New Neighbors

[tomcat]

From the direction Edrahil pointed, Fengel knew where he spoke of - it was a small village called Burh Donun near the Donu River, roughly twelve miles away. Along the way were other homesteads and perhaps they may also have some news of his family.

The rain began to fall in large, cold drops and the landscape lit up briefly with the flash of lightning. Moments later, thunder boomed overhead and the companions had to steady their mounts lest they break and run. Saturated with rain and the day at its end, the Company had to decide if they would ride another length before camping for the night. It was difficult to see any great distance in the torrent of rainfall and there were no stars to guide them... to move on would be difficult to say the least.


OOC: I need a Ride test TN 12 to keep the horses from breaking. If any rider fails the test, they must make another Ride test TN 10 + the difference of how badly they failed the test (i.e. if you roll a 10 on the first Ride test, your second ride test will be TN 12)  to stay mounted. If dismounted, the character must roll an Acrobatics test TN 10 to avoid harming themselves and taking 1d6+3 damage (no armour). On a Complete or Disastrous Failure of any test, each subsequent test will be at a -3 / -5 penalty respectively - I also may dole out some other result in the narrative.

If the Company decides to move on, I need an Extended Track test to keep to your course. I will give you the particulars of this test based on what you guys decide to do.

[Nikitas]

Ride (Horse):
1d12= 6
Bearing (+1), Skill Ranks (+1), Speciality (+2)
11+1+1+2= 15 Complete Success
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Galudir's horse bucked and fought, but his hold was firm. He raised his voice to be heard over the thunder and addressed the company, "Middle Earth sets itself against us tonight, and it would be difficult to keep our path in the dark. Perhaps we should continue on in the morning."

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: TN 12 Ride (Horse) - 7*+4+2=13

Rochithuin whinnied at the storm, quite anxious at the surprise of the lightning as was her master but manages to keep calm by a firm grip and a few soft words.

[sdrotar]

Ride Test (TN 12); Ride +6, Bearing +2, Specialty +2 = +10
Roll(1d12)+10: 3,+10 Total:13

***

Dirnhael's mount shuddered but kept its wits about it. He heard Thermon's words and was forced to agree.
"Between the dark and the rain, we pose more risks to ourselves by traveling then by making camp," he shouted over the pelting rain and whistling wind. "Let us find somewhere sheltered enough to wait out this storm."

[Stefan]

Ride TN 12
Roll(1d12)-2; 11-2=9 +3 (Courage) =12

Jethro was terrified by the lightning.  Nain fought hard to rein him in but managed to hold on. 

"Aye, another peel like that 'n I'll be in the mud, lets use the shelter that we have."

[Palandil]

Ride Test TN12:
Ride+6; Brg+2; Horse+2; Experienced+2
Roll(1d12)+12: 4,+12 Total:16

Fengel and Heostor were in their element on the plains of their homeland.  The storm though terrible did not unsettle them.  Upon first hearing his friends, Fengel was resolved to press on, but though the land was familier to him, it was not to them.  With a slight sigh Fengel looked about to find a place that they could wait out the storm.

Observe Spot:
Observe+3; Per+1; spot+2; Night-eyed +2 decrease darkness penalty
Roll(1d12)+6: 1,+6 Total:7 Well that sucked.

[BrianM]

Ride Horse TN10
Skill +10, Specialty +2
Roll(1d12)+12: 7,+12 Total:19

IC
As the weather turned for the worse, Edrahil leaned forward and whispered Sindarin words into the ear of his horse, which remained calm despite the violence in the sky.

The elf then addressed his comrades, "I agree. There is not much point in contining our journey through this."

[tomcat]

OOC: Sorry for the delays... I was writing up some NPC's and studying up some game mechanics for Star Trek.


The ruined home of Fengel's kin made for the most obvious, and convenient shelter, and so the group dismounted and began to hastily unload their gear from their horses. Working in teams, some ran the gear into the shelter while the others hauled on the reins of the horses to get them over to the old stabling pen. Unfortunately, there was no place to shelter the animals and so they hoped that beasts would see through the weather okay. Edrahil whispered to them all a gentle word to be brave and fear not the rain and lightning.

