Izek Strazni

Murdered in the line of duty by the PCs.

The Baroness on Izek:

"I shouldn't say this, but to be honest, I am not sad that Izek is no more. He always frightened me. Please don't misunderstand; his loyalty to my husband - and to our family - were beyond question. But he has always - from the time my husband took him into our home as a boy 17 years ago - made me uneasy.

"As I understand it, when Izek was a boy, his widower father and his uncle took him and his younger sister fishing on Lake Zarovich. This was back when the fishing was still good, and the lake was still safe. On their way home, they were attacked by some beast - a direwolf, I think - and Izek's arm was lost. The uncle sacrificed himself distracting the beast, allowing the father to escape with the wounded Izek. The sister ran off into the woods, and was never seen again - probably killed by the wolf as well.

"Izek's father succumbed to his grief, drinking himself to death, and orphaning Izek. I imagine the boy had a very hard time of it, children being the cruel beasts they are. I know little of this part of Izek's life, as neither he nor my husband ever discussed it with me, but when Izek was maybe 13, he was apprehended by the town guard as he attempted to dispose of another child's body. He claimed that the boy had bullied and attacked him, and that he had accidentally killed him while defending himself.

"He was brought before my husband, who - in his infinite mercy, granted the boy a pardon and brought him into our home, and raised him as our :involuntary shudder: adopted son.

"About 5 years ago, Izek awoke one morning from one of his drunken stupors with that... that ARM. Nobody knows where it came from, but my husband was gleeful and made Izek captain of the Town guard, thinking that he would inspire the men and strike fear into the town's enemies. That, he most certainly did - for better or for worse."