MLiW Chapter 07 (Patreon)

I immediately ran to hide behind a tree as I looked at the orc heading toward the axe he threw. My thoughts went to whether or not he could be trusted, we didn’t know much about orcs outside of the keep, but everything was about how brutal and savage they were. An orc was worth ten men in a fight but that’s if they worked together. Aedelas let us believe that orcs had a hard time working together, often fighting over leadership to the point they’d kill most of their strong men in competition. I didn’t believe most of what he said, but what if he was right about the orcs on the outside.

The orc began to talk to my brother and as I moved to get closer my world went black. My consciousness faded as I looked towards a large orb. It took me a few seconds to realize I was looking at the moon that gave me my powers. I just knew instinctively that is what it was. She spoke with the childlike innocence of those who were still very young. “I sense a great evil as awakened on the planet. You must head north in an attempt to stop another from falling prey to his schemes.”

Just like that, I flashed back awake having completely missed my brother's conversation. He motioned me towards following the orc before I explained. “I… The god that granted me my powers said a dark force just appeared on the planet. I need to head north to deal with it… I think we should part ways for now brother.” I moved to clasp his hand in farewell as he brought me in for a hug.

“Take this meat with you so you don’t have to worry about food for the next week or so.” At some point, most likely when they were still talking and I was zoned out talking with my god, my brother skinned and cleaned the deer. He handed me a homemade deer skin pouch with all the meat he just collected. I nodded resolutely, I could have asked him to come with me but I felt that would only cause problems in the future. He needed to work with our own people but I don’t think that was my path in life. My path was to follow the wishes of my god and hope I didn’t get sent to my death.

With that, I headed west while my brother headed north with the orc. Climbing down the rocky mountain I make my way back into the northmost part of Hillsbrad, avoiding the collections of houses as I attempt to stay as hidden as possible from the farmers in the fields. I ran whenever I was spotted and the farmers ran from the sight of me. It was dangerous, I knew my path would be difficult but I was going to need to travel right in front of a human city to get to where my guiding light was telling me to go.

Moving in the dead of night I travelled north of the main road walking through the bushes as I avoided the patrols on the roads. It was weeks later as I made it passed the checkpoint, starting another fire near it to draw attention as I ran to the other side of the camp, stealing their stewpot right from the fire pit as I ran. I still needed to make my way through the Northlands to get to Eastwealds.

Another week and I had eaten all of the stolen food again, sticking off the roads was the safest option but my clothes were slowly being worn down from being caught on brambles. At some point I noticed my guiding light was warning me if I was about to be spotted which made it easier to hide or cover my face. I built up a tolerance to pain and had the stamina to walk almost the entire day but it was still slow going. Finally reaching the Eastwealds I could see the big differences as I felt the corruption seeping into the ground itself. Something was corrupting the lands. 

I bet most priests or paladins only got a feeling of unease while I could tell tangentially what was happening. Somehow, creatures in the environment were being corrupted, and when they were killed that corruption would seep into the land permanently altering it into corrupted land. I could tell this wasn’t nearly enough to change the lands by itself… But if someone were to perform a mass genocide it would empower the corruption enough to infect the entire zone.

One would have to be completely oblivious and walk into the demon or whatever is making the undead creatures trap but… I knew someone would fall for it, that was why I was sent here after all. The moon goddess Lo’sho who sent me here also didn’t have any faith in the person. My best guess is a bunch of people were going to get played like fiddles and the demons or whoever was making the undead would win in the end.

At least if I didn’t throw my two cents in. I knew I was getting close. The land was getting darker and darker as I went forward. Even now I could feel the infection spreading from the extreme death of the undead in the area. These were specialized undead where they were weaker than normal but once murdered would spread their infection.

I finally saw them, a large gathering of human troops made their way towards the entrance of a human city. Their leaders were arguing but I was too far away to hear what they were saying. I walked forward, hoping that one of the knights didn’t outright attack me as I was an orc. Hoping my disguise was enough to hide my race. Covering my face I kept getting closer until I heard them arguing.

“Just a matter of time before they turn into the undead.” The blonde knight finished whatever he was saying. “What!?” The older knight looked at the coughing people in shocked surprise as the golden-haired youth spoke. “This entire city must be purged.” He said it as if he was already resolved to do so. Normally, that might make sense to do… Except it didn’t at all. Killing them all to the last man when some could be saved was just… Evil.

“How can you even consider that? There’s got to be some other way.” I chime in. “Hi there… Hello.” They all turned to see me, even the knights didn’t notice my approach as they were caught up in an argument with their two leaders. I shakily spoke trying not to have my identity as an orc exposed. If I was exposed I didn’t doubt they’d outright attack me and put me back into slavery if not outright kill me. 

“Why don’t we quarantine the city and you go kill the undead while sending the living this way? They can keep watch over them and make sure none change while you kill the undead and find the demon or whoever is changing these villagers into undead.” They all looked at me in shock when the blonde mage spoke up next. “Who are you?”

I thought about it before saying. “I’d rather not reveal myself but just know that I’ve been sent here to stop you from indiscriminately killing these people. Every death is flooding the area with undead magic and a mass slaughter of the civilians will just about corrupt the entire zone.” Keeping my face covered I approached, slamming down my sanctified land spell right at the front gate of the city. My short stature and brown skin were the only reasons I didn’t get clocked for an orc straight away. 

Several humans were in range of the area when it was cast and some went wholly unaffected. Those who were affected recoiled to the ground as the undead energies inside of them tried to rip themselves from their bodies while they were inside the holy land. “There we go… I didn’t know my spell would do that but drag humans across the area, and if they freak out kill them.”

Once again, everyone looked at me like I had two heads before I asked. “Which group should I go with?”