Rukkh finds no danger nor traces of orcs as he scouts ahead of the wagon.
The remainder of your journey passes uneventfully. You set watches at night, and a couple times reports of a pair of large, glowing eyes are shared in the morning, but nothing else.
Around sunset of the fourth day, you see tall stone walls to the east looming up in the distance ahead of you, and the road branches off towards these walls and turns to rough gravel. “The walls of Blasingdell!” cries the Baron, obviously relieved.
You pass through the gates after a brief friendly interaction with the gatekeeper. A broad shouldered man is standing in the Town Square. His arms are spread in a welcoming gesture, but his face is grim. “Thank you all for coming,” he says seriously. “I am Sir Miles Berrick, and I am mayor.” He looks at the Baron. “Baron Altheon, your family is safe at the Inn.” The Baron lets out a cry, tosses a large coin purse into the wagon, jumps to the ground, and disappears into the Inn. Sir Miles looks back at you. “I know you must be tired from your journey, but I need your help. Please come with me to Town Hall, where we can talk in confidence.”
You see on your left a large wooden two-story building with a sprawling porch and rocking chairs. A sign reads "Griffon's Nest Inn and Tavern. Welcome." across the roof. On your right you see a short and wide building proclaiming, "Kuln's Superior Dry Goods and Outfitting" in big white letters on the side of the building. Ahead of you, where the Mayor is, gleams a tall bronze statue of a dwarf with the long, full beard standing atop a mini mountain with a blazing green gemstone set in the base. Yellow dirt paths lead to all of these places, and the Mayor starts walking on one away from you, deeper into the town.
Sir Miles sits behind his broad desk and offers comfortable plush chairs and benches to you to sit upon.
“Reports say that out of the fifteen outlying farms around our walled city, eight have been pillaged and looted by these orc bands. We have been lucky that they have not tried to attack our city proper yet, which is surely due in part to our ten foot wall surrounding our city. Yesterday our captain of the guard, Constable Dara Whitestone, managed to capture an orc and take it to our jail. She hasn’t been able to get any information out of him. I am hoping that experienced adventurers like yourselves can get him to talk. We need to find out where the orcs are hiding, how many of them there are, and why they insist on looting and demolishing our farms. We will not stand for this cold blooded destruction.”
He puts a hand over his eyes. “It is getting late in the evening. I will arrange for rooms and a hot meal for you at the Griffin’s Nest Inn and Tavern immediately. In the meantime you are welcome to explore my city. There are plenty of places to relax, including the fountain near here and the Arboretum or the recreation yard to the south. You might also care to visit the temple or stables."
He looks at each of you seriously. "Constable Dara is watching over him at the jail, if you care to visit her. Please come back and update me after you visit the orc, and we will decide what to do after that."
"I'd be willing to try talking to the orc, but I'd like some muscle for intimidation if needed. Should we rest at the inn first?"
Should we rest at the inn first?
"It is late in the day. I say we meet at the tavern for a meal and discuss our strategy for meeting with this orc. I'll get the horses taken to the stable. Meet me there in an hour?"
"I'm not too road-dirty ta visit a prison. I'm off ta meet an orc. 'S too soon ta talk about muscle, methinks."
"I'm not too road-dirty ta visit a prison. I'm off ta meet an orc. 'S too soon ta talk about muscle, methinks."
Oleksandr's face twists into a tri-colored mix of anxiety, weariness, and surprise.
"Already? Just now?"
He continues hurriedly,
"Ok, but before we go I must mention that I think this arrow we found is curious. If there is an internal conflict among the tribe, or some competition between several tribes, we may be able to use that in our advantage somehow. I think we should be sure to include it in our inquiry."
"Should we all go? Our numbers could be intimidating. That could be good or bad."
"Mayor, there's no reason for those farmers to be sitting ducks out in that farmland. If they're not already in the city, they should be. I'm also not interested in sightseeing in your town right now. There are far more pressing matters."
Jorlitharr turns his back to the Mayor to conceal his conversation with the party.
