V'krd'm'gek
Main: Kaliteth
| V'krd'm'gek | |
|---|---|
 V'krd'm'gek at age 25 | |
| About | |
| Born | 13 Vullias 725 |
| Residence | Candon Forest |
| Race | Half-Orc |
| Occupation | War Priest of Rahm'Dek |
| Appearance | 7'1", Grey skin, Green eyes |
| History | |
| Known For | Last known member of Clan Bur-da-klum. |
| Title | {{{title}}} |
| Family | Mother was High Priestess of Rahm'Dek. Father was an unknown Turthann nobleman. |
V'krd'm'gek stands at a humongous 7'1". His skin mimics the water of the rivers, his eyes the green of the forest in which he was raised. His long black locks flow over his shoulders. A Great Orcish Axe hangs on his back, and smaller axes adorn various parts of his body. He wears gauntlets, a simple loin cloth, leggings, and boots.
Links
Magical Items
- Talisman of Char'grat
- First Axe of Rahm'Dek
- F'rkran, Lo'tar, Si'brrg, and Ch'grr'mas
- Orcish Boots of Haste
Background
Origin
“We can’t keep meeting like this.”
“It’s the only way we can.”
“I want you here. I want you with me.”
“I can’t. We can’t… There’s something you need to know…”
As midnight passed, the woman ran from the inn, crying. It was an ugly cry, as if a small boar were being tortured. Her dainty steps took her to the edge of the forest, where she paused and looked back for a longing moment. She squeezed the talisman around her neck and began running again. Her gait widened. The moonlight glistened off her greying skin. Her ugly cry heralded her true countenance.
The boy was born as she had feared: too much like her to pass for human, and too much like him to pass for Orc. She prayed to Rahm'Dek to protect him. As high priestess of the Bur-da-klum Clan, he had a tendency to listen. Although his response to her forbidden romance had her confused.
V'krd'm'gek grew up sheltered by Orcish standards. When he wasn’t in the temple, he was fighting. His slender (again by Orcish standards) physique made him uniquely gifted in some of the more interesting combat techniques. V'krd'm'gek could whirl around like a dervish, and even surprised himself when a wayward arrow was knocked out of the sky by his axe. His agility and focus made up for his lack of pure strength. His clanmates wore heavy armor as they raided villages and neighboring clans, but V'krd'm'gek preferred to move lithely. They picked on him, and teased him, but when it came to the fight he bested most of them through speed alone.
In his fifteenth spring, they came. From one side, the Driglak Clan poured into the village. The battle horns of the humans sang out from the other side. It wasn’t clear who was attacking whom. Had the humans banded together with these orcs? Were they attacking each other and we were conveniently in the middle?
The clan spread out. Axes flew and arrows peppered his brethren. Before he had engaged anyone, his mother appeared at his side, beckoning him to the temple. “Protect the shrine, V'krd'm'gek!” He backed into the hut with his mother.
“My son, we don’t have much time. There’s so much to tell you. Always remember Rahm'Dek. The axe before the hammer. Serve him well and you will find a better fate than me. Your father…” She stammered and paused. The clash of iron and stone rang from outside, closer every moment. “Your father was a Turthann nobleman. My sin was with him, and now I’m afraid we are all paying for it. You must find your own way, my son. Follow the Rahm'Dek. Take this talisman, for it was bathed in His tears. Its power has waned over the years, but it will still do what it needs. I love you, V'krd'm'gek.”
She clasped the talisman around his neck, and squeezed it gently, murmuring a few words. The world around V'krd'm'gek swam. He looked down at his hands, shimmering in the dim light of the hut. They were a pale cream. He lifted his head back up in wide-eyed shock, only to see his mother blow a glittering dust into his face. “I’m sorry, my son…”
“It’s alright now, come on lad.”
“Yeah, you’re not getting sacrificed to some heathen god today, I’m afraid.”
V'krd'm'gek opened his eyes to see two well-armored humans standing over him. They were battle worn and covered with dirt, grime, and sweat. V'krd'm'gek jumped to his feet.
“Relax, kid. All the orcs are gone. The only ones left are dead. Unless they’ve found a way to live without their heads.”
“Where you from, boy?”
V'krd'm'gek said nothing. He was transfixed by the creamy flesh he could see surrounding his eyes. His nose was longer and had the same pinkish tint. It was only a shade or two from the soldiers’ skin.
“A bit battle-shocked, I see. We’ll get you back to town and get someone to look you over. It’s a good thing for you we came along when we did. Come on, then.”
V'krd'm'gek slowly followed them out of the empty hut. The shrine had been desecrated, but no other signs of struggle were present. Outside was a different story. So many bodies. He recognized the armor, mostly. That was our elder. That was Grthhk, the fletcher. There was half of Unthul, his only childhood friend. There was his other half.
The soldiers helped him into the back of a cart, and after what seemed like an eternity, they set off. The smoldering remains of his home slowly faded in the distance. He felt sleep overtaking him.
It was dark when he awoke, the gentle sway of the cart lifting him from slumber. A few other humans were in the cart with him, mostly asleep. He closed his eyes and began the most basic of prayers to Rahm'Dek.
Rahm'Dek help me. I beseech you, the greatest and first. The axe that came before the hammer. Show me the path to your glory, that I might be worthy of your grace.
The moon peeked from behind a cloud. Before his eyes, the moon slowly turned red. Shouts and clamoring were heard from all along the road. Horses neighed. The others in V'krd'm'gek’s cart stirred. They were all looking at him.
V'krd'm'gek looked down at his chest, and saw the talisman. It glowed with the same red as the moon, like an ember but without heat. He reached for it to cover it. As his pink hand enclosed the talisman, the moon turned black. A woman in the cart screamed, her eyes transfixed on V'krd'm'gek. A man leaped out, yelling for the guards. Confused, V'krd'm'gek looked down at the talisman. It looked tiny in his huge, clawed hands.
“…”
The side of the cart exploded in a shower of splinters as V'krd'm'gek ran into the woods.
