"We seem ta be out o' further options, cousin," Orlan advises, "What more remains ta be reclaimed among the Spires o' our forefathers? If'n we've freed the majority o' the place, my own commonsense...and the faith o' Torag...be tellin' me we need ta find the means o' defendin' this place if'n those bandits spoke true 'bout the orcs comin' inta the high mountains. Sure'n they'll see this place from afar and seek ta take it by force."
He rubs his chin and squints down into the valley from one of the windows. "We should be thinkin' o' Lord Kerrigan's folk as well," he suggests, "A word o' warnin' ta our neighbors be warranted. And perhaps as allies our people and the men o' the Keep might be fendin' off such an incursion."
"Don't be forgettin' that directly below you is a nest o' little vermin that would 'appily slit yer throat in the night. We 'aven't dealt wit' them yet. We surely need ta be thinkin' o bein' attacked from the other end o' the spires but I would rather see iffin' we can't be puttin' the fear o' death into these 'ere kobolds first. I say we drop down the side o' the spire 'n foray into the den o' lizards afore we 'ead back. They 'ave a sorceror wit' some protection from fire that we should be killin'."
"Don't be forgettin' that directly below you is a nest o' little vermin that would 'appily slit yer throat in the night. We 'aven't dealt wit' them yet. We surely need ta be thinkin' o bein' attacked from the other end o' the spires but I would rather see iffin' we can't be puttin' the fear o' death into these 'ere kobolds first. I say we drop down the side o' the spire 'n foray into the den o' lizards afore we 'ead back. They 'ave a sorceror wit' some protection from fire that we should be killin'."
"A sorcerer? Hunh!" Orlan spits in agreement, "Aye an' that don't be soundin' like a good thing ta be leavin' 'round our future home. From the runty lizards' request fer 'shiny' do yuh think it be worth bribin' 'em ta leave given the greater danger o' the orcs? Or do yuh be thinkin' we can take the time ta hunt down the sneaky vermin and still catch'em all?"
"I don't know, cousin," Orlan shakes his head, "Kobolds can be a difficult lot ta pin down. We might be wastin' plenty o' time tryin' ta find'em all. Time we could be usin' ta warn Kerrigan and improve our standin' with the goodly folk o' the region. If'n we can cull this sorcerer from their ranks, maybe that'll send'em all runnin'...but if'n he's as elusive as he's apparently managed ta be with yuh so far, we might want ta be usin' the silver ta draw 'im out...either ta kill 'im...or send 'im on 'is way..."
"I was wishin' we knew more about these 'ere orcs. Still, we did send that lot o' ruffians back ta' Kerrigans wit' the message. I'm not sure we can be sparin' anyone else ta go."
I think a moment.
"We either must be playin' at defense or we be takin' the fight ta the ones we know about. Iffin' we retreat now ta play defense we'll be doin' that till 'elp comes... Iffin' it does... I say we 'ead back ta' the market spire, lock the upper doors ta this bridge n' then see about clearin' out the slime below."
"Then' iffin' the day is still young, we can be beatin' on the doors o' the kobolds. A day or so n' we can kill 'em all 'n at the same time, durin' the evenin' we can work on defenses."
"What say you? Hru? Kelborn?"
"We either must be playin' at defense or we be takin' the fight ta the ones we know about. Iffin' we retreat now ta play defense we'll be doin' that till 'elp comes... Iffin' it does... I say we 'ead back ta' the market spire, lock the upper doors ta this bridge n' then see about clearin' out the slime below."
"Then' iffin' the day is still young, we can be beatin' on the doors o' the kobolds. A day or so n' we can kill 'em all 'n at the same time, durin' the evenin' we can work on defenses."
"What say you? Hru? Kelborn?"
"With the Marketspire bein' as open as it is...," Orlan considers, "Maybe we could be killin' two goblins with one axe?"
He squats down and begins drawing in the dust to illustrate his point. "If'n we be here," he says, "And this be the Garrisonspire, we should be able to block off the bridges and access to the rest of the Spires we've reclaimed. Then, if'n the orcs do come, they'll funnel through here...inta the open areas o' Marketspire. From there, they'll crash against our defenses trying ta cross ta Garrisonspire, or they'll head down. If'n they go down, they'll have ta deal with the kobolds...and regardless o' who wins that confrontation, it delays us havin' ta deal with either o' 'em until we're ready ta do so."
