RPG.avioc.org

The air is warm in the hall when Hathcyn stirs once again, but the before he even opens his eyes he can feel a different mood from that which held sway under the the pall of sorcery.  The air is fresh with the lingering scent of baked bread, and full of the chatter of Men about their business.  Even the hearth-fire seems at last to be giving more heat than smoke. 

"Ah, you're awake," says the familiar voice of Grimbeorn nearby as he stirs. 

"How long-" he begins to ask. 

"Well into the afternoon," comes the quick reply.  "Fear not, I'm not long awake myself.  Our exertions aren't getting any easier as the years pile up, are they?  And you've worked like a giant on my behalf, it seems." 

A hand hard and heavy as wood comes down on his back with surprising gentleness.  "I've much to thank you for, my friend, much indeed.  But now that your eyes are open I can't let you rest any longer.  I've gathered twenty score warriors here and found myself in some snare of the Shadow.  Now we've eaten poor Ferthald and his kin near out of house and home!  I have to move the army, but the question is where?" 

The light darkens momentarily as, upon standing, Grimbeorn blocks out the light from the wide-open door.  "Eat, and gather your strength.  I'd have loved some mutton, though it seems the wolves have put paid to everything that couldn't be kept safe behind stout walls, but there's bread and cheese for today, at least.  I've already spoken to Esgalwen and the Elves (and it seems you've found a spare one!).  When you're ready, I'd like you to join them and the thegns to help me choose our next steps." 


:ooc: I've picked up the narrative following Hathcyn again, since he was the viewpoint character when the last scene ended, but feel free to narrate what Esgalwen and Gwaithlim have been up to in the period they've been up and about.  And in case I don't remember to update the sheets, everyone's back to full Endurance after a good long rest in a place of safety. 

The evening had passed as comfortably as it might.

During the celebration of their victory, a woman from Ferthald's clan had found Esgalwen sitting alone, amongst this group of warriors. Her name was Aoife and she had been surprised to see the Ranger dressed in gear for war, sodden though she was by the night's downpour.

Aoife had been kind and smiled at Esgalwen, then disappeared only to return to her with a knit gown that was dry and clean. Very pleased to see the clean linen, Esgalwen gladly accepted it and sought for a place of privacy to change into the dry clothes. Her own items were taken by the clans-woman and hung to dry near the fire. They spoke few words between one another, but the Dúnadan was very thankful for the gesture.

With the new day, Esgalwen had awoken early. The sun was breaking through the clouds and she took her still damp items outside to lay them upon a large rock, and then she found a place for herself to wash. It felt good to get the mud and dirt from the night's battle, as well as the blood, off her skin.

When she was clean, she braided her hair and tied the ends with leather strings and then made her way back to the long house. Entering, she saw Grimbeorn and Hathcyn talking and both glanced her way, but neither made recognition of her - dressed as she was. Such was her plight... to be seen as the warrior, but not always as the woman. The thought lasted only a moment, as Esgalwen was well accustomed to this dichotomy, even back to the days among her fellow rangers.

She took bread and a few pieces of bacon and eased her hunger, sitting among the women of Ferthald's house. Esgalwen made pleasant conversation with the ladies and some spoke in awe to her, being that she was one among the warriors. But this was not absolutely foreign to them, for surely there were times when these women, too, had to fight for their homes. As was oft said, you learn that those without swords can still die upon them.

After her breakfast, Esgalwen heard that the men would soon hold council, and so she went to gather her things. Her gear was mostly dry and she donned it once more, so that she could stand within this council as one of the warriors of Grimbeorn.

---

:ooc: does our Fatigue reduce, too?

:ooc: Aoife is a long way from home!  The nearest place you'd be given a name like that is probably the other side of the Misty Mountains. 

And yes, your Fatigue is reset as well. 

Hathcyn now rested worked arduously to slack his thirst in the afternoon sun.

