Grishnakh Has His Way!
A tale freshly told of the Arnorian
Mobeorn and Lithuigelir hazzard a little expedition into the edge of Mirkwood seeking signs of orcs - and alas, find more than they had hoped for!
Western Edge of Mirkwood, Old Forest Road
You stand at the edge of the great forest, once Greenwood the Great, now Mirkwood the dark and fear-filled. Around you, greenery thrives into a thick mat, and the forests canopy is full and casts a deep shade.
To the East and west, an ancient dirt road cuts into the thick mat. Westward it enters into the deep shade of the forest, into which you can see a scant 200 feet. To the north and south, the forest bends and weaves, its interface with the plains about the anduin distinct and sinuous.
The sky is clear.
Contents:
Mobeorn
Daegor
Obvious exits:
NorthWest, West, South, North, and East
[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:
Dusk on Sterday, Day 21 of July.
Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.
Real time is: 18:14:26 MDT on Tue Jul 29 2008.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
How on earth did Mobeorn drag a Harper into tracking orcs? There was some drinking involved, to be sure. And Lith\'s head aches a bit, trying to remember how that all went. But somehow or another it happened and here they are, out and about all the day through, trudging east and southeast to the very edge of that many rumored wood Mirkwood.
Dusk is nigh to falling upon the world after a hot and hazy day. The road, not much more than a dirt track, wends its way into the darker wood to the east. Here the tall, dark haired archer stops, looking a little unsure about this ... expedition.
Lith turns his head to glance back to his equally tall companion, \"Now what?\"
The sun sinks in the sky and falls below the horizon. Nighttime takes over.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] There\'s a sigh from the tall Beorning man. \"They here--that much I know. I can smell it,\" Mobeorn snorts, sniffing the air. \"But orcs don\'t stop for daylight, harper, and neither do I. You\'re welcome to head back, such as you can. Follow the road west,\" he grins. \"I have other plans.\"
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
The Dunadan sighs, looking into that dark, gloomy wood, \"I was afraid you would say something like that, Mobeorn.\" He leans lightly upon his bow to string it and reaches his left hand back to check how his quiver hangs.
Pasting on a smile for his companion, Lith tries to look chipper, \"After you - it\'s your lands, after all.\"
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
While Mobeorn moves ahead, the musician continues to pause, leaning his bow against his own shoulder so as to draw his pack around and rummage in it. It isn\'t a very large pack, but the man draws forth a small lantern. Crouching down, he sets this on the ground and then digs around a bit more until Lith also removes what looks to be a wax sealed or stoppered small gourd. Breaking the seal, he uses this to fill the lantern.
This takes a few moments, then there is wick adjusting and lighting... then turning it down and wrapping it in a cloth to hood the light and conceal it until it is needed.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Mobeorn steps into the woods, into the gloom and darkness. There\'s rustling. Movement. Snuffling. \"What are you doing, harper?\" comes the irritated call back. And then a bear-like growl. When Lith finally follows into the woods, he\'ll find a sleek bear, and not a man.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Yes, the Harper is stalling, surely. But, he is also making wise preparation for one who will have limited eye sight in the gloom as darkness falls. Standing back up with bow and hooded lantern in hand, the tall man mutters, \"It\'s my own fault for being so curious. You\'d think I\'d have more sense...\"
But, he does walk forward into the gloom and grows silent and wary, keeping the light hidden as best as he may. Only, Mobeorn isn\'t there on the path. Something else is! The harper stops, watching the bear with care and maybe a vague touch of concern.
Voice soft, and a hesitant smile, the man asks, \"Mobeorn?\"
Mobeorn
Without a doubt, this animal is a brown bear, though it is probably at least twice the size of a normal bear of its species. Sleek brown fur covers its formidable flanks, and huge paws with nasty claws make up its feet. Its paws, head, and ears seem a bit too large for its body--perhaps indicating that this bear is not yet grown to full size.
[<#22365>] The bear turns its overly large head, brown eyes glinting in what little light there is. \"
[Mobeorn(#22365)] The bear heads east.
You head East, onto the Old Forest Road.
Old Forest Road
The wood closes tightly about the ancient path, bottlenecking it into a thin, pitch black tunnel. Around you, the warm summer early night is dark. The grass covered road continues its path, which direction you cannot quite discern.
The faint glimmer of twinkling stars can be seen through the thin, exposed slice in the trees around you.
[+LIGHT:#27282] Lithuigelir lights lantern.
[+LIGHT] You create a light source named \"lantern\" in your inventory with 100 minutes of fuel.
