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A lizard and a human lure an orc female deep into the northwestern forest. There they take her by suprise and put a gag in her mouth and tie her up. She resists but can't break free. One of the kidnappers walks to the town wall quietly.

To the Stormreaver orcs and anyone who cares,
The Orc "Karlak" has been taken hostage by the tree shadows. She is securely in place, and has no chance of escape. We have people watching her day and night. Our hiding spot is secret, if you try to find it she will be killed immediately. We ask the Stormreaver orcs, or anyone who cares for the female orc to hand over 15-20 ingots in gold. Time is flexible as long as the money is paid for her life. The price is also flexible depending on the circumstances. Failure to pay the ransom, or any attempt to free her, and the forest ground will be stained with her blood. We expect you will be cooperative in this matter, and save her life.

The Tree Shadows

Greebas Kidnappers of the Orc Karlak.

Me nub know who she be but me says this. Yoos messing in bad business to be messing with orcs! They will find yoos and cleave yoos heads straigt off necks like it nothing. Be warned yoo fools! They come for yoos.

~Grunith Shuth, Yùrche Cünesmanema

A dirty figure casually browses the wall of writings. At one time, she would have barely been able to read most of what was written there. Seeing a particular parchment raises her brow, and she can't help but respond with a single line

You is dumb, and on you way to being dead.

*glares at the writing, sneers, and finally a twisted grin crosses his face*

Ooohhh... ju wunt uz ta pay ju? Oh, ju gunna git sumtin... Id a suh-pize, thoe. A MOJO big suprize, meh tink ju gunna like id... Bekkuz us orcz, weh ULWEYZ gunna pey da shineez fer da ransum, weh will! Meh sware un ju *you see the last word, "ju", scribbled out somewhat* owr libez.

Notices something to do with the new orcs to the island. He laughs and begins to read. He laughs more and writes a little note

Typical of orcs to be so confident. You orcs don't even know who these fools are. How do you know you could take advantage of them? Whoever it is I don't like the sounds of this. Knowing their names would be a treat.

~¤~Kasume~¤~

Orcs and whoever else,
I find it sad and unloyal you would hang a companions life so loosely. But I guess that is the unfortunate truth of orcs. We need an answer, not your joking remarks, orc. For every day of delay we might post limbs and fingers with our notes.

How are you so sure that it is a halfling doing this? Did someone tell you that he was a Treeshadow?

~¤~Kasume~¤~

Fine. I will look for this halfling that you write of. Find out who he really is.

~¤~Kasume~¤~

I apologize. It appears I was mistaken. I have talked to this halfling, and he informs me he was only having a joke. He's a trickster, but not a bad chap.

~~Moskher Heszche--Gambler and Scholar

What news is there of this problem?

~¤~Kasume~¤~

I will pay the 20 ingot Price for this orcs head. Tell me where and when to meet you.

Grant Herion

Finally, someone with some sense, hopefully. If you are sincere human, this will go smoothly, if it does not, both sides will find things difficult, not to mention the death of the orc. Currently we are prepared for an exchange, tell us when YOU are prepared.

*struggles against the bonds tying her wrists behind her back and growls past the gag, her eyes blazing red with anger and humiliation. Mumbles something, but can not be heard past the gag.*

Grant, isn't this for the Stormreaver clan to handle?

~¤~Kasume~¤~

It is directed to anyone who is willing to handle it, human.

Isn't it obvious? Orcs have no money, Grant does. Grant needs people to fight Darlok. Orcs fight. Grant does this to ally with Orcs so they fight with him. I'm sure this will be denied.

~Unsigned~

Unknown writer, if that is the way it looks to paranoid enemies of mine, so be it. This orc needs help. And this new clan of orcs do not have money to save her. I would gladly help pay for this, but since it is obvious no one else cares to pay for her, so be it.
And to the Treeshadows. If I pay you, and you decide to ask for more, you will find that I am not the right man to do this to.


Grant Herion

20 was the highest price we had hoped for, there is no need for that.

So Grant can't do anythign good? You seem like the ignorant one

We du diz, ju nub hurt meh Kal. We gib ju da shinies, ju led her guw, blah uz da plaze, an we be dere wit da ingutz. Bud Gorg swear effen ju hurt her en aney wei at awl, meh wull hab da mojoest delite en torturin' ju untiw obliviun konsumez awl. Dat meh swear.

*tear and scratch marks stain the pinned parchment*

You tell the place, orc.

I have a better deal for you Treeshadows. You release the orc and I tell you about a certain member of your organization that is trying to sell information to myself and the dwarves of Silverbrand.

Grant Herion

Dabu Humie. Meh Wezpect ju Mojo.

We know who he is. We will lower the price now though if you wish.

Huwz abowt fibe peeces ob metul den?

Gold ingots?

Em dat enuv?

'ow abowt dis? Ju gib us Kal bak, an ju keep jur tupid 'eadz!
*the above sentence is scratched out, but a very experienced reader with keen eyes might be able to make out what it says*
Hrmph, weh git ju jur shineez. Whur ju wunt ta meet?