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Like a river, the Beorning host reassembles.  As word of Grimbeorn's command spreads, friends and kinsmen come together from field and pasture.  Small handfuls gather back into their work gangs and make haste to Beorn's House.  There, the thegns gather their kin and followers together, and as a final repast is shared, those that are to stay behind bid farewell to those who are to march south. 

Before the gloom of night can fall too deeply, a party of women gathers and bears a bundle to the high table.  Druessel, Brunhild and the others bow their heads in deference, but Aestid, seemingly chosen to speak for the seamstresses and alewives, holds her head high.  "This, I am told," she says, her manner high and regal as if she addressed the court of far-away Gondor, "was to be a gift for your naming-day, but its time is come sooner than your father anticipated when he bade it be made.  No standard has he ever needed, for all Men between the mountains and Mirkwood would know him by sight.  But you, I am told, are destined to grow yet greater in fame, and it befits one such as you to mark, for all to behold, where those who follow him might find him." 

This said, she unfurls the bundle into a magnificent banner, its weaving intricate as its design is bold: a great bear, ten-clawed, standing betwixt sun and moon.  As the hall is hushed in awe, Aestid begins to sing in a voice clear and yet surprisingly deep:

You are the path he forged through the unknown,
Straight as a spear at the enemy thrust!
Never again shall we struggle alone.
You are his legacy.  You are his trust. 

You are the flag he raised, bloody and torn. 
You are the shield that keeps us from fear.
Great in your heart is his courage reborn,
Grimbeorn Wolf-slayer, son of the Bear! 

As she finishes, the hall erupts in cheers, and as the banner is affixed to a tall pole of ash wood the song is taken up by every man, woman and child present.  So does a sombre evening turn cheerful, and a celebration carry on long into the night. 

Dull and cold breaks the following dawn, however.  After breaking their fast on cheese and ale left over from the night, the men of the the south-bound host march grim and silent.  Their mien is shared by those that they pass on the way, though the cottars and steaders make ready provision of the gathered harvest to speed them on their way.  "To Stánford," they say.  "To Stánford, and may your sword-arms be moved by the wrath of the ancestors." 

Two days out from Beorn's House, the scouts catch sight of a final party of Woodmen, about a dozen strong.  When the travellers catch sight of the bear banner, they break out into the tree-felling song so familiar from long days spent on the Forest Road, and the company's hearts are gladdened by the sight, not only of Arbogast, but of Idunn as well, her great hound Sindjarfr bounding about, overjoyed at the scent of long-forgotten friends. 

That night, the moon and stars dart furtively between clouds dark as jet but light aplenty gleams from copper cloak-pins as, for the first time in years, the Fellowship of the Helm is gathered together.  As the road-songs are sung and the fire dances, old bonds of companionship are renewed and new introductions made.  Rorin, the warmth and good cheer putting him in an expansive mood, concludes "... yes indeed, of my cousins clans does he spring: Anar, son of Anoc!  Born of the Iron Hills and as sturdy and dependable as King Dain's own boots!  He's already a greater smith than I, and he's fated to be a stonemason worthy of the lost halls of Moria one day!  Though other business will call me away once all this is done, he will ensure that the honour of Durin's folk is upheld wherever the Fellowship may venture!" 

Darker, though, is Arbogast's news.  "Not long home was I, Grimbeorn, when your message arrived.  I had been with Radaghast, searching the southern shore of the Black Tarn for signs of the corrupted River-maiden (we dared not put out in a boat).  Only a glimpse did I catch of her, and I thought that I saw upon her a corslet of mail, fine beyond even the craft of the Dwarf-lords of old.  When I spoke of this to the Brown Wizard, though, he frowned and would not speak the thought that clearly unsettled him." 

"Then came a survivor from a trading party who had sought to cross the Narrows of the forest, as has become not uncommon.  His folk, he said, were waylaid by unclean things that wore the shapes of Men but were made of the dead wood and moulder of the forest floor.  At once, I set out with Idunn and a handful of others." 

Thereafter, he is silent for some time, gathering his thoughts as the fire pops and crackles.  "It was a trap," he says at last.  "The great spider that we fought at the Millfort has yet darker kin, and they have dreadful powers to confuse and confound the minds of Men.  Of those who set out, only Idunn and I returned alive, and wood-wise as we are, it took us many days to find the path back to Black Tarn Hall." 

"Well is it that work proceeds on the Forest Road," he says, "as I fear we must regard the passage through the Narrows as barred to all Men." 

:ooc: Dude, I love this post! It is so awesome seeing Arbogast and Idunn again! I am going to wait for Matt to post, but my thoughts for Esgalwen is as an archer, and a ranger, on her horse she could be an outrider for the host along with others.

The gloom that has haunted her for so long is apparently cleared for now, and could possibly have been due to the separation of the original Company. She loves Tate - as she can - but the friends she created when she first came north, she considers her family. All of them coming back together has bolstered her spirit. Still, her 5 Hope to 4 Shadow does not help.

Anyway, Matt - use her as you need, but that is what I see her doing to at least guard the march south and garner information.

 :ooc: Yeah... I said it in the other thread as well -- LOVED this post. Super epic feel! Nice writing, Paul!

I love Idunn! >>squeee<<

Anyway....

:ooc: Thanks, guys - I always wonder as I'm writing whether it's all just pretentious wank. 

