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Standing alone in the middle of the road between Varshikar and Trolls Bane, stands a lone ork.

He scratches his backside and his faces screws up in deep thought ...

"Wer wos meh gowin agen?"

He sighs

"meh Spud..meh goin sumwer...wer dat den?"

He sits by the roadside, and opens his purse. He pours out a few copper coins.

"Meh wos der ork wiv der muny...now dat all gone and meh hed all funny!...wot dat fella name dat sed he wud elp meh wiv der pub?"

He looks back towards Varshikar and stands up. A distant memory comes to him, a tear appearing in his eyes. At the sky he screams...

"MISS MAGY WER IS YOO?"

William Elderberry stands at the north of Varshikar, looking up and down the castle.

"Hmm.. I wonder if Merung was correct..."

He turns at the shout, glancing to the orc.

The ork spots the human in the distance, and beyond the castle.

"dat looks familyur"

he slowly takes a stumbling step towards the man, gaining control of his legs as he gathers momentum.

"MissMagy mehs on meh way!"

He runs through the town centre, knocking over a table on the way.


As he nears the man, he slows, eventually stopping, a few feet away.
He narrows his eyes, nostrils flaring, bottom lip hanging loosely.

"...Dat yoo...meh bisnuss partnur?"

He scratches his backside, eyes wide in disbelief

The tall half-elf, grins, glancing over the orc.

"Well, well... not seen you in a while. About that.. to do this I'd need an icebird amulet... Mine was.. transformed."

He pulls an apple on a piece of string from under his shirt..

"If you can find me an icebird amulet.. I can help you with your problem."

"dat is yoo meh partnur!"

"Meh fort yoo had run off wiv all meh munys!"

" Meh is so appy ter see yoo agen!"

"Meh sits in der desurt long time wayting fer yoo to do der job. I get veri hungry..yoo got anyfink ot eet?"

Spud eyes the apple around his neck...

"yoo gonna be needing dat?"

" wen yoo not come to meh in desurt, i get sad and i fink yoo trik meh...but yoo too nice fer dat!"

" i went ter live wiv meh ol mum, cos she sed she looks afta meh wen i sad... i stay der long time cos she cook der good food dat i likes..but now i find yoo...meh bisnuss partnur..we be rich tegeffer!"

Dis is der sekond best day meh life.....Meh still waytin fer der best wun to appen!"

Spus gives a wide toothless grin, and scratches his backside.

William tries to keep up with the outbirst of questions and statements, answering them quickly as they come.

"Yes, I'm still your partner.. Nope, I didn't run off with your money.. Good to hear it.. Err.. I have some of these sausages.."

He moves to his depot and starts rummaging around for some food, answering the questions as he does so.

"Err.. I want to keep this apple, in case I can get it transformed back or something.... I'd never trick you... Hmm.. that sounds great... good to hear it."

He glances to the orc again, a slight frown.

"Anyway.. I'd need to find one of these meridium ingots or whatever they're called... so.. I'll be off now. I'll see you later, okay? When I have the amulet".

He pulls some sausages from his depot, handing them to the orc, before walking south a little and glancing to the static transporter, extending his hand and muttering something in a strange language, whilst concentrating.. He disappears and reapparates by the transporter. He gives a slight wave, declaring "To Troll's Bane" in the transporter before disappearing from sight.

Spudrug looks at the sausages the man has just given him and forces a grin.

" Fankyoo partnur"

As the man turn to leave he casually tosses them into a nearby bush, and mutters to himself " stoopid meet...make meh pook!"

He watches the man dissappear and scratches his backside happily.

"Meh noo it all be alrite...dem oomies is all a good lot reely"

He sets off for the town centre to wash his feet in the fountain.

Aleytys steps out of the Library, narrows her eyes as she spot an Orc with his feet in Varshikars fountain.

Her voice seems cold and in a rude tone she speaks to the Orc

You dare to hang your dirty ugly feet in our fountain ? Better you pull them immediately out or my blade cut them both off

Her hands rest on her belt, near the weapons, gazing his back with her midnight eyes coldly.

The ork grins at the lady.

