Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .

Against the Orcs 1

Kill the head and the body will die.
- Military axiom
Against the Orcs is a multi-session adventure for a
party of four to five 6th level player characters (PCs).
The scenario is set in a generic setting, in the
mountainous area around a dwarven stronghold. The
scenario is easily transplantable into most other
settings, including the Forgotten Realms, where one of
the dwarven citadels of the Sword Coast Region can be
used.
This adventure is the fourth and final of a series of
adventures called The Uprising Saga that detail an orc
uprising in the mountains in and around the dwarven
stronghold that has resulted from the machinations of
a merchant coster.
The other adventures in this saga include:
The Horns of War
Strike Back
Let it Be
Nevertheless, the adventure can be run as a stand-
alone adventure.
Where a creature or NPC is mentioned in bold-faced
type, its statistics can be found either in the Monster
Manual or in Appendix B of this adventure.
Throughout the adventure, descriptions of the appearance,
personality, and motivations of important NPCs are
presented in red boxes.
Dialogue is contained in italicized boxed text.
Location descriptions are contained in plain boxed
text.
The PCs must aid a copper dragon, who is also fighting
the orcs, against a red dragon the orcs have recruited
to slay him. Afterwards, the PCs journey to the sacred
lair of the Stonewych, a powerful stone giant oracle.
There, after rescuing her progeny held hostage by the
orcs, the PCs gain access to the lair of the orc warlord
and must defeat him and his elite guardians. Upon
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
doing so, they will obtain evidence pointing to the
Mercur trade coster as the ones behind the orc
uprising.
The scenario can be set in any mountain range that
contains a dwarven citadel. Alternately, the DM can
substitute the dwarven stronghold for some other
settlement or fortress in the mountains.
The scenario assumes it is spring. If it is winter, then
there will be snow on the ground.
The trading coster Mercur is one of the major players
of trade in the region. They have come up with a
scheme that will allow them to corner the market iron
ore and give them a preeminent position in the
marketplace for years to come.
Mercur’s Scheme
For several years, Mercur has been secretly acquiring
large stocks of iron and other dwarven resources, such
as ores, precious metals, and gems, from the dwarves
of the nearby strongholds of Nirzumbil and Hegzeril.
These have all been purchased at normal prices and
stored slowly, through both Mercur agents and by
companies indirectly controlled by the trade coster. By
now, Mercur has amassed a massive store of such
goods.
During this time, agents of the coster have scouted and
treated with the orc tribes that dwell in the mountains
near the dwarven strongholds. After careful
observation, they have chosen one of the most
intelligent, charismatic, and promising chieftains,
named Garizmul Throatslasher, and groomed him to
become a war leader. With aid of magic, weapons,
armour, training, and copious bribery, Garizmul has
been able to unite the disparate orc tribes of the region
and has whipped them into a frenzy.
Once an orc horde has been gathered, Garizmul is
under instructions to assault the two dwarven
strongholds. This assault is not designed to take over
the strongholds (Mercur does not believe the orcs are
Against the Orcs 2
strong enough to accomplish this), but rather to set the
stage for the blockade that follows.
After the direct assaults on the dwarven strongholds
fail, Garizmul will be under orders to besiege the
dwarves and cut off all trade between the dwarves and
the lowland towns and cities.
When the trade blockade does into effect, the price of
iron, metals, and gems rises and, more importantly,
becomes scarce. Mercur then becomes the only coster
with these goods available as the reserves of the other
costers and merchant groups dry up.
Mercur then goes about negotiating long-term
exclusive contracts with desperate mongers of iron
and other metals as well as jewelers. These contracts
bind the users to purchase their metals and gems only
from Mercur, at prices that are actually comparable to
the price of these goods before the blockade. This
reasonable price being charged by Mercur serves as an
enticement to buyers to enter into these contracts so
as to avoid the crushingly high prices being offered by
others.
Mercur knows that the blockade will eventually end,
for the contentious orcs cannot stay together as a
cohesive force for too long, and eventually the armies
of the larger civilized nations will become involved as
the metal shortage begins to affect their tax revenues
and the supply of iron for their armies. When it does
end, Mercur will end up with exclusive rights to supply
metal and gems to most of the users in the region.
Of course, such exclusive contracts can be reneged, but
that is why Mercur set these contracts at the pre-
blockade prices, so that a given buyer of goods, faced
with equal prices from Mercur or another coster, will
choose to honour his contract with Mercur. Since there
would be no real difference in the price of the goods,
he would not be inclined to break the contract and face
the reprisals, both civil and otherwise, for breaking a
deal.
Mercur, of course, benefits greatly from having a lion’s
share of the metals and gem market in the region. This
will create a huge windfall for them and give them
leverage and status to better negotiate deals for other
goods. But the fact that they did not take advantage of
the crisis by selling their reserves at inflated prices
allows them to portray themselves as generous heroes
willing to avoid profiteering for the good of all parties
concerned!
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Overall, Mercur stands much to gain from this venture.
The risks are twofold:
 If it became known that Mercur were behind the
uprising, it could be disastrous for the coster. This
scheme is entirely outside the normal unwritten
but recognized rules by which the trade costers
compete with one another. It would anger the
dwarves immensely and possibly prompt military
action against Mercur by the cities or nations
affected and Mercur’s charters would be revoked.
 If the orcish blockade ends too soon, then Mercur
will not have had time to negotiate enough long-
term contracts to make this scheme worthwhile.
Obviously, the first risk is the most worrisome for
Mercur.
What Has Gone Before
In the first scenario, The Horns of War, the PCs
travelled to Nirzumbil for reasons of their own and
were caught in the marketplace of the stronghold
(which is located outside of its fortified gates) during
the initial orcish assault. The PCs, along with other
non-dwarves caught in the area, fought off a force of
several hundred orcs, with the aid of some dwarven
reserves sent up from the mines below to assist.
In the second scenario, Strike Back, the PCs were
tasked with stopping an orcish emissary from making
his rounds amongst the orc tribes mustered to harry
the dwarves.
In the third scenario, Let it Be, the PCs encountered
orcs in a previously abandoned mine who had
unleashed a coven of cloakers out from the Underdark.
The PCs intervened and either slew the orcs or the
cloakers or, possibly both.
The Current Situation
The orc uprising against the dwarves has been
atypical, to say the least. First, the uprising was
unprovoked, not that orcs need much provocation to
attack dwarves. Second, it involved orcs from many
disparate and widely dispersed tribes coming together
and operating in a quasi-coordinated fashion. Third,
the uprising has remained intact despite a lack of
victory in any of the battles against the dwarves and
despite a blockade situation that requires vigilance
and patience, not hallmarks of orcish temperament.
Against the Orcs 3
While orc war leaders have risen up from time to time
to unite tribes, never before have so many orcs come
together and never have they managed to remain
cohesive for so long or evidence the kind of discipline
these have. Clearly, their leader, Garizmul
Throatslasher, must be an very exceptional individual
or, more disconcertingly to the dwarves, there may be
a power behind the war leader.
While it is likely that these explanations will not satisfy
the PCs, they have no proof of their suspicions, and
neither does anyone else…yet.
At the start of this adventure, the PCs will receive two
sendings from Thelikuk, the dwarven priestess from
Nirzumbil whom they had met previously. The
sendings are as follows:

The dwarves have determined that they cannot defeat We ask your aid again. Orc blockade too strong to break by
the orcs militarily. There are too many of them and force. Leader, Garizmul Throatslasher, must be killed. We
they are too widespread to allow a dwarven force to beseech you. More next sending.
wipe them all out before the orcs rallied and defeated
the dwarves in detail. Normally, dwarves could count And
on winning a few battles against an orc force and those
losses would cause the remaining orcs to flee back to Undertake this for good of us and trade with lowlands. Do not
their holes in the mountains. But the dwarves believe attempt to come to Nirzumbil, orcs too strong, marketplace
that the leadership of these orcs is too strong and too abandoned. Please help. Reward.
motivated for this to happen.
The PCs can respond to the second sending in 25
Therefore, the dwarves have determined that the only words or less. If the PCs respond with questions or
way to lift the blockade and end the uprising is to slay such that more conversation is needed, Thelikuk can
the leader of the orcs. And for this, they turn to the cast two sendings per day. Other dwarven priests can
PCs… cast the spell, but they are busy using their magic to
fight the orcs.
The Player Characters
If the PCs want to know what rewards they will
It is assumed that, since events of Let it Be, the PCs
receive, refer to the end of the adventure for details.
have been left to their own devises; perhaps they have
adventured for a time in the human-dominated
Thelikuk knows nothing about where Garizmul might
lowlands, or perhaps they have been continuing to
be headquartered. That will be one of the first things
oppose the orcs in the dwarf-held mountains.
the PCs will have to find out.
During the interval between Let it Be and now, the PCs
What the PCs can accomplish in this adventure is to
may have noticed, especially if they spent time in the
break the orc blockade prematurely, before it is
lowlands, that the Mercur trade coster has had no
broken naturally (likely by the human kingdoms of the
trouble signing iron ore contracts and signing long
lowlands mustering and marching an army into the
term deals with buyers. Should the PCs investigate, it
mountains to restore trade). Given the desire of
will be apparent that Mercur is not price gouging in
Mercur to maintain the blockade for at least another
any way, but somehow they have access to good
year or more, breaking the blockade will have a
quality iron ore where the other trade costers are high
profound effect on the fortunes of Mercur. In addition,
and dry.
if the PCs can find evidence of Mercur’s role behind the
uprising, they can ensure the Mercur coster is
Clearly, suspicion will begin to fall upon Mercur. But if
punished severely by the various kingdoms affected.
the PCs investigate further and inquire, Mercur traders
and agents will simply say that Mercur has simply dug
into its reserves, which it prudently built up in case of
lean times, and is offering them to those who need
their wares at normal prices. In short, the Mercurians
The journey from wherever the PCs are to Hammon’s
will portray their actions as almost charitable! After
Creche, the last human settlement before reaching
all, they will repeatedly stress, they could be charging
Nirzumbil, can be as eventful or uneventful as the DM
triple or more for their wares, but they are not. Instead
they continue to charge the pre-uprising prices.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 4
likes. There will be no orc encounters on the way to
the Creche.
If the PCs are already in the mountains when they
receive the sending, then the DM can ignore the parts
of this adventure dealing with travel to the area.
If the PCs ask about the road ahead or for rumours
before reaching Hammon’s Creche, they can learn the
following:
 A ranger will say that rumours from the kobolds he
hunts say that a dragon seems to be active in the
mountains near Nirzumbil. The ranger doesn’t know
if the dragon is hostile to or friendly with the orcs
 No one has heard of any caravan making it through
the blockade around Nirzumbil or the other
dwarven stronghold, Hegzeril, in months.
 The more knowledgeable of those questioned think
it likely that a small group of capable folk could run
the blockade, especially if they stay off the road and
use the more rugged and inaccessible paths.
If the PCs took part in Strike Back, then they should
have the map they received from the dwarf scout. If
not, then the DM should have the PCs meet a dwarf
scout stuck in Hammon’s Creche who offers to sell the
map to the PCs. Refer to the Player’s Map at the end of
the adventure.
Hammon’s Creche
Hammon’s Creche is the last settlement of any size
before entering the mountains and land unclaimed by
the lowland kingdoms.
The village is somewhat prosperous and not at all
short of supplies, as the orcs rarely come down far
enough to bother the inhabitants. But, the village is
suffering from the lack of revenues and livelihoods
provided by caravans passing through to and from
Nirzumbil. The four village inns are fairly empty, and
the marketplace is pathetic and ill attended.
The PCs will be welcome in the village, their coin
eagerly south at taverns and inns, and the innkeepers
and tavern staff will fall over themselves to
accommodate the PCs and gain their coins.
Rumours are rampant in the Creche, due to their
frontier location and proximity to the mountains. If the
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
PCs ask around, allow a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion)
check to learn each of these below:
 An army from the kingdoms of the lowlands will
come any day now and smash them orcs! (False)
 Been fewer goblins in the region since the orcs come.
That’s a silver lining at least. I guess them orcs have
chased ‘em all away into their hidey holes. (True)
 Been some strange folk passing through of late. I
seen a man in a cloak pass nearby headin’ up into the
mountains, and his cloak changed colours to match
his surroundings! (True)
 After the orcs have starved out them dwarves, they’ll
be turning round and heading for us! (False)
 The leader of the orcs is a bloke named Garizmul
Throatslasher. (True)
 I hear there’s a dragon up there helping the orcs!
(False)
 I hear there’s a dragon up there killing the orcs!
(True)
 The orcs stole a sacred axe from the barbarian ruins
near here, and that’s what stirred up the local spirits
of the ruins. (False*)
 Been strange things in the ruins since the orcs been
uppity. (True*)
 Some barbarians been helping the orcs against the
dwarves, since them dwarves sometimes offer a
bounty on barbarian scalps. (False)
 Some merchants are going to try to force the
blockade. It is said they are coming in armoured
wagons pulled by griffons. (False)
 Hegzeril is going to be attacked directly, and once it
falls, the orcs from that blockade will join the orcs at
Nirzumbil and they will assault the place. That’s
what they are waiting for. (False)
These rumours are actually based potentially on the
actions of the PCs during the adventure The Horns of
War.
Against the Orcs 5
 aggressive or challenge the PCs in any way. They have
been included to provide flavour, to allow druids to
use their spells and abilities (e.g. speak with animals),
This adventure takes place in the lands surrounding and to present a potential danger to familiars that are
the dwarven stronghold of Nirzumbil. Refer to the sent alone to scout.
Regional Map at the end of this adventure.
Roll Forest Day Forest Night
The areas to the south and west of Nirzumbil were
2 Owlbear Owlbear
detailed previously in Strike Back. The area just north
of Nirzumbil have been detailed in A Taste of Honey 3 Kobold Werewolf
and The Tower of Tharikthiril. It is unlikely that the PCs 4 Snake Spider
will visit most of these locations during this adventure, 5 Vermin Vermin
but if they do, the DM should consult with these 6 Weasel Wolf
adventures for details regarding the various sites on 7 Deer Bat
the map and possible additional encounters for the DM
8 Spider Goblin
to utilize.
9 Boar Owl
The PCs will travel at a rate of 16 miles per day along 10 Orc Orc
the roadway in the mountains, or 12 miles per day if 11 Bear Kobold
they go off road. If climbing a mountain or in very 12 Ettercap Ettercap
rugged terrain, then travel will be reduced to 6 miles
per day. If the PCs are travelling in winter, then these
rates should be cut in half. Roll Heights Day Heights Night
2 Aarakocra Displacer Beast
Wandering Encounters 3 Stone Giant Dwarf
For random encounters in the region depicted by the 4 Lion Orc
Regional Map, consult the tables below. Check once
5 Eagle Vermin
every hour for encounters when the PCs are moving.
Roll a d 20 and on an 18+ and encounter is indicated. If 6 Hawk Wolf
an encounter is indicated, immediately reroll to check 7 Deer Bat
for a second encounter. Keep rerolling until an 8 Snake Snake
encounter is not indicated. If multiple encounters are 9 Orc Snake
indicated, the DM can combine them into a single 10 Dwarf Stone Giant
encounter or can separate then by up to 45 minutes or
11 Krenshar Krenshar
so, depending upon how many encounters are
indicated. 12 Peryton Ogre

When the PCs are stationary, make a check every four

Roll Valleys Day Valleys Night
hours. However, if the PCs have a campfire and are
making no reasonable attempt to conceal it, check 2 Hill Giant Senmurv
every hour instead. 3 Displacer Beast Dwarf
4 Ogre Death Dog
The encounter tables are categorized by terrain type 5 Bear Vermin
and divided into daytime and nighttime encounters. 6 Hawk Wolf
Roll 2d6 to determine the appropriate encounter.
7 Deer Bat
Wandering creatures do not have statistic blocks 8 Badger Goblin
presented in this scenario (unless unique to this 9 Orc Orc
adventure). Refer to the Monster Manual statistics not 10 Dwarf Troglodyte
presented herein. 11 Hippogriff Werebear
12 Owlbear Owlbear
Note that normal animals are included in the
encounter chart even if they are not likely to be

