"Good work lads, press on!" Elyk cries, hefting his hammer in the air with a cry of victory.
Rahkeg thinks quietly to himself, and then voices a thought-
Although it is unlikely any of their equipment is superior to our own, and we do not wish to further encumber ourselves on our long journey, I believe that it would be prudent to thoroughly ruin the weapons and armour our foe carried- so that when they recover the bodies we harm them in more ways than just slaying their warriors.
"Good thinking Rahkeg," Elyk agrees, nodding sagely, "let's get to it, but make it fast. We should keep moving as soon as possible." With that said Elyk moves to begin sabotaging any non magical gear, having detected before hand.
"Cowards at heart, them and their pets!", says Rhen as he climbs down from the wall.
Feldspar wordlessly put his Dorn Duergar away and pulled out a warhammer, gathering armor and weapons of the fallen together and destroying anything that seemed to be worthless.
"It's unfortunate that we canna destroy their hold as well, but at least we've given 'em reason to regret showing their faces ta' us." He said as he tossed the last shattered items aside.
Feldspar wordlessly put his Dorn Duergar away and pulled out a warhammer, gathering armor and weapons of the fallen together and destroying anything that seemed to be worthless.
"It's unfortunate that we canna destroy their hold as well, but at least we've given 'em reason to regret showing their faces ta' us." He said as he tossed the last shattered items aside.
Rahkeg salvages a crossbow from the Duergar before it is destroyed.
Durgrin collects a dozen of the bolts before they get broken.
"No sense in using good dwarven bolts 'till I have to, eh brothers? Save them for the orcs!"
A few more bolts are loosed towards the group but none find their mark. The equipment is of little value and is easily destroyed. Bolts can be found.
Upon setting out, the group finds that they are free of the Grotto and able to make good time. After a few days of travel the Dwarven companions find that they must make a decision, continue underground further, or take to the surface. A tunnel to your left lets in a bit of light, while the tunnel to your right will take you further into the underground.
As of now, you figure you are probably somewhere to the west of Kykar
"Right lads," Elyk announces gruffly, bringing the group to a halt, "we all knew tha' this 'ere point would come - decision time. Ah say we continue ta carve a path through these stinkin' Deurgar and take the damn Orcs by surprise strikin' from beneath. Thoughts?"
"Right lads," Elyk announces gruffly, bringing the group to a halt, "we all knew tha' this 'ere point would come - decision time. Ah say we continue ta carve a path through these stinkin' Deurgar and take the damn Orcs by surprise strikin' from beneath. Thoughts?"
I agree. We should retain the element of surprise for as long as possible.
Rahkeg slowly smiles to himself as he has another thought.
If we are able to start a conflict between the Duergar and the Orcs at any point... we must seize the opportunity... I'll start researching some spells to disguise our appearances in preparation for this eventuality...
"Wizards and their tricks.."
Thoradin says with a smile as he claps Rahkeg on the back
" I'm for takin' em Orcs by suprise. lets stick to the tunnels, perhaps we can capture our artifact and hit them from behind before they know whats comming!"
Feldspar's frown was clear even beneath the depths of his red beard. As his companions spoke, he shook his head.
"I am a warrior," he said finally, his words sharp under clenched teeth. "Ta' Duergar are scum that I have crushed under my heels since I first took up blade an' fought fer our people. Long ha' I waited for when we would rise out from our caverns an' ta' black tunnels, an' take back our homes. Ta' Duergar are nothing! Ta' orcs...they are our true enemy. Ta' spilling of their blood is what we've been commanded to do! No tricks! No sneaking 'neath ta' earth. I say we rise into ta' world Above an' teach ta' orcs what they've clearly forgotten. To dread ta' might of ta' dwarves an' tremble at our fury!" He paused almost trembling with rage and desire, struggling to contain himself.
Then, more softly, "I canna make ye go up now. If ye would hide a while longer, I will keep my peace. But hark on my words: We must rise eventually or we might as well never have followed the king into ta' world above. Are we dwarves? Or will we skuttle an' hide like ta' stinkin' duergar?"
With an effort, he stepped back and fell into silence, eyes aflame and beard bristling.
