Exortion! Nadiya thinks, and says as much to Mishka in the witch-familiar language they share. But she knows they hope to keep this a diplomatic mission, so stays silent and hopes they can rely on Valeska's negotiation skills.
Leta holds her breath, ready to aid the Countess in any diplomatic endeavors. Leta herself is much better at lies and manipulation.
Diplomacy (unskilled) aid another:
Valeska let's the silence grow. Her father always said, they who speak first in the negotiation always lose.
If the Great Chief sees value in our visit, you and your band take the credit for astutely estimating our mission's worth and safely delivering us.
If we does not, we will pay you 1,250 gold or its equivalent. Either way, you win. You ALL win. Neh?
So that you need not lie if asked by those along the way, whether we purchased passage tokens...
From a pouch, she slowly produces one gold coin for each member of her band.
It takes some additional cajoling to get the orc brave to agree, but from the start Valeska can see that her foot is in the door with her negotiations. Nirdosh is very interested in being rewarded, both with esteem and a share of the spoils, for bringing you to the leaders of Urgir.
However, his pride demands that he snare at least one more concession.
In addition to the promises made, he insists upon an upfront payment of ten coins, rather than one, per member of your band - including Valere, Vreya, Gargan, and his band - coming to a total of 180 gold coins.
Valeska concedes, expediting matters.
Nadiya is not keen on the payment demands, but trusts that Valeska is likely doing what's best to avoid conflict. There's enough dangers in this place as it is. She is not fond of orcs, even though she is too young to remember the slaughter an orcish tribe visited upon her family. Nonetheless, she would prefer not to have more blood shed.
As they travel, she does try to talk to some of the new group of scouts (in Orc), asking them about the area--if they have had conflicts with unusual creatures, and particularly if they've seen undead or draconic creatures.
Leta knows little of Orcish culture, but tries to sing an inspiring tune as the travel along.
Your band is forced to break camp very quickly since Nirdosh will brook no long delay. He insists that you must leave at once and travel by moonlight. Thus, gaining the protection of such a well-connected orc warrior means forgoing rest for the night and enduring another few hours of travel.
Once there was a sign things were going to push forward for awhile, Nadiya would cast bear's endurance on herself for a boost. She's an experienced enough traveler to have a good sense of how much on foot time she can take before needing a boost. Mishka like any intelligent cat would be riding in her basket most of the way so I'm not sure she would need to make the check.
As they travel, she does try to talk to some of the new group of scouts (in Orc), asking them about the area--if they have had conflicts with unusual creatures, and particularly if they've seen undead or draconic creatures.
Leta is weary, having traveled all day, but traveling at night inspires her with a new energy.
As they travel, she does try to talk to some of the new group of scouts (in Orc), asking them about the area--if they have had conflicts with unusual creatures, and particularly if they've seen undead or draconic creatures.
Leta's music softens the attitude of Nirdosh's band towards you, although you'd be hard pressed to get any of them to admit it. Nevertheless, they are more apt to respond to questions like those Nadiya poses.
They have been patrolling primarily around Urgir and the Whisperfall region as more and more orc tribes assemble for the Flood Truce. Thus, the only conflicts they've encountered have been with brash orcs - men and women alike - who are still young and impertinent enough to attempt to cause trouble during the time of the Truce.
The only dragons they know of, speaking of them with trepidation, are a mated pair of red dragons who lair in an old, abandoned fortress called Raschka-Tor, located high in the Tusk Mountains. They grumble about how their people are still forced to pay annual tribute to the two dragons to stave off their wrath.
This is peculiar because the dragons you saw were far too small to be a menace to the orc tribes, and even in the dim light you don't think their scales appeared reddish. These must be dragons apart from the ones the orcs dead, perhaps themselves hiding from their larger kin's power.
Nadiya responds in Orc, "Hmm. I think we saw some of their children, or cousins, as we passed through. Not as fearsome, but still would be a fine conquest for the daring..."
Maybe, she thinks, if they seek out the smaller wyrmlings, it might bolster their courage or help them come up with some solutions to their larger problem. Or just serve as a useful tip.
