After a few days of rest that involved a failed negotiation with Dacha and Elaria spying on many people with her crystal ball, the party set out for more werewolf hunting in the mountains near Muleshoe.
Downtime
The day after the conflaguration at Dacha’s hut (2/24), Aderian put out word that wanted a peaceful resolution. An elf from Rellora’s village answered his call for a peaceful negotiation with Dacha, owing to a friendly attitude towards Tienarth’s Raiders and their work to restore Tosasth. This elf found Dacha in an agitated state and remained 70 feet back from the house, shouting in order to carry on the conversation. All the while, the danger of being burned alive lingered in the air. Yet, after some time, the old dwarf came around to propose a settlement.
Dacha wanted restoration of the 25,000 gp stolen from his safe. Additionally, he asked for 5,000 gp in interest to cover what he considered a loan. The elf described this as usury and typical of a greedy dwarf. Dwarves lending to humans often require interest payments of 5%, not 20%. On top of all this, Dacha asked for 7,000 gp to repair his hut.
Regarding the transfer of ownership, Dacha said of himself that he respected the dwarven tradition of letting past misdeeds be forgotten. He asked for a confusing form of payment for transfer of the mine ownership in five parts. First, that Aderian agree to a “blood oath” to keep secret the transaction and all history of the mine that might be discovered. Second, that Aderian provide the restitution previously discussed, totaling 37,000 gp, in the form of gems and platinum only. Third, that six suits of plate armor for dwarves be acquired and Dacha’s fallen companions in the mine’s mausoleum be dressed in these suits of armor. Fourth, Ghevont must write an apology for burning the roof of his house and present it to a dwarven cleric. Fifth, that Aderian agree that the mine is provided in as-is condition with no expectation of fitness for use or possibility of reversing the transaction.
Aderian dismissed the demands as so outrageous not to warrant further discussion. Ferris, who had recently been working on a plan to start an adventurer’s guild in St. Orlan, planned to pick up the negotiation himself. The old mine could be a source of income as well as an excellent headquarters. Days later, he found himself at Dacha’s home with a keg of fine dwarven ale under his arm, about which we will learn more later.
Meanwhile, Jerker, still beset with troubled sleep, spent his free days looking for the next of kin of Bremlai, his wives or children, to make sure they are well taken care of and to admit his actions in slaying the former governor of St. Orlan. The best could find out in St. Orlan was that after the trouble began with Ithusar, but before the mist was created, Bremlai sent his family away. He had three wives (Oniella, Oriel, Auelina), all married in the same year, 5545 (4-5 years ago). He had 9 children. Two died before the troubles. His first born, Josark, is a boy who is about 5 years old. Where they went is not known.
Jerker also paid 142 gp to hire agents to gather any stories of werewolves seen in the area of St. Orlan. Their tactics were to walk the roadways, calling out and interviewing travelers, or else plying revelers in taverns along the way. Farmers near the headwaters of the south fork of the Belianassa said they spotted a pack six wolves with “unnatural intelligence” in their eyes. These stories indicate the area around Muleshoe. One refugee who had returned from sheltering in Tolobe described the people there as “disorganized and fearful”, but also claiming the area is “blessed” because the stink of ash clogs the nostrils of lycanthropes. News from Slateholm concerned the administrative freeze following Chancellor Varo’s death. Longstanding rumors of werewolves living in the sewers of Slateholm seemed like fanciful tales.
During downtime, Elaria spent her free time peering into her crystal ball, preparing detect magic and two uses of esp each day. The first day she attempted to scry Zhargrave to check how the man is doing, remembering him warmly as he told her of the faith of the Anointed One, and hoping to catch him during a sermon with her people. Zhargrave was seen delivering a sermon. Most of the worshipers are female elves, attended by a few human males. The furnishings inside the temple are more elaborate than before. She also looked on Tienarth to check on her mentor. He was seen enjoying a cup of tea at the top of his tower on the Naked Isle. Jerker’s Parents were seen working in the inn that they operated in Slateholm. They seemed content.
