Monday, April 7, 2014

The Khenvor Kronicles - Crippling the Fleet

After a successfully completing missions with the Halfling Explorer Group in the Gulgrethor Fortress, I asked my fellow halflings to help me with a side quest. Though Governor Jalixfin thought it best for one adventurer to infiltrate the city of Khenvor and take out Fleet Commander Mag'Uthor, I found the task daunting with all types of Gulgrethor Soldiers swarming the command center of Khenvor. I figured the HEG just dealt a blow to the Gulgrethor already at the Fortress in the Sundering Wastelands, why not strike another blow before the alert reaches Khenvor.



The HEG bursts through the city gates and past the guards heading directly to the northwest command center of the city. We scoured the docks no avail. We searched every ship we could board, killing all in our wake. We went from hut to hut kicking in doors and slaying all those whose stood in our way. Finally we discovered a rather large

structured "A" shaped hut. It was heavily guarded and way up in the back. We fought our way through the guards and ran to the top of the ramp. There he was, Fleet Commander Mag'Uthor with his mighty glowing hammers at his side. I was a bit disappointed that he was a Goblin and not an Orc. Though Goblins are very smart compared to Orcs. Scanning the room there were three tacticians and an animal. By gosh it was a goat, a Gulgrethor Scapegoat. Boy oh boy is this clan weird. 





I looked back to my group and said that the Commander is mine. I had been trying to get to this guy for over a week now. My patience had run thin, so much so, it became an obsession to eliminate this foe once and for all. We engaged group as I went straight for the Commander. He raised those glowing hammers and swung them in a fluent motion

before each strike. My daggers were at the ready and I dodged his first attempted strikes. I found and opening and got a few slashes in but they were not fatal. He struck again and again as I tried to fend them off. Some hit their mark while the others were glancing blows. I dodged one blow and thrust my daggers but they missed the mark. To my surprise he began casting. I dropped to the deck rolling to
one side and slashed him behind the knee. His stance weakened but his focus did not. Before he could turn around I plunged my daggers deep into his spine. Gurgling, he turned to face me but I wasn't taking any chances. My dagger pierced his armor delving deep into his chest. He slumped to the floor and it was over. I stood over him in a daze for a moment.




There was no joy, no thrill, no elation and really no satisfaction for me in ending the life of this goblin. It had to be done. I have come to disconnect myself, shunning feelings in some of the things that I must do. I slowly looked up and there was my fellow halflings looking to me. There they stood, honorable halflings of Rindol Field. Their armor soiled with blood, mud, dirt and clay. Breathing heavily, the look on their faces said it all. They never saw me fight so fiercely and release such fury upon an opponent before. They stood in shock as they had always seen me in control. This side they never saw of me before. The silence didn't last as a flurry of guards came down upon us. They all met the same fate as the others.




We climbed a tower and reached the sounding horn atop the highest point in Khenvor. That damn horn blew from the time we entered Khenvor but now it was silenced. We climbed atop the horn and admired the view. It's good to take time to check out the view. We laughed and joked about the evenings events but it was time to depart. I was off to see Headhunter Dostra at Gulkar's Encampment to the southeast. As soon as I approached the encampment Dostra asked if I had put an end to the fleet commander for good. I handed him the blood soaked sack containing the Commander's head and

nodded. He replied that I had done well and a great service that should cripple the Gulgrethor Naval campaigns against Martok. He then told me to be proud, and go forward in the name of all Martok. He treated me as if I was a fellow Orc. Is this what it takes for all the races of Telon to get along? Kill their foes and yet Martok is a foe to another. It does not end I am afraid. Such is life as ye will be judged by what you do and what you do not do. 



This ends the series of "The Khenvor Kronicles". I do hope you enjoyed reading it.

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Khenvor Kronicles - The Crafty One

The Loamite Doma stated that I must find a way atop the Great Hall and speak with the one who shares in the kinship of Clan Martok. The Doma began entering a trance then regained consciousness before my eyes. He spoke "Fazin is whom you seek. Look atop the Great Hall in Khenvor" And with that the Doma fell silent again.





I ran along the dock till I reached the Great Hall. Looking up I could not see anything. I went inside to the back of the Great Hall and walked the ramp to the Worker's Quarters. There were two off-duty workers already there. The beds were different from what I was used to back in Rindol Field. As an adventurer though it is amazing what you can get used to though. I noticed an opening in the roof that was somewhat like a balcony or small overlook. I crawled out onto the roof and in looking up I spotted Fazin.




