Orc Barracks (#5/365)

 Orc Barracks (#5/365)

"This room is a barracks of some sort and reeks with the rank stench of rotten meat and stale sweat. Half of the room is given over to bunks with mouldy blankets, the other half has a circular table, a couple of benches and a keg with a steady drip (there are dead flies in the puddle beneath it)."

Roll a die. On a 1-2:

"Sleeping in the bunks are half a dozen Orcs, snoring their heads off and dead to the world. Their weapons and armour are dumped on the floor next to each bed."

On a 3-6:

"Seated at the table are half a dozen Orcs, drinking ale from tankards and playing a game of Pinfinger using an old dagger. They look up at your approach."

Contents:  These Orcs are all rank and file troopers from the Bronze Serpent Mercenary Company, using their down time to either sleep off a Guursh-cursed hangover, or gamble on a game of Pinfinger.

If the Heroes are being escorted by Gurthak Dead-Eye to see the captain, they will be jeered on the way there, and invited to play a game of Pinfinger (see Titan, p. 126) on the way back. The stake is 1GP per game.

If the Heroes are obviously hostile intruders, the Orcs will attack, but more polite Heroes, or those who speak Orcish, may be able to bargain for passage with a hefty bribe or a game of Pinfinger or two.

If the Orcs are sleeping, the Heroes may attempt to sneak through the chamber, but attempting to murder the Orcs in their sleep will wake at least one of them up, who will raise the alarm.

Stats:

5 ORCS: SKILL 6, STAMINA 5, Sword, Dagger, Light Armour (leather scraps) 

Each Orc has 1-6GP. There are a couple of bone dice, a bunch of pewter tankards, and a spare dagger (stained with green Orc blood) on the table. Also on the table is a haunch of roast Bristlebeast. Unfortunately it is infested with maggots and will cause 1-3 STAMINA damage to anyone who eats it, unless they are an Orc or Gnoll (with the respectively strong digestive system).

Next to the table is half a keg of Guursh (Orc Ale; see Encyclopedia Arcana, pp. 57-58). The bunks are empty but anyone searching through them has a 4 in 6 chance of contracting fleas (-1 SKILL due to itchy bites until they next take a full bath).