Blessings

[Nojinbu]

Nojinbu stood at the front gates of Hammerfall, looking in with his hands clenched. This was where her life began; this is where her father still stood watch. This was where her memories started, and now that she has embraced her heritage, this place seemed to dwarf him.

Vilmah cared for him, but no matter how happy she said she was, he knew there was something on the back of her mind. Nojinbu held her family in high respects, almost jealous of her being scolded by her father, uncle, and brother, wishing he could look into his own blood’s eyes once again. It didn’t matter what they would say, they could say nothing, they would at least still be. He refused to be a roadblock to her family, and he couldn’t let her speak to them, that would be pure cowardice. They had to know that even though he was a troll, he is still a good man, and will carry their blood with the highest respect.

”Sir…Ya may nah know me, but if ya be-“

Kromag was the most compationate of the three in his mind. If Kromag denied a blessing, then there was no use pushing forward, but just as Nojinbu believed, Kromag was a kind soul, gladly giving blessing as long as he kept her happy and safe.

”Gor’mul. Ah be Legionnare Nojinbu Frostbite, Ah ‘av come ta seek audience wit ya-“

Her father, the extreme polar of her brother, was surely the least forgiving. If he could convince him to give blessing, his heart would rest easily in talking to her uncle. He had to pick the right words. How could he address him, how does one come up to an war-hardened, old fashioned orc and ask him to accept a “savage” into his house? Was he to bark orders and demand privilege due to rank and war status? Was he to humble himself and crawl under his weight until he has been satiated? Before he knew it, Nojinbu’s thoughts had brought him inside the compound and standing face to face with Gor’mul.

”What..?”

Nojinbu answered without hesitation:

”Ello, mon.”

…dammit…

[Vilmah]

Gor'mul looked at the troll with contempt. Another young one, sent with another blasted talisman made to help free him of his lethargy no doubt.. but no, this one was different. He was bigger, and older, not some young pup sent from the Darkspear of the Echo Isles. He had an eyepatch much like his own, and this troll was covered in scars. Gor'mul recognized him as an ice troll, a creature that years ago, would have been killed on sight.

"What is it you seek, troll?" Gor'mul asked.

His eye was failing him, the from the sun causing him to squint. The old orc shifted from one foot to the other, irritable.

[Nojinbu]

Nojinbu looks at the Orc, he knew he had to make his peace proper, and fast.

”Sir, Ah be Nojinbu Frostbite, ah know ya daughtah, she be mah warboss, Have come ta seek audience wit ya.”

[Vilmah]

"My daughter?"

Gor'mul looked at Nojinbu, his interest growing just slightly. He'd heard of his daughter's guild, the self righteous group of rag-tags known as Sanctuary. Apparently, they had become rather popular as of late, and their numbers were growing. This might have been interesting, but it in no way suited the old orc's ideals. He considered the idea of peace with his family's former cpatives to be a crime against nature, and downright cowardly.

His daughter, however..

"What do you know of my daughter, troll? Is she in some sort of trouble?"

[Nojinbu]

Gor’mul was growing impatient, his look could most likely kill a man, but Nojinbu stood strong. He backed up a bit so he didn’t make himself out to be intimidating from his height, and then nodded to the orc.

”Nah in da least, she been quite well. Even took some pain ta da layer o da god Ragnaros. Have come ta speak wit ya on a mo personal note.”

Nojinbu took a deep breath and spoke without wavering.

”Ah respect ya daughtah vey much, an ah av grone ta enjoy ‘er company in battle an while in times o rest. Ah av much respect fo ‘er family, ah lost mine ta a dwarven raid, an ahlways tell ‘er ta enjoy da family she ‘as. Fo dat reason, Ah av come ta ya ta ask fa ya blessin ta court ya daughtah.”

Nojinbu took a deep breath outward, his daggers and other weapons jingling together with his relaxed pose. He had put it in as best a way as he could think, and hoped for the best.

