Dragon's Egg - Act IV

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I give Cadell a nod when he suggests we do not relay messages. Taking statements from everyone will only drag this out. I take Burnbright's hand and say, "We won't be long," and hopefully that statement will prove true.

I say to Liadan, "Shall we move (forward?)" I use the orcish word in part to ensure that I will recognize it when Red Sash speaks to me.

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I nod and look to the red-sashed orc as well, speaking in his tongue. <We are ready to see Korgak.>

While I wait for a response, I breathe deeply and try to channel Cadell in my thoughts. What would he say to Korgak? He'd emphasize the alliances we've made with races both good and evil, no doubt; that might do for a start. I just hope I can be as charismatic about it as he and Baldhart are.

 

[Philster401]

"I'm the one who saved the orc they might respect my mercy but then again they might see it as weakness," Zoran said then in a lower tone continued, "One problem I have is that I sense no substantial amount of evil in either of the dwarfs, so their leader might be evil."

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

"We'll be sure to let them know what you did," I tell Zoran. "But you should let Baldhart and me handle the talking."

 

[Philster401]

"So either way I plan on staying outside of the of the tent, defend you two if we need to flee. I still have my shield and my arrows if we need them seeing how they didn't mention them," Zoran mentioned to Baldhart.

 

[Philster401]

Zoran replied to Laidan saying, " very well."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I thank Zoran for confirming the dwarves are not evil, and add, "Your mercy strengthens us. There is nothing weak about a warrior who defeats an enemy unscathed and spares him. We will certainly speak of your prowess and benevolence... and I'll trust Liadan to tone the translation down a notch if my words come off too cocky in orcish."

 

[Philster401]

"Thank you, Baldhart just remember I did kill the first orc(at least I think I did)," Zoran answered.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"Oh... well, no one seems to miss him, so I won't bring that up."

((I know the other Orc ran, but Baldy doesn't.))

 

[SeverinR]

Bressel
"I will return to the group and tell them you are speaking to the leader. That way they will know for now that everyone is safe."
Bressel steps back, waiting to see if anyone else is leaving.
"What about the dwarves?"
"If you can, have your little angel get a message to us. If a fight occurs let us know with a battle cry and we will be here as soon as we can clear the Orcs that would block our path. (to the rest of the group outside)If she is in the cave, repeat the battle cry out here, so we may hear."

Aliron
Remains quiet, almost like he isn't there.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"I'm sure she's found a way to watch us. I have the feeling she's not the only one. Maybe if you head back to the group, you can tell her what you have in mind. Since Nissa has her own body, I can only talk to her by speaking.

"Liadan, I think the orcs should not have a problem with Bressel telling the others what is happening in here. And as I said, it doesn't do anyone any good for half our party to just stand here unarmed. If Aslaug's orcs attack, we'll be helping Korgak's side. In fact, it might do us good to know what Aslaug's orcs look like. We know the stronger grey wolf orcs wear red sashes. How would we know if the orc is one of Aslaug's?

I add, "The wolf caught a scent it didn't like. Could be one of Aslaug's orcs, could be a dwarf. We need the dwarves on our side, so because it's right and because it will help us further north... well, let's see if Korgak will let us take them peacefully before I say too much."

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I nod at Baldhart's words, and explain Bressel's actions to the red-sashed orc before I relay Baldhart's questions about Aslaug's orcs.

 

[Steerpike]

The Orc Camp

The orcs wait while the party decides who will meet Korgak, not seeming concerned with hurrying the party along but not appearing particularly friendly, either. The red-sashed orc who lead the party to the camp is the one to take Baldhart and Liadan into the cave.

When Baldhart reassures Burnbright, she gives a a firm nod. "I know you won't let anything happen to me. None of you will."

As Bressel starts to leave the orc camp, the orc guards tense. After hearing Liadan's explanation of what Bressel is doing, there is a brief discussion among the guards about whether it is OK for Bressel to leave. They finally decide that it is, but that he should be escorted. Assuming Bressel agrees to the escort, one of the other red-sashed orcs will accompany him back to the rest of the party. If he won't take an escort, the orcs make it clear they mean to prevent him from leaving until the entire group leaves (presumably also with an escort).

