[Location] City Gates

[Adder]

Wandering off the Sheria trade routes, led to a swath of barren wasteland dotted by outcroppings of rocks, in the center of which is a massive stone wall surrounding the city/fortress of Orckon (Ire). Three spires could be seen projecting up above the thick stone walls that surrounded the city.

A track led up to the single set of gates, no roads having been built into this fortress that sat within the Empire. Orc guards patrolled atop the wall and worg patrols moved in a constant lope as they circled into the city and back out, giving early warning of all who travelled but interfering with none.

The summer sun baked the city, though since the fortress sat in the mountains the air was still cold and the weather liable to fast changes, cold rain and mist blowing up and clearing again without notice.

Two human mercenaries stood at each side of the open huge iron gates, which covered the tunnel through the wall. A third stood in front of the gate inspecting travellers as they arrive. The guards were tall and muscular, carrying kite shields that partially covered their black, ornate armor. Long, wicked-looking halberds were gripped tightly in their meaty hands.

The standing human eyed the visitors carefully but didn't ask for visas. This city after all did not regard itself as an empire city and few of the citizens possessed visas. Nor did the guards even stop visitors as a matter of course for directly inside the gates was the Free Trade zone, where trade was plied without question.

OOC: You may rp yourself through the gate. You don't have to wait for a mod reply.

[Thorg]

As Thorg approched the large iron gates he starred at the fortress city of Orckon. HHe was amazed by the size of the fortress. He walked up to the two gaurds and said, "Me here to join da Horde." He starred at them and waited for them to move. They looked at each other and then opened the mighty gates. Thorg walked through the gates with hopes of starting a new life and leaving his old one behind.

[Daemn K'rryl]

-TIMESTAMP-
Srennia, sixteenth brightening in the month of Cryxatum
Summer
Era XI, in the Age of the Darkening
Twilight

The light was fading fast from the lands of Telath, heralding the impending darkening. As such, it was the worst time for visibility - too dark for day vision, but too bright for the night. The human guard's focus was not at its optimum. Thus it was that the first he noticed of the katta a few feet to his left was the flare of a match.

Daemn was dark in colour, but also had been training and practising his K'Tesh, and thus the skills of stealth were coming more easily to him. The guard eyed him carefully, wondering for how long the jagara had been standing there. Daemn was the picture of indifference as he delicately lit his cheap cigarette, inhaling with obvious pleasure and slowly shaking the small flame into oblivion. A gout of bitter smoke unfurled from his jaws as he exhaled, watching the tendrils curl and dance in the almost non-existant wind. Tossing the spent match to one side, he balanced the cigarette between his lips and strolled nonchalantly towards the gate.

He may have thought highly of himself for that little trick, but privately he knew that anyone of any higher discipline of his skills would have immediately thought of him as, not to put too fine a point on it, a jumped-up prick. True practitioners of the art of K'Tesh did not grandstand, and definately did not show off - it was all about surprise, after all, and the enemy should not know that one was there at all...

Why was he here, in the orc city? He had heard of it in his times in Medonia, noted how most of the people like him - that it, completely unscrupulous, untrustworthy and vicious - spoke of it as a sort of safe-haven from the Empire but a dangerous hole in itself. The mixture of freedom and survival excited the katta, and he had decided that he would check it out for himself.

[Dongar]

His time in Narim had been strange at best, but now upon approachin Orckon everything seemed better in the world, this was where changes could be made, plans come either come together or rip apart. Orckon was the place to be. He was here for a visit of busniess and pleausre, to visit his old SHC cronies, relax and have a good time, however there was an alterior motive behind the purposeful trip to Orckon. He had heard that this was where the best fighting orcs in the world were. This was perfect, he needed training and fast. He would recieve some training, and with any luck keep going until he was one of the best axe wielding orcs in the entire empire. That put him in a good position indeed, he was worth something then.

He approached the two humans at the gate. Pitiful, he thought, humans at an orc encampment. How times do change. He passed straight through the gate, showing off an array of SHC tagged items, for instance his shield or even the brand he had once recieved. His intentions weren't really to rejoin the Skull Hammer Clan as a full time member. Ravaging small illages was all well and good but it was a little too smalltime for Dongar's great aspirations of the world. He passed through the gate.

[Adder]

The mercenaries on the gate watched sullenly as the orc entered. The SHC devices were plain to see and they doubted that even an orc would be stupid enough to pretend to be part of that clan if they weren't actually a member of it.

