In My Time of Troubles

by Crossposted

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

44. Entry 44

[Mirrinock 01]

Market Area, City of Illusk

Preparation was the key Mirrinock found as he glanced at his enemy, watching as she finished buckling the last traps on her armour. If he had prepared correctly then he had already won, and if he had failed then he would be defeated and several deaths would swiftly have to follow to maintain his position. A risk, but a calculated one, with a significant gain in status and to ensure that the most arrogant of the drow was humbled; else they would need to kill several down the line.

Not a huge loss of course in Mirrinock's opinion, but the First Shaman and Emperor had somewhat strong opinions on allying with those creatures, so it was best to accommodate such while dealing with the insult of the female. Non-fatally of course...

Mirrinock would have snorted at that, but such displays were weakness as Phargk had taught him, directly and indirectly, and his body remained perfectly still, face frozen even behind the mask. Shargass would be pleased, even if he had sworn by magic, to two of the creatures, that he would cause no fatal harm or injury to his 'opponent' for the night.

So be it, they had overlooked that many of his hunts had been just that in condition; Drow captives were utterly beyond dangerous, but they were fonts of information when broken, and worth a small fortune as slaves. While that would not be the outcome here, the nature of strengthening their hold over them was equivalent in his mind. Slowly, carefully, his head tilted and moved, eyes darting and studying the others of her kind, most merely standard for their kind, though the tall one, his foe's mother... a true danger, a true beacon of dark power to his eyes.

Certainly a valid reason not to seriously harm her arrogant spawn even without promises given, as there were too much of the dead old Phargk in her stance, in her power. Her kind were monsters, as had been Mirrinock's former Master, and in that he could understand why Karguk the Reader courted her power, even if it was a path fraught with dangers.

'Of course, with the nature of The Reader such deadly dangers and magic most likely make such a pact all the more appealing' he speculated to himself as his hands prepared his double-bladed crossbow once more, stunning-bolts at the ready. Backup weapons too should the Geas be broken, his preparations failed, but those would remain hidden as he called silently upon Shargass, the shadows flowing subtly around him.

Carefully, subtly, as not to spook others, reaching out with whispered words into the waiting darkness; the streets blocked off were no caves, but they were all stalked, and traps prepared. Off beyond the First Shaman continued to speak with the Dark Priestess, who was unclad as her clerics to slay the captured beast in some ceremony or other. Still reeking of power though, and her minions would still retain their weapons; he guessed so as not to sully their armour with all the blood soon to be spilled.

Most ceremonies of the drow involved blood, violence, and some degree of undress he'd found, though the lack of wearing chains and spider symbols was a positive in his mind for having them as vassals. More schemes within schemes from the Spartan clan's war-priest of the Cunning Warrior Mirrinock knew, watching as the other dangerously powerful figure in the city accepted the drow's bow, motioning and speaking more words and gestures. Friendly as ever it seemed at a distant; diplomatic as he'd heard the other orc shaman had put it, though he would call it different.

All smiles and kind words, but one never knew when that mask would slip and cold empty eyed killer with the fiery blade and dark magic would emerge to slaughter any who opposed his clan. Mirrinock glanced away, at the distant Emperor, a pale imitation, a weakling, compared to Mighty Phargk, but also perhaps cunning in the way one of Shargass and Ilneval could be. Here to enjoy the sight of naked elf flesh like many of the others of course. Mirrinock himself did not find the ugly things attractive, but a lifetime of hunting, killing, and torturing their kind had likely ruined any sense of amusement or mystery at the sight.

Such words, such fakery, they were not Mirrinock's strength, that he knew. Enough to intimidate, to silently glare down and weaken, of course, but words not were the way of Shargass; no, he was the dagger the darkness, the quarrel never seen. So he remained silent as the ritual slaughter started, as the loud, obnoxious, drow priestess in armour announced her intentions to defeat him again, merely nodding in acquiescence to the words, long winded and threatening words, of the First Shaman. Warning him and the drow to not kill the other;- understandable, he wished a show of orc supremacy, his machinations and that of the tall dangerous drow female.

No, he stepped back into shadows;- moving amidst the pained screams of the beast, those of joy from the murderous elves, and the cheers of the crowd. Into an alley, the waiting walking corpse responding to his mental command even as the illusions slid into place around him, over the darkness and undeath. Behind he ignored the shouts of the drow, listening only for her steps, faster than normal for one of her kind, as he moved silently and invisibly while the corpse took off a run. No, up to the roofs he went, disliking the starlight but preparing the terrain.

She was beyond his sight now, but not his hearing, nor the first triggered alarm spell as she followed what she thought was him. As she blocked the first shot, though he was unsure if the poison had worked as he heard the shattering of the powder holding quarrel and a quick cough. No, he could not assume that as he leapt to the next rooftop, footsteps muffled by his God's powers, at one with the darkness, momentarily catching sight of the drow as she flared in power, moving forward...

Towards his double, good...down another alley, out of sight as she stalked forward, shield up and blade at the ready. Another alarm triggered as she moved into the empty building, out of sight, the last mental command sending another bolt at her. Easily blocked by the shield he expected as he squatted down, drawing a blade across his palm, and then down into the ritual circle he had prepared; vision came as his eyes closed, the armoured drow stalking forward towards 'him' apparently. 'He' moved, making distance, flinging a smoke grenade at her feet.

The thin pottery shattered on the stone floor at her feet, the powder within sizzling softly and emitting a noxious smoke along with a less visible effect. Another of her spells used he suspected, though his walking corpse did not have the Sight to tell for sure as it moved behind some crates within the blackness of the warehouse, 'hearing' the shout of anger. Crates exploded behind 'him' as 'he' moved and flung another irritating rather than dangerous grenade to shatter out of 'his' line sight. Tiring, distracting, as he triggered the next rune on the circle...vision changing, expanding, as he looked down as if a sacred Bat of Shargass from the ceiling above.

Poured his Will into the ring on his finger, forming whispers in the darkness behind the enraged drow female as she hunted for 'his' body. Preparation was the key he had found, especially against the unwary;- a strategy he would not risk against the paranoid First Shaman for instance, or others surrounded by their loyal guards. But it was enough to control a rare and expensive item he had stolen so many years ago, but so valuable, and so useful as the prey trapped itself unknowingly.

"Do not move..." the whispers commanded as the priestess's body froze up, as he pressed down upon the collar concealed within the armour by the tall dangerous female in exchange for a binding Oath "...do not speak"

Her will flared as he pressed down on it distantly, watching from above, from out of reach "Now walk forward, inhale the smoke, breathe deeply of it"

She fought against the arcane slave collar, enduring the pain of non-compliance a few seconds, before the distractions of the burning taste in the air got to her, causing her to sneeze...then step forward and draw in a breath. Coughing as she drank it in, before sucking in another deep breath, muddling her mind, weakening her will a fraction. Just enough as he waited, silently, his walking corpse also frozen as the seconds passed before he commanded again.

"Remove your weapons, remove your boots, remove your gloves, remove your leggings and remove your helmet. Place them on the ground. Then step back three steps, kneel, place head to ground, place your hands together behind your back"

The drow's head was lolling from side to side, the temporary effects of the poison kicking in as 'he' watched from the shadows above, her body moving like a slow, sluggish, golem to comply. It took a few minutes, his spellcraft tiring as weapons were placed neatly on the ground followed by the potential magic items, or things containing means to escape later bindings. The armour had to stay on as the Slave Collar was hidden within its folds, but every other threat could be removed. It would not do to secure the creature now, then be humiliated later by an escape; thinking beyond the now, and preparation, as always, was key.

So he brought out 'his' body, approaching the kneeling prey as he stole from her will, her pride, and thrust her into darkness and silence as the slave-hood went over her head at the hands of the walking corpse wearing his visage. It was hard to work with the clumsy dead flesh, but he managed to bind arms behind back, then fingers individual together as her Will started to flare again and her body shuddered and grunted. Too late of course, and a command to stand was obeyed as a hobble went above the knees, then the next to walk forward and out into the night.

He opened his eyes, the starlight and moons hidden behind the darkening clouds as the winter rolled in, chill winds rising. Now, to secure his prey and speak of a glorious battle when they reached the tavern, hard fought, and steal even the honesty of what had occurred from the drow;- no hint of what truly had occurred, to offer her a way out to not appear the fool before her 'sisters'. Merely a dagger wound to her pride between them. He would have smiled, but Mirrinock would not do such till this was done, till she was thrust up in the waiting tavern and his victory acknowledged...

--

[Karguk 88]

Mansion House, First Island, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

The bath, followed by a bowl of hot porridge, had chased the lingering effects of last night's drinking away I found as I sat down in my comfy chair within my study. Most of the others were still asleep, the children as well thankfully even if that was just tiredness of everyone waking them up, beyond Mara a few others who had house getting ready for their waking. It had been a rather wild night, to be expected really with a Drow festival, followed by an...energetic time once we returned to the mansion. It was well past midday now, and my wakefulness was in part due to the coffee and alchemical help in clearing of the hangover;- even if I badly needed to work on the taste.

My library was certainly taking shape I thought as I unlocked the cabinet beside me and took out the maps, tools, and tomes within. Planning out the coming Mid-Winter rituals was a work in progress still, even if there was time, and something I'd done my best to 'feel out' with the various smaller festivals such as last night's mad little affair. Thanks to that, and the likes of Doctor Ned, I had a rough idea of where the 'ley-lines', the Veins of Mystra as their called, are in relation to the Host Tower. With all the magic still in the air after the battle...well, I always found it best to plan out the rituals as I opened the book I'd set aside for notes on the matter.

