After some discussion, to which Sadoc was particularily corteous, Filibert revealed that he and
Otho had a long ‘business’ conversation while in their cups. Filibert told his roommate for the
night that based on his accounting, there was a tunnel in the quarry that proved to be very
fruitful, but that no one, not even Dwarves, had been able to penetrate it deeply, for the rock was
too hard. Filibert mentioned how Otho stumbled off more than a bit tipsy a few hours before
dawn, after having asked Filibert for directions to reach ‘his treasure mine’. He left with a
lantern, a tinderbox, a coil of rope, and his large sack. When the Sheriff came by asking about
Otho, Fillibert pointed him towards the quarry.
As they followed the rutted track that Filibert showed them, Sadoc and Frerin got closer and
closer to the dark that lay at the feet of the Hills of Scary. The night air made them shiver here, as
they carefully tried not to stumble on the many broken rocks littering the path. As their eyes
adjusted to the dark, the outline of hilltops appeared before them, contrasted against the night
sky. On the side of the hills, they could make out the many tunnels gaping like bleak mouths
leading into a seemingly impenetrable blackness.
Exploring the mines at night with only the light of a couple lanterns was a daunting task and their
hope dwindled as they entered the dark beneath the hills. As they stumbled through the dark of
the mines they came across a crude map of the mines left behind by some of the workers. With a
more clear idea of how the tunnels branch in the 'treasure mine' they pressed on. As they
explored they heard an indecipherable and ominous lament echoing across the stone and fading
to nothing. They stumbled across a broken pickaxe, a torn piece of cloth, and a smear of blood on
the wall.
Coming around a bend in the tunnel they saw a flickering flame ahead, casting jagged shadows at
the end of the passage that ended in a pile of tumbled rocks. They heard a mad cry echoing
against the rock and into the darkness. As they rounded the corner, they see a lantern set upon the
stone, casting long shadows over a terrible sight. Two terrified Hobbits stood in front of a
massive pile of fireworks piled up at the blocked end of the tunnel, feebly brandishing shovels at
what appeared to be a grey Orc. Otho was screaming madly at the creature: "It's my treasure, ye
monster! Mine! Mine! I'll blow it to rubble before I let you have it!"
The Hobbit turned towards Sadoc and Frerin and screeched in renewed fright. He stiffened and
stammered, failing to hide his abject panic. The Orc was a very decrepid Orc veteran, who was
lost long ago, and took refuge deep in the mines and in the natural caves under the Hills of Scary.
Since then, he had been hiding, trying to drive Hobbits from his lair whenever they would come
too close to discovering his presence. The Orc turned his attention to Sadoc and Frerin, pointing
his spear towards them.
Sadoc drew his bow and launched an arrow that went flying off to the distance. He had never
actually needed to use his bow for defense and foun d his hands were shaky gripping the bow.
