Tarvek frowned as he inspected the bodies of his four slain foes. For they weren't entirely human, instead having some sort of worm-creature within their bellies, as well as differing sensor readings. Maybe symbiotic, but also potentially poisonous and parasitic worm-creatures according to the heads-up display in his helmet that were hidden under a chainmail with breastplate style armour. Strangely low quality too, considering the energy weapons they possessed in their club-staff-things – it would not truly aid much in stopping said weapons blast as best Tarvek could grasp from the HUD readings. Ceremonial perhaps?

'Or just to stand against crude melee weapons solely?' he wondered as stood back up from this problem, then turn, looking over the other problems instead. Many problems that hovered about him nervously, with two rickety carts that barely hauled his four crates into the forested area that was….

'Still too close to that ring-structure' Tarvek mentally grumbled, looking down at the band of humans around him. The former slaves or serfs, though he leaned towards recently raid acquired slaves, of the four dead not humans with belly worms before him. They'd followed him, largely silently, as he'd made to stomp away after emerging and slaying the foes. Even as he'd waaved them off. When they'd continued to follow, he'd backtracked to the bodies, shouting orders as Ring of Translation gave him the language enough to shout those orders. Which was the loading of the bodies, with now four dead worms as well as not-humans after he'd stabbed them, into the four carts being drawn by the slaves. It had made hiding his trail much easier now he minions to drag them along, rather than simply dragging them through the ground behind him as he'd made for the nearby forest.

Not that he wasn't going to be difficult for any even barely competent tracker to find he knew with mild disgust, looking at the trail he'd made, let alone the twenty-two humans and four carts had made behind them. Power armour wasn't exactly easy to sneak around him when damaged and he still feeling the painful after-effects of the fight. The damned fight that had cast him adrift in the planes. Immediately going from one fight to another it seemed as the humans milled about, too tired to continue on he judged from their talk and body language….and night was on the way. And they were not far enough away for his comfort. About the only bright spot was that they had arrived at a cave the slave woman had said existed;- bigger than he'd expected, and likely something created from a smaller cave with mining at some stage.

'Sufficient for purpose, but I am loathe to be vulnerable at all before even such weak ones as these' went through the orc pathfinders mind as his tired eyes looked down on the tiny humans. An odd bunch for a returning raid loot party; yes, twelve were younger females, but why six children? Why were two older males? Why two males just about in the prime of their health and youth as warriors?

Nor were they all dressed the same, even the females varying in style and quality of dress, and Tarvek guessed from the limited interactions and deference given some to others that they were of differing social classes. They all spoke the same language after all, and the fact some wore better than others, even if they all looked healthy and strong. Bit short for humans though, or League humans at least, and certainly much shorter and skinnier than those of Skartoris. There were no muscles at all on the females even! Bed-slaves most likely for the not-humans?

"I exit my armour humans" he stated commandingly to the gaggle of humans milling uselessly and nervously about "Kneel and obey, or Challenge in fight to death! If any try flee…then I slay thee! Give forth a leader to answer my questions!"

"Yes, Mighty One!" was the hurried words of the one he assumed the highest in status, a younger female in brighter, softer robes, watching as she immediately went to mossy ground of the forested earth, prostrating herself and dragging the girl at her side do too so as well "Yes Great Warrior Giant!"

None challenged him, wisely on their part, copying the likely noble female as Tarvek gazed at them, then nodded, carefully unlocking the armour. It groaned and creaked as it opened, the head back raising upwards and allowing Tarvek 'step' out of it in an achingly sore motion. But he moved to not show it, stepping out the back and making sure to stand tall and powerful over the fearful band of escaped scales. Weakness wasn't acceptable amongst strangers such as this, who were fearful and unknowing of orcs he suspected as he saw them look up at him from below, knife and pistol his only weapons in skintight blue thermal-wear. To emphasis his strength and power over them he gave a growl just as he spoke "I Tarvek. You want protection, then you obey Tarvek"

The held up a hand "Now be quiet…you answer questions, yes?"