"Right, let'me see..." I muttered as Tsuruhoki stood off to my right side looking on curiously. Six was the magic number; a sigil for Ilneval, Luthic, Gruumsh, Baghtru, Shargass, and Yurtus, each in location surrounding the market area. Secondary ritual sites, or perhaps sub-ritual sites for that deity alone was more accurate, would feed into the main one – Ilneval at the Host Tower for instance, anchoring that part of the spell. It wasn't a true circle, more an oval, but it would function like a larger version of what we did back in Sparta, and hopefully keep each priesthood happy controlling their own smaller ritual first.

"Hmm, abandoned our bed for work I see?" Missy's voice teased sleepily from my right, and I smiled at her as I watched her saunter over to me with a yawn. She was in a light blue robe, down to just below her hips, and had that 'just got out of bed' look with her messy hair and bare legs "...rituals, hmm? Oh, good day Tsuruhoki"

"Good Day Mistress, Tsuruhoki is pleased to serve" the shorter oriental girl, dressed in her harem-girl silks and golden collar, replied in Orcish with a bit of accent as she gave a deep bow to Missy, hands together on her stomach. I was having a light silk kimono, on the girl's advice and design, being created for her to wear outside the mansion along with ankle and wrist bracelets. She'd picked up Orc very swiftly, and was picking up Common too, and was in the odd scenario for a human right now of being just barely literate in Orcish and Draconic, but not in Common beyond a few very basic words. Still...it was impressive for a year in my opinion.

I nodded as my third wife plopped into the chair beside, then sighed as she brought her legs up to rest in my lap as she yawn and rested back in her chair "Yes, ritual-prep for the Mid-Winter ceremony. Starting at where we need setup parts of the ritual, then work out what I need to do to make that work"

"Hmm...focusing on the markets rather than the Host Tower husband?"

"Well, in truth I'd prefer the tower as a focus, but it's much harder focus anything resembling a ritual circle on it..." I pointed out running a finger over the map, tapping it with a claw "...while I can do Host Tower- near Drow District-Northern Eastern Bridge-Winter Palace-Southern Gate-Arena as an outer circuit. Really it's because there's room in the Market Area as you saw last night, we can assemble quite the crowd there, and with divine magic the prayers and mass of the worshippers matters"

"It's close to the ruins too, and you want to deal with them as well"

I sighed as she hummed in thought, and used my free hand to rub her legs "Aye, and it'll help deal with those damned ruins, the surface part anyway same as the holy rains during the siege did. Another reason is...well, harnessing whatever power gets in the air from the smaller rituals during the day, or at least tapering down on them. Crazy Aurilite priestess for instance is planning on freeze part of the river here and ice dancing..."

"Naked?"

"No..." I replied with another sigh "...not everyone is like Lua and her folk. Bare-foot though, which is crazy, but I find the world is crazy, so best to deal with it. Rose'll be doing her thing as well during the day, so we need keep things organised from dawn to the next dawn"

Missy smiled softly, rubbing at her eyes after another yawn "One big long excuse to feast"

I gave a snort at that "For some, for me it's one big long headache to organise, and then time to commune with the Boss Orc, which is stressful let me tell you because He always wants me to do things"

"You *are* his priest..." my wife replied sleepily, feet somewhat kicking at me "...Ghorza thinks it's beyond an honour that your Gods have blessed you so"

"Uh-huh, and me and her have talked on that subject a few times..." I answered with a chuckle "...anyway, your right the first time; for most it's a great big excuse to get drunk and eat well for a day, which means entertainment and booze for them. So, we'll be doing some training on things like Dancing Lights for instance and similar spells with the Battlestaves and Oggy's Wizardly Acoyltes as well. Gotta make things look impressive for the populace..."

Simple 'parlour tricks' they might be perhaps, but those simple things were enough to build up faith within people as it came into the ritual proper, and it combined with other things as well. Gladiatorial games for instance in honour of the One Eye, a series of practice squad clashes and strategy game competitions for my patron, and similar across the way for the others. Oggy and the other senior priestesses of Luthic had their own 'fertility' based events, along with marriages of course; blessings, gathering up the various groups, and in general making a festival of the whole thing was the general plan.

The other major issue was preventing fights and battles breaking out, or, to be more honest, in channelling all that aggression into thinks like the Arena. Bloodshed was a guarantee after all, and it was merely a matter of directing it to useful ends rather than trying to minimise it. Patrols would have to be organised, more than usual, and then make sure that guards manned the walls the watchtowers as performed the ritual when my guards had gathered along all the other religious ones. Which was in part another significant reason for ensuring that this whole series of events went smoothly after all "...and it shows off the strength of the Temples too my dear, my strength in a way, and considering the last time..."

I glanced at Tsuruhoki who bowed her head "Yes Master, one remembers, and I wished to ask Master something on that matter?"

"Hmm? Ask away Tsuruhoki?"

"Thank you Master, this humble wishes to stay with Master and the Mistresses on that Day and Night...this humble one is...has bad dreams yes? Fears? One would prefer to serve by Master side"

I hummed in thought a moment, then reached out and patted the woman's back, then gently guiding her nearer to me "Of course, don't worry, such things will not be a danger to you again. Now, would you have any interesting tales or advice from festivals from your homeland..."

It was a shame in some ways I'd left Rinirya the elf priestess of Melira Taralen back in the stronghold as dancing and such might be useful to keep up morale amongst the slaves, but Arleigh was on hand, along with Rose and others to provide there. Still, I was open to advice from the ladies of my harem, and then my arcane advisors such as Doctor Ned, and then the circle of Priests and Shamans of the various clans. I was being all Mystic Theurge here, as well as a Ritualist, so the more knowledge I had the greater my odds of success...and in dealing with my Black Staff of the Gods, and the odd dreams and nudges I was having. The Scroll in my Soul acting up I suspected.

'Which is why I need to meditate later as usual' I reminded myself listening, along with Missy who relaxed in her chair, to the tales of Tsuruhoki's far off home that was basically Magic Fantasy Japan. Praying and Meditating helped a great deal I found, focusing the will and the power, but the major rituals...brought a lot more, and were both a boon and a pain because of that. Ones I couldn't adequately predict sadly, merely make provisions and vague safeguards for in the end. Smiling at my 'Head Librarian Haremette' I gestured at her to continue as she got flustered over some words...

--

When: 24th Day of Nightal, 1357 Dale Reckoning

Where: Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Well, we've have had some minor trouble down in the southern parts of the city;- idiots and blood feuds between minor warbands and clans. Someone fuck some-elses sister and boom! There's fighting on the streets needing a good, hard, stomping on by, in this case, Emperor Kurnak's Imperial Guards. Nothing too serious; but, well, just more of the usual as things slowly start to 'civilize' amongst the tribal warriors that are now citizen-soldiers of fair Illusk. I've helpfully put the bodies up on pikes, with warnings, so as to remind certain idiots amongst the ranks chaos will not be tolerated.

Thankfully the Festival craziness passed by without incident, well, beyond the usual small outbreak of fights and a handful of deaths in duels anyway. They don't really count as they themselves are the reduced version of bored drunken orcs needing an outlet for aggression; hence the gladiatorial games and prostitutes. My own 'outlet' has been training, after a good days rest after the festival's feasting first, with sparring against my guards every day, followed by retreating to the Host Tower or my Library to study. Study and make preparations for the Midwinter Ritual about a month and a bit distant.

Unlike 'back home' I have to consult with the other clerics of the pantheon, Mirrinock especially, and his little victory battle over Veladorn's daughter has helped with that somewhat. I can't just dictate, as much I want to, the nature of the sub-rituals for each God(ess), but I have ensured control of the Ilneval site, and the overall one in the Market District. That's the important part, as that's where the 'raw' energy going flow from the secondary sites and be wielded by yours truly this year, along with my Black Staff of the Gods.

Which is what I'm working on at the moment, as it's 'unlocked' so to speak, but I'm not Phargk so I'm learning its powers as I go along. Slowly I'll admit, but better to be cautious with the powers of the Orc Gods I find, even when I've bonded it, rather painfully I might add, with my blood and spirit. Right now I gather it relates to the Domains of the Deity invoked? involved?...as I can draw shadows and shadowy form from it like a cleric of Shargass. It's more raw power requiring me to manipulate it that anything else I think;- ie, how I utilise it varies from how Darth Phargk did due to life experiences and power levels.

Sadly there's no-one I can really consult on this, bar Oggy and Ghorza on their divine visions and views, as it's not like there's a book on it, nor is it arcane-ly created. Strange thing though: I can raise undead with it via arcane methods, or to be more precise, by drawing on the Weave through the Staff. Possibly my fault, or due to my instincts, as I've a tendency to draw upon either Divine or Arcane, or draw upon both, to fuel my spells and item creation. Binding the Staff to myself, combined with the seeming 'individual will and strength' nature of the item, might be the cause of that though. Something to investigate further I suppose.

Anyway, Slán go foille a chardaí.

--

When: 28th Day of Nightal, Dale Reckoning 1357

Where: Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Word from the Crags;- Elves be scouting about our lands. Not happy to hear that, and it's not just us, seems a small band was wandering about the Crags checking us out till several of them got dead or captured. We're send about five squads back, and the other clans are send a few too, so about four to five hundred orcs of various clans heading back before the weather gets disastrously bad. Light infantry mostly, hunters, scouts, and raiders, and there to try hunt through the winter to see if this is the herald of larger elf problems there. They don't think so in the valley, and I agree, but better safe than sorry I find.