They were however, not threatened by the orc because although the mercenaries were a front, a new image for the city to make it appear less threatening than of old. But that did not mean that the city had actually changed at all. There were plenty of orcs just a few steps away who would be more than happy to take care of any troublemakers even if they were part of the SHC.

[Dongar]

It was a nice enough as Dongar once more headed towards the gates of Ire. This time, however, he was on the inside. He had recently completed his intermediate axe training, and now needed somewhere to test it, or better yet someone to test it on. It was too early for challenging other orcs in the city of orckon itself. He wanted to take them all by surprise with his skill upon challenging for positions within the horde rather than having some people already aware of his ability. This would prove, he believed, to be a great asset in achieving the positing of horde master. Something that he wanted very much, not for his own sake, but for the great lord Jorel's. Dongar knew he could reak havoc with a horde of that size under his control, although first the politicians would have to be silenced. Dongar wondered what the reprocussions of a decleration of martial law would be. Nobody would seriously argue with him, he would be the commander in chief of ire until somebody killed him, but this was a flittering thought. It was now time to practice killing, the deadly art. And perhaps arm and fund himself better at the same time. It would indeed be a good thing to test the training on a worthy adversary, and not some pitiful orc from the basic training corp of the horde. Dongar had left all but what he had on him back at his lodgings in the SHC fortress. He had his armour on top of his clothes, the jet black damascus steel, the axe that had served him so well, and of course the necessary food he would be needing. All this proved he was not going for long, and as he walked out of the gate the gaurds would have realised this, and probably thought it was a pity he wasn't leaving for good. Wether it was to be a brightening or a cycle he was gone for, he was determined to put this training to use.

[Ssen'lor Aesska]

Ssen'lor trod the winding track to the gates, stamping his foot down and crushing a passing animal as he reached the top.

He eyed the mercenary with little emotion, his eyes flicking a few times as he entered the gate. The lizardman's tongue rasped about in the air, lashing this way, then that.

Hmm orc, he thought to himself. Good...

[Dongar]

TIMESTAMP: Early Morning, Early Aperitus Of The Summer Of Era II Of The Celestine Mandate, Era XI Post Fractum In The Age Of The Darkening

Returning once more to Ire it was finally time to set the wheels of fate in motion for the large Zau Uruk. His practice had been eventful, meeting up with other orcs was perhaps the greatest possible outcome. It was now time to begin gaining respect and power throught the horde of Ire. If he wanted to become Warlord and do it well, then he would have to start working his way trhough the system. This, he believed, would be a generally unpleasant experience in general however it would be ultimately neccissary. He passed through the gates, the sneers of the gaurds all the more comical to him. He would have them fired or executed later on. He laughed at them under his breath, but in a way such that they could see what he was doing. This day, above all others, would be the one of the most important of his life so far. It was a bright day, for a bright mood, the hustle and bustle of orckon awaited him. It would be a challnge he would make, to gain himself a position of command immeadiately. From there on in he could gain access to higher members in the chain of command, knocking them down one by one. Eventually would come the big cheese, and then everything was open from there. He would have an army behind him, and as a result become one of the most effective agents of Jorel upon telath.

[Bathory]

Bathory had wondered from place to place in search of a life he could be proud of, so far he had nothing. He had nothing to show for his life yet, until he came here.

This would be the place of a new life, he could feel it.

The city gates looked like every other gates he'd been through, gaurds standing around acting like they were working, soon they would approach and ask for his visa which he would hand them, after several moments they would allow him to pass and it would be over, he would be in the city. Now if he had no visa it would be different.

These gaurds were orcs of all things, maybe this would be a bad place to get himself into Bathory thought. But they never did ask for his visa, they just looked at him as he walked past, strange but whatever Bathory was in the city....

[Carly Jr'ana]

Early Summer, Era XI.

Ire, the orc fortress nestled within the Khadrans. Carly watched it from down the track, the trek had been interesting to say the least. Besides her stood the impressively muscled Potential, hired sword and translator. An orc. The orc had been smart enough to inform her that the fortress city was called Orckon, not Ire, and if she was to call it Ire there would be trouble. So Carly watched Orckon from afar with a hint of curiosity and dread.

A black robe shrouded her from prying eyes, the cowl drawn so far infront of her face that even the shrewdest of eyes would lose themselves searching it's depths. No one must know who she was and Carly would play make believe until she found the answers she sought. Carly herself did not know the questions in truth, she was simply drawn here out of a feeling of comradery. She and this city were not truely part of the Empire, and here dwelled one of the temples to Haya. The blue elf held her own thoughts about the plague goddess, that perhaps she was the patron deity of orphans. Carly emphasized greatly with the goddess, and was the church right in claiming Rsleen the supposed Goddess of Ikos was Haya? More importantly, could Carly bring this wretched earthern world to it's knees if she pledged herself to Haya's cause. Could a god remove the dark pit of longing that sat burried within her soul? It was a horrid thing to be an orphan, and a blue one at that.

