Word from Silverymoon - Eleasis 15th

Eleasis 15th
H 76/L 61

Closest Patrol Today:
Captain Ensyer arrived (early) in the morning from Silverymoon


The trumpet blare wakes you up the following morning but you are quickly reassured as the guards call out that it is a patrol.

The front gate is opened and Captain Ensyer hops off his horse, he and his men look very weery and tired. "We left Silverymoon not long after midnight so that we could be here first thing in the morning. How fair the people of Temel?"

You go on to explain that everyone outside of the few guards is here, Ensyer seems shocked by this, "Really, I expected dozens of casualities." If the Captain was shocked by that he is absolutely floored when you tell him it appears that the Broken Tusks plan on staying in Temel.

"What news of retaliation from Silverymoon?" asks Kregnok.

Ensyer sighs, "None. Our orders are to 'observe and report', no attacks. In fact, that is why we were sent out so early was to make sure you didn't lead an attack." Ensyer holds up his hands in defense, "I know, it makes no sense. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Silverymoon is not marching up Everlund Pass right now to eradicate the orcs. In the meantime, do any of you (NPCs?) want to take part in our recon of Temel?"

Point of clarification: "Do any of you PCs want to appoint some NPCs to take part in the recon of Temel?"

Heck, if PCs want to go that's cool too.

Panian and I will go on the recon. It is starting to smell like villager in the hold...

I dont think I have "control" of any npc's yet so Hasimir is also volunterring to go snoop around.

Hasimir does have "control" over Leera. In fact, you can always check out the Rock Hammer Hold Details thead to see how has what NPCs and other interesting facts. Although now that I look at it, I haven't updated it with the refugees from Temel yet.

So, we have Althalus, Panian, Hasimir (Leera?) heading out with the patrol. I'll post results of that tomorrow (Saturday).

Leera will go with Panian and Althalus then.

As you set off to investigate Temel Captain Ensyer again repeats that this is a recon mission only, “The point was made to me very clearly,” replies the captain.

It is a very short distance to Temel but the Captain takes every precaution, including leaving all the horses behind and for every bend in the pass you come to, Ensyer sends a scout out to peek around the corner. It’s early afternoon before you reach the walled city of Temel.

“Rest here men,” Ensyer says to his troops, myself, Althalus, Panian and Leera will move forward for a better look.” Althalus finds a suitable spot on a small ridge, not quite high enough to see into the walled village of Temel, but it does provide a good spot to see the entire place.

Ensyer points at Temel, “This could shut down Everlund Pass. Considering that Silverymoon may do nothing about the orcs, this will shut down the merchants who use Everlund Pass between Silverymoon and Everlund. No merchants mean no patrol. No patrols and all the progress we’ve made in the Nether Mountains goes to waste.”

Panian climbs a nearby tree for a better vantage point. A few minutes later he descends and reports. “Lots of activity inside, seems like they are setting up for something. I did see a couple of hill giants though.”

“Man,” replies Ensyer “this just gets worse and worse.”

The camp out for a few more hours trying to observe to village. Then, suddenly, the front gate slowly swings open. You see a couple of orcs, bigger than the most, stand at the front gate looking north along the pass. They seem to be discussing something. This goes on for a couple of minutes until you see both of them look south though the village. You follow their eyes and see the south gate swing open.

“Are they leaving?” asks Leera.

It doesn’t appear they plan on vacating as you still see the orcs milling about the village. A few minutes later two orcs carry a huge 10’ x 5’ wooden board out to the two orcs out front. The shorter of the two looks at the board and nods his head. The bigger of the two whistles and waves someone over. The ground trembles slightly as a hill giant comes over to him, waiting for orders.

“Amazing, hill giants under the command of orcs. How does this happen?” asks Ensyer.

The hill giant picks up the board and holds it over the gate while a couple of orcs on the battlement above run over and nail it in to place. As they finish and the hill giant steps away you can read the new sign. Written in what appears to be dried blood is the work “Zeth’Gor” in big letters, written in common. Underneath that are some other words, but you are too far away to read it. After a few minutes of looking at the new sign the hill giant and all the orcs head back inside, and the gates remain open.

“Shall I go down as see what it says?” asks Panian.

I don't think that is the best of ideas... I have a feeling that it says something along the lines of "Under New Management" or "If you are close enough to read this, then you are dinner." I seriously doubt that it would have anything as useful as their itinerary.

((sorry, had a bit of a technical breakdown last few days, router broke, back up router didnt work then my ethernet card went out, up and running now, sorry about that until I get a new router, my xbox live time is shortened as well, blah I say))

You can see the gears working in Ensyer head, he has to see what that sign says. “Keep an eye on things,” he says quickly as he hops down from the hill and runs back to his troops. A few minutes later you see one of his guys from the patrol take a few nervous steps toward the front gate. In the bushes you can see Ensyer and his men slowly moving up through the bushes on either side of the pass.

“Surely he isn’t going to attack?” asks Leera.

Nervously the patrolman gets closer and closer to the gate, no signs of movement from what you can see within the walls. He gets close enough to read the sign and an orc emerges from the gate. Ensyer holds his men in the bushes back to see what happens.

The orc takes a step towards the patrolman and says something. The patrol shakes his head like he didn’t understand. The orc says it again and points to the sign. The patrolman puts his hands up and slowly backs away. The orc shrugs his shoulders and stands back by the gate.

It’s a couple of minutes before Ensyer returns to you, shaking is head. “It’s a toll.”

“What?!?” says Althalus, spitting water out.

“It’s true. One gold piece per wagon, one silver piece per person to pass through Zeth’Gor.”

You all take a step back trying to comprehend this. Ensyer bites his lip, “We need to do it. I need to get inside that village to get a look. Anyone with me?”

Ensyer looks around and nods his head, “I’ll be back. Hopefully.” The captain and a handful of his troops march up to the front gate. You can see the hesitation in some of the patrolmen’s steps. The reach their destination and Enyser hands over a handful of coins and the orc at the front gate beckons them entry to Zeth’Gor.

From here they duck out of view from you. You can barely see the tops of the heads of the hill giants moving in their direction. After what seems an eternity, Captian Enyser and his men return to the front gate and come back to your spot.

“Temel is well defended, I counted four hill giants and at least 40 orcs as well as a pen full of worgs.” Ensyer shakes his head, “They seem different from the orcs I’ve fought in the past. They are organized and disciplined. I suppose we should return to Rock Hammer Hold and see what Umberto has to say about this before I return to Silverymoon with my report.”

Hint - this is where you chime in, Umberto

((Plugs in new modem from Comcrap, checks ethernet card and finally, tech woes are done for now))

"I am even more surprised that they did not slay anyone. While the thought of having this group of non-violent, organized orcs is strangely comforting, I am more concerned what they really want. Surely they want more than a a toll, which is really absurd. And the fact that if they are in fact "turning over" some new leaf, they need to pay the Temel refugees for their material loses. If they act lawlessly, and they have, we need to hold them accountable. I will convene with Silverymoon. I think they need to pay and explain themselves. We can't have them taking whatever they want without consequences. To Silverymoon."

Schweet! Anyone else going? Althalus? Hasimir?

Aye! I am with you!

Awesome, Hasimir you are going too.

Since it is late you all get some sleep and head out first thing in the morning of the 16th.