Targus Cavebear

Targus Cavebear; Goliath Gloryseeker.

Targus is an imposing figure, standing nearly 8 feet tall, 335 pounds, draped in furs, leathers, and weapons. His bald gray head is festooned with tattoos that tell the stories of his great achievements. He is one of the Goliath hunters. Part of a timeless cultural tradition among many, though not all Goliath conclaves. When a young Goliath (male or female makes no difference) decides they want to become an adult in the eyes of their tribe, they will take up a hunt. The first trophy is rarely impressive, a caribou or a wolf are common first trophies to take. The catch is that while the young hunter maybe be accompanied by others, they must slay the beast themselves. They return home with their trophy, and tell the tale of the hunt to their community. This must be done honestly, the Goliaths will not tolerate a hunter stretching the truth to enhance dramatic effect, and lying directly will bring punishment.

Some hunters catch “the bug”, and crave to hunt larger and more dangerous prey. They begin to take a nickname, usually the name of the most fearsome thing they have conquered. It is not unusual to see small Goliath children referring to themselves as “Badger” and “Red Squirrel”, which is always good for a chuckle from the adults. This is why Targus calls himself “Cavebear”, for the one he slew deep in a mountainside, but he has decided to chase after something bigger. Targus has wandered far from the impenetrably high peaks his people call home. Even here, still above the tree line, he encounters the party as they traverse a mountain pass. He happens to be going the same direction, and is willing to serve as a guide to the other side of the range in exchange for companionship and swapping a few stories. He reveals that he is hunting for a dragon. A smaller dragon, obviously, but a dragon just the same. His uncle is called Bogdan Wyvern, and Targus is set to show his uncle that he is as great a hunter, and gain fame and influence among his tribe. Dragons are rare, though, and hard to track. Targus has been watching the skies, and looking for mountain valleys where animals may gather in cold weather for protection, as he believes a concentration of food may serve to draw a dragon to one spot repeatedly, and he would either face it there, or track it to a lair.