Games Ninety-Six to Ninety Eight: Orc Trials, an Orc War, and Werewolves Everywhere!

In the Ninety-Sixth foray into Dragonreach ("My Cousin Orky"), a band of adventurers was hired to defend a "cousin" of Lord Gelgaran "Goldsword" Dross in a trial being held by the Orcs of the Savage Tusk Tribe.  Turns out the cousin was accused of assassinating the tribe's queen - but, obviously, he was totally innocent (yeah, right).

The orcish legal system being what it is, our heroes faced multiple rounds of ritual combat, feats of strength, etc. - but finally succeeded in freeing the defendant.

In the Ninety-Seventh foray into Dragonreach ("The Orc War - Part One"), it turns out the orcs did not take kindly to having their queen's assassin go free.  So, three orc tribes (the Greenskin Tribe, the Savage Tusk Tribe, and the Ironback Tribe) united in a full-out assault on the southern outpost of Fort Torch.

Our heroes rallied a small force of peasants and mercenaries in a bloody defense of Dead Orc Pass - allowing the Overlord to reinforce the south.  But, while the orcs have been rebuffed for now, no peace has been negotiated, and the war could resume at any time.

In the Ninety-Eighth foray into Dragonreach ("The Mine Has Run Dry"), a band of adventurers was hired to investigate a Dragonshard mining operation that was experienced unexpected losses, with shipments vanishing as soon as they were mined.  As it turns out, the shards were being eaten by a (now, magically empowered) group of werewolf-guards.  Fortunately, the werewolves proved no match for our heroes - despite some unfortunate losses in the fight.

Fortunately(?), the rogue familiar "Sir Bark Twain" survived (despite Ork'Tosh's best efforts) and fled into the night.

That's all for now - but more Dragonreach adventures coming soon!

Game Nineteen: The Orc Debates

In game eighteen, a select group of "elite" adventurers were summoned by the Overlord to deal with a problem - a gathering orc horde!  

This, apparently, was not uncommon, and the orcs of Dragonreach mustered into a horde each summer.  Over the last twelve years, the city's great archmage Omroth "the Fire of Pyre" had ventured forth alone (with a wagon of trade goods) to each gathering orc horde and negotiated a peaceful settlement.  With Omroth's recent death (at the hands of several PC adventurers, see Game Thirteen), new heroes were needed to handle the negotiations and avert a war.

The heroes journeyed to Tog'Garog, an orc trading ground in the Red Waste and found the horde.  They quickly deduced that three major tribes were competing in a series of "debates" to decide whether the horde should attack or not.  

The Ironback Tribe were the strongest and most numerous.  While King Gorgur "Bonebreaker" was ambivalent on whether to attack the City of Pyre, his son Prince Khorag "Orog-Blood" was vigorously competing in the debates to push for war.  

Queen Gorgonna "Tusk-Breaker" of the Greenskin Tribe was also "debating" in favor of war, along with her half-troll son Prince Ragnok...

The third great orc tribe, the Savage Tusk Tribe, led by Chief Rehghar "Gray Tusk," was ambivalent on the question, but his sons were said to favor war as well...

The orc "debates" were actually a series of random-seeming trials devised by the inscrutable cabal of orc shamans.  When a group won a "debate," it was awarded a yellowed skull to place beneath that tribe's standard.  The first to win five skulls would decide the question put to the shaman council:  "war," or "no war."

Our heroes found the debates were already underway, with the Ironback Tribe already having won three skulls, and the Greenskin and Savage Tusk tribes having won two skulls each.  The heroes planted their own flag and entered the debates - but were soon joined by a strange wizard, Maledictus "the Metal Mage," who was pushing the horde to war...

Our heroes' skill was tested in many "debates," including:  a cockatrice-eating contest against a stone giant; combat against a Greenskin warrior with torches while both sides were soaked in oil; facing an angry mother owlbear; a "wetbreaches" debate to tell the scariest tale; and the "manysnake" debate fighting various other champions while being chased around by a hydra. 

They were aided by Heddrak "the Howler", a Savage Tusk warrior, whose friendship they earned through their bravery...

But, in the end, the prevailed, saving the City of Pyre from war - but not before slaying Prince Ragnok, and earning the wrath of the Greenskin Tribe!  

Along the way, they learned that two of the legendary Seven Swords are orcs!   Queen Gorgonna being the Fifth Sword, and the genial Grotnob "Axe Burner" being the Second Sword.

For now, the city is safe, but we have surely not heard the last from the orcs of Dragonreach!

Game Five: Ride the Greenreach

In the fourth game, a band of adventurers took a job for the Overlord to ride patrol along the region south of Pyre known as the Greenreach...

The party soon reached Fort Woodhelm, a small outpost of the Overlord's soldiers...

The party's rest was interrupted in the night by a band of Orcs of the Ironback Tribe, who appeared to be hunting for something...

The party defeated the orcs, interrogated a prisoner, and found they were hunting a trio of magical keys said to open a long-sealed magical vault.  The party took up the quest, acquiring a key from the renown halfling bandit, Buck Dogbiter...

The second and third keys were acquired during a deadly battle against a medusa, and from a priest of the Red God who trailed them to the ruins...

But, ultimately, the party was able to open the vault and claim a number of magical treasures.