Mordor Mischief 5: in which Gryfflet encounters the wild side of tipping culture
8Gryfflet has been cooling his heels with the Easterlings at Rhûd Vorn, having shown them proof of Sauron's fall. They decide to meet with the forge-workers and despatch Gryfflet to convey the news. He is greeted by an Orc Overseer whom he confuses with Ushkbál, who died last session, but this is Gradrágh, his replacement: to Gryfflet's amazement he is also sympathetic to the workers' plight. Kurtil is pleased to hear the results of Gryfflet's efforts and explains that the Overseers are needed to provide leadership as the slaves have lost the will to lead themselves. Gradrágh is worried about spies and wants Gryfflet to clear the way for the meeting so we set off to Maudhúl Ghûg, the chosen meeting spot. Gryfflet scouts the approaches then proceeds to thin the ranks of enemy spies (as requested) by the simple expedient of slaughtering random bystanders before raising a flag to summon Kurtil to keep us company until the meeting. The forge-workers are disturbed when the Easterlings talk about taking them home as slaves, but the meeting is cut short by the arrival of two enforcers for Ugrukhôr, Captain of the Pit: Grúshat the Thrasher, an Uruk, and Rúthragon, a Rogmul. Although they are at length defeated the workers scatter and all progress is lost so we return to the Foothold to report to Barathron. His colleague Mulnír gives us the green light to progress to the next region when we are ready, but we still have work to do. To that end Gryfflet sets off in search of the forges of Mornaur, a visit we have been postponing for some time. We are met by Rhogrin the treasure-seeker who is worried that the forges might be used by the Orcs to produce more weapons and threaten his countrymen so he wants us to vandalise some of the anvils, much to Gryfflet's amusement. To that end we set off to explore the complex, destroying weapons, tipping anvils, and defeating more random bystanders. Rhogrin is impressed with our work but he has spotted a large group of Trolls and Orcs that he wants us to investigate: it transpires that they have turned on each other and only scattered bodies remain, which satisfies Rhogrin for the time being: he is now worried for his acquaintance Annoth who was seeking the fortress of Durthand where his ancestors suffered and died. Pausing only to scour the complex for one remaining task, Gryfflet sets off to find Annoth who is still alive and happy to tell us what motivates his search. He shows us how Durthand, now called Durthang, was conquered and his direct ancestor shamed by Ugrukhôr, Captain of the Pit, who survives to this day and continues to torment his family. Annoth plans to assault the fortress but we are out of time so we defer our venture to the next session.
"Oh, a cunning short-cut!"
"I'm so confused!"
"Oh, come on, we all know that scowl!"
"How much do you think that thing would weigh?"
"I'm not going to prevent you doing work, I'm just going to make it marginally more challenging!"
"These are not the nice forge-workers, these are the nasty forge-workers!"
Lore discussion this week again considered the knotty problem of whether Orcs are capable of redemption as prompted by the ongoing quests.