Lanek approached Duristor, raising his hands to show that he was unarmed as several of the individuals in the crowd behind the dwarf cringed and tried to go back into the ship. Duristor nodded to Lanek before calming the frightened former prisoners. Lanek had taken a few steps back at this point and was waiting for Duristor to come to him.
“Sorry about that, they’re still terrified.” Duristor said quietly as he approached Lanek.
“There’s no need to apologize, you’ve all been through hell if what my friend told me about the sea troll raiders is correct.” Lanek said.
“The northern lass? Aye, she would know. Her people have probably had to deal with them a time or two.”
Lanek nodded. “Yeah, her name is Liv. She mentioned a few troll raids on her village. I would really like to ask you some questions, but that can wait. The pot over by Liv and all of the water skins are full of purified water, so please help yourselves. We’re working on getting some food for everyone, but I need to talk to you about that, so please come find me when you get some water and get your people sorted.”
Duristor looked surprised at the sheer amount of clean water available. However, he didn’t waste any time in getting his people organized and drinking. Although, he did put a few of the stronger dwarves and orcs in charge of distributing the water to make sure that no one binged to the point of making themselves sick. Liv assured the former prisoners that there would be plenty of water as Duristor made his way over to where Lanek was sitting and watching the plains.
“Where did you get so much water? The trolls definitely didn’t have that much left on the ship.” Duristor asked.
“That seems odd, what were they drinking? It seemed like there were far more trolls than prisoners on that ship.” Lanek asked, a bit confused.
“Not familiar with sea trolls, are you? The bastards can survive on sea water with no ill effects.” Duristor explained.
“Ah, got it. As for the water, we have a way of rapidly purifying the salt water.” Lanek explained, but kept the existence of the flask to himself. While he had no doubt that he and Liv would be able to easily defeat the prisoners, he didn’t want to be forced to eliminate desperate people who were only in this position because they were attacked.
“Anyway, I want to warn you before the rest of my companions start returning with the food. I don’t want your people to panic, but my companions are not human.” Lanek explained.
“Well, neither are you. Frankly, I don’t know what the hell you are either, but it doesn’t matter. You and your friends saved us, that’s all that matters.”
Lanek laughed. “Fair enough, I need to get used to that. No, I’m not human, but I used to be. Regardless, I meant that other members of my party are animals.”
“I’m guessing Liv’s mount would be one of those? Don’t look at me like that, of course I identified the pair of you as soon as I saw you. You’ll have to tell me why I can’t see any information about you, though, seems like a handy ability to have.”
“Oh, it is. But, yes, two of the animals are mounts. One is a cave bear and the other is a demigryph.” Lanek said.
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The dwarf’s eyes went wide. “Bullshit, there is no way you’ve tamed a demigryph and a cave bear.”
“Only the demigryph, the cave bear is with Liv. There’s also a type of wolf and a mountain stalker.”
“A fucking what?” Duristor’s voice cracked as he processed what he had just heard. “How in the name of the gods did you tame a mountain stalker?!”
“Long story, but all you need to know right now is that those animals are hunting to feed you and your people. They are not dangerous unless we are attacked. I don’t want anyone here to be afraid and do something stupid when they show up.” Lanek said sternly.
“And the flying cat?” Duristor asked, looking over at the cat that was doing his best to calm the children.
“Not a tamed creature. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to tame him anyway, my taming skills only work under very specific circumstances. His name’s Pharaoh and he lives with us back in Caelis.”
Duristor looked like he was about to say something when he stopped himself. “Very well, I’ll go tell people what to expect. Do you need me to do anything else?”
“Yeah, if you could find some people to butcher the animal carcasses and cook the meat, that would help a lot.” Lanek responded.
“Aye, I’ll do that. You’ll need the help to feed this many people. I’ll get someone started on some fires as well.”
“Thanks, Duristor. Let’s get that set up away from the beach, though. I would rather stay away from the water and I’m sure that no one wants to go near the ship now that they’re free.”
“You’ve got that right. I’ll see to it.” Duristor responded before setting to work. As he explained the nature of Lanek’s companions, the dranrid could see a few individuals go pale and eye the ship before steeling themselves. Lanek noticed several of the former prisoners eyeing the troll bodies scattered around the beach. Let’s make them feel a bit safer.
“Duristor?” Lanek called, continuing when the dwarf looked back at him. “You guys are welcome to any of the weapons and armor that the trolls were wearing. We don’t need it and I’d be much happier if you guys took the gear and put it to good use rather than leaving it to rot. Just keep the weapons stowed when my friends show up, got it?”
Duristor eyed him for a moment before smiling in gratitude. “Aye, I’ll make sure everyone gets equipped.”
Lanek waved at the dwarf before moving away from the beach. Once he had gone about thirty meters from the beach, Lanek began dropping seeds from his pack in a large circle, never getting any closer to the beach, but leaving an opening facing the beach and another facing out into the plains. Thankfully, he had been collecting them at every opportunity and so had his companions, so he had a surplus to use.
While he prepared to create a wall, Duristor and a few of the former prisoners that were in fairly decent condition approached him. “Lanek, where do you want the fires?”
“Give me a few minutes before you get started, I’m getting us a better camp.” Lanek responded.
The dwarf and his companions looked confused, but settled down to wait. Moments later, they watched as vines and branches began sprouting from the ground and intertwining with one another. As time passed, a wall began to take shape, standing roughly three meters in height and a meter thick. The vines and branches were woven so tightly that no one would be able to see through into the camp and large thorns extended outward, adding yet more protection.
Duristor looked from the wall to Lanek, obviously wanting to ask questions. Lanek shook his head and gestured for the dwarf and his companions to enter the walled camp.
“I know you have questions, and I’m willing to provide some answers, but not today. Your people are still in bad shape and I’ve got more to do. Today, let’s just focus on getting everyone a safe place to eat and sleep, okay?” Lanek asked, to which Duristor agreed. “Excellent. Please build the fires in the center, I’m planning on building some shelters along the walls.”
While Duristor and his helpers began digging and collecting stones for the fires, Lanek used [Nature’s Rampart] to extend a roof from the top of the wall and three meters toward the camp. The roof was held in place by multiple root-like pillars spaced every few meters around the camp and ending with a thin wall on either side of the gate. While this wouldn’t provide much privacy due to a lack of interior walls, it would provide two areas that were sheltered from the elements and open toward the fires that were even now being completed. Lanek didn’t particularly care about the privacy at the moment, considering he didn’t plan on sticking around for very long anyway.
As the former prisoners filed into the walled camp and settled in, Lanek felt the furballs approached. “They’re coming.” He called to Duristor.
It turned out that he had been worried about nothing as the people were either too exhausted or simply resigned to their fate to react all that much to animals entering the camp. Regardless, Lanek could tell that the furballs had left their portion of the food outside of the camp and were eager to get to their meals. Lanek and Liv sent them to their meals while a few humans and orcs got to work butchering the carcasses while others began cooking the meat as it became available.
The pair watched sadly as the former prisoners stared hungrily at the meat and several children kept asking their parents for food. “Lanek, what are we going to do with them?” Liv asked, keeping her voice low.
Lanek sighed. “I honestly have no idea.”