In the Footsteps of the Grey Company RPG

[piosenniel]

Meoshi’s post:

The shadow of the Haunted Mountain lay thick and heavy over the black pines in the ravine.
Below them, the dampness and gloom was disturbed by a cluster of tents, some small and some large.

Falin checked the contents of the packs again. Food, digging equipment, lanterns...no weapons. Everyone has their weapons in hand, he thought grimly, looking toward the rest of the camp.

The rest of the party was silent, taking down their tents. Breakfast had been quick and devoid of conversation. All were thinking of the task ahead, with fear and foreboding. Some of his friends from the Glittering Caves, and a few Men of various types. It was a pity that so few had come; He had thought that Men would jump at such an oppurtunity. But then, given the tales that had been told of the Paths of the Dead, and of the terrible fate of those who had traveled there.

Falin broke the silence. "Finish up! We march on within the hour!"

[Iarbarion]

Buldro's heart fluttered within his uneasy stomach as he pulled out the last stakes of his tent. He knew what would begin in less than an hours time. His mind would not stray from the thought of the Paths of the Dead. His deceased father, Buldron, had told him many stories before he perished.

He heard the voice of Falin, calling from afar "Finish up! We march on within the hour!" The area near the door of the Paths of the Dead where the dwarves and men had slept the previous night was eerily silent. He couldn't bare to look up at the faces of his companions.

Buldro finished packing up his tent and gathered his paraphernalia. As he picked up his two-sided battle axe the feeling in his stomach grew stronger and stronger. He uneasily walked up near Falin, his white beard dangling near the dirty ground. The feeling in the pit of his stomach became so great that his mind could only find one thing to think. "I've got nothing to lose and so much to gain." Buldro said inaudibly to himself. He stood almost heroically near Falin and waited for Falin's words to leave.

[Beruthiel]

Touriner had quickly packed up his tent. "Finish up! We march on within the hour!" Falin said in his booming dwarf voice. Touriner grinned, all his things were already together and he was ready to go.

He looked around, the camp seemed so quiet. [I]What is wrong with these people?[/I} Touriner was excited, he could hardly wait for the journey to start and yet everyone else seemed so...scared.
For the most part he couldn't blame some of them, there had been horrific tales of that place but still Touriner had never been afraid. He would wait and see if the tales were true before he would be frightened.

He remembered when he was young, The Paths had seemed so fascinating but he had never been closer to it than where he was now. Finally he would get to go beyond the door and find treasure! A feeling of anticipation surged through Touriner as he picked up his pack and slung it on his back.

He walked over to Falin and watched the others impatiently while his eyes would often flicker to the path ahead of them.

[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Beruthiel ]

[Nerindel]

Nori, Falin and Buldro had travelled to Dimholt together, exchanging storys from their past and speculating at what riches lay behind the door that Gimili had described to Falin.

When they reached Dimholt, they set up camp and waited for the others to arrive. Being this close to the paths unnerved Nori more than a little, he excused himself and went to his tent. he removed his axe and began sharpening it, he often did this to take his mind of things that troubled him. "Fear is something a dwarf never shows" he scolded himself. He put down his axe and lay on his bedroll, his thoughts turned to the riches and adventures they would soon have, suddenly all fear left him and was replaced with excitement. Outside he could hear others arriving, but he was now too weary to join them, soon after that sleep took him.

Nori woke early the next morning, he grabbed some breakfast and finished packing up his tent, in the eerie silence that seemed to engulf the group. Suddenly the silence was broken by Falin's boomimg voice "Finish up! We march on within the hour!". A large grin spread across Nori's face, "At last" he said to no one in particular. He pushed his iron helm back on his head, grabbed his battle axe (giving it a loving pat) and strode confidently to where Falin was waiting.

He gave Falin a curt nod, grabbed his pack and slung it onto his broad shoulders. Buldro was already there, Nori gave him a friendly slap on the back, " just think the next time we look out here we shall be rich!" he Heartily laughed. Nori Then noticed a Tall man with light brown hair and green eyes Shifting Impatiently, Grinning he thrust his hand out to the man "Nori Gravehand at your service".

[ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Taralphiel]

Aldor heard the curt call to be ready in the hour. To him, the time could not pass sooner. He had become impatient with waiting when the journey lay ahead of him. His things packed on his packhorse, he fiddled with the sword he carried as he leant against a tree and watched the grop of Men.

Quite a few were barely Men, almost shaking with the potent mix of fear and excitement. He wondered to himself how these would fare, and if any would make it out. Aldor was no fool. He had studied the histories, and knew the journey would take many lives. But the truth to his acceptance was that he cared little for his own life, and would not mind a reward to fling at his family for their temperance, before setting off again.

Standing up he saw one approach the head of the group and he decided to do the same. 'I am Aldor of Rohan, I will serve ye with all my honour' The dwarf nodded in appreciation, his chain mail clinking against his axe as he did so. He noticed more Men following suit and felt many gazes at him as he moved away. No doubt to some his garb was strange, and they wondered what a Rohirrim would be doing their, insteasd of serving the Horse Lords. But to him, he reasons were his own, and any stare to daring was met with a scowl from his brown eyes.

[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]

[ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]

[maikafanawen]

It was early dawn when the great ship pulled into the harbor at Umbar. Manned by twenty-four strong bodied and clever sailors, The Raven’s Nest was a grand ship. Its huge billowing canvas sails were being let down slowly as members of the crew leapt off the sides of the vessel onto the docks, securing the ropes. The ship was about one hundred and twenty yards in length, and twenty-five yards across. The morning watch was busily tightening grommets, and lacing ropes. The ship’s waist and forecastle deck had been mopped clean and the passenger cabins (though empty) were spotless.

Standing at the bow, her black curls blowing in the wind, was Ravenwyn. In her sharp blue captain’s coat, and expensive suede boots, she looked every part he treasure hunter. Jeweled rings sparkled on her delicate fingers, and golden hoop earrings hung above her shoulders. Dark eyes surveyed the port. She had always hated the end of a trip, but somehow, this end was welcoming. The voyage had been successful. Four chests of findings were in the dark hold, chained shut. Ravenwyn guessed that it would pull a good price, which was much needed. The Raven’s Nest had hit a nasty storm and was in dire need of repairs: another reason the docking was wanted.

“Guildhall!” she called to the one of the sailors who had just emerged from the forecastle. Make sure the men know we’re here. I’m sure they’ll welcome greatly our arrival. We’ve been short of ale for about three days now.” She winked at one of her most trusted crewmembers and dismissed him with a simple salute. “And mind that they roll up their hammocks and stow their belongings. I’m going to have this ship cleaned top to bottom while we’re here.” Nodding, the weather hardened man ducked into the sailor’s bunks.

An hour later, The Raven’s Nest was cleared out, and the cleaning crews were at work.

“I want to ship out early, approximately three weeks,” announced the Raven to her men as each stepped off the ramp onto the deck, legs wobbling slightly. “You may get your rooms and your ale for the week at whichever inn you choose, but the third Monday evening, meet me back at the Crown Dagger and we ship out Tuesday. Understood?” ‘Aye-ayes’ echoed among the men and Ravenwyn turned to one of her newer members, “Hannlos? Go easy on the ale, I’d rather not pay for anymore inn brawls, understood?” The man smiled sheepishly and nodded. “Good. And Faruilos,” she called for her first mate. A tall, attractive man with shoulder length blonde hair stepped forward. “keep an eye on as many of them as you can. I’d rather not hire new sailors for our next outing, eh?” Faruilos nodded and the men dispersed down the road, carrying their belongings with them.

“A good bunch those men, eh Raven?” Jem-Tyroan jumped off the ramp and came to stand by the captain. Standing at 5’5”, he was by far the shortest member of her crew, and also the youngest. His job aboard The Raven’s Nest was cabin boy, and was like a son to the Raven.

“Sure Jem.” She snapped her fingers and pointed to her trunk and then to Jem’s. Immediately, two dock workers came and hauled them onto their backs, following the sailors to the Crown Dagger Inn.

“’Morning Raous!” called Ravenwyn to the innkeeper as she opened the door to the musty old pub. A few early customers crowded the tables by the entrance, and some sat at the bar cradling tankards.

“Ah! Morning!” he retrieved two mugs from under the counter and filled one with ale, and the other with a honeyed tea. He pushed them towards the Raven as she took a seat at the bar counter. “For you and Jem there. Welcome back.” She nodded and took a slow sip of her ale, letting the bitter foam ease her rather parched throat. “It’s our best,” added Raous before moving on to another part of the bar, putting down chairs and getting ready for the day.

Suddenly, a cool gust of air blew into the room and a stranger cloaked in black emerged from the shadow of the overhang into the room. The figure strode up to the innkeeper and whispered something to him, gesturing about like he was describing someone. Raous’ eyes flickered over to the Raven for a second and then focused back on the cowl covered face. The innkeeper shook his head. Straightening, the stranger backed away and made for the door again. As he made to open it, he turned again and locked eyes with the captain. Stopping he let the door swing shut and walked up to her, letting down his hood to reveal a clean cut face, and deep green eyes. He had wavy brown hair that was held back in a ponytail. Though his clothing labeled him a wanderer, his accent, and salty smell showed him to be a sailor—of some sort. Reaching the Raven, he dipped into a bow and extended his hand in greeting.

“Good morning Ravenwyn, my name is Tr Dalon.” The Raven nodded, but kept her hand withdrawn. The man took no offense by it and continued, “I was wondering,” he said, pulling up a chair beside her’s, “may I?” Ravenwyn narrowed her eyes as he sat, folding his cloak over his legs. “Ah yes. I have heard of you Ravenwyn, of your success in the…sea business if you will. You are good with treasure hunts? Would you perhaps, be interested in seeking a treasure not of the sea but of the land? Perhaps of the land of the dead?” His eyes gleamed with mooch, and his tongue clicked excitedly behind his teeth. The Raven sighed.

“What are you playing at stranger? I don’t deal with enigmatic fools, thank you.” The captain made to stand, but Tr Dalon’s hand touched her arm, a movement asking her to stay and hear him out.

“I am playing at nothing my lady. I know of a treasure, that lies behind a door unknown but to one man-or should I say-dwarf?” Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Ravenwyn placed two coins on the counter for her’s and Jem’s drinks and stood, practically toppling her chair, and the man beside her. Angry with being ignored, the man rose and firmly grasped her arms, pinning her against the counter. “Listen!” he hissed. “His name is Falin! The treasure is greater than any you can imagine. It is guarded by evil beyond anything you’ve ever read about!” The Raven pushed him away and smoothed out the place where he had grabbed her.

“Perhaps, Tr Dalon, you would prefer to tell me more about this, in private?” Grabbing her coat that she had draped over her chair, she beckoned for Jem to follow her, and she moved to a table in the far corner of the inn. “Now, you were saying?” Tr Dalon went on to explain of the company formed by the dwarf Falin of the Glittering Caves, and the treasure they sought in the Paths of the Dead. He slid a map across the table marking the meeting place and approximate path.

“Why do you tell me?” asked the Raven, thoroughly suspicious of the man before her.

“Because I am too cowardly to go after it myself, yet, I would like to know if the stories are true.” His rejoinder was coated in silky tones. “You are a true treasure huntress, and would have a better chance at it than I. When you return, all I ask is that you tell me of your adventure—”

“And pay you in kind for the information you’ve given me. Is that about right?” Tr Dalon’s eyes flashed with a sudden anger but cleared promptly.

“It would seem, only fair,” said the man, tracing the lines in the table with his finger. “Although it is not the money I am truly concerned about.” The Raven laughed.

“Now that I definitely do not believe.” She folded the map and put it in the inside pocket of her jacket, Tr Dalon’s eyes watching with regret. She leaned forward and took the pale man’s cloak by the clasp and brought him forward so that he could hear every word clearly. “And I am done speaking with you. When you go through that door I recommend forgetting you every chose to speak with me, and find someone else to buy your false proposition minus your map,” she added patting her coat. The man yanked himself out of her grasp and fled the inn angrily.

That night, Jem and Ravenwyn sat around a table playing a game of chance with a few other swarthy travelers.

“This she-captain has uncanny luck with a pair of dice eh?” said one player called Rhag quietly to another. His friend, Barthrol nodded,

“Unfortunate for us.”

“And for her if she beats me again,” added a third. He shook the pair of game cubes quickly in his before throwing them on the table.

“Five?!” he said, glaring at the Raven and her apprentice. Ravenwyn smiled,

“Looks like you’re about two short there Uilan. Care to play again?” Jem snickered and pushed her winnings towards her. Uilan stood and raised his hand to protest when Raous stepped in.

“Sorry Uilan, but I won’t have any of that, and I’d hate to have Rhag and Barthrol here remove you like they did Simk last week. Uilan looked threateningly at Raous before grabbing his cloak and grumbling as he left the inn.

“Phew, good game there Raven,” said Rhag, collecting the dice and chips into a sack and handing it back to Raous. The captain shrugged,

“All in a day’s work.” Barthrol sighed and leaned back in his chair, taking a swig from his tankard.

“You have good business then, eh Raven?” Jem looked sideways at his mother, knowing that she was not one to discuss business maters to publicly.

“Always,” was her short reply, before waving away the topic. “Let’s not talk of money now though, Barthrol. Come now, you were always one for stories. Let’s have one before I decide that my Jem should get beauty sleep.” The two men laughed and Rhag thumped the cabin boy on the back. Barthrol’s eyes lit up suddenly and he jabbed at the table with his beefy finger.

“Yes, Rhag. Tell her about the treasure.” About to take a drink of her ale, the Raven froze and looked towards Jem. Setting down her mug she leaned forward.

“Yes, Rhag, tell us.”

“Well, rumor these days,” began the man, looking around the inn, “in the hushed parts of pubs and such, is of a dwarf that is gathering together a group of specialized treasure hunters that are in search of a treasure of unknown quantity. The trick is, it lies behind a door in the Paths of the Dead. No one’s been able to open it, and not even the haunters of the Paths know it’s there.” His eyes darkened and he lowered his voice. “I wouldn’t recommend taking up on this job Ravenwyn.” The Raven narrowed her eyes when he addressed her by her real name. “The Paths are a dangerous place. Even dwarves are much afraid of it.”

“This treasure you speak of, must be pretty bountiful if a dwarf is the one leading it.”

“Ah,” interrupted Barthrol. “It’s not just any dwarf. His name is Falin. From the Glittering Caves he is, and a tough built fellow.”

“You know him?” asked Jem. The men started at his question, he had been rather quiet all evening.

“Not personally,” said Rhag dubiously, “but we’ve heard tales. He’s got it where it counts,” he added, tapping his head. “He’s quick, and strong. Not one to make enemies with I’d reckon.” The Raven nodded.

“Is there anything else you know about this expedition? When do they set out?” The Raven was slowly growing interested. Not so much in the benefits she would acquire, but the conundrum of this particular mission.

“I’d guess they’ll set out when they have enough people. All I really know is who it’s led by and where it’s going.”

“And that it’s dangerous. Ravenwyn, I wouldn’t suggest it!”

“Stop calling me Ravenwyn. I’m either Raven or Captain to you, understand?” Her tone of voice was serious, and the two men hushed rightly. “I know enough. Thank you.” She changed the subject again to past adventures, and the old friends talked long into the night. It was a bit past midnight when Rhag and Barthrol retired. Jem and Ravenwyn sat a while before the captain spoke.

“What do you think? Interested?” Jem studied her for a while, weighing the events, and both conversations in his hands.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “It sounds…adventurous.” The Raven leaned forward, talking in hushed, excited tones.

“Good, because we’re going. I’ll go find Faruilos tonight and tell him. He can take care of things while I’m gone, and if this little outing takes more than three weeks he can take off Tuesday and the crew will listen fine to him. They all have my trust, and Faruilos’ good-faith.” Jem sat there, arms folded, waiting patiently for her to tell him what to do. “Aren’t you going to say something?” The boy shook his head,

“If you’re going, we’re going. What should I say?” The Raven smiled,

“Good. Get your things, we find Faruilos now.”

