Garrison

Garr-Ison, Son of Roff-Keirn, was born into the proud Bull tribe in the Lupin Ranges. In his pup years he ran and played with the others his age and got into all kinds of mischief. It was these early misadventures where his parents first got a taste of his predilection for story telling. Got caught with his hand in the biscuit jar? There was a poor beggar boy who had traveled from far across the mountains and he was hungry! Accidentally knock a pie off a window sill with your new sword stick? There were mighty kobolds chasing the other pups and he bravely defeated them and dashed their chief against the window and it was HIM that knocked over the pie before they all ran away. Needless to say his parents had to find an outlet for this… creativity. So when he was eight years old his parents apprenticed him to a traveling minstrel. For the next couple of decades he traveled with the minstrel , Lab-Warra, between all the different tribes, learning the History and myths of all lupin. He also trained in all the basic instruments of the minstrel, but showed a particular flair for the Hurdy-Gurdy. Soon Lab-Warra let him present the tales at den holds and traveling fires. Eventually He was invited to attend a White Howl( Gathering of all tribe elders and some single adults for lawmaking and merrymaking). At the White hold he met a beautiful female named Jakka-Turff. She had the most soulful eyes and the cutest jowls. He performed the best songs when she was in the crowd, and that was almost every time he performed. Eventually he extended his interest to her and she accepted and they decided at the end of the White Howl to go with the Elders from the Bull Tribe and present themselves to be married. As the White Howl Closed there was a grand celebration. Everyone was there and all the minstrels were performing. It lasted hours. Wine flowed freely and song and dance were riotous. As everyone was enjoying the festivities a sudden mournful howl went up and out of the shadows hundreds of undead swarmed the crowd. His first thought went to his new love and he scanned the group for her. Finding her off to the side by a table filled with food and drink, he dove off the stage and ran to her side. He took her by the paw and they both ran for the woods. All around them there was chaos. The strong Lupin fought tooth and nail against the undead while the less combat able, like Garr-Ison, ran for cover. Magic exploded near them and threw them to the ground. Dazed, Garr-Ison looked for Jakka-Turff and to his horror, a half rotten corpse of a Lupin stood over her. They locked eyes and the fear in her eyes sent ice into Garr-Isons soul. Just as she started to call his name, the undead fiend pounced and her and her call turned to a scream. Garrison, screaming defiance, charged the monster and attacked blindly, but Garr-Ison was no fighter, and the monster soon had him on the ground bleeding and losing consciousness. All went dark and he was aware of nothing other than his slowing heart beat. As the beats came farther and farther apart he became aware of a growing presence. A form stepped out of the shadows. It was tall and slender with the head of a Jackle and covered in jet black hair. He introduced himself as Anubis and presented Garr-Ison with a choice. He could pass from this life now, or he could be returned to life, albeit somewhat changed and he would be Anubis’ hound for the rest of his days, returning those who were supposed to be dead to the afterlife. Garr-Ison chose life, wanting to return to his Jakka-Tuff, and so Anubis restarted his heart and sent his soul back to his body. When he came awake, the undead who had killed him was still standing over Jakka-Turff. A great anger filled him and hunger filled his frame. He leapt at the monster and wrestled it to the ground. He wrapped his paws around its throught and screamed. As he did so fell wisps of energy streaked from the undead into his mouth and he felt rejuvenated, elated even. The monster crumble to dust under his bulk and he looked over at his love, but she was still. Agony of sorrow ripped through his heart and he moved to clutch her to him, but as he did so a large staff struck his hands. He roared and turned to face this new danger, but as he turned he found the elder from his tribe there. The elder quickly stepped between them holding his staff battle ready. “Do not touch her, you filth!”, She cried and attacked him again. “You will not befoul any more of my tribe!” “But I am of your Tribe!” he protested and tried to dodge her attacks “You are no Lupin of my tribe, I saw you absorb the power of that monster. Fiend! You are no LUPIN!” “I am not undead! I am alive! Listen. Hear my heartbeat, sniff me, there is no rot. I am Garr-Ison!” The elder lowered her staff a touch and halted her attacks. She sniffed the air carefully then cocked her head to the side listening. “You speak true, but I know what I saw. No Lupin feeds that way.” She stopped and pondered a moment. “You have been corrupted. You cannot stay. Grab your things and leave, Tonight. I exile you from the Lupin Ranges. No fire will warm you here and no one will take you in. You are Lupin no more. Leave! Before I rethink my decision.” And So He gathered his things from his tent and ran into the night. He worked his way to the coast and found a ship leaving the isle. He left behind being Lupin and so Changed how he pronounced his name to simply, Garrison. He found anyone who came too near him gave him uncertain looks and the longer he went without undead to send to Anubis the weaker he felt. So He works his way around the world, learning tales and histories and sending every undead he can find back to Anubis. GOALS: Short Term: gain control of necrovore abilities. Mid Term: become accomplished enough bard to perform for royalty. Long Term: Gather lost stories and find out why there are so many undead.