Shaghrakh

**Shaghrakh** is a wisened male orc monk who resides near Gabrinamas.

## Description

### Appearance

Shaghrakh is tall and intimidating, as one might expect from an Orcish chieftain. His face and body are marked by many overlapping scars. He sports a long white beard which is decently well groomed, albeit a little bit scraggly.

His attire is pretty simple, consisting mostly of black monk robes. He does not wear an excess amount of ornamentation, as he claims that his followers can recognize him by his presence, not by his attire.

### Personality

Shaghrakh is a stern and stoic man. He is considered to be incredibly wise for a man of his background, and is a strong leader to his people. Though he remains often skeptical of outsiders and those who do not share his ideals, he is more willing to entertain the potential of alternative pathways than might be expected. He is not easy to persuade, but he is usually willing to hear someone out.

## Biography

Shaghrakh began his life in the same way that many orcs do, having been born into a pillaging war-band. He was strong and capable, which meant he swiftly rose in the ranks, eventually becoming the leader. But eventually, Shaghrakh was revealed to be more than another war-chief. He would lead his people into a new way of life. In dreams, it was revealed to Shaghrakh that the rage and short-sightedness of Gruumsh had been holding his people back from achieving true greatness. In order to become masters of their realm, they first needed to become masters over their own bodies. To achieve this, Shaghrakh forged a new path for his people that was based on scrolls from Hofuna, in which an orc could be trained in the ways of the monk in order to prepare themselves for the time when the Orc people would gain dominion over the world. The pinnacle of their training was something called the Trial of Yurtus, in which initiates would have to withstand the power of the Shard of Yurtus, as well as its defender, Tanarukk.

### Testing Outsiders

Shaghrakh's enclave was visited by a group of adventurers whom, after hearing the Orc's tale, claimed that they wished to undergo the trials. Although it was unorthodox, Shaghrakh was intrigued by what they had to say, and agreed to allow them to be tested come daybreak.

First, the party had to prove that they had the physical strength required to match blows with some of the other Orcish Initiates. This challenge was undertaken by the party's strongest members, Dordlo and Calix. Easily, the pair of them were able to best their opponents, proving mastery over their body.

Next, the initiates had to show that they could be in tune with their environment by making their way across a series of poles. Although this proved to be difficult, the party eventually made their way across, and Shaghrakh gave his approval for them to continue.

Shaghrakh and his disciples waited outside Tanarukk's cave for the party members to fufill their final task. This task required the party to defeat the monstrous orc not by injuring him, but instead by being able to outlast his exhausting aura. Although the task was daunting, and all of the adventurers faced injury and exhaustion, they succeeded, and Shaghrakh was impressed. He gave his approval, and they were made initiates of Shaghrakh. He threw a grand feast in their honor, and told them that they were welcome to stay until they were recovered. Late that night, Tanarukk awoke, and Shaghrakh was pleased.

While some of the party ventured down the mountain to visit the nearby Duskshell village, the barbarian Calix stayed behind at the enclave. He and Shaghrakh spoke for a while, discussing what the orcs had planned. Calix sought to convince the orcs that a peaceful and mutually beneficial arrangement could be made with Gabrinimas. After all, plenty of warriors and hunters had been going to Vigil to defend the watchtower from sandworms and centaurs. Shaghrakh and the rest of the orcs, however, interpreted this instead as an invitation to plunder a weakened foe. They mobilized their team of ninjas, and roused Tanarukk from his lair.

### Battle in Vigil

The war band pursued the party towards Vigil. The crazed Tanarukk was dragging his handlers along by chains, seemingly captivated by something the party had with them. The orcs joined the battle, using their techniques to quickly subdue the raiders who were on foot. During the battle, Shaghrakh saw none other than the Shard of Yurtus being thrown through the air. It had been stolen from his enclave. His trust had been betrayed, and his monks used as a weapon. However, his anger towards the party was overshadowed by his curiosity about the potential of this shard. If it was powerful enough to control his monstrous brother, then what other things might it be able to do?

Unfortunately, before Shaghrakh could explore these possibilities, he was interrupted by the late arrival of reinforcements from the Citadel, led by Inquisitor Obadiah Sebastian Caspiel. (A dick, and not in the good way) The inquisitor ordered the orcs chained, and was about to order their execution via burning at the stake. However, Calix and Dordlo managed to persuade the Inquisitor that they are far more valuable as potential converts. After all, what could show the Inquisition's power more than being able to convert a group of heathenistic orcs?

## Relationships

##### Tanarukk

Shaghrakh and Tanarukk are brothers. Whether that is through blood kinship or the closeness of a shared oath is unknown, and frankly does not seem to matter to them.