PART 3! one more part to go!
Orrin would perk up to the sound of footsteps. Nihka approached the guard outside of his gaol. She had more medicine and clothes in her arms. Without any sun or sky, it was difficult to tell, but Orrin guessed it may have been a day or two since he last saw her.Â
Nihka raises a brow as she walks in, she saw that the cell was empty. She looked side to side for her friend.Â
"....Orrin..."
"Nihka." he says, his voice was far from the weak whimper it was when he was first treated.
He was exactly where he was since that meeting with the cliptail: leaning up against the wall by the exit.
Nihka tilted her head slightly.
"....are.... are you.. hungry..." she showed the bundle of cloth in her arms. "... cold..."
He nodded "Food...food would be niceâ€
Nihka nodded back and kneeled in front of him, unrolling the bundle. There was not much, just some dried meat and fruits, a clump of what looks like dried meat and berries smooshed together in tallow. Not a fancy meal, but energy dense and able to keep for a long time. The bundle of cloth itself is some fresh clothes. Again, nothing fancy...but maybe a little warmer.
He did not seem to care what was offered, he would go for it quickly, devouring the food "Thank you." he said breathlessly "Water?" his voice begun to rasp. Hands curled into tight fists, his body was so visibly tense, so bundled up with rage and hatred, but in what direction was it pointing?
Nihka grimaced a bit, and turns away. She went to check if there was a jar or jug or pot of water in the small room. Her tail swished as she searched. It was not hard, there were not many places to hide something like that in here. She returned with a small jar she had filled with water, one brow raised as she looked to him, handing it to him.
Orrin goes for the jar and started to quickly cup water from it into his mouth. It was a desperate quiet minute as he gulped loudly and then reclines back against the wall. He paused for a brief moment, leaning his head back against the wall "I was right…" he said softly, looking to Nihka.
"... right about..." Nihka tilted her head, watching.
"I'm no prisoner of mercy." He said, holding his gaze "They want to use me...for something."
"..i not...ah... never argue.. particular fact..." She sat back on her heels. "...d..do you know purpose..."
"I do not." he said "One of their slaves came in" he peeled off his blanket to expose his chest "Changed the bandages"
Nihka nodded, then gestured to the fresh change of clothes.
"... definite see use... or curious... learn about y-you... ... probable want information.... Orrin goal... location.. ally.... ... possible will ask perform.. task..."
"They will get nothing out of me" he said scowling.
Nihka's lips thin, then she nodded once more
"...i understand..." She softly let out a “hmmâ€, looking over the bandages.
He looked to the fresh change of clothing "thank you Nihka.." he said and looks to her. "Whatever your plans are, do them quickly, before you see me any worse off."
"..i... not understand..." She tilted her head.
"You think you can change them, make them see something else…" his icy eyes seemed to burn "Isn't that right? That's the only reason you are here."
Nihka shook her head, then sighed quietly. Her ears flicked towards the direction of the door, and the guard.
"...yes.... ah... and no...."
He narrowed his gaze, noticing how her ears flicked in direction towards the guard, he said nothing, waiting quietly for a response.
"... h here. ...to learn... to try understand.... to try talk.... help avoid death..." Her ears twitched a bit and she smiles to Orrin weakly.
"Take care Nihka, you tell them the values of not killing and they'll learn how to abuse it. It very well may be that your teachings are what is keeping me alive for now, but perhaps it would have been better if I was killed."
 "... death never better...." Nihka shook her head. "...if dead.... no chance change... no chance learn or grow..."
"No chance to make things worse either." he responded, wrapping the blanket around himself, holding himself with it. The occasional puff of condensed breath in the cool air slipped from his lips. "They haven't harmed me since my arrival." he said in a lowered tone "Whatever they need me for, they need me healthy."
"... no reason hurt you.... no benefit..." Nihka shrugged. "...I suspect just talk..."
He laughed bitterly "No reason? As if they need one. They need a reason not to harm me. Breaking arms, legs, starvation, all these does not stop a mouth from moving, in fact, may make it easier." he focuses on Nihka intensely "You've not seen war, nor are you an Inquisitor's son." he said the icy eyes pleading "You fool yourself if you believe otherwise, which is why, whatever your goal is, you best work quickly before they get what they want from me, or I die from my refusal."
