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Red speckled against the virgin snow and the elf fell to the ground. Another thump of the cleaver and Gorgash raised the head skyward and bellowed to his tribe, "Blood for the Blood God!" The crowd's roared back and he bathed in their untainted fury.
Today was a good day. An elven ranger had wandered into their territory and so his blood became theirs. A rare encounter as Auril's fury drives most away from the secluded mountain village. Gorgash's musing were cut short as the roar was silenced, as if by a blanket. The rest of the orc-kin were staring skyward and Gorgash followed their gaze to see the raven circling the village.
Once the entire tribe was aware of it the raven began a gradual, almost ritualistic decent. Just before touching the ground the bird grew drastically in size as its feather molted to give way to scarred, gray skin beneath hard leather armor. Once he resumed his form One-Eye waited, allowed the anticipation to build.
The orc-kin said nothing, the air hummed. They ached to move, do something, say something. But they dared not. Gorgash ground his teeth, and could stand it no longer, but before he could ask One-Eye declared in a raspy voice "Kasadya is dead."
The hum died. One-Eye did not move. He was not done.
"He took three pink-skins with him. He died with a full belly!"
The silence broke. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" the tribe bellowed in unison.
"Abbadon is now alone," Old-Eye said, "Who shall join him in the-"
"I shall!" Gorgash screamed before Old-Eye had finished.
Old-Eye leered at him with a twisted smile as the other half-orcs stared in shock.
Silence.
"Fill your belly."
Today was a good day. An elven ranger had wandered into their territory and so his blood became theirs. A rare encounter as Auril's fury drives most away from the secluded mountain village. Gorgash's musing were cut short as the roar was silenced, as if by a blanket. The rest of the orc-kin were staring skyward and Gorgash followed their gaze to see the raven circling the village.
Once the entire tribe was aware of it the raven began a gradual, almost ritualistic decent. Just before touching the ground the bird grew drastically in size as its feather molted to give way to scarred, gray skin beneath hard leather armor. Once he resumed his form One-Eye waited, allowed the anticipation to build.
The orc-kin said nothing, the air hummed. They ached to move, do something, say something. But they dared not. Gorgash ground his teeth, and could stand it no longer, but before he could ask One-Eye declared in a raspy voice "Kasadya is dead."
The hum died. One-Eye did not move. He was not done.
"He took three pink-skins with him. He died with a full belly!"
The silence broke. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" the tribe bellowed in unison.
"Abbadon is now alone," Old-Eye said, "Who shall join him in the-"
"I shall!" Gorgash screamed before Old-Eye had finished.
Old-Eye leered at him with a twisted smile as the other half-orcs stared in shock.
Silence.
"Fill your belly."