Barak replies to Adriena's comment about still wanting to be friends, speaking in the same langauges as the others be it common or orcish "of course I still want to be friends you may be human but you are still the nicest people I have met you offered me friendship when you didnt even know me, I will help you any way you can." in response to Aan's comment about trust, "That's ok friend Aan I trust neither my orcish brethren for their brutality nor my human for their fear and coldness, so it apears we already agree upon something" Barak eagerly leads Ganth and Adriena to the Inn where the others are staying.

Adriena suggest the group finds a secluded corner of the inn so they can talk without being over-heard. Once a suitable place is found she says to Barak, "Now that you know who and what we are, could you fill us in on some of the Orcish traditions and ways of life? I noticed when Garth and Kira entered our tavern that Kira was walking a certain distance behind him, like so many other women. Are women looked down upon so badly that they cannot walk beside their men? If so, why would Number one hold such a high position in her Circle? Or even me, for that matter. I don't think I had a high position, mind you, but I was placed in a position to move up, I think. What can you tell us?"

Ganthanor remains quiet, waiting for Barak's comments.

Barak replies, "In Orcish society females are considered breeding stock, subservient to males. The stronger the male the better his choices are," Barak pauses for a minute, then with a look that betrays a little fear he continues, "Priestess are treated as priests, they are to be feared and respected," then with a small chuckle he adds,"Though perhaps with a bit more fear than respect."

Adriena nods as Barak speaks, indicating that he has confirmed her suspicions. She asks, "Have you ever encountered members of the Circles? How many are there and what are thier levels of power within the Orcish society?"

Barak replies "I don't know about the circles, they must be priestly thingies. I only know not to anger the priests."

Adriena purses her lips. "Hum, oh, well. Just thought I'd ask. I wonder what's keeping the others. We are on time aren't we? I hope they didn't run into trouble."

Ganthanor replies, "You know, we really don't need to wait on them. Perhaps we three will be enough this time to do in the Orcs there." Ganth doesn't look sure but right now he's willing to do anything to get off the street and back home, "We need to consider that they may have been captured and/or Haratai has returned home. Lot's of things could go wrong for us here."

Adriena reacts to Ganthanor's insecurity by holding his hand; her grip is firm and her eyes are soft, "Let's wait just a little while longer, and we can talk about what we might do to get into the Keep." She turns to Barak, "Have you ever been to the Keep? How accessible are it's halls, do you know?"

Barak says, "I would prefer to wait for the others...I have been alone most of my life and as such have not been able to fight back for the most part. I believe that there is great security in numbers. As for the hall I know nothing as I have never been inside not of the orcish nobility or even a full blood the only way I would get in there would be as slave and I wont got through that." (the last is spoken with vehemenance)

Barak also says, "I believe thought that the Keep is the Head Quarters of the Army though.. so if we go Ganth and i will have to be careful not to get drafted... our size will make us sure targets."

Adriena frowns a bit, "That does pose a problem, always has. We'll think of something - "

As everyone is talking, Kira comes bursting into the inn and makes a bee-line straight for the upstairs room, not speaking to anyone.

Adriena springs from her chair, half in fright and half on instinct, "What's happened? Where's Aan?"

Gan just waits the conversation out. He's a little confused right now anyway. He does manage to interject, "What's going on?!"

Adriena looks worried as Kira wizzes by without saying anything and she falls in step behind her. The mage looks back at her two friends and motions with her head that they should come, too. Once everyone is in the room Adriena asks again, "Is everything ok? Where is Aan?" She speaks in Common since it appeared earlier that the girl didn't understand Orcish.

Barak is quick to follow Adriena... he easily follows any exchanges made in common and appears worried about the missing members of the group. Once Ganth is in the room Barak bars the door and stands near it to listen for people in the hallway.

Kira looked over at Adriena and huffed, "He's back ovuh at the house, engaging in a little breakin' an' enterin'." Kira spoke with a significant accent, marking her as a native of a country to the of HonShar. She looked seriously peeved. "Ah really, really dislike ohcs. Ah thought the men in HonShuh were annoying, but, oh!" She stomped her foot in frustration, and flipped hair that didn't really exist on her orc body. Kira seemed really... blonde. "Anyway, Aan told me t' come back ovuh he-uh and wait for him. Had Ah known what to expect on my way back, Ah'd've stayed."

Adriena looks at Ganthanor, obviously concerned. She says to Kira, "That place is too dangerous for one person to conquer. We had best return and find him." Adriena asks, "Does anyone disagree?"

Kira shrugs and says, "Ah'm pretty sure a buncha folks a'runnin' around would defeat the purpose of his sneakin' in. Puh-haps we could set a watch nee-uh the place and keep an eye out fo' trouble?"

Ganthanor makes eye contact with Adriena and winks flirtatiously. He even bats his eyebrows at her similarly.

Adriena pries her eyes off of Ganthanor in order to answer Kira directly, "Yes, you make much more sense. I'm afraid I don't have much of a mind for tactics. Aan says, however, that you are a warrior? I don't know how much Aan has told you about us, but you should know we've had a very rough time of it, so far, "I am a mage, but the she-orc that runs that house, she and her big brutes, stole my Spellbook and beat Gan up real bad. I have a few spells at my disposal, though. Ganthanor, here, is.. or was, a noble knight back home. Barak has just recently become our friend. The Lady did not send him, he is a native. We have told him who we are and what we are about, and wants to join our cause. Ganth and I have pledged our friendship to him and he to us. Our priestess companion is in that house, impregnated by their High Priest and held captive by Number One, the she-orc. We donot know what condition Malis is in; she was well along into her pregnancy after only five days or so. I don't like that at all. I do know that Aan has placed himself in a very dangerous position and may very well get himself killed. We had better hurry."

