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After the dead are gathered and burned, and those suffering from the sight-darkening orc poison are tended to as best they can be, the battered company makes its weary way down the hillside and southward through the ravaged land to seek the protection of the host of Grimbeorn.  They find it not gathered in force but piece by piece, for the chieftain of the Bear-folk has sent his thegns out, each with their own fyrd, in a great hunt. 

Though these send messengers back as they turn each for their own land and hall, it is not for more than a week before the general tidings are known: though the warg-riders' blades took their sorrowful toll, the ferocity of the Beornings in defence of their homes has proven more powerful, and no small part of the ransom of the Old Ford is paid, in the end, in the form of fresh-cured wolf hides. 

Even so, and despite the agreement among the thegns that the ransom is an easier price to pay than the death of yet more sons, it is hard to watch cattle and goats from every hall and household driven south, along with wains piled high with other precious things, all to slake the greed of the southern king, or so it is grumbled among the farther benches of the mead halls. 

Hathcyn, however, is simply glad to see that the Fox's Tale still stands, despite a handful of new and scorch marks on its outer timbers. 


:ooc: This Fellowship Phase will be a short one - about a month - and the next Adventure Phase will kick off in September 2960.  That leaves time for a single undertaking.  If I might suggest: opening the Fox's Tale as a Sanctuary would be useful.  This would represent securing stores of everything you're likely to ever need and maybe beefing up the hall's defences. 

Otherwise, Doug, Esgalwen could certainly use the Receive Title undertaking to cement her reputation with the Beornings (assuming she hasn't done that already - it's been a while since I read back over everything). 

The ransom of the Ford, as noted earlier, isn't cheap - especially when so much needs to be rebuilt.  Beorning characters' Standard of Living is reduced to Frugal for the next two years (it can be increased with Treasure as usual) and all Holding rolls are made with a -3 penalty. 

Recall if you will:
• 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 increase[/color]

Aaaaaaaaaand now the bit you're waiting for: all the PCs walk away with 11 XP (I was going to award 10 but my god did this turn into a long, rambling shaggy dog story) and all the AP marked on your sheets. 

 :ooc: great adventure!

My two holdings are both at 8

The herd:

The Fox's Tale:

I'll also spend my undertaking on the Tavern

 :ooc:

Also here is my weal and Woe roll

:ooc: No need for one of those yet, Tom - it's not the end of the year.  Strictly speaking, you needn't roll for holdings either, but we can take the rolls above as indicative of how the rest of the year will treat Hathcyn's fortunes. 

Do we still have anyone in the Fellowship who's claiming a share of the Forest Road proceeds?  If so, the Holding level is down to five, where it will stay for the remainder of the game (unless it's destroyed, blocked with a mass of webs or otherwise rendered useless as a trade route). 

So we arent rolling for holdings?

:ooc: You can if you like - it's just normally an end-of-year thing. 

Also, nota bene, all the character sheets on Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/h) now have the correct XP, AP and Hope totals.   

And while I'm noodling around with character sheets, Luindîs will spend four XP for a second dot of Swords, another four for a point of Valour and bank the remaining three.  She'll drop all eight AP on a second dot of Courtesy. 

Her Undertaking will also be to turn the Fox's Tale into a Sanctuary. 

:ooc: Esgalwen will be banking her points from this Adventure phase. I will have an undertaking narrative up later.

I will take the Receive Title undertaking assuming that it will be given from the Beornings (not the Woodmen). Esgalwen will gladly take a small tract of land to build her home and begin to tend the land, when she is present.

• Her Standing score is not that great, but she will work on that. It now measures her repute among the Beornings.
• She may now affect the narration of a Year's End Fellowship phase as if she belongs to the Culture.
• During  a Fellowship phase within the home settlement of the Beornings, her score is not reduced, as if she returned home (see Standing Upkeep on page 193).
• Esgalwen is granted a tract of land or a house to dwell upon. The size and features of the land or
house are proportionate to her Martial Standard of Living.

The Fire-watcher is waiting for the rest of the Fellowship when at last, many weeks since they left its cosy bounds, they return to the Fox's Tale.  He has tales to tell of other battles fought deep within Mirkwood. 

