Online:Ashaka

Ashaka is an Orc who can be found in Morkul Descent.  She seeks Morkuldin, the ancient home of her clan, which holds a relic known as the Hand of Morkul.
 

Related Quests


Quest-Related Events
Ashaka will be wary when you first talk with her.
:''"Who are you? It doesn't matter, the Hand of Morkul is mine! Once I find it. Which … is harder than I thought. That's why you're here, isn't it?"

If you happened upon her inside the cave, you can say:
:I don't know what you're talking about.
:"The Hand of Morkul? The long lost relic of Morkul clan? Pride of … never mind, it doesn't matter. I'm looking for my clan's ancient forge-hammer, but I can't figure out how to reveal the hidden door."
:What hidden door?
:"Exactly! Oh, you meant … ah. Listen, my father is Morkul's chief. If you help me find my clan's lost forge-hammer, I'll make sure you're rewarded. Deal?"
:Deal.
:"These statues should open the hidden door. It seems so obvious, but it isn't working for me."
:What have you tried?
:"The braziers by the statues must be lit in a certain order. I tried every combination—none of it worked. I can see it now, adorned on my cairn. "Here fell Ashaka. Kept from Morkuldin because of some stupid puzzle.""
:What is Morkuldin?

If you speak with her mother, Lazghal she will ask her to find her daughter. 
:Actually, your mother sent me to find you.
:"She … what? Why?"
:She's worried about your attempt to embarrass the king.
:"My what? Does she even listen to me? She never listens! "Honor of the clan," I say. "You'll find someone soon," she says. Pah! All right. She sent you here to help? Good—help me find Morkuldin."
:What is Morkuldin?'''

Either way, she'll add:
:''"The long lost home of Morkul clan. The old poem says it was 'buried in ice, and stone-marked thrice.' See the statues? Morkul stonework, and very old. Morkuldin has to be nearby, but I … well, maybe you can find the way in."
:Who do those statues represent?
:"The old poems of Morkuldin's founding mention a heroic trio who 'rebuffed winter's grasp' and 'found haven beneath.' Maybe they saved the clan from a tunnel collapse?  Oh, there's some writing at the base of the statues. Couldn't make sense of it."
:Are you certain the statues are the key?
:"'Buried in ice, and stone-marked thrice.' The statues must reveal the way inside.  I think there's an order to lighting the braziers, but I can't get it to work."
:These statues must lead the way to Morkuldin.

You can then ask her some questions:
:You really aren't jealous of your sister?
::"Why? I can do far more for my clan than join a scabbard collection.  And now, any chief who seeks the royal forge-wife's eldest sister might as well draw steel on the king in his own bar. Far as I'm concerned, Kurog did me a favor."
:Why is it so important to find Morkuldin?
::"Orc kings die young. Who knows how much longer this one will last?  But if the king is going to rebuild Orsinium, I want every clan in Wrothgar to bow to Morkul's skill. I don't think that's too much to ask."
:What is the Hand of Morkul?
::"Our clan's ancestral forge-hammer, the "beating heart beneath the ice." I'll see the king rebuild Orsinium with a Morkul relic.  Wouldn't mind showing my sister her place, either."''

If you hadn't spoken to her mother, you can ask about her sister:
:Your sister? What do you mean?
:''"My little sister married the king. She's his royal forge-wife, and it's gone to her head. I'm hoping I can pound it down to size with our clan's long-lost forge-hammer. Not … I mean, not literally. Although … no, never mind."

Once the way to Morkuldin is open:
:Ashaka: "That rumbling! Do you feel it?" 
:Ashaka: "The wall shifted! Sealed away, but hidden in plain sight. Morkuldin … lost among the ice."

When you enter Morkuldin you can talk to her:
:"My ancestral home … beyond that wall?  We're in this together now, right? Let's go."''

Once you find the Hand of Morkul, the pair of you will see that it won't be a simple matter in taking it.
:Ashaka: ''"That's it, the Hand of Morkul! It's in some sort of … hmm. What is that, a display?"
:Ashaka: "It's nestled in there tight. Of course we can't just take it. Pah!"

