In My Time of Troubles Chapter 3: Entry 3, a dungeons and dragons fanfic

[Missasari 02]

Cave west of Sparta Stronghold

'Why did I even think of doing this?' she thought to herself tiredly, shifting as she lay to try and get more comfortable so she could sleep. The journey over the past two days from Sparta had been tiring enough, and in a few hours it'd start all over again. So getting sleep during these break periods was important.

'Easier said than done though' came to mind with a yawn as her 'pillow' twitched slightly, and the snoring just above her head continued. That and the bindings on her wrists and ankles were irritating as hell. And completely unnecessary in her mind; she wasn't stupid enough to try escape through goblin infested territory from a band of three dozen orcs now either snoring or on watch around her. But would Karguk her 'master' of sorts believe that?

Nooooooo. Of course not!

And so the itchy uncomfortable bindings got added each night and her lovely warm boots taken off. Well day, she reminded herself as it was bright and sunny outside which meant with orcs rest breaks were preferred during it while travelling at night or the evening. Getting used to that strange sleep cycle had been one of the minor annoyances that went along mostly unnoticed with the general horror of the past few months.

Still coming out into the wilds to fight goblins had seemed the lesser of two evils. The thought of being left alone the Stronghold without the orc Karguk...was uncomfortable to say the least. Even the two sisters Kethri and Mara had been the same after a few weeks serving in the shaman's tower. For a moment Missasri shivered thinking of the things that she had found out happened to the two younger girls despite their understandable unwillingness to talk about it.

There was no way Missasri Bladecutter wanted any such things occurring to her, to have those empty broken eyes, so she focused on making herself of use. The two sisters after a few days not been brutalized had certainly fallen into that view. At least she had her magic which made her more useful than them. Like now...and in a perfect world she might find herself rescued...

She snorted softly to hold in a bitter laugh at the silly thought 'Aye, by a handsome paladin riding a fire breathing unicorn'

So she'd fight goblins for the orcs just as she'd fought those skeletons, and more importantly the other orc tribes that attacked the fortress. That should earn her trust and hopeful continued good treatment. Even the fact of getting out of the old battered looking fortress, or more accurately the tower that had been largely her home, was nice despite the tiring journey. Though the Karguk hadn't let her wear her surviving adventuring robe but dressed her in the almost orcish getup she now wore she remembered thinking back to the scene;

...

"You wear these then when we travel" the orc had explained handing her rough spun orcish clothing that resembled armour, and from the weight, seemed to be a padded armour of sorts. He even had a small circular shield and leather helmet on the table nearby for her as well as his wife looked on with amusement. She'd nodded obediently but looked at her master questioningly. As if it was the obvious answer he'd simply retorted to her.

"You dress and look like a human mage, just add pointy hat and staff and your a regular fucking Gand...Elminster. When we go you will look like a runty orc teenager..." when she just kept looking confused he'd sighed and glanced at Ogrash "...Oggy who do you shoot first on a raid or battle?"

A cheerful and gruff female voice answered back in rough Common Tongue, till not as good as her masters as yet "Shoot Wizard. Shoot Healer"

Karguk nodded "Yep. Shoot the Spell-caster. First rule of adventuring as a mage – don't look like a bloody wizard as everybody will target you first. If you turn up with a pile of orcs and wearing robes then those goblins will go 'Shoot Humie! Shoot Humie' faster than you can spit. If you looked like a useless little runt they won't even expect spells I hope. So puts on the clothes and then we'll put the shield on your back"

"But...I don't know how to use a shield or sword Master, Sir" she'd answered even as she shed the tattered rags and get into the rough looking trousers and tunic she'd been handled. At least the padded clothing was warm and comfortable she noted as they slide into place, then testing out the leather boots waiting before here. Karguk shrugged.

"You won't need to. Just make you look the part..." as she held back a smile at the comfort from her travelling wear and boots he held up a jar of green coloured paste which she eyed nervously "...but now let's just give your face and neck a green tint. Don't worry it washes out..."

...

Ending the memory she looked at the faint green tint on the back of her hands in the faint darkness of the cave. Her face was the same even if she couldn't see and had cause greet hilarity amongst the orcs of the fortress just before they'd left. Even a day later they still got a chuckle out of it as they travelled, even she heard the Stormfang orcs tell the newer ones that 'Karguk was crazy' but 'crazy smart' like a fox. Still it meant they left her alone as they saw her as the tribe shaman's bed warmer. She yawned pressing backwards a little into the mass behind her as the larger creature shifted after his free arm around her waist moved in his sleep in that direction.

'Well technically you are, even if only in the most immediate sense' she mused closing her eyes from the tiredness still feeling uncomfortable of the nearness. Which thank Mystra was still a lack of interest from the orc in 'bedding' her, despite what many of the other orcs seemed to think. That she could live with and could pretend it was like when she and the others huddled up on the coldest nights.

Tomorrow, well tonight probably...they'd be fighting some goblins most likely. Why she still wasn't entirely sure of, but it seemed like these orcs were the beginnings of great raiding force and were eliminating the competition maybe?

Something was going on with the orcs here as their numbers seemed to be growing in the past season and then she'd seen others in what she guessed were from another tribe based on what she'd heard from Karguk and Ogrash. Well that and the fact they'd worn different colours than those in the fortress. And now they were fighting goblins and taking in slaves. Maybe they were part of a lager horde?

That was a worrying thought and might explain why the orcs in this 'Sparta' seemed smarter and better trained than she'd expected so foolishly months ago. But there wasn't much she could do if they were right now. And fighting evil things like skeletons and orc and goblins was technically a good action was it?

Something a adventurer of Good would do?

Right?

'Of course it is' she told herself as sleep consumed her..

[Karguk 04]

Goblin Camp, Vale of Sparta

'Thunk. Thunk. Thunk' echoed occasionally off my shield and those around me as we braced in a rough semi-circle in front of the goblin camp. They'd chosen a decent enough defensive position for goblins really, a rocky outcropping with a ring of old trees where they placed their tree fort of sorts. A position they'd put decent effort into both concealing and fortifying judging from the sharpened stakes sticking out of ring, and what were likely concealed pit traps before us.

Compared to the last group a few days ago they'd established a decent little base to operate from. And they'd been on guard too after our attack on their other neighbouring band who, just like them, had refused to be vassals to Sparta. Attacking the place head on would prove very costly against an alert enemy. So his groups attack at midday, when orcs NEVER attacked, then meant he could understand their initial sluggishness to their appearance. But they had made one major mistake in regards their supposedly secure fortress; it was made of wood and foliage. And it had been a dry few days.

"READY TO THROW!" I ordered loudly turning and looking at the group just behind our braced shield-wall that was holding the large potion containers in their hands carefully. At my command, and pointing, they fell in to position before flinging them over our wall into the goblin 'fort' at my bellow of "THROW"

And I'll tell you orcish strength and size combine for a decent throwing distance as they sailed over my and slammed into the growing fire before us, exploding in gouts of flame. Further spreading the inferno growing amidst the dry leaves and branches that made up the goblins base as I turned and glanced through a gap in the shields. A further desperate flurry, but far from a coherent volley, of small arrows lashed out into our waiting shields, along with the desperate shrieks and war-cries of the goblins themselves. Glancing up I could see several of the creatures trying to climb the rock face behind them to safety, or dashing into the crevasses to either side of the camp. I ignored them as most were females and children trying to escape, they were no danger and several would likely surrender in the coming days anyway.

But for the warriors of the tribe, at least those that had come up to the defensive line the only true escape route was rapidly becoming the path where my little expedition were waiting. The sunlight was blinding them, the bonfire behind them made escaping with the panicked females' difficult to impossible as their very defences helped trap themselves in a desperate position. Their panicked voices mixed with loud shouting seemed to indicate that some over there seemed to rapidly realizing that fact. My hand reached the sword hilt jutting from the scabbard at my hip, drawing my sword of smiting awesomeness in readiness.

"THROW!" I ordered out and the last of our fire-pots flew over our helmeted heads "BACK TEN PACES! REFOM LINE!"

Easier said than done of course, I'm sure the ancient Greeks Hoplites and Roman Legionnaires could have managed it with ease but we weren't near that stage yet. Our solid shield-wall breaking up into a number of smaller overlapping ones as my group of thirty odd slowly retreated backwards as instructed. Several orcs under-shooting the ten paces, and others overshooting as I shouted everyone back into line along with Cardac to form a solid line again.

"SHIELDS BRACE! SPEARS OUT!" came automatically from my mouth as I kept my eyes focused on the mass of smoke and flame before us despite the painful glint of sunlight beaming down on us. 'Com'n come out and charge. You know you want to' I projected mentally at the goblins as they started coming over their own defensive works and edging away from the growing blaze.

