Middle Earth FA64 D&D Game: Seventh Adventure – The Ruins of Old Hatha

"Let us press on," the knight-errant says firmly. "I suspect our most important work still lies ahead."

If the towers remain securely barred and sealed, let's push on, so that we can return to the larger army- they sound like they could use us sooner rather than later. We'll mark these on our map, so that a later party (whether us or someone else) knows that we suspect evil inside.

The party cautiously proceeds up the switchback street. It is deadly silent aside from the boots hitting the stones of the road. The tower at the final switchback looms over the road and evil is detected from within and undead. But again the windows are sealed up and the door solid and secure.

The main tower is 50' square at the base and tapers up to 35' as it climbs 85' high. It is the highest point of the hill and the roof would command a great view of the surrounding lands. The tower radiates evil and magic. The doors have strange signs on them. The stone is solid and gray in appearance. The stone fit together tightly. Nothing grows on the tower. At the top of the tower a window peers out with a slate awning over it. Something seems to be peering out and down on the party. A chill falls on the party and a mist begins to rise. It feels very wrong.

Suddenly breaking the tension a shadowed figures leans out ...

Do any of the markings and signs on the tower look familiar to anyone? Can we at least determine the language or origin of the signs?

Quick - one of our archers should fire at the shadowed figure!

Ithilneth will certainly try hit the mark of the shadow.

Does she recognize the type of the signs on the tower, if not their specific meanings?

Let's go easy on making a pincushion of the shadowy figure before we know who it is. Nock and draw, certainly, but not everything is an enemy.

"The tower radiates evil and magic... Nothing grows on the tower... A chill falls on the party and a mist begins to rise. It feels very wrong...."

I think Thoroncir is safe in assuming this is a Bad Guy. :dubious:

Mulligan and Rorimac head quickly for the door to see if it is trapped, sorcelled or locked.

Ceol moves behind the halflings, looking to help protect them in case they are attacked.

If the mist rising is anything like the mist that rose in the graveyard, get ready for a battle. I just hope I'm not running directly towards an outpouring of undead rather than away from it.

Magic arrows fly up from the elven bows. It appears that Prestolwen's hit and disrupted the figure's actions. Deor & Ithilneth are sure he was casting. In all 6 arrows flew up and at least two seem to have struck home. The figure pulled back.

The Hobbits find the door is locked and when they examine it Mulligan gets a strong feeling it is not safe to touch the door.

The strange signs are probably a form of glyph thinks Ithilneth.

"Well loosed!" says Thoroncir to the archers. "Now can any of our spellcasters open the door magically, or our Dwarves knock it down? If the latter, I stand ready to help."

I can Knock it again, but it might be simpler to just blast it.

Mulligan and Rorimac will be standing well clear regardless of what action Deor decides to take.

"Beware the door. Likely it has an evil magic on it," warns Ithilneth. "Methinks it best to dispel it before trying to open the door."

"If you're equipped to do so, or if Gilraen is, then by all means, do it. I haven't got the means for that today."

Ceol nods. "Let us attempt to dispel the trap then, quickly, as that figure in the window is undoubtedly regrouping, even as we speak."

He stands ready to enter once the door has been opened.

Gilraen does indeed have Dispel Magic memorized. She says, "I will try to break the magics on the door and I suggest Deor Knocks it if I succeed." She gathers herself, says a small prayer, rubs the ring that her Uncle, Elrohir the Half-Elven gave her and Sings her song of Dispelling.

