(006) Farther and Deeper...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Dwarves Norin and Burmon, Sili and Hepti, and the Men Soval and Beranger, Arbenbard, Nat Pickthorn, and Eremin Sulk, as well as the Half Elves Legandir and Elendir are here.


Hepti has a lit torch, Soval has a lit lantern, and the first beacon burns steadily behind the company in the passage way.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Sili and Norin lead the way further east into the mines, following the rule-straight track running down the middle of the broad passage way.

Soon they pass under a second beacon -- a dark bulk hanging from the ceiling above them -- and completely out of the illumination case by the first beacon. Now only Hepti's torch and Soval's lantern light the way forward...

Only a dozen more paces ahead the Dwarves see closed doors facing one another; both to the left and to the right of the passage. The main route continues unabated into the dark...

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Legandir decides a Dwarfs eye is better than an Elfs in this dungeon, and follows the two stunties at ten paces, bow ready.

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
Sili gestures Norin closer with the light, and, from a safe distance, studies the two doors for markings, signs of recent use, or other noteworthy details.

[waysoftheearth]

crusssdaddy wrote:
Arbenbard is attentive to the passage details, particularly the floor & ceiling -- construction, ornamentation, etc.

[waysoftheearth]

calithena wrote:
Soval moves the lantern where he may to help his companions see, keeping his sword ready and his ears to the darkness at their rear. He is content to move forward and face whatever challenges may yet come...

(OOC: Wow have I been busy - apologies.)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Sili gestures Norin closer with the light, and, from a safe distance, studies the two doors for markings, signs of recent use, or other noteworthy details.

Sili leads Hepti closer, with his torch, and Norin is right by his side.

The doors are tall (for a Dwarf) being almost 10ft in height. There are great stone frames standing out a foot from the wall, and these are broadest at the ground, then tapper somewhat toward the top of the door, so that they are 8ft wide at the ground, and 6ft wide at the top of the door.

The doors themselves are of ancient timbers, bound with stout iron workings that were once themselves works of great fashion, but are now rusted, bent and buckled out of shape. The doors, both of them, look to have been beaten down many years ago. There is a very old body wedged between the left door and its frame, so that the door is 1ft ajar.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:

Arbenbard is attentive to the passage details, particularly the floor & ceiling -- construction, ornamentation, etc.

Arbenbard meanwhile, studies the passage, the floor and the ceiling for anything of note...

He is every impressed by the craftsmanship of the Dwarves, for the passage is remarkably straight and true. But for the steel track running down the centre, and the equally spaced beacons hanging from above, he has not seen anything to remark upon.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Now from behind the company comes an awful clatter -- as if a pile of old helmets and shields were being tossed about. Then comes the whining squeal of protesting metal, and a deep trundling rattle.


This continues for a half a minute, until at last Eohild and Barald emerge from the Troll Den behind, pushing a mining cart ahead of them.

There is more frightful noise until at last they have the cart set upon the track.

The deep silence returns.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Eohild, Barald, and the Elves Lomeluin and Telthalion, and the Hobbits Largo and Baraglin (now with a torch) have returned to the main passage with a mine cart.