In My Time of Troubles Chapter 11: Entry 11, a dungeons and dragons fanfic

[Missasri 12]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

'Oh thank Mystra we're here' she thought tiredly as the column of warriors approached the small village of Zybelin's Drift after two days of forced marching. Missasri's legs felt like they would give way at any moment, though with renewed energy she sighed and pushed on past the fields of wheat and barley that hadn't been here when she'd visited last year. Mistress Ogrash had driven the column hard to see how quickly they could reach the village along the new road from the stronghold, as well to punish them for taking so long to leave Missasri guessed as well, and now as the sun sank in the sky they'd finally arrived at their destination. All she hoped was that there was a warm bed waiting somewhere within for her, and that Mistress didn't have a long night's worth of work for her and the others.

'The sooner Master Karguk returns the better...Gods I'm exhausted' she thought tiredly as she walked alongside the creaking wheels of the wagon upon which Mistress Ogrash sat holding the oxens reins. Unlike Karguk she'd rapidly found Ogrash to be a harsh and demanding taskmistress. 'Fair' in her way, especially for an orc, but Ogrash when compared to her usual time with Master the past two months had been an unwelcome and initially terrifying change. When Master Karguk had announced he had to go on a 'Holy Quest' by orders of his wicked Orc God, and the Gods-slaves had spoken the same, it had felt like her only safe place left in the world was being torn away. Even now she feared he might not return and of what might become of her then, though it had diminished as her new routine was merely harsher and more demanding rather than what she'd feared. Master Karguk was a powerful cleric of his God after all, and had learned several spells from herself...he was strong, he'd be fine...at least she prayed he would.

To distract herself from those thoughts, and her aching muscles, she glanced at the golden fields and stone or wood fences that marked them off. Like the outer stockade and watchtowers made of wood, none of this had been here last year and she could hear the excited, albeit tired, voice of young Rose from the wagon saying as such. While none of the villagers appeared to be working in the fields she could see figures of orcs, likely female auxiliaries she guessed from the silhouettes, watching from up in the watchtowers on either side of the dirt 'road' leading up to the village proper. The outer 'gate' of this low wooden wall was open and she watched as the column passed through without stopping; the guards even giving that fist-to-heart salute thing Chief Zahgorim and Master Karguk had drilled into them as they stood at 'attention' just to the side of the front of the 'gate' beside the crude totems erected there. After spending time with Master and his clan it was apparent to her now that this little barricade was merely meant to slow down any raiders, or stop like a bunch of idiots like her adventuring party had been. Poor sweet Dargan, arrogant Mella...she sighed sadly for a moment. It was all in the past now.

'Well that's also new...' she noted as they came up the small incline towards the village proper; and where the old wooden barricade had been an earthen wall was being erected behind the wooden wall, with an empty 'mote' created before the wall as they removed the dirt for the wall. Atop the wall several warriors were looking at them from the top of the completed sections, a few even waving at other orcs in the arriving column. After a little delay at the new partially completed 'main' gate into the village Missasri found herself standing within the darkening main square of Zybelin's Drift while a few of the villagers outside looked on. Mistress Ogrash hopped down from the wagon, followed a moment later by Rose with baby Kargash in hand, as Missari went to one aching knee and bowed her head to the orc as did Mara and Kethri behind her "Mistress"

Ignoring them Mistress Ogrash strode past her in a gruff but largely friendly tone "Ghorza, sister-wife, it is good to see you"

"And you too Ogrash..." the usual harsh tones of Master Karguk's second wife and fellow cleric of the Horde Leader reached Missasri's ears. Turning her head she saw the chainmail clad form of the female orc striding towards them with a warrior on either side of her, with a grin on her face and Rose's grandmother trailing along behind "...you got here fast. Didn't think you'd be here for another day or two"

"Wanted to see how fast this lot can march and what use that this road Karg wouldn't shut up about was. Turns out Karg was right...but we won't tell him that or he'll get a big head and never stop tell us he told us so"

"Heh, no objection here to that! Boss don't need to know I agree, though I doubt he'll complain being as blessed as he by the Horde Leader" Ghorza replied as they greeted each other wrist to elbow. Around them Missasri could see the various groups of the column being approached by Ghorza's squad and what sounded like directions being given to them. The armoured orc sighed "If only we could all feel and understand the divine touch of the Gods"

"Aye, though Karg always complains on such things..." Mistress Ogrash replied with humour as the sound of gear being stacked, and horses entering reached Missasri's ears. Glancing towards the 'gate' she saw the 'cavalry' of the orcs entering with the armoured half-orc 'Captain' in the lead "...ah and that there is Krowluc on the black horse. You've warned your warriors not to start trouble with his band? There'll be one or two humans among them and a half-elf even if it looks like a human"

"Yes your messenger said as such. There won't be any trouble and I've got a few warriors and archer females who might be light enough, and dexterous enough as well, to ride those beasts..." Missasri watched as Ghorza turned one of the warriors at her shoulder "...Jernjul, show them to the stables and barn so we can get the beasts off the street and supplies put away quickly. Halnguk I'm leaving you in charge of getting everything away while I discuss with Ogrash in my headquarters. Don't fuck it up"

"Yes Priestess" echoed out from the two younger warriors as they marched off, one towards the orcs dismounting from their horses, and the others shouting at a squad of warriors standing on the other side of the wagons to Missasri. She herself didn't care much in this regards though as Mistress Ogrash clicked her clawed fingers at them calmly giving instructions without even looking at them "Missy, Mara, Kethri, come me and Ghorza. Rose..." she paused and let the other orc woman continue.

"Priestess Humbletree will come with us, so the whelp can come with us too. It'll be a bit before this lot are finished getting setup anyway. So we can discuss some matters while you refresh yourself. I've food and drink back at my den ready for us"

"Sounds good to my ears Ghorza..." Mistress turned her head and shouted handful of her acolytes beside the wagon just behind them which contained the Gods-slaves "...Keshka, Greshka, bring the Gods-slaves to the Horde Leader's shrine and have them perform their prayers before feeding them..."

Missasri smiled faintly as Rose embraced her grandmother briefly before the group began marching up the street towards the large stone building they'd stayed in last year and was now evidently Ghorza's current home. Behind her she saw that the wagons were being unloaded as the six Gods-slaves were trooped towards the stone building that served as a temple to this village; further on behind them the rearguard of the column was straggling in, still in formation though so Master would likely be happy when he returned. That and the fact the guards that had been camped in the village she passed were about as disciplined as the ones back in Sparta proper. Something that worried her by seeing orc warriors better disciplined than many city guards, but also relieved her to see as that brutal iron discipline that Master Karguk told her he wanted so often was keeping these orcs somewhat civilized.

They may rule over these poor simple folk like tyrants, but like a tyrant of a civilized race and not raping and pillaging like so many of the other orc clans she'd seen at the great assembly only a few weeks ago. The village after all appeared almost 'normal' by human standards, beyond all the clan symbols that were on some of the fluttering banners draped over a few buildings, or upon the rebuild stone tower on the slope above the village. Still Missasri could care less about these changes as the warmth, the lovely-lovely warmth, from the fire burning in the fireplace of Ghorza's home hit her face as she followed the two orc women past the guards and into the building. Arranged on the table before them was a large platter of fruits, bread and cheese that Mistress Ghorza motioned for Mistress Ogrash to join her in eating along with the old local cleric and Rose. Despite her hungry belly she and the two slave sisters knelt down just off to the side of their owner and the table; beyond Mara taking little Kargash out of Rose's hands and exposing a breast to feed the once again hungry baby orc At least it was a chance to rest her tired legs.

"I know what you want to talk about Ghorza..." Mistress Ogrash began in Common as both broke bread together and then drank down some ale from the smell. Missasri rested sighing, the smell was making her hungry "...and I agree with you. Karg would too if he was here, he'll need a strong right hand like you in any horde. Even if just to guard his back as a mate should"

The armoured orc female grinned "Good! I was worried I'd have to fight you, or him, over it"

Mistress snorted in amused annoyance "Also a small reason why I told him to bring you I might add. The only question is who is to replace you here? We need a acolyte of the Horde Leader I expect, and I do not want to find trouble after you leave"

"I want to put Halnguk in charge while I'm away, well after testing a little more and getting your opinion on his potential. He is young, like us, but he is favoured by the Gods and is competent enough to follow the New Ways, and to understand why to follow them. Karguk's slave..." Ghorza stated nodding in her direction Missasri say "...had given him some teaching in that magic as well before we brought him here. I want to have her train him more in this while she's here"

"Missy, come here, sit and eat with us..." Mistress Ogrash ordered and Missasri pushed her tired legs back to stand and walked over to sit down at the table as her owners head wife continued speaking "...it seems you will be doing some training as well while we here and you tell us of what you can teach him in a moment. You may eat and drink first"

"Thank you Mistress" Missasri answered honestly sitting in beside the larger orc woman and getting a smile from the red-haired Rose sitting across from her. Mistress through took a drink from cup then glanced back at the older human woman who was Rose's grandmother then at Ghorza.

"I haven't talked to Karg over this, nor Zah as yet, but I'd like you Ghorza to take charge of the vassal levies to keep them organised and prevent...trouble...with the other clans. Zah swears he'll have thirty or forty males from his village, and you'd have two or three squads of orc warriors as well, so what do you think? And how many from here?"

'Oh this is lovely' Missasri thought wasting down the bread and cheese with a sip of some of the village brewed ale. Still she listened as staying useful to Mistress was vital till Master returned, and it seemed that the warrior female Ghorza would be joining Master upon this coming war against the Uthgarders. How to make use of that knowledge was so far beyond her, but being useful right now was the first step to keeping her current position within this clan of savage orcs.

"Our men-folk...thirty-four are old enough and fit enough to fight Lady Ogrash...and my Rose here hath told me she is to follow as well" the cleric of Chauntea answered sadly holding her granddaughters hand in hers, and Missasri could see the fear and concern for the girl in the older woman's eyes as she spoke. Mistress Ghorza nodded.

"Yeah that's about right, a few of the females probably could too but Karg said not to raise them. I've got the blacksmith and his apprentices preparing weapons and armour for them. As to my taki..."

[Karguk 20]

Dr. Ned's Office, Luskan

I was wary of a one-on-one interview with our new necromancer employer, well prospective employer, for the usual reasons of living on a death-world and him being a necromancer after all. That of being killed or brainwashed or a host of other unfortunate things that my evil minded DMing Boss might decide to throw at us, me, for his bloody amusement. Now we had prepared for something like this eventuality...well more-so in case of problems in Luskan in general...with small rune charms, and both Etlin and Tris had returned from their meeting without any issue or triggering the rune.

At least none that I could detect at least; on the bright side at least I had every protective warding I knew etched unto me, and Lua'kah'wyss was a Drow Prietess – we would not be easily affected. My only other fear had been shape-shifters, but both Tris and Etlin had remembered their pass-codes and were acting as normal. That and our 'friendly' town guards had finally left so their verbal sparring with the dwarf woman had finally ended. I'd been worried it'd come to blows if it had continued much longer; so much bitchiness in such a short space of time. On that note I made some small talk with the dwarf woman.

"Is this going to be the standard with the City Guard for here?"

The dwarf woman nodded in annoyance "Aye laddie, dey never met a bribe dey dinna like ah'm sure you've found already. Boss man's bought'em off like everyone else does, and dey be afraid ah'him enough cuzza what he canna do to'em if they piss us off but its Luskan, always like that. Worse now even with all de talk ah' war and dem scum on the bench. Ye always have'ta watch fer who dey work fer behind da scenes. Much as dem two annoy me they ain't the worse of'em, not the best either mind ye. But do what der paid at de least. If ye can do the same without de mouth we'll get on just fine I reckon"

Etlin snorted softly in amusement "Well thanks for the confidence I suppose"

"Ah shur you'll be our muscle boyo, so ya dinna need mu..." the dwarf Cruenditha began to say before footsteps striding from the room came to our ears, followed by the form of Lua'kah'wyss appearing distracted her and I was waved forward. Lua nodded to me as she walked close and stated softly our agreed upon pass-code.

