We're putting some effort into closing off 2-3 of the Against the Giants groups (for later simplicity), so there are likely 1-2 more Team Dwarf sessions after this one, at least prior to a Major Plot Event.
Having just insulted the dwarvern privy council to their faces, and somehow not being run out of town for it, the party is standing around outside the inn that all the foreigners stay in when they’re just visiting. As far as the barkeep can tell them, Tex is off hanging out with her buddy Caboose, a half orc barbarian (of all things), and some of his friends, who just got back from a foray to a frost giant fortress of some kind.;
Erihild looks a bit sheepish in bringing this up. “Seriously, do we really need Tex?”
Beldren says, diplomatically - “She has been helpful at times. Although also the opposite at other times.”
Erihild- ‘“I’m tired of her provoking Beast all the time.”
Beast looks mulish “You know what I think of her… hobby.”
Tikk snort laughs.
Beast continues “...even if it might be useful as an extra target for the enemy” He looks like he really doesn’t want to say something even this kind about the necromancer and her pet skelly.
Erihild sigh. “Well if we see her before we go, then I guess I’ll at least tell her we’re leaving, but if we don’t see her, then….oops?”
Beast nods.
Beldren - “That’s fine with me, I don’t mind not having to worry about her antics anymore. Especially if they’re considering me for regent.” He stares out into space a bit.
Erihild looks enormously relieved at this. “Ah, good! Well then let’s go finish getting ready, head over to my parent’s place for dinner, and then we can leave in the morning.
The DM is gonna gloss over dinner with Erihild’s parents, but suffice it to say her dad is enormously pleased with all of you, don’tcherknow, and very happy that you have helped point the clan in the right direction. Her mom is also just, so proud, packs you all extra sandwiches for the road tomorrow.
Beldren spends the dinner trying desperately to learn everything he can about the political situation without being too super obvious about it.
Rerim is happy to talk at length about all of this. He tries to be as evenhanded as possible, but readily admits his frustration with the Thorrim dwarves. Eventually, after everyone’s 12th beer, it is time to head out. Since there was so little drinking, you all head back to the inn, don’t see Tex anywhere, and can turn in for the night.
Bingle bingle bing…beep!
Day 184, the Morning.
Erhild comes down the stairs and hands the box of sending scrolls to Beast. “Could you carry these? My haversack is nearly full.”
“Yah, of course.” Beast fits it carefully in his pack.
Erihild also tries to talk to the barkeep about leaving Tex a message, and returns to the rest of the party saying, “Apparently Tex left US a message saying we’re dorks…I don’t know that word, I think it’s an insult in the human common language…and that ‘deuces’. I don’t know what that means either.”
Beast, having some knowledge of animal-related anatomical slang. “Yah it’s an insult. Good riddance.”
Beldren- “Well, I suppose that’s that then. I wonder if she’ll head back to Hornword to kill more cyclops? I do feel a bit bad that we weren’t able to do more, but ultimately if the dwarves get fully involved that’s more important.”
Erihild, sounding both hopeful and not- “Maybe we can go back after we talk to the Thorrim dwarves? I dunno.”
Beldren - “Only if we can find someone reliable to take the message to the Duke. I don’t think we should take the message with us if we go back to Hornwood.”
Beast shakes his head. “Can’t trust it to someone else. The elders gave us the job.”
Erhild pulls out the map that she’s obviously had this whole time and starts measuring distances. “Let’s see, 10 miles per square…hey, didn’t we find a boat that folds up?...mmkay, 16 miles per day on the road to Thorrim keep, so tomorrow afternoon…then if we use the boat instead of walking….man, that sounds like a good idea, sitting in a boat for a couple of days…20 miles to Gorna…10 more miles to Oytmeet, we can stop there and hang out with the orcs…man never thought I’d say that….looks like about 50 miles by river, so a day or two, instead of….yeah, six or seven days from Thorrim Keep.”
Beldren - “Yeah, I bought one after the river kept getting in our way so much.”
Erihild- “I am much in favor of boating instead of walking.”
Beldren - “Sounds like a good plan to me. We can also spend the time in the boat scouting, at least if Beast is able to make any bird friends along the way.”
Erihild- “Works for me, lets go!” She fold her map and goes upstairs to get her stuff.
Beast nods “Yah, could do.” He lets Bruin know what they’re doing, and where they’re going. Bruin grumbles, not enthusiastic about riding a boat.
Cue montage of final preparations for departure, followed by overland travel music. You travel the rest of day 184, and all of day 185.
