In My Time of Troubles

by Crossposted

Crossposting of the TheIrishDreamer’s FanFiction on SpaceBattles all credit goes to the original author.

2. Entry 2

[Karguk 01]

Orc Stronghold of Sparta

"Let us begin this identification of the weapons then my slave. I am curious to see are they of any use. And do not hold back or lie, tell me everything you can about them Missy. The sword first I think, just be careful not to injury yourself as you do so." I told the slave short woman carefully in Common trying to ensure my dictation was improving. Really it was unfair I didn't have perfect Common upon...reincarnation?... as I was bloody human once. Life was just unfair sometimes wasn't it?

"Of course Master, I'll begin as you order" she replied unfolding herself from her kneeling position, and after a bow to me, nervously approaching the longsword on the table glancing at me, then the blade. And after a taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and started chanting softly, almost musically even, and moving her in intricate gestures over the blade. Then after a minute or so a golden glow seemed to engulf the blade as she held her arms over it...then vanished as she stepped back from the table, away from the blade, and back to kneeling in front of me hands fidgeting at hem of her clothing.

'I do wonder if Oggy does that deliberately...head up a chara! You don't want her afraid your thinking of a different sword" I started to wonder then sharply corrected myself and focused on her, at least quasi-clean, bowed head. Absolute power corrupts, and it's quite frightening having basically having power of life and death over the pretty strawberry-blonde woman...let alone handling the fact everyone I call friend or family expects to just have my way with the poor girl. Not something my still...somewhat...intact old soul will allow, thank God, and Illneval, or not. One has to draw a line somewhere I suppose; it's that or go mad.

"Master, the blade appears to be bound with a blade of human origin, imbued with an attribute of fire and with holy energy...that's all I can identify on it Master. I'm sorry. It's beyond my abilities Master, forgive me" she explained hurriedly, hell she was on the verge of tears from it. I was the only one who was quasi-kind to her, at least when I could be...and unfortunately seemingly given her a dreadful fear of failing me and thereby assigned to someone else. Still likely wouldn't stop her stabbing me in the back if she thought she could escape though. I'm just an evil savage orc after all and...

'Wait...FIRE...' I thought blinking out of my idle thoughts and blurted out excitedly "Its fire sword? I've always wanted on of those" then slowed as she tried to understand my "itsafireswordIvealwayswantedoneofthose" I'd muttered. I took a breath "It will set things alight with each strike yes?"

She fidgeted again with her hem evidently nervous of what she was going to say "Yes Master to a certain extent yes it would. But Master...it is, likely a former paladin's sword and..." fidget, fidget, fidget "...it..it...may be painful for...an orc...for one of your nature" came out in a fearful whisper. Emerald green eyes glanced up as if expecting a blow or anger.

I sighed sadly, honestly what could I expect from her, many orcs would have lashed out at being told the obvious truth that 'blessed paladin sword orc' does not always mean shiny new sword for said orc. And it would explain why Gethrar had found the blade uncomfortable and unnatural, when he'd picked it up at first and then seemed relieved to be rid of it. I on the other hand...had almost felt a ...warm glow?...from it, feeling stronger even as I held it. Well once I'd been sure nothing was cursed anyway. Wasn't touching anything till then. No I was not.

"Missasri..." I replied using her actual name, the one we almost never used, and reached forward and patted her head gently even after she initially flinched away "...it's okay. Not angry you for the truth, do not be scared of telling me the truth if I order it. And, well..." I paused standing up and reaching for the hilt of the blade with my meat hand. The soft warmth and extra strength seemed to fill me till as I did "...it doesn't hurt or bother me. No, not at all"

'Huh funny really...' I mused glancing at the beautiful runes that seemed to shine to my eyes on the long slivery blade. Considering it's a paladin's blade...that would imply I'm Lawful Good or Neutral Good still of all things using the dreadful cosmology of this place. How terrible...how wonderful...how depressing...

'Still you have a FIRE SWORD! A HOLY fire sword! It's like...practically your DUTY to go and smite dudes with this! Hell the Boss -man will approve even! It's a LONGSWORD after all!' some excitable little voices at the back of my mind. They sounded disturbingly like an orc and human boy ranting together about the 'dee awesomez!!!' And 'whoosh, whoosh, I'm a Jedi! So burn baby burn! Muwahahahaha'

Missy looked at me in confusion, then eyes widened and she paled evidently thinking something bad about my little announcement even if seemingly reassured in regards herself. Wisely I decided to put the weapon back into the rough scabbard we'd created for it, the faint warmth fading, as I placed the sheathed blade to my left as I sat back in front of Missy.

"As long as you obey me, be honest when I ask for your opinion and don't do anything to force me to take action as shaman against you, I'll swear to do my best to keep you alive and well, and unabused. Even beyond being my magic teacher when you fulfill that role..." I told her cupping her chin "...so can you do your best to endure?"

She nodded furiously as I took my hand away and I sat back against the wall behind the rough 'chair' I sat on. In truth it was a large block of wood covered by a wolf pelt over it and against the wall forming a chair of sorts. At least it was comfortable. I know I shouldn't feel proud of it, but after lugging the block up stairs and arranging it in position it was hard not to be.

Still considering the fact my shorter, barelegged slave was shivering badly and legs looking to be aching I pushed that silly pride-fullness away a moment and took the pelt from behind me into my hands with a sigh. In truth I just didn't notice these things till they were glaringly obvious – my orcish constitution and our nature in my second childhood mean my 'what is a cold night' was very different to hers. I held out the pelt to her. Considering the path I was being railroaded down I should at least try to show some small kindnesses whenever possible.

"Here, I can see your cold, wrap this around yourself. Can't go have my slave freeze to death after surviving a dungeon really can I?"

More furious nodding, this time seemingly grateful as much as afraid, followed as she took the large blanket like pelt and did as ordered, wrapping around herself like a cloak, covering exposed shoulders and legs. I wasn't careful she get a fever from the chill at this late hour of night and climate. She was only a wealthy city girl turned newbie adventurer after all. And I'd planned and going to bed an hour ago but got caught up in the

'Course we've bigger things to worry about now don't we' I though idly resting back against the now dust free stonework at my back. Something down there had wiped out a reasonably well armed with actual magic weapons party decades ago, or longer, and was very likely still down there. That and scouts from other tribes were starting to lurk about the valley at the far end where we'd been camped over the winter judging from the far off fires. Funny how much you could see between in the valley from the top of the tower and the Keep. So it looked like people were starting to take note of our relocation.

"And that means somebody will decide to attack us and test our strength. Or decide that since were in the cursed fortress...and NOT dead or worse...well now is a good time to claim it they'll start thinking' I mused trying to think. Orc politics were both hilariously simple yet strangely complex at times. Show weakness, get attacked. Show strength, and your numbers could swell overnight. And in other ways it sort of reminded me of my old history classes.

I'd always loved history and orc society with its petty clan chiefs and kings was a bit like pre-christian Ireland and its 'kingdoms', except with cannibalism and such. Still they had the brutal internecine clan warfare down pat, as well as the slavery angle. That and elves were still assholes. Now how to pull a Niall of the Nine Hostages, or Brian Boru, without dying or losing my soul in the process?

I sighed 'Well first things first, let's have Missy memorize another round of Identify and then let her have a good night's sleep. See what the other items are, and if their of any use like my new sword and that axe Zah loves so much. Then worry about any liches and demons or whatnot, hiding out underneath us, and then big angry green dudes who want to kill us and rape our women heading from outside. What a world to live in!"

--

When: 1351DR – Spring, towards the end it feels like. Getting warmer.

Where: My new Study in the Stronghold of Sparta

I have decided that this room shall be my new Study, with nice little fireplace, and bookshelf, and writing table, and alchemy lab...

Yes I'll admit right now it's just a (now rubble free!) small empty adjust room in my floor of the tower filled with all the 'Holy Tomes' were can muster, and it technically has both a table and a bookshelf with books. Even if the table is a large flat rock, the holy tomes are now badly tattered D manuals, and the bookshelf are three spell-books and four others we captured on a raid: one a book about the Weave and Mystra , the second appears to be a merchant's ledger, the most battered something about the Drow and last...well, let's just say it's the medieval-fantasy version of a porno book. You should have seen Missy's face when I asked her to start translating books so that so I can learn Common.

Well at least I know what my current little library is made up off. Crap. I need more books and there will be war someday if I cannot get them. The World Shall Fear the Horde of Orc Bibliophiles!

