Chapter 11

In which Frelik achieves a personal goal... after being a whiny bitch and nearly ending up a Reytard

The rest of the night was spent tending to the wounded, including Frelik - who had to be none too gently shaken back to consciousness.  With two dead and easily a half-dozen or more wounded, the rest of the night carried on under a more subdued tone; the weight of yet more senseless death hanging heavily over the tribe.

Once Frelik and Magpie had had their fill of eating gremlin carcasses, the remaining pile of little bodies as well as the big, hairy body of their leader were dragged outside the borders of the encampment and burned to prevent further bad luck or worse, the spread of disease.

The morning of the twelfth day of the party’s trip - the seventeenth day of Pharast - found the tribe returning to business as usual, proving that tragedy was only par for the course out here.  Severto and Chief Mancio sought the party out early to give their thanks for the group’s assistance with their little problem, offering one higher level tattoo for one member of the party in thanks.

Adamon, for his part, emerged from his tent an hour after sunrise in his human form, looking sheepish or humiliated.  He’d obviously been told about the disgrace of his attack the night before.  In thanks for the party’s kindness in not killing him he offered up the beautiful, cold-iron longsword he’d been swinging the night before by way of thanks.  Magpie took it gratefully, leaving his own, broken cold-iron longsword with the man in exchange.

The tribe spent the rest of the day smoking their abundance of Aurochs meat, out of which they offered each member of the party two days’ rations.  The group, meanwhile, spent the rest of the day resting and relaxing as Severto toiled in tattooing Davros’ hands with something that was promised to make his sight better.

Near late afternoon Reytard, who had been conspicuously absent from the rest of the group all day, approached them, “It seems this tribe is under-manned… ” he chuckled at his own jest and banged his chest, “I, Reytard, will help see them to safety.  Whether they choose to repopulate or merge, I will help them.”

“But weren’t you supposed to be guiding us?”  Frelik asked.

“Ah, I have foreseen for this.” Reytard replied, laughing lustily as he withdrew the map.  With a flourish he tossed it to Yuri, who caught it subconsciously.

Yuri laid the map out on the back of his caravan and Reytard obliged by explaining, pointing to parts of the map as he spoke, “Your best route will be to follow the Sunwall into Ustalav, using the series of old, abandoned forts which were initially built to keep the orcs contained - until they were overrun by the orcs.  You can seek shelter there.  You will no doubt encounter some orcs, but it is the route of least orcy-resistance.”

A few of the Sklar-Qua trackers leaned over Reytard’s shoulder, studying the route he suggested and agreeing that, as far as routes through Blekzen went, it wasn’t a bad choice.

As the group rolled out of the campsite early the next morning, the eighteenth day of Pharast, Reytard raised his lance in salute, calling out, “Perhaps, if the stars align and the gods are kind, we will see each other again!  Farewell and good luck!”

As the party travelled across the desert, they kept The Sleeper to their southern side.  The pile of rock was arranged in a surprisingly lifelike silhouette of a sleeping dragon which constantly emitted a thin stream of smoke.

“Is that really made of rock?”  Valeria asked the group at large.

Davros, who’d grown up in the area, nodded, “Yes.”

Magpie squinted at it, “Huh.  I’m not so sure about that.”

Without any more warning he began drifting sideways, slowly peeling away from the party towards the Sleeper.

“Where are you going?”  Valeria demanded, eyes narrowing.

“That way?” Magpie replied, pointing at the Sleeper.

“That’s really out of our way…” Valeria began.

“No, it’s fine.”  Magpie countered.

“That’s like two hours by lizard-back out of our way each way.”  Valeria pointed out.

“That’s fine, I’ll find you guys.”  Magpie insisted, raising his beak.

“We’ll be gone.” Frelik stated.

“Look, we were totally planning to come here on the way back.”  Valeria offered.

“I don’t believe you.”  Magpier returned.

“I swear we will.”  Valeria said, trying to sound persuasive.

“Um, it’s you, so I’m pretty sure you’re lying.”  Magpie shot back.

Frelik turned to Magpie, growling through gritted teeth, “We’ll.  Come.  Here.  On.  The.  Way.  Back.”

The expression on his face left no doubt that he would do Magpie a serious injury if he disagreed.

“Fine.”  The bird-man sighed, “But we’d better actually come here on the way back.”

They carried on their way, managing to get past the tip of the Mindspin Mountains before resting that night.

The fourteenth day took the group within spitting distance of the Seraphis Ladder, which was reputed to reverse the effects of aging for one night on the winter solstice.  Of course, anyone who ventured up there would have their age return full force upon descending - sometimes with dreadful consequences.  The general story went that old orcs would go up there on that night to relive the glory of their youth for one night before leaping to their deaths.

The third day into the hold of Belkzen the party came across a pile of ruins which looked like an excellent potential shelter – except that there was already smoke rising from them.  Not wanting to travel much past the ruins that day as it was already late afternoon they decided to see what was going on.