Old Forest Road
The wood closes tightly about the ancient path, bottlenecking it into a thin 10 foot wide tunnel. Furry oaks and conifers, tall and spindley at ground level, dominate the wood. All around you is quiet and foreboding, like your appearance interupted the natural course of things.
The warm summer early night seems calm enough, if not a bit spooky. The road continues its ancient, grass covered path to the east and west, marked and carved by centuries of hard travel. The circle of your light seems frail and thin.
The faint glimmer of twinkling stars can be seen through the thin, exposed slice in the trees around you.
Obvious exits:
SouthWest, NorthWest, East, and West
You go eastwards along the Old Road.
Old Forest Road
The ancient, rutted road continues its meandering through the thick and dark wood. Around you the trees are tightly packed, bole to bole, and scarcely offer any passage off the beaten path. The wood is quiet and almost strangely calm around you.
The warm air fits well with the early night. The grass covered road generally heads east and west, and appears to be well-traveled. The circle of your light seems small and dim, and yet a beacon of attraction in this dark place.
Overhead, a thin swatch of sky gleams with starlight.
Contents:
Grishnakh
Obvious exits:
Broken Gate, NorthWest, SouthEast, NorthEast, East, and West
Mobeorn comes from the west along the road.
Mobeorn has arrived.
[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:
Nighttime on Sterday, Day 21 of July.
Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.
Real time is: 18:55:47 MDT on Tue Jul 29 2008.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Alas, it doesn\'t take very long for the man to have to pause and slip up the edge of the leather sack that hoods the small lantern so that he can look carefully a long their track. Perhaps the bear needs no additional light, and is aided by its nose as well, but the man has no such cues. It is difficult to even see the bear in this overhanging wood! And the harper can\'t even see the stars, alas.
Lith mostly keeps the lantern hooded and moves quietly enough, for a man used to traveling in the wilds. But he\'s not liking this and seems to hold back a little. He does not mutter to himself anymore but he has looped his long bow over his shoulder and head to free up his left hand should his blade be needed.
Finally, the man pauses, listening and frowning in the darkness.
Matuurzmog has arrived.
[<#22365>] There\'s a soft rumbling of some animal in the darkness in the undergrowth, a snuffling as some animal--too dark to be seen--tracks an unseen trail. \"
[+LOOK] Mobeorn(#22365) glances at you.
[Matuurzmog(#29647)] \"Shhh, quiet you maggots! Quiet!\" a soft hiss goes up, then all falls silent.
Seconds later, the same voice is heard. \"Shut up!\" it hisses again, and this time a soft thud is heard.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Standing very still and listening intently, the lean man frowns into the darkness. He can hear that bear ... an unusually LARGE bear, nuffling and wuffling, and making odd, low noises. He might wish for the beast to be quieter, Lith might likely also wish not to be in this wood - even if it were daylight. The man seems reluctant to go further.
Holding his still hooded lantern aloft as though he might risk shining more light, the harper opens his mouth to ask a question very softly when he hears something faint. A muffled hiss and thud up ahead - not from the bear.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] The bear, strangely enough for his large size, falls very silent at the sound of voices and a thud. It pads forward slowly, very slowly on its large feet, brown eyes narrowing to try to take in just who it is and what they are doing on this road. Not that it needs to see--its nose alone can tell these are orcs on the road, in these woods. Still, the bear maintains its cover.
[Matuurzmog(#29647)] A loud scraping sound is heard, then a scout, clad in the garb of Barad-dur, falls into the road right in front of the two travellers. A group or 10 others runs out, their leader being the Shaman/Warrior Matuurzmog.
\"You...you freak!\" he yells at the snaga. Taking his Battle Axe. he sticks it into the snaga\'s stomach, takes it out, and grins, kicking the body aside. He surveys the two on the road and frowns. \"A bear...a human? Excellent!\"
Immediately ten blades go up, but not a word is spoken.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Any uncertainty, any comment the man was about to make, is instantly abolished as the ruckus breaks loose! The cover is removed from the lantern to shed some light on just what it is that has tumbled out into the road before them - dwarves? No, alas not.
The harper needs no urging. Lantern kept to his right hand, his left jerks the long blade free of its scabbard, \"Ugh!\" he says flatly, glancing at the bear, \"I hope you have a plan!\"
Lith is speaking to ... a bear - he must be mad! The man raises his blade to defend himself but looks like he would rather retreat.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Plan? Does the bear\'s head twist backwards at those words from the harper? Certainly the overgrown animal twitches once or twice, and then growls. But that might be hard to discern--in a brown flash, no, a large brown flash, the bear is on the orcs, teeth barred, claws flying, aiming to rip out the guts of the orc nearest him.
