The figure has come and gone over the past two days. On the third night, she is nowhere to be seen as usual. Cassius says [whatever he says], and goes up onto a ridge a couple hundred feet from the party. Everyone makes camp, Ron summons his hut. After a couple hours, things are winding down and Cassius is still gone. Above them on a ridge, Kalrithni is up there and the party can hear her, not loud but loud enough to them to hear rummaging about. She is hunting for grubs. Ailekk comes up and looks for Cassius, Kalrithni beckoned him over and offered him some grubs. The two ate grubs and looked for more. Urd came up looking for them, they are just rooting about. Kalrithi offered her a grub, Urd said “Is everything okay?” They nodded. After some time Ailekk asked, “Is Cassius okay?” Kalrithni nodded. “Oh yes, he’s perfectly safe.” Ailekk nodded. You are all looking at the rolling plains and clear skies the next morning. The party see the main road from many, many miles off. Ron realizes that assuming 1) assassins are coming for them, and 2) the assassins were thrown off their trail, they would likely try to scout ahead and visit points where they might be. Urd pointed out that Dree in Bonehammer would not be welcome to act openly, and would be violently repelled if discovered. Givg came up and said, “I cannot go with you, patting Urd on the back. I promised Bif I would bring you this far. And that I have done. He says you can save Bonehammer. I believe what he says. Now I have done what I said I would do, what I promised. But I have broken no skulls. I will go back now to him in Grand Dree. I will break skulls that I can along the way. That I promise to you.” Urd said, “Thank you Givg.” Eldon looked up. Tattered, wearied, but far from broken. Despite the drama and everything going on he says, “I’m going back as well. I’ve seen the evil. I can’t shy away from it. I hear the voice inside me, Torm tells me that this is right. This evil is too much. While I breathe, this evil must be fought.” He looks at Lindal. “Brother. Your spirit might feel like it is breaking. But it isn’t. Do what you feel is right for you. I don’t think you should come with me back to Dree. You should stay with these fellows. Your heart has always been in the right place, even when your brain hasn’t. Be smarter than me for once, don’t come with me to Dree. As long as one of us remains, so does the other.” Lindal decided to stay with the party, although a little bit of a mess. The party traveled down the plains to Euriklannik (North of Castle). The party arrived into the town, a decent sized Eurik town which, like most Eurik buildings has large 30-50 foot domed buildings with “apartments” built on the inside. Urd approached the guard, talked in Eurik, and the party were led inside. All about Ron could see them stockpiling food and munitions, and realized they were preparing for war. They were met by a warrior who talked to Urd for a minute. Urd mentioned he was a Sahiva, and it peaked her interest. He went to elaborate who he was and she said, “Yeah, I don’t really know who any of your clan are but I know the clan.” Urd said “I would like to meet with your Horse Master and…” With that she turned around and strode off, beconning for them to follow. She then took them to go meet the Horse Master, their senior warrior. They were led into a large building with a 15 foot tall doorway. Inside this building everyone is obviously preparing for war. Sharpening axes, spears, etc. A large man with a smaller older gentleman approached them. Urd greeted them and explained their desire to avery war. The larger man said something along the lines of, “I don’t care why we do it. The Dree should be killed.” Urd asked who would command the incursion, and the large man responded that without direct support from the Bonehammer family, it was unclear who would lead the incursion. Recognizing Urd Sahiva’s name, the small older man introduced himself as Hemene of the Firstwing Tribe, and 4th cousin to Shonn (Urd’s mother). At this point, Urd was speaking Eurik a language no one else could speak but Ron identified it as a mishmash of Giant, Primordial, and Common. When Urd introduced him, Hemene introduced himself to everyone as “Horse Master, member of the elder circle, and 5th cousin of Urd Sahiva”. He told them he would consider what Urd had said. They were directed to “Common Building”, like a hostel for travelers to stay. Cassius offered to donate to the war funds, Kalrithni did as well. The big man also brought Cassius about 15 pounds of jerky for rations. The common area was another one of the large, cylindrical buildings with walkways going around the inside of the building where there are private(ish) rooms. On the ground floor are cots and a common cooking areas. The figure took a cot on the ground floor and moved it to a wall, sleeping with her back to a wall. Cassius took a cot. Urd took a cot. Ailekk went outside and found himself in a giant hardwood tree. Ron asked for a nicer place to stay from a local in common, and she ignored him. He asked again in orcish and she said, “Why wouldn’t you want to stay here?” He motioned to himself and