"From the darkest parts of the wood they came," he says, eyes distant as he stares at the hearth, a mug of his host's mead all but forgotten before him.  "Ragged and wretched Men who bore weapons of wood and stone, and spoke in no Mannish tongue.  The first hunters and scouts who saw them took them to be like themselves, lost to madness from the dreariness and horror of the forest, but all to soon it was clear that they were the wild and forsaken folk who make their homes in the realm of the spiders, and of whom we saw a small number at the site of those feel beings' parliament.

"Why they emerged now from that uttermost darkness I cannot say.  Mayhap the Mother-of-All commanded them forth as scouts in force, to see where the borders of our world best are guarded.  It may be that word of our battle against the Weaver has turned the hearts of spider-kind against all Men, even those who served and worshipped them.  But they came in greater and greater bands - men, women and children alike - and fell upon those they discovered as desperately as starving wolves. 

"By the time we at the Black Tarn heard of this, the clans of Woodmen-Town andWuduseld were already roused to their own defence, but I knew that it could not be long before the Forest Road was threatened.  I gathered what warriors could be spared and marched them north."

With a sudden lunge, he seizes the mead-cup and drinks it nearly to the dregs. " I shall not recount all that took place in those few awful weeks, save to say that it was a war of listening and skulking, of ambush and counter-ambush.  Slaying enough there was to weary the hardest of hearts, for few of the foes could we take alive, save the youngest of the children.  Nor do I envy the fate that awaited those who broke and fled from us, for the terror of that which drove them forth was plain to behold. 

"In the end, the Dwarf-forts held fast, and most of the travellers were able to find shelter within them.  Once the spear-work was done, I and the other survivors came here, thinking to find you all, for I knew not of the call of Grimbeorn, and have only the few and fragmentary tidings that the birds bring off the doings of Men in the Vales.  So tell me, if you will, for I doubt not that you were well in the think of it all."


:ooc: I'm going to have it a Success die worth of Shadow points to Arbogast for the terrible things he's seen and done:


Also this, for no reason.  Just for the joy of rolling virtual dice:

:ooc: That should say 'hand out' Shadow points. 

Hathcyn listened to the Firewatcher's tale. He could not help but think that they were beset on all sides and in his heart he worried it was with a singular purpose. He was troubled, but Aestid sat beside him and her presence and touch brought him comfort.

"There are few that I could call to war Firewatcher. There are some who would come because it was I who asked, but they would come because they trust my judgement. My judgement in this is not to ask them, but prepare for raids and attacks as we normally do here at the border of the wood. This march however is my responsibility, so if you propose a plan where a few may go and make a difference instead of many then I am all ears."

Aestid squeezed his hand upon his speaking of leaving so soon, but she was a chief's daughter, led and commanded on her own. She knew the burdens that he carried and why he must do what he did.

"And while we are here at council another matter must be discussed. By oath I am compelled, but equally by a call for justice in another matter. Mogdred in the south is a problem. Had he came in aid to us I would have welcomed him gladly, but he extorts us instead. The kind he has received is short sighted because he is not likely to ever receive aid from the folk of Beorn should he be pressed. The thin veneer that Tyrant's Hill is anything other than a bandit camp or appropriately named has worn thin. I would hazard that many of those we fought at Stonyford now come to his weapontake."

" I intend to send to the dwarves for masons. I desired to improve my defenses here, but I cannot wait any longer. With these attacks on the Wayforts they may see better the advantage in lending me their knowledge if I could provide the labor.  The rude ring of stone I had planned and been capable of will no longer serve. I need a Wayfort of my own, not a ditch around my hall. The Old ford too needs strengthening and easily I think the dwarves at the Millfort would aid me in exchange for more support in their patrols."

Hathcyn was quiet for a moment.

"I think in the Spring some will come from the North, perhaps even in the Fall if they have the stores. Aestid's folk who are weary of her father's ways will join us here for she is kindly and well loved by them. They would help in these tasks, but this will take time and care."

Aestid spoke.

