In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 65):

"Thank you for your advice, we'll move away from here now and, when Yelm shows his face, we'll move the troop many miles away before the hunters come back."

(OOC: Reading back no fee was agreed but they give the following in payment)

Skreena hands Verzeg a small bag containing a large number of silver coins (150L), a necklace adorned with with jewels and lion teeth and a unbutchered haunch of zebra meat, it weighs about 10 to 15 kilos.

Food is of course a gift of great status among trolls, especially a trollkin, and Verzeg is extremely grateful. To his somewhat culturally backwards sensibilities he values it far higher than the coins. He thanks the baboons sincerely and watches them leave.

Hoisting the zebra haunch and associated loot over his shoulder he head back into the dark, taking wide sweeps once again. He keeps in mind that the enlo took off around here and they might have gone to ground. While he's well disposed to enlo he's also aware that many might value clan a lot more than some ragtag deserter and his scruffy mates so he has to be careful he doesn't get betrayed, but even then in he knows in his heart he has to seek them out and see if they want to join his new life. It needs to be handled carefully though as high status enlo, little more than favoured pets to uzko, can be doggedly loyal to their masters and he has to make sure that his friends are safe above everything.

With this in mind he carefully slinks through the rubble, taking his time and ensuring he's not followed through plenty of switching back over his trail and observing his back path. After all this is done he'll return to the hideout.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 67):

His companions wait in the hideout, hearing him coming in the quickly take up defensive positions, although they are poor and would not stop any kind of attack. Their fear turns to delight when they see Verzeg and they are even happier to see the lump of fresh meat. They sit around waiting for Verzeg to eat his fill before being thrown any scraps.

Verzeg shares the meat out, not wanting to take the place of the uz masters.

"Well, it was a long night and I still haven't found the place. Still, I talked to some creatures but there was also fighting. Tomorrow I'll look where they told me it might be. We have to be careful, there was uz here where I didn't think they come to. Some got away but I don't think they ever noticed me."

He shares out some water and makes a mental note to look for some more. It never fails to amaze him how dry it is on the surface and how awfully hot during the day. He wonders if the stories about the cool mountains are true. Shaking his head he pulls of his armour, arranges his weapons nearby and rolls on his blanket to get some sleep and wait for the following night.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 69):

The group of trollkin bolt down their food as is custom (it stops other stealing it) before they settle into the day routine of sleeping and guarding. All are fearful of returning Uz.

As Yelm sinks Verzeg wakes. The day has been quiet with no sign of marauding trolls or other sorts of beasts. The zebra meat has been entirely consumed, including bones and skin. Everyone gathers round Verzeg with an expectant look waiting to find out what the night will bring.

Verzeg opens his bleary eyes as Hurzeg shakes him awake. He really doesn't want to do anything but roll back over in his bunny blanket and snore some more but he slowly drags himself out from under the cover and knuckles his eyes. Looking around hazily he sees they're all watching him again. He wonders what they're thinking, they probably know if he gets killed out there they have little chance of survival and all they can do is sit here waiting for for him to come back. At least he has choices, they just have to wait in fear. This stiffens Verzeg's spine and spurs him with a bit of guilt knowing he can take action and that gives him power.

"You've all been really good friends" he says, "I could never have gotten so far without you, knowing I have a safe place to come back to has made this possible. Tonight I'll push on and see if I can find the road to Smalltown and then we can carve out a new life for ourselves. We can learn to trade, to make our own decisions and make our own way in the world. Not far now." He wonders if he's talking more to himself than anything else.

Once more he climbs into his armour, hefts his weapons and gets ready to move out. This time he takes more waterskins with him. Giving the enlo the obligatory instructions he once again leaves the hideout and heads out into the dark, this time more towards the riverbank where Skreena indicated his goal was. Almost there.

Verzeg follows the river in the direction indicated by the baboons. After about an hour he sees sporadic twinkling lights in amongst the building up ahead, still some 500m distant. Suddenly a nearby voice calls out. It is quiet but urgent and insistent, but not in a language familiar to Verzeg.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:39, Mon 28 Dec 2020.

Verzeg freezes. He's not sure if the caller has seen him as he's slinky through the deepest shadows. He presses back against a fallen pillar-drum amid the rubble to see what happens.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 73):

Another voice answers the first and then Verzeg feels magic pulling at him but he braces his will and fights off the effects of the spell.

After a moment a voice calls out in trade "Friend! Identify yourself."

"Hello friend?" Says Verzeg, worried that whoever is talking is keeping him busy while others flank him.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 75):

"Hello, this is the land of our queen. Her permission is needed to cross it, You must come with us and petition her to be allowed on it."

Verzeg carefully steps forward, fully expecting an arrow in the brisket.

"I mean no harm, I'm just a little enlo."

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 77):

"Most of us are enlo, we still need to talk to the queen. It is her rules." A small shape steps out of the shadows and walks towards Verzeg. "Unless you think to bring Uz here you are quite safe."

Verzeg puts his spear over his shoulder and walks towards the voices. "Take me to you queen. I come as a friend and I am tired from a long journey".

