Varien Avidan crouched warily behind the heavy metal door to Darigan's battledome, nerves coiled like springs. Clenched in her right hand was a short, worn gladius, its double-edged blade glinting dully in the flickering candlelight. With a calm sweep of her free hand, she checked her lightweight body armor, and then the door slid open, flooding the dimly lit corridor with sunlight. On the opposite side of the arena stood a colossal tyrannian Grarrl, incensed into hysterics by the roaring crowd.
Varien hissed and leapt forward into the sunlit battlefield, teeth bared and sword held offensively before her. The Grarrl charged to meet his comparatively miniscule opponent with his mouth agape. Varien ducked low at the last moment and slithered between the Grarrl's meaty legs, slashing at his ankles as she passed. The beast staggered to a standstill, then shuffled awkwardly to face the lithe black krawk.
She stood still only for a moment before once again taking flight. Varien leapt upon his back, sharp clawed feet grappling for purchase in his leathery flesh. The great reptile spat and snarled, flailing about as though crazed. His adversary, however, was unshakable. She reached the beast's neck and brought the butt of her sword crashing down hard against the back of his head, then sprang free. The massive brute plummetted, unconscious, to the dusty arena floor.
The crowd roared its approval. Varien Avidan could not share in their celebratory mood. With the shadowy forms of her captors approaching to reclaim her, she could not help but seethe with resentment.

Ahh...Varien Avidan - I knew her. Better than most, I'd wager. A real perilous beast in the battledome she was, thou I can't say she enjoyed it.
We partnered up for a while to spite that ruffian, Darigan. Before I met her, I thought I was a pretty old hat at this gladiatin' business, but Avi had me well an' truly whipped. She fought like a strikin' viper and showed her enemies no quarter. Once, I asked her why she bothered playin' this slave's game and I remember her givin' me the oddest look with those crazy blue eyes o' hers. She looked right at me and didn't say anythin' for the longest time. Finally, she just stood up and muttered, 'I'm leaving,' before walkin' away.
That was the last time I saw the old gel, though sometimes I imagine she's still fightin' by my side in Darigan's grand arena."

~ "Lord" Karawn; on Varien Avidan

Varien stood in the doorway to the blue krawk's meager dwelling, light from the cell block hallway spilling her shadow across the floor. "Shrike."
Lounging in his cot, Shrike eyed her silhouette imploringly.
A moment's hesitation was too much for the sable krawk. She strode purposefully over to his bedside and upset the entire arrangement, Shrike and all. Glaring at her friend dangerously, she hissed, "I need your help."
Shrike bounded hurriedly after the other krawk's retreatng form, mystified. Varien Avidan had never been one to get excited about anything, much less ask for help. Her lashing tail vanished into her own Spartan abode, and the blue krawk peered tentatively in.
The small room had been ransacked; bedding, furniture, and supplies littered the hard floor. Avi's armor rack lay bare on its side, the gladiator's effects bundled like laundry in her arms. She indicated the platemail with a shrug of her powerful shoulders. "Help me put this on." Once again, Shrike's bewilderment delayed him a moment too long. Irritated, she tipped half the load into his arms. "Don't just stand there gawking like an idiot; get busy!"
Numbly, Shrike complied, buckling on her lightweight breastplate and fastening her armguards one by one while she slid on her foot armor. Satisfied, she buckled on her heavy shoulder guard and flexed her right arm to esure that all lay well. Shrike folded his arms across his chest, whiplike tail twitching worriedly. "Varien, what's going on?"
The swarthy krawk paused and glared at him, pale eyes flashing dangerously. "I'm getting out of here - tonight. And you're not following me. You'll just get yourself killed."

I always said that Varien was a madbeast! She was either insane or brilliant, but regardless she'd charge right in at ten-to-one odds and run her opponents into the ground quick as y'please. That old gel was never a krawk to dawdle about talkin' strategy, either. Always was a lone wolf, that one. I'm surprised she put up with me 's long as she did.
That poor young buck Shrike, though, got himself in too deep, I regret to say. I warned him over an' over, but he didn't once mind me.
The pup went out chasing after that she-wolf the very night she walked out. Real shame...real shame...

