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.