It is the middle of the night, the moon at its highest point, the two party's of warriors enters the encampment having been sent on two separate missions, They have met the enemy, and defeated them. All of them are mounted on dire wolves except for a giant figure, clad in steel.
A voice cries out "Look the warriors have returned! Many turn to look at your entrance and a general wolf howl goes up to greet you.
As you enter you hear questions as too what you found and several orc women calling out to Dergosh for intimate relations (the others get some as well, but mostly Dergosh. Many of the same glare at Draxia, seeing her as a challenge but also with respect. She was gaining power and even Orc Women could appreciate that even if they didn't like it.
They return to a camp even more transformed. Tents and huts have blossomed like mushrooms after a long rain, and crowds abound. Goblins scamper through the refuse, fighting with each other and crowing over a find, while orcs mill about, sparring and singing. But their is order in this Chaos.
To your left you see a frost giant walking through the throng, axe on his shoulder and he nods to Odak. This one is clearly a warrior and Orcs and Hobgoblins alike march in his wake.
To the right you see an encampment of Tal Kieng Hobgoblins, their formal lacquered laminated armor showing bright and garish colors. But now their camp was fully set up. They were more organized than the last time you had been here. When Turgrim and Anol pass by they give a great shout of greeting and salute.
Ogres and hill giants labor under supervision to load wagons with supplies and gear, and the noise is loud. The noise is louder due to a group of orc sound strikers chanting over and over. When the groups pass they stop and give salutes and cheers loud enough to make even Dergosh's ears ring with pleasure.
Greez will see other more nimbly shaped younger Orcs trying to mimic his style of fighting. It was amusing because often they crashed into each other and started wrestling.
Karol would see other keepers of the histories wave at him and come over asking him for stories of their adventure.
Runt sees other Ogres look at her and give an ogre version of a greeting. This was a step in the positive.
Majuba would see another witch doctor like himself near the chieftain's tent tending to a pot. The mask makes a face at his in greeting. No one else notices.
Mogwag sees the orc from the meeting with the chief Krelle Deathchild looking at each of them as they passed his eyes guarded.
You see the temple of Zoran, with the black smoke of sacrifice. It is clear that it has been busy. The temple of the Warlord, the great chief's patron, looks even more decked out than before. War was coming and he was prominent. Further away you see the grotto of the Hag, where Arcanists are trained. Even Noraz's temple was seeing activity as they prepared for the wounds to come.
Tigerwolf was greeted by a darting figure of a cat and an Orc Woman called Gola Packmate. This woman was renowned as the best scout in the tribe, and also as the only one that wolves never attacked even when provoked. Rumors abound that she is part wolf. She is also the "mother" of Tigerwolf.
A powerful orc warrior you had met before called Blound the Axe, steps from the throng and looks at you all. "I see you have all made it back alive. The Chief will be happy. What offerings do you bring?"
Anol bows his head to the saluting hobgoblins as he rides in on Husom. The wolf whines and bites at his armor a bit, so Anol quickly finds an armorer among his fellow hobgoblins, and has the wolf fitted with new wooden armor that fits him better.
As Blound approaches, Anol tells his wolf to sit and wait. He answers his question, "We bring firearms, black powder, ore, and news: it seems Bearclaw and the humans went to war, each with magic, each destroying most of the other. It was an even match."
As spotted the younger ones trying to impersonate him, all focus on why had returned was lost for a while. He just watched for the longest moment. Even trying to give tips even if they were either hard to figure by example or simply to complicated. Even offering one of them a little spar and going extremely easy on them as mostly just avoided a blow by showing off some acrobatic movements that many might be jaw dropped one his size could even do.
Turgrim crosses his arms as he watches Greez spar. He moves with impressive speed, he thinks to himself. But I bet I could outfight him.
Mogwag brings news of the the yellow eye clan and Turgrim brings back the Wolftooth banner.
To your left you see a frost giant walking through the throng, axe on his shoulder and he nods to Odak. This one is clearly a warrior and Orcs and Hobgoblins alike march in his wake.
