“The Fires of Frenuach was an event so etched onto the elven psyche that even now, their cities near the borders of imperial territory will always maintain a standing garrison of its own. Back during the late second and early third era, multiple elven cities were lost in the span of a week due to the Liberation Armies. The armies penetrated into the forests that were where the Hills of Frenuach now currently reside, setting fires behind the elven lines to force the border towns out into the open and into the arms of the Liberation Army’s merciless embrace.”

- Researcher Clarance Arsmith, Adventurers Guild Historian, “Flashpoints of the Early Third Era: Fires of Frenuach”

Sophie caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror and flinched at the sight. She was in only her underwear and with a bag made out of her pants wrapped around her neck, and a sack now tied around her waist. Holding onto her sword with one hand, she felt and looked very much like a homeless, disheveled warrior. Stars, I look… let’s just hope no one sees me like this.

It didn’t help that she was weighed down by the stacks of papers and documents in her bags, effectively nullifying any potential benefits of losing her armor earlier. She made her way back out of the building using the first office as more and more guards arrived to investigate the company offices. Soon enough they’d find the broken glass and blood on the second floor. Before then, she wanted to be far away from here.

Sophie limped away from the window and made her way to a nearby alley, taking a moment to catch her breath. She secured her bags and tried her best to make sure they wouldn’t be a worry on the move. Unsheathing her blade, she wielded it in one hand and held the sheath in the other. Deep in hostile territory, she kept close to the ground and tried to appear as small as she could to avoid attention. Dozens of half orc patrols alongside human mercenaries were actively monitoring the slaves and workers, even more trying to search for her. Perhaps the only consolation she could draw from this was that none of them knew what she properly looked like, giving her just a little bit of wiggle room should she be found. Or so she hoped.

The town itself had been beaten into submission by the time that she finished ransacking the offices. Many of the original workers assembled by the overseer have been sent back to her quarters. She yhad passed out from exhaustion during most of the ordeal, but judging by the bloodied streets, even without the bodies, she suspected less than peaceful means to suppress the determined workers. Holding their freedoms is dirty, and to punish them for trying.

Sophie grumbled with disapproval but pressed on. She frowned at the choices ahead of her, neither of which were very appealing. She could either press deeper into the mines, hoping to find a way out via the minecart tracks. Or she could try to press pass through the path she took to enter, trying once again to get past the company guards. It was a proven path, but they would’ve likely fortified it more since she breached from that direction.

With yet another patrol rushing out from the company center, Sophie knew that it was only a matter of time before they spread into the alleyway, she needed to move. Sighing in acceptance, she decided to push deeper into the kolonia, hoping to follow the tracks to another exit or at least a minecart she could use for the bags. If anything, at minimum she needed to get these documents out to the Arterian rangers.

Shuffling past a set of buildings, she set her immediate sights on what looked to be a shop front of sorts. Hoping that it had essentials for the miners and thus an outfit to fight off the chill and dust. Judging by the lack of activity, she reckoned that she’d find little in terms of staff or workers around. A few patrols wandered past her line of sight but far less than those currently swarming around the command center and outer breach.

Waiting for the opportune moment, she dashed across the street and almost tumbled directly into the store wall. Stumbling slightly, she froze and strained her ears to try to tell if anyone noticed. Hearing nothing out of the ordinary, she crouched and moved closer to the shop. She tugged at the window, cringing at the loud creak that resulted from it. Despite that, she was at least relieved it wasn’t completely shut tight.

Taking a deep breath, she used her sheath and jammed it into a sliver of an opening. She then pushed until she could pry the wooden windows open. Glanicng around, she didn’t see or hear any nearby patrols, but was certain that the wooden creaks could be heard across the town. Spooked by herself, she quickly clambered into the building, pulling the window shut behind her, though it certainly was a little looser than before.

Inside the dingy stone building, it was almost completely dark save for the few corners where light shone through from the outside. Her intuition was proven correct, as an assortment of store shelves lined the place, though the selection of items on offer were dire even by her standard. Little dried food bars, shabby cloths and rags, even strange looking pamphlets. Spotting a few drab looking mining shirts, she rummaged through the lot and found a pair that fit her. Making sure no one was nearby, she changed into the new attire.

It barely fit her and only made her skin itch more, but it would make do. Shifting wearily, she grabbed a fruit bar and greedily gobbled it down. Satiated, she sighed in contentment, resting for a minute to recover what little sanity and energy she could. Sophie picked up a proper bag, stuffing all the papers and her makeshift sacks into it. Wiggling the two straps over her shoulders, she felt almost comfortable at finally approaching some semblance of equipment once more.

Feeling a little safer than when she was practically naked, she resolved herself to press on and snuck back out the window. On the streets of the Kolonia once more, she shuffled forward into the unknown. To her increasing curiosity, the further she pushed into the town, the more and more buildings there were. Just how many people are here? What the hells is going on? This can’t just be a mine, can it?