*** Three days later***

The sea-captain from Umbar, and her cabin boy sat inside their tent. Jem was sharpening his knives, and Ravenwyn was contentedly smoking her slender pipe. It was custom for all sea-captains to carry them, and just because she was a woman, her father had said, doesn’t make her any different. Shrugging the matter away at the time, Ravenwyn had accepted the gift, and carried it with a pouch of leaf with her. Jem looked up suddenly and whispered,

“Why’d you tell them I was your ‘squire’. You walked in here like you were some queen and made like this was a foolish hunting party.” The Raven let down her pipe, leaned forward and hissed,

“Could you imagine what they’d think if I’d told them you were my son? They’d send you back! The only good you seem fit for is to carry my sword. An odd pair we are Jem, a woman sea-captain and her adopted son. Huh! You better start putting your noggin to better use boy.” She patted out her pipe and emerged from the tent, stretching. The night before, she had conversed with Falin and told them that she was a treasure hunter by sea, and her ship was docked in Umbar. Deciding that it didn’t matter if he knew, she told him also of Jem’s history and his employment aboard The Raven’s Nest. He didn’t think much of it, and nodded politely. She hadn’t met a dwarf before, but had heard that she shared much the same interests as the dwarven folk: good ale, good food, storytelling, and of course, rich treasure.

“Mornin’ captain,” said Falin as he walked by her tent. “Better get that thing packed away. We’re leaving with in the hour.” The Raven nodded.

In a little less than an hour, their company of nine, three dwarves, and six from the race of men were ready to leave.

[ April 25, 2003: Message edited by: maikafanawen ]

[Luinfang]

The night just had left the morning sky, Faruom stretched his back and looked at the mysterious doors with distrust. He knew the tales that were told about them, the fear their name awoke in the hearts of even the bravest Men, and he was worried. The wise are those that know to be afraid when the moment of great danger has come. He felt no need to seem braver than he was by his acting here and now. Fame was to be earned in battle, where his real bravery would be tested, not by words! But he had to admit that the strange, tiny voice of fear was easily overshouted by his excitement.

Gold. Fear. Adventure. Battle. Darkness. Faruom had seen most of them in the Great Battle, where he fought in the army of Prince Imrahil. Treasure was the only thing he missed. Now he had the opportunity to gain fame and riches. No longer hesitating he swung the rucksack over his shoulder, gave a small tap on his sword Ingawen, and went to the place where Falin just gave the sign to hurry. The mighty-looking dwarf frowned at him but spoke no word. A si minnatham dhúath, Faruom thought, using the little Sindarin he knew. “And now we shall enter darkness”.

He wondered how much he would he able to trust those Men and Dwarves, for they all came for one and the same reason: becoming richer than ever imagined. Soon enough they would become rivals, little less than enemies unless they would find something to defend them from the greatest evil in the minds of Men: greed. And the love of Dwarves of all that was hand-crafted would not make it any easier. A huge smile ran over his face when he thought of this. The treasure hunting would not be easy, but without a doubt exciting. And more than even gold or fame excitement was what he desired.

And fear? He had already forgotten all about it…

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha crouched in the underbrush on a hill behind where the small party of dwarves and men were gathering. Straining her ears she caught the words of one dwarf, "Finish up! We march on within the hour!"

March on? Rysha's ears perked up. She'd been scouting the area, just keeping track of everything that moved. All had been quiet, up until this point, but Dwarves and men together? Her master, Gorthroth would surely want to know about this.

Moving quietly, Rysha backed away from the party, until she was out of sight of the dwarves over the crest of the hill. Pulling her dark cloak tighter around her body she moved into the shadow of the trees and made her way quickly into the edge of the mountains, eyes narrowed.

Passing the forbidden door Rysha skirted the area where Erchaz, a large spider frequently hunted, and hurried through the nearly deserted tunnels looking for her master. A few small orcs congregating in one passage were roughly pushed aside as Rysha came into the tunnel where Gorthroth was known to haunt.

A shiver went down her spine, despite her familiarity with the wight. She inclined her head, her blunt cut hair falling forward over her face as she pushed back her hood. At one time Rysha had thought to overpower the wights, Gorthroth and Cersed, but she had since realized the power of the undead, and now she served.

She raised her head and looked up at Gorthroth. "Master, a party of dwarves and men is coming this way."

"Dwarves..." came the voice of the wight.

"From the Caves, by their accent." Rysha added. "I think they are coming here."

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth pondered the news from his servant.

"Follow," he commanded and, turning, moved off down the passage. Rysha followed at a distance.

As he glided through the passageways he thought things through. Dwarves and Men...coming into these tunnels meant only one thing. They came seeking treasure, as others had done. They now lay dead, but they had been in ones or twos.

Gorthroth came into his cave and glided across to a large stone throne. He sat and pondered further.

"How many are there?" he asked Rysha, who was knelt at a fair distance.

"Eigth or so," came the reply.

"Hmmm. Come closer."

Rysha shuddered, Gorthroth could see and sense her fear. But she followed his command and knelt before him. He stretched out his hand as if to touch her face and he saw her instinct to recoil being quashed by her mind. He smiled beneath his hooded robes and withdrew his hand.

"Go to Cersed! Tell her of this group. We may be of some mutual use."

Rysha rose and quickly shuffled out of the cavern.

"So, dwarves and men come to raid my domain. We shall see!"

[dragoneyes]

Erchas sat just inside the entrance to the cave. Her long legs rested on the webs she had covered the cave with. She felt some vibrations coming from one of the webs that was just outside the cave, it felt like prey, small prey, but prey. She scuttled along the ground, all that could be heard of her was the faint tapping of her seven legs, her eighth having been lost in a confrontation with some Elves, along with two of her eyes.

She found he web, in it a flock of bats wer caught, most of them were still struggling to free themselves, though it was in vain. Erchas crawled quickly up the web and plucked them off one by one, eating them as she went for they weren't big enough to save for a later day. She then sat and surveyed her territory with her three remaining eyes but there was no more food around, the animals stayed as far away from the entrance as they could get, only the foolish came near and they soon became another morsel of food for one of the dark things which now dwelt in the Paths of the Dead.

Erchas retreated back to her small recess, not wanting to be caught out in the open. She pulled further in when the human that frequented the cave sneaked past, apparantly thinking she was out of sight. Erchas longed to taste human flesh as she once had but now she was longing for anything bigger than a rabbit. If she'd had her own way, that human would be in her store, or her belly. She knew, however, that if she killed the human, there would be a very angry spirit after her. The very thought of that made her quake with fear where she sat. No, she'd have to leave the human and wait for something else.

[ April 26, 2003: Message edited by: dragoneyes ]

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel felt the presence of the other wights in the tunnels. She hated to associate with them, the stronger ones, but now it seemed there was something happening. The human girl, the servant of the one of the other two wights that haunted these halls. Gaeriel knew best than to try to kill Gorthroth's play things. She did, however wonder what was going on. She would find out soon enough might as well just sit here and wait for whatever was coming, or going....

She moved over to her last plaything, now long dead, and gloated. She had killed this unfortunate orc. It had invaded her territory, yes orcs were not the best game, they are not so much afraid of her but they do learn. They were not so fun she waited and savored the day when wither man or other such race were to fall into her twisted webs of fear and death. She wanted the exhilaration it gave her every time she killed or in the least drove someone stark raving mad. This was her food and the despair that poured forth from some was her drink. She was her in this deep and dark place damned for all eternity, or until her demise, in this darkness, devoid of life. Gaeriel believed she should keep these hall in this form, and so she would have killed that human girl but for Gorthroth and Cersed. Though she was a wight she was wary of them.

She continued to gloat over the now badly decomposed body.

[Meoshi]

Falin suddenly found himself shaking hands, bowing, and listening to long introductions. The humans were almost all packed. Nori and Buldro were standing at attention like a tiny infantry unit. Falin couldn't help but chuckle. They were all treating him like he was some sort of high noble.

He pondered the question: Why was he sent to lead this? He had never been exceptional at anything, unless it was stonecutting. But what good would that be here? And why had Gimli not come himself?

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

[Beruthiel]

A dwarf came up to Touriner and introduced himself as Nori Gravehand. "Greetings! I am Touriner of Rohan" He was happy to see that Nori was grinning as widely as he was. "Thank you for your services, I give mine in return." He smiled.

Others were coming now, they were almost all packed up. A man clad in rather strange clothes had approached Falin. By the sound of his voice he seemed to be from Rohan but Touriner looked again at his garments. He seemed like one of the Lords of Rohan, the man reminded Touriner of his father. Proud and strong.

Touriner nodded to Nori and turned towards the man. "Greetings, I am Touriner of Rohan."

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Beruthiel ]

[kittiewhirl1677]

Hermesin woke from a long, pointless sleep. Or, rather a pointless dream. He dreamed that an army of dwarves and men was about to burst in on the Paths and take over them. They would take over, and once he was dead they would burn him. His spirit would watch them in the Paths, looking for something... looking... digging, drilling, breaking, searching. For what?

"Pah!" He spat out, as if some terrible taste were to reside in his mouth.
"Unimaginable. What a stupid, worthless-"
He couldn't finish that sentence, because he heard footsteps outside his deep, secret cavern.

"Hm. What's that? Who are you? Come out, I'm armed!"
He drew up his sword, holding it in front of his nose, pointing it towards the wall as if something were to pass through it, suddenly.

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Nerindel]

The man took Nori's hand and introduced himself as Touriner of Rohan, Touriner then spotted another man and nodded to Nori. The other man had the same look about him, Nori assumed that he must be from Rohan too. Nori watched the two make introductions, then he notice that everyone was packed and just milling about.

Nori looked to Falin he seemed to be in deep thought, but he still looked a little worried about the position given him by Gimli. Nori took a quick look around no-one else seemed to notice Falin's hesitation.

So with that Nori let out a hearty laugh, nudged his friend in the ribs,and said in a boomimg voice "What are we all waiting about here for, we won't get rich just looking at it" he nudged his head in the direction of the Forbidden gate. when he turned around everyone was watching him, a few were even laughing, he grinned broadly and turned to Falin waiting for him to give the word to move out.

[Annalaliath]

The noise of the far away orcs drifted its way down the halls to Gaeriel and her gloating. She lifted up her head and listened to the calmer made by these drunken creatures. Looking back to her decomposing trophy she smiled and wanted to find these living and noisy things and stifle them. But she still knew better than to leave her own territory.

Again she wondered why the living girl had passed by. And again she thought she might follow. But then again, she reasoned, "Better not meddle in the affairs of the other wights here. Keep to yourself, and let them be." The curiosity won out(a trait that had landed her here) and she followed the living woman. Drifting and hovering just out side of her perception. But still behind all the same.

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Deep beneath Dwimorberg Rysha knelt before the wight, Cersed. The black hood she wore fell forward and covered her face, but from under the rim, Rysha still saw the green glow of the wight, and felt the piercing cold.

"The Lord Gorthroth sends a message." She said softly, though she served Gorthroth more directly, Cersed was her master as well. She bent closer to the ground. "A group of dwarves and men comes this way." The temperature in the room changed as Cersed reacted to this news with anger. Rysha shivered. "The Lord Gorthroth..." Rysha knew how to play this, Cersed would be angry if she said Gorthroth commanded, Rysha knew better than to make Cersed angry. "Lord Gorthroth requests your assistance, together to remove this threat to your treasures."

Rysha cast back her hood and looked up at the insubstantial being, waiting for an answer to take back to her master.

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed floated eerily through his cavern, a pulsing green light, more powerful and evil than would seem. He was bored, lurking in wait for any orc to scare- or any creature, for that matter. He strained his hearing, or what once, a very long time ago, would have been his ears. Of course, his ears had gone with the rest of him. Nasty, rotting.... Cersed sighed with pleasure. Suddenly, a sound penetrated his thought.

Before him stood that living girl who served them, them being the two wights of account in the caverns, himself and Gorthroth. Of course, she was Gorthroth's really, as he couldn't stand to be near living flesh for long, but she was a message-girl for both of them. He floated inquisitively. She bowed low, and spoke. The Lord Gorthroth sends a message. A group of dwarves and men comes this way. The Lord Gorthroth... Lord Gorthroth requests your assistance, together to remove this threat to your treasures. Cersed writhed with hate and anger and annoyance. This, of all things! He would do anythng to terrify men and dwarves, but Gorthroth... they had a rather unwilling alliance, and helped each other at need, and to keep the weaker wights in check, but still... Cersed could not say that the thought of fighting with Gorthroth truly appealed to him. The girl cleared her throat. He thought for a last moment, and a terrifying voice came out of the light that he was. Tell Gorthroth... I will come. The girl bowed to him and ran off.

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Meoshi]

"What are we waiting for around here? We won't get rich just by looking at it!" Falin felt foolish. The party was all ready, but he had been just standing there, waiting for someone else to give the command, not realizing that that was his job.

"Well, come on! You heard the dwarf!" Falin chuckled. Strapping his pack to his back, he turned around and began walking toward the dark Door in the great wall of stone.

[Annalaliath]

Stopping just around a bend Gaeriel listened to the news of the pending intruders. She stayed where she was, green glow and all, wondering what to do now. She stayed there suspended in the air waiting.... But for what? she wondered. Gaeriel had a sudden overwhelming urge to just barge in upon the Rysha and Cersed and try and kill the woman. Gaeriel fought the temptation down knowing the folly in this if she acted on it. She decided to leave them to their fancies.

She slowly turned around and started to head back to her own territory; continuing slowly along the halls her luminescent green glowing sickly around her. "Dwarves," she thought," this can't be right. A band of dwarves and men come to our halls. This may be some sourt of sick joke. But what if it isn't?" Then she smiled evilly, the smile cracked her dry and preserved skin, as bits and pieces flaked off to the floor," just the opportunity I needed," she rasped. She continued to waft slowly towards her part of the labyrinth, savoring the upcoming sport. But she mussn't get too excited over this just in case...

[Eruwen]

"Finally, we're off!" Haydn said under his breath as he heard Falin's command. The whole time when the group had been gathering together, he had just sat quietly scanning over his sword. This quest had really been the only excitement he had had for some time now. Being a ranger of the lands between the Shire and Rivendell does not often come with great wars or quests to fulfill.

Haydn followed Falin slowly along with many other Men and Dwarves. He kept his sword by his side with all his thoughts beant on the upcoming door. Just as Falin approached the entrance, many different thoughts ran through Haydn's mind.

Why am I here? he asked himself. After all these years of wandering Middle Earth alone, how did I end up in the middle of a quest with a group of Men and Dwarves?

Haydn looked around at his company. He said to himself again, Men...and Dwarves. Men...and Dwarves...going into the Paths of the Dead. He sighed as the thought suddenly crossed his mind. Wouldn't this be a sight for the Elves to see. He laughed to himself, but let the thoughts quickly leave his mind due to the upcoming journey. Teasure...yes, that is why I am here. The treasure...

[Taralphiel]

"What are we waiting for around here? We won't get rich just by looking at it!"

Aldor stared at the dwarf for a moment, not entirely sure if what he was saying was an order or a challenge

"Well, come on! You heard the dwarf!"

At that Aldor followed the dwarf and steadied his pack on his shoulders and looked towards the Cave. Its mouth hung open, filled with cobwebs, and an evil stench drifted to his nose. Trying to ignore he, he glanced at the other Men and Dwarves moving along beside him, and tried to watch for fear or weakness. One looked at him boldly. This was the same that had been staring at him when he had first arrived.

Aldor grunted and moved along, before footsteps caught up to him and a voice said...

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth was still sat in silence, brooding when Rysha returned.

"He will come," she answered, as he gave her a questioning look.

"Good. Now gather the others, men and orcs."

Rysha at once rose but turned and asked, "what about the spiders?"

"They can stay in their webs near the entrance. With luck, the band of trespassers into my tunnels will not get past them. Now GO!"

Rysha boqwed and hurried off, leaving Gorthroth feeling slightly easier. Cersed was coming there, Gorthorth has summoned him! He liked the sound of that.

