It took some doing but I finally created a biblically accurate character for one of the lost tribes of Israel whose background would be canonical to the Forgotten Realms universe. I would like to start with the Storm King's Thunder because then I can call rage about the Nephilim and go David verses the Goliath. Afterwards I would like to establish myself on the Radiant Citadel as I look for my other lost tribesman while I continue to try to figure out a way to confront Lord Ao the Overgod to demand that he let my people go free!
Starting Attributes & Equipment: I took Point Buy and Starting Equipment then sold what I didn't want at PHB prices to afford the various religious items for role-play purposes. I can roll Starting Gold instead with the DM and reducing what I have to fit within that budget too.
Appearance: Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh is a slightly athletic pale skinned human whose lightly tanned complexion gives him a moderately handsome appearance couple by charming blue eyes as well as predominantly walnut colored hair flecked with a myriad of other shades garbed similar to the Bedine of the Anauroch Desert or the Mulan of eastern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars but somehow distinctly different as if their attire belongs to some other time or some other world.
Personality: I have my own ideas about what is and is not food, and I find the eating habits of those around me fascinating, confusing, or revolting and I honor my G-D through practices that are foreign to this land.
Ideal: Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any)
Bond: The G-D of my people is a comfort to me so far from home.
Flaw: I consider the adherents of other deities to be deluded innocents at best, or ignorant fools at worst.
Background Feature: All Eyes on You (Far Traveler)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Deity: G-D
Organizations
The Lost Tribe, an extremely nomadic tribe of religious zealots most consider uncivilized barbarians with strange customs. They believe in G-D whose name they never speak and consider all others to be pagans who worship false idols that have somehow managed to manifests extreme powers. As such they make attempts to resist directly using anything which may receive power from those who they describe as a pagan deity or their divine domain such as arcane magic due to the influence of Mystra, natural magic due to the influence of Silvanus or any divine magic which would require converting to a pagan deity to receive it. They will however use enchanted items which they view as tools or even occasionally befriend as well as employ those who do have such powers. The pragmatism of their religious laws which forbids them from forcing their beliefs on others as sojourners is often confusing to outsiders especially considering how few membersof the Tribe there actually are. They retain a selective diet abstaining from certain unclean foods and products along with a habit of keeping a single day holy out of each week to read from an ancient scroll written in a strange language only they know as well as keep other strange holidays that fall along a calendar only they keep track of. Although even those of the Tribe will admit they are truly not certain which days these customs originally fell upon was due to the initial disorientation from being transported far from their home by the Imaskar Empire to a world which exists on a completely different time scale. Nonetheless, those of this almost unknown Tribe make an attempt in their own way to preserve the culture and belief of their home while lost in the strange diaspora.
Allies
The Harpers, a non-hierarchical group of spies and mercenaries seeking to do good in whatever way they can. While like almost everyone else they are largely unaware of the Tribe their spirit of protecting the innocent and endorsing freedom would make them an ally.
The Emerald Enclave, a group of rangers and guides who seek to protect the natural world as much as possible. The Enclave may be vaguely aware of the Tribe due to their own customs of persevering nature as well as typically nomadic lifestyle.
The Lords Alliance, a large army comprised of soldiers from the regions of Waterdeep, Silverymoon, and Neverwinter along with some smaller cities in the area dedicated to securing the realms from threats. The Lords Alliance is only familiar with the Tribe in so far as their taxes will afford them. While not hostile nor unfriendly they would be hard pressed to come to their aide unless a threat to the greater realm was implied.
The Zhentarim, a network of agents, smugglers, and spies spread about all of Faerun with their hands in almost everything. They are aware of the Tribe having dealt with them in the past but these arrangements are always per diem and typically in the Zhentarim's favor.
Enemies
The Adama, a mortal believed to be the reincarnated aspect of Satama who the representation of all things is believed by the Durpari in the Shining Lands to not just be a deity but everything and all things including the absolute will of the people. They seek nothing more than to convert members of the Lost Tribe with the Adama to represent their will largely due to the indifference of their deity. Although by religious doctrine they are opposed to killing directly they instead employ both illusion magic and psychologically manipulating to trick their foes into killing themselves, sacrificing others or worse join them. Their belief system is quite similar to that of the Lost Tribe, but their dogma is a system corrupted by selfish vanity and egotistical arrogance often manifested within a mortal claiming to be the son of the G-D of the Lost Tribe.
