While B ranted about Julia’s betrayal, she glanced between Torm and Rana. Torm’s expression wasn’t what she’d expected, but found herself unsurprised and glad. He wasn’t suspicious, or cautious, rather in his gaze there was obvious concern for her.

“I’m glad we’re discussing this without Mortal ears listening in,” Rana said, gesturing to the beautiful wards he’d set around them. They’d turned a small area of Yngvarr’s courtyard into shifting shadows, with the appearance of a tree’s leaves reacting to the morning breeze. The two had waited patiently clustered in a circle with her while Julia had explained the latest strangeness.

Fuck! This is trouble.

“So you can chew me out…” started Julia, but as Rana’s eyes went wide, she knew she’d gotten it wrong.

“No!” exclaimed Rana in shock. “Nothing of the sort. It is merely a subject Mortal’s react strongly to, often feeling what they believe right is the completeness of truth.”

“You’ve gained a Priest who looks at you differently to how Eivor and the others regard you,” stated Torm. “It will be a challenge, but there are ways you can grow from this as well. I’m more concerned about how you feel about the name Lêdhins offered being permanently tied to you this way. With their worshipping it you’ll never be able to remove it.”

“It was a parting gift of someone before they died,” replied Julia. “Lêdhins’ Id, no, not Lêdhins - Derek’s Id consumed him, or overpowered him. I don’t hold its actions against him, its all the dark and vile things that he refused to act on given life. It’s like holding someone's thoughts against them, and I’m not going into how many explicit daydreams I’ve ignored lately.”

Rana nodded in agreement to Julia’s words before he spoke up, the seriousness of his expression tightening Julia’s nerves.

“Orcs on this world have fought against the Elves since before humans were about, but that is not the case on all worlds. The Elven Pantheon doesn’t exist in this world alone, though the number of worshipers here restricts its influence. You and your Id are like two trees growing so near each other that it has your branches are tangling. Whether Óðinn’s mistake in sending Odyis to you has forced your growth to entwine eternally is still to be seen.”

“When she turned up with them,” Torm started, then paused before continuing. When he did so, regret and remorse clear in his expression and heavy tone. “I believe I owe you my apologies as well. I should have taken them aside and learnt what was going on before I let them in the house. You trusted me and I failed you.”

“You did no such thing!” gasped a shocked Julia, putting a hand on his arm in concern. “They messed things up, not you. Heck, really, I should have told them to fuck off. If they’d left, it sounds like Týr would have given them an earful, and arranged for them or someone more sensible to be called back. You're not responsible for other people’s choices.”

“Why do you feel responsible for B’s choices? Her preferences?” Torm asked, the concern in his words making Julia freeze at the question. The intensity of his expression making her stumble for words. “She often suggests courses of action you refuse.”

“This is the issue then, isn’t it,” Rana said, nodding at Julia’s expression. “It’s not that its Bs choice. It’s that you see her as part of you, rather than an entity with her own priorities, whispering in your mind.”

“Her basis for decision making is everything I repressed,” protested Julia.

“Yet she knows why you repressed them. So, a different question. Is a parent responsible for an adult child?” asked Torm.

“Not if they did their best to raise them,” admitted Julia. “Eventually they have to be held accountable for themselves. But if the parents abused them aren’t they partly to blame if the child turned into a monster.”

{{ Yeah, so stop disempowering me, mum! }}

You’re more a nightmare house guest that I never wanted!

{{Fuck you too! }}

Anytime you want to pack up and leave is fine by me!

Ignoring the delighted laughter, Julia focused on the conversation as Rana spoke.

“But as you’ve seen, even Celestials, and Gods can make choices that aren’t in the best interests of others. B can recall your past lives, in them there would be more than pain,” Rana said. “The Anar reaching adulthood could recall all their lives and learned from their past mistakes. If she wishes to claim credit for the name Viper, let her take responsibility for actions done in that name.”

“You should know that Orcs have their code of honour even if it barbaric. That alone is more than many humans will give them credit for,” consoled Torm. “What Rika’s mother endured was horrible, but human women have endured much at the hands of their own kin. Most Mortal sapient species have the capacity for choice. Few of them are utterly evil, as most Humans and even some Elves believe. Although there are unredeemable things that the Titan placed to serve as a continual challenge to those that can choose.”

