Telchar says nothing as the group follows him through the small town toward the largest building.  Inside, four Gonhirrim with long, grey beards are arguing over something in their native language.  Telchar does not wait for formalities.  He launches into a rapid monologue that only the Gonhirrim can understand.

The four Gonhirrim's eyes grow wide in surprise, whether from the sudden presence of the missing legend, or from his report it is impossible to tell.  When Telchar finishes speaking, the four Gonhirrim react immediately and without question.  Orders are shouted and other Gonhirrim with shorter, more colorful beards move with alacrity to comply.

Telchar turns to the group.  "This guthlul, er, farm town will fall back t' th' second town toward Moria.  There they will gather resources wi' those o' tha' town and fall back t' th' third town, about two miles from th' walls o' th' city.  There we will have t' make our stand.  According t' th' Nauglath, th' rate a' which th' raidin' party is moving will bring them t' th' third town just about th' time we're settin' our pikes."

He looks the group over.  "It isna necessary for you t' fight wi' us, lads.  We Gonhirrim can handle ourselves.  If ya need t' take shelter in th' city till this blows over, no one will think less o' you.  But if ya choose t' fight, we will welcome you as friends."

Klale laughs. A significant choice. Thanks for offering it. Kornari, what say you?

"So you leave me the following choices:  One, I can go into a city full of dwarves who likely will hate me for simply being me and will try to kill me on sight, or two, I can stay and somehow 'fight' in a battle with and on behalf of lesser beings who also likely hate me, with great personal risk of being killed by those the dwarves would automatically consider my allies and would probably think I was somehow spying for.  Excellent options."  The small drip of spittle that falls from his lips and sizzles slightly on the ground might have been condensed sarcasm.

Toben smirks. "That sounds about right. I, for one, plan to stay and fight... even if I am just a 'scholar'. Perhaps not referring to everyone as 'lesser beings' might reduce their animosity towards you.", he says eyeing Kornari. "At least if you stick with us, you'll be less likely to be confused for the enemy. I may not be up in the front lines, but I plan to help where I can. Surly, being a child of Smaug, you have ample means to fight and defend yourself."

He turns to Telchar, "Any thing I can do to help speed up the process?"

"I'm not as well-built or equipped for battle as the Gonhirrim, but I would be glad to do my part if there's a way I can be of use in this fight to come. I am not Xar's equal in stealth, but I would be glad to do what I can to help gather intelligence to be sure we do not face any unexpected surprises."

"Agreed then, we will stand and fight with the Gonnhirrim.  If we don't stand with them now, then how can we ask them to do the same for the rest of man kind.

Not the way it should work, Kornari. When you're traveling with us, you can expect us to befriend you...and we expect you to be part of our team. The plan is to fall back to the third settlement, and I expect the Gonhirrim to accept you. Besides, do you wish the Gonhirrim to admire you?

Toben falls back a moment to have a word with Ano, after a few head nods and a bit of dialogue he walks back over to the rest of the group.


"Well, now that all the bickering is out of the way we can all work together to make sure everyone comes out of this alive. I'm going to help the others gather supplies." With that, he starts walking through the town and begins helping where he can.

Kornari sniffs in indignation as Klale begins another lecture, but the question at the end causes him to raise a ridge above his reptilian eye.  "You make a valid point, blacksmith.  I will allow you to accompany me to the third settlement where my future admirers await.  Such wisdom.  I may retain you as an adviser in my court."

Having made his pronouncement, Kornari waddles off at a pathetic pace after Telchar and Toben.

The plan continues to move like a well oiled machine.  The Gonhirrim are severe in their capacity for logic and order.  Like a camp drilled a thousand times, the village is emptied and moved to the farm town nearest Moria.  In the vaulted caverns of the dwarven home under the Misty Mountains, the town appears tiny at the top of a rather steep underground hill.  In the distance, the walls of Moria-proper rise into the darkness above.

Telchar makes his way to the ig-gulbu, which apparently means leaders or something to that effect in the Gonhirrim language.  They show the same surprise and respect toward Telchar's appearance as the last group of grey-beards and move swiftly into action.

Soon, the town is fortified, locked down, and prepared for the raid.

Telchar moves to the main gate where he opens the large bag he's been carrying since the balrog's lair.  Out come several black orbs.  He glares over at the humans.  "I was testin' these against th' hydra, but you ended tha' righ' quick.  Guess we'll see how they do against multiple targets, now."

Then he turns to Phineas and winks.

He hands three of the orbs over, one to each of three Gonhirrim on the wall with instructions on how to use them properly.  The Gonhirrim, all with at least some grey in their beards, nod with all gravity.  Each orb is treated with supreme respect as it is set in place to launch should the frontal assault come.

"Alrigh' then, lads.  We're on clean up duty.  Saris should be in th' center o' town waitin' t' use her gifts.  You lot will be travelin' th' streets with me, lookin' for any vermin tha' skip past th' front lines.  Ask yer questions as we patrol.  Don't get separated, but if ya do, head to th' center and Saris.  We'll check in there first if any o' you go missin'."

While the townspeople lock the area down, Toben pays close attention to their reaction to Kornari in order to gauge a potential threat.

Toben sticks to Telchar like glue once they begin their patrol. He readies his crossbow as the walk the streets waiting for the raid to hit, he asks his most obvious question. "Again, sorry about messing up the experiments before, but what were those black orbs? Are they meant for that troll you mentioned?"

Before they leave on their patrol Ano stops on one the runners and speaks to him quickly "I need you to get a message to Fori Goldwright.  Tell him that the humans have returned with Telchar, and that we need supplies and transport as soon as we are finished with the defence.  Also ask if he can find someone who might know something about the appraisal of lost items.  When they start their patrol Ano keeps a sharp eye out ready for the attack to begin.

"Fori?  The trader?  Is he in the city?  I'll be staying here for the defense of the city, but I'll see that the message gets in with all the others going to the city."

The Gonhirrim eye the lizard and the party of humans following Telchar, but they seem to trust the old dwarf and make no stir about it.  They are too disciplined and focused to do anything else at the moment anyway.  Most likely if the drake doesn't cause problems, he'll be left alone so long as he stays with you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:28, Sat 30 May 2015.

Klale decides to use the found boots and shield.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Mon 01 June 2015.

"They're for anathin' tha' takes more'n a few swings o' my hammer t' go down."

Telchar leads the group to a section of the town where he relates a bit of information about your environs.  Though considered a farming community, the town is walled and well protected from the periodic raids.  The farming takes place in a section of dead-end tunnels below the town.  Those tunnels end far from any connection to the main mines or orc warrens and they don't go very far.  For the battle, everyone has been pulled out of the tunnels and they have been sealed tight.

The town is defended on all four sides for even though there is only one way up to the main gate and a sheer drop on all three other sides of the town, orcs and other Valaraukar can climb like spiders, barely slowing.  If this incursion ends up being a main attack rather than a raid, it will come from all sides.  Your job will be to hunt and kill anything that makes it through the defenses at the wall.  There are three other patrols like yours.

When the call goes out from the walls, Telchar relaxes a bit.  "Looks like 'tis just a raid.  We'll sit it ou' here unless th' other walls..."  Just then, a call comes from one of the other walls, then another, then the last.  "Well, never mind.  Looks like its no' a full on assault, but multiple raidin' parties from different directions.  We'll get t' see some action after all."  The old dwarf seems excited by the news.

Trying to keep his nervousness from showing, Phineas readies his dagger in one hand, throwing star in the other. Knowing that if it comes to combat, surprise attacks will be his best bet, he looks for nooks and crannies into which he can duck as needed.

Toben, far less excited about the prospect of a full assault, pulls out his journal and starts thumbing through it. He dog ears a couple pages before stopping about half way. With a smile and a nod, the journal disappears under his robes. "If you will excuse me a short moment..."

He kneels down and places both hands firmly on the ground and whispers, "Arda, tiichi ve mrith wer toma di edar", over and over. About a minute passes before he opens his eyes, stands back up, and readies his staff.


Toben casts Earthen Detection (30' radius for 40 minutes), in hopes of early detection for critters coming over the wall.
It may buy a couple extra rounds of prep for the shorter duration spells.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:01, Mon 01 June 2015.

Klale is ready to smite and, he hopes, able to be unsmitten.

The first sign of the raid's attack is the change in noise from the front wall.  The Gonhirrim are all but silent in the caverns.  It lowers the amount of echoes and allows them to hear the approach of the enemy long before they can see them.  When the talking and motion increase, it signals the arrival of the raiding party.

Minutes pass and the engagement up front is interrupted a couple of times by loud explosions.  Telchar smiles at these.  Then the fight continues.  Something is not right, though.  That small raiding party that Xar saw would have been decimated by now, if not truly wiped out.


Ok chirps something at Klale and scampers off to the east.

Almost simultaneously in tune with Ok's chirp, Toben whirls around to the east. "There's a breach. A swarm of small creatures, about Ok's size, coming in fast. We're looking at a dozen, maybe more... they're moving too fast to get a good head count."

Toben pulls a small jar of bronze filings from his travel pack. "Klale, Ano, gather around for a moment. With the heat of battle at the walls, I may not get another chance to do this." As the two draw near, he begins sprinkling the fine shavings around them. Once finished, he places a hand upon each of their shoulders and whispers, "Svabol huena conducted nishka jaka insulate, clax nomeno rach vur troth coita mamiss".

Within an instant, the bronze shavings on their body begins to adhere to their skin. The bits that fell to the ground start to melt and coalesce like mercury and begins to quickly race up their legs. It's not long before their bodies are covered and the alloy seeps in, leaving a slight metallic bronze tint to their skin.

Toben casts Bronzeskin on Klale and Ano. Both subjects receive damage reduction 5/enchanted for 40 minutes. The spell will last the duration or until the protection has absorbed 20 damage, which ever comes first.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Tue 02 June 2015.

Klale obeys and says Thanks. Ok may be deserting,or he may be trying to help us. Either way...Klale takes out after Ok.

Toben shrugs, "I think he is trying to alert us to danger." He stows his staff and runs after Ok.

Phineas follows the others, heart beating wildly.

As the others run off towards the threat, Ano waits for a moment as if to center himself and to get in the proper mind frame for battle.  He is infact waiting to see if Telchar follows them, if he does then Ano will keep pace with Telchar, not straying to far behind or ahead.

Telchar lets out a grim laugh at the idea of battle beginning.  He takes off in the same direction as everyone else.  "Stay on yer feet, lads.  They like t' swarm those who lose them."

Ok leads the group unerringly through the town to the breach.  Shadowy figures with dark armor, dark hair, and mud on their faces are creeping through a perfect, small hole in the wall at ground level.  The last one comes through and pulls the hole off the wall like a piece of cloth!

Ok immediately tackles one of the dark creatures and goes for its throat.

Telchar snaps his finger, which sparks a fizzing wick on one of those spheres.  He tosses it into the largest bunch of the invaders.  A second later, an explosion flings bits of them all over the alley.  Only four remain.

Toben's eyes widen in amazement as he sees the method of invasion the shadowy figures take. "What in the...", he exclaims as the creature peels the 'hole' off the side of the wall. He attempts to keep track of the one who closed the hole, assuming he did not get turned into a bloody mist, and readies his crossbow.

He grabs a handful of bolts, a few of which briefly glow an eerie white light after whispering a few command words. "Fekiik hesi wioti mrith wer jedark di edar"

Toben casts Explosive Projectile, enchanting 2 bolts.
11:06, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 2 using 1d3. Explosive projectile count.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Tue 02 June 2015.

Klale heads for whichever foe he is most likely to get to. If and when he can, he uses the flat of his sword in hopes of rendering the creature alive but helpless.

Ano rushes forward towards the enemies but stops before they reach him.  He plants his feet and raises his hands, focusing on the attacks to come.  He clears his minds and shifts to a defensive stance that looks deceptively open.

Ano moves 30 feet and takes a total defence action.  +4 AC for this turn.

Klale steps in and knocks one of the infiltrators soundly on the head before it can orient itself after the explosion.  It goes down in a heap.

Another, fleeing the explosion runs right toward Ano, not fully aware that he is there.

The third scrambles back toward the wall, desperately digging in his pack for something.

In all the confusion, the fourth seems to have disappeared into the byways.

Figuring that whatever the third is digging for is something the party would rather not have to deal with, Phineas runs screaming and frothing toward it, making every effort to appear as mad and deranged as possible, hoping to distract it from its efforts.

06:49, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Intimidate.

As most of the assailants go down, Toben scans the area to take a head count. His head whips around and he shouts, "One is getting away!", then dashes towards an alley.

If Toben acquires line of sight when he gets to the alley, he'll take a shot with one of the enchanted bolts. Otherwise, he will pursue... hopefully with a little back up. :)

As Toben rounds the corner he finds the grisly sight of Kornari chewing on the invader that got away.  It's head is already missing along with one arm and part of its torso.

Toben looks upon the horrifying sight for a moment before clearing is head. "Uhh, got him!", he says trying to call off the reinforcements.

