Chapter 5: Nameless Things

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor ensures that everyone hears the word on the doors before they enter. And he checks out the statue and coffin before the closing doors snuff out the lights. He’ll, very quietly, check with whatever light there is, or hands if need be if there is anything written upon the queens statue.

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen stays utterly still, head bowed, hand on hilt, listening.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco is in awe of the tomb and all of its elven statuary. He moves inside to aid Naruthirdor in examining the monuments, though it proves to be a difficult task in the darkness.

[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. Late Morning. Cloudy, damp, cold



In the silent darkness of the ancient elvish tomb, the Company holds their breath and hopes they aren't discovered by the murderous Uruks that hunt them.

Folco and Naruthirdor discovered nothing more of the statue and the tomb before they were plunged into the pitch.

Therone silently recites blessings for those whose crypt this is, as Gilly stifles a heartfelt sob. The mournful dwarf remembers Valinor is the name given the Undying Lands across the sea whence many elves go when they depart Middle Earth forever.

Suddenly, Elbenarin's elvish blade grows brighter and brighter until he is forced to sheathe it.

Then, through the tomb doors come terrible voices in a degenerate dialect of the Black Speech of Mordor!

"Why do you stop?!" barks a fell voice.

"We should go back," grunts another.

"Coward! If filthy elves and dwarves can enter here, so can we! Where are they?!" growls the first.

"Their scent ends here," snarls the second.

There falls an ominous silence.

In the darkness, hands move quietly toward sword hilts.
Glasik regrips his dwarf-ax and Tinuwen her elf-bow.
Rumil raises his shield.
Vindo aims his sling toward the door.

"Lying, craven weakling!" roars the first voice. "We go deeper! Now march!"

The dread iron footfalls stamp northward and soon all is quiet again.


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 20 feet. Lighter areas are visible. All else is from memory.




PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedan Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 25/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedan 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: 1/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 11/12, Spells: 1/3 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

Now what? the dwarf asks quietly. Do we wait for them to return, knowing they won't find us until they come back and decide to open doors? Do we follow them and set up an ambush? Do we head south, knowing they will go that way eventually? Some other plan? He relaxes his grip on the axe.

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Whispering, "I favor ambushing them, but we need a good plan."

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin agress, "Their arrows were deadly to us in the darkness. We can't walk into that kind of trap again."

"There are two doors here, can we lure them from one door, and attack them from behind?

[wolfpack]

If we go back to the cave entrance eventually they will exit, we could even draw the out.

Stand on each side of the entrance perhaps even the cliff above and ambush them there

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

"As long as we git ta kill tha bastards, I'm fine with whatever plan we come up with!"
Gilly is eager to get out there and catch the Uruks unaware.

"In fact, me and me brother will be tha bait! All we need is a torch ta see which way we're runnin' and we'll lead 'em right back ta where all of ye are waitin'...won't we Glass?"

[ChubbyPixie]

"How deep does this tomb go? We could be waiting a long time outside, exposed to view. If we are to ambush, I say we do it here. Though I wouldn't mind letting them range ahead, allowing them to set off traps and encounter danger in our stead. In this way they will be weakened when we meet them next," says Gilwennen.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco holds his index finger to his nose and responds to Gilwennen.

"Precisely. I agree with this notion wholeheartedly. We should trail the Uruks from behind, and watch what they do. They will eventually figure out that we aren't in front of them, but maybe they will set off a few dangers first. Once they turn to head back this way, we can lead them into an ambush of our own."

"Remember that there are many more of them, and plenty of orcs, outside these forgotten halls."

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Remember, it was the orcs who kept in the dark and fired arrows. The Uruks needed torches to see. That's why they have torches now. If it were just orcs, they'd creep in the dark. But if it was just orcs, they might not have entered, being the cowards they are.

I don't like the idea of going back outside. We're exposed outside and may draw more enemies to us. I like the idea of letting them find any dangers first. It will hopefully serve to weaken them and lessen any danger to us, from traps or creatures. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. If they stumble into trouble it can only help us in the long run.

Now, where to set the ambush is the question. Maybe we try to draw them back here. Our archers can wait south of here, in the dark. Use their strategy against them. We can't see in the dark, but your targets will light themselves up for you. Gilly and I can let them chase us around the corner, then after the archers fire, the rest of you attack from the northern door, trapping them between us. Maybe Gilly and I drop our torch near the doors and run into the dark before dropping to the ground so we don't get shot instead of the Uruks.

[rredmond]

While the others discuss what they need to do, Naruthirdor will take out his magic dagger (blocking its meager light with his body) and check the statue closer for any inscriptions or anything out of the ordinary. He will stop and leave with the others if they head out.

[SocraticLawyer]

I like your plan, says Tinuwen to Glasik. Let us execute it.

[Rex]

Rumil

"The plan sounds good, I am willing. I am an archer, but I am also one of the fastest here. Should I try to draw them back instead?"

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

"Take me with ya!" Gilly hisses, a little too quickly. Stammering and blushing, she manages, "'Sides, if'n ye run too fast, them bastards may think it be a trick. Me legs will keep me just fer enough ahead to draw 'em on."

[Urson]

Therone
Therone has been silent, listening to the discussion around her. I like the plan.
She silently moves to find a good spot to shoot from.

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin takes out his bow and looks for a good ambush spot

[OGRE MAGE]

With time to act running out, Folco speaks his mind.

“Remember, these grunts are hard to hit, so we need every advantage we can muster. I still think we should follow them for a while, staying behind their torchlight. If they figure us out, we can all run back here to this point to spring our ambush.”

“Archers can rush beyond the south door, firing once the Uruks get past the north door. Fighters can then exit the tomb from the north door, attacking their ranks from behind. We can use the southern door as needed once we see how they react, giving us options to attack on three fronts.”

Once the hobbit no longer hears the footfalls, he exits the room and starts to follow the pack, staying as far back as he can initially, trailing the glow of their torchlight.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone nods at Folco's suggestions and ideas. You have the mind of a soldier, Folco. I have been told I have the eye of a warrior and the soul of a bard- my plans tend to be wild as the wind, and depend on too much luck.
She grins ruefully in the dark as the group prepares.