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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bob Aberton" data-source="post: 1262050" data-attributes="member: 1518">Nicodemus,When you and the Orcs reach the GRACE, you find Mr. Lang on anchor-watch."You're out rather late, Mr. Arfaliunium," he says by way of greeting.  "I hope you weren't carous...."  his voice trails off as he sees the Orcs.  "Mr. Arfaliunium," he begins again, his voice even more frosty than ordinary.  "Have you turned slave-trader, or have you just...purchased a crew?"One of the Orcs, a tall well-built fellow by the name of Olaudah, chooses this moment to speak up."We no purchased - we's free Orcs.  We gon' work f'r wages, work 'board dis ship."Mr. Lang's expression turns from frosty to reminiscent of a Cape Tempest gale."Mr. Arfaliunium, a word?  In private, if you please."In the shadow of a companionway, he opens his mouth to give you one of his typical dressing-downs."Mr. Arfaliunium, just how did you come by these Orcs?  I have not thought there were above a handful of free Orcs in the Dim West and you turn up a dozen in this one small town?  A town, might I remind you, not known for its consideration of those of Orcish blood?  By Davy Jones, Mr. Arfaliunium, I cannot, cannot take refugees or escaped slaves on this vessel.  Not only is it highly illegal, but the Standishtown courts have been known to confiscate the cargoes of vessels carrying such 'free Orcs,' even to the extent of jailing those involved - which, might I remind you, would include all the officers and most of the crew of this vessel.No, sir, you know damned well what you must do.  Go out there and tell those Orcs - I don't know, tell them whatever you damned well wish, but get them away from this ship!  We cannot afford to be found harboring escapees at this time, or ever, for that matter, and I do not care if you think the law is unjust.  A law is a law, and I will not risk the success of this voyage for a handful of ex-slaves."As Mr. Lang continues in this vein for some time, you hear movement in the companionway, and the Captain appears in a dressing gown, blinking sleep out of his eyes and squinting at you in the light of a candle."Thought someone was gettin' a tongue-lashin'.  What's goin' on, eh?  An' why's there a crowd of Orcs sittin' on the docks out there?"Malachi,"De humans, dey calls me "Joseph," but when Ah was Orcling, my real name was Oshente, from dha Banti-Nyamba tribe."The Orcs set to casting loose warps and docklines, and within a few moments Standishtown is stricken with a strange lack of watercraft.You lead your makeshift flotilla, with "Joseph" Oshente as second-in-command, upriver, but you do not get far before warning arrows begin whistling over your heads.  The Orcs cower down on the bottom boards of rowboats and keg rafts and cover their heads for the most part, although Oshente and some of the more spirited Orcs stand up and wave their fists and oars in defiance.Soon, the banks of the river are swarming with elves, suddenly appearing from behind bush, tree, and rock, all armed, and looking very tense.  You recognize Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks among them.  He calls out to you."Have you come, then, with an army to destroy us?  I thought better of you, shaman of She who the Standishtowners call Calypso."</blockquote>

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