(Please read the author note today, thanks! )

The two girls sat atop a crude stone wall that ringed the orc camp.

Tormash's influence was already becoming apparent. More permanent housing was set up within the walls, and the nomadic tents that most orcs preferred dotted the landscape outside the walls. There were more minotaur and human houses and markets within the city proper as well.

Trillia looked out over the city with a smile on her face. "Sorry that I didn't really want to talk with anyone. Seeing Mon'tag and the other orcs like that... I just felt so small. It's the first time I've felt like that in a long time."

Amelia leaned against her slightly with a smile. "It's ok, Trillia. We're friends. I didn't much like to speak with anyone after Mom died. It hurts to lose people. It hurts even more to feel helpless. Our goal can be a simple one. Get strong enough that the two of us can kick that Immortal's ass and show him why you don't mess with mortals!"

Amelia's jovial tone and attitude was always somewhat infectious. Trillia was more than a little sure that it had something to do with her friend's classes and Presence. "Would you like to talk about the other issue that arose?"

The smile ran from Amelia's face, and she stared at Trillia for a few long moments before nodding. When she spoke, it was the softest of whispers. Trillia had to lean a little closer to hear. "Father and I made a trip to God's Watch. Sometime last year. It's not there anymore."

Trillia's eyes went wide, and she turned to face her friend fully. "What do you mean? How does an entire city vanish?!"

Amelia could only stare out into the tent city. Trillia didn't push her for more information. The two sat in silence for a while as Amelia tried to process the information she had. "It's like it was never there. The giant walls and labyrinth that I grew up in have been scrapped from the land. Thousands of nests instead rest in its place. The entire area was swarming with [Megapedes]. Other creatures that I didn't dare get close enough to scan. Father says that there was something else there, something sinister that he could feel poisoning the land."

Trillia sat in silence as she listened to her friend, closing her eyes and trying to imagine it. Trying to imagine going home, only to find your home isn't there anymore.

"We camped a few miles from the city. That night I was visited by a spirit. Something about the spirit felt so familiar, so safe. It beckoned me to follow it. Father told me that it was my choice to make. I'll be sixteen soon. In minotaur culture, that's when we are supposed to strike out on our own and feel the full weight of Alirast on our shoulders. So that we appreciate community and civilization more."

Amelia slowly swung her legs back and forth. Amelia's eyes glanced up and away from Trillia quite often. Trillia wondered if she was looking at the banshee when that happened.

"When I followed her, she brought me to a small shrine. Some pitiful little makeshift stack of stones. There was a minotaur skeleton there next to it. Most of its bones were broken. It had this clutched in one of its hands." Amelia pulled a silver pendant from under her shirt, two curled horns with a small little maze holding them both up. Trillia had seen the mark as one of the many that God's Watch had as its symbol.

"It's the symbol for the clergy of..." her voice trailed off a moment as a lump formed in her throat. "It was the symbol of the God's Watch clerics. The banshee that now follows and inhabits me used the last of her borrowed divinity to lay the other restless souls to rest. So that they could move on from Alirast to better places. But her fury, anguish, and sorrow refused to let her move on. I agreed to let her possess me. I vowed that I'd walk Alirast until the creatures responsible for the death of our home were struck down. It had some rather drastic changes to my species, subspecies, and available classes."

Trillia wrapped her arms around Amelia's neck and hugged her. "I'm sorry. That I wasn't around to help you through that. I'm sorry for questioning you. I shouldn't have."

Amelia returned the hug with a smile and a sniffle. "Don't be silly. You spent years fighting the undead. I didn't fault you for your worry and doubt. I'm just grateful that our friendship came first, and you didn't assume the worst and attack. Truth be told, I don't know if I can ever keep that promise. To myself or the cleric that inhabits me. But I'm going to try."

Trillia squeezed a little tighter before sitting back down next to Amelia. "I guess that just means that our promise changes from getting God's Watch back; To avenging it. I want to tell you something. But I need you to promise you won't tell anyone else."

As she turned to look at Amelia, the girl nodded. "I won't tell if you don't."

Trillia smiled and returned the nod. She proceeded to tell Amelia of her many encounters with Lethe and the visions she had been shown over the years, in addition to her most recent kidnapping to some deific realm. Amelia sat there with a stoic demeanor. Taking in the new information. As Trillia finished the tale, she let loose a heavy sigh as if some weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "We can't do this alone, Amelia. Our families are well beyond our power, so if we ask them for help, I know they would. But we wouldn't grow."

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Amelia nodded, putting a hand on Trillia's shoulder and giving it a comforting little squeeze. "Let's find a few more people then. People who have a good reputation in both cities that are near our level. I'm sure there are many people who would be willing to join the two of us in getting stronger and leveling. We should also ask your brothers about party compositions. Father sort of just does everything himself, given his level. I know that your brothers have more experience in a group. Though, maybe not Ralrouk."

Trillia nodded as well. Standing up and dusting herself off before offering a hand to help Amelia stand. "I think that's a good idea. I worked with Ralrouk, Kismet, and Maldoun quite often. But Ralrouk's level, traits, and classes made him significantly stronger than the rest of us. I think we need someone sturdy who can take a lot of hits and probably someone who can heal. You're good at buffing and damage. All I'm really good for is damage."

