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Message: <blockquote data-quote="seasong" data-source="post: 503018" data-attributes="member: 5137">The PCs did not witness this directly, but as they got to know Olgah, came to understand it. This is a vignette from the orc's point of view. I like orcs.Mountain Thunder: Rich Orc CultureOlgah surveyed more slaves with a critical eye. She was a powerful shaman, she wanted good slaves. Olgah's slaves were usually women. Women were smarter, in her opinion.Today, however, was tiring. Too many slaves to choose from. She had to pick the best, or risk ridicule, but there were so many!Then she saw them. Two girls, huddled together, one tall and defiant, the other small and near tears. That was not important. What was important was what the spirits whispered to her - these two were mages.Olgah nodded to herself in satisfaction, a small smile on her face. She had always admired what the mages of Theralis could do, had even considered taking a few years off to live amongst the smelly humans to learn it herself. And so many days ago, she had seen one in combat, burning several warbands to death with his spells.It had been so unfortunate that she had been unable to acquire that one.But these two would do.She examined them carefully (somewhat appalled when she learned that one - the smaller, tearful one - was, despite appearances, male), and found them healthy enough and pretty enough for her status, and spoke to the orc selling them."Why do you want these two, shaman? They are weak. I should keep them, for shame in having caught them.""Hmph. You have no pride? They are very adequate. I will not require heavy chores of them. I have a small cave, light things. Give these to me.""I fear only that you will be angry with me later, when they break. This one," he pointed at Greppa, "gave up without a fight. The other only ran. I could not give such weak gifts to a shaman. My prey will laugh at me.""I do not ask you to give weak gifts. I see into their spirit, and they are good gifts." Olgah considered for a moment, her brow furrowed, and the orc did not interrupt her. Interrupting the shaman while she thought was an age-old hazard that all young orcs knew of. "Give these to me. I will promise not to be angry at you for their nature. And I will speak to the spirits on your behalf. I will tell the prey how mighty you are, and tell them why these two are a good capture. The prey will not laugh at you. The prey will seize with fear when you come, and fall dead at your feet."The orc nodded, and the trade was made. He regretted losing two such pretty trinkets, but the shaman's word with prey was practically meat on the table.Only one other acquisition remained for Olgah. She wasn't happy about it, but her station demanded that she ask for the captured hero. She did not care much for heroes, particularly male ones. He would be a burden on her home, eating too much, fighting too much, trying to escape. She sighed, but finally approached Gach, the leader of the warband that had captured him.Gach had hoped that the tribal chieftain would ask for the young hero, but the chieftain had asked that he go to the shamaness. Still, it was a great honor, and if he played it right, the shaman would owe him a nebulous favor."Shaman! Welcome to our camp. I am humbled by your presence!"Olgah smiled - Gach was such a formalist - and matched his polite swagger, "I greet you and your camp, band leader. I heard that you had captured a mighty warrior, and sought to see with my own eyes, your unmatched skill in battle!""Your words bring me great pleasure, shaman. Here is our capture."And with that, Gach stepped aside and two of his orcs stepped out, holding Athan firmly by the neck and arms. His hands were still bound behind him, but he had been untied from the tree for this purpose.Olgah was speechless. She had expected some ugly, old veteran who had traded battle scars for teeth. This young man, however, was beautiful even to orc eyes.Gach saw the measuring look in her eyes, and allowed himself a tight grin, "Shaman! I see that our capture interests you. Please, take him!"Olgah stopped staring long enough to smile, a bit sourly, as she realized how she'd been set up. She'd asked without asking, and in so doing, was unable to offer an exchange gift when she received one. To offer now would seem crass. She had her station to remember."You are too generous, band leader!" She meant it. "It does indeed interest me. My gratitude flows freely!"And with that, Olgah found herself in possession of a rare specimen of human athleticism, who was going to eat too much, fight too much, and probably escape before she could even pay back the debt incurred upon her.Olgah led Athan away in a foul mood.</blockquote>

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