Legends of Belariath
Kronos
Noise...constant...enduring...unrelenting...noise...
The first moments in Kronos' life were a bombardment of the senses, even for a single baby just being born. The constant verbal shouting, the sliding 'shink' of drawn weapons, the ring of them echoing into the baby's ears as each weapon points to him.
He doesn't remember the words they say, but it seems to be so many. So many voices shouting, so many ringing weapons echoing through his ears. Until what seems like an eternity...they cease.
And then a fiery pierce of heat scorches the hip of the young baby's body. The baby screams into the great hall, though his wailing voice was drowned out by the screams, shouts, and battle cries of all witnessing the baby's branding in the great hall. Once again, the sound ceases, as does the burning pain.
One voice shouts out, "Who challenges the clan of the hammer?!!!"
Another voice, "It is Kronos of the Moragan Hammer! Mour of Talidor and Athenisa, and has come to demand their place within the clan!"
That last statement would burn into Kronos' mind for the rest of his life, like the burnt brand at his hip. Both have become a part of him. Both would be echoed for many years to come. Every time the young man would endure a harsh battle, the opponent would hear the name of his future slayer.
The rest of Kronos' early life would be lost, even to him. The reason why he ventured away is also a mystery. Some say he disgraced and dishonored the clan, though when looking at him they know it couldn't be true. The Hammer only value a sense of balance, and courage in battle. Unless he cowarded before someone would he be banished or killed. Even if dishonored, his death by combat with his fellow clansmen would instantly regain his lost honor.
No, it wasn't a banishment that led Kronos to Belraith. Any clansmen that would be asked about the young man would have fond memories of him, yet also remember him as being very open minded, and a very calm, gentle, person, which was very unique among them. His ability to control his fury and turn it on instantly is something only the elders within the clan were able to master. Seeing that within a man so young was astonishing, but many say its Kronos ability to quickly learn and absorb teachings from mentors and elders.
So, the most logical prediction of Kronos' departure was simply education, to learn of the customs, stories, and adventures of the outside world, so as an elder he returns to the clan with a tome of knowledge to pass on to his fellow clansmen. Stories and lessons on war, on peace, and how to survive.
Even in his late teens (he was said to have ventured on his own at the age of 18) and early twenties has his adventures brought him to many words. Many lands, however, weren't ripe for learning. Instead, they were in the fiery throes of war. So, Kronos survived with the only skill he left the clan with, his ability to survive warfare. He wasn't the most graceful warrior, or the most skilled. He even would admit to himself to just being very...lucky. As if the gods truly wanted him to stay alive longer for another purpose.
Many of his early tales took place in simple, crude, mercenary camps, many men around him scoffing at what they thing is a simple minded barbarian of the ice lands, his skin reddened from not being used to all the heat and sun. Kronos didn't mind. At that point, learning was washed away. All he knew was slay, eat, and fuck. Eat the food, drink the wine, and slide his crude metal blades and bunts against a man in front of him, then take the women that want to be speared by his member until his seed spilled into their walls.
The life of a mercenary wasn't one of fortune or learning, that's for certain. It was many posts as a gaurd, and cannon fodder for the armies of 'higher level warriors.' The last mercenary army he was part of was supposedly slaughtered in a bad strategy by a king who knew nothing of war. It was a miracle of the gods Kronos survived the battle, though he was broken, beat, and scarred, his armor shattered, his sword snapped, and his body almost left for dead.
The way his half dead carcass made it to the doors of the Lonely Inn...not even Kronos has an idea. The only logical idea was either someone found him in the bodies of his army, realized he's alive, and took him to the nearest town to be healed, then left him there. None the less, the gods were truly shining upon Kronos, granting him the opportunity to learn within such a community of diversity. He was truly meant to be much more than a brute from a distant land.