In My Time of Troubles

by Crossposted

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

34. Entry 34

[Missasri 30]

Shaman's Tower, Stronghold of Sparta

Missasri found she strongly disliked being pregnant, if everything else aside it placed unwanted restrictions upon the more practical elements of her arcane learning for some time. Negative energy manipulation was harmful to the unborn...if used poorly, and Missasri Bladecutter was not a foolish mage Gods dammit! And there was a true master of the Art, of the necromantic school, right there that she could be learning such lessons from over the coming winter. Instead she had to suffer through itchy breasts, sleeplessness, and a belly that was starting to bump out so as to making her favoured method of sitting cross-legged to study less than comfortable right now.

Not that she was going to be studying her spell-book for a little while longer as she shrugged on the heavy cloak beside the cheerfully chatting form of the red haired Rose. Largely to the already prepared drow Lua who was leaning back against the wall musing over the sleepers, such as Tris, who snored away in the bed beside Karg, the Mistresses, Kathri, and Mara. Missasri resisted snorting at her own idiocy at listening to the drow's idea to get up and wander down to the town and help out with her 'Adventurers guild' and then with the youngsters nearby. Instead of resting in the bed she was up and dressed, about to walk out into the cold and damp of another gloomy overcast day.

"Shush you two, and quieter on the door" she muttered to both as Lua chuckled a bit loudly as they moved to exit the room "...don't want to walk the children...or bigger children"

"Yes Matron, sorry-sorry!" Lua chuckled back in a softer tone, holding the hilt of her sword as Rose opened the door slowly and carefully as they exited passed the guards. Both saluted in that fist to heart signal of theirs as they passed after shutting the door, carefully, behind them as one of Karg's bodyguards followed along behind them to serve as their escort. It was still rather strange, going from slave, naked and terrified of the armoured orcs...to ordering several around, while others feared her for her magic. Something she reminded them subtly of, while also taking out various nervous frustrations, by practicing her lightning spells in the practice yards whenever possible.

Snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked out of the still relatively quiet shaman's tower and out into the courtyard turned training yard. Even now, with a layer of white covering the ground and walls, dozens of orcs were fighting each other with trainers shouting threats and orders at them, while above on the walls fur cloaked guards stood watch while a few braziers of burning coal and wood glowed faintly in the early morning gloom. Her breath steamed on the air as they moved, watching one of the younger warriors be face planted into the ground; largely thanks to an overextended sword strike, and his opponent stepping into the blow with his own attack to the fallen orc's back.

"Brrr, I do not like this part of surface living"

"Oh you're plenty wrapped up Lua..." Missasri replied with an amused chuckle at the whining of the 'brave adventurer' in what was still a mild winter. Two more orcs had joined the form of the Red Branch Knight Jhyurt following along behind them as they descended the slope through the soft fall of snowflakes and gentle morning breeze "...and this was your idea, or at least you who wanted us to get up early and head down into the town before starting another day's efforts"

"It's a nice fresh day! Uh-huh!" Rose told them happily as she kicked some of the snow ahead of her and seemed amused by it "...we should enjoy it while it's nice like this...because soon enough it'll be howling blizzards and cold storms keeping us inside telling stories because it's too heavy. This is fun winter, but fun winter only means evil killer winter is drawing nearer everyone in the village said"

"I know, don't mean I like it..." Lua whined shaking off the flakes sticking to her again "...but it's why we need to make sure everybody is back in from any 'quests' out of the stronghold. If Lua'kah'wyss is in charge, then Lua'kah'wyss will do her job like a proper hero would!"

Missari shrugged "Shouldn't be too bad, you stopped sending out anyone outside the stronghold and villages a few days ago right? I remember you saying that to Mistress Ghorza before Karg woke up from his...mediation thing and started writing on the walls"

And Gods had that whole episode been strange incident after an extended period with Karguk glowing occasionally in his prayer session to his God. Something that had been successful by all measures apparently as soon after waking he had embarked upon a stunning session of writing and talking about Arcane theory and how the world, and the Weave, functioned in relation to certain stimuli. While he didn't seem to remember their discussion her debate/discussion with him during his trance had been of great help in the area should could study with any issues for the child growing inside her; that of her Lightning based spell, from developing from a single concentrated bolt to a chain attack version.

"Oh yeah, but they aren't exactly a group great at obeying orders let's say, so I want to see how many have setup themselves up in the beds in the common room. And the place isn't freezing cold, or somehow managed to catch fire thanks to that lot inside"

"Or kill each other"

Rose 'helpfully' interjected causing Lua to huff back in reply as they walked through the misty 'streets' of the stronghold's growing town "They better not, Karg and Matron Ogrash gave me guards to beat sense into any thick heads, be they orc, rivvil, or other! Even told them to keep jhla'zen like Nimmil and kuma like Menkin aways each others...see I prepared! Organised even!"

Missasri gave a glance at her fellow household member "Has Karg been helping you? Or your High priestess maybe?"

Another huff and a pout as hands folded across chainmail clad chest "Unf! I'll have you know I can do it all by myself..." softer muttering "...even if both did help me out this time one must admit"

"See! But first we must have food to grant us energy for another day!" Rose grinned back "I for one am very hungry"

"Yes I can agree to that, hungry stomach too I'm afraid" Missasri agreed as they passed one of the patrols...no a group of the apprentices going about their own patrol to clean and clear the water and food supplies held down in this part of the stronghold. Three slaves, at least warmly clad, were with them holding buckets and carrying packs and shovels upon their backs and shoulders. Hard work, especially in this weather, but Missasri made sure to give a wave of greeting to the apprentices as they passed though the slaves eyes were less interested as usual she noted in two cases. One looked at her with something resembling tired hope, or relief, and gave a tight smile before the group passed them by; course that was from the human girl rather than the two orc slaves.

Hierarchies, of sorts, had settled into place amongst the slave after all just as within the rest of the clan and its allies, and that seemed to have led to some of sullenness and distrust between the slaves being reduced to some degree. Missasri could relate, Mara had been...less than friendly...till things had settled out in the household in regardless everyone's role within the power structure. Unsurprisingly Missasri, with her arcane abilities, education, and blood heritage, had risen above the two peasant girls and with roles established they had slowly grown closer to near friends now.

For the field slaves order and organisation had cut down on the more dangerous, and ruthless, competition that led to violence and death between several of the slaves of varying species. Her own freeing had helped with, but also encouraged at the same time, that behaviour...though as best she could understand it had been a popular move with the Drow priestess for dealing with slaves in the future. But it was believed enough for the slave auxlia warriors, patrolling ahead of them in a small group with a female orc squad leader, to fight well enough apparently.

"Think they'll have porridge today or..."

--

[Roland 09]

East of the Subrin Hills, West of the Village of Longsaddle

It was another cold and miserable day Roland found as he warmed his hands over their campfire under the snow coverage foliage of this little patch of forest at the foot of the Subrin Hills. Rubbing both hands together and reveling in the little bit of heat he letting out a tired breath, watching it steam on winter morning air. He hated travelling out this far from the village, in winter of all times...but that was a Sheriffs duty when the Mage Lord called upon you to investigate happenings upon one of the few open trade routes for the village, well, you did your job and scouted out the area then. No matter the irritations of camping out in the winter cold, or hazarding the dangers of the wilderness.

"Grubs up" he heard Kiran Redhart announce, taking the proffered wooden bowl of cooked beans and side of bread into hand like the other members of the party around the two campfires burning low in the their improvised shelter. Only the drow, the Uthgardt savage, Kiran's brother Yreth, and one of his own militia in the shape of Warl wasn't present for it; they could eat once the rest of them had eaten and somebody could else could stand guard up above on the rocks, or up in the tree, as they did so. He'd done his best with such a disparate group, and it'd worked well enough he mused as he chewed on the bread after dipping it into the cooked beans mix. Wasn't the best in truth, but right now it was a bloody joy as it warmed the night's chill from his bones.

"What ye reckon Sherriff?" one of the other adventurers who'd joined his group of twelve queried, a scarred human woman who claimed to be a cleric of Tempus, as she messily gulped down her own small meal "nother day inta da hills? Gotta say, weather been turnin' pretty shit since we left, bloody cold fog an' snow shittin' on our adventure innit?"

Roland nodded, giving a sigh that as he looked about the morning gloom shrouding the woods and rocks around them in its flowing mists that was only brightened by the sunrise of not too long ago "Aye, weather turning against us indeed. Reckon we'll scout ahead today, camp here again for the night, and then head back to the village with what we learned"

"An' whata we learned?" it was more curiosity and boredom from Gunnar Stoneaxe "...seemed to me we saw a whole like ah nothin' so far. Well, other them goblins an' that rather tasty direwolf that the drow managed to take out. Well, empty villages too ah' guess, but not sure if 'we saw nothin' is anything much ta report ta the Mage Lord"

"Eh, it plenty to tell him Gunnar; looks like they've abandoned their minor steadings down here, and up stakes to head north or east from the tracks. We have our own Uthgardt with us and he backs that up..." he jabbed a thumb at the orc wizard in their midst. Something that still felt utterly bizarre in the same, and even more so when mister poncy brogue open his mouth "...and our other experts like Halnguk here, and the drow standing guard above, back that up. Probably raided caravans before they moved on from the looks of it, between them, the goblins, and hungry wildlife looks like we know where that last caravan disappeared off to"

Things were bad enough from his point of view as this dwarf, calling himself 'King of the restored Mithril Hall' had turned up with the support of the Harpell family and had sent out word for dwarves 'and other heroes' to come and prepare to aid Mirabar come the spring. The mad mages had even let him, and his friends, establish a small camp just outside the village alongside all the fools whose temporary sheltering in the village had turned almost into living there permanently. Partly thanks to the trade with the bloody crazy orcs in the Crags and then looping back and forth south to Triboar, or up this road towards Nesme.

Course that had led to them being here after a band of dwarves, looking to join up to fight come the spring, had turned up in the village and looked for a small caravan of wagons that had left ahead of them by a few days yet still hadn't arrived. Or frankly shown any sign of travelling on the road, or near the road, from Nesme so far; Roland's best guess was they'd been hit up in the hills and had never made it this far at all. Uthgardt were his bet for hit two or three lightly protected traders with pack mules and wagons while leaving a small band of heavily armed dwarves alone.

