Bayasa
Description
Almost six and a half feet tall, this beastly hero looks like a 250 pound lion-man. And indeed, Bayasa's race was aptly named as leonals. This particular Guardinal is a particularly impressive specimen, for he bulges with tawny muscle and a swift, ferocious gait. The fur that sheathes his body is a dark gold, save the heavy mane around his head, which darkens to bronze. Bayasa's fierce, feline eyes match that mane, and they are bright with a natural wisdom and steady calm that shatters only when he rages upon enemies of life and goodness. Bayasa wears little in the way of clothing, save a simple and loose tunic of burgundy hue. A pair of bronze bracers clasps to his powerful forearms, and lion images decorate the small pieces of wrist protection. At his waist is sheathed a great, curved falchion. The pommel is shaped like a fierce lion's head. Though quite capable of slicing foes to ribbons with that blade, Bayasa takes greater joy with unleashing the terror of nature's defenders on its would-be despoilers…with claws and fang.
History
Bayasa was born and raised almost 3,000 years ago in the heart of Elysium. There he wandered the fields and meadows and savannas of that natural paradise for years. Bayasa stayed with his mother's pride of leonals for centuries before seeking out fortune on his own. He traveled across Elysium, exploring all its realms, before settling at last in the beautiful Plateau of Orchids of Amoria. He was content there, the only leonal in a broad horizon of flowers and celestial sprites. His peace was broken only once, when some bold adventurers of evil intent appeared right there on his plateau. They were jaunting through the High Planes in search of wicked glory. And they found it at the paws of an enraged leonal right off the bat! Bayasa's roar shattered their morale and he tore into the villains with fang and claw. They were powerful foes, though, and he suffered much in mind and body. Uná herself had to tend to his wounds to help him recover. The goddess imparted a whisper of her strength and health into the leonal, rebirthing him as a greater instrument of her wrath. A patient goddess, it took much to inspire Uná to such outrage that she would employ a leonal to exact her revenge. Bayasa was dispatched to the material plane, to the land of Nnanga in Kukul. Despoilers of many stripes were seeking to take advantage of the land and corrupt and destroy nature in the process. Uná sent other emissaries -- mortal clerics, druids, and rangers, elf and man alike -- but all were ignored. But they wouldn't ignore Bayasa.
Personality
Despite his fearsome, rugged appearance, Bayasa is an even-tempered and easygoing guardinal. He prefers to spend his time lazing about in a beautiful scene of pristine nature than chasing evildoers. Still, when confronted with despoilers and corrupters, his patience vanishes quickly. A frightening opponent, Bayasa is quite capable of slaughtering most foes who would threaten nature itself…and he doesn't hesitate to do so however is most effective and appropriate -- by magic, sword, or good ol' claw and fang. Bayasa is not a subtle celestial, and prefers to leave negotiations to those who have the patience for compromise. When he socializes, his leonine personality -- dominant, charismatic, and compelling -- become much more evident.
Goals
Bayasa will follow the Barbarian class to mastery (20th level) before considering a multi-class, either as ranger, druid, or even cleric (of Uná).
Character Sheet