In an oriental style house, an Aarakocra was meditating with his eyes closed, as he slowly exhaled and inhaled his feather gained a crystalline look and a faint pink colored aura appeared around him.
Suddenly, General Raven opened his eyes as he smiled and said to himself.
“So, the three boys are back… It seems they are stronger.”
The Aarakocra gave a deep sigh as he thought.
[I hope they can fulfill this mission, it’s the only hope of the kingdom.]
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The three friends had already walked out of the city 2 days ago and were heading towards the node of the rebellion.
While they were walking Dayer asked.
“What’s the plan this time Marr?”
The Dragonborn kept walking as he answered.
“We rush in beat them and try to get what we need.”
Dayer revealed a stunned expression and exchanged looks with Merrich that had the same expression on his face.
“What do you mean Marr? You always have a plan.”
“Not this time, I want to familiarize myself with my powers and I also need to see what you guys can do.”
As Marr said this, they were already very close to the base. The Dragonborn lead them into the forest next to the main road, this was the forest of Mool it was located a few days north of the royal city, it wasn’t a dense forest but it was still very big.
While the three friends were walking, they heard strange sounds coming from the trees.
Marr looked at Dayer and pointed towards the direction of the sound, The Eladrin nodded as he vanished in midair.
After a few minutes, a muffled sound was heard, and a scream sounded out as a deep voice was heard.
“AAAAAH, No please! Elf no kill Ardokk! Ardokk good Orc!”
“I'm not an Elf! What do I do with him, Marr?”
As Marr got close to where the orc and Dayer where he finally could take a good look at their stalker.
The Orc had a very rough and gray skin, his eyes where red, and he had big canines that almost looked like tusk in his lower mouth, he measured around 2.5 meters and had a muscular body. He was using very plain clothing made out of animal fur.
“Stop scaring the poor fellow Dayer.”
Dayer kept his dagger as he stared grudgingly at the Orc.
Mar smiled wryly at the scene as he got closer to Ardokk that was even taller than him.
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“You will have to excuse my Eladrin friend, he… Doesn’t like being called an Elf. Tell me why where you following us?”
“Me come to look for wood, Ardokk sees Lizardman, elf, and gnome with big foot go direction of base, so he follows them.”
“Who are you calling a gnome? I’m a Halfling okay.”
“And I am an Eladrin! The Lizardman already said it why are you still mixing it?”
As they were about to keep complaining Marr hit both of them in the head as he said with an annoyed expression.
“Shut your trap both of you! Why are you even arguing with the guy?”
Then he turned to Ardokk and helped him up.
“You followed us because you want something right? What is it?”
Ardokk looked at the Dragonborn that was in front of him as he asked.
“What is Lizardman’s name?”
Marr smiled warmly at the Orc as he said while putting his fist on his chest in a classical Orc salute.
“My name is Io’Jalein Marrhosh, but you can call me Marr.”
The Orc got spirited as he saw the salute and made the same gesture as Marr, he then pointed at the Dragonborn than at himself as he said.
“Marr help Ardokk, and Ardokk help’s Marr.”
Marr listened patiently as he urged the Orc to keep going.
“Ardokk live in base, me have information. Marr promises to help Ardokk, and He gives information to Marr.”
Marr pondered for a while as he nodded and said.
“We can accept your request, but I need to know why would you betray them?”
Ardokk revealed a complicated expression and stayed silent for a couple of minutes, finally he showed a resolution in his eyes as he said.
“Ardokk treated badly at base, they not like Ardokk. They kill family, Ardokk make Throsh pay.”
When Marr heard this, he looked at his two companions as both of them nodded, showing their approval.
The Dragonborn patted the shoulder of the Orc as he said.
“You have my word, we will help you! Tell us all what you know.”
Ardokk showed a happy expression as he thanked the three friends like a happy child.
He then drew on the ground a map of the base that was constructed inside a mountain. A small river entered through the cave that was the main entrance, two openings at each side of the river lead to two different rooms of medium size, as the river advanced it got larger and took a turn to the right, as the river advanced a bridge led to another room bigger than the other two, there were more people here as well as the deposit of the base.
“How many people are there in the base? And are there any traps?”
Marr asked as he looked at the map that was drawn by the Orc.
Ardokk then pointed at the entrance and two other places in the base as he said.
“These traps, very hidden have care.”
Then Ardokk said with a regretful expression.
“Me not count, Ardokk doesn’t know amount of people.”
Dayer showed a mocking expression and was about to say something when Marr hit in the head again as he said.
“Thanks, Ardokk I will need you to hide here until we are back.”
Ardokk nodded as he went deeper into the forest to hide.
Marr then showed a serious expression, without turning back he said to his two friends.
“Any thoughts?”
Dayer and Merrich looked at each other and smiled wryly, they know the members of the base had touched Marr’s reverse scale. They couldn’t help feel sorry for them after all Marr complete clan had been annihilated. The two friends said in unison.
“No, sir!”
Marr then looked at then as a clear glint of rage could be seen in his eyes,
“Then let’s go… I suddenly feel like beating someone!”
The three friends kept going through the forest until they found a small river and followed its curse as instructed by Ardokk.
Finally, they reached a big clearing where a small mountain could be seen. The mountain had a cave and the river could be seen going into it.
Marr looked at Dayer as he said.
“Look around and see if you can find any other entrance.”
Dayer nodded as he disappeared into the forest.
The Dragonborn then looked at Merrich as he said.
“Can you detect any magic inside there?”
Merrich concentrated as he said an incantation in Elven language. He then shook his head indicating there was nothing magical inside the place.
After a couple of minutes, Dayer came back and said.
“There are two other entrances besides this one.”
Marr nodded as he thought for a second and said.
“Dayer you take the farthest one, I will take this exist and Merrich will take the remaining entrance.”
The two friends nodded and Merrich followed Dayer into the forest.
Marr looked at the entrance ahead and walked towards it as he said.
“All right, time for some special training.”