The Story of Haerald!

::Haerald strides into the guild, a stern look upon his fresh countenance. He makes his way to the guild archives, and throws the black, shimmering cloak he wears to the side, reaching into his hip-slung pack. Holding a scroll in his hands, he reads it for a time, lips moving, remembering the words, while his face remains steady, dispassionate. He then stands, and gathers a few warriors around him. Nodding to each in turn, he begins::
"This, is the story of the Haerald of Death, the once Blind Harbinger, the once Skeletal Warrior, and also known as The Gnasher. I will pass these words to you, as my father passed to me in his time, his history."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"I am the Haerald. My real name, lost long ago to the moniker, is Riknar Gorr'kan. I am descended of Gorr Mir'kan, son of Mir'grithkar-Shrif'kan, the last Warlord of the Gor'shu'kar, the granite warriors. I was born of a human mother, Sasha of Tor'larn. I honor the names of my mother and father now, in story, and soon in combat."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
Haerald pauses for a moment, and something flickers in his eyes as he finishes speaking the names of his mother and father. It passes, and he continues.
"My mother was an outcast. A tall human, by any standards, at seven feet, nine inches in height, she was also a great warrior, by the standards of those that call themselves such in the land of Tor'larn. Finding her way beyond the snow covered mountains, into the crags and valleys that are home to my tribe."
"As she was an invader to our domain, she was caught, and brought before the council, of whom Mir'grithkar was head, and final word of all matters pertaining to the tribe. Seeing she was not a normal human, nor was she intent upon going back to her people, they gave her a chance among them. She was to defeat three warriors of the tribe. Upon defeating them, she would become a member of the tribe."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"She fought them, and indeed, she defeated them each, in a battle to the death, as the warriors would have it no other way, seeing only shame in such a defeat. Fighting all together, as was the way of the trial, she was fierce and determined. Circling, keeping them in front of her at all times, she fought hard, and was bloodied often herself. After felling the first two, she stood, breathing hard, facing the final warrior. As he charged her, she ducked, grabbed a bit of loose stone-dust, and tossed it in his eye. Rolling towards his legs as he scrambled, she leaped, and thrust her blade upwards. Driving deep home, she screamed out with the warrior as he felt his life slipping away swiftly. Watching as his thirty foot frame began to fall forward, she lept to the side, avoiding his body. Thus did she stand victorious, thus was she made a member of the tribe.

"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"However, she was not given full rights within the tribe. She could never be on the council, nor could she mate with any of the "royal" blood, i.e. those on the council, as she was not of Gor'shu'kar blood."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"My father was a runt of the litter, so to speak. At only 20 feet tall, Gorr was the shortest in the tribe in a long while. Gorr was the shortest in the tribe at the time. This did little against the ferocity of Gorr, however. He never lost in combat, nor did Gorr lose in mind games. It was the sharp mind of Gorr that enabled him to defeat the other more sizable, and more capable warriors. Often, Gorr would find that crucial weakness in combat, as it seemed the defeat of Gorr was imminent. But always Gorr would win, and always did Gorr keep his place as next in line to Mir'grithkar."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"Seeing the ferocity and tactical abilities of Sasha, Gorr found himself soon in love. He began to make secret trips to her stone hut, talking with Sasha, sharing stories of combat with her. In time, they felt for each other, and within two years of Sasha's gaining her acceptance into my tribe, they mated, and conceived the one you call Haerald."
"During those two years, they were seen hunting together, and there was talk of them perhaps practicing mating with each other. However, as none could prove such, the talk was frowned upon, especially as it was the son of Mir, Gorr, whom they spoke ill of. Gorr, the greatest warrior of the tribe. Gorr, whom had led them to many victories against other giant tribes. Gorr, whom would be upon the council, and perhaps in time lead it, as his father, Mir'Grithkar did now. So, by his merits, the talk of Gorr never went beyond talk."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"However, nine months after their first joining, Riknar was born, and there was now no disputing who the father was. Gorr, being always honorable, stood up, and claimed me as his son. The tribe was in outrage. 'The outcast of humans had soiled the bloodlines, and made a move to destroy the council!' they said. My father stood for her, in her defence, yet tradition was stronger than even my father. Mir, being shamed by his son, denounced him publicly. Then, in his rage, he took the woman, Sasha, and had her put upon a stake, impaled upon it, and then a fire was ordered, wherein she was consumed. Her screams echoed through the valleys and ravines for hours, till that fire consumed her. She was destroyed by tradition, as was my father."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"My father, however, was not to be entirely undone. I was sent to a far off family, friends of my father. There, I was raised and taught the ways of wilderness survival, and in the ways of guerilla combat. For seven years, this family raised me. During this time, my father fought back his honor, and was soon to be upon the council again. He had lied to the council, telling them that he had thrown me from the high rocks, into the ravine below. He had the two first fingers of his right hand stricken from his body, and had learned to fight with his left equally as effectively. He had faced five warriors in to-the-death combat, and had won back his honor. He fought well in earning his honor again."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"Seven years later, I determined I would return to my tribe. Thusly, I came back. I came as a visitor, and claimed no name for myself. I looked upon each warrior in my tribe, sizing each up. My father saw me looking one day, and asked me of my mind. 'I seek only that which they have given, Gorr,' I said to him. He nodded, and began to train me in the ways of combat. A year later, I left again, to make my way South, beyond the snowy mountains. Soon, I found myself in the lands near Frostfall, though I did not know what it was then. I explored for a number of years, learning the land as best I could, but mostly getting to know the city of Devardec. I became a citizen there in time, contributing time to the betterment of the city."
"Over time, however, the remembrance of what they did to my mother began to consume me. I made my way back to the tribelands. In the night, I swept upon the village, burning it to the ground, slaughtering each and every man, woman, and child. My father did I visit last, and in my fury, I took his life in my hands, but not before telling him my name. I have never regretted that moment, as he saw what needed to be done. He told me he had never regained his honor in his heart, and was glad to give his life."
"Thus is the way of the Tribe, thus will it be my way."
"Four years later, I returned back to the lands of Tranos, and found the warrior's guild. I joined them, slaying an orc, which proved to be difficult. My skills had slipped for the last three years, as I had found the need to kill gone after the razing of my home. In the guild, I honed my skills, slaughtering, killing, and I found my bloodlust once again. I found the tools of the one called Zir, and I used them in my mission. Within three years, I found that which was called the temple of death. Having heard of the great battle between Worcester and Reknall, I knew that the one I came to follow had the heart I did for death, if one could call it heart. So, I joined him."
"Thus is my way."
"In the years since, I have loved, I have died, and I have hated and lived. I am the known now as Haerald, the spelling of my tribe, and I am the Warrior of Death. I am cold, and I am without love, but I am not heartless, for I have the warrior's heart, the heart of the killer, the heart of battle. I fight now for the warriors, and for the greater cause of death. I fight for all to be nothing."
"Thus was the way of the Gor'shu'kar, the granite warriors. Thus is the way of Riknar Gorr'kan. Thus it shall be evermore.::

::Haerald snaps his sword to his chest, blade reaching for the heavens::

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