Relay back details and hold the torch up at the top of the pile to allow Elfstan to get over. Then the pair of us can go and look at the door.
The Hobbits check out the next door. This one is largely ash free and the passage had no torches and where torch holders made have been were just rust spots.
The door has the hinges on this side. Mulligan oils the hinges. They check for traps and Elfstan opens the door.
The door opens up on a large room that stretch 50’ wide and beyond the torch’s light long. In the center of the room is two rows of support pillars that head away from the door. Wandering in the pair see the room is roughly 80’ long with a total of six pillars. Another door is at the far end. The room is ill kept and smells of feces and urine. In the North East corner there is a series of cages holding many small creatures. Rats, lizards, birds, a polecat, a skunk, a small wild cat and many, many mice and shrews.
“Someone or something has to be feeding these animals. Maybe we should put out the torch before opening this next door? Keep your distance from that skunk!”
Thoroncir listens appreciatively to the songs. When Hodwain is done, he says, “Well done, Hodwain, and thank you! Your music lifts our hearts even in so desolate a place. I hope you will have the chance to play soon with an Elf-bard of our acquaintance. But tell me, please, what is the Sea of Rhun like? I know it only by name, and as a place on a map. Does anyone sail upon it? Are there islands? Are there monsters in its depths? Who rules there?”
Hodwain relates, "The Sea of Rhûn is a marvelous place. Deep strong waters with good winds. Men and Elves sail upon the Sea. There is a large human community and a smaller Dwarven community in the hills and mountains. Elves and Humans lives in the woods. They have no King, but a respected leader, Belem the Bowyer who is said to be among the first to awaken. The men have several small fiefdoms. Two are led by Princes and one by a Lord Mayor. I don’t know much about the Dwarves, except they are not the Dwarves of the West.
The Sea of Rhûn does indeed have monsters in it depth. Sea Dragons that shoot forth fearsome clouds of steam and rumors of some other creatures. There are also seals living mainly near the Islands to the Eastern side of the sea. I have met them a few times, they enjoy a good chanty and are tellers of tall tales."
“Are there selkies, perchance?” Thoroncir asks. “Or any other types of magical beasts?”
Hodwain, “What is a selkie?I know not the term. As to other magical creatures, what do you define as magical? Some of the deer can turn into maidens and some of the seals into men and women and I have heard their are a few swans that are enchanted elven maids that return to their elven form only on the new moon. However, I know a badger that is good at healing small injuries and a few bird that can talk in Rhûnic. Of course, I have also heard that there is a herd of Unicorns that live in the woods near Rhûn but I am not sure if those are magical. Not too far from Rhûn, many years ago, I met a strange Moose that occasional talked Westron. There seemed to be something more about him and he was mighty good at slaying orcs.”
Trustworthy as he may seem, I’m still disinclined to let him see Folca. She’ll stay a little ways off, still invisible and hopefully far enough out of camp that she’s at hand if we need her (or she needs us!) but Hodwain won’t see her yet.
Still, though, I’m willing to be friendly, and I’d like to ask him about this message that he’s delivering to King Elessar.
Still, though, I’m willing to be friendly, and I’d like to ask him about this message that he’s delivering to King Elessar.
[/QUOTE]
Hodwain replies to Deor, “The message I need to deliver to King Elessar is for his ears I am afraid. It is not mine to share. Indeed, I do not know all the details as some of the scrolls are sealed and enchanted from harm and prying. I am but the messenger from friends he might not know that he has. I will say that Lord Belem is one of those that wish word be sent. He would have sent his own son, but he is currently adventuring somewhere near what was called Mirkwood and now I believe known as Eryn Lasgalen. Lord Belem is someone King Thranduil trusts completely and few outside his own realm could claim that.”
Miron locates enough Pathur nodules to brew up several doses of lifekeeping when he gets a chance.
He also locates some wild garlic and several other herbs of interest to cooks.
Hurrah! After safely stowing his loot Miron will return to camp, but attempt to remain concealed once he draws close: it can’t hurt to have someone Hodwain doesn’t know about helping keep track of him.
Agreed, let’s see what we have, although my expectation is perhaps another passageway.
Internet connectivity is likely to be difficult over the next few days (stupid home PC). RogueRacer, I’ll follow your lead for the moment. Try not to get us into too much trouble 
Sadly if he is a powerful enemy, he can try to kill us, then wait in ambush for the rest of the party.
Althuogh he is now giving us information we can check, we didn’t know any of that when we revealed to him our lair. our purpose and our numbers.
Ghan will speak in a couple of animal languages to Hodwain.
Great! I can be solely responsible for killing off the Hobbits! :smack:
"I would prefer a passageway to what I’m afraid of. How about we check behind this door and then unless there is something that we just have to see, we turn back and scout some of the rest of this place? We’re eventually going to need to get back to the party.
Elfstan takes the torch (we still have two unlit torches, right?) and puts it out in a corner of the room. He then sneaks close to the door to give it a long listen. If he doesn’t hear anything, the Hobbits will try to open it after taking whatever precautions possible (oiling hinges, etc.).
Elfstan hears nothing at the door, but the foul odor appears to be stronger near it. He opens the door quietly and the stench is horrible and in the extreme darkness he hears strange odd noises.
Hodwain is able to reply to Ghân in any of the languages Hodwain mentioned he could speak. He is especially adept in bear and canine.
Thoroncir asks Hodwain, “Do you think that those who dwell around the Sea of Rhun would wish to become part of Gondor, either by annexation or as a protectorate of some kind? As I see it, wherever the King’s wise rule is extended, and the benefits of Gondorian law and society offered, the people will surely prosper.”
Hodwain answers Thoroncir, “I don’t know about becoming part of Gondor, but at least two would love an alliance with your King. One to aid them in conquering the others and one for their own protection.”
Elfstan continues to listen to the noises and let his eyes adjust to the extreme darkness. He looks off to the side of where the noises are coming from, using a trick he’s learned to help see things in the dark out of the corners of his eyes.
“Any thoughts, Mulligan?”
Is the odor like a worse version of the animal smells or is it something else? How about the noises? Is anything recognizable? (breathing, slithering, claws on a floor, etc.?)
“Interesting. Which two, and which of them thinks which?”
Elfstan: The scittering noises are legion and you feel small things landing on you.
The smell is strongly of death, feces and rot. Your eyes will not adjust to this darkness. There is no light at all.
The City state would probably like a defensive alliance. The larger southern shore kingdom would like to dominate the entire sea and control the wine fields in particular. The Dorwinian Kingdom would like to just stay peaceful without entangling alliances.
Umm, Elfstan, I don’t know about you but I can’t see in the dark and there is no light coming from the room ahead, otherwise we would see it around the edge of the door.
Let’s light the torch, look quickly through the door and get out of here. I have a really bad feeling about this.