The Church of Akadi, a small clergy of priest who pray to the morning winds and seek to live their lives as if they were experiments to be analyzed by others in the future. If there were any who worship Akadi they might try to experiment on a member of the Lost Tribe for fun.
The Church of Amaunator, an extremely bureaucratic group of sun worshipers who seek to organize the world in order to streamline the efficiency of things. Those aware of the Lost Tribe might consider their strange customs annoying but would rarely act unless threatened.
The Cult of Ao, a very small religious cult of no more than a few handful who follow the Hidden One as ardent members treated the cult as little more a passing fad. Once thought to be immensely powerful they are now often disregarded by the public due to the indifference of their deity. Their only Temple was once located in the city of Waterdeep along Trader's Way in the Castle Ward but due to neglect from all but a couple it was annexed by the city renamed the Cynosure and converted into a public forum for the masses. They few in number some of those who would claim to be members of the clergy of Ao may cautiously assist a follower of the Lost Tribe but only because Ao once teleported the Mulhorandi pantheon to Toril, formerly Abeir-Toril, from the home and misunderstand the Lost Tribe to presume this was their pantheon while others may confuse them with the followers of Adama. They are almost completely unaware for the Lost Tribe they are typically not hostile towards them instead more often than not they are confused by their religious identity as they never say the name of the one the believe in and Ao was more indifferent towards them than any other group of peoples on Troil recognizing the existence of the Lost Tribe but never once mentioning the one they follow in the Tablets of Fate.
The Asmodeus Cult, an ever-growing cult of souls who have signed their souls over to the greatest devil there is. These lawful evil cultists seek nothing more than to grow their influence by acquiring new souls for the devils of the Nine Hells. Asmodeus himself is aware of the Lost Tribe and greatly annoyed in their disbelief of his divinity having previously been called out on his mortality ergo capacity to die by a member of the Tribe however his followers would be unaware of this as to tell them Asmodeus would have to admit such an event transpired.
The Chosen of Auril, an arrogant and vain order of worshippers who revere the Cold Goddess primarily out of fear seeking to place all under her icy embrace. The Forst Maiden out of complete contempt for anything that would bring happiness to someone hates the Lost Tribe, but it is extremely unlikely any are aware of the existence of the Lost Tribe.
The Magistrati of Azuth, unlike the Church of Mystra the Magistrati work to promote magic and thus would be more prone to act in a manner which would hinder the freedom religious practices of a member of the Lost Tribe. However most if not all would be less aware of their existence than members of Mystra's following.
Bhaal, a nearly dead deity who once was the Lord of Murder located on the Astral Plane devoid of any power left to slowly dwindle from existence. A long brewing hatred from before Ao transported the Mulhorandi pantheon to Abeir-Toril has stained the heart of this ancient deity who is extremely aware of the Lost Tribe and hates them with an impotent rage.
The Church of Bane, a dedicated and stable secretarial group of worshippers who violently seek to put the entirety of existence under their dominion. While the Black Hand which controls the Church may be aware of the Lost Tribe and among his scant few followers it is unlikely any, but the some of esteemed dictators may.
The Ill of Beshaba, a cult coheresed into following the Lady of Bad Luck divided into three sects: the Doommasters, the Black Fingers, and the Wormlucks. They are as unaware as their patron is of the Lost Tribe, but should they ever cross paths they might delight in taunting them and reveling in their misfortune of being lost so far from home.
The Church of Chauntea, probably the largest and most diverse religious faction in all of Faerun the Earthmother provides food for all while she might find the Lost Tribe's practices towards cultivation admirable, she would be indifferent towards their crops having never received any offerings or prayers from them.
The Cyricist Church, a deceitful den of murderous scoundrels who seek nothing more than to cause strife the world over. Cyric is aware of the Lost Tribe but of mixed emotions as the Tribe hated Bhaal the prior deity of Murder more than even he did yet at the same time their disregard for him is somewhat vexing. More than anything the Cyricist who learns of the Tribe might mess with them for the sake of it but it would be rare that they would go out of their way to do so.
