Session Thirty Eight

The thirty eighth session of the Adventures of the Dragon Crag was on the 4th January 2023.

## Party Members Present

* Brandr Sigurdson
* Snorri Morgrimson
* Relnwe Adiath
* Professor Meino Osterhaus
* Aleksi Lehtonen

## Synopsis

### Planning the Attack

#### Surveying the Camp

We stood atop the small hill to the east of the huge orc camp. Below were many orcs milling too and fro amongst many tents. There was also a tasty looking ballista. A strange green fire burned in the centre of the camp. The plan was for Lina to lead a group to distract half the orcs, while we took the remainder in the camp - to begin the assault we were to hoot three times like a swamp owl. After the distraction was initiated, we wanted to set some tents on fire to cause confusion. Therefore, Snorri made some flaming arrows from his lamp oil. With us, we had Anders and two rangers called Lothar Ferson and Anhilde Arneth.

#### Distraction

When we were ready, Rel hooted three times like a swamp owl. Her hoots were very convincing. On the other side of the camp, an arrow flew out of the bushes and hit and orc on the palisade. This arrow was followed by many more. The orcs shouted and cried, and followed their big boss out of the camp. However, half stayed, not following the big boss - this probably meant that there was a second, equally big boss somewhere in the camp.

### The Assault

#### Flaming Arrows

Before we charged in, the archers amongst us fired flaming arrows, hitting the tents and setting them ablaze, lighting up the area and casting shadows hereabout. The Professor cast a spell aimed at an orc on a small tower. Suddenly insects filled the air and the orc on the tower stepped off the tower like he was bewildered or something. Just then, a thick fog began to roll in. We charged in and many, many orcs came to meet us on the field.

#### A Fight in the Fog

The fog rolled ever in and the Professor sensed a great wrongness in the magical winds. We engaged the orcs in a tremendous melee, and the Professor created swirling darkness to shield us from the orcs' arrows. Orc bigguns closed in and we fought on valiantly. The big tent that we set alight rumbled as though something large were inside. The fog became ever thicker. It seemed like there were countless orcs coming at us. Then, as long shadows were thrown by the great fires and fogs, the Professor cast a new spell. The shadows themselves reached out and attacked the orcs, dragging many to their dark grave. Suddenly, a tent further back in the camp exploded and a hulking figure was blasted into the air, falling nearby. The figure stood up and turned out to be a badly burnt orc shaman. A new game of wizards' chess was nigh. Just has the shaman got to his feet, the biggest orc we had ever seen stepped out of the large flaming tent. He looked pissed off. Brandr and Snorri faced off against the huge orc boss and the shaman threw nails at another orc biggun. The orc biggun was mightily aggrieved by the shamans actions and turned around to fight him, much to the orc boss' dismay. While Aleksi shot the hair off Anders' head, Snorri rent the armour of the orc boss. Annoyed, the orc boss clonked Snorri on the head, denting his helmet and making his head ring like a great bell. The orc biggun continued in his rage against the shaman, caving his skull in and ending the game of wizards' chess before it had even begun. The Professor's shadows attacked again and Snorri delivered the killing blow to the huge orc boss. We soon dispatched the rest of the orcs and we were once again victorious.

### To the Victor go the Spoils

#### Destroying Chaos

The fog became denser and the Professor went to check out the tent that exploded, for, he sensed that was the source of both the fog and the wrongness in the winds of magic. On the ground were two items - one is strange eight pronged wheel that lay at the centre of the blast marks. The other object was an odd gem that resonated magic slightly. No one wanted to touch the chaos wheel, so Brandr destroyed it with his runic hammer. For a few seconds, the world went grey and we felt awful. But then, the fog began to lift and we were able to see again, and the sun shone out all the brighter. Brandr found a good halberd and an axe of dwarf make. Then Aleksi healed Snorri's sore head with great effect. We then went to inspect the strange green fire we had seen burning in the camp from the hill. There was a stick on the ground that seemed to be burning with green flame. No heat was being emitted and when the Professor threw water on it, nothing happened. In the end, Brandr destroyed it with his hammer, breaking the stick and extinguishing the fire.

#### Creating the Hrukidron-Barag

We went to stand on the platform with the ballista to the west of the camp and look out for Lina and her band of rangers. Rel hooted thrice like a victorious swamp owl. Finally, we heard a hoot in return and Lina emerged from the undergrowth with her band of rangers. They were battered and bruised, but alive. Out attention then turned to the ballista. It seemed like a shame to leave it. Therefore, under Snorri's supervision, a good wagon was constructed to be pulled by our three goats. And so, the Hrukidron-Barag (or Goat Thunder War Wagon) was created.