Ceol returns to the surface, and quickly dons warmer attire, then is ready to return to the barrow.
Ceol returns to the surface, and quickly dons warmer attire, then is ready to return to the barrow.
The party moves along, Bitur determines the thin nearly invisible ice is very slippery and advises all to take care. The party descends 30' into biting cold. Bitur guesses it is maybe -30. It should be in the 50 to 60 degree range. They reach the inner door and Ceol determines a great evil is on the other side. This door radiates magic, it is enspelled. It is 4' wide x 6' high and made of stone with 2 huge iron rails at the 3' and 5' height to pull it out and move it to the side.
Mulligan finds no non-magic traps but is sure that something dangerous is weaved into the magic of the door.
Thoroncir looks to see if the door shows any sign of having been opened recently. And does it look like this ice has been here all along, or has it been created for our "benefit"?
"I get the feeling this door is what is keeping the evil beyond it firmly trapped. Opening it is likely to result in us having to fight something really nasty, especially if there is a precise method for actually opening it. I suggest using magic at a far distance to do so. Oh and let's make sure the door at the top remains open if we do so."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Very good. We need a volunteer at the upper door - I suggest the burrahobbit ensure that the door cannot close itself - and then I will sing this one open. We had better stand to our most effective wight-banes while I prepare the opening song.
Librarians rule, Oook
Bitur stand at the ready:
"Whenever you're ready, Gil-Gandel, so am I.
*To the rest of the group*
"Let's put whatever is on the other side of that door to permanent rest."
"By all means," says the Sea-knight captain, tightening his fist around the grip of his longsword. "I am ready."
Mulligan nods at Gil-Gandels suggestion." I'm not that much use against the undead, so I'll head up and make sure the door stays open as well as letting the others know. Don't forget we have two excellent undead fighters above ground, so don't be afraid to retreat and lure whatever is down here outside." She heads back up the steps to the outside.
Rorimac lights up the corrider with Belethil, ready for the door being opened. This is the kind of place that it will come in really useful. "If it goes badly for us, I'll cover our retreat."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Ceol nods to Gil-Gandel. "I am ready. May Eonwë and all the gods guide us and protect us."
Deor nods grimly, raises his wand, and prepares to attack if necessary.
Gil-Gandel strums a strange but euphonious chord on his harp to Knock the door open, then without waiting to see the results goes at once to his two swords.
Librarians rule, Oook
A deep bass sound occurs with Gil-Gandel's song and a horrifying groan is heard from the other side. The door flies open and at the party with great force. Bitur deflects the heavy flying object with his war shield but is knocked over by it. Gil-Gandel successfully dances out of the way and pulls his swords out.
Thoroncir rolls backwards out of the way of the door knocking Deor down and Gilraen to the side.
Rorimac ducks under it and moves forward with Belethil glowing brightly. He sees a fearsome sight, this wight looks like a man ripped inside out. It has a glowing sword in one hand and a black shield emanating darkness and cold. A bloody crown sits on its torn up hideous head. Though Rori feels the fear wash over him with Belethil it has no effect.
Ceol feels a blast of pain and evil but overcomes the fear. The evil is very strong.
Bitur will stand up and advance to Rorimac's side while applying a dose of liquid light to his axe.
Last edited by Hoopy Frood; 14 May 2012 at 07:11 PM. Reason: Me fail English? That's unpossible!
Deor doesn't know much about wights, but any being that emits such a cold power won't enjoy elemental flame. He rolls to his left, aims his wand, and cries "Agni Fastu!"
Staggered for a moment by this overwhelming evil, Ceol then draws himself straight, and advances, leading with his short sword (which is particularly consecrated to fight undead). "By Eonwë's power, I smite thee, o abomination!"
Looking for an opening as the warriors press forward, Gil-Gandel is ready to strike over the heads of Bitur and Rory if there is room, while his voice rings out in tones redolent of the ancient song of mighty Iarwain:
Fire burn thee, chill wight!
Wither in the daylight!
Fade away, winter-ice,
In bright dawn vernal!
Vala-power light thee,
Bright steel smite thee,
Lay down thine unlife,
Go to rest eternal!
Librarians rule, Oook
With Khosal's Bane in one hand and a Dunedain blade in the other, Rorimac stands slightly forward of the others, a fixed grin on his face, Belethil blazing brightly from one hand, and remembering the last time he was in this position. He hopes it goes as well as it did before.
