Greyhawk 26: Cautious Exploration and Orcs

From the Book of Recorded Deeds of Ollithas Qualanthri.

Wyn, Fenric, and Ollithas—elves with a map from Alaxus—set out from Greyhawk with four elven companions: sailors Fensalor and Yinrich from Nyr Dyv, and Alasse and Rophalin, former canary trainers for dwarven miners. All elves, all kin, which especially pleases Fenric. Their goal is to investigate the map’s marked locations and uncover Alaxus’s activities.

After a day’s travel along the east bank of the river, they make camp in a rare cluster of trees. On first watch, Fenric and Alasse spot campfires about half a mile off—tents, guards, and a boat beached on the riverbank. They quietly wake Wyn and Ollithas. The boat is common but often used by raiders. Rather than risk a direct encounter, they wait for second watch to investigate under cover of night.

Ollithas leads the stealthy approach. From a hilltop 75 yards away, they observe 4 guards and 8 tents—potentially housing over 20 people. Choosing caution, they return to their grove and stay vigilant.

On third watch, Wyn spots a pair of green glowing eyes from a nearby hill. As he prepares to fire, the four-legged creature silently turns away. It reminds Ollithas of a shape he glimpsed in the fog days earlier. Something—or things—seem to be watching.

The next day, the party heads toward a “potion bottle” symbol on the map. Near midday, they spot a door built into a hillside—just as 5 orcs emerge. The elves are seen before they can hide. The orcs charge, forming a crude shield wall with two up front and three behind.

Wyn calls for two volleys of arrows before contact. Fenric, armor off, prepares something special. The first volley grazes a shield-bearer. Before the second, Fenric produces a cricket and sings an incantation so soothing it puts the front four orcs into magical slumber. The larger fifth orc panics, kills a fallen comrade, and flees—only to be struck down by a volley of arrows.

Loot is poor—basic arms and meat—except for a fine axe Wyn takes. Each orc bears a painted skull symbol, hinting at a greater force. Wyn spikes their heads with hands stuffed in mouths—a gruesome warning for other orcs.

The hill door leads to a stairway, 10 feet wide, descending 50 feet at a steep angle. At the bottom, a candlelit round chamber bears the same skull symbol on the ceiling. A single door lies across the room.

Faced with the unknown, wounded risk, and no healing magic, the party debates whether to press on or return better prepared. They choose to withdraw, trusting surprise and planning over reckless courage.

As they leave, a large vulture—possibly far larger than normal—circles the orc bodies. Ominous.

They return to the same grove and, chancing a fire, cook the meat and smoke the rest. On final watch, Fensalor briefly turns to fetch something—only to turn back and find all the smoked meat, and the apparatus holding it, vanished. No tracks, no sign—only a faint gust of wind in an open field. Troubling.

Restless and alert, the party agrees: they need more allies and preparation before returning to the door in the hill—and whatever waits below.