----- He turns to survey his companions. About ten feet away, a solid thud is sounded as an orc's sword meets Arliss's shield. Beyond them, Thalog charges by the third orc on his horse squarely missing the humanoid with his staff. Suddenly the orc drops; an arrow embedded in its chest. Raven looks to his right and sees Rand standing a few yards away; bow in hand.
-----Looking back at Arliss, Raven sees the paladin miss the orc with his broadsword. Its eyes now growing huge, the orc turns and runs as if to head back to the ruins.
-----"Stop that chicken soil!" Thalog shouts as he acts. He urges his mount into a gallop once again.
-----Raven sheathes his swords and retrieves his bow. Quickly he works to notch an arrow.
-----Ahead of them, about twenty yards, Raven, Arliss, and Rand see Thalog cut off the path of the retreating orc. Holding his horse steady, the young mage holds his staff out with one hand in front of the humanoid's face.
-----The orc stops, holding its weapon out at its side. Its stance looks more to be one of surprise rather than to attack. It seems to hesitate looking up at Thalog. Suddenly, it throws its sword down and drops to its knees. The orc cowers before the four men; its head lowered as if to shield its face from the sun.
-----Arliss lowers his sword and shield as he approaches the cowering brute, but he remains in a position of readiness, should the orc try any sudden moves. He looks about a bit, curious as to what has become of the other two which had attacked Raven and Rand. "Well, then, do any of you speak the foul tongue of this thing? We must determine its guilt or innocence in the matter of that poor family's murder. In the meantime, at least let me bind it so it poses no threat." Arliss fishes his rope from his pack and sets to securely tying up the orc.
-----The three men watch as Arliss begins to tie the orc's hands behind its back. The humanoid grunts, but in no way seems to protest. The orc squints and blinks its eyes and its skin tone looks abnormal in the bright sunlight. Coarse, dark hair covers its skin in patches on its exposed arms and legs. Its studded leather vest is weathered and caked with mud. Its stringy, greasy-looking hair is tied back behind its head. The thing also has a noxious body odor to it.
-----"I require a dagger for a moment," Thalog says looking at the others.
-----Arliss looks with satisfaction at his work in binding the orc. Upon Thalog's request, he cocks an eyebrow and simply asks, "Why?" He awaits the mage's reply before supplying him with any daggers.
-----Raven walks up to the bound orc. Raven reaches down and puts out a dagger. "Here Thalog." Raven flips the dagger so the handle faces Thalog. Raven says, "I speak a little orc. Just enough to threaten
'em." Raven locks eyes with the orc, then Raven looks at Thalog. Raven pauses and talks to the orc in a low and threatening voice. "Urgless durp jarloft." Raven pauses, "Sarklos warfos ur krovos?" Raven makes a hand gesture toward the farm of the slain family. Raven grabs the orc and roughly pulls so Raven is right in the orc's face. "Loeron que bandor jur phelore!" Raven roughly throws the orc to the ground. Raven turns to the group. "I think I asked the orc if he was at the farm and where was the rest of his friends. Also I mentioned we would cut his balls off if I thought he was lying."
-----The orc grits its teeth as it hits the ground. It looks up at Raven with wide, dilated eyes. It slowly turns its head away from Raven with an uncaring, but defeated look on its face. It does nothing to reply.
-----Arliss raises an eyebrow and looks quizzically at Raven. "Well, he's a stubborn one. Now what will you do?"
-----Thalog leans down over the creature and holds it's neck to the ground. He is unaffected by the horrible stench as he looks into the orc's eyes without expression. He then places the dagger between the orc's legs. Now he speaks to Raven, "Tell it that if it does not tell us what we want to know, then I'm going to cut off his balls for one of my spells!"
-----Upon observing Thalog's actions, Arliss turns away, a grimace of distaste evident on his face.
-----Raven eyes narrows as he looks at Thalog. "OK, but I'll warn you my orc is very poor." Raven studies the orc's face as Thalog puts the dagger near the orc's you-know-what.
-----The ugly humanoid stares up into Thalog's emotionless face. Its eyes widen as it senses the location of the mage's dagger.
-----A look of fear crosses its face. Before Raven can ask anything of it, the orc squeals out, "Dak urg jarloft! Warfos ta not roosha!" The orc nods toward the village ruins.
-----Raven face shows surprise, "He gave in quick." Raven turns to face the group, "This piece of filth says that he and his friends were the ones who attacked the farm. He also said his friends are near by. I'm going to ask him where his friends are and how many are there."
-----Raven turns back to the orc and then Raven waves Thalog to remove the dagger, "Pergor dus fligos? Varsod er furtos duron jolar?"
-----Thalog rises and hands the dagger back to Raven, handle end first.
-----From his position several feet away, Arliss speaks, "Be quick about this, Raven. Judgment awaits." His voice is very flat, almost detached.