Vreya, your dwarven liason, chimes in without prompting. Despite Gerduhm being hidden in the Tusk Mountains, their seclusion means they have not kept up with the territories of dragons who might overlap with their secret stronghold. She recalls stories that a silver dragon laired near Gerduhm before the dwarves went into hiding, but that was a very long time ago even by a dragon's reckoning.
"Can't rule out that the silver's descendants are still around, though," the dwarven scout muses.
Kain endures the travel with a hardened determination. He glances around the group, trying to pick out the most likely threats. If things went south here, dragons would be the least of their worries and he wanted to at least have an idea of who to be worried about the most.
Fighting against exhaustion and the dark, you crest a landrise and spot the Flood Road. The dry arroyo you've previously seen from afar has now become a wide, slow-moving river - fed by melting snows far to the north - that is reviving the badlands into prairie.
Your attention is drawn, however, to the hundreds of encampments that line the river. Each tribe's standard sits at the heart of their camp, illuminated by their cook and bonfires. The night and shadows and sheer numbers make it hard to accurately count, but there must be hundreds of thousands of orcs assembled here in the plains surrounding Urgir.
Urgir, once the sky citadel of Koldukar, also demands attention. The massive fortress city sits upon a small hill along the Flood Road. Starlight and firelight casts long, strange shadows upon its ancient, circular walls. For how many orcs have migrated to the plains around the ostensible capital for the Hold of Belkzen, there are thousands more within the city's walls - making it a metropolis to rival even Caliphas, the capital of Ustalav.
Bashuk watches their new guides as the discussion of dragons goes on, wary that they might decide to drive the beasts off--and worse, hold the ruined border forts for themselves. She didn't think that would go over well with the rest of Ustalav.
As the group crests a rise and beholds the encampments surrounding Urgir, she can't hold back from a low, impressed whistle despite her twinge of concern. "It's been years since I've seen the capital during Truce season, but it hasn't gotten less impressive."
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"My father has already aided the Great Chieftain in defeating several official challenges this season to his lordship of Urgir," Nirdosh boasts, although you suspect he was not part of these trials.
You are led through the throngs of orc tribes and families gathered along the greening plains around the fortress city, and eventually you march through one of the gates crafted by ancient dwarven hands. Rather than any of the common gates, Nirdosh and his warband lead you through the eastern gate, which Bashuk knows leads into the famed Plaza of the Sky.
This gigantic, open plaza is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved remnants of the ancient dwarven city. Huge sheets of white marble stretch for hundreds of yards, and slight gradations in color upon the various marble tiles create enormous mosaic pictures depicting scenes from the daily lives and struggles of the dwarves before they began their Quest for Sky. Depictions of domestic life underground stand side by side with scenes of great dwarven battles against the denizens of the deep, including ropers, purple worms, and even armies of orcs. This artistry, in what may be a surprise for outsiders, has been preserved by the orc inhabitants of the modern city.
The center of the plaza is dominated by the Great Palace, adorned with many ragged banners and trophies taken from enemies defeated by Grask Uldeth and his Empty Hand tribe.
Leta takes in the plaza and makes a mental note to compose a song about it someday. In her eyes it is one of the most beautiful expressions of civilization she's ever seen, though it could use more plants and trees.
Forever fascinated by local lore and what one can learn from our history, Nadiya stops and gives a good look at the mosaics, seeing if she can identify any notable tales--or fill in any gaps of lost lore, particularly those that might be of interest to their potential dwarven allies with whom they'd been speaking before heading this way.
"The Plaza of the Sky," Bashuk murmurs. "It never fails to impress." She keeps a wary eye on all the orcs around them, trying to gauge how many other outsiders might be present this season.
"The Great Chieftain must be very busy--do you know how long it might be before we can have an audience?" she asks Nirdosh.
Valeska discretely watches Vreya, noting her reaction.
Nearly to herself, Impressive. This will be more difficult that anticipated.
Kain remains silent, making only mental comments on the fact that the orcs had but stolen these wondrous things, and crushing those that had made them in the process.
For his part, he rides on Valere's back, striking as imposing a figure as he can keeping withing lance distance of the countess.
"The Plaza of the Sky," Bashuk murmurs. "It never fails to impress." She keeps a wary eye on all the orcs around them, trying to gauge how many other outsiders might be present this season.
