In My Time of Troubles

by Crossposted

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

6. Entry 6

[Wifne 01]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

Wifne Humbletree had had the honor to serve as a Priestess of the Earth Mother to the village for over three decades, and the greater joy of having lived there a decade and a half before she had made that decision. Well, beyond a long and terrifying trip to Waterdeep in her youth in search of a cure to a blight that had then befallen the village's crops. A pointless solution in the end despite her grand adventures success; the fields had been purged off the blight but only three years later the monstrous bugbears had made farming those fields impossible to do safely. Too many of her flock had been lost to those creatures over the years and now she had suffered this final failure that almost broke her heart; armed and armor orcs walked through the streets of her home while her flock cowered before them.

Oh they had suffered dark times before with raiders; every few years someone would be taken by bugbears or orc bands despite their best efforts to prevent it. A few times they had come close to starvation as the hunters were unable to seeking game and the poor soil of the hilly terraces failed to provide what was desired despite her efforts. They had even been forced to provide part of their hard wrought harvests in certain years to the larger groups of raiders to get them to leave the village in peace. It was just now it was not just a few dozen savages who took what they could carry and moved on; now it was a small army who demanded they submit and supply them every harvest.

'And even the shrine of the Goddess isn't the sanctuary I could always turn to in the past' she thought tiredly getting up off her aching knees from before the Goddess's shrine. Glancing over to her left, sitting upon its own altar in the heart of her sanctum was the shrine to the orcs foul war god. A sign that these strange orcs planned to stay here, likely for years to come, and that they and not she, would be the ones to guide the village to whatever fate now awaited it. Still she swore that she would stay strong and pray that she could keep them from harming her flock in the days that were to come. Squaring her shoulders for dealing with the orc shamans once again she smiled at her nervous young apprentice and motioned her to stand.

"Come now Rose, I know the two orc shamans are scary but we do as the Goddess wills for our flock sometimes. Even in these dark times we must look to the coming harvest and having enough stores for the winter. Be brave my little flower" she told her fondly. Her granddaughter was an intelligent and kind girl, a truly gifted healer and harvest bringer in the making in fact, but sadly she had none of the fiery wilfulness that Wifne had possessed at her age despite the burning red hair she possess.

"Sorry Grandma, I'll try and do better" came the reply along with a tremulous little smile and Wifne gave her granddaughters shoulder a squeeze in support "Good girl I knew I could count on you, so let's talk a little walk now shall we?"

It felt strange walking out of the temple and seeing orcs walking the dirt streets of the village and she shivered slightly despite the warmth of the cloudy late summer's day. For the moment though she was thankful that no-one had been injured or outright harmed by the terrifying orcs since their 'conquest' yesterday. Well beyond some shoving if they got in their way and loud shouting in their guttural tongue that was as frequently at each other than at a villager.

Instead they had settled in around the village itself and begun building a longhouse it seemed where Old Hem's house had stood when he'd been alive after they'd setup their shrine to their evil God in the Temple. Most likely they were mercenaries she assumed as she walked past two bored looking orcs standing guard as they seemed much more organizedand better armed than the usual breed of savages that had troubled them a few times before. Both a good and a bad sign for their dealings with her home in her view.

Simply walking to see the orc leaders was not as simple as the distance would indicate. As she strode forward she would stop, give a smile, and hand of encouragement to each of her fellow villagers; young Myra and her fiancée Fergel worrying over what would happen to their planned wedding, Lath the Blacksmith nervous of the weapons he would now have to craft for the orcs and even the elderly Sarina worried about her chastity. Though on the last one Wifne had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at that as the old crone still seemed to believe she was the beauty who all the men desire that she had been when Wifne had been a child.

Still after a short time she arrived with Rose in tow to the entrance of the area at the top of the village where the orc leaders had ensconced themselves. Then waited, hiding her nervousness and giving Rose another smile as a grunting orc guard went back inside as the other just looked down at them seemingly bored while resting against his halberd. Resisting the urge to squirm from having to stand under the gaze of the bulky armor creature over a head taller than her, she gaze impassively at where some orcs were raising some heavy logs to short up Old Hem's house.

Coming out a moment later was the male orc shaman evidently giving orders of some sort as he walked to another orc till he nodded and waved him off. Just behind him was a human girl in a traveling robe, a slave collar encircling her neck slightly at odds with her good health and the orcs listening to her in Wifne's mind. As they approached the second, female, orc shaman came jogging out from the behind the construction, then slowing to walk beside the male one and telling him something that was greeted with a shrug and words in their guttural tongue as they neared her.

"Greetings Priestess of Chauntea..." the green-skinned orc greeted her in that bizarrely polite and intelligent Common Tongue of theirs with an almost high-born trader lilt on the accent. All she could assume was it had been taught to them by the girl at the orcs side as she too spoke in a similar way, but that did raise the question what a young wizard like her was doing helping these creatures conquer helpless villages. Though then again it might be a positive sign that the orcs wouldn't just run amok in her home "...we have much to talk about and prepare in the coming days before all the harvest is in"

"Yes Lord I understand...do you require any of my fellow villagers too...move home?" she asked careful as the orc kept walking slowly and motioned her to follow along beside them as they walked towards the palisade wall overlooking the empty fields and ditches below the village.

"No we shall be building our own accommodation in the time we are here..." he stated to her relief. It had been fear since the beasts had arrived that they would simply burst into doors and leave her flock homes, or forced to live as slaves in their own homes "...there are caves behind here up on the terraces, are they used for anything?"

"No Lord, they have been empty since my mother's time, and even then it was only because the grain-house had been damaged in a storm..." she answered honestly. The caves were dark and dank and had not been used in generations for anything more than for the children to explore till they grew bored; they were shallow and empty after all. "...so they have not been used by the village in truth since the our ancestors lived there during the dark time my Grandmother told me"

"Hmmm...well that's good at least isn't it Ghorza?"

"Yes Boss, there should be some space there I think we can use for during the winter"

"Good glad you're happy Ghorza. Now I've been discussing matters with Chief Zahgorim and I want several things done here in the coming months..." the evident leader of the orcs began as he had them stop at the edge of the village and waving a hand at the land below where a hundred orcs were encamped at the moment amidst ruined houses abandoned when the Unholy Baron had ravaged his own lands Mother had said in her tales "...firstly I want to have those fields in use next year. So I'll want your villagers clearing them and making them ready as long as it doesn't interfere with your coming harvest. While their doing that I'm going to have our warriors rebuild the old walls as best we can around them and watchtowers there and..." he was saying then stopped seemingly in thought "...actually your big rituals are coming up soon yes?

Wifne was unsure how feel about the idea of restoring the farms, on the one hand they were ordering her and her flock to undertake a task that would be exhausting and place them at risk. On the other it was the something she had dreamed of doing since they were finally abandoned for good all those years ago. If they could be farmed, and raiders kept away then they could easily provide a surplus that would please these savages and still feed her flock wouldn't it?

Still she blinked as the Orc suddenly changed tangents "...Sorry Lord?"

"You've a fertility festival now? Harvest or Greengrass or something like that coming up?"

"Yes Lord" she answered cautiously, unsure of what why it was asking. In truth the celebrations in honour of the Earth Mother and the village marriages had slipped her mind of course, what with orcs wandering the village streets. And more importantly trying to ensure that she, little Rose, and her flock survived the coming months of the orcs cruel oppression. And did this orc actually know about the Earth Mother's holy days?

"Right, yeah well I need you to tell myself and Ghorza about all that so as to avoid any incidence. It sounds a little too much like the Cave Mothers Midwinter Ceremony and all its inherent boozing, debauchery and...ehh...fertility...related outcomes. Basically I'm willing to allow it as long as long as I don't have a riot and all the work gets done in the mean time by..."

--

[Ogrash 04]

Stronghold's Keep, Sparta

"...journey. To these words of your clan my Chief Kurnak has listened..." the oldest of the four orcs that had arrived in Sparta was saying, tearing off a chunk off the roast haunch of deer in his hand and then draining his tankard to wash it down with a burp. All four were hungry and thirsty of course Ogrash noted take a drink from her own tankard as the elderly warrior from the Redaxe tribe continued "...and is also angered that our human enemies to the east are gathering magic users and demons to use against our clans"

Beside her the old co-Chief Breyjuk looked down the long table at their guests with an appraising eye "Aye, when our shaman and my brother chief defeated the human warriors and their wizards from Luskan were angered by these things. The Gods have shown to us their wish to punish our foes for this affront by serving demons, and have blessed us with gifts to bring their wrath upon those human weaklings"

It was important to show these prospective allies that the new Sparta clan was both strong and blessed by the Gods, for they could just as easily decide to be enemies as allies if they sensed weakness from them. It had only been a short few seasons that they had been struggling for survival as the Stormfang and Thunderblades. Even now their control of the valley was not yet complete, especially with Karg and Zah away on campaign. They may have shattered the bugbears to the south already, or it may be several more seasons before the larger goblinoids were driven off. Or in her darker fears they could have been injured or even slain. No, no matter what the clan would have to appear strong regardless if it was true or not right now.

"Ah we've hear tell ye were the ones that finally broke those cowardly Fingercutter fucks! Hah! We picked up a group of them snivelers just before I left and they told us the story! A fine victory indeed for a clan!" the Redaxe named Azhug agreed seemingly in good humour "If ye can slaughter a strong clan like that in glorious battle then our Chief will look forward to ye bringing yer wrath down on those demon-fuckers with us"

"Yes it was a hard fight but they challenged us for our territory and then showed them who the better orcs were in the end..." Ogrash stated, while she was a female amidst the warriors her position as Luthic's Priestess, and first wife of Ilneval's cleric, more than made up for that to justify her position beside Chief Breyjuk and Breyza "...but we can't let those humans that drove them from their territory to ours be allowed to stay there any longer so they can pollute it with their vile and demonic masters presence. They were weak, but they were orcs after all!"

'Best to put our claim on that territory now even if it's too far off for us to actually want or even get too' she mused handing her now empty tankard to Mara, who had been kneeling silently to the side of her chair, for a refill. But it did give a focus for rallying together the surrounding clans, an initial target that could help bring an alliance of clans together even if they attacked somewhere else in the end. At least that's what she hoped; while Breyjuk banged his tankard in agreement beside her before taking a large gulp. All around the hall the warriors of the clan not on guard duty were doing likewise and enjoying the fact the clan got to enjoy a small feast, even if it was as part of the guest right for orcs of another, non-enemy, clan.

The Redaxes looked speculative. Well Azhug and the female beside him did while the two younger hunters with them seemed more interested in their drinks and food. Then again weeks travelling in the wilds on low rations would make Ogrash have similar priorities, or it would have before she'd being made priestess and had any power in the clan. That thought of her having food not just for today, but for tomorrow and the day after that she now understood were just as important or even more so as Ma had said when she was a whelp.

