Shroktath

No one knows Shroktath’s ultimate origin. During the first Horde Invasion (circa…?), a detachment from the temple of Hieronius descended upon an orc tribe in the Wine Dark Coast region. After the slaughter, the slave pens were opened up, and Shroktath - little older than a toddler - was discovered. In what proved a divisive decision within the temple of Hieronius, the half-orc child was taken in and raised/trained by the clerics. One in particular, a half elf Paladin named Illeyasar who was a bit of a black sheep in the temple but also respected for his willingness to be a bit differentI put his neck out and argued hard that the temple could not just wash its hands of this young life. Illeyasar was to be something of a harsh but dedicated father figure to Shroktath as he grew up. Illeyasar gave Shroktath his name - a derivation of the orcish word for victory/success.

It was not easy. Shroktath proved a capable student, and as he aged it was clear to his superiors that he knew what was right, and desperately wanted to fit in, to belong. Shroktath even nurtured ambitions of becoming a Paladin himself. However base pleasures, rage, jealousy - these would repeatedly get the best of the maturing half orc. While Shroktath was a baby, or even a small child, the order’s patience bent but never broke with their half orc charge. However, as he matured into a teen, the lapses became more egregious, and the consequences of them more serious. On the one hand, at times, Shroktath could be a model student and member of the community. Even as a teen, he proved a more than capable warrior even compared with some of the men. At others he proved an embarrassment or even a danger. Ultimately this is what ended his time in the order. As a half orc, Shroktath had grown up being shunned, excluded, and made fun of by many of his fellow young charges at the Temple of Hieronius, and it had led to frequent cycles of rage and penance. For a while the superiors at the order even thought he was making progress (when in fact, the other students had just learned to be wary of him). Then, one day, a son of a visiting River Baron decided to try and put Shroktath in his place and earn prestige with the boys in the order by bullying the half orc. Shroktath flew into a rage, and in the ensuing fight Shroktath nearly killed the young noble. He did gouge out one of the young noble’s eyes.

The order gouged out one of Shroktath’s eyes as punishment (the lord wanted him executed), and kicked him out of the order on the clear understanding that, if they were ever to see him again, he would be put to death. Illeyasar was absent on a mission at the time of the incident, (and Shroktath has in fact had no contact from his Illeyasar, as close as he’s ever had to a father figure, since). 

At the age of 16, Shroktath was directionless and alone in the world. He still viewed himself as being loyal to the order, but the order had abandoned and rejected him. He still viewed himself as being faithful to their deity, but he could no longer properly worship… and besides, what sort of deity creates a faith with no room for the faithful, but flawed? Shroktath grew bitter and angry with his former order, and he soon put his anger to good use. As he traveled east into Federation lands where he was more accepted, his strength and martial prowess made him employable, but his rages and indiscretions also kept him on the move. The world can be a tough place for a half orc, and Shroktath had his share of fights and bloodshed along the way, but during a particularly nasty bar brawl, an officer in the army noticed his skills, and managed to have his men subdue the half orc warrior, and “recruited” him into the army.

Shroktath has been serving with the army now for several (5ish) years. His strength and combat abilities are valued, but his bouts of ill discipline… not so much. He’s often employed in combat and select missions by his superiors as he enjoys the thrill of danger and shows little inclination towards fear. He’s been promoted twice, but both times was busted back down to the bottom rank soon after which is where this campaign finds him at its outset - a lowly, though experienced, private. He seems unlikely to be promoted again, and honestly, Shroktath’s commitment to the army is wavering, as it’s become increasingly clear that this it’s more of an imperfect holding pattern than a permanent home.

Wine Dark Coast: I would recommend he comes from Wine Dark Coast region. Rescued from the Battlefields of the first Horde Invasion. The region is full of a lot of unreconstructed aristocrats and merchant houses descended from Terranse (Old Europe). The territories were always seen as second best to the “rich pickings” for taxation of river traffic along the Bithtat Sengar river, but ultimately sided with the Federation in abolishing slavery in order to take advantage of the trading opportunities offered by the wonder of Gnomish engineering and Hobbitish logistics, the Devil’s Horn Canal, which suddenly spilled merchants onto their doorstep. 

The squabbling counties never fully committed to the Federation’s principles of democracy and freedom, but they brought old wealth and considerable power to the table. Technically, they abolished slavery, sure, but institutionally reconstituted it by other means (THINK: Jim Crow) to keep the non-humans and . There is a vocal civil rights movement. In the years of the federation, more non-humans came to the region, with mixed results for integration. After Dissolution, it is unlikely to become a unified state, though it remains to be seen whether it becomes like the River Baronies. In all likelihood, each county (Barony) reasserting itself or seeking its own alliances - with old families and landlords trying to reassert themselves. 

Church Of Heironeous: This is a classic D&D LG Church of war, justice, nobility, etc etc that would have trouble being flexible. 

Since he left, he travelled east to other parts of the Federation where he found he could be more accepted. He easily found work as a soldier in the Sunterran forces. Less discipline than the Heironean Church, but more respect and acceptance as well. He could be a professional soldier - maybe a Guardsman (highest ranking enlisted Troop - he would have been FIT and brought his own equipment, but unable to purchase a sinecure as an officer)… plus maybe his temper has gotten in the way of advancement even as an NCO. 

If religious still interests him, he may want to consider some of the other deities of the Ascendant Pantheon, including PLentok Veris - the Patron deity of the Federation. This would means that Dissolution hit him particularly hard - another blow to his faith, no longer a rock. Or make up your own deity… I’ve been meaning to add to the Ascendant… like a God of Bastards (such as Half Orcs)… Open to ideas.

He could also have become a disciple of Ogram, a half-orc leader and philosopher in the Federation - he’s responsible for so many Orcs and Goblins becoming citizens. Perhaps he travelled to the Orclands in North North before making his way to Riot’s Gate (the former capital). http://www.theportcullis.ca/details/npcs.htm#o