Adriena responds, "I was thinking that we four would go into the camp and get the leader's attention first. That way he won't be immediately available to stop any in-fighting and we will be right there to ..uhm.. do him in. Also, it will get most (hopefully) of the orcs' attention away from the prisoners to let Aan do his thing. So let's go in with a story about trouble on the front lines and let our thieves do their thing."

Gregory says, "Okay. Let's go with Adriena's order of events."

Aanparon objects, "I just want it on record that I think this is a bad idea. I can't see any good coming of the four of you walking in on a circle of 20 orcs. I don't see how the humans will be any help weaponless as they are. They'll be lucky to take out more than five, leaving 15 for the rest of us. I say let Garth do his bit for awhile. If he can't provoke much fighting because of the leader, than start taunting the leader. Grab an orc arm wielding a weapon and rap the leader with it. Doesn't have to do damage, just get his attention. He'll get pissed and fight back. Either someone will take him out, or he'll take some of them out. Either way helps us. Once their numbers are reduced we can think about battle. And what if our battle attracts more attention? This said, I will bow to the will of the group."

Adriena says, "Aan has a good point, I think. _I_ am certainly not looking forward to facing any orc, let alone 20. UUgh ! At this rate the captives will all be roasted!!" Adriena lets out a big sigh and then continues, "Let's see what Garth can do. No doubt we will have to fight some of them, but the fewer the better. It may be that a common enemy will strengthen their resolve, so the less they have to deal with us the longer they will fight each other! Come on Garth, get going so we can be rid of this ordeal and be on with our mission. Remember, these people aren't the only one's being tortured. That man we are after is, too, and he holds the key to Honshar's salvation...or its doom."

Gregory responds, "I think we should go with Aan's idea. Let's let Garth loose on the Orcs for a few minutes before we enter the camp. Once they start fighting Aan can begin freeing the prisoners and we can give them a little time to kill each other before we enter the camp. We will have to see how things are going before we decide if we are going to charge to the attack or pretend to be friendly in order to get close."

Adriena lets out a long breath..."Well, Ganthanor. It's up to you, now. Can you stay your sword long enough to give orc nature a chance to take place?

Ganthanor responds, "I'll go along with that. I'll sit back and let them kill themselves first, my point earlier is that I'm not going to walk away from helping those people. I don't have a death wish," he finishes with a grin.

Garth sits listening to the group decide on what type of plan of action they are going to use and then once it has been finalized, nods to the group before realizing that they can not see him and then says, "Okay, I'm off".

Aanparon, using the cover of the wall, moves to the north side of the wall and prepares his picks trying to decide which would be the best to use.

The rest of the group heads the opposite direction around the wall (east) and then sit down to wait for the commotion.

The wait is not long. From near the campfire comes the sounds of angry orc voices. Garth moves around slowly and quietly, pinching a buttock here, poking a dagger into a back there. The results are a group of heated orcs looking at each other and a few coming to blows due to old animosities.

Aanparon stays in the shadows and slips around the wall and moves to the first captive, a human female. Aanparon readies his picks and looks at the manacles. His hopes are dashed when he sees that the manacles are bent around the human's wrist by brute force and that the manacles are attached to a long chain that runs the length of the prisoner line by brute strength as well. Aanparon realizes that there is no way that he can release the prisoners.

About this time is when the female, turning slightly sees Aanparon holding some sort of small metal devices in his hands and standing in the shadows behind her, begins screaming. Her screams alert the guard that is intently watching the prisoners. His eyes focus on Aanparon and he draws steel yelling, "RAIDERS!".

At the same time a shorter orc near the fire (the one who has been pushing the woman who is strung up) notices the infighting amongst the orcs and yells, "ATTENTION!" The orcs quickly stop fighting and hear the guard's cry. All of the orcs heft their weapons and look over at the prisoners.

Ganthanor looks to his comrades in alarm, "We can either fake our way in saying we're just traveling through or we can fight hoping that orc vs. orc we can end up defeating them. Geez, we're in trouble. Either way, Aan needs our help now."

