Erebus glanced over at his companions and shrugged. "Something like that. The big guy knows that I'll keep him fed, and paid, and risk my safety to keep him alive. That's a better shake than most would give him. He can leave whenever he wants, but he sticks around so I figure he must be having a good time. My look-alike here, well, he's a different story. He learned that the game exists, so now he tags along because there's nowhere else he can go."
"You're awfully curious for a Bugbear. I like that."
"I merely pay attention. Anyone who does the same can be a leader, be it of a horde or faith or anything in between." He leans forward. "I've learned a few things you might not have about the Cardinal, for instance. I'll tell you what. If you tell me something I don't know, I'll tell you something you don't know."
Erebus raised an eyebrow. He paused for a moment while thinking, then slowly smiled, amused at a private joke. "The vastness and volume of what is not known is incomprehensible to nearly all minds. The ego struggles to accept it's own insignificance when it finds itself contrasted with the vastness of objectivity. It rebels. Rejects. Disbelieves. It cannot escape the trap of it's own self-image."
"Everything that exists has a specific nature, and possesses characteristics that are a part of what it is. No matter what dimension or plane of existence a being calls home, the fundamentals of the self are immutable."
"This is true of all things, from the lowliest worms to the greatest gods, and everything in between and beyond."
"This is where true knowledge begins. Once you understand the nature of a thing, you can predict it's behaviors. Once you can predict, you can control."
"The greatest power you can ever hold is understanding. The greatest freedom you can ever have is to direct the course of the misunderstandings of others."
"Because all minds paradoxically seek and run from the truth, lies are fragile things. Easily ferreted out. Easily turned on their creators. So, seek not to lie. Instead, learn to tell the truth in ways that reveal nothing."
Sakkarot Fire-Axe stares at you throughout your whole speech, remaining silent even after you finish. After a few moments, he bursts into laughter.
"So," he says, "Thorn has sent a philosopher to break Balentyne? His schemes get stranger every day." Sakkarot's smile fades as he gets down to business. "As amusing as you are, tomorrow you must depart this camp. It will never be truly safe for you here. Over the next week, more tribes will rally to my banner. I will promise them blood and give them steel. Then at last I will be ready to march. A week after that – I will be poised to strike. I will move my horde to the valley just north of Balentyne. There we will wait for your signal."
The bugbear gets up to retrieve a carefully wrapped bundled from a nearby table. "Fire this rocket into the air. Within the hour, we will attack. Make sure that the way is ready. You must understand though that my horde will not idle for long. I can hold them together for another two weeks. After that, I expect desertions and squabbling. Get your work done before then. You have one month to infiltrate and destroy Balentyne. Can you do this? In one month can you topple the Watch Wall?"
"A month? With that long I can make that silly fort eat itself. You might not have much to do at that point."
Erebus handed the firework to Grumble jack without looking at him.
"I suspect Captain Kargeld is trying to slip away on his ship right now. I'm going to go kill him. Care to join me?"
"About time!" Grumblejack shouts, nearly dropping the firework in the process. "Enough boring talking!"
Sakkarot sits back down in the tent. "I have my own plans to lay, I will leave you to kill him. I must warn you that unless you can pilot a ship, it will be quite a trek to Balentyne." As Grumblejack and Blackerly move to leave, Sakkarot speaks once more. "Not that many humans would be able to notice, but your large friend might want to change his accent if he doesn't want anyone to know he's a giant in disguise."
"I'll give him lessons on the way. Thanks for the tip," Erebus smiled before leading his compatriots out of the tent.
Two of Sakkarot's guards follow you back to the boat - mainly to keep the other bugbears in check.
As you approach the boat, Captain Kargeld is quick to hail you. "The boat's unloaded! Let's move! We've got one final leg before this bloody contract is finished."
Erebus was surprised Kargeld was still there. That made things easier.
"I'll have you across the lake before the sun rises. The sooner I finish this job the better," Kargeld replies to any inquiries about travel time. "Did you see that bugbear's eyes? Smart, always plotting. Bugbears shouldn't be smart." He begins ordering the crew to prepare to cast off, in between mutters of dissatisfaction at Thorn's rate of pay.
"No more rum for you! We're nearly to Aldencross and you can take all the drink you like there. And don't try using any of that doppelganger witchery either!"
Night gives way to the morning twilight. Kargeld is distracted in argument with the real Blackerly. Your destination lies close. There may not be a better opportunity.