"Husband, you are a thane yet you have no Hearthkarls. You are reluctant to call the folk and the fyrd and that is understandable. But you have not called any ringswords to your side. These are the men who serve for just such struggles and cares. Years ago you gave me as my own dowry golden treasures. You refused them when we married. Take them back now, melt them down if need be and give golden ringswords to those who you value and trust and bind them to you in the ancient ways. Be the gift giver as well as the Longspear of the Greenstone Land. We have space here for them and with your renown you will quickly fill the half score men you could support. With the Fox Tale secure I will take on this task with Durin's Folk and the new comers. Perhaps messages from me will speed their coming and their number.  These cares I will carry for you."

"You are noble wife. A companion that far outstrips what I have deserved. Your words are wise. So that leaves these Wildmen and Thieves."

Hathcyn looked at the others assembled around the table. 

"Wise indeed you are," Arbogast adds, "and well-counselled are you, Hathcyn my friend.  For I have defended my home and kinfolk for more than a dozen years, and I have learned that it is far better to do so with shield and axe far away than to suffer the foe to come to your walls, be they ever so stout and strong." 

"Oh listen to you pair!" interrupts Luindîs as she drops lightly (and, Gwaithlim sourly notes, almost without a sound) on to the bench, a jug of mead in each hand.  "So dour, with your talk of terrible battle and walls of cold, drab stone!  I myself have learned something," she continues, the smell of her breath leaving no doubt that she has thoroughly sampled the contents of the cellar before returning to the Fellowship's easy council, "and it is this: war and all its attendant sorrows may come tomorrow or not in five score years.  And in whatever time we have before it arrives, we ought above all to dance and sing, and to drink," she pauses to take a draught from her left-hand jug, as if to show the slow-witted what she means, "and to bring merriment and joy.  Else why do we ought... we need bother to fight anything?" 

Her point, such as it is, made, she raises a quizzical eyebrow in invitation of a retort. 

"I am not a learned man, however I do know that the realm of the Elven King once spanned all of the forest, yet now he sits in but a corner of it. We do not have the luxury of years or space as he does to wait the changing of the world. We are not without our cheer, and indeed it is to protect what I built, what you sit in, that we must have these dour talks to preserve the songs and stories. Here is Arbogast, the Firewatcher, the keeper of the tales and history of his people. But what good are stories if there are none to hear them or places that they may be told."

"We are beset on all sides this year and have no allies or magics to call upon for aid other than those we possesses. And possess them we do."

"Arbogast, do you think the River Maidens could aid us in this? Even if it is in warning where these men may cross? Will the Brown Wizard send us word of their gathering and where? Then the limited strength of men could be concentrated in attack instead of spread out trying to find a foe that we then wouldnt be able to beat? The dwarves will guard the road, we know that Dain King will not allow that to fail and The Roadwarden has the authority to preserve it. They will not allow that which they have just restored to fall again. So in that light our troubles are less. We have but to secure the forest march and our homes. The road to the dwarves, the waterways are obstacles, and our spies both mystical and mundane to warn us."

 :ooc: I should have my response tonight.

Esgalwen was the last to enter the inn, but was not the least pleased to see her friend. Arbogast cast a woeful eye at her, for her wound was evident though it had been tended. The Ranger's left arm was in a sling and tied about her torso, so as to keep its movement limited. The Beorning healer did not wish to see his stitches reopened, and so bound the arm tight.

At least feeling and strength had returned to the arm, the Dúnadan thought.

It had been a rough couple weeks - infection had set in after the removal of the black-tipped arrow and Esgalwen's shoulder and neck had become red and raw with its spread. The fevers had lasted a number of days, but she did not reckon them due to her stupor. She was told that even Gwaithlim had aided in her recovery, bringing the lore of the Elves.

After the days of rest and then being able to get about once more, she worked her arm to remove the tightness from the muscles, as well as to return their strength. When she bathed and her body was bare, Esgalwen had looked down at the wound and the scar that would be ever present - another terrible mark upon her. The puckered flesh, where the arrow had been extracted, was ugly and would be forever discolored because of the orc-poison.