[Vilmah]

Gor'mul looked at Nojinbu with disbelief. ..was he serious? A troll, and an ice troll no loss, attempting to court his daughter? It was not enough that his own son had left the family, or him specifically. His daughter was a warrior, and despite her oddeties, she was at least a contributer to the Horde. He'd seen that much. He'd hoped for a dozen grandchildren, a dozen Bloodbornes to fill the world and fight and do him proud.

"..there must be some mistake," Gor'mul said at last. "My daughter is an orc. You are clearly not."

[Nojinbu]

He watched the orc pause, the akward silence was deadly. When her father finaly spoke, it was far less devastating then he had thought. He didn’t laugh in his face, he didn’t lash in anger, and he merely stated a plane fact. Orc with orc, savage with savage; that is how the world is to be.

”Dat ah ahm nah, but ahm a decorated officer, a commited soldier ta da victory o da ‘orde, an a mon dats brave ‘enough ta face a womons faddah even doh ‘e ‘as possibly na chance a walkin away wit what ‘e wants.’

Nojinbu turned for a moment, he removed his chest and shoulder pieces, dropping them to the ground.

”Dese scars be fo what ‘ah believe in, what Trall believes in. Ahave taken arrows an axes fa Orcs an tauren, an undead, an dey took some fa me. Ah carry dese scars sa Odahs don av ta. Ah be treated as a brodah in mah fellow soldiahs, an dey be mah tribe nah. Ah may na be an orc, but ah at least tink ah make up fad a look in mah servitude ta da greatah good.”

Nojinbu turns back to the orc, and removes his eyepatch, looking Gor’mul in the face.

”Dese be da tings ah show ta ‘ope prove ta ya ah be wordy a ya blessin, if dis don be enough, ahll accept whatevah task ya choose ta ‘elp prove ya ah be wort it.”

Nojinbu stood silent, he droped the eyepatch in between them, showing the part of himself he never lets anyone see.

[Vilmah]

Gor'mul was shocked at the troll's bluntness. He'd just stripped off his armor, shown him battle scars, and dictated his military history. For any father, this would have been a proud male heir. Had they been a troll, that is. It was almost a shame that it was not possible for him and Vilmah to be together, given that circumstance.

"You are a troll. You have nothing to offer my daughter or our family, except an ending to a bloodline."

The old orc shook his head, and looked towards one of the old cages.

"Do you know of this place? This is Hammerfall, yes, an outpost of the Horde. It was also where Vilmah was born. Where her mother was murdured. Did you know that, when that happened, Vilmah could not recall my face? In an instant of bloodletting, she forgot her family. That is how fragile she is."

He held up a hand.

"I am not without blame. In my moment of weakness, I allowed her to be taken. I remained here, nursing a memory. Look at me, troll. My son has abandoned our blood, my wife is dead, and my only daughter is to be courted by a Gundraki? Where is the future, in that? She is free to do what she wishes, I can not stop her.."

He looked away.

"..but she will not be a Bloodborne."

[Nojinbu]

A turn, such a simple action; a twist of the hip, turn of the shoulder, and just two tiny steps. How could this action bring ire to the troll out of all the tings said.
He turned his back on a man that had more then proven himself, all because his blood was not ancestral blood. Nojinbu’s hands clenched, his eyes narrowed. The idea of being shamed in such a way, in the wide open, no less, is unforgivable. Nojinbu grinded his teeth, and in one quick step, was standing right in front of the orc by the time he finished his turn.

”If ah coul….if ah coul, ahd DRAG ya ta where MAH memories a loss be, but dered be NUTTIN TA SEE! All was BURNED ta da ground, buried bah snow an stone! Mah FADDAH, put up ta CROSS an TORTCHED infront a out village. AH was da last HEIR ta da chief, AH be da last ah MAH people! Ah came ta DIS SPOT, nah ONE YEAH ago lookin fa ‘elp, ‘elp ta become a strong soldier, ta save mah people. Dis was da FIRST ah EVAH saw a ‘orde land, ah ‘old it as sacred, if na MO den ya EVAH WILL! Ah came back dere ta ASHES, because ah was ta late! An nah, when ah find somewheah ta start new, ahm truned down because a mah burt!”

Nojinbu shook with rage, his skin gleamed a violet color in the sun.

