The orcs heard something disturbing - an extremely loud rustling of bushes that moved, despite the lack of wind. As trained hunters, they were not going to ignore it.
As they approached the source of the sound, two arrows were fired in their direction. One of the orcs fell to the ground as the poison took effect. The other was also hit but managed to stay on his feet.
'What's going on? Olaugh thought, grabbing his mace.
Before his eyes, a cat-man, larger even than themselves, jumped out of the bushes. His powerful axe split Oglub, his kin, in two in one motion.
“Ha!” He screeched at the sight.
His cousin Slog was also already lying dead, with two people standing over his body. Olaugh took a step back, tightening his grip on his weapon. More people began to emerge from the bushes, among them a blond-haired woman holding a spear. Their gazes met, and the orc's head spun.
Unintelligible screams sounded in his ears. When he opened his eyes, he saw the woman saying something to him, while putting the spear to his neck.
“What do you want, white female?” Olaugh asked.
The woman muttered something to herself and then pierced his throat with the spear. Blood momentarily began gushing from the artery, and in the blink of an eye, Olaugh became a corpse.
[ +400 xp ]
'You're no use to me if I can't understand what you're saying.' Thought Elrianthe, looking at the dead orc.
Defeating them was surprisingly easy, thanks to the poison used on Duncan's arrows. Elrianthe began to wonder if she could find more such monsters in the area.
“Where can we find more of them?” She asked.
“Hmm. Since their hunters appeared here, there must be their stronghold nearby.” Duncan replied.
“A stronghold?”
“Orcs form groups around a strong leader and settle in camps they build themselves. The ones here were hunters who hunt game and patrol the area.” Mitta explained.
“A camp? I wonder. How many of them can there be?”
“Usually up to thirty. There is a high mortality rate among them, and the camps themselves rarely expand.” He replied.
This answer satisfied Elrianthe, which betrayed the smile on her face.
“You're not planning to attack this camp, are you?” Duncan asked inquisitively.
“Maybe.”
The dungeons of the keep...
Gaz sat in a cell on a wooden chair to which he was tied. His hair was wet from drops of water that fell on his head every few seconds. His forehead was sweaty from fighting terrifying visions and persistent thoughts.
As prescribed by Elrianthe, he was watered with a diluted poison, the effects of which he knew very well.
“I-i want to g-get out of h-here, please...” He mumbled under his breath, staring at the green eye bubbles floating from the ceiling.
All he wanted was to get out of this horrible place, full of disgusting creatures and ghouls that were messing with his head.
“I want to get out of here... I want to get out of here... I want to get out! Fuck! I want to get out of here! Let me out!” Shouted Gaz, but no one came to release him.
He had no idea how long he had been sitting here. It felt like an eternity had passed. The effects of the poison not only caused severe hallucinations but also disrupted his cognitive abilities, making the sense of the passage of time elusive for him.
“I beg of you...” He choked out before losing consciousness again.
Elrianthe was returning with the rest of the team from a hunt. She did not look happy. The bears were getting fewer and fewer, and she remained at level 7.
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'What if I get rid of the trash and the jug, and put someone stronger in their place?' She wondered.
She planned to make her group stronger so she could hunt more powerful animals and monsters. She also wanted to find the orc's stronghold, but for that she needed strength.
'I can only use my skill after 24 hours. There is no other option. I have to put them in a cell. She thought.
She had already checked the time needed to retake control of the rat, which immediately went back to ignoring her after breaking the influence of her magic. She was left only with a message indicating the remaining time.
'Hmm. Alison is unlikely to refuse me service... In fact... There will be no need for that if Gaz joins us. We'll find something else on the way and we'll be ready.' Elrianthe decided.
Immediately after returning to the hideout, she took Taygeer with her and they went down to the dungeons to check on Gaz. Already on her way down the stairs, she heard his groans. They both stood in front of the cell, watching with embarrassment as Gaz slipped into the depths of madness.
'My little brainwashing is having an effect.' Elrianthe thought.
Gaz finally noticed the two figures watching his torment.
“AAH! Go away! Go away! AAH!"
