Chapter 20: Securing Kulendra!
-----Off into the darkness they ride and Sol finds himself on the same path that the hobgoblin troop had earlier taken toward the distant orc camp. The rain continues to lessen and Sol can smell the wetness of the ground they ride over as well as the smoke that hangs in the air from the bonfires that blazed in the village.
-----As they go, they occasionally meet freed humans, some who walk purposely toward the main village and some who seem to drift in a daze. One of the stronger ones who stands firmly and is silhouetted against the distant burning orc camp greets the two riders by raising an orcish weapon in his hand.
-----“Face me if foe you be!” he yells his challenge to Sol and Lovan.
-----Sol raises his sword in a salute as Thunder slows momentarily to a walk, and bellows his reply, "Foe you are, only if yer a part of Sintor's occupying forces. If yer a local that we've just freed, then join yer people in th' town square." The Gorian pauses a moment, then thinks to ask a question, "Do th' orcs an' hobs still do battle? Are there more of Ku's folk that still linger behind ye?"
-----The man seems stunned for a moment and then lowers his orcish sword. He straightens his shoulders and raises his fist as if returning Sol’s salute.
-----Nodding, the man answers in a strong voice, “Aye, there is still battle there, though the hobgoblins seem to have the better of it. Many of us fell upon the orcs and some of the hobgoblins though many of us were longing to find loved ones.”
-----As he speaks a few more ragged and naked prisoners pass them, casting curious glances before quickening their pace toward the village.
-----“I think most of us who were held by the orcs have taken what we could as we fought our way out and are heading this way,” he adds.
-----"Take care o' yer people, goodman. Strator watch o'er ye." Sol then turns to regard Lovan, as he considers the battle still raging between the two groups of evil humanoids. His thoughts smolder a few seconds in his mind before he nods to Lovan, "A'right, let's bring th' wrath o' th' Rager down on th' bastards. Show them they're not welcome here... ever again." A final nod is offered to the man who gave them the news, then Thunder is off again, riding towards the orcish camp.
-----“Give praise to the Great Rager! For he sends his Stormbringer forth to deliver his Fury and set the tide of freedom for the poor souls who once lived here! Tell all you meet! Tell all you know!” Lovan delivers this small sermon to the man before urging his own steed after Thunder.
-----Carefully they now ride across the field, dark as it is, on the chance they may meet some freed prisoner looming out of the night. Moving ever closer, it looks as though nearly all of the tents have seen some kind of destruction, though the rain had extinguished most of the fires. As they approach, it suddenly becomes more difficult to see as the cloud cover remains thick and the occasional lightning flashes are quick and without warning. Still, some of the humanoids grab torches and run about carrying them perhaps to ignite more tents or cause more pain to their enemies.