Baldhart and Liadan are led into the cave. It is fairly dark not far beyond the entrance, but as soon as their eyes adjust they can see dim, pale stones on tripod stands along the sides of the cave, and those stones provide enough light for Baldhart to see. Liadan's eyes (and, presumably, the orcs') allow her to make out more of her surroundings in the dim light.

The cave narrows and twists to the left, and at its narrowest point a wide, somewhat shabby door has been set into the stone of the cave. Another of the red-sashed orcs stands next to the door, but when Baldhart, Liadan, and their guide approach he grunts and pushes the door open. The chamber beyond is wide and more or less round. The walls have been worked, though not with much skill. They're better than the natural cave formation, but still rough. A fire burns in the center of the room, casting light and heat across its breadth. A thin trail of smoke rises from the fire and disappears into a series of openings cut into the ceiling, which is about twenty feet high. Scattered around the fire are numerous furs hanging from the racks or spread on the ground. Orcs lounge on these - three males and four females. The smell of cooked meat and bad ale is on the air, though there is nothing cooking on the fire currently.

At the far side of the fire, beneath a small, open, and crude pavilion of furs stretches across thin branches of wood, a large orc stands before a pile of tattered cushions. Unlike any of the other orcs, pieces of plate are affixed to his armor at the shoulders and legs, and he wears steel gauntlets. A long sword is sheathed at his side. His dark orc hair is shot with gray and one of his lower tusks has been broken off. He stands with legs wide, arms crossed. One gauntleted hand grasps a dagger, the blade of which appears wet.

Beside this imposing orc, another of the red-sashed orcs is struggling with something on the ground. The creature twists around and straightens up, revealing a barely conscious dwarf that the orc is holding beneath his arms in an attempt to keep him on his feet. The dwarf has been stripped bare of clothing and has fresh cuts from what look like numerous knife wounds across his body. The orc supporting the dwarf half leads and half drags the dwarf toward the door, and the orc accompanying Baldhart and Liadan pulls the door open to let them through. The dwarf appears dazed and doesn't seem to notice the party.

As the dwarf is being led away, the large orc in partial plate drops his dagger onto the floor of the cave muttering something about 'filthy creatures' in the orc tongue.

"Korgak," says the red-sashed guide with an incline of his head. "Here are those who wish to talk."

Korgak makes a motion with his hand, and the guide steps away so Korgak can get a better look at Baldhart and Liadan. Korgak studies the two for a moment, then spreads his arms. "Welcome to the home of Korgak, great leader of the Grey Wolves. What brings and elf and a human here? One of you speaks our tongue I'm told - come, let us speak."

Some of the lounging orcs rise at a gesture from Korgak, and then begin assembling cushions on the floor. Korgak motions for Baldhart and Liadan to sit and calls for food and ale. And orc uncovers a haunch of what appears to be deer, which had been covered by a skin and looks recently cooked. The orcs begins cutting at the meat while another fills mugs.

Outside, a couple of minutes after Baldhart and Liadan go in, Zoran, Cadell, and the others see a naked, cut and bleeding dwarf led from the cave. The dwarf is unsteady on his feet and practically dragged toward one of the cages, whereupon the guard starts fumbling for his keys to open the cage door.

Burnbright reddens and watches the proceedings, but with her mouth shut. Callan frowns thoughtfully.

((Depending on how fast Bressel leaves, or whether he argues about an escort, Bressel may see this as well or he may be gone)).

In the Woods

The sight of the cheese causes Branwen's stomach to growl audibly. She takes the morsel from Marius and hardly manages to chew the food before swallowing. After she eats it, she gives Marius a grin that would probably be more cute were it no for her row of sharp teeth. Her brow furrows in concentration, and she says "Bwanen...thank."

Tumi watches with a faint unease, as though he seemed to have forgotten Branwen was not a normal girl.

Aliron remains well hidden, and from his vantage point he can hear the crunching of leaves and sticks and see the ground disturbed where some invisible thing is moving. The movement stops suddenly, and after a brief shimmering of air a dwarf materializes in the middle of the forest. He is long-bearded, robed, and carries a thick staff half again as tall as he is. His robes are gray and lined with gold trim, the trim embroidered with a series of runes that run all along the perimeter of the garment. His staff is similarly carved with runes and set with a rough red stone at the top.

