Kothar

“Hey you there sire, yes you with the tribal fur cloak and strange helmet! Come hither, for your bravery on the field of battle today inspired my to write a bardic song of your courage and strength! Now what kind of malady has accursed you to cause your body to be like this? Or are you one of those Yuan-ti lizard men?” The bard paused for a moment, dragging a chair next to him.

“Come come sir, I have no ill intent to you, I just merely wish to record your tale for generations to come!”

My name is Kothar. My name is curse as well as blessing. In language of my ancestor, name means Demon. I am called demon for my brutal way of combat. I like to hold onto my enemy as I bite face off, maybe rip throat out with claws. In common man tongue, I am called barbarian, fighter of rage and fury. I am not common man, I am called abomination, freak, and sometimes……demon.

It all began before I was born. My mother, a strong painswoman, fell in love with warrior from other tribe. My mother was strong warrior, she save this man from two tigers with her bare hands. This man say he was from Dragon Talon Clan, my mother never heard of this tribe before, but offer him bed and rest to treat injuries. During night, mother fall in love with man, they make love, but something strange catches eye of my mother. The man shadow, was not shadow of man, but of dragon. My mother, she does not care, she love man with all heart. Man say he is dragon who is cursed to be in human body, he say shaman cast evil spell on him. My mother keep this secret from rest of tribe, she did not believe her people would understand situation. This man live with tribe for many months, he marry mother, but one day he disappear with trace, and crush mother’s heart.

The next day, I was born. During birth, my mother die of complication, and tribe elder see me as birth of demon child. Tribe people shun me, I spend childhood being teased, bullied and abused. But I bullied, teased and abused back. I get into many fights, and when I turn ten, village elder cast me out of village for breaking other boy’s arms and knees. I learned how to fend for self in the wild, I hunted using my bare claws for I had nothing when elder shun me. For six years I lived in forest near the plains, living off land and teaching myself how to survive. When I was fifteen, I was stalking elf hunter because he killed the deer I had been tracking for six hours. When he stopped for rest, I made my move and jumped out at him. We battled for many long minutes, and when it seemed I has upper hand, ground gave way and I fell into large hole. I woke up in cavern, with the elf I had tried to kill bandaging my leg. He told me I had broken my leg, and that if we made it out he would take me to healer to fix it. We spent four days in cavern, and this man help me walk. He told me that I was not demon like my tribe told me, but I was part dragon, and he even taught me how to speak dragon speak and elf speak. He say that I should be proud to be what I was because my family was blessed with dragon blood. I told him he should not speak of what he did not understand.

He laughed and told me that I did not understand my own life. He also taught me the beliefs of Tempus, and of fearless battles. My time spent with this elf man opened my eyes to many new ideas. The first time in my life I was treated like actual person instead of monster, and it made me forget of my hatred towards people.

When we finally got out of cavern, he took me to his village in the forest. His people treat me kindly, without fear or prejudice. His shaman of the Elf gods fixed my leg, and the elf warriors taught me how to fight better with my claws and teeth, teaching me their ways of close quarters fighting. I live with tribe for one year, and on night of sixteenth birthday, many creatures attack village. They were frightening creatures, not of living. They were walking skeletons and corpses, and my friend and I fought valiantly to defend village. This man left village by himself after we had fought, saying it was his destiny to find the man who sent the creatures to attack village. I offered to go, but he refuse, saying that he needed to go alone.

I left village soon after friend left on his journey. I traveled for another year, and soon found myself at large village. I thought I would find the same welcome I had at Evertree Village. That was mistake. I was shunned like demon, at the inn I was treated like orc. People ran away in fear, or cursed my existence. One man even drew sword and threaten to kill me. When I refuse to leave, he attack, and I rip arms off. The guards treat me like criminal and try to capture me. I flee village, with hatred once again in my blood for human.

Another year of a vagabond’s existence I lived. Until I found this city, where my existence is not shunned but appreciated only for my skills in battle. And bard, that is my story for your silly song. And maybe I shall continue my lonely existence, but before I die, I will find father, and rip his throat out myself for cursing my life.