Post by rhatha on Feb 13, 2009 13:05:27 GMT -8
Full Name: Rhatha Sha'Naya
Nicknames: Rath, "Furskin" to some.
Date of Birth: Before the opening of the Nexus in the age of the gods.
Age: Missing and presumed dead at 25.
Original Race: Vah Shir
Fur Pattern: Orange Tiger
Eyes: Deep blue
Height: 6'
Build: Subtly muscular
Race: Iksar
Gender: Male
Crown: Ridged head
Scales: Dark green, paler underbelly
Eyes: Violet
Height: Just under middling height for an Iksar
Build: Lean and lithe
Place of Residence: Anywhere and Nowhere.
Place of Birth: Shar Vahl
Known Relatives: Sharra, Vah Shir daughter, and descendants. First lived in Kelethin, and moved to Qeynos after the Queen took power.
Fharra Sha, Vah Shir Dar Khura (shaman), died shortly after Rhatha's birth.
Tirano Naya, Vah Shir Jharin (bard), died shortly after Rhatha's birth.
No known Iksar relatives.
Religion/Philosophy: Originally a believer in the spirits of Luclin, accepting the presence of the gods. Came to Thulian worship after being reborn as an Iksar, but was not particularly pious. Whether this was due to self-doubts, too strong a reverence for natural spirits, or other means remains unknown.
Occupation: Despite a brief stint studying with the necromancers of Cabilis, Rhatha has been a Khati Sha (beastlord), and later an Animist in Cabilis.
Group/Guild affiliation: Various affiliations as a Vah Shir. Skathris Ven'Sho at the height of their power as an Iksar.
Guild Rank: Typical Claw.
Enemies: He has effectively a blood feud with the Grimlings of Luclin and their leader, Takashi (the undead remains of Khati Sha). He is also a staunch enemy of the Akhevans. On Norrath, he bears little love for the ogres, trolls, and Tier'Dal, but is grudgingly open to consider exceptions to the rule.
Allies: Early on in his career, Rhatha met a group of Iksar exploring Luclin, and became intrigued with how the race persevered in harsh surroundings, as had the Vah Shir. Though many of their ways were disturbing, his curiosity won out and made them, if not allies, at least companions of a sort who had a similar history. Before his changes, he was on amicable terms with most of the races of Norrath, particularly the Fier'Dal. As an Iksar, he found that most other races did not even give him time to identify himself, much less believe him if they did, and he decided that it was futile to disabuse them of the notion that he was more than he appeared to be. His only relations with non-Iksar came in visits to Shar Vahl, where he was able to prove his identity to the people's satisfaction, and even there he was regarded as an unfortunate soul at best.
Likes: Living off the land, often for long periods of time, with only his warder for company. Unusually for a (formerly) Vah Shir, he took up writing, though he held great respect for oral history as well and enjoyed telling tales.
Favorite Foods: Primarily meat, the fresher the better.
Favorite Drinks: Very rarely drinks, having seen the effects on others. On the rare occasions he starts, he invariably becomes roaring drunk.
Favorite Colors: Shades of purple.
Weapons of Choice: Fist weapons, particularly claw-type.
Dislikes: Untruthfullness, especially through deception rather than outright lying.
Warders: As a Vah Shir, Rhatha named his warder Swiftclaw. Glowing golden eyes were his hallmark, and at times Rhatha swore that looking in them was a window to the spirits of his ancestors, though this may have been wishful thinking.
As an Iksar, He bonded the female Chodikai pup Kali'Rasha. Though they remained together as warder and master, Rhatha was never as close to her as he was to Swiftclaw, who by this time was released and served as a guardian for his daughter, hidden away to protect her from his enemies.
Special Abilities:
While having no special natural abilities beyond an extremely close bond with his first warder, Rhatha found himself in many dealings with the spirit world later in life, and came to an understanding of it beyond that of the average Khati Sha. However, his circumstances twisted his vision, and later in life he began to perceive things through his subconscious that were not really there, causing his later knowledge to be suspect.
Positive Personality Traits: Cunning, with well-honed instincts. Respectful to those he feels deserve it.
Negative Personality Traits: Headstrong. Often Swiftclaw was the only guiding voice that could make him rethink his plans before he was in over his head.
Played by What Famous Person: ?
Theme Songs: ?
History (in brief.. full story will follow if I can find its remains on old boards):
Rhatha was born in the city of Shar Vahl on Luclin. He had two known brothers, Sekayn the elder, who followed his own path and does not come into this tale much, and Tirga the younger, a Jharin who shared Rhatha's interest in the Iksar people. They were seperated, too young to remember it, when their parents were killed in combat in the Grimling Forest. Rhatha ran away from the city at an early age, and discovered Swiftclaw in the Shadeweaver's Thicket. Feeling a connection to the small tiger, Rhatha befriended him, and they grew in the thicket, avoiding the Vah Shir patrols and the natural dangers alike.
Years later, Rhatha was found and returned to Shar Vahl. Seeing that he had somehow survived, and found a warder of his own, he was quickly given over to the Khati Sha and learnedtheir ways readily.
Time passed, and his adventures took him all over Luclin, and even to Norrath, when the Nexus began functioning.During this time, he met his first Iksar (as mentioned above) and learned the truth of his family, and his bloodline.. of the the branches of a geneaology that begin with Khati Sha, the hero who first brought the ways of the Beastlord to the Vah Shir. Eventually, he learned the truth of that hero's tragic end, and vowed to destroy his remains, Takashi, which now threatened to destroy his people. He also began his studies into the Akhevan people and language, and had his first conflicts with them, during this time.
