.

Chapter 34 - The Cursed Tribe

27 Sun's Height 5E 3

When they landed near Largashbur, the first thing they saw was two Orcs being attacked by a giant. Yssha Shouted "Fus ... Ro DAH!" at its head, throwing it away from the Orcs and into a tree. The Orcs attacked the downed giant, aided by Yssha's three team members.

As promised, Yssha stayed out of melee range until the giant was dead and one of the Orcs snarled at her. "Halt! You have no business here, outsider. Leave at once."

An Orc woman up on the Stronghold wall protested. "Ugor, no! This may be the one we need."

Ugor wasn't mollified. "We need nothing from outsiders! Yamarz will provide for us."

"We cannot carry on this way!" the woman insisted. You know we are doomed if we do not do something!"

Ugor was equally insistent. "Yamarz charged me with keeping outsiders away from Largashbur. You would have me disobey him?"

"You were charged with keeping us inside the walls. Have faith, Ugor. I only wish the best for our tribe."

Ugor snorted dismissively. "Fine, it's your neck."

Yssha looked up at the woman. "For what it is worth, I was made Blood-Kin by Gat gro-Shargakh, for some aid I gave him. I gather that information did not reach Largashbur."

"It did, Dovahkiin, but I fear Ugor is more concerned with following orders. Please forgive her."

"Forgiven, then. What is going on here?"

"I am Atub, the tribe's wise-woman. Please, our tribe suffers, and we need your help."

"Could you be more specific?" Marcurio asked.

Atub nodded. "Our chief, Yamarz, was once a strong and proud warrior. Now he is stricken, cursed. He is weak, and so our tribe is weak. The giants sense this, and intrude on our territory. Now they intrude on our very home." She sighed. "Yamarz has insisted we stay inside the walls, so there is nothing we can do without help. There is a ritual I could perform in an attempt to lift the curse, but I lack the necessary ingredients."

"If you mean alchemy ingredients," Yssha said, "I may be able to help; I have a large stock at one of my homes."

"Oh, could you?" Atub asked hopefully. "I need troll fat and a daedra heart."

"Only one of each? That is not a problem. I will be back shortly."

On her return from Windstad Manor, Yssha approached Atub with a smile, and handed her the ingredients. "Here are the things you asked for."

Atub smiled in return. "Excellent. Now you must come with me, Dragonborn. You've become part of this. You must be present for the ritual."

Yssha followed her into the Largashbur longhouse, coughing as the smell of smoke mixed with cooking odors caught in her throat. It was as dim as such longhouses always were, at least the others she'd visited since becoming Blood-Kin.

Atub approached a relatively small Orc in full Orcish armor, and said, "It is time, Yamarz."

Another Orc added, "We have angered Malacath, and now we must be punished."

Yamarz sneered, an interesting expression on an Orc, Yssha thought. "You bring an outsider here, and now insist I call on Malacath for help, when he has clearly forsaken me? You try my patience, Atub."

Atub growled under her breath. "Doing nothing will not grant our tribe relief from this curse. We must try."

Yarmarz' growl was more aubible. Then he continued, "Let's get this over with."

Yssha and her team followed them back outside, to what was clearly an altar, if not the type she was familiar with, and Atub spoke. "Now, we begin the ritual."

She placed the offerings of troll fat and Daedra heart, then raised her arms. "Great Malacath, we beseech you, aid us in our time of need!"

"Why are we bothering with this?" Yamarz' voice was filled with frustration.

"You pathetic weakling!" a disembodied voice said.

"What's that?" Yarmaz was obviously startled.

Atub smiled. "Malacath has heard my pleas. He speaks to us."

The disembodied voice spoke again, clearly displeased. "You dare summon me, Yamarz?"

"What? What is this?"

The disembodied voice shifted tone, becoming menacing. "You don't deserve to call yourself an Orc. You're weak, you're small, and you're an embarrassment. You let giants - giants! overrun my shrine. Bring me their leader's club as an offering, and I might release you from this curse."

Atub bowed deeply in the direction of the voice. "So it will be." Then she straightened, turning to the tribal chief. "Malacath has spoken, Yamarz. Your path is clear."

He walked several feet away, then turned to glare at Yssha. "Very well. You, outsider! Come here. I want a word."

As she was moving away, Atub caught her attention. "Please, Blood-Kin, help Yamarz. Do whatever you can. Our entire tribe depends on you."

