The session began with a need for order in Gru’Ban. So Huey, who had now been proclaimed the orcish leader, ordered for a dinner to be served with the settlement’s ten finest men. Attending this banquet were a wide array of people. A fisher, a night activities manager, a battlement defender, a gate guard, the man in charge of the amphitheater, the highest ranking lieutenant, a shaman, a stable-hand, etc. Each of them were given orders. The night manager urged Huey to attend a bonfire that night in his honor, the man who owned the amphitheater pushed strongly for Huey to come to a show some time, and the lieutenant played a very important role.
At first, the cook asked the party to come out to feast in front of the Ban’Thorek, but Huey insisted that the tables be brought inside so that they could feast in his newly acquired high hall. The food was brought in by the maid, and placed at the tables. Huey refused to eat until the maid had eaten and sat next to him for an entire hour. At first she refused to touch the chieftain’s meal, but eventually broke down. Luckily, her Fort was high enough that she wasn’t effected by the Thassil Root that was put in the meat. However, when Huey indulged, he was also Fort-y enough to avoid it. After the meal, he delegated jobs, and sent the orcs scurrying. The lieutenant asked to stay behind. Huey wondered why the general hadn’t come down himself, and was then informed that that man died in the field bringing his party in to Gru’Ban.
Next, the lieutenant told him of letters he had noticed on the chieftain’s desk early in the week that had a signature of GB on them. He also made mention of a secret door somewhere in the room. Before he let them break about to search, he also said that leaving three men in the camp would be a smart choice. One to lead, and two to advise. This number allowed for less of a chance of an overthrowing. Huey agreed, leaving behind Louie, Tordek, and Azerkai. After searching, the Deva Cleric, Davi, found it. It lead to a small hole in the ground fitted with a ladder. The tiefling rogue, Grant, found it in himself to be the first down, after the Eladrin Wizard, Azerkai, cast light down below so he could see. The hole was fitted with three beds draped in fine silk, and a chest holding a potion of healing, and 180 gp. The tiefling pocketed a small amount of this(as any rogue should) and then brought the rest up to the party. Huey refused to sleep underground and let whoever wanted the beds take them, while he insisted on the trees around camp. The silk draperies were torn off and slipped into backpacks quickly.
That night they attended a bonfire, some of them taking part in the orcish festivities. The gnome was approached by an orc and invited to a drinking contest(Endurance checks, starting DC 10 and increasing by 2 for each drink having been taken. Two checks to become drunk for a medium sized creature, one check for a small) , but the gnome was quick to be intoxicated off the manly brew. The orcs danced around the flames and chanted about winds of change. Then the party eventually fell asleep, and promised to attend a show at the amphitheater in the morning.
When they arrived there, they noticed that the stone altar in the center of the stage looked to be incredibly clean. Then, only moments later, a few orcs walked out from behind the stage, holding a bewildered elf. They slammed him down onto the altar and then one of them lifted an axe. Huey stood up and asked to be the one to do it. The executioner passed the axe, and Huey held it up high. He questioned the elf about the location of “The Tear,” which was where he assumed they were headed next. The elf told him in fear, hoping to be released, but Huey knew better. He passed the axe and resumed his seat. Then the whole crowd cheered as the elf was slowly dismembered.
On their way out of town they stocked up on anything they could. Adventurer’s Kits were free now that they owned the town, they took some residuum and they each got a horse(except for the gnome sorc Frug, who rode with Davi). They also received training(Encounter/Daily powers, and at-wills for martial classes). Frug specifically asked for one fish from the fisherman, who obliged him. The horses each had leather armaments with orcish script emblazoned upon them. Noticing this, Huey asked for the head of the previous chieftain. This was blasphemous, and the orcs refused. He took the armor off his horse and rode behind the other two horses when they departed.
About halfway between Gru’Ban and The Tear(which they decided was their destination, though they were semi-unsure), an arrow slammed into Davi. They reared their horses and waited a moment, then another one struck Huey, and one struck Frug. They dismounted their horses and attempted talking to the elves that they now noticed(Perception check DC 20) hiding in the field. As they did so, two ran toward Huey and made quick work of him. Raxus hid behind a horse and, being an eladrin, was left alone. When Huey fell unconscious, the elves turned to the rest of the party and asked what they were doing riding Orcish horses. Davi explained the situation to them, and that Huey was now the chieftain of Gru’Ban. They laughed and said that he would be no match for the elvish army. ”We’ll see you again when we return to take Gru’Ban over. But for now, you may continue on your way,” and then they shrunk back into the trees and disappeared. Davi rose Huey and explained the situation, then they got back on their horses and rode toward the Tear.
After less than an hour had passed, they rode upon what appeared to be a ruined keep. Standing outside the keep was a small kobold wearing robes and looking a bit sketchy. They rode upon him, allowing Frug to talk first. The kobold didn’t let on much information, but he did attempt to sell them two potions(one yellow and one blue) for 30 gp together. Raxus, the Eladrin Warlock, wanted to check them to see what they were before buying, but the kobold demanded he pay him 40 gp before he would hand over the potions, just in case. The kobold promised to return the money once the potions were returned. Raxus made the deal and almost immediately the kobold ran into the fortress, jumping in over a crumbled wall nearby.
