[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/kmr93Nj.jpg[/img][/center]

[color=CA6F1E]Time: Afternoon, 2pm
Location: Dugmaghord - The Pit to the Shaman's hut to the desert
Mentions: Pâsh
Weapon: [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/6e/24/4d/6e244d336101c9a1335c3f5894c3d9f1.jpg]Meliora[/url] a cobalt glaive with unbreaking and returning charms
Armor: Just the clothes on his back
Equipment: Lockpicking kit, small knife, 3 large red potions, and a pouch of amas.[/color]
[hr]

[color=E0B061]Leaf sat loyally beside Pâsh as the orcs continued their pit battles. He studied how they fought and he cheered on the brutality with the same enthusiasm as his orc brethren. He feasted and drank with Pâsh and his innermost circle, orcs who held unquestionable loyalty to their Grand Chieftan. The orc world was simple, Leaf understood much of it, and it was easy to find one’s place and feel comfortable in it. 

But today his place in the orc kingdom had changed, he was no longer a scrappy outsider who simply trained with them, now Leaf on the Wind was part of their society, today he was War Chief. He could feel the eyes of other orcs around him and he wondered if there had ever been a cat-orc here before or if he was the very first. Leaf, as was his nature, felt only pride at his new title and none of the fear that should come when so many orc eyes glared upon him. 

The fights came and went, the food was eaten, the orc booze drunk and Leaf soon left Pâsh to conduct his business in peace. Or, as he figured Pâsh would prefer it, in a very orcish brand of organized chaos. He found a warm patch of sunlight to lay upon the sand, full and exhausted, to bask and nap. The brief rest was soon interrupted just as heavy eyes had finally closed by a sharp jab to an already tender spot on his ribs. 

[color=C8C8C8]“Ya fight gud fer kitty.”[/color] A familiar voice spoke and Leaf smiled in presence of one of the few orcs who had been willing to train him when he first arrived here. 

[url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8c/4d/b9/8c4db98f10e65161130051e7ab1f845d.jpg]Räum[/url] was well into his elderly years and somehow none the weaker for it. He held the title of shaman and wore the bones and teeth of the creatures he’d defeated on his clothes and upon his staff. During numerous training sessions, Leaf had often been bruised by smacks from that very staff. Most orcs respected the shaman and even fewer dared to challenge Räum who, in his prime, had been a savage warrior, and who now freely gave wisdom and training to those who came to him willing to learn.  

[color=CA6F1E]“Not bad for a scrawny, little, cat at all huh?”[/color] Leaf replied basking in the sun upon his spot on the ground.

[color=C8C8C8]“Don’t ya get bigheaded. Ya make problems little [i]War Chief[/i].”[/color] Räum gave a snort and shake of his head, his collection of decorative bones rattling as he did so. 

[color=CA6F1E]“Problems? I’m not making problems. They love me now. I’m practically one of ‘em.”[/color] Leaf offered back, wearing a comfortable smile.

[color=C8C8C8]“Big orc, don’t want, little [i]War Chief[/i].”[/color] Räum spoke slowly like he was talking to a child who’d been knocked in the head too many times. 

[color=CA6F1E]“Ah, Pâsh, don’t mean nothin’ by that he’s just-”[/color] Leaf stopped. What was he going to say? Pâsh was just being [i]nice[/i]? That wasn’t true, Pâsh was a lot of things but nice, for no reason, was not one of them. You didn’t lead Avalia's strongest, most brutal race by being a nice guy. Whatever Pâsh’s intentions were it was now painfully obvious to Leaf that he had a target on his back for any orc who wanted to be war chief. [color=CA6F1E]“I guess I outta tell Pâsh I ain’t cut out to be a war chief around here.”[/color] 

[color=C8C8C8]“Now little [i]War Chief[/i] tell Pâsh wut he do?”[/color] Räum asked, his teeth and tusk displayed in a grin.

[color=CA6F1E]“Oh no, nope, little [i]War Chief[/i] ain’t doing that.”[/color] Leaf shook his head and crossed that idea right off. [color=CA6F1E]“I guess that’s what Pâsh meant about getting a bodyguard…”[/color] Leaf wondered how he was going to find a bodyguard, and if having one would only make him look weaker to the orcs.

[color=C8C8C8]“Worry later. Today fresh little war chief hunts with best orcs, all war chiefs follow me today.”[/color] Räum spoke in a somber tone, one that Leaf missed because he only heard the word ‘hunt’.

