<b>The Barge</b><br/><br/>Heavy orc footsteps could be heard on the deck all around the barge as orcs used long poles to cast them off the river bank and into the river itself.  Grull stood using a large oar to steer and help propel the boat enough to navigate in the slow but steady current of the Dessarin River towards Yartar.  Once they were underway, things settled down a bit, at least for a little while as Lydia made her preparations at trying to seem useful.  There was a fair amount of salted pork and dried fish, not fine cuisine by any stretch, a couple of bottles of not quite aged long enough wine were also found in the small cabin.  As Lydia sat and sipped the wine, such as it was, she would begin to hear orc voices near the back of the barge.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)">"Quite a sweet treat you got there boss?"</span>One said, his voice dripping with flattery and sycophancy.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(147, 101, 184)">"You used her good, yes, but how about some scraps for the gang?"</span>Another asked, careful not to sound too much like a challenge but obviously eager for their share of the piece of loot currently making herself comfortable in Grull's cabin.  Grull, though not one for contemplation, was still somewhat troubled by what happened in the carriage.  Not that it hadn't been about as much physical pleasure as one orc could take, but he somehow felt as if he had been the one violated.  It did little to put him in a generous mood, feeling like he wasn't quite through with the sexy but tricky half elf.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">"Not till I'm through with her."</span>He growled, of course what he experienced and the illusion she had crafted for them all, put them in two contradictory points of reference.  To the crew who only saw her illusion, their boss had used her within an inch of her life.  Grull on the other hand, knew, or thought he knew the truth of the matter.<br/><br/>There was much general grumbling and dissatisfaction, a few orc terms Lydia may not have heard before were used in more hushed tones.  Finally more footsteps at the back of the barge.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(147, 101, 184)">"You used her plenty, we want our cut now."</span>This time the voice was low and sinister and there followed some sounds of violence, crashing of heavy bodies falling on a wooden deck, a blade thunking into wood planking.  Finally there was a loud splash and a scattering of footsteps.  Given that orcs were notoriously poor swimmers, the splash had a certain finality to it regarding the violence on deck.<br/><br/>Unless Lydia were to risk opening the door in the middle of an orc fight, she would only have two small portholes with which to try and see out.  There would be little she could see of the violence on deck.  But she would be able to observe an obviously feminine shape (<a class="username" data-user-id="38468" data-username="@skyfetcher" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://bluemoonroleplaying.com/community/members/38468/">@skyfetcher</a>) on the river bank, not far off but probably missed by those fighting on deck.