SCENE 4 - Creeping Horror

[tomcat]

Day 101 - January 10, the travel past Dol Gormain...

The Company rested for the rest of the day of January 9th and woke bright and early with the sun on the 10th. They had about six days yet to travel to the far off Keep of Barad Shedûn and Dirnhael wanted to make better time – seeing as they lost most of yesterday with the attack from the Easterlings.

Durgil had seen to his duties and found two capable warriors that would ride back south - the three day journey - to return the wounded to Sirannar.

"Travel quickly," he commanded, "but safely. Once you have reached Sirannar, I want you to make your best possible speed back to us. We should be on the outskirts of the Angmarim keep by that time, scouting out the region."

With a nod, the men turned from the noble and mounted their horses. The wounded were also mounted and the group of four rode quickly south. Durgil looked around him - what had started as a Host of twenty-five men and the five original Company members now numbered fifteen. The Stonesmith and a Healer remained and seven stout warriors of Arthedain - one being Daelhun. He wondered if their number was great enough to make a difference. Stealth would now need to be their method of rescue.

With a yell from Dirnhael, the Host mounted up and began to ride north - they would soon see the end of this great plain and be entering the lands that were ruled by the Witch-king. Durgil and his remaining scout took point one hundred yards in front of the Host as they moved out.

OOC:

Here is the count of the Host:

Dirnhael
Fengel
Durgil
Edrahil
Lunduf
Daelhun

1 Stonesmith
1 Healer
1 Rogue
6 Warriors

Total 15

I need a Travel (Stamina test) TN 20 - results will determine how far you guys get today. You guys get a +5 Affinity bonus for travel from your Horse.

Fengel's Stamina Test TN 20
Stamina +3, Tireless +4, Horse +5
Roll(2d6)+12: 1,5,+12 Total:18 SUCCESS (1 COURAGE)

Matt, I need you to roll an opposed Wisdom test TN 15 for you and for your companion as you guys ride about the camp... thanks. Your Rogus companion has a Wisdom +3.

[tomcat]

Durgil TN 20 Stamina - (6+3)+8=17 FAILED - reduced 1 Weariness level to Winded -1
Stamina +3, Horse Affinity +5

OOC: Thanks, Doug.

Durgil TN 15 Wisdom - (5+4)+2+6 Courage=16
Rogue TN 15 Wisdom - (5+3)+3=11

Apparently Durgil's judgement of the path to take wasn't very good as it isn't kind to its travellers as he soon discovers, finding himself quite tired earlier than expected.

[tomcat]

Daelhun was relieved that he had been chosed to ride with the party and continue on the trail of the great commander.

Roll(2d6)+2: 4,3,+7 +3 courage Total:17 FAILED - Reduced 1 Weariness level
Stamina +2, Horse Affinity +5

The road was terrible on him but he did his best to trudge on and follow his strong comrades.

[tomcat]

Stamina +3, Tireless +4, Horse Affinity +5

Roll(2d6)+12:2,6,+12 Total:20 SUCCESS

The road was harder that day. Whether it had been the loss of their comrades, the oppressive nature of the tainted land, or the road itself, Dirnhael could not say; but their travel was limited, and the men wearied.

OOC: Oops. Forgot about the horse. Thanks, Doug!

[tomcat]

The Host continued on through the day passing on the east side of a large pine forest that stretched north and west to butt up against a series of low hills. The region was called Dol Gormain and in times past three active towns had sat along the hillsides - those were happier times. But unfortunately the Kingdom of Arnor had slowly decayed and finally broke into three and those three smaller parts became easy prey for the Witch-king and his hordes. These small towns were the victims of that deterioration.

Durgil led the Host with his outrider companion... the Dunadan could not help but feel as if something strove to waylay or misguide them. What it was, he could not tell...

Interlude
His name was Nain Steelthews and he and his brother Kulin had traveled far from their homeland in the Blue Mountains into the lands of Men. They had come with their laden wagon, full of crafted weapons, to deliver to a man who had requested their make. He had paid in gold and the dwarf brothers were always glad to take care of paying customers.

But now, he had lost his way... his wagon... and his brother! They had come east, traveling through the lands of Arthedain, but had been diverted north by a severe winter-storm. They had made for the great pine forest to take refuge but with the next morning, they had lost their way.

