Horus who?

On the docks located in Pirates Bay, the Portmaster maintained his duties. He noted that more and more Orcs and Half-Orcs came to port daily and not just the usual sailors he had known, but those wishing to live in Enin, but Travin paid it no mind. Last he heard the Regeants voted to make the Orcs Free-Folk, and he would treat them as such. Travin was a tall man, black hair, and tan leathery skin you would expect of a man who has courted the seas all his life. No matter what war was on or not; no matter who was or was not in charge, his port would run so the good people of Enin did not suffer.

The ship from Ashura with all the imports from Tirianda was arriving, so Travin called his guards and moved to the spot at which the ship would dock. As the "Fresh Start" approached the docks, with in yelling range, he called out, "Ahoy Captain Piverek!" Smiling because his old friend was one of the furthest traveling ships and rarely came to port. As the Half-Orc captain poked up his head Travin said, "Why would you ruin this beautiful day with the ugliest face on all the high seas?" The brownish half-Orc captain called back, "Aye, if you looked in a mirror you would see this ports beauty has already been ruined!" As the ship docked, the boarding plank was placed and Travin stopped at the edge and said, "Permission to come aboard?" To which Piverek said, "Permission granted!" Taking his friends hand in a hearty handshake Piverek said, "Welcome aboard."

Travin grabbed his board and went straight to work, "All who are passengers, come forth and declare yourselves." All sorts of beings lined up, and one by one they were entered into the roster. As a tall and obviously muscular man approached covered and hidden within his cloak, Travin announced loudly, "I must warn each of you, Paladins of any order are illegal at any port and the mainland of Enin, and this law has but one punishment," during the pause he walked close to the covered man and finished, "death."

The man pulled his cloak back and said loudly with a hint of laughter, "And pray tell me good Portmaster, how many half-Orc Paladins do you know?" The crowd laughed hysterically at this, and Travin started smiling more embarrassed at his presumption. "I'm sorry good sir," Travin said with a look of embarrassment, "Name," he said and the half-Orc said, "Nevin." After a few more questions, the half-Orc disembarked. He had no idea what he would do to make a living here, but he would have to keep a low profile. As he walked toward the road, two overly strong men grabbed him and dragged him to the basement of one of the abandoned buildings. He was restrained in chains, but he was already in a fury. He began trying to break his restraints when a chair was placed in front of him, he smashed the chair on the cold hard floor and continued to fight. He yelled,"I have done nothing wrong, you cannot hold me here!" Just then a halfling male appeared from the shadows and calmly sat in a chair directly in front of the one that was just smashed. Recognition set in, and as he had calmed another chair was brought and placed atop the rubble on the ground. The halfling offered the half-Orc to sit and said, "I do not wish to take up too much of your time Horus, so if you will sit, I will get to the point." As Horus sat, the halfling calmly, as though talking to a long known friend continued, "Your brother has betrayed you, all of Tirianda is searching for you under the order of King Slater and they will continue to look for you," he paused for a brief moment, and then said, "in Tirianda." Horus looked confused and said, "And what is it that The Master would want from me in return for this...favor?" The Master leaned forward and said, "Horus, I am a simple man, and though I used to search for wealth and title and prestige, I have learned that information is much more valuable." Horus feeling trapped, confused and relieved, all at the same time just sat there. The Master just sat back in his chair and with a smile made a hand motion as his restraints were removed. The Master continued, "It's quite simple Horus, either you become an agent for me, bound to the guild by a black blood oath, or you die." And on that last word the shadows sounded like an entire army drawing weapons. Horus knew he had no alternative and on a positive note, he would no longer have to look over his shoulder. Horus sat proudly and said, "I accept your offer, Master." Just then two men clamped bracelets to each of Horus' wrist, a funny symbol appeared on both, a circumpoint with two parallel lines glowed blue on both bracelets as there was low chanting from the shadows, The Master stood and said,"Then kneel." Horus knelt on the floor, "Under penalty of your blood boiling within your body, do you swear to obey The Master, whoever he should be?" Horus looked The Master in the eyes and said, "I so swear it!" The symbols flashed brightly and Horus felt as if his whole body would burst into flames, and then it subsided. Horus began to panic but The Master continued a little more force in his voice, "Do you swear under penalty of being torn apart, that you will never bring any harm to the guild, its members, or those under its protection?" Horus set his jaw and with a raised voice exclaimed, "I so swear it." The symbols again burst forth and it felt as if every limb in his body would be ripped off, and again the torture subsided. The Master continued in almost a yell, "Do you swear under penalty of being wiped from existence, to render aid to any guild member or those under its protection even if doing so would end your life?" Horus grit his teeth and through them spewed, "I so swear!" The pain was unbearable and Horus screamed out as he felt as though his very being was being ripped apart in every direction, and again it subsided.

As the blue markings disappeared from the bracelets, he heard The Master say in his normal calm voice, "Arise Agent 81, as a sworn brother of the Order of the Silver Hand. A name you must never reveal to anyone outside the Order. We are known only as The Unknown and never admit to being part of it to outsiders." Twenty different persons emerged from the shadows, in what seemed to represent every race. Each shook Horus' hand and hugged him slightly calling him Brother. As The Master came forward with outstretched hand, Horus knelt and The Master shook his hand and as he hugged him he whispered, "You are seen as clean amount us Brother."

They talked for awhile and Horus was told to take any identity he would choose, to ingrain himself to Enin and be part of its society. He would give weekly reports by summoning the magical raven from his right bracelet and sending it off. As the room seemed empty all of a sudden a thin female came to The Masters side. The Master said, "Remember your oath brother and be warned, if you break it your very body will betray you." As the female grabbed his shoulder they disappeared. Horus was left alone in the basement of the abandoned house.