Nothing worth looting from that lot beyond the arms and weapons; ones that wouldn't be much use for the big burly savages, largely due to dwarves being short, angry, folk like Gunnar Stoneaxe across from him. Or at least that was the likely outcome, but poor weather or not he'd check as far from the village as he and the others knew well enough before reporting back. The bad weather was going to solve a number of these problems anyway, especially once it came to the deeper and darker ten-days of the season. For now though it was time to get the watchers in to eat their own breakfasts while four others changed places with them, and he and the others in the patrol readied the horses for another day's scouting and tracking.

Once mounted, after a careful effort to quietly lead their mounts out through the shifting mists into the brighter flat areas off a distance from the road he motioned forward "We'll be following in parallel to the road and the ditches, groups of three and keep in sight of each other...you three are the better trackers so up the front like the past two days. Kiran, Warl, Priestess Braith, you are the carry up rear. I'll take the right flank, Yreth you're the left, same diamond as before but keep close so we don't lose each other if this murk doesn't clear up"

...which it didn't as the time passed in silence and sun rose, but failed to burn through the fog beyond reducing its thickness to bearable levels. Roland hated that, it slowed them down a great deal and forced a constant struggle to keep watch since keeping watch any distance and a bloody rabbit managed to startle them as it made noise beyond its since in some undergrowth nearby. Least it would serve for some further rations in exchange for its disturbing of their search; something that was fruitless despite finding an area where somebody, the dwarves party most likely, had camped as they had for a short period of time. Roland knew the spot, it and areas nearby oft proved decent spots to rest with shelter from the elements, and from more active humanoid troubles as well. The strangeness started after highsun, just they were debating resting and beginning their journey back.

"Buildings up ahead, looks like an inn"

Roland frowned as the big burly barbarian tracker jerked a meaty finger down the road as he and road back between the drow and one of his own fellow townsfolk, young Jeric, who served as tracker in his spare time "An Inn?"

"Well looks like from here Sheriff, bit hard tell in this weather but that looks that or a farm...and there's no fields so not like to be one"

He scratched at his beard, glancing over at the orc before shifting over to Kiran once his group came up and Roland remembered the orc wasn't from this side of the village "There's a building ahead"

Kiran, long time armsmen to the Harpell family and well used to traveling these roads just as Roland himself had been, frowned "No, there would not be..." he motioned at a rock formation and an old dead tree nearby "...see, we're at the foot of the Subrins. We've camped here a few times over the years, and I'd have remembered any buildings we could have to stay in rather than out in this cold"

Roland nodded "Aye, I know, but they says it's there so best check it out..." he motioned at the others to form up into a rough column "...right lads and lassies, weapons in their sheaths but be on guard case its bandits or some such in the building up ahead"

Putting himself at the head of their little group with Kiran on his right he trotted his mount forward over the road to where the three returned trackers had motioned. Their mounts horsehoes clipped and clopped faintly off the hard packed ground as they moved through the mists, the outline of what they'd seen coming into view after a few moments causing Roland's brow to crease in confusion. As with Kiran, and mutterings from his brother Yreth behind to Gunnar, he knew this area fairly well and, while it'd been a few years, it didn't hear any word of anyone foolish enough to setup in a lonely spot like this. That and the little fact of...

"If this here inn were here, then why did the dwarves pass it by and camp not an hour away?" the priestess queried what Roland had been thinking as they came to stop...before a solid and stone building that was clearly a large inn. One that looked like it had been here some time, or at least taken some time to build, even down to metal and wood sign above the door with the name Thirsty Flagon emblazoned upon it with the symbol of a hand holding up a flagon of ale to be filled.

"Aye, that is the question is it not?" Roland replied after a few moments thought as they all just waited and studied the empty yard of the inn, stables on one side with horses and ponies with the main building opposite. This was strange, and strange was always a problem in Longsaddle...problems that could get you killed by not debating what was causing the strange. He hummed in thought, then sighed motioning at the orc who'd been foisted unto the party.

"Aight, magic orc get out that scroll the Harpell's gave ye, and contact Lord Malchor, strange inn has appeared and we've a missing caravan, so we aren't doing anything till we have a word with him or the Mage Lord on the matter. I've lived in Longsaddle long enough to..."

--

[Karguk 67]

Shaman's Tower, Stronghold of Sparta

It was another cold day, overcast, and with the daylight not being too bothersome it gave a beautiful panorama of the whole valley laid out before me. Faint bands of golden light shook out from the cloud cover up in the sky above, while a layer of white interspersed with spots of snow free grass and rocks thanks to previous days light snow flurries. Seemed the weather was cold enough to prevent the snow from melting, and certainly the cold bite in the air indicated that to be the case. I sighed looking out at the changing weather on the horizon; probably a winter storm, or just a heavy, cold, fog bank rolling in over the hills.

Either way it looked like tonight was going to be another cold affair best dealt with by being inside around the fire, and for those patrols out tonight one where I'd need to ensure braziers were lit and a proper watch maintained. That and a fire watch as well I guessed resting my arms on the stone of the old battlements and looking down at the activity going on in the town below; shocking really how fast a town could spring up in a mere five-six years. Then again, considering the population growth, and the fact even sending hundreds of clan-orcs to small fortified 'watchtowers' and 'steadings' had done little to slow that growth I should consider it fairly regimented in building. I gave an amused snort; organised chaos really.

"More bad weather rolling in is it?"

I shrugged in response to Oggy walking up unto the stone behind me, booted feet echoing on stone as I continued to stare out at the town below and valley beyond "Yeah looks like, cold winds blowing in from the north again"

"Bah, good summers but harsh winters!" she grunted back in reply coming up to stand beside me and giving a glance back at the ritual circle amongst the currently sparse ranks of Mara's and Kethri's tiny herb garden "...you have communed with the ancient shaman? What word?"

"Time consuming and tiring but yes, ruthless old bastard seems to at least seem to at least agree to listen to the plan..." I replied with a nod "...or at perhaps seeing it as a first step towards marching on Luskan. I do believe he's feeling adventurous after the furr...Wyrmog's death, the purging of most any rebel clans within the Crags. Course that's only for the here and now, and come the spring the real test will come for whether our...services...can be afforded by the humans and dwarves, and suits our needs come the summer"

"It is still a season away Karg, but if the old one can be kept on our side then our clan's plans should be accepted by the others. We and the Moonblades chieftain already see the same prey before us, and agree on the means to slay and cook it; leaving only the Red Axes who care only for themselves and what price will be paid to get them to fight"

'True, but keeping those interests all aligned in roughly the same direction is not the easiest of things' I thought to myself nodding in agreement to her statement but unfortunately used to the problems of keeping things as we'd ('I'd) like them to be. Phargk had been...Phargk really, in all his full sith lord orc views on the world and horde as we had magically communed; one of the benefits of being a trained and empowered cleric dealing with another senior cleric with similar abilities. Still it was draining to achieve, and I was somewhat cold too having been out here on this winter's evening after opting to perform the casting under the open air. I resisted a sigh; idiocy on my part mayhaps, but it had been a little easier and I had needed the fresh air as well to some degree.

"True, and you're right; it is a bit of time away..." I admitted glancing over my shoulder. Seems I hadn't noticed the silent, stealthy, approach of Oggy's shadow Mara as my wife took her place beside. I motioned at my slave to come over as she stood there silently head bowed as ever "...hey, you can over here and have a look, rest a moment Mara dear"

"Too soft hearted as ever with your females Karg" Oggy told me with an amused snort as Mara came forward to stand in front on me, allowing me to wrap arms around her as we started out over the clouds pouring over the distant hills like a slow motion dam being overflowed "...Mara you stay with your Master for the night. Ensure he goes to the baths and eats, not reading tomes and magic all the time while you are being a good slave"

"Of course Mistress, as you command..." Mara's tone was as obedient as ever, though the relaxing of tension in her stance and pressing back against me seemed to indicate she saw this as a reward of sorts. She had turned into a very attractive woman, and borne me a strong health son, from the poor broken thing that we'd been 'gifted' not too many years ago. Didn't make it any easier at times to deal with her status and my own...nor her, occasionally very creepy, loyalty and contentment in the role as personal slave to myself and Oggy "...this one is pleased to obey"

"Oh hush now you, you know you love it; and it only applies to you and the others, enemies don't get the friendly sorts" I grinned back, earning a roll of orcish eyes from my wife "...and don't worry I've plenty to do right now, and communicating with his holiness of torture healing could require a short period of resting before I start into serious study of the arcane or otherwise"

It had been a rather busy time since my 'little' spiritual excursion, training with my apprentices and acolytes being balanced with the need to play judge and sparring down in the courtyard. Interspersed with the odd manic period of writing 'random' stuff down about on parchment/wood/walls about the nature of the world, weave, and functioning of natural laws. Least I had control of it after the initial outburst, and now I was planning out the Mid-Winter Festival (Ritual) to try and deal with the situation by the application of 'more power' to it. Knowledge without power really wasn't the best in the long run, and with battle coming up training and levelling up were a goal for the season.

"Good, anyway I'll be training and making use of the God-slaves this night so they shan't be free. That mad wizard of yours, and the gnome, are also recovering from their drinking last night"

I frowned, glancing at her "Nothing caught fire?"

"No, just the dancing skeletons and dancing lights. But in the Underkeep and none were bothered by the madness, the necromancers slave will be sent to serve you for the night I expect. Missy seemed to believe so at least"

Sigh. Of course there were, and of course I was dealing with Sydney with Doctor Ned recovering from a night's drinking "Great, Zah's in the same state as well?"

"Aye, he shall be resting for the night with his concubines apparently"

I snorted "Of course he is"

"It's Zah, what do you expect when he gets surrounded by booze and unclad females" Oggy replied continuing the amused grin on her face "...I'll handle the whelps today, and aid Rose in her moving of the human whelps to their new dens down below in the town"

"You'll be taking some of the acolytes for training them I expect then?"

