Lagopus (Artic Fox) (Suoavik Ekon)

Suoavik is a Lagopus who spends most of his days wandering around the world and competing in a plethora of competitions. Although he rarely takes first place, he still does his best with his best often landing him second or third place in the competitions. But no one remembers the second and third-place winners. Before competitions, he will often paint his face in a variety of different patterns and colors. After he is fully suited up, he will go around getting other competitors excited for the upcoming event. Although this is often his downfall when it comes to losing, he still does it as he loves seeing others get as excited as he is.

Growing up in the middle of nowhere, Suoavik spent most of his childhood learning to hunt and relying only on himself for survival. His father would insist that his strength was the only thing he could trust in this world. When he was 16 his father decided to test him to see if he was worthy of becoming a man. The two walked deep into the woods and set up camp for the night. The next day Suoavik found himself alone with no food, little shelter, and no father.

The first few hours he spent trying to find his father, but as hunger started to seep in he soon turned his attention to finding something to eat and surviving. He spent 3 weeks trying to find his way out of the woods, hunting small game, trying to survive against large creatures and making small shelters in the snow. By the time he found the edge of the forest, any fat he had on his body was gone, his eyes were sunken, and his fur stained with his and other creatures' blood.

He managed to claw his way to the nearest town where a number of kind Animalian gave him his first real meal and warm place to sleep since his father left him. Early the next morning he slipped out of the kind Animalian's house and snuck out of town. On the road he thought long and hard about what he wanted. He didn't want to go back home, no, after what his father did- Suoavik never wanted to see the Lagopus again. But he didn't want to take things from others. He knew how to take care of himself and would use his own paws to build his own life.

And he did. He spent most of his nights on the side of the road, and any town he went through he would find ways to make sides to help get better food and the occasional lodging. The skills his father had taught him not only helped him live off the land, but also helped him when it came to doing odd jobs. However there was one town in particular that he traveled through that changed his life. 

This town was rather large and happen to be having a competition of strength going on the day he was traveling through. The competition itself didn't really pique Suoavik's interest, but the cash prize for the top 3 winners did. If he managed to win he would be set for the next month when it came to sides. With little to lose he put his name in the competition and landed 3rd place. Although the sides he got for the winner were nice, he had found that the excitement, energy, and uncertainty of competing had been an even greater prize. As he tested his strength and his skills against others, he had felt happy and excited for the first time in his life.

From this day on he spent most of his time competing in different competitions all over the globe. Didn't matter what it was for, running, swimming, weight lifting or cooking. If there was a cash prize and people to compete against he was in. Every now and then he would actually win the competitions, but most days he was lucky to make it to the top 3, but winning didn't really matter. As long as he had enough sides to eat well and make it to the next competition then it was fine if he lost, after all as long as he was competing he would win the prize of happiness.

To this day he hasn't seen his father and that's fine with him. He is happy to spend most of his nights putting on war makeup and getting others excited to compete, after all, the best competitors are those that are pumped up.

Suoavik was the first winner of the Stormcrest games. He has competed every year, but the only one he managed to win was the first one.

1) If a PC (player character) wishes to play Suoavik then his call to adventure could consist of him wanting to try to find a new thrill. Perhaps the excitement and joy he gets from competing could also be found fighting alongside others. After all, fighting with others against a large beast is just another form of competing, but rather than against one another its against nature.

2) Alternitively he could run out of money and needs to find a more stable way to make an income. He will still go to any competition he can, but perhaps a little adventuring on the side to make up for his loses is necessary.

If no call to adventure is heeded he will spend most of his adult life competing. He will gain a reputation of being an Animalian who always loses, but that causes a strange cult following to cheer him on. Rooting for the happy underdog who never wins. When he reaches about 60 he will fairly injure his leg making it so he can't seriously compete in most competitions. He still will enter and do his best, but his role changes from one of a possible winner to that of an Animalian who is always there to help pick you up after a loss. To give you a thumbs up and something warm to drink if your are feeling low while he listens to you vent.

main outfit| Suoavik's main outfit consists of him wearing a small pair of bronze shoes that have edark brown souls. His lower leg has an unsaturated brown cover that goes all the way up to his knees. From his knees to his waist he wears a pair of dark brown pants. He can often be found wearing a partial set of Alces Hercules armor (the leg guards and chest piece) with a light brown undershirt. Around his waist and over his shoulder are two dark brown belts, with the one going over his shoulder helping to hold on to a large Alces Hercules shield. Right before a competition, he will paint the fur on his face. This paint job often looks like war paint themed to whatever competition he is about to enter.

He is a Lagopus and has modern eyes. Basic species reference sheet can be found here. Please look at this for common details people miss when drawing this species.

Ideas for what you could draw him doing:

-painting his face before a competition
-Buying someone a warm meal after they lose a competition/ cheering them up
-taking 2nd or 3rd place in a competition
-making some shelter out of tree branches by the side of the road
-Singing his song(linked below) to a group of competitors the night before a competition (could be in a bar or communal sleeping quarters)
-being happy/ excited as he competes
-being psyched about winning 3rd place
-doing odd jobs around a town

A song about no matter what happens during a competition, he is going to have fun. You may be able to win against him, but you can't stop him from having a good time. He sometimes sings this song in bars before games.