"By all accounts we can not stay here, but where should we march? We shall only be able to move at the speed of foot and our enemies are faster than us. Surely they are not spread out to the four winds, there must be some central location they organize from. Withdrawing to the Carrock will give us greater protection, but only a bold attack at the heart of the threat will force them away."

The night and morn passed like it always had for the elder children of Iluvatar, quickly and of little note, but there is a distinct difference in feel of the place now that the power of the Shadow had been broken here.  It wasn't wholly cleansed but it would recover, he could feel it.  He took what little rest he needed and set out to care for those who needed it man and beast, making himself useful as he can.

When the men were roused after their rest, he kept himself to the side, scarce for his folk these days weren't meant to do more than provide aid and counsel as their numbers were few.  It wasn't his place to order things about but rely upon those he'd come to help to make their way.

As the sun wends its way toward the tips of the western peaks there is about the steading a new and eager reslessness, the Beorning warband keen to be free of confining walls even at this late hour of the day.  And indeed it is under the clear and boundless sky, seated on a great stone half-buried in the deep soil, that Grimbeorn now holds a council of his thegns.  At his sides stand Esgalwen of Gondor and Hathcyn Foresthelm, both long-known and respected among the folk of the middle vales. 

Some unease, however, accompanies the presence of the two Elves.  Claudas Bare-legs clearly cannot keep himself from casting sidelong glances at Luindîs.  Nor do any, it seems, wish to stand too near to Gwaithlim, and so he abides, straight and tall as a pillar, alone and separate from the Men about him. 

"So," exlcaims Sigebert the Stone, chief of a small clan from the south-west, "it's to be a great wolf-hunt, then!  Well, these shall be neither the first nor the last that my folk have paid the spear-tribute for the slaying of our herds!" 

"Aye, and bold words have come before acts ill-conceived once or twice too, or so I seem to recall," replies Grimbeorn, a thoughtful look upon his face.  "We have to drive the wolves away or else we give our pastures over to them, that much is clear.  But I'd know more of these wargs that fight, and die, and then disappear without a trace!  For fell sorceries have already been arrayed against us, and experience has taught me that blacker things still are likely to emerge before all's said and done." 


:ooc: We're handling this as a Council as per the 2E rules, mostly because I still don't have a good handle on the changes between editions and this seems like a good way to teach myself.  The main thing I've noticed is that a single introduction roll can now be made for the whole company, which streamlines things a bit. 

On that note, as I've said above Hathcyn and Esgalwen are well-known to the current audience, but Gwaithlim and Luindîs will need an introduction before the Beornings will listen to them.  Anyone who wants to can make the roll.

 :ooc: i leave it to the elf to speak for himself, it is the way of free men to declare for themselves.

:ooc: Over to you, Matt, if you'd like to do it. 

Tom and Doug, don't feel like you need to wait if you want to start talking.

The Foresthelm stood in the sunlight tall and straight. The helm of the west hung from his belt and it shone in the sun while the sprig of green bough from Greenwood the Great stood crisp and green contrasting the sheen of the armor.

"The Wolfslayer speaks true, the bodies of our foes do not linger in the day, however I do not doubt that we have inflicted some hurt upon them none the less. They have kept us hemmed and at bay waiting for despair and sorrow to render us low, but we are Beornings! The sun has risen and their dark arts have been overthrown. Our job is not yet done. On the one hand we may leave here and defend the crossing of the Carrock, its strength and the water a double check against our foes. This would mean however, that we would cede the far bank and furthermore not bring us a meaningful victory. Somehwere out there out enemies gather, they muster, and they meet. I say we turn the hunter into the hunted and though they be concealed deep within their warrens we drive them out with fire and spear. Respite and peace will cone from attack, not defence. And we should not suffer that the way over the mountain and across Anduin the Great has been closed because of lack of courage by the men who guard it. The western bank of the river we should not concede to our foe, the tolls that enrich our people from guarding the crossing should not cease, and the obligation we have to the free peoples that those tolls confer on us can not easily be ignored.

