A link between cultures

Very shortly after you had relaxed after your masturbation, you saw a group approaching on the road from the east. A small group of male orcs, by your sight; no more than five or six. You see at least one of them is armed with a long spear. This road was sparesely traveled, making it unlikely for them to be here by coincidence. As before, you tried to move through the expedition without causing worry or notice. By the time you found Fracila, she had exited the hedonistic dome structure and was speaking with others. She broke her conversation quickly.

"Herida, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost or something. Given where we are, I wouldn't be surprised."

"No ma'am. We have visitors." The ambiguous nature of your words didn't move her to panic, but Fracila did start moving to action. Having followed your lead, she quietly pondered for a moment.

"We're not doing anything wrong here. What could they want with us?"

"Some may still see this as their land" You brought up "It's not as though there's a line in the ground marking what land belongs to whom."

"Bahhh" She huffed dismissively "I'm not here to hash out old grudges."

"It would be wrong to dismiss them out of hand" You cautioned "They don't have the benefit of knowing what we're doing and our intentions. Disturbing the dead is unpopular everywhere, not just in D'arcan."

"Fair." She nodded "You talk to them."

Worry shot through you quickly "What? Me? Why?"

"They'll have more rapport with you than me, given the obvious. Wouldn't you think?"

You looked down at the orcs. Their biology was familiar but their fashion foreign. It was a quick hint that for all your father taught you of the mother country, you are a foreigner.

"It could honestly go either way, honestly."

"Make your best effort at it Herida. If things start going south, you know what to do." This was an extremely ominous statement, not the least of which because you _don't _know what to do. You certainly have the capacity for using spells in an offensive, combative manner, but they're not memorized. Using them is largely theoretical for you still. Hopefully, it won't come to that. One of them waved at you casually, causing you to relax a little.

"Good Afternoon" You spoke in an accented form of the Stoneheart language that your father had taught you.

"Very." The one who looked the eldest spoke for the group "Please, don't mind the curiosity of a group of hunters. What are you doing here?"

"I'm D'arcani. I came as part of an archeological expedition."

"You find Stoneheart relics and try to claim them for yourselves? Shame, child. I would hope you know where your loyalties really are."

"We believe we found something from the Lost Age. Before Stoneheart or D'arcan. When all of the children of the Six Sisters lived together. We wish to find out more about this time."

The elder orc smiled, his tone changed as well from dismissive to kind. "When we were all one people. One family. You have succeeded on your hunt than."

"Yes sir"

_"Good. We have done the same, we are having Kriia. Come, join us. You and the rest of your D'arcani family." _This would be a rare treat for you and the expedition. Stoneheart does not have much in the way of domestic animals natively, and the animals to be hunted are all quite large and vicious. As a result, a successful hunt will usually feed a large group, and by tradition, everyone cooks and eats together. You have not been in one, but you're aware of the custom. You also know it would be very rude to deny their offer.

_"I'll make sure they all come. Please, wait here" . _Fracila, having watched just off in the background, had crossed her arms and looked curious with narrow brows.

"Well? What do they want?"

"They offered to feed us." Your answer is simple at first "They must have had a big kill nearby. By tradition, they have a Kriia, everyone participates in some way in cooking, everyone eats together, and so on."

"Wow." Francila "That sounds like quite the production. We have our own food though. I think you're the only one here who's had orc cooking."

You shook your head "Don't, miss Francila. Hospitality and tradition are huge parts of our" you caught yourself "their, culture. You would be insulting them by refusing the offer. We'll sit with them and eat with them as friends."

"Fair enough. Doesn't look like we're going to get much more productive anyway. Party it is than." You and the elf helped rounded up the couple dozen workers before returning to your new friends, who were delighted to see so many.

"Good Afternoon friends" The elder Orc spoke in Common through a heavy accent "We are thankful to have met new friends, and for you to join us in our Kriia. Let us come together and speak as one family. Eat to your heart's content, as our guests."

There was some quiet murmuring from your coworkers who were still unclear or just hesitant to be a part of this. You had chosen to walk with the orc hosts, who were quite intrigued and pleased to have you in particular as a guest. Many questions about your childhood, your family. You get the sense that they were trying to put together whether you had any distant relations to them, and it didn't appear to be the case. The familiar scents started to warm your spirit: spiced meat cooked directly over a wooden flame. Turning a corner around some heavy trees, and you are brought together with the rest of the orc community. Their appeared to be at least as many of them as your group, and did not outwardly show any hesitance or surprise in guests. That was the spirit of the event, after all. The elder orc, who you learned was named Grashk, personally introduced you to each of the fellow orcs as if you were his daughter. Or, so you thought, until he introduced you to his actual daughter, Vhail. As much practiced warmth as Grashk showed for you, there was even more genuine love for his kin, a young woman of roughly your own age. It was apparently her work that killed the great beast that brought you all together. She certainly had the build for a mighty hunter; her traditional attire showed most of her body, which you found quite attractive. The rest of the expedition made their own introductions and greetings, with the orcs being the warm and gracious hosts that their traditions demanded.

You and Vhail were sat next to each other, some distance from the others. Francila was too far to carry a conversation, instead sitting and speaking with Grashk.

"What a day" She said "I hope you're hungry."

"Very" Your smile was quite wide "I haven't had food like this in years. My dad talked about Kriia alot, but I've never been in one."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Was there nothing to hunt?"

"Partly" You nod your head slightly "Mostly, there were no other orcs nearby. Having a Kriia just wasn't really feasible."

"I see. I can't imagine what that must have been like, so alone."

"It had rough moments, for sure. It was worse when I moved from home and into the academies. I never saw another orc. Not until today."

"Wow. Well, all the more reason to celebrate. I hope you feel at home here."

"This is wonderful, thank you." You replied as another orc started bringing food around. Although the meat itself was unknown, it's cooking was familiar; cut into small pieces and covered in spices and cooked, served with roasted vegetables and rice. "Congratulations to you. If not for your hunt, this wouldn't be possible."

Vhail smiled gently "My father exaggerates. He makes it sound like I succeeded single handedly. I simply made the killing blow."

"Which is the blow that counts." You retort

"You're sweet, Herida. You're as important to all of this as I was. Your friends likely wouldn't have come to join us had you not understood what this was. What this means."

"That's very kind" you feel yourself blushing "I'm not that big of a deal though. You would have had a great Kriaa without us. The expedition would have gotten into that Lost Age building without me, eventually."

"What building?" Vhail asked "Did youmake a discovery?"

"yes." you take a pause "No. They found the thing already. I just was able to use magic to create a way in."

"Fascinating. What did you find?"

Your body feels warm, and not just from the spices. Remembering the graphic, sexual imagery and how aroused by you became, it made you hesitate slightly. Still, you thought, you had nothing to be embarassed by. It's not your fault.

"Nothing physical. Whoever built it made some very interesting artwork inside. Very graphic depictions of physical intimacy."

"Oh my" Vhail said with a slight start. "That must have been quiet the surprise."

You nod gently "Not what I expected at all."

The hunter's confident air started to crack. You saw her eyes wander a little. "Would you take me there?"

"What?" You asked, surprised by her sudden interest.

"Oh come on. D'arcanis aren't the only ones allowed to be interested in old things. We can slip away for a little while. We'll be back before anyone notices."

It was a bit against the rules to do this, to say nothing that Fracila would probably have some strong words if she knew what you were up to. On the other hand, it's not like you were getting in any real trouble. She's only asking to look at it...Right?