Though at least now the clan's larders were finally full after the worry in early spring. It was helped by the fact Karg and Zah had taken two thirds of the warriors away had certainly eased off the amount of food being consumed in the stronghold over the summer. When her whelp entered the world a few weeks it would come into a clan with full bellies over the winter. Even now the little lump inside her had caused her appetite to surge dramatically; this small feasting session was a welcome relief in her mind if she was being entirely honest.

"Ah well kickin' their cowardly asses is a good claim I'd agree, but that's a matter for Chiefs not warriors such as myself..." Azhug replied raising his tankard to her in a salute of sorts "...but I think Chief Kurnak would say there is much territory for all clans to be won from our foes! Nothing can stand against the Horde united and great are the spoils!"

"Aye together we can be the raging storm as the Horde Leader himself states..." Breyjuk answered as Mara returned to her with a fresh tankard and slide back into her position hands folded together on her lap "...but as he also says strength is as much the function of the mind as the body. To unite our strength for such a task would require much use of our wits and much planning, and other clans to add their power to ours"

"Yes Chief Kurnak the Redaxe clan agrees and has sent word to all the clans surrounding us as honourable Sparta has done to warn us of these human demon-fuckers! To the east and the west, even to the south we have sent messengers to call for a council of all the clan chiefs"

Ogrash glanced at Breyjuk who looked thoughtful before replying. It seemed just as Karg and Zah had feared the word the Uthgarders had allied with the Luskan and were summoning demons was already riling up the surrounding clans to attack them. Breyjuk seemed to have known that too and appeared to attack the humans now rather than wait for a few more seasons as her mate and friend were more inclined towards. Ogrash in truth leaned towards Breyjuk's view, though only as long as they could bring in the other clans as allies and didn't risk getting stabbed in the back by any who stayed behind. Best to strike now before the humans had time gather more foul magic and to solidify Sparta's recent unity as a clan by fighting against a hated common foe.

"Yes, we have sent word to all the other clans of our findings, just as we have with you, the brave warriors of the Redaxes. Sparta would be supportive of a council of all the clans in the face of the threat of the humans, and for to launch a great raid to punish them for their crimes. But when and where would such a group of chiefs meet to make these plans?"

Of course calling together all the various clan chiefs to form into a horde either led to said horde forming, or sometimes to a collapse into bloodshed between the various clans before any horde could be assembled. The older crones of the clan had told such stories when the snows grew high and there was little to do; the bloody comedy of the Cooked Chiefs of Cheljajleck or the glorious tale of the rise of Warlord Jesj'loc of the Blood Storm.

"It would be several seasons before such a meeting could be organised..." the female Redaxe answered in a calm tone "...we need to discuss this with all the other clans to seek the wisdom of their chiefs, and of course their holy shamans. Our own holy one told our clan he has seen many signs and portents from the Gods that the time for such a great ranging against our enemies has come. With both our clans calling for an alliance for a horde to come together we can coordinate to arrange such a meeting place that would be to our liking"

Ogrash nodded, with the blessed weapons and Gods-slaves could show of the Gods favour there would be some who would now listen to Sparta, especially as word of their victories spread to the neighbouring clans "Yes it would take many seasons to arrange such a thing, and my mate the Shaman of the Horde Leader is away destroying our clans enemies and would wish to voice the will of the Horde Leader..." oh Karg definitely would want to say something before they agreed to something like this "...as is our clan's other leader Zahgorim. Is that not so Chief Breyjuk, Breyza?" she glanced at the older chief who nodded in agreement. There was no point in moving too quickly after all, this was only the first response from the other clans since they had sent out messengers in late spring. While their own clan-orcs had returned the response had been overwhelmingly one of 'Eh...give us a little time to think on it' except from the Redaxes now.

"Yes our priestess of Luthic speaks true; we must consult the Gods of course before fully committing to such a...friendship...between Sparta and the Bloodaxes, though I foresee no difficulty with such an alliance even without any such council of chiefs. There is much we can likely trade between our clans to make each them stronger than on their own"

Ogrash could agree with that, they had significant amounts of currently worthless loot such as gold coins and fancy but non-magical human/elf jewellery that might be bartered for cattle, slaves or other things that would help Sparta grow. A clan established for many years in a stronghold like Redaxe might be able to access hobgoblin or other such traders and therefore have access to useful resources that Sparta did not have right now.

Karg after all had been talking to herself, and with the slave Missy, before he'd left about find some way to get such trade caravans to come to their stronghold. Of course that had failed the first time with the Luskan humans, though they had come out the stronger by crushing them at least. The God-slaves in particular were a gift that had let her feel the presence of the Gods themselves. So she continued to talk further with her Chief and the Redaxe guests about what the...

--

[Missasri 08]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

"...stupid...ckin...c...ts...mak...out..." Master Karguk was shouting out to Ghorza, but Missasri found it nearly impossible to actually hear what was being said due to the violent downpour of rain, and the sound of thunder off in the distance. Which was soon followed by a sudden faint flash not too far off in the distance which illuminated the muddy 'battlefield' where a half-dozen dead bugbears, and a few orcs, lay slain. Moments later another loud rumble could be heard even over the howling of the wind and her owners attempts at shouting orders "...wat...gua...that is...h...MORE!...Gho...ou...and...inside...light...dang...we..."

Missasri had wrapped her hands around herself, and tuck her hand into the robes pockets in an effort to gain some warmth but the fierce rain had soaked through even the thick travelling robes currently wore. All she could do though now in the aftermath of this brief fight was hug herself and pray they could get under shelter now that it was seemingly over. In this dreadful weather the fight had been a confused mess where these raiders had blundered in the orcs guard picket and a running fight had broken out amidst the lashing rain when those raiders desperately tried to turn and run. Shivering with the cold she suddenly found her masters face near to hers and voice largely comprehensible as he rested a gloved hand on her shoulder.

"Missy we're going back inside with this lightening...madness stay here, so come with me..." he told her to her relief, then he turned and was roaring back at his female orc lieutenant "GHORZA!...GHORZA! BACK INSIDE!!" he shouted to her and those around then waving with his other free hand "BACK INSIDE! COVER! GHORZA! MOVING NOW!"

Half-helping, half-shoving, Karguk hustled her forward in the howling darkness back towards the village gates that were nearly invisible to her as the other orcs moved back around them in a crude formation. At the least she found their shields helped reduce the wind and rain lashing around her as the group came back up the path towards main gate. Another faint flash of light to her left, followed by a groaning rumbled, came as they went through the village gate and gained some degree of shelter, even if the howling whistle of the wind through the gaps in the wooden walls was somewhat eerie to Missasri's ears.

"Close those gates now! Lash it with rope!" she could just about hear the female orc Ghorza shout out as the wind made Missasri stumble into her owner who supported her as he himself was waving at armor form of the Chief Zahgorim and a dozen other orc warriors to come over.

"WHATS THE WORD KARG?"

"WE NEED TO STAY UNDER COVER, STORMS GETTING WORSE! BUGGIES ARE DRIVEN OFF I THINK, DIDNT EXPECT US HERE LOOKS LIKE"

"OKAY THEN YOU AND GHORZA GET SOME REST! SAME WITH YOUR SQUADS" the orc Chief was yelling back and motioning backwards into the darkness where they'd started building up "YOU'VE BEEN UP ALL DAY KARG, I'LL STAND GUARD ON THE WALLS! REST AND TAKE DAY DUTY"

"OKAY, OKAY! WAKE US IF YOU NEED US!" she heard to her own personal relief. Not only was she soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold, magic was taxing in the best of conditions and this had not been the easiest to cast in. Her owner was nodding his helmeted head just above her own "AND STAY UNDER COVER ZAH! REMEMBER OLD JEJKNOR WHEN WE WERE WHELPS! WE'LL SORT EVERYTHING WHEN THE STORM PASSES" he turned his head "GHORZA, LADS! REST! REST!"

And then they were moving up the hill through the village as leaves, and pieces of straw joined the lashing rain on the wind, Missasri brought her arm up to her eyes to wipe away the stinging feeling as they pressed on. A quick glance behind her, in part to face away from the wind a moment, showed that the orc chief and his warriors had finished securing the gate and were taking cover. Also trying to keep the howling wind and rain the female shaman trudged after them with the exhausted warrior who'd been with them just behind also looking to get to their own beds for the storm.

Thankfully getting to her own living space, well her master's in truth, wasn't too far as they went into the main orc camp part of the village and a rebuilt stone building with a new roof and wooden door came into view and they entered into it as she sighed in relief. Even inside the wind was howling quite loudly as Ghorza slammed the door hard behind them owing to its strength, and despite some water coming down beams and into the old fireplace. Still now that they were mostly out of the rain and wind the fact how cold she actually was actually hit her and she shivered as the waterlogged clothes dripped on the stone floor even as she began stripping them off like the other two. Ghorza was talking away as Missasri valiantly fought to stop her teeth chatter, and started to hang up her robes near the unlit fireplace.

"Fucking bugbears, I'm fucking exhausted and they come in this fucking weather? Fucking stupid fucks attack all of us like that! Oi can we light a fire Boss? It's fucking freezing..." the orc woman was complaining as her chainmail thudded unto the ground and she used the tunic she was pulling off to try dry her hair slightly "...and I'm Gods damned soaked"

"We're all bloody cold and wet Ghorza, but can't light a fire here in this weather, probably burn the place down with the winds coming down that chute, even if could get it lit with the firewood's damp as it looks..." a tired Master Karguk answered placing his weapons beside the pile of furs atop a crude mattress that was the bed Missasri shared with him. It looked clean and dry, as did Ghorza's over in the other corner. Sharing the old house with her owners subordinate was mildly better than sharing it his friend the chief Missy thought idly taking off her boots and looking for guidance from Karguk now her clothes were handing on the rope 'line' before her "...place looks dry, beds look dry. They'll be plenty warm. Missy can use her magic to clean them come the morning"

'Yes, so can I please get under the covers?' she mentally asked looking at Karguk imploringly as she rubbed at her ice cold skinned to try warm it slightly. Unfortunately he didn't notice as he removed his armorand underclothes and marched past Missy placing the cloth on the rope line and the armorwith reach on the back of a chair. Thankfully a moment later he seemed to notice her look and patted her on the shoulder and motioned to go ahead and get under the covers if she wanted. Not that she needed any encouragement, and while holding back a contented sigh practically jumped under the furs and reveling in the feel of them against her damp and cold skin.

"Yeah think that great lug we call a chief is alright on his own?" the orc woman asked squeezing the water out of her black hair seemingly unbothered by her state of undress before her religious and societal superior. Of all of the orcs Karguk had seemed the most bothered by it actually Missasri had noticed, but all orcs seemed to uncultured savages and they'd slowly chipped away at her own embarrassment at their lack of shame. Karguk with his back to Ghorza and Miss sighed glancing over his shoulder while hanging up his leggings.