She nodded "Going to see whose volunteered when I head back down, and I'll let you know who and how they served upon my return"

"Okay, and watch for...and have Rose look too...for any of the village or Uthgardt children here as our...guests...who might be particularly intelligent or skilled in the arcane. Or might serve as acolytes to Rose down the line. I know there weaker than our whelps, physically, so please try avoid any serious injuries Oggy love"

"Don't be silly Karg, I know what I'm doing. Like you could do any better anyway"

I shrugged hugging Mara as she seemed to enjoy the closeness "True, you are better at it than I, but just want to avoid any trouble with the vassals, or with Obould's newly conquered Uthgardt clan. Toughening up is fine; but also, well, let children be children where we can is a good idea I think. We want future warriors, mages, captains, and builders not a bunch of screaming loonies coming to the top"

--

[Vaerier 07]

Menkin's (Magical) Tavern & Apothecary, Lower Slopes, Sparta

The tavern was absolutely packed tonight she found managed to only thump rather than drop the flagons of ale unto the table for the four orcs amidst the frantic noise and movement of the common room. Even with the door open to the cold night the tavern was comfortably warm despite being in her more revealing, and more importantly less than warm, dancer garb. Course it was far more than the two drow elves currently dancing frantically beside each other in excellent coordination upon the 'dancing stage' to the energetic music of the shaman's half-elf concubine and friends. Shameless creatures really Franja found, but it was a full moon so this was somehow a religious 'celebration' of theirs that had been driven indoors due to the cold and thick fog outside the door...

'No wonder the younger ones are so bad when their high priestess is setting that example' she thought to herself glancing at said tall black skinned and silver haired elf drinking deeply from a wine cup while encouraging her acolytes on in their madness. Still, madness aside, it was proving a very profitable night for Master and the tavern as the common room, and the impromptu 'second common-room' form outside around a large bonfire in the 'town square' outside. She'd almost found herself dancing as she moved between the raucous mob of customers due to the energy filing the room, and simply to avoid the ever shifting orcs, half-orcs, drow, and humans amidst the place. Even getting back to behind the bar had meant gliding around two drunken orcs, motioning at them to her Master's hired minions for the night to separate them before a fight broke out.

"Trouble Miss Vaerier?" the young tiefling Dia queried in a half-shout as she found herself best to vault gracefully over the counter-top as the two burly orcs pushed forward to the other two idiots starting to punch at each other. She shook her head in response to the other slave's query, then glancing back as the wooden clubs ended the argument before it drew blood or interrupted the song and dancing.

"No Dia, just some more idiots. They can cool their heads outside" she half shouted back as her gaze moved to where her scaly little master and her daughter were in attendance with the Orc Shaman, some of his women, and of course harmless Petra the alchemist. Franja almost chuckled at that; as ever the poor woman was a mix of mortified and befuddled by the insanity all around her even as Master Menkin sought out more gains and magics from the orcs who rule the stronghold "...just watch for trouble before like Master wants"

'Not with Shaman's guards lurking about with bored blade hands anyway' she mused to herself as the next customer came up the counter after she deposited the coins from the last sale into the coin container. Their owner wanted the place to 'extra special better' tonight with the drow priestess and her retinue being present along with the shaman and his. Master wanted good 'connections' with them of course, and to try get the odd drow priestess or two to do their dancing here, for the price of few free drinks, in the future. Franja had readily agreed with him on the matter; scantily clad to fully unclad dancing elven maidens was a draw for customers after all.

All that good of extra coin and entertainment aside though it had meant she found herself covered in a sheen of sweat, along with tired legs, due to the constant back and forth as another bottle of, this time of kobold mushroom-herb brandy, went across the counter. There would be so much work to do cleaning up after this lot later tonight as she heard the rhythmic thudding of boots and feet off the ground in response to the rhythm of the music and song going on. Franja rolled her eyes at it and wolf whistles as this particular song came to its ribald ending. Men...well Orcs.

"Nasiri, Scadua..." she shouted into the kitchen-cave area behind the bar after going around the corner "...are we ready to serving yes?"

The halfling slave woman came around the corner giving a hand gesture of affirmation, motioning at Dia to remain where she was serving as the next song started up Franja strode forward into the kitchen to help the other two bring out the servings of soup and side dishes. Turned out the halfling and half-orc made a decent cooking team, though Nasiri's height didn't make her ideal for carrying the large trays they began to load up at Franja's direction. Master Menkin had wanted them going out, soup, bread and salted meats in hand to show off his generosity to the orcs rulers...and encourage everyone else to drink a whole lot more thanks to the salted and spicy foods.

"These ones for Master's kobold guests...these for the squad captains...Krowluc's cavalry, yes all of them...and I'll take these out to Master Menkin first..." she directed to Scadua while leaving the shorter Nasiri to continue serving up portions. Sliding her hands under the heavy wooden platter of soup bowls, meats, fruits, and other items of food she lifted it with a grunt and led the half-orc girl out into the common room again, waiting for the song to die off before striding forward into the mob with a shout of 'food coming! Clear the way!' to them; herself to her owner and guests while Scadua went with the first lot to the Red Branch Knights and acolytes of the shaman.

Personally Franja liked that lot the most amongst the orcs, least likely to grope her on the floor in general, and the orc shaman had seemingly beaten discipline into them according to her wonderful daughter. It had certainly been nerve-wracking to have her little girl go up to the feared clan shaman's tower and study with, of one of his many, women in the arcane arts and lore at Master's direction, but her Katya appeared to enjoy it. Franja resisted sighing as they came into sight and she found herself serving her own daughter as well as Master and his guests; hopefully her precious daughter didn't end up into the orc's bed, or that of the lustful chieftain of the clan either.

"Honourable Masters, Mistresses" she greeted in a friendly and humble tone, giving a bow to hide her startlement as the tall, naked, shameless, drow priestess seemed to appear at her side like a ghost before sitting into an empty space at the large table "...please accept this nourishment as my gracious and glorious Master has directed to this humble servant of his"

Clawed hands reached out and patted her hip "Yes, yes, Menkins tellings alls thats Vaeriers is bests of bests likes Feuryons. Bringings much delicious foods for alls to enjoys yes. But nows Menkin's needs Vaeriers goings and collecting things for Masters yes"

Surprisingly it was the orc shaman who handed over a scribbled upon piece of parchment to her as Master Menkin waved a scaly hand at him and then her. The unnerving, but friendly smiling, orc motioned at someone behind her as he spoke to her "Vaerier right? Here's permission to get some stores from the warehouse down the road that I've agreed with your boss here. Take three or four of my lads with ya and bring back couple crates of liquors or barrels of booze, your boss here says you'll know best, so give this to guards and tell them what your taking"

After a glancing at Master Menkin for confirmation she bowed as best she could with the crowd, straightening as armoured orc appeared at her shoulder and got told to do what he just said to her done. One of his Red Branch Knights, the terrifying enforcers of order and laws within the orc stronghold, at that who brought her towards the door with the crowd parting like the sea before them as she followed behind him. Fearful, but Franja was glad of them and the more regular Shaman's Guard that ensured general violence and horror she'd seen in other orc camps during their brief visits were kept to a minimum. Soon four orcs, two in the robes of shaman apprentices and two females of the Shaman's wife's group, told to do what she told them and to hurry back with the goods safely.

"Thank you young Master" she thanked the young trainee orc wizard as she took the proffered heavy robe out of his hands and through it over her less than ideal clothing for the bitter cold fog outside. It was rather large, obviously since they were orcs and taller than her, but felt wonderful as the chill air her face as they stepped out into the thick pea-soup like cold fog and passed the lanterns and braziers for the crowd outside. Something that vanished swiftly from sight despite the large crowd and brightness of the flames she moved with her escort down the streets. Franja shivered at the cold, holding the robes tighter against her, and at the lack of visibility as they moved...this was going to take forever as they hand to follow the buildings to avoid getting sidetracked, or tripping, due to the freezing wall of fog she had to walk through...

"Apologies honourable apprentices but...have we by some chance taken a wrong turn?" she queried, stopping in her tracks before a building with a worn seeming, but must be new, sign hanging from above the door into it. Light and faint sound of music drifted out of it as she studied the name upon it. The apprentices were clearly as surprised as her, this part of the down had been burned out a few ten-days ago and only now being rebuild...if they were where they thought they were that was.

"Master would wroth at a new tavern opening without his knowledge?" she hummed glancing up at the sign and then at the entrance to the place called The Thirsty Flagon "...it seems best we try find our bearings, collect our demands and return..."

"Well, we are only a short distance away...this place got built fast then did it not? See across there is the warehouse and old Kump'neck in charge. That's strange is not?"

'Master will be spitting fire when he finds out' Franja thought they figured out where they were and headed unto the warehouse to collect what was demanded. To her understanding the Orc Shaman only allowed two taverns within the village, and the stores within the castle itself, after a deal with Master Menkin and the half-breed who own the other tavern in town...

--

[Maekrix'edar'nesh Kirask'Iden'nabal 05]

Menkin's (Magical) Tavern & Apothecary, Lower Slopes, Sparta

All was glorious and wonderful Menkin found, tasty too, as he devoured the warm soup provided by his well trained slaves in his bustling tavern. Fueryon of course had waited patiently for his signal to eat herself, Menkin was glad, training was going very well indeed; both her and her breeder Vaerier were proving excellent in their roles, and for his future roles for them. Talking to the Shaman of the orc clan who ruled the valley was the usual combination of unnerving, interesting, and maybe-useful as the nature of magic was discussed alongside buying many potions off of Menkin and his soon-to-be-a-minion human alchemist Petra. Much was to be learned, all while he got to both eat, relax, and most importantly earn many shiny coins for his future most glorious and fantastical treasure horde.

"Well, health and healing potions are somewhat up there on my requirements to be honest..." said shaman was saying while drinking his ale and discussing business "...as well as ones to keep up stamina and vitality in warriors and mages. But I'm going to all creation of a few oils of fiery burning and the like, under my guidance and in the Underkeep only, and I'll be willing to pay extra for that"

"Would...would, where would they be stored my Lord?" the nervous, though less than normal as she became increasingly drunk, Petra asked back in curious eagerness. Menkin could understand, it would be most interesting to be allowed make dragonfire in a potion bottle and imagine the fiery death being wrecked upon the foes of Menkin's new home. That would leave far less enemies in the world for Menkin himself to have to deal with as well allow him to experiment at some other beings expense; win-win for a mighty future dragon such as he really!