"Yes, Mighty One!" the female answered after the other humans looked to her, being nervous and looking back, awkward and not wishing so, but rising up to her feet slowly as he motioned at her to rise while he went to the Pathfinder Pack crate "As you command"

"You, others, stay! Or I crush!" Tarvek snapped, carefully touching thumb to the sensor, then speaking the word, before imputing the code. Magic, mundane, and tech, and it opened his portion first and foremost, the crate being made up of various 'bags of holding' that held the parts to repair his armour, and, fire and foremost, to truly recover himself. Taking out a precious healing crystal with a spell imbued in it from a three-piece storage box at the front Tarvek activated Greater Heal. Sighing in relief as the magic washed over his body, healing all remaining aches, banishing tiredness, and granting him the strength for the days ahead. Following up he took out the 'gun' like device, filing it with a nanite shell, before wincing as he injected it into his neck.

Fiery pain filled his neck and body for a few moments as the extra protections filled his blood like molten fire, then easing off as he placed the injector back into its box, duty done. Long-term protections in place to bolster his pre-mission ones. The name of the noble female was Amalthea, and was something resembling a noble caste daughter, if babbling and overly thankful as Tarvek had her kneel beside his suit while he started to make repairs to it. The results were…

'Those are bad names. But worm-belly humans serve them?' was Tarvek's concerning learnings as the girl spoke, and she was a girl rather than a true adult. The third daughter of some sort of Lord called an Archon, and selected for sacrifice by the Gods that the four worm-belly humans Tarvek had slain had served. Violently at that it seemed, with a near sack it sounded like occurring many miles away…and why none of these here were fleeing in that direction. They had come through the 'Eye of the Gods' as they called the Ring structure that Tarvek had connected and emerged through, cleaving through any who resisted with their 'magic' as the girl started to cry. The others huddled together silently, afraid of him, and not understanding that he was restoring the shield emitters on his suit to functionality.

But the names given were of the foul gods of the Olympians, though Tarvek did not recognise the symbols on the armour in anyway, nor had heard of the belly-worms. Though they might be soul and body snatchers too it was revealed the more he listened, travelling through the 'Eye' it seemed, along with occasional traders that used it too. How?

Amalthea had no idea, and nor did any of the humans as Tarvek demanded answers from them when she clarified that part. That was problematic he knew, showing none of that as he pulled out holo-projectors from the pack, placing them at the entrance of the cave area, then activating to create the image of a rockface and forest rather than old mine/cave mouth. It seemed night was falling, and he was stuck with these humans as he then pulled out a heat-lamp, placing down, then putting a saucepan upon it and emptying a bottle of packaged water into it. Repairs would take longer than Tarvek would like, let alone adjusting the ammo-pack on his back to instead carry the four crates. Something he worked on while the water began to boil, and he'd added in dried meat, noodles, and a dried sauce packet into saucepan as darkness descended beyond the shimmering field at the cave's entrance. The food ensured everyone stay quiet and obedient for now at the very least.

"An estate?" Tarvek queried demandingly, looking down at the human. It seemed that their society was situated rather closely relative to this 'Eye of the Gods' in a series of valley separated city-states "How far? Is it inhabited?"

"A day by horse lord" Amalthea offered "So, ah…more by day? There are guards, they would know me! There are baths! Food! A workshop! Whatever reward you may desire mighty one if bring us there!"

'She relies on her father remaining as a lord, but I cannot be sure if that is so. Even if the others appear to believe he shall be. Foolish of these servants of evil gods to leave him in power after demanding his daughter as tribute'

….still, it was worth the risk with his weapons and armour. Staying here, near the 'Eye' meant risking the arrival of more these worm-belly warriors. Servants of evil gods opposed to Tarvek's own in other realms "If your father yet rules, yes. But even a few days of a place to rest is acceptable"

It was the truth after all, and worth having them serve as porters and information sources till he got there for the small price of parts of his food supplies. In a very good scenario it wasn't a betrayal at all, and there was an actual reward from a local noble lord, however meagre. Tarvek was doubtful of that, but a stay of even a few days in a 'villa' was acceptable enough to allow him to….think. On being Lost. On the terrors and fears of that problem, and being alone in that situation. Everyone would expect he was dead after all. On a world with enemies of his god already present…after killing several of the divine warriors within mere moments of arriving on the plane…

He gazed at the other humans, deciding to ration out the food to assert dominance with a show of benevolence as the Good Book taught 'Assuming they make it there intact. If these warriors of evil gods are here in force that may or may not be easy. But they are better guides than I would perhaps. Live in the armour then. But, first, best to get some sleep in it after a light meal'

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