The journey on foot was grueling. The trail leading toward the town was barren, only with occasional patches of scrubby vegetation and the distant silhouettes of mountains against the horizon.
Eliss glanced at her map frequently, checking their position and ensuring they stayed on course. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the landscape began to change. The dry, cracked earth gave way to scattered piles of bleached bones, a foreboding sight that grew more frequent as they neared their destination.
"We're close," Eliss said.
Amukelo nodded silently. As they crested a low hill, the town came into view, and both of them stopped in their tracks, taking in the sight.
Human towns were surrounded by sturdy walls or wooden palisades, this orcish town was encircled by a crude barrier made entirely of bones. Though, it wasn't meant to stop others from entering, like in human towns. It was rather to mark the territory of the town.
The town itself was a chaotic sprawl of buildings constructed from the same macabre materials. Piles of bones formed the framework of each structure, reinforced with thick, tanned hides that stretched tightly over the frames. The skins bore patterns of scars and markings, some seemingly decorative and others functional, likely to block out the harsh elements of the region.
There were no gates to the town, no checkpoints or guards patrolling the entrance. Amukelo and Eliss walked in through whatever direction they came from.
The streets were bustling, but not with the orderly commerce or friendly chatter typical of a human settlement. Some orcs carried large slabs of meat, likely from recently hunted game. Others hefted the corpses of animals—or, in some cases, creatures that barely resembled animals at all—over their shoulders, taking them toward what appeared to be butcher stalls.
Some orcs sat sharpening their weapons with whetstones. Others engaged in fistfights right in the middle of the street, attracting small crowds that cheered or jeered depending on the outcome.
"Uh…" Amukelo muttered as his eyes darted from one scene to the next. "I think we should find some place to stay."
Eliss, wide-eyed but not entirely deterred by the grim surroundings, nodded. "Yeah," she said, then added with a faint smile, "Don't you want to try their food?"
Amukelo turned to her, his face a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "What?"
She shrugged. "It could be interesting," she said, her smile widening.
Amukelo sighed heavily. "Of course. Why wouldn't you want to eat orc food?" He sighed again, this time more dramatically, and added, "Whatever."
Eliss giggled at his response. It was clear she found his irritation amusing.
The two wandered through the town, searching for some indication of where they might find food or lodging. The unstructured layout of the streets made navigation difficult, and after several minutes of fruitless searching, Amukelo finally stopped, letting out another sigh.
"I guess we're not going to find anything on our own," he admitted, glancing around. Then, turning to Eliss, he said, "We'll ask someone."
Eliss immediately stepped behind him, a playful grin on her face. "But you're talking," she said teasing him.
"What?" Amukelo asked.
"You're better at it," Eliss said, her grin widening as she peered over his shoulder.
Amukelo sighed yet again, muttering under his breath as he scanned the street. His eyes landed on a nearby orc. The orc was busy sharpening a massive axe, his focus entirely on the blade.
Steeling himself, Amukelo approached cautiously. "Excuse me," he said.
The orc paused, slowly turning his head to look at Amukelo. For a moment, he simply stared at him.
Amukelo then asked, with a little less confident tone. "Do you know any place we can eat something?" he asked.
The orc's gaze flicked briefly to Eliss, then back to Amukelo. There was a long pause before he finally spoke. "Adventurers, huh…" He didn't wait for a reply, instead, he raised his thick finger and pointed toward a building in the distance.
It was as unassuming as the rest of the structures, built from bones and hides like everything else in the town. The orc said nothing more, immediately returning his attention to his axe.
"Thanks," Amukelo said, though the orc didn't acknowledge him again. Turning back to Eliss, who had peeked out from behind him, he said, "Let's go."
Eliss smiled, brushing past him and heading in the direction the orc had pointed. "See?" she said cheerfully. "That wasn't so bad."
Amukelo shook his head, muttering under his breath. "That girl is going to be the death of me." And with that, he followed her toward the building.
The pub's interior was filled with the rough sounds of conversation and the occasional boisterous laugh. The room itself was chaotic, with tables scattered haphazardly in no discernible order. The centerpiece of the space was a wide, open area at the center of the room, the floor scuffed and stained, clearly used for physical contests or outright brawls.
