Three more days came and went. Amelia and Trillia would duo the dungeon during the day, while Trillia would sneak off to attempt a solo run at night. They hadn't beaten Stibs together yet. Nor had Trillia been able to overcome her fencing counterpart. The first time they fought, he hadn't used his enhancement mana at all. On the third attempt, he did, and it completely outclassed Trillia.

They were sitting at a table eating breakfast when a whistle sounded. Within seconds the camp was alert and arming itself. Trillia and Amelia stood, leaving their breakfast, and ran towards the edge of the scout camp.

They found Mon'tag standing at the edge of camp on a small tower. Eyes glowing brightly with the use of a skill. Amelia called up.

"What's happening, Lord Stonebearer?"

The man continued to peer out ahead before turning to look down at her. "People approach. We're trying to determine if it's friend or foe."

Trillia climbed halfway up the tower. But as she looked in the same direction that Mon'tag was, she could only see a bit of dust and tiny specks on the horizon. Mostly obscured by trees.

"I think that's our Exterminator!" came the cry from another scout in another tower.

Mon'tag leaned in, cursing under his breath. "How sure are you?"

"Looks like Ralrouk came. Look further into the sky. He's leaping."

After a few moments, Mon'tag let out another whistle. On his command, everyone began to filter back to their own duties. Mon'tag climbed down the tower, shaking his head.

"The bastard isn't even a scout, yet he can out move us almost every damn time. What I wouldn't give to see his stats and skills." he continued to grumble as he arrived on the ground. Casting a look toward Amelia and Trillia. "A couple of others are with him. Looks like one is carrying someone else. They should be here in an hour, with how quickly they are moving."

Trillia nodded excitedly. Almost skipping back to eat her breakfast. It wasn't even an hour before a resounding boom came from the center of camp. Ralrouk had landed. If the sound of his landing wasn't enough to alert people, the hearty belly laugh that had to be heard for miles certainly was. A few minutes later, another figure approached the camp. Ralrouk's voice was easy for Trillia to follow.

"Bwahaha, you're a bit slow there, boy. I know, I know, you're gonna say, 'Oh no bigger better brother, I was carrying someone. It wasn't fair.' As if that would have slowed me down a bit. You owe me dinner."

Trillia came into view of seeing them. Ralrouk looked no worse for wear, despite his massive size. Tormash set Ba'Shoon down and was catching his breath, his body covered in sweat.

Tormash nearly fell over as Ralrouk gave him a hearty slap on the back, the orc chuckling as he looked up. "Carrying Ba'Shoon was no problem. But. You are a damn cheater. You killed a raptor on the way to replenish your resources. I thought we said no fighting on the way?"

Ralrouk did his absolute best 'I'm totally innocent' face. He absolutely looked guilty. "Brother, you wound me. Do you truly think I'd ever stoop so low as to cheat, to get a free meal out of my favorite brother?"

"Your only brother."

"Thus my favorite."

"Bastard."

"Slowpoke."

They both stared at each other for a moment before laughing. Mon'tag approached as Trillia ran up to give them hugs. Happy to see her family. Ba'Shoon was very much so included.

Ralrouk gave her a big bear hug, lifting her off the ground in his arms. "How's my favorite sister doing? Beaten the dungeon into submission yet?"

Smirking as he set her down. Trillia shook her head as Mon'tag spoke up.

"Forgive me for interrupting. There are a few things I need to report to both of you, though. As Head Exterminator and Head Scout Master. Would you like me to let you rest and socialize first?"

Both Ralrouk and Tormash shook their heads, with Tormash being the one to speak up. "No. Our duty to the tribe comes before personal desires. Besides, we're both free for the next couple of months, we will have plenty of time to spend with Trillia. Give us your report, Lord Stonebearer."

Mon'tag bowed to them as he led them all away. Trillia held onto Ba'Shoon's hand. Amelia fell in next to Ba'Shoon, apparently quite friendly with her as well. Both of them enjoyed enchanting and bonded well over it during Trillia's metamorphosis.

Once inside a tent, Mon'tag spread out a map of the surrounding area. Tormash and Ralrouk stood at his sides. It was only now that Trillia realized how tall her siblings were. Mon'tag was closing in on seven feet. Ralrouk stood a head taller, and Tormash nearly towered over all of them like their mother did. Trillia enjoyed spending time with the goblins. They were folks she could see eye to eye with.

