Kaz lets the others do the manual labor, and takes a quiet moment to reflect on the group's adventures and how the magics granted him by Dwerfater had helped the team. He asked for more guidance and blessings to see the team home safely.
Smiling as the camp quickly comes together Elathras puts the cast-iron pot on the fire for supper. Nodding his head as everyone chips in something from their rations to make a veritable smorgasbord. After supper is over Elathras pulling his scarf over his nose as he sits down beside his smelly friend. "Hey Gruk, it is nice to be camping again. Irenicus and I will take the first watch while everyone else goes to sleep, I will wake you when it is time."
Trakas does what he can to help set up
"Ah, if Elathras is telling stories, it is time for me to be sleeping."
Dolgrin lies down, then sits up and pulls his chainmail off.
"Always forget the little things. Good night friends."
He falls asleep almost instantly, his hand on Note's symbol. He doesn't even snore.
Third watch.
A vine snakes out and grabs Daal's weapon while arrows strike the trees next to Kaz and Mitleid's heads. You see a forest of bows trained on you.
"Everyone up! But don't do anything that would provoke them."
"Show yourselves we aren't here as enemies." he stands up slowly speaking in the direction his weapon was dragged off to.
Irenicus groans quietly. Will I ever get a full night's rest again?
Hearing Daal say something, Elathras, smacking his slip a couple of times, answers in his sleep. "I don't go to shows with enemies" Then rolling over he begins to snore again.
"I don't suppose they brought breakfast?"
Dolgrin rolls over on top of his gear, keeping his hands in sight, as he looks over the woods. Spotting the arrows his voice grows sad.
"Ah well. You'd think common courtesy was extinct. Lads, ladies, gentle creatures with bows, I bid you good morning. I am Dolgrin Brightlaughter, in service of Note, and these are my companions. Can we skip ahead to the boasts of mutual prowess and drinking, or did you have something else in mind?"
Trakas keeps himself asleep or he hopes that they think he is asleep. His eyes barley open as he scans the area around him to see what is going on.
"These dwarves were making enough noise to wake the entire forest," speaks the leader of the elves surrounding you.
Dolgrin seems confused, then winces.
"I was sleeping, in the forest, surely I would have woken?. I suppose I have been wrong before... I think your hearing may simply be better than mine?"
He sounds unsure.
"So if we are quiet, might we go back to sleep, mistress elf? The night would be calm, if we were to let each other be. Note values rest in times of rest, and the sun is down."
Shrugging awake and seeing so many bows, Mitleid shrugs."Well good morning. Nice of you to wake us up."
Hearing many voices, Elathras awakens, wiping his destroyed nose with his sleeve, then tying his silk scarf over it, he looks at the elves and then to Mitleid. "Is it true Mitleid? Do you or Kaz snore louder than I do?"
Irenicus rolls his eyes at the others and growls at the elves, "Well, speak up. What poor decision led you to wake us in such a manner? I assume you want something, so spit it out."
Kaz rises to his feet, and adds his voice to the others. "We've done nothing to offend you. We were minding our own business here, having routed some brigands earlier. If these are your lands, we've done you a favor. How about allowing us to go back to sleep for a couple hours?"
"We have been watching you since you left the camp of a group of bandits that have been attacking people in this area. Seeing so many dwarves and half-orcs, we presumed you were with them."
Dolgrin falls on his face, a rich roaring laughter bubbling out of him.
"Ah, well that's an easy mistake to jump to, what with our trying to kill one another. We were with them, oh Note. What fine companions we were too. Why that trap and ambush was just hide and seek with knives it was. A friendly sport for elven children I'm sure."
Dolgrin finally pulls himself together, but occasionally the grin peeks through.
"No ma'am, we have been accused of many things, but banditry was never our profession."
Upon seeing the paladin's holy symbol, the leader motions for the elves to lower their bows.
"What brings you to the Forest of Hope?"
Irenicus grunts, "I have not a bit of skill with tracking and even I would have stumbled upon the signs of battle in that camp. We took their abandoned camp for our own, and it was a mistake. They attacked at dawn. We routed them, but were unable to give chase in unfamiliar territory. You may be interested to know that a powerful mage is working alongside them. Now is there anything else you still fail to understand, or can I resume my rest?"
"We are bound for Zelkor's Ferry for supplies."
Elathras now fully awake, looks at Irenicus in surprise. "Irenicus you speak elven? We could have been talking in our own special language this whole time?" He then looks at the elf leader, pulling his scarf over his nose. "We came here to kill all the bad thinks and take their good things in the crypt over that way." He points back to the area they came from. "But I lost my pack when we ran from some dead guys, so were going to Zelkor's Ferry to buy more stuff."
