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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
This is a first draft of a story set in the world of Greyhawk.
It is based on a home campaign so some of the people, places and things
may be different. Any helpful comments or suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks
Jason Zavoda
Talberth had never slept more soundly in his life, but he awoke
with a terrible ache, every muscle in his body felt like it had been
pulled apart and sewn back together with twine. It was sometime before
dawn, he lay upon a bed of fir branches with his pack was beneath his
head. The night had been cold but dry and with a second layer of branches
piled over him he had been warm as if he'd been sleeping in a bed.
The sky was purple, day would be coming fast but already the
others were astir, all except for the orcs. Boss, Meatstealer and the
surviving pair, Halfknife and Brokenhand, would have preferred to travel
by night. They liked the dark, the day was for sleeping more often than
not. Months had passed while they had been the giants slaves, day was when
the torches burned, when they worked digging the tunnels beneath the
steading. Night was when they were locked in their unlit cells, they had
not missed the sun.
"Time to wake up." Ivo gave Talberth's shoulder a shake.
"I'm up." he yawned. "How long did I sleep?"
"Five hours, a little more." laughed Ivo. "You were out on your
feet last night. You were asleep and snoring before Harald cut the last
of the branches for your bed."
"I don't snore." muttered Talberth.
They ate a cold breakfast of half-cooked beef, putting the
supplies in their bellies where they couldn't go bad. Harald had found
one steer that had burned longer than the rest, he hadn't mentioned the
body of the giant he'd found roasted beneath it, avoiding any qualms that
the others might have.
The orcs had taken their own choice cuts, preferring their flesh
raw or at most just kissed by the flames and nothing more. They were less
squeamish than the others, a week rotting in a canvas sack just added to
the taste for them.
"Which way now?" Talberth asked just before they set off. The
supplies had been passed around, with fresh water from the spring
to wash them down.
"Muphlimm-umph." Ivo told him, then swallowed the mouthful of
food he'd been chewing. "North, Harald's finding us a trail."
"He's back." Harold told them, pointing to the ranger weaving his
way through the brush back up to where they sat. "I'll go get Ghibelline,
he's keeping watch by the spring, Talberth why don't you get those
orcs moving."
"They seem to listen to Ghibelline as well." said Talberth.
"That was yesterday," Ivo told him, "they were just obeying the
tone of his voice, they forgot he was an elf. Go on, they're scared of
you, all the qualities that a leader of orcs needs."
"Since when are you an expert on orcs." Talberth said annoyed. He
didn't enjoy his status with the orcs.
"Well this is a first for me," laughed Ivo. "but I know orcs, too
well I know them, believe me."
"Well I've never had them on my side before either." said
Talberth.
"Oh don't make that mistake," Ivo told him seriously, "they
aren't on our side, don't trust them, if they think they can get away with
it they'll put a dagger in your back, especially because they're scared."
"I don't trust them, I don't like them," said Talberth heatedly,
"I don't want them with us..."
"Easy there," Ivo said in a calm and friendly voice, "I agree, but
they are with us for now. You are they best to deal with them. We need you
Talberth, don't let us down."
"I'm sorry Ivo, I...I just needed more sleep," Talberth said
quietly, "I'll go get the orcs."
* * *
(To Be Continued)