At The Gates, anyone is welcome to post

[Sabs]

Should I or should I not, that is the question, Glock thought hopelessly as he stared at the somber doors into Moria. It was midmorning, his camp from last night cleaned up. Misc looked up at him as she shook her brownish-red coat with impatience. He knew she didn’t want to go in but was going to come anyways for the fool he was. But he wasn’t sure anymore if he should enter.

Glock had already found out from his elders that this was no safe haven anymore, but a hive brimming with orcs and goblins. But what was there to worry about? He could easily knock each and every one out. Maybe he could find a trace of what exactly ended the dwarf occupation and bring any remains back to the Lonely Mountain. That was one reason to enter - to prove himself a worthy fighter and dwarf, even though he’s a hybrid. But there was another reason why he shouldn’t enter and just explore someplace else. His strength might not be enough to overcome the odds, even though Misc was with him. And what if there was something else down there, who had strike deals with the dark lord . .

Glock shivered slightly and made up his mind. He would go in, but not entirely. That would make Misc feel better, and himself, too. With everything ready, he started reading the riddle. Too bad nobody else is here to accompany me into those depths, he thought sadly to himself.

[Cao]

((OOC(It really looks like you need someone to post here so I will with Nathia cause I'm too lazy to type up the bio for my shiny new character...)))

Nathia walked down the rocky path, not sure where she was going, nor caring very much. She was enjoying the feel of the wind on her skin, the way the rocks tumbled and felt under her bare feet, and the way the solid rock wall rose out of the ground beside her. She hadn't been trying to go anywhere, and ending up here seemed to be a simple solution to her problem.

She stared at the tranquil waters to her right, noticing that they seemed much to quiet to be of any comfort. The rock wall to her left offered protection, yes, but it could very well be the one thing that got her killed. No matter; she was a strong warrior anyways- at least, that was how she saw herself. A simple hobbit, with no true way to protect herself, Nathia was almost certain to someday kill herself due to her recklessness and stubbornness.

She wasn't looking where she was going, as she was too busy watching the water
(lol). She simply walked on, and bumped into a Dwarf looking at the walls.
"I'm sorry," she said, standing up and offering him her hand. "I didn't mean to run into you. The waters- they were so... mesmerizing." She noticed the strange door on her left. "You were trying to enter the mountain?" She wondered why anyone would *want* to do that- just the thought of what might be under there was enought to make her turn and run in the opposite direction. But she hated to make anyone think she was weak; she wanted to be strong, fearless, able to take on anything. "If you would like company, I would be more than happy to provide that for you." After all, going in a mountain was dangerous; one shouldn't be alone.

[Sabs]

(OOC - thankyou so much for replying!)

Glock was surprised by the riddle. What was the answer? The riddle didn’t make sense. As he tried to think of an answer, he felt something tough hit him in the back, making him land stiffly onto the ground. He thought frantically as he pulled out his battle-axe. Who could be up here? Could it be an orc or goblin? A rock? Or what? As he whirled around and faced the unknown. He let out a sigh and lowered his axe as he realised that the intruder was a small being, probably a hobbit. But why was she here of all places?

Glock became even more suspicious when the hobbit asked if she could come also. His red, furry eye brows widened and retracted while Misc impatiently ran back and forth towards the doors. She wanted to go, now! But if he was to let this hobbit come with him, he wanted to make sure that she wasn't who he was to fear. And he didn’t even know her name! “Why would you want to come down there? And what’s your name?” he asked hesitently, getting ready for any surprise attack. He could easily take her down but what if there was someone in the shadows or the lake?

[Cao]

Nathia was rather surprised at the Dwarf's questions, but soon realized that she was most likely causing the Dwarf discomfort. "I apologise for scaring you," she said. "My name is Nathia, and I have been wandering around for several days without really knowing where to go. I came here, sort of by accident, and I realized that maybe I could accompany you. I have heard stories about Moria, and I know that it is quite dangerous to go alone. I am by no means a talented warrior, but I may prove to be of assistance to you. By the way, what is your name? And who- or what- is that creature next to you?" She figured that this was a polite enough response, and she hoped that he would allow her to accompany him. She was getting rather lonely, and it would be nice to have a companion.