While the others are gathering themselves, he will intercept head on, knowing the others will be flanking him.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Thoroncir sees that Deor is all right, and glances at Gilraen. If she is well, he will stand and - shaken as he is by the sight of this ancient monstrosity - move up in support of Rorimac and Ceol.
From the door at the top, Mulligan can hear the sounds below. Making sure the door is remaining open, she turns to the others, "It's started."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Deor send a fan of flame at the wight and is rewarded with smoking and charring. The 5 warriors charge and assault the wight with blows from swords, glowing axes, shields, glowing swords and flaming swords. It is utter confusion and Rori strikes 4 times and Bitur chops off the wights sword arm with his axe and knocks the foe onto Ceol's Silver Sword who then knocks the wight to the ground as Thoroncir cleaves the bloody crown and Gil-Gandel shoves Îdh Uireb through the wights heart. As all of this is happening, Gilraen sends a piercing light at the wight's shield of darkness and it bursts asunder and the room immediately begins to warm up and get much brighter.
It took less than a minute and this wight is destroyed. Over the next few minutes the barrow warms up to about 53°F degrees. The wight never even successfully swung his sword.
Ceol goes to one knee, and bows his head in a prayer of thanksgiving, before standing, and regarding the group. "Well fought, my friends. We have rid the world of an ancient evil, and finally sent a tortured soul to his rest."
Thoroncir nods. "I agree. Let us search the barrow in its entirety and ensure that it is truly cleansed."
What do the wight's crown, weaponry and accoutrements now look like? Are they too imbued with evil to be removed?
"Is it safe down there yet?" comes a call from the door with just hint of a smile.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
"It is," calls Gil-Gandel, "and you may wish to check the burial chamber for us."
Go to your eternal rest, spirit of Man, and may the One pardon your long defiance!
Librarians rule, Oook
Mulligan lets the others know, and then comes down to examine the burial chamber, look out for traps and magic items and so on. "You might want to lay those items from that, outside in the sunshine and leave them for the moment."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Thoroncir will do so in a moment. Is Arcirist still glowing?
Arcirist is glowing very dimly, Gil-Gandel and others know the wight is not yet utterly destroyed. Gilraen speaks up, "I can perform a ceremony to protect this barrow and Mulligan is right about spreading the burial treasures outside in the sun. I wonder is any of these items belonged to the Witchking?"
Ceol will assist in removing the treasures to the sunshine, using his swords to carry the items without touching them.
Mulligan will be using Heliox to examine the burial chamber.
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
So the burial chamber is on a deep sea bed?
Librarians rule, Oook
Thoroncir will assist Ceol. He has some empty sacks into which the artifacts can be nudged and then carried. "Please conduct your ceremony, my lady," he says to the Princess.
Deor will assist in looking around. We've made good progress, but the magics in this barrow haven't dissipated entirely yet.
Gilraen asks the Holy Knights, Bard and Druid to assist her if they will. She is going to perform a long spell and song that should put spirits to rest, sanctify and the chambers and mound and help break the curse. She believes it will take 40-60 minutes.
Mulligan finds everything in the chamber is magical but it varies from the light touch of an old spell to clearly magical items. He also locates some invisible magical runes on the main casket.
The magical items are as follows:
Chain Mail (Bitur indicates it is Dunedain craft and probably +4)
Shield (Bitur indicates it is Dunedain craft and probably +4)
Long Sword (runes indicate vs. orcs but it is not Elvish.)
Short Bow (Gil-Gandel guess it is at least +3 but of course it might do more)
15 arrows (all the same)
3 magic daggers (all the same)
Mithril Arrow (Looks very special)
In a chest which is eventually brought up and opened carefully with Mulligan handling the traps and locks but Drindoleth opening for fear of a fire trap:
2 +3 Dwarven made Short swords from the Blue Mts. Belegost
Book of spells for Rangers!
2 more chest contain a total of 800 gp in gems, jewelry and 225 gold coins of ancient mintage.
There are another 26 loose items that have the general evil spell on them, but are not otherwise magical.
The broken evil crown is the only innately evil item and even this seems to be just deeply enspelled. The Shield and Long Sword are strongly evil but it is already fading once outside.
Deor will cast Comprehend Languages to better interpret the magic runes on the casket and the runes on the long sword. However, if he suspects that the runes might be explosive, he'll take precautions, and maybe have Drindoleth open it.
Thoroncir will stand guard near Gilraen as she casts her spell and sings her song.
Deor would know that Comprehend Languages does not work on magic writing Gil-Gandel could read the runes on the sword. There is nothing more to learn this way.
