Gronnard the Black was a seven foot tall, misshaped brute, of unknown origins. Many said he was a half-human, half-troll, and his black eyes, sharp fangs, and muscular physique certainly made that guess as good as any other. The truth was that even Gronnard didn't know. His earliest memories were of wandering the forest, looking for food and shelter, and taking it any way he could. He wore animal skins for clothing, and his black hair became a long, tangled mess that hung down his back and over his face. As he got older, he turned to violence, and beatings which led to death became a regular occurence. He would find an isolated hut, kill the occupants, take what he needed, and leave a bloody mess behind him. The one thing that aided him in his crimes was an uncanny knack of finding a hiding place until the trouble blew over. So for years, he roamed the deep forests and preyed on those he found. One day he happened across the small tower near a lake. A Mage conducted studies there with his young, female assisstant, and they had been canvasing the local area, looking for plants in order to create better forms of healing potions. Gronnard charged the door with his shoulder down and burst inside. He beat the two so severely that blood shot onto the ceiling. He left their bodies in a broken heap and ransacked the place for food and money. But there was little to be found. This was a research outpost, and neither the Mage or the assistant normally kept anything of value there, and Gronnard didn't know what the plants were for. The only thing he did find was a beautifully and intricately carved staff, made of gold, with a large blue gem positioned at its top. Gronnard took the staff, figuring he may be able to trade it for something, and set off through the forest again. He trekked into a dense section of the forest, so thick that his path became a zigzag as he maneuvered through the trees. After two days of hiking, he knew he should be finding a place to hide. His paranoia was building because he knew the area he had entered was protected by Rangers, and although he could take one or two at a time, he did not want to stumble upon a Ranger outpost. He finally stopped, clutching the staff, wondering if there was some cave or shelter nearby, when a strange thing happened. The blue gem on the staff began to shine brightly, and magical glyphs began to dance across his line of vision. The glyphs should have been unrecognizable, but soon Gronnard heard a voice speak in his head.
How may I serve you, Master? Ask any question and I will answer.
Gronnard's confusion did not last long, as he understood the staff was speaking to him. There was only one thing on Gronnard's mind.
Hide me.
Very good, Master. There is a pocket dimension nearby that should be suitable for your needs. Creating a Temporary Rift, here are your instructions.
The staff showed him a diagram of a person holding the staff upright, then swinging it downwards. The idea was to gently create a crease in the barrier between realms, one that would remain open long enough for a person to pass through. Gronnard, in his brutishness and lack of understanding, slammed the staff downward, and an explosion of blue light ruptured the walls between worlds. Gronnard did not care, and his laughter came out as harsh grunting. Stepping forward into the blue light, he slipped from the world of RhyDin.
How may I serve you, Master? Ask any question and I will answer.
Gronnard's confusion did not last long, as he understood the staff was speaking to him. There was only one thing on Gronnard's mind.
Hide me.
Very good, Master. There is a pocket dimension nearby that should be suitable for your needs. Creating a Temporary Rift, here are your instructions.
The staff showed him a diagram of a person holding the staff upright, then swinging it downwards. The idea was to gently create a crease in the barrier between realms, one that would remain open long enough for a person to pass through. Gronnard, in his brutishness and lack of understanding, slammed the staff downward, and an explosion of blue light ruptured the walls between worlds. Gronnard did not care, and his laughter came out as harsh grunting. Stepping forward into the blue light, he slipped from the world of RhyDin.