Ano waits for the creature to close the distance, then when it is close he steps into Its feild of vision.  He make a quick jab towards its face hoping to slow its momentum, and follows up with a standing drop kick, planting his feet firmly in its chest and pushing hard.  He drops to the ground and quickly jumps up.

Ano takes 15 on both flurry of blows attack, making it two attacks at 19.
08:48, Today: Ano rolled 9 using 1d6+4. attack 2 damage.
08:48, Today: Ano rolled 7 using 1d6+4. attack 1 damage.

What are these things? Klale exclaims as he moves toward Ok (if Ok needs help).

Toben rejoins the group, back from the alley. "Goblins maybe? Whatever they are, they die too fast to have been a heavy assault force. I am thinking they were meant for sabotage of some sort."

He examines the scene for the creature that grabbed the strange 'hole' off the wall. "We need to find out what that thing was and how they managed to get through the wall."

"Aye, goblin sappers.  They are here t' open th' walls all around.  There's no need t' keep tha' one alive.  It'll just cause trouble."  He points to the one Klale brained.

Ok doesn't give his invader a chance.  The surprise and explosion totally through the goblin off balance.  Ok takes full advantage, first locking him down in a hold, then biting out his throat.  Unlike the drake, Ok spits out the bits in disgust.  Then he begins to rifle through his belongings and strip his gear.

Klale shrugs, swings his sword like a pendulum, and parts the goblin's neck.

Good job Ok; take what you need.

When he finds out what Kornari did, he comments. Thanks for your help. When it's my turn to do the cooking, I'll remember to ask if you want your meat rare.

The last infiltrator at the wall looks up at Phineas but does not slow or fumble.  He pulls out what looks like a black piece of cloth.  He puts it up against the wall and spreads it out.  Where he spreads it flat, it sticks.  He gets about half the large cloth spread before Phineas arrives.

Phineas makes a deft lunge with his dagger. He scores a hit, taking a small bloody chunk out of the invader's arm.

10:57, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 15 using 1d20+4. to hit.
10:57, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 2 using 1d4+1. damage with masterwork dagger.

The infiltrator leaves off the cloth, which falls to the ground in a heap.  He whips out his own knife and gives Phineas a backhanded slash that tears into the boy's chest (5dmg).  Then he looks at the rest of those left standing and his eyes narrow.

Toben loads an unenchanted bolt from the quiver found in the balrogs lair, but the shot goes high and misses.

18:01, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Crossbow attack.

Post out of time; I thought all the baddies were dead.

Klale strides over to the surviving foe and essays an underhand cut; that is, he starts with point low at moderate speed and modifies the speed and direction according to the infiltrator's reaction...including an attempt to step close to Klale for a thrust seeking an opening in Klale's armor.

[Take 15 + 7] 16:17, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 7 using 1d10+1. Damage; add 4. = 11

Fortune favors Phineas.  Just before the infiltrator can grab him and take the boy hostage, Klale ends it in a spectacular flourish of his weapon.  The severed portions of the creature plop to the ground, thankfully not sullying the cloth.

Toben strides up to the gory scene of goblin parts and nudges the pitch black cloth with the butt of his staff. "Telchar, you seen anything like this before?"

He squats down to get a better look at. "If there are more squads equipped with these 'holes', we may be in a heap of trouble. Defenses will be more or less useless..."

Telchar examines the cloth without touching it.  "Nay, lad.  I've ne'er seen anathin' like tha'.  Let's sweep th' walls 'round th' back."

Toben nods, picks up the cloth, and stands up. "Can't leave this lying around for anyone to just happen upon." He stuffs it into his regular travel pack. "We should make haste, we don't want any of those vermin slipping past the walls. Ready when you are master Telchar."

Finding unblooded cloth if possible (on a foe), Klale cleans his sword...neatness counts. Phineas, how bad is it? When in doubt, get patched up is my advice.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Fri 05 June 2015.

Gritting his teeth, Phineas responds "Tis but a flesh wound." Dropping his bravado a bit, he follows up with "But a bit of bandaging to keep it clean wouldn't go amiss."

A few moments to bandage up Phineas, then Telchar leads the group off along the wall.  After some time, you make it to the back of the town.  There do not seem to be any more infiltrators coming through.

Toben's ears perk up, and looks towards the center of town. "Did you guys hear that? I think there may be something amiss towards the town center!"

Ano looks up sharply in the direction Toben indicates.  He listens for a moment before moving in that direction.

Klale goes with Ano at a trot; it would be bad to arrive to any trouble out of breath.

Seeing the party trend toward the center of town, Toben starts to hustle along with them.

When the group get near the town center Ano stops and looks around quickly.   "let me see if I can get a look at what we might be dealing with."  Ano turns to one of the squat stone houses and climbs up the side of it.  Once on top he crouches and moves to the edge of the roof closest to the center of town and looks out to see what he can.

There are a number of infiltrators, including one larger one that might be an orc, that have moved into the town proper.  They are too near buildings for Telchar to use his big explosion bomb.

Klale makes for the nearest; or, if s'/he's handy, the largest.

Toben casts Blessing Dust upon Klale before he charges into battle. Which ever ally is closest to him will also receive the blessing. After that, he hangs back from the engagement keeping himself at a medium distance.

Klale, and possibly Ano, get +1 to attacks and will saves for 5 mins.

The creatures hear the warrior clanking out into the square after them and turn in time not to be surprised.  The burly one makes for Klale, a wicked black sword with serrations wielded in two hands.  He flexes and swings slowly a couple of times, the sword obviously more for intimidation than practicality.

Two more come at Toben while three focus on Telchar, creeping in, circling.

The four others are trying to get into an official looking building.

Telchar narrows his eyes.  "Tha' door leads down t' th' seal.  If they breach it, we will be overrun."  He swings and his hammer flattens one of his assailants against a wall.  There is little recognizable of its head.

Ano moves up slowly behind the two archers and tries to strike before they can react to the others running into the town center.  Ano lashes out with a kick aimed at the back of one of the archers hoping to drive him close to or over the edge.  Then he pivots quickly and brings his fist upwards towards the second archers chin.

Ano take 15+4 =19 on both flurry of blows attacks.  One attack for each archer on the roof.
12:29, Today: Ano rolled 6 using 1d6+4. attack 2 damage.
12:29, Today: Ano rolled 8 using 1d6+4. attack 1 damage.

Toben heeds Telchar's warning, and brings his staff to bear. Initially ignoring the two creatures baring down on him, he mutters a few words of magic "Nomag wer grasp di edar pok wux." Several thick metal wires erupt from the ground in front of the building and begin snapping and grasping at the intruders.

Afterwards he braces himself for combat and takes a defensive stance.

Toben casts Entangle centered on the door of the building. DC 15 reflex save to avoid being entangled each round they remain in the area.
He will fight defensively (+2 dodge bonus to AC), and attempt to parry the incoming attacks if he can. +4 to parry attempts due to the staff.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Mon 08 June 2015.

Klale heads straight toward the burly being. Near enough, he jerks his  shield forward as if to force the serrated sword to bite on it. However, that's a feint, and Klale thrusts toward the opponent's torso.

23 To Hit

Phineas chooses an alley parallel to the main courtyard and stays to the shadows.  He makes his way around as quickly as he can to ready himself for the opportune moment to strike.

A sniper in dark clothing falls from the roof with a scream which ends abruptly at the ground.  There are the sounds of scuffle from above.


The large infiltrator staggers back for a moment from the blow Klale delivers.  He smiles and nods in respect, then swings the serrated sword in a wicked fast slash across Klale's torso.  Though the armor protects him from any damage, the blow is powerful.  Any lesser man would have been staggered by the blow.  This creature is stronger than his stature claims.

Those wrapped in Toben's wiry work are agile.  Most make it out untangled and seek to enter the fray.  One of them seems to be having more trouble, the closest to the door.  He does not move.  The two near Toben swing short swords, one high, one low.  They are coordinated, well trained, and the blows land with more power than their small size would normally allow. [5 DMG; 6 DMG]

Telchar takes two cuts from the two assailants on his hammer arm.  He grits his teeth in pain and switches hands.

Klale moves in, twitching his shield shoulder. He starts a thrust; but, if his opponent reacts, changes his tactic in one of two ways: If the opponent retreats, Klale hastens forward to slash. If his opponent parries, slashes, or starts to thrust; Klale attempts to slash an arm.

23 to hit

Toben gasps in pain as the swords cut him both high and low. He staggers back several feet as he reels from the pain. Blood trickles down from his arm, he glances up at his attackers and a look of pure anger washes over his face. He steps to the side to line up his attack and raises his hands, fingers spread out like a fan.

He shouts "Skriiod di wer edar acht wux", and a torrent of earth and stone spray forth heavily battering them [16 DMG]. The dust settles and the two assailants collapse in a bloody heap.

Toben casts Spattering in a 10 ft cone directed at his two attackers.

Ano doesn't flinch as the enemy's bow srikes his shoulder he just keeps moving forward.  With lightning speed Ano spins, bringing his head down low and sending his foot in a crecent shaped arc towards the assailant's head.

Ano takes 15+6=21 for a single attack on the remaining sniper.
12:09, Today: Ano rolled 10 using 1d6+4. attack damage.

If the sniper is still standing then Ano will stay to fight.  If he goes down then he will take 10+9=19 for a tumble check to jump safely down from the roof.

Phineas finds a way around behind one of those attacking Telchar.  Intent on the Gonhirrim, they do not see him until his knife is buried deep in the jugular of one of them.  The invader drops to the ground, vainly holding the wound out of which blood gushes in a torrent.

Another assailant flies from the roof, slamming into the ground.  The first has gotten to his feet, obviously injured by the fall.  Ano drops lightly to the ground next to him.  The sniper brings his bow around only to realize he has less than half a shaft left.

Though Toben has shredded his immediate threat in the storm of rocks, two escaping the entangling wires circle wide around him.

The largest invader retreats from Klale's feint with the shield and takes a nasty wound from the subsequent real attack.  He grits his teeth and adopts a more defensive stance against Klale, but more importantly, he has moved within striking distance of Toben.

There is a click near the door of the building and it eases open.  Apparently the invader 'caught' in the wires was not caught after all, only feigning enough to take eyes off of him while he continued picking the lock to the door.

Telchar pushes past his attacker, drawing a surprised and hasty attack that does little to the determined Gonhirrim.  With a mighty heave, he throws is hammer at the invader heading into the building.  The weapon is caught up in the wires, though and does not hit its target.  Telchar swears and steps into the mass of writhing metal.

Left to face the second infiltrator on his own, Phineas uses his opponent's distraction with the advancing Telchar to attack.  He leaps onto the back of the creature, attempting to bear him to the ground.  He simply isn't heavy enough, though and a strange game ensues between the two.  Each attempts to clumsily stab the other while at the same time preventing himself from getting stabbed.  Furthermore, they are at odds with Phin trying to hold on while the invader is trying to throw him off without losing his feet.

Klale comes in and attempts to strike wherever his sword might reach; he hopes the absence of feint will itself be a feint.

23 To Hit

Toben spies the one slip into the building, shouts "Argh, one got through", and with a thought the writhing wires rescind into the ground.

With attackers beginning to surround him, he retreats into heavy defense. Toben plucks a shard of metal roughly the size of a toothpick from his pouch and flicks it to the ground. A few words, "Fethos di edar, nar spical sva sia wioti", and dense granite shell forms all around him. From the place where the metal pick fell, a sharp spike erupts. Then another. And another, until he is completely surrounded by a ring of spikes.

He looks over at the large orc, almost beckoning him to keep walking toward him.

Toben casts Porcu-Pike Shield, raising his AC up to 18 with 24 hps.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Fri 12 June 2015.

As the sniper swings at Ano he deflects the blow and then thrusts the heel of his hand around the curve of the snipers arm and connecting with the side of his face.

21 to hit
21:40, Today: Ano rolled 10 using 1d6+4. damage roll.

Ano's attacker staggers back from the blow, but does not go down.  Instead, he warily moves back away from Ano, glancing around for a way to escape.  He is limping slightly.

The two infiltrators arrive at Toben and his strange domed shield with the spikes.  One of them tries to attack the shield with his sword, but ends up getting scratched by one of the spikes.  The other smacks his shoulder and nods at Klale.

Klale's blow opens a gash in the big infiltrators shoulder.  He barks something at the smaller creatures, who turn to head toward the opening.  Meanwhile, the big guy seeks to place Toben's dome between himself and Klale.

Phineas's adversary stumbles and goes down and Phin is able to get a dagger in a vital blood vessel.  Blood sprays all over the youth.

Telchar follows the one that made it into the building, disappearing into the darkness inside.

Klale folows up, again thrusting...no feinting, just attacking as quickly as possible.

To-Hit 23

Feeling somewhat secure for immediate attack, Toben waits for Telchar to disappear into the building then begins a wordy bout of semantics. He mutters "Arda, fehlim udoka vi sargt zyak batobot ehs nishka dolruth.", and two crystalline paws pop up from the ground at the buildings threshold. From between the two paws, a canine looking head emerges as it pulls itself out of the ground.

