“Okay,” whispered Siegfried. “We still have some cloud time
left, but we are vulnerable to attack as we attempt to infiltrate, to say nothing
of when we attempt to re-materialize in our corporeal forms. We can’t muscle in
to save those kids. We’re going to need the orcs’ consent.” “But Siegfried,” Varien said, his eyes on the shambling
undead assaulting the fortified perimeter outside the entrance to Tholl
Sla-Houk. “The orcs are fighting undead.” “Yes, and?” Siegfried replied. “We need to join them,” Varien said firmly. “Varien,” Siegfried spoke to him as he would a stubborn
child. “Most things that are alive don’t like the things that are dead. Most
things that are also dead yet alive don’t like the things that are just alive.” “Then I need an audience with this warlord to convince him
to let me fight,” Varien said, his teeth clenched. “And what,” Siegfried sighed, “could we possibly offer them
in return for your service? This whole thing is bound up in orcish religion, my
paladin learner. Don’t forget one member of the Orc pantheon is nicknamed “The
Legbreaker.” “So, the cave we want to find is something we have to get through,”
Theryn offered. “There’s an army of orcs between us and our destination, and an
undead orc army between our destination and the orc army.” “Correct,” Siegfried said. “If we drop in unannounced, the
orcs attack. The orcs will give exactly zero cares if we fight alongside them
or against them – the response will be the same. Option three, we come in
behind and offer a diplomatic solution.” “Consider for a moment,” Haravak offered. “You see before
you encampments from several different tribes, the coming together of which is
almost unprecedented in the Sword Mountains. Observe the banners,” she pointed.
“There is the Severed Eye. Over there are the Sixblade Orcs. Nearby are the
Shadowed Chain, and over there, the Broken Fang. The Severed Eye and the Broken
Fang are hated rivals. The fact that they have come together in peace should not
be taken lightly.” Siegfried nodded as he considered this information. “These
orcs are not here to destroy, Varien. If you pay attention, they are laying their
long-dead ancestors to a final rest. They would be appalled and disgusted at
the thought of a human, any human, going to town on their honoured undead.”
“But,” Varien interrupted. “Varien,” Siegfried continued. “You believe those creatures
are abominations. Those orcs believe they are the honoured undead. I need you
to be aware of this.” “How do you know that?” Theryn asked Siegfried. “What
possible experience do you have that aligns with what they are doing down in the
valley?” “Listen to the prayers being sung over the fallen,” Siegfried
said. “Those funereal hymns speak of returning the gloried dead to the Endless
Horde. You are coming at this from a place of abomination.”
“Which is why I am asking you for help, Siegfried,” Varien said. “Tell me what
will work.” Erwen had unfolded a tiny camp chair and sat atop it, eating
popcorn. “Why the rush?” he asked. “These orcs are in the valley in force,” Siegfried said. “What
they have not done is breach the gates, I believe. They are waiting for an opportunity.
We should seize that opportunity.” “Remind me again what’s inside that temple?” Theryn asked. “This is the resting place of Uruth Ukrypt, orc Warlord of legend,”
Siegfried explained. “And an absolute badass.” “So, these orc hordes down there aren’t pushing inward,”
Theryn said. “They are just killing anything that comes out of that tomb?” “Their ultimate intent is to go in,” Siegfried said. “That’s your professional assessment?” Theryn asked. “This is about honouring the dead, not saving their skins,”
Siegfried replied. “This isn’t even a ritual. They just don’t want to trip over
grandpa’s bones. They would prefer to re-inter. It’s not because they can’t, it’s
out of respect.” “And again, how do you know this?” Theryn asked. “From the tug of my own tusks,” Siegfried said, baring his
filed-down teeth. “I have been called to go against the ghosts of the Broken
Bone by my god,” Varien said. “Yes, so we go in, find the cave and refrain from plunder,
but pluck out the children.”
