SCENE 1: The First Hall

[GandalfOfBorg]

Nori was the last to move, waiting for the Hobbit to sneak off.  He was prepared for battle but knew that this encounter required as much guile as brute force if the group was to survive getting any further within the ancient city.  He strained to hear for any sounds coming from the direction of the voices or others that aren't of the group, but couldn't discern anything.

Stealth (Sneak) - Roll(2d6)+9: 4,3,+9 Total:16
Observe - Roll(2d6)+5: 1,1,+5 Total:7-2 = 5
Roll(1d6)+0: 4,+0 Total:4/2 =2

[tomcat]

[GM EDIT] This is a post from Telcontar, moved from the previous thread.



Gumbo maneuvered his way around to find a wide enough path for the party away from the sentry. He threw his cloak about him so that it would disguise and cover his shape and not catch on any other traps. He took a moment to think of some of the Orc words he knew in case he was spotted he would try and bluff his way past.

[tomcat]

Following Gumbo's lead, the company quietly moved north towards the far wall which was well away from the voices. They maneuvered between the columns and came at last to a great stone wall that rose into the darkness. It had been worked by tools long ago, and Dwarven patterns could still be seen, but the beauty they once held was lost. Tapestries of many colors probably hung from great trusses, warming the chamber and making it grand. Now only the dampness and cold could be felt, as they leaned against it.

Gumbo noticed that there was a great edifice here with a wide avenue that ran further north. It was roughly 15' across. Where it led, none were sure, but Kori knew it was not the passage to the bridge - that passage lay to the west. As they stood at its eastern corner, more voices could be heard coming from within the darkness, but some ways away. The company needed to keep moving west to keep from being seen, or needed to hole up for a bit to let the danger pass.

Gumbo peered into the inky blackness wishing that he could use Kori's hooded lantern. They had only been within Moria for a few minutes and already the oppressiveness began to weigh on them.



Click the link to see the company's location... table leader needs to tell me what you want to do.

First Hall

[sdrotar]

It was so dark... if they waited, the orcs might pass, or even more might take their place. Vári was uncomfortable venturing forth, given such risks, but it seemed that staying in place wasn't an option - they had a long way to go yet, and the more progress they made, the better.

"Stay together and stay low," Vári whispered. "We'll need to watch our backs, but we've got to keep moving. Wait and we might hear a dozen more replacing those rabble."

[donimator]

Turumarth did his best to fumble along in the dark, one hand on the belt of the person ahead of him, and the other clutching his staff and garments in the hope nothing snagged or clattered on debris. He tried closing his eyes and realized there was no difference from the darkness with eyes open, but it gave him some comfort feeling like his other senses were heightened. He could only carefully place one foot ahead of the other, holding his breath with every step that it would find solid rock when it came down.

[tomcat]

The company made haste to leave behind the massive edifice and the sounds of the orcs. Turumarth clung to the belt of Bornoge, but the man was not skilled in stealth and was unable to move without making noise. Gumbo and Vári both heard it from across the huge chamber, as well as from the passage that they just left behind.

"Eh? Garn, there it was again. Something's out there."

And from behind them, "Sounds like Garn and his lads are moving about out there." Another voice replied, "Garn? Durgûz is having a lookabout, but he said he was going to the bridge." Then came the first voice, once more, "So, who's out there."



Click the link to see the company's location... table leader needs to tell me what you want to do.

First Hall

[sdrotar]

  I'm not sure I understand the map - which dot are we... and what are the other ones?

I think the Company should stop and hold still for a moment; the Orcs seem to think the noises might be coming from one of their own - stay quiet and after a minute, they may stop worrying about it.

If they keep investigating, we'll have to risk moving again, though. Let's see if we can better figure out where the Orcs are, and how many there might be by listening closely.

NOTE: Never mind the above - now that I understand the map, it seems clear that what I originally suggested would be a terrible idea. I posted again below. Sorry for the mix-up.

[tomcat]

You guys are the blue series of dots, and the trails shows your ingress into the city. The last dot at the end of the trail is your current position.

