Imladris Maze: RP Game - Closed!

[Laintaen]

@Giliathriel - You head North. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you fell from earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

Dubious congratulations Androthelm, you have taken the mantle from Sil as the one stuck in the Maze the longest.

@Pele Alarion - You fit the brass key into the stone door and the gold key into the wooden door. Both doors open. Which door will you take - stone or wooden?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Nearly Giving Up Hope

It was impossible. Perhaps he had simply fallen out of favor with the Elder Children. Perhaps they had deemed him a disruptor, too dangerous to allow into the Valley again. Androthelm nearly collapsed as he stared up at the same tree, still leaning on his spear. This was where his wandering had gone wrong. If only he had managed to climb it, no doubt he would be in Rivendell by now.
And yet, here he was, and the Homely House was yet still far away. Not sure if he had walked this path before or not, Androthelm steadied himself and trudged off to the west.
Perhaps he would simply camp for a time here in the maze, before continuing on his journey westward. Who needed Rivendell, after all?

[Taethowen]

Lomiel, Up for a Challenge

She'd heard rumors of this maze, and while Lomiel couldn't care less about being granted entrance to Rivendell, she really wanted to see what all the fuss was about this maze. In the distance, she could hear the sound of rushing water--probably a river. The maze itself seemed to be placed within the clearing--or along the edge of it--but nearby she saw trees, their leaves waving and rustling in the wind, and the sun was pleasantly warm on her face as she approached the maze from the west.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

As she tried the keys, both doors opened; and yet one could not split into two and try both possible options at once. Tala scratched her chin thoughtfully - what if the right way was still back through the first door? She surely had not explored all the possible paths. But if she did not find the way and really had to set out on every path there was, she might eventually die of hunger. That was definitely not the option. With a new burst of resolve, Tala stepped towards the stone door to see what she would find behind it.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin

She had finished her work for the day and had decided to go for a walk, a small adventure as she'd already been on a rather large one earlier when she heard that the Maze was open once more. It was something she had never done before and looking up at Arien as she passed overhead she figured she would most certainly have enough time to do the maze as long as she didn't get too horrifically lost. Not that it was something she could overly predict but she was fairly good at navigation outside of mazes so she had hope, with that she came to the North Entrance of the Maze

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head West. You follow the path and it soon splits into three directions: North, East and South. Which way will you go?

@Taethowen - You enter the maze from the West. You follow the path and it soon splits into three directions: North, East and South. Which way will you go?

@Pele Alarion - You walk through the stone door. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a wolf from the mountains appears. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Fuin Elda - You enter the maze from the North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands a huge tree. Perhaps a view from the top will give a hint as to which way to go, but a fall could be dangerous. Will you climb the tree or ignore it? And which way will you go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm
Just Walking

It was a beautiful day. It was such a beautiful day, in fact, that the Whitemane didn't even mind that he was going to be lost in the elf-wood for the rest of his life, wandering in circles while his beard grew longer and longer and longer, hanging down to his toes like a grandfatherly dwarf-beard.
It was a beautiful day, and he was out for a walk in the woods. That was what mattered, in the end. Androthelm decided, almost at random, that north looked good.

[Taethowen]

Lomiel, Considering

The beginning of the maze was really quite lovely. The grass was soft underfoot, the sun was pleasant without being overly hot, and the breeze was crisp and sweet. Lomiel found that it was easy to linger and savor everything around her.

Soon, though, the main path split before her, and she paused for a moment to consider which direction she would take.

Straight ahead, she thought, and headed East.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin

Her path lead north and before long came to a clearing, she was couldn't see any hints of where the paths led and there was a fantastic tree there presenting itself the the horrifically adventurous elleth. It took her less than a breath to start climbing the monstrous tree.

