Graaqx

**Graaqx** is a fifth-level player character goblin necromancer played by alko.

He was raised in what was, at the time, territory of the Gruuqxl tribe of goblins in the Ghom Tarom mountains well before the time of the Big Itch. Like most surface-dwelling goblinoids in the Hollow, he was born in the Underdark and traveled to the surface following an inexplicable urge.

According to pre-Itch goblin societal mores, Graaqx had no idea who his parents were. As he came of age, he was taken under the wing of an elder named Gruuqx, as his adoptive child. Gruuqx was a charismatic and strong fighter. He was also a capable leader who managed to consolidate power among goblins of the area. Together, the tribe defended treasure against oncoming bands of adventurers, organized raids against rival goblin tribes, and heisted dwarven trade caravans. The Gruuqxl tribe came to relevance as a faction that could hold its own territory. With this, Graaqx rose through prominent positions of goblin power, such as Chief Carcass-Sniffer and Poison Tester #2, and eventually, second-in-command.

Soon enough, Gruuqx came of age and passed into the other realm. It was Graaqx's turn to lead. Not long after he was crowned king, he began to feel a curious itch inside his skull. The sensation was coming from a part of his head that nowhere could reach. He rammed twigs and leaves as far up into his ears and nostrils as far as they could go, but nothing could relieve this bizarre feeling. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He was not the only one. This curious plague was slowly spreading across his entire tribe.

The itch was followed by a newfound curiosity, and then pain -- not just that of the wounds caused by the twigs, which was now slowly dawning on him. This was the pain of revelation; the revelation of a new world, one much larger than the world of goblins, the world of our small section of mountain and of trinkets, caravan raids, and besetting hapless travellers. This new world was one where the questions far outnumbered the answers. Graaqx was becoming intelligent, and though he was not the only one, for some reason for him it was happening far more quickly. He asked his friends and advisors what they thought of some of the questions he had, but no one was interested. As the physical itch subsided and the metaphysical one took its place, king Graaqx began to feel increasingly removed from his subjects.

One fateful night, the Gruuqxl clan was beset by a high-level adventuring party. They had been caught during sleep. The rogue had already silently dispatched most of the clan's best sentries before the goblins could mobilize. Among them, too, a human figure, with a long white beard and quarterstaff, was destroying several goblins at a single wave of his hand -- a fireball spell. It was a massacre. Graaqx knew there was no chance of saving his own hide unless he ordered his tribe to stand and fight. He bought his escape, sending his friends and family to their deaths. Better one of us survive than none, he had reasoned in the moment.

But Graaqx was wracked by guilt at his soulless train car thought-experimenting. He had let his people die. His status as a king was now null, with no subjects to rule over. The pain of self-consciousness was exacerbated tenfold, and it was going to continue to get worse. But his mind went back to the bearded figure lobbing balls of destructive flame. He could learn to do that, he thought. His only next move was to harness this newfound energy as a power. He travelled south, away from the mountains he had known all his life. His travels were full of dangers and rough experiences. He got along by his wits, which were increasing by the day. He noticed that the Itch was not unique to him, his tribe or even goblins. Soon, he would not be able to throw others under the bus as easily as he could the Gruuqxl. Before long, he made his way to the city of Hillsink.

The dispossessed king arrived in the bustling metropolis amid a large population change: due to the Big Itch, goblinoids and other previously stupid creatures were sporadically but steadily becoming interested in what civilization had to offer them. It seemed his journey was not so unique after all. Graaqx procured a humble home in a flat with several other hard-up goblins. He was unfamiliar with the strange dialects of the other goblins who came from other parts of the Hollow. His roommates likewise didn't appreciate Graaqx's imperious nature. They accused him of acting like royalty around them, ordering them to do such ridiculous things as massage his feet and

-meeting an old wizard, learning magic

-getting into necromancy

-why go to alwaysfall?