The Burden of Guilt

Sadie straightened and cast around for Astarlane. She spotted her bracing against a rock a few dozen metres distant, getting to her feet.

In the distance, there was unmistakably orcish shouting. Sadie motioned for close formation and advanced slowly.

Gulmar was dusting off a smaller comrade when they edged around the corner. Though half-conjured phantasms left ghostly trails around their vision, Sadie thought this was probably mostly real. Probably. Mostly.

Sadie cleared the corner and the massive orc sighed, the sound nearly disappearing into the subsonics.

"Those who travel this way are never without the touch of darkness upon them."

There was nothing to be said to that, only the mute nod of acknowledgement. Despite vast gulfs in religion, philosophy, physiology - in that moment, in that time, they were all companions. Sharing misery too powerful and personal to speak of.