Sounds good, lets see how we will fare; Somewhat mixed rolls, but good overall.
Deciding to not let the evening go to waste, you set out to find mentioned raider. An easy undertaking, given that most of them have settled some way from the rest of the maincamp for the sake of their mounts. Even then, some howling seems to be audible at any time of the day. With some asking around you easily find the encampment of Surkoz pack - only that they are not present. After inquiring to their neighbours, it seems that they have taken their wolves for a ride and should not be expected to return before quite some time after nightfall. After handing one of the men a copper, he is sure to deliver the news of your arrival, nebst your message.
Dejected you begin to walk back to your camp, but can't shake the feeling that something is amiss. After pondering the issue for a while, you run into someone while lost in thought. Much to your surprise he gives you a curt "My bad", instead of an insult or other retalation, and at this point it dawns on you. You are given some more measure of respect than you are used to, thinking back even when asking for the raider the others were quite more willing to be helpful than is usual. It seems the Ink is already hard at work - not unpleasant indeed.
Your mood heightend by that relevation, you try to leverage your new position even more so. Stopping by the next-best "trader" with an ample stash of looted and pillaged goods, you decide to try your luck. Sure enough, instead of a disdainful or desinterested glance he meets your presence with a smile, even going so far as to pull out the better pieces and appraising them to you. One armour out of hardened leather meets your eye - only slight damaging from where an arrow met the neck of its former owner, and the blood has been washed out for the most part. After haggling it down to two Elven Silver (Or three Orcen ones, for that part) the trader is not willing to decrease his price - to think that he started at five you feel lucky to have him pressed down that much. After seeing you indecisive for a couple of breaths, he becons you to wait for a moment. When you see the armour again, he has stitched some wolven fur onto the length of the shoulders, making for a suitable armour for your new standing.
Doning your newest possession on your way back, noone dares to run into you anymore. The last stretch towards your tent is guided by the glow of torches, as night has completely fallen by this point of time. To your surprise Gózul is already standing outside of your shared tent, with a stranger besides him. With a Raider Tattoo on his cheecks and the wolf not far off, you wager a good guess to his identity.
Surkoz, I take it, is your greeting, accompanied by a forceful-met handshake and his nod.
It seems that I have arrived here quite faster than you did, but no matter. I already talked with your companion and would like to keep our talk short. Let me say beforehand that I appreciate your forwardness in this matter, and my Interest in the nightward province is true. The problem that I see is how you would want to go about paying the fees for me and my pack...Without him even finishing his sentence, you already know where he is going - and you are not sure if you want any of that. Sure enough, you need some troops and while you would be allowed to gather up to thirty men by yourself, having some wolfriders here and now would speed up the process of you "actually" taking charge of your lands. But Surkoz Intentiones in this matter are quite straight forward - he wants his own piece for his services. And with no guarante to find someone else as fitting for your cause as him, he has a good chance of you giving in.
How will you go about recruiting this cunning fellow?Health: Worrying
Nasty wound in the abdomen - burned out, starting to heal
Several cuts and bruisings - semi-healed
Small fresh tattoo - minuscule
Skills:
Adequate Axewielder
Poor Blocker
Competent Brawler
1x Set of adorned hardened leather
1x Notched shoddy battleaxe
1x Damaged wodden buckler
1x Scourge, Marauder-Strap
1x Parchment "for the Elves"
5x Elven Silver (looted)
14x Orcen copper
Ninkasi - Your shortly deceased Cousin - Dead
Gózul - Long-Term Companion - Trusted Friend
Surkoz - Raider in hope of employment - Just met
The real challenge for rank-bearers is in most cases not finding men to serve under them, but keeping them fed. Because of that, many either serve a higher-ranking orc with possession of land, or only make use of their privileges in times of war.