Back from the Brink

Sack was unsure whether he wanted to bid for King of the Orcs - assuming Death Tongue's proposal was genuine - in the current climate, so he left the emissaries with a non-committal answer and returned to his friends.

Considering what they'd learned, the companions realized that Skufruss' most likely response - war with Garkaur - would be just as catastrophic for the Northlands as a war with the Elves. Clearly, the next step would            be to visit the Lord of Dragons and see if his reaction could be tempered.

Arriving in their accustomed spot outside the Tower, the group noted that, as before, their arrival had not gone unnoticed; some magic or other was aware of their teleportation, and the guard were alerted to investigate.

They were known and welcome visitors here though, at least at the moment, and they were admitted with honour to the audience-hall Skufruss used to meet his visitors. Surya glanced around interestedly for Bruukr, but she was not in evidence.

Skufruss did not really need his spells of Truth to believe their explanation - though he did use them - and as goblets of refreshing mulled wine drifted unsupported to their hands, they could see the terrible fury roiling below the glacial surface of the Lord of Dragons.

Persusasively, they spoke out against a war, against holding the whole Orc people (and, indirectly, those of Enning and New Tellare) to account for one man's actions. Seeing that only extremes would avail here, they made a bold offer; to defuse a war they three would sieze Garkaur Kûlataur, King of the Orcs - who they now realized was not named after the ancient hero who allied with the Empire, but was the same being - and see Justice visited on him. Sack also offered to retrieve the Elf Hammer, though Skufruss was sceptical of his ability to achieve this.

Skufruss was adamant that he would not apologize, back down or otherwise humble himself before the Elves; but agreed to draught a proposal of truce between Tarlanor and Belamir, to be delivered by the companions as mutually trusted brokers. He warned that he would hold his armies in readiness until the spring, primed to spring at the Elves if they were to attack, or at Orc-Land if Garkaur were not eliminated - something else Skufruss seemed amused at Sack's promise to deliver.

Accepting Skufrufss' offer of hospitality, the group ate and slept before moving on to the next stage; teleporting to Dun Tolk.

Sack had made a careful study of Dun Tolk on his previous visit, although he had not been any farther into the central longhouse than the throne hall. So it was in the shadows of that that the half-orc arrived in the deeps of the night.

Screened with Invisibility, and carrying the other two - themselves invisible - within his Bag of Holding, and wearing Bramandin's armour with its' formidable stealth capablities, Sack was inconspicuousness cubed as he glanced cautiously around.

The vaulted hall was quiet, if not quite empty. Low-guttering fires burned in pits in the centre, giving light and heat. Half-a-dozen orcs, clearly over-refreshed at the evening meal, were sprawled under or atop the tables, snoring drunkenly. At the back, left and right of the throne, were doors leading through into the unknown rest of the building. Carefully, Sack made his way over to these, noting as he did so that, in keeping with the rest of Dun Tolk, they were better made than they looked, and had no chinks or knotholes.

With enormous care he examined  the door, concluding that though closed it wasn't locked, and gently pushed it open. It moved until around two feet of space opened between the door and the jamb - and then stopped.

Sack peered around, then stepped back as an orc guard appeared from the other side. Oblivious to his invisible presence, the guard came on through the door and sauntered into the the thronehall. Sack slipped past and in.

He found himself in an open hallway, 'T' shaped, with doors leading off and three more guards standing half asleep outside them. One was at the end of a long hallway - the stem of the 'T' - and the half-orc made his way to this.

Opening it cautiously he found a narrow corridor, opening at both ends back the way he'd come into a living area and, beyond that, a bedroom.

The one on the left contained a bluff, powerful-looking warrior orc, clearly one of Garkaur's lieutenants, the one on the right had a half-orc youth on a truckle bed in the outer area and Garkaur himself in the inner.

Sack unpacked his friends, and briefed them. A hurried plan was worked out, and Surya and Hildraft waited by the bedroom door while Sack teleported inside, and swiftly dumped his companions out.

The bedchamber of the King of the Orcs was not sumptuous, but well-appointed and comfortable. A large bed, occupied by the sleeping King, filled the centre; a stand with armour and several chests dotted the floor. Garkaur's heavy greatsword leaned against the bed as it had against the throne.

At the foot of the bed stood two squat, grotesque humanoid statues of bronze, about three feet high and each leaning on a heavy mace.

Hildraft and Surya positioned themselves near each of the two doors leading out of the chamber, ready to deal with any guards, and began eyeing the room for items to take away.

All three started with shock, as without any warning the two statues lifted their maces and began to strike their own faces with a rythmic stroke. Clear, deafeningly loud bell-like notes echoed through the longhouse.

Sack had arrived at the head of Garkaur's bed, and was ideally positioned for the next move. Choosing his spot carefully, he launched a series of heavy punches at the King's head and shoulders. The alarm had done its' job, however, and Garkaur was already sitting up as the rain of blows descended.

Abandoning stealth, Surya and Hildraft ransacked the room, hastily hurling items into the Bag of Holding - armour, sword, crown, and a ring from the King's bedside.

Shrugging off Sack's assault, Garkaur lurched to his feet, and Sack drew his swords. Still adhering to the plan, however, he turned the edges and went in with the flat. A few more blows settled things, and the King of the Orcs sprawled on the floor. Sack grabbed him and started to stuff him into the Bag of Holding.

Surya, standing guard at the north doorway, found himself face-to-face with the gangly youth who'd been sleeping on a pallet outside his King's door. Wearing only a loincloth, the lad was clutching a scimnitar with furious loyalty. His courage touched Surya, who refrained from slaying him as he so easily could have. A heavy punch delivered with the hilt of his weapon catapulted the youth senseless back into the atrium.

Hildraft at the other door was confronted by a guard similar to the one Sack had slipped past earlier, but a couple of blows rendered him unconcious.

Surya had more significant opposition. The orc general from the next room had arrived, wielding a heavy axe and supported by two more guards. Unable to see their foe, though, they were no match for the Tellaran, and soon were sprawled on the floor.

In the momentary lull, the dwarf and the Tellaran sprang into the Bag, and Sack Teleported them away to Reital.

The King of the Orcs was captured!