Tadik Ghu'al's Story

The Road West of Rivenmarch

"What could a cleric possibly be doing in a place like this?" Tadik thought.

She had only just arrived with a caravan of guards and was talking with the strange man Tadik had seen scurrying about the encampment all morning.

"This has to be the place," Tadik thought, taking in the sheer number of cages and tents. As he memorized the layout, the cleric and the strange man entered one of the larger tents. Tadik took notice and began to sneak around the edge of the camp site. He knew that to make an outright move now would mean his untimely demise, but he was beginning to formulate a plan. He only needed the timing and circumstances to be just right.

As he reached the side of the camp closest to the large tent, the cleric and the man emerged and began to make their way toward another tent that was slightly smaller than the one they'd just left.

Tadik's stomach turned as he thought about the poor souls being held captive in such a place.

"But maybe the tables can still be turned," he mused, grinning darkly to himself.

The cleric emerged from the tent, still obviously unimpressed with what the strange man had shown her so far.

The man motioned for the cleric to follow him into yet another tent. From the reaction the cleric gave, it was obvious that whatever was inside this third tent did not smell pleasant. She had covered her face, which had turned a shade of green that could make a goblin jealous, with a fold from her robe.

"It must be a troll," thought Tadik, "Only the stench of a troll could cause a reaction like that from a human."

Tadik watched as they entered the tent briefly, only to re-emerge and move onward to a point that was obstructed from Tadik's vision by the edge of a tent. As soon as he was sure that no one was watching, he quietly moved around the edge of the tent he was hiding by and slipped through the entrance. There, behind iron bars and bound by shackles from his neck and limbs, sat a large, very angry looking Ogre.

"Thu'ar-blöd, blood cousin," Tadik greeted the Ogre with the respectful Orcish greeting, "I have come to offer my assistance. What say you?"

Wrex sat hunched over in an uncomfortable crouch, quietly muttering the words of the human language to himself over and over again in his bid to master it and secure his freedom when a voice reached his ears that made his heart soar.

"Thu'ar-blöd, blood cousin,"

Wrex whipped around in his cell to the source of the voice to find an orc. Small in stature for his breed, with jet black hair that he had pulled back out of his face. His bright ruby colored eyes gleamed in the darkness. Wrex could gauge his youth by the growth of his small tusks only barely beginning to jut past his lips. The orc could have been an infant or an ancient Wrex was just happy to see a friendly face.

"I have come to offer my assistance. What say you?"

The young orc continued in the human tongue. A wide toothy grin dawned on Wrex's face exposing his massive set of gleaming teeth and tusks both in joy at seeing a blood cousin as well as his foresight to teach himself the human language for otherwise this exchange would have proven quite difficult.

"Tol Voshoth! Aka'Magosh!"

Wrex said reciting an old Ogre blessing onto the orc and his kin before breaking into common for the first time since he'd taught himself the language.

"I am.... happy... to have hear youngling!"

Wrex replied. The words felt foreign in his mouth, slithering past his tusks. The human language felt weak and lifeless in comparison to his own yet it had its uses. Wrex moved himself as close to the bars and the young orc as possible before the chains restricted him, yanking him back a step. Wrex growled and grabbed the collar around his neck to ease the discomfort.

"Gezzno chains..."

He growled in frustration before continuing.

"Free me... And I will crush many humans Tol Voshoth."

Wrex's tone was alive with barely contained excitement and anticipation for he fully intended to drown the grass with blood once he was free.

The Ogre whipped around and gave Tadik one of the largest smiles he had ever seen.

"Tol Voshoth! Aka'Magosh!" He exclaimed, "I am most grateful youngling!"

The Ogre stood and began to walk towards the bars of his cage, but was stopped in his tracks by the shortness of his restraints. He reached up and grasped the large metal collar.

"Gezzno chains..." the Ogre swore, "Free me... And I will crush many humans Tol Voshoth."

