Ok, if we put the torch out do we leave ourselves in darkness?
If that is the case, one person holds it while the other goes 30’ ahead so we don’t totally surprise Orcs comijng the other way and then head down the stairs.
I would prefer to do it without the torch, but if we are going to be in darkness, I’ll take the torch regardless of the risk.
Put the torch out would leave you in darkness. You are already beyond the range of the one torch in the hallway and I assumed you had put out your own torch before coming back into the main hall.
Relighting the torch, Elfstan stays back as you go down the stairs. How do you arrange to signal him to follow?
Thoroncir says, smiling, "Ah, yes, the arbors, vineyards and orchards of Dorwinion are known of even in Minas Tirith and further west. I have, once or twice, had occasion to drink some Dorwinion wine, and found it very good indeed.
"Selkies are… well, that depends upon whom you ask. The tales vary. For myself, I believe they are a race of sea-people strongly resembling seals who can transform into men or women, out of curiosity for life on land or when their skins are hidden by those who would wed them. If selkies find their skins, even many years later and after having formed a family ashore, they at once return to the sea. Otherwise they always yearn to return to the ocean whence they came. My family has some selkie blood, as it happens.
"The strange magical creatures we have include trolls of all kinds, giants, eagles and other birds of exceptional intelligence and the ability to speak, and of course the Beornings. There are selkies, and magical cats and dogs, and their kin. Orcs and goblins aplenty, depending on where you go. You know of balrogs and dragons, I presume? Not too many of those still around, fortunately. Before this week I would have said that vampires were no more than legend, but we have reason now to believe otherwise.
“The King is indeed as noble and wise as you may have heard through tale and song. My grandfather sailed with him against Umbar, long before he took up the crown.” The Sea-Knight scowls. "Aragorn, as the King was then known, did challenge Sauron to come out and face the justice of the Free Peoples for all his crimes, but of course the cowardly Dark Lord would not reply but through the arms of his thralls, and he was soon brought low by the destruction of his Ring. Gondor has been very fortunate to have King Elessar on the throne all these years. I believe his son Eldarion will, when the time comes, continue his great works just as capably. Eru and the Valar willing, the House of Telcontar will prosper down the ages.
“You are correct, the Queen is the only daughter of the great Elrond, who took ship to the West long ago, before I was born. She is of surpassing beauty and wisdom, as are her daughters, all agree. I have never met my King or Queen, alas, but I believe the Lady Renee has.”
He scratches his head. “What else? Oh, yes. Forgive me, but I know little about the Beornings, and have never, to my knowledge, ever met one; perhaps someone else in our party could tell you…?”
For the record: Ghân trained with two Beornings in his time with Radagast. One was a direct decendant of Beorn named Bjorn and the other was woman of the Beornings Bela*. Both were shapeshifters.
Gil-Gandel also has met Beornings over the years, though not often.
Miron was a very young Archer in his father’s company for the battle of the five armies. So he witnessed what Beorn himself did. He again was in some skirmishes during the War of the Ring where his Father’s company assisted the Beornings and Woodmen.
Gwaelur can speak kindly of their much beloved Honey Cakes and Mead, though he himself knows little of the Beornings.
Elfstan waits for the count of 30 and slowly starts following down the stairs. He’s starting to think that maybe they’ve pressed their luck long enough with this torch though.
Once the light catches up to Mulligan, Mulligan moves forward done a damp dark passage that after 50’ end in a tight fitting door that looks like it has been patched but well used. The passage has a moldy smell and you see and here drips.
“Listen and then open? I think it’s your turn to open this one.” 
The door is damp and dirty with green slimy mold on it. You might want to skip the listen this one time.
I am going to regret this. Open the door and peek round.
Expecting to be jumped, mauled, chased, harrassed, bitten, chewed etc. etc.
Mulligan pulls the door open, beyond is a dark smelly cave. Not as bad as the other door but not pleasant. You here wings fluttering and just inside in the dim torchlight, you what looks like a mostly roughand natural chamber opening up.
Can we tell if the wings could be from bats?
“On one hand, we aren’t counting many orcs down here. On the other hand, if there are bats in here, maybe there is a way out… and more importantly, a back way in.”
Elfstan does indeed believe he is hearing the sound of bats. What does he do?
Mulligan closes the door and leans against it.
Bats, why does it have to be bats. Why not something fluffy, just for once?
“Well, they do have fur. So, explore to see if we can find how they are getting in and out of this cave or should we get on with the task of counting orcs?”
Orc Counting - lets do that at least. Then you can come back and play with the flying mice.
Where do the Hobbits head? Back to the large hallway or other doors?
I think we head back to where the we left the previous Orc and check out the smithy and the snores.
“Ok, we’ll leave the flying mice for now. Let’s see if we still have a snoring orc and how many are in the smithy. From there we better check out that wide hallway.”
Back tracking to the the door with the snore, the Hobbits have a moment of fright. Just as they closed the door to the bat cave, 3 orcs come into the passage from the large Hall and head their way.
Can you elaborate a little more on where we are? Did we hear them? If we have just closed the door to the bat cave, aren’t we down some steps from the door to the main hall?