Asterios

**Asterios** is a goliath barbarian and devout follower of the Morrígan. He was born to a tribe of goliath that roamed the mountains of Tesska, although his bloodlust and violent tendencies far outmatched even the most brutal of his fellow tribemates. He quickly gained a fearsome reputation and became the tribe's most celebrated warrior, but grew impatient and restless when times were peaceful.

Eventually, after insisting that his tribe go to war with the other goliath of the mountains, he was visited in his dreams by an apparition of the Morrígan. She recognized his abilities and supported his desire for conflict, requesting that he pledge his service to her in exchange for the promise of future bloodshed. In the Morrígan's name he murdered his clan and wandered across the land of Thera, hunting and executing individuals marked by his dark goddess.

## Biography

Asterios was born to a remote tribe of goliath that wandered the mountains of Tesska. His people were nomadic and tribal, but with a rich culture that developed from their ancestors, the stone and frost giants. Asterios grew to be a fearsome and deadly warrior who showed no mercy to the enemies of his tribe. He was celebrated and revered as a champion, making him one of the most fearsome men to ever wander the mountains.

But when there was no conflict or war between tribes, Asterios would become restless and bored. He found joy in violence and craved bloodshed, even at the cost of his own allies. He tried to encourage war between the goliath tribes — arguing that his own tribe was far stronger than the others and deserved to rule — but was repeatedly denied. The goliath tribes had an unspoken respect for each other's culture and territories, and violating that would spill more blood than many of the goliath believed necessary.

Asterios, however, was not happy with this outcome. He grew bitter and spiteful, and started resenting his own tribe for their "weakness." Then, one night, he was visited in his dreams by an avatar of the goddess of war and battle: The Morrígan. She praised him for his deeds and supported his desire for war, claiming that there was a powerful darkness within him that his tribe had been stifling. She asked Asterios to pledge his allegiance to her, and in exchange she would grant him all the power and all the opportunities for conflict he desired.

At first he was hesitant. He still had loyalty to his tribe and his people. Yet as his frustration and resentment continued to build, the Morrígan's offer grew more and more tempting. Eventually, he accepted the goddess' offer and pledged himself to the service of the Morrígan.

Asterios doesn't remember the events that followed, but his consciousness returned several hours later. He was surrounded by a pool of blood and gore, and realized that his victims were the familiar faces of his tribemates. He had murdered them all in the name of the Morrígan.

From there, Asterios' bloodlust only grew. He ventured away from the mountains and wandered the lands of Thera, terrorizing those he crossed paths with and hunting those marked by the Morrígan. He became bestial and savage, and earned the nickname "The Minotaur" by the terrified witnesses of his carnage.

Eventually, Asterios was caught and arrested after he was spotted near a remote village in Silverland. He was sent to Scarlet Bay, a high security prison on an island far south of Tesska, to await trial and execution for his crimes. He eventually escaped, however, and now roams the land of Thera as a loyal and devout follower of the Morrígan.

## Description

### Appearance

Asterios is large, even by goliath standards. He inherited many of his ancestors' strengths and features, and possesses the might of several skilled warriors. He often wears a helmet made from the skull of an elk and covers his body in dark war paint. His eyes are one of his most terrifying features; there is no empathy or compassion within them, and those that have survived encounters with Asterios often wonder whether he's a man or a wild beast.

### Personality

Asterios is brutal and merciless. He obeys the Morrígan without question and prioritizes his duties to her over all other obligations. There is no bargaining or arguing with Asterios. If he has marked someone for execution, there is nothing short of his own death that will stop him from pursuing his target. Many believe him to be an immortal monstrosity or a dark omen, but none who have seen him have forgotten the encounter.