"Meanwhile, if'n the orcs do come through the kobolds and try ta cross over to Garrisonspire from below, they'll also have ta face this slime yuh're goin' on about. That alone might make fer one o' the best defenses, cousin. After all, the slime ain't goin' anywhere. If'n we can lead the orcs inta it, that too could serve ta weaken 'em. Then, when they're worn down, demoralized, and such...that's when we hit'em...and whatever remains o' the kobolds that didn't get run off."
"Now, if'n the orcs don't come that way..." he says, gesturing toward the other side of the Spires, "And they try ta come through Batspire...or Orlanspire as I've come ta think o' it...then we need ta be preparin' a proper defense there as well. And, if'n those ruffians do manage ta get a message through ta Kerrigan...and if'n he sends any o' his men ta investigate...perhaps we can catch those orcs between us as we sally forth from the gate?"
"I guess I was assumin' that the orcs would be comin' at us through the bat spire n' that the throne spire was the logical point o' defense. The bridges on either side are after bein'... less than optimal fer large bodies ta be crossin' at a time."
"Plus the throne would be aidin' us..."
"I guess I was assumin' that the orcs would be comin' at us through the bat spire n' that the throne spire was the logical point o' defense. The bridges on either side are after bein'... less than optimal fer large bodies ta be crossin' at a time."
"Plus the throne would be aidin' us..."
"That be true," Orlan nods, "Tis a good point...and a welcome one, actually. But I can't help thinkin' that the strategy o' Torag also teaches it's best ta put up layers o' defense. Perhaps we could be usin' Thronespire as our fallback point? But before that, anythin' we can do ta secure the other Spires will ensure we don't have ta fight our way back through 'em after givin' 'em up so easily ta the orcs."
He grips his waraxe and hefts its weight for emphasis. "And I really don't want ta be givin' up any ground ta those pig-faced beasts if'n it can be helped, cousin! We can't afford ta be givin' 'em their own stronghold from which ta defend or launch further attacks...whether against us, or the folk o' Kerrigan's Keep."
"I still think we should be seein' ta the lower levels 'ere today. N' 'ave ye been givin' thought ta the speed wit' which ye can be crossin' that rope bridge between the throne spire 'n the market spire? Because iffin' orcs sneak in while we're tryin' ta defend the market spire, movin' across is goin' ta take magic."
"I still think we should be seein' ta the lower levels 'ere today. N' 'ave ye been givin' thought ta the speed wit' which ye can be crossin' that rope bridge between the throne spire 'n the market spire? Because iffin' orcs sneak in while we're tryin' ta defend the market spire, movin' across is goin' ta take magic."
"As long as we get ta the rope bridge ahead o' any orcs chasin' behind us, we can be hangin' onta it 'fore we cut it, then climb it the rest o' the way inta Thronespire and leave the orcs stranded," Orlan suggests, "O'course, that'd be makin' it more difficult ta find a way back if'n we had ta surrender Marketspire ta 'em like that. Regardless...if'n we concede Marketspire ta 'em and don't defend the rope bridge at all, they can easily isolate us anyway."
"We should at least see if there's another gate to Marketspire below. I did think those fellows said they saw the orcs off north, which I take to be meaning they would come from, er..Orlanspire!" interjects Hru.
"We should be able to hold off quite a large force from Thronespire by destroying the, er.. bridge there, and if the will of Gorum be with us. That still leaves stinkin skinks at our backs" Hru's tone grows dark. "The treacherous curs would like nothing better than someone else to engage us...." Hru trails off thinking and then cracks a smile "That would be a GLORIOUS battle tho! Gorum be praised!" he ends off with a familiar chuckle
"Sure'n I be happy yuh're wieldin' that greatsword fer our side," Orlan notes, "Yuh nearly felled that ettin by yerself back there. Well done...and I be hopin' yuh've got no problems facin' those what share some o' the same blood as yer own."
For DM:
Orlan 7300XP -- after Ettin
Hru 10000XP -- after Ettin
Klyndak 12490XP -- after Ettin
Kelborn 5165XP -- after Ettin
Hru turns to Orlan. "Though their blood runs through my veins and I was raised by the orcs of Urglin, I bear them no love, I was little more than a slave, and, when I can, I try and remind them of the true love of Gorum! oooo, hoooo, hooo!"
The prospects of battle seem to have lightened Hru's mood
Hru turns to Orlan. "Though their blood runs through my veins and I was raised by the orcs of Urglin, I bear them no love, I was little more than a slave, and, when I can, I try and remind them of the true love of Gorum! oooo, hoooo, hooo!"
