Immersive Ink

calithena wrote:
Soval will put his lantern on the ground and ready his crossbow while he waits for the rest of the crew to finish exploring and move on.

waysoftheearth wrote:

ehiker133 wrote:With the additional light, Norin bends down to examine the metal tracks to see if he can determine what their purpose was.

In fact, there are two steel tracks set into the ground approximately three feet apart. These run between the two rows of columns in the main hall, and then veer into the passage which the company now stands in, running down the exact center of the passage. It is not entirely clear what the purpose of this work was... perhaps further exploration of Moria will reveal more?

waysoftheearth wrote:

coffee wrote:"Master Hobbit!" Eremin calls softly. "Would you be so good as to pass down my hook and rope, while you're up there?"

Baraglin frees Eremin's grapple, and the Human (and Hobbit!) pyramid is disassembled.

Now that the broad passageway is illuminated for some 60ft around the steadily burning beacon, the company can just see the shadowy bulk of another, similar beacon hanging further down the passage. With luck, these devices aught to continue for the entire length of the passage.

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Elves guard the eastern passage way while all this occurs.


Soval, meanwhile, has readied his crossbow.

doctorx wrote:
Lmluin glances down at the steel tracks. "For mining carts?" he offers.

Then he turns his attention back to the Eastern passage.

"We have lingered here long enough. Let us move on."

He begins to make his way cautiously down the passage towards the archway on the right.

heartless wrote:

waysoftheearth wrote: In fact, there are two steel tracks set into the ground approximately three feet apart.

"Agree looks like mining cart tracks from the Dwarven mines. Let us follow where they lead but... carefully so we surprise any more foes hidding down here", says ‰ohild.

ehiker133 wrote:
"Agreed," replies Norin and motions for the lead elves to, well, lead the way.

waysoftheearth wrote:
And lead on they do.

The marching order is thus:


Front

.....
..l..
.....
.e.g.
.....
.....
.s.n.
.O.L.
..t..
.E.h. Hepti's torch
.A.N.
.b.a.
.u.I.
.B.H.
..S.. Soval's lantern
.....

Rear

A Ardenbard a Largo
B Barald... b Baraglin
C ......... c
D ......... d
E Eremin... e Elindir
G ......... g Legandir
H Hallam... h Hepti
I Einar.... i
L Dalain... l Lomeluin
N Nat...... n Norin
O Eohild... o
S Soval.... s Sili
T ......... t Telthalion
U ......... u Burmon
V ......... v

waysoftheearth wrote:
Now Lomeluin goes cautiously ahead to the brink of the orange light cast about by the ancient Dwarf beacon.

The dual steel tracks play on directly down the middle of the passage, as straight as an arrow flies, vanishing off into the gloom ahead.

But much closer at hand, mayhap some 60ft from the first beacon, Lomeluin comes to a great door arch on the right hand side of the passageway where the Troll stench is as thick as falling rain. Upon great, rusted iron hinged the ruins of an utterly broken door hang grimly like a ship wreck upon a rocky shore.

Within is so dark that even Elvish eyes cannot see...

waysoftheearth wrote:
Soval feels his lantern weighs about half full.

Hepti has recently set flame to his third torch.

Burmon's lantern, among other, remains unlit.


What now?