Both gnomes continue to laugh, however the volume of such laughter has been greatly diminished!
Red -14
Yellow -24
Varis @ 7 HP
Fergus @ 15 HP
Haldor -7
Against yellow
as bonus
Varis stands and moves to aid the paladin, killing the yellow-rat-bastard!
The lone villain attacks the monk for killing his friend!
However he misses the elusive elf! The party then takes the enemy gnome down with little resistance!
After taking a moment to regain your composure, Haldor notices that the woman bound to the altar is not moving!
After freeing the woman and travelling to the last unsearched room, you find the remaining missing prisoner and free him with little trouble. Assured that you have completed your mission you leave the castle.
Now that the captives have been freed and the antiques recovered, the party can make a final trip back to Rivenroar and claim their reward. The town is delighted with your success, and they throw a great feast in the repaired Hall of Great Valor to honor you. With great ceremony, each of the antiques is restored to its place on the mantles and walls of the great hall.
But Sinruth’s letter should give you pause. Clearly something beyond a single band of hobgoblins with delusions of grandeur is out there. And the presence of powerful necromantic magic indicates that Rivenroar Castle might have had a secret history of its own. War could be on the horizon.
How can we forget the suffering of our kin during the Age of Chains? How can we set aside those ancient grudges when the risk of slavery is now greater than ever? Fellow warriors, the orcs are upon us, marching once more to the beat of the giants’ drum. It falls to us to stop them and to hold fast no matter their numbers. If we falter, we give into fear. It’s not just ourselves and our way of life that will suffer; all people of the Elsir Vale will perish as well. War is upon us. Now is the time for men and women of courage to stand up and defend those who cannot defend themselves.
A new threat looms to the west: A vast horde of orcs and their despicable kin emerge from the barren lands bent on plunder and conquest. While the Elsir Vale and other lands mobilize their meager forces to respond to the danger, a call has gone out to those heroes of the Vale to join forces and help to push back this new evil before it’s too late.
War approaches. A week ago, a call to arms sounded throughout the Elsir Valley, summoning warriors to help defend Bordrin’s Watch in the Stonehome Mountains far to the west. Word of an army of orcs on the march had spread through the Vale for months, but now, it appeared the rumors were true. You, along with militia groups and other adventurers from all over the Vale, marched west until you came to the city of Overlook, a large fortified community raised by dwarves centuries ago.
You and some other adventuring groups were invited to attend the Council of Elders. Of these groups the most notable among them are two groups in particular : the Freeriders and the Farstriders. Here is where you learned that Bordrin’s Watch had already been compromised. Advanced parties of orcs had uncovered the tunnels beneath the mountains and were already coming through to harass supply trains and reinforcements bound for the fortress.
Your group and the other adventurers are led through a maze of corridors until you all reach the High Hall. Standing on the 20-foot tall dais are the five elders. Each of the three male dwarves have long beards that hang to their feet, and two are old, being gray and wrinkled. The third is younger, with black hair and hard features. The two female elders are both attractive, one with red hair and the other with brown. All five wear the robes of their office, luxuriant purple and silver damask. Arranged beneath them, filling the chamber completely, is a motley crowd of common soldiers, militia, and adventurers, with each race and occupation represented, and most standing in small groups, but a few mingling.
Once everyone has settled in, the youngest male elder steps forward and addresses the crowd.
Welcome to High Hall, friends. I am Elder Cadrick. I don’t much see the point in bandying words, so I’ll lay it out for you. War is upon us. A great host of orcs comes from the west. Their intention is clear. They will come through the mountains bent on slaughter. Those they spare can look forward to a short life of slavery.
Overlook, and Bordrin’s Watch in the mountains, have long held fast against these raids, but our scouts say never has such an army gathered. Thus, we turn to you brave souls to help defend not only Overlook, but also all the Elsir Vale. When the orcs arrive, we’re certain they will come up through the pass. We know this because already there have been attacks from the tunnels below, compromising the fastness. The defenders have fought back the savages, but it’s clear the rest are coming and fast.
So here’s the plan. Durkik Forgeheart will lead the militias and most of you to bolster Bordrin’s Watch. Orc trailblazers infest the tunnels below, so we’ve tasked their security to the Farstriders. One more mission remains, though. We need a group to evacuate the monastery on the other side of the mountains. It’s dangerous work, what with the orcs and all, but priests need a warning of what’s coming if they don’t know already. Do we have any volunteers?
Overlook, and the fastness of Bordrin’s Watch, were raised to safeguard the liberated dwarf peoples and to be the first line of defense should their ancient enemies forget their defeat and seek to enslave the dwarves once more. Since its founding, Overlook has never come under attack, though Bordrin’s Watch has time and again, at least once every century. Overlook supplies the mountain pass with soldiers, supplies, and needed resources, ensuring the Watch is never without the goods they need to live up to their ancient responsibility.
While doughty dwarf warriors hold the Watch, the city is far more cosmopolitan and includes peoples of nearly every race and culture known in this corner of the world. Dwarves are still the dominate group, but humans and halflings make up a close second, followed by dragonborn, tieflings, and a smattering of eladrin and elves, and an assortment of other, less familiar, races.
