"The woman grips her hold on the children tighter, but her face changes slightly, fading from terror to more sorrow.
[Orc] "Please. Just leave us be. No more." A bold, deep, and calm voice responds. From immediately behind the wall, a large adult male orc steps into view, taking up most of the doorway. He stands between Hektor and the others, club in hand, but pointed towards the ground.
It was likely, this orc was standing ready in the shadows, prepared to strike at the threat of Hektor. The guardsmen words, however, seemed to have swayed him otherwise.
Hektor nodded in response, tensing for a moment as the other orc entered his view but seeing no direct threat let out a held breath.
[Orc] "I'm sorry things have turned out this way. The city has never been kind, but now even more so there are those in the city that are causing harm because they see this as their moment. I am not one of them, but I fear in the coming days we may have little choice between what is right and staying alive." He nodded to the male Orc and sheathed his sword. "Do you know of any other houses nearby that are abandoned but still standing? I'm trying to find out what happened that night, if there is indeed anything left to find. I don't mean any harm to anyone here unless they intend to harm me."
"I know nothing of the other buildings." The Orc turned and walked over to his family, whom still cowered in the room's corner, unsure about what to do.
"We fled the town square amidst the chaos, and hid here, having found it abandoned. I imagine plenty others hiding throughout the streets. We are only staying until night falls again and we hope to flee the city." He hugged his wife and children. "Laborers and guards alike, slaughtering the innocents. We will take our chances elsewhere."
Hektor narrowed his eyes. "The Square..." he sighed. "I saw the aftermath and heard only what stories those there would make up. I suspect it was worse than what I could put together. What happened? Was there infighting amongst you or did the Watch start a slaughter?" Lethe sat with his back against a hallway wall. "I will leave if you wish, but I'd rather wait out the night here and secure this house after you have gone. You can try and rest before you attempt to leave, I will swear to do you no harm and should others come I will turn them away or..." he trailed off, not yet willing to say such a thing out loud but knowing full well if Slater reared his head he would try and take it off his smug shoulders.
A lantern is lit, and the orc rises from a kneeling position. It was near where they were, and he had moved down to it as Hektor spoke. The light filled the rest of the small room. Two packs, likely belonging to the family of orcs were against a wall, and with the light now from the additional source, Hektor was able to see that this room had no windows.
"I may trust you enough to not attack, but not enough to leave my sleeping family under your immediate care." He laid out two bed rolls, side by side and motioned for his wife and children to lay down. He then proceeded to pick his club up again and move outside the room to where Hektor was.
"I don't know who started it, all I know is what I saw. Groups of orcs, armed with swords and axes, holding food from the rest. A human in a dark brown robe, before the fighting occurred, but disappeared. Human and orc alike, hacking and slashing at those just trying to continue their lives after being burned from their homes."
"That is fair." Lethe replied, watching as the Orc joined him in the room and listened to his short story. Hektor shook his head. It had never occurred to him that it would be humans and orcs instigating the fight.
"This human in the dark brown robe, do you recall anything else about them?"
While speaking to Hektor, he kept his gaze upon his family in the other room. "Some sort of zealot. Looking to recruit orcs into his religion. Something about all races serving the true ancients gods. He was shouting it enough, that you had no choice but to hear him. Only really silenced when the fighting broke out."
"Strange, but unlikely to incite a riot." Hektor sat in silence for a moment. He contemplated asking more, but felt there was little to gain. Another topic struck him.
"What is your plan for tomorrow to get out of the city?"
"Once it's dark, we'll stick to the shadows, and head for the north gate. With any luck, we'll go by unnoticed." He looked down and tightened the grip on the club. "Whatever happens, I'll do what I have to, to make sure they make it out."
"Not that I'm questioning the city guard, but what is it that you're here for?" The Orc asked, for the first time acknowledging the context of the situation. A guard happening upon a family hiding, and only wishes to use the hiding place himself.
Hektor nodded. He was silent for a few moments before speaking. "I discovered blatant and purposeful damage to city's peoples. Supplies held or withdrawn. Reports missing. Members of the Watch getting away with heretical crimes. There is a sickness and a contagion within these walls and I am on the wrong side of it. It is likely that had I stayed I'd find a knife in my ribs, by leaving a condemn myself to summary execution written up via report. Likely pinning the crimes on me." He sighed. "I honestly have no idea what I am doing, what I can do, if I will find anything and in the event I do who could I take it to that isn't part of this?"
He looked at his own garb for a moment. "I'm not even certain I could help you escape this city."
"I don't plan to ask for the help. Not meant as an insult, but for my family's safety, much after hearing your troubles, it may be better to go our own way."
The Orc would continue standing watch, occasionally walking about and looking in on his sleeping family. Should Hektor speak, he would likely reply, but other wise just keep to himself, watching the light outside and waiting for it to fade, as earlier indicated.
