<strong>For those who stayed to ask questions to Yustissa:</strong><br/><br/>The officers and the orc chief were exchanging insults and bickering among another with the Lady Paladin trying to mitigate the tension between them. When she saw that some of the women came to her with questions she briefly excused herself from the conversation, giving both sides a look that said "don't you cross the line".<br/>She listened to the inquiries and considered her response before eventually speaking.<br/>"I do not believe that beastmen have successfully raided this deep into our territory. There must be some way Hagan used to bring them here, perhaps the same sorcery that allowed him to supply and bolster their forces behind the front lines without ever becoming suspected. As for the undead, there is a vast system of catacombs beneath the Spire, where members of the order were laid to rest. I suspect that whatever unholy power moves these undead has desecrated those tunnels. There is a good chance we could encounter them as we take the Pilgrim's Path. Fear and hesitate not though, it is our duty to free those people from the curse that disturbed their remains. Indeed Ashara, your gift will be most effective in laying them to rest again."<br/>She paused a moment, considering the thought that the clerics in the tower might be possessed. "Perhaps, Father Hagan was robbed of his will and mind, but if so then it must have happened a long time ago. I do not know about the others, it is possible they might try to stop us or might be kept as hostaegs. The friends I remember from my time at the church would never willingly side with beastmen, or tolerate the desacration of the crypts. I know it is not easy, but some answers we will only discover once we arrive at the Spire, so I ask that you are prepared for anything. Now please excuse me, I should make sure these men do not start a fight just to sate their pride." With that she returned to the officers adn the warchief, who seemed to have gone back to insulting another and listing off trophies as reasons why each was a greater warrior than the other.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Alleria</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://stuffershack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/orc.jpg)</div>Watching from outside the orc encampment, she could see some of the savages prepare for battle and go about their business. Surprisingly, it was not too different from how the humans were spending heir time: taking care of their equipment, brawling, drinking and singing, though these creatures had a much more primal atmosphere dominant in their camp. A few of them were engaged in mock-battle, though it looked very real and serious to outsiders, as a bunch of orcs dressed in nothing but filthy loincloths, some of them not even lacking that were beating at eachother with fists and clubs. Even the least among the feral males was a rippling mountain of muscle, the larger savages easily a match for two or three humans in strength.<br/>Alleria was eventually noticed from within the camp and the orcs barked something among each other, indicating towards her, sharing a bestial laugh while one of them grabbed and flaunted their imposing manhood to her.<br/><br/>"Despicable beasts." a male human voice said from the shadow of a nearby tree. The young wizard didn't notice him before, but a dark-skinned man in leather armor was leaning against the side of the tree, his handsome face hinted that he was in his thirties, but was still painted with scout's camouflage and a trio of matching hatchets were hanging from his belt. He was probably one of the scouts and rangers who usually made the warband's passage through the land easier. Why he was here instead of out ahead scouting the lands surrounding the Spire was revealed when she met his gaze. The man's eyes glared with hatred towards the orcs from under furrowed black brows, and both his hands were clenched into fists while he observed the objects of his enmity.<br/>"You should go back. They're not picky about their women, and they don't ask, they take." he sounded quite grim and had little more to share. In fact after having warned Alleria, he wasn't bent on starting up a conversation, even though most men jumped at the chance of chatting up the gorgeous redhead.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Finna &amp; Bremorel</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://happeninghist.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/promo-005.jpg)</div>The girls would know well of Lady Judith, a middle-aged widow from Gimir, usually working aroudn the barracks. Her title had nothing to do with birth or experience, she was merely respected for two things: she was a good friend of the Lady Paladin, like a gentle older sister and asked that she come with her despite not being able to fight herself. She lost her husband and son in the war, and wanted to make a difference, regardless of how little a part she could play. Her contribution was her incredible skill in the culinary arts: she could cook the best food in the camp, and her spices could make anything taste better. Even though she was a non-combatant, the troops appreciated her and accepted her as a comerade, eventually even contesting with eachother for her cooking. Whoever fought best would invite the smiling lady with raven black hair in a simple bun to treat.them to a great meal. At least this way, she could pretend that every time the soldiers killed a beastman, she got some small revenge as well. The men started calling her Lady out of respect, and knew well that earning her scorn meant eating field rations until they made ammends.<br/>Judith was at work even now, cooking stew out of game the hunters brought back earlier in the day. Thedelicious smell of her cooking attracted quite a few soldiers, and she often had to jokingly chase away those who would try to get an early taste by threatening to hit their backs with her large, wooden spoon.<br/>As much as the times could get grim, at least she brought an air of merryment to the camp, and that was no small feat on her own. The widow smiled as the pair approached holding up a finger to show the stew wasn't ready just yet.<br/>"Now-now, you dears don't want to get whacked like that silly William got just now do you? Be patient, food will be ready soon. Word is that Yusti picked you to accompany her tomorrow, is that right? Tonight you get an extra large filling!" in a smaller voice she added "Especially you, missy. You need some meat on your bones if you want to see that ranger, hm?" Lady Judith winked playfully at Bremorel, apparently heard some of the gossip surrounding the half-elf.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Ashara</strong><br/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34300000/Achilles-3-troy-34341820-640-960.jpg)</div>Most of the better soldiers were currently either meeting with their officers or otherwise occupied, but the training grounds were never empty, and quite a few lads were there even at this time. A pair were currently engaged in a duel with wooden swords and shields, and the older one gave his youngster a bit of schooling in swordplay.<br/>"Fancy moves Gavrel, but showing off won't save ya 'gainst a beast!" one of the soldiers yelled when the young man in the fighting circle made his opponent drop his guard then knocked him down with a well aimed thrust. He was about to retort when Ashara arrived, quite intrigued by her challange. He removed his helmet to reveal a rather handsome face, with shoulder-length blonde hair, somewhat dirty from all the travel and recent fighting.<br/>"What a beautiful challanger! 'Twould be a shame if one of these boys met your offer, and failed to satisfy with a poor performance." Gavrel said with a crooked grin, earning some mixed reaction from the others. "This guy'd take on an army by himself for a pair o' tits!" "Wouldn't you for that pair?" "I want to see this ass lose to the girl, come on!"<br/>"What do you say firehair, will you pick up one of our crude weapons or you'd rather wrestle?" the handsome fighter asks, sticking with his shield and swapping his practice sword for an actual shortsword. "Don't be afraid love, I'll be gentle."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Ashara OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">If you choose to fight him you can borrow a weapon and shield from the other soldiers, all to eager to help you. The practice weapons are made out of wood and all deal nonlethal bludgeoning damage as if they were their real counterparts. If you take a real weapon, it deals lethal damage unless you take the penalty to do otherwise. You have to beat an initiative total of 17 to make the first move once the duel starts.</div></div>