Gameplay

Three days ago, you left the village Lingmell behind. The villagers were friendly enough – once they saw you had coin to spend – however they knew nothing of dwarves or Mirn Dural. But as soon as they set eyes upon it, Sen Malor and Dalomdûmir recognise the lone peak rising from the empty plains beyond as the mountain from their visions.

One day ago, you passed the scorched and broken ruins of a farming hamlet. The damage seems months or years old and any tracks had long faded.

You have climbed a steep, narrow road that runs back and forth across the mountainside. As the road winds around, you can see a thin spire of smoke rise from some unseen point high on the mountain.

Further along the road, in a bare shoulder of rock, stands a great door of dwarven make.

As dwarves, you are aware that Mirn Dural very likely has more than one entrance – however you do not know where any others might be! Dwarves hide their secrets with great cunning.

All players: What are you doing?

Spellcasters: Which spells do you have memorised?

The mountain door.

As Ulrich gets closer to the door, he can see it is slightly ajar and looks like it could be pushed open. There is no light or movement visible through the crack.

Faint runes in ancient dwarf-tongue, heavily weathered, proclaim the realm of Mirn Dural.

Ulrich cannot find any active traps or mechanisms on the door itself, but does spot two concealed arrow-slits high on the wall, one ether side of the door. In the old days dwarven archers would have used these to defend the entrance.

Ghardak's keen eyes peer into the darkness behind the arrow-slits. There is no movement nor glint of metal. The stony dwarf feels sure that no-one is aiming at the dwarves before the door.

Gromli cannot find any signs of damage other than the wear of many years. Nor is there any sign of new construction, which he believes would easily stand out given the great skill the door was made with.

Gyrmmal, too, notices the craftsmanship as the heavy door moves easily beneath his hand.

It opens into a large hall. Gyrmmal is standing on a narrow ledge overlooking a deep, dark crevasse that cuts the room in two, completely obstructing passage to the opposite side. The broken beginning of a great stone bridge can be seen. This must have been a last line of defense for the dwarves of Mirn Dural.

A dangerous-looking rope bridge, frayed and thin, spans the gap. Not dwarf-work; no dwarf would be satisfied with such rickety construction.

Water gurgles and rushes somewhere far below.

On the far side of the chasm two copper braziers burn brightly. By their light Gyrmmal can see two humanoid shapes. They appear to be gesturing and talking to each other with raised voices, but he cannot make out what is said. They don't appear to have noticed Gyrmmal.

The time is early afternoon.
The chasm is about 30 feet across. The bridge looks like it could only be crossed slowly and carefully.

The rope bridge.

Ulrich creeps through the shadows to the edge of the bridge, but without a light source or getting closer, he cannot see any more than Gyrmmal did.

He does notice, however, that the voices are human.