"I must not have been paying attention. I didn't realize you'd been here before. Have you heard stories of the place?"
"Oh sure, though not since I was very young. Sometimes tribes that want to buck tradition and trade or have their disputes arbitrated," Bashuk's lips quirk in an ironic twist, making it clear that such actions aren't widespread in Belkzen. "They come to Urgir because it's the only thing remotely like a human city. It's really big too, apparently this bit on the surface is only a fraction of it and the undercity is truly enormous."
In particular, you discover a mosaic showing that it was one of King Taargick's commanders, rather than the king himself, leading the army that massacred a group of dissident dwarves who had hitherto refused to join the king's host. This evidence might finally put to rest ancient grudges among the descendants of those who survived the massacre, blaming the king and his bloodline because they believe Taargick himself ordered the slaughter.
On the other hand, she is also highly nervous. She has only recently strayed far from her secluded home, and now she finds herself essentially in the seat of power for her kin's ancestral enemies.
"Wait here," Nirdosh commands. "I will summon my father and see if you are worth the time of the Great Chieftain's steward."
You get the sense that Nirdosh is also posing a challenge to you, seeing if you can manage without his protection in the Plaza of the Sky. Perhaps he is trying to remind you of your place by leaving you to contemplate how outnumbered and overpowered you are in their city.
Fortunately, Kain and Valere keep anyone from harassing you whilst waiting for an audience with Ardax the White-Hair.
"Oh sure, though not since I was very young. Sometimes tribes that want to buck tradition and trade or have their disputes arbitrated," Bashuk's lips quirk in an ironic twist, making it clear that such actions aren't widespread in Belkzen. "They come to Urgir because it's the only thing remotely like a human city. It's really big too, apparently this bit on the surface is only a fraction of it and the undercity is truly enormous."
Nadiya smiles at Bashuk. "Still, it is good to be reminded most souls have 'rebels' among them who do not always want to stick to the old ways. And that this is a place where that is possible."
She spends some time trying to memorize every detail of the mosaic, to be sure she can recall it accurately. Noticing Leta looking around and getting inspired, she also points the mosaic out to her, saying perhaps a song suggesting this version of history might be of political value as well as artistic.
The other thing Nadiya does while they wait is see if there are children around. It is possible, of course, that the denizens here wisely keep their children below ground and not where visitors come. But if there are children, seeing how healthy they look and if they feel safe enough to play is always a good indicator of a state of a city. They also tell stories with abandon that adults may be reticent about.
A surprising number of children - both full-blooded orcs, and those who appear to be of mixed heritage - run and tumble and scuffle through the plaza like any child might, much to the growling dismay of those passing through or conducting business.
You notice that Bashuk draws just as many wary stares and glances from passing residents as the rest of you. Just as you are obviously outsiders, perhaps they can easily mark Bashuk as one of the outcast Burning Sun orcs.
Of course, your time to contemplate this is cut short when Nirdosh returns and curtly instructs you to follow him into the Great Palace. You do not venture very far into the fortress-like edifice, being led to a secluded meeting room. As you file inside with Nirdosh and his coterie, you enter the presence of a single other orc.
And that orc is quite distinct from the many you saw out in the plaza. Whereas all the other orc men have dark hair or keep their heads shorn, his hair, kept in a top knot, is paled white with age. Also, rather than grim armor adorned with spikes or other intimidating flourishes, he wears a simple, close-fitting armor of hide. Try as you might, you can't even spot any weapons on his person.
"I am Ardax, steward of Urgir, advisor to the Great Chieftain," he speaks in a firm yet understated tone before you even have a chance to take seats. "Why have you come to our city?"
She smiles at the sight of rambunctious children, for it is a comfort of a sort. There is no time to ask them for stories though, and she follows the party with Nirdosh.
As Ardax greets them, Nadiya strokes Mishka in her basket, keeping herself calm and her familiar quiet, and waits for the countess to speak.
Valeska takes a step forward and nods her respects. Trade. In the exchange, both our peoples and our lands may endure and prosper.
As advisor, you have no small hand in how wonderfully the people of Urgir have flourished. An honor to meet you, Ardax of Urgir.
I am Valeska of Canterwall.
