Grimbeorn marched from the flooded cellar towards the stairs that led down to an opening to the outside. The others quickly followed him and soon the Company found itself back in the forest, though it was thinner atop the hills.
Morirúsë flashed the lantern about in all directions to determine if any threat presented itself, but only the tress could be seen. A fog still lay at their knees, but it did not glow with the same unearthly light as it had in the ruined courtyard. Behind them, the dark maw of the lower cellar was open and the light of the torch and lamp could no longer penetrate.
Esgalwen turned to stare into the blackness, "We left them."
Her tired, melancholy voice caused the Elf to turn, "What?"
"We left them. The poor souls imprisoned under this ruin. They were Men and Women once. They were merely passing, or maybe lost...and now they live in a nightmare that will never end."
"They could not be saved," said the Elf very matter-of-fact.
Esgalwen turned her tired, pained eyes on him and disdain was there. "No, they could not be saved," she said, "but they could have been released from this pain." Her shoulders slumped and she looked to the other two Men, "We need to camp. Where shall it be?"
:ooc: With the end of this night, the current chapter has taken 35 days since the departure from Rhosgobel at the beginning of October 2952 TA.
So it is the end of the first week of November when you guys come out of the cold wells.
Exhausted as he is, Arbogast is yet a Woodman, wise to the sensations of the great forest. Disregarding the speech of his companions, he listens for the night sounds, smells the odors of beast and mold, and feels the slight stirrings of the air on his face.
:ooc: He's using Natural Watchfulness to get an idea of the nearby terrain. Rolling Explore:
:00: 1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 6, 1, total 8
But the mist lies heavy on the hills, and the lingering presence of the Shadow below makes animate things disdain the area.
"The hills are silent to me," he says. "Nor do we have the strength between us to venture far. Fell things may yet seek us out, and I have little doubt that they will find us if they choose to do so, for we will need a fire if we are to recover any strength this night. I would return to the tower and build our fire within its halls. Perhaps that, and Dwarf-wrought walls, may keep our foes at bay.
Esgalwen nodded at her friend, "It is a wise choice."
She then looked at the other two for their thoughts.
The threat seemed to be past them but the burden of the place was still heavy on Morirúsë. The taint of it seemed like another bundle loaded to an already overloaded pack.
"You turn a condemning eye to me? I see that the lesson has been lost upon you Ranger of Gondor. For it was the decision of your companions to spare the vile creature in the court yard, not mine. All the burdens of this world I suppose still rest upon the shoulders of the Noldor, to be righted and their labours ceaseless for the making of the world for the second born, to offer counsel that is ignored and then besought to make things right. Ever has it been thus."
The dark nature of the elf was coming to the fore in this. He struggled against the darkness inherent in the tower, the weight of all the horrors he had already endured, and the sword itself. The blade sought to perform its intended purpose, to be drawn, to be wielded, to slay. It pushed him to do so, its long dormancy in Lindon had made it now hunger for use. And also he saw the horror of the creature and the cells fresh in is mind. In the deepest part of him that still existed it hurt him to the core to see the twisted work of evil. Part of him knew that this was the true intent of the enemy, to hurt the Eldar in the deep recesses of their being. For unlike Men they were not in Arda, but of Arda.
Thus the competing parts of the ancient elf called upon him to act and he was unable to resist.
Morirúsë, grim of face, handed the lamp to the Ranger and grabbed a simple torch. His voice was flat and quiet and spoke to no one in particular.
"The Wraiths will not long be overawed, but perhaps this one night we will be able to shelter in the tower, but it may be best to press on through the night away from here and find a place to rest for a day or two. These hills surely have caves that are dry, for I suspect few natural beast dwell here."
"If I do not return remember that the Beast of Mirkwood is the greatest foe of your folk and these others are but the lasting stain on the land."
Morirúsë shrugged off his pack and traveling gear. Esgalwen said nothing, the two men had not heard or comprehended the initial dialogue between the two, but watched the muscles of the elf tense, his face set, and his knuckles white upon the hilt of his drawn sword. As he walked back to the hall maybe it was the torch or maybe it was something else but the red flame seemed to dance and revel upon the keen edge of the ancient sword, anticipating the violence to come. He turned his head slightly to the side and spoke back to the three.
"I will free the tormented and punish the vile, or pass myself into the place appointed for me."
The Noldo started to climb a thin set of stairs that were carved in the bare stone of the hill. The Dwarves had quarried the stone here for the keep above, and so, too, had they broken the earth with their mines. The companions could see evidence of the old mineshaft entrances further below.