Adriena lays a restraining hand on Ganthanor's arm and say's , "Stay your hand but a moment longer, We'll fake our way in and survey the situation from inside. Follow my lead. Malis, come next to me - can you speak orcish? I honestly cannot remember. Ganthanor go in front of me until we face the leader, then stand aside. I will talk with him. Gregory, Mails, keep your eyes on our backs. We are going to be dealing with orcs for a while, so we had better see how we can manage it now - before we get into a city full of these.... inhumans!"

Malis says, "Adriena if a orc speaks to me tell them that I took a vow to not speak to any one but a priestess. May the gods be with us."

Adriena nods enthusiastically as she says, "Yes. That's much better...and you can say a prayer for me while your at it!"

Adriena leads the party into the orchard yelling, "Put up your steel. Do not lay a hand on the servant of a Priestess of He Who Never Sleeps, lest curses fall upon you!!"

The orcs see the party coming into the orchard and, as Aanparon notes, the orc that earlier yelled 'Attention' motions to a few of the orcs. At his signal, half of the orcs move away from the other half, all of which still have their weapons drawn but do not look as if they are going to attack. One lone orc, dressed in chainmail and carrying a hand axe, at a rest position, slowly walks towards the party.

Adriena begins, "I am Ithmuck, Eater of Eyes and I bear" when she is cut short by the chainmail wearing orc, "I am Haratai, Priest of the Fire Circle," Adriena realizes that 'Fire Circle' denotes Haratai's position within the orc Priesthood but she does not know at what level it is. Haratai could be a high priest or a lowly acolyte..

Haratai continues, "What are you fledglings doing here? Is that [indicating Aanparon] one of your number," he asks and finishes by addressing Malis, "You, what is your name and ranking?"

Adriena puts her hands out , palms up and spread, and says, "Forgive the intrusion, Mighty Haratai, Priest of the Fire Circle. This one (she makes a dismissing gesture at Malis) is forbidden to speak until the moon passes another phase. Such is her punishment for wrongful council. These others and that one (indicating Aan) are also commanded not to speak to anyone, other than myself - such is the secrecy of our mission! I, Ithmuck, humbly request permission to pass by and continue on our journey. We have far to go and time is short."

Haratai rests his hand axe against his shoulder and looking over both Adriena and Malis with an appraising, and somewhat lewd eye, says to Adriena, "What is your rank and circle? What is her name, rank and circle?"

Garth, Aanparon and Gregory notice that the other orcs, all twenty, are still moving forward with weapons drawn, 10 to each side of Haratai. The orcs are in a formation that if they continue moving forward they will form a crude "V" with Haratai where the two lines connect. The orc that yelled 'attention' is following behind the two lines of orcs

Adriena raises an eyebrow at Haratai and says, "Enough Questions! I have said too much already. I am a powerful priestess on a very important mission and you are wasting my time....I warn you now! I have been given the power over a mighty spirit of an ancient assassin!" At this point she raises her arms abruptly for dramatic flair and continues, "He can strike at any moment I choose. Do not anger me Haratai, Priest of the Fire Circle. I showed you respect only because I do not wish to waste my energy with those of my kind. Save your hostilities for the retched humans!"

During Adriena's speech Haratai's hand tightens on the handle of his axe and for a brief second his eyes tighten in concentration, afterwards an evil knowing smile comes to his face. By the time that Adriena is finished with her words and gestures, her arms raised to the sky Haratai is openingly laughing.

Malis seems momentarily confused at the orc's behavior but then moves forward with a scowl on her face, her arms in front of her, towards Haratai. After her second step Haratai points a finger at her, while he is laughing, and Malis' body stiffens in midstep. Malis' momentum keeps her going as she falls forward face first to the ground, her outstretched arms and clenched fists hitting the ground and breaking her fall. You all look on Malis with wonder since she is still in the same position that she was in when she stiffened.

Haratai then stops laughing and says without turning, "Red Tusk, this striplings 'spirit' is currently ten paces behind you masked by a spell of unseeing." The orc that earlier yelled "attention" quickly spins around his eyes darting left and right.

