A22-Escape from Witch Mount…I mean Mount Gram

As we still quake at the "SCREECH" of a Ringwraith, Galanon hefts the covered Palantir over his shoulder and arrogantly proclaims, “This is meant for study and protection by the elves of Imladris.” But Rowlie is quick to counter, “We’ve already dropped the ceremonial sacrificial daggers in their lap; do you really think they need another beacon to draw the Shadow upon them?!” Reasoning wins out with Trusslebridge our destination to deliver the Dunedain weapons and Palantir. Assuming we can escape!

The sound of clanking armor approaching from behind has Rambler listening at the door behind the Palantir pedestal, “This way!” Goblins appear at the other entrance as we exit-stage-left, with Galanon providing arrow cover [I guess he set the Palantir down to draw his bow]. Once the elf picks up his luggage and enters the next room, we spike the door.

Listening at another door, Rowlie hushes all as he hears clanking armor run past. Pause, 1, 2, 3 then open the door seeing more orc trailing away down this long passage. Not soon enough as we hear the goblins busting thru the door behind us.

With Galanon at his side, Ladee pauses to spike this last door as the others rush off. He tries to bluff (10) the goblins in a rough orcish tongue, “Circle back. They are headed toward the front entrance.” Listening at the door for their retreat, the hobbit is startled when they begin bashing the door. Meanwhile, the others turn right where the orc came from and come upon familiar stairs. Rambler consulting the crude map drawn on his forearm, “I remember these. Down and to the left.”

And that’s when a pair of Hillmen-of-Gundebad start climbing the stairs before us. Brackrog unimpressed, bull-rushes down the steps knocking them aside on their arses. The others too rush past the startled and prone hillmen continuing along the twisting passage (left, right, left) to the exit. The 10 ft wide passage that is now blocked by lumbering etten called in from their guard posts.

As feared when we entered these passages, we are flanked: 2 etten single-file in front and recovering hillmen at our rear. No telling where the hundreds of other orc and goblin are.

The flanking a temporary condition. The late arriving Ladee and Galanon now flank the hillmen. Elven arrows drop an already wounded hillman, drawing the attention of his companion. Meanwhile Rambler’s arrows fly true against the 1^st etten, enraging the great orc to charge forward swinging his morning-star…miss. Rowlie shines his lantern blinding the beasts just long enough for him to slip past to attack the 2^nd etten. Brackrog swings his hammer so forcefully it knocks a 3^rd arm off the 1^st beast.

Ladee’s arrow flies past the hillman closing to engage the elf but misses (distracted by the hobbit’s arrow of course). Meanwhile Rambler and his dog Garl work in unison attacking the 1^st etten: a fierce bit and two deep arrows. The 2^nd etten swings at Rowlie but the Breeman’s fainting move causes a miss [i.e. taunt]. Brackrog is not so lucky: the 1^st etten connects with his morning-star (24 damage).

Back to the hillman, Ladee tells the elf to delay so he can maneuver to provide flanking. “Piss off runt.” Galanon drops the hillman with two mighty swings of his blades. And that’s about the same time Brackrog drops the 1^st etten. We all attack the last etten who delays our exit. And that’s when the sconces in the halls behind us start to blink out. An evil darkness approaches. Bugs start falling out of their hiding places in the walls and ceiling around us. Rowlie sings forth to rally his allies. Blades slash at the beast from all sides as a silence and frost enters the passage. An ethereal shadow now visible at the far end of the hall behind us.

Fear turned to fury as finally the last etten drops. “Get out, get out while you still can!” The elf arrogantly thinking he can stand against the wraith who closes. The morgul blade but a glance still inflicts 8 magical damage staggering the elf. But the elf fights back against the wraith: 2 ‘stinging arrows’ that inflict 14 radiant damage. Encouragement for Brackrog to loose his own arrows…that pass harmlessly through the black cloaks.

