Saturday, February 2, 2019

This New Game

So Adver and this tribe of orcs are besties? And Hunter already knew Dorge's name. Well, that's great.
Dorge squeezes his wounded hand into a fist and focuses on the pain, becomes grounded in it. When he opens his eyes again he takes the box from his lap and sets it on the ground beside him, along with the mead. What is this new game Adver is playing?
Hunter sets his mug down, too, and appraises Dorge, "That let's us know you," nodding to the box. "What is that?"
Dorge shakes his head, "Where is Adver?"
Hunter grunts a half laugh, "Not here. We were looking for him. We find you. You tell us where Adver is."
Dorge leans forward, "What do you mean you were looking for him? Why?"
Hunter shrugs, "He took something from us."
Dorge sighs, "Yeah. Me, too. But you know his name. You exchanged names?  So aren't you friends?"
Hunter frowns, "'Exchanged'? Oh the Naming, you mean. Adver takes something from all friends?"
"Only if he really, really likes you," Dorge mutters.
The circle of orcs surrounding them begins to slowly disband, the stranger having exhausted their interest. They may have been looking for a stronger reaction from the box, and it might come, but now here. So, did Hunter think they now had something Adver might want in exchange for whatever he took from them? That's probably the case but Dorge wasn't going to test that theory out yet. It was probably their super special bowl or favorite stick from the looks of the place, but that was unkind. Dorge was letting the mead do his thinking for him. It was clear he was going to be spending the night here, which was better than another night in the forest, so there's that. He didn't think that lone Paladin would come anywhere near this place, nor any guards from Banda Cate, but stranger things have happened. Then again, if Rolan D'so did show up it'd add a little weight to his story and show he wasn't in cahoots with Adver to rob this village blind of their...whatever.
Dorge tries to stand but can't manage it yet and lands squarely with a thud. Hunter grins and stands himself, reaching a hand down to Dorge, deftly helping him up, "You should walk."
Dorge nods and rolls his neck back and forth, "That's not a bad idea."
Some of the younger orcs try to follow them as they set out but Hunter shoos them off, as they walk among the huts and bigger structures.
"Did you find Adver like you found me, or did he come here?"
"Adver came here. He called in Orcish, very good. He traditions very good."
"'Traditions'?"
Hunter nods and draws a circle in the air, "He knew our ways."
"Your customs."
"Our customs!"
"Is that odd? Strange he knew?"
Hunter smiles wryly, his eyes partly hidden in his tangle of black hair, "Very strange."
Dorge tightens the bandage on his hand absentmindedly and continues to walk. Here was a woman carrying a basket of eggs, there was a group of men playing a game of tiles on a tree stump. All pretty ordinary except the pale plum hue to their skin. "How did Adver know I would come here?"
Hunter shrugs, "He is other. Shaman didn't like him, didn't want him. But chief gave shelter, thought he was," struggles, twirls his fingers in his eyes, "could see?"
Dorge nods, "Yeah. There's a lot of people that think that." Including me, from time to time, Dorge thinks.
They continue to walk, Dorge's head clearing slowly. The orcs that have not yet seen him taking a long, curious look. One woman makes a gesture and spits on the ground and Dorge wonders is she tradition-ed Adver the same way. Finally he stops and turns to Hunter.
"Can I leave?" he asks, plainly.
Hunter's smile becomes a grim line but he nods, "Yes."
Dorge blinks, "Just like that? Now?"
"Yes, but you should sleep soon. You should sleep here. You're in drink."
Dorge nods, "I will. Thank you. I'm sorry, I-"
Hunter stops him, "Right to ask. We have not Named." and begins to turn back, presumably toward where Dorge will sleep tonight. Then stops again and hesitates, but then, "You can leave. But we must keep the relics. We found them, too. Under the white mushroom, like you said."
"But why-"
Hunter shakes his head, "You can have them after you bring Adver. Or what he took. We don't want them here. Dangerous."
Dorge shakes his head to clear it, the relics had been here this whole time. And now he has another side quest to get them back. This is terrific. His breath whistles out between his lips, "Fine. What did Adver take, anyways."
"The chief's stabber, big," Hunter says, expanding his arms to demonstrate the length of the sword, presumably, "had words in Common on the blade."
"Why would an Orcish 'stabber' have Common written on it?"
Hunter furrows his brow, "Not Orcish. Adver gave it to us, as traditions. As customs. He had that and your box. Said you would be here soon. Then," Hunter spreads his palms wide, "he just gone. With the stabber."
Dorge's next words come out measured and thick, "What were the words on the blade?"
Hunter shrugs, quizzical, "Day Ruiner."
Goddamn you, Adver.

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