henever someone gazes upon GrifterHawk’s presence one can always sense a sadness. No matter how joyous the occasion, a certain melancholy aura surrounds the generally quiet ranger. His face is almost forgettable, as if everyman might look like him or even know him. Once known as Grifterblack, raised on the fields of Rohan. He never knew nor cared of his true heritage. A lowly stable hand, he was satisfied to merely care for the horses of adventurers and heroes. His true passion and joy laid in the arms of his wife Sarath and his two children Eris and Clive. He was no coward in fact, his temper and fierce loyalty was somewhat of a minor renown in Rohan. He would never back down from a fight, however, Sarath had a way about her that always calmed him and brought a smile to his face. This trait always kept him coming home. He never left for adventures as most men his age desired to do. His two sons were just like his mother. Playful and innocent, at ten and eight years of age, they were enough adventure for Grifterblack.
s with all stories, there is always a catalyst. An event that changes the calming balance that affects a “normal” life. A wilderman name Krakith was this catalyst. Some of the darker tribes of man often troubled the borders of Rohan. It was one of these times that begun GrifterHawk on his journey.
he Riders of the Mark had left on urgent matters, leaving the smaller stables unguarded. As a sworn enemy of Rohan, Krakith’s raiding party was defeated. Krakith now wandered through Grifterblack’s stable and in a plot for revenge, at the darkest time of night, Krakith burned the stable to the ground. When Grifterblack discovered this fact he immediately stormed off to find this wilderman and bring him to his own personal justice. A small amazement struck Grifterblack that tracking a man of the wild came so easily to him. It seemed as if the very ground and air spoke to him telling him the trail of his mark. After three days, he came upon his prey and in a fit of rage he ended Krakith’s miserable existence. As he began his journey back home, he wondered what Sarath might say seeing this side of him. He wondered what Eris might think if he knew his father was capable of these acts. He wondered what Clive might see if he looked into his father’s eyes. Mostly he feared that they would no longer see him as he once was, their loving father. The journey tormented him as he returned home. He merely longed to be in his family’s arms. He never feared what he should have feared all along. He never thought to fear that perhaps Krakith was not alone. The fire of the stable was not a lone event. There was another fire that burned his home village. This fire had been all consuming. Nothing remained of his once happy home. His family once bright and energetic now lay silent. Nothing but tears and sorrow remained for Grifterblack. Regret for his weakness that allowed his rage to overtake him and leave his family defenseless. This blinding rage now left him empty. No consolation could convince Grifterblack to stay. He was ready to wander the forest of Fangorn until he died. Alone and broken.
he forest’s dark outlook, and even gloomier entrance, welcomed a defeated man. He entered with no thought to himself, wishing the worst to occur. As days went by, he did not take water or food to sustain him. He eventually lay on the ground of Fangorn wishing the end to come. However, what happened next he did not expect.
ray of light, a shine of hope as darkness overtook his mind. He awoke to find a creature of immeasurable beauty watching over him. She was an elf of the woodland realms. A sad smile came from her lips as she spoke to him about being so ready to rush into the halls of his fathers before him. She told him that his destiny did not lie on the forest floor of Fangorn but in the white halls of Gondor.
he nursed him back to health and told him search the remains of his home. As his strength returned, he left the dark forest and approached the charred remains. Emotions flooded his mind and he wondered if he had the fortitude to continue his task. Somehow he managed to search and found a now revealed compartment of the floorboards of his home. Inside was a small chest containing a sword designed in a manner never seen to him before. In addition a bow carved in a manner that rivaled the elves lay in the chest. Other items included bracers carrying the mark of Gondor, as well as a necklace medallion with a picture of a masked hawk creature. These things made no sense to him and as if in a dream, the elf approached from behind him. She explained that these things were of his father who was a ranger of Gondor long ago. He was one of Gondor’s elite, but now his name was mysteriously expunged from their records. She reveals more that he hid in Rohan and changed his name from DaneHawk to Daneblack. Then a dark power took his father while he Grifterblack was still in the womb of his mother. An even darker power took his mother when he was still a babe. And perhaps the darkest power of all was at work that may affect all of Gondor. With this information revealed to Grifterblack, the elf departed as quietly as she came. Grifterblack clung to the former possessions of his father. While confused and unsure, he felt he had a new lease on life. A new purpose had been revealed to him. However, the mystery was just beginning. His heritage needed to be sought and a new target for his anger needed to be found. But not here in Rohan. Onward to Gondor and the secrets that only the Rangers can tell. He will join the rangers, if they would have him. He will learn their ways and use their skills to find what really happened to his father and what his true destiny will become. Not as Grifterblack of Rohan, but as GrifterHawk of Gondor.
