Sunday, January 4, 2009

Something different... something I wrote years ago

The Origin of Khongol Hackinemupp


The present in the story actually happened when Khongol was new. I hope you enjoy:

"Why not be a Shaman?"

"Simple, Mom, I want to be in the thick of battle. Not standing and slowing the enemy down. And remember me in school? I hated to study."

"How about a Beastlord?"

"Great… then I’d be the joke of the group. Even worse than Rangers and Bards. And I’m not that good with animals."

"Rogue then. You can still fight but be safe."

"No, then I wouldn’t be trusted. I NEED to fight, not poke it with little knives."

The Barbarian woman, Tehmpest, sighed. "Fine then, you can be a Warrior."

************************

Khongol chucked to himself as he rent his foe in twain. At that moment, he heard a terror-filled scream, "TRAIN!!"

************************

"Mr. and Mrs. Hackinemupp, your son has issues with anger." Dargon McPherson told them. "A berserker such as him is not safe. Not just for the Warrior Guild… but also for him."The Guild Master looks at the young Khongol, "I’m truly sorry, my boy, you’ll never be a Warrior."

************************

Khongol sees the source of the shout: a young couple, a Shadowknight and Druid. Under his breath he wonders, "Don’t they know that BlackBurrow isn’t safe? Especially for Druids."

Leaping from his perch on a ledge, he lands before the battered pair, who were heading that way. "Run for Qeynos Hills; I will handle these mutts." Noticing the two were still lingering, "RUN!"

"What about you?" the Shadowknight worried.

"I’ll be fine. Go now!" With that Khongol raises his glowing axe.

Watching the two run up the hill and over the bridge for the exit, Khongol turns his attention to the small army starting to pass. Focusing on the dogmen, he sees an aura-like color about them. Seeing a red aura, he swings a Blunt Axe at the Gnoll Guardsman’s legs. The beast howls out in pain as its knee is knocked out of socket.

The ocean of fur, teeth, and weapons no longer cared about the invaders fleeing… but rather the Barbarian clad in golden chainmail.

************************

"Dad, I’ve decided. I’m going to be a Berserker like you." The young Khongol told his father, Urthak, one afternoon.

With a gleam of pride in his good eye, Urthak responded, "In that case, inside the bank is my old Glowing Velium Axe along with some old gear. Take it; it’s now yours."

************************

After personally introducing the gnoll train to the gods of Norrath, Khongol kneels down to bandage his wounds. From behind him comes a voice, "What in the gods’ names are you?"

Upon turning around he sees the Shadowknight and Druid. While the Druid begins to heal his wounds magically, Khongol answers, "I’m a Berserker."

"I have heard tales of your kind before… but I have never seen any… or what they can do." The Dark Elven man says while looking around at the piles of carcasses.

With a sigh Khongol asks the Teir ‘Dal, "Don’t you know bringing a Druid here is suicide? The Darkpaws hate anyone from or with someone from Surefall. You both could have been killed."

With a quiet voice the Human woman spoke, "We didn’t think this would have happened. We thought we could handle them… but then three came at once. So we had to run."

Stepping back and slumping onto a rock she then adds, "Well that is the best I can do. I’m out of mana… would you mind if we looked you up again? To group with us."