For those of you here who may still feel the tug of fruitless despair at this undertaking I tell you to take heart. Here, here is Grimbeorn the Wolfslayer. Not the slayer of any mean pup or stealer of sheep. Here is the beast slayer, the werewolf of the wood, and a beast from ages past has fallen beneath him. In speed from the House of Beorn I came, but not alone and not empty handed. As is my charge and obligation the banner of the bear has come. Under its folds we have never known defeat and through our skill it shall become a symbol of the wrath of the animal spirit of the folk of Beorn. I shall bear it wherever this council decides we go, but my council is to take it before us and stab at the black heart of these beasts unto their very liars if we must and rid these lands of the vile howl of their throats and replace them with the nightgoing sounds of peace and the free roaming solitude of our spirits."

 :ooc: With some metagaming here my personality boxes are all checked out, so can I spin this as a Perception skill as opposed to Personality? Insight or Awareness maybe to see clearly what is going on.

Both skills are the same if that's cool I'll roll it out, if not ignore the roll.

 ;D the dice decided to align with my Periclean attempt at oratory!

I'll keep the roll even if it has to be Inspire to sway the crowd.

:ooc: I'm loath to consider this an Insight roll, as it's pretty obvious that he's trying to sway the council, not assess it.  But nor am I going to leave such great RP unrewarded.  Take an AP out of petty cash and add it straight to your total. 

:csu:

Many heads nod along with Hathcyn's words, for the thegns clearly consider their valour and virtue to have been challenged.  "Aye!" calls Fridiger Short-hair, pounding his fist on his leg in his enthusiasm, "my men will drive the wolves before us night and day, 'til we find the holes they hide in and burn them, or slay them if they won't run!" 

A sudden fluting trill accompanies his last word, and all eyes turn in vexation to where Luindîs stands, eyes wide with excitement.  For an eyeblink she looks unsure of herself, but recovers swiftly (or hides herself behind brave words, Gwaithlim finds himself thinking).  "And you shall be joined by great hunters and strong bows, for I am Luindîs, daughter of Fincalan who has stalked wolves in the depths of the great Wood!  And I am come with one greater still," she says with a serpent-fast wink at the High Elf nearby, "for this is Gwaithlim of the silver folk, whose deeds are known and sung of in all lands west of the mountains!" 


:ooc: Matt being otherwise engaged, Luindîs is going to try for an Awe-based introduction:

Though he arches a bushy eyebrow at the she-Elf's boasting, Grimbeorn nods his head in formal recognition.  "Gwaithlim of Imladris I recall from happier meetings in days past, and any companion of my friends I'll gladly welcome." 


:ooc: Not quite a success, so buggrit she'll drop a Hope point on it.  Matt, feel free to have Gwaithlim say whatever he likes.

:ooc: Council changes 1e v 2e:

If it is your intent to use Council 2e rules, you can basically ignore 1st edition altogether. 2nd edition TOR works in the following way:

• SET RESISTANCE Loremaster sets the resistance based on the request (reasonable, bold, or outrageous) - each carries a value 3, 6, or 9, respectively.
• INTRODUCTION One character makes the introduction with Awe, Courtesy, or Riddle and the results of the introduction determine the overall time limit (or number of attempts from the players) - if a success, the time equals the resistance plus one for each :%: ; if failed, the time equals the original resistance, and if the overall council fails, it is a disaster.
• INTERACTION this is the main part of the social interaction. Players choose a social skill and the Loremaster tells them the attitude of the encounter - Reluctant (lose 1d), Open (no mod), Friendly (gain 1d). The players roll to gain the number of successes needed to equal or beat the Resistance. They have a number of chances equal to the Resistance time limit set above.

Esgalwen stood quietly beside Grimbeorn, as he greeted and welcomed the Elves into his service. As the Beornings murmured to themselves, unsure of having the Firstborn among them, the Ranger interrupted and spoke.

