Gean

Gragath Equalizer Apuna-Nugate (also known as Gean, pronounced like "gene") is a Goliath Paladin.

Appearance
Gean stands at the high end of the spectrum for Goliath (8') and on the upper-end with size (325 lbs); it is apparent just how strong Gean is, although his size belies his wisdom and thoughtfulness. Similarly, his mismatched orange and yellow eyes imply a fury that also doesn't exist. Gean's pale white skin is unique among known Goliaths, and contrasts sharply with vertically symmetrical patches of skin that run from the base of his neck over his bald head and down to his cheeks, and similar -- though asymmetrical -- patches on his arms and legs. Bony growths (called "lithoderms") appear like studs on his shoulders, chest, and the backs of his hands.

He wears Dwarven chain mail that was forged for him before he reached full-size by his adopted mother prior to her death, so while it does offer the protection it requires it does not quite fit his very large form. He wields an Urgrosh that crafted himself, upon which he has a trinity knot that serves as a holy symbol of Asfrid. On his back, over his backpack, he wears a shield that also has a holy symbol of Asfrid: a stag. On his belt is a worn hammer that clearly once served time in a blacksmith's forge.

Personality
Gean is generally an anti-social person. Stemming from his abandonment as a child, and despite the love and support he was given by his adopted Dwarven family and community, he has particularly strong abandonment fears which leads to generally pushing away anyone who even remotely begins to care for him. To cover the anti-social tendencies, he has a biting wit that can sometimes go too far.

Dealing with this was also a large part of his decision to leave home and explore the world. Together with the socially advantageous effects of alcohol (especially his favored pilsners), he is making a concerted (albeit forced and somewhat difficult) attempt at normal social interactions and maybe even friendships. Still, he remains slow to trust others.

Due to his upbringing on Mèsenè amongst the Wood Dwarves there, he has a strong love of, and care for, the natural world. If pressed strongly, it would be hard for him to deny that any construct of civilization is worth any harm that might come to the natural world. That said, he is definitely not a Luddite nor does he advocate tearing it all down. He also has a soft spot for animals of all shapes and sizes and manages to handle them very well.

Biography
Gean was raised in Verbann - a small village outside of Feldstet, on the island of Mèsenè. The village was founded by a group of Dwarves that had been exiled from Geldheim when the Sixth House of Geldheim was overthrown by the currently-ruling triumvirate, including the just-deposed King Bael. Though an exclusively Dwarven village for many centuries, the village has diversified some in recent years as mixed-race and non-Dwarven families have begun to expand the town's populace.

Though raised in Verbann, Gean was not born there. In fact, the Goliath knows very little about his life before he was adopted by his Dwarven parents Dagen and Rhia Aurum. What they told him is as follows:

Dagen and Rhia were in a tavern in Feldstet called the "The Tusked Tooth," having a drink with Dagen brother, Beric.

Junipergan was born and raised in Suncrest, a small Dragonborn enclave on the Northwest coast of Enthalstam. Overlooking the sea from high upon a rocky cliff, the coastal hamlet survives thanks to heavy fishing of the crabs and lobsters in the sea below and heavy mining its sapphire mine, as well as its fierce distrust of outsiders. She was raised by her parents until her father died unexpectedly.

Her father, Tahrin, was a Druid and served as the spiritual leader of Suncrest’s society. A Blue Dragonborn, he was descended from one of the six families that founded Suncrest before the Cataclysm. Known for his level head and compassion, in the eyes of some of Suncrest’s more traditional residents, his blue scales gave him a stronger connection to the town (and its sapphire mine) than most. He died when June was a teen, under suspicious circumstances.

Her mother, Sorha, is a Red Dragonborn and a descendant of one of the other founding families of Suncrest. She was (and is) one of six members of the town council (one from each of the founding families) that also controls the sapphire mine. She was always strong and stern, and has been more so toward June since Tahrin’s death. Sorha has served as ranking member and chair of the town council since before June was born.