Overlook is largely a trading center, and people on both sides of the mountain come to the city to exchange goods, rumors, and information. The city’s numerous markets and bustling streets makes it the ideal place to do business, thus characters in search of a particular tool or device are more likely to find it here than anywhere for miles around. Supplementing its trade is a robust mining industry. The mountains are rich in iron, silver, tin, and no few gemstones. Dwarf and human miners and prospectors set out from Overlook each day, some working in the blackness of the deep mines, while others scour the heights in search of treasures—some succeeding, others failing, and others still vanishing in the misty peaks never to be seen again.
Although the city depends on Bordrin’s Watch to endure most of the attacks from the west, the city is not without its own defenses. The dwarves erected steep walls to protect themselves, but as the city outgrew its original protections, the inhabitants raised more walls to encircle the growing population. So far, this has happened four times, giving the city four sets of walls, one inside of the other. The shantytown, the unofficial ninth district, grows beyond the eastern walls and it’s just a matter of time before the Council decides to raise another wall and add those squatters to the rest of the city.
Piercing each wall, on both the western side and the eastern side, is a large gate flanked by two square stone towers. Most times, the gates stand open, even in the dead of night, but when trouble looms, such as now, the gates are closed at dusk, and the inner gates—the ones leading into High Hall—might close even earlier. The outer walls are 100 feet tall — taller where they travel over higher elevation. Each inner wall stands another 20 feet tall. Guards patrol the walls infrequently, though the gatehouses are held by a half-dozen warriors or so.
Population: 12,250; about another 5,000 people live in small settlements scattered on the lower slopes. The people of Overlook are mostly dwarves, humans, and halflings, though pockets of dragonborn, tiefling, eladrin, and elf communities are isolated in their own ethnic neighborhoods. Overlook’s importance as a trade center results in great numbers of travelers from faraway lands and of a wild assortment of races, cultures, and beliefs, lending the city its cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Government: The Council of Elders, a group of five male and female dwarves, governs Overlook. Each is elected to office and serves a 10-year term. The dwarves see ruling as a burden and none relish the job, preferring to hand power off to someone else. Heading up the Council is the Great Elder, Morgoff Stonefirst, an aging dwarf who’s ready to retire. One representative from each of the eight districts of Overlook attends the Council, serving as advisors and also to air the grievances of their particular constituencies. Although these individuals have the power to influence, they have no real authority in the city, though many are wealthy and powerful by means other than the office they hold.
Defense: Overlook keeps a standing garrison of 150 warriors armed and ready for any threat. In times of trouble (such as now), Overlook can muster another 500 warriors from the local militia, and another 100 from the outlying settlements. At Bordrin’s Watch, another 500 hundred warriors protect the mountain pass from within its steep walls and skyscraping towers.
Districts: Blister, Boneyard, Elftown, Forgeworks, High Hall, Nine Bells, Stonehammer, Tradetown, Shantytown (unofficial).
Inns: Belden’s Rest; Cadrick’s Boarding House; Clean Sheets; House of Sleep; Mountain’s Hearth; Polliver’s; the Turned Spoon; and numerous others.
Taverns: Coxcomb Spirits; Dergan’s XXX Brewery; Michael’s Blond; Pickled Imp; Pig and Bucket; the Salty Mug; and numerous others.
Supplies: Dungeoneer’s Survival Emporium; Elsir Consortium; Merty’s; Stonehome Treasures.
Temples: Divine Knot (various); Shrine of Erathis; Stone Anvil (Moradin).
As a holy warrior with some sympathy for the priests to be evacuated, Fergus speaks up:
Fergus McDammitson and his brave comrades, the Fergusons, answer the call! We shall evacuate the monastery.
Cadrick looks at you and with a expression of relief. Excellent. Before he can continue, Edgar Sommerfield, the leader of the Farstriders, angrily steps forward. Should I remind the Council of our previous arrangement?
Cadrick responds with a nod and a placating gesture. Again looking to you he says, Thank you for your service. Give me a moment, please. and dismisses the gathered crowd. The elder speaks with the Farstrider’s leader for a few moments, after which Sommerfield storms out of the hall.
Cadrick then motions to you to come with him to a more secluded place in the hall. Again, thank you for your brave service. I'm sure the way will be dangerous and it is also quite possible we are already too late. Time is of the essence, would you be able to leave right away?
After you agree to take on the quest Cadrick offers to your party to the generous sum of 1000 gold pieces (250 each).
If you were to ask about why the leader of the Farstriders was seemingly so angry earlier, Cadrick mentions that the Farstriders met with the Council earlier and negotiated for the job with the most danger and glory, which is why they are descending into the mountains to secure them.
You would understand this as the Farstriders are not only cocky and arrogant but very skilled in what they do since they are the ones that you would go to for your own training. While the Freeriders are your peers, the Farstriders are the group everyone wants to become. While you likely wouldn't adventure together you do hold a high degree or respect and admiration toward them as your mentors. After learning of your exploits in Brindol their pride only swells more, assuming that it was their training that played a major part in your success.
