Commitment

Lim Dul was a disappointing child to his parents. His father was a well respected warrior for hire. His mother, the prettiest whore in the village. The only time he saw his father was when he showed up to have his mother. Looking down on Lim Dul, he would spat at him and say, "You'll never amount to anything wart".
 
This put a fire of hatred in Lim Dul. He swore, he would be the better warrior. Upon achieving proper age, he left his mother, and sought the training and experience.
 
Fighting in many battles, his experience increased. His name becoming known. Lim Dul would measure his worth by the warrior standing across from him. The worthy would live, the unworthy dies. There is nothing else in life, there is only the battle.
 
Lim Dul was approached by a robed figure. This was always how it began. In private, in shadows, some politician looking to pay for his skill. The courier told him, 150 gold for his allegiance in battle. Lim Dul picked up the pouch, counted the gold and placed it down on the table. He smiled.
 
"Go tell your patron, his enemy is paying me more"
 
Laughing, Lim Dul stood above the courier, intimidating him, "see you on the battlefield wart."
 
The war was balanced. equal supplies, equal forces. This please Lim Dul, it meant more fighting. Weeks went on, Lim Dul feeding on the individual victories. One evening, in his tent, a smoky circular smoke appeared. Lim Dul Stood and peered as if to look inside. As he leaned forward, a mailed glove reached through, grabbed him by his ruddy armor and pulled him in, dropping him on the floor.
 
Standing before him was a Devil.
 
I am Dispater, Lord of Dis, the City of War on the Plane of Hell. Lim Dull stood up laughing. "Are you now..." Disbelief dripping with sarcasm.
 
Dispater motioned with his hand as if grabbing Lim Dul's collar, raising him in the air. Using his other hand, he motioned left and right breaking away his ruddy armor. Then reaching behind him, he drew a mighty great sword. Wielding it with one hand, he swung the sword, stopping it a moment before decapitating Lim Dul.
 
At the moment when he expected death, Lim Dul smiled. The sword stopped. Dispater tilted his head. "Why do you smile"? he asked, setting Lim Dul back down
 
He stood before her proud, "Because, if you are here, killing me, it means I have made a name for myself, even if that name is spoken in Hell."

"You do not fear the politics of Hell?" Dispater asked.
 
"I embrace them!" exclaimed Lim Dul. "Only the worthy are seen in Heaven or Hell".
 
Two chairs appear. Disapter motions Lim Dul to sit, as he does. "What would please you most young warrior?"
 
Lim Dul's eyes bow to the ground, then slowly, he looks up, with a sneer, he shares "To achieve a skill level so superior, that my father will be unable to beat me in battle. Futhermore, to take his life in that battle. "
 
Dispater sits back in his ornate chair. "That may be difficult. Your father is a benefactor or Asmodeus himself.
 
Lim Dul smiles, "Your politics, your problem". That is the gift that will gain my servitude.
 
Dispater laughed, "Yes, you will do fine I think!" Standing up, he asks. "Do you freely give me your servitude in exchange for your fathers skill in battle, and his life!"
 
Lim Dul kneels before Dispater, "I want nothing more" he growls.
 
With this acceptance, Dispater raises his hand, Lim Dul begins to levitate, floating before her, arms spread wide, his head back. Dispater. motioning a pulling action with his other hand, a spectral form emerges from Lim Dul. His eyes widen as he sees his soul before him. Dispater summons a brand, floating, red, burning with flame, an upside down Ankh, with an upside down great sword and two eyes.
 
"I brand thee Lim Dul, MY!!!!! warrior..... " At these words the brand seers into Lim Dul's soul. He begins screaming as flames surround his soul, smoke dissipating from his very eyes. Repeating Dispater announces, "I BRAND THEE, LIM DUL, PAINKILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
 
In an explosion of flamers, Lim Dul's soul blasts back into his body, catapulting his form back through the portal in his tent, his body smoking. Standing up, his crappy armor was replaced with a full suit of Chain Mail. His weapon and shield gone, replaced with a greatsword. In his head he hears Disapters voice.
 
"Go now Painkiller, use these tools, make me proud!"
 
Lim Dul smiled, a happiness he never knew. The only remaining effect from his commitment were little wisps of smoke emanating from his right eye.........