The naming of Rpg

[cRaZy8or5e]

The barracks were alive with the loud raucous laughter and conversation that is so common among soldiers everywhere. They jeered at each other as much as they cheered them, exchanging cruel jibes that among this social group was not only expected but welcome. In a corner of this verbal melee sat two hulking giants, half ogres, one setting to an early lunch, while the other watched the room over the top of a tankard of ale.

The observer was Ajax Rix, a giant of a half ogre that was exceptionally strong, even for one of his lineage. He upended the massive tankard of ale down his throat and continued to observe the room, thinking. Next to him sat another monstrous half ogre named Scorpio. Scorpio was messily devouring a whole calf leg that he held in both massive hands, burying his face in it like a child with a watermelon rind. There was as much meat going in his mouth as there was ending up on his beard, in his hair, and down the front of his armor. Ajax was appalled at his half ogre friend’s eating habits, but ignored this as Scorpio was a steadfast and true companion. More importantly he was the same as Ajax. In a city like Daeron, full of religious zealots, being half ogre was as difficult as defending the faction from the myriad enemies that swarmed across Aetheria. The discrimination and sideways glances at first had unsettled Ajax. In his own world, he had been a gladiator, a champion in his own city, and a heralded hero praised by all the good races. In Daeron there were times he felt that the Paladins, especially those touchy Aasimar were as likely to plant their swords in his back as they were to attack their enemies. The xenophobia and religious fervor that swept the city was enough to make a half ogre want to turn his back on them and leave them to their troubles.

However, Ajax knew that deep down inside, he could never turn his back on a people in need, no matter their mindset or prejudices. His own personal code of conduct prevented him from ever doing that.

“Be honest in all things, never cheat, lie, or steal, and protect the weak against the evil strong.” He voiced aloud.

Scorpio grunted through the calf leg, taking a long sniff of air through flared nostrils, reluctant to separate his mouth from the meat. Ajax turned to his friend and smiled, ignoring the wide berth that their table received by all the other patrons. He knew that although they were prized for their fighting ability, too many of the residents, even men who had fought alongside them, feared them for what they were.

At that moment Ajax noticed that the door to the barracks had opened. The Sergeant at Arms was leading someone in, but from his seat at the back of the room, Ajax could not make out the person he had in tow.

“FRESH MEAT” a particularly obnoxious guard called from the bar.

Ajax noticed it was a new recruit, still weak from his transition through the rift. He was tall, with black hair and ruddy skin.

“Wrn ef em erffy mboys” Scorpio said through his meal, spraying spittle and beef juice across the table.

“Yes he certainly looks like an earth genasi.” Ajax said.

Catcalls followed the Sergeant and the new recruit through the room as they made their way through the tables towards the Quartermaster in the next room. Ajax met the eyes of the young man and saw a steely resolve. Ajax thought to himself ‘this man has a warrior spirit.’ There was a brooding darkness behind those eyes and a promise of violence. The eyes of the young man softened at the gaze of Ajax and the brooding darkness and tense countenance became almost friendly for a brief moment before moving on.

Ajax turned to try and catch a steward as the new recruit moved into the Quartermaster’s room.

“Steward!” he called to a young man bustling by trying to avoid Ajax and his attempts at getting his attention.

“Yessir?” he asked, not even looking up at Ajax.

“Don’t be troubled boy, the beast is being fed.” He tried joking as he pointed a thumb at Scorpio. Scorpio responded with a sharp elbow thrown at Ajax’s ribs. “Can I get another tankard of bitter please.” He held out his empty tankard but the steward seemed reluctant to move close enough to grab it. Ajax frowned and placed the empty tankard in front of him realizing the steward’s fear.

“Right away sir.” The man squeaked and hurried off.

“Prolly gonna spit in it.” Scorpio remarked after wiping his face with his cloak.

“That’s why I always get the bitter, know worries bout tasting their spit.” Ajax retorted.

At that moment the door to the Quartermaster opened and the Sergeant at Arms came out with the new recruit.

“Arpeggio you can get yourself some chow here in the barracks mess. Meet me out front at one candlemark past the midday mark. Do you know our time periods here?” The Sergeant questioned him. The recruit nodded in reply still eyeing the rest of the room, obviously looking for some welcome place to sit down. No one met his gaze except for those with more religious fervor than sense who glared openly at the earth genasi.

“Need a place to sit lad?” Ajax called.

“Watch out for those two, they’re as likely to eat you as make friends with you.” The Sergeant teased.

“Now Sergeant, don’t go scaring off the new help like that.” Ajax liked the Sergeant, a good man in a tight spot and an excellent judge of character.

“I’m not talkin’ bout you Ajax, just your pet beasty there who likes to wear his meals. One good thing bout Scorpio, if you ever run out of food, just shave his beard and make stew out of it, Dear Gods man, you’ve got half a cow in that tangle.”

Scorpio giggled in reply, “Never know when might need extra food.”

“Allow me to introduce these two upstanding gentle . . . *smiles* beasts. The wellspoken one with the huge sword is Ajax Rix, and the one wearing half his lunch is Scorpio. You’d be hard pressed to find two warriors that can wield their weapons better than these two weaponmasters.” He glanced at a candle on a sconce mounted on the wall. “Look at the time, I’ll see you shortly recruit.” The Sergeant moved off swiftly.

Ajax motioned to a chair at the table just as the steward returned with another tankard of ale. He ordered more food for the table and ale for the newcomer.

“Your name’s Arpeggio? Is that what he said?” Ajax asked. “What were your parents music lovers?” he teased with a grin.

The young man grinned in reply. “I don’t know, the master at the orphanage that I grew up in gave me that name sayin that I had a one track mind. You know how in music you have chords, well, he said I couldn’t put together a chord and had to do each note or thought in its turn, no complexity.”

“Man after my own heart.” Ajax smiled. “Arpeggio, I kind of like that, though you might want a new name in this crowd. People are gonna have fun with that one.”

“ArrPeeGee?” Scorpio questioned.

“No Arr pay gio” Ajax sounded it out for him.

“Arr Pee Gee.” Scorpio stated. Ajax could tell that in Scorpio’s mind he was saying it correctly.

“Noooo Arr Pay Geee Oooh.” Ajax corrected getting frustrated.

Scorpio smiled, “Ats what I said, Arr Pee Gee.”

“You know Scorpio, how you became a weaponmaster is beyond me. You really are an idiot savant aren’t you.” Ajax said growing even more frustrated.

Scorpio just gave him his idiot’s grin, “Yep! Me Special!” He pointed the now stripped leg bone at the young man and stated with finality “RPG.”

“Huh, Rpg, I can live with that. Get rid of that last vestige of an oppressive youth.” The young earth genasi said with a smile.

“It’s a nonsense name.” Ajax countered in disbelief.

Scorpio frowned “S a goot name!”

Rpg smiled, “Yes, yes it is. I’ll take it. Time for a new beginning for me anyway.”

Ajax shook his head and smiled, “Well it is that lad, it is that. Welcome to the Northern Coalition Rpg, may your name be one that strikes fear in the hearts of your enemies, and warms the hearts of your allies.”