Rage Of The Red Tiger

[PilgrimSoul]

Rage Of The Red Tiger

Krohn, son of the mighty Red Tiger Tribe thundered north on horseback, driven by a powerful rage that had consumed him for almost his entire life, he rode almost ceaselessly for days, the rugged and often inhospitable terrain had been unforgiving but Krohn was equally merciless in his onslaught north to his ancestorial homeland.

He stopped for short periods of rest only when it was truly required and when when Blazes' hooves gave way under him.
It was the rage had always kept him going, kept him strong, on the edge, where he needed to be. Alive.

He had told only those closest to him of his affliction and soon, many moons had passed, the curse that flowed through his veins had began to take hold.
The signs of decay were appearing. Weakness. He despised it.
He knew what fate lay in store for him, for he had known all along it would happen, soon he would begin to age rapidly unto an untimely death.
Yet, he still wanted to live, he was not ready for death's embrace and he would not let it have him until the one he blamed for it all was cold.

It had started, the mark of death already slowly creeping upon him, but he held tight onto Blazes' reigns and prayed his strength would not abandon him.

[PilgrimSoul]

Krohn had finally arrived at the Cold Wood.
This place that he had called home.
Cold sank deep into his skin, it made him shiver and tingled down his spine.
Yet he had longed to feel it's embrace again.

Slipping awkwardly from Blazes' saddle, the journey had left him spent.
The ever wary and solitary Red Tigers greeted him with wild suspicion that bordered on hostile.

His drained, pale skin gave him the appearance of a ghost, the children fled in terror.
Krohn didn't care, he had made the exhausting journey for a reason.

He staggered, unsure feet leading him toward one of the ragged shelters.
The huge, fabled Boneslicer sword dragging through the dirt behind him. It glowed a dark red, hungering for blood.

Stepping into the dimly lit hut, a musty incense filled his nostrils.

And then darkness.

His strength had finally abandoned him.

[PilgrimSoul]

Krohn stirred. He awoke, finding himself tended to and blanketed with sheets. His wounds had been cleaned and treated, his belongings were placed neatly in a pile over by the corner of the dark room.

He turned to his side, the face of the one he had hunted was lit in candlelight.

"you have finally awoken, Krohn. You have been sleeping for almost a tenday, now." She spoke softly.

"You cursed my father, and now I am dying too...I came here to kill you." He spoke gruffly.

"You truly believe that, Krohn? I tried to help your father. It is only natural that you are looking for someone to blame. It could not have been easy living with what you have done.
His death... by your hand, it must have weighed heavily on your conscience for all these years." She said calmly.

"He...wanted it. I could see it in his eyes." He growled.

"Not many people knew your father the way I did. He was not always a monster. Krohn... it is time you knew the truth..." She whispered.

Krohn didn't want to hear it, but he did not have the strength to resist. He laid there, no choice but to listen...

[PilgrimSoul]

"It all began, long ago....

Your father was a strong and reckless young man.
He was a man in love with his own legend but still a good man all the same.

A perfectionist, he used to wander deep into the woods every sunrise, and train furiously until sunset.
After one such time, your father came to me and told me about a spirit called Jinn that he had encountered while out in the woods.

He told me how he had spoken with this spirit on several occasions, how it had been enviously watching your father for some time and had grown tired of wandering the world as a shadow.

Jinn promised to teach your father everything he had ever wanted, great strength... raw power...but for a price.

Your father made a grave mistake.. he drew the spirit into his body. That was the price Jinn demanded and that was what your father gave..

When your father came out of those woods, he was not the same man.

I had sensed great evil, but your father would not listen to my warnings.
Inevitably, piece by piece, Jinn slowly consumed your father and turned him into a monster.

Soon, there was but a fragment of your father that remained. Krohn..despite what you think, that was when your father truly died.

As your father grew older and weaker, so too did Jinn. It desired a younger, stronger body. Jinn chose yours Krohn.
Your father tried to resist this, but Jinn's hold over your father was too strong.

That day..your father lead you into the woods, and coincidently to the very place your father and Jinn had first met.
It was Jinn that forced your father to turn on you, and when you struck him down, Jinn found his way into your body."

[PilgrimSoul]

"Since that day Jinn has been laying dormant inside of you Krohn. But he cannot rule you the way he did your father.
He is destroying your body from within so he can be free again."

"How much time do I have left?"

"That is up to you, everybody dies when their time is up.
It is up to you how you use the time left to you.
Live, krohn. It is all I can say to you...

Choose life... and then live."

The words echoed through his head as he saddled his horse and started his journey back to Cormyr.