Kevdak

Kevdak is Grog's uncle, a goliath, and the leader of the Herd of Storms, the roving barbarian herd from which Grog originated. As an NPC, he was played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Kevdak is a towering figure, standing a head and a half taller than Grog. He wore furs and bone. His eyes appear to gleam red. His head is smooth and bald, without any tattoos, wile the rest of his body is nearly black with tattoos, one for every life he had taken.

Background
In his youth, before he headed the Herd of Storms, Kevdak obtained the Titanstone Knuckles by chance. Their previous owner was moving through the countryside of Tal'Dorei when they were waylaid by the Herd and bludgeoned to death. Kevdak recovered the Knuckles from the body, helping to pave his brutal path to prominence among the goliath.

Kevdak beat Grog nearly to death and exiled him from the Herd of Storms after Grog refused to kill a helpless gnome, Wilhand Trickfoot. Wilhand's great-great-granddaughter, Pike Trickfoot, was able to save Grog from the brink of death with healing magic from a divine connection to Sarenrae.

Kevdak felt a perpetual need for greater dominion. When the Chroma Conclave arrived and destroyed the social order on the continent, Kevdak seized the opportunity and convinced the herd to attack the unprepared Westruun, easily taking it over.

After the Chroma Conclave's attack on Westruun, Kevdak took advantage of the situation to grab power for his herd, which then occupied the city. While dominating the Tal'Dorei citizenry in the region, the barbarians themselves were subservient to Umbrasyl, the ancient black dragon reigning over Westruun and surrounding areas.

Grog challenged Kevdak to single combat for the honor of the herd. The duel went poorly for Grog, who took far more damage than he could give out and was at one point impaled on a wooden stake. Grog admitted defeat — then immediately yelled for the rest of Vox Machina, hiding in the area, to "fuck shit up!".

The ensuing battle was difficult, but Vox Machina managed to turn the tables by paralyzing and disarming Kevdak. Using the newly obtained axe, Grog together with Percy managed to deprive Kevdak of both of his arms. Although Greenbeard relived Kevdak's pain with a clutch Heal, Grog eventually dealt the killing blow, cleaving his uncle in two with his own Blood Axe. After Kevdak was slain, Grog turned his skull into a cup, flayed the bear-tattooed skin off of Kevdak's chest, and put it in Vex'ahlia's preserving Bag of Colding, which she obtained from the Slayer's Take.

Notable items
Kevdak possessed the Titanstone Knuckles, one of several Vestiges of the Divergence that were thought to have been lost centuries ago. He also wielded a blood axe, which Grog wrested from his grasp while he was incapacitated by Scanlan's Hold Person spell. Although he didn't have an opportunity to use them due to the paralysis (and then his missing hands), Kevdak also possessed four +1 enchanted javelins.
 * Bloodaxe (taken by Grog)
 * Four +1 javelins (taken by Grog)
 * Titanstone Knuckles (taken by Grog)

Abilities
Kevdak's barbarian primal path was Path of the Totem Warrior, and his totem animal was a bear.

Kevdak's fighter abilities included:
 * Action Surge
 * Second Wind
 * Battle Master Maneuvers
 * Disarming Attack
 * Pushing Attack
 * Riposte

Appearances and mentions

 * Campaign 1
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II
 * Vox Machina Origins Series II