Journal #14 - The Orcs of Aldandun

We hid in the shadows as a group of highborn trolls, goblins, and orcs passed lugging a heavy cart laden with ore. They complained about the duration of their labors - three weeks so far - and then we saw them approach one of the giant pillars in the hall. A secret, hidden door opened which magically fit even the gigantic cart, and began closing after them.
 
In a split second decision, we chose to sneak in behind them. We trailed them for some time to try to pick up more clues. The next hall was decorated with wargs heads illuminating the area (they were lanterns of sorts, in skulls). I recognized these as Fireheads; the orcs of the Sundered Plains would put these in catapults to launch over walls during a siege, catching all they hit ablaze.
 
The goblins seemed to be automatons - mindless, showing no fear even when dumped into the fire with the ore they were mining.
 
A gong sounded The orcs exclaimed they were going to miss the announcement! The trolls were treated as slaves, and increased their pace.
 
We kept following the orcs, and started to field dress our wounds. There was a cacophony of orc noises ahead of us, and a giant cavern emerged. It appeared to be a city of the orc king. The entire sunken fortress lay before us, resting on a volcanic vent. Steam rose from a lava pit ahead of us. War machines were everywhere. Orcs by the hundreds, homes, towers, tents… An invasion force. Lines of shackled enslaved dwarves marched and worked everywhere about.
 
The gong sounded once more. The cavern had a giant chasm down where workers toiled. A giant lake of lava in its center. And in the distance on the far cliff wall rose a fortress with a lone tower. On a balcony, clad in pure white with a long white beard falling to his belt, was the wizard from Domino's vision, Sorindo the White. He gave a raucous speech under the effect of Thaumaturgy.
 
“Orcs of Pylanthia, your king Gomar has given me insight. The trolls move to the north. Castle Dalabar and spires have been seen. The time is almost upon us. Soon, the free realm of Terrinoth in the Valley of Dust will fall, and the orcs buried beneath this great Aubrador will rise.
 
“Your King has given you an order. Siege Pylanthia! Take it! And for the workers, continue to find the precious stones that we need. It is nearly complete. When I have enough Onyx, I will be able to open the doors into the Vault of Voladryn! And you will be reunited with your fallen brothers once again! All done from your Highness!
 
“And then…there will be peace.”
 
The wizard turned and walked back into the tower of Aldandun.
 
Off at the bottom of the chasm, we noticed Arlo on a chain gang. He looked terrible.
 
We were in a precarious spot, and debated for a time what we could do. Eventually, a plan crystallized in my mind and I spoke up. These orcs were no strangers to me, the very same had enslaved my own kindred, had enslaved me. Since then I had spent many years mastering the arts of performance, so I decided to disguise myself as one of the orc commanders, both magically and skillfully.
 
I set off on my own, blending in with the orcs of Pylanthia. Before I left, Domino gave me an Eerie Token which she could use to communicate with me. At this point, all of our attempts to communicate through magical sending had failed. We theorized the very stone walls blocked magic due to the veins of Pylanthian silver. Though, perhaps now with a direct line of sight - no stone blocking our way - communication with Arlo would be possible. We couldn’t risk any reaction he might have giving us away however, so the token served as a backup should other communication prove impossible.
 
We suspected there was another exit from this fortress, one that led to Pylanthia directly, as these orcs would’ve been noticed otherwise. I kept an eye out for it on my way.
 
I managed to retrieve Arlo. I impersonated a guard captain, and when I reached his chain gang his commander there ordered me to take his line to prisoner exchange, which I did. I had to fend off orcs who wanted to eat him. Arlo and his dwarf line (4 chained together) tried to break free after being put into their cell, when I convinced the orcs to release him for questioning to the boss. Before I could act, one of the dwarves pushed an orc off the cliff and into a lava pool.
 
I calmed the emotions of all involved and convinced them to let me take Arlo for questioning to the benefit of all involved. One orc refused, wanting revenge for his brother. I pushed him into the lava after his brother, but he smote Arlo down. I revived him with an orc grog, but he was wearied and could no longer move under his own power. I carried him out, intuiting the safe path. I was on my way to meet up with the crew…
 
As I walked with Arlo, my heart was pained. It was terrible seeing Arlo and the others forced into slavery, it was still more terrible convincing the dwarves to give up their chance at a warrior’s death. In time I would come to resolve these internal struggles. The dwarves were doomed either way, this way there was a chance to save a child, while also warning Pylanthia of the coming storm. I tell myself that it was worth it. Not all of me believes it.
 
I led Arlo further into the depths of Aldandun. Beyond the lake of lava, roughly eight miles from where I left the others, I found an abandoned mine shaft that would serve as good shelter. I tended to Arlor as well as I could, and settled down to recover. Before I did, I spoke to Domino to inform her of my status.
 
During the time I had spent rescuing Arlo, the others were apparently evading patrols. They ended up at an abandoned tower where they also safely rested. Apparently afterwards, while still sheltering, they saw some creature who gave them pause - a goblin looking at them through a window, yet not raising an alarm. It left a rope in the cliffs above the tower, and they followed him. It turned out to be a member of another of Malastar’s teams of adventurers. Domino communicated to me they had climbed up and left a rope for me at the tower, which was roughly two miles away from me.
 