"It was a pleasant and uneventful meeting friend Karg, though were many questions, and now he wishes for me to tell you to head on in. We shall wait here for your return and guard thine lovely wife" she stated and Etlin nodded his agreement at this while Tris tried to keep a straight face I expected. This little joke of hers had gone on, and seemed set to continue, for longer than I'd like. Still I made the effort of waving it off in a friendly manner before walking down the small hallway to a slightly ajar wooden door. Unsurprisingly perhaps for a 'service' such as this I could see another locked door at the end of the hallway, just after a small stairs, that likely led to a back-alley or side entrance to the place. Considering the supposed services this fellow offered I guessed this was the 'private' entrance and exit for certain of his 'clients'.

'Be on your guard' I reminded myself for the hundredth time as I opened the first wooden door and came into the room where the bemused looking necromancer, Dr. Ned, sat behind a wooden 'desk' in his gaudily colourful clothes. I blinked for a moment as I entered...this place was not what I was expecting even from this weirdo of an evil sorcerer; it was neat little meeting room, with another door I assumed went into the larger room down the hall before the door. A small bookcase and two cabinets were behind and too the side of the wizard and his desk, along with a surprising amount of greenery for a necromancer with a number of plants decorating the room as the sunlight came in through the window. Really this was putting me on edge. Any moment now the unearthly horrors were going to jump out, or the illusion dispel.

"Have a seat, Milord Karg of the Crags. Your companions skills are largely in line with what my little operation requires so once we get a few matters discussed we should hopefully be able to reach an agreement for services rendered..." he told me in that cheerful tone, motioning at the chair across from him. And as I took a seat nodded at the nearest little potted plant behind him "...ah you like my little hobby? Nice huh? Though danged hard to keep alive in a bag of holding let me tell you! Habit I picked up in my druid days"

I blinked in confusion 'What?'

Even without me speaking my confusion was apparent enough for the man across from me to seemingly nod and continue speaking "Oh yes, back when I was young and stupid I wanted to go off and be a druid and live in one with nature and all that good stuff. Was fun for a while when I joined the nearest circle, learned alot from them too. Bit too much really when I found out I was the only sane non-pervert amongst the lot of them thought! Whole bloody lot of them had an unhealthy fascination with shape-shifting and woodland animals for my tastes let me tell you! Never trust the ones that talk about being 'One-with-Nature' and all that sorta thing. So I left after that and started the climb to become the man I am today. Still like the plants though...and it's an enjoyable way to have a supply of herbs and reagents don't you agree?"

"Well I've never had the time for gardening I'm afraid, nor the inclination in truth. Prefer reading in my free time to tell the truth" I answered honestly siding back into the chair while trying to avoid my watching for the dangers being made obvious. Though honestly there'd be little I could do at this stage if things turned hostile...but a second life's worth of wariness was hard to shake at a moment's notice. 'Doctor' Ned across from me nodded with a thoughtful hum.

"Not what I expected in truth, but it's another hobby I too indulge in when I can. So that we're all nice and ease, I'd ask you not try and stab me or attack me or any other such things when I ask a few things. It would end badly for you let's say. So honest talk okay?" he asked never losing the cheerful tone and friendly smile. I tensed but held of grabbing for either my sword or daggers as requested, suddenly the whole world had shrunk to this little office. Though usually murderers didn't give their victims warnings to that effect so for now I figured, with a great deal of stress, that staying friendly was the best idea. I nodded carefully.

He clapped his hands together lightly as he sat back into his chair "Excellent! Just to let you know its all private and confidential with Dr. Ned. It's a bit of a rude question I know, but I like to know the background of my minions you know?...hmmm...now you appear to be an orc in a human suit of sorts. Polymorph or alter-self perhaps...hmmm, so your an Orc?"

I froze. This was not good. This was not good at all. How the fuck do I answer this?

How could I have been so stupid as to walk into the den of a powerful and evidently equally paranoid wizard and not thought of this?

Oh shit he can see through my disguise. Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit

'NO DO NOT REACH FOR YOUR WEAPON YET!' I ordered my body into immobility as I forced myself to take a breath. I was alone right now and any wrong move could be fatal. And not just from him, from three companions waiting outside with the dwarf, and the crooked guards and townsfolk beyond that. I let my breath out opting for the only answer available as my mind raced at the situation. My reply was more a hiss than I'd have liked as my eyes remained locked on the wizard for signs of threat or attempts to capture me. No fucking way in Ilneval's name was I getting taken alive in this place.

"Yes. I'm not looking for trouble wizard"

'Doctor' Ned nodded completely unworried by my presence it seemed. Was he trying to indimate me? Or was I not threat to him at all? How long ago did he figure it out? HAD HE TOLD THE OTHERS?

"No you're looking for a job I hear, so I'd hope not. Don't want troublesome employees let me tell you!"

"Wut?"

"Look if your an orc, your an orc and it's your business. In fact it makes things simpler for me as means you are far less likely to work for the Host Tower or any of the other factions here in this fine city than any of the other candidates for these positions. It's why I wanted decently well off outsiders and not all the riff-raff down by the docks. So imagine my surprise when in walks a group that has a magically disguised orc with an education, and a drow priestess that doesn't come off as having evil intent to my wards. Neither do you by the way so I'm made curious as how you managed this feat and what skills you have available to fool so many to get this far. My friend you do not seem an orc, yet you most certainly are. You've been given magical training? Neverwinter based I assume?"

I sighed. What to do? Not any options available sadly it seemed "Yes. I learned the Common tongue and some magic from a mage that was from Neverwinter...though honestly I've never set foot in the city. So how does this go Doctor Ned?"

He spread his hands with what I assumed was meant to be a non-threatening smile on his face to match the 'hey relax' gesture he'd adopted in his chair "Well one hears stories about trouble the Host Tower is having with Neverwinter, and supposedly with somewhere else less civilized I'm told by my old friend Barty and a few of the city guard. Since you don't seem too eager to talk to those friendly fellows in the Tower I expect there's some truth to what I've heard. There isn't anything that would cause me, as your employer, any trouble now would there?..." he blinked and looked embarrassed "...well beyond the whole disguise thing of course?"

"We're just passing through and got delayed here against my wishes" I ground out careful trying to remain calm through this surreal conversation.

"Funnily enough so am I" he replied to my surprise, and still seemingly completely unfazed by my presence after his big reveal "I'd planned to leave here before the month of Mirtul but gold from work and unsafe roads argued against that...well that and all these danged mercs and adventuring companies on the roads stalling everything. But now it's time to leave...though, well, sadly that'll take the month to clear my client list and workload even with helpers like yourselves"

Okay this was insane "You know what I am and you still want to hire us" I hissed keeping my voice low, though that door seemed to block out sound beyond the loudest ones judging from my spot outside during the others meetings. No point escaping this madness alive somehow only to die on the blades of my newfound friends.

"Well my strangely articulate and educated orcish minion, you're far less likely to work for my enemies than others would. And of course very unlikely to betray my august self without getting yourself dead in a rather horrible manner at my hands, or the denizens of this lovely place. You're also an enigma Mr. Karg of the Crags and I like those things and solving them. Though that's just a side benefit I'll admit. I doubt you realise this; but Luskan is going through a change in management at the moment. Tried to warn Barty but will she listen to me? Nooooo. Host Tower is taking control I reckon and I'd rather not be here when they decide private practitioners like myself need to join the war effort in a year or two. Wars are messy and you can die in them I find. So off to the next city on my tour I say! Now are you interested in my gainful employment or a making a run for the city gates?"

I gave a defeated sigh "Fine you win. Name your price wizard"

"Doctor actually. Doctor Ned!"

"Okay...what do you want Doctor Ned?"

"Excellent! Now I'll want to test your skills out first of course but I suspect their better than I'd hoped based on those rune wards your friends all seemed to have. Nice work there by the way! So you get to be my personal assistant/apprentice and the Drow my backup healer and guard. Your...wife...can help with writing various things, and getting supplies from the markets, while your guard, well, guards her and here. Of course the pay will be commensurate with the level of work involved. Now let us talk on..."

Journal of Loraatris Hollysword [04]

1st Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning (at the Dawn)

Mine head doth ache and mine face feels like it should burn like a flame at mine drunken behaviour towards mine new comrade Karg, and that of Lua as well. Mine friend Lua was perhaps a bad influence in mine inebriated state, though one must admit it was pleasantly amusing and mine new friend Karg has not shown anger towards me. One shall discover if this is mere tiredness soothing any anger towards mine self and Lua, though Lua remains latched firmly upon Karg as mine fingers write upon this page.

After all compared to Lua...mine own body is of little desirability. Perhaps he did not even notice mine flesh or touch and only hath eyes for hers, and that perhaps is the reason for his calmness? I pray that it is not. My past lover Mikkail seemed to forget mine for that foul witch Yeltra so easily, as did my Patrik before him for Mother afore I left. No matter these failings of mine these fingers of mine tire, and mine stomach rumble with pangs of hunger. And soon we doth meet with this new potential employer of ours thanks to these harlots that Etlin hath bedded, and this city calls guards, and one must sath ones desires to have a clear mind and fully belly to succeed.

With all the coin we hath been spending been spending in this den of iniquity, and the constant demands of these harlots we must now associate with! What a fool Etlin is after a number of flagons! Like mine-self one admits but at least mine drunken debauchery hath involved one who has not, and is not, demanding of coin from ourselves like these wicked and ever smiling harlot-guards!

1st Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning (upon the fall of night)

Today hath been a day of much strangeness indeed. Rewarding perhaps but not what one such as I hath expected upon word of our employer. So after restoring mine weary body of the morn with food and drink in the company of Etlin (and his harlots) we were rejoined by Lua and Karg and were led to the place of business of this necromancer call Doctor Ned. One would have expected a den of darkness and wickedness (especially as it is recommended upon the words of Etlin's new harlots) but to mine surprise, and to that of the others, it was a clean and lovely place and...

Forget those foolish things! He is but a practitioner of great art and beauty instead of the foul wickedness of many a master of the dark arts that mine eyes hath expected. No he provides a vital service to the community of women who hath been failed by the fickle Gods of nature, or by cursed elven blood like mine flesh!

This brave mage has rejected the darker path of many of his brethren and now, for mere coin, brings about a means of dispelling this curse that has so long afflicted upon mine wretched form. Such a healing of mine form was discussed, in private of course, with this fine fellow we shall now work for in the coming weeks. While mine current coinpurse doth not yet possess the coin to afford such a means, and to provide for mine expenses as part of our party in the travel onward to Mirabar. But our new employer hath offered me his services at a reduced rate upon the successful completion of our contract!

Joyous day! Joyous day!

Soon Mother mine flaws shall be corrected and mine flesh found desirable. No matter what Lua says mine body doth not compare to hers. Perhaps in some small way this shall aid towards bringing mine own body to the standards of hers. May the Gods bless this endeavor!

4th Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning

It hath been a surprisingly uneventful first few days in the employment of Doctor Ned, and mine belief is that he shall deliver upon his promise to fix mine flawed form. Now in our contract Lua hath been made an assistant healer to Doctor Ned, while Karg hath become his 'assistant researcher' as the Doctor calls it, or part-time apprentice as mine own mind sees with the less pay in exchange for teaching mine friend Karg.

Considering Karg's love of books and his foppishness it doth not bring surprise to mine heart that he hath agreed to such a contract. Indeed he hath been a dutiful husband to mine-self in public, and beyond some teasing of mine-self and Lua in revenge for our behaviour (we shall have our revenge this night!) on Midsummer's Night he hath been a true companion to us.

Etlin hath become a door guard and general helper alongside the grumpy dwarf Cruenditha, and mine own bodyguard upon my journey to the markets for the doctors materials. Or at least the ones that require a pleasant smile and bard's trade with the merchants, Etlin and the dwarf hath handled the 'purchase' of a corpse from the local gravedigger for Doctor Ned as materials.

It is an...icky...thing but one can understand the need for such things considering his profession. One can live with that when no evil is been done to attain it I suppose and mine mind wonders why some, many, of his trade doth live out in the wildness kill to do such things, yet none seem to care in this wicked cesspool. Life is cheap in some places Karg and Etlin say. One sadly must agree at least here in this horrid place. The guard are harlots and thieves, its rulers wicked wizards and pirates, its merchants would stab thee in the back for a copper coin and the commoners sell thine corpse for less.

