Morning found our companions curled around each other as they shared in each other company. Whilst neither of them particularly wanted to wake they knew that eventually they would have to. It was Luna that first made a move to get up as she spoke out. "We need to go back to the river and fill up on water, we ran out last night and I am dying for a drink."
As she said that Violet could only agree, whilst as a dragon she may not need to eat or drink quite as much as Luna did that is not to mean that she doesn't still need to, or in the case of food want to. After all she had developed a taste for the delightful cooked meals that her companion would cook for her. Now that's not to say that she didn't still enjoy eating uncooked things, in fact she thourghly enjoyed her post victory snacks but it was a different kind of enjoyment.
From a fresh kill she would revel in the warm blood that mixed with the flesh to create a delightful blend, especially when the defeated foe was particularly strong. In fact it seemed to Violet that the higher level a creature is the tastier it is, now this was not a solid rule but it generally held true.
Interrupting her musing Luna poked her dragon companion as she spoke once more. "Come on you need to get up, I can feel that you are in good health now and we need to get water." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I also think that we should return to the orc camp and start planning our assult on them. We have grown so much in the last couple days and I feel we are ready to begin challenging them."
Violets musing dropped away as she listened to her companions words and she could feel the determination radiating from her as she announced her desire to begin her hunt. "Okay we can do this. Let's still be careful, we are stronger than before but they outnumber us greatly so it would be silly to rush into things." Whilst Violet was now quite sure that she could take on multiple orcs at once that is not to say she was arrogant enough to believe that she could challenge the entire orc clan head on.
After all she was a hunter and to hunt required patience, they would have to thin the heard before they had any hopes of challenging them directly. Plus getting in some smaller fights would allow them to better understand their current strength when compared to their foe.
"Oh I'm not suggesting we charge in but we should at least begin to start attacking their hunting parties. If all else fails we will be able to work on reducing their ability to gather food." Violet had to agree with lunas statement and so as the two were in agreement they proceeded to exit their cave and make their way back into the Forrest to sake their more mundane thirsts.
The journey through this section of the woods was mostly uneventful bar encountering a particularly aggressive bird, but that same bird made for a nice mid morning snack so Violet couldn't really complain about how the walk went.
Arriving at the stream the two of them decided to wade in and was themselves off, after all they were covered in grime, blood and ash from the past while of their adventure. It was a quick affair but both girls appreciated no longer feeling quite so dirty even if they still weren't exactly sparklingly clean.
After cleaning up and both drinking their fill and refilling the water skin the headed out in the direction of the valley that the orcs were based out off. It took them a number of hours and the afternoon was passing into early evening when they finally arrived at the top of the valley cliff. Carefully so as to not be spotted the two crept over to the edge and looked over.
The sight that lay before them was deeply disturbing for the two companions. Whilst yes the orcs still resided there they were no longer alone in the valley. No they now had other guests, but these guests weren't actually alive.
Around the camp a amalgamation of skeletons, zombies and other undead monsters lumbered about. The orcs seemed to not pay them any mind but Violets sharp eyes picked up on a few things that peaked her interest. First it seemed that for all the individual might of the orcs they were acting subservient to the undead.
Instead of using the undead for anything in particular it seemed that it was in fact the undead that were directing the orcs to do what they desired. "Are undead usually very smart?" The young dragon asked.
"I don't know a huge amount about them." Luna began before pausing to gather her thoughts as she tried to recall everything she could about undead. "They usually gather in small groups and prefer dark locations. They are supposed to be extremely aggressive against anything living so I don't understand why they look to be working with the orcs?"
This all seemed reasonable to Violet but she would be lying if she said that she wasn't getting a touch worried about this whole endeavour. "Is their a way to control undead? I remember that story you told me of your ancestors battle against undead and something was controlling them?"
A look of both realisation and horror flashed across Lunas face at Violet's words. "No it can't be…" she muttered to herself before falling quiet.
"It can't be what?"
Luna was silent for a while till she was gently bonked on the head by a tail which promptly snapped her out of her state of deep concentration. "Right, yeah sorry Violet. Okay so as far as I know only 2 beings that can summon and control other undead. The first is necromancers. They are a particular rare class that some races can get, but I have never heard of an orc getting such a class. The other alternative that I know of is a litch."
"If it's a litch that has been working with the orcs then we have to deal with them!" Luna finished her explanation as she finally got her thoughts into order.
But just as Violet was processing all this a notification appeared before both of them.
[New Quest - You have discovered a great evil to be lurking within the area.
Objectives:
1- investigate the secret behind the undead.
2- prevent the spread of the undead
3 (optional) - defeat the orcs and the evil that is yet to be discovered.
Rewards:
1- 5 levels
2- unknown
3- unknown
"Oh, well, I guess we are going to be facing something nasty down their. Let's hope they manage to put up a decent fight!" Violet grinned wide at the new quest and she focused in on the 5 free levels, with it she would be even closer to her next evolution!