Role

Chapter 4

Oringus grew strong within the Empire, and was pleased with the lifestyle
that the power brought him. However, something in his past always nagged
at him, and at times gave him doubt about his own strength. He did not
want to falter and fail when faced with challenge, like his craven father
did. Oringus wanted to be tested, to prove to himself that he would not
wither up and quit when opposition came his way. Little did Oringus
know, but he would soon be tested.

It was a sweltering day in Hamsah Mutazz when Oringus awakened in the
warrior guild from a long rest. The ever present flies of the desert
city buzzed annoyingly around his face, and he swatted at them angrily.
A pounding at the door of the guild startled Oringus. He opened it to
find a beaten and bruised Imperial recruiter.

"Blade!" the recruiter panted, "the Village has stolen the Codex! You
must get it back."

Oringus nodded grimly and closed the door. Facing the village would be a
challenge, the only other imperial of note was just an Imperial citizen
from one the mage guilds, and Oringus did not trust them greatly. And
guarding the battlerager village were the assassin Axulix, and the great
beast of a barbarian know as Karkarrak. The challenge would be great,
and Oringus feared that it would be something that he might not survive,
but Oringus decided that this challenge was put forth before the gods of
Thera to prove his mettle as a warrior.

Oringus marched towards the village, and sure enough Karkarrak was there
waiting. A bloody battle ensued, and both parties were forced to
retreat, but Oringus was not able to slay the guardian giant and return
the Codex to the rightful place in the Emperor's throne.

Oringus charged in again, but this time he met his fate when the great
fire giant entwined his legs and beat him senselessly with his massive
swords. While his body was destroyed, his spirit remained strong, and he
rested for awhile before charging to the village once again.

Again he was met by Karkarrak, but this time Axulix was with him as well.
Again he was beaten senselessly, but again his spirit remained strong.

The third time Oringus traveled to the village, the assassin was gone,
but a ranger from the clan of the cloud giants joined Karkarrak in the
defense of the village. Oringus, his will forged from his recent
defeats, heavily beat upon the cloud giant Voirthot, and sent him running
to the woods. And now it was just Oringus and Karkarrak once again.

Oringus knew that he would never be able to best the barbarian on his own
terms. The giant was just too big and too strong, and Oringus would
never be able to slay him while Karkarrak awaited him from within the
crude barbarian village. So Oringus lured Karkarrak out, to battle him
away from the guardian of the village.