FELLOWSHIP PHASE - 'Neath the Upraised Stone

[GandalfOfBorg]

Grimbeorn addresses the table of elders and local thanes known to have wide knowledge of their lands and beyond.  "I have called you here to discuss a matter that affects my friend and our allies of the Tarn.  If you haven't heard but their lands are dying, besieged by a spirit corrupted once a patrol of theirs.  He has come with a plan, which consists of seeking treaty with the spiders of Mirkwood in effort to remove this spirit.  The first of part, retrieving a light-gem of ancient days as a bribe, has been successful.  Yet I seek your counsel in the wisdom and viability of this plan."

"As is well-known to you all, our eastern borders have been besieged by these filth for ages, losing many of our folk, my mother among them.  I cannot in good conscience support this plan any further but my heart is also torn by my affection for the suffering people as well.  Can you help ease this strife?"

The table erupts in murmur and side discussion as the heir and his father look on. He answers questions they have and poses more back to them.  After a bit, it calms down and Aelfgar the Blind stands, the eldest of Beorn's advisors. "Our lore and knowledge regarding the spiders of Mirkwood is lacking -- the Woodmen, or better yet the Wood-elves, would know more.  We all share in your disgust of those creatures and don't envy your predicament."

"Great Bear, what we do know is the spiders of Mirkwood are not bound by ties of kinship in the same way as Men are, and it is common both for squabbles to occur amongst them and turn deadly very quickly.  If other spiders know where this Weaver keeps its lair and there's something in it for them, they may be all too happy to tell you, should you survive long enough to entreat with them.  Hush, Magla, I heard that -- you know full well his last encounter with them."

"Now that gem you acquired from the dead city has promise.  Our people know little of the eldest of spiders, save what you have brought from your travels, Young Bear.  But old tales brought by the rare elvish traveler passing our way have told of shining gems, treasures of that folk from when the wood was green and wholesome," the old man waxed, "borne by noble heroes who fell before great spiders, themselves the children of some horror from the beginnings of the world.  The spiders were said to have shared the appetite of this elder thing for the light of gems, so preferring this delicacy that they declined to pursue Elves fleeing from strongholds deep in the wood in order to enjoy it."

"Aye, elder of the youngest," came a voice from the corner, one of a lilt rarely heard in these halls, let alone this side of the Misty Mountains.  "I was there," a grievous sadness was etched across the face of the newcomer.  "Like a chittering fury they came upon us, black and grey, like a wave of shadow less the pale glow of their eyes innumerable.  Few did not quail at this sight.  Craftsman I am not, but the bleeding of those creations as flies in a web stabbed at my heart for their light shall not be seen again in this world conjured by our hands or yours."

After a moment of quiet reflection of memories, the person, tall and eminently elvish in appearance, stood.  "Many pardons Lord Beorn, my manners escape me.  I am Gwaithlim, 'Swift Shadow' in Mannish speech.  Lord Elrond Half-elven requested I turn my steps east from Imladris and into the Wilderland.  Word of and from kin of ours, Morirúsë and Laeral, and our cousins of Eryn Lasgalen, have spoke of your people's troubles with the Shadow reemerged.  I have come seeking word in person but it seems bringing my aid as well -- I am always amazed at his prescience."

[tomcat]

My herb collection roll...

Rolled 1d12 : 3, total 3

[tomcat]

She collects Reedmace...

Reedmace is a tall grass with long leaves that flowers in spring. At that time, its top part develops into a mace-like head. Reedmace often grows taller than a Man. Farmers harvest Reedmace for food, and cook its leaves or grind the plant into flour. Wise women learned to boil its rootstock to make a salve capable of speeding up the healing of wounds.

• If you collected Reedmace during your last Fellowship phase, for the duration of the following Adventuring phase every time you make a Healing roll to treat a wound, the difficulty of the roll is lowered by two levels (TN -4).

So that is pretty useful! Thanks, Paul!

[Eclecticon]

Nice introduction, Matt.  Are you looking to bring Gwaithlim in on this adventure? 

Doug, I live to serve.

[Telcontar]

For the record Hathcyn is not over keen on the spider plan either.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Yes, now is a good a time as any.

[Telcontar]

Yikes. Ok, I think we need to meta and PC this part. Not sold on the Spider plan and I am not sure how it solves the River Maiden issue.

[Eclecticon]

Can do.  Feel free to set a scene and we'll play out the dialogue. 

[Telcontar]

So Grimbeorn is out for this one? That changes our power output

[GandalfOfBorg]

I leave that to the powers that be, I was just asked to introduce the new character at some point and found this the best place to do so.

[Eclecticon]

If you would prefer, Gwaithlim can opt out of the coming adventure because he knows that the Shadow will be extra watchful of a group with a High Elf in it.  As we've seen, the attention of the Eye is to be avoided if at all possible.

[tomcat]

I personally would love to see the new PC enter the game, but you choose, Matt.

[GandalfOfBorg]

I was figuring that he'd probably not go with the group to the spider parliament, as that would enflame the situation.  Either accompany to Mirkwood while he bows out to visit the Woodland-realm while others are dealing with spiders but rejoin for the final against Weaver, unless that's all tied together in one.

Also, did you say there was additional points beyond chargen to apply to the character?

[Telcontar]

Ya get the character gen points in the rule book. Welcome to the Grind!

[GandalfOfBorg]

ok then, the character sheet is ready.