Sept 30, 3018 TA (Adventure takes place overnight and ends the next morning)
While resting at Thrasi's Lodge, in Ered Luin, Dwalter and a female warrior (Hannaha) came to the aid of an injured dwarf, who turned out to be the owner of the lodge (Thrasi).
Thrasi sent the pair on a mission to retreive his stolen hand-axe from the Dourhands to the North. The journey took them to Ringdale: the hideout of the dwarves. It was here that they captured a dourhand and interrogated him, finding out the location of a chest where stolen loot was kept.
Eventually, the pair located the chest deep inside the hideout and recovered the hand-axe, which, to their surprise, turned out to be made of mithril. They returned the axe to Thrasi, who was most grateful.
ADVENTURE TRANSCRIPT
Dwalter looks at the evening sky, while he picks at his teeth with a wooden toothpick. It has been a cold day, which makes him glad that his long journey is nearing its end.
Dwalter recalls the snow that was falling earlier on and wonders if it may fall again this night.
Hannaha eyes the strangers at the lodge. She has been riding for quite some time and is happy for the respite it provides.
Dwalter looks to his left and notices a dwarf, with a lynx, no less, muttering away to himself.
Dwalter is further distracted by the dwarf to his left, who is now shaking his head and throwing his arms up in the sky at regular intervals. This piques his interest a little more.
Hannaha notices the makeup of the strangers. A ranger which she is curious about unlike most who would shun them. A dwarf with a...lynx? Now that is....
Hannaha says, 'Odd.'
Hannaha turns to the dwarf.
Dwalter briefly looks around, noticing the dark-skinned woman for the first time, and wonders if she has noticed the behaviour of the dwarf as well.
Hannaha says, 'Is that your cat? You've tamed a lynx?'
Dwalter watches as the dwarf (not immediately answering the woman's question) suddenly lets out a grimace of pain, clearing trying to hold back his discomfort.
Hannaha says, 'I certainly hope so, otherwise we're going to have a bit of a problem here real soon.'
Dwalter listens to the dwarf "Yes, yes, I have looked after this one"
Hannaha looks closely at the dwarf and just notices him nursing his knee.
Hannaha motions to his injury with her head.
Dwalter now decides to get involved
Lynx-mother says, ''Rreow!''
Hannaha says, 'I hope that wasn't during your looking after her.'
Thrasi says, ''Watch out, there!''
Thrasi says, ''Good job, girl!''
Lynx-mother says, ''Mrrow''
Thrasi says, ''Ah, that's a good girl.''
Dwalter watches the dwarf's actions
Dwalter listens to the dwarf's reply to the woman "No, no, she did not inflict this injury upon me"
Hannaha says, 'Well, seems you have her pretty well trained.'
Hannaha notices the other dwarf that has moved near them.
Dwalter listens to the dwarf "Well, she has taken a bit of a liking to me (smiling)
Dwalter notices the wound for the first time: It is a nasty gash on the dwarf's upper right leg.
Hannaha says, 'How did you get that wound. Looks recent.'
You say, 'I say, good fellow, I noticed your discomfort and wondered if I could do anything to help?'
Dwalter watches the dwarf look at both himself and the woman before answering ""As for the wound, there is no more than can be done, but your offer of help is most welcome. However......."
Dwalter listens further to the dwarf "this was no creature that caused my grief. It was a cursed Dourhand!"
Dwalter crosses his arms and a grim look forms upon his face
Hannaha smirks. "Why do I think that I've been reeled into something?" Smiles widely. "A Dourhand...isn't that a dwarf?"
You say, 'Yes indeed, and cursed they are. They are surely not like us longbeards.'
You say, 'Always causing trouble, without respect for others, without honor'
You get angry.
Hannaha says, 'Hmm. Sounds like the brigands I ran into recently.'
You say, 'Where were they, my lady?'
Hannaha says, 'The outskirts of Bree. Much is happening. Darkness is moving about. Some men embrace it.'
Dwalter scratches his beard "I just passed through Bree some days ago. It seems I was fortunate not to encounter such as these
Hannaha nods "Maybe you came through after I did." She smiles briefly before her countenance becomes serious. "It may be that these Dourhands you speak of could be a part of a much bigger problem for all of Middle-Earth."
Hannaha says, 'The only way to find that out is to investigate ourselves.'