"In a solid stone room within the Keep, with wards by me and Doctor Ned, and not down here in the easily flammable wooden buildings area; or being sold to certain adventurers without permission either I might add if we do start making some"

Menkin waved his lazily from side to side as it was no issue to indicate his views even with the noisey background of his bustling tavern "Yes-yes, Menkins agreeing with mighty Shaman Karguks, not wants dum-dums runnings arounds and damaging Menkins business and orc town by being dum-dums and stupids with fires, yes-yes. Nots wants thats at alls"

There were only so many potions they could produce after all, very rewarding but the demand had been driven dramatically as this orc clan, and his people's village, grew in numbers and strength. Even with paying this new 'adventurers guild' very well for the collecting of reagents, herbs, and certain animal parts, he'd still found it surprisingly profitable despite there being such a large number of healers within this valley in general. Training Fueryon would supply a further helper in the seasons to come of course, but for the here and now there was only so much he could produce...and he would rather risk idiots with destructive ones. Now one or two for his own personal use would have to be negotiated of course...

"Would thou be interest in a helper or two in such a task, in regards the potions of healing perhaps?" the almost giant and powerful drow-elf female asked reclining in her chair and drawing attention from some of the humanoid males in the common room as she drank and ate "...some of young priestesses could do with the experience in the alchemical arts, as well as the less direct means of healing an injured comrade"

"Menkins not pay coins for bad works or no-nothings workers!" he stated before the others wagging a finger at the large female with silver fur atop her head "...Menkins expects be paid if trainings thems, and only payings for goods hardsworks. Not want wastings Menkins or Petras time! No-noes nots thats!"

"Yy..yesss, what Lord Menkin saysss of course" his helper human female agreed nodding "...my Lord Karguk's order is most difficult and time consuming, and not best suited for the untrained hand and eye"

An amused smile and almost twinkling eyes from the dangerous female as she waved her arm in a 'fear not' pose "Do not worry, neither are totally untrained and I shall gladly recompense thee, and thee too Shaman Karguk, for thine aid in coin or work if one wishes..." she waved at one of hers dancing upon a table distant in the room "...or with a night such as this in the future that all shall enjoy, and all shall find rewarding in their own, different, ways"

The orc shaman sighed "Haaa...that can arranged, I've a few of mine that could do with learning more than the basics so we might sort a class over the rest of the winter to see who knows what, and what can be learned in that timeframe. I'll just remind producing a certain level of potions to build up a stock is a priority; just one extra could save a life on the field after all. But...yeah, we can discuss that tomorrow I suppose..." he nodded to behind Menkin "Oh, Menkin your tavern manager is back"

Menkin glanced up and back, there over his shoulder his slave Vaerier gave a bow, as best she could as the crowd jostled her till she straightened, as he saw that things he had sent for were being hauled in by the orc shaman's minions "Master, I am sorry for any delay, but I have returned with the stocks requested and have instructed the four assigned to aid us in the task to stack them in the room behind the counter..."

"Oh, and tell them they can have a bottle of brandy or something for themselves from it..." the orc shaman instructed interrupting Vaerier's summary "...and something for yourself as well for being such good help"

Vaerier glanced at Menkin as she bowed to the orc as best she could once more, he gave her the briefest of nods as she smiled and straightened "Thank you Master Shaman for your generosity, and one shall do as ordered. Before one goes Master I must report a curious sight that you may wish to be aware of"

He motioned at her to continue with a curious look upon his snout perhaps "Thank you Master. Our delay was caused by the thickness of the fog and believing ourselves to have taken a wrong turn and become momentary lost after coming to an unfamiliar tavern within the stronghold. As best one can understand the building should not be there, yet it is, as that area was burned and not yet rebuilt as of a few days ago"

Anger flared with his kobold frame as he turned his head towards...a frowning and perplexed looking orc shaman and entourage "I'm sorry...we built a new tavern in the past few days? I'm...prrrrettyyy sure we didn't, or that that I'd know about it at least"

Menkin slammed his hands unto the wooden table looking/glaring imploringly at the orc "Illegal tavern! Showings Menkins! Menkins promised no more taverns withouts tellings Menkins!"

The shaman sighed rubbing at his forehead before grumbling "Right, right, yeah I did...hhhaaa...right, okay Miss Supervisor, grab my four and let's go have a look at this tavern before your Master starts breathing fire. I could do with the walk in truth. Hreshgk..." he raised his hand to the armoured guard standing nearby "...leave some guards here with the others, we're going on a short walkabout"

"Yes a walk would be most pleasant...though if one of you fine males would be generous us to donate this poor drow a cloak perhaps?" the over tall drow female purred at them as the orc shaman stood up after a few quite words with his females who waved him onwards, wishing to stay in the warmth. Menkin ignored the interplay as had Vaerier-slave fetch his staff and left Fueryon behind to monitor events while he sought out these interlopers who would conspire against him. His slave would not lie after all, and the four orcs stated the same, so after a short delay he found himself walking out into the fog with the orc shaman, his guards, the now half-cloaked drow and two others of her kind, and his own obedient slave Vaerier to guide them.

It was cold outside once they had passed the drunken revellers around the bonfire in the square, and the fog dreadfully thick also Menkin found. It was unpleasant for any glorious dragon blooded kobold such as he, had to follow outside if not for knowing these streets even if blinded; a needed skill for escapes in the past. Despite that he soon had Vaerier carry him upon her back so as to avoid booted orc feet, and largely bare legs of complaining drow creatures. Menkin found them annoying and silly to have wished to walk in the cold, then complain of the cold as the...

"Masters, Mistresses, this is where it was"

"Sees! Sees! Whys is taverns heres?" he stated as suddenly the building came into out of the wall of cold mists assaulting his face, motioning at the sign above with his staff "...should not be heres no-no-noes!"

"No it shouldn't be..." the Orc agreed frowning deeply at the sight while scratching his chin, then looking around and listening to the faint music coming out from within the place "...I only walked by here two days ago with plans for...well, something else to go here and..."

Menkin ignored the orc now that he knew this was an evil, lawbreaking, competitor and that he, Menkin, had the orc shaman admitting it should not be here and dismounted Vaerier with a light thud as he dropped, then strode forward. Kicking open the door, while bracing the staff to ensure it did not slam back in his face as had happened once before, he shouted out "WHO DARES CHALLENGE MENKINS MAGICAL TAVERN & APOTHECARY! MENKIN WOULD HAVE WORDS WITH YOU!"

Silence as the music inside stopped in the wake of his dragon blooded anger. A dozen eyes fell upon him, and those startled folks behind him as they cursed, and a big, fat, ugly, human behind the bar spoke with magic behind his evil competitor words "Ummm...what? We're a new business...oh dear...orcs, and kobolds, and drow...ummmm..."

Images shimmered, the humans and elves within the building frozen in place and staring at them then...blurring as the fat man seemed to be...

Menkin snarled, hot dragon blood burning within his veins as he summon his magic and made to shatter this illusion "NOTS TRICKS MENKINS! MENKINS HAVE BEST TAVERN! WITH REASONABLE PRICES AND PRETTY SLAVES, NOT NEED MIND CONTROL MAGICS OR STUPID UGLY BONE MEN-THINGS!"

"Now see here you nasty little morsel you..."

Oh, they were walking bones and corpse flesh things he noted drawing in a breath and once again summon his magic at these cheating competitors who had now clearly poisoned two of customers judging by the unconscious humans on the floor now showing that the illusion was broken "NO STEALING MENKINS PAYING CUSTOMERS!"

Breath In. Breath out. Ignore shouting orcs behind Menkin...

"FIREBALL!!!!"

--

[Interlude 16]

--

[Cook in the Kitchen]

Thump, thump, thump, echoed off the cutting counter as she muttered unhappily to herself as she chopped up the meat for the ungrateful, and lazy, bastards in the rest of The Flagon. Each savage swing of the cleaver eased the anger a little after the latest disastrous failure in this dimension...

"Easy pickings they said, oh we'll just setup shop and have the larders full in no time, nyh, nyhh, nyhh...no time at all" she muttered to nobody in particular as she, finally, finished butchering the carcass enough to throw the meat into the cooking pot to start the meat pies. Mixed Meat Pie, with some herbs and spices, was always a favourite of hers and the others after all, and it would certainly help with her mood right now. First it had been fake humans who were really robots with no meat, and then it had been some mad human, or maybe shapeshifted dragon, almost SHOUTING their damn home down, and all building up to the recent mess with the local high level mages.

She shook her horned head from side to side "Easy bloody pickings indeed..."

Wiping her hands off after shoving the meat strips into the simmering cookpot she took a few minutes to mix in the spices with the great wooden spoon before going back into the larder to start the next layer of the pie. It was always a time consuming process, and it wasn't as if they had a whole lot to make due with so far as the sparse takings hung before here. She slapped the nearest meat test its health and freshness with the spells, doing nothing to stop its squirming and shrieking through its feeding tube though, as she smacked the flesh a few times along with a few sniffs.

"No, needs a bit more time and spice, into the smoker then...more damned work, nothing is ever bloody easy now is it?" she grumbled reaching up to unhook metal hanging hook the olive skinned lump was on, setting off the other lumps of meat in the process it seemed, she gripped it tightly and slung it over her shoulder. Bit optimistic to hope it'd been done in such a short period of time, but that could be dealt with and a scrumptious morning breakfast arranged for all to enjoy. Motioning with her free hand the smoker door opened, depressingly empty of course but the sudden surge of heat was a pleasure as she snapped her fingers and flames and shadows roared into existence at the edges of the room.

"And upsy daisies, lets get you all prepped then shall we" she growled out, attaching the meat hook to the ceiling and summon the bindings to wrap around the meats head so it stared upwards at the ceiling and its mouth held fully open as, finally, the metal contorted at her spoken command to hold the meat in an easier to work on binding. A bit scrawny and short, but most of the batch caught with her were of similar stature Anna'zaela found as she poured the potion in the meats mouth, then dropped in the small gem of concentrate with a happy hum. It was always best to mix the terror in with desire, that and pain as she gave a few more smacks on flesh to start the seasoning process.