7th Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Working for Doctor so far hath been pleasant, often dull as mine own position often involves sitting at the greeting desk and meeting those that enter, and oft to ensure their privacy and safety upon entering and leaving the premises. Indeed mine eyes hath noticed an unusual number to enter upon the hours of darkness, or in the manner of hooded cloaks, to see our employer.

It seems that even the women of the city notables find Doctor Ned's services to be as desirable as that of their notables, though these notables themselves are far less willing to be known as having received an...ah...enhanced...manhood. Or the more costly methods to enhance one's stamina in this matter, or other similar ones - Doctor Ned offers a wide variety of individualised services to match thine every need!

See, even as mine fingers write what hath been passing mine lips these past few days. Perhaps mine chosen profession should have been merchant I wonder? Or not, one shall consider this practice for mine future conquest of the stage. Or merely to offset mine own weakness as a woman; if one cannot be a beauty one needs to be skilled with words.

In truth the largest number of our current clients these past few days hath seemed to be high class courtesans to the powerful of this cesspool of a city. Lua hath been present along with Karg for several of these rituals to speed them along, and Lua hath told me in confidence that mine own hopes for such are nothing to be afraid of and these rituals, while costly and time consuming, are neither painful nor dangerous. This hath been joyous news to mine ears, though despite mine excitement researching and understanding such magic is vital before taking such a decision. Etlin hath laughed and mocked me upon mine lips letting it slip. Karg though hath been strangely kind to mine-self and stated mine body needs no such improvement. As had Lua when we shared our bed that night. A lie of course, but sweet lies, and mine heart is warmed by such kindness.

9th Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning

An unusual showing today, a hooded and cloaked fellow with two guards and another woman in a hooded robe entered mine place of work just as we open and was escorted into Doctor Ned's office for several hours before leaving by means unknown to mine-self. Doctor Ned had us make no mention of it in our ledgers as we do even with his 'private' clients. Beyond this these past few days hath been uneventful as we hath worked the standard routine within the office; a courtesan and a minor curse breaking consisting of the other clients for today, and some sales of potions at the markets by mine-self.

Of course these are potion produced by mine companions Lua and Karg. Oh and the harlots hath visited us once again to see Etlin. One must query what sort of mine comrade must have to tolerate the presence of these parasites. Though perhaps their skills in the bedroom are as good as their ones at draining our hospitality for free booze and food, mine ears certainly hear more than one would wish to hear!

Not that mine writing should criticise with mine own actions. Since Karg hath to pretend to be mine husband, and Lua our lover, matters hath been taken in hand shall we say. Or perhaps one could say Lua was rather amorous to mine tired and drunken self...and matters developed as they do between our trio as in truth mine taste lies in the male form. In truth this shall make a fine tale of mine conquest of a Fop and a Drow in the years to come, and serves as a pleasant stress relieve with the presence of these parasite harlots of guardswomen within our abode of late. Mother would never hath managed such! And they call me a beauty...and mine mind almost believes them.

10th Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Evidently if one angers a wizard sufficiently they can turn thou into in a canine. Or in this case it is inadvisable to forcefully bed the husband of a sorceress for they have power and react badly to such assaults. Even pirates are not exempt as this particular pirate captain found when her first mate brought her in this morning. An incomplete transformation and quite horrifying one can say. Truthfully the crew must truly fear and/or respect her to have taken her into Doctor Ned. Well those that apparently survived the angered sorceress who reclaimed her husband while Captain Dogface was with him. In mine mind the aggrieved mage cannot be faulted though, but still the client hath paid handsomely so all well that ends well!

11th Day of Eleasis, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Lua is happy today as she hath finally gotten a silvered longsword to replace the one broken in Waterdeep all those months ago. Mine group hath some time free this eve as Doctor Ned gave us, other than Karg, the evening off with Cruenditha so we have had a small shopping trip of us women while Etlin entertained his harlots elsewhere. Karg is always on about not 'splitting the party' but one cannot spend much time in the presence of those 'warriors' without wanting to punch them in the face. Alot. Even Lua and Karg himself agrees with that statement.

Beyond this there was little of note, there was only one of the hooded clients on the morn and Karg hath said there was little of note after our departure. Though he hath been paranoid once again in regards the tensions in this city, well at least once the harlots hath left our presence. Etlin at least can keep his mouth shut one finds so he is not a complete fool. He hath agreed with friend Karg there is trouble in this city and the sooner we leave with a patron like Doctor Ned the better. Sadly though it shall be at least late of this month of Eleasis at best afore we shall leave; and most likely into Eleint. Now mine weary limbs must rest.

[Karguk 21]

Doctor Ned's Office, Luskan

"Sydney, 19-21 Years, Luskan Born, Apprentice of the Host Tower, Three hour lesson: Human Anatomy & Introduction to Entropic Energy" I muttered to myself softly as I transcribed out the details of the latest of today's services in decent enough detail and then marking off the bill of account. I should know after all since I'd sat through that class with the ambitious girl. Not that the initial hour had been of much use in truth to me as bizarrely I had greater knowledge than your average beginner in the 'Dark Arts' thanks to a former life schooling in biology and other sciences. Evidently most mages spend years trying to get trained in the basics – getting the initial spell casting is easy (relatively) but the knowledge basis behind such things...was badly flawed from a lack of standardization mixed in with a mountain of completely wrong assumptions. I blame easy healing magic for that.

Ironically working as an 'apprentice' to a necromancer in Luskan was proving to utilize the rather mundane skills of my past life than any of those of my current I noted, completing another 'client file' and placed it into the 'filing' box on the table with me. Now of course back then I think having access to a magical 'bag' of holding to store these little box drawers of files would have made things so much easier for all the tax return paperwork for multiple clients.

Necromancer Ned here has a rather extensive, no for Faerun truly enormous, set of background information on various people who've made use of his services up and down the Sword Coast, North and into the Dale-lands. Scroll paper and ink evidently being one of the most significant expenses for our employer I've seen from the ledgers. It'd taken me nearly the whole first ten-day to organise everything into a more organised system; even without the issue of many of these things been ward protected. I shook my head at the madness; I'm an orc shaman, with wizard training, back to been the company accountant. The more things change the more they stay the same it seems.

'This is still creepy as fuck, but dang brilliant idea I'd copy too if I could' I thought as I stood up, taking up the box of files in hand, pressed the blue gem, and then walked through the 'doorway' of the 'bag of holding' In truth it was fold-able metal frame that extended with a back into a 'pocket dimension' - where a large room of all the files stood in neat rows along with other stores.

I hated this part and practically ran to place the files in their correct place and then ran back out, the several hours working here had been the most terrifying ever in this somehow brightly lit black void. Promises of it being unable to close while a living being was inside did not give me any confidence. Getting trapped here was up there on my list of nightmare scenarios, and relief filled me as I touched the blue gem again and the 'doorway' folded back to a small metal box warded to the floor by Doctor Ned once again. Strolling back to my desk I entered in the reference to file in the leather bound book there. Oh what I would give for a computer once again, or ever settle for a typewriter. Getting a typewriter invented, or buying some kind of magical self-transcribing quill was getting up there on my list of priorities. I glanced up as footsteps can outside the door before it creaked open.

"Hello there husband mine! Thine ever beautiful lady hath returned from her journey to the wicked streets of Luskan with her brave bodyguard in tow!" came the cheerful and ever boasting voice of Tris as she strode through the door, hand moving in a sweeping wave, while Etlin nodded to me as came in just behind her. I sighed as she plopped into the wooden chair across from me and rest her feet on the table.

"Oi...feet off the desk my ever fair and beautiful whatever!" I shooed at her waving my hands at the leather boots now getting dirt and other gunk unto my nice clean desk. She pouted, then huffed at me before taking them down and sitting properly. No respect for others workspace I found as I cleaned off the dirty spot with a piece of cloth. Etlin merely shook his head in seeming exasperation. Lua'kah'wyss strode just as he spoke and I nodded at her in greeting along with the others.

"Now children no arguing in the workplace, our Boss?"

I nodded towards the roof as I sat back in the chair "Upstairs tidying up after the last client of the day. Well of the night now I suppose. Ambitious mage apprentice looking for lessons beyond what her tutors will give...news from the market?"

Etlin nodded "Less the merchants at the stall, than from our friendly neighborhood gravediggers. It seems that a fresh supply of bodies have become...available as of a few hours ago. And it's a significant number of bodies they say"

I frowned, as there was always a supply of bodies in Luskan if not always cheap and available. Just as I had started to wonder at the reason Tris stepped in "There's supposed to have trouble down by the docks, there was a number of rumours at the markets but looks like a big fight broke out between some of the mercenaries and a few of the ships crews. Them or the city guard, they were sparse on the ground at the markets when we left"

I glanced at Etlin who shrugged "No, haven't heard from either of them but they're supposed to be duty by the north gate and not the docks"

"Do we know what caused it?" It was a fair question. Small fights down by the docks were common, but for Doctor Ned's 'sources' to be coming forward like this with 'fresh meat' it implied there was a choice of cadavers. Which meant it was sell now or mass burials. This place you couldn't even die without someone trying to sell you. After all Resurrections unlike in games...were really bloody rare and beyond the price range of most, with the added joy that most spirits oft choose not to return to the death world.

Tris gave an exaggerated shrug as usual, girl was far too much the bard at times "All sorts of rumours of course from the lips of those fine upstanding fellows at the stalls! Everything from the Harpers struck under this supposed Dark Harper the Host Tower blows on about. Or that some of pirate crews tried to enslave some band of female adventurers. Or that some of them tried to storm the Mirabar district...actually lucky we keep most of our valuables here when we work if that was true...and of course the one about the army of mermaids that tried to storm the docks as well. That was a funny one. You can see some smoke and flames from here, so must have been pretty severe"

"Honestly just another reason that the sooner we leave the better off we all are" I managed to grumble out. Less than another ten-day and we were gone, gone, gone from this dump unto to lovely Mirabar. With a caravan that would have guards to ensure a nice safe trip, and a not-seemingly-evil powerful wizard in tow to pay us money and add further protection. The pay and access to materials for my magic was a real boon to be honest, and even the odd relationship with the Doctor who knew more than I'd like had led to some improvement to my general skill at mage-craft. When I got back to Sparta I'd have a nice haul for Missy to help both of us improve our abilities. Once she was strong enough, had done enough for me and the clan to justify...freeing her would be possible. I think.

"OI HELP OUT HERE!" came the feminine roar from out the hall along with the sound of crashing wood alongside some muffled shouting. My hand was holding the scabbard of my blade and we were in motion before my conscious mind had caught up with I was doing. The sounds coming through sounded worryingly someone breaking through the front door where our eternally grumpy dwarven co-worker was after shouting from. Etlin took the lead of the four of us, he was the only one full kitted out in actual armour thanks to Tris having the 'scholar/merchant' look and Lua like myself having been working in the 'surgery' were in our 'work clothes' which were armour less. Our armour was nearby, but it wasn't an immediate thing to get into it after all, so I held my hand on the sword-hilt as we turned out of the hall in single file...

...and was greeted not by a fight like we feared. Though it was just as bad as I saw the bleeding form of guard Silfrey being dragged between two others less injured, while Etlin's other guardswoman had her blade drawn and seemed to be freaking out somewhat while she stood at the door. Cruenditha looked us as she herded the guards forward "GET NED NOW! WE'VE A PROBLEM!"

"Yes Crue, I can see that from here" came the sound of the aforementioned wizard as he came striding out of the hallway behind us with a face like a thundercloud "now what's going on here?" he asked of the guards then turned his head to us as we milled around in the main entrance "And get her up on that table. Nurse Lua stabilise her wounds please"

"THINGSGOTCRAZY! WEWEREJUSTUPBYTHE..." one of Etlin's women, Inlatyie, started saying but it was impossible to make sense in the panicked stream of words that erupted out of the guard's mouth. Lua in the meantime had sprung into action, the bleeding guardwoman now resting on the table now had a faintly chanting drow standing over her gasping form while our employer pulled out potions and handed them to the other two guards with a calm tone to them "Explain now!"

