Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

What a strange orc, these words don't seem like what an orc can say, Hyacinth thought to himself, and he added "taboo" before the name of the spirit of the earth mother?Only the ancient kings of the old empire tabooed their names. It seems that this spirit of the earth mother must be of high authority and awe.

Jon had a complicated look on his face. He asked the orc, "How much is the tax?"

The orc said: "Take the average value of the top ten human city-states in the current season."

Hearing this, Adora burst into a dumb smile, and she murmured, "Average? When will orcs count?"

Jon's face became even weirder, he was half-smile, and a little sullen.He said to the orcs: "I believe that you have produced a wise and benevolent spirit of the earth mother, but referring to past experiences, we cannot trust the orcs like this."

The iguana said: "The spirit of the Mother Earth has an order to treat you in a peaceful way, so the orcs will not force you to go. But if you are not willing to be guests in the tribe, then you will never leave this land."

Jon was startled and said, "Did you set up the maze in this land?"

The iguana shook his head and said, "It's not us, but the spirit of the Earth Mother knows the solution—how, make up your mind, old sir."

Jon pondered for a while, and said, "Okay, we'll go with you." His answer caused a commotion from the people behind him. The merchants accused him of being a coward, and the mercenaries even cursed the orcs, saying that if they went to the tribe, the orcs would die. And their evil gods will eat all of them.Hyacinth was shocked and frightened when she heard this. She was not worried about the orcs eating people, but what she was worried about was that these idiots would anger the dragon knight.When she was in Xiongshan, she had seen how powerful Yalong was. This knight alone could destroy the entire convoy.

Yet the man remained calm and restrained, like a real trained knight.This is really strange, when did orcs still have such people?

Jon said at this time: "We need a hostage! If you take a hostage, we will go with you."

The iguana said: "Then we also want a hostage, let the most noble of you come out."

After he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Hyacinth.

Why?The fake princess was dumbfounded, what are you looking at me for!

swamp maze, three

swamp maze, three

So Hyacinth was pushed out by people.

I shouldn't have let Violet make up this nonsense in the first place, she thought, sooner or later these people will skin me.

Eight-fingered Jon introduced Hyacinth's identity to Iguana. After hearing this, Iguana said, "Didn't you lie to me? This little girl..." He stared at Hyacinth's face. Hyacinth was too scared to breathe. Her mind was full of what Cherry had said earlier: half-orcs eat children, and cut women's breasts to make soup.

The iguana yelled, "This little girl is just a slave, don't try to trick me with a slave!"

"That's right, that's right, I'm just a slave!" Hyacinth said hurriedly, "He lied to you, he lied to you. I'm not some princess, I'm just an ordinary slave."

Jon said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? You are a princess!"

"I..." Hyacinth didn't know what to say.

At this time, Silver Fox Ranger stood up and said, "How can you let a lady be a hostage? If you want to take a hostage, you can take me."

The orc snorted and said, "She is a noble southern princess, what kind of status are you?"

The ranger raised his chest and said, "I am the Crown Prince of the Northern Territory, the real King of the Northern Territory!"

"Go to hell!" said the orc, and took the hyacinth away.The ranger shouted "I am the king, I am the king!" but no one paid any attention to him.

The iguana said to the hyacinth: "Don't be afraid, little girl, the spirit of the earth mother said, don't let us hurt anyone."

Then I will believe it, she thought to herself, the spirit of the Earth Mother really wants to harm me, and I have nothing to do with her.

So the group followed the iguana to the orc tribe.Two strong orcs looked at Hyacinth, and Barut held the disarmed iguana.

The swamp orc stronghold is behind a leeward rock, next to a small stream.The sound of war drums can be heard within a mile away.Eight-fingered Jon showed fear and asked the iguana, "What is this doing?"

Although the iguana handed over the weapons as a hostage, he didn't show any fear at all. He said, "It's training."

Jon nodded silently, and the ranger beside him smiled and asked, "Orcs are still training soldiers?"

"Why can't the orcs practice?"

The ranger pondered for a moment, then asked: "Then who are you training to fight?"

The iguana showed the cunning unique to humans, "Anyway, I won't hit you."

Soon, several people came to the orc stronghold.Hyacinth was startled when she saw the scene in front of her—most of the orcs were nomads or hunters, so they didn't live in groups like humans. She thought that there were only a few hundred orcs in the stronghold, at most a thousand, but she didn't expect that this place had already begun. A walled city has been built. Judging by the scale, there may be tens of thousands.

