Lex Samreeth

Zithembe Tiberis Striker 3 Personality: Zithembe is mentally conditioned to obey a "Three Laws of Robotics" set of rules towards his imprinted master and their pet human, and he does so cheerfully and without question. His mind often wanders to strange places, prompting out-of-left-field ruminations and bizarre questions as he contemplates drifting clouds or the Far Moon, along with occasional bursts of free verse poetry that he very quickly forgets if he doesn't write them down immediately. His soft tone and relaxed demeanor mean that he occasionally gets picked up by the fuzz under the belief that he's had one too many hits of catnip - only for them to realize later that's his natural state of being. In a fight, though, the adrenaline quickly snaps him back into his primary directives, ready to demonstrate that his knuckles are pure chrome. Backstory Zithembe (or Zith, as he sometimes calls himself when he feels like using third person) is, like most Catguard, born and raised to be a personal bodyguard for one of the Cat Lords. After all, not everything got the memo that cats are the superior species in the world, and the pet humans might be excellent for opening tuna cans and brushing fur, but they tend to be a bit on the squishier side. Zithembe, on the other hand, was put through a grueling training regiment starting at age 4, accompanied by mental conditioning to ensure he'd be the perfect candidate for beating the snot out of anyone who threatened his Lord or their pet human. While most focused on training with a blade, Zith favored bare-knuckle fistfights. He also turned out a bit odd in the head. He can still remember the deafening silence when he asked out loud how different the world would be if blueberries were yellow instead of purple. His random musings dissuaded several prospective buyers, but Jaya found his perpetually high-as-a-kite state of mind to be endearing, and perhaps amusing as well. He was just glad his contract got bought, so he wouldn't wind up living the purposeless life of a stray. So far, his combat experiences have mostly consisted of shoving around drunkards and moochers, and punching a synthhorn player in the throat for daring to disturb Lord Jaya during his fourth daily nap. Aside from Lord Jaya and his human, though, Zith intentionally avoided forming any attachments in the Purple City. He was an escort ship drifting besides his merchant vessel, passing all others in the grand sea of time and space, his interactions always enjoyable, but transient. Because the big day was coming. The day when Lord Jaya would leave his pawmarks on history, or die for the ninth time trying.

Is catfolk okay?

"There was more to it than that. We were duped by the Chelish equivalent to the Pathfinders - the Aspis Consortium. They offered a trade of many exotic goods - tubes that blasted lead balls fast enough to pierce iron, rare delicacies from their own shores, beautiful cloth and shining jewelry. In exchange, they asked for the service of ten of our best hunters. Only they wrote the contract in an outdated form of the Gnoll language." Banana looks down, scowling and trying to keep his breath steady. "It was not until our hunters were being placed in chains that we realized the trickery. We attempted to take them back, but the Hellknights beat us down. We would not be able to free our hunters without taking greivous losses, so all the matriarchs would let us do is call down curses upon them, and be ready to drive them off if they were ever seen again. Later, another clan revealed our mistake. Old Gnoll made no distinction between "hireling" and "slave". Not only that, but the trade goods quickly became useless. The 'firearms' did not work without the special powder we did not know how to make, the food and cloth was not made to survive in the hot, humid weather of the Mwangi, and quickly went bad or rotted. And the jewelry? Base metal covered with gold veneer, and cheap stones cut to mimic valuable ones. And for such worthless baubles, ten of our number were sent back to Cheliax, to endure whatever indignities awaited them there." "One of those hunters was my aunt. My uncle was so distraught, he went out into the woods and tied his breechcloth into a noose. So yes. I have good reason to hate the Hellknights and Cheliax." He wipes his eyes, where dark patches have formed over his face, dripping down his muzzle. "...My apologies. That was a dark tale. But one of the reasons I came to Magaambaya was to cast aside old prejudices. Perhaps not all Chelish people are so eager to deceive and conquer. You are certainly an example of that."

Banana gets up from where the statue knocked him to the ground, shaking out his mane. "I suppose I should learn a few spells that don't require aiming. That statue was exceptionally stubborn. And I agree. Why would a statue on Magaambaya grounds be hostile towards its students? It doesn't make sense." He goes over to take a closer look at the statue. His expertise is wood, but he might be able to glean something from what he can see and sense as to the nature of this rogue construct.

Banana looks up from his studies, nodding his head. "There is no judgement in this place, but his parents were cursed creatures. What was the word in Taldane? Ah, right. Werewolves. Mac did not inherit the curse, but his spirit is sufficiently linked to the wolf that his normal shape is akin to a wolf, as a kholo is akin to a hyena." He pauses, tilting his head at Sorena. "Also...would this be a good time to discuss why I had such a violent reaction to Chelish armor?"

