"Blood of the pack, made stronger for the contest, mmm? I can respect the sense of that." Rorak answers, making a small gesture of polite aversion at the mention of two Gods not his own - the sort of respectful 'I do not invoke you because I do not have the right' motion that suggests familiarity with the Orcish cults, if not actual adherence.

 He scoops out another hearty serving as he finishes the first, demonstrating in the process the old truism about Gnolls and their appetites while belying several of them with the clarity of his growled remarks "I follow the Lord of the Hunt myself. He bids us test ourselves upon worthy prey, grow strong and challenge him. Protect the mothers that the pack will grow and there will be prey, feast as we wish but not to excess for a fat hunter catches little..."

 Glancing back, he nods to the two sisters as they draw in, acknowledging them without deference but also without rudeness "And here are two more views, or one view upon two sets of lips... It seems we have quite the gathering, for so small a band."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:35, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Kozryaka snorted in the approving disapproval one might be called a witch for expressing. She watched the gnoll out of the corner of her eye almost smiling but not quite. "Says 'she' but I see more of the mighty LEG BREAKER than the CAVE MOTHER in the bigger one, Gore. Dresses like a warrior, acts like warrior, as boys do. But like a boy if she defeats all who would deny it then none may doubt the truth of her being a warrior. The smaller sister though, too loud for the NIGHT LORD, too proud for the CAVE MOTHER, Bell will have trouble. Perhaps their mixed-blood is why they think they can be two things at once. Maybe they can if I 'know' this truth being a witch.

You are just an outsider, easy stigma yourself more formidable in a fight than the weakest warriors and you'll have no trouble. The weak most obey the strong. Good orcish women are-- subservient as the CAVE MOTHER teaches. Makes trouble for strong women and weak men. So strong women and weak men must be cunning to not weaken the horde. If I do it for Urzag, I can feed even his weakest warriors, no uncomfortable answers if no one asks questions. I am Kozryaka Wyckblud, known as Luthic's Wandering Beast."

Having spoken a god's name she quickly traced the rune of Luthic over her chest as a warding against divine disapproval.

Bellatrix nods in agreement.  "I will have trouble.  This much is known."

"I am Rorak Silverfang, of Yeenoghu's blood but Malar's get." the Gnoll answers, repeating a variation of the aversion-sign for the first Name but one of open adherence to the second, having foregone mindless slaughter for the sake of slaughter in favour of deity that, for all Malar's elemental savagery has something more in the way of purpose and focus about Him. He doesn't trouble himself to tack on any deed-names or make much of his reputation - he knows well enough who he is after all, and if someone else does not then what of it? - but he does eye the twins some more, thoughtful as he measures them and their strength, the evidence of their deeds as expressed by their dress and their arms before grinning for a moment, bright-edged and feral "It seems to me, Kozryaka that there's call in this little gathering for a Skald to account for deeds and a witch to keep the orc-blood in it strong. What say you, when Urzag calls if we answer as a band?"

In reply to Bellatrix (msg # 19):

"ya know Bella Life was not meant to be greasy but it seems to me that this food is. As for any trouble lets kick its butt dead. Or should we hack its butt, chew its butt, slash its butt, gouge its butt, impale its butt or just simply roast its butt?  such a pity I don't have a butt roasting weapon on me.

  anyone here have a butt roaster?"
  Gora inquires forlornly of the beings nearby.

Bellatrix pats herself down as if checking and then slowly lets a grin emerge on her face. "Actually, yeah.  Yeah I do."

Karguk breaks his stony silence with a grunt.

"Urzak does call us here, but always remember Gruumsh.  As long as Urzak is in Gruumsh's favor, I will do what he commands.  So we shall see what Urzak intends.  Hopefully three things:"

Karguk spears a piece of meat in his soup, devouring it hungrily.

"Kill."

He peers over at the others' bowls, eying for a morsel.  Quick as a snake, he spears another chunk of meat from Rorak's bowl.

"Plunder."

Then he rises to his feet, swinging his greataxe against the horizon.

"Conquer."

Sated, he sits down again, staring at the fire.  "If Urzak commands those things, I shall listen."

Kozryaka spits on the ground next to her cooking fire glaring at Karguk, skeptically but also downright apologetically, and she again made Luthic's sign before her as she spoke to him watching his feet. "Pardon wise Gruuman. I was taught it was Raid, Kill, Conquer. You always raid, because this is what feeds the horde. Raiding lets our numbers grow. If you raid you strengthen generations. When you are certain in your raiding you turn your attention to killing because it is pleasant to do so. When you are certain of killing you conquer for keeping many slaves holding wide swaths of land is bothersome and only the mightiest may enjoy the meats of conquest without seeing it crumble before them.