 "...you misunderstand....." A pause and her ears lowered. She shrugged. "....plenty reason not hurt.... n..no... no reason...t..to hurt.... not important.... ..but....ah... I know... Nuhn value strength... admire strength...." She points at him very briefly. "...I assume reason not hurt...is.... because want talk... not interrogate...."
"What strength? My capture was far from some glorious last stand. It makes no sense"
Nihka pondered this quietly for a moment, looking intently at Orrin.
"We were led into ambush, one I knew was coming and yet still we went, confident...was foolish.â€
"..w..." Nihka frowned, brows furrowed, stuttering a bit, before finally managing a few words, her head tilted.
".... reason... for.... come...."
He tilted his head in turn "My reason? or yours?"
"..you... reason... reason come... despite ambush expect..."
"We needed information, needed to know how many were there, where they are, how to get there...its a miqo'te tribe, they are never too large..." he says looking to her. "I had expected a need to retreat, but not on the first day, No way they had the troops to cover 12 days worth of land.â€
".... not know lot... miqo'te tribe..." Nihka tilts her head. "...lot about... about scout... about territory....." She frowned slightly. "....if just interest number.... reason not ask Nihka...."
“You know what I'd do with those numbers."
".... prepare force attack... kill.... kill tribe... kill child... kill kitten...."
"I'd do what I must." He looked at her "And that's why I could not ask you."
"... you still plan kill child..."
"The children are far from innocent, they take them with them for the hunts, are there and help, help with the mutilation, the killing, the ambushes. We would strike down all that would fight when we attack." he says, face cold, distant "I do what is necessary, I do not enjoy it."
"... Deny chance learn.. chance grow.... chance love..." Nihka closed her eyes. ".... vengeance... just.... cause more vengeance.... violence just cause violence..."
"It ends, when there are none left." he said coldly "They'll have their chance when their Nunh's head is on a spit, should they not see it at that moment then mercy, kindness…all wasted on them." he took a heavy breath "People like me exist, so that people like you need never see this, never have to make these decisions."
"...a single chance.... a moment.... and... no second chance..." Nihka tilted her head.
"This /is/ their second chance" he said looking at her "The clipped that was here spoke that it is cowardly to die, we'll see if their words hold any meaning."
 Nihka raised a brow.
"... first chance... explain..."
"It was when they decided to expand, to not stay in the mountains where they would have been left alone." he kept the blanket tightly wrapped "Much like when Thordan and his knights twelve doomed Ishgard to its war, so too has their Nunh. They'll have their second chance when he is deposed"
"...is not chance...." Nihka frowned. "... for tribe.. for chance learn mercy... learn love... most tribe... first chance..... if....if you kill Nunh.... will be first chance.... for most tribe.... and you will condemn... single failure... like clip...."
"It won't be like clipping, it will be quick, no humiliation, no torture like what these barbarians do."
: "... for single failure... deny any chance learn...."
"Their lesson will be that their Nunh is no god."
"...if...y..you can even ...bleed....Nunh...."
"Come off it, Nihka. You are starting to sound like them!" he said with a growl. "I've felled dragons, survived primals and voidsent alike. There are no gods but the twelve above."
"...I watch Akiko stab... in chest... not bleed ... I watch Nunh fight...." She glanced over towards the door, her ears flicking. ".... strong.... incredible proud... and... ah..... you will upset huntress... guard.... keep insult....."
Orrin locks eyes with Nihka, gaze unwavering "Only would prove me right if she comes in here to hurt me whilst I'm injured and unarmed. They are too meek to dare challenge me on equal footing. Let their precious feelings be hurt."
Nihka smirked a bit and nodded. "....d..do you think.... fight primal... alone ... can...."
"No, I've no delusions of that. but none these huntresses are one."Â
Nihka nodded, still not looking away from the entrance. "....Nunh.... try avoid fight Nunh...... will probable chance talk soon..." Her ears lower slightly as she realized that in a way he was right, she had started to sound like them. But it's just... she was just explaining the facts of the matter...