“And some things Mortals created that are fucked up all on their own, like the Gnarls,” Julia agreed with a nod, considered his words as options spun in her mind.

“What?!” Rana exclaimed.

Oh crap!

“That wasn’t common knowledge?” Julia asked nervously, her grimace drawing a concerned look from Rana.

“What have you discovered?” asked Torm, his question echoed by Rana.

“Perhaps something I should just keep to myself till I talk to a few people,” Julia muttered, wondering if the Dwarves even knew.

“The Gnarls have been a plague on these lands since before the Elven return,” Rana stated. “The Dwarves and humanoids had been battling them for thousands of years before the courts returned.”

“Pretty sure I’ve already said too much. Care to tell me more about the Orcs?” Julia asked, mentally sighing when Rana just nodded.

“The strongest individual rules each tribe, be it through magical power, strength of arms or cunning,” said Rana, though his thoughtful expression clearly showed he was still considering her revelation. B’s insane giggles at the back of her mind made keeping a calm expression challenging.

[Acting [J] (19->20)]

Great, so keeping secrets from a friend counts?

“From what I’ve seen of their combat skills, they focus on only a single class,” Torm added. “They’re usually very set in their ways, though wiping out a war host would get one’s attention. They’ll need a religion with a focus on fighting if you’re going to keep their belief. Hope won’t interest them, that’s for the future and they live in the now.”

“What about destroying things like the Gnarls?” Julia asked, trying to make the best of the situation.

“Focusing on destruction is a dangerous path,” cautioned Rana.

“B is going to… no, Viper will not want a path of peace.”

“You're using the name for her?” Rana asked, looking at her in surprise.

“It was her choice, not mine. You told me part of my problem is I don’t see her as separate from me. Well now, she’s Viper. She might only exist inside me, but since she wanted it, then the name is all hers.” Julia stated firmly and blinked as the world swam for a moment.

[Use Name Viper reallocated.]

{{I don’t know if I should kiss you or hurt you. It’s mine, it’s all mine. }}

“Julia, what happened?” Torm asked, looking at her with concern as she swayed in place.

“Viper got full possession of her name,” Julia said. Looking at the profile, she sighed in relief but stopped with a frown. “I also don’t see details on Lady Viper’s worshippers now; I can see Lady Eakcï details but not hers.”

{{ We can still come to a deal on that score. Don’t want folks to have a reason to wipe them out as you were considering. }}

B made the offer happily.

What sort of deal?

{{ I could still give you a headache with the boxes - so how about you sort out what I sensed you planning earlier. }}

What’s the carrot?

{{ There are pleasant memories I could release instead, including your first name. }}

I still want to tell you to fuck off.

{{ Would you prefer them to run wild or at least moderate them? Oh, can I influence my Priest’s attitude from a distance?}}

Bitch.

{{ Yes! }}

The ocean breeze brought the cries of birds and the taste of salt to Julia. A heroic stand against the miasma of decay and rot the slaughter behind her emanated. The wind’s direction pushed the worst of it away from where she was on the hillside near the Orc’s settlement, but the masses of dead nearby were overpowering. A sentry’s cry went up, her Power translating it to ‘the destroyer is back’. She’s seen others about picking through the bodies at the first sight of her, she’d learnt from their minds that the ‘Priest’ of Lady Viper was still within the walls.

{{ Typical come all this way to be a stiff. You screw with them and I’ll screw with your followers. }}

If I just tell them to stay well clear of the kingdoms?

Ignoring B’s biting tone, Julia just stood waiting, not risking her going to them being seen as an act of supplication. To her, it just didn’t seem like a move to risk. They could come to her or not speak to her at all.

After a quarter of a bell a group of Orcs came out through the gate, the mix not hopeful till she focused on their body language. Three bowmen kept their gazes focused on the edges of the cleared land away from her. The rest of the group were two swordsmen, and three Shamans like she’d seen tending the wounded Orc. Except for a Fighter and Shaman focused on her, most seemed to watch the activity among the broken trees. The Fighter was wearing a symbol she recognised at once from Usd’ghi’s remarks about her vision of Titan’s wall, even these months later. Analysis picked out the swordsmen’s name and the eldest Shaman’s name in moments.

