Songs of Lothlorien IC

[Wiz828]

Tori Soulforge

You go back inside to get a quick bite for the ride. Unfortunately the innkeeper only has some leftover pieces of bread and some cheese lying around. Since you are who you are, you buy the food for 3 copperpieces and go back out to join the others.


All

Everyone saddles up, mount their horses and check their gear. Then the lieutenant gives the signal to start moving. As you ride through town a lot of the local folk stand outside and watch. Some of them cheer, but most remain silent, giving the ride a somewhat eerie feeling.

As you ride, the soldiers form a tight circle around you, always riding in pairs. Some of the soldiers talk to each other, but most are silent and focussed. After a dozen minutes or so, the houses disappear and are replaced with farmland. It being fall now, means it is harvest season and so it happens you quickly find yourself surrounded by long rows of cornstems, almost-ripe corncobs hanging everywhere.

After roughly thirty more minutes, the farmground changes into a light forest and signs of human life are quickly becoming very sparse. As the group ventures into the forest, it's density increases and soon the path you have been walking on is little more than an old game trail. The lieutenant, walking alone up front, seems to be sure he's going in the right direction though and does not hestitate at all.

Ten more minutes pass and the horses seem to have more and more trouble getting through the bushes and roots that cover the game trail. Then the lieutenant motions for the group to stop and dismount. "Tie your horses to the nearest tree, we will leave them here and continue on foot." Leading by example he ties his own horse to the nearest strong branch and walks away.

Everyone quickly follows his orders and soon the whole group is marching behind him, little Apricot dancing with joy at finally being able to touch ground again. A few hundred yards further, the trees suddenly give way and reveal a spectacular sight as the whole group suddenly find themselves face to face with a huge building. The front side you are looking at is at least two hundred feet wide and thirty feet high, the walls appear to be made of some white-coloured material. On top of the walls stands a large dome, made from the same material, rising an extra fifteen feet in the air at the tip.
The building is covered in vegetation, indicating it has stood there for a very long time. The only exception is a small area in the front, where the vegetation appears to have been cut away, revealing a large opening leading into the building. A portcullis is blocking the opening, but not all the way, for there is a large rock in the opening, stopping the portcullis from going fully down and leaving about thirty inches of crawlspace to get in.

Without needing another signal, the soldiers in front of you suddenly make way and the lieutenant walks towards you. Standing in front of you, he looks at each of you for a moment before speaking sternly: "Ok gentlemen, this is as far as we will take you. From here on out, you will be on your own. We know the problem originates from inside that building, finding it and dealing with it will be your job. We will take the horses back with us and wait for your return in Marksville. We will wait one week. If none of you have returned by then, we will assume you have died or are otherwise beyond rescue." he pauses for a moment, his face softening a bit, "Good luck heroes and may The Six be with you."

With that, the soldiers turn around and go back the way you all came. Soon after the five of you are standing there alone, the rough-looking dwarf Tori Soulforge, the relaxed and interested human Stockard, the slightly sad half-elf druid Tathar Elendil, the haughty elf Amd Minyatur and last but not least the small halfling with the big mouth, Smelkie Greenleaf.
Only the trees and this large strange building surround you now.



[OOC: Ian already asked about this, but I wanted to clarify to you all as well: none of you knew each other before signing on for this mission. You can assume you've all gotten to know each other a little during the two weeks of travel though, so there is no need to describe yourself again.
Ball is in your court guys ;)
]