[b]The Coast of Aeolus[/b]

[i]Dark ships drift in from the see in the midst of the heavy rain.  They are moored in the natural jetties of the bay.  The crew of the ships are not of the living.  Anchors are dropped and the figure come ashore with goods.  Tents are pitched and fortifications are set up.  The dead keep pouring out of the ships until almost the entire shore of the bay are covered with skeletal or other undead figures.  Then it is the living who come from the ships, the orc walk down the gangplanks with there belonging towards the camps that have been set up.  But they stride without fear, for these are there eternal guard, vigilant, relentless and with do all to ensure their safety.  A lone orc surveys the disembark, then stride down to the shore and enters his tent.  The keenest of eyes may have noticed that this orc cast two shadows rather than one.  The undead are finishing moving all the equipment into his tent and soon stride out.  Another orc enters and bows deeply.[/i]

"My chief," [i]the orc is clothed with a earth green cloak.[/i]  "It was as you said.  The powers that be here are lazy and ill-prepared.  They focus on one another and draw their soldiers to the borders and fortresses.  Leaving many towns almost unguarded.  It will be a slaughter!"

[i]The orc looks up and grins, the chief does not.[/i]

"We cannot assume that...  They can easily send word out if we where discovered."  [i]The chief sighs.[/i]  "Gahn, assemble the rest of your scouts, survey the nearby settlements.  See how they communicate, if they have horses or mages.  Report back, we will need time for my army to craft proper siege equipment."

"But my chie-"

[i]The orc glares and the scout falls silent.[/i]

"You have your orders."

[i]The scout bows and quickly leaves.  It is at this point that the chief's second show twists and contorts.  Shifting into a tall veiled form.[/i]

"A wise decision young master, an outright assault would end in disaster."

[i]The orc's shoulders relaxes and he sits on a furred wooden chair.  The orc sighs again and a smile crosses his lips.[/i]

"Yuri, there are no living around to hear, please stop with this chief nonsense."

[i]The necrotic elemental glides silently until rests in front of the orc.  Grass shrivels and dies beneath it.[/i]

"But you are a chief now young one, and your people look to you for that."

"Please Yuri, just call me by my name."

"Very well Cahlou."

"Everything is ready, yet..."

[i]The elemental glides closer, and places a hand on Cahlou's shoulder, unlike the forage, the orc is unaffected.[/i]

"Your judgement is sound, don't worry.  You will be a great force in these lands.  It is time to address your people."

[i]The orc nods and the elemental morphs back into a second shadow.  The orc leaves the tent, ready to speak to his people of conquest and victory.[/i]