His first abortive attempt at this nearly spelled his end, as he was captured by Grimlings and tortured. Miraculously, his warder was able to stealthily help him escape, and he want into hiding, recovering what he could of his strength. But he never fully recovered. He had taken a mate shortly before his failed attack, and others learned of it as well. Their child had just been born, and he had great hope for the future, when his mate was murdered by an Akhevan assassin, and he came forth once again, now seeking vengeance with a fury.
He tracked the killer across Luclin. Gathering his allies from the Shir, the Iksar, and other Norrathians, a great battle ensued, chronicled as follows:
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Rhatha entered the room, looking more serious than usual. He walked directly to the center of the room and stood, stern-faced, until conversations ceased and he had the attention of all gathered. "We're pinpointed the Akhevan's position... it is time."
"Here are matters as they stand. The assassin is moving quickly through the Nexus toward Netherbian Lair. We suspect he's returning to Vex Thal.. we're going to cut him off just inside the Maiden's Eye. Taruun will be occupying nearby Gorangas during this battle, so they should give us no trouble. Four of our best Dar Khura have prepared a spell that will crate a sphere around our battle, which can be shrunk slowly to restrict his movement, and ensure he can't escape until all casting the spell are slain. It is a dangerous job.. but they are all devoted to seeing this through, as am I." Rhatha's eyes softened for a moment, as he went on, "I was not able to save my mate from this one.. but she will be at peace when this is done."
Resuming his serious look, he said, "I do not know how many of you have fought an Akhevan before.. and even those who have may not know all they need to. When an Akhevan is slain, its spirit appears as a Xakra, that is, a shade. Thus, the battle will have two parts: first, the slaying of his body, and then of the spirit, so that it may not be reincarnated by Luclin or Aten. When the spirit is released, we must shrink the spere very closely around it, and harden it so that it can not seep through anywhere. When this happens, only a few of us can be inside... those people will be myself, Chancellor Kelisk, and Pride Champion Sekayn if they are present. If not, whoever is there and available may try, but may be forced out. As this happens, it will harden, preventing phsyical intrusion. Magic will still be able to enter the sphere, though it will not be able to leave, so careful use of it may win the day."
He grew grim faced as he went on, "We don't know exactly what kind of powers this one has. He is a proficient swordsman for certain, as well as possessing very potent magic, not so much in raw power, but in sublety, and in that it is somewhat different from normal spells. Be very cautios for this! I cannot stress that enough.. he was able to move undetected by the Shir for too long."
A new voice cut in from the back of the room. "I don't suppose you'd have another spot at the heart of this mess, would you?" Breaking into a grin, a small green froglok covered the distance to Rhatha in two large leaps and nearly tackled him in greeting.
"Lokaryn! But what are you doing here? You were supposed to be off with--"
"There's always time if something needs to be done.. and this does. It's the last great thing I can do, I failed to see the threat as well, when it happened." He added with a wink, "Master."
"Well, then, apprentice.. you'll have your spot in there with us." Looking at everyone gathered, he said, "That is all the information we have to offer. Time is of the essence. Make what preparations you need, and pray to whatever spirits you believe in.. we leave within the hour."
The group moved swiftly and silently through Dawnshroud, and entered the tunnel to the Maiden's Eye. A small party of Vah Shir waited for them at the exit. As Rhatha and the others approached, one of them stepped forward. "Greetings, Elder. I am glad you made it here so quickly; there is not much time to lose. The foe should be arriving in a couple of minutes, at the most, through this tunnel... I hope you are all ready. Taruun?"
At his query, six more Vah Shir stepped out of the concealing shadows of the tunnel. One of them saluted and spoke, "We are ready as well. The denizens of this area will not trouble you during this.. though I'm afraid we'll be hard-pressed to keep it that way for long."
Rhatha nodded. "Very good, captain. The spell is ready.. the jaws of this trap lay wide open. Everyone into position! Dar Khura, to me, the rest of you, stay above or around the tunnel until the fighting begins." May the spirits watch over us, he thought. We're going to need it.
Minutes passed, in deadly silence, then footsteps were heard coming down the tunnel. Rhatha tensed, waiting until a human had taken his first step outside the tunnel, then curtly nodded to the shaman standing next to him, while unleashing a dispelling strand of magic toward the figure. As it swept over him, the purple robes of a greater Akhevan were revealed in the dim torchlight, and the figure spun with a scowl and locked eyes with Rhatha for a moment as he began to run across the plains at blinding speed. Rhatha nodded to the Dar Khura again, and a chaotic sphere of color, forty feet wide, coalesced around the Akhevan. Nearby Goranga looked up in awe for a bare moment before the Taruun appeared from nowhere and began their work.
"Charge!"
Rhatha muttered to himself, "It ends this day, indeed," and walked over to the sphere, placing both hands upon it and slowly pressing inward as the Dar Khura moved to cardinal positions around it. Then the rest of the force entered the fray, and chaos reigned.
The sphere glowed with swirling purples and blues, translucent, yet noticeable in the dim light. As Rhatha placed his hands upon it, the wrold swept away to reveal a calm blackness as far as his eyes could see. He didn't seem to be standing on anything, but that didn't trouble him; this place was a gateway to the spirit world, akin to the ones he'd used years before to discover the truth about his parents. In the back of his mind, he could hear and see the battle, but from a vangate point such as this the living world seemed less important, somehow. Ancestors, hear me, he thought, for today I entrust to you the spirit of the deceased, four years past. May she be at peace. His thoughts boomed through the darkness, as if he's been shouting, and for a moment there was silence. A small light appeared, and grew. Rhatha smiled. Lumanes, my friend. We have much to do this day. Aid me, now, from the other side, and the sphere wll shrink. A sense of agreement swept over him, in the manner in which this Whisperling communicated, and Rhatha nodded and withdrew his attention into the living world again.