In a flash I climbed the roof. I pulled myself up on the the top beam and stood before Fazin. I noticed his hands where on the hilts of his weapons gripping them tightly. I explained who I was and he replied that we must do our duty in the service of Martok. I passed on the information from the Doma to him, this seemed disturbing to him but he did say he was willing to help the loamites if he can. He needed assistance in other matters first on behalf of the War Council of Martok.



Fazin then introduced himself mentioning he was a spy, deep undercover, but blew his cover and now just hides and watches. He states he must investigate further but it's too busy to move in without being seen. The Necromancers are up to something unusual with crates of dirt on the dock below. He asked me to create a distraction by taking out on-duty soldiers below so he could investigate.We would meet back up on the rooftop when both missions were complete. I climbed down the steep roof, went in through the Worker's Quarters, down the ramp and out the front of the great hall.



I began to think where would be a good place to start a distraction.

I remembered Foreman Grimble stating to stay away from the Command section of Khenvor. A grin stretched across my face. Tell a Halfling not to do something and guess what happens, I smirked.
With that thought in mind I proceeded to the Command Section of Khenvor. I used my stealth to get into the Command Section and began taking down Soldier after Soldier with precision dagger strikes and cunning backstabs. With all that I scrambled back to the great hall rooftop.

Fazin claimed I had done excellent work and that he had done some reconnaissance work. It appears that the necromancers are indeed doing something with the dirt in the red crates. He determeined that that they will be taking the crates from the storage area underneath the House of Wrath  and that it would be a chance to find out what's really going on. He wanted me to travel down to the storage

area and hide in the large wooden chest. The Necromancers will take the chest into their guarded liar for their experiements; all the while carrying me with them, safely inside the chest. Once inside I am to find out whatever I can then make my escape and hurry back. A short time later the crate began to move. All I could hear was the footsteps along the dock. Then a door creaked open and the chest was set down. The top lid moved and I was in no position to defend myself.  

I heard a maddening cackle. "And what do we have hear? I'ts a rat, caught in a trap. A desperate and lowly Martok rat." It was Noorg, the Necromancer begin uttering a chant and in a flash I was cursed and morphed into a rat, of all things. 





"We should have wiped your clan from existence the first time. A mistake we will correct shortly. For we are mastering magic that will give us an entire army. An army of undead that Supreme Commander MagUthor shall use to take control, and then finish the great plan we started all those years ago.", he continued. I ran

darting from spot to spot trying to avoid the blows and attacks of the others in the room. "But you won't survive long as a rat. Scurry off and die.", he cried. I ran through a small crack between the door and the floor. Barely managing to escape with my very life. I did scurry up to the dock, to the Great hall and back up to the roof once more.





"Well done, Waylian. Sorry about the whole rat thing." says Fazin. He went on about this new information is exactly what was needed. Unfortunately, it also confirms the clans nightmares that Khenvor is going to raise an army of undead and use them to conquer all of Martok. Fazin said it was imperative that this information be taken out of the city and be put into the hands of Martok command. The only one he could trust was Warseer Gulkar as his hatred for the Gulgrethor clan runs deep and has cut down many of their number in the glorious service of Martok. He can make best use of this information. Since I already knew when Gulkar's Encampment was I left immediately. As I left the city of Khenvor the curse wore off.



I reached the encampment and entered the tent. I walked up to Gulkar and gave him the grave information. Gulkar's facial expression never changed at hearing the dark news. Gulkar is going to send word to General Zewg. Gulkar slams his fist into his open palm and began ranting about the Gulgrethor and cutting down the false dogs. He turned and walked away in a fit a rage. Though I would have stayed I thought it best to leave Gulkar alone with his thoughts. I headed to the east to link up with my fellow Halflings at the Gulgrethor Fortress. I still have one last mission to complete in Khenvor, but I would need the help of the Halfling Explorer Group with that mission. I just hope they never hear about me being turned into a rat. I'll never hear the end of it.



Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Khenvor Kronicles - A Self-Aware Loamite


I stealthed back to the Loamite Doma. The Doma felt my presence and began talking. This Loamite is a Shaman Doma of Clan Martok. "I fear things are not as they seem." the Doma said in a soft but raspy voice. The Doma continued how the Loamites will work with their new Gulgrethor Allies to prepare for The Great Invasion. The Shaman in him senses something else odd and foul at work here. He had sought out spirits for help, but they only told him to find a goblin named Loremaster Parn and ask him about Clan Martok and The Great Invasion. He was told, by these spirits, he was communing with powerful spirit's in the Great Hall. He had tried to find Parn, but failed. He requested that I find Parn and return to him with answers.

Now I am wondering to my self how could this be. I just had tasks from the Gulgrethor to thin the Loamite numbers. How are the Gulgrethor their allies? Something is definitely strange going on here, but then again a lot of things I have done for the Orcs in Kojan have been strange up and to this point. This is getting complex, even for me, I thought. I left the dock to head for the Great Hall.



I climbed the stairs and walked in to large area full of tables, food and drink. Most of the patrons were off-duty workers or soldiers. Among them I found Loremaster Parn. I greeted him an explained why I had come to him. He started with a small grin that I wanted to know about Clan Martok and The Great Invasion. He replied that he did know the tale and quite the tale it is. But a story like that requires a strong drink before it can be told properly and drinking ale always helps him remember. He requested I fill his mug full with frothy ale and he didn't care how I did it. Only then would he tell me the tale of Clan Martok and The Great Invasion. So I
went to a Tavern Wench and asked to purchase some ale. But I heard those four words. Those four words that would send Yebral into a Beserker Rage! "We're out of Ale.", she responded. So I was unable to purchase the ale and now had to resort to another plan. A plan I would had hoped I didn't need to come in to play. I would have to steal ale from the mugs of the other patrons. So how handy would my rogue skills be here. I reached for an ale and had come face to face with an angry off-
duty soldier. There was no talk, the fight ensued with all watching. I defended myself and in the end, I killed him. All the patrons just shook it off and went back to their business as nothing had ever happened. Some of that ale spilled during the melee so I had to acquire more ale to fill Parn's mug. I grabbed a few more mugs and some I got away with and others I had to fight for. So if no one else cared why would I? I was killing Gulgrethor Soldiers in a Gulgrethor City and no one lifted a finger to help. Seems to be getting easier every step of the way. Once the mug was full I pressed Parn to tell me of Martok's Past. Between enormous gulps, Parn commented about the nice full mug of ale. He began that years ago, the Gulgrethor Clan left their homeland to the east and began a campaign against Thestra to crush the empires there to expand their power. But that was not before (hiccup) Karujin deceived the Martok elders and slaughtered them in cold blood here; in this very city. The Martok Clan was crippled without there leadership and seemingly helpless to resist the iron will of (hiccup)Karujin Gulgrethor which laid waste to the Martok Clan across the island. Those left in Martok (hiccup) well, they herded them onto the dock and pushed them into the dark waters. This was before the hero, Grakkor, of course. Parn staggered a bit, gave a wink and laughed. He commented on the Martok bodies were pushed into the waters of Khenvor and that the bones ended up in the mud below are the proof he spoke of. He told me to head to the first big ship and that there in the deep water I would find Oysters that feed on these bones as they floated by. He stated it would be very hard to breath at the bottom and that I should speak with Cook Voldrem about his crab chowder.

 I walked up to the cook and he started talking right away about how he don't have the meat for his so called magical crab chowder. He said he dabbled in creating magical soups and his most demanded is the crab chowder. Further more he said it's tasty and allows you to breath like a fish. Don't know if I can really believe that, but there is a lot of strange magic in Telon. So he politely asked me to fetch him some savory crab meat from the crabs down by the beach south of the docks. I agreed to help him if it helps me get information as to what is really going on around here in the city of Khenvor. So I leave and go to the end of the docks. I start walking along the pilings thinking what am I doing. Have I been reduced to fetching food for a cook. I began think this was one big mind play and that doing all these
things I'll end up like the lackeys outside chopping wood forever. I saw the beach was not far and out from behind a piling jumped a Dock Stalker spider. Again, no information that these creatures are around here. Ask me to do something, give me the information I need to succeed please. Now the Goblins are forgetting too. This place may be the death of me. After slaying the spider I noticed he had captured a poor soul and had him in a cocoon, fixed to a piling. That could have been me. I
proceeded more cautiously to the beach from here on out. Trying to remain focused on my task and rid other thoughts from my head. When I arrived at the beach there was a plethora of crabs about. I made sure to make quick work of each of them. I got into some intense battles with a few, but by the time I put them down there wasn't much meat left to savor. The
pinchers didn't seem that tough, but the brutes were much larger and stronger. I did the best that I could to save as much meat as possible. Once I got enough I headed back up to the dock and into the Great Hall once more. The cook was beside himself, he couldn't even wait for me to get up to him. He came rushing at meat saying that that crab meat was lovely and beautiful while saliva dripped from his very lips. He stated that I had done well and gave me a bowl of crab chowder for my effort.

