Of course Darkrock is my real name! Why does everyone keep asking me that?
Darkrock is a young
Tiefling who tries to appear more brooding than he really is. He wanders around Huggleland, preferably on his own, looking for the next opportunity to earn some sweet coin. Despite an attitude that sometimes comes across as unmotivated, he is skilled with 2 handed weapons. His favorite is his halberd he affectionately calls "Halrock."
Family
Darkrock does not have a family in the traditional sense. No one from his town has family. Children are born at the clinic and raised by the community. Sometimes children try to guess who their "life giver" is based on looks or personality, but no really knows what is true. This desire for no parental connection is taken so seriously, females are expected to cover themselves and hide who they are before entering the clinic and additional drapes are placed to avoid being seen by the doctors and nurses during the birth of a baby Tiefling. It is believed this practice ensures a more authentic caring and love between each other as it is a "chosen" rather than "obligatory" bond formed between a tiefling and whom they bond with.
Being raised "Balanced"
Like all children in his town, Darkrock was assigned his "balance companion" at birth, and was raised with the other "paired companions." Everyday the children were taught by various adults what were considered "essential" and "critical" skills. Children were raised to be perfect examples of balance. "Important" strangers would come to the town and observe the children. They often remarked at how amazing of an example the town was setting for all of Huggleland. Children were taught to utilize their assigned companions to help them to achieve such balance. If they began to excel at physical shows of strength they there partner would excel at the most delicate and graceful of tasks. Sometimes paired companions would stray away from being balanced with their skills. These pairs would be temporarily split in order to individually retrain and reeducate the children. Once the teachers were satisfied with their correction, the pair would be placed back together. Companions were expected to stay together until the "splitting ceremony" at age 18 where the town acknowledges that the two are entering adulthood contributing to the balance of the world. On rare occasions, companions would be permanently separated before coming of age. Sometimes this was due to death, expulsion, or exile however,the most common reason for this was "imbalanced feelings" between the companions.
Darkrock's Assigned Companion
Like all the other babies born in his village, Darkrock was assigned a balance companion the day he was born. His companion was a plumicorn Tiefling named "Sarina." Sarina was the perfect balance companion. Everything about her gave balance and harmony to Darkrock's life. When he was angry, she was happy. When he struggled to learn even one instrument, she learned all of them. Where he broke earth with his weapons and fist, she grew beautiful and delicate flowers. All of the adults paraded the two around as the "perfect pairing," and began planning their splitting ceremony from a young age. The two became so confident in their bond that they both felt they could almost read each other's minds. Despite being "perfectly balanced" they started heading down a very "imbalanced" path.
Somewhere between being paired at birth and being paraded in front of everyone else as "perfectly balanced," Sarina and Darkrock fell in love.
A Choice is Made
For a long time the duo was not aware of their own feelings. Once they realized they had fallen in love, they knew they had to make sure no one found out. If they could make it to the splitting ceremony they could go out in the world and do as they pleased. They did a great job at keeping it a secret at first. The closer they got to the splitting ceremony, the more pressure they felt, and the more they needed each other. Eventually the teachers began to pick up on little things that led them to being suspicous and one day Sarina never showed up for the daily morning prayer. Darkrock was summoned to a private room shortly after. He knew he had to be careful but he was concerned for Sarina. When he arrived in the private room he was questioned about his relationship with Sarina. He answered every question perfectly without hesitation. However, he was not ready for the final test of his feelings. Sarina was brought in with her plumicorns plucked and her pale legs purpled from being beaten. Darkrock was given one last chance to tell the truth. He thought if he did they would be separated but at least she would be safe from further harm. He admitted his love. Blamed himself solely and then ran to Sarina to comfort her. He told the teachers he knew they must be separated and that he would even accept exile. He claimed his love was one sided and that she should be free from all consequences. Darkrock's choice to admit his feelings, was the wrong one to make. The elders drug them both away to separate holding cells and left them there for an unknown length of time.
A Savior and a Terrible Fate
After what felt like a lifetime, Darkrock eventually heard the soft click of the lock on his door. A hooded figure stepped inside his cell and told him to run before anyone found out he was freed. Darkrock refused to leave without Sarina. The hooded figure ushered him to another cell and pushed the door open. In it was Sarina sleeping on the ground with a peaceful look on her face. As soon as Darkrock reached her, he realized she was not sleeping. She was cold, limp, and lifeless. He had no time to cry as he picked her up in his arms and followed the stranger out of the cells and out of town. The Stranger left him on the outskirts alone with what was left of Sarina. Darkrock began to walk aimlessly into the night. Once he could no longer see the lights from the town, he carefully placed Sarina down and began to prepare a place to lay her to rest under a nearby tree. He did not cry as he said his goodbyes. He blamed himself for not getting them out of there sooner. For not standing his ground and denying his feelings. He felt used, tricked, but most of all, like he had killed the only person he ever loved. He slept next to her resting place until dawn began to creep over the horizon. Then, he began walking again...
A New Way of Life
The loss of Sarina never dissipated but, Darkrock did push down that part of his life as far down as he could. During his wandering he came across others who weren't concerned about his past. They too were exiled, banished, or escaped from those that wished to harm them. Some were motivated by their desire to take care of loved ones, some power, some by vengeance, and some by money. Darkrock refused to get attached to any of the people he met but he did get attached to the thought of having anything he wanted with enough coin. Eventually he found himself playing bodyguard to a very rich, very "enterprising" man. Darkrock saw all the things being brought before this "King of Wretches" and aspired to gain those riches as well. He was fairly well paid, especially after he stopped a direct attempt on his employers life that got past all the other security. And on his 19th birthday he was presented with a very special gift. He was offered his employer's Daughter to marry. She was more than happy to become his betrothed. Darkrock however had no desire to marry anyone. He knew he would be killed if he insulted her by refusing so he agreed. The following night he left all but a handful of coin he had acquired and snuck away into the night. Once again his was walking away to an unknown destination. Eventually he wandered into
The Tiny Cat in the little town of
Margay, where he was certain no one would look for him.
Comments