Einhar-Themed Talent Competition

It’s not often in Wraeclast you see somebody so unaware of the devastating state of existence here. Every day is a fight for survival; it is cruel, and lonely...For most. But not the Mighty Einhar Frey.

It was a day like any other, scrambling to make my way through the Western Forest without having my guts ripped out by a bunch of parasite-ridden apes. A pack of them had me surrounded, knocking my bow from my hand as I slipped in the mud. I was watching the large beast raising it’s matted arms to smash in my skull when a ripping shout filled the air. Whirring arrows whizzed above me, finding their mark in the ape’s red face. Blood and bone splattered over my arms, my heart racing as I turned my head to see this new danger. I had seen cannibals and the Blackguard, and corpses that walked and hungered for flesh; what new monster wearing a man’s face was awaiting me now?

They did not disappoint, with a pointed bleached skull covering their face, and blood-red feathers splayed from their shoulders. They looked fearsome and merciless, hooked claws poking from the ends of their footwear--which appeared to have been taken from some unfortunate bird. I was about to make for my bow before they could reload their crossbow, expecting to have to kill or be killed, when suddenly a thick, warbled laugh sounded. It wasn’t vicious like Piety’s cackle. It was...mirthful. Something I had not heard long before I was banished here. I was confused--cautious. Was this a trick to get me to lower my guard? I could feel the adrenaline screaming through my veins as the figure closed the distance, until they reached out their hand towards me.

“Here--let Einhar help you up! You looked like you needed rescuing, yes?” I couldn’t place the thick accent, since it didn’t seem important as I stayed still, every muscle tensed. “Come now--do not feel shame over it! Many people need a hand from time to time. Many people not Einhar, that is. Einhar is too clever for big ape. Except that one time Einhar wasn’t...But Einhar alive today and that ape is not so, still too clever.” I blinked, unsure if the man was serious. He chuckled at his story, but not in a way that made me think he was telling a joke. Carefully I took the hand offered and was yanked to my feet, the man quite strong. I wiped at the mud and ape face chunks on my person, not the biggest fan of walking around with gore and filth clinging to me day in and day out. I almost asked the stranger his name, but by now I think it was...rather obvious what it was.

“Since I help you, can you spare some time to help the mighty Einhar? I promise you will not get ape all over you.” He turned around and motioned for me to follow, heading further into the forest clearing. “I cannot promise you will not get other beasts all over you, though. Is a messy job I need help with. Fun! But messy…” I followed Einhar through the trees, listening to him go on about the most random and curious things. They sounded fantastical to downright disturbing--and a few that even seemed inappropriate. But I didn’t mind hearing him speak so much. In fact, I found myself hanging on every word. It was refreshing from the muttered ramblings and desperate requests of everyone else I’d come across that wasn’t trying to cut out my organs for supper.

We passed into a clearing that had been turned into a camp. Or rather, a camp and a bunch of cages and makeshift fencing. There were a couple tents that looked to be living spaces and the cages themselves living spaces for something else. Somethings to be accurate. There was a small pack of rhoa’s watching us warily as we approached, and in the next one over were glaring hellions gnawing on bones. They didn’t so much as glance over at us as Einhar gestured around the area broadly. “Welcome to the Menagerie, Exile! It is Einhar’s home and passion. I raise the beasts, preparing for the coming of the First Ones. No need to hide it, you can be impressed. But wait until you see the blood altar--”

Before he could finish speaking, there was scuffling and growling a moment before four or five small hellion pups came careening from around the corner deeper into the encampment. They charged for the door, Einhar leaping into action--literally. He ran and lunged at the pups, scooping them into his arms as fast as he could. He managed to snag three, the other pair trying to make their escape. I imagine letting tiny fiery monster dogs run free through the forest was a good way to burn the entire thing down, I decided it would be best for me to step in. I gripped my bow and pulled the string back, my fingers grazing over the glinting gem embedded into the from. I could feel the cold course through me, swirling around my fingers as I released the string. Growing shards of ice flew over near the entrance, landing a few feet from the hellion pups. It shattered as it landed, forming large, jagged pieces of glass that had the pups skidding to a halt. They snarled and spat small flames at the ice, but it would take them far too long to melt it enough to get by it.

“Ahahaha! So you are impressive, too, Exile! I had a feeling.” Einhar tossed the pups in his arms into the cage with the rest of their pack, going and fetching the others. “They like to play like this; Einhar puts them in cage and they burn down fence, only for Einhar to build bigger and stronger fence for them to burn down when they miss Einhar.” He sounded quite confident in this as he held the last pup in his hands and moved his face closer. It snarled viciously and tried to snap at the bleached skull mask, its small paws looking like it wanted to tear him to shreds if they could. “Ahh, yes I know. We’re such great friends, little beastie. So fierce to try and impress Einhar. Very good. I will be sad when we have to sacrifice you to the First Ones.” He sets the last pup over into the cage, coming and clapping a hand firmly on my shoulder.

“And we will be even greater friends. You’ll see, Exile. Einhar is going to show you many amazing beasts and the right ways to catch and kill them so we shall be spared by the First Ones. Always important to think of the future, yes? And you would not think many of these beasts taste very good--and you would be right. Very bitter. Lots of poisonous ones, too. Einhar does not suggest trying it unless you have no choice. Trust Einhar--we’re friends now. I don’t want you to die like big ape I kill.”

And so began a new chapter of my journey, one that was no longer filled only with grim prospects and harrowing dangers. This was one of boisterous laughter and adventure...And only a few times where Einhar threw a few nets on me by accident thinking I was a beast.

Part 1: Einhar’s Glory

Einhar, Einhar our bestial friend,
To you, huntsman, I greetings send;
I write this day with pen in hand
From a ruined desk in Wraeclast land
I’m tucked away in Sunspire glory
Well focused now on Einhar’s story
Of how a man has tamed the beasts
And lived to tell to say the least;
Behind the mask of black and beak
Within the eyes, it’s the man we seek:
A hunter brave and ill equipped
We seek to capture in manuscript.

Brave keeper of the beasts we take,
The meals we cook and things we make,
You wander in among the pens
Feeding normal beasts and mutagens
Prepping all for the time to come
When by magic they become
A needed gem or magic item
That I an Exile can, like Priam,
Fight my war against the gods
In a struggle against all odds.

In Zana’s realm, when beasts appear
Three four five or six are near
And there you are with darts in play,
A ranged attack against the beasts we slay
It’s all around the map you run
Killing monsters just for fun
And seeking targets as your quarry,
If I kill too slowly, for that I’m sorry;
But I just melee with ax in hand
And close to death I must stand
To swing my blade with cleave and flay
In hopes their blood will drain away
Before their numbers come to count
And I die and one-shot shout—
Shit!

But our tale is happy one
As my beastly capture is almost done,
And to level up I need just three;
More new ones soon I hope to see.

Einhar, Einhar our bestial friend,
I will bring this now to its end,
And offer thanks beyond reason,
And say goodbye ‘til hunting season.