The beast shakes bits of earth and stone from its body, squares up in the door frame to face the attackers, and growls in a deep resonating chime as its crystal hackles raise up on its neck.

09:40, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 22 using 1d20+14. spellcraft check (Target DC 17) - Summon Earth II.

This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Mon 15 June 2015.

Seeing the other invaders moving towards the door, Ano knows he has to  move quickly.  So ho
e pivots on one foot and delivers a kick straight to the snipers chest.  Then with the same movement he pushens himself away from the sniper and towards the infiltrators that are moving to the door.

taking 21 to hit
19:39, Today: Ano rolled 10 using 1d6+4. damage roll.

Phineas, adrenaline still coursing through his system, repositions himself, moving quietly in hopes of coming up on one of Toben's assailants unawares.

Ano's opponent goes down and does not rise.

The infiltrators headed for the door pull up short, confused about what to do with the creature in front of them.

The large attacker grunts in pain, now bleeding in several places.  He gives a mighty swing with his sword, leaving himself open for counter attack.  However, the blow lands and is so powerful, it causes the creature to wince in pain from the backlash up his sword.  The blow does nothing to Klale however.

Klale grins and presses on, essaying a slash...of the/a sword arm would not be amiss.

To-Hit 23

With the granite shell hampering some of Toben's free movement, he reaches into his robes and pulls out a small round stone, nearly fumbling it. He clutches it in his hand, whispers "Confn takh mrith nessmotva bekir", and tosses it at the invaders running for the door. The little stone clatters to the ground at their feet, and then explodes with a large concussive force sending shards of stone in all directions. The blast washes harmlessly over the crystalline guardian in the door, but leaves the two invaders battered and bruised (11 or 6 DMG).

The crystal guardian stands its ground, readying a full attack for the first invader that comes in range.

08:27, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 18 using 1d20+14. Spellcraft check vs DC 17 - Exploding Stone.
08:30, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 11 using 4d6. Explosive stone damage, reflex save (DC 16) for half.

This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Wed 17 June 2015.

Ano charges forward ready to take advantage of the now dazed infiltrators after Toben's explosion.  Once he closes the distance Ano grabs the back of one of the enemies heads and pulls it downwards while at the same time driving his knee upwards towards its face.

21 to hit
10:15, Today: Ano rolled 6 using 1d6+4. damage roll.

Phin sees an opening.  In all the distraction, the smaller invaders are not paying attention to him.  He flings a dagger, which sails true.  It slams into the shoulder of the invader (14 DMG) not being manhandled by Ano, driving the creature to the ground.

19:49, Today: Eru, on behalf of Phineas Highwood, rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Attack vs. Invader.
19:49, Today: Eru, on behalf of Phineas Highwood, rolled 1 using 1d4. Dmg vs. Invader.
19:50, Today: Eru, on behalf of Phineas Highwood, rolled 6 using 1d6. Sneak Attack vs. Invader.
19:52, Today: Eru, on behalf of Phineas Highwood, rolled 17 using 1d20. Crit confirm vs. Invader.

With the invader downed by Phin's dagger and the other under Ano's control, the big invader only remains.  Black blood seeps from several wounds, the latest on his arm.  He drops the sword and holds up his hands in surrender.

None of the others remain conscious, if they live at all.

Now that the immediate threat has ended, Phineas takes a moment to collect himself, wipes some of the arterial spray from his face, and abruptly throws up in the dirt. He looks surprised, then embarrassed, and does his best to look inconspicuous.

Toben takes a step outside the ring of spikes and they slowly begin to draw back into the ground and the protective shell falls away.

"I'm going to check on Telchar." He nods over at Klale, "You got that one under control?"

He waits a moment for Klale to confirm before heading over to the door. The crystal guardian shifts out of the way to let Toben pass, then follows him inside (for as long as the spell will last).

On your belly, then. Arms and legs spread. We'll see if the Gonnhirrim let you live.

Phineas, please cut some strips of cloth from the dead...or get rope. Let's get him tied up.

Ano strikes out at the last remaining assailant hoping to incapacitate him.  He uses the points of his fingers to strike at the pressure points in the shoulder and neck.

21 to hit with stunning fist
00:51, Today: Ano rolled 8 using 1d6+4. damage roll
DC 14 to avoid being stunned

Phineas collects himself and mutely does as Klale asks, using a length of rope from his pack.

Ano's captive is alive but unconscious. Klale's doesn't fully understand Klale's words, but he gets the idea and cooperates.

Toben disappears into the building, but only for a moment. He pops his head out with a bit of a concerned look upon his face, "Guys, there's trouble in here!"

He looks over he shoulder for a second, then turns back to the group. "Deal with those things quickly. Telchar is calling for help, and it looks like they're getting overrun down in the basement."

With that, Toben turns and darts back into the building.

Ano turns to Phin and Klale, follow quickly once they are secure, I will go and assist Toben.  He then turns and sprints for the door to follow Toben.

Klale heads inside while saying Wonder where Kormari is? Once inside, he steps to the side; and, unless there's immediate peril, gives his eyes time to adjust (if it's needed).

After being sure the captive is securely trussed, Phineas races after the others. Once inside, he'll look for the stealthiest possible approach.

Phineas takes 10 on Use Rope for an effective 24 to bind the captive.

Prisoners bound tightly, the humans head inside.  There is ample torchlight and so there is no need to adjust.  The ruckus is downstairs.

At the bottom of a narrow stone backswitch staircase, the four find Telchar and three other Gonhirrim locked in combat at the forefront of a wave of infiltrators.  They disappear down into the tunnel beyond a set of large stone doors.  Two other Gonhirrim lie on the ground.  One is dead and the other severely wounded.  Telchar and one of the Gonhirrim are laying into the infiltrators that make it through the doors while the other two attempt to close them.  Telchar is doing well, but the other three look exhausted.

Behind the flood of smaller infiltrators, goblins maybe, there are three larger forms trying to wade through to the forefront.  Only the press of numbers slows them.  If the doors aren't shut soon, it does not look like they will ever be.

Klale sets to work, slashing horizontally let and right///trying to give the dwarves a bit of space, at least to one side. You need to get up the stairs and outside! he manages to yell.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Sun 21 June 2015.

Ano charges forward and starts to help the Gonnhirrim on the left door push trying to get it closes as quickly as possible.  "Toben if you have anything, now would be the time to hit them hard." Ano shouts over the clamour of battle.

Toben smiles at Ano as he pats himself down looking for something. He plucks a tiny pebble from his pocket. "This might just do the trick", he says as he holds it aloft.

Ano raises an eyebrow as if to say "Are you serious?"

He holds the pebble to his lips and whispers, "Turalisjth vur riliw hesi wioti.", then tosses it toward the doors. The pebble whizzes by the Gonnhirrim defense and expands rapidly as it crosses the stone threshold. The pebble, now a full 9 feet in diameter, slams to the ground just behind the door attempting to crush the oncoming wave of attackers.

For the moment, it just rests in front of the door, blocking direct access the doorway. "Quickly, focus on shutting those doors! Phineas, try to pick off any small enough to squeeze through the cracks."

Toben casts Boulder, and attempts to place it just behind the opening of the stone doors.

The boulder crushes three of the invaders, one of them into nothing more than icky black goo.  The other two are maimed, even if they survive what comes next.  The boulder begins to roll, picking up speed and force as it heads down the tunnel.  The press is too much for many to get out of the way, the tunnel too step for the press to slow the boulder.  Soon it is bounding down the twenty foot wide tunnel and out of sight, a wake of destruction behind it.

The shock of the boulder from thin air is enough to leave invaders stunned.  Telchar and the Gonhirrim waste not time.  With Ano on one side and Telchar on the other, they close the doors.  Klale, in the gap, is assaulted by five smaller invaders, goblins, and some meaty invader all black and blue but taller than Klale.

Behind them, the doors slam shut with a resounding echo of finality and the Gonhirrim replace the metal crossbeam.  Telchar flips some switch on the wall and the doors clack and click and whirr.

The five invaders try to overwhelm Klale, but it is mostly a feint.  Two of them brush close enough to lightly bump him, but only enough to feel their presence.  Behind them, the larger brute is single minded.  He slams two hands into Klale's chest before the warrior can get his weapon up, sending him sprawling.


The other five head for the stairwell, where Phineas is waiting.

Klale goes down with multiple clanks; it possible, he'll kick as he attempts to regain his feet.

With the door now shut and locked Ano takes of towards the group of invaders heading towards Phin.  He attacks the one at the rear of the group, lashing out at one of its knees with a low kick.

21 to hit
09:32, Today: Ano rolled 8 using 1d6+4. damage roll

Phineas charges the oncoming group, dagger in hand, screaming an improvised battle cry in an attempt to intimidate them and/or distract them from any attacks the others might be able to bring to bear from behind.

09:21, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 12 using 1d20+3. intimidate.

Toben raises his staff, and without a word, launches a small metallic shard at two separate attackers not yet engaged in melee combat.

Toben casts Shard modified by silent spell.
18:09, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Ranged attack, shard 2.
18:09, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 16 using 1d20+6. Ranged attack, shard 1.
18:10, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 2.
18:10, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 5 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 1.

Ano's target staggers from the blow from behind, but keeps his feet.  He turns to engage, but misses with his blade.

The two that Toben hit also stumble a bit.  They whirl to face their assailants, but their eyes go wide to find nothing behind them.

Phineas's charge surprises the two remaining attackers, who, thinking they are five are only amused rather than intimidated by the boy's attack.  Phineas manages a small wound in one of the goblin's shoulders, but the two of them grab the boy and slam him back against the stairs (2 DMG).  One holds him down while another draws back his dagger to plunge it into Phineas's chest.

The large brute looks around for a new target and finds one of the Gonhirrim at the door.  He arrives in two strides and lifts the flailing guard from the ground then sucker punches him right in the gut before dropping him.  The Gonhirrim lies there, stunned.

Telchar swings his hammer in a wide arc.  It slams into the larger invader's shoulder, but barely moves him, though he does grunt.

The other two Gonhirrim swing short, broad-bladed axes in support, but neither connects.

With a shriek of rage, Ok leaps from the top of the stairs into the face of the goblin about to stab Phineas, scratching and biting.  The goblin drops his dagger to wrestle the crazy warthyrch off of him.

Meanwhile, Ok's attack distracts the second goblin enough that he lets up on his hold on Phineas.

Klale, perhaps, regains his feet.

Toben looks to the ceiling above the invaders and concentrates. He raises his hands and yanks down sharply as if pulling something from the sky.

Tiny bits of dust and stone trickle from the ceiling briefly, then another crystal hound burrows its way out of the stone. It leaps from the rapidly closing tunnel, landing between the two goblins Toben shot previously and attacks.

Toben casts Summon Earth II modified by silent spell.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:55, Tue 23 June 2015.

In reply to Ok (msg # 112):

While his foe is distracted, Phineas takes advantage of the opportunity to nimbly poke the dagger into his assailant's midsection.

07:27, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 20 using 1d20+4. attack.
07:29, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 2 using 1d4. damage.

Ano ducks under the infiltrators blade and throws an open palmed thrust at the attacker's knee.  Then while rising he directs his other fist towards his enemies face so that the blades on his gloves will catch  him.

flurry of blows: 19 on both attacks to hit
09:04, Today: Ano rolled 5 using 1d6+4. damage roll.
09:03, Today: Ano rolled 8 using 1d6+4. damage roll.

Ano's opponent goes down and does not rise.

The goblin pinning Phineas has attention drawn back to the boy when he feels the prick on his chest.  He tries to slam the hand holding the dagger down against the stairs in an attempt to make Phineas drop it.  STR check vs. DC 17

As Klale rises, the large attacker faces off against Telchar.  He lunges for the Gonhirrim, but is met by the hammer face first.  There is a spray of black blood and the large adversary spits out a couple of teeth.  The other two dwarves manage to land minor blows that don't even draw the big creature's attention.

Toben's...dog, bits into one leg of a goblin, shearing it off mid-thigh.  The goblin screams and goes down, black blood spurting everywhere.  The other goblin jumps onto the back of the crystalline minion and begins hacking away ineffectively with his dagger.  Small chips are all that he manages against the hard skin.

Ok is still winning against his target, though its an even toss whether the goblin will regain his composure and get the upper hand before blood loss and wound placement win out against him.

There is a dull thud against the doors above the din of battle, but nothing like a ram or other device might make.  Just frustrated Valaraukar.

While in fiction for eight-year-olds, the hero may be most gallant; Klale apparently does not worry about such things: The purpose of the sword is to kill. He thrusts at the back of the brute who pushed him down.
23 To Hit.

The crystal hound bucks to and fro in order to unseat its unwanted passenger. Once free, its powerful jaws snap at the goblin with a full attack.

Toben whirls his staff around, sending two more shards directly into the back of Phineas' assailant. (2 & 6 DMG)

Toben casts Shard modified by silent spell, taking a 10 to attack. AC 16.
13:10, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 2 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 1.
13:10, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 6 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 2.

