"Let's Get Falk'ed!" is the eighth episode of High Rollers.
- Previous episode: "Jiǔtóu's Solo Adventure!"
- Next Episode: "Welcome Back, Jiǔtóu!"
After the battle of last episode the party is preparing to head onto the orc camp, buffed by the Aid spell cast by Cam and accompanied by a few of the pixies they saved and convinced to come help. The forest is still, but the pixies are constantly thanking the group for saving them and ask if the party is going to stop the orcs, to which Elora says that they are. Cam tries to flick one causing the tiny fae to avoid him and Torwen to call him out for being an ass to them. Cam says that he finds them irritating, much to the irritation of Elora and Torwen, but Trellimar agrees with the human. Elora tells the pixies to ignore Cam, and when they ask what about the 'mean one' Elora notes that Trell is mean to everyone. Torwen then makes a big show of trying to judge how far the camp is, but when Cam notes that she's just pretending to listen to the ground Torwen grins and admits that it's just two hours in that direction.
A short distance from the camp Torwen stops the party, having noticed an orc ahead. Elora also spots the figure, who seems to be overlooking a clearing in the distance. Although orcish in appearance, they note he is dressed differently to the ones they've encountered before, and strangely some of his features are almost elven with his ears being long and pointed and his build while muscled is also slimmer than the others. The figure, hearing the whispers from behind him, turns from watching the camp of his clan to discover the source of the noise. Facing them they now see that he wears goggles, an orange cloak and a bandalier of strange stones. The figure - Falk - walks towards the group making a shushing motion to them. Cam who hasn't yet seen Falk sees the half-orc emerge and startled cries that his nips are fantastic, to which Falk confusedly thanks him. Falk introduces himself to the group, telling them that he is an exile of the clan below, the Darkscar clan. When Cam asks if anyone else is wary of this new person being an orc, Falk corrects him to 'half-orc' adding in that the other half is elf, something Torwen comments as being a rather strange mix.
Falk reveals that he was exiled because he began to question the power source the Shaman gained upon entering a strange temple in their area, with the rumours of the powers he knows matching the ones the party has already seen the orcs possessing. Torwen comments that she didn't see any shaman last time she scouted the area, only an orc with an owlbear. Falk tells the party that he was here watching the camp because he is concerned about his clan and what this new un-orcish power seems to be doing to them. On numbers Falk comments that this main camp contains 30 of the best warriors in the clan, and many more orcs who aren't warriors too. Cam notes that they should probably find a way to avoid fighting with those numbers, and the party introduces themselves properly to Falk, having decided the half-orc is trustworthy and Falk comments that Elora reminds him of his elvish mother. Falk is curious about Granamyr as he has never seen a pseudo-dragon before, and Granamyr himself is wary of Falk still. Both Cam and Torwen also try to read Falk's body language but the half-orc seems sincere and earnest in his words and genuinely wants to help his people escape this strange magic. Hearing that the party is looking for the 'Green Hunter', he reveals that the Shaman had spoke of a great hunter who was aiding the orcs. The party decides to move onto the camp and Elora casts Pass Without A Trace, as the pixies use their own powers to pop out of sight too. They then use this as a chance to make Cam's pants fall down, to which Falk says the cleric's underwear reminds him of his orcish father's own.
Emerging from the treeline to find the camp ahead, there are signs of activity all over. Sentries watching the edges of the camp, orcs chopping wood, as well as the owlbear chained up on one end of the camp tearing at what looks like a corpse. Right at the back of the camp the party can see the worn stone building of the temple. Asked about the two orc guards ahead of them, Falk identifies them as Grom and Fal who he says were two of his biggest bullies growing up. Cam asks if they're thick, having a plan but Torwen stops him before he gets started saying they need to all come up with something. Torwen suggests that one plan could be to release the owlbear to cause chaos and get by in the confusion. Elora asks if the pixies are able to try and do this and one gives it a go but reports back that the chain is too heavy for them to lift. The pixies then suggest they could use their powers to either put two orcs to sleep or turn them into animals, with the party deciding that the owlbear would probably try to chase rabbits. Falk suggests that he try to disarm the wood-cutting orc, whose axe might be strong enough to cut the chain if the owlbear was straining it. Trell suggests that he try disguising himself as an orc and walking over to unchain the owlbear and Falk tells him that Morgus, the orc who owns the owlbear, might have a key for the chain in his tent if Trell can find it. Torwen also reminds the group that they have the option to call in forces from the Autumn Spire to attack the camp, which while it would be a terrible battle would cause enough distraction for them to get to the temple. Torwen says that whatever they do she will remain outside in case of an emergency.