[Name: Vårtál

Species: Northern Orc

Class: Barbarian / Priest

Level: 34 / 1

Health: 510

Defence: 107

Mana: 13

Magic: 26

Melee Attack Power: 118

Combat Skills: Rage [Ad] (34), Long Blades [M](2), Throwing Spear [Ad](42) - Minor Blessings - Lady Viper

Details: Vårtál, though the fifth son of Yøtál, the tribe currently is leaning favourably his way if Yøtál dies. The success of his war band in battle and hunting have out stripped their smaller numbers. ]

[Name: Yøtál

Species: Northern Orc

Class: Shaman

Level: 71

Health: 1207

Defence: 146

Mana: 11,005

Magic: 114

Melee Attack Power: 51

Combat Skills: Short Blades [M](25), Hunting Bow [Ad](42), Sling [M] (15), Spirit Binding [S](5) - Assorted Blessings - Ancestor Worship

Details: Yøtál has been a Shaman of the Seafang tribe since she was twelve. Yøtál, first as sole Shaman, and later as the Tribal leader, has overseen its regrowth in the last five decades.]

[Name: Üorgak

Species: Northern Orc

Class: Barbarian.

Level: 52

Health: 1,716

Defence: 135

Melee Attack Power: 182

Combat Skills: Rage [Ad] (50), Great Blades [Ad] (50), Great Axes [Ad](50), Clubs [Ad](42), Unarmed Combat [Ad](21)

Details: Eldest son of Yøtál. He serves as her principal bodyguard while she is outside the Tribe’s encampment. Though he’s aware he isn’t as smart as his siblings, it doesn’t stop him from speaking his mind. He is prone to lashing out in anger when he finds his desires frustrated.]

They stopped about five metres away and the group fell into wary silence as Julia just waited.

“Lady Viper, do you come in response to our worship of you?” asked Vårtál, after a few minutes of Julia just watching them stand before her.

“You certainly got my attention,” Julia replied honestly. “Whether your prayers are welcome, I’d like to learn more before that’s decided. Where did you learn of that name and symbol?”

“A Hag from the Deepwater Bay Coven told our Shaman of you, Lady Viper,” Vårtál responded without hesitation even though Julia could see he was holding things back.

They don’t have just one Shaman. Looking to avoid giving me her name? Or does the strongest get the title?

“Shaman Yøtál. How did the Hag know?” asked Julia, looking directly at the older Orc standing beside him. The way her eyes widen in surprise making Julia’s day.

“Lady Epochē spoke to her, and she traded the information to us,” Yøtál replied, and Julia was glad she wasn’t playing who me.

Fuck, someone’s asking her about me? How did she know I look nothing like.. golden skinned elf… I should have used another form!

{{Well, yeah. }}

“What caused the Hag to speak to Lady Epochē?” enquired Julia, her tone slightly curious, as if unbothered by the knowledge.

“Shaman Yøtál traded for information on you in case you were a danger to the tribe,” Vårtál stated. “Did our prayers displease you?”

“I’m sure your Mother can speak for herself,” replied Julia, her dry tone drawing concerned mutters. “What did the Hag say to you?”

“That you were Lady Viper, Herald of Lady Epochē, the vengeful liberator, destroyer of chains, Reaper of Souls,” stated Yøtál, keeping her attention on Julia.

Sounds like Usd’ghi knows far more than she let on, figures. Reaper of Souls? Is she trying to give me a promotion using Reaper as more than just a job title?

Movement from the gate drew Julia’s attention, but instead of Orcs it was a group of chained Kobolds. Soul Sight showed the Kobolds similar Souled to the Orcs, brutal, with little care of anyone else but their own. Even from the distance she was standing, Julia could see the scars on their wrists where manacles had worn away at scales.

They keep slaves, damn it.

{{Don’t make a fuss, bitch! }}

Screw you, Viper! Enjoy being tied to the Sisterhood? No! Slavery is wrong, end of discussion!