But tonight she was hale and she was once more among her boon companions. Arbogast's presence comforted her most. He alone was the only companion left that she had first become friends with those long years past. Bandy was gone. Rorin had moved on with his people. Orophin still haunted her, left as he was in the dank waters of Dol Guldur. Grimbeorn was still present in her life, but he was now the master of this land and so his time was spent elsewhere. Only Arbogast remained of the Company of the Helm.

After their embrace and the trading of stories, the Ranger looked to them all and spoke, "Mogdred has revealed his heart. Perhaps he always had, though I was unable to see. I must undo what I have done. It was never my intent for he and his people to be the sole beneficiaries of Gondor's committed treasure." She turned to Hathcyn, "That said, again I will say to you, Hathcyn. Seek not your answers in magic or fey creatures - instead find it among yourselves. As Ingomer hoped long ago, a union of the people of the Vale will serve better than any mystical aid. Like the Towers of the Watch between Rohan and Minas Tirith, build signal towers. They need not be great structures, only prominent enough to be each seen from afar when their beacons are lit. Look to our Dwarf allies, but do not forget your kinfolk in Mountain Hall.

"I have learned that sometimes the answers are closer to home, then to reach out to powers beyond your boundaries and request such aid. So it was for me with the Steward of Gondor and welcome was he to provide, but such good deeds fell to ill-favor and now Grimbeorn and the Beornings have become beholden to my error."

The Ranger took a cup of the spiced wine handed to her and she drank deeply. She looked back at Arbogast, "So tell me, how are Lindwine and the children?"

:ooc: I'm happy to keep this scene going if people are enjoying it, but also don't forget to do the mechanical stuff.

F'rex, everyone can recover a Hope point from the Fellowship pool.

 :ooc:
I have spent 12 Advancement Points to get two ranks in Courtesy.
I have spent 16 Experience to gain Valour 5 and the reward Noble Armor.


I think these match the story pretty well too. I debated taking another die in Spears, but I wanted to broaden what I can do with Hathcyn and he seems to be moving out of his brash warrior face and into is Thane Leader phase.

Though now that I am thinking about it do your think there should be a Valour award like Companions? Something that represetns that he has loyal men about him or is that making something mechanical that is narrative? 

:ooc: Gwaithlim increases 1 in Song, Bows, and Wisdom (Might of the First-born being his virtue).

Undertaking continues to be Make a Song, the song of honor to Grimbeorn.

 :00:

Gwaithlim recovers from the ordeal at the hill but his spirit wanes in these charges.  He cannot even concentrate on the idle, yet great, task of song-writing for the renowned skin-changer and father of his friend.  There are calls in the air above from gulls that have traveled up the Anduin and his heart yearns for Imladris and moreso a pull even further into the West.  Even being torn, he still commits himself to the support of his friend for the time being with improvement and embellishment of the Fox's Tale.

He pulls himself out of his introspection and melancholy enough to join the others with tankard and cup.  Sitting down at the end of the table, he just watches and listens, mostly keeping an eye on his distant kin.  All too flighty this one, most young and yet so thin too, he muses.  When she speaks up of the need for merriment and song amidst the dour talk, he doesn't disagree wholly for all too well he knows that those are the things most memorable and should be cherished while they can.

"It won't be long now..." he hears in his mind. It was a voice he hadn't heard in some time -- Elrond, his old friend and lord.  What won't be? he puzzles for a moment, but returns to the conversation at hand.

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 08, 2024, 01:03 AMI have spent 16 Experience to gain Valour 5 and the reward Noble Armor.

:ooc: Don't forget that his helm also has further qualities that can be unlocked with a Valour increase (or other means, but that's what we're talking about at the moment).

Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Mar 08, 2024, 02:49 AM:ooc: Undertaking continues to be Make a Song, the song of honor to Grimbeorn.

:ooc: Not to nag, but if you want to open the Fox's Tale as a Sanctuary, then everyone needs to do it at the same time.  Beyond the physical and social work of ensuring that they're welcome and it is equipped to take care of their needs, the fact of the Fellowship all working together is part of what turns out into a second home for you all.

