Dark Tidings

[Eclecticon]

Come now upon a crow-wind, boat-borne, bier-borne to the hedge-gate.  See now great Merovech the Mighty, once childhood mentor to a new lordling, blood now upon his beard, bright hauberk arrow-pierced!  See with him Odo Peace-Speaker, dull his once-wise eyes, slack his rune-scribing fingers.  Smell the corruption upon the air!  Hear the fly-drone mocking the living! 

Lo!  Behold the grief of the Beornings gathered, bull-proving abandoned and foot-race foregone! 

Hear now the cries of the spear-thegns, wroth-waxing!  For blood do they call, blood for too avenge.  Hear now the tale of the boat-bearers' finding.  His bonds smote asunder, a third man is vanished...

[Eclecticon]

Visibly weary and struggling beneath their grim burden, four men bear the boat up to the gate in Beorn's hedge.  The shouted encouragement of the onlookers to the young men testing their courage against Gnornung, or their strength and speed against the other foot-racers, falls briefly silent, the only sound that of the mournful drone of the flies and the occasional call of a crow. 

When the men set their load down, however, the voices of the assembled crowd ring out in grief.  For there, drenched in blood from a cut throat, a pair of arrows standing proud of his mail-clad belly, lies Merovech the Mighty, known to all as a trusted warrior of Beorn's own household, and to Grimbeorn as the man who, in his childhood, taught him most of how to heft shield and axe.  Once he was fearless and fell-handed, able to cast a spear clear across the wide Anduin.  Now he lies dead, his lips beset by the ever-present flies.  In the other end of the boat lies Odo Peace-Speaker, famed in these lands as the one who, when Beorn first made to call Men about him and hand down laws to their untamed race, kept council with the Skinchanger long into the night, speaking of justice for all Men.  He lies, his skull arrow-pierced, another shaft nailing his shoulder fast to the wooden strakes

With exhausted voices, the men explain that they found the boat yesterday while fishing and bore it here, marching through the night.  With great deference, they show Grimbeorn the hurriedly-sliced ropes they found in the boat.  A third man, they explain, was likely here.  Given his company, he was certainly a law-breaker of high order being brought to the Carrock for Beorn's personal judgement.  But with the death of his captors, he is now free. 

With this, the thegns raise an angry din, swearing furious vengeance upon the one who would thus flout the laws of their folk.  More than one draws steel, though without anyone at whom they may brandish it, the gesture is impotent.  Their rage barely abated, they turn to Grimbeorn.  "This must not stand!"


Sorry it took so long to get this up, guys.  Blame the development of legislation and an unrelated Senate inquiry. 

I'll give everyone a chance to play out their initial reactions, then we'll move into an encounter. 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen stood on the outside of the ring of angry people. She understood the calls for justice, if not revenge, but it was not her place to talk. The ranger waited to see what the master of this land would say and do.

Whatever his decision, she would be there to aid him in his need.

[Eclecticon]

All around the hedge-gate, voices rise in volume and tempers flare.  The thegns, and the gathered folk behind them, demand action, but Rorin stands to one side of Grimbeorn, thumbs looped in his belt, as if to remind the young Beorning of the promise made the previous night. 

Okay, here's the deal.  The Beornings want something to be done about the murdered men, but nobody has been forthcoming with information about what's happened, so nobody really knows what has to be done.  Grimbeorn has already promised to aid the Dwarven captives taken by the Viglundings, but in the current climate you're going to need to sell the thegns (in particular) on that idea if you want to avoid trouble at home. 

Grimbeorn will need to make an Awe roll to get the crowd under control.  After that, anyone else who wants to speak is going to have to make an introduction roll to get the thegns to pay attention. 

Over to you guys. 

[Telcontar]

  remain quietly in the back and wait for opportunity.

