"I didn't have one. Not really. There's only one orphanage on Honkachu, and they don't keep teenagers. I worked for a small mortuary practice. It was so under-funded that I had to stay up all night to keep animals and monsters from stealing the bodies, since the windows and doors were broken and we didn't have enough furniture to barricade them all. While trying to prepare them for burial. And trying not to freeze to death. We had a small heater in the corner, so at least I had some shelter from Abis' cold."
He shivers. "I have been blessed with strength. Not in my limbs, but in my heart."
"Hmm, tell me of Honkachu. I have heard little of it."
"There's not much to say about it. It's a tiny frozen island where strugels come from. It's got some neat stuff, but it's kind of ruined by the government. They don't understand the people below them, and they do everything they can to keep it that way." He lifts the meat again, then nods and flips it. It has a good crust.
Isengrim stares at the meat with hunger in his eyes. "I think I've heard that story before."
"There's not much to say about it. It's a tiny frozen island where strugels come from. It's got some neat stuff, but it's kind of ruined by the government. They don't understand the people below them, and they do everything they can to keep it that way." He lifts the meat again, then nods and flips it. It has a good crust.
Isengrim stares at the meat with hunger in his eyes. "I think I've heard that story before."
"A lot of people have. Maybe not Honkachu. But somewhere. I'm hoping to find someone who hasn't heard that story yet." He sighs.
"There's not much to say about it. It's a tiny frozen island where strugels come from. It's got some neat stuff, but it's kind of ruined by the government. They don't understand the people below them, and they do everything they can to keep it that way." He lifts the meat again, then nods and flips it. It has a good crust.
Isengrim stares at the meat with hunger in his eyes. "I think I've heard that story before."
"A lot of people have. Maybe not Honkachu. But somewhere. I'm hoping to find someone who hasn't heard that story yet." He sighs.
"Fool's errand. Before I was confined to this world I ran with hunting parties through many others. I've yet to lay eyes on a place that is any different. Wars and rumors of wars. Wickedness and corruption grow like mold across them all."
"A lot of people have. Maybe not Honkachu. But somewhere. I'm hoping to find someone who hasn't heard that story yet." He sighs.
"Fool's errand. Before I was confined to this world I ran with hunting parties through many others. I've yet to lay eyes on a place that is any different. Wars and rumors of wars. Wickedness and corruption grow like mold across them all."
"Your search is too broad. Like not seeing the trees for the forest. You look at the big picture, and you ask if it contains wickedness, then you discard it. Peace exists in small, gentle spaces. Cold and dark. It may only be a few feet wide, but it would still be a place of goodness and comfort. It may not last forever, but it will still be there."
"Fool's errand. Before I was confined to this world I ran with hunting parties through many others. I've yet to lay eyes on a place that is any different. Wars and rumors of wars. Wickedness and corruption grow like mold across them all."
"Your search is too broad. Like not seeing the trees for the forest. You look at the big picture, and you ask if it contains wickedness, then you discard it. Peace exists in small, gentle spaces. Cold and dark. It may only be a few feet wide, but it would still be a place of goodness and comfort. It may not last forever, but it will still be there."
He considers this, "Emptiness and peace are not the same. A hole in the ground devoid of life might be quiet, but true peace is found in a space full of life that somehow manages to remain peaceful. Peace can be brought about with power. I've known it in the kennel when I've proven myself master over the pups and they dare not to stir up turmoil when my eyes are watching."
"Your search is too broad. Like not seeing the trees for the forest. You look at the big picture, and you ask if it contains wickedness, then you discard it. Peace exists in small, gentle spaces. Cold and dark. It may only be a few feet wide, but it would still be a place of goodness and comfort. It may not last forever, but it will still be there."
He considers this, "Emptiness and peace are not the same. A hole in the ground devoid of life might be quiet, but true peace is found in a space full of life that somehow manages to remain peaceful. Peace can be brought about with power. I've known it in the kennel when I've proven myself master over the pups and they dare not to stir up turmoil when my eyes are watching."
"And if you were the pup? The problem with holding a rule through force alone is that no one likes a tyrant. Everyone who rules through fear ends up living in fear as well." He checks the steak again, impatient. It's not done.
He considers this, "Emptiness and peace are not the same. A hole in the ground devoid of life might be quiet, but true peace is found in a space full of life that somehow manages to remain peaceful. Peace can be brought about with power. I've known it in the kennel when I've proven myself master over the pups and they dare not to stir up turmoil when my eyes are watching."
"And if you were the pup? The problem with holding a rule through force alone is that no one likes a tyrant. Everyone who rules through fear ends up living in fear as well." He checks the steak again, impatient. It's not done.
"What one likes and what one needs are not often the same. The pack needs a master to tame them. Otherwise they devolve into chaos and devour each other." His brow furrows as he looks at the steak. "Is it almost ready? I eat most of my meat raw. I don't mind if it isn't completely cooked all the way."
