The Halls of Men

[tomcat]

With the coming of morning, the party awoke to find Ceawin and his people once more with a spread of food set for breakfast. They ate quickly and were then shown to where the train was loaded out and ready. The companions were pleased to see that there was a horse prepared for each - ponies for the short-folk. Rorin guffed at the idea of riding an animal, but at last conceded that he would hinder the speed of the company.

It was one hundred miles between Rhosgobel and Woodland Hall and the sooner they were started, the sooner they could end. The Lord of Sunstead would be leading the company along with four of his best swords. It was only proper that any compact between people, bound through marriage, should have each of the leaders present. Ceawin's seneschal would remain in Rhosgobel, so as to keep the camp and await their return.

The path decided on would take them north, along the Dusky River, where they would first come to Woodmen-town and then on to Woodland Hall. Barring ill-weather, or other unseen challenge, it was anticipated that the wedding train would arrive in Woodland Hall on the fifteenth day of May, in ten days.


Journey's parameters:
• 100 miles through hard land (x2 modifier), at the pace of walking due to the wagon, so 20 miles a day, or 10 days total
• I will need two Fatigue tests DC 14
• I need you to make your Lore tests for advantages
• Matt, we can port over the details of your last post in the previous thread regarding Grimbeorn's journey


Results of Lore tests for Journey

PC	Advantage	Position
Arbogast	1 die	scout
Esgalwen	0 dice	guide
Bandy; Rorin	2 dice; 0 dice	look-out
Grimbeorn	0 dice	hunter

[Telcontar]

Bandy
Fatigue1

Rolled 2d6 : 4, 4, total 8

Rolled 1d12 : 8, total 8

Fatigue2

Rolled 2d6 : 4, 1, total 5

Rolled 1d12 : 2, total 2

Lore

Rolled 2d6 : 6, 2, total 8

Rolled 1d12 : 8, total 8

[Eclecticon]

I can only imagine the fun time we're about to have trying to get horses and a wagon through Mirkwood - even the easy part. 

For Lore, I'm going to rely on Arbogast's Mirkwood Lore once again. 

Fatigue roll 1:

Rolled 1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 4, total 5

Fatigue roll 2:

Rolled 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 2, total 8

[Eclecticon]

Wow, that was pretty awful even by my standards.  I'll add my bonus die on to the first roll:

Rolled 1d6 : 4, total 4

[GandalfOfBorg]

 
 

Fatigue 1 -  1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 6, 4, total 15

 

Fatigue 2 -  1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 1, 2, total 6

 

Lore (augmented by Spider-lore if applicable)-  1d12 : 6, total 6

[disench4nted]

 

Rolled 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 2, 5, total 11

 

Rolled 1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 2, 3, total 9

 

Rolled 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 1d6 : 6, total 6

[Eclecticon]

The Dusky river flows silently by Arbogast's side.  Behind him, the horse picks its arduous way between jutting roots and slippery mud, the effort robbing it of any will to complain.  Madness, he thinks.  It is madness to try to bring these great animals through the forest.  Let alone the cart they are driving!  I dread to think of what it must have cost them to get it this far... 

Beneath the boughs overhanging the river, the air is still and filled with the soporific sound of insects.  Sweating, silently cursing, Arbogast struggles on, the need to find a path suitable for horses and carts adding a never-before-seen challenge to the journey. 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen
DC 14 lore ♦○○○○○

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

DC 14 travel ♦♦♦○○○

Fatigue 1 1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 3, 3, total 8

DC 14 travel ♦♦♦○○○

Fatigue 2 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 6, 4, total 12

[tomcat]

Wow! Looks like the Dúnadan underestimated the strain of the woods, as she goes up 4 in Fatigue AND causes a Hazard.

Only Arbogast suffers fatigue, also, by 2 points.

The HAZARD:
Roll(1d12)+0: 8,+0 Total:8

Look-out man is the role challenged, so Bandy and Rorin must roll an Awareness check TN 14 (which I am rolling below)

Bandy
DC 14 Awareness ♦♦○○○○

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 6, total 12

Rorin
DC 14 Awareness ♦♦○○○○

1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 5, total 10

[tomcat]

Nice! Blew those tests out of the water.
The team had finally driven the wagon to the water's edge, though it had been arduous to say the least. Many shouts and curses had come from the teamsters as the wheels of the wain would get stuck in ruts of gnarled roots, decaying fallen tree trunks, or large moss-covered stones. The terrain was not conducive for the wagon and the companions wondered at why Ceawin had decided to travel so. Yes, she was a maiden, but she was no princess of great renown - it seemed a bit pretentious. Besides, Verwyne and her handmaids were getting greatly bruised by the bumpy travel. Now they slogged into thick morasses of mud that were pocketed alongside the Dusky River.

Arbogast had conveyed the advice to Ceawin, as to the manner of their travel and that it would not be easy, but the Lord of Sunstead had dismissed his warnings. "Once we are along the river, surely there will be a channel that will allow for easy passage between the trees. I have paid handsomely to employ these wain-men and I do not wish to lose my money."

