Kelgan casts a longing look in the direction of the tavern, then sighs and follows the entourage.
The inner keep has a large exercise ground for military training. Currently tables are being set up and food set out. A female dwarf recognizes you, she has tossed back many ales with you, and rushes up to greet you as you enter.
It seems a grand banquet is being set out, and the captain of the guard seems to be presiding over the ceremonies. The doors begin to close to the inner keep as the residents anxiously try to see what is happening inside.
Lorcan awakes to the healing wand of Mit'l Chi' Malli. My thanks. He says as he gets to his feat. Those were fast zombies. I hate fast zombies!. He helps with finding things of value and casts Detect Magic as part of his search of the place. Explaining his presence in the caves he explains I came in with a group from the keep. But they all ran when we encountered some gnolls and I could not keep up, so I hid. I was looking for the way out when I heard your combat. I thought I could help. I Hope I helped a little before I went down. I know I took out one of the priests and absorbed a few zombie hits, the hard way.
Lorcan is chatty on the way back to the keep as he works getting to know everyone. They are not gonna like the orc back at the keep. he predicts. Maybe I can help as sometimes I can talk people into doing things they might not otherwise do.
At the keep he certainly agrees to go with the orc and guard captain
With reluctance, Crom also joins the group.
Berta, the dwarf maid who worked in the Keep kitchen looks suspiciously at the orc and gives Crom and Kelgan a huge hug. Her ruddy red hands indicate some recent cooking activity.
The outdoor picnic is quite delicious, many game birds cooked in a thick sauce with nuts and fruit. As everyone seats themselves, the Commander enters with a purposeful step. Clad in full plate armor, his braided beard flecked with white, he has a large axe slung on his back along with a large metal shield.
The troop of soldiers give him a quick bow and he enters and begins to dig into his food. Everyone else joins in except for the orc, who stands awkwardly, unsure of what he is supposed to do.
The soldiers stand around, obviously not included in the dinner, which seems to be meant for the Commander and his three human entourage and you. The sole empty seat seems to have been meant for the orc.
The commander looks over you like a hawk sizing up a mouse as he eats quickly. Goblets of water seem to be the drink provided. A thin man in robes, probably the main advisor, whispers in the ear of the commander for about two minutes as he eats.
Horster, famished after the battle, tucks into a giant-size serving of the game stew. "Pity about the lack of wine", he thinks, "but maybe I'll need my wits about me all the same."
"Come on, Big Fella," Morgan says, nodding towards the empty chair. "You've been invited to dine. Don't worry, your table manners can't be any worse than mine."
Morgan waits for the orc to take his seat before sitting in an adjacent chair.
Kelgan stays quiet, though he does sketch a quick bow to the commander when he enters, then joins him at the table, eating a small meal quickly.
Ozmund sits and helps himself to a few small delicious, but his wounds and near death experience soon begin to weigh down on him, and he sits sipping wine waiting for the Commander to say something.
Locan also encourages the orc to sit and takes the other chair beside him it its open. Just use the utensils I use. he says quietly as he picks up a fork and starts on the first course.
Crom sits down and begins heaping food on his plate. "We appreciate your hospitality, Lord Commander. Our forays into the Caves of Chaos have left us battered and weary. I pray that our last battle has finally broken the forces of evil."
The commander does not have the best table manners as he heaps cooked bird on his platter. He seems to focus his attention on your group, not really paying much notice to the orc.
He responds to Crom: "Talk while we eat. I am sure you have much to tell. I think I can figure out part of the surprise ending."
He casts a quick glance at the orc.
Crom nods and begins eating, "Well, our tale both starts and ends with orcs. Green-blooded, half-witted, knuckle dragging, stinking orcs! We killed one tribe and some how befriended another. Not that I'm please about the situation, but when you're in the temple of evil chaos, you have to make hard choices. But I get ahead of myself ... "
Crom will go on to tell the whole story of their adventure to date, from beginning to end.
"Just so you know, Commander. The Chief here had several opportunities to kill us; plenty of chances to hit us while we were injured and cornered. Instead, he chose to back us when it came down to it. His tribe helped us defeat a cult of zombie-lovin' Asmodeans, and instead of killing us and claiming everything for themselves, they held up their end of the deal."
The dwarf grunts and looks at the orc with a blank stare and speaks in common: "What is it you want?"
The orc stands and waits a few moments before answering. He says: "Survival!" He adds: "True evil came from humans, not orcs."
At this, Crom nods. "The human priests were the worst of the depravity. The chief and his men helped up destroy the temple."
The dwarven commander nods and has his men show the orc chief a book of holy symbols. This seems to be designed to confirm the claim of Asmodeus and give the dwarf time to talk to you.
"Well, you dwarves wouldn't be bringing the orc here if you didn't have some endgame planned. You know how our clans feel about these kinds--with goblins they are the worst of the worst. What do you think we should do? I have some latitude out here in the hinterlands."
Little Lorcan stands up on the seat of his chair to address the commander. Just as all humans are not the same, it is true of orcs as well. This tribe has proven to be more loyal and more trustworthy and less evil, at least in deed than others I have known of. If you would have my council I say make truce with these and call them allies. If they prove false you will have them close where they are easy to keep an eye on. But if they prove true they can share intelligence and act as a buffer between the keep and any enemy that has to pass them by.
"I, for one, have no deep endgame. His presence here is merely a matter of honor. The orcs were an ally of convenience, and, when they could have betrayed us and slaughtered us to a man, kept their word. On his (he nods toward the chieftan) say-so. SO, yes, I feel that THIS tribe can be dealt with fairly. IF the tribe prospers, perhaps the chieftan, here would agree to limit any expansion away from the Keep."