After Arlo awoke, I had to bring him up to speed. I held off on breaking the news of Tybeerian’s death just yet. He felt he had betrayed the dwarf. The last he heard, he was to protect the staff. Tybeerian had told him this as he’d been tortured in order to convince Arlo to yield the staff, yet Arlo felt protecting it wouldn’t have been asked of him if it wasn’t possible. When Arlo awoke, imprisoned, and came face to face with a wizard of the Prismatic Alliance, he believed the man when he said he was a friend of Malastar’s. Thus, it was all for naught. He let the staff go before he realized. I didn’t have it entirely in my heart to blame the lad, and yet I had to agree with his own assessment that this conundrum was all his fault - due to his actions in Noswald.
 
I asked Arlo about any information he may have obtained while enslaved here - passages out, etc. He said a dwarven company had been kept from leaving - they knew the tunnels to take, but orcs were mining beyond those tunnels, in the very walls of Aldandun itself, and had caught them.
 
At that moment, a thunderous crash was heard. I crept forward to the mouth of the cave I was in, and saw they’d blown out a large stalactite from the roof of the cavern; rubble poured down into the cavern. Orcs rappelled down through the opening, and scaffolding was erected from beneath. A voice boomed once more - Orcish engineering, blasting powders, and a very horde of orcs were being unleashed, following behind a river of lava that was set loose on its way to the Deep Halls of the dwarves. The orcs were to go forth, the generals of this siege would not yield until Pylanthia was theirs, he said.
 
It was time for us to leave. I told Arlo I would have to once more appear to hold him captive. Before I did so, I used Aid on us both, once again disguised myself, and hog-tied him in a manner which allowed him to slip his bonds at will but appear securely tied. While doing this, I asked Arlo if he had overheard any terms being slung about - names of leaders or commanders, vernacular only an insider would know, in case it would help me navigate us safely. He told me the orcs had said “Free the Fortress” as they mined around the perimeter, they were looking for precious dwarvish stone; they have blasting kegs, sluices, and dams to manipulate the lake of lava into rivers.
 
I set off carrying Arlo towards the keep, where the Wizard had spoken from, where I deduced the tower the others were in must be near. After some time, I found it, and the rope. Arlor wrapped his arms around my neck and I climbed with him. A hawk flew by, and I wondered… It seemed familiar to me. Turns out, it was the Familiar of Korrigash.
 
As I journeyed along the cliffside path to reach the others, I overheard in the far distance the booming voice of an orc. I was told by the others when I reached them that it was King Golmar, the orc of the Five Kings. He wore a black crown bearing the sigil of an upside down mountain and glistening with giant lunar crystals, which Ghiravont was particularly keen on, he had seen similar before I put together. He moved like a turtle, and in his speech he mentioned Pylanthia, Magulban, Zeptrimesh (an Orcish name, literally translated to Old Strong Hammer he wielded a giant pole-armed hammer, which appeared to in fact be Zeptrimesh.
 
The group of commandos sent by Mallastar were with the others when I arrived. Their mission was to kill the orc king, led by Tamault Greysha, from Augaunon, the molten northeast of the realm. He told the store of orcs raiding the halls of his homeland, unearthing something at the beck and call of Golmar. They sought out the wisdom of the Prismatic Alliance, and learned to their sorrow that none could be trusted but Malastar. He sought out the White Wizard, Sorindo. He introduced me to his friend Stint, defender of the great dragon army, a smaller lizard-man. And Groff, defector of Golmar, a goblin scout.
 
Tamault was muttering about how we shouldn’t be here, the great dragons were taking to the skies, the Catalyst. King Aldandun is returned, the ancient dragon namesake. He had watched Golmar fell a dragon in Augaunon with a single blow of his hammer, and he warned us off. The last guardian of Aubradon is dead, and invasions of Pylanthia and other lands were planned in synchronized fashion - giants in the north, orcs in the south. Trolls to the middle, in the free cities. Tamault was going into the keep to face down the orc king, or the wizard, whoever he came across - I wasn’t sure. He leant us the goblin, Groff, to lead us through a hidden passage used by Solidar the White in secret to enter and depart this stronghold.
 
We fled, out of a hidden exit, and had to navigate a warren of rooms filled with orcs, ogres, trolls, and hybrids. It was a bloody mess, but we made it, barely. We emptied out into a large cavern of lava, with a huge staircase on one wall, atop which was a spectral image of the wizard, taunting us. He left, summoning a giant primordial fire scorpion to block our path. It was powered through lunar runes. We had to cross a lava river to reach it, and it struck with immense power. Its stinger could reach a disgusting distance. I fell numerous times, as I leapt upon its back to try to chop off its tail. I succeeded, but when I finally prevailed, the stub spurted out blood like molten lava, which burned me severely. My friends kept me conscious, and after the stinger were the claws. We dismantled the creature, but I know in my heart the victory was not mine. We were close to falling, when Domino contacted the spider queen of the Applewood, who she’d already promised so much. I fear she sold her soul, for ours.
 
As we finally conquered the creature, the heat vanished. The magma was gone. We had prevailed, and yet I could hardly move.