The Story of Hondo Willcrusher - The Beginning (Part I)
The warrior walks across the plains of Ascalon and thinks of his past. He can almost smell the burning flesh from his memory and he realizes it is his own charred flesh that he smells. He then laughs softly to himself and falls to one knee. He knows his time is almost here and soon enough he will see what lies beyond this life. Unable to support himself any longer he falls to the ground and lays on his back as his mind drifts to a different time.
20 years ago
Hondo could hear the screams of pain from beyond the door of his families cottage. His father looks out the window and tells him to hide in a cupboard. He runs to the hiding spot and just as his father closes the door the whole front of the cottage comes crashing in. His mother is killed as a piece of wood flies across the room and cuts her in half. His father is thrown to the ground and crushed by a piece of the roof. A Charr Axmen and Shaman enter the ruins. The Shaman mutters something in his language and the Axmen buries his blade right in Hondo's fathers chest. The pair leaves assuming they have killed everyone. Hondo's father, not quite dead yet but dying, tells him to stay where he is and not to come out until it is safe.
Hours go by as the Charr finish their mission of destruction and finally the last of the creatures leaves and vanishes into a burning horizon. Hondo's father tells him to come out and listen to him one last time.
Hondo approaches his father and listens as he tells him to take the last of the gold, 5 pieces, a dagger and a ring with a strange symbol on it. With his last breath he tells his only son to find the man that can tell him what the symbol means. That man will help him become the man he is destined to become. With that said, the light fades from his fathers eyes.
Hondo remained in the village until morning light, grieving as any child would do after a night like this. Finally after the sun comes up he makes a surprising decision for such a young age: he has had enough of grieving and wants revenge. The young boy gathers what food is left and he takes an overcoat from one of the small bodies. Surprised that it is one of his friends, but any feelings of remorse or grief have been erased. This night has taken its toll on young Hondo and his mind is filled with one thing: anger. This will guide him to the the Charr that killed his family and he will have revenge.
With this thought Hondo walks out of his destroyed village never to return again.
15 years later
Hondo had spent the last 15 years wandering around and learning as much as he could from anyone that would teach him. He had heard of a God called Balthazar and that he was the God of warriors. Hondo decided that he would study the teaching of Balthazar and become a mighty warrior.
It was in a small village where he came upon a man who was watching him. Hondo had a draught of ale and looked back. After what seemed like hours the old man walked over to Hondo and said " I like the ring you have there".Hondo was surprised as he was not usually asked of the ring. Hondo told the man thank you but he was in no mood for conversation. The man told Hondo that he did not ask to have a conversation. The old man was telling him it was a nice ring and that if would like to know more about it to meet him on the plains at dawn. Hondo stood looking at the man sizing him up; he did not look threatening but looks can be deceiving. Hondo wanted to know more but the man just told him to be there at dawn and turned to walk away. As the man left Hondo needed to know more, so he approached from behind and grabbed the man by the collar, within half a second Hondo was on his back and looking at the ceiling of the tavern. The man had said something just as Hondo had grabbed him and then flipped him as if he were a leaf. The man left but as he walked he said that he could teach Hondo if he would like.
The next morning Hondo was there half an hour before dawn and waiting for this strange old man to approach. Just as the sun crested the eastern hill he heard a cough, it was the man. He called him over and said he wanted to tell him a few things before they started. He introduced himself as Thorgon Firequencher and told him that he was a friend of his fathers, and then he told him how he knew his father. Thorgon told him about a military intelligence agency known as "The Watch". This order was all but dead but a few of the members were still around. His father had been a member and so was Thorgon; the ring was their symbol and he showed Hondo his own.
Thorgon said he had heard about the death of Hondo's family and had been tracking him for the last 10 years when they had crossed paths in a remote outpost. Thorgon was impressed with how far Hondo had come and how strong he was. He was undisciplined though and that was what Thorgon would teach him. "Are you ready?" Thorgon asked him. Hondo was, and so they left and began Hondo's journey of revenge.
To be continued...
