Before we go to any desperate attempts to open that door by destroying it, Deor would like to Knock it first, and if that succeeds, could also Wizard Lock it, giving us a tactical advantage of being in control of the door.
Something tells me an entrance isn’t too much of a secret if it’s charted on a map…
“Ah, but you are the more seasoned warrior at this point than I, and no doubt more in practice as well. I think it would be wiser for you to lead. It is my turn to have your back.”
Alternately, Bitur has a crowbar. It’s a bit more subtle than breaking the door down should for some reason we need to force it mundanely.
Ditto. I’ll be beside Gwaelur taking what he doesn’t, or double teaming with him if there aren’t any other targets.
I’ll be fighting axe and shield for most things.
I’ll concentrate on bashing with the shield in case of undead due to its bonuses against undead, and I’ll switch out for the Dwarven axe should we encounter heavily armored things.
For Gil-Gandel to sign off and everyone to chip in with comments
Single File
Mulligan,
Elfstan
Hraedsig
Gwaelur
Bitur
Thoroncir
Gilraen
Deor
Ghân
Brin
Gil-Gandel
Double File
Mulligan,
Elfstan
Hraedsig, Gwaelur
Thoroncir, Bitur
Gilraen, Ghan
Deor, Brin
Gil-Gandel
Wide area Combat
Thoroncir, Gwaelur, Bitur, Hraedsig
Brin Ghan, Gilraen, Gil-Gandel
Deor, Elfstan
Mulligan
Door Opening.
- See if the door can be opened by stealth or by trickery
- If not, use a Knock Spell
- Otherwise, use an axe.
Securing it can be done by guard, lock or possibly a Wizard Lock spell, although it does mean ensuring that Deor is always safe or we get locked in.
Good work - just a couple of minor changes:
Single file - Gwaelur leads. (If we have fought and Gwaelur is badly hurt, Bitur leads). Then Hraedsig, if he’s fit. He is still clearly in view of any undead, and able to reach more mortal foes over Gwaelur’s head.
Double file - Both dwarves lead, for the same reason. We can effectively get four warriors in close order all engaging, as the Men have good reach and useful stabbing weapons.
Door opening - Axe is option 4 after Bitur’s crowbar. Option 1 also includes Gilraen and myself looking it over before Mulligan starts to [del]meddle[/del] check it for mundane traps.
It all looks good to me. Thanks, guys.
Agreed.
September 2[sup]nd[/sup] at around 8:00 am:
The party approaches where the Grave Door is suppose to be in double file. The eight wood elves are spread out behind keep a sharp lookout for any goblin activity. They report that dozens of goblins were killed or captured last night. The Goblin King is very worried and afraid the Dwarves are planning to lay siege to Goblin Town. They tried to run messengers both to Moria and north for help. It is believe none escaped or made it back inside.
Brin & Miron begin to search for tracks nearby.
Sting begins glowing when about 200’ from the door and Cirist glows a strong green color when the party is still over 500’ out. After a bit of searching the door is found by the skills of the two Dwarves. Conferring they realize a section of the mountain side appears a bit odd. On closer inspection it is the door and the Rangers report that they only found a few older tracks several days old.
Gil-Gandel and Gilraen see nothing of note about the door. The Dwarves determine it is stone and only 5’ high and 3’ wide. The Hobbits find no traps on the door. The door appears to only open from the inside and no peek holes are found. The Dwarves apply the crowbar to the door and receive a satisfactory cracking noise and then pull it open wide.
Sting briefly flares before Elfstan wills it off.
Mulligan slips in to look as the Dwarves move in fast but with some caution. They see a single surprised looking Goblin and we will never know which axe hit him first but he dies quickly and thoroughly.
The door is to a rough chamber that is roughly 30’ round and has a single open passage out of it. It is lit by a single torch that is guttering in the slight breeze of air now flowing inside.
Can the humans see well enough to fight?
If not, and let’s get Gil-Gandel’s opinion before I do anything, but if they can’t see well enough to fight, then I will light up my helm when we get to a place where we must engage the enemy.
Also, if there is a group of 5 or more undead clusered closely enough to all be effected by my helms light blast, that is when I will hit them with it.
Is the chamber higher than the 5’ door?
The chamber has some low spots but overall it is up to 9’ high.
As to light, it is dim for the humans though Thoroncir has his glowing Long Sword to see by and Gilraen will light up her Bauble unless asked not to.
“I have some torches and a lantern if anyone would like to use them. I’d prefer to keep both hands free for combat, but feel free to ask if you’d like.”
Sweet, we are in better than I expected.
Ok, give Elfstan and I five minutes to look a bit further down to see if anyone noticed and what the area looks like.
This is where the fun begins, back shortly. 
I also have a bullseye lantern in case we need to illuminate a distance away (e.g. darkened ceilings, long hallways, etc.).
The Hobbits go ahead as Gilraen bring her bauble to a bright glow. The new party members she the slip of a woman hold a round glass ball in her hands that appears to be filled with liquid light until it glows with a soft light that somehow fill the entire chamber. They note she is softly singing as she does this.
The Hobbits find the passage is very dark but run straight, far ahead; at least 130’ away is a dim glow. The passage feels rough hewn. After 100’ they find they’ve reached a cross passage going left and right 90°.
What does the glow come from?
In a whisper. “Elfstan, go left, I’ll go right. 1 minute down and then return. See what you can find.”
The glow appears to be from a torch.
Elfstan heads left and Mulligan right. They find small maybe oval rooms with the ground covered in litter. Suddenly Elfstan lets out a blood curdling scream and races out of the room in great fear. He turns and runs back to the party. The only way Mulligan can tell is my his occasional yelps.
There is now a dim pale sickly green glow in the room he was in. She thinks she sees a pale figure in the room.
What does the party do?
Mulligan will report back and tell the party what she can see and check if Elfstan is ok. She will let them deal with any creature while keeping an eye out down the other passage.
Thoroncir wills his Undead-sensitive longsword not to glow, at least for the moment, as Gilraen’s bauble seems to be casting sufficient light. He grasps the sword more tightly by the hilt, raises his shield and says, “Let us go forward, my friends, and see what gave Elfstan such a scare!”
“Agreed, Thoroncir - let us advance. I’ve seen that kind of fear around certain undead before - the vile creatures emanate it. We must cleanse this evil presence.”