Varodarr

Varodarr is a skinchanger hailing from the Neck. Having lived in the wilds since his birth, the skinchanger is unfamiliar with the "civilized" way of life. More beast then man, Varodarr often struggles with human interaction and typically prefers to be left alone.

## Appearance and Character

Varodarr is a tall, imposing man, standing at six feet and six inches tall with set shoulders and a broad stance. His body is littered with small scars; some seemingly minor cuts that never properly healed, and other marks a reminder of encounters with animals gone wrong. Varodarr's hands and feet are covered with thick callouses, making them feel rough and somewhat leathery.

Varodarr has dull hazel eyes, seemingly always at ease. His strong jaw is hidden by a rough beard maintained (poorly) with a hunting knife. Thick, matted black hair drops down his back, nearly extending to his buttocks. It is seemingly never brushed, feathers tied into Varodarr's hair long ago are often buried within it.

For clothing, Varodarr typically keeps his chest bare, as he enjoys the feeling of the wind on his skin. The skinchanger keeps his forearms bound in hide wrappings, which provides his snakes with better grip and provide rudimentary protection against nuisances like briar patches. His lower body is covered in long loincloth made of fur and hide. Varodarr's boots are made of fur and leather, and are the only products of civilization that he keeps on his person. On occasion, the skinchanger will wear a helmet crafted from a deer skull, though it is a bit cumbersome for every day usage.

Varodarr is a quiet man, and is speaks slowly when the rare occasion he decides to say anything at all. He does not see much virtue in the idea of civilization, and is easily overwhelmed with the noise and activity it brings. Being brought up in the wilds gifted him with excellent combat instincts and the skills necessary to survive, allowing him to be an effective combatant. Varodarr keeps the Old Gods, though he often struggles with the idea of what that means.

## History

Varodarr is the bastard son of an illicit affair between a crannogwoman and a minor northern lord, though Varodarr has never known either of them. The lord demanded his lover get rid of the child, with little chance of his mother to protest. Handing him off a skyfisher, Varodarr would never see his parents again.

Raised in a small hut in the swamp, the skinchanger had little contact with the outside world. Left at home whenever his adopted father went to sell the day's catch, Varodarr passed the time by fishing in the waters, or playing with whatever critters he could rustle up from the mud and swampy waters. As he grew older, he began dreaming he was one of the creatures he'd played with earlier in the day. Eventually, Varodarr discovered his latent skinchanging abilities, and would often slip into the skin of a nearby animal and explore the world.

Then, one day, the skyfisher didn't come back. The boy had never taken the path himself, and had no desire to. He blamed his adopted father's death on their dependence on the village to survive, and resolved to instead make his own path. Using his skins to catch him food at first, Varodarr quickly progressed to hunting for himself. Mostly eating frogs and waterfowl with the occasional gator, over the years he grew taller and stronger, and was soon a man. The skinchanger favored animal had become snakes, as he was intrigued by their unique way of sensing the world around them. A frequent companion on his hunts, Varodarr would keep them in his bag, or allow them to crawl around his body.

As the hunter grew older, he abandoned the skyfisher's hut, instead opting to wandering through the Neck as he saw fit. Occasionally selling his furs and meat at villages in exchange for tools and cooking supplies, Varodarr made sure to keep such visits brief and irregular. The closest thing to a friend the skinchanger has is Raymond Tully, who he once escorted through the Neck and allowed him to stay in his previous hut. These days, Varodarr has continuined his life as a hermit, content to wander the wilds until his bones can no longer bear his weight.

## Family Tree

http://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=yxytazdeah&f=117795147173380847