Ok, here's a character I'd like a quick, free sketch for, when you have the time.
ATHRAK
Stats: dwarf male (torin) / 3rd level ranger (Ptah) / lawful good
Homeland: City-state of Osebye, Harqual
Personality: Single-minded and determined.
Description: Athrak was taken from his family when still only a child. The perpetrators were ogres that sold him into slavery. Eventually he was taken to Zafira where he served as a slave for most of his childhood. Only when he was left for dead during a caravan attack did he escape.
Knowing only slavery and bit and pieces from his family life, Athrak found himself unable to trust others – living as a recluse for years in the Heverkent Forest. Only when he came across an old man being tortured by ogres did he find his courage. He sent the ogres to the grave in a fit of rage and saved the old mans life.
That man's name was Terr Mulbronte, a ranger who had defended the land around the Heverkent Forest and the Savannas – by battling evil humanoids, all his life. Now in his twilight years, Terr found himself unable to handle the growing problem in the region. The old ranger had only his young grand niece, Shara, to pass his skills onto and she would not be of age for several years. He saw tremendous potential in Athrak as a student and soon convinced the young dwarf to learn the ways of the ranger and help Terr defend the wilderness until Shara was old enough to take Terr's place.
Athrak was a quick study and took a shining to the old man, sort as a surrogate father. However, Athrak knew it wouldn't last forever as Terr was human and the years quickly caught up with the old ranger. As Athrak stood over his mentor’s deathbed he promised to stay and train Shara until she was ready to protect Terr's protectorate. The old man died with a smile.
Already a young, strong woman, Shara excelled under Athrak's teachings and had soon outstripped the young dwarf in ability. Athrak wasn't surprised, after all she was human. Athrak had grown restless during the years after Terr's death and had come to revere the teaching of the God of Artist and Travelers, Ptah.
So the young dwarven ranger took his leave of his tall, little sister (as he was fond of referring to her) to seek his place in the world and hopefully find his clan among the Torin of the savannas, someday.
Torin Dwarves: The torin are a offshoot race of a clan of dwarves that abandoned the dwarven city of Nithardel in the Sunus Mountains over three hundred years ago. The reason for this has been lost to time, as the torin refuse to discuss the matter and no one has been able to locate the lost dwarven city since.
After the torin abandoned their homeland they immigrated south of the Great Expanse and now live a nomadic lifestyle on the savannas of Southern Harqual, hunting antelope and zebras from the back of dire badgers. Torin try to get along with just about everyone. However, most view them as strange and savage but will trade with torin for their fine weapons and jewelry. The only true enemies the torin have are the zebranaurs, as that race takes exception to the torins' diet of zebra meat.
Torin weaponry has changed over three hundred years as the dwarves adapted to their new environment. Torin don't forge metal weapons anymore, as it became impossible for the nomadic dwarves to transport the tools required. Instead, torin hunt and fight with bows, quarterstaffs, javelins, and stone throwing axes (like a tomahawk). However, their favorite weapons are light crossbows and heavy stone bolas.
Torin are just as intelligent as their northern cousins but are often looked down upon all the same. They have light brown to russet colored hair and are fond of drooping, braided mustaches and short ponytails. Torin males don't grow beards, as Southern Harqual is hot enough as it is and females haven't any facial hair at all. They have brown or olive skin tones and always have brown or black eyes.
Torin dwarves do not worship Moradin but do respect the teachings of his clerics. Most torin dwarves worship Apollo, Larea, Ptah, Ran, or Sanh. It is whispered that some torin worship Uller, the Hunter God, but this has not been confirmed.
