Hallas and the Sardonic Dwarves

A ranger’s journey through Moria during Balin’s return.

The Last Torch
East-gate, Moria. T.A. 2989

The Dimrill Stairs

I was not born for stone. I was not raised for echoing halls or axe-chant war cries. But I have walked beside dwarves before, and bled beside them. And it was one of theirs who pulled my grandfather from a barrow of goblin dead beneath Gundabad.

That is why I answered Balin’s call.
That is why I wear his livery, sleep beside his kin, and scout his doomed roads.

But I do not write this for him. I write this for you, Master Elrond — and for those who must know. The signs are not whispers anymore. The birds flee these peaks. The trees bend, not from wind, but fear. I heard stone scream last night, far below us.

There is something here.

They do not speak of Durin’s Bane. Not aloud. But they feel it. Tomorrow, I ascend the Dimrill Stair to discover the condition of the DImrill Door. Then further up to the ruins of Barazinbar, with hopes of catching the trader Morlena for news. Balin is hopeful. His men sing by the fire.

I write this by the last torch, and pray there is a next.

— H.

Hallas, daughter of Baranthir. Of the Dúnedain, descended from the House of Valandil.
At the quiet, yet strong urging of Elrond, she travels with Balin not only as a scout and by oath — but to watch, record, and confirm the truth of the deep shadow. Her small, reluctant band of dwarves:

• Bari, a shield-bearer and journaller.

• Austri, prowler and prankster.

• Frár, a vault-breaker, carries a legendary sword of their forebearer.

• Geran, ever watchful, and a strange, hard-to-place accent.

The Dimrill Stair

It is seven miles from the East Gate to the Dimril Door, and another three miles to the ruins of Barazinbar. The One Ring's journey rules determine how far along the journey you are before an encounter occurs. The better your test results, the further along the journey events and hazards take place. Hallas and her company’s first encounter occurs three miles from the East Gate. While navigating the uneven footing on the stairs, Austri steps through some overgrown brush and falls into a small chamber in the cliffside. It turns out to be an old and forgotten workshop. They mark it on the map to return later, and the company continues their ascent up the stairs.

There is an overhang from which water cascades down the cliff face, supported by twenty dwarf-carved pillars that hold up the weight of the mountain. This is where the Dimril Door is hidden. The ascent and the area around it have been quiet, with no sign of other travelers—or orcs. With Fràr's assistance, Hallas begins to form an idea of where the door is located, but it remains out of sight for her, and they lack the key—obtaining that will be another mission.

They discover a carving on one of the pillars—runes that appear scorched or smeared, serving as a warning etched in haste. There are signs of a group that attempted to flee from a camp made here, including scratched trail marks and a child’s toy left near a rock. Hallas cannot determine the direction the group traveled. They leave the area and make their way up to the ruins at the top of the Dimril Stair.

Ruins of Barazinbar

Once a mighty dwarf fortress at the Redhorn Gate, the Citadel of Barazinbar now lies in ruins. This afternoon, the company approaches the decayed stronghold with caution. They hope to meet Morlena the trader, but they also expect to encounter Orcs, as they have discovered signs of Orcs passing through the area. Something seems to be disturbing the crows high above, though it remains unseen.

The group comes across a ruined Dwarven lookout, an ideal spot for setting up camp. However, they notice signs of a recent campfire, raising their concerns. As they investigate further, they find a young, wounded man from the Mountain Folk of Tarloch hiding nearby. He carries Morlena's trade symbol and brings a warning.

“She didn't turn back and pressed on toward the pass. Something is following her, and it frightened away the Orc patrol.”

Bookkeeping

This post covers two short sessions, each lasting about an hour. The first was about character and band generation. I brainstormed an “adventure” that involved starting with the journey rules, followed by council and combat in any order. The second session focused on that adventure, the Journey rules, and climbing the Dimrill Stairs. I drew ‘oracle’ cards from my WIP Adventure Tarot Deck (patent pending) to decide what awaited the company at the Dimrill Door. Excited about those results, I completed the last three miles to the ruined citadel just so I could draw from the deck again to see if we’d encounter Morlena, but we missed her.

Next: The Orcs of Mordor.

The Sardonic Dwarf band