The older of the guards, a human male in his thirties or forties gulped down the potion as he rested back against the wooden pillar behind him for support. I started buckling on my swordbelt as he panted for breath then shook his head "Don't know exactly. There was supposed be trouble at the docks with some of the crews. People been acting bit strange down there past few days, so we were called off the north to keep the trouble outta the city proper. Only problem was we got jumped by some of them damned scum led by one Kerjan's boys on the way. Bastards got us good. Doesn't make no fuckin sense though. Silfrey got hit bad and said we should come here get her fixed up and shelter"

Doctor Ned frowned "Damn. The Docks was The Westward Gale mentioned, or the Horror?"

"Thhhh...Gal...the Gale..." Silfrey on the table groaned out clearly in pain as Etlin came over and took one of her hands "...fighin...Gale...ughh...hurts..,"

The unnamed male guard nodded "Yeah there was something about the Gale. But that's..."

Our employer nodded face darkening "Yes it's her ship, and no one would touch her crew other than the other Captains or the Tower. And Sil here works for Barty, so looks like someones gotten sick of all the stalling..." he took a deep breath and turned to the rest of us "...get into your armour and get your gear packed. We'll be leaving shortly it seems, so Crue your in charge of herding this lot and getting the office ready to move. Just like that time in the Dales. If I'm wrong we only lose the last few days work"

"What's de plan Boss? Where ah we gonna head?" the dwarf asked back thumbing at the doors and guards around them.

"We'll I'm going to check on Barty, with you Mr. Karg..." he pointed at me his voice growing authority. Much as I'd like to object...well I'd met this Captain Bartilasmus and his escort when they'd arrived secretly over a ten-day ago and there was ever the knowledge of my true nature to make me agree. So I nodded slowly as the colorfully clad Necromancer ploughed on, motioning at the four guards "...Now if you four want to stay alive you'll do what I, and Crue here, tell you. Otherwise head back out that door and go hide somewhere else once Silfrey here can walk. If I'm right they'll be purging...disloyal...elements in short order if they win"

I in the meantime headed over to my gear and started to throw on my chaimail and other weapons. It seemed a short teleport to a ship was coming...

[Karguk 22]

Docks, Luskan

"Oh dear that is not good. No not at all" my employer muttered after we stepped through the portal to...an empty somewhere not in the office as the sounds of steel on steel echoed off in the distance beyond the doorway in front of us. I glanced behind me and was relieved to see the shimmering oval shape on the other side of which the mirage like image of the offices lay. Turning back I gripped my sword hilt with one hand while leaving the other free – the space was confined and filled with junk and dust so my longsword would be of limited use anyway. That's what the daggers and magic were for. Still the rising tension inside me had the obvious question come to the fore in a soft hiss.

"Where are we?"

Doctor Ned was looking decidedly unhappy as he waved his hand a moment before pulling out a small gemstone, chanted softly a moment then spoke softly as it pulsed softly in his hand "Just off the Dragon Beach Pier I'd reckon, or should be. We're in a side hold of the Howling Horror to be exact. And that sounds suspiciously like fighting so onwards and upwards and see how bad the damage is. Follow me as the crew knows old Ned well, and strangers get stabbed on sight often enough"

The hold was dark, even with my gaudily dressed employer opened the door slowly so as not make a sound, sticking his head to look around before he exited just ahead of me into a wooden hallway at end of which lay a staircase through which poured moonlight. What also poured through it was the sound of loud voices, swearing and what I'm reasonably certain was the sound of weapons been used. Now that we'd made a few steps into this wooden area the faint roll of the deck could be felt beneath my feet as cautiously made our way along the hallway.

All the while the necromancer in front of me was faintly chanting, something I did hesitantly myself as I pulled out the reagent needed from my pouch and muttered softly and gutturally in the tongue of my God. In the end it wasn't as if the wizard in front of me didn't already know my...true nature, so best to the be as ready in the few steps we had to deck above. By the moments it took for us to reach the small stairway I could already feel that pressure and power at the back of my mind as I drew my blade and strength beyond my own flooded my limbs. Ascending the steps quietly and crouched I followed him and up unto what was evidently the deck at back of the tower at back of the ship, as the moonlight shone down from the skies above what greeted us was...

...the stench of blood, shit and sea-salt. And lain all around that was carnage, complete and utter carnage. Blood lay splattered across the wheel section, alongside the bodies of the dead sprawled carelessly like some child's discarded toys. Still crouching down at the direction of Doctor Ned, who was doing likewise just in front of me, I followed his hand gesture to crawl towards the railings in front of the ships wheel from where the sounds of voices and steel on steel was drifting up from. Years of living in the wild had made me pretty quiet when I wanted to be, though for garishly dressed wizard the man in from of my moved with practiced ease over the ropes and wooden deck without making a sound. Both of us moving to gaze through the gap between the rails and down unto the main deck of the large galleon as furled sails shuffled softly, rigging creaking, in the faint sea breeze that touched my cheeks.

"Bastards..." hissed in the barest whisper from beside me. It seemed that we had not arrived to the middle of struggle between the crew and whoever had attacked them. No gazing down at the blood soaked and corpse strewn deck it was more so apparent that these were the vultures amongst the attackers not squabbling over the loot of those they'd slain. I glanced at the leader of our intrepid duo with a look of 'What now?'

...because there was over a dozen and a half of them arguing or clashing with each other halfheartedly down there, with another one or two sitting around and drinking from what I guessed were bottles of wine. Sadly Doctor Ned's...no Ned the Necromancer's...face was a mask of fury, but his body's movements were calm, silent and fluid. I watched, my own body tense and blade ready, as he reached into his pink and green robes to pull out something while his voice whispered out low and cold while waving his free hand before him in an intricate pattern in the air. Moving myself a little away to give him space, I kept my eyes on the group below as one mercenary in a black set of armour stabbed her comrade in the chest as they cursed loudly amongst each other. It seemed the row over loot was slowly turning into a fight as gold and gems were found in the pockets of the robed female corpse on the deck. I glanced back at the mage at my side; he was waving both arms now while still crouched down to remain hidden from the enemies beneath us. One last sudden gesture, hands together then moving apart suddenly as something like dust crumbled out from his hands as they separated. The whole thing had taken less time than it often took me to cast my own low level spells.

An amulet was shoved into my hands "Put this on now, just in case" in a low clear command that I immediately obeyed as a roiling cloud of something like fog seemed to billow in from both sides on the deck below me behind and around the distracted mercenaries illuminated only by the faint moonlight and ships lanterns. To my darkvision the fog was immediately visible, but the group down below the first warning they received was the sudden, but near silent, gasping gestures the ones at fringes of the group suddenly started making. Though by the time the ones cursing at each other over some gem belonging to such and such those first ones were falling to the deck making weak strangling movements, or seemingly dead before the body hit the wooden deck.

'Kay...this is fucking scary' I thought holding my breath and desperately praying that the amulet I'd just put own would work as the 'fog' continued to spread along the deck, and into the rooms below us and down into the main hold of the ship between the masts. To my immediate relief the grey seeming cloud, though that was likely just my darkvision's translation of it, roiled and swirled across the deck as my employer began to chant again slowly, carefully and quietly motioning his hands as if giving directions, or as if pushing something down with his hands at times. So for a few minutes that seemed like hours I just crouched there in fear that I was going to die as some sort of friendly fire incident thanks to my evidently powerful and vindictive secondary boss. Creating some sort of protection against this was going to up there on my list of priorities when I got home. If I got home that was...

Suddenly Necromancer Ned clapped his hands together while saying one last word of the chant louder than the rest, though I didn't catch it as the grey 'fog' on the deck below us that had been growing and roiling terrifyingly before me suddenly just...vanished. He took a deep breath and pushed himself up to stand at the rail, hand out towards me "Amulet back please"

"Errr...yeah here, what was that? What are we doing" was really all I could do as I jammed the gold tinted thing back in his hands. While I'd like to have the extra protection I'd rather not tangle with the man who was currently paying my wages and had just shown he could do this neat little party trick to these random mooks.

"That should have dealt with whoever just took the Horror, and will give us, rather me, time to get certain things from here and for us to slow any likely pursuit when we flee. The Host Tower think me a gifted amateur at best, and in general just a fool who sells my trade because I lack true skill at my craft. But still I suspect, and therefore all of you, are on the list of the next ones to deal with now that Barty is dead. Well sad for them their wrong...hmmm...looks like there's still fighting on the docks, and between a few ships. Most of the Captains have their own wizards, I used to be Barty's years ago, and seems not all the Captains went along with this little plan of theirs" he told me motioning for me to stand and follow him down the deck. Pointing out unto the harbour, and then the islands off in the distance, one of which the illuminated form of the Host Tower made by bright flashes near it and a large galleon, or two, that I guessed were fireballs or lightning strikes. I shook my head.

"We can't take on the Tower Doctor. If a coup's going down..." I trailed off as my eyes darted over the new additions to the bodies on the deck and mentally praying there wasn't some lingering remnant of that 'fog' around. It was a struggle of willpower to keep myself breath and talking normally.

"No we're escaping, but we won't get far without a...distraction. Then we decide where to go. But first there are documents that need to be either taken by me or destroyed. Grab anything, everything small, shiny, and valuable while were in here, the dead won't need it, but we will. Oh...and keep watch too. We should have a few minutes at most before someone figures out it's gone quite up here" he replied striding forward his staff now held in a ready position at his side and his free hand rolling something between his fingers I followed with blade at the ready. At this stage of the operation I'd been reduced to the pack-mule and scout of the 'party' sadly, though I doubt I'd been anything more than meat-shield for most of it anyway.

The first stop was the robed female corpse that the ring of suffocated mercenaries around it had been fighting over evidently. Mutter something I couldn't hear the good Doctor reached down and grabbed the satchel slung around the dead woman's back, and then searched through the pockets and pulling out the scrolls. While I stood guard above I saw him sigh for a moment looking at bloodied and battered face. Then he stood back up glancing around, and then motioning towards the open door under the wheel tower that I guessed was the captain's room or something similar.

'I'm right in that' I told myself idly I followed him into a large room with a surprisingly nice looking bed for a pirate ship, along with shelves, cabinets and a desk filled with scrolls, books and letters. Well that and the dead body of the mages, or more than likely apprentices judging by the fact of being dead, that had been seemingly started to ransacking the room along with their escort of two fighters in the garb of the city guard. Though as requested I was more interested in grabbing whatever was valuable looking and easily carry able in my side slung bag. Looting; the standard part of any adventure I suppose. At least that's what I figured as I threw a book in after a gold ring and a bag of coins. My employer meanwhile was busy at a safe of some sort, pulling out scrolls and placing them into a scroll case, followed by taking a large iron bound book into hand and turning to me after only moments of a brief sojourn in the room. Handing it to me it seemed it was time to leave.

"Quickly, quickly, time to leave, but first..." he stated shoving me suddenly towards the doorway "...distraction time, so now guard me while I cast. Should be but a moment. So take this as a lesson my new Apprentice. Preparation is the key for a wizard's success! And one needs to invest time and effort in such things well of advance of even knowing what you'll require. This ritual for instance took several weeks of constant work to prepare and ready to cast on short notice. Also find some way to stay calm in these things. I find talking helps. Now be a good fellow and stand there and give me a moment" he finished as we came back out onto the deck and the noise of the mercenaries on the docks below the ship flickered up to my ears. I stood off to the side near the gangplank up to the ship as Necromancer Ned pulled out these small thin black knifes from his bag of holding. Then throwing them up in the air...

...where the spun and flicked upwards before flying downwards and slamming into wooden deck amidst all the corpses. It was really hard to focus on the dozens of 'adventurers' and such out on the docks beyond us with their handlers, or upon the occasionally flare or flash of battle nearby, as I saw what seemed to be black ink appear on the deck to outline what seemed to be one large ritual circle. Necromancer Ned stood at the centre of it, chanting and waving hands in intricate designs in the air as gems evidently inlaid in the daggers glowed a bright red...