Ozmund watch the exchange with interest. Although he was awakened after the main battle in the evil temple, he does remember striking the deal with the orcs before they travelled there. He remains quiet for the time to see what the commander has to say.
Crom shrugs and speaks in dwarven.
"It's just a matter of time before we have to kill these orcs. A temporary truce may be useful for now while we clear the remainder of the caves."
The chief nods and seems to count the counsel of dwarves with greater weight. He sees that only four have spoken of the group and looks with a frown at those who have been silent.
"I was hoping for all the information I could get to make the best decision."
He nods his head as if coming to a decision.
"I will name these orcs nonenemies for now. My advisor has suggested sending them a gift of poisoned ale, but that is not how I prefer to handle things."
He talks to the captain and another human with a goatee before he departs back into the towers in the inner fortress. It appears they have orders.
Hmmph, thinks Mit'l having little experience with such high political intrigue.
Mit'l listens intently. He knows the Orcs saved all of their lives, but he despises them. He will have his vengeance for his clansman's death ... but his faith in Vathris means he's judging carefully when to seek this vengeance.
He is awaiting the right time to drive his spear through the chieftain's skull, but is all to aware that this temporary truce may aid Mit'l in his quest to elevate his people above their present primitive status. Learning from these foreigners, purchasing their goods, gaining fame in the keep ... Mit'l has many plans ... and for now the vile orcs are allowing him to achieve these objectives.
Horster has lived through a lot of politics to know better than to pick sides. He isn't particularly loyal towards the orcs, but keeps his end of the deal when possible. Being mistreated for one's race is something he understands well, so can only sympathize with the goblinoid.
However, he tries to ascertain what the chief truly intends.
in Dwarven, in as light and casual a tone as can be managed in that throaty, sonorous language, Kelgan says "One should definitely be ready to deal with betrayal. I feel that these orcs will honor their agreement - right up until they don't. Who knows, maybe this chief is an honorable paragon of his kind...but who can say what hsi successor will be.". He raises his ale in a small salute tot eh commanders, and takes a deep drink.
Ozmund nods in agreement with Kelgan's assessment.
"I guess the next question is do we go back? Those priests could not be out there, isolated by themselves, without getting supplies from someplace. Do we need to further search the caverns?
Crom finishes his meal, "Let's restock our equipment and head back to the caves at first light. It's best not to allow the remaining denizens time to regroup."
Crom will check to see if the masterwork war axe that he ordered is ready.
Kelgan nods in agreement.
Have we gear to sell as well? Ozmund, perhaps I could get you to scribe me some scrolls? I have coin to pay for their scribing, but have not been able to find any for sale.
The advisors have a quick discussion with the orc chief. The discussion is short and the orc is handed a piece of paper with the seal of Ulek.
The captain approaches and says: "You have impressed the commander and he says the removal of the evil temple is of great value to the entire area. He has offered you a letter of credit for 120 platinum to spend with the merchants or a magicked weapon from his battlemage. I think he has a war axe, great axe, light hammer, dagger, and spear ready."
The advisor mentions "The orc has offered to settle the caves and help get the gnolls in line. We would send you to the elves, as we have yet to hear from them. That is, if you are up for it."
Once the audience has ended, Morgan seeks out the elven smith she paid in advance for the her custom studded leather armor.
"How goes my fancy new armor?" Morgan asks the smith.
The fancy new armor is ready. It appears the shipment with the armor arrived, but there was some bad news about a tragedy at the elven village.
"It would be fine by me to arm one of our stout fighters with a magicked weapon ... bloodied enemies benefit us all."
"Of what tragedy do you speak?"
As he is gathering items to scribe some magical scrolls, Ozmund hears about the elven village. He listens in as Mit'l questions the merchant
Morgan thanks the smith, and heads to her room to try on the new armor.
She looks at herself, for a few minutes, admiring the fit. She then gathers up her old armor and heads back to the smith.
"I really appreciate your work. You're welcome to my old armor, if you want it," she says, dropping it in a heap next to his workbench. "You can probably refit it and sell it to one of the guardsman."
As she leaves she runs into Ozmund and Mit'l. Catching the gist of the conversation, she chimes in. "Sounds like another adventure calling our names, eh boys? Let's find our bearded brethren and put together travel plans."
As he is gathering items to scribe some magical scrolls, Ozmund hears about the elven village. He listens in as Mit'l questions the merchant
Lorcan will purchase a masterwork Small Heavy crossbow if one can be had. He will also try to purchase cold iron bolts. Unless wands or scrolls have suddenly become available he has no use for his coin and will encourage Ozmund to scribe for him as many scrolls as time allows (after he scribes scrolls for himself, of course. ) He is also willing to lend coin to fighter types who might wish to purchase arms or armor upgrades.
"Did anyone happen to see an apothecary? I think I'd feel better if I had a flask or two of Desna's Best Brew to carry with me," she says with a crooked grin and a wink.
"No offense to the clergy present," she says with a nod to Mit'l (and Kelgan, if he is also present), "I just prefer to have a back-up plan if our luck goes sour again."
If everyone concurs with the magical weapon, then I think a +1 bow for Morgan makes sense.
The Keep Councilor explains:
"With the caves no longer a threat, you can go straight up the ravine to the top of the hill. There is an elf village there. You can order weapons to be made for you or try to pick up some weapons there."
Horster visits the smith in anticipation of the rapier he had ordered before his previous departure into the caves. "How goes the rapier? I have the rest of the gold for you if it's ready. And I could sell you this one if it's of any use - has been stuck into quite a few unsuspecting foes..."