LASTHAVEN
Speak to the Steward about the Orc refugees (The Sharptooth Tribe). Discuss options for co-existence. The Steward is skeptical of this coexistence as Lasthaven has endured decades of Orc raids.
Berdyn hears something, first thunder and then rhythmic sounds, perhaps drumming. We heard the thunder, but not the rest of it. We kind of shrug and ignore it. Probably to our detriment.
We take the Orc prisoner to the “Sharptooth Tribe”. We reach the encampment. Codex quietly casts Tongues on Maud, Berdyn and Bale so they can communicate.
The Orcs are emaciated, all have various levels of malnutrition. The Warchief seems to only recently be eating poorly, he was blooded, but the blooded symbol is marred recently, probably around the same time he was eating poorly.
We see a few others, a young half-orc, and elderly orc woman, guarding a single tent. The tent contains two orcish babies, that the woman is looking after. There’s another older woman with a deformed leg, and another young orc that seems simple minded. We suspect the injured orcs from the raid on Lasthaven are in there.
The Warchief is named Laughing Fang. Simon speaks to him. Laughing Fang is trying to figure out Simon, but when he reveals that he is not a blooded orc, he relaxes, as do the elderly women. They seem to get that this is potentially peaceful.
Simon carefully works out an alliance with LaughingFang. They will reside within the forest near the northern shores of the lake. We find out that he is an outcast of his tribe, and aged 50.
Shazgob is the name of the eldest old woman orc. She speaks some common and some dwarven. She is blooded.
Lazgar the other woman orc with the deformed leg, is younger, mid 40s, and is not blooded.
We ask the name of the larger orc tribe by the road to the south and find out it is Zan Heartgasher. Zan was who cast LaughingFang out. We find out that LaughingFang has a first name, but he doesn’t want to tell us the name.
We find out that the Blooding ritual is where an orc proves themselves to their warchief, or to a group known as the White Hands – who do not like elves. This is done by combat or deed, and then a ceremony is held where they are ritually scarred.
We find out that the Condemned of Shargas are on the outskirts of the tribe, outside of the tribe’s stone palisade. It is likely that the Shaman is there. The Condemned do not obey Zan Heartgasher, they are an option to approach quietly without the rest of the tribe getting involved.
Interestingly the Orcs when they were at the mountains were instructed by the Priests of Grummsh not to raid or loot the abandoned city of Deseragar, as it was under the Master’s control. It seems the Priests were in league with the Master, until the Priests realized the tribe was in danger and bid them to leave the mountains.
Also, they saw the mercenaries while moving across the plains. There were about 10 groups of Mercenaries, about 20-30 people in each group. They all bore similar weapons but very different armor. It turns out the weapons are marked by Yaragraph Blademaker. This is who is forging the smuggled metal. It seems Laughingfang also has a sword marked with his sigil as well.
An orcish group known as the Blades of Enebal wanted to attack the mercenary encampment, but the Warchief ordered the Mercenaries not to be harmed. Why did the Warchief not want the mercenaries harmed? They were fairly easy pickings.
We give them some supplies and let them move on to the lake. It will take them some time to go there.
We let Uhurak know not to murder them, and then return to Lasthaven to tell the Steward that they will not attack them.
We return home. Then we find out that Berdyn is cursed. When he picked up a music box at Elberfield Manor some time ago, it cursed him. Codex sees a flash of a woman with a unicorn head and long fingernails in the reflection. This is the demon Amdusias, the demon goddess of Music and Thunder.
We attempt to destroy the musical instrument, and fail. Codex can Remove the Curse, but we have to wait until tomorrow. So we consult with Lerath and get permission to spend then night at the Shrine to Obad’Hai outside of town. Just in case the demon tries something.
We are warned that the Nymph we freed is nearby. Over the evening, we hear splashing and giggle in a nearby pond. We do not investigate.