Also, as long as we're bothering Matt, could you give me a rough idea of how many warriors you've left up north and how many you're marching south?  Rounded to the nearest ten is fine. 

The night was marked by many things – old friends reuniting, new friends becoming acquainted, and a solidifying of unity within the Beornings.
Grimbeorn gives his thanks to Aestid for both gifts, the standard and the song, for each is mighty in its own right.  Raising the standard aloft, chants of "Grimbeorn!  The Bear!  Beornings huzzah!" echoed in the hall and night outside.  He raises a hand to quiet the room and soon it falls to a dull roar that he can be heard.  "Mighty is this banner and greater still is its house!  We will ride forth with this at the fore as a sigil of my house and warning to all whom fall outside its favor.  To bear this honor, I name Hathcyn my standard bearer and a warden of this home.  His words will be as if they were mine and would command in my name if I so deem.  Woe to you, Hathcyn, if thy charge is dishonored."
Once the revelry dims a bit, the heir excuses himself to see to the men outside and tend to other matters before the force departs.  :ooc:  50 men left behind
---
Grimbeorn's heart is lightened at the arrival of one of his dearest friends and another great ally the Fellowship has made.  He listens to the stories told and the one by Arbogast is indeed dark.  "All I needed was one more good stroke against that horror and the threat of the spiders would've diminished for an age.  The curse of unfinished business!" he growls, smashing a wolf spider at the edge of the firepit.  After a moment his ire slackens and his thoughts turn to more important things.  "My friend, what of your family?  Those young children I left so long ago?  And your wife?"

"They abide well, my friend" comes the reply, "and I, in my turn, am grown accustomed to the joys of fatherhood that never find their way into song.  In fact, the months they spent with me working on the road have proven fruitful indeed!  Even now, Lindwine's belly waxes again."  His face, so downcast when he delivered the news of the spider attack, now splits into a broad grin.  "I think I am due a son, this time.  Even so, but for the fact that the coming battle is certain I am sure that Lindwine would have sought to come with me.  It is perhaps well for you that she did not, for she has concluded with a rare certainty that you, being a young man growing great in fame, must be in want of a wife.  And I am sure that, if you ever come the Tarn again, she will find excuses to introduce you to any number of her un-wed relatives." 

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 04, 2018, 02:06 AMI'll work on geting a post up.

:ooc: I'm giving Tom another little while to get this up, then I'll move things along. 

Hathcyn stood silently in the hall. He had withdrawn somewhat to the side as he did not know the new comers and clearly they were close friends to Grimbeorn. The Longspear, like all the others, was carried away in the moment and the unveiling of the Bear Standard. All of this was swept aside when Grimbeorn named him as the standard bearer. The eyes of the hall turned to the kinslayer.

"This is an honor above my standing Wolfslayer, surely there are those more deserving of this honor? Many of those here are better suited..."

Grimbeorn shook his head and said simply, "you".

"You honor me greatly. I shall carry it ever forward. Where you stand, it shall stand. Where you go, the bear standard will follow. May the courage of our people lend me the courage to carry your sigil ever where you will it to go while the charge to bear it is mine."

Hathcyn kissed the corner of the banner and bowed his head in both thanks and honor.

Ooc: events over took me but I wanted to recognize the choice of standard bearer. On with the action!

Grimbeorn chuckles, an action unaccustomed given his name.  "If be a boy, I pray you not name him after me, you and your family need all the joy they may receive.  As for me taking a wife?  Circumstances have not and not lend to those bonds at this time, yet you may see more of me soon enough about those things that continue to ail your lands.  You, all of you," he gestures to the fellowship, "I could not ask for boon and trusted friends.  I owe all here a great debt.  Thank you," he says raising his cup.

Quote from: TelcontarTwo days out from Beorn's House, the scouts catch sight of a final party of Woodmen, about a dozen strong. 

:ooc: Just to understand our current status - are we still at Beorn's Hall, or are we two-day's ride south?

 :ooc: my understanding is we headed out and met Abrogast along the road.

:ooc: We've been zipping back and forth a little as people add their own little flashbacks, but the current time is two days out from Beorn's House, about a day and a half's march from Stánford.  With that in mind...

An army moves necessarily slower than a small band of companions but even so, the miles pass beneath the tread of the Beornings and that of those who march alongside them, and step by step, Stánford draws ever closer.  Finally, early one clear afternoon, the hill, topped with ancient stones and surrounded by the halls and barns of the present age.  These, in turn, are ringed by a rough stockade so new that it seems that the wind carries the scent of pine sap to the approaching warriors.  Beyond this, the fields lie mostly bare, their bounty hastily gathered.  The Blood-moon Men, it seems, have not been idle since they seized the village. 

No cry carries to where the Fellowship stands, but the approach of their army cannot have been missed. 


:ooc: Some Awareness rolls:

Anar

:00: 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 1d6 : 3, total 3

Arbogast

:00: 1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 5, total 6

Bandobras

:00: 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 2, total 4

Esgalwen

:00: 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 3, total 6

Grimbeorn

:00: 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 3, 6, total 13

Hathcyn

:00: 1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 5, 5, total 15

Tate

:00: 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 4d6 : 5, 4, 4, 5, total 18

The keenest-eyed among the company can already see armed Men forcing smaller figures into a barn toward the edge of the village, about which are piled stacks of cut wood. 