At first it seems like nothing is happening. Then a heavy copper pot flies out the window towards Gilraen but Thoroncir was ready and takes the blow on his shield. The blow numbs his arm for a bit but Gilraen is undisturbed. Finally Gilraen pulls out her bauble and it glows with the light of Eärendil's Star, the captured light of the Two Trees themselves. Missy lets loose a low growl from Gilraen's shoulder and turns nearly visible in the light and a fierce looking glowing image of a cat projecting a sharp shadow back onto the mist behind the party of a 20' tall cat with her hackles raised and poised to strike. The tower trembles and Gil-Gandel takes up a song of support to help Gilraen. His melody is flowing around her own song of power. For a few seconds it seems like everything hangs in balance. The mist itself shimmers in her light. The hearts of the party are lifted high. Mulligan and Rorimac feel the strong urge to burst into song themselves. The entire town and even the hill seem to be quivering like a tautly pulled bowstring.

What do the party members do at this moment?

Thoroncir steps beside Gilraen, sheathes his sword and gently places his right hand on her shoulder in loving support. He will try to wordlessly harmonize with the song so beautifully being sung by the princess and the Elf-captain.

Seeing Thoroncir's action, Theogrim will move slightly closer to him and Gilraen, looking to protect them and preserve their concentration in case more cookware (or worse) comes flying from the window.

Both Rorimac and Mulligan will raise their voices in aiding Gilraen's song and will move to join her and Gil-Gandel.

Thoroncir appreciates their support. He will keep an eye on the tower and have his shield at the ready if any other projectile is hurled at them.

There is a shriek of rage from the within the tower and then the door itself burst into pieces. Sala produces a rough drawing he has made of what we should find within the tower. He is vague on the upper levels though. He warns, “Beware of traps before you charge in.”

As he says it a bolt flies out the broken door and shoots Gilraen just below her perfect left breast. She drops to the ground in a faint.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ndeadTower.jpg

Ithilneth peers through the newly opened portal. If she sees a target she will loose an arrow at it. Otherwise, she draws her melee weapons and heads through it, looking for the source of the attack.

"Find the attacker! Get out of the open!"

Thoroncir has no time to wonder how Sala knows what's inside the tower before, with an anguished cry of dismay, he picks up Gilraen and carries her away from the tower to safety, calling for Ceol, Redward or any other healer to help her.

Ceol follows Thoroncir, who carries Gilraen's limp form, sheathing his weapons as he goes.

"I shall do all I that I can to help her."

Bitur puts his arm out to stop Illineth, pulling her gently back if needed.

"No offense, my lady, but charging into a darkened tower when one knows not what one will find is not the wisest course of action. Plus, it would probably be better for one more heavily armored than yourself to volunteer to be pin cushion. We should proceed cautiously, not haphazardly. Besides, it's not like the denizens inside are likely to go anywhere since we guard the only apparently feasible exit.

"It would probably be best for point to be taken by one of the dwarves accompanied by Mulligan since we can all see in the dark and combined probably have the best chance at finding any traps.

"For now, I say we wait until we know what Lady Gilraen's current condition is."

Deor will duck off to the side- he's certainly no better armored than Gilraen. Once out of the line of sight of the door, he'll duck behind his brother or another large warrior for cover.

"If Gilraen dies, her parents are going to be very annoyed. I hope someone does heal her".

Mulligan's look of concern towards Gilraen turns to anger as she looks towards the doorway. "As for the tower, that was their shot. Our turn now. Let's see who is in there. Bitur, Rorimac, time to make the way safe."

Mulligan moves stealthily towards the door to peer inside.

Rorimac draws his swords and heads towards the door with his cloak drawn close about hmi and looking to see how much Khosal's Bane is glowing.

Ithilneth stops just to the side of the doorway on the outside, with melee weapons drawn. "Inside is dangerous, but out here we are being attacked by unknown assailants without means of countering them. Giving them more time to prepare their defenses while picking us off will not bring us victory."

"All right then. I'll take point, Mulligan, you go right behind me, and Rorimac you take rear. We can at least get an idea of what we're up against. Any who want to join us can fall behind Rorimac."

Bitur looks to step in but he and Mulligan both spy activity above the doorway where an iron grill floor allows for easy death from above. Khosal's Bane is glowing brightly.