The trip to Thorrim territory is uneventful. You pass by the point where, when you were first entering this grand adventure, you and Kaicl fought a hill giant, who tragically killed Honey the badger (respect!). As with last time, you are eventually challenged by a sentry who appears out of nowhere. (Dwarves have scouts and rangers, too, you know. They’re just eccentrics.)
Day 185, the afternoon
Sentry- “Travelers! State your business!”
Beldren - “We come bearing a message from the dwarves of Alzak Keep for your elders.”
Sentry- “Ha, what? Prove it.”
Beldren asks Beast for the box with the crest on it.
Beast pulls it out of his pack and hands it over to Beldren ceremoniously, then addresses the sentry. “Message from the Alzak elders for Thorrim elders, concerning the Low Kingship. Most urgent..”
The Sentry, seeing, yes, for realsies, the seal of the Clan Alzak on the scroll, looks at you. “What’s the message?” There is no more suspicion in his voice, actually a touch of hope.
Beast gives the sentry a stern look “Message is for the elders. They’ll tell you after they see it.”
The Sentry looks a bit put out that you won’t give him more of a clue. “Fine, hurry up and get going then. You only have an hour until they close the gate for the night.”
Beast nods. “Yah, thanks.”
The DM doesn’t remember if that is how close to the main gate the sentry was last time, but let’s roll with it this time. You hurry to the main gate, and indeed, slip in between the doors while they are closing. A couple of guards immediately start asking questions.
Guard- “Why are you here, Alzaks? State your business.”
Beast repeats what he said to the sentry, and flashes the sealed scroll at them for good measure.
The guards are impressed enough to call their Sergeant over, who calls his lieutenant, who calls his captain, who calls his lieutenant colonel, who calls his colonel, who eventually stomps his way out, sees the seals, and personally brings you to the Thorrim chief (who would be their prime candidate for the Low Kingship).
Beldren - “Greetings, I am Stonelord Beldren Eregion of the Ironaxe clan, and I have been asked to bring this message to you from the Alzak elders, concerning the giants and the Low Kingship. He presents the scroll with a bow and gives the box with the other scroll back to Beast.
Beast holds the box in front of him, stolidly formal… in his savage, animal-skin-covered, druidic glory.
The Chief breaks the seal and reads the message from the Alzaks. He finally breaks into a smile at the end. “It’s about damn time. Do you have the sending scroll? I’ll respond now.”
Beldren says, as Beast pulls out that scroll, “One of the elders also wanted me to let you know that they would be in favor of appointing a regent for the duration of the war against the giants, to step down after the Low King is appointed. He suggested that it be’ - Beldren gulps - “an outsider of good repute, so that fairness to the clans can be maintained.”
The Chief considers this for a moment. “That seems eminently reasonable. Did they have any recommendations? That warrior, Kaicl, whom I’m sure you’ve heard of, would make a good choice.”
Beldren - “I’ve met him, yes. I got the impression they also were considering me for the position.”
Beast clears his throat. “The Stonelord and Lord Kaicl both fit. Neither is local. Both of good repute. The Stonelord has been out fighting giants. Lord Kaicl has been doing diplomacy. The elders just have to choose one.” He pauses. “Maybe flip a coin if the choice will cause another fight.”
The Chief looks like he was about to say something, but Beast’s last comment gives him pause. “Are you saying that if they decide on Stonelord Beldren, and I decided on Lord Kaicl, then we’ve accomplished nothing?”
Beast nods. “Yah, elder.”
Beldren’s eyes bug out a bit. “I can prevent that, if either side wishes it to be Kaicl I will take myself out of consideration.”
The Chief gives you all a sly look. “I was going to recommend Lord Kaicl….do you have the sending scroll?”
Beldren - “Yes! Here it is.” He hands it over.
The Chief spends a couple of minutes composing his answer (he only gets 25 words!), and some butler-y person gives you all pints of beer to drink whilst you wait.
Beldren chugs his.
The Chief reads his response out loud to you: “To the Alzak Council: Offer accepted. Recommend Kaicl as Regent, but- “ he glances at you all, and says, “There’s this thing called compromise, I’m going to try it”- “defer to your choice if different. Will mobilize immediately. Recommend an embassy in Hochoch.”
He looks at you for comments.
Beldren - “I see no issues. We also have a message for the Duke in Hochoch, we are headed there next.”
The Chief- “Hopefully the message is that the dwarves are finally going to war?”
Tikk, “Only eight years late.” under his breath.