:ooc: :csu: for AP from the above rolls. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Oct 06, 2018, 02:20 PMThe keenest-eyed among the company can already see armed Men forcing smaller figures into a barn toward the edge of the village, about which are piled stacks of cut wood.

 :ooc: That is pretty cold-blooded.

They needed no introduction. Those in Stanford knew who was coming. Even so Hathcyn stopped and undid the bindings on the standard. He dipped the great ash pole and opened the great bear banner. As it caught upon the breeze Hathcyn's face was set and the great sigil of the House of Beorn was borne for the first time on a field of battle.

One by one, the thegns gather beneath Grimbeorn's war-banner.  "The men are eager to fight," proclaims Claudas Bare-legs, "and if the Longspear is to be believed, we are twice as many as those who cower within their fence.  Let us fall on them quickly!" 

"Eh," grunts Æthelwold Red-Eyes, "Let the men rest a while, I say.  The Blood-moons will have seen the banner, and well may they suppose who bears it and for what purpose he has come.  It may be that the manifestation of that which they have anticipated may spark in them a sudden desire to parley!" 

Rorin, meanwhile, taps Anar on the shoulder as the taller men argue.  "That palisade is Mannish work, and hastily done at that.  Cast your craftsman's eye over it, for it may be that there are weak points that even its builders do not know of." 

"It also appears that they are keeping captives in a barn ready to set fire.  Scouts should be sent to espy the situation.  We do not want to endanger the people more than they already are.  We will speak to them too to give our men time.  Hathcyn, Tate, a man of words, and I will seek the parley.  The rest of you make what preparations you need and organize the men.  Your swords may be in need sooner than we expect."

Unnoticed the small halfling joined in.
"What do you big folk know about scouting? Leave the barn to me. I'll see what is to be seen and how we may deal with it!"

Ooc: Bandy will use his art of disappearing ability to pop smoke and recon the barn area. It's not my habbit to be playing two of my own characters at once, but this seems like an all hands on deck moment for the campaign.

Hathcyn set the ash pole and reached into his gunney sack. From it he removed a bone comb. The design was simple, and served only a utilitarian purpose, free of engraving or design.

He then pulled it through his hair and beard in a practiced motion. The mustache waved gracefuly into his beard. His lipped revealed only in the peak it made below his nose. His hair straight back from the forehead and down too tookon the sheen of whatever oil the brush had previously been coated with.

Hathcyn smiled and laughed when he was done.
"Come Master Tate, prepare yourself. Today we enter into the legends of our people. If not your rhymes then anothers will mark what is to occur and I am to be remembered well, in victory or death. I aim that not a spears length seperate me from Grimbeorn or his banner for as long as I last his day." 

The wind blows cold at their backs, and the open ground before them is silent and still as Grimbeorn and Hathcyn, resplendent beneath the bear standard, walk towards the stockade.  The glint of naked steel is plainly visible between the stakes, but neither arrow nor spear is cast their way as they make their approach.  Finally, as they come within ready earshot of the fortifications, a hoarse voice calls out "state your business, son of Beorn!  The day is punishing on old bones, and I fain would be in my hall, warming my toes!"  

Through a slight gap in the stakes, the two Men make out the face of one much older than they, though with eyes still hard and piercing.  


:ooc: Matt and Tom, we can play this as a full Encounter if there's a particular objective you're pursuing here.  Otherwise, we'll just do it narratively.  

Anyone who wants to be doing other things while diplomacy is attempted is free to do so.  Arbogast, for instance, will be reading the terrain and formulating a potential battle plan (using Explore and Battle).  Other options might be
-  examining the stockade for weak points (Craft)
-  giving a rousing oration (Inspire or Song)
-  identifying the men most likely to break, and making sure they're out of the way of the hardest fighting (Insight)
-  (subtly) helping the thegns reach a consensus (Persuade or Riddle).  

Feel free to suggest other alternatives as well, and narrate away!  

:ooc: Also, 'the bear standard' sounds like something finance journalists would discuss on current affairs shows.  

 :ooc: now that we are closer I'll give awareness a shot.

OOC: I would like Anar to inspect the craftsmanship as it was suggested. How do I roll my craft skill on here?

Above the text box above the emojis is a red die. Click that and it gives you the code to roll dice. Then enter in the brackets the number and die to be rolled.




Type all your stuff and his post. If you go back and edit it willtell you the dice roll was tampered with.

:ooc: We have four ways to roll dice on our board. I have an illustration below attached.

#1 - is the DICE roller at the top in the primary menu. This opens a pop-out window that has a dice roller for multiple dice. You choose the dice type, include the number of said dice to roll plus or minus any modifiers and click the ROLL button. It will generate a result which you can then highlight and copy/paste into your post. We don't use this method too much as it is the easiest to alter the results.

#2 through #4 are all within the Post Reply screen:

#2 is the simplest code to roll dice. You click the red dice, like Tom said above, and then when you click post, it will include a dice roll within your post. You fill in between the brackets the dice combination you want to roll (i.e. 1d12,3d6+3)

#3 is for our Star Wars games and the Decipher CODA Lord of the Rings that we used to play here. I will not bother too much on this explanation, but you will see it in the attachment.

#4 is for our TOR game - hence the Eye of Sauron icon. It will provide the code shown in the attachment below and all you need do is fill in the appropriate information (as shown in the attachment) and then it will include the roll when you click post.