Sasha comes to rest upon the floor beside her at an angle which speaks, attack her and you will pay the price.
"Trade. Very good," Ardax snuffs.
He turns his eyes upon Vreya, your dwarven associate, but you cannot immediately decipher the expression upon his face.
"We seek dwarven masons and architects," he states to the party as plainly and directly as though requesting a half dozen eggs at the market. "In trade for their service, I can promise their safety and offer valuable goods to your land."
We can convey your generous offer to our people. Thank you.
We have accepted many orc refugees in recent weeks, they are of course welcome to stay in Canterwall.
Some may wish to join you, are they welcome here? She simply asks.
"Could we ask what you need the masons and architects for?" Nadiya interjects, curiosity overtaking her sense of decorum.
Leta listens. All of this high talk is above her head. Her station is with the people in the streets.
Ardax mulls the countess' proposal.
"The Great Chieftain would welcome our kin to return from afar," the steward of Urgir finally says. "We have hoped that our kin who have been born and raised in Belkzen would come to recognize the boons of being open to the outside world. Hearing about the outside world from fellow orcs might make them more likely to accept how we're trying to change Urgir.
"Of course, being forged by this merciless land, our people do not tolerate those who are soft or weak. Any of our kin who return from your land would do well to establish their strength, lest they meet an unpleasant fate."
The orc steward's face grows even more severe as he considers his reply to Nadiya.
"You are newcomers. You have not been around long enough to feel the tremors," he begins. "Urgir has been plagued by earthquakes for the past two or three generations. Pitifully weak ones occur weekly, but at least once a month, one strikes with some actual force and causes damage to another part of our city.
"The Big Hole in the second circle is one of the greatest examples of this damage, but the upper levels of the city are so unstable that they have been abandoned to only outcasts, hermits, and young orcs looking to prove their bravery.
"Before we lose too much of our city, we need the dwarves to show us how to correct these weaknesses in what they have built."
Nadiya's eyebrows raise when he mentions the tremors--for three generations! She bites her tongue before asking the obvious question: why don't you leave? As she already knows the answer: it would be a show of weakness.
Instead she focuses on what the cause might be, whether natural or supernatural, if she's heard of this in the area before, and the likelihood whether the city is doomed.
Although Belkzen shouldn't be immune to periodic earthquakes, the frequency and intensity that Ardax describes is inexplicable by natural causes. Nadiya knows that although such frequent waves of earthquakes aren't unheard of, they typically only last a matter of weeks, not years, and usually presage the eruption of a volcano. Given that Urgir is somewhat removed from the mountains that cradle the Belkzen, and none of the peaks in those ranges are known to be active volcanoes, Nadiya can rule that out.
Nadiya can imagine a number of potential magical causes for these disturbances, but ultimately whatever the cause for them, it is likely to be found in the underground levels far beneath the surface city.
We've come some distance, a journey not without peril... to speak with the Lord of Urgir.
We seek audience with him, yourself and your trusted advisors. There is an urgency in this.
Your words are wise and have been taken to heart and mind. Valeska taps her temple.
When Nadiya gets a moment that is slightly more private--but before they speak to the Lord of Urgir--she moves close to Valeska. She tries to take care not to look conspiratorial, simply discussing a quiet matter, as she's aware they likely won't escape all eyes and ears.
"I have traveled since I was but a babe. Never have I heard of earthquakes going on so long. They usually come and go... or presage a volcanic lava flow, which also would not take so long, nor do I believe there are live volcanoes here. Logically... this means there is something less natural causing this. Probably deep below. And indeed, the dwarves' knowledge may be critical to determine this but---if they do not stop, this is a constant danger to the peoples who live here."
At Nadiya's explanation Bashuk's eyebrows climb in surprise she can't hide. "But if it's not a natural cause, what sort of unnatural one would take so long? We're talking about decades...if it was a spell, or a monster, surely the orcs would know by now? Maybe Ardax isn't telling us everything."
Nadiya nods at Bashuk. "Maybe the dwarves built this place to contain something... And that's why they need their help now."
We've come some distance, a journey not without peril... to speak with the Lord of Urgir.
We seek audience with him, yourself and your trusted advisors. There is an urgency in this.
