Two horsemen ride up to a tavern...

Kaed looks out towards the forest where Aacian has gone, standing leaning a little against the spear he has been using on horseback he stares out into the darkness. The tribesmen cannot see anything of note but he stands watch anyway, ready in case his comrade comes back being pursued by orcs.  Although he trusts in Ascian's abilities he wishes that the fragile looking man had asked him to accompany him. Knowing he can move extremely stealthily himself and never doubting his prowess in combat he wishes he had gone exploring himself, but he resigns himself to a vigil and nothing more.

The sound of a stiff drink (free if the locals had any sense) calls to Akiran, but only a fool let's the crows pick first from a battlefield. Sheathing his broadsword he nods towards Thezra, "Always pays to be cautious but a bit of risk is worth tenfold it's cost in gold. I'll be back"  Akiran then cautiously moves towards the scene of their past battle, he then begins rummaging through the dead. Placing anything of value in pile, inculding the scrap armor, axes,  & javelin. Though he places the potions and the staff on his person. He begins moving the loot to Na'arik's tavern, on his first run he spots Kaed and walks up to the man and fishes out one of the potions. in his gravelly common he says  "Kaed I do not know you well. But you clearly possess a warriors  spirit, I found this on the dead figured you could use it best."

"My thanks,  I have needed too many of these recently. I imagine this will not stay with me for too long!" He laughs as he pockets the potion, nodding in gratitude to the dragonborn. "We have barely had time to speak but you strike me as a strong arm I could fight side by side with. I welcome the chance to get to know you better" He looks put across the darkness just as Ascian comes into sight. "And yes, it seems as though that time shall wait, I don't doubt that the evening is about to get more interesting."

Nearly an hour has passed by the time Ascian steals back out of the forest, a pale smear against an otherwise dark and uniform landscape. Brushing leaves from his leathers he walks quickly toward the light emitted by the tavern, his bow at his side and his arrows untouched in the quivers slung across his back. Almost against his will he looks again over his shoulder, half-expecting to see a tide of orcs behind him helmed by their priest. He had been prepared to see many things in the woods when he'd first headed into them, but  that  had still managed to catch him off guard. Intent on relaying what he'd seen, he almost misses the dark shadow that awaits him, flanked by something silver. Intense, pale eyes dart reflexively to his surroundings as he walks and as he nears the perimeter of light thrown out by the inn he stops, staring up uncertainly from the barbarian at the base of the slope to the dragonborn and ultimately back to Kaed, who always seems to give him pause.  "What are you doing."

"Well one of my friends had just gone off looking to see if they could find a camp of our enemy without me, one man alone against many. So, no matter your great skill at moving without  being observed, I was worried about you." Kaed looks over Ascian's shoulder in the direction he has just come from. "You aren't being pursued by an angry mob so either there is nothing there or you have performed with great skill. Which is it, should we ready the others?"

"If he had alerted the other band you would already be aware,"  Thezra looks up from her sword, wiping the last of blood from its blade, towards the others a few paces away. She'd taken a post up near the side of the tavern, a couple paces from the door. "It is safe to assume the boy's scouting was successful. That, or he failed to locate them at all..." She looks once more upon the young man, her eyes catching his long enough to feel drawn to their gray, stillness. Even now, he remained no more emotive than the walls of the tavern they stood beside. His sallow features forebode an air of death that seemed to permeate his every movement, or, as she noted, his lack thereof. His chest never rose with the steady intake and outtake of air which gave him an uncanny stillness - his only movements deliberate and conscious. "...and something about the young one tells me I have no reason to believe that could be the case, is it?"

Thrandimir has dragged a chair out the front of the Fireblade and sits puffing on his pipe as he watches Ascian, Kaed and the newcomers converse.

