Dark Tidings

[tomcat]

Esgalwen nodded respectfully at Grimbeorn's edict, seeing Tate stroll up next to her as she did. "We shall see it done."

man, did anyone know Grimbeorn was so long-winded?  Lol Doug it's cool, just poking at Esgalwen 

Also since Tate will likely go with Esgalwen, Grimbeorn will choose Hathcyn to join him, remembering him from the other night.

Cool, Matt - just wanting to make sure my narrative and dialogue text isn't coming off as bossy, from Esgalwen.

[Telcontar]

Ooc: are you marking the sheets too?

I did this time around, since I already had your sheets open in front of me.  Mostly I'll leave it up to you guys - if I do it myself, I'll make sure I tell you to avoid doubling up.

Sounds good. Please indicate character when you mark a check. I'm bad at remembering that.

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn Longspear raised his mug of honey mead, a thirst quencher from the bull encounter.


"I have worked on the road, Rorin the Roadmaker and his folk have treated us well. Long will I remember the friendship of the dwarves. I will go!"

[Eclecticon]

Yeeessss... split the paaaartyyy... Tackle eeeeach prooooblem with haaaalf the resssourcesss...

Also, give me a roll for how you're selling this.  Awe works, as would Inspire.  You need to get the thegns (and their followers) on side, and they're not there yet.

[Telcontar]

Hatcyn nugged his friend.

"Come Harhold, sign on with me. The thegns wont go with the young master or wish to follow him. We however, have no such complaint. We'll both make a name for ourselves and the dwarves will long remember we offered aid. Raise your hand with me."

His road companion laughed, "very astute for a wood cutter."

Harhold raised his own arm. "I'll see this done with Grimbeorn!"

[tomcat]

Yeeessss... split the paaaartyyy... Tackle eeeeach prooooblem with haaaalf the resssourcesss...

Just want to say - as a Loremaster who has to try and run a campaign via a series of posts and how hard it can be...this was not my idea! 

[tomcat]

Where are our horses? Woodland Hall? I think they were left there after the company went north, through the woods, in pursuit of the werewolf.

Oh well.
"Master Grimbeorn," said Esgalwen. "Might there be horses for me and Tate to ride? We can investigate the trail and return here quicker if we had such a resource."

[GandalfOfBorg]

  I guess I'll go with awe.  Sorry,
I suppose the old adage holds true, no story survives contact with players.

 

Awe -  1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 4, 4, total 9

Hope if necessary.
 

[Telcontar]

ooc: is there a standing modifier for that roll?

[Eclecticon]

Not this time.  Grimbeorn manages to squeak a success out with a Hope spend.

[Posterboy]

Tate came up next to Esgalwen. After Grimbeorn gave the two their quest, the minstrel returned with a slight bow and a, "It'll be done, m'Lord."

Tate moved to examine the boat more closely as Esgalwen secured them some horses.

  Tate is going to Search the boat to see if there are any more clues... he'll use his Curious trait if needed -- his mind aches to know the full story of what happened.

Search Roll

Rolled 1d12 : 6, total 6

Rolled 3d6 : 4, 4, 4, total 12

[Eclecticon]

Any reaction the thegns might have to Grimbeorn's announcement is drowned out by the roar of enthusiasm as young men push to the front of the crowd, eager to volunteer.  Hathcyn and Harhold are swiftly joined by others wishing to join Grimbeorn's party.  Nor does Esgalwen find any shortage of youths wishing to accompany her to the river, and potentially pursue an escaped murderer.  Ethegert Long-neck, son of Ethelgar the Oak, volunteers to lead the party north to the ruin of the Hobbits' inn, which surprises nobody as his family was known to trade with the halflings to purchase their excellent ale and cheeses, and will no doubt rue their loss. 

The impromptu council begins to break up, as the different leaders start to assemble the necessary supplies.  Amid the bustle, however, the still figure of Iwgar the Slow sits on a stool, watching Grimbeorn.  When the young lordling's eyes meet his own, he beckons him over and, standing with obvious reluctance, says "that was decisively done, and your father's men will see much good in that.  I would counsel against departing too early yourself, though.  For two great men lie dead in your hall, and in your father's absence, you should be the one to preside over their funeral." 

Meanwhile, Tate finds himself thoughtfully examining the boat.  In form it is very much like those used by the Men of Lake-Town, though significantly smaller, and it bears dents and old scrapes that speak of much use.  High on its strakes, he sees newer gouges that can only be from arrows that failed to lodge in the hard wood.  Blood has pooled in the bottom and mixed with a small amount of river water, but that which stains the saxboards is dry and dark.  It was, he guesses, spilled a good two days ago. 


Horses are available in Beorn's stables, but not for all three parties.  Two can be mounted and one will have to proceed on foot. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

"Aye, you're right of course," agreed the heir.  "Rorin, I'm afraid we will have to leave in the morning; honor must be given to the dead."  To the men who will go with him and his dwarven friend, "Pack light for we will go on foot as hunters."

  The other groups may take the horses.

[Telcontar]

To outsiders there were strange laws among the Beornings. For instance the hunting of animals was forbidden within two furlongs of Beorn's house. This was to insure that the animals that served the great man would not be accidently slain. There was also a less understood law that no hunting of animals at night was allowed near the steadings of the Beornings. It was a grave insult to draw blade or loose an arror after sundown. Hathcyn was keenly aware of this law himself. While many thought this was out of respect for the totem animals that the folk of the vale esteemed and reevered, but there was a secret reason for this law.

While it was true that the folk each revered animlas by clans and all were respected by the ban, it was also true that some among the folk walked in the skins of animals. Some of the old bloodlines and the ancient family's had tighter bons with the totem animals of their faimily, and they could if they willed it walk in thier skins at night. For this private and secret reason the slaying of beasts was enforced.

Hathcyn was one such that possessed such an ability. This was known to his friend Harhoold and so when the two men pledged themselves to Grimbeorn's quest they decided they would attempt to gather more information. While the funeral was in full swing and the sun had set Hathccyn lid himself down at the edge of the camp, his body guarded by his friend. As sleep took him he drifted away, passing from the bounds of body he took the form of a red fox with a silverr tipped tail. Passing from the camp into the night the skin changer attempted to run along the river and see what he could find, saving time for the group, and making himself useful to the son of the great thegn Beorn.

[tomcat]

Esgalwen told the young warriors that wished to join her and Tate to gather what they needed, but make their burdens light. "We may be in pursuit of this person and so we must not be weighed down."

To the others in the hall that knew the two dead men, she then called, "One last question and my party will be away. Does anyone who knew them well know the purpose of Merovech and Odo's last trip? Were they, too, seeking a criminal? It will aid us in any pursuit knowing whether the two men were searching for a troublemaker, or happened upon one."