"Hmm. We must assume that somewhere in there are at least ten or more Goblins with one damn coffin," says Valdo eyeing the ruin towering above them in the afternoon light. "We have roughly two and a half hours before the weather makes it dark enough for the Goblins to begin to stir. We must wipe them out before that happens. Who is feeling brave enough to check for available entrances?"

Arekhel leans against a tree and says slowly to Valdo, looking into his eyes:
"Well, dear Guard Captain, I know you don't believe or do not have time for hokus-pocus and Elvish feelings, but I am telling you, there is some magic around here... so, do not count on me to scout anywhere alone in this place... I'll follow the group, that's all!"

Valdo looks across at the Elf but swiftly turns to gauge the reactions of others.

Relg searches for Maleg, then looks at Arekhel, then back to Maleg, nodding towards him, as if there was some kind of agreement between the two men. Maleg gives an almost imperceptible nod and stays where he is.

No one steps forward at first so Coru walks over to wear Billy stands, looking at the rest of the group, waiting for them to act. "You did a fine job earlier little one," says Coru, joining him in the shelter of a holly tree. "I think you are the most fit to the task. You will take advantage of your size, and to be honest I must admit that I have never seen anyone possess the stealth you showed earlier."

Billy clearly is angered at the further reference to his small stature but lets it pass only when Coru congratulates him on his skills. The Hobbit hesitates however, so Coru volunteers also to perform the task, suggesting to take one side of the tower each.

They move out carefully beyond the trees and split, Coru circling to the west, while Billy circles to the east. They dash up the steeper incline to the tower's wall without drawing any fire from above and then pause to scrutinize the ground around it. They both soon move on, passing around the walls out of view. Within two minutes, they return on opposite sides and make a quick dash for the shelter of the woods once more.

While the company is waiting for Coru and Billy, Meraina steps over to Valdo, looking at him with unease. "If the elder-ones feel something you should heed it. To ignore their advice just because you can't understand is foolish," she says to him.

"I am not ignoring them Lady. Not at all. I do not understand these... Elvish gifts but I certainly do take heed when folk of the Firstborn speak. I may just not have much to say in return."

"Nothing to report," says Coru as he returns. "I didn't see any signs of tracks outside the door which appears firmly shut. I didn't check to see if it was locked."

"I found footprints leading in amongst the fallen masonry at the ground floor," says Billy. Couldn't tell how many but they must use that as the way in. When I dashed past, I glanced inside but didn't draw any fire, luckily. It was quite murky in there so I didn't stop to look more closely. What do we do now?"

"Now we must choose who is going in which way," says Valdo looking around the assembled company. 

Gwalchmai says:
"I'll go to the front door, I think. If the door is simply locked, may be someone could try and pick it. Otherwise, a few axe strikes could do the job. But forget about stealth!"

Froin takes another look at the watchtower. "I shall go with anyone who wishes to gain entrance into the watchtower. When we get to the door, I may be of some help." Froin reaches for a huge ring of key's and an assortment of lockpicks he has at his belt.

"Excellent, Froin. An excellent idea." The Guard Captain grins to the Dwarf and turns to the group, coming to a swift decision. "Alright. One third can go with Froin to the front door and try to get it open while the other two thirds will come with me and assault the hole in the wall. I think we stay silent until attacked. Then we shout if necessary so that the others will know our position. Got it? Okay. Please assign yourselves to whichever group. Those wishing to remain in the woods can do so but we won't be coming back for them until the tower is cleansed! And that might take a while. Good luck!" he says before moving to one side to order his soldiers.

Meraina looks over the company carefully and steps toward Froin. "If this is of Dwarven make then I'd like to be with someone who may know their way around," she says.

With a strange look in his eye, Heladil turns to Valdo, "Sir I would go with you on the assault on the wall." Taking a deep breath, he shakes his head and looks at his surroundings as if trying to fix them in his mind. With a low mumble he adds, "I hope there is some room in there."

