"Drake's righ'.  Th' lava is overflowin' its banks in there.  It'll be over th' doorway now, meltin' th' rock an' tryin' t' come through.  Look."  He points to the rubble at the bottom of the doorway.  It is faint, but looks like its turning from black to red.  "We need t' go.  Now."  He follows Kornari up the stairs as fast as his shorter legs will carry him.

Saris is on his heels.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:38, Fri 22 May 2015.

Ano stands quickly and begins to help his friends off the ground and prepares to get moving again.  When they get going he will stay near the back of the group.

Klale disengages his hand. Thanks, but go, Ok Klale says with a wave of his hand even as he moves to get out. He is last of the group.

Toben takes Ano's arm as he tries to regain his feet. "Thanks, Ano."

He dusts himself off, and looks back at the wall as it begins to take on a feint red glow. "Whatever it was back there, we sure made it mad. Let's hope we don't another run in with it..."

He turns toward the stairs and follows behind Saris.

Phin continues to race towards escape along with the rest of the party.

Intense minutes turn into long, monotonous hours as you leave the lava cavern behind.  Even the generally irritating Kornari is silent.  Ok stays close to Klale, but not under foot.

At one point, the exhaustion begins to take its toll and a halt is called to try and sleep.  Nothing has appeared on the long flight and no sound in the deep dark echoes to warn of approaching enemies.

Telchar and Saris cook a dinner of surprising savor for adventuring fare, then guards are chosen and sleep comes swiftly.

Far too soon, you are being shook awake by Telchar, and of all people, Xar.

As Xar wakes each of you in turn with a motion to keep silent, Telchar whispers an explanation.  "Valaraukar, a small raidin' party, are movin' this way.  They're led by a gnoll with a reputation fer tactics, Harfang Derth.  His second in command is a brutal mountain troll named Buug.  They have thirty, by Xar's count, headed for Moria."

Toben shakes the sleep from his head, and looks around to account for everyone else. With a whisper, he says "I'm guessing the idea is to stop them before they get to town? How far away are they?" He rises to his feet, nods to Xar, and begins to collect his things.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Sun 24 May 2015.

Phineas shakes the sleep from his head, acknowledges Xar with a bit of surprise, and packs his gear to be ready to move or fight, as needs arise.

Ano looks thoughtful as the information is relayed to them.  "Is there any way that we could take on so many.  We are out numbered by far."

"I might have somethin', but if we dunnae take out tha' troll, we'll be hard pressed to walk away from this one.  Might be best t' just head back fast and warn Moria.  This raid isn'ae for th' city proper, just some o' the outlyin' resettlements."

Toben nods, "I have never fought a troll before, but the smaller foot soldiers can be dealt with without too much trouble if we can find a good choke point to bottle them up at. Otherwise, we'd be too easily surrounded. How populated are these outlying settlements?"

We need all haste, so I'm for getting to the surface, warning Moria along the way.

"Hundreds, maybe a couple o' thousand in th' larger settlements near th' city."  Saris looks shaken still from the lava and does not seem to relish the idea of more fighting.  "I prefer warning them, saving more lives rather than riskin' expendin' our own with less chance o' success."

"Yes, I think I am in agreement. The more time they have, the better. Though the handful of us should travel faster than the valaraukar, we shouldn't dawdle too long."

A decision made, he group moves onward.  Between Xar and Ok, whom Xar seems to trust implicitly now with direction, it feels like less than a day before the air changes, the faint sounds of Gonhirrim civilization are heard, and Toben's light dims in favor of the more robust fires of the township ahead.
This message was last updated by the GM at 01:32, Wed 27 May 2015.

"Guthlul Bajthu," Telcar says when the first town appears from the maze.  "We must warn them tha' the scout force is comin' and t' send runners t' th' other bajth.  Saris, you take care o' the runners.  I'll warn th' ig-gulbu."

Saris departs to do as ordered.  Xar is nowhere around.  Ok does not cower, but he remains near Klale.  Telchar does not acknowledge the presence of the men.

Not quite sure what an ig-gulbu is, Toben decides to stick close behind Telchar. Primarily, to keep from losing him in the crowd, but also to find out who he is going to see.

For now, he keeps his mouth shut and just observes.

Klale stows his shield and sheathes his sword...he's somewhat encumbered. Nevertheless, he offers to pick up Ok so there's no mistake.

As he begins to follow Telchar, he notices Kornari lounging on some rocks and then a realization hits him. He pulls back for a moment and whispers something to Phineas, and then reclaims his place behind Telchar.

After a moment's thought, Phineas speaks with a grimace. "Kornari, Toben has just been good enough to remind me that we have not yet made good on our promised price for passage through your domain. And while your conduct has made it clear that you do not place much value on your good name, I still value mine." He places the gems in front of the drake.

Kornari eyes the gems silently for a moment, then looks over at Toben and finally at Phineas.  Without a word he snatches them up.  A moment later they have disappeared with no hint as to where on his person he has stored them.  "Finally, a minute show of honor from your kind.  Perhaps there is a place for you in my inevitable empire."

After Phineas is done, Ano walks over to Kornari "I feel that I should offer an apology.  Back in the cave I spoke to you hastily, in anger and in fear.  I have come to understand that the situation back there was different then what I thought.  For my wprds and actions I am truly sorry."  Ano speaks with complete sincerity, he seems slightly shaken when remembering his out burst of emotion.

Kornari's eyes narrow as the monk speaks.  When Ano finishes, Kornari looks at him for a moment in silence, then nods his head ever so slightly.

He says nothing.

GM:  This thread is nearing its limit on posts.  I will begin a new thread.  All future replies should go there.