Rsss’tak's page

Ever since he was a hatchling Rsss’tak had seen his people struggle. It was the way of his folk but he didn’t have to be happy about it. He was a dreamer in a race of pragmatists. Dreamed of the bigger world, dreamed of becoming one of the Lizard Riders of his village.
It was this dreaming that drew him to an odd Lizard folk, his Kursssin Djatrix. Although not clutchling's he had seen to look after this Lizard Folk. He talked of strange places and odd things that captured Rsss’tak imagination. So they grew up as friends and Djatrix said that one day he would be a protector.
But the elders always said he was too meek, and not proud enough for a Lizard Folk Protector even though he had the bulk for it. Most of his people were rash, powerful warriors who preferred direct assaults and tearing their opponents apart. Rsss’tak has always thought that tactics and subtlety we just as important. In the minds of most of the tribe’s warriors, that made him weak. In his mind it made him smarter than most.

He had little way to prove his abilities until Djatrix told him that Rsss’tak should go to the Trollmires, something told me I needed to go there that there was someone or something that needed my help! He often wondered far from the village and many times through the Trollmires alone so he did not fear to head out alone. This time his wanderings took him to the sound of battle. When he crested the hill Rsss’tak saw two Elves. Yes rare and quite majestic looking Elves.
They were locked in a titanic struggle with a Trollmires Vorta, a snake of massive proportions. The Elves seemed to work as one. The snake would try to strike one Elf and he would roll out of the way and the other would strike at it from the other side. But finally the snake struck true though and latched on to one Elf, pulling him from the ground. Something made me move at that moment. While the snake was busy with the Elf I leapt into the fray on the other side of the Elf still standing and started pounding on the creatures head with my club and my claws. What seemed like forever passed as more blood and gore covered all of us. When it was over the Elf, named Jolarius, untangled himself from the snake and thanked me for my courage in helping him and his partner, Kloria defeat the Vorta. To my surprise the Elf spoke our language. He asked me where I was from and when I told him he said he was making a visit to my village on an important mission.
As we travelled he asked me many questions. He was surprised at my easy manner and impressed with the fact that I knew much about the surrounding world. When we arrived at the village, our arrival together helped calm some of the warriors who were alarmed by the sudden appearance of two Elves.
At the gathering that night the guest was honored and the reason for him being here was made evident. He bore a woodlands staff. A rare magical item once held by my people.
By the agreement of our peoples I return the staff once lost to your folk. In return, I accept the knowledge of the ancient tree to help the few Elves that remain. I also wish to honor one of your warriors. The young Lizard Folk who accompanied me here, Rsss’tak. Ask a boon of me and I will do what I can to fulfill it.
All of the tribe’s eyes turned to me. I was surprised by the Elves gesture but quickly blurted out what I had been thinking the entire day since our meeting, I wish to become a Lizard Rider, one of the protectors of the tribe. Many here do not think I am worthy of the honor but I know I have the heart and the soul to become one . Jolarius smiled and turned to the Elders. I had probably just outfoxed many of the Elders in the tribe.
When he spoke it changed my life forever, I will do as you ask. You will have proved yourself in combat to me. Proud Elders, this hatchling has honored me in combat and my life is his, in return he has asked this boon of us. As a guest I can ask for one boon from you, I ask this for Rsss’tak. Will you fulfill his request?
Reluctantly they agreed to do so. They made it hard on me for making it happen in such a manner, but they could not turn me away without dishonoring our traditions. They were surprised with how quickly I learned the ways of the lizard Riders and equally how fast I had bonded with my Marsh Drake, Visssila.
Becoming a rider had taken up almost all of my time and I saw my friend little. When Djatrix was suddenly banished because of his visions on his day of scales (the day a youngling becomes a full Srrrt'kestrak) Rsss’tak was saddened and feared for Djatrix's life. He was not a great warrior or hunter and the Trollmires were not a place for one unprotected as he, but he could not abandon the training that he was in the middle of to chase down an exile. He to would become one of the exiled if he did so. So he struggled with his inner spirit while he learned all he could. Eventually I became a Rider in spite of them, even if I wasn’t the hand-picked warrior as the rest were but it was a short lived glory.
Djatrix returned to the village to rip the truth from Xath'ix's mind in the trial of words. I knew his visions, knew he told the truth. What may have been too much for his people was not too much for him. As Djatrix walked out into the Trollmires alone again he decided his own fate, exile or not Djatrix would not walk alone again. He packed up all of his possessions and rode out to Djatrix. Need a ride Kursssin, smiling a toothy grin. Djatrix tried to turn me away from his fate, but my fate was already sealed. For better or for worse, the two would walk together on the path that awaited them.