The combatants had no time to see him come out of his trance. Swords and maces, warder and spirit wolves, and all types of magic swirled in a storm of steel and energy that threatened to consume the four-armed monstrosity in the sphere. But every strike was fought back, and countered, and magics crackled against a defensive field. A scaled wolf leaped forward and nearly gained a toothhold on the Akhevan's arm, but was swatted down the the ground with a thud. A bolt of fire that would have scorched his face was narrowly deflected aside, into the chest of a Shir attempting to find an opening, and he fell to the ground, rolling in an attempt to extinguish his fur. The Akhevan spun like a whirlwind of death, his three blades slicing everyone nearby with at least a glancing blow, while his fourth hand drew arcane symbols in the air. A stunning spell from outside the sphere finally penetrated his guard, and shreiking in an unholy voice, he stiffened for a bare moment... just long enough for blades to find themselves into his side. Crumpling to his knees, he tried to lauch a string of curses, but was cut off as blood welled from his mouth and splattered on the grass.
Rhatha looked over the carnage, grim-faced. "We have lost so many already... Do not let down your guard! The true battle begins now." He stepped into the sphere, offering a hand to Lokaryn and the others, and clutches his battleclaws, searching the corpse for the slightest movement. The spirit was there, he could feel it. But it wasn't coming out yet...
At that moment, black lightning crackled from the body and hit the sides of the sphere, splitting into many forks and tracing paths over its exterior to the Dar Khura positioned outside.Their eyes widened, and they tried to step back, the lightning was faster, and impacted each of them squarely in the chest, throwing them back more than ten feet each, and leaving scorched patches in the ground. Rhatha gaped for a moment, then turned to the corpse with a look of pure rage. A black mist spread from the corpse, coalescing into the shape of an Akhevan spirit, looking down upon the mortals. In a booming voice, it proclaimed, "Thox Ishinaear. Tavuellsa Vah Shir! Tekar matarun! (1)" Face locked in a snarl, Rhatha replied, "Thox Sha! Tekarsa thox Aten... Xiallsa xi ans diabo dyek! (2)" And then the mist clouded all of the sphere, hiding those within from sight.
From the ancient stone of the passage to the Dawnshroud peaks, a new voice called. Its sound was breathier, sharper, not the deep roar of a Vah Shir, but its words were clear:
"Kaas centi xi Thule! Vereorsa thox Aten! (3)"
The form of an Iksar sped across the slick grass. Kelisk's familiar heavy coat was cast off, his tough hide armors buckled and tightened for battle, and in his hands the clawed gauntlets of the Savage Spirits sparked and flared dangerously. Beside him, shooting over the ground with the fluidity of a serpent, his massive Chokidai warder Azhri bared her finger's-length jagged teeth. Spirits of snow seeped from her jaws in a cold vapor.
Kelisk rushed for the foggy sphere at a hard sprint, pulling his arms back for a moment. Then, as he was near close enough to touch its smoky edge, he lept forward and thrust the claws before him, willing their furious spirits to grant him passage through the barrier.
"Ans Iksar teka, va xakrariel Ishinaear! (4)"
Those outside the sphere hesitated, unwilling to unleash spells that might harm their comrades, as the sounds of battle emanated from within. The warders and wolf spirits surrounded the sphere and slowly began to pace around it, growling.
Rhatha, Lokaryn, and Kelisk could barely see each other in the haze. They circled the Xakra (5) with narrowed eyes, searching for an opening in its guard. Lokaryn struck first, tensing his legs and leaping forward with blinding speed, spear pointed straight at the heart of the darkness. A shadowed arm swept up and grabbed it in midair, and flung him upward. He hit the top of the sphere solidly, and fell back to the ground behind the foe. Rhatha glanced at Kelisk. "Only two arms, now.. can't block both of us." With a curt nod, they edged around the outside of the sphere until they were directly across from each other, and tensed to strike. The Xakra stared at them impassively from under the dark hood of its cloak, an made a simple gesture.
Two blades flew from the Akhevan's corpse into its hands, and it spun, extending one toward each of them. Rhatha surged forward, narrowly avoiding a downward stroke, and plunged his horns into the upper arm of the Xakra. Meanwhile, Kelisk smirked and dodged a blow that would have beheaded him, kicking out at its leg while clawing a trail of blue flame through its backswing. Wide slices made them both back up a step, and the mist of the sphere surrounded the Xakra, covering its wounds. Rhatha grunted and glanced at Kelisk. "Knew that was too easy.. if we don't kill it outright..." He trailed off as a flurry of swipes cut into the spot he'd been standing, and desperately began to deflect the blade with his weapons. Lokaryn began to stir, and the Xakra spared him a glance, then swept its other hand through the air, causing Lokaryn to rise off the ground. Kelisk raked his claws across the Xakra's side and began to dig into its substance, when the prone Froglok was flung into his side and knocked him away. Turning its attention back to Rhatha, the Xakra begin twirling its blades in ever more deadly maneuvers. Rhatha spun and dodged, barely warding off the blows, until a quick reversal caught the swords in his weapons and wrested them from his grasp. Still staring at him impassively, the Xakra dropped the blades and stared at him for a moment. Staring right back, Rhatha tansed, bringing up his hands to unleash a bolt of frost. The Xakra was faster. Rhatha's spell was interrupted halfway as a shadowed handstruck him in chest and unleashed the dark lightning that had crawled across the sphere earlier. It pulled the darkness to itself, forcing Kelisk and Lokaryn to avert their gazes as they struggled to their feet. Rhatha retreated from consciousness, into the gateway of the spirit realm again, and only dimly felt his body being wracked by horrible pain.