Three times, she spied on Dacha. He was seen carrying his belongings through tunnels, later holding his wand and apparently shouting at an elf who is staying far away from him. On the third day, he was seen travelling through a dark, stone cavern.
Assault on an Orc Fort
The fresh search began on the 27th (2/27) with an idea offered by Jerker to seek places like where werewolves had been find hiding out in weeks prior, such as in isolated canyons and near the headwaters of tributaries. The party consisted of regulars (Jerker, Elaria, Nate, Ollie and Ghevont) but missed Aderian who chose to spend his time elsewhere. After a long time of absence, the cleric Mirana showed up at the homestead to offer her assistance. She was of elven blood and worshiped the god Nebro. This unusual cult of the western lands professed to believe in the Anointed One but also a higher god they called Nebro.
Nate was once a follower of Nebro before experiencing death and rebirth at the hands of Lah, becoming a follower of the official state religion. The Nebroites were unusual in that they included worshipers among the elves and humans, and they offered the priesthood to females. Dogma of the church of the Anointed One allows none but human males to become clerics. Much like the Hypnosts, clerics of Nebro are also able to repel the undead, unlike the “clerics” of other faiths, such as druids. Sages agree that this is due to their connection to the Anointed One.
Ollie introduced the party to Caelith, a specialist in music who he’d recently hired to retrieve treasure. The bard proved valuable in the search with the new song he’d developed a few weeks before.
This crew of seven make a quick journey down the road to Muleshoe, then hiked up into the mountains east of the settlement (hex 0410). Trudging up steep game trails and through thick, oak forest, they found little of interest all day, nor were they disturbed that night. In the morning of the next day (2/28), they spied a fortification of recently construction from 300 yards away.
Beneath the oppressive canopy of the light-starved mountain forest, a jagged palisade of sharpened pine logs erupted from the earth like a row of broken teeth. Tattered black banners, defiled with the crimson symbol of a double-headed axe, snapped in the biting wind. Six heads of previous interlopers—men and dwarves alike—stared blindly from the gate-spikes. The air was thick with the scent of woodsmoke, and a heavy, palpable sense of doom hung over the clearing as if the mountain itself expected a slaughter.
Caelith melded into the deep shadows at the edge of the clearing, then silently approached the walls. Suddenly, he emerged from the shadows at the foot of the wall and leaped, scaling the 15 feet with ease, defly avoiding the various spikes hammered into the wall. He peered between the pointed top of the wall, seeing a crowd of orcs, some still sleeping, spread out over an inner yard that also included a 20×20 keep and a water well. The bard scrambled down to share what he’d seen.
There was some debate over how to proceed, with Ollie leading the argument for leaving the orcs alone as a distraction from the werewolf hunt. In the end, the majority wanted to eliminate the orcs, especially because of their proximity to Muleshoe. Elaria transformed into a green dragon with the intent that Ghevont would ride on her back to deliver a sticks-to-snakes spell. The cleric at first demanded payment but changed his mind when Elaria explained how she’d recently donated a large sum to the church. The two of them soared over the fort. Ghevont dropped a handful of sticks which he changed into four snakes. This caused a minor commotion inside the fort.
Disappointed by the meager threat offered by four snakes versus an orc army, Ghevont then produced a wall of fire the fit immediately inside the fort wall, with the radiating heat facing outward. The greased walls caught fire immediately, throwing thick, black smoke out and over the party. Elaria brought out mirror images, but all were destroyed in the next moment as half of the orc let go a volley of arrows. The pair turned and landed back near the rest of the party.
Inside the fort, the orcs fearfully retreated to surround the stone keep in the center. But then they heard the voice of their “king”, Krod the Cruel. Back outside the fort, Nate and Jerker mounted the green dragon, flasks of oil in hand. From above, they began dropping flaming oil on the orcs who replied with arrow vollies, rarely harming any of the three heroes circling the fort in the air. King Krog emerged from the keep and ordered his army to form two lines. Elaria landed between them and the gatehouse, then delivered a lightning bolt that cut through about half of the army.
