RPG.avioc.org

And so it was decided.

With the morning sun already approaching noon, Madoc and Durgil marched quietly through the golden fields. The Company was left behind with the intention that they meet up again when the night came, bringing the horses east. A visual landmark was chosen in the far distance to determine the direction for the riders to follow so as to find their friends.

The two walkers scanned the wide plain around them. The land was empty save the wild creatures that lived here. There was a time when homesteads could be found this far north - Dúnedain or Eriadorian dwellings and farms. The land was hard here. The tall grass of the Udanoriath was rugged and found the rocky soil a good place to grow, but cultivating other crops was difficult. So, the farmers of old relied both upon crop and livestock - great herds of sheep and cattle became abundant. So it was that Eldanar was built on the very northern fringe of the old lands of Arnor... then the Shadow came.

Durgil shook his head and brought his attention back to the present. There was nothing to be seen. He wished for a moment that he had had the Sindar join him, for the Elf's eyes could see far beyond them all, but that decision was past. He judged their location based on his memories of being here... they were still well beyond a day's travel to the old keep.

Celdrahil stooped low to the ground and could see the hoof prints of many animals. Not far away, Edrahil, Fengel and Dirnhael also milled about while listening to the Angmarim as he recounted his tale. There were no dead bodies hidden within the grass. There were no dropped weapons. If some of Camentir's men had engaged the northmen out of Caer Beldwyn, and if any had been slain, then their prisoner was correct in saying that they left with the Dark horsemen, taking weapons and all.

Dirnhael looked over his shoulder. Not far to the east sat the ruin where he had almost perished. With these same companions, they had faced the might of Scatha and prevailed. The dragon had reduced the once proud fortress to near rubble. It would offer little defense to any that might now try to sit on the high seat within the inner bailey.

If they were able to discreetly approach, the broken walls would offer many places to hide.

---

:ooc: I know we have done a good deal of dialoguing and it is not necessary to do much more, but feel free to add as you wish. Also let me know if there is a certain thing your PC is doing - skill check, or whatever. I have attached the map... the red dots are where you are for both the walkers and the waiters.

 :ooc: Celdrahil has a few skills that might come in handy while observing the site. Siege-craft (Ambush) +5, and Observe (spot) +8

I'll use Ambush to locate the attack site, either through evidence or reading the terrain to explore likely ambush spots and Observe to see if the dead leave any trail.

Ambush

Spot

"Well this is disappointing," the young noble mutters, mostly to himself.  He strained his senses to see if there was anything more to be found in the stark and lonely expanse.

Observe (Spot) Roll(2d6)+5: 6,1,+5 Total:12
Observe (Hear) Roll(2d6)+5: 3,2,+5 Total:10

Only the sound of the wind was heard, though Durgil was sure there was a sad cry that hung upon it. Fortunately, it was not the biting freeze of winter, too. The nobleman gestured to Madoc and they once more began to move. They had a lot of land to cover to get to the location of their anticipated meeting with their companions.

The scene of the ambush also bore little fruit. Celdrahil and his friends saw little in the way of signs and if the dead did leave a mark, it had been trampled over by the horses that milled about. After some time, they decided it best to move on. They wanted to cover the distance that the walkers were now surveying and get to the new location, closer to Eldanar.

The Angmarim warrior nervously took his own road. Fear of the unknown hung on his shoulders, as well as fear of betrayal from the men who had captured him. Edrahil watched him until he had disappeared beyond his Elven sight.

And so it was that three more days passed in this fashion. The travel had become slower due to the advance scouting on foot, but it was effective... perhaps. At least no threats revealed themselves.

It was during this last day of advance movement that things began to change. Though it was mid of summer, the temperature began to fall; not to the bitter of winter, but to a cold that seemed to claw to the very bone and nothing, neither sun nor cloak could drive the chill away. The sun began to hide itself behind large, dark omnious clouds that swept down from the north. And finally, a pungent, sickly sweet smell of death was evident on the breeze.

