» Thu May 19, 2011 2:30 pm "Why"? asked Hirgol.
"Because you're an Orc"! replied his raging father, Gumph-na.
Hirgol was not an average Orc. He was, what his father called, a "tree-hugger". As a boy, Hirgol loved nature. He nursed sick deer back to health and explored the countryside of the West Weald, where he lived, in a hut just outside Skingrad. He always carried with him paralysis scrolls so he wouldn't have to hurt any of the creatures that may attack him. These cost him all his pocket money but to Hirgol, money was a materialistic substance of no real value. The lives of these beautiful creatures however, was beyond any price.
He remembered the cruel words of his father when he was just seven years old. "You may as well go live with those spellcaster High Elves. You're no son of mine..." Gumph-na grew up in the traditional Orc way: As a barbarian, donning heavy armour, steel warhammer in hand, resolving all his problems with violence. He had hoped that his son would make him proud. Someone he could bring hunting, someone he could pass on his vast knowledge of blunt weapons to. But Hirgol was an embarassment. More interested in playing with teddy bears than killing real ones. His latest announcement was that he was a vegetarian.
Gumph-na was on the verge of striking the boy when his wife stopped him. "He'll grow out of it." she had promised. Now, 3 weeks later, Gumph-na had enough. "I've tried to accomodate your namby-pamby ways for long enough. The guys down at the West Weald Inn are laughing at me! Hell, that raving lunatic of a bookworm Glarthir has bigger stones than you! Be a man! Eat that meat!". "You can't make me!". Hirgol's courage was to be admired. Gumph-na was an intimidating man. He had an extremely short fuse and because of this, the Watch never hassled him, no matter how many drunken bar brawls he got involved in.
"Don't you ever take that tone with me again, you little scrib!" roared the Orc, bearing his sharp teeth. If Hirgol wasn't his son, he'd probably be dead by now. It was taking every ounce of self-control Gumph-na had to not strike the boy. Today was Hirgol's 15th birthday. His father had hoped that by claiming it was an initiation into manhood, he could trick the boy into eating meat. A few days ago, he had got up early an slew a boar. He skinned it, and took the meat. He even had a coat made from the hide, for Hirgol to wear as a badge of honour for becoming a man.
"Now if this isn't eaten when I get back, I want you out of my house..." said Gumph-na coldly. Hirgol's mother, unable to take anymore, ran from the room in tears. Gumph-na stormed out, leaving the boy alone. What should he do? Compromise his beliefs to please his father? Or leave the house to follow his true path in life? So as a compromise, he did what he normally did after his father's abusive rants. He burst into tears...
