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FALL TO SPRING OCTOBER 2951 THROUGH MARCH YEAR 2952 T.A.

I give you open forum to write up your characters' / the party's activities (undertakings) through the winter months of 2951 and into spring of the new year.

Arbogast will find upon his return that he is a father-to-be. The child will be born with the new spring.

All character ages updated for the new game year  :csu:

Each PC will earn the number of AP equal to what is checked off on their sheet plus 6

Each PC will earn 12 XP.

Also, I need Rorin and Arbogast to give me a roll of the Feat die for their Holdings:

• if the die roll result is equal to or less than the Holding's rating, you earned enough income to keep your PC's current standard of living.

• if the roll is greater than the rating, the PC gains his standard of living and treasure equal to the difference of the die roll and the rating.

• if the roll is :g:, the PC earns his standard of living and the rating of the holding is reduced by 1 due to some good fortune.

• if the roll is :~~:, the holding suffers some disaster of misfortune. If the hero does not take action the next Fellowship Phase, the holding may be destroyed, or have its rating increased.

Narrative to follow. Double checking after the last fellowship phase i should have xp3 and AP3
Total of 15 and 16

XP Valour to 3 for -6
Short sword to 3 for -6 leaves 3

AP 16
Insight F to 3 -9 leaves 7

Before i change me sheet check my math please

:ooc: In a similar vein, I have a single XP stored up and 7 AP.  Adding the haul from the last adventuring phase gives me 13 XP and 23 AP - or 24 if his Persuade roll with Caewin was a success. 

I'm going to spend 10 XP to increase Valour to 4.  Because once you've gone toe-to-toe with a wight king, most other things don't seem so scary. 

I'll spend 16 xp to raise Courtesy and Inspire to 2.  I'm in two minds about the rest.  I could buy a point of Lore, or Awe (or both, if I get that last AP), or do something else that I haven't yet thought of.  I'm open to suggestions. 

:csu: for the changes listed above. 

Bandy was soon busy with Rorin cleaning out the forge and making all the necessary repairs to the shop after having been gone for so long. The two set to it and in no time the forge was hot and the orders for the dwarf's work began to pour in. Fearing that he would again be gone in the spring many repairs that would normally wait for the turning of the season to be done where sent in now. Highest among his orders and his priorities however was the sharpening of swords. There was little for Bandy to do in this regard so once things were running he was soon out and about as usual. For the Hobbit the season passed by with little of note saving two events. The first was that he was asked by some of the men of the town to give instruction in the use of bows. The woodmen relied more on spears, but the skill the Hobbit had with a bow was a valuable thing and his expertise was questioned by none. The second event, and more significant, occurred soon after their return.

Late in October the Halfling set out to see Radagast in the pursuit of some lore as to the foul creatures they had encountered. The Halfling expected the Wizard to be home for the path took him straight to the house without the confusing turn a bouts that occurred when he wasnt at home. Upon arriving however another figure sat outside the door off the wizard.

"Well hello, what's this?" Said the Hobbit.
There he saw a man, his face was long, with a high forehead, he had deep darkling eyes, hard to fathom, though the look they now bore was brave and benevolent and a little weary. His hair and beard were white, but strands of black still showed about his lips and ears. And though seated Bandy saw that he was tall and clad all in white.

"Ahh, the Hobbit of the Shire I have heard about. Master Bracegirdle, a barrel of beer has ripened at the moment of our meeting."

"Why that's very kind of you to say so sir, a most pleasant welcome indeed. You seem to know me, but I dont know you begging your pardon sir."

"I believe you have questions that need answering, or so I have been told." The voice of the old man was mellow and soft, but seemed to touch the Hobbit as if they had been long friends and it was only the passing of time that had hidden the old acquaintance from immediate recall.

"Indeed I do sir. Many and deep for the master of the house, is he home?"

"He is not at the moment. I came here to speak with him as well, but perhaps I can aid you in his stead."

Bandy never knew anyone to be here when the Brown Wizard wasnt, but something of the bearing of this man said that he too was powerful and mighty, perhaps even more so then the one whose council he sought.

"Maybe you can be..." Bandy found that he poured out to the man all the questions that he had about wights, and the barrow beasts, as well as deeper questions about the Necromancer's Tower and the state of Wilderland. The hobbit seemed to talk and speak without any care as to the passing of the time..."and well I guess those are my biggest concerns, but now I dont even know your name do I."

