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Post by waysoftheearth on May 20, 2011 19:18:28 GMT -6
It is midday on the sixth day after departing Edhil.
[Five days of supplies have been consumed, but water has been readily available from the Sirannon, so your skins and barrels remain full.]
At last the mighty company of Men, Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and pack animals reach the top of the narrow, winding stair to stand upon a narrow lip of rock.
All present are weary from almost 40 leagues of hiking with much of it through difficult terrain, but looking behind the view out over Eregion is vast and breath-taking! Edhil appears a tiny beetle upon a vast, golden quilt that are the realms west of the Misty Mountains.
Ahead, there is a strangely verdant valley, sheltered on three sides by the ever rising mountains, from where the stairs climb no more.
The Sirannon is a fast flowing stream running through the middle of this gully, then rushing through a dozen yard wide gash in the ledge wall to run out over the precipice, spilling madly down the enormous ravine along side the arduous stair.
The ledge itself might have once been the brim of a dam, for once you have ascended to the stair top, you need then to descend a half dozen yards or so down to a muddy, rocky floor, which is unexpectedly lush with silt, grass and sedges along side the gate stream.
Farther up the gully, there are growing many supple, twisting trees -- only twice the height of a Man, but enough to almost fill this small valley and obscure the mountain face ahead...
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 20, 2011 19:21:57 GMT -6
[Gentlemen, the game is now afoot. What will you do from here?]
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Post by Mushgnome on May 20, 2011 20:01:03 GMT -6
Miödvitnir the Dwarf animal handler: "This seems a good place to rest and pasture the animals."
Síli the Dwarf Hero replies: "Aye, we need a base camp for our assault on the Gate, and this site has commanding defense of the western path. But the day is young and I am not yet weary. Watch Frosti for me while I climb a bit further for a better view of the terrain. Hepti, Vestri, gather some large rocks we can tumble down the stairs if we are followed by Orcs." He instinctively places a hand on Alf's hackles to feel if the keen-sensed guard dog is agitated.
Síli to the party: "I suggest the warriors among us fan out and explore this gully. I will search the rocky walls for hidden doors, caves, or paths... for those trees ahead are not to my liking. Stay within earshot of each other!"
[OOC: Should we keep track of provisions on our character sheet, or are you keeping track for us all?]
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 20, 2011 21:05:56 GMT -6
[OOC: Should we keep track of provisions on our character sheet, or are you keeping track for us all?]
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Post by crusssdaddy on May 20, 2011 21:15:58 GMT -6
Arbenbard examines the rock walls at the top of the stairs, looking for any signs of writing, sculpture, stonework, etc. Nat follows close at hand, ever watchful.
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Post by ehiker133 on May 21, 2011 0:27:20 GMT -6
Síli to the party: "I suggest the warriors among us fan out and explore this gully. I will search the rocky walls for hidden doors, caves, or paths... for those trees ahead are not to my liking. Stay within earshot of each other!" Norin nods at Sili's suggestion and replies, "I'll help you examine the rocky wall, Sili." He slings his war hammer over one shoulder and starts to follow him, but abruptly stops. He turns to his companions and says, " Burmon, help get camp set up. Ymir, tend to any travel injuries we might have in the party. A show of good faith here would do us well." Then he continues behind Sili.
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Post by ragnorakk on May 21, 2011 12:20:40 GMT -6
Celglin will contribute to the search of the general environment along with the mannish sage and company, looking also for signs of recent use or activity.
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Post by doctorx on May 21, 2011 15:37:49 GMT -6
Lómëluin, accompanied by Telthalion and anyone else who wishes to accompany him, will move cautiously towards the trees. Can he tell what kind they are and how long they've been growing here? Any sight or sound of wildlife in the general vicinity?
He keeps a keen elvish eye out for any sign of movement or ambush...
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 22, 2011 4:04:19 GMT -6
The sheltered plateau is approximately 100 yards wide and four times as long, without pacing it out. It runs lengthwise in a more-or-less north to south direction. It is surrounded on all sides by sheer mountain faces -- except to its south west.
Holly trees fill much of the northern end, but are sparser toward the middle, and absent entirely at the southern end. The Sirannon enter the plateau from the north, and spills out through the broken dam at the south-west edge of the plateau, then tumbles away toward the west and Eregion.
The bulk of the company move somewhat suspiciously into the south-west part of the plateau -- away from the precipice and toward the grassy valley, but not straying too near the trees.
The hirelings lead the exhausted mules and horses (not accustomed to climbing) to the flushing stream and the grassy banks, where they eagerly drink and begin to graze. The animals would certainly appreciate being unloaded of their burdens!
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 22, 2011 4:15:31 GMT -6
A small party comprising Sili the Dwarf Captain with his hound on a thick leash, Nori son of Nain, Lómëluin and Telthalion (the Elves) then proceed ahead of the main company, examining the earth around the trees, the trees themselves, and then the vast mountain walls that bound the entire valley.
Lomeluin first spots the tracks, but soon all four are aware that the muddy ground around the stream is rife with many boot prints going hither and thither.