Anywho, I've been trying to spend more time with the children as well, though that really means Kargash, Korugal, and Ogkra, as Gharvak and Siegfried are too young to do much with me. Kargash especially wants to learn magic, Korugal the blade, so I've done my fatherly best to help with both as they play with Zah's large brood. Oggy's already got marriage plans between them to ensure our clan's continued power structure and all that. Damn but I love her, even if she frightens me at times; forward thinking of her really, and keeping the household safe above all should I, well, fuck up and fall. They've all gradually started to use to the mansion complex, and I've gotten everywhere, basement included, full warded up at long last atop Missy's ones.

To be honest it's a break in what are long, long, days. Between martial training, arcane studies, ensuring my Guard develops as I intend, and meetings with other clan shamans, and the Emperor I dislike, those few hours in between are a joy of relaxation in comparison. Shouting, wailing, children hitting me with wooden swords or trying to use minor cantrips aside it is fun. Certainly more than the shouting, swearing, overgrown children that sometimes seem to run our glorious horde, and are only held together by mutual self-interest and fear; aka Civilization really.

Same as my Household, or harem, as it's developing into something of a routine, as those Tsuruhoki has picked up on what I want from her as head librarian, along with my alchemist duo of Tessa and Julie for potions. Or, well, what Missy wants as she my 'in charge' person for my library and study when I'm not about, as Oggy runs the Household overall, and Ghorza the Guard with Tanalasta and the others under her. We've had a few pleasant, albeit cold, days so there's been plenty of time to drill the new recruits, even if several of them are veteran warriors already. Keeping my martial skills is important, even if running about in armour is still a terrible, terrible, thing that annoys me and makes me tired.

Anyway, time to say goodbye, work to be done.

--

When: 3rd Day of Hammer, 1357 Dale Reckoning

Where: Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Gods, it really lives up to its name of Hammer doesn't it?

Sorry, the winter just rolled in like bloody hammer of snow and cold late last night. Went to sleep after a few drinks with Zah and the other chieftains, clear skies above, and woke up to a howling blizzard outside and snow stacking high. I'm sure the Auriltes are having a big party or something to celebrate the return of the Winter Wonderland. One could argue it's not as bad as in the Crags, but the harbour apparently does freeze from time to time, and my clerics will have to work double time to prevent deaths as the city isn't as suited to hard winters as the mountain caves and strongholds in many places.

On the bright side; food stores are good, protected by anti-vermin and anti-insect wards, and we've finally got the brewing industry up and running. I know, an odd way to fight a blizzard, but public order is important as even keeping slave alive means insuring their masters aren't too bored, or too aggressive, and booze surprisingly helps with that. Not much, but better they be in the taverns having a few drinks on their time off, than plotting bitterly when not on duty due to their not being enough of said comforts around.

Fear is all well and good, and I've worked on it as Phargk did, but you need Hope of a better tomorrow there as well – a reason to fight, beyond me standing over them with a sword ready. Apparently that Hope means setting up Orc Las Vegas in the middle of a frozen bay rather than a desert. Go figure.

Whatever the case it shouldn't affect my acolytes training within the Host-tower, which is going relatively well, and we've had no escape attempts by enslaved apprentices, or attacks from without, so that's good. I know we're crude, in-the-field, accelerated training over what most consider 'traditional' master-apprentice training, but it's delivering combat ready fighter-mages that we need. Or Cleric-Mage mystic theurges like myself, as I've tried to get a few hours in training my minions these past few days. If the weather keeps up like this, that'll be something I'll be doing more of in the next few as well.

Slán for now.

--

When: 10th Day of Hammer, 1357 Dale Reckoning

Where: Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Nine Hells, this weather!

Snow, frost, snow, followed by the occasional blizzard to fill up the streets we just cleared of the snow. So, apparently, it's as cold down at the sea as it is up in the Crags at times. Then again; further north as well, so maybe that evens it out. Harbours are filled with ice, though the ships could get out say the human merchants from far off the south. I can see why they didn't want to risk making for Fireshear or the Ten Town till the onset of spring. Children love it, but it's a nuisance and a danger for the rest of us. Plenty of water now though; between fires going and collecting snow to melt it was easy restock, with capacity being the problem.

Oh, and I've a ritual coming up as well. Joy.

But, away from that for the moment and think on other things;

- Firstly our forges are up and running, and, importantly, starting to produce plate armour now that myself, Jernak, and the Emperor have concentrate them and started a production line of sorts. Or, well, massed cottage industry production, with clerics assigned to bless weapons and armour. I've even manage to establish a crude production schedule, and roughly what it costs material and hours wise to equip heavy orc infantry.

- Secondly I've gotten a store of potions established, and I'm working towards crafting a number of magical items to ensure our abilities should the Gods fall to Toril. Healing potions are a priority, and weaker ones {ie slow heal} are easy, though we need a store of 'rapid heal' or 'game quality' ones as well in my opinion. That and...

Seems I need to go, Mara is calling me and Missy for dinner, so goodbye for now.

--

[Karguk 89]

Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Alchemy was time-consuming as tiring I found as sat in my laboratory, an actual one rather than the crude room back in the Tower, as I completed the last of the essential potions for the ritual night. Well, not truly essential bar in my own mind, but one had to be sure this time around...as there might not be a next time. There was no margin for error, and every advantage had to be brought to bear with the year to come seeing rather momentous events a coming. Tezza and Julie were not allowed near this...well, no-one was, not even Oggy, and while I'd accepted advice and double checking of my workings on paper these potions in the end were my work.

Three for me, and one each for the Gods-slaves as I carefully labelled them and placed them into the potion box, then wincing as I locked it with a spell by spilling my blood as the lock. Then into my knapsack they went, as I arranged it against my crimson dyed mithril mail with a sigh. Once I got started today there wouldn't be much chance to return home as my duties largely dictated a movement towards the Markets and the Midnight Ritual at the end of that. I'd had to sleep in the laboratory to wait for the potency to increase, and feed it my magic, but it was worth it...hopefully I thought to myself standing up and dusting myself off.

Summoning my staff to me, the inky black wood trimmed with silver and a harp flew to my hand as I moved towards the door. With a turn of the key I exited, finding Rose sitting in a chair waiting for me, reading one of my new books on the Savage Frontier. Amusing as she found them funny it seemed to me as they weren't overly accurate in their description of the dangers and sights of our lands. I smiled faintly as I saw her copy me, using one of the little bookmark tokens I'd made for myself, and I'd ended up giving to Rose and Missy for one "I didn't keep you too long?"

Rose gave a amused snort as she stood, stretching her arms after placing down the book "No Papa, I thought you might be longer, it's still early morning"

I rubbed at my beard "Hmm...that worked out well, time enough to get something to eat then before I head over to the first ritual. Oggy?"

"Mistress Ogrash and Ghorza have already left to prepare their rituals, or in Ghorza's case prepare yours for you at the Host-tower"

I nodded, striding forward towards the kitchen as I passed Tezza, who bowed as I passed "Good, good...Hi Tezza, you and Julie can use the lab again by the way...anyway, yeah, Rose, good to hear things are working out as planned. Oh, and the children?"

"Still asleep, as is Missy and the Gods-slaves..." she shrugged following along beside me as I wandered into the kitchen where Kethri turned, curtsying at us with a smile "...and I'll be honest Papa, I'm only up about an hour when Mistress Ogrash left for her duties"

"Honestly, that's a good thing. Gonna be a long day and night as ever" I replied to her, then smiling back at Kethri as I took a jug of fruit juice and took it to the table with two goblets after a quick sniff "Hey Kethri, something smells nice, so I think I'll have some, Rose too"

"Thank you Master, I'm sorry it's only a winter porridge, but I've mixed in honey and ginger with some apples and a pear and that has spiced it up enough to please you and Mistress Rose"

"It sounds perfect Kethri, and a bit of that bread and cheese there as well...it could be all I eat till much later today I expect" I replied taking a seat, one of the strong ones to handle my armoured bulk as Rose took a seat beside me and smiled at the other girl who quickly turned and placed two large bowls filled with cooked oats and fruits before me. It was one of the places I liked in my new home; there was an actual function kitchen, that was warm, and had ovens not just a fire-pit, along with an area to be seated...though that'd likely been for servants I'd guessed before we'd put in the new table and chairs.

"Do you expect any trouble Papa?"

I hummed in thought, filling her goblet, then mine "Well, there's always trouble Rose, orcs and humans and drow running about, but hopefully the festivities calm things somewhat"

"Along with all the armed warriors patrolling?"

"Yes, those too hopefully" I agreed taking a drink of the warmed spice drink and letting out a sigh before refilling "But we have to stay on guard, this isn't the stronghold, nor our valley, so there's always danger, that the daggers could flash in the dark. Zah's on that though, as I'm sadly focused on this whole ritual thing, along with Ghorza and Oggy and my bodyguards. Oh, and watching the Drow under Veladorn, and those pirates, spies, or thieves pretending to be merchants too of course"

Rose nodded firmly "Of course, I'll be extra careful and watchful"

"I'm counting on you Rose, though what time am I losing you too your thing High Priestess"

She gave an unladylike snort at that "Oh Gods, don't call me that, Grandma is more senior than me, and it makes me sound really old..."