Trell then has the idea to disguise himself and pretend to escort the others as prisoners towards the temple, the others aren't sure but Torwen points out that the Shaman knows someone stopped the attack inside the Spire and therefore these 'prisoners' might be of interest to him. They decide that this is their best idea, being unwilling to potentially sacrifice elven lives by calling in the Spire's help but Torwen takes the message scrol from Trellimar anyway just in case she needs to call on them. Cam points out that Falk is the last spanner in the works because he would be recognised if they just went, and Falk agrees that he would likely be executed if the orcs saw him. Falk shows off his slingshot and the pixies suggest they can make him fly, so he wouldn't be seen if the orcs didn't look up and Falk suggests he swirl his slingshot around while he's flying. The pixies then state they could use their animal spell on Falk and Trell suggests that might be the better idea because they don't need a flying half-orc and Falk agrees to this plan. The pixies work their magic and Falk shrinks down into a squirrel, who then proceeds to run up Cam and terrorise the cleric a little before Elora gently grabs him and takes him away from Cam. Trell then proceeds to breach the subject with Torwen about his rope, which the elf gently teases him about needing more before eventually handing it over.
Trell shifts his form into a generic orc before the others realise Trellimar can't speak Orcish. Trell says that he can just grunt or maybe use his telepathy to suggest to one that he is actually speaking Orcish and hope that the other one is thick enough to not want to be embarrassed, and Torwen comments that she's glad the plan is well thought out. Cam asks Trell to hit him to make it look authentic and Trellimar does so, Cam then binds his wrists in such a manner that can be easily escaped from and does the same for Elora. Granamyr takes off and begins to circle the camp up high just in case. The group steps out and the orcs ask them who they are, Cam spits on the ground and is punched for his trouble. The orcs then ask Trellimar in Orcish who they are and Trell attempts to use his telepathy to bluff speaking Orcish back. This works but they are confused as they had not been told of any prisoners, and Cam pretends to try running away but in the direction of the camp. One of the orcs goes to cut Cam off, and Cam realising that his attempt to distract them isn't working turns and turns back the way he came. Trellimar bluffs again that the 'hooded one' in the temple wants the prisoners, but the orc he is talking to decides to ask Morgus and beckons the group to follow him. Now in the centre of the camp, every orc is turning to watch the scene and Trellimar has a sinking feeling that he's led the group into a very bad situation. Eventually a very large orc exits the tent, and the group knows this is Morgus, owner of the owlbear.
Morgus again asks Trell what he is doing in Orcish and Trellimar once again bluffs that he is prisoner and escort but Morgus tries to grab the front of Trell's orc form tunic. Trellimar attempts to dodge this but Morgus manages to see his hand pass through the disguise and he roars at the illusion... before he is turned into a rabbit. The party hear tiny cheering nearby and all the orcs are momentarily paused in confusion. Elora grabs Squirrel-Falk from her bag and tells him "Key!" before throwing him into Morgus' tent to find it. Another group of orcs behind the group suddenly collapse to the ground asleep, as Torwen emerges from the treeline behind the owlbear and attempts to use her scimatars to slice the chain. One link breaks and this is enough to allow the great beast it is holding to pull free, Cam then punts the rabbit toward the owlbear who snaps it up with its great beak. This causes it to turn back into Morgus, who begins fighting his pet to avoid being mauled. Meanwhile Squirrel-Falk gives up on trying to find the key and as the spell is broken, he grows back to his regular half-orc shape. Exiting the tent, the party notice that other tents are beginning to spill forth more orcs and Torwen shouts at the party to run for the temple now. The party get inside and close the doors behind them with Cam realising the door has another Druidcraft lock which Elora locks tightly behind them.
Inside the temple now the party find themselves in an old overgrown temple, similar to the one they found themselves in before but without the same evil air as Gulthia's Tomb. The walls of the corridor depict many scenes of nature and eventually lead to a large antechamber with two other passages on either side and a large statue ahead of them. Elven script above it tells them that only those with wisdom of the Wilds may pass without trial and that if Melora's name is spoken the way will open. Cam lights Duracell and asks Falk if he's ever been in here, Falk says he wasn't allowed and Cam quips that it's not really worth coming in. He then proceeds to scout for traps, finding nothing but noticing that the right hand door is open but the left one sealed. Cam tries speaking Melora's name out loud, but nothing happens to the left door. He steps into the room to try again, but the statue begins to animate ahead of them. However it doesn't seem hostile and simply notes that another 'pilgrim' has arrived in the temple, when Elora too steps forward he recognises her as being of the elven blood. Falk walks forward too and the statue notes a great 'turmoil' within Falk being of both elven and orcish blood, and says that the grace of the temple is for all. He informs the party that an orc is defiling the temple at its heart right now, but seems pleased to hear Elora say they came to rid the temple of this defiler. Falk comments that the statue reminds him of his grandfather, and when Cam gets confused at this Falk reveals that he's never actually met either parent and has been projecting what he thinks they looked like.