One hundred orcs can capture a castle, so what is the feeling of tens of thousands of orcs?

The city wall here is still being built, and many orcs are carrying wood and stones to build the city wall, and some people are using wheelbarrows to transport fodder one by one.Outside the city wall is the military training ground. A tall general is dispatching troops, and someone is beating drums beside him.

The Ranger asked him, "Is this your tribe?"

"These are three tribes." The iguana said, "The Spirit of the Earth Mother gathered her believers, and then we built a castle here. This city is called 'Harpoon', and the building over there is called 'Witch King's Tower. ', is the residence of the spirit of the Earth Mother, her place of practice and our altar."

Harpoon?Hyacinth looked at the rising orc city. She felt that people were working very hard. The orcs were strong and the laborers were stronger than humans. The city is nothing to worry about.Barbs, horse refusals, watchtowers, poison pools, and rammed earth walls protect the city, with huts, tents, and wide roads in between.

When the convoy came to the walled city, everyone tied up the chariots and horses, and then stood where they were, no one dared to wander around.At this time, Eight Fingers Qiao En asked: "Where is the spirit of the Earth Mother?" The ranger immediately shouted: "Yes, where is the Spirit of the Earth Mother? Let me see her!"

At this time, a female half-orc came over and said, "Earth Mother is meditating in the Witch King's Tower. Please wait a moment, everyone. We will prepare a tent with hot wine, beds and clean clothes. These are free."

Jon said: "No need, we will wait here." Then he ordered the convoy: "No one is allowed to run around, the mercenaries stand by!"

The atmosphere was tense, but the orcs behaved very naturally. Several orc children pointed at them and laughed. Hyacinth also saw a female orc singing and washing clothes.

The female white orc introduced herself and said her name was Bai Guo.Like the iguana, Bai Guo is a half-orc with a broken horn, and can speak Mandarin fluently.This person is more gentle and communicative than the iguana.With her mediation, the atmosphere became less tense.Hyacinth learned from her mouth that the spirit of the Earth Mother intends to do business with humans, so as to make the orcs richer.The orcs want good weapons, herbs, farming tools and even books from humans, and they want more gold to buy more things.

This surprised the people in the team. People were discussing this matter, most of them were curious and mocking.However, Adora uttered a frightening sentence:

"If the barbarians were civilized, they would be the same as humans - and these guys are stronger and more aggressive than humans. Imagine that between Hummingbird City and the Reach, suddenly tens of thousands of armored, iron Swords, tactical, disciplined orcs, what a horrible thing that is."

But then she added: "Fortunately, I'm not from the Gulf."

Waiting and waiting, there was no news from the spirit of the Earth Mother until the afternoon and dusk.The sound of horns came from the Witch King Tower, the drums outside the city stopped immediately, and the laborers in the city also stopped.Women and children avoided each other, and grown men stood still outside.Then an orc screamed and said in the orc language: "The spirit of the earth mother, Yu Reiter, come out of the tower to inspect!"

Then a huge red-skinned dragon came from behind the tower. It was a circle larger than ordinary dragons, as big as four horses.On its back was a chair made of bones, animal skins, and vines, on which sat a woman.This woman is not as strong as an orc. There is only one ornamental horn on the top of her head. From a distance, she looks like a human being.

Adora looked over there and said, "Is that an orc?"

Jon said, "Orcs maybe? But how could an Orc be a Mother Spirit?"

"That's definitely a human girl." Ranger smiled, "And she's very pretty, well, I'm going to say hello to her."

Only Hyacinth was speechless in surprise——

Could it be her?This is impossible!

swamp maze, four

swamp maze, four

Yalong approached, and Hyacinth was sure that it was Isrit.

She was wearing a short orc leather skirt, soft armor inlaid with gold on her upper body, her long hair was tied into three braids, her face was painted with light oil paint, and she wore a wreath crown on her head.Apart from her attire, Isrit looks thinner and more shabby than before. In Mustang Town, she and Hyacinth were indistinguishable sisters, but now Hyacinth thinks she looks like a solemn godmother.

Hyacinth thought to herself: The taboo of the name is the first half of the syllable of taboo, and the orcs said she is taboo Ritter, so isn't her full name Yisriette?Isrit Ambleside, my god-sister!

Yalong stopped in front of the crowd, and a half-orc named Bai Guo helped the spirit of the Earth Mother get off the mount.Silver Fox Ranger was the first to go up. He saluted the northern nobleman and said, "Beautiful lady, it is my honor to meet you. I..."

