Dark pursuit

[tomcat]

The creature lay dead in the center of the Elf camp.

Esgalwen moved to Morirúsë, but the Noldo waved a hand in dismissal. He was scraped and cut, as well as winded, but he was okay.

Around the company, the Elves began to return and they quickly went to Orophal. The leader of the hunters was wounded badly and his body looked broken. To everyone's pleasure, he stirred when he was called and his eyes opened. Great was his pain and the others tenderly shifted him into a more comfortable position, as they tended his wounds.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn breathed heavily from the quick encounter.  The blood was still wet upon his blade.  A fire still burned with this son of bear.  "This creature is dead, but has it's essence been vanquished?  It felt not do much."

[Telcontar]

"Nay, we have but accomplished what Orophal had before us. Our quest is not complete. Thank you for your kindness Lady of the Dunedain, your aid too was helpful, let us see to the wounded."

The elf strode to the table and downed a vessel of wine and washed his wounds with a vessel more.

"Cousins, will you show or guide us to the liar of the beast? What's more I have need of a shield, but more so the use of one or two of your lamps.

 "Ahh I must rest a moment," said the elf sitting.
"that was terrible work and I strove the beast in body and will."

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast nods at the mention of lamps.  "To try to track a shadow into the depths of Mirkwood is pure folly, but I am certain that it shall come once again to visit its wrath upon lamps such as these."  And I hope that, by setting them out as bait, we can keep the beast away from a greater lamp still...

[tomcat]

I am working on the HOF webzine today.

I will update our story later today or tonight.

[Telcontar]

Doug,
I think we need a lead or a clue.
What the characters know right now:

1. The werewolf is a roaming across all of Mirkwood and can travel at great speed.
2. It is attracted to the light of the Elf Lamps.
3. It is a pretty vicious opponent.
4. The wolf form houses a fell spirit that when slain will return at full strength a day later.
5. It's liar is in the Heart of the Mirkwood Mountains.

The rate of return far out strips our ability to combat it. If it came after us everyday it would destroy the party easily. We need more information and it doesnt appear that Thranduil or Doobie Smoking Brown Wizard has any information other than to wish us good luck.

[Telcontar]

Morirúsë sat breathing heavy at the board.

"Truly that was a wearying fight, but what are we to do? The beast will return, and that quickly. Unless we find a way to defeat its spirit or to banish it to the void. That power is not known to me. To retreat is wise, I agree, but to what end? for our strength alone will not vanquish the beast."

[Eclecticon]

Thinking quickly, Arbogast replies "the lamps draw it as it if were a moth.  If we could draw it with one or more of these," he waves a hand to indicate the undamaged lamps about the glade, "we could lead it away from the dwellings of the Free Peoples and perhaps find somewhere where it may gnash its teeth fruitlessly at a lamp just beyond its reach.  This might distract it for long enough for us to discover a way to defeat it permanently."

[Telcontar]

"I thought too to lure it with lamp,if one will be lent. Though I know not how long it would occupy its attention before hunger over ruled hate."

[tomcat]

Esgalwen shook her head as she listened to the two speak, "Is it not dead? Did we not just slay the monster?"

Quick was Morirúsë's reply as to how the monster is a spirit unbound to any body, and quick was Esgalwen's understanding.

She shook her head, "Then we either return to our homes and wait for it to come once more, or we find its lair and see if there is something there that holds the foul spirit to our world. Either way, I fear that it now knows us and we will no longer be safe from the thing."

[Telcontar]

"Yea, those are the courses we are at present debating. We will gain no rest here in the wood...."

The Elf rose from the board, tired as he was and much worn from the struggle.
"Two lamps we will need, and direction or guide to the liar of the beast. Now that we are on its trail I am loathe to turn aside and let the beast slay where it will or feel free from pursuit."

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn became more and more irritated with talk and indecision.  "Take this," he says to Moriruse, handing him his elven shield.  "Looks like you need it more than I for a time.  Arbogast can lead the group with a lamp and I will follow with the other.  Now we need to get moving lest both strength and resolve are lost."

[tomcat]

Esgalwen made a grim face, "I appreciate your resolve and immediate decision making, Grimbeorn, but we still must wait. Morirúsë will need to rest a bit to recover from his wounds. This is not a comfortable holding, but it is more of a camp then what we can make deeper in the woods. We might as well take advantage of our Elven hosts' accommodations."

The Beorning sighed audibly in minor irritation, but nodded.

Even as they made agreement to their plan, a Silvan Elf spoke, "You may take whatever comfort you can from our table and camp, but we must go. Orophal is wounded deeply and we must return him to our realm in the north. The lanterns are at your disposal and you may leave the rest, the others in our company who took your folk west will collect what is left behind, whence they return this way."

The Company could see that the Elves were busy gathering what was needed for their trip. A litter had been quickly constructed and Orophal was now placed upon it. He waved to them all to come to him, and so they did.

Morirúsë went to a knee next to the Silvan Elf and the hunter lay his arm on the Noldo. "Mighty has always been the swords of the Noldor," he whispered through a pained look. "If you track this beast north, you must pass the Haunted Hills which lay south of the Old Forest Road. From there, you can either cut through the pass of the Mountains of Mirkwood, or skirt them on their eastern side. The Werewolf's lair is at the feet of the northern-most promontory - the mountain we now call Saer Aeges. Among the pines, which cluster and hide the mountain's secrets, where the gentle sloping earth meets the cold rock, you will find the maw of the gaur. Death and evil reeks from the hole and you will know it once found."

The Silvan Elf hunters lifted Orophal, urgency now driving them. The wounded Elf spoke once more, "Good luck, my brethren. Avenge me...for I know that my life dwindles here within Middle-earth, no matter how desperate my companions be. Mayhaps we shall see each other again and know one another, at the end of it all."

And as busy and bustling as they had been, quickly and quietly did they depart and naught was left but the remains of the camp and the night noises of Mirkwood.

[Telcontar]

Morirúsë was now stern and resolute, the quick and hasty departure of the Elves confirmed many dark opinions of them that had had remained buried.

"So, we stand alone again. They have left us the lamps and if I can discover their working perhaps we can light them and snuff them to lure the beast as the Wood Elves have come to do to the Bardings in the north and so lure them where they will. I also have another thought. Were not some of your companions and allies reopening the Old Forest Road? Is there some haven where there we may rest a spell before pushing into the mountains?"

[GandalfOfBorg]

  can we see where we are on the map or relatively?