said, “Well, I am a bit old and…” She immediately took action and moved him up a ramp to the 2nd floor where one of the side rooms had a younger couple being… frisky. The woman said something to them in Eurik and they stood up, bowed slightly to Ron, then ran off. Ron used prestidigitation on the hay-filled mattress, and he turned around to see the woman on her knees worshipping him and prostrating herself. Ron told her to get up, and offered to clean anything she had. Over the next several hours, hundreds of people brought their laundry to Ron for cleaning. Meanwhile, Urd went outside to just monitor events. Ailekk watched from the trees. Around sundown, hundreds of orcs and half-orcs arrived in the village, being escorted into buildings under the cover of night, being broken up into groups and escorted into areas to sleep. Urd realized they were not only preparing for war, but doing so relatively quietly. The next morning the group moved off after Ron was awoken with dozens of people waiting outside his room offering him all sorts of gifts. Greeted with breakfast and coffee, he began cleaning cloths again. He accepted the feathered headdress, and squirrel-skin mittens. After cleaning a bunch of cloths, he began getting orc cloths, cloaks, and stuff smelling very terribly. He suggested the move on. Hemene gave them an escort to the south, where they crossed the river and continued across the plains. They came across six giant elk, grazing in the plains. Some Eurik adolescents were stalking them. Urd really wanted to try and tame one to ride into battle, but decided against it. He told the Eurik, “50 gold for a ball.” They laughed and declined. The part continued on to Castle Bonehammer where in the sky was written in clouds “Ron, am meeting a prince. Come see me- Sir Vatcher”. Everyone could see this. The party entered the city. Castle Bonehammer is surrounded by stone walls. Walking in the walls there is lots of traffic, the place is very busy. Traditional buildings and houses are along the walls, not the domed buildings of the Eurik village. The interior has tents and “moveable” buildings like merchant tents, but nothing interesting. Urd let everyone know that Bonehammer doesn’t have magic item shops. You can find standard healing potions and whatnot, but magic items are typically looted off the dead, discovered in ancient tombs, or made by what few spellcasters that exist here who are able to wield such weapons. When a magic item is found, it become a heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. The party found their way to the castle, where Urd introduced himself as Urd Sahiva, and the party was escorted inside. Entering the castle, they were taken off to a left passage, where the important folk are taken. From there young half-orc children (young Bonehammer children) were around with plates of roasted meats, fresh fruits, and tray of drinks. Kalrithni helped herself, as did Ron who wanted to try everything, even The Figure grabbed a couple of apples (or apple-like fruits) and put them in her pouch. Ron dug on the idea and started filling up his pouches with extra snacks. They were taken by the guards to a waiting room for diplomats. There were tribesmen and orcs from around Bonehammer. They were instructed to tell someone who they wanted to meet. They didn’t really… [I think]. After thirty minutes or so they could hear boisterous laughter and a door opened with Sir Vatcher stepping out with a large, bulky woman in chain mail behind him. Sir Vatcher was a tall brass dragonborn, wearing plate mail. He had a long tan cape, lots of pouches around his waist, and was walking out while telling the rest of a bad joke, “And then the gnome said, ‘That’s why I’M the demogorgon.”” The woman and him both laughed, him laughing more at his own joke than her, who was mostly humoring him. His eyes darted about and he saw Ron, open his arms and said, “Ron old man! Bring it in for a hug.” and strode across the room embracing his friend. “Let me introduce you to Princess Karina” he said waving towards the woman. She looked up, dark hair, maybe a little orcish blood in her but mostly human, and said, “I’m not a Princess. I would have been if I hadn’t lost the challenge last Tuesday before the full moon rose.” Sir Vatcher looked about a bit confused. “Wait, then who is the monarchy of this kingdom?” Karina looked a bit thoughtful and said, “Idregin I think.” Someone walked by in passing and added, “Nope, not Idregin. He lost 3 of 5 challenges three days ago. He ain’t the prince.” Karina thought again, “Merikola?” A Eurik Tribesmen stepped forward and said, “Not her, she fought a death challenge with half a dozen orcs yesterday. May she rest in peace.” There was some muttering amongst the group. Sir Vatcher said, “Does anyone know who your ruler is?” A bit flabbergasted by the whole situations. The answer was no. No one could tell who their ruler was. Urd knew, that this was not unusual. The evolution of the Bonehammer family over the years by taking naturally chaotic orcs and tribesmen together and letting them draft their own lines of succession and rights to inheritance, meant that their entire