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-----“How many troops guard the human priests and the witch?” Morosh growls as he scans his captains.
-----“One, my chieftain,” snarls one of the officers. “The humans dwell in two of the houses.”
-----“How many troops guard the prisoners?” Morosh asks without a pause.
-----“Three!” answers more than one humanoid this time.
-----“The rest guard the outside of the village,” Morosh grumbles looking down at his maps. After a few moments, he looks up cruelly and says, “I want all of my captains and four of the troops to follow me to the river. We will slay Cruesh, his bodyguards and his witch doctor. Ten of you will remain and see that the orcs follow my commands.”
-----Grunts and looks of approval are exchanged before one of the captains speaks up. “The human priest . . . their witch, what about them?”
-----“Tell the troop guarding them to continue their watch,” Morosh replies. “If they try to leave or interfere, slay them!”
-----Morosh then looks at one of his captains and orders, “Gather four of the troops, whatever can be spared, quietly and gather them here.”
-----“Yes, Chieftain!” the big soldier growls before he departs the tent.
-----He then dispatches another Captain with word for the troop guarding the worshipper of Helator.
-----Morosh then looks uncertainly at Ulthang. Some of the hobgoblins also look toward the Commander as Morosh asks Ulthang, “You have a company with you? What can you offer?”
-----The grimace on Ulthang's face was fleeting. A snort of contempt quickly followed before he answers, "From them? Nothing of worth. What force I brought with me was spent counterattacking a sizeable group of bandits, not far from here. My company is in tatters, and even my War Mage spent a great deal of his power against them. However, the good news is that they've largely been beaten off."
-----The Commander turns his head slightly and locks his gaze on Morosh. A smile, full of dread certainty displays as he offers, "It matters not. There is a reason Lord Sintor chose to send me over his pet knights. In this instance, I am not only his messenger, but his weapon. I will take the field of battle, and those that stand in the way of Ravenhold will be cut down."
-----Ulthang’s tone darkens, and he now looks at all the captains as well as he lays down the situation, "Make no mistake... These orders are not about removing command of the orcs, it's about removing their presence altogether. Elimination."
-----A moment passes in silence as the hobgoblins listen to Ulthang. The soldiers around them then suddenly erupt into growls and pounding of chest armor. As it continues to build, Morosh calls for silence though his face is livid with excitement for battle.
-----As the warriors quiet, Morosh growls out lowly, “The orcs will be slaughtered!” He then orders all of the officers including Ulthang to leave to organize their troops. The two guards with him begin helping him with his own preparations.
-----Outside the party watches the soldiers come rushing out of the tent. After they leave, Sol and Jyan exit the tent. The young mage’s eyes are wide with alertness.
-----Sol walks purposefully back to the group, motioning Jeilin and the others nearer as he glances around to ensure no one else will overhear what he has to say. Once the others are clustered around, and the Gorian is satisfied that his words will not carry far, he speaks carefully, "Th' plan has changed. With th' hobgoblins, I am taking t'th' field against th' orcs. Orcs who have been 'stealing a cut of Sintor's gold'. Th' priests o' hate are under suspicion o' aiding an' will be dealt wi' by th' hobgoblins should they move t'interfere or even leave their current buildings."
-----The warrior's tone is grim as he lays out his ideas, "I want th' lot o' ye t' stay in town. I've left th' excuse that our troop has fought off th' local bandits, but are worn down so you won't be taking th' field with me. As it now stands, Jyan has some authority, so if anyone wants t'push you around, he can pull his own War Mage 'rank' or mine by name. I'm leaving all o' ye, so ye've got a wider set o' power t'draw on. It'll be mainly swordwork where I go."
-----"While you're in town, I want ye t'see if it's possible t'safely get th' women an' children out of here. Out of th' town itself... whilst th' numbers of hobbies are heavily reduced. If our friends start making noise, blame hidden agents of the Hatemongers if questioned. If ye can't manage it, I'll have t'see what happens after th' visit t'th' orc camp. I might see if I can get back here ahead of th' returning hobs, assuming they're victorious. If they aren't, at least it'll make freeing th' children easier."
-----Sol exhales deeply as he mentions quietly, "Fer now, head off t' th' side o' this area. I don't want ye too obvious fer now whilst th' hobbies marshal their forces. And... take care o' yerselves, an' th' gods be willing, we'll see each other safe an' sound soon. If ye've got something t'say, make it quick, an' make it quiet."
-----“Good luck to you, Sol Herron,” Jyan says lowly as he looks around with a wide look at the buildings surrounding the square.
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