The prospects of battle seem to have lightened Hru's mood
"Hunh!" Orlan grunts with approval, "Yuh'll be gettin' along alright with us, then!" He squints at the half-orc for a moment and decides, "Yuh know, I don't think I should be callin' yuh an orclin' if that be the case. You're either a manlin' or a dwarflin' with that kind o' spirit. And though Torag may be where I place muh own faith, sure'n I be knowin' the call o' war and Gorum as well. So sendin' a few orc-blood souls ta the Lord o' Battle is somethin' I can back wholeheartedly."
"So, what say yuh, cousin?" Orlan turns to Klyndak, "Yuh be wantin' ta try clearin' more o' the Spires 'fore these orcs arrive? Or would yuh rather be preparin' a defense and count on these kobolds and slime ta challenge any orcs that come from that direction? Either way's fine with me. We just need ta be conscious o' when ta pull back, rest and heal up 'fore the real battle gets here."
"I'm suspectin' the orcs'll be comin' from the north. Let's be lightin' some torches 'n burnin' out that slime 'n then see about killin' some kobolds. Best be fightin' the enemy we know is 'ere."
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm suspectin' the orcs'll be comin' from the north. Let's be lightin' some torches 'n burnin' out that slime 'n then see about killin' some kobolds. Best be fightin' the enemy we know is 'ere."
Orlan considers everything for a long moment and then suggests, "Well, cousin...given that yuh and these other two have done well enough while I visited Kerrigan's Keep...and even 'afore that with the help o' Rellios...maybe I should be leavin' the slime and the kobolds ta yuh while I go scout the approaches ta...Orlanspire? That way, I can take stock o' the seriousness o' the ruffians' story...and gauge or delay the orcs 'afore they be marchin' on the Spires? If'n nothin' else, it could give me a better idea o' what defenses ta prepare if'n I can scout 'em ahead o' time."
"Well, iffin' that's what ye want ta be doin' cousin," I say with a resigned shrug.
As Orlan leaves, I motion to the other two, "Let's be gettin' some torches made and then go and see what we can find around that slime."
We make and light some torches and then unlock the stairs near to the coffer and head down towards the slime room. With Kelborn leading as he checks for traps.
"Well, iffin' that's what ye want ta be doin' cousin," I say with a resigned shrug.
"Understand, cousin," Orlan explains, "I be doin' this fer our clan an' their return ta the Spires. We can't be havin' yuh clean this place out...invite our cousins up from Janderhoff...and then havin' 'em arrive with orcs havin' run us out o' the place. Besides, I be feelin' a duty ta protect yer reign and our home...as well as those livin' down in the valley."
"So, on behalf o' muh cousin and muh King," he solemnly swears, "I'll be assessin' this threat 'afore it reaches our doors...so that when and if'n it does, we'll be well-prepared fer it."
He turns and claps Hru on the back. "Manlin'...I be leavin' muh liege an' muh kinsman in yer protection. See ta his safety. Take yer glory in Gorum by battlin' at his side. An' pray ta yer god I deliver these orcs and the grandest war yuh've ever seen."
With that, Orlan sets about making preparations to leave the Spires and seek out the orc war party.
"I will as surely as we stand here now!" he says to Orlan. "Keep the faith yourself, and good hunting!" he calls as an afterthought before turning to stalk down the stairs after Kelborn.
Orlan:
The journey down the Stair of Kings is both exhausting and exhilirating. Even a dwarf would be impressed at the length and exactness of this stairway. Knowing that many of those dwarves whose representation marks the miles are kin makes it more rewarding. Nothing bigger than Orlan has chosen to make a home of the stairway yet but these will require regular patrols when the spires are fully-dwarved.
Arriving at the doorless and battered watchtowers, Orlan hears noises in one. Climbing the stairs, he scares off a flock of brownhammers that had made a nest here.
Looking out the window of the tower, you can see the bridge clearly and you can see up the river a bit and down the gorge quite a ways. The flapping of the flock of birds alerted someone else. A leather-armoured bugbear steps cautiously out of one of the caves across the bridge, which Orlan has never explored by his cousin has told him were used by the bonehead cultists. The bugbear looks around briefly and then returns inside.