"These saplings are the Holly trees of Eregion," remarks Telthalion, placing his palm upon one of the trunks. The greatest of them is no thicker than a Man's thigh. "They cannot have grown here more than two score years, at most!"
Meanwhile Lomeluin, Sili and Nori have found among the booted foot prints bare footed marks -- with wide, clawfoot toes. "Orcs!" snarls Sili, and spits an expletive in Khuzdul.
"And none too few of them," adds Lumeluin.
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 22, 2011 4:22:22 GMT -6
Meanwhile, Ardenbard and Celglin make a study of the top of the stair by which the company has ascended, and the surrounding rim of rocks.
The stair is very ancient, and thought by both the Seers to be part of the Old Dwarf Road. There are no discernible markings upon the steps now... but that they are still functional is a tribute to the craft by which they were made.
However, the remains of the dam, if that is what it indeed was, is a crude affair made most simply by tumbling down a great rock slide from either side of the mountain valley, and then blocking it up with mud and silt. This very same mud is what now forms the fertile topsoil of this sheltered mountain plateau. But if the dam were not breached so, then much of this valley would surely be flooded by the Sirannon...
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Post by Mushgnome on May 22, 2011 9:59:15 GMT -6
Meanwhile Lomeluin, Sili and Nori have found among the booted foot prints bare footed marks -- with wide, clawfoot toes. "Orcs!" snarls Sili, and spits an expletive in Khuzdul. Once he gets over the initial shock, Sili shrugs off the discovery. The presence of Orcs is not unexpected, and he has fought with their kind before. "Where's a burglar when you need one?" he mutters under his breath. Then he looks for a rocky crag or any other high point he can climb for a better view of the terrain.
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Post by snorri on May 22, 2011 15:53:08 GMT -6
Hearing about a burglar, Mr. Baraglin Banks shakes head, with a comical move frome the feathered hat, and looks around where's the so-called burglar could be. Then, blushes guiltily and mutters: "Eeeh, would you speak about a scout, or some other honourable profession, Mr. Dwarf?"
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 22, 2011 16:30:24 GMT -6
Then he looks for a rocky crag or any other high point he can climb for a better view of the terrain. Sili can see quite plainly that the high terrain is all around the grassy plateau, with the mighty mount Celebdil (under which Khazad-Dum resides) blotting out the sky to the east entirely. Perhaps if Sili were to scale an edge of the little valley he would command a better view?
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Post by Mushgnome on May 23, 2011 7:37:35 GMT -6
Sili will send Alf back to guard the mules and climb a little ways up the edge of the valley.
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Post by doctorx on May 23, 2011 8:05:59 GMT -6
Once he is satisfied there is no immediate danger of ambush or attack, Lómëluin returns to the main party, instructing Frewine to unburden Rohemnet and let the horse graze and drink. "We need to establish a camp," he says, "but those tracks trouble me. Men and yrch (he spits the word) travel through here regularly and in numbers. I fear it is only a matter of time and daylight before we have the 'pleasure' of their company."
To the dwarves; "Would elvish eyes be of aid in the search for the doors that are shut?"
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Post by crusssdaddy on May 23, 2011 9:07:08 GMT -6
Arbenbard: "We fear the trees, but perhaps within them is best for our camp. From such a vantage, ambush might be laid against the grim forces that traverse this valley."
"I fear discovery atop this rim more than I fear what might lurk in yonder trees, which look too wholesome to provide cover to the enemy. But 'tis not my chalk & quill to do the fighting, so others may have better advice."
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Post by calithena on May 23, 2011 18:57:13 GMT -6
Seeing that the others have well sprung into action, Soval nods with satisfaction. This is no conventional troop - but perhaps it is the beginning of something better.
He and his men ready their missile weapons and fan out in a central ring, covering the dwarves and elves as they scout the perimeter.
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Post by snorri on May 23, 2011 19:09:25 GMT -6
"Sure, a good old inn would fit better, but at least a camp would be a civilized way to have a quiet night here!", nods Mr. Baragalin Banks. "Do you really feel there's things just as ambush?"
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Post by calithena on May 23, 2011 19:37:39 GMT -6
While we wait for all the scouts to return, Soval will eye the land for the most defensible large camp area, or suggestions thereof, in the event that we indeed make it.
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 24, 2011 6:24:31 GMT -6
Sili the Dwarf fords the cold, calf deep Gate Stream safely, then crosses to the eastern most wall of the valley -- where he scrambles somewhat up the flank of the mighty Silvertine, Mount Celebdil.
