DM
The halflings quickly move south. It is strange to seem them move down the corridor as you can not hear their footfalls. They pass the first intersection from where the party just came and move further south to the next one. They Look west down the hallway (That is the only direction there they can look. For the hall continues south and eventually turns East.) West it goes fifty feet and ends in a T intersection that goes North and south. This looks like it connects up northwards with the other T intersection right after the falling stone trap. Your choices here are to go west then south. Or to go south further down the corridor your in to the door in the west wall or further yet south to look where the hall turns east.

SAGGAR
Saggar whispers:
"let us post at a position before the door and have the scouts check the eastern turning hall"

LEGILDUR
Legildur nods in agreement. then indicates that the door is his preference.

DM
OK, who is going to do what then. Do you walk down to the door?

KINSON
OOC:
I just hate it when a GM asks this kind of question, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. :-)
Sounds like it's time to walk slowly, and tap the floor in front of you with a 10' pole!
BIC:
Does the ceiling, walls, and floor in this corridor look the same as the other corridor we've visited? Does anything look different?

DM
Everything looks normal.

LEGILDUR
Seeing Alof and Biladoc give the signal for all clear for the short east-west corridor, Legildur indicates (as suggested by Saggar that they should move carefully down to the door and the elbow in the corridor while the rest of the party stays where they are (want to give the halflings plenty of opportunity to surprise with their natural stealth).
Legildur watches carefully as the two scouts once again move off once again. He uses his gauntleted right hand to scratch his nose through the raised visor of the helm. The dull lamp light reflecting off the green griffons engraved on the breast plate.
If they give the all clear for the corridor he will then indicate to listen at the door.

KINSON
Kinson rests his hand on the pommel of his sword, there seems to be a lot of tension coming from this passage way.

DM
The two hobbits go south quietly past the door in the west wall. Looking East they see the hallway goes thirty feet and turns south. They back track to the door and listen. There heads tilt as they seem to hear something. They move back to the rest of the group. They report hearing orc voices behind the door but they where too faint to tell what was being said.

ALOF
As soon as I hear the orcs behind the door I'll attempt to pick the lock. As soon as I pick it I'll grab a pair of daggers and await the others to get ready before I run in.

TIMOR
Timor watches the formation of preparation...somehow, he can't help but wonder...why not knock? oh yeah, he reminds himself, there were more orcs.. but are all orcs evil and blood thirsty? hmm, all the stories and legends have shown them to be, perhaps they are a race that just hasn't learned of the other side to life...
{if Timor is ever reincarnated into an orc or something, lets try not to kill him too quickly :}
He backs away from the front lines and lets the other more skilled in the arts of combat and negotiation handle the unfolding situation.
As he stands at the far back (probably the furthest back of everyone), he grabs a hold of his holy medallion and prays to Elanna that they do not lose yet another person in the encounter to come.

DM
Alof quickly pulls something out of his belt pouch and fumbles around with some small pieces of metal. Then he begins working on the lock with them. After what seems like a long time but was only a few seconds the lock clicks and Alof smiles.

KINSON
Kinson quietly draws his long sword and follows the two hobbits back to the door; awaiting Alof's lock picking and Legildur's instructions.

LEGILDUR
Legildur sees the halflings reactions and softly calls them back by clicking his tongue to get their attention, when he sees Alof take out his tools, fearing that the click and tumble of a lock will alert the inhabitants.
He then asks a series of questions since they have time to prepare for the orcs:
"Alof and Biladoc, did you get any idea of the size of the party in the room? Timor, do you have another one of those spells you used before? I think Biladoc's idea of capturing an orc could be useful for information. Can anyone speak orcish? I only know one or two words from the limited dealings I've had with them. Seems little in point in capturing something we can't interrogate."
As the answers come in, Legildur continues "Voriax and Saggar, do you any spells that might have been useful against the other orcs that we could use here?"
"Can anyone here use a broadsword proficiently?"
With the last question, you all notice that in addition to his gleaming longsword, Legildur also has the scabbard and hilt showing of a broadsword hanging at his right hip against the plate mail. The scabbard is of very fine quality, engraved with a series of fantastic scenes depicting various mythical reptiles from large lizards through to dragons, the hilt and crossguard are obviously made by a master craftsman and you suspect that the blade is of similar quality.
"Before we move, let's update the maps so that if more of us are separated during the coming fight we are better prepared."

