Chapter 4: In Darkness and In Peril

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen glides along well behind the hobbit, taking up a position beside her sister. Despite her armor, she makes her way gracefully in the way of elven kind, an arrow notched to her bow in readiness.

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil will follow along, bow at the ready.

[rredmond]

Not sure if they are scouting or leaving, Naruthirdor takes his place in the middle of the marching order, holding the torch if necessary.

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin will move to the front of the main group as the hobbit scouts ahead

[Urson]

Therone
Seeing that the others all seem to be following Folco, Therone falls in at the back, staying low. She maintains focus on the brushy valley, alert for danger.

[Inferno]

The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, The Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
March 23, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Five. Dawn. Cloudy, damp, cold



At the mouth of the dreadful orc tunnel, the Company pauses to determine their best path forward.

Before unanimity is forged, the confident little hobbit of the Shire dashes off, making the decision for them. Consensus is quickly found after the fact, and the big folk follow him with caution.

Spying no trails, Folco Boffin blazes his own, nimbly following the ridge line fifty feet above the canyon floor.

Therone's keen elf eyes watch in the direction where she first saw movement, 500 feet away at the canyon's jaws (M). From there, the Uruks would be best positioned to prevent intruders from escaping or entering, but not to survey the entirety of the wretched vale and its looming rock walls.

Withered trunks, misshapen branches, twisted limbs and thorny briers plague the length of the ravine and block any clear line of sight. Folco uses that cover to reach the intermediary cave mouth (I) with fleet footed ease. He finds it flooded and rank with the stench of mold and orc.




Actions?!


Map:

The white X marks Folco. The Company trails behind him.
M marks where movement was spied by the elves.



PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 25/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 25/30
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 11/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 26/41
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 20/34
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 13/13, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 7/8, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/12, Spells: 2/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 16/31
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
  Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 9/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16

PC Magic:

• None currently.

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

Scratched up from the brambles that kept swatting him in the face, Glasik, wrinkles his nose from the stench emanting from the cave. We're not going in here, are we?

[Starbeard]

Vindoboduoc the White Crow

"I hope not. This first leg was promising, let's keep moving toward our goal."

edit: Vindo makes sure to have his sling ready as they sneak along.

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil creeps along with the others, bow at the ready.

[hedgeknight]

Gilly

Huffing along to keep up and to keep as quiet as possible, Gilly nearly gags from the stench of the cave when they stop for a break. "How far until we get back in a hole? I'm not fond being outside."

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin scans the valley for movement. He does not like being so exposed with enemies all around.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco checks around the next cave entrance for any sign of recent habitation before continuing on.

"Well done getting this far unseen everyone. You'd all have made the old gaffers back home proud as a mother hen with your sneaking skills."

"Now, lets try to climb up to the next ridge using these trees for cover. From there, we will have a clearer path to the entrance we seek."

"And I agree that if we are spotted, or raise any alarms, we make a quick break for our destination ahead. It is my hope that the Uruks are too far off to cause us much trouble here."

Unless otherwise detained, the hobbit continues carefully plotting their way to the upper cave entrance.

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen will continue to follow, crouching low and trying as best she can to blend into whatever cover is available.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen follows along as well, bow at the ready.

[Urson]

Therone
I haven't seen anyone yet- but the brush and brambles are both blessing and curse. They make it harder for me to see if we are in trouble. But all seems quiet so far. Lead on, Master Folco.

[rredmond]

Nauthirdor has his dagger ready and follows with the others.

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin will stay at the fornt arrow knocked and ready watching the valley below as the hobbit scouts

[Inferno]

DM:
Folco finds neither footprints nor fresh disturbances at the mouth of the flooded cave. The brother rangers spy no movement in the hateful vale of the Orcs.

The brash little hobbit leads the Company onward, shielded by writhing branches and gnarled limbs, toward their fearsome goal.


The quest continues in... Chapter 5: Nameless Things