This is the saga of Gralmarlun Barrelborn;

The loss of his great ancestral home he did mourn.

The Orcs would pay for their theft and their plunder;

As left and right he would tear them asunder.

To the great caven he and his followers did go;

With great axes and weapons and tankards in tow.

And when the sound of the great battle did cease;

Great Orcs Nick and Dave were both boiled in hot grease!

In the aeons of time the huge network of caverns was once the home of a thriving Dwarven kingdom. As the Dwarven party clambered over fallen rocks and centuries of detritus the cavern stank of the green horde. It was now time for Gralmarlun (pronounced “grail marlin”) Barrelborn to claim back his families birthright.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn on his throne.

Having reached a vast central amphitheatre Gralmarlun Barrelborn found what he had been searching for. Descending from his throne he fell down before the structure and wept…..he had discovered the old stone hut that was revered as the birthplace of his ancestors.

Assisted by the Great Runesmith Gustrock Runebane and their small band of warriors they sought the source of the great stench which filled the cavern.

Gustrock Runebane on his Anvil of Doom

Razmorli Windmail and his group of Heavy shooters

Josef Bugman and his fellow brewers.

Fornubella Honormail and her clansmen.

It is debatable what is more dangerous – Muzzer Merrystone’s food or his band of troll slayers great axes!

After lighting the great lanterns that had been dark for centuries they noticed an abomination – a great statue of Bahgtru one of the Orc pantheon of Gods. Could their ancient abode have been turned into what the Orcs call the plane of Ishrek?

With axes and tankards at the ready Gralmarlun Barrelborn and his followers advanced on the idol. As they prepared to take it down the sounds of horns and drums could be heard in the distance…………….!!

The orc horde approach.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn threw himself into the boar riders that had been thinned out by Razmorli Windmail and his group of Heavy shooters.

The result was never in doubt! Well it did take two charges with the first being repulsed!

Next he was confronted by stone ogres – opposition different – result the same.

It should be pointed out the Bucko never ever rolls good dice unless it is a system or gaming period he knows nothing about. He couldn’t tell you an Orc from an Ork so was right at home rolling high when he needed to and low when it was also required. There is a lesson there Bucko!!

Meanwhile as Gralmarlun Barrelborn was “left and right tearing them asunder”, on the other flank Runesmith, Gustrock Runebane, unleashed a massive fire bolt on the “weedy” Orc Shaman who had just slowed down the Muzzer Merrystone and his band of troll slayers with a spell of his own. There was a great flash, a loud bang, and then nothing as the spell was successfully cast but fizzled out.

Muzzer Merrystone was then rather rashley attacked by the Great Orc leader. The result was a forgone conclusion as outnumbered he was force fed Muzzer’s food by a troll slayer and recoiled in dismay.

Gralmarlun Barrelborn then attacked the Orc Shaman. With might and right on his side the Shaman was quickly dispatched by the Dwarven leader.

Sensing that all was lost the Great Orcs, who were sent on an outflanking manuever, returned to see the slayers filling their leader with more and more of Muzzer’s food. Not even an Orc could condone such torture and so in a desparate attempt to rescue their leader they attacked and routed the slayers. They were last seen carrying their leader, wirthing in agony, back to their camp.

A great fun night which was not even diminished by the fact that we all forgot our rule books. I only had a quick reference sheet and we muddled through and although we were getting much wrong, at least we were consistently wrong.

I sense a re-fight with rule books in hand!