07.04d: Orc Camp in Winter

[Draylen]

Aibne comes strolling out of the building, fumbling a dozen or so small leather pouches as he tries to hide them in his cloak and armor. He pauses, heading over to the orc encampment. "Ho, Kothir of the Black Garrison! How fares your tales?" he asks, his sharp eye catching the growing bruises on the large orc, giving a slight shake of disapproval. "Hail, too, Lord Cameron, how fares the representative of quality and good workmanship?" He places emphasis on the meaning of the trump card, glancing at the number of orcs quietly and quickly keeping a very overly polite arms distance from him.

[Joshua]

Kothir will look down, embarrassed, as he's been shadowing Cameron for a bit. One of the orcs mentions, "Cameron doesn't realize he's in charge."

[Draylen]

Aibne raises an eyebrow. "I knew Kothir was close to leading the Black Garrison, but I didn't know he'd been promoted Orc King. I'll have to hear this story and tell Morek, so he can stop paying Kothir's salary." He's being intentionally obtuse, folding his arms across his chest.

[Joshua]

Kothir shakes his head. "Cameron's leader now." He takes a breath. "Aibne... are you... freed?" The black orc will ask.

[Draylen]

The bear slumps a little, frowning. "I... I have been told that. I need to talk to Master about it, though," he says, shaking his head a little. "Although he's been acting like it..."

"Also." He blinks a little. "Cameron is the peak of craftsmanship and quality. If he leads anything, it will be the smiths, the alchemists, and the artists. Not the war-parties. So if you're planning on breaking off and becoming a fifth kingdom under his leadership... Expect to be a client state to a client state."

[khadjair]

Cameron just watches this exchange mutely, nodding more or less in agreement. He seems.. relieved, after a fashion, though also somewhat embarrassed at the same time for getting ahead of himself.

"Thank you.. for saying better what I've been trying to say. I didn't realize I'd challenged for leadership until... well... it was a little late." he looks gamely at Kothir. "Though for what it's worth, you hit like an elephant..."

[Joshua]

Kothir looks confused. "Not a smith..." He objects... before heading off to do some more manly-orcish things... This worrying about leaders gives him a headache.

One of the orc smiths / mechanics, the one who spoke up earlier, "Seriously, you beat Kothir, there's no orc stronger than you in camp..."

[khadjair]

Cameron shakes his head and sighs. "I hated the Empires of home... But sometimes I think I understand why they did what they did. I was able to take a few blows, nothing more. That entitles me no more to rule than finding a sword at the top of a waterfall. Really, I... I made a mistake. I have other things I can o that would help so much more... At least tell me there is still elder-rule of some sort? Or is it all about might and strength?"

His voice fades into a plaintive whimper towards the end, sounding almost disappointed, though if it is in himself or in the world is hard to tell.

"If you liked my fighting, my craftsmanship..." He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Just show me to a forge. Or stonemasons. I don't care right now. There are things to be done..."

He pauses, then smiles, turning to the smith that spoke up. "Is/was Kothir the leader, de facto or actual, of this camp? If so... I will want to speak with him. I have an idea, something that I think will be good for all of us. In the meantime, though... I have been too far away from a forge, or a workshop."

[Joshua]

"Kothir was in charge of just the orc portion of the camp. None of us would argue with him. He was outranked by Morgana and... well, you... and Aibne..." The smith says... "Did you want my forge, sir?" He will ask, a little afraid. "Or did you want one of us to take you to a bigger forge?"

[khadjair]

"What I need is a space with a forge. And preferably a large slate. I promise I won't take up too much of your time or materials; I'll need to set something up for myself in time. I just need.. to work on some things. I presume the usual metals are available? Don't worry about tools; I've got the only ones I need here with me." With that he brushes the Star and his rucksack.

"And as for Kothir... I think I know what I want to do there. This may seem strange, but... how difficult is it to get meteroric iron... skymetal? I can fetch some myself, but if it can be had without me using other tricks, so much the better."

He'll turn to Aibne. "You know more of this place and the customs than I do. Would Kothir assent to a... two-head sort of idea? I know defeating him in combat mans I have technically usurped his position, but I'd like to see if he'd be willing to be a.. second. And equal."