Phineas' dagger is knocked from his hand by his attacker. He kicks and squirms with all his might, attempting to throw off his attacker's balance and lay hands on the punch dagger he keeps secreted on his person for such an eventuality.

06:50, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 13 using 1d20. strength check.

Seeing that Phineas has help from Toben, Ano rushes to help Ok.  He delivers a kick straight to the chest of the orc that has Ok clinging to his face.

21 to hit

23:45, Today: Ano rolled 6 using 1d6+4. damage roll.

Klale's sword bites deep into the back of the larger invader.  The creature whirls around, eyes wide at the sight of Klale being the one who scored such a hit.  He tries to backhand the warrior, but with the sword still in his back, he cannot get a good angle.  Telchar follows up the attempt with a hammer to a knee, which brings the big brute down, flat on his face.  The other two Gonhirrim jump on and wail on the downed giant.

Meanwhile, Toben's earth-dog tears through one of the goblins, while the other chips away.  The attacker on Phineas loses his grip when Toben's missiles slam into his back, giving the youth the opportunity he needs to reach his hidden weapon.

Ano's kick slams the goblin back into a wall.  Ok releases and leaps from the creature, adding momentum to it as it careens into the stone barrier with a crack.  It's eyes roll up into its head and it slumps down.

Klale wig-wags his sword out and seeks any hands foe to be slashed.

Take a 23 To Hit

Toben frowns when the goblin attacking Phineas remains standing. With a couple more flourishes of his staff, he hurls two more metal shards. They race at the goblins back and sink in deep. (7 & 4 DMG)

Toben casts Shard modified by silent spell, taking a 10 to attack. AC 16.
10:40, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 1.
10:40, Today: Toben Ironsprings rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Damage, shard 2.

The battle has ended with only one dead Gonhirrim.  There are a few wounds here and there, but nothing fatal.  Telchar finishes off the big brute with finality and urges the group back to the surface.

Saris is there, along with Kornari who it appears stayed with her the whole time.  She patches up wounds explaining that the attack has ended.  Apparently it was just a diversion for something and the Valaraukar did not intend to come in to the city proper.

When Telchar explains otherwise, Saris just nods and finishes patching up wounds (+8 HP for any who have taken damage).

When they arrive, Klale observes Those who guard also serve.
...
Think we'd better get going then.

Toben nods in agreement with Telchar. "That didn't seem to be the small raiding party we expected. They seemed to have a much larger purpose... not sure what though."

He rubs the wounds on his shoulder and leg, and thanks Saris for the healing. "Those invaders seemed far too strong and agile for their size. Telchar, have you seen Valaraukar enhanced like that before?"

"Nae lad.  Tha's a new thing."

Phineas retrieves his dropped dagger, tucks his emergency backup dagger back away, and rejoins the group. "Well," he says, a bit shaken, "that could have gone better. Though I suppose it could also have gone much worse. Thank you, Toben."

Could well be evil stirring; makes me more anxious about our errand. Time is passing.

" Your right Klale, we must make haste.  We should find Fori and see about a guide outof here."

Telchar agrees.  After a brief meeting with the elders of the town, he guides the group back to Moria proper.  There, Fori and Xar are waiting with supplies ready to head to the surface.

Fori welcomes you into his home, allows everyone to clean up and offers new clothing to those who need them.  Food is provided before a night of rest.

Telchar meets quietly with the leaders of Moria including Durina, but his immediate departure keeps them from a broad celebration of his return.  He is well received, though Durina tends to scold him as often as hug him.  Thoughts turn grim as the raid is explained.

GM: If there are any questions or conversations, now is the time.  Fori will lead you out tomorrow.

Klale exhibits the hilt he has asking if a blade should be attached to it...and wondering about it; it seems perhaps not something normal.

Phineas also asks Fori about the items he has returned with and if there's anything he can tell him bout them: the cloak, the hat, and the lute.

Ano eats heartily during the meal, the last few fights had taken more out of him then he had originally thought.  He also acceptes some simple and light cloths when the were offered.  Arrows and blades may not have touched him but his clothing was startting to look more like rags.

Along with the others Ano produces the sash and the ivory fang for Fori to inspect.

"I'm sorry, lads, but I cannae tell ya what those things do.  Tha' hilt might be th' remnants of a Morgul blade from before th' end o' th' Third Age.  When held by those not in service t' Sauron, th' blade would mystically dissolve and be unusable.  Those blades were poison of a sort I'd not be willin' t' encounter in this age.  We havna way t' heal it.  I cannae tell ya if th' hilt would be useful, even if that's what it truly is."  He shrugs and gives a helpless look.  "You'll just hafta find out th' old fashioned way...trial and error."

Then perhaps it should be melted down.

Klale eats, rests, and (he hopes) gets his armor fixed.

Toben thanks Fori for his generosity and takes the opportunity to clean up before his meal. He eats well and then finds a lit corner to examine some of the things he had acquired recently. He fiddles with some of his new found items for a while, most in particular the mysterious black cloth the invaders were using to breach the walls. Trial and error, eh? He thinks to himself.

"Fori, this may seem like an odd request being so far from a large water source, but would you know where I could find a small cache of pearls?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:04, Tue 30 June 2015.

Fori looks at the hilt one last time.  "Best t' just throw it in th' chasm, lad.  No Gonhirrim will want it near their forge."

When Toben presents his request, Fori raises an eyebrow.  "I ha' some pearls, but they are rare down here.  Not much for clams ya know.  I have t' import them from th' surface.  Whatever source I might find them from down here is in th' control of the Valaraukar.  What do ya need them for?"

Toben smiles, "My mom, rest her soul, always fancied them. Sadly, I was never able to get my hands on any." He pauses a moment for comedic timing, before continuing. "I know of a tonic that enhances ones focus when examining items of unknown origin quality. The powder of high quality pearls are a key ingredient. It'll take a lot of quess work out of the trial and error process."

He begins to pat himself down. "I may have a thing or two you may be interested in bartering for."

Hmmm...who knows what might pick it up? Perhaps it should be cloven in two first. Have the Gonhirrim a chisel to do that?

"Let me have a look a' tha', Klale."  Telchar comes over and examine the hilt.  "It doesnae feel like th' blades were supposed t' make ya feel when ya touched 'em.  The hilt itself is well made.  I could fit a blade to it in a few hours, if tha's what ya want.  I donae know if it will do anathin' more than th' blade on any other hilt though."  He shrugs and looks to Klale for his decision.

"This will help you figure out those trinkets?  That'll support th' mission, lad.  I have plenty o' smaller pearls tha' you can crush up for such a concoction.  Tha's all ya had t' say."  He smiles and trots off to another room.  A few minutes later he is back with a small bag of pearls, which he hands to Toben.

Fori hands the bag of pearls over to Toben, who gently takes it into his hands as if it were a new born baby. "I... I don't know what to say, Fori. This is more than generous. If there is anything I can do in return, just say the word." He bows graciously to Fori and places the pearls into his recently acquired pouch.

He address each of the party members (Klale, Ano, and Phineas), "Is there an item in particular you wish me to examine this evening? Klale, I could take a look at that hilt if there is nothing of higher importance for you."

Once all items have been confirmed, he pours himself a small cup of wine and excuses himself from the dining area and find a quiet place to examine them. With a bit of searching through his travel pack, he pulls out a small mortar and pestle, then retrieves a single pearl from the cache Fori provided. He makes short work of the pearl, crushing it into a fine powder. Carefully, he empties the contents of the bowl into the cup of wine then whispers something to Ferb. The little ferret disappears into the travel pack for a moment and returns with a single feather. Toben takes the feather and stirs the strange mixture for a few minutes. Once satisfied, he hands the feather back to Ferb, holds the cup of wine with two hands, and downs the tonic in one gulp.

Unsure if it's the rush of alcohol or the magic kicking in, Toben shakes his head clear. He picks up the first item and begins to examine it thoroughly.

Toben casts Identify upon 4 items:
Toben's quiver
Klale's hilt
Ano's sash
Phineas's cloak

This message was last edited by the player at 07:18, Thu 02 July 2015.

Klale turns over the hilt with thanks.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Thu 02 July 2015.

"Thank you, Toben." Phineas assays a slight bow as he removes his cloak and places it on the table in front of the scholar.

Sleep is well had that night and food plentiful.  In the morning, supplies are provided and the group is packed and ready.  Toben, a little bleary eyed, reports that he has not been able to determine much about the items.

Phineas cloak offers some kind of benefit to indirect attacks .  Ano's sash aids in his agility .  Klale's hilt is related to cold somehow, but without a blade, it was not possible to determine anything beyond that.


Telchar hums a song as Fori leads the group out of Moria and out toward the chasm.  Saris and Xar have come along as well.

Klale strides near the van.

As the group begins to wake in the morning, Toben finishes up the last bit of studying of the items. He stands up, hands each of the items back, and gives his report. "Hopefully, as I get more proficient, I will be able to provide more details in the future. We'll see about getting a suitable blade for the hilt as well."

He packs up his equipment and falls in line with the away team.

Ano thanks Toben for his night of hard work and is ready to be on there way.

"Thank you, Toben!" says Phineas with a tip of his hat, in a chipper mood after good food and a good night's sleep. "If I can repay you for your help in any way, please don't hesitate to ask!" He then wraps his cloak around himself and makes an exaggerated attempt to look sneaky.

Fori leads the group back to the chasm, but instead of out through the main door to the broken causeway, he leads along that wall to the south for a while.  Eventually, almost at the corner of the great hall of pillars, he stops.  The wall he turns to runs parallel to the chasm on the other side.

He turns to Phineas.  "Not many, but a few o' us Gonhirrim have made our way out into th' world o' men over th' past age.  Th' great bridge of Khazad-dûm has been broken for all these years.  Th' western gate is still blocked and th' west mines overrun with Valaraukar.  How do you suppose we've made our way into th' world, lad?"
This message was last updated by the player at 14:12, Mon 06 July 2015.

"You're wastin' time, Goldwright."

"Patience, oh great and powerful ancestor.  If we're gonna reveal our secrets, we migh' as well teach th' lad a thing or two in th' process.  Help he reason like a Gonnhirrim.  He may be th' ambassador to our people in this new age."

When Telchar does not argue further, Fori turns to Phineas and waits patiently for an answer.

Klale sits down or—if there's room—lies down. After all, armor weighs something.

He also keeps his mouth shut.

Toben takes a seat. "I do enjoy a good puzzle. If I had to wager a guess, Phin, I would think the answer lies hidden within the very earth itself." He smiles, pulls out the strange journal, and begins to thumb through it.

Phineas regards Fori appraisingly. "It's a pretty puzzle, friend Fori! My first thought is this: even so doughty a people as the Gonhirrim have need of breath. Thus, there must be ventilation of some kind built into these underground works; perhaps some of these vents are substantial enough to allow one to pass through."

"On further reflection, however, I can't really see one of your noblesse willingly squeezing through confined corridors not intended for passage. And of course, with your people's attention to matters military, you wouldn't leave an unguarded ingress for invaders. So I'm certain this theory is wrong."

"It would, however, seem entirely consistent with the character of the Gonhirrim to have a cunningly hidden passage of some kind embedded in the works. Nothing large enough for an army, but something though which a small party could pass without difficulty. Clearly you have the wit to hide such a thing with artifice. But I've seen more than I'd have thought possible in the brief time I've had together with these friends already, so I hesitate to pin too much stake on my guess. There are, evidently, more things in heaven and on earth than have been dreamt of in my philosophy."

"I am eager to see whatever it is you have to show, and have some confidence that it will be a surprise."

This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Tue 07 July 2015.

Ano also takes a seat on a near by rock to watch the proceedings.

It is the silent Xar who moves first.  Rolling his eyes and glaring at Fori, he walks over to the blank wall and touches a few places in a certain way.  The stone depresses then yawns open to reveal the interior of a cave on the side of the mountain.  It is a deep cave, not open to the sky, so the opening of the secret door is not to be seen from outside.

Though the light is dim, Xar squints and shields his eyes before passing through.

Fori scowls then follows.  "Ach, you stole me thunder, ya dark hearted..." his voice trails off as he moves past the door into the cave.

Telchar, fully aware of his importance, goes next.  For once, he is chuckling. He shakes his head at the antics of the other two.

Saris peers through the doors, but waits.  She looks back at the four humans and perhaps the warthyrch and drake as well.  "Xar's past is a dark one, evil and twisted, but he has clawed his way up out o' it.  He walks th' shadows still, but whate'er may appear wi' him, you should give 'im yer trust."  With that, she ducks through the secret gate.

Toben smiles, "Not too far off the mark there Phin."

He steps up to the opening and examines it for a moment, then looks back to the group. "Kornari. Ok. Are you planning to come with us?"

"Of course.  I wish to inspect the lands of my empire."  The drake waddles through the passageway into the cave beyond.

Klale lets whoever wants to go ahead of him go. After all, if one wants the person in full armor and big weapons to go last....