If you want to stick with the song writing, though, I understand.  It's your character and your share of the narrative, not my story to bully you along!

 :ooc: Ah, gotcha... forgot about that quirk of the undertaking.  I'll change the undertaking then.

Quote from: Eclecticon on Mar 08, 2024, 03:19 AM

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 08, 2024, 01:03 AMI have spent 16 Experience to gain Valour 5 and the reward Noble Armor.

:ooc: Don't forget that his helm also has further qualities that can be unlocked with a Valour increase (or other means, but that's what we're talking about at the moment).

You are the only one that knows how it works.  (-D

Quote from: Eclecticon on Mar 08, 2024, 12:28 AM:ooc: I'm happy to keep this scene going if people are enjoying it, but also don't forget to do the mechanical stuff.

:ooc: I believe all of Esgalwen's mechanical stuff is complete.

As for the scene, it can continue at need. I just ended my post with her question, as it seems a very female thing to ask and that conversation could spin well into the night, and I assume it will outside of play. But if everyone is ready, play may continue to our next chapter.

:ooc: Alright then, I'll wind this one up and we'll move on to the next exciting episode.

Quote from: tomcat on Mar 04, 2024, 03:47 PM:ooc: Esgalwen will be banking her points from this Adventure phase. I will have an undertaking narrative up later.

I will take the Receive Title undertaking assuming that it will be given from the Beornings (not the Woodmen). Esgalwen will gladly take a small tract of land to build her home and begin to tend the land, when she is present.

• Her Standing score is not that great, but she will work on that. It now measures her repute among the Beornings.
• She may now affect the narration of a Year's End Fellowship phase as if she belongs to the Culture.
• During  a Fellowship phase within the home settlement of the Beornings, her score is not reduced, as if she returned home (see Standing Upkeep on page 193).
• Esgalwen is granted a tract of land or a house to dwell upon. The size and features of the land or
house are proportionate to her Martial Standard of Living.

:ooc: Doug, I somehow missed this the first time through.  I won't repeat my grumpy comment from earlier, but as with Matt I'm happy to do this at the end of the year?  The opportunity will still be there - the Beornings have lost a lot of good people and I doubt Grimbeorn would turn away someone of Esgalwen's fame and skill who wanted to settle on his lands!

Well she just so happens to know a Thane that needs households to increase his lands and resources to maintain the entry to the forest road.

The Fox's Tale served two purposes, one a tavern to cater to the travelers who came and went along the forest road. Skilled swordsmen and trained waggoneers were found there as well as men of other trades that supported the caravan bussiness. Additionally, the Fox's Tale held the hall of the Thane of the Forestgate, the Green Stone Land. It was in the hall that Hathcyn sat, Aestid had been the chief architect of this room. She had a great chair carved by Woodmen that bore the design of foxes dancing and running along the beams of the chair, and to the keen-eyed mice could be seen running and hiding in the corners. She was keen and shrewd and many favors could be traded by the craftsmen who traveled through for the better enrichment of Hathcyn's Hall and this chair was another.

He held a tankard in his hand and still dwelt on the conversations of the previous night. Ætheldreám had spoken her thoughts and her experiences, but this land was different from hers. Yes, they could build watch towers, but who would man them? They did not have an army like the lords of the south. They had men who agreed to service who were forced to set aside their other labors and struggle for survival. Also those lords of the south had not started with beacons, first they had built their towers and their places of refuge, and then later a system to alert the people.

Brooding in his chair it was a moment before he noticed Aestid standing before him watching him think.

"Welcome back among us has the cunning fox has been resigned to brooding?"

He sighed, "Every day I understand Beorn and Grimbeorn better."

"Such cares for such a simple man," she said as she smiled she waved over to the end of the hall. A bundle wrapped in cloth was brought forward.

"I did not know that this was the nature that children came into the world, if so this is a quiet one."
Aestid laughed, "you'll need to stay in your hall longer and for greater lengths if that is your goal. But I am not here to goad or chastise you husband. My words last night were not in idleness. If you are to be a thane, then be a thane."

