Chapter 3: In the Deep Places of the World

[rredmond]

Calling up quietly, moving away from the entrance to not fuss those listening, Naruthirdor continues his conversation with the ravens, "please king of avians, come eat some more if you are still hungry." He offers the crumpled rations again,"how many creatures live in this cave here," he will indicate where the party has busted down the door. "And what types of creatures are there? Maybe you can just fly in and double check for us -- with your stealth and bravery it should take naught but 30 seconds."

If the party moves to enter, Naruthirdor takes his place in the center of the marching order.

[Inferno]

The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
Night. March 22, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Four. Damp, cold




Tinuwen the elf gets a torch alight as the company readies to enter the nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell.

The unclean raven answers Naruthirdor between greedy bites, "Orcs and trolls in numbers I know not. Only a few come out to feed us. Much less than befor- CAW!" The elf magic has faded. When Naruthirdor asks the carrion bird to enter the cave with them, it merely looks at the elf dubiously before wheeling away into the night.

The company slowly ventures into the dark dreadful cave. It soon becomes roughly worked stone passages, cut from living rock. The dwarfs recognize it as the crude tunneling of orcs.

With their flickering torchlight at the rear of the party, only a little more of the darkness is pushed back as they enter a subterranean crossroads.

Red the dog sniffs the ground, snarling. Elbenarin the Dunedain and Folco the halfling breathlessly listen. Suddenly, the little hobbit hears something! The tread of footfalls! The clink of chain! The grunting of voices guttural and inhuman! Coming from the pitch darkness of the western channel!


Actions?!



Map:





PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 30/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 30/30
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 28/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 24/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 8/8, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 22/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 2-8, THAC0: 16

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• In Darkness and In Doubt (the story so far)
  Before The Fall (realms and maps of Middle Earth)
  The Fear and The Shadow (the story so far in images)
  History Became Legend. Legend Became Myth (clues and player notes)

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor throws the rest of his crumbs behind him, with a nod of thanks to the bird, as he enters with the rest. "Footsteps? I wonder how they could have been alerted," Naruthirdor whispers with a shake of the head, as he arms himself with a dagger in each hand and casts Bless as he's pretty sure they'll need it.

[Urson]

Therone
That valley would hide a batallion of spies. I am not surprised if they know we're here.
I'm assuming that "right hand" means from the PC's POV? Left hand tunnel as we look at the map?

Therone turns to provide cover against a sneak attack from the other direction, all her senses tuned for any hint of trouble.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco quickly and quietly tells the others what he's heard as he listens to see if the noise is getting any louder, indicating that the footfalls might be approaching their position.

He motions for the others to step around the corners of the other passages so they can surprise the oncoming rabble if need be.

He looks for a small outcropping in the stone around the corner of the southern tunnel where he might be able to hide for a surprise blow on the attackers.

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin stands ready with hands on sword. Ready to attack the darkness.

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil follows Folco's directions and hides just around the corner, ready with sword and shield to strike.

He then motions to Tinuwen to put the torch out.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Glasik readies his axe as he hides around the corner to the north.

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin hides around the corner of the southern tunnel sword and shield ready

[ChubbyPixie]

Sensing she won’t get a chance to use it, Gilwennen stows her bow and unsheathes Naringë as she steps just to the side of the entrance doorway, out of sight of any within, and listens for sounds that the impending ambush has begun.

If the fight breaks out next round she’ll spring in (or charge as necessary) and attack, Naringë flashing in her hand:

Attack with Naringë - Long Sword +1 (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15 Damage vs. s/m: [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7, vs. Lg: [1d12+1] = 10+1 = 11

[Inferno]

The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
Night. March 22, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Four. Damp, cold




From out of the western tunnel! Footfalls and voices! Coming this way!

Naruthirdor quickly murmurs an Elvish blessing as the Company scatters! Most hide in the intersecting tunnels to lay an ambush! Therone guards their rear flank! Gilwennen, Tinuwen and her torch withdraw from the cave, plunging everyone into pitch darkness!



Only Elbenarin stands his ground, ready for whatever may come. Suddenly the western channel erupts in growls and guttural roars! Whatever is coming out of the darkness can see Elbenarin!


Actions?!



Map:

Green "?" is the approximate location of the roars.
Lighter area is visible. All else is from memory.



PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 30/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 30/30
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 21/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 28/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 24/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 8/8, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 22/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 7/7, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, AT: 1, D: 2-8, THAC0: 16

PC Magic:

• Bless (Naruthirdor): The Company receives +1 to hit on all attack rolls. Duration: 5 melee rounds.

Player Resources:

• In Darkness and In Doubt (the story so far)
  Before The Fall (realms and maps of Middle Earth)
  The Fear and The Shadow (the story so far in images)
  History Became Legend. Legend Became Myth (clues and player notes)

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarrin blinks in the darkness to let his eyes adjust to detecting heat and anything that is visible.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone closes her eyes, using her hearing to "watch" for anything approaching from the west.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

The dwarf waits for the enemy to move into the ambush. If he can make out whatever fell creature inhabits the cave, he will spring the trap!

Battle Axe (17): [1d20] = 19; Damage: [1d8+4] = 8+4 = 12

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen will wait until she hears the battle is joined, then will rush in to fight as she's able (assuming there is light to fight by):
Attack with Naringë - Long Sword +1 (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 Damage vs. s/m: [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9, vs. Lg: [1d12+1] = 8+1 = 9

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen backs up, bow drawn. She first checks behind her, to check for any movement from the caves behind them. If she sees none, she knocks an arrow and fires at whatever foul thing emerges from the cave if possible this round.

To hit with bow [1d20+5] = 4+5 = 9

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco flattens himself to the wall and hides there, allowing those behind him to engage in battle.

He bides his time and waits for a chance to attack something big from behind.

[rredmond]

Not taking any chances Naruthirdor moves toward the light, and out of the way of any errant weapons or arrows. Trying to get behind Gilwennen before she charges in. He'll draw his magic dagger and a regular dagger in his off hand.

[hedgeknight]

Gilly hefts her pick and grins at her brother. "This gonna be fun!" she whispers, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. She pats Red, feeling the hackles on the back of his neck raised; he's ready too.

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil readies himself to strike with all his might.

Long Sword [1d20+3] = 11+3 = 14 to hit [1d8+3] = 4+3 = 7 dam [1d12+3] = 12+3 = 15 dam lg