Uk-thak [NPC]

[Shadowsong]

Name: Uk-thak
Age: 17 (assuming trolls mature faster)
Race: Trollspawn (half-troll who heavily favours his troll blood).
Height: 7' 5"
Weight: 560 lbs.

Occupation: Raider, brigand and sheer muscle.

Physical Description: Wears his troll heritage heavily upon his face, is often mistaken for a full troll. Coated in dark vine-green, rubbery skin. Great fangs fill his bestial maw, and a long curled nose protrudes from above. Narrow eyes bespeak of vengeful awareness, suggesting one who has endured countless abuses in life, remembers them all, and has the determination to punish each and every one of them severely.

His overall physique is wiry, the muscles under his skin like steel cables. Not bulky as with most trolls, but a trained eye would know to beware such strength. Wrapped around him are multiple layers of mail worn atop rough furs, strands of which poke through the links of the armour. Numerous belts, buckles and straps hold the armour in place.

Possessions: (anything they own or keep on their person)

Long axe - Originally a two handed weapon, with a haft roughly four and a half feet long, and quite heavy. The blade is very wide, reasonably light, and forged very thin to make it superb for cutting. As hand-to-hand weaponry goes, is the most dangerous weapon on the field. Doubly so in Uk-thak's hands, or hand in some cases, because unlike humans, he sometimes wields this thing one handed.

And long axes can be swung VERY fast.

Chain Swathing - Many suits of chainmail went into this armour, which is currently four layers thick over the torso, and two layers thick over the arms and legs. This was made from the salvaged armour of fallen foes, he attatches the chain links to his existing armour. Obviously this armour is very heavy, and his ability to fight in it is a testament to his strength.

Baublery - Not a real word I know, but over his many raids, Uk-thak has acquired loot adding up to some fair wealth. Most in the form of gems and jewelery that have limited value to Uk-thak.

Powers or Strengths: (including stuff like magic, money, martial arts, etc.)

Strength - Wiry muscles are very effective on a strength-to-size ratio, something Uk-thak demonstrates by wearing his armour and swinging his long axe as easily as he does. While he is less strong than a full troll, he can easily overpower humans and other races, and his strength is above normal for a half-troll.

Troll Blood - Uk-thak has some of the regenerative ability of his troll side. He does not recover from harm as quickly as a full troll but he can still heal horrible wounds within the space of a few hours. Severed limbs take days to heal, depending upon how far down the limb is severed, although reattatching a limb takes place within a few minutes (although that limb is still badly wounded).

Injury Tolerance - A trollspawn is very difficult to hurt. A blade in the guts is a fairly minor wound to him. A slit throat is merely uncomfortable. One has to hack bits from him or shatter bones to inflict any meaningful injuries.

Basic Metalwork - As crude as his knowledge is, Uk-thak can work with steel and a forge. He avoids it whenever possible, due to his natural aversion to fire, but this was how he made his customised armour.

Awareness - One could say that Uk-thak is bright by troll standards, in truth, it would be more accurate to say that he was somewhat bright by human standards. He lacks any formal education but he is fairly intelligent.

Magic:

Bonded Flesh - How in the blue hell Uk-thak learned how to do this is unknown, but he is still able to manipulate his limbs, even when they have been severed. The severed limbs deteriorate after a while, seldom living more than a half hour if kept seperate from the body.

Weaknesses:

Warped features - Most consider Uk-thak to be a monster. Most are right. The fact that most mistake Uk-thak for some other monster rather than a mere half-troll can lead to problems, one of which being a less than enlightened reaction.

Untutored - Everyone assumes that a troll-like beast is stupid, so even despite his intellect he has never had the opportunity for any meaningful training.

Troll influence - After years of mistreatment at the hands of humans, Uk-thak's loyalty is exclusively to his troll side. Zaekonspeare is a cause Uk-thak fervantly believes in, he could perhaps be easily manipulated if he believes he is serving the "troll cause."

Body Shape - Having long, thin arms and legs creates some susceptability to severed limbs. Not too great a danger for Uk-thak, espescially in his armour, but it can be an inconvenience, espescially during combat.

Another side effect of this is that Uk-thak is a very poor swimmer. He can splash about and maybe avoid drowning for a short while, but expecting him to cover any noticeable distance in water is just silly. Not that chain swathing helps any.

History:

The name Uk-thak means something: it means that whoever gave him that name had not the faintest idea what would be a good name for a troll. He was the unfortunate product of when one woman survived a troll raid on her settlement.

As one would expect, the townsfolk were none-too-fond of Uk-thak, but strangely chose not to kill him at birth. Mostly because he had inherited enough regenerative ability to make this very difficult. The people were willing to kill him, but none in the village could summon up the necessary determination to make Uk-thak stay dead.

So, ok, they raised him as a slave. Not very good treatment really. He was limited to menial work, often involving dangers the actual villagers chose to avoid. Physical work built up some strength, but no one offered him the required food for a growing troll.

Eventually, there were problems. Uk-thak recieved beatings as he grew up. Of course, the dangers of administering beatings to an oversized monster with fangs and claws are self-explanatory. The families of those bullies wanted Uk-thak burnt, Uk-thak resisted. People got nervous about pushing the matter when the trollspawn snatched a dagger from someone. The mob tried dragging him to a stake for burning, but claws led to some serious wounds. The mob stabbed him with pitchforks and lit torches, but when the slave knocked the torches into the thatch roof of a nearby building and started a fire in the village his punishment became a lesser priority.

He never stuck around for people to refocus on him.

Leaving the village, Uk-thak wandered hungry until he could find another settlement. A mob began to gather but when a slavering monster asks for a job and food, that confuses the issue. One blacksmith saw hope in the idea of such a strong forge worker. He was surprised by how well the trollspawn learned the trade, but eventually the arrangement had to end because Uk-thak had too many difficulties dealing with the forge fire and the smith had taken on a new apprentice.

Either way, it was a good few years for Uk-thak, he got fed and treated with more respect than he was used to.

Once that apprenticeship was lost, the troll had very few chances with the people. So Uk-thak promptly moved out.

To be shot in the neck with an arrow. The bandits were mst concerned when the creature got up, and even more concerned when it asked for a job.

Thus began his banditry career. Simply waylaying travellers and raiding merchants. Occasionally sherrifs or soldiers would get upset at this and come hunting the brigands. These were met in honest battle. And butchered. Their armour was salvage for scraps and affixed to Uk-thak's own.

Eventually there was one retaliation too strong for Uk-thak and the bandits. He escaped, simply by being so much effort to kill. He fought well, was taken down, and dragged himself clear during the rout.

On the road once more, but more survival trained, Uk-thak made it to Zaekonspiere, the only haven he could think of. Among the trolls he was far more welcome, Faraenk recognised a potential in him and made good use of him. He had a future here.

Now he fights for Zaekonspiere, and serves it as best he can.