The Immortal Kobold

Grinning as only a kobold could Xing Lei lead the way back to the tap room, Ottar was following on his heels cursing and grumbling at the flippant nature of the lizard, as Lei prepared to reach for the door the portal caved in with a crash! From beyond the sounds of battle erupted into the corridor, the human missile that smashed the door g.r.o.a.n.e.d softly then noted Ottar, "Quick Ottar! It's the orc pit boss Turk and his boys, they're looking for a kobold, when they spotted the one with your elf friend they charged in to capture it and started wrecking the place..."

Xing Lei's eyes widened and charged into the maelstrom that was the tavern brawl, orcs were pouring in through the front entrance being ordered about by a lean orc with a patch over one eye, his long tusks were engraved with etchings and even bore a couple of gold rings. The thick red hide armor he wore bore a rather messy symbol of a fist clenching a dagger. This fancy orc was directing the others in the wild melee.

Shouldering past him Ottar roared, "Me bar! I'm gonna kill me some green skinned idiots!" Extending his hand a familiar hammer appeared in his grip, Xing Lei recognized it as the weapon that was properly using an orcs face as a display seat. Etched lines on the hammers faces glowed with a soft mystical light as the barrel shaped barkeep launched into the fight leaving Xing Lei to look around for Fleet Spear and Al.u.s.triea but he could see neither in the roiling mass of fighting people.

Ducking under a thrown stool Xing Lei moved through the crowd with a small measure of ease, even when orcs reached for him he simply kicked a knee or punched a gut to knock the green skin blocking his way, out of said way. Clambering onto another table Lei scanned the mass of bodies fighting, he was starting to wonder if he would ever experience a warm bed without being chased out of town by some irate local power. Looking around he could not see his friends but he did see Turk looking his way, the orc looked particularly smug as he pushed off the wall and shouted over the clamor, "You hurt one of us, we claim two of you, you want your women kobold? Then we'll string'em up off the gate."

Turning the orc walked out leaving his boys to cause as much havoc as possible, the tap room was a complete mess as humanoids of all walks fought and bled. Hopping off the table, Xing Lei advanced on the door, killing intent wafted off his small form as the brawlers instinctively made way for the one coated in such a bloody aura. Now and then an orc would risk that ghastly intent but they would either be smashed away by Lei or intercepted by the dwarf who crunched such fools under his mystical hammer.

Reaching the doorway Ottar looked to Xing Lei, "Get after the lass, elves don't last long in orc hands, nor likely your own lass, when I mop up his boys here I'll come help ye." Hearing a crash behind them, the dwarf turned and screamed seeing an orcish body missile sail over the bar counter and smash into the spirits on the wall bringing the bottles crashing down, "Me bar! More important me beer!!!! Rarrrrr!" Charging back inside the dwarf vanished into the throng, still that glowing hammer was now swatting at everyone, the loss of his alcohol sending the burly dwarf into an all new rage that targeted everyone inside.

Paying no further mind to the whirlwind of destruction that Ottar was laying down on everyone and anyone still inside, Xing Lei rushed back through the fort, following the path back towards the open air. Unlike the chaos of the tavern, Ulak proper was like a tomb. Emerging from the dark he could see why. A large gang of orcs had laid claim to the plaza before the fort, the caravan was ringed in armed green skins, the drivers and guards looking helplessly from the wagons. Soft sobs filtered on the wind drawing Lei's attention, Turk had position himself on the wall looking casual and confident about the situation.

The sobs came from Al.u.s.triea who knelt by his foot, much like the day they met the elf was once again n.a.k.e.d, the torn remnants of her robe hung from her shoulders and hid nothing exposing her humiliation to the masses. Beside her, trussed up tight was Fleet Spear, most unsettling was the female kobold didn't seem to be moving, just laying there silently. Xing Lei's fiery gaze swept from the two back to Turk, "Let them go." Lei's voice was as cold as ice, a corpse climbing from the grave would leave a less unsettling presence in its wake.

"Oh look boys, the runt wants to be tough." Turk sneered grabbing a fist full of Al.u.s.triea's hair, yanking her up fully on her knees with an pained cry, "I don't think I will let them go. I think for marking a couple of my boys you're going to drop those pretty spears and step forward, you don't and well..." With a flick of his wrist a dagger popped into his hand and slashed across, Al.u.s.triea slumped back down, her sobs catching in her throat as she felt the hair separating her head from Turks fist drastically cut short, the fistful of wheat colored strands falling from his hand like so much cast of, "Don't obey me and we give this knife eared bitch another haircut, say around the jaw line?"

To emphasize his point the dagger slipped up under Al.u.s.triea's chin, forcing her tear stained and horrified face to look at Xing Lei, her emerald eyes begging her former saviour to once again snatch her from the hands of these cruel goblin kin. Her b.a.r.e body shuddered in fright, trembling as the orc put her on display, the knife point nicking her throat and a thin line of scarlet blood trickled down to drip upon her pert b.r.e.a.s.ts.