[color=CA6F1E]“We’re going huntin?”[/color] Leaf asked excitedly as he hopped up off the ground. [color=CA6F1E]“Ya should’ve said sooner, I’m always ready for huntin!”[/color] 

Räum grunted, unamused. [color=C8C8C8]“Important hunt, not fer cat-antics. Tonight Pâsh leads towards war. Today we honor harvest, day of sacrfice, day of preparations, powerful day. Good day to do it.”[/color]

[color=CA6F1E]“Do what now?”[/color] Leaf asked as he followed. 

[color=C8C8C8]“Rite of Shaman. War needs strength, needs new Shaman to lead down new path.”[/color]

[color=CA6F1E]“So this is like, what, your retirement party?”[/color] Leaf asked and at this question Räum gave a dark chuckle. 

[color=C8C8C8]“Yes, today, a fine celebration o' Räum.”[/color] The elder orc agreed. 

Leaf was led to the Shaman’s hut which was already crowded with the other war chiefs. Leaf was careful to match the posture and attitudes of the orcs around him. Somber, and standing with the pride of a warrior, he watched as the door was closed, the windows sealed shut, and the hut was lit only by the small fireplace in the corner. 

The hut was cluttered with a wide variety of dried plants that hung from lofty ceilings, dusty jars lined every surface, and sun-bleached bones decorated the walls. Plants and ingredients Leaf couldn’t even begin to identify, and bones from creatures he could barely name. He knew the war chiefs by name and reputation only but recognized [url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/04/59/46/04594688ee47ee835340b1fe6350b10d.jpg]Talyn[/url], the grandson and apprentice to Räum immediately. Talyn stood expressionless by a table which held an intricately carved dagger of bone, a golden pot of water, a small bowl of powder, and a pile of dried plants. 

The first stage of the rite began as Räum and Talyn started chanting; praises were first given to the orc god and then his presence was invoked. Leaf did his best to chant the proper replies along with the other orcs around him. Räum continued to lead the chanting as he threw a handful of powder into the fire which strengthened the flames. Talyn began tossing the dried plants into the fire. Thick pungent smoke filled the tent, and Leaf did as the orcs around him did and took in deep breaths of the smoke. 

Each breath of smoke burned at his throat, and with each exhale he felt his primal nature rising to the surface. The need to hunt, to use teeth and claw to tear, to find strength from fallen prey; Leaf felt his nature reflected in the nature of the orc god.

Räum raised a dagger made of bone and clasped his hand to Talyn’s hand before stabbing the dagger through their joined hands. Talyn’s other hand added a handful of powder to a pot of water, then the two orcs plunged their dagger-joined hands into the water. Räum removed the dagger before both orcs pulled their hands from the water. Räum and Talyn each grabbed a handle of the pot and then tossed the water onto the fire, extinguishing it, before letting out a guttural roar. 

The flames died out, and in the darkness, the orcs echoed the roar and Leaf too emitted the primal growl of a cat. He did as the orcs did, fist pounding against his chest, his glaive smacked against the ground, the sounds of both barely heard amidst the many orc fists, war hammers, and axes that all did the same. Talyn opened the door to the hut and led the orcs from the hut. Leaf followed along ready to hunt and ready to be a part of an orc tradition that few outside this tribe had seen. 

He soon found himself walking near Talyn and Räum, the of which later seemed so intensely focused it felt wrong to bother him with more questions. He wondered if he even should ask questions. 

[color=B1160A]“Speak, littlest war chief.”[/color] Talyn glanced at him. 

[color=CA6F1E]“Just wondering what happens next.”[/color]

[color=B1160A]“We go deep in the desert, to kill a beast of worth, greater the beast, greater the blessing. Strong connection to War means strong shaman.”[/color] Talyn offered a straightforward and clipped explanation and Leaf nodded. 

War was the word most often chosen to represent the nameless orc god. An orc worshipped through violence, War appreciated sacrifices, and War’s gift was one of strength. Leaf needed strength, the orc way was the most direct path to becoming what he wanted to be, a warrior. 

Talyn seemed to wait for more questions but Leaf asked none. He followed, he watched, and he learned. 

A party of orcs, and a feline war chief, deeply entranced in their primal natures set out into the desert for a sacred hunt; to kill a worthy beast and prove their devotion to the orc god and show the strength of the Shaman line within the Dugmaghord clan. [/color]