New Dream Adventures of Raven Knight

2017, 04-03

Entrance to Khazad-Dûm

I am in a strange place I do not recognize. I look around to try to get some idea of where I am. There are tall mountains off to my left and I am in what appear to be the foothills. The foothills are rocky and there is a somewhat broken path winding through the rocks and hills. I follow that path for a short while, not making any attempt to stay quiet since I don’t notice anyone in the area. I do a double take when I reach the top of a ridge and find myself face to face with a man aiming a bow and arrow at me… or rather an elf. I stop where I am and look, recognizing the elf as Legolas from the Lord of the Rings. I wonder if the rest of the fellowship is somewhere in the area, and think they’re probably sleeping and it was Legolas’ turn to be on watch. He doesn’t fire his arrow, he says I don’t look like a servant of the enemy, although some of the most foul creatures can make themselves appear fair if need be. I spread my hands out to indicate I’m not armed and I don’t want to fight. I say my name is Raven Knight, and I was just wandering out here. I would only seek to help him and his companions if I can. He seems unconvinced, and asks how he is to know I’m telling the truth. I’m not really sure what proof I can offer, so I figure I will depart and just watch from afar in case they need help.

I notice the sun is setting and it is now dusk. The wind starts blowing, blowing and howling. Then I realize the howling isn’t the wind. Legolas goes over to a sheltered spot and wakes someone, telling that person that the wolves are on the hunt again. Aragorn gets up and does a double take at seeing me. He asks who I am. Legolas tells him I have claimed to be a wanderer, but there’s no time to check, the enemy is nearly upon us. I figure that’s why I was brought here. Aragorn wakes the others and everyone gets together in a circle facing outward for easier defense. Someone in the middle is trying to strike a fire. The wolves, or rather wargs, arrive… and they have orcs on their backs! The orcs and wargs surround the group on the hill, though they’re clearly ready to put up quite a fight. Now is the time I can prove I am here to help, by fighting off some orcs. So I form my right arm into an Alex Mercer blade and start picking orcs and wargs off from the outside of the circle. My blade slices right through their orc hide. The fight doesn’t last for long, soon the orcs want to retreat, but the company doesn’t want to allow that if it is possible to prevent it because they may alert other enemies as to where they are. I take down one fleeing orc with an Alex Mercer tendril, Legolas fires an arrow and takes out another fleeing orc… and that is all of them.

Since I have been fighting on their side, Gandalf indicates I should follow them to a safer place. He says there will be more enemies very soon, unless by chance that was all that they sent. I follow them down a dark path, following the light of the moon, and soon we reach a pool near the mountain. We go around it and Gandalf says the entrance to Moria has to be around here somewhere. After a brief pause, he does something to the stone wall and glowing writing appears in the light of the moon. He says that while he’s figuring out how to open the door everyone should leave behind what baggage they don’t need and each take a portion of the pony’s baggage and turn the pony loose. Sam is very upset about that, saying that is no different than killing the pony, who he calls Bill. Gandalf says he’s sorry, but there’s no choice. He says there are places in Moria that Bill won’t be able to pass, and that’s assuming Sam could even drag the pony into the dark underground place. Sam is crying. I go over to Sam as the others are removing the pony’s burden, and suggest my solution. I tell him I will escort the pony back to Rivendell, make sure Bill makes it safely. And there Bill will await Sam’s return. Sam looks at me and asks how I intend to make it back with the wargs and orcs on the hunt. I tell him that is my problem, but I don’t think it will be a problem. However Bill will be waiting for him, so Sam will have to be sure to make it back, too.

Gandalf laughs and says this riddle was too easy, he was making it harder than it should’ve been. The writing on the wall tells what the password is, it’s just “friend” in the Elvish language. He speaks the word and then the doors swing open. And at that moment tentacles reach from the dark pool and grab at Frodo. Bill gets scared and runs away, heading around the pool and for open ground. Sam seems undecided on what to do, I tell him I will make sure Bill is safe. Sam cuts the tentacle holding Frodo’s leg with his knife, which is a good size sword for him. Gandalf calls to everyone to get inside, and they all crowd through the door before the tentacled monster slams the doors shut and then starts ripping the place down. The others are safe for now, so I follow after Bill. The lake monster doesn’t seem to have any interest in either Bill or me, it seems it was after only Frodo. I walk a ways with Bill, but I realize it will take far too long to return him to Rivendell the normal way. So the Metallica song “Through the Never” comes to mind, and I use it to open a portal. I lead a hesitant Bill through the portal and on the other side I see Elrond’s house in the distance, lights glimmering in the moonlit night. Bill will be fine now. Everything around me fades to black and I wake up.