Bugbear Revolt;  Elven Disgust

Kailute stands upon the cusp of convincing Kargar the bugbear chief in launching a revolt against Snosra;  however this momentum is strangely based upon Quilro’s surprising guile and fluency in goblinoid languages.

Quilro stands atop a table in the bugbear barracks and Kailute stands in the doorway.  The rest of the group forms a defensive circle in the marshalling area, with DonBrapp maintaining control of this three undead giant corpses.

“The greenskin is creating a horde of his own…” the dwarf mutters, maintaining his dominance over the undead.

Kargar relunctantly follows Kailute into the open space as a scrum of bugbears, many scorched and injured by the elf stare warily at Quilro.

“Follow that orc!”  he yells jauntily, and the group shuffles off without much enthusiasm.

“Undead giants!?  What tribe is this, WarBoar?”  Kargar asks with some astonishment as he sights the undead.

Further movement can be heard from the door to the north.

A ghastly hill giant that is hunchbacked and twisted, and has only one good eye leers at the party. He is dressed in black spiked chain and wields an enormous double-bladed battle axe.  Behind him a monstrous ape with protruding canines howl as they come through the door.

“SNACKY TREATS FOR KEEPER!  KEEPER LIKE ORC AND ELF!”

“Well, I guess we’ve come to liberate your clan from this guy.”  Kailute points at the keeper.

The party forms a defensive circle as the disfigured hill giant advances and a squad of bugbears pour north out of their barracks.  Quilro activates a fire shield, and DonBrapp summons a dust devil directly toward the Keeper’s face.

Kailute makes a target strike against his weapon arm nearly severing his forearm.

Fyrnlocke thrusts his blade deep into the hide of one of the carnivorous apes prompting further howls.

The yipping barks of bugbears crowd by the elf crowding toward the Keeper and his apes.

The barbarian almost de-limbs the Keeper with two more swings causing the apes to pound upon his armor with their fists in futility.  Fyrnlocke’s backswing opens another wound in the apes.

Quilro scouts around to the south exploring a little into the southern corridor.

The dust devil rakes the Keeper’s anguished face, and Kailute thinks he hears light pounding and cries for help beyond a door to the east.

The undead hill giants advance under DonBrapp’s direction, crowding out the blood furious bugbears.
Quilro darts to the side allowing the frenzied goblinoids heading north, listening to the east where he confirms voices calling for assistance.

The apes crush several bugbears, and DonBrapps dust devils flies into the gaping maw of the Keeper before expanding in all directions, exploding the deformed hill giant’s head in a shower of gore.

Kargar gives a look of revulsion and fear at the undead giants, his unsteady commitment to the half-orc wavering.

“Fyrnlocke, embrace your full potential!” Kailute shouts, concerned at the able fighter’s lack of prowess.

Quilro moves to unlock the eastern door, sliding into the hallway only to face two enraged bugbear guards.  They advance with their rusting short swords held hight.

Kailute cuts down yet another ape.

Kailute attempts to convince Kargar of the necessity of enlisting undead giants into the ranks, but can tell his arguments do not appear to be resonating.

“Kargar take Yellowteeth out of steading.  Nothing further to do with elf, dwarf, and enormous orc.”  The bugbear chief states upon his departure and the bugbears follow directly behind him.

DonBrapp calls forth healing, as Fyrnlocke eyes the retreating bugbears warily.

“Want to join friend, elf!?!” The two menacing bugbears ask as they advance.  Kailute bursts through the door behind Quilro and shouts “Throw down your weapons or I will kill you like I killed the keeper!”

“Woof!  Kargar Leave!?!  We leave!”  The bugbear retreat as human voices call out for help from within the row of portcullis cells.  Also ridiculous cackling comes forth from the westernmost cell.

An emaciated human merchant, dressed in a mix of linen trousers and a filthy purple cloak taken prisoner some time ago and now quite insane from mistreatment, is in the cell nearest the door.

“The dogs.  The dogs bark at me… . but I shan’t let them win.  Kick as they might… I know the way home!”

Kailute walks the cell block looking into each cell.

“Friend!  Friend can you help us!  We need to get back to Bloodstone!”