Amelia grabbed her hand and smirked as Trillia leaned backward to help tug her friend up. Amelia stood, and the two began walking towards the ladders leading off the wall. "I think that's a start. We'll see what Tormash has to say. Assuming that he's not too busy with Chieftain duties."

The two set off towards the Chieftain's hall. As the guards saw them coming, they cleared a path and waved the two in. A few people complained, but one of the orc guards informed them that it was the Princess of the Minotaurs and the Chieftain's sister. The complaints were significantly more quiet after.

The hall was a long rectangular room. Large pillars with spiraling stairs held dozens of seats for people to sit in attendance. A large table took up a huge portion of the inner hall, covered in neat stacks of papers and books. A thin piece of what looked like glass sat atop the table while an ever-changing map shimmered within. Trillia could see thousands of runes etched into the table and the edges of the glass itself. Mana was being pumped in from Tormash and Ba'Shoon to keep the thing aglow.

Currently, the hall was empty, save for the two of them and Ralrouk. Upon their approach, Tormash gave a weary smile. "I hope the two of you are well." Ba'Shoon took a much more forward approach of walking over and giving the two of them hugs. Trillia happily returned the hug before climbing onto a chair to better see the map and table.

"I was hoping I could ask your advice on something. I guess, sort of all of you." The three looked at each other and nodded. Trillia shared a look with Amelia, who nodded as well before Trillia continued. "Amelia and I need to find people near our level. Our progress is too slow, with just the two of us. When any of you, or Kismet and Maldoun, are in our party, the level difference really shines through and makes it difficult to progress. Even just the level difference between Amelia and I can be a strain at times. We wanted to know what all of you thought of the type of people we should seek out to make us a better group."

Ba'Shoon tilted her head slightly, looking at the two boys first. She spoke, seeing them giving it more thought. "Someone who has a blacksmithing or armourer class and a cleric or priest of some kind. Probably a cleric, given your fighting styles."

That surprised everyone. Trillia was happy to voice their shared thoughts. "Why a blacksmith or armourer?"

"A running problem with orcs, and minotaur to a lesser extent, is that our armor is makeshift leather or stone. It's weak, easy to breach for most creatures, and often gets run down during extended dungeon runs. That's because, for the longest time, you've all only used the general skills associated with those professions. A high-level armourer can use their mana and skills to fully repair the worst damaged armor in seconds. If they have a few hours during camp, they can buff the armor to be on par with most magical gear, and if the gear is already magical or enchanted, it just compounds the protection."

Ba'Shoon waved her hand somewhat lazily in the air. "If you're willing to go up to five people. I'd say find an Enchanter as well. Most enchanters will jump at the chance to be included in a full group because they can use monster corpses to fuel enchantments instead of their own mana and power. It lets them level significantly faster, and whatever group they are with gets enchanted gear. Albeit, most of the enchantments are haphazard at best. Still, a leather tunic that has a protection enchantment and ice resistance is better than a plain leather tunic. If you have an armourer and an enchanter, your entire party becomes significantly more durable. A Cleric is just a more sturdy and battle-focused priest. Most healers are going to be followers of a god. Divine healing is just significantly more potent than nature-based healing."

Ralrouk chuckled and shook his head. "I love Mother dearly, but I sometimes wonder what our people could have accomplished had we been allowed the full freedom of classes."

Tormash shrugged. "Remember where she comes from and what she's accomplished. She only sought to help our people. Sometimes the worst things imaginable happen with the best of intentions, brother."

Ralrouk nodded. "I think Ba'Shoon has the best of it. Before she joined our clan and tribe, she often delved into dungeons with humans. From what Kismet tells me, the humans have a place called an Adventurer's Guild. Adventurers are a bit like our Scouts, except they aren't put into groups by the leaders. They sort of choose who to group with themselves, and the guild hands out missions based on the collective level of the group. Maybe D'Jamu will be your best bet."

Tormash scratched his chin a moment before speaking up. "Forgive me for being greedy. I'd ask that you not find your people in D'Jamu. There are many young orcs, minotaurs, and humans here who are seeking those types of professions. As a Chieftain, I, of course, want to help the desert city and keep good relations..."

Trillia grinned and finished the sentence for him. "As an orc, you'd rather see our people rise to the challenge so that other orcs see the value in those classes." Tormash nodded with his own grin. "We'll do our best to find people from this city to help us."

Ba'Shoon spoke up again. "Ask Sir Gobbinz. That little goblin is rapidly becoming entirely too familiar with matters of state and diplomacy. I think he has a trait that gives him a perfect memory because I've seen him interacting with dozens of people over the years, and he remembers every detail about them. You already have a good rapport with the dungeon, be honest with it, and I'm sure it will help you."

Trillia and Amelia bowed. Amelia spoke up. "Is there anything the council needs from us? For taking up your time?"

Tormash chuckled and shook his head. "No, just make an effort to recruit from our people. That's all I ask."

The two girls nodded and took their leave, heading off toward the dungeon.