To find Ruithel

[GandalfOfBorg]

"It already be unpleasant," said Grimbeorn, wincing as his side protests at his movement.  "The gifts we've acquired will have to see us through.  Our pace is slackened from our hurts and we must be on our way lest further innocent life impedes progress from that which we seek."

[Telcontar]

Bandy nodded, "as it is those grievously wounded that are speaking of haste I can not but agree with them. Time and a dangerous road have always been our companions."

Bandy took a piece of briar from out of his pocket. He had found it in the barn and had set to whittling it to keep himself awake during his watch. He crafted a small gnarly box but had worked it into the shape of a knot of flowers. Inside he had placed two more silver coins for the lady of the house.

"Lady, a gift for you for your skilled hands saved my friends much pain and ourselves much hardship. Thank you."

The Hobbit set down his bowl and agreed, it was time to be off.

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast is getting sick of lugging both his axes around, and this looks like as good a place as any to hide Wyrtácléofa.  I don't want to make a big thing of it, so is it alright if I just use his Cunning feature to find somewhere out of the weather and unlikely to be noticed for a good while? 

[Eclecticon]

As the fellowship prepares to set off once more, Arbogast spends an early morning scouting the nearby length of the Gundabad trail.  After seven days, much will be unnoticeable, but there may yet be sign of orcs' passage sufficient to gauge their number. 



I'm making a Hunting roll to see what I can turn up.  Likely nothing, but who knows? 

:00 1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 5, total 7

[Eclecticon]

Didn't think so.  Maybe Grimbeorn could take a look as we go?

[GandalfOfBorg]

Amid preparations, Grimbeorn goes out to stretch himself with Arbogast in effort to discern their direction.

 
 

Hunting/Awareness -  1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 4, 5, total 15

I'll toss in a Hope if that helps...

[Eclecticon]

See, now that's what happens when you get a professional in...

[Eclecticon]

So, to keep things bopping along, shall we do Lore and Travel rolls for the upcoming journey?  I don't know how far we're going, but at least the first leg will be through the East Nether Vales, for which the Travel TN 14 is a known quantity. 

So, Lore for Arbogast:

Rolled 1d12 : 4, total 4

And Travel:

Rolled 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 5, total 7

[GandalfOfBorg]

 
 

Lore -  1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 2, total 4

 

Travel -  1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 5, 2, total 12

[Eclecticon]

Show me up, why don't you...  In fact, unless Doug reappears and countermands it, I think I've rolled our first hazard in a while. 

Also, to forestall any potential pedantry, we're wandering across the East Upper Vales, not the nether ones.  Whoops. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

 
Lol apparently the fresh air does wonders for the Beorning's ability to travel even after grievous injury.

[Telcontar]

I'll jump on this travel train

Travel

Rolled 1d12 : 6, total 6

Rolled 2d6 : 5, 6, total 11

Lore

Rolled 1d12 : 4, total 4

Rolled 3d6 : 1, 2, 5, total 8

[tomcat]

First things first...

Results of rolls:

• Arbogast rolls a 12 Hunting roll - fail

• Grimbeorn rolls a 19 Hunting roll - great success 

• Arbogast rolls a 4 Lore test - fail

• Arbogast rolls a 7 Travel test - fail plus    hazard

• Grimbeorn rolls a 7 Lore test - fail

• Grimbeorn rolls a 24 Travel test - success plus   

• Bandy rolls a 12 Lore test - fail

• Bandy rolls a 17 Travel test - great success 

[tomcat]

Grimbeorn and Arbogast returned from their scouting of the northern trail and the large man was happy with his success. There was a definitive trail that continued north, due to the heavy foot of the orcs. The Beorning believed that it would fade over time, but there was definitely enough to give chase, but time was against them.

Fern smiled at the small Hobbit's craft and was surprised to see the two silver coins within. "You honor our home, Master Bandobras," she said and clutched the gift to her chest. The scholar studied the woman and was impressed with what he saw - a simple woman, living in a hard land but who possessed knowledge that kept her and her folk well. It was a apparent to Bandy that though they lived under an iron will, not all of the folk of this land were bitter. Cautious maybe, but not bitter or evil... they would need remember that.

Argil was ready for them to move on, though. It was apparent by his anxiousness and how he and his fellow farmers would stand off from the companions, but watch them closely. It was not that trust was a challenge, more so that the companions were a threat from outside. As if their presence put Argil and his people in danger. The Company wanted to remove this threat and so quickly gathered their things.

Fern had given her medicines and advice for care, along with a mother's tone for them to rest one more day, but Argil would have none of that. When all was ready, the clan of Viglundings gathered at the northern edge of their lands and watched the hunters moving out. The grim farmer approached them and he looked Grimbeorn in the eyes, "Your aid here is not forgotten. We burnt the warg's body last night and spread its ash to the corners of our town as a ward to any new rogue beasts. If you come this way again, we will do what we can for ye, but know that these are hard lands and all must be careful."

Another farmer approached and handed out three walking sticks laden atop with skin-wrapped provisions. He spoke, "T'is not much...hard bread, dried venison, and a few carrots and potatoes, but it will make your first few days traveling easier. You won't need worry for water. This season sees rains most daily and the rivers and streams are gorged. You'll find that more the hindrance."

Everyone in the Company knew the value of the gifts just given and each showed gratitude in their own way. Argil spoke once more, "Keep to the west and you'll come to the Goblin-road, but do not trust that that was their path. There are many small warrens of goblins and orcs about, along with other things... the worst to fear will be any trolls. You know of the threat of the wolves, so take care whil'st camping. I wish you well."

With that he turned from them and as one, so did the group of farmers that stood there, along with their families.

The Company looked north and west - the Misty Mountains marched north and south while the spurs for the Grey Mountains began to the north, marching east. The plains were green and small thickets of trees were sparsely spread across. It was empty land here.

Hoisting their gear, they marched off without another look back.

[tomcat]

You guys aren't really that close to the mountains, but I liked the picture.

Give me some time to do some test builds.

I am going to try something new for this hunt - make it more than just a travel test and so forth. I am going to create a web of options that will be determined by your hunting rolls. I will use the aggregate of your rolls to determine where you go and what you find. So literally, you guys could get turned around and end up back at a place you left. I don't know, I am still putting it together in my head, so give me a day to sit on the couch now that my brains no longer cloudy.

I am printing out the area of the Upper Vales and will hand draw my search web/tree. Not sure if I am conveying my idea well, but if you have any cool ideas, I am willing to hear to add to our fun. I will incorporate them, but keep you guys doing some guessing.

I also want to require you guys to give me successful tests for survival - this will control food consumption to some extent, weariness, and healing. It will also determine how far you guys are able to move in a day. I will let you know that grid here shortly, too. Matt should remember these kind of builds that I used to do for our old Decipher LotR campaign.

Anyway, we will be going through a number of encounters from easy to hard, based on tests and where they land you on my travel web - so keep up the great narratives and dialogue, but know that we might be running through a bunch of mechanics, too.

And Paul, I will be taking into consideration for our first landing based on your roll. 

I hope this post made sense - I think my brain is clear enough to speak!