Chapter 4: In Darkness and In Peril

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco positions himself against the wall where he thinks there is a good amount of shadow and tries to hide there.

He sheathes his sword and turns to watch the cave opening, hoping no more visitors show up before the party gathers again.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen curses under her breath, joining the fray and charging at the foul beasts. She charges at the closest unengaged goblin.

To hit with longsword (charging) [1d20+3] = 10+3 = 13

I included +2 to hit for charging. In case that hits:
Damage with longsword [1d8] = 1

[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




Suddenly from the pitch blackness to the north of Elbenarin, corrupted malevolent fiends pour forth like a horde of scurrying rats! Their diabolical ambush sprung, they descend upon the beleaguered ranger with blackhearted glee.

Elbenarin's elf-sword clashes defiantly against crude wicked orc-blades as he cries out to the Company, "Fire your arrows! Spare us not! Better yet - flee to safety!"

More of the roiling orc-swarm launches arrows east at the Company! One pierces Glasik (2hp damage) and the stout dwarf falls!

The rest of the Company lunges to the rangers' aid, but is it already too late?!

The trap closes tighter! As Tinuwen and Therone lead the charge to Elbenarin's rescue, they are suddenly riddled with orc-arrows from the deep shadows of the southern spur! (7hp and 6hp damage respectively!)



Therone escapes with her life but Tinuwen falls and her torch goes out, plunging the Company into darkness!

With the cold glimmer of their slashing elf blades as their only light, they close with the insidious archers to the west! Whether from darkness or fear, none of the heroes wound any of the heinous, hateful orcs who merrily weave their doom!

Far behind them, in the absolute darkness of the rank troll lair, Naruthirdor and Folco watch the barely visible cave maw. To the south, they hear the cries of their friends as the tide of battle turns against them!


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.
G24-26 attack Elbenarin with swords: [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 6 All miss.
G27, G28 fire arrows at Glasik and Tinuwen: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 12, [1d20] = 7, One arrow hits Glasik for...
Arrow damage to Glasik: [1d6] = 2 ...2hp damage.
Two arrows each at Tinuwen and Therone: [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 11 Two arrows hit Tinuwen, one hits Therone.
Damage: Two arrows hit Tinuwen: [1d6] = 3, [1d6] = 4 One arrow hits Therone: [1d6] = 6 7hp and 6hp damage respectively. Tinuwen falls.
Tinuwen's torch goes out? (1): [1d2] = 1 Yes.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -3/30
  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: 5/28
  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: 2/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: -2/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  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: 38 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 attacks the orc in front of him (G28).

Long Sword [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18 to hit [1d8+3] = 5+3 = 8 damage

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin will defend his brother from orc defilement to last breath! He is encouraged at the bravery of his comrades to aide them in their hour of need.

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2+2 = 4 / L: [1d12+1] = 10+1 = 11+2= 13

[rredmond]

"Unfortunately my facility with missile weapons is much more lacking than most of my kinsmen," Naruthirdor whispers to Folco. "I shall go out and see if there are any injured I can pull from the fray to staunch their wounds," he shrugs in grim determination, "please do yell if you see anyone coming upon me from behind."
Naruthirdor heads out and upon seeing Glasik down will apply first aid. Then head over to Tinuwen and help her.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone joins battle with the nearest of the orcs, (G27).
[1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18 sword Longsword s/m [1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3

[ChubbyPixie]

Wondering where her lighted pebble went, Gilwennen pulls a torch from her pack and lights it to decrease the advantage of their foes...

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco cringes as he hears the shrieks of his friends. He almost feints altogether once Naruthirdor tells him he is going back out there.

Always one to follow orders, the hobbit moves northwest to the alcove and waits there, in case anything comes in from the cave mouth.

He strains his ears in hopes of hearing any intruders, since he wont be able to see them through the darkness.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen bleeds, oblivious to the battle around her.

[hedgeknight]

Seeing that Glasik is getting assistance, Gilly charges into the fray...but for all of her effort, she can't hit the broad side of the wall.
Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 4 Damage: [2d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

Red runs between Rumil and Therone and nips at an orc.
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 13 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 2

[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

Desperate to aid their beleaguered companions, more of the Company leap into the jaws of the insidious ambush and Rumil is the next hero to fall beneath the merry hate of the sinister orc-blades! (4hp damage) The valiant elf is taken by darkness.



Meanwhile, in the rank, pitch blackness of the troll lair, Naruthirdor leaves Folco behind. All alone in the dark, the little hobbit tries to listen to the north but all he can hear are the cries of his vanquished friends.

The elf sage slowly feels his way through the secret door, finding little light beyond it. Turning right, he follows the right hand wall, seeing Tinuwen ahead, fallen and illuminated only by the cold glow of her elf sword. Blood in the darkness. Beyond her, fearsome black shapes boil and crawl in the deep.