I left before I was tasked with something else again. I head for the
first ship, ate the crab chowder and dove into the deep water. Sorry I didn't wait the 30 minutes or an hour before I dove in. I never cramped up though. I found the oysters on the sea floor. I opened them up only to be ambushed as they turned into large awful looking things. Their tentacles stung like a lash of a whip and I made sure I was a good distance from there gnarling teeth. When I dove in I did noticed a huge looking crab on scouring the sea floor. It was a Greatfather crab. It could have been a hundred years old for all I knew. But I thought of the cook and how maybe he would love to have the crab meat from this creature. I moved in under stealth and attacked it immediately. It was a long fight. Though very, very strong, it was slow and a bit clumsy. I came close to being severed in half a few times but managed in a nick of time to get out of the way.


The sun was setting on Khenvor again. What a beautiful sight indeed but such a city doesn't belong in the hands of the Gulgrethor.



I returned to the Loamite Doma with the bones as proof. The Doma had become overcome with a flood of emotion, at last understanding the truth. All the Loamites are spirits of the dead - betrayed and butchered long ago, and now somehow trapped in a state of living death. The Doma's face got angry and exclaimed that this must stop and they be allowed to rest. Shaking the bones in his hands and stating he will seek directions from the bones. He threw the bones onto the dock, and there was a long silence as he broods over the positioning of the bones and what they reveal. He looked up and said that the signs are clear.








The Khenvor Kronicles - The House of Wrath


I came upon the entrance to The House of Wrath. At the entrance two Gulgrethor Dreadknights stood on guard. They both eyed me as I proceeded to enter without saying a word. Maybe they figured that it is awfully strange that a Halfling was a worker in Khenvor. I don't really know how I do not draw any suspicion here in Khenvor. However I am sure not going to let my guard down. When I entered, directly in front of me I saw a Gulgrethor Wrathguard, a Gulgrethor Wrathguard Champion and a female orc named Zella, Sister of Wrath. I never heard the female orc's name before and was very curious as to who she was.



To my left stood Administrator Bazad. When I turned to him he said that the Wrathguard use fear as their greatest weapon. But that
it was no good against mud. His statement puzzled me but I listened intently as he continued that foul creatures made of loam had taken over the southern section of the dock. When the creatures first invaded, his fellow Wrathguard cut them to the ground with swords and axes. But by the new day, they had returned. The Gulgrethor resorted to removing sections of the dock around them so they can spread no further. Now some of the beasts have been wandering toward this side of the dock and need to be driven back. He then bellowed that Taskmaster Zow has sent me to him and he has a job for me to do. Really? Doesn't anyone do anything themselves anymore? He commanded me to go southwest, cross the wooden plank that leads down to a section where the Loamites are. I am to slay the Wandering Loamites and to stay clear of Noorg's House of the Undeath as Mag'Uthor has granted him full control of his domain. He continued that Noorg is a conniving one with vast amounts of dark magic and will unleash it upon any stranger. So you tell a Halfling spy not to do something, guess what happens? Before heading over to the plank I decided to walk to the edge of the dock here and take another look at my surroundings. I could see the pointed roof of Noorg's House of Undeath to the left. I made a note of that. 

I walked down the plank and stopped noticing undead guards at the front of Noorg's House. I decided to forgo scouting out Noorg's House and complete my assignment for Bazad.

I found the Wandering Loamites in the water below the docks.

I took out many Loamites and realized Bazad's reference to fear being of no use against mud. These clay-like creatures show no fear. But they were not aggressive. At least these Loamites were not.


I swam to shore and made my way back to the docks. I took a moment to myself to take in the beautiful sunset in Khenvor. My thoughts drifted for a moment to my loving Quilyassa. I shook myself and scolded myself quietly for letting my mind drift, if even for a moment.