"And if you were the pup? The problem with holding a rule through force alone is that no one likes a tyrant. Everyone who rules through fear ends up living in fear as well." He checks the steak again, impatient. It's not done.
"What one likes and what one needs are not often the same. The pack needs a master to tame them. Otherwise they devolve into chaos and devour each other." His brow furrows as he looks at the steak. "Is it almost ready? I eat most of my meat raw. I don't mind if it isn't completely cooked all the way."
"Just a few more minutes." He sighs. "People aren't the same as animals. From up on your high horse, they may look that way, but it's just not the case. People may not be created equal, but..." He stares down at the meat. His face scrunches up, as if he were about to cry. He looks away. "...they deserve a chance to be."
"What one likes and what one needs are not often the same. The pack needs a master to tame them. Otherwise they devolve into chaos and devour each other." His brow furrows as he looks at the steak. "Is it almost ready? I eat most of my meat raw. I don't mind if it isn't completely cooked all the way."
"Just a few more minutes." He sighs. "People aren't the same as animals. From up on your high horse, they may look that way, but it's just not the case. People may not be created equal, but..." He stares down at the meat. His face scrunches up, as if he were about to cry. He looks away. "...they deserve a chance to be."
He leans forward, back bent and hair hanging loose. His black eyes are fixed upon you and now that he's closer and speaking louder you can see his teeth are cruel and carnivorous. "Believe me, the line between man and beast is not as clear as you may like to think. I may wear a human skin tonight, but you just as well could have come across a wolf. You see things differently, and are seen differently, when you wear a hairy hide and your mouth is crammed with fangs."
"Just a few more minutes." He sighs. "People aren't the same as animals. From up on your high horse, they may look that way, but it's just not the case. People may not be created equal, but..." He stares down at the meat. His face scrunches up, as if he were about to cry. He looks away. "...they deserve a chance to be."
He leans forward, back bent and hair hanging loose. His black eyes are fixed upon you and now that he's closer and speaking louder you can see his teeth are cruel and carnivorous. "Believe me, the line between man and beast is not as clear as you may like to think. I may wear a human skin tonight, but you just as well could have come across a wolf. You see things differently, and are seen differently, when you wear a hairy hide and your mouth is crammed with fangs."
"Get away from me." Zach says firmly. He stands and knocks over the pan, dumping the meat on the ground, still not looking at Isengrim. "You think I'm some cute little daisy, don't you? That I haven't suffered enough? That I don't understand the lengths people go to for whatever they think they need at the moment?" He scoffs. "I told you I worship Abis, the Spirit of Spite and Cold. But their brother, Gorgiro, is the Spirit of Desperation and Beasts. I've met both of them. Never once did the Spirit of Civilization, of Hospitality, greet me. I ate the kidneys of the corpses I embalmed. I don't give a (GP) who you think you are. You're a bully."
"Just a few more minutes." He sighs. "People aren't the same as animals. From up on your high horse, they may look that way, but it's just not the case. People may not be created equal, but..." He stares down at the meat. His face scrunches up, as if he were about to cry. He looks away. "...they deserve a chance to be."
He leans forward, back bent and hair hanging loose. His black eyes are fixed upon you and now that he's closer and speaking louder you can see his teeth are cruel and carnivorous. "Believe me, the line between man and beast is not as clear as you may like to think. I may wear a human skin tonight, but you just as well could have come across a wolf. You see things differently, and are seen differently, when you wear a hairy hide and your mouth is crammed with fangs."
"Get away from me." Zach says firmly. He stands and knocks over the pan, dumping the meat on the ground, still not looking at Isengrim. "You think I'm some cute little daisy, don't you? That I haven't suffered enough? That I don't understand the lengths people go to for whatever they think they need at the moment?" He scoffs. "I told you I worship Abis, the Spirit of Spite and Cold. But their brother, Gorgiro, is the Spirit of Desperation and Beasts. I've met both of them. Never once did the Spirit of Civilization, of Hospitality, greet me. I ate the kidneys of the corpses I embalmed. I don't give a (GP) who you think you are. You're a bully."
He leans back, still sitting on his haunches. His black eyes never leaving your face. "I'm a wolf, that's all." Isengrim doesn't move, he simply waits. Watching and listening.
"Get away from me." Zach says firmly. He stands and knocks over the pan, dumping the meat on the ground, still not looking at Isengrim. "You think I'm some cute little daisy, don't you? That I haven't suffered enough? That I don't understand the lengths people go to for whatever they think they need at the moment?" He scoffs. "I told you I worship Abis, the Spirit of Spite and Cold. But their brother, Gorgiro, is the Spirit of Desperation and Beasts. I've met both of them. Never once did the Spirit of Civilization, of Hospitality, greet me. I ate the kidneys of the corpses I embalmed. I don't give a (GP) who you think you are. You're a bully."
