Chapter 19

OgreKale apparently cleared of Abhumans, Nazeem and Raschid explore the remaining tunnels, finding a dungeon complete with cells below the keep and, more worryingly, a recently dug tunnel extending downwards into the dark. The presence of tools suggest that the orcs have been digging these tunnels and for one horrible moment, the mages consider that they might well be sitting atop a new exit point from Trollmouth caverns, but a further exploration of the tunnel reveals that it is, as yet, unfinished. The mages also discover a water cistern that Raschid inadvertently filled with the remains of dead orcs. A discussion ensues as to whether to leave them in or whether to take them out as the longer they are left in, the harder it would be to freshen the water. In the end this matter proved to be moot as Raschid had a purify water spell anyway.

Leaving Vellikar in place to spy on any troop movements, Nazeem rides through the night to get to AqQallat in the hope of marshalling enough men to allow the mages to hold their keep against any orc attack. He does so and returns to OgreKale with 25 heavy infrantry and 25 archers, the camp following a few days later. Unfortunately, prior to taking control of the keep, Vallikar saw a man arrive at the keep, animate all the corpses therein and disappear off into the wilderness. The concensus is that this is the Demon Priest who used to help rule AqQuallat and that he is attempting to raise some kind of undead army out in the wilds.

The first night the Constellation of Ilmanar takes proper possession of the keep they spot a light off in the distance. Raschid asks Vallikar to go forth and scout it and, after making some scratches in the ground and venturing forth, the former Bandit recognises that the light is coming from AqQuallat. Clearly, the original builders of AqQuallat and the keep meant for there to be a line of sight between the two positions, allowing for instant heliographic communication. However, such modes of communication could prove difficult as light pollution from AqQuallat means that it is not always easy to see the signalling. Nazeem points out that it would be useful to build a ring of watch towers on the hills surrounding the fertile valley of Des'Pond allowing instant communication between outposts. Clearly this is the next big project.

Impressed by the quick thinking of Vallikar, Raschid and Nazeem decide to grant the keep to the former bandit and name him Lord Commander thereof. Though not a warrior, he knows the territory and is undeniably a resourceful man. The mages cannot run all of their holdings single-handed and Vallikar seems exactly the kind of man in which they hope to inspire loyalty.

After waiting for a couple of weeks for an attack that never comes (aside from some scouting by bat-mounted orcs), Nazeem and Raschid esteem the keep to be in safe hands and return to AqQuallat before setting out to see the Dwarves.

Taking what grain they can spare and a company of men, Nazeem, Rascid, Talmar and Benin head into the mountains in order to visit the Dwarves in order to present them with the idea of Nazeem's underground greenhouse. The Dwarves are happy to take the grain and honour Nazeem, Rascid, Benin and Talmar by inviting them inside their hall to discuss the matter of the greenhouse. Using Benin as a translator, Nazeem explains to the dwarves how things grow in the outside world and how this effect might be replicated underground using magics and skillfull engineering. However, disappointingly, the Dwarves express no interest in growing things in the dirt, though they are flattered by the thought devoted to them in conceiving the greenhouse.

Benin then explains that he hopes that some other arrangement can be met as the Constellation would wish the Dwarves to bar the Iron Bridge, tell them what forces the orcs had brought over and provide them with a team of engineers. the Dwarves respond that all of this is feasible and give the Mages a price list. Unfortunately, barring the gate would cost more for a month than the entire Fief of Des'pond makes in a year and as such this idea is quietly shelves. However, with the virtue generated by the grain, the mages secure, for a period of six months, the services of a team of six Dwarven architects, stone-masons, builders and engineers who immediately return to AqQuallat with the mages.

• Chapter Twenty

 Create your own free wiki!HelpPublic, not yet premium Privacy Policy RSS