Deor will stick nearer the back, watching for any interesting runes on the walls.
It’s quiet down here isn’t it
The party and just the party lower down one by one. The passage forces single file.
Mulligan, Glorfindel, Hraedsig, Bitur, Gilraen, Thoroncir, Ghân, Deor, Gil-Gandel, Rorimac, Gwaelur
The passage gets a little wider and descends a bit. It is musty and moldy and the floor and walls are slimy and slick. After about 12’ the floor is submerged a few inches of murky, icy cold water. It is still descending and gets to be 6” deep but Mulligan can see that the passage rises again in another 12’ and then turns right shortly after that. The party sloshes through the unpleasant water. The air is unhealthy and oppressive, a chill seeps into the bones of anyone not wearing an Elven Cloak, and the darkness seems palatable despite the lanterns. As the party’s spirits sag Gilraen holds her **bauble **aloft and she begins her Song of Estë until the glow beats back the darkness nearest the party. Even with her voice lifted in song though, the tunnel is having an effect on the non-Elves.
The tunnel runs 30’ after the turn and comes to three steps up that are free of traps. The steps lead up to a small chamber that is 12’ wide and 18’ long. Hraedsig detects evil but the blades that detect undead are not glowing.
:grumble, grumble: I’m soggy :grumble, grumble:
Ok, time to check the chamber out for traps, doors and most importantly, symbols of being nasty to hobbits.
Sir Thoroncir trembles slightly at the palpable feeling of ancient evil that surrounds them all, and his hand is clammy in his glove as he grasps the hilt of his longsword Cirist. But he takes heart from the sight of his true love with her bauble held high and aglow, and the sweet notes of her song stir his very soul. He silently resolves that, come what may, he will give the great Glorfindel no cause to complain of the weakness or cowardice of Men.
Shivering as much with apprehension as with true fear under his cloak, Deor subconsciously grips his staff tighter, feeling the warmth of the sunlight of Lothlorien warming his chilled fingers.
Gilraen will cast a Detect Magic. She finds the entire room is enspelled and the center of the room has another slab that is 3’x6’ that is very magical.
When she stops singing the oppression of the room becomes nearly overwhelming and actually does overwhelm Bitur, Gilraen, Thoroncir, Ghân & Rorimac. They feel despair they cannot resist. It is time to just give up and lay down. Deor also feels the oppressive despair but fights it off enough to function.
For what is probably the first time in his life, Bitur slumps to his knees, blubbering in fear and hoplessness.
The knight-errant calls out in despair, “Estë, do not forsake your servant Gilraen!” To Glorfindel and Gil-Gandel he cries, “My Elven friends, save us, I beg you, or this devilry will be the death of us all!”
With the last of his free will, Thoroncir feebly takes the princess by the arm and tries to lead her back down the passage, away from the monstrously evil presence of the chamber. Try as he might, he cannot muster the strength to save the others.
“This is, I believe, a Symbol of Fear that we’ve accidentally triggered, or a Fear spell cast over the whole area. It can’t hurt us, though anything else in the area might.”
Deor, leaning heavily on his staff, moves to help first Ghan, then Rorimac out of the room.
I will be happy. 
I will smile. 
I will silly songs from the inn back home. 
La, La, Laaaa, anything to try and not concentrate on the job at hand and wipe this despair from my mind
Hraedsig, give Thoroncir a hand, Deor help Ghan, Gil-Gandel help Gilraen, Gwaelur help Bitur, I’ll help Rorimac.
My Lord Glorfindel, the slab is all yours, although I hope to be back shortly to lend whatever aid I can.
Glorfindel helps to bring the party back out. When Rorimac can’t see the sense in trudging through the water again, Glorfindel picks him up and carries him. He gives a sip of Miruvor to all those effected. It takes some time and work but all are hauled back up.
Glorfindel, “I apologize. I fear I have become a bit hasty and too sure of myself since the Dark Lord was defeated. We will move slower here. It appeared all were safe while Gilraen sang. If you are willing, we’ll try this again tomorrow with some more help. In the meantime, you must lead our friends to the outside and send for Elrohir and Lady Elenwë. I will stay here with some of the Dwarves and guard this chamber through the night. Elrohir will know best what to do.”
