Beneath Black Boughs

[Eclecticon]

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

Give me some narration explaining how it does, and it will.  Spider Lore might also be useful, if you want to work that in. 

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Hardy -ish, more Enemy Lore (Spiders) I guess...

Grimbeorn took only a moment to catch his breath and wits about him, his hardy nature ignoring what little fatigue befell him in these environs.  A traveller of many roads and paths far and wide in this part of the world, he knew how to pick the quickest, least tiresome trail.  Still this wood offered little in options of both expediency and shortest distance. 

Few times has he dared enter the vast lair of those that took his mother from him all those years ago so he had a to ponder a moment.  Surveying the scene, it struck him that his first thought should be to avoid whichever is the easiest-looking path for the spiders were devious in their snares for a panicked prey would take the path of least resistance, utterly falling into their snare.  But they were seeking this foe out, so he put it to the group.  "It appears that we have come to one of the forced turning points the maze of the spiders.  Do we head down the path of least resistance and purposefully to their trap or take the delicate and more difficult way around it to possibly catch them unawares?"

[Eclecticon]

"Not as foes do we come into the spiders' realm, but as petitioners," muses Arbogast.  "And yet, there exists no peace between their kind and ours, so we must reckon as invaders.  I would not hesitate to take a longer, more difficult road if it will allow us to seek victory via strategem, and not simple force of arms." 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen nodded in consent to Arbogast's words.

[Telcontar]

"I agree with this counsel as well Wolfslayer."

[GandalfOfBorg]

Barring any words of wisdom of the Brown Wizard to the contrary, Grimbeorn picks out the best way to by-pass this fork, avoiding as much as is possible to not disturb the webs.  The forest beyond only appeared to have more webbing and more dangerous but that soon gave way to more and dense forest, more of a reason why the spiders didn't roam here as it was more difficult a passage for their lumbering, languid bodies.  It proved more difficult for the Men, yes, but it kept them more at arm's length from the enemy as well.  They could see at what little distance was visible which way the lost, unwary, and frightened would be funneled to their eventual doom.

[Telcontar]

"I've seen men with ice cleat like spikes on their boots climb the tall trees along the forest road. I did not think to bring some. Perhaps going higher would have been an advantage, or at least another means to escape these webs."

[Eclecticon]

Taking their cue from Radagast, who now walks slower, placing each tread with increasing care lest any footfall find some hidden snare of web and woe, the company presses ever deeper into the realm of gloom beneath the sea of leaves.  The air now is perpetually still, save on those few occasions when a fire must be lit to cook the food that has been carefully hoarded, or gathered from beneath the roots that knot so tightly together that the ground, it seems, is naught but layer upon layer of woody growth, gnarled as hags' fingers.  Despite the charms of concealment that the Brown Wizard weaves about the company, the forest seems ever watchful, and the presence of unseen eyes has come to be so familiar that recalling a time without it comes to seem as if it happened in a fanciful dream. 

Slowly, ever so slowly, the miles pass behind them until, so abruptly that it draws gasps from throats thick with silent disuse, a light appears ahead.  No shining of sun through a clearing is this, though, but a pale and cold thing, silent as a spirit in the deepness of Mirkwood.  As the companions watch, it moves ever so slightly, bobbing like a torch at the end of an outstretched arm. 

Hathcyn instinctively casts his gaze about, seeking some hidden foe that might take advantage of this distraction, but the darkness around them is all-concealing.  "Beware," he hisses.  "We cannot expect friends here, and not all lights are to be trusted." 

And yet, and yet, and yet...  The promise of light after so long in the gloom is so appealing that it is as if the light calls the companions forth from where they huddle, in filth and fear.  Ease, it seems to promise, and safety, if only they will come to it...


Everyone needs to make an Insight roll (TN 16) here:
Arbogast

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 4, total 6

Esgalwen

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 5, total 8

Grimbeorn

1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 6, 5, total 13

Hathcyn

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 5, 4, total 13

[Eclecticon]

That's a straight-up success for Hathcyn, and Arbogast will spend a Hope to succeed. ()  Esgalwen and Grimbeorn can do the same, if you want. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn remembered with a shutter the hall of the wight when last they went deep into the wood. The fact that the light seemed so welcoming caused him to doubt it all the more. "Who would come here with such a light? One of the elves? Unlkiley, we have seen the ruin of their old homes. A warrior with a gem like the Halfling's? Also a slim chance." Hathcyn thought to himself the possible reasons to trust the light and discarded them one by one.

He whispered ever so slightly, "unless this is the light of another unknown wizard we dont know I dont trust it here."

His spear was long and cumbersome in the dense growth and extra care had been taken not to disturb gossamer spider threads with it, but the warrior scanned his immediate area for room should he need to swing the leaf shaped blade. He knew it would serve him well in the tight spaces to stab if the need arrises. 

[tomcat]

Esgalwen felt her will tested and she wanted to move towards the comfort of the light, but then Hathcyn whispered. His words were more like a hiss in the darkness, but it was enough for the Ranger to shake her head and clear the spell.

Whatever the light may be, she would not willingly let it take her.
I will spend the

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Use   

Again this errand saps at the will and resolve of Grimbeorn.  Only by the touch of Esgalwen at his shoulder and word of warning kept him from disregarding the snare.

[Eclecticon]

The Fire-watcher's heart sinks further and further as he sees the light shining between the trunks and hears at the same time Hathcyn's warning.  Woe unto all Men, he thinks if light itself may no longer be trusted.  What then will keep the Shadow at bay?  Aware that, in this place of oppressive gloom and constant danger for those that go abroad on two legs, his thoughts may not be entirely his own, he screws his eyes tightly shut and grips tightly the root before him, for he wishes more than anything else in the wide world to go to the light, be it ever so cold and untrustworthy.  Salt water seeps beneath his eyelids, and he does not know if it is sweat from beneath his helm or tears of exhausted frustration. 

But the breath stays steady in his chest, and the moment passes as all moments must.  When he opens his eyes again, the wyrdlight has vanished as if it never was, and the weary tread forward begins again. 


That's a nice little hazard avoided, gentlemen.  Let's have another Travel roll to see when the next one crops up:

1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 4d6 : 2, 5, 4, 6, total 17

[Eclecticon]

And it turns out, there won't be one!  Grimbeorn's solid guiding skills get you the rest of the way there without further incident.  Now, those of you who've been paying attention to their character sheets will note that you've each accumulated six points of Fatigue on the journey.  Everyone now gets a Travel roll, and sheds one of those points on a success, plus an additional one for every .

Arbogast

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 5, 5, total 15

Esgalwen

1d12 : 7, total 7
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 2, 6, total 12

Grimbeorn

1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 3, 3, 6, 3, total 15

Hathcyn

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 4, 4, total 10

[Eclecticon]

Successes all 'round, with extra sweeteners for Esgalwen and Grimbeorn.  Arbogast will tag his Mirkwood Lore for a second AP, and I'm happy to go with the assumption that Esgalwen ('Adventurous') and Grimbeorn ('Hardy') do the same. 

for everything.  Stand by for more tomorrow. 

EDIT: Dropbox isn't letting me upload the updated sheets.  I'll get them up when I can.