You paged Mobeorn with \'He\'s actually not a coward. But his cover is to play a coward and a fool when he\'s around strangers.\'.
[Matuurzmog(#29647)] \"Go for the bear! The bear!\" Matuurzmog screeches, pointing at the beast. He himself reaches for his Battle Axe and rushes forward. He raises the weapon high, then brings it down towards the bear\'s eye, at the same time yelling out to the others to kill the bear first.
Matuurzmog attacks Mobeorn with his Battle Axe and moderately wounds him!
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
Standing a ways back, behind the carnage, Grishnakh smirks. The uruk-hai is watching the bear intently, as orcs get flung aside in it\'s path. The orc is adorned in full battle bear, shield and scimitar at the ready. His voice is clear, even over the clash of battle joined.
\"The road is CLOSED to all visitors.\" The burly orc spits on the road and growls, scimitar waving at his side.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] It\'s just a scratch...well, for the bear. The battle axe sinks into the bear\'s fur, biting deep, blood spurting from the wound, but it only seems to enrage the animal. One, two, three orc warriors go flying, and the bear turns its full weight toward Matuurzmog, large clawed paws going for the orc\'s vulnerable neck or gut. Whatever it can reach.
Mobeorn attacks Matuurzmog with his Beijabar Fists and badly wounds him!
COMBAT - Wielded: Wyr\'s Long Sword
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Oh, that\'s not good. On the one hand it\'s grand that the orcs aren\'t swarming all over HIM in a rush, but on the other hand... if that might really be Mobeorn...
The tall harper grits his teeth and moves forward, long blade gleaming with lantern light upon it, \"Oh laddie, here we go!\" and in he comes, his own blade licking out to se what he can do to help. But as the bear seems to be flinging orcs left and right with no difficulty, the tall man makes directly for the gloating creature that is standing further back!
Grishnakh will see the man coming and have time to prepare himself... out licks the Dunadan\'s blade in an attempt to wipe that gloating head right off!
You attack Grishnakh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Your attack against Grishnakh lightly wounds him!
[Matuurzmog(#29647)] All bears aren\'t vampires. Matuurzmog is not invincible though. His eyes bulge. He screeches and makes a horrible moaning sound as the claws dig deep into his gut. His shirt is torn and he is thrown back onto the ground. Blood runs in great torrents out of the wound, forming a puddle. Skin goes flying, the pain is so great. Clenching his teeth, he manages to lash out with his Axe again, going for the bear\'s nose, before falling backwards.
Matuurzmog attacks Mobeorn with his Battle Axe, but Mobeorn parries the attack with his Beijabar Fists!
[<#22365>] \"
Mobeorn attacks Matuurzmog with his Beijabar Fists and mildly wounds him!
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
The commander of the orcs isn\'t really looking. He is almost hypnotized by the bear\'s brutal attacks. So intent on the bear that Grishnakh almost forgets the other companion. The human. The light of the lantern gives him away, almost too late. All Grishnakh has time to do is turn a shoulder to the blade. It tears armor, hitting in hard on an inbedded ring. The uruk-hai gives a feral growl and pushes off.
Using the shield arm push as momentum, the orc leaps forward, scimitar blazing in. He goes low, coming into a crouch, shield above, sword reaching out for the knees, \"Leave here or die...\"
Grishnakh attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he misses!
Mobeorn attacks Matuurzmog with his Beijabar Fists and severely wounds him!
[Matuurzmog(#29647)] Matuurzmog does go flying...alas for him. His body, already covered in blood, goes through the air. He lands on the ground nearby, hitting his head. He blinks and sees stars, then tries to quietly crawl away from the battle...quietly.
Matuurzmog has disconnected.
Sethikh has arrived.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Lith may be well named for his springs lithely enough to avoid the cruel blade of the unusually tall orc. Keeping the lantern well back to try not to spoil his own vision, the long sword leaps forth again as the Dunadan presses his counter attack.
Bright steel flicks forward again with a thrust but it is a fient, coming as though for the creature\'s belly, only to tip up at the last and poke for the face!
You attack Grishnakh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Grishnakh parries your attack with his Scimitar!