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 6
Aarakocra. These normally shy humanoids are a bit
astir at the recent orc activity in the mountains. As
such, always worried about their own safety, they are
monitoring extraordinary travelers in these parts.
A first encounter with these will involve a single scout
circling the PCs from high above before flying back to
its lair. Thereafter, some hours later, a group of 1d4+2
aarakocra will observe the PCs for a time and,
assuming the PCs do not appear hostile, finally land to
make contact with them. The birdmen will greet the
PCs in halting Common and ask them why they travel
through the wilderland. They have seen many orcs in
the area and are familiar with all of the orc camps and
villages listed on the map. The aarakocra do not know
where Garizmul’s lair is nor of the existence of the
Stonewych, though if questioned closely, they can
point to a strong orc presence high up Mount Gur-Am-
Hiri. The aarakocra can tell the PCs that stone giants
have stopped coming to worship at The Targ, a site
that customarily saw occasional religious rites by the
stone giants.
Further encounters with the aarakocra will depend
upon the outcome of the first encounter.
The aarakocra have a tribe consisting of sixty birdmen
in their aeries atop the peak of Mount Barazburil.
There are an additional ten young and six eggs in the
aeries. The DM should assume that there are several
priests (Cleric 5) amongst the aarakocra.
Note: If the PCs have met and befriended the aarakocra
in the adventure Above and Below, then these will
recognize the PCs and react accordingly.
Bats. Assume that an encounter will be with 1d4 x 10
normal bats 75% of the time, or with 1d8 giant bats
otherwise.
Bats of normal size are not a danger to most creatures,
except to tiny familiars. Giant bats, however, will often
attack Small humanoids and beasts of burden.
Badger. An encounter will be with a single badger
80% of the time, or a giant badger otherwise.
These crusty animals are very territorial, though, of
course, a normal sized badger is not likely to threaten
PCs. On the other hand, a giant badger is likely to
attack PCs who approach it too closely or who catch it
by surprise.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Bear. An encounter will be with a black bear 75% of
the time or a brown bear otherwise. These will have
1d4 cubs in tow 25% of the time (cubs are
noncombatants). Black bears will only attack if
startled, harassed, or their cubs are approached.
Brown bears are very aggressive and are 50% likely to
attack unprovoked.
Boar. Encounters will be with a1d4 boars 85% of the
time, or 1d2 giant boars otherwise. If a single normal
boar is encountered, there is a 25% chance it is a sow
with 1d6 piglets nearby.
Normal boars are bad tempered and will likely charge
anyone approaching within 80 ft. Dire boards are
extremely aggressive and likely to attack anyone
within 120 ft.
Death Dog. These evil beasts roam the hills in the area.
An encounter will be with 1d6 death dogs. They will
attack with cunning, often preceded by their strange
double bark.
Deer. These are 1d3 indigenous mountain deer 50%
of the time, or 1d20 elks otherwise. These creatures
can be hunted for food. Deer are shy and non-
aggressive, but elk are rutting in the springtime and
can be aggressive if approached or bothered.
Displacer Beast. These are some of the most fearsome
hunters of the region, though, thankfully, rare due to
the orcs and dwarves who drive them off.
Nevertheless, the recent battles and orc activity have
lured a few of these creatures to the area, seeking easy
pickings.
1d2 displacer beasts will be encountered. These are
aggressive and fearless hunters, though they are
intelligent enough to come up with clever tactics.
Dwarf. Dwarves encountered with either be a
warparty patrolling the area and hunting for orcs or
other evil creatures 50% of the time, otherwise, they
will be wanderer/prospector teams out in the
wilderness on business and willing to brave the orcs.
Warparties will question the PCs and ask if they have
seen any recent orc activity. Wanderers and
prospectors will likely try to avoid the PCs and will be
wary of them and brusque if spoken to.
Against the Orcs 7
Warparties include 1d10+10 dwarf guards (see
Appendix B).
Wanderers and prospectors will consist of 1d4 dwarf
commoners.
Eagle. These will be 1d2 normal eagles 85% of the
time or 1d2 giant eagles otherwise.
Normal eagles will generally be seen high in the air or
swooping down to get at rodents or other small prey.
Giant eagles will also often be seen high aloft,
especially as one nears the peak of Mount Haranzinil.
They might, if they can, take a mule that is untended
and appears abandoned, but are generally kindly
creatures if not threatened and will not attack the PCs
directly. They enjoy harassing orcs, ogres, and goblins.
Ettercap. These fell creatures haunt some of the
forested regions of the area. They are sneaky and
aggressive. 1d2 ettercaps will be encountered, and
there is a 50% chance they will be accompanied by
1d3+1 giant spiders.
Goblin. Goblins lair in these mountains, eternal
enemies of the dwarves. They are hardly strong
enough to fight the dwarves en masse, and with the
coming of the orcs into the area, the goblins have
retreated into their holes in order to avoid being
enslaved by the orcs, drafted into the orc armies, or,
worst of all, being inducted into the orcish larders.
Nevertheless, they do still raid, attacking weak-
seeming dwarven groups or other such creatures, as
well as to hunt and gather supplies. Such raids usually
occur at night and will involve 1d20 goblins. If 10 or
more goblins are encountered, they will be led by a
goblin boss.
Hawk. These will usually be a normal hawk seen
flying high above 90% of the time, otherwise the
encounter will be with 3d4 blood hawks. Hawks are
only a danger to rodents or similar tiny familiars.
Blood hawks are quite aggressive and will often attack
one or two creature at a time.
Hill Giant. These brutes are true menaces of the
region. The dwarves drove most of them deep into the
mountains, but the orcs have recruited some as shock
troops and the remainder have returned to see what
the pickings are like. Encounters will be with a single
marauding hill giant who is aiming for food, sport, and
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
mischief. A hill giant wil usually begin attacks by
throwing rocks.
Hippogriff. Encounter will be with 1d2 hippogriffs. If
two are encountered, it will be a mated pair, likely
with young nearby. In this case, the hippogriffs will
attempts to drive intruders from their territory by
displays of aggression, only attacking if they are
attacked or their nests are approached.
Kobold. Kobolds, even more than goblins, are fearful
raiders, for they are always in danger of being abused
by goblins and dwarves, and now they have the added
menace of orc tribes to deal with. Nevertheless, these
consummate thieves and pests still ply the scrub and
valleys of the mountains at night, seeking weak-
seeming prey and scavenging opportunities.
An encounter will be with 3d4 kobolds. If 10 or more
are encountered, they will be led by a kobold adept
(see Appendix B).
Additionally, if a group of 6 or more kobolds is
encountered, allow a 25% chance that they are
accompanied by a giant weasel companion.
Krenshar. These creatures hunt in packs, using their
Scare action to keep opponents at bay and then
choosing one to gang up on.
An encounter will be with 1d10 krenshars (see
Appendix B).
Lion. Encounters will be with 1d3 panthers
(mountain lions). These creatures tend to avoid
contact with humanoids, unless they seem helpless or
are travelling along. They will stalk and hunt other
animals.
Ogre. These brutes are partially native to the region
and partially in league with the orc tribes.
And encounter will be with 1d3 ogres.
Orc. Only a few orc tribes are native to the region, even
as far as extended hunting ranges go. The remainder
have recently entered the region to attack the trade
between Nirzumbil and the lowlands.
No orc encountered knows much about why they are
uniting or attacking Nirzumbil. They will likely spout
the platitudes and clichés fed to them by their clergy:
Against the Orcs 8
We’re gonna finally get them dwarves for all of the
things they’ve done to orcs in the past!
We are attacking the dwarves because they are
sniveling cowards who don’t deserve the riches they
have hidden away.
If the PCs are on the move, an encounter will be with a
gang 25% of the time, a squad 50% of the time, or an
encampment 25% of the time. If the PCs are stationary
(e.g. camped or resting), the encounter will be with a
gang 50% of the time or a squad otherwise.
Orc gangs represent hunters or other small groups out
on a mundane task or out for pleasure and consist of
2d4 orcs.
Orc squads represent organized parties, usually
heading to a raid. These number 1d10+10 orcs and
will be led by an orog half the time or an ogrillon (half
ogre) otherwise.
Orc encampments are temporary affairs and involve
1d8+2 x10 (30-100) orcs. These will be led by an orc
war chief and an orc eye of Gruumsh. These
encampments will often have treasure from caravan
raids. The DM should design these encampments and
treasure as necessary, though it is unlikely the PCs will
wish to attack such a large number of orcs.
Owl. Encounters will be with a normal owl 85% of the
time or a giant owl otherwise.
Encounters with a normal owl will only pose a threat
to small animals and familiars. Giant owls are
intelligent and they are nervous about the orc
incursion and have already had some scrapes with the
orcs coming too near their nests.
Owlbear. An encounter will be with 1d2 owlbears,
with two being a mated pair. They are very aggressive,
and even more riled up because of the recent orc
activity, which has scared away or consumed must of
the game native to the region.
Peryton. This will be a single peryton, on the hunt for
the perfect heart to consume. The shadow cast by any
peryton encountered in this region will be either an
orc or a dwarf (reflecting its last meal),
Senmurv. 1d6 senmurv (see appendix B) will be
encountered. These strange creatures of good are
active in the area, trying to attack the orc raiders in
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
defense of both the dwarves of Nirzumbil (although
the dwarves are unaware of this aid) and the other
good inhabitants of the region. Active at night, they
have taken to swooping down on orc encampments
and causing havoc before fleeing as the orcs mount a
resistance.
The senmurv will likely observe the PCs for a time and
then close in to parley with good-seeming persons.
Snake. Snakes are endemic to the region, especially as
Nirzumbil becomes more distant. All snakes
encountered will be solitary.
In the forests, snakes encountered will be constrictors
25% of the time, or vipers otherwise. In other areas,
snakes will be exclusively poisonous snakes.
Constrictors will be a normal constrictor snake 85%
of the time or a giant constrictor snake otherwise.
Vipers will be a normal poisonous snake 60% of the
time or a giant poisonous snake otherwise.
Normal snakes tend to only hunt prey smaller than
they, and constrictor snakes will not even hunt
Medium creatures usually. Giant poisonous snakes are
usually a danger only to Small creatures or if startled,
but giant constrictors are quite aggressive and will
hunt most anything.
Spider. These vermin haunt the forests of the region.
While spiders can be encountered under the Vermin
entry, they are also represented by this entry.
An encounter will be with 1d4+1 giant spiders.
Stone Giant. This encounter will be with 1d3 stone
giants. These giants are peaceful unless bothered.
When encountered during the night, they will often be
throwing rocks at one another, and an errant rock
might head the PCs’ way.
Stone giants will react warily to strangers, preferring
to be left alone. If threatened or treated badly, they will
attack remorselessly.
If the stone giants are questioned, they will admit they
dislike the presence of the orcs, but that there is
nothing they can do about it. Under no circumstances
will any stone giant agree to act against the orcs, and a
DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check by the PCs will reveal
Against the Orcs 9
that there is something the stone giants are not telling
the PCs.
These stone giants are under order by the Stonewych
to refrain from opposing the orcs.
If asked about The Targ, the stone giants will say that
they used to worship at that holy place, but now there
are too many ogres and hill giants profaning it, so they
do not go there any longer.
Troglodyte. These evil creatures emerge from their
caves to raid dwarves and orcs alike. They are not
usually common on the surface, but the recent orc
activity has stirred them up and they have a lair deep
within some caves just to the south of this region.
Those encountered will be a raiding band of 3d4
troglodytes seeking captives to bring back to their
lairs to sacrifice and eat. Any band will also have 1d2
giant lizards as “hounds” 25% of the time.
Troglodytes generally are active only at night.
Vermin. This is a catch-all for various giant insects that
roam the area.
Roll 1d4 and consult the list below:
1 = 1d6 giant centipedes
2 = 1d4 giant scorpions
3 = 1d12 giant fire beetles
4 = 1d4 giant spiders
Weasel. Encounters will be with 1 weasel 80% of the
time or a giant weasel otherwise. The former will
hunt rodents and other tiny creatures. Giant weasels
are opportunistic hunters, but unlikely to attack a
group of PCs.
Werebear. An encounter will be with a single
werebear, likely in bear form. Being a goodly creature,
the bear is on the hunt for orcs to slay, and it is likely
to regard the PCs with interest and tail them for a time
to make sure they are not allied to the orcs. Should the
PCs be attacked by orcs during this time, the werebear
will lend a paw to the fray.
Werewolf. Several werewolves plague this area. An
encounter will be with 1d2 werewolves, usually in
wolf form. They are aggressive hunters who have the
blood lust about them.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Wolf. Several types of wolves roam these mountains.
Roll a d6 and consult the list below:
1-3 = 1d12 wolves
4-5 = 1d6 worgs
6 = 1d2 dire wolves
Normal wolves are not usually aggressive against
normal humanoids unless they come upon a lone
individual or wounded foe or are very hungry. They
will be potentially dangerous to animals, familiars, or
beasts of burden.
Worgs and dire wolves are very aggressive predators,
and the former relish attacking sentient beings. Worgs
will always attack unless they are extremely
outnumbered. Dire wolves will attack half of the time.
As the PCs head out from Hammon’s Creche, there will
be nothing unusual for several miles. However, as the
roadway winds up into the mountains, a few outlying
homesteads will be seen to be abandoned or burned
down.
Here and there, on or just off the roadway, can be seen
the debris of sacked caravans: a bone or two, some
charred wood, pieces of weapons and armour, broken
arrows shafts, etc. It is clear that a great many
caravans tried to run the blockade, and a great many of
those were destroyed or turned back.
Still, the 160 mile journey from Hammon’s Creche to
the Nirzumbil area will be quite placid at first. The PCs
will travel at a rate of 16 miles per day along the
roadway in the mountains, or 12 miles per day if they
go off road. If the PCs are travelling in winter, then
these rates should be cut in half.
After about 100 miles of travel, the PCs will begin to
see orcish tokens and orc signs all around. These will
include many orc footprints, a lot of wanton hacking of
plant life, orcish graffiti scrawled on rocks in blood or
chalk, dwarf and human heads stuck on poles, piles of
skulls, et al.
This would be a good time for the PCs to leave the
road.
Against the Orcs 10
Off Road before Orc Signs
Should the PCs eschew the road entirely between
Hammon’s Creche and the 100 mile point where orc
sign becomes prevalent, the DM should adjust travel
times accordingly and present a couple of encounters
to reflect the PCs’ wilderness travel. Two such off road
encounters are presented here:
Wolves:
It has been a tough winter for the wolves of the region.
Winter is always a difficult time anyways, but the
masses of orcs in the region have used up or chased off
much of the scarce winter game, forcing the wolves to
hunt farther afield and to become desperate.
This particular pack has cubs to feed and they are
hungry enough to attack anything…or at least give it a
go.
As such, these will stalk the PCs for a time, gathering
up their numbers before attacking, Since they are
seeking a meal, when they do attack, the twelve
wolves, which are led by a dire wolf, will swarm over
a beast of burden if one is present, preferably an
unridden one, but otherwise they will attack a mount.
If no beasts are present, then the wolves will try to
swarm and take down a PC.
These wolves are canny pack hunters, and will likely
send a few of their number far around to the front of
the PCs to show themselves and make quick runs at
the PCs in order to distract them from the main attack
from the rear.
The wolves’ strategy is to bring down one meal and
then drive away the rest of the PCs, so that they can
feast in leisure and bring food back to their cubs.
Enraged Brown Bear:
The PCs will, at first, hear sounds of a mewling yelp
followed by the harsh sounds of laughter. The former
is made by a brown bear cub, the latter by some far-
ranging orcs. The orcs have had to come further down
the mountains to hunt, having depleted much of the
game in the area where they are encamped. As a result,
this group of nine orcs has come upon a brown bear
cub that has become separated from its mother. The
vicious instincts of the orcs has taken over, and they
are now tormenting the poor beast.
The orcs will torment the cub for about a minute. This
is not enough time for the PCs to make it to the site,
unless they have some very fast means of travel. After
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
that time, the mewling will stop, and the orcs will set
to tearing the cub apart to feast upon it.
Another 30 seconds later, a great below will be heard
as the enraged mother bear (see Appendix B) bursts
into the clearing. It will take her a mere three rounds
to kill three of the orcs. The other six orcs flee, right
towards the PCs, with the mother bear hot in pursuit.
Assuming the PCs do not have the means of travel to
reach the orcs before this happens, if they have
travelled towards the sounds they hear, the PCs will
first encounter the orcs fleeing towards them. The orcs
will have absolutely no interest in interacting with the
PCs, and it will be clear from their actions (looking
fearfully over their shoulders, shouting “run away!” in
Orcish) that they are running from something.
The mother bear will arrive 1d4 rounds later. Even if
the orcs are slain or outrun, the mother bear will have
caught wind of the PCs’ scent and, still enraged, will
come after them (after dispatching the orcs in short
order).
Unless the PCs can tirelessly outdistance the mother
bear, they are in for a fight, as she will attack until
killed or disabled or for at least another 3-4 hours until
her rage subsides.
On the Road after Orc Signs
If the PCs elect to stay on the road after they begin to
see orc signs, they will encounter an orc warparty
engaged in blockading the roadway. This will be a
strong warparty, as the road is the natural path into
and out of the region, and the blockade is meant to be
effective against even well-armed caravans.
The warparty includes twenty four orcs, along with
four orogs and an ogre. This group is led by an orc
eye of Gruumsh.
The ogre wears an amulet of grisly aid (see Appendix
A), which it activate at the first opportunity.
These orcs are spoiling for a good scrape, as no
caravans have passed this way in some times, and they
are a bit cocky and over-eager. Half of the orcs will
hang back and throw javelins at spellcasters and
mounts, while the rest of the troop will simply wade
into combat, howling gleefully and thanking Gruumsh
for the fine sport at hand.
Against the Orcs 11
If the orcs are badly pressed, they will flee the field,
but not until the ogre, the orc eye of Gruumsh, and the
orogs have fallen.
If the PCs flee the orcs, they will give chase for only a
short time before the orogs and eye of Gruumsh force
them to return to blockading the roadway.
The strength of this encounter should hopefully send a
message to the PCs, letting them know that the orc
blockade is strong and is not going to be
singlehandedly broken by the PCs.
If the PCs still intend to travel along the roadway, then
the DM should have them encounter more and more
groups of orcs, some of them lesser in power than this
warparty but some of greater power.
Eventually, if the PCs keep heading up the roadway,
word will get out amongst the orcs and an
overwhelming force of several hundred orcs, will
march down the roadway looking for the PCs to keep
them from reaching Nirzumbil. In the end, the PCs will
either leave the road or be overwhelmed.
Should the PCs attempt to reach Nirzumbil, the DM
should present a siege of hundreds of orcs
surrounding the dwarven stronghold. The exterior
walled marketplace has been overrun by orcs, but the
massive doors to the underground portion are intact,
albeit battered.
The dwarves will not open the doors for the PCs under
any circumstance whatsoever. Should the PCs
somehow make it into Nirzumbil after all, a perplexed
Thelikuk will greet them, reiterate her request, and
send them out again to find and slay Garizmul
Throatslasher.
Off the Road after Orc Signs
If, any time after the 100 mile mark, the PCs travel off
road, then they can avoid a major attack by the
orcs…at least initially. Instead, the PCs will note more
and more orc signs and will finally come across an orc
camp.
The Orc Camp:
The orc camp is quite large and nestled in as sheltered
valley that gives it shade from the sun. There are well
over a hundred orcs here, led by an orc war chief and
an orc eye of Gruumsh.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
However, the PCs can hear sounds of orcish revelry
and activity from quite a distance, and if they exhibit
even a modicum of caution, they can successfully
sneak up upon two orc sentries. The sentries have
ivory horns to sound to warn the camp if they see
danger.
These sentries will be having a conversation in Orc.
Even if the listeners amongst the PCs cannot speak Orc,
they will be able to make out one word over and over
again: simagul, the word for “dragon”. They seem to be
talking about a ferrosh simagul, which is a copper
dragon, and an udon simagul, which is a red dragon.
If the listeners can understand Orc, they can glean a lot
more from the conversation:
ORC 1: You hear about any more dragon sightings?
ORC 2: Nah! And that’s just right by me. Yeah, I been
achin’ for a bit o’ action and some dwarf flesh, but I ain’t
in this ta fight me no dragons.
ORC 1: I hear tell this dragon been fixing on Merrosht’s
boys, meltin’ ‘em with his breath and such. Them copper
dragons ain’t nothing ta fool with if ya ask me.
ORC 2: I didn’t ask ya, but yer true anyways. I hear in
fact dem copper dragons has two breaths, but I don’t
know what the other one is.
ORC 1: Ya mean they got two heads?
ORC 2: Did I say two heads, idiot? I says two
breaths…outta one head. Copper dragon’s choice what
ta breathe on ya…how to go about fixin’ ya as it were.
ORC 1: One breath is more’n enough says I!
ORC 2: I drinks ta that. An’ I hear something else that
you don’t know.
ORC 1: I know about it already. Hah! I know everything
ya does. Um…what is it?
ORC 2: Har! Ya don’t know. But I’ll tell us anyways since
ya givin’ me some o’ yer ale. The Big Man has gotten real
tired of that ole copper dragon flyin’ over the camps and
causin’ havoc. So I hear tell he made all nicey nice to a
red dragon who lives on top o’ a mountain to the north.
They promise him all sorts o’ shinies and stuff if this red
Against the Orcs 12
dragon’ll come on down to our neck ‘o the woods and
finish that copper dragon but good.
ORC 1: How many breaths a red dragon got?
ORC 2: One.
ORC 1: One? Is that all? Seems like the red dragon’s got
the short end of that spear?
ORC 2: Garn yer dense! Did yer mother screw a goblin?
It’s only got one breath, but it’s all fire. Really hot. And
copper melts don’t it? Pretty easy too. Heh!
ORC 1: When’s the big fight then?
ORC 2: Not sure. I hear the red dragon is a comin’ soon
and they know that the old copper dragon is living in the
hills south o’ Mount Barakhir, which be south a bit from
dem dwarves. I think some ogres are gonna go in ta
stomp up a bit and help out…probably so that the Big
Man can claim some o’ the copper dragon’s treasure .
ORC 1: Da Big Man is a smart one for sucha badass.
ORC 2: I’d watch yer tongue. The Big Man don’t brook
no balktalk in his armies. He ain’t called Throatslasher
for nothing.
After that, the two orcs will commence to lewd tales of
exploits with other orcs and will eventually drink
themselves into a snooze after an hour or two.
These orcs can be attacked. They will attempt to sound
their horns if they spot intruders, but otherwise will
flee from powerful-seeming opposition.
If an alarm is sounded, the orcs in the camp will form
up and at least half their number will head out to hunt
down the trouble. The eye of Gruumsh will be with
them, though the war chief will not.
If the PCs took part in the adventure , then they may
have met the copper dragon who is causing all of the
trouble for the orcs. This is Magreffix, a copper dragon
wyrmling who dwells in the hills south of Mount
Barakhir. The copper dragon is completely unaware of
his impending danger, and so it is left to the PCs to
warn the young dragon of what is to come.
Even if the PCs have never met the copper dragon
before, this is certainly a chance that should not be
passed up. This copper dragon is causing much
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
damage to the orcs, and he could prove an invaluable
ally against the orcs. As such, the PCs should be
encouraged to find the dragon.
If the PCs seem unwilling to aid the dragon, the DM can
have them come across examples of the dragon’s
effective attacks against the orcs…corpses melted by
acid, ogres chomped in half, gouge marks through
worgs, etc. Let it be clear that this dragon is a major
factor in this part of the orc blockade.
A Giant Treasure:
A few hours after encountering the orc camp, the PCs
will run across Yargogg the hill giant. Yargogg came
along with the orcs to smash dwarves and rob humans,
but he is rather surly of late due to the lack of anything
to smash or eat except for orcs and goblins.
Yargogg’s claim to fame in the region was his ambush
of a dwarven hero named Rikil Thrammun, whom he
caught sleeping. The dwarf hero had sallied forth
specifically to do battle with the ogres and giants that
had sided with the orcs against the dwarves, for he
was an expert giant slayer. However, Yargogg can upon
him in his camp and fought the dwarf, who was not
wearing armour. Even so, the hill giant got very lucky
and managed to slay the hero, whose skull he carries
around with him in his bag.
The dwarves of Nirzumbil know the hammer carried
by the hero (and now by Yargogg) by sight, and they
will demand its return as an heirloom of the
stronghold. If returned voluntarily, the dwarves will
gladly pay half of its value initially and can be
bargained up to its full value. They will also pay for the
return of the hero’s shield (though they will not
demand that be returned) and of the circlet and skull
itself (the price of the latter is negotiable).
Yargogg knows the hammer is magic, for it hurt him
severely when the dwarf hero smashed his ankle, and
even now he still walks with a slight limp and sports a
hammer-sized bruise that will likely never heal. But he
is afraid to wield the hammer for fear that he will turn
into a dwarf. This is an absolutely unreasonable and
unfounded fear, but Yargogg is not exactly bright. He
wants to find a magician or shaman to fix the hammer
so that he can wild it against other giants and become
their ruler.
To this end, Yargogg will go out of his way not to kill
priests and spellcasters, instead trying to capture them
and coerce them into “uncursing” the hammer. Such
Against the Orcs 13
captured victims could use this as a way to bargain out
of a tight spot.
If Yargogg sees the PCs approaching, he will scramble
to a high spot, gather rocks around him, and rain them
down on the PCs, mostly for sport. When he is out of
rocks, if it looks like he hurt some of the PCs, he might
climb down and attack.
Yargogg is fond of horseflesh and may target mounts
with his rocks in the hope of downing one of them and
then chasing the PCs away so that he can roast it up
and have a feast.
In Yargogg’s sack are the following:
 a giant slayer warhammer (while usually this type of
weapons is a sword or axe, this is a specially forged
hammer with the same property)
 a +1 shield
 a dwarf skull with a silver circlet upon its brow (the
circlet is worth 400 gp)
This section assumes the PCs are heading to warn the
copper dragon of the impending attack upon him. If
the PCs did not gain this intelligence from the orc
sentries in the previous section, then the DM can
simply reintroduce the sentries as a small hunting
party of eight orcs also conversing in the same fashion.
If that fails, the DM can, in a pinch, have the PCs
discover a dead orc with a note clutched in its hand.
The orc was slain at night by marauding troglodytes,
its body pierced with slash and bite marks. The orc
managed to escape and stagger to its present location
before dying, The troglodytes never found the orc.
Even if the PCs are already heading to warn the copper
dragon, the DM can have them find the body as a bit of
added atmosphere and to fill in some details of the
orcs’ plan.
The note is in a surprisingly graceful hand, and reads
in Common:
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Oh Great Vermifex, Scion of Udonfirril the Great:
I, Garizmul Throatslasher, ask you to come and aid us against
a copper bastard of your race who even now attacks my troops
without reason or provocation. We orcs are unworthy to
combat even a lowly copper dragon of your kin, but we know
you, with your fiery breath and impenetrable red hide, could
defeat him easily. We have found this bastard's lair - he dwells
in the hills south of Mount Barakhir, at the eastern end of the
ridges. An illusion covers the entrance, but we can show you
precisely where it is.
All that he has is, of course, yours by right of combat. As well,
we have taken treasure from the dwarves and we will pay you
many gold coin's worth for his death. Perhaps you will even
join us in our work against the dwarves?
I am sending five messengers with this message, to make sure
you receive this, O great one. I ask that you allow the first
messenger that reaches you to return with your answer. The
laggards who arrive after the first are yours to consume or
enslave as you wish.
Signed,
Garizmul Throatslasher
Commander in Chief and Warlord of the Orcish Armies against
the Dwarves.
As the PCs near the area where the dragon dwells, they
will see more and more signs of the destruction the
dragon has wrought upon the orcs. Orc bones and
equipment, much of it melted, are here and there,
along with trees and bushes also subjected to the acid
breath. Even great rocks have streaks across them,
gouges made by the acid line from the dragon.
The DM can introduce another orc encounter as the
PCs approach Mount Barakhir, just to keep up the
impression that the orcs have overrun the area or to
provide a chance for the PCs to capture and orc or
goblins and question him about the dragon’s
whereabouts.
This encounter will be with a foraging/hunting party
comprised of eight orcs and twelve goblins and
should not be too tough for the PCs to overcome.
Finding the Dragon
If the PCs overheard the conversation between the two
orc sentries and understood what they were saying,
then they have a good idea where to start looking for
the copper dragon. Similarly, if the PCs found the note
on the orc messenger, then they have a very good idea
where to look.
Against the Orcs 14

