17 Orsinium (1/2)
1197, Outside Orsinium – the City of Orcs,
It was a magnificent city and the capital of Orcs of East&West in The Nandini Forest.
Gandhi was a HobGoblin Jarl Borg of a small goblin tribe in the center of The Nandini Forest, before an Orc hunting party massacred his small tribe and captured him as a slave to sell in Orsinium.
He was bought by an Orc Chieftain of Eastern Nandini Forest, and worked as a mining slave in one of the silver mines the Orc Chieftain owned near the City of Orcs.
Gandhi stood at the very end of the line of Goblin slaves, with several paces separating him from the next Goblin, watching the orc slaver pacing from one end of the line to the other.
As the orc slaver passed by each of the goblin slaves, they would subconsciously try to stand straighter as if there wasn't even a single curve in their spine. Not standing straight enough, fidgeting and even blinking while the orc was passing by could be grounds for a whipping.
Back when they were all captured from their respective tribes whether it was a Goblin Warrior, HobGoblin or Goblin Nobel, this sort of hazing was a part of the submissive training in their respective slave camps. The batches of goblin slaves would often be shuffled internally to break up any possible relationships and right afterwards, the orc in charge of the newly formed batch would pace in front of them in a re-enactment of some primitive dominance ritual. The slaves would be conditioned to stand straight, motionless and unblinking as a sign of submission.
It was supposed to make takeover much simpler for their subsequent Orc owners.
Gandhi observed it all, finding it ironic that the Goblins standing the straightest, had the least steel in their spines. He felt angry, but powerless at his current situation. He knew why there were no Dragonborn, Troll or Beastkin slaves but the slave camp were full of Goblins, Rodents and Kobold slaves instead. It was because their respective races were weak, and had no Grade 3 or 4 existence to protect or shield them.
Finally satisfied by the performance of the goblin slaves, the orc slaver walked up to Gandhi, the only Goblin whose eyes held flickers of emotions in the sea of unblinking, emotionless goblin slave's group. Towering over the goblin's diminutive form with his 2.25 meter tall frame, he stopped in front of him yet Gandhi kept his eyes on the ground.
A large hand gripped his hair and jerked his head back, forcing him to look up into the eyes of the orc slaver while he said.
”What? You hate us? Wanna run away?”
Gandhi replied while concealing his desire to slit the orc slaver's throat behind a scared expression.
”No, Orc Master.”
The orc slaver clicked his tongue, obviously regretful that he hadn't been able to trip the goblin slave up on how he was to be addressed. He pouted, causing his grotesque face to distort further.
His eyes flashed with a cruel light, as he said.
”Smart goblins ain't any fun, but since you're so smart, I'll do you a big favor.”
Dragging Gandhi to the front of the line of goblin slaves, he barked out.
”Listen up, you worthless Goblins! Today, he gets to carry whatever you mine to the cart.”
Carrying the baskets laden with ore to the cart was the most strenuous part of the job and Gandhi had to do it in the place of all the other goblin slaves.
Gandhi replied, maintaining his nervous façade.
”Thank you, Orc Master.”
The orc slaver seemed to lose all interest at his servile attitude and with a contemptuous snort, he released his grip on Gandhi's hair with a push, sending him sprawling on the ground.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.
It didn't take long for the goblin slaves to get their pickaxes and make their way down the tunnel and start their day with mining as Gandhi following behind them.