"I am Saruman the White." And with that simple statement the Hobbit, though not really knowing the man, then knew in his heart he was in the presence of one of the great wizards of the age. With that the Wizard explained to the Hobbit the great struggle that was occurring, and how it was a great burden to prepare against, but that the stout hearts and brave deeds of even the smallest would prove helpful in the days ahead. With those words the Hobbit was comforted, and felt that his insight into the workings of the enemy were clearer and his sense of purpose renewed. Then to the surprise of the Hobbit he was delighted when the old man took out a pipe and asked the Hobbit if he would have a bowl with him and chat now that the important business was taken care of.

As the two smoked the Hobbit found that the kind old man was very interested in the Shire and wished to know all the places that Bandy knew and delighted in the stories of the people and places to the point where Bandy himself thought that he was home again in the telling of stories with someone who had shared the same experiences.

Soon their smoking was finished and the conversation took on a more serious note. "The hour is growing late Master Bracegirdle, and I see that I can not await upon our friend any longer. You are right to seek the council of the wise, and should you need my council I may be found in Isengard, away to the south a bit and to the west. Between the arms of the mountain you may find me and my folk. While I prepare and labor for the coming war I will have time for you and your news, and to provide what aid I might. It lightens my heart as well to speak of such a place as the Shire and we may speak of it again. Perhaps you can draw me a map of the North Farthing so that I may know what lays in relation to what. In any case you must keep up your struggle against the enemy. Ever will he grasp at me and I must husband my strength for the final battle and can do little until then but advise and help with knowledge as I may. Seek me when you have need for aid, and as for the fell beasts the woods must be cleared of them when and as often as you can. Ever will they grow otherwise and eventually find their way to his armies."

With a nod and a bow to the old man the Halfling found himself on his way back to the forge, with a lighter heart, and a sense that he and his companions had a job to do in the coming years.

 :ooc: Undertaking Meet Patron: Saruman  :SS  >:D

:ooc: Holding roll
TN 9

The company's return to Black Tarn Hall is noticed well ahead of their arrival, and the cheers and smiles of the folk of the Western Eaves are a welcome change after the darkness and flies of the forest.  Before they can be ushered into Sweartmereseld to eat and rest, Arbogast turns to his friends.  "Each of you has proven themselves to me a dozen times or more, and each of you has made themselves known as a steadfast friend of my people.  This favour I beg of you now: to accompany me as I make an offer to Amaleoda for Lindwine's hand." 

They do not have to go far.  Lindwine appears by the Fire-watcher's side seconds later, and takes his hand with a grin.  Amaleoda awaits them at the southern gate, well-arrayed and surrounded by the elders of the House.  "Welcome once more Esgalwen of Gondor and Grimbeorn, son of Beorn.  Welcome once more Rorin Helm-Smith, and Bandobras Brace-girdle!  Welcome home, Idunn, my kinswoman.  And welcome home Arbogast, who I believe has a boon to ask of me." 

Beneath the grime of many days of travel, Arbogast's face flushes, and he freezes momentarily in place before Lindwine subtly shoves him forward.  "Indeed," he stammers. 

"I think we can take its nature to be commonly understood," Amaleoda says, to good-natured laughter.  "Have you a suitable handgeld?"

"That I do."  He opens the bag of treasure from Caewin and places it on the ground before her.  "Gold rings, and silver, that I have from the Lord of the Sunstead." 

"You will keep some, I trust, for a morning-gift?" 

"Of course." 

"And have you a weapon to bear in the defence of my kinswoman?" 

Arbogast draws forth his axe and hands it to her.  Though its handle has been cloven nearly in twain by wight blades, its head is yet bright and sharp.  Amaleoda looks it over, her face full of mock-concern. 

"You will need to take better care of it!  Still, it is a fine axe.  Has it a name?" 

Arbogast thinks for a second of the fight with the wight-king, and of how it bit into wizened and twisted things in the darkness beneath the earth.  "Wyrtácléofa," he replies. 

"Good.  Bear it well." 

And with that, the handa sellan is made.  As Amaleoda takes Arbogast's hands, cheers resound and Lindwine is whisked away by Idunn and sundry other kinswomen, already whispering excitedly.  Arbogast stands with a stupefied grin upon his face. 

To the remainder of the companions, Amaleoda says "The hospitality of Sweartmereseld is yours.  I understand that your way has been long, and that some of you have far yet to go.  But if you may tarry but a few more days, you shall be honoured guests for the wedding."

I would go with Awe, you can use it in the combat stances.

 :ooc: I will have my updates soon.

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 15, 2016, 05:00 AMI would go with Awe, you can use it in the combat stances.