"Zah will be fine Ghorza, I'd very much doubt those bugbears will come back now they know we're here, and they lost so many of them considering the usual size of their bands. More than likely they thought this was just the humans, so they'd sneak in, grab a few and have a meal as they moved south away from us. And in this storm..." Karguk shook his head as he spoke before striding over to the bed and pulling up the furs to get under "...they'd be mad to even try. And Ghorza...you need to stop riling up Zah. I've got him to stop his act toward you. I know you're angry, and you've a right to be after what happened. But clashing with him is undermining you with the warriors; you have to see that right? Even I'm getting tired of it, and I need you to keep this place in order when I'm gone"

Missasri shivered and edged closer to her owner's body as he pulled the covers back over him. He was warm and maintaining the appearance of being his slave like Sylfine was to the Chieftain was important, though thankfully he hadn't used her as such. And in her mind he technically counted as her bed-warmer, after all she was cold and now the bed would be warmer. Still she kept her eyes focused in the gloom as the wind howled outside as the female shaman shift uncomfortably, looking...embarrassed? guilty? ashamed?...Missasri wasn't sure off. On the bright side she wasn't angry, though the human girl noted master Karguk's arm reaching over her shoulder was resting under the covers just a distance away from a weapon as he said it, then pulling back as Ghorza bowed to him. Orc's Missasri found were prone to working out their difference with a fight, and then suddenly were all friends again.

"I'm sorry Boss Karguk I won't keep it up. Your right, you defeated my clan in battle and I have no right to weaken the clan after you took me in and let me continue to serve the Horde Leader. I have let my rage at his...humbling...of me to cloud my duty to the Gods"

If anything Missasri thought Karguk was unhappy with that response, sad even as he just looked up the orc woman "Ghorza thats...what happened to you isn't fair. And me asking you this isn't fair. Unfortunately this life isn't fair I find. I've got faith in you though, remember that, and I respect your strength to do all you've done. Also could you please go to bed or cover up. Please?"

"Why? Like what you see?" the orc woman grinned puffing herself out as she came out of the bow, hands on hips "Ogrash said it's fine to share you know, if the humie wasn't enough, you were there remember?"

"Ghorza go to fucking bed"

"Hehehe yes Boss, just scoot over and make room!" she guffawed, the humbleness seemingly forgotten and the more casual interplay Missasri was familiar with from the two back. In a strange way the two or shamans were becoming friends even when her own owner had just warned the female just a moment ago about her actions in the clan. Orc's were strange Missasri found with a tired yawn, but also a concern that Ghorza might just get into the bed and eject her into the cold room as the storm raged outside.

"Piss off Ghorza, I'll take you when I want not on your say so. And right now I'm really fucking tired. So go to your fucking bed"

"Hehehehe, Yes Sir! Yer Holiness Sir! Hehehehe" Missasri saw the female respond with an amused 'warriors salute' as Missasri picked up the faint unease off Karguk from experience despite his voice seeming confident and in charge. It was one of those odd things she'd noticed about her orcish owner, as if he was trying to act the part of savage orcs shaman rather being the Chosen of a God that she so obviously knew him to be.

'Orcs are weird' she mused as the darkness and warmth enveloped her and she enjoyed another brief respite from the misery of the world she'd been forced into. At least right here and now she could pretend she wasn't a slave for a little while as the storm outside roared its wrath upon Faerun...

--

When: Autumn 1352DR

Where: Our new village south of Sparta

Bad storm hit last night, along with some very stupid bugbears trying to make a raid in the run up too it. Though I can grasp their reasoning for it, in so much that this was a likely considered an easy food source before moving south or east. That and the fact the bad visibility owing to the storm rolling in, and lesser human vision in the darkness, meant they stood a reasonable chance of getting inside the defences before being noticed.

Sad for them we were here and they were vastly outnumbered. So their raiders ran right into our pickets, brief fight broke out amidst a fricken lightning storm with howling winds and rain where they realised their fuck up and ran. Ghorza's took out four squads today after we got some rest to make sure they didn't fall back into the valley itself rather than continuing on out as we've...encouraged...them to do.

Storm itself caused a bit of damage to the village itself, nothing too serious but alot of minor things such as undoing several days' worth of our works. Especially on the outer fields where our fences gotten blown away along with the two watchtowers Zah had got them constructing. Shoddy orcish engineering there I'm afraid, though the ones the villagers had built up on the heights are basically in ruins as well beyond the block stone one.

So most of today has been about clearing out the debris of the storm while having the villagers either helping, or tending to their crops. There was damage but not too much their cleric Wifne has told me so that's some good news. I kinda need to leave here with some sort of tithe for Sparta to justify the stay and work, but I don't want these people to strive over the winter due to it.

Anyway need to get back to it; I want to get the watchtowers on the heights rebuild as quickly as possible. They give a great overview of the southern route into the valley and is probably visible from Sparta if worked right. Well I assume it is since the stronghold his visible from there. I'm thinking maybe fire signals of some sort maybe.

--

When: Autumn 1352DR, nearing Harvest Time

Where: Zybelin's Drift village

Why is this place called Zybelin's Drift anyway?

Did someone named Zybelin drift in here and nobody had a better one?

Note to self; ask Wifne and villagers why it's called that name and what the history of this place was.

Anyway Ghorza came back today, no signs of bugbear activity back towards Sparta thankfully and she brought back some logs after clearing a bit of a path from the village to where she was camped the last few days. Good solid wood actually, she said wants to shore up the cave entrances as a shelter and store area in the winter considering the storm. I'm fine with both the clearance idea and the cave one; the first might be a start to clearing a 'road' of sorts between our vassals and Sparta, while the second would be a preference if I want to move females here.

Which brings me to thought for the day; who gets to stay here and what's the plan once the winter ends?

Midwinter is basically a big deal after all for choosing mates, and even without just for general feasting and such so being left out is not a preferred option for most warriors. Especially with Sparta only a week away, well if we clear out the treeline in a few spots; there's a bit of an old road network (shitty, shitty one) here that seemed to connect all the abandoned settlements. Sadly it's either covered in dirt, or lightly forested over in a few parts. It'll take time to clear unfortunately.

So I've been talking with Zah and Ghorza about who we leave here on garrison duty; we're leaning towards a mix of the veteran warriors and the youngest warriors who wouldn't be up for getting any females this year anyway. It's also to make sure that their clan-orcs were can trust to stay in line, or be threatened in-line by Ghorza with me and Zah gone. Choices, choices but who to pick?

Though there is one positive, they make some moonshine here which tastes...fine...and should keep the lot staying here happy enough on their stay. At least till the spring when we can rotate our a few squads and some of the younger females and have a small community just behind the village. They can keep the garrison's hands off human women, and help herd cattle or something. I think.

What is an issue is our original agreement for 'hostages' from the village over the winter. Not exactly pleasant, but at least 'guesting' such people is quite common between stronger and weaker orc clans so they will be safe I'm pretty sure. And I don't think it's needed but we its one of the terms and so I'd seem weak if I don't carry it through; its less a matter of if than of who. Still the villagers and their cleric is aware of it and it's up to them to offer up names for the moment. Sending them back safe in the spring, and Ghorza keeping the garrison in line, might convince them to being 'loyal' vassals is in their interests. Long term benefit even if I can manage it.

--

When: Greengrass

Where: Zybelin's Drift village

Yep Greengrass, Chauntea's Harvest Festival celebration, is very, very, like Midwinter even if very obviously toned down due to orc's ruling the town. Of course our boys took this as an excuse to booze up themselves, but thank Ilneval I kept the two grounds separate and let the villagers have some measure of freedom for one day. They deserve it after all as the harvest was good considering an orc attack, conquest and then a battering storm afterwards.

Also - no wonder Wifne found my suggestion of 'four crop rotation' agriculture primitive when you can wave at stick at the ground while you dance around and the soil just gets rejuvenated. Like holy crap this piss ant little village with struggling terrace gardens can out produce small farmers from my past life. No wonder agricultural deities are so popular amongst the farming groups. And why Druids have been moved up my list of potential threats. Because out here I'm sure it'll be asshole 'love the trees, kill the townsfolk' ones. Because that's my luck.

So as I said dear future historian peace was kept in our first conquest in the name of glorious Sparta (dang I forgot to ask about the village history) for this drunken revelry. Also these people have a harvest brawl instead of harvest ball, which is amusing as an orc, and also seems vaguely familiar for some reason I can't place. At least Zah was impressed, though I'm not overly sure his idea to have one (a non-religious one) back in Sparta every year is the best idea ever. After all orcs don't need much of a reason to fight and an organizedMASS BRAWL is not exactly going to help. We've plenty of unorganizedones during train after all!

--

When: Autumn 1352DR

Where: Zybelin's Drift village

Getting close to time to leave here I think; next week, or maybe three at most. Mainly because I'd like to get more done but I don't want to run the risk to waiting too long either and getting caught in a snow drift with the wagons and such. I'd much rather returning as successful hero raiders than desperately slogging through the slow to do so. That and I miss Oggy, and I might have a child waiting for me upon my return. So I'm caught between the urge to rush back right now and the opposite desire to go very far away on some excuse. Because also when we get back I've to get around to clearing out that dungeon while also making the villagers by taking away six of them for a season, or possibly more.

At least they've selected six of themselves, four teenagers, the mother of one of them and the granddaughter of the Wifne the cleric. I was a little surprised at that actually, well the general numbers because that's what we indicated as 'suitable guests' but her grandchild and only apprentice. She also doesn't have the ideal personality to be plonked in an orc camp through the winter in my opinion. But the more I thought about, and talking to Missy about it, the more sense it makes. Village leader kinda has to offer up to protect her people and share in their suffering; the children of others being offered up and hers sitting safely at home?

Yeah even with orcs that'd be the end of you as spiritual leader before the season's end. Assuming you didn't get a sudden case of 'stabbityitis' before that point anyway. So that's another headache to worry about, and we're only just about through selecting our own garrison for Ghorza to command. I want to be focusing on getting those fields below the village cleared (and a 'road' cut) for the spring planting at least somewhat, that and finishing up rebuilding the houses within the perimeters. And they are not walls to cower behind by the way – they are merely quasi-static field fortifications combined with walled semi-permanent living enclosures that allow swift counterattacks. Ah Ghorza, my new favourite rules-lawyer after myself. I sometimes think that might actually be a job qualification or requirement to become a cleric of Ilneval.

About the only other piece of news is that our little recruiting effort of stay here has actually worked to some degree; picked about forty-six orc (young and poor) warriors between the start of the campaign and settling in here. More than makes for our losses in technical terms, but it'll take time to mould them to our fighting style; ie. break them down and rebuild them in truth. As our training gets more organizedthe more I understand why the ancient 'professional' armies of Earth had such brutally harsh discipline; though tried to tone it down after that goblin got killed in a 'mock' battle. Though he was a fucking dumbass from what I understand of the event; picking a fight with Kercrush the Orog? Dude you're a goblin not a fucking troll and he has CRUSH in his name. Darwin Award for you in my opinion.

Anyway back to try and get a little training time in with Missy, she has all the books out and is looking at me expectantly. A little bit more and I'll have two spells (well arcane spells) under my belt by year's end!