Mon'tag tapped on the map as he spoke. "This is the camp. This is the dungeon. Somewhere in this direction is the nest. One of the raiding monsters that the dungeon has; has been coming out to discuss things with the scout camp. We've even sent a few of our younger, more inexperienced scouts in to run the dungeon. So far, no one has cleared the boss and seen the core."

Mon'tag now motioned to Ralrouk. "Except you, of course. From reports, the dungeon desperately needs rich, loamy soil to grow food in. We've held off starvation of its creatures with trade and some berry plants. But that's it so far. The wolf hides that drop are a solid second-tier leather. On par with the armor, we make for our warriors. The copper trinkets are pure copper. We can't do anything with them here. But perhaps the minotaurs can melt it down and make something out of it?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Tormash looked at the map, running his fingers along its surface. "We can trade it to Kincairne. Lord Stas uses copper. Hundreds of pounds of the stuff at a time in his experiments. He's sent a message to Chieftain Amara. He hopes, by the year's end, he'll have some form of travel across the rifts that will repel mana sickness."

Mon'tag stiffened at the name. Licking his lips with a nod. "If anyone can sort it. Lord Stas is certainly the goblin to do so."

Ralrouk raised a brow, placing a heavy hand on Mon'tag's shoulder before leaning in to peer at the man's eyes.

"I'll be damned. A [Savage Orc]. I apologize if I came across as rude, Lord Stonebearer. Any information you could give us would be dearly appreciated." Everyone, except Mon'tag, stared at Ralrouk as if he had grown a second head. Ralrouk wasn't known to be formal or polite to anyone except his parents and King Cordaos.

Seeing their looks, Ralrouk let go of Mon'tag and explained. "[Savage Orcs] don't evolve in the Shattered Plains. They are from Chieftain Amara's original tribe. Before she became bonded. That means Lord Stonebearer is centuries old, just like our Chieftain is. He's also seen the rise and fall of tribes, of the [Primordials]. Why on Alirast are you acting as a Scout? Mother would give you any position you request."

Mon'tag shook his head, waving a hand in the air. "Chieftain Amara saved my life. More times than I care to count. My skills are vast and varied. Right now? Lady Amara needs scouts. If the time comes for war, I'll be a general or warband leader. If the exterminators fall, I'll do that. I owe Lady Amara my life and soul. I'm whatever the tribe needs, end of story."

Ralrouk bowed his head. No one else really wanted to question that. Mon'tag seeing they were satisfied, continued his line of thought. "Lord Stas is called the Tinkering Abomination. There's not a soul on all of Alirast who doesn't get nervous around him. Last I saw him, over a hundred years ago, he was approaching level twelve hundred. His arms were crushed and cursed, fighting the last [Primordial]. To fix the issue of not having arms, he developed a unique type of mana manipulation and grafted another set of arms onto his body. But he didn't stop there. When the Generals Four defeated a lava dragon, Stas claimed the wings. A month later, he was flying around with lava dragon wings ten times the size of his body. He had grafted those onto his form as well."

Everyone sat in silence, listening to the story. Trillia, most of all, was leaning in. No one really talked about the time of the 'Beast Generals', least of all Amara or Cordaos.

"Point is. Lord Stas is one of the best inventors I've seen. If he says, he'll have a way to cross the rift. He will. It's not a question of if. It's just a question of when. I'll warn all of you; be wary around him. He's an ally, sure. But he's also more than a little...crazy. His experiments are so dangerous that he lives three miles outside of Kincairne. As last time something went wrong, half the city went up in smoke."

They all nodded. Looking back at the map, not really sure what to say. Mon'tag tapped the dungeon once more. "We need to get soil. Or find some mushrooms or something that grows underground. I don't know of any on the surface. Maybe you can find something when you clear that nest out, Lord Ralrouk. This next part...This next part stays between those of us in this tent."

Mon'tag looked to each of them to see a nod before he continued. "There's another tribe, a day's march past the dungeon. They've tried to skirmish into it a few times, and I've repelled them. But I'm an old man, and I'm just one person. They refuse to negotiate, and they don't recognize the United Tribes Accords."