Eh, I've already got plenty of Battle for that.  Awe would mainly be for social situations - and not immediately, as one die isn't all that much help. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Sep 14, 2016, 04:06 PM:ooc: In a similar vein, I have a single XP stored up and 7 AP.  Adding the haul from the last adventuring phase gives me 13 XP and 23 AP - or 24 if his Persuade roll with Caewin was a success.  

:ooc: Hey Paul, no - that Persuade roll was not a success, the TN was REALLY high to get Ceawin to release that helmet.

Also - just so everyone knows, I messed up somewhere in our AP XP calculations and I am doing an audit of all characters. It won't change anything to this point - I am just trying to reconcile how many points I have given and I seem to be missing an advancement. I only count 4, but there seems to be five.

Anyway, no big deal...when I get done with the audit, your PC sheet will be up to date.

Paul's yours is done.  :csu:
Tom, I checked your math (only had one variance in XP balance) and updated your PC sheet with your changes.  :csu:
Matt, your sheet is updated; the AP and the XP cells have been adjusted for you to spend.  :csu:
Steve, your sheet is ready like Matt's  :csu:

Esgalwen has been audited  :csu: 

 :ooc: So that is how Saruman began to get his information about the Shire! Fill a pipe with weed and Bandy's mouth begins to talkin'.  ;D

Saruman's first mistake was showing an interest. Figured I would start feeding the fire a bit. Bandys need for knowledge is a perfect hook for Isengard.

:ooc: Paul, unless you already have something in your mind for the story regarding Arbogast and Lindwine's upcoming Spring package, I want you to make a roll on the following table:

Die Roll	Result
1-5	The child is a girl
6-10	The child is a boy
:g:	There is a special occurrence (i.e. twins, the child is marked as a future River Maiden, or something
:~~:	There is an awful occurrence (i.e. stillborn, twins but one is stillborn, handicapped, or something

The "or somethings" I am leaving to your creativity. If you turn it back over to me in regard to what has occurred, I will make the decision and post it in an upcoming narrative. Like I said, unless you have an idea already in your mind for the baby, I am going to leave it to chance - as that is kind of how life works.

I will have a Fellowship Phase narrative posted as soon as I hear from Matt and Steve regarding their phase advancements and any narrative they are doing.

Finally, the Fellowship pool is at 7 (six PC's plus Esgalwen's Noble-lineage), so you guys can disperse the Hope points.

Ayrn - Idunn will not be included in the party from this point forward, but she will be an ongoing character in the Black Tarn, should you ever get the time to play steadily. To all the other players, this means she will not be gaining any of the Hope points earned and will not add to the Fellowship pool in the next chapter.

Doug,
 I'll go back and reread how the Fellowship pool is supposed to work. My work trip next week was canceled so I'll be able to refrence some stuff if you want to figure out how some of the PbP games are going to go.

All,
I picked up another reward, but I am kind if split between making the knife from Mountain Hall a Kings Blade or a Bow of the North Downs.

The blade will let me burn a point of hope for an auto piercing blow with any  :%:  roll and I took another skill in shoert sword so that would stack nicely.

The Bow lets me add my valour rating to the skill roll to shoot and I got four skill in that.

After my pour showing at meleé I'm leaning towards the short sword so that Bandy isnt worthless and then probably get the Bow next time. Any thoughts from the group?

Paraphrasing the book on Fellowship Points:
- Fellowship points are used for replenishing members' Hope points during Fellowship phase
- Player requests a number of points of the group, the group agrees or doesn't; if they don't points still may be taken but Shadow points are accrued for each point taken in this fashion
- Number of points gained cannot exceed player's max
- Fellowship points are refreshed at the beginning of each gaming session
- Unused points aren't carried over between sessions

I would request Grimbeorn be allowed to use 3 points in that he used them to protect the party members.

:ooc: Esgalwen cannot take any - she is not allowed to refresh Hope via the Fellowship pool, so the points are for the four of you guys.

Here is how you all stand on Hope (current / max):

Arbogast 10/16
Bandy 15/18
Grimbeorn 6/12
Rorin 8/10

Looks like Arbogast and Grimbeorn should get favour this turn around. Did you guys refresh your Hope from last Fellowship Phase? I don't recall you doing that, so if I am correct and you haven't, I will award an additional 4 points to the 8 for a total of 12 to draw from.