BILADOC
I signal Alof to wait and approach Legildur. In a low voice I say:
'I believe this door opens to a room similar to the one we found before. Do you want us to go in and finish them or do you want Timor to sleep them before we take care of them? A prisoner might be helpful...'
I then await Legildur orders and act accordingly (like I always do...) ;-).

SAGGAR
"I am afraid other than healing, I have not but my axes my friend" Saggar speaks as he is asked of his ability to use magic against the orcs.

TIMOR
Timor, afraid to speak too much and alert the orcs in the room of the group's presence, merely raises a single finger as a way of silently saying he has but one of those same spells left.
Timor finds the words of the Vinguard wielding elf to be wise in some respects...if only Timor could find some blessing of Elanna that would allow him to understand the speech of foreign languages...ah, it is not something the clergy of his order know how to do...but perhaps he should have a look in the temple libraries...there maybe some prayer or incantation that has become forgotten or unknown over time...ah, alas, this is another thing to ponder for another time...for now, Timor remains at the very back of the group's formation.
Timor doesn't even both shaking his head no since he assumes everyone knows by now that he abhors the idea of using such a weapon himself...it is a complete contradiction to everything he has learned and devoted himself to.
Timor hands over his map so that it can be updated with the others.. While the cartographers are busy doing their thing, Timor gives another glance leeward....then raises his finger to his lips reminding everyone to stay quiet lest they alert the orcs to their presence just outside the door.

DM
The maps are all quickly updated before the upcoming encounter.

LEGILDUR
Legildur nods at Saggar's reply.
"Do not play down your skills friend. We have a long way to go before we are out of here. Your healing ability may be sorely tested before we are truly safe."

TIMOR
Timor merely stares at the elfin warrior....a low groan can be heard coming from somewhere internal within the priest...somehow it becomes quite obvious the priest doesn't relish the idea of being down here as long as Legildur just hinted that they would be.

KINSON
Kinson shakes his head to indicate he does not speak orcish. Again Kinson shakes his head, he taps his long sword lightly, as if patting an old friend.

BILADOC
I turn to Legildur and say:
"I couldn't tell how many orcs are inside. I just recognize the sounds, not the words. As for interrogation, they may know a little Kenil (common). As a last resort, we can use sign language."
I smile and go on: I put my hand on the hilt of one of my short swords. Looking with curiosity at the fine blade Legildur is referring to, I add:
"But if you don't have any use for it, I'll be happy to hold on to it when we get to some friendlier place."
I turn to Saggar and ask him:
"Since Kinson examined those weapons we found in Beleg's tomb and they're not evil, do you mind giving me the dagger? I'd like to try it and this looks like a good time to do it. And you could try out the axe, too. It looks like a powerful weapon."
If Saggar gives me the dagger, I'll take out a couple of normal daggers to throw at the orcs and then attack with Beleg's dagger.
If not, I'll attack with my faithful mace, after throwing the daggers.
I take position near the wall on the east, not completely in front of the door, to avoid anything thrown from inside and wait for Legildur and Kinson to move in.
OOC:
Yeeees! I did it! I outspoke Kermie! I, Biladoc, the two eyed hobbit with the perpetual motion mouth! ;-)

SAGGAR
Giving the dagger "you may yet it is not enchanted"

ALOF
When I get the groups approval to move in I'll kick the door open and go in with my shortswords in hand. I'll give you my attacking action as soon as I see how many orcs there are and what it looks like they're going to do.

KINSON
Before they go into the orc room, Kinson leans close to Legildur's ear and whispers a question:
"Just like last time, take the ones at the back first?"

LEGILDUR
As Legildur waits for the responses to his earlier questions, he notes that Alof has unlocked the door to the room. He keeps a close eye on both the door and Alof in case the hobbit has alerted the occupants. Legildur nods at Kinson's question thinking that the tactic seemed to work reasonably well last time - assuming of course that the orcs are similarly positioned.