Personally she preferred the male ones, but those few had sadly already been processed to provide yesterdays 'oops we screwed up again' defeat feast of sausage, pudding, and blood-wine so one couldn't complain with what was left. Hopefully the next few nights haul would rectify the situation she though with irritation as she summon her blades and removed the hair from the meat's outer covering in sweeping gestures with her hands as she walked around it. She grinned to herself, impressed at her own skill once again; despite frantic trashing and convulsing she'd hadn't even drawn a drop of blood this time!

"Now let's see..." she mused trying to decide on the better option between the three bottles "...Mild?...too bland with the dwarf being the base of the pie...no lets go all out and spicy with the human part, Passionate Fires of the Ninety-Nine Damned it is then!"

The lump of meat reacted to that of course, more energy than expected really, the moment her own thickly gloved hands began to rub in the spice mix over the oil and sweaty soaked flesh. Anna'zeala being careful not to get the mixture unto her own beautifully demonic skin; dealing with the less cleanly, and undead, amongst her fellow denizens trapped with The Flagon was bad enough without the blasted itching or idiocy that came with the strongest spices. She groaned as loud noises and a shuddering feeling reached her senses in the now thick smoke filled room; felt like trouble. With another muttered complaint, just finished one task and now another, she poured the remaining bits of dust into the meat, sealed it, and then strode out of the smoke room with her tools just as the idiot Ruggle came rushing into her her kitchen...

...on fire...

"Why are you on fire Ruggle?" she ground out putting down the box as the idiot waved about frantically, damaging her plates and other stored items till she cast a spell; summon up the bucket of water from the corner and dumping it upon the ghoul "Answers NOW!"

"Attack! Evil magic Kobold Attack! And orcs! And drow! Everythings on fire"

She found herself smacking her face with her hand "Of course we are...bloody never letting Ignical pick a spot again...fine..." she threw her hands "...summon the others quickly! I'll help deal with this mess now!"

It took alot of effort on her part not to just punch the stupid, and now that she was out of the larder she could feel the magic and divine pressure upon the place even as she strode quickly towards the feel of battle. What had these idiots gotten them int...

'Oh...oh, that is bad' her mind informed her as came around the corner into the common room after summoning her dread battle armour. This was the Dragonborn woman incident all over again as it appeared the whole damned bar was on fucking fire and what were clearly powerful clerics...no damned Blessed or Chosen...were stomping around with holy magic and weapons. Magic that was going to anchor them to their location, again, she noted as her hand summon a shield just in time to stop a fire-breath attack from a kobold of all things. Her eyes caught the attention of Ignical, or at least his head and half his body pinned to the wall behind the bar by a spear "REALLY? FUCKING REALLY?"

'Where had the idiot managed to set them down this time?' she raged internally as burning swords of holy might slaughtered their way through the undead barmaids and those playing at customers for the night while magic flew everywhere. Her eyes fell upon the tall form, the tall and very much empowered and enraged, form of a Drow witch clad in moonlight and now directed hateful Holy energies towards her own demonic self. Bracing with all her might, hands before her, barely saved her as the power lashed at her and drove her back...lucky too as moments later the Orc with golden eyes, and a shimmering armour of Nishreks crimson, threw a holy imbued dagger at her head. She starred a moment at it, embedded in the frame of the doorway, as she fell back her butt folded wings hammering painfully off the ground.

Starring, waving frantically as she stood she uttered a desperate plea"UM...PARLEY?"

"FIREBALL!" was the apparent response, along with something about stealing and customers, as she teleported desperately over to the bar and grabbed Ignical's head before diving over the counter as more and more orcs began to charge into The Flagon. Calming herself she waved her hand, chanting quickly, bending the magic of their home and prison to warp a shield barrier between them and the attackers to allow a brief few moments respite as Ruggle, his fellow Ghoul Duggle, and the elemental Zzishra charged down doorway as Anna'zeala heard windows being broken along with walls hacked at.

"What have you fucking done? Where did you bloody land us you imbecile?"

"Uhh...uhh...a small new town in the middle of nowhere?" the head wailed back idiotically, but then again he was an idiot "...with humans nearby, and tasty magic, and..."

"AND FUCKING CHOSEN OF GODS WITH EVIL ARMIES APPARENTLY!" growled back, wincing as her shield was hammered and The Flagon laughed at their failures...again "...YOU PICKED A DARK LORDS BASE TO SET UP SHOP IN...of all the stupid..."

"Need to leave! Need to leave!" Zzishra wailed diving over the counter to land beside them in a heap as orcs began beating on the shield barrier with magical weapons and spells "Need to leave now!"

"But we can't! Not with them all here we can't! It's in the contract!"

Anna'zeala swore at the idiots wailing, largely true, but not entirely "Fog, we Fog out now and they get left behind along with all the meat!"

"But, but, but NOT AGAIN..."

"NO BUTS! WE FOG OUT OR WE GET BANISHED" she snarled back as more of their number went down and she felt things go from bad to worse "...THIS IS NOT THOSE BLOODY WIZARDS OUTSIDE THE DOOR, IT'S THAT BLOODY WOMAN AND HER MATES BLOWNG THE PLACE UP ALL OVER AGAIN! WE'LL MAKE IT BACK! NO, NO...WE'll BECOME VEGITARIANS! THE TRICKERSY THING AGAIN!"

"Do it! Do it! Angry kobolds and orcs in coming!"

"Come on Mister Owner, magic time" she hissed at the head as they both began the ending chant "Closing Time, Song and Wine, Seems We've Gone Bust This Time! Failed To Plan, Failed To Win, Now We Leave With Our Sins. Now Customer You Take Thy Price With Glee, For We Go Where The Mists Arise As We Flee!"

Pain.

It always hurt like a bitch when they had to flee like this, the walls and buildings starting to go insubstantial, flicker and flashing, shimmering and blurring as the angry orcs continued to attack. With even greater pain she felt the larder empty, the smoke room and kitchen too, as the magic trapping the meat failed as their prison laughed at them once again; releasing surviving mortals, those who had survived the trails set out, to punish the denizens for failure...

Pain.

...such as no meat pies or anything nice for breakfast. Least with the Wizards they'd kept them out before the banishing, here they'd stupidly let a readymade army in the bloody door along with the servants of the Gods themselves. Not that priests and priestesses didn't taste divine when cooked properly her mind informed her miserably as the attackers became shadowy figures of mist with each passing moment...

"Ufff...well, that went badly now didn't it?" she muttered slumping down behind the bar as they randomly relocated to the next potential hunting ground. It was going to take forever to fix them place up...put idiots like Ignical back together for instance, and replace all they lost, but better than being banished to the Hells or other such planes for ages on end she supposed...

--

[In the Middle of Nowhere]

"Is...that a tavern I spy with my little eye?"

"In this fog, we're leagues from civilization, in a forest, are you kid...by the the Gods it is!"

"Who builds a tavern in the middle of bloody nowhere?"

"Don't worry about that little point fellows! It seems our money troubles are over!"

"Yeah...just don't burn it down this time till after we sleep there first please? I miss having a nice bed to sleep in"

"Come now lads, talk later, rapine, murder and pillaging first! Last one in gets the smallest share of the loot! Adventure Ho!!"

--

[Karguk 68]

Town Area, Stronghold of Sparta

Hitting things with a fiery magic sword generally helped in dealing with things that counted as problems, and right now it had largely being successful in smashing undead monsters for me. Till I needed to start hammering on the magic barrier the wicked demon women-creatures had jumped behind at least, damn thing was like wailing on a brick wall. Excepting I was using a fiery magic sword to do said wailing along with my magic and drunken rage, so I was pretty sure I was making progress with each blow as light sparked brightly off the crimson-orange shield-barrier.

Smash. Smash. Smash.

Around me my bodyguards, that demented kobold, and Veladorn plus escort priestess were doing the same as myself, or simply smashing up the undead or elemental things that had tried to disguise themselves, and were now fighting us. First it was bloody undead farm animals, then plant based zombies, and now it seemed the damned things were teleporting zombie bars to torment me. All I could hope was Doctor Ned could be brought here soon, and once we tore this place apart, I have the secrets o their dark plans against me...oh wait, the Chosen of Mystra would do I noted as she joined me on hammering on the barrier. Clad in moonlight armour over night dark skin and wielding a silvery, almost intangible, blade of light.

Smash. Smash. Smash...

...huh?

"Oooffff" I swore as my blade swung through the barrier, and the counter...and the floor to slam into the snowy and hard of the ground. Snarling I stopped myself staggering, pressing my right leg forward to brace and bringing the blade back up to...

...swing through empty air despite the blurring image of the vile creatures on the other side of the bar counter being before my eyes. There was no feeling of resistance to my blows, none at all, and even as I swung the place seemed to shimmer before my eyes; the briefest glance around me marked the others tactical situation was in the same position of things becoming increasingly intangible and insubstantial. That usually meant bad things in my experience as orcs stumbled through walls, and a very angry drow priestess incinerated a patch of ground where the demon-lady stood without harming the cowering creature. Bad things, and we were inside the blasted place right now.

"OUT! EVERYBODY PULL BACK! NOW!" I roared out in my 'commander' tone pulling back from the spot I'd been attacking, backing up while staying in a guard position with my blade as I continued to shout out to follow my orders. It really wouldn't do for us all to be trapped in a magical tavern when it was pulling some sort of magical attack, or pulling a Tardis...or a number of other problematic things leading to bad things for me and my warriors. My hand reached into my robes, pulling out the scroll case with the right colour, and with a one-handed unroll began to chant out the words in rapid succession even as my guards fell in beside me, one grabbing the kobold, as we retreated back towards the door.

"DISPEL!" I commanded as energy manifested and the scroll burnt to ashes as I thrust my hand, the one not holding my sword, forward and magic flared. The results were less than hoped as the place continued to shimmer and blur towards intangibility, though the spell did disrupt my own spell-armour and that of an irritated Qilue Veladorn as she dragged one of her priestess back with her in line with my escort. I gave her an embarrassed look as I found myself outside the disappearing building, motioning at one of lot to give her a cloak as she recast the armour spell "Uhhh...Sorry"

"Understandable, apology accepted"

Good, I hadn't pissed off the powerful Chosen of two goddesses by accidently stripping of armour and weapons on a bitter cold winter night, in a fight with an undead magic tavern. Excellent, one thing not going horribly wrong as shields were braced and spears were lowered in something now resembling formations encircling the large, increasingly vanishing, building. Strangely the fog in the immediate vicinity of the evil magic building seemed to vanish, though the heavy thick mists behind us remained in their swirling coldness as my torch wielding mob continued to grow.

