Osgiliath: Lost Patrol 2

Players:

Aearon, Helchir, Tuivegil, Menelgli, Turlach

Osgiliath: Eastern Ruins - Old Political Area

Here in the northeastern section of the ruins, you seem to be at an elevated height. To the southwest and southeast, you see the expanse of the Osgiliath ruins. A network of cracked roads runs between evenly spaced mounds of stone that could only have once been houses. To the north, and far south, you can see the great river Anduin flowing along. In the center of the ruins lies a mound much larger than the rest, which could only be the Tower of Stone.

To the west lies a crumbling wall that you could maybe climb up onto, and to the southeast lie more ruins.

Contents:

Tuivegil

Obvious exits:

North, Southeast, and South

Tuivegil has left.

Tuivegil has arrived.

Helchir has arrived.

Helchir comes skating in on a breakaway. He dekes. He shoots. HE SCORES!!!

While darkness pervades the city and an eerie silence looms, a small patrol of Rangers silently make their way through the eastern section of ruins. They walk in single file, so as to mask their numbers, and flankers bring up the rear pulling behind them \'trailers\' to cover their tracks. These trailers consist of a series of thin planks woven together and pulled by a cord tied about the bearers waste.

Towards the front walks the Lord Cuthalion. As the patrol approaches an open clearing in the rubble, he pauses and raises a fist which apparently signals the others to do the same. Without turning, he speaks quietly to another next to him. \"We should find another way around, we will be exposed if we go through there.\"

\"There are few ways in this city where we would not be exposed.\" The deep voice is hushed in reply, and a shadowy figure drops silently to one knee \"It may be that we must stir the hornet\'s nest to find our missing men.\"

Near the front of this patrol is a Hostman, the Lieutenant Aearon Telpekhor, he is dressed in his typical garb and armor, yet he wears a think wool cloak to stay off the cold of the winter, spear in hand he squats down and whispers to the Ranger \"This was to be the area of the city patrolled.. They would have surely gone that way.. We must inspect it Sir..\" Looking to the other ranger that speaks he nods his head in agreement.

Helchir nods in agreement as well. \"We should be able to skirt around this square here. Just stay alert.\" Then with a motion of his hand to those behind, he begins to lead the patrol along the inside of the buildings surrounding the open square.

Tuivegil nods, and follows the ranger, bright eyes scanning the surroundings ceaselessly, nimble feet picking a steady path around rubble.

The scene of the square is one of bloody battle.. For laying about frozen and nearly covered by the snow is the lost patrol.. Dead. Bodies that have been hacked to pieces, while others appear to have just had their throats cut.. Among the bodies of Gondorian Soldiers there is a number of dead Uruks.. arrows embedded in the fallen, limbs hacked off. It would seem that none survived this encounter for this square is one of death and despair.

Following with the Rangers, the Lieutenants eyes move about looking for signs of the patrol.. And upon seeing the square his eyes go wide, a look of anger, mixed with horror upon his face.

Helchir\'s face is as expressionless as the snow covered ground. Still, his eyes keenly strain through the darkness to espy the scene. Again he signals the troop to pause. Then to Aearon and Tuivegil he whispers, \"Everyone else remain here, we three shall take a closer look.\"

\"The cold will have killed those who could not move from this square.\" Tuivegil\'s voice is flat, \"But some may have made it to shelter. We might also set a search in the surrounding buildings.\"

Hearing the order of the Ranger, the Lieutenant readies himself, eyes moving about he ruins of the city.. Looking for movement or the signs of anyone left alive. Looking to the Ranger he gives a nod and makes to follow and says to Tuivelgil \"Let us hope that some may have survived.. To explain how this happened..\"

Helchir nods to the Carmayar Ranger. \"Right.\" Then wordlessly he conveys the order to the rest of the patrol and it disperses to check the surrounding buildings. He then turns to the mound and approaches.

Tuivegil nods and follows Helchir, kneeling at the first corpse he comes to, \"How many did our patrol number when it departed?\" He asks Aearon quietly.

Following the Ranger, the Lieutenant moves silently, silently as one not trained as a Ranger can at least. Looking about the ruins and the dead patrol it is apparent he is looking for someone in particular, looking to Tuivegil he says in a low voice \"Ten were among the patrol.. I only count eight of ours here..\"

Still looking about he moves about looking, squatting next to one of the fallen soldiers and looking him over for a moment.

Helchir considers this. \"They may have survived and escaped or were taken prisoner. Prints will have been long snowed over, but we should look for any other signs of someone having left here. If they were taken prisoner, chances are they were dragged.\"

Tuivegil nods, \"Or if they were carried, their possessions may have been discarded in the square.\" His expression softens as he glances at another corpse, a young man, barely out of boyhood, \"It would be well to carry our dead back to camp.\"

Looking about he continues to move scanning the ground, eyes darting about looking for any signs of survivors or movement. Looking about as he walks, he stumbles as his foot falls through some snow.. Into an opening in the ruins.. Looking to the rangers he motions them too him as an opening appears.

