Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Midnight on Highday, Day 2 of March.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 15:39:36 MDT on Thu Feb 11 2010.

Western Edge of Mirkwood, Old Forest Road

You stand at the edge of the dark, great forest, once called Greenwood the Great, now Mirkwood the dark and fearful. The earth below your feet is covered in a thick mat of grass and ferns.

To the east and west an ancient dirt road cuts into the baked ground. Eastward, the wide path enters into the dark gloom of the forest, of which you can barely make out the outlines. To the north and south the forest bends out of sight.

The sky is clear.

Contents:

Broddur

Obvious exits:

NorthWest, West, South, North, and East

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

The dull colorless world of midnight has settled over the land, and on the edge of Mirkwood even the stars that shine in the clear sky above seem to be smothered in the forest\'s gloom. Here, right on the very border of Greenwood the Old, there lies a few felled trees. It is clear by the way they are hewn, that whomever did this shared no care for the living plants, nor where they hit the earth. Now a few stumps rest here and there around the area...but, one of them seems to be moving slightly in the night breeze. Perhaps it is not the remainder of a tree, or perhaps it is simply a trick of the darkness upon the eyes.

[Broddur(#16974)] Along the forest eaves, there is movement - the sound of someone making their way none too quietly through the grasses and brush. Then a lone stumpy figure comes into view, pick in one hand and tiny lantern in the other. Broddur has a bundle of wood strapped to his back and a small sack at his belt - which of those was the cause of him venturing so close to the forest today, who can say? The Dwarf mutters to himself as he goes. \"Wretched wood. Bebothered place. Now where\'s that bloody road got to?\" Yes, Broddur is lost.

Then comes a grunt, as the faint starlight illuminates a rutted furrow in the ground ahead. \"Ahh, there it is!\" The dwarf stomps toward it, still grumbling softly, making to detour round the nearest stump.

[+LIGHT:#16974] Broddur lights tiny lantern.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

Thankfully, this closest stump is not the perculiar one about ten feet away the oddly shaped one shifts again, and there is the motion of something scarlet in the dim lighting..followed by the clear glint of steel. As the dwarf approaches, the stirring turns into the shuffle of feet, and the \'stump\' whirls around--two pricks of yellow eyes there are, and fangs. It is an orc, no doubt, and in one clawed hand it holds a long dagger. Behind the creature, there might be seen the top of the stump he had been stooped over moments prior: carved crudely into the wood there is the imagine of an Eye, and other strange markings. Judging by the slight scorch lines ringing the ground, this was be to a sight for some dreadful midnight ritual...

But, ritual now interrupted, Bagaglok stands facing the noisy arrival of Broddur. There is a hiss, and the dagger is clasped tighter.

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok] Wearing: Skull-Helm

COMBAT - Wielded: Sacrificial Dagger

[Broddur(#16974)] Broddur\'s toe clips against the first stump, and he mutters some obscenity under his breath. With all the noise he\'s making, scarce wonder he doesn\'t hear the hiss - he does, however, look up in time to catch a glimpse of something yellow and gleaming in the lantern-light, much closer than he\'d like. His gnarled features contort, and he hesitates. \"Eyes in the night?\" he murmurs uneasily to himself he lifts the lantern higher in his left hand so that he will see the owner of the eyes more clearly, whilst in his right the pick is clutched in a ready grip, and raised boldly.

[Combat(#13388)] Broddur wields War Hammer.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

For a passing instant, eyes accustomed to the blackness of night, Bagaglok has a full glimpse of the interloper--but just as swiftly it is obscurred in the blare of the raised lantern. Louder than the hiss, there comes a half-annoyed, half-pained growl, and the Shaman\'s dagger flashes again in the illumination as he thrusts that hand upward to shield his gaze.

\"Eyes in the night,\" there is a second hiss, and the orc glares at the latern with hatred. \"Begone, one who carries the Sun-eye.\" The creature snorts then, an odd sound that seems almost to be a snarled laugh. \"I would like to finish my work, my magicks. And then, perhap at the end, I can sear that beard of yours off with your own fire, hmm?\"

[Broddur(#16974)] Bagaglok\'s hiss is met by a wordless growl, then a mutter of disgust. \"Goblin.\" There is a pause, just long enough for Broddur to spit, then he threatens, \"I\'ll finish your filthy work, all right. You\'ll end this night with your head stuck on a pick. And /noone/,\" the upraised right arm holding the pick is drawn back, \"touches my beard this time!\"

He barrels toward the dagger-wielding orc with little finess, the pick swinging down in an attempt to gouge a hole in head, shoulder or anything else that presents itself. He barely seems to remember he still has the lantern in his other hand.

Broddur attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he misses!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

And suddenly, the snorting laughter ceases as the pick flies through the air, and the goblin leaps to the side. The dwarf\'s attack is avoided but not the stump that rests below, and Bagaglok trips, cursing as he falls over dead winter grass and fern. \"Buubhosh, pushdug gazat nardur glob!\" Still on the cold frozen ground, the goblin moves to swipe his jagged dagger out for Broddur\'s foot.

You attack Broddur with your Dagger...

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

Your attack against Broddur lightly wounds him!

[Broddur(#16974)] Broddur, of course, is unbalanced by the fact that his pick meets thin air. His arms flail wildly, and his heavy booted feet are far too slow to jump as Bagaglok had done. The incantation is greeted by a deep yell as the orc\'s dagger pierces through leather and draws out some drops of hot dwarven blood to warm the frozen ground.

\"Out of my way, you filthy little gnat!\" Hopping off the injured foot, Broddur tries to turn on his good one, swinging the pick in a sideways arc toward goblin ribs as he does. The lantern, which is still clutched in his left hand, gyrates wildly so that shadows ebb and flow like the tide.