--

[Zahgorim 07]

Sparta Stronghold

Zahgorim was glad to make out the walls of their stronghold on the slope above them, the misty fog that clung to the air all around them having concealed them till they had come to bottom of the hill it sat atop. It had seemed like forever that they'd been away, even if it had been only two seasons in reality, and he watched as the kobold axillaries who'd been with them drift over to their own kind. Useless creatures in a brawl, just like the handful of goblins they'd beaten into something like a formation, but they were decent archers and ambushers to have around. Several dead bugbears had proven them somewhat in his eyes. Glancing to his side he noted with amusement his tired little pet half-elf give a relieved sigh at the sight in the fog, weak shoulders hunched from the weight of carrying his bedroll and other items on the march home.

Sylfine was reasonably well trained now he figured and was glad he'd taken his mate's advice to take the skinny, boney, ugly, half-elf over his other, preferred, human, almost orcish in attractiveness, slave Marya. Yes she had all those flaws but had proven herself for easing his boredom while maintaining his travelling gear when they camped. He'd even followed Karg's advice by rewarding her for her obedience such as the cloth and leather hunter's garb she now wore, that he'd taken from his new human village, and decent feedings had kept her very attentive to her duties. A choice he'd made as evidently she had been one of these 'adventurers' in the past, or murder-hobos as Karg called them, before Breyza and the Thunderblades had broken her and she had been a 'rogue' as she told him one night when he'd ordered her to tell him of her previous life.

"Good to be home. About bloody time I'll say, my legs are fucking killin' me you know Zah" Karg muttered coming up to his side with a faint clinking of chainmail as he moved. Around them the rest of the warriors kept walking up the hill in the loose column with the familiar noise of warriors in motion, though now joined by cheerful grunts and words about a successful raid and finally being home. Zahgorim grinned at his friend as he undid the straps on his helmet.

"You're always bitchin' Karg, like my runty slave Syl here" he replied thumbing a motion at his tired "your just nervous bouts seeing Oggy and yer new whelp! Be a brave Orc! Like ME!"

In truth he himself was a little nervous of course about his mate and whelps being okay, but admitting that would sorta undermine his orky awesomeness in the eyes of everyone. And that would not do for a future terrifying warlord such as himself he figured. Well that and he didn't have Oggy as mate he supposed; Breyza was awesome and all that, without the murderous threats of cutting of his orchood that Oggy had been doing for years. Karg had been a true friend in taking the arrow that was Oggy for his chief and childhood friend.

"Phhhhptt,...sure of course, oh glorious Chief Zahgorim. Your too much of an orc to ever have asked your shaman to lend you his magic for just that problem. No never." Karg told him rolling his eyes then sighing "Though yeah, of course I'm worried about Oggy a little. This is a fucked up world after all and everything is out to get us"

"You are so fuckin' negative you know that?" Zahgorim laughed back at the usual from his friend, all these years and Karg was still this weird mixture of cunning like a fox and utterly convinced that some new monster lurked around the next tree out to get him "What more do you want? We crushed those Buggy fucks, and conquered this valley as well...oh and have a shiny new humie village to rule! This would count as a good year I think. 'specially considerin' how bad it all started"

And that was true; they'd faced down the Fingercutters and destroyed them utterly. The Stormfang and Thunderblades had become a powerful new united clan. Then crushed the Luskan human demon worshippers and took tons of valuable loot from them. For which the Gods themselves had blessed them and told them to make this valley their own. Which they'd done through fire and sword, and even Karg's favourite option of talking the enemy into giving up; mostly by showing them how powerful and awesome Sparta was, and how weak and not-awesome they themselves were. Soon this valley and clan would grow strong with the stronghold at its heart as words of their power spread.

"Well...yeah I know, but have to clear out the basement still, and see me wee babbie and Oggy, and keep our hostages safe, study my magecraft, and make sure the Boss is happy and..." Karg began as they walked up the slope and Zahgorim took in the usual long list of 'things Karguk must do' that popped up all too regularly. In the end that was why Zahgorim liked being Chief and not Clan Shaman; really it seemed to much work in his mind for any sane orc to want. Thankfully neither Karg, Oggy nor Ghorza, like all great shamans, were entirely sane anyway in his view. After all what sort of sane orc was attracted to females and slaves that could set you on fire with magic? That seemed distinctly unhealthy really in his view.

Though of course that happy smile had come unto his friends face as the familiar figure of Ogrash and a dozen guards came into view as their returning warriors approached the main gate to the stronghold after struggling up the slope. Oggy was in bulky furs and leaning on a staff, even from here Zahgorim could tell she had recently whelped and had that tired look on her face he'd seen on the females over the years. Still she grinned broadly as he and Karg strode forward towards.

"About fuckin' time you two fuckers came back. Left me here doin' all the work so I hope ya'll have something to show for yerselves..." she half-shouted at them, but her voice was filled with good cheer and not genuine annoyance"...so just be bloody glad I've got the cookpots roaring and food cookin getting a feast ready for yer tardy orc hides"

A faint roar went up from his warriors at the prospect of food, one that seemed to flow like a wave though the foggy air down the slope as word spread at the news. Zahgorim snorted in amusement as Karguk strode forward and gave his mate a hug, lifting her annoyed form off the ground for a moment; trust Oggy to upstage her own chief with the warriors and then trust Karg to know just how to shut her up. Still he glanced around as beside him his half-elf laid their gear on the ground and sat on it as he looked to Oggy.

"Ah me own mate mad at me or sumthin?"

"Yeah, same way I'm mad at this fucker..." Oggy answered punching Karg playful in the shoulder "...having a whelp hurts like a fuckin sword to the gut ye fuckers. Just thank the Gods they gave ye cocks and therefore could be a bunch of whiny bitches while us females handle the real pain. Breyza only whelped yesterday so she's a bit tired, and yer slave be due soon too. So leave'em in some bloody peace for a bit Zah. Oh yeah, its a male! Congradulations! Now piss off a bit, while I have some time with Karg and show him the little fucker who caused me a ton a pain before she plopped out"

"Hey I'm the glorious Chief returning home with plunder! No respect! No respect I say!" he retorted with mock indignation hands to chest, laughing as she waved him off and hugged her mate back. It was good to have those you could trust in the clan, and relief and joy filled him as he walked over to Sylfine now that he had an heir. Around them the returning warriors who'd fought and bled with him were coming through the gates and getting similar greetings from the warriors who'd stayed here, and the females of the clan who were coming out of the Keep.

"Hail brother-chief, I trust your raid was successful from the wagons I see and so many warriors returned with spoils" greeted him a moment later as the old Breyjuk strode towards him and a moment later the two clasped hands on wrist in welcome. If there'd been any problems then Oggy would have let them know at the gate immediately so evidently their recently united clan was working as planned.

"Hail there Breyjuk, went bloody good. Crushed those bugbear bastards to the south and Karg there..." Zahgorim answered cheerfully and nodding at Karguk, then at the six scared looking humans near to his friend and his wizard pet "...got these humies off to the south we didn't know about to give up and serve us. That lot are hostages, one of'ems even a trainee shaman. There here for the winter while Ghorza runs their village with three dozen or more of our warriors. Bit weird I know but he says we're treat them like with a weak clan we got to follow us as their overlords. Seems ta work and they work and we get food. All good as long we keep'em safe while they workin"

"Ah, I was wondering at the other shaman's absence..." Breyjuk began looking over the orcs coming though the gateway "...and some warriors I know. But I see faces I don't remember there as well"

"Yep, many poorer orcs joined us as they saw the power of our clan, we'll train'em and see are they worth to serve"

"Good. Good! We Grow Strong as the Gods demand!" was the very happy answer from his older fellow chief who was nodding as he surveyed first the hostages and then the welcome given to returning warriors. Probably looking at the human with the fire red hair like Zahgorim had, but Karg had put her completely off limits as with hostages from another orc clan. Reducing the value of a hostage was always a bad idea after all. Anyway fire-touched often mean god-touched and she was a cleric. Breyjuk nodded at the warriors dropping gear and looked back to Zahgorim "And I have news too, envoys from..."

--

[Missasri 09]

Shaman's Tower, Sparta

It was good to be back in the tower again Missasri found enjoying the warmth of the room rather than the cold and wet of the past few months camping. Well other than their little house in the village of Zybelin's Drift, she'd liked that place and enjoyed their peaceful few weeks living there. But still the tower held tomes to study, a place to practice her arcane craft and the all the items captured from the Luskan's that were still be studied and catalogued. Sadly the only negatives in her mind was that she was seemingly back in competition with the sisters again, and would shortly have to descend down in the castle's dungeon again.

'And of course that' she mused with a mixture of faint annoyance and amusement as her master Karguk held his little daughter in hand while cooing at it. Funny in its own way true but Orcs weren't supposed to be parents and care for their spawn, or at least that's what she believed when she'd been a naive idiot who knew nothing of what a grand 'adventure' actually meant. In hindsight it should be obvious, even evil savages would care for their young in some way.

Still it was bloody inconvenient as Karguk was distracted, as was the orc Chief, with their offspring and not entirely focused on the coming dungeoneering. That and they were going to be down two senior clerics when they were likely facing some undead, or unholy demons where their powers might be of use with the small horde of just-about trained acolytes that Sparta used with its squads.

Still his preparations for this had been in motion since that terrifying ceremony before they'd left the stronghold to fight the bugbears. Mistress Ogrash and her own bevy of acolytes, and clan's...blacksmiths...or at least the orcish equivalent had been busy preparing things such as the items she was inspecting at the moment. Resting against the wall were large tower shields taken from the Luskan caravan and had been blessed by the orcs Gods; then reworked for extra protection and easier holding by orcs. Then secondary layer of temporary protections having been added along with reinforcements of some sort to the underlying spell-work rendering spells like fireball and other area of effect ones weak at best on the defender. Still it was quite fascinating she found, and at this rate she'd become a foremost expert in orcish spell-working in no time at all!

"Ummm...Mis...sss...um...Miss Wizard Missasri Ma'am...umm..." a nervous voice just behind her caused her to turn her head the other direction and give a small smile. Standing there hands fidgeting was the young red haired girl from the conquered village, now dressed in orcish cleric clothing a size too big for her skinny frame.

"Hello Rose, it's just Missy remember, no need for fancy names here ..." she greeted back in a warm and friendly tone. Since leaving the Zybelin's Drift the poor thing had been utterly terrified but had kept up an incredibly brave face in front of her fellow captives, always smiling and giving encouragement. It was only last night when they'd separated and she'd taken to bed here in the tower that Missasri had seen the girl break down into great racking sobs, then fearful embarrassment upon realizing she'd been discovered "...and do you need my help with anything?"

"Um...um...Mistress Ogrash told me...to...um...help you in whatever way I can or to study a while..." came the reply as the girl stared down at her crude leather boots continuing to fidget. Missasri held back on snorting in amusement, Mistress Ogrash likely phrased that in a much cruder manner from her own experience. Rose might get privileged treatment relative to herself and the two sisters as slaves, but Ogrash had evidently taken one look at the trainee cleric and went; 'weakling who can be bossed around' with a little 'needs to be made a proper clan shaman' thrown in with it.

