The company had left Forochel behind and made its way to the spot that they camped when they first entered Evendim on their way to the North. After making sure that the road was clear from enemies they went further South and most were ordered to leave, what was left to happen was the most dangerous part. They had to enter Fornost, only those who could fight remained, the rest were sent back to the Drunkard's Study to rest.
It was almost dawn and one by one they woke up and made ready to fight and die if it would come to that, the road was too silent and empty, even past the Norbury Gates. Yet one cannot be too careful, they treaded lightly and silently through the ruins and entered the place. Again it was quiet and empty, old banners were floating in the air and the tents seemed long abandoned, the path ahead was narrow, therefore it was a good place for an ambush. They went ahead through the narrow path, all around them they could see collapsed walls and sealed doors, they were all uneasy, anyone could come out from this doors, with great numbers even. The path lead them to two sealed wooden doors and from them orcs appeared shorter than usual and thrice their number...
The fight was fierced but the company managed to destroy them. Now they saw that the easy part was teh fight, for the doors were sealed and there was no evident way of opening them. After some search they saw two odd thick branches in both sides of the doors, after pulling them what barred the doors fell and they opened! A beautiful ancient garden was spread before their eyes, it was decorated with pairs of magnificent pillars and some trees, all of them around a pond which now was foul. As they went ahead admiring the craftsmanship of the old ones Rogue started acting odd and seemed to be in pain. And now they had to wait again, another sealed door blocked their way, this time the two levers had to be pulled simultaneously in order to reveal another lever not far from the door, which opened it.
A foul smell was filling the air and green water covered the floor, just as they eyes got used to the darkness some orcs appeared, this time they shot arrows, luckily the company saw them and all except Rogue managed to escape. Another fight ensued and this time the company prevailed with some difficulty, taking some heavy hits. After some quick respite they unbarred the double doors ahead and entered the tomb, a crack on the wall shed light on a strange object, with a quick glance one could say that it was the artifact they were looking for, one another one could not be so sure, but there was no time to think, this chamber was filled with strange men with hoods. One of them grinned and somehow managed to pin Rogue. The rest fought and just before gaining the upper hand some boots from behind signified the presence of orcs.
Orcs behind and some men before them, the company was now between the hammer and the anvil and death seemed unavoidable. Those short orcs were too many to be held back, even now that the men were almost all dead. Yet luck didn't abandon them yet, while fighting a sword fell on a shield and the sound that echoed in the catacomb made the orcs hold their ears and expose themselves to an attack. The company took advantage of that and with continuing sounds they killed the orcs without much resistance. The death of the orcs and the men now drew the attention of the man who lost his control over Rogue and had to fight.
With several precise strikes he lost his weapon and was now at the company's mercy and everyone was occupied by him and his insults towards the two with the most fragile minds. Fion found the chance to get to the strange object and take a closer look. "This doesn't seem to have any powers..." he thought as he looked at it, "But I won't touch no matter won't, and no one else will...". Carefully he wrapped it in the pieces he tore from his tunic and looked back at the others who continued talking to that man. "No one must find it ever again... Even if it has no power..." Fion thought again and returned to the others, prompting them to kill the man and end his mindgames.
After the man's death everyone was ordered to leave and Fion inflicted some damage to the already destroyed pillars, and left running. Some moments later the tomb collapsed, sealing its secrets in it forever...
