Staggering back to the group, fresh from a nap, is their wizard. This lanky red-headed human looks at them with a combination of keen analysis and mild amusement half-hidden behind a serious expression. He twists his mustache as his green eyes consider the party.

"To the middle of the party for me," says Anthony the wizard. "I am prepared." He takes his spot squarely in the middle of the group, surrounded by lots of protective bodies.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Sun 04 Dec 2016.

Hugh takes his appointed position in the established marching order. He suggests proceeding slowly and as queitly as possible so they might hear activity ahead, rather than rushing headlong into danger.

"If needed, we can send a scout periodically forward," he adds.

You poke the stuffed head's nose and the fireplace swings up to reveal the teleportation wall.  You all touch the wall and everything goes black for an instant.

Light returns and you find yourself in a large brick-walled chamber.  The room must be at least 40 feet square.  The ceiling is a good 15 feet high.  The floor is dirt, but level.  There are several passages leading out of the chamber.  Torches in sconces along the wall provide moderate lighting that your eyes quickly adjust to.

There are a bunch of orcs milling around the chamber.  You also see what you assume are zombies slowly moving around carrying various objects (you may recall that the zombies you fought earlier moved very quickly).

One of the orcs, older and wearing glasses, takes notice of the party.  He looks you over and fixates on the large sacks you are carrying.  He says, "[Language unknown: Ticmanver ven.  Ain napoca our ssar onsind itis is atis hasli.]"
The orcs looks around and spies a couple other orcs standing around uselessly.  He yells at them, "[Language unknown: Ss!  Her!  Enst nte re preersain stre ouhi.  Red notopa ivnail n Beeidi!]"  One of the orcs starts to whine back, but the bespectacled orc cuts him off.  "[Language unknown: Ta mailur di io cait us.  Tin ourwh oullo selo cksiosel wer st icplmo.]"

He turns back to the party. "[Language unknown: Iouortnde eewipr a ti ourta me her i roat na wh rutoneess tinainatiwas.  Llleen herortenc yinpr ousionnte na esio Nihece, rut ckan pausnd arhiom ev wh Intiouant.  Icaes Lielte hi n adicwa comhaswaseau has.  N tioerssta evtic ectvorith.  Res, allee ioure ingencand nilat ta iv.  Aiday cesiio maosil la wa der ur omefor'hatsta.]"

The two orcs he yelled at approach the party and reach for the sacks.

What do you do?

In a slightly too loud voice, enunciating each word carefully, Dreya says "Of course we will put the sacks down so you can take them to Smarg."  She quickly gestures from the sack one of the party members are holding to the orc's approaching.  "We wouldn't want to interrupt the great Master's operation here."

Elwood nonchalantly positions himself to protect Dreya and Anthony, but of course making sure Len, Cole and Hugh have plenty of room to maneuver.  If possible, he'll position himself so he's facing most of the undead.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:17, Tue 06 Dec 2016.

Cole readies himself to attack if necessary, but stays quiet as he waits to see how the orcs respond to Dreya's words.

In reply to Cole Hiller (msg # 147):

The orcs are not responding to Dreya's words.  The two orcs are still approaching the PCs with the sacks and reaching for them.  We did not specify who have the sacks.  Since Len is AWOL (hopefully, temporarily), it makes most sense that Cole and Hugh would be carrying them, so I'm going to run with that assumption.

Cole and Hugh, you each have an orc approaching you who is reaching for the sack you are carrying.

Anthony, not quite following the situation, stays back. He watches the orcs with considerable curiosity, wondering what all this is about, but not voicing those questions at the moment. Best not to attract attention to himself.

Hugh does not offer up the sack he is holding to the advancing orcs. He stands in a neutral defensive position, muscles loose for possible action, and calmly replies, "I am sorry, but I cannot understand your words." He addresses the older orc wearing the spectacles.

"If we are to have any business, you will need to speak a language I can understand." His tone is flat, even and conversational.

Following Hugh's lead, Cole does not release the sack either. He stands defensively as he waits to see where Hugh's diplomacy will lead.

After positioning himself, Elwood looks around and mentally counts the number of orcs and zombies in the room.

The two loser orcs walk up to Cole and Hugh and hold their hands out impatiently.

The orc with glasses mutters, "[Language unknown: Pl saek day esel om, ousthiday ntnt ckwale.]"  He continues in Common, "You give sacks.  Go away."

Elwood scans the chamber.  It is a hive of bustling activity with orcs and zombies coming in and out (the orcs much faster than the zombies).  At any given time, there are probably 10-12 orcs and a half dozen zombies in the chamber.

By the way, you notice the party's rogue-illusionist, Seline, is with the party.  Sneaky multiclasser!

Since Dreya currently has Elwood as a human wall at the moment, she taps him on the shoulder, trying to be discrete. In a hurried, hushed whisper, Dreya says, "Don't turn around! The orc with glasses, I think his name is Zeke. Snarg told us before we left for town."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:49, Fri 09 Dec 2016.

Seline looks back at where they came from, acting like she is oblivious to the possible danger posed by the orcs and zombies while inspecting she remarks "How very interesting to walk through a teleporting wall to find an underground passage" While investigating Seline tries to also listen for any sounds that suggest the party is being attacked

Elwood whispered back to Dreya, slightly loud enough for Hugh to hear.  "Didn't he say that if we met Zeke, to mention Snarg's name, and he wouldn't gut us?"

"Yeah, but that was prior to him getting all beat up!" Dreya whispers back as loud as she dares.

Hugh responds to the bespectacled orc in a calm and measured tone. "The items in the bag are clearly important to you, but we did not come down here as simple couriers to deliver items and leave at your bidding. So, Zeke, let us rebegin, and discuss matters as equals. What are the things in the bag?"

Anthony nods. "I have quite a lot to say on the matter, but probably not right now," quips the wizard. He listens tensely as Hugh negotiates with the orcs.

Cole continues guard of the sack he is holding as he waits to see where the negotiations lead, his free hand ready at Vera's side should they turn sour.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

The orc with glasses looks at Hugh suspiciously.  His eyes flick across the party, then he looks back at Hugh and says, "Your queen paid already.  Leave sacks and go."  A feeling of tension fills the chamber.  Some of the worker orcs begin to pay more attention to the party and a few stop their work altogether as they stare at you.  The two orcs who came forward to take the sacks back up a few steps and rest their hands on the hilts of short swords at their hips.

Dreya peeks out from around Elwood to quickly scan the room, trying to judge how big it is and if she would be able to fire off a few arrows if needed. Then quickly ducks back behind the resident cleric.

Elwood mentally assesses which spell might be the most useful in this situation.

Hugh listens to Zeke and replies, "What do you mean? The Queen paid? Paid for what?" The monk retains the sack. He gestures with the sack, "What are the things inside the sack and why do you want them?"

 Seline, with a sway in her step, walks up to Hugh, hanging both hands on his shoulder and laying her head on his chest. "Honey we have talked about this, you won't make friends being so brash, you need to be loveable and charming like you are at home. I know these are orcs and zombies and the such, but don't hold back just for my sake." Twirling a finger on his pectoral, she continues, "We wouldn't want to disappoint all these orcs even if the queen of the woods, who holds no power over us, and didn't pay us a dime, still charged us with this task simply because she felt it beneath her."   After Seline's final dialogue she begins prepping color spray.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Mon 12 Dec 2016.