Anyway, my recent dreaming of wars of conquest to fuel my reawaken book addiction aside, we've decided to call a temporary halt to Operation Dungeon Crawl. Partly because we've taken enough 'loot' from the first two levels to make everyone happy, and second I don't want to confront whatever killed those adventurers just yet. I may now have my magic sword of fiery awesomeness, and Zah his magic axe of...I dunno sharpness?...and other magic nick-nacks, the fact is;

These well equipped adventurers got themselves killed having with those very same weapons. I'm too new to my powers, both divine and one sluggish arcane, to think of challenging something above my 'level' so to speak. As is Ogrash whose only starting to get the hang of calling on her Goddess. Now interestingly Missy has 'levelled up' herself as she can now cast what could be classed as a '2nd level' spell, which would have placed her at Level two when...

Okay this fixation of mine with RPG logic can be problematic I find, as this is real not a game. Anyway I had her practice spells, and the two cantrips she knew, with me everyday this past week and while testing discovered she managed, with great difficulty mind you, to cast Glitterdust. Not at me obviously, at the test dummy I've setup in the yard below, while I hold her under control by a lengthy leash to her slave collar. I'd prefer to do without these measures, but I'm not stupid to allow a wizard out from under my control, and I'm also very conscious of the morale boost it gives me from the clan seeing it done.

The growth itself appears to be more fear and stress breaking down some mental blocks she'd built up in her training over the years and held her back casting them. Evidently it's the result of organised study, followed by mental development, rather than any lingering notion I had about experience points. Best guess based on this is that wizards often adventure at lower levels because the emotions behind adventuring and stressful situations 'unlock' their mental of physical blocks. That and there's ancient 'shortcuts' to learning magic almost by mental imprint books in some of these ruins. I WANT THOSE BOOKS. RALLY THE CLAN!

So basically I don't think we're ready yet to risk a high level dungeon and other issues are starting to appear on the horizon as spring comes and goes around us. Basically that of the political and military here in the lovely fertile, and very much not empty, valley that we oversee from our new fortress home. Taugh took his squad out hunting a few days ago, and came back with word they'd killed what were very obviously two Fingercutter clan scouts unaware by the river running to the east of us through the centre of the valley.

Now their presence is actually strange as their not a clan from this immediate valley. Those being the Fleshgorers, Clawslsashers and Thunderblades who are all clans roughly in our size range, albeit slightly larger in numbers thanks to our recent setbacks. But the Fingercutters really should be further eastward from here from what our older clan members say – they were supposedly settled in an old cairn or tower years ago when ours passed through their land. And more curiously both scouts were looking somewhat lean for orcs and seemed somewhat younger than usual.

If it is the Fingercutters relocating it would explain the increased movement of other clans last year that Vretkag and the old Chief spoke of a few times. When one tribe or clan moves then others tend to get set in motion likewise...which in turn can lead to Hordes surging in odd directions after a leader's death. And it being them...would not be good assuming their coming here. They were a much bigger clan the others tell me and Zah with greater than three hundred warriors all those years ago when the Stormfang passed through their lands in our usual nomadic lifestyle. Which raises the question what were they doing so far west of their normal stomping grounds?

Outcasts perhaps after a clan dispute?

Which would sorta explain the slightly shabby nature of their corpses. Not a major danger really, our defences and the slope would force a defensive battle and unless they dramaticly unnumbered us I'm confident we could either defeat them or drive

A ranging to expand territory?

Unlikely, unless they'd expanded dramatically in the past few years. Which was always a possibility, albeit a small one, as orc hordes could occasionally be 'divinely' inspired and pieces just...fit together...suddenly and then an army was on the march. In that case the choice would be run, swearing allegiance or dying – our position here is defensively excellent and I've some faith in our tactics...just not against a prospective horde.

Worst comes to worst it could be a full migration for some as yet unexplained reason. Though that seems the least likely as the Fingercutters were a largely 'settled' clan by this stage, at least in orcish terms; which is the worst case scenario of course. I'm very doubtful we'd be able to hold off those sort of numbers even from the stronghold. Even the simple strategy of fort up and be besieged is something very much frowned up 'divinely' let's say, and morale would plummet. And plummeting clan morale usual means regime change, rather bloody ones at that.

So for the moment all we can do is continue as we are, training and renovating our new home. Well myself and Ogrash are trying to get a few of the females trained up as battle medics, those that aren't going to be archers. In a world where healing spells exists – well my view it could tremendously increase the longevity of a small well trained force against a larger one. Which considering our numbers...yeah we need average advantage I can manage to leverage. From my primitive fire-pots to our enslaved mage, this'll be a make or break year for the Stormfang and Shaman Karguk.

Well that and watch what's happening in the rest of the valley, something our view can gives us a little help in. If the Fleshgorers, Clawslsashers or Thunderblades begin moving it'll be an indication of outside trouble from the Fingercutters, that or them thinking of making a move on us. Of the rest of our neighbours, a smattering of bands of kobolds and goblins, the only ones I'm concerned about are a tribe of bugbears lurking to the far south of us. Still nothing would actually get all orc four clans present united quicker than then trying to make a move on one of the others. Don't think it's out of any great sense of loyalty or strategic thinking: we all just hate bugbears that much evidently. Go figure.

In general though thinks have been going well so far as the valley has pretty abundant game and the other gifts of nature's bounty, and of course we've started clearing the first level under the Keep for living space. While been on the move on the surface, and my (and Zah's and Ogrash's) pushing the clan to train through the daylight hours to work through the pain, truth is getting the 'caves' under the keep we've cleared for the females and whelps is a goal of sorts. We're creatures of darkness and even if the third level is (hopefully) sealed and secure by our rubble barricade and resealed doorway...well the females are getting on to Oggy about getting settled in above and making babies. Sigh. I know orcs!

Anyway the oddness continues from Ogrash with these interminable staring contests, and that Yes, my area of the tower is the appropriate place for her to wash Missy and herself down. Not that I'm prudish mind you, a lifetime as an orc and close tribal living tends to make one see more than one would often want to know of one's neighbours. But it's quite...distracting...I'll say and both scares and embarrassed the slave no end. Probably why Oggy does it, that and her usual enjoyment of teasing me; damn evil aligned pranksters. And of course taking advantage of my technological...err...several-failed-attempts-till-successful...wonder. Just because I managed to setup a bloody primitive bath and cistern on the roof above!

Now everyone in the damn clan ones me to make a bigger one, and I've a cheapskate (admittedly very hot cheapskate) hogging it on every other day. Bloody ungrateful chaotic evil...

--

When: End Spring, Year of the Crown.

Where: Sparta

More movement on the fridges of our territory, this time from the Clawslsasher's (evidently somebody couldn't spell on clan founding day) who's scouts, or hunters maybe, clashed with our hunting party under Cardac. No one killed on our side, though a few injuries we had to heal up when they got back. Thing is they killed three of the Clawslsasher's before the others four took off back towards their own territory tail between their legs.

It's gonna cause trouble though. We've drawn blood so they'll most likely feel the need to retaliate even if it's a failed attempt. Tit for tat bloodshed is very much an orcish clan response just like it was for the old Irish clans of my past life. This can lead to long term blood feuds or can simply end after a show of strength (and a few more deaths) till everyone goes away talking about their bravery. You never can know with these raiding based societies.

Zah wants to increase our patrols and I agree. We've been sticking pretty close to Sparta itself with our hunting and foraging so they had to come a long way, and out of their way, to come that close. Ogrash thinks it's a deliberate scouting of our position, which of curse means this is a testing of our strength. So that means we have to respond forcefully to any incursion.

Bloody unfortunate really considering the incident with the Fingercutters not too long ago; inevitable I suppose. Though I'd have liked more time, another season perhaps, before it happened. So we'll rotate out patrols with hunters and see what happens. It'll take time off my arcane studies but nothing to be done about it, I'll leave Missy in Oggy's care when it's my patrol. On a side note since I'll be away I've asked that the females check if any of the children might have arcane potential Unlikely, but worth a shot, as it'd be useful to a full female spellcaster or even a warrior spell-sword.

--

When: End Spring, Early Summer. 1350DR.

Where: Just back in Sparta

Dammit we have a problem, a possibly big problem at that.

One I know who's at fault for. Ilneval is railroading us again, or testing us, or just plain being a divine dick with us poor bloody mortals. He's sending visions, and while the idea of attractive women dreaming of me is nice in principle when it involves sending warbands to attack us...

Yeah it's less nice and pleasant I'll say.

So yesterday we had another clash with a band of Clawslsashers when my squad was out shadowing our hunting party. A bit more than we expected in fact, though we caught them by surprise as they weren't expect to face fourteen warriors, one of them a cleric with an enchanted weapon.

I'm also pleased to note that our teamwork training and simple tactics actually work. We ran into about twenty-four Clawslsashers and basically tore them apart in the resulting melee. And also proper melees are absolutely terrifying. Really fucking terrifying...and yet exhilarating too somehow.

On a side note: I love my new magic sword. Oh the Divines do I love my magic fire sword that cuts through leather and mail like a hot knife through butter...and then sets dudes alight! Hell it even had this awesome red-gold flame that seemed to cling to its surface at one point. I smite them with my mighty smiter of Justice!

