Chapter 3: In the Deep Places of the World

[ChubbyPixie]

Seeing the tunnel in front of her filling up with melee combatants and fearing to fire into them, Gilwennen instead turns dramatically and mutters a brief prayer, causing starlike illumination to blossom down the eastern hallway.

Light

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco curses himself under his breath after pulling his sword out further than he intended, revealing his position. He resheaths and stays put all the same, picking up a rock to throw, waiting to see what might be coming from the eastern passage.

[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 the pitch blackness emerge hideous frightful faces from out of darkest nightmare.

The abhorrent children of Morgoth fire another spiteful volley of barbed arrows that whistle past Glasik the dwarf and through the burning apparition!

Deep in the company's ranks, Gilwennen the elf maiden summons forth the light of a sacred star!



Its purest radiance illuminates the eastern shaft, casting back the shadows, revealing more living embodiments of evil cravenly advancing upon their flank! (G7-9)

At Gilwennen's side, Therone looses two arrows west and one grazes the cheek of a hateful malefactor (G3), drawing blood! Then the elf maiden's sword whispers from its sheath as she readies for the iniquitous wretches to the east!

Behind her, Naruthirdor tends to Elbenarin's wounds. (+1hp)

At the western front, Glasik's ax cleaves an orcish shield in twain! Elbenarin and Gilly charge in beside him, each smiting a heinous villain dead! (G1 and G4!)

Rumil tries to enter the fray but cannot join the crush at the front line! Then his fellow elf, Therone calls out: "Ware behind! They attempt an ambush!"


Actions?!


Map:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 3, Evil: [1d6] = 4 Evil wins.
Arrows fired at Glasik [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 6 All miss!

In a 10 foot wide tunnel like this, two medium sized, four small sized, or one medium sized and two small sized characters can fit across. Elbenarin's Dex is higher than Rumil's, so the Dunedain joins the front line, leaving room enough only for Gilly. Sorry, Rex!

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/30
  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: 1/4 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: 2 rounds
  Dancing Lights (Naruthirdor): Duration: 2 rounds
  Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 69 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)

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Unsure how he managed to run through the barrage of arrows unscathed, Glasik will accept that Fate apparently shined on him for that moment. However, Fate doesn't seem interested in helping his axe strike true.

Battle Axe (17): [1d20] = 1; Damage: [1d8+4] = 7+4 = 11
Glasik is getting good damage results if he could just get even a half-way decent attack roll. Good thing there are no fumbles!

[hedgeknight]

Black blood spatters her face, but all it does is bring a snarl to Gilly's face...as she swirls the pick over her head and attacks again, hoping to fell another of the dark race.
Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 12 Damage: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6

While the "two-legs" are cleaving and dying, Red gets in on the battle, helping Gilly by taking a bite out of an Orc.
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 19 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 4

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil turns from the press and charges back to aid in protecting the flank.

Long Sword [1d20+3] = 4+3 = 7 to hit [1d8+3] = 5+3 = 8 damage

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin continues to press against the orcs

[1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7

[SocraticLawyer]

Dropping her torch on the stones outside, Tinuwen rushes inside towards the sounds of battle. She looks left, then right, before firing off two arrows at the foul orcs along the eastern passage assuming she can do all that this round.

To hit with bow [1d20+5] = 11+5 = 16

To hit with bow [1d20+5] = 1+5 = 6

Damage from arrow [1d6] = 1

[Urson]

Therone
Therone steps into the mouth of the eastern tunnel, ready to hold the line there. She's off to the left as much as she can manage.

[OGRE MAGE]

Being right handed, like most of his kind, Folco doesn't risk stepping out into the passage to throw his stone with arrows flying in every direction.

Instead, he does something foolishly brave for a hobbit. He begins moving further into the tunnel he is currently trapped in, hoping to find a way around these passages where he might be able to come up behind either group of wicked orcses.

He keeps to the side of the tunnel and crouches as low as he can get, moving as silently as possible in case there are hidden threats in this tunnel as well.

Once he can no longer see in the darkness, he uses his enhanced hearing skills that will hopefully alert him to possible danger ahead.

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor draws his magic dagger and moves backward to rescue the torch. "Hmm, I should have obtained a spare flask of oil," he muses out loud, "in case we have to make a hasty retreat." He moves to just inside the cave, so that he is close enough to help the others, but can ensure no enemies sneak in behind them, through the broken door.

