The Path of Iron

[Dromui 755]

To live without strength, is to live without honor. And to live without honor, is as if one was not living at all.

 

 

For centuries I've wandered this world as a Mali'ker. From a young age, battle was thrust upon me. I lived within a clan of warriors, and as I grew, I was trained to fight, to kill, and to conquer. It was not rare for one such as myself, a Mali'ker, to live such a lifestyle. For among all elven kind, there was none better suited for warfare, for battle, for domination, than the Mali'ker. But though the Mali'ker is bred for war, they lack what makes a true warrior. They lack strength, and they lack honor. For without strength, no man or woman can become a warrior. Instead, those who are trained to fight, become murderers, killers in cold blood. For without honor, the life of a killer is worthless, as there is no standard to live by, no morals, no code. Simply the skill to kill, and the will to do so. It took many years for me to realize the Mali'ker people were honorless, cold blooded killers, but upon doing so, I turned my back upon them.

The Mali'ker are a people that strive to live for honor, for their ancestors. That is what I respected about them. But it is simply a facade, preached by the people, but not practiced. For what warrior would call himself honorable, or strong, when cornering an unarmed man and killing him in cold blood? With no evidence of crimes, no reason to kill. Not a warrior at all, but a killer. But what makes such actions even worse, is in doing so, the offender was joined by another of his kind, another Mali'ker. The two came upon the unarmed man, cornered him as if he were an animal, and slew him in cold blood.

Upon seeing this, I fled the city of Vivec, and I've never turned back. The city is a cesspool of dishonor, of weakness, and of lies. The Mali'ker people have built themselves a pedestal to stand upon, to spout nonsense and lies to not only others, but also themselves. And in doing so, a people that were once great, once strong, and once honorable, have devolved into nothing but pitiful savages. Savages who think themselves perfect, the greatest creature to live upon this worth. It is disgusting to look upon. So I decided it was time I know longer look upon them. I turned to a land where I could find creature of honor, true strength. The perfect warrior. I've turned to the Iron Uzg. Upon arriving to the Iron Uzg, I was shown trust and acceptance, for I earned it. Delivering the head of a Frost Witch, a creature of taint to the Lur clan, the greatest of hunters, showed them I was not a creature of weakness. It proved my worth, before I could even speak. And in doing so, the Rex, Kahn'Braduk brought me forth.

Standing before his throne, I felt minuscule. For the first time in centuries, I felt like a child, and as a child would, I was intimidated and felt fear. One of the largest creatures I've ever laid my eyes upon sat upon his throne, glaring down at me with blood red eyes, eyes that seemed to glow while reflecting the light of the fire. At the foot of his throne, upon each side, two trusted members of the Iron Uzg stood. Though my attention was solely on that of the Rex. Here I proved to him the path I walked, was a path I truly believed in. I cared not for my people, and it was clear to him that it was the truth. And in learning so, he told me of my next goal. To approach him with my representative, the Elder Shaman, Eath'Lur. Once he has spoken out for me, the blood pact would be made, and my time with the Iron Uzg would truly begin.

A few short months later, the time to prove my worth was upon me. The Rex called forth all available warriors to come together to hunt the creature known as the Flegual. Over the years, the monster had grown at a rapid rate, gaining in size and strength. I was allowed to join the Iron Uzg upon this hunt. And so I did. Upon arriving to the domain of the Flegual, we were instantly assaulted by the creature's stench. Just being near the creature, my stomach turned. My senses were assaulted. But that did not stop the Uruks. They charged forth, beating off the creature's tentacles, slashing, crushing, and slamming whatever came before them in a maddened rush. Up they went, climbing atop the creature, doing whatever harm to the creature they could. As they climbed, I released a storm of arrows, one after another the twang of my bowstring sounded as the arrows embedded themselves in the creature's rubbery flesh. Though my attacks were likely harmless, I had only a single goal. Keep the creature's attention so my brother's could arrive entirely unharmed. My goal was met with success, as the Uruks stormed the creature.

