Orc Cave

The crack of ice shatters the silence as the party appears in cave far from Kuldahar. As residual frost crackles along the stone floor beneath the party’s feet, Alalla and Zenithral recognize this place, and find their thoughts caught up in the battle occurred here what seems like a lifetime ago.

The place is lit, surprisingly, by a campfire where once an orcish cookpot once rested. Indeed, judging by the smears on the stone floor, that incident with the cookpot was never fully cleaned up. Not even the local wildlife, which must have feasted on other remains from the battle, seem to have had any interest in touching that toxic stew.

But the matter of the campfire... It would appear that the cave is currently in use. But by whom? At the moment, the only people in this section of the cave are those carried here by Reòthadh’s magic: the dwarf himself, along with Alalla, Zenithral, Halla, the twins, Arannis, and Saki.

And the polymorphed canoloth. Currently it is in the form of toad, tucked away into the party’s bag of holding, though the shape-changing spell will not last forever.

In the back end of the cave Alalla finds a single bedroll fashioned from caribou hide, and a spear leaning against the rocky wall. There is no sign of the items’ owner, however.

Zenithral’s inspection of the cave confirms Alalla’s suspicion. By all accounts, it is one of the barbarian tribesmen who has made his home here. And it indeed, the gray beard hairs in the bedroom confirm that it is a ‘he’. Furnishings are sparse, and there are no signs that any struggle has taken place here.

The party settles down to wait, discussing plans for the meeting with Ilmadia and speculating on the recent events. Why would the barbarians throw in with frost giants and fiends? The relationship between the tribes and the towners has always been rocky, and at some times in the past has even led to war. But the barbarians are a suspicious people, and generally view denizens of the Lower Planes with the darkest regard. It is unusual behavior for the proud race.

After an hour or so, there arrives someone at the cave who can shed light on these questions. Alalla, keeping watch st the entrance with her night vision, notices him coming long before he sees her. As she brings the old tribesman into the light of the cave, Alalla and Zenithral recognize his face. This is one of the barbarians they met here in these very hills as they searched for the missing caravan of Caer-Dineval. As before, there is great wisdom etched on his leathered face, but tonight there is also grief.

Reòthadh recognizes him as well. This is Hjollsted, the shaman who helped him battle Icasaracht long ago, and was slain by that traitorous drow Nym on the shore of Lac Dinneshere. He seems very much alive now, however, despite poison, death, and the passing of centuries.