He leans back, still sitting on his haunches. His black eyes never leaving your face. "I'm a wolf, that's all." Isengrim doesn't move, he simply waits. Watching and listening.
"Then you are the nastiest wolf I've ever met. Animals don't hunt for sport. They don't bully others for the sake of it. I doubt you've seen a wolf pack, let alone lived with one. They're families. What they do, they do out of love." He sneers. "You aren't a wolf. You aren't even a man. You belong here." He grabs his Bundt pan of jelly and stomps off, unable to grab the cast iron due to the heat.
He leans back, still sitting on his haunches. His black eyes never leaving your face. "I'm a wolf, that's all." Isengrim doesn't move, he simply waits. Watching and listening.
"Then you are the nastiest wolf I've ever met. Animals don't hunt for sport. They don't bully others for the sake of it. I doubt you've seen a wolf pack, let alone lived with one. They're families. What they do, they do out of love." He sneers. "You aren't a wolf. You aren't even a man. You belong here." He grabs his Bundt pan of jelly and stomps off, unable to grab the cast iron due to the heat.
He watches Zacharie leave silently. Once he's gone Isengrim reaches into the ashes and picks up the slabs of steak. He stands up, lopes over to the elk, and heaves it over his shoulder. As he leaves he tears into the steaming meat in his hand.
Isengrim stares at the meat with hunger in his eyes. "I think I've heard that story before."
"A lot of people have. Maybe not Honkachu. But somewhere. I'm hoping to find someone who hasn't heard that story yet." He sighs.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
"Fool's errand. Before I was confined to this world I ran with hunting parties through many others. I've yet to lay eyes on a place that is any different. Wars and rumors of wars. Wickedness and corruption grow like mold across them all."
"Your search is too broad. Like not seeing the trees for the forest. You look at the big picture, and you ask if it contains wickedness, then you discard it. Peace exists in small, gentle spaces. Cold and dark. It may only be a few feet wide, but it would still be a place of goodness and comfort. It may not last forever, but it will still be there."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
He considers this, "Emptiness and peace are not the same. A hole in the ground devoid of life might be quiet, but true peace is found in a space full of life that somehow manages to remain peaceful. Peace can be brought about with power. I've known it in the kennel when I've proven myself master over the pups and they dare not to stir up turmoil when my eyes are watching."
"And if you were the pup? The problem with holding a rule through force alone is that no one likes a tyrant. Everyone who rules through fear ends up living in fear as well." He checks the steak again, impatient. It's not done.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
"What one likes and what one needs are not often the same. The pack needs a master to tame them. Otherwise they devolve into chaos and devour each other." His brow furrows as he looks at the steak. "Is it almost ready? I eat most of my meat raw. I don't mind if it isn't completely cooked all the way."
"Just a few more minutes." He sighs. "People aren't the same as animals. From up on your high horse, they may look that way, but it's just not the case. People may not be created equal, but..." He stares down at the meat. His face scrunches up, as if he were about to cry. He looks away. "...they deserve a chance to be."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
He leans forward, back bent and hair hanging loose. His black eyes are fixed upon you and now that he's closer and speaking louder you can see his teeth are cruel and carnivorous. "Believe me, the line between man and beast is not as clear as you may like to think. I may wear a human skin tonight, but you just as well could have come across a wolf. You see things differently, and are seen differently, when you wear a hairy hide and your mouth is crammed with fangs."
"Get away from me." Zach says firmly. He stands and knocks over the pan, dumping the meat on the ground, still not looking at Isengrim. "You think I'm some cute little daisy, don't you? That I haven't suffered enough? That I don't understand the lengths people go to for whatever they think they need at the moment?" He scoffs. "I told you I worship Abis, the Spirit of Spite and Cold. But their brother, Gorgiro, is the Spirit of Desperation and Beasts. I've met both of them. Never once did the Spirit of Civilization, of Hospitality, greet me. I ate the kidneys of the corpses I embalmed. I don't give a (GP) who you think you are. You're a bully."
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
He leans back, still sitting on his haunches. His black eyes never leaving your face. "I'm a wolf, that's all." Isengrim doesn't move, he simply waits. Watching and listening.
"Then you are the nastiest wolf I've ever met. Animals don't hunt for sport. They don't bully others for the sake of it. I doubt you've seen a wolf pack, let alone lived with one. They're families. What they do, they do out of love." He sneers. "You aren't a wolf. You aren't even a man. You belong here." He grabs his Bundt pan of jelly and stomps off, unable to grab the cast iron due to the heat.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Awake, impure, divine
He watches Zacharie leave silently. Once he's gone Isengrim reaches into the ashes and picks up the slabs of steak. He stands up, lopes over to the elk, and heaves it over his shoulder. As he leaves he tears into the steaming meat in his hand.
*I have got to go now, thanks for roleplaying!*