Chapter 5: Nameless Things

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco drools on himself, and not because of the treasure he just saw.

Save vs. Spells (11) [1d20] = 1

[wolfpack]

[1d20] = 7

[Rex]

Rumil

Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin observes the gold and uruks and starts to speak, "We should not-", before seeing.... something.

Save vs Spell (17) [1d20] = 9

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

Gilly gawks at the gold...and then at the dead Uruks...and then again at the shadowy figure...
Save vs Spell (12): [1d20] = 11

[Urson]

Therone
Therone frowns- this looks familiar... she starts to think, then spots The Shape.


save vs spells: 17
[1d20] = 15

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Glasik continues his vigil in the dark, alert for any light or noise from the south that would indicate more orcs or uruks- or some other previously unknown danger.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen remains on her guard. She waits in the darkness, bow ready.

[Starbeard]

Vindo stands petrified with fear at the thing taking shape out of Shadow.

Save vs spells (15): [1d20] = 7

[ChubbyPixie]

"We must not disturb the tomb further. Perhaps one day soon this may all once again be sanctified," says Gilwennen softly. 'Soon' to her being some few hundred years.

[rredmond]

"Agreed," agrees Naruthirdor, "but I am also loath to leave the tomb open." Naruthirdor won't touch the lid, but can he see inside, or see a way to close it up? He'll fuss with his searches and studies until they know something is up with the foreparty.

[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. Midday. Cloudy, damp, cold




From the man-shaped hole in the shadows glare two eyes, very cold but lit with a pale light that seems to come from some remote distance. Power and horror is within that shape and goes before it.

Terror takes the Company's scouts. They cannot bring themselves to move or speak!

A ghastly voice, deep and cold, sings in misery:

"Cold be hand and heart and bone,
and cold be sleep under stone:
never more to wake on stony bed,
never, til Sun fails and Moon is dead.
In the black wind the stars shall die,
and still on gold here let them lie,
til the Dark Lord lifts up his hand
over dead sea and withered land."

With rising dread, the Company realize the song is an incantation. Then a grip stronger and colder than iron seizes them, one by one.



The icy touch freezes their bones and they remember no more.





Elsewhere in the lost and forlorn halls, Naruthirdor discovers one stone crypt is barely ajar. It would take several strong pairs of hands to return the lid to its place. By candlelight, the elf sage peers inside the crack of the tomb and finds it empty! It is the tomb of the ElfQueen's eldest son, brother of Thranduil and uncle of Legolas, who would have been ElvenKing had he not died in battle.

Glasik the dwarf and the elven sisters, Gilwennen and Tinuwen stand vigil in the shadows. All is still as the grave.

In the vast empty darkness, time enough passes that they begin to fear for the scouts who have not returned, including Glasik's sister. What could be keeping them?


Actions, Glasik, Naruthirdor, Gilwennen and Tinuwen?


Map Detail:

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



PC Status:
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, Candle
Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl

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

Returning to the tomb, Glasik is uneasy. I've got a bad feeling about this. Shouldn't they have returned by now? I'm beginning to think whatever scared those Uruks is really bad, and our friends may have run into it. If we haven't heard anything yet, I'm not worried about Orcs any more. What if there's something worse than those spirits we encountered, and that's what's keeping everything terrified of this place? I think they need our help, and we should go now! The dwarf is clearly agitated, shifting his weight from foot to foot and gripping his axe tightly as he speaks- not that anyone can see that in the darkness. The waver and concern in the voice of the valient dwarf, however, is easily picked up by the others.

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor says a quick elven blessing over the tomb, wishing well for whatever befell of he who would be king. "Did we take anything of value off of the dead orc?" He'll ask, almost as if seeing them for the first time, "such as torches or something that will help us see further than this candle? Or should we go quietly, in the dark, just in case they are in trouble?"

[SocraticLawyer]

If we are to search after our companions, let us abandon any pretense of stealth. We will need light to see. If there be greater danger than Uruks, we will need all of our facilities to deal with it, says Tinuwen. She grabs a torch and arrows from the dead orc.

She lights the torch and gives it to Naruthirdor. As usual, she keeps her bow ready. Let's go.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

When the torch is lit, Glasik exits the tomb and begins making his way north, axe at the ready to inflict grievous bodily harm on anyone who may have hurt his sister. Or the rest of the party.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Yes, something is amiss. Let us move quickly," says Gilwennen.

[rredmond]

Naruthirdor takes the torch and tags along behind the fighters. He’ll keep his magic dagger in the other hand.

[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. Midday. Cloudy, damp, cold



In the lost halls, Glasik, Naruthirdor, Gilwennen and Tinuwen fear for the scouts who have not returned, including Glasik's sister. They slowly, carefully and quietly follow the great hall northward. After turning, it becomes a great chamber whose towering, tapestried walls range beyond their sight.

Candle and torch melt away the ageless shadows and suddenly there is a great stone altar upon which lie many treasures of gold.



But they look cold and unlovely because among them lay Elbenarin, Folco, Gilly, Vindo and three great Uruks on their backs with eyes closed! Laid out like honored dead, ready for internment upon hallowed ground, their faces are deathly pale. Upon their heads are circlets. About their waists are golden chains. Swords lie by their sides, and shields are at their feet.

Suddenly in the darkness beyond the altar, the heroes feel, rather than see, a shadow rise: a tall black figure so dark it seems like a hole in the shadows behind it. (W1)



Baleful eyes glow from the infinite pitch. And terror threatens to take the heart of them all.



Actions?! (Glasik, Naruthirdor, Gilwennen and Tinuwen, please Save vs Spells in order to act. Wisdom modifiers count. Good luck!)



Map Detail:

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

Map:




PC Status:

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, Torch
Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl

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)

[rredmond]

More shaken at the jump-scare rise of the shadow than it's gaze Save vs Spells (12) [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16 Naruthirdor shakes off the look of those glowing eyes. And prepares himself to slap anyone who falls under their influence.