Sanosha
I see it. The sideways glances. The wrinkling of their noses. I hear the mutterings of "orc" and "half-breed". Yet what does my blood have to do with it? Surely it's what I do, and not who birthed me, that matters.
Backstory
Click to ExpandRaladyn, wearing the mithral helm that marked him the village champion, was tracking a tribe of orcs migrating dangerously close to the village. To his relief, the orcs passed by without even knowing they were being watched. He had just turned for home when he heard a cry in the forest. He discovered a babe, her blue-grey pigmented skin marking it as a half-orc, wrapped in furs and abandoned in the forest. Perhaps the child had been discarded, as orcs sometimes do to half-breeds, though it seemed more likely the mother had hidden it away to keep it safe. Either way, when the babe laid eyes on the elven warrior, she quieted, then smiled. In that moment, Raladyn fell in love.
When he brought the baby back to the village, Masto Einor ("Village of the Elders") some of his fellow elves questioned his decision. They demanded to know why they should take in the offspring of their enemy. All fell silent when Raladyn unsheathed his blade and quietly asked who would step forth to take the child from him. None did. The champion called his new child "Child of the Forest", or "Sanosha" in the common tongue, and raised her as his own.
Sanosha grew much faster than an elven girl, and far stronger as well. He taught her the ways of the forest, how to wield a sword and bond with the spirits of the forest animals. There were some who shunned her for being different and the other children would tease her for her blue-grey skin. Most, though, came to accept her in time. As a child Sanosha would sometimes take her father's mithral helm, with its beautifully etched wings, and run through the forests slashing at imagined foes, dreaming of the day when she would become the village champion, just as her father had. As she grew into a woman of prodigious strength there were few who doubted she would.
Yet it was not to be. One day, as Raladyn and Sanosha were returning from a successful hunt, they saw a column of smoke rising from their home amongst the trees. They ran through the woods only to find their home engulfed in a roaring inferno. They immediately sprang into action; Raladyn leading his people to safety, Sanosha moving rubble with a roar to free a family from their home. As they were pulling the last children from the healer's home, the tree above them broke with a resounding CRACK. With cat-like grace Raladyn shoved his daughter aside. Her last sight as she lost consciousness was her father, smiling, as the rubble engulfed him.
She awoke far away in another village, having been pulled to safety by other villagers. She was bleeding and broken, but alive. Weeks later, after her bones had knit, she returned to the smoldering ruin of her home to find her father's remains. She found bones where he had fallen, scorched and burned until they were unrecognizable, but no helm. Not knowing which was which she buried them all. Then, hefting her flail and shield, she set out to find a new tribe.
Physical Appearance
Sanosha is a Half-Orc whose features generally lean more heavily towards her Orc heritage. Her protruding tusk-like teeth, a hallmark of the orcs, are sparkling whiite. She has gray-blue skin and deep brown eyes. Her primary throwback to her human mother is her long, curly black hair. She is a towering specimen, at 6'5" and roughly 300 pounds of pure muscle. Her forearms are marked with bear claw tattoos, enveloping the entire arm.
Equipment
Sanosha's signature piece of equipment is the Dwarven Thrower which she wields along with a +3 shield. The granted to her by the spirit of Hendrel Foebreaker, hero of Tyar-Besil, during her excursion in the Fane of the Eye fighting the Cult of Elemental Evil. She also possesses a Cloak of Protection, Mantle of Spell Resistance, and a Periapt of Health. She wears no armor aside from a pair of leather and fur bracers.
Personality
Sanosha's personality is one of passion and extremes. Her racial heritage, combined with being raised by an Elven father, has made her extremely sensitive to prejudice against herself and others. She is quick to defend any person she perceives as being judged by their blood alone. Yet long habit has led to even her downplaying the orc in her, correcting anyone who refers to her as "Orc" by quickly saying "Half-Orc".
Sanosha's primary concern is protecting those she loves, both family and friends. She always places herself where the battle is hottest, drawing the attention of foes to herself because she is strong enough to take the hit. In battle, her rage is legendary and few can match her in a battle of pure strength.
History
Sanosha's early history was one of odd jobs and wandering, in search of a family to call her own. Her race, towering muscle, and unbridled rage tended to chase away those around her and get her into trouble with the local authorities. It was not until she found Calm and Nulara that she had the calming influence needed to channel her abilities in a productive direction. The trio's adventures took them to the Dessarin Valley where they were captured by members of the Cult of Elemental Evil. They were rescued by the party that would later become known as the Battleborn (See that article for more details).
Sanosha received the blessings of Garagos, increasing her strength by +2 as a result of her actions at The Battle of the Red Eyes.
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