Dagh clan Ruasch, Hill Orc Monk of Beogh
I am Dagh son of Noloj son of Motrha clan Ruasch. Clan Ruasch was founded by Ruasch clan Urbeok the Mighty, who descended into the Dungeon nearly a hundred years ago and returned with many orcish followers and the Orb of Zot for the glorification of Beogh, our god. However, not too much time passed before the Orb was stolen from him and taken into the Dungeon by an unknown entity, where through it’s power it was reinstated in it’s former place. Many orcs have ventured into the dungeon over the years to try and win the Orb back. None have returned. My father Noloj was one of those.
I am determined to succeed where all others have failed, save the founder of our clan. I will go down into the dungeon and retrieve the Orb of Zot, or die in the attempt. My mother is saddened by my desire, especially because we lost my father to the Dungeon already, but she knows that I have to do this and bring honor to my family.
Contents
Dungeon 1
Today is the day I go down…
I spent much of the night speaking with the elders of the clan, as they prepared me for what would come. I was blessed with the mark of piety, so that if I met a priest in the dungeon and was blessed to enter into Beogh’s holy service, I would be already favored by Beogh. They told me that there is no need for light as the dungeon is perpetually, if gloomily, lit by a dim and sourceless light. I was given the weapon of my choice, and by tradition, a simple robe – the only thing that Ruasch the Mighty wore when he descended into the dungeon. I chose to bear an axe, my childhood weapon. I am already proficient in the usage thereof and am eager to use my skills to serve Beogh.
At noon the clan gathered around the stairs down. About half a mile away, covered by a simple shack, the stone stairwell looked gloomy and foreboding. Not wanting to prolong the farewell, I said goodbye to the clan and headed down. I looked back once to see my lone shaft of sunlight disappear as the shack door was closed. Gloom overtook me, and it was with unusual trepidation that I descended the rest of the way.
I arrived in a area of close stone walls and winding passages, It is as the elders said – there is a mysterious light that is everywhere but comes from nowhere. Although hard to see at first, my eyes got used to it fairly quickly and I began to explore.
Almost immediately I found a stack of gold coins… but they seemed to be guarded by a cockroach grown to massive proportions. I moved towards it to slay it, and saw another creature – a goblin with a club. I moved back to a more strategic position and slew them one at a time. I also butchered the cockroach corpse, as the meat did not seem to be inedible. Then I collected the twelve coins. I wonder why they were just laying there – left by some hapless wanderer perhaps?
Soon afterwards, I came upon two golden potions laying in the center of a large room. I have collected them in case they may be useful.
Found a scroll. It is labeled in a tongue that is not Orcish or Common – I cannot read it and know not what it means. I am reluctant to break the seal and read the magic words inside for fear of harm. Also found a purple potion. Have decided – will read the scroll. As I read it, it turned to dust in my hands and a cloud of seemingly harmless fog filled the air around me. Strange…
After a brief rest I continued to wander. I found a small jade ring in a corner. Rather like the mysterious potions, I will carry it until I find some way to determine what it does. I could put it on, but I am reluctant to do something so foolhardy so soon; it could spell my death if the ring is laid with a terrible curse… Venturing a little ways further, I was ambushed by a constricting snake, a small kobold with an arsenal of stones, and a bat. I retreated a little ways and slew them all, taking what meat I could. I found nothing of value in their possessions and left them there.
I slept for some time. I no longer am sure of night and day, or indeed the passage of time. Here in the dungeon it is dim, with no change of light. Already the strangeness of it all is starting to wear on me and I am not certain that I can complete my task without going mad. Was this how my father felt? No. I am strong. I come from the line of Ruasch the Mighty. He succeeded and so will I.
I killed another bat. I hate those things, darting in and out, swooping down suddenly and then fleeing away. I also found some stairs that lead down, although I think that I will stay here for now, until there is nothing left to explore up here.
