Chapter 3

The newly-formed orc monk steps forward. Ai vould normally leaf theese parrt tu Tomas, but vee need jour hhelp. Berrda Treding Post hhas been onder attack by some necromancer searching for thheese creestal.

He gestures to Tomas to show the Shard.

"I can clarify my friend Yorrick's and my presence. My name is Stalwart Jond. I was following a calling from my god, Rao, to travel north, when I met Yorrick. The two of us were pulled into the Feywild for some time, then we ended up in your castle. To not remember experiences in the Feywild is not uncommon."

Ay, ve arre not shoor. Perhheps Tomas ken speek tu hees talking creestal and tell ju.

Yorrick looks quizzically at Herod, then to Tomas, then back to Herod.

Did you just say that you're taking directions from a talking crystal? Better yet, you are taking directions from a guy that is talking to a rock?

Tomas just stares at Alik. It was one thing to see a projected image of him, another to see the wizard in the flesh. Intellectually, he knows that Arwen, who he's trusted up until this point, is also a wizard. Also, as Spring has reminded him so many times, he's a magic user too now, but still... Tomas, even with as crappy a memory as he used to have, can't help but overlay Alik's form with those of all the arcane murderers who died and killed in front of him. It's hardly different at all. His hand clenches and releases several times as he stares. Suddenly, he realizes that people are talking to and about him.

"Ah, yes, sorry. I have become the partner of a magical crystal. It can speak to me and helped fix my head and it does other things too. It's told me of many dangers that its creator from a long time ago fought against. Now it seems that world-ending danger is looming again. Me and my companions - well, just Herod now; we've met many new people along our way to you - were attacked in the dead of night by creatures whose master wants to take the crytsal - whose name is Spring, by the way. Now because of the fact that we stayed there, the entire Berda Trading Outpost and those nearby are under threat. Maybe even you, Tomas hesitates for a second, before coming up with a word, "Knowledgeable Alik might come under attack. Though your power might be beyond theirs. At any rate, myself, Herod, and Ronda-" Tomas points out each of the company mercenaries, "-are looking for intel on this enemy and any powerful help that you can provide either out of the goodness of your heart or for prices that the Western Trading Company will probably be happy to negotiate on. I... think that's it, though Spring will probably tell me I've missed something shortly. Um, did you have any questions... Knowledgeable Alik?"

Tomas reaches up to scratch through a non-existent beard, turning the motion into a stroke of his chin.

Ay! Can ju please geev is somesing to hhelp weeth ze undead?

After thinking a moment, the new orc flips his coin and an idea forms!

Tomas, show hheeem how ze creestal creates skeltons. Perhheps Aleek ken enelize zet megick.

Tomas nods curtly as Alik astutely determines his background. Well, if the man does harbor a hidden grudge about that, there's nothing Tomas can really do now.

After Herod speaks up, the elven man turns to the orc-ish monk, "Sorry, Herod. I need to rest and get back my energy before doing that again. Also, I could be wrong but I don't think it's the same type of magic. Not exactly. They're both in the same school... the school of unlife, the proper magic name for it being... neck-romancing? But I think the methods are different. Right, Spring?"Returning his focus to Alik, "Even if you have nothing to 'give,' just having advance warning on threats would be an incredible help. Would you somehow be able to send a quick message to Berda if you see any future threats?"

The smile disappears from Stalwart. "Undead and orcs? No wonder the Fey sent me here. This dual threat must be thwarted immediately. The Fey's ways may be incomprehensible most times, but I believe their ultimate aims are pure."

What are we to do with all these collected people? Is there a safe place to go?

Might it be better to spend the time setting up a defensive position?

"Perhaps we can find a way to remove whatever, or whoever, is uniting the orc tribes."

Tomas blinks and smiles wide with great sincerity at Alik's words, before bowing and stepping back among his newfound companions.

In the morning he awakes late to find his beard having regrown at night. Scratching through it, he thinks about the curiosity of magic.

Coming in late to breakfast, he finds the others discussing and wondering about the next steps people should take.

"Well, I haven't talked too much about it with Herod and Ronda, but I think our plan was to head back to Berda after asking Mage Alik for help. Check on how things are going before deciding our next step. Though, since Alik is going there, maybe we're not needed. But if Arwen is going to accompany his master and you two were headed to Berda for your own reasons, then it would make good sense to travel together. Especially if you're going to be joining the efforts to protect the outpost. Stick with each other. What are your thoughts?"