It is to valuable to toss

You clutch the beautiful ring in the palm of one hand, feeling it almost tingle as you think about it. Cocking your long powerful arm back, ready to toss the strange ring away. But at the last second you change your mind, it would be foolish to throw something of obvious value away. Just to express your contempt for human aristocrats and prove the unpredictability of your character, especially since those decadent and debauched humans had been so good to you. Even if you didn't choose to keep it, you could certainly use the coin that you could get for it. No you would not discard it, you were traveling in a caravan of merchants. One of them could no doubt provide you with information about the ring, Traeliorn Venxina the Elf would know about this kind of thing. It would be wise to seek his opinion of your new ring, perhaps he would even make you an offer for it.

So, you have made a decision: as a precaution, you will not put the ring on your finger, this ring will be kept in your bag. When the right moment comes, you will ask the elf Traeliorn to tell you about the properties of this magical ring. Only after this will you make a decision about the possible sale or exchange of this ring.

A bitterly cold wind began to blow down the road from the north, you wide nostrils flaring as you picked up the smell of weather on the way. And knew you would be seeing snow falling by morning, it was quite the change from a soft nobles bed. Your lip's twisted up into a gloating smile, as you realized that you would want it no other way. This was life... real life... without the challenges of it the fancy humans had grown soft and corrupt looking to amuse themselves with made of fantasies.

When the caravan paused for midday meal, you ate your rations quickly. And then found Belknab, the Dwarf had been training you how to fight with your great axe. As it turned out there was a lot more to fight with a axe, than just gripping the handle with both hands and hitting your opponent as hard as you could. In point of fact you didn't need to strike with all your might, the weight of the weapon would do most of the work. You were also amazed that all of the weapon could be used to attack with, not just the long curved bearded axe head, or the square spike in the back of the head. Belknab instructed you how to use the long handle, and the butt cap at the end of that handle to attack. The strikes and cuts proved simple enough, using the weapon to defend proved much harder to master. Belknab drilled you relentlessly, barking commands and tip's as he pressed you hard with attacks. Praising where it was deserved, but more often than not snarling his displeasure with your budding skills. With midday meal over, you mounted up to continue on your way when you spotted Traeliorn riding in the front of his wagon.

Slowly you rode around to your small squad, smacking them on the shoulder. And reminding them to keep a sharp eye out from danger, new guards were bad to get complacent. And therefore more likely to get surprised, which was why they were generally kept in the middle of the line. The front and rear guard made up of older experienced warriors, but every so often the new guys were shifted into those other positions for short periods of time. It made for good training, but it also made you as their officer very nervous. You were just getting ready to swing by and talk to the Elf merchant about your ring. When the caravan rounded a slight curve in the rode, and you saw it standing hulking in the rocky road bed. “Ogre!” You **** in surprise, there wasn't supposed to be any Ogre's anywhere near the trade roads. But you didn't have time to think about it, as the huge monster saw the caravan and let out a loud bellow.

Leaping to the ground, you along with three of your guardsmen move forwards to protect the front of the caravan. As the other guards along the body of wagon nervously watched the surrounding landscape for other attackers.

Vaguely in the background you heard Belknab barking orders, as he moved up towards the front. Not that you had much time to listen, as you were grunting orders to the lads with you. “Spread out... That thing as a long reach... wolf pack tactic's. I'll draw his attention you come in on his flanks, attack the backs of his legs.” You explain to your raw, green, farm boy recruits... who were all looking terrified as they edged towards the massive Ogre. The big beast bellowed again, swinging its huge wooden club around as it lumbered forwards. Lifting that gift axe you shout back, taking the lead knowing that your boy guards aren't up to this kind of fight. So it was all going to be on you, leaping forwards you used the handle of your axe to block that club. Just like Belknab had taught you, and then on the back stroke buried the spike of your axe into the Ogre's thick arm. The spike sank in all the way to the head, as the big angry beast snarled in pain yanking its arm away. Almost ripping your weapon out of your hands, even as one of your guardsmen darted in slashing at the back of it's leg. That iron blade bounced off the back of that leg, barely making a shallow cut in that thick skin.

The Ogre was faster that he'd expected, that huge club sent the young caravan guard sprawling on the ground. Shouting at it loudly again, you forgot everything and just lifted that big axe above your head and charged forwards. Even as one of your other guards darted in attacking from the other side, spinning around the Orges club pounded against your breast plate with a loud 'BONG'! The gnarled wood shattering on the steel, as your lifted off your feet and hurled backwards. All the air being knocked out of your lungs, as you lay there struggling to get a breath. “HHHHHHHHHU!” You inhale loudly struggling into a sitting position, as Belknab runs past you shouting over his shoulder.

“This is how you fight an Ogre.” Pounding the head of his hammer against the beasts knee cap, it let out a squeal of pain as that metal hammer head shatter its knee cap. Dropping the remains of its club, the Ogre clasp its hands over that wounded knee. As the Dwarf smashed his hammer down on its opposite foot, you were back on your own feet by then axe in hand. As the beasts fell onto its back, you charge in and bury that axe blade into the Ogres throat as it flails away a moment longer.