TIMOR
Timor will not enter the room, instead he stays outside, at the back of the formation.

LEGILDUR
The mouth of the elven warrior smiles slightly at Biladoc's explanation of adult language education, but his eyes lack the conviction. Sidestepping Biladoc's offer of 'minding' the broadsword, Legildur prepares the party for the bust.
Standing near the pit to conduct their battle preparation, Legildur outlines a simple plan.
"Looks like it will be a plain melee to sort the orcs out (no spell casters offering support here). Which is just fine with me. Given what happened last time, we'd best kept the spell casters out of harms way. Kinson and I will be first in and we'll immediately move to the orcs furthest from the door so that they will all be engaged as soon as possible. Saggar and Silvan will move in next, followed by Biladoc and Alof. Sorry Biladoc, but this is not the place for missile weapons.
"Timor, Max and Mareena. You'd better wait well away from the door entrance. Say at the T-intersection just there (Legildur points to the first T-intersection north of the door they will soon enter). That way, if another one of those magic pebbles goes off, you should be safe."
If no suggestions or arguments are forthcoming, Legildur begins to slowly ease his way towards the door - attempting to be as quiet as possible. When everyone is assembled in their positions, he points to the individuals in turn to confirm the order of entry and then nods for Alof to open the door and charges.

SAGGAR
Saggar nods scratching his beard.
"Yes would not want those spell casters in front of us warriors, where they might bet hurt."
His face stern and emotionless as he listens to the plan.

TIMOR
Timor will silently nod as the elven warrior points to the T-intersection. Without much of a word he goes over to the indicated location and waits.. (hopefully Max and the others are coming too, because without Max's lighted staff, or Voriax's hooded lantern, I fear Timor will bump into several walls while making his way back there).. And with every small pebble he stumbles over while walking through the darkness, he quietly curses the moment he decided to follow the others through that damned blue circle...

SILVAN
Silvan says nothing, simply nods his head, draws Kransthorne, and readies himself.

KINSON
Without comment Kinson places himself beside Legildur, and tenses his muscles for the charge.

BILADOC
I shrug my shoulders and say to Legildur in a low voice:
"All right, I'll use my mace instead. Although I must tell you I'm very good with my daggers. I can cut the left wing of a fly 45 feet away."
I stop, smile and go on:
"Or was it a fat orc 15 feet away? Well, one or the other..."
I move to my position near the door, holding my mace and my new dagger, in case I can backstab anyone (of the bad guys, of course).

LEGILDUR
"Remember" Legildur whispers, "we need to get in quickly so we are close to them to stop them using those magic pebbles the last lot had."
Given Legildur's prowess (or lack thereof) with a knife, he'd be impressed if Biladoc could even hit a fat orc at 15 feet let alone a called shot. Once he sees everyone in position around the door, Legildur has a final check to see that the spellcasters and Mareena are at a safe distance and then signals for Alof to open the door.

DM
Alof opens the door with a shove and Legildur and Kinson are the first through. Silvan and Saggar begin to follow through. TO there shock this room is much as the other as far as its contents. There are only five orcs in this room as well. Three at the back of the room and two towards the front. The difference is this room is much larger. Thirty feet to the right of the door and ten to the left. Forty feet deep and a door in the wall straight across from the one you came in. The orcs jump and reach for there weapons. Kinson and Legildur engage the three in the back. One dives for a bucket in the corner and Kinson runs him through. Legildur kills another with two swift strokes of his sword. One switch cleaves the orc's scimitar in half and another which cuts him from neck to groin. The third orc at the back of the room swings at Legildur, hate contorting his face, but his blow glances off Legildur's well placed kite shield. Silvan steps forward and to the left attacking and easily killing the orc on the left. Saggar enters throwing a hand axe which strikes the last orc fighting Legildur in the forehead. There is a loud crunch as the orc's skull caves in and he drops to the ground. In the other hand Saggar comes up with his battle axe and cuts the last orcs leg off. The orc falls to the ground screaming blood spurting from his amputated leg.