Killed a bright green lizard with a frilled head; also a hobgoblin. He guarded a murky amethyst potion, some gold, and two throwing nets. I left the nets, but took the gold and the potion. Soon after that I slew a goblin and a rat, taking their gold.
Have found a most strange thing: an area with plants and trees and shallow water. I did not expect to find anything of the sort here, but here it is, right in front of me as I write. It is somewhat comforting, as it reminds me of the outside, but in this dim light, with the strange plants and murky water… there is something terrifyingly eerie about it. I do not think I will linger long by this place.
Have stopped for a rest. Killed several goblins and hobgoblins and am wounded lightly; need to recuperate. Also found more gold. I have 57 pieces now. I am going to put on a suit of scale mail that I found for better protection.
I am done exploring this first level and am going to venture down the stairs to see what awaits me…
Dungeon 2
Found a spear and a hand axe like mine. I have no use for spears, and already have an axe, so I left them both. Just past the stairs I encountered a pack of jackals; I lured them into a narrow corridor and slew them all. I found more gold and a ration of bread, although I had to kill a goblin to get them. Also found a plain wooden ring.
Something very peculiar just occurred. I rounded a corner and found myself face to face with an ugly-looking imp. Behind him was another imp, and then a catlike creature that yowled “I am Natasha! Fear me!” I fought the imps and got to Natasha. I thought I was going to die, but managed to slay her and rest. But before I had fully recovered… around the corner came Natasha! I slew her a little more easily this time, but I am exceptionally perplexed. I was certain I had killed her! These dungeons are enough to drive a soul mad. Soon after, I came across another strange scroll and read it, to be treated to the sound of a witch cackle. Truly a scroll of random uselessness. However, not all here is useless – I just picked up a wand of iceblast that I can use against my foes.
After resting I continued on and met Jessica, an evil human who tried to kill me. I resisted her magic and slew her instead. I took a moment to marvel at how truly ugly humans are. Not long after, I met a band of goblins and hobgoblins, led by a nasty one named Robin. Fortuitously, the meeting occurred in a narrow corridor and I slew them with relative ease, although I was moderately wounded and had to rest for some time before continuing on.
I do not understand this! I met Natasha again, even though last time I know I killed her, even butchering her corpse! And yet there she was, along with a decaying zombie that appeared to be some sort of a snake and a couple of frilled lizards. I killed them all, and for some reason I believe that this time Natasha is gone for good. I suppose only time will tell, though. Also found another potion and a scroll of teleportation. That could come in handy for a tight spot.
Dungeon 3
Descending to the third level, I met a number of creatures including three gnolls and several adders, one of which almost proved to be the undoing of me; also an ogre that very nearly slew me. I heard a drain rusting, the entrance to a sewer, but even if I do find it I’m not sure I want to go in.
Met an orc… had to kill it. A very sobering experience. I hope to find a priest and convert fully to Beogh’s service so I can gain followers. I wonder if my father had to kill orcs?
Found a ghost of a previous adventurer, named Xanthe. Had to destroy it. Made me unhappy.
Dungeon 4
Went down a level – now on the fourth. I wonder how many levels this dungeon has? Met and destroyed a centaur skeleton without much difficulty. Had more trouble with the scorpion, which nearly did me in with poison. Later I met Blorc, a rather disagreeable and very fat orc who was wearing rainbow colored suspenders, of all things. He had a rather nasty trident of piercing and I had to teleport away by use of a scroll once, but killed him in the end. I think I will keep the trident, though.
Met a rather nasty chap named Eustatcio who kept summoning up all sorts of nasty things to kill me. Used up my remaining teleport scroll escaping. If I meet him again he will die…
Dungeon 5
Killed Eustatchio, a centaur, more rats. Went down another level. Killed some ants and another orc, as well as some more zombies and skeletons. Good news – found a scroll shop. Now I know what to do with all that gold! I bought a number of scrolls of identify, as well as one of teleportation and one of remove curse. I then proceeded to identify some of my jewelry and potions, ending up with some potions of curing and useful rings, such as a ring of see invisible and a ring of magic resistance. Killed an ice beast.
