Tarn Kilragh's page

About Tarn Kilragh

"Regret?"

He turns to you, jaw set, his mouth a thin, stern line. A steady pulse twitches visibly at the side of one high-boned cheek. Though his craggy features favor his orcish heritage, there's a very human look in his eyes. The heavy weight of sorrow, tempered with a smoldering, undying rage.

"Let me tell you about regret."

His attire is simple, more the figure of a mendicant ascetic than an anointed knight. A hooded earth-brown cassock drapes over heavy plate armor, unadorned by finery or heraldic signetry often seen among the knighthood, though handsomely crafted and fitted to his frame. From his neck hangs a well-worn wooden symbol of Erastil's longbow on a leather strop. His face is lined, scars without and within, heavy lines marring what would be fairly youthful features otherwise - particularly around the yellow-orange eyes burning in fervor tempered by faith.

"Her name was Ceriden." As he speaks, words plain and uncomplicated, his sonorous tone hangs heavy in the air like the funereal tolling of a sacristy bell. "She was, I suppose, a homely girl now I think on it. I'll never forget that face of hers. I see her in every young acolyte I meet."

"Five years ago," he goes on, eyes growing distant as though training on a point far over the horizon. "I was first. My chance to prove myself, a half-breed, out to raid with my clan, back when we...when they, were still alive. I'm the only one left. The only one who remembers the day. The thatched roofs burning, the women screaming, the children weeping. It was chaos. Fire, blood, smoke. My chance to prove myself."

"They had barricaded themselves in the temple." His hand strays to his holy symbol. "I was first, through the door. There they all were, backed into a corner. She, the priestess, plead for their lives - even spoke a few words of Orcish. Said we could take her if we spared the children."

His teeth grind audibly.

"So we did. We took her. Again, and again. I was first."

"I am Tarr'kanath - Tarn, of Clan Kilragh. And I've known more regret than I hope you ever do."