, two smaller that fall forward over either shoulder, and one extremely thick one that dangles to his mid-back, all three bound around a ring of iron, with metal cuffs periodically down their length. He makes little effort to blend with local populations, his size alone making him stand out and wearing local fashions impractical, sticking to simple breeches of tanned buckskin, heavy traveling boots and his massive girdle and helm, the latter two items both festooned with the grim remains of a half-breed demon betrayer slain ritualistically by his own hands, it's grinning skull preserved and bolted to the thick, torso-spanning girdle, and it's black horns curling from his dreadhelm; a massive headpiece with a articulated bevor he can lower so he may eat and drink, leading to the only bits of his face any living man has seen - a strong cleft chin and full lips, both heavily tattooed. Personality Direct and forthright, Korax has little patience or use for subterfuge; and will often tell you directly what he thinks of you without fear of reprisal. This does occasionally lead to him offending or alienating those he would befriend, a personality flaw he works hard to reign in. Despite this he is a man of quiet cunning, and is fully aware of the outside perception of him as a brute and savage, and will often play up his lack of knowledge far further than it's true extent to either make a would-be friend more comfortable, or lull an adversary into a sense of superiority he can exploit. He is deeply inquisitive despite holding many superstitions, and holds a strong value for things of beauty and art, considering them precious and too delicate for his savage hands, things to be protected for others, not himself. Self-denial is a strong thread in his personality, and he often comes across as isolated, disliking being too close to outsiders, at odds with his cultural demand for touch. He tolerates the Sword Coast natives' love of black slapping, hand-shaking joviality with obvious stiffness, A strong sign of friendship is if he is willing to clasp your hand in his - however anyone attempting to touch his head, face or helmet is met with a stern reprimand, if not a fight. Korax despises arcane magic, and is none too shy to condemn sorcery when he sees it - but seems to carry no hatred for it's wielder unless they show that they cast magics out of malice or cruelty, almost as if he views the power itself as a corrupting agent, and it's wielder a victim of it's lures. He's a man of quiet poise, but large laughter and strong, unwavering bonds. His word is as adamant, if he promises something - he will shed blood and rive the earth to see it through. Know History Little of Korax's history is readily known aside from when he appeared quite unexpectedly in the summoning circle of a would-be demon worshipper in Luskan, who's wards were keyed to the demonic entity and not nigh-400lbs of suitably disoriented barbarian. After a brief period of unpleasantness with Luskan's rather lawless peoples, Korax set to the road with only the words 'Seek the Wychlaran' to guide him in this strange new land. He made a small name of himself for his unique appearance, quite the opposite of the pale-haired, pale-skinned giants from Icewind Dale most were accustomed to - and for his seemingly iron-bound sense of morality, standing against brigands and savage humanoids in several occasions, never turning down a hamlet or traveler in need of a strong arm, he's slowly collected what information he could with his minimal command of the common tongue - and complete inability to read or write, and seeks to find allies who can aid him in his quest to find his way home... or failing that, someone who can listen to his tale, the tales of his people before he dies. So he will not be forgotten.
