Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V

Some time has passed, and Balasar reflects on his time as a father to a gnoll. But even as he prepares for changes for his "son", Kriv has a few surprised of his own...


Characters and story © myself
Setting material © Wizards of the Coast



The Civilized Savage Part IV: Growing Pains


He is growing up fast. If only I could develop his mind as quickly.

Though it had only been five years, Kriv had grown from a pup to what one would call an adolescent. Balasar had heard that gnolls matured at an astonishing rate, but he had not quite been prepared for the young one’s rapid growth.

Even worse, he had vastly underestimated the resources it would take to house him. His furniture, which had survived nearly unscathed since he took up residence within the manor, did not all survive the past five years. Fortunately, getting replacements had proven easier than his initial fears, with the word “redecorating” satisfying nearly any curiosity at the change. Getting Kriv to wear proper clothes without shredding them to remove them had taken several months of hard discipline, and even still it was difficult to make sure they remained in a workable state. Fortunately, some long fingered gloves had worked remarkably well at curbing the issue with Kriv’s claws, much as the young man detested him.

As Balasar pored over his work, he couldn’t help but remember that particular incident. It was, perhaps, the deadliest test of wills he had ever endured, and he had had more than his fair share in his life. It was some three years after Kava had left the pup in his care, and Kriv had already become a small child. It had been a fight to get the gloves on, and it became a true fight when Kriv had thrown the gloves off. The boy had snapped at him, verbally and with teeth, and Balasar was still surprised that he had managed to get out of that scrape with no more than ripped clothes.

The time for words passed quickly, and he knew that harsher discipline was needed to resolve the matter. It was only a few moments more, with a knife in his hand, that he had subdued the boy. Never had he thought he would need to use the blade in his own home, yet there he was, standing over the young gnoll with a blade at his throat. Though his fist ached from the blows he delivered alongside those from his hilt, he showed none of it as he’d glared down at the boy.

“This is my home,” he had told him then, “and you will follow my rules. Right now I am the only thing on this world keeping you alive, but I will not hesitate to send you to The Raven Queen’s judgment if you ever dare try to harm me. Do I make myself clear?” He had edged the blade a little harder against Kriv’s throat, and it was several long moments later before the boy had relented. Strong the boy may be, but he was no match for a grown man with experience.

It troubled Balasar that the boy still only seemed to treat him as a pack leader, despite there being only the two of them. Kriv respected him only because he had shown himself stronger. It’s a start, he admitted to himself, as he’d had to remind himself now countless times before. The boy was listening to him, there was no doubt of that, but he wanted Kriv not to see him as a pack leader. The leader of the pack can be replaced. What he wanted was for the boy to see him as his father.

“You have something to say?” Kriv called from the door to the study. Balasar looked up from his reports and was mildly surprised that Kriv stood at the doorway. Before, he would simply walk in, though he would announce himself upon reaching the doorway. Balasar wasn’t sure how to treat this new development, and decided caution was the best course of action.

“I do. Come in and be seated. There’s no need to stand.”

Balasar noted with continued interest that Kriv’s current clothes, leathers Balasar had commissioned privately, were still in pristine condition, despite having now owned them for several weeks. The clothes, he realized as Kriv reached his seat, had also been recently tended, smelling slightly of oils and having a certain maintained sheen to them. This was also a new development, and one he had not anticipated seeing for some time yet.

“I believe it is time for you to see more than just this manor,” he began without preamble, knowing Kriv would not speak further until spoken to. “Not only do I believe will it be good for the continued well being of my furniture, but for you as well. I know you have wanted to get out for some time now, but have felt the…request would be denied.” If there was one thing Kriv didn’t do, it was to request anything. It was one thing he had not yet been able to hammer out of him, and it was difficult to work with. Kriv’s natural aggression was something he had quickly realized he couldn’t get rid of, but molding it was a long and difficult process, more so than he had anticipated.

Kriv’s little twitches and breaking eye contact told Balasar everything he needed to know; the boy had thought his ambition to be his little secret. He also knew that Kriv was not prepared to challenge him to change the status quo. But Balasar knew it was time.

