Barakus

Demonkin

## A Justiciar of Vranda

Young Barakus was inducted into the Cult of Vranda as an acolyte, and joined his elder sister Ninsi in training to become Justiciar of Vranda, an assassin order used as a weapon of the cult and a supposed instrument of Vranda's justice.

While his sister was always one to advocate temperance and even tolerance of the heathens and sinners, Barakus was fully immersed in the rites and sacraments of the order, and revelled in the calling to justice he felt in his heart.

During penitence he would punish himself, punish others and be punished for the sins that come naturally to those who live on Alorn. One day, as he was almost ready to be anointed as a full Justiciar, his sister, already a Justiciar herself was brought before the Second Circle on the charge of mercy.

During a mission to Rachenbeau, had chosen to stay her blade. At trial, Ninsi gave up all pretence of Vranda's absolute justice and beings to give an impassioned speech on the virtues of mercy and charity, before being silenced by the guards and charged with heresy.

Sentenced to death by beheading, Barakus was the one conscripted to perform the execution. The night before the execution Barakus slipped down to the cells to demand answers of his sister, why had she done this? why not accept the lesser punishment of lashes for mercy? why had she forced him to execute her?

She explained to him that a kind word and a helping hand would allow the meanest of beggars to become a better, more productive person. She explained that merely smiting down the poor and the wretched would only prolong the suffering of all people. And as the night wore on, Barakus began to see the wisdom in his sister's words, however before long, daylight crept through the bars of her cell's wall and they knew the execution would be soon.

Gathering his courage Barakus made his choice. Forsaking his oaths to Vranda, he opened his sisters cell and began to lead her out of the temple. However they were to late, Amnon one of Barakus' classmates and a brother in arms had seen them sneaking away from the holding cells. With a shout Amnon raised the alarm and Barakus and Ninsi had to run.

At the gate house of the temple, Barakus leading the way and Ninsi begin to cross the threshold of portcullis as it is brought down between them. Barakus is left helpless to watch as the guards approach lead by Amnon. Ninsi shouted to Barakus to run but he was transfixed as Amnon wrapped his hands around her throat and ignited his Burning Hands.

Clutching desperately through the gate even as her flesh burned, Barakus looked into the ruined face of his beloved sister and with scorched lungs she cried for him to flee. And flee he did.

## The Value of Mercy

Upon his escape from the Cult of Vranda, Barakus found himself aimless and filled with a burning rage and hatred for those who had torn his life apart. Consumed by the paranoia that the cult would find him and drag him back for judgement he kept himself constantly on the move, ensuring that he would not be cornered. About a month into his wanderings his fears were realised.

A small group of cultists found him camping on the outskirts of Eork, during the fight that ensued Barakus killed for the first time: a cultist had lunged at him with a wicked looking dagger which he was able to redirect and turn upon its owner, the look of shock in the dying girl's eyes was terrible to him, he had trained with these people, they had been his comrades. The woman's light fading away haunted him even as he fled from the remaining cultists. It became clear to him over the course of the next few weeks and other close calls that he could no longer stay in the north-west.

Finding himself in the Greatport of Altnor he used his remaining coin to buy passage on a ship that would take him as far as he could afford away from his old life. A chance encounter with a pair of debating philosophers in the in Kyphalos, gave him new direction.

The erudite philosophy of Kyphalos, of debate, discussion and learning ignited a passion for learning and discovery within the withered heart of Barakus. After learning as much as he could from the philosophers of Kyphalos, he sought passage on another ship in search of the other philosophies he had heard tell of during the great debates.

In the Huang valley under Master Guam, Barakus learned the value of patience and balance. Once he had learned to temper the fire of his heart, and cool the rage in his belly he left the valley in search of fresh purpose.

He found himself in the port of Nostrum, where he lent aid to the beggars and cooked food for the hungry and aided the medical centres with menial tasks. During his travels from city to city however, he found himself drifting closer and closer to his old life, to the places he left behind and the shame he needed to redeem.