The innkeeper returns with an earthen jug of sake and a large tray of assorted meats in different sauces, fish, vegetables and large bowls of rice. He leaves you to your meal.
Skaar eats in silence and without his usual gusto. The sake was new to him, and a bit unusual, but it would do the trick. The hulking greenskin drinks heavily, trying to not think about the nubile young woman sitting across from him that he couldn't have.
Corda ate in silence as well, giving tidbits to Talia every so often.
After he’s had his fill of both food and wine, Skaar excuses himself from the table with grunt and stumbles to his room.
Skaar collapses on the bed, groaning underneath his weight. Night approaches soon after, the hushed sounds of frogs and insects filling the room.
After making sure he made it safely to his bed, Corda went to her room and crawled into her bed. And silently weeped herself to sleep.
You awake the next morning and continue your journey following the directions Rando gave you. You continue on uneventfully until sunset down the much-traveled road. You catch sight of a roadside inn as darkness begins to creep over the bamboo forest.
Skaar gestures at the inn, "I think that's enough travel for today."
"Do you want your tea tonight then? You didn't have any last night."
You walk into the inn and see a familiar face at one of the tables: Sefirous. It appears that there is a meal for three set out before him.
"You kept me waiting, Skaar, but I don't mind. I have plenty of time. I paid for a couple of rooms for you and your friend. Why don't you sit down and we can have a nice chat over some of these people's fine food? I don't care for it myself, but, when in Jin Zhao, do as the Jinzhi do," Sefirous says, a smile on his face.
”Ya, tea”, Skaar says half-heartedly.
***
Spotting his nemesis brings a growl from the big orc and stirs some of the fire in his belly that’d been absent for the past week. He positions himself between the elf and Corda, studying the scene briefly.
”What’d you want? I’m not interested in your b&~&!~+~”, he grunts. ”Nothin’s changed since last time.”
"I ask myself: why do I waste the time to help you out when all you are is rude?" Sefirous says, cocking his head to the side. "You haven't introduced me to your lovely friend and here you are just being...plain...rude. Sit down, take a load off and eat something. You look like you've been through Avernus."
He gestures at the food on the table. "It's perfectly safe. I just want to talk."
Corda kept quiet. Something about this Elf made her extremely uneasy.
”The girl’s none of your business”, the big orc growls. ”If you’re here to fight, let’s fight, otherwise get lost. I’m not interested in your offers. You’re wastin’ my time”
"What if I told you I could get rid of that choker for you?" Sefirous says, looking at Skaar intently. "And that I didn't want anything in return?"
Skaar hesitates for a moment before resuming his hostile growl.
”I’d call you a liar and I'd smash your ugly mug”, the hulking greenskin threatens. ”But you’re not really here. This is some kinda magic trick. It always is.”
The man laughs and pushes a bowl of rice towards Skaar. "I am really here. And despite our disagreements in the past, I'd like to do you a favor. I'm sure your lady friend would like to see your virility returned and your spirits lifted. Isn't that right, Corda?"
Skaar hesitates again, humiliated that his rival knew so much about his diminished state. What was Sefirous’s game? Where was the usual venom and cruelty. He almost seemed genuine…
”What do you want, really? What’s in it for you?”
"How does he know my name?" She squeaked.
"Right now, I want nothing and I get nothing out of this," Sefirous says, taking a swig of rice wine. "Perhaps I just want a little gratitude, but that's it."
Corda wasn't sure what to make of the Elf's statement, she just couldn't get a read on him.
”And what about your b!~~#? The Horseman? What part does she play in all of this?”
Skaar probes further.
”If you know so much, you know where we’re headed. You know who I’m lookin’ for. Why should I trust you?”
"Just have a seat, I promise I won't bite," Sefirous laughs. "We can talk like normal folk and be civil towards each other. Isn't that what you want, Skaar? Something you don't have to fight against for a change?"
His resistance worn down, Skaar gives an angry snort and sits heavily on the mentioned chair. He moves Corda’s seat so it’s a good distance from the elf before giving her a nod.
”Talk.”
"So you want rid of the choker? Say the word and it's done. You turn around in the morning and go about your life. The next time we meet we can talk or fight, your choice."
