Taktay

A warrior who uses the rage within to defend himself and others, Taktay struggles to escape the specter of his past.

## Key Dates

### Born

5 ATG

Taktay is a testudon born and raised in Veiltouria. A wanderer and traveler, Taktay is a product of his years spent as a slave in the city of Galatias. Within him burns a rage born from suffering, loss and hatred, and it is a rage he fears may one day overcome him. Now, he wanders the wilds, fighting to protect his close friend and ally Mountains of Iris.

## History

### Early Life

For Taktay, early life was what is expected from other testudons. Growing up on the Razor Coast, north of Forestsedge, his parents imparted to him years of wisdom to prepare the young hatchling for his own adventures in the wider world, beyond their island home of Perichelya. For this was the testudon way, to leave the comfort and relative safety of their home and venture out into the unknown, to experience all the wonders and dangers it has to offer.

Taktay eventually set out on his own adventure and began to travel through Veiltouria, one step, one encounter at a time. His early days saw him through the excitement that all testudons crave; survival in the wildernesses of sand and forest, villages and sprawling cities, and joining others in their own journeys.  Traveling during the day was safer, but he loved wandering under the stars, bathed in the moonlight.

### Enslavement

It was during one of these ventures where a cruel twist of fate changed the path of Taktay.  He was traveling with a small group of explorers; scholars and historians by trade, considered grave robbers by some. They were traveling north, deep into The Heartlands, to what would be an undiscovered, ancient temple, home to great knowledge and long rumored Primordial power. Taktay was a welcome addition to the party, as his size, strength and experience in the region was lacking amongst the others. Complacency had grown during such a long journey, and it came to collect its debt. When the raiders came during a moonless night, the once merry band paid dearly. Some died quietly in the night, some begging for their lives. Others, like Taktay , fought back, unfortunately to no avail. Overrun, they were subdued. The survivors were deemed strong, suitable to be sold as slaves further south.  For the raiders, a testudon was a rare and unusual prize, one to be saved not for menial labor, but for the fighting pits of Galatias.

Here is where he remained for five brutal, blood drenched years. Many fighting pits exist throughout the land at that time with the same objective; to set prisoners and wretches of all kinds against each other to the roar of the crowd, until only savage warriors remain. Galatias was the worst amongst them. Taktay fought and bled against every manner of race he had ever known; orc, tabaxi, elf and man, and creatures of terror he could not name. Something awoke within him during this time, a rage within his chest, allowing him to survive. All who were pitted against him, met their ends beneath his hammer. It brought him no joy to break his foes, but every victory brought him closer to freedom, closer to roaming the wilds as he should be.

### Freedom

That day came, suddenly and without spectacle. He awoke to his captors jostling him from his quarters, whom he shared with several others. They led him through a passage unknown to him, deep under the arena. At the end of the passage, through a thick, iron door, he found himself outside the walls for the first time in years. Standing on a sheer cliff, over looking the huge sea, a strong wind blew onto Taktay a scent of freedom. Taktay was sent on his way, with a pouch full of gold pieces and in the direction of a distant star. But strangely, seemingly in reverence, they gave him his hammer. The weapon had become as feared as its wielder, having bathed in all manner of blood, forever stained. Amongst this group was a cloaked figure, who approached Taktay with purpose. Hidden from view, he handed Taktay a small amulet, of coiled tendrils wrapping around a gem. As the group departed, the hooded figure turned, leaving Taktay with a simple, but ominous phrase: “In time, the deep will call.”

Taktay set off yet again into the world, with no destination, needing to make up for the time lost. The savagery that awoke within him in the pits was still there, constantly calling out, a reminder of his violence. He calmed this by returning to what he knew best, roaming the wilds and cities, taken by adventure like a leaf in the wind.

During his travels, Taktay met a tabaxi female named Mountains of Iris, who offered him a partnership. Together, they would recover the artifact Taktay and his original group had been pursuing, before his enslavement. Sensing a chance for catharsis, Taktay agreed. The two travelled across Forestsedge, until they located an underground citadel, situated at the very peak of The Underdark. As they journeyed deeper into the citadel, they were ambushed by Blood Fiends, devil servants of the God of Deception Exapitas. Despite their best efforts, the duo were captured and taken prisoner.