The Marshall of Fear
Marshall Norias
Solusek Ro

Story by
Niteskie

The crisp meat almost melted in his malformed mouth. “Mmm, Froglock good.” Marshall Norias took another gluttonous bite from the human-sized frog leg. The skin crackled as he bit into it. Disgusted looks flew his way from the other patrons of the small tavern. Marshall didn’t take any notice.

“Barmaid!” The bellow shook glasses. A timid girl scurried over to the huge ogre’s table, her eyes riveted to the floor.

“Ye… Yes sir?” Her voice trembled under Marshall’s hard stare.

“Another ale.” He laughed heartily as she scurried off, noticing her frightened glance at the gargantuan two-handed axe that rested near his side. He demanded respect; what else was there?

There was one thing that brought that respect.

“Marshall Norias?”

The ogre looked up, his spiked lower teeth holding back his top lip. “Who you?”

The man was human, dressed in full plate armor. A winged helm rested underneath his right arm. “Are you Marshall Norias, high ranking Paradigm member?”

Marshall made a grunting noise, turning back to his meal. The man simply waited for a response, not moving.

“Why?” Marshall spoke through a mouthful of Froglock. The barmaid hurriedly laid another overfilled mug of ale on the table before slinking off. The ogre grabbed it, spilling much of it before it hit his lips. He drained the mug in one large slurp. It hit the table before the human responded.

“We were told to talk to you.” The human looked Marshall directly in the eyes.

“Who say dat?” He locked eyes with the human, challenging him.

“The leaders of Paradigm.” He pulled out a scroll.

Marshall snatched the scroll from the human, opening it with large, greasy hands. “Hmm, you right.” He looked up. “What you want?”

“That’s simple, my large friend. We need you.”

Marshall laughed. The sound turned heads throughout the bar. “Me? Why you want me?”

The human moved to the table. He put a hand in his breastplate. Marshall grabbed his axe, moving it to the man’s throat before he could react. “Not good, you take hand out there. Or maybe me cut.”

The startled human raised both his hands slowly. In one he held a small red jewel. “I wanted to show you this… that’s all.” He offered the jewel to Marshall.

“I know dis. Where you get dis?” He turned the jewel over in his hand.

“The tower of Soulsek Ro.”

Marshall’s eyebrows raised, “Why you want me?”

“We hear you are the best. We need the best where we are going.”

Marshall pocketed the jewel. “What in it for me?”

“Anything you want, My Lord,” the man bowed deeply.

Marshall’s face split in a large grin.

Marshall Norias is the master of fear on the Solusek Ro server.
Norias is a proud long-time member of Paradigm.