Two lithely muscled  young human men  “Garven and Graylen”, lie upon pallets, bruised but otherwise healthy.  Both are from Bloodstone Village, and were sent forth by Baron Tranth to seek help, possible from Barovia through the mountains.

Three deteriorating corpses are in the next cell
.
An elven noble suffering the ravages of torture is in the fourth cell, chained to the wall.

In the last cell three emaciated and abused orcs cling to life among the corpses of two of their brethren.

“Freedom.  Please.  Let us out.  Food!”  They call, committing their anger against Snosra.

“Release me.  Release me please.”  The elven male asks evenly.

Kailute solicits the orcs for information about the orcs remaining in the dungeons as Quilro picks the lock on the elf’s manacles.  He introduces himself as Tanthalas MourningWyrm, and takes the food and wine offered.
It is confirmed RedEars are to the south.

Kailute offers the crazed human some food between the bars, and he immediately stuffs the provisions into his pants as if attempting to be surreptitiously.

The human brothers introduce themselves as Garlen and Graelen from Bloodstone, ambushed on an entreaty to Barovia for support to Bloodstone Village.

“Perhaps things are different in Barovia.”  They say as Kailute explains that Strahd has been deposed as an infernal vampire, and the group must deal with Zenghyi.

“Who are your companions, and who among them can be trusted?”  Tanthalas turns to Quilro and asks in elvish.  The thief-mage explains in a backhanded manner each of the group, without naming Fyrnlocke.

The party explores the bugbear barracks for useable weaponry and treasure, and DonBrapp searches deliberately gathering every last coin from the corpses.

Quilro listens to the south and hears goblinoids speaking through the southern door, setting up an ambush for another impending attack.

Tanthalas expresses his interest in a large leather bound tome, and he looks feverishly among the bugbears abode to find it.

“Is this creature in charge of your party?”  The elf asks Quilro incredulously.

“Let’s put some of these bastards to the sword!”  Garlen shouts, eager to seek his vengeance.

“This guy gonna be a problem?” Kailute asks Quilro sidelong, who offers a cocked eyebrow in response.

The sullen orcs indicate the rest of the tribe is to the south and west as the Bloodstone lads pick through the available weaponry and armor as Kailute attempts to assuage their vengeful bloodlust.

Quilro chuckles incredulously in the background.

Kailute heads south and east and attempts to parlay with the bugbear guards who lay in wait.

“Kargar no leave!  Eat spears!” The two guards loose their spears at the barbarian to no effect, and they clatter to the floor beyond him to the west.

DonBrapp and Quilro move deliberately forward down the southern passageway and the two bugbears retreat within their chamber.

Kailute steps forward in a blur of blows striking to subdue, knocking both into unconscious submission.

“If Kargar leave, who guard RedEars?”  The confused remaining bugbears ask, and Kailute dismisses their inquiries.

  In a final act of resignation, the sullen bugbears follow Kailute’s direction and proceed north up the corridor.
Four more who had remained hidden to the west launch their spears, unaware of the developing retreat of the rest of the tribe.

Fyrnlocke steps to the west to dispatch the remaining uncowed bugbears
.
“Don’t waste your blood on enemies we can easily smite!” Kailute pleads as DonBrapp wheels to assist.  Reaching to grab the thief and pull him from the fray, the bugbears get two attacks in on the human before DonBrapp pulls him away.

“Thanks..  for.. the ‘rescue.’” Fyrnlocke gasps, clutching his new stomach wounds.

After their strikes, the remaining western bugbears realize they are desperately overmatched and slink by the group, cursing in their native tongue.

“By the light of Corellon…  what the fuck is going on?”  Tanthalas asks in common.

Kailute explains the situation calmly and firmly, and his words strike a chord in the bugbears, who’s eyes tear with the realizations of what they have done to their brethren.  Slowly, they put down their weapons and head sorrowfully toward the staircase after their kin.

DonBrapp casts a barrage of healing on Fyrnlocke.

Kailute opens the nearby cells and begins investigating.  The sub-chief Ingar is identified and eventually the barbarian negotiates the release of the RedEars from servitude of the hill giants, although he is unsuccessful in convincing them in joining the heroes in taking the fight to Snosra. Ingar lets Kailute know the wargs are usually cowed by the whip, and he is encouraged to free the wolves and weaken the forces above.  As he is moving amongst the cells, he notices the embers of a fire smoldering down a corridor straight west.

