Ghân is happy to have supplied 8 Goodberries to each of the hobbits and Gil-Gandel.
Note that using two [COLOR=Blue]Invisibilities has meant the scouts risking bumping into each other, and needing to draw symbols and whisper within the lair.[/COLOR]
The orc walks to the door, the Mulligan gets out of the way. The Orc swings the door open and Elfstan and Mulligan swiftly slip out with him.
The passage leads downward and the orc heads down. The passage is roughly 5’ wide and 6’ high. There are torches lit every 50’ but wall holders every 25’.
There are no other ways to go. As you follow him the passage runs 100’ and comes to a T intersection and a door. The Orc is grasping the door handle. The passages going left and right are dark.
Miron sneaks ahead a bit to look for what may and Deor sends Folca aloft.
Shortly Deor reports that Folca sees a strange looking very tall human in brightly colored clothes and carrying a hugh sword over his right shoulder and a large covered object over his left. He wears no apparent armor and has a wide floppy blue rimmed hat and bright green boots. His hair appears long and shining white. His cloak is red with green trim and yellow and orange pants.
Elfstan will try to see past the orc when the door opens. If it doesn’t look like suicide, he’ll duck in with the orc.
So Tom Bombadil and Cyrano de Bergerac had a love child? :dubious:
Thoroncir says, “I will go speak with this person, unless someone else would prefer to, and learn his intentions. I suggest that the rest of you remain under cover, at least for the moment. Knowing of vampires’ skill in illusions, I am somewhat wary, but the Sun still shines, so this may indeed be a man. Perhaps this solitary drunken traveler is unaware of the danger from orcs and vampires in this region.”
Thoroncir approaches the strange figure under the careful watch of Miron and Folca. (Does anyone join him?)
Thoroncir sees him apparently before the 6’9" tall man sees him. He is not only tall but very well muscled. The kind of bear of a man that might be able to wrestle a small troll.
He is singing a song of mainly nonsense but you hear a chorus of “Sailing on the Sea of Rhûn”.
RogueRacer, I am just waiting on CatInASuit
The general idea is to follow the orcs and find out how many there are.
Follow the Orc, if possible and I hope without bumping into Elfstan as well.
The orc opens the door away from himself. The Hobbits swiftly sneak in and around as he closes the door. They manage to only lightly bump into each other.
The passage is 7’ high and only 5’ wide. It is shadowy as torchlight from the chamber beyond barely reaches the doorway.
The Orc walks into the chamber. It is stone of course and 10’x20’ with vaulted 12’ ceilings. The southern (10’) wall has a door in the middle but the NE corner of the room has stone stairs leading down. The room has many torches and two are lit. The orc takes an unlit torch, lights it off a lit one and starts down the stairs. He does this quickly.
Do the Hobbits explore or continue follow?
If Elfstan feels he can get away with it, he will whisper to Mulligan (he should have an idea of Mulligan’s whereabouts having just bumped together), “I’m going to continue to follow the orc.”
He then puts actions to words, as long as the odds look to be in his favor.
The Sea-Knight walks closer, stops, raises one hand and says, “Hail, stranger, and well met! I am Thoroncir, a humble servant of the King of Gondor. May I ask who I have the honor of addressing?”
He looks startled and stops abruptly.
“You’re no Orc!”
He hesitates for a moment and then continues, “Hail and well met, Thoroncir, humble servant of the King Ellesar of Gondor. I am Hodwain the Traveler. A not so humble minstrel and fighter from far away but lately of Rhûn. I seek the legendary and fair city of Minas Tirith myself and the King himself.”
I’ll accompany Thoroncir, so as to have a better sense of what’s going on and so that I can tip him off if we need to get back to camp quickly. I’m a little nervous of the stranger approaching, but excited too.
I thought Folca was still Invisible? Why did the crows chase her?
Hodwain then turns to Deor and says, “An who are you young sir?”
Thoroncir lets Deor introduce himself, and impulsively decides he can trust Hodwain. He chuckles and says, “Indeed, sir, you are perceptive, for I am no orc! Our party came from Minas Tirith some weeks ago. We are under the command of Prince Caramir, son of Faramir, Prince of Ithilien and Steward of Gondor, himself a loyal subject of the King. There is a base camp of soldiers of Gondor not far from here, to which we would gladly give you directions; they will in turn, I trust, see you safely on your way to the White City. I must caution you, sir, if you did not already know it, that there are many orcs in the vicinity. We also surmise that a vampire may be near, and close to the time of its customary feeding. Meaning no insult to your skills as a fighter, I would not advise that you travel in this area at night.”
Hodwain replies, “Thank you Thoroncir. Can I make it to your base camp before night fall and if not can I camp with your group. I would appreciate an exchange of knowledge. My directions were not great, just to head southwest until I reach the mountain and then follow the mountains west until I find the road.”
Realizing that he has merely been staring and not introduced himself, Deor does so, blurting “Deor of Edoras, friend, and glad of your company! We’ll be glad of news from the East; Rhun is an area I’ve always been curious about.”
This is either the DM giving us NPC assistance for the moment or a set-up. I’m going to make a point of avoiding any mention of my magic or of Folca until we’ve seen some assurance of Hodwain’s goodwill. Probably an overreaction, but I’m going to do it anyway. Deor will remain goodnatured and friendly, though, so as to not ruin future chances or give anything away.
Thoroncir says, “I do not believe you could reach the base camp before nightfall, but I will consult with the rest of our party about having you remain with us overnight. Some of them are more wary of strangers than I; I’m sure you understand. Please, sit down and rest while I speak with them. My friend Deor, here, is excellent company. I will bring you back some water, ale or wine, if you wish, or do you require food?”
Upon receiving Hodwain’s answer, Thoroncir will return to the concealed encampment and bring everyone else up to date (unless Miron has been relaying everything he’s overheard with his keen Elvish ears). I’m willing to let Hodwine remain with us overnight, but we can and should of course keep an eye on him. Despite his size, we might be sending him to his death if we turn him away while a very thirsty vampire is on the prowl tonight.
Oh, the temptation to split up, but for the moment sense prevails.
Go 5 steps behind Orc, I’m 5 behind you.
Why do I have a feeling we are wandering into a cellar of food for this sentry?
Hodwain thanks Thoroncir and says, “I understand your cautions, and you must have a good archer stationed nearby if you are leaving this lad here to watch me, I mean keep me company. Why he is little more than a toothpick.”
He turns to Deor, “So lad, what of this Vampire? Does he feed at night? Why would you be in this area if he did?”
The Hobbits follow the Orc down stairs that descend in a square pattern downward at least 100’ and probably closer to 200’. There are a few doors along the way, but the Orc goes to the bottom and pulls open a door they think heads east. It is a straight passage 550’ long to a door. There are torch holders every 25 feet on both walls but only 1 every 50’ is lit. There are many doors off this 8’ wide passage that is 8’ tall. As you approach the door at the end, you start hearing some activity in the place. You passed one door with the sounds of smithing within near this end.
Once Ghan is informed about the traveller, he will apologetically express surprise that Thoroncir has decided to trust a stranger in this evil-infested area, and also reveal what we are doing here.
Suppose Ancient Vampires can go out in sunshine (perhaps wearing a floppy hat)?
Suppose the Vampire ambushes this guy and tortures him, then finds out about us?
Adnittedly a slim chance, but given the stranger has chosen to walk to Minas Tirith, worrying about hiswelfare is much less important than hunting Ancient Evil.