Groendle, The Half-Orc Ranger

THE Orc in Groendle had some responsibility in his tendency to appreciate hot and desolate places. Although he sometimes enjoyed the company of his people, he preferred exploring empty and endless lands. His Human traits were displayed within his curiosity and good learning skills were an apparent characteristic.

Groendle crossed the desert of Durhun, East of the great mountains, and came to the well of the lost souls. Only the Half-Orcs knew about this well and kept it a secret. Groendle was very skeptical to see someone here who, obviously, wasn’t a Half-Orc. He moved on closer and asked the stranger how he got lost in such a place. Vahalken immediately answered that he hadn’t lost his way and that he had found the well following the trails of small animals. Groendle was skeptical. Nobody was stupid enough to travel ten leagues away from the tracks when thirsty and this was the reason why the village had remained untouched by many of the nearby conflicts. Travelers usually died if they followed the trail that skillfully ran around the well.

Vahalken felt his host was getting more and more skeptical and suspicious. He showed him the almost invisible footprints on the ground. These are small rodent footprints, he said. They cannot dig far enough to find the water they need and have to live close to the well. Fortunately, they still have to move into the desert to find some food, and I only had to follow the tracks to find the well. Groendle wanted to know more and Vahalken agreed to have him as his apprentice. This would be a long and tedious apprenticeship but Groendle accepted. Both went across many deserts of ice and sand, across mountains and swamps, and along the way, Groendle learned to recognize the tracks of many species of animals. He also learned a thousand ways to set traps. After a few years, Groendle was a great ranger.

One night, Vahaklen vanished. Groendle only realized it in early the morning. He saw his master’s footprints on the floor and began to look for him. Someone had tried to erase the tracks using branches. During the day, he thought he would go back to the camp, but his own footprints had been erased. He felt rage grow within him, then felt something in his pocket, and immediately recognized the item. This was his master’s bird calling whistle. He blew the whistle and a bird landed on his shoulder. He followed the bird and found the camp. Vahalken took the bird-calling whistle back and gave him a pair of boots. These boots would allow him to travel fast, without getting tired, and he lead the life he is now renowned for, relentlessly and mercilessly looking for things and people.