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Iarbarion]

Buldro heard Falin tell the company to begin to move. The dwarf's thunderous voice startled Buldro from his daydream. Finally Buldro thought to himself. He slowly began the walk towards the open mouth of the cave, which was covered with cobwebs. The company would soon enter the dark caverns of the Paths of the Dead.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha grumbled to herself as she hurried through the halls. Go here, fetch that... she thought to herself, mocking the wight. She enjoyed the power she got from serving Gorthroth. The orcs and other creatures left her largely alone for fear of her undead masters, but at some times she wished she were the master.

Coming to a bend in the passage, she sumbled over a small sleeping orc on the ground. It leapt to its feet and snarled at her, baring jagged teeth, and whipped out a curved sword. Rysha stepped back calmly and sneered at it. "Lord Gorthroth summons you." she snapped, fingering her whip. "You will attend him if you know what's good for you."

The orc grumbled and hissed at her, "I'll be there if I goes there. I serve no-one." Rysha shrugged her shoulders, her message delivered, and continued on her way. Gorthroth was quite effective when dealing with those who crossed him, and if she was faithful... Rysha fingered her whip once again, she might be allowed to take part in the fun.

She continued through the halls, seeking out those who could be of use.

[kittiewhirl1677]

Hermesin lowered his sword, still keeping it at ready. He quietly walked over to the secret entrance to the secret path. He shifted a huge, heavy rock with ease and climbed out. He ended up on a ledge: the ledge was made up of a row of rocks sticking out of the cave wall. The row was wide enough for him to crawl through without being noticed.

He carefully made his way down the rocky path, looking around him as to catch the source of the sound. He then stopped, hearing it again. He looked over the ledge and saw a young female human walking through the passage.

Hermesin had seen her around before, she was a servant of one of the more powerful wights. He didn't know many of the creatures living in the Paths though, as he avoided most of them because they were dangerous and not meant for dealing with.

Unfortunately, as Hermesin looked over the rocky ledge, his toe slid and hit the wall. The impact didn't hurt him much, but a bit of the wall chipped off and fell noisily to the ground.

The human instantly reacted, reaching for her whip and looking in all directions. Hermesin avoided being seen by leaning backwards against the wall. The human, making sure that no one was there, continued on her way. Hermesin also quietly continued following her down the ledge.

Soon enough, he came to a staircase-like path, ending the ledge he was crawling on. The stairs veered off-course a bit, which was good in Hermesin's case. He couldn't get down to the ground without making a huge racket unless he did it unseen.

He quietly climbed down the rocky staircase, and continued following the Human. Unfortunately, his toe hit yet another rock-but this time he didn't go unnoticed. The rock bounced away against the wall, and finally landed by the human's feet. She turned slowly, her whip at the ready. Seeing Hermesin, she calmed a bit. She told him of the counsil that was being held by Gorthroth.

"Interesting." Hermesin replied.
"I will be there."

[Beruthiel]

"What are we waiting for around here? We won't get rich just by looking at it!"

Touriner laughed, he was glad someone was getting things going. He walked briskly and breathed in the fresh air. Behind him he saw a man who he hadn't noticed before but before he could introduce himself they had almost reached the entrance.

The cave loomed ahead and Touriner walked with his head held high, filled with excitement. He looked back at the fields of his country and then forward to the darkness that was about to cover them all.

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: Beruthiel ]

[Nerindel]

Nori looked at the cobwebs surrounding the entrance to the paths and shivered. This reminded him of the stories his father had told him of King Thorin Oakenshield and the spiders of Mirkwood.

Without realising he was doing it he removed his battle axe from his belt and gripped it tightly with both hands, he felt a little more comfortable now he had it in his hands.
He looked to the rest of the company, giant cobwebs hadn't seemed to phase any of them, maybe they don't know of giant spiders he thought. As he turned back he noticed that Falin now had his weapon in his hand and was looking around nervously.

Not wishing to panic the group prematurely, he whispered to Falin "Attercop", of course reffering to the insult the thief Bilbo Baggins had called the spiders in the afore mentioned story. Falin nodded saying "one if we're lucky", Nori gulped at the thought that there might be more than one.

He gripped his axe a little tighter and looked to Falin for instruction.

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Meoshi]

The warm light of the sun was gone, and Falin's eyes were adapting to the dimmer light of his lantern. Still, he could make out the features of the tunnel.

The cavern's roof was relatively low, about twenty or so feet. Even in this light he could tell that the spider, if there was one, was not in the room. Suddenly, Falin jumped at a terrifying sight: The mud on the floor was marked by hundreds of sets of little claw-prints. Deep claw-prints. There must be hundreds of spiders, he thought in terror!

Still, he remembered his mission, and his goal; and gold has a way of calming the hearts of Dwarves.

[ May 03, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

[Annunfuiniel]

SILMARIËN'S POST:

Nuzrog was rudely awoken by a human girl tripping over him. He jumped up, pulled out his scimitar, bared his teeth and snarled at her. All she did was sneer back, “Lord Gorthroth summons you. You will attend him if you know what’s good for you”

‘What cheek! Telling him what to do’, "I'll be there if I goes there. I serve no-one." That should teach her who did she think she was. She just shrugged and walked off.

“Gurzrog!” he yelled. “Over here” came the reply. “This looks like a passable enough spot” Nuzrog jogged over to where his twin brother was checking out a cave.

[ May 04, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Annunfuiniel]

Small smoking fire threw light over piles of bones, dirty rags and other filth. Amid the mayhem sat a figure as rugged as the stone walls around him and as foul as his surroundings, and focused on a strange task. Kurzag's knife was again at work: with it he cut a light stroke to the blade of his sword, then paused, raised the blade to the light and eyed his accomplishment. Flickering flames distorted his already mutilated features and his one eye gleamed malevolently in the dusk. Skew grin on his lips Kurzag settled the sword back to his lap and made another cut.

Lurk! Prowl! Make no growl!
Rush! Crush! Cause great howl!

Kurzag's croaking voice rang in the passages and caverns under the mountain and scared a flock of bats to flight.

"Great night for Kurzag!" he snarled and smoothed the blade almost fondly. Then he turned around searching for something and after throwing aside some bits and pieces he found what he was looking for. He reared up a flagon and said mockingly: "Here's to all fat merchants! May ye always travel with young tasty servants and fine beer!" Kurzag kicked aside a bone to which some shreds of meat were still attached. He staggered and fell down to his knees cursing loudly in black speech.

"Hear, hear!" came a scornful double sound behind him. Kurzag swung over and saw two dark figures entering the cave. His eye narrowed and he reached for his sword. Drunk as he was that didn't mean he was in the mood for company any more than usually. The intruders stepped nearer and Kurzag recognised the two orcs that looked confusingly alike. He grunted and then continued with voice reflecting his irritation "What now? Spit it out or get lost ye cads!"

[Annalaliath]

But instead of her own halls Gaeriel found herself in the halls of Gorthroth. She looked up and was surprised to be here in this ones halls. She stopped and turned not able to decide what to do. Her sword hung about her skelatal waste and the skin of her hands cracked and faked as she flexed and unflexed them. This was the place that she liked to avoid. What will he do when he finds me invading his teratory just as those dwarves and men planned to invade the whole of theirs.

She decided to stop and wait. Not for anyone but to see what would happen. She retreated into a creavace in the rock and hid watching the path ahead. Waiting for the living girl and what ever else may come her way. Mabe she could quell this need to kill the living for a little while. Just a little while....

[dragoneyes]

Erchas watched as her wishes came true. Dwarves, and better yet, Men were willingly wandering into her domain without her doing any luring of any sort. She shook in anticipation of such a feast and it was all ahe could do not to leap on her unsuspecting victims where they stood. But she knew better than that, facing such a large number of Men and Dwarves would surely mean the end of her. Instead, she continued to watch them, silently willing them inside. She made sure she was hidden in her corner, surrounded by shadows, it wouldn't do to have them notice her too early. She decided she would trail them for a short while and pick them off from the back as they went along. The last thing she wanted was for something else to get its claws on her prize.

"Attercop." Erchas was bumped out of her thoughts, it had been very faint but she was sure she had heard it. The rage bubbled inside her and a desire to rip the heads from their puny bodies grew. She strggled to control herself but she couldn't stop a small hiss escape her. The spider froze, if they had heard her, it was possible that they would flee the cave. Erchas stayed still, as still as the stone she lived in, perhaps they would pass it off as the wind, whatever happened, Erchas was going to make sure they were caught.

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: dragoneyes ]

[Annalaliath]

Gareil sensed a faint fear like a silent echo. The scent of change was on the still air, and excitement was drifting its way down to where she hid. "The intruders have come," she thought as she waited in the crevice. The faint and thin whispers drifted down to her. Not that she knew the words but the identifiable sounds that weren’t just the spider at the door.

She imprudently in her excitement relieved herself of her cover and danced, or floated down the hall towards Gorthroth's lair. If she still had her life she would have been hopping and skipping down the hall, but since she couldn't she just floated. She could almost see the thrill of the kill already, she could taste it, and smell it on the air. To hold such living flesh in her arms and extinguish the life for it, just the very thought made her trimmer with feeling and an evil joy.

[ May 03, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha picked her way through the caves carefully. There was another of those spiders back here, and she wanted to avoid it. She peered into dark corners as sh passed, knowing that it could be lurking anywhere. She neared the deepest parts of the cave, cursing under her breath. There were lesser wights back here, as well, and while Rysha knew that her status with Gorthroth and Cersed gave her some protection, she didn't want to test her strength against the undead things.

She came into a large cavern and viciously kicked a form lying on the ground. It shot up from where it was sleeping in a pile of dirty blankets. "Sikilkolindo," Rysha said, "how lovely to see you."

The man fingered the hilt of his sword. "Rysha," he returned the mock pleasantries, "what brings you down here?"

"Aaaah!" she said, her voice dripping with sugar, "You'll want to hear this, you'll like this even. It's an invitation..." Her voice snapped back to its usual tone. "The Lord Gorthroth summons you to his halls." She wanted to think the man paled at the words, but she was fairly certain it was her imagination. Sikilkolindo pondered for a minute before answering.

"I'll be there." he said gravely.

"I thought you would." she replied.

[Iarbarion]

Buldro wandered through the dark caves unsure of what would leap out at them. He heard sounds in the distance that he wasn't sure he wanted to hear. The company had walked through many cavernous rooms but the one they stood in now somehow seemed larger than the rest. Whenever the dwarves and men walked through what seemed to be a doorway, cobwebs would attach to the faces of the first few unlucky creatures to walk through them.

The room they stood in now seemed like they were not in the room alone. They walked around trying to somehow see their surroundings but found no success. They examined most things with their hands which was not very pleasant when hands were put into a gooey substance or a rancid smelling form. Even though the journey was hard, nothing seemed able to stop the treasure seekers.

[Nerindel]

As they moved along Nori had the uneasy feeling that they were being watched, as they had left the first chamber (that had been totally covered in cobwebs) he had been sure that he had heard a sharp hiss, but when he had asked Aldor (who had nearly fell over him when he had suddenly stopped) if he too had heard it he merely shugged and told him that it was just the wind, laughing at him for being so jumpy. Nori had grunted and turned back.

While moving along he was nervously looking to his left and his right and in the dim light of Falins lantern he could see large cracks and seemingly empty side passages, this made him uneasy to think that something could come at them from any number of these passages.

Suddenly they walked into a large cavern whose wet walls glistened in the light of the lanterns. They rested here for awhile, some of the company search the cavern and others had something to eat, Nori sat by the entrance of the cavern peering into the darkness, squinting to see if something is out there watching them.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Taralphiel]

Aldor walked ahead, scowling at the dwarf. 'his fear will spread to them all like a plague'He thought to himself.

Still adjusting to the stench of the place, he cast his gaze out. The cavers rose to heights above his sight, all shining with the dank and cold. The path before was littered with bones and the refuse of centuries. The group began to form together closer as they made their way through. Aldor noticed a woman striding further forward, almost out of torchlight. 'Fool'he thought, and urged others on to keep up with her. The group halted suddenly,before he heard the call to camp for the time. Sitting out towards the darkness, Aldor heard a sound unlikely to be the wind. Many had lifted their weapons, and were darting their heads back and forth. Aldor too raised his weapon, fear beginning to niggle at his heart. He saw something dart from the shadows, and yell come from the back of the company...

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]

[Meoshi]

It had been an hour's march. The company's eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and the cobwebs, once an unbearable barrier that had to be hacked through in some places(although others appeared to have been cut through recently), had thinned out and eventually disappeared as they moved further into the caves. The fear that the webs had created had not faded.

Falin halted the party in a great cavern, with glistening walls. The walls were covered with water, far damper than the rest of the caves he had seen.

Falin sat down and fetched out a map. It was a new map, condensed from information gleaned from old Numenorean and Noldorin records of expeditions. From the look of it, there was a single long, wide tunnel, albeit winding, passing from Dimholt to Erech. He was sure they were travelling it now. But around it was a crazy honeycomb of side passages and caverns. About two-thirds of the way through the caves, however, the homeycomb ended- leaving only the main passage. The door, and the treasure, must be in that end section...

Falin was disturbed in thought by a yell, and a drawing of a sword, in the back of the cavern.

[The Ruling Ring]

Sikilkolindo shuddered, running a bony finger through his clumped hair as Rysha left.

"Gorthroth," he whispered hoarsely to himself, drawing his sword out and waving it a little, for practice or no reason. What could that accursed wight want with him? He hadn't been in these caves long--he had thought that he wouldn't be troubled. He hadn't even been sure that they knew he was here. Still, he'd said he would be there, and be there he would be.

He looked around at the darkness. He didn't much care for the scenery of his new abode, but he hadn't cared much about it when he first took up here--a raging thunderstorm had drove him in. And now, he wasn't sure if he stayed because he wished to--or because he simply couldn't find a way out.

He looked after Rysha's figure, disappearing into the light.

"Rysha!" he called, running after her.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

"Rysha!" her name rang through the corridors rather louder than the woman was comfortable with. Who was this bonehead? There were things in these caverns that it was not wise to disturb. Gritting her teeth with scarcely concealed annoyance she spun on her heel.

"Yes?" she inquired in that same voice, filled with mock civility. The man looked troubled. Rysha let a small smile creep onto her lips. She pulled her whip from where it hung on her belt and ran it through her white hands as she waited for a response. Her extreme pallor was startling in the dark cave, and the long white hands stroking the whip made a bizzare picture. She thought she saw Sikilkolindo pull back from her as she stepped toward him. A lovely moment, she thought, but the point? "Need something?" she asked him, waited for a reply, one booted foot tapping the stone.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed waited in Gorthroth's cave, as far as possible from Grothroth himself, and conveying as much impatence and contempt as a green spectral cloudy figure can convey without saying anything. But he knew Gorthroth would understand exactly... That stuck-up one... thinks he's the head wight, yes... he doesn't go far enough from his cave... he doesn't hear them murmuring against us... but I know it all. This gave Cersed a pleasant cold sensation, shivering rhough what had once been his body. He knew more of what went on, of what the orcs and other wights said... but while the unwilling pact between Cersed and Gorthroth remained, they were inno danger. Each knew that if the other were overthrown, their own power may go into monopoly. Still they aren't here... Cersed kept waiting, but still thinking, taking pleasure in advance in his soon-to-be meals.

[ May 10, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel danced even closer to Gorgoths’s cave, not noticing her proximity to it. She was excited about the upcoming events, that she knew now were about to arise. Gaeriel stopped and looked around. She was at the mouth of Gorgoth’s cave, glow illuminating it in a sickly green light. She weighed her options fro a minute or two. “Do I go in?” She pondered, “ or do I stay out and hide.” Then acting on pure impulse against her better judgement she floated into the cave through this maw into Gorgoth’s cave.

