Genki's Tale

This is a story of love, adventure, revenge, of passion and peace. This tale is a tragedy. Our guests and the cunning keeneye are a part of this story, but it’s not about them. No... this is the tale of Genki, son of Mai, chief of Trobos' tradetown.

Our story begins before genki’s birth, with his mother. Mai was an Orc among orcs. She plundered in the name of the Dark God, the one eyed terror, the all see’er, Gruumsh. He gave her a chance to become his vessel. But… things would not go his way, she fell in love with a human... and that love cooled her anger and she fell out of his favor. And with that love, came peace.

It was out of this time that our story’s hero, Genki, was born. He was a cheerful and energetic child, as most orcs are. But every so often a deep anger would manifest itself and his strength would come to the surface. His mother thought back to her old days and worried for her son. It was not the life she wanted for him.

And so, with a heavy heart, she sent him away to be trained by the Monks of the Shining Fist. A monastery where he would learn to curb his anger and calm his inner self. There he learned how to channel the energy of mystics and protect himself in body and mind. His masters could not teach him everything, and they told him that he must seek enlightenment on his own.

Now a young man, he set out on his own journey, a set of travels that took him to Tutil. There he ran into a new family. A mage of mysterious magic, a master craftsman, An archer without rival, and our own Cunning Keeneye. Together they defeated an oppressive noblewoman, saved a princess, and felled the Red Witch, a Great Evil, and saved the whole country right under the nose of its queen. But that’s a story for another time.

All these injustices had built up under his skin, all the years he had been alive. Filling him with a righteous anger. And on one of their adventures, he felt it. The call of Gruumsh. It filled him with power, euphoria, anger, and a deep… fear. It tore his consciousness away from him and left his body to act on sheer destructive rage. And that feeling kept returning, stronger each time.

While they were celebrating one of their victories. He was overcome with the need to share his weight, it was also a responsibility. Someone needed to know. He took Keeneye aside and shared his secret. The thief listened to his story, agreed to keep his confidence, and help in the ways that he could.

Genki didn’t want to harm any of them, The mage who had become his brother, the craftsman he held like a close sibling, the archer who had protected him like an older sister, or the thief, who had stolen his heart. He couldn’t bear the thought of any of them being injured or killed by his hand. He asked Keeneye to end it all if it looked like he would lose himself forever. And the theif swore on his soul that it would be so if it came to that.

His time in tutil had come to an end and Genki resolved to go ask his mother how to rid himself of Gruumsh’s gaze. And so he went with his newfound group to Trobos, and to tradetown.

She greeted his return warmly but her smiles quickly faded when he spoke of his fate with the gods. Nearly two months since the mark had shown itself. At best… he had a week before it would take him completely.

But fear not! Genki would not be driven into darkness so easily, he still held hope. She offered him an ancient test of their people, one where he could be aided by his friends. He gathered them and told them of his plight and they agreed to take this test with him.

It was a test of war, to determine one’s strength of will and willingness to fight. He made his decision: and he, along with his friends were killed in that dreamlike delusion. Failure.

When they awoke, Keeneye cursed fate: “this test is meant to prove your worth to gruumsh. No matter how many times you take it. It will never work.”

They sat in silence. Frustrated at the outcome. Genki looked at his confidant, hopeful that the thief had another plan. The boy saw the look and gave him a smile. The thief promised that he would find some way to get them through this.

And then… Keeneye disappeared.

Not knowing what more to do Genki quietly put his faith in the thief and prepared himself for what would happen if they failed. He gathered gifts of the new year and gifts of farewell to his family, both new and old. And he waited and days passed.  

The eve of new years came, and on it was to be a grand celebration, Keeneye returned from his shadows and reassured those who asked him that he had concocted a plan. Assured, Genki resolved to enjoy the night, he gave his gifts and… in his people’s way, he confessed the great love he held for the boy he had come to trust with his life.

The monk was almost out of time. The next morning he set off to meet Keeneye as he had been instructed. And when he arrived, the door was locked behind him.

Keeneye spoke, “Listen to me carefully. I know of a trial of wrath and patience. I’ve taken it myself. It is painful, and it will be dangerous so you must do as I say. This trial will test your mind, be still and be patient. If you fail… then the god of anger will win, and we shall both die.”

“Well, looks like failing’s not an option.”

“Somehow, I knew you would say that… Are you prepared?”

“Yes.”

And, for good luck, just before he started the trial. Keeneye leaned in and they shared their first kiss. He drew a sharp breath.

“Then let us begin.”

Now… what occurred during that trial I cannot say, for I do not know. And you all know I never speak lies in my tales. What I can tell you… is what happened after.

A moment after the trial was started, it ended. Genki smiled, the mark on his back that had plagued him faded and disappeared completely. He was free, he had won against his dark foe… And His skin went pale… and cold... and he fell into the thief’s arms, never to wake again. Genki had saved his soul, and it had cost him his life.