The brave adventurers-turned-spelunkers delved deeper into the cave wherein they discovered the fell beast, and handily dispatched him. It turns out Illithid weren't the only danger in the deeps.

After some further exploration, a pair of strange humanoids ambushed the party. They were strong, and their blows rang resoundingly. It seemed that, after several exchanges of blows and some unluck of Chong and Fang, that the creatures were to drive the party back; the party however rallied, and some choice shots of Soveliss felled the creatures, however not before they could sound an alarm. The quartet of these creatures arrived shortly afterward; they were, however, menaced by the warriors, and backed into the depths. The party followed, turning back to the surface only when it seemed that they were approaching a dwelling placed, which the majority were unwilling to assault.

Emerging to the surface, the group made their way back to the Elven Village. It turned out that Prince Aidan had questioned the kill order, having heard nothing of it on the way north, and he as well was heading back, though with a significant delay. A mysterious messenger approached the party, announcing civil war amongst the Orcs. The party, upon hearing this, approached the Elven Council. The Elder Councilman heard out the proposition of the party to spring a trap on the Orc leader purporting to lead the Orcish people to war under the Blood Star. They took with them an Orcish artefact---GrugGr, the Spear Which Always Strikes True---and headed off to the cave of the Bhukka to make a stand, having sent a message that way to prepare for small-scale conflict.

Along the way, the adventurers were beset by a small slaving party. They began by, upon seeing a Asherati, to harden the ground (expelling a number of irritated arthopods in the process) and assault the party. After a brief fight involving fireworks and Chong inspiring dread in a number of the slavers, the slavers were defeated. Fang searched the Wizard, discovering a writ to take slaves issued by the administrators of the Sultan, took off in the direction of the meeting place.

Upon reaching the cave of the Bhukka and the holy shrine of Pelor, the adventurers, together with the Bhukka, constructed a series of tricks and traps to keep the Orcish leader. These succeeded for the most part, trapping and destroying a large number of peons. The Eye of Gruumsh, however, was made of sterner stuff, and---spittle flying from his mouth---ripped the portcullis asunder, allowing himself and his lieutenants to exit the cave. He charged forward, heedless in his rage, and, despite inflicting a fair amount of damage, eventually fell to his madness. His lieutenants did less well, and were also dispatched.

And so the small remaining party made their way to the Dwarven Hold of Stronghame.