LEGILDUR
Legildur involuntarily ducks as Saggar's hand-axe whirls past him as it strikes the unlucky orc in the skull. He quickly reorientates himself to the room, seeing 4 of the orcs dead and one screaming on the ground with its leg lying next to him.
"Saggar, shut him up - but keep him alive if you can." His look says thank you to Saggar for the assistance but not to do it again - the risks to others when using missile weapons in melee are high.
Alof, get the others in here quick and lock the door behind us." he asks the hobbit as he and Biladoc step into the carnage.
Legildur addresses the eleven prince as he strides for the far door.
"Silvan, check the bucket Kinson's orc was diving for."
He opens his visor on the griffin-engraved helm and strides quickly over to the other door and attempts to open it from the inside. If it doesn't open, he signals for Biladoc to come and examine the door.

DM
The door opens easily to reveal a small room. The wall extends ten feet to the right (north. And it is twenty feet deep. Forming a twenty by twenty room. On the north wall on the east side is a ten by ten niche. There is another door in the south wall on the western half of it. It is closed.

SILVAN
Looking around at the carnage, Silvan nods again in acknowledgment, and carefully peers down into the bucket. s he does so, he says to the dwarf:
"Saggar, do you need any assistance with your patient?"

DM
The bucket seems to be for waste. There is nothing interesting in it that Silvan wants to reach into to.

BILADOC
Seeing all the orcs down before I had a chance to use my weapons, I enter the room with a sigh, shaking my head sadly. When Legildur moves to the other door, I try to reach it before he does but I get there just as he opens it. I get inside and signal him to be silent while I move close to the southern door and listen carefully.
After that, I'll examine the lock and take a look around the room, looking for any passage, especially in the niche.

SAGGAR
Saggar ends the orcs screams with his battleaxe and moves forward picking up his hand axe as he takes a position facing the other door

KINSON
OOC:
I love it! Ask a dwarf, get a dwarfish answer! You've been playing Saggar extremely well. In my opinion, of course.

ALOF
I quickly search the orcs and their room for any weapons, items, cash, etc. When I am finished I will join Biladoc in examining both the door and niche.

DM
Searching the orc reveals the standard weapons and 11 gold coins. What else will you search?

ALOF
I'll search beds, tables, chairs, sacks, crates, (basically anything that hasn't been searched!)

DM
Under the table are four vials. two are filled with a blue fluid and the other two are empty. Th sacks crates et, contain the same food stuffs and cloths as the other room. However there are three rounds of cheese here instead of one. What else are you or anyone else going to search?

ALOF
Whatever hasn't been searched yet.

DM
I think everything except the waste bucket has been searched.

KINSON
Kinson kneels and cleans his blade on the clothing of the orc he killed. He stands and relaxes his muscles. Finally he takes a good look around, what's in this room?

DM
Much the same as the other. A wheel of cheese. Sacks, a couple of beds a table chairs, a bucket that was being used as a latrine.

TIMOR
From Timor's current location at the T-intersection, he didn't really have a chance to view any of the fight. From the screams he heard, he couldn't help but be a bit concerned - then again, the noises he heard were pretty much all orchish screams, save a few curses, grunts, and clashes of weapons & shields. When he hears the sudden and abrupt ending of the orc's cry of pain, Timor cringes as he realizes the method by which he was most likely silenced...
He tries to put the unpleasant images into the back of his mind, and turns to the three others (Reena, Voriax, and Max) who wait at the T-intersection with him.
"I believe it is time we rejoined with the others, they are probably done with their...'task' by now."
He waits for the other three to start walking before he himself moves (which keeps him at the back of the formation). As he walks to rejoin the others, he can't help but give a quick glance back to make sure there isn't anyone/anything following them (hopefully the light given off by Max's staff and Voriax's hooded lantern will allow Timor to see far enough back)
[let's get back with the others]
Once (if :) rejoined with the others, Timor looks around and has a feeling of deja vu from the other orc inhabited room.. when he notices that this room is in fact a little larger, he shakes his head and realizes that he is not reliving time over again...
He glances over the dead bodies, hoping that they didn't suffer much before they met their fate at the hands of his own companions - *sigh* -
"Any signs of Ayla, Drew or Kyrie in here?" he says as a way of getting his mind to think of something else. Without anyone having to say a word in response, Timor's glances around the room answer his own question.
"More doorways?" he says as he sees the entrance on the far wall...Said in a low hushed voice to no one in particular, "This truly is quite the annoying maze...."
[Timor will follow along which ever direction the group chooses to go]