 :ooc: Advancement - Lore +1 (4 Adv, 6 remaining)
Experience - Wisdom +1, Virtue: Twice-baked Honeycakes (16 XP, 2 remaining)
Grimbeorn sheet updated  :csu:

The Son of Beorn allowed himself to be happy for his boon friend and comrade in his days of wedded bliss.  The darkness of their travels was briefly left behind as the fall leaves, flowers, and feast filled the village.  It was here that he parted with his comrades, staying a short time longer than the others as they headed to Rhosgobel and beyond.  Grimbeorrn remained to help with the odd job and roamed the lands a bit with the hunters and outbounders.  On the day before he was to leave, he brought in a deer for the new couple and they feasted that evening with venison and good drink.  This break before his return to lands of his home reminded him briefly of his family before the loss of his mother, which gave him a thought.  Early in the morning, Grimbeorn sneaked off to avoid further imposition.  Once he reached the bounds of Arbogast's home, he turned back towards it, raised his hands and gave a silent blessing upon the home, one like his mother would bestow.

Back to his father's hall after his absence, Grimbeorn breathed in the memories.  One of them is most potent, coming in the form of baked honey and oats.  He felt practically a child entering the kitchen and was welcomed with rows of his father's honeycakes and a sight that none who met his father would ever guess: the elder Beorn coated in flour dust and bits of dough in his beard.  "Ahh, I heard you've returned, my son, and you have changed much I see but only few months have passed.  Word has come my way by way of traders at the Ford of your actions with the Woodmen in the south protecting those villages.  Well done!  Grab a couple of cakes and I'll get the mead and you can tell me of your travels at the hearth."

The nights of winter rolled on and turned shorter as the days of spring.  During this time Grimbeorn was apprentice again to his father in the kitchens spicing meats, prepping jars of harvest fruits and vegetables, and baking up a storm.  When he wasn't in the kitchen, he was roaming the lands of his youth again and dealing with further troubles from the east from the denizens of Mirkwood and the goblins of the north and west.  Soon enough spring spouted and the rains have come.

No we didnt. But it appears we need to determine what a session is.

:ooc: Yea, I know.

I am thinking that a we will do TWO Fellowship Pool draws for each chapter - meaning, I will announce a Fellowship Pool draw when we are in the middle of a chapter, and then we will do one at the end of each chapter during the Fellowship Phase.

As for the Fellowship Focus: a Hope point is earned immediately when you spend a Hope to help or favour the Focus; and a PC gains a free Hope point at the end of each chapter, during the Fellowship Phase if the Focus was not harmed during that chapter (Hope can never be increased above your max).

Shadow points will be earned by PC's at the time the PC's focus is ever harmed during a chapter (3 if the Focus is slain).

How does that sound?

If everyone is cool with this as our PbP house rule, then you guys may draw from the Fellowship pool x 2  (or 14 points) this time, since I did not put a draw in play midway through last chapter.

Works for me

:ooc: Yeah, that works.  It saves time waiting for people to approve Fellowship spends in the middle of the action. 

Im good too.. Id request more hope back than the 3 i asked for before upon this group humble agreement.

I think that that should get us all back up to max. So I'm ok with everyone taking what they need.

I think this is going to make hope and shadow more meaningful in the game. They have been kind of hand waved, at least I havent really been paying attention to when it is spent or lost. Good call Doug I think this is going to work out in the spirit of the game.

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 18, 2016, 06:01 PMI think that that should get us all back up to max. So I'm ok with everyone taking what they need.

:ooc: The Party is down by 17 - you all have 14 to disburse, so I need to know who is getting what.

BTW - I also rebuilt Esgalwen. I kept everything the same, but deconstructed her and then wrote out the New Culture for our RESOURCES page. I also tied her more closely to the Rangers of the North in Rivendell (i.e. attributes, starting skills, etc.)

Though the ice that lay upon the Black Tarn has thawed, winter has been slow to leave the forest, and Arbogast's breath steams in the air as he waits by the shore - feeling out of place without a fire to watch.  The night is dark.  The hearth of Sweartmereseld is long banked and clouds lie low and heavy in the sky. 

There is plenty to concern a man on such a night - poor fishing from the tarn, and few beasts in the traps, that have given little meat for the table and left the fish-broth thin.  Few furs have been taken for trade, though he has wrapped the winter coat of a black rabbit about his hands.  The faces of the folk of Black Tarn Hall have grown thinner over the winter, his own included. 