“And how do you intend to go in?” Varien asked. “You don’t have to go in through the front door,” Theryn
said. “There must be another entrance.” “The monk speaks true,” Haravak said. “Beyond the reach of
this dark veil, a landslide on Mount Stonefang’s northern face has opened its
depths to the outside. These orcs are so intent on revering the dead within the
tomb they have not found it.” “Not yet, anyway,” Theryn said. “The longer they tarry here,
the sooner they’ll discover it.” Haravak nodded grimly. “Only by walking through the fog will
they find out where.” Erwen began to puff on his pipe thoughtfully. “But clouds aren’t invisible,” Varien said. “What if Erwen
were to conjure some birds?” “You know what else isn’t invisible?” Siegfried said. “Birds!” Erwen looked at Haravak. “I’ve got this, guys,” he said. “Even druids can see birds,” Varien said. “Why don’t we just
go down there and lay out our cards?” “Varien,” Siegfried said. “What do you want to achieve?” “Find and slay the darkness within,” Varien said.
“These are mutually compatible goals,” Siegfried said. “Your logic is that these orcs would be suspicious of birds?”
Theryn asked. “Or unnatural clouds,” Varien said. “Ten wisps of clouds within the fog above the mountain?”
Siegfried said. “I think we’ll blend in.” “It pains me to agree with Siegfried,” Erwen said. “But he’s
right. It’s the best option. If we can’t find the cave-in, there will be
chimneys or vents to discover.” Haravak’s expression was grim. “I can lead you to the
cave-in, but I will not enter Tholl Sla-Houk,” she said. “That’s more than fair,” Siegfried said. “We will need you
and the Brothers Trevelyan to hold the entrance so that we can exit when the time
comes.” He turned to Bob. “That reminds me, can we request a blessing?” Bob nodded, casting bless on his companions. “Excellent,” Siegfried said, casting telepathic bond
on his friends. He turned to Yeemik. “Before I forget, what is your perspective
on this gathering?” ASK NOT THE FIEND , rattled Fiendsbane. Yeemik pursed his full lips as he gazed over the valley. “Look
yonder,” he said as he pointed out the largest encampment set up in the centre
of the valley. “That is the battle standard of the warband that Nezznar treated
with, promising the scions of Ierithymbul in return for the city.” Siegfried took a closer look at the banner, which bore a
striking resemblance to the insignia of the Kingdom of Many-Arrows. “The Sons
of Gruumsh,” he whispered. “They belong to the clan that took my mother,” he
said. “I don’t know why anyone would take your mother, Siegfried,”
Varien said. Siegfried straightened up. “Are we going to do this?” he
asked. Erwen began puffing on his pipe until his companions were wreathed
in cloudy wisps. The party drifted up into the fog that enshrouded Mount Stonefang. It did not take long for Haravak to guide the party towards
the mountainside, where the telltale signs of a landslide, including boulders
and liquefied rock and mud, were being covered by grey drifts of snow. The rent
in the face of the mountain could be mistaken as a shadow, even at a close
distance. There are some…things outside the hole, Haravak said
telepathically. The huntress was right. There were humanoid figures prowling
about on the slopes. Those are not natural , Erwen piped up. As the cloudy companions approached, they could see that the
figures left trails of ice in their wake as they stumbled about on the mountainside,
ribbons of blue that showed against the dark colour of the rock face. FIMBRUL DEVILS rattled Fiendsbane in Varien’s
headspace. RESIDENTS OF CANIA AND NESSUS. THEY ARE HARBINGERS OF HELLCOLD
WHO SPREAD UNNATURAL WINTER WHEREVER THEY TREAD. THEY SERVE THE SEVEN. Varien, can you turn down that infernal static?
