Secrets and Riddles

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:
Midnight on Sterday, Day 11 of December.
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Real time is: 14:44:51 MDT on Wed Sep 15 2010.
Mirkwood

The view is blocked in all directions by towering dark trunks, holding heavy and crooked boughs hight above the ground. The strange ancient forest seems to draw more and more strenght from you as you travel deeper. Beneath you feets the forestbottom is frozen and around you the midnight winter air is frosty.
The fragile circle of your light seems to fade and thin in the darkness of the wood. To the west is a small gap between the bushes and a well used trail lies towards the towering trees, southwest of you.

Few bright stars merrily twinkle and sparkle high above you, indicating that the sky overhead is clear.

Contents:
Bulburz
Bugzlok
Gandalf
Morian Orc Camp
Orc Raiding Party
Obvious exits:
West, East, NorthWest, and SouthWest

[Bulburz(#15635)]
A lone misty mountain wolf rider emerges out of the shadows of darkness. The chilling night air seems to have just gotten a little colder. The orc looks up at the pin points of light with disdane, "Misirable light ruining the darkness." he snarls to the stars themselves before returning his gaze in the more natural direction downward and to the snow covered forest floor.

[Bagurat(#24847)]
It would seem the mountain orc is not so alone afterall for there in the gloom is another shape, this one garbed all in black and hidden behind a beaked mask. Away from the distracting noises and quarrelings of the Mordain camp, Bagurat has situated herself on the cold snowy forest floor, and judging by the way she sits motionless, the shaman is meditating. An ear twitches at the other's approach, though she does not open her eyes.

"You wished to see me, wolf-rider?"

[Bulburz(#15635)]
The goblin's skin twitches and his had darts quickly to the hilt of the cruel curved blade strung to his hip. Bulburz' riding boots crush the snow with a crack as he forgoes silence and stomps towards the she-witch. "From the Fire and Shadow that rules 'neath the Misty mounts I bring a message." The toad like uruk croaks.

Bulburz' eyes dart from side to side - somewhat useful in the darkness, his ears strain to listen to the night, "Are we alone?" the Goblin queries.

[Bagurat(#24847)]
"We are indeed," hisses the reply, muffled slightly from behind the metal beak, and at last the yellow gaze peers upward to espy the Morian. Slowly she stands, pushing herself to her feet roughly with a pained snarl. After rubbing at her shoulder for a moment, the witch-orc asks, "And what is this message from your 'Shadow and Flame?'"

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        The Misty Mountain orc cranes his neck from side to side, perhaps to double check the shamaness' assurance, perhaps out of nervious habit. "The shaman's that serve the master of Khazad Dum - Buurzghashgul have been blessed through their blood sacrifice and ritual worship and blessed with a vision of an ancient and powerful artifact hidden, but perhaps soon found. The vision was of of an ancient and lost treasure, and of a shamaness from Mordor that would untie the riddle of time."

Bulburz swallows and wets his lips. His white saliva in stark contrast to the darkness of his mouth, his words travel on the cool night air, "The vision was the shamaness who wears the crow can find the bat-fell of Thuringwethil."

[Bagurat(#24847)]
For a moment there is nothing but silence ere a snorting laughter emerges, and in it dwells a hint of anger. "This had best not be some sort of mocking joke, mountain-'friend,'" answers Bagurat, her eyes narrowing. "I have met some of your kind in the past whom I could not trust. How shall I know your words are truth?"

Folding her long-sleeved arms across her chest, the shaman sets her dirty nails to tap along the rusted hilt of the scimitar that sits by her side.

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        Bulburz watches the fingers of the shamaness dance ungul like atop the hilt of her rusty blade. The wolfrider orc's eyes narrow to two slits as he contemplates how to confirm the truth of what he says before finely bursting wide open, his mouth struggling to keep up, "The shaman ob Buurzgashgul was never wrong until he died. He sent me on the quest to come and find a shamaness who wears a Crows-Mask." Bulburz shrugs his shoulders, "Surely with your magic you know the truth?!" his words nearly a challenge. "I am but a messanger, you must choose to answer the call of the Buurzghashgul or ignore it, at your peril!" Bulburz offers, "Return with me to the mines, and there you may receive a vision of your own, and perhaps learn where you may find the bat-fell of Thuringwethil."

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         Loud grumbling comes off from the distance.. The harsh voice of an Uruk for the sounds of it.. Stumbling into the clearing is the Snaga Bugzlok, yanking up his tattered trousers as he does so. Looking about with his narrow eyes he sees those standing and sneers at the group.. Backing slowly away as he does so.

[Bagurat(#24847)]
A sharp scowling sound follows the challenge-like statements, and if possible the shaman's eyes squint all the more as she stares at Bulburz. The tapping on the hilt turns into a scraping of claws before it ceases all together. "I see much, but I don't claim to know the future and the truth by my power alone. That is only possible if He is willing to grant...and you want me to search out a," Bagurat's hidden mouth snarls the next words in disgust, "bat skin?"