From a very young age, Sorha was grooming Junipergan to take her place on the town council. This focused on schooling and later included apprenticing with Sorha in council matters, in both of which she showed particular promise. However, the young Dragonborn's true interests were in a more physical form of conflict resolution so she began to shun her studies in favor of training her innate physical prowess. Beginning at the age of 12, and unbeknownst to her parents, she trained every day with the help of her closest (and secret) friend, Siggi.

Junipergan had met Siggi when she had climbed down to visit the shellfish fisheries at the bottom of the cliff. The young, blue-skinned half-orc appeared to be no more than a year or two older than her and they had hit it off immediately. He said he was an orphan, with no family to turn to, and made camp in a small, difficult-to-reach cave partway up the rock face; he survived by raiding the fisheries quietly at night for sustenance. Knowing that Suncrest's distrust of outsiders would likely result in Siggi having to leave, Junipergan kept his existence secret.

Early in their friendship, the pair quickly discovered they shared something in common: a rage that seemed to bubble from deep within. To let it out, they trained together every day; Siggi led the way as he said his father had been a champion of the arena fights Feldstet. For years they trained and sparred and eventually, their friendship did blossom into something more; for one beautiful night, they were more than they had been before.

But that would not last. The next evening, when Junipergan arrived for their training session, Siggi presented her with a beautiful belt as a gift of his affection: a wide belt made of thick leather branded with two lightning bolts crossed over a compass rose. Feeling particularly bold, the pair decided to spar on the clifftop under the moonlit night sky. During their session, a storm stirred supernaturally fast and the pair were struck by lightning.

Junipergan woke two days later in her bed at home, having been found by someone the next morning. When, two weeks later, she was finally recovered enough to make her way back to Siggi's cave she discovered things exactly as they had been left the night of the lightning strike; Siggi simply had vanished. For her part, Junipergan's story to her family and friends was one of memory loss. She never mentioned Siggi to anyone in Suncrest.

For the next few years, she played the part of her mother's daughter well. She focused on her work with the council and the town's sapphire mine, even trying her hand at jewelcrafting with her cousin Zarina (though she was terrible). Junipergan began to find an appreciation for her mother's work, even if she did not actually enjoy it. All the while, she would take evening walks to the cliffs overlooking the Sea of Nyas and think about Siggi.

On her 24th birthday, after her family's celebrations, she took a midnight stroll to the cliff and sat out under the moonlight watching a lightning storm over the ocean in the distance. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, lightning struck a tree just beside her. In the glowing embers of the tree, she found a large, jaggedly cut, lightning bolt-shaped sapphire, which she immediately knew to be a sign from the god Vigdis. The next day she announced to family and friends that she would be leaving Suncrest.

Family
Beyond her mother, Junipergan has a number of family members that remain in Suncrest: Junipergan also has a cousin Alimum, Bharesh and Sena’s eldest child and the brightest mind Suncrest had seen in many generations. He had magical abilities that frightened his parents, and upon refusing an arranged marriage he left Suncrest; he was only 15.
 * Bharesh, her father’s brother, is another member of the town council. He also owns the main gem and jewelry shop in the town.
 * Sena, Bharesh’s wife, helps run the shop. She also manages the largest gem export business in Suncrest.
 * Zarina, Bharesh’s eldest daughter, is an artist with metalwork and skilled gemcutter/jewlist in her father’s shop.
 * Bharesh and Sena’s youngest are twin sons, Shiz’at and Shiv’at. While Zari became an artist, Shiz and Shiv were born fighters. Naturally skilled martial artists, they had hoped to leave town and enter the nearby arena fights as a duo of gladiators. When their parents refused to let them leave, they went to work in the mines.

Notable Items
Girdle of d'Vigis (currently in a Dormant state)

Links
Nephrite 20 Questions doc

D&D Beyond Character Sheet