Frelik and Akura, able to be stealthy darted ahead to investigate as the rest of the party hung back, just out of sight.

By Frelik’s estimation, the orcish tribe inhabiting the ruins was small; likely numbering under one hundred strong.  They seemed to be mostly nomadic, likely moving up and down along this range and taking refuge in the ruins where they could.  There seemed to be a very respectable number of warriors.  He saw enough weapons in the camp that Frelik would be hesitant to attack the group openly.

The barbarian also mentioned that he noticed banners strewn about bearing a symbol of a flaming sword; the symbol of the orcish capital, Urgir.  Because they had the ties to the capital, they were more likely to be peaceful and open to trade.

The group was hesitant to approach the orcs, given their reputation for killing and eating humans, but it still seemed wiser to make themselves known to the creatures than to run the risk of trying to hide from them.

Valeria shot Magpie a look, “Don’t fuck this up, bird man.  You’ve got a proven track record of getting us in trouble.  How about this, if you promise to behave I will give you grasshoppers.”

Magpie brightened.

“Fine.”  Valeria sighed, venturing out into the fading light, only to return moments later with heaps of grasshoppers, “Here, here’s four pints of grasshoppers.  Stay by the cart and don’t cause trouble.”

“They come in pints?!?”  Frelik marvelled, turning to Davros, “Is there anything we can do to approach them that will make us appear more friendly?”

“Yes, don’t draw your weapons and wave them around...  They might view that as a challenge.”  Davros replied drily.

As the group entered the camp they were met with the incessant rolling of drums underlining the flow of a tale being told in orcish.

The group was almost instantly intercepted by a pair of spear-wielding orc sentries.  They glanced at each other uncertainly before turning to Davros, “What are you doing here?”  They demanded in orc.

Davros drew himself up and replied, “We are travellers looking to offer our respects to your tribe and share information... and perhaps your campsite.”

“Hold on.”  One of the orcs said, disappearing back into the encampment.

A moment later the sounds of storytelling died down and the orc sentry returned, “Come with me.”  He intoned, waving at Yuri and the caravan to stay put.

He led Davros and the Magpie into the huge campfire circle.  They were brought before a huge chieftain with his polearm laid across his lap, to his left sat a venerable aged orc and on his right, in the place of honour was the lead warrior.

The huge orc slammed a fist to his chest, “Haddrick Ironbrand.”  He said, almost as though he didn’t expect anyone to understand.

“I am Davros Plaguescarred, shaman apprentice, on a quest for my shaman and travelling through your lands.”  Davros replied in fluent orcish, “I wanted to offer my respects to you and your Shaman and trade with your tribe if we are welcome.”

The chief scaned his tribe before letting his suspicious gaze come to rest on the cart, “Your tribe, they are not orcs.”

“Not who I’m currently travelling with, no.” Davros replied, not giving an inch.

“Will they betray us?” The chief demanded without preamble.

“No.  They will not.”  Davros replied without hesitation, “these humans are my brothers in arms.  We are travelling to Mendelev together; it is where my quest takes me.”

“I have heard of the trials of the plaguescarred tribe.”  The chief replied pensively, “You may stay with us, but in exchange you must assist us on the hunt tomorrow.”  He turned to the rest of the group declaring, “Let the humans feel welcome.”

The group was welcomed into the tribe with open arms, the orcs sharing their meats and drink with anyone who would like some.

The shaman, the wizened old orc with a staff covered in chattering skulls, stood and proclaimed, “Eat!  Drink!  Enjoy!”

Davros explained to the party that they were welcome for the night as long as they agreed to hunt with them in the morning.  The group agreed easily; it seemed like a perfectly reasonable trade.

Valeria and Frelik imbibed a little too much of the Orc grog and found themselves sharing a bed the next morning with a rather muscular orcish lady, all three completely naked.

Bright and early the next morning the party was awoken and invited to join the hunt.  Valeria woke still drunk and spent most of the morning crawling about groaning and asking anyone who would listen to tell her what she’d done the night before.  She was obviously washed with shame over her actions.

Frelik just walked around wearing a stupid grin.

They were taken to an enormous orc who grunted once, summoning a dozen of his own warriors with the single noise.  With a careless wave he sent nine off into one hunting party.  “You lot come with us.”  He growled, indicating his two remaining warriors, one of whom was the swarthy orc female who’d shared Frelik and Valeria’s bed.

Their hunting party set out, walking the land as though they weren’t expecting to find anything.  About an hour into the hunt the leader dropped to the ground, gesturing into the distance.  “Ankegs.”  He said, “Taste great boiled.  We’re taking that.”

Davros and Magpie hesitated.   Ankegs were acid biting beetles after all, and it looked like what he was pointing at was a nest.

“Nest?”  Davros asked.

“Eh, can’t be that big of a nest.”  The huge orc replied with a shrug.