Grishnakh
You turn your gaze upon one big orc. He is a short, crook-legged creature, yet a bit taller than most of the other orcs. Muscles bulge from him in every area of his broad form, forcing one to note that he is probably very strong. His arms are quite long and hairy, almost hanging to the ground when he walks. His face has the purest look of evil about it. Crimson eyes shimmer a devilish hue whenever the light strikes right. He wears a flat nose, set between two ragged looking ears. Lips of an ebony hue are overwhelmed by the yellowed fangs that jut from his mouth at various angles. Ugly, burly, hairy are just a few words that might come to mind when looking at this foul bastion of all things evil.
His armor bears the livery of the Dark Tower of Barad Dur. His shield bears the symbol of a red, all seeing Eye. His cloak flows behind him, black as the darkest night. Spiked gauntlets cover his forearms and could probably leave a nasty gash themselves. The scimitar he carries is made from the finest of steel. Honed to a razor sharp edge, the curved blade promises to tear through most armors without any effort. No rank does the orc wear upon him, yet he seems to hold the highest authority in his cruel eyes.
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
But the orc\'s blade finds the man\'s. The ring of steel is loud, oddly different from the sounds of fur and claws nearby. Knocking the blade aside, Grishnakh dives straight in, plunging his scimitar tip right at the man\'s heart and coming forward. The lantern light reflects devilishly with his crimson eyes. His face so near, the rank breath wafts up to burn nostrils.
Grishnakh attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You\'ve been injured for 40 hp\'s by Grishnakh\'s attack...
...you have 60 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Grishnakh, oh so ugly Grishnakh finds his mark! The harper is fast and raises his own blade to try and keep contact with the scimitar and push it aside - but the blades part even as the man twists. The scimitar, which is normally more of a slicing weapon than a thrusting one, nonetheless bites deep into the man\'s leather armour a fair bit left of center as Lith turns. Orcish steel slides into man flesh and ribs, ripping a grunt of shock from Lith.
There is little helping it. No pausing. The tall man\'s own blade whips up to use whatever advantage he might gain if Grishnakh\'s blade is fouled in his own torso. Longsword leaps for the shorter orc\'s throat even as the Dunadan continues to turn, trying to twist his body free of the scimitar...
You attack Grishnakh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Your attack against Grishnakh moderately wounds him!
[Mobeorn(#22365)] The bear is tearing through orcs later paperdolls, tossing them this way and that. But the harper\'s plight doesn\'t go unnoticed--with a mighty roar, the huge brown bear charges ahead, claws like knives looking to rip out Grishnakh\'s throat.
Mobeorn attacks Grishnakh with his Beijabar Fists and moderately wounds him!
[Sethikh(#16098)] As the battle rages on between the two parties, a howling suddenly breaks through the Great Wood. It is soon accompanied by the trampelling of a large warg and the two sounds draw ever closer. Suddenly bursting upon the scene through the thicket, leaps a Warg Rider and his mount. Letting lose a final howl of battle the beast wastes no time in charging towards the nearest target - the Ranger. His Rider appears prepared as well as its long cavalry scimitar is drawn and rased for the cleaving soon to come. And it seems like he is about to do just that....untill.
The smell and sight of the Beorning finally registers in the mind of the Warg and the beast yearning for battle seems to evaporate like water in the desert. Rearing up, the Rider is thrown from his saddle and onto the ground while the beast leaps back to wherever he came from. It appears that fighting Beijabar wasn\'t what he joined on for.
Disorientation only holds the veteran rider for a few seconds as he once again rases his blade and moves to close the remaining distance between itself and its target.
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
The orc spins ans swivels as the attacks come bearing down. The shield isn\'t fast enough, pushed aside by the bear claws. The man\'s slice comes through even as Grishnakh tries to fend the claws. It all gets through and he stumbles back, waving his scimitar wildly.
He bleeds from a slash across his leg and claw marks down his neck. The vorazg does not look happy at all. Wildly hacking as he stumbles back, Grishnakh growls, \"You press to your dooms.\" One wild slash dives in for the close bear, aimed for the neck.
Grishnakh attacks Mobeorn with his Scimitar, but he misses by a mile.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
For just an instant there was the impression of a really foul odor - like rotting meat. It\'s the orc\'s breath reeking in his face. But then the orc swivals and spins to gain some distance even as his own blade makes contact. Almost belatedly the Harper realizes that the bear has come in and ripped the shield out of the way at just the right moment, distracting the orc!
The lantern jounces madly and is dropped, but luckily the light is not extinguished! Oil spills out upon the ground and ignites, casting even more light upon the scene!
Lith sucks for air, not giving up or backing off though there was the terrible howl of what must be a warg! Foul, awful things! Using the distraction the bear provides, the long sword licks forth once more this time down low and sweeping for the orc\'s legs! For the moment, the newly arrived warg rider who was just dismounted is not focused upon by the man...