"I'm not interested in us torturing that orc. I find it quite unlikely that orc is going to tell us much of anything, even if we did. We should be heading out to that farmland or finding a way to scout or plan a way to survey each. Myra could make it far and return quickly. Maybe if we see what hasn't been hit yet we could see a pattern, though roving orc warbands aren't necessarily extensive planners. I dont think we should waste too much time in town. We've traveled slowly this last leg of the trip and are well rested. Let's not get complacent. Does anyone have any ideas on a way to perform a stakeout like this? Are there high vantage points near the unhit farmland?"
"I'm not interested in torture either, just gathering information. We don't know much about how they captured their prisoner. The Guard Captain may prove to be a more fruitful source of information than him. If there is a conflict in the orc ranks they may have just caught a defector. It would be beneficial information to us."
"Myra's eyes aren't as sharp as an eagle's and they don't see as well in the dark as a dwarf's. Perhaps in the morning we can use her to try to get a general idea of where any encampments may be. In terms of damage to the surrounding villages I'm sure the guard captain can mark on a map which ones have been hit and if they have done their job they would have questioned the townsfolk about the size of the attack and the direction it came."
"Something's changed. Mayhap the towns gotten weaker, or else the orcs got stronger or more desperate. Let's talk to townfolk and the prisoner tonight, then look for tracks tomorrow."
Upon visiting the prison, Olias at first tries a friendly approach, speaking in Orcish. " Throm-Ka. Ok narg Olias. (the rest will be written in English, but Olias is speaking in Orcish to win the orc's trust.) We are hoping you'd be willing to answer some questions we have."
"I'm not interested in torture either, just gathering information. We don't know much about how they captured their prisoner. The Guard Captain may prove to be a more fruitful source of information than him. If there is a conflict in the orc ranks they may have just caught a defector. It would be beneficial information to us."
"Myra's eyes aren't as sharp as an eagle's and they don't see as well in the dark as a dwarf's. Perhaps in the morning we can use her to try to get a general idea of where any encampments may be. In terms of damage to the surrounding villages I'm sure the guard captain can mark on a map which ones have been hit and if they have done their job they would have questioned the townsfolk about the size of the attack and the direction it came."
""I think we'll be far more fruitful counting on Rukkh's tracking ability. I'm guessing an orc warband couldn't be that hard to follow for a practiced tracker. I think Rukkh and Olias should speak to the prisoner. Oleksandr, why don't we take Thravum with us and speak with the captain separately? We can be quicker that way. I'm still concerned there are innocent townsfolk out at the farms, especially after harvest. It seems like an unnecessary risk when there are known bands of pillaging orcs attacking their neighbors" he shakes his head in frustration. His beard waggles and sand sprinkles to the ground.
Talking to the Orc
"I don't believe orcs that live like this are going to be amenable to diplomacy. If we waste time with the orc I think our best approach is trickery. We can convince the orc that we're trying to help these warbands. Maybe we could say we're from a far off land that is at war with Blasingdell. That we've tricked the town into thinking we're friendly but if he tells us where the orcs are so we can meet with their leader we'll come up with a plan to open the gate for the orcs. I think he'll be more susceptible and used to this sort of talk than friendliness."
"Sounds like we have a plan. Let's find this Dara Whitestone."
As you enter the jail, which has an entrance off of the Town Hall, you see a small office off the main corridor. A stocky dwarf with thick braided hair and a dark uniform is seated at a desk, speaking to two humans in uniform and gesticulating while at the same time rifling papers and trying to write on a paper on the desk.
"Brown, let's see, what can you do...? Okay I have it. I need a wide berth around this prison. Don't want any folk snooping around. The Mayor was all too loud about having an orc here."
She turns to the other officer. "Smithens, I know people have been coming into the town from the farms for these past couple weeks. I haven't gotten around to writing down who is here and who is still out in the farmlands." She hands him the paper she was writing on. "Get the names from Sarel at the Inn. We can form a plan to get everyone to the city from then." She sighs. "Don't know who can escort them, but hopefully we don't have to worry about too many families left out there."
She gestures wildly for the two officers to leave. "Go, go, go. I have to think of a plan to get this orc to talk." The two officers leave the office, then the one called Brown sees your group. He motions for you to halt, but the Constable stands and motions to you.
"The Mayor said we would be getting some help here. Please come in!"
