“Better to rule with terror than be ruled by ashes.“
– Rithvik the Mad, Chieftain of the Silver Skinks

Long before the great fire of Pavitra Teela faded to bitter ash, RITHVIK the Mad grew up on the sharp side of the Awesu jungle. Born to the Silver Skink tribe, with a competitive streak as wide as the holy Bhujaga River, no beast or rival outmatched his skill with a spear. Rithvik was a prodigy in tracking prey, and a menacing predator to other Earthborn younglings.

He emerged from adolescence at the top of the anthill as chieftain of the Silver Skinks. He led every hunt (and every argument) with a spear that never missed its mark, while his patience always trailed somewhere far behind. In truth, nobody remembers when he seized power; they only know it’s unwise to ask who’s next in line.

Rithvik and the Silver Skinks rule their territory by fang, pit trap and the occasional “get off my vines” demonstration. Outsiders, whether unwary Magonians or rival tribe members, learn quickly that curiosity is the leading cause of sudden “disappearances” in Awesu.

If the Earthborn were fractured by the flames of Pavitra Teela’s fall, Rithvik was forged in them. He does not forget the cowardice of his rival chieftains who faded into tunnels or vanished at the first whiff of smoke.

“Swarm their heels. Topple them. Snap spirit from bone. Show them the taste of terror, and let the hoproaches feast on their remains.”
– Rithvik the Mad

There is no mercy in his heart, nor forgiveness on his tongue. The nickname “the Mad,” as the council so delicately puts it, refers less to his impressive track record of angry outbursts, and more to the singular way he turned revenge into both pastime and personality; his fanatical devotion to settling scores no matter how long, or how many casualties, it takes.

Now, his chieftainship is defined not by ceremony, but by an unwillingness to ever let the Flameborn’s scorch marks heal. Vengeance is as natural as breathing, and mercy, an imported custom.

While the Swarm Circle, the Earthborn’s tribal council, endlessly recounts tales of their lost history, Rithvik fixates on the unfinished chapters, his cunning mind scheming, and his fury sharpened by memories of kin lost to flames and captivity.

These days, rumor has it Rithvik is plotting to turn the tables, and maybe the spit, on the Flameborn. Whatever plot simmers in the shadowy undergrowth, every Earthborn knows two things: Rithvik never forgives and never forgets.

Nicknames: The Mad One, The Skinkstorm

Occupation: Chieftain of the Silver Skinks, Swarm Circle member, hunter, warrior, “motivational” speaker

Home town: Pavitra Teela in the Awesu region

Skills, talents & interests: Intimidation, insults, jungle navigation, hunting and tracking, ambushes, trap making, scheming, plotting revenge

Strengths: Unbreakable loyalty, ferocity, deadly with a spear, turning threats into tribal policy

Weaknesses: Anger management, ambition, jealousy, headstrong

Golden Guardian Sponsor

Rithvik’s final artwork by Francesco Sala was made possible by the generous contribution of Golden Guardian Club member The Muilenburg Family. Thank you for your incredible support!

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