“Didn’t you kill the Gnarls, and come expecting us to bow at your feet?” questioned Üorgak, his brutish features twisted in suspicion.

“Your worship is your choice,” Julia replied to Üorgak, even as Viper started raging about her disinterest. “But I’d ask you to stop enslaving others and give them their choices back.”

She made a gesture back towards the encampment, but only some Orcs turned to look at the Kobolds. The reptilian creatures didn’t even come up to the height of an Orc’s hip. Lean, with clawed hands and feet, their tails assisted in their balance. Reddish-brown scales covered them, but tattered loincloths gave them a sense of destroyed dignity.

“It is our right by strength to control them,” Üorgak roared, and Julia just stared at him with contempt as Soul Sight showed her more of his nature. The cruel enjoyment even a mere glance at them had sent through his Soul setting her teeth on edge.

“How strong are you if you need to chain weaker individuals?” asked Julia, disgust clear in her gaze. “No matter how physically strong you are, it shows you’re flawed, with no true strength. True strength, true Power comes from within oneself not from forcing others to labour for you.”

“The broken chains on your symbol. Are slave manacles?” asked Vårtál, giving Üorgak a flat look and causing him to glance at Yøtál before grinding his teeth.

“Yes, I’ll certainly destroy enemies, but slavery disgusts me.”

“If we just set them free, they’ll come to raid our food supplies again,” said Vårtál, his relaxed tone broadcasting familiar with being the voice of reason. “They will steal anything they can lay claw to if you turn your back on them.”

“Kobolds prefer being underground, don’t they?” Julia asked, an idea coming to mind.

I just hope this doesn’t come back and cause humanity grief later.

((The Titan had them Sung to act as a tool to temper other civilisations. ))

Great, so you’re saying it’s fine because it’s all part of his plan.

((If you ease their struggles, even they might become less brutal - it has happened on other worlds. ))

{{Going to strengthen my worshippers. Okay, I’m on board. }}

So not what I wanted to hear.

“Of course, they are like rats,” Vårtál replied. “Sneaking around underground digging where they should not come.”

“The Gnarls have caves east of here, their war host came from there,” Julia offered, watching the caution in Vårtál’s gaze. “I learnt the route from the Commander’s mind. You could ally with the Kobolds to take them over. Afterwards have them handle the mushroom groves and keep a watch for more Gnarls coming back.”

“We are still recovering from the last battle,” Üorgak grumbled, despite Yøtál's continued glare. “You expect us to clear out a Gnarl nest for those rats to benefit?”

Yøtál could shut him up, but isn’t.

Julia studied the glare between them and caught a glint of expectation under the anger.

[Sense Motive [J] (5->7)]

She expects him to run his mouth - it saves her or Vårtál getting in my bad books, then lets them see my reactions.

“No, I’ll kill the Gnarls,” sneered Julia, “You can stay here and run your mouth like your mother expects of you.”

As Shaman Yøtál went to speak, Julia's flat look stopped her.

“But if you want anything from me, you’ll do two things. Stop keeping slaves, and stay out of the lands of the Elven and Human Kingdoms. The Orcs have plenty to challenge their strength in these harsh lands along the coast they don’t need the soft lands of east.”

“Well fed Kobolds will just grow in numbers till they can swarm us like the Gnarls,” Vårtál stated, as Yøtál signalled Üorgak to be silent.

“Make an alliance with them. They provide food to you, and you keep them safe from bigger threats,” Julia suggested. “You’ll grow stronger by challenging yourselves, while they have a place of safety. Balance the food grown, leave them enough to prosper without turning into a horde, and also supply your community.”

Shit, this might turn their entire tribe into a standing army.

“You would tell us what to do?” asked Yøtál, suspicion clear in her gaze as she spoke for herself.

“I’m telling you what I’m going to do,” Julia stated, her low tone growling with menace. “What you do is your own choice.“

She directed the last words at Vårtál, but the three involved in the conversation felt a steel will press against their minds. As it lifted, they sensed the route to the Gnarl’s warren complex Julia had left with them.

“That’s for your use later. I’ve loads of killing to do first. I’ll send a message when they’re dead. Negotiation of terms with the Kobolds is up to you. But I will check on things, no blood offering by the way. You want something to make an altar smell attractive to me, burn some of those herbs your Mother smells of presently. Save the food for your tribe, no need to open up a goat across it again.”

