Female Gnoll Cleric 1 / Monk 3

STR 10 (+0)
DEX 16 (+3)
CON 13 (+1)
INT 10 (+1)
WIS 15 (+2)
CHA 10 (+0)

Age
Adult (28, human-equivalent)

Alignment
Lawful Neutral

Background
Hermit

Height
7’2”

Weight
295 lbs.

Deity
Helm, formerly Yeenoghu

Birthplace
Reaching Woods, Western Heartlands

Residence
None, formerly Elturel

Physical Description
On first impression, Anrak assumes a normal striped gnoll appearance, with light brown fur marked by dark brown stripes and possessing the face and head of a hyena. Similarly, she has a rather imposing figure, towering above most other humanoids with which she interacts and having powerful muscles. Unlike other gnolls, however, further inspection reveals Anrak to be in control of herself: her fierce yellow eyes appear to view the world with unbiased judgment instead of relentless hunger.
Dark blue warpaint decorates what fur of hers is visible, including two notable stripes down her right eye. Anrak’s gear is predictably piecemeal, consisting of leather, linen, and several metal plates all fastened together haphazardly with a few belts. Peculiarly, the gnoll woman has a longsword which seems very well cared for, with a pristine sharp edge despite its simple design.

Personality and Mannerisms
Gone the endless hunger is from Anrak’s mind, it seems, as she lives a mostly ascetic life amid humans. Whether traces of her heritage and nature remain she never tells; the gnoll states her true goals are atonement and balance. Since the past few years of Anrak’s life have been spent under meditation and self-reflection, she tends to come off as steely or distant to most strangers. Though most would consider this a vast improvement compared to the aggressive nature of other gnolls.
As she forms bonds with others, it becomes obvious that the gnoll is interested in exploring her emotions, having been denied (most of) them under the influence of Yeenoghu. Whether the extremes of ecstasy and grief, or the milds of boredom and acceptance, Anrak strives to feel all… except one.

The hunger is not gone. The whispers of Yeenoghu are still in all of his creations’ minds, even if the tether is broken. Occasionally, Anrak has bouts of hunger and ferocity that even the intense meditative regimens she undertakes cannot quell. She is determined to persevere, regardless.

Biography
Born into a gnoll warband known as the Abyssal Vandals, Anrak grew up with the favor of Yeenoghu evident in her blood. She was a capable war shaman by the young age of 5, and bested her warband’s leader easily, aided by the magic of her domain. The gnoll woman, guided by her patron, took up the leadership role and led the Abyssal Vandals to a series of victories against human hamlets and towns throughout the Western Heartlands.
The confidence the warband gained would prove to be its undoing. On a late night invasion of a human city, the Abyssal Vandals found themselves fighting against a highly trained and well equipped force of Helmite paladins. Sensing his war priest’s imminent defeat, Yeenoghu rescinded his blessings upon Anrak, allowing the humans to best her in combat. Her warband retreated to avoid being completely wiped out and left her behind.
Yeenoghu revoking his power from Anrak inadvertently also removed his influence from her mind, and the fallen gnoll shaman’s plea for mercy was met with both confusion and skepticism from the paladins. One of the paladins, an older man by the name of Vegran Lunaore, listened and took it upon himself to teach this wayward soul the ways of justice and balance. He brought her to Elturel and its Helm’s Shieldhall, a fortress dedicated to the Vigilant One.
Anrak began her long road of atonement, spending most of her time for a few years in meditation, under the tutelage of Vegran and the other Helmites. These years shaped Anrak into the woman that she is now, a woman determined to maintain control against her nature, and a seeker of balance and justice.