Ok looks at the doorway and back into the darkness of the mines.  He fidgets with his hands and looks up at Toben, then over at the rest of the party.  When his eyes settle on Klale, he takes a deep breath and scampers over to the big man.  Though he does not impede Klale's movement, his fingers rest lightly on the warrior's thigh, an anchor for his courage.  He shields his eyes against the eventual glare from beyond and nods.

Klale says seriously Thank you, Ok, for your trust.

Phineas, with a self-satisfied grin, follows the others out of the underground domain.

Ano nods to Saris "If you trust him then I am sure that is enough reassurance for the rest of us".

He makes his way through the secret door just ahead of Klale.

With everyone's decision made, Toben turns around and follows Telchar to the way out.

Fori is waiting on the other side of the door.  As Toben makes his way through, the last of the group, Fori does whatever the Gonhirrim do and the door swings shut.

"First we will need t' travel east.  I have no interest in th' land o' men t' th' south.  They have a bug up their skirts tha' would ha' made ol'e King Elessar turn in his grave."  He chuckles at that thought.  "From there, we can swing 'round north of Emyn Muil and the Dead Marshes on into the Dagorlad.  From there, tis a straight shot south into what is now called Mordûn."

Toben nods. "With a party such as this, it's best to avoid as many people as we can."

He rustles around in his pack and pulls out the old tattered map that Else gave them. "Mordûn. That's sounds familiar. We passed through there on our way here, as well as a very ominous tower... the likes of something I'd rather not pass through again. I believe the people of Osgiliath called it Minas Morgul. Eerie as all hell, that place was..."

Toben shudders a moment as he recalls the events that transpired there. He shakes the thought from his mind and unfurls the map. Pointing to the general area where they encounter Ceven, he says "This is where we need to end up."

He rolls the map up, and his thoughts wander back to Eles. "Sure would be nice to run into the old man again, wouldn't it?", he mutters to himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Fri 10 July 2015.

Telchar chuckles, but in a mirthless fashion.  "Typical o' th' world o' men.  Things change so fast.  Some o' th' names be th' same, but ha' lost their terror for men.  Others are no th' same at all."  He shakes his head at Toben and puts his finger on the mountain where Ceven is imprisoned.  "Tha' be th' former Mount Doom, th' dark heart o' Mordor, seat o' th' dark lord, Sauron, whom Aragorn th' second Elessar, last o' th' line of ancient Numenor, challenged, but whom was slain by a hobbit name o' Frodo Baggins."

He glances over at Fori then back to Toben's map.  "Ye didn't tell me we were goin' there, lad.  I might ha' said no and took me chances wi' the Valaraukar."

How will we be fixed for supplies? What are the chances of getting some along the way?

"There be nothin' between here an' th' mountain, lad.  We put all ye migh' need in yer pack before we left Moria.  Anathin' beyond tha' and we'll hafta forage or detour to civilization."

GM:  You will have food and other basic, easy to obtain items that you need before leaving Moria.  You can put those on your sheet if you need to, but I don't mess with it unless its a storyline need to do so.  If there is something extraordinary you were wanting, PM me.

Toben eyes Telchar with concern. "You think there is still darkness deep within Mount Doom?" He puts the map away in his travel pack. "All the more reason to rescue Ceven. He mentioned his prison was sapping the strength from him, I'd wager to gain power for whatever foul intent that place has. I just hope we don't get there too late."

He gazes south for a moment. "How long do you think it'll take us to get there?"

Ano turns to Telchar as they walk "Had you stayed behind, you would have regretted it.  The caverns of the mountain have become a wonder of the earth, the likes of which neither man nor Gonnhirrim have seen for an age. I would bet my honor on it.

"It's a good 800 miles between here an' there goin' tha' way.  If we travel it all by foot, it will be three weeks past at th' slopes o' th' mountain.  If we find horses, perhaps a little less."

Telchar shakes his head, but says nothing.

Saris points out that the sun is more than half way in the sky and travel time wanes.  A late lunch is had on the road and nightfall sees the group only at the foot of the Misty Mountains.  The same network of streams from out of the mountain flows.  No flowers bloom in the late summer fields, and the chill of the mountains turns to warmth.

An ancient forest, full of tired grandeur and waning glory, sleeps to the east nestled between two larger streams, small rivers in their own right.  Fori says the old trees come to an end at the Anduin River.  There is a small ferry there and perhaps horses on the far side.

Once inside the trees, sleep comes easily when it is needed, but abundant energy for the days of travel.  The trees themselves feel like ancient adults herding you along like children at play.  The few days in among them are restful and any fatigue from under the mountains is gone.

Klale strides along. His sword is sheathed and his shield slung. He manages well considering his armor, but he does take advantage of every stream to drink, and he prefers to have at least some salty food. he pays attention of Ok, and he keeps any eye on Kornari, attempting to guess his (her?) reactions.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Sun 12 July 2015.

Phineas gamely walks along, occasionally venturing out a bit ahead of the group to see if he can spot anything of interest. During the evenings, he practices with the lute and carves wooden toys which he generally gives to Ok or leaves behind for the next traveler to come this way.

The drake plods along with its back and forth wiggle very much like a pretty alligator.  It sniffs in disdain at the plains, complaining on occasion of its softness and boring scenery, but admiring the openness of the sky in the next breath.

As the group arrives in the trees, the drake grows silent and contemplative.  As the trees thin before the rush of the Anduin, he snorts.  "There is nothing for it then.  It shall all have to be burned down once my empire is secured."  A brief snort of little flame and mostly smoke from his nose ends the matter.

Saris is also contemplative.  Never does the medic say much, almost like Xar in that respect.  The trees leave a thoughtful, almost wistful look on her face, as if she has chanced upon a place where a great performance was held, but has just missed the show.  When Kornari pronounces his planned destruction of the woods, she gives him a nasty frown that the drake either does not see or does not care enough to respond to.

There is no love lost between the two.

At the edge of the meadow, before entering the trees of the forest, Xar pauses.  His face is ashen and he visibly shakes.  Fori clasps his shoulder and looks into the dwarf's eyes.  Xar nods and steels himself and crosses over, his eyes closed for the moment.  When unmitigated terror and endless torment do not befall him, he sighs heavily and opens them again.  Fori checks him one last time, and with a confirming nod, leaves the dwarf to his own imaginations and relief.

Xar's eyes are ever on the trees, watchful of some unseen horror that never materializes.  He seeks an enemy of mist and mind but no substance.  Every snap of a twig turns his head, every bird call or animal grunt draws his eyes.  Sweat pours from his brow and his dark clothing is soaked with it.

Ok leaves the cave with trepidation.  A single toe crosses into the sunlight at first, and is quickly pulled back as soon as it touches.  He tests it again, longer this time, until confident that the sun will not burn him to ash.  When Kornari sighs in impatience and brushes -- albeit more gently than one might suspect -- past the poor warthyrch, Ok steps fully into the light, his hands shielding his eyes.

After a moment, he removes the hand and faces the sun bravely, eyes closed.  He no longer seems to fear the sun, but welcomes it as though someone he reckoned as enemy has turned out to be a boon companion.  His eyes open and there are tears streaming down his face to be lost in the corners of a huge smile.

Over the meadow, the warthyrch cavorts like a child whose parents have let loose their reigns for the day.  He rolls, flips, and dashes about.  Telchar and Fori laugh at his antics out loud, caught up in the creature's antics.  Saris smiles gaily when Ok brings her a handful of half mangled flowers he had been sniffing.

Once in the forest, the playfulness subdues a bit.  Ok is now the child who has been brought to Someplace Important by his parents and he can sense the solemnity and majesty of it.

The sense wears off after about five minutes and he is once again racing about, climbing the trees, and chasing after every animal sound in wonder.  The warthyrch's antics are likely the only thing that helps Xar pass through the forest without killing over dead from his own fear.

On the other side of the forest, as the sun once again shines down on the group, there seems to have been a real, physical change to the warthyrch.  No longer is his skin so mottled and dark.  Muscles that had at one time seemed wiry and almost cadaverous, now have a bit of bulk and health to them.  His eyes have gone from whole black orbs to darkish brown irises with a greyish white surrounding it.  His hair has perhaps the greatest change.  Though it covers more places than any human might wish, its color and consistency are no longer oily, stringy black.  Instead, there is a thick mane of light brown, with a healthy glow to it.

There, too, is a change to his demeanor.  Where before, Ok had a kind of slink to his movement, racing about on all fours like a wild animal, now he moves on two feet for the most part, upright and chin high.  He is a flower open to the sun drinking in its life-giving rays.

He's still filthy, mind you.  Dirt fills the nails of his fingers and toes.  It has found its way into every crease and wrinkle on his body.  Each step causes a small cake of the stuff to drop from his loin cloth.  Now, though, there is something of the oily, disgustingness to the dirt that is missing.  There is nothing more to it now than a child at play outdoors for many hours, nothing that a good bath and a change of clothes would not cure.

Each toy the Phineas has made and left behind, Ok has picked up and carried for a time, wondering at it.  He spends much time with the youth, laughing his weird little cackle at every tussle and game.  Whenever Phin finishes another toy, the first is forgotten in favor of the new one.  It is not long before Ok has most of the names of the group down, well, sort of.

As they spend more time in the forest Ano seems calm and relaxed.  He enjoys watching the changes OK goes through, seeing the revival happening in him.

Ano spends most of his free time meditating or practicing the four door flow.

And when they get to a sizable pool....

Noting Ok's interest in the toys, Phin takes extra time and care one night to fashion one after the warthyrch, making it look as much like him (in his present improved condition) as possible.

When Xar shows discomfiture upon entering the wood, Phineas puts a hand on Xar's shoulder and squeezes briefly, then walks close alongside. He doesn't ask about what dark ghosts from his past are haunting him, but keeps an ear cocked, ready to listen should Xar feel like unburdening himself.

The impressiveness of the meadow and forest does not go unnoticed to Toben, but he finally breaks his silence after Kornari's remark about its removal. "I would not be so quick to condemn a place such as this. There is something special about it. Can you not feel it?" He stares intently at the drake. "Nif dout kornari ekess wer mitne, vur si mi jaunus wux geou ocuir coi."

He watches as Ok plays about the meadow with a smile. His smile turns to a look of amazment as his transformation unfolds before them. "Ok, I am quite proud of you", he says as he walks over to embrace him. As Toben pulls away, he whispers "I believe that you will enjoy your new found state of being."

Kornari looks back to Toben and of all things raises a leathery eyebrow.  "Do not presume to lecture me or shall have to remove you from your vaunted position of high slave."  He pauses and looks around, even puts a claw on one of the roots.  "Of course I feel it, an ancient magic once filled these woods.  It has faded and is little more than a memory now. I have no desire to have this in my empire.  Perhaps I will allow my subject to use the wood to build their shacks."

He waddles off, but leaves a parting word.  "My heart is open to empire.  Light or dark makes no difference to me."

Klale calls after him Kornari, if you help us, you have a chance to avoid becoming a high slave yourself. If the evil struggling to emerge prevails, that power will brook no rivals, and the meadow, these woods, all eventually will descend into ruin.

Toben nods. "We need to focus on the 'here and now'. Any sort of future empire you dream of will be pointless if we can't stanch the evil trying to emerge right now... there would be nothing left to rule, if you will."

Either Klale and Toben's last warnings lead the drake into silent contemplation, or the encampment full of hunters at the river's edge.  The trees have thinned and barely provide cover, though it is not likely that you have been seen yet.  The trees end a drake's length down a somewhat steep, but navigable incline that ends in a small flat before an enormous river.  It can only be the Anduin.

The encampment has no more than fifteen men, all rugged and dangerous looking.  At the moment they are guffawing and hooting at some tale or other.  A central cooking fire has a large animal roasting on it.  Lean-tos and other make-shift shelters are scattered in haphazard fashion around the fire.

Toben looks back and forth among the party. "Well, if we aim to speak with them, we best leave Ok and Kornari out of view."

"Fori, you are a bit more traveled than most of us. This encampment look familiar?"

"I cannae say I know any o' these men at first glance, but its a common enough sight in these parts.  A hunter's camp.  They last a few days before scatterin'...though, this one looks like its been here a bit longer than usual."

Toben peers down at the encampment for a moment. "Hmm, I would think it best to avoid them if we can. Assuming we can navigate around them." He looks to the group. "Anyone have a pressing need to engage with those hunters?"

Ano nodded in agreement with Toben.  "Best to avoid.  far to many to handle if things go badly"

If we're spotted or tracked soon, it'll be awkward.

"Hmm, that is true. However, if they go to the trouble of tracking us down with harmful intentions, then I would say our initial concerns were well founded." He turns to Klale, "I would prefer to err on the side of caution. At least until we get to Mount Doom."

"If you look carefully, my friends, you will notice our betrayer Xar in the midst of that group -- the first we met, who brings dishonor on that name. Given his actions and associates that we well know, I'd say this group is best avoided unless we have a mind to bring him to some justice for his earlier treachery."

