A17 - "Move Along!"

“So how exactly did your master Hardfast die?” An older Hillman speaks up, “Hardfast was working side-by-side other miners when Madric reported gems within a side tunnel that had been secured. Yet when our master entered the area, boards gave way burying Hadfast under the cave-in. That was when Madric took command, deeming the boy there too young to rule and needing his guidance.”

As we look to the new ruler, young Hardfell is consumed by the clamor of freed Hillmen seeking a renewed leadership within Mountain Hall. He looks to us who have rid the fortress of Madric, “I put you in charge of securing the lower mines of this goblin intrusion.” As we are excused, we ask Grundovald what forces and gear are available for such task [dynamite has not been discovered yet], “What few loyal men that are able-bodied best stay above to secure the walls. I can send 3 of my men with you. Your dwarf would know best how to collapse the tunnels and goblin outpost you found.”

Ladee takes time to heal his allies before we plunge into the depths of the tunnels. Once again we slide thru the secret door behind the throne, following the short passage to the secret door that leads to the goblin outpost. We enter finding a locked door to the left. “Quiet” as the hobbit presses his ear to the lock, “Click.” So much for listening to the room first, “Twang!” an arrow clipping his vest. Two goblin guards sprint away. “Don’t let them get away!” Rowlie manages to get a shot off even though he carries the torch. Ladee’s arrow drops one goblin but the other gets thru another door, running down a long corridor.

With steady aim, Galanon drops the last lookout just before he can turn another corner. As we cautiously approach, Rowlie and Brackrog inspect a side chamber while the elf and hobbit move to the goblin. Laughter to our left behind a door. Signals to the others. Ready, aim, Ladee opens the door bursting into a dining room where goblins feast. Small arm bones, short legs…shock realizing they are eating slaughtered children!

Outrage doesn’t describe the 3 hillmen with us who rush in to behead the evil runts! While 3 goblins are slain, one Hillman goes down. The rest of the group slowed by the hillmen having blocked their advance. The last goblin slain brings silence…till Galanon chastises the hillmen, “Keep to the rear so we can do our business. You’re our rear guard and messengers to your kinsmen above if we find more than we bargained for!”

Back to Brackrog’s side chamber, Ladee listens at the door before opening, finding a sleeping lookout. He won’t wake. Rowlie moves into the next room where he hears slapping…sounds like a scabbard hitting one’s hip. He surprises 2 goblins climbing stairs toward him. Slash, slash; their dead bodies crumple down the stairs. Galanon assigns the hillmen to guard the stairs as we backtrack to the starting room where we go right down a corridor. Sounds, readied weapons. Ladee opens the door of the orc barracks!

Surprise as they play some kind of card game. Arrows before we rush into melee as the foe slide off their beds gathering swords. Minutes before all orc lie dead but we suffer many wounds of our own. Some healing before we return to the hillmen guarding the stairs.

Rowlie with the torch leads the way down a long corridor, past a side corridor. Listen, check for traps, before we enter the room. A large shrine occupies the middle of the room. The smell of iron. Fresh blood coats the base of the shrine, “That’s Melkor also known as Morgoth.” Ladee picks the lock to a back door, “Ouch!” A poisoned pin-prick. Better check for traps next time! As Ladee heals, Rowlie enters the room finding ceremonial daggers hanging upside-down on the wall, blood still dripping from them. “So this is where they carved up the children the goblins feasted on.” Rowlie wraps the blades in cloth before putting them in his backpack.

We backtrack to the side passage, finding a shitter to the left. At an earlier passage, Rowlie takes lead continuing along the passage that ends at a door. He tries to open; locked. Noises from the other side. Ladee just makes out goblin, “Door.” In goblin Rowlie barks, “Open door. My hands full.” A goblin opens the door allowing us to see 20+ goblin and orc mingling around a table as if readying for a raid. INITIATIVE!

Galanon quickly moves into the room slaying the goblin at the door before jumping on the table to slay another from above. Chaos as a battle ensues. Clutts, fumbles, criticals, and more fumbles. The elf trying to tumble across the table to reach more foe manages to slip, fall, and land at the feet of 3 orc! Loosing grip on his sword of-course. The armor-plated dwarf anxious for kills but loses grip of his mighty hammer. Ladee dashing from one corner to another. Hit and move. Except the goblins follow in numbers and hit back. The hobbit leaving a bloody trail. The battle teeters in balance before the dwarf FINALLY lands solid hammer swings. Silence except for our heavy breathing.

Ladee slumps in a corner taking time to heal, only to see his allies move along, led by Galanon. Let them go as he’s near death (2HP). Within minutes he can hear another battle starting. So much for healing as he pushes himself up to see what the others have gotten themselves into. He rushes past the two hillmen send back for the hobbit, “What’d they get themselves into this time?!”

Maybe shadow sickness drives the elf; Galanon moves through 2 doors before coming to another where he hears orc voices on the other side, “Move forward…move along!” Obviously orc driving more prisoners to the slaughter! Whispering to the others as they ready a killing zone this side of the door.

Which opens to reveal…a cave troll! “Shit!”

Don’t get me wrong; the trio lands some mighty blows. But one swing by the troll almost collapses the already wounded Brackrog (23 bludgeoning). At least the two orc driving the troll forward can’t get past to join the fight. And luck finally arrives…critical hits by the elf! The troll is soon but an obstacle to climb over. And Brackrog takes the opportunity to do just that, confronting the orc.

Soon even the orc lie dead. And that’s when the hobbit arrives, “I’m out of healing. Hope that’s the last battle.”

Another door. A long passage that becomes more natural cavern. Light ahead. An opening that reveals the plains of Eriador! The damn goblins dug through the mountain! It’s a long backtrack to the throne-room of Mountain Hall where we tell of our discovery. Hardfell concerned of more trolls and orc, “Can you collapse the tunnels?”

After a short rest of healing, we barter a deal where we travel the tunnels into Eriador with the hillmen collapsing the tunnels behind us. At least the Mountain Hall pass is open and free of goblin raids. For the time being. We turn north on the west side of the Misty Mountains toward Rivendell. To warn the elves, research what evil grows north of the Trollshaw Forests, and maybe learn what these ceremonial goblin daggers are all about. And maybe find sanctuary where we can take a MUCH needed long rest!