Note: I suck at writing, I'll have you all know this now I just enjoy it ? so here's a little thing I've been working on for a while. Hopefully you enjoy. ______________________________ Chapter 1: My Capture Orcs are seen by most - and indeed by me at first - to be large, green-skinned, brutal, war-mongering savages. Now, this is mostly true, but savages they are not. I will now tell you all about my capture and imprisonment after the Blood Creek skirmish by the Lak'Eshan tribe. It was a small battle, barely any dead, as we stumbled across a small group, 20-30 orcs walking along the riverside. Our patrol of 50 thought we could easily run them down with our mounts, and paid for our mistake. Having been wounded in the conflict, namely a small (and by small, I mean roughly a woodcutter's axe in comparison) orcish throwing axe grazed my leg in retreat, causing my collapse and a nearly 10 minute slow crawl of pain in attempt of escape. Needless to say, I was found, tied up and slung over the shoulder of a none-too-gentle warrior. I know we tell our children, "Eat your vegetables, otherwise the Orcs will eat you!" but they really don't eat humans. Apparently not for lack of trying, as my captor explained in a crude, broken version of our tongue, grinning all the while. We just don't taste good, cooked or raw. He told me his name was Tok'Shal, and tried his best to translate to our language his name, seems to mean something like strong arm or strong axe. I learned why I had been captured, after attempts at conversation. Their "Valla Keirin" (I'll use shaman, for simple purposes) wishes a live captive to study and learn from, for better strategies. At least, that is what Tok was told. I later found out that this was not totally the case. The journey was not long, a day and a half at best. The orcs had no mounts, and merely jogged their way across the landscape. Having been over a well-muscled shoulder, it didn't feel nice on my injured leg. But the orcs, having obviously been at it long enough, had good treatments for wounds. Painful, yes, but effective enough to allow me to walk (or rather, stumble, limp, hobble, one of those). It was rather amazing to see their stamina. At the time it was grudging respect. Now I hold complete admiration. The first thing we did when we got back to their village was immediately get to work of one kind or another. There was no period for rest. As I saw from my upside down position, what we fought on the battlefield were woodcutters and hunters, ordinary positions. They were not warriors, and yet they were enough to cause our line to flee. I wish I could've seen more on an outsiders position, but then we reached the Shaman's tent. Then my view changed just a little more.