The orc leader peers around the tree and casts a single spell, before moving out into the open. In his hand is a sword made of pure force, like compressed fog, but the blade looks sharp.
For a second Noche'Wa wonders what spell was cast and then he sees the ground beneath his feet turn into a greasy patch of slippery grease.
It is too much of a shock and the transformed Shoanti trips and fall into a pile of the slippery liquid at the base of the tree.
The orc leader, skull clacking against his chest, grins and charges the transformed Noche'Wa.
Noche'Wa's blow makes a huge gash open in the orc's side. Blood bubbles out, spilling between ripped tendon and flesh. The orc grunts in real pain before trying to slash with his own weapon at Noche'Wa's head.
The blow misses and the orc, staring at Noche'Was changed figure, 'What are you?"
Noche'Wa's blow slides right through the orc leader's windpipe. It cuts off his yell of pain. For a moment he hangs there, trying to draw in breath through the long blade of the spear, thrashing like a fish. Then his eyes roll back and he grows still.
Eventually Korz re-appears looking pleased with himself. He is splashed with blood from neck to knee.
'You won?"
Together they reach the ruined fort, keeping a lookout. They reach a battered wall and peer over it. The old fort is more like a hollowed out bowl now, with the old walls rising around it. At the base is a small camp, surrounded by diggings and shafts leading to the foundations. Among these are a few small huts. There are two orcs Noche'Wa can see, sitting around a fire. One of the huts is barred and locked.
Korz grunts, "Two left only. You did well."
"I'll stay back in case you need help." He strings his bow to cover Noche'Wa.
The two orcs stand up instantly as they spot Noche'Wa enter the camp. They look confused, 'They left with you? We ask the same question, where is everyone?"
The two orc look at each other and one points to the locked hut, "Of course." Another asks, "What is going on? What happened to the man with the gold?"
The orcs scowl at this and look like they might fight, then grunt and hangs their heads. "We are the lowest in honor and status. You shame us to further your own honor." One growls, "Why do you rub our noses in this?"
The orcs look like they want to ask questions but then think better of it, running out of the old fort and diggings as if they had wings. Later, Korz climbs down beside Noche'Wa.
"You let them live? Bah, soft pinkskin." he says, spitting, "They are only White Skulls. Did we not come here to kill White Skulls?"
Korz grunts, 'They were in the White Skull tribe, just too low to have any skulls. You just let our enemies go, perhaps to lie in wait to hurt us later? You have weaknesses, Shoanti."
Noche'Wa works on the lock. It is surprisingly good for an orc lock in the field but he manages to get it open. The hut is squalid inside, with a dirty floor. In one corner is a pile of hay for a bed and in another a bucket for waste.
On the pile of hay is a woman, shivering in a thin cotton dress. She is dirty, thin and dead alseep.
Korz grumbles but turns away, keeping an eye if any orcs circle back. Or whatever killed the hunting orcs decides to pay a visit.
At Noche'Wa's voice the woman wakes, sitting bolt upright. Noche'Wa can see she is young, with a serious looking face, dark eyes and greasy brown hair. "Who...whoa re you?" She says, with the voice of someone suspecting a trick.
"I won't help you."
"Trunau...Trunau, that was the town we passed through." She stands then, a bit weakly but on her own. She walks over to Noche'Wa, her feet bare and covered with slime and dirt. "I..I'd do anything to get out of here." She comes up to the door, eyes scanning, watching for a trap. Anything to break the spell of being freed. 'Did you kill the orcs?"
The woman hears Noche'Was remarks and spots Korz at the same time. She recoils in terror, nearly falling over into the dirty pile of straw.
"You..you are working with them! They killed all the others, I saw them. They..did terrible things to them, even worse then just killing them. They are monsters. Leave me alone!' She breaks into sobs and cries.
Noche'Wa's blunt words must have gotten through to the woman. At his pause she runs up behind him, feet nearly silent on the dirt. "Of course. Just...just keep me safe, Wild Mouse. "
Korz eyes her speculatively. Not hungrily, but more sizing her up. He grunts and mutters, 'A burden on the road." But then offers, "No sign but let us move. Some of those we scared are likely to be back, if only for our prize here."
It is odd seeing the pale, obviously unwell young woman turn into a hulking pile of armor, blades and braids. She takes the spear though and seems to be better for it. She just seems happy to get out of the encampment.
As she talks she mentions the orcs had been using her to try and find relics buried in the old fort.
