SCENE 4 - Creeping Horror

[tomcat]

At the elf's words and seeing him pointing out the correct village Nain begins jogging as fast as his short legs will carry him in that direction. Hearing the Man still talking over the jingling of his mail he responds as best he can without slowing.

"Ye can come along if you like."

[tomcat]

OOC: Thanks Tomcat

Durgil chuckles and spurs his horse in response to follow Nain to the town. He keeps an eager eye out for trouble.

Observe (Spot) - (4+2)+3+2-1=10

[tomcat]

The Host rode the distance into the ruined towns. They mounted the east side of one of the three hills that made up the Dol Gormain and then began a descent into the south village. Across the valley, the wagon could be easily seen sitting by itself, no movement around it. None of the men remembered the names of the towns having been abandoned over two hundred years ago. Now all that stood was the stone edifices that showed that the Dúnedain and the Eriadorians had once settled here.

It was Dirnhael's horse first, as he was leading the Host, but the animal of a sudden laid back its ears and came to a sudden halt, nearly throwing the rider. Obviously panicked, it began to prance and back away from the ruined town before them. In moments, the whole of the Host had unsteady mounts and began to labor to get them to respond. No matter how hard they tried, the horses would not go any further into the valley that sat between the three hills. Across the hill, the wagon sat waiting like a prize - its treasures still lying within.

OOC: The characters may make an attempt at a Ride TN 20 - only by a Superior Success or greater may a rider coax his horse into the valley of ruins. Any other success will keep the horses from panicking and scattering. A failed result will cause the horse to run from the area.

[tomcat]

Fengel pulls on his horses reins and talks softly in her ear - what has spooked her? There is nothing here...

Ride TN 20
Ride +8
Roll(2d6)+8: 1,2,+8 Total:11 FAILED

Fengel felt his horse rear up and no matter how he coaxed her, she was breaking. He felt her heart beat heavy between his legs and knew that both he and Lunduf could be in danger if she threw them.

"Take my arm!" He yelled and swung the dwarf roughly to the ground. Once clear, Fengel swung himself off of her as she broke and reared and then ran off back in the direction that the Host had come.

Fengel hit the ground hard and felt the wind explode from his chest. He coughed hard, hoping nothing was broken, and lumbered up to his feet. He threw his arms up into the air as he realized his bow, shield and spear hung upon his horse's sides.

"What got into her?" he asked no one at all.

[tomcat]

Ride TN 20
Ride +6, Beast Skill +4, Specialty +2, Injured -3 = +9 Total
Roll(2d6)+9: 3,4,+9 Total:16 - FAILED

Feeling his horse start to cower underneath him, Edrahil lithely slipped to the ground, landing a bit heavier than usual due to his injuries. He let the horse go, knowing that it wouldn't get too far in these lands before it was needed again. Looking around to his companions, he spoke. "I guess we continue on foot?"

[tomcat]

Daelhun felt his steed rear up, prance around and watched as the horse was terribly agitated, something was not right...

Daelhun simply gave up, there was no trying to control his horse, he quickly tried to dismount the beast and see if he stood any better chance to calm it down while holding onto the bridle.

Daelhun stumbled getting off his horse and the horse simply took off, his rider barely getting free as his foot hung in the stirrup for a brief moment. Now the dunedain was without a horse like most of his companions were.

Ride: Roll(2d6)+6: 3,2,+6 Total:11

[tomcat]

And he had just started to dislike the giant beasts less and less. Then of course he gets thrown, tossed, from Fengel's horse. Gets up from the ground cursing the smelly beasts and sees fengel have a look of loss on him besides that of losing of a horse.

"Ye alright there lad?"

[tomcat]

TN 20 Ride (Horse) - (6+4)+4+2+6 Courage-1=21

"Whoooooaaa!" calls Durgil as his horse skitters to a halt. "Calm down... what is it, what do you smell?" he says coaxing his steed. He tries to spur his horse forward, but finding the beast unwilling to move to follow the dwarf. "Hmmm..." and the Dunedain dismounts and continues to attempt to soothe his horse. Still seeing it have no effect, he speaks to it quietly in Sindarin, "Go find the others and help keep them safe. I will ask no more of you." Patting the horse, it trots off on its errand.

[tomcat]

As Dirnhael knows he is not the rider Fengel or Edrahil is, he dismounts his steed so he won't be thrown.