Is this, then, the end? Is this what I have fought for.. to die so close to the end? At least I will be with her at last...
No! This is not the time, or the place... there must be some way! All it takes is one solid strike to the heart. Lokaryn was so close, but he's not fast enough to get beyond its guard. Unless...
Another surge of pain snapped him back to reality, and he realized he'd been roaring at the top of his lungs. He wrenched back and forth in the Xakra's iron grip, thrashing about until the distance was just right...
Scrabbling for purchase with his feet, he thrust them onto the side of the sphere and pushed with all his might. The Xakra relaeased him as he barreled forward, and struck at the ground. But Rhatha was already on his feet. Though his sides ached like never before, his eyes blazed with anger as he stood. He glanced at Lokaryn an inclined his head slightly upward, then at Kelisk and forced a small smile. The Xakra moved to the center again, facing them, and raised its arms to begin a spell.
In a flash, Rhatha dropped to one knee, and Lokaryn hopped onto his shoulders and vaulted over the Xakra, as Kelisk darted forward with his battleclaws. Rhatha gazed at the shade one last time, and cast the simplest spell he knew. A bright flash of light lit the interior of the sphere for a breif moment, long enough for missiles of ice, flame and energy to fly inside and seek their target.
As the spells impacted the spirit, a keening wail filled the air. The Xakra's spell energy crackled around its hands and began to fill the sphere as it lay in its death throes. It last words were spoken not in Akhevan, but it halting Vah Shir, "Curse you, Thox Sha.. there will always be others." The cloak settled to the ground for a breif instant before the magical pressure became too much for the sphere to contain. The colors on the surface swirled wildly for a moment, and cracks began to appear in the translucent surface. Inside, the three looked at each other and nodded in satifsaction, unaware of the danger.
Until the sphere exploded.
A flash of blue light blotted out all vision for a moment, and everyone in the area was flung to the ground by the force of the blast. They began to stir, slowly, to see a small crater in the ground, clods of dirt and glass strewn about the area. Azhri slunk around the destruction for a moment, then barked and bounded off a few feet to where Kelisk had been thrown, rubbing against him until he shakily stood. The forces began to crowd around the crater, looking inside. The only things that remained were the fallen cloak... and a pile of orange and black fur.
Lokaryn slowly rose to his feet from behind a pile of dirt blown aside by the blast, and slowly limped over to the others gazing into the hole. Swiftclaw shoved his way past the others and padded down into the crater. He sniffed at the fur for a moment.. then two.. and slunk back out. One of the Vah Shir came over and slowly put a hand on his back. "I am sorry, little one.. it is time for you to return to the spirit realm." Swiftclaw growled, and the Shir, plainly surprised, took a step back. "But you should not remain.. he would have wanted you to-- wait!" Tilting his head, as if hearing something that only he could, Swiftclaw ran around the crater to another large pile of sod and began tearing it away with his claws. A soft groan could be heard from underneath the pile, and everyone gathered around, removing it quickly to reveal... "Lokaryn? But.." Turning, they looked from one Froglok to the other, as the one on the ground sat up and rubbed his head, then spoke.
"So, it's truly over. He is dead, and--" The Froglok paused, not recognizing his own voice, and suddenly raised his hands, staring at them with a look of disbelief that quickly changed to horror. "By all the spirirts... what's happened?"
Rough translations from Greater Akhevan:
(1) "I am the blood of Luclin. I bring torture to the Vah Shir! Die, mortal!"
(2) "And I am the blood of Sha! I bring death to the blood of Aten... and I bring the justice of the masters of the world!"
(3) "I am the life servant of Thule! I bring terror to the blood of Aten!"
(4) "The Iksar bring you death, shadow spirit of Luclin!"
(5) Shade, or Spirit
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Vengeance had a cost that could not have been forseen. The forces at work ripped his spirit from his body, and into that of another. The Dar Khura were consulted, but could offer no explanation or solution to this turn of events. Other Norrathian peoples could offer nothing but speculation.
Rhatha dipped into despair and depression during this time. Finally, he took a great risk and appealed to the Iksar for aid. He was brought before the mystics of the Claws in the guise of a slave, and just as it seemed there would be no effect from their magics either, he had a vision. He could never say, later, why he saw a servant of Thule. Perhaps it was the magic of his devoted charging the air around. Perhaps it was merely a delusion from his wounded psyche. But in the end, he felt that he was being offered another chance, and took it.
His spirit was indeed released from the curse of the Akhevan, and his body reborn, but to the shock of those present, he was reborn in the form of an Iksar. The formerly cool companionship of the Skathris warmed, in time, perhaps seen as a good omen. In any event, this form proved more palatable to Rhatha, who threw himself into the ways of Cabilis with such fervor that even those who harbored doubts admitted that things appeared, on the surface, to have worked out for the best. But inside his own mind, Rhatha always remembered the Shir, and his own heritage, now lost.
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The last that was heard of Rhatha, many years later, was that he was preparing a force to strike again at Takashi in an effort to bring closure to the tragedy of the bloodline. When the Nexus shut down, no more was heard from him, and he was presumed dead when Luclin was shattered.