Beldren - “We were not given details, but I assume so.”
The Chief- “Good.” He summons his own army of scribes and priests and whomever else, and while you all are drinking your second complementary beer, composes the Official Clan Thorrim response.
There is also some argument (kind of whispered, but not really) amongst the more elder of the Chief’s advisors about how they should hold out for the Low Kingship, etc, how he is the rightful heir (essentially, summarizing what the argument has been for the last few years), and eventually the Chief raises his voice at them, telling them to knock it off.
A few minutes later (you’re on your third beer by now), the Chief brings over another scroll, sealed with the Clan Thorrim seal, and places it next to the Clan Alzak scroll.
The Chief- “Now the humans will get some help from us, finally. Wait a few moments while I actually use the Sending scroll.”
And so wait you do, cause sending takes 10 minutes. The Chief sends his message, and gets a response soon after.
The Chief- “The message from the Alzaks is…that they’ll request Lord Kaicl serve as regent next time he’s in town….although I’m sure they’ll go find him. And they concur with setting up an embassy of some kind in Hochoch. I’ll send a couple people from here as soon as they’re ready, but your clan may pick you-’ he looks at Erihild and Beast-” to represent the Alzaks to the humans. Be prepared, I guess.”
Beast nods.
Erihild looks a little miffed (and also shocked), but says nothing.
The Chief closes and latches the box. “It’ll be a couple of weeks before dwarven troops arrive in Hochoch, but we will start mobilizing tomorrow. Feel free to spend the night, and godspeed to you tomorrow.”
Beldren - “Thank you very much for your time.”
After a fourth beer and some socializing, you are escorted to the finest inn in the Thorrim Keep, and find that your room has been paid for. Congratulations.
Boom, sleep, get up, now it’s Day 186.
On this day, elsewhere: The MAOG later fights a white dragon, and Sephira and Co are shopping in the Goblin Town market, just before crossing the desert, but at the beach, so it’s not so bad.
By the time you get up the next morning, you can already feel the change in the air. On your way out, you can sense the upswing in activity in the Keep. The lower level dwarves, being organized, held many meetings over the years of “Well, what if they DO change their minds”, and so are just now executing well though out plans. There are already areas marked out for units of various types to muster.
It’s about a three mile walk down to the river.
Beldren is holding the box, it’s about a foot by a half foot. He turns it over in his hands. “I hope this ends up being comfortable.”
Erihild- “Anything is better than walking.”
When he gets to the river, he wades out and places the box in the water, steps back, and says the word to change it into a 24’ boat. He pulls it closer to the others.
Erihild gives an impressed noise.
Beast convinces Bruin to get in first, and helps Beldren hold the boat ro Erihild and Tikkaer.
Erihild climbs in with their gentlemanly assists, and goes to sit at the front. She pulls out her bow and some arrows. “I’m good!”
Beast climbs in as well.
Tikk settles into the boat ready to go.
Beldren waits for everyone else to get in, and then scrambles in himself, possibly ending up with his legs in the air before flopping into the bottom of the boat. He grabs two oars, passes one to Bear, and pushes out to the middle of the river. He asks Tikk to man the steering oar.
After probably half an hour figuring out fluid dynamics as it relates to a floating object, you get going. Since you are sensibly travelling downstream, mostly your job is to avoid rocks.
A couple of hours later you enter a confluence, with some other small (non-navigible) river emptying into this one from your right; it occurs to Beast and Tikk that that river is the one that passes through the gnomish holdings.
A little after lunch your river empties into the White Oyt river, and you pass by Gorna. It doesn’t look any different than when you were last there, but you can tell it also has not been re-occupied by any of the giant types. Presumably the gnomish observation posts see you go by. Beldren waves at one as they go by.
You can’t tell if they wave back, cause they’re hidden.
All the birds are staying away from the boat, so Brother Beast doesn’t have a chance to make avian spies out of them.
It’s mid afternoon when you bounce you way across the (fairly gentle) rapids just upstream of Oytmeet, and now have the chance to meet the orc-wives again.
Beldren notes that Tikk is asleep at the tiller, so gently shoves Tikk aside and guides the boat to the dock.
It takes all your non-existent boatmanship skills, but you manage to parallel park your mighty vessel at an empty spot on the docs. There are a few orc women around the docks, who look at your curiously for several minutes before starting the haunting yodels they use as long distance communication. They don’t come close, but they also don’t attack.
Beldren hops onto the dock and ties up the boat. He then ties it up again, because he’s no boat-tying expert.
