Chapter 6: To Whatever End

[Urson]

Therone
Folco may have been joking, but Therone will hand him a torch while she takes a long lungful of smoke.

[ravenn4544]

Elbernarin pauses a moment to look at Folco over his shoulder - smoking. He shakes his head and says to himself, "hobbits.." , and resumes his search.

[Inferno]

The Lonely Mountain, The Desolation of Smaug, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
March 24, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Six. Midday. Misty, cold



Deep beneath the Lonely Mountain, the far reaching secret tunnel from the abandoned watch-post comes to an abrupt end.

By the warm light of torch and blade, the Dunedain, Rumil and Tinuwen scan in vain for any sign of a dwarf-door. If such a portal exists, it is invisible to the eye. The dwarves in the Company can scarcely hide their pride.

Wise Naruthirdor the elven empties his waterskin onto the floor. The dead end wall thirstily drinks up the liquid as it blows away the smoke rings of Folco and Therone!


Actions?!


Map:




PC Status:

Elbenarin: Male Dunedan Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34
Elbenwin: Male Dunedan Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34
Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 16/21
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 33/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 25/34
Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 13/13, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 8/8, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 20/31, Torches
Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19
Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, 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)

[Urson]

Therone
Therone coughs once as she returns Folco's pipe. Apparently, there is a secret latch to be opened. She takes her torch and begins searching the left wall (when facing the dead end).

[Old Duergar]

Naruthirdor

"Ah, but what we have here...?", the Elf speaks softly, pointing his slender right index to the exact point where the wall drank the translucent liquid from his waterskin. He nods courteously, offering a faint smile to the beaming Dwarfs of the Company and adds lightly: "Dwarf masonry is truly miraculous, but even they had to leave a tiny crack for their hidden door to open and close. Come, friends, hither we must look, search exactly where the water disappeared."

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil searches around where Naruthirdor points.

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

Gilly coughs and says, "Let me take a look-see."
She walks up to the wall and begins to search around the corners. "There might be a knob or slight...(grunt)...dimple or...sommat else ta open it. "T'would help if'n all of you...(erm)...were ta be of Dwur blood." Gilly stretches, loses her breath a few times, hoping to find the "key" to opening the door.

Detect sliding/shifting walls/rooms: 66 2/3% (1-4 on d6) > [1d6] = 3

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Glasik begins searching for a way to open the door where Naruthirdor suggests.

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin keeps watch behind the party

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin joins his brother on watch. He'll help where he can to search if needed.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco searches for any secrets initially, but is happy to step away so the dwarves can take a closer look.

He stashes his pipe and leaf away again, hoping the others have some luck in finding a way past the cold stone.

[Starbeard]

Vindo gladly accepts a puff on the pipe. "It's been too long since I've been anywhere civilized enough for pipeweed. A sign that the world has truly turned to ruin, if you ask me."

He taps the surfaces around him and checks for secret passages, including in the floor.

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen helps search for a door with the others.

[Inferno]

Erebor, The Lonely Mountain, The Desolation of Smaug, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
March 24, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Six. Midday. Misty, cold



Deep beneath the Lonely Mountain, after following the secret tunnel for miles, the wisdom of Folco and Naruthirdor reveals the presence of a hidden dwarf-door!

The dwarves and elves come forward to find the door and it swings open easily on silent, hidden hinges!

Beyond lies a marvel.



Lit by unseen windows high in the soaring vaults, a great cavernous dwarf-hall of Erebor stands unveiled! It extends into a yawning darkness made darker by stagnant fumes of black smoke and brimstone.

The Company glimpses towering stone colossi of dwarf-kings of old.



Astonished at the immensity and grandeur, the heroes stand stunned in their tracks, awestruck and agape.

Suddenly, the silence is broken. From somewhere beyond the secret door, the Company hears the soft ringing of a sword slowly unsheathed!


Actions?!


Map:

Lighter areas are visible.

Behind the DM screen:

Party surprised? (1-2): [1d6] = 6 No.

PC Status:

Elbenarin: Male Dunedan Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34
Elbenwin: Male Dunedan Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 34/34
Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 16/21
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 33/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 25/34
Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 13/13, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl
Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 8/8, Spells: 4/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 20/31, Torches
Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 12/12, Spells: 3/3 1st lvl
Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19
Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 11/11, 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)

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco's eyes grow larger with every new sight he takes in from the doorway, amazed at the dwarven construction and artistry.

He is just about to comment when he hears the sword being drawn, looking at the faces of the others to see if they heard it too.

He presses his back to the hallway wall, allowing the others to pass him easily if they need to rush in to attack.

He whispers. "You heard that, right? The steel? Someone tell me they heard that."

[Starbeard]

Vindo wonders what could be waiting within these halls with hands small enough to carry a sword. More orcs?

He backs against the right wall and attempts to fade into the shadows, so that he can slip unseen into the room when the party enters.

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil quickly moves to the front, patting Folco on the shoulder and giving him a thumbs up as he passes, once in front he readies his shield and waits to draw his sword until he can identify whats out there.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone steps into position, behind Rumil and Vindo, and readies her sword.

[wolfpack]

Elben win stares in wonder

magnificant craftsmanship from Durins folk

When he hears the sound of drawn steel the Ranger smiles and draws his own blade and steps forward.

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

Gilly chokes up and tears stream down her face as she beholds the marvels of ancient Erebor.
"We found it, brother," she barely manages to say, her voice a reverent whisper.

She holds her new pick in hand...and when she hears the sound of steel being drawn, her tears dry up and she grips the haft of the pick and readies herself for whatever is about to approach.