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin sees this new threat revealed and knows the group - and his brother - fight with their flank undefended. He clutches his sword, and with a yell of 'Dunedain!" attacks the approaching foes!

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6 / L: [1d12+1] = 2+1 = 3

[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




Gilwennen summons starlight into this darkest of places and the company discover with alarm they are surrounded!

Cursed repulsive horrors that had once been elves before they were tortured and perverted, mind, body and soul by the primordial power of Evil on Middle Earth, leer with murderous anticipation. All grace, wisdom and beauty has been lost, replaced by wickedness, malice and venom.



They attack with cruelty and hate, but the pure radiance brought forth by the virtuous elf maiden must have momentarily blinded these hellish subterranean fiends! For none can land a blow with arrow or spear!

Folco creeps deeper south into the blinding darkness until he feels a dead end of cold rock and stone before him!

Tinuwen charges into the dank cave and looses an arrow down the eastern spur! It flies true and bites into the shoulder of a malformed malefactor! (G8) Naruthirdor enters the dead silence of the ravine to rescue Tinuwen's torch and reenters the din of the cave, dagger drawn!

Therone stands with her elf sisters holding the line at the crossroads. Elbenarin and Rumil charge past them, eastward into the fray where the Dunedain ranger slays a malicious wretch with a terrible stroke of his shimmering blade! (G7) The two heroes discover in the darkness beyond that more ghastly offspring of Morgoth amass!

On the western front, the weapons of Elbenwin and Glasik crash against fierce orc-spears! But with the sacred blessings that Naruthirdor had conferred, Gilly's iron pick smites another vile inhuman monster! (G2) And Gilly's faithful hound Red nearly slays one more! (G5)

In the sudden silence that always follows death, Gilly can hear dread voices in the unlit tunnels to the northwest!
"BRIARK!... BRIARK!"



Actions?!


Map:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 4, Evil: [1d6] = 5
Evil wins.
G5, G2 attack Gilly: [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 4 Both miss.
G3, G6 attack Glasik and Elbenwin: [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 3, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 2 Both miss.
Arrows at Gilwennen: [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 6 All miss.
Arrows at Therone: [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 2 Both miss.
That is some terrible rolling.

Heroes didn't identify targets, so I'll assign randomly:
Tinuwen hits which Orc? [1d3+6] = 2+6 = 8 G8
Elbenarin attacks which orc? [1d3+6] = 1+6 = 7 G7

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/30
  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, Light spell
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 8/8, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl, Torch
  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
  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: 1 rounds
  Dancing Lights (Naruthirdor): Duration: 1 rounds
  Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 68 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)

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil strikes at the beast in front of him.

Long Sword w/Bless [1d20+4] = 2+4 = 6 to hit [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6 damage

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin tries again to lunge his sword through the evil before him!

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 / L: [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor looks to see if there's a way to fix, or prop up the door in any way, as a barrier in case they have to make a quick exit. If not he'll ensure it's not in his party's way in case of said quick exit, that might hinder them in any way. Failing that (or after that) he'll move further into the tunnel, 10' maybe a wee bit less. He wants to stay out of the chaotic fracas, but will be available to yank anyone who falls out of harm's way if possible. He maintains the lit torch in his off hand, magic dagger at the ready. As he moves in he'll have the Dancing Lights man move behind the three G's before it winks out of duration-existence.
Torches provide 40' of light, correct?

[Urson]

Therone
Therone moves forward to provide backup for the two warriors. She taunts and curses the Orcs.

Weak, pathetic spawn of a worm! You hide in the dark because you're too ugly to see the light of day! The best part of you dribbled down your mother's leg!

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin

[1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7

we may need to retreat, perhaps out of the tunnels into the forest we can use the trees as cover and spread our enemy out.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Aided by the glorious light illuminating the foul creatures before them, the dwarf's axe finally strikes true! The blade bites deep into the shoulder of his opponent G3.

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

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco pulls out his magic elven blade to illuminate the dead end in the passage. He searches the area over for any dangers or secrets, trying to determine how the battle behind him is going by listening intently as he works, not wishing to be trapped in this dreadful place all alone.