"Okay then, I'm just finished with these anyway Rose, so you can help me prepare for going into the dungeon in a day or two by studying warding glyphs and runes. We can get the...Gods-slaves...as well and study with them" Missasri answered standing up and stretching her legs after sitting cross-legged for so long. In truth it would be more a brief chance to rest after hours of either tedious checking spell-work or incanting her own basic protections unto shields and weapons. They wouldn't last long but as her master said they only had to last for a few days. After a moment she walked over to her owner and gave a bow, which idly she noted Rose mirrored awkwardly a moment later.

"Master I've finished inspecting the shields, and Mistress ordered young Rose to come up to me. I plan on studying with her and the Gods-slaves if that is permissible" she asked as master Karguk looked up at her from playing with his child with a weirdly goofy look on his face for a savage orc. She stuck to the Common Tongue so her red-haired companion could understand and he nodded at her seemingly in thought for a moment.

"Oh that's a good idea Missy...hmmm...I'll join you actually..." he replied turning his head to the younger of the slave sisters who was hovering nearby cleaning "...Mara, I need you to hold Kargash while I'm doing some things so can you do that for me?"

"Of course Master" the girl answered in a cheerful tone trotting forward obediently and taking the little baby orc into her hands. It strange seeing them again after so many months away, especially the skinny beaten down Mara; who'd certainly matured with a proper diet and regular exercise and now made Missasri a little...uneasy...in her position. Especially since Mistress Ogrash seemed to favour her the girl turned woman so much.

Collecting the six other slaves was not a problem; they were sitting quietly after having finished eating a meal under the watchful of eyes of two orc females on the floor below. Master Karguk simply waved them off and then had the six slaves follow them back to the 'study' he setup. At least they had clothes on this time other than just the magic collars, simple cloth dresses with symbols of the Orc Gods Ilneval and Luthic stitched on, and fur lined boots though the runes and symbols tattooed on their exposed arms, legs and faces still drew her attention for a moment.

That and the six were no longer the completely dead eyed golems pulled out of the wagons; while they rarely spoke or smiled they had, in the months that she'd been gone, they were more 'normal' at least. Mara, who was currently cooing at the little child her arms, had been very similar when Missasri had met her and her sister so she had hope they might recover from whatever horrors they had witnessed. Still for the moment all six followed behind them almost in a formation of three pairs, heads bowed and hands clasped together identically.

"Um...um...Mast...Mister Karguk Sir...um...can...can I ask...Sir...this...um...um...sorrryyysorryyyy.." Rose suddenly said a few moments after they entered the room and Missasri began to ready the various tomes to go through, and of course whatever information that had been collected from the other two sub-levels. Glancing to her side she saw the girl was looking nervously from a few of the sketches to another while playing with her hands in that nervous fidgeting she had since leaving her little home.

"S'Okay Rose, relax, s'okay .Take a breath if you have to. Now what do you want to ask?" Master Karguk asked coming up behind the trainee cleric and placing hands on her shoulders in a calming gesture. To Missasri's surprise the girl did just that, nodding slowly and taking a breath before speaking a little more clearly.

"Um...sorry Mister Karguk Sir, but these sketches Miss Missasri said are unknown?"

"Yes indeed. I don't know them, and neither does Oggy, Ghorza or Missy here. Why? Do you recognise them?"

"Eh...maybe?" the girl asked in a quiet squeak while her face flushed at the sudden attention being directed her way. Missasri herself wandered over as master Karguk encouraged the girl to continue and looked at the various sketches, some crude orcish ones and a few neat and tidy thanks to the half-elf Sylfine. The girl was quite the artist Missasri had found on their travels, even if she was used almost exclusively for making maps by the orcs.

"Um...it's a warding seal...I think?...um...Grandma showed me...um...things like this before...but I don't...um..." the girl began and trailed off looking up at the orc expectantly. Karguk patted her shoulders looking thoughtful.

"That's s'okay. Just tell us what you do know, even what you think. We can show you the symbols on the doors later if you want. Every little helps"

"Umm...okay...I...I...think it's a ward against evil things...no...um...it's...um..."

"Maybe something evil but not evil in particular?" Karguk asked gently as the girl faltered and Missasri tended to agree even if she stayed quiet. She knew several variations of Protection against Evil, including the orc ones now, and this didn't have the same arcane or clerical markings. That and the orcs had been completely unaffected by the wards, while several were by the glyphs on the shields. Though now the girl had mentioned it the Chauntean underpinnings were quite obvious to her eyes, along with the ones she suspected were Lathanderian in origin.

'Which would make sense considering if the first were Chauntean' she mused as her mind began to analyse the possibilities. Meanwhile the trainee cleric was biting her lip and thought as master Karguk asked a few questions that might narrow down what they might face down below; till now he'd focused on the possibility of a demon, powerful undead or something he called 'mini-eldritch horrors'.

"Its...eh...something, something,...prison...evil...um...um dead thing?...oh I know this is the symbol Grandma says was for the old lords of the valley!"

"Ughhh great, just great, undead then...sigh...and is there any legends in the valley Rose about evil dead things and the lords of the valley"

"Um...um...well...um...the elders told us stories when we were younger...um..." she Missasri saw seemingly embarrassed she was talking about childrens stories now in front of the big scary orc shaman. But if anything Karguk looked annoyed, but not at Rose it seemed as he muttered quietly under his breath something about not asking in the village before gently urging the girl to continue in a summary "...ehm...um...they said the Unholy Baron fell in love with this girl, and she died and he went mad with grief till one night...um...strange noises were heard from the castle and then evil things came on black horses with the Baron in his new night black armorand carried away villagers each night. And everyone was scared till some brave heroes came an rallied them into a great army and stormed the castle so the evil things never came again...ummm...does that help Mister Karguk Sir?"

"Yes, yes it does little Rose, yes it does" Master Karguk replied cheerfully patting the girls shoulders before glancing at Missasri "Missy, can you get Oggy and ask her to bring up the acolytes who drew the pictures and Sylfine as well. Then..."

--

[Karguk 09]

Lower Levels, Keep of Sparta

'Okay try not freak out when you see the unspeakable horror, which would be bad. No freaking out allowed remember!' I told myself for the hundredth time as the last of preparations for descending into the basement. Freaking out would be bad for troop morale and more importantly my survival prospects in both the short and long term. At least we'd narrowed it down to a powerful undead, most likely a Death Knight or a Lich, which while utterly fucking terrifying was much more within our fighting range (assuming it wasn't Lord Soth cuz then we waz fuccccked) than several other cosmic horrors I could think off in this dreadful world.

Combating whatever was down there, if there was anything down there in fact, was something I'd try to put some thought into. Even if I'd...um...been distracted since returning to Oggy and a little bundle of green joy she'd named Kargash. Evidently I'm not getting that right for some reason owing to my 'oddness' as she phrased it. But not dying was quite important right now for than just myself so this wouldn't be some grand adventure with brave orc heroes fighting alone against fiendish undead; no this would be a military operation using every resource the clan had available to it.

The main example of which was the wall of ward marked shields resting on the open expanse of the second sub-level behind me held by over a hundred of the clans warriors with the best trained archers and acolytes behind them. I'd them form a solid line between the stone pillars at the entrance to the large stairways from the lower level; then warded every inch of the floors and walls in front them against the undead and demonic presence using all the clan's acolytes. Much like with us going down the stone stairways and halls served as an effective chokepoint; if whatever down there was too strong we could retreat back here and bring every resource to bear on it. Bringing down the warriors and setting up below was considered, but the danger of undead being at the warded door (or traps) had been my argument against it; if it became a choke-point and we got disorganizedthen the stairways could become a deathtrap. Which was a strange design feature of this place I'll admit – it seemed better suited to fighting an enemy coming up than going down for some reason, and the architecture was seemingly much older than the castle above. A worry of course, but I'm not sure how so can't really plan around it.

"Are you ready my Chiefs?" I asked formally coming up the half-plate armor forms of Zahgorim and Old Breyjuk. Unusually the large force of warriors standing ready was quiet before the battle, probably a mixture of hatred and unease towards the undead. A feeling I could agree with fully; undead were an unnatural abominations that needed to be purged either to free their tortured souls or put down the truly evil willing undead like Liches.

"Aye Shaman, we've got everyone ready and you've made all your preparations?" the older Breyjuk nodded his helmeted head, hefting his large iron tower shield up to rest against his side. Zah beside him just nodded, still somewhat annoyed he would be staying up here with the main force rather than 'exploring' below with me and the scout force. Zah could be an idiot I found sometimes, we couldn't afford to lose both Chiefs like that. Nor could I afford both of us to die, he'd be crueller than I ever could to my slaves but at least they'd have a modicum of protection from him after growing up together.

I nodded "Yes Chief Breyjuk, all wards are prepared, as have several vials of holy water and blessed fire oil by the Acolytes of Luthic. The two squads are ready below to breach the door wards and enter on our word. I've also got the supplies ready on the stairway"

"Good, good. Then let's begin I think don't you agree Chief Zahgorim?"

Zah shrugged "Yeah sounds good to me; we've been standing around a while now so let's kick some zombie butt I say"

"Grand, then you stand with Oggy and keep this lot ready. Unless myself or Chief Breyjuk calls for support stay behind the ward lines; they're there for a reason. We're gonna scout and sweep, and it's too big a fight for just us we'll rally here" And if it was too big a threat then the doors were getting sealed up again rather than running the risk. That'd be the hard part –making the judgement called on the threat level and risking the wrath of the Boss if I fucked it up. Assuming I lived long enough to face that wrath.

"Good let's get this over with" Breyjuk answered striding towards the entrance of the staircase in the flickering darkness of the sub-level illuminated by torches on the walls. I took one last glance to where Oggy was behind the wall of spears and then followed down into the gloomy staircase and past the faint and bitter aroma from several jars we walked. I'd also placed a few wards on the walls here, though these were ones by the young village girl Rose and only of limited utility. Still it was better than nothing I figured.

Descending the wide spiral staircase in the darkness we eventually came to the bottom where waiting before the, now rubble free, warded stone door was the two best squads the clan had and a nervous looking Missy with staff in hand. The only illumination coming from the lantern held on the end of a pole by one of the warriors; one kept away by orders from the small barrels just behind them at the bottom of the stairs. As they bloody well should after all my ranting instructions on the dangers of the stuff; I was not getting killed because some stupid orc decided to set us all on fire through clumsy orc stupidity.

"Missy get ready behind me, Gharm, Urgoj open the door" I said after getting to the front of the line and readying my shield along with Breyjuk beside me. Taking the lead would not be my ideal situation, but shamans and chiefs needed to set an example as the Orog and beefy full orc began to work at the repaired door mechanism and stone door began to rise up slowly in front of our little column. It only got about two-thirds of the way up before...

Clang!

