The Doom-Ring at Wuduseld

[Eclecticon]

As all eyes are drawn to Hathcyn and Esgalwen becomes once again famed in song, Gwaithlim hears the coarse clearing of a throat near him.  Turning, he sees the abundantly-beared face of the Dwarf Rorin, his expression carefully neutral.  "Your pardon, master Elf," he says, "but I fear you have the advantage over me.  My business keeps me often on the western side of the great wood, and I don't know the court of the Elvenking as well as perhaps an envoy of the King Under the Mountain should.  I am Rorin, as you may know, son of Nói and oft called the Roadmaker by Men, though in truth there were many whose hands worked harder to rebuild that grand passage."

Gwaithlim, accustomed of old to Dwarves' blunt-spoken and straightforward natures, cannot help but be impressed by the smoothness with which this ambassador of the Naugrim guides him into walking alongside him, away from the thronging Woodmen.  "That's a little better.  We can hear ourselves think now.  And I think that you and I can mayhap help each other, for few eyes will be on the likes of us, who have no voice in what is to go on over the next few days, but can hear much that might be of interest to our friends, if not our lords."   

[tomcat]

Well, that could've gone better!  Looks like lots of people are thinking 'how fortunate are we to have the friendship of this heavily-armed wanderer who will roll up, solve our problems and then leave again without stealing so much as a single chicken!' rather than 'Ætheldreám for War Leader!'.

It seems apropos to me and it goes along with how I envision Esgalwen. She has the Idle trait for her failings and she sees herself a stranger in a strange land, though she is surrounded by people that truly love her (probably?). She wants to go home, but cannot leave. She wants to be more here, but has no place. Back home she should be a wife and bear children. Here she feels she cannot do that, as she does not want to betray her bloodline by thinning the Blood of Númenor.

I think it would be very lonely.

I can say, she is one of my most favorite characters I have ever played in my 40 years of gaming and I love watching her story evolve. First female character, too, that I stepped into the role - granted she was a PC that was left behind by a player, but still.

Anyway, the dropping of an on that roll seems right and the dice continue to weave this tale.

[Telcontar]

  that was but the sally of Hathcyns plan. The birth of the idea, now it must be cultivated and grown.

The people know the words of the song to be true and while the idea of an outsider being chief hasnt dawned on them yet they its a foundation based on truth and known expereince when it is revealed.

[GandalfOfBorg]

"You must speak with Luindis in matters elven within the bounds of the great wood.  For even in this day, I count near as much a stranger as another of the Free Peoples who wander upon King Thranduil's doorstep."  The old elf sits askance of the dwarf though at the notion of spying upon the Men here. "Now Rodin, you know as well as I that policy and petty squabbles mean little to my lord nor our companions outside anything that The Shadow might have it's fingers in.  Those stories and tidbits I will mostly be eager to share with any who would listen and act accordingly."

[Eclecticon]

"Good!" Rorin answers.  "We are of one mind in this, then, and I'll leave you with that thought.  Keep your eyes and ears open!  I know more of trade and the forge than I do of the Shadow, but I don't doubt that the enemies of the Free Peoples have their agents here, and I'm glad that your friends and mine are here to do what must be done." 

As the Elf muses on the unexpected subtlety of this supposedly plain-spoken Dwarf and the rest of the companions are plied with ale and food from all quarters, Hathcyn spies a face in the crowd that, for a moment, he cannot place and is gone by the time the memory stirs.  She has traded her travel-stained eastern clothes for the dress of the Vales and a cloak bearing the red circle of Mogdred's kingdom, but he is sure he is not mistaken: Athala of the Leofrings is here at Woodland Hall. 

Esgalwen, meanwhile, is brought forth from the pleasure of being feted by the reappearance of Arbogast at her side.  "My friend," he says with furrowed brow, "I seek your counsel when you can give it, for I have learned that Amaleoda means to put me forth as a candidate for War Leader and I know not whether I can accept." 

[tomcat]

"I have all the time for you, friend," smiled Esgalwen at Arbogast's request.

To his concern, "She uses sound judgment if this be her will. But what would hold you back? Is it family or home? Or do you feel the right not yours? I can definitely understand the former, but if the latter... well, Arbogast, you are soft in the head." Esgalwen gave him a smile, "Long have we been friends and keen is your wisdom. I have and would follow you anywhere, Fire-watcher. This task to which you would be appointed - yes, it will give you great responsibility, but it would also secure your house and see your wife and child set far from any danger. Do your job right and you will have one hundred men that will stand between them and harm... and one woman." Again the Ranger, smiled.

"So tell me... what gives you pause?"

[Eclecticon]

The Fire-watcher's gaze is steady as it meets hers.  "I have striven all my life as a man to be a shield for the Free Peoples, and for my own folk among them.  But when the hour came to win at last a victory and free the spirit of the maiden of the Black Tarn from its bondage..." he looks away.  "The hour came, but the man was wanting." 

Seemingly realising at last where he stands, and in what company, he gives his head a tiny shake as if to dislodge some piece of leaf-litter falling from above.  "I will say no more here, save that you are among a very few who know the fullness of my failure." 


From here (and while this conversation continues, if it does) there's a bit of narrative 'free time' before the next event on my itinerary happens in the evening.  Let me know if there's anything you'd like to do and we'll work out a way to make it happen (this goes for the rest of the story, as well). 

