>>38116799
>>Sword
>>Alone

>>38116799
>Sword
>With your faithful companion
Dire Wolf

>>38116799
>Sword
>With your faithful companion

>>38116799
>Sword
>With your faithful companion

in b4 useless meat and economics 101

>>38116799
>Sword
>With your faithful companion

>>38116799
sword
At the head of a group of like minded adventurers

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This one was slow, yeah - I'll be faster in the future, sorry.
-------------------------------------------------------

You glance aside to your faithful companion, the one who you can always trust to be at your side through thick and thin. You nod. It's time.

The two of you sneak around the crest of the hill you were sheltering behind, and eye the Citadel warily. The gates are open wide, so it won't be hard to get in, but...

Once you ARE in there, that's when things will get tough. You check your sword, making sure it's loose in its sheath, and make sure your shield is ready. You'll have to move fast. The element of surprise won't last long, and this was all for nothing if you fail. ...Well, it's actually worse than that, considering you might very well be dooming the world to a thousand years of the Demon Lord's tyranny if you die, since there's only ONE Hero in the world, but...

You watch as a lone guard, in the thick, crude plate that marks the elite of the Orcish ranks, makes his way slowly across the ramparts, before disappearing from view around the other side of the Citadel.

So, how are you going to do this?

>Make a grand entrance through the front gate - the Frontal Assault is a Hero's specialty!
>Find the sally port - a castle like this definitely has one
>Doors are too easy! Scale the wall, that's the way!
>

>>38117956
>>Doors are too easy! Scale the wall, that's the way!

>>38117956
>Doors are too easy! Scale the wall, that's the way!

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You'll scale the wall! The enemy will be watching the entrances, so they'll never expect you to just climb over the top! It's a genius plan.

You turn to your faithful companion, and pause, considering.

...They'll be able to scale the wall with you, right?

>Of course she will!
>Of course he will!
>...Canines are not known for their climbing skills...

And so that it won't take seven more posts to describe your companion,

How do they fight?
>Blade
>Polearm
>Magic
>Tooth and Claw

>>38118462
>>Of course she will!
She being a futanari
>Magic
>Tooth and Claw

>>38118462
>Of course he will!
>Magic

>>38118462
>Of course she will!
>Tooth and Claw

>>38118487
>>She being a futanari
And I'm out.

>>38118487
>>38118462
Seconding

>>38118462
>Of course she will!
>Magic

>>38118487
That happened fast.

Calling the votes here. Looks like it's a she, and...both Magic and Tooth and Claw?

Alright, here we go.

>>38119117
Magical cat/dog girl?

>>38119117
Aww darn. Can we have a vote on that gender? People were split after all. Girl/Futa is also tied

>>38119161
As I count it, we have Four votes for she, one vote for he, and two subvotes for futa.

It seems decisive, and I'm not foolish enough to go 'hey, do you guys want a futa?' since there's only one way that could possibly end.

>>38119421
Well, from what I see...

>>38118487
>>38118589
Futa

>>38118721
>>38118582
She

>>38118534
He.

That seems pretty tied to me.

>>38119451
No futa for you futa fag. Quit it. This is not /d/.

>>38119451
That guy who said he was out was saying that he was dropping the quest.

>>38119485
Whoops, sorry. Misquoted.

>>38118597
>>38118487
Those are the two futa votes.

>>38119451
Write in wasn't an option.

>>38119514
OP seems fine with it.

>>38118487
I fucking hate you. So much.

>>38119544
I'm pretty passive towards you. Don't let things affect you so much anon!

Yeah, I'm just going to go with this guy >>38118589

Later, faggots.

>>38119576
I'll be seeing you on the next vote!

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She'll do fine. The two of you have been training together for years, after all, if you can get up there, she can get up there. You quickly explain the plan.

"...Really?" She asks, eyebrows going up. When you just nod, she gets a very familiar expression on her face - the one that says 'you're an idiot. But fuck, let's try it.'

With a sigh, she follows your lead as you hurry to the castle wall, making sure to avoid the periodic patrols. You unspool your grappling hook, glad that the hours and hours (and hours) of practice you put in with 'that silly toy' finally are about to pay off. With a quiet 'Hup!' you hurl the hook over the wall, and with a tug, seat it in place.

Climbing the rope is easy, and when you reach the top, you turn to signal your companion, but...

Her claws click on the stone as she hauls herself over the edge of the battlements. ...You suppose it's a lot easier to climb when you have that much of an advantage. ...And, well, the whole 'crumbling walls' aesthetic is supposed to be pretty big with Demon Lords, so there's that.

>Through the courtyard, fast!
>Through the towers, stay out of sight!
>Kick up a ruckus! He'll come to you!

>>38119643
>>Through the towers, stay out of sight!
Oh well. Lets keep going then.

>>38119643
>Through the towers, stay out of sight!

>>38119643
It's hard to tell whether she is a futa or not because both use She. Schrodinger's girl dick I suppose?
>Through the towers, stay out of sight!

>>38119691
>As I count it, we have Four votes for she, one vote for he, and two subvotes for futa.

She. Not futa.

>>38119643
>Through the towers, stay out of sight!
Find some disgruntled orcs

>>38119730
His counting was kind of skewed. Regardless, She can mean both a futa and a normal girl.
Either way, only time will tell.

>tfw I was the only person who voted alone because I figured something like this would happen
You guys just can't resist can you?

>>38119796
She's a normal girl.

>>38119819
And you just can't resist shit posting about it despite it already being over?

>>38119848
Just stop fucking responding to it you asshat.

>>38119848
She is a she. She can be a lot of things.

>>38119643
>Through the towers, stay out of sight!
And be careful of that patrolling elite.

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The two of you dash along the ramparts, hurrying to the nearby tower. You kick in the door with a bang, and the two of you dash into what appears to be a barracks room. uncomfortable-looking wooden beds line the walls, with small, crudely-made footlockers resting by each one.

