"Nulka," she said finally, her voice still carrying obvious suspicion. "Daughter of Chieftess Vrasha of the Lowlands Ironjaw Tribe."
Chieftess's daughter, I noted mentally. That's... potentially very useful information.
"What happened to you, Nulka?" I asked, settling into a crouch that put me at her eye level while still maintaining enough distance to seem non-threatening. "Those wounds look like they came from something with serious reach and very bad intentions."
Her expression grew darker, and I caught a glimpse of genuine grief beneath the wariness. "The Guardians of Nature found our scavenging party," she said quietly. "Ancient constructs that patrol the deep forests. We thought we were far enough from their territory, but..."
She gestured helplessly at her injuries. "My warriors gave their lives so I could escape. They died buying time for the chieftess's worthless daughter to run like a coward."
Enhanced Ruin Guard, I realized with growing understanding. She's describing exactly what we fought in the crypt, but bigger. More dangerous.
The guilt in her voice was genuine, the kind of survivor's remorse that came from being alive when people you cared about weren't. I recognized it because I'd felt something similar every time I'd died and resurrected while other people stayed permanently dead.
And here's my opportunity, I thought, my mind already working through the implications. Chieftess's daughter. Tribal connections. Knowledge of local customs and territories. If I can gain their favor by helping her, and potentially her surviving companions, I could have a base of operations to learn about this world without immediately exposing myself to human settlements.
Learn essential information about politics, economics, technology levels, magical systems. Figure out how to blend in before making contact with the people who might recognize me as the stranger who mysteriously vanished from Virelia's research table.
But I kept these calculations to myself, focusing instead on the immediate situation.
"I'll help you," I said simply. "But I'm going to need somewhere to lay low and learn about this world for a while. Somewhere away from... complications."
Nulka's eyes flashed with anger. "You want payment for helping an injured person? What kind of monster..."
"Not payment," I interrupted. "Partnership. I need allies, not enemies. And you need healing, food, and safe passage back to your people. Seems like we could help each other."
She studied me with those unsettling golden eyes, clearly trying to read my motivations. "Why would a pink-skin help an orc? Your kind has spent generations hunting mine for sport and slavery."
Ah, I thought grimly. So that's the historical context I'm dealing with. Humans as the aggressive oppressor species. Good to know.
"Because I'm not from around here," I said, which was technically true without revealing anything important. "I need to understand how this world works before I make any permanent enemies. And right now, you're the only person I've met who doesn't seem interested in either torturing me or selling me to someone who will."
Her expression shifted slightly, surprise replacing some of the wariness. "You speak strangely for a pink-skin. And your clothes..." She gestured at my restored gym attire and blacksmith's apron. "I've never seen fabric like that."
Great, I thought. My resurrection outfit is apparently as foreign as everything else about me.
But I need some way to ensure she'll honor any agreement we make, I realized, my strategic mind working through the problem. Trust is nice, but magical enforcement is better.
Before I could voice my concerns, the system apparently decided to be helpful for once:
[SURVIVAL ASSISTANCE: CULTURAL ANALYSIS INITIATED]
[SPECIES: ORC (LOWLANDS TRIBAL VARIANT)]
[RECOMMENDATION: UTILIZE SACRED TRADITION FOR BINDING AGREEMENT]
[SACRED TRADITION: KOR'THAK ZINAAR IDENTIFIED]
[DEFINITION: BLOOD-TRUTH BINDING - ANCIENT WARRIOR OATH]
[MECHANISM: LIFE-FORCE BOUND PROMISE, MAGICAL ENFORCEMENT]
[VIOLATION CONSEQUENCES: PHYSICAL DETERIORATION, SPIRITUAL EXILE]
[SPECIES RESTRICTION: AFFECTS ORC PHYSIOLOGY ONLY]
[TACTICAL ADVANTAGE: BINDING CONTRACT FOR TARGET, SYMBOLIC ONLY FOR HOST]
Well, well, I thought with growing satisfaction. The system is actually being useful. A one-sided magical contract disguised as mutual binding.
