Mathurin Kerbouchard's page

Mathurin's birth parents are dead. He was found by a human family near the remains of a village that once had an orc population. He had been out playing with his mother when the orcs attacked. They heard the screaming and went to seee what was happening. Nobody was prepared for it. A small band was killing everyone in sight. And the orcs saw them. Mother pushed son to run as fast as he could. Looking behind him, Mathurin saw his mother drop from an arrow. She yelled for him to keep running.

After losing the them in the woods, he found a small clearing, and sat down and cried. He stayed there until some people found him as they passed by. The family that found him took him in.

They lived in a remote area as part of a small human community. There were 6 families, totaling 25 people including children.

The men would hunt for food for the families and would occasionally take Mathurin with them once he was old enough. During his 16th year, they had a hard summer. The animal migrating patterns were taking them elsewhere for water. Since he previously showed some skill & interest, Mathurin was brought along. They had a long and unproductive week. Even trying to get even a deer met with no luck. They had just got back to the campsite when Mathurin told the leader that he had been seeing elk sign. He scoffed and said it was a fox or some other small animal in the area. Mathurin tried to tell him that he could see and smell better than the rest, but nobody would listen. Nobody that is, until the old ranger spoke up for him (he had just arrived from hunting).

"We are facing starvation and you discount what the boy has to say? What are you going to tell your wife when she asks for something to feed your baby? That you didn't do all that you could? I have been teaching the boy. Not many have the gift, but he does. While the rest of you think you are good hunters and leave him at the campsite for the day, he goes off by himself to learn what the wilderness has to say. I am going to look for the elk. Stay here if you wish".

When they found the herd of elk it was at a plateau that the rest had not seen before. Hidden away up in the hills. Mathurin had been seeing tracks in the area for about six months. When the others would hunt he would go to be alone.

That day we went home with much food. After that Mathurin was not treated differently again. He was finally part of the community.

Over the next few years Mathurin learned about the forest and how it moves, how it speaks and how animals live in it. He found watering holes that the others never knew about. He also began to notice other tracks that had not seen before. They looked similiar to humans but not the same. Also of note was the areas that these tracks occurred. The wildlife stayed away when this group would arrive. Mathurin was curious as to why. Animals stay away from people but not like this. He told the old ranger.

He said that he had not seen those tracks in a long time. "Who are they?" he asked. "Orcs." he said. "And from the small items you found this appears to be a particularly bloodthirsty band. I encountered them years ago. Their leader still carries my scar on his face. And I carry his on my back. I knew it was foolhardy to think I would never see him again. He is looking for me. And he has some fierce orcs with him. He will not stop until I am dead."

From then on Mathurin was always on the lookout for anything that was out of the ordinary. Animals that had abnormal migration patterns, people that would travel to places they shouldn't be. It wasn't too long before the orcs came (6 months). Mathurin was out in the forest like he always was, learning and watching for anything out of place. It was a bit early for him to head to the village, but he decided to go anyway. There was a pretty girl Mathurin had been sweet on. He had gone to see her again. Her name was Marina, and he felt that she liked him.

As he was making his way over, he noticed tracks heading in the direction of the village. His eyes widened in fear when he realized that the orcs had found their community. They had been on the other side of the mountain. How could the orcs have found them? These thoughts and more plagued Mathurin as he moved quickly to the village. He readied his bow as he got to the outskirts. By now the sun was very low in the sky. Soon it would be dark (1 hour). He began to weave his way in while making as little sound as possible.

Mathurin came up on the first house and stayed in the trees just beyond the clearing. He stopped and listened. All was quiet. He continued moving around the clearing while making sure to stay out of sight. As he got closer to the small trading house he could hear some sort of commotion happening. Marina was on the ground. Next to her were two orcs, and they looked like they were having fun.

They were facing Mathurin but their attention was on the girl. She got up and tried to run away but before she could take more than a couple steps the orc on the right tripped her. That looked like it hurt. Right orc moved over to her and began pawing at her clothes. She was screaming as the orc turned her over. As he was about to do his dastardly deed she tried to crawl away but he pulled her to him.
Mathurin made a sound by stepping on some small branches. Right orc looked up. At that second, an arrow went sailing through his eye. Left orc didn't even have time to move before right orc was dead. Marina was screaming during all of this.

At this point Mathurin stepped out into the clearing and readied another arrow. Left orc saw me and pulled an axe from his belt and began to charge. Mathurin aimed a little too hastily and let another arrow fly. This one hit him in the right shoulder. He roared in pain but kept coming. Knowing that an arrow wouldn't stop him, he pulled his sword and braced for the charge. He never got close. An arrow hit his left leg and he stumbled and fell. As he was getting up Mathurin moved next to him and ended it.

"Bout time you showed up old man". He just looked at me and then I noticed the blood on his shirt. He fell over and I moved to his side. He had been in a fight and had lost a lot of blood. He looked up at me with eyes that were full of pain.

"They found me" he said. "I killed as many as I could but they were too much. I came back to help you. I want you to have this. My father gave it to me and I give it to you." (ornate scimitar, non-magical). "They are coming for the village. Take the girl and go before they get here."

After briefly checking the remainder of the village, Mathurin found that the rest were dead. He took Marina and left. He hunted as they traveled, and made shelter when they stopped. Eventually they came to a city and stopped there for a while. They decided that they would marry and he would look for work and see what opportunities could be had.

My name is Mathurin Kerbouchard. My wife is Marina Kerbouchard.