For DM:
The journey down the Stair of Kings is both exhausting and exhilirating. Even a dwarf would be impressed at the length and exactness of this stairway. Knowing that many of those dwarves whose representation marks the miles are kin makes it more rewarding. Nothing bigger than Orlan has chosen to make a home of the stairway yet but these will require regular patrols when the spires are fully-dwarved.
Orlan quietly and reverently honors the markings as he passes them. "Sure'n I won't be lettin' the work o' muh kin fall ta the likes o' orcs or goblins ever again," he vows aloud, "This be muh oath, Forge-Father. Sure'n I found muh faith in yuh upon this very mountain stair...so too have I found the hallowed Spires o' Clan Foehammer and a responsibility ta be protectin' our home."
Arriving at the doorless and battered watchtowers, Orlan hears noises in one. Climbing the stairs, he scares off a flock of brownhammers that had made a nest here.
"Hunh!" Orlan stoically watches the birds flap away, "It be a good sign ta find wildlife ta hopefully sustain our people when they be arrivin' from Janderhoff," he says, then notes the eggs left in the nest, "And ta also be findin' muhself a fine bit o' breakfast, as well." He happily takes the eggs and places them among his foodstuffs on the pack-mule as he tethers it inside the walls of the ruined watchtower. "Maybe we'll catch us a brownhammer fer stewin' later, eh, Tankard?" he continues talking to his new animal companion, named after a somewhat famous steed once known to these mountains.
Looking out the window of the tower, you can see the bridge clearly and you can see up the river a bit and down the gorge quite a ways. The flapping of the flock of birds alerted someone else. A leather-armoured bugbear steps cautiously out of one of the caves across the bridge, which Orlan has never explored but his cousin has told him were used by the bonehead cultists. The bugbear looks around briefly and then returns inside.
"Hunh!" Orlan mutters to himself as he peers towards the caves, "I wonder if'n that be where Quarrel and his lot got off ta once we razed the lair o' Azubal?"
The dwarf kicks back and begins making a few preparations to defend the watchtower in the event any goblinkin or orcs should happen to find their way there, planning on using it as his base of operations for awhile. He removes any excess gear for the moment, leaving it with Tankard the Second. Finally, he hitches all of the straps of his armor and shield into place, sheathes his waraxe, and checks his belt of throwing hammers and throwing axes. Satisfied that all is ready, he waits a few minutes until the bugbear sentry has likely ignored the disturbance made by the birds departure. Then, he sets off out of the watchtower, leaving Tankard behind and heading for the caves.
"It's either going ta be more fightin' or more negotiatin'..." he tells himself aloud, "Let's be findin' out which..."
In several patches of dried mud, you are able to detect many footprints but they all seem to be around the same size and shape. You do not identify footprints that would belong to smaller creatures. It hasn't rained in several days though.
The last time you were here, it was littered with corpses of various creatures, which Badder admitted to killing. Any trace of those corpses has been removed and the area has been cleaned. Remnants of the burnt out village of the boneheads that were here before are now gone.
1d20+1 = 8
1d20+1 = 21
1d20+2 = 6
For DM:
The last time you were here, it was littered with corpses of various creatures, which Badder admitted to killing. Any trace of those corpses has been removed and the area has been cleaned. Remnants of the burnt out village of the boneheads that were here before are now gone.
Orlan grimly recalls the slaughter Badder caused. Inwardly, he hopes the bugbears don't attribute that to Clan Foehammer. Of course, even if they do hold Kerrigan's men accountable instead, that could only pose further unrest in the region. He reaches back to unsheathe his waraxe just in case and presses onward.
Orlan makes his way down the weathered and chipped stone ladders carved into the side of the cliff by his ancestors. He moves closer to the cave mouth that he saw the bugbear come out of but stealth is not his strongsuit. A bugbear slips out of the cave, bow drawn and well aimed 15' away from the dwarf. For some reason he hesitates. "Beetlerajah?".
For DM:
Orlan makes his way down the weathered and chipped stone ladders carved into the side of the cliff by his ancestors. He moves closer to the cave mouth that he saw the bugbear come out of but stealth is not his strongsuit. A bugbear slips out of the cave, bow drawn and well aimed 15' away from the dwarf. For some reason he hesitates. "Beetlerajah?".
Focused on his 'stealthy' climb, Orlan raises his gaze from the handholds and footholds of the stone ladder as he reaches the bottom.
"Eh?" he looks around quizzically and then sees the bugbear. At first his eyes concentrate on the pointy end of the arrow held in the bow, but eventually they make it to his adversary's face.