The statue reveals that his knowledge of what is inside the temple is limited, as he was placed merely to greet pilgrims and to spread wisdom. He reveals that one path leads to a trial, while the other is for "those who show guile and cunning". Elora attempts to Druidcraft the sealed door open, but feels there is a magic force holding it in place that she cannot overcome. Cam tries to get the statue to tell him how to open the door but it claims not to know how to do it, Falk also tries speaking the name but also gets no result and prompts the statue to ask if they are worshippers of the being whose name they speak. The statue notes that so far only one orc has managed to beat the trial. Cam says that he is going to go speak to a 'shadow in the corner of the room' (Trell), but the drow enters the antechamber too causing the statue to comment on sensing a dark presence which is still welcome if it proves itself worthy. Trell also tries speaking Melora's name but like the others has no luck, while Falk asks about the lone orc that passed the trial getting no name but the knowledge that it happened a while ago and that now he comes and goes as he has proven worthy. He then tells the party that this orc 'initiates' other orcs with energy from the temple in front of the greeting statue, and is currently in the temple's heart. Unable to get the sealed door open they consider taking on the trial and are told they can take it together or individually, Trell does a check to see if he can identify the magic holding the sealed door but all he can tell is that it has something to do with the passage about speaking Melora's name. Elora tries again in Elvish but still gets no result and the statue denies any riddle to his opening words when asked by Cam. A few more attempts (including a Wildform) still get no results and the party begin to move down the passage towards the trial, when Cam suddenly has an idea and runs back to the statue. He prods it awake again and after re-reading the passage asks it to say "Melora", when it does the sealed door slides open.
Meanwhile the others are looking into the trial room, which is split into two halves (one decorated like trees blowing in the wind with an elven woman in a robe blowing, the other stylised with large waves with a soaked elven woman aiming a decanter of water at the party) divided by a trough of water. Cam runs back to inform the others that he's got the other door to open and they choose to come back with him and go through the now unsealed door, into a passage that doesn't seem to have been used in a long time. Reaching another door they check for traps and find nothing, so open it and find themselves in a room decorated to resemble a meadow. While there are small gems and things tucked into alcoves, central to the room is a big lightning-like javelin embedded into the flagstones. While Cam can see that the gems might be valuable to sell, he also recognises that they were likely offerings and his religious nature means he tells the others not to take any of those offerings. Direwolf-Elora sniffs curiously at the javelin, and Cam eventually decides to cautiously tap the weapon with a dagger which sets off a pulse of power like a thunderclap around the room. The javelin briefly glows silver, before fading and gently falling to the ground at the cleric's feet. At Elora's urging Cam picks it up and finds it to be quite solid, he decides to keep it but asks around the party if anyone else fancies carrying the mace he gained from the elven tomb a while back - eventually he trades it to Falk for another dagger. While Cam is distracted with the javelin Trellimar attempts to take one of the offerings, but is seen by both Elora and Falk and the drow puts it back while denying he was trying to pocket it.
Exiting through another door, the party moves down another ancient passage and halfway along it hear the distant sound of a horn being blown. Using the last dregs of the Pass Without Trace spell Elora cast on them the party stealths closer to the sound and sees ahead a large wide room. A large platform takes up part of the room, four standing stones atop it with strange amulets made of bone and animal fur tied to each and a mass of swirling green energy in the centre of them. Praising this mass of energy stands a hooded figure holding a spear and a horn, who Falk identifies as the Shaman, Raxus. Cam moves closer to scope out the rest of the room, discovering that there are two more hooded orcs in the room with Raxus. Cam gestured back to the party, holding up two fingers and then pointing at Falk to the half-orc's confusion. It is at this point Falk realises the party never explained why they wanted the Horn and the party explains about their missing team member and what they have to do to get her back. Rejoining the group they debate the best way to start this fight, although Elora is reduced to nodding and shaking her head being in direwolf form. Falk brings up that one of his 'stones' is a type of flashbang, and that if they can get all 3 to look in their direction he might be able to blind them and give the party the best start for the fight. Cam suggests the best distraction would be Falk himself, and the party decides who they will each go for first. While they talk, the energy mass is beginning to show quick peeks of things like a helmet and a hand, and the party decides to go with the plan they have. Falk runs forward to the doorway but isn't noticed as he hears Raxus talk about the "power of the Green Hunter" finally belonging to the Darkscar clan, and the half-orc asks what the Shaman is talking about. Noticing the half-orc now, Raxus demands to know how Falk got into the temple. Falk responds he is here to stop Raxus, but Raxus says that the clan has been weakened by the dragonborn and scattered to the forest. He admits that Falk is more cunning than he thought and offers Falk the chance to join the clan and become a warrior, Falk responds by throwing the flashbang into the room towards Raxus, who manages to shield his eyes in time.