You attack Grishnakh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Grishnakh dodges your attack.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] The bear weaves and bobs, its large head seemingly an easy target, but then there are those teeth--gleaming, white, nasty. He leers at Grishnakh, hot bear breath bearing down on the orc even as another huge paw comes up to try to rip across the orc\'s midsection.
Mobeorn attacks Grishnakh with his Beijabar Fists and badly wounds him!
[Sethikh(#16098)] Scimitar in both hands, the mounted Rider charges towards the Ranger of the North. The masked orc laughs maniacly as he swings against his oppenant, the lack of a mount hardly disturbing the uruk. Not so much as a glance has been given to the other figures moving about in this wooded battlefield, his focus is upon the human and the orc means business.
His attack is directed at the Ranger\'s chest and great force has been given to the serrated blade\'s action.
Sethikh attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You\'ve been injured for 28 hp\'s by Sethikh\'s attack...
...you have 32 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
The orc is still backstepping. Trying to get back from the rush of the bear. Quickly the orc is out of reach of the human, the man\'s blade falling short as he wildly backs from Mobeorn. The orc howls wildly, taking some sort of pleasure in the pain of the bear\'s claws shredding his armor. His wild eyes glimmer as he screams, \"What power!\"
Trying to find a place to plant his feet, Grishnakh, slices with the blade, trying to get the beast back a bit. He growls low to the beast, so close he can feel it\'s sweat, \"What power! What power to serve a better master!\" The blade screams through the air.
Grishnakh attacks Mobeorn with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!
[Mobeorn(#22365)] A mighty roar cracks through the forest, shaking the very ground that the fighters stand on. Orc scimitar bites into bear fur and flesh and tissue, blood flying every which way from a deep cut in the bear\'s flank. It slashes out in anger, blindly throwing its weight and claws into the orc.
Mobeorn attacks Grishnakh with his Beijabar Fists, but he misses by a mile.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
The bear has forced the powerful orc back and out of his reach. But the Harper doesn\'t give up. Lith moves forward to try and pursue - except that another orc looms up from seemingly no where! Sethikh\'s scimitar catches the tall man, the serated steel biting into his leather armoured chest. It is too dark to see the blood that already slicks the man\'s left side and chest, though it can be smelled.
Lith grunts again involuntarily as the shock of the hit staggers his balance. Pale eyes throw back the lantern light as the Dunadan turns, bringing up his own blade to this new aggressor.
Long steel is thrust for the new orc\'s own midsection - but the tall man steps back just after his arm is fully extended, \"Mobeorn!\" Lith shouts, gasping now for his breath.
The Ranger falls back, trying to retreat. Lith\'s leather jerkin is glistening with blood and the man is badly hurt.
You attack Sethikh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Sethikh parries your attack with his Scimitar!
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
The big orc finally finds some solid ground to face the bear. Dodging the incoming claws, he takes a brief step back. He bleeds all over, claw marks scarring his armor. Still he wears a grin and a look of admiration as he sizes up the bear for just a moment.
\"You could join us. I would make you a WARLORD!\"
The orc leaps forward, screaming the last word. The shield leads, trying to knock back defenses. Scimitar follows, a high arc, coming down at the bear.
Grishnakh attacks Mobeorn with his Scimitar and badly wounds him!
[<#22365>] Another hit from the orc\'s scimitar, and the bear is beginning to tire visibly. He rolls to the side, blade tearing in between the top of his shoulder blades instead of cracking his skull in two, though his fur is now thickly matted with blood. A swipe of his paw at the orc again, almost lazily, and the bear starts backing up, growling loudly, the sound carrying through the trees. \"
Mobeorn attacks Grishnakh with his Beijabar Fists, but Grishnakh parries the attack with his Scimitar!
[Sethikh(#16098)] Unharmed as of yet and still full of dark energy, the veteran orc easily nocks aside the longsword of his oppenant. Cocking his head to an angle, the permanent cruel smile upon the orc\'s face stares out at the Ranger. It results in only more maniacale laughter however as the uruk seems to be amused.
\"Why does it flee?!\" The Warg Rider then hisses in common. \"I\'m not done playing with you yet!\"
Chasing with its blade rased once more, the evil creature slashes out horizontally at its prey.
You paged Mobeorn with \'Yeah. Not bad. :>\'.
Sethikh attacks you with his Scimitar!...
...and he hits! Ouch!