I took a shocked breath as a broken and rusted sword point banged off my braced shield and the skinless visage of a skeleton in equally rotted armorand helmet came into view in the gloom. A breath that nearly caused me to cough from the dust that now filled the air as the door continued to move towards being locked in place. Thankfully Breyjuk and the orcs behind me didn't freeze momentarily as I had, and from my shield brother a steel warhammer lashed out as above me shoulder a halberd flash forward as well along with the sudden orcish roars. By the time my own blade was moving the skeleton's head had been smashed into fragments and I found myself shield bashing it out of the way as our armor scrum moved forward.

'Stupid, should have expected that, stupid. Now get your head in gear' I mentally reprimanded myself as came into the actuality and of the third sub-level and face to face with a few more similarly clad undead. When we'd come down the first time there'd been none this close to the door itself and we'd had no issue looting the bodies just inside the door. Obviously something, either our door opening, or our rituals had woken Team Skeletor in some manner and I should have bloody well expected that.

Thankfully these undead guards were as weak as the ones on the floors above. I actually had the suspicion as we fought them that these were the bodies that we had found at the doorway itself the last time as those few skeletons were gone from entranceway. What was more worrying though as we smashed the last of the creatures under our blows was that other noises were starting to drift to my ears; noises coming from below us it seemed as I glanced around the open space that we stood on just before door.

"Missy, activate those glow-stones" I instructed after a moment as now skrittsh, skrittssh, and faint cling of metal began to fill the air over our breaths. Chief Breyjuk looked at me, obviously just as concerned as myself by the noise and our inability to immediately identify the source. Not surprising really though; dark-vision was great and all but it wasn't enough to see vast distance and all I could see that seemed relevant was some sort of stone of railing before us. I'd expected something like a vault down here; this area was surprisingly open though beyond the thick support pillars. If anything it was much larger in dimension that the floors above, I couldn't tell the width but sealing was a bit higher up...

Missy had finished chanting softly over a prepared bag of stones and suddenly they began to glow brightly causing me to blink a few moments after mistakenly looking directly at them. A simple Light spell latched onto some rocks that would only last a few minutes, but they were one handy in my view for one thing in coming down here. They were as bright as torches but wouldn't set things on fire. Rubbing my eyes as they readjusted from the flash of light, I sheathed my sword, took the bag out of her hands and took one in hand before flinging one as far as I could to my left. After bouncing a few metres from where it landed the faint whitish-blue light and revealed a continuation of the open space and that stone railing. Repeating the effort to the right though revealed a slightly different ending.

"Is that a staircase?" I wondered aloud as a the light flicked in that distance and large hole in the floor was visible along with that bloody railing, and at least this time the wall was visible.

"Shaman, throw one forward, over that railing" Breyjuk stated matter of factly while our formation waited in place each clan-orc gazing around for enemies while those still at the doorway merely waited for orders. I didn't need much encouragement for that order, and even as the third stone took flight I had a suspicion as the skrittsh-skrittsh noise was increasing slowly but surely. A suspicion that promptly confirmed as the stone flew up and over the railing...and promptly keep going out sight as it dropped to the ground a floor below. Evidently we were on a balcony some sort...

"Squad with me" was out of my mouth even as I started to stride forward shield up. For some reason I didn't think I'd like what was on the other side of that railing but what was the use in cowering up here. Still even as we moved forward I flung the last two stones ahead of us, one to left and the other to the right, which earned a loud hissing sound that may or may not have been spoken words.

"Ahhhh...shit" was all I could say as we came to the railing and confirmed; yes we were on a balcony of some sort, and no I did not like what was down there. Because laid out illuminated was an wide open space before some seemingly locked rooms where a crude but large 'throne' of sorts had been assembled. Oh and did I mention the armor skeleton with a sickly greenish glow coming off his crowned head? And the other skeleton in a rotting dress on the throne beside it? Or the dozens of undead standing in fucking formation before the throne as if at a royal procession?

"GUARDS! GUARDS! WE HAVE GUESTS!! INVITE THEM TO MY PARTY! ISN'T THAT RIGHT DEAREST? YOU'VE BEEN EVER SO QUIET LOVE" came a sudden booming voice from the thing on the throne. Great a Death Knight as I'd feared, with his retinue of likely dangerous minions.

"Get the barrels, Missy I..." were out of my mouth to the orcs around me before being cut off by the thing on the throne as it began to stand up, picking up a eerily glowing sword from beside it.

"YOU REST FOR NOW LOVE AND LET ME GREET OUR GUESTS! THEN WE SHALL DANCE! FOR I AM LORD OF THE SPARKLES AND THE DANCING!" it announced dramatically as the other undead in their rotted surcoats snapped to attention as if still alive "BUT NOW LET US WELCOME MY NEW SUBJECTS! FOR I AM KING OF THE PURPLE UNICORNS, AND THE HAPPY VALLEY!"

'Oh fucking great, a bonkers fucking Death Knight' was competing with 'Get the Barrels, Get the Barrels, Get the Barrels and BURN THEM' in my mind. Though thankfully what came out was largely of the second variety as this could be a problem...

--

[Missasri 09]

Lower Levels, Keep of Sparta

The clash of blessed steel on rotted steel, and thump of armor boots on the cold stone floor filled her ears in the flicking shadows caused by the illumination of the Light 'glow-stones' she had cast. In front of her Karguk was lugging a wooden barrel forward, his shield slung over his shoulder as he strode forward, swearing and muttering it seemed to her, before lobbing the barrel over the railing to smash into the undead below them. Around him three other orcs were doing likewise, lugging forward the prepared wooden barrels and flinging them over the edge, or simply pouring the vile smelling liquid over the side like the one to her right was doing.

Meanwhile four of the orcs were shooting arrows at the vile undead below, the remaining armor ones were fighting a brutal melee over to her right, desperately trying to plug the large 'staircase' they'd discovered with some stonework and their shields. Meanwhile below, as she glanced from around the stone pillar she was using as cover the leader of the undead, a 'Death Knight' the more scholarly part of her mind informed her, was prancing about ranting while its minions marched relentless forward.

"WHAT? SOMEONE HAS SPLIT A DRINK ON MY CARPETS! ROBERTE! ROBERTE! I NEED IT CLEAN PROMPTLY! WE MUST NOT LET THIS MESS SPOIL THE FESTIVITIES! NOW LET US DANCE! HEY NONNY-NONNY HEY, NONNY-NONNY HEY,HEY, NONNY-NONNY HEYYYYY" the dead horrifying voice roared out in the Common Tongue as if from deep down a well. Arrows lashed out at as it cavorted, evil spectral energy swirling around it as it twirled that caused the blessed arrows her owners had put effort into making to bounced off harmlessly. Meanwhile behind it another skeleton emerged, hissing so loudly even that it drew her attention as shadowy darkness seemed to cloak it like a shroud as it came forward holding a...tray of some sort with broken jugs?

Suddenly though it hissed loudly again in an eerie shriek; and darkness lashed out that caused her to push herself back behind stone pillar moments before one of the orcish warriors farther away from her fell to ground with a momentary scream that cut off as soon as it began. Steeling herself against the fear that threaten to claw itself from up inside her she looked to direction from her orcish master, though he himself had brought his shield down protectively as the older orc chieftain emerged out of the shadowy dark roaring in his own tongue.

"Shaman we can't hold them much longer! Their touch alone is enough to kill and there too many and organizedto hold them any longer! I've already lost four warriors!"

"Fuck then we'll..." Master Karguk managed to grunt out before the archers on her left who'd started firing again despite one of their number being killed and now looking like an corpse that was emaciated after dying of weeks of hunger and dehydration.

"ON THE WALLS! THEY'RE CRAWLING ON THE WALLS! LOOK LEFT! LOOK LEFT!"

Her eyes followed towards that shout but the darkness hid whatever the orcs were warning off. Though they were already firing at an angle at something they themselves could see even if she could not. Evidently her owner and the Chief seemed to agree with them judging by their swearing as the sound of her thundering heart in her chest competed with all the other noises for her brain's attention. A moment later Master was beside her, his tusked face suddenly near her own as his voice filled her ears.

"Missy, Fireball the ranting loony down there. We're pulling back, Plan A has failed. I'll shield you as you cast...on three!" he ordered her pulling her out to stand behind him and the vista of the horror below again filled view. "1...2...3, start!"

To her right the old orc warchief was striding back over to the sounds of battle roaring something she couldn't follow, before the sound of metal and wood and stone banging off each other reached her ears along with the bellowing roars of orcs "MISSY START CASTING!"

"WHAT IS THAT RACKET? CAN YOU PEASANTS NOT LISTEN TO MY DIVINE POETRY WITHOUT WHISPERING IN THE STANDS! SHAME! SHAME ON YOU MY SUBJECTS! THE PURPLE UNICORNS DO NOT APPROVE OF..."

Further madness filled her ears from the thing below as she watched it gesticulate with its sword while standing amidst its undead minions. Still master Karguk's orders, which ensured both of their survival, dominated her thoughts and she was already pulling the components from her from her pouch and began into the intricate hand gestures the spell required. Kneeling on one leg before her, shield braced for an attack from below Karguk waited watching her for spell-casting, and glancing to either side to events she no longer worry during the casting.

"Fire burn, darkness flee, wrathful power grant unto me..." her voice chanted out sonorously the arcane words at the utter limit of her spell-casting abilities. Like standing near a cook-pot she could feel the heat around her grow, as power welled up in and around her as she drew from the Weave.

"...heed my call, unleash thy rage, make my enemies burn this day. Fireball; Distance - Four Hundred Metres! Elevation – Four Metres!"

For a brief moment brightness sang out around her as streams of white, yellow and orange light flowed around her into one into a ball at the tip of her now pointing finger. Growing from the size of a seed to that of sphere three times the size of her hand as a her body felt like a pitcher of water being filled. A pressure growing to a seeming torrent as she was going to burst from it...till like a dam breaking it surged out from her as the sphere of brightly burning flame flew from her outstretched hand. The whole world seemed to blur around Missasri in a dazzling flash of light and darkness as it suddenly felt as if she submerged in a dark ocean...

"Uuuuuhhhaaaa..." she gasped out a moment later, as a sudden jolt of power roared through her and suddenly she could smell something sulphurous burning, and the dark shadowy room was now seemingly brightly illuminated as flickering shadows danced on the floor she was looking at right now. Whatever it was she felt strong, refreshed, as if she could do anything asked...

"Missy we're falling, quickly back to the stairwell..." Master was saying to her weakly, evidently having used his power to grant her strength before shoving her forward toward the dark staircase to the floor above, and the waiting orcs there. Stumbling forward she glanced back and saw a roaring wall of flame was now illuminating the darkness of the cavern as her fireball had ignited the barrels of oil Master and his warriors had being throwing at the walking dead. Yet still that voice from deep in the pit called out above the crackling of the flames and the noise of the orcs armor feet around her.

