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Old 03-31-2007, 09:15 AM   #363
Child of the 7th Age
Spirit of the Lonely Star
 
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Orcs:

Makdush had ridden no more than half a mile when he noticed a small copse of scrub bushes and tumbled rocks, a sheltered enclave on the plain that offered a safe vantage point from which he could scan the entire horizon. Quickly pulling the horse inside and positioning his body behind the tangled curtain of boughs, he stared fixedly towards the west and immediately observed a cloud of dust no more than a mile distant. Someone was fast approaching the camp and, from the size of the dustcloud, this was more than a party of one or two lonely riders.

The immediate problem was what to do. Should he turn now and ride back to camp to warn the others of their immediate danger, or was it better to continue to wait and gage who these intruders were and what they intended to do? The party could be slavers returning to camp, or even a contingent of slaves, but it was also possible that they were simple traders making their way from the north back to the plantations in Nurn. Plus, if he pulled out now, there was the danger that the advancing party could not help but notice a large orc on horseback riding so closely in front of them. It would be better not to give them a warning like that.

With some misgivings, Makdush decided to stay and see what was happening. With most of the orcs drunk and asleep, there was little possibility that he could rouse them quickly enough to get out of the way before the men actually entered the camp, if that was their intention. Gwerr and Ishkur were in a different position. They were alert and awake and on the far side of camp, and he should have enough time to get back to them even if he waited to get a glimpse of the party that was approaching on horseback.

Makdush waited for the party to approach. He could see a small troop of men and also several females, all of whom had iron weapons strapped to their sides. The latter puzzled him greatly, Orc women did not normally carry or use swords or great throwing daggers. From what Makdush could gage, these people were slaves coming back to retrieve booty from camp. He decided to wait till they had passed and then skirt around to the south and approach the camp from that direction, heading straight back to Gwerr and Ishkur, who would hopefully still be in their tent.

Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 04-07-2007 at 09:18 AM.
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