I looked down at the short nervous girl wedged in between me and the orc to my right as the sound of shields locking together and spears being moved clattered around me "Are you Ready?"

She nodded back obediently one hand clinging to my belt to not get lost when we moved "Yes Master all my spells are ready. First?"

"Glitterdust first, then Colour Spray after" I replied listening as the rather desperate goblins tried to work themselves up for an attack. They had the numbers of course, but really even normal orcs were worth a number of the smaller creatures and his well armoured orcs...

'It's only a fair fight if you lose' I reminded myself not wanting to get caught up in this worlds oft cliché military blindness. Really being Lawful Good did mean I had to walk up to the enemy like a tool and NOT try ensure I had every advantage over the enemy. A swift brutal victory where I stacked the deck as much as possible before hand in our favour would reduce deaths in the long run. Between the last camp and this one I'd expect the remaining goblins and kobolds on our side of the valley to start listening to reason in the coming weeks and give up. There'd be fewer deaths that way. Well once word reached them from the survivors from here. Hopefully, otherwise we'd have to do more of this.

The desperate shouting across from us followed by weapons being banging indicated the goblins had taken the bait so to speak and were rather loudly trying to psych themselves up into charging a block of orcs. A few archers amongst them sending on a few disorganised shoots at his shield-wall; to no real effect except maybe help with goblin moral. As the chanting shrieks of a goblin charge echoed through the air I took a deep breath...

...and I breathed in and out as the bitter smell of smoke and death filling the darkening sky as I sat back on the large rock watching the inferno burn out of control where the goblin camp had been on a few hours ago. Missy knelt exhausted beside me head resting against my leg, she might even be asleep I noted having expended all her spells in quick succession. As I'd found with my lone spell so far, magic was tiring especially at the lowest rungs. I patted her head in a gesture of comfort I hoped as they'd be on the move again shortly.

'Well won't be any loot from this attack, I underestimated the fire hazard a bit...or a lot' I noted tiredly looking out into the dark evening at the goblin bodies ending almost in a straight-line where our shield-wall had held. They say goblins are cowardly fought on quite fanatically even when they'd realized they were inflicting no damage really. Then again by that stage they'd little to flee back through beyond the inferno; in the end had they feared burning to death more than death in battle?

'Whatever, no plan works perfectly anyway. At least it's only a few injuries on our side this time around. We're alive and their not which is better than the reverse' I reminded myself with a tired sigh rolling my shoulders under the weight of the chainmail covering the padded leather armour. Great for protection but even with wonderful orcish strength and constitution quite tiring after hard fighting, oh for a nice comfortable sofa and televisio...

"So we heading back now Shaman? Or raid next lot? Fuck all loot here, that ain't burnin anyway" the older Cardac asked as he approached and I glanced at him cleaning goblin blood off his blade as he made to sheath it. It seemed someone had been killing enemy wounded. I shrugged.

"Yah, think so. We'll rest a bit first then head back and collect the gear in the cave, and after that back to Sparta. Want to let..." I nodded in the direction of the burning tree fort "...the survivors of here get around and tell the others what happens when they tell us to piss off. If anyone still dumb enough...well we repeat till get a bit less dumb. Or less a head"

Cardac guffawed at that "Prefer lessen by the 'ead boss these are good fuckin' battles an' all. These new fightin' ways work a wonder. Shame the raidin' nearly seasons' over though. Get some proper fightin"

I snorted. Of course Cardac wanted to raid, the new tactics had been proved to work and now they wanted to test them against lootable targets rather than piss poor goblins and other 'lesser' goblinoids. "Ah you'll get plenty chance after the winter snows come and go if I've my way. Those bugbears need to be driven off"

'Before they attack us' went unsaid of course. In fact I'd been mildly surprised they'd contented themselves to mere raiding, into Thunderblade territory thankfully, in the period since we'd crushed the other two orc clans in the valley. Beside me Missy stirred evidently realising we'd be moving on again soon. Cardac of course ignored her and just nodded back happily.

"Aghhh that'll be good, make this valley ours then. All this land will make a strong clan"

I nodded in agreement, albeit even if we had different thinking. Cardac likely thinking of the hunting available and other resources that could be stripped for years before we had to move on by exhausting resources I expect. While myself I care far more for setting up a permanent home here and having some sort of sustainable agriculture and industry. All this dreadfulness now was hopefully just another step towards civilization. Which first eliminating any nearby threats to us...

When: Well leaves on the trees going gold and red and its getting colder. Autumn; buts it's ending fast.

Where: Rocky outcropping overlooking valley

Home, Boys, Home,

Home for awhile in the old countaryyyy...

The night sky is quite nice, and its one thing I like about the dark-vision; you don't need to candles or such to be able to write. Which I'll say is a large plus in this era of no easy electrics, and where sunshine is quite uncomfortable to say the least to mine orcish eyes. Also a note: need to invent the biro or a magical quill.

Campaign to secure our side of the valley's gone well and we'll back in Sparta in a few days. And I can see my house from here!

Well only faintly but the old ruin from here is actually starting to resemble a functioning castle/village with the faint hint of fires from the tops of the tower or around the walls. Like flickering candles off in the grey distance of my vision.

Anyway, we've crushed the larger goblin tribes on the western bank valley. Well those that didn't fall in line after our demands. At least one group who rejected us and tried the old trick of slipping across the river to Thunderblade territory...only this time the Thunderblades came down on them like ton of bricks. Between the sudden attacks by us and our 'allied' clan the word has gotten around in past few weeks in the change of management in the valley. Various groups are either swearing vassalage to us or high-tailing it out of the valley for greener pastures; though there has evidently been a surge of young clanless warriors turning up at Sparta according to Ogrash's last message.

Good news yes, but it means the past few weeks have been pretty hectic as our pacification campaign has evolved into a tribute gathering and hunting expedition. We should have plenty of foodstuffs stored for the winter but I've a little bit paranoid about the possibility of starving. Going hungry is a not a pleasant experience I've discovered from living on Faerun. I'd rather have the larders overstocked than under stocked even if its kept us away from Sparta and other building activities. And the whole; marc, fight, tribute/loot/hunt, return Sparta, march, fight, etc has been pretty exhausting. This must be the first entry in weeks being back for more than a few hours. That and I miss Oggy.

Anyway time to get moving...

When: Late Autumn

Where: Sparta

Home sweet home with the fire out.

Well not true strictly speaking but we have an issue that I'd sort of overlooked, as have the rest of the clan, due to focusing on fighting and such. Basically cold nights mean a very cold castle, and really were up a bit higher and more exposed than our usual camping sites in the past; ie caves and other sheltered groves.

It's not bad now obviously but I've had the realization, that come winter, which is bloody cold in these parts, is going to be an issue here if we don't put in some work. It's always the small things you overlook that can be an issue. Quite simply it could kill the old, the slaves and the young fairly easily if it's a harsh one. Not something that orcs normally consider but I really should have noticed this earlier beyond a few immediate areas.

So, with my band of inexperienced builders and slaves, and with Oggys and Zah's support, I've started a fairly rapid renovation effort to address this. For the moment focused around my Tower and the Keep itself. Realistically because the females of the clan will likely end up in the lower levels of the Keep, well other than the guarded 2nd underground level, so that's a place to start. And my own because I'll be there and I'll admit a level of self interest in wanting to stay warm and not just for the comfort of Missy, Mara and Kethri who also share the room.

Luckily we'd already braced most of the worst holes in the walls of the stronghold with wood and rubble when first moved in, so I have a starting point. Important when there's only limited time till the first snows fall; a few weeks seems like a lot of time but it's not. Also I have to try and ensure we don't create a giant fire hazard during the renovations; as orcs plus fire plus flammable rooms equals a bad, bad, result let's say. So I've got the slaves making up a clay based plaster and trying to plug up gaps with that and the stone rubble. Then using whatever I can like straw as a insulation between it and the stonework.

Anyway other than that; Both slave sisters seemed relieved at my return. This is good for them not causing any problems, but also because the younger Mara is slowly starting to show signs of possible mental recovery I think. Less robotic and dead eyed I find, and Kethri and her are turning out to be surprisingly good at keeping the Tower tidy. Though, right now, the two and Missy are covered in plaster and straw as they seal up the various walls as part of the renovations.

Because of that my magic studies and such are back on hold as not only is my teacher busy but so am I. Though after our little adventure over the late summer and autumn I have a good idea of how to utilise Missy; that previously silly justification of 'hunting aide' has proven really useful. Also I badly need to find a way to increase magic resistance of my own troops. Even low level spells were quite damaging to those disorganised goblins and orcs. Supposedly you can resist mental effects somewhat by training, disciplined soldiers higher resistant than barbarians, so yay there.

Other than that is through 'enchanting' shields and weapons and armour and such; ie something that we badly need to research at some point. Along with everything else it seems; much to do, so little done.

