In the search of Orichalcum 2 – Rumours

“You have been around here for a long time, right Glenn?” Uklag asks the permanently nervous man. Of the original 23 men all 23 left with Uklag the next morning. Nobody had asked to join him but going by the mood that was just a matter of time. Anyway searching caves as a single group of 23 would have been overkill so after reaching the shelter again they had split into several groups. Uklag had decided to stay with the apparent leader.

“In the shelter we have a wall where I make a line every time a day passes.” He says, “I stopped counting at 2000 days.” Uklag quickly calculated that, “5 years and going. Not bad, you guys know how to hunt then?” He threw a small fireball down a cave shaft, it ended after a few metres and the fire vanished when it hit a wall. “Most of us do, yes. Over the years you pick up on all kinds of things. You also run into all sorts of problems.”

“Regarding the further arrangements I mentioned when we met. My own hunter is slightly overworked by now so how about we make a trade agreement. You give us food and in exchange you can use the pleasure slaves. Also my wives and other members may ask to fuck you, if you are clean enough.”

Glenn thinks about it for a second. “If we can use the baths as well, that sounds like a perfect deal.” Uklag kicks a pebble. “Fine. One of your guys should join my organization then, as the middle man.” This is when the third guy in the party speaks up. “I can do that.” He stands up. Uklag has heard his name already. Meltzer, the guy looked tired all the time but was in shape nonetheless. His black hair has grown long from years of abandonment and if it hadn’t been for the bath yesterday it would look the part too. His green eyes met Uklag’s without hesitation.

“I will join you as the middle man.” He repeats, causing Glenn to speak up, “It would be fairer to give everyone a chance to talk about thi-““Shut up, Glenn.” Meltzer interrupts him, never looking away from Uklag. They stare at each other for a while before Uklag smiles and hits his staff on the ground. “I like headstrong characters. Glenn, I and Meltzer will leave for a bit.”

Glenn is left behind as the duo steps out of the cave and hearing range. “You are pretty eager to leave, how come?” Meltzer gives a dry smile “I only stayed with these guys because it was easier to survive this way. You have power, women, and resources. I just want to make the smart choice before anyone else gets the chance to do so.”

Uklag nods, still smiling. “Well then. A second.” Uklag uses his staff to draw some runes in the ground and transmutes a few branches into a wooden figure of his emblem. “Take this to my base and give it to one of the core members, tell them I want you to be my new treasurer.” Meltzer takes the figure with the expression of somebody that just won a whole lordship in a card game. “Can I go now?” Uklag laughs, “Depends, do you want to say goodbye to everyone?” The answer to that is another dry smile and Meltzer walking off towards the warlock’s base. “See you there, Master.” “Men call me ‘Boss’.” Uklag shouts after him and walks back into the cave where Glenn is still searching.

“Where is Meltzer?” He asks, “Going to my base, he got the job. You mentioned trouble earlier, what do you mean?” Glenn sighs, he knows he is not in a position strong enough to criticize Uklag’s behaviour. “Besides the usual problems of living in the wilds, heat waves, wolves and the like, this area tends to attract some….shady individuals.” “Such as myself.” Uklag muses, “Ehr, if you say so. Well we used to gather berries a day north from here, but a while ago a Cult has settled down there and since we haven’t dared to go.”

‘North? So another cult is around here.’ “I will pay them a visit.” Uklag says, “Sounds fun.” Glenn gulps audibly, “I-if you s-say so.” The rest of the search is uneventful, at the evening gathering the other groups report nothing of interest as well. Uklag stands up and the men around the fire grow silent as he starts to speak.

“I have struck an agreement with your leader. From now on if you wish to use my slaves or my baths again you may do that in exchange for food or other resources we want at the time. To make sure all this works smoothly your comrade Meltzer has joined me in my base as my new treasurer.” A few whispers, “Lucky Bastard.” “Wish I had been in his search group.” “Dammit now he gets to be around the women all day.”

Uklag raises his hand and the people go silent again. “Tomorrow I will also go north to check out that Cult I heard about, I want you to continue your search while I am away. If you find something matching the description I gave you do not dare to touch it. Mark the cave and continue to search for more.” The men nod. “If you find it all of you can go into my base again, the group to find it will have my wives to themselves for that whole evening.” Shouts of motivation echo through the night as Uklag turns around. ‘Lesser minds, so easy to motivate.’ He thinks to himself and walks to the bed he has created for himself.