Chapter 4: In Darkness and In Peril

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin stands defiant before the remaining orcs, "To the exit, Friends! I will hold until you are clear!"

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9 / L: [1d12+1] = 5+1 = 6

[wolfpack]

Elbnewin stands at the corner of the secret door making sure it doesn;t close again and waits until the others have made it through

brother get back here

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen stows Baudhring, draws her sword, and picks up her torch, following the others through the secret door.

[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




"BRIARK!"

And then the trap is sprung! The Company's vanguard is ambushed! Lured into a diabolical trap, Elbenarin, Gilly and Glasik stand in a deadly crossfire! A plague of orc arrows fill the crossroads in the western tunnel!

Grievously impaled by the insidious barbed shafts (5hp damage to Gilly, 6hp damage to Glasik), the dwarf siblings are near to death!

"Fall back!" "Fall back, we have an escape route open!" echo the cries of Therone and Rumil through the orc tunnels behind them!

Elbenwin the ranger holds his lantern to light their way out! As Naruthirdor watches the eastern channels, the elf sisters Gilwennen and Tinuwen move north through the secret passage where a fell stench assaults their senses!

Tinuwen joins Folco, his glowing blade drawn, in peering around the western corner. They find a rank troll lair!



The empty cavern holds a primitive bed of dead leaves and branches, ravaged animal carcasses, and a cave mouth that opens into the ravine! (at E)

Far to the west, in the center of the fiendish crossfire ambush, Elbenarin stands defiant, "To the exit, Friends! I will hold until you are clear!" Then he turns and charges, smiting one of the orc archers dead with a single stroke of his elf-sword! (G23)

Wounded and bloodied, Glasik and Gilly comply, wheeling and retreating from the ambush!

Then, from her new vantage point, Therone hears arrows fly from the darkness of the forwardmost southern tunnel! They rip into the retreating dwarf siblings! (6hp damage to Gilly, 1hp damage to Red)

Valiant Gilly succumbs to her many wounds, and falls!


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Map:



Ravine Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 3, Evil: [1d6] = 4 Evil wins.
G22, G23 fire 2 arrows each at Gilly and Glasik: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 13 One hits each of them.
Arrow damage to Gilly and Glasik: [1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 6
Two arrows at Elbenarin, from northern tunnel: [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 4, damage: [1d6] = 2, [1d6] = 1 Both miss.
Two arrows at Gilly and Red each: [1d20] = 5, [1d20] = 2, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 5 Both miss.
Two arrows at Gilly and Red each: [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 16, damage: [1d6] = 6, [1d6] = 1 Both hit.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 7/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 8/30, Lantern
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 5/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -2/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 1/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl, Light spell
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 2/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 8/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 8/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16

PC Magic:

• Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 44 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)

[ChubbyPixie]

Instantly on edge when assailed by the distinct stench of troll, Gilwennen peers around to see the cave is empty, but for how long?

“We might remain here just long enough to throw the orcs off our trail. I do not relish the thought of the troll returning, however. We are not fit for such a confrontation... unless we set an ambush of our own,” she says.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone grabs Gilly and heads for the secret door- carrying her if possible, otherwise dragging her.

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin tries to finish the job and leave this pathway clear but shouts and screams behind distract him.

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4 / L: [1d12+1] = 4+1 = 5

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor heads to the secret door, by moving a little west first - so as not to present his back for any arrows coming from the passageway he was watching. On the way he'll meet up with and help Therone with Gilly. The whole time casting worried glances behind him.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

The heavily bloodied dwarf checks to make sure his sister has been picked up, then will assist in carrying her into the troll den. Feeling guilt that he fled while Elbenarin stayed to fight, he glances back to make sure the Ranger is able to return to the party.

[wolfpack]

Seeing his brother not coming Elbenwin races down the hall to help him

I assume i can;t attack this round

[hedgeknight]

Wounded gravely, Gilly hollers for Red and retreats.
"We gotta get outta these damned tunnels, brother!" she yells rushing back to her companions.