[Eclecticon]

Insight rolls

TN 14 Insight by PC

Esgalwen 1d:

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

Grimbeorn 3d:

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 3, 3, total 10

Hathcyn 3d:

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

Tate 2d:

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

[Eclecticon]

Grimbeorn and Hathcyn, by virtue of being much more familiar with the Men involved, each receive a bonus success die to use during the encounter. 

[tomcat]

First the roll, to see how she is received.

TN 14 Awe 3d

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 5, 1, total 7

[tomcat]

Fuckin' dice!

I hate to do it, but I think Esgalwen will spend a here as she needs to maintain an appearance - among men, among strangers, especially as a representative of Gondor's steward.

So with my point that is a success.

[tomcat]

Grimbeorn was silent in his seat. His chin in his hand, which was buried beneath his beard, displayed his pensive mood.

Surprisingly, it was Esgalwen that stepped forward. The thegn's were shouting out their curses and demands for revenge, but things needed to be brought under control. The woman had stood before a king not twelve months prior - she needed to help her friend by getting the commotion settled so that clearer thoughts and ideas could be brought to the fore.

The ranger - now girded in her leather corslet and Nimronyn on her hip - raised her hands. "QUIET!"

Her voice seemed thin at first, buried as it was under the cacophony of shouts coming from the Beorning men.

She reached within her and drew forth the authority and strength that came from generations of Dúnedain - men that had helped shape the world.

"I SAID QUIET!"

There was a change and everyone felt it. No longer a lonely woman upon a dais, she was now the voice of her friend - and he needed silence so as to bring his decisions to his people.

Softening her voice, now that all were quiet, but maintaining her posture, Esgalwen continued. "The Master of this House is before you and though you be his banner-men and his table free for all to speak, it is time for silence. It is time for us to heed Grimbeorn's words. Remember it was he that slayed the Beast of Mirkwood! It is he that will be heir to this seat, and already does his sire convey transfer of rule.

"So...we will wait to hear him speak, but know this - the Viglunding's crimes are known. Not just to Beornings, but to all who reside within the Vale and justice will be delivered! The strength of the South, the North, and the woodland realms will see these crimes answered for! You are not, and need not suffer this alone. Allies stand with you now and always!"

The thegns were quiet now and listening. Esgalwen knew it would require more from Grimbeorn to appease his banner-men, but at least order was restored. She stepped back from the front of the dais where Grimbeorn sat, and moved to his side. She hoped that she had not overstepped her boundaries in this action, but even with such thoughts, the command did not leave her eye.

[GandalfOfBorg]

TN 14 Awe -  1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 4, 5, total 11

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn stood, a sudden weariness upon him from the weight of his father's position.  Putting a hand to her shoulder, he's beside Esgalwen for a moment and passes her by down the steps; the crowd's silence and waiting weighs him down more.  Without a word, he makes his way to the boat to see the men properly.  He bows his head for the men to honor them, giving a barely audible missive of praise and wishing them a speedy journey to houses of their fathers and father's fathers.

"Bear these men into the house so the women may prepare their bodies and come find me so we may talk more about what you found and saw," he directed the men carrying the boat.  "You did well to come as you did, I thank you for my father and the families of these men."  To the eldest of women he spoke closely, "Clean and dress them as is the custom, but bring to me directly their possessions and any other items of note that might indicate who their attackers were."

Returning towards his seat, he passes the Gondorian shield-maid.  "Esgalwen, would you go with the women?  You eye may be useful where theirs lacks knowledge of battle and their wounds."

Turning to the crowd waiting in anticipation, his voice is raised for all to hear.  "This attack on our people will not go without response.  There will be blood for blood!"  This caused swords to bang and voices to call out, but his raised hand for calm.  "But we will not run head-long and blind into this.  We must find those responsible and we will.  Only then can justice, and not revenge, be had."

[tomcat]

Esgalwen gives Grimbeorn a nod, "I will let you know what we find."

TN -- Awareness 2d

1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 6, total 12

[tomcat]

Amazing a perfectly SHITTY roll!

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Welcome to our world