I shrugged, answering her before digging into the food "Well you are, High Priestess of Chauntea in Illusk I mean, just like Arleigh is for her Goddess"

My crimson haired adopted daughter huffed at that, speaking with food in her mouth "Dwont compure me two hurr! She's a gwamblor"

"Don't speak with your mouth full, Wifne would be annoyed at me if she saw that..." I corrected waving my spoon at her "...but, yeah, Arleigh's...a bad example, but she still is a High Priestess. Even if she is a harem slave...and a terrible gambler as well, and just remember; you're in charge of keeping her in line for the rest of the day"

"Ughhhh...I know, and Lua too"

"And Lua too yes, though thankfully all she has to do is dress skimpy, sit with the rest of the household, and drink and feast...all while doing nothing else beyond partying. Basically what enjoys doing anyway, so just ensure weapons are too hand in case any problems arise. Tris kinda forgets little things like that, let along our dear Lua when she's all excited about festivities...and I'm not going to be much help I'll warn, not once this starts"

"Of course Papa...I *have* been at these before you know? And have you agreed upon a new Clan name as yet"

I groaned ever so softly after swallowing down the nice tasting porridge and reaching for some cheese "No, all between Oggy and Breyza and Zah...so I'm expecting Storm-something, because we just have to rub it in that we were Stormfang...blah, blah, blah, before all this started. Hopefully I won't regret this delegation...completely anyway, as I'm sure it'll bother me in many, many, ways given time"

My focus had been on the rituals, and ensuring the logistics of the clan were met while Zah handled building up the warriors numbers and training, along with naming conventions. All the Clans were intent upon the name change, in Blood Oaths and a 'founding blessing' of our new kingdom, or empire, or whatever you wanted to call it. Obould and his conquered I could understand most of all; they were an Uthgardt tribe, so shedding the name and gaining a new 'totem' was vital to building his legitimacy amongst the other, lesser, orc clans entering the city.

That, sadly, wasn't as important right now to me as ensuring the various rituals across the city went off in a semi-competant manner and all the divine and demonic energy hovering about since the battle were gathered up by my spell-casters. Drawing upon the Divine, and the Arcane, was dangerous at the best of times, or at least painful if fucked up, and I had the golden scroll joy in my head, and a human-turned-orc Spellfire Shandril-as-Shandy to deal with as well. Unfortunately power, and vision, were needed now, and there wasn't time to panic and freak out over generating one of the bigger rituals...the biggest numbers wise and size actually.

'Well, nothing to be done about it...hopefully we please the Boss Orc with what we've done' I thought to myself chewing on the cheese as Rose suggested a few silly, though hopefully not actual, variants on that clan naming convention. It did help me relax after all the time focused on tomes and potion making over the past few days...weeks...and with all the fun to come for the rest of the day and night. Outside the weather was crisp, and cold, and clear thanks to some helpful weather magic from our resident team of Arcane casters under Doctor Ned, and the crazy Aurilite priestess for the joy of throwing a blizzard at us after the clear spell. That, thankfully, I could live with as long as we got cold, but nice, winter weather for the main event...

--

[Missasri 36]

Market District, City of Illusk

The night was clear Missasri found, looking up at the stars and moon shimmering in the utter blackness that surrounded them on the tapestry of another harsh winter's night. Temporarily clear of course, magically so, and her booted feet crunched on the previous day's snowfall despite somebody clearly had cleared away the snowfall before that. Thankfully that was only a small amount, and likely to be gone in their wake as she marched with the others of the household towards the still unlit braziers, platforms, and other things laid out in the market square of the city.

Her Karg and the other orc priests had kept the market area locked down with guards till now as Missasri follow behind Ogrash and Ghorza, along with other 'households' of the shamans and clan chiefs. Led by the Orc Emperor, and wasn't that a weird thought she found, as the drums began to beat again, a slow, steady, thudding along with spear-points hammering off the frozen stone cobbles in unison. Off behind her she could see the shining sigils of the Orc Gods in the sky over smaller ritual sites, cast by apprentices and acolytes in an unneeded, but visible to the crowds filling the streets, display of the magic filling the air.

'Another crazy festival ritual with its attendant unnerving chanting' Missasri thought to herself with more calm than she'd felt in previous ones back in the stronghold. Her little Siegfried was with the other children, surprisingly quiet too, as Mara held him all bundled up and warm against her body. Missasri would have preferred to hold him, but she had one had on her staff, and her gloved hands ready should anything go wrong and she needed to defend them...or simply to add her magic to the constant buzzing of faint power in the air.

Karg was somewhat fond of flashy show magic for the festivals; dancing lights, clerical magic flaring flames, booming voices, and other such things that made her want to shake her head at the wastefulness. Thousands of worshippers, hundreds of apprentices and acolytes, dozens of priests and mages, and priceless magical artefacts...and what does her orc husband use it to do?

Make really flashy lights, great tasting beer and food, along with some general healing...

'Mayhap it be the nature of priests and shamans?' she wondered idly considering Lua was worse, and many amongst that profession were wont to theatrics during rituals and ceremonies. Whatever the case incense drifted to her nose as the procession...processions as other ones came in from other streets...as the chanting continued, and the drums kept up their steady beat. Sadly this was the nice part she found, as the presence of the Orc's Gods when summon was...utterly terrifying Missasri thought with a repressed shiver. It wasn't too long to endure, but one still didn't enjoy it much as the orcs around her certainly did.

As they passed the smaller braziers burst in flame, Mistress Ogrash's contribution Missasri guessed as she stomped the butt of her staff into the cobblestone street as they entered the market area proper. Though the stalls and other trade areas were gone right now; replaced by temporary stands, and other platforms on roofs where a number of guards and clerics watched or aided in the ceremonies. Missasri watched as willowy lights danced above her head, and those of the others of the household, as the Sparta orc clan marched towards an area where the clan banner flew led by the massive, plate clad, form of Chief Zahgorim just behind the robed Mistress Ogrash.

Nearby to her, walking with an almost contented expression was the finely dressed form of the half-elf concubine of the big orc chieftain Karg saw as a close friend. On her way to be freed as Missasri had been, along with one or two others; part of her was glad of that, almost proud, that she had been the first to earn her freedom and others now could take that route. Missasri didn't mind Sylfine too much, the other human woman being freed with her, Marya, was friendlier, if a bit simpler in mind; also pregnant again very clearly, and unlikely to see much change in her life, freedom or no. Earning freedom by babies...was not Missasri's preferred path to freedom after all, her Siegfried had been painful enough to birth she had found...

BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM

...as the drums echoed out as she slide to her knees on a fur and cloth covered area. Standing in the middle of the market square was Karg and a handful of other orc priests in armour and robes amidst a great ritual circle with unlit bonfires spaced between them. It almost ached to see valuable magic gear like what was placed out there in sacrifice with those bonfires...ready to be destroyed before her eyes. But there was nothing she could do about that, and her Karg had at least said they could work towards making more, and the tomes there were ones that had several copies in the library or the Host-tower.

BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM

She watched silent as the crowds drift in, drawn by the sound...the beating heart of the rhythm that filled the air, the shiver of power all around her like the wafting smell of burning herbs and incense, and the touch of chill night air on her face. Lua sat beside her, more scanty original clothing covered by a heavy fur cloak once the drow had realised the obvious; deep winter meant it was really fucking cold outside. Then again, Missasri found Lua's compatriots were insane enough to decide dancing about in such weather was a fine idea, so maybe it just the current lack of alcohol that had Lua being suddenly sensible.

BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM

Karg was shouting now, or speaking loudly perhaps, as the murmuring and sounds of the crowds seemed to fade away as the chanting and beat of the drum filled the air along with his and the other priests voices. Missasri somewhat tuned that out as it was a mixture of praising their dark gods and invoking spells she'd heard several times herself over the past week.

No, it was much more interesting, and helped take her mind off the coming dark oppressive power that would manifest in result. How, and why, Karg seemed to have an inability to separate out using true arcane power from that of his deity was a bit of surprise no matter what she or Doctor Ned taught him...then again, Doctor Ned seemed unbothered by such either, what with his odd nature magic for his mobile garden...

BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM

Now she watched as the darkness seemed to descend as the six girls known as the Gods-slaves stepped forward, shedding heavy fur cloaks to stand in nothing beyond those creepy masks, and even more unnerving tattoos of mystic power. Their bodies almost dancing over the ground, lithe and nimble, as they began to sway and flow within the massive ritual circle to beat of the louder, but somehow slowing, beat of the drums and pipes. Staves slammed into the ground in a rhythmic beat too, Missasri find herself moving ever so faintly in response to the tune as magic ever so fainted rippled around them...

BOOOM

Raising his arms her Karg called out something, followed by the other orc priests and priestess, something indistinct, but oppressive on the air around her. Immediately the unlit braziers caught aflame with a roaring woosh as staffs once again thudded off the ground in unison to Karg's one; answered by roaring prayers from thousands of throats around them. It was hard keep her head clear she found, her mind wanting to flow with the heathen ritual as usual despite knowing the end result, and what was being summoned. Nothing forceful, but the crowds were almost as one in the here and now, as Karg and the other's continued their theatrics as lights danced and flames flared ever higher...

BOOOOOOOOOM

The six dancing Gods-slaves drank something, as did Karg, and that fiery paladins blade came into his free hand, black staff in the other, as he chanted out...roared out...words of power. Up the blade went, blazing with ethereal white flames, before slamming down into the heart of the circle along with black staff. Fire erupted like an explosion, yet somehow not, before white ghost flames raced along the lines of the ritual circle causing the bonfires to erupt into great blazes along with their 'tribute' despite not effecting the living beings there. Lights of shimmering colours filled the sky above despite the darkness somehow deepening outside those flames and magical beacons...