<< Fanatics Plaza
henever someone gazes upon GrifterHawk’s presence one can always sense a sadness. No matter how joyous the occasion, a certain melancholy aura surrounds the generally quiet ranger. His face is almost forgettable, as if everyman might look like him or even know him. Once known as Grifterblack, raised on the fields of Rohan. He never knew nor cared of his true heritage. A lowly stable hand, he was satisfied to merely care for the horses of adventurers and heroes. His true passion and joy laid in the arms of his wife Sarath and his two children Eris and Clive. He was no coward in fact, his temper and fierce loyalty was somewhat of a minor renown in Rohan. He would never back down from a fight, however, Sarath had a way about her that always calmed him and brought a smile to his face. This trait always kept him coming home. He never left for adventures as most men his age desired to do. His two sons were just like his mother. Playful and innocent, at ten and eight years of age, they were enough adventure for Grifterblack.
s with all stories, there is always a catalyst. An event that changes the calming balance that affects a “normal” life. A wilderman name Krakith was this catalyst. Some of the darker tribes of man often troubled the borders of Rohan. It was one of these times that begun GrifterHawk on his journey. 
he Riders of the Mark had left on urgent matters, leaving the smaller stables unguarded. As a sworn enemy of Rohan, Krakith’s raiding party was defeated. Krakith now wandered through Grifterblack’s stable and in a plot for revenge, at the darkest time of night, Krakith burned the stable to the ground. When Grifterblack discovered this fact he immediately stormed off to find this wilderman and bring him to his own personal justice. A small amazement struck Grifterblack that tracking a man of the wild came so easily to him. It seemed as if the very ground and air spoke to him telling him the trail of his mark. After three days, he came upon his prey and in a fit of rage he ended Krakith’s miserable existence. As he began his journey back home, he wondered what Sarath might say seeing this side of him. He wondered what Eris might think if he knew his father was capable of these acts. He wondered what Clive might see if he looked into his father’s eyes. Mostly he feared that they would no longer see him as he once was, their loving father. The journey tormented him as he returned home. He merely longed to be in his family’s arms. He never feared what he should have feared all along. He never thought to fear that perhaps Krakith was not alone. The fire of the stable was not a lone event. There was another fire that burned his home village. This fire had been all consuming. Nothing remained of his once happy home. His family once bright and energetic now lay silent. Nothing but tears and sorrow remained for Grifterblack. Regret for his weakness that allowed his rage to overtake him and leave his family defenseless. This blinding rage now left him empty. No consolation could convince Grifterblack to stay. He was ready to wander the forest of Fangorn until he died. Alone and broken.
he nursed him back to health and told him search the remains of his home. As his strength returned, he left the dark forest and approached the charred remains. Emotions flooded his mind and he wondered if he had the fortitude to continue his task. Somehow he managed to search and found a now revealed compartment of the floorboards of his home. Inside was a small chest containing a sword designed in a manner never seen to him before. In addition a bow carved in a manner that rivaled the elves lay in the chest. Other items included bracers carrying the mark of Gondor, as well as a necklace medallion with a picture of a masked hawk creature. These things made no sense to him and as if in a dream, the elf approached from behind him. She explained that these things were of his father who was a ranger of Gondor long ago. He was one of Gondor’s elite, but now his name was mysteriously expunged from their records. She reveals more that he hid in Rohan and changed his name from DaneHawk to Daneblack. Then a dark power took his father while he Grifterblack was still in the womb of his mother. An even darker power took his mother when he was still a babe. And perhaps the darkest power of all was at work that may affect all of Gondor. With this information revealed to Grifterblack, the elf departed as quietly as she came. Grifterblack clung to the former possessions of his father. While confused and unsure, he felt he had a new lease on life. A new purpose had been revealed to him. However, the mystery was just beginning. His heritage needed to be sought and a new target for his anger needed to be found. But not here in Rohan. Onward to Gondor and the secrets that only the Rangers can tell. He will join the rangers, if they would have him. He will learn their ways and use their skills to find what really happened to his father and what his true destiny will become. Not as Grifterblack of Rohan, but as GrifterHawk of Gondor.
