Shrook

## Backstory

Shrook was born in a small ogre settlement. His mother died while giving birth to him, and his father raised him alone. He had always blamed his wife's death on him and resented him for it. Growing up in those circumstances, it was no surprise that he hated him as well.

In their house, arguments were frequent, and a day didn't go by without them lashing out at each other for one reason or another, but one day it went too far. He was shouting at him again, but he didn't even remember why. He had already been in a foul mood, and he didn't feel like starting one of their usual fights. He turned to get away from him, but he grabbed his arm.

"Do not run from me. I am your father, and you will respect me."

He turned back around to face him.

"I do not run, old man. Especially not from you. And I will respect you when you are worthy of respect."

He turned back around, but he didn't let go of his arm. He turned back to him.

"Let go of me. Now."

He stayed silent, but did not let go. He looked sad.

"Son, I'm sorry. I've taken my frustration out on you, and I want to make amends. Let me help you, please."

"I don't need your help. You are useless, and you are weak."

"Son, please..."

"No!"

He pulled his arm free and punched him dead in the face. He fell to the ground, looking at him. He looked... afraid. Pathetic. He grabbed him by his neck and punched him again and again with his remaining hand. He kept pleading for him to stop, but that just made him angrier. He kept hitting him until eventually he fell silent. They were covered in blood, as was the ground around them. His father was no longer breathing. He looked around and saw the whole village was looking at them. A few looked angry, and a few looked scared, but none had stepped in.

"Has any of you anything to say? I have murdered my fathered in front of you and yet you simply sit there looking on."

They looked at each other but said nothing.

"Cowards! Every single one of you, cowards!"

He kicked his father's lifeless body their way and pointed at it.

"This is what happens to cowards in this world. You would do well to consider your actions on this day."

Shrook turned around and left the village, with only the clothes on his body. He had no weapon except his fists, and no knowledge of life outside his tribe. But all that was about to change. He spent the following two years wandering about, murdering for food as well as fun. There was no beast he did not slaughter, no enemy he did not defeat. But one day that, too, changed. He was sleeping in the woods when he was startled awake by an unnatural screech. It was still dark but as an ogre he didn't need much light to see clearly. He immediately got to his feet and followed the sound. It was like nothing he had ever heard before. It was shrill and high-pitched but it felt like it came from something big and powerful. He started running towards the sound. Eventually he left the forest and found himself looking at the thing which had made the sound. It was a weird, huge beast. He drew a makeshift spear he'd built and prepared to fight it. It had not yet noticed him, but he could not sneak behind it like a coward. He raised his spear.

"Face me, beast!"

It turned around and stared at Shrook. It tilted its head sideways, as if studying him.

"I have come to challenge you. Prepare to die!"

Shrook charged at the beast, but it stood its ground. As he was about to reach it, it leapt at him and knocked him down, breaking his spear in the process. It clawed at him and bit off a piece of his stomach. He started to fall unconscious, but as he did he saw a bright light pierce the darkness. The beast shrieked and ran off, leaving him to bleed out. He heard heavy steps coming in his direction as he drifted away into unconsciousness. When he woke up, he was laying in a bed inside an opulent room. He stood up, disregarding the searing pain in his stomach. There was a mirror in the room, and he went to stand in front of it. He saw his stomach and left arm were completely covered in bandages, as was the right side of his face. He brought my hands to his face and removed the bandage. Beneath it was a deep gash from his forehead to his jaw, through his eye. Surprisingly, it did not hurt. As he was about to remove the remaining bandages, the door opened.

"You would do well not to touch those, ogre."

He turned around and saw an elf dressed in long, heavy robes. He looked somewhat amused.

"Who are you?", he asked.

"Who I am is not important. I am a war priest of Gillius, the God of War. You are in our temple."

"Back there, with that thing, was that..."

"I was the one who drove the beast away, yes. I also brought you here and healed you."

He was smiling. At him, Shrook supposed.

"Do I amuse you, elf? Are you smiling because you are stronger than me? Why did you bother saving me if I'm your inferior?"

He smiled even more and walked up to him. He was slim and tall, but he had an aura of power about him. Beneath that smile hid a murderer, he was sure.

"You are weak, ogre. The things you have faced until now are nothing, and the world holds many beings more powerful than the demon you faced. The reason i rescued you was because you faced the demon, knowing you would lose. Or perhaps not caring enough to even think about it. You are weak, but you can become strong. You are a warrior, and Gillius favors those of your kind."

"Are you asking me to join your cult?"

"I need not ask, ogre. You will do so of your own will, I see that in your eyes. Or, uh, eye."

That time he actually laughed. It was a soft laugh, in complete contrast with the sheer power Shrook still felt emanating from him. He smiled back at him. From that moment on, Shrook devoted his life to Gillius. He made the temple his home, the acolytes his family. He was trained in the art of war and strategy, in sorcery and all sorts of martial arts. He became more powerful than he had ever imagined possible. He finally had a purpose in life, and he had found it in Gillius. He yearned for more enemies to fight, but he knew to prepare himself further before venturing out by himself. He kept training, and waited for his chance.

Then he raped Bininho.