[ WP ] You are a `` hero '' in a fantasy world , but as you `` adventure '' , you are slowly realizing YOU are the antagonist .

I held the sword that the blacksmith had delivered to me, her tribute in thanks for my protection. Small, for an orcish weapon, to suit my human frame. Still, it was heavy, a sturdy blade that would serve me well on my travels. 
 
 `` What was that word she called me? *Malug? *'' 
 
 Even after all this time, I still struggled with the orcish language. I could navigate a simple conversation, but their vocabulary is surprisingly extensive. 
 
 Thedlore looked at me for a moment, with an expression of... confusion, perhaps. He could be difficult to read. `` The word is... impolite... for a male to use.'' 
 
 I sighed. `` Do n't give me that crap, Thed. Just tell me.'' 
 
 `` It means'mother,''' he said, his voice low. `` But not in reference to one's own mother. It refers to a female who has born young.'' 
 
 Now it was my turn to look at him in confusion. `` But I have n't any children.'' 
 
 `` It's not literal. The word has picked up connotations.'' 
 
 `` Oh.'' I nod in understanding. `` So it's used to denote respect?'' 
 
 My assistant shrugged. `` It can be.'' 
 
 `` Very well then. Shall we face Wallad the Bloodbringer and bring peace to the village of Lumm?'' I asked as I sheathed my sword, hopping onto my horse, Valiant. Thedlore said nothing, but grunted as he began to run. In a short while, Valiant had caught up with him, and we raced out to the moor where we would intercept Wallad before he could reach the outskirts of the village that had adopted me. 
 
 Valiant's mane whipped in the air, thrown about from the speed of our travel, and, I thought, the wind that predicated a storm. The perfect weather for a confrontation, a battle of good and evil, to determine the fate of the people. 
 
 `` Many orc words can change meaning depending on who uses them,'' Thedlore shouted over the sound of the wind. Damn, I thought I'd been pushing him, but he's clearly not running as fast as he can if he still has breath left to speak. `` And the literal translation usually does n't tell the whole story. For example, Wallad-'' 
 
 `` For crying out loud, Thed, this is not the time!'' I cried, urging Valiant faster. We pulled away from Thed, and his next remark was lost to the wind before he had to focus his energy on catching up to us. 
 
 By the time I pulled on Valiant's reins and brought him to a stop, Thed was well behind us. I hitched Valiant to a tree and crouched in the brush, examining the signs that someone had been here. Just a little way from here would be Wallad's camp. If we caught him sleeping, this would all be *much* easier. 
 
 Slowly, cautiously, I moved through the scrubby vegetation. I kept quiet, not wanting to give myself away. Hopefully Thed would understand, and not follow me in to the undergrowth where he could alert our quarry to our presence. 
 
 `` As I was saying-'' 
 
 `` *Seriously*, Thed, when I say now is not the time, I mean it!'' I hissed, jumping at his sudden presence beside me. I forgot how stealthy orcs could be when they tried. I suppose it's all a matter of making an effort, which not many of them ever do. With a glare at Thed, I held my finger to my lips, then pointed ahead. Just within view were the remains of a campfire. I crept toward it, observing with elation that a makeshift bed seemed to be nearby. And as we drew closer, I realized that the bed even looked occupied. `` Thankfully, your little outburst does n't seem to have woken him,'' I muttered. 
 
 We were still several feet away when I drew my sword, hoping that the sound of metal scraping metal would not ring through the moor. Luckily the wind seemed on our side, picking up enough to mask the sound as I armed myself. 
 
 Smiling at my fortune, I finally drew alongside the sleeping form of Wallad the Bloodbringer. Today was the day. We would be victorious. The orcs would thank and praise me, gaining me powerful allies with whom I could conquer ever greater evils. I would be fulfilled. 
 
 With perfect dramatic timing, the sky unleashed a torrent of rain upon us as I brought my sword down into the form beneath me. The weather itself echoed the blood that... 
 
 Wait. 
 
 There was no blood seeping out of the blankets beneath me. This was n't right. The longer I looked at the form, the less it resembled a sleeping orc, or any kind of body at all. The rain was so thick, I could n't see clearly, but this sodden mess clearly was n't a person. 
 
 `` Attacking a foe while he sleeps?'' 
 
 Upon hearing the gruff voice, I looked behind me to see Thed held by a much larger orc, a blade at his neck. `` Are humans really so cruel, or are you just a malug like they say?'' 
 
