Back to work and Vidar V2.3

What I smelled was some of the best smelling food I had ever smelled in a long time. My mouth was actually dripping saliva I was so hungry suddenly. I went to get me some food when I saw the biggest human I had ever seen, and she wasn't too bad looking either. I could have climbed those mountains all day and night. She looked at my drooling and said, "You must be the latest drifter they told me about, Nago right? Close your mouth and sit down. I am Lorn. Now eat."

I gladly did as I was instructed, this woman could probably pick me up and use me for a childs toy, I had never seen anyone so big, except maybe orcs. She set down a plate of food and told me this one is on the Dor'Thain, you will have to earn the rest or go hungry. I just greedily started shoving the food in my mouth and nodded my head in acknowledgement. As if the day couldn't get any stranger, the ground began to shake and I looked back and saw the biggest thing I ever seen. He must have been ten feet tall and dressed in rags and not a button to be seen. I asked Lorn who he was and she said, "Oh that's Devilhorn, he's a good guy." I laughed when she said devilhorn, I had no idea what that meant, but I thought it particularly funny. Lorn looked at me disapprovingly and walked away.

I finished up my food and walked up to this mountain of a man and said, "I hear you are a horny devil." He looked at me kind of sideways and said in a deep booming voice, "No, I am Devilhorn" I just giggled and said, "I am Nago nice to meet you big guy." Then I walked out to find Vidar. I heard him mumbling about darkness, powers that should not be known, if they only knew. He must be crazy, but I liked him, hes like a big puppy dog.

Vidar on the other hand was like a she-wolf with a full litter of puppies and another on the way. He told me I was late and this wasn't the proper way to start off a business arrangement at all. I apologized to him saying, "I didn't know we had a set time to start." He just grunted, then said let's get to it. This is my offer you can take it or leave it but I won't bargain with you. I said let's hear it. Vidar then began to talk about the theory and glory of orts and ort herders. I tried not to fall asleep after the second hour of his lecture. He noticed I was nodding off and hit me with his his staff. That is when he said to me, there was no way I ever seen an orc in my life I couldn't even dodge an old dwarf's crook. I got very angry and called him every name I could, I am sure he didn't know what most of what I was saying, because I said it in halfing. Then I got very close to him and said don't ever say that again, I watched my whole tribe be destroyed. He hmpped and said, probably because you were sleeping on the job. I pulled out my knife and put it under his armpit and said take it back, he just hmpped again, then took his Sheppard's crook and tripped me, took my knife and put his boot on my neck. Then he said it's like this boy, out of every five hides I give you to tan, I want one back. Take it or leave it. I knew I had been beat in more than one way today. It was a hard lesson, but one I would remember. I will control my anger more carefully from now on.

My shop and home was set up in the stable at the inn. It was a dreary, tedious live, but one that I could manage. I was able to tan enough hides to turn into items that I could trade for food and other items. I "found" some buttons from time to time. I even got to know the big guy a little bit. But I was still angry at Vidar for blaming me for the destruction of my tribe. One day after Vidar dropped off an ort hid, I noticed it's head had somewhat of an orc shape to it. That gave me an idea.

I carefully skinned the whole head ensuring it was all intact. I worked many weeks making the leather as supple as I could. When I got done with it, from a distance it did have the cast of an orc on it. I added some scaring, and other trinkets to make it look more fierce. I made an outfit to go with it, to make it look like a warrior. I tried it all on and I made a terrible looking orc, but it would work. I waited for Vidar to make his weekly visit to the stable and I was waiting for him dressed as an orc. He came in shouting for me as he usually does, he walked right past my hiding place. I had prepared some hay and boxes so I could climb up and look taller. I was at the top of my spot when I threw a fake spear and yelled at Vidar in my best orc. When he turned around I think he wet his pants and his skin turned purple. He grabbed his horn and began to blow, this wasn't something I had thought about, he was calling for help and I was in trouble. Vidar came right towards me and I didn't know what to do, but run. I really hadn't thought this through well at all. I tripped with the baggy outfit and started running as best as I could. I found one of the marmoset holes I had been exploring and left my disguise there. I could hear Vidar cursing the air in Dwarven. I knew if he caught me he wouldn't be happy.

I thought I would wait him out by doing some exploring. Unfortunately his horn had caused the town to be in quite an uproar. Everyone was looking for a small orc or goblin that had run-a-muck and possibly killed me. I was in real trouble now. I decided the only thing I could do was to turn myself in and hope for the best. I went to the inn and came out in a secret spot in the pantry, where Lorn was waiting for me with a broom in her hand. Looks like I finally got the rat that has been stealing my food and the goblin that scared poor Vidar.

She picked me up by arms and I just went limp, I knew I had no choice now. I didn't say anything. She was taking me to see the Dor'Thain she said. As we were heading to the Great Hall, Vidar was shaking his fist at me. I saw a few giggles and I relaxed a little bit. When we reached the Great Hall, Cort was there and he dragged me to a side chamber I had never been in before. He sat me in a chair, looked down at me and said, "Wait and don't move." I am not sure how long I waited but it seemed like days passed. I was too scared to move and I had to pee so bad. When I didn't think I could hold it much longer, the Dor'Thain came in with Vidar and Cort. Cort had the mask in his hand. Vidar looked like my Uncle did, right before he punished me, Cort looked like he wanted to kill me and well the Dor'Thain was trying his best to suppress a smile. I had hope, but I remained silent.

Cort threw the mask at my feet and said, "Do you think this is funny?" I didn't answer him. Vidar bit his lips in fury. I was quiet. The Dor'Thain said, don't let this happen again, understood? I quickly said yes. Now to ensure you don't do this again, you will pay Vidar double what you normally pay him for the next two months and will make me 1000 feet of robe, 25 belts, 15 harnesses, and 100 mugs. Do you think that will keep you out of trouble, I dropped my shoulders and nodded yes, clearly beaten and humiliated, but it was worth it just knowing that old fart pissed his pants. The Dor'Thain bent down took the mask and said, "Now get back to work."