~ "Lord" Karawn; on Varien Avidan

Varien pinned the other krawk against the wall, hissing like an adder. "Curses, Shrike, I told you to stay here!" Her claws dug into the flesh of his arms before she let him fall, stunned, to the floor. She was livid, but it was not cruelty that fueled her ire. Alone, Varien could easily flee Darigan's keep - Shrike would complicate things. He would be risking his life simply by pursuing her.
The sable krawk stalked away, leaving the winded Shrike crumpled against the wall.
She padded silently through labyrinthine passageways, mind racing, heart troubled. Why could he not obey? Avi did not want her blue friend injured for her recklessness.
A patrolling guard's footsteps echoed down the corridor, and she slipped without a sound into a recessed doorway. Why could Shrike not sit by, content to watch her pursue her daredevil schemes like Karawn?
The passing guard, a Darigan aisha, caught sigh of er shadowy form and barked a warning before she could silence him. Adrenaline raced through her blood as the cry echoed, rousing reinforcements. Varien bolted, treading on the unconscious aisha's back as she went. The shadowy krawk darted down the only deserted hallway, passing before the eyes of several hustling Darigan guards, each armed to the teeth.
Suddenly, a voice rang out above the rising din that made her blood run cold. "Avi!" Shrike was stumbling down the corridor toward her...toward the side halls teeming with hostile guards. Her eyes went wide with fury, fear, and disbelief, and she could only watch as soldiers poured into the corridor and fell upon the hapless Shrike like wild dogs.
Her mobility returned. "Shrike - no!" Varien leapt upon the nearest guard, dealing the creature a harsh crack to the back of his neck and shoving his senseless form aside. She repeated the brutally simple action time and time again, trying to unbury the blue krawk, until a blow from a sword butt made stars explode in her vision. She twisted away, dazed. reaching behind her for her assailant.
Varien's vision cleared slowly as her hand closed around the scruffy neck of he kougra who had hit her. He snarled in her face and she fought to shove him away, his sword arm flailing. The blade scored the flesh just below her breastplate and a bolt of liquid fire erupted in her side. The krawk clenched her jaw to stifle her cry of pain and staggered to her feet, intent now only upon escape. She did not know what had become of Shrike.
Mustering the last of her energy, Varien limped away from the confusion at a dogged pace. She located a service entrance and slipped out into the open air, bolting the door behind her. The wounded krawk staggered to he edge of Darigan's floating island, her side screaming with each movement. As she gazed down over the ege into the chhurning waters far below, Varien Avidan lost consciousness and toppled into the abyss.

I do not know what had drawn me to the offshore waters of Meridell. Nevertheless, I was there, gliding through the moonlit ocean in rather good humor. So it was that my whimsical jaunt was interrupted by a body splaishing heavily into the water directly in my path from far above. It was a krawk, unconscious and sorely wounded, sinkling rapidly from the weight of her armor.
I rescued her, and carried her on my back to Mystery Island, all the while fearing for her life. She was so dreadfully cold against my skin.
Somehow, she survived the journey to the faraway island's shore. I dragged her as far as I could onto dry land and did my best to dress her horrific wound with moss and kelp. "I am Foldara," I told the krawk, "you are safe now."

Excerpt from the diaries
of Foldara the Wanderer

The black krawk recovered quickly, though she spoke not a word to either man or beast. She ate her meals in silence and trained and slept alone. Foldara sent her armor to be repaired and polished, thinking it important to her recalcitrant charge.
One day, as the sun sank low in the west, reptilian gaze met equine for the first time. "Where are my effects?"
Foldara, startled, could say nothing at first. "They are on their way back here, along with a weapon for you." The black krawk blinked slowly and then turned away, apparently satisfied. "It is a perilous blade - I believe it will be to your liking."
Varien's eyes grew wide as her head snapped back toward the peophin. "So long as it sheds Darigan's blood, I care not what it is!" The peophin backed farther into the shallows, troubled by Varien's ire, but the krawk's attention had already left her. Varien gazed out into the vast western ocean, where the setting sun stained the water's surface red. "Yes, Darigan," she whispered, "I will shed your blood.