Aye…
“I will gladly carry Gwaelur on my horse,” Thoroncir says. “And perhaps Ceol could do the same with Bitur…?”
Gilraen says, “I thought Bitur should really stay here with the machine? We need speed, so lets just send a pair. Thoroncir is persuasive especially rallying troops. The Dwarves know the way to the Gnomes and will march at their own Dwarven pace when they’re ready. Meanwhile we can begin scouting.”
It sounds like Ninthel will sneak into the Gnomes lair if possible, Bilbo style.
Ghân and I can scout the area around our camp. Perhaps Hejren or Felareth can carefully scout near the Gnome lair for external guards. They’re both perceptive and stealthy.
Ghân will send a now intelligent bird to the Belem’s Elves.
Bitur can triangulate and determine that Saruman is indeed inside the Gnome lair still.
Did I miss anything?
Sounds like a solid plan.
“This sounds a good plan to me, as well. I will remain at our camp here, and stay vigilant for any of Saruman’s spies.”
Sir Thoroncir bows to the fair princess and smiles. “Let it be as you say, my lady.” He turns to his Dwarven companion, and says, “Well, Gwaelur, shall we be about it…?”
Yup, let’s get going. The sooner we leave the sooner we can be back with reinforcements. Give me a hand up to your horse?
"Sure, I can help scout the lair. We should start soon in order to be ready before the hoped-for reinforcements arrive.
“One thing occurs to me about scouting the Gnomes’ lair. They are, and I hope they’ll forgive me for this, not large, in the same sense that I am not large. Don’t go knocking your head on doorframes, Lady Ninthel,” he added with a cheeky grin.
Thoroncir makes sure he has sufficient food and water in his saddlebags, and that he knows both where he’s going and the best way to get there. He then reaches down and pulls Gwaelur up onto his horse. He smiles and calls to the others, “Wish us luck, my friends, as I wish it to you all, until we meet again.”
A farewell kiss from the Princess Gilraen would not be unwelcome, of course.
“May your journey be swift, and your mission be successful.”
“Go with Olorin’s blessing. Travel safely and light a fire in the hearts of these Dwarves to do the right thing.”
Date: June 18 Hejren Portents: 13 12
Gilraen reaches up to Thoroncir and whispers, “Be safe and return swiftly”, she blesses both riders and Baygir and give Thoroncir a kiss goodbye.
The Ride:
The pair head out on their mission. They ride hard and Gwaelur is suffering and missing the magical disks. Thankfully with Thoroncir being an Inspiring Leader, no actual harm is done to Gwaelur . But he has to be thinking. Could have had the Elf bring Felareth and I could have ridden in style and comfort.
The Scouting:
Gilraen & Ghân ensure the camp is in a safe location with no traffic in the area. They do find signs of Orcs and Humans have comes through heading to the Gnome lair and some human traffic leaving the area. It looks like the humans had laden wagons.
Hejren & Felareth sneak in closer to the Gnome Lair. Escorting Ninthel part of the way. They find a few tree blinds with lazy looking orcs in theory keeping watch. Hejren also sees through Aithorn (Her Kestrel) there are 4 wagons of supplies currently outside with 16 men in all. Another 30 mercenary types are camped in tents outside the main entrance. All appear to be Easterlings.
It looks like the brush in the area near the main entrance has recently been cleared. Ninthel’s final approach will be well-nigh impossible until night. But at night shouldn’t be hard at all.
Come nightfall:
The Riders make great time and reach the Dwarves while it is still light as the entrance is on the west side of the mountain. Gwaelur is weary though Thoroncir the Cavalier is not.
They approach the front door, just barely big enough for a low cart to go through. It looks like this entrance was designed with dragons in mind. Two alert Dwarves are eyeing them as they approach.