...and then suddenly I was in the middle of Dead Space, or the random zombie movie, as all the corpses around me began to rise unnatural. Heads and arms moving at unnatural angles, sickly green energy seeming to pulse around some of them their forms as a thick fog began to emanate from the circle. For a moment I panicked, frozen to the spot as the fog spread, but the fact I hadn't fallen to the deck gasping and gagging was a positive sign. At least I kept pray to the Boss that it was a true sign as the fog rolled thickened and thickened and pouring down off the bows of the ship and to the docks below. Other than the nearly pants wetting terror it was inflicting on me it did at least blissfully conceal the rather horrifying forms of the undead that were standing wrong upon the deck weapons in hand. But it didn't hide the sounds of them rise, here on the deck, back in the captain's cabin or in the hold below. I shivered and just barely stopped myself screaming like a little girl when a gaudily clad arm reached out of the ever growing fog and touched my shoulder...

"Time to leave now Milord Karg, and don't drop that book" was stated simply as I thank the Gods themselves that I wasn't going to stay on the Ship of the Dead. By the time we'd reach the stairway to the tower hold and the portal there, the first of the screams from the docks reached my ears...

[Karguk 23]

Office of Doctor Ned, Luskan

I shivered as I glanced back at the 'doorway' that had now gone from a mirage like image of the ship's hold to a blank black surface as Necromancer Ned changed the gem at the top of it from red one to a green one. If there had been any doubt in my mind as to the powers available to my current employer they had certainly been washed away in the past few minutes. A gaudily dressed dandy he may be, as well as undesiring of being an adventurer; but he was damned well dangerous when you got to the bottom of it. Let alone the fact he knew far more about my secrets in these lands than I'd like. Thankful though right now we both appeared to be on 'Team Fuck the Host Tower' so that was a positive I figured as id clutched at the book and gem filled back slung under my left shoulder, and blade held ready in my right hand. I glanced towards the door into the office at a creaking noise...

"Oi Boss your back... ah near all packed up and ready ta get goin. So what da word from de Cap? What we doin?" the gruff tones of my female dwarven co-worker queried, calm almost, as if it was just another day at work like the past month had been. Sadly though the fact we were all armed and armoured, and what I'd just gone through very much put paid to that little idea. Even if the necromancer who'd just cast some pretty freaky magic only a few moments ago was patting the dust off him like he was back from a stroll as he nodded to Cruenditha face blank and unsmiling unlike usual.

"Barty's dead I'm afraid my dear, as is the rest of the crew that were on the Horror who were with her. Host Tower apparently got tired of the scheming and waiting and instead went for the biggest hammer available. I'm sure they'll enjoy my parting gift to them" he stated simply turning back and gripping the top of the...mirror/portal/doorway...seemed to pull it down for the wall as if it was a large roll of black paper with metal edges that followed up into a cylinder as he continued to talk.

"Now as to what we're doing...well relatively easy in the immediate next step; we leave here along with all my stuff in the few minutes via Lady Dimensional Doorway here! Like that time back in Calimshan...or at least before someone thinks to start try stop anyone doing it. Then we start running because it has both limited range and power. After that we worry about where to go...uuummm...where's our stuff?" he finished looking around the now sparse looking room.

"Ah had'em stack'em up outside on me desk so ah can haul'em on the cart, and can get de others carry dem bits an' pieces ahs well" she replied standing at the door, before moving disappearing from view back down the hallways as I heard my companions asking questions. Doctor Ned nodded, striding forward with the now scroll sized cylinder held in his free hand, black staff tapping off the wooden floor alongside the sounds of our footsteps as we both followed the dwarven defender back out into the hallway. The sooner we got out this horror show of a city the better, as even the pressure of my patron at the back of my mind seemed to indicate it was getting time to leave. As if the Ship of the Dead and Fog of Nightmares hadn't been enough to point me in that general direction without my Ilneval-sense tingling.

A few steps and the chaotic mess that I'd left seemingly hours ago, even if it was at most half of one, was somewhat restored as the critical injured Guard Silfrey was back on her feet, sword in hand, just like her other companions. And at least her panicking friend seemed to have calmed down as she now had a loaded crossbow in hand facing the direction of the entrance. Which itself was locked tight and barricaded up with whatever cabinets and tables in the 'reception' area of the office...and there, in the middle of the room surrounded by my three companions was small hand cart covered with cloth and a small stack of gear to be carried.

Gods above didn't use of pocket dimensional technology make converting a buildings worth of equipment and coin into chibi form shockingly easy. Well if wasn't for the ridiculous real world cost of the damn things anyway compared to what I had expected. Thankfully Doctor Ned was evidently stinking rich, albeit seemingly largely unknown to most, alongside being an actual wizard and had amassed this easy-to-move-shop/mini-library. So considering he had an actual plan I was quite happy to let him do the talking as he clapped his hands together cheerful, friendly smile back in place.

"Well Lords and Ladies, it is time for us to depart this fair city as it appears to be in the middle of a change in management"

"What's happening in the city? What do you mean leave? Where can we go?" Guard Silfrey ground out, healed but looking a mixture of exhausted and fearful. Truthfully all four of the guards seemed to be in a similar state though I wasn't going to criticise them for that fact as I was scared shitless too in my own way too. Doctor Ned accepted a heavy fur cloak offered by Cruenditha and slung it around his shoulders, fastening the clasp at his neck as he answered.

"Well my dear I have some bad news, our joint patron, or patrons perhaps, amongst the High Captains are no longer with us. Or at least Barty isn't. So any I'd expect Captain Happy is either dead as well or merrily ensorcelled since he ain't trained like I trained Barty. I expect that Old Boney Arky himself got a bit impatient with all this Harper and Neverwinter trouble and wanted their house in order. So those Captains been too independent-like just get to...disappear, by the morrow along with their supporters. Assuming you want to get out of this mess alive then we'll be leaving the city via...ta-da!..." he exclaimed suddenly reopening the black cylinder in his hand just to side of where the cart and gear had been assembled and black portal into nothingness appeared held up by nothing "...magic-teleporty-thingie! It has a fancier name of course, but that's stuck up fancy wizard talk. We're going about a distance away from here this very night! So children decide now if you're coming or not, where too go gets decided on the other side of the shiny portal!"

Tris looked at me, then at Lua and Etlin and back at me and Necromancer Ned beside me "But what about our gear Karg back at the Inn?"

I shook my head, knelling down as I placed our employer's iron-bound book into the cart, and then securing my own loot into my travel pack "No me NEED TO LEAVE Tris. There's nothing worth dying for back in the Inn, just clothes, some potions and other things..."

"And most of our travel rations Karg" Etlin finished for me and I winced at the minor inconvenience of nothing having any more food than what we had in the offices. This wasn't a whole lot unfortunately, which would be problematic considering the distance to Mirabar or Neverwinter. Assuming the roads would be safe to roam upon after what had just happened. Still I pressed on because problematic as that was it was a whole less dangerous than staying here.

"...and most of our travel rations yes. But we've enough coin and gems here to buy some up along the way, or we just bloody hunt if we have too. Staying is suicide and Doctor Ned has given us some time with his...distraction...on the docks"

Doctor Ned nodded as he fiddled with the gem atop the black doorway somehow standing unsupported in thin air before me "Indeed I unleashed a small number of undead upon the docks along with some...other things. That should keep Old Boney & Co. busy for a time while we make good our escape. Now children its make up your minds time..." he finished as the black doorway shimmered back into that mirage like image, though this time some trees fluttering in the cold autumn wind. Though that was largely due to my orcish heritage, as outside some flickering flashes of moonlight I suspected all the others beyond Lua could see were black silhouettes with white flickering at the edges of them. I turned to my companions as I fished out some of my heavier clothing and packing my books and other items as best I could. Across from me Lua and Etlin were doing likewise, while Tris and the guards looked more indecisive.

"I vote grab our gear and go. We'll worry about more than that when on the other side. I'd suggest throwing on some extra warm clothes as its going get damned cold outside these city walls" what the feck did the Boss want - other than me being thrust back out into the cold night with low supplies and most of my favourite new clothes and other things left behind of course. Then again we had just totally screwed up the situation here in Luskan from what had occurred in canon. So success in that I suppose?

'Aren't I a great little agent of chaos' I thought darkly as I threw on the heaviest cloak I had with me over my chainmail and under-tunic. I had the dark thought that this was exactly what my true Boss had intended by this little 'secret agent' routine since the summer. Considering what we'd just done, or well what Doctor Ned had done, attention was going to come upon us as his employees. And where had we seemingly come from? Neverwinter - pp the road and then suddenly causing chaos in Luskan after all the problems they'd suffered to date, or at least moaned about in street rumours. Once any sort of investigation occurred...of the very visible party with a Drow and Neverwinter accented guy...well then. Then bad things would start happening. Or at least bad things for the general peace between the human city states of this region.

"Whatever you want children, time to decide now! This portal stays open but a scant few minutes" Doctor Ned finished as Cruenditha stepped through the 'doorway' first with the wheels of the cart creaking as she pulled it behind her through the doorway. I looked at the others and nodded at the doorway urgently as I stood back up and slung the heavy packs across my back. This was not going to be pleasant next few hours I suspected. Lua grabbed Tris by one arm, and pulling their gear behind them like a sleight dragged our bewildered, and underdressed for the little journey to the wilds, comrade with her to my hand motioning them through the portal to wherever it was "Ladies first"

"You coming Etlin or what?" I queried of our fourth companion before dashing through the portal after the two ladies and the dwarf. Immediately I shivered having gone from the warm and lantern lit office to the late autumn night's cold of a small forest it seemed. Sheathing my blade at last I found myself pulling my cloak tighter around me. It was bloody freezing out here. I looked around trying to figure out where we were as I noticed frost or light snow upon the tree. Footsteps behind me indicated the others were coming through and I turned to face them.

"Fuckfuckfuckfuck...it's cccc...cccccc...oooollllldddd" muttered from behind me from Tris as I was relieved to see Etlin and two of the guards follow him through, along with Doctor Ned. Who promptly upon passing through shouted one last "Coming?" into the 'doorway' and getting a negative reply...placed his hands unto the 'top' of the 'doorway' once again and it unravelled just like before back into that silver and black cylinder. Which stuck into the pack on his back before closing up his dark cloak around him against the moonlit forest's chill around us.

"Well their loss I suppose..." he muttered looking around at us "...now we are about ten leagues east of Luskan. And before you all ask...NO we can't reuse Ms. Magic-Teleporty-Thingie because basically used up months of ritual and power investment with all my jumping about. If these things were cheap then everyone would use them, and I wouldn't need to use caravans and ships..." I let him talk about our plans as I saw Tris shivering badly in her light 'merchant scholar' wear beside Lua. I started pulling something out of my pack, just as Lua did likewise.

"Tris, here put these on, before you freeze" I instructed as both mysef and Lua forced warmer wear into her hands. Damn we weren't that far inland and yet the weather was already a little more severe. I guessed we were up on higher ground to account for the greater chill in the air. I turned around to our employer "Since this is your escape route, which way"

Doctor Ned nodded "We're off the main road by a league or two. Soooo...east. Which is that way judging by the stars..." he answered pointing in that general direction after looking at the clear sky above us a moment "...let's get a move on. Milord Karg if you have a moment I would believe I need to discuss something with yourself"

I nodded reading between the lines here. Our final destination was what he was going query now that we'd just fled Luskan and needed a place to lie low. And bloody hell did that open a can of worms...

[Wifne 04]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

"Oh my poor little flower, how I have failed you" Wifne Humbletree murmured to herself softly as she watched her granddaughter move warily in the training circle, shield braced and practice weapon at the ready. Her Rose should be enjoying her youth now, being courted by the village boys and having Wifne berating her for youthful misbehaviour and foolishness. Instead her little flower now deflected a blow to her shield from the large orc warrior she was fighting, before smashing her own wooden club into her opponents shield. What was worse in some ways was that she could see her Rose, her sweet, innocent child, was grinning as she staggered back from another blow but having managed to keep her footing in taking it. And then she was on the attack Wifne saw; dodging to the left as the larger orc male roared and swung at her with his wooden weapon, missing...then she saw her little flower smash her wooden practice club into the orc boy's thigh and send him crashing into the ground with a loud thud and roared curses from him.

"Oh quit moaning Lenguk, beaten by a little human girl, fuckin useless the lot of ye. Ten laps for ya. Just be glad the Nutcracker here didn't smash ya in yer tiny cock like Ishtul and Yashglick!" the old orc in charge of training roared at the downed orc as he strode over. Kicking the downed orc in the stomach when he snarled something back at the old orc that Wifne didn't quite understand "Quit bitchin! 15 Laps then for that!" he looked at Rose "And ye! Too slow ye srawny bitch! An ye didn't listen to what I said about Faster next time. 3 laps with Lenguk here now! Now Git both ah ye! Leave yer weapons behind!"

