Garmokh gro-Mahl

Backstory

Born to a pair of traveling merchants, Garm spent his first days in a roving caravan meandering through the lands. Sadly, his tribe was ambushed by raiders shortly after his birth, and those that survived the attack were scattered or fled. Barely a toddler and left to fend for himself, he thankfully managed to crawl into some shrubs and hid from the assailants. Without sustenance or care, he was surely to perish, swaddled in naught but leaves and soil. But as fate would have it, a mysterious traveler came across the wreckage, happening to notice the abandoned boy. Quickly discerning what had taken place, the man scooped up the crying boy, draping him in a soft blanket and carrying him onward to their destiny.Hiking across the rocky wastes of Craglorn, the traveler began the ascent into the high, snow-capped mountains of Wrothgar in search of a reclusive monastery called Kahdarang, a sanctuary for a reclusive sect of Star Priests that upheld ancient traditions of Celestial worship and divination practices. It was here that the Orc spent his formative years, studying and training not only under these monks of the night sky but mentored quite closely by the mysterious traveler that had rescued him from a grisly fate; the man had taken an interest in his well-being and upbringing, having finally returned to his home in the mountains following a long pilgrimage.Though his birth family was gone, Garm found kinship in the residents of the temple, a diverse populace comprised of those from all walks of life. He walked the path of stellar divination, learning to sense the flowing tendrils of fate, as well as honing traditional martial skills and techniques. He even managed to pick up some basic handiworks from the various artisans populating their monastic society.But nothing lasts forever. As his talents and proficiencies grew, he became restless, growing eager to see the world beyond his stronghold in the mountains. Further, he uncovered a dark secret behind the monastery: the elders and most powerful practitioners, deluded by their arrogance, sought to defy the flow of fate entirely by harvesting souls and engaging in necromantic rituals. Foolishly, Garm reacted by attempting to put a stop to the heinous acts, but was stopped well before he could succeed. As they planned to make a sacrifice out of him, his mentor intervened, revealing himself to be a part of this inner circle, freeing the Orc under the cover of darkness. However, as he led him through a secret passage deep in the mountains, he ordered Garm never to come back, banished from his only home. Defiantly, Garm swore to embark upon a pilgrimage of his own, growing in strength and knowledge to one day return and put a stop to their dark magicks, for now stepping out across the treacherous reaches of the mountains and down into the world below.Soon he would find that the world was a dark and dangerous place, especially for one as lacking in worldly experience as he. With only the light of the stars to guide him, he has begun a long and colorful journey, fraught with perils and studded with joys alike. Only time would tell if his mentor’s parting words to him would ring true: that while his parents were long gone, he has a brother that yet walks the land, whose fate would be inextricably bound to his own.

Appearance and Characteristics

Appearance
-Mid-thirties in age
-Average height
-Wide frame, beefy body (typical Orc) with a bit of a belly
-Tattoos covering his arms and shoulders, astral patterns in an Orsimer design
-Facial features: creased brow, prominent nose, strong jaw, gray-blue eyes (kind and soft), smooth and blunt tusks (not particularly large)
-Well-groomed, with tidy, even brows, hair, and beard; usually sporting full, long beard and silky raven hair (usually tied up high), but may be seen with only stubble or partially shaved scalp
-Outfits: generally clad in combination of travel leathers and wrapped cloth or handmade textiles, but enjoys a set of silken fabrics for leisureBehavior
-hopeful and optimistic
-inquisitive
-shy and sometimes awkward, unaccustomed to many social norms
-wise, but not necessarily intelligent
-perceptive but tends to overthink
-naive, quick to trust
-disciplined and reverent

Allies and Adversaries

-WIP-

Hroinach RuanaidhGarm's current travel partner, a mysterious Reachman whose path he crossed during a confrontation with some graverobbers. A man of few words, and even less patience, Garm has grown a bit of a soft spot for him, and the two have found an effective complementary relationship in one another.

KahdarangGarm’s former home, this ancient temple sits quietly tucked away in the high reaches of the northwest, accessible only by a perilous journey up into the jagged mountains of Craglorn. A sprawling compound, it is comprised of stone streets and proud spires winding around the cliff faces as well as deep tunnels snaking through the rock itself. Generally cold due to the altitude, the fortress is often draped in frost and icy winds, complicating their supply runs. While the compound is host to some indoor growing operations and livestock husbandry, they regularly take caravans down the narrow, steep passages to exchange crafted goods with the merchants across the lowland deserts.Whether the monastery was originally constructed by Star Priests is unknown, but is nonetheless dedicated to housing them and fostering their practices. Their order is reclusive, perhaps in part due to the remote nature of their home, and engenders a strong sense of caution against outsiders in them.During a brief period of the year, the surrounding conditions generally thaw out a tad, allowing the residents to host a number of festivals. The Parade of Silks, for instance, is a celebration during which the streets are adorned with colorful textiles and mosaic banners, and the inhabitants take to the open spaces for days-long meals, drink, and dancing around towering bonfires.Due to his expulsion from the monastery, Garm has not laid eyes upon his first true home in some years. The mountainous compound houses a dark secret, one which the Orc has sworn to resolve yet within his life.

Hooks & Contact

-WIP-

Artwork by: @Artist_Polly

NA PC: @emvee3