Additionally, all of the orcs in the region know there is
a dragon afoot, and they know that the dragon’s
attacks started over to the south of Nirzumbil, near
Mount Barakhir. Of course, as the orcs have shied away
from the area, the dragon has gone further and further
afield to make his attacks. Nevertheless, capturing,
charming, or duping an orc can lead the PCs to the
general area.
Once in the area, dragon signs will be found more
commonly as the PCs approach the south side of
Mount Barakhir. Eventually, these will lead the PCs
into the hills south of the mountain.
Meeting Magreffix
Once the PCs enter the hill region, they will eventually
be spotted by Magreffix, likely as he watches in hiding
from atop one of the crowns of the higher hills in the
area. The dragon will observe the PCs for a time before
swooping in closer to get a look at them. Assuming the
PCs do not look like a band of orcs, the dragon will
cautiously approach and question the PCs.
If any of the PCs met Magreffix during Strike Back, then
he will recognize the PCs after a low fly over and
gleefully land to meet with them.
Magreffix (see Appendix B) has grown in the last six
months or so. Already at the older end of being a
wyrmling, the dragon’s constant fighting against the
orcs and his tendency to feed well during and after his
battles have allowed him to grow further along toward
becoming a young copper dragon. Not quite there yet,
he has still progressed in his development since the
events during Strike Back, and appears large and more
mature than before.
Magreffix will take the news of a red dragon coming to
attack him with great concern. He thinks he may know
of the dragon but will want to check to be certain. The
copper will be grateful for the PCs’ warning, especially
if they overhead the orc sentries mention that a group
of ogres will be coming with the red dragon.
He will ask the PCs what they are doing in these parts.
If the PCs divulge that they are working against the
orcs, Magreffix will inform them that they share a
common cause. He will then ask the PCs to aid him in
defeating the approaching attack. While he believes
that the dragon in question is a young red dragon, he
does not believe he can handle such a foe by himself.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
In return, Magreffix will offer to aid the PCs in their
quest, for he realizes that his attacks upon the orcs,
though certainly damaging, are unfocused and random
and, overall, are mere pin pricks against the forces
arrayed against the dwarves. He would welcome a
more focused and damaging (to the orcs) direction to
his efforts.
If the PCs refuse to aid him, Magreffix will be sad, but
he will thank them for the information and inform the
PCs that he best flee the area and will not likely return.
With that, he will quickly return to his lair, gather up
his belongings, and leave – never to return. The PCs
will have lost a powerful ally in the conflicts that face
them.
On the other hand, if the PCs agree to help him, the
dragon will lead them to his lair, requesting that they
swear never to divulge its location to anyone. Even if
the PCs refuse to so swear, he is desperate enough to
let them accompany him anyways.
No matter what the outcome of the coming fight,
Magreffix knows his lair has been compromised and
that he will have to find a new one. However, he needs
time to find a suitable location and to move his goods
and treasure to the new location, so he still needs to
PCs’ discretion.
The copper dragon feels that with the PCs at his side,
he can not only defend himself against the red dragon
and the ogres, but he can turn the red dragon’s
ambush into a counter-ambush by him and the PCs.
The Dragon’s Lair
When the Magreffix’s mother, known to be a friend to
the dwarves of Nirzumbil, went to fight against a great
evil to the far north, she never returned. The dwarves
assumed that was the end of any friendly draconic
presence in the area. They were wrong, for the mother
dragon left behind a hatchling, unwilling to take the
babe with her into fearsome battle, but unwilling to
ignore the call to fight against the evil that had arisen.
So she wove protective spells and spells of
concealment about her lair and left the wyrmling to
the trust of fate and the gods.
The hatchling, Magreffix, survived and eventually ate
though the supply of food left by his mother. When he
became a wyrmling, he began to leave his lair in short
journeys to learn of the world he lived in. Certainly, the
orc uprising in the area piqued his curiousity, but he
soon learned to despise the orcs, for he saw how they
Against the Orcs 15
treated the animals of the area and how they threw
javelins at him and how they attacked the dwarves,
whom his mother had told him, though the writings
she left behind, were friends.
The lair is in a cave nestled between two spurs of a
great hill south of Mount Barakhir. The entrance to the
cave is warded by a major image that was cast as a 6th
level spell by Magreffix’s mother and is, therefore,
permanent until dispelled. The illusion covers the cave
opening, making the hillside appear complete and
unbroken.
The orcs discovered the lair entirely by accident, some
orcs happening to observe the dragon emerging from
out of the illusionary hillside.
Refer to the Dragon’s Lair Map at the end of the
adventure for details.
Ceilings. Ceilings in the Maze are 20 ft. high. The
ceiling in the Living Chamber vaults from 20 ft. high at
the edges to 40 ft. high in the center.
Light. The lair is unlit, owing to the dragon’s superior
darkvision and blindsight.
Sound. The faint sound of running water, from the
Living Chamber, may be heard by keen ears while
within the Maze.
Copper dragons owe a distant allegiance to the gods of
humour and tricks, and are innate tricksters
themselves, thought rarely of a sadistic or malicious
bent. Their lairs almost always contain a maze
designed to confound and confuse foes. This is one
reason minotaurs are often used to assault copper
dragon lairs.
This lair was built by Magreffix’s mother. It consists
merely of two portions, a maze and a living chamber.
The Maze
These passages are hewn out of solid stone, with the
help of the dragon’s acid breath. They are strangely
smooth, though not even, as if formed by running
water over eons. This is actually the result of acid
breathing and digging by the matron dragon. The
passages tend to descend in wide, worn steps as they
move away from the main entrance. These passages
are uniformly empty.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
The Living Chamber
The Living Chamber is a large cave some 150 ft. wide
by 100 ft. long. The vaulted ceiling is supported by
three natural stone columns, and both it and the floor
are clear of obstructing mineral formations.
Nevertheless, it will be clear from observation that this
cavern was formed naturally, without the copious use
of acid breath.
The entrance to the Living Chamber is warded by
several spells. Because of this, Magreffix will not let the
PCs enter this cave; he will request that they make
their stand in the Maze. He will, in fact, warn the PCs
that they will be harmed by magic should they enter
the Living Chamber.
First, a permanent alarm spell has been enchanted
over the entrance. This operates precisely like the
spell, except it lasts until dispelled. The alarm is a
mental alarm attuned to Magreffix.
Second, a glyph of warding has been cast over the
entrance as a 6th level spell. This glyph is designed to
trigger if anyone but Magreffix or his mother enters
the cave. The glyph is an explosive rune that erupts
with acid in a 20-foot radius spread causing 8d8 acid
damage on a failed DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, or
half as much damage on a successful one.
To the east sits a pool about 30 feet in diameter. This
pool is fed by water filtering down from the hills and
mountains from rain and runoff snow, and the pool
itself drains through tiny cracks in the bottom and
from evaporation and the drinking of the dragon. The
pool contains fresh, potable water and is 20 feet deep.
In the area between the three stone columns is the
treasure and bed of Magreffix. Although he inherited
the treasure of his mother, she had to spend a great
deal of her wealth to secure the cave and prepare it to
protect and teach her offspring. As such, the treasure
that remains is much smaller than would be expected
from an adult copper dragon. As is the wont of
dragons, the treasure is piled into abed. It includes:
15,000 cp
10,000 sp
2,700 gp
300 pp
various gems and jewels worth 5,000 gp
a spell scroll of blur
4 potions of greater healing
Against the Orcs 16
a +1 greatsword
a quiver of 20 +1 arrows
a potion of speed
a full jar of Keoghtom’s ointment
To the south is a strange object. It is a mass of crystal,
too large to be natural, that forms a roughly ovoid
shape some 30 feet wide by 10 feet deep by 15 feet tall.
Various crystalline structures emanate out of the mass,
forming a spiny whole. This device was what the
mother dragon spent most of her fortune upon. It is a
magical means of storing knowledge, so that it could
be passed onto her offspring in her absence. The
device radiates divination magic.
The mother dragon knew she might not survive the
assault on the evil of the north. So she paid a great
price to have the dwarves of Nirzumbil and some
kindly wizards fashion this item over the course of a
year. The item is integral to its location and cannot be
moved without destroying it. The item works by
pressing on the crystalline spines. Simply pressing one
of the outer spines will activate the items intended for
Magreffix when he was at his youngest...all spoken in
Draconic. An image of the mother dragon will appear
hovering over the device, dispensing words of love,
infantile jokes and humourous songs, lessons on
speaking Draconic, basic mathematics, and tidbits of
obvious advice such as “eat all of your daily ore, but
don’t over eat!” or “never leave the cave, the world
outside is dangerous for a young one such as you!”
There are clues in some of the younger messages that
allow a maturing dragon to press some of the inner
spines and some of the outer ones in ever-increasing
complex combinations to impart more mature and
complex advice from the matron dragon. The intent
was to allow Magreffix to basically learn and mature
all the way through adulthood by way of this advice.
The crystal device is of no real benefit to the PCs; its
only function is to teach and comfort a young dragon
who has been left alone.
To the west are small piles of iron ore and other raw
minerals. Copper dragons can eat such items, when
meat is not available, and these pile represent his
emergency food supply.
The Attack
The PCs will approach the copper dragon’s lair in 1d6
days after the PCs have arrived. This should allow the
PCs to coordinate a plan of attack.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
The copper dragon will show them around the Maze,
and he will allow the PCs to use his spell scroll, his
potion of speed, his potions of greater healing, and his
jar of Keoghtom’s ointment.
The attack force consist of six orcs, three ogres, and
the young red dragon, Vermifex.
Vermifex is quite confident, and as such will not
initially be overly wary. While, of course, any fight
against another dragon is nothing to sneeze at,
Vermifex is inbred with the arrogance of her race, and
she knows that she is larger, stronger, and her breath
more powerful than that of the copper dragon she
faces. In addition, Vermifex’s confidence is bolstered
by the presence of the ogres, whom she intends to use
as fodder. In fact, as she does not wish to share any of
the treasure, she intends to arrange to be the only
survivor of this combat.
The red dragon has no reason to believe that the
copper dragon even knows she is coming, and even
less reason than that to presume a group of capable
PCs is now bent on aiding her quarry. It is in this
element of surprise that the red dragon may be
defeated.
The red dragon and her minions will have a plan. They
do not wish to fight the copper dragon in his lair.
Therefore, the orcs and ogres will appear right at
Magreffix’s doorstep and will challenge the dragon,
hooting and hollering and calling him all sorts of vile
names, mostly in languages he cannot understand (Orc
and Giant), but a few choice insults delivered in
Draconic (taught to them by the red dragon). If the
dragon is not forthcoming, the orcs will then enter the
lair, with orders to find the dragon, throw javelins, and
then run, leading the beast back out of the lair.
All the while, the red dragon will wait, perched 30 feet
above the opening of the copper dragon’s lair. It hopes
to draw the copper out, breath on it, and then leap
down from above, blocking it from retreating back into
its cave.
In any event, should the copper dragon not emerge in
about ten minutes, then the red dragon and her
minions will simply form up and enter the lair, bent
upon bringing down the copper dragon in its own bed,
if necessary.
Against the Orcs 17
Vermifex is no fool, but she is young and arrogant, and
she will be unlikely to flee from a fight, even if
surprised by the presence of the PCs, until it is certain
she must flee or die. In general, if she is reduced to 50
hit points or fewer and does not appear to be on the
cusp of victory, she will flee.
In this case, she fill fly back to her lair to brood and,
incidentally, to prepare for the PCs and Magreffix to
come looking to take the fight to her. However, since
there is likely no way for the PCs to find her lair, such
an assault is beyond the scope of this adventure. If,
somehow, the PCs can track her to her lair, the DM
must design the lair and populate it with her minions
(if any) and her treasure.
Should the PCs somehow charm or otherwise gain the
ability to interrogate Vermifex, she does not know
where Garizmul Throatslasher is headquartered. She
met with the orc leader in the Broken Valley near
Landezil Lake.
After the Battle
Once the red dragon and her minions have been slain
or driven off, Magreffix will agree to aid the PCs in
their quest, both as a matter of thanks for saving his
life and to better strike a blow at the orcs. Magreffix
will first request the help of the PCs in relocating and
hiding his treasure, and he will grant to the PCs his
scroll, arrows, and potions. The dragon will choose to
bury his treasure a mile or so from his lair. He will
sadly say goodbye to the wondrous teaching device left
to him by his mother, lamenting that he had so much
more to learn from her, but insisting that he’d rather
destroy the thing than see it fall under the sway of the
orcs.
With that, he will smash the device to bits with his
claws and tail. He will then tell the PCs that should he
fall in battle, they may take his treasure from where it
is buried, but they must promise to give a quarter of it
to the dwarves of Nirzumbil and another quarter to
charitable causes.
Once all of these tasks are accomplished, he will be
ready to serve the PCs.
The remainder of this adventure assumes the PCs have
Magreffix with them. If not, then the DM should adjust
each situation accordingly.
Note: The attack by Vermifex is potentially a deadly
one. Vermifex alone is a deadly encounter for four 6 th
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
level PCs, even with Magreffix, and the addition of the
orcs and ogres makes it even deadlier. However, the
PCs have several advantages to even out the combat.
First, they know what is coming against them. This
means they can prepare spells that will help them
against the dragon. Obviously, protection from energy
is high on this list, and a group of PCs with a divine
caster (cleric or druid) and an arcane caster (sorcerer
or wizard) should be able to provide 2 PCs with this
protection.
Second, they have use of the magic items provided by
Magreffix. The potion of speed is extremely useful in
this battle, as it not only provides +2 to AC and an
extra action, but it grants advantage on Dexterity
saving throws, such as the one required by the
dragon’s fire breath.
Similarly, the spell scroll of blur can be instrumental in
surviving the dragon’s powerful physical attacks.
Third, the DM should run Vermifex with the proper
frame of mind. Compare his statistics to that of a
copper dragon wyrmling. There is no comparison. The
red dragon considers this an absolute cake walk. She
has no reason to suspect the presence of the PCs or
even that Magreffix is expecting her. This should, if the
PCs play it right, give Magreffix and the PCs a full
round of surprise.
Fourth, the PCs will know their way around the Maze,
while the red dragon and her minions will not. The red
dragon will turn down dead ends, have to double back,
and possibly be subject to spells that hinder her
progress.
If the DM feels that the encounter with Vermifex
is too difficult, then it can still be challenging if
changed as follows:
Vermifex is a red dragon wyrmling
Increase the number of ogres to six.
Increase the number of orcs to twelve.
Award standard XP for defeated foes. Remember that
if the PCs had allies helping them (such as the copper
Against the Orcs 18
dragon), then the XP for defeated foes should be
divided amongst all of the PCs and allies equally.
Once the PCs have aided Magreffix, their attention
should turn back towards finding Garizmul
Throatslasher. The copper dragon has no idea where
the orc leader might be, but he will suggest capturing
an orc or two and getting some information out of
them.
Garizmul Throatslasher lairs in an old goblin lair some
45 miles to the northwest of Nirzumbil. The exact
location of his lair is not known to most of the orcs
under his command, for like most orc leaders,
Garizmul is wary of treachery from his own race. As
such, Garizmul is known personally only to those who
share his camp and a few hand-picked lieutenants,
each of whom then commands his own selected
underlings, and so forth down to the individual war
chiefs. Almost all orcs know Garizmul is their leader
and that he dwells somewhere to the north of
Nirzumbil. Rumours amongst the orcs tell that he is a
half-giant, a demigod, a son of Gruumsh, a demon in
orc’s clothing, et al. Most cannot name the majority of
lieutenants and higher-ups in Throatslasher’s
hierarchy, but do know a few. None has any inkling
whatsoever that Garizmul reports to the Mercur trade
coster.
It should be easy for the PCs to determine that their
search should take them north of Nirzumbil. Capturing
and charming or questioning a single orc can
accomplish that, but that is also quite a vague clue to
begin searching, for not only is the word “north” rather
indeterminate, but how far north?
However, there is someone outside of the orcish
hierarchy who knows where the orc leader dwells.
What’s more, she knows of a means to take the leader
by surprise. However, she is not easily approachable,
and the orcs have a unique hold on her…a hold that the
PCs must break.
The PCs should head north in any event, once they
know that is where Garizmul is.
Clues and Portents
There are two planned encounters the DM can use to
get the PCs interested in locating the Stonewych. DMs
should use both of these to get the PCs heading in the
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
right direction. They will generally take place to the
north of Nirzumbil, likely in the Broken Valley or
Needle Forest areas.
The Weeping Stone
The PCs will hear a low, rumbling moan…one that
seems to course and vibrate more through the stones
beneath their feet than the air, and one that seems to
hold immense sadness.
Following the sound, the PCs will come upon a stone
giant. He is doubled over and sobbing, and up through
his back sprouts a massive sharpened piece of flint,
blood spouting from the wound in a flower-like
pattern and running down his back.
This is Gur-hyrim-thil, a stone giant warrior who has
just committed ritual suicide. He was distraught over
the binding oath the Stonewych placed over her people
(details of this oath are presented later in the
adventure), and he felt torn between the oath that
prevented him from harming the orcs and his desire to
wreak vengeance upon them. When the orcs slew his
wife and children, he tried to break the oathbinding to
take his revenge, but was not strong enough to do so.
Instead, in despair, he fashioned a jurymzmil (a ritual
flint sword) and stabbed himself through the stomach.
Gur-hyrim-thil is beyond help. His wound is mortal,
and anything short of magic that can raise the dead
will fail. Given his situation, even such magic will not
suffice, as his soul will not desire to return to the land
of the living.
However, just as a PC comes into view, he will, with his
last breath, smile and say in Common:
It is as the Stonewych said. I did not believe. Our salvation
comes from the lands astride the mountains, when the folk of
the lowlands shall free us. Please, avenge my family as I was
unable to do. Release us from her oathbind!
With that, he will expire.
Nearby, within view of the clearing with the now dead
giant, is a large cave opening. Within is the lair of Gur-
hyrim-thil. There is no map provided. The lair is
spartan and filled with giant-sized stone furnishings,
but it should be clear that there are chambers for
several child stone giants and a large stone crib for an
infant, as well as a chamber for a mated pair of adults.
Signs of an orc attack are prevalent here, with dried
blood splashed in every chamber.
Against the Orcs 19