'Okay dear tree, please be nice and make sure I don't fall and hurt myself too much.' She said softly as she gingerly took hold of the first branch and began to climb. 'I mean I'm also perfectly okay with you just telling me which way to go since you know, you are certainly tall and beautiful enough to see which way would be the wisest path for an elf such as myself to travel through this maze.' As she talked she kept climbing though she most certainly did hope that the tree would answer her before she climbed too high and ended up crashing down.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you fell from earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

@Taethowen - You head East. Your path leads you into a small cave. Before you are three doors, a steel door, a stone door and a wooden door. Upon trying these, you find they are all solidly locked. But on a ledge in the cave, you find three keys, a gold key, a silver key and a brass key. Which key will you try in which door?

@Fuin Elda - You climb the tree. Unfortunately, you have not the tree climbing skills you thought you did and slip from the boughs. You crash back to the ground, sustaining bruises and a sore back. Which way will you now go - East, South or West?

Androthelm and Fuin Elda - You two are on the same point. You may greet each other, or continue alone.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm Whitemane
Nearly Weeping

It could not be. So he had fallen out of favor with the Lord Elrond. That was the simplest answer. Had he offended, on his last visit? But the people of the Valley were such merry folk--or seemed it, in most times. And Lord Elrond was no proud or jealous King, to cast out guests who irritated him in some small way. Androthelm leaned on his spear, and felt the aches of a having fallen from that very tree. Fallen...

CRASH

...like that elf-lass who came tumbling from the upper branches, hurtling toward the ground. Androthelm nearly leapt forward in an attempt to catch her--but his tired bones betrayed him, and he could not cover the distance in time.
"Hallo." he finally said, as the elf-lass (Fuin Elda) was standing back to her feet. "Are you seeking the Hidden Valley, as I am? I will admit I have been searching for a number of hours... But you are free to accompany me eastwards if you would like, where I'll be walking next. But where are my manners?" He bowed, surprisingly flexible for a man of his age leaning so heavily on a spear-staff. "My name is Androthelm Theromal though most folks call me Whitemane."

[Taethowen]

Lomiel, Spelunking

The air in the cave was chilled, almost uncomfortably so compared to the gentle morning sun outside. After her eyes adjusted to the diminished light, and she stepped a little further into the cavern, she came to three doors. If this wasn't a maze, Lomiel would have found the presence of doors to be quite odd, but now she just tried each one, and frowned as she discovered that they were locked.

She almost turned back to retrace her steps and choose one of the other directions when she spotted a ledge, nearly hidden in the shadows, and caught a small glint of light off of metal. Lomiel turned in that direction instead, and smiled as she found the keys there. She ran her fingers over each one, and glanced back at the doors.

"Which to try?" she pondered quietly, and then took the key that felt best under her touch.

She returned to the doors, eyed them each for a few moments, then stepped up to try the gold key in the wooden door.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin bruised but not broken

She landed unceremoniously, and the tree had not done a right ruddy thing. "I hope Cirdan turns you into a boat." She muttered as she stood up dusting her self off, sore and dirty but otherwise at least in one piece before she realized that there was someone (Androthelm) else in the maze with her and she turned at the somewhat soft Hallo. She had never seen another soul in the maze before and she wasn't sure if this was some trick or not.

"Seeking?" It took her a moment. "No I'm just spending time exploring, I live in the valley. Tra-la-la-la -la." She said with a merry laugh, that was normally how elves greeted friends of the House of Elrond, and given the nature of this man she had no doubt that he would be considered a friend of the Valley. She laughed. "I am sure you will find your way out of here eventually kind Androthelm Whitemane, I am known as Fuin to my friends, and I do feel like before the end of this day is over that is what we shall be. I am content to wander for hours in here aimlessly so I am afraid I will not be much help in finding your way out though I do not mind joining you as you head east." She said with a smile and a bow back before righting herself so that they could continue on in the maze.

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Gili paused, rummaging around in her satchel for a spare bit of parchment. She made maps, surely she had blank paper in here somewhere. After several moments, she finally managed to find a bit of charcoal and a blank sheet. She quickly traced out the way that she had come so far, and after mulling over her drawing for a moment, decided to head East.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm and @Fuin Elda - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

@Taethowen - You fit the gold key into the eooden door. The lock turns and the door opens.