Sorry the main point is that after we tore apart our intruders, killing half and running off the rest with only a few injuries, we temporarily took a prisoner. Heavily wounded of course, dying in fact from said wounds, in the aftermath of the battle. So we conducted a little interview of our friend.

Which bizarrely enough involved no torture or such thing as our dying orc was quite eager to tell us about our 'coming doom' at his clan's hands. And that evidently that their own cleric of Ilneval has been having dreams about our new home, clan totems burning and other prophetic signs that say: sic'em boys basically, in picture form.

Their shaman, unusually a female, is apparently pretty worked up about the whole thing and has allied with the Fleshgorers from the sounds of it. Bloody Illneval, I just KNEW finding these shiny new weapons and getting our stronghold up and running was too easy. OF COURSE there'd be a nasty response waiting around the corner. We are on a timescale, set by Glorious Illneval (Praise him!) after all and that means throwing shit at us whenever he feels like it. And right now that means throwing the weight of two clans against us to test our mettle so to speak; both of which are slightly larger in terms of warriors than my own.

Not that this bothers any of my deluded clan members, Oggy and Zah included. Who rather seeing this as the Gods fuckin' with us for their jollies are seeing this as a divine these that will prove the strength and glory of the Stormfang once again. I'm the only sane one here it seems dammit.

So we've talked, and talked, and letting the enemy come to us is the best option as we're badly outnumbered. Letting them come up the slopes towards the stronghold should prevent them flanking our shieldwall with the narrowness of the terrain. And it allows me to bring our archers too bare, along with Ogrash and the partly trained helpers and in an emergency maybe our slave wizard. Though I'm debating that and it's safety, though Missy is VERY well aware of the result of our defeat for her.

So for the moment we're falling war mode and increased our pickets on the walls. That and keeping our patrols right up against the stronghold – none of us want any chance of the 'allies' overwhelming a patrol by surprise. Losing one could easily cost us a quarter of our strength pointlessly. Ogrash says she wants to talk about her own ideas so I'm waiting on her to arrive while Missy is dozing over in her corner of the room.

--

When: Summer. 1350. I think its May, or well here, Mirtul?

Where: My Happy Place. Happy. Happy.

Don't care the world's a piece of shit. Don't care!

Don't care that my patron God keeps trying to get me killed! Don't care! Don't care!

Don't care that enemy clans could be closing in! Don't care!

Don't care that even if I survive, the Gods will walk the earth and kill each other! Nope don't care!

Don't care! Don't care!

Nope life is great. Yes it is. I forgot how much I missed sex did you know that?

Good I was dumb. Yes I was! Eh-huh! Let the fun times roll!

Anywho. Me and Oggy. Oggy and Me. Who woulda thunk it?

I'm happy. She seems very happy. That's good I think, even if the whole thing was a bit more...ugh...intense...that I remember. Not complaining though. Happy days are here again.

--

When: Eve of Battle looks to be. Summer, been a week or two?

Where: Overlooking the valley from Tower.

Well seems the Boss man gets what he wants once again. You can actually see the two groups of clan warriors forming up on the flats of the valley – one nice perk of this place at least. So there a few hours out considering the stamina and travel speed of our species. So we're preparing ourselves, readying armour and such, while I'm getting ready to invoke the Boss's power, for the battle he's after arranging between our merry valley's worth of clans.

The only consolidation is the Thunderblades have stayed out of it, we're looking to be outnumbered enough as it is, though neither clan can bring their full strength against us. Looks like between eighty and a hundred enemy warriors coming.

Make or break time on whether our training has been worth it. I won't let Oggy or Zah down.

Let's do this.

--

[Karguk 02]

On the slope outside the Orc Stronghold of Sparta

It was all quite more worrying in person than in though I found as the small horde below us bellowed up the slope towards our band of defenders who were beating their own weapons rhythmically against their shields as they chanted. I'd found it helped for some reason with both psyching them up as well as fight together, it sure helped get the blood boiling in my head for whatever reason. Behind me the ruined, but still effective, walls of the stronghold rose as a force of our female archers waited nervously, while about fifteen stood just behind our waiting shield-wall with Ogrash and her 'acolytes' looking much more eager. With the downward nature, and lack of cover coming up the slope I at least hoped they'd score some hit...and not hit any of us fighting males while they did so.

"Be calm and do as I order. Everything will be fine. The clan lives, you shall live. You understand?" I told the nervous human to my side in Common, putting my gauntleted hand on her shoulder as she turned and looked at me. Eyes shone back from the pale face full of fear, confusion and worryingly perhaps panic. I could understand but I gripped her shoulder a little tighter and tried again "Take a deep breath, in and out, and be calm, your Master orders it. You will obey, understand?"

The short woman did as ordered, sucking in a nervous breath as the noise continued it staccato beat around us, then let out a slower more collected breath, then nodded "Yes Master, understood. Your orders will be obeyed without question"

"Good, now let's see we get them moving up to us" I answered turning to look back down the slope at our foe. We'd deployed nearly our full strength in a block on the rise up towards the stronghold entrance, deployed in a blocky shield-wall forty-one strong, and backed up by our auxiliary archers on the walls above and behind. The rest of the females with some of the smarter children, and the handful of Den Guardians, being on the castle walls making sure making sure no attempt was made to scale past the quasi-cliff face, the planted stakes, or the walls themselves while we fought out here.

"Oggy, Zah you ready?" he asked striding forward guiding Missy as I did so, glancing at my new found mate, and to my friend, the clan chief, who was both stood in better armour the clan possessed. Zahgorim in hs mix of plate and chainmail. While Oggy wore a mail hauberk over her leather jerkin and bracers, both with weapons ready in hand. Both nodded glancing at me and Missy as I found myself grinning. I assume it's an orc thing because this would have terrified me once upon a time. Or perhaps it was just fear making me mad from the danger. Who knew, I certainly didn't right now.

"Well time for them to die then. Think you can get them motivated to attack us my love? Sooner they attack, sooner they die without thinking" I asked politely. We didn't want those idiots down there thinking too much as my female opposite below seemed to be trying to do with her loud ranting to the two chiefs. Thankfully for now the two allied clans were both ignoring her and jostling for position for the first to attack.

Ogrash gave a feral grin "Yes, let's make them die eh?" she answered then strode forward as we followed on behind, the still loose shield-wall parting and allowing us to pass. Once we came to the front she cupped her hands and roared "HEY ARE YOU SONS OF ELFS GONNA FIGHT OR JUST STAND AROUND JERKING EACH OTHER OFF! JUST CUZ YER COCKS ARE TOO FUCKING SMALL FOR YER FEMALES DONT MEAN WE WANT SEE YER PATHETHIC FACES! I HEAR DROW MALES ARE BIGGER THAN YOU LOT! THAT TRUE?"

Roars of laugher came from around me, like distant thunder, while snarling shouts of outrage came back from down the slope as I could see a few warriors stride forward shouting and waving their weapons in rage. Orc male society did not take kindly to insults to their manhood, especially from a female. One of those striding forward was the Chief of one of the clans, roaring a reply along the lines "I'll rape you so hard you'll think I was a Hill Giant" or something that effect.

"GIANT? MORE LIKE A FUCKIN DWARF TINY!" came back from Ogrash...and I watched, despite the desperate shouting of my priestess opposite down below, as first one warrior started forward, then another, then another. Till they were all starting to surge forward at a mad dash, screaming incoherently while waving weapons. Watching over a hundred orcs come screaming uphill towards you is rather terrifying. Still there was a reply as the shield-wall fell in around me and the others, my shield and the other large shields forming a solid wall before us. .

"ARCHERS! OPEN FIRE!" I roared out at the top of my lungs, unsheathing me blade and raising it high as I looked over my shield at the oncoming foe. The first volleys of arrows were slower than I liked, but still first one from the ones just behind me flashed forward at the charging enemy, then a moment later from the ones on the wall. It was hardly the English at Crecy but still a few of the charging orc's stumbled and fell from that and the next volleys, which was better than I'd feared at least. I gripped Missy's shoulder and growled "Ready...Glitterdust"

"Open shields" was the following command to the orcs on either side of us, causing a small portion of the shield-wall to open up and soft rapid female chanting rose up for a moment as the woman beside me performed her ritual. Even as the enemy orcs charge towards us her arms gestured forward at them, then opening as if throwing something...as I felt a pulse of energy and golden confetti seemed to fill the night air in front of us. The charging orcs...in some cases staggered back almost, several grabbing at their eyes as if to shield them, or several others just ran on swinging wildly. While their charge had hardly been organised before now it was staggering over itself. He leaned in close, there was still time for one more "Sleep"

Obediently, with the urgency born of angry screaming orcs charge out you the mage girl chanted quickly arms gesturing precisely again and waving her hand across the disrupted charge in a cutting motion. Before us a few orcs staggered, shaking their heads, a handful of others actually collapsing before my eyes. I shove Missy into Oggy's waiting arms and snapped to my lover who was already in motion back out of the line "Use Colour Spray when you think it's needed"

I took a deep breath as they fell back, time to do or die "BRACE SHIELDS! ADVANCE AT THE WALK!"