Yssha gave her a small bow of assent before moving on to Yamarz, who was still glaring. "This is all your fault, you know," he grumbled. "I'm stuck fighting a giant now, thanks to you. So you're going with me. You're going to make sure I don't have any trouble reaching that giant. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while."

"Ah, as I heard it, your Lord Malacath gave you the job of defeating the giant."

Yamarz scowled at her. "Thanks to you, I've just been issued a challenge in front of my whole tribe. By a Daedric Prince, no less. I can't ignore that. I didn't say I wouldn't fight the giant, I just said that you're going to help me get to it."

He paused briefly. "Meet me at Fallowstone Cave. Make sure I get to the giant, and I'll see that you're paid for it."

Yssha wanted to hiss at him, but decided against it. He was already upset with her; why make it worse? Instead, she led her team back outside the stronghold, to where Odahviing waited. "What I could see and hear of that was interesting," the dovah said. "I do not believe that Orc plans to obey his deity, or that he wishes you only as a bodyguard. Be cautious around that one, Dovahkiin."

"I plan to, and I agree with you. But he deserves his chance."

"I suppose so. Mount, and I will take you to Fallowstone Cave."

When they got there and dismounted, they found Yamarz hadn't arrived yet, which made sense, since he had to walk, rather than fly. He arrived several hours later, scowling when he found them waiting at the entrance. He approached, looking no happier than he had at the stronghold, maybe a little grumpier. He practically snarled at them."If there's a chance this will save me, then I'm taking it. But you better back me up. Let's get this over with."

He strode quickly into the cave. Yssha and her team exchanged grins, then followed him into the cave. He wasn't taking any precautions, so Nevan, with the fastest reflexes, took the team's point position. That proved to be a good decision not too far in, when a cave bear attacked. It fell to Nevan's sword and Serana's ice spikes, and they kept following the Orc chief. When they caught up, he was facing another cave bear, successfully holding it off with war axe and shield, but he didn't object when Nevan and Serana joined in, and when the bear went down, he thanked them grudgingly.

When Yssha and Marcurio joined them, he glared at her. "All right, I'll go kill this giant," he grumbled. Then he looked hopeful. "Unless, of course, you'd like to make some extra gold."

How very un-Orcish of him, Yssha thought. "No, Malacath gave you, and you alone, that task."

"Fine," he snorted. "Then wait here. This should only take a second." He ran ahead, muttering something about, " ... never should've come here."

They caught up just in time to see the giant whack Yamarz with his club, sending the Orc flying without benefit of wings, obviously dead when he landed. Yssha winced, remembering when she'd been hit that way, earlier in her career, and the recuperation period afterward.

She had no time to really think about that, though, because the giant charged her party, and she Shouted "Mul - Qah DIIV!" Marcurio shot her a smile of gratitude as she was clothed in Dragon Aspect, and shot flames at the giant's fur clothing. A couple of other giants joined in the fun, but while they had undoubted size and strength, they had no magic, and down here, no mammoths.

Yssha didn't feel she'd really done that much, but when the last giant went down, the disembodied voice spoke again, this time sounding satisfied. "Yamarz was a fool, always trying to scheme his way out of responsibility. He outdid himself this time, trying to send a pregnant Khajiit to face giants. Gat gro-Shargakh did well to make you Blood-Kin; I will have to show him a bit of favor.

"But for now, you and your people took care of Yamarz and the giants. Two problems solved at once. Now take Shagrol's Hammer back to Largashbur, and we'll see about whipping the rest of them into shape."

Yssha bowed. She knew little of Malacath, but from this, he seemed like one of the better Princes, and she decided she didn't mind assisting him in this way. "We will do so, Lord Malacath."

"Good. You and I will speak privately later. Now go."

When they got back to Largashbur, Atub was waiting at the altar, so Yssha and her team approached. It looked like the Orc shaman was meditating, so they waited quietly until she turned to them, then Yssha spoke. "We have returned with Shagol's Hammer."

Atub looked rather concerned. "But what of Yamarz?" she hesitated. "I see. He did not survive. He ... he died well?"

Yssha thought quickly. He'd died at the giant's first blow, which wasn't terribly heroic, and not what Atub would want to hear. But he had gone in first, alone, which did take courage, so her reply was measured. "He fought bravely, but the giant overwhelmed him."

Atub looked relieved. "Ah. That is good to hear, then."

Then Malacath's disembodied voice spoke. "The Dragonborn is being kind. Yamarz was a coward and a weakling. His deceitful ways have cost you all greatly."

Atub seemed to sag, though she didn't actually move. "So he has been punished. And what of us? What fate shall we suffer?"

