Birthright 2: Promises to Keep

[Adam]

PENCHALLIN

Cormac points with the light arrow at the collapsed tunnel. "Tha' tunnel leads to the elves?" he says. He gives the knocker a toothy grin. "Ye know, they could always dig it back out again later, an' ye'd be right back where ye started. But, if ye an' yers could see fit to open it up an' let me an' mine go through, maybe we could see to it the elves don't bother ye again."

[ewancummins]

PENCHALLIN

Cormac points with the light arrow at the collapsed tunnel. "Tha' tunnel leads to the elves?" he says. He gives the knocker a toothy grin. "Ye know, they could always dig it back out again later, an' ye'd be right back where ye started. But, if ye an' yers could see fit to open it up an' let me an' mine go through, maybe we could see to it the elves don't bother ye again."

The knocker scratches its scaly snout, sniffs, and says (in thick-accented Elvish)
''Okay, you let me look for the others and I'll tell them that. Elves are our enemies. I think the others will want you to go kill them."

[Varrus the Ethical]

PENCHALLIN, TUNNEL

The knocker scratches its scaly snout, sniffs, and says (in thick-accented Elvish)
''Okay, you let me look for the others and I'll tell them that. Elves are our enemies. I think the others will want you to go kill them."

"Yes, we are here to kill elves, creature. But that does not mean me and mine wont slaughter the lot of you and burn out your little hole in the ground if you betray us," Roald says in near-fluent Elvish.

He pulls the creature closer to him. "There are monsters in your home. Best that you let them leave in peace."

He drops the rope to let the creature leave.

[Adam]

Cormac nods, though frowning somewhat as the Knocker is being threatened. Regardless, once the creature is out of site, he hands his lit arrow to one of his compatriots and turns back towards the entrance. "I'm goin' ta send one of my men back to the rest of our group. They need to know about this in case we don' make it back."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Though Renn doesn't speak elvish, he gets the gist of Roald's threat to the goblin, and he gives the little beast a cold smile.

[VAN]

The Kitchen

Filbert just nods and remains silent hoping Duke Devlin and the others come to save them fast.

[kintire]

Safana comes up swiftly behind the Duke and examines the hedge closely.

"You can't trust anything you see in this place. Maybe we should look for tracks? Or maybe I can make something of the magics here..."

[ewancummins]

THE MINE DEVILS’ LAIR
The released mine devil scurries into one of the small side holes.
…
Cormac returns from the tunnel mouth (after having spoken with his men).
The small party waits.

…
After a few minutes’ waiting-time, the party hears scraping and bumping from the small tunnel where the mine devil left the chamber.
The thing’s thin, squeaking voice calls out in Elvish,
“I brought help. Coming out now.”
Something clicks several times, like stone on metal.
A light flashes deeper in the hole.
A jug rolls out of the hole, trailing smoke!
The explorers have just enough time to jump back as the oil-bomb explodes, splattering the chamber with burning liquid.
The dry supports and the rags in the room burst into flames.



HEDGE MAZE IN THE GARDEN OF DARKLING DELIGHTS

Safana finds no tracks.

The huge Gunnar-child points over the tops of the tall hedges, at something neither Safana nor Devlin can see because the plants rise too high for them to look over.
He says,
“House….smoke.”
The big green toddler walks into the maze, brushing and crushing foliage to either side as he pushes deeper.

Devlin follows with his sword at the ready. The duke glances sideways, ahead, and backward, scanning for traps and ambushes.

[ewancummins]

THE KITCHEN

Ugo delays finishing the soup by hiding a few key ingredients, and turns his attentions to shopping of some old sausages and cheese for sandwiches.

Through the door, both Halflings hear hammering noises. Not from things striking against the outside of the kitchen door, though, but from further off, muffled and distant.

Ugo turns to the oven and pulls the bread out before it singes.
No honey to make it sweet, but the fresh loaves smell good.

Something scratches on the door.
A harsh voice shouts through the panel,
"Slave! We hunger. When will our food be ready?"

[Adam]

Penchallin

"Should have known," growls Cormac, falling back from the tunnel. He readies his bow and arrow to fire at any knockers that come through the conflagration.

[ewancummins]

Penchallin

"Should have known," growls Cormac, falling back from the tunnel. He readies his bow and arrow to fire at any knockers that come through the conflagration.

The smoke gets in his eyes, making them water, but Cormac looks anyway.
No knockers in sight, just the support beams-- dry branches-- and rag cloth burning.

Renn was right about the risk of fire.
The clay in the earthen walls must have kept the winter precipitation out of this place. But the druid hasn't got a lot of time to contemplate such matters, as the smoke is getting thicker down here.

[Adam]

"Run for it!" shouts Cormac, "Everybody out!"

He turns and bolts for the exit.

[Varrus the Ethical]

PENCHALLIN, MINE

"You can't trust anyone these days," Roald says, turning to flee the fire.

[kintire]

Safana follows close behind, shimmering a little as she moves behind them.

"Beware of disguises... I think these things are Ghuls. They look human when they wish, but they are corpse eaters. We had better find the others fast..."

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Should have burned the damned thing down ourselves when he had the chance," Renn says, feeling the sting of smoke in the back of his throat. He wastes no time in retreating with the others.