Summary: the PCs come across a camp of orcs in an old ruin of a dwarven tomb, and must decide whether to attempt diplomacy or take advantage of the opportunity to ambush them.

Author’s Note

The purpose of this encounter is to reference the core conflict of the Quest for Sky (dwarves vs orcs), and in so doing helping to maintain that history as the central backdrop to the adventure. It also foreshadows the very late scene in book 3 in which Taargick shares a memory-vision of war crimes against non-combatant orcs. I also linked it with the book 3 encounter with the orcs in Drootorca Cavern, by making the orcs part of the same tribe. Lastly, I moved the 'Uniter of Clans' relic here as a poignant symbol of and reward for diplomacy over repeating the violent scripts of the past, rather than having it randomly lying around in Skibrellion's mushroom house - which doesn't feel right for a story-central relic!

Location: ruins of a long-abandoned dwarven hall or shrine dedicated to unnamed ancient heroes.

Map: I used this map by Moriarty, blocking off all the lava.

<aside> 💡 “As you look into the ancient dwarven hall, the air is heavy with the weight of history. Stone pillars, weathered by centuries of time, stretch upwards towards a pock-marked ceiling a full forty feet above. Faded murals depict scenes of dwarven gods and heroes, battle and triumph; their once-vibrant colors now all but lost to the passage of time. In the center of the room rests two ornately carved stone tables lined with ornate runes. One is completely smashed to pieces, as is a stone statue of Torag that once stood between them. The echoes of long-forgotten prayers and song seem to linger in the air, haunting the hall like ghosts of the past. As you gaze upon the room, you can't help but feel a sense of reverence for the heroes whose memory it honors, their legacy intended to be preserved for eternity in stone, but now forgotten amidst the smashed rubble. More immediately, on the far side of the room a small group of orcs form a circle around a small campfire, talking noisily and eating some kind of meat. They sit on pieces of the broken statue and table, clearly with no regard to their significance. They don’t seem to have noticed you yet, however. What do you want to do?”

</aside>

Creatures (Severe 2, 170xp)

• 2 orc warriors (CR1), 3 orc brutes (CR0), 1 orc shaman (CR1, use acolyte).
• 1 more orc brute in the tent behind the ‘fence’ who comes running at any sign of encounter
• More orcs rest in tents, but these are noncombatants: an extremely frail and sick old man breathing with difficulty, a heavily pregnant mother who is very sick with tetanus, and 3 young children [foreshadowing the massacre vision in book 3 if the PCs immediately jump into combat]
• The highest Perception DC among the orcs is the shaman (DC15), if one or more PCs is Avoiding Notice.

Observation by PCs

• Sense Motive / Perception check
  • DC10: It’s clear the orcs aren’t paying full attention to looking out for potential enemies [-2 circumstance penalty to their perception DCs & initiative], ie. you likely can’t sneak past them entirely but you could get the drop on them if you want. Two of the orcs also don’t look like full adults, while one is elderly. Only two look like fully adult warriors.
  • DC20 (DC15 if understand orcish): observes the orcs seem to be worried about something; if the PC undersands orcish they can pick up something about a disease and worries about “the baby”.

Social Interaction

• The orc brutes and warriors are immediately suspicious and draw weapons in defence, but do not seek a fight if not directly threatened.
• If the PCs choose to talk instead of fight, the shaman speaks for the orcs. He speaks Common, unlike the other orcs who only speak Orcish.
• His name is Krug-ga, and they are part of the Gutspear clan. He won’t say it outright, and will never provide details, but they are travelling as a small group due to some dispute in the clan.
• Krug-ga is old, and tired of battle; is wary of dwarves, but not completely hostile; speaks slowly in a ‘wise, kind, old man’ kind of way [think Joe Biden lol].
• Krug-ga starts out Unfriendly to the PCs, while the other Orcs are Hostile. After 1 minute of conversation, the PCs can attempt to Make an Impression
• If Krug-ga is made Indifferent, he will stop the other Orcs from fighting the PCs, if the PCs simply want to pass by.