After leaving Overlook you ventured toward the Monastery of the Sundered Chain. Finding things to be quiet, you calmly opened the massive doors to discover that eight orcs had taken up residence in the courtyard. After defeating them, you proceeded inside to the Hall of Moradin. There you saw the first of many dwarven corpses. Also there were more orcs, including a shaman of some type. Once these were killed, you descended down into the Hall of Heroes, where you found more bodies of dwarves that had been killed trying to defend themselves with little more than the weapons they could find at hand. The fight with the orog and his orc friends was brutal but you managed to emerge victorious.
Deciding that recovery from your three battles was paramount, you took an extended rest in the Hall. Moving forward to the stairway that led you Into The Depths of the cavern, you encountered more orcs, another oroc and an additional surprise : a black dragon wyrmling. With the aid of the quick-thinking cleric and his Gust of Wind spell the party was able to to eliminate this latest threat.
The party proceeds down the stairs and into a long, descending tunnel. After traveling for several minutes, the party can see flickering lighting up ahead. As they move closer they also can feel the temperature in the damp, cool underground passage rising. Eventually the passage opens up to where you can see a fearsome blaze raging on one side of this natural cavern, making silhouettes of the orcs that are gathered here. They seem intent on something on the opposite side of the room, where you can hear grunts and shouts above the roar of the flame.
vs Druge 1
as bonus
Varis beats the first drudge to death!
Fizz will attack the Orc Eye of Gruumsh
FireBolt range 120ft
Healing
Perception
Fergus will use 2 hit dice to recover hit points.
Fergus, still angry about the orcs' murdering of the priests, charges the Orc Eye of Grummshushsjrar.
,
Perception:
Haldor casts Sacred Flame, on the Orc Eye of Grummsh if it is still standing after Fergus's assault; otherwise, on Orc Drudge 3.
Also, Fergus shouts out at the Orog Hero: Hero. Some hero thou art, picking on a hurt dwarf. Come face a real opponent, you sissy!
The shaman dodges the cleric's attack but is struck hard by the wizard's spell and the paladin's blade! It's safe to say that the enemy is no longer surprised!
I bet you can't do that twice!
Again with the Sacred Flame on the Eye.
against drudge 2
as bonus
Haldor wins his bet with the shaman but it fights on by summoning a Spiritual Weapon in front of the cleric!
for
Haldor is struck by the spell attack! He then looks at Fergus and speaks. Grovel!
Orc Eye -28
Haldor -6
Against the Eye:
Fergus' knees shake but he manages to reaffirm his resolve, however his attack goes astray!
The orcs then close on Varis!
for
for
Meanwhile, the orog kicks the kneeling dwarf and laughs. Will I find such an opponent here? He then rushes to attack the paladin!
for
for
Haldor steps up to attack Orc Drudge 3.
Noticing the Eye is wavering, Fizz is going to attempt to bring her down before she casts anything else to harm his companions.
Why won't you just die, Witch?
FireBolt range 120ft
Haldor just catches the orc with his attack while Fizz again shows off his superior arcane power!
first against the injured one
as bonus and using a ki point
Varis kills the injured orc! He then strikes the other orc, hoping to knock him backwards!
Varis then moves away from the orc, allowing the enemy to take a free swing at him!
Varis easily dodges the poorly planned strike! Varis then punches the orog in the leg, hoping to knock him prone!
However to orog hero still stands! Meanwhile, the shaman moves his spiritual weapon at Fizz! We'll see how you like it!
for
He then speaks to Fergus again. Flee!
Fizz will awkwardly move away from the witch
Fergus laughs at the Eye. Flee? Nay, I think not. It is thou who shouldst have thought to flee when thou had the chance!
Against the Eye:
Yes, McDammitson, I would. thanks for pointing that out.
Hadnt had my caffeine yet.
Fergus swings at the spellcasting orc but it puts up a spell at the last moment! The other enemies then attack!
The orc misses with a pathetic effort!
for
for
Fergus is struck twice by the orog!
As Fizz watches the witch deflect the attack of Fergus with Shield, Fizz remembers his magic missiles won't breach the shield, Fizz will use his Wand on Orc Drudge 4
Magic Missile range 120ft
3 darts (1 or multiple targets)
Haldor casts Sacred Flame on the witch.
Fizz kills the poor defenseless orc!
move and attack the eye
as bonus
Varis kills the shaman and then stabs the orog!
Haldor's spell then strikes the enemy as well!
Against the orog:
Fergus strikes the evil orog hero! The enemy strikes back at the foul righteous paladin!
for
for
Fergus is struck twice by this obviously well-trained warrior!
2. Orog (-28)
Fizz will move around behind Fergus and give him health
Cure Wounds Range Touch
Haldor approaches the last enemy and delivers a critical blow:
Fergus tries to finish the orog off (if Haldor and Varis didn't already):
Fergus hopes that at least his errant swing distracted the orog enough for the others to land solid blows.
Fizz heals the paladin by calling on his divine powers! Fergus misses the orog but Haldor nearly brings him to his knees with a well-placed strike to the enemy's head!