Chapter 7: King Under the Mountain

[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




The Company slowly advance through the dark, the heat, the stench, and the fumes, toward the dragon-lair of Smaug!

Taking those steps might be the the bravest thing the Company ever did.

Folco and Vindoboduoc dare go first. The two scouts approach the towering dwarf-arch beyond which lies an infinite expanse of pitch.

Folco's quavering candle pushes back the blackness and golden dwarf-coins, minted long ago in lost Erebor, are revealed on the ground. Bearing the noble visage of Thror, King Under the Mountain, they glitter brightly in the flickering light.





Actions?


Map:

One square = 30 feet




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, Candle
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 32/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 24/34
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: 2/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 11/31, 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 listens intently for any signs of life from beyond the vast darkness.

Then he looks back, realizing that the others behind him are all lined up in a vulnerable row. He motions with his fingers splayed, pulling his hands apart to indicate that they should all split up once inside. Then he makes a wide circle with his arm, to show that he intends to make a lap around the outskirts of the area beyond, before disappearing around the corner.

Sticking tightly to the south wall, the hobbit quickly moves along so the others behind him can get themselves spaced out sooner.

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil moves up and takes Folco's just vacated location, keeping an eye on the Hobbit as he scouts ahead.

[hedgeknight]

Gilly moves forward and takes Rumil's spot, peering into the darkness...

[Urson]

Therone
Therone stays as low as she can, and moves forward. She's heading for a spot forward of Elbenwin, neare the center of the corridor. She keeps her eyes on the darkness beyond the end of the corridor.

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin also moves forward staying close to the wall and keeping near light to fight by. He listens closely for any signs of movement in the space ahead.

[Starbeard]

Vindoboduoc creeps around the right corner, feeling the wall gingerly, then stops and stays hiding in the shadows, for fear of rustling something in the dark. He waits, watches and listens for anything within that might be following Folco's light.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Glasik slowly creeps forward, trying to keep his gear from rattling as best he can.

[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, in the ruins of lost Erebor, the scouts Folco and Vindo stop, and breathlessly listen at the vast looming darkness beyond the towering gate.

Silence.

The Company quietly advance behind them with torches doused, the stench of wyrm and sulphur worsening.

Then the brave little hobbit enters the dragon's lair alone!



The Company watch the little dark shape of the hobbit holding his tiny light aloft as he slowly makes his way through the western regions of the immense chamber. Faint echoes of shifting gold beneath Folco's furry feet run round the unseen walls of the dim dwarf-hall. His candle reveals fleeting glimpses of treasure beyond imagining, flickering sparkles in the shadowed gloom!

Of Smaug, there is no sign. The dragon-lair is devoid of life.

But slowly, steadily, the dark form of a great mountain of treasure in the center of the hall takes shape in Folco's circling flame.



Countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels and silver, glimmering in the candlelight!

Tales fall utterly short of the splendour, the lust, the glory of such a dragon hoard! The Company's hearts are filled and pierced with enchantment and desire of the gold beyond price and count!
(Everyone, please make an Ability Check vs (Wisdom + PC Level) on 1d20 to resist that desire. Dwarves roll vs Wisdom alone.)


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 30 feet. Dark circles are pillars.



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, Candle
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 32/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 24/34
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: 2/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 11/31
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 has taken a knee near the middle of the corridor, ready to defend her little companion. She watches the glitter spread and shift across the mounds of treasure.

ws+Lvl = 12[1d20] = 19

Eyes wide and dazzled, she moves toward the gold, her mind filled with the beautiful things it could be made into.

[Rex]

Rumil

Rumil looks for anything that may be able to be used against the dragon.

Wis+level (16.5) [1d20] = 12

[Starbeard]

Vindoboduoc

Eyes sparkling with the reflections of a thousand-thousand possibilities, Vindo steps forward to run his fingers through the treasure.

Vindo Wisdom+Level (11): [1d20] = 16

[ravenn4544]

Elbenarin stares at the gold. This has been gathered at the expense of countless innocent dead.... He continues on their quest - touching nothing.

Wis+level (18) [1d20] = 11

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing no sign of any dragons, Folco continues his circumnavigation of the huge chamber. Sizing up the prettiest of the baubles he passes, in case they have time to collect any before they do battle, so far, the normally greedy hobbit isn't tempted to touch any of them yet.

Wis 9 + Lvl 3 =12 Random D20 [1d20] = 7

[wolfpack]

Elbenwin looks over the hoard, shakes his head and moves his attention back to the task of finding the dragon, he moves into the room.

[1d20] = 15

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen pays little attention to the gold, keeping her dragon-slaying arrow knocked as she moves into the room.

Wisdom check (16 + 1.5) [1d20] = 11

[hedgeknight]

Gilda Ironfoot

For what seems like the one hundredth time, Gilly's mouth falls open at the sight of the endless mounds of gold and treasure. Like the walking dead, she shuffles forward, gawping at the sheer immensity of it all. She finds Red and squats beside him, patting him and staring at the treasure.
"Red, if we ain't be downright killed and eaten by Ol' Smaug, Ima gonna fashion ye a golden collar and booties fer yer paws so's they don't get cold in tha snow."
Gilly takes another long look at the gold of her people and sighs. "But first...we gots a dragon ta deal with!"

Wisdom check (13): [1d20] = 9

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Seeing the massive piles of gold-glorious gold!- Glasik throws caution to the wind, diving into the stack. Literally burrowing into the enormous pile of coins, the dwarf swims in the treasure. Filling his pack and pockets with jewelry, Glasik urges the others to do the same. The dragon isn't here! He won't miss a few things!

Wisdom Check (10): [1d20] = 18

[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



In the lowest dungeons of lost Erebor, Therone and Vindo risk more light that they may behold the wonder and the grandeur of Smaug's golden bed! It rekindles all the fire of Glasik's dwarvish heart, wakened by gold and jewels, a lust both fierce and bold. He cannot resist.

The allure of riches untold draws most of the Company deeper into the dragon's den. There, they marvel at a wealth that cannot be guessed!

Hanging from the walls are dwarf-coats of mail, helms and axes, swords and spears.

A white glimmer in the center of the mound can only be the Arkenstone in the eyes of Gilly and Glasik; that legendary heirloom of the King Under the Mountain!

Naruthirdor the sage lifts a large, dusty old tome from atop the heaps of gold coins.

The blossoming torchlight reveals the northwestern corner had caved in, exposing raw mountain rock behind the bricks.

And Elbenwin notices a simple band of gold, placed in some position of honor atop a sundered dwarf-pillar that serves as its pedestal.



Simple yet beautiful.

Rumil and Naruthirdor are nearby, and they see it also. But Elbenwin is the closest. Its beauty beckons to all three of them. (All three, please Save vs Spells to resist. Wisdom modifiers count)

Suddenly, Gilwennen and Tinuwen hear a footfall behind them. Cautiously emerging from the shadows staggers a wretched sight. An emaciated and ancient dwarf; dirty, ragged, his beard fallen out.



"Are.... you real?" the forlorn dwarf croaks in disbelief. Could he be a survivor of lost Erebor?


Actions?!


Map:

One square = 30 feet. Dark circles are pillars.


Behind the DM Screen:

Attribute Checks: Gilwennen, Glasik, Naruthirdor: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 18 Glasik fails.(With the identical roll that you had, Scott!)

Random PC, alphabetically: [1d9] = 2 So be it.

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, Candle
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 32/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 24/34
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: 2/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 11/31, Torch
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, Torch
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)

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Quickly shedding his own mail, Glasik is too busy donning a set of ancient armor and helm to notice the newcomer.