After his mistress left the caves, Lord Malus called upon the ten battle captains that had previously served the Orcan War Chief. The ten stood inside the large tent, breathing heavily through foul smelling tusks and poor hygiene, their snouts gruffly snorting, and their beady eyes darting from one Drow warrior to the other. The battle captains knew that the one in the middle had bested Godarr the Mighty, and they feared and loathed him for it.
Having been rewarded the power of speech, Malus addressed the assemblage now. The ten orcs clearly outweighed the three Drow and towered them by nearly three feet! And yet, they showed fear and respect. Malus glanced at Darkstar. The other Drow nodded and stood closer to the ten captains.
“When you are summoned by Lord Malus, you shall take a knee upon entering this tent. When Lord Malus or Mistress Ladiana walks by, you and your warriors will take a knee, with heads bowed.”
One of the orc captains snorted, sounding very much like a smirk. Malus blinked. And within that blink, Silver Spear had leapt from Malus’s side, spun in the air, landed, and with a backwards thrust, impaled the offending orc with his dreaded spear—through the very heart of the captain. The orc’s eyes bulged and he fell to his knees, snorting for the final time. Silver Spear kicked out and dropped the dead orc.
Instantly, two orcs beside the fallen comrade drew their swords. Darkstar never hesitated. Slashing down with his halberd, he cut the left arm of one orc, dropping both sword and clutching hand. Green blood spurted like a small geyser and the orc roared in pain. The other captain that had drawn his sword, took a tentative step back, and felt—before he could see—a silver spear streak across the distance and jab decisively through his neck. Darkstar continued his stroke, swing up and arcing horizontally to the captain whose arm he had cut off, and severed the orc’s neck, causing further slime to gush out of his massive neck.
Three dead orcs lay twitching inside the tent. Seven orcs, eyes bulging and fearful, looked amongst each other, then at Darkstar and Silver Spear, then at Lord Malus. In unison, they all took a knee.
Now Malus strode forward and Silver Spear and Darkstar stepped aside. He said, in a low voice, “Take heed thou dost not see repeat of offenses to me or my mistress. Darkstar and Silver Spear are my right and left hands. Should I flex them thusly, thou shalt feel the wrath of justice without hesitation.”
Malus paced back and forth as each orc avoided eye contact and bowed their heads. “I am Lord Malus, thy new commander. Thou shalt swear allegiance now to me and hold thy tongue but to issue my commands. And I yet follow a higher command and fall to Her purpose, as thou all shalt swear to. My Lady Ladiana has but to command it thus and thy very lives are forfeit to Her name and cause.”
“Swear it thus.”
In unison, all the orcs grunted in some form or other, in their simple tongue near Common, that they swore allegiance, now and forever.
“And so, how fare thy command structure?” Malus asked.
One orc, perhaps the next in command, looking quickly among his brethren, spoke up nervously. “We captains, Lord Malus. We each have ten warriors. We follow Godarr…now follow you and your lady.”
Malus furrowed his brow. How simple. These ‘captains’ were but mere sergeants in rank equivalence. They had simple minds, strong and brutish, yet simple nonetheless. Perhaps the high ratio of soldier to leader was necessary for ease of command and control. Not so among the Drow, whose higher functioning brains required fewer leaders at the top.
“And now thou wilt follow Lord Darkstar and Lord Silver Spear. Avail thy selves to their rank and order. 50 of thy warriors shall fall to command under Darkstar; 50 under Silver Spear. The remaining 82 shall become my personal retinue.”
The orcs looked confused. Lord Malus looked at Darkstar and Silver Spear impatiently. The two Drow bowed. “We shall make it so, Lord Malus. We shall train these orcs into our way of battle.”
Malus nodded. “See to it.”
Darkstar barked out his commands. “Pick up these fallen orcs and take them from this tent. Then, assemble yourselves and your warriors outside. We shall begin this day’s drills. Move! Move now!”
The orcs nearly tripped over each other to follow commands.
Three nights later, Malus reported to his mistress. Taking a knee and bowing his head low, he said, “The host is assembled, my lady. Their fighting spirit and willingness to please exceed standards far beyond most Elven kind. They shall be ready for thine inspection within a fortnight.”
Ladiana looked down at her champion’s bowed head. There was something she had been curious about since his battle with the war chief. “Tell me, Lord Malus, what it felt like with the blue crystal.”
Malus bowed again and looked up at her. “It was…it was glorious and terrifying at once, my lady. I had but scarce received it when all around was known to me. All secrets revealed, all intents known. His actions, the movements of the orc leader, even those brutes surrounding him, were yet known to me. None could have moved without my knowledge. And when he struck, it was but fleeting annoyance and with child-like ease to avoid his actions. And the power, my lady, the power did surge from me. I could feel the power of Lolth Herself infused within me! As the orc lay upon me, his hands ever tightening upon my throat, I had but to force his small body from mine, and saw it so. For his body had become small to me. It was of no moment to vanquish him thus.”
Malus bowed his head again, fearing his excitement would cause alarm or rebuke. He stilled his heart and awaited further command.
Ladiana said, “And did you feel in control? Of yourself and of this power?”
Malus looked up into her eyes again and shook his head. “No, my lady. That was the frightening thing. The liquid did cloud my mind of reason. It was not until thou bade thy friend to lay hands upon me. And when she did, the paladin’s healing touch did restore sound judgment and control. I had yet still harnessed the power, but now reason had returned once more.”
Malus licked his lips. He felt his throat had dried out and he swallowed once. “If thou wishst it so, thou should try the liquid but once. Thy friend should touch thee once and thou wilt know what I know. I am not stricken with need, my lady. The paladin of Mystra removed such thoughts and desires within me.”
Ladian thought long about his words, but gave him no indication as to her intent. “See to it, Lord Malus, that neither you nor your warriors come upon this liquid and attempt to repeat the process. If Lady Clarys is not about, you do not have my leave to drink of it once more.”
“As thou wishes, my lady. It shall be so.”
Ladiana turned to leave.
“My lady, there is but one more news.”
Ladiana turned. “What is it?”
Malus said, “The orcan warriors told us that their slave and women encampment is above ground and to the northeast of the cave opening. They have nearly 50 slaves and women orcs, cooking and cleaning, and providing comfort to the males. Some are wives of the warriors, but most are prostitutes and slaves.
“They also speak of yet another force approaching. A call to arms hath been issued and another 500 orcs approach the caves. When they come upon us, we shall need to fight once more, to battle for supremacy.”
‘500 more orcs!’ she thought. What was this gathering and building of an army! She would have to tell Clarys immediately. Her friend, Lord Devlin Asher, would be forced to act now. He had been a veteran of the Orcan Wars several years past. With this news, all of Allentia City would be forced to mobilize.
And what of Malus’s words on the blue crystal? Did Clarys’s healing hands truly avoid the addictive nature of the drug? And if this were true, what would happen if one with the Gift took it?
Ladiana regarded him for a long moment. “Lord Malus, see to it that I am informed when this new orc army is but three days’ ride from our encampment.”
Malus bowed. “As thou wishes, my lady. It shall be so.”