S01C02

# Chapter 2: Welcome to Orc Country

**Year 3392, Spring, Month of the Bear, Day 8-14**

## Encounters Overcome

• 5 x Orc Warrior 1
• 1x Orc Elite Fighter
• 1x Orc Elite Dread Necromancer

## Player Characters Involved

Tiburzezzi-The Dragonborn Dragon Shaman played by Dana
Rekkr Metalheart-The Dwarf Cleric of Hanseath played by Jeff
Gygaxus Boonfoot- The Strongheat Halfing Gambler Cleric Beguiler played Greg
Kolvar of Keathyra- The Wood Elf Warblade played by Jason
Xander- The Human Wandering Bard played by Mike

## Entering the Drellin's Ferry

After leaving Vraath Keep, the weary travelers Tiburzezzi, Gagaxus, and Kolvar headed to the town of Drellin's Ferry. After a long rest, the three made a plan to separate to do their business and meet afterward. Gaxy went to Jarett’s Sundries to sell some gemstones while the other two headed to Morlin’s Smithy to trade the armor and weaponry they recovered during their adventures at the keep. Zezzi spoke with the smith to see what specialty wares he could make for him. The Dragonborn ordered an item that he was told would take approximately one month to complete. After selling his gems, Gaxy headed over to the local Shrine of Pelor. He spoke with a man called Brother Derny who offered to make him two scrolls of lesser vigor (at market price). He was told the scrolls would take until the end of the next day and Gaxy agreed to those terms. The three then made their way to the local bar which Gaxy recommended, due partially to their tasty drinks, but more likely because of their active gambling tables.

## Hanseath's Holy Quest begins

Rekkr entered The Green Apple, a cheerful tap-house/inn on the north side that was run by a stout dwarf named Tharma. Rekkr approached Tharma and explained that he was on a mission to find a lost recipe for some of the finest brew ever made, but in order to do so, he would need help from some adventuring types. Tharma was hesitant but finally confessed that he was aware of a massive Dragonborn in town that was seen at another proprietor's establishment. Rekkr detected the other stout's unease and quickly soothed his worries, promising the bar owner that he would find the worthy adventurers and convince them to do their drinking in Tharma's establishment instead.

## A Dwarf, Elf, Human, Dragonborn, and Halfing Walk into a Bar...

Gaxy, Zezzi, and Kolvar made their way into the high-end hostelry and tavern which was owned and run by Kellan Shadowbank. The heroes proceeded to gamble, drink, and eat their fill. Xander and Rekkr entered some time later. The bard lingered about looking for an opportunity for adventure while Rekkr surveyed the busy tavern, enabling him to quickly surmise who was a regular and who was a passer-by adventurer. The semi-drunk stout struck up a conversation with the Dragonborn, but it became quickly evident to the Hanseath priest that there was a bit of doltishness to the Dragon Shaman. None the less, Rekkr tried to recruit the simpleton but was quickly told he should speak with the "little fellow" playing cards.

Rekkr made his way over to the gambling table and introduced himself. Gaxy excused himself from Kellan Shadowbank's gambling table and introduced himself and the others as Kolvar and Zezzi made their way over to find out what the dwarf had to say. They all listened intently to Rekkr's story and proposition. Rekkr asked if the group had heard of the famed dwarf warrior Kokoth Orcslayer. None of the party had (to Rekkr's disappointment and surprise), but unbeknownst to the party Xander the bard had been eavesdropping on their conversation and interjected that he knew plenty about the topic. Once Xander explained the history, Rekkr tried to convince the group to leave the bar and head to the Green Apple where he had his "office" so that he could explain in more detail his proposition to the group. Gaxy didn't want to leave and go to a lesser bar but left it up to the fate of his god. He flipped his lucky coin and was happy to see that the coin said to stay. Gaxy convinced Rekkr to stay by plying him with free drinks, much to the drunken dwarf's delight. Luckily, Zezzi had already placed plenty of coin on the bar for free drinks, and the beer and ale flowed freely.

Rekkr, Gaxy, Zezzi, Kolvar, and Xander then discussed the deal of retrieving a secret lost recipe. Assuring the party that there was plenty of treasure to go around, the deal was that everything would be split evenly with the exception of the recipe which belonged to Rekkr alone. Everyone agreed. While the others went to bed, Rekkr stayed up and drank throughout the night, in an attempt to placate his god and bless the party's future endeavors.

