Ratagar of Rall

Ratagar stands taller than most humans. Among his kind, however, his height and build are very average. His face only shows his immense age by the faint grey hairs on his muzzle. His main identifying feature for most is the eye patch that covers his missing eye.

Ratagar's dress is very distinctive. He wears a bright red robe with white trim. High-quality brown furs accent his luxurious robe. He almost always has his Staff of the Magi at his side, with it's glowing red crystal drawing the eye. His owl familiar, Tash often perches on his shoulder.

Ratagar was born in a small mining community named Rall. This place didn't have very many people or money, but life there was happy for the young cub. Of course, change would have to come.   Ursil raiders came in the early morning. They put the little village to the torch, and killed every man, woman, and cub that they could find. How Ratagar, barely a year old, managed to escape not even he knows.   He found himself in the massive city of Hnng'yar, an unforgiving place for a young gnoll cub with no one else in the world. He lived on the streets for years as nothing more than a begger, surviving on the fickle generosity of others.   Ratagar, now a young man of six years, had a fateful encounter with the city guard. Looking for an easy solution to a difficult investigation, this corrupt guardsmen tried to capture a begger no one would miss. When he went after Ratagar, he fled all the way out of the city, where he discovered the Well of the Twin Worlds. Heedless of the risk, he jumped in.

By a twist of the Divine Weave, the first person the young gnoll met on the other side was a hag named Granny Pots. She was very kind and understanding towards him, and she offered to help him return home.   During their many conversations, Ratagar revealed his sad circumstances. The crone then offered to teach him magic so he might never be helpless again, as well as avenge the fate of Rall. The young gnoll agreed enthusiastically.   Due to his upbringing, he couldn't even read. Still, his natural intelligence made learning easy. The strange tutelage of the hag made him particularly talented in the school of divination, followed closely by an affinity for transmutation.

Soon after he got a firm grasp of the basics of the arcane arts, Granny Pots sent him out into the world. She claimed that real-world experience would allow his powers as a mage to grow. Before he left, she assisted him in binding his familiar, the owl Tash.   He quickly discovered that the gnolls in the area were known as little more than savage raiders. He was nearly killed by an angry mob when a paladin stepped between them and saved his life. In return, he joined in one of her crusades, starting his first steps on the road to becoming an adventurer.   The pair met a few other companions, who were generally an exotic group. Among them was a mongelman rogue named Onder. The party would often stay with Granny Pots, who would play the role of their benevolent patron.   Ratagar's party had many adventures, and faced countless dangers. During that time, he discovered that he had traveled from Kirris to Amaun, becoming the first ever known to have done so. Still, try as he might, he couldn't find a way to return.   During his travels, the presence of Onder led to confrontation with Velsarra Til'vere, the creator of the verbeeg and mongrelman races. Onder desired a cure for his wretched form, without depending on the promise of Granny Pots.   Velsarra was unwilling to help. She was far more interested in correcting her mistake by killing her former test subject. After many confrontations, Ratagar was able to exhaust her magical abilities. She escaped, but was killed by a mongrelman mob.   Granny Pots took advantage of the woman's death by posing as her to take control of the verbeeg companies under her command. She took her forces and immediately attacked the island nation of Talran over a centuries-old grudge.   Ratagar, now an archmage, chose to travel alone to oppose her. Unbeknownst to him until that point, the hag had given each member of the party an ultimatum to ensure their cooperation with Ratagar, and prevent them from attacking her. Onder, who was merely bribed with the promise of a cure, joined him.   Talran was completely unprepared for the hag's assault. The two magisters that ruled the magocracy were too busy in their infighting to notice the martialling giants until it was too late. Both had been driven from their capitals and still they refused to cooperate.   It was Ratagar that brought the two together and convinced them to put on a unified front. Between their martialled forces and Onder's effective intelligence, the verbeeg were routed. In an emotional confrontation, the two adventurers confronted Granny Pots and finally defeated her.   Soon after, Ratagar rediscovered the Well of the Twin Worlds. He said goodbye to his friends, and returned home. In all the years he had been traveling, he had let go of his need for vengeance against the ursil, so he focused on more productive efforts.   He teleported into the middle of the Senate Chamber of Hnng'yar, told the story of his life in the city streets, and proposed solutions to every single problem he was aware of. The Senate voted to name him their Magus Laureate, but the previous holder of the position didn't want to give it up. The duel was short, and ended in Ratagar's victory.   During his long tenure, he worked on many projects, both social and magical. He even managed to unlock the secrets of endless longevity from the mad scribblings of Granny Pots. Under his leadership, Hnng'yar turned from a den of criminals to a pinnacle of civilization.   After the rise of two especially powerful wizards, Eldain Mal'atre and Vord Ink-Heart, Ratagar saw the need for cooperation. He summoned the pair to him and formed The Arcane Trinity. The three wizards have been protecting the Twin Worlds from all manner of apocalyptic threats ever since.

Ratagar of Rall believes in the right of all beings to exist, and is willing to go to great lengths to protect that right. To that end, he abhors violence and greatly prefers subtler solutions. He does fight if pressed, and in such instances his wrath is great, indeed.