Backstory 7: Taming Iron

Grynn set Rip and Snort loose to the woods each day, with instructions for them to return with any game they might find by noon. They faithfully returned each day with enough food for themselves, Grynn and Skaxis. While Skaxis insisted such tribute wasn’t necessary, he always accepted it.

Two years passed, and Grynn became an expert of the forge. Finally one of his blades was priced higher than anything Njoktus could craft, and Skaxis declared training complete. Now for the final exam, Grynn would have to select and heat and shape the metal himself. Skaxis whispered the secrets of folding the blade, and how to quench the back of the blade slower to create the curve. After sharpening and polishing the blade, it was ready to be fit with a grip. Grynn chose a dark red lacquer to paint the sheaths with, and tied each with a pair of the fangs Rip and Snort frequently lost.

True to his word, Skaxis had found Grynn a swordsman who had mastered the twin swords. Unknown to Grynn, Skaxis had already paid, as the quality of Grynn’s work had amassed him a small fortune. With a tear in his eye, old Skaxis gave Grynn a bear hug until he finally had to tap out. “I’ll miss you lad, you’ve got the stuff of greatness in you, and even though you’re not a dwarf, you’ve been like a son to me. I hope to find another pupil with half the potential you have someday. And I’ll miss the fresh meat! Take good care of my boy, Rip, Snort.” On hearing their names, they tackled Skaxis and shared their slobbery goodbyes.

Backstory 6: Skaxis

When Grynn arrived in Innablith he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of houses he could see on the horizon. Once they were within the city gates, the wagoner recommended an inn that allowed dogs, provided they were reasonably clean. Grynn thanked him, and continued to the weapon’s district. There they could sell the crossbows and daggers they had removed from the thieves. The merchant they sold the crossbows even had a few her father had made. They weren’t ornamented with fancy filigrees or knot-work, but they still fetched the highest price because their quality shown through to any experienced fletcher or archer.

They continued to a blade smith to sell the daggers. Grynn had never seen so many kinds of weapons in all his life. He hastily split the sales with the wagoner and continued to browse, until he spied a pair of swords. Each blade was about the length of his arm, with a gentle curve and a razor sharp edge. The handles were just long enough to allow both hands to apply power, while not so long as to require it.

“I can’t sell you those, at least not those specifically. I learned to make those bastard swords during my travels to the Moonshae Isles. To them, a sword is more than a weapon or tool; it’s a part of you, an extension of your soul. Therefore, you must make your own. That is why I cannot sell you that pair, but I can teach you how to make them.” A dwarf, who stood a head taller than most of his kin, said to Grynn as he turned away from his work. “Me name is Skaxis, and I’m the best blade smith in the city. I happen to be in the market fer a new apprentice, and I’d rather take on one tha cares more about the weapons than the fact their father can afford me. Naturally me price fer training is just as high as me skill, but I wouldn’t cheat and abuse a fine young lad like you, unlike Njoktus ‘cross the road.” Skaxis pointed out the window to a dark featured man who was kicking a young boy for spilling the water he was carrying.

“I’m honored by your offer, and would gladly accept, but why single me out? I’m not even a blacksmith.” Grynn questioned. Skaxis nearly shook the ground with his bellowing chuckle. “That’s exactly why, nobody has trained ya the wrong way to strike hot metal, yet ya certainly have an eye for quality work when ya see it. I’ll make ya a deal. Ya keep yerself well fed and rested, and buy the metal. I’ll sell anything ya make of worth in me shop, keep the lion's-share as tuition, and that should leave ya plenty enough to buy more metal and meals. When yer skill exceeds his,” Skaxis gestured toward Njoktus again, “I’ll show ya how to make the Moonshaean twin swords.” Grynn didn’t need to think twice, he agreed on the condition that they find someone who could train him to use the swords.

