Venomflesh Gak Soot Plap Jek Lurt Zoom Snurt Nat Ack Keg Pog (Gak)

Gak is a two and a half foot tall florescent orange and black spotted froglike humanoid known as a Grung. His very soul touched by his Feywild home, he's quite the formidable foe despite his small stature. When he croaks defiantly at his enemies there's no telling what may be in store for them.

Since Common isn't his first language, and is so wildly different from his native tongue, he has trouble speaking to others. He speaks very slow and haltingly, often quietly and trying to use as few words as possible so he doesn't get something wrong. He communicates mostly with hand gestures, nods, and small sounds of affirmation. Gak is very considerate, always trying to give allies ample warning he is not to be touched with their bare hands, lest they fall prey to his natural poison,

## History

Gak was born in the Feywilds to a prosperous and thriving tribe of Grung. From the moment he and the other newly hatched of his caste emerged from the Orange Grung hatching pool, they were trained to be the most elite warriors of their tribe. Gak in particular was very in tune with the Wilds around them, their chaotic and unrestrained magic leeching into his body and soul, making for unpredictable and dangerous effects when he fought.

As he grew it became apparent he wasn't much like those around him. The caste system dictated Orange Grungs were above all but their sovereign Gold leaders, able to boss around and treat them however they chose. Many of his fellows reveled in this power, but Gak shied away from it, always refusing to demean or harass those below him. The other members of his caste thought him odd, but brushed it off as him being softhearted, wondering how with such prowess in battle could possibly be so weak away from it. This led Gak to spend whatever time he could away from his tribe, so between training and battles and guarding the Golds, he would slip away to wonder the Wilds. This is how he met Blossom, at least, that was her name during their first few encounters.

One day as he wandered the Wilds he could hear the loud and constant drone of bees, a sound almost wholly unfamiliar to him. Using his naturally sticky appendages, he scaled a tree to watch the swarm from a safe, and cautious distance; sure enough he saw a sizable swarm of bees being tended to by an Elven girl. Gak was transfixed, he'd rarely seen creatures other than Grung around his home, and non-native races were even more rare. He watched both her and her swarm for some time before he knew it was time to head back, and with a heavy heart he hopped home. He began returning to the spot in the following weeks, however, trying to catch a glimpse of the foreign girl and her foreign beasts. He was granted his wish, and soon found it easy to locate the both of them in the Wilds. He began leaving gifts for them both, exotic flowers for the bees, since they seemed to enjoy them, and exotic fruits that grew deeper in the woords, always being careful to make sure none of his offerings touched his poisonous flesh. He took note that while his visitor would often look different, she was always accompanied by the same swarm of buzzing insects, leaving him unsure how many new friends he was bringing gifts to.

After some time spent hiding in the shadows he finally emerged before the strange girl, introducing himself with nervous and broken Common, a language he never had reason to speak before now. He admitted to being the one leaving the gifts for her and her strange striped creatures, admitting to his curiosity about them both. They quickly formed a loose friendship, with Gak offering to show her where she could find the flowers and fruit she and her bees enjoyed in exchange for knowing tales of the world beyond the Wilds. He was amazed to hear of the way those outside lived, so differently than his people and their castes and feelings of superiority. It didn't take long for him to grow melancholy when he had to return to his tribe, always asking if he would see his form-changing friend the next day.

The more he spoke to Blossom, the more he yearned to leave, seeing all the injustices and wrong his caste-mates could get away with based solely upon their status. He began to resent his tribe, resent all those in it, and even resent himself for not doing something about it. After only a few short weeks of this, he decided he couldn't handle living among his people anymore, so he gathered his things and left the tribe to find his friend. When he found Blossom and her bees he begged her to take him away from the Wilds, telling her everything about his home and explaining how he could no longer stand to see any of it happening. She was hesitant, but agreed, scooping him up with her protective gloves and depositing him in a sturdy leather bag to transport him away.

Once they were away from the wilds, they agreed to stay together, wandering Teneros. Eventually, the pair found work with the Hunter's Guild. Gak was more than happy to take jobs with the Guild, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to help people, and to prove just how different he was from those who mocked him for his soft heart.