"STAND READY! SPEAR AND SHIELD-WALL AT FRONT! BATTLESTAVES AND WARSWORDS BEHIND THEM, READY SPELLS AND THROWING WEAPONS!" I roared out walking up and down along the line as the last shimmers of solid to ghostly to not being there at all appeared to take place. That didn't mean it wasn't not any less of a threat necessarily, it could just be invisible or wraithlike, or something else dangerous despite my view it had escaped. Now at least I had something resembling a fighting force ready to handle dangerous...

"Why are there naked people running around where the zombie tavern was?" I asked nobody in particular as screaming filled the cold night air as the thing vanished and did not flicker back into existence this time. Instead my eyes picked out humanoid shapes rolling around in the darkness, or hopping up to dance and wail on the spot, all while hugging themselves or waving arms over their heads frankly. Humans looked like, or maybe an elf or two, and for a few moments I just starred in confusion at the situation before till a night dark came to rest upon my shoulder.

"Shaman Karguk, best to capture them...they do not have a taint upon them so I implore thee to spare them in case they are innocents"

"That's...a good point Priestess Veladorn..." I muttered back as softly as the drow had spoken before raising my voice "...take them alive! First rank, secure them now! DO NOT HARM THEM UNLESS IN SELF DEFENCE! EVERYONE ELSE STAND READY!"

I turned to one of my Knights "Jhyurt, take a squad and get up to the stronghold and alert the Chieftain. Don't sound alarm, not in this fog, but I want I patrols out...squad sized with an aoylte in each, and have them check every inch of the stronghold. And get me Missy, and Doctor Ned...Nimmil too if she's sober, I'll be..." I glanced around and the motioned at the nearby warehouse as the screaming continued despite any fighting from monsters or undead occurring thankfully "...over there as a command area"

"Yes Lord" came back along with a fist to heart salute as I turned back to the insane scene before me as what appeared to be naked people were grabbed, struggling, by my orcs...though one body appeared to be frantically rolling around in the snow while shrieking. For now nothing else was happening beyond confused struggles in the misty darkness from our uninvited guests, and a tall drow priestess looking at me strangely now she'd a thick fur cloak taken from one of bodyguards thrown over herself. I gestured at the building I'd indicated to Jhyurt...

--

...I rubbed at my face tiredly. Oh I was going back for a few drinks after this giant mess, and then I was going to sleep for many, many, hours. Zah was apparently patrolling around the streets looking for another potential appearance, but it seemed likely that the danger was passed for the moment. Or maybe for good based on where those captured, like the halfling being led away yet still staring blankly ahead, had been apparently taken by the...whatever-the-fuck-it-was...a great distance away. I motioned to Hreshgk, then at the group eight mixed species maybe-merchants the halfling had returned to.

"Have someone put that lot somewhere to rest for the night, and some clothes beyond cloaks...oh, warm food too...actually bring them to Menkin's Inn and place a guard? I want them treated well, I'll sort returning them to Longsaddle come the spring or something like that. Tell the crazy kobold I'll pay well to treat them as valued guests after...everything"

"Surprisingly generous of thee Shaman Karguk, little was forthcoming from those fellows beyond where and how they were taken" Qilue Veladorn murmured from beside me as my bodyguard tromped over and began shouting at acolytes to do as I'd instructed for the first of the three 'groups' clustering together across from us in the half empty warehouse. I sighed, shrugging on our boxes turned into chairs as hardly any reaction came from the other two groups as the third, and largest, was hustled away. Not surprising in a way; neither group knew of each other, they were all clearly in shock, there was a language barrier between them all, and I'd had to Sleep spell one poor wretch whose body seemed to be almost on fire despite healing.

"They're all completely out of it, and I'm not going to get answers tonight from them...that and the stronghold is secure for now seemingly according to patrols. Some food and rest might get me answers come the morning or tomorrow night..." I admitted tiredly watching them leave, and for Doctor Ned returning from his 'investigation' of where the...whatever...had been "...that and I promised the Harpells about their folk, or folk heading for their village like this lot were. Weren't expecting it in this manner mind you...but we keep our word, and I'll keep'em safe and secure till then"

"Oh, and shall you be enslave these others taken?"

Honest curiosity? A test?

I didn't hear hostility in her tone, but then again I was tired so I shrugged and went for honesty "I've no idea what to do with them yet, but...well, if there innocent no, not that. Sets a bad precedent within the ranks that would, so best be avoided in my view. Need dig up a scroll of Comprehend Languages with them first before can start, but their state says to me more victims"

Though I had put them under doppelganger and shape-shifter watch for the moment, and for the immediate future, just to be on the safe side; especially since I'd have to sort out wards out here in the town now after this fiasco. One of the two groups, three women huddling together while the fourth slept in bindings to stop here scratching her skin raw, were clearly Asian of sort...where exactly I did not know; though lack of 'shock', or maybe reaction, at us orcs and my drow compatriot indicated somewhere across the sea in Kara-Tur. I should have one Janissary, a former Luskan guard, from that general area from piracy or such, but they hadn't been found yet so I'd no real idea. Pretty hard to tell when we'd no personal items or clothing to identify, just that they spoke neither Common, Orcish, Elven tongues, nor anything of English when I'd quickly tested that possibility.

'Not that the third group do either, though they recognise word...maybe?' I mused silently looking at the group of three huddling together, eyes fearful and aware compared to the others taken. Again, strangely no common tongue but the faded body paint indicated a recently captured tribal perhaps?

One of the asian-looking women-girls stood up after fearful whimpers from her compatriots, then helping up another one before pushing forward like a guard. At least she did as the two approached after I waved at Hreshgk to let them pass, one standing warily at the other's side whispering into the others ear as they held their sheets around them. Whatever was whispered caused the less physically able looking one to tremble, before both gave deep, formal seemingly, bows to me and the Drow priestess...followed the more muscled woman dropped to her knees while the still bowing girl babbled at me. I sighed, this was going to be a long night I found as I waved my hand at her to stop with the formal sounding speech

"Sorry, I don't know what you're saying and..."

--

When: Right after Weirdness in the Winter Fogs, because why not

Where: My Tower, and stronghold which is apparently getting magically attacked or tested

Now, where to bloody well begin?

Because damn if it hasn't been a long night and day, though in fairness I'll admit I did manage to sleep for several hours before starting into this merry writing after meeting my 'magical R team' so some of the anger and stress has faded. Something that was needed rather badly after teleporting taverns filled with undead and demons suddenly appeared in my home, all in the recurring trend of reminding me of the death world that I currently live in. What's worse I've no bloody idea where the damned thing went once it disappeared like some demented Tardis, depositing a cluster of naked people when it did so for some reason. The assumption is far, far, away most likely as those deposited seem to be taken from random, and very distant, parts of the world in two cases.

That likely scenario aside, I ain't relying on it to be true; fog's cleared enough to send riders down the roads here in the valley to warn the villages and patrols hunkering down for the winter. Town here has been checked from top to bottom, and Doctor Ned did cast a 'detection ward' of some sort in case of teleportation of any kind taking place alerting us. Really between that and patrols there isn't a whole lot else we can do, and I've spoken to Zah, Oggy, Ghorza and Breyza on potential solutions; long story made short, we can't think of anything beyond burn the place down should it appear. Frankly that might be an easy thing if I just unleash the fire breathing kobold upon his potential undead competitors; because Boss above do I have to upgrade the little scaly egomaniacs' threat level after seeing that display.

So, yeah lots of merry revelations today, and as mentioned I've got groups of apparently abducted people secured in the stronghold. Pretty sure they're all genuine in what happened to them, and that they aren't magical infiltrators or some such, after 'talking' to them and casting a few spells between myself and the others to test for illusions or shape-shifting. I doubt Ned or Veladorn would have any reason to lie to me in that regards, and my own and Missy's testing turned up nothing either.

Still;- better to be safe than sorry, so back to the password system while they are watched discretely while under guard. Which by the way are with her Drow-i-ness, in the case of the group of traders that were travelling to Longsaddle from Nesmé according to them, as well as dealing with my Rose as my representative and to command the 'helping' auxlia assigned to them. Mostly because of the three groups that lot are 'relatively' local, taken somewhere in the wilds far to the east of here, past their intended destination of Longsaddle. While technically not part of the Longsaddle agreement I find it best to simply send them there when the snows clear in the spring, one problem out of the way and it should look good to the Harpells and friends.

On the other side of the equation simply enslaving them would set a bad example for my lot, especially as I'm trying to cut down on the practice, so I've been trying to frame it in pragmatic terms for Zah and the others and not much benefit in a few more slaves versus building up our reputation. Sadly for the would-be traders they basically don't own anything, literally dumped stark naked in the snow of an orc fortress after being nearly eaten by monsters so they'll need to earn their way for the winter somehow. I'm sure Missy, Rose, Lua, or our Drowish guests will think of something if they don't, at least once the blank eyed shock wears off and they stop waiting for us to kill/torture/enslave them at least.

Something that a number of the clan would do in all honesty save for me and my acolytes constantly beating and purging that particular brand of stupid evil out of the ranks. First it was the retarded challenges to mine and Zah's authority, and now I'm pushing it unto more Lawful oriented things like ensuring everyone keeps their word and bargains, and of course slavery is a system not just randomly grabbing some poor wretch within convenient arms reach. I will admit some of the focus on my part is to take my mind off things, those I can't do much about in relation to the magically teleporting people eating tavern, and instead focusing on side and after-effects of the madness. Work with what you can work with, and hope it's enough basically; good news is the place fled from us, so we should be strong enough to deal with it; - Hopefully we will at least.

Though it appears to an ambush predatory; all the captured by it indicate a similar story of seeing a 'proper' inn/tavern/resting place and then being drug, or otherwise knock unconscious at some point. Fits in with what occurred with the two auxlia (who barely survived Menkin the fireball wielding kobold in truth) reported once we healed them up enough to speak. I admit somewhat harsh on my part seeking answered from men likely to be bedridded for weeks in recovery from near fatal burns, but our need to know trumped that sadly. On the bright side they'll survive, rather than having being hung up on meat-hooks while waiting to be slaughtered by horrors from beyond the Mists.