"The Mayor said we would be getting some help here. Please come in!"
"Yes, we have travelled from Haven's Cross to assist you with this orc problem. I'm Oleksandr Blackwind. I'm sure we all have questions, but it may help if you give us your current assessment of the situation. How often are these attacks happening? Do you know which farms have been hit thus far?"
"Good, precise questions! I will attempt to answer them as well as I can."
Dara sits at the desk and pulls a large blank paper towards her. She begins sketching square shapes and talking.
"About six weeks ago we had our first message from an outlying farm. One of the furthest from our walled city." She makes an X on the paper in the east. "This was highly unusual. Reports of orcs in this land have been few and far between for last several decades. We sent an officer there to investigate. He reported all of the food stores and provisions had been taken, and the fields had been burned. Everyone escaped, luckily. They told of five orcs total who attacked with bows, black arrows, and swords."
She sketches out more squares. "I thought this was a one-time attack. It seemed random and strange. I didn't think much of it... Until a week later, another outlying farm was attacked in the same way." She marks another in the east. "Same thing, food and water taken, fields burned. One man killed, who tried to fight back. Stabbed by an orc blade. Reports of four orcs were there."
"I couldn't ignore this now. However, we only have myself and two officers. I tried to investigate but I was wary to leave the city." She sketches the town walls and a forest. "I scouted around for three days around the outskirts of the wall and the pine forest. Pretty sure orc prints were littered around. Maybe there is a trail or tunnel around the forest? I wasn't able to follow up because more attacks came and I was needed here."
She marks some farms on the west side. "These were the next farms attacked. They started doing this every couple days. Some farmers fled, some sent their families here. In the last six weeks I believe most of the farming families have arrived within the city. Eight of twelve farms have been attacked, with reports of a band of 5-6 orcs. With winter coming, we have enough stores here for six months, but after that I'm worried. If the looting, killing, and burning continues, we won't have any fields to plant in the spring."
She finishes the map and scoots it across the table. "Here is a map. Knowing you are on this task will let me and my officers make sure all of the farm families are here and safe. Officer Smithens is at the Inn making a roster of names now. Don't worry about that."
"What I need from you is to find the orcs and get rid of them. I have this orc captured here, but he won't talk to me. I've tried persuasion, food, threats. Nothing has worked for me but I'm not well versed in this."
She sighs. "I've failed this city. I'm glad you can help us."
She sighs. "I've failed this city. I'm glad you can help us."
"I think you are doing the best you can with the resources you have. When this is resolved there should be a concerted effort made to shore up your town guard though surely."
Oleksandr looks at the map, noting the locations and timing of the attacks.
"It looks to me that they have been migrating from the south east on through to the northern end of the forest"
Myra jumps from his shoulder and pecks at the map on the Baron's estate.
"It looks like the Baron's home would be there next most rewarding target. His family is safe within the town walls, correct?"
He turns to the rest of the party.
"Companions what are your thoughts?"
You know forests often have paths, and she seems to not know of one nor mark one on the map. You also noticed a tall, thin peak on one of the mountains as you came into town, which she didn't indicate on the map.
"Good, precise questions! I will attempt to answer them as well as I can."
Dara sits at the desk and pulls a large blank paper towards her. She begins sketching square shapes and talking.
"About six weeks ago we had our first message from an outlying farm. One of the furthest from our walled city." She makes an X on the paper in the east. "This was highly unusual. Reports of orcs in this land have been few and far between for last several decades. We sent an officer there to investigate. He reported all of the food stores and provisions had been taken, and the fields had been burned. Everyone escaped, luckily. They told of five orcs total who attacked with bows, black arrows, and swords."
She sketches out more squares. "I thought this was a one-time attack. It seemed random and strange. I didn't think much of it... Until a week later, another outlying farm was attacked in the same way." She marks another in the east. "Same thing, food and water taken, fields burned. One man killed, who tried to fight back. Stabbed by an orc blade. Reports of four orcs were there."
"I couldn't ignore this now. However, we only have myself and two officers. I tried to investigate but I was wary to leave the city." She sketches the town walls and a forest. "I scouted around for three days around the outskirts of the wall and the pine forest. Pretty sure orc prints were littered around. Maybe there is a trail or tunnel around the forest? I wasn't able to follow up because more attacks came and I was needed here."
