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After cleansing the watchtower, discovering that the separation of the Deck of Many Things was causing weaknesses between the planes – the party repelled an attack by the orc occupation forces.
Agüero: “If we’re going to take down their leader Bakrosh, now is the time. They have to take the long way around – we could cut through the Feygrove and get there minutes before they can reinforce his position! Let’s go!”
Running full speed, Nostalgio leads them via the most direct route through the Feygrove to the inner keep where the orc leader, Bakrosh, is ensconced.
The Orc Chieftain’s Keep [Encounters 3,7 & 8]
Approaching from the rear of the keep, they hear two voices arguing…
They sneak closer and determine that the Ettin is a tipsy. The goblin rogue rogue approaches cautiously…
… offering some of the whisky they procured at Oscar’s Pawn Shop in Punjar.
“That’ good, but I’d really like some of that elven brew.” says one of he heads.
Shute: “I know where you can get a lot of that!”
Ettin: “But we can’t leave our post.”
Shute: “Sure you can! I’ll cover things here. Besides there won’t be any naaasty humans coming because of that invincible attack force Bakrosh sent!”
…and off the Ettin went on a wild ale chase.
Chieftain’s Retinue [Encounter 7]
They party charges in the front door, ready to attack without warning!
Catching the Orc Shaman unprepared – and he’s down before he can react.
True to is word (and the influence of his intelligent lance), Aguero decides to attempt to subdue one of the Dire Wolves, rather than attack orcs.
This draws the orcs to him like a magnet.
Fortunately, this allows the ability to concentrate their fire, and quickly take the chieftain’s guard out completely.
Aguero manages to subdue the Dire Wolf enough to begin its training as a beast companion. With it now following the group, they resume their quest to find and neutralize Bakrosh through the double doors.
The Orc Chieftain [Encounter 8, difficulty increased]
The approach the main chamber of the keep – Bakrosh’s throne room.
He is attended by a well armed female orc … but something is very strange. There are the corpses of four Orc guards here…
Closer examination of the bodies tell them that one was killed by feezing, one was sliced with a knife so sharp that it cut flesh an bone with no marks. Another was riddle holes, the last one appeared to die of poisoning.
“This means something…” whispers Edryd, to himself.
Bakrosh brags about his zone of control, how – by now – he has control of the watchtower, and has secured new allies that will spread his power for leagues around.
Bakrosh demands Aguero’s hand over his lance – claiming that it was stolen from his father – “a great orc chieftain before me!”
Aguero responds – “Yes! And my father took it from his dead hand! It will never be yours!”
Bakrosh cries out “Ally! I need you now. Time to eliminate these trouble makers.”
From a deep crack in the floor, up floats the Beholder the Irregulars had released from the watchtower.
And the eye tyrant from the far realm sprays a bright light from his huge central eye stuns our heroes {can’t use Daily/Encounter powers}
Floating up out of the reach of hand-to-hand combat, the beholder starts shooting rays from his eyestalks, while the orc leader and his consort attack!
The illusionist is disabled by a paralyzing ray and can’t act! {This was OK, as the player was absent}
The party spreads out to limit the effects of the Beholder’s main eye and begin to do some damage, disabling the Bakrosh’s consort.
Heavy damage on both sides, but the Beholder is forced to land…
Meanwhile, Bakrosh enters hand-to-hand combat with Agüero – first grappling him…
And then wrestling away the Lance!
Running out the door and down the stairs…
He leaps to the ground of the entry hall and is leapt upon by Shute and Nostalgio. Not ideal, as Bakrosh has a lot of fight left in him and is now armed with the lance AND there is loud noises at the doorway!
Edryd: “Here comes the remainder of the watchtower attack force. Now … we’re in trouble!”
The door bursts open and instantly the twang of a half dozen bowstrings erupts…
…a flight of arrows hit Bakrosh >thwup, thwup, thwup, thwup, thwup, thwup< dropping him in his tracks. It’s the Vellfarren family guard!
Berrian’s guards have been sent to bring the Forsite Irregulars back to the Font of Ioun…
“It is urgent that the Princess Verlune be brought back safely.”
This quest concludes in “The Sundering”
Build Notes
- Terrain
- Maps: Madness at Gardmore Abbey Module map by Wizards of the Coast
- Keep walls: Terraclips by World Works Games
- Props & Minis
- FREE 1" Crates: Free Sample Crates by Stone Edges
- Table: A Luxurious Lair: Council Chamber by Kev’s Lounge
- Support Pillars: Hero’s Hall by Kev’s Lounge
- Stairs: Winterhawk Castle by Fat Dragon Games
- Throne Steps: Kitbashed version of Claudio’s Altar FREE
- Fire Pit: Furniture Pack by Kev’s Lounge
- Battle Markers
- World Works Games Battlepacks: Basics
This quest concludes in “The Sundering”
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