\"Neh, we should leave them and send a more heavily armed troop to...\" but Helchir\'s words are cut off as he notices the Lieutenant. He flicks a glance to the Carmayar again before approaching the spot. \"What is it?\"

Tuivegil moves quickly to Aearon\'s side, and offers an arm for support. He sniffs, and coughs, quickly stifling the noise with his hand, \"There is a foul smell here.\"

Taking the arm of Tuivegil the Lieutenant pulls his leg out.. Causing more snow to fall into the entrance of the ruins.. Revealing an opening.. Sniffing the air he says \"Smells like blood..\" looking about the entrance there are signs of blood in the lower layers of snow. Looking at the two rangers the Lieutenant lowers himself to his knees and inspects the entrance, poking his head in he says \"There is a room. shall take a look..\"

Saying nothing, Helchir nods and makes to enter.

House in Ruins

Water pools among the cracks in the floor, dropping walls and ceiling as the condensation seeps downwards from the pourous soaked stones. Now and then a drop falls, breaking regular murmur of indistinct sounds with a sharp, punctuating plunk. From time to time other sounds from outside seep through the walls. But whether they are made by the near river or some malign presence nearing... or even the building shifting on its precarious foundation, none can know. No plants, not even a weed, grow here yet the slick stones are slimey with mold which needs no light to grow.

The exit, blocked with rubble, lets little light in, even when the sun shines above this forsaken city. Pieces of walls, bits of rubble, large rents and fissures, they all hold the promise of dark secrets, waiting to be uncovered.

Contents:

Helchir

Obvious exits:

Out

Tuivegil slips into the ruins, stumbling a little, before regaining his balance, hand resting on the hilt of his sword, nose wrinkling in distaste.

The ruins are a dark site but for what can be seen there are two dead Uruks here, one appearing to be run though.. While the other has had his stomach spilled about the floor. That would seem to be the smell that came from this dark place.

Following suit the Lieutenant enters the ruins, spear in hand with his eyes darting about looking for anything that can been seen in the gloom.. Squatting down he picks up what appears to be a shattered shield.. Inspecting it he says \"Our men were here at some point..\"

\"Aye.\" The simple affirmative is all that Tuivegil offers, as he kneels down next to the uruks, looking for clues around their grisly tomb, \"But where did they go?\"

Looking at the shield closer the Lieutenant says in soft words \"This is the shield of a Squire..\" putting the broken piece back down he continues to move about slowly looking for any clues of where the men that were down here went.. Going to the bodies of the Uruks he looks them over as best he can in the gloom of the ruins.. Poking at them with his spear as he looks about.

\"Ahh\" There is a metalic scrape, and Tuivegil lifts a dark object, \"And here, a helmet.\" He holds it for the Lieutenant to see, \"From the same person? Or did both of them come here?\"

Seeing the Helm he says \"Man ware that helm.. It may be from the same man.. Sir.\" looking about again he moves forward into the darkness.. Trying to see anything else in the gloom of the ruins, turning about he looks to the Rangers and gives them a look of.. \"I dont know\"

\"But one, or two, we still know not where they went.\" Tuivegil looks about, \"Is there another exit?\" He places the helmet on the ground, stands and stretches.

Rubbing his injured leg the Lieutenant says \"I do not know..\" moving again he inadvertently kicks a few small stone ahead of him.. Hearing them skid across the floor.. The sound then stops and the sound of them falling and hitting something below is heard. A look of surprise on his face as he looks for where the small stones fell.

\"Have we any light?\" Tuivegil walks carefully to the area in which Aearon seaches, and picks up another small stone, sending it skidding into the dark hole.

Reaching into a pouch at his side the Lieutenant retrieves a small candle and a flint stone.. Striking the flint stone he lights candle after a few attempts.. Giving off just a bit of light, but in the gloom it is enough.. For a small hole in the ground appears between the two men, a hole just large enough for a man to squeeze in.. slowly the Lieutenant approaches.

Tuivegil studies the hole intently, \"We must investigate this, but I fear that without rope, we may be trapped.\" In the flickering candlelight he screws his eyes up, and peers into the depths, \"How deep would you say this is?\"

Kneeling at the hole the Lieutenant lowers his arm into the hole and says \"There is a ladder..\" racking the ladder with his knuckles he says \"It seems sturdy enough.. I will take the risk and enter first sir..\" raising his arm out of the hole he looks to the rangers and says \"If I man..\"

A grim smile spreads upon Tuivegil\'s face, \"No, let me go first, Lieutenant, but follow when I reach the bottom.\" He motions Aearon to move aside, and readys himself to climb down.

Backing away the Lieutenant extends the candle to the Ranger and says \"Yes sir..\" with that the Lieutenant readies himself to follow the Ranger into the hole.

