Orstanor

Orstanor Estavsson - Uroxi Warrior

Orstanor is a warrior of the Amad tribe, who range through the most perilous region of Sartar. They have always been surrounded by terrible enemies, and yet have managed to maintain their Orlanthi lifestyle and have established villages and one city, the citadel of Alone. The Amad have to learn many different forms of individual combat simply to survive, since they have Trolls to the north and east, giants and chaos to the north and west, undead to the south, werewolves to the south west, and all of this before the Lunar empire is even considered. All of this combines to create a fiercely independent tribe who trust few but their own in a situation of mortal peril. Any respect that is given by the Amad is earned through witnessed action, not hearsay and boast. The unusual level of violence that the Amad encounter in their day to day lives produces extremes of forbearance (why fight if you don’t have to? You never know when you may need all your strength) and aggression (Once committed, opponents must be subdued as quickly and decisively as possible). Orstanor has left the lands of his fathers in order to see some of the wider world, and to test his skill in combat with those of other cultures. Having left mercenary service, he is now a freelance adventurer.

Cometh the Gorgon

She came crashing through the trees. This is going to be risky. I cant let any of my friends die but I must let the fight go on long enough to let them realise what a dangerous foe she is before I kill her. I took my position by a tree close enough to survey the situation and to intervene if things got out of hand. Branduan was first to launch his attack and was slapped aside by her massive wings. She turned her gaze towards him. I must react quickly. I launched my javelin aiming just to miss her and draw her attention away from Branduan. She turned and as she did the others joined the fight. I drew my spear but kept out of the action waiting to see what was to happen. She had taken control of the fight and battered my friends. Our guide had been unfortunate to catch her eye and been turned to stone (I didn’t like him anyway). Then she received a blow which caused her to shriek. I hoped it was not a mortal blow as I was the one who wanted to deliver her fate. She took to the sky. Damn she is leaving, I must stop her. I searched for her looking through the tree tops in to the nights sky. She was hard to spot but the flapping of her wings gave her location away. I saw her veer away from us to the north so I unleashed my spear to divert her in our direction. To my relief I saw her come back towards us (she is pissed off, good). She landed just to our side and came towards us shrieking with anger. The others attacked again to no avail and when Aransars undine was simply despatched I knew my time had come.

I charged in with my trusted swords unleashed and went in for the kill. She saw me approach but I was too quick. In a blur I stabbed her in the gut. She let out her final death shrill and then fell with a mighty thud.

The other members stood there staring not at the Gorgan but at me. “Well done” Orlkensor said with a look of ore in his eyes. I had achieved what I set out to do. I must now make appoint of setting up scenarios on our travels for Aransar to remind the party that he had bested me.

Why I let Aransar Win the Duel

It was calculated

I knew what I was doing.

There has been a shift in the party. One that I felt had to be addressed. I am a fighter and a good one but they don’t know that. They do not know what I am capable of. Aransar does.

I know Aransars pride had been hurt recently and that he needed to do something to re-establish himself with in the party. So when the opportunity arose of some friendly duelling I was first to throw in my gauntlet. I had manipulated Aransars mood all afternoon and new Aransar would take my challenge.

I’m quicker, stronger and more skilled than my opponent and I must use that to make him look good.

I drew my swords and squared up to Aransar. I swung my sword and aimed to just miss him but close enough to make him move out of the way. He looked surprised that I had missed and I gave him just enough time to retaliate. I could tell by the look on his face that he was going to give it all he had got with his attack (which would not have been enough) so I had to block the blow but let just the right amount through to let him draw first blood and let him think and the members of our party think that he had bested me.

My plan had worked. Aransar wallowed in his victory and I felt his pride had been restored though he alone new what a great victory it was to have beaten me as our fellows do not know what a great warrior I am (yet).