Yet the ways of the spirits are mysterious...
Nicknames: Rath, "Furskin" to some.
Date of Birth: Before the opening of the Nexus in the age of the gods.
Age: Missing and presumed dead at 25.
Original Race: Vah Shir
Fur Pattern: Orange Tiger
Eyes: Deep blue
Height: 6'
Build: Subtly muscular
Race: Iksar
Gender: Male
Crown: Ridged head
Scales: Dark green, paler underbelly
Eyes: Violet
Height: Just under middling height for an Iksar
Build: Lean and lithe
Place of Residence: Anywhere and Nowhere.
Place of Birth: Shar Vahl
Known Relatives: Sharra, Vah Shir daughter, and descendants. First lived in Kelethin, and moved to Qeynos after the Queen took power.
Fharra Sha, Vah Shir Dar Khura (shaman), died shortly after Rhatha's birth.
Tirano Naya, Vah Shir Jharin (bard), died shortly after Rhatha's birth.
No known Iksar relatives.
Religion/Philosophy: Originally a believer in the spirits of Luclin, accepting the presence of the gods. Came to Thulian worship after being reborn as an Iksar, but was not particularly pious. Whether this was due to self-doubts, too strong a reverence for natural spirits, or other means remains unknown.
Occupation: Despite a brief stint studying with the necromancers of Cabilis, Rhatha has been a Khati Sha (beastlord), and later an Animist in Cabilis.
Group/Guild affiliation: Various affiliations as a Vah Shir. Skathris Ven'Sho at the height of their power as an Iksar.
Guild Rank: Typical Claw.
Enemies: He has effectively a blood feud with the Grimlings of Luclin and their leader, Takashi (the undead remains of Khati Sha). He is also a staunch enemy of the Akhevans. On Norrath, he bears little love for the ogres, trolls, and Tier'Dal, but is grudgingly open to consider exceptions to the rule.
Allies: Early on in his career, Rhatha met a group of Iksar exploring Luclin, and became intrigued with how the race persevered in harsh surroundings, as had the Vah Shir. Though many of their ways were disturbing, his curiosity won out and made them, if not allies, at least companions of a sort who had a similar history. Before his changes, he was on amicable terms with most of the races of Norrath, particularly the Fier'Dal. As an Iksar, he found that most other races did not even give him time to identify himself, much less believe him if they did, and he decided that it was futile to disabuse them of the notion that he was more than he appeared to be. His only relations with non-Iksar came in visits to Shar Vahl, where he was able to prove his identity to the people's satisfaction, and even there he was regarded as an unfortunate soul at best.
Likes: Living off the land, often for long periods of time, with only his warder for company. Unusually for a (formerly) Vah Shir, he took up writing, though he held great respect for oral history as well and enjoyed telling tales.
Favorite Foods: Primarily meat, the fresher the better.
Favorite Drinks: Very rarely drinks, having seen the effects on others. On the rare occasions he starts, he invariably becomes roaring drunk.
Favorite Colors: Shades of purple.
Weapons of Choice: Fist weapons, particularly claw-type.
Dislikes: Untruthfullness, especially through deception rather than outright lying.
Warders: As a Vah Shir, Rhatha named his warder Swiftclaw. Glowing golden eyes were his hallmark, and at times Rhatha swore that looking in them was a window to the spirits of his ancestors, though this may have been wishful thinking.
As an Iksar, He bonded the female Chodikai pup Kali'Rasha. Though they remained together as warder and master, Rhatha was never as close to her as he was to Swiftclaw, who by this time was released and served as a guardian for his daughter, hidden away to protect her from his enemies.
Special Abilities:
While having no special natural abilities beyond an extremely close bond with his first warder, Rhatha found himself in many dealings with the spirit world later in life, and came to an understanding of it beyond that of the average Khati Sha. However, his circumstances twisted his vision, and later in life he began to perceive things through his subconscious that were not really there, causing his later knowledge to be suspect.
Positive Personality Traits: Cunning, with well-honed instincts. Respectful to those he feels deserve it.
Negative Personality Traits: Headstrong. Often Swiftclaw was the only guiding voice that could make him rethink his plans before he was in over his head.
Played by What Famous Person: ?
Theme Songs: ?
History (in brief.. full story will follow if I can find its remains on old boards):
Rhatha was born in the city of Shar Vahl on Luclin. He had two known brothers, Sekayn the elder, who followed his own path and does not come into this tale much, and Tirga the younger, a Jharin who shared Rhatha's interest in the Iksar people. They were seperated, too young to remember it, when their parents were killed in combat in the Grimling Forest. Rhatha ran away from the city at an early age, and discovered Swiftclaw in the Shadeweaver's Thicket. Feeling a connection to the small tiger, Rhatha befriended him, and they grew in the thicket, avoiding the Vah Shir patrols and the natural dangers alike.
Years later, Rhatha was found and returned to Shar Vahl. Seeing that he had somehow survived, and found a warder of his own, he was quickly given over to the Khati Sha and learnedtheir ways readily.
Time passed, and his adventures took him all over Luclin, and even to Norrath, when the Nexus began functioning.During this time, he met his first Iksar (as mentioned above) and learned the truth of his family, and his bloodline.. of the the branches of a geneaology that begin with Khati Sha, the hero who first brought the ways of the Beastlord to the Vah Shir. Eventually, he learned the truth of that hero's tragic end, and vowed to destroy his remains, Takashi, which now threatened to destroy his people. He also began his studies into the Akhevan people and language, and had his first conflicts with them, during this time.