A stone frieze carved in the common chamber shows
two stone giant adults, one male and one female, with
two children and a babe. A pile of orc skulls has been
set near the frieze.
In one of the rear chambers are three graves dug into
the solid stone and covered with rocks in a cairn-like
fashion. Carved into the wall over the graves is written
in Giant:
Here have I, Gur-hyrim-thil, buried my stone mate Quri-ban-
jiril and my children Ciri and Fetir. They were slain by orcs. My
babe Wasur is gone. I cannot find him. The orcs have taken
him. He is likely dead by now.
I renounce my oathbind, bonded by the Stonewych of our
people. May the curse of the bind fall upon my head alone. May
the Stonewych forgive me for forsaking her oath, and may her
son not suffer the same fate as mine. May the orcs perish for
what they have done. May the Stonewych be freed of her
servitude and strike down from the peak of Mount Gur-am-hiri.
May the great purple rock once again shine in the setting sun
untainted by the blood of orcs.
There is nothing of value in the lair. Gur-hyrim-thil
destroyed all he had before attempting to break his
oathbind,
Bladder Banter
The PCs will come across a hunting party of six orcs.
Two of them are butchering a large elk pierced with
javelins, while the other four rest from the hunt,
drinking orc wine from waterskins.
This group is very lax, not expecting any trouble, tired
from the hunt, and somewhat drunk by now. They are
making a lot of noise, so that the PCs should hear them
before they see them, and only the most careless of
PCs should alert the orcs to their presence.
While this circumstance allows the PCs to easily
ambush and slay these orcs, they can also, if they listen
for a moment, glean some valuable information if they
can understand Orc. Otherwise, the PCs can charm or
capture an orc and learn the same information from
him.
The two orcs working on the elk seem to be trying to
dissect something from within the carcass. As they do,
they speak to each other in Orc:
ORC 1: Careful there! We have ta get the bladder intact
and attached to the innards. If ya pierce this one, it’ll be
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
the fourth one you’ve ruined in a row and then maybe
we see if the witch can do her visions with yer bladder
and innards instead!
ORC 2: Garn ya! It ain’t my fault! We told them javelin
happy boys to aim for the forepart of the beastie. Is it my
fault their javelins are all over this thing’s rump?
ORC 1: I don’t care fer yer excuses. I don’t like this duty
anyways. Why can’t we be attackin’ the dwarves
insteada always hunting for this and that ta bring to the
witch for her gobbledy-gook?
ORC 2: Da Big Boss says that we are ta get the witch
whatever she wants…whatever Comghurin says she
wants anywise.
ORC 1: Why’s she so important anyways?
ORC 2: I dunno. Since when have them stonies ever been
important? But I hear da Big Boss sends for her
sometimes for her magic.
ORC 1: Probably da Boss sends for her ta wrestle in bed
iff’n, ya knows what I mean.
ORC 2: I do know what ya mean, but think about it for a
second. The size is all wrong. It just don’t work. Like us
tryin’ ta shag a kobold.
ORC 1: Don’t knock it till ya tried it says I!
ORC 2: Then ya says too much. No quit yer yappin’ and
concentrate on getting’ these entrails out. Sooner we get
‘em to Comghurin, the sooner he gets ‘em to the witch
and we can get back home.
Finding the Stonewych
There are several ways to find the Stonewych from the
planned encounters presented above. The first is to
search for a purple rock shining in the setting sun, as
mentioned on the carving in Gur-hyrim-thil’s lair. This
is not entirely easy, but the rock can be seen from
about 20 miles away, so it is quite possible for the PCs
to witness it and thereby track it to its source.
Similarly, most dwarves in the area know of the
mountains with the shining purple rock. It is a peak
they call Cirdunyarn (though the stone giant name for
it is Gur-Am-Hiri), and they can tell that the mountain
is believed to hold some mysterious power at its peak.
In addition, the orcs procuring the elk bladder can be
followed. They will eventually return to their
Against the Orcs 20
encampment and present their catch to Comghurin,
who will then leave with his entourage to head to the
Stonewych. The PCs can then either follow Comghurin,
or they can attack him and take his map to the
Stonewych.
Comghurin
The orc encampment to which the hunters belong is
about 15 miles from the site of the elk slaying. The
camp holds 150 orcs and is comprised of fur tents and
small dens dug into the ground in an area shaded by
high trees from the worst of the sun. This encampment
favours hunters, and at any given time, 25 orcs are out
hunting and not present in the camp.
In addition to the orcs, there are three orc eyes of
Gruumsh and four orogs.
Comghurin is an eye of Gruumsh who has advanced in
the lore and art of his worship to become one of the
more powerful shamans in the orc tribes. He rules the
camp, but he and his entourage are presented
separately, as it is assumed the PCs will not dare to
attack the camp directly. If they do, add Comghurin
and his entourage to the camp defenses.
Comghurin is responsible for gathering the material
components the Stonewych needs to perform his
oracles for Garizmul Throatslasher. He and his orcs
have had to range far afield to gather game given the
scarcity caused by the orc armies.
Once the proper items are procured (and even if the
PCs slew the orcs they encountered previously, some
other hunting party will eventually return with the
proper items), Comghurin will gather up his entourage
and travel to Mount Gur-Am-Hiri by way of Lake
Landezil and then up the course of River Manzinmul to
the orc encampment astride the river, before turning
northeast to approach Mount Gur-Am-Hiri from the
south.
Entourage
Comghurin’s entourage consists of twenty four goblin
slaves, twelve orcs, two orogs, Comghurin (see
Appendix B), and his four orc skeletons.
The goblin slaves are the personal property of
Comghurin. They do not fight and have no weapons or
armour. They carry the Stonewych’s materials,
comprised of bladders and pots of blood and other
exotic and mundane material components, all tied into
fur bundles atop wooden platforms hoisted by four
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
goblins, two on each of two poles. There are six such
platforms.
Comghurin must cast his animate dead spell once per
day to keep his skeletons active, This means he only
has two 3rd level slots available at any given time.
Comghurin wears a charm of bones (see Appendix A)
that augments his skeletons. The effects of the charm
are not reflected in the skeletons’ statistics block. Each
skeleton should gain +2 to AC and gain a bonus attack
with their bone spikes (+4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target,
[5] 1d6+2 piercing damage).
Comghurin also carries a vellum map in his pouch.
This map shows the location of the Stonewych as being
at the top of Mount Gur-Am-Hiri. If the PCs follow the
map, they will arrive at the bottom of the Great Hidden
Stairs (see below). The map notations are in Orc, so if
the PCs cannot read that language, the DM may make
finding the stairs take longer or require Intelligence
checks to puzzle out the symbols and directions.
The entourage travels by night and camps in a shaded
spot by day. Three orcs generally precede the
entourage by 100-200 feet, scouting the route ahead
and seeing to its flanks.
Mount Gur-Am-Hiri
This mountain is a formidable spire, formed of a tall
main peak and a smaller companion peak that thrusts
up to the southwest of the main body. The peaks are
quite rocky and very steep, punctuated by sharp spires
and tall cliffs.
The Hall of the Stonewych is located near the top of the
main peak, set upon a substantial ledge several
thousand feet above the floor of the valley. If is fairly
inaccessible by any means except flight or by way of
the Great Hidden Stairs. Of course, an expert mountain
climber with a climber’s kit could attempt to scale the
mountain, but the DM should make such attempts
extraordinarily strenuous, time-consuming, and
dangerous.
The orc entourage will pass into the neck of the peaks,
between the main mount and the companion mount.
There, they will head to a well-hidden vale, at the
bottom of which is an opening 10 feet wide by 15 feet
tall that seems, initially, to be a tunnel heading into the
base of the mountain. However, after 100 feet, this
tunnel emerges at the base of a set of massive stone
stairs that proceed along the base of a gorge that
Against the Orcs 21
winds its way up the mountain to the Hall of the the four roaming gargoyles will alert one of its two
Stonewych. Stone plinths flanking the base of the fellows remaining at the entryway to the Hall, and that
stairway proclaim this, in Giant, to be the Great Hidden gargoyle will run inside and warn the orcs inside that
Stairs. strangers are approaching using prearranged hand
signs (since the gargoyles do not speak Common or
The stairs are giant-sized. That is, they are 30 feet wide Orc).
and each step is 15 feet deep and 5 feet tall. The gorge
that the stairs are in slices up the mountainside like a Aside from the four gargoyles, there will be no further
great wound in the peak’s flanks, perhaps formed by attacks on the stairway.
an ancient river or lava flow. The gorge walls are 30
feet tall and the stairway itself has been cunningly At the Top
placed so that, while open to the sky, it wends its way
The top of the stairway ends at a large ledge, about
through passes and vales in the mountainside that
100 feet in diameter and surmounted by steep cliffs
tend to be sheltered by ridges to that the stairway is
rising up from it to the top of the peak, and steep cliffs
hidden from view unless viewed from directly
and slopes below falling away to the base of the
overhead at a close distance.
mountain. Set atop this ledge is a massive stone
structure, roughly square, about 50 feet wide and as
When the orc entourage arrives (assuming the PCs
deep and tall. The structure is clearly set into the rising
have not sacked it), it will be met by four gargoyles.
Cliffside, so that perhaps the inside reaches into the
These will pair up, two to a bundle, and fly them up to
mountainside.
the Hall. Therefore, it will take the gargoyles three
trips to haul up the entire load of material
The structure is wondrously worked stone, massive
components. Each trip is two hours both ways, so
granite blocks set tightly into place with precise
offloading all of the components will take six hours.
masonry and engineering without any use of mortar.
Once this is done, the orc entourage will leave,
The structure is decorated with bas reliefs displaying
returning to the orc encampment.
stone giants and all sorts of fantastic creatures,
including dragons and large, bird-like creatures, some
Negotiating the stairway is a formidable task for
with multiple heads. Many of these images,
Medium creatures. Each step must be clambered up,
surrounded by whorls and vortices and intricate
and there are several thousand such steps spanning
designs worked into the stone, have an organic look
four miles of stairway. It will take the PCs two days to
about them, as if shaped by magic rather than by
clamber up the steps to the Hall. Small PCs will have to
chisel.
have help or it will take them four days to arrive at the
Hall. Large creatures can travel much faster, and the
In the center of the structure face that looks toward
stairs can be travelled in a matter of a day. Huge or
the stairway is an opening measuring 30 feet wide by
larger creatures can make the journey in about four
30 feet tall. Two massive stone doors can block this
hours.
opening, but these are currently thrust inward and
open. Massive, giant-sized steps lead up to the
Flying creatures can travel from the base of the stairs
opening, set 10 feet above the ground level of the
to the Hall in a mere hour or so.
ledge. Set over the lintel of the opening is stone
scrollwork engraved with words in Giant.
There are six gargoyles in total that patrol the stairway
and the approaches to the Hall. Two of these are
always stationed at the top of the stairs, flanking the The words over the entrance read:
entryway to the Hall. The other four gargoyles
generally patrol the approaches to the Hall and keep Enter Ye into the Weave of Fate and Her Servant.
watch on the stairway and for flying creatures (it was
these four that will have seen the orc entourage arrive Two gargoyles flank the entrance, perched amongst
and fly down to meet it). the stone carvings so that they blend into the
surroundings and can take advantage of their False
As such, it is very likely the PCs will be spotted making Appearance trait. These gargoyles will attack
their way to the Hall and will be attacked by four intruders, presumably from surprise.
gargoyles. However, when the PCs are spotted, one f