The results of how each roll will come out when POST is clicked is shown next:

#2 BASIC ROLL


#3 for D20 games or other
DC 18 sword +8



#4 for TOR
TN 14 longsword 3d+3

:dmg: 8   edge: 10   injury: 16

Other icons that you might find useful is:

The out of character icon  :ooc: to add prior to any text that is not in character.

There is also the Character Sheet Updated icon :csu: that you can post to let the LM know you have updated your character sheet for any use of a resource (i.e. Hope, Endurance, Fatigue, ammunition, etc.)

I hope this helps!

:ooc: Here are the other icons and their purposes (primarily so you don't have to write the words out each time):

:~~: you can click this to add an EYE icon in your post.
:%: for a Tengwar Six
:g: for a Gandalf rune
:<>: to illustrate your Shield rating or Protection rating
:+~: to illustrate your Parry rating or Attack rating
:vv: to illustrate the use of HOPE
:<3: to illustrate either Endurance damage taken or given
:@: to illustrate the use of HATE

There are other emoji icons, but the rest are there for basic emoji use.

Esgalwen sat atop her horse.

Her other companions were busy with preparations. Tate had been called to Grimbeorn's side to assist in parleying with the old man behind the palisade; Arbogast was in deep concentration looking at the walls and formulating a plan; and Bandy had disappeared.

She felt an outsider among these people.

Not knowing when action would commence, the ranger drew her bow and quickly strung it, nocking an arrow to string. She knew that there would be no way to approach unseen on horseback, but she had other skills.

Esgalwen swung her leg over her saddlehorn and slid from her mount. If the attack happened while the folk of Stánford were sealed within the barn, then Grimbeorn's forces would always be handicapped. They would need rush to secure the town before the innocent were put to the torch, and haste always led to the loss of more lives.

What if I can get within the compound without anyone noticing? she thought. What if I can attain the barn's roof-top and wait there to defend against any of the Toft-men?

On top of the barn, she could make good use of her bow and give Grimbeorn the assurance that his people would not be killed while his army tried to take the town. But can I safely get there?

Esgalwen studied the palisade to see if there was any place she could secret herself through. She looked to the barn to see how far it sat within the town, from the wall. Maybe undercover of night?

She was certain that she could get to the wall without being observed, but whether she could do anything else at that point was to be seen.

---

:ooc: A couple rolls from Esgalwen:

Awareness roll to see if she sees or hears anything that would hinder her
TN tbd Awareness 2d


Explore roll to see if the terrain would allow for her to stealth up to the wall
TN tbd Explore 2d


Craft roll to see if she can determine how well the palisade is built
TN tbd Craft 1d


Battle roll to see if her plan has merit if it can be achieved
TN tbd Battle 2d

:ooc: Okay - from the results (assuming standard TN's):

• Esgalwen cannot see or hear anything that is of immediate threat to her plan.

• She can read the terrain to see it allows for a stealthy approach

• She can see faults within the palisade that would allow her to squeeze through (:%: success  :csu:)

• She believes her plan wise and achievable if not a bit risky, but her Adventurous side is all about going for it.  (:%: success)

Esgalwen will not attempt anything without Grimbeorn's approval, so I leave the decision to him below.

Paul, can we get a layout map of Stánford?

---

Satisfied with what she saw, Esgalwen remounted and raced her horse to where Grimbeorn, Hathcyn and Tate were gathered. The Bear banner fluttered above them, and the Dúnadan was reminiscent of battles of lore - many which she had studied.

"Grimbeorn!" she called, at her approach. "A moment."

The Beorning turned at her voice, "What is it, Esgalwen? Time is short."

"I know, but I wish to convey to you a quick idea - one that I believe will serve us, and one that is very achievable."

With a nod, Grimbeorn gave the few minutes needed for the ranger to illustrate her plans. She neither pointed, nor looked to the town, while she spoke and ever was her back to the wall. Quickly she recounted what she saw:

"I believe that while you distract the Toft-men with your parley, I can get to the wall unobserved. Once there, I saw a number of wide spaces that would allow me to enter into Stánford. Once inside, I will make for the barn and climb on to its roof - all the while keeping low, and staying hidden. From there, I can ascertain that no one puts torch to that wood. I will defend your people from within, whil'st you besiege the walls."

"And if no conflict comes...if this can be resolved with words?"

"Then they are in no danger, and I will simply be among them when your banner rides into the town."

Grimbeorn gave his friend's plan some thought.  "It has merit but you leave yourself vulnerable being alone.  Would anyone go with you? Bandy maybe?  I have not forgotten that shot that brought down that boar."

---

"It is simple.  I have come for the people you hold.  You may have heard news out of the north about the liberation from the Viglundings.  I do not tolerate thralldom or those whom prey upon others.  Take your men, two days rations, and leave, never to return within two days walk of our lands.  You will leave all weapons greater than knives and slings as you exit through the front gate.  There is no need for bloodshed between us."

 :ooc:
 Grimbeorn will attempt to awe him, appealing to reason, but also seek to read the man in bearing and word.

 :00:
 :00:

Hope if helpful.

