A Brief Stop before the Barrows...

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast shakes his head.  "You and your men should leave.  But Rorin, son of Barin, whom we have long known and who has shed his blood alongside us, has been ensorcelled by the dark spirits of the barrows.  Your life and honour we would preserve - such was our purpose in coming here ahead of you - but we will not leave one of our own to face a dark fate beneath the cold earth." 


Persuade roll, if necessary:
This dice roll has been tampered with!
1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 1, 1, total 8

[Telcontar]

The Hobbit turned and looked at the riders, his small face looked hard and unbending in the torch light.
"We are not here now to seek peace with the dead. Our errand has gone amiss, but we will not leave without our friend. My heart tells me that he resides within, so within I must go."

The Hobbit turned again to the mawing portal into the earth, and then the words of the witch sprang to his mind,

"Cold Hand, cold bone
spirits darkened under stone
Ne'er seeing morning light
Always cleaving passing life
But shadows hold cannot contain
Powered words that shall refrain
The strength of Arnu whom ye forsake
Willst cause your darkened spell to break!
Song

Rolled 1d12 : 5, total 5

Rolled 3d6 : 6, 4, 3, total 13

Forward! Come, forward for Rorin!"

The white knuckled grip upon the sword was firm, and though terrified some deep bell was rung in the Hobbit. He had no desire to see another friend fall lime Orophin had.

[tomcat]

"Nay, I will not leave, Arbogast. Not now. Not with a companion's life at stake," answered Ceawin. "We shall search together and I shall make my offering. Perhaps it will aid in the sparing of your friend's life, if he has been taken."

The Master of Sunstead returned to his horse, which was pulling hard at the reins held tight by one of his riders who had wrapped them around the horn of his saddle. Ceawin went to the horse's saddlebag and drew forth the treasure crafted by Rorin. He rubbed his sleeve across it to polish off some fingerprints and then slid it into a bag, which had a cord that could be cinched tight. This he then looped over his arm and loosened his sword. Bandy spoke his words and Ceawin replied, "Yes, let us go." Looking back to his men, "Two of you make haste back to Sunstead and take the horses with you, while the other two come with us."

The four guards looked at each other wondering who would be the first to show courage, but Grimbeorn was sure he saw relief on the faces of the two that were last to start their dismount. The Hobbit began to sing as the companions began to grab burning brands from the fire. It took a strength of will, but each pushed themselves into the hole and down the ancient steps that led underground. The song of power enheartened each member and they grew steady with each step.

The passage led straightway down about fifteen feet and opened up into a small antechamber, roughly 10 feet by 10 feet. The guttering torches revealed a floor that had paver stones laid in mortar and an arched passage just to the south. Two small alcoves were on either side and in each was what looked to be rusted oil pots. The companions also noticed that on either wall, left and right, were openings that had dirt, stone, and mortar scattered on the floor. The two rough-hewn passages had definitely been dug into the walls.

The barrow smelled of mildew and earth, along with a thin scent of death, and it had an absolute corrupting feel. It was unnaturally cold and the only air that moved was that that came down from above. The flickering light of the torches cast shadows about of the companions, but each thought that they moved independently of the caster.
Paul your persuade was a fail.

Tom, Bandy get's a great success with his song and each member will gain a success dice to use while in the barrow.

[Eclecticon]

Squinting in the flickering shadows, Arbogast looks to the dust and detritus on the ground.  If Rorin came here, there will be a sign of his passage...


Hunting roll:

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 5, total 8

Paul your persuade was a fail. 

With those numbers, I would think so! 

[tomcat]

For player consumption only - this is the stuff that I am sending Steve.
Rorin ran after the pony that he had staked to the ground not long before starting his fire. He gave a curse under his breath at the animal, as it disappeared into the thickening fog.

Behind him, Rorin could hear his friends running and calling towards their own beasts, going off in different directions. Ignoring their own labors, the Dwarf bent his will to his task and held the torch aloft as he did. The fog around him turned a golden yellow from the flickering fire and things outside the glow, became harder to see. Rorin lowered the flame and squinted into the fog, only to raise it again to see which view was better.

"Neither!" grumbled the Dwarf.

"Hello."

"Eh? Who's there? Bandy? Is that you?"

"Yes, Dwarf...over here."

"Well, be careful. This fog is not natural by any means...I mean, it rose from nowhere and now it blocks my view." Rorin gave a great yawn. It was as if his feet suddenly felt like anchors that held him fast to where he stood. His massive strength left him and his shoulders sagged. He blinked. He blinked again longer. When he opened his eyes after a third, there were three figures standing near him in the fog.

"Eh? Who..."

Sleep... came a long whisper from the three shapes. Sleep.

Rorin's eyes closed again and the torch fell from his hand. He did not feel himself go first to his knees and then slump to the ground. Neither did he feel as his foot was taken in a vice-like claw of terrible cold and then he was dragged away...dragged away into utter darkness.

[tomcat]

[EDITED]

successful at investigating the area of the antechamber, Arbogast sees evidence of footprints - see narrative below.

[Telcontar]

Bandy looked about the chamber and examined the passage openings. He took particular attention to see if something had burrowed in or burrowed out of the mound.

Explore:

Rolled 1d12 : 3, total 3

Rolled 2d6 : 5, 6, total 11

[tomcat]

Bandy could see that only the southern passage was built by whomever had originally constructed the tomb, the other passages looked as if they had been dug out by hand. Debris and stones littered the passage themselves, as well as the floor of the antechamber, in front of both passages. It was apparent to the Hobbit that whatever had burrowed the holes had busted into the chamber in which he now stood.

Esgalwen went to the right side alcove and opened the small ceramic pot that sat within. She pushed a finger down into the opening and felt a slippery wetness still inside. "This oil pot still holds oil - it has not dehydrated after all of these years." She placed the lid back atop the small urn and pulled then at the hemp wick that stuck through its center. She shook the whole thing and then placed her brand to the wick. A small flame began to burn, giving off oily, black smoke. The polished metal plate that sat behind the oil burner, within the alcove, was rusted and pitted and no longer reflected the light and so it was wan at best. Still, it allowed for the chamber to be lit behind them. Idunn checked the other oil pot in the opposite alcove, but it was cracked and any fluid it might have contained was long gone.

Arbogast looked at the floor to see if there was any sign of Rorin. Had the Dwarf entered this barrow without them? The dust that lay over all was not unmolested - something had been walking about within the barrow. There were also muddy prints of heavy boots near the exits of the burrowed holes, but they all looked old. It was not clear if Rorin was here or not.

Ceawin spoke, "We must stay close, but we must also spread out. If we were to be engaged by something in this room, none of us have room to swing a weapon. My guards and I shall go further in via the center passage."
Okay - everyone is in this small 10x10 chamber - Arbogast, Esgalwen, Bandy, Grimbeorn, and Idunn - along with Ceawin and his two guards. What do you guys want to do? I have marked each passage on the small attached map as well as show now where there is a light source.

[Eclecticon]

"I will go with you.  We must hasten - whatever is under here with us already knows that we are coming."