Gaz was still under the strong influence of the poison. Elrianthe pulled a vial of antidote from her bag and handed it to Taygeer.
“Give it to him to drink.” She said.
“Ah, leave it! Leave it! Leave me!”
Taygeer entered the cell and, using force poured the liquid contents of the vial into Gaz's mouth. Having no choice, the man swallowed the liquid, and after several seconds his mind began to return to normal, and the hallucinations disappeared completely. When he raised his head, he saw an elf and a cat-man watching him.
“Elf woman... Let me out, please. I can't take it anymore.” He choked out.
“Really? It's only been a few hours.” Elrianthe replied.
“I beg. Fuck! I can't take it anymore!” Gaz began to shout.
“Hahaha. Look at you. A pathetic example of human stupidity. Did you think about that when you threw me in that cell? Did you think about it!” She said, raising her voice.
“I'll do any-”
“Did you have mercy for me too? Did you stop that fucking piece of trash while he was raping me and beating me into unconsciousness? Did you do anything fucker?! I'm asking you, you fucking bastard!” Shouted Elrianthe as the disgusting images of her enslavement began to return.
“Forgive..."
“Shut your mouth. I will never forgive you for this. You will die here. You'll never get out of here alive. You'll starve to death, forever high on drugs that I'll stuff you with. You will die in such a cruel way that your soul will carry the trauma for the rest of its existence.”
“Please. I will do everything. I will set you free. I can set you free. You will no longer be a slave. I beg you.”
“Free me? From what I've heard, I've already been sold to some marquis.”
“I will cancel! I'll break the contract and help you escape. I really will. Just let me get out of here. Please. I'm begging you!” Promised Gaz, limping in his chair as much as his bonds would allow.
“Have a nice death.” Elrianthe replied, walking out of the cell.
“Wait! I'll do whatever you want! Just tell me what I have to do to get out, alive!”
'Bingo.' Thought Elrianthe, trying to hide a smile.
“There is only one option. Swear allegiance to me and become my servant. If you can't afford to serve me by giving your life as an apology, then you might as well die here and now in vain.” She said coolly.
“Fine. I pledge allegiance to you. I will serve you like the rest. I will do my best to repay you for what you have experienced.” Gaz pledged.
Elrianthe, no longer hiding her satisfaction, approached him and, placing her hand on his head, used her skills.
< Domination >
[ Gaz Prum Level 9 ]
[ Control: 70% ]
[ Class: Warrior ]
[ Life Points: 278/490 ]
[ Magic points: 32/50 ]
[ Status: physically and mentally exhausted by the torture you prepared for him ]
'Gosh, poor boy.' She thought, reading the contents of the status.
[ +45xp ]
Orc stronghold in the hills....
The chief of the tribe, Narzagul the Strong sat in a chair in front of his house, accompanied by his second wife, who served him. One of the guards approached the chief, bowed, and reported.
“My chief, our three hunters have not returned to the fortress for the night.” The orc announced.
“Were they the ones I sent personally?” Narzagul asked.
“Yes, chief.”
“Do you know what happened to them?”
“No, chief.”
“If they encountered the slayer of the Bear King, we may not see them again.” Said Shaman Urguluk, approaching slowly.
He was an old orc, but because of his knowledge and magical abilities, Chief Narzagul kept him in the village under his protection. Urguluk also served his father, who was his brother.
“You told me to check it myself.” Replied Narzagul.
“I know, my chief. We need to send someone stronger to find out what happened to the king and our hunters.” Urguluk suggested.
“Marguz!” The chief called out.
A tall and well-built orc approached them. Sweat trickled down his body, and dark blood flowed from numerous cut wounds. He was in the middle of sparring with another orc.
“Yes, father.” Marguz said.
“Tomorrow first thing in the morning, together with your cousin Struka, you will set out for the territory of the Bear King. Find our hunters and find out what happened there and who is responsible.” The chief ordered.
“Yes, father. I will avenge our kin.”
“Don't get into a fight. You are to return and report back. I will decide what to do next.”
“Yes, father. We will set out at dawn.”