Episode 23

Youtube Link

## Plot Summary

The battering ram has opened a small hole in the main gate.  Four orcs have made it into Copperforge.  Two cyclops remain along with several bands of orcs.  Kurluk rides astride his giant scorpion alongside the demon Thaul Alhoon.  The cyclops attack the outcropping with rocks, one of which strikes Klack Flintborne, pinning him to the ground.  The vampires attack the other cyclops but are no longer as effective.  Andre Monroth, cleric of Kloht, arrives to assist with healing.

As the orcs advance, one of the squads charge the Live Gate.  Another squad charges toward the opening in the Main Gate, but are sliced up by one of Klaxxon’s digging machines.   However, the cracks in the ground continue to spread, hitting the mountain and knocking Andre off the cliff.  Kurluk seemingly ignores the battle, chatting with Alhoon.  Paragon Tinytoes leads the infantry in a charge against the cyclops.  Dumeril returns with Bask.  He tells Bubo that Kurluk has made a deal with the demon.  He could not find out anymore because he was caught and tied to a post.

The Main Gate finally gives way as the battering ram shatters.  The orcs cheer.  Ora orders Jim to evacuate the Dungeon.  Bubo grabs Andre’s ankle to prevent him from falling.  Kab the cyclops, raised from death by Nitsuj, rushes to the Live Gate.  Starheart flags down Elder Cabe and other healers to rescue Klack.  They are forced to amputate his leg to free him from the boulder.  Starheart takes him into the mountain.  A cyclops and several orcs enter the city.  To the northwest, smoke rises as the orcs burn all of the mountain’s crops.  A grinding noise begins to come from inside the mountain and from Klaxxon’s menagerie.  Fizz Binkle arrives to announce the discs are malfunctioning, causing the Seed and everything powered by it to malfunction.  He needs Elder Cabe’s help to fix them.

An orc berserker (character drop) rounds the corner of the outcropping, forcing Nitsuj to retreat up his rope trick.  Kab defends the gate, looking exactly like his old self, but many orcs still enter the gate.  Alhoon enters the battle and horrifically devours several infantry.  The berserker takes out several of the clerics on the outcropping.   Bubo and Ora also scurry up the rope.  Nitsuj reanimates several more Copperforge soldiers, but half of them have vacant stares.  He collapses from the effort.  Kurluk rides forward and his scorpion stabs Kab in the throat, killing him.  The vampires swarm the scorpion, but cannot piece its armor.

Andre races down the mountain, attacks Kurluk, and coasts Spare the Dying on Kab.  The discs and the menagerie continue to sputter.  Tinytoes and the cavalry pursue the orcs into the mountain.  Klaxxon dismounts his rhinoceros and goes one man army on the orcs.  Ora shouts to Klaxxon to “prepare the goodbye.”  The risen gnomes begin attacking their friends out of reflex.  The vampires and rangers attempt to take out Kurluk but he rides inside the city.  The crack in ground continues to spread, causing the outcropping above the gate to collapse, blocking off the gate.  From beneath the ground, shadowy tentacles rise from beneath the ground.

## Fun Moments

Danny tries to explain the confusion between Kelrek and Kurluk, saying he never thought two would ever appear together.

Danny describes a drill as a rotary screw thing.