Turn 89 -- End of the Bloodskulls

Druckner looks around him as the battle rage subsides and he sees the sorely injured Kre and Kersath, and especially the broken body of Randor. "I'm hoping you can do aught for 'em my kin, they're sorely injured." he looks at the exhausted Garth and Ortho.

"Does anybody here have some healing elixirs?" he asks hopefully. He then leaves the wounded to the others and says to Ras, "It seems you and me are the only ones that aren't too injured or exhausted. We should stand guard and let them have time to recover. What do you say?"

Ras solemnly nods his head to Druckner as he watches his comrades work on his fallen friends. His head falls as he walks past Randor's lifeless body. He takes a moment to pull Randor's body from the edge of the cavern wall, laying the body in a natural position with his arms folded on his chest. He places his shield upon his chest and his warhammer in his hands.

Druckner reloads his crossbow and takes up his axe as he moves to a position to watch the eastern entrance to the cavern. Ras moves to the western wall and taking the keys, locks the door into the chamber. He then moves throughout the cave collecting any valuables from the bodies of the dead orcs before returning to build a fire.

As the high of combat comes down, Ortho looks about him to survey the damage. His eyes are immediately drawn to the form of Randor. "A good man, though we had our differences. A valuable ally. Ah'll miss 'im," states the dwarf sorrowfully. Ortho then retrieves his shield.

Shaking his head as if to clear it, Ortho walks over to the fallen orog and purposefully stands on the beast's chest with both feet as he pulls his axe free. Looking down, Ortho smiles, "Got ya, big guy. May ye burn fer what ye did ta ma friends." Stepping down, Ortho stumbles over to Dain and Kersath. Seeing Dain skillfully bandage Kersath's wounds, Ortho fears not for the elf. Putting his back to the rock formation, Ortho slowly sinks to the floor of the cavern and closes his eyes. Before a minute passes a light snore can be heard.

Dain's hands begin to shake as he continues to bandage Kersath's wounds. "There, the job is done, but it might be a wise thing if a professional were to inspect them," says Dain while giving a wink to Garth. After the job is done, Dain ruffles up his pack as a pillow and sets down with his pipe before a nice long nap.

"That had better have been the last of their filthy tribe in these caves. I don't think we could put up much of a fight if fate proves otherwise." Leaning back against a boulder, Dain catches a good look at the form of Randor for the first time. "I will sorely miss you friend. I have ne'er known a man with a stronger or fairer sense of justice."

Seeing that naught can be done for Randor, Garth's eyes begin to mist up. Determined to help the living, Garth shambles over to Kre. Falling to his knees, he looks as if he is about to pray. A shudder runs through Garth as he appears to swoon, his own blood leaving droplets on Kre's still body. Pulling off his backpack, Garth rummages through it and brings out a small pot of ointment and a roll of clean bandages. Working quickly he binds the worst of Kre's wounds. Reaching back into his pack, he unwraps a spool of thread with a suture needle embedded in it.

Mumbling to himself, "I didn't think I'd be needing this again," he threads the needle and begins to join the ragged edges of Kre's rent flesh. Kre moans slightly as the needle pierces his flesh and Garth begins to sew up the wound but he thankfully remains unconscious. Sweat beads on Garth's furrowed brow. As it runs down his face and arms, it mingles with his own blood, forming a wine-like liquid that falls to the floor in droplets.

The worst of his surgery over, Garth washes Kre's wound and then begins to tend to his own. Sorely fatigued, he doesn't seem to pay much heed to the goings on about him.

Gnore stands like a stone as the battle fury leaves him. Still within the few remaining tendrils of his rage, Gnore walks to the form of the dead orog and kicks its head with all his strength. His anger depleted, Gnore moves to the still form of his Red Feather comrade. Looking to each dwarven priest, he asks a question whose answer is already known.

"Is there nothing we can do to bring this brave human back?" Gnore knows the answer without having to see the solemn looks and downcast eyes of the priests, but still he needed to hear it. He looks upon the dwarven youth with disapproval set in his eyes and speaks through clenched teeth in Common for all to understand.

"You...dwarven kin. Look upon the lifeless form of this human who stood against a hated beast, our ancient enemy. Look upon this fallen human who has died a noble dwarven death without hesitation. Look upon this brave human from behind the rock in which you used to cower from this filth. For a dwarf there is no amount of pain or fatigue that will stop our kin from dying a proper death if this day indeed be our last."

Gnore steps closer to the lad as his anger grows. "Yet this human, not of our kin, died a death we as dwarves hold sacred. If he were dwarven, I know his place in Volhol would be secured. You are of kin and yet you did nothing to help him or any of us. If it was at all possible, I would trade your life for the life of this brave human who died like a true dwarf." Gnore glares at the young kin for a moment longer, daring him to speak and hoping he does so in order to show defiance still within the youth.

As Gnore finishes his tirade, the dwarven lad scrambles to stand, using the hand axes from Ortho to assist him. Using one of the axes as a crutch in his left hand, he raises the other before him. "Yoo who calls himself kin, face me!" he challenges Gnore. "Yoo have nae right ta challenge me or me courage. Ah spent weeks in tha clutches o' these 'ere foul beasts. Yoo 'ave nae idee of the torture Ah been through. Ah did nae spend that time fightin' ta stay alive on the scraps this filth fed me and the torture they inflicted just ta die at the first sign o' escape!" As the lad speaks the party can see the marks of the torture that must have been inflicted on the dwarf. His clothes hang in tatters from his skeletal frame, the starvation he endured evident.