From here he surveys the lay of the little wind-sheltered valley is thus:
############################################################## #############################`#################################### ############|########``Y``````###################################### #########`Y`|`````Y````````Y```Y````################################### ######``Y``Y\```Y``````Y`````````Y````Y```Y```Y`````###################### ###```Y``Y```---------.`Y``Y`````````````````````Y````S```################## ##Y`Y`````Y`Y````Y`````\----------.```Y``````Y````````````````############# ###``Y```Y`````````````Y`Y``````Y``\------.``````````````````````############ ###`Y``Y`````Y```Y```Y```````Y`````````Y**`\``````````````````````########## ######```Y``Y```````Y```````Y````Y``````````\``````````````````````########### ###########``````Y````Y``````````````````````\``````````````````````########## #############Y``````````Y````````````````**```|````````````````````############ #################````Y``````````*``****````````\``````````````################## #####################`````Y``````````****``**```|````````%##################### ##########################`Y``````*```****``**``|`%%%%%%%\\\################ ##########################%%%%%%%%`````````=%%%%\||||||||\\\\############### # ########################////||||%%%%%%%%%=%`||`\`||`||||\\\\############## `E #####################////```||||`/|||||`%=``||`\`\\\\\`\\\\############# N+S ###################///////|||||/|||////`=`\\\\\`|``||||\\\\\\\######## `W ##################//||/|///||/|||||////`=`\\\||\\`||||\\\\\||`\#######
# Misty Moutains % Precipice (overlooking Eregion) = Gate Stair \ Sirannon (The Gate Stream) Y Holly trees * Company members S Sili
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 24, 2011 6:29:29 GMT -6
While we wait for all the scouts to return, Soval will eye the land for the most defensible large camp area, or suggestions thereof, in the event that we indeed make it. Ardenbard's advice is not without merit, Soval judges. Camping within the trees would -- at the very least -- keep the animals away from the dangerous precipice. And, he concedes, the trees might also be made to provide some measure of cover against detection. A rude fortification might also be established by the placement of certain rocks between certain trees, if one were prepared to work at such an endeavor. Or so might think a fighting Man...
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Post by Mushgnome on May 24, 2011 7:35:14 GMT -6
Thanks for the map! Sili climbs back down and reports his findings to the party. Assuming I'm reading the map correctly...
"No sign of any Orcs, but they are usually most active after dark. It appears the only passage is a narrow ravine in the eastern rock face from whence flows the stream. Just to be sure we should make a complete circuit of this valley's perimiter. I suggest we post a pair of guards at the western stair and a pair at the eastern ravine at all times. Who will come with me and Alf to secure the eastern passage?"
Then Sili loads his crossbow and heads east.
Meanwhile Miödvitnir unloads the mules and Hepti and Vestri lend their muscle to building a defensible campsite.
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Post by ehiker133 on May 24, 2011 8:18:56 GMT -6
Norin asks Burmon to assist the others with whatever they need to set up camp. He tasks Ymir with going to the woods with the party of elves (or at least staying close behind them) to see if he can locate any food sources or medicinal supplies within. He advises him to stay with a group, though, and to not wander off alone.
Then he turns to Sili, "I will examine the eastern ravine with you, brother." With that, he hefts his war hammer over one shoulder and fords the stream.
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Post by doctorx on May 24, 2011 14:58:28 GMT -6
Norin asks Burmon to assist the others with whatever they need to set up camp. He tasks Ymir with going to the woods with the party of elves (or at least staying close behind them) to see if he can locate any food sources or medicinal supplies within. He advises him to stay with a group, though, and to not wander off alone. Then he turns to Sili, "I will examine the eastern ravine with you, brother." With that, he hefts his war hammer over one shoulder and fords the stream. Lómëluin and Telthalion are happy to scout out the woods with Yimir. But the elf lord will keep a careful ear for any sound of trouble or of discovery of a way into the mines...
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 15:57:34 GMT -6
Legandir takes it upon himself to scout the woods with or without company. He crosses the stream and heads south-east with the aim or circling back around the canyon. "I will return", he mutters.
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Post by doctorx on May 24, 2011 16:12:52 GMT -6
Legandir takes it upon himself to scout the woods with or without company. He crosses the stream and heads south-east with the aim or circling back around the canyon. " I will return", he mutters. "Let us travel together," Lómëluin says to Legandir. Then to Ymir; "Follow on, Master Dwarf, if you've a wish to do so..."
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Post by waysoftheearth on May 24, 2011 16:58:14 GMT -6
The scouting party soon make a circuit of the valley perimeter. The Holly trees are sparse and bear only a few, shrivelled remnants of the tiny fruits which they bore earlier in the season... those which have not been taken by birds, or other things.
It is clear from the absence of foot prints that whoever has passed through this valley recently did not dally at its wooded end. They passed north-east from the mountain stair directly up to the great flat face of the Silvertine to where there stands a stony ledge which is now broken by the passing of much time, and by the determined roots of several small Holly trees which now cling to it.
In the near center of this ledge is a great, dark opening which leads under the mountain. It is partly concealed from the summit of the stair by the Holly Trees, and also by a tall flat slat of stone over 10ft tall, which is partially buried by an ancient wedge of collapsed stones that have long ago been partially cleared...
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Post by crusssdaddy on May 24, 2011 19:46:19 GMT -6
Arbenbard awaits tidings from the scouts, with Nat at his side, among the holly trees in the NW corner.
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Post by tombowings on May 25, 2011 0:28:10 GMT -6
Elindir remains silent, uncomfortable with the stout folk. They're here for the wrong reasons.
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