Chief Richard waved goodbye to his companions as they made their way to their various errands. Although not religious, he offered a silent prayer to the Orc Gods. Being in a human town, human-orc relations were not at their peak. However, there had been gradual improvements since the bygone days of the orc wars, which now lay a generation behind them.
The Battle Axe tavern was a short walk for Richard. Locating it proved effortless, as the door proudly displayed a sign portraying two battle axes crossed in a symbol of strength. It occurred to him that they should have their own distinctive sign, but he decided to set aside that idea for a later discussion with the others.
Richard braced himself and entered the boisterous tavern, taking a deep breath. To his surprise, the entire establishment fell into an eerie silence. He held his breath, admitting that this might not have been the best idea. Surveying the inn, he noticed that every gaze was fixated on the stage. A tall elf was meticulously tuning her string instrument. Nobody glanced at the imposing figure of the seven-ish-foot tall orc chief. Finally, Richard exhaled, relieved by the lack of attention.
He navigated through the tavern towards the back and observed the surroundings. The interior design perfectly complemented the establishment’s name—battle axes adorned the walls, with two formidable specimens crossed and suspended above the magnificent hearth. Richard admired the attention to detail in the décor.
Richard located an unoccupied table directly across from the stage, providing him with an excellent vantage point to observe the stage, the audience, the bar, and a nearby window that could serve as a quick escape route if necessary. Surprisingly, despite his presence, nobody spared even a fleeting glance in his direction. However, once the elf began her musical performance, Richard understood the reason for everyone’s undivided attention. The entire tavern, including Richard himself, was enthralled.
In the heart of the ancient woods we dwell,
Where enchantment blooms and secrets swell.
Weaving tales of the lands we’ve seen,
Of emerald plains and mountains serene.
Sing with me, my elven kin,
Of the woods, the plains, and mountains high.
In harmony, let our voices blend,
As we celebrate the land and sky.
Through the verdant plains, we dance and roam,
A boundless sea of grass, our second home.
Under golden sun and silver moon,
We frolic free to nature’s tune.
Sing with me, my elven kin,
Of the woods, the plains, and mountains high.
In harmony, let our voices blend,
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As we celebrate the land and sky.
From the highest peaks, we gaze upon,
A world of beauty, our hearts are drawn.
To the realms below, we send our song,
A melody that echoes long.
In the arms of the mountains, we find our rest,
Cradled in stone, our spirits are blessed.
Through caverns deep and cliffs that soar,
We embrace the land we so adore.
Sing with me, my elven kin,
Of the woods, the plains, and mountains high.
In harmony, let our voices blend,
As we celebrate the land and sky.
So, gather ’round, my elven kin,
Let our voices join in the symphony.
In the woods, the plains, and mountains grand,
We’ll sing our love for land and sea.
A wave of applause engulfed the crowd, a symphony of heartfelt appreciation filling the air. In this emotive display, Chief Richard, known for his stoic disposition, felt a stirring within his soul, his eyes welling up against his hardened facade. Although the melody that graced the tavern lacked the thunderous might of the age-old Orc Warsongs, its sheer beauty possessed a magical power, transcending time and space to whisk Richard away to the sprawling, untamed plains that he called home. In that transcendent moment, an unforeseen surge of creativity ignited within him—a rare spark among orcs, one that he couldn’t help but blame Bob for. He realized they needed a singer to serenade the diverse creatures waiting in line. This, he contemplated, could serve as a means to temper the rowdiness of late.
Richard’s idea started taking shape when a towering figure suddenly obstructed his view of the elf on stage. He glanced upward to meet the gaze of a strong, muscular woman standing before him, hands on hips and a piercing stare. Richard felt a surge of tension, unsure whether to fight or flee.
“How are you doing? Enjoying the show?” The woman inquired as she placed the menu on the table. Her voice carried a friendly warmth. “I’m Batty. Can I start you off with an ale?” Richard nodded, and she replied, “I’ll be right back. Take a look at the menu if you want something else.”
Richard looked down at the menu. His first thought was, I’d know what this said if I could read. He wasn’t as smart as Bob, who could count, but he did learn a few words. Inspecting the menu, he made out that there was some kind of sandwich, something about flying, and maybe bread. He shrugged and decided to wing it.
Batty returned, carrying a generous serving of ale. “Any questions?” she inquired.
Richard gave a quick thought and then decided to let fate take over. Unbeknownst to Richard, the Goddess Fate was in a good mood. Pointing to the menu, he confidently declared, “I’ll have this and this.”
Batty smiled, “Great. You’ll love our wings and pretzel bites. How do you want your wings, plain, mild, or hot?”
Richard didn’t like cold food, so he said, “Extra hot, please.”
The woman grabbed the menu and shouted to the kitchen, “Dad, we’ve got a lively one! Extra hot wings!” The tavern erupted in a cheer. Richard hoped leaving this up to fate wasn’t a mistake. Unfortunately for Richard, Goddess Fate was in an unusually jovial mood.
Batty made her way into the back where her dad was cooking. Her dad was a giant of a man. His beard and hair were gathered into hair nets. His eyes always looked to be different sizes. He laughed manically when she entered the kitchen, “What fool ordered the extra hot?”
Batty pointed back into the crowded tavern, “The orc.”
The man peeked into the tavern. He was surprised to hear an orc was in the tavern. No orc had ever been in his tavern before. He squinted his eyes and gave the orc a piercing stare. Richard’s spine shivered, and he didn’t know why. The man’s eyes went wide with madness. “Richard!” he bellowed and charged out of the kitchen.