B̗̳̭̲̞̙̟O͔̥̘͠O̴O̶͓̭͎O̥̞̣̹O̠͇̭O̘ͅOO̺̳ͅO̧̪O̸̫̪̯͚O̸̲͎O̧̦̲̬O̩̖͔͖̳O̠͈̘͇̣͡ͅO̙̱̮̙OǪỌ̱͝Ọ͔̩M̵̖ͅ

Claws shrieked off stones as Missasri trembled, forced down forehead to the furs along with so many others as the armour on some orcs nearby started to bleed crimson. She could feel, but not see, as the laughing and dancing Gods-slaves moved and chanted amidst the ritual circle while an invisible pressure pressed down upon her back. Dread filled her as her Siegfried's gurgled in joy nearby along with the other children, and so many adult orcs roared out a cry of sorts that was drowned out as the drum beat one last time...the staffs thudding down in a final expression of power as a fog, or mist...or ashes filled the air around her as the ritual reached its peak...

--

[A Moment in Time]

[Within Dreams Reality Waits]

The sky was burning, a golden sphere emitting a flaming glow against a black night sky that crackled and growled with flashes of white lightning. I sat upon the blackened stonework of the damaged tower, looking out at the activity upon the city taking shape over the ruins of the old, and pondered, staff resting against my shoulder idly. Plant life grew, and died, then grew and flourished again on the expanse before me even as the lightning between stars crackled loudly in the 'sky' above me. Beyond the fields and villages the mountains were on fire, roaring flames reaching up to the skies upon those snow topped peaks, burning and freezing as Fire and Ice warred for dominance.

"Chaos" Not-Me informed me from I...He...We...sat clad in the crimson armour of Ilneval's most loyal, and I/He/We nodded in agreement to energy flowing and raging around the universe "The battle that must be won for Order to Prevail"

I/He/We nodded sitting in my shrouded shadowy robes, staff gleaming darkly as the gem at the top glowed crimson and gold in alternating colours "The price of taking in so much magic, oh, and a Nether Scroll of course, mortal mind's and scrolls not being meant to be receptacles for them after all. Though, the nature of what I...We...are is up for debate now I suppose considering talking to oneself is rarely a good sign of mental wellbeing"

He/We/I shrugged "There is always a price to power, and your forgetting our guest of course, and the essence of the War God given. Yes, I believe I am that aspect, I am the Aspect of War"

I/He/We frowned, eyes burning golden through the shadows that were not-flesh "The Aspect of Knowledge I believe. The mortal mind does strange things to protect itself does it not?"

"Bah!" War replied with a snort as I/He/We nodded in agreement "We need to find ourselves, what the mind does the mind does to defend itself after all"

"Aye, it does" Knowledge agreed with We/He/I that was War as I/He/We rose to stand and walk through the starry void "...one wonders how much of us exists, and how much of exists of the outside within what was reborn"

"We are who we are, nothing else matters" was the answer as I/He/We descended to the road that must be walked, to the great city taking shape at the heart of all that was. Night had fallen, the golden moon shimmering in a crescent shape above in the inky blackness as the illuminated glow of the city drew nearer with easy steps, the gates sliding open before I/He/We. There I waited, standing upon the battlements, gazing out over the Great Work and the light of the Scroll illuminating the mind below...

"About time..." the High Priest stated arms folded across his chest "...I thought we were going mad from the power"

"UNLIMITED POWAHHHHH!" echoed down from the burning mounts on a frozen wind, whispering dreams of magic and knowledge and blood of the coming wars "WAAGGGHHHH!"

"But we are" War replied.

"No we are not" Knowledge argued.

"No, were merely talking to ourselves, always the sign of sanity that" the High Priest replied with sarcasm dripping from the tone as they folded arms across our chest "Save as a saving grace, perhaps, one is the essence of the power granted of an Orc War God, and one is also the essence of an ancient not-truly-sapient, quasi-sentient, scroll"

Knowledge nodded "Given form, given shape, with our memories"

War shrugged "None of this is truly real you know?"

"Yet it is; the result of another grand ritual powering us up and instructions being given, seeds within awakening..." Knowledge argued back "...and too much attention upon the Boss to give instructions directly and bank the flames"

The High Priest rolled his eyes "Oh ye of little faith!"

A hand raised and they stood within the Library, the rows stretching out to seeming infinity in every direction from outside the circular area where We/I/He sat reading, before looking up as they arrived and closing the book in a smooth motion "So, let's get this done shall I?"

"Pragmatism" Knowledge greeted as the light exploded...

...

...

...We let out a breath as I hovered in the night sky above a pillar of light. United as one, in purpose and form, temporarily exceeding the limits of the mind we possessed and beginning to mould the world below...the dimension that was not yet born. Power was a temporary stop-gap as we raised our arms as we hovered in the starry darkness of the sky, extinguishing the flames and bringing Order to the Chaos.

The merger was imperfect, but all living things were imperfect, and we were no different; so the damage was undone first, and then a new fix was placed upon the mental order as Memories formed into bricks and mortar, into towering buildings of various eras behind great fortress walls and shimmering barriers. Knowledge not our own, but now intrinsically ours, slid into place as we rose up the sun and the fields took seed and turned green.

Control was the key now we knew, unity in action, in belief, as prayers reached our ears...our soul...as nascent power flared, then was contained behind mental and arcane barriers. Ilneval had many plans, few that we knew of in truth, but the basics of our purpose needed to be implanted in our mind before we forgot upon waking from The Dream. To be Karguk and to be The Shrouded Lord was something that was a struggle to achieve at the same time and separating out the same existences had been the only way to manage the overflow of the Arcane and the Divine.

Descending deeper into our mind, now the damage of the merge was partially undone and new engrams imprinted to develop our powers over time. In this form we were wiser and more intelligent, guided by divine favour...of a sort...and plans were in motion. A Balor had fallen here, and a Divine Storm and Wrath called down, and we drank it up, the Power, a siphon off of that being sent to the Gods of the Pantheon to empower us for the battles to come.

To them it was irrelevant, to us it was a veritable flood that must be held back and dammed by mystic barriers for latter usage. Ilneval had granted us gifts, but they had been mere seeds and we grew them as we must into greater things as we descended into the inner most sanctum of the mind, to plot and prepare...

First came directing the magic pouring over Illusk. Blessed water flowed through the streets, under them, and burned away the unholy undead lurking on the fringes of their containment zone. Positive Energy suffused our conquest, claiming it, setting the basis for future rituals and enchantments. Performing a Mythal was beyond us, even one of the Scrolls in my Soul, but lesser work on foundations was achievable...

Next came the healing of wounds and mental injuries, restoring and empowering the power and vitality of the legionnaires that would drive off the coming dangers. Births were blessed, those near death restored as the light pulsed out in a gentle mist...

Before us the maps formed into screens reminiscent of images from a past life, yet forming a map from the information provided. Dangers awaited, and the challenges would come once the snows cleared and knowledge spread of the fall of Luskan and the rise of Illusk. Undead things stirred as the necromancers had fled, and the so-called forces of Good would begin to marshal their strength...

And most of all the Time of Troubles was about to fall upon the world in the months to come, and we serve as a distraction before it fell. Mere months to gather our power for when our Lord called us to war, mere months that must be survived and prepared to endure the absence of the Gods powers. So we marshalled what we could, and divided ourselves once again, to mortal and spirit...

--

[Karguk 90]

Market District, City of Illusk

The skies danced with a scintillating and dazzling lightshow I saw as I opened my eyes once more, letting out a breath that steamed on the cold night's air. I'd slipped into something resembling autopilot as my mind worked through the complexity of the spell-work, as it directed the flow of magic with the dozens of clerics and the six Gods-slaves standing in the ritual circles around me.

Raising my arms I led the last round of the chants...then letting it die down as the manifestation of the Pantheon slowly faded; the sounds of roaring and slashing of stone ending as snowflakes once again started to drift down from the sky. With a last gesture I ignited the dead torches and lanterns, empowering my voice as the darkness was illuminated on the ground level just as the 'sky-lights' came to an end.

"THE BLESSINGS OF THE GODS BE UPON THEE, YE WHO BOW DOWN BEFORE THEIR MIGHT AND MAJESTY! YOU HAVE PLEASED THEM WITH YOUR SERVICE AND STRENGHT, AND MANY DAYS OF BATTLE AWAIT US IN THE NAME OF OUR EMPEROR IN SERVICE OF ILLUSK AND OUR GODS!" I took a breath before restarting and finishing as I raised my hands high "BUT FOR NOW WE FEAST!!"

The roar of acknowledgement drowned out even my magic enhanced voice, and I gestured at my acolytes to start the process of distributing the booze and food. Street parties would be the course for the next...well, the rest of the night really, even with the light, blessed, snow shower that had just begun. I felt both tired and empowered, and the magical 'buzz' would likely persist for several hours till I collapsed into bed, as I sheathed my sword and ended the ceremony. My mind burned with images and visions that'd I'd have to sort through later, but this was all about building morale now...and having a few drinks and some food as well.

I patted Silver-hair on the shoulder as she stood at attention like a soldier, before bending over and retrieving her cloak and placing it over her naked form while motioning at the other five Gods-Slaves to clothe themselves as well. They were utterly spent I could tell, Silver almost collapsing into me as I guided them over large to a tavern along with my household; the mad little kobold's in fact, that I'd 'rented' for the night as it was the largest one nearest the market district. My guards were already in place, and the crowd parted to allow my priests, the various clan chieftains, and the Emperor's senior warriors, head to their desired destinations.

