1.
The small opening of his cowl only revealed ancient folds of leathery skin and glassy green eyes that had a sinister, almost supernatural mystique. Each long draw of his pipe lit up his features that eerily went black again as he exhaled a dreadful, sickening odour towards the fire. His stained, long beard floated in the wind like lingering smoke. A voice too deep to be human roared from the other side of the camp fire.
"Release me old man, release me from these bonds!". The old man's emerald eyes lit up again.
"Be wise Orc, there are few in this land that would readily employ the services of a beast such as yourself".
The flames roared higher as the night wind caught the red embers, revealing the old man's frightening company. The orc leaned to one side, reaching down to the ground and picked up a large, shiny chain which led its way to a set of iron braces attached to the beasts tree trunk legs. "Hardly call this contract of employment" he bellowed flinging the heavy chain from his fist to the ground as though it were merely a wisp of yarn.
The chain rattled violently as it fell, pulling on a nearby tree which groaned against its captive.
Suddenly the moon, full and bright, revealed herself through the clouds that enveloped her, casting a hue of silver over the dense forest.
Both beings looked up through an opening in the tree line above. The orc's eyes were rubies in the moon light and moths danced manically around his large, ape-like head with erratic choreography.
He was sullen and hung his head low as if the moon herself could read his very thoughts. He let out a long sigh that was almost as strong as the wind around them and the old man took another deep drag of his pipe. He looked up "Simply swear allegiance to me and I shall release you".
The orc leaned forward, almost directly over the fire, his fearsome, shining eyes reflecting the moon and fixated on the old man.
"Why should I do your bidding old man?" He croaked through clenched teeth, exposing his menacing tusks. The old breton stared up at his captive for a moment. The orc was easily as tall as two full grown men and weighed the same as a prized bull. His brute strength was something to be revered and a personality to match. His skin was dark green, almost reptilian and as thick and tough as oak bark.
Any creature of minimal intellect observing them from the surrounding woodland would wonder how this monstrous, mountain of muscle could have been over powered by such a frail, old man. Then again they wouldn't have known that he was no mere human either.
His mystical eyes penetrated and searched the orc's flesh and spirit, looking deep into the heart of the beast. He saw there a mighty, black vessel of hatred, yearning for the taste of blood and chaos.
The old man smiled wryly, and looked back up to the lonesome moon, reminding him of an old song he had heard in distant times. The cold night air was silent and still.
"The moons and the sun were lovers once before the world existed- and the moons used to be red" The ogre looked up as the old man spoke. "Red with passion" he continued, "Then one by one, they became white, pale and envious when the sun left them for Nirn" The orc was not in the slightest bit familiar with the song and the old man's words were like daggers to the beasts ears.
"You know what that feels like don't you - to lose someone you love?". The orc looked away from the old man and then solemnly into the darkness of the forest for a short time.
The old man's eyes widened as he drew another drag of his stinking weed. "I know what it is you seek Grulbul Gro-Lazark, I can assure you our agendas are one in the same" He muttered.
The ogre looked down at the old man completely bemused. The old man leaned forward and the fire rose violently and his eyes lit up with a preternatural glow.
"Revenge!" he hissed.