Tadik knew the Ogre was excited by the tone of his voice and the fire that had erupted in his eyes. Tadik began to look around the tent for anything that could be useful to open the cage, but saw nothing of immediate usefulness. He reached out and grabbed one of the bars, testing its pliability.

It would not budge. Even the edges of the cage where the bars met the top and bottom were made from iron.

The top of the cage, however, were made from very dry, very dark wood.

"Hold tight, brother," said Tadik, "I have an idea."

Tadik jumped and grabbed the top of the cage, lifting himself onto the top. He crouched low so that he would not cause disturbances in the tent fabric. He scrutinized the boards for signs of weakness or stress in the wood. He began to knock on the boards, testing for the place the wood was the thinnest.

After several moments of searching, Tadik found the spot he was looking for. He reached to his side and drew his steel dagger which he kept sharper than a razor. He lifted the dagger just over his head and plunged it downward with frightening force.

The dagger stuck into the wood, but did not pierce completely through.

"I can work with that," Tadik thought.

He sheathed his dagger and listened for a moment, picking out the rhythm of the men pounding their hammers outside. Once he had it timed properly, Tadik put on a thick hide glove and brought his fist down over the crack his dagger had made. The force of his blow caused the crack to spread.

Tadik grinned. His plan was working. he continued to bring his fist down over the crack, gradually causing it to spread several feet. One edge of it had reached the iron rim of the cage and was beginning to shake when Tadik pounded the boards.

Tadik went to the edge of the cage and pressed on the loose board with all of his weight. He could feel it starting to give way, the fibers slowly separating. Suddenly, with a snap, the board gave way. Tadik nearly lost his balance and fell into the cage, but managed to catch himself.

"Hral!" He quietly swore. He prayed that no one had heard the board cracking. If they had, he only had a very short time before they arrived, and he still needed to free the Ogre from his shackles. The shackles were thick and would not break easily under blunt force. They were meant to hold an Ogre, after all.

There was not time for him to jump down and pick the lock. Tadik had very little experience with lock picking.

Then, a thought struck Tadik.

"The chains were meant to hold ONE Ogre..."

He leaped down into the cage, moving quickly and deliberately.

"Take the chain that is attached to your right arm, brother. Pull with me."

Wrex watched helplessly as the young orc frantically worked to free him. He clambered to the top and Wrex could heard the scraping of a dagger or knife against the wood ceiling. Cracks began forming in the planks before they gave way completely. Wrex's would be rescuer nearly tumbled into the cage but managed to spare himself the fall only to end up leaping in anyway. Wrex nearly gasped in shock at the decision.

"What thoughts in your head youngling?"

Wrex asked in confusion as he stumbled over the foreign words.

"Brother, take hold of the chain attached to your right arm. Pull with me."

The orc said in a hushed albeit it hurried tone, he obviously was concerned that the humans may have heard him shattering the roof of Wrex's cage. Wrex had spent weeks pulling on those chains to no avail after he was first captured almost a year ago. He doubted the help of one rather small orc would give him the extra muscle he needed to break the bonds. Despite that he did not have time to argue and wrapped his hands around the thick chains. Wrex took a deep breath and heaved. He leaned back and pulled, lending his entire body into the pursuit. The chains went taut and the wood that it was fastened held strong. Wrex snarled and pulled with everything he had as the orc did the same. The ogre's muscles bulged as his veins swelled with the exertion. Wrex gritted his teeth as he pulled, lending every ounce of his strength to the attempt. The wood groaned under the strain from the pair but did not give way. The pair finally relented and let loose the chains. Wrex took several deep gulping breathes after the attempt before looking at the young orc.

"Grombolar! The chains are s-str... err strong. They... not break, I tried many times. Find....key! Free me!"

The big ogre protested after the young orc's decision to attempt and break the chains. The precious seconds seemed to be racing by. Wrex feared the young orc would be unable to free him and have to run or worse, get captured for his trouble and cursed to share Wrex's fate.

"Find....Key! Free me!" The Ogre exclaimed.