Just as we trained shields locked together, the line behind bracing my own and Zah's front one; the pressure of a spear on my shoulder as I braced the heavy wood and iron shield before me. As we began to move a few throwing weapons flew over head and down the slope along with (I hoped) one last volley of arrows from above as we move...

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

Came the sudden impacts as the bulky weight of an enemy orc slammed into the shield before me. Driving me back unto the shield of the warrior behind me as me breath was almost driven out of my lungs by the impact. Idly I noticed a spear thrust over my shield from by behind me, followed by a howl of pain on the other side of the shield. I gulped in air.

"HOLD LINE! SHIELD AND BLADE!" I roared out and then performed a forward shield bash, others around me did likewise. The dead corpse of the orc before falling backwards as another tried to work his way around the falling body. My blade flashed out and through his neck, a surge of flame seeming to flicker on flesh as he died a gurgling death staggering back "BRACE! BRACE!"

Shields locked together again as the shrieks of the wounded and dying on the other side of our wooden wall rose up, but still again war-cries and the WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! as the enemy charged forward and tried to beat weapons on our shields. Or at least that's what I hoped as the claustrophobic feeling closed in around me. Let me tell you being in a shield-wall been battered on by six foot five green-skins is one of most terrifying things I've ever encountered in my life. Still my blood boiled somehow...

My shield bashed forward for moment, then slide ever so slightly to my side, my blade against slashing outwards for moment and then back in. Over my shoulder a spear thrust forward again and blood splashed on my helmet as it came back over my raised shield. For how long this continued I don't know. It felt like hours as the press on my shield continued, the noise, the chaos, the almost mechanical flashing of blade, and spears, and screams. Then suddenly the pressure on my shield eased, roaring around me, I glanced over my large round shield...I sucked in a deep breath...

"ADVANCE AT THE WALK! ADVANCE AT THE WALK! DRIVE THEM!!!! KILL THEM ALL!!!!! FOR ILNEVAL AND SPARTA!!!!!"

It seemed it would not be us to feed the maggots this day.

--

[Karguk 03]

[Stronghold of Sparta]

The aftermath of a battle is terrible thing to witness I found. Or smell more so, hat dreadful stale stench of burned flesh and shit that lurks over the corpse pile we've created from our defeated foes. Honestly if not for my second childhood and getting a first hand of this on a small-scale often enough I think I'd be throwing up right now from the smell and sights. Yet really right now all I can think on is not the deaths or carnage around me, but on the future. Whatever happens next, one thing I am sure of; the clans of the Clawslsashers and Fleshgorers are probably finished.

"Cuz there's a lot of corpses" I found myself muttering as the sun began to set and the painful sunshine weakened on my eyes. We really would need to dispose of them soon, I'm thinking burning them or a mass grave. There are a hundred odd dead orcs out there, well...probably a bit less considering the few injured we captured and those that decided to flee at the last minute.

"Fuckin' yeah there are Karg! We crushed dem maggots right good didn't we?" Zah's voice came to me as he sauntered out with a goofy smile plastered on his face. Horrifying in a way considering what he'd been doing to have that happy expression. But really nothing I can do about it no matter my hidden unease. Barbarian culture and he's the Chief. And my close friend; it's funny what you'll tolerate from your friends when the chips are down. My friend's right or wrong perhaps?

"Yes we did Zah, enjoying being Chief now Oh Mighty One?" I snarked back resting my shoulder against the stone wall to my side, truth be told I was still pretty tired. The battle itself had left me spent, and then Oggy had been quite...enthusiastic...in our post battle celebrations. Right now I'd prefer to be sleeping like many of the clan, but I'd waited long enough already in regards this matter.

"Oh fuck yeah. Slaughter our enemies and shagggin there females. What more can a Chief want? She's a right fighter she is, but some good fuckin too..." he snorted with a deliberate stretch of arms in part exercise, part victory pump on his part. I merely smiled with a nod and clamped down on wincing "...so she's all yours now. Can't believe ya just wanta talk to er' though"

"Two words. Oggy. Ilneval" snorted back in annoyance. There were good excuses after all, even if Ogrash in truth wouldn't be bothered. Though it was hard to know with the Boss orc, but it was believable and gave me a valid out. Sometimes I hate been an Orc.

Zah grunted in understand "Ughhh...yeah...think Oggy be the scarier though, since she could murder ya in your sleep and all that..."

"Uh-huh, lucky you...now we're still all agreed on my sending them back to their clans?"

"Eh sure, you and Oggy made sense an' all that to me. Send er' and the other three back and the lotta them either surrender or die. Or fucks off somewhere else rights? This is our land now and their clans are dead" he replied with a yawn as I nodded. Zah may look the muscle bound idiot at times, and act it often enough, but he was smarter than your average orc chief. I do suspect my childhood presence had some sort of effect on the clan that regards, our young being more...Lawful or long termist perhaps...than was normal in the society. I'll tell you, Orcs aren't stupid, they just normally never think beyond the here and now which means their Wisdom Stat is oft the dump stat in my opinion rather than Intelligence.

"Right, so off I go while you go fuck off and rest lazy-ass. All work, work, work for the shaman while the chief pisses around. You ain't changed at all you know that?"

"Is Chiefs DUTY to bes wells rested whiles Shaman doing alls reals works, is mandate of the Gods!" he answered in his 'sagely' tone as he wandered off with a wave. As he did so I walked across the courtyard to the guarded room he'd just come from. Both bored looking guards, older clan-orcs, saluted me after unlocking the door so I could pass, and I greeted them back in a friendly tone before I entered the room and shut the door behind me.

The chained form of my enemy counterpart greeted me as I did so, her face and body covered in just healed wounds from the battle and bruising that had been added since. Still as I approached she spat at me, falling short by a mile, trying to show she wasn't cowed as yet. Even if her eyes betrayed her as she hoarsely snarled at me, though the words were incoherent. Taking up a blanket I threw it to her so she could cover herself. While she was young and beautiful for an orc female, this wasn't a pleasant scene to me right now. It's hard been on the side of the villains I find. Hard been friends with them even if there 'good' evil villains with their family and friends "Look I'm here to talk, so here"

"You Stormfangs all talk, too weak like your friend to..." she snarled back as I sat across from her on an old barrel now turned into a rough stool. I sighed, had to be cruel to be kind it seemed.

"Weak enough to crush both your clans I'm afraid...for what? Only four dead on our side and dozen wounded who'll be fightin' fit in a day or so. If we're weaklings I'd hate to think what to call your lot. Your clans will be dust on the wind by season's end. Your chiefs are dead, I should know I'm pretty sure I gutted the Fleshgorers one from the wound. And I severely doubt ye left any of the experienced warriors back guarding the females and children judging from the bodies littering the front of our lovely new stronghold" I answered in what I hoped was a bored tone. For a moment her eyes seemed to flash in anger then...she just seemed to shrivel up back into herself, the defiance just collapsing. She'd merrily take a beating or worse I think that be told these things.

"It wasn't supposed to be this way...I had visions...Ilneval showed...he'd reward us with glory, victory" she whispered seemingly to herself and I laughed a bitter laugh and looked at her with pity. What a naive young zealot she seemed to be. I sighed again and looked at her again.

"Glory? What glory? War stinks, its chaos and filth and smells like a shithole at the end. You just have to walk outside and you'd see, and smell, that..." I told her trying to hold back my annoyance and anger at this stupid bloody world "...and rewards? The Boss doesn't give rewards like that. We're tools that he tests and his gifts are a sign to troubles to come not some reward. This role isn't a bloody honour you silly girl, it's a duty forced on me, just another chore to complete to keep HIM happy. In war somebody wins and somebody loses, and lots of bodies get left in the wake. If you'd stayed the fuck away you wouldn't be where you are now. What did you think you saw?"

Confusion, pain, anger and host of emotions passed over that battered face "The totems...your totem and the Thunderblade's burning...me washing my bloody armour clean in this place after a great..." anguish, barely contained pain "...triumph"

I closed my eyes a moment in thought and looked back at her "There just a guide you know, signs and portents and all the shite. Did you honestly just think to attack us head on and trust in Ilneval for victory based on dreams? Please don't tell me I had to slaughter your clans for that reason?"

She wouldn't meet my eyes, instead clutching the blanket against her and suddenly find her bare feet shockingly appealing to look at. I groaned hand suddenly on face. Really?