"I feel yer words in me 'eart Feldspar," Elyk reassured their passionate companion, looking him straight in the eyes, "we all know such fire tha' burns within - it is why we ar' 'ere. 'Owever, yer mus' na' underestimate the depths ta which our people 'ave fallen. We may slay one 'undred, one thousand, orcs fer every Dwarf tha' falls, an' still they would triumph by numbers alone."
"To 'ide be'ind such legions o' fodder is a cowardly way to fight, but the advantage is theirs now. If our people are ta recover an' drive back this evil then we mus' succeed, na' meet our end upon the mountainside, even if we take ten thousand orcs with us. I am as eager as yer ta retake the surface, but now is the time fer wise choices an' careful plannin', or all Dwarf kind will meet a glorious end 'ere and now."
"Torag guides us in our quest, we mus' 'ave faith tha' 'e will lead us ta salvation, even if we mus' toil beneat' the surface just a few days longer."
"'Tis Torag's guidance that I trust to lead me into victory in ta' world above," Feldspar growled. He made a visible effort to calm himself.
"I am no fool. I know their numbers are great, even deadly. But do any of us know 'tis still true here? We ha' traveled some distance. Surely they ha' concentrated their might on ta' city we left behind? 'Tis difficult to plan when we don't even know ta' ground."
"Fighting down 'ere, in tha dark tunnels.. more than ever I want to go above and fight in sunlight." His hand reaches up to the disc in his beard. "But taking the Orcs by surprise be more favorable to me."
"My vote in this be neutral then. Above or Below, as long as we get or mission done."
"Aye, as long as me bolts kill the enemy, no matter above or below."
Ta' orcs...they are our true enemy. Ta' spilling of their blood is what we've been commanded to do!
Recall, if you will, our mission Feldspar. It is not to slay as many Orcs as we can, it is to recover an artifact sacred to our people. An artifact that will perhaps help us win this war, or at the least harken many more Dwarves to our side.
Quench your bloodthirst man, you will have many chances to slay Orcs before this task is done- our top priority must be this artifact's retrieval, not slaying our foes. The longer we remain undetected by the Orcs the greater our chances of success. This is the second time you have implied some of us are cowards, and I am sure i'm not the only one who... does not care for it.
As is tradition, I will follow the judgement of the Clergy of Torag- but strategem is one of my specialities, and it is foolhardy to emerge from the tunnels before we need to. I fear your bloodlust clouds your judgement.
"Easy lads," warned, interposing himself between Feldspar and Rahkeg to drive his point home. "The last thin' we need is to be fightin' amongst ourselves or they'll 'ave already won. Nobody 'ere's a coward or they wouldn't bloody be 'ere, killin' Orcs is damn important fer our people right now, but it is a secondary objective. We take the deep road, we'll 'ave time enough on the surface when it comes to an end, an' we can take the lay o' the land then. I trust I'll not see any more o' this 'ere in fightin'? We're 'ere to do a job in the name of our King, our People, an' our God, an' as long as I'm 'ere we will bloody do it well. Am I understood?"
The passion in Feldspar's face turns to confusion as Elyk steps between himself and Rahkeg.
"Fight? Me weapons aren't drawn. I wouldna hurt or threaten one o' our company, no matter how we disagree."
He turned with deep regret from the tunnel leading to the surface. "I will no change my mind but I know when I am outnumbered. We'll go on in the deep roads, but at each crossing that may lead back to the surface, I will speak. Lead on."
For the next week and a half dozens upon dozens of dark dwarfs feel before the party of their lighter skinned kin. Blades darkened with blood and bolts fired, recovered and fired again, the Dwarven party continued its progress through the tunnels that once belonged to their ancestors.
Pushing through wave after wave of Duergar the party finally break past the Duergar into mines that are completely abandoned. Within two days however, the parties progress is halted by an older cave in of the tunnels. Had the Dwarves of Highhelm been able to properly care for the tunnels, this would never had happened. It's took several hours but the Dwarven companions were finally able to find an exit to the surface world.
It's dark when the six of you take to the surface, the region is mountainous and cold. You are due East of your goal. Even to the untrained, unobservant eye, there a numerous campfires in the valleys to the South as well in some of the forest surrounding the area.