You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a large spider native to Mirkwood drops out of the trees. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Giliathriel - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits four ways - North, East, South and West - but in this clearing lies the body of the Orc you killed earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin For her part strolled along beside Androthelm calmly as the headed east long the path before they came to another clearing she looked about and tried to judge where they had travelled to. "You picked the direction last time, I say we head South or North now perhaps unless you've already ventured those directions from here." She patiently waited for the older man to choose which way they would go as she was curious to see what was in the maze this time around.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She walked through the stone door to be faced with yet another choice of paths. However, suddenly there was a loud noise, and a wolf came running down the mountain side, right at her.

"Oh, bother," she sighed. The creature surely could not be hungry, could it be?

Snatching up some sort of a stick from the ground, she threw it away from the direction she intended to go (or was it the other way around) and called at the wolf: "Here! Fetch!" Of course, it was silly to assume that a wolf was a dog, but perhaps it would at least stop to consider the woman's weird actions and give her enough time to escape.

At any rate, she dashed away South, hoping not to be eaten right away.

[Taethowen]

Lomiel

Just as she'd finished perusing the paths available to her, a spider dropped out of the trees just paces ahead of her. Lomiel froze, and waited to see what it would do. Mostly, it seemed to just be perusing everything, and in a moment when it turned away, she ducked into the trees to the side of the path.

She was confident in her ability to take it on, but it had made no attempt to attack her, and killing giant spiders was gross. With quiet steps, she attempts to sneak past the spider and head North.

[Laintaen]

@Fuin Elda - You can either wait for @Androthelm to respond, or you can choose you own path.

@Pele Alarion - You head South. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a large spider native to Mirkwood drops out of the trees. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

@Taethowen - You head North. You stumble your way into a clearing and can hear the sounds of laughter and music. You have reached the end of the maze! Rivendell is close. But barring your way is a large Elven Warrior. “Greetings wanderer,” they say. “You have travelled long to find your way here. But I cannot let you pass so easily. If I cannot beat you, you may enter the Hidden Vale. ” They level their sword at you. Do you attack high or low? Do you block high or low?

Now that is how you get through the maze! 4 moves!

[Androthelm]

[OOC -- Sorry to @Fuin Elda! It totally slipped my mind to respond.]

Androthelm, Picking Paths

"You know, I have been wandering in this maze all afternoon -- and I don't think I've ever considered going east from that damned tree, at least... not that I remember. Although I will admit I have been getting twisted around. But why don't we go... north, just for a change of pace?" Androthelm was glad to walk a while with this elf. He did not usually travel alone -- Eohelm, his horse, although not a conversationalist, was at least another living being, and it was walk with a few acquaintance in the woods...
"But tell me about yourself, Fuin? How goes it in the Hidden Valley? I will admit, I have been a guest here for a few years, but I am not sure we've met before... though you'll forgive me, of course, if I am being a forgetful old man again."

[Taethowen]

Lomiel, Not Really Wandering a Maze So Much as Following a Path

As Lomiel walked north, once she'd made it past the spider and back onto the path, her steps lightened. The sun was bright but not too hot, the breeze was gentle, and the trees sounded like they were laughing and... singing?

No, that wasn't trees, she realized, as the path broke away from the forest and led her into a clearing. She was... that close to Imladris. Already. How in Arda... she'd heard that this maze was notorious for people becoming lost and wandering forever.

At the end of the path, on the opposite side of the clearing, stood a tall, elven warrior. When she approached, he declared that she must beat him to enter Rivendell, and she nodded as he leveled his sword.

Lomiel drew her own fighting knives, the weight of each one settling in her hands like old friends, and charged at the warrior.

Block low
Attack high

((FOUR MOVES, WHAT THE HECK?! We'll see if it matters in the end or not though, lol.))

