Chapter 4: In Darkness and In Peril

[hedgeknight]

Exhaustion has set in and Gilly can barely lift her pick. She grunts as she swings and gets nothing for it. Rattling off a string of curses, she drops the heavy weapon and reaches for the Elven blade at her waist.
What the frack? Can't hurt to use this Elvish piece of shite.
But she keeps her thoughts to herself; no need to jinx it or anything, she thinks.
Footman's Pick: [1d20] = 6 Damage: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6

Red snarls and snaps his teeth, but doesn't fare any better.
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 7 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 4

[rredmond]

With a quick thought to Estë, a hope for Folco's grog, and a deep breath, Naruthirdor moves to the far northern part of the passageway. He then stoops as low as he can to run across to grab Tinuwen and, with a quiet nod to Gilwennen, pull her back to Folco and Glasik.

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing no objection from his friends who are still standing, Folco pours a small amount of the jugs contents into Glasik’s mouth, trying not to spill any, just in case it actually does revive the dwarf.

“Please don’t punch me if this should work, mister Glasik. This stuff smells like the ass end of a dead pony, so I can’t imagine how bad this’ll taste. I sure hope it don’t turn you inta anything............unnatural.”

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen continues to bleed silently.

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin vainly tries to keep up the onslaught... his thoughts, however, are on his bleeding brother behind him...

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



Kneeling over his friend's lifeless form, Folco the hobbit gently pours some of the foul-smelling orc grog into the dwarf's mouth. “Please don’t punch me if this should work, Mister Glasik!... I sure hope it don’t turn you inta anything... unnatural.”

Glasik tastes the burning liquid. He feels a hot fierce glow flow through him. His pain vanishes and his eyes open wide. (+6hp)

Nearby, Naruthirdor drags back Tinuwen's arrow-riddled form as Gilly falters from blood loss!

Gilwennen leans her torch against a wall and thrusts her elf-spear over Red into the chest of a vicious orcish malefactor, smiting him dead with one lunge! (G29)

Therone fells another wicked fiend with the merciless arc of her elf-blade! (G28)



But the evil orcs hold their ground!

Beset on all sides, Elbenarin hasn't space enough to swing true his enchanted sword! The valiant Dunedain ranger is overwhelmed by vile enemies, and falls beneath their curving blades! (-9hp)


Actions?!


Map Detail:

Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 6, Evil: [1d6] = 1 Good wins.
Glasik healing potion: [2d4+1] = 5+1 = 6 +6hp.
Orcs morale save (8): [2d6] = 5 Succeed.
G24, G25, G26, G30 attack Elbenarin: [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 10 G24 and G26 hit, flanking.
G24, G26 damage to Elbenarin: [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 5 -9hp.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -7/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -6/30
  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: 4/24
  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: -4/7, 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: 35 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]

In these dire straights Gilwennen will again risk attacking over the valiant Red, saying a silent prayer to Varda that she doesn't accidentally harm the loyal beast:

Attack with Glaive (THAC0 20): To Hit: [1d20] = 5 Damage vs. s/M: [1d6] = 4, vs. L: [1d10] = 2

[Urson]

Therone
Therone advances to (G 25), snarling and spitting random vulgarities. She attacks.
[1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16 sword
Longsword s/m [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5

[rredmond]

"Huzzah Mr. Folco!" Naruthirdor says quietly upon his return, "I have brought you another for your ministrations." Naruthirdor lays Tinuwen down, and goes back for Rumil, carefully but quickly.

[hedgeknight]

Gilly leaps over the dead orcs and attacks with her elven blade...but the grip is unwieldy and she nearly drops it!
Elven Sword: [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 Damage: [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8 FML!!

Red's teeth do him no good either.
Red Attacks: [1d20] = 2 Bite Dmg: [1d4] = 3
Gilly sends him back to watch over Glasik.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco smirks a little as Glasik comes around again, but he knows they aren’t out of the high weeds yet. He shakes the jug to see how much of the grog remains, ready to offer the dwarf another swig if he’d like, or to pour some down the throat of Tinuwen next.

He keeps an ear and an eye out for any more orcs that may be approaching as he tends to the fallen.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Coughing as he revives, Glasik opens his eyes only to see the hobbit hovering over him. What. Was. That?...Don't ever do...eh, never mind. Reaching for his weapon, he starts getting to his feet. That tastes like goblin dung, but I give you credit for trying something different. Good job getting the warriors back in the fight. With a shout of Ironfooooot! the dwarf charges into battle.

[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 accursed, wicked orcs surround the bloody form of the fallen Dunedain, laughing with perverse revelry.

Then they turn around.



Their insidious mocking dies in their throats and their leering smiles are wiped from their hideous faces. While their backs were turned, their front line had been hacked asunder. Their dead lay in heaps around them, leaving them outnumbered and outmatched. The advantage that their venomous ambush had offered is gone. The fickle tides of war have turned against them. They look into the fierce, defiant faces of bloodied elves and dwarves, and their black hearts fall.

With no stomach for a fair fight, the craven fiends cry in the Black Speech of Mordor "Kurrauz!" calling each other back as they slink into the northern darkness, licking their wounds and swearing bitter oaths of revenge! "Our chance will come! We'll be waiting for you!"

All around the surviving heroes of the Company lay their fallen friends, slowly bleeding to death!


Actions?!



Map Detail:

One square = 10 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.

Map:



Non-required Reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Good: [1d6] = 1, Evil: [1d6] = 3 Evil wins.
The orcs' morale breaks and they flee before the Company can act.
None of them are in melee with an opponent, so no one gets a free opportunity attack against them.

This causes half your actions to be rendered moot. But Folco, Glasik and Naruthirdor: if you wish to keep the same action you posted, simply post it again.

This DM post handled the first half of a melee round: the orcs' actions. Next comes your half.

PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -8/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -7/30
  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: 4/24
  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: -5/7, 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: 34 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)

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco is glad to see Glasik so willing to rush back into the fight. He continues his action of trying to determine how much grog is left in the jug while administering a drink to Tinuwen next.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone moves to the mouth of the northern tunnel, panting. She stands there, ready to defend the others while the near-dead are collected.

[rredmond]

"Quick the rangers," Naruthirdor says with urgency to the party. He heads back to get Elbenwin (who is the farthest I think) he hurries until he gets to the north passage, then he peeks cautiously around, but will drag Elbenwin back to get healing.

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen will collect Elbenarin, hastily dragging him eastwards, away from the northern opening, and then immediately setting about binding his wounds once they are clear.

Wisdom Check to Bandage Wounds (9): [1d20] = 17

She fails miserably to properly care for the ranger and curses herself for being too hasty. She stays put, centers herself and resolves to try again.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen remains unconscious, oblivious to her surroundings.

[hedgeknight]

Gilly follows Naruthirdor and helps with the rangers.
She uses what little natural healing skills she possesses, trying to pay back the favors for her own life spared.
She gives Glasik a firm nod to see him back on his feet...not that she doubted it or anything.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Glasik attempts to stop Rumil's bleeding. He then shouts at the orcs in their tongue.

In Orcish:

I'm coming for youuuuuu. My axe is sharp and thirsts for Orc blood!