Anyway back to work now.

When: Late Autumn

Where: Shaman's Tower

Okay we've had good progress in the past week or maybe more, sorts lost track. Walls seem to pretty well sealed, at least in the tower here anyway. Took a good bit of effort but it does feel warmer inside at nights, especially since we have shutters over the windows (well, holes made into rough windows) and fires blazing in the fire place at night.

Furs and such should hopefully provide the rest of the warmth during the coldest spells, and I've having my three slaves stitch together some warmer clothing for themselves to wear during the winter. Well more so I will tomorrow after they rest and clean off a bit, as entertaining as watching three scantily clad women play around in the mud it is quite tiring on them. Then I'll try and get something sorted for the goblin and kobold ones; though thankfully our looting and tribute taking trip got plenty of stuff in their sizes. With the fact their actually been fed properly and kept warm I think their survival odds are fairly good.

On the note of food; stores we brought in have filled our new larders to the brim and we've cured all the meat we could, and dried alot of the forage. I used to hate tomatoes but a hungry tummy makes sun-dried ones taste lovely surprisingly enough. Though of course we've run out of salt again, even the stuff we found in the ruin and trade with the Thunderblades, so next year we need to get more. Oddly we've tons of shiny, shiny gold and silver downstairs – all of which is of no bloody use as you can't eat gold.

Which sorta explains why in RPG's there was there random hordes of loot just lying around in various locations as beyond looking nice the stuff isn't much use. Gold is too soft a metal to much use beyond decoration. Though the silver I'm having smelted so we can silver some our weapons for certain creatures on Faerun that I hope we never fight. So where else would you put the gold but in chests downstairs?

Figuring out how to trade it would be nice, then nice shiny but useless gold into useful things like iron, and weapons and salt. Though who, other than the Thunderblades, we can trade with is a difficult question to answer and something to think about over the winter; lots of time to think then I suppose. Hobgoblins maybe? Or try and get one of the civilized villages on side somehow?

I'm thinking the old fashioned mafia 'protection' method with one of them!

On a final note Ghorza and Oggy managed to keep attention from the third dungeon level and place some basic wards on the thing. Still no idea what's in there, and there's no hurry to investigate in my view; the wards should discourage any 'do something' opinions over the long boring winter. Well them and the guards. And me and Zah standing over them all with a sword.

Where: Sparta

When: Late Autumn/Start Winter

Construction going well, and none too soon as nights are definitely getting colder, faster, than usual as we're camped at an elevation rather than near caves or groves little in previous years. That and the weather starting to turn bad after that nice spell a few weeks ago; now it's howling winds and lashing rain interspersed with overcast skies filled with angry grey clouds. That at least has proven an amazing inspiration for our new clan orcs to stop bitching and do their gods-damned work as ordered. Well that and the ever present threatening from our leadership, myself included. And there have only been three fatalities and a few broken bones on a dozen others in the past two weeks to ensure the harmony of our expanded clan. Fantastic!

May sound abit excessive I know but bare in mind we've essentially trebled the clan size in the past year, and doubled in the case of young male orcs suddenly getting told 'this is way to fight NOW' and have trouble adjusting. Between working them to exhaustion and the rather harsh training regime we set I think we'll have whittled out any troublemakers by the first snows. Mostly through fear, respect and simple 'do this and die' style rules enforced by Myself, Zahgorim and Ghorza amongst the warriors, and by my Ma, Oggy and her friends amongst the females. Bored Orcs are bad enough without having Bored Undisciplined Orcs trapped together in a confined space over the winter.

And NO I'm not completely blind to my having setup something like a secret police force, and NO it wasn't intentional. But I did need means to enforce I AM THE LAW among our rowdy recruits – the Greeks and Romans needed iron disciple to make their tactics work unfortunately. This is important even with our currently fully stocked larders, water supply and all the other happy stuff that makes a civilized settlement...at least of a sort anyway. No point having the means to survive the season then have the expanded clan start killing each other by morons trying to establish the pecking order. That and I want challenges out in the open and not a knife in the back – one of the dead tried such to his squad officer and we had him impaled to set an example. Fuckin' horrifying to watch but necessary I'm afraid.

Though those two words -Necessary Evil- are unfortunately becoming more and more a part of my life as I grow up on Faerun. Something this world really needs to develop more rather than Stupid Good versus Chaotic Retard that seems to prevail judging from my experiences and talking to others; my three slaves in included and a prime example. Really I can't understand the sheer pointless cruelty that was inflicted on Kethri and Mara by their (really, really unlamented) former master. The slavery, even much of the abuse, I can figure out but it just most seemed so...mindless, pointless, nay cliché, villainous cruelty for cruelties sake. Even the concept of 'Feed Slave, Slave Work' didn't even impact Mr.Dead Orc and his clan's teeny tiny little brains evidently when they abused these poor dears mother and brother to death and then started on them. Fucking stupid orc culture, fucking stupid D setting in totality.

Which also leads into a minor problem I've noticed starting to simmer; that of the three human slaves living in the room with me and Oggy. And no it's one of disobedience, sabotage, even conspiring against us or anything like that, the reverse in fact really. There all quite fearful of losing the current state of being and all quite determined to maintain that state of affairs. Great for my standing among the clan really but I do believe it's causing tension among the three. Well at least I think it is, the whole situation makes me uncomfortable been honest.

Basically Kethri and Mara don't like Missy, or are afraid she'll get them 'sent away' probably and vice versa since they met each other. Combine that with Kethri seemingly determined to ensure any of the (non-existent been honest) amorous attention I might have falls on her not her younger sister. Nor on Missy either evidently judging from a whisper-snarled 'talk' I overheard. All the while the young Mara is slowly coming out of her 'zombie' mentality...and falling into fawning, nay honestly creepy, and grovelling behaviour patterns towards her 'Master'. Oggy is worse because SHE THINKS THIS IS GREAT in terms of slaves. Fucking Orcs!

And I've no bloody idea how to handle it – and I really, really, don't want to wake some day to them trying to harm or kill each other. I'll think of something. I hope.

Where: Sparta, inside my tower cuz its dry

When: Pretty sure it's winter

Huddled up inside I'm as the heavens unload a thunderstorm outside. I should know because I got bloody well soaked a little ago when the storm rolled in on our training. Thankfully the tail end of said training but still has all my clothes drying in front of the large fire roaring in the fireplace before me. I have a chair now! Well chairs of a sort, but still comfy when one wants to dry write and relax in front of the fire. Oggy certainly loves them, as does Zah judging by his 'assembling' his own a few days ago. All thanks to me, Karguk, – Inventor of Orcish Living Room Furniture!

Also Mara is, somehow, an excellent little masseuse and I am very glad of this fact. Cold aching muscles are less achy now. She is definitely been rewarded later for this. Now I just have to invent ice-cream and the internet to feel less miserable. Next for the Invention List I suppose, unless Gond would help; or perhaps not judging from canon. Took a Spell-plague for this world to get into the whole glory of 'SCIENCE!' thing.

If you're reading this before the Spell-plague yes I'm a Prophet! Dun-Dun-Dun!

Magic Orc Future Vision Activate! Dun-Dun-Dun...or Not.

Well assuming Mystra is still as dumb as in canon and gets herself killed again, and then again; and if you're a wizard (which is sorta the most likely to actually bother reading my ramblings!) I'd suggest looking into another profession for a while. I'd suggest chef or perhaps brewer? Everyone wants food and beer, especially 'magical' beer!

Anyway I may have inadvertently introduced my clan to strategy board gaming. Well a bastardised version of Risk, Warhammer and DnD mostly. Got bored, been cooped up without Oggy to get 'playful with' and Ghorza is also bored; two bored clerics of Ilneval plus thunderstorm outside evidently equals Orc Risk. Or WAAUGHHH as were calling it at the moment after other suggestions were rejected as boring. Basically found lotsa tiny metal figurines months ago when first moved here, combined them with dice and some shitty drawn maps and voila – a game with dice, gambling and very, very, graphic descriptions of what those little metal guys are doing to the losers. Never had that in Risk before, but well, Orcs, go figure!

So well Zah and some of the older clan-orcs saw us playing, and Ghorza describing in bloody detail her then victory. And coins, can't forget coins she won, damn dice rolls. Anyway that led to talking, and painted stones for pieces, and lots and lots and lots of gambling of course. And fights from the gambling from sore losers of course, human or orc can't forget the rules lawyering or fights over dice rolls. But still it'll hopefully keep the casualty count down and possibly, hopefully, maybe, give some tactical thinking into our orcish warriors. One can only hope with the unintended chain of events.

Other than that tidbit the only news is that we've finished securing the door to the Third level with traps and a guard post a little bit away but we'll have to head down there soon enough. Maybe when the snows come in and I can bring our full strength in readiness if shit goes bad. Everyone, Oggy and Zah included things that's the best idea especially since another little surprise popped up.

