You've traveled far the past three months total, gaining the support from large and small tribes alike.  It has been tough convincing some, but others are far more agreeable.  From the reports you've heard, it's put much less pressure on your army, for now.


On the downside, Galik and Grolik have managed to engage the Mannate Empire in some larger skirmishes than you would have liked.  Rolomag and the other more reliable orcs haven't been able to keep them in check as well as you had hoped. 


As you ride on, one of the coastal villages comes into view.  The sun bearing down upon you, in the distance you see a number of orcs.  Some seem to be fishing with nets and spears, and some seem to be enjoying the sun.  A few unsurprisingly wrestle in circles made of seashells. 


Several wooden boats float lazily among the waves.  One orc saunters over to you, his skin a much darker shade of green due to generations of living out here.  Yours is a much lighter shade of green.  The orc stops several feet away from you.


"Who are you?"


"Nolazir."


His eyebrows arch and his eyes widen a bit.  A small grin spreads across his face. 


"I have heard of you, fighting off the humans.  Making your rounds to many of the villages and tribes.  That is why you are here?"


"Yes."


The orc chuckles as he leads you toward the village.


"I don't think we'll be able to help you, friend," he says.


"All of us are at stake," you say.  "We need all the people we can get."


"We're having our own issues.  We can't save everyone else when we can't even save ourselves."


You grunt, scanning the area.  Nothing seems to be happening.


"What's your name?" you ask.


"Silak," he says, "I just do the fishing around here.  The chief is inside."


He gestures into a small wooden hut.  You nod to him in thanks and step inside, the old wood steps creaking a bit.


Half of the hut is dark, the rest illuminated by the sunlight entering between the wooden beams above.  Some tarp seems to be covering the rest of it.


You stop short as a figure steps out of the shadows, an orc with several wrinkles on his face.  His raven dark hair contrasted by a multitude of grey hairs throughout.  His face turns up into a weary smile.  His dark green skin hiding him well, until he steps into the rays of light.


"Welcome, friend," he says.  "I am Chief Hidius."


"I am Nolazir."


It is just then that you notice the severe burn marks covering Hidius' body.  His face, from what you can see, is even a bit distorted. 


"I know why you are here."


"Will you join me?" you ask.


"No."


"But-"


"Walk with me."


The chief puts his hand on your shoulder, slowly leading you outside.  As you step into the sunlight, you realize Hidius injuries are more severe than you thought.  It appears as though his nose has been smelted off of his face.  You're surprised that his hair is still growing though, which should not be possible.


"How... is your hair still growing?"


"A rude question to ask of my deformities."


"I'm sorr-"


"No.  It's alright, no one has asked in a long time, some around here know the story.  Others think it's crazed nonsense."


Hidius waves a hand to change the subject.  He stops and gestures to the village and the waters ahead.


"Gigalak gave us these lands and these waters so that we could live wild and free.  The Mannate Empire wants to take that from us."


"So help us stop them."


"We can't… I can't," Hidius says.  "I am dying and so is my village."


"What do you mean?"


"We've been cursed, you see, as made apparent by my condition."


"That's nonsense," you say.  "Taking heavy burn wounds isn't going to damn the rest of the village.  Besides, they look fine to me."


Hidius chuckles.


"It won't be today, or tomorrow, or even a decade from now, but we're all doomed.  I've seen it."


Hidius closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.


"Whether or not we stop the Mannate Empire… something far worse is waiting to take us into a grip of fire."


"Stop this," you say, "and tell me what you mean."


"Nothing we really do this day matters anymore, I have seen it."


You take a deep breath and try to stop yourself from shaking the older orc in frustration.


"No matter what is going to happen, you can't just lay down and die."


You gently put a hand on his shoulder and turn him around to face you.


"We're orcs damn it, and we fight everything that gets in our way.  Living, dead, hell, Empire, whatever it may be.  We don't just lay down and die."


The chief smiles slowly.


"While that may be true of you and yours, I am old and tired of fighting.  I've seen enough horrors to last one thousand lifetimes.  Our time is useless."

You say "Stop Moping"

"Listen, Hidius," you say.  "You need to stop moping around and do something.  The only thing that is going to doom you and your tribe to extinction is this attitude of yours."


Hidius' eyes widen in surprise at your words.


"Even though you've been through much, they all look up to you.  You need to be their guiding hand, show them how to live a life by example, show them how to defend it too."


"I can't- there's no way we'll ever stop the oncoming darkness-"


"Enough of that talk, it's spreading to everyone here.  The second thing that came out of Silak's mouth was this doom and gloom shit."


Hidius looks down for a moment.


"Perhaps my suffering has made me weak, when it should make me stronger."


"Yes, look.  They all need you.  We all need you," you say.


"Fine."  Hidius clenches his fists. "I will gather my forces and take them to meet your army."


"Be quick.  The Mannate Empire is becoming a faster and larger beast every day."


Hidius nods and calls over a group of orcs.  You can't hear what he says but they all split up to gather more orcs, so you can only imagine that he is keeping his word.


As you ride off into the burning rays of the sun, you hope that your words actually got through to Hidius. 


You ride on, to where you think the next tribe should be.  Perhaps you will find somewhere to hide from the sun for a bit first…