Beast also jumps out, after telling Bruin to stay.
Erihild climbs out as well, holding her bow in the least threatening manner possible…and also trying to act casual.
Tikk follows everyone out of the boat.
By the time everyone is out of th boat except the bear, Bula, one of the orc sorceresses, and Bus-Mir, now the village elder, have made their way down to your doc, looking pleased and surprised to see you.
Bus-Mir- “Friend dwarves! How wonderful to see you! What brings you back?”
Beldren - “It has been quite a trip. We’re currently on our way back to Hochoch, to deliver word from both clans of dwarves that they will be joining the war effort! We wanted to see how you were while we’re on the way, and to see if you wanted us to bring a message to the duke from your town as well. And to make sure you’re aware of the new circumstances.”
Bus-Mir takes a moment to work all this out, as her common is not the best. “We can talk. Please, come up and have dinner!” She looks at the boat. “Bring your bear, he’s cute.”
Beast convinces Bruin to get out and join the party.
Bus-Mir sends Bula ahead to the town square. The orc-wives have been pretty industrious in the three weeks since you all were here last. There are no dead bodies (mass grave outside town, she says), and all the simple cleanup work is essentially done. From here, she says, they need to scrap buildings that are beyond repair to fix those that aren’t.
The giant table is still outdoors, and the locals have already started setting out dinner (which is a communal activity for everyone at this point. The various humans greet you warmly, and in a little bit you’re all ready to eat.
Beldren digs in, and talks to some of the builders so that he can build some walls or whatever for them before he leaves.
Beast keeps Bruin from pushing to the head of the line and eating everything before anyone else can.
The humans are happy for the help, and for a second time you’re asked why brings you back here.
Beldren tells them about how they went to hornwood, killed some cyclops, sent the other team to kill some fire giants, and what’s been happening with the dwarves. “So while this should help with the war effort greatly, it has potentially dangerous consequences for you. So we wanted to stop by to make sure you knew, and to ask what you would like us to communicate to the Duke.”
Faraz, the oldest surviving human in town (and who looks a lot healthier than last time you saw him) considers this. “We-” he glances at Bus-Mir, sitting next to him, “want to stay out of the rest of the war. We’re in no state to actively fight the giants, and do not want to risk the peace we have now. In fact, as far as the fire giants are concerned, we are still under their control. Not five days ago a fire giant scout was here, asking us what happened. She was investigating the caravan I think you all attacked just after the fight here.”
Beldren - “Well, I imagine it won’t affect you until the border moves closer to the city. I’ll do my best to make sure that the humans communicate with you, and at least know not to attack the town.”
Faraz- “That’s just the first step. The orc women plan to live hear peacefully, and so we also just want to be left to live our lives. Once Oytmeet is recaptured I understand it being used by the armies as a base, but the orc women are not enemies of Geoff. THAT you must tell the Duke.
Beldren nods. “Absolutely. If it comes down to it I will come here myself with the troops and make sure all the orc women are respected.”
Faraz- “I hope so. And so you know, we told the giant’s scout that the orc women rebelled and killed all the men. We didn’t think it prudent to mention the involvement of dwarf and elf adventurers. Her attitude was that if the men couldn’t stay in charge they didn’t deserve to be in charge, so I think that as long as we don’t cause the giants any trouble, and we start fishing again, they won’t bother us too much.”
Beast nods and scratches Bruin’s head “Yah, makes sense.”
Beldren’s eyebrows go up at the giant’s reaction, but he shrugs.
Faraz- “If you come back this way, just be cautioned that there will still be giants around. I think that aside from being left out of the rest of the war, and being left alone after, we have nothing else we want to tell the Duke.”
After a few minutes of conversation, Faraz asks- “Aside from one message from us on this trip, do you have any ability to keep us in contact with the Duke’s government?”
Beldren - “Hmm, not immediately. Unless Beast can train some carrier pigeons? Or one of your mages has a communication spell? Anyone have any other ideas? My elementals don’t stick around long enough to carry a message.”
Beast looks around. “Haven’t seen any pigeons.”
Faraz- “The orcs consider pigeons a delicacy. They’re actually not bad, cooked properly. I don’t think any of the wizards are powerful enough to cast sending.” He shrugs. “I trust you’ll come up with something, and if we do, we will use it to contact you.”
The rest of the evening is full of the random discussion that take place, stories of battle of the last three weeks, some drinking, and eventually Erihild dancing on the table, showing off the “snowflake wardance” fighting style she’s been working on in her spare time.
