Chain

I am Tepet Nerigus Akechi, or rather I used to be.

I grew up in a family with major political aspirations. My youth was a regimented existence. When I turned 10 my family was happy to have me out of the way and sent me to boarding school. None of this was abnormal for a family like mine, my family was just extra ambitious about hiding what was deemed a strange child. I was not an exceptional student but my marks only truly suffered when social factors were required. Life there was not an life, nor was I mistreated by the school. Disobedience was punished. Going unnoticed we key to peaceful day to day life. Other students were cruel, and often choose me as a target. This often gained me more attention from watchful eyes than I found preferable. I did enjoy the physical and combat training that allowed me to return actual bruises for the sabotage I suffered in classes. I came to especially enjoy training with the less brutish weapons. Raw strength was not my forte. Near the end of my stay, there was an incident. The sabotage was successful, and I was taken to blame. By that evening I was deposited back at my parents door. The following weeks were unusual. I had few restrictions aside from remaining on the grounds, however it was obvious I was the subject of many words left unsaid in my presence. At the age of 15 I was deemed an embarrassment to, and an obstacle for the family. There would be no secondary School.

Curious about an un announced visitor. I snuck into fathers library adjoining his office. Through an vent between the rooms I watched as over a pouch of coin, father described his plan. My absence would be noticed if I was merely sold as a slave. I wouldn't even be given a chance as part of the legions. He had instead bought me a place amongst those almost certain to die attending the dragon blooded on the wyld hunt in 2 days time. I choose to burst through the door at this point. Father, ignoring my outrage, turned to me and told me he was glad I joined them. I was being asked to join the hunt, and then made it clear in no uncertain terms, if I survive, I was not to bother returning. Records would show I was dead, and to the family I would be.

I did go. I was given a miserable excuse of a notched sword and instructed mostly just to tote the gear, setup, and tear down camp as we went in search of the anathema. As it turned out, father had a sound plan. It turned out to be a blood bath. He had such strength, the dragon blooded were torn apart. I'm sure it must have only lasted minutes. I spent hours hiding though.

Homeless, pennyless, nameless. I slept that night under a collapsed tent. In the morning I gathered up what supplies I could carry and started searching for a town. I knew it would be a long walk without the horses, they were spooked the night befor and they were not circling back.

I came to a small village. I had realized I had no way to pay for supplies. I had to steal what I needed and move on before the new guy in town could get blamed. A couple weeks later I found Great Forks, a city big enough to go unnoticed for a while. I tried getting a job a few times along the way. It turned out that's not so easy when no one knows you. I did have a job once for almost two whole days, until I forgot what name I had given. Eventually even in a the city someone noticed things disappearing. This time a local street gang noticed they weren't the only ones making things disappear.

We came to an “understanding”. The boss offer to let me help him, in return he wouldn't have me hunted. It was the only job offer I had going for me. This job had some risk involved though, so I decided to help myself to some weapons as I picked up items for the boss. A ledger for the boss and a short sword; A much needed upgrade. A small chest full of (gold?) for him, and a meteor hammer for me. The chain was made of some metal I didn't recognize but it worked well.

One night early on with the gang, I was sent with some other guys. I was never sent alone in the beginning but this was the first and only time I was sent with a large group. Eight of us were sent in to tear up a warehouse as a message to some merchant. There was supposed to be a guard. The plan was to scare him and be gone before he came back with help. Somehow he must have gotten word. We got inside only to have the guard call out about a dozen more hired guards from the back corner of the warehouse. Both groups scattered. I pulled out the meteor hammer and darted over to help one of the guys who was locking swords with a guard. I threw for his leg and let other guy finish him. We lost three guys to their four before we got out of there. Somewhere in the mess one of the guards shouted about “the chain guy”. After that the guys started calling me Chain. I guess it was better than nothing.

I went were I was told and brought back what the boss wanted, but just never felt like he was bringing me fully into the organization. Then I finally realized why.

“Chain, I want you to go get me a painting tonight. Then, take it to an associate of mine.” The pickup was easy. No real security. It was just hanging in a bedroom in some mansion. The drop-off was where everything was wrong. It felt wrong walking into that shop. When the owner saw the painting I was carrying she shouted for her guard to kill me. From what I understand from the shouting, that bedroom belonged to her daughter. I didn't catch everything she was shouting because I was busy realizing I had been set-up. That and I recognized the guard, from the warehouse. This was the same merchant, and I was unknowingly threatening her daughter. Throwing out my meteor hammer I swung for the guards face. I think I only broke his nose, but it bought me time to slip out before his help came in.

Boss had to know how that message would be received. He knew he sent me up. He didn't expect me to come back. But I absolutely was coming back. I couldn't let this stand. Even if it set me at odds with the entire organization, the path was set.

The following nightI was there waiting as he stepped into his office. He was obviously shocked to see me alive. I released the chain as he turned shouting for help. I watched as the hammer flew towards the base of his scull. That's when something happened.

I felt something different...

More powerful….

It happened…

Who am I now?

What am I?