The cramped quarters are bothering Miron more than he thought they would, so he’ll take a single item out himself, grateful for the chance to get out of the lair.
The various items are removed to outside. 3 magics items and 9 pieces of Jewelry. The coins would work out to about 300 pieces, mostly silver and copper.
One more sweep of the chamber reveals no exits. The passage in had no doors.
Sorry, that was anti-climatic other than a little humor thanks to Deor I believe.
If the evil has left the chamber with the items, Elfstan will take a last look for any other doors, knobs, catches, levers, chutes, etc. It’s hard to believe something that has lived since the First Age wouldn’t at least have a back door.
Sorry, I was late to the party (ie. posting) and had to get some action in.
Thoroncir will back up Elfstan. He, too, has his doubts.
He will then take counsel with the party, and with Riglo, Lady Elenwe and the leader of the cavalryman (Theogrim’s subordinate?). Should this vampire abode be cleansed and preserved as the nucleus of a new Gondorian outpost, or destroyed? If left unoccupied, it might become a lair for orcs or other vile creatures.
And what of the orc-lair we so lately left? Should we return with the cavalrymen to completely wipe out its garrison? The Sea-Knight is willing, but understands that some - if not all - of the party may wish to return to Minas Tirith now.
Doing one final search Elfstan finds nothing in the floors or on the walls. It is odd though that there is no second exit. You could consult Elenwë if you wish.
Thoroncir asks for a quick counsel and gets it. The Vampire lair should be laid bare to the elements, but we don’t have the means. We can ensure it enters the maps however and perhaps someday a mining and sapping crew can be sent.
The Orc Lair you are welcome to eliminate or leave for later. Overall they are still waiting for the Dwarves and heavy infantry to arrive in force before they plan to do the heavy clearing of the local Orc lairs. That one might make for a good Hill Fort in the near future. Riglo would go with you if you want to clear it out.
Hodwain must get to Minas Tirith and had some hopes of riding with all of you to the Shining City.
Miron offers that if the lair could be sanctified reliably, it could become a superb outpost for rangers and other companies on covert missions. Someone else has gone to the work of cunningly concealing it so well that it almost seems like a waste to sap it, as creepy as it is.
Speaking of which, it’s presumably an artificial structure, but has anyone managed to spot any distinctive cultural or racial features in the architecture? I have a hard time believing that the vampire would’ve dug this lair on his own, and Orcs probably wouldn’t have been able to conceal it so well.
You’re pragmatic, Miron, but I personally would not care to lounge around in a vampire lair no matter how long the original incumbent was gone, and I imagine the Gondoreans will feel the same. We shall have no trouble marking the place and if we want to construct a similar outpost I should imagine our Wild Man could weave a concealment at least the equal of anything a vampire can manage - since even plants grow at his will 
Well, that statuette should be worth a farthing at any rate. At least, if a mithril shirt of exceptional workmanship and antiquity be worth a Shire… 
We shall of course defer to Elenwë’s expertise concerning the habits of vampires with respect to rear exits. Otherwise it doesn’t seem that there is any pressing business here and I should think Hodwain had more than earned an escort to Minas Tirith.
Would Renee like to Cure Deor?
Otherwise Ghân can use Goodberries, plus a couple of herbal cures.
Are there any animals e.g. ants in the Vampire Lair? Ghân could Speak to them to see if they know of another exit.
To Minas Tirith, then…
As Gil-Gandel said, no one is interested in using the Vampire’s lair as a hideaway.
The structure of the passage and chamber and door would indicate early 2nd age human construction.
Elenwë on the lair, “I would guess there is another secret exit that never gets used and it would be in the ceiling. You are correct that the Vampire would want a way out. However, if the Vampire just took over an old tomb and cleared it out, then you should not expect a second exit. They do no construction work themselves and might be confident enough in their own powers to not fear being trapped. I know how they hunt normally and I know they are extremely protective and secretive about their lairs, but I don’t know how else they think.
Before too much excitement is made over the Mithril dragon, by figurine, I meant to imply small. So to be more specific, the Dragon is only 3” high and the wings are only 5" wide. The figure is delicate and thus weighs only a few ounces. In a pure Mithril value, maybe 300-600 GP. AS a very fine carving, easily triple that is a buyer can be found. As a magic item, let us just wait and see.
Renee does a cure light on Deor for 10 points. She works with Ghân to restore the last 2 herbally. She does this while the rest of the party is speaking to Elenwë.
Glee, ants and most insects are not covered by Speak with Animals in my game. What intelligence they have is too alien (again for purposes of my game)
Assuming a further search is made of the ceiling by the Elves with more light, still no exits are located.
Elfstan is satisfied that everything has been done to try to locate more chambers in the vampire’s lair. He is content to either help Riglo clear the rest of the orcs out of the old fort or escort Hodwain at the party’s choosing.
At the risk of being shown how much greater Jim’s Middle Earth knowledge is than mine, I feel the need to ask a question. Maybe this should be in the setup thread, but even at a few ounces, isn’t that undervaluing mithril? I thought it was pretty much priceless.
It might be less so if the Dwarves have had any luck reopening the Mines in Moria.
Riglo is more than willing to clear the mostly empty orc lair in under the old Hill Fort, but is also not in a rush to do it and honestly feels more tired than he has in years following the vampire’s attack on himself.
Maybe it’s best if we get back to a spot where we can all safely rest. What does everyone say to dealing with the magical items and then heading back to the city?
Let’s do it. Deor will begin IDing magic items at the end of the day, after we’ve traveled and are in less danger of attack.
We’ve got the items from the Orc-King as well as the Vampire stuff…
A quick note to say I agree with heading back to Minas Tirith, ID’ing the items and taking a well earned rest.
**Could someone please compile a complete list of the items? It would be very helpful. **
From the Orc-King:
Long Sword
Large Shield
Spear
Elven Pouch
Armor
Knife
War Axe
Ring
Ruby Pendant
Scimitar
From the Vampire:
Dagger
Stone
Mithril Figurine
Now, someone used that magic Long Sword successfully against the Vampire, didn’t they?
Magic War Axe actually. Love that thing. Tell me it isn’t evil.