Legends of Belariath

Vekannar

Vekannar began life as any other wolven of the northern lands, born with a litter of pups to a female on a cold snowy day up within the high northern mountains. One of five pups born to the village Shaman, SilverHeart. The small bundles of fur stood out among other litters, as every single one was marked with black fur, and a highlight of white. A rarity for the wolven of the north, for who white was the perfect coloring for the hunt. Word soon spread through the village of the five black wolven.

Of the five, Vekannar was the most large and healthy. White circles the only other color upon his black coat. Tho his size and temperament marked him out as a likely warrior of the village, his legecy marked him as a likely replacement for his father. Tho strong, the blood of his ancestors flowed through the young males veins, and magic a part of it. The Shamans of the IceClaw tribe where among the most powerful in the Northern Lands. And Vekannar's family had been among the most powerful. But did he retain this skill? Only time would tell.

Each of his siblings started along the path of the shaman, but few had the skills to master it. Only Vekannar and a younger sister SnowMane showed the most promise for the art of magic. The others went on to become hunters and warriors for the tribe. SilverHeart turned to the last two of his litter, the last he would sire for the remainder of his life. Both showed great promise for magic, tho Vekannar seemed less inclined then his sister. Given a few more years, both would be ready to take the final test to prove who was stronger in will, and the winner would become the new Shaman of the tribe.

But as often is the case in such tales, it was not to be. Many other tribes grew jelise of the IceClaw Tribe. They where the most powerful and the most wealthy upon the northern mountains range. Few of the smaller tribes would even try to stand against them, until one among them united the lesser tribes against the IceClaws. Upon the night of the Winter Solstices, a time of feasting and merriment among the winter worshiping IceClaws, the other tribes attacked. Three times the number of warriors the IceClaws had, struck at the walled village. Through the night bitter fighting broke out among the walls and gateways of the village. The snarls of savage wolven warriors fighting spear and axe, bow and sling, tooth and claw echoed among the mountains peaks.

Vekannar, not one to be left out of a fight, went to the aid of his brothers upon the walls early on in the battle. His massive warhammer leaving a bloody trail in the snow where ever he fought. But, tho the IceClaws warriors fought bravely, numbers began to take their toll on the defends. What happened after the gates had been breached, few are left alive to say, Vekannar among them will not say what had become of his family. Tho he lead the last remaining survivors from the burning wrecks that had been their homes for countless generations. Countless scrolls of history had been lost in the battle, many names of strong wolven families gone forever. The fragile paper turned to ash in the fires and scattered across the cold mountain peaks by the uncaring wind. The small pack wandered their way into exile...

The few surviving wolven of the IceClaw tribe soon joined up with a small tribe of wolven in the foothills of the mountains. Vekannar forsake the ways of magic, having seen it fail his father and family in the mountains of their home. He turned to brute strength and savage fury. The tribe that became his home for the next 20 years became known as, the BloodyJaw Tribe. One of the clan's stronger warriors, Vekannar had his pick of slaves and loot from the many raids he lead on the nearby settlements of humans and felines. His fellow Wolvens always kept their distance from the massive dark warrior, even those he had lead safely from the mountains. His cold golden eyes seemed to hold little warmth within there unsettling glaze. The proud warrior had changed greatly since the exile. But it was a good life. But his life was about to take another turn for the worse.

Turneeva was the Cheif's only son, and as cold and heartless as Vekannar was, Turneeva was far worse. The two where constantly at odds with one another. However, Vekannar always came out on top, something that was not unknown to the Chief. Soon, Vekannar and Chief LongFang began going out on hunts, and speaking on the next likely village to raid. Vekannar grew to become a strong pack leader within the tribe as well as one of the Chief's most trusted advisers. There was some talk among the tribe of even replacing Turneeva as next in line for leadership. This did not set well with Turneeva, who had always seen his father as a fool.

On the night of a new moon, when the entire village was gathering for a feast, in Vekannars honor for a resent victory, Turneeva made his move. Slipping silently through the village which was all but deserted, he killed his own father. Then planted the blooded weapon in his rivals tent while the rest of the tribe danced and feasted the night away.

News of the Chief's death spread like wild fire through the village the next day. When the discovery was made of the bloody dagger in Vekannar's tent, all eyes turned upon Vekannar, the stranger, the outsider. Few seemed to notice it was Turneeva who found the blade, fewer still seemed to notice that the blade was not one of Vekannar's own. They also quickly forgot Turneevas hatred of Vekannar, and of his own father. Knowing he had been betrayed, but with his life on the line, and far to few friends within the village, Vekannar was forced to fight his way free of the village. The warrior found himself in exile again and escaped into the forests swearing revenge.

Presently, Vekannar works as a bounty hunter for those with the money to pay him. With his natural strength and primal instincts he has earned a reputation for not letting his prey escape him. Tho they may receive a body slightly more managed, then they wished. And for those who decide to skip payment on the wolven, they meet the same fate as the ones they had wished killed. Vekannar lives for only one reason now, to return to the BloodyJaw's village, and have his revenge on Turneeva.

Upon arriving at the Lonely Inn, Vekannar has found many with the need to see someone else meet a unkind fate.

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