Siegfried asked. It’s giving me a
headache. It’s abyssal static,
thanks, Varien replied. The humanoid
creatures walked with a jerking gait as they tore their feet free from the ice
beneath them with every step they took. Their gaunt, frozen forms were covered
in icicle-like spines, and their breath fogged the air with intricate
snowflakes. I say we dash inside
and get some distance before adopting our true forms , Siegfried said. Agreed, Varien replied. The wisps of clouds drove headlong towards the hole in the side
of the mountain, three of them peeling off to head back into the fog above. Those
who entered the hole soon found themselves inside a natural channel carved by
an underground river, its waters moving beneath them as the dove down. Siegfried
could make out the dimmest of dim light at the far end of the tunnel and
rocketed ahead. He pulled up as he saw the outline of an orc standing with his
back to the tunnel’s exit. Contact , Siegfried said telepathically. He floated
over the face of the waters and waited. The orc sentry evidently hadn’t heard the rushing clouds
behind him, for he stood resolutely amid the water that streamed out into the
chamber beyond. If Siegfried had had a brow, he’d have furrowed it. He
drifted closer. The orc did not react but remained standing as the waters
rushed past him nearly waist-high. The water , Siegfried said. Don’t touch the water! Why? Asked Varien. There’s an orc here
standing in the middle of the river and he might as well be made of stone, Siegfried said. Why hasn’t he fallen
over? Varien asked. I suspect the water
did something to him , Siegfried
replied. I am going to revert
to my human form now , Varien said. Careful now! said Siegfried. Siegfried, Theryn,
Erwen and Yeemik drifted slowly past the orc sentry into the larger chamber
beyond. There was a sound of rushing water in the darkness that echoed around
the cavern, suggesting that it was great in size. Who’s coming with me
to fight devils? Varien said. Don’t worry about trash mobs , Theryn said. There’s
something weird about this place. You have a point, Varien said. If you’re here to kill
the darkness deep within, the point Theryn is making is that this is the better
place to do it , said Siegfried. When did I make that
point? Theryn said. Siegfried, Theryn,
Erwen and Yeemik began to materialize in the chamber. The room around
them was 50 feet in diameter with a domed ceiling that rose 20 feet above them.
The walls were painted with faded murals depicting orc armies marching into
battle. Shallow alcoves in each corner contained statues of proud orc warriors
blowing horns. Three chambers branched to the west, north and east, and
appeared to contain standing sarcophagi in alcoves. Siegfried deflated
a little as he realized that what he had taken to be a frozen orc sentry was
instead one of the four statues, its legs nearly eroded completely away by the
rushing water, which gushed from the natural fissure behind it, streaming
towards a central shaft and forming a waterfall that plunged into a dark abyss. A dark abyss that
Yeemik had materialized mere inches from. “Whoa!” the Tiefling said, steadying
himself as he peered over the edge. Siegfried had to
restrain Erwen from taking a run to shove Yeemik over the edge. “Now is not the
time,” he hissed at the Halfling. Siegfried cast detect magic and fished
around in a pocket for a ball bearing, which he dropped over the edge. He
waited to hear a splash, but the bearing dropped out of sight beyond the edge
of his darkvision and the sound of any splash was lost amid the roar of the
waterfall. “Well, this well is
at least 6o feet deep,” Siegfried said. Yeemik smirked. “You
mean at least 90 feet deep,” he said, tapping a long fingernail against his
flashing eye.
Siegfried looked around the room and spied a staircase in the southern
quadrant. Further back in the
tunnel, Varien materialized and plunged into the frigid waters of the
underground river. “Ah, just like back home,” Varien said to himself. “Bracing!”
What’s up with that orc? He asked. Turns out he was
rock-solid, literally. Siegfried
replied. He was a statue. Is it safe? Varien asked. Yes, hurry up!” Theryn called. Varien began to slog down the tunnel, which was steep and
smooth, thanks to untold eons of moving water doing its quiet, persistent work.
He managed to keep his footing. Suddenly, something echoed from the tunnel behind him. Several somethings. Varien cocked an ear. An unholy screeching reverberated in the confines of the
underground fissure. Assorted hootings, cacklings, and wails echoed in the
distance, quickly growing louder. Louder still was the sound of blades on ice, a familiar
sound to Varien, who grew up on ice skates. The fimbrul devils were coming. Siegfried cast protection from evil and good on himself
as he looked around at the murals on the walls. Time and the elements had not
been kind, but the illustrations were no less grand even as they had faded and
cracked. “The Hall of War Unfolding,” he murmured to himself. “No doubt
a shrine to the fallen champions of Uruth Ukrypt,” he said, nodding towards the
rows of sarcophagi nearby. The fimbrul devils are coming , Varien informed his
companions. And the devils wear ice skates. “Come on, you sons of Zuggtmoy!” Siegfried shouted up the tunnel
in his loudest and most intimidating voice that he hoped covered up his pidgin
Infernal. Zuggtmoy was a demonic fungal queen. Erwen hopped over the stream that cut across the tomb floor
and inspected the northern alcove. Varien splashed into view, holding Fiendsbane aloft to light
his path. “It won’t be long now,” he said. “Perfect, just enough time to plan an ambush,” Siegfried
said. He pulled out one of the hellfire chains he’d looted from the Ashmadai in
Neverwinter. “Yeemik,” he called out. “Grab the other end of this and prepare
to set a tripwire.” Yeemik caught the business end of the chain and nodded
smartly. Varien flooded the room with his divine sense, detecting the
leftover aura of consecration common to sacred tombs, but nothing darker. Theryn inspected the western alcove and found a second
fissure that had broken the far wall, allowing a gushing stream of water in
where it too wended its way towards the hole in the centre of the chamber.