He lifts his head up to look at Nihka "I have not much choice, without a weapon I am not capable of doing much."
Nihka turned to look him in the eyes. "..... even weapon... with weapon... unless want fight primal alone...."
"With a weapon, I can leave..."
Nihka's brows furrowed and she tilted her head. "..... fight escape..."
"If necessary, my chances are much worse without a weapon" He looks to Nihka "You'll think they'll let me go? You think if I give them what they want they will leave me be? I will die, Nihka.†He casts on arm out to the side in emphasis, slamming a fist against the cave wall “And if I am going to, I will do so fighting, not in some cell like an animal."
Nihka's expression falls. ".... depend.... on Nunh ask.... suppose.... but..." Nihka squeaks and cuts herself off when she hears a new voice.
"You may have your chance, Outsider."
She turns to look to the door again, ears back. A man stands in the door, one whom Nihka had seen once before. Somewhat older-looking, a tribal like the rest, and built tall, broad-shouldered and muscular. A single scar traced over his face, that and his tightly pulled-back hair lending a severe, angular cast to him. A pair of spears are holstered in an X upon his back, and silvery eyes regarded the both of them with a calm, piercing sense of observation.
Nihka stands and bows her head in greeting. Just her head, mind, respectful but not submissive.
Orrin however turn towards the Miqo’te and where Nihka bowed he'd not look away, ever defiant.
The man's lip curved in a light smile. "What? No bold proclamations? No threats, or taunts? Ishgardians." A soft chuckle, and he shakes his head. "The Nunh wishes to speak with you. Follow. Or be dragged. That would be amusing." He turned, and started to head off.
Nihka looked to Orrin, head tilted. ".... probable....ah... not enough time change new clothes.... "
Orrin pushed up from the wall and stood, looking to Nihka "The moment of truth." he then allowed the blanket he used as a cloak to fall fall, the bandages wrapped about his chest the only sort of modesty aside from the slacks he wore. "Nihka, pray we see each other again."
"~Menphina's love guide you~"
Orrin would perk up to the sound of footsteps. Nihka approached the guard outside of his gaol. She had more medicine and clothes in her arms. Without any sun or sky, it was difficult to tell, but Orrin guessed it may have been a day or two since he last saw her.Â
Nihka raises a brow as she walks in, she saw that the cell was empty. She looked side to side for her friend.Â
"....Orrin..."
"Nihka." he says, his voice was far from the weak whimper it was when he was first treated.
He was exactly where he was since that meeting with the cliptail: leaning up against the wall by the exit.
Nihka tilted her head slightly.
"....are.... are you.. hungry..." she showed the bundle of cloth in her arms. "... cold..."
He nodded "Food...food would be niceâ€
Nihka nodded back and kneeled in front of him, unrolling the bundle. There was not much, just some dried meat and fruits, a clump of what looks like dried meat and berries smooshed together in tallow. Not a fancy meal, but energy dense and able to keep for a long time. The bundle of cloth itself is some fresh clothes. Again, nothing fancy...but maybe a little warmer.
He did not seem to care what was offered, he would go for it quickly, devouring the food "Thank you." he said breathlessly "Water?" his voice begun to rasp. Hands curled into tight fists, his body was so visibly tense, so bundled up with rage and hatred, but in what direction was it pointing?
Nihka grimaced a bit, and turns away. She went to check if there was a jar or jug or pot of water in the small room. Her tail swished as she searched. It was not hard, there were not many places to hide something like that in here. She returned with a small jar she had filled with water, one brow raised as she looked to him, handing it to him.
Orrin goes for the jar and started to quickly cup water from it into his mouth. It was a desperate quiet minute as he gulped loudly and then reclines back against the wall. He paused for a brief moment, leaning his head back against the wall "I was right…" he said softly, looking to Nihka.
"... right about..." Nihka tilted her head, watching.
"I'm no prisoner of mercy." He said, holding his gaze "They want to use me...for something."
"..i not...ah... never argue.. particular fact..." She sat back on her heels. "...d..do you know purpose..."
