The Orc Head

9/22

The party journeys to the NW into the wooded mountains. They find some tracks north of the forest. They follow the tracks three hours into the mountains and find a cave.

The cave houses 9 orcs [an orc hunting party that has come down from the mountains]. Five orcs occupy the first chamber. Squishy mind blasts them, paralyzing all but one. The remaining orc raises the alarm. Another orc rushes out of a nearby tunnel. The orc leader peers out to see what is happening and orders the others to attack. Mary rushes the leader. The leader sidesteps to avoid more spells. Leader gets knocked unconscious and beheaded.

The party collects the booty: a composite longbow (STR+2), a full quiver, a barrel with 11 javelins, 9 great axes, 9 suits of scale mail, 3 knives, a ring (20 gp); the leader has 4 gp & 6 sp, the orcs have 2 gp & 5 sp each. Squishy appraises the bow as greater quality than Jak’s longbow. Squishy trades the bow for the potion of Alter Self.

The party drags all their spoils back along with the leader’s head. Jak puts the orc head in his bag. They will try to sell the equipment that night. [Guards will attempt arresting Jak tonight].

The party sells all the spare equipment & hears rumors of a cavalry escort while in a tavern. [This was the cavalry chase from the previous day.]

Jak is arrested by several guards while shopping by himself. [Jak is relatively easy to find. Very few people in the area carry a greatsword.] Jak is taken to the jail inside the castle. The rest of the party starts looking for Jak. They look around the shops and track down the last shop he was in. The clerk appears spooked and doesn’t want to cooperate. [The clerk doesn't want any trouble. He just knows Jak was arrested for something and doesn't want involved.] They ask a guard and learn about Jak’s imprisonment. He is intentionally vague about the circumstances of the arrest. Elf offers a "little incentive" to the guard to get more info. Mary pulls him away before Elf can elaborate on the amount.

The party looks for Squishy. [The guards note that the party leaves the city in the direction that Squishy went.] Elf runs around the river screaming for Squishy. Squishy hears Elf screaming by the river. Squishy slowly sneaks up behind Elf and scares him, “shut up.” They tell him about Jak's arrest. The party returns to the town.

Six guards meet them just inside town. [The guards are keeping Squishy out, just in case he has some sort of influence over Jak. They've been told that illithids have the ability to control other people's minds. That's why there are also archers posted on the neighboring walls, but nobody manages to spot them.] The guards tell them that Squishy isn’t allowed to come back in town right now. Squishy retreats back from town, somewhat relieved that he doesn’t have to deal with more idiots.