She grunts as pain sears through her ribs...and suddenly her legs give out and she falls face first, eating dirt and grit. Part of her mind tells her legs to get up...but the rest of her mind is clogged with the thumping sound of her failing heart. She feels Red tugging at her arm and she tries to find the hound with her fingers...to call his name...

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

"Fall back now!"

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco looks back at Gilwennen for a second.

"How many of them do you suppose they had in here?"

He motions for Tinuwen to check the cave opening for any more orcs while he uses his illuminated sword to dig around through the entire trolls nest, hoping to find something that will help them escape this place alive.

[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



Shaken and reeling by the sudden deaths of his fiendish kin, the last orc archer in the western dead-end (G22) backs up and looses two arrows at Elbenarin! Fear poisons his aim and both barbed missiles land in the center of the Dunedain's shield! But the craven orc covers Gilwennen's glowing pebble with his foot, instantly plunging the tunnel into darkness!

Nearly blind, Elbenarin lunges forward, driving his glimmering blade with all his might! His elf-sword cuts only the rock wall of the orc-tunnel!

Far behind him, his brother Elbenwin watches Gilly's lifeless body dragged from the suddenly darkened tunnel...



... and fears for Elbenarin's life! The brother ranger plunges west into the deep, his lantern lighting the way and heralding his coming to friend and foe alike! Cunning, hateful arrows fire from the pitch of the southern and northern tunnels, lacerating the courageous Dunedain! (3hp damage total)

Surviving the gauntlet of wicked shafts, Elbenwin reaches his brother, relighting his desperate battle!

Far behind the Dunedain rangers, Rumil calls out to them: "Fall back!"

Therone, Naruthirdor and Glasik carry Gilly past Rumil into the troll den, trailed closely by her faithful hound.

Ahead of them, Gilwennen peers into the empty troll lair as Folco dares creep into it! Tinuwen holds her position, not wanting her torchlight to fill the cave mouth and alert anyone in the ravine to their presence.

Folco finds a gruesome pile of skulls and ribs which appear frightfully human! And under the mound of dead leaves that serve as a bed he discovers a heavy leather bag that jingles when moved.


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.


Map:



Ravine Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 5, Evil: [1d6] = 6 Evil wins.
G22 fires arrows at Elbenarin: [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 4, damage: [1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 5 Both miss.
4 arrows at Elbenwin: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 14 Two hit.
2 arrows hit Elbenwin: [1d6] = 1, [1d6] = 2

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 7/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 5/30, Lantern
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 5/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -2/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 1/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl, Light spell
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 2/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 8/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl, Torch
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 8/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16

PC Magic:

• Light (Gilwennen): Duration: 43 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)

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor kneels down near Gilly and starts first aid: First aid (WIS: 16): [1d20] = 7
"Man the door," he says hoarsely, managing to keep the fear out of his voice. "It will be good protection if anyone comes from that way... the cave opening is a different thing altogether." Hearing the jingle he looks up, "I guess it would be too much to hope the troll had any healing magic around? I have only two more doses of the King's potion."

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil moves to man the secret door so that he can close it once the brothers come through. "I have the door, clear the way so they can get in quickly."

[Urson]

Therone
Therone helps get Gilly settled, then joins Tinuwen, keeping watch on the tunnel that exits into the valley. Her sword is in hand, ready.

[wolfpack]

attacks the orc

[1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin, weakened, is invigorated and proud by his brothers bravery!

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16 (THACO=19)

Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2 +2 = 4 / L: [1d12+1] = 6+1 = 7 +2 = 9

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco picks up the jingling bag, opening it carefully to check its contents. If he finds only coin, he tosses it to another by the cave mouth so he can continue his search.

Once he is sure that the stinking nest contains no more secrets, he starts checking the walls and floor for anything hidden while they wait for the others to join them in here.

"Anyone want to risk checking outside to see if the coast is clear out there?"