When the snaga stumbles this way, the witch-orc's head snaps around, and a fresh hiss replies. "Have you lost your way? The camp is over there." And she points with a spidery hand into the darkness.

[Bulburz(#15635)]
The Misty mountain wolf rider spins on his heals towards the interloping Mordain snaga. "Skai, I thought you said we were alone!" The messanger or hisses, "Not a word of this, if you do not know the legend of Thuringwethil and the power of her cloak I waste my breath!" The coolness of the air causes hot billowing steam to issue forth from Bulburz' dark maw.

Now turning to the snaga, he points his arthritic finger, "You there maggot! Tell me, what all have you overheard, speak truth, and your life will be spared!"

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         Grumbling incoherent words the Snaga stops in his tracks and looks at those gathered.. Then speaking he says "Me heard nothing of your little meeting.." Looking to the shaman for a moment he then glares at the wolf rider.. "I will leave you too your secrets.."

[Bagurat(#24847)]
"You seem to do a fair job of wasting your breath by yourself," is Bagurat's growled response. "Perhaps if you would enlighten me of this legend, we could sort out the rest later."

Returning her attention to Bugzlok, she beckons to him. "Wait for a moment, little fool. The scouts are supposed to be carrying out a mission for the High Shrieker. I want you to check on them for me, and make certain they are not napping on duty. Do that, and perhaps we shall overlook your intrusion..."

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         Taking one step closer, away from the bushes that he just arrived from the Snaga Bugzlok waits, giving a nod to the Shaman and saying "Yes shaman.." a undertone of annoyance on his words.

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        Bulburz' gaze darts from one Mordain to the other, from snaga to shaman and back agin. The Morian finds himself in the middle. Speaking first to the snaga, "..and remember, Your High Shreiker commanded that none should shoot arrows at the flying creatures of the sky." Bulburz looks Bugzlok over, "Not that Mordain know how to use a bow with accuracy anyway." He scoffs with disdane for his cousin kin.

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         Hearing the words of Bulbruz, the Snaga continues to glare.. Then mumbles "Stupi,, teach.. Ki.. You." finally he actually says "You know little.." then looking to the shaman he continues to wait.

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        Bulburz reaches up with a claw to his pointed ear and scrapes a wad of wax from deep within. Rolling the newly freed slime between his fingers he leans forward closer to the muttering Mordain, "Speak up maggot, or was your tongue cut out already?"

[Bagurat(#24847)]
The crow-mask dips in a satisfied nod as the snaga waits. "You will find the scouts in the Eye's camp. Go and remind them of their promise to sniff out the secret leaf-ear roads. If they fail..they know the price. Come and find me afterward, so that I may be sure you have done so."

At the arrow comment, the shaman's glare shoots back to the Morian. "Silence, mountain-rat, if you've nothing more but insults to say. I use the term 'friend' only under the Shrieker's biding, but I could just as soon stop."

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         As Bulburz leans in the Snaga stands still.. Then hearing the words of the shaman he says "It will be done Shaman.. I will remind them of what will be done if they fail you.." then jerking his head forward possibly head butting Bulburz, or coming very close he snickers and steps away saying "You threaten our shaman.. Your life ends" slowly he backs way towards the bushes..

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        Bulburz crinkles his nose and looks down the point of it at his Mordain kin, he speaks first to the Shaman, "You said we were alone, and then out of the darkness creaps this worm!" Bulburz waves a claw in a large dismissive swipe in Bugzlok's general direction. "I told you the last Shaman ob Buurzgashgul said I was to deliver the message to you. And so I have done, my debit is paid. I offer you passage to the mines so that you might discover the truth it is said there is a seeing glass in the Vault of the Shadow and Flame." Bulburz steps back from the two Mordain uruks and "Call me what you will, my duty to my master is done."

The sun flashes brightly on the horizon. Night gives way to morning.

[Bagurat(#24847)]
"Maybe I did not trust your kind enough to come out here alone," the witch-orc replies, after a new nod to Bugzlok for his loyalty. "If you wish to share more information, Northerner, then I would suggest a more private location...my tent perhaps? And if not, I will search our lorebooks and scrolls to see if I can spot anything more about this 'bat-fell'...I may very well accept your invitation and pay a visit to your Pits."

[Bugzlok(#11425)]
         Seeing the nod come from the shaman the Snaga grins evilly and backs away into the bushes.. Disappearing after but a moment.. Headed off to do the shamans bidding it would seem.

[Bulburz(#15635)]
        As the yellow face begins to appear on the horizon, Bulburz instinctivly moves for the cover of the long shadows cast by the tall twisted wood. "Yes we shall speak in private about this further, but not now. I must retreat to the darkness.." His voice low and hissing at the sun.

[Bagurat(#24847)]
"Very well," the shaman says, raising a lazy hand in farewell as Bulburz begins to leave. "I shall seek you out later." With that, Bagurat turns, robe swishing behind her, though it may not hide the muttering that parts her mouth as she steps off, "Retreat, yes, back to your hole..."