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 22
Refer to the Hall of the Stonewych maps for details.
There are two such maps, the Upper Level, and the
Lower Level.
Ceilings. Unless stated otherwise, all passages and
rooms are 30 feet tall.
Light. Unless stated otherwise, all passages and rooms
are dimly lit by giant-sized stone braziers filled with
reddish coals that cast a flickering, blood-stained light
on the walls of the Hall.
Sound. There are no exceptional sounds emanating
from within the Hall.
The ceilings and walls of the place are all decorated
with bas reliefs or mosaics displaying stone giants in
battle or in domestic scenes, and some seem to show
ancient stone giant history and great deeds by stone
giant heroes. A few show a stone giantess sitting at a
massive and intricate loom sending weavings out into
nearby scenes of great deeds.
Upper Level
1. Entry Chamber
The ceiling in this chamber is 40 feet tall. The floor
seems to be made of some sort of polished marble shot
through with green veins of mineral that seem to form
leaf-like and tree-like patterns in the marble. The
ceiling is of polished blue stone, the colour of a clear
noon sky. To the east are bronze double doors, 15 feet
tall and carved with engravings of wavy lines
resembling tangled threads enwrapping the sun on
one door and a moon on the other.
Set against the north and south walls are fur pallets,
sacks, barrels, and partially consumed game.
A group of eight orcs is encamped here, led by an
orog. They serve Ragjnir, who dwells with the infant
stone giant on the Lower Level, and these orcs are here
primarily to act as an early warning should any trouble
occur and to possibly assist the gargoyles outside
should a fight develop.
The barrels contain water and dwarven ale.
The double doors to the east, despite being massive,
are extremely well engineered and open with a little
effort.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
2. Chamber of the Pool
Giant-sized steps lead down from the bronze valves
between area 1 and this chamber. The ceiling is 50 feet
overhead and made of an intricate mosaic of coloured
and polished stones that portrays a stone giantess
standing atop a peak with clouds forming a halo
around her head and her hands raised in a sort of
saintly blessing. The floor is marble, shot through with
silver veins, and in the center of this room is a pool set
within a slightly raised stone lip that is carved with
runes. The water within is calm and placid-seeming.
To the east, a 15 foot tall archway leads to a chamber
beyond.
The runes are in Giant and are sigils of blessing, fate,
and power.
The pool is 5 feet deep and half empty. A bit of
greenish scum has begun to build up around the inside
of the pool, where it has started to fall into neglect. The
pool serves, normally, as a ritual bath for those coming
to see the Stonewych.
As the PCs enter this chamber, they will see a shadowy
figure bathed in the red light of the braziers standing
in the archway leading into area 3. The figure is large
and it is possible the PCs might think this is the
Stonewych or another stone giant. However, it is not. It
is a hezrou summoned by orc shamans to guard
against anyone coming to interact with the Stonewych
unbidden.
The demon will step forth and challenge the PCs
telepathically, naming them intruders and warning
them to leave or perish.
The demon is bound to the area and cannot leave the
ledge upon which the Hall is set. It will attack any who
do not flee, though it is instructed not to attack orcs or
gargoyles unless they attempt to enter area 3. It will
only allow Ragjnir or Garizmul Throatslasher into area
3, so the PCs cannot simply pose as orcs and bluff their
way past the demon.
If pressed, the demon will attempt to summon 2d6
dretches. It will not summon another hezrou, as it
does not wish to show itself as weak and in need of aid
to another of its kind.
Against the Orcs 23
3. Inner Chamber
This is a massive chamber with intricate bas reliefs
covering the walls in the form of ivy and vines hanging
thick and leady along all of the walls.
The ceiling here is smoke stained and 50 feet above
the floor.
A large fire pit sits in the center of the chamber, being
15 feet in diameter. The pit is piled with logs and other
pieces of wood and burns with low embers. A set of
Giant runes are carved into the floor around the pit.
Standing next to the pit is a cauldron and a barrel,
along with several giant-sized iron scoops. A stone
frame surmounts the pit, and it holds halfway up its 10
foot height a large steel pan that is approximately 10
feet in diameter.
Along the east wall is a giant-sized stone dais upon
which is a large stone throne shaped like a flame on
the right side and frost on the left side. Evidence of
previous stones having been pried out of it is easily
observable.
To the north is a thick bear fur curtain that covers an
archway.
The runes around the pit are in Giant and signify fate
and divination.
The cauldron contains aromatic oil and the barrel
contains incense.
The fire pit is used by the Stonewych to perform some
of her divinations and oracles. Entrails and other
components are often burned on the large metal pan.
The secret doors to the south require a DC 20 Wisdom
(Perception) check to notice. The switch to operate it
requires a DC 20 Intelligence (Investigation) check to
locate and is 15 feet above the level of the floor, so PCs
will have to be able to feel or look closely at that height
in order to have a chance to find it.
When the demon is slain, the Stonewych will emerge
from area 4. She will regard the PCs and inquire as to
why they have come. She already knows, and before
the PCs can really answer, she will raise her hand to
interrupt them and begin to speak in Common:
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Never mind. I know why you have come. It has been revealed to
me. Indeed, for some time have I awaited your arrival, for the
threads of my concern were interwoven with the threads of
yours.
Sit, and allow me to rest my stone bones on my seat, so long
denied me.
She will then sit on her throne.
I am the Stonewych. That is my title and my name, for I have
left my old name behind, and the weave of time has hidden it
from me, as it should.
You have come to bring down the orc warlord, Garizmul
Throatslasher. This have I foreseen. And this is something I
wish as well. Yes. So perhaps I shall help you?
As I have said, I am the Stonewych. In ancient times, my people
were a wondrous race, and we worked mighty magicks. But as
our power and lore grew so did our arrogance, and we became
a decadent and wicked race, like many of our Giantish kin. But
a great hero recognized our vile ways and he blamed our
practice of magic for our downfall, for it, he said, corrupted
our souls.
And so a great purge was undertaken, and all of our race who
displayed magic ability were slain. And our race became as
you no doubt know us...strong of muscle and tied to the earth.
Indeed it has been so now for many millennia. But still, every
so often, a glimmer of our old prowess emerges in our
bloodlines and merges with our earthy natures, and a stone
giant with some earthly powers is born. These we called
"Gramnir" or "Elder" in your tongue. These Elders are precious
indeed, and they have or develop powers of the earth and are
once again regarded as holy and sacred by our race, for we no
longer believe that magic is evil, but merely a tool to be
determined by its wielder the worth of its use.
And some of our kind have even stronger ties to our ancient
bloodline, and these are rarer still than the Elders, for they can
actually work sorcery and wield arcane powers.
But rarer and more precious than all of these is a bloodline
that fully melds and amplifies the two. This is almost always
present in the females of our kind, and they are both Elders
and sorcerers and are called Stonewyches and serve as oracles
and mystics of our race.
I was determined to try to send my people on the road to
restore their former glory. And so I chose my mates carefully,
and eventually, recently in fact, I had a male child who was
both an Elder and a sorcerer! A male of such power has not
been seen amongst us for years uncountable.
Against the Orcs 24
Alas, when the orcs first invaded we stone giants were
determined to remain aloof, for what care have we if orcs and
dwarves kill each other? But too soon the orcs and my folk
began to conflict, and when this happened, Garizmul
Throatslasher determined to keep the stone giants from this
war. So he learned of me and my son, and with his adept,
Ragjnir, he managed to assault this place by surprise and take
my son hostage.
My beloved son! He is the hope of my people, precious beyond
all measure. And the orc warlord used the babe to hobble me.
Worse, he forced me to bind my people in an oathbind, a ritual
of fate designed to enforce obedience to a vow, lest fate turn
against us. And so my people were bound to raise no hand or
aggression of any kind against any orc in order to save my
child, for as long as Garizmul and I shall live.
Since then, Garizmul has come on occasion to force me to
make oracles for him, and I have done so truthfully, though I
must say that I often require the orcs to procure and bring
ridiculous material components that I certainly do not need.
These onerous requirements at least keep his visits infrequent
and limit the amount of useful information I have to depart to
that beast of an orc!
And now you have come. And so with you the salvation of my
people. You seek the warlord. I wish him to fall, for the
oathbind did I word in such a way that upon the warlord's
death, the oathbind is unraveled.
I know where the warlord dwells. But more than that, I know
of a way, a secret way, to get into his lair without interference
from his armies. I could get you in and you could slay Garizmul
and then retreat before the orc hordes would even know
something was awry!
I will show you this way, for once Garizmul is slain and the
oathbind unraveled, I will muster the stone giants, and we will
pierce the orc armies and reach the dwarves, and will muster
the dwarves for a final assault to drive the now leaderless orcs
from the field.
But, there is a crack in this stone. For the orcs have my child.
And I cannot act while he is so held, for there may never be
another male child with such potency for millennia, if ever.
Were I to show you the secret way to the warlord and were
you to fail, then the orcs would trace your route and know that
I sent you, and my babe would likely perish for it.
My child lies in this Hall, in the lower level. He is warded by
Ragjnir, a powerful adept, and likely some of his minions. Find
my child and bring him to me alive and I shall tell you of the
secret way to the warlord.
The PCs may have some questions. Below are some
likely ones and the Stonewych’s answers:
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
Q: Why don’t you go rescue the child yourself?
A; Because the oathbind binds me, and were I to break
that, fate would bring calamity upon me and my
people. In addition, I am watched closely, and were I to
fail, my child would be slain.
Q: If we rescue your child, will you come with us to
attack the orc warlord?
A: Alas, I cannot, For even with my child in my hands,
the oathbind is still in effect as long as the warlord and
I live. If absolutely necessary, I could kill myself and
unravel the bind in that manner, but I am the only
Stonewych of my people, and they would suffer greatly
without me.
Q: How do we get to the lower level?
A: Along the south wall are secret double doors. Set 15
feet up and some 6 inches to the left of the left door is a
stone leaf that can be pivoted, unlocking the secret
doors. Beyond will you see steps descending into the
lower level.
Q: How powerful is this Ragjnir?
A: It was he who summoned and bound the demon
warding me. He is quite a capable caster.
The Stonewych will request that the PCs make all due
haste to rescue the babe. She believes that Ragjnir was
warned of the PCs’ approach and is worried that,
should Ragjnir learn who has prevailed above, her
babe might be forfeit.
At the DM’s option, the PCs might be able to take a
short rest at this point, though the Stonewych will be
very apprehensive about even this. If the PCs attempt a
long rest, the Stonewych will be absolutely apoplectic,
telling the PCs that their coming here has endangered
her babe and requiring that they leave the Hall at once
so as that the orcs will spare her child.
The statistics for the Stonewych are provided at the
end of this adventure, as the PCs should not have to
fight her. Essentially, she is a stone giant with the
spellcasting ability of a 6th-level sorcerer and a 2nd-
level cleric. She also has special oracular abilities
beyond the scope of this adventure. Refer to the end of
the adventure for more details.
Against the Orcs 25
4. Wych’s Room
This large chamber, whose ceiling is 50 feet high,
includes a stone bed with bear furs, a large privy, a
stone washbasin filled with water, and stone shelves
with a variety of giant-sized utensils and personal
items, most of them made of metal or stone.
A massive stone brazier holds coals and embers.
This is the dwelling chamber of the Stonewych.
A niche in the north wall serves as her treasure cache,
but there is no way to access it normally, as the cache
has no door leading to it. Instead, it requires a stone
shape or other spell to access the cache. Hidden within
are the following items:
 100 large gems of various sorts worth a total of
50,000 gp
 16,000 gp
 1,000 pp
 an adamantine chain shirt
 gloves of missile snaring
 an amulet of proof against detection and location
 a wand of secrets
5. Stairway
A massive, giant-sized stairway descends into the
Lower Level.
Lower Level
1. Antechamber
This large chamber is devoid of any furnishings, except
for a 10 foot silver mirror placed horizontally on a
square stone pedestal 6 feet high.
The mirror is used for scrying rituals and provides a
+2 bonus to the DC of any scrying spell cast while
gazing into the mirror. The mirror radiates divination
magic.
Ragjnir has animated some undead and placed them
here as guards. The undead are under the control of
Ragjnir and are ordered to attack any intruders (i.e.
not Thurgasht or Ragjnir) who enter this room or
attack the undead without Ragjnir’s permission.
There are four ogre zombies here.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
2. Quarry Room
Stone workbenches and shelves line the walls here,
and raw rocks of various sizes lie here and there.
Statues and other items partially crafted from the
stone blocks are present, showing signs of adequate
brilliance and also clearly having been formed by
magic.
This chamber is used by the Stonewych to practice her
craft making statuary and other stone items, usually
using her Stone Singing trait.
3. Crypt
Built into the walls of this chamber are what appear to
be crypts, marble slabs measuring 5 feet square. Not
every space in the wall is taken up by a slab. In fact,
most of the walls remain intact, indicating, perhaps,
the long lifespan of stone giants or the rarity of
Stonewyches.
All of the slabs are unmarked and appear to be melded
into the stone of the walls by magic. However, a
section of the wall to the northeast has four slabs that
each bears a single large rune carved upon it.
This chamber is, indeed, a crypt for past Stonewyches.
To break into the crypts would require smashing
through the slab or some stone-affecting magic. Within
each crypt is a large linen burial shroud and a skeleton
of a stone giant (interestingly enough, the bones of
such are made of stone, as if petrified). All of these
skeletons have been blessed by rituals that prevent
their animation as undead.
The section of wall with the four slabs with runes upon
them are false, meaning there is a wall behind them,
not crypts. These slabs are no melded into the walls,
but rather attached more traditionally. This fact can
easily be determined by close examination, or by a DC
16 Wisdom (Perception) check from a distance.
The wall behind these four slabs is a secret door. The
door can be noticed with a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception)
check. The door is activated by pressing on the slabs in
a specific order. The slabs are as follows, with the rune
in Giant translated:
Against the Orcs 26