Ascian stares at Kaed for a long moment, as if the words aren't spoken in a language he understands – unusual, considering languages are one of few things he finds make easy sense. Worried about him? Worried.  The word falls apart in his mind almost as quickly as it arrives, dissolving into an ashen fallout of susurrus r s. He opens his mouth to try and reply and closes it just as quickly, his surprise leaving him almost grateful to the half-orc who ultimately speaks from nearby. He looks to her instead and while Kaed's words might have left him pincered, it's this woman's eyes that hammer the point home – probing and evaluating, seeing far more than he'd originally expected them to. "No," he says at last, forcing himself to drop her gaze and looking awkwardly to Kaed and the dragonborn. "It isn't. There's at least three dozen of them. The others should know – they're led by a priest. With the symbol of that eye again." He looks back toward Thezra with a blunt remark that is both statement and question all at once. "He was speaking to someone who wasn't there."

" Three dozen, a fair number. We may indeed need to wake the others, or are we feeling bold?" He laughs as he slaps Akiran on the shoulder. "Well done Ascian , well done. But still, next time invite me along, just in case." Kaed steps past the slight frame of Ascian staring off into the dark.  " Orcs are not weaklings, they will not break because we kill half a dozen of them. Striking at them quickly will not work. Although I would love to take the fight to them it makes more sense to hold here, we could defend if they attack kill many before they reach the village. A cavalry charge could cause further chaos if we time it right and failing that we let Na'arik kill them all..." he turns back a smile on his face. "This could be glorious! A valiant defence, outnumbered against a foe who have proved deadly given the chance."  "Orc, what do you think the chances are of them waiting for reinforcement? Would they attack with so few?" Kaed calls over to Thezra.

"Not that bold Kaed, a glorious end makes for a good story but my tale is much to short to end here." Chuckling he moves into the middle of the group  " I've shared a cup and few games of dice with the soldiers from the Heartland. Handling the orc problem is why they're here."  Shrugging he adds "Officially at least. A few choice words in the captain's ear, and I'm sure he would send his company in. If we play our cards right he may even throw in a nice pile of gold for our help. Either way Kaed is right, their not likely to run. Though a bit of fire and surprise will hopefully keep them off balance and make for easier pickings "

Thezra's brow scrunches up. It seemed almost trivially easy but she doubted that could be the case. "Boy - Ascian, was it? Did you get a look at this priest?" She ignores the burly one she'd heard called Kaed and strides forth to the wiry young man. Taking care to stop a bit before him so as to remain slightly lower in elevation, she meets his gaze on the same level. "What was he saying? Did you hear the voice?" She barely gives him time to answer before turning back to the facade of the tavern where she'd left her sword, hurriedly grabbing it and sheathing it over her shoulder. "They will not attack, human Kaed, for they won't get the chance." Her hair whips around in the air as she comes back around to face the men, a vicious grin steadily spreading across her face.  "The priest this one saw - Duar'ken himself, undoubtedly."  The sword twirls through the air as she spins the hilt up and down in her palm a few times.  " They won't attack, because they won't get the chance. Gather your compatriots and if you seek to rally the guards to your banner, do so. We'll be launching our attack first."

"I don't know. I don't speak Orc," Ascian replies stolidly , staring at Thezra. "They were intense. The priest stayed in the tent a long time. He had robes and armor with that eye symbol. Everyone else was armed. Bows and axes. I didn't stick around after that to see more." He looks vaguely surprised at the declaration of war and looks back to Kaed, seeking confirmation to her announcement. "Are we."

" Neither of us lead here, we will discuss our plans with our friends, and the guards." Kaed replies to Thezra, before turning to Ash and continuing, "I would like to spare the people here the potential harm that allowing the attack to come to us could cause but there is strength in a defensible position, and making them cross open ground might help. If only we had another dozen men with your eye, we could shoot them all without needing to draw a blade." Kaed sighs, " these decisions are more than I care to make, let us assemble the others. " He pauses, suddenly thinking of something, "We could kill any number of orcs, but we know little of their leader, is he a priest of great power, I have heard of some of his kind who could carry the battlefield on their own. If he is one of these then we need to factor that into our plans."

