A few hours after Trillia had settled down, she once more sat at a table. On her side were Kismet and Maldoun, and on the other were Amara, Amelia, Varga, and Gobbinz.

"Lord Arlyss sent us here as a way to rest and a way for Kismet and Maldoun to experience orc culture. I believe we're preparing for a war on our continent as well. We recently ran into a huge [Primordial Spawn]. In addition to that, a pact-bound undead lich called the Sage is hunting me."

"Do you need our help with the Sage?"

Amara's question surprised Trillia. The last time she had been home, they were in a sort of all hands at the ready for the primordial threat. "I think we'll be ok. I wouldn't want to pull any warriors away from home and leave it vulnerable."

Varga chuckled at that. "Come. There's something I want to show you. Courtesy of your new patron." Standing and motioning for her to follow. Trillia glanced at the others before she stood, Ialu at her side. The two followed her father. As she was led further from the table and initial meeting spot, Trillia realized it wasn't just the small little camp outside of the dungeon. It was a huge orc tent city.

Varga led them to a large stone archway covered in runes. Guards stood to either side of it. The stone archway itself sat on a large circle of granite that was always heavily etched. "This leads to the rift city. The minotaur people inhabit it. After you left, the boys had a long talk with your Mother and I. We realized that we were pushing orcs into something they aren't meant to be. Shackling them to a city and high walls and stifling their freedom."

Varga looked at the gate for a moment before turning to look at Trillia. "Tormash wants to start his own tribe at some point. I don't blame him. For now, he's sticking with us. Under the circumstance that we allow groups to come and go like they used to and pursue any classes they want. The range we're letting individual tribes wander is limited for safety. But things are closer to how they were back before the cataclysm."

Amara moved up next to Varga with a smile on her face. "In my zeal to safeguard our people, I was doing more harm than good. Young Arlyss was kind enough to remind me of his father and what orcs stand for."

Amara stared at Trillia for a moment. Thinking carefully about her next words. "I won't ask you to come home or break your word. I would ask that you visit us often. " She glanced at the others present before closing her eyes and continuing. "I'm stepping down as Elder Chieftain. I had begun making plans for it anyway. Expecting to sacrifice myself to clear the [Primordial] threat. I think Tormash is ready to lead. Ralrouk will be an amazing general, and Ba'Shoon will make a popular head shaman."

Varga took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. "Our hope is that you'll come by once a month. Your mother and I are going to do some adventuring and traveling. It's been decades since either of us has left the Shattered Plains."

Trillia's smile grew by the second. She ran over and hugged them both. "I think that's a great idea! You could come to D'Jamu and see the glass spire! Plus, the food is amazing!"

Kismet stepped forward and bowed. "I'm sure Lord Arlyss would be happy to have the two of you visit. I know it's a drain on his resources to use divinity to maneuver us. But I think he'd find it acceptable."

Varga gave the woman a slight nod. "This portal is an interesting piece of technology. Apparently, the dragon god that caused the cataclysm has an incredible wealth of knowledge available. Young Arlyss is trying to find a way to incorporate it into mortal living."

Trillia walked over to the portal and leaned in, inspecting the runes.

[Mana Rift Gate]

This link creates a tunnel of mana and divinity to another Mana Rift Gate. These objects can only exist in close proximity to a Mana Rift, as the ambient mana required to work is too large for most creatures to feed it. The closer to a Mana Rift it is, the faster it charges. Once fully charged, the tunnel can be opened for an hour, and any number of creatures can pass through.

Current Charge Rate: 1 Hour out of every 12.

Trillia looked over at Amara, who had joined her. The others had begun discussing travel plans. Gobbinz seemed excited to ask his 'Father' if it was ok if he went with them. Maybe he could bargain with the desert humans to bring back new and unique things for the dungeon. Amelia was also interested in going, if for no other reason than to be close to Trillia.

"I'm proud of you, Mom. I know you care about our tribe. I know it can't be easy to step down as our leader." Trillia scooted a little closer and spoke softly.

Amara put her arm around Trillia's shoulder and pulled her close. Leaning over to place a kiss on the top of her head. "The fact that you still say our tribe and our people brings me great joy. I think... I think you suddenly leaving, combined with Tormash, Ralrouk, and Ba'Shoon bringing up starting an independent tribe, really shocked me. No one really wanted to challenge me for leadership, they knew it was a losing battle, and it would just breed distrust. I think it being my children who left made it very clear I wasn't being the leader our people need right now."

Amara sighed softly, her free hand gently running across the runes. "I will always love the Shattered Plains, and I will always be here for our people. But I think Varga and I need to get away for a bit, just for us. I know I've said it before, but I want you to understand you can always come to me for help. I don't want you to think I don't care or that I don't love you."

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Trillia leaned into her more. "I don't. I promise I'll ask Lord Arlyss about visiting every month. Maybe he and I can find a way to utilize my mana pool to do it. So that it's not so much of a drain on him. Once you and Dad are ready to visit, I'll show you around. Maybe by then, we'll have dealt with the Sage."

Amara wrapped her up in both arms and hugged her tight. "So. Official business. There is no new movement on the [Primordial] front. Brutus is in Kincairne, and they are handling the defense well. We've also finally gotten word from Kadessa. Evidently, Queen Alliyah is researching other ways to seal the [Primordials] as well. So that future mortals of Alirast don't have to rely on deity intervention. Though, I'm sure Arlyss already knows about all of that. I guess just tell him that his orc and minotaur allies stand strong and thank him for his support."

