Past Meet Present - Into the Orcus Nest

Most people leave a hornets nest alone, but that isn't the life of an adventurer.  Even then most adventurers will whack the nest with a stick or rile the hornets up in other ways.  Our adventurers have chosen to take a much more dangerous and gutsy path however, instead choosing to jump right into the nest and confront the entire hive at once.

After many weeks off because of work and real life obligations and then the Thanksgiving holiday as well, we were finally back at it last week and things didn't take long to get exciting and next week promises to be a full blown fireworks display.  Here is the recap of the events from last night's exciting installment from the Karameikan Fist Adventuring Company.


Laying down to rest the Karameikan Fist looked around the tomb of past members of the churches of Tyr and Helm.  The catacombs below had been spread out and mostly desecrated, but as was expected of this one by the protections outside, the inside was still in great shape even if a bit dusty.  It also held a number of important members from the past it appeared, but only further research would really tell more than that.

Joakim and the rest of the guardsmen sat around the door, and while they appeared to be comfortable and ready to sleep the continued to keep at least one man awake to watch none-the-less.  Jim laid down but appeared never really to settle in and tossed and turned all night waking regularly.  The floor was hard even with bedrolls but Jim seemed unsettled by his surroundings.  Corman, the man from the temple of Tyr in Ashabenford knelt before a shrine to Tyr in quiet prayer for many hours before he too settled in to rest.

After resting for what felt an evening's worth of time, they gathered up their belongings and ate while trying to decide where to go next.

"We know there are two ways, the way we know and the way that Balcoth mentioned that the Orcans wouldn't take" Atvan stated simply.

"I say we just rush in!" Temeris chimed in with his normal enthusiasm.

The party spoke only briefly of each possibility, with most not having a preference though Corman expressed some concern over just rushing in when they weren't sure what was below.  In the end they decided that taking the known path rather than searching for another way in was the best move and they set off.  It wasn't long through the tunnels and caverns before they saw the worked stone and the doorway ahead, but on the doorway hung a corpse that appeared long dead but hadn't been there long.  They approached cautiously and saw a note pinned to the body.

"This territory belongs to us!  Trespassers would do well to realize this!" It said, and the party recognized the ancient face of the body it was hung on.  It was Balcoth that hung there.

"Would you like some advice from someone from a temple?" Corman asked before the proceeded, and after the party expressed interest in his words he continued.  "A temple or shrine never has just a few people.  Even when many are out on errands or spreading the word there are many that are still there, and then there are the servants and the like as well.  If we do not know what we face it is a good idea to guess high on their numbers."

Undetered the party continued on, through the hall and soon they were in the room with the secret door they knew to lead below.  Callaum, eager to continue on, pressed the stone that would open the door but failed to look first.  The sygil on the stone glowed as he pressed and exploded out in flames.  Callaum rolled away from avoided the worst of the flames but areas of his skin still blackened from the trap.

The door however opened and intent to not waste time Temeris grabbed a pair of stones and jammed the door open so that it couldn't close behind them.  Deciding to proceed with caution Callaum and Shadow snuck down the stairs while the rest of the party waited.

At the bottom of the stairs the hall turned and they saw a room at the end and a trio of doors along the hall.  Shadow proceeded forward cautiously, and listening at each door but not hearing anything proceeded down the hall.  He could see a tapestry depicting Orcus hanging on the far wall of the room at the end but turned back, to check the doors.

Meanwhile Temeris had made his way down the stairs and as Shadow returned to the first door he joined her to check the doors.  Callaum went up to tell the others to come down and then went to the end of the hall to take watch.  There he noticed that the room at the end had an exit to the south and that opened into another room.  From where he was he could see a table or two as well as a door in the other room.  Flanking the door were two unmoving figures.  He remained quiet but the remained still so he just watched.

Back in the hall Temeris soon had the first door open and found basic living quarters beyond.  After a quick search that revealed little he moved on, and soon he had found that all three doors were the same with little of interest.