The DM can draw the slabs out for the PCs, but if the
PCs cannot read Giant, then the DM should provide
made up runes on the slabs.
The key to opening the door is to depress the slabs in
order from least to greatest determination. A DC 20
Intelligence (Arcana) or Intelligence (Religion) check
can determine the order if a player specifically asks if
any sort of mystical order to the words can be
determined. The order proceeds from the least certain
future to the most certain. Fate is considered less
certain than destiny because destiny is believed to
have been locked into place at birth or even sooner,
while fate is regarded as the accumulation of events
and circumstances that have arisen to make a thing
inevitable. Thus, the proper order is:
HOPE – FORTUNE – FATE – DESTINY
If the improper order of slabs is depressed, a magic
trap will be activated. If a single slab is pressed or
fewer than four slabs are pressed, nothing will happen.
Only if four slabs are pressed and they are incorrect
will the trap activate. When a slab is pressed, it pushes
in flush with the wall and remains inset until the
fourth slab is pressed or until 10 minutes pass with no
slab being pushed, after which time all of the slabs
reset. If the proper sequence of slabs is pressed, the
slabs will reset and the secret door (along with the
slabs) will swing open.
The slabs are quite difficult to push, requiring a full
body effort for creatures smaller or less strong than
giants. The slabs are enchanted to only be pushed by
hand. Attempts to push them buy magic or by poles or
other devices will fail.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
The trap that is activated if the slabs are pressed
incorrectly is a hail of stone strap. Large, fist sized
stones will swirl around in a cylinder extending from
the ceiling of the room to the floor, covering the 10
foot square area before the slabs.
Those within the area suffer 17 (5d6) bludgeoning
damage if a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw is failed. If
the save is successful, the damaged is halved.
The trap, being magic, cannot be found by
conventional means nor can it be disarmed.
Beyond the secret door is a 10 foot square passage that
leads to another secret door. A DC 20 Wisdom
(Perception) check will locate this door.
4. Well Room
A 10-foot well is in the center of this chamber. From
the ceiling, water drops in thin streams out of four 1
inch diameter holes into the well. A stone arm crooks
up from the edge of the well and arcs out over the
center. The hand of the arm holds a very long, stout
iron chain and a large iron bucket. A steel crank is at
the elbow of the arm, which is 8 feet off of the ground.
Several stone blocks have been stacked beneath the
crank.
This chamber provides water for the Stonewych. The
well is 150 feet deep and is half full of fresh, potable
water. When the well fills up too much, the Stonewych
can use stone shape to close off one or more holes.
The crank raises of lowers the bucket into the well.
The stone blocks stacked under it allow Medium sized
creatures to reach the crank.
5. Storeroom
This chamber contains many stone crates and barrels.
Hanging from hooks pounded into the wall and from
chains strung between them are various meats drying
and curing, including venison, a small black bear, and
several vague humanoid figures that may be small
orcs, dwarves, or goblins.
This is a storeroom for the Stonewych. The crates hold
a variety of foodstuffs, including dried fruit, salt, nuts,
etc. The barrels hold beer and stonewyne (a potent
brew that tastes like dirt to non-stone giants).
The orcs have taken over this room a bit and it is they
who have strung up the corpses.
Against the Orcs 27