A scowl forms on Toben's face. "Even though I would like nothing more than to bring Xar and his men to justice, it should be noted that he is familiar with our... tactics, if you catch my meaning." He rubs his arm, "Not to mention his buddies certainly left their mark on some of us."

Klale stops and, with assistance, get his armor on. Let's go around downwind of them then.

"When we make it 'round and away, I'd like t' hear th' tail o' this other Xar."  Fori whispers and turns to find another way.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Sun 19 July 2015.

Xar places a hand on Fori's arm and shakes his head.  He nods down toward the camp.

Fori grimaces and takes another look at the camp.  He eases down onto a fallen log and scratches his thick hair under his hat.  "Alrigh', ya have a point.  They are skilled hunters and trackers.  If they are all hostile, we cannae have them sneakin' up on us.  Th' advantage would be theirs too greatly.  If they are not all enemies, then th' lad that gave you trouble would not likely be willin' t' attack in the midst o' mixed company.  Either way, Xar here thinks it migh' be better t' head down to th' camp and gauge their reaction from a safe pace.  Th' drake alone might give them pause, even if just t' have a look at him up close without havin' t' fight for th'...honor."  He gives a slight wink at Kornari.

Toben steels himself, and prepares for the worst. "Not my favorite plan, but you're probably right. Better to deal with it while prepared rather than a sneak attack in the middle of the night... again."

He takes off his travel cloak, rolls it up and stuffs it in his pack. Next, he pulls out a strange bluish white pelt and wraps it around his shoulders. He tosses the loose bits of material where the animals head used to be over his own to cover his face.

Toben grabs a handful of bolts, runs his fingers over them, then places them back in the quiver. "Ready when you are."

Toben casts Explosive Projectile (modified by silent spell) on the bolts, enchanting 2 of them.

"If it would be helpful, I would be glad to venture down among them. I would be the least threatening in appearance, and am…fairly experienced in moving fast to exit a charged situation when necessary."

Toben shakes his head. "The other Xar knows your face. If you were to head in alone, I'm afraid it would be like leading a lamb in for slaughter." He pauses for a moment. "My opinion, if we go in then we go in all together."

Klale turns to Kornari. I say that if we go in, and we go in as equals. And we seek justice for this other Xar. The alternative I see is bait and ambush, maybe peaceful.

(I've not looked, but I'm guessing he's the perfidious guide.)

"Yer aim is speed.  Always has been.  I agree with Fori.  Th' direct approach will address an inevitable conflict most rapidly."

Kornari ignores Klale and seems bored by the exchange.  In his mind its all probably beneath him.

Fori nods at Telchar's words.  "Add to tha', most hunters in these parts, and I've known more than a few, have a rugged honor t' them.  If they are not all in alliance with yer Xar, then seekin' justice in a straightforward manner might be th' best option for both speed and resolution o' the problem.  If we try subterfuge, what credit we have with those not allied with th' guide, might take 'is side on principle."

Saris takes a step forward.  "Wha' then do we do wi' th' drake and Ok?"

"I'm with Telchar and Fori. Since Fori is likely to be the most known to these men, it may be good for him to address the hunters first."

Toben casts a sideways glance to Kornari. "I think his majesty would agree that dealing with a rabble such as this would be a waste of his time. Putting some distance between himself and the lot of them would help ensure he doesn't catch something from them", he says with just enough sarcasm to get his point across, but not enough to be offensive.

"Ok on the other hand, they may react poorly to." Toben turns to Ok, "You think you can hide out among the trees and keep an eye on the hunters? If they attack, you could surprise them easily."

The drake finds a nice, warm rock in the open and elegantly lays himself out on it.

Ok nods.  "I hide good."

Phineas joins ranks with the rest of the party, making sure to look as innocuous as possible while simultaneously verifying that his weapons are accessible in their usual hiding spots.

Klale hardly can look innocuous; but, while he is holding his shield, his sword is sheathed.

Toben fishes a brooch from his travel pack to button up the makeshift cloak. With any luck, Xar won't immediately recognize him.

Ano stands ready not really able to do much about his appearance, but ready  follow there lead.t

Fori leads the group down toward the hunter's camp.  Several of the hunters look up.  A couple even wave, but return to whatever they had been doing.  As the group draws closer, Xar finally takes note.  He sees the Gonhirrim first and turns back to his chore.  Then he looks again and his eyes grow wide.  He starts scrambling for belongings then makes for the far edge of the camp.

Klale cries out STOP THIEF! ans he lunbers after the Xar

Toben tosses back the pelt concealing his face, "Not so fast Xar!" He steps forward but does not engage. "You'll not attempt to flee, if you know what is good for you."

A couple of quick thinking hunters attempt to grab Xar, but he evades their grasp.  He scampers to the bank and turns down river toward a small falls, no more than thirty feet to the drop.

Just before he leaps, the other Xar steps from behind a boulder and grabs the front of hunter's shirt, then lifts him from the ground.  Without pause, the hunter rotates his waist and kicks at the dwarf's head.  Xar, the dwarf, ducks under the blow, but is forced to release the shirt...

Klale keeps going.

Phin races after Xar, using his speed in an attempt to tackle (or at least slow) him before he escapes.

Toben runs over to the river bank, not to stop Xar, but to see how far down the drop is and what is down there.

Basically he wants line of sight to where Xar is trying to jump. ;)

Wasting no time, the hunter leaps over the side.  It's a good thirty foot drop into a raging maelstrom below.  It's even odds that the man will survive unless he knows something you don't.

As the hunter leaps, his dwarven opponent whips out a cord of some kind that snaps around the hunter's leg and latches on.  It foils the hunter's form as he cries out and grabs his ankle before disappearing from all but Toben's sight.


The cord goes tight and Xar braces himself against the jerking line.  When the force equals out, he heaves on the line to pull it up.  There is little fight on the other end.  Soon Fori and Telchar are hauling with him.  Together, they retrieve an unconscious, and bloody hunter.  Xar puts a finger on his throat for a moment, then nods to Fori.

Toben stifles a smile as he watches the effect of Xar's snare. He waits until Fori and Telchar finish hauling him up before stepping back from the bank. After Xar confirms the hunter is still alive, he nods and says "Nice catch."

He turns to look back at the rest of the camp to gauge their reactions. "Sorry for the interruption folks, this one here has been up to some nefarious deeds lately.", he says pointing to the downed hunter.

Klale stops, breathing deep, and looks around to assess reactions.

The hunters are all up.  Some of them have weapons drawn, but not at full ready.  They seem mostly confused.  As the attack is not against them specifically, they seem appear wary and curious about the circumstances.

Klale points. Those two! grab them! They're sneaking away! Let's find out why!

Toben stows his staff, and begins to speak just as Klale shouts out his warning. He scans the camp to see what he is talking about.

Ano looks up sharply looking in the direction that Klale is indicating, scanning the forest for movement.

Where most of the hunters are wary and curious, two of the hunters are trying to sneak away.  Klale's attention to detail caught sight of them.

The other hunters, perhaps wanting to get to the bottom of things before anyone else got hurt, confront the two.  Instead of laying down arms, one of the hunters stabs one of his associates and the other swings wildly attempting to put the other hunters off kilter.

One swift thinking hunter in the camp sticks two arrows in the leg of the one who stabbed he other hunter.  He goes down with a cry of pain.  The other one is surrounded, greeted now with scowls.

"Honest Huntsmen, we happened across your party, and were going to pass by without disturbing you when we spotted this malefactor, who had previously offered to be our guide, but instead delivered us into the hands of those who meant to kill us. He went by the name of Xar at the time. Judging by the reactions of his confederates here, he has not yet mended his ways. While we were fortunate to escape without significant harm, we hoped to curtail his misadventures before he brings further harm to others."

(Phineas will take a 10 on Diplomacy for a 16.)

Toben nods, "That encounter ended with Xar and two others escaping. We weren't sure who the other two were, as they were masked, but their attempt to flee seems to have outed them."

With Xar out cold, he walks over to the group of hunters. "We still have no idea why they attacked. Perhaps we looked like easy marks?"

An older hunter, grizzled, but handsome in his day, steps up to speak for the rest.  "Xar?  That boy's name ain't Xar.  It's Teb.  He's always been a bit of a rascal, but that's a right powerful accusation yer bringin' against him and these other fellers.  It's believable, but we can't just let you take 'im an' th'others.  What proof you got?"

"We were led to a campsite near the Roaring Falls. The goal was to camp there and proceed to the mountain in the morning. Some time in the middle of the night is where Xar... Teb and his men attacked."

Toben rolls up his sleeve to show the pink scar left by Teb's short sword. "Teb left me with this lovely momento, and one of the attackers we downed left this." He digs around in his pack and holds up the pouch with the odd symbol on it.

"Look familiar to anyone?"

The hunters examine the rune then talk among themselves.  None of them seems to know anything about the symbol.

Toben looks over to the two hunters that tried to sneak away, and addresses whomever is still conscious. "What about you, recognize this?" He waits and scrutinizes the response.

Toben will actively use Sense Motive on whatever the hunters say. Also, how genuine do the other hunters appear?

Ano stands beside  Toben, ready if any of the hunters should try anything.   He aslo listens to the captured hunter, judging their words.

Ano will also use sence motive.

That they ran seems evidence of guilty consciences Klale observes. We are traveling on an errand and were not going to bother you folk until we saw the Teb, as he calls himself. Have any of you found small stuff missing or have heard ob bandits round about?

One of the younger hunters, probably not much out of his teens, looks up at Klale.  "I don't know 'bout no bandits as special an' such, but there was this small army moved up out of Mordun not two weeks past.  I saw a banner that looked somethin' like that," he nods toward Toben and the rune.  "But they took it down as soon as they passed through the pass into the old marsh."

GM: None of the hunters seems to be any more than confused and perhaps a bit put out with Teb and the others for their deceit and stirring up trouble for an otherwise relatively tranquil life.

The hunter that Toben approaches with the symbol glares at the scholar and spits on the ground.

Toben just shakes his head. "I'll take that as an admission of guilt, which also suggests you know the meaning of the rune.  It'd be best for you to come clean about why you and Teb were trying to kill us, and what's going on with that army."

He glances back and Klale and the rest of the group as his patience starts wearing thin.

Klale walks over, gets behind the spitter, and places his sword horizontally across the front of the spitter's neck. With he free hand, he grasps the blade...in effect, he's putting a sharp-edged bar. The armored big man raise his hands slightly. Keep your chin up but reply politely and to the point. You might even get to live.

Several of the hunters object loudly and draw weapons at Klale's actions.

One of the hunters, the grizzled one who spoke earlier, tries to keep the calm.  "Look, we understand they done you wrong.  However, we don't know you folks and this ain't right.  You want 'em to answer, we can take 'em in to town and get your answers by the law.  This is still the high king's land and we still foller his laws out here."  He makes a lowering motion with his hand.  "They ain't goin' nowhere, friend.  Please.  Let 'im go and lets do this right."

Klale lowers the blade and, with one hand, sheathes it. The other hand rests on the spitter's shoulder.

You are right, though we are on an urgent errand...and the presence of this army may hinder it.

Toben shakes his head again. "No, we are not going to kill these people in cold blood, but I think these three should answer for what they've done... or at least tried to do."

He turns and starts walking back to the rest of the party. "Klale is right though. We have pressing matters that need tending, and we can't tarry more than necessary. I agree in that their charges need to be dealt with correctly, but I'm afraid time isn't on our side."

Toben looks to the trees and then back to the grizzled hunter, "Which direction is town?"

While Klale is drawing attention by offering to remove the head of one of the hunters, Phineas slips around to where Teb is being held. While "accidentally" allowing one of his hidden blades to slip out where Teb can see it, Phineas whispers intimidation, trying to keep it below the level where the others might hear:

"Teb, you know I have no reason to like you. You also know I'm fast. And unlike Klale, I'm no man of honor. So I could stick a dagger in your liver and be away to safety before these folks knew why you were suddenly coughing blood. But I'd prefer to play the bigger game, and find out what's *really* going on here. You can help me with that by telling us what you know. Or, if you'd prefer, I can simply be satisfied with an eye for an eye. Which is it going to be?"

06:56, Today: Phineas Highwood rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Bluff Teb.

The old hunter points off in a direction, then bends down to draw in the dirt.  He draws a fairly detailed map with landmarks and whatnot.  Other hunters correct or add to the map.  All attention is on Toben, Klale, and the other two prisoners.

Phineas is having a quiet conversation with Teb off a bit.

Klale looks at the group, blinks, and starts to look around while keeping a hand on the spitter's shoulder.

Toben helps keep the hunters distracted while Phineas interrogates Teb.

Phin continues his quiet conversation with Teb:
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Wed 05 Aug 2015.

Teb sneers.


Then he looks away, somewhat deflated.

Phineas claps Teb on the shoulder, perhaps a little too hard, and moves to rejoin the rest of the group, quietly filling them in on what he's learned.