Their similarity to chests is sorely tempting to you... Your many years of training have instilled an almost instinctive reaction to treasure chests into your very soul.

The two of you hurry down the center of the room, each passed footlocker causing a small pain in your heart, and take the stairs down into a guardroom, thankfully as abandoned as the barracks above.

This room seems to be low enough that you can leave the tower, since there are two doors in the walls, in addition to a second staircase leading down. One of them goes out into the courtyard, it looks like, and the other leads towards the main keep.

If your castle geography lessons did you any good, that one probably leads through at least one long, near-featureless hallway before coming out into the main entrance of the keep.

The stairs...it's gotta be the dungeons.

>Courtyard
>Stairs
>Dungeoncrawling

>>38120326
Fuck.


Options should be
>Courtyard
>Keep
>Dungeoncrawling

>>38120353
>Keep
Straight for the main boss, that's what we're here for.

>>38120353
>Keep
Keep your eyes on the prize here.

>>38120353
>>Keep

>>38120353
>>Keep

>>38120326
>>38120353
>Keep

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Best to stay on track. It's easy to get distracted at the heart of the enemy's fortress, but you'll soldier on, no matter what! You're here to defeat the Demon Lord, before they can invade the human realms and cause a massive war of needless suffering for all involved! Your noble goal will not be thwarted!

You open the door, and sure enough, it's a long, open hallway.

It's not long before you come out the other end in a grand entryway, vaulted ceilings, defensible-but-huge gates leading out into the open, and deeper inside, another, somewhat smaller set of gates leads into the main keep - probably the Demon Lord's throne room. Numerous doors lead off into the castle. From here...You could probably find your way to the Demon Lord's quarters, as well. The question becomes - where would the Demon lord be, around noontime?

>Find their Quarters! Evil sleeps!
>In the Throne Room! Where else would the Hero fight the Great Evil?
>The Dungeons, of course, undoubtedly tormenting prisoners or something!
>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.

>>38121122
>>In the Throne Room! Where else would the Hero fight the Great Evil?
>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.

>>38121122
>>In the Throne Room! Where else would the Hero fight the Great Evil?
>>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.

>>38121122
>In the Throne Room! Where else would the Hero fight the Great Evil?
>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.

>>38121122
>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.
Oh god he's totally taken his army and gone to assassinate *us*.

>>38121235
>he
>still thinking this won't be Useless Flesh Quest

>>38121122
>In the Throne Room! Where else would the Hero fight the Great Evil?

>>38121235
Sounds like we'll have to disguise ourselves as the demon lord and assume demon lord duties as we wait for him to return.


And he disguises himself as the hero and fights his way through his own army to us over the course of several months.

>>38121122
>The kitchens. Having lunch.
>...It sure is weird how you've only even seen a single orc soldier this entire time, outside.

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You glance to your companion, one last time. The Demon Lord...it should be just through those doors. This is it.

She nods back to you, and as one, the two of you start to run. It's not right if it's not a dramatic entrance; not for this. The two of you dash down the hallway, and you take the lead, gripping your shield tightly as you approach the great doors, and you use it to crash your way through the great doors, splinters flying through the air as the two great oaken doors slam wide, crashing into the stone on either side of the entryway as the two of you come into the new room, and grind immediately to a halt.

You meet the gaze of hundreds of eyes, as what looks like possibly the entire orcish garrison is seated before you, at long wooden tables, eating their lunch together. Today, it looks like the menu is mostly gruel, with boiled meat. A great many slack jaws begin to drip gruel, as their owners, shocked by your sudden entrance, seem to forget that they're open. The hall still echoes with orcish conversation, and even a small fistfight off to the side seems to have stopped in mid motion, as the pair of them stare at the two small humanoids who have just entered the great hall.

...You'd just been wondering where they all were, actually. Apparently, it was 'out to lunch'.

>...Where's the Demon Lord!
>...Surrender and Live!
>...fuck.
>...? [something else?]

>>38121987
>...Where's the Demon Lord!

>>38121987
>...Surrender and Live!
Why not? We're fucked anyway.

>>38121987
>>...Where's the Demon Lord!
>>...Surrender and Live!
>>...
>>...fuck.

>>38121987
>...Where's the Demon Lord!
I have an important message for him.

>>38121987
>Fuck.
>...Where's the Demon Lord!

>>38121987
>...Where's the Demon Lord!

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"...Where's the Demon Lord!" You demand, loudly. Your companion's head snaps over to look at you, muted alarm in her eyes.

You take a step forward, eyes searching the room. In for a penny...

"You!" You pick an orc with a fancy looking ...is that a hat? Some kind of headdress? "Where is the Demon Lord!" The orc, seated at the head of one of the tables, looks startled at being singled out. It stands, and muttering starts to fill the hall. The shock seems to have worn off, but they seem to be mostly just...interested in what's about to happen.

"Ja sam Uzug, Beglerbeg od orka u dvorcu mraku Gospodnje. Vi usudite izazvati me?"

Oh, right. Orcish. It's, ah...not actually a language you know. And this orc is very big. He's certainly not the Demon Lord, though.

"...He thinks you're challenging him." Your companion murmurs to you, quietly. ...She can understand them? ...How'd she even learn orcish, anyway? ...Well, those are questions for a later time.

"...And the rest?" You ask her, equally quiet.

"...Taking bets. ...You..." She listens closely for a moment, one of her ears twitching slightly. "...Seem to be the favourite?"

...You have no idea how to feel about that.

>Yeah, sure. If you can put him down hard enough, maybe the two of you will be able to get some answers.
>You really don't want to fight him.
>...?

>>38122986
>>Yeah, sure. If you can put him down hard enough, maybe the two of you will be able to get some answers.