"IS THAT MY ROASTING BOAR I SMELL BURNING! MARNIE! ELISABETH! I SHALL HAVE YOU WHIPPED IF MY FEAST IS RUINED BY YOUR CLUMSINESS! ROBERTE! ROBERTE! FIX THIS MESS!...NO MY LOVELY GUESTS COME BACK! DINNER SHALL SOON BE SERVED! LET ME REGAL YOU WITH SONGS OF LOVE FOR MY ETERNAL LADY LOVE!"

She tried to block out the voice as they fell back to the guards waiting at the stone doorway upward, Master beside her lashing out suddenly, along with the old chief, at something that evidently landed on the back of one of the orc warriors as they fell back. Thankfully though she couldn't see what it was as her owner was using one of blessed blades rather than his own fire sword for fear of setting off the next stage of the fall-back plan as they ascended the stairs. All she could hear as she was pushed roughly up the dark steps was the clash of steel, the shrieking of whatever it was mixed with orcish roars, followed by the sounds of breaking pottery with each step she took upwards.

Still despite the darkness around her, and the crushing weight as she was half shoved, half dragged upwards by the group, fear was held at bay; her 'scholars brain' telling her likely as the result of Karguk's clerical spell. And then seemingly as if by magic as well she was panting from the effort as they spilled out at the top of the staircase and were facing a wall of armor orcs as he eyes gazed at the torchlit field of wards on the ground before those warriors. To her relief Karguk was grabbing her arm a moment later and dragging her forward with him as she heard the sound of more pottery smashing. Itself followed by that of something that sounded perhaps like water gushing over rocks, and behind that; still came that echoing voice from a nightmare.

"MY LOVE I DO BELIEVE OUR GUESTS WISH TO PLAY CHARADES ON THE SECOND FLOOR! A MUST EXCELLENT IDEA I BELIEVE! COME MY LOVE! WE SHALL EAT APPETIZIERS AND DRIK FINE WINE WHILE WE PLAY! THERE SHALL BE MUCH REJOICING IN SUNSHINE CASTLE THIS DAY!"

"Holy fuck, will that undead bastard ever shut the fuck up..." Master was hissing, seemingly both angry and fearful, as they walked forward and a gap opened up in the wall of shields to let them past. The younger Chief Zahgorim was standing alongside Mistress Ogrash and glanced at master Karguk.

"I'm guessing from all that noise that we're fighting up then"

"Yes...uh-ha...uh-ha...yes afraid so...ahhhh.fuck..." her owner ground out resting a moment as he sat down a moment to relieve his tiredness like the other orcs who came back up with them "...four dead at least probably six or seven, didn't have time for a head count on the way up. Breyjuk?"

"Six I think Shaman, what are they? Those weren't they same as the ones we smashed at first, or the ones you said you fought here and above"

"It's a bloody Death Knight and Ghouls who were probably his personal guard. Fuck they took a Fireball to the face and are still walking and one seems to be some sort of spell-caster..." Karguk ground out gulping a potion handed to him by Mistress Ogrash "...but the rest seem just to be lower level but there's too many to fight down...

"COME OUT COME OUT WHERE EVER YOU ARE MY LOVELY GUESTS! ROBERTE HAS PREPARED SOME SCRUMPT-DIDDLY-UMPTOUS FISH CAKES FOR YOU TO TRY!"

Missasri watched as her orc shaman owner growled and thumbed in the direction of the large doorway where the voice echoed up to them "...and that fucker is a fight all his crazy self. We can take him up here, I think, by focusing everything on the stairway as they emerge. Light the oil the second one of the dead heads nears the top. We'll try catch as many as we can when they come up the..."

--

[Ogrash 05]

2nd Sub-level, Keep of Sparta

Her mate rested on his armor knee, shield in a ready position, breathing deeply after his earlier exertions below. Still beneath his helmet his eyes were focused on the wall of orcs before them, and the crackling flame and smoke beyond them. As she finished granting him strength by the blessing of the Goddess he nodded thankfully and pushed himself to stand beside her, moving his shoulders beneath his chainmail now the muscles no longer ached.

"So far so good, we must have got two dozen of the things in the initial ignition" she heard him mutter as another of the vile things collapsed to the ground after taking a few steps from the inferno that was the staircase and over the stone floor covered in wards. So far only a handful of the creatures had managed to even reach the wall of shields and halberds in front of her; and those had fallen swiftly under the barrage of arrows and melee blows that fell upon them. Still deep from below the voice of something that Karg was wary off was still spouting strange words that made her doubt she had understood the Common Tongue correctly.

"GEE GOLLY ISN'T IT AWFUL WARM IN HERE! SERVANTS! OPEN A WINDOW AFORE MY BEAUTIFUL LADY AND MY GUESTS GROW FAINT!"

"Gods-damned bloody undead fucker..." Karg was grumbling at the words that seemed to reverberate off the walls once again.

Still she shrugged as another of the dead things, this time one of fleshier ones that burned like a torch strode forward from the doorway uncaring as the others that it was wreathed in angry orange flames. And just as uncaringly as just with the previous ones, and the two that emerged in a similar manner in its wake broken blades held high, it was struck down by arrows and crossbow bolts as the wards beneath them tore at their very existence on this plane. The roar of the warriors and banging of weapons on shields at the front drowned out the sound of yet another pile of bones decorating the ground before them. She snorted, and then glanced at her mate.

"You always complaining Karg, we're winning even if more we lost a few warriors. We expected that anyway..."

"It's not over yet Oggy love, not till boss dead-head goes down for good..." he retorted then turned his head and shouted out to the two burly orog-orc warriors waiting at the pillar "...throw another barrel at that doorway"

Ogrash noted they didn't waste any time as the burly idiot Kikjersh picked up the small sealed barrelled, strode over to the rear of the shield wall before raising it over his head and flinging it forward at the doorway with a bellowing roar. The orc might be an idiot in her mind but he had the muscles to make up for it; the small barrel flew into the blaze, smashing open off the stonework and causing a burst of flame that caused many warriors to duck their heads in response even if it wasn't close to them. Once again the vile tasting smoke filled the air again in an angry hiss; mentally she figured they were all going to reek of horrid mixture in the coming days as she spit to get the resulting taste off her lips.

"WILL SOMEONE PLEASE OPEN A WINDOW? I AM YOUR LORD I COMMAND YOU TO DO AS I SAY!" once again came that deep rumbling voice from the deeps that sounded over roaring crackle of the flames before suddenly a shrieking, hissing, sound filled her ears, causing her and those around her to grimace or flinch at its sounding. Worse, as Karg started loudly swearing at its occurrence, this was followed by the sudden dying of the inferno in the doorway that rapidly began a death of the flames entirely as a winters gust of air rushed out from the doorway causing her to shiver at its touch.

"AH THAT'S BETTER! A NICE SUMMERS BREEZE COMING IN NOW FOR OUR GAME OF CHARADES! ROBERTE! ROBERTE! BRING UP THE APPETIZERS IMMEDIATELY!"

Zah's voice now rang out as the sudden drop in temperature caused the sudden heat to be replaced by a wintry chill and the black smoke of the fire became the white chilly mist of the grave "Archers and axe throwers at the ready!"

Karg was just as quick glancing at her to silently as if to say 'Ready your acolytes' before drawing his magic sword, which was starting to burn already like a bright torch in his hand as his own voice followed on their friend's "Battlestaves and Warswords prepare yourselves! Offensive spells fire immediately on your chief's order!"

Ogrash need no such encouragement, birthing had proven exhausting and painful and she was in no position for true melee combat right now. Raising up her staff of office and thumping it off the ground to draw the attention of her subordinates, she called them around her as watched the slave-mage Missy fall in beside Karg as the magic using clan-orcs ready themselves. Even as her acolytes formed up around her in readiness to counter whatever magics Karg was concerned about; though she was not yet concerned, they were a small army in these caverns and had dispatched this things with ease so far.

The twang of bowstrings been drawn and released filled her ears as she watched Zah and Old Breyjuk stride over to Karg and their pet human while shouting to fire arrows as the first of the undead reappeared in the now doorway as cold ice mist precluded their arrival. To her joy she watched as the first of these creatures were pin cushioned by the archer's efforts, falling destroyed to the ground to join their fellows. She nearly snorted in amusement as Karg's usual overthinking of things before the breath froze inside her as the next off the creatures emerged from the cloying and expanding whiteness in its dented and scorched...

"AH HELLO MY LOVELY GUESTS! MY APOLOGIES TO KEEP YOU WAITING! NOW WHERE WAS I? OH YES CHAR..." it announced waving its sword around like a toy as the archers arrows bounced harmlessly off it as the skinless skull 'spoke' within the sickly green fire that was its crowned head. Still while she froze Zah was not quite the idiot she always figured him as his voice roared out, followed by Kargs "Casters unleash your spells! Archers use your blessed arrows! Shield-wall at the ready!"

And then the cavern was illuminated as every orc spell-caster just behind the shield-wall, led by Karg and her slave-wizard Missy, unleashed the prepared spells of arcane fire. Ignoring the sudden dazzling lights of the power before she led her own subordinates in casting various blessings and strengths unto the warriors to resist whatever vile powers the undead creature would unleash. But even as she and the others finished their chants, the sudden light gave way to the gloomy darkness of the second sub-level. And she saw with shock that the creature had merely been pushed back by powers unleashed upon it, its black armordented and scorched seemingly but it was still standing...

"AH YOU'RE PRETENDING TO BE A...WIZARD! I'M RIGHT AREN'T I! YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS GAME! WHAT WONDERFUL GUESTS I HAVE TODAY! IT'S BEEN FAR TOO LONG SINCE WE HAD GUESTS!" it announced waving that eerie greenish sword around uncaringly in one hand, while clicking bony fingers in the other as it strode forward the wall of steel shields ignoring arrows that bouncing off its armor chest and skull head. Another spell lashed out from a tardy spell –caster in the line, but the creature seemed unfazed by the arcane bolt of energy to its head and was looking at the ground seemingly ignoring all else around them.

"OH IT SEEMS ONE OF THE CHILDREN HAS BEEN DRAWING ON THE FLOORS MY LOVE! OH THAT WON'T DO! NOT AT ALL! ROBER...AH THERE YOU ARE MY LOVELY MAIDS! PLEASE CLEAN..." it was announcing as more undead, three rotting corpses with cloying shadows on them that appeared to be tattered dresses as skeletal hands reached forward as if begging for mercy, while their horrid skulls seemed to be emitting silent screams. But as she readied another spell, and the sound of steel shrieking as it hit stone filled her ears, the thing was continuing its mad rant as it started to move forward again and she could feel their hard laid wards cracking as it did so...

...and then it was upon the shield-wall as the warriors before it roared defiance and lashed out with halberds and warhammers from behind the ward blessed shields. The other creatures emerging from the doorway were charging forward as well. But her eyes were only on the shield-wall as darkness seemed to swirl around the thing in the black armoras it effortlessly smashed back the centre of the line as a gust of chilly power caused her to stumble backwards momentarily...

