"Guards? Oh you mean the ones back in the cave. Yeah I saw them. I saw the spider that killed them all too. By the time I got there it was too late, the giant hairy creature had already killed them all. I barely escaped myself." Wrapping his hand around his sore ankle, Thorak continues. "I came running out of the cave so quick, I nearly went tumbling to my death." He sheathes his sword.
The man looks at you, eyebrow raised slightly. "A spider ... " he pauses and a thoughtful expression crosses his face. "Wait a minute -- what do you mean killed them all?"
The man's posture looks a little more tense.
"Yes! A goddamned spider! Have you been listening to anything I have been saying? You don't believe me even though I risked my life for your pals up there and barely escaped with my own? Frankly, I have had a shit day and I am not really in the mood to stand here and convince you anymore. Draw that sword and come at me or show me some hospitality. I will gladly take whichever route gets me closer to a hot bath, some women and enough ale to drink myself silly. Now, what'll it be 'friend'?"
10+3+1=14
"Easy there, 'friend'. I don't imagine you can blame me for wondering how a spider can kill five of my best men. Must have been one hell of a spider, yes?"
You can tell from his demeanor that he doesn't believe you, but is choosing not to make an issue of it.
"Thank you, then, for your help. Are you hurt? I might have something that can help. It's the least I can do if you tried to save my men. You'll have to come with me back to the camp, though. It's over there."
He points over his shoulder and down the path, then slides his sword back into its sheath.
"I suppose I can't blame you. Spiders are disgusting creatures really. And this one? Well lets just say it was a giant disgusting hairier version. It fought well. It also died well. Gwahaha!" Relieved to finally move on from the conversation, Thorak looks back towards the cave and spits on the ground in disrespect for the dead spider. He then looks back at the guard and continues. "I welcome anything you can offer, I'll come with you to your camp, just don't walk too fast. Imagine that, it wasn't the giant spider that got me but a few harmless stones." Thorak proceeds to follow the Orc towards the camp, slowly hobbling behind him.
The man leads you straight down the middle of the path into a small clearing just beyond. A larger tent dominates to northwest corner of the clearing, precariously near to the cliff. A small campfire smolders just to the east of that tent. Several smaller tents can be found in the northeast and southeast corners of the clearing.
Beyond the clearing is another windy path through the trees. It looks as though it gradually leads upward but you can't really tell beyond the tops of the lush trees.
He beckons you to follow him into the larger tent, holding the flap open while he waits for you to hobble over to him.
"I have a healing potion I can spare for you in here," he says. "The name's Kediwyn, by the way."
As the two approach the camp, Thorak keeps a watchful eye. For the moment, he trusts the man he is following but others in the camp might not be so easily deceived and so he approaches with caution.
Out of the den of an giant eight legged monster and right into the camp of a whole lot of friends of the Orcs I just murdered. How does the saying go? Out of the fire and into the frying pan? Thorak chuckles to himself as he continues following the man.
Standing at the open flap Thorak replies "Well met Kediwyn. I am called Thorak." and hobbles inside.
Kediwyn steps into the tent behind Thorak and walks to the far side. Two unlit standing braziers flank either side of a surprisingly large desk. You can hear, but not see, as Kediwyn rummages around in a drawer.
From the outside, the tent looks plain and white, but the inside has a more luxurious feel, including a full canvas floor. Immediately to your left is an area of the tent that is partitioned off with a dark curtain. Ahead of you is the desk, and to the right is a small table with two stout, wooden chairs.
"Ahh. Here it is," Kediwyn states. Turning toward Thorak, Kediwyn holds out a small bottle of a yellowish liquid. "Here you are. This should fix up all your aches and pains. Why don't you have a seat over there and tell me what brings you out to this remote spot, and through a long lost tunnel beneath the famous Lord Kent's Keep, no less?" He motions to one of the chairs and raises an eyebrow quizzically.
"Thanks kindly." Thorak says as he retrieves the small bottle from Kediwyn's hand and then hobbles over to one of the wooden chairs to rest his leg. He stares at Kediwyn for a moment, thinking about what he would say next.