Broddur attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he hits! Ouch!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

The angry tirade continues, \"Gaakh tab hosh throquzat zau!\" and the uruk grins ere translating roughly, \"May his entrails be for the stew!\" But, again the pick is swung down and this time its aim proves true.

A sharp howl signals its meeting, and the weapon tears through fabric easily. Black blood falls to join the red, as well as a ring of mail or two. With a grunt, Bagaglok quickly shoves himself to his feet, and turns--the dagger aimed higher for shoulder or side. The orc moves with a slithering motion, almost appearing to be doing his best to evade the lantern light as it flickers back and forth.

You attack Broddur with your Dagger...

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

Broddur dodges your attack.

[Broddur(#16974)] Perhaps it is the wildly swinging lantern that saves Broddur perhaps it is simple instinct. In any case the Dwarf lurches sideways as the dagger comes snaking forward, and it meets only empty air. Broddur himself is panting from the exertion, not to mention grunting every time his left foot hits the ground. It doesn\'t stop him from taking another swing at that wretchedly slippery orc, once again aiming for the creature\'s side. \"And may yours be for my pick.\" Of course, the swaying outlines that the lantern-light reveals are as misleading to him as to his enemy ...

Broddur attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he misses!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

\"Ha!\" sneers the red-robed Shaman. \"I think not.\" Stumbling slightly from both the previous blow from the pick and the miss of his own weapon, Bagaglok pauses only long enough to swap dagger for scimitar, and to fix a small rune adorned shield to one arm. \"Now,\" he levels the curved sword so that the tip points forward, \"stand still so I can stick you, eh?\" Taking a rough step forward, the orc brings the edge of the blackened blade up at a diagonal for the dwarf\'s low hip.

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok] Wearing: Rune-Rimmed Shield

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok] Unwielded: Sacrificial Dagger

COMBAT - Wielded: Blackened Scimitar

You attack Broddur with your Scimitar...

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

Your attack against Broddur lightly wounds him!

[Broddur(#16974)] Broddur shows not the least intent of staying still, stepping back even as Bagaglok lunges. His injured foot betrays him, though, and the scimitar-blade catches his thigh a glancing blow as he wobbles, parting leather and drawing a thin line of blood. \"Not bloody likely,\" the Dwarf growls, hefting his own pick high in preparation for another swing down. \"Better run, forest rat, before I split you like a log.\" This time the path of the pick is straight - clearly he\'s aiming for Bagaglok\'s head or shoulder if the orc does not make a timely evasion.

Broddur attacks you with his War Hammer!...

...and he misses!

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

Whoosh! There is the awful whipping noise as the pick slices through the night air a little too close for comfort, and the uruk ducks while simultaneously sidestepping once more. With a voiceless snarl, the Malkog grips the hilt of the scimitar hard enough so that the dark knuckles turn white, but the blade does not flash outward. Instead, Bagaglok takes a small pace away, risking a glance over his shoulder toward the wood beyond. Then, the yellow-eyed gaze returns, and the orc watches the heavy threat of the pick warily. For a moment, he seems to be debating--flee or fight? The eternal choice for his wretched ilk.

Then, coming to a decision, Bagaglok whirls around, crimson cloth lashing into the darkness as he twists abrutply. A nearby tree is subjected to the cruel cut of black claws as the Shaman attempts to climb up its gnarled trunk. To his opponent he yields only a chuckled, \"Catch me if you can, fat little gazat fool!\" The tree is now given the orc\'s full attention as he slips the scimitar away so as to better grab the thick bark with that hand.

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok] Unwielded: Blackened Scimitar

[Combat(#13388)->Bagaglok]

You forego your chance to attack.

[Broddur(#16974)] Broddur\'s pick misses its mark, and bites instead into the frozen earth. The Dwarf must waste precious moments in pulling it free, moments that give Bagaglok ample time to slip into the darkness toward his chosen tree. \"Oi, you little sneak!\" Brodder shouts, heading in the direction of that crimson flash and raising the lantern so that he may see better. \"Come ba-\"

CRASH!

The lantern slams into an overhanging branch, and is pushed from Broddur\'s hands. It tumbles groundward into a patch of last year\'s dried ferns, spilling fuel as it goes, and in a few heartbeats the night is considerably brighter.

Fire. Friend to the traveller, comfort to the chilled - but not to this one Dwarf. With an inarticulate yell, Broddur\'s charge ceases and the Dwarf starts stumbling back into the darkness, mumbling as he does, \"Not again. Never again!\" The hand that no longer holds a lantern instead clutches his beard.

ARB: Broddur has \"passed\" on his turn to attack.

[Bagaglok(#24847)]

Indeed, this would be a great second to snicker at the dwarf\'s clumsiness, but as it is, Bagaglok is not laughing anymore--the flurry of flames is piercingly bright, and as they spread it is enough to convince the goblin that his chosen hiding place is not as safe as he anticipated. Hardly even onto one of the lower hanging branches, yet the Shaman stops, peering down at the fire that has begun to creep over the dead ground and foliage. Claws scrape against wood as he shifts to drop back to the earth, but that dancing source of red and orange is directly in his path southward. Several coughs and cursings later, the uruk emerges from the growing storm of heat and flame that now licks stump and trunk.

A final scowl of deepest disdain is flashed toward Broddur as he stumbles blindly off into the shadows, and then Bagaglok--still patting a few parts of his robes that have ignited--disappears into the black of the forest.

[Broddur(#16974)] Broddur does not look to see whether he\'s left a roast orc behind him, too busy trying to put distance between himself and the fire. That done, he stumbles along in the dark for a while with only the stars for light. Likely once he\'s calmed down he will recall flint and tinder and set about making a new torch to light his way home.