Which leads me into my, what can we call them?...unfortunate problem cases I suppose. First are three tribals, who are probably from Chult as best we can guess after Doctor Ned's conversation with them via Comprehend Languages. Something that's costly as he's charging me for the hour, and indicates I may need to organise scrolls and to learn myself at some stage in case of language barriers in the future. Unfortunately they are 'local hunters' from their area of the world, so while they can give very detailed descriptions of said area they don't know much of the world beyond that.

Two brothers and a sister as best we can tell, out hunting according to their tale when they ran across a 'camp' within a 'cave' with 'friendly fellow hunters' inside and...etc, etc, etc, to abduction. The second group fits into the more concerning category, though less in dealing with them than in the nature of their capture. No, that's wrong; rather it was the extent of the capture really in that there are five of them, all women, out of a group that was somewhere around fifteen to twenty in number. In fact it's likely their 'group' was in fact two or three separate groups in of themselves; a merchant one, a prospective bride and her two retainers, and a travelling scholar.

Sadly the scholar isn't making in the way of coherency right now because she was coated in...something very hot and magic, and then apparently in the process of being cooked alive when deposited here. Essentially she's of very few words, and we've had to bind her to a bed and potion her for the time being to stop her harming herself with scratching in her sleep, or begging in her language for attention that's best not given. All between bouts of pain, though between myself and Qilue Veladorn we've ended the worst of it I think, she's been calm the past hour in the room below at least. Something of a good sign, as mine and Oggy's watcher's will alert me of any trouble.

What it left me with is a very scared and confused 'noblewoman' though that's in atually girl who just came of age by her peoples standards, and never stepped outside of her family home till marriage-prospect summons time, with a loyal 'samurai' whose the trainee of the now dead senior retainer. Talking through Ned has yielded only the basics really; they are from some minor house (protest aside) from the Land of Wa off in far away Kara-Tur. Summoning an Auxlia woman named Shua-La, former pirate, former Luskan-scum, confirmed that as being likely;- though our 'guests' fear and hate the auxlia woman more than us due to being a waegu or something like that. Apparently they've never met orcs or drow before, and think we're yokai of some sort, so they are afraid but not as much as the caravan group were.

What to do with them?

No bloody idea, I've an aristocrat, a level 1 (maybe 0) samurai, a scholar who's completely out of it, and two wives/sisters of dead merchants who are completely traumatised after seeing their loved ones taken away one by one. At least the three jungle hunters didn't have that, and it's clear the Kara-Turans were the 'longest' captives of the-whatever-they-were. None of them seem to have any idea beyond; evil flesh eating demons of cultural varying and specific varieties. So, yeah, healing and then language lessons for them as they're basically stuck here I reckon.

Truth be told I don't think they've realised that yet, and sadly this isn't something I can afford to invest massive amounts of time in. Even healing the burned trio has been tiring, and the watching for a return engagement taken away from things that need to be done, so I'll try figure out who to put in charge of this project later. Missy probably as she's getting grumpy as her belly expands and she has less time to study as she wishes. I do admit it is partially my fault there, but not much I can do about that really. Though right now she's having a time 'investigate' the former location of the magic tavern with that mad gnome Nimmil, with Oggy adding her own blessings to the grounds. We'll try reinforce the runestones I've been planting over along the line of the walls, so hopefully that'll help.

So now I've too...

Go apparently, work to be done.

Slan go foill a chardaí.

--

[Lua'kah'wyss 14]

Bathhouse, Town Area, Stronghold of Sparta

The steam and warmth were wonderful, as was the view through it, Lua'kah'wyss found as she relaxed back against the stonework of the large pool. It'd be coming to an end soon of course, and back to work, but right now it was a blessed joy on this cold winters day. Not that it had been easy to drag Karg away from all his work, but it was worth it if just for the nervous and mortified expression on the daarthirr's face, Rinirya her name, as she went about scrubbing Karg's back in cooperation with a more enthusiastic Lara.

Lua'kah'wyss smiled at that, adding to the smirk already on her face, as Lara while still terrified of certain orcs seemed she was comfortable and trusting enough of Karg as her 'Master' along with 'Mistress' Lua. She resisted frowning at that part; despite all her efforts, and Her Holiness's, Lara still seemed absolutely terrified at even the possibility of freedom. If anything the poor girl seemed intent upon obliterating her previous identity...which, wasn't all that bad a thing considering

'But she's getting better with each passing season with the Goddess's help, she's even managed the very occasional joke these past months' she reminded herself as she splashed forward and slide her arms around the waist of her beautiful Loraatris, and reaching in to give a surprise kiss. Surprise causing her little tu'rilthiir to not resist for a few moments, and to not break the embrace after ending the wonderful feeling, and Lua'kah'wyss rested her chin upon her lovers shoulder "Hmmm, all clean and shiny brings out your natural beauty my lovely Tris!"

A huff, a pout, but the huff was bemused and a shy giggle followed "No, it doesn't. Nothing like you or the others Lua...I'm just plain and..."

"Don't be so humble my lovely tu'rilthiir! Such a beauty you are! One cannot resist it!" Lua'kah'wyss grinned, turned her head, and facing her startled love in the desired direction before raising raising her voice "Oi Karg! Doesn't Tris look absolutely ravishing? She's getting all silly again!"

"Llluuaaaaa!" her suddenly reface Tris half-whimpered, half-wailed, looking down at the waters as eyes turned towards them. Karg blinked, looking at the two of them before sighing and giving a shake of his head "You look beautiful as ever Tris, and you too Lua..." she preened, straightening in the water, at the compliment as she whispered 'see my beauty' into Tris's ear "...and how could I resist the charms of such lovely ladies such as yourselves...and we're still getting out and working in short Lovely Lua"

"Booooo! Work! Boo I say!" she found herself retorting giving Tris a subtle shove to send both of them splashing the short distance over to where the others were. Karg rolled his eyes, at least after shielding his face from the water, at her as she splashed loudly in beside him while dragging down her tu'rilthiir with her so both of the rested under his arm, Tris in her own lap "...cannot these fair maidens change thy wicked orcish mind oh my glorious jaluk?"

He snorted "No, but we can go for drinks, or come back here..." she grinned at him while holding unto the struggling Tris before pouting a little "...after we get through everything that needs to be done my pretty but lazy Head of the Adventurers Guild"

"Fiiiine" she murmured back resting her shoulder against him, giggling softly after a few moments at the curious expression on Lara's face, and the barely concealed confused-panic on the daarthiir's. It was actually rather funny to know that captured adventuress was far more afraid of her and those of her people around Her Holiness than of Karg after the first bathing with him, and then Her Holiness's group. Perhaps it was a little mean to tease the poor thing so, but it was the best way to keep her both safe.

And it did, should, give her a quicker route to freedom by making sure she was aware of her safe position with Karg while providing valuable services to his clan. Closing her eyes she enjoyed the sensation of the hot water and steam, the nearness of her favourite people despite having a hand gently smacked away once or twice; because despite saying they were leaving they got to leave time seemed to stretch out in a lovely, comfortable, eternity "...and how is strange rivvil jaluk? You treated her before we left yes?"

"Yeah...me and Rose washed her, though very carefully wipe her down and rub cream unto inflamed skin along with a minor healing would be a better description. She's coherent now at least, not a clue what was being said, but she didn't struggle when we secured her for the ordeal, and clearly tried to stop herself struggling when touched"

"Is it not easing?"

"It...is, sorta, maybe. As in we're getting her to a tolerable level...but cloth, leather, and other things like clothes drives her skin absolutely crazy, between pain and/or itching, and she constantly feels hot best we can tell. For now she'll sleep in the tower in the room near us...it'll leave her some measure of dignity and privacy I hope with just us treating her getting near her. Since, well, she might not be able to wear clothes for a month, or season...or...I'm not sure. Even getting her something to allow her to sleep on something needed magic sadly. Oh, and we...as in you two ladies as well...will need take turns getting them all to understand the Common Tongue as well"

"Yup! Be fun!" she replied before the all lapsed back into contented silence now her curiosity had been sated once again. Just slightly nervous questions, and answers, given by the daarthiir in regards what happened, and more importantly the jalil's job both today and over the rest of the winter between the Shaman's Tower and the Adventuer's Guild as a healer. Healer and general helper in the mind of Lua'kah'wyss, when she found their pleasant time of relaxing had come to an end and, after Karg had to sling her over his shoulder in a mock-battle to get her out of the water, moving to dry herself off. At least he let her help him get dry, and then dressed, in 'apology' for her 'struggling' against fate.

"Brrr...again one must endure the harsh elements of the surface world my brave companions!" she moaned as the door to the town was opened by one of Karg's bodyguard. Opened and the chill winter wind hit her face and she gave shiver despite the warm cloths beneath her chainmail, and the heavy fur lined cloak hanging down over her body from shoulder and head. An arm came to rest across her shoulders behind her neck, gently shoving her forward as her fur boots crunched on the frozen snow and earth beneath them.

"Oh yeah, yes harsh elements indeed Lua; with the vast distance of a down and then across the street to traverse in our journey" Karg hummed as they moved towards the large wood and stone building of the Guild. A passing patrol saluted fist to heart to him as they moved, Tris humming cheerfully despite the cold while the Lara walked side by side with daarthiir just ahead of Karg's two rearmost bodyguards. There wasn't many else around in the square yet, the fog of the previous days had cleared but the square was still quiet outside of those in training or on patrol.

Matron Ogrash had been saying there should be a market within the next ten-day or so, assuming the snows cleared properly and the orc females' intent on bartering their finished wares. Her own responsibility was also fairly quiet unsurprisingly enough as they entered through the large wooden main doors into the common-room/reception area as they'd set it up. A few of the adventurers lounged about on the fur-rug covered benches, or in the case of one group, with a young rivvil jalil and another kuma like the tavern owner Menkin, eating and talking softly at one of the tables in the far corner. Lua'kah'wyss waved at all enthusiastically at all present as she strode in beside Karg.

