Urfengar: Dwarven Purgatory part 1

I wish I had thought to keep a journal before this, because I cannot remember how many days it has been since I saw Thelonious drop dead right before my eyes. I promised his parents I'd keep him safe. It was more than a little disconcerting to see him suddenly stiffen up, start pronouncing doom on the group in a very odd voice, then collapse on the ground dead. The fact that he was beyond my help before his knees even started to buckle has been no comfort whatsoever. Although I am young by my people's standards, I worked alongside little Blue's parents for a number of years and watched him grow into his skills bit by bit. Before the place burnt down, I'd talked with his instructors at the monastery, and they said he was very promising.

Thelonious told me he left the ruins of the monastery to go spread the word of St. Cuthbert. Some time later, he passed through town. Having grown tired of the never-ending bickering between the human leaders and the dwarven council that runs things in this corner of the land, I agreed to accompany Thelonious back to meet up with the party with which he'd been adventuring. As we made our way, he recounted his adventures, starting with the story of GladeKeep's stunning escape from sure destruction.

As Thelonious told it, he met up with a half-elven bard/paladin (a strange combination of skills indeed) named Llan; Llan's father and uncle, an Elven fighter and Elven wizard/rogue respectfully; and a half-elven Wizardess named Azraiel. I told him I'd heard of groups comprised of stranger companions but generally preferred a little diversity myself. They all met up in some little village called NewKeep where an ettin had been causing enormous - erm - terrible problems. On their way to some business the wizard/rogue (name of Nalathisor) knew about, they encountered roves of wandering orcs bent on slaughtering any and all travelers.

As is common among their kind, the foul beasts hadn't planned on encountering folks that could defend themselves. After rescuing some rangers, the five raced the orcs to GladeKeep with the survivors. There they learned that an army of orcs was advancing on the city with a hill giant directing them. They also encountered a human druid named Kitya and a powerful sorcerer dressed in red that seems bent on messing with Llan and his family. Kitya joined the party, bringing along her fox companion, Vanya, much to Jackle's delight (Jackle being the name of Llan's father).

It turns out the sorcerer was in league with the hill giant, but Thelonious and his companions were unable to apprehend to villainous filth before he left the city. So they were left to defend the city with only the help of a handful of local militia. Heironeous (the paladin's god) took pity on them and showed them the way to disperse the advancing army was as easy as chopping of its head - the hill giant's head that is.

As they sought a way through the orcish hordes, Thelonious and company stumbled upon a strange, human-ish looking ranger. Rath, as his name turned out to be, led them through to the hill giant's tent. After a battle only made even through the intervention of the gods, the seven adventurers watched the orcs flee in disarray while Jackle help up the giant's head for all to see.