She stopped as soon as she had passed the threshold. “ What am I doing here?” she thought. She looked around seeing the other two wights and she suddenly felt very small and vulnerable. Not a being that was immensely evil but small and powerless, like she hadn’t felt since she had been alive and a child at that. But at the same time she felt a great swell of hatred towards these others ,and she wanted nothing more than to leave to her own halls. She turned to leave but for some reason she could not, she stayed “rooted” to the spot and maybe she waited, but for what. She was always waiting for something, she hardly ever knew what it was though, but still she was always waiting. She floated there in her decaying guise of her dry and cracking flesh;. flakes drifting to the floor only to disappear into nothing. She stood there looking at them from seemingly empty eye sockets wondering what to do next, waiting for who knows what.

[ May 10, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Annunfuiniel]

"Well well, what do we have here?" spoke the other of the sneaky creatures and eyed Kurzag's cavern. "Yes, cosy hole it is, Gurzrog. Here we live as snug as a bug in a rug."

Red light flamed in Kurzag's eye as he heard these words, and the drowsy drunkenness evaporated as anger made his blood boil. If one or both of the intruding orcs had erred to laugh he would have attacked first and spoken later but now, gritting his teeth, he managed to hiss "This cave is taken. Objections?" And with that he raised his sword and took a step toward the twin orcs.

The situation was two against one but Kurzag wasn't worried; he had fought against heavier odds more than once. He took another tread and so menacing was his wroth appearance that the orc which had acceded further into the cave now instinctively tried to retreat. But this surely was Kurzag's lucky day; for while withdrawing the orc stumbled on a pile of filth and fell on his back. Kurzag was at once over his opponent, the edge of his sword on the unfortunate creature's throat.

The other orc snarled in his corner and Kurzag eyed him maliciously. "Gurzrog, wasn’t it? I would keep quiet and act calmly if I were you, just so your brother won't get his ugly head cut off." He kicked away the blade which the tumbled orc had lost and then bent nearer to his prey his face reflecting bleak triumph.

"Now, did you have something more to say or would you like me to throw you to the door?" Kurzag uttered, his ill-affected tone matching his grisly grin. The orc grimaced back to him and barely controlled his rage.

"A meeting", the wretched thing murmured. "There's a meeting."

"What? Speak up if you've something to say!"

"Gorthroth summons you!" the other orc barked, wisely omitting the word 'Lord'.

Doubt filled Kurzag's vicious mind but he didn't let it show from his face. "I see. Well, you may run as he tells you to - that suits you fine. I guess this call was addressed to you by that cheeky little vassal of his, Rysha or whatever her name is." Kurzag gave a short dry laugh. "Hah! A glimpse of her whip and you wailed on your knees before her!"

Kurzag had now had his fun. He grabbed the orc from his rags, hitched him up and slung him towards the cave's entry. "Now run, run to your master! I might just follow you, to see how you bow to him and crawl in his bloody feet!"

His hideous croak rang in the ears of the fleeing twins; they would surely remember this encounter for a long time.

Revenge! You'll live to regret those words!

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha waited as Sikilkolindo began to speak. "This meeting, Rysha, what's it for? What does Gorthroth want of me?" his eyes were cautious. Rysha smiled. A proper respect for her master. But she thought she saw a gleam of ambition in his dark eyes as well. Her smile faded. Rysha served Lord Gorthroth. There was no room for outsiders. If Sikilkolindo thought that this might be an opportunity to gain authority with the wights... Her fingers stopped stroking the whip and closed about the handle purposefully. Rysha would deal with it.

"What do they want with me?" Sikilkolindo demanded again. Startled from her private thoughts Rysha snapped out of her fixed glare at Sikilkolindo and mentally scolded herself for letting her irritation show.

"There is to be a council. Dwarves are bound this way, and we must not let them survive." Delicious thought... Rysha's smile was back, full force. Sikilkolindo nodded, the caution in his face remaining.

"I'll be there." he repeated.

As Rysha hurried back to the cavern where Gorthroth waited, she overheard an exchange between some orcs and Kurzag in his cavern. Rysha knew Kurzag well. Those newcomers had best watch their steps.

Hurrying into Gorthroth's chamber Rysha was startled to see not one, but three wights inside. Gaeriel, one of the lesser wights from the deeper caves had come, it seemed. She curled her lip in a sneer as she passed Gaeriel, and positioned herself at a respectful proximity to Cersed and Gorthroth- though noticeably closer to Gorthroth.

She bowed low, her hood covering her face entirely as she concentrated on the cavern floor. Gorthroth's voice summoned her to rise, and she did.

"They are coming, my Lord." she said, unable to supress a grin. "The orcs, the men, they are all coming. None dare defy your command."

[Nerindel]

Nori had been peering into the darkness for long while but he could still not see anything or hear anything. So shaking his head, thinking that maybe it was just the wind he belted his axe and went to have a look around.

Suddenly he heard a yell and as he looked round to were the yell had come from he saw The boy Jem drawing his daggers, The yelling and the drawing of his daggers had been enough to alert the whole group, who where all now drawing weapons. "What is it" Nori whispered to the boy. "I felt something pass my leg" he said, There was no fear in the lads voice just an alertness.

Nori took his throwing axe from his belt and looked around. All of a sudden he let it fly across the cavern, it hit something soft which let out a high pitched skreech. Nori walk over to retrieve his axe. As he got up he was laughing heartily in one hand he had his axe and in the other he had by the tail an extremely large, fat and now very dead rat, "it's just a rat" he was laughing. Some of the others laughed too, Sheathing their weapons.

Jem lowered his head totally ashamed "don't worry lad we all make mistakes" Nori said to him still laughing. Nori was not Laughing at the boy but at how edgey and tense they had all been. He hoped that now the group would be less so and maybe even start to enjoy the adventure, so what if the ran into something he felt confident that this group could defeat anything. He laughed again and looked to falin to see it the would be leaving.

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth rose from his throne as two orcs twins and two humans entered. Rysha and Cersed stood near and the third wight stood to his left.

"Dwarves and Men have entered.....our....caves, they must be stopped." His voice rasped and commanded silence.
"We must prevent them from accessing the cave system."

"What do you propose?" Cersed asked, with a slight lack of respect.

"We will search and destroy them in a collaborated effort. And failing that, disperse them into smaller groups and hunt the down one at a time."

"The spiders?" one of the orcs asked, "wont they do anything?"

"We cannot rely on webweavers to clear this threat!" Gorthroth said, in a powerful tone. The orc retreated a few steps.

The cavern's atmosphere was thick until Rysha broke the silence, cracking her whip, "let us get to it."

"How shall we do this?" Hermesin asked, apprehensively.

"We will divide and attack from two sides in the cave of spears," Gorthroth explained. The cave he referred to was littered with stalagmites across its rocky floor and stalagtites that hung ominously from the high ceiling above. There were many exits from the cavern, a perfect place for an ambush.

Gorthroth continued, "I will lead the first group, with Gaeriel and Hermesin." As he spoke, another orc (kurzag) entered, "and you!" Gorthroth pointed, " will also join me. We will attack from the north passage. The rest of you, under Cersed will attack from the south."

He finished and resumed his seat, "we will attack in two hours!"

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel had been looking at al of the living and breathing things in the room with her. She looked at the other wights and contained herself, as she listened to Gorthroth. She understood the whole of the plan. She hated to be ordered around (a trait that she had carried on into death); she was the one who liked giving them. Gaeriel also knew the importance of following these orders anyway. She listened and when Gorthroth mentioned her as to accompany the first ambush party she almost hated him for it, and yet, she was excited; the opportunity to kill, or at least to drive mortals mad.

" How will we attack?" she asked pieces of skin flaking to the floor disappearing into nothing, " I mean what do you want me to do, sir?" she asked the last word ending venomously. " Shall we lure or shall we run in on them head on. What is your plan other than just the ambush, how will it work?" Gaeriel asked these questions, her mind teaming with evil ideas. Her voice seemed a raspy echo in the minds of all that listened. Her voice had once been loving and kind, the type of voice children loved. But no more it was reduced to a rasp, a breath of wind that could be heard in the mind, but occasionally audible to loving ears.

She suddenly changed her appearance; from the mummified creature that she preferred to the woman she had been. The green glow about her reflected of white skin and blue green eyes flecked with gold. She still wore traveling clothes but they were no longer reduced to rags. Her sword at her hip swung gently down from her belt and its white pominal shown in the green glow of her presence. This was a great luring tactic, she wondered if Gorthrth knew this. She looked at Rysha, her eyes full of evil. " You are such a good little thrall aren’t you?" She looked at the girl with contempt, and a hint of jealousy.

" What do you want to do?" she asked looking back to Gorthroth. Her voice dripped with venom; still a rasping in the air.

[ May 16, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha glowered. The wight, Gaeriel, clothed in a semblance of her former self, cast her a contemptuous glance. "You are such a good little thrall aren’t you?" Rysha spit on the floor, raising her eyes to Gaeriel's. A small sneer twisted her face. She was more powerful than the lesser undead here. She didn't fear the wight, not with Gorthroth in the room. She was too valuable a servant for her master to lose for no reason.

But her master's next words rocked her. "I will lead the first group, with Gaeriel and Hermesin...and you!" he pointed at Kurzag who was just entering. "We will attack from the north passage. The rest of you, under Cersed will attack from the south." Rysha's eyes narrowed. She would be under Cersed? Commotion was erupting in all parts of the cave as the orcs and men argued over the best plans of attack.

Rysha stood stone still, casting a wary glance at the wights. She inched closer to Gorthroth, lowered her head and growled, "Master, I don't work with Cersed." her voice was angry. Rysha wasn't a plaything, to be passed back and forth between the undead creatures. She fingered the handle of her whip from habit. She had come far for this; sneaking into the caverns as an early teen she had defended herself, defended her territory, made all fear her. She had caught Gorthroth's attention by merit, she thought fiercely. She was Gorthroth's eyes and hands in the world. Not a pawn, an underling sent to serve another.

Gaeriel seemed to be watching this exchange with amusement. Rysha slowly controlled her facial muscles. She hated Gaeriel. Returning her glare to Gorthroth, she said again, "Master, why?"

Gorthroth's tone was irritated, and Rysha shivered in the cold air that rippled around him as he spoke. "You must watch Cersed," he said. "Make sure my treasure is safe. You are my strong right arm Rysha."

Her anger evaporating Rysha smiled. Gorthroth feared Cersed. This was information to tuck away for later. She flexed her fingers where they'd stiffened around her whip handle. His strong right arm... she mused, yes. Eyes narrowed in the dimly lit cavern she nodded.

[kittiewhirl1677]

Hermesin was to go with Gorthroth. The thought hit him a few seconds late, after it was said. Great, he thought I'm to go with the head wight..

Not that he hated Gorthroth, it was just that being under somebody so big, bigger in prestige and honor than himself would surley be tough. He hated being under the control of ones so much higher in status than himself. They could do anything to him, and he could do nothing to them.

Well, at least this was for a noble cause... To get rid of those filthy dwarves and humans who had entered the cave, trying to take hold of it, maybe?

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed almost hissed in disgust at the 'people' he had been given. Not that there were any better, he realized... Rysha, though he hated her, was a competent fighter, though he was sure he knew that Gorthroth hadn't placed his favorite in his rival's group by accident... the others were of no worth, really. Some he had seen before, hunting or just roaming, but nothing extraordinary. Still, he felt something that might have been called gladness that Gorthroth had taken Gaeriel into his own group... she annoyed Cersed infinitely. She was far too impudent for her own good. Ah well, he would teach her manners sometime.

He snapped back to his surroundings, glanced comtempuously at the orcs staring up at him, and at Rysha standing nearby, fingering her whip, and a piercingly cold but low voice floated out of the greenish cloud that he was, for now. "Come," he said, and began to float out the door. He stopped for a moment, deciding which side to hit from, who to put at the front, who at the back. He pushed himself into his former shape, as he knew Gorthroth and Gaeriel must have been doing as well, and half walked half floated out, a young black haired man with eyes that had once been jolly and green, but now shone with a terrible and ancient light that was far worse than darkness. He swept them over the group in his following once more, lingering on Rysha until she looked up, giving something that might once have been a derisive smirk, knowing she was the only one of the group who was not too scared of him to try something of her own, and curved past them all, his mind no longer on the people he had been given but on the deliciously entertaining task ahead.

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[the real findorfin]

As Cersed made to leave, now in his original form, Gorthroth called, "we will attack first, and then you will enter as they flee or make ready to fight."
The pale figure of a man nodded and, with his group following, left the hall.

Gorthroth looked around, Gaerial had assumed a human form already, Hermesin was resolute but there was a trace of worry. Kurzag seemed not in the least bit worried but rather hungry. He was chewing on something that Gorthroth thought to be a chunk of meat.

"The plan will be carried out exactly as I say," Gorthroth began and as he did so, his figure shimmered and turned into that of a small boy. "Gaeriel and I will stumble out of the passageway and fall to the floor. Kurzag, you will follow as if in chase. The enemy will attack you and as they pass the tunnel Hermesin will attack from the side. We, now in the midst of them as I know they will protect us, will then attack in whatever form we choose. Gaeriel, you must hide your sword until this time." With this he changed from his boy form back to his ghastly glowing, hooded figure, a fresh wave of fear hitting his companions. "And then, Cersed's group will enter into the fray."

He flexed his muscles and made fort he door. "Come, we have much ground to cover. Are there any questions?"

As Gorthroth walked, still in Wight form, he considered his group. They would do. He noticed with much mirth that Cersed and Gaeriel had returned to there human forms. How pitiful! He would remain in his more powerful form for the fighting, that of his ghostly aura. He was the most powerful Wight!

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel followed Gorthroth through the halls. She heard his plan and hated it. She did not want to follow these orders. "Anyway," she thought, " I have no treasures to keep, just the sword and the dead." She looked at this as sport but she did not like to hunt with others. She flickered between her tow forms as she thought on this. Gaeriel lagged behind. She, without the knowledge of Gorthroth slipped into her own territory. TO wait there.

She smiled as she walked by her trophy of the dead orc, and she smiled. She thought back many centuries to those days that had been taken from her. Her children had been alive and grown when she had come here. Her heart so cold and evil still ached to see them, but knew she couldn't. These thoughts were what she tried to avoid. instead she turned her energies to thinking out her plans. Building her unseen webs. She would lure them here. She walked by her own body, skeleton really, and looked at it. She decided to move it down the way a little; bone by bone. The decaying orc was moved to another hall too. Arranging both faces to the earth and poised in such a way as to denote terror.

She then hovered in the mouth of her tunnels and caves, about two, lurking; waiting, just waiting for the game...

[Annunfuiniel]

"I will lead the first group, with Gaeriel and Hermesin", Kurzag heard Gorthroth's voice echoing in the cavern as he entered in it. The sound was hollow and dark like Kurzag's heart but there was something more to it – it seemed to rise straight from the stone around the creature and it was cold, cold as death itself.

"And you will also join me." The wight continued, now addressing his words to Kurzag. "We will attack from the north passage. The rest of you, under Cersed will attack from the south." "We will attack in two hours!"

Violent shivers went through Kurzag's mutilated body. He tried to suppress them which only made him shake even worse. But the icy air lingering in the cave had hardly anything to do with this. Red flame flickered again in Kurzag's eye and his fists squeezed convulsively, his knuckles turning white as he tried to somehow master his rage. Who he thinks he is, telling ME what to do?! He clenched his rotten teeth so forcibly that two of them twisted off and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

Pain luckily had a calming effect on the orc and the blood in his mouth made him only hungry again. Fine then, let's hear what that scarecrow has planned in its damned head. Kurzag watched nonchalantly as the other group left under the lead of Cersed and listened with one ear what Gorthroth was saying. "Kurzag, you will follow as if in chase. The enemy will attack you and as they pass the tunnel Hermesin will attack from the side." Kurzag growled, neither endorsing nor disapproving. Then a ghoulish grin rose to his face I'll surely follow you, Master Wight, and take part in this hunt – but maybe not the way you had planned!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kurzag trudged through the many caves and tunnels following Gorthroth and Hermesin. He didn't see Gaeriel but could feel her just a few steps behind – the coldness fell like another skin around him. Suddenly the icy clasp eased and then it was gone. Kurzag looked over his shoulder to see nothing but darkness. Aha! another who likes to fly solo., he grimaced and bothered not to inform Gorthroth about Gaeriel's parting. Let the Boss figure it out by himself, he mused maliciously.