"Make sure they have everything they want, from food to drink, and keep them safe of course" I ordered Jhyurt, one of my Red Branch Knights to take some guards and handle the six girls security, and ensure they enjoyed themselves somewhat. He nodded, saluting fist to chest, before leading the six over to a private booth beside where my household was setting itself up inside the, currently, empty tavern. One of the joys of being in charge was you could get to the head of the queue, or, in this case, first dibs on the tables within the tavern. Though that came with its own cost, sort of...

"Welcome my friends! Welcome!" I began as the others began filtering in, Oggy coming up just behind me, along with Rose, so they flanked me as I raised my arms as the crowds poured in and I had to enhance my voice to carry over noise of people entering and talking "Now, enjoy the blessings of the Gods!"

Heroes Feast was...sort of beyond me normally, but with the power suffused by the ritual, and backed up by Oggy and Rose, I drew upon the lingering Blessings in the air and summoned forth platters of food, and flagons of blessed-blood-ale. Just another little reminder of the magic I possessed; important to hammer home as Kurnak and his entourage looked on from across the spacious, but rapidly filing, tavern. My link with my God was strongest now, and in the coming months I'd have to rely on my arcane abilities and coasting on reputation during the Godswar so...magical feasting, yay!

"You're showing off Papa"

I grinned back at Rose, patting her on the shoulder "Course I am, now get a drink and enjoy yourself while looking powerful...and keeping the others in line"

She grinned back, saluting "You got it Papa!"

Oggy hummed loudly beside me as Rose moved off to grab a flagon of the materialised strong ale as the orcified looking tavern roared and cheering the names of the Gods and Illusk "The ceremony went well, the Gods were pleased"

I nodded taking up my own drink along with handing another to Oggy "Looks like it, the crowd too hopefully"

My wife grinned toothily "Impressed and fearful is good, and here's Zah, magic booze appearing"

I glanced to my right, grinning as our clan chieftain stomped over happily some...well, a half naked human woman at his heels looking generally embarrassed and fearful "Karg! Magic beer!"

"Magic beer, fine!" I replied with a snort taking up another flagon, a large one, and shoving it into my friend's waiting hands "Here'ya go Zah"

"Ahhhh" was the only response as he took the flagon...then downed it. I sighed, grabbing another and preparing to hand it to him as let out a satisfied belch and slammed the flagon unto the table "Ahh...Magical!"

I gave a snort of amusement as he took the second "Heh, don't get too used to'em, no more magic beer summoning tonight, otherwise Menkin might lose his megalomaniacal kobold mind at not being able to sell booze while we give it away for free"

"Ah boo to that" Zah replied with a snort, then shrugged "Hard to believe we're really here"

"Aye, it is..." I agreed as our trio stood watching the crowd surge in and drink and meals begin to flow out to serve them in servers hands "...but here we are. The Gods have granted us their blessing, and the Boss seems to be happy, so that's good too"

"Well Kurnak and the others seem to be impressed too, so that's a boon" Zah agreed reaching over and tearing some meat off a cooked horse haunch "...oh, and I'll need some healers later, we're having a few duels and warriors spars now ceremonies are over"

I sighed, taking a drink of my own ale before nodding "Fine, I'll send over a few before I, and they, get too drunk..."

Oggy elbowed gently "I'll send some of mine Karg, few of'em are looking for mates so for best. Also, less likely to be drunk than your lot this night"

I paused, then shrugged "Eh, probably true, I'll leave it in your capable hands then Oggy"

"As you should Karg..." she smirked at me, then glancing at Zah "...and whose that?"

Zah glanced back at the woman behind him "Huh? Oh, her, she's a mother needing a home for her daughter and eager to serve so not to starve, new addition to the harem. So, Jernak's plan?"

I nodded "Aye, not a bad plan to build a fort and watchtower on the southern road pass, we'll just have to row over who gets to garrison it first, oh, and set up farms around it"

My friends laughed at that "What is it with you and farms Karg? Your trying to get someone to build'em almost as much as you convince the humies to burn down their own farms!"

"It was ONE TIME!" I retorted taking a drink "Heavens and Hells, it was, yet another, fucking zombie farm with plant zombie scarecrows and cows...dammit. Anyway, farms make food, I like food, as long as I don't have to grow it"

Zah chuckled at that while Oggy merely gave an amused snort "Aye, can agree with that, and it's worked so far I guess. Bellies are full, armouries are ready, and warriors can train more since we took this place and make it work for us"

I nodded "Right, so, before we start mingling, I want to..."

--

[Cirla Kag 03]

South of Luskan, moving along the High Road

It was snowing, again, Cirla Kag growled silently to herself as the light fall of snow started up once and she pulled the fur hood of her cloak back over her head in response. One of the privileges of being a damned good fighter that cloak was, along with the orcish tattoos signifying 'wall-breaker' or whatever in runic form, along with proclaiming loyalty to Illusk. It meant a level of respect for her as warrior-slave from said 'Illuskan' orcs, while it meant pretty much automatic execution as a traitor and enemy for nearly any human kingdom or Free Company that might capture her...assuming they understood the tattoos. Dwarves certainly would know she knew, but hopefully Mirabar stayed 'on-side' for the foreseeable future to avoid that issue.

'Still, better than being a field-slave or some ugly bastard's bed-slave...' she reminded herself glancing back at her gaggle of 'slave-soldiers' marching down the road in tired formation '...least now I'm the da'one doing the fuckin' rather than gettin' fucked!'

"Keep together maggots, ye fall out of line then I'll beat ye AND THEN let you freeze to death!" she growled resting one gloved hand on the hilt of her sword, while the other closed another clasp on her cloak, lowering her head, as the wind blew frozen air at her face. Patrolling in winter wasn't ever pleasant, let alone having to march miles away from the city to establish a camp, all through the ankle-high snow. Gritting her teeth Cirla Kag continued to trudge along behind the oxen-drawn wagon as the few hours of clear weather changed back to a light snow flurry despite the evening sunlight illuminating the road and countryside around them.

Even the squad of orcs were struggling with the situation, and she could hear the grumbling just ahead of her from the nearest of them. The two wagons, with their covered animals, had slowed them down along with the weather and camping last night hadn't given much sleep between the cold and the howling winds. With all the monsters lurking around, along with starving bandits, it'd been hard to not be on edge after all with the wind shrieking through the trees.

So it was good thing then that they weren't too far from the Inn as best she could tell, noting the terrain along with the return of the two goblin scouts talking to Orlac, the young Cleric of Ilneval leading their group. The wave for her to come forward to him further backed up that guess she figured adopting a submissive tone since he was a Priest of the Church that technically owned her ass "Trouble Master?"

"No Senior Sergeant..." he replied in orcish just as she had asked in. Her accent was supposed to be 'weird' but she'd served the mad Liches in their tower before this, and ensuring she could speak and understand orcish was a vital skill for not having another fall in status "...we are near our destination, so ready your warriors. The scouts' report it is abandoned, but we take no chances"

She brought fist to heart over her mail covered chest plate "Yes Master, as you command"

As he strode forward and called his squad of orcs together, and the three riders they had with them did the same, Cirla Kag started shouting at her over-sized squad to form in case of combat. It was really two slightly under-strength squads of seven and eight, rather than the standard ten Illusk favoured, as one 'squad' were 'fresh slaves' unlike her veterans. Shua La was the secondary leader, technically a Squad Leader, and they'd worked together long enough to get the non-veterans moving the way she desired fairly quickly, and they moved cautiously, freezing all the way, towards the abandoned Inn.

Unslinging her shield from her back Cirla Kag merely kept her hand on her sword rather than drawing it as they formed up and moved ahead of the orcs. She gestured at their own cleric, a young, and nervous, former merchant's daughter who'd had the good, or bad, luck to be studying as an acolyte of Waukeen. Girl wasn't really suited to the battlefield, but she was even less suited to be someone's bed-slave and fell in beside Cirla Kag with not even a mutter of complaint.

Her two biggest, experienced, fighters, both former mercenaries and caravan guards, took the lead along with the goblins in the tree near the entrance waving them forward. It was the Green something...Lion?...Griffin?...Inn, and it was a typical fortified inn-farmhouse design, with a solid, tall, wooden palisade braced by a stone-earth base surrounding it. The gates through were knocked off the hinges and lying on the ground for one half, leaving a gaping hole in the defences with not a soul insight on the palisade wall.

Lack of tracks in the snow was a positive, but it was still snowing still, if lightly, and that mask all but the most recent signs of activity. Her five crossbowmen had unslung their heavy crossbows, holding them at the ready should anything appear as they made their way inside...then moved up unto the walls when she was confident the yard was clear. It was eerie stepping into the clearly abandoned yard, then sending four of her soldiers to carefully check through the empty doorway and windows with shutters kicked or torn off. With a gesture to her orcish superior by raising her hand off her sword and into the air, she stood waiting in the yard till he came up and she saluted.