Ninthel makes her approach, she has advantage with a +11 to stealth and others have disadvantage to perceive her. Even with all of her advantages, get inside is tricky. Thankfully the entrance is 17’ wide and 12’ tall. She perceives arrow slits on the left side and murder holes above 27’ to 35’ into the cavern. She bypasses these with ease. She enters a large chamber and sees a couple of small gnarled Dwarves (Gnomes) supervising some orcs in putting away produce to a side chamber. There is a full cistern. She has to be careful moving along the walls in the shadows here. Much to her surprise, she finds a small table with a map of the complex. Clearly made by Gnomes with some notes added by orcs. It shows a large complex and makes mention of lower mines and caverns. There seems to be roughly 4 layers to the main complex.
She makes it out of the room and begins a slow exploration of the place. She is gone for hours. Hejren contacts her via a sending at around midnight. Ninthel is fine and still scouting the complex.
She reports maybe 60 orcs and 50 gnomes but still scouting. No signs of Saruman yet.
Gwaelur waves to the dwarves. He’s sore but pulls himself together.
“Well met friends. I am Gwaelur son of Gwaelin. I come with my good friend Thoroncir on a matter of some urgency. The gnomes are up to their tricks again and we have reason to believe Sauruman is back and they are aiding him. We have a small party who is trying to stop their plot, but we can not do this on our own. Also, we have ridden hard for most of a day just to get here and… I’m feeling pretty tired. Um, Thoroncir, explain further please.”
Thoroncir murmurs, “Certainly, my friend. Would you like to get down now?” He will assist Gwaelur in dismounting as dignifiedly as possible, if so.
Then he says to the sentries, “Greetings, O Dwarven friends! As the good Gwaelur son of Gwaelin said, I am Thoroncir, a knight-errant of Gondor. I bring you greetings from King Elessar, my sovereign lord and a friend to all Dwarrow. We have learned of a new threat from Saruman, Curunir of old, once thought defeated forever - but now, alas, through fell magic and perverted crafts, threatening a return. We would speak to your leader or leaders, if we may, as soon as possible, that we may seek their aid.”
Well said.
Whilst scouting, Ghan hopes his Awakened bird will reach the Elves safely (and be understood!)
Gwaelur accepts Thoroncir’s offer for help dismounting and makes sure that his hand made sheild with his family crest is visible to the dwarves on watch. He hopes his reputation proceeds him.
“It really is even more urgent than Thoroncir says. The Gnomes of Rhun and Orcs are gathering into a formidable army. We can’t allow this to stand.”
The older looking Dwarf sets up. “Hail and well met cousin. I see you hail from those of Erebor but are well traveled. Accept our hospitality. Thoroncir, Knight-Errant of Gondor, there is fair pasturage a short way around those rocks, (He points to a rock pile to the NW) if you can trust your horse on his own, else we’ll need to get a lad up here to take him to the Pony entrance.”
Due to her elven boots which give her the effects of pass without trace, Ninthel actually has +21 stealth with advantage.
Ninthel finds the conveniently placed map rather suspicious She thinks to herself, Was this left here on purpose? Could this lead me into further danger? Is this a dark wizard’s trap or perhaps he has enchanted the map so that he may track our movements? No, he quite possibly has been tracking the very contraption we used to find him already.
As she sneaks along, she will try to verify the accuracy of the map, and due to her distrust of it will keep an eye out for secret doors. She will also try to take a note of any more significant enemies, especially if they look sorcerous. With the map, she tries to figure out if there are any more entrances/look out points and looks for a way into the passages behind the walls with the murder holes. At various points she puts an ear to the ground to listen for the pounding sounds of a forge and will sniff the air for the smell of smoke. It would be appropriate after all for an iron wizard to spend his time in smithy full of gnomes.
If possible, she would like to do a little eavesdropping, hoping someone will say something of interest.
Thoroncir says to the older-looking Dwarf, “I thank you. I will send my horse out on his own, as you suggest. And what is your name, may I ask?”
He will quietly repeat to Baygir, his war-horse, what the Dwarf said in Horse, adding, “If there is any danger, please come back and tell me. If I am not here, go a mile or two back in the direction whence we came, until you are safe, and in time I will come for you. If, after a day, I do not come, return as best you can to the rest of the party and tell them what happened here.” Does that seem acceptable to the horse?