Grunting, the tiny thelyri moved into a stride yet again with Potential following beside her protectively. Her sixth sense prowled the immediate area directing her attention to anything that looked remotely alive, once she thought she felt something furry at the edge of her sonar but it was gone before she could properly echolocate it. And so she came to the gates or Orckon where the black armoured human guards kept watch, passing through the gates would be easy. Passing through the city would be dangerous. Carly took comfort in that sword her orckish protector wielded, anything taller than her, and sharper than her teeth had to be useful.

[Grosnock]

Late Summer, Era XI

Grosnock arrived at the mountainous form of Ire and looked at the high spires with awe. It had been the first time since anyone from his bloodline had seen the city since his grandfather Gorgog Da Manik had been slain in his famed charge on the troops of the empire defying the warchief. Perhaps the reason that they had not returned was the shame which he had brought them. Grosnock felt no shame however, just respect, pride and honour when he thought of the great feats in battle his forefather had accomplished. He had been a true Orc, never mind what the masses think.

He approached the gates and hollered at the gaurd in the battlements with one of the Orcish greetings he had picked up in Malice. The gaurd hollered back and pointed toward the entrance where a few travelers went in and out as the gaurds inspected their belongings for items worthy of confiscation such as a bottle of booze or a leg of ham. Grosnock was about to reach for his visa as he approached the gates before he remembered the colour of his skin was the only form of identification he needed. He was not only welcome here but he belonged here. The gaurds wouldn't dream of turning away an Orcish warrior.

With a slight nod he passed the inspection and entered the hustle and bustle of the market that lay just beyond the outer wall. He needed a drink.

[Stephen Cronin]

Late Summer, Era XI

While traveling, Stephen stopped by the gates of Ire to skim the outside of the city. 'Orcs' he thought. 'Hmphh, Savage creatures.' He did, however, find Orcish architecture intriquing and was able to receive his fill of it while wandering around near the gates.

He stopped when he noticed one of the guards eyeing him, he was, after all, a human.

He quickly started to go about his way and left the city.

[Adder]

The human guards watched the man depart then looked at eachother and shrugged. Clearly the man was more than a little strange. Coming close enough to see the city meant he was well within the patrols, and if something was going to happen to him, then it would already have done so. Added to which the Free Trade Zone within the gate would have provided a safe refuge and tankard or two of ale.

On the other hand, the patrols might just pick up this man who was now retreating from the city for his actions were certainly suspicious.

[Stephen Cronin]

Originally Posted by Adder

The human guards watched the man depart then looked at eachother and shrugged. Clearly the man was more than a little strange. Coming close enough to see the city meant he was well within the patrols, and if something was going to happen to him, then it would already have done so. Added to which the Free Trade Zone within the gate would have provided a safe refuge and tankard or two of ale.

On the other hand, the patrols might just pick up this man who was now retreating from the city for his actions were certainly suspicious.

ooc:

:rofl: i see how it is!

oh well, happy gaming

[Adder]

From the top of the wall, orc guards patrolled, unlike on the gate where a civilised appearance was given to the visitors.

The officer of the guard, which this brightening at least was comprised of Fos Rog, and they took their duties with a seriousness and dedication that the average orc could not be bothered with, kept a hard eye on the comings and goings through the gate. Any shortcomings with the human mercenaries below and they would be shorter, by at least a head.

This brightening however, it seemed that it wasn't to be the gate guards that would capture his interest, and he waved a swift command to his 2i/c. Shortly afterwards a horn rang out in a coded sequence.

For a while nothing seemed to happen and the echoes rang softly back from the hills and then faded, while silence held and the only sound was the harsh croak of a black bird that perched on the battlements.

The silence reigned and then movement was seen. A series of black dots seperated from the hilltop and loped down at a speed that was both graceful and yet terrible to behold.

The dots resolved and grew larger. They converged on the form of the retreating man and circled rapidly before coming to a halt. Close up the forms that had circled around Stephan eyed him closely. The four orcs glared in a featureless way, not especially interested in a single man. That was not true of their mounts, who instead regarded him with interest, an interest that had little to do with threats but a great deal more to with the fact that the worgs were hungry.

What ju do? The words were spat out by one of the orcs, the one mounted on a slightly bulkier worg, one that like its rider was missing an ear.