"It appears to be clear Master, at least the yard and what we can see from the lower floor"

Orlac nodded, waving for the wagons to be brought up "Blessings upon us it, but let's make sure the inside is clear. Undrak, take five warriors and explore inside on the first floor. Krunth, you and your gobs climb up the walls and see what you can see through those shutters, oh, and in the countryside from up there"

"There is a large cellar as well most likely, where they held all the food and drink...though I'm fairly sure it'll all be looted by now" she told him as the heavily armoured orcs the cleric had called out started forward in through the empty doorframe. The young war-priest nodded, flakes of snow falling off his helmet as he did so, gauntleted hand resting on his sword hilt as the sun sank down on the horizon. She'd been here once or twice, years ago, and the place had been busy enough...but the wars, or bandits, had seemingly done in the elven hunter couple that'd run the place.

"Yes, probably, but I want to make sure to clear the inn before we fort up..." the orc replied looking around, then off into the distance as she watched goblins begin to scale the stone walls "...there's a graveyard not too far away Krunth said, graves disturbed"

Cirla Kag winced "Great, undead"

"Maybe, maybe not" the orc replied with a shrug "...but High Priest Karguk has left orders if we find such things, and this place needs to be safe before the snows clear and spring comes"

'Two clerics and nearly-wizard, so that explains that' she thought but did not say as she watched as the orcs and goblins went about checking if the place was clear while her lot watched from the walls and guarded the wagons and the oxen hauling them. They didn't want to start blocking the gate yet, in case they needed to retreat, but it went quicker than she thought and after less than hour she was ordered inside the abandoned inn with some faint sunlight still shining on the snow covered ground. Outside the stronger of the slave-soldiers and three of the orcs began unloading the wagons to start shoring up the battered defences, such as restoring the gate.

"No beer! No foods!" the goblin scout leader, Krunth, complained sitting on a dust covered bar in what had been the common room Cirla Kag guessed looking around "Old stainy-stainy bloods walls insides! Wolfies comes heres mes thinks! Gones nows, gones whys!"

She watched Orlac nod, looking around as he answered the little nasty toothed scout "Bodies?"

"Bony-bones in cellars, twos? Threes? Wolfies takes somes mes thinks, but two skullsies, but threes hip bony-bones"

Cirla Kag frowned "Human? Orc?"

"Humie Krunth thinks, bloods and eatens...not longs, not longs...hmm, fores winter starts. Nots alls kills theres?"

"Wolves too, maybe spiders..." Orlac muttered and she glanced at him.

"Giant Spiders?"

"From the Woods, some riders say they saw some far up in the hills weeks ago. No sign of webs here, but could have driven bandits or wolves here..." the orc replied, then shook his head "...we investigate. I want a quick scout around Krunth, keep watch till we've setup. We're all tired and hungry, and this weather isn't looking to get any better, so we'll get fires lit, get some food into us and get rested. Cirla, you are to see to making sure those gates are fixed, and the door, before we do. Send in that trembling priestess of yours as well, I might need help sanctifying those bodies they've found, and just setting up wards for this place"

Cirla Kag saluted fist to heart again, bowing her head and being glad to see her superior wasn't an idiot like many she'd served in the past.. The orcs wanted the road open and secure, and if their luck held she'd have a nice warm place to stay while she whipped her band of raw recruits into something useful in the coming weeks "Yes Master, it will be done"

--

When: 4th Day of Alturiak, 1358 Dale Reckoning

Where: Mansion House, Host-tower Islands, City of Illusk

Into the Claws of Winter, and a brand new year, a trial by fire despite the snows outside;- suddenly it all comes down on my shoulders that time is counting down. Perhaps ironically the year began as the last ended; with a ferocious storm rolling in from the mountains. It's shrieking outside, a storm that's turned into a blizzard, much to delight of the Aurilites I imagine, but life continues, patrols are out, and I'm getting some time to catch up on my studies and preparations. The house is warm, despite the chill outside, as the hearths are burning and we've plenty of firewood to see out even an extended period of this bad weather. Angry weather is just a fact of life in the Northern frontier, and I look on it as proof, or a test, that we've gotten the city into something resembling a civilized state to suffer through it.

We'll need it in the days to come, along with the constantly drilling army we've got out there, and my not-so-secret police are up and running between my Red Branch Knights and Priests to help maintain order. As soon as this blasted winter ends I'm going to get patrols out as far as we can, especially up north to ensure we don't see any movements from the fled Luskans and from Fireshear, and maybe Ironmaster, again. Similar to the south, but we're a glorified city-state right now, with the Crags tacked on, and that means ensuring regular supply routes to our lands in the mountains. Well, that and ensuring all the surrounding lands know they are our vassals, and to start centralising power by magical and more mundane communications services. That, and trade, bind a nation together, and that means roads and a military – the military we have, and making it professional isn't hard considering the orcish mindset.

Which brings us to the current political situation in the city itself;- our various clans have done the blessings, done the reorganisations and land allocations. All the ceremonies completed before the bad weather rolled in, or to be more honest, in the bouts of nice weather between the harsh winter bouts. It was exhausting being honest, along with the constant politics going on behind the feasting and fighting, even the ceremonies were a clash at times between my powerbase and that of our 'glorious' emperor. No matter, it wasn't too bad, though there were surprises I could have done without, even if they weren't complete surprises in of themselves. My own efforts to get things to consolidate could be seen to bear fruit, just ones I don't always agree with. Oh, and, in terms of clan politics, Spartan;- Sparta Clan is no more, we are now Clan Stormbringer. I feel like I've been transported back in time on that somehow.

Right, to explain our new situation the following 'rebirths' or 'births' of clans have occurred;-

- We have become Clan Stormbringer, because we brought a Storm? Got it? Damnit Zah, and damn me for letting him take the lead on this. By necessity and him being Chief too of course, but, that's what we are now.

- Kurnak, Imperial ass that he is, has rebranded Blood Axe as Golden Axe with a nice shiny and fancy new banner. Gold and Blood Red, with a nice shiny crown above said golden battle-axe. Same as us a few unmarried males and females brought into the fold, but no major growth either.

- Jernak's Moonblades, well, they've become Clan Bloodmoon, in honour of Luthic, since she and Ilneval are the clan's patron deities. Both are indicated in their new banner, and it continues the whole lunar thing they had going.

- Mirrinock's taken charge of his clan, those here at least, and sworn them to the Night Lord, becoming Clan Nightblade, though they have kept the allegiance to Gruumsh on a lesser level still. That's brought in some other clan's Shargaas worshippers, firming up their numbers somewhat.

- Winged Victory. I have no idea how Obould figured that out for the Sky Ponies, with the whole Pegasus thing, but he's certainly firmed up being keeping that 'heritage' along with placing that Uthgardt girl as Snarl's apprentice. With the inflow of young, unmated, orcs, that'll be a half-orc clan soon enough.

- Finally three new clans have emerged, 'lesser' ones in some eyes due to numbers, but they have emerged from clusters of younger warbands, slaves, mercenaries, or such. Well, there are more than three, but only those three have elevated themselves up to potential future rival ranks. Ice Dagger, Pale Hands, and Black Rock Pact. We'll see how they pan out, as they take up lands just outside the city and try for holds on the southern road – which suits me as it makes raids on us harder, or at least forewarned.

On my side I've gotten my religious forces into something resembling order, organising a circle of high priests, two technically, for both the Orc Pantheon, and then those under ours. I've got one of the large buildings just off the bridge from here as an Assembly Hall for this 'Conclave of Clerics' so that everyone knows the laws, and can report issues to me or mine. It also lets me stomp down on 'renegade' faiths, or 'heretics' that won't follow our rule on a Render Unto Caesar sort of approach towards the non-orc faiths. With Rose as my Right Hand Minion, and Enforcer, that makes more outright, suicidal, opposition less common I hope. Well, that and the presence of the Chosen of Two Goddesses in Qilue Veladorn helps a great deal, as it's an elven deity, and it shows our tolerance, but within the framework of iron discipline.

Once this damned weather clears in a week or two I'm getting work down in fixing up the docks, and, more importantly, the river side ones as I want barges going up and down to Mirabar as soon as we're clear. Roads too, but the Mirar River is a resource to be exploited and we've got small river galleys and boats start transport from here to there, and back. Our dear Shrouda Stargleam has the Trading Post/Embassy up and running, and Kurnak is onboard as well, because he knows, just like me, come the Spring and the Summer challengers to our conquest will arrive. Mirabar, for now, is weakened and has a commonality of interest with us. What he doesn't know is the very few months away Gods Fall is coming, but I'm shoring up my powerbase with Arcane magic, potions, and any artefacts I can gather up to continue operating during that period.

Beyond that our foundries are running day and night, shift work and more modern staff management there, and even now steam and smoke rise from the 'Industrial Sector' of the city as I call it. Old armour and weapons being melted down and reforged into orcish sizes along with the iron ore we'd assembled; while beyond them slaves and orc females prepare gambesons and cloaks for the troops. I want soldiers not just warriors, and I wanted them kitted out as best my Tome of Wiki indicates various armies of world named Earth were equipped in ancient times. Hwachas, Ballista, and Catapults are also being produced, along with 'anti-dragon' ones to replace those lost on the towers and walls;- though they're more anti-Wyvern ones, as Dragons bring magic to the fight as well, not just flight and breath weapons.

Myself I'm being working with my Battlestaves, under Doctor Ned, to get the Host Tower up and running alongside Missy, and Qilue…and whoever else I can find with magic or skills. I've got various 'schools' established within the Tower, though I'm turning all the Host Tower islands into a 'College' of sorts, and included focus on Engineering and Mathematics as well as magic. Mainly because I want to safely produce gunpowder, 'Blessed powder of Ilneval' or whatever, as I still want to expand their use from the Hwacha into simple muskets and canons at some stage. I think we'll have a prototype field cannon by the end of this month, and everyone still thinks I'm crazy, so the failed bell project might see some success at last!

