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.
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."
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
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).
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.
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.
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.
Quote from: BrianM on Feb 17, 2007, 09:26 PM
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.
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.
"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.
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."
The companions ran out into the moonlit night and strained their eyes in the direction that Edrahil pointed, trying to discern the fell-beasts. Durgil climbed up the low wall of the house and onto the roof, the noble hoping that the wooden supports would hold him. The others fanned out a few yards from the structure, weapons at the ready.
Soon the wargs revealed themselves as they crested the low lying hills just to the west. The lead warg was massive in the dark and his eyes maintained the glow of the moon giving it an even more intimidating look. The three other wargs came up to stand beside the lead and there they stayed - none moved any closer to the house. The lead warg snarled and snapped at his comrades and then the creatures turned and began to lope back north.
OOC: How far away are they? Too far for a bow shot?
OOC: The hilltop from the house falls within medium range Matt.
In a low voice to the others, "They look as though they are moving on? Should we let them?"
OOC: If the answer is to let them go, Durgil keeps an eye on them until they are out of sight, otherwise he follows orders or...
Init - 7*+2=9
1) Aim - Lead warg
2) RC - 7*+11+2-2 Medium=18- darkness penalties
Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Feb 21, 2007, 08:16 AM
In a low voice to the others, "They look as though they are moving on? Should we let them?"
In barely more than a whisper, Dirnhael said, "Let us wait and see. I suspect they have caught our scent, however, and even if they leave for the night, we will see them again..."
"We should kill them before they bring more or warn whatever masters they may have that we are coming."
Galduir held his blade before him even though the Wargs were moving on, "I'm with the dwarf, no Warg I have heard of would give up a meal so easily. We should finish them now that they are before our eyes."
OOC: Understand that the horses are not saddled at this time, the gear being stowed in the house to keep it dry. It will take about 3-5 minutes for the mounts to be prepared, but the wargs are not running away at any great speed... more like they are just troting back north.
Let me know what you guys want to do.
I also need each character, including Edrahil, to make a Stamina test TN 12 to resist losing a weariness level.
Dirnhael thought about what members of the Company had said. He also had no doubt that they would see these Wargs again - the battle was inevitable. But tracking the creatures in the dark held little appeal to him - he had no desire to follow them back to a lair with a dozen more of the vile beasts lying in wait with the blackness surrounding them.
Dirnhael was a confident man, but he had the Company to think about; he would not risk their lives unnecessarily on such an escapade.
But if they could bring the Wargs to them instead...
"Stoke the fire and make ready," he said. Looking to Edrahil, he said, "My friend, we may be able to use your light as well, if you are so prepared." He sheathed Vorandur and put his shield on his back, then took out his bow and stood alongside Durgil.
"Let us welcome them to the neighborhood," he said to the young man with a wolfish grin not unlike a Warg itself.
***
OOC: When the Company is ready, Dirnhael will fire (along with Durgil if he agrees) at the lead Warg, hoping to provoke it and it's companions into an attack on the emplaced Company.
Stamina test TN12
Roll(1d12)+6: 10+6=16
Gripping his axe just a little tighter so that the strain of the leather can be heard faintly in the night air Nain gives a nod.
OOC: Updated RC test with Medium distance penalty.
TN 12 Stamina - 8*+3=11 FAILURE, Durgil is Winded
RC -> 17-darkness penalties
Durgil rubs the sleep from his eyes, waits for Dirnhael to ready himself, then gives the nod to release.
OOC
Stamina Test TN12
Stamina+1, Resolute+1, Tireless +4
Roll(1d12)+6: 6,+6 Total:12
IC
The elf nodded to Dirnhael, indicating that he was ready. "Something seems odd with the behaviour of these beasts. I expected them to attack immediately. I fear that they are not the only servants of the Shadow in this place." Holding his sword before him, Edrahil prepared to summon his own light to combat the foul creatures.
OOC
modified the post due to the change in the Stamina roll - sorry I missed that
OOC: Hey Brian, I adjusted your post... you may want to adjust Edrahil's dialogue. He passed his Stamina test.
Stamina TN 12:
Sta+3; Tireless+4;
Roll(1d12)+7: 2,+7 Total:9 Hey I don't like rolling d12, I never seem to get decent rolls, and by decent I mean above 4. What gives?
Fengel didn't think that these wargs had anything to do with his sister, but he did mean to claim his families land back. And there is no place for wargs around his homestead. Still a little tired, he stood by Dirnhael's side, ready to take on the beasts.
The arrows of the warriors took flight into the moonlit sky and arced up, only to return back down towards the retreating wargs. Durgil was pleased to see the trailing warg trip sideways and turn about with a snarl. It snapped at its hind quarters, and though the Dúnadan could not see the protruding arrow from so far away, he knew that one of their missiles had struck true. The two men of Arnor quickly nocked a new arrow to string and let fly another volley. They would rain down on the wargs until they decided to turn and fight or drive them off completely.
In the distance, the great warg leader turned and bared his large teeth towards the Men, Elf and Dwarf; the moon glinting in his eyes and casting an evil stare. It sniffed at the air and drew in heavy the scent of these interlopers.
"No," it thought, "I will not forget you."
It raised its massive head and howled towards the moon, its sorrowful voice carrying over the plain to Dirnhael. To the warrior, he heard words whispered in the cry, "Death to you all!"
The lead warg snarled to his comrades and they began to run away from the incoming arrows - the wounded warg trailing behind with a faulty step.
OOC: Actions and/or Dialogue?
Quote from: tomcat on Feb 23, 2007, 07:38 PM
It raised its massive head and howled towards the moon, its sorrowful voice carrying over the plain to Dirnhael. To the warrior, he heard words whispered in the cry, "Death to you all!"
The lead warg snarled to his comrades and they began to run away from the incoming arrows - the wounded warg trailing behind with a faulty step.
A chill went straight into Dirnhael's bones.
He had
heard something - speaking - from the beast! It seemed impossible.
He looked around briefly, as he put his bow away and placed his hand tightly on Vorandur's hilt, hoping to see the same look of uncertainty among his comrades as he surely had in his eyes. He saw none.
"Well done," he said curtly, before retreating into the house. Dirnhael couldn't sleep for the rest of that night, instead taking watch with Edrahil and confiding to his friend about what he heard. He hoped that the wise Elf had an explanation.
Like his friends, Durgil knew that wouldn't be the last they'd have seen or heard of those dark hounds. After seeing to his horse, he returned to his bed and an uneasy sleep, hand always within reach of bow and blade.
OCC: I don't know if this is necessary but here goes...
Weariness TN 12:
1d12=12
Stamina (+2), Tireless (+6)
12+2+6= 20 Superior Success
Nain was a little disappointed that the wargs didnt come back, but he didn't let it bother him as he headed back into the house, laid down once again on the floor with his blanket and was quickly snoring.
Quote from: sdrotar on Feb 23, 2007, 10:13 PM
"Well done," he said curtly, before retreating into the house. Dirnhael couldn't sleep for the rest of that night, instead taking watch with Edrahil and confiding to his friend about what he heard. He hoped that the wise Elf had an explanation.
Sitting beside his friend, Edrahil brooded over their strange encounter. "I'm afraid I have little to add, Dirnhael. Those Wargs did not behave the way we have witnessed in the past. You say that words were carried on the beast's howl. I do not understand this." The elf withdrew into his own thoughts for the remainder of the night.