”You’re that powerful? Just like that you can remove this thing?” Skaar says in disbelief.
”Next you’re gunna tell me you can send me back to my friends with a wink…”
"No, no. I can't do that," Sefirous says. "But a little trinket like that is no problem."
”And what would you have me do afterward?”, Skaar asks suspiciously.
”What happened to getting me and the others off of Zhavroma?”
"Like I said, your thanks will be enough. As for that scuffle at the lighthouse, Vonder was a means to an end. We'll fight eventually, Skaar, but not today. You can keep doing whatever it is you were doing there in the meantime."
”If you are bein’ honest, thanks, but I’ll stick to the plan. I don’t need your help – I never did. Now get lost, the girl and I have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
"Suit yourself," Sefirous says, rising from the chair. "If you change your mind, call my name. Or Corda can do it for you. She's not so blinded by hatred to dismiss such an opportunity. Enjoy your meal and the free rooms, in any case."
He walks out the door and a couple of people glance at you, surprised, but say nothing.
"I take it there's a history between you two?" Corda quietly asked.
Skaar relaxes after Sefirous has left and looks reassuringly to Corda, ”That guy is dangerous. If you ever see him when I’m not ‘round, run.”
Skaar frowns as the scene seems to return to normal. Even if the elf was gone, he didn't feel entirely safe. For now, his protective instinct overcomes his shame.
”We should room together tonight. I wouldn’t put it past ‘im to set a trap for us. I’ll camp on the floor again.”
You ask one of the attendants about the rooms and she points them out to you. You enter one and settle yourselves for bed.
Seeing how high strung the Elf made Skaar, Corda makes him a cup of tea and sings in Ancient Orc until he falls asleep.
You awake the next morning and head north yet again. You stop in Ryuna for the night and press on again the next morning. Rando was correct in saying that you couldn't miss Honorable Hong's temple, but it isn't quite what you expected.
The building is a low structure, barely high enough to allow you within. You enter and see seven rings that make up the monastery, each smaller than the last descend to a small platform at the bottom. The guards nod as Skaar presents the token and you make your way past each ring to the very bottom. You see beds and training implements in each ring. At the very bottom sits an aged man with head full of white hair and a long beard.
"Why have you come to me?" the man asks.
Skaar finds himself staring quite a bit as he’s lead through the exotic building. It was certainly nothing like the temples he’d visited before. Honorable Hong looked nothing like the healer he’d expected either. The old man looked too fragile to be on his feet at all.
Despite the unusual appearances, Skaar clears his throat and stands up straight. This ancient figure held the power to make him a whole man again. This had to work…
”The little man – Rando Saltspray – he says you’re a skilled healer. I’ve got a curse worse than anything… he says you’ve got the skill and power to cure me.”
"I will not cure you. My skill and my power can do nothing against a curse on you," the man says. "I will teach you how to cure yourself, however."
Skaar’s initial reaction is anger. All this way for nothing! He’d remain half a man forever!
His rage abates with the old man’s explanation.
”What do ya mean? I’m no mage”, the orc says with a shake of his head.
"Neither am I. Seven traits make up strength. Without these, you are weak," Hong says, standing to his full height of barely more than five feet. "Hit me."
Skaar stares in disbelief. Hong was as mad as he was old.
”If I hit you, I’ll break half the bones in your body”, Skaar explains. ”I’m not gunna hit the guy that’s supposed to be fixing me.”
"You fail," the man says simply. "Find your way out."
”What?!” Skaar barks in anger.
Growling in frustration the big orc casts Corda a glance, ”I warned him…”
The hulking orcs rears back with a massive fist and throws a punch...
The old man stops the orc's fist with his hand, he then sweeps Skaar's legs out from under him. "Very good. You show determination. Now, you must show discipline."
He sets up a training dummy made of wood in front of him as Skaar picks himself up. "Hit this twenty times without breaking it."
Skaar grunts in surprise. With an angry huff, he scrambles to his feet.
”How do you want me to do that? It’s made of wood” Skaar says. ”There’s not much I can hit that many times without breakin’ it.”