You can then talk to Ashaka about the puzzle:
:"The Hand of Morkul is held in something called the … I think it said "heart-forge?" Also, um … "endless breath and untold rage lets purest heart release the hand. Huh. Poets."
:What does that mean?
:"We need to rekindle the forge. "Endless breath" has to mean bellows, and "untold rage" is … a furnace? Strange way to say it.  Hmm, I'm missing something. Can you look around for a bellows and some kind of blast furnace?"
:All right. What should I do if I find them?
:"Morkul clan prefers simple solutions that last. Look for switches or some kind of mechanism. We'll see what happens when you set things in motion.  Oh, and stay alert. My ancestors wouldn't leave this place completely unguarded. "

When you restart the forge, Ashaka will quickly figure out the other part of the riddle: 
:Ashaka: "You did it! Now for "purest heart." Hmm …."
:Ashaka: "The old clan word for "heart" also means "blood." Purest blood … Morkul blood?"
:Ashaka: "My father is Morkul's chief. My blood must work! Just a quick slash of the knife."
:Ashaka: "Ow … look, it's opening! Like a hand … opening …. Oh. Oh, no."

You can then talk about what she just realized and the implications for the Morkul Clan:
:"The Hand of Morkul isn't our forge-hammer. It's the cage around it! And if my clan's old word for "heart" also means "blood," then this wasn't our heart-forge.  It was our …."
:Blood-forge.
:"My mother say's we're the best smiths in Wrothgar because we put "heart in the steel" Whose heart? Whose blood?  Morkul clan hasn't had enemies since the days of Morkuldin. Did we feed our rivals to that … thing?"
:Wait. Your clan locked the forge-hammer away.
:"You're right. The old poems aren't about honor we lost when we left Morkuldin—it's honor gained for burying our greatest shame beneath a mountain of ice! And a warning to stay away from the Hand of Morkul, which … well, we couldn't have known."
:Are you going to lock the hammer away?
:"Not without blood magic. But I can't just leave it here … it's our heritage. I'll bring it back to the stronghold, but what then? What do I tell my clan?"''
 

After making the choice, she will lead you outside:
:Ashaka: "I heard a rumbling when you rekindled the forge. Maybe another way out? Anything to avoid those ogres!
:Ashaka: "Look! A door, hidden by the ice. Is that … sunlight?"

Once outside, she will head off on her own back to the stronghold:
:Ashaka: "This is close to Orsinium! Useful if we ever need to return to the blood ... the heart-forge."
:Ashaka: "Meet me at Morkul Stronghold?"

At the Morkul Stronghold, she will announce her findings to the rest of the clan. What she says depends on the choice you helped her make.

If you told her to accept the blood-forge:
:Ashaka: "Morkul clan! Our search is over. Today we are whole once more!"
:Ashaka: "No longer shall we live in our ancestors' shadow. There is power in our blood, and at last we reclaim it."
:Ashaka: "Behold, the Hand of Morkul!"
:Ashaka: "And beneath the mountains—the great forge of Morkuldin is rekindled!"
:Ashaka: "It is a new era for Morkul. A new era for Orcs!"

:"The news of the blood-forge brings strife, but … I will not allow us to look away. It is not in our nature."
:What now?
:"Now, I name you bloodkin to Morkul clan. Last thing I'll do before heading to Orsinium. The king needs a clan who can work its great forge. And it will keep our clan away from Morkuldin until I find a better way to use the blood-forge."

If she decided to renounce the blood-forge:
:Ashaka: "Morkul clan! I come to you with a hard truth. But when have we ever feared the truth?"
:Ashaka: "I return from Morkuldin with our clan's greatest treasure. Behold, the Hand of Morkul!"
:Ashaka: "It's true our ancestors locked away the hammer—but not for the reasons we thought."
:Ashaka: "Morkuldin housed a blood-forge. It's true, our clan once turned to dark magic! But they faced this hard truth and abandoned it."
:Ashaka: "For the blood we work into the metal is our own, not that of our enemies! I say to you, that is the strength of Morkul!"
:Ashaka: "This hammer shows our ancestors' strength. With it, we forge a new destiny!"

:"Do you see how my clan looks at the forge-hammer? The fire in their eyes! They'll rebuild Orsinium by themselves, if they have to."
:What now?
:"Now, I name you bloodkin to Morkul clan. Last thing I'll do before heading to Orsinium. The king needs a clan who can work its great forge. You think we'd let Shatul embarrass us with their inferior iron? Pah!"

You can then talk with her, if you convinced her to accept the forge:
:"Soon we march for Orsinium. Before long, the forge-hammer will once more sing in Morkuldin. And if I can figure out how to work the blood-forge with frostbite spiders, the song will go "clang, clang, splat." Heh."

If you convinced her to renounce the forge:
:"Soon we leave for Orsinium. The forge-hammer gives my clan hope. I'll see it raised high. If my sister can even lift the thing. Wouldn't do for the king's forge-wife to go rump-over-teakettle, would it? Hah!"''