"I do not." he said "One of their slaves came in" he peeled off his blanket to expose his chest "Changed the bandages"
Nihka nodded, then gestured to the fresh change of clothes.
"... definite see use... or curious... learn about y-you... ... probable want information.... Orrin goal... location.. ally.... ... possible will ask perform.. task..."
"They will get nothing out of me" he said scowling.
Nihka's lips thin, then she nodded once more
"...i understand..." She softly let out a “hmmâ€, looking over the bandages.
He looked to the fresh change of clothing "thank you Nihka.." he said and looks to her. "Whatever your plans are, do them quickly, before you see me any worse off."
"..i... not understand..." She tilted her head.
"You think you can change them, make them see something else…" his icy eyes seemed to burn "Isn't that right? That's the only reason you are here."
Nihka shook her head, then sighed quietly. Her ears flicked towards the direction of the door, and the guard.
"...yes.... ah... and no...."
He narrowed his gaze, noticing how her ears flicked in direction towards the guard, he said nothing, waiting quietly for a response.
"... h here. ...to learn... to try understand.... to try talk.... help avoid death..." Her ears twitched a bit and she smiles to Orrin weakly.
"Take care Nihka, you tell them the values of not killing and they'll learn how to abuse it. It very well may be that your teachings are what is keeping me alive for now, but perhaps it would have been better if I was killed."
 "... death never better...." Nihka shook her head. "...if dead.... no chance change... no chance learn or grow..."
"No chance to make things worse either." he responded, wrapping the blanket around himself, holding himself with it. The occasional puff of condensed breath in the cool air slipped from his lips. "They haven't harmed me since my arrival." he said in a lowered tone "Whatever they need me for, they need me healthy."
"... no reason hurt you.... no benefit..." Nihka shrugged. "...I suspect just talk..."
He laughed bitterly "No reason? As if they need one. They need a reason not to harm me. Breaking arms, legs, starvation, all these does not stop a mouth from moving, in fact, may make it easier." he focuses on Nihka intensely "You've not seen war, nor are you an Inquisitor's son." he said the icy eyes pleading "You fool yourself if you believe otherwise, which is why, whatever your goal is, you best work quickly before they get what they want from me, or I die from my refusal."
 "...you misunderstand....." A pause and her ears lowered. She shrugged. "....plenty reason not hurt.... n..no... no reason...t..to hurt.... not important.... ..but....ah... I know... Nuhn value strength... admire strength...." She points at him very briefly. "...I assume reason not hurt...is.... because want talk... not interrogate...."
"What strength? My capture was far from some glorious last stand. It makes no sense"
Nihka pondered this quietly for a moment, looking intently at Orrin.
"We were led into ambush, one I knew was coming and yet still we went, confident...was foolish.â€
"..w..." Nihka frowned, brows furrowed, stuttering a bit, before finally managing a few words, her head tilted.
".... reason... for.... come...."
He tilted his head in turn "My reason? or yours?"
"..you... reason... reason come... despite ambush expect..."
"We needed information, needed to know how many were there, where they are, how to get there...its a miqo'te tribe, they are never too large..." he says looking to her. "I had expected a need to retreat, but not on the first day, No way they had the troops to cover 12 days worth of land.â€
".... not know lot... miqo'te tribe..." Nihka tilts her head. "...lot about... about scout... about territory....." She frowned slightly. "....if just interest number.... reason not ask Nihka...."
“You know what I'd do with those numbers."
".... prepare force attack... kill.... kill tribe... kill child... kill kitten...."
"I'd do what I must." He looked at her "And that's why I could not ask you."
"... you still plan kill child..."
"The children are far from innocent, they take them with them for the hunts, are there and help, help with the mutilation, the killing, the ambushes. We would strike down all that would fight when we attack." he says, face cold, distant "I do what is necessary, I do not enjoy it."
"... Deny chance learn.. chance grow.... chance love..." Nihka closed her eyes. ".... vengeance... just.... cause more vengeance.... violence just cause violence..."
"It ends, when there are none left." he said coldly "They'll have their chance when their Nunh's head is on a spit, should they not see it at that moment then mercy, kindness…all wasted on them." he took a heavy breath "People like me exist, so that people like you need never see this, never have to make these decisions."