The Library of Deneir, is a publishing house and library located in Waterdeep who revere Deneir the First Scribe. The authors who ascribe themselves to the library would relish adding a copy of the sacred text of the Lost Tribe to their Library and would seek to steal a copy if they only knew of its existence.
The Glade of Eldath, a band of peace lovers and water goers who worship at ponds and small lakes the Mother of Waters. Eldath herself is aware of the Lost Tribe and views them as potential troublemakers but like her followers is a complete pacifist. As such they would neither help nor hinder any of the Tribe.
The Forge of Gond, these smiths and crafters believe in nothing more than perfecting their craft at the forge of the Great Smith. While not hostile toward any of the Tribe Gond is perplexed by their refusal to wear mixed fabrics. This is merely a slight annoyance though and as such his followers would be unaware of the custom of the Tribe or their members.
The Holds of Grumbar, a minimum of followers who are mostly aquaphobic worship the Earthlord for various reasons and would have little knowledge or regard for any of the Tribe.
The Rangers of Gwaeron, a lodge of rangers in the north who have mastered the art of tracking. While the Master Tracker is aware of the Tribe his worshippers are so remote that it is unlikely, they would be aware of their existence.
The Temples of Helm, a stout band of protectors who worship the Vigilant One by humbly and independently come together to shield the innocent and safeguard those who have no other defense. Due to what they claim to be fear of threat to the realm the Helm Inquisition is ever vigilant in their pursuit of forcing members of the Lost Tribe to convert.
The Church of Hoar, a conflicted bunch of doomsayers who seek only vengeance for the Poet of Justice. Hoar believes the Tribe will bring about the end times and thus he and his followers are somewhat aware of their existence and may even appear to help them but only in order to bring about their downfall.
The Church of Ilmater, a plagued group of sadist who seek to put all under the illness of the Broken Lord. Those who are aware of the Tribe detest that they were somehow able to thwart their sickness at their doorposts but delight in their suffering in a diaspora.
The Istishian, a wide range of those who work on the oceans and seas worship Istishia via all manner of superstitions. Their reactions and knowledge of the Lost Tribe is as varied as the sea itself. Jergal the Final Scribe, the original deity of death is only followed by those who will never reincarnate or be resurrected via any means. They do not care to act directly to bring about the demise of the Tribe as they believe that one day their end will come anyway.
The Undertakers of Kelemvor, wherever there is a graveyard there is a worshipper. The members who worship Kelemvor seek nothing more than aide those in transitioning from life to death. They would be aware of the Tribe but unfamiliar with their burial customs or might even find them to be somewhat strange while the Master of Scales himself is completely confused about what to do with the souls of the Tribe. They are not faithless and thus the Wall of Souls rejects them, but also, they do not have faith in any of the pantheon, so they remain living in the afterlife until they are tempted or tricked into converting.
The Church of Kossuth, is an impersonal hierarchical of worshipers devoted to the Flamelord. The Flamelord himself find the Tribes use of candles for prayer enjoyable but disdains that they refuse to light fires if one is not already lit on their day of rest. Should a Disciple learn of the presence of a member of the Tribe they might mock them on their day of rest.
The Church of Lathander, a clergy who celebrate birth and the new day in worship of the Morninglord. Lathander is aware of the Tribe due to their custom of circumcision, but his clergy would be wolfly ignorant due to their independent customs of handling the birth of new children.
Leirans, a very small group of liars and cheats who follow the Mistshadow would be mostly unaware of the Tribe, but should they discover them they would surely take enjoyment out of pretending to be a member themselves.
Joybringers of Lliira, a confusing group of joyful merry makers who pledged themselves to the Joybringer. While mostly unaware of the Tribe they would find they nature mostly depressing and might try to force them to find joy in being trapped in the diaspora.
Loviatans of Loviatar, a sadistic and masochistic group devoted to the Mistress of Pain. Their deity is well aware of the Tribe and often delights at the tortures they face being so far from their home. Should a member of her coven find a member of the Tribe within their midst they would take great joy in causing them misfortune.
