A strange negotiation

As you arrive at the orc ‘camp’, you’re surprised by what you find. You expected the kind of orc you saw in fantasy video games and movies, either savage stupid brutes, or First Nation analogies. In reality, they seem like green humans. Green, tusked, HUGE humans. The so called camp is less tents and fire pits, and more a settlement being built.

As your party approaches, you’re stopped at the outskirts by what you assume is the guard or watchman. Standing possibly seven and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders and wearing well crafted leather armor, he grounds his spear and looks at you. You know you cut an impressive figure, in your red-gold armor and backed by your girls, but this orc looks unintimidated.

After a moment, he speaks, in a deep, slow voice. “What do you want, human?”

You look him in the eye and respond. “I am the mage Josh, and I’m here to speak with your leader. I want to make an alliance.”

The orc is unmoved. “You know how orcs negotiate, right, little mage?”

You smile. “This sword isn’t a toy, nor is it for show. I am a mage, but I fight. One of the daughters of the demon lord died by my hand, and another turned from him to join me.”

The orc looks at you appraisingly for a moment. He nods. “Leave your horses, someone will take them in. Follow me, I will bring you to Ky Dura.”

As you dismount, Maya murmurs to you, “Ky is a term of respect among the orcs, generally used for a chieftain or elder.”

You nod in thanks as the orc leads your party towards the center of town. You see orcs carrying out their business, most only wearing loincloths or simple leather clothes. The town square is a large open area, obviously used for sparring and other combat training. The orc guard leads you past several pairs of sparring warriors, towards a scarred female orc with a massive gleaming sword across her knees. She seems to be sharpening it, and the scrape of the whetstone is the only sound as you approach, the orcs nearby having gone quiet as they see you and the girls. Finally, she looks up.

Dura, or rather Ky Dura, is dressed similarly to her people, in a loincloth and a simple leather bra. Her body, mostly exposed, is muscular, though not to the point of being grotesquely so. Still, the muscles in her arms twitch with every sweep of the whetstone. She has a mass of unruly brown hair, and eyes of the same green as her skin. Numerous piercings decorate her ears and nose. Dura looks back to her labors as the whetstone continues to work.

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

“So, the human mage finally arrives in my village. Rumor spreads fast, magus, even here. What do you want from my people?”

You smile. “I want an alliance. I am working towards the defeat of the demon lord, and a new peace in this world.”

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

“Lofty goals. Haven’t you heard orcs live for fighting? Thirst for war?”

You shrug. “You seem peaceful enough here. You train, yes, and you maintain your proud martial traditions, but I see a normal settlement around me. I didn’t even need to fight my way in.”

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

“You’re smarter than you look, human. And why should I risk my peace for yours? It is safe and quiet here.”

You nod. “A fair question. Its safe and quiet here, but for how long? Without allies, I cannot stop the demon lord, and he won’t stop just because you’re peaceful.”

Scrape. Scrape. Scrape.

“And who are you to offer alliance? I see a human and a group of women. Powerful, to be sure, but no army. On who’s authority do you speak?”

You sigh, and reign yourself to the path you are on. You admit it to yourself before you speak. “On my own authority. Three nations already answer to me. More will join, willingly or not. I am the leader of this alliance, and I will defeat the demon lord, and bring this land back to what it should be. I am the Magus Josh, and I am ruler here.”

The scraping stops, and Dura looks at you and smiles. “There, was that so hard? My people have seers and shaman. None so powerful as your little selkie over there, but enough to see what’s happening. You’re the leader, Magus Josh, whether you like it or not.”

You sigh. “A year ago I was a rich shut-in. Now I’m in a different world, leading nations. You can understand my hesitation.”

Dura nods. “You hesitated, but only about the title. You still do the work. That’s why it should be you. Now, I can accept your offer. But I must ask that we honor our traditions.”

Her smile turns into a feral grin. “After all, I haven’t had a good fight, or a good fuck, in a long time. From the looks of you and your girls, you can provide both.”

You nod, trying to hide your nervousness. “Very well. I accept.”

From the look on her face, you know she sees right through you. She stands to her full seven foot height and stretches, muscles rippling enticingly.