Nikink/MettanAku
Mettan'Aku : Child of Winter
Mettan'Aku was born in a small tribal village, called "EnduringNikink/Lasting Sanctuary of the PeopleNikink/Tribe" (Settar'A'Garrati'Besk), 16 Winters ago. At the end of last year he was taken out of the village as part of a hunting party, to gather meat for the calibration feast. After two weeks on the ice, the hunting party returned to find the village crawling with demons. Most of the villagers were alive, but thoroughly cowed and controlled; their vacant faces stared mindlessly at the Hunters. The village walls and houses were shifted and moved, encrusted in demonic ichor. As the Hunters approached the main gate, and steeled themselves for the horrors within, a swarm of creatures arose from the village walls and descended upon them. Thousands of crawling bugs engulfed the panicked men. The meat they had brought back was stripped to the bone in seconds. The men started to run, heading into the surrounding forest. Only half made it.
Over the next three days of Calibration, the survivors slowly ascertained what was happening. A mighty Shaman had killed the village defenders, led by the village Shaman, and was controlling the people by strange demonic bugs. The bugs would enter a body from any opening in the skin and lay eggs immediately. Once that was done the person would slowly lose consciousness for a couple of hours, then awake and obey the Shamans every word. Slowly, a huge tower was being built in the centre of the village. Everyday, villagers would enter the forest and harvest timber. Often they were escorted by larger demon beasts of horrific demeanour and brutal strength.
One of the remaining men knew they had to defeat the Shaman before Calibration ended; after that no-one could be rescued, and the Shaman would have even more power. So a plan was devised. On the last day of calibration the mighty tower was filled with the mindless villagers. The Wyld Shaman stood at the very top, words like thunder filled the air. The demons howled and cavorted though the streets.
The attack started well. The men made it through the gate... from there it became a slaughter. Even the buildings seemed to come alive to attack them! It was then, as Mettan'Aku ran and leapt for his life, firing his last arrow in vain at the Shaman, that he exalted. A golden glow burst forth around him, his caste mark searing the eyes of every demon that saw it. The arrow he had shot at the Shaman picked up supernatural range an accuracy and hit the Shaman, knocking him from the tower. With blazing speed, Mettan'Aku fired arrow after arrow at the demons. A mighty golden bow replaced his simple wood one, and glowing arrows of essence formed as he drew the string. Each arrow blazed like the sun as it hit the demons. Houses, and the tower, started burning with unnatural speed. The Shaman fled.
And then it was over.
Mettan'Aku stood alone. Surrounded by ash and charcoal. It started to snow. He collapsed into darkness.
When he awoke, cold and hungry, he searched for survivors, but soon realised he was alone. Kicking morosely through the ashen snow he found the remains of his father - still clutching his hatchet. Mettan'Aku said a small prayer and took the hatchet from the lifeless hand. Realising there was nothing left for him here, he headed to the village river and began traveling south with nothing but a simple wooden bow, a hatchet and some ragged fur clothing.
The next night, a blizzard struck. Mettan'Aku struggled through it, trying to find shelter, when he heard the screaming neigh of a horse through the snow. He turned and followed the sound to a copse of trees in a small valley. A horse was there. The largest Mettan'Aku had ever seen. Once it saw him, the horse was silent. Mettan'Aku collapsed in exhaustion beneath it. There they stayed for two days until the weather cleared. Mettan'Aku spoke constantly to the horse, about everything that had happened, and named it "Besk'Atta".
On his journey south, he hunted small game for food and fur, and occasionally traveled with other hunters and traders. He soon got to know a few of them quite well, and traded with them regularly.
Description of Mettan'Aku after the Battle with Blood-Horn and Talarn - a year (roughly) after exaltation...
A youth. A Large Youth, roughly 6'2" tall, quite Solid in build, very Muscular and extraordinarily Lithe, Quick, and Dexterous. He has clear, Nut Brown skin, which, upon a closer inspection, is covered in a fine tracery of scars in ornate whirls, spirals and knots, with one perfect circle centred on his forehead. He has Silver hair, somewhat wild and unkempt, to his shoulders, which is so fine and polished you can see your reflection in it when it is lying smooth and flat. It glitters in the sun and could almost blind you at the right angle! On his face is a gentle scattering of silver beard and moustache, still very scraggy, and patchy, but definitely getting there. His eyes are a clear and blazing green, with a certain hardness to them. They are watchful and alert, taking in every detail of his surroundings with a glance.
[Okay, hands up if anyone, anyone at all, pictured Mettan this way?? I sure as hell know I didn't! Leath.]
And did I mention the innocent now-17 year old is slowly but surely becoming a hardened, callous, vengeful killing machine??? Soulban would be proud (if he could have ever raised himself into giving half a shit...
- His Dream of Nilus Horse-Friend: Nikink/HorseFriend
- His Dream of Death and Usurpation: Nikink/NightFall
- His Orichalcum Powerbow / Spear:
- His Orichalcum Chainmail: Nikink/SuppleScalesOfTheGloriousSolarDrake
