Chapter 4: In Darkness and In Peril

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil follows along as quietly as possible, carrying his important load.

[Urson]

Therone
Therone has kept herself as low as possible, trying to stay under cover. She'll hold her peace- but if Vindobudouc doesn't have a clear choice; To the left- the opening is under trees, so we will be better hidden. opening H

[hedgeknight]

Gilly can feel the blood running down her arms and legs from the thorns and briars...and she curses the pale man under her breath.
But...she follows as do the rest of her companions.
When Therone suggests a path, she is quick to agree.
"Aye, the canopy should cover us almost the entire way. Let us make haste!" she whispers, glancing around at the shadows.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

Silently carrying his solemn cargo, the dwarf follows along to whatever fate awaits them.

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco brings up the rear on the trek across the ravine, doing his best to hide the groups tracks and path as they sneak through the wild briars. Once at the base on the other side, he agrees with the covered cave option and whispers a suggestion to their archers.

“Should we shoot a few arrows through the treetops above the heads of the front lines blocking our escape? If they hear noises from beyond them, they might think we snuck around them somehow and are now running away. It might keep them off our trail for a little while.”

The little hobbit just shrugs at the suggestion, not really certain of its validity.

[rredmond]

Taking out his magic dagger Naruthirdor follows along with the others, alternating between scanning the skies and looking back behind them.

[Urson]

Therone

Better, I think, to stay quiet and hope they believe we are still bottled up.

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

"Agreed, they may hear the strings snap and know where we are at."

[SocraticLawyer]

Tinuwen keeps her bow ready, but does not fire. She brings up the rear, following the group as carefully and quietly as she can.

[Starbeard]

Vindo voices his preference for the cave hidden in trees (H). "The uruks were not being particularly quiet when I came in," he adds. "I doubt they would hear the snap of a single bow. I have sling stones at the ready, in case that would be quieter."

Leading the way to the cave, he cautiously peers in from an angle, not entirely sure of himself. "I do hope no animals are lairing in there. Still, with no activity for a score of hours and more, the only animals who might be home would be in hibernation, and the season is a little late for that. It remains our best option for hiding away."

[Inferno]

The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
Night. March 22, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Four. Damp, cold




The wounded Company has been delivered by a merciful stranger out of the dark orc tunnels and across the ravine floor, through a nigh-impenetrable coppice of thorns and thistles.

Gilwennen murmurs, "Varda, by her grace, has put us in his hands. We place our trust in him or we perish."

Crouching at the base of the northern rock wall, Naruthirdor looks back and sees torches at the canyon mouth moving to surround their former position!

Under cover of darkness and the gnarled writhing trees, Vindoboduoc, Folco, Gilly and Therone carefully creep up the steep rock slope. They near the concealed cave mouth (H), and discover neither light nor movement within its yawning black maw.





Actions?!



Ravine Map:

One square = 10 feet. The Company vanguard is at the white X. T's mark the approximate location of torchlight.



PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -3/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -3/30
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 5/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 4/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 2/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 2/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 3/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 8/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16
  Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/19

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]

"Our enemies have converged on where we were," Naruthirdor will whisper to the others, motioning them to look back at the torches. "Let us move in to safety, before they realize we are no longer there."

[OGRE MAGE]

Folco points to the rope on Therone’s back, urging her to use it to aid the others climb. He whispers when he sees the torches behind them.

“This is as good a cave as any. Hopefully if it is used, nobody’s at home at the moment. We need to get the others up her as fast as possible. Let’s give the ones carrying a friend a little help on their climb. And for the Gaffers sake, be quiet about it.”

The burglar moves closer to the cave mouth, studying the ground around the opening for any fresh disturbances. If the place truly looks abandoned, he moves in to check the opening for traps.

[Urson]

Therone

Therone nods. She holds position long enough for Folco to verify that the cave mouth is safe, then heads back to help with the wounded.

[Rex]

Rumil of Mirkwood

Rumil continues along to the cave mouth carrying his precious load.

[Starbeard]

Vindoboduoc

Vindo moves inside as far as his vision will allow, going carefully and stealthily the whole way. If he encounters nothing, he returns to the mouth of the cave with the all-clear sign, and helps carry up the wounded.

[SocraticLawyer]

When the others have given the all-clear, Tinuwen follows them inside.

[Scott308]

Glasik Ironfoot

The dwarf does his best to quietly carry the Dunedain up the hill and into the cave.

[ChubbyPixie]

Gilwennen will help as she might aiding the wounded to the mouth of the hidden cave and their best chance at safety. She'll look back down at the lights on the valley floor below, trying to assess the number of vile troops gathered there.

[Inferno]

The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, The Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
Night. March 22, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Four. Damp, cold




Beneath the forbidding cliffs, Folco and Vindo carefully confirm that nothing untoward awaits them in the pitch shadows of the cave opening except cold, darkness and the lingering stink of orc.

The little hobbit finds no signs of fresh disturbance at its doorstep. Vindo can only see 15 feet into the stone mouth without risking light that could give away their position. In that short distance, he sees the cave becomes a tunnel ranging east and west.

The others gently carry the gravely wounded rangers up the steep rock slope. Gilwennen looks back down at the ravine floor and cannot assess the number of Uruks that hunt them. She can only count their torches as they edge slowly closer to the Company!

Southwest of them lies the goal of the Company's desperate quest: the riven gate of the First ElvenKing's Halls (K), where Vindo says no orc will dare go.


Actions?!


Map:



Ravine Map:

One square = 10 feet. The Company is at the white X. T's mark the approximate locations of torchlight.



PC Status:

• Elbenarin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -3/30
  Elbenwin: Male Dunedain Ranger 2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: -3/30
  Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 5/21
  Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 5/28
  Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 4/24
  Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
  Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 10, HP: 3/8, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
  Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 2/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 2: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 2/22
  Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 1/1: Move: 9", AC: -1, HP: 3/7, Spells: 0/3 1st lvl
  Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 8/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16
  Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 19/19

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)