Into Hostile Territory
The group resolved to travel north, and bring the battle to the orcs on their own turf. The small patch of map that was found in the manticore's lair was translated, and the sites marked on it referenced various clans of orcs, six in all. The southernmost site was marked "Clan Lightning Thrust", and the party set out through the Orc Forest to take the most direct route there.
The party encountered a pack of Owlbears in the forest, and while Aurora was severely mauled by one of the hungry beasts, the battle carried little other consequence. Sylinnea noticed during the forest trek that a black bear had begun to follow the party, remaining at a safe distance. The two would grow to know one another as companions, as time went on.
When the party emerged from the forest on the north side, that they encountered a frightening sight. A pair of enormous humanoids - hill giants - were throwing massive boulders at one another. The adventurers were not noticed, and paused to formulate a plan of attack. As they watched however, the further giant missed his catch, and took the hurled boulder in the face. He fell to the ground in a sitting position, and the adventurers were much surprised at the tears and wailing that issued from his injured form! The other giant quickly joined in the crying, and it became clear that while these giants were massive, they were clearly juvenile.
Aurora's sense of pity overcame her sense of caution, and she emerged from the woods, followed by Mira and Oscar. Sylinnea remained in the trees in case the parlay failed. The giants were caught totally off guard by the adventurer's approach, and were visibly frightened. Aurora managed to calm them down, and eventually the group learned that the giants father was captured by the nearby orcs while he slept, and that the "boys" had been on their own for three days. The father's name was Thrag, and the adventurers hoped that he could help against the orcs if he could be freed.
The adventurers pressed on towards the Lightning Thrust base - and found a massive rocky mound rising out of the plain. There were also newly constructed wooded walls and towers guarding one side, and the group surmised that there was a cave entrance on that side. The group used several distracting tactics such as sniping and setting the wooden walls aflame, but eventually the orcs would no longer come out, so the group settled for a frontal charge. The interior of the fortress featured several small buildings, but the main structure was an enormous wooden and metal cage-dome, with Thrag the hill giant chained within. Naturally, the orcs responded to the incursion, defending using the horde tactics that Sylinnea predicted. However, like the orcs that attacked Kelish, these were much better armed and armoured than they were traditionally thought to be. Finally, the chieftain of the clan emerged, his trident crackling with the power of thunder. After a fierce battle, the chieftain was slain, and his warriors scattered.
The hill giant was freed, and tension was abated when Mira informed him that his children were hiding in the forests to the south. He bounded off, surly yet grateful.
And yet, after the adventurers recovered, it became clear that victory does not hold easy choices either. The female and juveniles of the Lightning Thrust clan were still holed up in their caves, and the party discussed what should be done with them. Mercifully, the party decided to give them their freedom as well, and the eldest female orc was able to give a spotty account of "cowled men" visiting their settlement before the changes to their clan took place. Little else was available, for it became apparent very quickly that it was the males and chiefs that were in control here. The caves also contained another enigma - the traditional orc altars to their god Gruumsh One-Eye, were torn down. Puzzled still, the adventurers once again made for the forests, and continued on their way to the northeast.
The party encountered a pack of Owlbears in the forest, and while Aurora was severely mauled by one of the hungry beasts, the battle carried little other consequence. Sylinnea noticed during the forest trek that a black bear had begun to follow the party, remaining at a safe distance. The two would grow to know one another as companions, as time went on.
When the party emerged from the forest on the north side, that they encountered a frightening sight. A pair of enormous humanoids - hill giants - were throwing massive boulders at one another. The adventurers were not noticed, and paused to formulate a plan of attack. As they watched however, the further giant missed his catch, and took the hurled boulder in the face. He fell to the ground in a sitting position, and the adventurers were much surprised at the tears and wailing that issued from his injured form! The other giant quickly joined in the crying, and it became clear that while these giants were massive, they were clearly juvenile.
Aurora's sense of pity overcame her sense of caution, and she emerged from the woods, followed by Mira and Oscar. Sylinnea remained in the trees in case the parlay failed. The giants were caught totally off guard by the adventurer's approach, and were visibly frightened. Aurora managed to calm them down, and eventually the group learned that the giants father was captured by the nearby orcs while he slept, and that the "boys" had been on their own for three days. The father's name was Thrag, and the adventurers hoped that he could help against the orcs if he could be freed.
The adventurers pressed on towards the Lightning Thrust base - and found a massive rocky mound rising out of the plain. There were also newly constructed wooded walls and towers guarding one side, and the group surmised that there was a cave entrance on that side. The group used several distracting tactics such as sniping and setting the wooden walls aflame, but eventually the orcs would no longer come out, so the group settled for a frontal charge. The interior of the fortress featured several small buildings, but the main structure was an enormous wooden and metal cage-dome, with Thrag the hill giant chained within. Naturally, the orcs responded to the incursion, defending using the horde tactics that Sylinnea predicted. However, like the orcs that attacked Kelish, these were much better armed and armoured than they were traditionally thought to be. Finally, the chieftain of the clan emerged, his trident crackling with the power of thunder. After a fierce battle, the chieftain was slain, and his warriors scattered.
The hill giant was freed, and tension was abated when Mira informed him that his children were hiding in the forests to the south. He bounded off, surly yet grateful.
And yet, after the adventurers recovered, it became clear that victory does not hold easy choices either. The female and juveniles of the Lightning Thrust clan were still holed up in their caves, and the party discussed what should be done with them. Mercifully, the party decided to give them their freedom as well, and the eldest female orc was able to give a spotty account of "cowled men" visiting their settlement before the changes to their clan took place. Little else was available, for it became apparent very quickly that it was the males and chiefs that were in control here. The caves also contained another enigma - the traditional orc altars to their god Gruumsh One-Eye, were torn down. Puzzled still, the adventurers once again made for the forests, and continued on their way to the northeast.
posted by Kazanj at 4:19 PM
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