6. Vestibule
A noisome pile of ratty furs, mostly from brown bears,
serves as a bed for a large creature, and what look to
be once pristine giant-sized vestments are mixed in
with the bedding. Bones and gibbets of flesh are
everywhere. Stone hooks along the walls hold the
corpses of impaled animals.
This chamber used to serve the Stonewych as a
vestibule, where she would don her sacred garments
and douse herself with oil and unguents before
entering the chapel in area 7.
The place now holds Ragjnir’s guardian, Thurgasht, a
two-headed troll (see Appendix B) that is a cross
between an ettin and a troll who is the adept’s
personal bodyguard.
7. Chapel
This chamber is adorned with once wondrous stone
shaped bas reliefs depicting all sorts of landscapes and
godly tales, but most are hacked, chipped, and
battered.
A large stone altar stands to the north, 15 feet wide by
5 feet long by 6 feet tall. It, too, was once ornately
decorated, and likely studded with precious stones as
evidenced by the pried-out portions. Behind the altar
is a mosaic depicting a blind stone giantess with her
hands upraised and threads spinning out from her up
thrust palms.
Laying on the altar in swaddling is a stone giant infant.
The babe is 4 feet long and its limbs are bound by cord
into it swaddling.
To the east is a stone shelf 5 feet high and 15 feet long
that contains a fur pallet, some personal effects, as a
small blood-spattered stone shrine depicting an orc
with a single large gemstone eye.
The shrine is dedicated to Gruumsh, the orc god, and a
DC 10 Intelligence (Religion) check will confirm this.
The eye is made of ivory and mother-of-pearl inset
with jet and carnelian and is worth 1,200 gp.
The secret door to the west is well-hidden and
requires a DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check to find.
The babe is the Stonewych’s progeny. It is bound so
that is cannot escape or wander. If necessary, assume
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
the giant baby is size Small, has 6 hit points, AC 11, and
no attacks. Its saves are: Str -2, Dex -1, Con +1, Int -4,
Wis +0, Cha -2.
Ragjnir (see Appendix B) is here, being one of the top
lieutenants of Garizmul Throatslasher. Ragjnir knows
where Garizmul is headquartered, but he is otherwise
unaware of the earth node or portal nearby (see area
8).
Fearless in combat, Ragjnir will fight to the death.
The PCs may be concerned that Ragjnir will harm the
babe. In actuality, the life of the babe is bound to the
Stonewych's oathbind, and there is no way he would
kill the child, as that would release the Stonewych and
the stone giants from their oath and allow them to join
the war against the orcs.
However, the PCs do not know this, and the orcs have
so far effectively used the threat to extort oracles from
the Stonewych.
Ragjnir, if pressed, will attempt to keep the babe near
him to deter the PCs from using area effect spells. In a
pinch, he will even hold his spear to the babe’s throat
and order the PCs to back off. In fullest extremis, the
adept will take the babe with him and attempt to make
his way down the Great Hidden Stairs and eventually
to Garizmul. Should this happen, the Stonewych will
ask the PCs to rescue the child if it is possible to do so
without endangering the babe.
If the PCs and Ragjnir get into a protracted standoff
regarding the infant, the PCs can make a DC 13
Wisdom (Insight) check to get an inkling that the orc
does not intend to slay the child under any
circumstances.
8. Secret Passage
The secret door leading to this passage is very difficult
to locate, requiring a DC 25 Wisdom (Perception)
check to detect. It opens by way of a hidden switch (DC
25 Intelligence [Investigation] check to locate) that is 6
feet high at the end of the north wall.
Behind is a passageway that quickly slopes own and
starts to curve around on itself. After several miles of
twisting descent, the passage eventually ends in a
single natural chamber approximately 40 feet in
diameter and 30 feet high. Within the chamber, in the
center of the floor, is a large mass of purplish crystals
about 8 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter. The crystals
Against the Orcs 28
throb with a vague glow and, as they enter the room, a
palpable sense of power washes over the PCs.
This area is a very magical one, the very heart of the
mountain. The mass of crystals is infused with earth
power and is called an earth node. Such a node can
have many beneficial effects for those who are learned
in manipulating them, but for the purposes of this
scenario, the node is quiescent.
If the portal key held by the Stonewych is brought into
this chamber, a portal will appear in place of the
crystals, allowing the holder of the key to pass
through, as well as anyone who enters the portal while
the holder of the key is still in the chamber. The portal
is a 10 foot diameter circle of purple mist that hangs
vertically in midair about 6 inches above the level of
the floor.
The portal is a two-way keyed portal that is only keyed
from this side. Anything may pass through the other
side. The portal leads to a cave under Mount Gallduln
and leads to the lair of Garizmul Throatslasher, the
leader of the orc uprising.
The orcs do not know of this portal. Only the
Stonewych does.
A portal drake (see Appendix B) haunts this portal,
one of several it keeps watch on. It will investigate and
threaten any who enter the chamber.
The drake lairs in a hidden cavern far away. It
commonly watches the half dozen portals it has
travelled through and will observe the PCs enter the
chamber. The drake will suddenly appear and claim
the portal, demanding a toll for passing through it.
Should the PCs agree, the drake will demand 100 gp
per person passing through, though this can be
bargained to as low as 50 gp per person. The drake
will accept magic in lieu of coins or other wealth.
The drake knows what is on the other end of the
portal, and can be bribed to tell the PCs what lies there,
although the PCs will have to ask about this; the drake
will not volunteer this information.
If the PCs refuse to pay the toll, the drake will breathe
on them and then begin to conduct hit and run attacks
on the PCs through the portal, whether on this side or
the other side. As the PCs have no way to follow the
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
portal drake, they can only respond to its attacks when
it chooses to appear.
The drake has no reason to fight to the death, and it
can be driven off if seriously hurt.
Defense of the Hall
Ragjnir and Thurgasht are far enough removed from
the first two areas of the Upper Level that it wil be
difficult for them to hear any combat or disturbance
unless the noise level is exceptional. Even if they do
know something is amiss, they will not seek to ascend
to the Upper Level, for Ragjnir wishes the leave the
intruders to the demon and he does not want to leave
the presence of the babe. Instead, if he becomes aware
of trouble above, he will be ready with protective
spells cast. Ragjnir will also command Thurgasht to
take up the babe and then Ragjnir will warn the PCs
that he will slay the infant unless they depart.
Of course, as stated previously, this is a bluff. If the PCs
do not then withdraw, the adept will command
Thurgasht to lay down the babe and attack.
Rescuing the Babe
If the PCs return the babe to the Stonewych, she will be
ecstatic and relieved. She will explain that her
oathbind is still active, for it lasts as long as both she
and Garizmul survive. However, she is now free to give
the PCs a chance to come upon the orc warlord
unawares. She will explain to the PCs that a magic
portal lies beneath the Hall, and that the portal can be
activated by her key.
The Stonewych will offer the portal key to the PCs. The
key takes the form of a rune covered, polished fist-
sized stone. She will inform the PCs of the secret door
and hidden switch that leads to area 8 of the Lower
Level. She will also explain that the portal leads to a
cave in the heart of the mountain where Garizmul
makes his lair, in a goblin den he has taken over. This
is the PCs’ chance to bypass Garizmul’s armies and
strike at him. The PCs could then use the same portal
to escape.
The Stonewych will also grant the PCs, as a boon of
thanks and to help them accomplish their goal, the
adamantine chain shirt, the wand, the rod, and the
magic gloves from her treasury in area 4 of the Upper
Level. The PCs may keep these items for themselves.
Against the Orcs 29
The Stonewych will say that once Garizmul is slain, the
oathbind will unravel. The PCs should then return to
her, for she will be able to aid them then.
If the PCs want to rest for a day or two before entering
the portal, the Stonewych will agree and allow them to
stay in her Hall. She will, however, caution them
against waiting longer, for word of what has happened
may reach Garizmul. She has no idea whether Ragjnir
was conducting sending spells to the warlord on a
regular basis, for example.
The PCs might, for some reason, want to try to head to
Garizmul’s headquarters directly overland rather than
through the portal. The DM should discourage this in
every way possible, first by the advice of the
Stonewych, who will pronounce the attempt
tantamount to suicide.
Second, the DM should have the PCs face increasingly
overwhelming forces that fill the extensive goblin
warrens there. Literally several thousand orcs are
there, and the goblins have dug out the place in an
extensive maze of winding passages that loop back on
one another or lead to numerous dead ends, which are
often punctuated with deadly traps. That the orcs have,
since they arrived, renovated and improved the place
only makes it worse.
In short, unless the DM desires it or the PCs have an
amazingly effective plan to infiltrate the warrens and
somehow find Garizmul and slay him and then flee the
place, the PCs should find it impossible to get to him by
any means except the portal.
The Gallduln Portal
The portal from Mount Gur-Am-Hiri exits into an
oblong cavern 60 feet long by 30 feet wide by 20 feet
tall. Stalactites and stalagmites grow profusely, and a
shallow pool is present in the center of the cavern, its
edge limned with a greenish phosphorescence. The
pool is 10 feet in diameter and only about a foot deep,
and the portal emerges in the center of the pool.
A single passage, naturally formed, exits the west end
of the cavern.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
From this direction, the portal can be entered and
passage made back to Mount Gur-Am-Hiri even
without the portal key. Once the pool is entered, the
portal will automatically appear as a 10 foot diameter
circle of purple mist that hovers vertically in midair
about 6 inches above the level of the pool.
A cluster of ten piercers dwells here, disguised as
stalactites, and they will drop on unsuspecting victims.
These creatures are grouped in a 20 foot by 20 foot
area over the exit to the west.
The passageway out of the cavern wends its way
upward, passing side passages that worm their way
through the heart of the mountain. The main passage
twists and turns for perhaps half a mile before
entering a region of what appears to be goblin mines.
At this point, the tunnel often shrinks to as low as four
feet tall. Shafts and tunnels show signs of picks and
chipping of the stone walls, and chunks of rocks are
omnipresent. A few rusty orc carts of goblin size can
also be seen. Small side passages extend off of the main
passageway, but these wind for a distance and end
eventually.
Shortly after entering the mines area, the PCs will espy
a shadowy figure who seems to be trailing them. This
is the goblin, Merkku. Merkku is the only member of
his tribe to not have been enslaved or slain by the orcs.
Completely cut off from fleeing by the orcs ensconced
in the goblin tunnels above, and unaware of the portal
below,
Merkku has been leading a tenuous existence in the
mines, feeding on bugs and small rodents and edible
fungus and drinking from subterranean pools. He very
much hates the orcs, and when he spotted the PCs, he
was quite intrigued. He will, if approached, be very
skittish, but can be captured, charmed, coerced, or
bribed into a parley (assume a DC 13 Charisma
[Intimidation] or Charisma [Persuasion] check to
succeed at the latter two).
Merkku is quite eager to see harm come to the orcs,
and he will be very much in favour of the PCs’ goal to
slay Garizmul Throatslasher. The goblin will offer to
give directions to the PCs to allow them to get to the
tunnels where Garizmul lives. He will even guide them
near to it if allowed.
If the PCs choose not to parley with Merkku, then the
DM should feel free to let them wander around the
mines for a bit before finding Garizmul’s area. In this
Against the Orcs 30
case, a wandering encounter or two designed by the
DM might be appropriate.
Confrontation with Garizmul
Eventually, the PCs will make their way into the area
where Garizmul dwells, which is at the very bottom of
the goblin warrens. This are is considered by the orcs
to be the most removed from access by enemies, and
that is a correct assessment when looked at from the
point of view of invaders attacking from above through
the main entrance to the goblin tunnels. However, the
area is actually the first and most easily accessible area
from the magic portal below. Thus, the PCs will be able
to confront Garizmul without having to sneak or fight
their way past most of the warlord’s personal army.
Refer to the Garizmul’s Goblin Tunnels Map.
Ceilings. Unless otherwise stated, all locations and
passages are 8 feet tall.
Light. Unless stated otherwise, all areas are unlit.
Sound. No extraordinary sounds well be heard
through this area.
The PCs will be approaching the area from the south.
1. Iron Door
The goblins had an iron door set into the passageway
at this point to secure their own tunnels from
creatures that might wander up from the tunnels
below. The door is cunningly wrought, in usual goblin
fashion, and is set flush with the passageway, which
has been smoothed and formed into an arch to receive
the door. The linter of the arch proclaims, in Goblin:
The Kingdom of Crugyril, Goblinking of the Bloody Teats
Tribe.
The door is barred from the other side by an iron bar
that is a bit rusty and therefore more fragile, as the
orcs have not maintained it in the couple of years since
they took over from the goblins. A DC 20 Strength
check is sufficient to force the bar to break, but this
will alert the guards in area 2 as the bar clatters to the
floor and the sound echoes north along the
passageway.
Additionally, each time an attempt is made to force the
door, there is a 5% cumulative chance that the orcs in
area 2 will become concerned and be on alert.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
2. Guard Cave
This cave is about 400 feet up the passageway from
the iron door at area 1. While the orcs do not expect
any intruders to come from below, especially with the
presence of the barred iron door, Garizmul still keeps a
small watch here, simply as a matter of precaution.
A stout wooden table, sized for goblins but propped up
on stones to orc height, occupies the center of the cave.
The table is 5 feet wide and 15 feet long and a cut up
deer lies on it. Stones are used for seats, while half a
dozen fur pallets lay along the walls.
Six orcs are here, just enough to provide warning and
a delay for Garizmul, but not enough to ever pose a
threat to him. These orcs are all kin of the warlord, so
they are about as loyal as any orc can be (which isn’t
much). They will not break and run, knowing that they
would be horribly tortured by Garizmul should he
survive an attack, and they are fully confident in his
ability to handle any situation.
If the orcs become concerned by sounds from area 1,
they will send one of their number to warn Garizmul in
area 7. The warlord will then be ready with an attack
and will have begun to have summoned his forces
(refer to Summoning the Hordes below).
Alerted orcs remaining in this cave will tip over the
table to use as cover and ready their javelins.
After the first throw when intruders first appear, half
of the orcs will remain behind the table to throw
javelins, especially at spellcasters. The other two (or
three if the orc that alerted Garizmul has returned in
time) will draw their greataxes and move forward to
engage their foes.
3. Slave Quarters
This cavern is smelly and messy. The chamber is
littered with ratty fur pallets, bits of bone, puddles of
urine, splotches of blood, and piles of dung.
This place is home to Garizmul’s slaves. The warlord
uses these for servants, sport, and sometimes even
food.
There are a dozen goblin slaves and six kobold slaves
here. They are unarmed and not expected to fight and,
in fact, won’t unless somehow forced to.
Against the Orcs 31
4. Pet’s Den
In the center of this cave is a large haunch of meat,
possibly from a bear, and a wooden trough filled with
water.
In this chamber dwells Garizmul’s pet, given to him by
some drow elves many years ago. It is a stone flyer
(see Appendix B), and it serves as Garizmul’s steed,
both to soar through the air high above the battlefield
and to soar through the earth to master these tunnels
and the underground battlefields in the dwarven
mines of Nirzumbil.
The pet lairs here with few needs. Its dung is not to be
found, as it is deposited in the solid stone beneath its
lair.
The creature will attack anyone it doesn’t know (it
knows all of the slaves and the orcs around here) as
well as respond to its master’s commands.
5. Concubines’ Quarters
This chamber is lined by a stone shelf 3 feet tall and 3
feet wide. Various furs are set on the shelf, serving as
sleeping pallets. A wooden table and chairs are in the
center of the place, sized for orcs, and several empty
bottles lie tipped over on the table.
This chamber holds Garizmul’s concubines. These are
four orcs and a half orc concubine (see Appendix B)
of some prowess who, although she technically lairs
here, most often shares his bed. The other orc
concubines resent her.
6. Warlord’s Chamber
Light can be seen coming from this chamber about
halfway down the hall from area 7.
Natural stone steps lead down to this chamber, which
is 15 feet tall. The place is cluttered with various items.
There is a stone shelf to the rear of the cave that holds
piles and piles of furs. Skulls of dwarves, goblins, and
humans have been spiked along the rim of the shelf,
and many of these have candles burning within, giving
the place an eerie, macabre glow.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
A niche to the southeast holds a large iron chamber pot
and an oval tub, like a bathtub, but with a leather
harness attached to it.
In the center of the chamber is a large wooden table
and wooden benches, along with a large stone chair at
its head. Upon the table are various utensils, some fine
and some plain. A vellum map is rolled out on the
table.
Along the west wall are iron shackles and bindings,
clearly for imprisoning victims, and nearby is a stone
bin full of hot coals. Set along the edge of this bin are
iron pokers and knives.
The walls of the place are decorated with various
trophies, including several stone giant heads, a hill
giant skin flayed and spiked to the wall, several
krenshar heads, and many dwarf and human heads.
Many of the humanoid heads have weapons and
shields mounted below them, and some have writing
in blood on the walls next to them.
The tub is a unique orc delight called a “blood bath”.
The harness is used to hold a victim’s head and neck
over the rim of the bath. As the orc sits in the tub,
victims are attached to the harness one at a time and
their throats are cut, spilling their warm blood into the
bath. The orc luxuriates as the warm red liquid washes
over his skin.
The vellum map is made of flayed dwarf skin and
shows the immediate area around Nirzumbil
(including a notation showing the location of this lair)
and a map of the under mines of Nirzumbil. In Orc, the
location of orc forces are noted on the map, including
the names of chieftains, numbers of orcs, notes on
their performance, etc.
The writing in blood on the walls next to some of the
mounted heads is in Orc and denotes the name, dates
and descriptions of the taking of the head (e.g. dwarf
war captain slain on top of hill, 7th year of Garizmul’s
reign).
Under the furs on the stone shelf, a 3 foot deep and 2
foot square niche has been cut into the top of the shelf.
The niche is closed by a wooden lid with a small iron
pull ring. This has been trapped by now deceased
goblin slaves of the war leader. A set of very thin trip
wires has been set across the niche, halfway down. If
Against the Orcs 32
these are disturbed, a set of three blades will scythe
across the opening.
The blades have a +10 to hit and cause 19 (3d8+6)
slashing damage. Once the trap has been set off, it will
be inactive until the whole thing is reset, which takes
some expertise.
Allow a DC 17 Wisdom (Perception) check to notice
the filaments, which are as thin as a normal spider
web. If the filaments are noticed, then a DC 16
Intelligence (Investigation) check will reveal the
nature of the trap. A DC 17 Dexterity (Thieves’ Tool)
check will disarm the trap, but if this check is failed by
5 or more the trap will be set off and the character
attempting to disarm will be attacked by the blades.
The trap can be bypassed by deploying a hidden
switch set into the rim of the niche. A DC 18
Intelligence (Investigation) check will find the switch.
Within the niche are three small chests made of wood
and iron, and a large sack.
The chests are locked (DC 25 Dexterity [Thieves’
Tools] check to open), with the keys on Garizmul. They
holds a total of 1,600 gp, 600 pp, and 33 assorted gems
worth an average of 100 gp each. These coins and
gems are split relatively evenly over the three chests.
The sack is tied by a stout cord and holds two scroll
tubes. One tube is made of metal and is stamped with
dwarven runes. This contains a spell scroll of raise
dead.
The other tube is made of leather and bears a wax seal
that has been opened.
Close examination of the seal will reveal the symbol of
the Mercur trade coster. Within are a set of parchment
documents that are written in Common and detail
orders from highly placed sources in Mercur, tasking
Garizmul with uniting the orc tribes and blockading
the dwarven strongholds of Nirzumbil and Hegzeril for
a period of at least two years. The documents detail
various large payments made to Garizmul to fund this
endeavor, along with promises of shipments of
weapons and armour.
Garizmul’s orders are to maintain the blockade until
ordered to lift it by Mercur, at which time he will
declare victory and order the tribes home, attacking
any that do not depart willingly.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
7. Garizmul’s Grand Hall
This massive chamber is 15 feet tall and is supported
by several stone columns carved from stalagmites and
stalactites into eerie, twisted designed. Carvings along
the walls show goblins fighting and defeating dwarves,
kobolds, and other larger native creatures of the area,
as well as bowing before a great winged goblin
wielding a fiery axe.
The remnants of several stone statues are present.
Only the feet remain.
To the north is a stone dais, three steps high, upon
which is set a large stone throne mounted with skulls
and grisly body parts. The throne is orc sized and is
made of stone that looks different than the dais, as if it
were brought here and placed on the dais.
‘
Hanging behind the throne is a hide of some large
creature upon which has been inscribed 24 different
symbols, most of them grisly in nature. These symbols
surround a larger single eye set into the center of the
design.
A dozen fur pallets are pushed against the wall.
This was the audience chamber of the goblin king, and
now serves as Garizmul’s grand hall.
The goblin figure on the wall with the fiery axe is the
god Maglubiyet, which a successful DC 14 Intelligence
(Religion) check will reveal. Close inspection of the
carvings on the walls will reveal that remnants of
reliefs showing goblins defeating or humiliating orcs
have been smashed away or defaced.
The 24 symbols behind the throne are the insignia of
24 orc tribes…those united by Garizmul against the
dwarves. The central eye represent Gruumsh, the god
of the orcs.
The fur pallets belong to Garizmul’s elite bodyguard.
The three passageways with arrows on the map slope
up and lead to the goblin warrens above where the
main body of the orc army is housed.
A glyph of warding has been cast as a 4th-level spell by
Garizmul’s bodyguard captain. It will activate
whenever any creature approaches within 10 feet of
the throne, unless the creature is Garizmul
Throatslasher, his bodyguard captain, or anyone
Against the Orcs 33
touched by Garizmul. All of the orcs and slaves in this
area know not to come within 10 feet of the throne.
The glyph, if activated, will conjure a shadow demon,
which will attack whomever discharged the glyph as
well as anyone who aids that creature in any way. The
shadow demon will remain for 1 hour, or until its foes
are gone or defeated. The shadow demon can leave
this chamber in pursuit of its victims.
Garizmul’s bodyguard of eleven elite orc warriors
(see Appendix B) will be present here, ever alert for
treachery and to protect their master.
Each bodyguard has a pouch with 16 sp, 34 gp, and 10
pp.
They are led by the bodyguard captain (see Appendix
B), who is a warrior and a priest of Gruumsh.
As the bodyguard captain casts animate dead each day
to maintain control of his undead, he has one fewer
3rd-level spell slot at all times.
The bodyguard captain has several magic items that he
will use in combat. These include:
a spell scroll of enhance ability
a spell scroll of lesser restoration
a spell scroll of aid
a spell scroll of prayer of healing
He also wears a golden necklace studded with garnet
and jasper worth 575 gp, and a silver ring set with an
amethyst eye worth 65 gp. In his pouch he carries 32
sp, 25, gp, and 12 pp.
The bodyguard captain is a close relative of Garizmul,
and he is about as loyal as an orc can be to another orc.
He is satisfied that as Garizmul rises in power and
prestige, so, too, will he.
The bodyguard captain has created four human and
dwarf zombies using his animate dead spell, which he
casts every day to maintain control over them.
Garizmul Throatslasher
Garizmul (see Appendix B) will be found in this area
of the goblin tunnels. He is usually either in his
quarters (area 6) or the grand hall (area 7). In the
former, he will be sleeping, eating, or dallying with a
concubine, or even taking a blood bath. In the latter, he
will be planning strategy or possibly conferring with
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
an underling or even pronouncing doom upon a
prisoner or subordinate.
The DM can, if desired, assign Garizmul to a location
and a task. Alternatively, the war leader’s location can
be determined randomly, and he will be in his quarters
25% of the time or in his hall otherwise.
Garizmul is a fearless war leader, and he knows he has
gambled all on this alliance with Mercur. He will not
back down from any fight, preferring death to living
with failure. During an attack, he will try to link up
with his bodyguard and move the fight to his grand
hall (area 7) where he can possibly goad a foe to
activate the glyph of warding there.
Garizmul wields his magical greataxe “Gutslicer”. This
is a +2 greataxe.
Additionally, Garizmul wears a necklace of the black
touch (see Appendix A).
Finally, he carries two potions of greater healing.
Garizmul wears a thin platinum crown on his brow, set
with an emerald. This crown is worth 2,500 gp.
Summoning the Hordes
A battle or alert will cause the orc hordes in the
vicinity to begin to descend upon the area, eventually
in massive, overwhelming numbers.
Yells and the loud sounds of battle with rouse the orcs
in the tunnels above that are nearest to the grand hall
(area 7). They will, in turn, rouse others nearby, and so
on as the alert spreads throughout the entire
mountain. There are several thousand orcs within the
mountain and encamped on its slopes, so for all intents
and purposes their numbers can be considered
unlimited as compared to the capabilities of the PCs.
When the alert is first raised, it will take 3d6 rounds
before anything happens. This represents the time for
the nearest orcs to wake up or hear the alert, discuss it
briefly, rally, grab arms, and sound their alarm horns.
It will then take another 1d6 rounds for those
reinforcements to arrive. Thereafter, the DM should
roll a d20, and that is how many rounds before another
batch of reinforcements arrives.
The table below indicates the nature and number of a
given batch of reinforcements. Roll a d100 and consult
the table.
Against the Orcs 34
 In either case, should the attempt to slay Garizmul fail,
Roll Result the orc uprising will continue for another year or two
01-10 1d6 orcs until Mercur can get a stranglehold on the trade
contracts in the region. Mercur’s fortunes will increase
11-15 1 orc eye of Gruumsh and 2d4 orcs vastly as its scheme comes to complete fruition. The
orcs will, when Mercur order it, leave the field of battle
16-20 1 orc war chief
and return to their traditional lairs. Much glory will
21-30 1d3 ogres accrue to Garizmul, including an annual tribute from
31-44 1d3 orogs Mercur in honour of their bargain.
45-59 1d4 ogrillons
1d3 elite orc warriors (see If Garizmul is slain, the orc hordes will eventually
60-73 become demoralized for a short time and will give the
Appendix B)
74-88 2d6 goblins PCs a few minutes of respite to search the place and
loot bodies. But, soon enough, other orc leaders will
89-90 1 orc eye of Gruumsh
rally the forces and the hordes will begin to converge
91-00 1d3 orcs and 1d3 worgs once again on the grand hall. The PCs would be well
advised to flee the area after looting whatever they
These reinforcements will arrive randomly at one of can, using the portal to return to the Stonewych.
the three passages that lead up and out of the northern
end of the grand hall.

