[Completed] Orrin's Tale - Finger of Doom/April 27, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

Extra Bonus Round:

Wolves: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 5
Goblin: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 3
Ghouls, et al: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 1

The Black Wolf responds to the dwarf's cry with a low rumble. "I thought I smelled fresh dwarf meat," the creature nearly purrs, his rich bass voice rumbling in Orrin's chest. He follows it up with a handful of syllables, "Xith hadlaric snjoi'shin". Fangir chuckles in response. "You'll have to try harder than that, miserable cur."

Enemy saving throw [1d20] = 14

Meanwhile, the last remaining wolf tries to finish off the final goblin, but is unable to do so. Before the goblin can twist its spear again, Numen steps up to him from behind and drives the point of Hope straight through his chest, spraying blood over the pair of wolves and Rhodri. As the body slides free of the blade, he brandishes the length of black steel in Orrin's direction, crying out, "Lighthammer! Stand down!".

Wolf vs goblin [1d20] = 9, damage [1d6] = 6

As Kennit gets a new torch lit near the opposite entrance, Orrin rushes forward, snatching up a fallen goblin spear from near the melee and scurrying across to the doorway near the halfling. To the adventurers, he calls out, "There's no time to explain, this is the King under the mountain, returned. He must be protected! To me! Help me flank the beast, it can't attack us all at once!"

As if on cue, Fangir rushes forward into battle against the wolf, with the ghouls alongside him. Jem merely stands in the doorway, aloof and silent. Mobbed by enemies in this way, though all his enemies are dwarf-sized, the black wolf seems somehow diminished. The ghouls rake at his fur-like-iron-spikes with their talons, lacerating the wolf in several places. Finally, Fangir himself wades into the thick of the melee and lands a powerful blow with his two-handed axe upon the wolf's back. There is a horrible crack as the blade meets flesh and the mighty, bear-like form of the wolf slumps down the ground. A brief gust of wind accompanied by a sigh like the creaking of a willow tree passes through the chamber.

Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 10
Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 8
Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 5

Ghoul damage [3d3] = 7

Fangir vs. BW [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18, [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4

Fangir turns to the elves and halfling. "Consorts of demons--explains yourselves before this blade meets your necks as well."

Action and initiative!

[Keehnelf]

Oh, one final note as well: Orrin clearly sees Numen look to the black wolf for a split second as though for confirmation before he offers his warning to the dwarves to stand down. He is panting and there is a wild look in his eye as the black blade quivers in his hand.

[Zorroroaster]

Initiative: [1d6] = 3

Orrin raises the tip of his scavenged spear to the ceiling and rests the butt on the ground. He is angry.

"Stand down? Are you now completely insane? I rush to your aid, and your response is to brandish that fell weapon at me? Do me a favour, Numen. The next time your raise steel in my direction, use it."

He waves a hand in the direction of the black wolf's carcass. "Did you all not hear the beast? Fresh dwarf meat? That monster has been feasting on what remains of this clan and won't stop until he's sated. This is your ally, Numen? Madness."

He indicates Fangir with the same sweep of his hand. "May I present Fangir Firedeep. Last Thane of the Finger of Doom. He has passed through flame and ash to reclaim his people's rightful home from the clutches of evil. Don't mind the undead."

Orrin drops his hand and his shoulders slump wearily. He moves off to one side and rests against a wall, watching.

[Zorroroaster]

You know, I just realized that it's possible Orrin doesn't know of the BWs involvement with the Firedeep tombs. If that's a little too much OOC knowledge seeping into my dialog, feel free to edit it out. Or maybe he's pieced it together from what Fangir has said and what he's heard in town. I dunno. It made a nice line.

[Keehnelf]

I think it is--I don't believe anyone knew about the tragedy at the tombs that was on your ill-fated expedition. You even discussed swinging by there at some point during that expedition.

[Zorroroaster]

Right. See the edited post...I think that makes it kosher.

[Keehnelf]

Rhodri maintains a blank expression as he squares his shoulders and faces the strange dwarf, wiping the blood from his face.

"I came here following rumors of gold, and meant to wrest some from the goblins I'd heard had taken over these halls. We killed some goblins, but found ourselves caught up in a fight between the two-legs and the four-legs. I've been trying to get us clear without getting killed. I've no quarrel with you, and I'm much obliged to you for your aid." At this, he does look dubiously at the ghouls and the zombie.

"Orrin there," he gestures to the other dwarf, "can tell you I was headed here in search of treasure; he was coming with me, for a time, as well as that poor dead chap standing alongside you. He says you're the King Under the Mountain, and I shan't dispute it. I met with some of your kin, a time back...dwarves of the Firedeep Clan? They offered friendship and gratitude to them as would help in clearing goblins from your old halls." His voice is neutral, but there is an unspoken question behind the words.