She unwrapped the package untying the knots and opening the covering cloth. Inside was oiled and bright leather armor. The cloth revealed the red brass wire of a fox worked into the breastplate, the leather where the ties joined the pieces contained embossed mice, the ties their tales.

"Here husband is a gift for you. Armor fit for one far nobler than an ale house keeper. Even the King of Dale would recognize the worth of a man who wore this armor. As you wear it the men of the world will see you how I see you, noble and lordly and the tanning of it incudes my love to guard you from the troubles and darts of your foes."

********************************

The hall that night was filled with friends and allies. Hathcyn did not desire to descend into a brooding mind but instead through force of will struck out against the darkness by filling his hall with light and sound. Bards who had spent their days in the tavern now stood in the hall and attempted to impress the Foresthelm and his guests with tales of the Fellowship of the Helm. Great tales, the slaying of the Werewolf, the Parliament of the Spiders, the Redemption of the River Daughter, and the last and newest tale, the Holmgang that wasn't.
Hathcyn sat in his chair laughing and making jokes at his own expense and laughing out loud in humility at his own memories being told back to him exaggerated and unbelieving even to himself. His new armor was on display and stood by his chair, his old armor careworn and battered stood on the other side. He had called the party a mourning event for the retirement of his old armor as he sent, in the ancient custom, to his lord Grimbeorn. There to rest in his armory a token or a boon to another who sought to serve.

Hathcyn sat upon his chair, hair combed and shone in the light, by his side stood Aestid, dark haired and radiant, and at his feet sat the hound Sardoc. A man strode with purpose before the Foresthelm. He was dressed as if geared for battle, scale mail armor glinting in the lights of the hall. A worn and battered sword at his side. To the crowd this was unexpected, but Hathcyn seemed little phased by this.

The man approached and stopped before the chair. He drew his sword and placed the blade upon the lap of Hathcyn and kneeled before him. Sardoc rose and sniffed at the man, the beast seemed to communicate to Hathcyn, sniffed the man again and then lay back down. The hall was silent and Aestid spoke.
"Here is Cerwyck of the North, a blade from the land of Viglund."

The man looked at the floor and spoke, "Foresthelm, truly I once fought with Viglund. I was there when his hall was burned at your hand. I swore vengeance for that deed, but I repent. Afterwards I came south when we heard how you had spared the folk of your wife. I came south to better know you and my lady Aestid. To her I would pledge my blade, but I see here also a thane worthy of men. I seek your pardon and patronage."

Aestid spoke, "Foresthelm, when the raiders came Cerwyck stood at your door with the Firewatcher. He was streadfast and true while others, less brave, worried what was to come he stood ready and brave at your door. Many of those here were there, do any challenge my word in this?"

There was silence in the hall. None would challenge the Lady Aestid in her own hall, but more so because the words were true.

Hatchyn looked at the naked sword blade in his lap. He returned it to Cerwyck and was handed another sword by Aestid. The glit of gold inlay shown in the wrapping of the hilt, and a golden ring passed through the pommel and hung at it's side.

"Cerwyck the Twice Loyal take this ringsword and be bound to my house. Stand now, Door Warden of the Greenstone."

Hathcyn presented this new sword to him wrapped in new oiled leather. The man kissed the golden ring and stood. There before the assembled hall Aestid the Lady of the North gird him with the ringsword of Hathcyn Foresthelm, Thane of the Greenstone Land. The first Hearthcarl had been sworn to his service.   

 :ooc:
Visit the Treasury: Return the Armor with 2 Qualities to the Armory. 1 will go into the new armor, the second into the helm. Standing increase.
I think this matches with the story as it developed over the last chapter and the direction of the narrative.

:ooc: That was very cool!

Esgalwen had enjoyed the festivities of the night. She laughed at the bawdy tales spun by the bards; she danced to the music of the Vale; and she partook in the fine food that Hathcyn had laden his tables with for his guests.

From her place in the room, she watched as the first of Hathcyn's Hearthcarls made his vow, and her heart was warm. Again she thought about how much Hathcyn had changed. With a quick thought, before the hall returned to the cacophony of music and laughter, she walked up before the seat of her friend.