"Right...okay, of course you did. You serve Ilneval not Baghtu you know. Right doesn't matter..." I stated waving the invisible annoyance away "...what's going to be discussed now is your clan and the Fleshgorers. Namely what happens next. And lucky for you that involves leaving this lovely place along with the other four healthy enough to walk back to your clans. I'm sure you'll like that"

"Why..."

"Because as a wise warrior once said destroying an empire to win a war is no victory and ending a battle to save one is no defeat. We've won, you've lost. Your clan and the Fleshgorers are finished, but what does slaughtering the rest of ye gain us?" at her uncomprehending face "It gains us nothing now does it? Thunderbaldes still be around, as those bugbear fuckers down south. Not to mention these Fingercutters we came across. So I'm, and my chief, is offering terms. You and yer friends get to bring it back to yer clans"

I held up a hand as she made to reply and brought down a finger "Quiet. 1] what's left of your clan will join us here, become Stormfang as clanorcs not just slaves. You'd even get be a cleric not just some bedwarmer. Fucking waste of resources in my mind been honest. Ye come, ye swear before the Gods, you lot serve under me and Zah. Ya fuck up or cause trouble, we start killing till you stop being trouble" another finger "or 2] You lot piss off outta our valley. If yer not gone a tenday after we send you off, or seen to start moving...well not long before we kill the rest of your warriors and enslave the survivors. Oh and we kill the dozen odd of yer wounded we took prisoner. Your choice..."

I blinked having overlooked the obvious "Actually what's your name?"

That'd probably help before sending them all off. Still either we got new recruits while getting to eliminate our two enemy clans either way. They at least deserved a chance to survive, and it was more effective version of standard orc moves when younger warriors deserted their clans for stronger ones post defeats like this. I'd guess many would try change sides anyway; best make it seem an honourable surrender of sorts...

--

[Missasri 01]

Shaman's Room, Sparta

She tugged at the furs of her makeshift little bed, bringing them back up as they started to slide down and expose her bare shoulders to the night's chill. It might be summer now she knew but the God's seemed to have snapped a stormy night into this valley, causing the wind to howl terrifyingly through the gaps in the ruined castle wall and around outside. Huddling her legs up against her chest she bit down on the urge to dash over to the only other people in the room in fear as a loud crack of thunder sounded from outside above the shrieking winds. Moments later the bright white flash of light briefly illuminated the room as she shivered despite feeling warm beneath the furs.

'It wasn't supposed to be like this. What were you thinking you stupid, stupid girl leaving home for...this' she berated herself for perhaps the hundredth time thinking back to her wonderfully comfortable and safe bed back in Father's house in Neverwinter. It was supposed to be grand adventure; they'd wipe out some goblin or orc savages, recover Dargan's lost family spell-books and return as heroes. She'd prove Father and Mother wrong, returning back to their surprised awe at her deeds!

'Yeah...certainly proved them wrong there Little Missy...' she thought tiredly watching the in renewed darkness as the orc shaman and his wife cuddled and laughed over the wrath of Talos outside "...some hero you turned out to be. I'm so sorry Mom. I should have listened to you..."

Tears would have come, but she had learned not to waste them on such thoughts. She'd wept enough in the nightmarish aftermath of the failed attack as the orcs had taken their out their wrath upon her for her foolishness as her friends died before her eyes. Her calling an arranged marriage to Kelvas Jensantara 'slavery' was such a bad joke now it almost made her laugh in misery every time she touched the collar encircling her neck. Or the orc brand that had been agonizingly applied to her buttock in those even more nightmarish first few days. Right she'd trade the first 'slavery' of being a boring merchant's wife for the 'freedom' of this 'grand adventure' in a heartbeat. With a sigh she just gazed at the larger 'bed' of furs a distance away from her to try take her mind off the loss and the shrieking winds of the storm outside.

Her new orcish 'Master' confused and scared her greatly, though far less than returning to the horrific days of the journey after her capture to this place and passing into his and his mate's hands. At the very least it had spared her been violated as many...nearly all, regardless if man or woman...orcish captives found, though that had terrified her in so many ways at first – her well trained mage's mind could think of several very prominent and horrific reasons to keep a virgin alive and untouched.

Especially since the monstrously large orc was the tribe's shaman and servant of his vile Gods. After all some races were just born evil as the elves often said, and orcs were one of them as shown by their dark green or grey skins. Though right now she prayed they were wrong and the orc himself was telling the truth.

"Look I don't particularly like you right now. You killed several people I cared about in that stupid attack..." he'd told her soon after arriving here and taking her aside "...But if you obey my orders, don't cause trouble or make me have to take action as shaman against you I'll do my best to keep you relatively safe. You are going to teach me magic"

Or at least that's what she'd vaguely understood from his, and the others, horrible Common Tongue. Rapidly after that it had become 'teaching the Orc's Common' as much as teaching the shaman, whose name was Karguk, the basics of magic. And still the strangeness continued from the Orc as he stopped the others from harming her, though the other Orc Ogrash had simply switched punishments to mortify embarrassment to Missasri, and then there was the way he talked to her...

'He's like a trained merchant when we talk about Neverwinter or trade routes, or my family...' she mused idly resisting the cringe at another boom off in the distance. The orc understood things like supply and demand and asked her about her family's weapons making business in terms of business not in terms of the actual weapons themselves. And in a moment of humiliation worse even than been naked before these creatures she'd discovered that he was better at mathematics than she was!

An Orc had better skills at maths (even if he used a bizarrely simplified system) or mentally calculating figures than she, a merchant's daughter. It was...unbelievable. And terrifying as it seemed Karguk was no stupid orc she could outwit like the savage he and the others should be. He seemed to know things he should not possibly know. A savage in wilds, yet she saw he wrote in both the language of the orcs and a strange language she did not know. He was no trained mage as she was his first teacher, yet knew how to use her magic more effectively in battle than she herself, wielding her powers like they were understood after years of use. He'd even reprimanded her for foolishly choosing spells prior to her capture for Mystra's sake!

Instead he made sure to pick her memorized spells like the instructor at the Academy had been with her in her time there. And then there was the unnatural speed with which he'd picked up his spell-craft, having already learned to cast a simple cantrip and Sleep. Of course...then there was the SWORD...

"How..." she whispered softly to herself gazing at the two orcs in the darkness. The Orc had her use the powers of the weave to identify the various items from the dungeon below. Which itself was both terrifying and a relief. Terrifying as the orc dragged her down first into this terrifying dungeon to fight undead like they were an adventuring party, and then again into battle against a horde of other shrieking orcs. But also a relief as if she could be his 'hunting dog' as the orc words seemed to mean, the more useful she would be to him and the less likely he'd be to let the others harm her.

But the sword...that was a paladin's sword, or at the least a holy blade of Law and Good; a vile orc creature should be uncomfortable even holding or looking at it. And while her spell-craft was too weak to discover its history and true powers beyond the most superficial, the fact was her master Karguk could wield the powers of the blade with ease. She had SEEN him wield it in the battle the holy flame occasionally flickering to life as the blade's abilities activated indicating the weapon had accepted him as its master. All she could wonder at each new mystery was 'What sort of orc is he? Where is this power coming from?'

Whatever the case though he and his clan were growing having defeated the other orcs that had attacked them many days ago. Orc's whose tribes had surrendered to them it seemed and had begun arriving to join this one, the Stormfangs they were called, with their women and children arriving in dribs and drabs since the fighting ended along with their cattle and a few...slaves. Mostly a few goblins and kobolds but two had been human women like her. She shuddered. Both younger girls had been skin and bone and fear, all layered in filth. Compared to them...right now keeping her current position in this tribe under the shaman was essential as things could very obviously be worse.

Escape was impossible she knew. Dargan, poor brave and dead boy she might have loved given time, might have been able to make it tracker that he was. But there was no way Missasri Bladecutter the scholarly mage from the city was going to make it, not over rough country in her rags. Hell even in her remaining 'adventuring robe' the orc let her wear when in the dungeons or during the battle she wouldn't make it far.

She'd gotten lost without the others before this nightmare began and there was no way she'd make it through all these hostile lands without a party to help her. No she'd serve this crazy orc and his bizarre tribe however he desired and hope some way to return to civilization would arise. At the least she could...tolerate...her current circumstances compared to the, other more painful, alternatives. With a tired sigh she closed her eyes and hoped that tomorrow would be a better day.

--

When: Summer, 1351DR or Year of the Crown.

Where: Sparta. New! Improved! Badly needs a cleaning!

Quite the storm last night, sent all of us scurrying for the inside of the stronghold with all the rain and howling winds. Not to mention the whole thunder and lightning effect that actually the effect of making the place seem like something out of a movie. Pretty cool in all, mainly because I didn't have to be out in it and got to snuggle up under my nice warm bed of pelts with a very sexy Oggy; that does tend to take your mind off howling winds and bright flashes. Though pretty sure the storm bothered Missy somewhat, well judging by the occasionally muttering to herself and whimpering at very odd occasions till she seemed to doze off.