>>38122986
>>...?
have our companion translate that we want the demon king

>>38122986
>Yeah, sure. If you can put him down hard enough, maybe the two of you will be able to get some answers.

>>38122986
>>Yeah, sure. If you can put him down hard enough, maybe the two of you will be able to get some answers

Guys, we're looking for the Demon Lord, right?
Have we checked B7R?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGjwXI0n5-I

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You nod.

"Yeah, you. I guess this is how it is. Time to fight." They probably don't understand, but you'll say it anyway. The idea probably gets across, anyway.

The large orc nods, and barks out something commanding. In short order, a sword and square shield have been delivered to him, and a space cleared out in the center of the floor for your fight.

The other orcs seem to be in pretty good spirits about this, chatting among themselves and moving in a surprisingly orderly fashion - you get the feeling this kind of challenge isn't that uncommon.

Your companion claps you on the shoulder.

"Good luck." She says, giving you a thumbs-up. You smile back at her.

"Thanks." She gives you a look.

"This shouldn't be hard. Don't fuck up." ...Jeez. Well, she has a point - compared to the Demon Lord, this guy should be a pushover. But still, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? You start toward the open area in the center of the hall, as the orcs clear a path through their ranks, even as they jostle among themselves for the best view. "I've got money riding on this." You glance back at her, watching her placing bets and arguing with orcs two and three times her size.

You shake your head at the easy camaraderie the orcs are showing the two of you, as a couple of orcs shout what must be their version of 'good luck', and 'Tukli ga krvavo!' whatever that means.

It's nice.

You come into the 'arena', and face off against your foe. He clashes his sword against his shield, once, and gives you a nod.

You return his salute. No need to be rude.

>Go hard. Beat him fast and decisively.
>Show off - make it a good-looking fight.
>Humiliate him.
>Take it easy. No need to really worry about this fight.

>>38123613
>>Show off - make it a good-looking fight.

>>38123613
>Show off - make it a good-looking fight.

Ask our companion (could we get some names soon?) If this is a fight to the death.

>>38123613
>Go hard. Beat him fast and decisively.

No reason to make others thing we're having problems with him.

>>38123613
>>Go hard. Beat him fast and decisively.

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Going to call votes for beating him hard and fast.

Here we go.

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Most humans are weaker than orcs. After all, the large, greenskinned goblinoids are one of the most physically powerful of the intelligent races. (Although many humans would debate the 'intelligent' part.)

Most humans would be forced to fight cautiously, in a duel against an orc. In a match like this, assuming the orc knows what it's doing at all, they'd be at a great disadvantage - the orc has a longer reach, greater physical strength, and incredible toughness.

The human would need to be incredibly skilled, or know a hundred and one dirty tricks, or just cheat - like having archers, or magic. In an even fight, like this, with the orc knowing he's there, and expecting him to fight, without distractions, humans are almost always at a disadvantage.

But you're The Hero.

You catch the orc's first blow fully on your shield, which somehow fails to buckle under the strength of the blow, and you fail to be thrown across the fight circle, and you reply with a blow of your own - and while the orc's shield also manages to hold up, you're apparently the stronger of the two, as the orc staggers under the weight of your blow. With a step forward, you catch the orc a blow with the edge of your shield, knocking it clearly off of its feet.

Dazed, it looks up to you from the floor, eyes crossing on and off as it tries to focus past the ringing in its skull. The hall has fallen silent as you so quickly and completely dominate the fight - your years of training and massive and inexplicable physical superiority paying off quite well.

>Kill the orc.
>Spare the orc.
>Help the orc up.
>...?


----------------------
Wow, that took too long.

>>38124457
>Spare the orc
Helping him up would probably just be insulting.

>>38124457
>>Spare the orc.

>>38124468
>Spare the orc

>>38124457
>Help the orc up.

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The orc is at your mercy. So you do what comes naturally - you sheathe your blade. You aren't going to kill him when you have him helpless and on the ground.

Around you, the orcs watching explode in a riot of noise - mostly cheering and beating on tables, a lot of noise and movement, but none of it hostile. Money changes hands all over the place as bets are called in, and your companion in particular seems to be collecting quite a bit. She looks incredibly smug about it.

The rank and file orcs begin to disperse, having finished with lunch and now a show, and begin to go back to their duties. The one you knocked around is beginning to recover, and a few other orcs with less fancy headwear are remaining in the hall, pulling up chairs and sitting around while that wait for... Presumably the big guy you knocked down, and maybe something more?

A smaller, robed orc has arrived, as well, but he's not making any effort to help - instead, he's standing around and looking mysterious, which makes him either some kind of orc seer or a magician of some kind.

"You made me a lot of money, Hero~" Your companion crows, as she sidles up next to you. "And you made them," she waves a hand at the orcs, "very curious." She pauses. "Also, that guy you just knocked around is...something like a Duke-Marshall. One of the top orcs - like, THE top orcs. He's the boss around here, apparently." She claps you on the shoulder. "Which means that he's the one with our answers. Good thing he's not dead."

...You take a moment to process the fact that you just kicked the shit out of what is essentially orc royalty, and got cheered on the whole time for it.

>Well, you suppose you have some questions.
>What now? You're not familiar with orc culture - as oxymoronic as that sounds.
>...?

-----------------------------

Take your time with this one - It's getting late, and I'm falling asleep.
I'll be back in about six, seven hours, if this thread isn't dead, and if it is, I'll start thread two.
Night.

>>38125161
>"Where is the Demon Lord?"

Thanks for running, OP.

>>38125161
Pretty entertaining OP looking forward to more.

>>38125161
>Go up, tell him he's got quite an arm, rub our shield shoulder like it's sore. Strike up friendly banter, have a swig of our own alcohol, pretty much just be a bro.