BILADOC
I signal Alof to investigate the niche, while I check the door I found for any traps. If I found none, I'll open it, after listening for any sound on the other side, mace ready to strike.

SILVAN
Silvan looks at Saggar in shock, as the wounded orc goes silent.
"Saggar! I offered my assistance in *healing*, not butchery! I know well enough the necessity of leaving no enemy at your back, but that was uncalled for." Silvan turns away then, lips thin, and sheaths his sword angrily.
Moving to Legildur, Silvan speaks tightly.
"I agree with both Timor and yourself; one room was curious, two, both equipped for long-term residence, smacks of evil plans. There may be a force here to be dealt with before we leave."
Looking around at the available directions, he adds:
"We should move on, and discover the final secrets of this cursed warren."
Having said, he moves to the food and gathers some of the edible items for the future (carefully checking each item for spoilage first).

DM
Everything seems ok.

SAGGAR
Looking at Silvan.
"We had no chance of saving him with his leg missing, I spared him suffering by ending his pain. Not destroying an enemy Silvan. Judge not my ways as I judge thee not"
Saggar cleans his axe off on the orcs clothes

LEGILDUR
"Ah, Silvan my Prince." says Legildur softly as the elf approaches him, "Do not judge him too heavily. Remember that he is of the cloth, but the dwarves have even greater enmity towards the orcs than do we. Remember also that we have lost two friends due to orcs in our short time here."
Legildur turns back to watch Biladoc open the secret door and continues talking quietly to Silvan.
"I would have preferred to question the being, but I doubt even his constitution would have allowed him to survive such a shock and I'd not condone the wasting of healing energies on one such as that while we are in this situation - at another place and another time, maybe I would think differently."
"As for dealing with whatever force may dwell here. I'd be satisfied just to recover our lost companions and escape this labyrinth to return better prepared at another time."

TIMOR
A though occurs to Timor. He thinks about how people live their lives and decides that perhaps the same can be applied to the orcs. He walks over to the bucket (the latrine) and tries to determine(by looking in and seeing how full the bucket is) how much waste in there (yes, I know, a really nasty idea, but it maybe useful somehow) - given the fact that there are five orcs, he tries to guess how long (in terms of days) that these orcs have been in this room using this bucket. He can't help but smile at the thought that the orcs are in fact civilized enough to use a single receptacle for their waste.

DM
The bucket has less than one days worth of waste if Timor was going to guess.

TIMOR
Yes, actually, please do search the waste bucket - I've been wanting someone to search it...and I would have made Timor search it, but I can't think of a logical reason for Timor to think of searching it - but anyone of you can think that #1)an orc was diving for it during the battle and there maybe something hidden deep within it (or perhaps as part of the bucket itself somehow) #2) it is something that has avoided being thoroughly searched and since you want to be thorough, may as well check that too!
anyone willing ? :)
(Timor wasn't there to watch the orc dive for it, nor is Timor the kind of person who would be searching a battle sight for things that aren't in plain sight)

SAGGAR
Saggar picks the waste bucket up looking under it

TIMOR
"Is that stuff in the vials seem to be the same stuff in the vials from the other room?" he asks to whomever is holding the vials from the first orc room. [Charles? - based on appearance/smell, do they seem to be the same or different?]
After seeing what he has seen, Timor looks to the others:
"This is all too well planned (same supplies, same set-up with in the room, etc), these orcs and the orcs from the other room had a purpose for being down here.." he breaks his thought to take a few steps forward and enter the adjacent room. Once in that room, he looks around to see what he can see - more doors..
Timor will wait or the others to decide which direction to go, but all he ultimately wants is to find a way out.