The Hunting Lodge of Malar, the Malarites are a band of hunters pledged to the Beastlord and seek nothing more than the thrill of the hunt. Malar is aware of the Tribe and their hunt for Earth but also desires to hunt them as such there is one Malarite who is on a holy quest to hunt down members of the Tribe.
The Clergy of Mask, a seclusive aristocracy of con-artist and thieves devoted to the Lord of Shadows carrying out complex heist to take advantage of the unwary in order to own everything for the simple sake of possessing it. Although not aware of the details Mask and their followers would covet anything beheld by a follower of the Lost Tribe due to the rarity of such an object.
The Conservatory of Milil, a vast array of bards, poets, and other musicians who praise Milil the Lord of Songs in verse. Milil is aware of the Tribe but jealous that their great epic of a creation story and codex of laws was not influenced by them.
Myrkul, a nearly dead deity located on the Astral Plane devoid of any power left to slowly dwindle from existence. The former deity of decay laments the absence of the G-D of the Lost Tribe from death upon the Astral Plane having learn of their belief from Bhaal upon their passing.
The Chruch of Mystra, an assortment of all manner of spellcasters who worship the Mother of All Magic who methodically keep watch over all magical research regulating the advancement and dissemination of magical knowledge through the realms. She and her followers are well aware of the Lost Tribe in the higher circles of their establishment and although they may not naturally be inclined towards hostilities some of their more ardent members would do all the can to prevent the progress of those who dedicate themselves to the Lost Tribe thinking them to be little more than religious simpletons and uncouth barbarian out of touch with reality.
The Binders of Oghma, a flamboyant group of bookbinders and librarians devoted to the Lord of Knowledge. Oghma and his followers are extremely aware of the Tribe, annoyed that they refuse to let them alter their religious text but also not openly hostile. Rather they would delight in foolishly toying with a member of the Tribe in order to get them to reveal more about their customs and hopefully one day make alterations upon their sacred text.
The Order of the Gauntlet, an adventurous band of knights and paladins who seek to destroy evil in all forms wherever they go. While not beholden to any one deity the Tribe's lack of belief in a clearly defined one leaves them uneasy and unsure of their motivations.
The City of Pyratar, a city in the far southeast of Faerun in the region of the Golden Waters whose citizens blame the G-D of the Lost Tribe for a massive flood which killed thousands in mere days driving their ruler Supreme Potentate Anwir Dupretiskava, a blue dragon who had previously usurped power disguised as the human, due to a story from the religious scroll of the Lost Tribe. They seek nothing more than the glory of the Adama the One who is a mortal incarnate believed by the Durpari who are the descendants of the Mulan who invaded the Shining Lands to dominate it.
The Board of the Red Knight, those generals and tacticians who follow the Red Knight who are aware of the Tribe may have long ago planned out their moves to thwart the Tribe centuries before and as such are waiting until the right moment to strike.
The Cult of Savras, a small cult the remnants of which are largely based on the isle of Chult. The Fated One and his followers believe they know the destiny of all but those of the Tribe often defy their readings possibly thanks to the aide of some unknown power which frustrates their clergy greatly.
The Clerics of Selune, a pack of moon howlers who worship the Moonmaiden are only marginally aware of the Tribe. While they might enjoy that the calendar of the Tribe is based on the cycles of the moon they would find dismay to learn it is not originally based upon the moons of Toril and instead was adjusted to their moons phases from those of the moon of home world of the Tribe.
The Church of Shar, a sublet group of deceitful worshippers of the Mistress of Night who malevolently seek to restore the Lady of Loss to her former power from the Underdark. She merely seeks to trick the followers of the Lost Tribe for sheer delight. There may be a handful of drow somewhere very deep in the Underdark who would be aware of the Lost Tribe but only if Shar were to inform them.
The Grove of Silvanus, these Druids worship the Oak Father by preserving the wilds and cultivating new life. While many of those who worship the Green Father would be unaware of the existence of the Tribe Silvanus himself is in passing from his time as a pagan deity of Earth before Ao the Overgod transported him to Abeir-Troil. While not outright hostile of the Tribe the Oak Father is careful of them knowing that the power they observe was great enough to exert their will above the power of other ancient deities of his original world.
