Beneath Black Boughs

[Eclecticon]

We're now past the mandatory events, so our guide (Esgalwen, in this case - Grimbeorn has a better Travel skill, but he's serving as the huntsman) makes a Travel roll (TN 16) to see how far you get before there's another one:

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 5, 5, total 11

[Eclecticon]

A neat success, and a perfect opportunity to tag her 'Adventurous' trait for an AP.

[Eclecticon]

Far above the canopy of Mirkwood, heavy clouds drift overhead unleashing a torrential rainstorm as they pass.  Creeping like voles through the ages-old mulch, all that the companions mark is the slickness of the trunks as the dust and foulness of the upper boughs is washed downwards.  Their waterskins already nearing emptiness, they look to one another in frustration and despair, but Radagast urges them on.  "Near here," he says "is the ruin of a stronghold built by Oropher, who was father of Thranduil in elder times.  There, when Greenwood still was great, they sank a deep well." 

These words are enough to keep them pressing forward until, at last, the trees thin sufficiently that the barest remains of a stone structure may be made out.  Arbogast, his fatigue overcoming his caution, doffs his helm as soon as he is out of the thickest of the surrounding trees and begins frantically scratching at the lice that have come somehow to infest his hair.  The wizard, ceasing whatever magic he has worked to bring the Fellowship of the Helm this far, approaches the remains of an arched doorway.  Scuffing the accumulated filth away with his sleeve, he reads "Here did Rodyn Rosshendu and Malbeth of the Hawk slay each other for the love of the maiden Nimwen.  Thereafter, she departed for the West and we who remain know not of her fate." 

He sighs.  "The grief of this tale suffuses this place, and we should not tarry overlong, but the magic of the elves protects it still and we may rest safely here." 

Grimbeorn, ever pragmatic, has not stopped to listen to the wizard's words, but has followed his nose to the scent of water.  The well he finds is set into the remains of a stone floor, and much muck surrounds it, but it is easy work to tie a thread to the neck of a waterskin and a stone to the other end, and the skin is gratifyingly heavy when he retrieves it.  He raises it to his lips...


And here he needs a Hunting roll to avoid an as-yet unperceived threat:

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 3, 2, total 8

[Eclecticon]

A Hope spend will just get you over the line here - let me know if you want to make the spend! 

Meanwhile, what are the rest of the group doing?

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn took interest in the inscription and took a moment to admire the ruin. He has seen little of the stone work of elves so looked at how the remains were cut and dressed. Ever wary he did not stray far from the group.

[tomcat]

Esgalwen walked over to the old stone steps that were evident under the Mirkwood flora and sat herself down with a tired sigh. Her legs ached and she slid a boot from her foot to shake out the many bits of detritus that had entered through its wearing sole and seams.

She had guided them as safely as she was able - with the aid of the wizard - and she hoped that she would possess the energy to find their way out of this darkness, when the time came.

Esgalwen heard Grimbeorn give an approving sound at his success of fishing water from the well, and she smiled to herself. It was the little successes that they needed. Her boot, now shaken clear of all the debris, was slid back onto her foot and she stood and turned to see how much water her friend had retrieved.
Going to make an Awareness roll to see if she is able to see the potential threat. If this is not allowed, ignore it.

TN ?? awareness 3d

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 5, 2, total 9

[Eclecticon]

I like the way you think, Doug, but this is something that needs to be noticed close up.  I tell you what, though, since I'm a merciful god if not a clever one - I'll give it to you on a straight roll:

1d12 : 6, total 6

[Eclecticon]

(I'm just going to give Matt a few more hours to answer, then I'll assume on the basis of past experience that he's happy to spend Hope on what sounds like an important roll.)

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Use a Hope.

[Eclecticon]

So overwhelmed is Grimbeorn by the possibility of fresh water that the skin is at his lips before the strange scent, and the sound of effervescence, emerging from within the skin give him pause.  A frustrated growl builds in the back of his throat before he barks out "Brown one!  Stop your prattling about things long gone and tell me whether the water of the here and now is safe to drink!" 

Though Radagast is clearly put out by his tone, the Brown Wizard moves spryly over the litter of the forest floor to lend the aid of his wisdom.  Before he has drawn close enough to Grimbeorn to possibly smell the contents of the skin, though, his face has fallen.  "Oh!  Woe unto me and those I have foolishly guided!  My friend, you are right to be suspicious.  Some subtle taint of darkness has seeped into the waters that move beneath these stones, and I fear that what light has lingered in this place shall not endure past the closing of the winter." 

His hand noticeably trembling, he pulls from within his robe a small leather flask and removes the stopper.  "I had hoped to save this for later in our journey, when strength had fled our limbs, but I see that it is needed already."  He pauses, concentrating on pouring a measure of a think and sweet-smelling liquid from the smaller vessel into the larger.  "Draw water and fill your skins.  The Mirkwood cordial will act against any bane or enchantment that might otherwise affect us.  Oh, but we shall have so little left!" 


Good call on the Hope spend, Matt.  Grimbeorn has avoided being incapacitated by a day or more, plus gaining some Shadow points.  On the other hand, everyone gains two Fatigue from the long and thirsty march to get here ().   

[Eclecticon]

I've also looked over everyone's sheets and realised that it might be more beneficial to have Grimbeorn (Travel 4) as the Guide, Hathcyn (Hunting 3) as the Huntsman and Esgalwen (Awareness 3) as the Lookout.  Does anyone have an issue with the switching of roles? 

On the assumption that nobody does, here's Grimbeorn's roll to see when the next event occurs:

1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 4d6 : 2, 3, 3, 5, total 13

[Eclecticon]

Oooooh, that's a fail without spending more Hope on it...

[Telcontar]

  fine with me.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Does Grimbeorn's Hardy trait help with any of this?

[tomcat]

The march continued on from the elven ruin and the companions changed up their order. Esgalwen no longer had the lead as guide, turning those responsibilities over to Grimbeorn. Instead she took up the rear of the group with her bow at the ready and her eyes peeled for any danger.

She listened to the wizard's constant mumbling and hoped it would be soon that he revealed their close proximity to the spiders' warren. There were tells revealing that they were getting closer - many of the trees they passed were now draped with fine silk that was filled with the sticks and leaves from the branches above making it look like they wore prickly coats down their trunks. Esgalwen was used to seeing moss and ivy cover a tree's height, but these coverings were eerie. The smell of rot emanated from them, as she was certain that small rodent bodies were also part of the trappings, as well as the decaying foliage. If any of the company touched, backed into, or fell against one of these trees, the coat would press in and fear would rise that something might spring out - but nothing had as of yet.

Suddenly Grimbeorn was confused. There was no path - only moldy, silk covered fauna of the forest floor - and the roots of three large trees cropped out of the ground as if they were barriers. Esgalwen knew his challenge having served as the company's guide the days prior. She spoke to herself, but it still was audible in the pressing forest, "Be wary, my friend. Think it through."

Esgalwen turned in her place to keep a lookout over them all, as Grimbeorn chose their path.