Does Ceol Lay on Hands to partially cure Gilraen? You do determine that she has been poisoned.

Oh great, undead archers from above. First room is going to be a death trap.

Either a fireball or a priest is called for.

Ceol carefully removes the crossbow bolt from Gilraen's chest, then uses lay on hands to heal the damage as best he can. He frowns as he looks at the wound, then the bolt.

"The missile was poisoned. My powers do not extend to removing the poison from her. Is anyone else able to do so?"

"I have some sweet water potions. One of these should be neutralize the evil poison that has afflicted her."

*Hands Ceol one of his sweetwater potions.*

Ceol nods, as he accepts the potion from Bitur.

"Excellent...let us pray that this prevents the poison from further affecting the lady."

He uncaps the potion bottle, and carefully administers it to Gilraen.

"A Fireball? Coming right up." Deor will use a Shield spell to make sure that he can survive this one if someone spots him before he spots them.

Thoroncir's scabbard is proof against poison; he will remove it from his belt and press it close to Gilraen, in hopes that it might help, too.

Deor tosses up his shield spell and prepares to step forward to cast his fireball. Gwaelur steps in front of him to offer some additional protection.

The potion works like magic on Gilraen. It cures the poison and combined with the laying on hands she feels fine as if nothing had happen. Though she comes through whispering, "Elbereth protect me, Elbereth protect me."

Deor fires his spell up through the grate, the Fireball goes off as several bolts bounces off Gwaelur protecting Deor. Kkosal's Bane gets dimmer showing at least partial success.

Mulligan and Gwaeler are joined by Bitur to quickly check the safety of the entrance. Bitur & Gwaelur quickly identifies 8 bolts holes that need to be wedged closed and Mulligan locates the pit trap but sees no way to disarm it as it is remotely controlled. She thinks it would be best to treat the pit as opened and create a way across.

Drinoleth volunteers to stone shape out most of a wall to allow the party to bash it out and pour through. He has no other suggestion.

Thoroncir fights back tears of joy and relief, taking Gilraen in his arms and whispering into her ear, "Ah, Gilraen, my love, praise be to the Valar for your recovery! I feared I might have lost you, and could not bear the thought. I hope you will take care, my love, to keep yourself safe henceforth."

Then he says to the others, "Thank you, Bitur and Ceol, for your help; we are both deeply indebted to you."

He asks the princess to keep clear of the tower, dons his helmet, regirds himself with sword and scabbard, and goes to see if he can help Drinoleth, Deor and the others.

Ithilneth is eager to follow the shieldmen into tower. "Let us not tarry."

Ceol looks very relieved as Gilraen comes around. "Praise Eonwë and all the gods."

He stands, and looses his swords, turning to Thoroncir. "Yes, let us go help the others with the assault."

It were mighty venom indeed that could harm me who bear Glinras the Gleaming Horn. Forward!

*Gil-Gandel's eyes blaze with anger at the insult done to the maid of Galadriel's line.*

Anyone have any ideas on how to block up the bolt holes?

Stone Shape would do it nicely.

"Well, if you have 8 stone shapes spare, you probably don't need us. As for those bolt holes, while they are recovering slightly behind the wall from that fireball, thank you Deor, I think I will go and block them up.

Bitur can I borrow a hammer, and the rest of you can pray I am really quick, but these should block the bolt holes temporarily."

Mulligan gets out some thick Iron spikes.

"Time for a mad dash...oh, and mind that pit trap."

"Sure. You can borrow the one I use to help keep my armor in condition."

Sir Thoroncir, sword drawn and shield up, stands ready to enter the tower when the estimable Mulligan says the word. He is determined to see that its denizens pay dearly for injuring his beloved Gilraen.

Mulligan dives into the room with the spikes and hammer and races to the left wall.

Hoping the creatures are still recovering from the fireball, she will jam a spike into the bolt hole and hit it hard with the hammer to wedge it in place.