The party makes its way out with about half the Dwarves. Celestir & Rúmil stay with Glorfindel. It is still morning on a beautiful crisp day. Gwaelur can let Rilthol soak in the rays of Anar the Fire-golden, fruit of Laurelin in Aulë’s crafted vessel.
Rorimac is the first to recover. He tosses off his armor and cloak and runs in the warmth of the sun singing a small tune of Tom Bombadil’s as he goes.
Elrohir is thankfully nearby. He sees to the others. His niece first he checks. It is with Athelas and whispered words of Quenya that he draws her back from the despair of the dark place. Indeed he later explains, “It was a powerful enchantment of Darkest Despair that got to all of you.”
He sees to each of the others, Bitur, Thoroncir and Ghân.
For Bitur he raises the martial spirit of the Khazad, he speaks of the tale of woes and how Sauron tried to destroy the Dwarves but never could. He uses a shiny locket of Mithril and Gold on a Golden chain swaying gently as he speaks softly to the veteran Dwarf. Soon enough Bitur is more angry than anything else and the despair breaks.
For Thoroncir he speaks of the Sea and the Waves, he speaks of Pride and Hope, he speaks of the long history and struggle of his people over the evil that was Sauron. He has his drinking a tea of Athelas and other herbs. Finally Thoroncir’s mind drift to Gilraen and he seizes upon the very idea of the Princess as all of his hopes and dreams.
Ghân is strangely the next simplest. Despite their relative obscurity of the Woses in history, much like the Hobbits they have a great resistance to Darkness of Sauron and his works. A simple use of Athelas and telling him that all was safe and soon he must be off to see Radagast again and reminding him that the Sun is shining, the birds are singing and the trees are growing and Ghân was fine.
He looks Rorimac over and laughs. “Gandalf and Aragorn both instructed both my father and the wisest healers of Gondor on the hardiness of Hobbits. Little can keep down the spirits of these brave happy folk other than hearing dinner will be late. I see Mulligan knows this better than I as she is cooking up a large meal for you group.”
Tomorrow is another day. We shall see about this ancient evil that Lord Glorfindel is so caught up in. He spends a good half hour speaking to Gil-Gandel of all that transpired so far down below.
Finally he asks, “Please take it easy today, but I hope that you will be willing to return to help Glorfindel tomorrow. I will send word for some additional help. Are you willing?”
Thoroncir was deeply shaken by the experience. He coughs and says a little shakily, “If I may be of assistance, my lord, then of course I am willing. I will return to that dark place and do my part, however small, to unseat the ancient evil enthroned there.”
Later he bows and asks Gilraen privately, “Are you fully recovered, my lady? What now is your intention? If I may say so, no one would think less of you if you chose not to once more descend to that forsaken pit. None could doubt your courage or skill, holding off the darkness for as long as you did with your lamp and song. In truth, my mind would be more at ease if I knew you remained in safety here, 'neath the warm rays of the Sun. But the decision is of course your own, princess fair, and I am as ever at your command.”
I will make sure everyone gets a hearty meal tonight so that they all sleep well. Call it Hobbit magic 
As for tomorrow, I would be only to glad to help in whatever way I can. If anyone does wish to remain here, I would not blame them at all.
Addressing Elrohir, Bitur says “Aulë made my people a hardy lot. Sauron was unable to defeat us as his strongest back then, and I certainly won’t let his machinations defeat me now. I will return once more to that vile place that it may be cleansed from this world.”
Hraedsig is pleased that his prayers to Eonwe were answered, giving him the strength and will to withstand the foul evil of that chamber. He is more eager than ever to assist Glorfindel and the others to cleanse that place.
For now, though, how good to be out under the stars once more…
Ghân is grateful that nobody perished and to those who helped him out.
He is determined to help defeat such foul trickery.
And I will listen with the utmost attention to all that Glorfindel has to say, which if not straight from the Valar’s mouth is certainly close enough for present purposes.
But that was Elrohir and he was mainly questioning you.
:smack:
Obviously, I will assist him to the fullest extent possible.