“Okay.”  Davros shrugged, turning to the rest of the party, “Looks like we’re going hunting.”

The entire group, orcs included, started down through the ruins toward the nest, trying to be stealthy.

Frelik, trying to show off for his newest feminine conquests, blazed forth, stumbling on a rock at the last moment and drawing the attention of the creature, who hissed and charged, snapping at him with its dripping mandibles.  It grabbed him around the waist, shaking him in the air like a rag doll.

“Of course!” Valeria shouted, smacking herself on the forehead, “I knew he was going to die today, that’s why I gave him a shot last night!”  She looked around to make sure that someone had heard her announcement then advanced on the bug, careful not to get too close.

The orcs, not to be shown up by their guests, charged into the fray, jabbing their spears into the creature’s side as the leader hung back, shouting orcy encouragement.

With a cry, Akura vaulted over the low wall of the ruin he’d been standing in, darting around to the creature’s other side to flank it as Davros lobbed a sticky bomb at the creature.

Magpie squawked and moved into a free space around the creature.

Frelik, tired of being treated like a giant bug’s plaything, whipped out his dagger, bringing the blade down to plant between its eyes.  The critter squealed once and collapsed.

Two more burst from the sand, screaming.  They wasted no time charging into the hunting party, mandibles snapping.

One hurled itself as Davros as the other attacked the orc leader from behind.  His two warriors wasted no time in spinning to defend their leader while Davros leapt back from the creature and hurled another sticky bomb, entangling the thing.

Frothing at the mouth and yelling his rage Frelik charged the bug fighting Davros.  The creature shrieked, panicking, and backed off as though the glue from the bomb were nothing.  It spat acid at the group, taking down one of the orcs.

The remaining orc warrior managed to pin their bug to the ground with her spear, allowing the leader to falchion its head off.  And another one bit the dust.

Davros hurled another bomb at the one they were fighting, pinning it to the ground once again.

Magpie cawed with glee and whiffed, opening the way for Frelik to step in with his two blades and cut it in twain.

Obviously enraged the bugs retaliated, one landing a solid blow on Magpie as the other took down the two orc warriors.  Their leader stepped forward, slicing the front two legs off the ankeg that had taken his friends.

Davros spun from the one Frelik had just killed and hurled a bomb at the one who was still attacking the orc leader, killing it.

With only one ankeg remaining to kill, Davros glanced over his shoulder and cried out, “Look out!  Incoming Wyvern!”

The flying creature swooped in, swiping at the barbarian with its tail.  Kocking him to the ground in a bloody heap.

The remaining ankeg knocked down the Magpie before getting gutted by the orc party leader.  Having successfully slain the final bug, the orc turned his attention to the wyvern, tamping down and looking for a window.

Akura whipped a tiny vial out of a pouch and poured it down the Magpie’s throat.  He groaned, “Aah.  That hurt!  What the-!?!”

He was looking straight up the orc leader’s battle skirt.

He pecked at the orc’s nuts and yelled at him to move before getting up.  Once on his feet he produced a wand and tapped it on the orc leader’s shoulder, healing him.

The wyvern screamed and swooped to land in front of Valeria, snapping at her successfully and looking like it was about to take off with the gunslinger in its mouth.

Valieria brought her gun up and around, unloading a shot into the creature’s face.

It shrieked, but seemed otherwise unaffected.

The orc leader roared and charged the winged creature landing a solid falchion strike across its flank.  It cried out and Davros hurled another bomb at it.

Magpie darted over and saw to the two orc warriors, making sure they were both stable.

The wyvern shook Valeria in its mouth once and launched back into the air.  Akura and the orc leader took swings at it, but only the orc succeeded in hitting it.

Once the wyvern was airborne the orc leader hurled a throwing axe, missing horribly.

With a shout Akura pushed off a half-fallen column and launched into the air, attempting to grab the creature and missing by inches before returning nimbly to the earth.

Pulling the last bomb from his belt, Davros kissed it for luck and tossed.  Miraculously, the bomb struck the creature, a web of shining white strands tangling up the beast’s wings and dropping it to the ground.

As it hit the ground, Valeria flew from its mouth, landing a few feet away.  With a screech it swung its tail at Akura, who grabbed it as it lashed out against the orc leader, killing him.

Magpie darted in and tapped Frelik with the wand.  The barbarian rose, swaying and panting, and took a heroic swing at the creature, missing.

The creature snapped out at Akura, successfully grabbing the monk in his mouth and rendering him unconscious.  The beast began flapping, clearly readying to lift off again.

Davros dug deep into his pockets and found one last bomb, which he hurled at the creature, finally destroying it.

The battle was followed by a flurry of first aid as the Magpie rushed around, seeing to the injured and managing to nurse everyone but the orc leader back from the brink of death.  Unfortunately the huge man was too far gone to save.

The party built a few litters to haul back the body of the orc as well as their kills and returned triumphant to the orc camp.