The First Korvahn

Obaru Roj'm lived in a chaotic time in history. Criminals had no fear of the law because it was mostly a facade. The only crime that law enforcement would deal with was the kind that would benefit them, such as finding favor with a noble. The wealthy and nobility were relatively secure against crime, whereas the ordinary people had no recourse for wrongs done to them. Not only was law enforcement indifferent to the problems of the commoner, but it was also, more times than not, part of the problem. Corruption was rampant in law enforcement ranks.
Commoners were defenseless against evil men. The only way to be completely safe was to lock oneself behind closed doors and never see the light of day. Out of tragedy arose a hero who would reshape the world through his passionate quest for vengeance. The legacy he passed on would help to balance the scales of justice for the ordinary people.

A Humble Beginning

Roj'm was born 363,162 nohm-Verahda in a small village named Jenuis in the nation of Baltuk southwest of the Sea of Adronis. His parents lived on a feudal estate where they farmed the land in exchange for housing and protection. He had a total of 37 brothers and sisters, but most of them had married and moved away. Hence, it was just him and his two younger brothers, T'maj and Akar'n, and his younger sister, Kee'ta, living at home.

Death and Dishonor

by Eugene Poe

When he was 18 Earth years old, a band of thugs murdered his father and brothers and kidnapped his mother and sister. Roj'm missed his own appointment with death only because he was away on an errand. When he returned, he found his brothers dead and his father close to it.
As he held him in his arms, his father barely had the strength to recount the events of the past hour. In his dying breath, he urged his son to find his mother and sister and avenge the family's honor.
After attending to the death rituals, he pleaded with the lord of the manor on whose land his family resided to seek justice for his family. However, his lord callously dismissed his request, stating that he had more pressing concerns than one of his servants too weak to defend his family.

Quest For Vengeance

Having no other recourse, he begged his elder brothers to help him search for his missing family members. At first, they were resistant, believing the cause to be futile. But, Roj'm would not relent in his zeal, and they reluctantly agreed to come along.
After several months of searching, his brothers began to give up hope of ever finding their mother and sister and expressed misgivings for leaving their families to set out on a futile quest. Roj'm's passion for vengeance and reclaiming his family's honor would not let him rest. He rebuked his brothers, saying that he would find them without their help. He sent them away and continued on his own.

Vigilante

Lady Justice by CanotStopPrint

Though his passion was intense, it did not override his common sense. He realized the futility of his vengeance quest with his mediocre fighting skills. Even if his skills and strength were above average, the criminals would have the advantage of numbers. As he continued his search, he kept alert for honorable men to train him in the art of combat and stealth.
He lived off the land while spending many hours each day perfecting his skills and combat techniques. He combined the many different fighting styles he learned into a new fighting style that would later be called N'Taka after his death.
One of his many trainers taught him that not only must he be strong mentally and physically, but he must also gain the upper hand over his foes psychologically. Roj'm took this advice and changed his name to one he thought would strike fear into those who had reason to fear him. So he began calling himself Nal J'gar, meaning Death Dealer.
Also, he began having all his warrior harnesses and boots designed with a stylized skull motif. He began to carry a sack of silver coins. He hand-etched a flaming skull on each coin--these he left near the body of any criminal who was unfortunate enough to cross paths with Nal J'gar.

You must get inside your enemy's mind. Use his fears and taboos to your advantage. Never let him see you as just a man. Let him see you as his deserved judgment; not only his judgment but the judgment of all who hear of your deeds and have reason to tremble. Let that fear go before you wherever your path takes you.

— Durolin Val of Barukyl, trainer of Obaru Roj'm

Something else that intimidated foes was his insistence on not using a shield or armor. A shield would restrict his movement too much for his combat style, and armor would be too uncomfortable in the tropical equatorial climate.
At first, before his reputation grew, strangers called him a fool. That is, they called him a fool until they made the mistake of challenging him or attempting to blindside him. Many of his enemies tried to assassinate him, but he uncannily countered or dodged any attack against him.
He had honed his martial arts skills so intensely that he could intuitively sense impending danger. Although he was a heavy sleeper by nature, he would be instantly awake and completely alert when a threat was near. Many assassins sought to eliminate him as he slept, only to find a dagger held to their neck as they notched their arrow.
Those who saw him in action believed the gods sent him to avenge the blood of the innocent. Those who had only heard tales of him thought him to be a myth or at least believed the stories were greatly exaggerated. Either way, his reputation became known far and wide. Wherever he went, people met him with lavish praise, skepticism, or fear.

