Episode 22

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## Plot Summary

Copperforge prepares its defenses for the oncoming orc attack.  Klaxxon’s clockwork animals are waiting at the Live Gate.  All range warriors are stationed on an outcropping above the Main Gate, which has been sealed except for a small gnome door.  The Flintborne are at all the tunnels.  The Forgotten, commanded by Minnow and Lynch, are at the Live Gate.  Eldin and the vampire wait in the forest.  The Royal Guard is spread to all locations.

The party travels back to Copperforge in a wagon alongside Fel.  The red box with the silverblood ore is in the wagon.  On the side of the box is a seal with letters they do not recognize: the real name for the nation of Quarry.  They realize that Bask is no longer with them.  Starheart sends Bask a message asking where he is, he responds that he’s helping but needs to not talk.  Bubo sends Dumeril to see if he can find where Bask is.  The guards, including one named Stefan, are wary of Fel.  Starheart talks to Fel to see if there are other hillfolk nearby.  He says there are but they all have been coerced into working for Kurluk.  Starheart has an idea that if she turned into a werewolf and was more scary than Kurluk, all the hillfolk would work for her.

On the wind, they hear a whistle.  Looking up, they see a huge arrow, dipped in yellow, with many baubles hanging on it.  It lands in the dirt in front of the Main Gate.  They send the gnome guards ahead with the wagon and check out the arrow.  They take Fel with them.  The arrow is made of iron, which is disconcerting as the orcs are not supposed to be able to craft such technology.  The baubles are heads of royal guards.  The rangers above think it came from multiple miles away.

They hear a single rider approaching.  It is a sub-chief of the orcs riding on a boar.  He is a very large orc with a yellow mohawk and scars.  He asks them if they speak for the mountain, to which they reply yes.  His name is Hoorik and he has come to take the mountain.  They tell him the mountain is not being given up, which makes Hoorik happy because he wants to fight.  It is Kurluk’s choice to try to take the mountain peaceably.

Ora asks why Kurluk wants to negotiate a surrender.  Hoorik says that the population of Copperforge would stay as slaves: to mine the ore and tend the crops.  When asked why he works for Kurluk, Hoorik calls him the greatest orc warrior of any generation.  Hoorik scars himself and explains that before battle orcs scar their left side and if they win, they mirror it on the right side.  Hoorik has less scars on his right side, but Kurluk is even: he has never lost a battle.  Starheart heals his wound to piss him off, but it still dyes yellow.

Hoorik again offers terms.  They ask him why the orcs want Copperforge and he replies that Kurluk wants it.  Hoorik asks to speak with the Queen.  When they make jokes, he leaves.  As he leaves, he shoots an arrow into the sky that streams yellow powder: a signal to the orc horde.  The war horn of Copperforge is blown.  The orc hordes move toward the mountain.

The knock on the Main Gate to be let in.  Realizing that Fel cannot enter the door, Starheart feeds him her miniaturization potion and he shrinks.  They enter and find Klaxxon to fish Bubo’s broken bow.  He loans him a new bow and returns to menagerie.  Starheart introduces Kab and Fel.  They each grab a zap gun and head to the outcropping.  Klack Flintborne and Elder Cabe Erta are there.

The orc horde approaches.  One of Wisp Walker’s attendants, Jim, informs them where the trap tunnels are located.   The infantry, Forgotten, clockwork machines, Fel, and Kab all exit the Live Gate.  Ora orders the arches to try to drive the orcs toward the pits.  The hillfolk lead the orc charge, followed by four squads on boarback, followed by even riding black scorpions.  On the sides, more orcs are pushing large machines with the help of the hillfolk. They begin firing more bolts at the mountain, one of which directly impacts the outcropping.

Starheart sends a message to Kab: “Kurluk gonna die.  Other giants need go bye bye or help us please.  Will give many dead meat.  Please help.”  Kab sighs and goes to find one of the stone giants leading the orcs.  He implores the giant to switch sides.  The giant looks behind him to see the vast orc army and starngles Kab to death.

The longbowmen shoot at the hillfolk, but mostly miss.  The infantry and menagerie charge the orcs and giants.  The vampires appear and engage with the giants as well.  One of the tiger traps gets triggered early.  Klaxxon rides a clockwork rhinoceros into the battle, directing his menagerie.  The party and those on the outcropping rain arrows and spells on the forward giants who respond with giant boulders.  The second tiger trap is sprung and a whole squad of orcs is consumed.  Kurluk rides in on a scorpion.

Paragon Tinytoes charges a cyclops and blinds it.  Nitsuj recognizes the demon Thaul Alhoon (monster drop) standing next to Kurluk.  Kurluk raises his black sword and gives a battle cry.  The orc squadrons flank him on either side and two harpoons are shot into the Main Gate.  A giant wolf shaped battering ram is being pulled into the gate (character drop).  The gates bend but do not break.

Bubo contemplates leaving, but Ora convinces him they still have some tricks up their sleeves.  Ora orders the gnomes to evacuate the mountain if the Main Gate falls.  Nitsuj uses his resurrection spell on Kab who lifts himself off the ground.  The orcs keep charging and some make it to the gate.  Klaxxon’s large war machines entire the battle, attacking the battering ram.  The main gate bends again under the assault but again stays upright.

## Fun Moments

The cast debate what the favorite ice cream flavor of their characters would be.

Some of Danny’s mystical names for characters include Stefan and Jim.

Arrahnuk drops the battering ram Grond which counts as four character drops.

Deva and Danny thing the recognize someone in the chat so Danny asks him if it "tickles his dick?" which is either an inside joke or really offensive.