Chapter 3: In the Deep Places of the World

[hedgeknight]

"Unless me ears betray me," Gilly says as she drives the gore-spattered head of her pick into another Orc, "there be more coming from the northwest tunnel! Strike true, friends!"

Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 16 Damage: [2d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

Red Attacks: [1d20] = 8 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 1

[ChubbyPixie]

Seeing no opening for attack that might not harm her allies, Gilwennen centers herself with a prayer to Varda and gives thanks for the gift of light. She draws Naringë and contemplates the illumination reflected in it for a brief moment before seeming to cast the light away from her down the eastern hall to just behind her friends that strive there. The sound of small stone rattling on the ground goes all but unheard in the din of battle. She then advances to the beginning of the southward passage and peers down the hallway into the darkness after Folco.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen frowns. This battle is going poorly. The forces of Good are being divided, and will be overwhelmed without regrouping.

The elf maiden fires off two more arrows at the orcs to the east.

To hit with bow [1d20+5] = 8+5 = 13

To hit with bow [1d20+5] = 9+5 = 14

In case one of those hits:
Damage from arrow [1d6] = 1

In the language of the high Elves, she says, Let us retreat outdoors!

[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




In the fetid orc warren under the earth, wicked malefactors mercilessly stab the heroes with barbed spears diabolically devised to rend their victims' flesh with cruel severity! (Gilly, Glasik and Elbenwin are hit for -2hp, -3hp and -4hp respectively) Such are their vicious, depraved minds, bent wholly upon sadism and malice.

After examining the splintered timbers of the sundered door, Naruthirdor inches south as his fiery apparition and sacred blessing fade. His torch illuminates the dead end channel to the south where Folco discovers no secrets that the rocks will tell. Behind Folco, Gilwennen steps closer to the hobbit as she projects her magical light eastward, exposing more detestable fiends eager to maim and kill.

Therone follows the starlight east, taunting the evil children of Morgoth with obscenities unbecoming an elf. The insidious monsters laugh raucously with black appreciation, "Well done, she-elf! Spoken like a true orc!"

Tinuwen looses an arrow over Therone's head into the enemy's rear ranks, and grazes a laughing, revolting face! (G12)

And on the western front, the dwarf brother and sister, Gilly and Glasik each slay another orc dead! (G3 and G5) Their celebration is short-lived however. From the dark, northwestern tunnel pour more heinous terrors from darkest nightmare! (G13-18)

With them lunges forth a fearsome, gigantic cave troll whose mighty roar seemingly shakes the tunnel itself! (T1)





Actions?!


Map:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 5, Evil: [1d6] = 6 Evil wins.
G5 attacks Gilly: [1d20] = 15, damage: [1d6] = 2 Hits Gilly for 2hp damage.
G3, G6 attack Glasik and Elbenwin: [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 17, damage: [1d6] = 3, [1d6] = 4 Both are hit.
G9, G11 attack Rumil, Elbenarin: [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 9, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 2 Both miss.
G8 attacks Rumil? (1) or Elbenarin? (2): [1d2] = 1, To hit: [1d20] = 10, damage: [1d6] = 4 Misses Rumil.
Tinuwen hits G10? (1) or G12? (2): [1d2] = 2 G12

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 26/30
  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: 26/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 21/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 8/8, Spells: 0/1 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:

• Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 67 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]

Elbenarin continues to attack

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

[Urson]

Therone

Weak-willed pitiful lumps of offal! I'll dance on your bones for that!.... No, worse! I'll tear up your flower beds! I'll soil your favorite lace and silk panties! Clearly, slugs like you are too weak to be true orcs- I'm sure your chambers are decorated with flowers, and bright colors, and cute little pictures of cute little bunnies!
She's hoping to anger them enough that they make mistakes.

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor ensures that his torch keeps the light in the western passageway where the troll is, but also ensures he has a clear view of the entrance. "Tinuwen," he whispers in Quenya, "please give me another of your flasks of oil, just in case I need to use it to protect our exit... or against a cave troll."

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

I'm beginning to think this was a mistake! mutters Glasik, eying the incoming troll even as he swings wildly at the nearest orc.

Battle Axe (17): [1d20] = 1; Damage: [1d8+4] = 2+4 = 6
Oh, look. I rolled a 1. Again. Thank you, dice roller.