"YES SIRS! CARDAC SIRS!" Wifne heard from both of them as the younger orc struggled to stand with her little flower's proffered hand. All she wanted to do was rush over there and wrap around her arms around her red haired granddaughter, but she sighed sadly as her Rose and the slightly limping orc placed their shields, helmets, and practice weapons in the pile near all the others and started to jog around the training field here in the village.

"Is this...needed Lady Ghorza?" she asked carefully of the chainmail clad orc woman standing beside her "My Rose is a healer at heart not a warrior"

"Heh, could have fooled me, she's unmanned two those idjits already..." the tall orc woman that had ruled the village with an iron fist snorted back with amusement in her deep and gruff orc tones "...ain't that right Ogrash?"

"She's a bit short and weak like all non-orcs, but she hits like a bag'ah'bricks when she wants to. Anyway she's Karg's acolyte now and she needs to be able to fight when she's on campaign with'em. You humans just coddle your whelps too much. Rose better than useless things this place calls males anyway!" the wife, evidently the head wife, of the shaman of the orcs in the castle who rule them guffawed "Hells she better than a load our useless males like Lenguk there!"

"RIGHT YOU, YOU, YOU AND YOU! YE FOUR FRONT AND CENTRE! TWO ON TWO NOW!" she heard from the old orc on field and she watched as he roughly shoved two of the village men, and two orcs unto the field; splitting them into a team of a villager and an orc against another team of the same. Ever since the orcs had returned at the tail end of summer there had been a constant round of these training sessions and spars alongside the usual work in the village. Everyone in the village was worried for their men-folk being taken away from them for the God's knew how long, or maybe forever, to fight for their new overlords. Then there was the training; harsh and brutal. But it was a harshness that seemed to applied with equal misery they'd all discovered amongst all the fighters regardless of them being orc, human or the handful of kobolds brought along. A few of the more adventurous (and poorest) of her villagers, and the old widower Hernan to her suprise, were even somewhat mildly supportive of the possibility of getting goods and coin for them. Because for the first time in generations the village had someone to trade with regularly, and without fear of raiding...even if they were savage orcs, kobolds and goblins.

"Heh, toughen up that little fucker is what it'll do. Teach'em to do what Cardac tells'em. When we're on the campaign I'll keep my eye on her and turn her into a proper shaman, assuming Boss Karg don't do it himself!" Ghorza said what without looking away from the new melee, while Wifne's own eyes were focused on her little flower trying hard to keep pace with the large orc male she was circling the field with at the moment. Wifne nodded in thanks at those words. Ghorza she'd found was quite willing to use her village, and her Rose now, as hostages like the rest of the orcs but she was reassuring her that her little flower would be kept as safe as possible in the coming seasons. It was a real shame that it only faintly reduced the fears Wifne hid from the rest of the world and shared only with the Grain Mother in her prayers at night to keep her little flower safe.

"Thank you Lady Ghorza, Lady Ogrash for watching over and teaching my kin" she answered honestly in a quiet tone probably barely audible over the clash of wooden training weapons. Rose she was pushing herself hard and Wifne wanted to ask these orcs to allow her little flower to rest, but Rose herself had been angry when she'd even suggested to her and it would do little to keep up the spirits of the rest of the village. Her Little Flower in her own way...was helping keep the rest of the village relaxed as they saw her push herself day in day out like this, and yet she still smiled her cheerful little smile despite having been taken away by these fearful orcs. One day Rose would make a wonderful leader for the villager, assuming the village hadn't changed beyond recognition by then.

Even now after only two years Zybelin's Drift was...different. Confusingly different for her and the villagers, even her Little Flower had said similar upon her return. Wifne's village had seemingly doubled in size in mere seasons, shown must evidently by the large, high, wooden bound earth wall that now surrounded the village itself with new watchtowers behind. Or the fact of the land abandoned by generations past had been now reclaimed and glinted gold in the harvest sun while bounded by an actual outer wooden wall. The tavern had doubled in size and seemed like some bizarre parody of what the world should be as her villagers mingled with off-duty orc warriors or female auxiliaries. Young foolish Egar had merely been the herald of trouble in that regards; even if Ghorza kept iron control on the situation, that merely stopped fighting but it didn't stop the drunken mingling completely.

'Perhaps that is a good thing though' she thought tiredly looking away from her Rose's second lap and at the other groups being drilled around them, and the small crowd of gawkers of course amongst them. The fear of being betrayed and turned on by these orcs had diminished the more time you spent around them; savage, crude and uncouth yes, but as long her village stayed obedient and didn't cause trouble for them then...then...things were shockingly enough getting better. Her village felt like it was growing, for the first time in. She didn't know as it had never been nought but a slow steady shrinking of her home since her own childhood years ago. Of course she could do without seeing the nude girl covered in tattoos from head to toe swirling and dancing through a sword routine as Wifne spied young men, human and orc, staring at her. She sighed in exasperation at the sight, another of the changes to her life that she'd rather do without.

"Ah you see silver hair eh?" Ogrash stated coming to stand beside here and Wifne saw her snort and shake her own head in what she'd learned to be bemusement for orcs "She always like that since demons attack. Gods driving her to be strong"

Wifne shivered slightly at what she'd heard of these demons attacking the orcs in their castle. Her little flower thank the Gods had been safely away from there, but to think demon summoners so near her village. If the orcs hadn't been here would her village have suffered such a fate?

Still she nodded at the girl who performed a swift kick at empty air, before slashin viciously afterwards with the wooden blade. Best to take her mind off the thought of unnatural horrors while talking to the more normal and day to day ones "Couldn't she at least wear something?"

Ogrash guffawed "We think she likes the attention from males; All Gods-slaves quiet and not talk much and Cardac not make her train like that. But all have little strange things about them make different from each other little. Silver-hair there is good warrior in armour or not even for a human"

"We'll test against your Rose when they both rest a bit" Ghorza interjected "Now let us talk on how Halnguk's training is going, arming these warriors and when we are to leave. Is there any troubles with young Halnguk that you see Priestess Humbetree?"

Wifne shook her head in the negative. So far there had been no trouble with the young orc warrior that was to take temporary command when Lady Ghorza left with the rest of their warriors and her village's levy of 'auxilia' as they called them for some reason. It was a worry as while Ghorza was something of a tyrant...she was a tyrant to everyone in her own way and kept her warriors in line. She was a known quantity after several seasons living with her. Unsurprisingly then the fact of her leaving had been concerning to many of the village; that the new orc war-chief would be more brutal, or dumber, or more demanding of taxes. Or even worse – a weakling who couldn't control the place and would let violence occur. As best Wifne could tell from their lesson that Halnguk was an intelligent orc, a bit odd compared to the other orcs as well with his favouring magic over his blades or fists. And not just the magic of his evil orc god, but that he had learned from that wizard Missy that Rose had told her so much about "No Lady Ghorza, he seems intelligent and strong enough to be obeyed. We shall be no trouble to him or to you and your Lord Husband in your absence"

Ogrash beside her nodded "Good, Karg will glad to hear when he returns that this place his doing well. He's soft hearted like that. Our Missy says he's learning swiftly and is an...Abjur...Abju...Ab-something sort of wizard, that he's very skilled at spells of protection and defeating others magic and the like. So he is doing as demanded of him it seems. Bit obsessed with following rules at times but smart and capable I think Ghorza"

"Well that's good, he's a only average with a blade, but makes up with the staff and his throwing daggers I think, so wanted to be sure before I leave. Don't want to come back to a bloody mess from puttin' a stupid fucker in charge! That fucker of a Chief would never let me live it down, and Karg be annoyed at me after givin' me a chance" Ghorza stated "we'll have all my human warriors armed and armoured by the end harvest, so we can leave after that and be..."

[Zahgorim 12]

Village of Zahgorim's Conquest

The sound of metal banging on metal filled the building as he watched the blacksmiths and their new apprentices work the iron into something resembling a useful weapon. While the new village of people he had conquered two seasons ago was only just beginning to rise from the ruins the most important buildings were basically finished; the blacksmith here, the larder/barn for all the supplies and of course the tavern. And getting his new auxilia from his human village armed and equipped was an added pressure to getting it establish, but one that had to be done or the useless humans would be even more useless warriors. Oggy and Ghorza would make him a laughing stock of a chief after all if they turned up with better levy auxilia than a warrior like him. Well that wouldn't stand at all!

'And nothing wrong with cheating a little of course!' he mused to himself as he watched the suits of chainmail, and some plate armour, that they'd captured a year ago be reworked by the mixed group of humans and orcs. They'd been too small for his own warriors when they'd captured the stuff, and while some had been cannibalised for orc sized armour, there was nearly two dozen suits of various stripes been fixed up and fitted unto the auxilia he'd been training. They'd still be useless humans under his command but at least they'd be armoured useless humans under his command. At the least they could stop arrows and blade strokes meant for one of his actual warriors 'If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying!'

"So how goes the work clan-brother? All as you need or want?" he asked of cranky old Karhnoc, a former Fleshgorer but a damn fine smith compared to any of his old Stormfang, or One-Leg Pentuk a former Thunderblade. Still the truth was the human smith was better at metal-work than any of his own smiths, so they'd tried this 'crash-course training program' as Karg called it by getting a dozen younger clan-orcs trained up between here and in Zybelin's Drift. For the first time ever his clan, enlarged clan and stronghold, had access to a secure supply of iron, copper, silver and gold from their kobold and goblin servants. Unfortunately they didn't have the ability to make use of all that newfound supply despite all the things that he, Karg and Old Breyjuk wanted and the clans growth demanded. The cranky old orc in front of him grunted in acknowledgement, placing the finished halberd against wall alongside the others weapons finished in the past few days. Before he left though he'd make sure he got his slaves Sylfine and Marya into proper gold collars and anklets to show them more clearly as the property of a strong and rising warchief. But that was after more practical matters were sorted by the greybeard rumbling at him.

"Wha' ah need chief is more fuckin' time! Make this, make that! Train 'im, train 'er! And then me Chief always natterin in me ear and in the humies ear all the fuckin time! It not goin make us go any fuckin faster ye know!"

Zahgorim just let the usual bitching tirade roll over him with an amused snort. Blacksmiths seemed to be crotchety old bastards in general he'd found, along with old orcs in general. What else to expect from an old blacksmith orc "Yeah, yeah, old one I'll leave you be once you tell me if there any problems or if there anything you need for me to do to help it along? Not long till the harvest in and snows fall now"

"Bah! We'll have yer damned weapons and armour ready like I told ya and yer mate a handful times already! Nothing more can be done Chief, not till them lot can be trained up more or ye find me more smiths to work with. Gots plenty of ore just time, lads and more equipment is all. Now ya want anythin' else Chief or ya want me to make ya your damned weapons?"

"Heh I'll get then you old greybeard and leave to your work!" Zahgorim, waving a chiefly wave of his hand, snarking back in amusement before turning towards the exit from the smithy as the red hot forges gave the place a wretched heat. Walking outside into the cool, fresh, evening air of the harvest season as such was a relief from the brief sojourn into what he figured might be a mini version of the seven hells. How the lot of them, orc or human, wanted to work metal in those conditions he had no idea but it did perhaps explain why the lot of them were tough and cranky all the time. Obviously the heat fried their brains and made them angrier than a bear with a thorn up its arse.

As he strolled out into the darkening evening sky his two guards fell in beside him as he enjoyed the faint chill on his face and his breath steamed on the air. This part of the centre of the village at least was partially rebuilt; the rebuilt ancient and ruined buildings at least kept out the cold and wet even if they looked pretty horrid to his eye. Still this lot shouldn't starve or freeze to death over the cold season, especially with taking a couple of dozen of the males with them to Sparta - so building up the wall from the stone from the ruined building at the edge of the new village and trees cut down for clearing the road. He paused for a moment glancing in that direction where the edges of the wooden palisade were rising up and the sounds of them being still being worked on reached his ears.