Note to self; need to start getting those cracks, holes and other gaps in the walls sealed up.

They made quite a mess of my little study area and for anything in the Stronghold light enough to be moved. Thankfully the coming storm was obvious for hours in advance so we managed to store away everything within the walls and the keep of the stronghold.

Now unto the major piece of news; our, well more so my, little peace offering to the defeated Clawslsasher and Fleshgorers appears to have worked...well mostly anyway. Ghorza, our defeated and mistreated cleric foe, had agreed to my proposal and set off after the battle's aftermath to her clan (while the others went with her or to the Fleshgorer camp with the terms) as requested. She impressed me deeply, after what happened to her after the battle, by turning back up four days later with the majority of what was left of her clan and swear fealty to me as a cleric, and the others as clan orcs to Zah. Though on that note I'm keeping her and Zah well away from each other as she (of course) hates his guts, and thinks she should be 'happy' at being so 'honoured' by him, so any argument could easily escalate to bloodshed between them. So right now Ogrash has moved into my room along with Missy, I've moved Ghorza down into the adjutant to the Shrine room. This keeps her happy, even if her creepy view of me as a 'favoured of Ilneval' is unhealthy in my view; but then again if it helps her cope with the trauma...

Still with the Clawslsashers the turnover to us was pretty straightforward, of a clan of nearly one hundred and eighty about three quarters turned up. Of which about twenty-one were proper warriors, another seventeen teenagers just about able to fight and the rest females and children. Though many of the boys will be old enough to fight in a year or two; conscription doesn't need to exist in orc society so our fighter numbers will double in a year or two easily. Ghorza said a band of dozen warriors and their mates made off south and a few off to the Thunderblades but overall a good turnout for us, and I largely attribute that to her.

The issue with the Fleshgorers was less so. Their clan appears have disintegrated in the wake of their defeat as various younger males and surviving warriors tried to take charge. And in the ever useful way of orcish politics began slaughtering each other to do so. First we heard of it was when a band of about two dozen females and children with six barely of age 'warriors' turned up to join the stronghold. Then a few more small groups who basically begged us to intervene, so I took a chance and sent out Taugh with a squad to try and get it sorted. Bit of a risk I'll admit but lucky we did.

Thunderblades descended on the remainder of the squabbling Fleshgorer's just before the storm and basically slaughtered them, tried to seize their remaining goods, and of course their hunting grounds. In terms of fighters we got nadda, but at least we got about thirty females and some of their children out during the carnage and back to Sparta. The storm rolling in soon afterwards so I have to assume the Fleshgorers are no more and all we've got is more females and children and little of their trade goods. Still our fighting strength has nearly doubled so I can hardly complain about that, and our excess of 'unmarried women' will likely attract younger warriors even with a liberal dose of orcish polygamy to the current setup in Stormfang.

Another huge benefit, and what's going to be an issue, is that the Clawslsasher survivors turned up intact with their tribes, not insignificant, holdings. A few cattle and a herd of sheep in particular, but also a decent supply of grains and other food to help feed our suddenly double, near trebled, population in Sparta. Which we badly need as I've calculated well need more food to last the Winter comfortably.

No, the issue arising has been that of slaves. Our newfound clan brothers and sisters turned up with a number of slaves in tow. About thirty in all or just under, mainly some goblins, a dozen kobolds and these two badly abused human girls in their teens. So I've decided to take action NOW rather than LATER in regards minimum standards of treatment of slaves in Sparta.

Ogrash and Zahgorim support me in this, and my own clan think I'm being my usual strange self when I explained the 'don't beat slaves to death for no reason' rule. Now of course i put it totally in terms of clan self interest and benefits of keeping them alive and in quasi good health. Even used Missy as an example; the majority seems to shrug and accept it, Gorsha thinks its Ilneval inspired and fact Stormfang stomped the other clans in battle carries alot of weight.

But there's going to be objectors and I'm going to let them 'call me out' tomorrow. And then I'm going to very publically slaughter them. I'd much rather be feared amongst our new recruits to forestall any future issues or stabbed in the back – I need to make challenging for such things mostly-official like in the stronger clans. Setting the culture of this settlement starts here and now to get it to at least Lawful Evil, so better I risk it now than later when they've learned my tricks and get stronger in the clan. And it might actually keep those slaves alive through the seasons and set the tone for later – enlightened self-interest as Adam Smith says, or least orcish self-interest.

Sadly Orcs – Authority equals Ass-kicking.

Wish me luck.

--

When: I'm Alive! Summer 350R Day or so after my battle royale (I sorta sleep a bit)

Where: Sparta, only somewhat a Stronghold of Evil!

Woot! Still alive!

Went better than I'd hoped in fact; I'm alive, their dead, and any would be dissenters are hopefully now terrified. At least Oggy and Zah assure they are as evidently I scared them a little. That's good...I suppose...well in context.

Right anyway, as is the way of things when clans get absorbed theirs dissenters, or the ambitious. To get ahead of this I essentially forced several issues. Mostly over discipline, the slaves, and for challenges to authority going forward. Ogrash and Zahgorim laid out the basics;

- You want to be head of a squad, well then you needed to a third of it to agree to your challenge. If not you got dead before any challenge. You strike like an assassin then we clerics would kill you stone dead.

- You want to challenge the chief over something? Same, except you needed a third of the warriors or half the females. And so on and so forth.

- You fight how we tell you to fight and we'll beat it into you because we're better fighters than you lot. So you object fight now or get the fuck out the gate.

- Slaves are valuable and do work warriors don't have to. Killing a slave for no reason was like killing the clan's cows or stealing food – it weakened the clan. And there'd be severe punishments for it.

There's a little bit more to it than that, but that's the gist. To force the issue I decided to claim the two human girls, mainly because that lingering soul inside pressed for it, but also because they are the most valuable slaves – the other new additions who didn't know our ways WANTED those slaves. And one or two rose in challenge as we expected for them, and even more obviously they were followers of Bahgtu. Whole thing was a drama session from a highschool play except insanely bloody.

Let's just saw what followed wasn't pretty and I'm not proud of it.

I took a home-brewed 'berserker potion' just before, had to stop me getting squeamish or sentimental. Cast Bull Strength and Cats Grace, drew my flaming smiting sword...

And well, you can guess the rest. Heads, Spikes, Walls where there was a head intact. Suffice to say the new members of the clan are suitably intimidated and evidently followed orders without question after I'd retired with Oggy. Oh and brought my absolutely terrified new slaves away in victory. Zah's fucking delighted about the whole thing as he's secure as Chief and didn't have to do naught. Even if I'm disgusted with my actions. But it's for the Greater Good.

If I keep telling myself that will it make it true?

--

When: Summer, Year of the Crown

Where: under the stars atop the Shaman's Tower

Well in the aftermath of my victory sleep one had to get back to work, and first things first was inspecting and cleaning up my unintended 'prizes' from said victory. That and the rest of the slaves in general to see how good and bad it is. But best to start on the two piles of misery and filth that were stinking up my own abode. It was also an uncomfortable study of sorts; while Missy had a freak-out by my mere presence when Oggy and co. decided to wash her, these two...

Well the younger had these almost dead eyes that somewhat creeped me out a little as she went all emotionless doll as myself, Oggy and Missy tried to scrub the dirt off them. Not that her older sister was a huge improvement with her constant terror of us. That and their literally walking skeletons and will need food to build up enough fat to survive the winter. Unsurprising yes but...

Sorry, getting ahead of myself. Their names are Kethri and Mara, though haven't gotten a surname and they may not have one anyway. Farmer's daughters as best can tell. Once we got them scrubbed off you could see the resemblance, the elder Kethri is somewhere between seventeen and nineteen, with the younger Mara about two years younger evidently. Both of them having been slaves at least a year looks like, with all the attendant horrors of such. They were a family of four at the start evidently and now it's just them. Best I could do for the moment was treat the various infections they'd accumulated and then rest for a day or two under Ogrash's supervision. I'm not entirely sure what to do with them yet, general helpers and maids is the best bet their health, physical and mental dependent.

Not that the Kobold and Goblin slaves are any better, bit more used to the abuse from their previous lives but there even worse fed I think, especially in the days between their owners defeat and coming to Sparta. That and the majority are relatively recently enslaved, and all from the local valley tribes of those species. Typical chaotic stupid wastefulness in action it seems; most wouldn't have made it through the next winter in my view. So like the sisters they're getting 'proper' rations and a cleaning over the next few days, though I'm putting them on light work detail under guard to try and establish something of work routine. If me and Zah didn't put them to work, and our orcs were, then we'd have a bloody revolt on our hands.

