The Lost Glade News

Grazan's voice pipes up-
'Kinsmen, do not attempt to harm our saviours! These warriors and I have not escaped from the lower levels, they are a rescue party- organised by the other holds. They wish to speak to our King about how we may re-take our beloved home from the evil we have endured.'

The crossbow dwarfs look around at each other again... (ld test to see if Grazan sounded convincing- 1, 3= 4, plus modifiers from earlier actions) and with a shrug they gesture inside the room- an offer Griz has already accepted.

They'll drag all of the bodies with them as well-
Two of the combat dwarfs are well and truly dead, and are lamented greatly, but most of the others can be brought quickly back to consciousness through Markus' and Griz's healing skill.
Rutnik wasn't killed outright by the blow which downed him, but he was in a very weakened state to begin with- (dice rolls...)- fortunately, through careful attention he does scrape through, although he will not become conscious again for a long time.

The area behind the barred doors is smaller than you'd have thought- if questioned, one of the Dwarfs will explain that there is a second room further in, the door to which is carefully hidden in the stonework, much like the door to this room used to be.

The Orc assault on this area was only recent, triggered when a Dwarf scout was too slow in closing the door and was seen by an Orc. Usually, when closed, the door into here would be unnoticeable.

Filling the space in this small area is a large amount of ostentatious furniture, now pressed into service as barricades, as well as many barrels of food and drink. The food and drink smell stale and rotten, but it's still edible, and the dwarfs welcome you to join them in eating.

A small stream runs through a furrow in the stonework- originating from under one wall and exiting through the other. Usually this would be how water was supplied to this room, however the local dwarfs warn you not to drink the water- something has gone foul with it recently. The departing end of the stream now seems to be the toileting area.

The Dwarfs have many questions to ask, but as you already know about what you've done I'll skip to the bit where you can ask any questions of them.

Anyone?

Hopefully Grazan helped it make some sense, but to be blunt- This is one of the upper levels of this hold. The surface isn't usually worth considering.

Ah, that makes sense. Will we be considered healed after this sojourn?

As for questions, Bel would like to know where the King is (the back room, or elsewhere) and the more general question of what the hell is going on here?

(I think Grazan and Rutnik mostly answered that, but these guys might know more).

Also, should someone of high knowledge take a look at the water to see exactly WHAT has gone wrong with it?

Ecthelion will attempt to examine the water if he can, though its not likely he'll find anything any other warrior would. Worth a sniff though...

Unless you all decide to run back out immediately, you will be considered healed.

As for in character questions-

One of the Dwarfs introduces himself as Hraal Stonefist- a merchant who used to work in a shop not far from where Grazan and Rutnik were imprisoned, although the area has been closed off by the wall collapse. "Our young King sits in his throneroom, just off this room. Not his proper throne room of course, but we've all got to make do with what we can up here. He's hardly made a noise since the incident with his father at the start of the Orc invasion. The old Runesmith Turek used to try and talk to him, but they never got on well. A while ago the King's guard came out here, took some food and drink and sealed the chamber. He hasn't responded to any of us since. No one's seen Turek for that matter either."

Another dwarf quickly adds. "Kraust was against sealing the other tunnels, but his father and the Runesmith decided it was best. Once Kraust's father died the Runesmith carried on the plan, regardless of the new King's wishes. The Runesmith had seniority- I reckon he made the right choice."

When asked to give a more general answer about what's happening with the general circumstances, Hraal replies, "We've sent guards out to hold some of the key areas of this level- the forge, hospital and so on". Taking a look at Rutnik's unconscious form he adds, "I guess things haven't gone well for all the groups. The rest of us have been holed up here. We have little weapons training, but we've done what we can to keep the orcs from our King. We've been awaiting some reinforcements from the other holds. Our messengers were sent out weeks ago". He pauses and, appraising the party, cocks an eyebrow. "I... was expecting something of a larger force. This is a big hold, and we've lost a lot of ground. It won't be easy to take back."

As for Ecthelion looking at the water- It looks like fresh water. It smells fresh. You could see if touching it does anything. Maybe take a drink even... adventuring is thirsty work...

Tempting but its not alcoholic Perhaps he'll use it to wash some of the gore off his cloths

So... where to now lads? Do we speak to the new Thane?

I think we should talk to the king, surely he would be able to give us all the information we might need. The runesmith sounds a bit shady as well (but Griz doesn't say that part out loud).

And delay my doom? Why bother? We can rest up, if you lot need too, but the sooner we get back against the greenskins the better.

This post has been edited by Zelt Arruin on Nov 24 2009, 04:12 PM

Apologies for the delay...

As you're discussing your next actions, a series of loud bangs and thuds can be heard coming from the King's chamber. All of the resident Dwarfs (or at least those able to move) look towards the wall, looking surprised.
Slowly, cracks appear in the otherwise featureless surface, widening to lines which outline an enormous door. The edges of the door swing inwards, revealing a rather dimly lit room.
Two heavily armoured guards are visible just inside the door, with nothing visible but beards and ornate plate armour, with dour expressions engraved on their face masks. They make no moves and no voices are raised, although they radiate a distinct impression of strength.
Slowly, the curiosity of some of the dwarfs leads them to peer intently into the room, although the contrast of light in this room and relative darkness in the throne room makes it difficult to notice details.

The silence continues, and now people begin looking expectantly at these adventurers.

Hraal suddenly finds his voice, "Well... I doubt he's opened the door for us...", indicating his fellow inhabitants.

Methinks an alcoholic elf would nay make a good first impression and slayers aren't the best conversationalists, so I vote for Griz, Marcus and I to wander in first. I might just wash off this green blood first though.

This post has been edited by Balthorn on Nov 28 2009, 10:34 AM

Agreed, Ecthelion will remain where he is and try to help improve the dwarves defence in this area.

Ragnar tromps around the common room as well, waiting to go kill some more or possibly eat.

This post has been edited by Zelt Arruin on Nov 29 2009, 01:44 PM