Styx the Goblin

Styx is the deuteragonist of the video game Of Orcs and Men and the main protagonist of the prequel games Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness. Originally a simple yet unique clone of a warped Orc, Styx has come to be his own person and one of The Iserian Continent's most formidable assassins, also becoming somewhat of the first goblin.
He is voiced by Saul Jephcott.
==Personality==
A rude, cold, and cynical individual, Styx stands out above all for his childish humor and his constant sarcasm. He loves rewards and is ready to take on dangerous missions as long as the price is high. Very lonely, Styx is not the type to share his life or want to start a family although after decades since his birth he was able to make allies and even friends. His main affections do not revolve mainly around what he possesses such as his home or his dagger, declaring to feel naked without it.
Despite his status as an assassin, Styx is by no means a bad individual as the only lives he takes during his contracts are people of questionable morals. He can however be very resentful, ready to go all the way to get revenge on his creator who manipulated him before attempting to end his life or when someone dares to betray him. It is also from there that comes his deep desire for independence and freedom which makes him refuse the domination of anyone. Styx also has no problem working in partnership if necessary.
At the time of Of Orcs and Men, Styx is considerably mellowed from when he's crafted in Thoben, being considerably less mean-spirited with everyone and more cooperative. This is especially seen when he befriended Arkail, an orc he considered nothing but a psychopath many years before they met and who was nothing but a job, so that ultimately a friendship that is both respectful and sincere is not created between them.
==History==
Created in Akenash by the original Styx, a scholarly Orc transformed into an amber-stunted being, "Styx" was exceptional in being of superior intelligence to other previously created clones, even possessing the ability to speak. Without any personal memories, Styx found himself alone in Akenash and was drawn to the need to reach out to the heart of the World-Tree while having to save someone without even knowing why he had to do it.
===Styx: Master of Shadows===
Guided by a mixture of memories of the original Styx and the confusion in his mind, Styx makes his way through the Flying Fortress to finally reach the place where his 'friend' is being held prisoner. As he opens the door, he is shocked to discover another goblin who is identical to him, unaware that it is the original Styx who telepatically sent him orders so that he can free him. Confused upon discovering that he was just a clone from the start, Styx rebelled against his creator who quickly stabbed him in the back before setting off in pursuit of Aaron Barimen to obtain the information on the position of the heart.
"Styx" however survived the attempted murder and then pursued the former orc through the fortress, eventually confronting him with the World-Tree. Face to face again, "Styx" promises his older brother that he will make him suffer for all the pain he has caused him, prompting the original Styx to send clones after him while he disconnects the wards from magical amber of the heart. After killing his brothers, "Styx" seizes the heart as the former Orc grapples with dead elven spirits. Original Styx blocks his way again, determined to get the heart back to find a way to become an orc again. "Styx" literally disapproves of the idea, considering being a goblin isn't that horrible and ends up heart-crushing in his hand. Original Styx swears to kill him for it but "Styx" once again refutes his creator's words, stating that he is the only one to decide his death before dropping into the amber lake in which the tree. In an instant, thousands of goblins emerge, pounce on Original Styx, and tear him to pieces.
After the abre's destruction from recent events, a naked Styx wakes up in the parched lake, devoid of memory and hearing his name ringing in his head. He then picks up the clothes from the first Styx, puts them on and leaves, only knowing that he is unique.
===Styx: Shard of Darkness===
Many years after the events of Akenash, Styx settled in Thoben. One night, Styx goes to the local inn to deliver a box to Ephron. Once the pay is in hand and the man is gone, Styx has a tense encounter with a C.A.R.N.A.G.E squadron whose Captain Helledryn offers to steal an ambassador's scepter in exchange for vials of amber, a deal the goblin accepts.
