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+---- Thread: Norrick Waynolt (/showthread.php?tid=4398)
Norrick Waynolt - Necromancing the Stone - 10-09-2021
The tiny Norrick stood, fists clenched, his breath coming in deep ragged gasps. His face was flushed red with anger, and his little mouth screwed shut with his teeth clenched so hard, anyone within ten feet could here them grinding together.
Now Norrick, they are just being boys. You need to be able to accept a little teasing without such outbursts.
His teacher was trying to be helpful. Really she was trying to keep him from getting killed. Norrick stands only 5 feet 2 inches tall, and if he weighs 125 pounds, it was miracle. Every day he wore raised shoes trying to make himself appear taller, but no one was fooled. He could barely pick up a raisin off the floor without getting winded. He couldn't walk to class without having to stop to catch his breath somedays. He wasn't sick.....he was just weak and frail. The only attribute he had, is he was surprisingly quick and agile.
Inevitably, the bigger, stronger children would key in on his difference, his WEAKNESS and key their unwanted, unwarranted, and wholly cruel attention.
You're too weak to survive!
Your parents should have fed you to the slaves!
You will never be ANYTHING!
Most kids in Norricks position, would curl up and take the abuse. But not Norrick. When the teasing would start, the rage would build inside him until he lashed out and attacked his tormenters. His anemic fists landing ineffective blows while he screamed wildly. He never could get the kids that tormented him to even get so much as a bruise from his futile attacks. They would just stand there and laugh while he bounced his fists off of their faces like a feather landing on a pillow.
Norrick began to overcompensate for his size. He volunteered for being hall monitor in school. He craved the authority. It became his way of striking back without having to get physical. He could lord over the fiefdom of the halls....those without passes always felt the wrath of his pen. Writing them up and telling on them to the headmaster. The beatings continued after school of course, but he was able to avoid many of them. He was quick and could slip and dodge his way out of most physical blows. He was also highly intelligent and wise. He could plan his routes home, anticipate where the bullies would be waiting, and avoid those locations.
This went on for years. Norrick would latch onto whatever program or position he thought would bring him the most prestige and clout, and leverage that position to make himself out to be a strong and tough person. He continued to wear his platform shoes, trying to give himself a free few inches of height, fooling no one. His temper never faltered, and he was quick to answer all challenges and insults with his tiny, ridiculous fists.
Just before the end of the school year, the other boys in the school had finally had enough of little Norrick and his "too big for his britches" ways. Several of the boys got together and formed a plan. There was a patch of woods in between the school and his home out in the farmlands north of Tyraturos. The boys laid low for several days, lulling Norrick into a false sense of security. He meandered down the path home, his weak constitution forcing him to take a break every few minutes, cursing his lot in life whenever he had to do so.
In the thickest part of the woods, he was sitting in the shade of a giant tree, resting. He pulled out a small package of nuts and berries his mother had prepared for him, and was snacking to regain some of his strength.
A branch snapped.
Then another.
Then he could hear the breath of the children that had silently surrounded him.
Norrick jumped up, knowing what was about to happen.
I will slaughter you all!
he squeaked ineffectually.
The boys didn't even say much. They just started beating him. They slapped away his limp arms, and rained punches and kicks, along with humiliating slaps. It seemed like an eternity to Norrick, and it seemed like he was going to die. He bellowed as loudly as his flimsy lungs would allow.
As unconsciousness took him, he heard a loud roar. It was strong and sure, and carried on, drownign out the terrified screams of the boys beating Norrick.
He was slipping in and out of consciousness, he would open his eyes for a moment and catch a glimpse of the ruckus, then drift back out, then open his eyes fleetingly again, catch another glimpse...his brain not quite able to put together what had happened.
He remembered being carried...but ...strangely. It wasn't the full in the arms kind of carry his father and mother would use to put him in bed sometimes. No this feeling was different. Something strong, and sharp was carrying him from a single point of his shirt, right at the base of his neck.
When he finally woke up, his eyes were swollen from the beating he had taken, but functioning, at least. Norrick looked around, strteched his aching body, and then jumped a full foot in the air and screamed loudly. The largest dire tiger he had ever seen was languishing on the ground in front of him. It's tail swayed back and forth lazily. Its yellow menacing eyes fixated on Norrick.
Norrick didn't know whether to run or stay put. He stood there frozen in fear, unable to will his body into any action. Just when he thought he was goign to finally be able to make his body do something, something..........happened.
The dire tiger seemed to go all blurry. Norrick couldn't focus on its form, like he was underwater and trying to open his eyes. In less than a second that seemed like an eternity, the dire tiger was no longer there, but a disheveled man, dressed all in blue and gold, sat there.
Quite a beating they gave you. Looks like you tried to defend yourself. Poor job of it. Poor job if it. You will need to find strength. There are ways. Talos and I will guide you and unleash your fury upon the world.
Norrick was dumbfounded... he tried to squeak out about the tiger that was just there, but couldn't. He dropped all pretense of resistance, and just went with the man into the woods to learn his ways.
After several years, the still tiny, but much changed Norrick emerged from the woods, sauntered down to Tyraturos, and joined the Legion. Ready to take on all enemies of Thay, and prove to whoever needed proof that he was stronger than his height, weight, strength, and endurance would indicate.
Particulars:
Height: 5'2/5'4" with his platform shoes in his armor, of course (1.57 meters/1.62 meters respectively)
Weight: 125 pounds (56.6 kilos)
Hair: Black when grown in but kept shaved.
Race: Mulani Human
Tattoos: Covered in holy symbols of Talos in Blue, Black, and Gold. Exposed skin of neck, hands, and face are not tattooed, though his shaved head is tattooed.