2. The First Delve

Pickles happily puts his share away, ensuring Johann got some as well, he then skips around a little before singing. "We’re off to see the Chieftain, the wonderful Chieftain of Orcs." as he made his way to collect his weapons at the gate.

Johann is extremely grateful for your plans to recover his spellbook, albeit somewhat trepidacious at the prospect of returning to the site of his recent ordeal. Nevertheless, he’s onboard and willing to follow wherever Ricard leads.

You return to the Open Sores’ territory via the Chamber of the Mountains. Upon arrival at the Guard Post*, which is manned by eight orcs, the Patrol Leader demands to know your business ...

*Labelled as such on Gabbro’s map

---

Everyone - please update your inventories with the copper pieces distributed by Pickles - 18 each (I'll update Johann).

Also, you have used up another torch in your travels, so someone please cross another of those off your inventory.

---
Day 4, 11:10 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard says the group is here to report to the chieftain about the Ghost Beggars activity.

While Ricard addresses the Patrol Leader, Pickles turns to one of the other guards giving the Orc a gentle nudge with his elbow (probably around thigh height). "Hey Buddy, what is through that door?" Pickles gives his best innocent smile as he indicates the door in the eastern wall right next to them.

Orc Guard Post
The orc Patrol Leader nods. "Drop your weapons in there," he instructs, pointing to an open-topped wooden barrel near the room’s northern entrance. "All of ‘em!" he adds.
The Patrol Leader glares down at Pickles, holding him in his gaze for a couple of seconds, before turning away, the question pointedly ignored.

---
Day 4, 11:10 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Pickles shrugs as he turns placing his weapons into the barrel, leaning over to see if a Spell Book or any book is inside the barrel.

Luther will comply with leaving his mace and be ready to move on.

Ricard surrenders his weapons and follows the guard to the chief.

Horath grunts, but relieves himself of his weaponry. I notice that they keep theirs.

With your weapons deposited, the Open Sore Patrol Leader ushers you through the door to the south of the Guard Post and into the Barracks. Johann visibly pales as he returns to the site of his previous ordeal. A few of the orcs recognise the gnome and laugh, point, wave and whistle in a cruel fashion.

You’re led across the barracks to the door in its eastern wall. The Patrol Leader knocks firmly, and you’re funnelled through.

The Chieftain’s Room is much as you remember it. The chieftain, sporting an ornate platinum circlet, sits upon an oversized wooden throne. To his left, sits his companion, her sapphire nose ring sparkling in the torchlight. On his right, is a large and alert-looking guard who wears a heavy gold chain around her neck.

The other furniture in the room includes a timber bed with an owlbear skin covering, a massive stone table, and a large iron-bound wooden chest.

"I was wondering when I was going to hear from you," says the chieftain in his deep, resonant voice. "So, to business ... what have you learned about Gnast and his band of thieves?"

---
Day 4, 11:20 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard takes a secret count of the number of Orcs in the barracks as he passes through. Once he reaches the chief he bows in greeting.

"They wish to take action against you, they plan an attack though they have not said where or when. As for their larger plans, there is a great treasure with some valuable magick on the third level of this place that they work towards but have not reached. We have secretly dispatched a number of them in the halls, one of their number is a mage with powers of illusion, that one got away. We work to gain their trust so that they might send us after the treasure in the depths, but we need more power to overcome this... If we might have the gnome's book then we could perhaps enslave the mind of the leader which would give us all the information you need. What say you great chief?"

Pickles waves Hi the the Chieftain but leaves the talking to Ricard, nodding in the background as those at political rallies do. All the time scanning the room for anything interesting . . .

Orc Chieftain’s Room
The chieftain steeples his fingers and rests his chin upon them, listening intently to Ricard’s report and pondering its implications. "So, Gnast is looking for a magical artefact, and it sounds like either the gnolls or the ogres have it … no wonder he’s having trouble getting his hands on it. Did you discover the nature of the item and its significance to Gnast? And what about the Ghost Beggars’ numbers, their base, and so on - what have you learned about their operation?"
Pickles notices a key dangling from a loop on the chieftain’s belt. The halfling’s eyes drift across to the large, iron-bound chest and daydreams of the riches it must surely contain.

---
Day 4, 11:20 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Horath is counting the number of guards present in the room, taking note of their weaponry, and silently weighing the odds.

Ricard shakes his head,

"Still too early to ask those questions, it would give us away. We need to do a few more jobs for them before we can ask without suspicion. Getting the gnome's book will help, his magic is an asset to us against the beggars."

Painfully aware of the long-standing antipathy between elves and orcs, Gabbro tries not to draw any attention to himself as Ricard continues.

Pickles mind wanders allowing the daydream to fill his thoughts, cause really this was a boring and the thoughts of treasure are a lots less so. There must be a way to get this treasure . . .

A rye smile forms upon his lips.

Orc Chieftain’s Room
With a shrug of his shoulders, the chieftain responds, "Hmmm, why not? You've not done enough to merit any of the gold we discussed, but it seems you've made some progress. And the book's no use to me."

He unloops the key from his belt and tosses it to the guard. She catches it, and uses it to unlock the chest. From within, she pulls Johann's spellbook and passes it to Ricard.

---
Day 4, 11:20 am
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7, 90’, Sleep
Horath, Cleric 1: 4/4, 90’
Luther, Cleric 2: 6/9; 90’, Cure Light Wounds, (Torch)
Pickles, Halfling 2: 10/10, 90’
Ricard, Fighter 3: 16/18, 90’
---
Johann, Gnome 1: 3/5, 90’

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard offers the chieftain a short bow and thanks him.

"We will not fail chief. We shall report back soon."

With a quick glance to the others to make sure they have nothing more to add, Ricard turns to leave.