The Church of Sune, a selective group of models and fashionistas who pray to Lady Firehair for eternal beauty. They can be spotted selling clothing or skin care products all over the realms and while largely ignorant of the Tribe they would scoff at the concept of vanity being a sin finding those who believe such to be repressed fools.
The Talontar of Talona, a vile sect of poison makers who pray to Talona for deliverance from pestilence. Talona has a special spot in her heart for the Tribe due to their tale of plagues upon the followers of the Mulhorandi pantheon but is jealous that she had no part in it. While not pressed to go out of their way the Talontar wouldn't bulk at a contract to attempt to poison a member of the Tribe.
The Church of Talos, a brand of chaos runs across those who are members of this church as the Stormlord constantly changes his stance on every aspect of his dogma regularly. This also extends to the Tribe whom he would are much aide as seek their downfall if only his members were aware of their existence.
The Army of Tempus, regiments of priest who concentrate on nothing, but war pray to the Battle Lord. The Tribe has never been large enough to mount a war since being enslaved by the Imaskar Empire and thus he nor his clergy are mostly indifferent to them.
The Tormtar, an empathetic group of guards who pray to Torm and spread mercy about the realms. They are as cautious as the Helmites are of the Tribe but less hostile seeking to live disgruntled by peacefully with members of the Tribe if the situation required.
The Church of Tymora, a gambling group of wishers and dreamers who ask Tymora for only the best of luck take a chance in spreading her name throughout the realms. While her members are unaware of the Tribe she herself is extremely confused by them. The lament at being separated from their home but on Troil there is magic and so much more. How could they not understand how lucky they are?
The Oathbound of Tyr, a band of paladins wo divvy out justice in the name of the One Handed. Like the other ancient deities of Earth Tyr is aware of the Tribe and the one they pray to and as such keeps them at an arm's length out of a respect and fear of what might ensue.
The Church of Umberlee, a fearful group of sailors who patron the Wavemother before voyages across the sea. They are largely unaware of the Tribe as is their patron.
The Crew of Valkur, is a slight band of mostly sailors who are not well known inland and worship the Captain of the Waves. They are seek to assist any in over coming great odds and as such although they are unaware of them they would view the Tribe with a sort of pity along with contempt are their refusal to use the powers of the deities of Troil.
The Mint of Waukeen, a bank of minters and merchants who pray to the Coinmaker. They are largely unaware of the Tribe but would surely liquidate them of their funds if able.
Name
וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַקְדֹשִׁ Loosely translates to Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh or he who came after the Holy meaning one who follows or believes in the Holy.
Backstory
Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh has only sporadic memories of a past long ago from some other world so distant and far back in history that even he does not know where this place was. In this hazy memory he can remember being devoted to an incorporeal G-D whom he believed ruled over all things alongside the memory of the lash of a whip wielded by those now known as Mulan. The Mulan mocked his monotheistic devotion placing all their belief in the Mulhorandi pantheon. The vague remembrance of the Imaskar whisking the Mulan away in bondage along with him to some new world is also hidden in these fragments of his past. From these earliest memories he can recall almost nothing apart from his father placing blood upon his doorpost in order for his family to survive a plague only for them to be split up and sold by some Imaskaran lord. As a result he ended up in the service of a Dao or earth genie who stopped the aging of all his slaves so that they would work for him forever in the mines surrounding the city of Sevenfold Mazework on the Elemental Plane of Earth and once promised him freedom in an off-hand comment as a taunt that mockery of his faith in G-D. In a twist of fate he ticked the genie by holding him to the word of this taunt but was similarly tricked by the genie who left him to die in a desert seared and scared by magic. However, he did not die or at least he does not have a memory of dying. Instead, these early memories are followed by flickers of him living on Arcadia the Plane of the Afterlife where he once again became ageless before wandering onto Celestial Plane of Mount Celestia where his soul was questioned and tested for an unknown amount of time. His last memory of his time in to Upper Planes was of him falling from atop Mount Celestia intertwined with glimpses of tumbling down through the Plane of the Nine Hells. These memories seem to be hauntings, something distance and slightly obscured so as to make him anxious when dwelling upon them as he escaped to the Plane of the Abyss only to lose the ability to determine what is areal memory from what isn't as he fell into the Far Realms only to find his way back through his faith in G-D. It is as if they came from a time so long ago, they would be best left forgotten. There is one memory he does feel compelled to meditate upon; a change in his body as some blessed part of his soul was awakened as if he was tested in a manner in which he was sure to fail so as to know him truly and having wrestled with a power higher than any other during this test he returned as if from a dream. Were these memories he was so sure of even true? He would not be able to say but he has conviction that they are as real as the only concrete memory he has; waking up from a fever dream at a healer's unsure of how he arrived there and feeling weakened from some unknow experience which he has complete faith is linked to an unknown destiny.