"Teb says the emblem is that of one among eight 'Old Ones' -- 'lords of flame and shadow, lords of the Valaraukar,' if that means anything to anyone. These old ones are working to convert the fallen stars to serve Tauraentulessë, the 'Mighty Master Returned'. Apparently his followers believe that he will be in a position to destroy and remake this world once the stars are in his service. Teb is one of these followers, and is hoping for the usual rewards one expects from a despot, with a bit of a religious 'world to come' angle thrown in there as well."

Toben just closes his eyes and lets out a heavy sigh. "That's worse than I feared." He shakes his head. "Why can't things be simple like 'I thought you guys were loaded, so we wanted to take all your gold'?"

He looks over at Teb. "Thank you for deciding to be so forthcoming. Who is leading the army that came through here recently, and where are they headed?"

Klale says I think we'd better explain what is going on. These gentlemen (and females?) may want to help. [Other than that, Klale is making sure somebody is looking around. He's also of the opinion that, if things go well, Ok and K.... shoud be mentined and introduced.]

Teb raises his eyebrows at mention of the army.  "Their commander is a man named Nithaen.  His second in command you've already met.  Pauric is also their main recruiter.  This information isn't going to help you.  There is no way the four of you will be able to take on so many, even with better gear and the mountain men to help you."

Toben quickly spits out a reply. "Yes, I'm sure they are quite formidable." He hesitates a moment, "We never mentioned Pauric. How would you know if we've met him or not?"

Teb snorts.  "You're supposed to be the smart one.  You figure it out."

"I'm smart enough not to make assumptions. People who assume too much end up dead. I would have you ask your former colleagues about that, but they aren't doing much talking these days are they?"

"Now, if you're done trying to be clever...", Toben takes a second to regain composure, "... you'll tell us what Pauric's instructions to you and your group were and where they were headed."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Sat 08 Aug 2015.

Klale continues to act as lookout.

Teb looks over toward his two companions and then back to Toben.  He grins real big.  "We were to slow you down, strip all your gear.  If you died, it would not have made them sad, but he knew it wasn't likely to happen.  They went north, beyond the Withered Heath where the dragons rule."

Toben sighs. "They're trying to recruit the dragons... if they're still up there." He shakes his head and turns back to the group. "Time is short and I'm not sure how much longer Ceven can wait. If there is anything else you want to ask, now is the time. Otherwise, I think we've burdened these good hunters with our problems long enough."

He looks over to the hunter who has been doing most of the talking. "I think you've got enough to prosecute these three. Just keep a close eye on them, I have a feeling they'll try to slip away when you aren't looking."

The old hunter nods and asks the others present to make sure the three troublemakers are trussed up good and free of weapons.  They promise to bring them back to town and to seek an adjudicator from Gondor.

Guess it's about time to go Klale opines.

The group gathers its equipment and heads on across the river.  Xar, the dwarf, steps from behind a large outcropping of rock.  Ok and Kornari are out of sight of the hunters behind him.

Travel from there on is thankfully rather tranquil and swift.  Across the old marshes and down into the split ravine that joins together just before entering into Mordun.  The mountain where Ceven waits rises up in the distance causing several of the dwarves to mumble among themselves.  Fori even whistles.  Telchar is not much impressed and gives voice to that sentiment.

A few days travel brings the group into the valley where Amath waits.  Trees have fallen or been uprooted somewhat all over the valley inside the old volcano.  Amath looks haggard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:46, Fri 14 Aug 2015.

"It is good you have returned.  Ceven does not have long against this foe.  He loses ground each day and will succumb soon."

Ok stays behind Klale attempting to avoid being seen by Amath.  He peeks out, curiosity and fear warring within him.

The Gonhirrim, having been forewarned about Amath and the light orcs, do not draw weapons upon meeting Amath.  Yet their nervousness is palpable, their instincts an almost unbearable pressure.

For the first time since leaving his prison, Kornari looks on edge.  His voice is silent and he looks about as if certain of an ambush.  His tongue flicks in and out of his mouth rapidly and his eyes roll up into his skull from time to time, an animal response to something hostile and potentially more powerful.

For the first time in weeks, Toben finally looks at ease. He smiles at Amath, and breaths a sigh of relief. "I have to say, you're a sight for sore eyes, Amath."

He walks forward and extends his hand in friendship. "I believe you'll find we were successful in our task. We have some new faces I should introduce you to."

Toben motions to each new party member in turn. "The master craftsman, Telchar. Fori, the expert guide who helped us navigate the valaraukar infested tunnels under the mountain. Saris, a talented healer who kept us alive throughout our various trials. Xar, a skilled warrior who helped keep all the nasty denizens at bay. Kornari, son of the mighty Smaug. Finally, Ok, the most courageous warthyrch I have ever seen."

He looks back to the group and notices the tension among the gonhirrim. "No need to worry. This is Amath. He is one of the good guys, and helping us to push back the valaraukar."

Klale looks around. Kornari, what is you you sense?

Kornari peers into the distance where the cave of Ceven lies.  "I feel my...jailer."

Amath clasps Toben's hand heartily.  "It is good to see you, too, Toben Ironsprings.  It is good to see all of you.  Come.  We haven't much time."

Toben looks back to Kornari. "It's likely the same force that imprisoned you, also imprisons Ceven." He turns to face the cave. "All the more reason to break its hold."

He takes a step towards the cave, but stops short. "Master Telchar, I follow your lead."

The Gonhirrim eyes Amath one last time, then follows him to the cave.

Inside, the dwarves and the drake slow in awe of the cavern.  The reflection in their eyes is perhaps slightly more than the light can account for.  Telchar shakes it off in a moment and presses on.  The others wake when the humans move past them to follow.

In Ceven's area, the whole group pulls up short.  The crystal has taken on an ominous sheen.  All over the place, a dark, porous rock very much like Kornari's pillar protrudes from the crystal.  It's not that it broke through from one side and is shattering the crystal.  The dark rock looks more like a disease corrupting the crystal and growing from it.

Over at once was the table, there is a faint glow.  The table has sunk in except for the edges and looks more like a shallow pit, or possibly some kind of altar.  Heat and a faint, dark red glow pulse out of it like the stone there is being heated from below, trying to melt it.  Ceven, or what is most likely Ceven, is a huge pillar of the dark rock.  There is very little crystal left.  At Klale's height there is what might be a face made out of the crystal.  It is twisted and frozen in agony.

Telchar drops his weapon and moves quickly to the pillar to inspect.  He scratches his beard, mumbles to himself, then nods.  "Aye.  We've arrived in time.  A day or two more, though..."

Without further explanation he pulls a host of equipment from his pouches.  Vials of liquid, parchment, powders, small hammers and chisels and any number of other contraptions that aren't readily understandable.  Of all the people in the room, Saris is the one Telchar calls on to help him.

With deft hands she grabs whatever he asks for and hands it to him.

"What do ya see?"  He asks to no one in particular as he works.

Klale nods. Then perhaps you were jailed unjustly. Whether or not, I'm glad you're hee to help correct what's wrong...or to defend those who will do so.

Once in the cavern, the on-guard Klale says Gonhirrim, command, and I shall obey.

Ano is relieved when they make it back to the mountain and when they enter the cave he feels a deep sense of satisfaction.  When they finally see Ceven Ano feels sick at the amount of corruption that has entered into this once wondrous place.

While Telchar works Ano turns to Amath and talks quietly "The landscape on the way towards the mountain looked a bit rough as we approached.  Have there been attacks?"

Phineas sticks close, ready to help should it be needed. Still not trusting the drake completely, and alerted by his change in behavior, he also keeps a discreet eye on the creature.

Toben, face wrought with concern, walks over to the crystal most likely to be Ceven. He stares at it for a moment, then just shakes his head. "We'll find a way to get you out of this", he whispers.

He looks over at Telchar. "If there is any way I can be of assistance, just say the word."

He walks over to the table and holds his hand over it, remembering the radiance it once exuded. He stands there, out of the way, while Telchar gets to work.

When Telchar poses his question, Toben looks over to him with his head cocked to the side, unsure of who he is talking to.

"Do ya no' see th' corruption o' th' dark heart under th' Misty Mountains?  Th' pillar tha' held our drake friend?  What does it tell ya bein' so far from there t' see it here?"

Toben scratches his head. "It's either spreading faster than we expected, or there are multiple source of this evil with the same intent striking out simultaneously." He shakes his head, "It's hard to tell which though."

Toben eyes Ceven's pillar with caution. "I could ask it, but I fear the consequences will be more severe than last time."

Telchar nods and gets to work, not really answering.  His work is precise and tedious, but he does seem to make headway.  Every now and again he applies a powder to the ugly growth.  When he does, the rock seems to catch fire and fizz and spark as it burns down to the crystal.  Every last bit of the infection is gone when he does this, but he only uses the powder on the remains of a growth.  His pouch does not seem to have much of the powder in it, a fact he constantly mumbles about.

On occasion, he asks Klale if he will take Telchar's hammer and break off a large chunk of the growth.  He warns to take care not to strike the crystal or you might damage Ceven, sending him further into his delirium and perhaps lose the battle against the invasion.  [Roll for a precise strike: d20 + BA + Dex Mod ... no taking 10 or 20.  Telchar will ask you to roll 10 times, but you may stop and say no more after any roll as you wish.]

"Phineas, Ano.  Be good lads and pile this stuff up outside at th' base o' th' largest plant you can find.  It'll kill th' plant, but in so doin', th' plant 'll draw th' corruption out o' th' rock and render it inert."

Toben watches as the sparks fly and corruption burns. For the most part, he stands aside until called upon. He tries to catch a glimpse at the powder Telchar so sparingly uses. "Anything I can do to help replenish your supply of that powder?"

Klale is reluctant...for, probably...good reason. Nevertheless....

20:47, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Here Goes...

Ano pulls a winter blanket out of his pack, lays ot flat on the ground, and starts to pile the stones on it.  He makes sure he has his mithril gloves on, hoping the lether parts will keep his skin from the stone.  Then says We can carry together Phin.  Make the job a bit quicker".

"Easy, lad," Telchar says when Klale barely glances off the corruption.  Thankfully his caution prevents him from doing any harm.  "Try again?  You'll have to put a little something behind it."

He turns to Toben.  "I dunno, Toben.  This stuff takes days t' make in any significant quantity.  I'm doing wha' I can t' be spare with it, but I just don't know if ah have enough."

Phineas, uncharacteristically, is silent, but gets to work piling the corrupted stones onto the blanket with Ano.

Toben shrugs. "I understand, but doing something is better than nothing. Any amount that I could create would be helpful, I think."

He takes off his travel pack and starts to rummage through it, looking for anything useful. Taking stock of all his components, he just shakes his head. He opens the pouch with all the gems and examines them once more, thinking maybe they could inspire a solution.

Thus encouraged, Klale tries again; and, when nothing terrible seems to happen, essays two more strikes. He pauses to see the effect.

10:43, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 17 using 1d20+5. DDR3.

10:42, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 15 using 1d20+5. DDR2.

10:42, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 18 using 1d20+5. DDR.

The strikes knock off goodly portions of the corruption, enough that Telchar nods and believe he can work with.  He leaves it to Klale whether he continues or not.

Klale breathes a sigh of relief and desists, going back to watching and waiting.

Toben packs his components and supplies up neatly and secures his pack. He sits and watches as Klale lops off sizable chunks of the corrupted stone followed up by uses of Telchar's powder.

Refusing to give up, Toben walks over to Telchar and asks for a small bit of the powder in hopes that he can replicate it. Begrudgingly, Telchar relinquishes a few precious grains of the powder. Toben carefully collects the sample in a small glass vial, sits down in a quiet corner of the cave, and carefully analyzes them.

After a moment, Toben stands up with the look of an epiphany in his eye. He paces about the cave for a bit as if searching for something, then wanders outside the cave for a few minutes. He walks back in holding a nearly full vial, walks over to Telchar, and hands it to him. "You think this will do?"

Telchar glances at the vial, then does a double take.  His eyes go wide.  "Aye, that'll do, Toben.  That'll do."  With sufficient powder to work, Telchar picks up the pace.  On occasion, he swings his hammer, sure of his aim, and knocks off small to medium chunks of the corruption.  He direct Klale to help with the largest.

Soon, the crystal surrounding Ceven is clear.  However, the face in the crystal remains frozen in place and nothing seems to be happening.

"It should be clear.  I dunno what t' do now."

Toben walks over to the table where the four once sat and spoke with Ceven for the first time. He takes a seat in the same place as he did last time and examines the table. "Looks like there may be some sort of enchantment on him. I just need to try and locate the source."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Wed 19 Aug 2015.

As Ano enters the cavern again, after the last load of corrupted stone has been removed, he feels diffrent.  A shiver runs through his body upon seeing Ceven, and he moves towards the frozen figure slowly.  As Ano moves it seems as if his sole focus is on Ceven and maby on something else unseen, but nothing seems to distract his focus.

Tears streak down his face and he smiles warmly as he steps up to Ceven and looks into his eyes.  Ano raises quivering hands to Ceven's face and closes his own eyes concemtrating.  "It is so beautiful.  Listen".