ARB: You\'ve been injured for 8 hp\'s by Sethikh\'s attack...
...you have 24 left. Please RP this injury accordingly.
[+LOOK] Mobeorn(#22365) glances at you.
Lithuigelir
STATUS: IC (0s idle)
This is a lean, tall man well over six foot in height. Well boned with muscle tone suitable to one who travels great distances, he has a friendly face with laughing, pale grey eyes and windblown black hair. A tanned face that suggests that this man might in his early 30\'s.
Lithui\'s garb is very simple. A studded leather jerkin that leaves his arms bare except for leather bracers on his lower forearms. Faded, dusty brown pants, belt with a plain long sword worn on the man\'s right side, and dusty, well used boots. For summer, a very thin, light weight brownish-grey cloak is worn thrown back from his shoulders. Hung over a quiver of arrows upon his back is a leather harp case, and below this a small pack. A long bow is often carried in his right hand.
Species: Human
Sex: Male
Health: Poor
Weapons: Wyr\'s Long Sword
Armor: Studded Jerkin
Other Visible Equipment: Wyr\'s Long Bow
[Grishnakh(#22300)] Grishnakh howls with glee, his fabulous blade now stained in rich red blood. He continues his banter, \"Join us! Join the true master! Or I will....\"
He blocks Mobeorn\'s attack with his blade, \"Hunt...\"
He deflects, ducking under the claws and coming forward in a burst, \"You down!\"
The stained blade dashes forth, aimed with mammoth strength at the Beorning\'s chest.
Grishnakh attacks Mobeorn with his Scimitar, but Mobeorn parries the attack with his Beijabar Fists!
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Breathing hard now and not able to understand the strange sounds the bear makes, the harper back peddles and tries to fend off the pursuing, dismounted warg rider\'s attacks. The lantern still casts a good deal of light but now the tall man is leaving that light and backing. Lith spares a quick glance to see where the path is as the man has no desire to become entangled in dark trees and brush. That is when the orc\'s scimitar once more strikes him!
The harper almost goes down, but the tall man manages to keep his feet, his own blade dancing to weave a net of defensive steel. But these orcs are unusually tough!
Making one last, desperate thrust for this new creature\'s face, the Dunadan then turns and starts to run back the way they had come. The man shouts back, \"Mobeorn!\" once more, but he\'s done. Either the bear joins him in flight or not.
You attack Sethikh with your Longsword...
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
Sethikh dodges your attack.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] The bear--despite his wounds--is still fast. He ducks, the orc\'s blade missing him by the length of the fur on his back. And then the bear turns--he\'s not stupid. He knows when he is facing a foe too great for him, so he turns tail and runs. But...the harper...running for his life, and the other orc spilling his blood. Anger rises in the bear\'s eyes, and he speeds toward Sethikh, in his fury putting personal safety aside, trying to rip the guts out of that orc.
Mobeorn attacks Sethikh with his Beijabar Fists, but he misses by a mile.
[Sethikh(#16098)] Once again blocking his oppenants blade, the masked uruk laughs before he is suddenly assailed by the very creature that caused him to be dismounted. Rolling to his side with great effort he just barely avoids the disemboweling attack of the Beijabar. Laughing once again, he is forced to halt his pursuit of the human in order to deal with the vicious bear.
Passing his scimitar from hand to hand, the Warg Rider cackles as he states in common \"Letssssss...play a game!\"
Sethikh
The creature standing before you is an embodiment of the Dark Lord\'s cruelty. A wretched and twisted form of life is this uruk. The usual slouched stature of his kind has been exaggerated from many years spent on the back of a warg. His splayed leg stance is another sign of the hours he has spent riding and his training with a blade. Eyes as black as the abyss stare out from behind a dark steel war mask, its face permanently set into a smile. The helm which rests upon his head appears to be attached to the mask by a series of straps, though it looks like the metal helmet can easily be separated from its companion so that they can be worn as separate items.
A set of studded leather armour rests over the torso of the uruk, along with a belted sheathe which holds a long serrated scimitar meant for mounted combat. The same kind of armour protects his legs. Firmly secured upon the creature\'s back is quiver of barbed arrows and a longbow.
The creature\'s muscular figure is covered in black weathered skin branded with ritualistic tattoos and scars hidden by his armour.
Carrying:
Scimitar
Horthrak\'s Tent(#26171Cn)
Longbow
Full Iron Helm
Studded Leather Armor
[Grishnakh(#22300)]
The burly orc steps back and watches the bear back off and attack his comrade. Clear admiration shows in the warrior\'s eye, as he stands, bloody and broken. Also a bit of something else, something more devious. Grishnakh calls out as the two flee...
