Yessss world-building, love it! Super excited about this, Turtle c: reserving a sport here for my CS
Name: Kygraki (Kig-rack-E) "Kygga" (Kigg-uh) Storm-Eyes
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Role: Petals
Name of race: Skalkregg (sk-ull-Craig)
General information about Skalkregg:
-Skalkregg are known as solitary, territorial people of the cold places that wake primarily at night. They are not commonly seen, due to their elusive nature and small numbers. Some of the more open villages and groups will accept trade from them, with the skalkregg's main import being books and knowledge. Traveling through a skalkregg's land is safe, making permanent residence there is not. Few survive when they choose to attack, marking them as savages by the more peaceful groups in Pavvlyn.
-There are conflicting reports on what most skalkregg are like in temperament, but most agree that they are simple, private people who live off the land, speak in a blunt manner, and can occasionally be prone to bouts of rage.
-Even if you don't see a skalkregg, you are likely to hear their songs come from the wilderness. the songs of the men are low and heart-pounding, the women high and haunting. Some suggest the wordless songs have religious meaning, others believe it to be cultural, or even to attract partners.
-There are a scattering of famous skalkregg across the history of Pavvlyn, most often as military leaders, rogue mercenaries, or as scholars and discoverers. In accounts of their tales, found through diaries, eyewitnesses, or records, it is often mentioned that these skalkregg spoke of a "gripping wanderlust" that caused them to shun the secluded ways of their people.
Appearance:
Height - Tiger: 3'4" ground to shoulder, 10'4" nose to tail tip / Human: 6'6"
Facial features - Kygga has dark, angled eyebrows and hooded, dark golden eyes that can appear quite fierce when not commonly creased in a smile. His nose is slightly humped outwards and wide, like his tiger form's. When looking at something closely he wears small round spectacles with no arms that rest halfway down his nose
Hairstyle - Kygga has light tawny hair that surrounds his head like some soft of mane. His hair tends to be wild, but not unkempt or knotted, with an occasional braid in his bushy, trimmed beard. His hair is parted to the right and is somewhat combed back and out. He has sideburns and a mustache that attach to his beard. Like his hair, beard, and mustache, he has a large of amount chest hair.
Body type - Kygga has a light skin colour, and has a wide, stocky body build, easily described as "a mountain". His torso is longer than his legs by a small amount, and he has a slight gut.
Weapon/special items or magic - Carries a dark wooden lute with intricate carvings depicting Kygga's homeland, and a flute of the same colour and material that ends in a decorative tiger's head. He also has tambourines and other simple instruments, as well as colourful powders of a variety of uses. His claws and strong muscles can be used in a fight.
Clothing - Kygga wears the normal garb of his people, which is an undershirt and dark green vest, much like this lovely but awkward-looking man depicted
here. He opts not to use shoes or boots, and instead treads barefoot.
Animal - Kygga has the forearms of an Amur tiger, and appears as a normal Amur tiger in animal form, with a slight spectacle-appearing marking around his eyes.
Gesturing and personality traits- Kygga is large, but doesn't seem to take up much space or make rash movements, as his actions are careful, deliberate, and thought out. In buildings he often has to crouch or curve his shoulders, but when he can he stands firm, with a proper stance, closed fists, and watchful eyes. He speaks with a deep, low voice that sometimes turns to a growl, and his words are carefully thought-out and knowledgeable. When playing music or singing he becomes caught up with the emotions of the peace, jumping and spinning for fast-paced songs, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes and lightly swaying for melancholy tunes. He can grow tense, his claws extending, when he is afraid or suspicious. Even as a well-read, careful person he is not immune to the rage of his people and fights against it, the shadow flickering in his eyes in times of negative emotion.
Background history/past experience: Common to skalkregg, Kygga was born and raised by his mother Yllske alongside two siblings, his sister Klgrana and brother Moyegre. Moyegre was the stronger of the three, and favoured by their mother, as expected. Moyegre was the first to receive food and affection, and often dictated what his other siblings did, in the manner of an innocent child who doesn't completely understand things. Kygga was attracted to reading and learning, and insisted that his mother teach him everything she knew about the land, other species, languages, and history.
At 16 years of age the three were cast out of their mother's home to find territory of their own. Moyegre and Kygga traveled east together, thinking they could be companions, while the more solitary Klgrana went south. Eventually Kygga grew jealous of Moyegre for the attention he had received as they were growing up, and they became locked in a rage-filled battle over an unmarked piece of territory. Kygga won, sparing his brother because of their kin bond, and sending him away from the land Kygga acquired.
Kygga became a hermit, living in a small, hand-built house bursting to the seams with maps, books, historical records, and self-penned works of music, leaving only to seek out more of these writings and women when the season came. He lived like this for 20 years until the wanderlust struck him, like an abrupt bolt of lightning, as he pored over an incomplete map of Pavvlyn. He took his precious instruments, his clothes, and destroyed the rest of his belongings due to the more selfish, hoarding nature of his people. He began to travel Pavvlyn, cast out by many but welcomed by a select, interesting few. He sought out places, people, and things of interest and significance, and represented them through songs and poems he would present to the masses. His respect and knowledge of many of the cultures in Pavvlyn, along with his charismatic nature, allows him to go to places and speak to people others might not be able to.
Other info (if applicable): In tiger form he can carry three to four people on his back, but it isn't as comfortable as a ride as on a horse.