Raitan Drake is the strongest man on Oerth. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, he's six foot and 170 lbs with a trim frame, wavy black hair, moustache and hazel eyes. He's got a swimmer or gymnist's build but the man juggles boulders!
Raitan is a 33 year old man of mixed Arabian decent. His father, Vladimir Drake, was a sailor from Greyhawk while Rai's mother, Nirrana, was the daughter of a shiek. Raised in Utaqa and Muluk, Raitan was sailing by seven. His father died when he was a boy and once he became a man, Raitan set sail for the West to find his father's family. This pissed off Rai's little sister, Kara, but that's another story.
In the West, Raitan became a successful adventurer. He joined Tetsuko, Kozar, Rullo, Yavin and others in defending Klarr from invading orcs while its native defenders were on Asgard. Next, the group sought after and finally recovered the Staff of Law, gave it to the priests of Set, recovered it again in Neregan and saved the world from ultimate evil and utter destruction (in that order). Shortly afterward, Raitan set sail under Captain Tetsuko ("Hey, I'm doing all the nautical work! Why can't I be Captain?") to sail around the globe to Kozakura. Raitan mysteriously vanished one night in Kozakura, only to return in the morning claiming he'd saved the world with the Seven Swords. He doesn't remember exactly what he did, but Rai maintains he wrestled a dragon and was kissed by the Goddess of Fate, Istus. Next, Rai and Tets returned to Oerth via Rhanee StrongArm's magic mirror to aid Princess Damelia in her rebellion. Afterwards, Raitan built his small "yacht" the SeaWolf to sail back around the world in the other direction. Before he left (although after the SeaWolf's first few voyages), Raitan became embroiled in the Furyondy conflict and Illithid War. Recently Rai fought in the Oerth Fighter Tourney under the guise of the viking beserker, Thornin Bartsbane. He didn't win, but he got his rocks off pounding Slee...! Raitan later became embroiled in the Highland conflict, battling giants and Kingdom troops alike. He led the southern navy in a strike to free the Sea Barons and ultimately became Laird of the fief of SeaHaven.
Raitan is a braggart, a womanizer and a rascal. He is also a hero who tries to do the right thing against all odds. He is a loyal friend and doesn't desert those who need him. He can be easily duped by a lady in distress or one without a dress. He's flashy and sometimes hogs the limelight in a spectacular sort of way. When you've saved the world "at least" three times, wrestled dragons, boxed out giants and been smooched by divinities, a swollen head kinda fits.
"Bahamut be praised," chimes the High Priestess of Amberwood, Knight of the Wild March and Witch of the Platinum Dragon. Rhanee StrongArm is one of the most powerful Good witches on Oerth. She has been formally recognized by the Council of Furyondy for her role in the War. She is on friendly terms with several clerics, including Bart Silverwind, Todar GiantSlayer and Anastasia StrongArm. She is Lord Moorak Drake's spiritual advisor. Her brother, Rhom, is the smith of Klarr, with whom she has fought numerous giants and ogres. And she makes a really good chicken-soup-flavored potion of healing, too!
Rhanee is reserved and shy. She speaks little, unless her passions are stirred. A devout priestess of Bahamut, she is currently striving for her god to be accepted by the folk of Furyondy and beyond. To this end, Rhanee has been known to perform public works -- to prove the Goodness of the Platinum Dragon and his worshippers.
Rhanee is usually a "no-nonsense" woman; she believe in peace and tranquility, but is quick to punish those who cause harm and mischief. She may not have the best sense of humor (especially where kenku are concerned). Polymorph Other is her favorite method of sanctions, although she always makes the new form reflective of the crime with a duration similarly appropriate. More venial crimes may ellicit a Minor Quest to fetch water or write 1000 times "I will not do that again..." Rhanee would have made an excellent librarian or strict elementary school teacher.
Rhanee stands 5'9" and weighs a willowy 130lbs. Her hair is a slightly wavy, long mass of brown with a hint of red. Her sharp brown eyes always catch michief afoot. Rhanee usually dresses in simple brown robes, adorned with a single platinum wand, shaped into the claw of a dragon clutching an emerald. Were it not for this, many would mistake this High Priestess by her bearing and demeanor for a simple washer woman.