Ralrouk slammed a hand onto the table, eyes glowing red. "Show me where their tribe is on the map."

Mon'tag looked at him for a moment before nodding. Pointing out to a blank spot on the map. "I don't know what your levels are or your skills. Would you like help in...negotiations?"

Ralrouk shook his head. "No, but thank you for the offer Lord Stonebearer. There's a reason I don't bring a team with me. I'll return in three days to handle the nest. Apologize for the dungeon on my behalf for the wait. This tribe will either bend the knee to the accords or be wiped off the plains."

Trillia, rather curious, spoke up. "What are the accords? Why is it important that they are part of it?"

Tormash smiled and ruffled her hair. "The accords are something Mother put into place when she brought tens of thousands of orcs here. It's quite simple. In times of catastrophe, war, or invasion, all tribes are to operate under the Grand Chieftain's banner. The awakening of the [Primordial] that slumbers under the Shattered Plains counts as all three. Furthermore, and more importantly, if you ask Mother, the accords dictate that no tribe is allowed to have slaves of any kind. Prisoners of another tribe are released, ransomed, or executed. But are not to be branded or made to do slave labor."

Trillia nodded. "So, if they aren't part of the accords. There's a good chance they have slaves?"

Ralrouk nodded to her. Rummaging through a tiny pouch at his side, for an awkwardly long time, before pulling out a long ingot of metal, far too big for the pouch. He set it on the table with a heavy thud. "This is five pounds of steel. Found it in a dungeon a year ago, give or take. Tribute it to this dungeon in my name, both as an apology for the first time I came through, as well as an apology for not immediately doing my duty as an Exterminator."

Trillia shuffled around to his side, poking at the pouch. She stood on the bench he stood next to and reached her hand in. Ralrouk glared at her with a raised eye.

"It's quite rude to go through someone else's things."

Trillia shook her head defensively. "I don't want anything. Is this a storage item? I've heard people talk about them before!"

Ralrouk nodded, grabbing her arm and pulling it out of the bag. "Use your scan or whatever variant you have."

[Bottomless Hoard]

Quality: Above Average

Storage: 17/93

Trillia's smile grew wider. "Where did you find it? Did you make this yourself?"

Ralrouk shook his head once more. "I found it in a dungeon. Some dungeons are huge, sprawling things. There aren't many in the Shattered Plains, but I've traveled beyond them. Kincairne has sent for Exterminators before. So I've gotten the chance to see other places. Maybe this dungeon will get large enough and stay on good terms, and you can get one from here."

Trillia nodded excitedly at that. Ralrouk chuckled before looking at the others. "I'll be going. If I'm not back in three days. Assume they have someone capable of killing me. Alert Chieftain Amara. May the Axles watch over us." bowing his head before he turned and left without another word.

Mon'tag left the map out for the others to look at. "If it's alright with you, Lord Tormash. I'd like to be relieved from my post for a few days since you are here and capable. So that I may take care of some personal errands and rest."

Tormash nodded immediately. "Of course, Lord Stonebearer. I'll keep things running; take your time." Mon'tag nodded before leaving himself. Tormash sat at the table, rubbing his eyes.

Trillia sat next to him, patting his arm. "Everything will be fine. Ralrouk is strong; he'll be ok. The dungeon is very kind and very helpful. I've gotten a bunch of levels, and so has Amelia."

Amelia, having stayed silent so far, not really wanting to get wrapped up in orc politics, finally spoke. "It's been a learning experience, that's for sure. I've also begun mentoring one of the raiding goblins as a [Minstrel] so that they have some form of healing. They don't seem savage at all."

Ba'Shoon rubbed her chin as she looked at the map. Glancing at Tormash. "Do you mind if I go introduce myself, darling?"

Tormash looked into her eyes. Trillia could see some of the tension and stress flow away from him. "Not at all, dear. Why don't you take the girls? They can introduce you, and you can bring Ralrouk's steel with you. I have some things to do around the camp anyway so that Mon'tag can take an actual rest."

Everyone gave nods. Ba'Shoon leaned forward and gave Tormash a long kiss and a hug. The orc relaxed even more. Ba'Shoon scooped up the steel and motioned. "Let's go, ladies! To the dungeon!"