"Good day to you all, my brave adventurers! One hopes you all are well here within these walls despite the cold and chill without! As all can see my glorious and awesome jaluk Karguk the Shaman has come to see how you all are doing, is that not fantastic?"

Scattered and confused clapping came back from those present, along with bows from one or two, as she let down the hood of her cloak and strode towards the counter area. For now it was one of Karg's acolytes and a slave-girl dressed in a nice dress sitting behind it...or he had been till she had entered with Karg at her side and had immediately hopped up from his tome to bow to his lord. The girl bowed obediently, murmuring a soft friendly greeting with hands resting clasped together near her belly, before straightening and giving a shy nervous smile at Lua'kah'wyss's hand gesture.

Her Holiness had offered one or two priestesses to help, but Karg and Matron Ogrash had already do so;- and that didn't allow her to rotate two or three of the better educated non-orc slaves through as guild 'receptionists' in their stead. All three, the current woman in place Seri, and two others Penny and Allyssa who should be resting about now she guessed, and the Karg's volunteers then had been serving to run things and keep her own basic schedule functioning on a day to day basis. After all 'quests' had to be recorded; from who set them, how much/what the pay-out was, and then of course who was performing it.

"Right, well I've got a quest or two for brave and maybe foolish folks..." Karg was saying coming up beside her with the others in tow "...l've one or two letters to get delivered, and returned, to Goblin Town and Blood Mushroom Village so let's put that on the board I reckon, then we'll get Rini here provide healing services for anyone that needs, and pays, for it. Call it a test run for certain individuals"

'Or takes it as a debt of course my dear jaluk' Lua'kah'wyss hummed happily to herself as their entry seemed to inspire some stir of activity; a sleepy looking group emerging from the back 'common bedrooms' of straw mattress on the floor to investigate the noise apparently. The blazing fire in the great stone hearth in the left corner serving to warm the place rather well she found giving it a quick glance before coming around the corner and into the backroom, and still largely empty, offices with a big board Karg had created with some chalk to write upon it. While the parchment, or wooden slates, held in boxes had the proper records this was the 'To Do List' as they called it...

--

[Nedorius Illian Kline 11]

Lower Slopes, Stronghold of Sparta

It was a crisp, overcast, evening he found strolling down the path from the fortress into the town with his merry band of minions in tow. The snow had cleared, which was good, but the ground was still cold and largely devoid of the usual greenery in the ways of the harsh mountain winters in his current home of sorts. Still, it was rather pleasant to be out of the castle and walk about the town on business without heavy snows, or fog, or people eating magic taverns appearing apparently. Now that was a strange one, but the world was full of its little mysteries so one had to just struggle on and deal with it when it threw such strangeness at you. Why, if he did that it might distract from his vengeance upon those wretched fellows in their seaside tower!

Meeting the folks, from far distant lands at that, was an interesting aspect of young Karg's and his guards driving defeating the brief attack by that unusual entity. While, sadly, none of them seemed to had much if any in the way of arcane knowledge it was a fascinating source of information on their societies; well beyond what he had learned of them himself during his pirate days. Considering the nature of those interactions, and the backgrounds of some recruits to the ranks, that information had rarely been more than how good their fighters and mages were, and how much gold was potentially in the target location. So this would a nice distraction over the winter season when he wasn't training his apprentices, plotting, and investigating the strange mysteries of the universe.

"We be gettin' ale we do all yer business aint' we Boss?" dear Crue was muttering as they descended to the bottom of the slope and passed the orcish guards there. Understandable really, training time with young Karg and Missy...oh and Sydney too of course, as his slave-apprentice yawned tiredly beside the more alert and aware Etlin "...ye were longer than ye were saying with teachin' Syds here how ta make sparkly lights an' whatnot dance about"

"Now-now Crue my dear, it's a valuable learning experience, and distracting lights have helped on several occasions when deal with rather hostile inclined feelings towards my humble self"

Young Etlin nodded "Aye, distractin' a fella in a fight can get in the killing blow just as easily, or more, than the best sword swing or magic spell"

"See Crue, your fine upstanding co-worker agrees with my humble self even!"

"Cuz Etlin ere' likes his light armour, an' traps, an' stabbin fellas in the back after said traps, so course he likes dat sort"

Nedorious tutted back at his wayward employee "Now Crue my dear, you are being a mite hypocritical in such grumbling. If I recall correctly the dust in the eyes trick of yours, or time you went about setting that farmhouse on fire as a distraction to cover our trail"

"Bit of ah difference between a few fancy sparkles an' a blazin' fire now innt?"

"I can set things on fire as well Miss Cruenditha"

"Oh-hoh, some snark from our junior apprentice! Oh, they grow up so fast don't they?" Nedorious chuckled at his slave-apprentice politely snapped back at Crue's comments and look of irritation at Sydney as she had said it. Humiliating and shaming Sydney had worked wonders for the girl's attitude and, magical truth compulsion aside; she'd finally started to learn the line between playful, sarcastic, banner and overwhelming, and most importantly unearned, arrogance. It was the death of many of an apprentice, and of necromancers in general, with that sense of smug arrogance clouding rational thoughts and planning and mixing with the overestimation of their own abilities.

"Aye Boss, though she best not tryin' it lil' auld me as ah be somewhat fire resistant thank ya' very much"

"Oh, I'm sure she doesn't mean any such thing Crue. Why we have many enemies, such as her former, less than talented, teachers to set on fire! Our dear Sydney knows who the winning side is going to be after all! And which one will reward her the most in the long run! Why you could be a future court mage, friendly helpful businessman like yours truly, or if you're feeling unsociable, ruling your own tower filled with skeletons in the middle of nowhere"

"Indeed I do my Master" his apprentice replied with a sigh "and that my former teachers would be merciful to me all things considered"

"Oh of course not Sydney dear, rather cutthroat place is the Host Tower. Nor do those magical skeletons like much in the way of competition in the long term, and apprentices are a penny a dozen for dangerous. It's why Denny sent you out here to die with Mister Flesh Golem ready to deal with you in certain circumstances..." he cheerfully reminded her, hopefully subtly reminding her of the fact her old master had wanted her dead "...while here you get to associate with so many fascinating, and potential powerful, fellow casters...oh, and study exotic things like teleporting and evil magical taverns as we are now"

Not that there was much more to learn on the subject he found as they came to a stop before the location once again and he looked about the now empty space. Even the lingering 'hum' of the magic had vanished, driven away by the weak, but constant, effect caused by young Karg's rune-etched stone markers spread around his stronghold to boost the defences. Orcs were on patrol around it as usual, saluting him as he gave them a friendly wave and jolly greeting as they passed; orc-form Ned was a rather good choice while living in Orc Town.

Though Crue had managed plenty well too despite her dwarven nature in both looks and attitude, but personally he found the time and level of violence employed to be rather more bothersome than he would be bothered employing these days. The odd display of power was necessary of course, but those could be rather enjoyable due to the brief indulgence of the display and the dealing with unnecessary idiots in...self-defence. Aiding the 'civilizing' goals of this orc clan and their allies was in his best interests long-term; especially if they could succeed and take command of these lands. He sighed after a few moments of contemplation and casting the spell trigger in case of the entry of any other teleporting interlopers.

"Not that much can be learned directly on the spells used I'm afraid. Higher powers appear to have been sending the entity almost randomly to locations judging from the words spoken. Dreadful thing as I've said before, and such a waste of magic really considering the purposes. Why if I were a cannibal demonic zombie in need of flesh, with a teleporting place of business, I'd trade for such things outside rather large city with problems of housing all their dead. Let that be a lesson for the future for you Sydey if you continue down the path of necromancy; one can legally acquire most raw materials while living a comfortable life instead of hiding out in an old tomb and slowly going mad"

"Unless a paladin comes after ye Boss"

"Oh Crue, when you do it legally...or mostly legally at least...one gets to unleash the City Guard upon the nasty, evil, knight whose a lawbreaker. It was Sir What-her-name who got run out of town not us if I recall correctly" he reminded her scratching his chin trying to recall the memory. Crue rolled her eyes beneath her helmeted head in response.

"Ah meant when she came after us when we left dat damn town"

Nedorious smiled snapping his fingers as he brought up the memory "Oh yes, now I remember! Back in our early days, and you dealt with her rather efficiently for such idiocy. Good job that was Crue! She made such a good pack-mule too, and never a complaint either...till the fire anyway, sad loss. Oh well, that's life one supposes"

"Uh-huh, I wonder why Boss man" Etlin muttered looking around, listening a few moments later as he cocked his head to the side "...just to say sounds like the fighting is reaching a peak outside, and it's getting darker. Not too long before a good number of orcs, or auxlia, going to be marching through the streets looking to ale into their bellies after training. Just reminding you as you ordered Boss"

"Good man, good man indeed" Nedorious replied cheerfully at the reminder from his secondary bodyguard about the mock battle taking place just outside the town's walls. Seemed fighting never ended in this orc, lazing and idling around not being viewed positively; instead, in this gap between the winter storms, they'd fallen back into gruelling training followed by general revelry "...best we meet our dear friend Menkin then before he becomes besieged as the guard shifts change, then unto the lovely Lua and friends over in their Adventurers Guild!"

If they could get a ten-days or three of good weather...or at least one and a few days, which might occur before the usual nasty Crag's winter set in again, would allow collection of useful herbs and ingredients. With paper being created, poor quality right now but shocking to have any out here, had enabled him to create scrolls much easier than he'd planned; and, even more surprisingly, a log of various tests and experiments allowed within the stronghold's walls. Oh, and helping with training up, and arming, his apprentices many apprentices who served as the students of the Tower of Midnight. Nedorious liked that name, though it was mildly unfortunate it had been young Harkell Harpell who had coined the name.

'Well one cannot have all the great ideas I suppose' he consoled himself as he led his small group down the hard earthen path towards the kobold's tavern. Talking to the...uninvited guests...had brought forth a few new ideas on potential medicines so it was best to approach his fellow businessperson with the stronghold to test out such things. Some training of the short lizards young talented slave, plus part of the profits if it worked, could be traded for potion creation services and general alchemy; while both Menkin and the gnome Nimmil loathed each other it had served Nedorious rather well as go between them...

--