A Magnificent Steed

While in the countryside of Kamren, a nation north of the Sea of Phusar, he saw a herd of the most magnificent creatures he had ever seen. He was awestruck by their beauty and noble demeanor. He vowed that he would have one if it were the last thing he ever did.
He inquired of his instructor in the nearby village what sort of creature it was that exuded such majesty and had such a fierce presence about it. He was strongly discouraged from seeking such a creature because taming a Magrund would be a hopeless task. Never had anyone successfully done so, and he would be a fool even to try. Nevertheless, nothing could dissuade him and he secretly began plotting how he might get one.
He stayed in that village for much longer than he customarily lingered in any one place. He rarely stayed for more than about six months in any village or town before moving on. But, his plans required him to stay and observe the herd of wild beasts until he was familiar with their behavior enough to formulate a plan and carry it out.
He had been observing a pregnant female for several days when he realized what he must do. Nal J'gar followed the creature when it separated itself from the herd to find a safe, secluded spot to give birth. He planned to steal the baby while its mother was too weak to stop him. It was a heartless plan, and he began to curse himself for ever thinking of doing such a cruel thing. But, as he watched the mother die not long after the baby was born, he realized that he might not have much choice.
He could not let the baby wander around and get lost or starve to death without his mother's milk. He thought about taking it back to the herd, but he feared that the baby might not be accepted by its own--especially since he had already touched it and had his scent on it.
Nal J'gar returned to his camp and began nursing the baby with milk he had siphoned from a plant. Nal J'gar raised the young creature as a pet and formed a solid and enduring bond with it. Never before had any man tamed such a ferocious creature. All who observed the beast's obedience and loyalty were daunted by the man who could possess one as a mount. Nal J'gar's already legendary reputation spread far and wide.

Fight For Freedom

His greatly amplified renown made him an even greater target for assassins and cutthroats everywhere he went. One particular challenger for the bragging rights of killing the great Nal J'gar was Vodar Negrath, a noble from Behrahth, a small nation on the southern shore of the Sea of Phusar.
One day while Nal J'gar was bathing, a caravan of soldiers arrived on the embankment. The officer in charge delivered an engraved invitation to appear before Nohm-Torren Vodar Negrath of Miknor, a province in the nation of Behrahth.
Thinking it would be just another challenge, he made no haste in arriving at the governor's palace. But, if he had known what he would discover while there, he would have made his way as fast as his mount, G'Dorru, could run.
After being conducted into the governor's reception chamber, he saw among the palace slaves a very familiar figure. He sprang for the throne upon seeing his sister before Governor Negrath even had time to greet him.

I had heard of the dreadful vigilante who called himself Nal J'Gar, but I had always thought him the apparition of drunkards or fools. But, the man who appeared at the palace on that wondrous day was all that the tales spoke of and more. Never before or since have I seen such skill and grace displayed by a man of the sword.

As soon as the guards escorted the stranger beyond the chamber entrance, he bounded across the floor in a single, impossible leap. Relieving two guards of their heads before even touching the floor again, he then, just as quickly, sent five more to meet their gods.

— Ni-Jheyr Kiderrec of Malraen, freed slave of Nohm-Torren Negrath

In typical Behrahthi fashion, Governor Negrath ordered his men to stand down as he met Nal J'Gar's assault. The vigilante had never before faced such a skilled and agile opponent, but eventually, his superior skill and stamina, unorthodox fighting style, and sheer determination wore his opponent down. Nal J'gar and Negrath fought to a standstill for half an hour, but finally, Negrath began to falter. Nal J'gar disarmed him and had him at his mercy.
He could have easily killed him, but he chose to use the situation as leverage to gain what he wanted: his sister's freedom. Rather than kill him, Nal J'gar offered to trade him his life for the freedom of all his slaves. Negrath eagerly accepted his proposal and immediately ordered the release of all his slaves.
Nal J'gar trusted no one. He kept Negrath prisoner in his private chamber for several hours, enough time for the prisoners to find safe passage away from Kulahn, the capital of Miknor, and enough time to speak to his sister and arrange for a safe meeting place. After sufficient time had passed, Nal J'gar left Kulahn with Negrath as his prisoner. Once they were safely outside Behrahth, Nal J'gar set him free to fend for himself against the beasts of prey and the occasional wandering thieves.
Circling back around, Nal J'gar came to the inn where he had made some trusted friends upon entering the city and where he had arranged to meet with his sister. He never entered a strange town without making friends with honorable people he could trust to aid him in times like this. He never had trouble making friends because of his widespread reputation of being a defender of the weak and a fighter for the cause of justice.
He and Kee'ta hid there for several months, not for fear of his own safety but for his sister's sake. He knew that if Negrath were to search for his freed slaves, he would search the whole province, as well as any other province in which he was granted permission to search. Negrath would not think to search right under his own nose, in his own city.