Thezra lowers the sword, "As I said, Duar'ken is no ordinary priest. He is the spiritual advisor to our chief, Kerak. It is Duar'ken who has deceived Kerak into ordering these raids. It is Duar'ken who has lied  that the spirits demand them. It is Duar'ken who has - on more than one occasion - led the raids himself out of Ore'agah. I don't know what he gains from it or what he seeks, but he is the singular greatest threat to my people that I know of." The more she speaks, the clearer the rage bubbling up to the surface becomes as she forces out the last words through gritted teeth. "Waiting to defend is pointless, not when we can storm into that camp before they're prepared and cut the dukhal  - the bastard - down when he isn't expecting it." She clenches the hilt of her weapon, digging her fingers into the cloth-wrapped metal until the green of her skin turns near-white. Then, her body relaxes, the tension flowing out in a long sigh. "But yes. While I have never seen the man in action, his reputation is that of a man personally blessed by the spirits with otherworldly magic. It is, from what I know, how he gained access to the chief's ear to begin with. Much as I would like to, it would be foolish to discount his penchant for lies as extending to his power as well." She looks at Kaed directly, "Expect the magics of the priests that accompanied the advanced scouting party to pale in comparison."

"They are expecting it," Ascian replies to Thezra. "They're armed. They have watches." Even with his newfound ability to see in the dark he can't quite warm to the thought of charging through the woods to skewer the orcs; the foliage had provided cover, but not enough, and it would be impossible to hide the guard Akiran had spoken of. He ultimately looks to Kaed and nods briefly, fingers shifting slightly around his bow at the unexpected compliment. "I thought there might be another way," he admits after a pause, looking past their group to the warm light of the tavern. "That stone. The one with the eye on it. It matched his symbol. Maybe we can use that."

Akiran steadies himself as he takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out of his snout, a puffy cloud of cold mist hanging in the air. He couldn't tell if the Orc and Human were seeking death or truly thought they were beyond it's reach. " Gather your comrades, I will find the Heartland captain." Turning to leave he pauses as he reaches the road "We need numbers if we hope to do anything. A swarm can bring down a mighty dragon, if they have numbers enough. Let us be the swarm today, my friends." Shaking his snout as he walks away, he truly never thought he would miss the company of sell swords. 

Thezra ponders the idea for a moment and shrugs, "On second thought, you all make a fine point. This tavern and community make for an excellent bit of bait and distraction. We could allow them to storm the area and set their fires, then emerge and surround them. It could work quite effectively."

"Using what as bait?" Katrin, now decked in her freshly forged half-plate armor, stands at a near distance, arms folded across her chest. Her eyes are hard as iron as she stares down the Orcish woman.

"So we may struggle to cut the head from the snake." Kaed runs his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his tanned face, his mouth in a hard line. "We have a good number of guard here, if we held here we would be stronger for it." He holds a hand up to placate Katrin, " But there is no reason to allow them to reach the village, and no reason to let them torch it. They will know the guard are here. They may be able to discern much we have not realised." He turns back to Thezra, "Is he the sort to lead from the front, this Duar'ken? We could hold a force, a small one maybe, but powerful enough to punch into their lines to try and kill him quickly. The others may well break easier then. A mounted charge could force its way past his bodyguard if he stands on the fringes of the battle. But it may be costly, one comrade has already paid for his courage. I would not wish to lose more of you, no matter the nobility of the deeds we carry out. Maybe there is a better way... Ascian, you mentioned the stones, tell me of your idea?"

Ascian peers up at Kaed through lank hair, glancing uncertainly to the fully-armed Katrin and back. “I’m not sure yet it’s a good one,” he hedges. “Or if we even know how to use it. But she speaks Orcish.” He juts his chin jerkily toward Thezra. “Maybe she can convince them to head somewhere useful. The camp isn’t it. Too many tents. And wolves.”