Rhom is a quiet and stoic man of almost 40 years. He is a master craftsman and smith, living in the remote forest community of Klarr with his wife, Anastasia, and children, Kristoph and Meagan. Rhom seldom adventures any more, content to forge fantastically crafted weapons, armor and locks in his smithy. He was, however, a founding member of the Knights of the Wild March as well as one of the Fabulous Five. Rhom fought in the Goblin Wars and helped turn the tide in the War in Furyondy. Rhom is one of the heroes from the Valley of Nine.
Rhom bears a particular hatred for goblins, giants and (especially) ogres. The majority of his adventuring career, he has fought them and three times been slain by them. Each time, a grateful cleric raised Rhom in exchange for further assaults against the giant invaders. Once, when his best friend, Bart Silverwind, had been slain by hill giants and ogres, Rhom swore an oath to Thor that "before I join [Bart] in Valhalla, a hundred such as these shall pass before me." Upon completion of that oath, no ogre will approach the lands around Klarr and Rhom has gained a certain infamy among ogres and giants. The road to Klarr is lined with the heads of dozens of ogres on spears, as an example to any other ivaders. Later, after Bart had been killed making a similar oath to Freya, Rhom begged Thor to help him save Bart's life. Thus, Rhom journeyed through Asgard to Hel and on to Midgard to save Bart's soul.
Rhom stands a lanky 6'4" with long, muscular limbs. His dark brown hair and beard is closely shaven. Rhom's brown eyes observe much, but the man says little. He is never without several of his magic warhammers, including Hrolstov, Night Splitter, Foe Crusher, Joten Seeker, Thurse Breaker, Back Biter and Ever True. Rhom is well known for his skill with these hammers and the devastation he can cause whilst wearing his girdle of hill giant strength and gauntlets of ogre power. In battle, Rhom wears strangely alloyed, drow-made, adamantine-and-mithril platemail, Black Gleam, which shines darkly in the light.
Rhom is the childhood friend of Moorak Drake and the older brother of the witch, Rhanée StrongArm. He is close friends with Thailine uth Matar, Solinane Silverwood and Todar GiantSlayer.
Rowan beame an adventurer almost six years ago when her homeland came under attack by the humanoids of the Bone March from the north and the armies of the Great Kingdom from the south. Up to then she had been content to stay in her small Highland village with her sister, Colleen, parents and son Caenen. Her husband had been missing for some time after going off to fight in the war. One day while Colleen and Rowan were in a neighboring village, their village came under attack and was destroyed. Their parents were killed and there was no sign of the baby. So, Colleen and Rowan ventured out to find food and a new home. They were slowly pushed out of the Highlands.
Rowan’s husband taught her how to fight using a Claymore. Colin thought it would someday be necessary for her to defend the village and homestead while he was gone. So, wearing a great kilt in the clan colors and carrying a Claymore, Rowan and Colleen ventured south. After gaining a little bit of experience and joining up with other people who wanted to help the war effort, the MacLeod sisters moved north. They met with many obstacles, not the least of which was a land desolated by the wars and without vegetation and wildlife. Add to this encounters with the Great Kingdom warriors and some travels throught lay lines to other worlds and you have Rowan’s career.
The highlights include being transported through a silvery ribbon to unknown places twice, which she found out later caused an imbalance between worlds. As a result, Rowan and her sister were able to travel to the world of the Sidhe and help repair the rift between the worlds by doing the traditional Highland Sword Dance. Subsequently, they got to deal with all the weird creatures which had come through the rift before it was healed. These creatures included sky sharks, a dinosaur, and three Predators. After dispatching most of these, the party got pulled to the front lines to help the war effort. Always searching for her husband, Rowan and her companions helped the Highland troops. Unfortunately, the war effort was being led by a young lad named Willis McClintock who as barely old enough to learn how to fold a kilt, much less run a war. So, he relinquished power to Rowan. She, with her Secretary of Defense, Arafael Rosefoot, the Power of Nature behind Colleen and the fighting prowess of the rest were able to turn the tide of the war toward the Highlanders. Now they are faced with an iron dragon, a gold dragon, an army of giants led by Morag, the son of Balor, and various other creatures who came through the rifts.
Rowan is still searching for her son. She and Colleen are trying to get back to the village to speak with the trees and find out what really happened. Her dream is to reunite with her son, remarry, and retire to a small village where she can have a Highland life again.
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