“However,” he continued more sternly, “this is no free outing. You’ve proven yourself to be strong, but even I can best you. If you show yourself out in daylight as you are, I will not be able to protect you. The militia has dozens of bowmen upon the walls, and numerous others with weapons similar to those I have shown you in the past. Tell me, do you think you are strong enough to take on ten armored men and another ten at a distance with bows and arrows?”

Kriv’s only answer was to growl softly, and it was the answer Balasar expected. The boy would never admit an error in judgment, only concede to a victor. Even though he had expected a growl, he was still relieved that the boy hadn’t answered with defiance.

“You will need to disguise yourself, and you shall do so as my aid. With the proper application of clothing, no one should know the difference. You will not growl at anybody, nor will you speak the abyssal tongue. If at all possible, you will refrain from speaking at all. As well as you speak common, your voice will likely betray you, and I fear the consequences of discovery will be dire for us both. Now, Kriv, are you ready for this opportunity?”

A few silent moments stretched on, a silence that began to worry Balasar. He had expected an immediate acceptance. Barring that, he had thought the boy would give at least some answer immediately. But a few more moments passed and yet Kriv remained silent. The boy just sat there looking at…looking at the gloves that concealed his claws. Was the boy having doubts? Was he actually now worried about discovery? Or was it the threat of potential abandonment that had him worried? This was the first time Kriv had ever shown anything remotely resembling fear.

Finally, Kriv took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “I am ready.” It was no lie, of that Balasar was sure. The boy was indeed ready.

“Very well. We shall leave early tomorrow morning, for then I have errands to run. We shall see how you perform in the role of my aide.” He gave Kriv a smile, the first one he’d honestly given in weeks. “In my old age, no one will be in the least surprised that I now feel the need to have an aide accompanying me.”

Much to Balasar’s continued surprise, Kriv returned the smile. It was no barring of fangs; it was an honest, amused smile. It was the first time he had ever seen one on Kriv’s face.

“Is that everything?” Kriv asked. Balasar still wished he could get the boy to be less direct and more formal and polite in his manner of speaking, but that was a low priority at the moment.

“It is. The rest of the day is yours. I shall call you when dinner is to be served, if your nose does not tell you itself. And it will be cooked tonight.”

Kriv did not bristle at this lighthearted jab, but calmly rose to his feet and made his way to the door, where he stopped. Again, it seemed he hesitated, but five years of raising the wild child told Balasar that the boy had something to say.

Kriv turned only his head and said, “Thank you for your trust father.” With another smile, he walked away.

Only it had not been Kriv’s voice that spoke the words, though his mouth moved in time. It sounded rather like…like his own voice when he had been younger. It took a while before his mind began working again from the dual shock of the unexpected voice and the even more unexpected words. Balasar immediately opened a cabinet behind him, where he kept his more personal and private notes. Gathering most had been a challenge, as researching gnolls as a politician was not exactly along the normal course of duties.

It was a few minutes more before he found the reference he’d been looking for. The Butcher’s Lure; the magical ability occasionally found in gnolls to mimic or create voices or sounds. When had Kriv developed that ability? But no matter how he learned it, it did open up many more avenues. With it, Balasar would not have to explain why he had a mute for an aide.

With those workable thoughts coming to light, he put them in the back of his mind as he thought now on the content of what Kriv had said. Not only had the boy thanked him, he had called him his father. The boy, the young man, had shown him respect by waiting at the door until invited in. He had arrived promptly, had made an effort to maintain his clothing, and had clearly shown humility in honestly thinking if he was truly ready for the opportunity he had been presented.

It seems my lessons are taking an effect after all, he thought, well contented. Many had been the night he feared he would fail, and would be forced to kill the young man. But now, it seemed the lessons were taking hold. Now he had to make sure that Kriv continued to think along these lines, to view him as a father figure rather than a pack leader. Someone to learn from, not simply one whose orders are to be followed.

Easy now Balasar, one step at a time. It seemed as though Kriv hadn’t wished this change to be known, but that his show of trust had clicked something in the young gnoll’s mind. Either way, Balasar was sure this was an important step. Tomorrow should prove to be an interesting day indeed.