הנה הרקע:
Aolamesh crouched, waiting for his prey. It was his 13th birthday and at this age, children of the Bit-Bazi tribe were required to pass a test; hunt and kill a predator lizard, called Herrerasaurus. These lizards, when alone, are no match for a fully grown Bit-bazi warrior, but for a thirteen years old man wanna be, it is a challenge. He would pass the test and become a man once he killed this lizard, carried the corpse to the tribe and cooked it himself. A kill like this would prove his wits and hunting ability - by killing a predator lizard, his strength and stamina - by carrying it to the tribe and his cooking skills - by providing a nice hot meal for his brothers. Girls of the Bit-Bazi tribes were required to pass this test as well, but at 14, to compensate for a slightly less strength as these ages. For men and women in Aolamesh’s tribe were equals nonetheless. They were required to know everything: hunting, fighting, cooking, taking care of siblings, identifying poisonous plants from the edible ones and much more. And if at the age of Thirteen you could not hunt a ‘reras yourself, it is better you’d be food for the lizard, making them fatter and slower for others to hunt and feast on them.
He waited for the right moment, when the lizard was not moving and threw his javelin right at the place where the lizard heart should be. Aolamesh smiled. It seems like patience was worthwhile. He tracked this lizard for almost an hour, waiting for the right moment to strike and the lizard was now dead. He approached the lizard and took out the javelin. He spoke few words of prayer for Nikaal and decapitated the animal, along with the end of the lizard’s legs. No use in carrying these. Too much weight. If the lizard gave a good fight, he would keep the head as a trophy, but that was not the case this time.
The sound of a snapping wood saved his life, we rolled to the right and drew his handaxe just in time to see another lizard almost biting his head off, his axe missed the beast as well. The lizard turned to him and attacked again. This time Aolamesh did not miss. The axe shoved into the lizard body and it let out a high pitch growl. Unfortunately, it was not enough to kill it and the axe was stuck in the lizard’s body. The Reras suddenly moved back, tearing the axe from Aolamesh’s hands. Aolamesh knew there is no point in running since the lizard was at least twice as fast as his own speed, even if the wound was motral. Aolamesh stood up, ready to face his death, when he felt a shiver down his spine. He knew this feeling. It usually happened when he was excited and meant something strange/bad would happen, like burning stuff up or making a flower wither just right after he gave it to Zaira - a girl he liked. This time, a flash of lights came out of his body and struck the lizard. It fell to the ground, stunned, the axe detaching from its body. Aolamesh was stunned as well. The Reras quickly stood up and fled. Aolamesh shook his head and thanked Nikaal again. He knew we would not speak of this event to the elders since it seems like a deed of Pazuzu, the god of Sorcery and Undeads. He thought of thanking Pazuzu as well, but shivered and let go of this thought, while he took the corpse and headed back to Bit-Bazi’s camp.
Aolamesh was sitting in the Shaman’s hut. Interesting smells were lifted by colorful fumes in the hut. Aolamesh was 20, and it was the time for the Shaman to check if he had the ability to become a Shaman himself, in the future. The Shaman looked at him. “Hmmm, You are known to be very calm in battles and hunts, it is a good quality for a Shaman, but the magic within you is elusive, like a wet Eel. I wonder if wild magic caused your eyes to be different in color, one black and one green. It will take time to guide you in the way of Shamanism. But it might succeed nonetheless”, he said. "We will have to give it time. Meanwhile, I will teach you to read Common and also speak and read Lizardfolk. We need to know the ways and customs of our neighbours, You will come for lessons twice a week. I will let the Chief know. I wish i knew scorpionic as well, as they become more and more frequent lately, these abominations. May Nikaal help us. For now, take this Amulet. It will help you in studies and battles, I hope”
Aolamesh bowed. “Thank you, Shaman. I will work hard!”. The Shaman smiled, “Oh you will, my child, you will..”, he murmured, as Aolamesh ran out to find Zaira and tell her the good news.