”An ‘ow DARE ya speak a love an remorse fa ya family, when ya be sa FREE ta disown da remaining ones. It makes me SICK tat ink dat ah av NUTTIN, when someone ‘o be ta stubborn ta see ‘e ‘as EVERYTIN be spittin’ on what ‘es got! Ah will NAH be turned down because a mah class, because ya next BROOD will be da STRONGEST orcs ya eveh come ta FACE. ya be a damn FOOL nah ta wan ya childrens children nah ta av ta wory bout an ahrm o leg getting cut off, itd grow right BACK!”

He steped closer to Gor’mul he reached down, pulled out his sword, and placed it into the orcs hand.

”If ya be sa content on letting me die off, AHLL GIVE YA DA CHANCE TA DO IT INSTEAD! Nah gimmie a chance ta redeam mahself, o KILL ME NAH!”

His body trembled; he knew he had said everything he never planned on saying. Now, the two face a moment in which the troll may never walk away from, but he was fine with that.

[Vilmah]

Gor'mul took the sword.

Was this a battle of wills that the troll wanted to test him in? Gor'mul was no coward, in the face of battle. He was not a stranger to death. Looking at the youth before him, killing him would be a waste. No, he was not an orc, but the trolls (at least some of them) were their allies. There would be no use in killing him.

[Vilmah]

"Calm yourself, Gundraki," he said calmly. The blade felt good in his hand... "I will not kill you. There is no reason."

Gor'mul threw the blade aside.

"You trolls.. you mate for life. Yet you do not hold our values. You don't seem to care about what it is that makes us orcs. Our heritage. Our memory. My daughter, if she lives with you, will be barren. She will die alone and childless. She will outlive even you, troll. Can you truly give her that?"

[Nojinbu]

Listening to these words calmed him, he felt selfish, and rude. Nojinbu sighed and spoke softly.

”Ah…Ah be sorry fa carryin on like dat. Dat be ‘ow ah feel, ahd give ‘er whatevah ah coul ta make ‘er ‘appy. Ah da ciah fa what yakes ya people ya people, dats why ah be ‘ere. Have come ta give blessins ta TRY. Ah aint askin ta take ‘er off ya ‘ands, Ahd only do dat if ah coul give ya liniage, if dat be any consolation. Ahll ah wan be ‘er ‘appyness, she don even know ah be ere, o dat ah be doin dis. Ah may nah live as long ‘as ‘er, but ‘o knows, ahll fight ta see da next day till mah last breat’, ah will nah leave ‘er sad, an ah will nah leave ‘er alone.”

Nojinbu picks up his things.

”If dere be any trial ah coul face, ahd face it sa ah coul be wit ‘er, ahd face da loa demselves if it ‘elped, but if ya choose against dis aftah ahll ah av said, ah won bring it up again. Ah will go in peace an nah bodah ya again. Ah only come ‘ere afferin ya daughtahs ‘appyness. An if ya don tink ah be worty a dat, ahll undahstand.”

The troll places his armor back on and then his eyepatch.

[Vilmah]

The old orc watched Nojinbu, his dissapointment plain. Although he was not familliar with this type of situation, he realized the heartache that the troll must have been going through. It was so diferent from when he and his wife were brought together. This were so much simpler, then..

"You are brave, troll. I will give you that. You come to me without fear, and truth be told, I am not surprised. My current situation is not an honorable one. I may have once been something worth fighting beside, but no longer. The bloodlust lingers in my red eyes, and I am old. Far too old to argue with what has apparently proven to have been an ally."

He shifted his weight from one leg to another.

"If you love her, I trust you to do what you think is right. She is fragile, you should know that by now. You may be strong enough to protect her from enemies, but I do not know if you can protect her from herself. When the day comes that you realize what it is you took from her by standing by her, what then will you do? You will die, content and in her arms, and she will live alone in misery. Do not do this to my child, Nojinbu," he said, finally acknowledging his name. "Do not hurt my child so."

[Nojinbu]

With a heavy breath he nodded, and promised not to break his wishes. He stood at attention and saluted the orc, then left the town the same way he came.

Two promises he made, and one he will have to break.