Dwalter mutters mostly to himself but loud enough to be heard "It is not only Erebor, then that has problems....." (trailing away)
Hannaha sighs. I was not planning on any such endeavors but I'm finding that this problem cannot be put off.
You say, 'Indeed (soberly). But again, good fellow, I believe you were about to elaborate on something"'
Dwalter turns his attention back to the dwarf
Dwalter listens to the dwarf's heartened reply, "Well, there may be something you may be able to do for me. But is it something I would not send one person to do," he adds.
Hannaha looks on, attentive.
Hannaha says, 'Speak on.'
You say, 'I will surely help you, a fellow longbeard! Just name your request.'
Dwalter listens to Thrasi's story and request "Well, It all happened rather quickly. It was a dourhand warrior, I know that much. He felled me and stole my hand-axe. If you could get it back, I would would be grateful. Of course (chuckling) if you felled him at the same time, that wouldn't go astray.
You say, 'Surely, it shall be done!'
Hannaha says, 'Where did this take place?'
Dwalter listens to Thrasi further "It happened to the north of here. I expect he and his cursed group are from the low-lands to the north, possibly near Ringdale."
Hannaha says, 'I'd be willing to do this if only to see what else may be afoot if anything.'
You say, 'I guess we shall see (nodding head)'
Hannaha points at the dwarf. "But afterwards, a soft bed and a hot drink is what I require for payment."
Dwalter watches the dwarf point back to his lodge "This is my lodge here, and you both will have certainly earned both these things if you can return my axe to me, at least (smiling)
Dwalter watches the dwarf point at the sign "Thrasi's Lodge"
You say, 'Ah, Thrasi is it? I am Dwalter, son of Dwailil, at your service"'
You bow deeply before Thrasi.
Dwalter , remembering his manners, also bows to the woman
Hannaha looks at the dwarf next to her. "I am Hannaha. If we're to put our lives in each others' hands then we should at least know our names."
You bow deeply before Hannaha.
Dwalter chuckles and speaks "Yes, indeed, my lady"
Dwalter looks to the sky "It is late, I do not see a moon tonight, we may be able to sneak north without being seen and surprise the Dourhands"
You say, 'It might be advantageous for us to leave now'
Hannaha tilts her head to the side. "And your name master dwarf?"
You say, '(repeating his earlier introduction) I am Dwalter, son of Dwailil, my lady Hannaha.'
Dwalter bows again
You bow deeply before Hannaha.
Hannaha says, 'Very well. Seems that you may know these lands. You lead the way.'
You say, '(Stuttering slightly) Ah well....., that may not necessarily be the case. My homeland is in Erebor, I am rarely in this parts......Very rarely, in fact.'
Hannaha says, 'Well. As this one has said, north is where we must go.'
You say, 'Thrasi mentioned Ringdale to the north, I guess if we head in that direction, more of less, we should find what we are looking for, hopefully'
Hannaha starightens her weapons and armor. "Let us be off."
You say, 'Yes, indeed'
You say, 'Many wild creatures here'
You say, 'No dourhands yet'
Hannaha says, 'Yes. He must have been hunting to be out here.'
Hannaha says, 'Spiders.'
Hannaha sighs. "I hate spiders."
You say, 'Hmm, were seeing all the types here'
You say, 'Creature types, that is'
You say, 'What is this place, I see no dwarves here!'
Hannaha says, 'A monument of some kind. Beware.'
Hannaha looks around.
You say, 'Cursed creature!'
Hannaha shakes her head.
You say, 'I don't know if we are going find what we are looking for here'
Hannaha says, 'I don't think it is this far north.'
You say, 'Ringdale, he said'
You say, 'Agh, I'm stuck'
Hannaha says, 'There.'
You say, 'I think we have travelled more north-east than north'
Hannaha says, 'Hmmph.'
You say, 'That is Kheledul, I believe, down there'
Hannaha says, 'We'll try this again.'
You say, 'It may be easier to climb up here'
You point into the distance.
You say, 'Not as steep that way'
Hannaha says, 'This...my bearings are well. This is north. I'm not sure of this Ringdale he speaks of but it must be past the wight monuments.'
You say, 'It looks like a dead end up here'
You say, 'Walls of rock to the north and west'
You say, 'I wonder if the directions we were given were slightly off.....'
Hannaha says, 'I'm thinking they were.'
You say, 'Poor fellow might have been a bit scattered after the experience'
Hannaha says, 'It may have been northwards. From here we can go east.'