Yet he and his folk are no strangers to frugality, and it is not these things that occupy his thoughts.  Rather, he turns over in his mind the things that he has learned these past months in conversation with the elders of the House - and Radaghast, on the wizard's infrequent visits.  His mind is a jumble of tales of elder days - of the kings of Rhovanion and the great plague that laid their realm waste, of the adventure of Balthi and the founding of the halls of the Woodmen, and of the Shadow that has crept over Mirkwood by imperceptible degrees.  He wonders at what tales might have been told about the Men who became the wights in the barrow hills of the East Bight, were any left to remember the battles they fought.  He wonders whether they were stalwart enemies of the Shadow, or its willing allies, or something in-between. 

Unnoticed for some time, the lapping of the waters on the shore slowly resolves itself into a pattern, and he stirs from his reverie.  It may be that his fatigue-oppressed eyes play tricks on him, but he thinks he sees, spread out on the dark water like a web among branches, strands of wet hair.  He thinks he sees a hand beckoning to him, and a pair of eyes, just above the surface of the water, flash with a light that comes from nowhere in Middle-Earth. 

Nothing does he hear, however, beyond the end of the moaning he has harkened to since before nightfall.  The silence lasts mere seconds before being broken by the sharp, urgent cries of the newly-born, and the soft, low tones of the Staunching Song.  From out of the doorway of a tiny hut, a sudden light spills, and the surface of the lake is only widening ripples.  Idunn, exhausted but beaming, reaches him in several sure strides. 

"Rejoice, my friend, for you are twice a father tonight!" 

Nodding his thanks, he walks as quickly as he may to the hut.  Inside, Lindwine awaits.  The hard winter has not spared her, and the deprivations of pregnancy have cost her a pair of teeth.  Yet in her repose, wrapped in sheepskin and still attended by the old midwives, she is beautiful and triumphant beyond the measure of any man.  In her arms lie a pair of babes, bright pink and already seeking to suckle. 

He casts her a quick look, and she replies, understanding.  "We have two daughters." 

Awe-struck, he wraps the rabbit-fur about one of the girls.  She is tiny, almost weightless in his hands, but she fixes him with a steady, solemn gaze. 

"We should call her Arboéagen," he says. 

"I thought Lafwyne." 

He smiles.  "Much better." 

The other child has found her mother's breast, and is drinking with the focus and urgency with which drowning men gasp for air. 

"Cyffa," he pronounces, drawing a beatific smile from Lindwine. 

"Perfect," she says. 

"Yes.  Yes, they are." 


*****


Beyond the warmth, beyond the light, Duskwater continues to watch, awash with resentment and sorrow. 



:ooc: I'm going to spend four AP on a point of Awe.  Arbogast has learned a lot recently, but he's still pretty sketchy on anything further than a day or so from Mirkwood.  For my undertaking this phase, I'm going to change his Herb-Lore speciality to Old Lore. 

As for Hope, I think it makes more sense for him to still be down a couple of points, given recent events and a tough winter.  I'd like to take another 4 points (for a total draw of 5), but I'm happy to take fewer if other people need them. 

I am fine with all of that, Bandy can hold with what he has so if you guys want to divide the remainder gonfor it. 

 :ooc:

TN 8 Holding Roll

After spending several days celebrating the marriage of Arbogast at the Black Tarn, Rorin rode with Bandy back to Rhosgobel to tend to his forge. He was content to begin filling the mundane orders that the good people of Rhosgobel brought him, it was a pleasant distraction from the disaster that had come from his last creation. He was keen to hear any word of trouble in Sunstead and so regularly questioned any travelers that came through the town. The Helm of Peace bore Rorin's Mark and he was did not want his creation that was meant to be a unifying symbol for all the enemies of the Shadow to be the centerpiece of a tragedy in Sunstead, and so he listened.

Shortly after his return, Rorin noticed a large demand for work with weapons as opposed to the tools and building materials of the last year. Sharpening and repairing old blades, spear and arrow tips, and even a few orders for newly forged blades. The orders for new blades in particular intrigued him as most of these were not for the axes and shortswords that were common among the woodsmen, but were instead asking for the longer swords with a prominent hilt styled in the manner of Gondor. When he asked his clients about these curious orders he found that word of Esgalwen's heroic stand at the battle for the Mountain Hall had become a thing of legend. According to one of his customers, "If a blade like this can slay two dozen goblins in the hand of a lady, then a warrior so equipped will be nigh unstoppable!" Rorin laughed and explained that the Ranger from Gondor was no mere 'lady' and that a sword like this would require a new style of fighting, it would not win the wielder's battles for them. He noted this conversation and reminded himself that he simply had to share this with Esgalwen when next they met.