Another band of Fingercutter scouts spotted by the Thunderblades on the edge of their territory, though they retreated this time before any clash could occur. I doubt we'll see any trouble till the spring with normal weather but it's still concerning this late in season to be scouting. Winter ends campaign season in these times, and screws up scouting missions badly as well, so this constant scouting screams we'll be facing a significant assault next year. Thunderblades seem to agree, and thankfully their immediate path to act as an invasion tripwire. It just doesn't make much sense – we're a distance from their territory, and this seems a significant scouting effort by them to not be an invasion.

So more to plan for, joy, but I'll say nighty-night and relax back to my foot rub and a nice warm fire.

[Missasri 03]

Shaman's Tower, Sparta

She rubbed at sore legs kneeling on the rug with scrolls and her spell-book lay spread out before her in a rough semi circle on the floor along with ink, quill and other ingredients. She managed to prepare the two scrolls as ordered AND transcribe Glimmerdust into the spell-book her 'Master' had claimed as his own without difficulty, though now she was completely exhausted from doing so.

That and kneeling or sitting nearly all day in this position had led to the usual ache and numbness in her bare legs, though at least the room wasn't too cold she noted as she glanced at the indications of the sunset through the open window at the other side of the room. They'd learned not to setup near it and risk the wind blowing her work everywhere as had happened once before with her 'Master' Karguk who'd cursed the wind quite loudly afterwards.

'Oh stop whining, would you rather be out in the wet breaking rocks?' she scolded herself as the discomfort increased with her standing up to stretch a moment and she groaned mildly at it. Exhausting as the arcane workings were they were something she had always enjoyed doing, even now and in this situation, and losing it wasn't something she wanted getting into the Orc's head. That bitch Kethri after all would only be too happy to see Missasri cast out into the night to horror if it meant her and her sister staying in their current position under Karguk.

The younger Mara wasn't too bad...friendly and good natured once you got past the terrified fawning and rather unfortunate attempts at being seductive to their orc owners. But Missasri could at least understand the actions of the younger girl and her sister after all they'd been true. She shuddered at the thought that it could have been her but for the grace of the Gods. And now it was winter and it appeared she'd be cooped up inside the tower with her owners and the two sisters; making some sort of peace with Kethri was likely the best idea, but that involved somehow convincing the other girl this wasn't some sort of competition between them.

Rubbing her legs, then her shoulders, she gazed down at her work for the past week on the floor and shelves around her. A handful of combat spell scrolls created at great effort by her meagre skills, and the start of her own spell book being transcribed into the orcs. Hardly impressive seeming despite the effort involved but her orcish owner seemed to understand somehow how much effort was involved. Which was...strange...but a relief considering the way of the world normally; but then again Karguk was a strange person, let alone orc, in general. Why couldn't she have stayed in Neverwinter where things were made sense, and were normal...and she was safe?

With a sigh she began tidying up the finished scrolls and to prepare another when the sound of boots coming towards the room caused her to glance behind her towards the door. Moments later it opened as she stood finished 'filing' the scrolls and remaining ingredients, and in walked the orc Karguk evidently grumbling to himself about something and rubbing at his shoulder for some reason. With months of experience she knelt back down and bowed, forehead to ground, and greeted him as the other two did since they'd arrived. She still hated the grovelling but while Karguk seemed unbothered by it his wife Ogrash was not and a single mistake away from their protection could easily be a fatal one. Calling it 'practice' in her mind seemed to help somewhat with her self esteem she found.

"Oh get up Missy, I know you hate all that and let's get to today's studies. But first help me get all this junk off my back" she heard the gruff orc voice above her, alongside that of chainmail moving and buckles being undone. Pushing up with her hands she saw that her orc was going though the familiar activity of removing his armour after several hours practice. During the summer they'd done it well into the early hours of the night but with the onset of winter it was ending at reasonable hours and so she got up and started to help him remove the various layers of armour and into a robe made of deer hide and wolf fur.

'More comfortable the armour anyway...' she mused a few minutes later as the armour and sword were hung up and she helped him into the robe without being asked. She'd have never imagined herself as a maid servant a year ago but it turned it she was a natural at the role and didn't...dislike it overmuch. She smiled faintly at the thought, one had to find happiness wherever one could '...Mother would be horrified to hear that wouldn't she'

"You got through two scrolls today burning hands and magic missile god, good...and updated my spell-book I see. Excellent work Missy, excellent work..." he told her looking over her days workings so far and then strolling over to the locked cabinet and began opened with his key, pulling out a bottle of something along with two goblets and shoving one into her hands "...and since I'm tired and lazy today as well join me for a drink"

"Thank you Master, thank you, I don't deserve this reward...emmmm was practice tiring today Sir? Do wish anything of me?" she stuttered out in reply as the liquid was poured into her goblet and then into his own as he motioned her over to the fur covered stone 'couch' as Master referred to the near the currently smouldering fire. A fire he added some wood too as she sat on the 'couch' legs folded under her and sniffed at her goblet. Brandy or whiskey she guessed from the smell. 'Master' Karguk snorted as he sat down beside her as the fire roared slightly in the fireplace before them and she felt a nice burst of heat on her bare skin.

"Oh just the usual new dumbasses being themselves, nobody dead this time at least to get them to learn. That and Zah was up for a proper auld spar today make up for losing the last two. Always bloody sore after spars with the big fucker..." he told her rubbing at his shoulder but with some amusement in his aggrieved tone.

The shaman and the chief being close friends she'd learned early on, as was the orc's wife, but that didn't stop either from being sore losers evidently when it came to practice spars. Missasri listened obediently, and drank when directed at first, and then without that need, as she did so then as she talked about her days efforts and the events within the tower. There wasn't much of course, beyond Kethri stocking up the fireplace with wood and cleaning downstairs, Ogrash sleeping and then amusing herself by annoying her before heading off to the shrine, and other boring things such as that. Between the alcohol that was currently going to her head, the warmth of the fire and furs, and the conversation she could almost pretend that she was in a cozy tavern preparing for her next heroic adventure.

"Really? Well you really are still a lightweight aren't you?" the orc beside her noted with an amuse snort and patted on her on the head as her mind flashed with a fearful 'Did I say that out loud?'

"Yes you did, and I'm not going to punish you for honesty Missy. At least as long as it's just us, or Oggy..." Karguk told her resting a hand on her shoulder and giving a brief squeeze in seeming support "...so pretend away for now. Dangers ahead after all, like down below us. How do you feel about heading down there and clearing it all out?"

Missasri took a solid drink and prepared to answered only to have her owner chuckled in amusement at her evidently barely concealed grimace "Yes I feel that way too but didn't you become and adventurer to clear out dungeons and fight monsters and crazy stuff like that?"

"And look where it got me Sir...I...don't think I was a very good adventurer" she answered honestly. Though was she slurring her words she wondered at her 'masters' curious look. And when did it get so dark beyond the illumination of the flames? And when did Mistress Ogrash return?

"Hmmmm, you've done well so far Little Missy, fought skeletons, goblins and orcs even. Just follow my lead and we'll make a proper wizard of you someday looks like. That right Oggy love?" he replied as his wife sat on the other side of him another drink in her hand. It was quite impressive how far their Common Tongue had come in the past year, just like her own Orcish. Though learning that tongue had been vital to her survival and that did add certain incentives to the study.

"Oh yes Karg, you and crazy things. I hear Zah kicked your ass today?"

"That's a God's danged lie! Zah and his..." came back over her head as the two orcs towering over her argued playfully over what counted as an 'ass-kicking' or a close fight. She took another sip from whatever it was in the goblet and enjoying the, nasty yet somehow delicious, flavour of the drink. For now she was alive and for the moment safe, all she could do was keep living on day at a time...

Notes:

Mostly intended as a 'slice of life' from the perspective of Missy rather than any major new developments. Winter is a time when the clan gets to 'rest' to some degree but the work continues for the next seasons campaign or to clear out 'below'

[Karguk 05]

Shaman's Tower, Sparta

I never thought I'd be glad of the days getting darker earlier as it neared winter, but then again human eyes didn't get as discomforted by the bright sun on pristine white snow as orcish ones. Snow that was still drifting slowly from the cloudy skies above while I made my way across the courtyard in the evening gloom towards my tower grumbling all the way "Bloody snow, bloody cold"

The stuff was knee high already and it was pretty apparent there was a storm, most likely a blizzard, on the way for later tonight judging from the growing winds and the angry clouds in the distance. Lucky we have our food stores and our hunters in the for the winter, anybody caught out in this weather is in for a very hard time I'd reckon, death if it lasts as long as I think it will. Coming up into higher ground had given many advantages but it had led to this also as the valley was converted into a winter wonderland; which was much less fun than I recall from my past life.