## Entering the Lands of Orcs

The group decided not to keep Rekkr's wagon (which the dwarf sold) and instead bought some horses and ponies. The group traveled for a few days with no issues, and during that time Gaxy was able to *Identify* his wand along with another potion. Due to poor planning in terms of supplying the expedition, the group was slowed down due to their need to hunt for their meals. On the third day, the group entered the territory of the orcs. On the first night, the group was attacked!

Gaxy was on first watch duty and didn't stand a chance. He was speared from afar and quickly went down struggling for his life as the orc savages swarmed in on the party. As the orcs came in, the group quickly reacted and countered. Zezzi the Dragonborn rushed in with a Draconic roar and breathed an entangling icy webbing breath that damaged and held a few of the orcs. Once Zezzi was close to Gaxy his blessed aura from Bahamut began to heal the wounded halfling. Unfortunately, an incantation arose from the darkness as some ancient arcane orcish words were spoken and the Dragonborn warrior was struck with an unnatural fear that caused him to flee at full speed from the fight.

The stoic wood elf switched into a defensive stance with his polearm as he struggled to keep the orcs at bay. The bard Xander began to chant a tune to guide the hearts and blades of all those that could hear him while he moved into position behind a tree with his crossbow. At the same time, the drunken dwarf drew his mighty great axe and began to scream profanities at the orcish warriors while swinging with all his might at the nearest orc. Quickly chopping two orcs into mincemeat, the stout made his way over to Gaxy's body. During this time, Gaxy was able to regain consciousness long enough to sit up and cast *Color Spray* on the three orcs standing over him. Although only two of them went down, the strain of casting was too much and the little gambler passed out, his wounds spilling blood upon the ground. Kolvar continued to use his years of training with his elvish glaive to deflect blows and counterattack the brutes. The orcs pushed hard and tried to swarm the wood elf, but like many others, they underestimated how strong and skilled he was. Kolvar took a number of vicious wounds but was able to hold back their attacks. The bard continued to sing, all the while frantically trying to fling crossbow bolts at the orcish casters. Unfortunately, he was unable to find a home for any of his bolts.

Just as Rekkr was able to fight his way to Gaxy's side, a brutish orc wielding a double-bladed axe approached. Rekkr quickly blessed some booze and poured it over Gaxy, granting him *Lesser Vigor*. While attending to the halfling, Rekkr took his eyes off his enemies. As misfortune would have it, the orcish warrior took that moment to slash a deep wound into the holy stout's chest with his wicked double-bladed axe, dropping Rekkr heavily upon the earth with a mortal injury that caused the dwarf to gasp and sputter as he coughed a bright red spray of blood upon the ground.

After running in unnatural fear for a few moments, Zezzi was finally able to shake off the orcish enchantment. He was enraged and confused as to why he was feeling this odd emotion of fear. With a determined grunt, the large Dragonborn made a mad dash back toward the group. Rekkr's blessing of L*esser Vigor* began to work and brought Gaxy back to consciousness. The little man awoke to a large orc standing over him holding a double-bladed axe, but he was lucky enough to convincingly play dead and escape the notice of the hulking orc warrior. He played dead awaiting the proper moment to act, and that moment occurred when the orc saw the bard shooting bolts and Kolvar swinging his glaive. The hatred of elves made the choice easy, and the double ax-wielding orc moved toward Kolvar. This gave Gaxy the opportunity he needed. As he sat up he saw his nearly dead dwarven comrade and he realized before dealing with the enemy he needed to save his ally. He cast *cure light wounds* on Rekkr which stopped his bleeding. The remaining orcs surged one last time at Kolvar, but the skilled elf was able to deflect most of the attacks. This gave Gaxy enough time to cast a *sleep* spell and put the remaining orcs down. As the orcs fell into a magical slumber, Zezzi returned. Xander, Zezzi, and Kolvar then dispatched the sleeping orcs.

## DM NOTES

They met up with some orcs who they should not have underestimated. Very close to a TPK thanks to some One God paladin like rolls from Kolvar.

## Mistakes Made

The bard does not have the Rapid Reload feat and should not have been able to move, load his light crossbow, and fire in the same round.