Unexpected Partner

After sufficient time had passed, Nal J'gar set out to return his sister home and continue searching for his mother. He thought, at first, that it would be a simple matter of just taking her home and leaving her with one of his brothers. However, Kee'ta had other plans. She refused to go back home and insisted on traveling with him in his search for their mother. He tried his best to dissuade her, but of the many skills he had mastered in his life, dealing with the fairer gender was not among them.
They argued about it for many days before they finally agreed. Nal J'gar gave her strict conditions for staying with him. The first condition was that she do as he told her, without question or complaint. Doing otherwise might lead to certain death out in the wilderness of Arisdatha. The second condition was that she join him in his daily combat training--no exceptions.
He explained that his way of life had brought him many enemies, and they would certainly not hesitate to even the score by harming his sister. He told her that, even though he would do everything within his power to protect her, the day would inevitably come when circumstances beyond his control would arise.
Most of her life spent in slavery had strengthened Kee'ta's spirit greatly. Unlike other slaves she had shared her servitude with, she had never lost hope in being free once more. Rather than being bitter about her captivity, she had become defiant of the hopelessness that threatened to overcome her.
She used this same inner strength to bolster her resolve to honor her agreement. No matter how grueling the exercise, she never so much as whimpered from the soreness of her muscles or the sheer exhaustion from hour-after-hour of training. Pushing herself to the limit, she refused to quit until the day's training was complete or until her body refused to continue (which frequently happened at first, but less and less as time went by).
In a few months, her skills and stamina began to multiply. In a matter of years, she could face her brother in mock combat to a standstill most of the time. Sometimes, she could even catch him off guard enough to slip in a bit of creative swordplay to gain a win over him. Of course, he always claimed that he let her win, but she knew better.
In time, she became Nal J'gar's equal in all areas of combat and survival. He was not easily impressed, but he had to admit that he was glad that she was for him and not against him. She had grown strong enough that his threats to return her home to Baltuk no longer intimidated her because she knew she could easily take care of herself. But, she stayed because she knew that they would have a better chance of finding their mother if they remained together.
During the coming years, they roamed the lands finding adventure and being found by adventure. However, they did not have to wander far until their next adventure because, in those days, opportunists and evil men seemed to be the majority.

Search For An Apprentice

One day, Kee'ta spoke to Roj'm (she refused to call him Nal J'gar in private) about what had been on her mind for several months. She began to see their crusade of righting wrongs and avenging the innocent to be too overwhelming. There were just too many bad guys for just the two of them. So she proposed to Nal J'gar that they find someone of a like mind to train to carry on their ways.
At first, Nal J'gar was resistant to the notion. He was a loner by nature, and it had taken him a long time to adjust to Kee'ta's constant companionship. Moreover, he had already had to give up his occasional sordid liaisons and visits to houses of ill repute--as well as his occasional khevoti game (a betting card game that he was quite fond of)--since she had come along.
After much persuading and cajoling, Kee'ta eventually convinced him that it would be the best thing to do. So they began to scope out potential pupils wherever they went. Unfortunately, in most places where they stayed, they found no one worthy of their attention, and most who had a glimmer of potential refused to leave home and family to travel the world.
After many years of fruitless searching, they finally found a young street urchin named Tenan Dedasa in the nation of Mesolan near the Sea of Caspegor, who had lost his family because they were too poor to pay the "protection" money that the local crime lord had demanded from them. Since he had no social or familial ties to keep him there, he was more than happy to follow them.

An Apt Pupil

Tenan was an excellent pupil and quickly excelled in everything Nal J'gar and Kee'ta taught him. When he was old enough, and there was nothing more for him to be taught except what he could only learn through experience, he struck out on his own to continue in his mentors' ways.
Tenan found others to teach them his unusual way of life. He taught them to be teachers, as well. Just as he had been taught to pass on his skills and knowledge, he encouraged his pupils to do likewise.
Sadly, Nal J'gar and Kee'ta never found their mother, but they created a legacy that would forever change the world. As the number of disciples of Nal J'gar's unique training multiplied, the world began to call them the Great Fighters.

---

Request Denied

After Roj'm became confident enough in his skills and prowess, he set out to traverse the many challenges of the long, arduous journey to the hidden abode of the Hejebedi Mystics.
Having completed the numerous trials, and barely escaping with his life on some of them, the Gantla refused his request. He told Roj'm that personal loss was an insufficient cause for interfering in the course of history.
Historians and philosophers have often attributed a deeper meaning to the rejection. Perhaps, some argue, the mystics knew his struggle would one day become the foundation of a worldwide cultural movement. His self-reliance would set the standard for future generations of warriors following in his steps.

---

Super Hero?

Nal J'Gar would be considered an average, or maybe a bit above average, swordsman by today's standards. What set him apart from the average person was the driving passion that compelled him to live as a hermit and dedicate every possible hour to hone his skills to their utmost.
He was not superhuman in any definition of the word. In the beginning, he often made mistakes that came close to ending him, with luck being his sole salvation. Other times, bystanders intervened, but he never gave them credit--not out of ego, but because his reputation gave him the edge of intimidation.
He always expressed his gratitude for their aid whenever possible but impressed upon them the need to keep it a secret. However, as he became more experienced, planning and foresight took a more active part in his success.
He never saw the need for a secret identity. Living as a hermit kept him from developing solid relationships beyond the occasional affair with a local woman or prostitute.
He seldom became attached to anyone, and friendships he made along his journeys remained secret. His long practiced coldness and aloofness gave strangers the impression that he was from some unknown, distant barbaric tribe.

---

Baltuk

The Shores of Adronis

Open full size

The region surrounding Adronis, the largest of Arisdatha's three seas.

---

Behrahth

The Shores of Phusar

Open full size

The region surrounding Phusar, the second largest of Arisdatha's three seas.

---

Related Articles