Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

It is the year 2946 of the Third Age, and the lands east of the Misty Mountains are astir. From the cloud-shrouded peaks above the High Pass to the spider-infested gloom of the forest of Mirkwood, paths long-deserted are trodden once again. Busy merchants carry their wares to new markets, messengers bring tidings from foreign realms, and kings send forth armed men to extend their influence and the rule of law. Some say that a new age of freedom has begun, a time for adventure and great deeds to reclaim glories lost in long centuries of oppression and decline.

But adventures are not really things that people go out and look for. They are dangerous and rarely end well. While it is true that a handful of valiant individuals set out to make their mark on the world, for others it seems that adventure chooses them, as though it is the path they are fated to tread. They are restless warriors, curious scholars and wanderers, always eager to seek what was lost or explore what was forgotten. Ordinary people call them adventurers, and when they return successful, they call them heroes. But if they fail, no one will even remember their names...

Run by the Loremaster Vardaen
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Blubbo_Baggins
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:08 pm

Finn raises his brow at the sight, then turns back toward the others at the door. He whispers, "there is something else here, for certain, other than Hild. It could be orcs, but I would have thought there to be more signs. Perhaps it was an orc-fort here in the marshes a long time ago."

"Is the door locked?"

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Muskrat
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Muskrat » Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:17 pm

"Well, let us see--carefully," whispers Varuthil. She tries openly the door very slowly and quietly, just enough to see if it will open--and if it does so, to peer beyond to see what's on the other side.
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Graven
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Graven » Thu Jun 24, 2021 7:05 pm

Heva readies her bow, nodding to Varuthil. "Better to know about any threat now..." she whispers.
Fantasy is the exercise bike of the mind. It might not take you anywhere, but it tones up the muscles that can. Of course, I might be wrong.
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Wbweather » Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:53 pm

Gerwald moves to back up Finn. “If there are orcs in here, we had best be prepared to fight. Finn, do you want to see what lies this way?”
Gerwald would like to use Hunting 3 to make his way down the natural tunnel a ways looking for sighs of orcs or other creatures.

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Blubbo_Baggins
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:28 pm

"Yes, but let us first see what is behind this door, then we should examine the tunnels. If there are enemies behind all ways out of this room, I would rather deal with them one at a time.

Do you agree?"

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Wbweather
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Wbweather » Fri Jul 09, 2021 9:42 pm

“Yes, that is reasonable.”

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Vardaen
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Vardaen » Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:37 pm

The group is split some, the light fading in both areas as it moves. Finn and Gerwald are in the south west, peering down the tunnel. The others in the north east at the door. Varuthil tries it, it can't be opened. Then because of all your movement and talking and calling back and forth across the main room Varuthil hears it....

.. muffled voice from the other side of the door, "Eh! Who be there?!" The voice is deep and gruff, and masculine, definitely not Hild's.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Muskrat
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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:07 pm

Varuthil steps away and, in a hissing whisper, says to the others, "I can't open the door, but there is certainly someone--a male--in there. If Hild is not locked up in there, he may well know where she is. Though we will probably need to take him prisoner ourselves to make him tell."

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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Othniel » Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:44 am

"Let us try courtesy first," whispers back Glirion.

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A Ringing Bell: Closed Door

Post by Muskrat » Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:06 pm

Varuthil looks doubtful but says, "I suppose it's possible the missing dwarves have made some sort of unhappy home for themselves here. But if you wish courtesy, someone other than myself should speak."

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