One by one, the eyes of the massive creature were felled. Working together, the mighty Iron Uzg decimated the creature known as the Fleugal, but there was no end in sight, as it seemed impervious to all forms of damage. But something occurred, something startling to say the least. The Rex Kahn'Braduk jumped into the creature's mouth and began to wreak havoc upon the creature's innards. With each sweep of his mighty axe, bile and other bodily fluids rained outward, onto those unfortunate enough to be standing too close. As the mighty Rex's axe crashed downward into the Fleugal's heart, the creature almost immediately went limp. To my heightened sense, I could hear the sound of flesh and skin crackling, as if being eaten away by acid. Hearing this, I dropped down into the creature's mouth, just in time to see the Kahn'Braduk rip the creature's heart free. But what was more startling, was the burn of his flesh and armor, being eaten away by the creature's inner-liquids. Moving forward, I endured the pain and fought my way forth, to the Rex. At his side, I grabbed him and began to drag him out. Though I was likely unneeded, I would not leave him be, as the other Uruks around us had swept up into chanting and celebration for the day's actions. Once outside, I dropped to my knees, the pain wracking my body in ways I'd never of expected. But as the Iron Uzg moved to depart, I stood along with them. I forced my body to move, and returned to the land I now call home.

Once there, Eath'Lur and I were called to the palace of the Rex, by the Rex himself. As a group we traveled to the Palace. Time passed and upon entry, it was made clear my devotion to the Iron Uzg had been noticed and accepted. Upon that day, I was made an honorary Uruk, the highest of honors to those born outside of the Uruk community. I stood at the entrance of the Palace. Laid out before me was a trail of fire, a trail extending for four dozen paces. Upon the mat, burning logs grew hot, fires rising upwards, high enough to envelop my form. But as commanded, I set forth in stride, walking across the burning trail. The fire at first only licked at my booted feet, but quickly my clothing caught ablaze, and it traveled up my form was on fire. Upon reaching the other side, my flesh was singed and burned badly. But it mattered not, for the goblin servants of the Rex doused the flames in blood.

Trial by fire, baptism by blood. Upon this day, I was made an honorary Uruk.

Upon facing the trial, and receiving my baptism, I stood before Rex Kahn'Braduk. Drawing a serrated dagger across the flesh of his palm, a wound was opened upon his dark green flesh. Handing the dagger to me, I did the same, and blood pooled within the center of my palm. The hands were brought forth, making contact, and a blood pact was sealed between the Rex and myself. My trials complete, my devotion proved. I have become one with the Iron Uzg.

My journey has been met with success. All ties of my past have been cut. No longer am I Azel Oussana, son of Malin, warrior of the Mali'ker. Now I am Azel, warrior of the Iron Uzg, and honorary Uruk. Upon my initiation into the Iron Uzg, the leader of the Raguk Clan, Nagg'Raguk approached me. I was confused, and somewhat worried at first. Thinking I had made a mistake, I was careful. But I was wrong. Nagg offered me the chance to join the Raguk clan, to serve the Iron Uzg as the warrior of the Raguk, and to serve as a blacksmith. With joy, I accepted. Nagg'Raguk brought me forth to the meeting hall. I was given an elephant cub, the animal of the Raguk clan, to raise as my own for future use in battle. Afterward, the red Uruk dragged out an iron brand in the shape of the Raguk clan symbol. Pushing it into the fire of my new home, he heated the iron up until it was a fiery orange color. Holding still, he pressed the brand against my arm, marking me as a member of the Raguk clan. The pain was excruciating, but I did not cry out nor move. Clenching my jaw and fist, I took the pain as if I was a Uruk myself.

Upon this day, I have become an honorary Uruk. Trial by fire, baptism by blood, the blood pact made, and my initiation into the Raguk clan. I am Azel'Raguk, warrior of the Iron Uzg. And I walk the path of Iron. A path of much honor and strength, unlike that of the Path of Onyx.

 

Edited September 5, 2015 by Azel

[Birdnerdy 1539]

(( One of the best rp posts I've seen in a while.

 

Definite +1

[James 425]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.