The fires are certain to belong to your lovely orc friends.
"Ah, the cool light o' the moon, it's good ta feel it on ma skin after so long beneath ground. Brother Stone'eart? Yer the 'hunter, this is your area of expertise - where from 'ere?"
Feldspar stepped into the cool night air and closed his eyes, breathing deep.
"At last," he muttered, taking in the endless black above him, savoring the faint twist of fear in his gut at so much emptiness. A challenge worthy of a warrior. He grinned at the thought.
"The days ahea' shall be glorious, lads," he said.
"We must be quiet lads, and keep the element o' surprise as best we can. I don't think we can afford to attack them... yet."
Durgrin's hand does not leave the hilt of his rapier though.
"Look at where I am Grandfather. Look at how much closer to your Glory we are!" Durgrin thinks as he stares up at the night sky.
"Ah, the cool light o' the moon, it's good ta feel it on ma skin after so long beneath ground. Brother Stone'eart? Yer the 'hunter, this is your area of expertise - where from 'ere?"
"Errrr....West?
Thoradin is speechless for a few moments as he enters the open sky..
"Look at all those stars! they are like the Sparks off Torag's Anvil, I am grateful to have seen this in my life time, I am also honored that our mission will allow many more dwarves to take in this view.."
After taking in the sights of the surface, Rahkeg pauses to contemplate his surroundings and attempt to piece together their location and distance from their goal, drawing on maps he has studied and old tales of the area.
"West it is," Elyk agrees cautiously, noticing the uncertainty in his comrade's tone. "Rahkeh, yer more learned than the rest of us, do yer know anythin' o' this region from tales o' old?"
Rahkeg gives directions to the party regarding how to reach their destination. And even a brief history of how it was founded, run, the politics behind it, the nobility, the battles the fall, and other bits of information. Honestly, there was nothing brief about the history. It was more of a lecture.
There are limited was to proceed. Slowly, cautiously, at night, sneaking and staying to the shadows. Traveling at night at a normal pace, dispatching any foes as your encounter them, or blades a swingin'
There are many campfires to the West.
Elyk peers ahead through the starlight night, scouring the landscape for what lies ahead.
"More Orcs ahead lads, lots o' 'em."
Feldspar grunted. "We knew there'd be many an orc 'tween us and our goal. The campfires will work to our favor. We keep our distance from them an' be ready for anythin'. If we encounter orcs, kill them quickly an' quietly."
He laid a hand on his preferred weapon. "I am ready when ye are."
"Aye, sound plan there," Elyk agrees in a low voice, "move out lads."
I'm sorry guys, but it is no longer fair to you guys for me to keep missing and not being able to post. I thought my schedule had calmed down and would stay that way, but apparently it's right back to the way it was a few months ago. My once a week over-time has turned into multiple times per week, so that when I am home, I don't have time to prepare material, and post as much as I should.
I hate having to quit on you guys like this and apologize for the work you had to put in with little return. I would like to say, that if you are able to find another DM to take this over, or if one of you are willing to DM, or DM as a joint venture, by all means do... most of the ideas came from the Dwarves of Galorion book.
Once again I apologize and promise I had full intentions of playing this all the way through... sometimes life just has different plans. Good luck in all that you do.
-TTD
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Fair enough, thanks for a good game, it had a lot of promise and potential. And thanks for letting us know rather than just quietly refusing to post or reply or disappearing as DM's seem to do here.
RL happens and theres very few DM's who don't have to occasionally have this happen.
I could think about taking over the game I guess, i'd have to figure out if I had the time though.
Fair enough, thanks for a good game, it had a lot of promise and potential. And thanks for letting us know rather than just quietly refusing to post or reply or disappearing as DM's seem to do here.
I'll second that remark. It was fun to slip into a Dwarf's skin for a few days at least!
Yeah, +1 to all the above, thanks for the opportunity, even if it didn't pan out.
Sad, the concept had such potential. Hope it wasn't my asking for maps that doomed the PbP! LOL...
Thanks for all of the encouragement. I just truly don't have time. I really hope one of you pick this up... it was fun for me too... I just barely have time to get on here and check, much less post and prep anything.