>After an afternoon of orc partying, tell the Orc we fought that we're planning on challenging the Dark Lord, ask him for directions.

>>38125161
>What now? You're not familiar with orc culture - as oxymoronic as that sounds.
So what does this make us?
>Well, you suppose you have some questions.
Where's the Demon Lord?

Getting close to 9 hours now since OP went to sleep.

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As you're conferring with your companion, discussing the next step you need to take here, and working out the questions you have for the orcs, the orc leader is conferring with the robed one. They seem rather satisfied with how things have turned out. You finish your discussion with your companion as the robed orc approaches you.

"Great one, we acknowledge your might." It begins, speaking passably in the trade tongue of the West. It lowers its head. "Clans go hungry, and warriors are many." The surrounding orcs lower their heads as well. "We know war well - Great one, bring relief from Dark Times." You frown. They're suffering this much under the yoke of the Demon Lord?

"I'll save your people." You promise, eyes scanning across the orcs gathered here. ...The lower-ranked orcs didn't seem to unusual, but these... They seem stressed. Most of their expressions are similar to those of humans, so you figure the lines that etch themselves into their faces are similar as well - these orcs have had it hard. "I will free you, and your people will not need to fear." Nearby, your companion's lips are moving, as she seems to be thinking over what was just said, and an expression of alarm crosses her face suddenly.

"Hero, wait..." You're about to turn to her, when the robed one turns to the others, and raises his hands high.

"Najveći kraljeva je došao!" It declares, and there's a couple words in there you know, as you stop breathing.

"Najveći kralj!" The orcish leaders roar out, and as the one you knocked silly kneels before you, the rest prostrate themselves on the ground.

The robed one turns to you, and bows.

"We serve."

...You may be mistaken (you're not), but...You think you were just hailed as the Demon Lord.

...Fuck.

>What do you plan to do now?
>>They obviously don't know where the real one is.
>>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.
>>Let's talk about this, now. You aren't the Demon Lord.

>...?

>>38129886
>Great so where is the "other" demon lord then?

>>38129886
>>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.

>>38129988
Supporting this

Demon lord first then a celebration feast

>>38129886
>>>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.
Oh boy
My prediction from last night is coming true.

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>>38129886
Well this thread just went from 'meh' to amazing.

>>38129886
>...?
Ask if there was another Demon Lord, and talk with our companion about this.

>>38130017
>feast
>when the population is starving and even the elite are subsisting on gruel
Great plan there, you fucking idiot.

>>38129886
>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.

So, is our companion the Demon Lord/his daughter/etc? hora hora

>>38130090
She lured us here! That's why she has claws! Dammit woman!

>>38129886
>Let's talk about this, now. You aren't the Demon Lord.
>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.
Organize their integration into normal human society, granting them rights accorded to humans as long as they treat humans with the same. Reason with the humans that if they're already part of society, they have no cause to attempt to destroy it.

>>38130144
What if she plan to make us Demon Lord all along?

>>38129886
>Let's talk about this, now. You aren't the Demon Lord.

>>38129886
>>Well, they're hungry, they need help... As a Hero, you should do something about it.

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Well. There's only one thing that can be done, then.

You'll have to help them. No other choice, really. As The Hero, it's pretty much your job to help people, and these orcs, well...they need your help. They're getting along, for now, but if even the garrison here, in the Demon Lord's Citadel, is reduced to gruel....

Their people must be desperately hungry. And when humans, at least, get hungry like this... banditry and raiding begin, as they get desperate. It can't be too different for orcs - don't the Great Wars always start with a wave of raids, and the ravaging of the countryside?

"...Right." You declare, as your companion stares at you. "...Then the first thing we need to do is end the famine." Her eyes go wide.

"You're going to go along with this?" She asks, surprised, in the language of the east that you grew up with. "I would have thought..." You shrug.

"How can I call myself a Hero if I ignore those in need?" You ask her, simply. She shakes her head, but you can see the traces of a smile that she can't quite hide.

"So what first?" She asks, again in the Western trade tongue, for the robed orc's benefit. "What are your plans, Hero?" Famine is not a foe you'd ever trained to fight, but... You grew up in a small farming village, and you know a thing or two about what it takes to make it through lean times.

"First..." You think.

>First things first - alleviate the suffering now. Worry about the long term once the people are well-fed.
>The most important thing is the harvest - and since the planting will have to start soo... wait, do orcs even have agriculture?
>Trade will ease the hunger, at least for long enough to get other plans in motion.
>Obviously, the solution is to raid to the west, deeper into the Dark Lands. There's supposed to be grand Devil cities on the far western coast, and there must be farms to support them. And Devils deserve it.

>>38130705
>The most important thing is the harvest - and since the planting will have to start soo... wait, do orcs even have agriculture?
Time to domesticate some orcs.

>>38130705
>Find out how long they can subsist on what they've got right now. No point planting a harvest if they won't survive to reap it.

>>38130705>>38130705
>The most important thing is the harvest - and since the planting will have to start soo... wait, do orcs even have agriculture?
>Trade will ease the hunger, at least for long enough to get other plans in motion.
Gotta civilize them and make them learn skills to trade with humans.

Fuck. I never asked for Demon Lord Economics Quest.

>>38130705
>The most important thing is the harvest - and since the planting will have to start soo... wait, do orcs even have agriculture?

>>38130705
>The most important thing is the harvest - and since the planting will have to start soo... wait, do orcs even have agriculture?
Haha time for economics

>>38130705
>starts off with Generic Hero quest
>becomes Orc Reform quest

>>38130980
I don't see how this is a bad thing.

I'm kinda wondering what we look like. It's almost like we were the demon lord the entire time with our inhuman companion.

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>>38131102
I think most people weren't expecting it is all.

>>38131501
To be honest, I was expecting us to become the Dark Lord. Apparently we're going to be the Farmer Lord instead.

