If Elfstan can somehow capture one of the small things landing on him, he will do so and then tuck it into a pouch with a drawstring (like with his sling stones). From there, he exits the room and closes the door as quietly as possible. Finally, he will light a new torch and see what ended up in his pouch.
Ok, I’ve having a serious battle between prudence and curiousity here. Either there are just a bunch of little spiders in there and it’s deserted, or we’re finding the lair of something seriously bad that wouldn’t mind dining on Hobbits.
We sort of had a cross post there. If the DM doesn’t mind, I would like to try to see what ends up in my pouch first. From there, I would go along with a quick peek through the door with the torch. We really need a lantern with a shutter though.
As an aside, with us invisible, is the torch also invisible while we are holding it? I guess I’m seeing flame, smoke, and light originating from nowhere when I picture it. Us holding a bullseye lantern would then look like a beam of light coming from nowhere. Is that accurate?
If you hold a torch, the torch is partly visible as is the light from the torch of course. The same would be true of the lantern.
Mulligan gets the torch lit as Elfstan secures one of the small things now crawling on him. The match lights with an extra big floooosh*.
Mulligan feels a small bite just before the torch is lit. Through the door the Hobbits see thousands of beetles. There are at least a dozen on Elfstan already and a large buzz goes off as they take to the air.
Mulligan slams the door shut of this nightmare. Elfstan is bit several more times.
In the quick glimpse there are dead bodies and a lot of feces through that door.
(A big flash of hot blue flame that actually makes a bit of a whooshing noise.)
Elfstan brushes off the beetles as quickly as possible trying to use his sleeves instead of bare skin. He then feels the bites for swelling and tries to determine if he feels any odd effects.
Which way does the door open? Towards us or away from us?
Elfstan’s voice sounds a little shaky as he whispers, “Thanks! I think I’m ok. What do you say we get back over this rockfall and see what is at the end of that tunnel? From there, we better give that main hallway a look before we get back to the party.”
Thoroncir will politely ask Hodwain questions about Rhun until our guest just begins to weary of them. (The Sea-Knight wants to be able to give a complete report to the King and his advisors for a possible future exploratory/diplomatic mission). Then he will invite any questions from Hodwain about Gondor and other lands unknown to the traveler.
Hodwain talks for a while about the fields of Dorwinion and their fine grapes and other fruits. He waxes on about the sweet Rhûn oranges and how they are like a tasty but orange colored round lemon and taste like nothing else he can compare them to.
He continues, "Dorwinion in a strange country, very elvish in flavor and very peaceful. They have great farmlands and delight in perennial flowers. It is said that some of the Avari still live among them and a few of my own people dwell there specializing as Grand Master Apiaries and as animal husbandry. They are in close alliance to the Elves of North East Rhûn and of course friendly to King Thranduil, Laketown or Esgaroth if you prefer, Bargeport, Dale and Erebor of course.
The City State of Rhûn is a large thriving port nestled in the hills at the South West arm of the Sea of Rhûn. It is in close alliance with the nearby Dwarves that have been mining and crafting in the hills and mountains of Rhûn for thousands of years by all reports. It has strong stone walls and a good defensive army but lives in fear of the invaders from the East and the leftover Kingdom on Southern Rhûn known as Ferinavia.
Ferinavia is a mixed population of various Easterners and the largest population in the area. They were usually allies of Sauron but ever changing as newer, freshly aggressive Easterners swept over the lands in the last four thousand years or so.
Now your turn, tell me what are these Selkies you asked about? What strange magical creatures do you have here? Is the King as Noble and Wise as they say? Did he really challenge Sauron himself to combat? Is the Queen really the daughter of Old Elrond the Half-Elven? What of the Beornings, do you have any tidings?"
With one last plaintive Meow from the cat that sounds almost like Mree Me Mlease. The Hobbits head out of the room and continue down the quiet long passage that was heading down and to the North. Just beyond the range of the torch the floor of the passage suddenly drops away. Mulligan who had the lead, find quickly it is a dark stairway leading further down.