Family History
His great-grandfather father had believed in the word of Amos when he heard it but lived in the north as a Levite. Although trapped merely by the circumstances of his geographic location his faith never wavered from his faith in giving sacrifice at the Temple, even when forced to pass his sacrifice off to a smuggler to take through the desert in order to bypass the roadblocks created by Jeroboam II. This imposed a sense of duty to stay in the north on his grandfather even as they built temples to the pagan deities in the Northern Kingdom. When the Neo-Assyrians under the rule of Tiglath-Pileser III invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel and his grandfather had already been with a child fought them seeking to protect his family. Although his courage did not faulter his kins did and upon being routed they were all captured and enslaved. Under the rule of Sennacherib a wife was forced upon his father for the enjoyment of their Neo-Assyrian captors after their failed siege of Jerusalem.
Extended Personal History
Upon Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh first birthday the Imaskar Empire invaded and took his family along with his captors to Abeir-Toril. As such Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was born on Earth but raised on Toril. For the first thirteen years they remained together. The brutal Imaskar at least allowed his father and mother to raise him to the age of adulthood within his culture. These years were hard but not as hard as what was to come. There were joyful moments of family holidays intersected by a great plague which his father averted from their house at their door post.
By his thirteen birthday he was sold to a Dao or Earth Genie who placed him, like the rest of his slaves, under a spell giving him eternal life so long as he remained in the mines of the Sevenfold Mazework. For thousands of years without day or night subsiding on the emptiness of magic alone he worked with his only delight being that others of his Tribe were there with him and together they would do their best to raise each their spirits. The Dao hated this and when they refused to work on what they assumed to be their day of rest in this dark cave without a day or night the Dao punished them severely; however never did the spirit of Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh break and one day the Dao mocked his faith promising him his freedom if he could resist his newest torture as an off-hand remark, merely a jest at best, and to the surprise of the Dao he was able to. Holding him to his word as a genie he tricked the Dao into releasing him and in return the Dao tricked him by release him into the middle of a desert created by the aftermath of magic so strong nothing could survive where its power was exerted. No longer cursed with the immortality of a slave to a genie this bleak inhospitable land would surely kill any who entered it, but Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was not killed by it.
At least he did not entirely die. Initially he was sent to the Plane of Arcadia because it was assumed he followed a Lawful Neutral deity, but because he did not he remained living and ageless while existing in the afterlife only to ascend onto the Lawful Good Plane of Mt. Celestia in his quest to return home. In this pursuit he learned that other members of his Tribe but not where they all are. By progressing through the several challenges faced at each level of Infinite Staircase his soul grew stronger until he threw himself from the cliffs of Solania and into the Nine Hells only to return stronger having resisted the temptations of the now deceased deity Bhaal who tempted him deep into the Abyss and then out unto the Far Realms only to eventually have his identity as Bhaal found out and rejected. Due to the chaotic nature of the Far Realm Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was returned to the Prime Material weakened along with only fleeting vague memories of his past but somehow, he remembers the practices of his religion and other parts of his life from before wandering the Afterlife alive.