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Frost Giant Quest 2: Unrelated Boogaloo.

>>38131577
Why does /tg/ keep going the economics route whenever it's given is my question.

>>38131702
>>38131702
Because as a hero, going the economics route is a more mutually-beneficial and achievable method than conquering the people you were initially sworn to protect anyway?

>>38131453
I figured OP pic was the intended appearance for our hero.

I'll let baker have a final say in our appearance, though.

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The most important thing is the harvest, of course. The planting will need to start soon, and if they're starting to go hungry, it's important that they plant the right crops...

Wait. Are orcs familiar with agriculture?

The only way to find out is to ask, you suppose.

The question takes some discussion to get across, and your companion and the robed orc talk for some time, complete with waving arms and gesticulation as they get concepts and ideas communicated, but eventually, your companion nods.

"Yeah, they know about growing food, it sounds like - they aren't good at it, but they do have farms. Mostly near rivers, and lakes - it sounds like they grow a lot of stuff like rice or soya, but..." She shrugs. "They can't get a lot out of them because it's a pretty dry climate, this side of the mountains, and they don't do irrigation. They seem to have this weird bias against infrastructure like that. They'd rather do a lot more, harder work, like carrying water to the fields for weeks, then put anything permanent into place."

...That kind of makes things easier, then. The real problem here is that they grow water-loving crops in a place with hardly any water, right?

"Millet." You declare. "Millet and sweet potatoes will be the salvation of the orcs." And holy shit was that melodramatic. You're going to need to work on that. People will laugh.

In fact, your companion already is. You scowl at her, and she waves a placating hand as she gets herself under control.

"Right, Hero, right." She says, "So how are we going to do that?"

You'll have to get your hands on some seed crops, but luckily millet and sweet potatoes don't need a lot of work to cultivate.

"We'll have to get some traders that are willing to deal with orcs to bring us what we need." You say, contemplatively.

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"Well, we don't need to tell them who it's for." You companion points out, reasonably. "We just need to get the supplies close enough to the Dark Lands for the orcs to pick it up."

"There's also the matter of paying for it." You point out, but she waves that off.

"Orcs use gold, same as anyone else." She waves a large coin at you. "We'll be fine there. The real question is, who do we go to?"

>There's the Free Cities, in the north. The merchants who run those places are infamously mercenary.
>We can totally go to the Western Kingdoms. We'd need to keep the destination of the crops quiet, though - hundreds of years of war and repeated invasions may have bred some resentment.
>Use the kobolds of the south - those nomads are pretty free to go wherever they please, and they're known to buy strange things as it is. A ton or two of seed and the like will hardly arouse comment. ...You'll probably need to pay for it twice, though.

>>38132252
>There's the Free Cities, in the north. The merchants who run those places are infamously mercenary.

>>38132252
>Use the kobolds of the south - those nomads are pretty free to go wherever they please, and they're known to buy strange things as it is. A ton or two of seed and the like will hardly arouse comment. ...You'll probably need to pay for it twice, though.

>>38132252
>There's the Free Cities, in the north. The merchants who run those places are infamously mercenary.

neutral merchants best merchants

>>38132252
>There's the Free Cities, in the north. The merchants who run those places are infamously mercenary.

>>38132252
>Use the kobolds of the south - those nomads are pretty free to go wherever they please, and they're known to buy strange things as it is. A ton or two of seed and the like will hardly arouse comment. ...You'll probably need to pay for it twice, though.
I can see the Free Cities being a problem.
If their traders are mercenary in nature, their arms merchants are going to be pissed off that the potential profits to be made in the Great War Against The Dark Lord that only happens every century or so are about to go up in smoke.

The Western Kingdoms, we would need a covert operation, putting together a small trading company with no known Orc connections, to get people to rethink their biases.

Kobolds, while more expensive, are the least likely to cause problems.

>>38132252
>There's the Free Cities, in the north. The merchants who run those places are infamously mercenary.

>>38132340
>neutral merchants best merchants
Not if they're weapons and armor merchants who heavily invested in weapons in preparation for the upcoming war, and can see that peace is going to be bad for their business.

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Okay, I have to get ready for and head to class, and someone called me up to schedule an appointment a little while ago, so I'll be back in about five, five and a half hours once I've taken care of everything.

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This quest

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>>38134617

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>>38134648

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>>38134617
>>38134648
>>38134940

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>>38134940
>>38135269

Bump in the name of Funk

>>38135635
are you just the same person bumping this again and again or is there some sort of group of dedicated anons going on here?

>>38135674
Different anon here.I bump it when it gets to page 10 unless someone else does it before me

Small bump

tiny bump

>>38138908
smaller-than-small-but-not-small-enough-to-be-tiny bump

where's OP?

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"We'll go to the Free Cities." You decide, considering what it will take to get what you need as soon as possible. "They should be able to get us what we need quickly - a handful of days, probably, and food to stave off hunger on top of that." Your companion nods, considering.

"But when it comes to the Free Cities..." She begins

"Yeah, it's all about the weight of your coin." You agree. "...So, how much did you make off of me, exactly?"

"...Not that much." She replies, sourly. "Should we take up a collection, then?" She laughs, humourlessly.

"...Great One." The robed orc cautiously enters the conversation. "...The issue is...gold? Yes?" Upon receiving acknowledgement, he nods. "Yes. You have not seen the treasury, yet?"

"...The Treasury?" You ask, with a frown. with some help from your companion, the orc explains. It turns out that the wealth of bygone times is still stored away, in the depths of the castle. The wars and ravaging of the human nations were apparently very lucrative for your 'predecessors'.

That's perfect. All that's left to sort out is the logistics of the mission - well, that, and actually having the orcs organise everything and get the wagons loaded. But if there's one thing orcs don't lack, it's musclepower and work ethic. ...Two things.