Kurith looks down. He's not wearing shoes. It's kind of hard to do that when you have cloven hooves for feet. Instead, he looks around for a scraper that such establishments usually have, to work the marl and debris out so he doesn't track in. Once he was satisfied, he strode in, his footfalls making hefty clops as he made his way to the bar. "Pint of plain, if'n ye please." He lays his payment on the hard wood with a satisfying clack before looking around for any fair maidens he could possibly impress with his dashing good looks and chiseled physique. Though, the rest of you know there's also a decent chance that he'll just wind up making a fool of himself.

Kurith smiles at the old woman, twirling his halberd expertly before removing the leather sheath from its head. It's definitely got some history to it, though it is by no means ornamented. Still, it is in fine condition, the only defects being a couple of chips on the cutting edge. "Da al'ays called this un <Swift Judgement Against Avarice>. 'S been i' th' family fo' five gen'rations - th' head, a' least. Handle's been replaced of'en 'nough." He then bangs his gauntlets together, making their runes light up. "The twins etn't ol' 'nough ta earn names yet. Less'n a year ol', an' only seen combat yest'day. An' I's no' a poet, so prolly won't be naught a' int'res'in nor fancy a' <Judgement>. 'Twill pro'lly be a fine name i' th' end, though." He gently taps his fingers together, deactivating them before pulling them off. "I' th' meanwhile, a pint a plain sounds won'erful. Mayhaps a fine lass servin' it, too?"

Banana growls in frustration as his blows fail to make any notable impact on the statue. "This is growing frustrating..." His eyes rove over the construct, and he starts recalling the wisdom of the elder hunters. Simply overwhelming some of their prey was not an option. "If swarming and overwhelming does not work, we must dismantle it. Tear away its tools. And I know of one way to make that easier." Banana aims his next strike low, going for the legs. "Come on, everybody, let's do this for the anadi! For the Magaambaya!" His last exclamation is laced with just a hint of arcane magic, giving everyone a tiny little boost. OOC Action 1: Attempting to Trip the Terracotta statue Actions 2 and 3: Casting Infectious Enthusiasm. +1 to Attack, Will, or Cha-based checks for 1 turn

Kurith gently taps the fingertips of his gauntlets together, and the light of the runes dimmed from blazing to smouldering. He walked over and tugged his halberd out of the ground, before motioning to Verris. "Typica' ban'its. Leave summat big an 'eavy middle 'a th' road, 'n jump 'em when th' wagon has tae stop. Dinnae work well fo' 'em this time, though, right?" He laughs as he starts driving his shoulder into the wrecked cart, trying to find a good place to grip the hulking mass. "Well, now tha' th' ban'its are dead, naught keepin' us from clearin' the road. Has tae been done sometime, why not now?"

Banana charges forward. "Don't think I even need magic for this!" He begins to simply wail on the terracotta statue with his staff, smacking it over and over again like crazy

Here's the token for Kurith Krath

Terracotta, I believe

Kurith snapped around, seeing the thistlefolk charging out of the underbrush. He slammed his fists together, and the sigils on his gauntlets flared to light as he ran forward with a loud yell, aiming to deliver a devastating gutpunch to the one nearest to his halberd.

"Why do so many things in this school try to kill us? And it's a statue, too...which means my favorite cantrip isn't going to do much, probably. Tsaa." He glances over at Mac and the others, gripping his staff one-handed. "Standard hunt-tactics, yes? Disarm it, get it on the ground."

"Northsta' preserve...were nae a beast wot did the poor man. This be bladework - an' skillful, too." He carefully maneuvers the head, exposing twinned holes on either side of the neck lain open by the gash - the jugulars and carotids. "Killer slit both vessels o' the neck asides the throat. Some cutthroats pull the head back, bu' tha' hides away the vessels. Makes the cut only hi' th' airpipe. If'n they die, 'tis slow an' painful. Push the head for'ard o'er the blade, though, an' ye get this. Man bled out a'fore the minute was over. An' the smell o' blood like as drew the beasties tae feast."

Whelp. That's fear. How has Kurith stepped in it this time, oh mighty GM?

Kurith drives his halberd into the ground and walks over to the ransacked cart, cracking his knuckles and limbering up. "Wager 'twix' Verris and I we ha' enough brawn tae git this wreck tae the side so we can pass."