Shadowdark #13: 'ORCS MR. RICO! - Zillions of 'em!*''

 Having first visited Maureen the witch in the tower, the party get advice around taking the orc caverns - and rescuing Maureen's wand.

'Sort out that bloomin wand willya?'

 (* with apologies to Mr. Heinlein) 

While there, she asks Dagmara if she would like to be her apprentice. She agrees, puts on a 'locky bangle thing', and is told that when she gets back, she'll have to mop the floor (a typical modern apprenticeship these days), if she ever wants to learn the secrets of true magical power.

A local mercenary chaos elf cleric called Nijel, is recruited (he may even survive this time...though he does inadvertabtly whack Jeralt...ummm...)

NOT orcs

.Armed with scrolls and Maureen's invisibility ring, the party rush back to the caverns of chaos.

 

...Better

Jumping right in and rushing the caves, they pay scant attention to the 'wall o heads' in the entry way, pausing only to recognise the remains of Barnard, Balin and Elfin John, whose heads have been dug up and place in the orc trophy case. 

'Zillions of em!'

Too late, they see that one of the heads is actually a live orc who barks orders as the contents of the guard rooms rush the party from two sides...'separate the spellcasters' seems to make strategic sense, but 'spare the half orc wizard' seems to be a vert strange order...curiouser and curiouser.

'NEVER split the party'

The party get their asses kicked, very narrowly avoiding another death in the shape of Jeralt the paladin, and a critical is very narrowly avoided by Leeta, with every spell failing to work. They retreat after luckily dispatching the first band of orcs, back to Bruno's lab across the valley - noting that they are being watched by human bandits from the hill.

2nd time around - a little bit of Recon reveals a lot

They decide to be more cautious next time, and Dagmara goes on a recon with the ring of invisibility.

Mountainhome stops the dogs, as the party take on the orc main body

They spot another trap about to be sprung (these orcs ain't stoopid), and place the Mountainhome shield to guard against the orcs' vile attack dogs, while they take on the main force, with Dagmara spotting the orc chief 'Ruckin Whiteye' in his throne room - though he sees her with some sort of magical eye-piece. He looks tough!

I bet he drinks Carling Black Label

In addition, they find that the entire orc complex is a giant mine, refining the anti-magical white ore known as 'moon-stone' 

Hard fightin

  

Dagmara never looks good when she's invisible

With one orc left alive, they pursue him through a secret door, leaving White-eye for now, and heading toward what seems to be the human bandits' lair...