As the orcs exit the dungeon there is enormous shouting and boisterous movement as hundreds of the kept creatures charge out of the tunnels and toward the stairs above.  The party hugs the western wall as the parade of orcs rushes by.  The dungeon floor and walls nearly shake as they evacuate the underspaces.

The party regroups in the bugbear ambush alcove, and Kailute notices the two he had subdued have since had their throats cut.

After about 30 minutes the entirety of the orcs charge out of the cavernous dungeon, and soon there is an eerie silence that prevails.

Kailute steers a few stragglers toward the room with the injured orcs, and Garven and Graylen look nonplussed at not having had an opportunity to wet their blades.

“What is the plan now, War-Leader Kailute?” Tanthalas asks, and then offers all the silver his father’s festhalls in Westgate could offer for his safe return.

DonBrapp chuckles dismissively, and asks how the elf came so far astray from his home in the Sea of Fallen Stars.  He was waylaid by pirates who sold him to the horde in Vaasa.

Garlen and Graylen ask for food, having been near starved in the cells.  They have no coin upon them, but promise the gratitude of bloodstone village and Baron Tranth if they will return with them.

The hour nears four in the morning, and DonBrapp conjures forth food and water from the blessing of the coinfather.
DonBrapp reports a fire burning to the west, which Kailute had also observed earlier.

Fyrnlocke creeps down the hall, holding his hand on his stomach, stopping every so often to peer cynically at the dwarf.

DonBrapp flings him a potion, which the human drinks and narrows his eyes.

“I guess I’m a renewable resource.”  He says flatly.

“Didn’t know we were giving the hirelings potions.”  Quilro retorts.

DonBrapp meets Fyrnlocke’s gaze while drinking his own potion in silent remonstration.


DonBrapp is struck by an improvised mace.  The room is full of enormous torture devices, lit by the embers of the fire which casts a hellish light around the room.

Quilro slides silently to the side of a giant, nearly tripping as he catches his foot upon one of the legs of the fire brazier.

DonBrapp lunges forward with Buzzkiller and strikes one of the brutes with a crushing blow to his shin.
Fyrnlocke swings and misses as Kailute advances to his side and lands two slices that open the chest of the opposing monster.

Garven and Graylen are advancing down the hall eagerly.

Both giants miss their next attacks, and the dwarf swings under the leg splintering the kneecap.
Quilro thrusts his moonblade deep into the giant’s thigh as Kailute makes another series of devastating attacks.
Tanthalas peers ahead saying “Smells like bloodshed in there.”

DonBrapp focuses his strike against the midsection of the giant but whiffs almost becoming unbalanced in the effort.
Observing the dwarf miss, Kailute undercuts the giant’s crotch splitting him clear up to the abdomen and the brute collapses to his knees in a shower of blood and gore.

Quilro lands two attacks as the remaining giant attempts to flee down the hall.  Fyrnlocke, Kailute, and DonBrapp all miss.

Garven lands a blow, but the brute sidesteps until Tanthalas lands and offhand strike against the enormous creature.
Kailute runs down the hall, leaps upon his back and takes the monster to the ground with two slices of his blade.
DonBrapp immediately begins to collect the available treasure, much of which is finely crafted giant torture devices that could be used to process animal hides more efficiently.

Fyrnlocke begins to strip clothes to make bandages as the two Bloodstone lads celebrate their first blood.
“Have you got any healing magic?” Tanthalas asks Quilro, putting a hand on his shoulder.  Quilro points to the dwarf, which prompts DonBrapp to explain once again his urban heritage.

Tanthalas again offers sacks of electrum and the pleasures of the flesh for his return to Westgate.  DonBrapp counters with an agreement for him to travel with the group for reward in jewels.

Fyrnlocke pulls forth one of the giant wineskins, and almost immediately spits it out.

The former prisoners relay the sounds of pounding, or movement and shifting of rock to the north and south.

The group makes a hasty camp, with another attempt to disguise who killed what while cleaning up a location to make camp free of blood and gore.