Met an unusual giant frog with a crown who called himself Prince Ribbit. Zapped him with a wand of polymorph… he turned into an unseen horror. I could see him thanks to my ring of see invisible, but I rather would have him turned into something less threatening. Couldn’t zap him again because his MR was too high. Survived and killed him, but I need to be more careful next time. Also found a spriggan baker and some rations. Killed the baker and took the rations gladly, with only a twinge of conscience. Need to move down a level…
Dungeon 6
I have found my first orc priest! The orcs were lying in wait for me as I came down the stairs to the sixth level, but when they saw that I was also an orc, the priest yelled that they would let me live if I accepted Beogh as my god. I have since I was a child, but I have never found a true priest to formally convert me. I gladly knelt at the priest’s feet, and converted fully to Beogh. The orcs roared in approval and spared my life. Beogh is generous indeed – immediately upon converting I gained the divine ability to smite my foes with the wrath of Beogh. Am very satisfied and feel that Beogh is smiling upon my journey.
Have cleared the sixth level without too much difficulty. Found a ring, put it on, it was a cursed ring of teleportation. Luckily I had a scroll of remove curse and got rid of it quickly. Had to teleport away from and then smite a nasty two-headed ogre that was taking massive chunks of my HP. I want to save my piety so Beogh will consider me worthy of gaining followers. Rested often, consumed a disgusting meal of raw ogre steaks. Found an amulet and more potions and scrolls. Ready to move down again.
Dungeon 7
This has been a challenging level, mentally and physically. I found my first spellbook, a book of burglary, and memorized Passwall. Also, I read through some of my scrolls. Found that I had two scrolls of teleportation when I read the third and landed in the middle of a pack of zombies. They were not too difficult to defeat, though, and I didn’t travel far from the safety of the stairs. I retreated back and continued. Had some scrolls of remove curse, blinking, one of immolation, and three of identify, which I used on a ring (positive energy) and two stacks of potions (heal wounds and haste). Set off again.
Not too far in I found a peculiar golden staircase in the middle of a diamond-shaped room. It was identified as a temple, and I went in out of curiosity. A wave of strange energy hit me as I entered, and I quickly saw why. The temple was filled with altars to many different gods. I wandered for a moment, feeling a strange reluctance to be here, as if I was betraying Beogh by being here. Just in case, I paused and offered a prayer to the great and powerful Beogh before continuing. I saw a variety of altars, but nothing was truly disturbing until I started exploring the small chambers off the main one. As I opened a door, I was almost knocked backwards by a wave of wrathful feeling. As it dissipated, I looked and saw that there was an altar there, and it belonged to Zin.
Zin! What orc child doesn’t know the story of Zin! Zin the traitor, Zin the coward, Zin the despicable! My mind involuntarily flashed back to the story, just after the end of the war...
Some of the gods had sided with The Shining One and his immortal daughter, Elyvilon; some with Yredelemnul, his second-in-command Beogh, and his necromancy-dabbling accomplice, Makhleb (who gained godhood during the war). But at the end of it, the gods had gathered to speak together. Yredelemnul had created, from the chaotic energies of the otherworld, and the quiet peace of the earth, and fire and wind and water, a most wondrous artefact, far greater than any that had been seen since the days of Zot. And because he took the secrets of the artefact making from the works of Zot itself, he hid it’s true name to keep others from gaining power over it and simply called it the Orb of Zot. And it was such a great and terrifying artefact that it ended the war, because they all saw that destruction lay close at had if they kept using such terrible powers. In those times Zin was a powerful leader in the armies of the dark, second only to his brother Beogh. They seemed to have a close relationship, but Zin secretly hated his brother and schemed for his downfall and destruction, while Zin himself would be exalted.
