After Rick sat Jala down and explained everything that happened today and what would likely be happening from now, or at least in the short term, he left and went back to the small little clearing.
He then tried to gather all the bodies of the Orc corpses but Kris and Krel ending up almost begging him to allow them to do it, and both of them worked quickly to get all of them piled up.
Once the pile was ready, Rick set it ablaze but in a controlled manner.
Eventually all the bodies were burned up and the night atmosphere was calm once again.
‘Jala was a little shocked and frightened huh Velora.’
[I’d say he was a bit more than a little frightened.]
‘Hm you think so?’
[Rick he threw up. Twice.]
‘Well…’
[Then he fainted.]
‘Um….’
[Then proceeded to throw up again once he woke up.]
‘Okay fine I get it, he was extremely frightened. Well I guess it makes sense in a way. He has lived his whole life under oppression from Orcs, and all the Goblins who came before him lived the same life, so it’s been generations of oppression that he’s faced.
‘Yet out of nowhere, a new Goblin shows up out of what was supposed to be a deadly forest for Goblins and gives him hope of a better life about eventually leaving the plains, then fast forward a bit and more Goblins he’s never seen before show up at his doorstep about a mission to take me back to some faraway lands.
And then to add fuel to the fire…his oppressors were not only near his home in force…but they were massacred by the very Goblins he hoped would lead him away from here…yup I can see how that would cause him a lot of stress in the moment.
[It’s good that you realize.]
‘Yeah yeah yeah…wait whats that over there?’
[It appears Rogu and the others have returned, wait no I am wrong. Only the Greater Hobgoblins Loruk and Surgsha are accompanying the group of Goblins. Will you go greet them?]
‘No, if they need me, they know where I am, no need to bother them…I’m a little curious about why its only those two traveling with the group but based on what I can see from here they don’t look to be wounded or anything.’
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…..
Going back to after shortly after Rogu left with the remaining members of the Royal Retrieval Team…
POV Rogu
“You said his flames were empowering you?”
“Yes Captain…I felt strong…stronger than I’ve ever felt before.”
“Wow…you felt this too Surgsha?”
“Yes Captain, it really was an amazing feeling. To be strengthened by the Future King himself! Though…I did feel a bit weakened afterwards, but it wasn’t too bad. Just means theres a cost to get that strength. It still feels amazing though and I would do it a million times if the Future King wished for it.”
“…and then after one of his Royal Guards died, he essentially went berserk, and the Orcs went mad, and he proceeded to brutally destroy them?”
“Yes Captain. It was a beautiful sight to watch our Future King enact his wrath on the Orcs. They don’t deserve a shred of our mercy.”
‘Dammit…I missed it all. To be able to watch him in all his glory, dismantling his enemies. Not only that…but to be strengthened by him as well! I am jealous…I shouldn’t feel jealous of my brethren but I am. I too would like to witness the Future King in action. Dammit. I really do hope we find Orcs on this mission. I need to release this frustration.’
“Captain.”
“Hm?”
“Was it the best decision to leave the Future King with only Kris and Krel? He sent away his Royal Guards, and the others are traveling into the forest to build an Outpost. Shouldn’t we have stayed behind? Or perhaps all travel together?”
“You make good points Loruk, and while I am currently the Captain of the Royal Retrieval Team, first and foremost I am a General. A General has to know when it wise to advise, versus when it would be better to simply follow orders. In serving my father for all these years, there are things I’ve picked up on, to help guide these choices.
“And based the look the Future King was giving me, and the tone of his voice, I knew in that moment I was simply to follow the orders I was given. And there is no greater authority to me, than the words of our Future King. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes it does, thank you Captain.”
The small group continued their journey westwards from Jala’s tribe, and eventually they came upon the first tribe in this direction.
“Captain…”
“I see them…Three Orcs. 1 Tier 4, and 2 Tier 3s. They don’t seem to be collecting tributes of any kind. Just patrolling the area. Hm. Let’s assume they have means of communication, and there are others nearby. Take them out the Tier 3s quickly and quietly. I will handle the Tier 4.”
No response was needed, and the team did indeed move quickly and quietly, and before the Orcs even truly realized what had come down on them, two of them were breathing no more, and the lone Tier 4 was missing his arms and his neck was firmly in the grasp of Rogu.
“Loruk, Surgsha, find the elder of the tribe, calm them down, figure out what they know and prepare them for the move. Do not hurt or scare our brethren unnecessarily but we have no time to waste so be a bit forceful if you must.”
“Yes Captain.”
“Yes Captain.”
“Now you…nod once if you speak my tongue.”
*A Frantic Nod follows.*
“Good…let’s have a chat. From this point on, nod once for yes, and twice for no. Understood? Good. Are there more of you in the area?”
*Nod*
“Stronger than Tier 4?”
*Nod…Nod”
“I see. Are they in the other tribe?”
*Nod*
Rogu then snapped his neck and dropped him to the floor.
‘Hmm, let’s assume there is one stronger than Tier 4. I’m confident in my ability to kill a Tier 5 Orc, but Tier 6 would be a fight to the death but I can likely cause severe injuries. Anything higher than Tier 6 is a death sentence. Alright I know what to do.’