I slip through the crowd, and my hands dart left and right. A watch here and a coin there, all of it goes into my pockets. Then, I made the mistake of trying to nick a shinerly from a giant man. He grabbed me by the throat and lifted me off the ground. 

“What do you think you are doing stealing from Argos, you little thief?” He spoke in a deep rumble and started to squeeze his hands together. Slowly, I reached my hand out, and as my vision started to go dark, I lashed out at his wrist. The effect was immediate; he let go of me and backed away, cradling his wrist.

“What do you think you are doing by trying to kill me?” I taunt him. He roars as he lunges for me, and I dance out of the way as I bop him on the nose.

“Too slow, big man.” I trip him, and he falls heavily. He lays there for a second before bursting up and swiping a meaty paw at me. 

“I will kill you, little thief. No one disrespects me and gets away with it!” His fist made contact with the side of my head, and stars exploded through my vision as I dropped like a sack of rocks. Argos chuckles and starts lumbering towards me.

“Three, two, one.” I whisper to myself as he gets closer and closer. Before he can reach me, I flip onto my feet and slam my foot into his chest. I follow up with a flurry of jabs to his gut. Argos stands there stunned for a moment before sinking to the ground.

“I told you not to mess with me, I didn’t want to do this to you, but I’m just trying to survive.” I help him up and slip into the street.

“Wait little thief, I never got your name.” I look over my shoulder as I walk away. “My name is Talon Sorrowcrest.”

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“Come join me for a drink or meal at the inn, I respect the fact that you can take down a man like me, let me show that.” I stop, turn around slowly, and look at him.

“I must go home now, but thank you for your offer.” When  I got home, I realized the front door was hanging off at an angle. 

“Hello? Anyone home?” I slip into the house and look around. There are scratch marks and bloodstains all over the place. In the kitchen, I find a note saying:

Your family has been submitted for the daily cleansing. Because you were not present when we came to collect, you have now been declared Utlagatus by the Shadow King.

The cleansing was something that the Shadow King had started that involved killing random families, and now mine had been chosen. I went into the middle of the house and pulled up a loose floorboard; underneath was a secret room that doubled as a storage place for my father’s old weapons and armor. I walked over to where black leather armor was displayed. I grab the chest plate and slip it on, then I consider taking the leg armor but decide that the ones I am wearing will be better. Instead, I grab the black robe and put it over my armor. I turn towards the weapons. My father had daggers, swords, bows, quivers, knives, and katars. I grab all of it and strap it on in various places. He had trained me to use all of them in the event that we would need them again. After I’m done, I take one last look around the house and step out the door. Once I’m out, I light a match and drop it in the grass. As the house goes up in flames, I walk away to find Argos. I see him in the main inn and find him sitting at a table in the restaurant. I walk over, sit across from him, and answer his questions before he opens his mouth.

“The Shadow king claimed my family and I want revenge on him so I will join up with you.” Argos looks shocked for a second before smiling and extending his hand.

“Glad you decided to join me, order anything you want on me,” then he stopped and looked at my outfit.

“I see you have come prepared my friend, the armor will come and handy, as will the swords and the bow.” I shake his hand and wink at him.

“What you see isn’t always what you get; I have more than this on me, just in case it will be needed.” he nods and pats me on the back.

“We’ll stay here tonight, then tomorrow we begin our journey.” I shake his hand and purchase a room from the front.