With this influx of weapons into Rhosgobel, and seeing Bandy begin to instruct some woodsmen in the use of the bow, Rorin thought that he too may be of some service. He started to spend some of his time when he was not at the forge to train the people of Rhosgobel in a more martial and disciplined form of fighting. The woodsmen had strength, spirit, and a strong shield wall but he found that they often lacked the discipline to effectively fight in a larger pitched battle.

And thus Rorin passed the time until the coming spring.

 :ooc:

I don't have my books with me at the moment so I can't do my undertaking or advancement. I'll make a post tomorrow with my character advancement.

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 18, 2016, 10:31 PMI am fine with all of that, Bandy can hold with what he has so if you guys want to divide the remainder gonfor it. 

:ooc: How does this sound: Arbogast will draw back up to maximum -2 ('cause life is hard and he's probably spent some Hope just getting by), Bandy goes to maximum -1.  Grimbeorn and Rorin, who don't have a huge number of points to squander, go back up to maximum. 

Next Adventuring phase, I'd really like to track down the Hobbitt inn - we didn't get around to it last year, and Arbogast has the guilts about it. 

Other things to consider: tracking down the red moon raiders, investigating the old forest road, following up on those rumours of an Enemy stronghold in the Gladden Fields, possibly other things I can't remember. 

The hope plan works for me. In terms of our next moves I think we need to look at what our goals and objectives are. Sunstead is going to be an issue that we need to deal with at some point but the holds west of the wood are gonna be in trouble if we dont deal with these blood moon fellows. Also the Tyrant's Hill gamg are still of unknown loyalty.
Overall it feels like we are loosing ground on all fronts, some slower than others, but everywhere seems at risk. There needs to be a party decision on how hard we want to hold the Black Tarn as an outpost. If so we need to fix the issue with the River Maidens and the Blood
moon as our lead prioriry. Mayne we can use our standing to get the various Halls to kick in some men for a company to patrol the border lands?

:ooc: We're going to run into the problem that (as per my understanding of the setting - Doug, let me know if I've got it wrong) the Woodmen don't have the manpower to spare for a long-term watch on the borders.  Their main defence is being able to pull back into the forest when they're hard-pressed. 

An interesting option would be to scout out their hideout and, if we can't settle matters ourselves (and I should point out, there may yet be a peaceful resolution to all this), to hit up Tyrant's Hill for manpower for a punitive expedition.  They'd get the lion's share of the loot, but they'd also do the heavy lifting in terms of casualties.  At best, one threat wipes out another, and becomes more of an ally to the Woodmen.  At worst, the two get busy fighting each other for a while. 

Also (and Arbogast has almost certainly made this point in character) it's worth remembering that keeping up the morale of the Free Peoples is as important as dealing with physical threats if not more so.  Symbols of growing unity between the various cultures will be as valuable as armies in keeping the Shadow at bay, especially if they also come with tangible benefits as well.  That's one of the reasons I think restoring the road should be a priority.  The other, of course, is that we could get rich from collecting tolls, but gentlemen ought not discuss such things...

Quote from: disench4nted on Sep 19, 2016, 06:18 AM:ooc:

I don't have my books with me at the moment so I can't do my undertaking or advancement. I'll make a post tomorrow with my character advancement.

This may or may not interest you, but you have 84 points of Treasure to play with after the last two adventures.  That's enough to buy you up to Standing 4 (36+48).  It's obviously a matter for a future Fellowship phase, given that you've already said that you're spending this one at Rhosgobel and you need to go home raise Standing.  Standing 4 makes you the equivalent of a high ranking office-holder or a trusted counsellor to the King Under the Mountain - perhaps a permanent ambassador to the folk of the Anduin vales? 

This phase, I'd recommend Receiving a Title (TOR p. 199) - Rorin is obviously a valued craftsman among the Woodmen - he's been sought out by one of their leaders - and it makes sense for him to be accepted as one of them.  Mechanically, it means that his Standing won't drop next year for failing to either go home or send some Treasure to his relatives at the Mountain to remind them that he's doing heroic things on their behalf.  Going by the Fellowship Phase structure on p. 193, you'd need to spend two points of Treasure to stop it dropping this year, though I suspect Doug would be lenient about it given that we haven't been using that rule much. 

As you can probably tell from the ramblings above, I'd like to see Standing play a little more of a prominent role in the game.  To me, the tension between the necessity of cooperation to hold back the Shadow and the desire to have, or maintain, the goodwill of your own people (whose perspective is often far more insular) is one of the more interesting facets of the TOR mechanics - hence my foregrounding it in Arbogast's story.  I understand that it's not everyone's idea of a fun time, but I think it has the potential to feed into some really cool stories. 

