Tarq Vongmund
Description
A towering giant, sheer terror flows from the icy presence of Tarq Vongmund. This demon is shrouded in tattered dark robes and glistening inky-black mail head to toe. A slow, unstoppably powerful force seems to fill that armored shell. Mortal ichors seem to drip from the edge of the sword gripped in the giant’s gauntleted grasp. At sixteen feet tall, Tarq must weigh a ton. Every step crushes earth and brings the inevitability of death that much nearer. Palpable decay radiates from the huge figure and the long, shredded span of leathery bat wings from his back. Delicate winter flowers that dare to peek out nearby immediately shrivel and wither in his presence. Within the hood of his robe, within the impenetrable round case of his black helm, Tarq’s face is swallowed in a void. It is a vacuum of evil, drawing in the world and crushing it into nothingness, like his empty soul. Only Tarq’s eyes, now ablaze with unholy red light, shine from those depths. The void is hungry and seeks all souls, and Tarq is its champion, the harvester of doom, and the scion of true evil. The Apocalypse soon arrives, and this death knight leads the charge.
History
Over 300 years ago, Tarq’s demonic mother slutted herself out to the entire tribe of Vongmund frost giants in the heart of the Skygar Mountains of western Mautos. Then, so intense was the birthing process that even the succubus’ hellish endurance could not withstand it, and she perished in the process of presenting the world with her twisted son. The tribe adopted and raised him despite (or because of) his monstrous heritage, calling him Tarq. Tarq grew big and strong, fierce and monstrous, savage and cruel – an exemplar of his race, really. He joined numerous raids not only against humanoid settlements but also against rival giants and even helped vanquish a white dragon. And always, Tarq channeled his demonic heritage in his sleep. He was filled with evil whispers every night, telling him to take what he desired, what he craved. He fell upon a frost giant woman, who happened to be the chief’s wife. He took her, and the tribe turned against him for that. They drove him out and left him to the mercies of the wilds. Tarq survived miserably for years, but eventually became the target of ire for the vengeful Wrackmoores, a rival tribe of frost giants. They assailed him endlessly. Tarq fought them off the best he could, but they and their frost wolves eventually dragged him down. Refusing to be dog food, Tarq stumbled off the edge of the peak and plummeted to his death far below.
However, that was not the end of Tarq Vongmund. His soul fell down into the Abyss, but was drawn into a special place of darkness and fear. Tarq did not feel fear, however, only despair. He did not want to be dead. That voice whispered again, offering to give the giant a second chance in exchange for eternal service. Tarq readily agreed despite the seemingly bad advice that voice gave before. Why not? It was not as if anything else could go wrong. He was already dead.
But he was also wrong. Things could get worse. For Tarq awakened from the depths of hell back in his corpse, now a member of the undead. A new set of armor rested nearby, which Tarq donned (and has rarely taken off since). So too were new weapons presented to the newly born death knight. Tarq arose, taking up his sword and went forth into the icy reaches of Skygar to exact revenge for his death. Many giants perished that night, and Tarq jammed dozens of scalps into a sack. The Wrackmoores were extinguished, and the new death knight returned home with his prizes. His tribe did not recognize him at first and tried to drive them back, but he froze them all in place and presented his penultimate victory before the chief. He was accepted back (somewhat reluctantly) into the tribe. For the next 200 years, Tarq guided his fellow giants as a distant champion of raiding and destruction. But always, he sought to understand the whispers in his head. They became clearer and clearer over time until at last an avatar of that demon appeared before him. Tarq learned that he was destined for great and terrible things, that destruction and conquest of all the world would one day be his for the taking. He had only to swear fealty to the king of demons, he who gave Tarq this new cursed yet mighty and unstoppable life. Tarq agreed, aware that he would not be fighting this terrible battle alone. Soon, the world would tremble and all enemies would topple before him.
Personality
Tarq once was merely vile and vicious, voracious and murderous. He has since become so much worse, turning into evil personified. Yet, his outward demeanor at least has changed. Once, he was a half-fiend frost giant filled with bravado and conceit. Now he is quiet, almost dignified. Despite his monstrous intentions, he has accepted his role as a lieutenant of an even greater evil than himself.
Goals
This powerful monster will master the blackguard prestige class (10th-level) before considering another – probably just fighter to improve his combat skills all the more.
Character Sheet