As Kurzag finished this thought their dwindled company reached the Cave of Spears. Everything was calm, the sound of water dripping from the stalactites being the only thing to break the silence.

Gorthroth had stopped and turned around, obviously to deliver new orders. To Kurzag's great delight the wight seemed first uneasy and then furious as he detected Gaeriel's absence. Gorthroth's distraction still tickled Kurzag as he spoke simulating solemn tone

"Hmm, we seem to be missing a companion... Well, that suits me fine – the smaller the group the larger ones share of the kill."

Judging by the freezing atmosphere Kurzag's words had not deadened Gorthroth's rage. Obstinate as he was Kurzag couldn't bring himself to admit Gorthroth's supremacy but this time he knew where to draw the line.

"The dwarves and men will be here, hopefully, soon. Now what's our next move?" the orc asked turning to watch the wight, and waited for his motion.

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Meoshi]

A smile broke over Falin's face. "See, there's nothing to fear here...I think", he chuckled. "If this is what comes of stopping, perhaps we'd better go." Nobody seemed to object to that idea.

The party continued, leaving the dripping cavern for a wide tunnel with large flowstones and a potholed, uneven floor. Amid finding footing, Falin sensed something in the darkness behind-something terrible. To distract himself, he talked to Nori, beside him. "If my map is right, we're still on the right path, and a third of the way to our destination In a few minutes, we'll come to a magnificent huge room, with a great many stalactites- but no stalagmites. This is a curious place."

------------------

Undarion followed the wights and varying creatures, lurking behind in the darkness. Dwarves and humans... If there are dwarves, there must be gold, he thought. He would not attack them, but if they survived, he would follow the remaining treasure hunters to their destination. He wanted to know what they were after.

[The Ruling Ring]

Sikilkolindo walked briskly down the dark hall, joining another man and what looked (and smelled) like two orcs. They all hurried into a small room, the entrance of which Sikilkolindo had never seen before, though he knew he must have walked down this passage many times.

He stood in silence at the back of the room with the others, listening to Gorthroth's plan. The objective seemed fair, but the plan itself was not to his liking.

Sikilkolindo frowned, looking from the others, to Cersed. A wight...

He hadn't been in these caves that long. He hadn't really had to deal with a wight before, and he didn't like the look of this one.

Judging from Rysha's reaction to him as he fixed his gaze on her, neither did she. Sikilkolindo approached her.

"Trouble?" he said softly, a smile spreading across his face. "Or are you afraid?"

[the real findorfin]

As Geariel slipped away Gorthroth felt her presence diminish, but continued along the route. The ambush would not fail because of her. He was enraged by the actions of the foolish Wight but she was small and he would deal with her later.

He turned on Kurzag as the orc spoke, "do....we will do nothing until the enemy approaches!"
His voice was more stern than normal and he sent even more waves of fear and power over Hermesin and Kurzag.

His plan had already been changed and he would now be alone in the midst of the dwarves and men. He would have to wait longer before attacking lest he be overwhelmed, which would mean Cersed would wait longer...perhaps too long. But surely Rysha would not, he had her under his command.

"Hermesin, scout ahead to the entrance over there," Gorthroth commanded, pointing to the entrance through which the enemy would enter. As he left, Gorthroth felt the presence of Cersed across the wide hall.

"Good," he thought, "we are all in place."

[kittiewhirl1677]

"Hermesin, scout ahead to the entrance over there,"

After the meeting in which Hermesin had heard his role in the plan, he had joined Gorthroth and had heard his command. After Gorthroth glided silently away, Hermesin approached the entrance Gorthroth had commanded him to go to.

Hermesin stood there, waiting, waiting... Suddenly he froze. There were footsteps approaching his position.

[Nerindel]

Nori walked along the wide tunnel using his axe as a support on the uneven, pot filled path. He talked with falin as they walked, he told him that they would soon reach a huge room full of stalactites.

But Falin's description did not do the room justice as they came apon it Nori gapped in wonder, he could not see the top of the ceiling, but the stalactites were very long and sharp looking and their milky white deposits gave the room a soft white glow.

As they entered the room Nori shivered this room was colder than any of the others they had already been in. he noticed that some of the stalactites were dangerously loose and was just about to turn to warn the others, when......

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth watched as Hermesin ran to the cavern entrance. After some time he turned and signalled to the Wight, before diving for cover behind a small rocky outcrop from the wall. Gorthroth immediately changed form and, turning to Kurzag, said, "Give me plenty of time and then follow." The Wight's voice coming from the young boy's fqace was disturbing and gruesome but Kurzag nodded.

Gorthroth watched as the group of enemies entered, dwarves with axes, men and women all armed.

Gorthroth set about wailing, as if he were further back along his own passage and slowly it grew in sound and with a leap he burst out of the tunnel entrance, ran for several metres and then tripped and fell. He watched as the group starred in disbelief and then right on cue, Kurzag lumbered out of the tunnel, slavering at the mouth.

As Gorthroth expected, the sound of metal being released came to his ears and Kurag swung around to meet his foe. He stood still for one moment and then ran, not back from where he had come or to the entrance where Cersed waited but the huge cavernous arch that stood opposite the band of explorers.

At once the enemies gave chase and soon they were spread out around the cavern. Three of them were chasing Kurzag, four had crowded around Gorthroth/Boy asking if he was alright and two dwarves, axes in hand scanned the cave. He mumbled, "I'm alright," before slumping to the ground in mock unconsciousness.

He watched through half-closed eyes as Hermesin leapt upon the dwarf from behind. The second dwarf cried out and Gorthroth smiled, Kurzag was level with Cersed's entrance now. Cersed would come and the enemy would be destroyed.

[Annunfuiniel]

It's working! Kurzag grimaced as he spurted across the cavern. He could hear his pursuers, there were at least three of them. Three is fine, three is good!

When Kurzag was near the other entrance he caught a glimpse of the other wight and his group on his right side.

"Attack!" Kurzag let a blood-curdling scream as if it was in his power to command wights and all other creatures. The chaos spread like fire behind him and the walls echoed mockingly the yells of the frightened dwarves and men.

Kurzag reached the other end of the hall where large stone slabs and deep shadows offered many hides. The orc plunged to the shades and at that very same moment swung round to meet his chasers. He was slightly winded, due to excitement rather than the running. Kurzag raised his curved sword and waited for his prey, his eye gleaming maliciously in the menacing darkness.

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Nerindel]

... they suddenly heard wailing, and a young boy charge into the room, he tripped and fell over a few feet away from them, Nori stared in disbelief, what was this child doing here he thought looking at the others who immediately ran to the boy's aid.

Just then an orc came running in, Nori's face contorted into a look of utter disgust and loathing, a low feral growl issued from his lips 'so this is the boy's persuer he growled.' Suddenly images of his brother and mothers mutalated bodies flashed into his head and a maddness took him, he no longer saw or heeded anyone or anything around him, his only thought was to kill this foul creature.

Khazâd ai-mênu! he scream at the top of his lungs, as he charged at the orc, due to the blood pumping to his ears he could not hear if any of his company had followed him and he didn't care.

As if to infuriate him futher the orc turned and fled down hall, but Nori persued him relentlessly, his maddness pushing his limbs to their limits forcing him to keep up with the foul creature.

As the orc came to the end of the hall he plunged into the darkness and swung round to meet him wielding his curved sword, Nori came on him axe swinging and with a gleam in his eyes of one possesed with maddness, "Feel the bite of my axe you stinking foul beast," he cried as he brought his weapon to bear on the Orc.

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Annunfuiniel]

Kurzag's waiting proved out to be short: one of the dwarves reached him right as he turned around. The orc grinned and licked his lips.

"Feel the bite of my axe you stinking foul beast", the dwarf screamed, sounding like a growling wild beast himself, and charged on the orc. Kurzag swerved to the right and the first deadly stroke went astray. Such was the force charged up in the blow that when the edge of his axe didn't meet any resistance on its course the dwarf staggered and fell on his knees.

"Where are the others? One is too easy!" Kurzag raged frantically and turned to finish up what he thought was an easy kill. "One is not eno-..."

Kurzag's croak broke off as the sharp-edged blade cut through his tripe with one mighty slash. Kurzag looked up at the dwarf and then down to his feet, his wry face reflecting utter disbelief. Convulsively he squeezed the hilt of his sword in his right hand while trying to press the wound with his left arm. But the cut was too deep: his guts drained to the ground from between his fingers and his blood run in small warm streams to the rough floor. Red haze blurred Kurzag's sight and he swayed. His other two pursuers arrived just to see him slump down to the ground.

The dwarf, still on his knees, stared at the orc's body in front of him. He looked confused as if he had just woken from a dread nightmare just to realize the dream had become reality.

"Nori, are you hurt?" a voice forced its way into the dwarf's consciousness. It was a scream but in Nori's ears it rang like a frail whisper from afar. He didn't respond but leant over the corpse that lay there facing the earth. Without further considerations Nori grabbed the orc by its right shoulder and swung him over. The rotten creature's foul smell mixed with the stench of his entrails and Nori felt sick. He bent left and vomited yellow bile from his empty stomach.

Right then, without warning, Nori heard a dire murmur, a voice reaching from behind a grave.

"Burzum...burzum-ishi... And you will follow ME!" Bloodless hand rose, still wielding the sword to which it had clutched in death. With his last strengths Kurzag cried and thrust the blade to the dwarf's flesh. Then, his final outrage carried out he fell down together with Nori, his last prey. Gone was the red flame that had flickered in his eye but a ghoulish grin remained on his lips.

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel, hearing the noise ventured further out of her all. she saw the pitiful orc run by chased be a dwarf, she almost laughed. She in her human from looking on. her coldness only broken by the dwarfs anger. She found her human weight as she began to walk towards the commotion, this was the only time she made footprints, or made noise for that matter. Hiding her sword beneath her cloak she found the long forgotten crest of her family,(actually her husband). It was as she remembered it was a serpent on a field os blue flanked by two fish. She wondered if any would remember now how this came to be their crest so far from the Grey Havens. She inched foward and began to watch the action. Finding a hiding spot behind some huge stalagmites framed the entrance to the cave.

She thought it funny that this head weight would resort to such actions, such as feigning a child's fear. He was not so good at it. As Gaeriel watched there she kneeled down her human weight finding the rock and dust of the cave leaving marks on the floor. In her living form now she watched her hair falling as it most often did in a mantle to cover her shoulders. Gorthroth would be steaming, she knew, that she had evaded the plan. But she had not agreed with it all that much any way. She watched, and waited...

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

"Trouble?" Sikilkolindo asked, smiling. "Or are you afraid?"

Rysha shot him a look of utter disgust. "I serve the undead. I need not fear them." The look on Sikilkolindo's face was mocking. He bowed low.

"Yes, Lady Rysha." he said. Her whip cracked in the air beside him, her face irritated. Rising to his full height Sikilkolindo laughed. Rysha cracked her whip again, this time in earnest. The bandit looked shocked as a small tear appeared in the shoulder of his tunic, blood seeping out of a fresh welt.

"Do not mock me." She said softly, her black eyes hard under the hood of her cloak. Sikilkolindo stared back at her, one hand tightening around the hild of his sword.

The greenish blur that was Cersed cut suddenly between them. Rysha took a step back, out of the wight's cold aura, and dropped to her knees. Sikilkolindo stumbled back, shock registering in his eyes. Rysha was afraid too, but she'd learned to hide it. She smirked across the gap at the wide eyed man.

[Nerindel]

Haydn and Faruom both gasped as the seemingly dead orc raised its bloodless hand, still clinging to it's weapon and watched in horror as the orc used it last ounce of strength to thrust the sword right into the Dwarf's side, as Nori slumped to the ground Haydn ran to his aid pulling herbs out of a rather weather worn leather pouch, as Faruom ran over to the orc kicking it hard to make sure it was dead.

Haydn knelt by Nori's side and inspected the wound "Is he alive?" Faruom inquired with look of concern on his face, "yes he will live, the sword went right through but it doesn't seem to have cut through any viatal organs, But I will need to take this out" he said pointing to the sword that was protruding from the dwarf's right side. Faruom nodded knowing what Haydn wanted him to do, he grabbed the still unconscious dwarf's shoulders and held them down, then he nodded that he was ready. Haydn sat on the dwarfs legs and when Faruom nodded he quickly pulled the sword from the dwarf's side.

The pain woke Nori, He screamed out as the sword slid out. Nori's vision was blurry, he could feel a sharp pain in his side and someone holding him down, in his confusion he started to thrash about trying to shake off who ever was holding him down. "It's us! it's us! we're trying to help you!" Haydn screamed at him. He stopped thrashing and as his eyes refocused he could see both Haydn and Faruom leaning over him, The Ranger put some herbs into his mouth and chewed them for a bit then spat them out on to his hand, Nori wrinkled his nose in disgust. "They will help" Haydn said catching Nori's look, he gave the same mixture of herbs to Faruom indicating that he should do the same for the exit wound and together they applyed the herbs to his wounds.Nori winced, but Haydn grabbed his hand saying "hold that there for a minute." Then he tore a large strip of material from his cloak and wrapped it several times around the dwarf's middle tying it tight, alittle too tight Nori thought.

"can you stand" Faruom asked as the pair went to help him up. He defiantly pushed them away and gritting his teeth he stood, he was suprised the pain hadn't been as bad as he thought it would be, he looked down at the now bandaged wound. As he did Haydn said "the Herbs should numb the wound and stop the bleeding" as Nori looked up the pair were wiping his blood from their hands. He thanked Haydn and turned to thank Faruom but he was standing over the dead orc, he looked in deep thought.

Suddenly he turned round saying "did Either of you hear it shout for someone or something else to Attack?" Nori shook his head, he couldn't remember much and what he could was still hazey, But Haydn nodded saying "yes, I did. do you think there is more of them" Faruom nodded "then we had better get back quick!" Nori cried. "Are you sure you can" Haydn said glancing at the dwarf, "Sure I can" he said frowning at the Ranger, but he bit back a grimance as he lifted his axe. The three then made their way back to the Stalactite room were they had left the others.

[Annalaliath]

Seeing this predicament Gaeriel slipped away into her own halls again. She waited for anyone to come. Hearing the noise from the cavern echoed down to her as she walked, in her human weight to her halls.

Reaching the mouth of her territory she took hold of her sword belt. She unbuckled it and placed it leaning against the wall, she sat or appeared to sit there weary and wounded( as she had before she died). She had the pretense of being lost. She looked at her sword the crest showing in the slight green glow that emanated from it and her. She began to think of the times past that she had lost. Her cold heart ached for those times that had been stolen from her. If she could she would have wept. She desperately wanted just to see her children again. Just to see them, she thought, might bring me peace. But she knew that they were dead, long dead, they would have been for centuries. She wondered if they had had any children of their own. She wanted to see her husband agin, to hold and be held, but that was long ago and could not happen.
Suddenly she looked up from her pondering....

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed whirled back into his wightish shape as he sprang between the two, the man and Rysha. He saw them staring at each other, and a cold voice came out of him. "Now is not the time for squabbling. Save it for the live ones," he said, disregarding that both of those he spoke with were alive, knowing that they'd be able to tell what he meant. He waved a spectral hand and all came closer. He pointed at the entrance to the cave where the dwarves and men were. "Wait till you see fighting that has been going on for at least 3 minutes," he commanded. They nodded dutifully, almost all with a hint of fear in their eyes.

