Michael Okov & Renarux, Banes of Garium

“They are right to call me monstrous for what I have done, but if I had to do it again, I would do it a thousand fold stronger than before. Death comes to the enemies of Kerkia, death comes to the enemies of the Light.” -Michael Okov on his misdeeds

“I often think about our deeds in Garium, and what we did all those seasons ago. We did many things, good and evil. Yet the circle was fixed, and that is all that mattered to me. Yet I think about him often, and his desires. It is a warm thing to think he did it solely because he wished to see the captive set free.” -Archdruid Renarux on Michael Okov

Michael Okov was a member of the Okov Clan in Kerkia, which lived deep in the Black Forest. Being born of the 3rd brood, he was doomed for a life of menial work, and dreaded it. Taking leave of the clan, Michael went to the eastern ports, where he worked as a fisher and sailor. During his brief time in the port, Michael was approached by a mercenary company of Sea Kerks who were bound for work in the north. Michael, at first refusing the request, had a vision the following night, and joined the Sea Kerk mercenaries as they made their way north towards what is now Pegaland. Michael and his company were hired for common guard duties of several caravans.

Yet, things changed when one of the caravans that Michael and the mercenaries were sent to guard was a slave caravan bound for Ergland, a secret and illegal one. In that caravan was the kidnapped druid apprentice Renarux, a Ratik mage from Wargland. Confronting his boss and fellow mercenaries, Michael would initiate a duel between himself and the others, killing them and being mortally wounded in the fighting only to be saved by a thankful Renarux. Although ungrateful due to being saved by something he considered abominable, the two decided to journey together to Bayland to recoup their losses, as Renarux believed her uncle in Ergland had sent kidnappers after her.

During their time in Bayland, the two would forge a new and strange adventure company known as The Oaken Axes, which was joined by a North Curdan named Hugot Reimer, a goblin sharpshooter named Yesren, and a Bayland otterfolk named Feron who did most of the mercenary’s camp work. The group made their way to what is now Cusnova, hearing of adventure in the lands of Garium, doing mercenary work for the Beastfolk where they would earn fame by helping beat back a Pout War for the region by local dwarves. Michael and his friends, while first enjoying their fame and fortune, soon found themselves embroiled in the 3rd Wendigo March, being crucial in helping to lead Beastfolk armies against splinter groups of the main host which were arriving to purge the region.

Michael and his company went south after the war to help drive the Wendigo back, wanting to reclaim the region for Beastfolk employers at first, but soon coming face to face with Rosari settlers seeking to reclaim their lost and purged realm. In the beginning phases of Garium, Michael and Renarux were minor figures who were helping Beastfolk and Dwarven settlers find room in the emptied region while helping make peace with natives. Yet, Michael’s defining story began when he began to cross paths with his nemesis Garon Bludovius, the founder of Garium, and his orcish co-commander Leshric. Michael, insulted and furious over Garon’s attempts to bring ‘Rosarug Culture’ into the region via slavery and damaging the growing Illuminated presence for his own gain, started a campaign of terror which would define Garium.

The mess that was the Contest for Garium involved many pieces and peoples, but it was Garon and Michael’s conflict which earned them fame and infamy. Michael’s faction was small and hidden, made up of odd minorities, natives, and various Illuminated settlers compared to Garon’s large majority of Rosari and Curdan humans, orcs, and elves. Michael and Renarux played games of cat and mouse, doing acts of incredible bravery and terror in the cities they visited to gain support. Michael’s focus however on freeing captives and aiding others ultimately proved his undoing, as Garon eventually tricked the two into a confrontation. Michael would ultimately command his friend and co-commander Renarux to flee with their company, having believed he lost, fighting Garon and Leshric alone. Michael would ultimately kill Leshric, but in a duel with Garon he was ultimately killed.

Michael perished, his crossbow was claimed by Garon as a trophy but did not pursue Renarux who fled beyond into Brachland. Renarux became the head druid of the region, helping to resettle many of Michael’s former allies and those they had rescued. Michael’s achievements were immortalized by Renarux in the Secret Histories of Garium, which became a popular read in the Kerkian empire which inspired Kerkian adventurism much to the dismay of the known world. Despite the hatred they had for one another, Garon would eventually allow Renarux to return to Garium, eventually being forced to recognize Michael’s company as one of the founding adventurers who helped found Garium, and who remained a martyr amongst Garium’s Illuminated.