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Years ago, on a cold wet night, a young orc woman stumbled into the camp of a small travelling circus. She was severely wounded with an arrow in her back, almost dead and clutching an infant.
The Orc’s name was Mag, her child was called Garth.
The troupe took pity on them, tended her wounds, fed them and finally took them along as they went to the next town.
Mag, or Maggie (as she came to be called) could speak common. Her husband was a human named Rok, a barbarian whom she had met in the wilderness. They had some tales and adventures of their own to tell but they eventually fell in love and settled in a remote area in the north; they wanted to be away from the tribes who were constantly warring with one another. Their love was not well received by the orc tribes or the barbarian tribes.
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Maggie and Garth stayed with that small troupe of performers. Maggie pitched in and helped in all manner of ways. She was quite strong and could easily match any human there in strength. There was always work to be done, tents to set up and tear down, wagons to be packed, horses to be tended. She found a place there, and raised Garth as best she could.
Garth grew up traveling from town to town and eventually joined the show. He learned to play the lute, to dress up in all manner of costumes and disguises. He was quite accomplished and audiences would often sit amazed at his performances. One of his most popular acts was as a gladiator. There would be mock fights where he would ham up being the brutish Orc. He had some skill using a net and would amaze the crowd by capturing his opponent and hanging them from a tree branch. It was mostly show and well-rehearsed. The audiences love it.
Maggie and Garth eventually formed very close and loving friendships and bonds among the members of the troupe. Although Garth was half orc, he was actually quite handsome. His tusks were not nearly as pronounced and were unnoticeable (if he kept his mouth shut). In fact, he eventually was engaged to be married to the daughter of the troupe leader!
Garth had a very happy childhood. He didn’t remember a thing about the night his mother ran through the night. He was reasonably well educated for a traveling performer and was more worldly and wise than most his age.
But fate was not done with Garth. Their group (a couple dozen or so) was ambushed by raiders/bandits. Garth fought as hard as he knew how, but despite his routine as a gladiator, it was mostly just a show. He watched helplessly as they ruthlessly murdered his mother, his fiancé and his friends. Eventually Garth was felled as well.
However, Garth’s heritage, being half orc and half human made him especially hard to kill. His half-orc relentless endurance kicked in.
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When he regained consciousness, barely alive, he wept, he raged until finally he knelt and with all his heart, he prayed… For VENGEANCE!
Garth found his way to the nearest town, and began training in full earnest to become a Warrior, Praying to Tyr, God of Justice.
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