>Keep the expedition small. Fewer orcs is less suspicion, and even the Free Cities would look askance at a party of orcs buying this much food.
>Well, you'll need a fairly sizable party to keep the gold safe on the way up, and perhaps even more to keep the food safe on the way back.
>No reason to keep the group small. No need to bring everyone, of course, but one, two hundred orcs will do.

>...?

>>38141197
>Well, you'll need a fairly sizable party to keep the gold safe on the way up, and perhaps even more to keep the food safe on the way back.

But before you reach the city, make most of the orcs camp a day away so that we can have the best of both worlds.

>>38141197
>>Well, you'll need a fairly sizable party to keep the gold safe on the way up, and perhaps even more to keep the food safe on the way back.

>>38141197
>Other
Keep the expedition small going to the Cities; no need to advertise the fact that we've got wagons full of gold.
We'll just have a hundred or so orcs meet us at a rally point a few days away from the borders of the Free Cities, so that the food caravan can be protected on the way back.

>>38141197
>Well, you'll need a fairly sizable party to keep the gold safe on the way up, and perhaps even more to keep the food safe on the way back.

>>38141197
>Well, you'll need a fairly sizable party to keep the gold safe on the way up, and perhaps even more to keep the food safe on the way back.
And, to have the best of both worlds: encamp most of them about a day's march away.

OP is kill?

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"...I'll need fifty orcs. Can you spare that many for me?" You tell the Beglerbeg, your companion acting as an interpreter. The gold-clad orc, whose name, you are told, is Uzug, nods, and rattles off a string of orcish to your companion.

"He says he will have them ready for you. Are we leaving tonight?" You shake your head, Uzug nods, and says something else. "Good. He says that the wagons will be ready to set out in the morning - loaded and covered, and the orcs you need will be handpicked. One of the Beys - it's a rank, Hero - will come along as their officer." She talks to Uzug for a moment more. "Looks like that's the important stuff." She nods.

"So, what's left, then?" You ask, running through the checklist you've been making of 'things that need to be done'. "It looks like we've covered most everything, right?"

"Well, there's the question of our quarters, for the night." You companion grins at you. "Are we camping out, or taking the Demon Lord Suite? Near everywhere else is orc quarters, and full, at that."

"...The suite it is, then." You've got a few things to talk to her about, anyway. "There's still a couple hours left in the day, though."

"Oh?" She raises her eyebrows at you, an expression of sarcastic surprise that you're all too familiar with. "Did you have something in mind? A tour of your new castle, oh Great King?"

>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.
>Well...no. Not as such, but... It kind of goes against the grain to make an early day of it and just talk up in some royal chamber.

>Well, you'd just thought...
>>What?

>>38143654
>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.

Oh I can't wait for the actual demon lord to come home and wonder why his orcs are being civilized creatures with agriculture

>>38143654
>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.

>>38143654
>>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.

We got like an indoor pool?

>>38143654
>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.

>>38143705
>implying the demon lord isn't already home

>>38143654
>>You know what? Yes. Yes, you would like a tour.
Maybe get us a map of our new domain?

>>38143794
>Implying our companion isn't the demon lord in disguise

I need to learn to focus, huh. I plan to make a slightly earlier night of it tonight - would you like one more post tonight, or an hour earlier start tomorrow?

I'm a little all over the place with update speed, it looks like, but I'd like to work on that as we go.

>>38143934
One more post.

>>38143934
push out one more post! Do if for us!

>>38143931
>implying that wasn't what I was implying

>>38144114
>Implying that you were implying that i was implying that you were implying that i was implying that that was what i was implying

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"You know what?" You tell her.

"What?" She asks, that damn knowing smile on her face.

"Yes. Yes, I would like a tour." She turns to Uzug's subcommanders - would these be the Beys, you wonder? - and soon has one sorted out and acting as your tour guide. She relays everything he has to say in detail, as she has him guide you through the bailey, making stops regularly to show you this or that item of note.

The blacksmith, in particular, turns into an extended stop as the orc blacksmith asks you a few questions about your shield and armour - your sword, however, is not of any interest, being a frail, twiglike human sword, as opposed to the massive chunks of sharp metal orcs prefer - more for the weight than the efficacy of the blade, in truth. You end up having to explain the articulation to the fascinated orcish smith through charades and demonstrations, and it's not until you've long since left him hammering feverishly at his forge that you realise you may have accidentally just handed orcs a huge breakthrough in metalworking. Well, that shouldn't be a problem - you have no intention of leading them to war.

The treasury is also quite the stop - there are coins in there from kingdoms you'd never even heard of! ...Which is probably how they got there, honestly.

You do your best not to feel guilty about that.

There are a few more highlights, like some kind of large, indoor pond a prior Demon Lord had installed, and the kitchens - depressingly empty as they are, they're quite impressive, and the cooking seems to be done using strange, magical devices - designed by a Devil, the orc tour guide claims, and they may very well have been.

The tour winds down, and you find yourselves stand in front of what you've been assured is the door to the 'Demon Lord Suite' as your companion insists it be referred to. It's probably a joke that only she gets, frankly, and you're not interested in trying to listen to her explain it - not after the last time.

Now might be a good time to ask her a few questions, or maybe ask for a lesson or two in Orcish - new languages are always a valuable skill, especially when it's learning the language of a people who you now apparently serve as head of state.

>So, how'd you learn orcish?
>Would you teach me orcish?
>What do you think about all of this?
>...What questions DO you have?

>No, you still have things to do around the castle.
>>What?

>>38145517
>No, you still have things to do around the castle.
Find the library, read up on the real history of the orcs and the Demon Lords, not the propaganda that we've had shovelled into our heads.

>>38145517
>Would you teach me orcish?

>>38145517
>What do you think about all of this?
>Would you teach me orcish?
Kind of need it if we're gonna talk to the orcs

>>38145517
>So, how'd you learn orcish?
>Would you teach me orcish?