“Hmm,”  Thezra strokes her chin, “While I’ve never seen the man fight, I can say pretty confidently the coward is no front line soldier. He’s no Kerak - a man who’d never send warriors to die if he himself were not prepared to do the same. No, you’ll find Duar’ken craven and conniving as far from the action as he can get, no doubt.” Out of the corner of her eye she finally registers the reemergence of the dwarf from earlier, now decked out in even more grandiose armor, and retroactively realizes she’s been addressed, “Using the people here, dwarf. Your companions made it clear they’d prefer this battle on your own turf rather than theirs. I agree. Was joking about having them torch the place though, of course,” she chuckles, “But just the fact the people they’re after may  be so close by could prove useful as a distraction and means to lure smaller groups away.” “What’s this about directing them somewhere with a rock now?”

Katrin's gaze turns even harder as the newcomer speaks. "I don't appreciate jokes, especially at this time. You're new here, I don't expect you to understand. But my priority is the people who live here. I won't wantonly  risk their lives to destroy three dozen orcs." She takes a breath. Calm, Katrin. A leader shouldn't act on emotion alone. Maybe there's something to what the Orc woman said. "But perhaps there is something to what you've suggested. But let's hear about this stone first, shall we?"

Akiran finds Captain Beshk in the middle of the army camp, directing his men about the region. As the silver-scaled dragonborn approaches, Beshk waves away one of his officers and turns. "I'm sorry, I'm quite busy at the moment. Make it quick, please."

Ascian looks toward Katrin, unsure if she hadn’t heard him and then self-conscious it was simply a bad idea. Ultimately he looks toward Thezra to say, “We found a rock. With that symbol. We can hear Orcish from it sometimes.” He shrugs and starts to edge toward the tavern. “Maybe we can speak it to them too. Get them somewhere else. More defensible.”

Thezra folds her arms over her chest, looking to Ascian with an amused expression,  "And do you know of somewhere more defensible?"  She motions to the building behind them,  "From where I stand I wager we could establish a pretty strong series of chokepoints right here. If you know somewhere stronger though, then that *could* work." She takes a step back and turns towards the homes on the outskirts from here, unsheathing the blade from her back and letting its point drag through the dirt and gravel on the ground as she traces a short path away from the tavern. "Now, I suppose it's worth noting one thing though: Duar'ken has not come here to attack you lot specifically. He had his brainwashed heretics have it in the minds to reduce this community to ash and take what they can. You can try directing them to some worthless cave or abandoned home nearby, sure. You can set up an ambush and powerful defensive position there, yes. But what would stop them from marching back here the second they realize the deception? More so, sending a smaller group of raiders off to head back and do what they came here for while you toil in your makeshift castle, unable to catch up in time?" She circles back around, dragging the blade a short ways more before pulling it up sheathing it again. "Don't mistake me, I am more than willing to try your method. If anything, I can issue a direct challenge to the bastard and if he is a man, he may just take it up. But I figure you should really consider how your enemy may act."

"Well then," Katrin doesn't take her eyes off of Thezra. "Why don't we take this idea to Na'arik and Marianne? This is, after all, their community. I don't think they'd appreciate it being used as bait without their knowledge." Or at all.   She turns on her heel, not looking back to see if the others follow.

Akrian approaches with his arms crossed behind him, his gravelly voice taking on a concise yet respectful tone. "I am Akiran, I assisted in repelling an arm of the Orc's attack tonight. The others have found an orcish camp, set up about a half hour's march outside of the town. And have also learned from a defector, that the orc's  religious  leader is in the camp and is the one behind the attacks on Fireblade."  Walking a bit closer he adds  "The Tavern's defenders are making their plans now, but I thought it foolish to decide anything without the might of the Heartlands present." Leaning in and lowering his voice "There is opportunity here, I've heard that your mandate is to defend the village and deal with the threat of the orcs. If your forces are able to kill the orc's religious leader. You could fulfill your mandate, and earn the love of the people of Fireblade. A grand story could be told about the captain who lead the Heartlands to victory, defeating the vicious orcs while their two legendary defenders hid in a tavern"  Leaning back and smiling "Either way I've come to invite you to the table. I feel there is much that could be accomplished if we work together." 