"I am currently roomed at Lord Kent's Keep for the tourney. Gambling is a fixation of mine you see. I ended up in that long lost tunnel and now here in your tent completely by accident. Or perhaps by some strange luck. My curiosity got the better of me and one thing led to another." Thorak shifts in his chair and swigs back the yellowish liquid. He continues. "I am not usually one for denying myself good conversation and company but I am afraid I will be forfeit from the tourney if I do not return swiftly. I am grateful for your hospitality Kediwyn." Thorak stands from his chair, feeling revitalized from the potion. "Now, if you are able to point me in the right direction, I shall be on my way."
"Hold on there," Kediwyn states as he steps between Thorak and the tent door. "I helped you, but nothing is free. It's definitely an interesting accident that brought you here. Now that you are, I would like you to consider helping me out. I have business in the Keep, and suspect you can make things easier for me. You still have plenty of time to return to the Keep before the next tournament round begins."
Kediwyn stands at ease, but with an air of confidence.
"As said, I am grateful for the hospitality and for the help. I agree that nothing should be done without something in return and certainly not for free. If helping you with this task makes us even, so be it but I do expect some sort of payment if I am doing work well beyond the value of this potion." Thorak taps the empty bottle with his foot and then sits back in the wooden chair and continues. "So tell me Kediwyn, what business does one such as yourself have in the Lord's Keep?"
"It's really quite simple. There's a small town nearby, Rhiannon by name, and the Mayor there stole an item from my ... employer. It seems that Lord Kent, in turn, has stolen that item from said thief, and I am needing to get it back. If you help me get the item back, I would consider the debt paid, and I might even consider throwing in a bonus if it's done quickly. What say you?"
Thorak strokes the harsh stubble on his Orcish chin as he considers Kediwyn's request. "The Mayor from Rhiannon you say? Very interesting. Yes, very interesting. This item, I'll need to know what it is if I am to get it back for your employer."
"It's called a The Sapora Amulet. It's a gorgeous Amulet with 8 gems inset around the edges and, more importantly, some sort of magical runes inscribed on it. Apparently my boss has a buyer for it, but he's going through a lot of trouble to get it. Makes me wonder if it's more valuable than he lets on, which, of course, makes one think doesn't it?"
"Interesting indeed. It does make one think that if this amulet made its way into the hands of a new buyer, that one might be able to keep a decent chunk of coin for ones own pocket. Even if one were to say, take half for oneself and give half to another, it would likely still be a decent chunk of coin no? Perhaps this amulet was 'never found'? Perhaps no one would be the wiser. 'Tis Interesting indeed. Kediwyn, my new friend, how deep does your loyalty go for this employer of yours? Perhaps you and I have some mutual business interests? Correct me if I am wrong?"
Thorak leans back in his chair as the workings of schemes, thievery and wealth roll around in the back of his mind.
"I think we do see things in much the same way. It's indeed fortuitous that we met under such strange circumstances. What do you think the chances are that I could join you when you return to the Keep? Perhaps I am your retainer, or helper?"
Kediwyn comes and sits down across from you again.
"Fortuitous indeed my friend, luck has truly smiled on our separate paths that they might cross in such a way on this day. I gladly welcome you to join me in the Keep, so let us call ourselves partners for the time being and see where it leads." Thorak rises from his chair and looks around. "This calls for a toast Kediwyn. Grab your finest spirit and let us drink to the new arrangement."
Kediwyn gets up and walks to his desk. He pulls out a dark bottle and garbs two earthenware mugs.
"Sorry - I don't have anything fancy out here." He smiles and pours a dark liquid into the mugs, then takes a sip from his before handing the other to Thorak and sitting down again.
"I would normally wait for you to drink first, but under the circumstances, I thought you'd appreciate me doing a little testing first!"
Kediwyn holds out his mug and says, "Here's to my new 'partner'. Is there any reason you need to get back to the Keep, or can we drink the rest of the day away?"
