Toruuk Stoneheart
Appearance
Massive, even by Minotaur standards, Toruuk stands imposingly, hulking with muscle. Toruuk's fur is dark grayish-brown, his mane long and wild. The massive Minotaur has devoted his life to the ways of battle. He is covered in scars from battles past, many of which could have been avoided with a little tact, something Toruuk is nearly devoid of. Toruuk can usually be seen sporting a mix of beat up chain and plate armor covering his forearms and legs. He keeps his chest and head free of armor out of the personal belief that they restrict the user's movement too greatly.
Skills and Abilities
Toruuk is nigh unparalleled in terms of strength and skill. A masterful brawler, he is skilled in a variety of martial arts, both armed and unarmed. While keenly aware of his size and usual advantage in sheer strength, Toruuk often moves with a speed and grace not becoming of such a behemoth of a creature. Decades of fighting among his brethren, monsters, and otherwise has given him vast insight into the ways of martial combat. Though he prefers to be in the thick of a fight, he is just as capable of commanding a force as he is cutting one down.
When armed, he generally prefers fighting with his twin axes, Pomp and Circumstance. He favors an extremely aggressive style when doing so, often overwhelming his opponents with a relentless onslaught of heavy-handed blows.
When forced to fight at a distance, Toruuk uses a massive crossbow (actually a ballista he "found" and converted for his own personal use) he normally has strapped to his back. He carries a variety of ammunition for said crossbow, but his favorite is a makeshift harpoon he created from a length of chain and a sturdy spear.
In unarmed combat, Toruuk prefers a mix of boxing and grappling, once again using his overwhelming strength and size.
Aside from his keen eye for combat and ability as a brawler, Toruuk is relatively limited in ability. He fancies himself a cook, but his repertoire is mostly limited to things that he's roasted over a fire and covered in flavoring.
When armed, he generally prefers fighting with his twin axes, Pomp and Circumstance. He favors an extremely aggressive style when doing so, often overwhelming his opponents with a relentless onslaught of heavy-handed blows.
When forced to fight at a distance, Toruuk uses a massive crossbow (actually a ballista he "found" and converted for his own personal use) he normally has strapped to his back. He carries a variety of ammunition for said crossbow, but his favorite is a makeshift harpoon he created from a length of chain and a sturdy spear.
In unarmed combat, Toruuk prefers a mix of boxing and grappling, once again using his overwhelming strength and size.
Aside from his keen eye for combat and ability as a brawler, Toruuk is relatively limited in ability. He fancies himself a cook, but his repertoire is mostly limited to things that he's roasted over a fire and covered in flavoring.
Personality
Toruuk is a jolly soul. He is not inherently violent, he just enjoys brawling more than anything else. Toruuk will jump at the chance to fight, even going out of his way to find the opportunity to. This has often led Toruuk into trouble and, more often than not, even more fighting. Toruuk is the distinct opposite of subtlety; in fact, he hates subtlety. Toruuk finds sneaking about to be cowardly, and would much rather charge every situation head on. He lives his life by this creed, refusing to dance about any challenge. If one wants to succeed, they must grab life by the horns. Because of this, Toruuk often comes off as being something of an idiot, but this is not the case. Indeed, while he lacks any sort of book learning, Toruuk has a sharp mind, something very necessary for brawling with the level of ability he demonstrates.
Toruuk also has a sense of honor. There is no honor in fighting a weak or weakened opponent. Toruuk sees himself as a warrior, not an executioner, and to fight an enemy at any less than their best condition is not a fight at all.
Toruuk cares little for wealth. The bull believes he already owns every worldly possesion he needs, and extra silver just serves to weigh him down. Though he works as a sell-sword he does so for the opportunity to fight, not for the money it rewards.
Toruuk also has a sense of honor. There is no honor in fighting a weak or weakened opponent. Toruuk sees himself as a warrior, not an executioner, and to fight an enemy at any less than their best condition is not a fight at all.
Toruuk cares little for wealth. The bull believes he already owns every worldly possesion he needs, and extra silver just serves to weigh him down. Though he works as a sell-sword he does so for the opportunity to fight, not for the money it rewards.
Biography & Lore
Toruuk is a warrior-born Minotaur of the great Clan Stoneheart of Candenord. The youngest son of the clan's chieftain, Toruuk was raised to be a brawler, a position the young bull embraced with vigor. By the time he'd come of age, Toruuk had grown to be the largest Minotaur in his clan and had wrestled and beaten every other bull within 5 miles. Toruuk reveled in the thrill of battle. With enough effort, there was no opponent Toruuk could not fell. Toruuk's father was proud of the young bull and eventually declared his son the clan's champion. When Clan Stoneheart came to blows with the other clans, Toruuk was at the forefront of the fight, slaughtering foes with skill and grace not becoming of a brute of his size and appearance. Toruuk learned from the best of his clan on the ways of war. Other bulls found themselves inspired by Toruuk's devotion to battle, looking up to him as a leader figure.
Many years passed, and Toruuk began to become dissatisfied. The fights were slowly running thin, and challenges were few and far between. The mighty bull found himself sinking into a rut. That is, until the day his father announced his passing of the title of chief to his eldest son, Gorrok, a ritual which was well accepted within the Stonehearts throughout their history. That is, until that day.
Many of the Stonehearts were greatly angered by the idea of Gorrok succeeding his father instead of Toruuk. After all, Toruuk was a much more accomplished fighter and had proven his worth countless times. The complaints drove Gorrok into a blind rage, and the elder brother of Toruuk lashed out at him. The ensuing brawl was the most savage and ferocious fight many of the tribe had ever seen, and yet throughout it Toruuk seemed calm and in absolute control. As Gorrok prepared his final charge Toruuk delivered a crushing blow to the elder bull's skull, flattening him in an instant. The Minotaurs of Clan Stoneheart roared in joy at the results of the fight. As Toruuk's father called him before him to declare his new successor, Toruuk approached somberly. Toruuk respectfully declined the position and left the presence of his clan, informing them that the life of a leader could never satisfy him.
And so Toruuk embraced his new lot in life as the wandering champion, travelling far and wide in hopes of meeting new foes and new challenges. He finds work as a sell-sword, using his income to pay for rent, food, and his frequent trips to the local taverns.
Many years passed, and Toruuk began to become dissatisfied. The fights were slowly running thin, and challenges were few and far between. The mighty bull found himself sinking into a rut. That is, until the day his father announced his passing of the title of chief to his eldest son, Gorrok, a ritual which was well accepted within the Stonehearts throughout their history. That is, until that day.
Many of the Stonehearts were greatly angered by the idea of Gorrok succeeding his father instead of Toruuk. After all, Toruuk was a much more accomplished fighter and had proven his worth countless times. The complaints drove Gorrok into a blind rage, and the elder brother of Toruuk lashed out at him. The ensuing brawl was the most savage and ferocious fight many of the tribe had ever seen, and yet throughout it Toruuk seemed calm and in absolute control. As Gorrok prepared his final charge Toruuk delivered a crushing blow to the elder bull's skull, flattening him in an instant. The Minotaurs of Clan Stoneheart roared in joy at the results of the fight. As Toruuk's father called him before him to declare his new successor, Toruuk approached somberly. Toruuk respectfully declined the position and left the presence of his clan, informing them that the life of a leader could never satisfy him.
And so Toruuk embraced his new lot in life as the wandering champion, travelling far and wide in hopes of meeting new foes and new challenges. He finds work as a sell-sword, using his income to pay for rent, food, and his frequent trips to the local taverns.