...as suddenly one of the warriors flew through the air to her left and smashed into the stone pillar across from her...just before the thing's blows sundered the shield-wall in front of it as if the larger, bulkier, armor warriors were nothing more than ragdolls to it. And still it continued to rant its madness as warriors lashed out at it desperately, while behind them those few Battlestaves or Warswords amongst them flung whatever spells they had left at it. But all to no avail it seemed as the line crumbled, or more accurately perhaps was beaten like a disobedient whelp by an elder...

"Oggy..." Karg was shouting near to her as Zah and several of the veteran warriors formed up around them "...cast every blessing for strength and whatever your lot can muster on Zah, Breyjuk and the others. I'll do the same for myself..." he continued as he knelt on one knee, discarding his shield and resting his blade, now glowing a bright white rather than aflame, at the ready before turning to the human at his shoulder "...Missy throw whatever you've left at it NOW! We need a few moments"

This said he now shoved the shield fully away from him, and he pulled out a small piece of metal from his spell pouch and started chanting rapidly in the name of the Horde Leader, even as she herself began to chant out the prayers for the strength of the Bull upon Zah she saw a blood red mist begin to shift around her mate as if clinging to him and his chainmail and helmet. In front of them the centre of the shield wall was a confused mess she saw as warriors at the front pushed forward and smashed at the weaker creatures coming from the doorway, while those at the sides tried to smash at the...dancing...monster through sheer force of numbers. And failing at it, as suddenly three bright bolts of light lashed out from the lands of the human slave-wizards Missy and at least did some damage to that horrid black armour.

"Right and Left flanks advance and hold the staircase, Centre Line surround the enemy but don't let it touch your flesh!" Old Breyjuk let out a roar as the creature's hand suddenly grabbed one of the warriors by the face, before swinging the now emaciated corpse around like it was a temporary dance partner till it smashed into another warrior nearby. Feeling the power of the Cave Mother pour through her she pressed her hand into Zah's back and granted the second of her gifts unto him, this time for greater dexterity. For a short while her friend and his fellow warriors would hit like an ogre and move like an elf.

"We take it from the sides, attacking together and pulling back as the others of us strike. Don't let it focus on one of us one at a time..." Karg hissed pushing himself up having completed another prayer for strength, and for speed, the angry blazing bar of light in his hand too so bright she couldn't gaze directly at it "...its damaged badly I think, and we have the best magical weapons in the clan. Time to put them to use...

--

[Zahgorim 08]

2nd Sub-level, Keep of Sparta

"...it's damaged badly I think, and we have the best magical weapons in the clan. Time to put them to use now before this all goes completely to shit" Karg hissed out before him as his friend stood, a shimmering blood red mist seeming to cling around his chainmail armor form.

All Zahgorim could hope was his friend's magic was powerful enough to help overcome the monstrous foe only a short distance away from them, its sickly green burning skull highlighting its black armor form as his own warriors tried to hold it back. Tried to and failed; with oft fatal results which caused his rage to burn incandescent as the eerie green-black blade cut through down another of his clan-brothers. Mixed with the power granted to him by the spells of Oggy and her trainees the heavy armorand large shield he carried suddenly felt light as thin cloth as he strode forward towards the enemy the others flanking out around him. Only a few minutes ago their clan's defences had seemed unbreakable to him. Yet now warriors of shield-walls centre now circled warily around the crazily ranting undead monsters, while the only positive was that the two flanks had pushed forward and were destroying any further undead creatures at the doorway.

"Rrraaaaghhhh" he roared out at the horrid creature as he approached it shield braced and banging his magic axe off of it in the hopes of drawing its attention. Sadly it failed to do any such thing as unlike any other living creature with an angry orc coming at it, it just seemed unbothered by the sudden noise and continued to dance around blade flashing and driving back the nearest clan-warriors from its reach. Dozens of fully armed and armor warriors and this thing treated them as if they were mere whelps...

Glancing at Karg, then Old Breyjuk he nodded at the creature and this time the rage filled roar erupting from his mouth was backed up as he rushed forward shield braced, axe moving behind him to behind the swing as he shield bashed the creature with all his enhanced might. Then setting his feet as the shield found its target his arm rose, and then fell as the axe aimed for side of that burning green crowned skull...

...only to miss as the creature by a hairs breath as it yet again shifted back with a "HEY-NONNY-NONNY-HEY" as that unholy blade slashed out towards him. In the fraction of time available to him Zahgorim pulled back his shield arm in an effort to brace himself for the blow...

...only to find his armor form sliding back along the stone floors as the air was driven from his lungs by the power of the blow. As he sucked in a breath and rested on one knee to avoid falling over entirely he watched Old Breyjuk lash out at the thing with his blessed iron spear while Karg slashed at it from the other direction with his strange sword that was currently glowing with a burning white illumination. His co-chiefs spear stabbed at the creature's night black armorthat caused a faint screech as it struck. But Karguk's blade failed to strike true as the undead creature's own blade rose up as it shifted strangely, deflecting the shaman's blow downward before slashing at Karg. Who just like Zahgorim himself was pushed back even as he managed to bring his blade back up to block the strike...

...grunting with effort he pushed himself back up as other warriors slashed at the thing and were driven back in turn, one with a scream of agony as that vile green blade cut flesh and inflicted its horrid magic on one of his warriors. Though at least all the training he and Karg had beaten into them these past two years kicked in and two of his squad-mates dragged the shrieking clan-orc out of the way and towards one of Oggy's acolytes for healing; and more importantly getting him out of the way as others jabbed halberds at the creature. Not that it seemed to care as its horrid grave like voice nattered away insanely "...NTING WE WILL GO! HI-HO THE MERRY OHHHHHH! A HUNTING WE SHALL GO!...DOWN IN THE VALLEY THERE WAITS A LADY..."

"Shields up or cover!" Karg roared out as darkness seemed to swirl around the creature like a greeny-black mist, growing thicker and thicker with each passing moment.

Seconds later, just as he brought up his shield and cut off the vision of the cavorting skull headed knight, a gust of black wind slammed into, and around, his shield. Without the blessings, and his burning wrath at this thing, he would have been driven back by the few seconds of howling gust; as several warriors seemed to have been by loud clang of metal armoron stone floors. And as he brought down the shield so that only his eyes between shield and helmet were vulnerable he saw that several of his clan-orcs had been driven back or knocked over by the blast. But still...beyond the flailing melee against the creature the warriors at the doorway still held firm, weapons flashing on one side while on the other side warriors guarded against the thing coming at the wall from behind shields ready.

"Courage Warriors! Destroy the abomination!" Zahgorim roared out beating his axe off his shield to gather attention and raise the morale of those around him. They were fighting hard and yet this creature was shrugging off their best efforts with ease.

Karguk evidently had decided the same as Zahgorim pressed forward and other warriors began to bang their own weapons off their shields, his friend charged forward burning blade slashing. The creature's own unholy blade came up and deflected Karg's blow again. But Zahgorim watched as he pushed forward as his friend seemed to have expected this, the burning own blade flowing with the creature's before pressing the green blade down, reversing his two handed grip and slashing upward...

...a shrieking noise emerging as the burning brand of a blade ran up the monsters black breastplate, the ripping a piece of its skull away as it staggered momentarily. It's ranting even momentarily silenced. Seeing his chance Zahgorim charged forward with shield braced yet again, but now even the creatures foul magics weren't enough to stop the orc chief's shield from slamming into it with force of angry giant. And this time it was the creature's turn to skid backwards along the stone floor, its green blade shrieking as slammed downwards into the rocks beneath it to stop its backward motion...

...but Zahgorim pressed forward to deny it any chance to recover as it stood back up, a weak jab of the green blade was deflected off his ward-blessed shield...and this time the orcs axe did not miss, smashing into the horrors skulled face with a loud cracking sound as blood red runes glowed faintly on the axe-head as he roared his satisfaction at the impact.

The blow would have killed any living creature, but the burning green skull with the now partially shattered face merely laughed; green blade rising and falling again. But as the blow slammed home Zahgorim shifted to his side again deflecting the unholy blade with his now steaming shield, then he lashed out again with his axe, trading blows with the undead knight. Yet for some reason no fear entered his heart even this close to the unholy horror, instead filled with joy at fighting this monster of a foe like a true orc; powerful, strong, merciless with only the most worthy surviving at the end...

...a misstep cost him though, a fraction of an inch his foot moved to left instead of the right and his shield took the full blow of the undead creature rather than deflecting it as he'd planned. And even with his boosted strength and dexterity it was enough to drive him back once again. But there was no finishing blow as Zahgorim staggered back; from behind the creature halberd points and a blessed iron spear smashed into his foe led by Old Breyjuk. Still that might have been fatal even as he prepared his shield stance as the unholy blade rose as the creature was staggered towards him from the blows. But another blade, bright and burning caught the green one in mid air, driving it down into the ground with a loud screeching impact as Karguk freed one hand from the blade hilt, chanting, hand moving to point at the things face and unleashing blast of fire in the undead's face.

"Just fucking DIE you unholy abomination..." Karg roared out as this time the thing's head was knocked back slightly by the flames and the shaman's blade rose back up before flashing back down savagely at their foe. It was caught though by the green blade flashing upward from the now weakly ranting monster, but this time the intensely blazing magic sword of his friend was too much even for Zahgorim to look up. Glancing away to prevent himself been blind all he could hear was the shrieking screech of the metal on metal, then a sound like ice beginning to crack...and the a banshees wail of something shattering from a blazing fire...

...and into his vision staggered the creature, green fire flickering in its skeletal hands a shattered blade. Roaring now in triumphant Zahgorim stepped forward, axe rising and falling in one fluid motion into the things chest. A blow that rent a great hole in the black armoreven as it sent it falling unto its back on the floor, even as the armor orc's second blow descended on its now exposed sword arm...shattering it utterly and smashing the hateful blade from its grip.

"Hammer it, Hammer it while it's down!" Karguk was shouting, though the nearby warriors, Zahgorim included, encircled their fallen foe and rained blows down upon it. From the magic blades of chief and shaman, to the great warhammers given biggest, burliest warriors, whose blows smashed down repeatedly on the thing's skull and crown as bone shattered and metal armorcrumbled with each passing minute...

"I...I...AM...I...I..." came that voice again for a moment, then faltering entirely as the green hazy flame that seemed to enshroud it flickered even more weakly till his friend Karg drove his blazing magic sword into its armor chest chanting in the name of the Horde Leader. Unbidden but seeing the flickering green-black flame seeming to war weakly with the white-red blaze trying to consume it, Zahgorim raised his battle axe high. Then smashed it down into the remnants of the creature's crowned skull where one eye still burned with evil light...

...and smashed it completely to broken splinters as the green light was extinguished and the bones and armor began to burn as a faint wailing filled the air around them as his eyes struggled with the blinding light before him. Blinking hard as it suddenly vanished all was darkness a moment as his eyes readjusted from the dark to bright to gloomy dark again, he noticed the sounds of battle were falling silent and several roars of triumph began from his clan orcs...

--