Connects to: 03.13, 14.00, 16.04, 17.14, 18.02, 20.03, 24.02, 26.01, 26.01.04, 26.01.03, 29.14.11, 33.00, 39.00 and 40.06.
Overview
In a valley of the Grey Mountains, those cold and forested lands ruled not by man but by a beast, lies the ruin of one of the great dwarven fastnesses. This nameless fortress was completed and manned, but it did not survive its first siege (24.02). The reason for this is not spoken of among the dwarves, but perhaps the answer is somewhere in the ruins.
Into the basements and surviving rooms of the fortress, as well as a few natural cave systems that were nearby, have moved several groups of humanoids. They currently respect an uneasy ceasefire, but there is no guarantee that the situation will remain this way. The ruins of the fastness have the distinct Titan-Grumludish architecture that defined dwarven building in that age; and it should be familiar to anyone who has visited Grumluda (29.14.11), Hoth Achaar (26.01) or the Titan’s Skull (33.00).
Two separate garrisons of orcs from Hoth Achaar has taken up residence in the ruined fortress. The inscription ‘Born in the Eye, Die before the Eye’ is scrawled on the wall. They are under orders to investigate as best as they are able without creating problems with the other humanoids. The female orcs brought their whelps with them or bore them after arriving, as is expected under The Double Duty (26.01.04) The orcs are keen for information about the ruins and the other humanoid groups; their superiors are planning to mobilise Hoth Achaar, drive out the other humanoids and rebuild the fastness.
The orcs have jerky and dried potatoes for rations. The leader of the eastern orcs is named Karus but he is called ‘Two Eyes’ behind his back. He has along scar beside one eye from when he chickened out when he was about to have it removed. To live this down, he talks big and has great appetites. He feuds with the western orc boss, Sarlada, who does not run a tight ship.
If they have warning, the orcs will find a way to throw the native poisonous centipedes at intruders.
Long-time inhabitants of the valley, the hobgoblins (16.04) have been steadily forced from each section of the caves as other groups have moved in. They are convinced that their tribe has been cursed with misfortune, and their scheme to leave for another part of the Mountains may amount to something if they ever run out of shroom wine. They seek protection and news of other places to live; one night they may sneak off and settle somewhere else.
A faction of goblins that once lived among the Ten Thousand Stumps (24.02) now fumes in this valley. They aim to replant their oak groves, but the ground here is stony and hard. It would take blood to sustain their trees. The goblins seek living sacrifices for the oaks, and if they manage to secure them the oaks will grow tall and strong and the goblins will be numerous.
The goblins eat dotorimuk, an acorn starch jelly.
The kobolds of the Broken Spear (40.06) sent many of their cleverest and strongest to the caves, their leader carrying a strange flashing device that spoke directions to them. The kobolds believed this to be the voice of Alberon—whom they do not worship, but do fear and respect—guiding them to a promised land. The device instructed them to enter the caves occupied by the cultists, but they were repulsed and lost many of their numbers. The kobolds moved into one of the cave systems and are biding their time, while the device still patiently and regularly orders them to travel into the cultist’s cave. The kobolds are desperate for an opportunity to enter the cultist’s cave; if they managed to enter they would slaughter the cultists, clear the mysterious passageway and follow it into the earth.
The gnolls of the Broken Spear saw the kobolds leaving with the device and the pack split on the question of whether to follow them. The group that supported pursuit followed the kobolds to the caves and then claimed a cave for themselves. The followers of Snaptooth, the leader, are starting to suspect that he enjoys his position of authority and has no plans to attack the kobolds and claim the device. Different factions of the gnolls are interested in allies to defend or defeat Snaptooth. If they are not interferred with, the tribe will tear itself apart.
One of the cave systems is occupied by cultists that believe that necromancy can bring back Dead Tiamat (03.13), and so they have experimented with the dark arts. So far, they have only mastered human skeletons and shamblers: they created a stronger undead, the wight, but it was beyond their powers to control and they imprisoned it only with great difficulty. They are interested in protection from other tribes, necromantic lore and dragon parts; if no one stops them, they may eventually create a dracolich.
A minotaur, a former citizen of Lastmaze (18.02) exiled after he clashed with Ja the Red, has painstakingly carved out a labyrinth. Chimalia displayed her pleasure by enchanting it so that those who enter are dazed and disoriented. The minotaur is keen for news of Lastmaze or an opportunity to slaughter orcs. If he continues to protect and expand the labyrinth, Chimalia may bless him by fusing him with some other beast to create an even more hideous chimera.
One of the caves is occupied by a band of bugbears (17.14) whose purpose in the north is unknown. Rumours circulate. One such rumour is that they are searching the north for a pole that holds up the sky (20.03). Another is that they will pay generously for slaves, particular children. According to the bugbears themselves, they are kindly souls who provide a hot meal and bed to passing travellers and ask nothing in return except to smoke catnip and spin stories. A worried dwarf family that lives nearby claims that their son-daughter was kidnapped by the bugbears and sent south; the family lives in the woods without any iron implements (39.00).
Fire beetles live in some of the caves. However, they lack some essential nutrient that their brethren in the Badlands consume; as such, they do not have poison or fire.
There is also an ogre living in one of the caves (26.01.03).
