Masoud Ur'Kha-Sidim
Masoud is a T'kel, a race of reptilian humanoids from the Gerborian Grasslands. Historically, the T'kel were a war-like and violent race, until one of their great Philosopher-kings, Zuras, led them to an enlightened age (see T'kel histories, Dragon magazine, March 2004). As a result, the T'kel have progressed toward a civilization of martial artists and nature worshipers. Although they still follow a somewhat nomadic hunter-gatherer way of life, most T'kel live in walled towns and villages near their legendary monasteries.
Masoud is from the Kha-Sidim clan (Clan of the Night), a nomadic clan that travels the breadth of the Grasslands and beyond. Theirs is a clan of Shamans, warriors and to some degree, assassins. It falls to the Ur'Kha-Sidim, the Ur'Shadrii (Clan of the Whispering Shadows), and Ur'Vor'Paxx (Clan of the Swift Blade) to administer death sentences and the like throughout the T'kel clans. Together, the three clans are called the Hama-tolla (the Sworn Justice)and the carry out the will of the clans as a whole. The Hama-tolla are never used against each other, nor are they used as a tool of revenge.
Masoud grew up among the various clans of the T'kel alongside his three brothers and two sisters. The fifth son of a warrior father and healer mother, he lived much like the rest of the T'kel children, until his eleventh harvest. During one of the annual clan Gathers, Masoud travelled with his grandfather, Va-diir, to the Competition Circle to watch one of his older brothers wrestle. As the two watched the various competitions, one combat round piqued Masoud's interest. Two T'kel warriors dressed in simple garb were battling with blade and magic, to the excitement and delight of the crowd. Drawn to the competitors, Masoud was fascinated by the graceful dance of martial prowess and spellcraft exhibited by the two warriors. At last, one failed to defend himself properly, and the winner soundly struck a non-killing blow.
With a child's innocence, Masoud led his Grandfather to the two warriors and announced that he would like to be "just like them" when he was older. Chuckling, one of the warriors removed the head-covering they wore and revealed a female T'kel. With a smile, she asked Va-diir how old Masoud was and to which clan he belonged to. When the details were exchanged, both warriors exchanged a look and said they would speak with Masoud's father, mother and clan chief.