Orrin is distracted by his confrontation with Numen, but can tell the explanation does not sit well with Fangir. His hands are gripping the axe handle tightly and his jaw is set, the shadows of a fresh torch flickering across his grimy features.

Orrin, for his part, only gets partway through his blandishments toward the elf as the latter drops the point of his sword and rushes to the side of the black wolf on his knees. With one hand atop the thing's head, he buries his face in the side of its neck and then stands, drawing the blade of his sword across its throat, spilling its lifeblood over the floor in a swift flood. Hard-eyed, the elf casts a mournful and solemn glance toward Rhodri and Kennit.

The halfling seems out of sorts, casting about from side to side. He begins to ask, "Is it...dead?" As Numen's actions settle the question once and for all. Then the nervous halfling looks upon the assembled undead with dismay, and over to Orrin. "Is that--Jem? What happened to him?" As Kennit meets his gaze, he has a look of loathing and disgust etched on his face that confuses Orrin until he recalls his disfigurement. He's still not entirely sure how bad it looks.

Finally, Fangir addresses Rhodri: "So you came here, too, to loot the corpse of my clan when the opportunity first presented itself? Indeed, all the men and elves of Vaul are snakes who would turn out their own mothers' pockets for a few coppers! You speak of hoping to aid us in reclaiming our land--there is nothing to reclaim, there are none to reclaim it, and you come to these halls in the company of the one who brought our final ruin? I will see my ancestors' spirits well avenged before I allow you one step further into these halls."

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin watches as Numen kills the beast. He wonders if the Black Beast is well and truly dead, or if his spirit has escaped yet again and Numen was doing the animal a favour by releasing it from its anguish. Was that Mammon he just killed, he wonders?

Orrin looks to Kennit, sadness displayed clearly on his face and in his voice. "Truly, it is. Much has happened to us since we parted ways. We were taken prisoner by the current...occupant of the mountain, and he has done terrible things to those of us who survived."

[Keehnelf]

As Orrin considers the question of the black beast's spirit, the albino wolfhound Mammon appears from the hall from which the beast had entered, a long and bloody gash on the side of his lower jaw. He whimpers and nuzzles at the black beast's flank for a moment before turning to Numen.

[Zorroroaster]

albino! Why had I missed that crucial detail? Ok, not Mammon. Orrin still thinks the BW is alive and well somewhere, just not in this wolf's body.

[Keehnelf]

Rhodri's jaw tightens, but he does not otherwise flinch from the dwarf's words. In a monotone, he says, "I came here in the company of my two friends, Kennit and Numen." He motions to each. " Demons and wolves walk where they will, and are not friends to any civilized folk. I was ignorant of the state of this place until I entered it--save that it was held by goblins, your enemies and mine--and last I saw your kinfolk they were hale. If you and your clan have suffered misfortune, I neither knew of it nor had anything to do with it. My condolences."

"I've no grudge with your clan, and I never lifted hand or blade against them. If you don't want us to take another step, so be it...we'll leave your halls and trouble you no further." He gives a stiff bow and scans the chamber. Clearly he is ready to leave. While he is still speaking, Numen bolts down the hall into the darkness, Mammon close on his heels.

[Keehnelf]

Kennit seems temporarily distracted by the ghouls and whatever Numen is up to, when Fangir's aggressive demeanor grabs his attention. "Begging your pardons, Thane. You want us to leave, and we'll shove off. But that's three less to help you finish off the goblins.". He gives Orrin a good long look, along with his undead company of dwarven ghouls and decides to ask, "You coming with us, Orrin?"

Fangir makes no move to hinder the group's departure.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin smiles at Kennit's offer to help rid the mountain of goblins. "I am not sure of the best course of action. Fangir escorted me here so that I could escape, though I too wish to stay and help. As you can see, I'm ill equipped for a fight, and sorely injured to boot. Only a few days ago I was at death's door. I will stay and fight if I can scrounge some equipment and perhaps rest a bit before continuing on. That is, if Fangir will have me." He looks towards the Thane.

"Hunh? Numen, wait!" Orrin watches as Numen bolts for the darkness. "It's that damned blade, I tell you. Has he been like this since we parted?"

[Keehnelf]

Fangir looks flatly at Orrin. "You cannot help here, and you are needed elsewhere. Remember our conversations, my--my friend." He turns and leads his undead retinue back into the tunnel.

[Zorroroaster]

Orrin watches them leave, letting out a low breath that feels like it's been held inside for far too long. He looks at Kennit and Rhodri, and shrugs.

"No hard feelings, I hope? I never wanted things to go as they had, and I apologize to you both for the trouble I may have caused you. I think it's clear Fangir wants us out of here while he does whatever he intends to do. His foe here in the mountain is truly terrible, and I honestly can't say who will prevail. Zyggmaur is evil incarnate, and bent on forcing this entire land to his twisted will. I will head back to Vaul to heal and try and cobble together some supplies. After that, only Morthammor knows."