Riaabu

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Information

Player: Vooz

Character Full Name: Riaabu

Character In-Game Name: Riaabu

Nickname(s): None

Association(s): The Kurenai, Draenei, Earthen Ring

Race: Krokul (Broken Draenei)

Class: Shaman

Age: 13,000

Sex: Male

Hair: None

Eyes: Bright glowing blue.

Scale/Height: 1.0

Appearance

Usual Garments/Armor: Riaabu can most often be seen in worn leathers and pieces of armor made of wood and leaves, as well as a dark hood and cloak. He often carries a large Draeneic mace with him, chipped and dulled. A necklace of sharp teeth adorns his neck.

Other: His back is marred by countless scars; the marks left behind from his days as a slave.

Personality

The years of hardship have not been kind to the psyche of this former champion of the Light. Corruption, exile and slavery have twisted his once noble bearing into that of a shiftless, opportunistic, irreverent lout. His respect and trust is not easily earned, and even when it is, it’s doubtful he’ll show any real compassion toward his allies. However, some shreds of his former nobility can still be seen. His faith in the Light, and now the Elements, remains unwavering. His sense of duty remains intact, as well. Should there be a cause worth fighting for, he will never abandon it. He’ll simply go along grumbling and complaining the whole way.

Though he has managed to ward off most of the debilitating senility so often seen among other Krokul, he has clearly not been entirely immune to it. Brief periods of forgetfulness and mood-swings occasionally crop up on some days. Most of the time, however, he remains sharp of mind and tongue, making this entirely evident through snide insults and inappropriate jokes directed toward his allies.

Alignment: Chaotic Good

History

Riaabu was born aboard the Genedar through the union of two Vindicators. From an early age, his parents instructed him in the ways of the Holy Light, and of the evils of the demonic Burning Legion. They were strict taskmasters, to say the least, instilling within him a strong sense of duty and responsibility. While most draenei children played in carefree bliss, Riaabu spent all of his time in training, prayer and meditation. He was determined to one day follow in his parent’s footsteps and become a Vindicator, a champion of the Light. Sure enough, once he came of age he joined the ranks of the holy warriors.

The draenei encountered many different worlds during their seemingly-endless flight from Argus. It seemed as though they would never stop running, would traverse the void until the end of time. This was just as well for Riaabu. Whether they settled on a planet or soared through the stars forever, his duty remained the same; safeguard his people and destroy any demon who would dare threaten them. He performed his duties well, protecting his people from the hostile creatures they encountered on the many worlds where they sought refuge. Draenor was no different. He valiantly safeguarded his people from the various dangers of this strange new world, and watched with joy and pride as the draenei civilization began to thrive there. It seemed that they had finally found the peace and solitude that they had craved for so long.

Unfortunately, this peace and solitude was not to last. The orcish inhabitants of Draenor fell prey to the corruption of the Burning Legion and began to slaughter every draenei they came across. Riaabu was present for the sacking of Farahlon, fighting valiantly but ultimately failing to defend the city from the orc monsters. He and the few survivors who remained cautiously made their way to Shattrath city, soon to be the last bastion of draenei civilization. Yet soon the time came to run again, as the orcs were preparing for their final assault. When plans were made to leave a small force behind to throw the orcs off of the trail of the main refugee group, Riaabu gladly volunteered. Though he would try his hardest to fight another day, he would gladly give his life to ensure that his people had a future. Besides, he was eager to have a second chance to face the orcs once again. While he did manage to escape with a small group of refugees, it was only after he had witnessed the slaughter of his people, and only after he had come into contact with the red mist.

