Session 41 - Chaos in the Keep Report

General Summary

74th Moonshine   The adventurers awaken, Elxis' mechanical pseudodragon returning from the massacre at the Rocai valley keep ahead. Elxis feels somewhat guilty - Panser and XIV seem to notice.   The adventurers head towards the valley keep. Elxis sends her pseudodragon ahead to scout out the terrain, noticing that a party of three orcs and an ogre were quickly approaching the party. Elxis calls it to return. Panser goes invisible, and casts tongues on XIV. XIV uses the necklace of veiling to appear like an orc, and Elxis and Akio do the same with disguise self. Aarkatus clings to the back of XIV's leg, hidden under his cloak.   The orcs and ogre arrive, XIV talking to them and convincing them that they are actually the raiding party that the adventurers just killed yesterday. It's successful, and eventually the orcs and ogre move on, after being given directions to "find the palefiends".   The group forges on, reaching the outpost and entering, all appearing like orcs. Panser hides in a wheelbarrow. Suddenly, the group runs into Tufele, the leader of the orc keep, an ogrillon. They tell him they just returned from the warfields. Instantly interested (he seems fascinated by war and violence), Tufele invites them into the command tent at the center of the camp, and drinks with them. They also meet Tufele's accomplice, Afaksi.   He tells them violent stories of killing goblins, and reveals that back in the orc city of Rhaxidu, omens have told that a great war is approaching between all of the "palefiends" and all of the greenskins in Kotoxi Mari. He tells the group that they could help by going to the abandoned temple of Rhunaka and awakening the Taman'gori and Taman'raka avatars of war.   Meanwhile, Panser - still invisible - sneaks outside of the camp and tries to climb into the trees so he can see into the camp, but he slips and falls to the ground. He is nearly caught and stabbed by one of the orc guards outside, but slips away into the forest.   The group, besides Panser of course, follow Tufele and Afaksi outside the command tent.   And this is when the chaos begins.   Panser, thinking the group are in danger, uses Plant Growth to overgrow all the grass in the camp, creating a safe path out of the camp. Panser, using message on XIV, urges the group to flee down the path. Confused, the group run to Panser, and they begin escaping - but Aarkatus drops to the ground. The orcs, noticing Panser suddenly appearing, go after him. A couple go to restrain Aarkatus, who is left behind at the gates of the camp.   The group go through the back of the camp. Panser and Akio hide in the trees, where Wargs try and find them.   Elxis' pseudodragon retrieves the message Aarkatus was carrying, taking it where it's safe. XIV, still appearing like an orc, runs to Aarkatus and picks him up, carrying him away - still looking like an orc. He says he's taking Aarkatus away to interrogate him. Tufele, confused and angry, follows XIV and Aarkatus.   He reaches them, just as XIV (still disguised as an angry orc) reaches the prison, pretending to "interrogate" Aarkatus while he's in shock. Tufele tells him to stand down, and puts Aarkatus on his knees, ready to execute. Just as he swings his knife, XIV drops his disguise, slamming his shield in the way. He proclaims that he is one of the avatars of war, confusing and angering Tufele.   Tufele casts a fireball at XIV, which lights the prison aflame and hits Tufele himself. It damages XIV and Tufele, and Aarkatus is wounded. XIV uses misty step to reach behind Tufele and strike him with his hammer, damaging him.   The session ends with XIV and Tufele locked in combat, Aarkatus still in the burning prison, while Akio, Elxis and Panser are huddled in the trees. One warg has noticed them, the other is still searching.