>>38145517
>So, how'd you learn orcish?

whats life without a few bumps?

About halfway through the post, and the gutter just tore off of my house - there may be some delays.

This quest seems pretty interesting.

Can we get some descriptions of the MC and his companion?

>>38151336
Its cool OP
You are a cool guy

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Your quarters are about what you'd expect from a Demon Lord - opulence and comfort to an extreme degree. The bed alone looks like it's big enough for five or six people to sleep on comfortably, and it looks like there's even running water. That has to be magic - there's no aqueduct, and no visible source for it anywhere near the castle.

"Hey..." You start, as the two of you start to get settled in, "....How'd you learn Orcish?" You ask, curiously. She hums, and sits down on the bed, thinking about it.

"Well, Hero," she begins, "I've been traveling a long time, you know? Before I met you." She shrugs. "There's a lot of things you learn, on the road. When you travel through orc lands, you learn orc. When you work for the kobolds..." She sighs. "Why do you ask, anyway? Did you want to learn?" Your companion glances over at you, curiously.

"Yeah." You nod, "I mean, I'm in charge of them, right? In a way? I should at least be able to speak to them." She grins.

"Glad to hear it, Hero. Yeah, I'll give you some lessons. But, remember - learning languages isn't easy. Don't expect to pick it up as quickly as everything else, just because you're the hero." You nod, determined - you wouldn't have asked if you weren't willing to put in the work. She hops off the bed, "Excellent. We can start right away."

"So, let's start with..."

-------------

>You've had some lessons in Orcish! Man, the way plurals work is just so weird...

-------------

The sun is rising.

>Time for morning training.
>Take it easy. There's that indoor-bathing tub in the other room...
>It's time to leave! Let's make an early start!

>>38152428
>Time for morning training.
Got to stick to our routines

>>38152428
>It's time to leave! Let's make an early start!

>>38152428
>Time for morning training.
Gotta keep up the routines.

>>38152428
>It's time to leave! Let's make an early start!

>>38152428
>It's time to leave! Let's make an early start!
tbh, I'd like it if we actually moved the orcs into a migration, Vandal/Goth style. If these lands don't want to cooperate with us, we'll simply move to one that will
also OP, are you actually Croatian or are you just using the language?

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You gear up quickly - it's about time to leave, after all. Dawn is the perfect time to set out on a journey. As you finish strapping on your armour, the door opens to the bathing room and your companion emerges, stretching bonelessly.

"Haah~" She breathes. "Demon Lords sure do know how to live." Her hair is still wet - she must have finished up just a little while ago, but she's gotten herself all ready to go, so you won't complain. "You know, the water in there can come out hot? No fires or anything." You won't admit it, but that's kind of impressive. More importantly though!

"Let's get an early start on this." You tell her, "We only have so long to get the seed before it's time for the planting." She waves a hand negligently.

"Aw, the seasons over here aren't quite the same, Hero, you don't need to worry." You frown.

"What?"

"This side of the mountains, sure it's a lot dryer, but they also don't get winter over here, either. I don't really understand it myself, but that out there," She waves a hand towards the window, beyond which it seems to be an ordinary warm spring day - for the Dark Lands, which means it's a lot browner and dryer than you'd expect from spring, "That's about what it's like year-round. Gets a bit warmer in the summer, and then it gets warmer in the winter, so..." She shrugs, "Growing season's year-round, if you've got the water for it."

That is entirely too convenient. You grumble a bit, but relax. That means you don't need to make double-time, sure, but...

"We're still leaving." You tell her. She just laughs.

-----------------------------

The orcs are lounging around the wagons, waiting for you, when you emerge into the early morning sunlight. Their commander introduces himself as Bey Uzair - you can actually understand this part! - and with a few shouted commands, organises the orcs into a few different parties - a couple scouts, a few more to pull the wagons, and disperses the rest around the caravan. He looks to you for approval.

>That's good.
>Wait, the orcs are pulling the wagons?
>There's no need for scouts this close to home.
>His vigilance is to be commended. Very good.

>>38153516
>His vigilance is to be commended. Very good.

>>38153516
>His vigilance is to be commended. Very good.

>>38153516
>His vigilance is to be commended. Very good.

>>38153516
Also ment to add
>Wait, the orcs are pulling the wagons?
To mine here >>38153558
How do we explain this to the merchant(s) when we do the buying?

>>38153516
>His vigilance is to be commended. Very good.

>Wait, the orcs are pulling the wagons?

No draft animals at all?

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Shit. Something's come up, and it's not looking like I'll have a post ready before I have to leave. I should be back sometime around, uh...

Eight hours from now.

>>38153632
>>38153974

In Rome, do as the Romans do.

Besides, seeing their living conditions, it´s improbable they´ve got livestock to pull on it, if they haven´t been slaughtered/assigned to cavalry yet.

>>38154544
Prepare the Bump Shift

Page 9 bump

Bump

So....is companion a talking animal, or a humanoid?

OP's been at this on-and-off for 2 days. Kudos to him.

>>38118487
>>38157906
It's complicated.

>>38160528
pretty sure we vetoed futa. And good thing too.

>>38162076
>>38160528
Nah, she's 100% a futa

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>>38162076
>not liking futa

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"Good thought." You manage, in only slightly broken orcish, "Watch-ness important." You're pretty proud of how much you learned, even if your companion won't stop laughing at you. The Bey seems rather proud of himself, so it looks like your praise did its job, anyway.

The caravan is moving within the hour, and you're fairly pleased at the speed the orcs can make, even as heavily laden as they are. This is a proper traveling pace - fast enough that your companion isn't happy, unfortunately, but she's always had a thing or two to say about the pace you set. Probably because you can set a literally inhuman pace, being The Hero and all.