She thought but didn't say, that one could only disobey the war chief if one was willing to fight the war chief and prove them unworthy to lead in combat, but kept utterly silent on this issue. It was of no consequence. War chiefs ruled while none could defeat them. None could stand up to an entire horde alone, that was the entire point of hordes. To gather a horde without giving them a battle to fight meant creating the one thing that could destroy you and then insulting it and leaving it restless eager for killing. No war chief would risk that. She was confident Urzag the Vile would announce a plan to march south to take the wealth the "civilized" slaved over the land to create and give it to the conquering mighty.

Karguk lets out a long laugh.  "It's been ages since one of Gruumsh's chosen has debated me in these matters.  I had always heard Kill, Plunder, Conquer, for the dead can't fight for their things." Karguk gives a sneer.

"But your way makes sense, too.  Perhaps Gruumsh doesn't care what order those things come in, but they are part of the same end result - mayhem to the civilized world, and the plunder to the strong who deserve it!"

 The theft doesn't go unnoticed of course, but Roraks response - rather than an automatic blow - is to simply laugh and utter a word, one which sees the ill-gotten morsel rather dramatically change its flavour just before hitting Karguk's tongue... Because while most warriors have to settle for telling someone to suck them off if offended, a bard has the ability to provide no small part of the experience without even unbuckling their sword belt.

 Still, that doesn't mean that the debate isn't interesting on its own merits and he amenably growls "Hunt, kill, feast was always the one I heard. The hunt to weed out the weak, the kill for the joy of hot blood on the tongue and the feast to restore strength and revel in the coming hunt."

 A beat, and he snorts before adding "Never was sure why it's always three parts to an aphorism. Just feels more satisfying on the tongue, I suppose..." - that last stated with a wicked grin shot Karguk's way.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

Kozryaka starts counting on her fingers the different ways she's heard this now. She muttered quietly to herself.
"Eight, three, two, three.
Rise up in hordes. Hmmm-
could be nine: three, three, three.

Gather and breed, and your numbers will flourish.
Gather.
Breed.
Flourish in Number.
Rise up in hordes and seize that which is rightfully yours.
Rise up.
Make hordes.
Seize that which is rightfully yours.
Raid. Kill. Conquer."
She is deeply enough engrossed in food prep and contemplating whether Rising up in hordes was one or two commandments to pay any attention to Rorak's mischief. Though it wasn't clear whether she was purposefully ignoring it to avoid trouble for herself or simply that deep into Orcish philosophy such as it was.

Bellatrix had noticed Rorak's little trick and made note of it in what passes for her mind as a trick she will use at some point or other.  It isn't clear whether she is ignoring the spell because she is trying to avoid trouble  or because she simply doesn't care.

22:35, Today: Bellatrix rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  What spell was that? (Spellcraft).

Karguk stifles a gag as he tastes Rorak's magically-tainted meat, but the orc is beyond caring about such petty things.  Saving face is more important in his mind, winning the point through shear determination.

"Even if you what you plunder is broken, it's still free."

 "If it's 'free', you didn't plunder it. That's just scavenging... A little blood and mayhem along the way just makes the reward sweeter." Rorak contests, although he does so with a small, amenable nod - morsel stolen, punishment accepted, all is forgiven with an eye towards conceding the contest, because as far as Rorak's concerned controlling your own reactions is a better demonstration of strength than fussing about other peoples.

 That said, he does express an opinion on the philosophy being discussed with the observation "Raid, Kill, Conquer' sounds like an aphorism to me. A short, punchy summing-up of the commands. Are there other recorded sayings of The One-Eyed God? Something to give a better sense of how he expresses his will?" - politely avoiding the direct use of Gruumsh's name, which is generally frowned upon by the clergy.

In reply to Rorak Silverfang (msg # 30):

"Oh! So who is this one-eyed god?  I have never been trained in matters. So Gora know not what uz is talks about"

 There's a moment in which Rorak blinks, opens his jaws, closes them again and then looks from Kozryaka to Gora and back again before explaining "It's one of the titles of the Head God of the Orcs. He's also called He Who Never Sleeps and He Who Watches. That said, you're more likely to have his son, Ilneval as your patron. He's the God of strategy, war and the patron of half-breeds, especially strong ones."

 A moment then, and he gestures to the nearby witch "But I imagine our host here could tell you more than I, if you approached her properly."

In reply to Rorak Silverfang (msg # 32):
looking perplexed Gora furrows her brow before replying
"Illneval?  nope not heard of this too. Gora have heard of axe and bow and sword and spear err lots of weapons but not Illneval.  What kind of weapon is dat?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

A massive orc moves through your area, obviously one of the Mountain Orc tribes. The lumbering giant walks up to the cauldron and dips a large mug into it, pulling up a large helping of the stew. He looks over Kozryaka and grins menacingly, before turning and snorting his contempt at the sight of two half-orcs and a gnoll. "Some Horde! Urzag relying on dogmen and half breeds...a disgrace to the One-Eyed! When Krucks becomes warchief, his Horde will be stronger than this." The Mountain Orc spoke, the massive greataxe across his back twice the size of anything a regular orc could wield. He also wore a darkened breastplate, old symbols having been covered by dirt and grime. "And females at that, go back to the cave and spawn more warriors for Krucks Horde!" He said, guzzling the stew from the mug, spilling it down his front.