Ano's strange actions cause the dwarves and Amath to step back and give him space.  Something is definitely happening.  Something profound.

Klale enloops his hammer and drops his shield. He goes over to a short table edge, drops to his knees, and attempts to lift the table. If he succeeds in moving it, he'll ask the others to help.

Toben loses himself for a moment as he gazes into the recession in the table. Klale's presence, and a sudden realization, stirs him from his thoughts.

"He knew. This whole time, he knew..." He stands from the table and places a hand on Klale's shoulder. "I think he knew this was a possibility, so he passed a fraction of essence to each of us. That's how we were able to do all the things we've done. This corruption has weakened him to the point of extinction, but I think if we were to be able to pass that purity back to him then he may have the strength to fight back."

He walks over to Ceven and places a hand upon him. "It's time to return the favor..."

Toben closes his eyes and begins to concentrate.

Klale asks What do you want me to do?

A faint silvery glow appears around Ano and Toben as arcane energy flows gently from them into Ceven.  Ano perhaps had the glow before, but so faint being the only one to touch Ceven at first, that it could not be seen in the light of the crystal cavern.

Not knowing exactly what's going on, but picking up on the cue, Phin walks over and places a hand on the imprisoned figure, simultaneously cocking an eyebrow and watching Toben and Ano for further direction.

"Join us Klale. Complete the circle."

Klale desists from his effort, goes to the figure, and lays both hands on it, saying Both hands might work better.

The Song soars, transcending volume and echoing in the soul.  The whole mountain shivers, whether in pain or exultation is hard to tell.  What the dwarves or the others feel is unknown since all of your being is focused on Ceven now.  Energy flows between you and he.  You feel the blessings lifted from you to rejoin him.

Then, with a frightening wrath, Ceven sends a tidal wave of Earth energy through the mountain and down into the depths of Arda.  Everywhere the wave passes, it overwhelms and annihilates the corruption.  Deep in the bowels of Moria, hundreds of miles away, the dark heart of the mountains screams silently in agony just before its connection to the world is cut off.

Focus returns to Ceven's chamber.  Your connection to him is not yet spent.  Before you withdraw, it becomes known to you that only one of you may retain Ceven's blessings...for now.

Ano, it may be that you will gain the blessings of all the Maiar in time.  The Way of the Four Doors is only the first lesson.  There are Three more beyond when those Four are open.  For now, if you choose, you may release the blessing to another without fear of never hearing my Song again.  In so doing, you will be given the opportunity to hear another Song, to open another Door.

Phineas, child, my Song does not resonate as well in you as another will.  Though you may choose to keep my blessing, such an act would only benefit you in a small way and would take the greater blessing from another.  If you choose to give up this gift I have given you, it will be forever lost to you.  While the choice is yours to make, I ask you to consider wisely.

Toben, knowledge is rarely lost by one with a mind such as yours.  All that you have learned so far, all that you can build from it, will remain with you.  However, if you choose to return your blessing, your special connection to the Earth will not remain, only the knowledge itself.  You are a scholar, potentially a wizard as grand as any Maiar of old.  Release the Song and gain knowledge of others.  Perhaps in time, we will go stronger and you may sing with the symphony of Arda, wielding all our blessings as Ano has potential to do.  Only now, another could benefit more from the Song of Earth.

Klale, gentle as the open field, as strong as any mountain.  Earth calls to you.  You have always heard its Song.  You have used its harmony to shape years of metal in your skilled hands.  The others may benefit from my Song, but you, you are as much of the mountains as these dwarves, yet unlike them, you are not deaf to our Song.  It is within you to forge wonders, not just for yourself, nor your companions, but for all the world.  Wonders that will tip the balance against the rising darkness.  In your hands, earth, metal, crystal, stone...all will seem to shape itself, eager to be what you envision.  But the choice is yours.

Which one of you will continue my Song, and which of you will seek another?

Once the display is over, Toben opens his eyes and smiles at Klale. He pull his hand back and steps away from Ceven. "Welcome back, Ceven."

Phineas, rather stunned by the display of power, pulls his hand back, and sits down on the cave floor. After a moment, he speaks:

"Well, my friends, I don't quite know what it was that I expected to happen, but that was it. I have little doubt stranger things have happened to me, but if so, I surely don't recall them."

"In any case, this gift is clearly not for me. Easy come…" he shrugs and looks expectantly toward Klale.

Ano slowly removed his hands from Ceven as he feels the song of the earth flowing out of him.  Once he opens his eyes and sees Ceven he smiles widely "Thank you for trusting us with your gift."

Klale removes his hands, sighs, and then smiles. Glad to have helped...it's been fun in a way.

He looks at the others and nods. Thanks. He replaces his hands and says I accept.

Once what is done is done, he asks Cevern, or anybody, There were many failing stars...so, what next? And Cevern, will you be alright from now on, or what?

"What is next is for you to decide.  I can tell you were my brothers and sisters are, but it will be up to you to decide whom you will seek after next.  My recommendation would be Nestael, the healer.  Her power would benefit you greatly as you searched for the others."

As Ceven speaks, the crystal around him is absorbed into his body and becomes part of his clothing, hair, and skin.  He holds out his hand as if already holding a weapon.  A staff grows there made of crystal.  At the top is the head of a warhammer.  The whole thing at first glance seems awfully frail, but it likely unbreakable given Ceven's power.

He turns to the dwarves.  "Your people face a grave threat from below.  The Valaraukar will soon overrun the borders of the kingdom of Moria.  Allow me to come and turn the tide, a way of saying thank you for freeing me."

"Aye lad, you'd be most welcome among our people."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Thu 27 Aug 2015.

"I would continue with the men and seek out this Nestael.  I could learn much from her."

"I will go home.  My people help Gonhirrim if they let us."

Fori pats the Warthyrch on the head.  "Of course, Ok.  I will speak t' Durina.  You have shown me th' worth o' th' warthyrch, and for my part I am happy t' have been wrong about you.  I believe I can convince her t' befriend and incorporate your people into th' defense o' Moria.  You are a brave, cunning, resourceful people and we would be privileged t' have ya."

Ceven turns back to the men, waiting for their decision or any questions that may linger.

Toben takes Ceven's suggestion to heart and nods. "Nestael it is then."

He walks back to the table and retrieves his travel pack. Once done securing it, he turns back to Ceven. "I must admit, curiosity has the better of me." He takes a seat at the table and begins his questions. "I agree that searching for Nestael is probably the best next step, but can you tell us a bit about your other brothers and sisters? What are their names, what unique power do they have, and where do you think they've landed?"

Klale looks at Kornari.

Kornari sits in the corner of the room curled up like a cat.  His eyes are closed and he doesn't seem to be paying attention to anything.

"There are seven stars that descended to Arda:

Ceven of the Song of Earth who was captured by the dark heart,
Nestael the Healer, whose body is ravaged without death,
Naurel the Song of Fire, who runs with dragon masters,
Lanthir the Song of Water, frozen in the land of the sun,
Gwaelind the Song of Wind, buried in the sky,
Nauthaur the Fool,
Faeruel Taurmaiar, who cannot be corrupted."

The listing seems to exhaust Ceven as if he used some power to discern what information he learned.  He rubs his head and sits against the table.

Tobe instinctively reacts to Ceven, and jumps up from his seat. "Woah, are you ok? You should probably take it easy... that corruption really took a toll on you."

He steps back to evaluate Ceven's condition. "Speaking of that corruption. We won't have Telchar with us forever. Do you know what it is, and how we can fight it?"

The Maia waves the scholar off.  "The corruption is gone.  Freeing me and restoring my power allowed me to wipe out what Dúath'gûr tried to do to me.  He will find something else to torment me with, but he lost the one minion he had vested his power in and I have Klale to bolster me.  It will be far long before he tries anything that potent again."

Ceven takes a deep breath.  "No, when you asked my about my siblings, something else took hold and gave me insight into their condition.  Whatever it was drained me for a moment, but I am fine.  It wasn't evil, whatever it was, but I don't know what it was, either."

He stands and eyes Toben for a moment.  "To your question, though.  Should Dúath'gûr attempt to use that corruption again elsewhere, you should have something to combat it.  Here."  Ceven reaches out and touches Toben's forehead with a finger.

When Ceven's finger touches Toben's forehead, time almost seems to stop. He can't breath, he can't think, all he can do is absorb the knowledge being transferred to him.

The moment Ceven release his finger, Toben inhales sharply as if a renewed life had been breathed into him. He looks to Ceven in amazement, then looks around the cavern. Pointing to a small crystal shard across from them he says, "May I?"

Klale's attention goes back to Ceven. Uh, in what ways may I, or can I, bolster you?

Ceven nods at Toben.  "Of course.  Take several, just in case."

The Maia turns to Klale.  "Thank you, my friend, but it is already passing.  I will be fine."

Klale continues Oh, I meant in the future...if such help were useful.

Toben smiles and walks to the back of the cave. He takes his time selecting a few choice crystals before stuffing them in his pouch. He walks back to the group and nods to Ceven. "Thank you, I think these will do nicely."

"All that information about your siblings... it seemed very cryptic. What did you mean by 'body is ravaged without death'? Do you know where we can find her?"

The Maia smiles at Klale.  "For now, the best thing you can do is find the other fallen stars."

Then he shakes his head.  "Honestly, Toben, I don't recall what I said now.  It is gone from my mind, like a dream lost upon waking too fast.  Whatever gave you that information was trying to help, reaching through me as I cast my thoughts abroad for information on my siblings.  There is something malevolent in the very fabric of the magic of Arda preventing me from sensing them on my own.  Whatever it was that gave you that information protected me...even kept me from connecting to my brothers and sisters in order to shield me from their pain, the corruption that binds them.  I fear that if I cast out for them again, I will be ensnared once more in the corruption, but on a much broader scope than against Dúath'gûr."

He sighs, not weary, but in looking ahead at the journey before all of you.  "I am sorry I cannot be of more help.  All I can tell you is that when we came to Arda, we weren't meant to fall, we were meant to descend.  Something powerful struck us during our entry into this world and so we fell.  Yet our fall was not in darkness, but with the light of our nature as Maiar.  Many had to have seen us and can guide you to where the others landed.  That is all I can say for sure."

Then we'd best take our leave to go our ways...some of us to trust that we'll find our way. May the earth uphold us, water refresh us, air sustain us, and fire befriend us. Kornari, what are your plans?

Kornari opens his eyes.  He seems a bit groggy, even for a dragon-kin.  "I'm coming with you."  There is no bluster, no arrogance in his voice, just a matter-of-fact statement full of what would be exhaustion in a human voice.  In a drake, its hard to tell.

Glad to have you Klale says. When this is over, may we all meet and share tales and laughter.

Toben strokes his chin as he thinks about the message Ceven passed on to them. He grabs his journal and scribbles for a moment. Once done, he recites Ceven's original message back to him. "I'm not entirely sure what it all means yet, but I may have a lead as to what direction we can start looking."

He walks over to the table and takes a seat again. He sighs heavily in remembrance. "I came from a small village nestled between the union of an iron-ore mountain and a fresh water spring that ran from it. The night the stars fell was the same night my village, Iron Springs, was destroyed. One passed directly over head actually. It was probably the most brilliant thing I had ever seen up to that moment. Hours later, a torrent of rock sliding down from the mountain buried everything... everyone. Somehow, I was the only one to survive. After everything we have come to know so far, maybe whatever thing caused the Maiar to fall also woke something up within that mountain. Something big enough to bring part of it down."

Toben looks down and away, then clears his throat in an attempt to regain composure. "Anyway, if I recall the trajectory of that star correctly then it wasn't Ceven. It was one of the other six. It's thin, but it's something..."

Phineas hoists himself to his feet. "Cevan, I'm delighted that you are free. No creature should be imprisoned in the way you were, and the fact that we had the privilege of being an infinitesimal part of your emancipation does my heart no end of good. But now, it appears, the time for us to part is upon us. Does anybody else here have any ideas about where the other stars might have landed in addition to Toben's? If not, it seems we have but one direction to go."

He begins putting his things in order, readying himself for the next leg of their travels.

Toben leads, we follow.

"I might have one other lead for ya, lads.  The reference t' th' dragon lords can only be north o' th' Lonely Mountain.  In th' Withered Heath, maybe beyond."

Toben's ears perk up. "The Withered Heath, eh?" He pulls the weathered map from his travel pack and rolls it out over the table.

He points to a small speck east of the turtle shaped body of water. "That is where Iron Springs used to be. The star was falling due west from there, but it's trajectory was far to low to make it over the mountains that Moria sits beneath. So the star I saw is likely going to be somewhere on a line between where we just were in Moria and the sea of Rhun." He sighs, "That's a pretty long stretch though, and that huge forest runs right in between."

He looks up at Telchar, "Could you point out where the Withered Heath is? Maybe that would be a little closer..."

Map references here:
1) http://5thagedivergent.wikia.c...e_Duchies_of_Man.jpg
2) http://5thagedivergent.wikia.c...i/File:World_map.jpg