• ODAK tread heavily into the lively mixed community here while dragging along the cart of Ka-bombs, setting the wheeled contraption down his eyes locked upon the Frost giant warrior who then made a casual nod of acknowledgement to him before thudding on off. The armoured hulk spoke nothing but was deeply thrilled by the sight, his masked helm hid any expression he made apart from his smiling eyes.
Karol nods to the history sayers Many stories both funny and serious. I'll shall speak to you later
To the others Both missions successful. Glorious! You must tell me what happened at the mission. Did the humans fight?
The humans and their dwarven friends tried to fight back during our assault but of course we won with minimal hurt on our side. You will here more about it when the report of made to the Big Chief
Karol waves his pipe as he talks.
Yes, yes the report. I want the details though. What did you feel when they started to crumble, did you have any doubts, the emotion. Otherwise the story comes over as dead as rothgorak.
" If you want you could flay the dwarf prisoner. he is a bard and likes to bang on pots. I wonder how he screams..."She paused as she looks about the camp at the strapping orcs and other assorted warriors with new found hunger. Oh how much fun reveling would be tonight.
She turned her attention back to Karol and Mogwag and giggles."Oh to see the glorious carnage unfold. Was like the gods opened up the heavens to let fire and blood rain down upon us in a glorious work of divine art. Seriously this battle was hard and bloody with many a man screaming in agony before there mage left his pathetic excuse for a tail tucked between his legs. Such a paltry show of magical might. As for the real hero to our plight was Runt, she truly was the powerhouse slaying many an enemy that day." She recounted as she pulled a hare from a spit and bit into it. While winking at some scarred warrior with impressive teeth.
Anol lies with his head on Husom's leg, and Husom lay on the outskirts of the fire. He rests deeply, yet with katana in hand, ready for any pranksters or jealous attackers.
Mogwag will turn around and take a few steps back at the mention of torture
Blound looks pleased as Majuba speaks and nods. ”This is good. The Chieftan will be pleased. What of the RockEye Kobolds? Why did they lose contact?”
Looking to Anol Blound nods. ”That is good News. The Bearclaw and the humans can war with themselves. Let the Bearclaw lose lives. It is good you brought us these weapons. Give the ore to the smiths and let them look it over.”
Looking to Mogwag he nods. ”What news do you bring of the Yellow Eye Clan?” He would look at Turgrim teaching the young ones and would wait for him to disengage. It was good for the young ones to train under the chieftain’s banner.
Seeing Karol approach and ask the question of the story he grins. Trust a History Keeper to get to the point.
As Majuba looks over the potion the witch doctor nodded and would grab a jar filled with some human liver and diced heart and pours it in. ”Good nose young Witch Doctor. What news you bring. Or ingredients?” He asked even as the masks glared at each other.
Blound looked at Mogwag’s telling of their side and how the details would wait and merely grunted.
He turned at Draxia’s words and his tusked filled mouth widened. ”Ahh, indeed, that is a flare for a story worth of the History keepers wouldn’t you say Karol. So, the Runt Ogre proved her worth. That is good to hear. With a caster that got away though, that is troubling. But indeed you routed the humans and dwarves alike. That is welcome news. The Chieftain will be proud.” With a chuckle he nodded to Karol.
Draxia watches the warrior grin at her and wink standing up just enough she could see his impressive network of scars.
Seeing Mogwag’s attention taken by mention of the prisoner and he also looks at Draxia. ”So you captured a dwarves prisoner. Those are renowned for being hard to break, but could definitely be fun. Are you going to handle it or let the Hags get the truth from his lips and observe?”
Tigerwolf finishes speaking to her mother and they knock their gauntlets together. ”Good hunting.” Tigerwolf says before trotting to catch up with everyone.
Blound will speak. ”The Chieftan will be back tomorrow at Moonrise. Until then, feast and relax. You have earned it.” He would pass out bags of coins to each of you.
”I welcome any news you are willing to share so It may make it to the chieftain before others and his eagerness to see you will increase.”
Karol takes notes. This is going to make a great story.