Bellatrix smiles in response to the big ugly brute's rudeness and says quietly to Gora.  "Hey sis.  What you reckon.  Is this a reason for me to call down the trouble Kozryaka spoke about or should we gently point out to him that any children we might have would also be Halfbreeds and so unlikely to be strong enough for Kruck's horde?  You of course are a brave and strong Orcish warrior and so I imagine I know your answer, but it is polite to ask."

She begins banging lightly with human thigh bone on her drum and holding Kruck's gaze as she awaits Gora's response.

Kozryaka gives an ambiguous wry look at the massive Mountain Orc seemed something of an flirtatious invitation which was also a threat. She stood upright from stooping hunched over the cauldron and stretched cracking her vertebra like knuckles as she let her own taught muscular arm effortlessly move the nearly full barrel of water to refill the cauldron. A barrel of water easily weighed 250lbs yet she moved it effortlessly with one hand like it was nothing to her. Mountain orcs were bigger, but Orogs were stronger, and the giant witch certainly counted as one of the stronger Orogs.
A strong woman was desirable as she'd give strong sons, but one was expected to prove to a woman that one was stronger than her as part of courtship. She was simultaneously trying to show how desirable she was and warn precisely how hard to obtain she'd be in such a way that one could walk away from it with appearing weak.
She wiped the steamed on fog from her claw bracers so the polished patterned waves of the Orog forged steel shown through proudly on the religious weapon. She glanced at Karguk trying the gauges his reaction until the carving on the Mountain Orc's armor caught her eye.
Her brows furrowed as flickers of baleful hell fire flashed within her irises making her eyes glisten with faint hellish light as she focused her attention on all assembled in turn.

OOC:
She's using detect magic as a spell like ability.
Because it's a SLA you can only ID it based on the on-going effect so DC-20 spell-craft check to identify DC-15 to with detect magic to know it's divination.
So unless someone is planning on immediately starting combat with her, I'm guessing she can get the 18 seconds she need to complete her focus.
Please answer what she's supposed to learn:

• Number of magic items and on-going spells you have on your person
• If any spell is 4th level or higher or magic item is 6th level or higher (moderate aura)
• What visible item are magic or locations of magic items (for example there's a magic item in my backpack)

Mostly she wants to subtly check if this guy has magic armor.

 The arrival of the mountain orc - which interrupts the religious studies class - can't help but generate a sidelong look from Rorak, but if there's anything intimidated about his reaction it'd take a keener eye than most to pick up upon it, as his main comment is to laugh, the harsh cackling humour of a Gnoll echoing around the fire "Your warchief just thought he'd need someone who'd last more than an hour or two before slumping over, spent." he counters with more humour than malice, despite the fact that he - like most everyone else present - is downright rock-hard with well-developed, rangy muscle.

In reply to Bellatrix (msg # 35):

eyeing the braggart Gora reply's to Bell with little interest at diplomacy

"Nah Bell! It seems to me that the person has no eyes and or no wisdom to so Blythely insult a fellow Warrior who could very well be the Barbarian that they may very well be teamed up with to watch their back.  Well I for one say good luck to the fellow... He will need it.

  Such short nearsightedness surly is his to own."

OOC it would be hard for Gora to hide the fact that she does have a fair amount of muscle mass on her seeing as stated in her description Gora is fairly buff.  But then this is a Horde and it would not be hard to find muscle in abundance.

The Mountain Orc snarls at the two half-breeds, standing up to his full height well over eight feet. Looking down upon you, he bangs his chest with his right fist, bellowing. "You speak much for a weakling! Did your keepers not teach you to respect your betters? Perhaps you and your disgusting git would like to prove your worth to the Horde, in the arena! If you hope to be a part of a Horde, you would surely wish to prove to the Warlord that you are strong enough to take on a stronger foe! You may even bring the dog with you, I care not! You can even have the cave elf on your side, for I am Krucks, slayer of wyrms, and I have bested greater foes than you!" He spoke despairingly of the orog witch, referencing the deep orcs large ears similarity to elven ears.

In reply to Gruumsh (msg # 39):

"I need prove myself to no being lest alone a fool who thinks size is proof of might.  Go play your fools game elsewhere braggart" Gora turns her back to the Orc in dismissal.

 The mountain orc is something of a rarity in the camp - which is to say someone tall enough to actually look down on Rorak, despite the sheer size of the average Gnoll (let alone a burly specimen like him) - but if that so much as dissuades the feral warrior for a moment there's no evidence of it as he snarls wryly "Slayer of Worms? What happened, did you fall over after heavy rain and squash them? Bring your warband, if any are fool enough to fight alongside one who's sooner kill his allies than the enemy." before turning to Kozryaka, Gora and Bella and jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the towering mountain orc "Prove nothing, but this idiot will pick a fight with anything he thinks he can beat and if we want there to be mutton for dinner tomorrow, someone needs to stop him."