[Sabs]

Glock could not believe what he was hearing. A hobbit who cared about the outside
world and felt like going into Moria? From rumours he heard about this kind of folk,
they’d rather stay home and smoke, help in village gossip, and treated every traveler with disdain. Why would any person of that type go off adventuring?

But Glock went back into normal stance. It wouldn’t hurt to tell anyone what your name 0was. “I am Glock, son of Nolock. My friend here is not a creature but a fox named Misc. But she doesn’t act like one. I came here to find out what happened here and to prove I am a true dwarf.” he replied, gesturing towards his friend and the doors.

Should Glock go into Moria with Nathia? She might get in the way, unless she was
skilled with something hard. Unless she knew when to be quiet and not drop anything to prove where they were. Unless she wasn’t afraid of what lay inside. There was always two more options - to leave or disincline the offer. But if he just left, all the dwarves would make fun of him (partially because he had made a great and drunken speech about going to Moria and bring back some evidence). Yet he couldn’t go down there alone - Misc was a great fighter, but she wouldn’t be able to back off any orcs or goblins if he went down. He silently cursed his luck and that drunken speech way back then. Now he had to accept a hobbit’s offer! At least it wasn’t an elf’s!

“Alright, we’ll both go in there. But if you had any sense, you’d leave by now. If you decide to come, be sure to be quiet.”

[Cao]

Nathia nodded. She was becoming rather weary of Glock, however; he seemed to think she was inferior. It confused her, though when she thought about it it didn't seem too extraordinary. After all, her race wasn't considered adventurous or skilled with weapons. She was different, but how would he possibly know? That she wasn't the type to stay at home, not the type to stay in her own little world, ignorant of the doings of the "big people". She had to take control of her destiny, and if her destiny was going inside a big scary cave and facing almost certain death, well, that was fine by her. She didn't really care if she died; it wasn't like anyone would care anyways. She liked company, but she knew that her companions didn't know her, didn't care about her, only felt sorry for her.

With these thoughts, Nathia strode confidentely over to a rock and sat down, looking ironically graceful. She brushed her brown curls out of her face and stared up at the wall in front of her. "Well, how do we get inside?" she asked. "If we are going to travel through the Mines of Moria, shouldn't we go in? Or, do you not know how?" She didn't care if she sounded like she was attacking him; she was hungry, and a hungry hobbit is not a happy hobbit. Glock was going to have to learn this the hard way. Nathia suppressed a giggle at this; it would likely prove to be quite entertaining.

[Sabs]

Just when Glock turned around to try the riddle, he got berated with questions about how to get inside. He felt himself turning slowly into deep apple red. “I haven’t got the answer yet! I just started reading the riddle! Hold on a second, okay?!” he replied gruffly with a hint of annoyance.

He actually was filled with more than a hint of annoyance. Why, oh why am I cursed with this hobbit! he yelled in his mind as he shook imaginary hands at the sky. He was a good man . . . maybe not always, but he was still a good man and dwarf. He just needed more time on thinking this riddle through. Was the answer complicated? Or was it so simple that a daft person could easily see the answer? Then he realised that his imaginary hands were his real hands and looked carefully at the hobbit behind him.

[Cao]

Nathia stepped back, shocked. Had she done something wrong? Did the Dwarf not want her company? Or was it just that she was once again being too impatient for her own good? She didn't understand; hadn't he wanted a companion for this long trek? If that was true, why had he snapped at her? She looked down, trying to fight back tears. She couldn't let him see how much he had hurt her, and she couldn't let him think her weak.

She looked up just in time to see him shaking his hands at the sky. This frightened her even more, as she was certain now that he was a bit addled. He stopped, seemingly shocked, and turned to face her. She looked at the ground again, then turned around. "I am sorry," she said. "If you wish it of me, I shall leave." She then began to walk sadly away from the Dwarf, knowing in her heart that he would never think of her as anything more than an impatient, annoying little hobbit.

((OOC(Oh, someone here's pms-ing lol.)))

[Cao]

Hey, Sabs? We need to move this to the new board. I have no idea how to do that so I guess we each copy paste our posts??