"Fancy or not, its alcohol!" Thorak says as he stands and takes the mug. "I do appreciate the gesture. Can never be too certain when one might poison your cup. Gwahaha." He follows his laughter with the entire contents of the mug and slams it on the table. "To luck, wealth and new partnerships! I do need to get back for the tourney, otherwise I would certainly waste a perfectly good day away on drunkenness. I am currently working a job that requires me to find some items within the keep while I compete in the tourney. I'll cut you in on the profits if you help me out on those while we also look for this amulet. What say you?"
"I am in, new friend." Kediwyn says. "It will be a long way to the Keep from here. If my guards followed orders, they will have made sure that you are not able to go back up through the well. That means we'll have to walk around. We should get going if you intend to make your return before it gets dark."
You and Kediwyn make your way back outside, and then follow a long path through the gorge that extends away from the Keep for several miles. Eventually, you come to a rise, and you both make the steep climb, aiding each other as needed.
As the two make their way up the steep climb, Thorak grunts and looks back down at their progress. "Guess they couldn't carve an easier trail for us to get to the keep eh Kediwyn? The taxpayers coins going to waste as usual. Heh. Not that I mind a little exercise but...well you know, shit day and all that."
"Well considering no one is supposed to be down in that canyon beside the keep, I guess I am not surprised that no one spends time or money keeping up the pathways! At least I know the tents and other gear I left behind should be safe enough. It's too bad that spider killed all my guards; leaving one of them behind would have been ideal. Ahh well, no big deal, I guess."
The two of you make your way up the cliff without incident. Kediwyn seems quiet and pensive, but not unfriendly. As he walks, he is constantly looking around. Occasionally, hi fingers the ornate handle of a dagger the he keeps sheathed at his belt.
The sun lies in a line just barely above the top of the clock tower of Kent's Keep as you round the corner, and as you walk up to the guards, you hear the familiar chiming of the bell that signals the next round of gambling will begin soon.
The guards look at the two of you suspiciously.
"Who are you?" one of them barks.
As the guard speaks, Thorak cues for Kediwyn to stay put and he approaches. "Well met. My friend and I wish to reenter the keep to continue on with the Tourney. We just heard the bell for the next round and wouldn't want to be late. Now please, move aside."
"How did you get out here in the first place? I wasn't told about anyone leaving the Keep."
"How indeed!" Thorak says as he smirks back at Kediwyn. "We came out these very gates of course! I get it if you need to keep tabs on everyone in the Keep but I don't see how its my concern that none of you oafs saw us slip through unnoticed. Your one and only job is to guard these gates, no? Tsk tsk." Thorak shakes his head. "Now I ask again, move aside!"
"Move aside ain't no question, so you ain't askin." He pauses for effect.
"But we was told ta be nice to you folks, so I guess you can go ahead."
He moves aside, along with his partner, and motions you toward the gate.
"Just pull the handle; up in case you can't figure it out."
Thorak signals his success to Kediwyn and then moves through the gates into the courtyard, pausing just on the other side as he waits for Kediwyn to catch up.
"And that, my friend, is how its done." Thorak smirks as Kediwyn comes up beside him. "Here's the plan. I'll show you to my room in case you need somewhere to hunker down and hide or easily escape, take my rope if you need it. From there I can go and compete in my spot in the tourney and you can search around for the necklace until I'm finished. Here's a list of the other items I have been hired to find." Thorak hands Kediwyn the list of items. "We find all of these, sell them to our own sources and split the profit. You good with this plan?"
"Nice job! I think we better stick together, though. For the first while anyway. No one knows me, and I have no reason to be wandering around apart from you. Once people around here recognize and accept me, then maybe we can split up."
"Well I suppose you'll just have to watch as I finish my round in the tourney then. I won't argue with you but I do think we'll accomplish more if we split resources."
Thorak enters the grand hall and stands just on the other side of the doors. He examines the room and the faces of the competitors. He looks for where he should be seated and walks towards the empty chair.