Vrikhán of Goralu, Haida Pakalan Sorceror

Character History and Notes:

Vrikhán was born to a warrior family that had served the Haida Pakalan pirate princes for generations. As a youngster, he was taught the rudiments of sword fighting, but it didn't hold his interest very long. A court wizard for his family's lord noticed his ability in magic and tutored him for a few years. As his value to the pirate prince grew, Vrikhán's lord convinced/coerced the priests of She Who Strides the Wind to teach Vrikhán what they knew of magic. As part of the deal, he learned the rites of the Goddess, placing rune-carved stones on the beaches.

When his education was complete, the prince put him on his ships as a magical bodyguard. He sailed all over the area, from Tsolyanu to Salarvya to the Nyemesel Isles to points farther south. Sometimes he would be gone for six months at a time. Whenever he returned, though, he did his work at the temple.

On one such break from the sea, when he was 28, he met, wooed and married a beautiful young widow, Tsobaina, with a daughter. They lived happily; she stayed home while he sailed with various ships of the pirate prince. He always tried to come home as soon as possible and stay for as much as possible. Though he cut quite a swath through the females in his travels, he loved his family and always came home clean and sober. As he grew in experience, the prince let him spend a little more time each return at home.

On one of those voyages, he met Teka. She was a mysterious woman from the Nyemesel Isles, hired on the ship as a bodyguard. Part warrior, part sorceror, she scoffed at his attempts to seduce her, in turn using her quick wit and sharp tongue to poke jabs at him. He loved the challenge and returned the banter with charm. Since they had to work together, they often sniped at each other about messing up that manuever in the last battle.

After one fight got a little too close to serious injury, they had a terrible shouting match, criticizing each other's actions. In the midst of it, Vrikhán kissed her, and the passion of the argument turned to another kind of passion. Only the deafest of the crew got any sleep that night. Since having sex, their teamwork has improved, though they still trade barbs both in public and in private, though there is a much friendlier and joking attitude than before. This was the point they began their working partnership. Teka and Vrikhán always work together. Vrikhán convinced the pirate prince to take her on semi-permanently. They have been working together five years.

Both Tsobaina and Teka know of the other, and neither shows any jealousy. Teka is glad he has somewhere to go home to, and Tsobaina appreciates that Teka helps keep him alive. What the other does with him in their spare time is none of anyone's business.

After serving his lord for several years, Vrikhán felt the urge to seek his fortune. Vowing to return with vast wealth, he took passage on a ship, and ended up in Jakalla, which suited him very well. He and Teka (for she wouldn't let him have adventures without her) are currently staying in the Foreigner's Quarter in Birakku's Rest House. They are in some need for funds, and are hoping to find employment as caravan guards, tutors of sorcery, or something.