Zin’s chance came when Beogh was guarding the Orb of Zot, an incredible honor reserved for the greatest. The details have been lost in the fog of time, but Zin somehow got by the outer guards, Beogh’s honor guard of orcs; and into the inner chamber itself, where Beogh guarded the Orb. Beogh, believing and trusting his brother when Zin said Yredelemnul had sent Zin to take Beogh’s place because Beogh was desperately needed, went to go. Zin, as soon as his brother was out of the chamber, shouted to the guards that Beogh was trying to steal the Orb, closed and barred the door, and departed with it. Beogh was mighty indeed, but even he could not stand to the handpicked elite of the army, and was captured. When Yredelemnul heard, and found that the Orb was missing, in his fury he smote Beogh and stripped him of his powers. Where once Beogh was equal to the mightiest of warriors, he now had nothing. And this was something that could not be undone. But Zin went to the other side, and he gave the Orb of Zot to The Shining One, and a council was called. Now The Shining One held all the power, and he also had Zin.
Now when Yredelemnul discovered what had truly transpired, he was stricken, for he had smote his most powerful and trusted follower, and all for naught. And The Shining One took away the greatest powers of Yredelemnul, and his followers, and commanded them that they should never rise up in rebellion again lest they also be stripped of their powers and slain. And then he stripped Zin of his dark powers, and made Zin alike to a mortal, but then granted Zin new powers, and godhood, and placed him on the ruling council, and he was called a “good” god. And Beogh wept bitterly, for his betrayal and what Zin’s reward was for disloyalty.
But The Shining One said “I will not have loyalty go so severely punished, however, even in those who have worked against me.” And in a fashion similar to what he had done to Zin, he used the Orb to endow Beogh with new powers, although a fraction of what he had before. He also gave Beogh the choice of one thing that he wished to have as a god. And Beogh desired to be bound to his people that he had come from, the noble orcs. And The Shining One made it so, and it was done. Beogh became a bloodthirsty god, demanding kills and bloodshed in his name, but he swore that he would never betray his people; and while all other races were forbidden the worship of Beogh, all orcs were granted a place in his religion. And should any orc imitate Zin, abandoning and spurning their god, then Beogh’s wrath comes down swift and hard.
And The Shining One took the Orb, lest any be tempted to use it, and placed it where no one would get it, with fearsome guards and powerful wards. But over the years he has changed his mind, and many of the other gods also, and they send adventurers into the dungeon to find it and bring it back before any one else does.
But Beogh never forgot the betrayal of his brother, and Zin never forgot that Beogh was still a god, still an equal, and their hatred only festered and grew in the passing years…
I was an orc, one of Beogh’s sworn followers. Being in the presence of a place sacred to Zin was awful, and I could feel his malevolence turning towards me. I slammed the door shut as soon as movement returned to my limbs, and ran out of the temple with my heart hammering. I had sneered at the tawdry altars to other gods before; now they could have been old chairs for all I cared. I just needed to get out as fast as possible. I rested until I felt better, and slowly returned to exploration. Found an amulet; turned out to be an amulet of harm. Didn’t need such a thing and left it. Killed more creatures, nothing particularly noteworthy. After a rest I will go down to the eighth level.
Dungeon 8
Praise Beogh! May His great name live on forever and His glory be endless! I have gained four followers through His power. As I was exploring the eighth level, I ran into a band of wandering orcs. To my astonishment, more than half of them fell at my feet and, with expressions of awe and joy, proclaimed me the messiah and swore to follow me forever, then turned and attacked their fellows that had not joined them. Two of my followers were slain in the skirmish, but I have two orc “grunts”, or ordinary orc soldiers, a priest, and a magician. They all follow me wherever I go and are most useful. We catch our enemies in open areas, then the grunts and I hack away at them while the priest heals us and smites them, and the magician turns invisible and fires spells at them. It is a wonderful system. I am not so sure about this messiah business, however. I don’t know that I am truly who they think I am. Every orc knows the signs and portents, and we often speak of it, but I never dreamed that they might think me the chosen one of Beogh. But He must have converted these orcs to the cause, so who am I to argue? I am most troubled, and devote myself entirely to the business of clearing and exploring to avoid too much thought.