"Oh quit whining Kar, it's a lovely day with no nasty sunshine to ruin it! Get to relax with no training..." Oggy told me cheerfully as she trudged along beside me with a wide smirk on her face. With such bad weather the whole camp, well beyond the unhappy watch shifts, were treating this as one greet chance to either party or do nothing; an orcs favourite pastimes other than war "...and enjoy all the years spoils And it only short walk in snow!"

"Still doesn't stop it been bloody cold up there, little miss stays underground in the warmth" I grumbled back motioning at the walls above us. Watch duty was shared by the whole clan and standing for several hours exposed on a wall was not conductive to staying warm, heavy furs or orcishness not withstanding. Even not it felt like my bones were coated in ice as I shivered slightly.

"Oh I'm so cold! Poor little elf that I am! Oh let me get my lute and sing a song about my suffering! Oh woe is me!" Oggy teased back in a childishly sing-song voice that I assumed was meant to be that of an elf. I just gave her a glare at her smug face as she held her own fur cloak just as tightly around her as I did.

"Hnnn" Wisely I stayed silent, it might be a second life but I'm still dreadful at witty comebacks. Even to orcs. Grrr.

"Don't worry I'm sure we'll warm you up later on. But first your first task!" she continued as we approached the newly installed thick wooden door and motioned at it. Ogrash was not exactly the model of submissive orcish femininity, far from it, as she hummed to herself as she waited beside me. So I groaned and put my shoulder to the stuck door and shoved till it pushed open; the wind howling inside laced with snow till I managed to shove it back shut after my lovely wife strolled inside. Childhood friends, so helpful!

'Oh that's better though' I thought after getting it shut and began to take off the heavy fur cloak and shake off the coating of white snow in a copy of Ogrash's own movements. Heat, wonderful heat, seemed to permeate even this part of the lower level as the voices reached my ears from just up ahead in the corridor in the 'classroom' Ghorza and myself had established.

"See you in a bit Oggy, just going to check on the initiates training" I told Ogrash as we walked, she nodded and continued towards the stairs and I turned into room with the voices inside. As I entered a bored looking Ghorza gave a wave in greeting, while Missy, who'd been speaking, slid to her knees with head to ground in greeting with a 'Master'. The dozen and a half children kneeling in a semi-circle for the lesson looked at me with a varying mixture of curiosity, nervousness, happiness or possible jealousy at my entrance.

"Well how goes today's lessons?" I asked glancing around but trying to stand as near to the roaring fire in the large fireplace near the front. Lucky little brats, in my day (I'll admit four or five years ago) we didn't have nice warm comfy classrooms!

We had a cold field and that was only last year. I'll chalk this as one of my great 'progress' results!

Ghorza shrugged while Missy remained bowed letting the chainmail clad orc woman reply "Your late, so we extra time to beat more stuff in their thick little heads. Little brats got even more of the basics from Missy. That right girl?"

"Yes Mistress Ghorza. I have taught them all of today's planned lessons Master, plus we have covered some of tomorrows" the girl continued not looking up from the ground. Personally I found the whole thing inconvenient and uncomfortable but so much of my position depended on the appearance of power and respect. Something my enslaved wizard understood even better than I had at the start it had seemed, even before Mara and Kethri were added to the mix. It was why Ghorza or I always had to stand over the brats here so they'd listen to a slave's training...or anyone's really. The notion of not having corporal punishment in an orcish classroom was too ridiculous to even consider.

I blinked "Oh that's great then. You want to finish up I suppose?" I asked my subordinate shaman. Surprisingly enough I got on well with my former enemy turned minion, the orcish concept of might makes right evidently been a good start for my 'crazy', or 'divinely-inspired', (opinion dependent) ideas. That and my not taking the opportunity to humiliate her any further after her abuse at Zah's hands probably, she most definitely did not like my old friend at all. Still she looked delighted at my suggestion and grinned at me before turning back and snapping at the children in the 'classroom' in a commanding tone.

"Well you fuckwits get your food now looks like. So get yer asses over to the Keep and get some grub then ye males report to Jarlnis for more weapons trainin' and females to yer Ma's for runes. Iff'a hear ye didn't turn up I'll beat you so hard you'll wish you were dead. And Missy here don't see the work she gave ye tomorrow I'll do the same. Now get da lot of ya!"

I couldn't help but smile as the children practically jumped up and ran for the door at Ghorza's tone and the bang of her cane off the 'table' she stood beside. Instead I merely moved to the side and let the jostling youngsters fight their way out the doorway and out into the corridor. A moment later a banging sound, shouting and the sudden howl of wind indicated their exiting the tower. Ghorza strode over to the door and looked out before letting loose a roar "AND SHUT THAT FUCKIN DOOR YE PRATS!!!"

"So hungry Ghorza? Want to join me and Oggy upstairs" I asked at the loud bang of the door shutting as I motioned for Missy to get off the floor.

It had been a long day and I was most certainly hungry. Plus it would give me a chance to see how well the future 'magic user support' members of my squads were currently going. Picking out the smartest of the older children and drilling them relentlessly would take months to even deliver the basics, but the eldest might be ready to fight next year or the year after. Magic was a fairly major weakness of hordes and damned if I wasn't going to establish countermeasures at least, or my own battle-mages at best, to that failing. Good old Elder Scrolls Battle-Mages, or Dragonlance's magic using Knights of Takhisis were my mental basis for them; if the Spellplague hit they'd at least be decent engineers or alchemists along with fighters.

'Woohoo go fighter-mages!' I mused as Ghorza agreed with my suggestion and the two of us headed upstairs with Missy in tow. Overall it seemed the training of the 'Initiates' was going well, they were learning Common very swiftly being children and I was make sure all were literate in both orc runes (well dwarven) along with Common. That plus mathematics (mine, ie Arabic, ie newfound Orcish Numerals) and magical studies in addition to the standard fighting training for the male children; in the end the females would be the full mages or scientists of future Spartan culture.

"Master, Mistress Ghorza. Mistress Ogrash is resting inside and a stew has been prepared at this moment" came the greeting from Mara as went to her knees as we entered.

I patted her on the head as she stood back up bringing a faint, albeit pathetic, smile to her lips as I had her led us to Ogrash. It was good to see some sort of life return to the poor girl, let alone see that scrawny frame slowly start to fill out as the old whip marks faded away. Gods above I still don't understand why such abuse was inflicted upon the teenager and her older sister, but at least the 'casual cruelty' inflicted upon any of the Stormfang's slaves had stopped and the goblins and kobolds were still alive and healthy through this bad weather. Even the two women, an older human woman and a half-elf girl, 'gifted' to Zagorim by his wife's clan were been not too badly treated relatively ...or really well treated by orcish standards I'm horrified to say...by my friend. I'm sorta hoping this example and threat of violence for rule breaking will keep the more brutal members of the clan in line.

'Food and booze first, strategic planning later' I reminded myself as the smell of the stew reached my nose. We could have a war-game, a three team one if we used the slave girls like the last time, and take our minds off being snowed in for the next few days or weeks that the howling winds outside hinted at. I am so, so, so, glad I had this entire tower sealed up as the warmth began to chill out of my flesh. I was really looking forward to the hot food cooking away in the cauldron Kethri was working at.

When: A snowy day in winter

Where: A nice warm room

We're in the middle of a major winter snowstorm these past two days, and that's after several days of heavy snowfall in advance of it, so have to say seems we'll be snowbound for the next while at least. Which I'm quite content with actually, it lets focus on my various studies and actually get to relax inside in a chair before a warm fire. Something it's been well over decade...well a lifetime ago in fact, since I got to enjoy it in fact. Sure beats dank and smelly caves, or cold and exposed field camping in fact.

Not that I'm the only one almost enjoying the respite offered by the winter, the whole clan largely sees this as vacation time as well. Which in fairness it is and is very much an orcish cultural trait I think; we get a nice warm spot, sufficient food, decent defences with some bad weather; then it becomes generally a mixture of light training and partying. It's a sign of success in fact. My pushing for 'education' for magic and other things during this period then is being well received by most of the older clanorcs – bored, cooped up orc children are amazingly destructive. At least now their providing something of use to the clan Ma and the other older females in particular have told me. So yay to keeping her happy!

My own efforts in learning magic are proceeding slowly but surely, I've casting Sleep down pat even in my chainmail and we're working on Grease currently. Not exactly genius levels I'll admit, but I think I'm doing reasonably well considering the circumstances. In other good news Missy has helped me finish transcribing over all our known spells into both our spell-books as she explained, in detail, the mechanics behind each of them. Which is not exactly as indicated in the 'Holy Books' in my locked cabinet but I suppose that's the clash between a real living system and a game.