"I am Esgalwen, daughter of Eradan, of Gondor far to the south. Long have my people stood the fences of Mordor, guarding the west and north by our strength alone." A murmur went through the throng at the mention of the Shadow-lands' name, but Esgalwen continued. "Many generations have passed since the King of old brought down the tower of Barad-dûr, but he did not do it alone. Beside him stood the Fair-folk, along with men of the west and north. Since those days, wherever the Enemy dare pass those guarded walls, my brothers and sisters-in-arms seek them out and destroy them. So have the lands remained free and safe!" There was a strength and pride in her voice now, "So shall we all now stand with Grimbeorn - the Fair-folk, Gondorians, and Folk of the Vale - and together we shall hunt down and destroy these servants of ill-will wherever they dare slink from the shadows!"

---

:ooc: Awe roll
TN 14 awe 3d

:ooc: It is not pretty, but it should be a success.

A low and eager grumbling builds as Esgalwen speaks of the unity of the Free Peoples, and the blood-thirst of the Beorning thegns rises.  It is Fridiger's words that first rise above the hubbub: "Aye once again!  Let each of us now take our men and scour the lands that we, of all upon the face of Middle-Earth, know best!  Let there be not a single hole left for our foes to hide in!" 

Around the circle, many faces, eyes already narrowed in anticipation and rememberings of where wolf-packs have sought shelter in years past, begin to nod in agreement. 


:ooc: Okay, we're now at an interesting point.  You've blown past the threshold for the Beornings to stage a great big wolf-hunt - they were pretty keen to do that anyway - but the prevailing mood here is for the army to split up.  If you want to avoid that, you'll need to accumulate another two successes.  It would ordinarily be three, but you've accumulated four already and it seems unfair not to have one of those count. 

If you guys want to convince the council that you know best where the unified army should go, that'll be even harder.   

 :ooc: Sorry guys, I was at GenCon and forgot to let you know.

Gwaithlim remains quiet, studying the gathering.  Only perceptible to the other elf, he gives a slight start and side-long glance at mentioning of his name and his stature but keeps silent for the time until he couldn't.  "A lot of chatter and a lot of bluster come from a mewling group.  Are you so threatened and jealous of your position against that of your neighbor that your faith and trust of Beorn and his line?  I have lived long in this world and my many travels and adventures have found that fate has brought us all here today to continue in the tradition our fathers before held -- to draw the line and stand against The Shadow at our doorstep.  No cause is more noble that to be the bulwark against that would destroy or enslave you, your families, and your generations to come.  So, pray take heed of your captains for they are not faithless nor lead you wantonly to your doom.  I would caution that you stand together in your dealing with these curs.  Send out scouts if you must to track them down but you must engage them in force lest a smaller one be overrun and we lose our advantage."

  :ooc:

Use Hope if it would make a difference.

"Thegns and spearmen, your blood is up and the heat of this injustice compels us all to action. But let us not rum hither and yon, each to his own devices and each blindly in our lust for killing. Out foe is still dangerous and fast. They may turn on one group and then another before we know our companions are in danger. Like a porcupine let us go forth, bristling with spears and dangerous from every angle, but still moving as one."

(This seems like persuade...)

:ooc:  That very much is Persuade.  Do you want me to roll it?

Matt, I've used a Hope to make Gwaithlim's Awe roll a basic success.  I haven't marked off an AP, 'cause what you've described doesn't seem to fall under any of his Traits, but I'm willing to be persuaded otherwise.  :csu:

 :ooc: He was being both being somewhat disdainful and impassioned with this speech, attempting to put a bit of Fierce into it.

:ooc: On reflection yes, I can see that.  Okay - a second AP it is!  :csu:

Tom, I'm going to make a Persuade roll for Hathcyn to keep things moving:

The thegns' voices begin to rise against those of Hathcyn and Gwaithlim, but Grimbeorn silences them with a single word.  "Enough!" he barks.  "I didn't call my closest companions here just for the sake of three more spears, and nor did I gather our might for no reason!  Remember that there are orcs abroad among our homes and farms as well, and that this is no mere hunt of wild beasts.  We'll march as one, and fight as one." 

