Skaar nods and then leaves to find Rando and the others.
Rando peers into the darkness. "How long 'as it been since ye were in there last?"
"It's been several months," Creighton admits.
"Is it safe?"
"Don't rightly know."
Skaar arrives a few minutes later as the captain and the witch doctor seem to be discussing the viability of using the mine.
”It looks like we’re partin’ ways again”, he grunts with a glance Rando’s way. ”The Explorers still need me in Zahvroma but we’ll meet again.”
”Try not to start your war until I’m ready to join ya and keep Zahira safe.”
"Well then, g'luck t' ye. It'll still be some time 'fore we're ready to take on Horace," Rando says. "O' course, 'fore ye go, would ye mind lookin' into th' mine and makin' sure these people'd be safe goin' back in there?"
Corda put her hand on Skaar's cheek, "Haho 'u ugha'?"
Skaar looks down the dark shaft.
"Ya, I can make sure it's clear", he grunts.
The big orc scratches his chest and touches his neck absentmindedly. His eyes go wide as he touches the choker.
"You mind takin' a look at this thing? I picked it up when the girl and I killed some monster that was stealing people's... lives. I think it's magicked or somethin'" he asks the exotic spellcaster.
When Corda touches him, Skaar shakes his head.
"Vi vil snakke senere."
Mohato puts a finger to the choker, then mutters something under his breath. "It is a powerful enchantment. Someone stronger than I would have to break it, but I would avoid...sexual congress until it's gone. Otherwise, this will inflict a lot of pain."
Skaar's eyes go wide in genuine fear for the first time.
"What?!"
"You wouldn't happen to know of one powerful enough nearby, would you?" Corda asked, failing miserably to hide her concern.
Rando smirks. "Th' only person I know capable o' handlin' somethin' like tha' is Hon'rable Hong in Jin Zhao. But 'e's not easy t' get t'. Anyhow, mine first an' I'll tell ye where t' find 'im."
Although visibly shaken, Skaar nods. He takes a slow glance down at his crotch and then heads into the mine.
Creighton lights a torch and hands it to Corda. You descend into the dark mine, the glint of iron ore shining against the torchlight. The iron sconces on the wall are vacant, leaving you to rely on the dim illumination. Many of the shafts leading away from the main tunnel are incomplete, only extending a few feet. You come to a large chamber and see that it is occupied. Eight eyes glance at you and the spider stands to its full height, its face strangely ogre-like.
Initiative:
The spider nimbly walks towards Skaar and attempts to bite the orc.
;
Round 1: Ogre Spider, Skaar, Corda
Skaar feels the giant spider's venom burning in his veins but a surge of heroic effort helps him fight it off.
The big orc stomps, triggering his magic boots, and smashes into the spider.
;
Skaar rushes forward, being bitten by the spider again. He pounds on the huge beast, blood pouring forth from the inflicted wounds.
Round 1: Ogre Spider, Skaar, Corda
Given the beast's size, Corda decided to try a different tactic. Taking a step to the side , put forth her hands and spoke, "Khokmhanrh'g phkakk rhano." Suddenly flames burst forth.
The spider burns a little from Corda's flames. The giant beast steps back and showers the area in webs.
;
Round 2: Ogre Spider, Skaar, Corda
Pulling free of what webbing hit him, Skaar advances and smashes into the spider again.
"Well that didn't work like I hoped." Corda claimed.
Stepping up behind Skaar, she placed a hand upon his back and stated, "Tomha'g guunrakk gagg."
Skaar lands another hard blow on the spider. It is looking quite injured now.
Corda moves to heal Skaar and the spider attacks the orc again.
;
Round 3: Ogre Spider, Skaar, Corda
Skaar breathes easier as Corda's spell soothes his wounds only to grunt in pain as he's bitten again.
With a roar, he batters the giant vermin harder.
Skaar batters the spider and it collapses, splaying its eight legs the length of the chamber. Ichor oozes out of the wounds of the defeated beast.
"Thanks girl", Skaar says as he prods the beast a couple more times. "What was this thing eatin' to get that big?"
The big orc clutches Hanley's mace as he checks his wounds.
Wary of any other surprises, Skaar gestures for Corda to stay close and moves further into the mines.
The mines end a little past the large chamber, tools and such left scattered about. The mines are empty save for the carcass of the spider.
"Looks clear", Skaar grunts as he casts the enormous spider corpse another glance. "Let's tell Rando. The sooner he can tell me who can take this f!&&ing thing off my neck the better."
You return to Rando and relay what you encountered in the mines. With a grateful nod, he hands you a small copper token. A crane is etched upon it.
"Hon'rable Hong lives in a monast'ry outside o' th' Yuan province. Can't miss it, it's huge. Anyhow, tell Kyoshiro t' head fer th' port o' Azumaki then ye'll walk north fer a couple o' days. Once ye get t' th' village o' Ryuna, th' monast'ry is a day's walk t' the nor'east. Show th' guards there that token, they'll let ye in," Rando tells you.
Skaar studies the coin briefly before slipping it into the pouch at his hip. He was so close to returning to his friends but he couldn't return yet. He was already plagued by distractions. Something that threatened him in such a cruel way had to handled first.
"Thanks Rando. Remember what I said. Take care of Zahira for me."
Finished with the halfing, Skaar hunts down Kyoshiro to pass on the new directions.
You return to Kyoshiro's boat and tell him what the plan is. He seems a little ecstatic at the news. "Ah, I haven't been home in a while, it'd be nice. To Azumaki!"