"Ullo miss Alaytus"...how are yoo doin den?"

He stops, noticing the blades...

"Wot der matter...dunt you rememba yer gud frend Spud?"

"Meh feets killin meh..been walkin all day..it meh fowntin too!"

He grins a toothless grin

Suddenly a smile appears on her face as she realized what an Orc sit on the fountain.

Withdrawing her hands from the blades she approaching him without haste, chuckling.

Well, all Orc's back looking quite similar .. aye ? she speaks with an amused glint in her eyes.


Where have you hidden my friend ? I missed you. Seems ages that I've seen you Spud

Spud eyes the blades, relieved to see them lowered and the recognition in the lady’s face.

“Meh? Meh be away….i liv in desert waitin fer meh noo busness partner ter do job fer meh…I pays im well…but he not doo job yet”

“I fink dat he run off wiv all meh muny…so I go ‘ome cos meh old mum sed she look after meh”

“Now I comes bak, and I find dat meh partner not steel all meh muny, but he doin job soon!”

“Meh gonna be rich!”

He grins widely. He looks about the town…

“So, dis place look diffrunt…wot been goin on round ere…MissMagy turn up yet?

Aleytys chuckles quiet and nods.

Well you know if you have problems...
she taps on her belt on the sheathed sword with a rather cold smile

It's good to see you back my dear. I've missed you really. And I'm sure Gryphius, too. Maggie cares for her childs at the moment Spudrug, I seen her not often around.

Spud walks over to the grass, and starts to shuffle his feet along the ground to dry them. He grins at the lady’s cold smile and the deadly blade.

“I hope it dunt come to dat, miss Alaytus, but I know hoo meh frends is, and if I needs help I lets yoo know. Meh partner not lets meh down agen I sure.”

“I give him lots of munies. More dan hundredfifty of dem silver coins I pays him fer der job!”

“I let yoo know if I finks ee needs sum motivashun.”

He grins even wider.

“I miss yoo too, I ad to go away yer see, cos I bring shame ter me famly with der bad bisnuss.”

“But…Miss Magy wiv der childrun?...oo did dat to er? I kill em!…….dat not nise fer er!
I bet it was dat Mister Jermy, her imaginary frend! I knew ee wos no good.”

“Maybe I can offer meh services to elp looks after der littul wuns?
I likes childrun!..... Dey smaller dan meh!”

He stands on his tiptoes

“See I gets bigga!”

He grins and scratches his backside.

Aleytys chuckles softly.

I see my friend, you grow indeed up. You should Maggie ask to care for the twins. Maybe she appreciate help dear. Its a lot of work to hold the little ones in a line I fear.


Alyeyts looks up to the sky, the light fading slowly, the sun send out the last sunbeams over the mountains behind Varshikar. Her midnight eyes staring short to Spudrug before she continues to speak.

Well, it was a pleasure to see ya Spud. I hope truly you stay this time a bit longer.
I need to go, the desert calling me as all night. Take care friend, I'll see ya around

Her voice rather cool, unemotional, she tip with two fingers a light salute on her temple and steps twinkle-toed toward the desert.

Just as she is about to move on, Gryphius approaches from southern direction, whistling a cheerful tune as he strolls along, carrying a branch over his left shoulder, a row of skinned conies stringed together upon it. As he catches sight of them both, he firstly bids a warm greeting to Aley: »Why, my greetings, Aleytys. A pleasant hour for a little walkabout in the sands of Kumdah, nay? The sands adopt such a 'magnificently' glowing tone in the dusk.«

As his glance travels over the the bystanding orc, he inclines his head sideways, his facial expression showing a lot of nosiness, but less suspicion than it bears usually when spotting orcs. A blurry, faint piece of memory arises in his mind, as he adresses his words to the orc: »Be greeted, master orc. I wonder whether my wit has been dimmed by the hot sun during the last summer, or i have indeed crossed your path already. Maybe you can help me out: What of both is true?«

The ork turns from the lady, towards the man upon hearing his voice.

He starts to say something but stops himself. He looks over his shoulder and checks who the man is talking to...he turns back realising there is no other ork present

"Yoo sed wot?"