Session 1: Regathering in Ost-in-Eidhil
In this session Lotho, Ryu, Drake and Oryndiel met at Ost-in-Eidhil, where they recounted their adventures so far and responded to a request of Firiolena's to investigate Orcish activity in Dunland. An Orc band raiding Dunlending villages seems to be having inordinate success, and Firiolena thinks that there may be some special power helping them. He wants it investigated, and destroyed or captured before the Dark Chieftain gets hold of it. The characters set off, and investigate Dunlending villages. They discover the Orcs are supported by undead Dwarves.
Session 2: Showdown in Dunland
After investigating the villages, the characters stumble upon a spy whom they capture and interrogate. They discover that all the remaining able-bodied Dunlendings in the area will be marching out to attack the Orcs in the morning, but the Orcs know and have prepared an ambush, including the aid of many Undead, which they control with some kind of censer (an incense holder on a chain). The characters attack this Orc band in order to obtain the censer, but as they attack the Orcs the Dark Chieftain himself emerges from the forest with a large force of elite cavalry, who also attack the centre of the Orc band to try and obtain the censer. The characters flee with it just in time, but not before the Chieftain sees them and nearly kills them.
Session 3: Meeting with an elven fascist
The characters are invited to Rivendell to meet an elven woman called Sindolfan, the power behind the project to reclaim Eregion for the elves. In Rivendell they learn about an ancient elvish fascist group called the "Path of Stars" (short name,
starservants), of which Sindolfan is a member, and discover something of their repulsive view of non-elvish humanoids. They also note that Sindolfan is quite unusually ... statuesque ... for an elf, and quite rich. Hints of land and power are dangled before them, and the characters find themselves pledging to support Eregion. The situation is more than a little strange. The characters also mark Rivendell as a teleportation point for their skyship.
Session 4: Treachery
The characters return to Ost-in-Eidhil and are asked to attend to a minor combat task - against Orcs - in the Misty Mountains East of Eregion. On the way they are ambushed by Harpies, who they kill. The harpies are each carrying a letter addressed to the characters, requesting they visit the Dark Chieftain in Dunland once their current mission is complete. They proceed to the Orcs' nest, where they ambush some Warg riders and a Dunlending spy escaping from a rear entrance. They capture the spy, discover the location of a nearby Orcs nest which seems to open into a whole underground network of allied Orc tribes, and gain evidence that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains are united under an evil master. They turn the Dunlending into a double agent and leave for Dunland.
Session 5: Nemeses?
The characters travel to Dunland and meet the Dark Chieftain, who offers them safe passage in the Eastern extents of his demesne, and hints of land and power in the future, if they will assist him. The assistance he requests is intervention against possible (non-elvish) enemies of Dunland, information about their activities, and possible future aid as negotiators between the Dunlendings and the elves. He also gives Lotho a book detailing the ideals of the starservants, and gives the characters some magic items. They are welcome at his easternmost city, where they can replenish their supplies before heading to the Misty Mountains. They aim to head to the Misty Mountains to raid the Orcs nest of which they have learnt; in order to assist them, the Dark Chieftain grants them the aid of 8 men at arms, who will become their cohorts.
Session 6: the Orc nest
The characters travel to the Orc nest they learnt about in session 4. They commence their raid, slaughtering some orcs at the entry and capturing a rogue. They know that in amongst the orcs are a Doppelganger rogue (which can take any human form) and a Werewolf. The nest is based in an old Hill Giant tower, so may also contain Hill Giants. Beneath the nest is a series of tunnels which lead underground to a network of Goblin tunnels. These tunnels are used by the Orcs in moving between nests.
Session 7: Further into the Orc nest
The characters fight their way deeper into the Orcs nest, killing trolls and a Hobgoblin captain.
Session 8: The orcs' plan partially revealed
The characters slaughter a group of Orcish shamen, and are then attacked by a horde of elite Orcs ("Svelbards") riding Spiders, who swarm up from the lower levels of the castle. They destroy these spiders through cunning use of magic, and then question one of the shamen. This shaman reveals that the Orcs are:
- raiding the Dunlending villages for food, money and slaves, all of which are transferred to a central, commanding figure called "Broken Teeth"
- transferring the materials to Broken Teeth through the Goblin tunnels below the mountains, safe passage through which has been negotiated by Broken Teeth
- receiving undead soldiers and shamen to control them from Broken Teeth, through the same tunnels
- using these undead to fight the Dunlendings
Furthermore, the Orcs receive their orders and instructions from these Shamen, who are organised in a separate tribe called the "Broken Teeth Clan". This new, artificial tribe consists ONLY of shamen and Svelbards, and was organised by Broken Teeth himself. It gives orders and carries instructions to all the Orc tribes who work for Broken Teeth.
Lastly the characters find a letter, telling the Orc shaman at this orcs nest to launch a raid on a nearby Stone Giant castle. Once this castle is captured Broken Teeth will send them soldiers to populate the castle, adding it to the ring of defenses he calls "the Jaws".
Session 9: the secret Orc religion
The characters rescue a Gnome Bard (Tinterel) who joins their party. They then proceed deeper into the Orc nest, raiding the head Shaman's private rooms and obtaining a book of prayers for a God of whom they know nothing, a god called "Grurrak". They also invade a shrine, slaughtering a group of Orc shamen during their religious observances. However, one shaman manages to light a
Candle of Evocation and summon a demon, which almost kills the characters. At the end of the battle, the characters notice the same symbol of this god Grurrak - 2 teardrops laid out like a ying yang symbol, painted blood red - on the altar and wall hangings of the shrine. It appears that the Broken Teeth tribe Orcs all worship this God...