She marks some farms on the west side. "These were the next farms attacked. They started doing this every couple days. Some farmers fled, some sent their families here. In the last six weeks I believe most of the farming families have arrived within the city. Eight of twelve farms have been attacked, with reports of a band of 5-6 orcs. With winter coming, we have enough stores here for six months, but after that I'm worried. If the looting, killing, and burning continues, we won't have any fields to plant...
Jorlithar does his best to fix his hair and puff up his chest for Ms. Whitestone.
"You have not failed your city, it's still standing. Some farmers likely died unessesarily. It's important to tell yourself that so you may polish your choices accordingly. The fields that have burned can be replanted in the spring, the fires have not tainted them and the harvest is over. Assuming you have stores in the city as well, you'll likely have time to purchase surpluses from other communities. I'd send a small group to the north. Haven's cross had quite a surplus this year and would likely be willing to trade for some quality stone, metals and gemstones. They're going to be undertaking the restoration of a great mansion in the spring and are no doubt in need of materials. I'd also recommend investing in expanding your force of guards. A town your size and location should have at least 2 dozen with 8 on active duty. I'd reach out to families that have children close to adulthood, assuming they have enough labor for their fields or other crafts. Farmstock is strong and disciplined. I've never run a town militia, but I've listened to Rurik Deepflagon, He lead a small battalion in the Towers of Doriast, before he began wandering. He talks extensively on the suject when someone is willing to listen. Trust my advice. You've been lucky to not have dealt with a larger threat but rest assured, in these times, you will. We haven't been a unified nation in hundreds of years. There's no cavalry to call. Your still young, but times like these are what help us to grow wiser."
"I think we have the information we need, I don't mean to be rude, but we need to move quickly. He gives her a wry smile with a slanted eyebrow."
He turns to Oleksandr. "I think we're between a turf war of orc tribes. I think the one we found in the pit was a scout or hunter from a rival clan and he was killed by the others. Perhaps he was checking a trap he made or fell into one made by the others."
Olias continues to speak in Orcish. "Listen, I'm trying to win the trust of this town. I am a spy from the city of Voski, and we mean to destroy Blasingdell. From what I gathered so far, your tribe wants in. I can make that happen, but I need to know where to find them to let them know the plan. We will tell the townspeople that we have found the group and killed them, so they will let their guard down. Your leader will give me a signal, and I'll get the gate open for them. I don't care about the spoils of this God forsaken place, so if we do this, everything is yours and your tribe. What do you say?"
Dara nods at this dirty yet somehow charming dwarf before her, not being able to resist grinning and feeling a little flustered with his encouraging words. "You speak wisely. And you know of Rurik Deepflagon, an actual Deepflagon of Doriast! Oh how I would desire to speak with him about more tactics and strategies! But back to the task at hand. You are right, the city still stands and we have enough food for now. Your suggestion about building up our active duty officers is very helpful. We have never asked for trade with Haven's Cross, being mostly self-sufficient over the years, but we could offer some of our mining surpluses as trade material." She sits back. "I must speak with Mayor once we have this situation under control." She pulls yet another blank paper towards her and begins scribbling notes.
Not looking up, she continues. "Please, move quickly and do what you must. I trust your judgement." She slids the map to Oleksandr without looking.
The orc growls but listens to Olias speak. You notice he is wearing dark green lizard-like armor as opposed to the brown leather the dead orc was wearing.
In a low, gutteral tone he mutters, "Aye, these humans here have treated Grushnak poorly and all I wants is a bit of meat to fill my belly. I would rejoice in seeing them suffer, them and their chains-" he rattles his heavily chained wrists. "My tribe won't listen to me none, no no, not at all. Grushnak cleans up after them, Grushnak eats scraps they throw to him. Them Northerners, they thinks they can tell everyone whats to do. And the Great Ulfe, he's the worst of them all." He suddenly stops himself. "Better not speak evil of the Great Ulfe, he's got ears everywhere and might punish Grushnak."
