" Ha if you wear her head, it would truly be a skull cap" Draxia says laughing. It was a rare thing to see her laugh that hard but to the sorceress it was quite funny.
Ignoring the glare, Anol raises his head in confidence, "Right, after you." He gestures in front of him, not specifically addressing any of them.
Do you wish to continue back to the village to get your promised support, or do you want to push on to the mission with out help. Also remember the ogres prisoners.
Turgrim is beaten and chastened after being annihilated in the previous battle. He will sullenly follow the group wherever it decides to go.
I say we head back for support.
You return to the cave to find the prisoners still where they are.
Anol does what he can to free the prisoners, katana drawn. "Try anything funny, and we'll make sure you become your gods' problem. We're headed to the mission on the river to drive them out, an honorable friend to Wolftooth would assist us in combat and tactics." This last word was the closest thing he could find to "information" in his vocabulary.
He leads them to the rest of the group as they loot the lair. He then follows them out, not letting the prisoners leave his sight from the back of his intimidating wolf.
As the others gather up the remaining items of value from the cave Runt searches the parameter of the cave seeking out any any all of the animated heads of her kin and even those not directly related to her if such exist gathering them up and then proceeding to first ensure that they are 'dead' and then gathering up the necessary wood for a bonfire in which to burn them, after this Runt will rejoin the group and aid in the search for items of value.
And so loot gathered and prisoners in tow the groups heads back to the camp in order to spend some well deserved rest.
You arrive to a heros welcome. This camp, which had an air of despair about it when last you were here, now seems to have a different quality. Hope.
Turgrim stays close to the prisoners and watches them carefully. He lets a smile cross his lips for the first time when they enter camp, and turns to Mogwag. "Should we...begin interrogating them now?" he resists finishing the sentence with half-breed, since Mogwag has demonstrated leadership and earned some of Turgrim's respect.
How about we remove our armor, enjoy some food and rest, share our stories and then ask questions? it is not like they are going anywhere he says with a smile
Anol, with some subtlety, tightens his armor in response to Mogwag's suggestion. Under his master, he learned that a samurai's armor should be like his skin, never without it and comfortable in it.
As you traveled to the camp, one of the humans keeps trying to talk to you in bad orcish.
hey big bad thumpers, me offer much...er...rich stuff if you let us go away. Much nice person is I
Maul Warsinger is much more calm about the situation. God speaker Murphy, the other human, sighs at the first human (Baldwin), and bides his time.
On arrival, you are cheered in. The chief exits his hut, leaning on a warrior's arm to greet you. Your guides let all know your deeds.
I will send a message out. With luck we can get help from the great chief's camp and drive off the remaining ogres. He looks at the prisoners. Who are these ones?
They Wolftooth prisoners from ogre cave. We find some use of them.
"I can think of many uses for them,"Draxia says with a wry smile as she looms the prisoners over."Slaves maybe, possibly playthings for the warriors or the women...maybe if that doesn't work we could domesticate them like pets or if all else fails we could slay them and see if the can better serve the Wolftooth in u death better than in life" She says before she pulls away from them and titters with glee at the thought of these pathetic creatures shambling before her as undead minions ready to fight for the clan that welcomed her and her scavenger brethren back with open arms.
Turgrim crosses his arms over his chest as he looks the prisoners over, searching for the weakest. He's hungry.
They were prisoners of the Hag and now We are delivering them to you Chief. But before you decide anything about them we are of need to speak and talk to them in the morning, So Mogwag only ask is they they are well treated until then. After we have taken a bit of rest for the day as the battle was long and hard and there is still much to plan and discuss. But all those thing can wait for after a feast and Story telling he says with a smile
Turgrim lets his muscles relax incrementally. It takes tremendous effort, with all that is on his mind, and he becomes more aware of how on-edge he is.
He forces his face into a grin, trying to put the pain of his failure behind him. "Is that pork I smell roasting?" he demands, loudly, of anyone who could answer.
Food for the Champions commands the chief, and within minutes the table is filled with food.
A young orc brings a haunch of roasted boar for turgrim to eat.
The chained orc stands
chief, I am maul warsinger, skald of the bearclaw, and these two are Baldwin Cooper and Godspeaker Murphy. We trespass not by choice onto your lands, but were captives of the same ogres who troubled you. We are not enemies. The war with the bearclaw and wolftooth is past now for over a year, with your triumph. And these two are from the mission, a place that even now treats and protects some of your people. We are grateful for our rescue. Could we be released, and we will leave your lands.
The chief looks at haul without speaking for a minute. Then he says hmmph. This may be so. But there are other considerations. You will be held for a time, and be questioned, I think. Place the in a secure place. Oh and feed them. The question of their release will be determined later.
