Morning discoveries

[tomcat]

OOC: I do not know if Galudir was intending on coming back to the Company to camp alongside or if he was gonna sleep somewhere out in the woods. If he did come back, then I can edit any discrepancies in this post. - Doug

Nain set the fire as the rest of the Company prepared a quick camp; it was their intention to salvage the night and get what rest they could. Though they had all drank from the fountain and many felt refreshed, still sleep was needed so that there would be strength of body come the new day. A few of the Company members laid down on their bedrolls while others sat around Nain's fire to discuss matters of travel, and also to wait for the adrenaline rush of the escape to ebb so that sleep would come. Only the surrounding fog and the haunting clatter of the chimes, hanging in the trees not far away, paid tribute to the soft conversation of the friends.

The fog was a boon companion to both the rogue and the Lorien Elf who quietly followed him. Galudir was able to achieve both of his goals - the procurement of food in the form of a rabbit, and a fresh water stream that ran down from the high mountains towards the lake below.

Seriand watched the Man - having drank from the fountain of his kin, the Elf had plenty of vigour to maintain his vigil throughout the rest of the evening.

*****

Morning came with a burst of sunshine over the Misty Mountains to the east. The fog that had blanketed the night quickly burnt away except over the lake and in shadowed areas where the light was yet to reach. The chirping of birds and creak of frogs that inhabited the valley lake below added a pleasant sound of life to the world that had been so muted during the night just passed.

Durgil and Fengel both went to the ridgeline to look at the village below to make sure that no new plans were being brewed by their former captors; but life looked normal, the Dunman attending to their daily duties. Smoke rose from cooking fires and the two companions even sat and watched as two Dunlending hunters passed them by in search of the day's meals.

For the rest of the Company, the view about them was breathtaking. Above them and the trees, on its spur of rock, sat the Elven gazebo. Around them was the whispering pine woods and needle and fern covered ground. The mountain peaks shone white and the sky was royal blue above. Each member of the Company did not remember when they felt so refreshed - perhaps in Rivendell?

Durgil marveled at the fact that he no longer felt sick and feverish and he quietly thanked Edrahil for his administrations along with the clean flowing waters that came from the ruin. It seemed that all things touched by Elves retained some semblance of permanence.

With everyone back to full health, it was time to decide what was to be done...

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[Nikitas]

Galudir awoke in the morning, refreshed but somewhat hungry again. He settled for another draught from the swift stream, from which he also refilled his water skin, before continuing up to the gazebo once again. He was quite happy with his decision to leave the ruin; though he risked losing the party he could not have slept comfortably in that haunted place. Even as he climbed the steps once again, his pace marked him as hesitant and distracted. Once at the top he could see that the companions were awake as well, though it seemed to him that one might be missing he quickly dismissed the thought.

"Well then, this notion to investigate belongs to the Company. I am merely but an attachment to guarantee good credit, so I patiently await instruction." Galudir sat down on a stone tablet that may have been a bench at one time and leaned toward the party in a way that suggested that he was, in fact, not patient.

[tomcat]

"...so I patiently await instruction."

OOC: As do I...  

[Wiseman]

Seriand stood vigil throughout the night, watching over the newest...addition to the company.   Whether or not this rogue could be trust was of the utmost concern to him at this time.  As night passed and the sun rose the elven scout continued to sit in utter silence, watching the stealthy rogue as he slept and thinking about the adventure thus far. 

Awakened by the rays of sunlight Seriand became more alert and watched as the rogue made his way back to camp.  Seriand waited for a few minutes, watching from the trees, before he too made his return carrying a some berries he had found nearby that would do little ot fill him up.

[sdrotar]

Clearing his throat, Dirnhael towards the brazier they had seen due to the magic of the Elves.
"It seems that heading that way would be a good place to start," he said while pointing in that direction.

He looked around to see if anyone suggested otherwise, then muttered, "Let us be gone, then. I am eager to be further away from the Dunmen."

[BrianM]

Edrahil was pleased that Dirnhael had chosen to investigate the mystery before continuing with their journey. In the elf's mind it was the right thing to do despite their experiences with the Dunmen. He nodded to his comrade and mounted, anxious to see the other ruin across the lake.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil, not really caring the direction in the short term, was just happy to be back to normal for the most part.  Encountering the Dunmen, though did weigh on his conscience... they reminded him of too many people he'd encountered outside of Fornost or other large settlements and strongholds.  There was a despair and oppresiveness that clung in the air around these people as if they were not happy with their lives ... as if they were going through the motions just to survive.  But maybe his own thoughts and fears were being projected through them.