Hathcyn and Aestid looked at the woman of Gondor as she approached, her own sword was in hand. The hall became hushed as Esgalwen placed the scabbarded sword on Hathcyn's lap, to his surprise.

"Thane of the Greenstone Land, Hathcyn Foresthelm! I present you with Nimronyn, Pale-gleam, the sword of Gondor. Forgive me, lord, for it is not bared but I find myself unable to make such simple things happen at this time." There was a bubble of laughter across the hall for all could see that Esgalwen's arm was still bound from her wound.

She continued, "I have seen you grow, my friend - from simple man of the Vale, to renowned warrior, builder of inns, keeper of animals, husband, leader, and now Thane of Grimbeorn, scion of Beorn; and Watcher of the Eastern Vale and the Forest Road.

"It has been offered in service to Grimbeorn, master of the land of the Beornings; to the King of Dale; and to the Lord Under the Mountain; but here I offer it, too - should you ever be at need and I am able of body to aid you, the sword, Nimronyn, shall be yours."

Esgalwen was not sure what the gesture would mean to her friend - he already knew that he could count on her aid in all things - but she wanted the offer to be displayed before all his folk, as well as those travelers within his hall. Let them carry the news forth that Gondor would stand beside her friends.

"Ætheldreám, I have no need to see this sword nor lay it in my lap. I would know this sword as I would know my own hand. Not least of all the tales we have heard this night has this sword figured. To all present the song of this blade may be heard in the fore or in the chorus of every tale that has been told tonight. The blade does honor to its craftsman, but it redoubles onto its wielder. However, your duties are to other lords so I cannot command you, I have no ring sword for you."

A murmur rose in the hall at this comment from Hathcyn, this was unexpected.
 
He raised his free hand. "I may not command you, but yet I may still honor you. I owe service to the Great Bear, the Wolfslayer. I am the Banner Bearer of the Bear of Beorn such is the duty that I may be called to fullfil. So, Ætheldreám, Sword of the Anduin, I can not bind you to me in this way as you are sworn to him as well. Instead, I name you Rightmost Shield of the Greenstone.  Should the Bear call us to war and I to take his banner you shall lead my retinue and have command of my fyrd in war.  I also lay upon you the authority to assemble the fyrd as Warchief of the Greenstone."

Hathcyn returned the sword but labored at his hand a moment.

"I may not give you a ringsword, but I can give you this as a token of your office and service to this place."
He held up the fox ring and it shone like red fire in the light, "Here is the golden red fox ring crafted by the dwarves of Long Lake. I intended it to be a token of my house, but now I find one whom I would honor above all others. Take this instead of a sword, let those here and those who see it know that you command in war with all my trust, confidence, and above all friendship. Where Ætheldreám leads, none will question the rightness of the cause or the surety of the need. May you do so with my blessing."

::OOC:: Doug, the Red Fox Ring is yours, it grants +1 to Awe rolls.

:ooc: Wow! Thanks, Tom. That is a really great gift.

She slips it on her hand before the hall.

Instantly, Luindîs is on her feet and cheering with all her might as she waves a mead-horn in the air.  Not a moment later, the rest of the hall erupts in cheering and applause.  Arbogast, weary from his day labouring to carry stones for a new forge, is likewise joyous, and beats his hand against the table until the trenchers and bowls threaten to rattle all the way to the floor.  Great has gown the legend of Hathcyn Longspear, who won with great deeds forgiveness for his kinslaying, and it will be said by Men in days to come that no finer host was there west of Dale. 

Nor indeed will it be said that there is a hall wherein any traveller was better able to set aside his cares, for here would come all those who sought the Fellowship of the Helm, and warriors who sought to join them, and healers to tend their wounds, and messengers of all sizes and shapes to carry their missives across the length and breadth of Wilderland.  If a body were not to find safe haven at the Fox's Tale, it will be said, then no safety is to be found anywhere in Middle-Earth. 

So it was, in those days, as the darkness began to deepen. 

