## Portal Journey and Resurrection The party escaped through the purple portal after their desperate battle with the powerful devil in the Pits of the Hells. [[Cub]]'s erupting earth spell had disrupted the ritual stones just before they fled. As they traveled through the portal, their bodies stretched and magical energy pushed them forward until they emerged onto a dirt road surrounded by grassy lands and lush green trees—a stark contrast to the volcanic wasteland they'd left behind. A castle loomed in the distance against snow-capped mountains, and scattered buildings spread before them in unfamiliar architectural styles. The air was cool and breathable, a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of the Pits. But there was no time to admire the scenery—[[Grumthar]] lay dead at their feet. [[Tarnik]] immediately began casting Revivify, having specifically prepared for this possibility. As 300 gold pieces worth of diamond dust swirled around [[Grumthar]]'s body, the fallen warrior experienced a vision in the darkness. A young girl with lush red hair—appearing about twelve years old but radiating divine power—told him it wasn't his time yet. She revealed herself as [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|Aria]], the [[Aria, Goddess of Birth and Death|goddess of death]] who guides good souls to their eternal rest, before sending him back to the living world. [[Grumthar]] snapped back into his body with the disorienting sensation of falling. He grabbed [[Tarnik]]'s tunic in confusion, learning he'd been dead for less than thirty seconds. They had succeeded in disrupting the ceremony, though the party knew it wouldn't take long for the devils to restore it. [[Grumthar]] examined the dark soil and green vegetation—colors alien to someone from the arid Orclands. This was the human world. ## First Impressions of [[Polaria City|Polaria]] The party took stock of their surroundings. In the distance, they heard hammering, woodwork, cows, dogs, birds—the sounds of civilization rebuilding. Some homes stood with broken roofs or burn damage, but humans and halflings worked together to repair buildings. They had arrived within five miles of [[Polaria City|Polaria]] proper, a city more immense than any they'd likely seen before, stretching like an ocean toward the distant castle. A human farmer passed by with his donkey-drawn cart, maneuvering around them on the road. The language barrier proved challenging at first—the "common" tongue they knew was actually Orcish, while this was true Common. [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]], however, spoke it fluently. Children burst from nearby bushes, playing tag, barely noticing the strange group before running off. [[Grumthar]]'s military instincts kicked in. He worried about being reported, noting that if five armed humans appeared outside an orc city, they'd be killed immediately. But [[Tarnik]] observed that the locals seemed unconcerned—they waved at the farmer and noticed the party but paid them little mind. The children ran past laughing, completely unafraid. While [[Grumthar]] army-crawled toward cover in the trees, [[Tarnik]] walked directly toward humans rebuilding a house. [[Cub]] became overwhelmed by the lush greenery, making grass angels and marveling at the beauty. [[Volza Redhand|Volza]] followed [[Grumthar]], disappearing into shadows with her teleportation ability. Narzag took a hidden position. [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] stood paralyzed, his mouth watering at the sight of so many potential meals in one place. ## Gathering Intelligence [[Tarnik]] approached a family working on repairs and, struggling through the language barrier, learned they were in [[Polaria City|Polaria]] City, near the outskirts village of Pinelow. The humans assumed the party was help sent from other cities for rebuilding after the recent devil attack. When [[Tarnik]] mentioned they came from the Orclands seeking information about devils and undead armies, the human directed them toward the guard towers or the inner city, where they could find officials who might help them reach the king. Meanwhile, [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] cast Disguise Self to appear as the farmer [[Tarnik]] had spoken to, then approached the playing children. He used Charm Person on a boy named Ticklin and brought him to the group for interrogation. The party learned valuable information: The village was called Pinelow, governed by Mayor Thornton. They had no dedicated village guard—[[Polaria City|Polaria]]'s guards served the area. If monsters attacked, guard stations would signal through magical stones to summon wizards and the famed Dragon Warriors. There was an orc living here named Mr. [[Baboo]], though he was currently shopping in the inner city. More orcs lived in the inner city's walls, though they avoided the dwarven district due to old tensions. Most importantly, Ticklin confirmed that [[Serpari]] were seen regularly in the inner city, though not in great numbers. They acted normally toward people, presenting themselves like any other citizens. The revelation