Walls were for cowards and females the Gods said...but then again most of the garrison here would be females and raw recruits when they left on campaign come the late spring, so the walls would slow or stop any raiders long enough for the clan to send a force if needed. After all, the stronghold stood proudly visible only a day and a bit away from here and he smiled faintly at the hills in the distance where the tiny lights flickered on the walls and towers. Shaking his head at his distraction he strode onwards the short distance to where the group practice sparring was going on under the supervision of Taugh and the other older clan warriors. They'd beaten some sense into him as a whelp so he figured they would beat something useful into this otherwise useless lot of short, scrawny humans.

His mate stood watching dressed in some leathers and fur cloak alongside his pet half-elf Sylfine and his newly acquired elf from this village. She wasn't his slave of course since he'd promised not to enslave the lot of them, to them and to Karg, but it turned out to be relatively easy to bully her into obedience by gifting her village little things. All she had to do was be a good obedient elf to her overlord and Zahgorim kept his promises just as karg taught him and Breyza advised. In the end all it had taken to get his little elf Holawynn Daphine (or Hippy-Dippy as Karg called her for some unknowable reason) under the furs was an extra shipment of potatoes plus a few coins to her village, and for him to provide some better armour to 'her' villagers. Something he'd already planned on doing anyway truth be told. It was amusing then how she gave him a brief cold glare as usual when he arrived and greeted his mate and her guards but still nodded stiffly to him and spoke in her horrible orcish "Lord Zahgorim. Me Hope all well youse"

"Hah! Getting better little elf but you still sound like shit!" he guffawed back at the dreadful accent and more-so at the annoyed pout that flashed on that ugly elven face before being suppressed. His little elf always tried to mask her emotions behind a mask...but was pretty terrible at it, from her flashes of hate and fear at him, to simple confusion and embarrassment. His half-elf smiled in amusement while Breyza rolled her eyes at him and nodded at the two groups 'fighting' on the field.

"Knock it off Zah, you can play around later. This lot gettin' better but need alot of work, bunch a barely old enough whelps and greybeards lot'of'em"

His elf struggled but answered "We...lose...fighters with...not-orc orcs. These...not fighters"

Zahgorim waved it off "Yes, Yes I know. I expected this Breyza so don't worry. Most of the brave males and the proper warriors died fighting the Uthgard savages, this lot are the whelps held back for the last defence or those who ran away. Don't worry, they'll be in proper armour and we'll beat some discipline into'em over the winter. If we can beat those lazy ass goblins into something half like a real warrior last year then we can get this lot through as well"

"If you say so my mate" Breyza replied with a shrug "now can we head to the tavern and get some feed and booze. I've left the whelps with Marya for now but we'll have to head back before moons full in the sky and they get contrary"

"But the...okay, some grub and booze sounds good." I wanted to watch the fighting he wanted to argue, but then again happy Breyza, happy days so he shrugged and relented. That and his stomach rumbled in response to the mention of food so soon his little group was strolling through the mud streets towards the crudely rebuilt but large stone building. The streets were still a hive of activity, the humans and elves working on getting their homes bowing to him as he past, eyes nervous but also respectful of his little elf walking beside Breyza. As the harvest neared, and the snows that followed, it seemed all the females, and males not training, had redoubled their efforts to restore these old ruins to something like the place he'd taken in the spring. As long as they got in the harvest they'd put into the fields when he'd settled them here, and followed his orders in the coming seasons, he could care less how they spent the rest of their days. And if Karg was right letting them build up a 'proper' village would benefit his clan in the coming seasons and years.

The door on the tavern needed a bit of work he found, needing a shove to get it open full and let them in, ducking his head careful not to thump it off the doorframe again. Short ass humans and elves fault he knew. Probably some petty scheme against orcs from people long dead. But still the place was warm from the fire burning in fireplace, but not too much like the smithy had been, and only a few of locals were present. A few females and their whelps in the corner, humans and elves, who immediately brought them back over to them at his groups entrance eyes following his every step in sudden silence. Snorting in amusement he strolled over to the bar and the old female from his clan behind it as his mate, slave and elf sat at the large table nearby. It was his fancy table since he'd taken it all as loot when'd taken the village those months ago, and had to drag it back...so damn it was his to sit at whenever he wanted!

"Bit of grub and ale for me and my mate Jenskala!" he told the old crone who, along with two of her younger female grandwhelps had taken over the place alongside the human female who'd owned the one back when it Styrewood. And probably would have setup on her own Zahgorim figured if not for male dying in the fighting with the Uthgarders evidently; a strong male for human he guessed from that and the fact his eldest male whelp was fighting well (compared to the rest) in the auxilia "and for the others too. What ya got?"

"Deer stew, grain porridge or that rabbit on stick thing the humans ere' like Warchief. Kalthie is cookin today not me whelp. Everyone asks, dunno why"

"Ah give us a mix and we'll see what there like den-mother. Oh and a good bit of whatever booze you got in there!" he replied cheerfully resisting the urge to inform the old crone it was because her youngest whelp might be a looker but fact was the girl couldn't cook a meal to save her life. She was getting better of course...and that was the only reason he, as Chief, hadn't stepped in to oust the girl from that position for fear it sparked a rebellion. Still even if she was 'getting better' Zahgorim would prefer nice tasting food. It was one of the things he liked most about the 'New Ways' after the better booze of course, and him being Chief. He really liked been Chief he found...well beyond the boring bits. Though hopefully Karg would be back soon and get back to dealing with those little irritants.

[Mara 01]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

"Come to Mara Kargash, come on, that's how!" she cooed to the little dark green-grey skinned child trying to stand 'properly' about a metre away with her arms open, hands motioning towards her. With a growly little pout the tiny orc child staggered forward towards her arms waving and mouthing gibberish. Then stopping in front of Mara arms held high in the 'carry me!' sign, a loud "NOW! NOW!" coming from her charge's mouth with a ring of childish authority as she stamped her foot when Mara didn't do anything straight away. She smiled after a moment, arms grabbing the tiny orc child and lifting her up in to her arms with practiced ease and a "Good girl Kargash! Papa will be proud of you when he comes home! Yes he will!"

Master's little one had grown in her year and a bit of life, already walking and talking. Albeit probably more in the line of staggering forward for the walking, and managing only a few simple words. Mostly NO! And NOW! as best she'd seen so far. Too Mara's relief the small bundle of energy seemed to have exhausted herself in the past hour's play and had now settled quietly into her minder's shoulder gurgling away softly. Humming softly to her Mara walked carefully into the larger room where her sister was bringing in firewood and stacking it in the crude storage unit near the fireplace. From whose direction the smell of cooking oats and grains in boiling water with some milk reached her nose from the bubbling cook-pot over the flames. She smiled faintly, cooing again to Kargash to distract her from the noise of Kethri adding another log to the fire. Though the baby seemed more fascinated by the shadows dancing on the walls thanks to the flames of the fire illuminating the late evening room around them.

"Little quieter Sis, I'm trying to get her to sleep" she scolded her elder sister in hushed tones, who held her own hands up apologetically and keeping her voice low in reply with an embarrassed flush "Sorry little sister, just being clumsy"

..."I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean too. I'll be good...noooo...please don...aaaaiiiiiieeeeeee" her big sister screamed out in agony as the monster kicked her viciously in the stomach and lashed at her with the whip in its hand. Mara sobbed silently, cowering in the corner because Momma was gone, Yani was gone, Mikail was gone, and now Sis was gonna die as well. And then it'd be only her with the monsters. And then they'd kill and eat her too. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it st...

She pushed away the nightmares of times past away and focused on the here and now as usual. She didn't want to remember those terrible times with the Clawslsashers and the Monster; after all it, along with its monstrous siblings, was dead and gone thanks to their Master and Mistress. Big Sister Kethri was alive and well before her, that embarrassed smile from before the farm had been raid on her face, and they both had food in their bellies and a roof over their heads. Each day felt a little better and the darkness of those terrible months before being owned by Mistress clearing ever so slowly from her agonised mind. Work helped with that she found, that and the presence of little Kargash and Big Sis, as she walked across the room to get the cloth to secure the sling for her tiny charge. Finished at the fire Kethri came over and helped tie the cloth binding and sling around her chest and neck so that she could free her arms from constantly holding little Kargash as she moved. That and if the little tyke was hungry all she had to do was lift her tunic to solve the problem. Big Sis was smiling at her as she finished the last bit around the back of her neck and came around to face her.

"There, all done little sister! Don't you look all pretty now?" her sister murmured softly "So now help your Big Sis finish preparing the Mistresses meals?"

Mara nodded with a yawn, and had started to walk over to the table they'd setup to ready the vegetables and fruit when the door opened from the Mistresses room and Mistress Ogrash strolled out rubbing at her head in tiredness, followed by their fellow slave Missy in her wizards robes. Kethri moved gracefully to her knees and touched forehead to the ground, while all Mara could do with her charge in hand was go to one knee and bow her head "Mistress!"

"Unnn-naghhh!" Mistress grunted out waving her hand in annoyance seemingly, then yawn and scratching at her chest in a half-asleep movement. Mara and Kethri rose back up at the assumed command while their Mistress wandered over to the water boiling near the fire, taking a wooden cup worth out and pouring some herbs or such into it to still with the blade of a dagger from the table. Both Mistresses had celebrated this local harvest festival...or rather had officially 'guarded it' along with several dozen warriors...and had been asleep since the ending of that 'guard duty' in the late hours of the night. Evidently Mistress Ghorza was still sleeping judging from the loud snores from the room even with the approach of the orcs preferred time of the following night.

Despite all the noise little Kargash had fallen asleep to Mara's relief and she helped Kethri serve up the cooked porridge with some fruit to Mistress as she sipped at her hot green coloured water. This done, and permission granted, Mara and Big Sis joined the little group to quickly eat their own bowls before they were called up to do their other daily duties. Mistress after the bowl of porridge and her 'antidote' as she'd learned they were called seemed to have woken up mostly and sat back against the wall across from them looking at her child in Mara's arms.

"And had my little whelp been good?"

"Yes Mistress, she's been walking and active since she awoke a little while ago, so have cleaned her and fed her as you wished and has only just now fallen asleep" Mara answered truthfully rocking the child in the sling across her chest to ensure she didn't awaken. Though that was unlikely; when Kargash did go asleep she was hard to wake easily beyond danger she'd found like most of the orcs.

"Good, let her sleep then for a while. Don't want any wailing in my ears for a few hours if can help it!" Mistress harrumphed out "Now we'll be leaving here in a few days, the weather is getting colder and most of the food is preserved and ready to transport, and all those...snort...human warriors...are trained enough to walk without trouble and have had their chance to breed with their mates afore they leave. About seven hells damned time I'll say as the snows aren't far off in this bloody cold weather and..."

The door suddenly heard a soft bang-bang-bang as someone's armoured knuckles wrapped off the door in quick succession in the code asking to enter. At Mistress's beckoning Mara watched as he Big Sis stood up and strode over the door, pulling out the lock-bar and opening it. Revealing the forms of the two guards, the older of which pushed his head through the doorframe, looking around and glancing at Mistress and the look Mara had learned meant "What?" on her face.

"Priestess, a rider of Krowluc has returned saying that Shaman Karguk has been encountered coming into the valley and will soon be here"

Mara couldn't help but smile happily. Master was back again!

Something replicated by Big Sis who nodded in that way she did when she was happy at something happening; while beside her Missy looked relieved and hopeful as best Mara could tell. She had...not liked...Missy in the first year of Master and Mistress taking ownership of them. Missy had seemed a threat on every level with her great body, had skills that Master wanted and was always at Master's side receiving treats that neither she nor Big Sis got. It had taken time to realise they weren't in competition with the woman wizard, mostly by Master telling them one night that he didn't want fights and Mistress...correcting...their understanding of the hierarchy of the household. These past few months then she'd slowly gotten to know their fellow slave and reach a sort of friendship with her. Even if Missy thought she had something to go back to while she and Big Sis didn't; even if Master freed them...where would they be able to go and have shelter and food?

Mistress merely groaned despite the cheerfulness in her tone "Ah' course he is. Trust bloody Karg to return from questing when I have sore head...ahhhh...Missy go wake Ghorza, tell her Karg's back so she should get out of that bed...Mara you bring Kargash and come with me when we go to meet Karg, he'll want to see his whelp..." she stood up looking at the two guards "...one of you run off and get a squad for escort. And be bloody quick about it!"