Or anything else, though I wonder if the herbs are the hemp variety or recreational.

“What is it you want of us, Lady Viper?”

“I fight things that need to be fought,” Julia stated. “Just like you don’t waste your war band’s strength in unneeded fights, Vårtál. I see no need to kill things for sport, or just because I can.”

With those words Julia vanished, the Commander’s memories delivering her within sight of the cave mouth. The valley where the cave sat was an eyesore of devastation: uprooted trees and churned soil. Only the rare sprouts of recent growth gave any sign the land wasn’t as blighted by Negative Mana.

Tracing the path to the cave mouth leading towards the Gnarl’s complex had been as easy as she’d hoped. His mind hadn’t considered the complex itself though, and Julia’s concerns grew as she felt more Gnarls ahead than she had expected. Where she had expected the Gnarls to be sending out a war host to conquer new Territory, she’d expected their war effort to have left only a garrison force behind.

Instead, under the local equivalent of the San Gabriel Mountains, she found a metropolis whose population was beyond her ability to determine quickly. Buildings, finely crafted and crudely formed alike, populated ledges along a giant gallery deep within its expanse. A pungent, offensive odour led her to square kilometres of underground pens with Dire Boar males separated from their sows, and if she’s had a mouth laughter born from relief and disbelief would have threatened. A restrained sow giving birth to a litter of Gnarls was the last thing she’d expected to find. When the last of fourteen staggered awkwardly to his feet, mobile within minutes, their numbers stilled her amusement.

She’d seen Dire Boar sows in the other outpost, but thought they were for food, not for generating litters of Gnarls. Telepathy nudged one of the ‘nursemaids’, and he reacted to the idle thought of women with twisted lusts. Fortunately, nothing in his thoughts provided any sign there were sapient females about, and Julia withdrew from his mind.

[Telepathy [Ad] (36->37)]

No wonder the details said the host organism, not mother.

Talk about a parasitic lifeform.

{{ No wonder they reminded you of pork crackling, they’re all long pigs. }}

As she watched from a cavern ceiling, a Gnarl far out massing the sow wandered towards the cavern. It’s every step echoing with the weight of muscles supported by its frame. When it ducked through an archway that was easily twelve metres high, Julia used Analysis on it, concerned what she’d find. The Gnarl wore armour made up of metallic bands shimmering with crude enchantments. Though Julia could see lots of gaps in its protection, the armour’s dings and creases showed it had saved him from injury in the past. A haft sat over its shoulder and as it moved past where she was observing the curved axe strapped across its back became visible.

Analysis

[Name: Ñdùli

Species: Gnarl

Class: Fighter / Barbarian / Smith

Level: 70 / 70 / 70 / 43

Health: 11,949

Defence: 335

Melee Attack Power: 408

Combat Skills: Bite [M] (34), Claws [M] (38), Cower [M] (4), Command Swarm [M](23), Danger Sense [Ad] (23), Great Axe [M](59), Greater Rage [M] (15), Regeneration [M] (59)

Details: A Prince ranked Gnarl, Ñdùli, was born of an Elven captive, and survived the decimation of his original tribe by a Wood Elf expedition. He founded his current complex ninety years ago, and has bred numbers sufficient to have sent out multiple conquering war hosts against neighbouring regions. ]

He’s got three classes, but not taken a Prestige Class, yet he’s smart enough to have Master rank skills.

Saw nothing like this fellow in the other complex.

{{Let’s go play elder thing. Succubus class is falling way behind, you need to level it to get rid of it. }}

That fellow is going to need tougher folk than me to take it down unless I cheat. I should let the others know they’re here, they might want experience from fighting it before I give the game away by murdering thousands.

Analysis

[Cower: This power allows the individual possessing it to unleash a war cry that provokes a fear effect on all opponents hearing it and boosts the moral of allies.]

[Greater Rage: This evolved version of rage increases the melee attack power of the individual without diminishing their Defence or their weapon Skills.]

{{ Oh Mab says Hi. I got invited to join her faction. Isn’t that sweet? }}