Dragon's Egg - Act IV

[Ireth]

Liadan

As Nissa flies up to see what she can see and Baldhart questions the orc, I translate the latter's words before doing some looking around of my own...

...But I can't see much of anything. I hope this doesn't mean we'll be ambushed by Korgak's other orcs.

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius
Grumbling to himself about the issues of being a bodyguard to a flying client, Marius tries his best to keep Nissa in his sight. Hopefully that doesn't get him too separated from the group or put in the middle of orc camp or an ambush. Regardless of the dangers, he is determined to keep Nissa in his sights and out of danger.

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
Knowing the camp is near Aliron drops back, allowing the Orc to lead, so as not to accidently walk into camp unannounced.
He follows the larger and stronger warriors, better chance to hide and sneak when behind someone taller and wider.

"a camp is near. I will let the diplomats and intimidating people lead the way now. If the orcs question why we have bows ready, simply tell them we have been ambushed by others and must always be ready for attack now."

He keeps the bow low so as not to draw attention or make it seem as we are acting aggressively. (He will still have an arrow on the string)
Bressel
Remains towards the rear, crossbow ready. Watching the rear and the sides. When we meet the orcs, Bressel will keep the crossbow pointed towards the rear, but will be ready for any attack.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I swoop down as Alin speaks. When he mentions diplomats and intimidating people, I ask, "Which one is Baldy?"

I stay close to the group for a moment so Marius won't be compelled to stray. I thank him for keeping gnat eye on me and (try to) assure him, "When I fly, I make sure I'm well above arrow range." What I don't tell him is the risky position it puts me in, should I alarm a powerful sorceress who shoots first, asks later.

((If there's no turn-based action triggered or a conversation keeping Nissa on the ground, she flies back up out of arrow range as she said she would.))

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius

Completely unassured by Nissa's words, Marius shouts up, "What about griffin range? Or dragon range? Or even worse... flying moose range?! Arrows aren't the only thing I am concerned about, missy! It won't be my fault if a raptor or something decides that your eyes look delicious and tears them out up there!"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Dragons have been extinct for a thousand years," I say, looking over at Marius. "I have no idea what a moose is, or a griffon, but I doubt either of them would attack us."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius
Marius rolls his eyes and says, "Well, just because they are extinct doesn't mean they can't show up and kill you. We ARE talking about an angel here. How many years has SHE been extinct, hmm?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"The word is valkyrie, not angel. And that's a different matter altogether. She's been in the service of her goddess for eight hundred years or so. A dead dragon can't serve anyone."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

"Death isn't something to fear. I don't mean that you should throw your life away, of course, but that in battle you accept the risk you take. And you take the risk for a reason. Fighting against those who would kill or enslave if you do nothing to stop them is a good reason in the eyes of my goddess. I thought so too, which is why I didn't regret standing up to an orc even when he was there towering over me and it was apparent that my demise was inevitable.

"I know where my soul will go if I fall. If Baldhart falls, I don't expect this body will last long. I'm to guide her soul to Brynhild if that happens.

"Marius, what god would a valkyrie escort you to if you fell in battle? Have you given this any thought?"

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius
Marius scratches his head and says, "No... To be honest, every time a priest started talking about some god or another, I ran the other way so I don't actually know the names of any gods. Nor do I know what they do with people when they die. Something to do with haunted potatoes I imagine. Gods are weird like that."

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I turn to Marius. "Why would you run? The gods are not to be feared, except in a reverent way. I can understand not choosing to worship any in particular, but why choose ignorance over knowledge? Ignorance only breeds fear and hatred."

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius

Marius responds, "It's not the gods I am running away from. It's their fans that I don't care for. Always stealing our money, though they call it 'tithing' when THEY do it. If they aren't doing that, then they are coming through looking for heretics or witches or whatever else they feel like killing that day, only when THEY do it, it's called 'purging the wicked' or a 'holy crusade' or something. I know if -I- was a god, I sure as Hades wouldn't want one of those crazies spreading my teachings. Unless I was a god of death and trickery." Marius gives a long pause as he scratches his chin, "You know, THAT would explain a lot..."

 

[Steerpike]

The group continues forward, with Nissa flying high out of arrow range after her attempt to reassure Marius. The orc grunts some answers to Liadan in response to her translated questions. "Korgak is there. Orc warriors. Some children, yes."

The trail the orc follows winds further through the hills, taking a roundabout path to the camp because of the terrain. Masama stays near the front, close to the orc, scanning the group's surroundings as they move forward. The air grows noticeably cooler as the party climbs higher into the hills, what's left of the afternoon sun shielded by trees and landscape. Burnbright has her spear in one hand, Branwen's hand in the other. The small harpy seems unconcerned, willing to be pulled along by Burnbright and paying more attention to her doll than to the surroundings.

As the trail rounds a rocky, wooded hillside, the orc raises a hand in a gesture to stop. The trickling of a small stream can be heard ahead. The orc turns to Liadan and says "Guards will not be far" (though no one but Liadan understands this). He gestures up ahead, along the trail. The orc then cups his hands over his mouth and calls out in orc language (again, only Liadan understands him - he calls out "a wolf returns to the den!). Masama looks, for a moment, like he wants to try to tackle the orc again, but before he can do so another orc voice calls out from the distance (Liadan understands this voice to say "the den welcomes you."). Then there is a sound of breaking twigs and footfalls from up ahead.