Now he stood alone, on a road that ran north-south, looking upon three hills. Scattered over the hills were the ruins of three smal towns. He looked intently at them but could not see the wagon, nor his brother. Deep in his thoughts, he did not hear the approach of horses.
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Durgil rode along the road, his body aching a bit from the day's journey. His companion strode up next to him and pointed up along their path... it looked as if a dwarf stood in the road looking north!

[tomcat]

Durgil puts up his arm to signal a stop and that there was an encounter. With his rider behind him, the young Dunedain cautiously approached the wayward Dwarf.

"Hie, Master Dwarf! The road continues in that direction and the one to your back... which is the way you are headed and what is your business in this land for you are long from the deep houses of your forefathers?"

[tomcat]

TRAVEL TESTS (TN 20):
Stamina +3, Tireless +4, hardness of body +2, horse +5,
Total mods + 14;
Roll(2d6)+14: 5,4,+14 Total:23 Success

Having notched his axe for the men he had slain he continues to ride with Fengel.

[tomcat]

TRAVEL TESTS (TN 20):
Stamina +1, Tireless +4, Resolute +1, Horse +5, Injured -3
Total mods +8;
Roll(2d6)+8: 6,1,+8 Total:15 - Failure reduced 1 Weariness Level to -1

[tomcat]

Startled from his observations, Nain turned to look at the troop. Seeing them, he pulled his axe from the harness on his back and spread his legs slightly, stomping so that his chain mail jingled in the cold air.

"If ye be bandits you'd best look for a different mark. I'll not be taken easily."

[tomcat]

"Mind you take a closer look at our devices, my good Dwarf. We are men of the Dunedain kingdom of Arthedain, not bandits. In that direction that you were facing lies the dread lands of the Witch-king of Angmar... I dare say you've heard of him. So again, what is your heading, why are you here, and what is your business?"

[tomcat]

Daelhun sat in his saddle, becoming ever more tired from the long ride. The land, while showing signs of the devestation still held a hint of its former beauty and this view brought a smile to his face.

This area reminded him of the village where she lived, and that too made his tired body feel energized, if only for a brief moment. Looking ahead, to the road that was before them he saw a small being and as they approached he made that being out to be a dwarf, much like their companion who rode with them. Daelhun listened to their leader speak with the stout dwarf and had his hand of the pommel of his sword, in case the dwarf decided he didn't like the host that he rode with.

The soldier in him made sure that he looked around, scouting the area immediately around them to make sure that this was not some ambush.

Observe - Spot: Roll(2d6)+6: 4,3,+6 Total:13

[tomcat]

"We are men of the Dunedain kingdom of Arthedain, not bandits. In that direction that you were facing lies the dread lands of the Witch-king of Angmar... I dare say you've heard of him. So again, what is your heading, why are you here, and what is your business?"

"Maybe so. My brother and I were on the way to trade with some human folk to the east when we got seperated in a storm. Sadly, I don't know which direction that the fool wandered off to so I don't have a heading yet. I guess I have no need of asking what you and your little war party is doing here then, but could you tell me if you've passed another dwarf heading that direction this morning?"

He pointed his axe back the way the troop had come from as he spoke the last with a small glint of hope in his eye despite the scowl that his features shown.

[tomcat]

The remainder of the Host now approached and Nain was able to see that they numbered about fifteen men... and there was a Dwarf amongst them!! But alas, it was not his brother. There also sat on a horse, an elf amongst thier ranks - he appeared to be one of the folk out of Lindon. He and Kulin were very well acquainted with the elves of that realm.

As Edrahil sat looking at the diminutive dwarf, girded and ready for trouble, he looked past him towards the ruined villages.

"I see a wagon," he said. "Though no driver... or ponies are with it."

Fengel squinted, looking in the direction the elf gazed, "Could it be just an old wain - left amongst the ruins?"

The elf shrugged, "It could be, but it does not look in a ruined state... and it looks laden with items that shine in the afternoon sun."

[tomcat]

"Sorry but no we had no such encounter, but from what my elf-friend here says, we may have found him."

OOC: If the ruined village is along our path...
"If you care not, we would escort you thence."

OOC: else...
"Would you care for an escort? These are dangerous times and more dangerous lands."

[tomcat]

Dirnhael would definitely divert the war party in the search for Kulin.

They are all of the Free Folk, and they cannot let Nain's brother suffer the same fate as Camentir while they may be able to stop it.

To do nothing to help would be unconscionable to Dirnhael, and when he meets Nain, he will tell him so.