A bit of drool hangs from his jaw. "I not be deep in their plans, but we needs food for the winter. This city here has lots of foods. We not be going outside when the cold snow comes, no no, we be staying in." He eyes Olias greedily. "Got any meats you could share with poor Grushnak? Crunchy bones, dried fish?"
He leers at Olias, attempting a smile which ends up looking like a fangy grimace.
Olias continues speaking to the orc. "I do not have any food on me, but I'll see what I can do. But first, I need to know where to meet up with your tribe, so I can speak to the Grat Ulfe and put our plan into motion. Where can I find him?"
Rukkh wordlessly tosses 1 day's rations to Grushnak.
It's totally drugs.
"Elf, ask him if the northern orcs wear lizard armor like his or brown armor made out of animal skin. Ask him if they have giant wolf pets too."
Olias asks the or about the one they found in the woods. "We found a dead orc in a pit with an arrow in him. He had brown armor made of animal skin and a direwolf. You know anything about that? Friend or foe?"
"I think we're between a turf war of orc tribes. I think the one we found in the pit was a scout or hunter from a rival clan and he was killed by the others. Perhaps he was checking a trap he made or fell into one made by the others."
Oleksandr nods and begins thinking out loud,
"This could be to our advantage if true. We could try to play one tribe against each other somehow, maybe the bard will gain some insight into that. Or perhaps we would be able to fake an orc raid on one side of an encampment while we flank them from the other..."
Olias asks the or about the one they found in the woods. "We found a dead orc in a pit with an arrow in him. He had brown armor made of animal skin and a direwolf. You know anything about that? Friend or foe?"
Grushnak lunges face first at the packet of rations. He holds it in his clawed hands, almost rabbit-like, and begins gnawing away without removing the wrappings. He sees the other packet Rukkh tosses but ignores it. His hunger is obviously overtaking every sense right now.
About halfway through, he slows in his devouring and looks at Rukkh, even though Olias is talking to him. "The Great Ulfe stays hidden deep under in his lair. We brings him foods and drink and he comes out at nights for hunting and disciplining bad orcs. Almost cold and snow outside, need lots of stored food for the Great Ulfe and all of tribe."
He rubs his stomach. "Grushnak's tribe be with the Northerners together under the Great Ulfe because the Great Ulfe promised endless food and safeness. We works and gets foods and came come inside for the cold snows." He growls and continues. "The Northerners is mean to Grushnak's tribe. We fights back with black arrows on our bows, we knows how to shoot. Northerners have knives and wears hides and furs. Not like Grushnak's green skins. And they has wolfies who howl and bite. Yes yes, they has wolfies. When orcs die wolfies sad and howls and the Great Ulfe kills them."
He chews, obviously thinking so hard he can't speak. After several minutes he is ready to speak again. "If Grushnak is freed from evil humans and helps to kill human city and take its food, much honor would my tribe get. The Great Ulfe would praise and Grushnak's tribe would no longer be hungry at all times."
He gestures to Rukkh. "This human-orc might gets inside. Grushnak can show you the doors but does not want to be killed from Northerners and their wolfies. Grushnak will not go inside."
How big is each tribe?
Grushnak holds up his clawed hands, open and spread. "Used to be more, many more. Killed by hunger, arrows, knives, wolfies. Grushnak's tribe good with black arrows, black arrows with secret poison tips. Lots of fighting when different tribes come together under the Great Ulfe."
He eyes Rukkh. "More crunchy bites?" He then takes the package Rukkh had dropped earlier, sniffs it, then pockets it.
"Avodaausan tug kal-ushk. Avmorrow, maush."
"Today only horse-feed. Tomorrow meat."
If Grushnak is interested, Rukkh brings him some.
Olias nods to the orc. "I will need a few minutes alone with your captor to convince them to release you into my custody. From there, you can lead me and my friends to speak with your leader. From there, we will plan on how to take this city."
Olias turns to Dara, speaking Common. "Dara, might I speak with you and my companions in private?"
Olias shares with everyone his conversation with the orc and the plan...
"Avodaausan tug kal-ushk. Avmorrow, maush."
If Grushnak is interested, Rukkh brings him some.