Relg nods to Maleg who hangs back from the splitting groups.
"I will go with Froin, you may need a strong arm to open that door. Coru, you will go with Valdo. We will probably draw more attention so you can hopefully approach undetected." Turning to Billy, Relg adds: "And you, little but nonetheless brave man, should go with Coru. You seem to be a good team alright."

"Hmm thats as maybe but I'm not here to be ordered around. In fact, I don't really know what I am doing here at all. I'm staying back... out of the way, with Arekhel. If you need me again you will have to signal." He folds his arms and stands with feet planted, watching Relg.

Most of the militia men form up with Valdo and Lochan ready for the assault, Boldor joins them also but Sealvach hangs back, resting one knee on a rotting tree stump. He watches the preparations with mute boredom. Raddish also stays well out of the way of the group and occasionally looks fearfully over his shoulder but is reassured to see Maleg standing a little to one side with bow half drawn and facing away into the forest. An unreadable expression on his weathered face.

Shortly after, Valdo holds up his arm while checking the upper reaches of the lofty tower. The he brings the arm down swiftly and the two groups move up the incline towards the ruin. As Froin gets to the door with keys held close, Valdo leaps over the fallen masonry at the base of the smaller sideturret and plunges into the gloom, swiftly followed by Lochan and the militia men.

They spread out in a fan as their eyes slowly accustom to the interior. No one attacks or fires upon them and soon the group finds itself in a large semi-circular room roughly half the size of the tower. An open Fireplace adorns one wall and apart from various bits of rubbish and broken wood, the dirt packed floor is surprisingly empty. Two low doors allow access across the room to the other side of the tower, but both are closed.

.....

Froin scrutinizes the lock, nodding to himself. "Yup, it's of Dwarven make alright. Ancient but in good condition. I should have a key for this," he mutters selecting one from the ring. The iron rod enters the lock and Froin puts most of his weight on the other end, straining with the effort. With a small grinding noise, the key slowly turns until finally, the lock clunks open. Froin quickly steps back retrieving his key while Gwalchmai and Relg move quickly forward to heave at the door. The Dwarven Engineer inspects his key but it seems fine. "Could have done with a little oil," he mutters as the two men drag the door open. Grass is torn out of the ground as the oak-pannelling swings wide to reveal an empty triangular room with a door at the far end. Relg steps in, bow drawn and shield ready, leading the group as Gwalchmai hefts his axe. They push through the door together and the Gargath says:
"You do not want to keep me from being the first to kill one of the Greenskins, do you?"

Gwalchmai just looks at him blankly as the far door suddenly opens and a militiaman steps through. Relg drops to a half crouch but spots the soldier in time and releases the pressure on his bowstring carefully. He relaxes. "So no one around?" offers Froin.

.....

"Wait, look here!" says Lochan as the group re-assembles. He steps through into the second room and overturns a broken box. The brass handles are immediately distinguisheable as those that were on the coffin. "Well, we have proof now where they took it," he says, showing the pieces to Valdo.

A third door, entered from this room leads to a small triangular storage room where a barrel of water stands and three roughly made poles are wedged four feet up and from wall to wall. Each is festooned with all manner of forest creatures, from small deer carcasses to squirrels and rabbits. The blood from their gutted bodies has congealed on the floor and a thick cloying smell makes everyone soon withdraw into the adjacent room.

A quiet but thorough search of the ground floor reveals nothing of note except that the packed dirt on the floor has been placed only recently to cover large broken flagstones. The place is earily silent for the moment, apart from the cawing of crows somewhere above.

Valdo orders a militia man to go to the rear door and signal for those still in the wood to join them if they wish. Coru and Heladil are relieved of their positions near to the stairwell by other guards with crossbows while Lochan and Meraina inspect the broken coffin. The rest form a huddled group in one of the inner rooms to discuss their next course of action.