The Foothills Redux

[Eclecticon]

With surprising speed, the surviving troll lumbers away, its howls of pain beginning to vanish into the mist and the echoes of the mountains.  Arbogast allows himself to slump down to the ground, doffing his helm and wiping the blood that oozes from somewhere beneath his hair away from his eyes.  "That was a well-dealt wound," he says to Hathcyn, with a weary grin. 

Beneath the two Men, the voice of the troll is more than matched by another roar as Beorn confronts the wolf pack at the Fellowship's back, and it is toward this sound that Esgalwen now speeds, Gwaithlim wordlessly joining her.  Not far do they have to go before they find the great bear, its shaggy coat already glistening with gathered mist, rearing taller than any Man or Elf.  Before it lie the torn and broken bodies of a pair of wargs, their savage snarls forever silenced.  The two Companions nock arrows and begin to draw, but the rest of the pack is already backing away, disappearing into the thin undergrowth and thick fog on near-silent paws, though their growls linger well after they can no longer be seen. 

When all is silent, Beorn drops to all fours and, with a resounding bass grunt, stomps into the woods.  The two wait for perhaps a minute before he returns, once again man-sized and clearly favouring his left side.  "They've been shadowing us, as I knew they would, and they'll not give up easily.  So now we find ourselves with a choice.  I had planned on taking an easy way up the mountain side, but that'll let the pack follow in our footsteps and I don't doubt but they'll attack again if they can." 

He looks up the slope with a thoughtful expression, as if he can see the summit through the thick shroud in the air.  "The other way will be harder, but I'll be floored if those that go on four feet can follow."


In case I forget (work is nuts again) please mark off any Endurance that you lost during the fight, but recover an amount equal to your basic Heart score. 

[Telcontar]

"Those were terrible beasts, and dedicated to something. We likely would have passed them by had they not attacked us."

Hathcyn checked the hurts of his friend and then to himself.

"And perhaps they had something to guard... Our companions below will I hope spare us a moment. Let's what we can find."

  Hathcyn wants to look around and see if there is a troll liar nearby or find what it might be the trolls were keen to prevent outsiders from seeing or finding.

[Eclecticon]

This will be interesting, given the bad terrain, all-pervasive mist and the poor Search skills of the two guys doing the searching.  But still, let us roll (vs standard TN 14):
Hathcyn

1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

Arbogast

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 1d6 : 5, total 5

[Eclecticon]

Aaaaaaaand this is why it's sometimes worth rolling anyway.  Narrative to follow after I've eaten lunch.

EDIT: All character sheets are updated. 

[Telcontar]

This will be interesting, given the bad terrain, all-pervasive mist and the poor Search skills of the two guys doing the searching.  But still, let us roll (vs standard TN 14):
Hathcyn
This dice roll has been tampered with!
1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

Arbogast
This dice roll has been tampered with!
1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 1d6 : 5, total 5

 

[GandalfOfBorg]

"As you wish, we shall secure the area. But let's not wander too far abroad lest we incur further attention from creatures of the Shadow," says Gwaithlim. 

Quietly, the elf says to his Dunadan companion, "Lady Esgalwen, please see to our patron here while I scout the area for signs of other foes and maybe retrieve some our errant arrows."

 
 

Awareness -  1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6 : 6, 5, total 11

[tomcat]

Esgalwen nodded to the Elf and looked to Beorn who gave her a sneer, causing her pause.

"Not sure what your intentions are, Lady," said the old bear.

"I am just going to look at that wound."

"It'll be fine."

Esgalwen slowly moved closer, "It needs appraised. If not treated, it could fester and then we have more to worry about than wolves and trolls, fog and mountains!"

Her voice rose the way it did whenever she addressed a subordinate in her command, to which Beorn stared at her unblinking.

The woman returned the stare - her face set in absolute determination. The two sparred silently with their eyes, but then Beorn looked away and said, "Check it then."

Esgalwen let out a soft breath and moved over to care for the sire of her dear friend. "He is like you, you know?"

"Wha??"

"Your son. He is just like you."

"He should be. He is my boy and I raised him in the way that I was reared."

The Ranger softly prodded the wound and took some wrappings from a pouch, along with a salve made by the hands of Radagast. She continued to talk softly to Beorn, with her soothing and feminine manner. "Well, you did good. He has become a great leader of men and a true companion. His heart is good and you should know this... you should be proud."