Though it does make me a little nervous at the back of my mind about how accuracy of my 'source information' – what else is 'slightly' different I wonder. Hit-point most definitely I found – slit a throat with a dagger and living beings die regardless of their supposed 'level' as seen by our foolish murder-hobo group that Missy was part of. Really didn't think much on it till now, but with time to work through it in my mind...yeah 'levelling up' isn't exactly a one way ticket to being invincible even against the likes of kobolds. Good and bad I suppose. I and my loved ones can die easier than I'd like, but then again so can potential enemies...well as long as their mortal and corporeal I suppose. Still those undead beneath us went down as expected...something to consider for another day I suppose.

When: Winter where the winds are howling outside

Where: Sparta inside from said snow and howling winds

Gods above that's quite a storm we're enduring. Said yesterday it's some bad weather rolling in but dang it's a nightmare to even negotiate the bloody yard. Getting over to the Keep this morning was like pushing a damn boulder uphill – it's nearly a tunnel at this stage!

That and it's not safe to go on the battlements with combination of snow and winds being somewhat fatal as we found out yesterday with the new addition Kehshlas. Poor fucker got blown off the wall and broke his arms and a leg, only reason he's not dead is orc sturdiness and the massive snowpiles that have formed in the courtyard. So watch is only from within the towers themselves, not that you can see feck all from them as I can confirm from my shift. It's a big white swirling haze out there with zero visibility. And bloody cold too, wasn't out long and felt like I was in a gods damned freezer mixed in with being in a tumble drier.

Anyway away from my bitching Zah's been laying down the law on some overly violent little twits who we've induced into the clan a few months ago. Group of three younger males beat one of the kobold slaves almost to death, would have other than Cardac ran across them, and for no other reason that drunken boredom. Stupid bastards broken into that slave pen and started laying into the little lizard dudes in there.

Pretty much a huge break in the brief rules we've laid out as the little lizard dudes didn't do anything to provoke the beating. So we had to lay down the law to the stupid fuckers to make sure we don't have a repeat of this; gave all three a pretty bad lashing in the main hall for breaking the rules same as during the combat training. Though I think being denied booze and food for two days bothered them more.

Not exactly something pleasant to watch but iron discipline is all that holds this place together right now. Get soft and they'll run riot, and then it'll be dead slaves. Which could be easily be Missy, Kethri or Mara if, when, I'm away from here in the spring or later in the year. And violent punishment is the only thing orc society seems to understand to keep order. Hell it was a source of bloody entertainment to the rest of the clan even if you believe that; bit of a pantomime even as we all stood in the hall of the Keep and played our roles before the crowd. Play your part because that's the need, play your part and some bleeds.

Anyway on a more pleasant note off to lessons with Missy and then have some alone time with my beautiful Oggy.

When: Winter obviously

Where: My room, relaxin'

Snow's stopped, though not much of a melt going on as yet. Still, lots of fresh water is now being boiled up, and with that a lot of cheap booze being distilled with it. You have to make use of every resource in these times and with some effort it's allowed me, and my 'household' of sorts, to get nice warm baths the past few days. And yes I've lots of free time on my hands. Partly from the weather and partly because Oggy is now focused on the Midwinter's Feast, or fertility festival, where as the newly crowned Cleric of Luthic she's in charge of the festivities. And I've told to 'shut up, do what I'm told and to stay out of her way' which is perfectly fine by me as when stressed she gets cranky.

For myself I've continued both studying and teaching the various subjects with Missy and Ghorza, and the little brats the clan calls children. Been no trouble since that little whipping a few days ago and the kobold has recovered somewhat and should be back to work in a few days. The three twits that were punished have thrown themselves into their training with Cardac and Zah ; mostly to end the public mockery of the rest of the clan for being 'dumb' and convince us all that they aren't wasting valuable clan resources by being morons. Fear and enlightened self-interest are good motivators I suppose.

Mara is doing well I think, starting to act like an actual human being at long last, and her sister and Missy seems to have eased off on each other. Or at least in mine or Oggy's presence anyway, which is good since apart from watch duty or talking to Zah in the Keep I'm pretty much all the time in my tower with them of late. This has gotten me a good handle on their histories; if I didn't feel sorry for the poor dears before I certainly do now after what they described. Unlike Missy who largely walked herself into this situation the sisters ended up in this horror thanks to a misguided caravan their family were with. What was their caravan master thinking trying to save time by cutting through monster and orc infested territory.

On from that 'Waauggh' is proving even more popular in this 'quiet' period of the clan, though the endings of battles frequently end in mini brawls over rules lawyering. Who knew orcs can have arguments/fights over what is the 'wrong' way to throw dice?

Though I'd suspect the gambling and natural urge to punch people we all feel factor into these post-game events. Ghorza and Oggy are decent enough at it, and Zah's surprised me with how good he is, but really the surprising one is Mara of all people. There's quite the brain in the lithe form of hers, so much so that Oggy always grabs her for her 'team' during our games. That is unfair – a teenage slave girl should not be better than me at the game I bloody well created Gods dangit!

Other than that we're pretty well geared up for some dungeoneering in the third level, between prepared scrolls, spells and wards into our shields. Though no way I'm mentioning this till the start of spring if I can, there's no urgency on heading down and we're essentially trapped in the stronghold with all the snow drifts. So why then tempt fate by opening a door that we don't need to just yet. But if the clan start getting antsy about it at least we can head down as prepared as I can make us. Hey maybe some useful meat shields...sorry adventurers turn up in response to our sign and wander down there for us?

Hey an orc can dream can't he?

When: Snowy cold winter.

Where: Sparta with another blizzard

Seems one storm ends and a week later and it's another one, along with biting hard frost. Been a long cold winter to date and I'm bloody glad we're resting out here and not down in the wilds as could have been possible after our early year disaster. Here I've a nice warm fire, a lovely room and with a bit of effort a nice hot bath from a converted stone tub. Even if I have to share and the rest of the clan, well Zah and Cardac, are trying to copy it over in the Keep. Bloody copycats of my ideas, first the shower, then Waughh and now my bath/shower in the upper floor of the tower. No respect for others intellectual property!

Anyway training is continuing apace, both for me and minions...students...and I think two or three can be slotted into squads come the spring as they've a basic spell learned well enough to cast under pressure. We're working on in chainmail at the moment and see how that goes. Once we get the basics down I'll have Missy start on Counter-spelling magic later in the coming year. Me and Zah will get to see how well the system works that way in a campaign against the Bugbears. If the system works then it's another ace in the hole, and if it doesn't at least we're going against them with a significant numbers and qualitative advantage already. I like Ilneval's teachings; there is no kill like overkill, and when you fight – stack the deck as best you can!

When: The closing days of 1351 Dale Reckoning or a few days till Midwinter.

Where: My 'Workshop' of sorts in the Tower

Been sorta bored the past few days, bad weather has stopped but the cold has stayed so we've had a winter wonderland themed Sparta these past few weeks and my lovely Oggy is too focused on the Midwinter Feast and Ceremony to be around much. That and the whole clan are the same as booze supply and other indulgences have been taken away by our temporary Luthician over ladies. I'll say; give them an inch and they'll take a mile. It's bloody Lent in the stronghold right now.

Well anyway in my free time (one can study-teach magic, common, maths and all that other stuff so much I've discovered before it becomes white noise) I've been back to working my 'weapons research' as I call. Gunpowder based R in fact since is the first time I've ever had the combination of free time, resources and assistants to play around with stuff in decent amounts. Not that I've never used the stuff in my decade and a bit on Faerun;

I 'invented' orcish gunpowder when I was like six after two years of nearly blowing myself up. My childish dreams of musket and canon armed Stormfang armies faded fairly rapidly in the face no production capacity for any of that. Well that combined with my horrible, horrible, (and failed) attempt at a functioning musket. So that grainy black powder pretty much got relegated to 'magic shows' for the clan, and of course in combat for my 'fire-pot' grenades. Hardly worth the effort I've needed to invest in creating them.

Though I've had one little side project I've been fiddling around with for a few years; rocket-arrows. Though they've never gotten beyond the odd one since Ma (and the clan in general) banned me from my 'research' efforts. Well Ha!

Now I'm the clan shaman (and have secure room) I can fiddle around with my project to my heart's content with nobody to stop me. I even have help in the shape of Kethri and Mara since Missy is on 'teaching' duties with Ghorza in those time periods. That's made my little crafting project actually make some headway, especially on the cart itself and drilling all the holes in the upper part.

Sorry getting ahead of myself. I'm attempting to create a Hwacha. Though that's likely meaningless to a native reader such as yourself my dear thief who has my diary. Unless this becomes a feared weapon of war and you're now reading of its creation!