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin sticking with Androthelm

She chuckled at his comment about never thinking to go east from the tree. "Honestly the maze is quite confusing if you do get lost , but I think North is a wise choice." She said calmly following along happy for company a very rare thing in the maze itself. "The Hidden Valley is as it has been for many years, still peaceful with plenty to do, I have finished my tasks at the Tingdain earlier today so am spending time, though I had been away for a long while wandering in dark places as I often do, though this journey lasted far longer than I should have liked." She said calmly as they headed north down the path. "And do not worry I do not admittedly remember your name, I would say face but if I saw you when you were far younger I do not suppose that I would recognize you now so easily, but dark paths do tend to muddle memories in terms of names and faces of old friends."

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm and @Fuin Elda - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you fell from earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you go this time?

@Taethowen - You block Low. The Warrior rolls a 5 and attacks High. You lose. You attack High. The Warrior rolls a 5 and blocks High. You lose again!

The Warrior lowers their sword and looks at you in disappointment. “You cannot beat me and I must stand by my orders. I cannot let you into Rivendell and I am sorry you have come so far only to fail now.” The Warrior raises their sword again and ends your life. At least the last thing you heard were sounds of happiness.

OOC: Whoops. Maybe that's not how you get through the Maze...

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin laughed at their luck. having come back to the tree once more. "I mean at least dear @Androthelm we know where we are and which way we came from, I say we try East again from here and then continue going east after that since we clearly know where we are right now." She said sure that the guest was indeed tired of being in the maze. She had only been here a very very short while from the sounds of it Whitemane had spent a good portion of the day in the maze which could be quite disheartening to someone just wanting to visit the fair valley of Imladris. "So I have told you a bit about myself perhaps you can tell me a bit more about yourself, aside from that you are horribly lost in this maze though now with some company." She said with a merry laugh.

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Gili stopped dead in her tracks, confused by having come to the same place again. Shrugging it off and stepping over the body of the orc and giving it a swift kick as she did so, she decided to turn North

[Androthelm]

Androthelm the Whitemane

"Indeed!" answered Androthelm. "That is fine by me. I will confess that I have been.. less than fortunate in my path-picking here in the wood. I had almost worried that there was some-- Well, it sounds foolish, but some power blocking my path, efforting to prevent my coming into the fair valley. But perhaps it was merely stalling me, so that you and I could talk a while. It is good to meet a friend, even when you are old and weary."

The Whitemane thought for a moment, and then shrugged. "Eastward and Eastward sounds fine to my ears, though I will admit that most directions sound roughly the same when you have been wandering in the maze as long as I. But no more of that! You wanted to hear about my life? Well! I could tell you some stories--not boastful ones, mind, for the most part I am a bard to others' tales... Perhaps you have heard the Lay of Fangorn and Fimbrethil? It is my composition, though better suited perhaps to elf-voices... But enough of that!" The old man shook himself out of his reverie. "I am old enough in the years of men to have seen much in the wide world. The distant land of the Riddermark was my place of birth, and it is only through long wandering (and a roundabout path) that I have come to this fair northern country in these strange and darkening days. I dwelt for a while to the east of here, riding with the Woodmen and hunting with the folk of Mirkwood... And it was in Dale I first learned the harper's trade, though those days are long behind me. Now I am a weary old man, and accept the gracious hospitality of the good Lord Elrond. But what of you, Fuin? Surely you have seen far more you in your long years than I in my short ones?"

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm and @Fuin Elda - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West.

You head East again. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Also in this clearing lies the body of the Orc Androthelm killed earlier. Which way will you this time?

@Giliathriel - You head North. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Aerlinn]

Yávië, a dear and loyal hound
Sad Puppy Eyes

"Wanderer!?" Yávië barked indignantly. "I live here you two-legged excuse for a hedgepig! There is a bed and a meal with my name on it just around that corner and you want me to fight you for it? You--you! You...fishsticks." The wolfhound deflated a bit and stared imploringly at the unmoved Elven Warrior. His soft, furry ears drooped, his eyes widened, his wet black nose trembled.

"I just want to find Linny," he whined with a soft hmmph.

