I sent Alex a mental map of where the next checkpoint was and rose back into the sky. The orks had fallen into bloodlust once more and were looking for things to kill. Only, there was nothing in the valley but them. That did not mean they were killing each other, though. The violence was instead vented on everything they could easily break. The town was already a mess of wooden scraps. Even the stone walls were being broken down. That was not enough for the brutes. A large number had set out to break trees and trample the plants. I really hoped this would ebb off soon. Otherwise, they might accidentally run into the tunnel and find goblins to kill. Only a few more days and they would be unable to pass by the plug.

I looked around for Ugark and his aunt. They were no longer in the valley, as I quickly realized. I spotted them converging on the meeting spot, only a few minutes behind Alex.

“I found the two orks that will come with us. I’ll lead them to the meeting spot personally.”

“How close are they?”, Alex asked.

“Maybe ten minutes behind you. Less, if the small one wasn’t so overloaded.”

Acknowledgement flowed back through the connection. It also came through the bond. Did we even need the supersensory matrix anymore? A question for later.

I landed in front of the two orks, keeping enough distance to avoid startling them. Ugark still stepped behind Sra, trying to get out of sight, while the large ork had a hand on her axe.

“Oh, it’s just you”, she said.

I nodded a greeting. Soon, the connection was established.

“You’re close. I’ll stick with you so the goblins don’t kill you on sight.”

“Not like they could!”, she snarled.

I scoffed.

“They got both of the old fart’s guards. And for me, it’s rather them than you.”

“Just… calm down, please?”, Ugark begged.

A friendly growl was his answer.

“Lead the way”, Sra said.

I walked slowly to give the others some time to get settled. On the way, I questioned my company about the frenzy.

“Why do your people get into such a blood rush?”

“That’s one of our species Skills. If we get pushed and our leaders push back, we can lose reasoning in exchange for nearly unending stamina and a desire to kill.”

“That sucks. And you don’t fall for it, because?”

“We got too high mental Attributes. Wisdom of 12 or both at 10 is enough to go against it. Unless the one instigating has some variant or a higher ranking Skill. Though we also need to will against it.”

“So, in short, orks are dumb?”

Ugark sighed.

“Yes. Most of our species are, in fact, very dumb.”

“Sapience is not a given for everyone.”

“That sounds tough.”

For a moment, silence returned. Then, another voice spoke through the connection. It was Alex.

“What’s the requirement for sapience, anyways?”

The orks stopped.

“WHO?”, Sra snarled.

“That’s my friend, Alexandra”, I explained, “Though I’m wondering how you can listen to what they’re saying?”

“You’re my ears”, was the answer.

“Interesting.”

“And where is this friend of yours?”, Sra asked.

“Ahead of us, soon to be at the meeting point.”

“Would have been nice to know someone’s listening in.”

“I would’ve told you if I knew that’s how it works.”

“So, sapience? What does this system use as a baseline to give sapience to someone?”

“That would be the mental Attributes”, Ugark said, “As well as a soul. If your mental Attributes reach both over eight or a combined twenty, and you have a soul, you’ll be considered sapient. Which comes with the option to gain a Class and gives the [Identify] Skill, or, in some cases, a variant.”

“But what about animals that can use magic? Some of them are really good at it and aren’t sapient. Don’t you need high mental Attributes to be good at magic?”

“That’s not true, actually. A high vis enrichment, or rather, a Core or Affinity, are much more useful for magic. Most of them are also [Node Guardian]s, or just Guardians, as the dwarves call them.”

“That kind of makes sense. Still, wouldn’t the mental Attributes go up when they start using magic?”

“Unless someone has free points to invest, they won’t go up. With a few exceptions, at least. If you level soon after reaching a higher enrichment, race-level, that is, you are very likely to get Intelligence or Wisdom.”

“Alright, thanks”, Alex signed out.

“We’re close now, we’ll soon see them. I ask you to stay down and not touch your weapons. I’ll handle the introductions.”

The orks growled in acknowledgement.

Less than a minute later, we rounded a ledge of rock and looked upon a provisional camp. 17 goblins were milling about, the two wounded less so but still involved. Alex sat to the side, with one goblin keeping an eye on her. It was the little brother. The golem looked up at me when we stepped forward. The goblins soon followed, ceasing all activity in favour of hostile hissing and positioning.

I quickly connected the main group to our conference call.

“Here we are. These two orks asked me to help them get out of that shithole, just like you guys. I don’t need you to get along but don’t kill each other, okay?”

Sra made herself as small as possible, which was still over twice the height of the tallest goblin and four times the width. Ugark fit much better with his diminutive figure though the thaumaturge’s robes he was wearing did not help any.

“You have a golem?”, he asked me.

“That’s Alex.”

The golem in question waved a hand and sent her own greeting.

“You shouldn’t name golems”, Ugark hissed.

“I didn’t. She chose her name. And she’s not mine. She’s her own woman. Golem. Whatever.”

“Insanity!”

He slammed his pack down next to a tree as far away from anyone as he could.