Managing to infiltrate the first aircraft while hiding in the cargo, Styx explores the craft while eliminating the guards in his path before moving on to the other aircraft where the scepter is located. Hiding high up in the scepter room, Styx nearly eliminates the two guards with darts when the ambassador comes to order them out. Trying to eliminate the human on his own, Styx gets caught in the electric shocks generated by the ambassador's scepter which suddenly turns into a dark elf. Grabbed by the throat, Styx is then thrown out the window when the elf is surprised by the guards he quickly eliminates before passing Styx off as the assailant. Clinging to the ledge above the void, Styx furiously promises that he was going to find the elf and make him pay. Returning to land by mini-balloon, Styx informs Helledryn of what happened but she does not believe him. Indifferent, Styx asks why everyone wants this scepter and learns it's some kind of invitation to a diplomatic summit in Korrangar. Understanding the captain's intention to spy on the dark elves of Korrangar, Styx allies with her to travel there and find the shapeshifter elf.
Aboard an aircraft disguised as a merchant ship, the duo soon joined Korrangar. Helledryn then sends Styx to infiltrate the customs office where he exchanges the entry report. With that done, Styx explores Korrangar and discovers that the shapeshifter's name is Djarak while spying on two Elven assassins. While searching for the way back to the aircraft, Styx accidentally enters an arena as a ritual fight led by Priestess Maolak and High Priestess Lyssril. While trying to get out, Styx notices that the locals are getting inconvenient just before the exit suddenly closes. After watching the defeated duelist commit suicide, Styx is shocked to see the victor let himself be killed by a creature living under the queen, almost revealing his position to one of the guards but having had time to become invisible in time. He finally manages to get out when Lyssril withdraws from the arena.
Again on the aircraft, Helledryn asks Styx to get him something to infiltrate the summit to better wedge Djarrak. While moving inside Korrangar aboard the ship, the duo notice female elven warriors wearing armor that would suit Helledryn, although Styx notes that her dagger will not pass through. Now having to obtain armor and a badge to access the sanctuary, Styx kills a former CARNAGE Olaf to take his diplomatic pass then infiltrates the sauna where he steals an armor and finally eliminates a priestess to take his badge. All recovered, Styx and a disguised Helledryn make it to the top, suspecting that Djarak will be there in another form in revenge for being banished long ago.
Leaving on his side, Styx finds the body of an ambassador whom Djarak deceived for the assassinated out of sight. He discreetly informs Helledryn at the height of the summit with leaders of other countries invited by Lyssril for scepters equipped with quartz capable of dominating goblins. Once Djarak blows his blanket and fails his assassination attempt while gaining an arm wound, Styx follows the traces of blood to a balcony where the shapeshifter ambushes him. Outsmarting the elf with a clone, Styx takes aim at Djarak with his darts to force him to reveal the location of the quartz in the mines below Korrangar. Djarak takes advantage of a moment of inattention to try to kill the goblin, only to have his quartz necklace taken by Styx who then escapes.
After experimenting with quartz on his own, Styx infiltrates the mines for more, colliding with local cabysses as he passes before reaching the refinery where the elves process the ore. Inside, he finds a lair where the creature that was under the arena resides, an oversized cabyss queen with quartz neck named Lakima. The guard orcs avoided, Styx realizes that it is the queen who transforms the quartz but by approaching too close, he attracts the attention of the creature. The goblin manages, however, to triumph over the queen by breaking the quartz links connecting to that of Lakima's neck then he seizes it by breaking the ore, killing Lakima in the process. A guard notices and raises the alarm, causing Styx to scoff, stupidly revealing that he's a talking goblin.
Managing to flee and rejoin the aircraft, Styx is forced by Helledryn to pose as a normal goblin and locked in a cage, without his equipment. After deceiving the guards about his identity, Styx notes that he didn't like Helledryn calling him a 'stupid green turd' before she threw him into the goblin prison. Sneaking out of the scene, Styx finds a disguised Helledryn informing her that her clothes are in a trunk on the shuttle going to Wildoran, the goblin hunter village, much to her discomfort. Once his belongings are collected, Styx sneaks through town to reach the native aircraft from Thoben, dodging the goblin stalker dwarves. After putting the captain drunk on board the aircraft, Styx embarks on a boat where he happily sings his pleasure to leave this crazy town.