Esgalwen sighed and looked to her boots. She did not intend to offend her companion - weariness and pain had made her act so. She returned her gaze to Arbogast and Grimbeorn, "Go back to the main hall. Find a suitable place to rest that is defensible and set camp. We shall return shortly. I cannot let him do this alone...I must make it right."
:ooc: doug. I did not intend to go into the cellar but the hall above and then to the dungeon. The cellar and up the rope to the cells is too fey even for me. Trying to avoid the spirits but killfiddlesnytch and the prisoners.
:ooc: Oh, okay...although i thought your post was pretty cool in that regard! (-D
I was wondering how you were going to push through with a Weary Elf. Okay - i will re-tool my post for Esgalwen and we will have it go from there.
Also, just so you all have a picture of terrain. The tower ruin is above everyone, essentially three-stories of hill. The Dwarves mined for tin here and you guys are now where they quarried stone for the Keep and bore down into the earth with their passages.
Resignedly, Arbogast follows Esgalwen and Morirúsë up hill, grateful at least to have been spared their dolorous task.
They finished the climb to the hilltop proper and reentered the courtyard where they had fist encountered the old mage. There the party split in two - Grimbeorn and Arbogast walking into the old hall and the woman and Elf going back down the stairs.
Esgalwen could feel the ice in the air, but it was not because the passage was cold. "Forgive me, Morirúsë. I did not mean to lay any blame. In truth, it is the exhaustion and pain that made me react so to your words. But I do not claim that any responsibility is with the Elves...these are the trials of Men and Men must take account of their parts. Still, I appreciate you doing this task with me. I do not feel I have the strength of will to do it alone."
They continued down into the cold wells and there they made use of their weapons. It was bitter work, even though the poor wretches did welcome the release. Only Fyndylsnitch begged for his life and only for him did Esgalwen have no trouble in her soul for his passing.
:ooc: I know that the act you are doing is essentially good for the people who have suffered so lone, but still they are troubling to mind and soul. I am requiring another Corruption test by Esgalwen and Morirúsë:
TN 18 Wisdom by PC:00: Esgalwen 4d 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 4, 3, 3, total 13
:00: Morirúsë 2d 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 5, total 10
:ooc: Man, Tom! This poor Elf.
• Esgalwen passed the test with a :g: success
• Morirúsë fails the test with a 10 result and an :~~:; he suffers 2 Shadow point gain and is now Miserable
:ooc: the dice have a story to tell! Its what I deserve for invoking Feanor and his sons.
Quote from: tomcat on Dec 04, 2017, 11:02 AM:ooc: Man, Tom! This poor Elf.
:ooc: Cry me a river. Arbogast picked up a permanent Shadow point when he crit-failed a corruption test in a blighted area. All Morirúsë has to do is sit around singing elf-songs for a bit and this will just be a bad memory. Grumble grumble, moan moan. :P
Working together quickly and wordlessly, Grimbeorn and Arbogast shiver several broken chairs and an ancient table to firewood. When their companions re-emerge from the cold wells, weary and wan-faced, they find a well-banked fire awaiting them.
:ooc: That's all we need, another Dark Elf.
Morirúsë saw where someone had brought his gear to their makeshift camp. The sword still bloody from its foul work fell upon the ground free of it's scabbard, dropped from his hand with a cold ring. Next he removed the armor, none in the company had seen him do that in the wild before and that too fell to the ground by his gear. In the fire light now he looked thin and frail. The worn image of a stable training dummy, hollow and well battered, possessing the caricature of battle readiness, but well used and worn. He said nothing while he worked and sat as stone when he was finished, staring into the sickly fire of the tower's former furniture.
The silence lingered, each in their own thoughts, but then the elf spoke. His voice was quiet, almost hoarse at first and filled with age and weariness.
"Here is a tale for you Arbogast, fashioned in the form of the folk of Beor long ago. I see the likeness of that dwindled and hunted people in all three of you. Whether it be a foretelling or a summary of today I don't know, but a gift to you Firewatcher it shall be. You, the collector of songs and deeds of your people.
Foes before them, flames behind them,
ever east and onward eager rode they,
and folk fled them as the face of the Vala,
till earth was empty, and no eyes saw them,
and no ears heard them in the endless hills,
save bird and beast baleful hunting
the lonely lands. Thus at last came they
to Mirkwood's margin under mountain-shadows:
waste was behind them, walls before them;
on the houseless hills ever higher mounting
vast, unvanquished, lay the veiled forest.
Dark and dreary were the deep valleys,
where limbs gigantic of lowering trees
in endless aisles were arched o'er rivers
flowing down afar from fells of ice.
Among ruinous rocks ravens croaking
eagles answered in air wheeling;
wolves were howling on the wood's border.
cold blew the wind, keen and wintry,
in rising wrath from the rolling forest
among roaring leaves. rain came darkly,
and the sun swallowed in sudden tempest.