It took some doing but I finally created a biblically accurate character for one of the lost tribes of Israel whose background would be canonical to the Forgotten Realms universe. I would like to start with the Storm King's Thunder because then I can call rage about the Nephilim and go David verses the Goliath. Afterwards I would like to establish myself on the Radiant Citadel as I look for my other lost tribesman while I continue to try to figure out a way to confront Lord Ao the Overgod to demand that he let my people go free!
Character Sheet
LEVEL GUIDE
Starting Attributes & Equipment: I took Point Buy and Starting Equipment then sold what I didn't want at PHB prices to afford the various religious items for role-play purposes. I can roll Starting Gold instead with the DM and reducing what I have to fit within that budget too.
Appearance: Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh is a slightly athletic pale skinned human whose lightly tanned complexion gives him a moderately handsome appearance couple by charming blue eyes as well as predominantly walnut colored hair flecked with a myriad of other shades garbed similar to the Bedine of the Anauroch Desert or the Mulan of eastern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars but somehow distinctly different as if their attire belongs to some other time or some other world.
Personality: I have my own ideas about what is and is not food, and I find the eating habits of those around me fascinating, confusing, or revolting and I honor my G-D through practices that are foreign to this land.
Ideal: Destiny. Nothing and no one can steer me away from my higher calling. (Any)
Bond: The G-D of my people is a comfort to me so far from home.
Flaw: I consider the adherents of other deities to be deluded innocents at best, or ignorant fools at worst.
Background Feature: All Eyes on You (Far Traveler)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Deity: G-D
Organizations
The Lost Tribe, an extremely nomadic tribe of religious zealots most consider uncivilized barbarians with strange customs. They believe in G-D whose name they never speak and consider all others to be pagans who worship false idols that have somehow managed to manifests extreme powers. As such they make attempts to resist directly using anything which may receive power from those who they describe as a pagan deity or their divine domain such as arcane magic due to the influence of Mystra, natural magic due to the influence of Silvanus or any divine magic which would require converting to a pagan deity to receive it. They will however use enchanted items which they view as tools or even occasionally befriend as well as employ those who do have such powers. The pragmatism of their religious laws which forbids them from forcing their beliefs on others as sojourners is often confusing to outsiders especially considering how few membersof the Tribe there actually are. They retain a selective diet abstaining from certain unclean foods and products along with a habit of keeping a single day holy out of each week to read from an ancient scroll written in a strange language only they know as well as keep other strange holidays that fall along a calendar only they keep track of. Although even those of the Tribe will admit they are truly not certain which days these customs originally fell upon was due to the initial disorientation from being transported far from their home by the Imaskar Empire to a world which exists on a completely different time scale. Nonetheless, those of this almost unknown Tribe make an attempt in their own way to preserve the culture and belief of their home while lost in the strange diaspora.
Allies
Enemies
Name
וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַקְדֹשִׁ Loosely translates to Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh or he who came after the Holy meaning one who follows or believes in the Holy.
Backstory
Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh has only sporadic memories of a past long ago from some other world so distant and far back in history that even he does not know where this place was. In this hazy memory he can remember being devoted to an incorporeal G-D whom he believed ruled over all things alongside the memory of the lash of a whip wielded by those now known as Mulan. The Mulan mocked his monotheistic devotion placing all their belief in the Mulhorandi pantheon. The vague remembrance of the Imaskar whisking the Mulan away in bondage along with him to some new world is also hidden in these fragments of his past. From these earliest memories he can recall almost nothing apart from his father placing blood upon his doorpost in order for his family to survive a plague only for them to be split up and sold by some Imaskaran lord. As a result he ended up in the service of a Dao or earth genie who stopped the aging of all his slaves so that they would work for him forever in the mines surrounding the city of Sevenfold Mazework on the Elemental Plane of Earth and once promised him freedom in an off-hand comment as a taunt that mockery of his faith in G-D. In a twist of fate he ticked the genie by holding him to the word of this taunt but was similarly tricked by the genie who left him to die in a desert seared and scared by magic. However, he did not die or at least he does not have a memory of dying. Instead, these early memories are followed by flickers of him living on Arcadia the Plane of the Afterlife where he once again became ageless before wandering onto Celestial Plane of Mount Celestia where his soul was questioned and tested for an unknown amount of time. His last memory of his time in to Upper Planes was of him falling from atop Mount Celestia intertwined with glimpses of tumbling down through the Plane of the Nine Hells. These memories seem to be hauntings, something distance and slightly obscured so as to make him anxious when dwelling upon them as he escaped to the Plane of the Abyss only to lose the ability to determine what is areal memory from what isn't as he fell into the Far Realms only to find his way back through his faith in G-D. It is as if they came from a time so long ago, they would be best left forgotten. There is one memory he does feel compelled to meditate upon; a change in his body as some blessed part of his soul was awakened as if he was tested in a manner in which he was sure to fail so as to know him truly and having wrestled with a power higher than any other during this test he returned as if from a dream. Were these memories he was so sure of even true? He would not be able to say but he has conviction that they are as real as the only concrete memory he has; waking up from a fever dream at a healer's unsure of how he arrived there and feeling weakened from some unknow experience which he has complete faith is linked to an unknown destiny.