"Hunh!" he chuckles, and then changes to the goblin tongue, "Quarrel? That be yer ugly face under all that shaggy hair? Well...I'll be!" He withholds making any further threatening motions, but he does finish finding his footing on the ledge outside the cave mouth.
"Yuh here by yerself?" he asks.
Quarrel looks ragged, less well kept than before, no longer braiding the longer hair around his neck and mane. He looks like he hasn't kept himself very clean and hasn't bothered to bathe. In other words, he smells and looks like a bugbear.
"Alone? Yes, Quarrel alone. Beetlerajah why come?"
For DM:
"Alone? Yes, Quarrel alone. Beetlerajah why come?"
"I be comin' ta guard against a war party o' orcs I hear be headin' this way," Orlan continues to explain in the goblin-tongue. He points back at the ruined watchtower, "I be plannin' ta use that as a lookout so I can find'em. Then, I be plannin' ta learn more about 'em...and maybe even...discourage 'em a little...from ever settin' foot on the King's Stairs."
"It's been awhile since I seen yuh, Quarrel," Orlan goes on, "Yuh're lookin' pretty rough. Is everthin' okay? Where're yer kinsmen?"
"Did you say slime? As in green slime? Why are we going there? Wouldn't it be best to avoid the substance that can melt our flesh like butter?"
Even after saying that, however, Kelborn will still sneak about 30' ahead of the party to keep an eye out for traps. Once the green slime appears, however, he will slink to the back.
For DM:
Spoiler:"I be comin' ta guard against a war party o' orcs I hear be headin' this way," Orlan continues to explain in the goblin-tongue. He points back at the ruined watchtower, "I be plannin' ta use that as a lookout so I can find'em. Then, I be plannin' ta learn more about 'em...and maybe even...discourage 'em a little...from ever settin' foot on the King's Stairs.""It's been awhile since I seen yuh, Quarrel," Orlan goes on, "Yuh're lookin' pretty rough. Is everthin' okay? Where're yer kinsmen?"
Orlan:
"Kinsmen? Quiver dead. Quarrel go hunting. Come back, find hairless coward kill them all. Quarrel track to hotlands."
Quarrel thinks for a moment. Holding up ten fingers, he says, "Orcs ... many orcs ... maybe dozen. They go there. Go. Come back. Go again." he says pointing toward the Cinderlands.
"Did you say slime? As in green slime? Why are we going there? Wouldn't it be best to avoid the substance that can melt our flesh like butter?"
Even after saying that, however, Kelborn will still sneak about 30' ahead of the party to keep an eye out for traps. Once the green slime appears, however, he will slink to the back.
"Ack, Green slime ain't after bein' dangerous iffin' ye are knowin' its there. Just don't be lickin' it. N' fire burns it right enough."
This stair is trapped in exactly the same fashion as the stairway opposite. One of the steps has been hollowed out, filled with alchemist's fire, and then sealed with a clay plate designed to shatter when stepped on by a creature of medium weight. Avoiding it is easy. Disarming it will take some work.
When Kelborn mentions the trap, I suggest, "Iffin' we can simply bypass it, then let's do so fer the moment n' when ye are gettin' some free time later ye can be refitting it elsewhere."
"But there could well be other traps further down n' further in. Ye be movin' carefully lad."
When Kelborn mentions the trap, I suggest, "Iffin' we can simply bypass it, then let's do so fer the moment n' when ye are gettin' some free time later ye can be refitting it elsewhere."
"But there could well be other traps further down n' further in. Ye be movin' carefully lad."
Kelborn continues, slowly, dutifully, down the stairs.
Kelborn does not find any more traps. At the end of the stairs is a closed doorway. The lintel above it has been broken away. A rope, hooked up above the doorway runs through the lintel. The kobolds used this to climb over the slime but it too was designed to not hold the weight of a medium creature. It now hangs slack as Hru broke the other end from the ceiling last week.
"Hru, why don't we be givin' Kelborn a boost up ta the lintel wit' a lit torch n' he can be openin' the door from the other side."
"Hru, why don't we be givin' Kelborn a boost up ta the lintel wit' a lit torch n' he can be openin' the door from the other side."
If Kelborn agrees to this:
Peering over the lintel, you see a room full of green slime.
"Kelborn, feel free ta be burnin' away any slime ye are needin' to ta be makin' it safe fer ye."