The dwarf is looking in a completely different direction from where Aliron is hiding, and squinting as though attempting to see something. "I know you are here, orc-friend. Show yourself." He turns his head slowly, scanning the area, but doesn't appear to see Aliron at all.

Nissa, flying above, has a hard time seeing much on the ground through the tree cover, but she has a general notion of where the wolf reacted to something unseen, and though she doesn't see the dwarf materialize from thin air, she does, after a moment, catch a glimpse of a dwarf-sized robed figure standing in the woods where no one was before. The dwarf holds a staff and seems to be searching the woods for something.

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I incline my head toward Korgak when he addresses us, and take a small step forward when he says he wishes to speak with us. <Hail, Korgak of the Grey Wolves. I am Liadan, and this is Baldhart. We come to negotiate an alliance between your people and ours. Baldhart does not speak your tongue, so I will translate her words for you, and yours for her.>

I wait until I'm sure I have his attention, then take a deep breath. I can't fumble this now; the party depends on this.

<Our company met one of your people in the woods, who said that you are enemies of the sorceress Aslaug. We too wish to fight against her, and for this we ask you to join us. Though elves and men have long been the foes of orcs, the greater danger to us all means we must unite if we are to survive. We have parleyed with gnolls and dwarves for this reason, and they have not brought us harm. Likewise, we will not harm your kin if they agree to stand beside us. Your tribesman was injured in battle, yet you can see we have spared his life and treated his wounds. We bear no ill will to those who do not wish us ill.>

I pause to let Korgak react, and Baldhart to speak if she wishes.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I thank Korgak for his hospitality then take the seat that was offered. I go on,

"I am Baldhart Eisenberg, niece of Chief Wolfgang Eisenberg of the Iron Mountain. I do not expect you to know the name, but like you, I live in a place like this where my people enjoy the advantage of higher ground, we hunt our food and keep our people strong. My mountain is in the south. If I did not wish to fight the battle of the north, I would stay home and live well.

"I came north, at first, because I thought killing monsters would prove my worth to the battle goddess. I did not know that the worst monsters would be humans and elves, or that Chief Tarlack—a kobold—would be one of the great chiefs I would meet. He was great because he would not have his people enslaved by Aslaug or her enemies, the dark elves.

"I learned that Aslaug pits orcs against orcs, at first from a friend—a human friend—then more from one of your people who was caught stealing. He was spared, and I even gave him food from my personal supply and unbound him once we earned each other's trust." I'll leave out the part where he ran for now. "My understanding is that you are not on Aslaug's side, you will not have your people enslaved by Aslaug, and you will not allow your people's children to be slaughtered by her orcs. Is my understanding correct?"

I have more to say, but it should wait. Hopefully my words don't contradict Liadan's.

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I translate Baldhart's words, then clarify in case we seem contradictory. <The dark elves are enemies to us as well as Aslaug. Our alliance does not extend to them as it does you. It would seem this battle has three sides at least.>

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

As soon as I am given food, I eat. I will not insult them by hesitating for more than it takes to offer a prayer to Brynhild.

((Not sure when food is served, but CON check just in case.

23 if PI does not apply. The +1 is for a monk resist poison skill. Iron Body, I think.))

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I sit next to Baldhart and take the food I am offered, offering a quick prayer to Fraxinus before I eat. It is tempting to purify the food and drink with a spell, but I don't dare insult the orcs by doing so, even discreetly.

 

[AkamaruGames]

Marius

Patting the monster girl on the head, Marius takes a bite of jerky and says, "You are welcome, Bwanen." Peering at the harpy's wings, he asks, "I guess you haven't learned to fly yet or you would have flown over that river earlier. Seems like we will be waiting a while. Would you like to practice a bit? I bet the others would be so surprised if they came back and found that you had learned to fly while they were gone. The baby angel might even play air tag with you! Doesn't that sound fun?"

 

[SeverinR]

Bressel:
Bressel agrees to the escort, and leaves just after Baldhart enters the cave. (So he doesn't see the dwarf)
He remains quiet as he follows, taking in all he can, making a note of how many warriors he sees.

When he gets near to where the dog barked he will look to see if he can see anything there without being too obvious.


Aliron:
remains silent.