Dungeon 9
I am on the ninth level. I met some nasty monsters, but my orcs and I killed them all. To my sorrow, both soldiers and the magician were slain, leaving just the priest and me. He has a name – Ugrim. But Beogh looks after his own. I opened a door and found a small room completely packed with orcs. They kept seeing me and converting. Some of them were killed because they would not convert, but in the end I had eight grunts, three priests, three magicians, and two warriors. I was extremely pleased. Perhaps Beogh has chosen me after all.
We disposed of everything else on the level with ease. I found some nice loot, including a nameless scroll. I read it, and it turned out to be a scroll of acquirement that landed me a +2 executioner’s axe of flaming. I am overjoyed.
Dungeon 10
My hand is shaking so hard I can barely write. Even now, long after the encounter, I cannot rid myself of the awful images that replay inside my mind…
The tenth level was going all right. I lost a few orcs, but nothing too terrible, and two grunts became warriors. Things were fine. Then we found a strange room in the open, it’s walls made of crystal. The gate was translucent, and inside… inside… oh, I can’t bring myself to write it… but I must. Beogh grant me strength, I must. Inside was my father.
But not my father. No, this was the ghost of Noloj clan Ruasch, a cruel thing indeed. My own father’s spirit, caught here. Now I know that he did die down in these terrible dungeons, his blood spilled on the ground… It was my father without a doubt, but in a terrible ghostlike form, and with an ugly expression painted across his face.
I didn’t see it until too late.
Madly I rushed the vault and opened the gate, blind to anything except my father. But as soon as I opened it… as soon as I opened it he rushed forth and savagely attacked. I was stunned and uncomprehending. If it hadn’t been for my allies, I would have perished – if not at the hands of my father’s spirit, then from the three decaying zombies that had been entombed with him. But the other orcs rushed forward and attacked, giving me time to recover. My father’s spirit attacked with a vengeance; I retaliated numbly, tears streaming down my face. And then he was terribly wounded, and I raised my axe for the final blow, and something changed in that ghostly face of his, a look of sudden dawning realization, something pulling away from his eyes..
“My son,” he whispered as the axe came down, and I could not turn it away in time.
There was loot, piles of gold and armour and potions and scrolls. I saw none of it. I collapsed in the doorway and stared vacantly at the place where I had killed my father. I dimly heard one of the priests praying to Beogh to heal me, felt my physical pain lessen. It was nothing compared to the rent that had torn open inside of me. Why, Beogh? Wert Thou testing my loyalty? Was this all a terrible joke? I could only sit and stare, and weep.
My orcs gathered respectfully, not bothering me. Eventually I fell asleep there. When I awoke, I staggered to my feet and gathered the loot, but numbly. Now I sit against a cold crystal wall and wonder if I will ever be the same, and know it is a foolish wondering. No one ever leaves the dungeon unchanged… if they ever leave at all. My father died here. Will I do the same? What am I doing here? Why? Why?
I slept, and while I slept something incredible happened. I heard Beogh in my dreams, heard Him speak to me in a voice like terrible thunder. He said “DROWN THE UNBELIEVERS IN A SEA OF BLOOD.”
I have a purpose, and a life. I know without a doubt that I am the chosen Messiah of my people, and Beogh has sent me to restore the Orb and the honor of Him and all my people. He has given me a mission, and I know that He will help me fufill it. I am reborn. My father’s ghost is behind me. Beogh needs me to be my people’s messiah, and I will be. My orcs are ready for battle; I am at the head. I shout “Drown the unbelievers in a sea of blood!” and we are off.
Work in Progress
I am not done with this. As I continue with this game I will add more on.
Most of what transpired in the story actually happened, down to me nearly being killed by the ghost of one of my previous crawlers... had such great hopes for him, too...
