Exploring Gnomenguard with the Lord's Alliance

The brave trio of Caldae, Pip, and Siegrane and Howdore are at the Waterfall going into odd looking pool with mushrooms and other oddities in it trying to rescue 3 female gnomes that have been captured by 4 orcs. and their large bear. Pip had talked some shit to the orcs and now they are charging after him, while the other 3 try to sneak around the orcs., but unfortunately one of the orcs and the bear see them. Pip has disappeared into the tree line with the other orcs in pursuit. As the other orc and bear approach the party, Caldae casts animal friendship on the bear, but the bear shakes off the spell angrily. The bear retaliates against Caldae biting and clawing at her, but the nimble little halfling scuttles out of the way and avoids the attack. Behind Caldae two injured orcs are visible, and they drag themselves from the camp to join the fight. Howdore charges across the stream at the warrior bear striking out with his axe and striking a blow causing blood to gush from the bear's leg. The female orc who is the bear's handler is outraged by the attack on her pet, and she claws at Howdore dealing 14 damage to him in the side. Siegrane runs across the field with his hammer trying to hit the bear in the face and blind it, but unfortunately he slips in the water and stumbles while wildly swinging his hammer, nearly knocking Caldae off the log she is perched on. Siegrane falls in front of the bear, and finds the bears snarling face just inches from his own. Caldae tries to use her animal handling skills, but the bear is too strong and angry. Caldae then casts healing word on Howdore to repair some of his wounds. The bear attacks Siegrane biting him on the upper shoulder shaking him around, then releasing and trying to bite him in the throat. Luckily his armor protects him from a fatal bite, but he still takes 7 damage. The injured orcs join the fray, as Howdore swings his axe at the female orc, missing her as the axe clears her head and causes him to spin around clumsily and fall to the ground. The female orc approaches Caldae trying to grab her leg and flip her off the log, but Caldae is too quick for her and she easily hops out of the way as the orc hisses at her angrily. The female has her back to Siegrane, so he trys to sneak up behind her, but the orc hears him and spins around as Siegrane's hammer catches her in the shoulder throwing her backwards.
 
Caldae wild shapes into a Dire Wolf and lunges at the female ord while simultaneously sinking her teeth into her shoulder. The orc receives the full weight of the dire wolf, and is able to keep her footing, as she also mutters some sort of prayer under her breath. This causes the bear to go into a rage and attack Siegranc and Caldae. It slams into Siegrane's shield, knocking him off balance. The female orc speaks some orcish words to the injured orcs causing them to turn around and head back towards their gnomish prisoners. Caldae grabs the female orc in her teeth shaking her and dislocating her shoulder, holding her until the female dies and goes limp. Siegrane turns towards the injured orcs who are now a distance away. He reaches back and lobs his javelin at one of the orcs, and watches as it buries itself in the center of the orcs back killing him dead. From his position up on the rock, Siegrane sees a flash of purple and silver coming from the tree line, as he watches multiple figures emerge from the trees.
 
A voice yells out, "Gadzooks! What is going on here!?" The stranger yells out to Howdore, "Step away from these small women ruffians!".
 
Meanwhile, Caldae in Dire Wolf form tries to calm the warrior bear who is panicking now that it's orc handler has been slain. Using her animal handling skills, she sends out calming vibes towards the bear, who seems to respond by becoming friendlier towards her and the situation. Having succeeded, Caldae now spins around and runs off into the forest to search for Pip. Using her keen wolf senses she is able to locate him, and she picks him up by the back of the shirt and carry's him back towards the rest of the party.
 
The new stranger charges valiantly across the field towards the party, and he his followed by his own party. Caldae drops wild shape, while Siegrane releases the captive gnomes from their bonds. Caldae returns in halfling form to bond more with the warrior bear.
 
Caldae asks Pip what happens to the Orcs that were chasing him. The party is trying to figure out who this new guy is. They argue about which party is more strange. The new guy inquires about how many orcs they have slain and how many are left. Suddenly, Fibblestop and Dabbledop come waddling out of the bushes, clearly grossed out by all the blood spilled during battle. Caldae says, about time you guys got over here! New guy asks them to show him the way to Gnomenguard. The gnomes identify the stranger as a member of the Lords Alliance. The gnomes point to the cliffs, indicating that is where Gnomenguard is located. There seem to be several entrances about 20 feet up the cliffside. Approaching the cliffside, it is seen that there are several charred orc corpses at the base of the cliff, as well as char marks on the cliff face itself. The Lord's Alliance member approaches the cliffside, and notices 2 - 3 foot tall
mushroom growing in the pools of water.
 
The gnome prisoners have now been freed by Siegrance, and he waves for Dabbledop and Fibblestop to come over to the 3 gnome females. Fibblestop walks up and asks what has been happening, and if the work shop has been broken into. One of the little gnomes say they have made it through the defenses and into the throne room. Howdore walks over and gingerly tries to put his hand on one of the crying gnomes heads to comfort them. With the 3 female gnomes now safe, the party decides to follow after the Lord's Alliance member and try to get up into Gnomenguard. Dappledop offers to lead them to the CHAMBER OF THE BEACON.
 
Caldae has befriended the warrior bear and is luring it to join the party using jerky. She has named him BEARTOLOMEW. The Lord's Alliance party has waded into the pool of water. Caldae tries to harvest some of the mushrooms, and is quickly berated by Dabbledop for touching the sacred mushrooms. Siegrane decides to make friends with the Dwarf in the Lord's Alliance party by giving him a pint of his ale. The other dwarf introduces himself as MAXWELL. Caldae walks up to the Lord's Alliance guy and asks what his name is, he says MARCUS STEELHAMMER. Caldae suggests they all form one big party to take on the orcs. He agrees that it would be an intelligent idea. Maxwell chimes in and says Marcus's nickname is "Baby Hands".
 
Dappledop steps up and says that the party needs to follow her because if they take the wrong way, they will all die. The now combined group makes its wake across the pool to the base of the cliff on the other side and begin climbing the cliffside. Marcus makes his way part way up the cliff before losing his grip and sliding ungracefully down the cliffside splashing into the water below. A second attempt goes no better, so Marcus asks for assistance. Siegrane throws a rope down to Marcus and helps him to the top. Pip begins telling his story of how he ditched the orcs who were chasing him, he claims that he led them up to a ridge line and then as they charged him he stepped out of the way causing them to fall to their death in a gorge. But after Caldae prods him further, he admits that he simply was faster than they were and out ran them.
 
Once everyone has reached the top of the cliff, they make their way into a cave filled with tunnels that they soon find themselves maneuvering. Eventually they are able to hear some gnomish voices mixed with orcish voices. Eventually they emerge into a room with gnomes in it that they tell that they are here to help. Fibblestop and Dabbledop awkwardly try to talk to the gnomes, who they are not very familiar with because they barely ever leave their workshop. The party continues to inspect a kitchen area as the gnomes talk amongst themselves.
Caldae notices there are pieces of the sacred mushrooms stockpiled in this room, and since no one is looking, Pip and Caldae steal a bunch of mushroom pieces.
 
Suddenly some orcs approach where the party is exploring, so they all try to hide. Unfortunately Marcus and Caldae make a bunch of noise, and it echo's down the hallway. There are a group of orcs with 5 gnome prisoner's and Beartolomew with them. Beartolomew smells the jerky in Caldae's pack and inadvertently draws attention to her and the party, initiating a battle. During the battle one of the orcs takes Beartolomew and leaves.