The endless East in anger woke,
and black thunder born in dungeons
under mountains of menace moved above them.
Halting doubtful there on high saw they
was horseman wild in windy clouds
grey and monstrous grimly riding
shadow-helmed to war, shapes disastrous.
Fierce grew the blast. Their fair banners
from their staves were stripped. Steel no longer,
gold nor silver nor gleaming shield
light reflected lost in darkness,
while phantom foes with fell voices
in the gloom gathered. Grimbeorn loudly
cried as clarion. Clear went his voice
in the rocks ringing above roaring wind
and rolling thunder. 'Ride, forth to war,
ye hosts of ruin, hate proclaiming!
Foes we fear not, nor fell shadows
of the dark mountains demon-haunted!
Hear now ye hills and hoar forest,
ye awful thrones of olden gods
huge and hopeless, hear and tremble!
From the West comes war that no wind daunteth,
might and purpose that no mist stayeth;
lord of legions, light in darkness,
east rides Arbogast! Echoes were wakened.
The wind was stilled. The walls of rock,
answered.
Morirúsë was still in the after silence, and closed his eyes.
:ooc: :> nice work, but that elf knows how to kill the mood :roll:
Darker and more dreary fell the mood over the camp with words of the elf. The silencing of tortured souls, though merciful, was no balm their own. The night wore on with little sound over the crackling of fire or the heavy breathing of those who slept; even the restorative powers of a meal did little to soothe or lighten their burden.
Quote from: Eclecticon on Dec 04, 2017, 02:55 PM:ooc: Cry me a river. Arbogast picked up a permanent Shadow point when he crit-failed a corruption test in a blighted area. All Morirúsë has to do is sit around singing elf-songs for a bit and this will just be a bad memory. Grumble grumble, moan moan. :P
:ooc: That is true, but the reduction in Shadow makes them more prone to Shadow. It is a cool mechanic.
Anyway, I was going to say to Tom - if you want, i will allow you to earn only 1 permanent Shadow point instead of 2 temporary. You are miserable with the 2, where as you might not be miserable from the 1 permanent.
Let me know if that is something you wanna do.
:ooc: I am going to give everyone an Explore test to see if they can reduce more Fatigue from this night's rest. Target number would be 18, but Grimbeorn breaks out some twice-baked honey cakes (laced with a special herb) and everyone has an easier time (TN is 18 - Wisdom rating).
• Remove 1 Fatigue on a success
• Remove 2 Fatigue on a Great success
• Remove 3 Fatigue on a Extraordinary success or :g:
• Gain 1 more Fatigue on an :~~:
You will get your standard reduction of Fatigue and Endurance return, no matter how this roll results.
:ooc:
TN 16 Explore by PC:00: Arbogast 3d 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 4, 3, total 13
:00: Esgalwen 2d 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 3, total 8
:00: Morirúsë 1d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 1d6 : 3, total 3
:ooc:
• Arbogast had a TN 14 and rolled a great success for 2 Fatigue reduction plus his standard 1 reduction for a good night's rest; he also gains back his standard 2 :<3: :csu:
• Esgalwen had a TN 14 and rolled a success for 1 Fatigue reduction plus her standard 1 reduction for a good night's rest :csu:
• Morirúsë had a TN 16 and rolled a failure but still gets his standard 1 reduction for a good night's rest; no longer Weary :csu:
• Grimbeorn gains back his standard 2 :<3: :csu:
The companions woke with the new morning. Their rest was uninterrupted and each felt better for it. The old hall seemed to emanate a security that was not present elsewhere. More savory would be the words used to describe it, but it was evident that the Dwarf ruin was still a haven for passersby, if they kept themselves solely to the hall.
They made a quick breakfast of dried meats and fruits, along with Grimbeorn's honey-cakes. Once done, they collected their things and hitched their packs once more upon their backs.
They exited the stonework through the ruined courtyard, where they battled the night before. It seemed more pleasant in the daylight, but eyes were still upon them. Nothing threatened, but the Company could feel the presence of evil watching them leave. A coldness from the earth below put them on edge, and the constant need to look over their shoulders, but they left unmolested.
When they were once more down from the hills on the north-side, where the old road made its way, Morirúsë looked back to the Beacon Tower and saw a dark shape staring down at them. The Noldo knew it was the spirit he challenged the previous night and he could feel its threat.
Do not return here lest ye find the death thou hast sought through these lingering years in Middle-earth... t'is no longer your world.
The Elf said naught of what he saw or felt, as the companions marched over the road heading north, now, towards the Mountains of Mirkwood.
:ooc: I am opening the final leg thread for your trip to the mountains.