Dungeons and Dragons

Synthara, after suffering the bumpy terrain of the Orclands inside her carriage for hours, finally felt it come to a stop. The coachman opened the small door into the carriage from his seat that was made for him to speak into. She could feel the soot and ash invading the once relatively clean air of the inside.

“We have arrived at Ort your graces.”

Synthara looked out the small window of the carriage, adjusting the large wizard hat on her head. She had to change her outfit from the elegant black dress and intimidating neck crest to a more nondescript robe and hat for the operation they were here to perform here today. Morgan had said that while Ort is generally free of Ultimatist influence, it was wise to err on the side of caution.

From atop the hill she found she could only see a massive wall of steel and volcanic rock. It was clearly taller than any building within the city, second only to the volcano and mountain not too far from it. The mountain contained a massive waterfall that fell somewhere into the city and flowed out of it from a river that was separated by a large gate connected within the massive structure. It was seemingly the only large water source in the area and it was being polluted by the constant ashfall. Synthara wondered how Orcs were able to build such a large city with little fresh water. All of it painted an intimidating picture for any who would gaze upon the Orc capital.

“Its a very exquisite city, but where’s the forge?” Synthara said with a small bit of awe. Yol strained his neck to peek over the window.

“The forge is in that volcano.” Morgan said.

“With the dragon in it?” Synthara said with a raised eyebrow.

“Ort is not only the birthplace of the Orcs but also the only part of the ashlands where there is fertile soil and fresh water. They have no other place to go. They try to send their strongest warriors against Nidhogg hoping to liberate their most precious resource from his grasp. They have been trying for over eight centuries, even while they had to divert resources to defending your realm from invaders.”

Synthara thought for a moment. “It's rather odd that the thing has not tried to eliminate all the orcs yet if it's so powerful.”

“Indeed, I have tried sending some scouts to find out why but they never came back. Perhaps it views the Orcs as a convenient food source. The cave is also filled with Kobolds. They periodically storm out of the volcano to attack the Orcs but are repelled each time, though their attempts have grown more frequent and fierce as of late. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now would you our dear scaly friend?” Morgan said pointedly at Yol.

“Yol never met Nidhogg, too many orcses nearby. Only strong Kobold ever see the King.”

“You said you were going to lead us there, you dare lie to lady Synthara?” Morgan glared at the Kobold.

Yol yelped. “N-No! Yol dont lie! I-I know where Nidhogg is, Yol has friends who lives in fire mountain.”

“Regardless, now that we have you here my lady, we can finally put an end to this stalemate and quash the Order of the Black Dragon once and for all.” As Morgan said that, the carriage passed by a group of Orcs in clothes and armor bearing the symbol of a black dragon, preaching to a not insignificant crowd of Orcs.

“The Orcs have now taken to worshipping the dragon now?” Synthara said with annoyance.

Morgan’s face twisted in disgust. “To think those pigs thought themselves superior to the humans for whoring themselves out to the Ultimatum only to prostrate themselves to an even more inferior being.”

Synthara chuckled. “It seems my followers are in desperate need of loving discipline after leaving them alone for too long. I intend to make up for my absence tenfold.” Both humans and orcs have forsaken her? Surprisingly she was not very angry about it. It was understandable given her condition since the dawn of time. If anything it was a good thing, it will only make her triumphant return even more striking when she reveals herself and reasserts herself as their creator god. Yet she could not help but feel a sense of hurt from the situation. Odd.

Morgan smiled viciously and chuckled. “Yes, they will regret turning their backs on their creator and protector, I eagerly await them seeing the error of their ways and begging to return to the fold.” Synthara couldn't help but smile and laugh along with her. Yol was entranced by the slowly approaching volcano.

As she said that, the cart came to a stop again. Orc guards were heard roughly questioning the coachman on who his passengers were. Upon hearing ‘Royal Sorcerer Morgan,’ they sheepishly apologized and let them pass through the gate.

Synthara expected the capital of the Orcs to be a smattering of primitive shacks. Instead what she found was a massive and stately city. Everything was made of black and red stone and metal, straight lines dominated Orcish architecture as if they abhorred any sort of smooth curve. It was very clean with no rubbish in sight with only ash being any sort of obstacle along the city streets.

The orcs themselves were not too different, many of them were dressed in a militaristic fashion with brutal swords and axes adorning their heavy armor. The few that were not in armor were dressed in brutalistic fashion, wearing either animal skin cloaks or grey military officer uniforms. Everything about the orcs was made with war in mind.

Synthara thought back to what Morgan had told her before they arrived here. During the time she was asleep, Morgan had been scheming a way to dislodge the dragon from the forge but to no avail. Not even she and the power of several necromancers were able to defeat it. Oghul, leader of the Order of the Black Dragon, had been slowly increasing its influence within Ort, threatening Jarl Zhuul’s hold on the orc tribes and by extension Synthara’s. If things continued as they were Oghul would become Jarl and Synthara would lose one of her strongest sources of manpower. Morgan was ready to unleash the undead army to purge both the dragon and its worshippers from Ort despite that it would reduce the strength they carefully gathered for centuries. Not to mention potentially revealing their hand to the Ultimatum and their informants. Now that Synthara had awakened, they could finally launch a counterattack against the Kobolds and evict them from the forge without tipping their hand to the enemy.

Eventually the carriage would stop in front of a large cave with many heavily armed guards and fortifications before it. The three step out of the carriage and walk towards the entrance. A particularly large Orc covered in red tattoos was waiting for them, looking at the Kobold with disgust.

“Sorcerer Morgan, I was not aware that you would be coming with guests.”

“Fear not Jarl, this is only a domesticated pet.” Morgan then gestured to Synthara. “This is the auxiliary I mentioned earlier.”

Jarl looked Synthara up and down, mostly down as he towered over her. He then gave a respectful bow of his head and spoke with quiet reverence. “I never thought the All-Mother would walk among us during my reign. For that, I am honored, more honored than I would if I had slain a thousand Ultimatists.”

Synthara smiled, she rather enjoyed being fawned over like this. She never had such treatment in the real, no, old world. Though how was she to respond? She was no longer a mere witch, but a Demon King, a god. She ought to act the part.

“Only a thousand? I am worth far more honor than that Jarl. Now that I am here, you will be able to slay billions of heathens. I favor those with loftier ambitions.”

The Jarl bowed his head. “Of course my lady, it seems I lack vision, I will work to improve in that regard.”

“Good! Now, are we ready to attack?”

“We will be able to begin within a few minutes my lady, though I have some concerns.” Zhuul looked over behind the two women.

“I am concerned that the Order of the Black Dragon will interfere with our assault on the dungeon.”

Morgan spoke up. “Fear not, I have prepared some countermeasures to delay them. Synthara will deal with the dragon herself while we keep the rabble away from her fight, you will be able to focus your full might on the traitors.”

Jarl Zhuul smiled with bloodlust. “Excellent, I cannot wait to taste Oghul’s blood upon my blades.”

The volcano suddenly rumbled as they heard the sound of thousands of footsteps and raspy battlecries charging out of the large cave.

Zhuul bellowed out to his men. “Here they come men, tonight, we dine in Drehkt!”

The orcs roared as the Kobold horde stormed out of the cave and into their fortifications.