The whole is big enough for a man to wriggle through with some patience. You manage to squirm into it. Squirming out is more difficult, leaving you exposed to impending attack while you do so.

Deep Dark Room

Water fills this circular room, rising three feet off the floor to create a murky standing pool. Here and there a fallen stone stands above the water line, small islands amidst the liquid blackness. The walls, curving upwards into a simple dome, are cluttered with debris which must have, in some distant time, been moved aside in an effort to clear the floor. Now they are merely broken shadows, jutting up their leering faces up at irregular intervals.

A passageway opens into the darkness between two columns, the water spreading out into it, interrupting the rough circle of the room. From this fresh air pours in, only to be turned immediately stale. Upon one of the piles of stones, a ladder of cold wrought iron is marooned, its length stretching up into the ceiling where it disappears into a hole.

Contents:

Tuivegil

Menelglir

Turlach

Obvious exits:

Ladder Up leads to Broken basement.

Tunnel leads to River Tunnel.

Following the Ranger down the ladder is the Lieutenant, shield in hand as he slowly goes down the old ladder. Looking below he says \"Can you see anything Sir..\" finally the Lieutenant gets a glance of the floor below and from the candle light he see the bodies of two men upon the floor..

The submerged floor, rank with stale water and air. Upon an island of rubble is Turlach, propped up against a stone. The White Tree upon his tabard has been splattered with dark blood and what might be orc-gut, yet his only visible wound is a dirty gash on an exposed shoulder. He is feverishly hot, unmoving but for a rapid flutter in the hollow of his throat.

Against Turlach is another figure, as if holding up the Man-at-Arms. But not for long: Menelglir\'s strength or what little he has of it gives out. With a quiet splash he slides down into the water, only half conscious--giving no indication that he hears the approach of anyone or anything. He somehow manages to slide into a sitting position in the dank water, supported by the same rubble that holds Turlach. But without the Squire holding him up, it\'s possible that the unconscious Turlach will slip into the water.

Tuivegil reaches the bottom of the ladder and swiftly makes his way, splashing in the water to the two soldiers. He kneels first, beside Turlach, pinching his flesh, and watching his weak breathing for a moment, before motioning Aearon over, \"We must get these two out of the water, before the cold kills them.\"

Quickly going down the ladder the Lieutenant rushes over to the two young men, reaching down to Menelglir he says \"Cousin.. We will get you out of here..\" looking the young squire over he begins to pick him up, getting him out of the water. Looking to the Ranger he says \"I can carry him.. \"

\"Up that ladder? That would be a mighty feat.\" Tuivegil splashes towards the passageway, \"I shall see where this leads - maybe it will be easier to leave through the passageway.\"

Tuivegil has left

A nod is given to the Ranger as he moves off down the passage, as the Squire goes to \"attack\" the Lieutenant, the Lieutenant stays his arm and says \"It is I Aearon, your cousin..\" Seeing the Ranger return the Lieutenant says \"Is there an exit? Or should I return to the surface and get some rope, for we have little time, these two men need to be taken to the Healers as fast as possible..\"

\"The tunnels are extensive, and I do not know the way.\" Tuivegil frowns, deep in thought, \"It may be quicker to leave that way, but not if we are lost. I think that rope is the best solution.\" He bends down over Turlach, hands moving to check bones for breaks, \"And blankets for the cold.\"

\"Aearon?\" Menelglir answers feebly. \"Turlach...in the water...\"

There\'s a rumbling noise overhead and the very walls of this subterranean room seem to shake.

Going over the words of the Ranger, the Lieutenant says \"I will go get ropes from the men..\" Removing his cloak the Lieutenant wraps it about his cousin and says \"We know Menelglir.. We will get you both out of here.\" as the room shakes the Lieutenant nearly looses his footing upon the slick rocks. Looking to the Ranger he makes to climb the ladder moving with a surprising amount of speed.

The Ranger Tuivegil moves now to Menelglir, \"Turlach is safe, soldier.\" He offers his waterbottle to Menelglir, \"Drink some water.\"

Moments pass, and continue to pass.

And then finally the Lieutenants voice can be heard from the top of the ladder saying \"I have the rope\" with that he drops one end down to the other men, a large loop tied on that end. Then saying \"I have some of the men with me, we are ready to pull them up..\"

Menelglir\'s hand is shaking as he takes the water and sips, some of it spilling as he does so. \"Orcs..fell here. turlach is bleeding,\" he says through gritted teeth. That\'s about all he manage, though, and any movement to hoist him up will cause him to pass out. Thankfully.

The two young injured soldiers are each raised from there dark, damp prison. Each one is wrapped in thick cloaks given freely by the patrol, including the one of the Lieutenant. One out of their prison the two men are carried from the ruins by men of the Patrol. As they climb from the hidden ruins the men stop.. For in front of them is huge footprints.. Footprints of a Troll.. Seeing the footprints that were not there upon entering the ruins the Patrol quickly and silently return to the garrison with the only two surviving members of the Lost patrol.