 `` Unhand my companion!'' I declared, pointing the tip of my sword at Wallad's face. `` If you harm him, I will show you no mercy.'' 
 
 Wallad smiled, displaying his sharp and irregular teeth. An expression, I understood, of aggression as well as amusement. `` Of course. I would n't want to mistreat him. I expect he's been through enough already.'' 
 
 Thedlore was shoved to the side, as Wallad swing his blade toward me. He had the longer reach, undoubtedly greater strength, and his skill in battle was widely renowned. But I knew I could take him. 
 
 `` Well? What are you waiting for, malug? Not so eager to take me down now that you see I can fight back?'' Wallad took a step toward me, swinging his weapon in a lazy arc. Not an attack, really, so much as a test. Seeing how I would respond, if I could be goaded into a reckless action. 
 
 I moved to the side, away from Thed. He was no warrior, and deserved no injury as we fighters struggled. `` Why do you keep calling me malug? Thedlore said it's impolite for a male to use that word.'' 
 
 At that, I could hear the snorts that passed for orcish laughter. `` It is. I'm being impolite. Or, I'm sorry, are human warlords typically concerned with manners? Is that why you bother to learn our language? Slaughtering our people is n't as abhorrent to you as calling someone a name? In our culture, actions are considered more meaningful than the words one uses.'' 
 
 `` Actions are what speak the loudest. That does n't mean words do n't matter.'' As I spoke, I moved to the side, forcing him to keep turning, keep adjusting his position so that he could face me. 
 
 `` So you can kill our leaders, take our lands, abuse our people, and yet still feel superior to me?'' He adjusted his grip on his sword. In the rain, my own weapon was becoming slick. I would have to be careful to keep hold of it. `` You really are a malug.'' 
 
 I watched him closely, not responding. The dirt of the moor had absorbed enough water to turn it into mud, and Wallad's larger frame meant a lot more pressure under his feet than under mine. 
 
 `` And you!'' said Wallad, when facing Thed. `` How could you bring yourself to work for her? You-'' 
 
 Without warning, I leapt to the side and propelled myself toward him. As he turned to face me and bring his weapon in place to block my attack, he slipped. 
 
 I aimed not for his body or his head, but for his hand, knocking the sword loose so that it fell, useless, to the ground. Exhilarated, I stood triumphant, the point of my blade just touching the skin of his neck. He looked at me with an expression I could n't understand. 
 
 `` So you will take yet another tyrant from our people,'' were his last words. I did n't let my surprise at his candor stop me as I took his life. 
 
 Thed cleaned my sword for me, while I carried Wallad's back to Valiant. I could lift it, though it was too heavy for me to wield effectively. Thed had offered to carry if for me, but I'd refused. Even if it was oversized, I enjoyed the feeling of that sword in my hands. I liked imagining that I could use it to slay all those who stood in the path of righteousness. 
 
 `` Now hand that back, Thed,'' I said once I'd set Wallad's weapon on Valiant, where it would be plainly visible when we rode back into the village. 
 
 Thedlore did n't give me my sword right away, which was unusual for him. When I looked at him, I saw that same inscrutable expression that Wallad had given me right before I killed him. `` Thed! Give me that.'' I snatched the sword out of his hands, sheathed it, and mounted Valiant without a moment's pause. In the rain I did n't want to proceed at a gallop, so we took our time going back to the village. 
 
 `` They'll want to hold another feast for you tonight,'' he told me. 
 
 `` That makes sense.'' 
 
 `` And tomorrow... I've heard rumors that Littocol the Anguished plans to face you, in the event that Wallad failed.'' 
 
 Damn. Littocol rarely fought, anymore, but had been formidable in his day. `` Why did n't you tell me until now?'' 
 
 Again, Thed was quiet, and when I looked at him I saw that same inscrutable expression. `` I had hoped that Wallad would not fail.'' 
 
 From the tone of his voice, and from the content of his speech, I realized what I had been missing. That expression... it was fear. 
 
 As soon as he'd finished speaking, Thedlore ran from me. He took off across the moor, going all out, faster than I had ever seen him run. And, though the ground was treacherous, I urged Valiant after him. No one betrayed me and lived. 
 
 I could n't believe I'd lost another assistant. I would hunt Thedlore down if I had to chase him to the end of the Earth. And I would face Littocol and I would defeat him. I would become the greatest warrior to ever fight on behalf of the orcish people, even if I had to kill every last orc in order to do it.