Regretting not properly reading through the documents to get a better understanding of things, she just grumbled her disapproval and continued her evasive maneuvers. So many miners and guards, there has to be something more going on. Has to be.

She was now deep in enemy territory, having successfully evaded the majority of patrols and being able to sneak past a second gathering of half orc guards. The town was heavily militarized, more than even Eichafen was when the undead arrived. And that was a damned fortress town.

The mystery only deepened when she passed the slave quarters. Getting around the area had been easy enough, her newly acquired disguise giving her a semblance of someone who belonged. Their buildings looked more like little town houses than the prisons that Sophie had imagined she would find. Her doubts were quickly shattered when she stuck her head next to a window for a quick peek inside. Iron bars, chains, and a copious amount of bunk beds and far little personal space. Poor souls, we’ll find a way to get you all out.

Eventually, her explorations brought her to yet another junction point. Except this time, it was a hub for the exchanging of minecarts. An area filled with levels, supplies, warehouses, and of course, far more guards than should’ve been necessary. There was even a watchtower of sorts on the far northern end of the junction, with what looked like more militaristic buildings behind it. To the west, there was the official mine entrance where the workers went to mine. The east seemed to be another exit of sorts, and the southside was where she was now standing. To her immediate left were two large three story buildings.

The closest one sounded like a tavern of sorts, some half gibberish orcish music assailed her ears and generally sounded relatively cheery. The building beyond that, she could not hear anything from, but judging by the occasional silhouette framed in the windows of an orc ploughing away at someone else, brothel wasn’t a very hard guess to make.

Across the tracks to her northeast, there was the first sign of something less than stellar construction wise. Where most other buildings, including the slave quarters were designed in standard townhouse or manor fashions. Here was a squat, rectangular building with ninety degree angles, sparse decor and a noticeably flat roof. It was so garish that Sophie couldn’t help but get the gut feeling that something was wrong there.

Ruling out the tavern and brothel as potential places to check, that left the watchtower, military buildings, and the rectangle. The military buildings seemed too high risk for her current situation, however curious that she was about what lay beyond them. For the watchtower, she could still see the guards on the balcony, but the presence seemed light enough. Outside the rectangle, only a single half orc warrior remained on duty.

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Setting her sights on what was likely the prison, she dashed between nearby buidlings to keep out of sight. Using the tavern and brothel noises to mask her movements, she tried her best to avoid the drunken orcs and half orcs stumbling about the place. Only a very few were still alert enough to have noticed her, if their comrades weren’t violently ill and demanding their attention.

Here were also the first signs of true danger. Unlike the armoured but lightly armed guards in the kolonia, the patrols here were marching with halberds and greataxes in hand. Given a half orc or an orc’s normal strength, one lucky cleave would probably cut her in two. She shuddered. How unpleasant.

Sophie was now completely lost on how much time had passed, her internal clock thrown off by the brief nap that she took earlier. Whatever the case, there was a certain laxness in the guards that reminded her of a night shift. Sluggish, slow, and undesirable. Whatever the case, she took advantage of their unawareness and skirted around the base of the watchtower and towards the prison. She discovered that parked between the two were a row of three minecarts with a flat cart behind them mounted on wheels and with a pump and some levers attached. Huh, that explains how they haul ore, at least.

Making a mental note, she moved forward and hugged the prison wall. It was a domineering structure, no windows or even general amenities visible from the outside beyond a few pipes. The back and sides of it were relatively unguarded, meaning only the front entrance had the singular half orc watching it. Making any noise would attract too much attention from the watchtower, but she needed the guard to move. Shuffling around the rectangle to the other side of it, she did feel some relief that she was out of sight of the watchtower. Less eyes, easier movements.

Gripping the hilt of her blade, she readied herself to strike and enter when she paused. Won’t the others see? But then how the hells am I supposed to get it? Her opportunity came when the orc suddenly stiffened up. Sophie froze, holding her position around the corner and simply watching.The guard reached over to open the door and from within, a dark presence stepped forth.

An older looking middle aged man, lightly bearded and with dark hair. His eyes looked impassively disappointed in something, his gaze making the guard jump into a snappy salute. One he did not return. Flanking him were two other half orc guards, the clank of their armour making Sophie reassess her chances in a fight. From behind them, something towered over them. A gigantic orc, twice the size of the others she had seen so far. With an almost self satisfied dumb looking smirk on its face, and a giant member dangling past his loin cloth.

Sophie’s stomach churned at the thought of the creature doing anything to anyone. But judging by his expression, Sophie had a bad feeling about what was happening within this building. Stars above… are they… did they…

“Get a cleaning crew. See to the mess.” The man snapped his fingers.

“But my lord, I’m the only one on duty…” The guard tried to murmur.

“And? What even happens this far in? Get to it.” The man commanded.

“Yes, my lord.” The guard saluted once more and dashed off in the direction of the tavern.

