Var, son of Nakari, Blooded Raven and Lord of the Bonelands

"Freewomen - phah - our women are as free as they, most are freer than many here - it is out mastery over the Raven Blood and the magic it brings they fear can covet. I do not hate them for that, I hate them for every littermate of mine who has died defending the our wall of from thier so-called freedom raids. Oh, do not look at me like that - I never said other races had equal standing in my home, they are unblooded, they know not the bite of the raven's beak of the cold flame of death. So they serve, in life and in death - I tell you a fact, friend, there are far worse fates than to serve bound past death - and they ally with them, in those so-called fetching immortals, the elves. Pirates and raiders? Nay. Ask them who they commune with."


Name: Var, son of Nakari, Blooded Raven and Lord of the Bonelands - or Lord Var, Var-nakari as a familiar, Var as close or diminutive.

Rank: Foreigner, Embassay Employee for Procurement

Actual Age/Apparent Age: 86

Gender: Male Tigrian, Living

Race: Tigran, Living, Unascended, Blooded.

Description: A hulking black figure who could easily be mistaken for a large human if not for fur, ears, paw and tail - and the unnatural white and black stripes across his skin that mark him - Tigaran's come in all shades, but only those touched by the beak of the Raven and of Death are such pure black. He once might have been handsome to Tigaran's, but now he would be considered as attractive as a gothic lord. Raven Lord culture draws heavily from Mongolian influences in it's veneration of the earth and sky, with the addition (or corruption) of it's veneration of death as part of the natural cycle. He is often bare chestested except on the coldest of days, with loose, baggy pants - silken mock versions of the (much warmer) Raven Lord originals. Home, he might wear fur over his fur, here he does not. He cannot really help having a dominant manner - eight feet of tiger bulk will do that, but be speaks not growls and a ready collection of scrolls in almost any situation imply education, or at least that he can read. Not ever Raven Lord can.

History: Born to the third litter of Nakiri and one of his concubines (Tigarians, like man large cats, have awful conception rates - often 1 or 2 in a thousand) and their mating orgies are legendary... except among Tigarian woman, who find the idea of trading a monthly period of predictable pain for a random period of intense arousal quite pleasant - of course, Tigarian females often sell well among those who can induce their states. One of the few acts the Raven Lords abhor and the only positive pact between them and their ancient enemies - it's not to say it's not done... just, don't get caught, particularly by Var-nakari, who's job it is to ensure the balance of slaves into and out of the war-torn Empire is in it's favour, and to sell it's necromantic services.

He defeated his siblings in ritual combat to assume the title of first son - normally, at this point, assassinations would begin, but the Raven Lords do not function in this fashion. A matter settled by game, blade or necromancy is a matter settled forever more, and put aside.

So it was he pushed further, sought the trial of the Blooding - that of speaking to the undead 'God' known as the 'Raven Lord' (others might call it an animate raven-shape liche) - he defeated it in combat, a rare honour, most chose games or necromancy, and was granted the Blooding the Frozen Blade - a magic and combat style that is as self focused as it is external focused - oh, he can raise a zombie or seven, but to return the dead to unlife? Impossible. The best he might manage is a spirit jar.

His blade, on the other hand, as well as his awareness of death, undeath and his intimate personal realtionship with it is exceeding rare in the Raven Lords lands - it is said he can strike down undead with a single blow, and is viewed almost as a paladin-like figure against the depredations of the wild undead that rove the lands of his home... as a consequence of their very pact with the Raven Lord, but the Raven Lord and the Imperial Court ensure only they know this.

They see themselves as civilizers - certainly compared to the more rustic Freewomen or the piratical and... strange elves of the North, if you dock in a Raven Lord port you will be met by an official who will charge fees, direct you to an inn, etc.

But... watch of the fire in the Ghost Tower, and do not go in the Southern Quarter or beyond the walls at night.


Advantages and Disadvantages:


Racial Advantages:

• Speed of the Tiger - He is faster and quicker than the average species by quite a degree.
  
• Strength of the Tiger - Still young, he hits with the force of a thunderbolt.
  
• Endurance of the Tiger - It's cold up north, and his black fur insulates him well. Additionally, he is trained from a young age to run for miles, to climb with packs loaded with stones. He can last a long time.

Racial Disdvantages:

• Size - It's not the weight, or the breadth, or the weight - it's all three - he is not designed for human scale buildings and anything smaller than that is a joke.
  
• Reputation - While the Raven Lords have a _civilised_ reputation. It's the kind of civilisation that will raise a slave once they have worked them to death, then work them corpse until it disintergrates.
  
• Is it me, or is it warm in here: Endrance of the Tiger is a weakness in high summer in the Equatorial City during the day. Very often he only comes out during the evenings due to the heat - which can't help but sap strength and stamina as well.

Personal Advantages:

• Blooded of the Frozen Blade (Free) - He is a Master Swordsman in the Way of the Frozen Blade, and an innate, intimate connection with the undead - he can sense their presence, power, and other aspects about them, as well as directly challenge his spirit against their's in personal combat, similiar to an anti-paladin, except that he only works against those he sees as hostile. The Frozen Blade is no magical artifact, any weapon he picks up will glow with cold blue fire and freeze the living and undead - or heal those undead he choses.
  
• Keen Intellect - Everyone expected him to challenge the Raven Lord to a game, so sharp is his wit. He seemed deemed for a scribes course and Imperial service, and on that he remains.
  
• Lordly Blood - His father still lives, but he is by battle-right the chosen son of his family - a Prince, and while Foriegn, accorded noble honour.

Personal Disdvantages:

• Frozen to the Core - one thing the world will melt... not his emotions or his feelings, but his ambitions - and he knows not what it is, save that it is in the city.
  
• Lustful - he is no more lustful than any Tigarian, when you wives go into heat for days a certian... practicality regarding sex is required. But he's found himself more than a little disturbed to find perfumes and pheremones of other species having the same effect. An most Tigarians will do anything for thier mate in heat - not just mate with them, like lions, they have a complex society of courtesans, assistants - simply someone to bring the wife food and water (like lions, they will not eat during mating unless another feeds them). He doesn't have that support network, and he's supposed to look over slaves who's prescise purpose may be what he wants... that would be... wrong.

Sexual Orientation: Hetrosexual, unless really pushed - and he can be that pushed by a female.

Sexual Lifestyle: None, quite depressingly. Typically he would expect one or more part time mates - for when they enter heat, and a body servant for _him_ the rest of the time. He is not the Ambassador, and so the Ambassador claims all those luxuries. While he attends noble parties and marvels at the invention of the corset... one quick slash... Activity between his species is quite physical and painful on both sides... he gets the impression that you have to see out that niche here, and he isn't sure about... the baggage.

Where do you live: The Sky District, in the most Serene and Frozen Palace of Bone a tall tower constructed from frozen whalebone that is not so much as cold to the touch. It is in among the other Raven Lord residences, and stands out because while theres are often lit with netherfire or attended by the undead, it is silent and cold - except when he his home, when a warm glow comes the window.

Players you'd like to get to know: I'm the GM, who's been distracted late at night. It seems unfair to fill this in other than to say all of you!

Character's you'd like to see: I'm not writing an NPC for myself, as asking anyone else to either! But any household servant would get plenty of RP, given the tradition of trust placed in them.