(... or The Curse, Part 2)
Introduction [Read aloud]
On your quest to find word of Bran, for Jeppie, your new benefactor, you have encountered two Elves. Elowen and Eiran, Elves of the Forest of Karshabak (as Humans, Dwarves and Hobbits know it, but is Daesheare to the Elves).
Elowen and Eirian have been observing a group of Orcs and Ogres and are of the opinion that they are taking prisoners to a nearby mountain, at the base of which are two lakes. Indeed, they are convinced that they have taken a number of their Elven brethren there, but need to confirm this before retreating back to their forest to gather larger numbers so as to launch a rescue.
Elowen and Eirian believe there is a strong likelihood that Bran has fallen victim to the same Orcs as their fellows.
Elowen shares that the mountain rises to the west of the East Fort to South Summit road. This seems to be the same location as Fane's Mountain, noted in the parchment carried by Nabbi.
Half way up Fane’s Mountain, as depicted in the above image, is a secret entrance to a long-forgotten Dwarven mine, and hidden within that is Fane’s Stronghold.
Some way down the mountain from the mine entrance is a series of caverns in which a clan of orcs and their ogre slaves have taken up residence. The Orcs use the caverns as a base for their mining operations further down the mountain on its southern side.
The orcs regularly supplement their ogre slave workers with any humanoids they can capture travelling the inland road between Eastrock and Landfall.
Encounter 1 - Prisoner’s March
Travelling west, having left the East Fort - South Summit Road, the party is still some distance from Fane’s Mountain, when fresh tracks are discovered which a successful Ranger roll will identify as a mixture of Orc, Ogre, Human and Dwarf. The human and dwarven tracks are single file, suggesting chained prisoners marching under guard.
The approach to Fane's Mountain - see also The Map I
The Orc Stronghold
Approaching the stronghold by following the Dwarven trail
As the Party proceeds, the Dwarven path is crossed by a trail heading to the eastern side of Khaz Dorum. This path is regularly used, with fresh prints in the mud, and is not at all disguised. A Ranger (of any speciality) will instantly make out the tracks of many humanoids, perhaps of different races. If a ranger successfully rolls against their tracking skill they will feel confident that there are human, dwarf, orc and ogre tracks present. There is also evidence of large wolves and of chains having smoothed portions of the trail.
The leaders of the Orcs are Gharsh and his sister Shargh (see notes).
Approaching the Caverns by following the Orc trail
[Roll perception: 3x or less the characters will see 3 Orcs around a fire and 1 Dire Wolf in the cavern. On a roll of 2x perception or less the character(s) will see the Dire Wolf is closely guarding 2 Elves manacled to the Far Eastern side of the cavern wall.]
One - The Cavern Entrance
The cavern entrance is some 20’ wide, looking north from the mountain. It is about 200’ up the mountain’s side, although the path never has more than a 20 degree radiant.
The cavern is a natural cable structure and only small changes have been made over the years (some smoothing of walls, floors etc).
Roughly cut fire wood has been dragged to the eastern end of the space. Bones litter the area around the fire, including what look like humanoid leg and arm bones. They look well chewed, but whether by Wolf, Orc or Ogre it is impossible to tell.
The Orcs and Dire Wolf will engage in (or move to evade in) battle as soon as they see, smell or hear the Party.
Any battle at the cavern entrance will draw in all Orcs, unchained Ogres and Dire Wolves to the melee.
Turn 1 -
3 Orcs
1 Dire Wolf
Turn 3
- 1 Dire Wolf
Turn 4
2 Ogres
2 Orcs (Gharsh and his sister Shargh)
Turn 6
- 3 Orcs
At the time of the attack there are a total of 8 Orcs, 2 unchained Ogres and 2 Dire Wolves in the cavern.
There is a 5% chance further reinforcements may arrive from outside (3 Orcs and 1 Ogre) during the melee (turn 6) with d-6 prisoners in tow.
Two - Orc quarters
General note: The caverns seem well ‘lived in’ , with various nooks and crannies being used for storage, areas for relaxation, natural guard posts etc.
This large space (70’x90’ at its largest) is where all but Gharsh and Shargh have their cots. The space is filled with filthy rags, clothes and cushions, as well as broken and/well worn armour, weapons and shields.
A close inspection will reveal nothing of real value.
Two A - Orc quarters
This is where Gharsh and Shargh have their bunks. Fine blankets and cushions, no doubt stolen from carriages, litter the space.
In the eastern end of the space a rusty but sturdy looking chain is fixed to a spike driven into the rock wall. The chain is tied at the other end to an eagle’s left claw. The eagle is obviously distressed and injured, its feathers missing in places and skin rubbed raw.
On the cavern floor below the spike is a fine looking wooden chest.
It contains:
silk material [worth 160 SP]
A jade inlaid silver necklace [120 SP]
A set of silver drink coasters [80 SP]
Silver cutlery [80 SP]
An (obviously) Elven made silver(?) dagger - (unknown)
3 silver rings (60, 40, 120 SP) and one finely crafted gold ring [16 GS]
8 uncut emeralds of various size [54 GS]
Sack with 86 CF, 16 GS, 49 SP and 6 TSG
Three - Food & weapons
This space is obviously a store room for natures food and spare serviceable weapons. Beneath a net, which a roll of 8 x perception or less will show to be affixed to the cavern roof in such a way as to fall on anyone tampering with the stores, lies:
7 barrels [2 wine, 2 ale, 2 water, 1 oats]
At least 3 short swords [serviceable, smith-made]
A number of daggers [3 serviceable]
Many mostly unused arrows [68]
A large key ring with 6 keys hangs from a hook near the space’s entrance.
Four - Guards
This is a room with some rocks dragged over to a relatively flat surface extending from the far wall. 26 CF sit on the flat space in 3 stacks.
Littering the cave floor, in amongst a number of well-chewed bones there are discarded sticks of various lengths less than 12 cm.
Five - Ogres
A very sturdy chain tethers an Ogre to the wall. It has an obviously injured arm and is malnourished.
When it sees the party it frantically waves and takes off its right boot. Within is a very beautiful emerald and silver necklace.
The necklace is magic, giving the wearer the ability to see invisible objects or people and see through illusions.
Six - Prisoners
There are six chained prisoners in this area of the cavern. Each is chained separately and there is a distance of at least 30’ between each prisoner. There is a coarse mat and water bucket beside each emaciated looking prisoner.
A small, haggard but determined looking Halfling identifies himself as Bran. Two Elves, known to Elowen and Eirian are there, as well as three humans.
They are all very glad to see you.
Through good timing, they tell you that you attacked the Orcs when all the prisoners were in the caverns.
With special thanks to ryivhnn
