Vergumkaar

The Gaellen War was at its bloody height when the creature that became known as Vergumkaar was conceived. The tide was turning against the forces of the Gaellen Pact, and in their desperation the Lizardmen turned to all manner of experiments in an effort to win the war. The exigencies of the conflict resulted in numerous trials that would not have been permitted previously. The spawn-handlers sought in particular to create creatures that were as intelligent as regular Lizardmen, but possessed a physicality that rendered them good beasts of burden and powerful warriors. They should also – unless roused for battle – be docile and unhesitating when it came to following orders. Numerous failed attempts caused most of the Gaellen Pact’s leadership to disregard the efforts of the experimenters, and when the forces of the Telerian League landed on the shores of Peltas, most efforts were abandoned. One spawn-handler named Itchakren, however, refused to give up on the possibility of breeding what he believed would be the perfect warrior. With a small number of faithful followers, he continued his efforts in an isolated Lizardman temple in the heart of the Sorrowlakes. The war swept past, but the forces of the Telerian League never found Itchakren’s work, which had become more of an obsession to him than an effort to help the Pact to victory. After months of effort, he finally met with success. A creature was hatched from the spawning pools that bore all the desirable characteristics Itchakren sought: pliability; strength; thoughtfulness. He named the hulking, horned thing Vergumkaar, ‘the Future Great’ in his particular dialect. The great lizard possessed an intellect as strong as his tough, scaled body, and a wisdom that even Itchakren had not anticipated. Slow to anger, the creature nevertheless passed all the tests and challenges his creator set him, excelling in trials of strength and combat-ability, showing streaks of loyalty and protectiveness in particular. While all of Itchakren's further attempts at creating more beings like Vergumkaar met with failure, he seemed content that his life’s work had been ultimately successful. Rather than leading Vergumkaar to war – undoubtedly, even his great strength would not have been remotely enough to turn the tide by that point in favor of the Pact – Itchakren remained at his old temple, where he doted on Vergumkaar as though he were his own offspring. Years passed, and eventually Itchakren died. Knowing nothing of the world beyond the Sorrowlakes, Vergumkaar continued to occupy the temple that was his home until, one day, everything changed. Long after the Gaellen War had ended, an avaricious and powerful Banner Lord by the name of Baron Rodrik came to the Sorrowlakes seeking riches. He invaded Itchakren’s former temple, believing there was great wealth inside. Instead, what he found was Vergumkaar. The creature was docile at first, but when Rodrik, wanting its head and horns for a trophy, attacked it, something was triggered deep within Vergumkaar. The creature fought back, and a desperate battle ensued between them, a battle that only ended with the abrupt intervention of Rodrik’s cook, Ursuga. When Ursuga had still been a child, Rodrik had slain her desert tribe family and enslaved her. Only now, at long last, was Ursuga taking vengeance, ending Rodrik as he fought Vergumkaar by stabbing him with one of his own great drinking horns. Vergumkaar could sense there was more to Ursuga than met the eye. Indeed, the thickset Human woman had saved his life. Ursuga lowered her weapon and spoke to the creature. Though unable to reply verbally, it showed her Itchakren’s old experimental chambers and helped her understand that he was a unique being. Ursuga was impressed, and with a bow of its head and a scrape of its claws Vergumkaar swore silently that he would follow Ursuga wherever she traveled. In that moment, the spawn of Itchakren found a new purpose. The great lizard-spawn soon proved his value. He dragged Ursuga out of churning ice-rapids during a river crossing in the Kingdom of Frostheim, and drove off Orc bandits during their journeys through the Redspike Mountains, after detecting their covert approach upon the camp while Ursuga slumbered by the fireside. He easily carries the treasures Ursuga seized during their adventures and, at times, even acts as a mount in battle for the powerful warrior. Many assume Vergumkaar is a simple beast of burden, but in this regard they are wholly mistaken. His wit is as keen as Ursuga’s, perhaps more so, and the two use the bond they have forged down the years to deadly effect, Vergumkaar’s sharp senses and resilience, as well as his cunning, effectively offsetting Ursuga’s strength and at-times overweening determination. They are equals and, together, they have developed a reputation that might well live up to the meaning of Vergumkaar’s name.