Orcs
A heavy musk scent
enters the room announcing the arrival of a thin pale-faced old man. He trods
down the center of the aisle leaving fresh turned sod that smells of death in
his wake. His skin seems light thin yellow parchment pulled tightly pulled
across his face. His eyes seem to be nearly all black orbs that stare back.
He wears a worn set of shirt and pants with old matching boots, for a moment
many think it is a beggar who has walked in.
He walks to the
front of the room and pulls a chair out and sits down. “I hope you don’t
mind but I prefer not to stand on my feet all day.” He smiles and the
dwarven priest begins to wonder if that is some form of undead monster in front
of him.
“My name is
Charon and we are going to talk about everyone’s favorite subject, Orcs.”
The thief snorts,
“Like this guy has ever been out of a lab. Great more second hand stories.”
Charon smiles and
tilts his head looking at the thief, “Ah, they told me there was an idiot
in this class. Thank you for identifying yourself. For the idiots’ edification,
I will tell you that there is probably no one with more experience in matters
dealing with the Orc civilization this side of the barrier than me. I have
spent most of my formative years in the custody of the Orcs and the rest of
my time on this planet either running from them or spying on them. I have personally
bested their greatest hero, animated his carcass and sent it back into their
territory. To say that I hate Orcs would not be true there are a few good ones
that I actually like. I guess I’m more fascinated with them than afraid
of them. Actually they are more afraid of me than I am of them, many an Orc
mother forces her kid to behave lest the Shadow-Walker come to claim them.”
He chuckles as if the thought amused him greatly.
“Now what questions
do you have on your favorite opponents, the Orcs?”
Q. How are those primitive,
brutal, morons beating us in battle?
A. Simple because we have primitive,
wimpy morons, like yourself on our side who can’t see past the tip of his
sword. In fact the Orcs are not primitive by any means. In some ways they are
much more powerful than we are.
Q. If they are so powerful how come I managed to
kill a dozen Orcs before this war started?
A. Because my
bloodthirsty friend, you were killing a few bloodthirsty young Orcs out on a manhood
rite. A small percentage of the total Orc population feels the need to become
primitive again and they go out with a few ceremonial weapons and sneak into our
territory. The vast majority of which go undetected and within a few weeks they
head back home satisfied that they survived in the wilderness. The vast majority
of the Orcs who go on these manhood rites have had little to no combat training.
For safety reasons there are always one or two relatively experienced Orcs that
escort them. I hope you are proud of yourself you’ve made several Orc mothers
unhappy when their sons didn’t come hope from their camping trip.
Q. I
hear Orc runes look different from ours. If they accomplish the same thing are
they the same type of magic or are they creating the same results through different
means?
A. The Orc method
of magic isn’t really all that different. At key points in the rune structure
they have what look like “blotches” as if the rune was messed up. In
some cases the sheer density of these “blotches” can make a rune seem
very different from what you’re used to. However be assured it is the same
basic rune structure, though they are more prone to include individual variation
in each rune to fit the personality of the magus. For example magus one could
create a wall of ice that is crystal clear. Magus two could then create the same
wall of ice that is deep purple.
Q. What are these “blotches” and why
do the Orcs use them?
A. I forget what
the Orc name for the blotches are, but their purpose is threefold. One is to
actually lock the power of the wild rune flow to the power level of the original
magus who scribed the runes. Two is to allow magi of any level to scribe use
the rune that may be more powerful than one they could have created. The third
purpose is the most insidious. When scribed onto a scroll it can be activated
in two ways, reading and connecting the blotches. Which means any idiot, can
use them. Of course the Orc method does have the disadvantage of it destroying
the parchment it is on. Also there is no way of telling how powerful the magi
was at the time he scribed the rune, so it could have been written by a first
year apprentice or a magus of some thirty years of practice.
Q.
But according to Magus
Parawn that’s impossible.
A. He’s a
shortsighted idiot just ignore him. We keep him around for various things we
don’t want to do and let him think he knows everything.
Q.
Can I learn the Orc method
of writing runes?
A. Possibly, but
only a few people can teach you. And of the bunch, I’m the only one available.
Fortunately for you, I’m not taking apprentices at this time, its too hazardous
for your health. If you see me around and I don’t look too busy ask me
then, maybe I’ll give you a crash course.
Q. I’ve
seen that crazy Elvin wizard write runes in the air. Is it the same as a normal
rune and can the Orcs do it?
A. Yes it is the
same as a normal rune construct for both human and Orc runes. However the method
of drawing the runes in the air are completely different. That crazy Elvin wizard
is the only one who has managed to do it more than once so far. And yes, the
Orcs can do it. They developed the technique first.
Q. So what’s the story behind all of the adventures and events that
have been taking place?
A. Well I’ve
told you about my past... Oh you mean is there some overwhelming sinister being
connecting all of these plots together? Sounds like a god thing, check with Lintherm.
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