"So runt, what's your choice?" Turk smiled evilly, dark eye watching the distant kobold, "Or am I using the wrong currency? Of course! Kobolds shouldn't care about tree hugging whores like her right?" Shoving Al.u.s.triea away he reached down grabbing the limp package that was Fleet Spear, his knife tilting under the females chin and lifting her muzzle, "No hair to cut up top, so shall I start here under the chin?" The orc laughed nastily.

Xing Lei's fists tightened, then relaxed, letting his new spear fall to the ground. Reaching back he pulled down his old spear and dropped it too before striding forward, a quick glance back saw one of the orcish thugs scooping them up before slipping back into the gang. Shaking his head Xing Lei strode forward undaunted by the green skins that seemed to press in around him, with hostages and their target disarmed they acted as true bullies would eager to press in to shove and spit on the kobold as he advanced before Turk.

"TURK!"

From behind a voice bellowed as Ottar charged through the door into the fort, the orcs closest to the old dwarf were knocked from their feet while their adjacent buddies felt the dwarf's hammer sweeping them aside. Cruel blades of varied style were drawn as a dozen of the gang turned to block the old bar keeps raging path.

Turk turned from sneering down at Xing Lei to looking at Ottar, "Go back to your bar steel beard, we let you stay, we even turn a blind eye to what you do. But this sorry sack of leather crippled one of my boys, so I'm collecting my due."

Ottar snorted and looked at the dozen bully boys ringing him in, twelve to one, not bad odds, they might make him break a sweat. Still there was the matter of the hostages, toning back his fury he glared to Turk, "What ye mean to do with them?"

"You wound me Ottar, we let you have your little pub and still think us mindless beasts, I'm not one to waste a resource. I just have a job for the runt to do, he gets me what I want and the two wenches are free to go, I'll even swear not to do anything to the knife ear in the mean time." Turk turned his focus to Xing Lei, "How about it runt? One job to pay for crippling one of my boys, fair deal?"

Xing Lei stared up at the orc then glanced to Al.u.s.triea and Fleet Spear, "Very well, turn them over to Ottar and I'll do your like request."

Turk shook his head, "As a show of good faith I'll give Ottar the elf bitch, but yer little friend here stays in my hands in case you get any funny ideas, final offer runt."

Xing Lei frowned but shrugged, "Agreed, let's talk about this job."

A short time later, Al.u.s.triea was shuffled off by Ottar covered in a blanket while Xing Lei stood to to toe with the local orc boss. Turk was sat back with his booted feet propped up on a table looking over the kobold before him, then glanced to one side, "This is the one who kicked both your stupid asses? Seriously, sometimes I wonder why mother didn't just strangle you two idiots."

A pair of orcs were propped up on a bench to one side, Xing Lei looked over the two and chuckled, "Ah I see, the thieves I robbed, makes sense, but how is he crippled? Sure I broke his ankle but it'll heal."

Turk shrugged, "You don't understand us well runt, any weakness, even a temporary one, means your power is crippled. Those beneath you will pull you down and gut you like a boar. By weakening my brother you crippled his power and as much as he's an idiot I do have to pick up after his a.s.s. Which brings us to the job."

Kicking a pouch by his propped up foot the sack tipped over dumping a map and a circular disk onto the table, "My boys found a ruin a days journey from here, this map will lead you to it, the disc was there, we think it's a key or part of something else there, whatever is in there I want. You go in, stick your snout into what's in its depths and bring out my treasure, you get your women back and if I'm impressed I'll throw in a bonus to show how generous I am to my minions."

Xing Lei picked up the 'map' and grimaced, tough as orcs were touted, art was not one of their skills. It looked more like one of Turks brothers wiped his a.s.s with the sheet than an actual depiction of anything, still, the disc attracted his attention this seemed like one of those fortunate encounters he use to find in his old life. He'd bring back the shiney worthless junk for Turk and keep what could truly improve himself, mortals always l.u.s.ted after silver and gold in a fleeting belief of wealth.

Holding the disc to the light he pretended to get lost in the 'shiny precious', as his eyes focused on it...

=====

Glyph of Power

This disc bears many magical scripts that is used to enhance what it is fitted into, exactly what it does is unknown without the main housing.

=====

Xing Lei stood in thought, while he hadn't explored too much the description reminded him of a formation core, though those were usually flags. Did this world have formation masters? Glancing over the disc he had a bad feeling about the ruin, if there was a formation master he was currently way out of his league, without cultivating his spirit he'd be easy prey to any illusion or confusing formations. Sighing he glanced at Turk, "I'll set out immediately, I expect Fleet Spear to be unharmed when I return."

"Fleet Spear is her name huh? You runts sure have weird a.s.s naming sense, sounds almost like the more tribal orcs. Big Ears, Dances With Weeds, Complains About Names.... seriously who let's some silly drugged up shaman name them at birth anymore?"

Shrugging he waved Xing Lei away, "Hurry back runt, if you're gone longer than two weeks I'll kill yer friend here and claim my payment from selling the knife ear to a slaver. Off with you now."

Grimacing Xing Lei tucked away the map and disc turning to leave, glancing over his shoulder he looked a Turk, "Take this with a grain of salt, but if you go back on your word while I'm gone, this fort will be your tomb." Walking out he heard Turk snort, grabbing his spears from the orc by the door he headed out, hoping Ottar would be able to keep these thugs in line until he returned.