The sword didn't move. "You know there's such a thing as taking your job *too* seriously," Yávië finally grumbled in resignation, and then sprang suddenly at the guard. His paws easily came up to the elf's shoulders and he attempted to attack high without running afoul of sharpened steel. In a last attempt at negotiation he licked the elf's face from chin to forehead, his teeth bared in a mischievous doggy grin. Then he ducked down and rolled out of the way, blocking low.

[Laintaen]

@Aerlinn - You attack High. The Warrior rolls a 4 and blocks High. You lose. You block Low. The Warrior rolls a 3 and attacks Low. You win. The battle is a draw.

The Warrior lowers their sword. “First I let an Orc in the Vale and now I can't beat a dog? I am so getting fired for this. I shall let you into Rivendell but you would do well to avail yourself of that bed and meal, and regain your strength before attempting something like this again.” They step aside and you follow the path into Rivendell. There is a great feast going on but you cannot join it. You had better head straight home.

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Gili tapped her foot, thinking. Finally, she decided to turn and head North again. She pulled her cloak a little tighter, starting to wonder if she was ever going to make it through

[Fuin Elda]

She looked at the body of the orc that @Androthelm had likely dispatched otherwise she had no doubt she'd be facing it herself. "Looks like you did a fantastic job defending the valley. I assume that is your handywork." She looked at the options that were before them "Shall we go West?" She took a deep breath "I have heard The lay of Fangorn and Fimbrethil, it is nice. As for what I have seen I have seen many things, I watched Tilion rise for the first time as a child, I learned to hunt in the Girdle of Melian, and have seen her face and been a Marchwarden of Elu Thingol. I'm afraid much of what I have seen is death and war, and not things that are not fun or good stories, I am afraid I am not a poet or singer so sadly I don't have any song attributed to me. Either of me or by me. If you want old war stories and horrors of war, that is most of what I have to tell unless you want to hear about doing fantastically boring work in the smithy at Rivendell, or perhaps about learning to heal. Sadly I have not earned the name Fuin though being terribly happy means I'm afraid."

[Androthelm]

"Yes, this was me..." said Androthelm thoughtfully, shifting his weight off the spear he used as a walking-staff for a moment. "We all must do our part in these darkling days, I suppose. And yes, I am fine to walk to the west. But--Well, it sounds like you have done your part many times over, then. I have never touched a forge or hammer, except to bend horseshoes as a child in the hope of getting out of work, but I would love to hear of Doriath, where he loitered long among the green / till nevermore his face was seen*. The songs are beautiful -- I only wish I had been alive to see it in it's spleandour. But then, maybe that would spoil the song." Vaguely aware that he was babbling, Androthelm fell quiet.

*the Whitemane is quoting, here, from another verse of his own composition -- When Autumn Fell on Neldoreth

[Laintaen]

@Giliathriel - You head North. You follow the path until you come to a clearing. The path splits into three directions – East, South and West – and in the centre of the clearing stands the tree you climbed earlier. You've been here before. Will you take the shortcut North, or will you choose another direction this time?

@Androthelm and @Fuin Elda - You head West. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But before you can move on, a wolf from the mountains appears. Will you fight this creature or flee? How will you kill it or distract it long enough to get away? And which way will you then go?

[Androthelm]

Androthelm the Whitemane

The aged bard had been humming as he walked -- Autumn came and Autumn fell, on Doriath, on Silvan dell -- but he snapped out of his reverie at the snarl of the beast. He had spent long enough in the shadows of the great mountains which climbed above the Riddermark to know the way to handle this. In a moment, the weary old man was gone -- and he was a soldier of the Riddermark, lowering his spear and dropping into a ready crouch.
"Fuin--" he murmured "Ready yourself."
The Whitemane waited for the wolf to charge him or the elf to speak -- and eyed, as he did, the open pathway to the north.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

She seemed to have gotten away from the wolf, and for a while she walked backwards to make sure the wolf had not followed her. Yet, when she turned to face the direction she had taken, the woman came face to face with a large spider that was hanging from the tree.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" she screamed in surprise and stumbled back. "I am not edible, not at all. Not even wolf ate me..." She spoke hastily as she pulled a few threads from her shirt, formed it into something akin to a fly and through it at the spider. "Here! Try this!"