With no other options, the group of refugees fled to Zangarmarsh, hoping to find a moment of peace and a chance to recover from the horrors they had lived through. There was no peace for Riaabu, however. To his horror, he soon learned that his connection to the Holy Light had been severed. He was unable to call upon it to fight and to heal, and its absence from his life took a great toll upon him. His body and mind also seemed to deteriorate rapidly. He experienced erratic mood swings, sometimes lashing out in rage, sometimes falling into a deep depression. His physical appearance and personality had changed so much that he no longer even resembled the noble draenei he had once been, much to the horror of his fellow refugees. Eventually, they exiled him, too afraid and disturbed to suffer his presence any longer. Heartbroken and confused, he roamed the marshes in a daze and only settling after he had stumbled upon a small camp of Broken draenei. He resided with them for many years, surviving the destruction of Draenor in the company of his cursed brothers and sisters.

Despite his situation, Riaabu spent every moment he could spare in solitude, praying to the Light for some sort of redemption, some way to ease the pain of this living nightmare. Other Krokul had been doing so as well, and their prayers were soon answered. Some of them began to develop a connection to the Elements and had taken up the practice of Shamanism. Riaabu listened to the words of these new Shamans eagerly, believing that perhaps this new power was the Light’s answer to his prayers. He learned all he could from these Krokul, and soon developed a link to the Elements himself. This brought him renewed hope and eased his troubled mind. Though he still lamented his fall from the Light and his twisted form, he found solace in the embrace of the Elements. At last, he was at peace. This peace was to be short-lived, however, as the greatest horrors were soon to come.

Strange creatures from another world had somehow made their way to Draenor and had begun to settle it, primarily in the marshes. The naga, they were called. Riaabu and his fellow Krokul did their best to keep themselves hidden from these reptilian invaders, yet somehow they were discovered. The naga raided their village and captured most of its inhabitants, including Riaabu. They forced them into servitude, their intolerable cruelty crushing any hope of resistance. Even the willful Riaabu was nearly broken by the constant torture the naga overseer inflicted upon him. For many months he toiled, hacking down mushrooms day in and day out. His connection to the Elements was not strong enough to aid in an escape, and even if it were, he mind had become so hazy due to the constant pain. He could not have put together a coherent thought even if he had wanted to. By night, during his brief rests, he would often plot of escape, but the sting of the overseer’s whip in the morning immediately broke his resolve.

His imprisonment lasted many months, and in that time his mind and spirit were almost completely broken. Yet somehow hope managed to prevail, and soon his hopes and prayers were answered. Another group of otherworlders had recently arrived and settled in the region. These long-eared purple people and their bulky talbuk-men seemed to be enemies with the naga, and launched attacks against their settlements. One day, they assaulted the camp where Riaabu and others were being held. At last seeing an opportunity for liberation, the former Vindicator jumped into action, fighting alongside the strange newcomers and even managing to slay his hated overseer. He took the bastard’s teeth as a trophy.

Riaabu chose to follow the strangers back to their village and there he learned many things. He learned of the Night Elves and Tauren who had rescued him, of their homeworld, Azeroth. He learned of the Naaru’s arrival to Draenor and the Blood Elves transgressions against them. He learned of his people’s daring assault upon the Exodar and their flight to Azeroth. Of the Grand Alliance, of the new Horde and the supposedly redeemed orcs. It was a lot to take in, and when he had had time to digest it all, all he could think about was his fatigue.

He ventured to Nagrand after hearing of another village of Krokul there, Telaar. He was welcomed there with open arms, and at last began to find the peace he had so desperately craved. He continued and completed his Shamanistic training and aided the citizens of Telaar with his newfound power. During the many months that followed, travelers would stay in the small city and tell it’s people more about Azeroth and the Alliance. Riaabu was intrigued, and decided that he would one day venture to Azeroth and see it for himself. For the moment, however, he was content. He remained in Telaar for the duration of the war against the Illidari, and later the war against the Scourge. Yet some time later, his days of peace were once again over. Even from beyond the Dark Portal, Riaabu could hear the cries of the Elements as the Shattering of Azeroth transpired. The Cataclysm had begun, and it was clear that action had to be taken. Despite his internal protestations, it was time to fulfill his duties as a Shaman, to protect the elements and ensure that his people’s new home would not share the fate of Draenor.