Skeli's Story
Skorri Helgisson and the rest of the warriors arrived at the stead
too late to stop the broo raid. Everyone was already dead and the broos fled except
for one woman who wouldn't stop crawling and mewling and a tiny figure that moved
spasmodically in the corner. The healers rushed to both of the survivors. The
one who picked up the tiny figure gasped at what she saw and dropped the babe. One
of the warriors caught it and almost dropped it again as he recoiled when he saw what the
broos had done. Instead he cradled the babe to his chest and wept openly and
unashamedly. Skorri turned to the healers examining the woman and asked,
"Well?" The senior of the healers turned to him and shook her head sadly.
Skorri moved forward and used his sword to do what he had to do. "Only
one survivor," he said through his tears as he cleaned his sword.
An older Skorri sat in the sun and spoke with the chief Lawspeaker.
"So how are the students doing?" "The best of them of course
is young Skeli but I worry about what sort of man he will be. He hates anything that
is not custom or law and the others, indeed the whole stead shuns him for his scars.
His hate and our fear is a heavy burden for one so young and I fear that he might
not grow as straight as he could were his face whole. I also do not know what sort
of lawspeaker he will make with that tortured whisp of a voice of his.
Skeli, the man, stood before the moot to defend his client and tried
to make himself heard above the raucous crowd but to no avail. His face grew red
with a mixture of anger and embarassment, adding to the ugliness of his face.
Suddenly inside him he heard a voice saying, "If you are going to serve me you will
need to be heard. I make a loan to you of my mighty voice. Use it
well." Almost overcome with dizziness he reached out to his neighbour to steady
himself. Before he grabbed her though he managed to right himself. His chest
swelled and he felt the god fill him. "Listen to me," he roared and all
present fell silent in shock and amazement.
An older Skeli stroked the rich, red beard covering his chest (and
most of the
scars on his face) and thought fondly about tillage rights. Idily, part of his mind
rejoiced at the thought of his recent success in the gaining a beard hero quest and he
thought, finally life IS good.
Narrative
He is an Orlanthi Lawspeaker from Heortland. As a mere babe his
family were slaughtered by broos who left him horribly scarred and disfigured. Since
then he has feared and hated chaos. His normal speaking voice is a hoarse whisper
because of his scars but when the god moves him his voice swells to a mighty roar.
He has a great red beard that covers his chest which is his pride and joy. He's
always running his fingers through his beard which he says helps him to think. Law
is his life and he has no use for love.
Character Sheet
Last modified September 15, 2000
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