Ideally I'd love to establish a farm or such, but really we're too far into summer for most of the seeds to be planted, and the fact is the strongholds agricultural plots have been abandoned for decades at least. They need to be cleared, enriched with manure and a host of other minor details to make them fertile enough to start using. I lived in a farming area long enough in my past life to know, even if the family garden hadn't existed.

So right now I've focused the slaves on clearing the rocks from the garden plots in the castle, and then on the abandoned farms down the slope. With a bit of work and manure they should be ready to establish in the spring next year – though I AM pushing to get several of the fruit bushes and other such things nearby the stronghold dug up and replanted in the meantime. I like wild blackberries and raspberries now alot more than in my past life I've discovered.

The cattle and sheep are alot easier – the older children get to herd them on the land just below the stronghold, then bring them back in at night. Not ideal for a nocturnal species but it helps build up their resistance to the painful sunshine. Always a disadvantage for us orcs I'm afraid. Still we now have a small supply of milk providers, as well as wool in time, and they'll be fine as an emergency food supply. What I really want though?

Chickens, a large of egg laying chickens that I could establish in the empty part on the western side of the stronghold. While I can't exactly battery farm the damn things chicken coops would easy to manage with slaves without risking them escaping outside where the farms are. Those goblins and kobolds slaves don't have far to try running unlike the human ones. That and I miss eggs. And bread. And cheese.

Well first steps first. Keep slaves alive. Keep cattle and sheep healthy. Use their shit to make the future farms viable. Survive winter again. Plant farms and garden. Etc, Etc, Etc.

--

When: A blisteringly hot day in the summer

Where: a room that's too bloody warm

Bloody hell it's warm. And the sun was so bright earlier that it drove basically all of us back inside.

Been trying to sleep but the heat is just too much so diary time I think. Main thing on my mind is what our plan is going to be with the only other orc clan in the valley now – the Thunderblades.

Myself, Zah and Oggy have been discussing it pretty much every day the past week, either to fight them or to make an alliance with them. Zah for war and Oggy for an alliance, while personally I'm torn between the two options. In numbers we're stronger than the Thunderblades we reckon, and if it came to blows I'm pretty confident we'd win. Crushing them now prevents them becoming a threat down the line as Zah says. Thing is that doesn't mean we won't take losses doing such – and there's the bugbears to our south who'll be happy to hear of two orc clans imploding. Wiping out the Thunderblades destroys the buffer zone and could leave us weak – and our 'expanded' clan is still too new to fight well together. It'll be at least another season till the training of our new recruits get them to any useful level.

An alliance would firm our position in the valley of course. Give me time to get the stronghold up to a level I'd like, get our older boys trained up, establish the farms while crushing or allying with the goblins or kobolds. Probably the kobolds because their led by 'Chief Tucker' and I have sudden urge not to fight them in the future and go 'Let's be friends!' instead. That or flood the caves they're in if it comes to blows. But allying with Thunderblades, at least temporarily, allows us to focus our strength on these things. Maybe even get the strength of them to take on the bugbears. We all hate them after all. Only problem;

- We'll have to give something up to secure an alliance. Same with them. Probably split valley down the river I'd suspect.

- That and it doesn't guarantee they won't try sneak attack us or grow stronger themselves in the year to come.

So still up in the air at the moment, though we'll send an envoy, well a crone with two young warriors, and see what the Thunderblades say. If they wanna talk, we'll listen and then decide probably.

In other news Missy is still teaching me magic, which is going well even if I'm still stuck on Sleep and getting my speed at it up to combat useful. And doing it in chainmail - Woot armoured arcana!

Seeing her doing this, and not being brutally beaten and/or assaulted seems to have gone some way towards getting the sisters to not be utterly terrified when given commands. There's still plenty to do cleaning up the tower so they've been busy. Seems to keep them happy at least, or at least less blank faced in the younger's case. I might even get them to work a small 'herb garden' on the top of the tower for me. Supposed be relaxing, and also be useful for me.

--

When: Mid to Late Summer, 1351R

Where: Sitting outside Sparta

Ah thank Ilneval the brutally hot warm spell has broken. Today is nice and dull and overcast. Hence why sitting out here watching the kobold slaves with Ghorza as they spread shit and till the land on what will be a small garden spot. We've even got the dug up small plants that are going to get planted there. Hopefully the plants take to the plot!

Oh how I miss modern agricultural techniques and fertilizers!

Well negotiations are getting opened with the Thunderblades. We sent a 'diplomat' and then they sent a reply, and then we sent, yadda, yadda...

So there sending a delegation here to Sparta at our invitation. A small one of course, and something of benefit to us as it shows they respect our strength as the more powerful clan. That and we're trusted enough not to just murder, torture or hostage take someone actually important. So jaw-jaw not war-war for the time being, and at the least things seem to be more stable in the valley for the moment.

Still our training of our new warriors continues, though we lost another yesterday when he broke orders and attempted to challenge. Since nobody else in the squad supported the idiot when he tried to stab his 'officer', in the back mind you, there was no objections (cheers even) when we rather publicly executed him and healed up his superior. Harsh measures and iron discipline are the only way to get a strong fight force assembled with this sort of tribal makeup. Worked for Rome and Wellington in my old history; or maybe I'll manage a Caesars Legion pre-Hoover vs Tribal's?

--

[Zahgorim 02]

Inner Keep, Sparta

"That was a surprise, strange even" Karguk muttered now that they were alone in the 'Throne Room' and Zahgorim watched as Ogrash nodded in agreement. He glanced at them to explain as always. Karguk sat back looking thoughtful before he replied.

"In fairness Zah they offered terms than I'd have asked for myself. If it wasn't for offering the Chief's only daughter to you as a wife I'd say they were going to try screw us over somehow. Trade with us, boundary is largely in our favour, proposing we double team the bugbears and goblins...it's basically everything we'd have asked for, just without us asking"

"You think there's more to it than their letting on?" he asked sitting back in his Chiefly Chair as he called it, then glanced at Ogrash who nodded.

"Oh yes, more than there letting on. Something in the tribe itself, or they know more about the Fingercutters movements than their saying"

"Well there was no priest with them which says a bit..." Karguk began then sighed as Zahgorim looked at him not having noticed "...yeah no Priest of the One Eye Zah. You'd have noticed if you'd taken your eyes off of the tits of your possible new wife"

"She really did have great tits though. It's why I have you and Oggy around, I look at tits and ass, and you do all that 'thinking stuff you do..." Zahgorim replied honestly as that's what shaman's were for after all then he shrugged "...but you and Oggy are right. They're worried I think, Fingercutters probably. Ya only send that scouting parties into the valley like that unless you plan to move here. And...we did stomp on the other clans like the might orcs we are! We ARE stronger than them and they know it"

Karguk snorted in amusement "You actually noticed at least, was afraid that pretty face would seduce you like they intended" Zahgorim rolled his eyes. As if a female would distract him from his Chiefly role...that much "Females are awed by Chief Zahgorim! Chief Zahgorim is not awed or seduced by females! My mighty sword shall vanquish their will and break their spirits!"

"Yeah sure you will Zah..." he heard Ogrash mutter then continue more clearly "...so we accept the offer right Karg?" she paused and looked Zah "...also 'vanquished?' were getting big words from?"

"Listens to Karg! Learning many big words and impresses the females!" he answered and watched as his friend received a friendly punch in the shoulder from his mate. Karguk just groaned if sounding amused and ignored the interruption.

"We accept, keep doing what we've been doing and training up our new warriors. We keep strengthening the stronghold, get in food for the winter and deal with the goblins. An alliance and trade between our clans makes all that easier. If they are proper allies great" he shrugged "and if they betray us we start killing them. We just don't let our guard down and see what has them acting all nice-y-nice to us"

Zahgorim nodded in agreement. It was the best plan really and it seemed they were truly favoured by Ilneval and the Gods to have come back from the disasters of two seasons ago. They had slaves and cattle for the first time in a generation, even if Karguk put strange rules in place to keep them alive. Everyone thought them a bit odd, but they made sense when he explained them to the clan. He was touched by the Gods after all and his plans, while crazy, usually worked. And as the new Chief it made his life so much easier to rule a strong clan. He'd even gotten this magic battle axe for his efforts just like Karg had his creepy-to-look-at-evil fire sword!

Still there was more good news "We get to have a feast right? I'm Chief and I'm getting a proper mate! Da got a big feast he used to say"

At his statement both Ogrash and Karguk seemed to groan in unison. Then Karguk looked at his mate "Well you're the Cleric of Luthic Oggy-love, think this gonna be your job"

Ogrash just gave Zahgorim the stink-eye "Yes it is, and on that JOYOUS note we need to talk about the clan itself and mating ceremonies. As in we have to decide what to"

"I thought we were waiting to Midwinter like always?" Zahgorim asked curiously recalling the conversation sometime before the Great Battle that had crushed their enemies. Ogrash shook her hand in a gesture of 'yeah sorta' then continued speaking.