The ruins were draped in some sort of magical darkness that was very thick. They searched around the ruins for any kind of other entrance, and found nothing, but one stone wall was emblazoned with a strange green symbol. Davi identified this as the symbol of his god, Aslot. Finally, they decided to jump in as a group. They each lit sunrods, to try and suppress the darkness, but for some reason even with something as bright as a sunrod, the only light cast was enough for someone with normal vision to see the squares adjacent to the light source. The low-lighters(Raxus and Frug), however, were able to see the entire room once they got in. They dropped the sunrods strategically, so that the normal-visioners(Huey and Davi) were able to see the most area possible. They were standing in a room with one door out, however it seemed that whenever one from the group walked in that direction, they got no closer to the door nor further from their group. And this is where it got fun.
A great green light was cast from the room beyond the doorway, and in that moment, Frug noticed a giant abomination running at him. When the light ceased, the abomination was nowhere to be found. Huey looked back to see if the horses were still there, but instead saw a horrible tentacle beast peering in through the crack in the ruins. They could all hear a strange chanting from behind and above them the sky looked red and arrows rained over from the south to the north. Huey covered both ears with his hands, and then ran for the next room with his eyes closed. He found himself inside, and then explained to everyone else. Raxus pulled out some rope and tied up the whole party before moving in. Soon enough they all found themselves in the small annex room.
Inside was an orb of swirling colors, mounted upon a golden stand, which had engraved talons to hold the orb in place. Frug, being ever curious, touched it. A great, blinding green light was issued from the orb, and then the room was bathed in darkness for a moment, even the sunrods(Which they had grabbed) were snuffed out for a moment, before the orb and everything else returned to light. Behind them now had been created a trap door. Frug lifted the lid, and found a great swirling vortex of colors. Huey’s first thought was to bullrush the orb, in attempts to get it into the hole. When he did so he fell to the ground beside the orb, unable to move it. The vortex sucked with great force(Imagine opening the door on an airplane), so Raxus went to work tying rope around the orb standing, thinking maybe the vortex would have enough strength. In this time, Frug jumped through the hole. Davi was quick to follow. Raxus noticed this about now, and decided to go in. As much as Huey despised unnatural things, he finally gave in and jumped in as well.
Once inside, they found themselves in a heap on a damp chamber floor. The room was stone and lit by torch-light. It had but one exit, a great wooden door. For a second, they got their bearings about them, and then finally made their way through the door. They opened it up into a hallway which had a window outside. Curious, they took a look out. Outside it appeared as though they were very high up in some sort of castle. They could see out into rolling hills and a dragon was flying off in the distance. Then a few steps later, the hallway turned and they noticed a small group of humanoids.
In the front were 2 Goblin Warriors, who were aided by 2 Kobold Slingers, one of which wore a robe. The goblins held, on leashes, 2 Stormclaw Scorpions. The group made quick work of this hallway encounter, then raided the bodies immediately. The kobold was searched, and Raxus was returned his money. The scorpions poison was taken. Raxus wrapped one tail in silk, while Huey drenched some crossbow bolts in the poison. As he pulled one out of his quiver, he noticed a rotting fish on its end. To this Frug danced about excitedly, then taking his fish back.
After they were ready to move on, they got up and Huey opened the door at the end of the hallway. Inside were eight sarcophagi, all closed. At the far end of the room, atop a pedestal, was a gleaming astral diamond. Frug ran up and pulled it down, admiring it in his small hands. It was at this time that the graves started to shift, their lids scraping aside. Inside were two Zombies, a corruption corpse, and two Rotting Zombies. They put up a good fight, the corruption corpse sticking to the back of the action, flinging things at the fighters. They were made quick work of, and as the corruption corpse died, he climbed back into his sarcophagi, and the floor crumbled out beneath him. After the zombies were all dead, Frug investigated his astral diamond only to find it an illusion. Before giving chase, the party searched around in the other sarcophagi. They found a jewel encrusted sword that looked to be for decorative purpose.
Then they lowered Huey into the hole slowly, who held the torch and helped others through. Inside was a small dirt chamber, with two circular doors fitted into the walls. Through each was another small dirt chamber, one with a painting of a forest, the other with a painting of a volcano.
They chose to jump through the portrait of the forest, finding themselves ina small clearing with a path leading to the West. They followed it forward, but then Huey found himself falling into a false floor trap set by goblins who were lingering nearby. Then they fought a Goblin Warrior, a Goblin Archer, an Orc Raider, and an Iron Defender. They had a bit of an issue just because of the way that the enemies knew the environment and used it to their advantage well. The floor trap was set directly between to large trees, so that the only way to get to the archer was to go far out of the way, and he had good coverage of the entire battle. After they finally took this group out, they settled down to rest back on the other side of the portrait.