Amukelo took it all in with a long, weary sigh. He glanced at Eliss, who was wide-eyed as she scanned the room. "Just make sure you don't get us into trouble," he muttered.
Eliss furrowed her brow at him, her lips curling into a small pout. "Why would I do that?"
Amukelo shrugged. "I don't know. Just a feeling."
Eliss huffed indignantly but didn't reply, instead focusing her attention on the counter at the far end of the room. They made their way toward it, weaving between the mismatched tables and benches. Orcs of varying sizes sat around the room, most of them hunched over mugs of some thick, frothy liquid or tearing into slabs of meat. Conversations were loud and animated, peppered with occasional roars of laughter or the sound of fists slamming against the wooden tables.
Amukelo kept his gaze straight ahead, determined not to draw unnecessary attention. Eliss, however, couldn't resist stealing glances at the patrons as they walked by. A few orcs looked up as they passed, their gazes lingering a little too long for Amukelo's comfort.
"Keep walking," he muttered under his breath, and Eliss quickly picked up her pace.
They reached the counter, where an imposing orc with a thick, scarred neck and a perpetual scowl was wiping down the surface with a rag that looked far from clean. He glanced at them with mild disdain. Behind him, a menu was scrawled on a rough piece of wood.
Amukelo cleared his throat. "Uh… Could you recommend something good?"
The orc raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Humans," he said with a low chuckle. "Little crybabies."
Amukelo's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, waiting for the orc to continue.
"For you," the orc said, pointing a thick finger at him, "roasted meat. That'll be the best you'll handle."
Amukelo nodded quickly. "We'll take that."
Before the orc could turn away, Eliss chimed in eagerly. "And I'll have some soup!"
The orc blinked, his scowl deepening as he looked at her. "Soup?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "You sure? Humans don't usually like anything but the roast."
Eliss smiled brightly, undeterred by his skepticism. "I want to try new experiences!"
The orc snorted, shaking his head as if he thought her enthusiasm was misplaced. "Alright, little human. Two roasts and one soup. Find yourselves a seat in the corner," he said, jerking his thumb toward a dimly lit section of the room. "Maybe no one'll pick up on you there."
Amukelo raised an eyebrow at the remark but said nothing. Instead, he gestured for Eliss to follow him as they moved toward the corner. Eliss followed obediently, still smiling despite the orc's gruff demeanor. Once they were seated at a small, rickety table, Amukelo leaned back in his chair and exhaled deeply.
"Maybe," he repeated the orc's word under his breath, shaking his head. "Just maybe."
Eliss tilted her head, giving him a quizzical look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Amukelo waved her off, resting his elbows on the table and scanning the room. A few orcs glanced in their direction but quickly returned to their own conversations. The pub's atmosphere was rough but not immediately hostile, though Amukelo remained on edge. Eliss, meanwhile, seemed more fascinated than anything else, her gaze darting around the room as if taking mental notes.
After what felt like an eternity, the same orc approached their table, carrying two plates and a bowl, and placed them down. "There you go," he said gruffly before walking away.
Amukelo and Eliss looked at their meals, their reactions starkly different.
The roasts were… unconventional, to say the least. The meat was charred and unevenly cut, with bits of fat and gristle still clinging to the edges. It was served on thick wooden plates, accompanied by nothing but a small mound of what appeared to be raw greens. Eliss looked at the food with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Her gaze then shifted to the bowl of soup in front of her, and her expression changed entirely. The liquid was thick and cloudy, a deep, oily grayish-brown that shimmered unpleasantly in the dim light. Floating in the broth were unidentifiable chunks of meat and a few scattered herbs. The surface was coated with a layer of fat, and the smell was… challenging, to say the least.
Eliss hesitated, her wide-eyed enthusiasm giving way to uncertainty. She poked at the soup with her spoon, watching as one of the chunks bobbed to the surface. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at Amukelo.
Amukelo, already chewing on a piece of roast, looked up at her and smirked. "Go on," he said, his tone slightly amused. "You wanted new experiences."