Haratai then addresses Adriena again, "Girl, that was very amusing, I haven't laughed like that in ages. It is obvious you are deserters, no matter, I am sure that Red Tusk could use a few new guards. You," he says indicating Adriena, "Come with me, your frozen friend can join us when she thaws. The rest of you, including your little hidden friend, report to Red Tusk"

With that Haratai turns and begins walking over to the large wagons away from the slave line.

Meanwhile, Garth immediately freezes and breaks into a cold sweat upon hearing Haratia's initial words. He feels like he is standing naked in the town square during the midyear festival. His sharp eyes move back and forth searching for the impending doom he now feels.

Not wishing to be grabbed by Red Tusk, Garth moves to one side while he prepares to defend himself against any attacks. A feeling deep in his gut tells him that he should take this opportunity to flee, thus giving the Party some sort of future hope of rescue. He wishes he was better at remaining calm under pressure, but right now he can't help but panic. With his available hand he is surely rubbing his lips, silently cursing his continual bad luck. . . . Not that anyone but Haratia would notice . . . . . Garth quickly looks over to see Haratia leaning against one of the wagons, seemingly unaware of Garth's presence.

Adriena speaks, "Deserters?! You are close, Haratai...." Her voice trails off as she realizes that Haratai has walked away from her and is no longer listening. Adriena then a bit worried that she was not able to give her cover story in its entirety turns to her companions and the worry is evident on her face. She motions Gregory and Ganthanor to Red Tusk and an angry glare comes to her eyes. She pats her side once where her dagger lies, she calls to Aan , "Ledzarpan, come help my sister," motioning him to help her lift Malis.

Aanparon hesitantly at first but then with more confidence walks over to where the rest of the party stands. By this time Haratai is leaning against one of the wagons and looks back toward the party, seeing that they are still milling about Haratai turns a light shade of red and explodes, "I said come here _now_ child! Leave the stupid one!" he says to Adriena and then focuses his attention on Aanparon, "If you disobey my orders again I will cast a curse upon you which will rot you from the inside out. MOVE!"

Gregory and Ganthanor see Adriena's motion and with a little apprehension start walking over to where Red Tusk (the orc who yelled, "Attention") sits with the rest of the orcs, except for the orc on prison guard, continuing his game of swinging the female over the fire and close to the lizard's teeth, laughter quickly emerges from the group of orcs.

Adriena shuffles over to where Haratai is standing, her head held as high as she can without standing up straight in order to hide the fact that she is carrying her spellbook underneath her robes. She mentally recalls the incantations for her shield spell, and it gives her some inner resolve. "You wish to speak with me, Master Haratai?"

Haratai says, "Yes. You and the other priestess will camp with me. You will perform what duties I require. If any of the other orcs paw at you or try to take you to their bedrolls you have my permission to kill them. For now, go gather up the foolish priestess, she will be able to move shortly, and set up your bedrolls over by mine," he says vaguely pointing over to where a lone bedroll lies, "You are dismissed until I have need."

Haratai then climbs onto the wagon and sits, his hand axe on his lap, watching the camp site with calculating eyes.

Gregory walks over to Red Tusk and stands before him on one side of the fire. He doesn't show any sign of submission, but also is careful not to have his hands near his weapons. Gregory thinks to himself, "I will not be his whipping boy, but I will not try to start a fight either."

Aanparon stops walking towards Malis and instead turns and heads towards Red Tusk, muttering under his breath in Orcish, "Led, go over here, Led go over there. Anyone else want to order me around?" No one seems to hear or pay attention to Aanparon as they are more focused on the tormenting of the female. Aanparon stops when he reaches Gregory.

Ganthanor moves over with Gregory as well and watches as the other orcs laugh and taunt the helpless female.

After several minutes, Red Tusk seems to become aware of the trio standing across the fire from him and says, "You will be assigned as cooks. You will also feed those scum over there," he says indicating the chained slaves, "Those scum are destined for the iron mines at Krimba-Hai. The food supplies are over there, get dinner ready." Red Tusk then returns to his fun game of swinging the manacled woman over the fire.

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