that this society was already integrated with multiple races—orcs, [[Serpari]], halflings, and more—eased the party's concerns about traveling openly. The boy also mentioned dangerous "ganglike guilds" in the larger market district, including the [[Black Cloaks]] and White Fangs. The Dragon Warriors, he explained enthusiastically, were the strongest knights in the land, having helped defeat the devil king. Their power came from ancient dragons who aided humans in the First Age of Solare. After releasing the charmed boy back to his friends, the party decided they felt safe enough to enter the village proper. Narzag completed his ritual, summoning a large black eagle instead of his usual bear—better for scouting this strange land. ## A Meal at Thrak's Place Following the smell of cooking food, the party discovered an orc-run butcher shop and eatery. [[Grumthar]] called out in Orcish, surprising the proprietor,[[Thrak Sr.]], who rarely heard the language of the motherland. The older orc sent out his son, [[Thrak Jr.]], to serve them—a younger half-orc with grayish skin and smaller tusks, clearly of mixed heritage. Over generous portions of eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, and mashed potatoes, they learned from Thrak about life in [[Polaria City|Polaria]]. He'd been born and raised here, educated in Silverville, and trained at the Polarian School of Military. The devil attack had occurred about a month ago, forcing evacuations and causing tremendous loss of life. Thrak had killed two devils himself during the chaos. His great-grandparents had emigrated from the Orclands long ago, facing significant hatred at first. It took three generations for orcs to be accepted in [[Polaria City|Polaria]]. Thrak was surprised and excited to meet actual orcs from the Orclands, as he'd never encountered any before. He mentioned the [[Serpari]] armies that had appeared during the initial devil attack, referencing a giant dragon the size of a forest—likely connected to the dracolich [[Skathex - The Undying|Skathex]] they'd encountered. When asked about people of importance, Thrak suggested they could speak with anyone from the local mayor up to the king himself, or contact the [[The Wizards Conclave|Wizards Conclave]]. He directed them to the guard towers where they could ask for [[Cedric]]. Grateful for their willingness to help rebuild, Thrak made their meal complimentary. [[Saszotah Sseth'kaar (Sasz)|Sasz]] requested raw meat for his next visit. [[Cub]] declared he'd return as a bear. Both statements confused but didn't overly alarm their host, who'd clearly seen stranger things. ## Planning Their Approach As they ate, the party discussed their strategy. They would present themselves as emissaries from King [[Otubog]] and other Orcland leaders, bringing critical information about devils working with [[Anam|the Withered One]] ([[Anam]]) to corrupt the ley lines and outflank the human kingdoms through multiple portals. They planned to mention their meeting with [[Zerquistiss - Master of the Wizards Conclave|Zerquistiss]] of [[the Wizards Conclave]], as that name would carry weight. They could provide the location of the purple portal they'd used to escape, though they weren't certain if it remained active. The [[The Wizards Conclave|Wizards Conclave]] might want to investigate it promptly. While they had no documentation proving their identity or mission, they carried firsthand knowledge of dire threats—information that could prove invaluable if they could reach the right authorities. [[Cub]] became distracted by the beauty of the land, suggesting they simply stay here rather than continue their dangerous mission. [[Volza Redhand|Volza]], enjoying her first proper meal in some time, seemed more relaxed despite her usual suspicions about humans. Before leaving, [[Cub]] performed healing on the group. Despite being overwhelmed and intoxicated by the sheer abundance of greenery—so different from the barren Orclands he knew—he successfully restored everyone's health with Mass Cure Wounds, Spirit Guardians, and healing potions. [[Grumthar]], who'd been raised from the dead just an hour before, was brought back to fighting strength. ## Approaching the Guard The party departed Thrak's Place and began making their way toward the guard tower. [[Volza Redhand|Volza]] walked beside [[Tarnik]], commenting on what a strange group they'd become. The session ended as they prepared to speak with [[Cedric]] and the Polarian guards, ready to deliver their warning about the corruption spreading through the ley lines and the devil armies gathering in the Pits of the Hells. They carried vital intelligence: the location of a portal between worlds, evidence of [[EMBROCIEA - Master of Necromancy, The Grave-Eyed Whisper|Embrociea]]'s ritual corruption, sightings of the dracolich [[Skathex - The Undying|Skathex]], and knowledge of the broader conspiracy threatening all of Solare. Whether the humans would believe a group of orcs, a [[Serpari]], and a nature-drunk druid remained to be seen—but the fate of multiple continents might depend on getting their message to the right people.