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"... and that's why I want to introduce you to my friends," Victoria — a nimble halfling ranger who had recently been hiring Azar more and more often to help with her work — finished her monologue, or rather something more like an advertising campaign.
The man absentmindedly scratched his finger against the tusk sticking out of his thoughtfully pouting lips. He knew Victoria wasn't just a mercenary! There was some kind of organization behind her. And it was of a different kind than a street gang — Victoria was way more collected than an average bandit, she was guided in her actions by something more than just profit, although the half-orc couldn't grasp what exactly. He liked working with her. But Azar wasn't sure that he would like her friends as much as the ranger herself.
"I'll think about it," he replied, trying not to look too interested, but he was already turning over in his head all the ideas about how he could find out at least something about these mysterious "friends", because Victoria herself always answered his questions evasively.
Azar's search hadn't yielded any results. It wasn't that he had hoped for much, but he had expected to get at least a few crumbs. No one in the Guildhall had told him anything intelligible.
The half-orc slammed his mug on the bar in irritation, earning a disapproving look from the bartender. Azar gave him an equally displeased look, then stared into space, trying to decide what to do. His late mother had told him that if you were unsure of what to do, you should make a list of all the pros and cons, and then it'll become clearer. It didn't seem to help her much, judging by her life, but Azar had no other ideas, so why not give it a try. He "borrowed" a piece of paper from some nerdy looking newbie, hid in a quiet corner and began making a list.
The advantages were:
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Following the rules — Azar liked how much more his work with Victoria was organized and predictable, compared to other jobs he was hired for.
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Victoria probably want to work with him more. And if she wants to introduce him to her "friends", this could mean that he might get a more serious job with higher pay.
Disadvantages:
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He liked that Victoria followed the rules, but Azar had no idea what these rules were and why she chose them. What if these rules were absolute crap and Azar wouldn't like them?
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Perhaps she was a member of some crazy cult and they wanted to sacrifice him. The chances of that were slim, but Azar couldn't completely rule out the possibility.
That's two points against two and each of them is equal. Azar growled and discontentedly crumpled a piece of paper.
Okay, what if he go the other way... What's the worst that can happen if he just goes to a meeting? It doesn't oblige him to do anything, does it? Azar chewed tensely on his pencil. If Victoria was so secretive about her acquaintances, what would happen if she first revealed her secrets to Azar, and then he still refused her offer? Experience told him nothing good. And if he didn't go, then... Azar was afraid Victoria would find someone more open minded for his job. And Azar would have to again get by from one part-time job to another, unsure of the future. Victoria was straightforward, punctual, knew what she wanted and what needed to be done for it and kept her promises, she often dodged answers, but almost never lied — not that much, but much more than one could usually count on for the dirty work that he did.
The half-orc slapped his hands on his thighs and stood up from his seat. He had made his decision — this job was worth the possible risks.
Azar stood in a dark room surrounded by people in black clothes and devil-head masks. His guess that Victoria was a member of some crazy cult turned out to be right. Fuck! Just when he started to think that his life was getting better.
Victoria stood before him, dressed in the same uniform as her "friends," and tried to explain something to him. Azar looked at her with a stony face, nodding occasionally, hoping that in the dark it was unnoticeable how sweat was trickling down his temple from the strain. His ears were ringing and Victoria used too many long words, so he understood almost nothing. But Azar refused to tell the woman about it, deciding that he didn't want to make a fool of himself before he died.
The halfling's small hand nudged his side, bringing him out of his gloomy thoughts.
"Huh?" Azar blinked a couple of times, trying to focus on reality.
"So what do you think?"
"Um..." the man drawled, frantically thinking how to answer the question he had missed, but was too proud to ask again. His gaze darted around the room.
Azar's eyes stumbled over a small old drawing hanging on the wall — a green horned orc with bulging muscles on his bare torso and eyes burning with malice. He looked really cool. Azar frowned. Apparently it was the god these weirdos worshipped.
The man didn't care much about the gods — he knew that if they blessed anyone, it was only someone special. Azar was no longer a boy and had no illusions that he was exceptional in any way. He was ordinary at best. So he saw no point in wasting time on prayers. But at least he knew that non-orcs usually didn't worship the orcish pantheon. This sparked his curiosity that overcame the growing panic.
"Do you worship an orc god?"
"What?" For a second, confusion appeared on Victoria's face. Azar pointed his finger at the poster hanging behind her and she turned her head towards it. "Oh, you mean that! No. Bane takes on different forms at will. But this is one of his favorites. At least that's what they say, not that I..."
"Oh, so he looks like that because he likes the way orcs look?" Azar interrupted her before she could change the subject.
"Um... I guess you could say that..." the woman muttered in confusion, apparently not expecting that this was what would attract Azar so much.
The half-orc's spirits perked up for the first time that evening and he even had to restrain himself from smiling. He liked the idea that a deity who could look however he wanted had decided that looking like an orc was the best option. Maybe he didn't come here for nothing.
"So, are you willing to join our church?" Victoria cleared her throat.
Azar pouted. Worshiping a hot orc wasn't the worst option. But the man didn't want to waste his precious time on such nonsense as prayers and other useless rubbish. Moreover, if their church was engaged in the same boring stuff as in the temple of Ilmater, then serving their god would be worse than death and no stable job or high salary would compensate for it. He would rather be killed here and now than listen to one more sermon in his life.
"That sounds cool, but I don't want to waste my time on bullshit like church rituals," the half-orc said, puffing out his chest and folding his arms across it, not forgetting to prop up his biceps on from the back with his palms to make them look bigger to emphasize seriousness of his words.
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"You weren't listening to me, were you?" she sighed wearily. "I told you that none of this is necessary. Bane values actions much more than empty words, even if they're prayers."
"And what kind of actions are they?" Azar raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"The same things you were doing anyway."
Azar rubbed his tusk thoughtfully with his thumb, then slapped the woman on the shoulder so hard that she staggered a little and gasped.
"Then I agree!"
"Excellent," Victoria smiled at him. "So now we…"
Azar went back into his thoughts, knowing he would figure it out as he went along. Victoria was a good employer, but sometimes she was so boring.