• ODAK, free of his duties to pulling the cart goes looking around for the others, spotting DRAXIA with her dwarven prisoner, looking carefully at the two of them as he crouched down low, "" he asked, filled with curiosity.
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Blound looks pleased as Majuba speaks and nods. ”This is good. The Chieftan will be pleased. What of the RockEye Kobolds? Why did they lose contact?”
Something about a weedy lady holding little king prisoner, Tigerwolf much better at explaining wordy stuff
As Majuba looks over the potion the witch doctor nodded and would grab a jar filled with some human liver and diced heart and pours it in. ”Good nose young Witch Doctor. What news you bring. Or ingredients?” He asked even as the masks glared at each other.
Well we get bombs and oil like chief wanted...We had some human meat but Odak not want them to be eaten
Draxia looked up at Odak and smiles."yes i think of making him a pet, you know a project to play with, lacerate, and whatever else i feel like, if your good I can let you play with him too"
Turgrim smiles at Draxia's lust for inflicting pain. Nearby, he has found his stash of pipeweed that he left back at the tribal lands for when the mission was complete. Normally, he avoids smoking it, to preserve the strength of his body. But now that the mission is over, there are some spare moments to relax.
He finds his pipe, a crude device he carved himself out of wood, and packs a liberal amount of the weed into it, relaxing against a tree until the Chief has need of him once more.
Karol sees turgrim ready his pipe and says let me light that for you igniting it with a spell [sparks)
Turgrim elevates the stem of his pipe in Karol's direction in a sort of informal salute. His normally stone-faced expression breaks into a grin. "Thanks...misplaced my tinder."
The hobgoblin's cheeks are drawn slightly inward as he inhales the pungent smoke deep into his lungs, and slowly exhales. With a small satisfied cough, he leans forward, offering the pipe to the half-orc. "One of the spell-casters at the Mission was trying to do something like that trick to us, but on a larger scale. Funny thing though, apparently it's hard to cast a spell when you're in a full nelson." he chuckles a little. "Wizards. They'll burn you to a crisp from a distance, but get in their faces, and they all squirm like kittens in the springtime."
At hearing about the weedy lady, spoke up loud enough to be heard from the distance was at from the others. Still trying to carefully show the younger impersonators how to do the particular moves a bit better. "Weedy lady smacked out of water wall when dead fish thing slammed her I tossed at her." The way said the statement, he was highly proud of such a feat as mentioned.
Karol puffs the offered pipe, and gives it back.
you're right about wizards, but getting close to them without frying is the trick.
Runt remains relaxed listening to and watching the others glad to hear that both missions were successful still finding it slightly jarring that the opinions of her held by the others are already beginning to shift between being called Unkillable by the orcs who assaulted the Mission and Draxia's words. "Theres more than just the Bearclaw and the Humans fighting, there is a hag she has Ogres and Hill Giants under her command" Runt chimes in as she notices the distinct lack of anyone mentioning the Hag.
Karol lòoks up at runts statement.
just one? Not three or more? Could you describe her? Was she as tall as a giant, but thin? Or short and green? Hags come in differing types, and are much more dangerous in a group. A coven it's called.
Karol lights his own pipe, and puffs a bit.
followers of the hag they are, the goddess that is. It is said they are what happens when a female spell caster, sorcerer, wizard or arcanist, delves to deeply into her ways. Vile and as cruel as a troll, but knowledgeable, powerful, dangerous. Always treacherous.
Karol looks at Draxia.
that one best be careful. Its said those who are on the path to hagdom often hunger for the flesh of the speaking races.
"Draxia's bloodthirsty, but her loyalty is to the clan." Turgrim's voice is stern, then it loses some of its edge. "At least, I think so."
Draxia giggles as she is mentioned."Little old me bloodthristy why I never" she feigns being insulted before she laughs a bit more heartily.
Once she finished her good laugh she looks at Karol."I seek not to be some insidious hag! I am Draxia Drekaar, The Longtooth as the scavengers call me, I have fought to live and now that me and mine are accepted I shall remain loyal until some fool thinks otherwise, for when he does I shall roast his flesh and feed it to dogs.' she says in a cold unwavering voice before a smile crosses her face.