The reply comes not for several seconds, but comes sure and pridefully when it does.  "And where ought I then go?  Back into the wild lands, to freeze in the coming winter?  Or into the wood, to vanish in the shadows?  I am no whipped dog, to slink away from that which I have taken!  For a king am I, as you will one day be, and war is our proving and our prerogative.  But you are wise to suggest that there need be no bloodshed this day.  Hear, then, my own offer: acclaim me as king of this place and I shall be your steadfast ally against the shadow that even now battens itself in the south - I, who know it as one who once served it!" 

His voice holds no quaver to suggest that he lies, and certainly when Grimbeorn meets his eyes he sees the memory of dark days reflected in them, as well as an understanding of things not willingly spoken of by most Men. 

Hathcyn, meanwhile, watches the shapes he can just make out through the gaps in the stockade.  Within, men shift uncertainly and huddle together.  Though Grimbeorn's bold words have not shaken the old king, they are without a doubt having an effect on his followers' morale. 


:ooc: So, Matt, since you're rolling dice I'll treat this as an encounter.  The more successes you get, the easier any subsequent battle will go, and just maybe you can avoid having to fight at all. 

Tom, I like your plan for Esgalwen to infiltrate the village (though you're going to have to wait a bit for a map - I'll probably have to draw one by hand).  Bandy could certainly infiltrate with you, as well as about 10 Woodmen archers - experienced hunters all. 

Mike, give us a roll when you're ready and we'll see what Anar can see.  Alternatively, I can roll for him if you just want to speed things along. 

 :ooc: i wasnt clear in Bandy's plan, but his goal was to do the very plan that Esgalwen suggested. He probably should have been more vocal about what he was doing.

His goal was to use art of disapearing to get in, check out the barn, see if he coukd get the folks out or shoot those who would set fire to it.

:ooc: The mechanics for any narrative you give, Paul, or for when I do.

When Esgalwen is given the green light, here is her stealth roll to move to the palisade.

If any accompany her, she will use her Noble Lineage trait to Inspire and maybe earn some advantage dice (or other benefit) for those that follow her.

Moving to the palisade
TN tbd stealth 2d, Armour of Rangers [roll 2 feat die and keep the better]


Give a bolstering speech
TN tbd inspire 2d, Noble Lineage [roll 2 feat die and keep the better]

:ooc: Wow! Well that fucking blows!

If it wasn't the success dice failing me, it was the feat dice.

Oh well...I have no Hope to offer on either of these tests and so it looks like they are both failed. Let me know if there is a change in that due to Target Number.

 :ooc: hathcyn has an awareness roll out there for the parley and Bandy is using art of disappearing to make it to the barn.

:ooc: I still have my 'fingers' on the dice here - internal debate as to whether I want to give up one more Hope to see that Stealth test a success.

I will let you know in a few.

" You, sir, are no king for these lands are not your realm, these people not your vasaals, nor a barn make a castle. No king rules these lands for they are the domain of  Beornings and we suffer no crown or king under it.  Nor will I ever claim any right of that nor any of my people.  You speak of friendship and being allies and we could've been if you had come to us with a hand open instead if clenched about a hilt and haft.  We would've invited you in given you your space to make the land yours.  This strife could've been avoided.  And you I will offer you this one chance to take the offer that would've been given.  Take it."

 :ooc:
 :00:
Hope if necessary

:ooc: I am spending the hope :vv: and taking the risk. Esgalwen is officially Miserable - 4 Hope / 4 Shadow.

Let's hope this battle is free from any :~~: results, and we Fellowship phase soon. I need to cash in some XP!!

She has reached the wall with no challenge, but her attempt to inspire others failed. The speech was not terrible (she rolled a 13 :%:), just not enough to hearten her allies.

[EDIT] Paul, can we hold off on the rolls and the :vv: point to see how Grimbeorn does? If he 'talks' them out of Stánford, then she would not need to make the stealthy movement towards the palisade.

[EDIT 2] Actually, I guess she would either way, as she is using the parley as her opportunity to move to the wall.

:ooc: Right, time to get something happening here!  Let's start with that Craft roll for Anar - we'll see what he can see:

Esgalwen leads a party of Woodmen towards the stockade.  Sweeping wide around the parley beneath the banner, they follow the barely-visible form of Bandy, who flits from one place of concealment to the next as silently and quickly as a moth.  Were it not for her long familiarity with the Hobbit and his ways, even she, born to guard the wild places, would fail to mark his passage.

Coming at last to the slight berm beneath the wooden stakes, she has just enough time to see Bandy wiggle through a slight gap, and she is struck by the dark look, visible even at a distance, in his eyes.  Clearly, he is ready to slay, and perhaps to be slain in turn.

What is become of you, she finds herself suddenly wondering, who once crossed rivers and mountains in search of nothing more than a tale?  What is become of me, who ventured north bright of heart and with lifelong companions at my side? 

Reaching the stockade herself, she realises that her hands are shaking.  Will the same come to Grimbeorn, to be crushed in spirit by the burdens of rule until he is no better than he who commands the thugs and murderers within this barrier?  So it must be, it seems, for the lords of Men

With a start, she realises that the archers have gathered beside her, awaiting her signal.  Dumbfounded by the emotion welling within her, she turns to them.  She knows that they expect some stirring words from her to fill them with wrath and courage for the battle to come, but the orations she recalls from her youth in Ilithien now seem hollow things, to fill children with fire to fight a war commanded by bitter old men, their own strength no more than a memory.