Barak listens intently to there story "We should at least be near the keep in case something happens to your friend Aan... maybe this time with three warriors we will have better luck... not to discount your magical abilities Adriena,, even though you have admitted there limitations...if we do go into the keep our first course should be to find Aan and your spell book then find Malis and do what ever else you have to do there...the more able people we have the better."

Kira shrugged again and said, "Ah'm a pretty fay-uh shot with mah bow, but no, Ah'm no great war-yuh. Ah was," she continued, her expression one of annoyance, "abducted off the streets by a most unpleasant elderly gentleman and ev-uh so politely forced into the suh-vice of HonShuh. Ah'm not even from HonShuh," she added petulantly. "And this making me look like an o'c, well, this is just about the wo'st experience of mah life. Ah want mah own body back, dammit!"

Kira huffed and looked away for a moment to regain her composure. "Ah knew," she muttered quietly to herself, "Ah should've taken that off-uh to work as a guard at the seminary, but no, Ah wanted to 'prove' my wo'th to Ah'temis, so now Ah'm trapped in a nasty o'c body in an even nasti-uh o'c city. Mah, mah, how clev-uh." She sighed in resignation and prepared to leave to check on Aan.

Barak listens intently to Kira's soliloquey obvious having a hard time puzzling through her accent... after a while he just shakes his head and growls softy ... "if we are going to the keep to check on Aan we should go soon" Barak quickly checks his weapons and then waits queitly still listening for sounds in the hall.

Adriena steps a little closer to Kira to hear what she is muttering. She lays a hand on the girl's shoulder and says, "I see. Well, you'll be happy to know that most of us are inexperience in these matters, so you are not alone in many respects," Adriena continues with more confidence in her voice, "But, we are more than we were and I've a feeling we will make it through this. Come, gather up your bow and let us find Aan." The mage returns to Ganthanor's side and picks up her backpack containing her few possesions. Reaching for his hand..

Gan indicates Adriena should get behind him as they walk, "Wouldn't want to 'arouse' any suspicions now, eh? As my woman, your place is behind me." Gan steps out in front of her and heads off to find Aan.

Adriena taps Ganthanor playfully on the nose, "Right you are, my brave Ganthanor. Kira and I will take up the rear, ' She falls in step behind the men. Once they are out on the street, Adriena talks softly with Kira, "You said you aren't from Honshar, and it's plain to see by your accent, but tell me, where are you from? Have you ever dealt with Orcs before?"

Kira names a country to the south of HonShar. "No, Ah caint say Ah've ev-uh had the... pleasure of meeting o'cs befo'."

The four make their way out of the Inn and into the streets. Ganthanor is slightly disorientated. He knows how to get to Haratai's house, but only if they return to the front gate so he can get his barings.

Over riding all that will be the party's need to stay concealed as much as possible from the military recruiters. Therefore, Gan stays sharp and keeps the party safely moving, listening to directions quietly given by Kira.

The four finally reach the building. There is no sign of Aan. After a few moments the four see an immensely large orc, with sword and shield, come around the corner of the house, continue across and disapppear around the next corner. About 5 minutes later they see the orc coming around the corner again, moving across the building and disappearing around the next corner. A few minutes after that they see Aanparon, looking very tired, come down the street walking towards the building.

Adriena breaths a sigh of relief at the sight of Aan. She turns to Kira, "Ganth and I musn't be seen by that patrol. Would you go out and get Aan, please? We'll fall back a little, just to be safe." She leads Ganth and Barak farther into the alley, trying to be quiet.

Kira smiled and said, "Ah shall be happy to." She walked off, circling around just a bit so that anyone who might see her walk up to Aan would not be able to follow her path back directly to the others.

Barak follows them back into the alley but watches the guard as he makes his rounds. Barak also loosens his sword.

Gan also moved back into the shadows with the others... but he positions himself behind Adriena.... Looking around to make sure the others don't see, Gan slides his hand up from behind Adriena and cups her breast....

Adriena's surprise is expressed by pursed lips and raised eyebrows. She responds in kind, however, by crossing her arms, laying her left hand on Ganthanor's right and hiding them both beneath her right arm. She leans ber back up to Ganthanor and he can feel her shivering slightly, possibly with nervousness or maybe pleasure. She remains quiet.

Encouraged, Ganthanor can barely control himself... Physically, of course, he is unable to restrain himself but mentally his thoughts war with each other. He wants her now and to hell with anyone around him. He pulls her closer to him by pressing his body against hers. Her warmth penetrates his armor and her soft body and her acquiescence only serve to make it harder for him. Anxious moments pass as he contemplates making love to her right here, regardless of the consequences. Inwardly and briefly he chuckles to himself as it occurs to him that she would vocally attract a lot of attention were he to proceed.

He starts to remove his hand but then does not. He almost tells her to move away but then does not. He forces his thoughts to his strict code of honor but finds that he can barely remember them.. Ganthanor thinks to himself, {What?! My code of honor?! I cannot remember!! What is happening to me!?!}

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