Skaar is devastated and left feeling like a shell of a man. It was one thing when Corda spurned him because she wasn't ready but it's another when a good rutting threatens his manhood. The big orc keeps to himself, not even having the energy to try, unsuccessfully, to egg the crew into wrestling with him.
On the night of the Full Moon, while Skaar was up on deck brooding, Corda was in their cabin sitting on the side of the bed, looking at a set of garments she had been hiding in her pack. They were similar to those one might see on a belly dancer. After a few moments, she put them away and went on deck to see Skaar. The sun was setting, painting the sky in beautiful pinks and oranges. Standing next to the Orc by the railing, the young Witch put her head on his shoulder for a long moment then asked, "Do you know the story of Deja and Carda? It's an ancient tale of how the Orcs came into being."
Skaar looks to Corda briefly and then gives a shamed shake of his head.
"No", he grunts.
"Well then, let me tell it to you." Corda clears her throat and begins.
"In the days of ages long passed, when the Old Gods ruled, two lovers quarreled. They were Deja, goddess of the lust, and Cardus, god of war. Their unhappiness stemmed from Cardus being unable to satisfy Deja as a lover, no matter what he tried. In a fit of anger, she left him to find a new one. The goddess having been unable to locate a lover to satisfy her needs created Grenjathr, a strong and beautiful man capable to pleasing the goddess and her desires. When Cardus discovered this, he grew angry and jealous, and in his jealousy, the god placed a curse upon them. Grenjathr was cast down to the realm of mortals, his body twisted and deformed, but his strength remained. Deja was banished to the heavens, forever to cross the night sky and look down upon her lover. Grenjathr grew angry and challenged Cardus to combat, whom he defeated after a long battle. But the curse was unbroken. In his blind anger Grenjathr drank the blood of Cardus to try and absorb his power to break the curse. However, the blood of the fallen god boiled in his veins causing Grenjathr to live out the rest of his days in rage and lust. He fathered the Orcs, named so by ancient mortals, for they were thought to be minions of Orcus."
Skaar listens quietly, reflecting on the characters in the story and drawing parallels between them and himself. He suddenly understood Cardus's rage - to feel like less than a man. He also understood Grenjathr's desperation, willing to do whatever it took to try to make things right.
"That's sad", the big orc answers.
Kissing the Orc on the cheek, and said, "Well that may be true, but it doesn't change anything. I love you and always have." The young Witch kissed him on the cheek once more and left for the cabin. Before dipping below deck, she flashes one more look at the Orc, sadness clear in her eyes.
Love. That word again. The girl used it so often, but did she even know what it meant. How could she? She was just a child. Skaar certainly didn't.
The big orc wasn't unfamiliar with the word. He'd heard it before spoken between parent and child in passing or said between lovers, but what did it really mean? From what he gathered, love with some sort of mystical force that could overcome any obstacle. Certainly no such thing existed.
Alone once again, the hulking greenskin muses on the story. Which of the characters did he sympathize with the most? The vengeful warrior denied his prize, the virile champion forever alone no matter what blood he sheds, or the lover forced to watched her progeny languish in agony...
Maybe I'm all of them...
The week passes with nothing noteworthy occurring. You land in Azumaki in the mid-afternoon, the fishermen taking their catches home for the day. Kyoshiro walks with you a ways into the town before parting company. A young woman rushes up to him and embraces him tightly, a little boy in tow. Kyoshiro lovingly ruffles the boy's hair, who looks at Skaar in fascination.
"The Sun Blossom Inn is a good place to rest for the day and get your land legs back," the merchant suggests. "I have not seen my family in six months, thanks to my brother. May the gods favor you in your travels."
Kyoshiro departs, family by his side.
Skaar nods and offers the young captain his thanks. A moment of bitter jealousy passes through his thoughts as he departs with his family.
"Come on girl, let's see about getting a hot meal", he grunts as he heads toward the mentioned inn.
"Certainly." She answered. The poor thing's hardly spoken since he found out about that blasted choker. If only I were stronger, I could break that enchantment. Corda mused in her mind.
You arrive at the Sun Blossom Inn, a small place in the center of town. The lobby is an open-air affair with a large koi pond dominating the room. The innkeeper, a slight man with wavy hair, approaches you.
"Good day, travelers. How may I serve you?"
"Food and drink for the night and beds", Skaar grunts.
"Separate rooms if you got 'em", he adds with a sad glance at Corda.
"As you wish, sir," the man says with a small bow. He hands you two keys. "The last doors on the right and left."
He gestures down a short wide hallway with about six doors. "I will have a meal out to you shortly in our dining area. Any preference on beverage?"
He then makes a motion to the room to the right. You can see tables and chairs within.
Skaar offers the man a nod of thanks along with a few coins.
"Whatever ya got", the big orc grunts. "Somethin' strong."
Making his way to the dining area, Skaar drops his things and takes a seat.
Sitting across from Skaar, Corda couldn't help but ask, "We'll find a way to break it, don't you worry." She reached across the table and placed her hand on his and looked sympathetically into his eyes silently.
Skaar flinches slightly at Corda’s touch before giving her a nod.
”Yea… we will…”
"Let's hope this Honorable Hong is plenty honorable."
"I'm sure he will be." Taking a quick glance at her pack she continues, "Do you want some tea tonight? Perhaps a soothing song to help you sleep?"
Skaar looks up at Corda glumly.
”Ya. Sleep’d be good. Somethin’ to help me sleep.”
"After we eat, I'll brew you some and sing until you sleep. Don't worry, I'll go to my room once you're asleep." Corda said trying to comfort her love.