Venathrax

"The gods are either dead, never existed, or simply don't care. Whatever the answer, we're on our own."
— Venathrax

Basic Information¶

Species: Dragonborn
Sex: Male
Age: Young Adult
Height: —
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Occupation: Wanderer, scholar of forbidden lore, adventurer
Residence: The Pagoda of Ara, Agrovionimb
Affiliations: Pagoda of Ara, Central Swamp Expedition

Appearance¶

Venathrax is a black-scaled dragonborn with striking gold-green eyes and an easy, confident smile. He carries himself with an air of casual bravado that often borders on irreverence. Though he frequently appears relaxed and unserious, those who know him well understand that he is rarely as carefree as he pretends to be.

Biography¶

Venathrax never knew either of his parents. His father, a sailor and fisherman, was lost at sea before he was born. His mother, a dragonborn attendant of the Pagoda of Ara, died while bringing him into the world. Orphaned before he had even hatched, Venathrax was taken in and raised by the temple.

Unlike many who grew up within the Pagoda's walls, Venathrax never accepted its teachings unquestioningly. From an early age he challenged sacred doctrine, debated religious instruction, and questioned every certainty offered to him. He found no evidence that the gods still watched over the world and could not reconcile the temple's teachings with the suffering he saw around him.

The more he questioned, the more trouble he found.

As a rebellious and often quarrelsome youth, he spent much of his time exploring the abandoned and forgotten halls beneath the temple. During one such excursion he discovered an ancient book and orb hidden in a sealed chamber. Through these relics he forged a connection with a mysterious extraplanar being that offered him knowledge and power in exchange for his service.

Whatever bargain was struck, it changed the course of his life.

Seeking purpose, answers, and perhaps a legacy of his own, Venathrax volunteered for the expedition into the Dreadmist Swamp. He was one of only seven survivors of the encounter with The Troll of Dreadmist.

Now he has volunteered once again, this time to sail aboard the Dawn Seeker and venture into the ruined world beyond Agrovionimb.

Personality¶

Venathrax is charming, witty, and deeply skeptical of authority. He masks uncertainty with humor and often uses bravado to hide his insecurities. Though he rejects organized religion and has little patience for dogma, he possesses a strong sense of fairness and a genuine desire to help others.

He has little interest in being told what his destiny should be.

He would much rather discover it himself.

Relationships¶

The Pagoda of Ara: The temple that raised him and the institution whose teachings he spent much of his youth questioning.

Pethi Wiselander: Raised in the same halls, yet their beliefs and outlooks could scarcely be more different.

His Patron: An enigmatic extraplanar being that recognized some hidden potential within him and granted him power in exchange for service. The true nature of this relationship remains known only to Venathrax and his patron.

Trivia¶

"Venathrax" is a self-chosen name. His birth name is unknown.
He spent much of his youth being punished for asking inconvenient questions.
Despite his criticism of religion, he still lives within the Pagoda of Ara.
Few people have explored the forgotten passages beneath the temple as thoroughly as he has.