Beorn gave a grunt, almost of dismissal, as he looked out towards the woods. He let Esgalwen do her work and she could tell his mood had changed. She smiled at him when done and the old bear grunted again - maybe thanks? But he put his hand on her shoulder as he stood - a gesture Esgalwen knew he only rarely conveyed, and then he walked away.
Going to roll a Healing roll just in case it is necessary. If it is and it's successful, I will mark an AP. If not, let me know and I will remove said AP.
TN 14 healing 3d

1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 5, 3, total 9

[tomcat]

I am assuming a TN 14 which makes me 1 away from a success. If it will help Beorn in any needed way, I will spend the Hope. If it was not necessary at all, let me know and I will just call it dialogue for the scene.

[Eclecticon]

As Esgalwen examines the skinchanger's body, she is not reassured by what she finds.  Heavy and hard-thrown was the stone that felled him, and several of the Old Bear's ribs shift beneath her cautious fingers more than she feels that they ought.  How much pain did he go through to change his shape in this condition? she wonders as she applies Radagast's salve across the broad swath of the bruise that already darkens his skin, then binds his broad chest as much as she may.  Little does it seem that it will avail him. 

But Radagast is a wizard, and his healing arts surely surpass those of Men, she thinks, remembering the strength that returned to the bodies of her and her companions at the drinking of a mere sip of the Brown Wizard's Mirkwood cordial.  If anyone has the art to mend a broken rib before its time, it will be him. 

Higher on the slope, Arbogast flounders in his search, the mist and rugged, broken ground turning him around rather than reveal any secrets to him.  From away to his left, however, comes a low whistle from Hathcyn.  As the Fire-watcher hurries to his friend's side, the Longspear holds high a hand in a gesture of warning and points still higher.  Atop a fell that the occasional break in the drifting mist shows to grow like a canker from the side of the mountain, a great and carven stone has been raised.  The lines and whorls it bears are deep and dark, and both Men are glad that they are not closer to espy them more clearly. 

The Fire-watcher hisses through his teeth.  "From Radagast have the mountain clans of my people learned of such stones as these.  In elder days were they raised, when the witch-realm of Angmar bestrode the mountains east and west, and delved far beneath them.  I know not what purpose it serves, but I know that it bodes ill for the Free Peoples as long as it is left to do it." 


Doug, I was planning on having Beorn's injury be a recurring issue, but I fear you've gazumped me.  Esgalwen spends the Hope, gains the AP () and I'll find some other way to trouble you. 

[Telcontar]

Hathcyn cupped his chin in his hands and stared at it.

"I'm no stone worker by trade, you think we should try and topple it? I'd be happier if we did. My folk know a thing or two about stone raising. The Carrock is our biggest, so large in fact it goes unnoticed as a menhir of our folk. I have marked the forest gate with the green stone of Erebor. Casting down one of the dark powers seems just and fitting to me."

[tomcat]

Doug, I was planning on having Beorn's injury be a recurring issue, but I fear you've gazumped me.  Esgalwen spends the Hope, gains the AP () and I'll find some other way to trouble you.

I was free styling, Paul. If you prefer that the scene didn't happen, nix it. I am fine with whatever you do.

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast nods his agreement to Hathcyn.  "I know not whether it will greatly aid our cause, or harm that of the Enemy, but my heart shall be lifted by its downfall.  But I do not think that we two will be enough.  Come.  Let us show the others what you have found." 


So, to recap after a bumpy few days: Hathcyn has found an evil standing stone (that Grimbeorn, were he here, would instantly recognise.  But he isn't, so he doesn't.) and wants to topple it.  Beorn wants to know whether you want to continue going the easier way, and face fighting a pack of wargs, or the harder way where the wargs can't follow, but is, y'know, harder.

[tomcat]

I think we can tear through wargs easier than making Athletics rolls, but that is no fun either! I like the idea of testing out skills (more APs!), but will wait for the consensus.

[Telcontar]

Hatchyns thoughts on the question.

Beornings are known for speaking their minds, even to great persons like Beorn.

"I can counsel not for one way or the other. I do not know where we are going or what we are expected to do when we get there. The decision is not mine to make."

[GandalfOfBorg]

Btw, anything significant that Gwaithlim found in his wanderings to secure/scout area and/or retrieve arrows?

"Though the way is strenuous, I believe avoiding further confrontations would be best for the health of our companions.  Where there are wargs, goblins, orcs, or worse there may be," says Gwaithlim.