\"The road is closed! Ask the dwarf! He shoulda told ya....if he lived! Hahahaha!\" He bursts into laughter, waiting until the two get back before slipping away himself. Back to the east.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
The bear distracting the warg rider couldn\'t be better timing for the wounded man. Hating to flee, the harper doesn\'t even bother to try and fetch his lantern he dropped. He swipes his long blade to defer any last strike as he is able, and then Lith is running ... his back turned, grey cloak catching at the night air behind himself, harpcase and quiver of arrows upon his back.
In a moment Lith is disapearing back down the road towards the west. Will the orcs pursue the wounded?
[Combat(#13388)->Lithuigelir]
You forego your chance to attack.
Old Forest Road
The ancient, rutted road continues its meandering through the thick and dark wood. Around you the trees are tightly packed, bole to bole, and scarcely offer any passage off the beaten path. The wood is quiet and almost strangely calm around you.
The warm air fits well with the dawn. The grass covered road generally heads east and west, and appears to be well-traveled. The circle of your light seems small and dim, and yet a beacon of attraction in this dark place.
Overhead, a thin swatch of sky gleams with starlight.
Contents:
Daegor
Sethikh
Mobeorn
Grishnakh
Obvious exits:
Broken Gate, NorthWest, SouthEast, NorthEast, East, and West
You go westwards along the road.
Old Forest Road
The wood closes tightly about the ancient path, bottlenecking it into a thin, pitch black tunnel. Around you, the warm summer dawn is dark. The grass covered road continues its path, which direction you cannot quite discern.
The faint glimmer of twinkling stars can be seen through the thin, exposed slice in the trees around you.
--------------------------Break in Log to move serveral rooms west!----------------------------------------
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
The man has managed to go a fair distance... out of the wood and out onto the open land beneath the night stars. There seems to be no pursuit though howls of triumph follow the wounded for some distance before fading, behind.
Finally, staggering and barely keeping his feet the last little distance, the man stumbles and falls, measuring his length upon the road.
Breathing hard, Lith makes no effort to rise.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Silently, the bear follows, weaving in and out of the trees, running at a lope to keep up in the darkness with the man, never taking his eyes off of him, not once. The bear is bloodied and bleeding and limping in pain--but it perhaps is used to this. And when the harper falls, it emerges from the trees, shuffling up to the man, sniffing at his face. Wet bear nose trying to rouse him.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Short on breath, the man still has his nekkid blade in his left hand, lying in the dust of the road. That arm moves, trying to lift the blade and fend off the thing that has caught up with him. But even as he tries to lever himself up and defend himself with the long sword, the musky scent and wuffling of the bear registers on Lith\'s battered senses.
For just a moment, the Dunadan lays himself back flat against the road, light headed and trying to get some air. His voice comes in quick breaths, \"I\'m ... sorry... \" A few more breaths, \"Got to .. get up.\" And putting words to action, he starts to try. Lith\'s jerkin is slicked with his own blood.
Mobeorn
STATUS: IC (6m 19s idle)
Without a doubt, this animal is a brown bear, though it is probably at least twice the size of a normal bear of its species. Sleek brown fur covers its formidable flanks, and huge paws with nasty claws make up its feet. Its paws, head, and ears seem a bit too large for its body--perhaps indicating that this bear is not yet grown to full size.
Species: Beijabar
Sex: Male
Health: Poor
Weapons: Beijabar Claws
Armor: Beijabar Hide
Other Visible Equipment:
[Mobeorn(#22365)] There\'s a flickering of the nightstars behind the bear, and a rough snort of sound from it. Then the air wavers before the ranger\'s eyes, and the dark form of the bear fades into dark night. A blink of the eye, a trick of sigh--there\'s a man, Mobeorn, leaning over him now, blood oozing from his sides and shoulders. He\'s out of breath, too, face pale. \"Don\'t get up,\" he shakes his head. \"Will carry you if I cna. Or....get help. But not here in the road.\"
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Even in the darkness, the shapechange before his very eyes makes the harper draw back and look agast. Lith\'s insides suddenly want to come outside and he turns his face away, his free hand covering his mouth against the retching he suddenly feels.