Shadow, not worried about what they were stepped out and immediately fired a pair of arrows at the nearest one.  They pierced the thing but did not fall it.  As the rest of the party jumped to action the figures moved out, however the first soon was fallen by a spear thrown by Calluam.  Some of those in position to see it fall also noticed a small stone roll from its hand as it hit the ground.  The party soon discovered what the stone likely was though as the second figure, recognized as a zombie shortly after, threw a similar small stone into the room where a half dozen of the party was.  As it struck the floor near Shadow's feet it exploded in a thunderous clap, deafening Temeris and Atvan with the sound that echoed through the halls with great volume.

Corman and Temeris charged forth and quickly dispatched the last zombie, but as the others were gathering themselves Corman peeked through the doorway and saw people moving towards the door in haste.  He pulled Temeris back and informed the others of this and they quickly set about preparing for the rush falling back into the hallway.

After just a few short moments in which they could prepare the sounds of shouts and many large footsteps were approaching, and soon a large ogre rounded the corner charging forth wielding a huge axe and wearing pieces of plate armor.  Another came behind, and then another without the armor, followed by a half dozen humanoids as well.  Upon seeing the party one of the humanoids turned back to the others and yelled out in his undercommon tongue "Go get more!  There are many of them!".

As the ogres charged down arrows and crossbows soon cut down the first one and Daisy followed by Corman got to the second one.  The one that yelled previously yelled out again, this time demanding them to "Tell Korashag to bring everyone as the ogres are already falling!".

The party was able to drop a second ogre before it even got a swing in as another of the humanoids in the back rushed off, however soon the next ogre stepped forward and swinging its mighty axe nearly dropped Daisy to her knees with a blow to her side that was nearly overpowering.  The party continued to attack while the humanoids in the back began casting spells which either were resisted by the party or were personal in nature.

Soon the third ogre dropped and a pair of zombies that were with them were being handled. Callaum pulled a scroll to produce an area of grease around the closest casters three of the four still standing ran.  The other attempted to cast again but stepping forth Temeris breathed fire upon him after drinking a potion found previously.  The last one fell soon after.

Daisy rushed forward not thinking of the grease and slid through landing on her back.  As she stood and the others too stock of their surroundings Shadow rushed forth, similarly landing on her backside going through the grease which was clearing up already.

Daisy regained her feet and rushed forth after a man who stood and yelled at her that they could never overcome the temple and would die if they followed.  She reached the door he had previously shut and pulled it open.  On the other side she saw the man rushing off but already gathering were another dozen humanoids and at least a half dozen ogres as well with more activity beyond that.

She slammed the door and ran back to the others, telling of what she just saw.  There was short talk of retreating and Corman suggested at least falling back to a more defensible location as he laid hands on Daisy and caused most of the wound that the ogre had opened up with its single blow to close, but Temeris excitedly claimed that they could handle whatever came their way and they should press on.  The party agreed and rushed into the next room.  There they turned over a pair of tables to use as shields for those with bows and crossbows and Daisy and Corman surrounded the door where Shadow had placed a couple of her hunting traps.

Very brief moments passed as they began what little preparations they could before the door came exploding inward, splintering into several pieces before falling to the floor, behind the force of an ogre boot.

The ogre took up much of the doorway but they could see a number of humanoids and other ogres on the other side of the door and beyond that in the large cavern stood a giant statue of Orcus.  It appeared that the party would be outnumbered, and they certainly had a fight on their hands...


...and that is where we left off.  The party is in a defensible position but they are in enemy territory against formidable foes, many that are priests or at least supporters of Orcus and many that have strength that deliver massive blows with each shot, and they aren't sure of how many are on that other side at this point either.

Will the Karameikan Fist survive charging head first into a hornets nest?  If they do will they all make it?  How close are they to the Earth Blood?  It certainly seems that this could be a turning point in the campaign, but how will it turn?