"You'll have to prove yourselves, but I'm willing to give you a chance. Gularzob is in charge now. Let's hope he's a better chief."

Then the voice's attention turned to her. "Dovahkiin, place that hammer on the shrine. You're the only one who's proven worthy in all of this."

I believe you underestimate my team, Lord Malacath, Yssha sent. But I will not interfere in what you wish of your people. She did as Malacath had said.

Later, little one. Here, your people are as rejected as my own folk, so you come under my protection. Take the transformed hammer, now Volendrung, as my gift. Were you not Akatosh's own, I would claim you as my champion.

I would prefer not to, Lord Malacath. Your Orcs need Valendrung as a symbol of your power and justice. Leave it here, if you would- it would do far more good than hanging as an ornament in one of my armories.

As you wish, Child of Akatosh. But I wish you to have something of mine to help you remember this adventure through the millennia. I grant you Scourge, an ebony mace. It can banish Daedra to the Void, never to return, and also summon Dremora or other Oblivion residents to do your will."

I thank you, Lord Malacath, and I accept. That is most kind of you."

"You will find it on your dining table when you return home. Use or display it as you choose.

When Malacath returned to his Shadow of a Garden in his realm of Ashpit, he found Sanguine waiting for him. "What do you think of her?" the Lord of Debauchery asked his Orcish counterpart.

"Hmm." Malacath had to think about that. "This is the first real attention I've paid to her, though she did come to my notice when Gat gro-Shargakh made her Blood-Kin. If he hadn't done it for defeating the Forsworn in Kolskeggr Mine, I would have for taking on the task she just completed. In a way, it's unfortunate she can't die permanently. Reincarnated as a male Orc, she could be the greatest chief ever."

"You like her, then?"

"Like her?" Malacath scowled. "That's a peculiar question coming from you, Sanguine. But no, I wouldn't go that far. On the other hand, I can't help respecting a pregnant Suthay willing to go up against multiple giants, even backed up by that powerful team of hers. Why?"

"Because I have been paying attention to her, ever since Talos cautioned me not to involve her in my little drinking game. She's been researching CHIM lately, and to put it bluntly, she's pissed at Molag, Mehrunes, Mephala, and Hermaeus. Probably at Vaermina pretty soon, too, if the Prince of Nightmare is plotting against her, as I think." He shrugged. "I know you're allied with Mephala, the way I am with Vaermina, but that's because it serves our interests, not because we're friendly with them. I'm starting to distance myself from Vaermina; you might want to consider doing the same with Mephala, out of sheer self-interest."

"Mmm." Malacath thought about that, then nodded. "CHIM isn't that kind of achievement, but Talos did manage it a few centuries ago ... maybe I ought to study this little Suthay a bit more, and decide from there. As you say, it may be time to readjust some alliances."

"Should you find in the cat's favor, perhaps you and I can find some common ground." Sanguine grinned. "Just consider it, is all I ask."

Talos had heard the advice Akatosh offered his sister's greats-grandmother, and wasn't sure he agreed with it. So when both were relatively free, dealing with only minor petitions, he "approached". "A word, Bormah?"

"Geh, kuli? You think I gave Ysshaya bad counsel?"

"Not that - it was good advising her to remain on Nirn until she need not return from Aetherius to keep her promise to Yssha. But I would question advising her not to contact at least Yssha. There is much good advice she could give, before she leaves Nirn permanently. Should that time be wasted?"

Akatosh chuckled. "A blink of an eye, in the time they will have together? Kuli, I fear you still think in mostly mortal terms. Ysshaya and her greats-granddaughter will have an eternity to trade strategy, tactics, and combat tips. Though you may have a point in one respect; perhaps it would be wise to let Yssha know that Ysshaya, in a solidified ghostly body, will indeed be acting as her midwife. Learning that at the last moments could be traumatic."

"May I be the one to tell her, Bormah? Please?"

"Geh, of course. You love your little sister, and she senses it, where she is still in too much awe of me. There is love, ko vazah, [truly] but ... once she becomes used to her new body, I think the awe will fade to the actual love most dovah hold for me. So until then, geh, act as intermediary." He gape-grinned, which looked odd on fire-wreathed jaws.

"Thank you, Bormah. I go."

Akatosh hid a chuckle at the phrasing. It had taken Talos a long time to accept that he had a dovahsil, dragon soul, perhaps because there had been few living dovah in his time, but it seemed to be manifesting more now, as in his current phrasing. This was a good thing.