(midmorning)
We have returned to the surface in order to rememorise some spells. Our initial foray has been fairly interesting, if unprofitable. We've been assigned to a section that is as yet unexplored. We have encountered few hostiles. Several clawed monsters that were easily dispatched, and a number of Kobolds which ran when they saw us.
Naturally, we captured a few of the Kobolds to see what information we could glean from them. Naturally, Kobolds aren't exactly what one would consider informative. The words ``stupid dogs'' come to mind. Oh well. It would appear that the monsters are from the surface, forced down here by the Alphatians. Not unusually, the Kobolds have no idea what happened to the dwarves. More interestingly, we have acquired a (somewhat dubious) firsthand account of the sinking of Alphatia. According to our Kobold witness: ``The sky shook, fire erupted out of mountains, the sky went black, lightning was everywhere, then the ground broke up and sank.'' Doesn't sound too promising for the residents.
The Kobolds haven't had much success looting, although someone certainly has, given that everywhere we've looked has been emptied of anything valuable. Furthermore, we've observed that dwarven personal items are still here, lending credence to the notion that the dwarves just disappeared, rather than left in a hurry.
At any rate, with Gurzurks help, we managed to get past a very large stone door. Door really is the wrong word. Stone gate better describes it. An invading force would have a hard time knocking such a door down, especially given the arrow slits above it. Good thing Gurzurk just went to the other side and unlocked the eight locking mechanisms, then slowly opened it using some sort of mechanism.
Shortly afterwards we encountered another similar gate. It is beyond this one that we find ourselves rememorising. A group of orcs has set up camp on the other side, which appears to be a sort of meeting area. Rather than just the two large gates in this section, there are four. Two that can be opened from the inside, and two that can be opened from the outside. We, naturally, are on the wrong side to open the gate.
Leo and Gurzurk gathered much of our information about this area, and the orc inhabitants. Unfortunately, they are guarding all entrances, with archers on the roofs, and I imagine there are foot soldiers in each building as well. Leo estimates there to be somewhere between 100 and 200 orcs, so we figure we should memorize spells appropriately before attacking them.
Gurzurk is able to find out so much information due to a series of extra tunnels that I believe run through the walls. The areas with arrow slits cannot be reached from the main area. Gurzurk can get into them by walking through the stone, and no doubt we coulkd enter them if we reduced ourselves in size, but the main entrance to these tunnels is as yet unknown. So although an invading force could get past the thick stone slabs that make up the gates, they'd still be unable to attack those who are reigning arrows down upon them from above, as they wouldn't know how to get into them in the first place. Quite nasty, and cunningly designed by the dwarves.
At any rate, we do have a plan for attacking these orcs, and it doesn't involve getting help, since we believe we are capable of taking them out without outside assistance. Essentially, Gurzurk will get us past the wall using a Passwall spell. In the meantime, Lani will wizard lock the gate at the other end to prevent the orcs from escaping, and I'll have wizard locked the gate at our end for similar reasons. Subsequently, Zim will cast an illusion of something fiery coming through the gate, which should distract the orcs, and hopefully make them cast whatever spells they may have access to, as well as bring their foot soldiers into the open. While they are busy with the illusion, Lani will begin summoning monsters to kill the orcs, further distracting them from the party. We'll then move in and attack using whatever means we have at our disposal.
We'll see how it goes in several hours no doubt. Hopefully they have plenty of loot.
(night)
No problem. That would be 70 dead orcs, and 60 prisoners, with the party barely being scratched. Add to that about 15000 gold with in loot, and another possible 10000 gold worth of art, as valued by Zhi. All ours now, I'm happy to say.
Unfortunately, it is clear that it was not a random orc encampment, but was rather a highly organised group of orcs who were there guarding for a purpose. The Alphatians are quite surprised at this. The big unknown is: For who were they guarding that area?
As I've noted, the orcs were highly organised. Indeed, they could have inflicted massive losses on any invading force. For a start, that were using some sort of dwarven defensive weapon. It was manned by about 10 orcs, and basically propels projectiles at a rapid rate. It cannot be aimed easily, but given that it was pointing at the gate, it wouldn't need to be. It could be considered an almost perfect defensive weapon.
All of the buildings were occupied by approximately a dozen orcs, each an archer, and stationed at the windows. Each building has an impressively solid looking stone door. Any invaders would find themselves being shot at by archers from all directions.
The area appears to be a trap for any invaders.
But for us, well, we got lucky. A great deal of thanks deservedly goes to Lani. Some of the things she summoned were just marvellous. Nonmagical weapons could not wound the werewolves. The giant fire toads just went about breathing fire into buildings, cleaning them out room by room. The owlbears managed to stop the dwarven device from firing. I'd say that Lani's monsters were responsible for the majority of orc casualties.
The rest of us scored a few kills each. I managed to find the boss, apparently, although it was Tessarael who eventually killed him. I thought he was a little tough. They even managed to overbear me, but I just activated my ring of blinking when they did that. Overbear'ed no more.
I am slightly concerned that we haven't caught their shaman. I was twice attacked by some sort of mental spell. However, we do not seem to have found anyone that looks like a shaman. No-one could have escaped. None of the gates opened. One of the gates that can be opened from the other side started to open, but closed again almost immediately. It did not open enough for even a mouse to squeeze through.
Well, we'll be clearing out our loot over the next several days, and the Alphatians will interrogate the prisoners, using magical means of course. The corpses of the orc bosses will be noted, in the event that a speak with dead is necessary.
Oh dear. At Tessarael's request, I tried a sending to Aegon earlier today, and received no response. We then asked Leo to find out what has happened to her, and the response does not bode well.
We found nothing out about Aegon. What happened is that Leo was berated by one of his superiors. He was apparently berated quite strongly. In short, he was told that he is giving us too much help, and that he is not meant to make decisions for us. I read this as being his presence and help has probably reached the point where the rules can be considered broken, rather than just bent, although I thought that his present limited capacity was so the rules couldn't be broken. I suspect that the superior is feeling pressure from the other deities. We have recently really annoyed Thasmodean for example. Perhaps Thasmodean has lodged a formal complaint, or whatever it is immortals do.
Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is that Leo will be recalled, and no doubt told off quite severely when he gets back to normal. We'll have to wait and see how things proceed, and lay off on the questions for a while. I imagine a couple of months at least.
(evening)
The interrogations have finished, but with little to report. It would appear some large, shadowy, cloaked creatures charmed the orc boss. He was following their orders. This tells us little, unfortunately. Well, we can expect more trouble. We'll continue looking around tomorrow morning.
On the lighter side of things, we've acquired about 15000 gold worth in loot, plus a possibly 10000 gold more in art objects, according to Zhi. Quite pleasing. We also took the dwarven weapon back to the surface. We had to cast item on a number of its components, but we managed. Perhaps the gnomes will be able to pay good money for it? If not, maybe Jose and Martin would be able to find a use for it?
Oh, I also had a small chat with Leo. It would appear that immortals are allowed to have children, but that their children must be mortal. Given that immortals are not allowed to interact directly with mortals, this makes raising children is probably a difficult thing for immortals. Apparently the mortal offspring tend to be more powerful than average.
So I guess this means perhaps Turia and I should have and raise children before seeking immortality?
Oh, I suggested to Leo that by way of thanks, when he returns to being an immortal, perhaps we could do a quest for him. He seemed to quite like the idea. We certainly owe it to him though! He's been very useful. He said he'd contact us.
Well, time to rest. It'll be a busy day tomorrow.