While writing up a character background for a Shadowrun PC, I ended up with a three page short-story. Normally, this would be annoying. But as I usually have a heckuva time writing 2, much less 3, pages of anything, I felt it'd be a shame to waste. So here it is. Honest and Constructive critiques are welcome.
Earning the Right
I can guess what you're thinkin', 'An Orcish Wizard? Bull----!'. Am I close? Thought so. I get that a lot, but it's true none the less. I rarely let it bother me any more and you have to admit, being underestimated isn't always a bad thing.
Now you're probably wondering, 'So what's this guy's story?'. Well, I'll tell you, if you're interested. So grab your favorite poison and have a seat.
It probably wouldn't surprise you that I grew up up in the Sprawl. Yep, right there in the Redmond Barrens, be it ever so destitute. My parents were killed when I was about five years old, a rather common story in the Barrens. About the only thing I remember about my parents' death is my father hiding my older sister, Shelly, and I in an alleyway and told us to stay hidden until it was safe. After that, a whole lot of screaming and gunfire. I never saw either of my parents again.
My sister tried to take care of me the best she could, and looking back, she did an alright job of it. While I can't say I grew up well-adjusted, (Who does in the Barrens?), but Shelly managed to keep me away from most of the vices and pitfalls that are common in the Sprawl. That's right, I said most. I fell in with a group kids my age who were trying to be a wannabe gang. We managed to cause a lot of trouble, some of which nearly got a few us killed. But we managed to survive for awhile. In fact, I can honestly say that the stupid stuff we did resulted in who and what I am today. Why? Because that's how I met someone who would become as dear to me as my sister, a human woman named Molly.
When I was about eleven, our little gang of misfits thought it'd be fun to do a little B&E on this decrepit warehouse rumored to be occupied by this crazy lady. We broke in at night and got caught big time. It turns out that the 'crazy lady' turned out to be a wizard with a whole lot of skill. She let loose with a barrage of light displays and FX that would make Horizon jealous. It mostly had the desired effect. My 'friends' bolted like a bunch of roaches. Me, I froze in awe and fear, the 'piss your pants' kind of fear, I don't mind telling you. I was during that when I Awoke.
It's rather hard to describe an Awakening to so someone who's never experienced one. For me, it was a cross between a gut-wrenching feeling, momentarily blurred vision, and a 'Eureka!' moment. I'm told it's different for everyone, and mine was rather mild compared to stories I've heard. The Awakening snapped me out it and I ran out of the building.
I believed I was lucky to get away, even though Shelly was really pissed at me for doing something that could've gotten me killed. Over the next few days, I started to notice that things where starting to appear different, as if my perception was changing. I though the Crazy Lady had cursed me or something. Part of me wanted run away, but another, stronger, part of me wanted answers. So I went back to the warehouse.
After about an hour of searching the place, I couldn't find her. I was about to leave when I heard an amused voice behind me.
“Leaving so soon?” , the voice asked. I about jumped out of my skin and turned around to find that the Crazy Lady was standing in the shadows behind me.
“I, uh....”, real smooth, I know, but I was eleven, cut me some slack here. “Uh, I'm sorry for breaking into your home, really sorry. So, could you stop whatever you did to me a few nights back?”
The Crazy Lady blinked, “I didn't do anything but try to scare you away.”, she pauses and narrows her eyes at me. Seeing as I was scared of her already, the expression didn't help.
“I see!”, she said after a moment, “You've Awakened. I thought I felt it happening that night.”
“Huh?”
“You've Awakened.”, she repeated, “It means you've become attuned, in-sync, if you like, with that mystical energy that permeates the world known as Magic.”
Confusion and curiosity started to override my terror. “What does that mean to me?”, I asked. “What's going on with me?”
The Crazy Lady chuckled. “It means, kiddo, that you're going through a kind of puberty that only happens to those like you and I.” She stepped into the light to reveal herself fully. She was human, looked to be in her mid-40s and tall, for a human woman, just over 1.8 Meters if I was any judge. “You are in a rather interesting situation.” Her eyes grew distant and grew a little pained, “Much like I was when I was not much older than you.”
My eleven-year-old mind started to whirl at the possibilities. Magic? I could do Magic and that crazy stuff I saw on trideo? Wow. WOW!
The Crazy Lady tossed a pebble at my head, bringing me back to my senses. “Interesting, and dangerous. Without any kind of training, you'd be like a fully-loaded gun in the hands of one those idiot gang-bangers: Dangerous to yourself and everyone around you. Even with training, you'd be learning to work with forces even the wisest of us don't fully understand.”
That put a damper on my enthusiasm, but not much.”How.... how do I learn? Could I learn from you?”
“Maybe,” she said, “but there are a few issues about that would have to be resolved first before I'd even think of giving you instruction.” She frowned. “First up is the issue of trust. You and your little group broke into my home, so how can I trust my knowledge to someone like that?”
I looked down at the ground, genuinely ashamed, “I guess I wasn't thinking.”
“Right you are, kiddo! Which brings up my second issue: Self-Discipline. You don't have any. The ways of Magic are difficult for newbies such as yourself. “
Newbie, what's a newbie? I was about to ask when she continued on. “The first was obliterated several nights ago and will have be earned the hard way. The Second will depend on you and only you. The kind of discipline required rest solely on the student and will probably be harder to get the Trust.
“And finally, what is your name?”
“J-Jerry.”
She said nothing and just looked at me and I said, “It's Gerald Warkoski.”
“Well Jerry, my name is Molly, and there is one last issue. Look into my eyes.”
Something in her voice told me doing so was going to be dangerous, but not malicious, and that I could trust her. Terror started to rise up again, but I forced it down and looked into her eyes. Nothing happened at first, then everything started turning topsy-turvy. It's hard to describe what happened, but I felt that I suddenly 'knew' Molly in a way I've never known anyone else, not even my sister Shelly.
I stumbled, fell back and felt like I was about to loose my lunch. Molly didn't appear much better. I looked at her in a whole new light. “Wha...”, was all I could get out.
Molly cleared her throat and looked at me. “That was a Soulgaze, Jerry. It allowed me to see what kind of person you are and could be. What you saw was the kind of person I am.
“I wanted to know you, Jerry. Wanted to know if my way could work for you.” She looked up at the ceiling. “My way will teach you things few people know. But I can't tell you it's the best way. You'd have to decide for yourself, 'if' I decide to teach you, that is.”
She started to walk back into the shadows. I called after her. “W-What do I have to do to start, learning from you, that is?”
Molly turned around. “You want to learn from me? You'll have to earn the right.”
And for the next six grueling months, I did just that. I complained at first, but Molly wouldn't let up. She later told me that Teachers take offense at the phrase, 'I can't.', and makes things harder for the student. But I stuck to it, and after the six months were up. She began to teach me her way. Several years of hard study and some interesting events later, she told me I've earned the title of Wizard.
I still keep in contact with Molly. She's told me that she's since taken on new student just as bumbling as I was. Heh, poor kid.
So there you have it. My 'Astounding Origins' as those ancient comic books used to say. Sorry for talking your ear off, chummer, I tend to get long-winded when I tell folks about some of the best years of my life so far. Have another brew, on me.
Gerald Warkoski AKA Harry D. Orc Wizard
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