"...a single chance.... a moment.... and... no second chance..." Nihka tilted her head.
"This /is/ their second chance" he said looking at her "The clipped that was here spoke that it is cowardly to die, we'll see if their words hold any meaning."
 Nihka raised a brow.
"... first chance... explain..."
"It was when they decided to expand, to not stay in the mountains where they would have been left alone." he kept the blanket tightly wrapped "Much like when Thordan and his knights twelve doomed Ishgard to its war, so too has their Nunh. They'll have their second chance when he is deposed"
"...is not chance...." Nihka frowned. "... for tribe.. for chance learn mercy... learn love... most tribe... first chance..... if....if you kill Nunh.... will be first chance.... for most tribe.... and you will condemn... single failure... like clip...."
"It won't be like clipping, it will be quick, no humiliation, no torture like what these barbarians do."
: "... for single failure... deny any chance learn...."
"Their lesson will be that their Nunh is no god."
"...if...y..you can even ...bleed....Nunh...."
"Come off it, Nihka. You are starting to sound like them!" he said with a growl. "I've felled dragons, survived primals and voidsent alike. There are no gods but the twelve above."
"...I watch Akiko stab... in chest... not bleed ... I watch Nunh fight...." She glanced over towards the door, her ears flicking. ".... strong.... incredible proud... and... ah..... you will upset huntress... guard.... keep insult....."
Orrin locks eyes with Nihka, gaze unwavering "Only would prove me right if she comes in here to hurt me whilst I'm injured and unarmed. They are too meek to dare challenge me on equal footing. Let their precious feelings be hurt."
Nihka smirked a bit and nodded. "....d..do you think.... fight primal... alone ... can...."
"No, I've no delusions of that. but none these huntresses are one."Â
Nihka nodded, still not looking away from the entrance. "....Nunh.... try avoid fight Nunh...... will probable chance talk soon..." Her ears lower slightly as she realized that in a way he was right, she had started to sound like them. But it's just... she was just explaining the facts of the matter...
He lifts his head up to look at Nihka "I have not much choice, without a weapon I am not capable of doing much."
Nihka turned to look him in the eyes. "..... even weapon... with weapon... unless want fight primal alone...."
"With a weapon, I can leave..."
Nihka's brows furrowed and she tilted her head. "..... fight escape..."
"If necessary, my chances are much worse without a weapon" He looks to Nihka "You'll think they'll let me go? You think if I give them what they want they will leave me be? I will die, Nihka.†He casts on arm out to the side in emphasis, slamming a fist against the cave wall “And if I am going to, I will do so fighting, not in some cell like an animal."
Nihka's expression falls. ".... depend.... on Nunh ask.... suppose.... but..." Nihka squeaks and cuts herself off when she hears a new voice.
"You may have your chance, Outsider."
She turns to look to the door again, ears back. A man stands in the door, one whom Nihka had seen once before. Somewhat older-looking, a tribal like the rest, and built tall, broad-shouldered and muscular. A single scar traced over his face, that and his tightly pulled-back hair lending a severe, angular cast to him. A pair of spears are holstered in an X upon his back, and silvery eyes regarded the both of them with a calm, piercing sense of observation.
Nihka stands and bows her head in greeting. Just her head, mind, respectful but not submissive.
Orrin however turn towards the Miqo’te and where Nihka bowed he'd not look away, ever defiant.
The man's lip curved in a light smile. "What? No bold proclamations? No threats, or taunts? Ishgardians." A soft chuckle, and he shakes his head. "The Nunh wishes to speak with you. Follow. Or be dragged. That would be amusing." He turned, and started to head off.
Nihka looked to Orrin, head tilted. ".... probable....ah... not enough time change new clothes.... "
Orrin pushed up from the wall and stood, looking to Nihka "The moment of truth." he then allowed the blanket he used as a cloak to fall fall, the bandages wrapped about his chest the only sort of modesty aside from the slacks he wore. "Nihka, pray we see each other again."
"~Menphina's love guide you~"
RPC wiki! Leave rumors! https://wiki.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/pages/Orrin_Halgren