But it need not be so for me, she suddenly thinks.  I could vanish into the lone and desert places, where even the Shadow in the East could never find me.  I could live never seeing the corruption of those who wear crowns and rich things, nor the slow ruin of my friends...

Heart heavy with conflict between old duties and a newly roused desire to escape them, she says to those who follow her "go.  Be silent.  And when the time comes, shoot straight."

"Yours is no offer at all," the old man bellows from behind the stockade, "for it would see us defenceless and starving in the coming winter!  Is this, then, the fabled generosity of the House of Beorn, to present an open hand and then take all that may keep a man alive?  If so, I spit upon it!  If you are strong enough to cast us out, come do it, else be silent and know that this land belongs now to Vidugalum, king and son of kings!"


:ooc: Matt, you've pressed him as far as he'll go with Awe - the TN for further attempts is now 16.  Don't be afraid to try other skills - the higher TN doesn't apply, you haven't blown a roll yet and even though the base Tolerance was pretty low, your high Wisdom has given you a good buffer. 

Mike, you can spend a Hope point on Anar's roll to make it a success, if you so choose. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 13, 2018, 08:53 AM:ooc: hathcyn has an awareness roll out there for the parley...

Sorry - this was him noticing the effect that Beorn's words were having on the Toft-men.  There's not much more to notice here. 

I think I'm now caught up.  Sorry for the wait. 

"It is a base man indeed who would ask for genoristy when he has broken into a man's house."

He whispered to Grimbeorn, "perhaps we may entreat with this folk and not their leader. If we offer them a way out they will be less likely to fight to the death."

The wind blows at Grimbeorn's back as he searches for the words that will turn a desperate folk against their leader and carry the day without bloodshed, but his tongue feels, all of a sudden, like a foreign thing in his own mouth, and the words do not come.  A great warrior am I, and many foul things have met their doom at by my hand.  But, he despairs, I am no great king of elder days to have poetry spill from my lips and nations erupt in cheers at my words! 

Next to him, Hathcyn looks on, almost imploringly.  Around them both, men tighten their grip on the tools of battle. 

Hathcyn turned from his lord to the palisade and gazed upon the Grim men behind it. The wind blew and tugged at the banner of the bear, neither towards or away from the settlement of Stanford.

"We are but skalds upon the stage today. The skien has been woven tight and it is left to us to be bleed today last and least."

Hatchyn gripped the ram horn of the dwarves in his free hand and blew a loud note and called out loudly one last time.

"You have imprisoned and seized property from the Folk of Beorn! Come forward and be judged now and in peace. Or when the bolts fly and the blades drink you will find judgement in iron."

Then to Grimbeorn, "should we wait a moment here or return to the line and begin the sword work?"

"Not exactly the manner I was going to take, but what's been said is plain enough.  We shall stay and meet them in the manner that they choose.  I am a man of my word for all to see."

 :ooc: Sorry problems at work have kept me away.

 :ooc: matt, I'll withdraw my post if you want to chime in here. I think this is an important point for Grimbeorn.

Grimbeorn calls out to the wall and those behind it.  "I am Grimbeorn and speak to those who hold my people in ransom.  I have offered your leader a hand, an open hand and he rejects it.  This man sees nothing but blood in the end, while I come offering you this one chance to walk away from this in freedom, a chance at a new life for you.  You are surrounded and will be overwhelmed.  You came seeking a new future and you will find one here, one way or another."

 :ooc:
 :00:
Hope if necessary

 :ooc: Yup, use the hope.

As he speaks, Grimbeorn seeks to meet the eyes of the men he addresses, that he might know how open their hearts are to his words.  But though he sees movement through the stockade, the men beyond are ciphers to him, their faces hidden.  No word comes back to him save from Vidugalum, who calls out "you are right, I see naught but blood for this day.  And wise are those who follow me, to see through your offer of false hope and childish fantasy!" 

Away from the negotiation at the stockade, Esgalwen, Bandy and the archers reach the barn.  From within come the quiet, furtive noises of desperate captives wondering if they will live to see the sunset. 


:ooc: Using a Hope point doesn't quite put you over the line, so I'll consider it unspent. 

 :ooc: I'm going with Persuade. Perhaps Tate can talk some sense into this punk.

Persuade Roll
Feat Die:
Skill Dice:

 :ooc: Son of a...
Well, that stinks... and here I had this epic post too.  >:p
Tate shall take it as these men really are stubborn.  :(

Tate cleared his throat. "Wise?" He queried softly. "I suppose a fool might think his foolishness wise."

Looking the leader of the men on the other side of the wall, Tate projected his voice. "Listen, Lord Vidugalum, and all you wise men who follow him. I understand how difficult this position is.. you are like wolf pups, wandering these woods as though in your first season, striking at the weakest thing you can sink your teeth into. And you, Lord Vidugalum, the most cunning amongst this pack, convincing these men rich reward if they would follow you, yipping on about promises you thought you could deliver.

"But you have not delivered, have you? You've known it for some time. And the rest of the pack senses it too. They are becoming unconvinced of your lies. And you feel it... feet it in your chest, the tension that catches your breath, as you try to stave off the unseen dagger. You know it is only a matter of time...

"Winter is coming. And so, you whipped the pack up for one final attack, Stanford, promising these pups, 'See, have I not provided, safety and spoils for us for the harsh winter.'

"It was a wild gambit. You were desperate, I understand. You told yourselves, 'Surely, the Bear will not miss one of her cubs. Surely, the Bear will not bother over the lost of the least of her one.'