The red dots are the direction that you guys are hearing the orc voices. Firelight can also be seen faitly flickering from these two areas.

[sdrotar]

You guys are the blue series of dots, and the trails shows your ingress into the city. The last dot at the end of the trail is your current position.

The red dots are the direction that you guys are hearing the orc voices. Firelight can also be seen faintly flickering from these two areas.

Gotcha. Thanks, Tomcat.

To Company: In that case, let's think again. That's a big, dark room - with orcs probably headed in from both sides - we need to get the heck out of there. Even if we make noise and they find us, we need to be a lot closer to the way out. If we keep any potential fight in close quarters, we stand a chance, but getting surrounded is bad news. So big and open areas are going to be a no-no, in my opinion.

Unless anyone disagrees, I think we need to keep sneaking as best we can towards the exit, and get ready to run for it if necessary.

[Telcontar]

Gumbo heard the Orcs from the two positions and hoped that each would beleive it was the other making the noise. He stopped and whispered very soflty to the person behind him, "follow the wall around until you find a hallway with no noise, and wait there. Gumbo then let the rest of the party pass him by and pulled Nori out of the line. "Rear guard." He then let the party pass and took up a position on the parties rear covering their movement but back off of the corner so that any light the orcs brought out would not shine on them.

(OOC: I should have the internet pretty regular now.)

[tomcat]

Kori agreed with the halfling, "Aye, working their own sounds against them is a perfect mask for our passing. Come, let us hasten towards the bridge."

Gumbo and Nori took up a position a few meters behind the rest, as the company hastened along the north wall of the First Hall. On occassions, large pieces of rubble littered their path and they either needed to scramble over, or move around the rocks. Except for the fallen stones, nothing else could be seen - nothing living, no small animal, nor any sign that a folk once dwelt here. All furnishings, tapestries, carpets, and even metal hooks were gone - either rotted away with time, or taken to serve the new inhabitants. Only the cold stone, and utter darkness were there to greet each of their steps.

Finally the wall turned south, and the company moved in that direction. Kori whispered, "It should be soon. Soon there should be stairs... stairs to Durin's Bridge and entry into the Second Hall."

And just as the elder craftsman spoke, the beam from Vári's hooded lamp was lost in the darkness of a new cavernous opening that held a grand stair. Most were now chipped and broken, but again the company could see the masterworks of the stonesmiths of old in each marble-laid step.

With only the briefest pause to confirm that this was the stair that led to the bridge, Vári led the company down. They left the First Hall and the threats that had lay there, entering deeper into the bowels of Moria. Their footsteps clattered in the darkness, but then Vári drew his fellows to sudden stop, hissing silence as he did. Before them, somewhere in the darkness could be heard cruel voices. It seemed Durgûz and his lads had made it to the stairs, and the bridge first.

Voices could be heard, echoing up the stairwell, "You crossing?"

"NO! Not me... accursed bridge. It always seems to claim one of our boys each time. You won't get me to cross! Besides, there is nothing here. We can head back to the Hall and get some grub. Nothing is gonna bother them that live on the other side. Who'd e'er want to in Rog's city?"

A chuckle. "All right then, c'mon boys. Back to home."



See the map below to see the location of the Company compared to the new voices that were heard. I need to know what you all want to do...

First Hall
Second Hall

[sdrotar]

There was no choice. Vári thought that going back up the stairs and into the hall would be suicide, so they would have to confront this group here - and the sooner they did, the less noise would carry into the First Hall... and the other Orcs.

"Well," he whispered, "there looks to be no running from this fight. We'll need to take them down quickly... and quietly."

He thought that if they were to rush down the stairs, they would have the higher ground and the clear element of surprise.

[Telcontar]

"is there a landing or does the bridge begin at the end of the stairs?"

[sdrotar]

"is there a landing or does the bridge begin at the end of the stairs?"

Looking at the map, there's a narrow landing that's five times the width of the stairway.

[tomcat]

I am going to go with the assumption that Tom was saying that in character, not knowing the map.



Kori heard the whispered question, "Yes... it is said there is a balcony that precedes the span that crosses the abyss."