[hedgeknight]

"Aye, brother, the same thought came to me mind. What say ye, Ranger? A fighting withdrawal?" Gilly says as she grunts and levels her pick at another Orc.
Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 7 Damage: [2d4+1] = 8+1 = 9

Where the Dwarfish siblings are unsuccessful, Red gets a mouthful of nasty Orc flesh!
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 17 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 2

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco moves back to the intersection, checking along the rocky walls of the chamber as well.

When he sees the other across the intersection, and hears the grunting from the huge monster, he cant help but speak.

"They have a cave troll?"

(sorry)

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil continues to attack and attempt to hold the line.

Long Sword [1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17 to hit [1d8+3] = 3+3 = 6 damage

[wolfpack]

Agreed

yelling back in elvish
fall back, Meet in the middle

fighting withdrawl backing up

[1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9
[1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2

[Urson]

Therone
Therone watches as the other two fall back, doing what she can to protect them.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen tosses a flask of oil to Naruthirdor, while retreating to the front of the cave.

[ChubbyPixie]

As the others fall back, Gilwennen will be ready to fill any gaps so no one of them is surrounded. The press is close and it is difficult even for the most graceful of elves to maneuver.

Attack, if needed: Attack with Naringë - Long Sword +1 (THAC0:20): To Hit: [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 Damage vs. s/m: [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2, vs. Lg: [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10

“We must not let them through the door or the sounds of battle will alert the whole valley,” she says.

[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




In a dark cold place under the ground, a great calamitous cave troll charges forth from shadow, splintering the skeletons of dead orcs beneath its immense feet with a sickening crunch! Effortlessly wielding a spear the size of a tree, the evil creature impales Gilly the dwarf with a blow that would have killed three men! (-10hp!)

Mercifully, the other attacks of the wretched host are beaten down with shining swords and shields! Perhaps Therone's taunts are working.

One repugnant evildoer in the rear ranks (G12), his face still bleeding from Tinuwen's arrow, sees more of the gathering heroes and flees east, his shouts of alarm receding into the darkness! "BRIARK!... BRIARK!... BRIARK!"

Tinuwen arms Naruthirdor with an oil flask as she retreats to the cave mouth and he advances to light the ferocious battle on the western front!

Finding no means to escape this dire situation through the living rock, Folco meets Gilwennen at the crossroads, as they gird themselves for the lines to collapse at any moment! The valiant elf maiden advises, “We must not let them through the door or the sounds of battle will alert the whole valley!"

To the west, Gilly, Glasik and Elbenwin cannot land a blow! The heroes begin a fighting retreat before the fearsome troll, followed closely by the horrific forces of evil! Red the dog takes two fingers from a grasping hand that fails to strangle him before leaping behind his retreating mistress!

To the east, the heroes hold the line as another heinous creature of darkness falls beneath Rumil's slashing blade! (G8)


Actions?!


Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 1, Evil: [1d6] = 2 Evil wins again.
T1 charges Gilly (1) or Glasik (2)? [1d2] = 1. To hit: [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21, damage: [1d10+2] = 8+2 = 10 Hits Gilly for 10hp!
G6 and G18 attack Elbenwin and Red: [1d20] = 10, [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d6] = 6, [1d6] = 6 Both miss.
G9, G11 attack Rumil and Elbenarin: [1d20] = 10, [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d6] = 3, [1d6] = 4 Both miss.
G8 attacks Rumil? (1) or Elbenarin? (2): [1d2] = 1, Attack: [1d20] = 8, damage: [1d6] = 3 Misses Rumil.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 26/30
  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: 16/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 21/24
  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:

• Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 66 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 continues to attack and attempt to hold the line, if Elbenarin steps back Rumil will also step back.

Long Sword [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9 to hit [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10 damage

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin hears the suggestion from behind him and it's a good one. He stays in position and continues his attack.

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 (THACO=19)

Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9 / L: [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10

[Urson]

Therone
If Therone is presented with an opening as the others fall back, she'll strike with her as-yet-unnamed sword.
[1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8 sword
short sword [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4 s/m

She continues her barrage of insults. Surrender, you pantywaists! Surrender, and go back to your needlepoint. While you waste your lives here, your flowers are dying. Your delicate lace needs cleaned!

[rredmond]

"Folco," Naruthirdor says as the hobbit arrives, trying to still his quaking voice, "it is well known that the Periannath have a more adept hand at hitting things with thrown objects than the elves." He shows the burglar Tinuwen's oil flask, and nods toward the battle raging. "Do you think you could hit the troll with this, over the heads of the dwarven siblings, to cover it in oil? This way we can light the oil with the torch to either weaken the troll, or help cover our escape if it comes to that."