"If we're going to work together," I said, turning my attention back to Nulka, "I need to know you'll honor our agreement. I assume your people have some kind of sacred oath system? Something involving... blood and truth, perhaps?"
Nulka's golden eyes went wide with shock, her entire body going rigid with surprise. "How... how do you know of Kor'thak Zinaar? That is sacred knowledge, known only to the tribes!"
I kept my expression carefully neutral, letting the mystery build. "I know many things that might surprise you. The question is, are you willing to bind your word properly, or should I find someone else to help?"
She stared at me for a long moment, clearly wrestling with the implications of a pink-skin who somehow knew their most sacred traditions. Fear warred with desperation across her features, and I could practically see her trying to figure out what manner of creature I really was.
"You... you would accept Kor'thak Zinaar?" she asked quietly. "Even knowing what it means?"
"I wouldn't suggest it if I wasn't prepared to honor it," I replied, which was true enough. After all, I had nothing to lose since the oath wouldn't actually affect me.
Let her think I'm some kind of mysterious figure with dangerous knowledge, I decided. A little fear mixed with gratitude makes for much more reliable allies.
Nulka struggled to her feet, swaying slightly from blood loss but managing to maintain her dignity. "Kor'thak Zinaar affects only my people," she said, her voice taking on a formal tone. "But if you truly understand our ways, then you know the gravity of what I offer."
And there's the information I needed, I thought with satisfaction. She just confirmed it only works on orcs, probably thinking she's being fair by warning me.
"I understand perfectly," I said, offering her my hand. "Mutual aid and protection. Your life and mine, bound by sacred oath."
She grasped my hand with surprising strength despite her obvious weakness. "Kor'thak Zinaar," she said formally. "By blood and breath, by bone and spirit, I bind my truth to yours. Betrayal brings death, honor brings life."
The moment our palms touched, I felt something click into place, but only on her end. The magical contract settled around her like invisible chains, while I remained completely unaffected. But I made sure my expression showed appropriate solemnity, as if I too were now bound by mystical forces.
[MAGICAL CONTRACT ESTABLISHED - PARTIAL]
[BINDING PARTY: NULKA OF IRONJAW TRIBE]
[NON-BINDING PARTY: REN KUROGANE - SPECIES INCOMPATIBLE]
[TERMS: MUTUAL AID AND PROTECTION]
[ENFORCEMENT: AUTOMATIC FOR ORC PHYSIOLOGY ONLY]
"Kor'thak Zinaar," I repeated solemnly, hoping my pronunciation was convincing. "Now, you must also swear the oath to ensure our agreement is properly balanced."
Nulka blinked in surprise. "But I... I already bound myself. The oath is complete."
"Not if we're to be true allies," I said, maintaining my mysterious air. "Honor demands equality in all things. If you expect me to risk my life for yours, then you must bind yourself as I have bound myself."
It was complete nonsense, of course, but delivered with enough confidence that her young, naive understanding of the ritual accepted it as proper form. She nodded slowly, clearly impressed by what she perceived as my deep understanding of orcish honor.
"You are right, of course," she said, her voice filled with something that might have been respect. "I swear by Kor'thak Zinaar to honor our agreement, to provide aid and protection as you provide aid and protection to me."
The binding strengthened around her, the magical contract now encompassing the full scope of mutual assistance I'd need to gain access to her tribe and their resources.
Perfect, I thought as I helped steady her on her feet. She's now magically compelled to honor our agreement, while I have complete freedom to act as necessary for my survival.
And she thinks I'm some kind of mysterious pink-skin with knowledge of sacred traditions, which should make integration with her people much easier.
As I helped her to her feet, careful not to aggravate her injuries, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. This was progress, real progress toward understanding this world and building the kind of power base I'd need to eventually settle accounts with certain research-obsessed psychopaths.
And if helping Nulka and her tribe happens to be the right thing to do, I thought as we began the slow journey toward whatever passed for orcish civilization, well, I suppose even cosmic refugees can try to be decent people.
Sometimes.