"Kethri get my robes...Mara...just wait there..." Mistress told them as Missy went back into the Mistress's bedroom and the snoring orc Mistress Ghorza within. Something Mara was glad she didn't have to do as the snores turned into curses as the unhappy looking Mistress Ghorza stumbled out just after a nervous looking Missy "Whaaa? Boss Karg is back now?"

"Yeah, that what warrior just said. So get something on Ghorza and we'll head to the gate and see if its Karg or not"

Note

I'll freely admit its a quieter lull chapter, and that Mirabar was always intended as something of a red herring. Luskan was the target for Ilneval, but didn't want to do it directly. So this chapter is intended as a bridge between returning and also I hope giving some view into Mara's POV which I've largely left out till now beyond 'competes with Missy'.

[Lua'kah'wyss 03]

Village of Zybelin's Drift

"Be at ease Tris, best not seem threatening to friend Karg's fellow orcs. If danger were to have come it would have been several leagues prior" she told her tu'rilthiir friend softly, giving gentle pat her arm in a sign of support. Before them rose the wooden and earthen walls and gate into a small village, upon whose walls several dozen orcs with bows were gazing down at their approaching forms. Or at the least their focus seemed to be friend Karg himself who strode just ahead of them, leading his horse while talking to the plate clad half-orc leader of riders on both sides of them. She glanced at them again in passing; such a strange group they were with orcs, rivvil, half-orcs and even a tu'rilthiir jaluk amongst their number. Though only if one looked hard and was used to friend Tris – just like Tris beside her this tu'rilthiir was clearly passing as a rivvil. He even had a beard which no darthir or drow jaluk could grow.

"Kargs an orc, and we're going into an orc stronghold, and you've all lost your minds...oh gods there's so many..." Tris muttered miserably, looking around frantically as more armoured orcs emerged from the gate marching, a little surprisingly to her, in an organised formation. Followed swiftly by a gaggle of jalils, two orcs but several rivvil, who stopped at the gate entrance as the moon rose in the sky above them and the last flickers of the sun began to slip from sight.

Lua'kah'wyss sighed and gave Tris's arm a squeeze in support. Her beautiful little tu'rilthiir had reacted...badly...at first to the discovery that friend Karg was an orc. Not that any of them had reacted particularly on that cold night several weeks ago of course; but friend Tris had fainted, and then seemed to be in a permanent state of shock the entire journey to this place. When she wasn't staring constantly at the now most-certainly-not-rivvil-anymore appearing Karg that was with this confused and despairing look upon her face; more than once upon this tiring journey it seemed friend Tris blamed herself somehow. For what exactly Lua'kah'wyss was not sure, as friend Karg the rivvil turning out to be Karg the orc was all down to friend Karg and not to Tris in anyway.

"Good Gods he actually has Dread Legions" friend Etlin said with a shake of his head, and amazement in his tone, as they neared the gate and formation of two or three dozen orcs in front of it. The robe clad Doctor Ned nodded cheerfully in the descending gloom, seemingly completely unconcerned by the fact they were approaching an orc stronghold.

"Yes indeed, though a few dozen orcs in a place like this hardly counts as a 'Legion' as you say my dear boy. Now children, behave and be quietwhile the only one here on friendly terms with these orcs greets them and gets us under shelter. So no sudden threatening movements or statements on orcs and such, they're grumpy sorts I found the last time I worked with some, and its growing dark swiftly now. Though of course that was years ago and this lot are...different to what I recall"

'Better armoured and with actual discipline you mean wizard?' she wondered idly as they strolled forward, she herself alternating between holding the reins to her surface-beast to guide it, and with helping the stunned looking friend Tris walking beside her. In truth she could understand; Tris had been very reluctant to come with Karg after the...revelation...but friend Etlin had already accepted Doctor Ned's offer to sign on as bodyguard while Lua'kah'wyss...

She sighed softly. Her own mind had been a jumble in the aftermath of that night when friend Karg had told them, and then shown them his true form. Part of her had wanted to lash out at being lied to by one her new, but close, surface friend; who had talked to her and kept up her spirits in the short time together but had been lying the whole time. Another part had understood why he would disguise himself; she as a Drow had faced such relentless fear and often hate from the rivvil - appearing as a rivvil would have made things so much easier and less painful each day. And yet another small part had been considering that as an orc jaluk he wasn't too bad looking, and wondered if the growth in height and bulk was reflected proportionately across his body?

Because that'd certainly make up for tusks and such he'd gained. But then her Goddess had sent dreams that very night, that this was the burning sword she had been questing for...or at least that was how she had chosen to interpret the dreams under the moonlight. Friend Karg was a mystery and she wanted to solve it. That and she trusted him to deliver the protection he had promised for some reason. And it made little difference at times between hiding from the Sorcere of Luskan here amongst the orcs, or amongst the rivvil...both hated her kind and at least here the Sorcere would be less likely to seek them or find them now that Doctor Ned's anti-scrying wards prevented finding by magical means. Loud voices in that brutish and crude orcish tongue from near the gate, and then friend Karg shouting back and waving brought her out of her mixture of reverie and watching the orc archers atop the wall. Who so far, thankfully, were acting more excitedly friendly it seemed than hostile at the approach of her band of adventurers; or more-so to friend Karg at the forefront of it.

"Gods he has an actual harem...Oh Gods am I'm part of an orcs harem?!" Tris whispered so softly that Lua'kah'wyss could be barely hear here standing beside her as they strolled forward. Before them friend Karg had strode forward and hugged the equally tall orcish woman in robes that likely marked her as a priestess or something of authority within this tribe. Who quickly broke the hug huffing in that crude orcish tongue at a laughing Karg, and the other large orc female who was giving a savage guffaw as she smacked friend Karg in the shoulder. Then motioning at Lua'kah'wyss and the others while speaking in that guttural and grunting tongue as friend Karg gave her a brief glare then fcused on the little child held by one of the human women, a collar around her neck. Lua'kah'wyss resisted the urge to frown at that, it seemed no matter where she went it seemed to be, but she had been warned that this in place it would exist by Karg; now once again she must endure being unable to do anything about it as in Skullport and Luskan. Perhaps her arguments would sway friend Karg away from this dark path?

She gave Tris another encouraging squeeze and whispered in close to her "Tis okay my lovely Tris, I won't let any unwelcome attention come upon you..." Because your mine, all mine, my little tu'rilthiir not that one must share or lost friend Karg "...and friend Karg, despite being an orc has been nothing if polite towards us and you especially..." and there had been none of that kind of closeness thanks to that since they had fled Luskan and the rivvil Sorcere. Or any at all between Tris and Karg, only Lua'kah'wyss herself of the two had engaged in talk with him about what awaited them, and should she and Tris go their own way "...so be at ease for now"

Even as she encouraged Tris to focus on the here and now, and not upon the fears of her mind, she watched as a robed woman in appearance of wizard, but with a slaves collar around her neck, glomped unto friend Karg spouting words in that orc tongue too softly for Lua'kah'wyss to even make out. And beyond them to her further surprise she could see rivvil, a sizable number of rivvil in fact, coming forward to look at the curiously with an order female in crude clerics robes at the lead while her staff tapped off the ground. Karg when while, rivvil female still latched unto him turned and looked at them all.

"Well folks, welcome to Zybelin's Drift. And Yes you safe and Yes I've just told the garrison your my allies and guests and the like...so there'll be no trouble. This here is my lovely wife Ogrash, and my second wife Ghorza my little Kargash, and these are my slaves Mara, Kethri, while the pretty wizard needing to let go of me is Missy...and I sound like a bloody anin...muttermuttermutter..." he trailed then sighed before continuing on "...right, so where was I? Oh yes, Zybelin's Drift, family...and oh this is Wifne Humbletree Cleric of the Grain Mother, and her lovely granddaughter Rose, also a Cleric of the Grain Mother and currently my apprentice...now what else..."

Lua'kah'wyss's mind just came to a shuddering stop at all the information being thrown at her, and in the end it was Doctor Ned, with a curious look upon his face who asked what she herself was thinking "Hmmm...before you go any further. Don't you serve an orcish war god? At least that's what I recall you saying and those symbols are clearly his. Your apprentice is a human girl who serves the..."

The flame haired girl interrupted with a cheerful tone "Master Karguk and Mistress Ogrash while was away has taught me many things! Like how to break peoples legs in a single blow! And how to read and write! HI MASTER KARGUK! Welcome back!" she finished waving at Karg smiling happily. Wait...he taught her to do what?

"Another one..." Tris whispered disbelievingly beside her as friend Karg patted the rivvil girl with hair the colour of a burning flame and affection in his voice "Hello to you too little Rose" he glanced back all of them staring at him. Lua'kah'wyss was very confused right now. Friend Karg just got stranger and stranger by the minute "Well I dunno, she's my apprentice so I teach her magic and fighting and stuff. Boss doesn't seem to mind at least"

"The...Boss?" she found herself having to ask as he looked back at her confused. He pointed a finger up at the sky "The Boss Orc up there. HE-WHO-TELLS-ME-WHAT-TO-DO and all that jazz. We can talk about such depressing things later though...because it's getting cold and dark and we all smell. So let's get you all into the tavern and the hotsprings..."

"You've a tavern here?" Etlin's rivvil female jalil and former Luskan queried in confusion, fear being overcome by the confusing situation before them. Friend Karg was a strange orc must definitely but this was all very surreal she found as dozens of people, rivvil as well as orc gazed upon them and talked amongst themselves likely about them.

"Well of course, every hamlet on this world seems to have an inn or tavern. Not much of one I'll admit, but we're working it"

Doctor Ned smiled in the darkening air "Ah a splendid idea Milord Karg, or is it Karguk? Though I suspect my minion Silfrey likely means that most Orc strongholds are rarely so organised as to have a tavern or inn"

"Karguk is full name, but Karg to my friends. And you're in that bracket. As to orcs and taverns; I know, uncivilized buggers most of them. Stupid too, because taverns have booze and I like booze and having a nice place to drink it and not a stinky dank cave is smart. We've one, maybe two by now, back at the stronghold as well. Though this is the villagers one, but it's been expanded hasn't it Ghorza since I was here last?"

"Yes, Karg it has" the chainmail clad orc woman replied eyes studying them all and Lua'kah'wyss was suddenly aware that these orcs were likely far more dangerous than what she had imagined, and what she'd heard off in the Underdark. That and a dozen or so rivvil, with orc officers it seemed, were forming up just at the edge of her darkvision. She paused, he said in the stronghold. Was this not the...

"Um my dear boy is THIS not that stronghold you spoke of?" Doctor Ned asked patiently as Lua'kah'wyss thought the same. Beside her friend Tris's brow was furrowed in concentration, looking at the walls and gate in front of them with rivvil and orc, and then at the jalil surrounding friend Karg.

In front of them friend Karg blinked, paused for a moment, then answered "No, this is one of our tributaory villages. The castle is still a few days walk away assuming the road is finished. Be glad we came here first and not that kobold place, bloody cramped no matter what King Tucker says..."

"He's got a castle..." Tris whispered voice filled with confusion as the orc women started gabbling away in orcish, followed by friend Karg nodding and making an expression that said "Sorry!" or perhaps "My mistake!" before turning and saying something loudly to all the orcs around them and motioning at each of them in turn. Suddenly a whistle came from one of the orc jalil nearby, and a round of talking amongst themselves...before suddenly loud cheering started to break out amongst the nearest orc warriors. Friend Karg brought his hand up to his head...looking almost sheepish as he turned back to her and a sighing Doctor Ned who nodded and looked around.

"Ah, so I see shall many new customers. At least they'll leave Crue and the others alone after that"

Tris found her voice at the sudden eruption of good cheer among the orcs "What did you tell them Karg?"

Doctor Ned answered for him "He told them I'm a powerful wizard. And that my job is making women more beautiful with bigger boobs and asses, and that I can make mens cocks bigger too. It appears to have gone down well with the crowd...ahhhhh...well lots of potential customers it seems. Need to brush up on the orcish though, not getting all of this..."