Tadik began to wonder why he had not thought about searching for a key in the first place. Surely it was not still within the tent. Had it been there, it would have been far too easy for someone to free the Ogre from his restraints. Someone was bound to be carrying them around, and Tadik was almost positive that it was the strange man.

Tadik jumped and gripped the edge of the hole he had used to enter the cage and, with more than a little difficulty, hoisted himself back on top of the cage. He dropped down off the edge outside of the cage and turned back to face the Ogre.

"The strange man with the blue hat. Might he have the keys?"

The Ogre simply shrugged. This was going to be difficult. Not only did Tadik not have any idea where the keys could be, but it was almost mid-day. He did not even have the cover of night to aid him.

"Ab a'yenta Tadik. Tadik Ghu'al," Tadik said, introducing himself fully in the Orcish language, hoping that the Ogre would understand his greeting.

"Duna d'yentuin?" He asked, "What is your name?"

"Wrex, Urdnot Wrex. Throm-Ka Tadik Ghu'al."

Wrex replied. The term Throm-ka was a common greeting or form of introduction among ogres, loosely translating into something akin to well met. Wrex could almost feel the tension in the air. It clung to the moment like a wet cloth to skin. The ogres entire future rested on the shoulders of this young orc. If he failed Wrex would never see Tuchanka again. He knew that. With a failed escape attempt Terral would almost certainly keep a more watchful eye on the ogre effectively ended any dreams of freedom. Wrex had to rest his hopes at the feet of this single orc.

"Grangola Var youngling, make care. Do not... uhh get, hurt for me."

Wrex said. Despite his struggles with the new language his words lost none of their meaningfulness. Wrex's heart was in his voice. Losing his homeland was bad enough but to doom this courageous young orc on his account would be more than he could bear. Wrex said a silent prayer to Okeer for Tadik's success.

Merrin wandered around in the labyrinth of canvas for a while trying to find his way to the dancer's enclosure. 'Why do they have to set up these cursed tents differently each time.' Regrettably his meanderings brought him into the path of some of the hands, huge bulls of men with little appreciation of the arts.

"Why lookee here, if it isn't Scribbler."

His friend's chortled, "where ya off to Scribbler? Goin' ta see yur girlfriend?"

"No I..."

"Hey why don't you tell her to eat more, put some meat on those bones."

"Very funny, now would one of you please point me toward the dark elf's tent, I've got an important mural to finish."

"You hear that boys, Scribbler's got sum scribbles need scribblin'."

After they were finished laughing one of them gave Merrin a less than friendly shove toward a large nearby tent, "there ya go Scribbler, make sur'ya get a good look at her, she's a beauty." Chuckling over some private joke, they walked off leaving the painter to enter the tent alone. He looked into the cage expecting to see the lithe and lovely form of the tainted elf but instead beheld the grotesque bulk of an ogre. The sight so surprised him that he nearly stumbled out the door. Far more alarming than the Ogre however was the sharp point which suddenly prodded into his back and the strong fingers which hooked round his throat. "Pahl volkran, human," a guttural voice sounded close to his ear, "move and you die."

A savage grin spread across Wrex's face as he watched the young orc wrap his hand around the throat of the human. A knife in the man's back Tadik growled into his ear.

"Pahl volkran, human.... move and you die."

Tadik spoke low his voice heavy with intent. The human swallowed hard in fear before speaking.

"W-What d-do you want from m-me?"

"The key. For his cell and bindings. Mok-thorin ka mor'shan... I would have him free."