Thezra remains where she is and looks over to Kaed and Ascian, nodding towards Katrin as she leaves, "This is the one who leads you? She realizes this tavern defense was your idea, not mine, yes?" She shrugs, looking to Ascian with renewed interest to say,  "Anyway I would like to see this stone. I believe I know what stone it is you have but I'm interested in seeing it for myself."

Beshk gives Akiran an appraising look, then laughs. "Alright, Akrian. I myself have no need for stories or love, but there is likely both to be had here. But I have a job to do. If there's a meeting to be held, I'll be there. "  He nods to one of his men, and then starts off toward the tavern.

"This isn't my village, and I don't have it," Ascian intones, following Katrin back into the torchlight. "The man who died did. Ask Katrin."

Following in step with the captain Akiran says  "Of course."    His estimation of the man changing slightly. How quaint to find a captain whose only interest is doing his duty.  Akiran then walks with the men back towards the tavern

"Nor is it mine." she replies flatly, "Who is this Katrin?"

Ash tilts his head toward Katrin's back disappearing into the inn ahead of them. "That is."

"Ah,"  Thezra blinks slowly,  "I was unsure the dwarf had a name."  She hurries up the steps to the tavern and heads in after the shorter woman, entering into the bustling place for the first time and immediately losing focus as she is greeted to the warmly lit and comfortably furnished inn. Eyes immediately start turning towards her, but she quickly regains her bearings and calls out to the dwarf,  "Dwar- Katrin. I understand your concerns. You fear for your people and that fear drives you. You fear losing people. Or perhaps a specific person. I understand that. I will be blunt as can be, however; I don't care for these people. These homes. It would be a lie to say otherwise." She glances around the room at the undoubtedly confused and bewildered humans and other gubuk surprised to see an orc amongst them, yet re-steels her gaze on Katrin,  "But tell me: do you care what happens to my clan? My people? You need not say, we both know the answer. So don't expect any different from me. We both seek our people's best interests. For me, that means seeing Duar'ken's head speared on the end of this sword,"  she says, motioning to the blackened steel affixed to her back,  "and if the best way to do so is using these buildings as a barricade, then that is what I will argue for. Your people suggested it, I agreed. Offer a better solution and we can talk."

Katrin tilts her head, narrowing her eyes in thought. "If you're under the impression that I am unaware of who brought it up, then you would be incorrect," she speaks slowly, choosing her words carefully. "And to say that I don't care what happens to your people is blatantly untrue. I would not see the destruction of a nation because of one man. Your people have been stealing crops. They have been taking our food, because of a famine. I know what it is to go hungry. And if we can stop Duar'ken, then perhaps we have a way to help not just the village, but your people as well." She crosses her arms. "So. Let's talk plans then." 

Thezra sighs, raising her hands up, "Then perhaps I have misjudged you. I will wait to see, though. Yes, they have been taking food, ostensibly because of the famine, but that is just the excuse. As I explained, Duar'ken has used his connection to the spirits to forge a tale of desperation. But I am connected to the spirits too. I know what they truly say, and it is not this." As she speaks her voice rises, a growing frustration evident as she unconsciously starts balling her hands into fists, "So yes, if we destroy the heretic, I - and I am sure Chief Kerak - would welcome the aid, but how are you to help? Our shamans - my own aunt included - have tried and failed to restore life to the soil, to no success. What means do you know of to change that?"

Thezra is surprised to see fewer confused and frightful faces within the tavern. Instead, she is met with a good number of beings who stand and turn to face her as she enters the tavern. Some are armed, some not. A voice from the balcony that rings the taproom catches Thezra's attention. An older human woman, with dark, raven hair streaked with white glowers down at Thezra. The voice is calm and even. "I heard you aided us near the burning farmstead. For that reason, you are allowed in this place. But you leave your weapons outside."