Trell responds first, running up beside Falk and unleashing his Eldritch Blast towards the orc shaman and catching Raxus in the upper chest with the force blast. Trell finishes up with a Hex also on the shaman before Elora races past in direwolf form and pounces Raxus with a bite. At this the two other orcs move, one to engage the direwolf Elora and the other to take on Falk, but both miss their attacks. Falk dodges away from his opponent to better use his sling and looses a regular stone, missing Raxus by inches. Raxus orders the other two orcs to kill the 'traitor' Falk, and Cam invokes Duplicity from where he is still hidden and both Cams run toward the orc that was previously engaging Falk in an attempt to keep him occupied. Raxus orders Elora to "Stay where you are", but when the direwolf shakes it off he invokes the horn's power to Hex her instead. Trellimar, not wanting to risk hitting Elora instead of an orc with his Eldritch Blast, instead closes the distance and attacks the regular orc trying to attack her. His shortsword pierces into the ribcage of the orc, and seeing her ally close by Elora turns her attention to the same orc and tears his head off. Falk asks the Cams if they are alright with the other orc and after both say "yes!" he attempts to disarm Raxus of the horn with another slung stone and succeeds, causing the shaman to drop the horn. The horn cracks as it hits the stone, but the energy mass against expectations grows brighter instead of darker. Raxus cries that without the horn he is unable to control 'him'. The other orc notices that Cam's dupe is flickering slightly and attacks the real Cam, hitting him with his greatsword. Cam responds by drawing Elfy alongside Duracell and going for the double-stab, hitting with both blades but not being quite enough to put the orc down. Seeing the orc working himself up into a rage, Cam has his dupe start gyrating on him.
Raxus decides he can at least kill the party even if he can't control the Hunter anymore, and splits into four figures. Trell decides to just blast at Raxus but hits a duplicate instead, destroying it. Elora also attacks the shaman and manages to hit the real orc, mauling more wounds into his chest. The other orc manages to hit the real Cam again, knowing that it's the dupe gyrating on him. This attack knocks Cam down, and as his Lightborn ability has already saved him once today Cam is knocked unconscious. Falk, seeing the cleric go down, loads a healing stone into his sling and throws it towards Cam. The stone cracks and seaps a sap into the wounds and Cam regains consciousness. Seeing this, Falk Action Surges and attacks the orc who had just knocked Cam down, although he misses with his slung stone. Cam takes this chance to stand back up and sinks a dagger into the side of the orc's neck, putting him down for good. Raxus points to Elora and tries to cast a spell to make her see him as her ally, but she resists again. The energy mass suddenly sends out a pulse, pushing everyone back a small distance and destroying Raxus' two remaining duplicates. A green humanoid with a fully helmed head and goat legs emerges from the centre of the stones, he is carrying an enormous bow and huge arrows. The Green Hunter moves to Raxus and mocks him before lifting the shaman from the ground with ease, he tells Raxus that his army now belongs to the Hunter as every hunter needs his "dogs" and that he will have the orcs destroy the elves and archfae for imprisoning him. With this he tears a great chunk from Raxus' torso before tossing the shaman aside and focusing his attention towards the party.
