Orc prisoner

“Draft your subjects into the army. Reinforcements will not be coming if you push further in, and you cannot afford to spend the manpower escorting them back. Soldiers, cooks, scouts, bookkeepers, and household servants are all roles they can fulfill.”

Target > 40

1d100 +1 Roll = 24

Failed Suggestion

Dame Ariadne

Corruption Points = 1

Ariadne considered the suggestion, but she rejected it. Most of the subjects were weak from their time in captivity; they would be of no use to the army. Not to mention the potential plague, as in recent weeks they had been starving and gnawed on by moles.

“Did you know that the ring you found — the one you stole from the orc leader — is a magical Ring of Orc Command? The orcs, as well as the prisoners, are enchanted by it. You can use its powers to command them and turn them into obedient soldiers to use as cannon fodder!”

Target > 80

1d100 +1 Roll = 86

Successful Suggestion (+2 corruption points)

Dame Ariadne

Corruption Points = 3

The voice in her head made Ariadne pull out the ring she had taken from the fallen orc chief. It was nothing special — just bone from some beast, with engraved runes on the outside and inside. Nothing that would suggest it was magical or enchanted. But the voice in her head convinced Ariadne that it must be real.

“Sir Raymond, bring me one prisoner of the highest rank who managed to survive the battle. We need to ask him some questions.”

Raymond saluted and left the tent. Lord Precee took a mug of wine, while Lord McRound raised an eyebrow as he covered the maps and documents with a blanket.

“Are you sure, Dame? There is almost nothing we can learn from an orc, and their kind is known for high resistance to ****. I think it is a waste of time.”

Lord Precee drank and smiled.

“Even if we learn nothing of value, we will still get pleasure from torturing a green-skin. We deserve it after such a battle.”

Ariadne walked through the tent, holding the ring behind her back, covered by her cloak. It sounded like madness — to try to use a weapon of the enemy. But what if it worked? It would give her an advantage in the war and raise their chances of victory. Maybe it was worth the risk.

Soon Raymond brought a middle-aged orc woman, dressed in fine furs and pelts of predators. She was taller than all the men inside, except for Lord Precee, who was half a foot taller than her.

“She claims to be the second wife of the orc chief who died today in battle. His first wife died alongside him. They call her Urgosha,” Raymond announced.

Ariadne took note that the orc woman’s leg was freshly broken, probably in the heat of battle. Despite her captivity and the pain in her broken limb, Urgosha stood proudly and steady.

Ariadne circled the ring around her fingers, wondering how to use it — or if she should use it at all. Maybe she should stay with traditional methods. She heard the voices in her head.