"But you were mistaken, forgetful perhaps. Or have you not heard the vengeful ruin Beorn brought down on the heads of the orcs in the during the Battle of Five Armies, payment for the treatment of his enslaved kin.

"And it is possible that your ears have not yet heard the ruin that has come to the house of Viglund? I know Grimbeorn is no braggart, but surely you have heard the news! Lord Viglund's  lodge... nothing more than smouldering embers and ash. It's a fine tale, truthfully... Grimbeorn, son of the Bear, and his standard bearer, the cunning Hathcyn, stood alone against the clan of Viglund... the whole clan! They knocked on the doors of Viglund's home, demanded the return of their people, and when they were refused, these two men, standing right here before you, released all the captives, not just their people, all the captives. You see some amongst us now, yes?

"Can see now your error in judgment? The Bear cares very much about even the least. And the Bear has seen what you have done, little wolf pack. He bring judgment in his right hand, and vengeance in his left. It took only two Beorning to bring ruin down upon Viglund. Look carefully at the host before you, for it is a hundred times more than what Viglund faced.

"Now, then, Lord Vidugalum, listen well and learn the lesson Viglund failed to heed. For though Grimbeorn, son of Beorn, comes at you with numbers enough to drive you into the Anduin, yet from his mouth, he speaks to you words of peace. You may go and live and rule over your pack two days journey from here. Some of your men will likely perish through the winter because of your poor planning, but you may survive. And maybe you will have sons and perhaps they too may live as wolf-kings and rule over your pack. And, maybe, some day, there maybe will be songs sung about you, wolf-king, or of your pups.

"But should you refuse, know this: The Wolfslayer and his people have come upon you. The curse of Williferd lays heavy upon you. Ruin and wrath shall overrun these walls and, by sunrise tomorrow, only your blood staining the ground will remain. After the first rain, even that will be washed away and remembered no more. By winter, you will be utterly forgotten.

"Choose carefully now, wolf-king, and all you who wisely follow him. The Wolfslayer has shown you great patience... Do not mistake it as hesitation."

"Two days march from here, I hear again and again," comes the reply.  "Where ought we go, in these two days?  What fields route with grain, ought we harvest when we arrive?  What kine ought we herd?  Bah, there are none such!  To accept the offer your lord makes is to perish, and no generous offer is that!"

Within the stockade, the sound comes off footsteps, and the clinking of mail rings, as Vidugalum parades himself before his warriors. "Seek not, therefore, to divide me from my followers, for we are of one mind.  If we are to die, then let it come in glorious battle, and not as paupers in the wild!"


:ooc: Man, I struggled with that result, 'cause it was such an awesome post, but in the end the dice wanted to tell a different story.

You guys have three successes and two failures.  But there's still a slight chance that you could turn this around...

 :ooc: If Tate is allowed, he does have Trader's Savvy, which allows him to raise the tolerance.

Normally, you'd roll this at the beginning of the encounter. I'll roll it. If you judge it acceptable, keep the result. If you don't, no worries at all... just disregard.

Trader's Savvy [Song] Roll

Feat Die:
Skill Dice:

 :ooc: Yeah, I'm taking my dice and going home...  :x
Nevermind about raising the tolerance.

 :ooc: What skills are usable for this encounter? Awe and Persuade, yes? If Tate uses his Awe is the TN 16 for his roll?

To be honest, Tate's pretty close to the "Okay, you asked for it!"

 :ooc: dusts off mass combat rules

:ooc: Apart from the two you've mentioned, all the usual suspects could be used, if you can think of a way to justify them - Inspire would be useful if you were going to try to sway the Toft-men as a whole, as would Song.  Riddle could work to persuade Vidugalum that you know more than you're saying, and Insight could give you some clues about the state of things inside the village.

 :ooc:
Unless someone has something else to say, Grimbeorn will finish this...


"Vidugalam, you may condemn yourself to a bloody end, but do not let the innocent suffer, let them leave this place.  Doing so may prove this day more merciful."

 :ooc:
 :00:
Hope above all hope.


Grimbeorn only stays long enough to see if there is a reply.  If one comes that isn't favorable, he replies, "This day and these lives are upon you, all will remember that and rue it.  This parlay is over."

Hathcyn passed a longing look over the village. Those who observed him may have taken it as hesitation, or the up welling of coming loss. This was not the case. The standard bearer of the Beornings had already resigned himself to the fates pushing events towards battle. Instead he looked to gain some insight into how they could storm the village.

Insight roll to determine objectives for Mass Combat.

Bandy was inside the stockade. He had passed through the sharpened sticks and with a quick glance behind himself he saw Esgalwen with a handful of men stalled out on the outskirts. He had no time to guide the big folk through the fence, he was unsure why they had come. All the risks that he took relied on his being able to sneak in undetected and inspect the barn.

Moving he found quickly that stores of straw and wood had been placed against the building so that when the fire was lit it would burn quickly and hotly. He also so that the building had been secured from the outside so that the those within could not escape. He also assumed that those within were those who did not have the power to resist their conquerors. These folks would be the old, the sick, and the wounded. Those that the defenders would not care about, but that the attackers would.

