Prologue 2: Atolsia (@Misery)
Atolsia decided that humans could be dangerous, as Alistar said. So knowing more about the orcs seemed a good idea. After all, while the dwarves back home could be a bit stuffy, they were also straightforward and honest. She would be able to learn something from the orcs before meeting up with Alistar again.
She started walking back to the orc settlement, good thing that she could see quite well in the middle of the night. They came over that rock… Here were the clear tracks of Alistar… there was the big tree with a funny shape… One hour after that she was lost… Which meant time to settle a small camp and sleep.
It was a good thing that Atolsia had everything she would need in her backpack. A tent, a nice frying pan… that with smoked bacon and some herbs would make a great dinner… a few minutes after that she was by her fire having dinner. She then went to sleep.
It was early in the morning when she woke up. Alistar was making a lot of noise out there, he probably was having breakfast chewing loudly… Atolsia suddenly realized that the noise could not be Alistar… She grabbed her pickaxe and went out of her tent. A very big wolf was eating a big roasted piece of meat…
The young dwarf looked around and saw a tall woman sharpening a sword, she seemed a ranger. A human-orc ranger.
Atolsia pointed at the wolf and asked about him. She had not seen any wolf at the tribe before.
Atolsia remembered the words of Alistar. “Orcs are strong and dangerous in an obvious way…” Well, that was the case. The big wolf and the ranger seemed quite experienced and dangerous.. but they also seemed honest and direct. So she put down her pickaxe and joined the fire asking if they had some spare meat to share.
That surprised Tanna, who laughed and relaxed. They had breakfast together and Atolsia shared her fears about human imperium and the way it seemed to grow and grow. She talked a lot and Tanna mostly listened. Once they finished, they headed to the orc tribe.
Atolsia started to see trees covered by mushrooms and that's how she knew they were close to the settlement. She asked Tanna if those were the addictive mushrooms they eat… Tanna laughed again. Those are the mushrooms we harvest, yes. I am not allowed to answer that kind of questions. Not yet at least.
The orc settlement was well fortified, big wooden walls and towers with archers and many wolves patrolling. She had not seen any wolf before, and orcs did not seem drugged this time. Many of them were training. Where she saw tools, there were scimitars and shields now. It really seemed like a very different place…
As soon as the guards met them, they blew a war horn. Some guards and a Troll came, also wolves. They did not seem happy and discussed loudly with Tanna.
Tanna explained Atolsia that she was going to meet their boss and the chaman too, it was a big… honor. Guards took the dwarf backpack and pickaxe and escort her to a big tent.
Shortly after, the Boss Grisnak and the Shaman Tumrod entered the tent. Tanna and some guards were there too.
The boss Grisnak looked at Atolsia with curiosity and started to talk with the guards in orc. He shortly sent them out of the tent and changed some words with Tanna, who seemed relieved. Suddenly the boss changed to a common language.
He was talking to himself, his eyes were glowing in blue…
The boss flexed his hands with anger. The shaman continued…
The blue glow in the shaman eyes faded and he sat down, apparently tired. Tanna asked Atolsia to tell them all what she feared about humans and so she did. Questions were asked and lunch time came, they shared food and drink until the dwarf had finished answering all their questions.
Tumrod looked less tired now, and thanked Atolsia for the information. This time he talked to her.
What do you want to do?
(@Misery will decide what she wants to do next and I will continue the prologue 2 from that point. Send me a PM please)
Atolsia decided that humans could be dangerous, as Alistar said. So knowing more about the orcs seemed a good idea. After all, while the dwarves back home could be a bit stuffy, they were also straightforward and honest. She would be able to learn something from the orcs before meeting up with Alistar again.
She started walking back to the orc settlement, good thing that she could see quite well in the middle of the night. They came over that rock… Here were the clear tracks of Alistar… there was the big tree with a funny shape… One hour after that she was lost… Which meant time to settle a small camp and sleep.
It was a good thing that Atolsia had everything she would need in her backpack. A tent, a nice frying pan… that with smoked bacon and some herbs would make a great dinner… a few minutes after that she was by her fire having dinner. She then went to sleep.
It was early in the morning when she woke up. Alistar was making a lot of noise out there, he probably was having breakfast chewing loudly… Atolsia suddenly realized that the noise could not be Alistar… She grabbed her pickaxe and went out of her tent. A very big wolf was eating a big roasted piece of meat…
- Good morning dwarf lady! -A voice in her back said-. Your weapon won't be needed, we are friendly. I hope you won't mind that we use your fire to prepare our breakfast.
