In Your Shadow, Where I stand: Chapter 1

Upon first arrival to Ustalav, it cannot be said that the warrior Madrake was welcome with open arms. The few stories told about his first months there contain a plethora of words like: Homeless, Violent, Rapist, Grave Robber, Necromancer Lover, and Conspirator. Which of these are true and which are hearsay are not for me to judge, for it is his actions soon thereafter that he will truly be known for.

Having fled from Cheliax upon freedom of his slave life, it is said he simply chose a direction and went that way. For weeks he traveled across Golarion, either with caravans, on stolen horses, or simply walking alone wherever he could survive. His path led him North East to Ustalav. It would have just been another brick on his road to tomorrow, save for one man he met in his first weeks therein.

Having been raised to beat the life out of people to take what he needed, finding gold to survive was oddly not a problem. Keeping hidden from local marshals proved more challenging, but not beyond his abilities. If he broke a man, and found 20 gold coins, he would take 7. enough to live for another week, eating well and sleeping in a restful locale. 13 would be enough coin to get a cleric to mend their wounds. It was almost just, but still cruel.

The man of great importance Mandrake soon met in his life was unlike any other he had encountered. His name was Professor Lorrimore, and for the first time Mandrake met someone who felt sorry for him. The pity infuriated him, but something about the man stayed his quick fists. The man spoke to him with educated words. Calm and sweet words that seemed to calm the beast inside Mandrake's head. Like a beaten dog, Mandrake followed the Professor home, when asked.

In his humble mansion, Lorrimore began teaching him. No lessons in mathematics, reading, or history, but lessons in humanity. Morality. A precise and careful dissection of the difference between the free countries, and the land of devils Mandrake hailed from. It was only a few months into these lessons that the great man himself died. The circumstances were curious, and uncertain. It was in swearing to solve the mystery of his teachers death that Madrake fell onto the road of discovery that leads to my next insert....  

In Your Shadow, Where I Stand:The Warrior Mandrake” by Master Artificer Tyrmyr of Cheliax