DM
They are the same. Under the bucket is a strange purple glass marble.

SAGGAR
Picks up the marble and puts it into his pocket smiling:
"Mayhap one of the globes like the last one?"

DM
Could be but you are not certain.

LEGILDUR
Legildur stands guard at the west door of the room, orc blood dripping slowly down the blade of Vinguard and congealing on the floor, nodding at Biladoc's command that he halt as the hobbit moves in to examine the south door and the smaller room. He watches from the corner of his eye as Saggar lifts the waste bucket used by the orcs and searches under it, curious as to why the orc was leaping for refuse.
"You are probably correct Timor. They have been provisioned for some time. Also, why was the door locked? I haven't seen a key for either of the rooms. Maybe they were being kept here for later." he ponders before concentrating once again on Biladoc's actions.
He kneels down and quickly tears a piece of cloth from the nearby stash and proceeds to clean his longsword as he watches Biladoc do his business.

DM
Biladoc finds the south door unlocked and hears no sound from beyond. He gives Legildur the all clear signal.

LEGILDUR
Legildur acknowledges the signal from the 'scout' and turns his attention back to the larger room in time to see Saggar lift, examine and secure the glass marble. He notices that Timor, Voriax, Max and Mareena have now joined them.
"Maybe I was a little cautious in keeping you out of harms way, but it looks like Saggar has found a little surprise similar to what was used against us before. I'd hate to of lost any of you in the same manner as Drew and Kyrie." he says as he sheaths the gleaming longsword.
"There is another door in that room which Biladoc says is clear." he adds, pointing to the west door of the room they are all now in (except for Biladoc). "Biladoc is searching the room now - would you like to help him Alof to speed the process along?"
As the party finishes the post battle routine in the larger room, and Biladoc and Alof? search the smaller room (particularly the niche), Legildur strolls over to the south door and cracks it open slightly to see what lies beyond.

DM
The door in the south opens to a hallway that goes west and south. Sort of at an elbow in a hall. West it goes thirty feet to a T intersection. And South it goes thirty feet to yet another T intersection. Meanwhile Alof searches the niche in the north and smiles as he finds a secret door and a latch to open it. Biladoc meanwhile finds a secret door in the west wall all the way north.

LEGILDUR
Seeing that the hallways are clear, Legildur quietly shuts the door again and notes the eager looks on the hobbits' faces as they discover the hidden ways. He watches, a little pensively, shifting slighting in his plate-mail and hand on sword hilt, as Biladoc opens his find (assuming he doesn't discover a trap in his search).

DM
Biladoc opens the secret door to reveal a ten foot by ten foot Privy. A large wooden toilet sits there in the middle of it all.

LEGILDUR
OOC:
ROFL - Here we were thinking that we had stumbled on some great treasure, and whallah... a waste dump. Bloody orcs were probably using the waste bucket as a disguise for the treasure Saggar found. Or they were just too uncivilized to use the privy. Then again, having it behind a secret door makes it a little hard to find.
BIC:
Legildur smiles evilly at Biladoc as he watches the hobbit's nose wrinkle slightly
"Well, aren't you going to search it?"
While he waits for Biladoc's, no doubt clever, retort to the warrior's simple question, he turns to Alof and asks:
"What about yours Alof? I shudder in anticipation as too what may lie behind that door - the pantry?"

DM
Alof looks like he does not want to look now. Finally he cracks the secret door and peeks through.
"Just hallways here. Lots of them."

LEGILDUR
"By the three moons!!" curses Legildur quietly. "There are more corridors around here than could be built by a rock-happy clan of dwarves in 50 years!" he adds as he moves across to look out the door.

DM
Looking out you see that the secret door opens at an elbow with a hallway going west and north. West it goes twenty feet and seems to open into some kind of circular chamber. North it goes ten feet and a hallway goes off to the east. Then thirty feet further it ends in a T intersection. (Hint if you go west from the T is where the stone block was)

----------------
That's it for now. Lets stop and take a deep breath of fresh air before going any further. It's clear to everyone that there's something fishy around these rooms... or worst!