The orc grins toothily, saliva dropping from his fangs. "Meats, yes, meats," he repeats.
"My new friends, orcs 'r not smart but not beasts either. They know the more they raid the more soldiers come. These greenskins 'r raiding because something changed, making 'em desperate. A new tribe moved in from the north, wit dire wolf allies, an' they been killing the 'local' orcs and stoppin' 'em from hunting. Now the local greenskins are starvin' an' killin' farmers. Way I see it, tha problem we need ta fix is these Northerners.
Now there's some reason tha Northerners been movin' in. Could be a lot of differnt reasons. Could be somethin' we can change, could be we jus' need ta kill tha invader wolf-lover bastards. We don't know 'til we goes and sniffs about."
"Can't have the greenskins eatin' townsfolk while we work. Here's one thing might do: we give 'em food. Maybe 1 goat for 1 day wit no raids. Maybe 3 sheep for 5 days, I dunno what you can spare. On top o' that, find somethin' to trade wit the orcs. Don't matter if you don't need it; point is to get 'em in the habit of trading. They could bring in some timber, most likely. Orcs 'r good at felling trees. Give 'em any trade goods in return."
"Hagglin' wit tha local orc chief 'Great Ulfe' will be a trick. Can't make him look weak 'r a fool; tha whole deal would fall apart."
"Let Grushlak go or kill 'im. Orcs don't keep well in prison. Either way we'll find the orc lair. Easier if we're following fresh Grushlak tracks."
"One thing I learned from my time in the wild: if you cut down a weed it grows back; ya got to go to the root."
"My new friends, orcs 'r not smart but not beasts either. They know the more they raid the more soldiers come. These greenskins 'r raiding because something changed, making 'em desperate. A new tribe moved in from the north, wit dire wolf allies, an' they been killing the 'local' orcs and stoppin' 'em from hunting. Now the local greenskins are starvin' an' killin' farmers. Way I see it, tha problem we need ta fix is these Northerners....
"One thing I learned from my time in the wild: if you cut down a weed it grows back; ya got to go to the root."
It sounds to me like Ulfe has forced this Alliance and Ulfe sounds much closer to a diety than a fellow orc to me...
I'm not sure rewarding the killing of innocent civilians and thefts would be a good precedent to set, and when that food runs out I'm not sure what this town will need to deal with. The winter is coming and this towns food supplies are already spread thin. If you're looking for a diplomatic approach, teaching them to hunt may be a better idea but I think they'll be taking the path of least resistance as they've demonstrated and resort to thuggery. You do bring up a good point that something must have changed for these orcas to be without food. I think you're onto something. If we just kill the orc tribes Blasingdell might be left with the problem that the orca were left with.
"Green Orc, North Orc, Wolf Orc... Dead Orc. Heh. We kill just the North Orcs we still got a Green Orc problem. Maybe they slink back to their holes fer a while. Mebbe they come back next spring lookin fer more farms. Mebbe we just kill Ulf the whatever n let em kill wuneachuver. Heh."
He seems proud of himself for this little soliloquy.
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A minute or so later, understanding slowly crosses Thravum's face. He looks at Rukkh.
"Sides you. Yer OK."
Sounds like either way, we need to go find that camp. Let's take the orc with us and play it by ear. If he can let us in undetected, we can see how much damage we can do, set fire to their camp to disable them, perhaps. If not, we try diplomacy. Maybe the orc can tell us more about this Ulfe on the way.
"If you're looking for a diplomatic approach, teaching them to hunt may be a better idea...
"Some sort of land treaty could work I think. Agree to give them a small part of the forest. You don't bother them. They don't bother you.
If we take care of the northern tribe we can then impress upon on them that they could be just as easily dealt with if they were to show themselves."
"Sounds like either way, we need to go find that camp. Let's take the orc with us and play it by ear."
"I concur. Let's have this Orc bring us to their hideout. We can at least get a lay of things with our own eyes then. Watch your backs and your companion's. I'm not completely satisfied that we should trust him completely."