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 12, 2024, 01:57 AM:ooc:
Visit the Treasury: Return the Armor with 2 Qualities to the Armory. 1 will go into the new armor, the second into the helm. Standing increase.
I think this matches with the story as it developed over the last chapter and the direction of the narrative.

:ooc: Grrrr.  Mate, did I say you could take an extra undertaking?  I don't believe I did, but FINE.  Given that a) the above is really cool and I don't want to discourage people from writing great narrative and b) it makes sense for Hathcyn to be able to do multiple things in his own home, I'll let it slide.  Same for Esgalwen.  Make a note, though - to keep things fair, they'll only get a single Undertaking each during the end of the year, when everyone else is getting two. 

Hathcyn's Standing increases by one point - I believe to five?  He is now accounted a thegn equal in stature to the head of a large and prosperous clan and respected as an equal by those who give Grimbeorn their banners and counsel.

 :ooc: should be four. I bumped it up on the pc sheet when I was reorganizing.

Lol, sorry Paul I got carried away. I guess the courtesy skill bump is showing....

:ooc: Four it is, then.  Hathcyn's fame is spreading, but he's still thought of as an upstart among the more established Beorning thegns (though they'll happily accept him fighting in the shieldwall at their sides!). 

Also, if you have a different picture of what the Fox's Tale looks like, feel free to substitute it. 

New chapter in 5... 4...

 :ooc: so did we do the sanctuary opening or not? I wasnt sure if we spent the undertaking on that, but that is where I would have gotten two from so I guess yes. Also need the juicy details on the helm.

Upstart yes, but no one will argue against the Beer.

:ooc: Esgalwen doesn't need two Undertakings this Fellowship. If she cannot do the Receive Title until the end of the year, she can just do the Open Sanctuary undertaking with everyone else.

No bigs.

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 12, 2024, 09:55 PM:ooc: so did we do the sanctuary opening or not? I wasnt sure if we spent the undertaking on that, but that is where I would have gotten two from so I guess yes. Also need the juicy details on the helm.

:ooc: Yes - the Fox's Tale is now a Sanctuary.  In game terms, that gives you a benefit if you go there to try to heal from the Shadow - you get two Craft or Song rolls instead of one.  In slightly metagame terms, the place now enjoys the same sort of plot immunity as a piece of wargear with rewards attached, so it'll always be there unless there's a reasonably clear decision from the group that it ought not be any more.

The deets of the helm are on Hathcyn's character sheet (:csu:) but so everyone else knows, his helm is now Rune-scored.  While wearing it, he ignores the effects of being Weary when rolling for combat tasks (i.e. things other than whacking stuff) and doesn't need to worry about a bout of Madness from rolling an :~~:.

EDIT: Like an eejit, I misunderstood Tom's comment about 'one quality going on the armour'.  He's traded in both the qualities of his old leather armour and has replaced it with the Noble stuff, which apart from being super fancy is perfectly normal 2d armour.

In return, he unlocks the final quality of the Foresthelm: Gleam of Terror.  Any time he makes an Intimidate action, the enemy loses additional Hate points equal to Hathcyn's Valour.  There's also a bright flash from the gem on his forehead.  If he's using an action to do it (i.e. not attacking and using a bonus die) and he rolls a :g: on the Feat die, he can make an immediate attack.

 :ooc: let me see if I am tracking:

So the Noble Armor was from the Valour going up.

Undertaking Visit the Treasury
I turned in Leather Armor that was
Close Fighting and Cunning Make

I applied Close Fighting to the new armor and Cunning Make towards the helm to open the last quality.

Yeah, you're not really meant to be able to do that.  You can if you want to - I don't have any issue with it from a power-management perspective, but I think that the assumption in the rules is that you're exchanging like for like (a sword for an enchanted sword, f'rex) so you'll be wanting to activate as many qualities in the new piece of kit as possible.  If you want to do this, his helm is of Ancient Cunning Make and Rune-Scored, but doesn't have the Gleam of Terror (yet).   

:ooc: No - visiting the armory and replacing an item gets you can activate an equal number of Qualities on a different magical piece of war gear. It doesn't have to be like-for-like.