Win, Lose, or Draw

As mentioned, Garizmul is not inclined to flee from
even a tough combat. He knows that time is on his side
as his hordes are summoned. If it appears he cannot
defeat his opponents, he will use whatever means he
can to slow the combat down and play for time. This
might include running and taking cover, or even using
the Dodge action. Fleeing from intruders would cause
Garizmul to lose much respect from his orc hordes and
would endanger the entire orc uprising. Better to go
down fighting and feast with honour at Gruumsh’s side
than flee be exiled from his own tribe and hunted by
vengeful orcs.
If the battle against Garizmul gets out of hand, the PCs
can always flee back to the Stonewych. However,
unless they do so surreptitiously, the orcs may find out
about the portal and guard it or even destroy it.
In essence, under most circumstances, once the
hornet’s nest that is Garizmul’s headquarters is stirred
up, the PCs will have almost no chance to strike a
second time, Garizmul will know his lair is not safe and
will relocate and double or triple the guard around
him.
If the PCs are defeated, any survivors will be captured.
They will be questioned by the orc warlord and
possibly tortured. It is up to the DM to determine what
happens next, but things won’t look good for the PCs…
Returning to the Stonewych
If the PCs return to the Stonewych while Garizmul is
still alive, he will likely pursue them and learn of the
portal. His forces will come through the portal and
enter the Stonewych’s demesne. The Stonewych will
have spirited her infant away into hiding, and she is
not worried about being harmed by the orcs, as that
would unravel the oathbind.
She will do her best to hide the PCs, if they need it, but
she cannot raise her hand against the orcs, so her role
would be to confuse and mislead the orcs so that the
PCs can flee or hide.
On the other hand, if the PCs have slain Garizmul, the
Stonewych will immediately sense that the oathbind
has unraveled. She will head down to the portal
chamber below her Hall and await the PCs. If the PCs
are being chased by orcs, they will run headlong into
an angry and unbound Stonewych and, after the first
several are summarily squashed, the rest will flee and
not come through the portal again.
The Stonewych will be overjoyed and will greet the
PCs warmly, thanking them for saving her people and
defeating the orc warlord. She will invite the PCs to
rest and recuperate while she sends word to her
people that they are free of the oathbind and can now
muster to take revenge upon the orcs. She will tell the
PCs that it will take a week or so to muster her folk.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 35

Magreffix will also part with the PCs at this time. He
will thank the PCs heartily for their companionship
and he will tell them that if they ever have great need
of him, to leave a stone near the entrance to his old lair
with the Draconic rune for “friend”, and he will meet
them in Nirzumbil when he sees it.
Battles to Come
After the stone giants have mustered (over a hundred
of them), they will announce their intention to march
straight to Nirzumbil. They hope, by news of
Garizmul’s death and by display of giant force, to
convince the dwarves to send out an army to destroy
the orc hordes once and for all. The PCs are welcome
to accompany the giants.
The march of the stone giants will be awe-inspiring
and effective. The orcs, with their figurative head cut
off, will not be able to rally effectively. Of course, there
will still be fighting and battle. The DM can set up orc
forces to fight if the PCs want to take part in some of
these battles, or the DM can simply narrate the PCs’
role in these one-sided battles.
The orcs, leaderless and demoralized, cannot stand up
to the combined might of the stone giants and the
dwarves. Over the course of the next month, the
dwarves and giants will roust all of the orc strongholds
in the area, driving the orcs back into their traditional
holes and homelands.
Consequences
If Garizmul has been slain and the orcs routed,
Mercur’s scheme will come to a halt. Of course, they
have already benefited from the long term contracts
they have negotiated, but their plans for truly
cornering the market is gone. The dwarves will must
and, with some stone giants, march south to relieve the
siege of Hegzeril (the other dwarven stronghold).
Within two months, that stronghold will also be
relieved. Thereafter, full trade between the dwarves
and the lowlands will resume (incidentally with a
spike in demand by the dwarves for lowland foods and
goods).
If the PCs found the Mercur documents inside
Garizmul’s lair, then they will have proof of Mercur’s
schemes. They must now decide what to do with this
information. They could show them to one or more
parties rival to Mercur or to the dwarves, who have
been injured by Mercur’s machinations. Local lowland
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
kingdoms will also have an interest in punishing
Mercur, and the temple of the trade god will also be
wroth at the trade coster for disrupting the free flow of
trade and causing the death of so many merchants.
In short, the PCs can ruin Mercur in this region for
decades to come. The dwarves would completely ban
all trade with Mercur. The trade temples would
withhold their blessings, services, and spellcasting
from Mercur for many years. The lowland kingdoms
would ban the coster from their precincts or at least
demand massive reparations.
Of course, the PCs, realizing all of this, could sell those
documents back to Mercur for a price to be
determined, However, that could be a dangerous game,
as Mercur might want to attempt to seize the
documents or assassinate the PCs. In short, there could
be a lot of intrigue and adventure even after the orc
uprising has ended.
Rewards and Accolades
If the PCs have slain Garizmul, the dwarves of
Nirzumbil will be quite happy. They will name the PCs
“dwarf friends”, and very rare and honoured titles. The
PCs will also each be given a magical gift suitable to
their class. Such gifts wil be those that are likely to be
crafted by dwarves. Some samples include:
 light or heavy crossbow +1
 ring of protection
 immovable rod
 gem of brightness
 gauntlets of ogre power
 goggles of night
 lantern of revealing
Additionally, the dwarves will give each PC 1,000 gp,
half in gold coins and the other in assorted gems.
Award standard XP for defeated foes. Remember that
if the PCs had allies helping them (such as the copper
dragon), then the XP for defeated foes should be
divided amongst all of the PCs and allies equally.
Against the Orcs 36
 This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest.
Once the last finger is pulled and thrown, the
necklace becomes nonmagical.

Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)

This amulet is crafted by orcish adepts. It provides the
wearer with the benefits of and aid spell, but before
the amulet may be activated, the wearer must slay a
sentient creature. The creature must be slain while the
wearer is wearing the amulet, and the amulet activates
if Gruumsh aid me! is yelled in Orcish while the slaying
occurs.
Once the amulet is activated, it cannot be activated
against for 24 hours.

Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)

This wristband is made of bone, carved with runes of
necromancy and undeath. Dangling from the
wristband are two charms, one made of stone in the
shape of a skull, and the other made of obsidian in the
shape of a skeletal finger tipped by a sharp, claw-like
fingernail.
The charm augments any skeletons controlled by the
wearer, turning their bones to stone and causing sharp
spikes to grow from the skeleton’s body, hands, and
legs. The skeletons gain +2 to AC and as a bonus action
may make a slam attack using their Dexterity bonus to
hit that causes 1d6 (plus Dex bonus) piercing damage.

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

This necklace is crafted by the drow. It appears as a
black metal chain from which hang six desiccated
fingers. When looked at closely, the fingers seem to
throb and writhe of their own accord. Each finger can
be pulled from the necklace and thrown at a target as
an action. Once pulled, a finger must be thrown within
three rounds or it loses its potency.
A finger has a range of 20/60 ft., and strikes a single
target using the wearer’s Dexterity bonus and
proficiency bonus. The target, if struck, suffers 14
(4d6) necrotic damage and must succeed on a DC 15
Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is
reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 37
The krenshar is a strange catlike carnivore with
extremely flexible skin on its head.

A typical krenshar measures 4 or 5 feet in length with

a long narrow head. It weighs about 175 lbs. Males and
females hunt together, preferring herd animals for
food but attacking humanoids when game becomes
scarce.

Social Creatures. Krenshars are very social among

their own kind, and occasional attempts to
domesticate cubs have produced fierce and loyal
companions. They otherwise behave much like
mundane great cats. A lair contains cubs numbering
half the adult total.

Pride Hunters. Krenshars often hunt in prides, using

solitary scouts to drive prey into the waiting clutches
of the pride. The scout appears from hiding, uses its
Scare, then chases the often fleeing target into the
waiting grasp of its pridemates.

The krenshar appeared in the Monster Manual for the 3rd edition of
Dungeons & Dragons.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 38
The portal drake is a small dragon, about 4 feet long
with sharp teeth. Its hide is stone gray in colour. While
it resembles a copper dragon in shape, it lacks the
goodness, wit, and sense of humour of copper dragons.

Affinity for Portals. Portal drakes find magic portals a

nearly endless source of amusement, pleasure, and
prey. They usually lair in a secluded cavern equipped
with a portal. With its Portal Sight trait, it gazes
through its portal to other portals it knows and looks
for likely victims. It typically seeks out smaller groups
or individuals carrying obvious magic items.

Hit-and-Run. Portal drakes use hit-and-run tactics

when they fight, but they rarely initiate combat unless
they feel certain of winning. Portal drakes sometimes
use magic items to enhance their abilities, and they are
usually well prepared for combat. A portal drake’s
favourite tactic is to make a lightning strike on a small
party or individual, usually starting with its breath
weapon.

The portal drake appeared in Underdark for the 3rd edition of

Dungeons & Dragons.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 39
Senmurvs have the head, body, and clawed back paws
of a dog, with two feathery wings in place of the dog’s
front paws. They stand upright and are vibrantly
coloured; no two have the same pattern. The eyes of a
senmurv are gem-coloured, usually sapphire blue,
ruby red, or emerald green, and do not have pupils.

Dedicated to Its Cause. Senmurv are intelligent

creatures that are ferocious defenders of good. They
commonly act as mounts, scouts, and guardians for
nonevil humanoids such as elves, dwarves, and
gnomes.

Aid Those in Need. Senmurvs have been known to

provide aid to humanoids in distress, especially those
under attack by evil creatures. Senmurvs are very
particular about whom they assist, and they become
enraged if they discover duplicity or betrayal among
those they are so assisting.

Combat Diver. Senmurvs are experts at diving into

combat for deadly strikes before retreating to safety.
They typically strafe an opponent a few times before
closing into melee.

Mounts. A senmurv can carry a rider and gear

weighing no more than 200 lbs. Senmurvs do not
tolerate saddles well, so the rider must learn to do The senmurv appeared in the Fiend Folio for the 3rd edition of
without. Dungeons & Dragons.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 40
The stone flyer appears as a great winged wolf made of
mottled granite. Its hide is a mixture of black, grey, and
brown, like stone.

Pack Creatures of Stone. Stone flyers glide through

stone as easily as other winged creatures glide through
air. They’re social creatures, usually found in large
packs. Fierce carnivores, stone flyers strike quickly in
great numbers, seeking to kill and carry away their
prey. They work in concert to bring down creatures
that are traveling alone or lagging behind in a group.
Once their quarry is unconscious or dead, they retreat
into the earth or stone, taking their prey along to be
consumed in safety, away from the site of the kill.

Unique Mounts. Stone flyers are much sought after as

mounts in the Underdark, but they require training to
bear riders. A stone flyer can carry a rider and gear
weighing up to 450 lbs.

The stone flyer appeared in Underdark for the 3rd edition of Dungeons
& Dragons.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 41
This section introduces variations of monsters that are
described in the Monster Manual.
The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical
brown bear. However, PCs meet another kind of
brown bear in the course of this adventure.
This mother bear is very protective of her cubs and
will be enraged if she attacks.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical
kobold. However, PCs meet another kind of kobold in
the course of this adventure.
These kobolds serve as the shamans and wise people
of their tribes. They claim that their ability to wield
sorcery proves their direct bloodline to dragons, and
this places them in a position of respect amongst their
tribemates.
Against the Orcs 42
The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical The Monster Manual provides statistics for the typical
orc. However, PCs meet other kinds of orcs in the troll. However, PCs meet another kind of troll in the
course of this adventure. course of this adventure.

These orcs are the cream of the crop as far as the
warriors of their tribe. They are placed in roles of
sergeants of orc squadrons or as bodyguards of orc
chieftains. Each of these orcs hopes to one day kill his
chieftain and assume his position.
Trolls are, due to their regenerative powers, subject to
mutations, including a two-headed variety. Contrary to
popular rumour, these creatures are not the result of
interbreeding between trolls and ettins.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 43
This section presents statistics for NPCs encountered
in this adventure that are not presented in the Monster
Manual.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 44
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 45
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 46
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 47
The Stonewych wears a ring of earth elemental
command and a huge cloak of protection. She also
wields a +2 greatclub. These items are reflected in the
statistics presented above.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 48
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 49
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 50
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 51
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 52
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 53
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . Against the Orcs 54