Family History
His great-grandfather father had believed in the word of Amos when he heard it but lived in the north as a Levite. Although trapped merely by the circumstances of his geographic location his faith never wavered from his faith in giving sacrifice at the Temple, even when forced to pass his sacrifice off to a smuggler to take through the desert in order to bypass the roadblocks created by Jeroboam II. This imposed a sense of duty to stay in the north on his grandfather even as they built temples to the pagan deities in the Northern Kingdom. When the Neo-Assyrians under the rule of Tiglath-Pileser III invaded the Northern Kingdom of Israel and his grandfather had already been with a child fought them seeking to protect his family. Although his courage did not faulter his kins did and upon being routed they were all captured and enslaved. Under the rule of Sennacherib a wife was forced upon his father for the enjoyment of their Neo-Assyrian captors after their failed siege of Jerusalem.
Extended Personal History
Upon Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh first birthday the Imaskar Empire invaded and took his family along with his captors to Abeir-Toril. As such Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was born on Earth but raised on Toril. For the first thirteen years they remained together. The brutal Imaskar at least allowed his father and mother to raise him to the age of adulthood within his culture. These years were hard but not as hard as what was to come. There were joyful moments of family holidays intersected by a great plague which his father averted from their house at their door post.
By his thirteen birthday he was sold to a Dao or Earth Genie who placed him, like the rest of his slaves, under a spell giving him eternal life so long as he remained in the mines of the Sevenfold Mazework. For thousands of years without day or night subsiding on the emptiness of magic alone he worked with his only delight being that others of his Tribe were there with him and together they would do their best to raise each their spirits. The Dao hated this and when they refused to work on what they assumed to be their day of rest in this dark cave without a day or night the Dao punished them severely; however never did the spirit of Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh break and one day the Dao mocked his faith promising him his freedom if he could resist his newest torture as an off-hand remark, merely a jest at best, and to the surprise of the Dao he was able to. Holding him to his word as a genie he tricked the Dao into releasing him and in return the Dao tricked him by release him into the middle of a desert created by the aftermath of magic so strong nothing could survive where its power was exerted. No longer cursed with the immortality of a slave to a genie this bleak inhospitable land would surely kill any who entered it, but Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was not killed by it.
At least he did not entirely die. Initially he was sent to the Plane of Arcadia because it was assumed he followed a Lawful Neutral deity, but because he did not he remained living and ageless while existing in the afterlife only to ascend onto the Lawful Good Plane of Mt. Celestia in his quest to return home. In this pursuit he learned that other members of his Tribe but not where they all are. By progressing through the several challenges faced at each level of Infinite Staircase his soul grew stronger until he threw himself from the cliffs of Solania and into the Nine Hells only to return stronger having resisted the temptations of the now deceased deity Bhaal who tempted him deep into the Abyss and then out unto the Far Realms only to eventually have his identity as Bhaal found out and rejected. Due to the chaotic nature of the Far Realm Vayigash Achrie Ha'Kedosh was returned to the Prime Material weakened along with only fleeting vague memories of his past but somehow, he remembers the practices of his religion and other parts of his life from before wandering the Afterlife alive.
"Life is Cast by Random Dice"
Burn my candle twice.
I have done my life justice
Against random dice.