The Long Way Home

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast watches his friends cluster around Hathcyn, all thought of further progress set aside for a while as they welcome the Longspear back to the waking world and see that he gets food into his belly along with the tale of the fulfilment of their bargain with Tauler.  Try though he might, the Fire-watcher cannot share their joy at Hathcyn's recovery.  Better you had remained sleeping, he thinks, than to wake into this never-ending torment!  Better we all remained sleeping until the end comes to the world.

Slipping away, unnoticed for the moment, he resolves to scout what he deems to be the way ahead, trusting the wood-wisdom of his folk to steer him true.  Not far has he gone from the bare tuft where Hathcyn sits, however, before he trips over a thick and sticky thread, tumbling to the marshy soil with a wet thud.  At once, the authors of his misfortune are upon him, venom dripping from their mandibles as they close on their meal. 

"SPIDERS!" he calls.  "HELP ME!" 

[Eclecticon]

Battle rolls for the upcoming fight - remember, everyone is Weary (temporarily or otherwise):
Arbogast

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 5d6 : 3, 5, 5, 1, 5, total 19

Esgalwen

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

Grimbeorn

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 3, 2, total 10

Hathcyn

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 5, 6, total 13

[Eclecticon]

That's one die for everyone except Hathcyn, who gets two.  I'll tag Esgalwen's 'Adventurous' trait (she's never encountered a fight quite like this before) and Grimbeorn's Spider-Lore for AP, and Hathcyn just straight up gets one because he didn't get a success before fighting Tylquin.  Arbogast, already having two AP in the relevant track, gets bugger-all. 

[Telcontar]

  Mirkwood, yelp review is going to be strong dislike, dont visit.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Come for the ancient trees and stifling air, stay for the magical river and haughty elves, and leave from to spiders and claustrophobia.  Love the treasure, the hosts are something to be desired. 2/5 .

[Eclecticon]

Though the tiredness of the flesh persists, spirits remain high as the companions tromp their way back to where Radagast stands, his hands still cradling Duskwater's ball and the thread that connects it to its owner.  Stock-still he stands, his eyes fixed on something half-seen between the trees.  As Hathcyn, his new helm proud upon his head, nears his side he seems at last to notice their return, his head inclining the barest measure toward his companions as he hisses "Be still!" 

It is to no avail.  As his attention wavers, whatever spell he was working is broken and its subject stirs.  For a moment, all that reaches them through the deep gloom of Mirkwood is a leathery sound like the unfurling of the cloaks worn by the fisher-folk of the Long Lake.  Then the beating of wings reveals a great and hideous bat, its eyes piercingly bright in the darkness, as it rushes overhead and vanishes, its wingspan seeming no impediment to its passage through the twisted branches. 

Beneath his battered hat and above his tangled beard, Radagast pales.  "We are revealed," he says bluntly.  "It will carry word of our presence back to its master.  We must hurry away - come!  Come!"  and with that, he begins following the thread again, almost stumbling in newfound haste. 


So, here's the thing: Doug's multiple rolls during the fight tipped you over into a Revelation episode, but there didn't seem to be a suitably dramatic way to make it happen during that encounter.  So now it's hanging over your head to trigger in the next scene. 

In the meantime, Grimbeorn needs to make another Travel roll as your guide:

1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 4d6 : 5, 2, 6, 1, total 14

[Eclecticon]

Huh.  For some reason, the picture flipped as the post uploaded.  Picture that thing upside-down, if you would be so kind. 

Grimbeorn's roll was good enough that you won't have another travel episode before the end of your journey - congratulations on reaching the edge of Mirkwood!  Things are now coming to a conclusion...