Irenicus looks slightly maddened by the thought of Elathras talking to him in their 'special language.'
Trakas notices that the tension around the area has calmed somewhat and without moving form his position of sleep. In a voice that is soft and gentle yet respectful
Ta naa il- noldo san- tanya man uma il- belong a' lle. Saesa tul a e' n'e en' i' ringwe ar' explain mani marte a' tel'quessir hospitality. Ped- freelui, ha will n- nice na hear mín words spoken properlui.
"Two hundred years of bandits, treasure seekers, and Orcus worshipers has made it difficult to welcome many here since the destruction of the Army of Light. We are the only ones left that remember those times.
Tsar, the great temple-city to the Demon Prince of the Undead, stood for centuries as a bastion of evil and hate. Foul beings of all kinds flocked to its mighty walls and found succor and purpose within. At its heart stood the great Citadel of Orcus, the black heart of Orcus worship on earth. Countless evils were perpetuated in those corrupt precincts, and equally countless wicked plots were hatched and carried out therein.
Finally the goodly kingdoms could stand the presence of this festering boil in their midst no longer. The churches of Thyr and Muir led a delegation of good and neutral faiths to Graeltor, the last overking. Only with the backing of the nations’ secular armies would the holy churches be able to erase such a blight. In his last major pronouncement before the overthrow and fracturing of the kingdoms into the independent nations they are today, Overking Graeltor called for a mighty crusade to tear down the walls of Tsar and forever end the presence of Orcus worship in the world.
This crusader army, raised from all nations and almost every nonevil faith, became known as the Army of Light and marched for Tsar. In command of this army Graeltor placed his most trusted advisor, the archmage Zelkor. Supported by innumerable knight commanders, wizards, church patriarchs and scores of heroes of renown, Zelkor quickly advanced his army from its staging ground of Bard’s Gate, through Tsar’s outermost defensive positions and into the great plain that surrounded the temple-city itself. Flush with their many quick victories, the Army of Light suddenly found arrayed against itself seemingly endless legions of every sort of vile warrior-race and fell outsider imaginable called up from all over the multiverse and lining the battlements and fields before their redoubt—one of the greatest fortresses and citadels ever erected in that time. The beginnings of doubt seeped into the ranks of the Army of Light.
However, hope was not lost as the heavens opened up and flight upon
flight of angels and celestial beings descended from on high to swell the ranks of the Army of Light. With grim determination in both camps, battle was joined on the plain before the gates of Tsar. The war raged for over a year, the Army of Light advancing to the very foot of the walls and then being pushed back by a new surge of demonic power. The disciples of Orcus led by the Grand Cornu, Orcus’s single highest-ranking priest on the mortal planes, threw every vile attack they could at the Army of Light in defense of their city. Rains of horrific fire and acid fell from the skies or belched from fissures in the ground, great constructs crushed their foes before them, terrible clouds of poisonous gas choked entire regiments, and heretofore unknown plagues swept through the troops causing thousands of horrible deaths among the Army of Light. Nevertheless the forces of good persevered and fought on.
Finally, though the battle seemed no closer to victory, the fates seemed to smile on the Army of Light. Unexpectedly the city fell. In a single night the entire city virtually emptied of defenders as they all were magically transported to a point several miles outside the city’s walls, complete with baggage train and mounts for many. The magical expenditure necessary to complete this miraculous maneuver cost the Grand Cornu his very life in sacrifice to Orcus, but the legions of the demon prince had broken free from the Army of Light’s cordon. They immediately took flight before the stunned Army of Light, heading south.
Zelkor and his fellow commanders were immediately suspicious of this
sudden retreat but could not afford to allow the combined followers of
Orcus concentrated in one place to escape and spread their insidious evil again. A cursory sweep of the city by scouts proved that the withdrawal was no ruse, so Zelkor left one of his most powerful knights, the paladin Lord Bishu, with a company of knights to secure the citadel and hold it until the Army of Light could return and properly destroy it. Then, still with a seed of doubt niggling in his mind, Zelkor ordered the Army of Light in pursuit of the fleeing legions.
The tale of that long pursuit is an epic in and of itself. Finally the Army of Light cornered the forces of darkness in a forest near a rugged coastline. In anticipation of a great victory, the forest was prematurely named the Forest of Hope. The naming proved to be a cruel irony, for in the forest the followers of Orcus had been preparing a great trap for years in case just such an occasion ever arose. Both armies disappeared into the forest. Neither ever emerged. The Army of Light was lost to a man."