Merrin froze as the realization dawned on him like the sun on a bloodied battlefield. The key on his belt suddenly seemed very heavy as his mind raced for some means to get out of this. This orc would surely kill him after he opened the cell if not the ogre would. Merrin had attempted to speak to some of the monsters here. He knew them to be more than mere animals yet this ogre had never taken to Merrin. The painters attempts at communication had only been met with growls and silent threats. To be honest being in the presence of the massive ogre unnerved and frightened him. Once freed Goliath would certainly go on a rampage killing everyone in sight. He could not let that happen but what choice did he have. If he refused he would die right here and the orc would loot his body for the key and the same result would occur anyway. He would be forced to do as the orc wanted and hope for an opportunity for escape. Perhaps he could warn the guard or the knights he saw ride in earlier and have the insurrection put down before Goliath and his orc accomplice could do too much damage. Merrin slowly put his hands up showing his surrender.

"T-the key... It is on my belt.... I w-will free Goliath just please, don't kill me."

"Move."

Tadik snarled as he pressed the knife in ever so slightly causing a wince of pain from Merrin. The human lowered his hand to his belt. His shaky hands having trouble with the clasp releasing the key. Once key was in hand he took the few steps towards the cell door and put the key in the lock. The tumbler clicked and the door swung open. Now with the door open Merrin's breathes were coming in rapid succession as his heart began to pound. After a quick prodding from the young orc Merrin stepped inside the cage.

Wrex's body seemed alive with pure energy as the seconds passed by. The human grabbing the key, opening his cell door. He could almost feel the freedom. The painter stepped in and slowly and hesitantly stepped up to Wrex. His eyes ever on the big ogre as if he was staring into the abyss. His entire body trembling with terror as he continued to move. He grabbed the lock fastening Wrex to the chains. His trembling hands struggled to put the key in the lock but he managed it after a few tense seconds. Once the key was in he paused and looked up at Wrex. For a brief moment the human's eyes and the ogre's locked. Time slowed as the two looked at each other. Fear, apprehension, pleading all displayed in Merrin's. Rage, fury and loss all displayed in Wrex's

"When I-I f-free you.... Will you kill me?"

Merrin asked. Over the past year Merrin had seen the ogre many times. Spoken to him several times. Each word he uttered, each phrase, each syllable seemed carefully watched and studied. The expression and demeanor of the ogre always made Merrin feel he was much smarter than what Terral would have others believe. Wrex leaned forward. His face a hairs breath from Merrin's. His expression, calm yet terrifying like the approach of some savage, apocalyptic storm.

"Release me... and see for yourself."

Wrex spoke, the words deep and meaningful. The painter's eyes went wide with shock at the realization that Wrex spoke the same language or at the very least had some how learned enough to reply to him. Merrin nodded and took in a shuddering breath before turning the key. The lock clicked and Wrex slowly removed his shackles and dropped them to the cage floor. His eyes then rose and locked on to Merrin once more. The painter stood there and the utter realization that he was standing inside a cage with the ogre who had been enslaved for just under a year and was now free seemed to consume him. Suddenly in an explosion of motion Wrex surged forward and wrapped one massive hand around Merrin's throat and part of his chest. In an instant the painter was pinned to the cage floor under the relentless crushing grip of the ogre. Merrin groaned in pain and struggled to get air in his lungs as Wrex leaned in and growled viscously.

"My name..... is...not Goliath... I am Urdnot Wrex. Lok-regar ogull, on-dabu... I am ogre again."

With that Wrex released his hold on Merrin and followed Tadik out of the cell leaving the terrified man cowering in confusion and shock. Once out of his cell but still in his tent Wrex stood to his full imposing height and stretched, getting the crampness out of his joints and muscles.

"You do not kill the human cousin?"

Tadik asked curiously. Wrex rolled his shoulders as his blood finally felt alive once more.

"No... That one did not take me. He did not ... uhh... chain me. But those who did are near Tal'vashoth... I can smell them."

"What do you want to do then?"

Tadik asked. A low rumbling growl rolled out of Wrex's throat.

"Kill them all."

With that Wrex stepped out of the tent into the light of the sun. He relished the warmth on his skin, the feel of the cool breeze once more. He clenched his fists and threw back his head and let loose a mighty roar that bellowed out in a long and hearty call to arms. Hoots and howls and roars in return instantly began being heard from the other tents.