hierarchy was a horrible mess. That’s why the elders of the clans and tribes had/have much more political power than the ruling family. The Bonehammers are useful to unite the humans and orcs, in a way. If a specific clan or tribe tries to divide the kingdom, the Bonehammers amass a large army and quash any potential rebellion. Beyond that, they are somewhat limited in their powers. To Urd’s memory, the longest ruling prince or princess of Bonehammer did so for approximately 4 years, over 100 years ago. Many survive only months or even days (not that they die, but are dethroned for one reason or another). Sir Vatcher walked up to Ron and out of a belt-pouch he pulled a small backpack and handed it to Ron. “Here, my friend, these are yours.” Inside are come coin and other materials. Urd looked about and said, “is there anywhere we can stay for the night?” One of the Bonehammer people came up and said, “Well of course sir, we can take you to the Orc Diplomat’s Wing.” Urd nodded and said, “That would be good.” The servant moved to escort them off when Sir Vatcher said, “Um, Ron, I would like to talk to you for a few minutes.” Ron looked back and said, “I’ll catch up with you.” Sir Vatcher looked at Urd and said, “You know Mr. Urd Sahiva, official Indra business and all. I’m sure you understand.” Urd nodded and noted that. Ron and Vatcher had a conversation where Ron told Vatcher about their comings and goings, the evils possibly behind the undead attack, and he spoke very highly of the party. Vatcher responded, is there anything you need from us? [I don’t recall what, if anything Ron asked for] Meanwhile. Urd, a couple of escorts, Cassius, Ailekk, Kalrithni, The Figure, Indal, and the guards made their way to the Orc Diplomat’s Chambers of Castle Bonehammer. Rurrick is busy scouting. Approaching the chambers, the party hears a lot of commotion and smell noxious odors hiting their noses. They walk ain and see an open area, sort of like a tavern, or maybe a jail area. There are walkways a story up, with hallways going in many directions. In the middle are bars, tables, and hundred orcs and half-orcs. All about are young half-orc waiters and waitresses attending the needs of everyone there. There is a lot of drinking. Looking around the party saw people playing cards, conversing, and even wrestling matches. Walking in, an orc looked up at Urd and his friends and said in orcish, “Who the fuck are you?” Without paying him mind, Urd walked in and ordered some drinks, getting some for the guards. Kalrithini, without blinking went in and got a drink and tried to find a table to gamble. The Figure went to the nearest wall and planted her back to it. Lindal and the guards tried to get out of the way. Ailekk walked next to Urd and planted himself next to Urd, as though a bodyguard. Urd got a beer for himself after giving ones to the guards and Lindal and said to the orc who the spoke to him, “I am Urd Sahiva.” The orc said, “I am Orfgog Sagfang. I guess I should pull you up a chair. Have a seat.” Urd knew the Sagafangs. This was not an important one, but one of them high enough to get in here. The party drank for a while, someone threw a beer stein at Urd and Ailekk caught it. Urd took the stein after Ailekk sent it down, took to the orc who threw it as the crowd cleared out (Urd rolled a 20+ Intimidation check) and set it down saying, “This is yours.” After that the party went well until a large orc guard entered the chamber and went over to Urd who recognized him as his half-brother Rilug. Rilug lifted him out of his chair and raised him to his feet. “BROTHER! It’s good to see you” and set him back down. People started looking about. Rilug looked around, “You slew Raffolk. And these must be the Raffolk’s Slayers.” He said waving his hand about. From the crowd some yelled, “A tiefling, a half-orc, and bird-man came in here. How did we not notice this?” People began yelling throughout the crowd, “Raffolk’s Slayers are here.” and yelling it throughout the line.” Over the course of 5-10 minutes the orc diplomat chambers became a wild party just about as Ron walked in. He saw the party members being hoisted about. Cassius was being carried by a half-ogre brute. Kalrithni pointed to Cassius and said, “I’m Cassius’ aunt” at which point they began parading her about on their backs. Ron walked in, not expecting such a jubilant scene and yelled, “I’m Cassius’ Uncle.” At which point they begin picking him up as well, just assuming that Kalrithni and Ron are married and carry them around next to each other (obviously Ron can’t be Cassius’ blood uncle). Everyone gets propositioned by male and female orcs, half-orcs, and humans (of distantly orc heritage) of all ages. Does anyone accept? You almost have your choice of people. If you want anyone, someone of status (only Urd would know who has status), anyone your character finds attractive (relative). Ailekk has limited choice [more on that later]. Cassius, Urd, Ailekk, and Ron make Insight checks, Constitution saves, then Perception checks. All of these are not pertinent for all people, but everyone make all of them. I'll post a pre-game for next game based on the checks.