There were several sarcophagi in this chamber as well, the lids of which were
carved to depict an orc warrior champion at rest. “Nothing here,” he said after inspecting the narrow channel
carved into the wall. He moved back to the larger chamber in time to hear the
approaching devils. “Read that chain, Yeemik,” Siegfried hissed to the Tiefling. The screams announced the devils’ arrival before they hove
into view. Heedless of obstacles, they bowled over the resolute statue, freezing
it brittle until it shattered against the flagstone floor in large chunks. The
river water beneath the whirling limbs of the infernal creatures turned to ice
with each step. Siegfried and Yeemik, as one, hauled up the chain. Two of the hideous creatures were caught and knocked over by
the tripwire, spinning and grinding against suddenly ice-slick stones. Howling
in rage and surprise, they fell beneath the blade and staff of Varien and
Theryn, who each gave them a whack that sped them on their way. The creatures slid
and spun right over the edge of the abyss in the centre of the room, dropping out of sight with final impotent screeches. “Success!” smiled Siegfried. That left three cursing, wailing devils who wasted no time
in attacking their ambushers. One of them unhinged its jaws and let loose a
blast of bitter cold air that buffeted Varien and Theryn. It swung a claw at
Siegfried, who dodged easily. The second creature fell on Yeemik, slashing him with his
claws, leaving frostbitten wounds in its wake. The third waved its claws at Theryn and screeched an
invocation in a dark tongue. Theryn looked down to see ice forming around his
feet, threatening to bind him in a frozen prison. The monk fought off the worst
of the freezing cold and managed to break his feet out of the ice, though his
movements were slow and lethargic. Siegfried moved to an advantageous position and let loose
with a psionic blast that unleashed a destructive wave of mental power
that caught up the three devils as well as Varien and Theryn. “Sorry gentlemen, but duty calls,” Siegfried said
apologetically. Two of the creatures went spinning head over heels into the
darkness of the abyss. Theryn was knocked into the air as well but managed to
grip the lip of the pit and swing back out onto the stone floor. Siegfried turned to Varien and lent the paladin some bardic
inspiration. “Ruin him,” he said, nodding to the remaining devil. Varien swung Fiendsbane mightily, delivering a smite that
knocked the frigid air from the demon’s lungs, following it up with a second
equally devastating cut and brought the creature to its knees. He shoved the
devil back with his shield, knocking it prone. Yeemik swung his flail with a battle cry and landed it
squarely on the struggling creature, shattering it into icy shards that
immediately began to melt as they scattered across the stone floor. “How do you feel about Yeemik now, Varien?” Siegfried called
out. “His ice is getting thicker now, isn’t it?” “He’s still on thin ice,” Varien said evenly, but nodded at
Yeemik as if to say it had been a job well done. “Well then,” Theryn said, dusting himself off. “We’ve got a
tomb to explore, don’t we?” He headed towards the staircase to the south. “Excellent,” Siegfried said, conjuring a banner with the standard
of Neverwinter. He tossed it to Theryn, who felt his wounds healing once he
came into close contact with the object. “So, up or down?” Theryn asked. “Well we travelled down this underground river for a spell,”
said Varien. “If we were to go up, we would be heading towards the entrance of the
temple.” “That sounds like down to me, then,” Theryn said. “Yes,” said Varien “We want to go deeper and smite the
darkness.”
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The party set out down the stone steps.