“Oh shit!” Realization normal weapons are harmless. The dwarf heeding the advice to “get out.” Ladee smart enough to follow suit. But enough distraction to allow Galanon to pick up the Palantir and follow his allies. Only outside does it become apparent there is another threat. Rambler was the first out and noticed the winged beast curled around the mountain top. He wisely went into stealth mode. Rowlie and Ladee were more focused on the sharp downslope and thus need to maintain footing. Small rockslides signaling movement to the fell-beast in waiting. Who uncoils from the mountain peaks and takes flight.

The fell-beast swoops in releasing a foul black breath against Rowlie and Ladee. Meanwhile the wraith follows the elf and dwarf outside getting close enough to cast a damaging flare (16 damage each). Even closer into melee against G slashing with his morgul blade (12 damage). Galanon can only hope to keep the Palantir out of evil’s grasp. He disengages in a fast sprint. Brackrog is a natural sprinter especially in rocky terrain; so, he too successfully puts distance between he and the wraith. We all run around the mountain toward the southwestern path we approached the mountain from hours ago.

“She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes…”

But the wraith knows he has flushed his prey. He pauses to allow the fell-beast to fly near so he can mount the beast. Ladee knows he cannot outrun the beast so goes into full stealth mode. Rowlie and Rambler in the lead about 100 ft ahead of Brackrog and Galanon. Galanon striding at the dwarf’s pace allows him to shoot every-other round. Magical damage against the wraith. The fell-beast now hovering over their heads, snapping at them as the wraith casts.

Desperation. Knowledge they cannot escape. A dwarven hammer blow staggers the fell-beast who screeches in pain. Realization the fell-beast can be killed. Maybe a chance to outrun a dismounted wraith. The allies join the fight. Ladee pops up to shoot with surprise [natural 20] evoking another bestial howl. Rambler and Rowlie shoot and wound the beast before running towards it. Galanon makes a diving roll away from the snapping beast then looses 2 ‘stinging arrows’ at the wraith [19+22 radiant damage] who screams in pain. Hope? Do we have a chance? Better than a mouse from a swooping eagle; we stand and fight.

Brackrog smacks the beast another vicious blow. But the beast snaps back…two natural 20s!!!...57 damage…Brackrog is bitten in half!! [Corruption save] Ladee and Galanon [failures] are enraged. The hobbit’s charge is meaningless with little chance to damage with blade. But the beast doesn’t know that…it jerks upwards throwing off the wraiths’ attack who misses Galanon. The elf gaining advantage to loose 2 more ‘sting arrows’ [19+19 damage]. The wraith turning into a mist that flies south.

Concentrated attacks soon down the fell-beast. Silence as Ladee moves among his allies healing those he can. Then clashing blades ring from the mountains, “The orc are politicking for leadership now that we’ve killed their leader Thungard." We search for branches to make a drag-litter to transport the dwarf and his hammer. Rambler objecting, “Trusslebridge is days away. He’ll slow us down and begin to stink. Bury him here next to his kill. Plunge his hammer into this beast in tribute.” But surprisingly it is the elf who opposes, “We honor our friends per their racial customs. He deserves dwarven tribute. I plan to escort his body to Erid Luin for proper burial.”

It’s a somber trek back to Trusslebridge where we find Sauramon waiting upon the bridge. Salutations as the wizard opens the hidden gate. A gathering of rangers and the wizard to first toast to Brackrog as we describe events. Frustration when the rangers take possession of the Dunedain weapons then announce their plans to hide them in the Barrow Downs. “But these weapons can provide strength against the shadow now!” Then Galanon boasting to keep the Palantir for himself (his arrogant belief or signs of corruption?). But the wizard councils wisdom in turning the seeing-stone over to him, “It is surprise to learn one of the 9 wraiths has been resurrected. The stone will be safer with me in Orthanc.” As the council begins to disperse, only Ladee and Rowlie THINK they overhear Sauramon mumbling, “This will help me in my quest.”