[tomcat]

The camp was broken down with soft conversation between the companions and their gear was restowed on the perspective horses. Using his axe, Nain folded dirt over the fire a few times to snuff the embers completely and then he walked to his pony. He still disliked riding the beasts, but he had to admit the animal had grown on him. He listened as it crunched on the apple he fed it and then turned to the sound of Dirnhael mounting up. The Dwarf followed suit and the Company was once again on the road. Nain wondered where it would lead them now.

They rode along the ridge line and then down to the lake below, the Dunlending settlement not 500 meters away. Fengel looked over his shoulder towards the thin wisps of smoke that rose from their homes. He knew they were being watched, but nothing showed itself as a threat.

Following the shoreline to the western ridge of the valley, they once again climbed, looking for evidence of another Elven ruin. The pine trees that were prevalent throughout the valley grew in abundance here as well and they weaved about as the forest became more dense. But then it opened into a wide clearing of scrub grass and bare rock - the mountain face rose to their north.

The Company looked about and though nothing stood out in the area, there was evidence of tumbled stones and what appeared to be marble. The keen eyes of the Elves could immediately see that an Elven home once sat here - maybe it had been something more. Higher up in the clearing, the brazier could be easily seen leaning at an angle. Around it were broken stone columns carved in the organic stylings of the Elves. Riding over to it, they all noticed that the ground had been recently scorched. The companions began to dismount to investigate.

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

[Stefan]

Nain sits quietly on Jethro and looks around the area.  He wasn't sure what had happened here but it did not bode well for their progress toward Moria.

Actions:
Observe (Spot)
roll (1d12)+8; 4+8=12

[tomcat]

Nain slid from Jethro's saddle and walked to where the earth was blackened. The Dwarf knew fire and could easily tell that the grass and dirt had been scorched by an intense fire - it had happened very recently. In the center of the burned area was the old wrought-iron brazier but no fuel could be seen, or ashes for that matter, that would give clue to how such a fire could have been possible. The brazier was blackened too, but Nain could easily see how age and corrosion had bent the elegant metal-work out of shape.

Naught else could the Dwarf perceive from the previous night's ghostly flare.

OOC: I do not know if I left you all stumped, as there has been little posting here... then again, maybe everyone is very busy? Anyway, any more clues will need further investigation to find (if there are any?), but I do not want you all to just roll me an Observe or Search test - I want you to tell me where your character is looking, and what they may be looking for. If magic is employed, I want to know what Edrahil is trying to divine.

That is, of course, if they wish to go further with any of this search.

[tomcat]

OOC: I have updated everyone's Courage with the new day.

[Nikitas]

Observe (Spot):
1d12= 5
Perception (+1), Skill Ranks (+3), Speciality (+2)
5+1+3+2= 11

Search:
1d12= 9
Perception (+1), Skill Ranks (+1)
9+1+1= 11

Edit: The perils of cut and paste. And thanks TC.
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Galudir sluggishly dismounted from his horse with a loud sigh. He began feeling that he was spending far too much time with the company and so he endeavored to make that known. Walking toward the blackened land, his eyes spanned the scene. Once near the brazier he kicked aside ash, dirt, and rocks to see if any clues were hidden underneath. He laughed slightly at his actions and looked up to address the company.

"Yes, ash and dirt covering what I gather is another elven ruin. What are we looking for here, other than a souvenir perhaps?"

[tomcat]

OOC: I like this character.  

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Any sign of what might have transpired here last night that got our attention," replies Durgil.  "No souvenirs, information.  Knowledge.  That, I might think you would have learned, can be more valuable than mere 'things.'"  Dismounting, Durgil looks the area for tracks or any signs of living beings (torn cloth, apparrel, etc.).

Search - 4*-2=2
OOC: Boy, did that suck... let's try something different.

Observe (Spot) - 11*+5-1=15

[Palandil]

Fengel too dismounted and looked around the edge of the what was left of the elven structure.  He hoped to find some trail left by whoever set the fire.

Observe Spot:
+2 skill; +1Per; +2spot
Roll(2d6)+5: 1,2,+5 Total:8  Not sure if this will apply but +2 affinity for Track, and +2 for Survival Mountains? If applicable that would make it a total of 12.