The day would continue on rather uneventful. Outside the building, Hektor could hear the sounds of citizens going about their business, though never well enough to know what that immediate business might be. The occasional shuffle from overhead indicating the Orc and/or his family moving about.
As far as he could tell, no on else bothered the building. No movement or sounds that he perceived at the door or windows. One oddity though being at some point Hektor thought he heard the splash of water, but being that he heard nothing additional, their was no frame of reference and he couldn't tell where it came from.
Hektor kept out of sight for the day, eating his food and trying to figure out what his best course of action was. He felt rather powerless, adrift on the waves of doubt that washed over him. He didn't know who he could trust, who was his true foe and who could he count as a friend?
Hektor would have had to leave the building to know whether the sun had set for sure, but it had atleast lowered enough that no direct light entered through the window cracks any longer, and the building became surrounded by shadows.
The Orc descended the stairs, his family in tow. "We will be taking our leave now. Good luck." He simply nods after saying this and leads his small family down towards the direction of the back door. They were in no rush, but definitely did not seem like they wished to stay in the building any longer than they had to.
The was the sound of hurried walking outside the front windows, that trailed off. If it was indeed the family, they seemed to fair without any impediment, at least for their traversing the immediate area.
The foot traffic outside, though not exactly bustling throughout the day, had died down, leaving Hektor in a stillness. The only thing that cut the silence was once again, hearing a splash of water, but again, no indication of where it came from or what caused it.
Once the family had left Hektor would have taken the time to explore the rest of the house, looking for a key to the locked room and failing that, attempting to open it by force.
After which he would have kept an eye on the area from the house and after hearing the splash, try to seek the source.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
14
After going over the building, following the orc family departing, Hektor managed to find no key for the locked door in the ground level hallway. He had searched well enough to develop a confidence that there simply was not one for him to find. However; upon further inspection of the locked door itself, Hektor also concluded that the splash of water he heard, came from beyond that same door. He also managed to hear what sounded like the echo of wind.
6
His attempts to force the door open were fruitless. Both the lock and door's hinges held fast against his strength of trying to pull.
"The woman grips her hold on the children tighter, but her face changes slightly, fading from terror to more sorrow.
[Orc] "Please. Just leave us be. No more." A bold, deep, and calm voice responds. From immediately behind the wall, a large adult male orc steps into view, taking up most of the doorway. He stands between Hektor and the others, club in hand, but pointed towards the ground.
It was likely, this orc was standing ready in the shadows, prepared to strike at the threat of Hektor. The guardsmen words, however, seemed to have swayed him otherwise.
Hektor nodded in response, tensing for a moment as the other orc entered his view but seeing no direct threat let out a held breath.
[Orc] "I'm sorry things have turned out this way. The city has never been kind, but now even more so there are those in the city that are causing harm because they see this as their moment. I am not one of them, but I fear in the coming days we may have little choice between what is right and staying alive." He nodded to the male Orc and sheathed his sword. "Do you know of any other houses nearby that are abandoned but still standing? I'm trying to find out what happened that night, if there is indeed anything left to find. I don't mean any harm to anyone here unless they intend to harm me."
Exitus Acta Probat
"I know nothing of the other buildings." The Orc turned and walked over to his family, whom still cowered in the room's corner, unsure about what to do.
"We fled the town square amidst the chaos, and hid here, having found it abandoned. I imagine plenty others hiding throughout the streets. We are only staying until night falls again and we hope to flee the city." He hugged his wife and children. "Laborers and guards alike, slaughtering the innocents. We will take our chances elsewhere."
Hektor narrowed his eyes. "The Square..." he sighed. "I saw the aftermath and heard only what stories those there would make up. I suspect it was worse than what I could put together. What happened? Was there infighting amongst you or did the Watch start a slaughter?" Lethe sat with his back against a hallway wall. "I will leave if you wish, but I'd rather wait out the night here and secure this house after you have gone. You can try and rest before you attempt to leave, I will swear to do you no harm and should others come I will turn them away or..." he trailed off, not yet willing to say such a thing out loud but knowing full well if Slater reared his head he would try and take it off his smug shoulders.
Exitus Acta Probat
A lantern is lit, and the orc rises from a kneeling position. It was near where they were, and he had moved down to it as Hektor spoke. The light filled the rest of the small room. Two packs, likely belonging to the family of orcs were against a wall, and with the light now from the additional source, Hektor was able to see that this room had no windows.
"I may trust you enough to not attack, but not enough to leave my sleeping family under your immediate care." He laid out two bed rolls, side by side and motioned for his wife and children to lay down. He then proceeded to pick his club up again and move outside the room to where Hektor was.