Returning to Bazad, he said that I did a good enough job and that I can follow orders. Unfortunately, the Loamite problem seems more dangerously than he had thought. New information has come to light that the longer Loamites are left alive, the more they organize and fester. Futher in to the dock section there are Loamites that have been allowed to live for far to long. I was instructed to go there and clean up the mess by killing Sludgemongers and Mudlords. I went in under stealth and confronted these creatures. I wielded my daggers in waves of striking attacks and less not forget to backstab a few while I was at it. I ran in to a few Dock Horrors along the way. Which Bazad failed to mention these spider creatures lurking about
the docks. I don't know what it is about orcs forgetting to tell adventurers about spiders in the area. That really rubs me the wrong way. That information is something I need to know. I returned back to Bazad and he stated my efforts should slow them down for awhile and that he had no further use for me. I nodded and took my leave but I did not head back to the taskmaster right away. While I was on the docks earlier I noticed a Loamite Doma. For some reason this I felt compelled not to slay this one. I wanted to return for further investigation.






The Khenvor Kronicles - Indoctrination

I could not figure out, how simple this was to gain access inside the city. I mean com'n, these Orcs don't think it's weird that a Halfling has papers to be a lackey for the Gulgrethor clan. 


I came upon the docks and immediately saw a very large Orc. In a booming voice he said he was Taskmaster Zow, he is in charge of assigning tasks to the workers and that I was to obey his every command. He reminded me to keep my worker's tunic on at all time inside the gate or be killed on sight and that I was fortunate to be allowed to work for the mighty Gulgrethor clan. I thought about rolling my eyes but knew better. He started again that I needed to get settled and then he'd give me work to do. He mentioned reports have been coming in from the operation at Grimsea Watch that the Martok Clan is preparing for a counter assault. I didn't really see the need for him to tell me all this information but hey I am spying on them so if they give it freely, that is less work for me to do.

Taskmaster Zow then ordered me to go to the Worker's Quarters, which are located inside the Great Hall and speak with Foreman Grimble. Grimble was to get me settled in and tell me which areas that workers are not allowed in. He proceeded to tell me to stay clear of the dock area to the southwest since it had been recently overrun and had to be sealed off. I nodded and was off to the Great Hall.



I saw Foreman Grimble under the stair to the Great Hall. A huge, strong looking orc with tattered clothes. He beckoned me over and

introduced himself as Foreman Grimble and it was his job to speak with new workers. He told me to get in line since I was new and that I should know of certain places on the dock that workers are not allowed. To the northwest lies the command of Khenvor. No Workers allowed. If I was caught beyond that point I would be attacked without question. Then he basically said get to know the rest of the area myself and head back to Taskmaster Zow for work. He did not provide much information to be a foreman. Maybe that's how it goes for new workers. Back to the taskmaster I went.

As I walked up to the taskmaster he groaned as if he was hoping not to see me again. He told me how the trees outside the gates grow rapidly and that the workers don't have time to clear away the wood they have struck. He gave instructions to go out to the workers and collect the harvested wood but beware for the patrolling overseers as it is their job to keep the workers on task. Oh, and that they may kill me as well. That was nice to know. I exit through the gate and went to the first worker I saw chopping wood. When I collected the wood I was immediately attacked by an Ambusher of Xia'Liu. Much like the Yukonia I faced before it did not take long to slay it. I decided to stealth from tree to tree collecting the rest of the wood and encountered two more Ambushers which I put down quickly as well. The workers didn't even seem to care as if they were in some
type of trance. As I began to head back I did see an Overseer but I steered way clear of him. I didn't really know how I felt about this. I did not want to end up being a lackey that was seemed to be in a trance working all the time. But I had to finish my task as not to draw much attention to myself. I passed back through the gates and returned to the taskmaster. He looked at me and nodded in approval saying that my appetite for work was pleasing. Also that it was a good thing as there will always be more work to do. Then a big wide smile came across his face as he told me those workers will continue chopping trees until they drop from exhaustion. He laughed, and said he will always have lots of tasks for all the workers. I could see he took great pleasure in all this. I wanted to drop him where he stood but I knew I had a greater mission to accomplish.


The Taskmaster then told me that the House of Wrath is the home of the Gulgrethor Dreadknights in Khenvor. He instructed me to walk along the dock to the House of Wrath, and ask for Administrator Bazad about my next job. I would find Bazad down the docks to the southwest and inside the House of Wrath. I walk to an edge of the dock and look to the southwest. I could see the House of Wrath and the soldiers on the docks.