Middle Earth FA63 D&D Game, the Second Adventure, Scouting Ered Lithui

Thread Games
201

Ghân appreciates Thoroncir’s caution, but points out we have defeated orcs several times already.
Gil Gandel’s plan is excellent - we aim to take out a fair number of the orcs in one go, while keeping a retreat ready.

DM, Can Renee’s ‘bauble’ be hung round a neck, or must it be held? Can an Invisible person (I assume Deor is [COLOR=Blue]Invisible?) hold it?[/COLOR]

Ghân has spells ready:

  • Summon Insects (or Heat Metal if appropriate) for Hunter-Killers or Shamans
  • Obscurement for covering a retreat
  • Cure Light Wounds for the front line
  • Barkskin for himself (cast just before we go in)
  • Faerie Fire for extra light (and improved chances to hit)

Deor has 16 Goodberries, Mulligan and Gil-Gandel have 8 each. Ghan passes 16 to Renee as well.
Ghân also has his paralysing darts + blowpipe to hand.

Fang is with Ghân, Renee and Deor.
Moose is just outside.

202

DM, Can Renee’s ‘bauble’ be hung round a neck, or must it be held? Can an Invisible person (I assume Deor is [COLOR=Blue]Invisible?) hold it?

It must be held and holding it really defeats being invisible and casts strong shadows. This is why she won’t do it. Her cloak and special protections could do nothing to stop this. [/COLOR]

203

Brownie flies off. Moose waits outside with Folca keeping high guard from the observation point that Brin & Ghân found. You have only about 45 minutes of light left outside, and then Folca will be of far less value.

The party descends the stairs, quietly approaches the doors, and throw both open giving Mulligan a chance to run to the small door that can be barred. As an opening surprise volley, Brin, Gil-Gandel, Thoroncir, Gwaelur, Theogrim & Ghân fire missiles. Deor and Renee of course remain just behind and Fang is just in front of Ghân but laying low.

Brin hits with both shots on his unarmored foes at short range. These two die.
Gil-Gandel uses his arrows to good affect. All three arrows hit, dropping two more.
Thoroncir hits once injuring his opponent.
Theogrim hits once but drops his foe
Gwaelur’s deadly bolt finds a nearby foe and imbeds itself deeply in his chest.
Ghân hits once and misses once.
(6 dead & 2 injured)

The orcs do not know what hit them. The injured two and one more are charging at the party, the other orc is rushing to the double doors and yelling for help.

Gil-Gandel and Brin fire on the fleeing one and drop him.
Gwaelur, Theogrim and Thoroncir toss their bows back and pull out their weapons.
Ghân falls back behind the fighter line. Gil-Gandel falls behind Gwaelur and Brin behind Fang.

The injured orc than Ghân hit collapses to the ground. (paralyzed)

Mulligan drops the bar home in the doorway and proceeds to the double doors to listen.

The healthy orc charges Thoroncir with a spear and misses, Thoroncir does not miss and the orc dies cleanly.

The injured orc falls victim to the great reach of two-handed sword.

Brin hits the orc that went down, not sure if he tripped and not wishing it to stand back up.
(10 dead)

The party ensures the orcs are dead as they move forward and look to recover arrows. Gil-Gandel and Gwaelur run to the alcove where the dishes are. The goblin launches herself at Gwaelur and he bashes her with his shield and chops her down.

Renee lifts her light high above her head and it shines with a great brilliance.

204

Thoroncir, exultant, raises his sword high and cries,

A Elbereth Gilthoniel
o menel palan-diriel,
le nallon si di’nguruthos!
A tiro nin, Fanuilos!

205

Clean and clear! Let’s keep moving, in case we were heard.

206

Agreed. We have secured the barred door so we cannot be outflanked - through the double doors with Theogrim, Gwaelur and Thoroncir to the front, Ghân, myself and Deor next, Brin, Mulligan and Renee to the rear. If we spot anything that needs the burglar’s expert attentions then call him up - otherwise forge ahead. Would it please Thoroncir to carry the light? Front rank keep bows ready as long as there is a clear field of fire in front, there is everything to be said for dropping three or four of the enemy before they can get to us.

Memory is long and teaching is good in those who came from the Land of Gift. :slight_smile:

207

Let me just add,

Open the door a crack and give me 1 minute up ahead into the semi-darkness. I’m still invisible and the extra light will give me just enough to see by.

I’ll see if anything is coming or if anything needs clearing

1 long whistle = all clear
1 short whistle for every 10 orcs

Listen carefully please. If you hear nothing after a count of 60, I’m in trouble and will need rescuing :wink:

And while you are waiting, lump the Orc bodies over by the barred door as an extra bit of barricade and someone check out that second alcove as well.

208

Ghân: Well done everyone - we are very dangerous opponents!
If Thoroncir would prefer it, I can carry the magic light and still have one hand free for curing.

209

Renee, “Ghân may be best to carry the light. A quick question, do we worry about the alcove with the curtain set 3’ back later?”

210

Good ideas throughout. Let us do it.

211

[sotto voce, to no one in particular]Guess it is my turn to play the rear guard. All’s the better; caves were never my forté anyway.

212

No, we don’t worry about it later, we do it now. We don’t leave behind something that could surprise us later.

As you can guess, I hate surprises. Surprises are a treasure finder’s worst nightmare.

Should take all of 10 seconds to figure what’s back there, so there is time. If you will excuse me, I have some exploring to do.

<takes a couple of deep breaths>

Back shortly.

213

Mulligan needs light to explore the final alcove.

214

Thoroncir is honored to be considered to carry Renee’s light, but would prefer to have both hands available for bow or sword and shield.

Taking the GM’s hint from the setup thread, Thoroncir will quickly sketch a map of the caves as we’ve seen them so far, with additional comments by Mulligan and Gil-Gandel.

215

Actually, Mulligan is going through the main remaining double doors to see what is beyond it. The rest of the party gets to see what is in the final alcove.

216

Brin will take a light source (torch?) in his left hand, and his longsword in his right. He’ll use his longsword to move the curtain back, ready to give whatever a faceful of torch (or just light, if using a lantern).

217

Ghân looks puzzled as Brin lights up a torch/lantern.
He holds up the brightly glowing magic light.

218

Oops, thought you were further away. Wasn’t sure which light source was most convenient.

219

So Brin & Ghân & Fang move the curtain aside.

The light illuminates a small square room about 6’ across. Painted on the left wall is a fiery red eye. in front is a bronze brazier and many bones. On the right wall is a mural of figure without a face but red eyes, wearing a black robe and tarnishes crown.

220

Where’s the loot? OK, now back in character…Let us make haste to cover this back up. I’ve heard stories of far-seeing devices. If this is one, we may have already announced our presence. Did your training with the Brown Wizard cover these things? Perhaps the wizard can tell us more?

Question to the DM: Do I recognize one of the two as a type of orc clan symbol?