Haban

The Stranger

• What Others See

  # Who He Is: Haban Arashi
  # How Old He Might Be: 20-27, it’s honestly hard to tell with the head-dress
  # Man or Woman: Male
  # What Others Think Him to Be: Human, perhaps Elf
  # Stands At: 5’11”
  # Weighs-in At: 161 lbs.
  # With Hair the Shade Of: White-blonde
  # And Eyes the Color Of: Petrified amber
  # He Seems to Have A: Fair complexion with only the faintest hint of suntan
  # He Often Finds Work as A: Shaman
  # Sum Him Up: Conflicted mystic
  
  # What Others See: It is often difficult to tell just what Haban is without getting to know the man. Standing at 5’11”, he could be one of many races, face obscured by the bleached bone of a large, wolf’s skull. The skull itself is painted in mystical patterns of blue dyes, a curling set of sinister horns sitting almost atop it as though the beast had possessed the bone mutation. The head-dress actually consist of two pieces: one is the skull-helmet itself, the other is hidden beneath the man’s long, near-white hair, making it seem as though the horns grow from his head. The head-dress is easily removed, however, proving it is indeed not a part of his actual skull.
  
  The man’s skin is then covered in what appear to be ritualistic scars, scratch-like patterns criss-crossing his arms and abdomen. Often shirtless, war-paint frequently adorns his body, both nipples pierced with some manner of bronze rings. Similar, band-like rings pierce his lower lip in snake-bite fashion, each eye-brow following suit with two bands apiece in symmetrical pattern (though these are not visible if he wears the head-dress). Baggy, buck-skin slacks are all the being seems to wear, decorated with furs and leathers, pieces of bone, semi-precious stones and metallic shards. Small, leather pouches hang from a snake-skin belt which keep the slacks up (though they hang low on his tones hips), each full of all manner of shamanistic components. He may at times don a wolf pelt to go with the skull, the fur-hide offering him and even further beastly visage.
  
  The only other thing the man seems to carry is a hard-wood staff, one end lovingly formed into the shape of a shallow hook, just large enough to catch decently sized branches, poles, wires or ropes. The wood is hand-worn and somewhat dark, adorned with leather and strips of cloth as a select few trinkets dangle near its hooked-end.
  
  # How Others Perceive Him: Haban is somewhat of a mystery, a man, some would say, that has gone partially mad. Most would claim the man speaks in riddles, often circling the same subject again and again as though attempting to appear mysterious. Others have been genuinely touched by the shaman and claim his dream-sight is no lie, advice he’s given to certain parties benefited them and convinced them he held some form of true power. Random travelers often describe seeing him akin to seeing a rare beast, causing them to pause in their tracks and stare in awe at his feral demeanor. He is described as being awkward, strange, somewhat bestial, difficult to understand and yet…strangely wise. The man is no fool, his survival skills appear to be unmatched as he lives off the land wherever he dwells. Too do monsters and beasts appear to avoid him like some manner of shadow or disease leading some to believe him cursed or mad. He is a conundrum, one few have seen or spoken to but still…tales eventually spread. No matter how exaggerated.