Back Story - Quinlan
From Black Country Role Playing Society
Quinlan Korinan - Backstory
The leopard feasted on the body of a dead farmer as I watched from the nearby hedgerow.
"Damn shame the farmer had to go that way." I thought. “At least the fool who had brought the untrained pet had also gone the same way. Well, the cat will be in the arena soon enough. Then somebody can take revenge on it."
I couldn't see them but I knew the other Zelkarunes were stealthily making their way into position. The sun was shining and a light breeze swept across the fields. I smile as I recall the times I spent as a young child with my parents in fields like this. My parents. The happy memories turned dark as I recall that day...
++
About twelve years ago, while travelling to the plantations south of the city my life changed. That day seemed like any other at first. I was five years old and with my parents as they travelled from the city to check in on various plantations. All seemed fine as the cart rumbled down the dirt track in the midday sun. The sound of a galloping horse could be heard fast approaching from behind. As it caught up I saw a short stocky man with a scar on his lip and a creepy smile that contained a few golden teeth.
"Mr. Korinan, I have a message from my brother." the man on the horse said as he rode along side us.
"What does that weasel want now?" my father said testily.
THUNK!
"Your job." the man said smiling an evil grin, pointing the freshly fired crossbow at my father.
My mother screamed as my father looked down at the bolt now protruding from his chest. With his last ounce of strength he kicked the horse pulling our cart, causing it to break into a run. The grin on the assassins face vanished but he was soon in pursuit. From my vantage point in the back of the cart I could see he was catching up and reloading the crossbow. As I was looking back I couldn't see what happened, a pothole or rock probably, but the cart suddenly lurched to the side. I remember the rolling and the sound of breaking wood and then darkness.
When I regained consciousness there was still darkness and I was restricted somehow. That was probably the most frightening time of my life. I don't know how long I was unconscious for or how long I was held. Thoughts of what was happening ran through my mind. Was I a hostage? Was my mother ok? Was I dead?
After what seemed like an age I heard muffled voices, I tried to scream for help but nothing came out, part of me decided to just stay silent. Suddenly there was light and I could see. The moon and stars illuminated the remains of the cart and four armed men.
"Hey, it's a kid. He's alive."
"You know that doesn't count as a trophy. You still caught nothing today Gideon"
I look around and see my mother, white and unmoving, buried under some blood-splattered wreckage of the cart. Again I try to scream but I couldn’t produce a sound.
“It’s ok kid.” said the one called Gideon.
“By Kord, what a mess. Looks like the driver was shot.” Said one of the younger ones
“Bandits? This close to Sasserine?” said the other young one
“No. Nothings been taken and by the tracks it was just one horseman. I’d say assassination. You two check the immediate area for any more signs, though I doubt you’ll find anything.” The oldest of the group said pointing out to the two young hunters where to start looking.
“You know who did this kid?” again from Gideon
I couldn’t say a word
“He’s in shock. Even if he could ID the scumbag the watch wouldn’t do anything. Whoever’s behind it probably has enough political clout to get out of it or the assassin would just mysteriously vanish. “ The eldest said while he pulled a cloak over the body of my mother
“So there’s nothing that can be done?”
“Drop him off at the orphanage and hope that whoever did this doesn’t care or know about him. It’s not our problem. He’s just lucky we came back this way.”
“Damn it Joran, you can be a cold bastard at times!”
“And you can be too soft Gideon. There’s very little else that can be done.”
“Yes there is. He can stay with me. We can train him to be one of us. “
“That’s your choice. Don’t expect me to cut you any slack or sympathy for it. And he still doesn’t count as a successful hunt for you either.” Joran smiled “Take him over there and give him some water while we clear this mess up.”
“I told you everything would be fine, you can stay with me for as long as you want. Train well and one day you could even join us Zelkarunes.” And in a whisper “And maybe when your ready, you might be able to get revenge on whoever did this.”
++
A blast from a horn brings me back from brooding. “I’m almost ready,” I think as three other hunters and me burst from our various positions charge the cat with nets and clubs.
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