But it was only a moment later, he saw one of the men and one of the orcs move out towards the battle uncertainly. He could not get them back at the moment, because if he moved he knew Rysha and Siliklolindo would cut each other up, and he needed both of them, no matter how much they bickered among themselves. And the rest of his group began to slowly sweep away after, going into battle too early, only a few trying to restrain the rest. Cersed looked over them quickly. Now he knew which ones to 'promote' when his group got back, and which to punish... he thought no further than that, for he knew that there would be more that they would have to do to catch the group. As almost all of the group was out and fighting, he floated out as well, changing as he went, causing all he stared at to fall back at the sight of the young man with the eyes full of ancient fury striding into the room, then slickering back to his wightish shape, pushing all to the sides where some were slaughtered, but, he could see with regret, some were getting away faster than he could herd them all together. Cersed set his eyes on a dwarf, deciding that this one would be his meal.

[ May 22, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Taralphiel]

Aldor leant over the shaking boy, his breastplate still grasped in his hand. He had not had enough time to strap in on before an orc chasing the lad had stumbled upon them.

Now the cavern was filled with shouts and clanging of swords. He could hear the yells of some of the company that had raced down a passage in persuit. It seemed more than one orc was in the fray.

With great difficulty, Aldor began to strap on his armour, careful not to lose grip on his sword. Smoothing his hand over the crest on his breastplte, he felt some assurance.

He looked at the boy and grunted 'What possessed ye to come wandering in here?' He said naught, but something short of a smile was playing on his face. His eyes seemed to stare at him a certain was that disconcerted him and made his suspicion rise all the more...

[ May 22, 2003: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed stared forward, assessing the situation. He turned his terrifying eyes in the direction of another mortal- the food dwarf would wait- and let out what could have been a giggle or snort, but sounded terribly evil coming from his- mouth, making everybody in the room pause for a moment, live or dead, shudder, and carry on.

Gorthroth was in the form of a boy. Cersed would always remember this sight- a little innocent boy. Except his eyes, of course... the man in front of him seemed to be noticing something, so Cersed drew closer, merely a bystander, and making sure to turn totally into his human shape, shaking his hair down to his nose, eyes covered by dark soft hair, facial expression merely that of sheer terror, he pretended to fall, really only to manage to cover himself slightly with the blood of a man who lay nearby... he smirked at Gorthroth, then stumbled up, and ran forward, arms extended, towards the dwarf, stumbling and dripping with red...

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[the real findorfin]

As Cersed cam near them, the man protecting him grabbed Gorthroth's wrist as if to drag him away from the bloodied man. But as their skin touched, Aldor's legs went limp and he fell down beside the boy. Gorthroth watched with amusement as Cersed's expression turned from fright to rage, and the Wight snarled before tracking a course for another dwarf.

His cover exposed, Gorthroth rose and in a swirl of black and green mist, transformed from boy to Wight. He sent huge waves of chill and fear throughout the cave and snarled a cold, piercing snarl. He bent down to the man and taking the breastplate threw it away. It ripped open the tunic underneath to reveal his bare chest and placed his hand slowly down, over the man's heart. As his hand touched skin, he watched as the bloody rushed from every other part of the body. The man began to convulse as Gorthroth feasted.

But suddenly, the Wight stopped. He realised that he still did not know for sure what the enemies were here for, perhaps a prisoner would be useful. He had feasted well, and the man was near death, but he was not gone yet. Gorthroth picked him up and quickly sped from the cavern and out to one of the side passages from where he had emerged. He laid the man down before turning and re-entering the cave. There was other food awaiting...

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Upon seeing Gorthroth feasting so well, Cersed's hunger for flesh was suddenly reawakened. Turning back to his wightish form he whirled towards the dwarf he had deecided upon earlier, waited till he turned and saw him, and, with a short laugh, touched him delicately on the arm and dodging as the axe whizzed over his smoky head, causing about as much damage as would a grain of dirt to the dwarf, except a tiny graze which dripped from a tiny welt of scarlet blood tinted with green. He watched, amusedatched, amused, as the dwarf crumpled and fell, a few at his sides rushing forward as though making to help. He ignored them, merely giving them icy stares any time they got too close...

The wight feasted well, savoring his meal and feeling utterly content. He dropped his victim after a while, standing up and looking around. He waved a hand to all who might see and swept out of the cavern into the corridors outside, the ones he knew so well...

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha held back, as the rest swept into the caverns. Sikilkolindo gave her a withering glance and rushed into the fight as well. Rysha stood stock still, her ears straining. Were those footsteps behind? Her dark eyes narrowed she pressed herself close to the wall of the passage, dark cloak flung around herself, hoping the shadows would mask her presence.

Labored footsteps came up the passage from behind her. Rysha's hearbeat quickened. Finally, a chance to see what these creatures were after in the caves. Rysha had been around long enough to know what treasures Gorthroth and Cersed coveted, and thus far hadn't seen anything worth this expedition.

The footsteps drew nearer, a faint moaning sound accompanying them. A dwarf, Rysha thought, and at least one man. Two men, actually, she quickly corrected as they came around the corner. The man nearest her had long brownish hair and a tanned face. She grinned in the darkness as she made up her mind. Stepping out of the shadows she drew her sword, its curved blade glinting dully in the torchlight from the larger cavern.

The man, her target, gave a startled cry. "Take Nori out of here!" he yelled. Rysha's smile grew wider. Stupid fool, sending away his companions. Her blade clashed with his as the other two ran down the passage.

"My name is Rysha." she said softly, as she swung her blade around toward him again. She didn't really want to hurt him at this point, but it was necessary to keep him busy. The man grunted in response to her question. "What are you here for?" she asked him, her eyes narrowed to slits. With every blow of steel on steel she skillfully maneuvered him back into the deeper caverns. The dark fell around them.

It was like a dance, the swing and block motion. Rysha barely thought about it, as she continued the small talk that would eventually bring this man under her whip. "Why have you come here? Do you not know that this is the ground of the dead that walk? They will not let you leave."

The man's eyes began to grow wild. Rysha had seen it happen before. Her calm persistence was out of place in this dark world, and men were afraid of her. "I serve the darkness. I am Rysha, the strong arm of Gorthroth, King of these halls." She laughed in her head at that pretentious title for a relic long dead. But it was the sound that mattered, the sound that made the man shiver with fear, made him lose his nerve. It soon would cause him to make a mistake.

The mistake soon came. The man stumbled over the uneven ground in the darkness. He fell backward, his head striking the rock wall of the cavern. Rysha returned her sword to her belt, barely winded. She looked at the man lying unconscious on the stone floor.

Grinning, she surveyed the cavern. There were certain places most suitable for the questioning of a prisoner. Rysha's maneuverings had brought them close to one of those places. Not much farther, she thought, as she grasped the man's wrists and began laboriously to drag him down the passage. Just a bit farther...

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel sensing the presence of another in her halls got up to investigate. There lying in front of her halls was a man, barely alive she thought, but still some sport if there was some to be had. She picked up the body and dragged it to a secluded location in her territory. A small cavern that she kept secret from the rest. In this barely reachable place she propped the man up on the wall, his torn tunic falling open to reveal the prints of Gorthroth's feasting. She left him there to revive. Of course they are more fun when they are awake.

She in her haste had forgotten her sword so now was the time to retrieve it. Weaving a web of insanity around the mouth of her secret grotto she left the man slumping against a wall. She walked down the hall, finding a human weight again. She found her sword and strapped it to her hips. She checked her surrounding territories and went slowly back to the cavern.

In the cavern the man was groggily waking up. His eyes, she saw, widened as she entered and he viewed the terrible beauty before him.She in her human form, walked over to him looking slightly fiendish, but all the same Geriel, Sea daughter. Her golden hair fell around her shoulders like a nun’s habit. Her eyes were gray-blue, yet they had a pale green sheen about them. Her skin was white and her mouth generous. All the while she smiled at herself, thanking Gorthroth silently for this small gift. Her traveling cloths mud spattered and boots seemingly still caked with dried mud. Her Sword hung at her side as she poised in front of this new toy, not knowing what to do with it first. The crest on her sword glinted in the light of a small torch that she had lit(stolen from the dead orc). But all the while she waited, for some response, or some noise to come forth from his lips. Just for her own satisfaction that Gorthroth had not taken any of the sport from her.

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Meoshi]

Falin and the few who remained stood alone in the great chamber. He was stunned. He had been a coward, not fighting back against the one who had slain Buldro. Standing over the body of his dead friend, he remembered how they had met long ago, in the halls of Dain, King under the Mountain. He wept for a moment, but his tears were driven away by determination. Determination to lead this little band of survivors to the treasure, to victory.

He would avenge Buldro, for even wights were not immune to weapons. And even if he failed, he would go to the halls of Aule, while the wights would rot and fester forever, fading away to the fate of their master Melkor. Falin smiled at his thought.

"Onward!" he said, and the remains of the party shuffled forward. At that moment, a man leapt from the peak of a high rock. Looking back, Falin saw that he had black hair, and a deep cut across the side of his face. He carried a long sword. Falin raised his mace in challenge.

[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

[Taralphiel]

Aldor felt the buzzing in his head slowly subside. He looked down to see a wound gape at him from his chest. His though muddled, he felt around for his breatplate. The flashes of memory slowly came to him. The sickening green of the boys eyes, the rushing of sound and darkness as he touched him.

He finally felt cold steel and grasped what had to be his family heirloom. Muttering to himself he said 'To make an end with this is not so bad' Looking about, he thought he saw a tall figure in the shadows. A faint glow came from there, and he supposed the beast had come for the rest of its meal.

Grumbling slowly he said 'I am unarmed. Make my end, I do not wish to linger this way' The beast made no movement, and Aldor gritted his teeth. Slowly he tried to stumble to his feet and find his sword.

Looking at the creature, he stopped when he saw she was a woman, and a shieldmaiden. Her hair was golden and flew loosely about her. Her garb was that of a Rohanian traveler, and her sword hung in her hand. 'That I see such things before my doom' he growled.

[ May 24, 2003: Message edited by: Taralphiel ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

With a final heave Rysha and her unconscious burden arrived in the small cavern that had been her destination. The man's eyelids were flickering slightly, and Rysha guessed he'd be regaining consciousness in a few moments. She reached for a length of rope she kept in this cavern for this purpose and quickly bound the man's wrists and ankles.

Securing his wrists to the iron ring in the wall that made this chamber so very convenient, Rysha sat on the floor just outside his reach and waited for him to revive. As she waited rather less than patiently she ran her whip through her white fingers, stroking it like a small animal.

Only a few minutes passed before his eyelids quivered and snapped open. He looked around wildly for a second before his eyes fastened themselves on Rysha. "Where am I?" he asked tensely as he struggled a bit against the ropes.

"You're safe, don't worry." Rysha said, in the same cold level tone. "From now on, I'll be asking questions and you'll be providing me with the answers, thank you." She stood and walked toward him, her whip trailing behind her on the ground. "First of all, what is your name?" she asked softly, "It will help me greatly to know how to address you." The man clamped his mouth shut and scowled at her.

Rysha raised her whip, sending her first stroke across the insides of his outstretched arms. She had hit him lightly, but the skin was tender there, and red welts raised themselves almost immediately. She repeated her question, louder. When he wouldn't answer she brought her whip down harder, much harder, across his arms. "Haydn!" he burst out.

Rysha smiled. "Haydn, pleased to meet you. I told you before, but you may not remember. My name is Rysha." she made a small bow. Haydn gave her a wild eyed glare. She walked closer to him, taking a small dagger from her boot and spinning it in her hand. She bent down and slit his tunic from neck to waist. She pushed it back and surveyed the pale skin of his chest and stomach. A lovely canvas for her whip to paint on.

"Now Haydn," her voice lowered to the voice a mother would use to a young child. The sound was eerie in the dark halls. "Who is the leader of your group?"

With every slash of her whip Haydn told her a little more. The leader of their group was called Falin. He was a dwarf, of the Glittering caves. They were here seeking a lost treasure. Rysha grinned. She had almost everything she needed now, she was nearly certain this treasure was something the wights didn't know about. A few more cuts and it could be hers. Rysha licked her lips at the prospect. The sugary tone was gone from her voice now. "What is this treasure you seek?" she barked.

"I don't know," Haydn said. Rysha cracked her whip hard across his chest. She'd hit him half a dozen times already, and he was bleeding profusely. As her whip struck his already stinging skin he flinched and cried out. "I don't know!" he repeated.

Rysha dropped to her knees beside him. "What do you mean you don't know?" She pressed her hands onto the welts her whip had left, the salt from her fingers would make them sting all the more she knew. The stickiness of his blood covered her hands. He sucked in a breath as she pushed harder and harder at his wounds.

"Only Falin knows!" he cried. Rysha stopped pushing, wiped her hands on his ripped tunic. Only Falin knows... she thought. Where is it then? Her mind demanded, at least I can go and find it.

"Where is it?" she snapped. "Where is this treasure that only Falin knows about?" A terrified look filled Haydn's eyes. "You don't know do you?" she asked in a low controlled growl. He shook his head. She lashed at him in frustration, another long purple welt forming as her whip kissed his skin.

Rysha drew her dagger, intending to slit his throat and be done with him, but as she leaned over to do it a thought crossed her mind. Gorthroth wouldn't learn anything from him either. But the gift of a prisoner would please him. Her dagger, almost as though it had a mind of its own, strayed toward his throat again. She so wanted to kill him, to watch him die and pay for her frustration. But she pulled the knife back and instead cut the bonds on his ankles.

Pulling him roughly to his feet she retied his hands behind his back. Her dagger pressed hard against his spine, she spoke to him. "One wrong move, my friend, and you'll lose the use of your legs forever." The falsely bright tone was back in her voice now. She shoved him in the direction of Gorthroth's cavern. She'd wait for the wight there, in comparative safety.

[Annalaliath]

Smiling at Aldor, Gaeriel moved in closer. Her presence laced with coldness and fear. "The years have been long," she said, her voice rasping the air and mind both," But it has been an age since I have seen anyone from Rohan, or from any of the port cities, for that matter."

Her eyes glowing she looked at the man grasping at his metal breast plate, "That will not help you now, child," She said coldly, with a twinge of sympathy. Taking out her sword she laid it on the ground beside him. The crest glinting in the light of the small torch and her green glow.

Instead of the waves of insanity that she would have started off with, she decided to talk with this stranger. The years had been harsh, and her heart was evil, but she had not lost all civility.

"Why have you ventured into this forsaken place?" she asked him. He seemed not to answer but his eyes fell on the crest on her sword, in the light of the small torch. The torch now resting in a small crevice, shoved there to illuminate the cave.

Smiling an almost girlish smile she said, "I did and now look at me." He did look up but saw her flickering between maiden and mummified body. So fast that he could only get a small idea of what she was. His eyes widened at the site. He tried to move but groaned at the pain in his chest. "yes it hurts doesn't it?" she asked her eyes falling on the wound again.

"What house are you from?" She asked again, raising her eyes from the wound to his eyes, "I am from the house of the Mariner, does that still exist in Rohan? Or did they all move back to the sea?" His face twisted from fear to anger as he looked on this evil creature that Gaeriel was, she saw this and then changing again to a form of her childhood self. And then again she flickered back to her grown self.

"I won't kill you yet," she said smirking, "But, I would not mind the company of one alive and not in thrall to Gorthroth." She looked at him again her eyes falling on the wound on his cheat, "I see you have already met him."

"Don't even try to leave if you value your mind," she said looking at him with her piercing gray-blue, glowing eyes. His were filled with a mixture of fear and anger and bewilderment. His mind was churning, she saw, as his mouth worked to form words......

[ May 25, 2003: Message edited by: Annalaliath ]

[Taralphiel]

"I am from the house of the Mariner, does that still exist in Rohan? Or did they all move back to the sea?"

Aldor felt the bile rise in his throat. His sword was close yet he could not reach it. The voice of the thing was drowned out by the anger slowly rising in him. He managed to move some words out.

'Wench! You have not seen the Plains of Rohan, for you would not have such a weak existance if you had done! The Mariners live well in the Riddenmark! And I am their heir! Not that that would escpae your cunning mind! You seek to entwine me with regret and memories before you slaughter me? have honour, and be done with it!'

She did not move, and he slowly groped forward for his sword. Sensing its grip, he put his hand on it with glee, then turned to face her...