You don't say anything when she retires to one of the less-heavily loaded wagons - the orcs pulling it even seem pleased to be the ones chosen to carry her, so you let it be.

Even more pleasing to note is the way that the orcs don't seem to need to take breaks, perfectly content to cover ground for hours on end, occasionally cycling out into the scout groups, or taking a turn pulling the wagons.

It's pretty clear to you why they're the favoured heavy infantry of Demon Lords. This kind of strategic flexibility definitely surpasses what humans can manage on foot.

-------------

Your caravan has traveled for several hours on this trail - it's not fit to be called a road, certainly - when you all see it, almost as one - a pillar of black smoke, just beginning to rise into the air. The orcs begin to mutter among themselves, and your companion twists around in her seat to look to you for direction.

>Send scouts.
>Lead a scouting party.
>Ignore it.

>...?

Thanks to inclement weather, I am back early.

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.

>>38162818
>Send scouts, have companion lead them.

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.
Woo he's back! Or she.Whatever

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.

Leave companion here


>>38160528
>>38162091
that doesn't really answer whether companion is humanoid or not.

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.

>>38162818
>>Lead a scouting party.

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.

>>38162935
Shes either a cat or dog girl

Dont think shes a futa though
Baker didnt want to deal with the lewd
>>38119421

Cant blame him though, the only one around that can switch between lewd scenes and rest of story without slowing down is orc warlord quest

>>38162818
>Lead a scouting party.

>>38130705
>Baker
Ooooh

>>38163092
>Shes either a cat or dog girl
that's how I saw her. Perhaps more wolf than dog though.

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You can't ignore that. There are too many things it could be, and too few of them are something you can ignore.

"You, you, you." You pick three orcs, mostly at random, and nod to your companion, "Come."

Your companion dismounts the wagon, and joins your scouting party as you confer with the Bey. You manage to tell him to continue along the trail, slower, and that you'll catch up to them soon. ...Well, you hope you did. Charades were involved, but he seems to understand.

The five of you split from the caravan, and you lead them toward the smoke, using the uneven terrain to stay out of sight as you close in - it's not too far away, really, no more than a mile off the track.

It looks like... you frown, peering over the top of the hill. Are those gnolls? This far north? Normally the hyenoids stay to the far south, causing trouble for kobolds and humans.

...Actually, it looks like they're staying true to form, you note, as you get a look at what appear to be their captives - fourteen or fifteen kobolds, rounded up and bound. Their herd is probably scattered, for now, although it looks like there's an aurochs roasting by the fire, so the gnolls may have slaughtered them.

You can't abandon these kobolds - being captured alive by gnolls is bad enough for humans, but the two races are ancient enemies. Their end won't be quick.

>The five of you can take those gnolls. It's a small pack, only forty or so. That's just eight each.
>Send one of the orcs back for reinforcements. You need to stamp this band out.
>Try to bait some of the gnolls out - pick them off in smaller groups.

>...?

>>38164188
>Send one of the orcs back for reinforcements. You need to stamp this band out.

>>38164188
>Welp, this doesn't look like your problem. Better leave and pretend you didn't see anything.

>>38164188
>>Try to bait some of the gnolls out - pick them off in smaller groups.

>>38164188
>Try to bait some of the gnolls out - pick them off in smaller groups.

>>38164188
>Send one of the orcs back for reinforcements. You need to stamp this band out.
While that orc goes back for reinforcements, do
>Try to bait some of the gnolls out - pick them off in smaller groups.

>>38164188
>>The five of you can take those gnolls. It's a small pack, only forty or so. That's just eight each.

Or we can just solo all of them, we are the Hero after all.

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I hate to say it, but the next post will have to be tomorrow again - I'm passing out more than a little here, and there's a lot of shit that has to be done tomorrow as it is.

Sorry about that.

>>38164188
>The five of you can take those gnolls. It's a small pack, only forty or so. That's just eight each.
we can take half of them alone, we're the hero.

Did anyone archive this yet?

>>38164858
if this keeps up we might even have to start a new thread!

no seriously, isn't 300 bump limit?

Should we just keep bumping this or let it die and have OP make a new one when he gets back?

Live!

>>38166935
It looks like it has been archived in suptg. So you can let it fall down naturally.

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"...Now!" Your companion dashes past your position at full tilt, and you lunge out of the bushes, sword flashing as you cut down her closest pursuer. The slower gnolls draw to a stop, their faces only having time to register a sort of dull surprise before three orcs hit them like wrecking balls from the side, and that's that.

"How many is that?" You ask your companion, as you clean your blade.

"That's the third group, so...fifteen?" She shakes herself off as she catches her breath. "I don't think we're going to get any more of them like this, though. They're getting nervous." You nod, as the orcs finish picking over the corpses for interesting loot and rejoin the two of you.

"Then it's time we hit them directly." You declare, and even your companion looks pleased with the decision.

"Good." She says, popping her her neck with a twist of her head. "I was starting to worry I'd be reduced to nothing but bait."

>Attack all together
>Attack from five directions.
>Two groups, hit them either side.

>...?

>>38171036
>Two groups, hit them either side.

>>38171036
>Two groups, hit them either side.

>>38171036
>Two groups, hit them either side.

>>38171036
>Two groups, hit them either side.
Us with 2 orcs
And the companion leading the rest
Did we send someone for reinforcements?

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Things are starting to get tight, so I'll wrap up the thread here. Next one goes live, uh. Sometime when things are a little more manageable, so keep on eye on @QuestBaker, a brand new twitter account I made for the sole purpose of keeping you guys informed.

>>38172258
No, you did not.

It's been a lot of fun, guys - I spent way more time working on this in a row than I ever would have expected coming into it. This has been almost the only thing I've done in my free time since it began.

>>38172553
thanks for running! This thread's been up for like 3 days!