His first abortive attempt at this nearly spelled his end, as he was captured by Grimlings and tortured. Miraculously, his warder was able to stealthily help him escape, and he want into hiding, recovering what he could of his strength. But he never fully recovered. He had taken a mate shortly before his failed attack, and others learned of it as well. Their child had just been born, and he had great hope for the future, when his mate was murdered by an Akhevan assassin, and he came forth once again, now seeking vengeance with a fury.
He tracked the killer across Luclin. Gathering his allies from the Shir, the Iksar, and other Norrathians, a great battle ensued, chronicled as follows:
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Rhatha entered the room, looking more serious than usual. He walked directly to the center of the room and stood, stern-faced, until conversations ceased and he had the attention of all gathered. "We're pinpointed the Akhevan's position... it is time."
"Here are matters as they stand. The assassin is moving quickly through the Nexus toward Netherbian Lair. We suspect he's returning to Vex Thal.. we're going to cut him off just inside the Maiden's Eye. Taruun will be occupying nearby Gorangas during this battle, so they should give us no trouble. Four of our best Dar Khura have prepared a spell that will crate a sphere around our battle, which can be shrunk slowly to restrict his movement, and ensure he can't escape until all casting the spell are slain. It is a dangerous job.. but they are all devoted to seeing this through, as am I." Rhatha's eyes softened for a moment, as he went on, "I was not able to save my mate from this one.. but she will be at peace when this is done."
Resuming his serious look, he said, "I do not know how many of you have fought an Akhevan before.. and even those who have may not know all they need to. When an Akhevan is slain, its spirit appears as a Xakra, that is, a shade. Thus, the battle will have two parts: first, the slaying of his body, and then of the spirit, so that it may not be reincarnated by Luclin or Aten. When the spirit is released, we must shrink the spere very closely around it, and harden it so that it can not seep through anywhere. When this happens, only a few of us can be inside... those people will be myself, Chancellor Kelisk, and Pride Champion Sekayn if they are present. If not, whoever is there and available may try, but may be forced out. As this happens, it will harden, preventing phsyical intrusion. Magic will still be able to enter the sphere, though it will not be able to leave, so careful use of it may win the day."
He grew grim faced as he went on, "We don't know exactly what kind of powers this one has. He is a proficient swordsman for certain, as well as possessing very potent magic, not so much in raw power, but in sublety, and in that it is somewhat different from normal spells. Be very cautios for this! I cannot stress that enough.. he was able to move undetected by the Shir for too long."
A new voice cut in from the back of the room. "I don't suppose you'd have another spot at the heart of this mess, would you?" Breaking into a grin, a small green froglok covered the distance to Rhatha in two large leaps and nearly tackled him in greeting.
"Lokaryn! But what are you doing here? You were supposed to be off with--"
"There's always time if something needs to be done.. and this does. It's the last great thing I can do, I failed to see the threat as well, when it happened." He added with a wink, "Master."
"Well, then, apprentice.. you'll have your spot in there with us." Looking at everyone gathered, he said, "That is all the information we have to offer. Time is of the essence. Make what preparations you need, and pray to whatever spirits you believe in.. we leave within the hour."
The group moved swiftly and silently through Dawnshroud, and entered the tunnel to the Maiden's Eye. A small party of Vah Shir waited for them at the exit. As Rhatha and the others approached, one of them stepped forward. "Greetings, Elder. I am glad you made it here so quickly; there is not much time to lose. The foe should be arriving in a couple of minutes, at the most, through this tunnel... I hope you are all ready. Taruun?"
At his query, six more Vah Shir stepped out of the concealing shadows of the tunnel. One of them saluted and spoke, "We are ready as well. The denizens of this area will not trouble you during this.. though I'm afraid we'll be hard-pressed to keep it that way for long."
Rhatha nodded. "Very good, captain. The spell is ready.. the jaws of this trap lay wide open. Everyone into position! Dar Khura, to me, the rest of you, stay above or around the tunnel until the fighting begins." May the spirits watch over us, he thought. We're going to need it.
Minutes passed, in deadly silence, then footsteps were heard coming down the tunnel. Rhatha tensed, waiting until a human had taken his first step outside the tunnel, then curtly nodded to the shaman standing next to him, while unleashing a dispelling strand of magic toward the figure. As it swept over him, the purple robes of a greater Akhevan were revealed in the dim torchlight, and the figure spun with a scowl and locked eyes with Rhatha for a moment as he began to run across the plains at blinding speed. Rhatha nodded to the Dar Khura again, and a chaotic sphere of color, forty feet wide, coalesced around the Akhevan. Nearby Goranga looked up in awe for a bare moment before the Taruun appeared from nowhere and began their work.
"Charge!"
Rhatha muttered to himself, "It ends this day, indeed," and walked over to the sphere, placing both hands upon it and slowly pressing inward as the Dar Khura moved to cardinal positions around it. Then the rest of the force entered the fray, and chaos reigned.
The sphere glowed with swirling purples and blues, translucent, yet noticeable in the dim light. As Rhatha placed his hands upon it, the wrold swept away to reveal a calm blackness as far as his eyes could see. He didn't seem to be standing on anything, but that didn't trouble him; this place was a gateway to the spirit world, akin to the ones he'd used years before to discover the truth about his parents. In the back of his mind, he could hear and see the battle, but from a vangate point such as this the living world seemed less important, somehow. Ancestors, hear me, he thought, for today I entrust to you the spirit of the deceased, four years past. May she be at peace. His thoughts boomed through the darkness, as if he's been shouting, and for a moment there was silence. A small light appeared, and grew. Rhatha smiled. Lumanes, my friend. We have much to do this day. Aid me, now, from the other side, and the sphere wll shrink. A sense of agreement swept over him, in the manner in which this Whisperling communicated, and Rhatha nodded and withdrew his attention into the living world again.
