Gregory takes a look around the room and sees the contemplation on everyone's face. He takes a deep breath and stands up. "My lady....I for one would be delighted to retrieve your lost possessions for you. Even if it were only to see this..." there is a pause as he looks around the group, "...plethora of individuals live together on a daily basis. My name is Gregory Homlock, and I am yours to command." He takes a deep bow and then looks around the room with a stern sincere face and says, "I am now a friend to all of you who will accompany me on this journey. May we all be blessed for the roads ahead." He sits down with his arms crossed but does not relax his body or the look on his face. His gaze travels all around the room, waiting for the next to answer.

Lady Otasura smiles and her eyes seem to twinkle as she says, "I thought that you would be the first Gregory. You are free to keep anything that you...find...while retrieving the Lord Herpein and the Ca'ega. Additionally _you_ upon successful completion will receive a pardon for certain...activities...that you have undertaken while in HonShar," her smile becomes even more pronounced when Gregory's eyes go wide, "I may be old but I still have the pulse of the city," she concludes. She then waits to see what the rest have to say or ask.

After a moment, the Lady reaches into a belt pouch and pulls out a pair of spectacles and puts them on. She then looks at Gregory again and then chuckles out loud, "Forgive me Gregory, my eyesight is not what it used to be."

She then looks around the group again as her eyes fix on Garth she says with another chuckle, "I meant to say that _you_ would receive the pardon.."

Garth sits quietly as through the speeches of the Lady and Gregory. He seems troubled at the prospect of facing orcs but his mood brightens at the mention of "compensation" and at the idea of being able to keep whatever is "found". When the Lady turns to him and mentions a pardon his eyes widen and he visibly pales. "Ah-of course, milady we, we would be more than honored to assist you in your time of need," Garth stammers, "Not, that is, that I would be in need of any sort of..." he practically squeaks out the last word, "...pardon?"

The Lady re-adjusts her spectacles and then with a knowing grin says, "But of course you would not need a pardon, you were never near Lord Devlil's town house two ten-days ago, you never "found" a few choice silver works, you never fenced this items with one Jasper Lundren; of course you do not need a pardon."

Her knowing grin gets larger as with each sentence Garth's eyes get wider.

Aan surveys the group and scowls. "I work alone. Why should I need a group to help me this time? An individual is less likely to be detected than a troop. I don't like it. Then again, I knew I wouldn't."

Aan pauses, then speaks again, with less edge in his voice, "I apologize if I've offended anyone. I'm sure you all have your talents, it's just that I prefer to be alone most of the time, and now is no different."

The Lady looks at Aanparon and the beginnings of a frown come across her once smiling face. "I am quite aware that you are used to working alone. However, it has been decided by forces beyond you that for this mission to succeed you will need stealth, magic and strength. All of which will be provided by the people here in this room."

Aan replies, resigned and without the edge, "I'm sorry, milady. I did not mean to anger you. I will do as you ask. Just please don't frown upon me again. Your smile is much more becoming." He pauses, then mutters under his breath, "I wish I could retire..."

The Lady stares at Aanparon for a moment before nodding her head and turning back to the group.

Ganthanor bows to Lady Otasura then moves to one knee before her. "M' Lady, my sword, my honor and my life are yours to command. The orcs' infestation and kidnapping will be dealt with quickly M' lady." Ganthanor moves back to his seat and looks up towards the Lady in admiration.

Otasura's smile returns as she bows her head in acknowledgment of Ganthanor's oath and ceremony, "I never doubted your selfless service for a moment. Your reputation precedes you."

Malis leaned back in her chair and frowned at Otasura's "promises". Malis cut in, "Otasura, you don't expect us to come back, do you? No offense my lady, but giving away pardons and riches sounds too good to be true. This HAS to be a suicide mission. After all, what do you except US to do? Sneak in Krimba-Hai, kill the 7,000,000 orcs that are guarding Lord Herepin, grab him, and then POLITELY ask for the Ca'ega on the way out? I DON'T THINK SO!!! There is no way we can sneak into an orc stronghold while looking like humans. But... maybe if we had magic that would make us look like orcs...."

The Lady's eyes seem to light with an inner red fire as her voice becomes very low, "Of course, young lady, you do not think. That is why you are in your current predicament. Your mission is to rescue Lord Herpein, Krimba-Hai is city like any other, you will not have to combat the entire city to free him. The recovery of the Ca'ega is only if you are able to without compromising your main priority. Your team has been selected for strength and stealth. You all will be provided with a disguise that will fool even the greatest of Orc mages."

Adriena sits quietly, watching with great interest as the people around her either submit willingly or try to come up with reasons not to go - only to be herded back toward a willing submission. After glancing at the cleric, she speaks shyly to the Lady, "I am flattered that you have chosen me to be the one to lend my magic talents. The rest of you should know that my spell book consists of a great many blank pages, but the powers I do posses are at your disposal. To let you all know, those powers consist of spells enabling me to understand many languages, protect from dangerous falls, identify various magical items, shield myself from weapons, put people-or Orcs-to sleep, read and detect magics...oh, and shock with my hands, but I have not had to cause anyone harm before. Well, maybe once, but I don't like to speak of it." Her eyes dim for a brief moment, but quickly regain their luster.