Aolamesh was happy. He was on his way back to the camp, after a night on the lookout for scorpion-men, the minions of Herat’s king. He could not trace any of them in his territory and hoped none of the other scouts had seen them as well. At age 24, he was designated as one of the tribe’s scouts. Though the Shaman could not extract more magic out of Aolamesh, he was considered an able warrior. Zaira was spending more and more time with him and life was good in the woods, generally.
Suddenly, he stopped, sniffing. Something was not right. There was odd, stink of scorpion-men in the path back to the camp. It seems like a big party of scorpion-men had passed here recently.
He paced to the camp and when the trees opened up to the camp, he stopped at his tracks, stunned.
Blood and bodies everywhere. It was a massacre. He could see bodies which became blue from scorpion poison, he could see small babies dead as well. It seems that the Bit Bazi tribe was now extinct. He run to the other end of the camp only to find all of the females hanged on the trees, including Zaira.
Aolamesh fell on his knees, dropping his battle axe. All of his brothers and sisters were slain. He was now alone in a ruined world, nothing and no one could comfort him in his agony. He wanted to scream, but no voice came out of him.
He froze, hearing something. He looked into the center of the camp and saw three scorpion-men. He could feel rage building up in his body, rage he has never experienced before. He started walking silently towards his enemies, empty handed. ‘It is time to end this’, he thought. He will now kill all of them, and all the scorpion-man in the world, if he could. The three Scorpion-men noticed him and rose up. “Look, we have a survivor. Haha. Lets kill him and serve his head to the king”. They started running at his direction. Aolamesh moved onto them without a blink. He saw the broken body of the chief, his twin battleaxes near him. He stopped for a second, looked at the chief and picked up both battleaxes. The scorpion-men charged. He rolled right, thrusting an axe just in time to meet bone and flesh. One scorpion man died instantly. A sting from the second one scratched Aolamesh’s forehead. He could immediately feel the poison, burning in him. It made him even more raged. Another scorpion-man tried to hit him with a lance. Aolamesh dodged the blow and shoved an axe in the man’s head, splattering brains in all directions.The last foe seemed concerned about the change of tide, but tried to sting the Barbarian. Aolamesh lifted the axe and cut the man’s tail. The scorpion-man screamed in pain. Aolamesh kicked him and then cut all off his six legs. Then he picked the helpless scorpion-man and held him against a tree,throttling himt. “Why did you kill all my tribe!?”, yelled Aolamesh. “It was an order from the sacred king of Herat. Your people were trespassing his territory”, replied the man, gasping for air. “Nonsense!”, Aolamesh said. “These are free territories, we know our bearings!”. The man looked at him and tried to laugh, “Not anymore they are, the king has claimed them”. Aolamesh looked him in the eye, “I will kill your king for what he’s done to us. He will drown in his own scorpion-men’s poison!”. The scorpion-man actually laughed now. Aolamesh could feel his own consciousness slipping away, probably the poison in his forehead to blame. He took the tail he cut from the scorpion-man before and shoved the sting and in the laughing man’s mouth. The sting came out from the man’s back neck and left him stuck on the tree. The scorpion-man started turning blue. “So It is true that scorpions are not immune to their own poison”, said Aolamesh. “Your king’s fate will be the same, abomination!” The scorpion-man stopped moving and Aolamesh felt the darkness closing on him.
***
He woke up after several hours. Surprised to see he is not dead. He touched his forehead, not aware that some of his black hair had turned blue, from the poison. He removed all the hanged bodies, wept over Zaira’s one, took all the other bodies to the center of the camp and started preparing a fire. He removed Zaira’s necklace and put his amulet on it. He started the fire and looked at the flames. As they reflected in his eyes, he spoke a mental oath; He will not rest until Herat’s king is dead and his tribe’s name is avenged. By Mawat he swore! He would have to find the magic within him alone, without the Shaman’s guidance. Someday, he will slay the king. He took the chief’s double horned helmet, the twin battleaxes and left the camp forever, fire still burning in the middle..