Backstory 5: First Job, First Kill

Three days of good stories into our travel, the wagon was ambushed by highwaymen on the way. A quick glance around showed there were only two, but armed with crossbows, they still posed a threat at their chosen range. I signaled rip and snort to hunt the robbers, these were the first humans we'd ever hunted but the principle was the same as a boar. Keep it calm and distracted until everyone is ready to strike. Our wagoner was doing a brilliant job with the distracting part, stumbling over his words as he pleaded for his life. 'What a coward, not even a half-hearted attempt to guard your passenger.' Is what Grynn was thinking as he subtly knocked his arrow and readied a second. The coward had wasted just enough time for my pack to surround our prey. Rip and snort jumped out simultaneously, grabbed both attackers by the legs, and took them to the ground.

As the pigs fell Grynn stood, drew and released his first arrow. Before it struck its mark, he had the next arrow ready and flying to its target. Just like his father showed him to hunt pheasants. Both arrows ruptured many vital organs as they entered the soft spot of the shoulder and passed down towards the men's hips. At age thirteen, those were the first men (be it a dwarf and a half-elf) Grynn had slain. As he collected their coin-purses He felt it strange to not be troubled by what most would call murder. He was defending his pack. They dragged the corpses into the woods so the buzzards could do their work in peace.

Backstory 4: Friendly Advice

Grynn once again headed south. She stayed a night with Acaer and told him she was going walk-about. He suggested she might pick-up some extra cash escorting other travellers, and that she might get taken more seriously disguised as a man. Grynn trusted Acaer, and knew he had good advice. So she went to the market to buy some rugged men's clothes that would fit her without be revealing, and a long strip of soft cloth to pack down what little cleavage she did have. When she came back, Acaer didn't recognize her until snort sniffed her out. "Well young man, all you need now is a good cap to keep some of that hair under!" Acaer said as he handed Grynn a loose cap with a small brim that was a style many of the local shepherds favored. Grynn stayed another night and was gone before dawn, leaving three gold coins in his Acaer's boot as thanks and farewell.

Grynn liked the idea of being an escort, a protector, and the best way to do that was to learn from the Rangers at Fort Arrowglance. Which was many days ride to the east, and she had no mount so it would take weeks. She hired a wagon to Innablith which was the closest major city to the Ranger's forest fortress deep in The Chondalwood.

Backstory 3: Leaving Home

When Grynn returned, her father was pleased to see that rip and snort were not only fantastically trained, but that the three had become inseparable friends. Grynn was overjoyed and brought to tears all at once when her father showed her a beautiful white dire wolf pelt that the tanner's wife trimmed minimally to fashion a hunting cloak for Grynn. After Rip and Snort gave it the sniff of approval, she proudly donned the gift.

Two years passed, Grynn grew tired of the jeers of her hometown. Most folk didn't understand the bond she had made with rip and snort. They weren’t mere pets to her, they were her pack. Together they had kept the village stocked with meat and fur, but the villagers wouldn't respect her for her skills anymore. Her lean diet and active lifestyle had left her feminine curves, lacking. Boys, who were once her friends, moved on to shallow girls who thought only of their own looks and desires. It was time for Grynn’s pack to leave.

Her mother begged her to stay, to learn to be a lady. Grynn wouldn't hear it, and stormed out. She ran to her favorite fishing spot, the one where she'd been given rip and snort. She sat against her tree and snuggled with her pack. Her dad showed up that evening with a backpack and a simple looking longbow with a quiver of hunting arrows. He set them beside her, and he turned to leave saying "if you show up for the feast, you'd better bring the bacon!"

She picked up the bow and examined it closely. It was made out of Uratha Hoppler (a wood prized by fletchers for not losing its power simply by being strung) with Pentwist Seiliu string, and bone caps to keep the string from eating into the wood. While it looked like a simple bow, the materials and craftsmanship were the best money could buy, bar none. She ran to catch her father and nearly knocked him over with a flying tackle hug. Then Rip did knock them over to show his slobbery gratitude.