The question thus settled, the council's attention turns to where the army should go. 

"West," says Sigebert, "where the wargs lair and the goblins breed under the mountains.  We'll smite them back into their holes and then bring fire and steel down to burn them out forever!" 

"North," argues Fridiger, "to where the lands lie empty and game is scarce.  We will stand firm on the borders while they eat each other until nothing is left!" 

"East", counters Claudas.  "Let them think we are in hopeless retreat back to the Old Ford.  Then, when they mass to crush us, we can trap them against the river and push them in to drown." 


:ooc:  You're continuing to rack up the successes, so now you have a chance to convince Beorn to take the army where you want it to go, at the bargain-basement price of three more successes. 

Gwaithlim quietly talks with the others.  "Have scouts been sent to see where they come from or word from aboard about their movements?  Any direction right now but south seem as good as another."

The Longspear nods. "I have little information to say one way is better than another. The fact that we fight and fight as one is success enough for me. If I were to pick one course the western seems the most likely. Though I fear we shall find a foe in any direction if we seek to stab at the heart of this problem west or north seem the most likely."

As Hathcyn's words go, so goes most of the council and though grey-bearded hunters rich in wolf-lore are called for from among the army, and though these tell of a great warg-chieftain who rules over the packs of the Misty Mountain foothills just as Grimbeorn does over the clans of the Vales, none can say where the lair of such a beast might be found. 

The last word is spoken by the Son of Beorn himself.  "Very well!  If we know not where we should go, we'll see that they come to us!  The orcs will seek to slay and burn, and the wargs to feast, and so we will go from stead to stead, gathering the cattle and sheep together, along with any woman, child or old man that wishes to accompany us and can keep up." 

Beneath his bushy beard, his mouth breaks into a broad grin.  "Let them think that we are abandoning the west to them, and taking all that meat on the hoof across the river.  We'll see how they like the thought of breaking our shield-wall to get what they want!" 

 :ooc:  :o How did Grimbeorn figure out the worst choice when it wasn't even a choice?  :\

:ooc: Fair point, Matt - I should've run this past you first, given that he's still your character in important ways.  If you think it's out of character, I'm open to retconning his decision. 

 :ooc: LOL well i mean purposefully putting innocents into harm's way to lure out the enemy?
 i mean not that they aren't in technically harm's way regardless until the baddies are put down.

"Great bear, may I suggest a modification to this plan that could better help protect the people?  Send those that can't or shouldn't fight east towards your home and more populated lands while your force proceeds north and then west, gathering more of the people and covering their flank from the plains and the dark wood?" says Gwaithlim.  "That would cover two of the three directions."

Let's see how well Gwaithlim puts his idea forward, shall we?  This seems like Persuade time:

Grimbeorn regards Gwaithlim with a level stare that, for the briefest moment, seems to mock the dignity of the lordly Elf.  "You speak well," he says, "but you're a long way from home and I think you've never had to move a lot of old, young and sick Men all at once, never mind trying to keep them safe from marauding orcs while you do it!" 

His words raise a laugh from the assembled thegns, happy to join in the unexpected sport of putting an outsider in his place, but the words of Grimbeorn himself are reasoned.  "They'd move slowly, and they'd take Men away from the army to guard them when we can spare few, if any.  Better to let them hide in their homes for a few days if they can't match our pace." 

Hathcyn nods in agreement as he finishes "Whatever alliance the orcs and wargs have struck, the wolves aren't used to the indignity of bearing orcs on their backs.  Both sides will want to finish their business soon, before slight quarrels become feuds that demand bloodshed to be settled.  They won't waste their time burning every farmhouse when there's a big fight to be had." 

The elf bows his head, acquiescing to the lord's judgment of his people; this was no place for overmuch debate.  They have a course and a plan and he'd follow and aid in its success.