While those underground carry out their ritual of cleansing, Mulligan will be ensuring that the items are well spread out in the sunlight, remembering that we should not really be taking any of these items anyway as they are burial goods.
Rorimac picks up the book of spells and starts looking through it to see if there is anything in it he understands. "I'm just looking", he says to Mulligan as she fixes him with a stern glare, "I'll put it back shortly."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Ceol will certainly help Gilraen with the ritual, and encourage his fellow Knights of Rohan to do the same. "Let us finish the task which we have set before ourselves."
Gilraen is sure the Ceremony was successful and thanks all for their help. Gil-Gandel feels the need to scatter these items far and Drindoleth calls and then summons birds to grab the smaller items and coins and carry them far off to the north and east and thus away from the downs completely. The items should also be scattered and for each party member to take one but never more then one is best at this point. Even the arrows should be scattered but the birds can carry the excess ones away. Even Tom thought it was fine for the Hobbits and himself to each take an item as Rorimac would well remember*.
It is clear nothing found could be the item of the Witchking that Kkósal seeks.
Gilraen says, "What appears to be left is dividing up the items and deciding where next and when to go."
* Also recall what Lorlianna said, "Should the party be willing to take on the Barrow Downs I advise you seek help and remember this, the curse is great on the items under the wights guard. No one should take more than one item of the accumulated hoards and all the items should be scattered to try and break the dark spells. This is not a case of disrespecting the dead but clearing the land of evil ancient and deadly. One item at least should be most foul and this one must be destroyed."
Rorimac sits on the grass outside the barrow and unfurls the map for all to see.
"One down, six to go. West of here we have the Prince and King's Barrow. South West, the other four barrows or Tarcil, Avantar, Eldacar and the Lords of Arnor for us to check out. I'd suggest tackling the Prince's Barrow next and then, if we have time or are not chased from trhis area, the King's Barrow."
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
"That sounds like a good plan, Rorimac."
Ceol has a mild interest in the long sword found in the Barrow, if it is better than the one he currently wields, but given Lorlianna's warning, he's a bit leery of taking anything from the hoard.
The "very special" mithril arrow naturally attracts Gil-Gandel's attention.
Librarians rule, Oook
Thoroncir agrees with Rorimac's suggested plan.
Rorimac recalls Merry having related the mound of Princes was just cleared. (This was an oversight on my part, I apologize)
As he recalls, Merry related the following:
On August 16th we arrived at the Prancing Pony at 3pm. Bokken told the tale of losing 3 companions on the Barrow Downs. Elder Ranger Haldir (of the grey company) stepped up and says it sounds like the Mound of the Princes. Merry's party left at 3:30am for the 20 mile journey. Lindar casts a Phantom Steed for Haldir to ride lead on. Lindar then casts Phantom Steed 3 times to bring the 3 Revived Companions of Bokken back to Bree. Bokken left with Sulring and 2 pairs of +6 Galvorn Chain. Haldir took +3 Helm with Eyes of the Eagles. Mithril Headband: Lindar (pg 19), Brin Mithril Cup of healing, Bjorn Amulet of Eagles Tongue, Merry Cloak Pin Speak with animals, Fely Boots of speed, Haldreng Boots of Movement, Nico +6 Galvorn Chain, Mírëgol Books of Elementals, Hlíf: Crystal Orb of Light.
August 17th they then escorted Hobbits in quick and back out in exchange for the 500 gold each to party. Party visited Tom and then most headed back for Bree. They then dispersed.
We need party members to take an item if they're going to and then scatter the rest.
Last edited by What Exit?; 23 May 2012 at 09:59 AM.
Then the King's Barrow alone, although it may be worth checking the Prince's Barrow has remained cleared and possibly cleanse it if we have to.
Rorimac is interested in the Book of Spells, but Mulligan will pass.
Can Rorimac use Belethil to read the runes on the long sword?
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
Rorimac uses Belethil to interpret the runes on the long sword as "With this weapon, free Morgoth's foul orcs from their tortured time in the world."
Last edited by What Exit?; 23 May 2012 at 10:03 AM.
If it wasn't so large Rorimac would have considered using the weapon
In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.
"If any of you would like to wield the long sword, I shall defer to you. Otherwise, I may take it along, as it would seem to have been created for a worthy purpose."
Would Thoroncir be well-suited for the weapon, or could he do more good against such foes with his enchanted Numenorean longsword Arcirist?
Bitur doesn't have much need for any of the items found, already possessing a +4 shield, so he is fine with however the rest of the party wants to divide the goods.
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