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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Leif" data-source="post: 4055951" data-attributes="member: 48762">Wally AlphonsusWally heads back the way that he led you in. To the puzzled looks of the constables, he says, "Hey, who's leading this trip, anyway?" Then he just shakes his head and keeps on going. Soon, he leads you back to one of the main thoroughfares that he avoided on the way in. This time, he follows the large passage deeper underground. This passage is broader and sees more use. You know this because of a substantial amount of litter that lines the passageway: old gnawed bones, empty bottles, scraps of cloth, etc. Then you begin to see markings on the walls. Those of you who can read orcish report that these are mostly dire warnings of certain death to intruders, and hexes to ward off evil spirits. They appear to be written mostly in blood, which would be a more readily available commodity than paint, down here. After awhile, you begin to feel that the cave is getting a little bit warmer, for which Bruno, for one, is very thankful. And then, up ahead, you see that you are approaching a crude doorway. Through the doorway, all you can see is a large open space, no floor is yet visible, but you do see the flickering light of a very large fire. When Wally passes through, his chest swells and he lets out a great shout, "Ahhh, rooooo-ahhh!" Now you see that just inside the doorway is the landing of a stairway, which Wally is now leading you down. As he descends, Wally's cry is answered by several of the cavern's oocupants, "Neeeeeeragg!" As you descend the stairs your hearts involuntarily flutter with anxiety for a moment, but you steel yourselves to continue. The staircase is carved out of the wall of the cavern, and on the way down you are able to see everything in the cavern. A large mass of orcs is assembled here, (maybe 75? they just won't hold still while you finish counting) and they are not going about the tasks of everyday life, but, rather, they look like they are waiting for something to happen.  Some of them are tempering their wooden spears in the large fire pit in the center of the cavern.  You also notice that there are no females or young present -- this seems to be a gathering for the menfolk.  On the far side of the cavern is a dais about 40 feet wide (the depth of it is hard to judge from your vantage point). On the dais stand two very, very large orcs! (Yes, you CAN tell that much from here!) You surmise that the larger of the two orcs is the Chieftan of the tribe, and judging from his ceremonial breech cloth and elaborate headdress, the other one must be the Witch Doctor. Upon reaching the floor of the cavern, Wally leads you through the mass of orcs near the right edge of the cavern. You notice that a few of the orcs give disdainful glances to Wally, too. He takes no notice, but, rather, seems to swell more and more with pride as you approach the dais. As you draw closer, you notice a key feature of the chamber that you were too overwhelmed by the mass of orc flesh to register at first: Just in front of the dais, on its left side, a cage is suspended by a single rope. The rope is tied off near the Witch Doctor, who has a ceremonial greataxe that gleams in the firelight. As you approach the dais, you see that it is about 20 feet in width, and as you ascend the short staircase to the top of the dais, you see more about the cage: it is hanging over a pit of unknown depth, but it looks to be at least 40 feet deep from where you are. And huddled in the cage, as near to the center as he can get, is a very scared looking halfling. Wally speaks, "Hail, Chief Udzar! You see that I, Wally Alphonsus, am an orc of my word, a true son of my father, Ugnutz! Here are the constables that I told to you about." Here, Wally motions toward your group. Chief Udzar is eight feet tall if he is an inch, and the witch doctor looks almost that tall, even without the cermonial headdress. They both go at least twenty-five stone, easily.</blockquote>

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