"Ah am thankful fer this man's sacrifice an' will honor 'im in me own way. I will NOT 'ave me dwarven blood challenged by the likes o' YOO! I do nae fear that big toothpick ye carry!"

The dwarven lad awaits any response from Gnore as he tries his best to remain standing despite his weakness.

Druckner steps between the two, "Cut it out, you fools! Save your breath and energy fer the orcs. They know who the enemy is even if you don't." He turns to Gnore, "The lad is obviously telling the truth and it's not his fault Randor got himself killed." He turns to the lad, "And you, sit DOWN! If you didn't have enough energy to fight the orcs, you damn well don't have enough energy to fight my mate Gnore."

From his stand at guard, Gnore turns to glare at the dwarf who challenged him and strides to where he stands, stopping only ten feet from the dwarven lad. Stabbing his bastard sword into the ground next to him, Gnore closes the remaining gap between himself and the young kin, ignoring Druckner's warning. Standing eye to eye with the dwarf and with fists on hips, Gnore stares into the depths of the youth's eyes. With a tilt of his head skyward, Gnore lets free with a belly full of laughter.

"HA! HA! HA!!! Now that is the spirit of a true dwarf!!!" Gnore bellows with a hearty open-palm thump to the chest of the young dwarf. "I fear that heart of yours burns too late to help our human companion though and I did mean what I said about trading your life for his. I can not do what I stated literally so I depend upon you to fulfill the spirit of my statement. You owe us a life, young kin, so stand with us for a while and assist our company as Brother Randor would." Gnore points to the fallen form of his comrade. "Of course, I do not lead this group and if Talimar says otherwise...well, do what you wish." Gnore then turns away to retrieve his sword. Calling over his shoulder, Gnore walks forward to resume his watch, "If you still want that fight, I'll oblige you but let us battle with fists. Too much lawful blood has been spilled already."

As the tension eases, Druckner puts forth his hand to the young lad, "Name's Druckner Brombreath, this here is the Red Feather Adventuring Company and yes, we take kindly to people who thank us fer saving their lives."

The young dwarf takes Druckner's offered hand with a smile, "Name's Snagger. I'm in yer debt." As he smiles, everyone can quickly see how he got his name as his snagged front teeth protrude forth from his smile.

Talimar moves forward to greet Snagger as well, "My name's Talimar Silverblade and I'm the reluctant leader of this ragtag band. Yer welcome to join the Company if ye wish to repay your debt."

Snagger nods his head to Talimar's proposal, "I'd be honored. Fer me share of all goods taken o' course," he smiles again displaying his ragged teeth.

"How did the orcs take you?" asks Talimar of Snagger.

"Well, Ah was travelin' south to visit with me great-uncle Ol' Grizzler when I was attacked at Howler's Moor by a group o' bandits. They captured me and brought me here with a bunch o' others. They kept sayin' I was no good to 'em down below so the orcs kept me for sport." Snagger grimaces as he takes a seat to rest before continuing.

"That damned filth used me as a beast to work fer 'em, like some old pack animal. Beat me every chance they got too." Talimar can see marks on his ankles and wrists where he has been bound and shackled, the skin peeled away and bleeding even now. "'Course that's all over now. Yoo took care o' that. That was the end o' the males in the cavern. Nothin' left but the females and the spawn o' these foul beasts. There're three more chambers to the east o' here. One where me equipment is as well as the other treasure of the orcs." Snagger smiles as he thinks of having his old equipment back, his weapon in his hand again.

"There's another prisoner there as well. A human man. Scared to death. The orcs kept taunting him, telling him how they was gonna cook him and eat him alive. Terrible stuff. Poor man's scared ta death."

Talimar and Snagger continue to talk about the caverns beyond as well as Snagger's time in captivity before Snagger finally drifts off into a much needed rest. Kersath and Kre rest peacefully as well as they try to recover from their wounds while Ortho, Garth and Dain rest up also. Gnore, Druckner and Ras maintain a watch on the cavern entrance after Ras ventured forth to place several traps along the passageway beyond. Talimar rests up a bit as well before coming to relieve those on watch as well as replacing the bandages to Kre and Kersath periodically.

Ten hours pass quietly as the Company gets a much needed rest. Ortho, Garth and Dain finally wake at intervals, each fully rested and feeling better from the previous battle. They relieve Druckner, Gnore and Ras to allow them some rest as Talimar continues to watch over the entrance, his elven heritage allowing him to function without as much sleep as the others. Kersath and Kre continue to sleep fitfully as their bodies try and recover, each waking only momentarily to eat a little before falling again into a deep slumber. The others get about five hours of sleep before rising themselves, anxious to be clear of the terrible caves.

"What do we do now?" asks Dain of Talimar as he smokes on his pipe. "Does anyone know of a temple to Tyr around these parts? It only seems fitting that those of Randor's order perform his burial."

Talimar nods his head at the words of Dain, "Yes, that is true. But we have other concerns for the moment. We need to investigate these further chambers and return Snagger's equipment to him as well as find any other clues as to where the kidnap victims are. Any suggestions?"