The spirit of the Earth Mother looked at him coldly, and with a wave of his hand, the two orcs dragged him aside.The ranger was still calling: "Spirit of the Earth Mother, great goddess, I want to have dinner with you..." He was dragged further and further away.

The spirit of the Earth Mother came to the crowd and asked, "Which one is the leader of the caravan." She spoke with a little Gulf accent.

Just as Jon was about to talk to Isrit, Hyacinth couldn't help shouting: "Sister! It's me, it's Hyacinth!" She waved her arms.

Isrit was stunned for a moment, "Hyacinth?" She murmured in a low voice, then opened her eyes and shouted, "Hyacinth!" She rushed forward.The orcs quickly retreated to both sides, and the people in the convoy didn't know why.Hyacinth rushed up to hug her, and immediately burst into tears.

Isrit's embrace was still as warm as before. She comforted Hyacinth first, and then said to the others: "I am the orc leader of Harpoon City, Isrit Ambside. You come from afar You are all my guests here, please put down your guard and sit in the Witch King Tower."

Hyacinth also said to Jon: "My lord, it's okay! The spirit of the Earth Mother is my sister. We have known each other for a long time. She is not a bad person!"

Jon and Adora whispered a few words, then nodded and said, "Okay, we'll go in with you."

Then some Goblins who spoke the Common Tongue came up to arrange the caravans, and each caravan went to a tent.The orcs arranged accommodation for them and carried their luggage.Eight Fingers Jon and other team leaders followed Isrit to the Witch King's Tower.

The Witch King's Tower is a two-story attic piled up with rammed earth and giant wood. There are animal bones on all sides and skulls hanging on it, full of the barbaric atmosphere of orc architecture.

There is a piece of land next to the Witch King Tower, surrounded by several huge stones, there are two huge animal bone totems at the door, and the straw mats and animal skins on the ceiling look a bit shabby.The spirit of the Earth Mother explained to them that it was the new Witch King's Tower, but it had just been built for a month or so, and it would be a huge stone pyramid after it was completed.

Several people came to the hall on the second floor of the Witch King Tower. There was a square table in the hall, and Estherite invited everyone to sit down.As the spirit of the Earth Mother, she should sit in the front seat. The first place on her left is Hyacinth, followed by Jon, Adora, Silver Fox Ranger and others.On the right hand are the orcs and the elders of the orcs.

There were cured meats on the table, and some bubbling drinks.People smelled it, but no one dared to drink it.

Isrit said: "Everyone may be confused about this matter, now I will explain to you one by one. First of all, I will introduce myself again. I am Isrit Ambside, the mother of the orcs. Spirit. But you must have noticed that I am not a pure-blooded orc, but a human being possessed by a god. I was born in the Gulf, and I was once the wife of a nobleman, so everyone can let go of your guard and treat it as an ordinary talks."

Jon stared at Isrit, and said, "Humans possessed by gods? I've never heard of such a thing. You said your name is Isrit Ambside... Ambside? This I have heard the last name."

"To tell you the truth, my husband is the Earl of Bear Mountain."

"Oh, that's it, I know him!" Jon clapped his hands, "I was in Bear Mountain last year, and I met him. The Earl of Ambleside is a kind and good man."

Hearing what he said about Haven, Estherite's expression froze for a moment, and after waiting for a while, she continued: "Don't mention the past, I want to tell you about the present." She glanced at Hyacinth, said, "Sister, let's catch up after the meeting."

"Okay." Hyacinth nodded.

Yisruite continued: "Presumably Bai Guo told you before that the orcs represented by Harpoon City intend to open up trade and engage in free trade with humans. Harpoon City includes three major tribes of orcs, accounting for ten percent of the orc population. We can sell ores, agate, herbs, animal skins, animal bones, animal horns, various fragrances, deer antlers, special textiles and food. In addition to this, there are also various groceries, and I will give them to you later A list, let you choose. In the future, I will build a road from the swamp to the river bend. I will line up soldiers to protect the road safety. I hope that all merchants who pass this road will come to Harpoon City Look, you can take away high-quality goods and earn gold coins, and we can also obtain the necessities of life and accumulate wealth. I wonder what you think?"

Several businessmen, including Jon, were dumbfounded. Clark put away his domineering look in the past, and asked carefully: "Do you buy things? I want to ask, how much tax do you charge on the goods, and what's the matter?" Keep us safe?"