Bandy quickly decided that this building would be a focal point for Grimbeorn's attack. His desire to free these people would also place them at the greatest risk, for if he got close to the building they would set it on fire. The small hobbit also realized that he would not be able to prevent the firing of the building. The structure was to large and the tinder and fuel too great for him to cover the whole area with is bow. Surely one would make it through with a flame and lite the building. The only course was to find a way out for those within. So the Hobbit crept closer looking for a blind spot in which to begin freeing the captives held within.

INSIGHT

 :ooc: Esgalwen and her raiders are inside the palisade, too.

 :ooc: I was thinking Song as well...

Song Check on the front end this time... trying to demoralize the Toft-men and encourage them to give up...

Feat Die:
Skill Die:

Minstrelsy if needed.

:ooc: I'll pay that - you're up to five successes before Grimbeorn's failure ends the encounter. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Oct 24, 2018, 04:56 PMInsight roll to determine objectives for Mass Combat.

:ooc: Strictly speaking, this (and Bandy's roll) really ought to be Battle and Awareness, but I'll pay those, too, to keep things moving.  I won't put more narration in until I see what Aryn has in mind for Tate's song, but Bandy has found a spot where he, Esgalwen and the archers could set up an ambush that would give anyone trying to set fire to the kindling outside the barn a really bad afternoon.  Someone would need to run out into the open, though, to un-bar the doors. 

As for objectives, I'll give you these:
1. Gain entry to the village - the section of the stockade nearest to the parlay site can obviously be dragged open or closed, or you could focus the assault elsewhere. 
2. Free the captives from the barn - not essential to victory, but essential to one that doesn't feel hollow. 
3. Degrade the Blood-moon forces - there would've been three of this objective, but you've done a good job of reducing their morale ahead of the battle. 
4. Kill or capture Vidugalum. 

Having read over the battle rules again, I think I'm going to make a minor change to the Assault Wave Table on p 12.  A roll of 5, 6 or 7 means deadlock - no objectives achieved and no change in the relative strengths of the forces.  A roll of 8, 9 or 10 achieves an objective from the list above.  A :g: achieves two. 

 :ooc: Kids with flu bug tapped me out tonight.
I might be able to post tomorrow night, but feel free to move along. Poetry takes me forever to write.
The basic song was to be 3 verses long, with a chorus after each verse, all told from the perspective of Tate and Hathcyn recalling the battle we're about to have:

Verse one would be from the perspective of later tonight, Tate and Hathcyn recalling in vivid detail how the Wolfslayer and his people overran this mongrel-king and his insolent pack of wolf-whelps, recalling how the Toft-men's hearts melted when the first heard the mighty roar of the Bear-folk. Tate and Hathcyn mimic and laugh at Vidugalum and his foolish pride, wondering what could have happened if the wolf had made peace with the Bear.

Verse two would again be Tate and Hathcyn conversing about the battle of Stanford, a week after the battle and the cold rains of Winter approaching are washing away the blood of battle and the ravens have nearly picked clean the bodies. Tate and Hathcyn are having a harder time remembering some of the details though now about Vidugalum and his men... but what does it matter, it was insignificant. Hardly dimming the joyful life and laughter of the Beornings.

Verse three have Tate and Hathcyn into mid-winter enjoying the fruits of their labour, trying to recall once again the Battle of Stanford, but the two have nearly forgotten it, not even sure who the people were who fell at the blades. Oh, well, doesn't matter!

The chorus after each verse shifts focus to celebrating the victories of Grimbeorn, son of the Bear, the Wolfslayer, and the Bear-folk, about their strength and ferocity, freedom and glory. The chorus would be simple, repetitive and merry. Something that hearer could catch on to by the end of the first chorus so that the volume would build as more Beornings caught onto the song.

If the song sticks around, I could imagine that it would have a bantering two-voice storytelling feel during the verses and a call and response feel during the chorus.

:ooc: That's awesome just from the description!  But I hear you - sick kids take priory.

 :ooc: Grimbeorn will specifically seek O1 and O4, leaving the freeing the captives and demoralizing the raiders to the others.  He will use Insight to send his men into battle at the best location, seeking the greatest advantage based upon the parlay with "king."

:ooc: Okay, that definitely places him At the Gates throughout the battle.  Bandy and Esgalwen will be Skirmishers (at least for the first wave or two), based on their position.  Where do you want to deploy the other PCs? 

Determining the areas of best advantage will be a Battle roll, not Insight (which is really for reading people). 

 :ooc: i should have read the skill descriptions.

Anyway, Hathcyn will be next to Grimbeorn with the banner of the Bear. Standard banners in Tolkien have poor battle fates, bit let's do this!

:ooc: As with Tom, above, you're welcome to chime in and say where your character will be in the absence of some other command!  For example, Arbogast will lead the remaining ten or so Woodmen, probably on one flank or the other.

:ooc: Faced with three days of crickets chirping, I'm going to go ahead and say that Idunn will be in reserve, where here healing expertise can be put to best use.  Everyone else not named above will be At the Gates with Grimbeorn and Hathcyn. 

Story post to follow shortly. 

 :ooc: Hey Paul, sorry if you were looking for something we didn't give. Esgalwen is hiding near the barn and waiting to see how the encounter ends.

I don't have any other thing to add unless you need a skill roll. Otherwise, it is either battle or we escort these people out.

:ooc: Nah, you're fine, Doug.  I wanted to see whether Aryn or Matt had anything else to say before we kicked things along.