Session 2: Unexpected Orcs.

8th day of the Thaw, 519 AE. (14-Mar-2026)

After the hanging of Zana, the town watch searched Thorneford for several days in an effort to find the halfling Gor’bmp. No trace of him was discovered, and it is now widely assumed that he escaped the town. During this time Dimrock the dwarven cleric, Jimothy the warrior, and Lyra the elf were each questioned several times by the authorities.

Soon after, the weather turned harsh. Wind and snow swept across the region and have continued without much relief.

During the following days Dimrock devoted himself to duties at the temple, strengthening his ties there and mastering a new prayer of faith. Through his time among the clergy he learned that Sir Brothik and his men have been campaigning southeast of Thorneford, hunting outlaws and monsters in an effort to make the wild lands there safe for settlers.

Dimrock also became friendly with a young acolyte named Alira, who had known Morningstar. She was deeply troubled that Morningstar’s remains had been left behind in the chambers beneath the tannery.

The borough reeve also sought out Dimrock. He expressed concern that a dungeon lay so close to the town and asked whether the adventurers intended to return and deal with it. The town could not offer much payment—only twenty-five crowns each—but the reeve promised that the paperwork required to establish a formal adventuring company would be drawn up free of charge if the group would undertake the task. Such registration is required for adventurers operating in the region. Dimrock told him he would see what could be done.

On this day a ship arrived in port, and several new adventurers disembarked. They soon found their way to the Map’s End Inn: a half-orc barbarian named Dorcus, a halfling scout named Jewel, and an elven warrior-mage known as Kratos. Dimrock sought them out there, and they agreed to enter the chambers beneath the tannery with him in exchange for an equal share of whatever was found. Dimrock also asked Alira if she wished to accompany them, and she agreed.

The party decided to locate the second entrance to the underground chambers. With the aid of Dimrock’s dwarven senses they eventually discovered it—a narrow crawlway that opened into a larger passage where they could stand upright.

Jewel scouted ahead of the group. As she crept along the corridor she caught the smell of smoke and roasting meat. Moving as quietly as possible, she discovered a group of orcs gathered in the entrance chamber, feasting on what appeared to be roasted elf. The party attacked and defeated them. Grim examination of the remains revealed that the orcs had been eating the body of Morningstar. Her head, however, was missing.

Passing through the refuse-filled chamber, the group killed a lone giant centipede. They then moved on to the pit trap passage, though they could not determine how the traps were triggered without risking a fall themselves. Continuing onward, they reached the room where the dungeon had first been entered. There, mounted upon a spike across from the original entrance, they found Morningstar’s head. Alira wept at the sight.

Pressing into unexplored territory, the party opened a door and encountered an ancient hobgoblin who called himself Grulnor. The creature appeared intelligent and surprisingly personable, showing no immediate inclination toward violence. Grulnor seemed to possess considerable knowledge of the dungeon’s inhabitants. He explained that many of the creatures now dwelling in the complex were recent arrivals, displaced by other monsters further south and west. He also revealed that two secret doors existed within the dungeon—one of which the party had already passed several times. In exchange for revealing their locations, he asked that the adventurers intercede on his behalf with the town authorities. The party left him for the time being.

Retracing their steps, they eventually discovered one of the secret doors. Inside they found a glowing golden chalice and the desiccated corpse of a cleric bearing a fine silver holy symbol.

Continuing their exploration, they briefly searched a chamber filled with old paintings and graffiti but found nothing of note. Soon afterward they entered another room where six glowing skulls were embedded in the walls. A group of orcs was attempting to pry them free. The adventurers launched a surprise attack, killing most of the orcs while one managed to flee. The party succeeded in removing two of the glowing skulls, though the others broke apart during the attempt. They also discovered a concealed panel in the north wall containing a small bag of coins.

The group then mapped much of the remaining complex. Eventually they returned to the chamber where, only a week earlier, the children had been rescued. Opening the door, they discovered the escaped orc speaking with several of his companions. The orcs demanded that the adventurers drop everything and leave.

Instead, the party attacked.

The fight went poorly at first. Several members of the group were injured and fell unconscious. At a crucial moment Dimrock managed to heal one of his companions, and the tide of the battle shifted. In the end the remaining two orcs surrendered.

Under questioning they revealed themselves to be members of the Bloodmaw Horde. They had little useful information to offer beyond the claim that they had taken treasure from nearby dog-like reptilian humanoids. This treasure consisted of two heavy bags of coins tied to a stout pole for carrying.

Deciding they had pushed their luck far enough for one expedition, the party chose to withdraw. They gathered the coin, recovered the remains of Morningstar, and made their way out of the dungeon to fight another day.