So now you know who to blame by the way; the Korean people of a world called Earth (both Best and Worst Korea!), a young orc shaman and two human slave girls. And maybe Ilneval for putting me here I suppose. Anyway so we're working on creating my merry little rocket-arrow cart, which if successful will hopefully lead to carts plural in the future. Unlike canons and muskets this little beauty don't need to skilled blacksmiths, iron-smelting and casting capacity. Though bloody 'ell is getting those 'perfect' holes for the 'arrows' time consuming to make, let alone the individual little rockets for each arrow!

When: Midwinter's Eve

Where: Sparta

Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la, la-la, la-la!

Or more accurately; tis the season to be drinking, partying and fucking as per TRADITION here in the clan and society in general. Now that we've an actual large home, combined with an expanded clan and a food surplus, well, the females under Oggy's and Zah's wife Breyza seem determined to throw the 'bestests ones evarzz' this year. Hey it's the one thing the Church of Luthic and the females get to boss us males around in and they are, of course, loving every minute of this power. Me and Zah have certainly been told to mind our own damned business and just do what were told.

Which for me personally is a little worrying as 'Midwinter Fesitival' is a twisted version of Christmas mixed in with a mixture of mass marriages and complete lack of public decency. Not that I'm a prude, you get over that pretty damned fast here, but t is after all a fertility festival; and goblinoid one at that, so there. In advance I've assured Missy that she's safe and off limits, and similar with Kethri and Mara, though they are less bothered by the concept than I'd like. Still I'm going to party, and drink, and then have a terrible hangover afterwards most likely. Because afterwards its back to work, work, work and more life threatening danger and horror. Yay!

In anticipation of this happy holiday season I have sealed off my workshop with the Hwacha and other highly flammable/explosive items so that no drunken shenanigans that could lead a big boom and death for all those involved. I would not put that beyond the clan, or myself, since becoming an orc with all the booze that I've seen been readied. Not that everyone is looking forward to the festivities, the slaves of course, but also Ghorza who seems to be our own little Grinch for the season. And it's not even her unfortunate capture experience with Zah that's responsible this time, evidently she just hates kowtowing to Luthic for some reason. I really should ask someday why/how she became a cleric of Ilneval. It's an odd choice societal wise considering. Another thing to add to the auld to-do list I'm afraid.

Wheb: Memmm

Ere: FUN!

Well hi *unintelligible scribbles*

unintelligible scribbles*

Smexy! Woot! *unintelligible scribbles*

Oggyy Missyy *unintelligible scribbles*

unintelligible scribbles*

Magjics! Ta go maith!

unintelligible scribbles*

When: Who cares.

Well that was fun. And silly. And...

My head hurts. This was a bad idea.

Sleepy time again.

[Missasri 04]

Shaman's Tower, Sparta

Missasri gave a hum of contentment as she rolled over unto her stomach, resting her chin on her arms as she looked in the direction of the loud snores echoing throughout the room. That of course being Master Karguk and Mistress Ogrash who lay sprawled out amidst their furs exhausted from their previous day and night's partying and debauchery. An event whose approach she herself had been somewhat fearful based on what her studies in the college and what the sisters had described of their previous owners horrors on them during it.

Instead the three of them had found that they had two days rest, apart from her presence at the start of some big ceremony to perform so very public slave-grovelling. If not for the sense of fear during the whole event of being made part of it, she'd have thought it would be an interesting insight into orcish culture and mating practices for the scholarly part of her mind. And at least her owner hadn't used her as part of the 'fertility festival' as she'd feared and Mara had expected, despite how drunk their orc had gotten.

'Ahhhh dang the fires going out...Mystra damn it...get up Missy and sort that before it goes out' popped into her head as she glanced over at large fireplace in the corner and saw that it was reduced to smouldering embers rather than the roaring flame before her falling asleep. And with a glance over in the corner across from her it was apparent that Kethri and Mara were curled up together and fast asleep just like their owners. So with a yawn and a quick stretch she got up from her fur bedding's and walked towards the fireplace; frowning momentarily in annoyance at the chill touch of stone on her bare feet and the night air on her skin. At least when she got over to the fireplace the wonderful feeling of warmed braced her frame as she stoked at the embers, before adding some logs and turf to restart the fire.

'Hmmm that's nice' she mused enjoying the touch of warmth on her body as the embers began to flare at her efforts and shadows danced along the walls around her from the renewed flames. It was certainly a nice effect as she gave a snort of annoyance as shesat back and the cold stone beneath her chilled her skin. Noticing as she did the howling winds from outside that was causing the wooden windows Master Karguk had installed to clatter faintly.

'Another storm sounds like. Least it's warm here for now...' she sighed, it certainly had put paid to even the faintest thoughts of escape that she occasionally dreamed off, the dreams now always ended in her either freezing to death, been eaten by wolves or taken by orcs that were not Karguk or Ogrash. She used the poker again into the embers and added some smaller pieces of fuel to rebuild the fire, restarting it if it went out would be an effort, and a sooty one, to empty the fireplace and start a new one '...so do your job girl or freeze your ass off while Mistress scolds you'

And this place did get cold without a fire, though with one as now she and her fellows could stand in just her slave collar without feeling much of a chill. Something that concerned her by the implications of these orcs managing to convert this old ruin into this comfortable living area in only three seasons, that and all the other strange things she'd seen here since her enslavement. Resting her palms of her hands on the stone floor just behind her she lolled her head back and looked towards the still sleeping orc lovers who were her owners with a flash of 'No surprise there at the exhaustion' at her upside-down view.

Whatever the case there was something strange about Karguk in particular, but even the Stormfang tribe in general in her mind, an oddness that both relieved and concerned her. A relief of course because the orc was, of all things, kind and easy going; if anything she'd think he was uncomfortable with the fact of owning slaves at all or perhaps pushing them too hard. Even evident by not bedding herself or either of the sisters in the past few days in particular or in their enslavement in general; a personal relief but it just felt strange, wrong even, to Missasri. Judging by the drunk talk and orders Karguk definitely found them of interest for such, but had refrained from actually acting on that. Which was so unorcish to everything she understood, seven hells she'd seen human noblewomen use male slaves more actively and cruelly on her adventuring journey, and that restraint concerned her when added to all the other oddness.

There was the learning of magic, and then teaching of the smarter of the orc children, in the past two seasons that was a role she was glad off but was made uneasy when she thought about it like now. Orcs had little interest in magic she'd been taught as they were crude uncivilized beasts; and yet here was a tribe learning the Arts in a more organised manner than many human towns. Let alone how much her orc seemed to know about the background of magic, or the workings of the world itself, before she'd even started a lesson; on several occasions she could close her eyes and imagine she was talking to a merchant, or a non-mage scholar of some sort.

'And then there's these strange ideas like the board game, or the flash-powder, or that 'rocket-arrow-cart' he's working on, or that strange tongue he was babbling in while drunk, or the strange ideas on trade...' she mused bringing her head back up to gaze back into the flames as her hair, now grown long again, tickled her shoulder blades as she did so '...not that I'm complaining dear Gods, better a strange master than a cruel one. But my lady Mystra what is going on here?'

There were several theories she'd thought on and discarded. Demonic possession, though Master's personality and the fact he was using a Holy Sword without issue put paid to that theory. And it also ruled out a Lich fragment taking up residence by some accident in his mind and influencing him; that should make a savage orc more evil not into a creature that spoke of 'The Greater Good' at times. She leaned forward and threw a larger log on the fire. Considering the other orcs spoke of his oddness when they occasionally forgot her presence and Mistress Ghorza seemed to see him as divinely blessed even beyond the usual cleric preening...

'There's a strong possibility he's a God's Chosen of all things' she'd decided watching as the flames licked at the logs in the large fireplace and slowly started to grow larger. Still a chill seemed to go through her at her thought before she snorted softly in amusement 'Oh be brave Missy, think of the scholar you'll be remembered as for documenting the creation of an orcish horde leader and his horde. Perhaps a dissertation on orcish mating habits? I'm sure you Master would happily make you a first person source if you but ask. Maybe you can pass all this off as part of your adventures, an entertaining chapter before you slay a dragon while riding a unicorn!' snort 'Or maybe as the evil witch who served said war-chief and helped create his cabal of evil sorcerers. You'll be famous at least for that if he is what you suspect!'

"Oh someone finds something funny. A good joke I hope?" came a hoarse voice from behind her as she squeaked in fearful shock having evidently failed to notice an orc stroll up behind her when she drifted into thinking mode. Master Karguk seemed to half-snort, half laugh, at her reaction and his large hand came down on her shoulder in a calming gesture as he moved to sit down just beside the spot she'd jumped up from "Shhh...didn't mean to scare you Missy. Come on' sit back down...on something warm this time" he continued throwing a fur for them to sit on.