Lady Otasura looks kindly upon the fledgling mage and says, "Upon your return and completion of the mission you will be given free access to my library to supplement your lacking knowledge." Adriena's face is filled with wonder at the thought of acquiring the knowledge held within the countless tomes that, surly, this woman must posses. "I will be sure to return alive, then, my Lady. You can count on me!" With that, she rises and crosses the room to run her fingers across the books on the shelves.

Turning to Lady Otasura, she asks, "Do any of these books contain information that may help us in our mission? Maps, maybe. Or tales of the city. There are so many things I do not know about Orcs, despite the studies I did in school. Or perhaps one of you may know enough to see us through? Ganthanor, Gregory? Or you, Aanparon, if you would share such knowledge with us?"

As Adriena's fingers come near the books, she finds that she can not touch them, there is some...force...that prevents her fingers from coming closer than a few inches from the lore-laidened tomes.

Otasura smiles when she sees Adriena's difficulties and explains, "A simple preservation spell. It keeps the books perfectly preserved so that time does not destroy them. A spell that I am glad that I learned many years ago."

Otasura pauses then continues, "Most of you are already familiar with the area but you all will be allowed to study a regional map before you leave. However, you will not be able to take this map with you. Your companions should be able to explain the workings of orcs to you so that you have a general idea how to act. Any further questions? I intend to teleport you behind enemy lines as soon as we have finished this discussion and you have been disguised and outfitted. Time is of the essence."

At this news, Adriena perks up. " My Lady, I understand the need for haste. Poor Lord Herpein must be suffering terribly at the Orc's hands, but if I can be given a little time with the map I can make a decent copy. It is what I did to work my way through college." She pulls a sack around from the back of her belt and, with a suspicious glance at Garth, pulls out a scroll case and a small box.

"If I can get started right away, little time will be lost." She looks very eager to be doing something she is sure of. Confidence is evident in her face.

The Lady shakes her head slightly and then clarifies, "No, you will most pointedly not carry a copy of such a map; for security reasons I can not permit it. The only alternative is for you all to look at the map now and try to memorize it as best as you can. Additionally, I would suggest that you find some way of hiding your own spellbook." "oh", Adriena's shoulders slump slightly and she puts her things away. "I guess I will have to see what you have in mind for disguises before I come up with a way to hide my belongings. If you plan on making us into the likeness of Orcs and other humanoid races, will we keep the same ... sex..? I can make myself look ....'pregnant', and hide my things in my sacks there ... I suppose. What about you others? I dare say we can't have a warrior along without a sword and his armour. Ooooh, this just gets more complicated." Adriena takes her seat again, looking for all the world like a little lost sheep.

"Well", Lady Otasura says, "We had best be getting on with it. Perhaps after the disguises you all will have a better understanding.."

She directs each of you to stand and to close your eyes. She patiently waits for you all to comply. After you all stand and close your eyes, she stands as well. Garth firmly closes his eyes after Lady Otasura frowns at him for trying to 'sneak a peek'. One by one you each feel a jolt passing through your bodies like you have never felt before.

Malis thinks that the sensation is vaguely familiar but can not place it. She gasps quietly as she feels her plate armour hanging down on her as if she had somehow shrunk. Everyone else wonders why after the jolt it feels like their clothes and armour are all ill-fitting.

"I want you all to take a deep breath and then open your eyes," The Lady says. Each of you take a lungful of air and open your eyes to see an unchanged room, except for the five orcs in the place of your new companions. Quickly you look down at yourself and raise a hand to touch tusks. Dismayed and confused a wave of terror overcomes you all.

"Now, now... Just relax, I said that you would have the best disguises didn't I? Well, for all practical purposes, you are all now orcs." The Lady flicks her hand in a weird gesture and seconds later you all look towards the open door where the old man stands, "Yes MiLady?"

She directs to the group, "I have provided orcish armour and weapons for you all, it is unfeasible for you to use your own weapons because they will draw too much attention to you due to their obvious human manufacturing. Those of you who wish it, will be provided with standard orcish armour as well. However, chainmail is the best armour that will be provided. Additionally, it would be wise for you Adriena and you Malis to wear black robes over anything that you wear. This will mark you as priestess and might help you considerably when you meet up with other orcs."

She pauses and then takes in the rest of the group, "Everyone else will wear dull green and brown colors. These are not specific clan colors so all who see you will think that you are of a low social status. But it is better to be of a low status than to try to impersonate a clan member. Take them to be re-outfitted," She directs the last to the old man.

"If you would all follow me," the man says as he turns and begins to walk away at a brisk pace. You all hurry to catch up to him, some of you almost tripping over your baggy clothes. He directs you to a room that is filled with various clothes, arms, and armour, all of distinctive orcish fashion. He shoo's each of you into a separate small dressing room, where you take off your armour/clothing and place them in a chest provided for such a reason. You additionally leave your weapons in the chest and redress in the orc clothing that is in your room.

Slowly as if still in a daze from the transformation you all filter back into the main room. The old man waits by the door, his foot tapping impatiently. As you wander through the room looking for suitable weapons and armour you seem to come out of the shock of the transformation as the knowledge of what has just happened to you comes crashing down upon you.

Back to Trouble in Honhar