With that she hastily made to run past the spider to go South.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin

At the soft growl she pulled the blade that had been resting at her hip it was not the one she normally went to war but the one she cut leather with in the smithy, while it was short it was incredibly sharp, "I am ready my friend." She said softly a small glance at the older mortal seemed suddenly young and in battle and a smile played on her lips even as the wolf charged towards her, for she seemed the less armed of the two. It lunged and she crouched her hands up the small blade held so it ran down her right fore arm her left hand slightly open. She ducked as it lunged letting claws scrape at her as her right hand flicked back springing the tiny blade into the throat of the animal its own momentum doing most of the work even as Androthelm's spear pierced into its side. Leaving the beast twice dead as she flopped its weight off of her spinning away. Her right hand soaked in red blood and she frowned.

"I was not expecting to come away from this walk bloody." She said wiping most of the wolfs blood from her hand and the dagger away on the beast itself nodding at equally fatal wound Androthelm "But I'd have likely been far more so had you not been here friend." as she picked up a bit of dirt from the ground and polished the last bit of blood from the blade once more before wiping it on the wolf one last time, as there was no need to get herself dirty. She looked for a moment and the both seemed to be looking North. So that is the way they would go.

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm and @CHAOS - You head North. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Also in this clearing lies the body of the Orc Androthelm killed earlier. You've been here before! Which way will you this time?

@Pele Alarion - You head South. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits North, East and West. Which way will you go?

Attention: In one week, I will post the maze layout!

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin laugh their error. "We seem to like to go in circles mellon!" She said motioning to the orc that was laying dead on the ground previously slain by Whitemane before the two had joined each other. "Each time we head north we seem to circle back I would say we should travel east some more see what we can find by maintain a heading in one direction" She said with a laugh "At least then we hopefully won't get turned to horribly around." So far every time they had ventured away from traveling east they had managed to land where they had come from at least they weren't so horribly lost that they didn't know where they were at all. Well at least she wasn't that lost yet.
@Androthelm

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Gili's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. She'd gone in a circle? What...how?? She pulled out her map and narrowed her eyes. Surely the forest was playing tricks on her. Maybe the first shortcut she'd taken hadn't been a shortcut? She'd been sure that she'd been heading steadily northward for a while. "I might as well head East this time," she announced to no one in particular, thoroughly annoyed that she was unable to find her way through as easily as she'd hoped. She made maps, if word got out that she was turned around in here she'd never hear the end of it back in Lothlorien.

[Androthelm]

Androthelm

Despite the circles which had occupied now most of his afternoon, Androthelm could not help but laugh as well. Fuin's positivity was a good companion on a road which stretched ever longer. "Indeed." He said. "East seems wise to me. Incidentally, you haven't happened to see a horse wandering in the maze? I lost mine fording the Bruinen. His name was Eohelm, of the stock of Rohan."

[Laintaen]

@Androthelm and @CHAOS - You head East. You stumble your way into a clearing and can hear the sounds of laughter and music. You have reached the end of the maze! Rivendell is close. But barring your way is a large Elven Warrior.

"My goodness," they said to Whitemane, "was your beard that colour when you started?"

“Anyway,” they add. “You have travelled a really long way to get here. But I cannot let you pass so easily. If I cannot beat you, you may enter the Hidden Vale. ” They level their sword at you. Do you attack high or low? Do you block high or low?

OOC: I guess the Warrior can battle you both, or battle one of you if the other fails first.

@Sparky Boy - You head East. You follow the path until you come to another clearing. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. Which way will you go?