The combatants had no time to see him come out of his trance. Swords and maces, warder and spirit wolves, and all types of magic swirled in a storm of steel and energy that threatened to consume the four-armed monstrosity in the sphere. But every strike was fought back, and countered, and magics crackled against a defensive field. A scaled wolf leaped forward and nearly gained a toothhold on the Akhevan's arm, but was swatted down the the ground with a thud. A bolt of fire that would have scorched his face was narrowly deflected aside, into the chest of a Shir attempting to find an opening, and he fell to the ground, rolling in an attempt to extinguish his fur. The Akhevan spun like a whirlwind of death, his three blades slicing everyone nearby with at least a glancing blow, while his fourth hand drew arcane symbols in the air. A stunning spell from outside the sphere finally penetrated his guard, and shreiking in an unholy voice, he stiffened for a bare moment... just long enough for blades to find themselves into his side. Crumpling to his knees, he tried to lauch a string of curses, but was cut off as blood welled from his mouth and splattered on the grass.
Rhatha looked over the carnage, grim-faced. "We have lost so many already... Do not let down your guard! The true battle begins now." He stepped into the sphere, offering a hand to Lokaryn and the others, and clutches his battleclaws, searching the corpse for the slightest movement. The spirit was there, he could feel it. But it wasn't coming out yet...
At that moment, black lightning crackled from the body and hit the sides of the sphere, splitting into many forks and tracing paths over its exterior to the Dar Khura positioned outside.Their eyes widened, and they tried to step back, the lightning was faster, and impacted each of them squarely in the chest, throwing them back more than ten feet each, and leaving scorched patches in the ground. Rhatha gaped for a moment, then turned to the corpse with a look of pure rage. A black mist spread from the corpse, coalescing into the shape of an Akhevan spirit, looking down upon the mortals. In a booming voice, it proclaimed, "Thox Ishinaear. Tavuellsa Vah Shir! Tekar matarun! (1)" Face locked in a snarl, Rhatha replied, "Thox Sha! Tekarsa thox Aten... Xiallsa xi ans diabo dyek! (2)" And then the mist clouded all of the sphere, hiding those within from sight.
From the ancient stone of the passage to the Dawnshroud peaks, a new voice called. Its sound was breathier, sharper, not the deep roar of a Vah Shir, but its words were clear:
"Kaas centi xi Thule! Vereorsa thox Aten! (3)"
The form of an Iksar sped across the slick grass. Kelisk's familiar heavy coat was cast off, his tough hide armors buckled and tightened for battle, and in his hands the clawed gauntlets of the Savage Spirits sparked and flared dangerously. Beside him, shooting over the ground with the fluidity of a serpent, his massive Chokidai warder Azhri bared her finger's-length jagged teeth. Spirits of snow seeped from her jaws in a cold vapor.
Kelisk rushed for the foggy sphere at a hard sprint, pulling his arms back for a moment. Then, as he was near close enough to touch its smoky edge, he lept forward and thrust the claws before him, willing their furious spirits to grant him passage through the barrier.
"Ans Iksar teka, va xakrariel Ishinaear! (4)"
Those outside the sphere hesitated, unwilling to unleash spells that might harm their comrades, as the sounds of battle emanated from within. The warders and wolf spirits surrounded the sphere and slowly began to pace around it, growling.
Rhatha, Lokaryn, and Kelisk could barely see each other in the haze. They circled the Xakra (5) with narrowed eyes, searching for an opening in its guard. Lokaryn struck first, tensing his legs and leaping forward with blinding speed, spear pointed straight at the heart of the darkness. A shadowed arm swept up and grabbed it in midair, and flung him upward. He hit the top of the sphere solidly, and fell back to the ground behind the foe. Rhatha glanced at Kelisk. "Only two arms, now.. can't block both of us." With a curt nod, they edged around the outside of the sphere until they were directly across from each other, and tensed to strike. The Xakra stared at them impassively from under the dark hood of its cloak, an made a simple gesture.
Two blades flew from the Akhevan's corpse into its hands, and it spun, extending one toward each of them. Rhatha surged forward, narrowly avoiding a downward stroke, and plunged his horns into the upper arm of the Xakra. Meanwhile, Kelisk smirked and dodged a blow that would have beheaded him, kicking out at its leg while clawing a trail of blue flame through its backswing. Wide slices made them both back up a step, and the mist of the sphere surrounded the Xakra, covering its wounds. Rhatha grunted and glanced at Kelisk. "Knew that was too easy.. if we don't kill it outright..." He trailed off as a flurry of swipes cut into the spot he'd been standing, and desperately began to deflect the blade with his weapons. Lokaryn began to stir, and the Xakra spared him a glance, then swept its other hand through the air, causing Lokaryn to rise off the ground. Kelisk raked his claws across the Xakra's side and began to dig into its substance, when the prone Froglok was flung into his side and knocked him away. Turning its attention back to Rhatha, the Xakra begin twirling its blades in ever more deadly maneuvers. Rhatha spun and dodged, barely warding off the blows, until a quick reversal caught the swords in his weapons and wrested them from his grasp. Still staring at him impassively, the Xakra dropped the blades and stared at him for a moment. Staring right back, Rhatha tansed, bringing up his hands to unleash a bolt of frost. The Xakra was faster. Rhatha's spell was interrupted halfway as a shadowed handstruck him in chest and unleashed the dark lightning that had crawled across the sphere earlier. It pulled the darkness to itself, forcing Kelisk and Lokaryn to avert their gazes as they struggled to their feet. Rhatha retreated from consciousness, into the gateway of the spirit realm again, and only dimly felt his body being wracked by horrible pain.