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 79):

The figure beckons to Verzeg before turning and walking away. Verzeg follows and after a while is aware that another 3 figures have started following behind. All remain silent.

After some 500m the leading figure steps into a ruined building and goes down some steps into a cellar. The room at the bottom of the steps is quite small and would be cramped for 5 but the leader opens a door and leads through it. The other 3 remain in the entrance room.

The is a short corridor leading to another door. Outside it stands an enlo, he is wearing a mish-mash of cuirboilli and scale armour. He holds a small shield and a light mace. He looks at Verzeg curiously but at a signal from the leader he opens the door.

Beyond the door is a dimly lit room. 4 or 5 enlo and small humans lounge around lazily. At the far wall is a tall seat, it has been arranged to look like a throne but is in reality just a dining chair. Slouching in the chair is a female enlo, she is wearing ragged clothes that were once the property of a wealthy human child.

Seeing the new arrive she says, in darktongue, "Olavar, bring this one forth."

The creature in front of Verzeg bows and replies "Yes, your majesty." before signalling to Verzeg to advance on the throne.

Verzeg walks over, unsure what to make of the figure. Even with the dim lights he narrows his eyes against the unwanted illumination and glances about, checking to see if the guards are getting ready to jump him.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 81):

The guards looks at Verzeg with interest but no hostilities can be sensed. They stand alert but make no moves.

As he approaches the enlo on the chair speaks, "Well, hello! Who are you? I am Queen Brasegz and this is my realm in Smalltown, we call it Brasegzland. What is it you are after?"

Verzeg relaxes a bit. Somehow it had never occurred to him that Smalltown would be occupied, and he'd never would have thought enlo lived here. He suddenly realises he'd never actually given this part any thought at all. For a long moment he says nothing, trying to order his thoughts.

"I am Verzeg Blackbeetle, once an enlo of the Srak Arhan. I got into trouble and made the clan leaders argue when I killed all the horrors in Dark Fort and they each wanted the place, so I ran off or they would eat me. My brother Brenzeg told me about this place and brought some of my other brothers to me, so we set off across the Rubble." He stops and sighs. "It was a hard trip."

"I'm looking for my own upright land where I and my brothers can be safe. We're good workers and I can fight too, the others not so much although they do try hard. I've fought lots of things; uz, humans, dwarfs, elfs, chaos and monsters. I can work in resin and I once bred a special fire beetle that I was rewarded for, although it spat on me and burned my face."

Verzeg stops and then straightens up with a confidence and resolution he didn't know he had. He looks at Braseg in the eyes and says evenly "I don't like cruelty and I don't like bullying. I'm not taking my friends and family somewhere they'll have to live in fear. We're not going to be slaves again. Anywhere we settled down has to treat us properly, we're not helpless and we'll work for our keep but that doesn't mean we're less than anyone."

He relaxes again, back to his usual amiable self.
"I am pleased to meet you, I hope you will help us."

Brazeg listens to Verzeg, nodding in agreement at points. "I too am an escaped slave, a few of us managed to escape the Uz and find safety here. My realm is small, only 350 people. Mostly enlo but also some small humans and strange creatures called durulz. There is no slavery or forced servitude here. What you earn is yours, if you work hard then you will become rich. I do require everyone to give 1 day a week in service of the militia. This is for our mutual defense. Part of your militia day is training and the rest is patrolling and guarding the realm. Religion is free and you may worship who you will except there are no chaos gods allowed here. Lastly there is a tax to pay to live here, 1 silver piece a week. If you agree to these terms then you may go and collect your kin and swear fealty to me and the land. Also I have a couple of jobs I would like to offer you if you wish to stay."

Verzeg grins toothily and nods. He's never met a queen before so he's not sure what to do, he knows the uz have all sorts of ritual behaviour when dealing with the clan matriarch but it was death for the common enlo to go near here so he never saw it in action.

Not knowing what to do next he simply stands, waiting for them to let him go and find his kin.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 85):

"So,do you agree to the terms of citizenship of Brasegzland?"

Not prone to flowery speech, Verzeg simply answers "yes, I do."

H leans on his spear and rubs his jaw before saying "what is this task you'd like me to do?"

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 87):

"There are two jobs you could do for me. Firstly I would like some to breed and tend insects, we hope to get some ham beetles soon but don't really have the skill to deal with them. The other job would be more difficult, scouring the ruins for such as yourself. Escaping enlo, bring them here so we can offer them somewhere safe to live."

"I can do both," says Verzeg with a toothy smile. "I have heard also that there are enlo who live in a big flooded hole on the other side of the Great River from here. I know how to use boats and I can even swim, so I could go there if you wish and see if they want to trade although I have heard they are a rough lot. I know a human trader who is good to enlo called Danzar, he seemed interested in uz goods and I can seek him out as well if you desire."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Tue 02 Aug 2022.

In reply to Verzeg Black Beetle (msg # 89):

"Excellent, that then is settled. You may go and collect your kin, if you wish I can send soldiers with you in case of any trouble. We can work out where we go with your future endeavours when you return. I would certainly be interested in meeting this Danzar person. Come back to me in 24 hours with your kin and we will complete the necessary formalities."