The Fire-watcher wondered why the wain-men had never warned the Sunsteader that the travel would be near impossible. Usually these men plied the trails and roads of the Anduin Vale and steered clear of actually entering the woods. I guess they felt a fool's gold in their own pocket was worth the struggle.

Now, he watched as one of the teamsters stood in front of the struggling horses, pulling on their bridles, while the other heaved at a large polearm, along with three of Ceawin's men, to wedge one of the wheels up and out of a rut.

To the north of the van, Esgalwen sat atop her own horse just near the water's edge. The trickling of the water, croaking and buzzing of the wildlife, lolled at her and the fatigue of travel made her eyes close. The Dúnadan woman was the company's guide, and though she was good at reading terrain in most situations, she had led them here. Esgalwen felt ashamed at her decisions and had decided to turn the duty over to Arbogast - these were his lands. Her thoughts faded into sleep, but then were brought back in a rush as two shouts rang across the width of the river.

Bandy and Rorin had the duty of look-outs and positioned themselves at opposite ends of the wagon train. They watched the woods to their left, the trail behind and the trail to come, along with the eastern bank of the Dusky. Almost in tandem, the two let out a cry when shadows moved among the eaves on the far side of the river. Neither could tell what it was they saw moving, but it was large and there were many shapes. Was it a party of raiders, or orcs? Or something worse?

[Telcontar]

Bandy was reluctant to tamp out his pipe when he saw the shadows. Pipe weed would become scarce and he didnt want to waste even a pinch. Taking the bowl in his hand he hulloed to the group in warning. Placing the stem back between his teeth to free up his hands he bent the stave of his bow and strung the weapon, hand quickly falling to his side and cming up with an arrow. The hobbit marveled at howquickly he had become used to a life on the road and surrounded by danger, then in another thought realized how long he had trully been away from home and how long ago even the arrow to Bloody Muzzle was. All of this passed before the Hobbit quickly, and in a flash he was back in the moment scanning the riverline.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn had been a trifle irritable during this trip as the going was slow, most notably due to the wagons and the intractability of their h  ost.  So he kept his distance for the good of himself and his companions as they couldn't well afford some ignoble and counterproductive display.  Yet when he heard the call come up, he was ever-ready and senses tingling.

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast motions the wain to halt.  With his eyes fixed steadily on the opposite bank, he readies his axe and shield.  He has seen signs of spiders close to the river recently and is wary of the same threat now.

[disench4nted]

Rorin thought he saw a shadow of movement out of the corner of his eye, very similar to the glimpses he had been catching for the last 2 days...but this time when he turned his head the specter was still there though he could not identify them. He raised his voice in warning simultaneously with Bandy and turned to face this threat.

As Bandy's bow began to sing, Rorin turned his pony around and urged it to close the distance towards the cart. He pulled the pony to a stop behind the cart and unceremoniously deposited himself on the ground next to it, he handed the reigns to one of the wain-men, hefted his hammer and stepped towards these shadows with a smile on his face.

[tomcat]

Ceawin and his men-at-arms joined the companions in their readiness, the jammed wagon wheel left unattended. With weapons poised, they all watched the eastern riverbank to see if any threat would reveal itself, but only the movement of foliage and occasional shadows could be seen.

A few voices rose as to whether they should cross the Dusky River to see who, or what was there, but Ceawin declined these actions. "T'would be unwise to have us fording the river, only to come under attack. Besides, we are not sure the depth or how strong the river flows here...I will not have anyone swept away."

The shrubs jostled and branches swished, but no arrow came. No spear. Nor any challenge.

The companions bent their ear when a something was heard...a cry? Did someone just call for help?

And then the disturbance was gone.

The trees and brush returned to its normal stillness and only the rippling of the river could be heard. The party was now antsy. Some asked again if they might cross to see if anyone was in need of aid.

"No!" answered Ceawin, now agitated himself. "We shall continue on. We must! Unhitch the horses from the wagon and the ladies can mount, those that cannot be doubled up on horses may walk. We need to make haste. I do not like this wood and I would have us to Woodmen Town by nightfall. That will leave but four more days of travel to Woodland Hall."

The Lord of Sunstead then took from his purse two coins of gold and placed them in one of the Wain-men's hand, "For your troubles, good sirs. I have paid for the horses and they shall be returned to you after we reach our goal, but I leave you and this accursed wagon. I am certain that you can return to your people and get a few horses to come retrieve the thing, but we must move on."

Arbogast was not sure if he saw pleasure in the two teamsters' faces, or not, but they did not question the Lord of the East Bight.

The companions resumed their places in the marching order after the ladies and all the company's gear was moved to the horses. The sun was now far into the afternoon sky when they started to move once more. Grimbeorn sat atop his mount with the arms of the Lady Verwyne about his waist. He had not asked her to ride with him, rather she had made the choice, but the Beorning was not displeased. He wrestled with the feelings that stirred, as he heard her lilting voice speak to him in soft whispers, while they rode along the river.

Arbogast kept his eyes on the eastern bank. The Fire-watcher was not surprised, a league further along their route, when he saw a wisp of silk fluttering from a high branch on a tree that sat across the river. The sun had set when at last they road through the gates of Woodmen Town.