The orc turns to Liadan and says "Guards come now," then turns back to face the sounds.

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I listen to the call and response between the orc we can see and the one we can't, and translate the meaning for the others. I stay close to the former orc and Cadell, keeping my eyes on the path ahead. If I can see the guards before the others do, maybe I can anticipate how they will react.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I fly down. "Three guards, and a large animal. I saw about a dozen orcs at the camp, likely more in a cave up there. I saw a couple of children, so I believe we are where we expected to be."



Baldhart

If the orc used some kind of code words to announce us as hostile, no sense in voicing the suspicion. I trust everyone will act if the orcs prove hostile, and I trust no one is fool enough to piss off the orcs and provoke a fight. Well... almost no one.

I turn to Tumi, but look around as if my words are for no one in particular, and say, "We outnumber the guards, but there are many more in camp. Just bear in mind that our goal is to form an alliance, and we brought back an orc who attacked us alive and we fed him. As long as the guards know this, we should not worry about entering the camp. Killing us gains them nothing."

I say to Nissa, "They don't know that if I die, you die. Your perceived ability to fly back and warn give Ballara and Alfoss the location of this camp, should we fail to leave the place alive, will be our leverage if the meeting goes badly. It's shitty leverage and a bluff, so let's do our part to persuade the orcs that we're here to help, and they need us as much as we need them."

I ask Callan, "You don't happen to know Korgak, do you?"

 

[Philster401]

(Still have no clue where Zoran is at.)

 

[AkamaruGames]

(Zoran is with us, as has been said a few times already by both Legendary Sidekick and Steerpike, unless you have decided that he has wandered off for some reason)

Marus
Wariness prevents Marius from putting his bow away, but he understands enough that starting a fight will put his charge in danger so he at least does not draw an arrow. He approaches as the group does with his bow down in one hand and an arrow held in the other.

 

[Steerpike]

Callan shakes her head at Baldhart's question. "Never had the pleasure," she murmurs. Tumi frowns, his face growing tense.

From around a bend in the trail and past a thick pine come three large orcs. They're all male, all wearing stiff leather armor. The foremost of the orcs has a strip of red cloth wrapped through a piece of his shoulder armor and tied off in a knot. He carries a long knife openly, though he makes no threatening gestures. It is hard to tell much from the facial expressions of the orcs, but they look wary and not particularly happy. They survey the group, eyes lingering a moment on Nissa and a moment longer on Branwen (the lead orc's mouth turns down when he looks at the young harpy).

The orc immediately behind the knife wielder carries a longbow, an arrow knocked, albeit loosely. The third orc has a knife sheathed at his side and is using both hands to grip a large chain, the other end of which ends with a wolf-like creature that pads forward on all fours. The animal is large, though not as large as the wargs some members of the party have encounter. It's fur is a mixture of black and gray and crusted with mud in places. A hybrid of some kind, but close enough to a wolf to be called one. A low rumble begins in the throat of the wolf, but the orc with the chain gives it a tight yank and creatures goes silent.

The orc with the red sash holds up a hand and his comrades stop advancing, the orc with the bow staying back far enough to get a clear shot. His bow is lowered, but clearly readied in the event that it needs to be used. The lead orc comes forward and barks a few rough words at the orc traveling with the party. The party's captive responds with words of his own, gesturing at the group, though except for Liadan the only word any of the group can make out is "Korgak." A short argument follows, also making reference to Korgak, after which the captive orc turns to speak to Liadan, gesturing to the group.

There is no other movement in the forest around the group - no sign of other orcs or any other creatures for that matter. Daylight is beginning to dim behind the trees, but not so much that the group can't see clearly.

((PM to Ireth))​​

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I tilt my head as the orc converse, then turn to my comrades with a translation. "They want us to hand over our weapons. I'll try to get them to lay theirs down a well."

I tell the orc we brought that his people must lay down their weapons as well, for the sake of peace, then lay my flail and dagger on the ground at my feet as an example to the others. If the orcs will do the same, I will lay down my bow and quiver as well.

Cadell

I follow Liadan's example for the sake of diplomacy, but keep a wary eye on the orcs. "Liadan, tell them our weapons are not to be damaged, and we will likewise refrain from touching theirs."

Liadan

I nod and relay Cadell's words, my eyes mainly on the orc with the red sash. He seems to be in charge of the guards.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I step forward, with one hand raised slightly and open. If the orcs tense up as I approach, I will not press further without permission. I tell the others, "If I get shot, do not retaliate or aim weapons at them." My sacrifice, Brynhild…

With my other hand, I gently take the orc's arm and tell the head guard (trusting Liadan to translate)…

"I am unarmed, and this orc is not a prisoner. You see we have children among us. We know you have children in the camp. Neither of us wants harm to come to the children. You noticed the harpy child as well. I killed her mother, but now care for the child. We all do. I hope her presence proves we are not child killers, not even if the child is of a nonhuman who tried to kill us.

"Aslaug sends her orcs to kill other orcs. That is why even the mighty Korgak hides his tribe, I believe. If he hides you to protect the young, and he refuses to have his people in Aslaug's clutches, then he is a great leader and I wish to talk about how we can help each other.

"Does Korgak or any among you understand my words?"