The annoyed looking man shot his other companions a look. Whatever it conveyed, his guards and the giant orc departed for the military section of the junction. Dang, so much for potentially folloing them. Of all the people, that guy definitely looks like he should know what’s going on. Tsk, she tutted to herself, no use worrying about that now.

Her eyes returned to the now unguarded prison. A good time as any.

Creeping along the wall, she tried to fuse with it and avoid any sudden movements that might make someone look over. After an agonizingly long minute, she made it to the doorway. To her good fortune, the handle shifted under her grasp and she easily pushed it open, slipping in without making a sound.

She turned around and met the eyes of a soldier sitting at a desk, a half orc looking equally as confused at seeing her. With both their eyes widening and little time for doubt, Sophie snapped into action. Like a deadly bolt of lighting, her instincts seized complete control and the blade was in the air before she could react. No! Wait! Her mind tried to scream. But it was as if her body was no longer hers and the blade cut directly into the half orc’s surprised mouth, separating his cheek in two.

As blood splattered onto her face and clothes, she could only stare at her own arm in shock. The half orc could only utter out a half squelchly “who?” as he then started gurgling and rasping for his last moments in the land of the living. When it looked like he was trying to cry in pain or for help, Sophie angled her blade downwards and sliced into his neck, carving his throat open. With the half orc now in his death throes, she ignored him and started looking around.

She was in a reception or entry area, a thickset of iron double doors blocking her path forward. Considering the ramped up structural security compared to the other buildings, she was now relatively certain about her conjecture that this was a prison. Reluctantly rummaging through the soon to be corpse, she could feel the half orc’s dying gaze following her every movement, as if asking why he had to die. Sophie could only push through the unnerving feeling until she managed to snatch a keyring from his pockets. Knowing that she couldn’t leave him there, she pulled out his chair from under him and stuffed him underneath the desk, hopefully enough to keep his body from being noticed.

With her grim task accomplished, what lay ahead now weighed upon her. Based on the party that left the prison, she had no doubt that whatever lay behind the doors would rattle her. But without much choice now that she was committed to this path, she could only suck in a deep breath, wipe off some of the blood, and then push a key into the keyhole of the double doors.

As they swung open, she had little time to analyze anything before jumping straight into action. Two more guards were lost in lust behind two naked humans, the girls chained up like toys to be used. With the element of surprise on her side, she swallowed whatever disgust she had and clinically moved to attack. The first of the guards, a human mercenary, pulled out and pointed at her in shock, but she bypassed him and struck at the still mid coitus half orc. Without giving him a chance to react, she pushed him out of his victim and immediately plunged her blade straight through his heart, giving it a twist to ensure he stayed down.

A small clatter indicated the other guardsmen tried but tripped in an attempt to escape. Sophie pivoted and dashed over. In just a single stroke, the fleshy human tried to scream and failed as she impaled him through the throat. The metal shearing through his neck and protruding out the otherside as he desperately clawed to extricate it. Holding the blade there until his thrashing died down a little, slumping to the floor. She retracted her blade and finally gave herself a moment to reorganize. A move she dearly regretted.

Her ears captured the horror first. The cries, the whimpers, the frightened and terrified gasps at her violent entrance. Then it was her nose. The smell of sweat, sex and iron. Her eyes then focused on the despair around her. Rows of cells or chains, each filled with naked women, some visibly more pregnant than others. Their forms covered with bruises and scratch marks, subjects of whatever horrors the company had inflicted upon them. It sickened her stomach to the core, and she could practically taste the disgust and hatred that currently bubbled within her. Was this what… stars…

Overwhelmed, she focused her mind on the most important task at hand, free whoever she could. She didn't want to imagine what went on here, but what she saw left little room for doubt. Thankfully for her, the prison’s designers were relatively simple. Chains had one master key, cells had another. Wordlessly, she tried to mask her disturbed demeanor and moved from person to person, freeing them and giving them the space they needed to reorient themselves. Many looked confused and many more gazed warily at her. Yet none complained.

Only when she remembered that the party had sent the half orc guard to assemble a cleaning crew did panic start to settle in. Casting nervous glances towards the main doors, she then looked around for the least confused looking woman in the group. It was someone not that much older than herself but even as she turned to walk towards her, the girl instinctively flinched and adopted a pleading posture.

“Please…” The girl weakly muttered.

Disturbed by the sudden meekness, Sophie felt a pang of guilt for not being more considerate. But she had no time. She thrust the keys into the girl’s hands.

“Help free everyone. I’ll get everyone out of here but a patrol might be swinging by so I need to watch the doors.” Sophie ordered.

She winced internally at the forcefulness of the delivery given the situation. Sophie felt a pang of guilt for not being more considerate. But she had no time. She thrust the keys into the girl’s hands.

“And make sure everyone understands and is ready to move.” Sophie added before quickly turning away. Trying to project confidence before her own mask slipped away into despair.

“B-but... but... I… who… you… okay.” Came the faintest of whispers from behind her. Goddess help us all. What the hells is all this? This is beyond just a place for playthings, something much worse is going on. I just know it. But what?