“I like it!”, Sra snarled, “Greetings, Alex!”

“By the way, she killed both the fart’s guards.”

That made the ork smile even wider.

“Good riddance!”

She found a spot somewhere between the goblins and Ugark, almost right next to Alex.

“Come, let’s talk fighting!”

I left the two to their business for now and turned to the goblins.

“How are your wounded? Need anything for them?”

It turned out I could not do much. They looked like they would survive, anyway. Though the goblins would take a little longer for the path I had picked for them. If everything worked out. The hostility became muffled when exhaustion started to settle in. Everyone had to get some rest from today’s fight and the trek up into the mountains. The only ones still lively were Alex and Sra who were deep into a discussion about hand to hand combat techniques. Why a software engineer knew this much about martial arts was a mystery I was not ready to lift. I had other matters to attend to.

“Ugark, Sra. I trust you to not harm the goblins. Goblins, don’t harm the orks. Alright? I need to see if my plan for your accommodations will work out or not.”

The individuals made affirmative noises. I made the goblins spread the word to everyone that could not hear my voice.

“Alex, you can see through my sense, right?”

She nodded.

“Well, just keep to yourself what you’re seeing. There’s no need to get hopes up just to smash them.”

“Understood.”

Of course, we had kept the conversation away from everyone else. The goblin village was close enough to stay within range but I still disconnected everyone but Sra and Alex. I did not want to interrupt their budding friendship.

I found my way in through the ravine this time. The goblins had set up a guard a little way down the tunnel, just in case. I did not know him really so after a greeting, I made it down to the village. Since it was the middle of the day, everyone should be asleep. The guard post next to the valley tunnel was still heavily manned, though. Half the goblins were there, sleeping right next to their equipment. A small group was still up, ready to warn the others in case of emergency. They directed me to Roguk’s hut where I found the goblin in question. I woke him up with some careful flaps of my wing to his face. Moments later, I was pushed off his bed by a wide swing of his arm.

“Wh… what? Attack? What’s going on?”

Hoot.

He blinked, then rubbed his eyes.

“Oh. Fio. What’s up? Why are you waking me up?”

I formed a connection.

“I got some things to talk about. Right now. Can you get Ira and Chef?”

“Alright. Just let me put something on.”

While he woke up the two other goblins, Alex spoke into my mind. She used our bond through the seal, this time. I found I could easily block her words if I so chose.

“What were you talking about? I don’t know that language.”

“You don’t know goblin? Well, you might have to learn. Maybe. I’m planning to move the goblins here. They were planning to expand anyway with my help and they’ll likely accept them. The orks, I don’t know. It’s unlikely. I might have to help them build a place somewhere else. As for you… I have an idea that might even set you free. Somewhat.”

“What do you mean, somewhat?”

At that moment, Roguk came back with Ira and Chef in tow.

“Here we are. What’s it you want to talk about?”

“You’d be bound to a location but at least free of will”, I sent to Alex, “If it even works. We’ll talk later.”

I turned my attention to the goblins and spoke in Ordugh.

“So, I took out the thaumaturge about an hour ago. Together with some of the goblins, the hunting army brought for scouting. They’re currently on the run while the orks are raging in their bloodlust. First, it’s rather likely they’ll find the tunnel with how they’re currently behaving. Second, I want the goblins to move in with you. It would be the easiest for everyone involved.”

Ira sighed.

“Child. You gotta speak goblin if you want us to trust your word.”

“That’s because there’s another friend of mine listening in who doesn’t know your language. Say hi, Alex.”

“Hello everyone!”, she cheered.

“Doesn’t feel like ork from that voice”, Chef said.

“More something like me. Though not quite the same. She’s nice. And she helped kill some orks today.”

“I don’t like it”, Ira said, in Ordugh this time, “There could still be an ork listening in.”

“Yes and no”, Alex sent, “There are two orks currently on this connection but I am keeping our conversation from them.”

“The orks in question also helped with the takedown. I don’t think they’d fit here even if I made you take them in by some means. I’ll find a different place for them.”

Chef grumbled. Ira hissed.

“Fine. Let’s hear your plan”, Roguk finally said.

“I’ll lead the goblins onto a path leading into the ravine. It’ll take them three days or maybe four with their injured to reach. By then, the situation in the valley has hopefully settled for better or worse. I’m going to keep a close eye on it with Alex and the not so bad orks. When everything’s over, hopefully without any losses on our side, we’ll settle the new goblins in your village and I’ll find a place for the orks. I have another project to help Alex with, after which she can see where she wants to go on her own.”

“So, nothing changes for now?”, Chef asked.

“For the next few days, be extra vigilant. I’ll inform you if the bloodlust wears off. But it’s likely your scouts will be with information before that.”

Grim looks made the round.

“On the bright side, shooting orks is fun!”, Alex cheered. Maybe we were not quite right in the head but I had to wholeheartedly agree. As did the goblins.

“Fine, we’ll do it your way for now”, Ira relented, “Just don’t screw us over!”