Then Gilwennen gets a torch alight and Naruthirdor's heart sinks.



Beneath that blazing brand, the true horror of their situation stands revealed! By orc-blade or arrow, nearly half the Company is fallen! The rest, outnumbered!

Gilly and Red leap over Rumil's crimson body and into the breach! But neither fang nor dwarf-pick can pierce the armor of their swarming attackers!

In the thick of the fray, Elbenarin and Therone each evade stabbing, hacking orc-swords, and wound an inhuman fiend. But not one villain 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] = 2, Evil: [1d6] = 3 Evil wins.
G24-26 attack Elbenarin: [1d20] = 5, [1d20] = 3, [1d20] = 2 All miss.
G28 attacks Rumil (1) or Therone (2)?: [1d2] = 1 Rumil.
G27 attacks Therone: [1d20] = 2, damage: [1d6] = 1 Misses.
G28, G29 attack Rumil: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 3 One hits for 4hp damage.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -4/30
  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: 5/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -2/24
  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: 2/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: -3/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  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: 37 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 can't get a solid blow in pressed in close to the enemy.

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6 (THACO=19)
Long Sword Damage = S/M: [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5+2=7 / L: [1d12+1] = 9+1 = 10+2=12

[hedgeknight]

"Time to die, friends!" Gilly says, breathing hard. "Might as well go down a'swingin'!"
With a cry of "Ironfoot!" the dwarven warrior attacks.
Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 10 Damage: [2d4+1] = 6+1 = 7

And so does Red.
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 2 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 3

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco slaps his own forehead a little harder than he intended once he remembers an old hobbit story involving orc grog. "Wait! That stuff might hold healing properties!"

He stuffs the bag of coin into his pack in case they are forced to exit in another direction as he pulls out his glowing blade again. He picks up the jug containing the org grog and sprints in the direction of his friends screams.

If he has time, he will administer some of the contents of the jug into Glasik's mouth, winking at Naruthirdor like he knows exactly what he is doing, even though he doesn't.

I watched a movie once where hobbits were invigorated by drinking orc juice, so hopefully this might work?

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor applies first aid to Glasik (First Aid (WIS 16): [1d20] = 6 HAH! fooled you die roller, I wanted a low number!) and then peeks around into the southern corridor. Seeing Folco heading his way, he will nod and whisper, "can you pull Glasik and I'll get Tinuwen? It may be safer back in the troll lair." If the corridor looks safe, he will then scurry over to Tinuwen to pull him out of the fray and back to the secret door.

[Urson]

Therone
By the light of the torch, Therone sees exactly how desperate their situation is.

She gathers her courage, even as she attacks again.
[1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14 sword
Longsword s/m [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2

[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

The orc tunnels near the Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing are cold, dank and casket black. Gilwennen holds out her flame like an offering to the darkness. It reveals without mercy their dire state. The cunning orc-ambush has reaped a cruel harvest.

Unable to ignore his friends' cries any longer, Folco heaves up the large jug and follows the sliver of light from the secret doorway out of the pitch blackness of the troll cave.



Yonder, he finds Glasik's body, broken and bleeding and feathered with arrows. The hobbit wrenches the cork from the jug mouth and shudders at the terrible stench of orc grog.

Naruthirdor tends to Glasik's grievous wounds (+1hp), removing arrows, stemming the bleeding and saving his life. The elf sage risks a quick glance down the southern tunnel, but finds it as black as their chances for survival.

Opposite the crossroads, Gilwennen urgently sees to her sister's calamitous injuries. (+1hp)

Whilst, in the thick of the battle, their situation grows more desperate with every second! Virtuous elven steel clashes against brutal orc iron!

"A she-elf and a she-dwarf!" leers one disfigured, twisted fiend. (G27)



"What fine sport they give!"

Then Therone's glittering blade claims his head in vengeance.


Actions?!



Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 5, Evil: [1d6] = 1 Good wins.
G24-26 attack Elbenarin: [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 4, [1d20] = 3 All miss.
G29, G28 attack Gilly and Therone: [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 4, damage: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 3 Both miss!
Gilwennen: First aid on Tinuwen: [1d20] = 5 Succeeds.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 2/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -5/30
  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: 5/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: -2/24
  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: -3/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 2/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: -3/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  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: 36 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]

Seeing no choice but to risk it, Gilwennen will retrieve her glaive and attempt to attack over her companion's dog and into the fray:

Attack with Glaive (THAC0 20): To Hit: [1d20] = 20 Damage vs. s/M: [1d6] = 5, vs. L: [1d10] = 6

[Urson]

Therone

Therone laughs as the orc falls, headless. I'll kiss him later! She attacks (G28).

[1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12 sword
Longsword s/m [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8