Humans and dwarves have their differences. Humans are considered to be agile while a strong mental flexibility coupled with a great stature. Dwarves a widely known for their physical resilience and strong endurance. The two races are common to be seen amongst each other but it is rare for them to come together and bear a child. These children hold the strong qualities of both dwarf and human. They are called Muls. When Orin Frostbane was born, his dwarven father could think of no other name. In dwarven, Or means gem and in means dwarf or people. Orin’s father and mother couldn’t have been happier to have had a healthy son.
In the small farm village or Mirabor, Orin was one of few boys in his town. Although his town had many dwarves and humans, he was the only one of his kind. His father would always tell him “Son your mother and I know you are special but always remember that a man is made a man by the actions he takes not what he is. Do not judge a man for what he is. Judge him for who he is.” Orin always remembered that. Everyone in the town treated Orin as if he was no different and Orin loved growing up there.
The neighboring city ofRaamwas a very large city widely known for its gladiatorial combat and its large merchant district. Of course, with any large city, there are underground gangs and slavery was not uncommon. One of the gangs was led by Elf named Gensal. Gensal was a noble in the community who “sponsored” many young men in the arenas but secretly he was the leader of a slave ring to train men to become gladiators. A band of orcs and goblins did his bidding to train these men into becoming the best of the best. Gensal made his fortunes on winning and for those that didn’t, they were punished within an inch of their lives if not killed. Balagos
Gensal had many informants around the continent to deliver him news of potential candidates for the arenas. One of his spies and slave leaders, a drow named Balagos, informed him that he had discovered that there was a Mul in one of the neighboring cities. Gensal knew how strong and powerful Muls could become so he sent the order for Balagos and his men to raid the city and capture the Mul.
On a foggy autumn night when Orin was only 11, Balagos and his men snuck into the town ofMiraborinto the Frostbane’s household. Orin awoke to pandemonium in the house as his father and mother fight valiantly to defend there son but they were no match. Orin was taken with his mother and father laying face down on the floor, looking as if they would never return to see the light of day.
From that point it was a life of training and torture for Orin. Balagos knew that when Muls are pushed to their limit they are able to find something deep down that can brush off any affect that is on them. But Orin was special. After being tortured for so long, his body became able to brush off an affect on him and also found out how to regain some vitality every time he was hit. Balagos was thrilled with this, knowing that he was perfect for gladiatorial combat. Orin was trained hard everyday for years in the art of fighting. Axes, sword, hammers, and practically every weapon they could since each arena battle was based on a different weapon.
Orin was kept with 4 other slaves in a small cell together. He became friends with a Halfling named Nebin. Nebin was a nimble thief who was captured to fight the dagger and crossbow battles. Although neither had yet to fight in an actual battle, they knew they must escape as soon as possible. They had seen others attempt to escape only to be killed in the act of fleeing. Their plan had to be perfect and with Nebin’s quickness and Orin’s strength together they knew they would one day be free.
At the age of 17, Orin was sent to his first battle. This was the first time Orin actually met the man he was “fighting for”. Gensal looked as elegant as any noble, dressed in the finest, but once in the shadows Gensal’s true nature was shown. He grabbed Orin by the hide armor he was dressed and said “If you lose, you die.” From there he went back to his seats in the arena and Orin was sent to the gate to prepare for battle. This battle was a 4 man brawl involving hammers. Orin was very confident in his ability with a particular large mace, the mordenkrad. He came out swinging with all his might and immediately knocked one foe face to the ground. Orin was so overwhelmed with excitement he raised his arms in victory forgetting that there were still 2 other combatants. His glory was soon overcome by pain as his back was struck by 2 morningstars from a human. This knocked the breath completely out of Orin and was completely dazed from the surprise attack. Orin remembered his training, and snapped out of the daze immediately. As he turned to the human, he sees the last combatant, a large Orc heavily equipped with in plate mail swinging a large maul towards his face. He dodged the attack and the orc’s follow through struck the human strait in the face completely knocking him off of his feet. Orin looked at the human to see he was no more. The crowd raged loudly as the Orin and the orc stared each other down. The orc swung again this time with two follow up blows all aimed at Orin’s head. The orc was slow, highly encumbered by the plate armor. Orin could see his blows coming but how could he hit him through the armor? “I know I’m short but it makes it easier to take out the knees. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” Nebin had told Orin a few days back. Orin saw the opening in the orcs wide swinging attacks and took the lunging swing at his right knee. The orc crippled to the ground, screaming in pain. The crowd chanted and the orchestrator yelled “FINISH HIM!” Orin did what he must and slammed the mordenkrad into the orcs chest. Orin had won his first battle.
Orin was overjoyed that he had won his battle but his happiness did not last long once he returned to his quarters. “You should have won quicker and not gotten hit. You will be punished for your inadequacies” yelled Balagos. He was promptly whipped and beaten.
Over the next few years, Orin fought 4 more battles, all with different weapons. After each he was promptly beaten for negligence. Nebin and Orin had finally figured out the perfect escape plan. One of the guards always fell asleep on his watch right beside their cell. Nebin had found a way to sneak a dagger back to their cell. Orin reached out and grabbed the guard by the head and slammed him to the ground and Nebin promptly slit his throat. They grabbed the keys and hurried to the battleground where the only exit to the quarters was. Orin grabbed his favored weapons and they ran to the gate. Orin lifted the gate and they slid under. They were free. Orin fled towards the forest when he suddenly realized that Nebin was not beside him. He turned around to see Nebin being held in the air by his throat by Balagos. Orin started to charge back towards them but he was too late. Balagos stabbed Nebin through the temple. Orin saw the guards behind Balagos getting ready to come after him. He knew that trying to save Nebin was a lost cause and Nebin would want him to be free. And with that, Orin ran faster than he ever had before, far beyond the woods and into the depths of the mountains. He had escaped the guards.
Orin hid for a few weeks in the dark caves on the mountains. He wanted to go home to see his family so badly but needed to lay low for a while before he could get back to them. Once he felt he was safe, Orin came back to his home of Mirabor. As he approached to the village, he dropped to his knees. Every house and all the land had been burned to the ground. The smell of burning flesh still lingered in the air even though it was apparent that it had been burned days before. With nothing left of his home, Orin left. He now felt more alone than ever. All that he had ever known was gone and there was only one thing Orin knew how to do well. Fight. He travelled for months taking on bounty hunter jobs and security jobs to pay the bills. He continued to travel from town to town not really knowing but he was looking for but knowing whatever he did he had to be the best. “Judge a man for what he does, not what he is” Orin remembered his father telling him as a boy. Orin knew he was destined for greatness and would not give up until he found his purpose.
For now, his purpose was obtaining a boar for a bet he had made to a bar keep who said he could not do such. He headed into the woods and ran into a changeling who was looking for food. Orin offered the changeling some of the boar if he could help him find one. With that, the two set off into the woods to find the tastiest boar they could. And the adventure begins…
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