Thorin's Journal (3): We Are Near the Heart of the Orcish Stronghold

A sense of dread has overcome me. As night falls, the thumping of orcish wardrums can be heard in the distance, an echo of the throbbing hearts of countless human slaves held captive, working throughout the night under the cruel whips of orc taskmasters. Distant fires can be seen flickering, as guards patrol the perimeter of the camp.

As we trek nearer to the orc encampment, countless animal carcasses lie strewn all over the ground of the forest, left to rot. It is a most strange sight, as orcs are not given to letting meat go to waste. The stench of death is in the air.

God knows what they have done; Even the rivers and streams have rebelled, what life they once held has been replaced by a steady stream of black liquid. Upon closer inspection, our healer Nakai produced the answer to this mystery. The orcs have planted their foul weeds called "Krashic" in druid lore, by the riverbanks. These are no mere weeds, as they have been planted and cursed by Orc-Shamans. They produce a most poisonous toxin which the orcs use to coat their darts and swords. Alas, the rivers have succumbed to the foul arts; It has given up it's final breath. It no longer brings life to the animals who once drew from it.

The still silence of the night is occasionally broken by screams of agony. By Moradin! I can take this no longer! My axe screams for blood and revenge, but it will have to remain unsatisfied till the orc captain is slain, lest we draw further attention to ourselves and endanger our mission. Already, we have been traversing by night and resting in the day to avoid the orc patrols.

However, just this morning, we could not escape detection from this team which had a bloodhound with them. We were forced to draw swords and it was with great fortitude that my Master's arrow silenced the leader just as his horn was raised to his lips. The sight of the orc grappling helplessly at the arrow protruding from it's throat, accompanied by the gurgling of blood, raised a cheer in my heart as for a moment, surely all was lost and our quest had reached its untimely end.

It would have been difficult to bury the carcasses of the slain orcs, but surely the next patrol would be looking for them in their prolonged absence and our position would have been given away.

Nakai spoke up again.

We tied the orcs securely on ropes and hoisted them up onto the trees, far away from the eyes of the patrols on the ground below. It will be sometime before the bodies start to decompose and emitt it's foul odours. Hopefully, our presence will go undetected till then.

This may be the last time I get to pen my thoughts down again. We strike early tomorrow morning, just before the break of dawn. May Moradin grant his favour upon us.

Thorin Axefist