The Great Oubliette of Shyish, part 13 - The Smugglers

After a day of climbing down a steep winding stairway, carved into the stone of a cliff face, the Cleavermaws came to a shadowy necropolis of ancient stone temples and gigantic mausoleums. The crew had grumbled among themselves all the way down the stair but they brightened up significantly at the prospect of walking across level ground for a while, even if it wasn't a particularly welcoming environment.

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The Adventuring Party:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)

- Loot: Gravesand Ossuary (single use)
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

6th Exploration Roll - The Smugglers

Dungeon Fight!

4 Glaivewraith Stalkers (Surprised) & 8 Chainrasps (West)

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As the orruk pirates passed through the shattered necropolis, four Glaivewraith Stalkers faded into view, close-by on the right flank of the Cleavermaws.

Almost at the same moment, a Chainrasp Horde floated up from the earth in front of them. The spirits complained loudly and bitterly to one another about the "revenue men" of a free city, who tricked them into offering an illegal cargo and had them tried and hanged for smuggling.

Both groups of Nighthaunts stopped when they saw the orruks and just... waited.

The orruks were a little phased by the ghostly pause. But they took advantage of the leeway it offered - Uzzog used his Weirddokk power to boost Mogrum's magic, and the Glaivewraiths were disintegrated in a flash of green lightning.

The Cleavermaws could then focus on the Chainrasp Smugglers.

Two of the Horde were shredded by orruk magics.

The Deck-Bosses advanced, weapons ready.

While Mogrum followed them at a distance, making sure he kept an eye on the spirits.

Deadwood and Sludga roared as they thundered toward the Chainrasps.

The big orruks attacked together and sliced through the incorporeal forms, they dispersed most of the ghostly ex-smugglers in short order.

The few remaining Chainrasps did their best to retaliate - cruelly clawing and stabbing at the Deck-Bosses.

Uzzog used his Grimdokk power and healed Deadwood's wounds, even as they fought.

Mogrum intervened again and the last of the Smugglers exploded into a shower of rotted cloth. The Cleavermaws continued their search through the necropolis, looking for any sign of the Adm'rul.

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Chamber cleared!

Scroll of Translocation: Arcane glyphs dance around this scroll, hinting at the magic it holds.

Give this item to a Hero to carry. In your hero phase, you can choose for the Hero carrying this item to use it. If you do so, pick 1 model within 3" of this Hero (including itself, if you wish) and remove that model from the battlefield. Then, set that model up anywhere on the battlefield. Then, the Hero that used this item is no longer carrying it.

Mogrum found a scroll among the ruins. He spent some time deciphering the ancient text within it and soon realised it's value. He tucked it into his pouch for use later.

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7th Exploration Roll - The Nest

Short Respite - Sludga's wound healed.

The Cleavermaws found a small building they could barricade. Badrot took a patrol outside to keep watch while Uzzog used the time to knit Sludga's wound back together with his Grimdokk power. The pirates didn't hang round longer than they needed to though.

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8th Exploration Roll - The Riddle

Treasure - Uzzog gained the Bonespitterz spell Breath of Gorkamorka

As the pirate orruks walked along a winding corridor, flanked on either side by towering stone buildings lined with statues of long-dead heroes, they saw many alcoves and window frames were piled with bleached skulls and bones. 

The way ahead split into two paths - one under a darkened archway, the other through a towering rusted iron gate that had come off its hinges. A strange robed figure in a full-face helmet emerged from the shadowed archway and approached the Cleavermaws through the gloom. The orruks tried to ignore them but they began yabbering in a strange accent.

"You must answer my questions three, if you are to pass by me!" Their voice echoed inside the metal mask.

Sludga hefted his sword and clicked his neck but Uzzog noticed his aetheric compass twitched slightly as the newcomer came near, and waved the orruk Deck-Boss back. "What are ye questions then?" he said, suspiciously.

“My first is this - Town without people, forest without tree, river without water. What do I be?” said the stranger.

"Ha. Easy: a map." said Uzzog, rather pleased with himself.

"Yes, yes. Very good. My second - A tail and a head I have it is true, but no legs do I have so why covert me, you?" said the stranger.

The orruks looked at each other for a few moments, brows furrowed. Mr Sludga scratched his beard and closed one eye as he thought. "Um.. a coin?" he said, uncertainly.

"Hmmm. Correct." said the stranger. "My last question is - Pull me up when you don't need me but drop me when you do?"

"Ah! An anchor!" shouted Uzzog triumphantly. "You asked the wrongs coves if you thought you'd fool us!"

"Did I?" said the stranger. They turned around stepped back through the archway, into the darkness within. Uzzog was about to go after them, but a dim light came on within and Kaptain Mogrum slapped a hand on his shoulder: There was an opening suddenly revealed in the floor, a deep chasm that had not been visible in the dark. Sludga kicked a stone down and there was no sound of it landing.

"What the zog was that all about?" raged Uzzog. "Don't we get a prize or nothing?"

"Well, you ain't fallin' are ya? Maybe that was it?" said Mogrum. Uzzog didn't seem convinced.

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9th Exploration Roll - The Lookout

Short Respite

They came to a cliff with a small tower build near the edge. A few of the crew climbed the stone steps and used their spyglasses to survey the surrounding area. A valley full of gravestones and dead trees lay to the north. Lightning seemed to flash just beyond a hill. They tried to sketch a map of what they saw, but the perpetual twilight made the details rough at best.

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10th Exploration Roll - The Symbol

Long Respite

The Cleavermaws found a stone dais, carved with arcane signs. Mogrum stood upon it and studied them for a time. They were all familiar but for one, which seemed to be mis-carved, either by accident or intentionally. He couldn't tell which.

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The Adventuring Party update:
Kaptain Mogrum (Wurrgog Prophet)

- Bonesplitterz spell: Bone Krusha

- Bonesplitterz Command Trait: The Power of the Beast

- Loot: Scroll of Translocation (single use)

Lost Uzzog (Ship's Wardokk)

- Loot: Gravesand Ossuary (single use)

- Bonespitterz spell: Breath of Gorkamork
Mr Sludga (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

- Bonesplitterz Artefact of Power: Greatdrake Toof Sword
Mr Deadwood (Savage Big Deck-Boss)

11th Exploration Roll - The Map

Dungeon Fight!

4 Glaivewraith Stalkers, 8 Chainrasps and 4 Grimghast Reapers

But that is a tale for another night....