Trillia nodded into the hug. Pulling away and motioning to Kismet and Maldoun. "I'd like to show them around the orc camp if that's ok with you. D'Jamu only recently made it so slavery was a bad thing. I think it would do them some good to see a free people."

Amara stood and took Trillia's hand. "Well, let's go and show them around. I think Gobbinz wants to speak with you as well. Varga and I have done a few runs through his dungeon. It's coming along nicely. I think the dungeon's plan is to help us against the [Primordial] though I'm not sure how it intends to do that. Oh! I wanted to ask, what is your divine skill?"

"Fountain of Lethe. I haven't used it yet. It stops me from gaining experience for a whole day, but it says it will answer any question I have for it, within my ability to deal with the answer." Trillia brought the skill up in her mind and gave her mother a brief rundown on it. The two joined the others.

Kismet and Maldoun still seemed on edge. Trillia offered them a big smile. "Come on. We're going to go explore the orc encampment a bit and grab some food. Afterward, if Gobbinz and his father are ok with it, I'd like to introduce you to Father Red River."

The two exchanged a glance and bowed respectfully. Ialu kneeled in front of Trillia and let her crawl up. Gobbinz kept glancing over at the wolf but said nothing.

With that, their little group moved from near the portal out into the city of tents. The orcs were in much higher spirits. Despite having human guests, they waved or bowed. It was nearing dinner time, and Trillia was happy with all of the familiar smells. Orcs mostly ate stew or smoked meat, but it was prepared differently enough amongst groups that it never felt bland to her.

Kismet stopped next to one of the lovax. Running her fingers along its shell. "These are the shells your people use on the tents? Do you breed them?"

Trillia looked up to Amara, who was happy to fill their guests in. "We do, yes. But they are also plentiful on the Shattered Plains. The lovax are rarely hunted by the megapede population. I'm not entirely sure why, honestly. The lovax are docile creatures that usually just roll into a ball and roll away when danger is present. Their shells make excellent canopies of tents since they can be rolled into a ball. We use a combination of lovax plates, leather, and megapede chitin for our armor. Have either of you ever faced a megapede?"

Both shook their heads. Trillia was happy to explain what she knew about the creature to them. Maldoun raised a brow. "And your children are forced to fight these creatures?"

Trillia interjected before anyone could take offense. "We're put in a position to get a racial passive and better class options as children. But there are always adults nearby to ensure death rarely happens." Trillia glanced up at Amara. "It's a difficult time for parent and child alike. But I think it's worth it."

Kismet nodded. "Orcs are notoriously resilient creatures. I'm surprised that the orcs and minotaur are allied. It was to my understanding that neither was..." Kismet stopped and looked at Trillia, switching to the human language. "Amicable?" Once Trillia gave her the same general word in orcish, she returned to speaking in the orc language. "Neither was amicable to one another."

Varga chuckled and motioned for them to all take up seats near an empty campfire. "When their leaders are above level seven hundred and are both generals of the great beast wars, they tend to be amicable to anything they are told. Our species believes that our rulers should be some of our strongest members. Orcs won't follow a weakling, neither will Minotaur."

Amelia spoke up at that. "In God's Watch, we had a council, but Father was still King and had final say. Even now, in the Rift City, it's the same way. We establish a council so that every section of the city can be represented and have a voice, but father can still choose to do as he pleases. It's my experience living in both cultures. Orcs respond to strength and courage, while Minotaurs respond to strength and reasoning. But as General Varga said. Neither of our people will tolerate a weak leader for long. Our laws ensure that you can always invoke trial by combat to usurp leadership."

Kismet and Maldoun sat next to each other. Trillia pumped mana into the pot and fire runes. Varga and Amara began grabbing vegetables and meat. Kismet looked at them oddly. "You don't have cooks do this? You're rulers."

Amara smirked at the question. "We're orcs. Before I am Chieftain I am an orc." Looking at Trillia now with a hint of sadness. "Before I am a mother, I must be an orc. It's how our people survived centuries of warfare and slavery. Whether it is a child or an elder, all of us must know how to fight. And all of us must know the basics of survival."

Varga continued her line of reasoning as he stepped over Ialu to dump vegetables into the pot. Ialu had chosen to lie directly next to the fire. This climate was a bit chilly for her. "Almost every orc on the Shattered Plains knows basic cooking, herbalism, and alchemy. Many of us also know basic smithing and tailoring as well. We live in small pockets, only a few hundred orc strong."

Maldoun sat in front of a stone bench and leaned his back on it. "I guess that's smart. With fewer people, you need to ensure every role in an encampment can be filled."

Gobbinz pulled some odd-looking plant out of a pouch at his side and extended it to Amara. Again the little goblin kept glancing at Ialu. Amara took the plant and crumpled it up in her hands. Then rubbed her hands together, turning the plant essentially into dust. Trillia walked over to the goblin and peered at him.

[Proud Goblin - Dungeon Ambassador - 61] Mind Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Pact-Bound (Dungeon)

Linguistic Specialist

Charming

Trillia grinned as she saw the traits, leaning in close and speaking softly so as not to interrupt the ongoing conversation. "What's a Linguistic Specialist? How do I get it?"

Gobbinz turned to her with a grin of his own. "I'm not sure. Maybe if you visit us, you'll find out."

Trillia's grin turned into a mischievous giggle. "Fine. A reward for clearing floor two."

The conversation continued as the stew began to cook. Ialu had become part of the landscape. Happy to snore quietly next to the heat source as everyone else held conversations. About classes or skills. Adventures they had been on, things they had seen. Amelia and Trillia sat next to Ialu, using the large wolf as a backrest and catching up on the past few months. Trillia felt at ease.