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Dunmari Frontier - Session 76

The People of the Rainbow: in which the party navigates orcish diplomacy in Xurkhaz

Featuring: Seeker, Delwath, Kenzo, Wellby, Riswynn
In Taelgar: Dec 04, 1748 DR to Dec 05, 1748 DR
On Earth: Sunday May 07, 2023
Xurkhaz

The Dunmar Fellowship engages in cautious diplomacy with orcish leaders in Xurkhaz, discussing mutual threats and the significance of a magical cloak.

Session Info

Summary

  • The Dunmar Fellowship scouts the orcish kingdom of Xurkhaz from their airship, observing its rural landscape and military preparations.
  • Initial contact with the orcs at a western fort is tense, with the party being shot at but eventually leading to a dialogue with Commander Vorgaz.
  • The party discusses their past and shares knowledge of Grash with Vorgaz, who agrees to send a message to Chief Lubash.
  • Upon arrival in Uzgukhar, the party is received by Chief Lubash and advisors; they discuss the threat of Apollyon and the significance of a magical cloak.
  • The party considers the risk of Chardonian spies and the theft of the cloak, but Lubash is reluctant to flee, highlighting the cloak’s importance in orc society.

Timeline

  • Dec 04, 1748 DR: Overfly kingdom of Xurkhaz, scouting. Speak with Vorgaz, commander of a fort on the western border, then fly through the night to Uzgukhar, the capital. Scry on Govir and Ulfgar to gather their research on the way.
  • Dec 05, 1748 DR: Arrive at Uzgukhar early in the morning. Land, leaving Seeker in charge of Vindristjarna. Wait for hours for an audience with the Chief. Speak with Chief Lubash and his advisors.

Narrative

We begin high above the orcish kingdom of Xurkhaz (zurk - kaz), as the party scouts and debates what to do. The territory is large - at least 150 miles across, nestled between two rivers on its eastern and western borders. From the air, it appears mostly rural, with only a few forts and towers defending the western border, and one major city near the confluence of the two border rivers. This is a dry, arid land of rolling hills, sustained by heavy irrigation that supports what appears to be mostly wheat and cattle farming.

Drifting over the landscape, the party flies towards the fortification on the western border, a small walled town and fort. As they approach, it is apparent a large army is camped here, maybe 1500 Orcs spread out along the river, prepared for war. The Orcs who spot Vindristjarna are immediately on alert, and initial negotiations proceed under a hail of arrows striking the bottom of the ship. It is apparent the Orcs are wary of outsiders, especially because sometime in the recent past it seems a group of Chardonians infiltrated Xurkhaz with nefarious motives. But the commander is swayed by the party’s apparent dislike of Chardonians, and he invites them to descend and speak. After a brief negotiation about leaving their weapons behind, the party is led through a brightly colored courtyard to an inner chamber in the fort, where Commander Vorgaz introduces himself.

The conversation gets off to a rough start, with the party questioning Vorgaz about what he knows, and the commander being unwilling to answer. But eventually the party tells Vorgaz what they know about Grash, and something of their history together, how they came to adventure as a group, and this convinces him to be a little more forthcoming. However, he is still a little wary, as apparently he was too trusting of the Chardonian infiltrators earlier, and does not want to make the same mistake twice. But, he is convinced to send a fast messenger to Chief Lubash in Uzgukhar, warning him the party is coming and urging him to speak with them.

As the party prepares to depart, Riswynn magically crafts some weapons, and blesses Vorgaz’s sword to aid him in battle. During the flight east to Uzgukar, the party scries on Ulfgar Frostbeard, seeing a Vision of Ulfgar’s research, and also on Govir, seeing a Vision of Govir’s research.

The next morning, the sun rises over the city of Uzgukar. It is not a huge place, more like a walled town than a proper city, unlikely to house more than 1,000 people, but beautiful from the air, decorated in bright colors. The party is expected, and they descend, leaving Seeker control Vindristjarna. They are met at the gates of the city by a guard, and brought to the palace, where they wait. Several hours later, they are taken to see Chief Lubash and his advisors.

The Chief is sitting with his advisors in the throne room of the palace, decorated with colorful rainbow motifs. As the party approaches, they feel the gods fall silent, and Chief Lubash is wearing a rainbow cloak. With him are two advisors: General Murook, a woman in chain mail, and Loremaster Azogar, and older man in colorful robes. The Orcs are initially somewhat dismissive, unsure what the party has to offer or what information they can provide, but at Wellby’s prompting, the Loremaster does tell some of the Story of Xurkhaz, although the Chief stops him from sharing everything.

The conversation turns to Grash, and although Lubash is initially dismissive of the threat, the news that Apollyon is returned and behind this attack gives him pause. The party shares nearly the entire story, leaving out only the details of the scepter and of Rai’s involvement, which convinces Lubash of the truth of their information. He says that while Cha’mutte saved them from Apollyon once before, Cha’mutte is gone. Apollyon drove their ancestors into the wilderness long ago, and the memory of the danger he represents remains. This news seems to shake him.

The conversation turns to the cloak itself, and its role in their society. At Lubash’s orders, General Murook tells her story, which makes clear that while the cloak is not necessary to maintain the society of Xurkhaz, it is very important to them. It is the only known magic that can free Orcs bound to Thark from that bondage, and it helps freed Orcs fight the voices of Thark that still echo in their heads after they are freed.

The conversation wraps up with discussion of the Chardonians: the group that inflitrated the Orcs a few months ago, disguised by arcane magic, and then the possiblity of Kadmos scrying or teleporting in to steal the cloak. Although not completely certain of the best course of action, the party broaches the idea of fleeing with the cloak, to keep it safe from Grash and Apollyon. But Lubash is unwilling to consider this, as apparently it takes years and years of effort to shield an area from Thark’s eyes, and keep the People of the Rainbow safe from being hunted by chained Orcs. Fleeing would expose them to attacks from chained Orcs, again.

We end as Lubash turns to other business, the conversation turning to planning. Is anything they can do to stop this threat of teleportation that they have raised as a possibility? Would Lubash shift his command center to the skyship? Should the party stay to guard Lubash against a covert assassination attempt, or try to seek out Kadmos directly?