[Nerindel]

"Take Nori out of here!" Haydn cried to Faruom, as a woman assailed him from the darkness. Faruom was literally dragging Nori down the passage way, As he had not wished to leave, but it was only a woman after all he thought to himself.

As they neared the entrance to the room of spears, Nori stopped and looked in both directions. "What is it Faruom asked him, "Do you hear that" Nori whispered. Faruom listened intently then shook his head saying "No! I hear nothing." "Exactly! We should be hearing the ring of swords and weapons!" Faruom's eyes widen at this, then the two companions looked both ways trying to decide which way they should go? Should they go back and find out what happened to Haydn or should they go on and find out what became of the rest of their company.

Suddenly their minds were made up for them, as they heard the destinctive sound of metal striking metal ahead of them. They rush into the room weapons drawn just in time to see Falin face to face with a dark haired man, sword and mace gleaming in the darkness. Nori was stunned, he had never seen Falin in battle before and he never thought the dwarf had it in him.....

[ May 26, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Annalaliath]

Flicking her sword from the earth to her hand Geriel parried, blocking the impending blow. Swift as a wink she caught the mans wrist with her own cold as death hands. "Fool!" She rasped, it echoed through her own halls," You fool! Do you think that I can read minds?!" She looked at him and changed her shape. It was the dead gaze that looked at him now.

"I was a mother once," she said through dead and cracking lips," My children are all but dead, and here you are. A descendant of them."

She let him go and looked at him again, "All beauty and love was stolen from me in these tunnels. The only thing that I wish is to see the semblance of them again." This time her face although dead and cracking became twisted with her anguish. " You call me a wench, but I have known no man but that of my husband." Her face twisted in disgust again, pieces of dried flesh flaking to the ground. Looking at his face again she said, "You need proof of my mortal heritage look at the hilt of my sword."

Then without thinking, or in distrust she looked at him through shriveled but narrowed eyes, "How do I know you speak the truth, boy? For all I know you are lying about your heritage just to fool me."


Her eyes dropped to the man's breast plate. She saw the crest upon it. And she could have wept.....

[kittiewhirl1677]

Hermesin jumped from a large rock. The first to rush to fight him was a dwarf. Hermesin, although big and not very agile, managed to dodge a great amount of blows. He managed to add in a few of his own, too.

It happened right then. The dwarf brought his axe high above his head, and was about to shatter the man. Hermesin rolled to the side and managed to slip his sword under before the blow fell. The axe, as expected, hit the sword with a loud clang. It started to vibrate, and the dwarf dropped it on the ground. Just as Hermesin was about to take out his dagger, a sound from the mouth of the room made him turn.

All he saw was a dwarf being dragged in, before an agonizing pain hit him on his back. Before blacking out, he rolled over and saw the fuzzy shape of a man overlooking him, a sword in his hands.

He did not even start to realize what had happened when another blow came onto his neck. The last thing he managed to say before the blow struck was, "An end to my pointless enduring."

Then total, terrible, and eternal darkness.

[Taralphiel]

Aldor's gaze was fixed on the dead eyes of the creature that claimed had mothered his family. Her look was of a pain he had never endured, and could only imagine. But nonetheless, he was a soldier of Rohan, always a soldier.

He shrugged off her grip on his wrist, and raised got a stronger hold on the hilt of his sword. 'You see I speak truth. Will this not convince you too?' He let what light there was hit his sword, which matched her own with design and the creat of the Mariners. She spoke not a word, but stared at him with twisting pain.

Aldor shook his head 'That you have to torment me is a thing, whatever is truth. This place is unlike any I have pillaged.' Rousing from his own musing, he kept his sword raised

'Shall you let me go, or shall I have to make my way out with force?'

[Annalaliath]

With the anguish twisting her shriveled and cracking features, Gaeriel lifted her own sword. Looking at the crest and the inscriptions she read,"Pick me up, " she rasped as she turned the sword over,"Lay me down." This is the sword that my husband carried before me. He died on the seas. This is all that survived him. I moved back to Rohan, tha land of my kin to escape that thought of the trachurus sea. I carried this for the memory." Her voice rasping the air at the sight of her new found kin, she let a sigh of relief escape her dead lips.

With this sigh she released all of her traps and webs. The she turned," Take this," she said hading her sword and sword belt over to the young one." Then without a word she walked away from him and went in search of Gorthroth. She found him not long after, and she did not hide, but stood her ground in front of her foe.

[Nerindel]

Faruom had held Nori back as the battle between Falin and his attacker ensued, Nori could see that the man was the stronger fighter and wanted to help, but Faruom reminded him that he had trouble lifting his Axe and that swinging it would be near impossible for now. Nori sighed realising that his companion was right.

Seeing the others with the dwarf they decided to turn back to look for Haydn. They ran back the way they had come. When they came to the place where they had left Haydn, Faruom crouched down to the ground examining the foot prints for clues, he then made his way to the far wall then back again to the footprints.

"They went this way and it looks like Haydn may have been unconconsious" seeing the dwarf's look of confusion he pointed out the drag marks on the ground, that heading off to a dark side passage. As Faruom got back up Nori nodded his agreement the pair then silently followed the tracks, stopping every so often to listen for sounds of their quarry.

It wasn't long before they heard voices coming from a room to the side of the passage, they stopped crouching behind a large out crop of rocks , they could not make out all the words but they could definitely hear a womans voice, the crack of a whip and Haydn's cries.

They had only been waiting for a short while when the young, pale skinned woman strode out of the the room forcing haydn forwards in front of her. They saw the flash of the dagger in her pale hand. They waited for her to get far enough ahead, so they could follow safely, "keep to the shadows" Faruom whispered to Nori "and move quietly" he added looking at the heavy set dwarf. Nori just nodded then followed him into the shadows.

[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Taralphiel]

Aldor stared at the wonder of the sword and belt he held. Like his, they were carved with the great steeds of Rohan, and the proud crest of the Mariners. But this sword was one of greater power than his could ever be. Fastening it around his waist, he stared at the woman walking away. Against his better judgement, he followed her.

The passages wove through great darkness, and only her faint glow held his way. Finally he began to see shapes forming, and he gripped the old sword warily...

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth was floating ominously through the passageways back to his halls. He was furious! The plan had shattered and it was only by mere chance that the enemy had been scattered. Hermesin and Kurzag were dead and he knew not what had happened to the others.

He entered his halls and took his place on the throne and brooded. He was not sure what to do next. Suddenly he felt a presence near and turned, to see Rysha leading a prisoner into the cave.
"At least one of my subjects has been useful," he thought. He rose and moved toward the man.

"I have brought you a prisoner, lord," Rysha said, pushing the man forward into Gorthroth's grip. The Wight watched as the energy drained from him and he stood, unable to move. Gorthroth pushed him to the ground.
"You have done well Rysha."

He turned and looked down at the man, devoid of movement. "Why are you here?" He questioned, his voice deep and ominous. The man did not respond so Gorthroth took him by the throat and raised him from the ground, in an effort to cow his already weak spirit. His clothing rode up and Gorthroth noticed many whip marks. He dropped the man and turned on Rysha, "what are these whip marks?"
Rysha backed away and was about to speak when Gorthroth whirled around. From the entrance to his left he had sensed further presences, and in seconds three enemy warriors rushed in through the gaping hole. Gorthroth growled angrily and made ready to quash this feeble attempt to invade his domain.

[ June 01, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha smirked as Gorthroth accepted her offering. This was why she'd brought the man. She bowed low. Suddenly Gorthroth spun on her. "What are all these whip marks?!" Rysha paled and stepped back. She trembled as she felt the rush of cold that signalled Gorthroth's anger. The woman's lips trembled as she opened her mouth to answer.

Thankfully, Gorthroth's attention was diverted by the three living warriors who rushed into the cave. Rysha recognized one of the men and the dwarf as the ones who'd been with Haydn when she captured him. The third, Rysha's quick eyes noted, carried two identical swords. Gorthroth growled with displeasure and moved slowly toward the three would-be rescuers.

Rysha stopped her hands from trembling and drew her sword. She stalked slowly in Gorthroth's wake, relieved at the wight's distraction and excited to confront these men. It had been a good day, and it looked to be getting better.

[Nerindel]

As Nori and Faruom followed the woman and her prisoner, they came to the entrance of a large cavern, The woman roughly pushed Haydn through. Faruom put his hand on Nori's shoulder stopping the dwarf a short way before the opening, "footsteps, coming from that passage" he whispered pointing to the passage immediately to their right. Nori peered down the passage, his eyes were more accustom to the darkness of the tunnels than that of his Gondorian friend, "it's Aldor" he whispered, the pair cautiously walked down the passage towards their fellow companion.

As they got closer Aldor's hand gripped his sword, "It's us" Nori informed him in a low voice. "We're glad to see that you are alive" Faruom smiled giving his stern looking friend a slap on the shoulder. "Nice sword" he said spotting the second sword hanging from his waist, "There's no time for this!" Nori interupted impatiently, looking back down the passage to where the young man who had healed his wound was in need of their help. "your right, Haydn needs our help" Faruom said his smile fading into a frown. Faruom then turned back to Aldor, quickly filling him in on the events since they left the cavern of spears, he nodded but did not speak of what had happened with him.

They then drew their weapons and made their way determinely back the the cavern entrance, they crouched behind a large out cropping of rock, then the dwarf proceeded to tell the two men what he could see beyond the caverns entrance, "It looks to be a throne room of some kind, there is only Two of them" he whispered, "the woman and some male ghostly undead creature" he continued puzzled at what this other creature could be, "A wight" Aldor said answering his unspoken question, "and how do we kill it" Faruom asked slightly concerned, Aldor just shrugged.

The three quickly discussed a plan of attack, in the end Aldor had insisted that he would take on the wight, Nori would take on the woman and Faruom would tend to Haydn.The three then rose and rushed into the room weapons raised.

The wight was already advancing on them and as it did it throw Haydn away like a piece of old meat that it had finnished with. Nori stood beside Aldor his axe raised, he saw Faruom dash across the room to Haydn's side, then he spotted the pale woman rushing over to intercept him, so he rolled out of the way of the wight and charged at the woman knocking her to the ground.

[Annalaliath]

Gaeriel seeing Gorthroth hid in the shadows of his lair. She looked on as the living girl Rysha brought her wares in from the tunnels. She saw Gorthroth's face as he looked at the lashings and then at the men entering the cave. One of them Aldor. She watched at Gorthroth advanced.

She could not stand rooted to this spot and watch him kill her descendant. She could care less about his companions. She stepped out of the shadows, quick as a wink, and stood face to face with Gorthroth....

[Taralphiel]

Aldor stared at the creature that had drained his life from him, sitting like a king on a throne. He could have retched.

It was luck that he had run into the dwarf and his companion in the tunnels, and he looked with some pity at the Man that the strange looking female had captured.

Aldor fixed his gaze on the Wight that sat before him. He seemed to be amused by him being here, something strange playing in the deep eyes that gave a sickly glow.

'I am not here for your sport, foul beast. I came to avenge the wrongs against me. Will ye have honour and come to my blade, or will it come to you?'

The Wight roared with laughter, and Aldor gritted his teeth. Once the chambers filled with the echoing cackling, he stopped and spoke...

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Cersed stormed down dark hall after dark hall, swiping aside orcs and men in fury. He could not bear to be like this, with no prey to have and Gorthroth acting like he was above them all...

Suddenly, he heard a noise. Excited once again by the idea of potential prey, Cersed switched quickly back into his man form, as he enjoyed confusing his victims, threw his pitch colored hair back, and stalked into teh cavern on his left, where the noise had come from. But the moment he saw what was going on, Cersed became his usual self once again, and rushed into the fray. It was that nasty wight, he could see, getting ready to fight Gorthroth. Of course, he disliked her intensely, but he could deal with her later. His hatred for the other wight was far more, and he came forward, standing next to Gaeriel, staring forward at the other's expression of contempt, and equalling it.

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Nerindel]

Nori raised his axe ready to strike Rysha as she rose, but the axe whistled as it cut through the air Rysha heard it and quickly rolled out of the way, It connected loudly with the carvern floor sending chips of stone flying in all directions, the vibration shuddered up his arm but he paid it no heed.

As he rose he followed though swinging the axe to his right in the direction the lithe woman had rolled, just in time as well for Rysha had managed to get to her feet and was bring her sword down to strike. The two weapons Rang as they connected and the two struggled for awhile each trying to over power the other.

Rysha was suprisingly stronger that the dwarf had imagined. Rysha thought quickly as she started to feel her arm give and before the dwarf had a chance to react she had spun around and kicked him hard in his wounded side. the move cost her a graze to her leg as the Nori's axe hand fell from the blow and the axe head scraped across her leg.

As the Nori struggled to lift his axe, Rysha taunted him "You shall beg like the other one" she hissed at him. enraged he lifted his axe to met her downward thrust then started attacking forcing the woman back as she was forced to block blow after blow.

"He told me everything you know" she taunted Grinning menacingly at him, it worked the dwarf hesitated wondering what exactly she knew, she took the advantage taking the offensive and pressing the dwarf with blow after blow of her own. She was getting more an more furious as the dwarf blocked her blows.

"yes, I know about the treasure" she hissed at him hopeing that the taunt would have the same effect as the last. It did not instead it infuriated the dwarf, he growled fiercely and lifted his axe and with all his strength he brought it down, Rysha's eyes widened but she still had presence of mind to lift her sword to meet the blow, the sheer force of the strike was enough to knock the sword from her hand, it clattered as it hit the stone floor out of her reach. "Nooooooo" she screeched as she jumped back and pulled her whip from her belt.

The force of his blow had pulled him down to one knee. Rysha cracked her whip before he could rise, the end struck him hard across the face, but as he was rising he had grabbed his throwing axe from his belt and had let it fly just as the whip connected with his face, it hit Rysha on the left shoulder.

She looked down at the axe sitting in her shoulder. Gritting her teeth she pulled it out and throw it to the ground "you shall pay for that dwarf" she growled as she rose her whip to strike him again. As she cracked it Nori grabbed it and held it tightly despite the searing pain. Rysha pulled at it frantically, Nori lifted his axe ready to strike the woman down, when suddenly there was a loud roar that shook the room knocking him to the floor. He felt Rysha pull the whip from his hand and raised his axe instinctivly to fend of any blows the woman had in mind, but no blow came, as he looked up he saw the woman picking up her sword and running out of the room the way they had come in.

As he was puzzling over what had just happened he felt Faruom pulling him up "Quick we have to get out of here" he was screaming at him. He picked up his throwing axe and ran after Faruom who was carrying the unconscious Haydn. "Aldor come on" he cried as he spotted the man still upright and conscious.

They ran for what had seem like hours. Then Faruom finally stopped in a large cavern, which they all later recognised as the one before the cavern of spears. Nori collapsed on the cavern floor gasping, as he caught his breath he looked up, he was relieved to see that all four of them had made it out.

Faruom had propped Haydn against a wall and was frantically emptying the contains of his pack searching for something, Aldor was standing with his sword still drawn breathing heavily, watching the passage they had just come down, Proud and noble the man looked to Nori as he kept his watch. Nori then got up and made his way to the other exit to stand watch as Faruom worked to heal Haydn.

None of Haydn's wounds were critical, mostly welting, but he was cold and deathly white. It looked to Faruom that the life had been drained right out of him. He searched his pack for a small glass phial that he had been given by a friend on one of his many visits to Rivendell, he prayed that it had not been broken. At last he found it, he looked at the glass container and it's clear contents.

I hope this works he thought as he pulled the stopper and poured the clear liquid down Haydns throat. Haydn gagged slightly then his eyes fluttered open. Thank the Elves Faruom smiled pleased to see that the elven healing liquid had worked. He place the stopper back in the phial and carefully placed it back in his pack and picked up one of his waterskins.

"I told her everything" Haydn croaked, "Hush, don't talk of such things" Faruom told him, but Haydn turn his head away in shame, "Take this and drink" Faruom said thrusting the waterskin into Haydns hands. "I'm going to check on the others I'll be back in a bit" He said lifting some of his herbs and another waterskin. Haydn didn't even look up, Faruom sighed as he walked towards Nori. I may be able to heal his physical wound, but his wounds run deeper than skin deep I fear.