Returning to his lair, Styx learns from a drinking Helledryn that her former subordinates Arlock and Grab-Jack have taken all the amber the goblin was supposed to receive. Exasperated, Styx tracks down the two thugs who have become smugglers in Thoben and kills them. Unfortunately, he and Helledryn are captured by two dark elves when he comes to announce the death of the deserters.
Brought back to Korrangar, Styx is barely conscious when he is approached by Maolak and Lyssril who blame him for the death of their queen cabyss. Regaining full consciousness later, Styx finds himself tied up as the educated priestesses participate in a ritual of passage and promises them that the survivors will taste the blood of the Goblin Assassin. All the elves gone, a dagger cuts Styx's ties, allowing him to flee through it because he needs emblems to unlock the only exit door. During his journey, he crosses paths with Helledryn locked up, who assures him that she will be able to come out on her own. Without expecting it, the goblin meets Djarak again, who reveals to him both that he was the one who cut the rope and that he knows that Lyssril keeps his reserves of amber.
Emerging from the trials and now having to ally himself with Djarak, Styx begins by assassinating a dwarf ambassador with Maolak's dagger to make him wear the hat while the dark elf searches for the amber reserves. While searching for his target, Styx overhears a conversation between the orc Marhlok and his son Arkail, whom Styx considered to be just a psychopath with whom he hopes he never hung out. After the Ambassador is dead, Styx brings back blueprints the dwarf had on him to Djarak and the two discovers that there is an amber-making machine. While Djarak wants to destroy it, Styx opposes it because of his addiction to amber until the shapeshifter convinces him that quartz would allow him to free himself from it.
After collecting explosives in Wildoran, Styx. Having only to leave Korrangar, Styx and Djarak are alerted by a noise that turns out to be a giant golem left as a trap to the elves by the dwarves. The duo manage to puncture the rocky shell of the stone giant with large crossbows but Djarak is apparently crushed by debris, forcing Styx to finish off the golem on his own. Once the golem is deactivated, Styx chases the departing aircraft while everything collapses. Despite his injuries, he gets on board and confronts Djarak for playing him again, again keeping him in sight.
=== Of Orcs and Men ===
At some point, Styx left Thoben and he allied to Monkey's mercenaries. At the time of the game, the goblin is hired to assist Arkail. Styx meets Arkail outside of Shantytown, trust is already struggling to come between them due to the Bloodjaw orc not having a good opinion of goblins but eventually resigns himself. No sooner have they entered Shantytown than they come across a group of militia whom they massacre after the orc treats Sork escapes by recognizing the Bloodjaw tattoo that Arkail wears. No sooner is Styx reprimanded for the angry orc's recklessness than the pair pace the town to Styx's hideout in the ruined tower where they encounter the rest of the Black Hand led by Monkey. Later, Styx and Arkail leave to meet Sarkyss, killing Jared on behalf of Boroth so that his men leave them alone and slaughter members of the inquisition who executed goblins and orcs before meeting Sarkyss at the catacombs, the latter sent to burn the Pilgrim chapel occupied by the inquisition in exchange for passing to the other side of the Wall.
Guided by Raven to the Chapel, Arkail longs to finally make the Inquisition pay with blood for all they have done to his people, but Styx criticizes his desire for revenge, almost causing the orc to to hit. Once the chapel is on fire, the duo are confronted by the Grand Inquisitor who immobilizes them with some kind of magic until they rush into the burning chapel to try in vain to save his disciples, allowing the greenskins to kill the handymen. Unfortunately, Raven betrays them in the catacombs and hands them over to the inquisition. After defending himself, Arkail begins to lose faith in Styx but is aware that he still needs him to get out of this rat hole. Following their jump into the Bowels, they crumble with an underground orc tribe and their Shaman before breaking out.
