Duradin: Krevis Tribe Lands

Along the loose sands, another figure rode, nearly blending with the environment around them. At first, they rode forward, toward the same city as the young mercenary, but at a moment's notice, they turned dramatically, shooting straight for him.

The closer they were, the clearer it became that this was another rider and their mount. Specifically, a woman riding a camel. The animal had no problems with the shifting sands, as his hooves were wide and flat. He was no match for a horse in bursts of speed, but they were prized animal in deserts, where there was little water. Stamina and durability were everything in such punishing climates.

Soon it became clear that the woman riding on the camel was not at all an ordinary woman. She was tiny, with almost no fat on her bones, leaving her skin to stretch over lean muscle. She also had... ears, which was the first recognizable sign of being something else other than human. There were also dark brown markings around her large, dark eyes, sticking out from her yellow skin. If one's eyes were to travel down past the billowy white frock she had wrapped around her, one would find a long, rather puffy tail that was the same color as her blonde hair.

She slowed as she came up beside him, mouth wrung in a thin smile. "A foreigner! I was hoping you were one of the orcs. Do you come because of the news?" she asked, voice thickly accented and airy. Her tall ears perked up in his direction.

Rune and Ti'el hand linked up and continued the last little leg of their journey together. Rune, for the most part, seemed very friendly, if a bit energetic. 

They spoke for a bit, traveling past the obelisk and eventually along the road. They passed the banners of the Krevis tribe, before finally coming upon the outpost.

"Hail friends!" Rune called out, while they were still a fair distance away. The white stallion trotted up to the trio of buildings - and Rune pulled up on the reigns of his horse as he approached. The proud stallion whinnied, stamping one of its hooves and snorting, but otherwise stopping. The destrier seemed to have a bit of a fiery temper, though he was calmed by a few words from Rune and some neck-pats.

"We heard the Krevis tribe was in need of some protection on caravans, do you know more details about this contract?" he asked, looking towards the nearest Orc standing outside. 

The three orcs visible stand at various posts; one at the top of the tower, the second leaning against the entrance to the barracks, and the third patrols the path. Someone with a keen eye might notice the first orc's bow, notched but not yet aimed, slightly concealed by the tower's half-walls. The second has his arms folded over in a cross formation, leaning back against the stone wall of the barracks. From afar, this may appear imposing, but if one were to approach, it would be revealed that this orc was nearly asleep, his eyes drooping heavily. The patrolling orc heads in the direction of the two travelers at a brisk pace, having spotted them from the other end of the path.

From a distance they appear as a red and black blur in the heat of the sun. But as they enter the nearest mountain's shadow, their colors are muted to an earthly combination. And as they draw near enough to hear the question they were close enough to be seen as they truly were. This lean desert orc was covered head to toe with various Borvilium accessories. A dark chain of it was strewn between his tusks, clasped to each upraised fang with a small band of the mineral. Clasped to each bicep and wrist were large thick bands of the marble stone. On his fingers were a plethora of rings along with a singular talon-like claw made of it. If one was to glance at his feet, they would notice that his feet had similar adornments; bands around the shins so as not to obstruct the ankles and toe rings. These rings however, had thin Borvilium chains linking them to the shin bracers as an added touch of 'fashion'.

The heavily decorated orc meets the two of you right as you reach the shadows of the three buildings, not at all imposed to placing his body before your mounts' paths. He holds out both hands, one towards each of you with a palm upraised in what could be considered a 'halt' gesture. His orange eyes glance between the two of you, a look of confusion furrowing his brow as Rune spoke, only clearing upon the word 'Krevis'. He then grunts in Orcish, “I do not speak your tongue, but if your matters involve our tribe, then follow me.” The orc turns, not waiting to see if you understood him or not, and slowly walks down the path he was patrolling away from the trio of buildings, headed towards deeper into the mountains.

Ti'el's ears pointed toward the orc as she tried to decipher his language. She knew just a little of their language, words here and there from lurking around their camps. Though she couldn't figure out the whole sentence, she did pick out "follow."

"It is so," the girl told Rune, jumping off of the camel. She lead him forward, looking back once to make sure the young man was following. She felt a creeping anxiety rise up in her chest the deeper they went past the... village? Camp? She wasn't quite sure what they called this gathering of buildings. Regardless, as they strayed from it, Ti'el could only wonder why they were being lead into the mountains. Her kind was always skittish, however. Rune seemed perfectly at ease. Perhaps she needed to relax too.

She shuffled around in her brain for orcish words she could use to try and communicate. She heavily doubted he would know the language of her own people. They varied even between families, and weren't easy to learn. This was not going to be easy!

Following for now, Ti'el just hoped for an easy resolution. Perhaps one of them knew common!

Rune followed along behind the orc, not really saying much along the way. He was focusing on looking out for ambushes, and stuff like that.

When they finally arrived though, Rune was surprised, "Wow, these orcs seem to be very industrious. I guess the stereotypes don't always hold up," he said, giggling.