Inside the house, Durgil and Nain set about straightening up the place and moving the broken furniture out of the way so that a fire might be built and their bedrolls could be spread out. A small meal was heated and the Company ate quietly in the firelight. They made small discussion about the next day's road and about who would keep watch through the night. It was decided that Fengel and Edrahil would watch through the late hours as their sight was better in the darkness and then the other three men would cover whatever time was left. Nain and his skills were to be employed over the next few hours working on the Company's tack and mail – the long ride was taking its toll on the things that they relied on.

Outside, the rain continued to fall well into the night, but its patter on the roof was hypnotic and soon the Company members that did not stand watch drifted off to sleep. Edrahil was pleased to see the night begin to brighten and he knew that Ithil* had risen behind the clouds. It aided in his watch over the lands about.

The Sindar mage sat quietly watching and decided to let Fengel and the others sleep on through - he did not need the sleep as did the Men. The rain soon stopped and the clouds broke revealing the moon and the stars beyond. Edrahil stepped out from the house into the night and he took up a seat under the wonders of Elbereth and sang a quiet song to her glory. The small homestead glowed from inside with the orange of firelight.

He closed his eyes and chanted and to his mind came a vision - a woman lay crying, her body ravaged. In his mind's eye, Edrahil approached her to try to aid her - comfort her. The woman heard the soft step of the approaching Elf and she turned and Edrahil drew back from the snarling head of a warg!** The mage opened his eyes quickly to see the moon and stars once more... a breeze blew into his face.


*Sindarin name for the moon
**Foresighted ability

OOC: Edrahil I need an Observe test TN 12 (night-time penalties are not included).

[BrianM]

OOC
Ack! Sorry to hold things up ... it's been a crazy week for me.

Observe TN12
Skill +4
Roll(1d12)+4: 5,+4 Total:9 (spend 1 Courage for +3) Total:12

IC
Edrahil was still recovering from the shock of seeing the woman in his vision change into a terrible beast. He wondered if the woman was Fengel's sister, and if she was in terrible danger. The elf turned to face the breeze, sensing something.

[tomcat]

The land around Fengel's family home rose to the west in a series of gentle rolling hills and they glowed with the haunting light of the moon. Edrahil peered into the night, looking westward, and saw them - four prowling shapes approaching from the north. The creatures loped like wolves, but Edrahil knew that they were to large to be wolves. They were wargs.

As he watched, one raised its head and looked in the direction of the house, the moon causing its eyes to glow with an unearthly light. Edrahil was not sure if the creature had seen him yet, but he was sure that it could see that the house was lit with firelight and that they could smell the horses in their pen.

Sure enough, the lead creature changed its course and the three others followed; they slinked now towards the prairie home.


OOC: I need one more Observe (Sense Power) TN 15 test from you Brian... sorry I didn't include it in the last post.

[BrianM]

Observe (Sense Power) TN 15
Skill +4 Specialty +2 The Art +2
Roll(1d12)+8: 1,+8 Total:9 (what a lousy roll!)

IC
The elf had seen enough, and immediately jumped to the door and shouted within. "Wargs are approaching! Four of them!" He then turned towards the beasts, drew his sword, and prepared for battle.

[sdrotar]

The elf had seen enough, and immediately jumped to the door and shouted within. "Wargs are approaching! Four of them!" He then turned towards the beasts, drew his sword, and prepared for battle.

Dirnhael awoke with a start; thankful that his friend's eyes were so keen.
In mere moments, he was up, his shield at the ready and Vorandur gleaming with the moonlight's glow in his hand.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil practically jumped up at the elf's call to arms.  Making sure his sword was at his side and bow in hand, he drew and nocked an arrow to his elven bow.  Holding the bow in one hand, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes with the other and set out to find a suitable perch from which to spy the enemy.

[Palandil]

"Wargs!", Fengel exclaimed.  Quickly he grabbed his sword and shield, and then bolted through the door.  "We must protect the horses!", he cried as he ran to the pen.

[Stefan]

Nain woke at all the yelling about him.  He'd been on the road long enough that he was used to being awakened in the middle of the night for watches and such, but he still hated it.  And this was the first night he'd been able to sleep under something other than stars in weeks.   He growled at the thought of it as he crawled to his feet, using his axe to lean on as he stood.  He wipes the sleep from his eyes, puts his axe over hs shoulder and followed the humans out into the night with a yawn.

"Where are the Mongrels, Lets get this done so we can get back to sleep."