"Sorry Sir, Sorry" she flustered back nervously doing as instructed and sitting back down, though even sitting she only came up to neck height with him. He grunted in seeming amusement at her reaction "Failed a spot check eh? I'm not exactly the sneaky sort you know Missy?"

Missasi found herself flushing in embarrassment, really it was silly to have missed a sweaty six foot seven orc with a hangover getting out of bed and walking over to her "Sorry Master, I was...ughh...lost in thought when watching the fire"

"About the drunken antics of your foolish Master...and well me and Oggys...uggghhh...exercising no doubt? Ehhh sorry about that. Sorta forgot you girls were here been honest" she looked away without thinking at the hoarse sounding voice. He laughed softly and tiredly, an orc fist suddenly tapping her shoulder gently causing to look back at his face "By Ilneval you were! Naughty girl..." *Snort* "...though truth be told I don't...ugh...remember much as yet. I'll need you and the girls to recall events to me later actually..." she blinked as he seemed to fidget and actually looked nervous "...umm...I didn't do anything I'd regret by any chance? Or...um...har...bother you in anyway?"

"I...don't think so...Master...uhm..." she answered honestly her eyes scrunching in thought over the time period. From everything she'd seen Master Karguk had attended the feast, drank like a fish like all the other orcs, talked alot and had avoided a brawl of sorts before wandering off to be with Mistress Ogrash after some drunk talk to Missasri and the other two slaves "...you were in a...really good mood upon your return. Though you were writing in your tome at two stages and may have recorded important matters there"

"I doubt that, drunken scribbling most likely we both know without looking so no need to say otherwise..." he replied after a moment with a yawn as they both gazed into flames and he started up a conversation with her as he was wont to do "..hmmm...nice and warm here. Good girl keeping the fire going by the way. Bloody snows are back again outside sounds like..."

Notes:

As usual with Missasri chapters this is a quieter one on the 'day-to-day' events from her POV and what the slaves see going on and the 'end state' of Sparta at the end of the year. Basically it's the last chapter of 1351DR (Year of the Crown) and (I hope) indicates a 'calm' period that occurs for orcs over the winters as would common in medieval times in general.

When: at long last 1352 Dale Reckoning or the Year of the Dragon as it'll be known

Where: Sparta

Well we've made it through another year it seems as a clan and into another. Though I can also hear that little clock in my head ticking away as well so...yay!...I suppose. At least I got enjoy this year's Midwinter's Festival without any visions of doom or divine instructions from my glorious overlord in the heavens. Instead, as my drunken scribblings from day or so ago indicate, I got to get roaring drunk and have a nice enjoyable bout of feasting and other recreational activities.

In a past life I'm sure many would rail against such debauched and boisterous celebrations of a religious festival but this is a Luthic blessed celebration; and damn if she ain't one awesome lady who throws a great party, even if she only does it so we can make lots of little baby warriors. Praise her divine party-making awesomeness!

Anyways things are now very calm right now in our part filled little stronghold; several days of hardcore boozing while another bloody blizzard rolled in has lead to a nice quiet relaxing few days in the aftermath. I've been of the same mind as beyond basic training and my watch shifts on those bloody freezing cold watchers blinds on the walls. As expected there's nobody stupid enough to prance around like idiots in this weather from the looks of it.

But at least compared to the earlier storms this has been fairly light and looks like we're coming to the end of the winter as the snow is melting this time around. On a side note I've ensured we've stored as much of said clean fresh water as possible, or used it in our merely chugging along little brewery in the southern tower. Orcs: we can make moonshine and beer but we aren't supposed to farm. Talk about weird ass divine priorities in that thinking.

Anyway I've enjoyed my break, Mara is an excellent little masseuse, Kethri a grand auld cook and Missy has been helping me with warding my tower with arcane magic warnings and not just my crude clerical ones. Yes I'm a little paranoid about security I'll admit but better to be paranoid than have issues when I'm sleeping or with my valuables when I'm away. That and my little Hwacha project – progress has been good with a prototype has been assembled and a volley or two almost ready. I wasn't really counting as I did it in a big of rote fugue state – there safely stored at least in six different spots to prevent a big boom if I screw up.

Other than that Zah, when myself and Cardac can get him away from 'entertaining' his wife and slave-girls, has been a help in planning out our upcoming - Operation Fuck the Bugbears- in the spring/summer. We've agreed once the snows clear we'll send out both hunting parties, as well as messengers to the Thunderblades and then too our 'vassals' amongst the goblins and kobolds.

This will be somewhat of an effort for out little coalition, and that means marshaling our forces here at Sparta in the interim, but also allowing us to establish my planned farms with said goblins/kobolds. Which means the logistics of feeding the warriors, arming them and who to send to fight and what fraction to hold back for stronghold defence; that and handling the near adults who are 'ready' for war in their minds. Even if they're not in reality.

But for the moment I'm drinking some gods awful moonshine, rest before the first after my watch shift and not worry about these concerns for a little bit.

When: Springtime 1352DR

Where: Near Sparta with a lovely view of the valley

Ilneval above it's finally snow free around here and I've taken the opportunity to take a squad out on patrol while the females look for roots and the hunting parties depart. Even Missy is delighted at the chance to tag along out into the wilds as my 'hunting aide' again.

I think everyone was getting cabin fever of sorts from the enforced stay in our new home. Yes it's large, comfortable and spacious but it's nice to get out for a few days and move around. That and Oggy is cranky for some reason.

Good news is we've put our small slave population, excluding those working inside like my own and Zah's ladies, on the pre-winter farm plots and tidying them up for planting. Once our 'allied' goblin clan arrive I'm going to put their non-warriors to work on new onces as well, that and organising whatever herds of cattle or sheep them got.

Couldn't risk starvation over the winter with too many mouths and too little time to gather stores; but now I think concentrating works for the stronghold's continued growth into the year. It should certainly make defending it while our warriors are away a little easier anyway. Now I'm off to rest, Missy's already dozing against my side here and I'm exhausted too.

When: Springtime 1352DR

Where: Sparta

And it was such a nice quiet, successful, period up till now. But fuck, back to being tested by the boss man it seems.

So let me explain; I got back from patrol today looking forward to a bath and decent grub and run right into bad news. Our 'vassals' had started to arrive, not in numbers yet but the first of smaller ones had, along with the return of our messengers to the Thunderblades. Those Fingercutter scouts both our clans came across last year in the valley?

Turns out they should been taken as the warning signs of an all out invasion of our lands. And that it's the herald of likely much worse news considering what appears to be the whole Fingercutter tribe is moving into the valley; they must have traveled through those snowdrifts even for the Thunderblades not to have noticed, and the emaciated look of their clan-orcs. Their migrating evidently, and from the descriptions of the Thunderblades, it is one that none of them decided to do it willingly. Someone or something has pushed them out of their home and their seeking a new stronghold; one that's already occupied by us. Bollocks.

Bad news continues apace from there – the Thunderblades are already in bad straits as the Fingercutters are already into the valley. Any of my plans to hold them in chokepoints we had last year just went out the window as their marching in force with females and brats in wagons. Though I dread to imagine the deaths they suffered moving in the winter even with stops in caves and such along the way, I doubt many of their elderly or very young survived in fact. So basically this micro-horde ran over the Thunderblades initial scouts, and the one or two of their 'allied' goblin clans before they realized what was going on – Long story short their already in the midst of abandoning their encampment and coming over to join us here to decide what to do.

Fucking joy, great bloody alliance there Karguk – no warning and half the valley lost already!

When: Day 2 of Zee Invasion

Where: Sparta

Spent all day in meetings with Zahgorim, his wife Breyza, the envoys from her clan and all our other senior squad officers discussing the problem thrust into our laps.

Bad news is the Fingercutters badly out number our own little alliance and have set a surprising pace, probably due to hungry mouths to feed. Further bad news they've no interest in talking evidently as they disemboweled and sacrificed the Thunderblade 'envoys' who met them to Gruumsh. Basically stating this valley isn't big enough for the both of us. How typical of a powerful orc clan put on hard times.

Oh and more bad news is it'll take weeks to concentrate our strength here, while also preventing our kobold and goblin minions from bolting at the prospect of fighting these invaders. Our stomping on them last years is hardly conductive to loyalty after all. But still if we can get them under thumb we can get them stabbing in the right direction after all.

There is some good news, or perhaps positives to had – the Fingercutters are desperate, have to be to doing what they're doing. So they'll attack regardless of where we meet them, so it'll let us set the field of battle. Which will be here at Sparta, after we 'prepare' the battlefield just like the last time we got attacked...well...except I'm getting our 'friend' Good 'King' Tucker and his kobolds to prepare some traps in advance. We have some time to ready ourselves and they are here already after all. And then again what caused this large clan to run is b...

Must cut short; first elements of the Tunderblades arriving it seems, females and children leading Cardac says. Have to go.