For example, if disench4nted does as suggested above, it'll mean that, west of Mirkwood, he speaks with the voice of King Dain Ironfoot.  This could lead to a whole different kind of 'customer' arriving at the door of his forge!  Similarly, Grimbeorn's Standing of 2 means that, while he's certainly a valued member of the Folk, there are quite a few people who think that he hasn't really proven himself as Beorn's heir.  Some of them may be starting to rally around a different candidate, who may or may not be completely loyal to Beorn. 

If nothing else, we're out of the Last Good Years.  Sauron is back, the Shadow is spreading and things are going to suck pretty hard for the people of Wilderland.  Without Standing in the culture where you live, when the chips are down and people are wondering whether to eat the nettles or the shoe leather, your neighbours will absolutely be thinking that you're not really one of them. 

Grimbeorn's time spent with his father in the kitchens and walking the bounds of his lands is his attempt to Heal Corruption.

 :ooc: What were the group's sanctuaries now?

 :00:

 :ooc:

Thanks for the recommendations, that's very helpful. I always have trouble finding a good undertaking, and I have been trying to start thinking about how I can tie Rorin back in with the Dwarves somehow. After seeing the goblin caves at the Mountain hall and delving into the Barrows at Sunstead, he's starting to miss the sight of caves and being underground and he's due for a trip to Erebor soon.

Advancement:

I will not spend any XP or AP
My undertaking will be to Receive a Title from the Woodsmen.

I think the only group sanctuaries are Rhosgobel.

As for standing I had brought this up early and Dougs opinion was that we have been open to do what we want narratively without using Standing. I think a valid argument has been made about Standing also as to what level of influence someone has. My issue is the way standing works, especially in Bandys case. His standing should only be among Woodmen, makes no sense in terms of Hobbits. One idea floated is that standing be regional instead of racial.

I think we should work our influence on Ingomer and have him call a Folk Moot in the spring. This will save us from having to travel everywhere to see everyone, give us a good idea of what the current situation is, show unity, and allow for our plan to be part of a larger effort with all the Woodmen.
Proposed Topics at the Moot
- coordinated blood moon attack
- tolls paid to the Beornings
- support to Tyrants Hill that recognizes their efforts but isnt exploitive   
- opening the forest road to the west and Sunstead
- delegation to the Leofrings to get some cav support for the woodmen.
- have the folk moot at the Field of Heroes, because that would be cool.

I like the idea of trying to convene a Moot, we've seen glimpses of several threats and have heard rumors, but there is not a whole lot for us to directly act on other than moving to re-open the road or start trying to hunt down the blood moon raiders.

As for Rorin, he would very much like to go find that Hobbit inn we keep hearing about, and he'd also like to stop the blood moon attacks. But all of the suggestions above are good.

:ooc: This game is so damned fun! I love reading the posts from you guys. Excellent planning!

Okay, to let you all know:

• :csu: I updated ALL the PC's Hope based on Paul's post above:

Arbogast 14/16
Bandy 17/18
Grimbeorn 12/12
Rorin 10/10

• Everyone's PC sheets should be updated to start the new Chapter.

• We've resolved how to use the Fellowship pool and the Focus

• Paul - are your children identical or fraternal?

• I actually agree with Tom on Standing. I understand why it is in place in regards to your own people, but I think of it more as Renown for your actions and isn't really something you buy, but earn (thus I would award it as GM). I could House Rule a new statistic for Renown, which would reflect how well your names are know. It could even play into the Eye Awareness component that we are using from Rivendell. If I do the house rule, we can leave standing as it normally functions. Otherwise, I am going to give it some more thought.

• Rorin is named Hero of the Woodmen

• Sanctuaries, like Standing, are another function that I think should be earned in actual game play, not in the off-season Fellowship phase. I could add Patrons to this argument, too. I look at Sunstead as an example - you guys went there and helped those people. The doors are now open to you all for the most part; the Master of Sunstead would provide for you while you visited (within reason). I am not saying that the Fellowship undertaking cannot be made to open a sanctuary, but I see this more as reinforcing the relationship that you already made. For me as GM, I see the following sanctuaries open to you all:

-Rhosgobel (Radagast a patron)
-Black Tarn (Amaleoda a patron)
-Beorn's House - (Beorn a patron, for this one Grimbeorn would need to be present until you prove yourself to the master)
-Mountain Hall (Hartfast a patron)
-Sunstead (Ceawin a patron)
-Tyrant's Hill - (Mogdred a patron, for this one Esgalwen would need to be present until you prove yourself to the master)
-Woodland Hall - (Ingomer and the council a patron, although this sanctuary is based only on the fact that Arbogast was born and raised here)

It is not my desire to give freebies, but I just don't like the mechanic of needing to do an undertaking to open a sanctuary that we just spent three months RPG'ing about. Anyway, that is the list I have as open sanctuaries to you all. If you guys disagree with my assessment on the rules, feel free to chime in.