Also, and this is important: the story is about your characters.  There's a risk that this type of scenario can turn into long scenes of the GM talking to themself and all the important actions being taken by GMCs, and I don't want that any more than you do.  If you want to get Esgalwen chosen as the War Leader of the Woodmen, then that's what the story is (and Arbogast can take his lumps and hopefully learn to be a bit more decisive!). 

Remember: if you're bored, do something!

[Telcontar]

  I invoke players Council!

Paul, you are in this too! Take off your exceptional forum die roll hat and jump into the trenches with all of us. Let's have a discussion.

I think this is a cool story and also dont want to just read blocks of text from Paul. So how do we engage in this.

1. I dont want Mogdred to win.
2. I didnt consider Arbogast because it slipped my mind.
3. The Esgalwen idea was sparked by the opportunity for Hathcyn and as a player to attack Mogdred to really grind in the love story that wasnt between esgalwen and mogdred.

Hathcyn had a lot of play in the last chapter so I'll take a back seat on this, but I will push another character forward. Hathcyn will Machiavelli the shit out of this council those two pips in courtesy werent just for the Lols. 


Campaign wise we need a positive figure as war leader of the woodman to advance our unification effort.

Side quest is save Caewin

Thoughts? 

[tomcat]

It is not my intention to sit on the sidelines and read, and with the insertion of Esgalwen as a possible candidate - it will give her a lot to contribute.

1. I am opposed to Mogdred's victory, as well.
2. That said, with Arbogast now a candidate - Esgalwen will push him as the choice.
3. It is not that she wouldn't accept being chosen, in her heart (as I have told Paul) she believes there are better choices as she is an outsider. She definitely sees Arbogast as that option.
4. I like playing Esgalwen and I do not want to lose her, but I will 'retire' if the narrative leads to her being chosen.
5. Esgalwen REALLY wants to fuck Mogdred's ambitions, after he took the gift that she wanted for all the people of the Vale and has made it his own.

A Ceawin quest would be cool. It would be neat to go back into the barrows and fight some undead! 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen nodded at Arbogast, "We will not speak of it here, but I will say, do not be foolish to hold yourself responsible for the outcome of our quest. The maiden spirit was freed, and Arbogast, you have tread where most men's hearts would have quailed.

"You are made of sterner stuff than perhaps even him," and she gestured towards Mogdred's tent, "for though he survived the darkness of the Shadow's vaults for years, his suffering was forced upon him. You willingly went forward into such a place for the benefit of those you care about.

"You both survived the hardships you faced, but only Mogdred uses it as a weapon against all - a barb with which to stab with each incrimination he makes. Mogdred holds his people accountable for his suffering, and now holds the Vale hostage in the guise of their guardian.

"You, on the other hand, have seen the danger to kith and kin and what it foreshadows if we let our guard slip. You want for naught else than to have a safe home for your family." The lady patted her friend on the shoulder and smiled, saying softly, "Your people could have no better leader and guardian than you."

[GandalfOfBorg]

 
Gwaithlim knows enough to:
1. Agree that one of the current or former Mannish members of the Fellowship is best suited to lead these Men as needed.
2. Agree that it would be best an NPC
3. Agree that Mogdred must be thwarted in any of his ambitions that further destabilize the ties that bind these Men but won't say as much aloud, not his place as emissary of the Elves across the mountains, yet he will advise towards anything that will bring the groups together in common task

[Telcontar]

  why does it have to be an NPC?

[Eclecticon]

Paul, you are in this too! Take off your exceptional forum die roll hat and jump into the trenches with all of us. Let's have a discussion.

I feel so accepted!

Without wanting to put my thumb on the scale any heavier than I've been invited to, I think Arbogast would be an easier sell for the Woodmen than an outsider.  Also, that leaves the 'outsider' card to be played against Mogdred, and it seems that we're all agreed that the most important thing is to deny the title to that guy. 

(Parenthetically, it gladdens my blackened, GM heart to have an antagonist so strongly disliked that the players will say 'well, we could put one of our own on the throne I guess but what we really want is to spit in that fucker's eye'.)

If he gets up, Arbogast will almost certainly retire from active adventuring, but in return you'll have a second culture now partly-led by a former Fellowship member, i.e. one who's a sympathetic ear with access to resources and who understands the value of cross-cultural cooperation on a very deep level. 

An adventure to free Caewin of the helm would also be fun, and it's a good idea for a Fellowship-initiated story.  I've already got some ideas.  It's probably going to be out of scope for the current year, but you'll at least be able to get some initial leads from Radagast, if you can find him with a few free minutes. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Well it doesn't have to be but the PC would likely turn NPC much in the same way that Grimbeorn did IMO.  You could also throw GB under the bus for war chief, too, for he loathes Mogdred as much as anyone here.

[Telcontar]

The Longspear spent many hours circulating. He shook many hands and slapped many shoulders in his circuit around the camp, but always he was watching and listening to the feel of the camp. Since he was not a woodman all factions welcomed him and he moved freely between the followers of the different contenders to the title of war chief. All those but Mogdred, he was singular in that his followers were avoided.

In his travels he sought an opportunity to speak to Rorin the dwarf again and he was not disappointed.

The Longspear spoke to him briefly. He named and described the woman he saw in the band of the Tyrant's Hill men.

"I believe her to be our friend despite her emblems. If you can find a way to subtly speak to her, and you are willing, it may be to our gain for you to relay messages between us. As token of what you say is true her real name is Athala Hannodaughter, though doubtful she is going by that name now. When you great her say, "the Longspear hopes Sanjar is well." Then if it is her she will know you have come from me truly and we may learn news of the young tyrant of the south.