Gameplay

Ulrich does his best to melt into whatever dim part of the room is available. His words would do little to assuage this beast and he could potentially knick the ogre from behind something fierce if it stayed distracted.

"Perhaps we can hire him to help us fight against the orcs, and then work out an arrangement for him to leave after," Ghardak whispers in Dwarvish to those around him.

Dalo assists Gyrmmal in the grisly task before joining the rest of the band. The wisdom of clearing a path back is evident to the master of runes.

Gromli doesn't move. "He was not a loyal subject. He called you bad names and yelled for other orcs to help him kill you."

Gromli drops the dead orc's ankle. "You are right, of course. This traitor does not deserve a death ritual."

Gromli bows and says, "Great Ulfe, we dwarves came here looking for you to lead us into this mountain. Tales of your bravery and warrior skills reach the farthest of lands. It would be an honor to follow you."

"Never thought I'd see the day when a bloody ogre would be watching me back. Not sure if we can trust this Ulfe but if he can lead us further I suppose its some sort of help..." Ulrich mumbles in Dwarven to his companions.

"Crystal clear," Ghardak says. He says in dwarven to the others. "Well, this has taken a surprising turn..." Ghardak says.

He speaks to the Ogre in Common as they lead the way. "Tell us more about the dirty, cheating orcs."

"We kill him now, or we kill him later. He might as well do us some good before we do." Sen says, in Dwarven.

The Great Ulfe retrieves two chains from the room behind him, which he attaches to the wolves' collars.

"We go to kitchen first," the ogre says. "Get food. Not good for shorties if me 'n Vak 'n Thrag get hungry. Har har!"

He gestures to the south-facing opening down the corridor. You can see the passage opens into a large cavern which the orc community is using as a common area. You see all manner of orc-kin: large warriors, domineering matrons, zooming children, aged layabouts, conniving goblins and more. All are silent before the Great Ulfe.

"We takin' dogs for a walk," the ogre tells them, taking obvious pride in the deceit. "Get food first. Back later. You lot stay." The orcs bow and nod. Their fear of their brutal ogre-king is palpable.

The Great Ulfe guides the party further south to a chamber with a chimney and a large cooking fire. The cooking-orcs there provide him a large bowl of awfully pungent stew, which he and the wolves share noisily, and a sack of dried salted meat of some unrecognisable type.

The ogre now steers the party back to the common area. He instructs the orcs to move all the crates and sacks of supplies that cover the east side of the room. A short passage is revealed, ending in an iron gate stuffed with straw pallets.

The Great Ulfe points at it. "Way down," he says.

"Whatever is hidden behind this door has the pig-faces scared, Dalo cautions. "We should be on guard."

Tthe stench in this room is barely tolerable to Gromli. He thinks, I've crossed days old battlefields that smelt better than this. He wants to move on as quickly as possible.

"We are ready when you are, Great Ulfe!"

"Lead us in, Ulrich."

"Thankfully my nostrils aren't so sensitive after I turned to stone.." Ghardak says.