Finally coming out of his deep slumber, Wdrozgrúk stands up carefully,
showing his open hands to show he's not going to do any funny stuff to
risk becoming the subject of elven archery practice:
"Good Morning to you too! I think."
"We have set about clearing out that Orcus den or hive."
"But it will take us a few goes at it."
Mitleid pfuhs."What a tale. Sounds like a bad fairytale. Well, apart from the fact, that it´s true!"
"Beware, it is said Orcus himself lies at the bottom of that hole.... and many of his minions are still up at Tsar.
No one knows what happened to Lord Zelkor. He disappeared with the rest."
Elathras scratches his head, "Orcus, is that where they get the name "Dorcus" from? Isn't it kind of an insult?"
He looks at Trakas and the Paladin, "This one touched in the head? I know someone that may be able to help with that."
Elathras smiles and nods his head, knocking his silk scarf loose, revealing his gaping nose-less nostrils. "I was more touched ON the head." He bends over showing the elves the scar on the back of his head. "I got knocked down some stairs by a giant devil bird, or so Gruk told me, I honestly don't remember the fall. I just remember the pain." Looking from the Elves to his friends "Help with what?"
"I think they mean they have a friendly cleric. Still, its night time. If we're not dying, I vote we finish sleeping and resume this conversation in the morning with freshly rested heads. Humans are not at our best at this hour, mores the pity. Good night friend elves. You are welcome to our camp, but all talk of business should wait, it doesn't sound like another half day will end in disaster, but haste might."
"Some of us have taken a few hard knocks getting close to death's door."
Gruk points to Elathras, Trakas, and himself.
"The thing is, these unfortunate injuries are hampering our abilities to fight these Orcus followers."
"We would be ever so grateful if you could remedy our injuries."
"Or if you could tell us of someone nearby who could mend us up, that would be good too."
Elathras nods his head eagerly in agreement, "Yeah my nose works terrible and even I can tell Gruk has started to stink." Turning to his friend. "No offence Gruk, I still like you."
The elves volunteer to take the watch so the camp can sleep.
Daal thanks them and goes back to resting. If they had wanted to kill us they probably would have already done so...zzzzz
As long as they share the groups morning meal and a swig of booze as thank you! Mitleid returns to his bed for some extra ZZZ
They will share their elvn way bread also.
The elves will lead the party back to Zelkor's Ferry and introduce you to three new people that have arrived recently. A cleric of Mitra, Sister Sheila, and Shakira.
Gruk thanks the elves; all the more because of how unlikely it is for Elves to help dwarves and half-orcs.
"I thank you, as does Note, for your assistance. If we can be of service in the future, please ask."
Dolgrin is entirely too entertained by the mere idea of helpful elves, and does his best to encourage their good behavior with lavish praise, as if they were particularly precocious puppies.
"Truly, we would never have made it back so cleanly or quickly without your wise guidance."
In a lesser man, these words would sound insincere, perhaps sarcastic, but Dolgrin is truly noble, and his words drip with heartfelt sincerity. These may be the only useful elves he will ever meet, and he is determined to encourage them to a life of selfless goodness.
"Brava."
Elathras waves good by to the elves "Goodbye cousins." He then turns to Irenicus "Where to now, Irenicus, do you think there is someone here now that can help my nose or my head?"
Daal breathes a sigh of relief as the sight Zelkor's Ferry looms in front of them. "There were times I didn't think we would make it."
Back to civilization...maybe
"Were any of those times related to falling Daal? Because we haven't checked for traps yet."
Dolgrin grins at his friends, and walks confidently into town.
"Perhaps Elathras, perhaps."
Kaz nods at the newcomers, but doesn't give much more of a greeting than that, feeling the immediate need to take a warm bath and get a good night's sleep. He is perfectly willing to exchange the usual pleasentries ober a hot breakfast the next morning.
Irenicus looks at the elves, "What about this healer of yours that you said might fix up our... friend's head injury?"
"I mean he can leave his face, but the wound.."
With a slight jib the dwarven speaks up but his worriedness is plain to hear.
"If you have the coin, even that too can be arranged," pipes up an elven woman in a red dress. "I am Brooke"
Holding still while the priestess looks at his nose, he couldn't resist the urge to speak when the Elven woman asks about coins. Elathras smile "We have plenty of coins!" He opens up his bag made of ogre pants and dumps out the 300 copper coins. "See we have plenty of coins!"