Summon the Kingdom-based Merchants

With an escort of royal guards, two Half-Elven merchants--a man and a woman--enter the study, where the guild awaits them. Their robes and merchant-class garbs were tattered and soiled; the woman had bandages on her left thigh, while the man had bandages wrapped on his right arm, and around his head. The merchants took a seat on the available couch, both of them wincing from the fresh wounds on their bodies, and their pride.

"Go ahead, and identify yourselves, please." Cesar looked to the merchants.

"I'm Kesha Jindraye," the female merchant spoke first, "one of the two survivors of the city's trading caravan company, and a bardess."

"I'm Lucian Ranshard," the male merchant spoke next, "the other survivor of the said caravan company. I'm pretty adept with a bow, but I'm no ranger."

"That's fine enough, for merchants." Janissa raised her hand to peacefully silence them. "Can you tell us your story about the invasion?"

"Aye, m'lady." Kesha responded calmly, then continued on. "Our caravan was traveling South, returning to Deirdre with food & goods from Jethro Valley. In addition to our usual cargo of grains, produce, sheepskin, and stones used for building maintenance in Deirdre; we bring back relic pieces from archaeological dig sites in the foothills."

"These foothills, with their dense forests, seem to have ruins of ancient Elven civilizations." Lucian added in, opening a pouch, and pulled out a wrapped item. When he opened it, he showed some faded coins used by the ancient Elves. "These coins were intended for the Elven coastal city of Syrtannion, for further study. However, there are rumors of ancient Elven weapons, armor, and other relics that are well-hidden in the foothills, but that has yet to be confirmed."

"We do not know if that is what the Orcs want, as most of the clans are too stupid to understand how to use Elven enchantments." Kesha spoke again. "But we were carrying broken armor and weapon pieces from one of the dig sites when the Orcs attacked our caravan."

"What they couldn't take--the relics, the foodstuffs, and the young human women that were going to Deirdre to buy leather hides to bring back to their homes; they killed or torched." Lucian spoke once more. "We hoped to escape without a scratch, but one of the Orcs found us, riding his warg."

"Call it luck or fate," Kesha spoke again, "but Lucian was able to kill the warg with his bow, his arrow hitting its neck. Then I ran as fast as I could, and dug my dagger deep in the back of the Orc's head. Then another lone Orc and warg came along, and we managed to kill that one, too."

"But not before the warg tried to eat my leg off with its fangs, or rip both of us apart with its claws." Lucian sighed. "The city militia found us later that night as we tried to find safety. Our caravan wagons, the oxens, and all the cargo we were carrying, however, are all gone."

"Did you manage to catch any details about the Orcs that attacked you?" Janissa looked to the merchants.

"They looked like the 'Sabretooth Triad' clans that tried to take the valley four years ago." Kesha responded. "The king was able to kill its leader to end the last invasion attempt, but whoever the warlord appears to be now, is much more ruthless and obviously out for ****."

"I barely managed to catch one of them stake an orange banner with the image of a sabretooth tiger over the ruined wagons." Lucian added in. "I'm very positive it's the 'Sabretooth Triad' clans again."

"And you are correct on your speculation, Lucian." Cesar nodded. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"Yes, m'lord." Kesha looked to Cesar. "Our foodstuffs were from every village in Jethro Valley. The relics, however, came from the ruins near Clampit's Vale, on the northern edge of the valley."

"It's a long trip from here, and I highly doubt the Orcs will just let you pass by." Lucian added in. "Lady Bayannon of Clampit's Vale is a machinist, as well as a fine noblewoman. I would suggest asking her for any assistance, as well as her own story about the Orc attacks, as well as any details about those ruins, as her father oversees the operations of the Archaeologists Guild in the town. Other than that, that is all we can tell you."

"Thank you, fair merchants." Cesar stands with the merchants, and Janissa follows them.

"Please give our regard to those poor Orcs that have to face you Briarwolves's wrath." Kesha looked to Cesar as they headed towards the door. "You are the co-leader of the Briarwolves Guild, right?"

"And we would most appreciate it if you could retrieve those lost relics, as well as any of those poor lasses that have survived their wrath." Lucian added in. "Some of them are my good friends, albeit from the brothel in Clampit's Vale."

Kesha frowned some and socked Lucian right on the fresh wounds on his arm. "You're such a bloody idiot sometimes, Lucian."

"Ow! At least I get some attention," Lucian looked back to Kesha, as they walk out, and the door closes, "because you hog all of it with your....."

The last words gets snuffed out by the doors being shut.