You say, 'Still no dwarves'
Hannaha says, 'Hmm. Lots of webs. Means lots of spiders. Be on your guard.'
You say, 'They are either well hidden (which would surprise me) or we need to go elsewhere'
Hannaha sighs. "I. Hate. Spiders."
You say, 'We are getting further east now'
Hannaha says, 'This way.'
You say, 'Elves'
You say, 'There'
Hannaha says, 'Yes.'
You say, 'A Dourhand warrior'
Dourhand Chief says, ''You said you wanted peace, and we gave you peace. Rest in peace, ha ha ha!''
Dourhand Chief says, ''You were a fool to come here alone, Longbeard!''
Dourhand Chief says, ''Ah, you were a strong foe, Longbeard, but your shield broke in the end.''
Dourhand Chief says, ''I spit on your grave, Longbeard!''
Hannaha says, 'What was that dwarf d oing here?'
Hannaha searches the tents.
Hannaha says, 'No axe.'
Dwalter looks at the other tent
You say, 'Still nothing'
Hannaha says, 'It must be on one of the other dwarves.'
You say, 'I wonder if we should capture one of these dwarves and interrogate him'
You say, 'Make him talk'
You say, 'See if they know about this axe'
Hannaha mumbles out loud speaking to herself. "What in heaven's name was that dwarf doing here? Did he have a death wish? And here I am, risking my life for what? A hand axe? He'll get a piece of my mind, he will."
You say, 'Wait, there's one still alive here'
You say, 'In this tent'
Hannaha stands over him, he countenance grim.
You say, 'Speak, filthy dourhand. We are seeking an axe that belongs to Thrasi, over at the lodge nearby'
You say, 'One of your cursed folk stole it from him after ambushing hiim'
Dwalter sees the dwarf's reluctance to speak
Hannaha slowly swings her axe as if warming up.
You say, 'You know something, don't you. SPEAK!'
Dwalter listens to the dwarf's dying breath.....
Hannaha says, 'A delay tactic. You're not as stupid as I thought. Yopu're even more stupid.'
Dwalter listens further "we keep any loot in a chest near the main tents
Dwalter watches the dwarf give up the ghost: He is dead
You say, 'A chest near the tents, I didn't see a chest there the first time'
Hannaha says, 'Did you see a chest while we were there?'
Hannaha says, 'I see no chest.'
Hannaha says, 'Search the tents again.'
You say, 'Here is the chest, just outside this tent'
Hannaha kneels.
Dwalter opens the chest
You say, 'I say, this is what we are looking for'
You say, 'Look at it'
Dwalter is astonished
Hannaha narrows her eyes in examination.
You say, 'It is made of ...... Mithril!'
You say, 'How valuable is this???!!!!'
Hannaha says, 'Mithril? But...is that not....is that not fable?'
You laugh.
Hannaha smirks. "Apparently not."
Hannaha says, 'No wonder he wanted it back.'
You say, 'No, no. Mithril is our most valued metal'
Hannaha says, 'My father told me stories of it but I thought he was adding things to tell a good story.'
You say, 'Light, but harder than any other metal we use to fashion armour and weapons'
You say, 'Well now you have seen it for the first time'
You say, 'Maybe we should head back before more trouble arrives'
Hannaha says, 'We'll make our way to the main road.'
Hannaha looks at Thrasi.
You say, 'Thrasi, you did not tell us that the hand-axe was made of Mithril'
Hannaha says, 'A mithril axe? No wonder.'
Dwalter Ah, yes, well, I knew that once you found it, it would suitably identify itself without my having to explain it in more detail (smirking)
Hannaha says, 'This is....this is rare, is it not? How did you come upon it?'
Dwalter listens further "In any case, you both have done a great deed for an old dwarf.
Dwalter listens to Thrasi "Yes, well, in these parts anyway, it is rare. It was crafted in Moria, some time ago.
Dwalter watches a sad expression pass over Thrasi's face for a moment, before it passes.....
Dwalter listens further "But anyway, enough of me, I have more than a hot drink and lodging to offer you both for this deed...
Hannaha says, 'Moria. The mountain keep of the dwarves. That I have heard of.'
Hannaha says, 'I would hope so.'
You say, 'Yes, once a great kingdom of ours'
Dwalter watches Thrasi fumble about in a pack nearby before pulling out a purse full of silver coins
Dwalter listens further "Here, you must take this, with my thanks.