The remaining army rushed up to engage with Jerker and Nate. Elaria blinded the king with a light spell to his eyes. Jerker threw down his shield and snatched up dagger, slashing at the king. At that moment, Ollie used his ogre strength to burst open the gatehouse doors. Mirana, with a view into the yard called down a bolt of lightning that killed the king. Jerker delivered the killing blow to the king, and the remaining orcs panicked, rushing out of the gate. Elaria chased after one of them and took away his sword. The rest were allowed to disappear into the forest. Ghevont held an orc chief who remained locked in melee with Nate, who then executed the helpless orc.
With no enemies remaining, a search was made of the keep. Next to a simple throne was chest containing 1,200 cp, 2,500 sp, 3,500 gp. Also there were a scroll of protection from magic and a gold necklace set with diamonds, bot of which Elaria took. Finally, Caelith took a flute of masterwork quality though not magical. The coins were immediately counted and divided between them all, making shares of 590 gp (except for Elaria and Ghevont who got 295 gp each).
In a few hours, the palisade walls began to fall over, having burned significantly. The party camped among the ash and smoke that night, inside the keep. It was of crude, orcish construction, hastily mortared rocks of irregular shape, a 20x20x20 cube with two floors. Jerker realized his shield was lost during the battle, but Elaria concluded it was snatched by a fleeing orc and she held one the sword, which might help in tracking them down.
Eliminating the orc pacified hex 0410 to a threat level of 1:20. They spent the entire following day (3/1) searching the rest of the area, finding nothing more.
Recovery of the Stolen Shield
In the morning (3/2), a couple of hours more searching completed the full search, and they moved eastward (hex 0510). Not long after, forty yards to the southwest, the jagged mountain trail was choked by a dismal procession. Seven orcs, their faces twisted in a mask of pure displeasure, prodded five shambling zombies forward with the butts of their spears. Six of the orcs wore tattered gray cloaks stained with mountain salt. The air carried the dry, chalky scent of disturbed limestone and the low, rhythmic grunting of exhausted breath. The orcs watched the crags with wide, paranoid eyes, clearly anticipating a threat that is not you.
Caeliths started piping a jaunting battle tune. The lead orc raised a hand and hissed a final warning in Common: “The peaks have ears, and we have no time for your blood. Pass, or be fed to the rot.” Ghevont produced his holy symbol and shouted a terrible rebuke that turned the zombies to dust. Just then, an avalanche of rocks tumbled down on all them. The boulders carried away most of the orcs, who tumbled down the steep inline. The orc leader remained, a lone foe, defiant. Jerker noticed he held Jerker’s stolen shield.
Miranda knelt, tapping her hammer on the rocking trail. A lightning bolt tore down from the sky. The orc lifted the shield instinctively, but the power blast cut through him, exploding the ground beneath his feet and tossing his lifeless body several yard back. The force of the blast diminished the enchantment on Jerker’s shield (from+2 to +1).
Having eliminated another threat wandering the wilderness, hex 0510 dropped to threat level 1:12
End Notes
- Days
- 2/24 – 2/26 Downtime
- 2/27 – 3/2 Killing orcs near Muleshoe
- Treasure:
- 1,200 cp
- 2,500 sp
- 3,500 gp
- Scroll of Protection from Magic
- Gold necklace set with diamonds (900 gp)
- Masterwork flute (100 gp).
- Combat (4795 xp)
- 27 Orcs – 25 xp each
- 27 Orc Warriors – 75 xp each
- 3 Orc Chiefs – 240 xp each
- 2 Orc Kings – 500 xp each
- 5 Zombies – 75 x each
- Characters (6 shares of 799 xp)
- Caelith (outdoors, half-human, dexterity) 855 xp
- Elaria (hireling) 400 xp
- Ghevont (hireling) 400 xp
- Jerker (human, fight, in front) 895 xp
- Mirana (outdoors) 807 xp
- Nate (human, fight) 887 xp
- Ollie (rugged, fight, strength) 823 xp