Difference between revisions of "Tor"

Revision as of 23:31, 18 June 2016

Tor, 2nd level/2nd level (lawful, neutral or chaotic) good male half-giant ranger/rain cleric

Strength 21, Dexterity 14, Constitution 22, Intelligence (13), Wisdom 15, Charisma 14

Background

Tor was a toddler when his mostly human tribe, the Tribe of Far Earth, was killed by the haflings of the Ten Mountains, and as such he has no memories of these events. Raised in halfling culture, from his earliest years Tor grew up as a halfling, acting like or otherwise mimicking them in almost every way. His mother Puabi, angry at the halflings for the death of her tribesmen and especially over the death of her beloved husband the ranger Yandor, was distant from Tor, and tried at times to separate Tor from the halflings, but even from the earliest of his days at the Forest Ridge Tor began emulating the halflings. Eventually Puabi distanced herself from her young son, and left to meditate in the wilderness and expand her knowledge in the Way of the Unseen. In the years since, although able to teleport, the visits of Tor's mother visits have been few and far between.

In these early years Tor was cared for by his earth cleric elder sister Agnola, and by his maternal uncle, Vosh, who helped teach him how to hunt and manage the rainforest as a half-giant. In truth however, Tor was raised by the halflings. Tor was the object of fascination of Ulgo, the best ranger in the Clan of Snow Lake, and even as a half-giant boy Tor was allowed to come along the hunt with Ulgo and the rest of his warriors. What Tor could not learn from Ulgo and the other hunters, he learned from Vosh. Tor also spent many hours with Ob, the clan rain cleric, who maintained a shrine tree near the cloud-hidden tops of a great mountain. Ob sang many songs to the life-giving rain, and unlike the other halflings, Ob had a kinder and more compassionate soul. Ob knew a great deal about the rainforests, and shared much wisdom with Tor.

As an adolescent, Tor received a summons from Chief Nomdar, the Rain Bird, and so he ascended the great halfling chieftain’s pyramid at the base of a mountain, and spoke with the powerful chief. Questioned in halfling ways, Rain Bird opened up new thoughts to Tor, and new horizons of spiritual awakening the half-giant may have otherwise never received. Each year thereafter, Rain Bird would call on Tor. Spending much time with Uglo and Ob, Tor would ascend the steps of the pyramid once more. Each year Tor's wisdom increased, and Rain Bird used his magic and showed Tor about the spirit realm, and many other things. He once even walked with Tor upon the storm, and Tor ran through the rains and clouds.

During these years, Tor’s mother would reappear from time to time, and school Tor in the Way of the Unseen, at least enough so that he could wield his wild talent and protect himself. During one of her visits, Tor’s grandmother Liferra returned to the Ten Mountains from lands unknown, and at last fulfilled her daughter’s wishes to restore the life of Tor's father Yandor. The few surviving bones and debris from Yandor were gathered, and in a ritual buried in the forest beside a stream. After many days, a sprout arose from beneath the earth, and Liferra reached down and pulled from the earth Yandor, regrown and reborn. Tor met his father, and for a time they trained together in the forest under the eye of Puabi. Yet Yandor was no halfling, and not so long after his rebirth, Tor’s parents left, bringing along their elder daughter Agnola and Hamond, to live in the mysterious lands beyond the great Forest Ridge.

Two years ago, Rain Bird used his magic and sent Tor on a quest, causing him to climb to the top of a snowy mountain, where Tor was pelted by rains and snow, and threatened by thunder and lightning for a day and a night. He was in the last struck by a lightning bolt amidst the thick clouds. When Tor awoke the next morning, Rain Bird appeared and announced that Tor had survived and passed his rite of passage, and had been accepted as a cleric of the rains. Not longer afterwards, Tor completed a ritualized hunt with Ulgo, and under the songs of Ob became an initiate ranger of the tribe.

Tor can now hear the voices of the spirits of rain when the clouds and water come, and for his prayers and faith, they reward him with spells.