Is this, then, the end? Is this what I have fought for.. to die so close to the end? At least I will be with her at last...
No! This is not the time, or the place... there must be some way! All it takes is one solid strike to the heart. Lokaryn was so close, but he's not fast enough to get beyond its guard. Unless...
Another surge of pain snapped him back to reality, and he realized he'd been roaring at the top of his lungs. He wrenched back and forth in the Xakra's iron grip, thrashing about until the distance was just right...
Scrabbling for purchase with his feet, he thrust them onto the side of the sphere and pushed with all his might. The Xakra relaeased him as he barreled forward, and struck at the ground. But Rhatha was already on his feet. Though his sides ached like never before, his eyes blazed with anger as he stood. He glanced at Lokaryn an inclined his head slightly upward, then at Kelisk and forced a small smile. The Xakra moved to the center again, facing them, and raised its arms to begin a spell.
In a flash, Rhatha dropped to one knee, and Lokaryn hopped onto his shoulders and vaulted over the Xakra, as Kelisk darted forward with his battleclaws. Rhatha gazed at the shade one last time, and cast the simplest spell he knew. A bright flash of light lit the interior of the sphere for a breif moment, long enough for missiles of ice, flame and energy to fly inside and seek their target.
As the spells impacted the spirit, a keening wail filled the air. The Xakra's spell energy crackled around its hands and began to fill the sphere as it lay in its death throes. It last words were spoken not in Akhevan, but it halting Vah Shir, "Curse you, Thox Sha.. there will always be others." The cloak settled to the ground for a breif instant before the magical pressure became too much for the sphere to contain. The colors on the surface swirled wildly for a moment, and cracks began to appear in the translucent surface. Inside, the three looked at each other and nodded in satifsaction, unaware of the danger.
Until the sphere exploded.
A flash of blue light blotted out all vision for a moment, and everyone in the area was flung to the ground by the force of the blast. They began to stir, slowly, to see a small crater in the ground, clods of dirt and glass strewn about the area. Azhri slunk around the destruction for a moment, then barked and bounded off a few feet to where Kelisk had been thrown, rubbing against him until he shakily stood. The forces began to crowd around the crater, looking inside. The only things that remained were the fallen cloak... and a pile of orange and black fur.
Lokaryn slowly rose to his feet from behind a pile of dirt blown aside by the blast, and slowly limped over to the others gazing into the hole. Swiftclaw shoved his way past the others and padded down into the crater. He sniffed at the fur for a moment.. then two.. and slunk back out. One of the Vah Shir came over and slowly put a hand on his back. "I am sorry, little one.. it is time for you to return to the spirit realm." Swiftclaw growled, and the Shir, plainly surprised, took a step back. "But you should not remain.. he would have wanted you to-- wait!" Tilting his head, as if hearing something that only he could, Swiftclaw ran around the crater to another large pile of sod and began tearing it away with his claws. A soft groan could be heard from underneath the pile, and everyone gathered around, removing it quickly to reveal... "Lokaryn? But.." Turning, they looked from one Froglok to the other, as the one on the ground sat up and rubbed his head, then spoke.
"So, it's truly over. He is dead, and--" The Froglok paused, not recognizing his own voice, and suddenly raised his hands, staring at them with a look of disbelief that quickly changed to horror. "By all the spirirts... what's happened?"
Rough translations from Greater Akhevan:
(1) "I am the blood of Luclin. I bring torture to the Vah Shir! Die, mortal!"
(2) "And I am the blood of Sha! I bring death to the blood of Aten... and I bring the justice of the masters of the world!"
(3) "I am the life servant of Thule! I bring terror to the blood of Aten!"
(4) "The Iksar bring you death, shadow spirit of Luclin!"
(5) Shade, or Spirit
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Vengeance had a cost that could not have been forseen. The forces at work ripped his spirit from his body, and into that of another. The Dar Khura were consulted, but could offer no explanation or solution to this turn of events. Other Norrathian peoples could offer nothing but speculation.
Rhatha dipped into despair and depression during this time. Finally, he took a great risk and appealed to the Iksar for aid. He was brought before the mystics of the Claws in the guise of a slave, and just as it seemed there would be no effect from their magics either, he had a vision. He could never say, later, why he saw a servant of Thule. Perhaps it was the magic of his devoted charging the air around. Perhaps it was merely a delusion from his wounded psyche. But in the end, he felt that he was being offered another chance, and took it.
His spirit was indeed released from the curse of the Akhevan, and his body reborn, but to the shock of those present, he was reborn in the form of an Iksar. The formerly cool companionship of the Skathris warmed, in time, perhaps seen as a good omen. In any event, this form proved more palatable to Rhatha, who threw himself into the ways of Cabilis with such fervor that even those who harbored doubts admitted that things appeared, on the surface, to have worked out for the best. But inside his own mind, Rhatha always remembered the Shir, and his own heritage, now lost.
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The last that was heard of Rhatha, many years later, was that he was preparing a force to strike again at Takashi in an effort to bring closure to the tragedy of the bloodline. When the Nexus shut down, no more was heard from him, and he was presumed dead when Luclin was shattered.
Yet the ways of the spirits are mysterious...