As Faruom checked Nori's wounds with the dwarf protesting the whole time that he was fine, but the wound on his side was bleeding again, he made a fresh dressing of the herbs that Haydn had given to him earlier and bandaged the dwarf back up. "Drink" he said handing Nori the skin, the dwarf drank deeply and handed the skin back.

Faruom then went over to see if Aldor was hurt....

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha remembered how she had staggered as Nori's last blow knocked her sword from her nerveless fingers. Bit her lip with shame as she had swept up her sword and scurried out of the cavern. Who cared if it was cowardly, she thought to herself, she'd live to be brave in another fight. The dwarf would pay for her humiliation.

From her position now, crouched in a deep shadowed tunnel, she could see the wights coming together in Gorthroth's lair. Rysha cradled her nerveless sword arm in her good hand and watched with fascination. Perhaps they'd destroy each other. Perhaps the caves would need a new leader. Stronger and more ruthless. Rysha smiled to herself. Yes. But these dwarves must be dealt with first. She would go, as soon as she saw what was happening here.

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth was enraged, he had been about to take the puny human and suck the life from him when the wight Gaariel had stopped him. HOW DARE SHE! Now she stood before him, challenging him! And if that wasnt bad enough, Cersed now stood menacingly before him too.

The three Wights stood, facing each other and Gorthroth decided to play it tactically.
"You think Cersed wants to help you?" he said to Gaeriel. "He'll just kill you!"

Doubt flickered over the female wights hideous face. Gorthroth smiled inwardly, he still could win this. If he took them separately then he would be alright.

Suddenly, as the two wights apposing him faltered Gorthroth moved. With a deft kick he sent Cersed flying across the hall. A roar of anger and pain left the wight's lips as he hit the stone wall and slumped. Gorthroth advanced on Gaeriel, who stood her ground. He moved quickly for her throat but she knocked his arm away and dodged him. Gorthroth was not put off and continued his attack. After feigning many blows, he deftly reached out and his hand entered into her ephereal body. She screamed and fell limp as he fed off her undead energy, restoring his more quickly than any living energy could. He felt revitalised already and as power surged through him Gorthroth roared with delight...

[ June 04, 2003: Message edited by: the real findorfin ]

[Annalaliath]

"If I thought such a thing I would not likely have lasted the centuries that I did!" She siad this with such hatred and venom that those that heard were shocked and chilled to the bone. But she still had a moment of doubt.

As Gorthroth sent Cersed flying across the room, Gaeriel's determination solidified. She would have fled but for the life that it would cost. She stood her ground. When she had fallen unconscious she drifted for a moment. Then with the last of her earthreal strength she sent a wave of insanity throughout the cavern....

[Taralphiel]

Aldor stumbled out of the cavern panting, the womans sword still gripped in his hand. He knew it was a fight he could not win, but the gallant stand of who appeared to be his ancestor struck courage in him.

Slowing, the dwarf looked at him in bewilderement 'Indeed you must have a story to tell if a wight be coming to you aid!' 'I do' he said with a slight smile, and went to help the young Haydn be carried to safety.

[Meoshi]

Falin, Jem, Ravenwyn, and Touriner trudged on in the darkness. Falin had considered staying to wait for the others- he had seen some of them run in and out of the room when that young man attacked him. Aldor he had less hope for. He shuddered to think what the fate of someone dragged off by a wight must be.

The tunnel they were in was certainly the main one. It was wide and high, and all over the floor there were footprints.

Deep footprints, of a large band of horsemen, were clearly visible. Even after all these years, it was clear that the Dunedain had passed through here.

Then Falin's heart jumped. There were not only the footprints of solid men and horses, but shallow footprints, as if of horses and men who had almost no weight. Hundreds, thousands even, a mighty army of the Dead had passed through here. He shuddered- the fear had not entirely left this place.

As the group trudged on, Falin heard something in the distance, a tapping, continuous and swift. He raised his hand to signal his followers to stop.

It was louder now, louder every minute, from a faint noise to a minor annoyance to a sound that seemed to be close, very close...

"Quick, follow me!" the dwarf yelled, and ran into a side passage. Ravenwyn and Jem ran after him. Touriner stood in the passage, looking ahead, frozen. "Touriner, there's almost no time! what are you doing?" Ravenwyn ran out into the main tunnel and grabbed Touriner's arm, then froze herself, in terror- Erchas, the great spider, was advancing on them at a pace like that of a speeding horse.

[Nerindel]

As Faruom reached Aldor he saw that although he had three Blistering red marks across the length of his torso, he was other wise fine. "Drink" he said pushing the waterskin into Aldor's free hand, he drank deeply then return the skin back to him.

Satisfied that Aldor and Nori where fine he went back to check on Haydn. The Elven elixer had replenished the mans strength and he was now able to stand.

"We can not stay here" Faruom said turning to the others, they nodded their agreement. "Does anyone know where we are" Haydn asked. "Aye, I do" Nori answered, "If we go this way we should be back at the room were we where ambushed!"

Without any more words they set off down the passageway, Nori taking the lead, with Faruom and Haydn close behind him, and Aldor taking the rear. They went as quickly as Haydn's recovering strength would allow.

When they finally reached the room of spears they could clearly see sign's of battle. There was two bodies, an evil looking man and a Dwarf. "Buldro" Nori cried as he rushed over to the dwarves cold dead form, but before he could grieve futher Faruom laid his hand on his should "Listen can you heard that" the Four of then listened intently, in the distance they could hear faint cries and the ring of weapons, then a chilling deathly shriek, Nori got up and unsheathing their weapons they ran on down the passageway.

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[piosenniel]

Meoshi has returned, the game is now back in play.

Will remove this once the posting restarts.

~~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator

[Meoshi]

Erchas leapt forward in a great bound, bowling over Ravenwyn, and dug her fangs into Touriner, punning him down with her huge front legs.

"Quickly, follow me.", said Falin to Jem-Tyroan, gesturing him to follow, and with Jem following, he rushed into the main passage, waving his mace at the spider.

Erchas turned her head to look at the new arrivals, and suddenly dealt Falin a sharp kick with a front leg, sending him and Jem flying into a rock wall. She then screeched in anger: The distraction had allowed Touriner to escape! Looking around for her victim, Erchas saw Ravenwyn struggling to regain her footing, a few feet away.

The great spider lurched toward the injured woman, with malice gleaming in many eyes. But that malice was cut off suddenly, by a stabbing pain.

Touriner thrust his sword into the great underbelly of the spider, where it was buried to the hilt. A fluid oozed out, and Touriner gave a cry- it burned his hands when he touched it.

The spider turned slowly, looking for the source of its pain, but aware that her life was very close to its end. Spotting Touriner, Erchas prepared to spring on her enemy- but then shuddered, held still, and collapsed.

[Nerindel]

Nori and the others rushed into the passage weapons drawn, they had not gone far when their way was partially block by the huge lifeless body of a spider. "Ha! I knew I had heard something when we first entered these infernal tunnels!" he shot a satisfied look in Aldors Direction.

"Nori! Nori Gravehand is that you I can heard boasting"

"Aye it is, It's good ta hear your voice Falin" he yelled back excitedly.

"And who exactly are you boasting too" came another voice from behind the spider

"If you just wait one second you will see" Faruom laughed. "This way" he said indicating the way passed the spider.

Nori, Faruom and Haydn squeezed pass the corpse being careful to avoid the black liquid still oozing from the creatures abdomen. As they reached the other side they were glad to see Falin, Touriner, Ravenwyn and Jem, although a bit beaten up much like themselves.

Before they could get to discussing their various encounters, Falin called them over "This way" he cried " The door is just beyond this passage " the group followed him, Nori was more than a little excited.

[ June 18, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[Taralphiel]

"Ha! I knew I had heard something when we first entered these infernal tunnels!" bellowed Nori in triumph at Aldor. 'Indeed' he grunted as he made his way past the corpse of the spider. The stench that ran from it almost made him gag, and the oooze flowing from it seemed viler.

Moving along, he saw more of the company where they had left them. Bodies were scattered here and there, both Man and other.

He regarded the rest of the party with a quick nod, some obviously noticing the new sword he acquired, and followed not far behing Nori as he led the way.

[Meoshi]

"...and then the wight grabbed her and we managed to run away." Aldor had just finished telling a story about a strange encounter with an ancient ancestor of his, from who he had gotten his strange new sword.

With that and several other stories, laughing, and joking among the party, half an hour's walk had passed like nothing. Falin was getting concerned, however. He thought that they would have reached the door by now, and an alarming thought crossed his mind. What if we have gotten lost?

As soon as he thought that, however, the light from his lantern illuminated a sharp turn, then a sudden widening of the passage. Before long, he stood with a huge room ahead of him, its ceiling low, with natural columns here and there.

But in a far corner of the room, huge and plain, stood a door. A few cries of alarm came up from the men behind him- a skeleton, armored in plate and carrying a broken sword, lay below the featureless door.

Falin ignored the skeleton; dead bones, unlike dead spirits, couldn't harm him. He returned his attention to the door. It had no hinges, no keyhole, and a nearly imperceptibly tiny crack seperating its two sections. They had no hope of opening it.

Falin now realized why he had been chosen to lead this expedition. He put down his pack, opened it, and took out his stone-working tools...

[Nerindel]

Nori watched as Falin ran his hands across the stone door feeling out the barely noticable edges, he continued to watch as the dwarf took his masonary tools from his pack and began chipping away at the thin crack. Excitement grow in him as he listened to the clack..clack..clack of the small tools hitting the stone.

Metal craft was his gift, but Falin he could plainly see was an accomplished stone mason. "It won't be long now lads" he said to no one in paticular, "and lady" he added with a slight bow and his most charming smile, as he saw Ravenwyn's sharp look.

As he looked around the group he could see the anticapation and excitement gleaming in their eyes. What wonders lay behind the door...? he wondered. Knowing that the others would likey be thinking the same he bust out laughing, We will soon find out... he thought. He laughed again as the others stared at him puzzled by his sudden mirth.

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: Nerindel ]

[the real findorfin]

Gorthroth was thrown back from his adversary as the wave hit him. he hit the far wall and groaned. Across the hall Cersed lay dazed but Gaeriel was gone, free from her body and free from eevrything.

Gorthroth rose quickly, determined to put an end to Cersed while he was still weak. He was severly weakened by Gaeriel's suicide, but he was still more than a match for Cersed. He raised the wight up from the ground and held him against the wall.

"Long have I waited," Gorthroth said, spitting menacingly, "to see you end. And now it has come."

Cersed roared with anger and kicked out, catching Gorthroth in the leg. He dropped Cersed as he fell and the weaker wight attacked with ferocity. Swords forgotten, the two adversaries fought with hands and teeth, bitting and tearing at one another. But finally, Gorthroth threw Cersed away and with a final effort, plunged his hand into Cersed's insubstantial form, right to the core of his being. The wight cried in terror and pain and his body wafted away on the air and was gone. Gorthroth roared in annoyance. He had hoped to feed on Cersed, but the wight had been so weak that no energy had been forthcoming. He rose and made to follow his enemies but fell to one knee, exhausted.
He snarled but returned to his throne to recover his strength. He had not thought that Cersed and Gaeriel would have been such a drain on his powers. he must sleep, yes for a time, then he could continue on after the men and dwarves.

Gorthroth's eyes closed and as he slept, a breeze swept through the cavern and his form, bereft of all energy, fell apart and drifted as dust upon the winds. And so ended the powers of Cersed and Gorthroth, last of the great Wights of Middle Earth.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Rysha cowered as Gorthroth swooped down on Cersed. She had known the ferocity of the wights in battle was terrible, but this was the first time she'd ever seen it. How foolish she'd been to think that she could ever supplant Gorthroth as the ruler of these caves. How foolish. Her fingers trembling she dropped her sword, the sound was muffled in the folds of her dark cape, and Rysha was grateful. She wanted no attention drawn to herself, she wanted the wights to have no reason to replenish themselves with her strength.

Though she was terrified, Rysha's eyes never left the figures of the battling wights, and as Gorthroth reached into Cersed, finally and forever destroying his foe, the woman drew a quick breath. The snarling wight retreated to his throne, weak and shuddering. Rysha, the fascination lifting, reclaimed her sword and hurried down the dark passageways away from the wight.

The fleeing woman didn't stop to see Gorthroth evaporate, or his dark throne stand empty. She walked briskly, kicking the body of Kurzag out of her way as she went, hurrying past Erchas' cavern. The door was just ahead, the door-- the way out. She slipped through it, pulling the hood of her cloak over her face to sheild her eyes from the stinging light of day.

Breathing deeply, Rysha looked around her. One life was over. She had the chance to continue somewhere else. Turning to spit on the ground in front of the doorway, Rysha looked again at the caverns that had been her home. She flicked her whip with irritation, cursed dwarves, and started down the path toward Edoras.

[Meoshi]

Falin had worked for hours, but he did not tire. Powered by excitement and curiosity, he had nearly seperated a large block from the rest of the door, large enough to alloow a dwarf to walk through or a human to crawl through.

Hammering at the deep groove that seperated the block from the rest of the door, his chisel suddenly fell through. He reached to take another, but saw something strange. There was a light coming out of the hole. Furiously, he chiseled at the grooves, breaking each and every one of them through. Exhausted though he was, he was propelled by a sense of curiosity and wonder. Attaching ropes to handles he had cut into the stone, he handed their ends to the others.

Dwarves and Men pulled with all of their might, and the loose, section of rock groaned, cracked, and fell outward with a great crash.

[Meoshi]

Falin walked into the opening, the others close behind. A room, forty feet long, twenty feet wide, and twenty feet high with a vaulted roof, stood before him.

Its floor was paved with what looked like fine black opal, its ceiling painted sky blue and seemed to be studded with sapphires. Its walls were decorated with crests of many noble houses which he did not recognize...save one.

Sitting at the very back of the hall, was a crest of a White Tree, with seven stars in flower about it, and a great crown set with many gems above it: The sign of the house of Andúnië.

The room was lit with chandeliers set in the shape of stars, forged by arts long forgotten by the skilled of the elves of Valinor in the First Age of the Sun, and had once been given as gifts to the people of Numenor, before the Elven-folk ended their journeys to the shores of that isle.

Below the crest was a pyramid ten feet high, built from bars of what looked like silver. But in their hearts, all of those present knew what it was. Finally, Nori broke the silence. "Mithril", he whispered.

None of them ever knew how it came to be that a metal lost to the world was found in such a strange place in such great supply. Nowhere in any book of lore is the tale of how it came to be told, but here it shall at last be known:

In the dying days of the reign of Tar-Palantir, last good King of Numenor, he was burdened with terrible grief. For Tar-Palantir was a true Seer, and received in those days a vison of things to come: The great fleets of Numenor sailing from its harbors into the west in war, and Numenor foundered and sunk under a great wave.

Tar-Palantir did not know, however, that some of his folk would escape from that grievous demise, and so he saw it necessary to leave a memory of the civilization of Numenor, that in the dark times ahead, the glory of Numenor would shine wherever light and hope remained.

He sent a ship laden with mithril and fine stone-smiths into the East, to build a treasure-store before that metal was lost forever. He sent it under the command of Amandil, then the scion of the hous of Andúnië.

As Amandil grew from youth to age, and saw hope shrink away in the darkness growing over Numenor, he forgot the place where the treasure-store had been laid, and while his sons searched for it after the fall of Numenor, they never found it.

[Meoshi]

Some part of the mithril was divided among the treasure-hunters, enough to make them all wealthy, or (in the case of Ravenwyn) wealthier than before.

But the greater part of the mithril, it is said, was given to the dwarven-smiths of Erebor and the Glittering Caves, who made with it great gates of steel and mithril, to replace the gates of Minas Trith that had been destroyed by the great ram Grond in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

The new gates stood throughout the Fourth Age of the Sun and beyond, a symbol of now-faded glory of Numenor and Gondor.

And so our story ends.