Using his sword to help him, the man forces himself to get to his feet though for an instant, the Ranger\'s balance isn\'t so good. A breath or two and he manages to steady himself, \"No.\" Lith makes himself look at Mobeorn. \"You are ... also hurt.\"
A little disoriented in their mad dash out of the wood, the harper tries to look around them, \"Must get ... to the village.\" Lith swallows and starst to make himself walk, \"Is it far?\"
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Bloodied though he is, a faint smile plays on the beijabar\'s lips at the harper\'s reaction. \"Not far...faster on four feet than two,\" Mobeorn replies. \"Likely we\'ll get some help along the way, too--the Laird knew we were going scouting, though I think that if he knew the nature of the beast along that road, he would have gone there himself....\" He frowns, taking a deep breath and shuddering, trying to hide just how bad off he is, for the other man\'s sake. \"We can make it to his house, I\'m sure. Or at least die in a field of clover.\" A wry grin. \"Some bard you are, singing with your sword.\"
You go in a westerly direction.
Dirt Road through Open Plains
A small road, wide enough for two carts or one carriage, makes its way through the plains. The road itself is hard packed dirt, though a few paving stones mark the edges.
Heading towards the forest of mirkwood in the east, the road goes in a reasonably straight line, curving further on. Delving further into the plains themselves the road also continues on a northwesterly direction. It looks well used, for the ruts in the dirt are not hard packed. A little dirt path breaks off the main road, leading northwards.
Contents:
Mobeorn
Obvious exits:
North, East, and NorthWest
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
Though his blade is blacked with orc blood, Lith sheathes it and only misses the lip of the scabbard once, in doing so. A soft, breathless laugh, \"Clover\'s fine... \" but he makes himself start walking again, \"Better\'n the inside ... of an orc.\"
There is a glance for the other \'man\' as Mobeorn mentions him using his blade rather than his harp to perform. The harper nods, still a little out of breath and starting to feel his hurts, \"When I must.\"
He has no more strength for words though, if they are going to make it to the Laird\'s house or to the village. With Mobeorn leading the way, his night\'s companion keeps silent company, pushing on.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Mobeorn leads the way, the pace slow. As predicted, when they are but halfway to Grimbeorn\'s house, dark eyes peer out of the surrounding woods at them, and bear-like noises can be heard. Noone comes to aid them, but there are animals in the forest, distinctly heard heading off away from them and toward the direction of the Laird\'s house. Soon enough they are to the meadow--and then through a hedge to Grimbeorn\'s hall. The hall is empty, but perhaps the animals have been sent to fetch healers.
------------------------- Log Editted to move serveral more rooms--------------------------------
You push open the heavy wooden gate and enter the home of Grimbeorn.
Great Hall
This is the wondrous great hall of Grimbeorn\'s long house, it\'s arching beam supports vaulting thirty feet above you to a hinged smoke hole in the centre of the roof. In the centre of the room, surrounded by a circle of rocks and sitting upon the bare earth a foot or so below the raised boards of the floor, is a giant fire pit, with a merry fire blazing within both in summer and in winter. There is a long banquet table, with several stools set alongside it, and great wooden bowls made ready to hold food of all sorts.
The daylight illuminates each and every scuff in the floor, whether it be from hoof or paw or boot. The long banquet table\'s scratches and scars from heavy feasting are revealed as well, and the room is warm and comfortable in spite of winter\'s chill outside.
Obvious exits:
Great Door
Mobeorn has arrived through the gate.
Mobeorn has arrived.
[Lithuigelir(#27282)]
The last little distance, the Ranger is lagging. He goes where Mobeorn leads, but the man is weakening and loosing focus on where they are - all unfamiliar to him anyway as he has never been here before.
There seem to be steps before him and a door way. Lith makes it through but he stops to lean against the door jam and look around. Is that dawn\'s first light coming outside or a torch burning in a bracket? The harper manages to walk a few steps into the chamber before his legs just sort of fold underneath him. There is a thud as he hits the floor and lays there.
Lith\'s chest rises and falls with his breaths but he has lost a lot of blood. If anyone is here in this great house, the wounded man is oblivious.
[Mobeorn(#22365)] Mobeorn is perhaps more used to this sort of thing--the young man is shakey, but makes it back to the Laird\'s hall without passing out. He reaches out to try to stop Lith\'s fall, but his reflexes are slow and the other man falls limp to the floor. Slowly, his own blood still flowing, the man then stoops and gently picks up Lith, bringing him over to a bench in the hall, then finding clean rags to staunch the flow of blood. \"Grimbeorn\'ll be here soon, with help...\" he sighs, his own wounds hurting and weakening him. Soon Mobeorn moves to the floor, sprawled there, waiting for the Laird. In the dark of night, the air shimmers again, the man shifting back to bear. Perhaps he is more comfortable that way.