The three are taken away.
A party ensues
Anol moves his katana from his belt to his back, and sits to eat. He does so quietly, listening to the conversation around him. Every so often, he throws a bone or a particularly fatty/gristly bit of meat to Husom, who devours it immediately.
The chief asks for you to describe your battle against the ogres and the giant. The party goes on as they celebrate your victory. As it dies down, and most have headed off to sleep, the chief asks you, so, the mission. Why does the great Chief want it removed. The bearclaw was right, they have healed many in this tribe. This God Speaker Murphy is a powerful healer. Although they do have this sense of...superiority, that is annoying I have to admit.
"I don't trust 'em. Who's to say they won't squeal to the mission where we are and ruin our plans? If we don't kill 'em, at least keep 'em captive," Turgrim comments.
It is a little Complicated, The great Chief wants it removed because it is on our territory, and because it has been used as a staging area for human spies that were send into Wolftooth Territory. It seems that a powerful arcane magic used controlled and forced these humans to acts as spies and scrying devices. And so for those reasons and more we do not know the council ordered that They must be cleared. and that we could whatever method you wish, provided that they are gone from the savage hills.
Anol nods at Mogwag's words, "Their good intentions do not make them any less a threat to Wolftooth. I agree with the Chief that they should be cleared. I may be less keen to kill them all with this knew knowledge, however. It is poor battle strategy to burn bridges to allied forces." Husom groans in annoyance.
The chief looks at Turgrim and says how would they know our plans. Killing ogres is not pointed at them, so unless you told them they would not know. The land they are on is not wolftooth land strictly. That is why that bearclaw is with them.
He lights his pipe with an ember from the fire and puffs for a minute.
This is your task, and I will be guided by you in assisting it, but talking to them, proving your point may be more useful in this. They must go, but if we talk, and show our held fist, they may just leave.
Suddenly he smiles and says, Of course there may be good loot if we attack. Both ways are good. And slaves do raise a clan's prestige. This clan needs much rebuilding and more slaves would help that. But how we approach this is up to you.
Mogwag has answered your questions. In the morning Mogwag will go and have a talk with the prisoners, then Mogwag will offer his course of actions for the Mission
Draxia listened to the chief and giggled. She had enjoyed the spirits and foods of this village. It was a merger fair but given the circumstances she could forgive them. As for this talk of humans, she chuckled a bit as she knew humans could either relish the comfort of being enslaved or they would fight the chains.
Draxia piped up"Well Chief slaves are a great thing, especially after all you have gone through wouldn't a swell in your population be welcome, make those humans service you not only in labor but in your bed. After a few whelps are up and running, do as you see fit. I mean they are only human."
" As for this wizard they have. That I see as the biggest threat. the humans are scared of him more than us and in that fear they are driven to attack. The one I met broke under my special attention and from this we learned that much. It was too bad the spike killed him, or I would have him as my pack mule, eagerly carrying my belongings as I lead him by a leash. I must say if we do enslave these humans I must get me a fine specimen to serve me in such a capacity, one to carry my things,and assist me in my many duties." In this thought pattern she poured another glass and pondered on the various chores her slave would be forced to do.
Anol grinned at the idea of training a slave to fight with him. He never winced at the sight of a goblin slave in the camp he grew up in, but the humans...it seemed like a waste. Still, these were not warriors, they were not at war with Wolftooth clan...yet. Anol remains silent, not wanting to incite a useless war, but eager to participate enough to garner the spoils should it break out in spite.
The next day passes and night returns again. You have the option now to discuss your plans. Mogwag spent the day healing the injures so you have 75 orc warriors to back up your actions, although many are green.
You can also buy/sell gear from the local market. (max 1000gp for item sale though)
Items for sale
+1 Falchion
Wand of expeditious retreat
Scroll of stinking cloud
They also have a full range of alchemetical gear, including black powder for firearms
They sell weapons common to orcs, and basic fire arms.
Draxia will try and decipher what items they got from the ogre lair.
During the day and most of the night Draxia casts Detect magic on the items from the Den they had collected and see whats magical and try to decipher their abilities.
Is there any kind of check I can roll to examine the orc warriors and determine any fast ways to improve their discipline? In my backstory I was a former trainer/drill sergeant.
Draxia was content with what she had learned about the items and that night pondered the teachings of her mother and father. She would defeat these humans and force them to be slaves just like her father had. With it she knew the tribe would be stronger, for she was proof.
Draxia looked about seeking the others so they could get going. She wanted to be done with this and back to the main village as soon as possible.