"Yeah but that was before the clan doubted in sized and we got a whole horde of unmated or widowed females, and young unblooded warriors from our successes, with an alliance sealed by a mating we can have an early fertility ceremony and make my Goddess happy and she'll bless us with her gifts. And it'll be seen as a reward for the warriors getting a second mate after the victory as well as securing the loyalty of the new warriors. Then we'll have another ceremony at Midwinter"

"Other females getting unto you?" he asked curiously as Karguk fell into his thinking pose again evidently puzzling out something about the plan. Probably trying to work out home many warriors would be born with those Orc Numerals he'd created and taught to the clan.

"No the younger ones we took in from the Fleshgorers and Clawslsashers, their scared after their clans were broken and want strong males to take care of them. And I'd bet it'd make young warriors feel like true warriors of the clan"

"True. Make many proud warriors!" he agreed "and maybe I..."

"No you do not get to try shag Ghorza again. Mainly because your my friend and chief and I like you alive and not with a sword in your guts..." Karguk interrupted with that look of 'stop being a dumb orc' on his face "...she ain't no prisoner now Zah. She'll try killing you, and/or damaging your man bits, and you kinda need those"

Mighty Chief Zahgorim huffed "She could try..."

Karguk sighed "And might succeed when you fall asleep, so No. Have fun with your new mate and a few of the younger females if you must. Those like Hejka or Loski will happily do it. We're trying to integrate the new clan"

"And the Cave Mother will not be happy with that sort of bloodshed among clan during her ceremony" Ogrash reprimanded him "so bed your mate, bed the slaves they offer as tribute if you must, and as Karg says the dumbest females if they are eager. But don't fuck this up Zah, you're Chief now and we don't want to screw up this little alliance or have you getting stabbed by being an idiot"

He sighed. It was hard been Chief sometimes having to please everyone, but he nodded in agreement. His new mate had a great body after all so it wasn't too much of a sacrifice.

--

When: Just after Zah's Wedding

Where: My Study; which is gradually starting actually to look like one.

Well were allied with the Thunderblades now, and Zah gets his pretty new wife in the bargain. That and we had the whole Midwinter Fertility Rites held several months early along with it; ie the orcish mass marriage event from our new clan members. There was something like twenty odd new marriages (my own included quite publically), and a dozen more second or third wives taken by some of our evidently more energetic clan-orcs. So it officially amalgamates the remnants of the Fleshgorers and Clawslsasher into our clan while sealing our alliance at the same time. Something of a sign of strength, I'd hope, to the small delegation of Thunderblades escorting their aging Chief and his daughter.

Beyond that these past few days been a giant feast and party for most of the clan and a big giant headache for Ogrash as the organiser and cleric at the head of it; incidentally my proposal to train up initiates from the youngsters is now enthusiastically supported by Oggy. Even with mine and Ghorza's limited help it was still alot of pressure on her – really not much the clerics of the God of War and Strategy can do in relation to a Marriage and Fertility Rite I'm afraid. So her healer group now get to become Initiates of Luthic under Ogrash and likely to find a few new additions from the youngest. Once things have quietened down again I'll have a think about my own position and the need for more spell-casters; might brainstorm it with Oggy and my new under-cleric Ghorza first.

We kept my three human slaves out of the way during the ceremony, along with the majority of the slaves in general. Partially because I don't want anyway getting grabby with them and harming them, which with the sisters is badly needed as their mental health is pretty fragile. And also its a valid excuse to the heal them up so that when the slaves get put back to work; this even more relevant in the case of the kobolds and goblin slave since Kethri and Mara won't be getting backbreaking work from me or Oggy. Missy of course has another reason to keep be hidden – they may or may not be aware of us having an enslaved mage but I don't want to take the chance. 'Accidents' can happen after all and that would cost us a major support element for stronghold defence.

Anyway tired now, going sleepy time now.

--

When: Late Summer, 1351DR,

Where: My Room, Shaman's Tower

Zah and his new wife, Breyza Wargsbane (evidently somebody is dangerous AND pretty) have been largely distracted in the days since their wedding. There each as bad as each other and clearly aiming for their first child, along with half the bloody clan right now it seems. Love is in the air, everywhere I look around...and nothing is getting fucking done because of it.

I'd hoped to have gotten started on dealing with nearby goblin tribes by now. But, NO, everyone is busy so I've been letting out hunters scout out their positions at least. While our 'allies' leadership are present, and our leadership has largely defaulted to me with Zah's "do what Karguk says, me busy!" orders, we've been sketching out something of a joint-military campaign over the coming autumn.

Well more a joint agreement to start either whomping on the non-orc species of the valley, or to bring them in line through peaceful means. Basically to gear up for fighting the bugbears something next year, assuming we keep out little alliance intact. In the past the various goblins or kobolds in the valley would play the other orc tribes off against each other but with our arrival, and the current agreement between the two remaining clans, that's no longer an issue. We operate as a united front and bring everyone within our agreed upon borders under either of our thumbs; pretty standard orc behavior really.

My own instincts are to smash the goblins as they seemed to be quite hostile to us for some reason and make the kobolds vassals through peaceful means. Mainly because I'm very wary of attacking a kobold den led by 'Chief Tucker' from a past life's echoes. That and I want light skirmishers for future campaigns, our warriors make great heavy infantry, with throwing weapons even, but I can't exactly bring my auxiliary archers away from Sparta can I?

That and I've been thinking. Always a dangerous thing I'll admit.

Mostly about the spell-casting issue and I've been debating working with the upcoming generation to tweak my squad structure. Mostly by increasing the standard size for the next lot from eight to a nice round ten, with the extra two being a low ranked cleric and a fighter-mage. I know, I know hard to do, but it would help resolve several issues – though the greatest issue is Orcs DON'T WANT to be spell-casters. The clerics probably through making them Warswords of Ilneval; essentially a fancy dedicated cleric role. They'll all likely be low level but hey better than nothing.

With arcane magic – well I have a teacher for now even if my own training is an issue. I'm thinking along the lines of taking the smartest of the children into a group and training them over the winter season. We'll be sealed up inside Sparta mostly anyway with the weather most of the time anyway with a small workload compared to now. Though any lessons with Missy will need me there to punch them in the head to follow lessons. The only way it'll work is make them the strongest fighters we can as well or they'll get no respect – and it's not like I need large numbers. Just four or five to start.

Hey the Elenes various Knights in the Elenium managed to do even with hating the Styrics!

Also literacy and maths – I've decided to introduce basic schooling during winter regardless of the magic thing with the children. Females sorta do it anyway with the willing children (it's how I learned written orcish script) so me and Oggy will organise it. With my generation I sorta already did by my 'craziness' so we've an unusually high level of 'intelligence' in my opinion. Hey those siege engineers aren't going to train themselves are they?

--

When: Late Summer

Where: Shaman's Tower

I had a random thought and carried out a random action. Put up a sign at the foot of the stronghold in Common and Orcish. Well two signs really and I may have been drunk at the time.

"WELCOME TO SPARTA!" with clan symbols and enemy skulls on it. And a smaller "ADVENTURERS WANTED! QUESTS! TAVERN! WE SELL: POTIONS! SUPPLIES! FOOD!"

Yeah okay sorta crazy but hey it might work on this worlds bizzaro logic and snag us a number of brave orcish or half-orcish adventurers. That and the clan think it's positively hilarious (in a good way) and if anybody does come I've got some lovely meat shield scouts for that third level we've got sealed up. And even not it might actually slow any adventuring band a moment before they attack and give our patrols time to spot them.

That and we now actually have a tavern of sorts established. We still have some barrels of raided ale, some vile tasting fruit-alcohol concoction we brew up in the clan and wine from the wine cellar we discovered. Stuff seems fine as it's not counting as poison under spell testing. And nobodies died or even gotten sick from it yet; so all good!

--

When: Night-time, The Year of the Crown

Where: Sparta!

Good news!

Managed to use magic to fix all the books in my tiny library thanks to Missy!

She gets a reward! And is very drunk right now from said reward; though we have discovered she has a nice singing voice. The more you know?

Magic is great and I'm slowly but surely making progress on my own. Won't be throwing any fireballs around for some time to come, and neither will the drunk over there, but getting low level spell-casters and counter-spelling our enemy could be a viable tactic. It'd help deal with all those pesky magic using adventurers, and elves, elves and their bloody magic and arrows, which orc warbands struggle against. The more I think on it the more I like the idea. Just have to figure how to make it work.

In other news the two sisters, Kethri and Mara, are proving excellent little workers and are slowly showing signs of not been scared witless of me. Hopefully it continues.

--