All it took was a pile of blacksmiths, mages, the Tome of Wiki, and alchemists to pull it off!

Yeah, not cost efficient, but I've plenty of cost efficient projects right now, and I've got a city-state's resources to make use of this time. Along with my crack team of harmettes of course! That has made the difference, and I have been building more Holy Bells to place around the city, and then out into the countryside, as they are enchanted with the Will of the Gods. Coinage is the same, I've my acolytes blessing as they go, and we've being hammering them out, high quality ones, with Kurnak's the First's image on the gold coins, with the symbols of the Gods [or Goddesses] on the back. Coppers I've gone with Ilneval's and the symbol of Chauntea as I did back in Sparta.

I've ideas floating around in my head, but we're not the magical race that the elves are;- so to achieve their effects I need time and effort, and planning. That and not focusing solely on the arcane, nor the divine, as I'm finding myself as Mystic Theurge as they call it, though perhaps more of the martial variety as I still have to spend time everyday drilling with blade and armour. Thank the Boss for mithril as it makes it easier, since I wear a breastplate under it along with a gambeson. Takes time away from my magic, and my records like this, but Missy's helping me with my magic as she's focused like a laser on improving her skills and spell selection throughout the bad weather. Little Siggy's interrupting his mother aside of course, but one of the benefits of the ladies is that children raised somewhat communally, just like I was by the clan. For now I must go, studies are waiting after all.

--

[Lua'kah'wyss 17]

Eilistraeen Quarter, North Sector, City of Illusk

It was a chilly evening Lua'kah'wyss thought, though one that finally hinted that spring was finally here as the bitter winds had ceased, and the streets were free of snow and ice. Still, she'd dressed warm, with a white fur cloak over her armour and gloves on her hands; the harbour maybe ice free, but the goddess wasn't gifting protection from the cold outside ceremonies. In fact the city was alive, the sounds of marching boots, of hammers striking nails, and pack animals back out of their stables to haul materials to forges and construction sites. Slaves too of course, thought thankfully not in this area of the city, but there was little she could do about that beyond all that she had done already with Karg and Her Holiness.

Here though…it was almost like home, except out on the surface…and not hidden away from slavers, and mindflayers, and those of her kind who followed the Spider Queen. But, that aside, once she and her companions walked past the guards into the, still somewhat empty, area granted to her people she waved at two acolytes of Her Holiness who were hauling furniture from the looks of it. One nodded back with a friendly smile, the other barely noticing as someone else called out from inside the doorway for them to hurry up Lua'kay'whss guessed. Lua'kah'wyss gave a snort of amusement, glancing to her side at Rose who was looking at the freshly painted buildings and banners gone back up.

"Makes it all cheerful and pretty does it not?"

Rose smiled back as they walked "Perhaps, did they rush out the moment the snows ended?"

Lua'kah'wyss thought about that a moment, shrugging "Probably. We have all been very…cooped up…this harsh winter, and all are eager to enjoy spring. Or what little spring we shall enjoy before battle is joined once more and blood spilled I know, why else but the training and training and yet more training?"

"I agree, Papa is sure it will come to it again, a cold winter, then a bloody spring…" Rose muttered and Lua'kay'whyss nodded at that "…though hopefully after we get to plant the harvest. The lands along the river are so fertile…"

"Aye, you have mentioned…" she replied teasingly to the young rivvil girl who gave a mild glare back as Lua'kah'wyss chuckled "…and it is true, but Karg is correct that raiders and others make such things hard the farther one ventures from the city. Those orc homesteads and villages then are not wont to be excellent farmers either one imagines"

"No, but the older villages that survived and vassal ones hopefully shall" she answered firmly and Lua'kah'wyss smiled at the determination there. Rose certainly had her opinions, probably thanks to Karg, and she had matured into a confident and strong maiden, future matron, in the time since Lua'kah'wyss had first come to know her. Certainly more confident than the shy and nervous Lara walking beside her, eyes darting this way and that at the words and people that still unnerved her despite effort. Meetings with Her Holiness helped, the light of the Goddess healing the broken mind with its silver rays, as did time with Karg, but whoever she'd been was long gone now.

"For someone else to do but these elven hands though" she smirked back causing Rose to let out a huff of annoyance as they came towards the large townhouse Her Holiness had taken control of. Where, of course, training was going on as the priestess on watch waved Lua'kah'wyss's party in through the open Great Door/Gate to the yard. It seemed even here she couldn't escape her Karg's relentless drive to get everyone training or studying at all times of day and/or night…

"Ah, my fellow Priestesses, and escort…"Her Holiness greeted with a wave, towering over the two priestesses sparring with wooden training swords "…come, come, your guards can wait over there if you please?"

"Of course High Priestess Veladorn.." Rose replied for them, gesturing at the two human and two orc guards walking behind them to do just what had been asked. Two were Rose's Chauntean Guards in the shape of two young fighters from her villager, along an orc Battlestave, and one of Karg's Red Branch Knights in charge of the four "…wait here and stand watch"

Lua'kah'wyss could forget they were there sometimes, but it was deemed necessary with the city as it was….and their position within it as. Being Karg's lover came with it's perks as well as problems after all, and with Rose was doubly so with her position as High Priestess of Chauntea in the city, as well as Karg's adoptive daughter. The simple truth was they wielded power now, and some would object that power…or some would wish to 'court' her to access it; though not one on one after what Rose had done to a few of those on the training grounds. Lua'kah'wyss herself gave a polite bow as the two sparring acolytes were replace being overseen by Her Holiness's daughter.

"Thank you Holiness"

"Welcome Lua'kaj'wyss, Rose…Lara, how fare thee this day?"

Lara bowed awkwardly, holding hands clasped together before her as she did "Ah…ah…well Lady Veladorn, Lara is well, this thanks you for asking"

Her Holiness smiled, gently touching Lara's cheek and patting it "That is good my child, the Dark Dancer blesses you with her compassion and it please mine eyes that you grow better with each say. We will pray with you in short, but I must first borrow my fellow High Priestess a moment first"

Lara smiled, nodding, as Lua'kah'wyss came up beside her, placing her hand on her robed shoulder, giving a squeeze of support as Rose came to the fore nodding at Her Holiness "You wish to send a party out into the countryside, or up to Mirabar, Lady Veladorn?"

Her Holiness chuckled "Nothing gets past yours and your father's watchful eyes I see Lady Rose, or past his planning mayhap. But, the answer to thine question is Aye, we do. Such a caravan for Lady Stargleam is planned we have heard, and now that the winter snows end, and paths clear, it would be best to seek out any of our kin that might have come towards that city in hopes of answering our Lady's call. I fear a party may have lost their way before winter came, unused to the perils of the surface"

Lua'kah'wyss could understand that, as she had…made mistakes…on her way northwards, and the surface world, the human world, was no friend a Drow, even ones who followed the Dark Maiden. Communicated by magic and through ceremony a call to the newly established enclaves, here and somewhere in Waterdeep, would be answered she knew. Another ship was soon to arrive, within weeks most likely, as it had stalled in Baldur's Gate with the war and harsh storms to the south. Most likely coin too she suspected, with the rivvil and daarthir seeking to exhaust her people of all their wealth during their stay, but she hoped they would arrive soon so that these houses could become homes.

Rose nodded while Lua'kah'wyss thought on the subject a moment "Papa won't have a problem with that, though he will want at least five of your priestesses to contribute to the Legions as healers or officers as so needed"

Her Holiness brought her hand up to her cheek, chuckling before gesturing at the training acolytes "Truly I am blessed with preparing my priestesses for just such a task. Never fear, we shall serve this city as loyal citizen-soldiers as your Father calls it, and my priestesses shall gladly serve as long as they are treated with respect as was the case during the winter and the siege before that"

"Do not put them near the more stupid clans?" Rose stated more than asked in bemused tone she seemed to have picked up from Karg as she sighed, and Her Holiness chuckled at that.

"Indeed my dear Rose, though having seen, and being involved with, the training of the Legions of this city I would merely request that my Goddess's daughters be assigned to those groups they have trained with, or with the Auxlia if not. I know one or two must be granted to the aide of the Emperor, and mine own daughter shall handle that particular task if that is a concern"

"No, that would be fine…better than fine I imagine Qilue…" Rose replied slipping into less formal speech as Lua'kah'wyss nodded at the political issues that came with the orcs taking then city, and their cooperation with factions within them. Her Karg was the choice she had made, as had her people, but that did come with sides been taken in the powerbases within the city. Not that things were as bad as Karg always seemed to see it either, but everyone was struggling for what they wanted; orcs, drow, rivvil, and kobolds "…and their safety will be ensured, in as much as anyone's safety can be ensured when the drums beat for war"

"Yes, against other orcs first I imagine, but also against bandits, sea-raiders, and likely followers of the Spider-Queen…" Her Holiness murmured with a nod "…and I shall meet with your Father later to ensure that no chaos is caused by such as our numbers grow. Ensuring all of my kin be marked with a symbol of the Goddess shall be my suggestion, though the denouncement of the Spider shall go far in avoiding any such attempted infiltrators amongst the coming settlers…"

Then she waved at the Temple that was her home as at the moment "…now, let us bring our dear friend Lara for some prayers, and see to her souls healing. Also, perhaps, to see to the various clothing we hath prepared as requested by your Father over the course of the winter. We feel he shall be pleased by our progress…"

--