[Giliathriel]

Giliathriel

Finally, at last a place that she hadn't been before! She quickly marked her path on her map, hoping that this time she wouldn't get led quite so astray. The leaves rustled in a cool wind, a mixture of colors fluttering above her as it it snaked through the forest. "I hope I get there before dark," she lamented. "I don't want to start a fire out here, and the nights get so cold this time of year." She shivered in anticipation, then plodded steadily East.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin gave a smile to @Androthelm as they finally came to the guard of the valley and he asked if her companions beard was such a colour when he started. "Well friend I would dare say that you were in the maze long enough simply to make a friend, that or perhaps it took some pity on us so that you were not lost any longer in the maze." She said with a smile and rolled her eyes at the challenge. "I should tell Lord Elrond you're failing at your duties not letting men of the west into the Last Homely House, this is not open fortress to find the path is hard enough, it's not like orcs reguarlly find the path." She admonished the guard but drew her dagger and glared at the man and then looked at her friend.

"We have done all else together to get through this maze together since I entered it, let us leave it together you cover low with your spear, I shall cover high." She said her eyes narrowed. Striking and blocking High.

[Laintaen]

@Sparky Boy - You head East. The path splits three ways, or you could go back the way you came. You can go North, East, South or West. But in this clearing lies the body of the Orc you killed earlier. You've been here before. Which way will you go this time?

@CHAOS - You attack High. The Warrior rolls a 2 and blocks High. You lose. You block High. The Warrior rolls a 6 and attacks High. You win. The battle is a draw.

The Warrior lowers their sword. “You cannot beat me but neither can I beat you. I could let you both into Rivendell but you would do well to improve your health and battle skills before long. First though, does your elderly friend (@Androthelm) wish to battle me and attempt to do better? However if he cannot beat me, I shall slay you both.” What will you do?

[Fuin Elda]

@Laintaen Uhhhh I said I was going to be working WITH Androthelm?

[Androthelm]

OOC: Sorry! I saw the tag that we'd arrived and then totally forgot to respond. I can attack along with Fuin as was suggested or in my own second round, GM's choice.

[Pele Alarion]

Tala

With quite a few glances back Tala made sure that she had escaped the spider, though she looked forward with just as much consternation, wondering what she would face next - maybe a giant of some sort? Thus, when she came into a clearing she looked in all directions, but saw no immediate dangers. Without spending too much time on thinking of the direction choice, she headed West.

OOC: Yay, got in another post before this closes. :D

[Laintaen]

@CHAOS and @Androthelm - Sorry, wasn't really sure how it would work but I think I can work it this way...

Fuin attacks high while Androthelm attacks low. The Warrior rolls a 2 and blocks high. Androthelm wins.
Fuin blocks high while Androthelm blocks low. The Warrior rolls a 6 and attacks high. Fuin wins.

The Warrior lowers their sword. “When fighting as one, I am no match for two. You have beaten me and I can no longer stand in your way. Go forth and live in bliss under Lord Elrond.” They step aside and you follow the path into Rivendell to join a great feast.

@Pele Alarion - You follow the path West. Unfortunately, you do not get far before the path fades before an impassable wall of trees. A dead end. You must go back and pick another path.

[Fuin Elda]

Fuin gave the guard a nod, she was still not impressed that he was not able to tell the difference between friend and foe, after all it was easy enough to see and elf and a man of the western lands. She turned to @Androthelm "Well my friend it seems we've finally gotten you through the maze." She said with a smile, "Will you stay a while in the Valley now that you've made it through?" She asked putting her dagger away and continuing on towards the feast feeling like she could use some sweet bread and something to drink.

[Laintaen]

I would like to draw everyone's attention to this line from Fuin Elda...

I say we try East again from here and then continue going east after that

This was the trick to the Maze. You could approach from either the North, South or West, so what do you think lay in the East? Imladris! If you can, head East.
If East doesn't work, try another way then head East again. Congratulations @CHAOS for figuring it out.

As for the layout for the Maze...



Special mention must go to @Androthelm for his sheer perseverance. At 33 moves, he was lost in there the longest.

I would recommend those of you who haven't yet to head to the Shire and try the Fire Swamp.

Thanks once again to everyone who gave the Maze a shot!