Cam and Elora, with their knowledge of Plains and nature magic between them figure out that the amulets on the standing stones are disrupting some nature magic that is tying the Hunter to the four standing stones. Trellimar, lacking this knowledge, chooses to go with the reliable Eldritch Blast against the Hunter. The hit reveals that the Hunter's body is in a form that is not quite corporeal, but not yet incorporeal either. However it does seem like he resisted much of the power and as the Hunter laughs at the drow's efforts Elora races to one of the stones and tears off the amulet with her teeth. However the feedback teleports Elora from the room to a fae-like meadow somewhere else, although the other three see that the amulet's removal had a visible effect on the Hunter. Falk also runs forward to remove an amulet and gets teleported to the same meadow with Elora, but again this makes the Hunter shudder. Cam decides to use his new javelin to destroy an amulet, moving down to get a good angle. This breaks the amulet, but the feedback magic arcs towards the cleric and also teleports him to the meadow - leaving a nervous Trellimar alone with the Green Hunter. The Hunter fires two of his large arrows at the drow, only one of them hits but it is enough to knock Trell down again. Fortunately Elora is almost immediately pulled back from the meadow to reappear in the room by the stone pillar she removed the amulet from, although she is unable to act. This then happens to both Falk and Cam and the Hunter targets Elora next, with his line of sight also targeting Falk too. His arrow crackles with green energy and Falk manages to dodge in time, although Elora does not and takes the full brunt of the green energy as well as extra damage from the Hunter's Mark placed on her. Trellimar meanwhile while he feels himself slipping away seems to almost see the form of Jiǔtóu, she reaches down to him and helps him up and Trellimar finds himself able to stand, on the lowest amount of health but no longer dying. Trellimar yanks the large arrow from himself first and briefly considers retreating, but decides instead to limp over to the last amulet and yank it from the stone, becoming the only one of the party to resist being teleported to the meadow.
With the last amulet gone, the nature magic that was connecting to the Hunter begins to wrap around him and pull him back towards the standing stones. Elora reverts to her natural form and casts Moonbeam on the Hunter, Falk slings his fire 'stone' at the Hunter but it whizzes past the primordial's head to smash harmlessly against the far wall. Falk then moves to cover Trell and Cam follows, picking up the javelin and hurling it towards the Hunter after handing Trellimar a healing potion, but missing as he's not used to it yet. The Hunter takes more damage from Moonbeam but moves away from it and the stones, before notching up more arrows and targeting Elora. He hits with both, but the nature magic drags him closer to the centre of the standing stones as he continues to resist. Trellimar drinks the healing potion and once again decides to blast the Hunter, and as the amulets are gone it seems the Hunter's regeneration from before is also gone and the blast smashes a hole through the Hunter's torso. As the green humanoid form breaks down Elora runs forward to attempt to claim the helm and horn they need for their quest, but her hand passes through the misty form as it breaks down and before they know it the Hunter has been sucked back to his prison.
Seeing Raxus still barely alive against the wall, Cam casts Spare the Dying upon him and tells the shaman that he has a chance to talk. Raxus calls for Falk and the half-orc approaches the orc. Raxus then apologises for his actions, saying that his anger at their father's death led him to accept the Hunter's promises of power that ultimately led to the shaman becoming hungry and violent. He tells Falk that he must gather the clan and find them a home, saying that Falk has a chance to broker peace between the elves and the orcs. He lets the half-orc know that they share the same father, and thus Falk should be allowed to lead the clan. He passes over a rune to Falk and tells them to leave, as the temple might come down around them. When asked about a horn he points out the cracked one he had been using, and the party take it. Falk decides that he will leave the only family member he has ever known to die on his own, rather than killing him himself. As the roof begins to cave in, the group flee the place, and Trell manages to snatch a goblet on the way. The group emerge outside to the scene of a terrible battle, with injured elves and orcs everywhere, that seems to have paused when the temple started to collapse. Amris and Payla are on the scene; Payla clashing with a hurt, but still alive Morgus, and Amris shielding Torwen who has lost an arm. As the entire scene turns to look at them Falk holds up the rune he was given and Cam holds up the horn, Morgus asks just what is going on as the orcs seem to realise just what they're doing. Falk tells the orcs that the temple's power had twisted their souls and hearts, and reveals that Raxus has passed on now. Morgus discovers that he is also kin with Falk, as Raxus was his brother. Morgus orders the orcs to lay down arms as he does not consider a battle they were tricked into as honourable. Asking Payla if she wishes to slay the orcs, Payla takes in her own injured and comments that she thinks there's been enough fighting today. Payla then talks to the party, acknowledging their success and asking if they trust Falk's words. Elora reveals that they heard the same thing and that Raxus wished to apologise for the trouble he led the clan into with the elves. Payla is at least glad there will be no more bloodshed and suggests to Falk that when he is ready a truce could maybe be arranged, then takes the rest of the party back to the spire with the elves leaving Falk reunited with his clan.
