Half-Breeds
2
Kuroyama Yahiko had spent most of his short life preaching The Unity and equality of all life, but he had never in his travels seen a creature such as this. He was a small giant, almost certainly a fomorian. He stood about 12 feet tall, though a bent spine made him appear shorter. He was well-muscled with thick, calloused and knobby skin in various shades of purple. His arms were long and thin like a trolls, ending in wicked talons. One leg was several inches shorter than the other, and both ended in elephantine feet. He wore a thick, makeshift leather boot on his right foot for balance. His clothing consisted of tanned leather from various animals stitched together in an erratic pattern. His head, however, was the most shocking, a huge maw full of sword-like teeth sat beneath a single yellow eye. Ten smaller eyes on serpentine stalks framed the bulky, pebbled almost globular head.
In short, the giant's head was the body of a beholder.
Five eyes glared down suspiciously at the half-oni, while the other six looked about, doubtless suspecting a sneak attack. "I am Kuroyama Yahiko," He gave a formal bow, surreptitiously casting Charm and Friend, just to be safe, "I am a traveler and a friend." The creature seemed to consider this, and Yahiko hoped that he did not share the tragic xenophobia common among beholders. He could mention his alliance with Gzemnid, beholder god of illusions. Then again, this being might not wish to be considered a beholder at all. Most beholders would be horrified and enraged at the mere existence of such a 'abomination' and attempt to kill him as quickly as possible. Fomorians, however, would be far more accepting of such a being, perhaps even elevating him to a god-like status. "Friend? There are no friends." The voice was a hoarse rumble. Still, he remained peaceful. Perhaps he was curious
He was taller than the one who had made him. A dull orange creature with flowing white hair and shimmering green eyes visible beneath the brim of a wide, conical hat. A single black horn jutted from the apex of the cone. He removed the hat with a black taloned hand, revealing long, thick white hair and pointed ears. Two small but noticeable fangs, jutted from his upper lip. The creature's race was unfamiliar to Kakwatt, he was certainly neither human nor elf. He wore a simple, clean red robe with a dark blue sash and curiously raised wooden sandals and was unarmed save for a wooden staff. Still, there was a sense of power around him. Kakwatt felt unsure how to deal with this passive creature. "I am Kakwatt." He said roughly, "And these are my lands." Few had entered the several acres of forest and hand-crafted keep that constituted his domain since he had slain his master years ago. Even fewer had left.
Yahiko knew a little of the beholder language, and he knew that Kakwatt meant, roughly, 'Punk'. It was a term used within beholder hives to refer to young beholders. Ironically, in the language of Kozakura, his father's homeland, Yahiko meant 'Brat' or 'Punk'. Names aside, this was an incredible opportunity. This creature was possibly unique in all the realms. He could only be the result of some twisted experiment by a mad fleshwarper. But he also embodied, in a way, the very essence of The United. Two utterly disparate races combined to form a single, glorious hybrid. "I am merely passing through. I have no intention of troubling your lands. I am a traveling missionary." He smiled, revealing sharp, perfect teeth. "I have made it my mission to seek out all and teach them the ways of Unity, that all intelligent races are equal and all life is sacred."
The creature made a booming sound, presumably laughter. "I am the living image of The Great Mother, the true form of Her glory. For so long we have believed that the sphere was the superior form, but She has shown me the Truth. She has revealed Herself to me and She is glorious. I am superior to elves." This was not what Yahiko had hoped to hear. Kakwatt obviously believed himself a superior being. Most races believed themselves somehow better than all others. Beholders, illithids and elves were among the most stubborn in this belief of racial superiority. So far there were no beholders or (living) illithids among The United.
Yahiko gently probed his mind, finding a confusing, seething cauldron of madness. He had been insane for a long time and his memories were cloudy. The half-oni could find only that he had been created by a human sorcerer whom he eventually turned upon and slew. Whether or not he was an individual beholder and giant melded into one being, or if he had always had this form, Yahiko could not tell.
"I believe that new forms, new races bring new beauty into the world. I myself am of mixed heritage." Kakwatt squinted, "What are you?" "My mother is an oni, my father was human." "Oni?" The word was unfamiliar to Kakwatt. "We come from the eastern lands. Many of the west call us 'ogres'." The half-beholder had a dim memory of large, foul-smelling, ugly humanoids. Ogres. Where had he seen ogres? When had he seen ogres? Why was he always so confused?
This ogre smelled clean, despite the dust of the road and travel. He looked down at his own grimy hands.
"You spoke of The Great Mother. I have heard of her. She is indeed a powerful being. Do you know of any other deities?" Kakwatt thought for a moment. The name was hard to find. "Karontor. . ." Karontor, the evil god of the misshapen fomorian giants. A god of beasts, deformity and hatred. Yahiko had a fair relationship with him, despite his tendency toward senseless violence, as they both prized that which other races considered 'ugliness'.
"Karontor, god of fomorians and verbeeg giants." He murmured to himself. "Fomorians." The giant repeated. He reached up with his long arms and ran a long-fingered hand over his twisted back.
Fomorians were a fascinating species in the view of The Unity, and more than a few were members of the sect. They were a race in constant mutation and no two fomorians were alike. Each member of the race had a unique set of. . . Traits. One might have a third, shriveled limb, another eyes on the side of his head or ears on his back. This one's right leg was shorter than his left by several inches and his arms were disproportionately long for his body. Perhaps he had more traits not readily visible. That leg would make walking difficult, and Yahiko wondered why such a skilled fleshwarper did not even out his subject's legs. Yahiko focused his Charm, "Please take off your boot."
Kakwatt blinked hard. He didn't understand why, but he suddenly needed to take off his boot. He sat on the ground and pulled it off, revealing his shortened leg. The smaller giant focused his green eyes upon the foot and they glowed with a strange light. Kakwatt gaped in shock as his right leg began growing until it matched his left in length.
To be continued. . .
Notes:
Kakwatt means Punk in the beholder language according to the book I, Tyrant by Aaron Allston.
The idea for a Half-Beholder comes from the book Bastards and Bloodlines: A Guidebook to Halfbreeds by Owen K.C. Stephens
Behold! The Father of All Gary-Stues! The Divine OC!