Kuruk (? AC - 354 AC) was a Kagonesti Elf who fought in the War of the Lance on the side of Takhisis. He had tribal tattoos all over his body and wore leather armor covered with a deer skin tunic. Kuruk was an excellent hunter, who senses were incredibly potent, hearing the faintest whisper or crack of a limb. Kuruk lived his life trying to further the will of the darkness even after his death.
Early Life[]
Kuruk and his cousin, Shiriki, grew up in the forest with their Kagonesti families. They always knew the darkness was strong and powerful, and that serving it would be in their best interest. Even knowing they would face exile from their tribe, the two elves left the forest to join the armies of Takhisis during the War of the Lance. Kuruk fought ferociously but in the end, Takhisis and the dark forces were beaten back. Kuruk and Shiriki survived the war but were distraught and aimless.
With nowhere left to turn, the two capable warriors eventually wandered into the mercenary town of Ravenscar and joined up as the bodyguards of the "ruler" Bolthor, a Half-Ogre. Bolthor didn't know that Kuruk and his cousin were just passing the time until the return of Takhisis and a reason to fight again.
Return of the Sorceress[]
When the Young Adventurers came to Ravenscar to meet up with an old ally, they were quickly captured and had to fight against Bolthor's men. Kuruk and Shiriki fought against the Young Adventurers and because of a distraction, were beaten. The young ones escaped two experienced fighting Kagonesti and Kuruk could not handle that loss. With Bolthor's blessing, the Kagonesti warriors set out after the Young Adventurers.
In their second encounter, the Adventurers were hiding in the barns used to house the fighting animals of Ravenscar. Kuruk traced the young ones there and lit the barn on fire. To escape, Davyn, the leader of the Young Adventurers, released all of the animals and monsters. The monsters escaped the smoking barn and killed Bolthor. Kuruk and Shiriki were without a boss but not without a mission. They were going to hunt and destroy these Young Adventurers.
Kuruk and Shiriki chased the heroes all the way to Cairngorn Keep, the destination of their captured friend. In a battle with the Young Adventurers, Sindri, the kender wizard, used his powers to move a heavy boulder blocking a passage under the keep. Sindri became distracted and dropped the boulder, causing the ground to collapse into the caverns below. Shiriki and the Young Adventurers survived the fall, mostly through Sindri's magic. Kuruk did not. He was buried in the collapse, dead.
Even in death, darkness found another use for Kuruk. His freshly dead body was possessed by the spirit of an Undead Dragon called Frostclaw, who used his shell to help resurrect the wizardess, Asvoria.
References[]
- Return of the Sorceress, p.8, 20-22, 33, 44-46, 67, 92, 125, 152, 213, 224, 234,