October 28, 2010 12:18
“I am called Ungrim Duradrek Ong-Barazakund Agrul-Fin.”
Noticing the confused stares of his party, Fin quickly adds, “Er…‘Fin’ will be fine, actually.”
November 04, 2010 14:42
“You see, the monks of my own Order—Ong-Bara’zakund—which in common means “Order of the First Mountain”—consider ours to be the first dwarven monastic order…created in fact by the first dwarves who ever lived, countless ages ago. Thus, we believe that all dwarven religious thought originates, at least distantly, in some way from our own. Consequently, the monks of my Order consider it our duty to be the scholars of all dwarven religious movements. In fact, that was my own focus of study!”
November 05, 2010 00:59
“My Uncle—Ong-Bara’zakund Agrul-Kale—is the most wise and powerful monk I have ever known. As I have said, he is the Head Abbot of Ong-Bara’zakund—a position of the greatest honor. A true Mountain among those who meditate, he, more than any other monk of our Order in centuries, has come closest to truly and completely achieving Duraszong. This has been the goal of all monks of my Order since time began. Many great monks have done so over the eons, but he was…IS, sure to do so in this very lifetime. It has been long prophesied that a monk of my family would do so in this universe at this time period. You cannot imagine the merit that event will return to our Order, which hasn’t seen a true living Master in quite a long time, and has suffered as such. If…if my Uncle no longer lives, then the only monk who could possibly hope to fulfill the prophecy is my older brother.”
The emotion you see expressed and subdued at the word “brother” is unquestionably barely controlled rage.
Almost more to himself than the party, Fin says, “My brother is sure to be the interim Head Abbot now—he would have seen to that. He would have seen to everything.”
Returning his concentration to the party, he continues, “I feel that, if we are to continue together as a party…bound by trust with our very lives in each others hands…there are a few other facts about myself, my family, and my Order you have to know…if only because my odd appearance will make us standout wherever we go, but also because, by simply being near me, your lives will all be in most grave danger. While I am bound by the laws of Order to tell you all the truth, I would still do so even if that were not the case, because for some reason, I feel an overwhelming sense of trust in each of you.”
Having normally seen Fin’s friendly, calm, near-childlike demeanor dominate, the party is surprised with the deadly seriousness of his tone as he proceeds.
“My Uncle’s illness was not natural…he was poisoned…by a poison of such power that one can hardly conceive. He was poisoned by a truly masterful assassin monk that came to our Order under the guise of a common visitor. This assassin, I truly believe…though I cannot yet prove…was hired, sheltered, and aided in his escape…by my brother.”
Allowing that to settle in, he continues, “However, someone else was framed as the assassin’s conspirator in my Uncle’s murderer. That dwarf is myself. As a result, I have been…” A deep breath follows. “…cast out from Ong Bara’zakund forever. Before that happened, I was punished…marked…so that all creatures would know that I am now ‘Ungrim’…a dwarf who cannot ever be trusted. This is why I now look…different…from other dwarves.”
“It is now my goal in this life to achieve the wisdom and abilities needed to one day find my Uncle’s assassin, achieve proof of my brother’s guilt, and…hopefully…be reinstated to my Order when I return.”
“But know this…my brother will never accept mere exile for me. And that even as I hunt this world for a terrible assassin, many more are surely hunting this world for me even as I speak…and this is why you all will also live in danger as long as you have me in your party.”
Finally, with a sheepish yet hopeful grin to the party, Fin concludes, “However, on the plus side…living off the land has made me quite adept at providing dinner squirrels.”
