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The battle over the priest is happy to stay his blade... for now. Orc's and surrender don't normally go hand in hand, and the complications of delivering them over to local authorities normally resulted in... well, it never went well for the orc. A death by blade was far cleaner. He'd suggest it. He was certainly not going to let it roam free.
The orc shifts so that Elo isn't directly at his back, and looks a little affronted by the question.
"Gral's tribe look for chief. Help right wrongs. Gral do what commander say."
Elo sighs in frustration and turns to the team.
Do any of you speak orc? But, I think he's just a little thick.
He turns back to the orc.
Okay, what did commander say for you to do. What are these "wrongs" to right?
"Big dead man kill lots of tribe. Rest of tribe move south. Help others hurt by Big Dead Man. But others no trust tribe. Turn us away. Then soldiers kill even more of tribe. Commander say big, powerful leader near here. Help us. But can't find."
"I only speak Elven and Common. You question him as best you can, while I take care of the bodies," Bwessara says. After going through their pockets and pouches, she drags the bodies by the feet around to the other side of the boulders. She lays them side by side, with their arms at their sides.
"When you get a chance," she says to Val, "Maybe bless them to prevent anyone raising them as undead. Though if we have time to bury them, I can help dig a hole."
Elo gets visibly agitated at the orc.
But you just attacked us and we have no idea who the "Big Dead Man" is?! If you tell us who that is and how they hurt you, maybe we can help?
"I am not sure we are in a huge hurry. But it might be easier to build a pyre for this many instead of digging a big enough grave." Qrik says as he keeps an eye on Elo and the orc.
"A pyre?" Bwessara repeats. She nods with a smile. "I'll gather wood and start stacking."
"Big, bg dead man. Very fear. Come back, everyone skatter. Even Lastwall." The orc looks confused that you don't know who he's talking about.
Elo stops in place, his irritation quickly shifting to curiosity, then a slight tinge of sympathy.
How long have you been traveling for? The whispering Tyrant appeared and displaced many hundreds of miles to the North. I assure you nobody here is in league with the Big Dead Man. Your vengeance is misplaced.
Bwessara stops her stacking of the wood when she hears Elo mention "vengeance". As a follower of Calistria she knows the call of vengeance well and the danger of pursuing it beyond its proper limit.
"When the pyre is ready," she calls to Elo, "we'll let you know and he can light the fire. That seems appropriate."
Before returning to gathering more wood, she checks the orcs for any personal items that their living companion could take with him.
The orc sighs in frustration. "Not vengence Big Dead man. No Matter. Tribe dead. Friends dead. Vengence dead."
Once someone signals the Pyre is ready, the orc walks over. He bows his head, and speaks some quiet words in Orcish. As the flames leap up, he sheds a tear.
"I am not sure we should let him go. He may attack others, but I am not sure what else we would do with him." Qrik says.
He seems contrite enough after that battle... maybe he'll be okay.
Qrik shrugs and drops the matter.
Elo thinks for a moment and switches gears with the orc.
Okay, so we've covered the Whisp... "Big Dead Man." How about: who else have you encountered or even worked with since you arrived in this area? Noticed any good cults?
He chuckles dryly as he prepares a cigar.
"Commander was looking for powerful leader. Somewhere through field of nightmares and past challenge of five beasts. Not found him though. Not get through nightmares. Then you arrive."
"Wait...what challenge of five beasts?" Qrik says as he wonders what the challenges could be.
"Didn't get to the challenge. Got lost in nightmares."
It takes him a moment, but Elo perks up at this reference and clenches his teeth to secure his cigar. After a moment he continues.
Did you happen to catch the name of this leader? Does "Thida Aubade" ring a bell?
The kobold looks at the orc expectantly, hoping for a positive connection.
The orc thinks for a moment, then shakes his head.
Elo frowns, clearly a little disappointed.
Okay, fair enough. Are you aware where this leader may have been last encountered?
"Field of nightmares was that way" he points back the way they came. "Not far. Few minutes. But we not get through. Maybe you more monsters? Maybe you get through?"
Elos sighs.
More monsters you say. Of course... of course. It couldn't be too easy. What kinds of monsters?
Just then he finishes one cigar and quickly starts another.
"Field is nightmares. Maybe orcs not monsters enough to get through. Maybe men more monsters, can get through?"
The orc seems to think that they couldn't get beyond the field of nightwares because they weren't monstrous enough... He's asking if maybe you are :D
"Oh, I think anyone can be monstrous," Bwessara says to the orc. "Humans, halflings, elves, or any of the inhabitants on Golarion. So, the field of nightmares is that way, where hopefully we pass." She says nodding in the direction.
"You're very steadfast Val, as befits a worshiper of Iomedae."
Elo holds his arms out wide is if to present himself and looks over his own form.
Chuckling, he remarks I suppose I'm monstrous enough!
The orc grunts. "Me go now?"
Elo leans on his staff and eyes the orc suspiciously.
That depends, what do you plan to go do? You have nothing to gain from harassing more by-passers, right?
"Find new tribe, If can. Maybe head to Belken. Lot of orcs there. Find work."
Qrik waves goodbye to the orc. "Watch out in Belken. Try and avoid ambushing people in the future. It can go super bad for you!"
If half of what I've heard, Belkzen is a savage, unforgiven place. However, I suspect you'll hold your own there. Very well, farewell!
He nods respectfully at the orc.
"Indeed, farewell," Bwessara adds, offering to shake hands with the orc. "Please accept this as payment for information." She holds out three gold coins.
The Orc accepts the cash with a nod.
Elo suggests to the group that they make for the Field of Nightmares, as pointed out by the orc.
Qrik gathers his stuff and prepares to follow along. As they start the trek he mutters to the others, "The Field of Nightmares...who names these places."
As you ponder Qrik's question, Bwessara has a sudden insight.
The kobold interrogated in Thida’s notes said that "only those blessed with three-eyed sight can pass safely" through this field of nightmares.
Bwessara also remembers that Lamashtu (the mother of monsters) and her unholy symbol are depicted with three eyes. Maybe attempting to emulate that would help?
Elo gets an embarrassed look at what they have to do.
You've got to be kidding me... he mutters.
Okay, who's my three-eyed-beast-buddy?
He closes one eye and offers an elbow.
Bwessara puts the rest of her newly gained coin into her money pouch. Sighing she shakes her head then looks into the distance where the orc went. "You know, I gave him too much. When will I learn?"
After hearing Elo's question, she looks at Qrik. "It'd be easier with someone similar in height, right? Though I was thinking maybe painting the symbol on my shield...hmmm if I had paint." The elf is quiet for a moment.
"Oh maybe some alchemical reagents can make an ink or paint?"
Elo feels around in his belt-pouch.
Hmm... maybe so.
"If we want to go together, I can close one of my eyes." Qrik offers.