Sha'ar Ix
Description
From head to tail, Sha'ar Ix is 8'6". A powerfully built specimen of the dread lamia, Sha'ar appears to be like a centaur -- except instead of a horse for the rear half of his body, he's a terrible lion. He easily weighs over 750 pounds and his aggressive, quadruped gait suggests he knows how to use that mass. Unusual for a lamia, but illustrative of his practical combat savvy, Sha'ar leonine body is clad in fine leather "barding". The mail sheathes the bulk of his body from back to his humanoid shoulders. It includes long, flowing lines that whorl and twist decoratively. A thick pack of gear is hitched over his humanoid shoulders, while a recurved short bow or long dagger of absolute quality fly readily to his tanned grip. But often, Sha'ar doesn't even need weapons. His ten fingers each end in black nails of steely composition and deadly sharpness. The tawny fur of his leonine body is largely concealed by his leather gear, as is the bare, muscled, and tanned flesh of his upper body. Sha'ar's long, black hair flows down smoothly, well kept and vibrant. Indeed, his features would present a handsome face. Only the cruelty, malice, and predatory cunning of his yellow eyes detract from that Apollonian beauty.
History
The year 889 in the Eastern Aria Desert of the Verdentian Peninsula was like any other year: hot, dry, and miserable. The Ix Clan of lamias found joy only in weekly marauding. They typically targeted human or even janni caravans. If they got lucky, they spotted gnomes. And if they were feeling particularly mean, they'd just assault kobold patrols. Occasionally, they'd target the wrong enemies. Even with the terrain on their side -- rocky crags from which to charge and attack and hide in again -- they occasionally clashed with the wrong party. That was why Sha'ar never saw his father again after only his fifth birthday. The cub thereafter swore to never become as vulnerable as his father and trained diligently in all manner of combat. When he was an adolescent, Sha'ar left the Ix's rocky cave network home and sought his fortune on the road. Sha'ar made a rare acquaintance with a human desert survivalist. Instead of trying to slay the human, he befriended the man. He learned much from his associate over the next several years. He repaid the wanderer by fighting the survivalist's battles for him. Sha'ar eventually returned to his homeland, however, a deadlier lamia than any of his clan ever knew. He could stay and become a great leader…or carve out his fortunes elsewhere. The desert at large drew Sha'ar's real focus, and he knew he couldn't linger at home any longer.
Personality
Sha'ar is not a nice beast. He's a cruel and murdering cutthroat, albeit a well-trained one. He knows the desert better than any of his people and how to use the land to his advantage. He lacks compunction when it comes to deceit and murder. However, he is not a fool. Sha'ar knows when manipulation calls for a long-term project, and will befriend another person -- even a non-lamia -- to further his goals. Of course, at this point Sha'ar isn't sure what his goals are. He'd hate to confess that a human survivalist rubbed off on him and inspired a purpose to become one with his desert.
Goals
Sha'ar will pursue the Ranger class to mastery (20th level). He might take up the Horizon Walker prestige class thereafter.
Character Sheet