Yisrit replied: "During the first three years of free trade, Harpoon City collected tolls and did not charge any additional commodity taxes. As for safety, we will form an excellent orc guard, and we will be at the entrance of the swamp. Set up an outpost, as long as the caravan pays the toll, the escort team will escort you all the way to Harpoon City, and send you out of the swamp after the transaction is completed. The leaders of the escort team are all half-orcs who can speak human languages, and every Everyone is disciplined, so you can rest assured."

Clark was amazed and said, "This is so strange! The orcs are actually going to do business with humans."

Isrit smiled and said nothing, and the others discussed it, and then Adora asked: "You only do business with northerners?"

Isrit said: "Anyone, any race, as long as they can bring gold coins or goods, the orcs are willing to do business with them. I hope Harpoon City can become the center of the swamp area and a hub connecting the north and the south."

swamp maze, five

swamp maze, five

Jon said: "If this is the case, then I need a detailed purchase list. I also want to know what goods you orcs need most. Ma'am, please forgive my offense. Before I see the detailed list and goods, I have no reason to believe that the orcs will suddenly become a bunch of businessmen."

"It's not something that can be changed in a day or two. My openness to free trade has also been opposed by a large number of orcs. Otherwise, there will be at least seven tribesmen in Harpoon City." Isrit sighed, "I hope I After the people become rich, they can help the aborigines in these swamps change their minds. Oh, yes, although we have a list now, many commodities are not in place. I only started to open trade more than a month ago, and you are almost The first people to come in."

"Then we are very lucky." Eight Fingers Jon laughed.

Isrit replied: "Very lucky, old man, as the first batch of caravans, I will give you a discount."

The last person to ask the question was Silver Fox Ranger.

"Beautiful lady, are you married?" he asked.

Isrit kept smiling, but her tone seemed to cool down, "I think I've already said that I am the wife of Earl Ambleside."

"But I heard..." Seeing that Essraet's eyes were wrong, he turned his eyes and said, "Ah, I mean, as the queen of orcs, you should have more male companions, this is your right .”

She shook her head and said, "I don't need that kind of power, my beloved husband. And being the mother of a child, my energy—"

"What!?" Hyacinth interrupted her speech, "You became a mother? When did it happen? Boys and girls?"

"The day before we left Bear Mountain, there was a boy." Isrit smiled, "I'll tell you about this later, okay?"

"Well, good!" Hyacinth flushed with excitement - I must see that little guy, I'm his godmother!

Afterwards, Isrit exchanged some business matters with them, and she also asked Eight Finger Jon to spread the news—if no one spread the news, Harpoon City would be barren in 100 years.

"We also plan to form a mission to go to the Gulf and the North." Estherite said, "There is nothing more meaningful than a solemn visit."

Silver Fox Game said: "Then I advise you not to do this. The Gulf and the North are in full-scale war. Now is not the time to do business."

But Estherite said: "It's more suitable to do business during war."

After the meeting ended, it was dusk, and Estherite invited everyone to dinner.The orc dinner is not as refined as that of humans, everyone just sits on the ground outside, only Esrit and a few elders are eligible to sit on the chairs.Isrit originally prepared tables and chairs for Hyacinth, but Hyacinth didn't like the special feeling, so she sat on a soft cushion next to Isrit.

The food of the orcs is very rough, big fish and big meat, big pots of stew and spicy spirits.There are several large plates on the ground, the largest plate contains a whole cow, and many fish, ducks and chickens are placed around it.

The food is placed inside, and whoever eats it can take it by himself; Estherite and the elders each have an exquisite small plate, so they don't have to go down and compete with people for food.

The amount of food is large and served quickly, but even this cannot satisfy the huge appetite of the orcs.It didn't take long for the bones to pile up, and then people started singing and dancing.The orcs sang so violently that Hyacinth could hardly tell whether they were howling or singing.The dances are also weird and funny, like a herd of drunk elephants.

Adora said from the side: "I think I should go up and teach the orcs how to sing."

The bard looked at her and said, "Then teach them how to play the lute." After saying this, he looked at the hyacinth, because the hyacinth is the best dancer here.

Hyacinth shrugged and said, "I can dance, but I don't teach anyone. The orcs don't need me to teach them. They dance very well."

So the three of them participated in the performance, and Adora began to sing cheerful southern songs, and Silver Fox Ranger immediately matched her with a suitable accompaniment as soon as she heard the beginning, as if there was no song that Ranger could not understand; while Hyacinth could only improvise, she Dancing was self-taught and she was a natural dancer, she moved to the beat as naturally as she breathed.

Isrit took the lead in applauding, and then the orcs also roared.