The young dwarf looked around and saw a tall woman sharpening a sword, she seemed a ranger. A human-orc ranger.
- You announced your presence with that fire of yours. Not that you was in silence before… I was in charge to… escort you back to my tribe in case you decided to return. Alistar was worried that you could get lost. My name is Tanna. And this wolf is Wurzak.
Atolsia pointed at the wolf and asked about him. She had not seen any wolf at the tribe before.
- There are many things you have not seen of our tribe, dwarven stranger. We do not trust that much in dwarves either. Durum dwarves were our enemies years ago, according to our traditions. Why did you decide to come back with us? I thought all dwarves hate orcs.
Atolsia remembered the words of Alistar. “Orcs are strong and dangerous in an obvious way…” Well, that was the case. The big wolf and the ranger seemed quite experienced and dangerous.. but they also seemed honest and direct. So she put down her pickaxe and joined the fire asking if they had some spare meat to share.
That surprised Tanna, who laughed and relaxed. They had breakfast together and Atolsia shared her fears about human imperium and the way it seemed to grow and grow. She talked a lot and Tanna mostly listened. Once they finished, they headed to the orc tribe.
Atolsia started to see trees covered by mushrooms and that's how she knew they were close to the settlement. She asked Tanna if those were the addictive mushrooms they eat… Tanna laughed again. Those are the mushrooms we harvest, yes. I am not allowed to answer that kind of questions. Not yet at least.
The orc settlement was well fortified, big wooden walls and towers with archers and many wolves patrolling. She had not seen any wolf before, and orcs did not seem drugged this time. Many of them were training. Where she saw tools, there were scimitars and shields now. It really seemed like a very different place…
As soon as the guards met them, they blew a war horn. Some guards and a Troll came, also wolves. They did not seem happy and discussed loudly with Tanna.
Tanna explained Atolsia that she was going to meet their boss and the chaman too, it was a big… honor. Guards took the dwarf backpack and pickaxe and escort her to a big tent.
Shortly after, the Boss Grisnak and the Shaman Tumrod entered the tent. Tanna and some guards were there too.
The boss Grisnak looked at Atolsia with curiosity and started to talk with the guards in orc. He shortly sent them out of the tent and changed some words with Tanna, who seemed relieved. Suddenly the boss changed to a common language.
- So you must be the great danger, little dwarf lady. Please excuse my guards, they were ordered not to allow strangers to see… our village as it is now. Tanna should have warned them of your arrival so we could have played our roles properly… apparently she considers you worthy of our trust…
- The girl is a friend of Alistar and Tanna, and comes from Durum dwarf settlement. We are not at war with dwarfs now, but we are in need of allies…
He was talking to himself, his eyes were glowing in blue…
- The great Grisnak has fear that this little dwarf child could tell weak humans what they already know. Our people are not good enough to deceive those pesky humans. Our destiny was decided by them many years ago…
The boss flexed his hands with anger. The shaman continued…
- Don't get angry little Grisnak, lower your head when your ancestors talk you little brat… there is no danger for us in this dwarf, but an opportunity. Humans don't expect her, nor can predict her. Not even her dwarf comrades can understand this girl, that's how special she is. Listen to what she has to say and let her choose…
The blue glow in the shaman eyes faded and he sat down, apparently tired. Tanna asked Atolsia to tell them all what she feared about humans and so she did. Questions were asked and lunch time came, they shared food and drink until the dwarf had finished answering all their questions.
Tumrod looked less tired now, and thanked Atolsia for the information. This time he talked to her.
- Atolsia, you have to choose. Your fears about humans are indeed justified, we can tell you many things about them, and about us. But that information is only shared with friends.
- If you become a friend of this orc tribe we will help and protect you and you will help and protect us. You won't have to obey us, since you won't be a member of our tribe, but you will behave as a friend. A ritual will be done, with blood and magic, that will link our very souls, like my soul is linked with my ancestors.. It will hurt, by the way. And It will disgust your dwarf family to know you became friends with this orc tribe.
- On the other hand you can choose to not become a friend of ours. You will be allowed to stay here until Alistar arrives and you can come back whenever you want, since you are a friend of Tanna. We won't tell you more about humans or us, since that information is just shared with tribal members. And we will ask you not to tell others what you have seen here.
What do you want to do?
(@Misery will decide what she wants to do next and I will continue the prologue 2 from that point. Send me a PM please)
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