"Dara, Orcs aren't the best of allies, but there have been plenty of instances in which beneficial agreements have been made between human towns and their tribes. It's usually just a matter of mutual respect. In Solnevo we allowed orcs access to hunting grounds in exchange for peace. Some towns have even managed primitive trade agreements. This prisoner of yours would enable us to find the tribe quickly and put an end to this matter. We should be off soon and we do not want to be stumbling around in the dark."
Dara, I have spoken to this orc and deceived him into believing I would all with his tribe in exchange for leading us to his leader. I know letting him go is a risk, but the sooner we find the horde, the sooner we can end these raids. With your permission, I'd like this prisoner to be released into my custody. We will watch over him as in our travels, and if there is any funny business, we'll take care of it. What do you say?
Jorlitharr smiles widely at Dara. And speaks in Dwarven.
"Ms. Whitestone, my companions are correct. We've succeeded in convincing the orc to lead us to his camp. After the threat is taken care of, he'll answer for his crimes. Was his sentence execution? We should be back in a few days. I'm sure the town will be safe while we're gone. If you've taken my advice to heart, there's no time to waste. We're concerned these orcs have turned to raiding your town recently because they've been displaced by something more powerful. If there's nothing more, we'll be on our way."
Dara looks at Oleksandr thoughtfully as he speaks. "I did not know this history between the orcs and Solnevo. I distrust them in general, but perhaps you are right. Perhaps we could come to an agreement."
At first, Dara looks completely shocked at Olias' suggestion to let the prisoner go with them. "I suppose you have a point, that he could lead you to the headquarters. And this goes along with what this wizard here was saying, he can lead you there quickly. I am hesitant to let him go; most of the town knows the orc is here in jail, and want to see justice for their pillaged farms and murdered loved ones. I'm not sure I can let him go."
After she says this, she listens to Jorlitharr. She respects that he spoke very formally in Dwarven to her. "You are more cunning than you look, my Dwarf friend. His sentence would be that which the Mayor comes up with, and he has not spoken of a trial yet. If you can get back with the orc within a week, you may take him."
She leans in over the table and looks at the party. "If you find there is something more dangerous than the orcs leading them, do what you need to do. I worry for the safety of this town, as I said, especially with winter coming. A couple orcs we can take. Anything bigger..." She shakes her head. "I wish winter wasn't on the doorstep. Hopefully it'll be a short one and I can get this town guard up to where it needs to be. And perhaps I could talk to this Rurik," she adds, looking at Jorlitharr.
"Are you setting out tonight? You just got into the city today. Do you have enough provisions to last you for potentially a week? If you stop at the Inn the owner Sarel can fix you up."
She goes back to shuffling papers. "We have an exit from the jail that leads out under the eastern wall. I'd rather have you leave this way, in order to not draw attention to the fact that the orc is leaving. I will lead you out when you are ready."
Jorlitharr finishes with Dara "Understood. I think if you send a few people northwards to haven's cross to trade for foodstuffs you'll get through the winter. We could even bring some tradegoods back with us if you'd like. I think we're ready to go to the orc camp now. I need no provisions other than a quick stop at the cart" he looks at his companions.
Jorlitharr turns to the orc as they leave "Your tribe is going to be very proud of your smarts. I'm sure everyone will be chanting your name when you return! Grushnak the smart they'll call you. Grushnak the mighty! Ulfe will grant you much. Tell me, how long until we reach your camp?"
Rukkh makes a quick resupply trip, including some meat for Grushlak.
"Ready."
A smile flickers on the orc's slobbery mouth as he replies to Jorlitharr. "Orcs live in the mountain, through the forest and up up the Tooth of Stone to the tunnel behind. We gets there to the Tooth of Stone in half a night."
"Guards watching between forest and mountain but Grushnak the smart talks to them, if they Grushnak's tribe we go through and if they be Northern with wolfies we fight. We gets to the Great Ulfe deep inside." He cackles. "Grushnak the smart, Grushnak the mighty!"
He holds up his chained wrists. "Out Grushnak the smart needs his hands."
It is midnight. If you leave now and go straight through the forest, you will make it there around 4am. Sunrise is 7am.
Olias stops by the wagon to grab some items that might be useful:
From Wagon: Potion of Fire Breath, Potion of Healing, Potion of Poison, and Potion of Hill Giant Strength (you never know...)