40 - The Family of Firegrasp
Orceena traces her roots, and finds more than she expected.
General Summary
The story begins following Orceena Firegrasp's journey southward, towards the Kun'Dru mountain range of her childhood. She only possesses the vaguest of memories from her past and seeks answers. Entering an almost entirely abandoned orc cavern, she happens upon an elderly orc woman and three young orc children. Orceena introduces herself and claims the children under her own tutelage, and the elder provides her armaments once belonging to her father, the slain L'Ork Firegrasp. Orceena is told of an orc tribe farther north, where she may learn more about her mother's side of the family.
During present day in Solis, "Ed" Edalweiss and "Kaylin" Kayin are enjoying the public bathhouse. New recruit Drud Dudley leaps at the opportunity to challenge Edalweiss in her current visage, soundly losing to her and her spiritual weapon. The following morning they pursue individual tasks - Edalweiss continues contacting her children and learning about the state of Esylalea, Kayin cooks in the Wintry Wyvern, and Celder goes to train his dragon in the woods outside the city. After running drills with a military platoon in the colosseum, Edalweiss calls the group to reconvene at the tavern and open a letter they received that morning. It turns out the governess had summoned them for a military meeting at noon, which they were already late for.
The party arrived at the palace just upon the meeting's conclusion. Governess Harendial debriefs them, saying she will be sending the Titan Corps to investigate the origins of the orc encampment that attacked the city, within the mountains east of Solis. Celder asks her about the Staff of Aleum, which she states is an old family heirloom. After a bit of convincing, she lends the party the Staff of Aleum, a long stone-metallic rod with two antler-like branches at the head.
The party exits the city, running into Orceena and the three children - Orkuno, Orkdos, and Orktres. They travel south towards the guild house and meet with all of their recruits, who are beginning to settle into the new living space. After some strenuous exercises with the children and the Longhand Brothers, Celder informs the guild that they are being commissioned by the Solis government for jobs beyond the walls. L6 voices some reservations, but trusts in the leaders' judgments.
The party leaves towards the mountains with Drud, Violette, Finn, Orceena and the children in tow. The party deftly subdues the two front orc guards before entering a largely underground cavern. They find a community of about 15 orcs present, led by a king and queen on a tall throne, sitting before a large pool of purple water. Orceena approaches the queen, asking if she is her mother, and guesses correctly - the queen, a non-orc individual known as Wolvara, says she despised her late husband L'Ork Firegrasp because he was stubborn and weak. She tells Orceena to join her clan, for a great calamity will strike the land, and only those who accept the aid of the extraplanar will survive. Orceena and Edalweiss (disguised an orc, though her veil is dispelled) refuse to drink the water.
Wolvara details their plans to conquer the human kingdom, led by higher-up connects in the capital of Kastell that have been aiding them. Edalweiss pitches that they should instead attack her elven home city Esylalea, claiming the western wall is soon to fall, as she heard in her scryings. Wolvara is intrigued but cautious - she permits the party to leave, on the basis that they return with more concrete information. She offers to Orceena to stay, promising to teach her how to unlock her true potential. Orceena declines and leaves with the rest of the company.
Rewards Granted
Orceena:
- Battleaxe, +1
- Fists of the Firegrasp
- Orky, the Giant Boar
- Staff of Aleum
- Solisian Spear
- Mithral Full Plate
Missions/Quests Completed
Gain information about the orc tribes: Mission completed
Character(s) interacted with
New Characters:
- Orkuno, Orkdos, Orktres - orc children taken under Orceena's wing
- Orky - a giant boar found within the Kun'Dru mountain range
- Unnamed elderly orc woman
- Wolvara - queen of the orcs of the southern Wyvern's Spine
- Unnamed clan of orcs
Comments