"as for Wizards they are limited for they are chained to their book, I command the elements with but a mere gesture"She said all happy again ready to find some orcs warriors to tease.
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The Doctor wanders over after concluding his discussion about the finer points of properly seasoning stew meat.
No need to waste good meat Draxia, I share meal with you. You wolftooth, we all wolftooth The Doctor says raising his hand palm upward and moving it in a half circle indicating all the assembled clan members. Now...Who hungry
Turgrim immediately growls in eager anticipation and begins making for the food!
• ODAK gazes at Draxia, especially her light-hearted offer to play with the Dwarf some time. He stands himself up as he looks around at Tirgrim and Karol sharing a smoke, Greez playing with the younger Orcs and Majuba communing with another mask-wearing friend of his. He quietly watches for a moment as he shifts from foot to foot, something holding him back.
But then, he hears Runt talking about a Hag, he treads towards her and bobs down a little to her eye level, "" he sounds out, his eyes showing a degree of concern.
Anol has the ore brought to the smiths as he's told. While in the area he does some trading for new magical weapons, armor, and a cloak. He also buys entirely new armor for Husom: mithral chain mail, he smiles at the sight when the large wolf is outfitted. Then takes his place among his comrades-in-arms for the feast.
The yellow eyes have been under pressure from several ogre groups of late, due to their weakened defenses. They are under siege. A hag of great power has arrived in the area, and she has taken control of several ogre bands, and some trolls and hill giants. They let people in, but don't let them out. They took great loses in the bearclaw war. If it wasn't for the fact she is fixated on that human mission, she would have taken them out. The yellow Eyes have only about 100 warriors left, mostly too young, or too old, and no cleric or Shaman
Mogwag pause in order to let his words sink in before continuing.
We attacked the Hag's compound and manage to deal a crushing blow by killing most of the ogre present. Unfortunately she was able to flee deeper into her controlled territory for reinforcement. It should alleviate the pressure on the Yellow Eyes. Currently their moral is high after the victory over the human mission and with not many loss of life their young warriors are now a little more experienced
Bound will ask. "So how do you know of the Bearclaw and humans fighting? What reinforcements did she gather and Yellow Eyes would be fools not to consider the hag attacking them with her number of ogre and giant followers. Especially with the mission destroyed. How many of her number did you slay to give them such hope?"
Anol answers the question of the Bearclaw/Human battle, "We saw them fighting near the mission after we were out of sight. As for the number of the hag's people that we destroyed, you'll have to ask someone with a better memory."
6 Ogre and their leader. As for the Hag she crossed the Bridgette river, left wolftooth territory, and entered the unclaimed area near the mission. We think that she was headed towards a local band of hill giants, who frequent the area.
Hurrr
As you guys are thinking back on the accounting of the story. Each of you start noticing major inconsistencies with what actually happened, compared to what is being told.
• ODAK wanders over towards KAROL and TIRGRIM as they share a pipe and breathing in from it, he watches them talk for a bit even though his presence is obvious from the way he fills the view unintentionally. He stood there in thought while he held his massive tower shield in arm.
Well If there was only one, that's better. Not good but better. According to the old tales a coven is bad news. Cause hurricanes and earthquakes, throw mountains...although those may be exaggerated. I am certain the reality is bad enough.
Anol does his best to clarify the inconsistencies for Blound.
Turgrim only half-pays attention to what Karol is saying, glancing over his shoulder at Odak. He stares up at the silent giant steadily, his elbow resting on his knee.
• ODAK sees TURGRIM looking up at him and blinks, he knew there were hobgoblin allies but he never approached one this close before; his armour creaks and clinks with the subtle movements of his chest and limbs, "H~hey", he rumbles, clutching his shield by the edge. He looks over at KAROL as well, he listened about the coven but didn't know what to say.
Turgrim narrows his eyes at the giant's hesitation. A creature that big, unsure of himself? Uncertainty? Interesting... he thinks to himself. He says nothing aloud, merely returning the pipe to his lips and taking another long slow drag.