They later return to rescue Arken, one of Arkail's brothers but find him dead at the hands of the madcap shaman, whom they subsequently kill. They then force Raven to lead them to Sarkyss who had planned the betrayal, only for Styx to kill Raven with a dagger through his back when he tries to run away. While confronting Sarkyss, Styx discovers that he does not protect the goblins but mutilates and experiments on them. With a map retrieved from a chest, Styx deems Sarkyss' aid no longer useful and frees a captive goblin who then devours the deceitful human. With the Wall finally past, Styx has Arkail mounted in a cell cart before locking him inside without explanation before the orc is taken to The Mire.
Three days later, Styx bursts into The Mire, killing an archer who was wounding Arkail fighting against orc guards and goblins, opponents whom Styx helps kill. They survive long enough to gain favor with the public and encounter Adek of the Resistance who give them quarters to rest. Styx tries to make peace with Arkail for the story of the caravan because he could never have convinced him to pretend to let himself be captured but Arkail doesn't hold it against him anymore, even finding that he fought like an orc today today. The duo then encounter Barimen, who Styx demands his money from but the human clarifies that his job is not finished. Once Arkail gains the loyalty of the captive orcs after killing the Head Foreman, he and Styx meet Marthok, Arkail's father and leader of the Resistance, whom Styx recognizes as the one who had told the goblin where to first find Arkail. Marthok quickly calls Styx "Rakash" criticizing his late intervention, to which Arkail advises his father against disrespecting the goblin he himself has come to respect.
Following the successful uprising in The Mire, Styx and Arkail take the ailing High Mage Arkence to be healed at the Mages Monastery, a place Styx doesn't like, mostly because of a supposedly friendly Imperial officer who turns out to be in the enemy camp, forcing the duo to kill him but without being able to stop a messenger who will report their presence to the monastery. The orc and the goblin proceed on the spot to enter Arkence's mind to bring her out of her coma but find themselves in a reflection of Styx's painful past, accompanied by the specter of the original Styx who reminds him of what he forgot so long ago. Back in reality, the trio escape from the monastery besieged by mercenaries and go to Island of Laments where Styx and Arkail continue alone to the Emperor's temple. Before entering, Styx hesitates because he considers that his job is finished since he brought Arkail here but the orc is sure that the goblin wants to see the end of all that. Emperor Damocles reveals that Barimen has used him from the beginning to achieve power and masters it by magic, under the eyes of a hidden Styx. The goblin assassinates the orc's jailers and the two friends escape from the temple to find Arkence.
While the mages and orcs of The Mire gather to form a rebellion against the now Emperor Barimen, Styx and Arkail plant Amber explosives in the elevator of the Imperial tower before going to confront the treacherous human. Barimen retreats to the balcony after his guards and bersekers have been killed, Styx amicably leaves Arkail the pleasure of finishing off the traitor. Zealot, the Grand Inquisitor they encountered when they burned the chapel shows up and confronts the duo after Arkail is left Barimen fallen to his death, just before the explosives go off. Zealot slain, Styx and Arkail manage to escape from the burning tower through the damaged elevator. Following these events, the rebellion against the empire and the inquisition starts and Styx decides to stay at Arkail's side to keep him out of trouble.
==Gallery==
Styx Helledryn.jpg
Styx Deal.jpg
Styx Incapacitated.jpg
Styx Angry.jpg|"Grrr... I will find you and I will shove that scepter where the sun don't shine!"
Styx Infiltration.jpg
Styx Quartz.jpg
Styx Lakima.jpg
Styx Realizes.jpg
Styx In Cage.jpg
Stupid Green Turd.jpg|"Stupid Green Turd? Really?"
==Trivia==
*“Styx” in Greek mythology is the river where souls travel to hell.
*Throughout Master of Shadows, it is quite difficult to tell the clone apart from the original until the end of the game as the original Styx subsequently acquires amber-colored cuts.
* In Styx: Shard of Darkness, Styx regularly breaks the fourth wall.
*Styx is around 100 years old at the time of Of Orcs and Men.
*Whether or not Styx choose to accept his past in Arkence's mind, the story is in no way altered. If he refuses, Styx will tell the specter that he doesn't regret what he did and would rather move on than be stuck in the past, disowning the specter. If he accepts, Styx makes peace with himself and accepts who he is, letting the specter become a part of him again.
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