Korz raises an eyebrow at the sword but takes it, weighing it carefully. 'A princely gift. But I will have to see how it does in a real fight."
The day is ending and long shadows are forming in the woods and meadows. Korz snorts, "A soft land." he remarks as lightning bugs come out, winking and blinking. A soft hoot of an owl sounds, signalling the start of night.
The orc looks at the night, at the trees, then at the woman and Noche'wa. 'If was just us, I would do it, just to see who gave out first, pinkskin."" He eyes the Shoanto then shakes his head, 'But the woman is weak, no matter how you dress her up. No orcs treat their prisoners well, and one reason is for this. Too weak to travel far. She will need to rest."
It doesn't sound like the orc enjoys the idea of camping out here.
Korz sniffs the wind and frowns, looking at the sky. "I do not trust this night. I feel danger, but cannot name it." Grumbling they seek out a safe place. It is obvious the orc is correct as the young woman starts to stumble very soon, her bare feet bleeding from the twigs and sticks of the forest.
They look around, the darkness hindering then. Noche'Wa finds two spots that seems suitable enough. One is under a thick grove of pines, creating a dry and more comfortable spot under the thick, interwoven branches, among the brown needles.
Secondly is a place among cragged rocks near a small stream. There are varied nooks and crannies among the stones, providing easy to defend places.
Korz ponders the question, as the woman falls asleep instantly. His dark eyes rest on her for a long moment then he says, 'Nothing you would enjoy. Most of them end with the victors ravaging the entrails of the loser. That or they put you pinkskins in a bad light, which you are not fond of. Humans rarely like to hear the other side of the glorious battles or savage defeats." The orc says, roughly.
Korz leans back, staring at the few stars visible above the tangle of brown, dry pine branches. Then he launches into a long story, much of it in verse of a orc warlord known as Belkzen.
Belkzen was a mighty orc warrior the finest in his clan. Fast, strong, willful but even so his people were dying. The dwarves had pushed them into dry, broken lands hoping that the orcs would shrivel and die.
Korz smiles at this, seeing to find it amusing.
No, instead men like Belkzen were born. Hard and strong, toughed by the hard land. But even the best warrior could not drive the dwarves back, not alone. So Belkzen, gathered all the tribes under his banner (this part of the story is long on Belkzen's genius and wit, as he rallies tribes using charm, force, persuasion and even bribery).
Together, and driven by his will the orcs won victory after victory over the dwarves, reclaiming land. Soon they stood outside the Sky Citadel. Many of Belkzen's general wished tot urn back for no orc force had ever taken such a formidable place.
'Who are we?' They asked in fear at the tower of stone and steel.
'We are the bravest, the strongest, the fiercest fighters! Together we cannot be stopped! Belkzen offered, raising his bloody sword in defiance.
So battle was joined and after many actions of bravery, cowardice, genius and luck, the orcs took the city and even now live there, renaming it Urgir, meaning First Home, a home that was won through blood, iron and unity.
Korz pauses, the stars have wheeled overhead. 'What do you think of that pinkskin?"
Korz opens his mouth to say something but stops suddenly. A huge crash comes from above, like a heavy weight being dropped onto the trees. Korz, quicker then Noche'Wa thought possible, rolls away and grabs his sword (Noche'Wa never put his aside). The girl wakes up screaming as the sound of snapping branches grows louder.
With a loud thump a shape lands nearby, in a cloud of pine needles. It is humanoid, but larger, with a vast pair of wings spreading out, snapping twigs. It is a brightly painted clay statue, which lurches forward, hefting a wickedly hooked sword. The head is crowned with a helmet that reminds Noche'Wa of the paladins of Lastwall.
"Defilers. Intruders. You will die. It intones, voice flat and hard.
Korz looks at the enlarged Noche'Wa, grins and moves to try and flank the construct. He doesn't quite make it, but he manages to close the distance, sword in hand.
The winged creature says, voice monotone, "You violated the crypt, you must be destoryed' Oddly, at that, the woman stops screaming and starts staring, open mouthed.
No time for that now...the construct charges, sword flailing.
Moving faster then it should, it swings twice.
Both mighty blows miss, but the construct makes no word.
Noche'Wa's blows hit the construct and the spear head slices into the stony exterior of the creature. It doesn't do quite as much damage as he would have hoped but it obviously wounds the creature, poking a hole in one outstretched wing.