"I don't know who started it, all I know is what I saw. Groups of orcs, armed with swords and axes, holding food from the rest. A human in a dark brown robe, before the fighting occurred, but disappeared. Human and orc alike, hacking and slashing at those just trying to continue their lives after being burned from their homes."
"That is fair." Lethe replied, watching as the Orc joined him in the room and listened to his short story. Hektor shook his head. It had never occurred to him that it would be humans and orcs instigating the fight.
"This human in the dark brown robe, do you recall anything else about them?"
Exitus Acta Probat
While speaking to Hektor, he kept his gaze upon his family in the other room. "Some sort of zealot. Looking to recruit orcs into his religion. Something about all races serving the true ancients gods. He was shouting it enough, that you had no choice but to hear him. Only really silenced when the fighting broke out."
"Strange, but unlikely to incite a riot." Hektor sat in silence for a moment. He contemplated asking more, but felt there was little to gain. Another topic struck him.
"What is your plan for tomorrow to get out of the city?"
Exitus Acta Probat
"Once it's dark, we'll stick to the shadows, and head for the north gate. With any luck, we'll go by unnoticed." He looked down and tightened the grip on the club. "Whatever happens, I'll do what I have to, to make sure they make it out."
"Not that I'm questioning the city guard, but what is it that you're here for?" The Orc asked, for the first time acknowledging the context of the situation. A guard happening upon a family hiding, and only wishes to use the hiding place himself.
Hektor nodded. He was silent for a few moments before speaking. "I discovered blatant and purposeful damage to city's peoples. Supplies held or withdrawn. Reports missing. Members of the Watch getting away with heretical crimes. There is a sickness and a contagion within these walls and I am on the wrong side of it. It is likely that had I stayed I'd find a knife in my ribs, by leaving a condemn myself to summary execution written up via report. Likely pinning the crimes on me." He sighed. "I honestly have no idea what I am doing, what I can do, if I will find anything and in the event I do who could I take it to that isn't part of this?"
He looked at his own garb for a moment. "I'm not even certain I could help you escape this city."
Exitus Acta Probat
"I don't plan to ask for the help. Not meant as an insult, but for my family's safety, much after hearing your troubles, it may be better to go our own way."
The Orc would continue standing watch, occasionally walking about and looking in on his sleeping family. Should Hektor speak, he would likely reply, but other wise just keep to himself, watching the light outside and waiting for it to fade, as earlier indicated.
Hektor would nod in understanding, taking a quiet leave of the family and sitting by himself on the first floor. Likely dozing off.
Exitus Acta Probat
The day would continue on rather uneventful. Outside the building, Hektor could hear the sounds of citizens going about their business, though never well enough to know what that immediate business might be. The occasional shuffle from overhead indicating the Orc and/or his family moving about.
As far as he could tell, no on else bothered the building. No movement or sounds that he perceived at the door or windows. One oddity though being at some point Hektor thought he heard the splash of water, but being that he heard nothing additional, their was no frame of reference and he couldn't tell where it came from.
Eventually, the sun began to set.
Hektor kept out of sight for the day, eating his food and trying to figure out what his best course of action was. He felt rather powerless, adrift on the waves of doubt that washed over him. He didn't know who he could trust, who was his true foe and who could he count as a friend?
Exitus Acta Probat
Hektor would have had to leave the building to know whether the sun had set for sure, but it had atleast lowered enough that no direct light entered through the window cracks any longer, and the building became surrounded by shadows.
The Orc descended the stairs, his family in tow. "We will be taking our leave now. Good luck." He simply nods after saying this and leads his small family down towards the direction of the back door. They were in no rush, but definitely did not seem like they wished to stay in the building any longer than they had to.
Hektor nodded as well. "Good luck." he replied, but his heart wasn't in it. He knew they were likely doomed.
At a loss for what to do, he sat in silence.
Exitus Acta Probat
The Orc and his family left. Hektor was alone.
The was the sound of hurried walking outside the front windows, that trailed off. If it was indeed the family, they seemed to fair without any impediment, at least for their traversing the immediate area.
The foot traffic outside, though not exactly bustling throughout the day, had died down, leaving Hektor in a stillness. The only thing that cut the silence was once again, hearing a splash of water, but again, no indication of where it came from or what caused it.
Once the family had left Hektor would have taken the time to explore the rest of the house, looking for a key to the locked room and failing that, attempting to open it by force.
After which he would have kept an eye on the area from the house and after hearing the splash, try to seek the source.
Exitus Acta Probat
14
After going over the building, following the orc family departing, Hektor managed to find no key for the locked door in the ground level hallway. He had searched well enough to develop a confidence that there simply was not one for him to find. However; upon further inspection of the locked door itself, Hektor also concluded that the splash of water he heard, came from beyond that same door. He also managed to hear what sounded like the echo of wind.
6
His attempts to force the door open were fruitless. Both the lock and door's hinges held fast against his strength of trying to pull.