I am going to start the new chapter and it will hint at the things you guys are debating on your lists of options. It is a wide open Middle-earth and you guys can follow any course you want to go - even if it is not directly related to our opening scene.

Quote from: tomcat on Sep 20, 2016, 09:02 AMIt is a wide open Middle-earth and you guys can follow any course you want to go - even if it is not directly related to our opening scene.

To Mordor!

This changes the functioning of the Fellowship Phase a little bit and I dont know what the affect on the rest of the game will be. I have been anxiously awaiting the players companion for the section on Undertakings and Generational play.

In line with what Doug said I think from an RP perspective his anaylsis of Patrons makes sense. Do we formalize these and use the undertakings to do things like I did with Saruman?

I like the renown idea as a regional stat, how would this impact how we are and have been using Standing?

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 20, 2016, 10:11 AMThis changes the functioning of the Fellowship Phase a little bit and I dont know what the affect on the rest of the game will be. I have been anxiously awaiting the players companion for the section on Undertakings and Generational play.

Likewise.  The main mechanical effect is that it becomes much easier for us to remove Shadow points.  Depending on which side of the screen you're on, this may not be a bad thing at all. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 20, 2016, 10:11 AMIn line with what Doug said I think from an RP perspective his anaylsis of Patrons makes sense. Do we formalize these and use the undertakings to do things like I did with Saruman?

I don't have a problem with that.  I think Meeting a Patron could also be used to allow repeated contact with someone who Doug didn't plan on us meeting regularly.  The Elvenking is a good example - ordinarily you might not even get into his hall without a good reason each time.  Take Thranduil as a Patron, though, and you can have a reasonable expectation of being allowed in to see him whenever you need to. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 20, 2016, 10:11 AMI like the renown idea as a regional stat, how would this impact how we are and have been using Standing?

You could easily just mod Standing so that it applies in the character's 'home' region - in this case, the Western Eaves and mid-Anduin Vales - but I think that too easily divorces them from their ancestral haunts. 

My suggestion is that Standing applies to a character's home culture, plus any Sanctuaries that have been opened as an Undertaking.  This would mean that we're all well-known and respected in Rhosgobel, even if other Woodmen think we're a bunch of weirdos. 

I'd actually like to keep sanctuaries a bit rarer - again, this comes back to my understanding of the setting.  As I see it, it's only in the last few years that Wilderland has been anything like a nice, safe place to live.  It's not a standard, D&D-like fantasy world where adventurers are common and well-understood.  Most of the people we'll meet find the idea of a bunch of armed strangers showing up and not being utter dicks to them quite a novelty, as the opposite has been their consistent experience.  And even though we may stay somewhere peacefully for a while, people will still be thinking to themselves 'yes, well... we'll still keep the food/the silverware/the girls hidden away, because you never know...'

A sanctuary is something different - that's where we've spent time getting most, if not all, of the people on-side.  We're trusted and supported, and the people will help us get back on our feet when we show up tired, beaten up and sick of the adventuring life.  That's what we're buying with our collective undertaking. 

That said, I think it's reasonable to have some appear through the narrative - Mountain Hall and the Sunstead, for instance, both have good reasons to remember us fondly (and both have been described as giving us popular acclaim).  Tyrant's Hill, Beorn's House and even Black Tarn Hall I wouldn't count in the same category.  We may have been there, and we have a local to vouch for us, but we haven't built up that reserve of trust and understanding that makes a sanctuary special.  Maybe if our Standings were higher...

Ultimately, though, it's not my call.  And I don't think the game will suffer overly if things continue the way they are. 

:ooc: Oh, and the kids are fraternal.  I have it in my head that Lafwyne is going to grow up a lot like a female Arbogast, but that Cyffa will take much more after her mum. 

The reason I asked about sanctuaries is regarding the rule about removing corruption giving only one roll for returning home versus 2 when staying at a sanctuary.  If one's home is a sanctuary, you get hosed (relatively).

I'm good with the other changes, trusting y'all as I'm not as up on these rules.

I think there are some second and third order effects from changing the Fellowship undertakings and the standing rules. We should kick this around a little bit on the OOC board a bit more and see what shakes out.