The shackled man sat in the bog-reeds shaking in fear, not sure if he’d been rescued, or just jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He relaxed as Rambler removed his shackles, then introduced himself as Valar. He’d been lured here by Maggrith and taken into slavery by Orcs in the old fort called Dwimmerhorn. Rowlie decided it would be a very short conversation with Maggrith should their paths ever cross.
Valar narrated the tale of his escape, and the luck of finding a goat path on the back side of the old fort. “There are about a hundred of us slaving away mining ore for those damn brutes. Working near starvation and death. I’d rather get the hell away from here. But yeah, if staying with you improves my survival chances in this fog and bug infested swamp, I’ll lead you to the fort but no further.”
Valor led the party to the goat trail, and it truly would require a goat to ascend the steep slope! “It was much easier climbing down.” Brackrog grabbed a length of rope and tried to climb the steep slope, but kept sliding back to the ground; restricted by his heavy armor. Galanon took the rope and easily leapt up the path founding a place to anchor the rope. The party ascended with little difficulty. Except Valar, “I’ll keep the escape path open.”
The trail led to the back side of the orc infested fort. As the party snuck up to the encampment, Rowlie and Brackrog slipped in the gravel making noises enough to warrant hiding. Smart move as orc heads popped above the wall scanning the area below. Luck as a small rabbit scampered away, being recognized as the source of the earlier noise. After a time, the party felt safe to continue their reconnaissance. Sneaking into the fort, the party separated momentarily to get better intelligence.
At the center rear of the fort where the party entered, stood a massive two-story cathedral like structure. It appeared to be made of single block of volcanic glass with smooth sides and no visible sign of entry. On the back side, small windows were regularly spaced on the 2nd story. Made obvious as eerie green light occasionally flickered from within. A steel double door was the only entrance to the structure facing the center of the fort. The remainder of the fort contained a hall, a stable, and a large smithy that seemed to be constantly producing large orcish swords that were regularly delivered to the largest Hall/barracks area. There were two other structures in the fort; one an apparent entry way into a catacomb. The final structure appeared to be where the Orcs where taking the prisoners.
The party gathered back together and reported on what they found. Rambler had managed to sneak into the cathedral and spied a giant black orc talking with a human.
Rowlie and Galanon suggested a slave rescue attempt and thus proceeded to investigate the building where the slaves had been delivered. Waiting as those 2 left, Rambler and Brackrog had other ideas, sneaking back into the cathedral. They waited in hiding for the human to leave the cathedral, then snuck in barring the exit to trap the black orc. Meanwhile, the black orc had been talking to someone or something; the eerie green light seemed to ebb and flow as an ethereal voice. The orc, obviously the fort leader, stated there was growing boredom by his horde who wanted to move out and ravage some lands in the area. The ethereal voice was firm: the orcs would remain here in hiding until the right time! If they were found out, there would be a delay in some unknown plan. The orc acquiesced and the green light faded as a shadow seeped out of the cathedral.
As the shadow passed, Brackrog and Rambler felt pure evil descend upon their souls. This was not going to be a good thing!!
Meanwhile, Rowlie and Galanon explored the slave pen entrance, stepping around a dead body lying in the corridor. They halted at a barred and locked entrance, unable to proceed as neither had thieves’ tools nor skills. Thus they snuck back to where their friends were waiting; deserted. “They didn’t did they??” “Yes I think they did.” “They wouldn’t have gone in there alone, …would they?!” ”Yes, I think they might have.”
Rowlie and Galanon rushed to the cathedral finding the door barred from the inside. They couldn’t see Rambler loose two arrows that struck the black Orc squarely. The Orc turned and screamed an ear-piercing wail. Rambler and Brackrog were nearly deafened from the screech. But worse, from outside the cathedral, alarm drums started pounding as the whole encampment burst into chaos. Rapping on the door, Rowlie implored, “Let us in. NOW! You started a riot.” Rambler kicked the bar off allowing the others to rush in. And that’s when an animated corpse started lumbering towards Galanon. First things first as Rowlie barred the cathedral door scant moments before a throng of orcs were beating at the door. Meanwhile, Brackrog landed a fatal blown on the giant orc.
Time to take stock of their surroundings, at the far end of the cathedral, they noticed a body wrapped in cloth, the obvious vessel from where the shadow was speaking. Rowlie dispatched the corpse’s head just to be safe as the shadow was leaking its way into the cathedral from the sealed entry doors. Rowlie and Rambler noticed a door at the back of the cathedral that was not accessible from the outside. Cautious of a trap, Rowlie and Rambler quickly located the release mechanism for the door and snuck out the back of the cathedral and claimed the back wall of Dwimmerhorn just as the shadow started to coalesce within the cathedral. The party quickly beat feet along the goat path, finding Valar still waiting.
The party hastily made their way through the bog along the same path they had entered. With the orcs behind, chasing them through the bog, the party continued on a forced march throughout the night and into the following day. Only on the 3rd night, with everyone tired and on the edge of collapse from exhaustion, did they find a secure place to hide. Come morning, the party decided to make haste to Radaghast’s home and report what they had found. Thus they moved quickly to the Anduin River locating the hidden boats. They crouched low in the boats as the current carried them south past the Gladden Fields where orc parties moved along the opposite shore, likely in search of them.
Upon arrival, Radaghast accepted their report with serious concern; he dispatched several birds to further investigate the Dwimmerhorn. They soon reported it deserted. No orc within nor nearby. Disappeared. As for the rescued Valar, he said his goodbyes as he felt it safe enough to travel on his own. As for the adventurers, they decided to travel to Lorien to give word of the orcs in Dwimmerhorn. And enjoy a well needed break!
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