Man, Enick is awesome. A big, giant, muscular Orcin with skin on the darker side of brown. Bald as can be and a hell of a fighter with any weapon I've ever seen him use, as well as his hands. He can drink like a fish, is as tough as anyone I know and smart to boot. To top it all off he is not only funny, but he laughs at all of my jokes, too! A superior sense of humor, definitely. He is also a very loyal guy who actually likes to fight. A very useful friend to have.

Since it was already almost dark by the time we left my place I headed over to the tavern and boarding house where Enick is usually staying. He’s a great fighter but not so good with money.

“Look, Thilos, Enick used to be a slave gladiator after he was captured during an attack on a caravan by some gang he was a part of. A troop of Ansdron guardsmen just happened to be travelling on the same road and found them arguing over the loot. They arrested the whole bunch and they all became slaves of one sort or another. When you see Enick you’ll see why the made him a gladiator. Luckily, he was a very good one. So good that three years ago he won his freedom.”

Thilos nodded, impressed, not too many gladiators survived long enough to win their freedom, “How did you hook up with him?”

“Well, I’d followed his career as a gladiator and when he was freed I offered him a job as muscle and protection. We’ve worked together off and on ever since.” I gave Thilos a serious, warning, look. “But he’s also my friend. He’s not just muscle.”

Thilos nodded, “I get it.”

I’ve never had a lot of friends so I try to treat the ones I’ve got as well as possible.

We found Enick in the tavern connected to his boarding house. It wasn’t that impressive because that’s where he spends a lot of his time. It’s not an overly large tavern, or even a nice one but it has drinks and tables to game at. Enick was at a table against the far wall playing cards. “See the big, bald Orcin?” I said to Thilos who nodded because, really, Enick is hard to miss. “That’s Enick. Come on.”

As we were making our way over to the table one of the men playing cards and sitting to Enick’s left, stood up angrily and started yelling. “You cheating Orcin! We’re gonna kick the shit right out of you until you’re as grey as us Mindolans!” I kind of liked the line, except for the fact that it meant he thought the other four men at the table, all Mindolans, were going to help him fight, or rob, or kill, Enick. Maybe all three. Bringing up race during a game isn’t meant to be friendly. The guy also didn’t look too bright, and not just for challenging a giant of a man like Enick.

At this point Enick also stood up, quite slowly, to emphasize just how big he was. He stood over his accuser by at least a foot and a half. The accuser seemed to notice this for the first time because he took a couple of steps back. Enick moved toward him, again, very slowly, “I hope that is the drink talking because I don’t like being called a cheater.”

I leaned over to Thilos – we were only two tables away by this point – “Thank the Gods he’s a better actor than he is a cheater.”

“We need to get him out of here,” Thilos whispered back.