----- Raven walks out of the building across the grassy area to where Rand waits with Arliss and the three orcs. Rand looks with concern over the paladin as he lies on the ground. As Raven approaches, he sees Rand rise and look at the orcs. The three orcs stay huddled together. The one with the eye patch growls at the other two orcs.
-----Raven walks up to one of the meeker orcs and shows him the gems that Thalog found. He asks two questions in the orcish language. He leans forward to look the orc right in the eye. Two words he then mutters, in a stern way, to the humanoid.
-----The skinny orc with the big lips looks nervously at the other two orcs before answering. It swallows hard and speaks low to Raven. A pause now settles among the humanoids as the orc with the eye patch hangs its head down not daring to look up. This is in response to the larger orc with the skullcap who growls gritting its teeth.
-----Thalog slowly walks over to Rand relying heavily on his staff and he looks as if it requires great effort. "Rand'al," he begins, "I found remains of the components used to create a debilitating and paralytic poison. Depending on the potency, Arliss could be out for hours or days. There is no cure because the poison will pass though his system without further harm. I also found no immediate traces of divine or mortal magic, however, further analysis would require time."
-----"And then there is the question of what to do with the orcs." Thalog's eyes are now mirrors of ice as he stares at Rand and continues, "I came to the conclusion that we cannot let the orcs live. If we wish to investigate the curse after this, we cannot have them telling their 'boss', because it will make us targets." Thalog then sits down where he starts to rest while taking deep breaths.
-----Rand sits down beside Thalog and replies, "And what does Raven think we should do regarding the Orcs?"
-----Raven talks with the skinny orc, then turns and walks up to the group. "It seems these orcs got these white gems from 'human warriors' who wanted the orcs to raid with them. You guys have any ideas?"
-----Thalog replies, "You could try asking them about the black gems we first found and find out what 'score to wesgol' means."
-----Raven speaks with the orc and then tells the group what the orc said. Raven says, "The orc said 'Small black rocks . . . we took from human warriors, too.' The orc then said about 'score to wesgol' that he had no idea what it meant, but the humans sent the rocks north to that forest."
-----Raven continues, "I think we should head toward the Wesgol Forest and see what evil is there. We will have to wait until Arliss comes to, but then we should head out. What should we do with the three jars of silver coins we found? Should we bury them so the orcs won't be able to use the money to spread their evil?" Raven pauses, "How many gems did we find total? I've lost count."
-----Thalog glares at Raven for a moment and rolls his eyes back before saying, "There are eight gems in total. The first four were the black gems that are evidence of the curse, which you first found and the second four gemstones are the ones I found in the orc hideout. If I could carry the gems and the gemstones, then I could study them along our journey? And what of the humans to the west where the gems are supposed to have come from? We could also go there?"
-----Raven gives Thalog a side-glance and pauses for a moment. Raven then turns to face Thalog. Raven face is stern and a little red, "Do you have a problem with me or are you always a jerk?" Raven doesn't wait for Thalog to answer, "Sure, hold on to the gems. Also I'm open to head west and then check-out the forest if we find nothing." Raven waits for Thalog's response.
-----Rand sighs and glances at Raven. "Someone please tell me, are we going to try to help Arliss or are we going to stand here and insult each other?"
-----Thalog accepts all the gems. He is still sitting beside Rand as he says, "From what we have gathered, It seems that there are clues to the west. They might be of use to us before we take the next step in investigating the curse, which looks to be the forest."
-----Raven nods, "I agree, let's head west." Raven looks toward Arliss, "How does he look?"
-----The paladin lies completely on the ground; however, he reclines in a way that makes his form almost look unnaturally stiff. The look on Arliss's face appears uneasy and disturbed. A dark cast seems to shadow his cheeks and underneath his eyes.
-----The three orcs sit quietly for once; at least two of them silently watching their captors.
-----Raven puts his hand up in defeat. "Well, I'm not helping Arliss by just standing here. I'm going to hide those jars of silver so the orcs can't spend it to expand their army." Raven then turns and heads back to the orc's building.