Taking greater stock of the surrounding individuals, Thezra breaks her focus off Katrin and looks up towards the human on the stairs. "My blade does not leave my side, human,"  she intones as she raises a hand to point towards her sword,  "but I have no quarrel with you and have no intention of unsheathing it in here outside of actual battle. That is..." She squints, looking around at some of the armed figures around her, "unless one of yours can't control themselves."

"I will ask you one more time, orc, " she says. "Then I will make you do it. Leave. Your Weapons. Outside."

Akiran walks through the tavern door with the captain in tow, catching the tale end of the raven haired woman's speech. Gesturing to the man beside him and in a upbeat yet booming voice   "Captain Beshk has  answered  our call for aid and is here to fulfill his duty to the people of the Heartlands." Seeing the stand off between Marianne and Thezra "My friends this is no time for infighting. We have more than enough enemies outside these walls." Pointing to Thezra "Thezra has defended your lands and people against those she would otherwise consider kin. She has  shed blood for the people of Fireblade, why doubt her now?"

Thezra says nothing, staring down the raven-haired woman, unmoving. Just as she opens her mouth to speak, the dragonborn's voice calls out from behind her and she turns, smiling at his words.  "Like I said, human, this blade stays with me. If you lot fear one orc that bears no ill-will towards you so much that simply outnumbering her 20 to 1 leaves you quaking, then I shudder to think of our odds in the battle to come."  She turns and places a hand on Akiran's shoulder,  "I appreciate the kindness, but your words are wasted on the fearful,"  she laughs softly, walking out from the tavern. "When you come to your senses and are ready to plan, I will be right outside, Katrin."

"If you think fear is the reason for my hesitance to let an armed orc walk about my tavern freely, then you obviously have no idea what's going on here."  Na'arik looks up to the balcony. "Mari, let her through. I'll watch her. For whatever reason, she killed a lot of orcs out there. And if she tries anything, she dies." He looks directly at Thezra. "That isn't a threat. I know you're a warrior, and I know that you're compelled to stand against a challenger. This isn't a challenge. It's just how it is. Make a move, and you die. Understand?"

Thezra stops in the doorway, turning once more towards the woman,  "That's fine, but if you think I came here to launch a suicidal one-woman assault on this tavern rather than stick with the rest of my brethren and attack en masse, then you  obviously have no idea what's going on here, either."  She looks to Na'arik and takes in the man's form once more. She'd seen him when she first approached earlier, but had paid little heed to the gray-haired man compared to those around him. His physique is immediately apparent, but more than that is the unmistakable air of not just confidence, but earned  confidence. She gives a nod, "I would expect nothing less from another warrior. But the only move I'd be making is one in self-defense. If that warrants death, then that is on your shoulders, not mine." She steps back into the tavern and takes a deep breath in and out, "Now where is this Na'arik I heard about? Time is precious and I'd very much like to get back to planning."

The man chuckles. "I'm glad we have an understanding. I'm Na'arik. Everyone that's planning, come back into the kitchens." The party, plus their two new allies in Thezra and Akiran, join Na'arik and Marianne in the kitchens, along with Captain Beshk. "You seem to be full of ideas," Marianne says, leaning against one of the preparation tables. "Let's hear them."

Ascian stares unblinkingly at Marianne as he relays to her and all gathered what he had seen at the orc encampment, feeling exhausted at the end of so much speaking and finishing at last with, "We have the talking stone. I don't know if we can use it. But being able to speak to him might help get him where we need him to be."

"And where would that be?" Marianne asks.

"I don't know. You asked what the ideas were. I've been here a week," he deadpans, looking to Katrin.

"Exactly what I was getting at earlier,"  Thezra leans forward, arms folded squarely over her chest,  "You all would know the area better than I, but unless there's a damned unmanned fort down the road, I don't know where we'd be leading them."

"There's ravines. By the creek." He shrugs. " If we make sure they go that way."