Your words are wise and have been taken to heart and mind. Valeska taps her temple.
"I cannot secure you an audience with the Great Chieftain without something to offer him," Ardax replies to the countess.
"And this is not some simple matter of greed. My lord is hounded by many rivals, looking for the slightest hint of weakness, any mistakes in his decisions. The foreign visitors brought before him must either bring tribute or offer a trade that brings great value to Urgir. We must make a visible show of the bounty that the Great Chieftain's open policies bring to our people."
Clearing her throat nervously, Bashuk forces herself not to hesitate when Ardax glances at her and forges ahead.
"Do the earthquakes affect areas outside Urgir? Or just the city? If only the city is suffering quakes it's probably something to do with the structures themselves or, or maybe it's something worse. But I think convincing dwarves to come fix your city for you will be hard if we don't actually know what the problem is. Has anyone gone down to look?"
Further extortion! Nadiya thinks as Ardax asks for this "tribute." First their escort demands an unconscionable amount just to get them here safely--about 9 years of a common porter's daily wages--now a demand for tribute.
Her frown is visible, and she is about to likely ruin the entire negotiation by blurting, "A strong man does not beg."
Perhaps fortunately for all, just as her mouth forms the, "A-" Bashuk intervenes, focused--as Nadiya knows they all should be--on the matter of the earthquakes. She filters her rebellious thoughts through the other matter at hand.
"Perhaps, on the other hand, though we have dwarven allies we could possibly negotiate the services of to investigate the matter, the Lord of Urgir is not truly interested in recruiting their aid, if he simply prefers gifts to decorate his throne instead."
The better part of her knows she still should have kept her mouth shut. The indignant part has yet to care.
Valeska listened as her group reacts.
Then, she delivers a simple message, evenly, smoothly.
I do not know who these other foreign visitors were nor what they wished.
I am Valeska Talanova, Countess of Canterwall. And, these are my trusted advisors, fellow rulers if you will.
We have come to offer a path forward, a brighter future and the saving of thousands of live. An alliance, if Urgir were to accept.
We ask for nothing in return save, an attentive ear and an open mind.
If, the Great Chieftain will not hear us, we will take our leave.
She bows her head in deference, rising to her full regal stature as Sasha, wails forlorn, much like a wolf hoping to hear another's distant howl.
Leta listens to all, trying to understand the gravity of the situation. She is much more at home in backrooms with common folk than in thronerooms with kings and such. The bard stands ready to follow Valeska's lead.
"The tremors do not go very far beyond the walls of Urgir. Indeed, if one were to happen now, few of our tribes camped out on the plains around the city would notice. This has made it especially puzzling."
When talk turns to alliance, Ardax retreats so far into his thoughts that he seems to enter a trance.
Finally, he speaks again.
"A word has come up again and again when the Great Chieftain and I meet with our close advisors and commanders. I believe in your language the word would be 'recognition.' Many of our commanders believe in gaining recognition for our strength, recognition that we are more than some disorderly horde. However, the Great Chieftain and I are more concerned with recognition for our right to this land - and this city."
Ardax pauses again. You can almost read on his face that he is weighing how much information to share and how much to hold back for the sake of security.
"We received a strange visitor recently. He arrived alone, an aged human with dark skin. He came before the Flood Truce, appearing within the walls of our city with none of our sentries seeing him approach. Among the things he told us was that the dwarves have it in their heads to attack and claim Urgir. It may have once belonged to them, but no longer. That time has passed.
"We will accept as tribute - or as a token of friendship, if you prefer to look at it that way - recognition of our right to Urgir and recognition as a nation, same as yours or the dwarves'. We are not just rats squatting in an abandoned house. We are a people, we are strong, and this is our land."
Wise and Noble Ardax, the recognition you desire is yours.
The only question becomes in the future and advancement of your people. What will be the bargaining chip... the place or the people?
Perhaps a riddle.
She's pauses.
An agent of the Whispering Tyrant perhaps, your enigmatic guest. Sent to sow the seeds of war.
For only when good and the decent turn upon each other does... Evil win.
Nadiya quietly asks Kain and Bashuk, who have been part of the restoration of Canterwall for longer, if the dark-skinned old man sounds familiar.