Madoc and Durgil moved east. They made a southerly trek to bring them close to the ruins of Eldanar on its south side - the side on which the gates and drawbridge had once faced. The noble wondered if anything of the walls or the inner bailey still stood. Behind them, continued their friends upon horse, trotting slowly enough to keep them within eyesight of the Sindar.

Durgil noticed the change in the landscape first. It was like he remembered, a great bowl-shape in the Udanoriath that opened out for a great distance around the castle. On its far eastern side, three hills rose higher than the plain around the depression, upon which they stood. It was on these hills that the first forest was to be found since they left Arthedain. It was not vast, but it would have provided a good source of wood for those that had resided in Eldanar so long ago.

They looked down onto the lower plain and it appeared as if it were frozen. Not by the bite of frost, but in time itself. The grass was the same golden brown, but there were tracks upon the field made by many marching feet over time that the passed seasons never grew in. Madoc peered farther north and east and beheld the stone structure of Eldanar. If it had ever been magnificent, it could not be said that now. The Dúnedain had built the castle and he was very familiar with the grandness of things they engineered - Tharbad was a testament of Dúnedain skill. But even that place was now a broken ruin, its grandeur lost in time.


Madoc could see far off the dark water of a moat that wrapped around the broken walls and an inner bailey or manse. From the distance it too looked dillapidated. There was a dark shadow on Eldanar and the man felt the cold fingers of panic clawing to reach his heart. He knew that if it were his choice, he would not enter here... but it was not his choice. He rallied his courage and looked to Durgil who also wore a brave face.

From their vantage, Edrahil watched as the two men lowered themselves to the ground. "They have come to within sight of Eldanar."

---

:ooc: The two men are approximately 1 mile from the castle. The depression that surrounds Eldanar is about a mile and a half in diameter, so Eldanar sits up to the north and eastern side of the bowl. The north slopes of the depression are far less steep than to the south, where you guys are. It is not dangerously steep, but a careful climb on horeback (so not to throw a leg) and roughly about 30' from top to bottom. The remaining company is about two miles off - well within eyesight of Edrahil.

Madoc cursed quietly. "We have come to our destination, I suppose, though I wish it were not." He inhaled deeply and set his jaw. "At least, if a foe truly resides here, the castle won't be of too much help for them in defense." The thought was not very reassuring.

"Well we didn't come this far to just to sit on the doorstep... shall we proceed and see what has come of this place?" encouraged Durgil as much as he could.  "Now's the time for it while the sun still shines."

Stealth (Sneak) - Roll(2d6)+6: 5,3,+6 Total:14
Stealth (Hide) - Roll(2d6)+6: 1,5,+6    Total:12

Celdrahil reined up his horse as they drew close.
"Now is the time for our scouts to draw the bit into their mouths and see what it is that they may find. This place has the sweet reek of the enemy about it. An ill feeling assaults my bones and an unjustified weariness saps my strength."

Celdrahil paused in the saddle as he saw the shadow land before him. His face showed no fear but it grew weary and lined, perhaps it took on the likeness of a common man who bore the same years of life that the Prince of Ithilien bore. An unnatural stiffness covered his movements as the dark substance of the place assaulted his very core.

His armaments of war were slung at his side, spear and shield in easy reach and he itched to draw them. Edrahil felt the same illness when in close proximity to the enemy, but he was perpetually surprised by the Dunedain sensitivity to the same things as members of the Second born. The Gondarian lowered his lance and gazed at the broken stone keep.

"Auta i lómë" Looking at his companions he switched to the common tongue, "Day shall come, the blood of the west knows its foes.

"O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western Seas."

The words rolled off of his tongue and this son of the Elendili drew courage and strength from them. His armor grew lighter and the sword in his hand felt faster.

"We wait for Durgil and Madoc and then by the light of the moon and stars we remind our foe that the lords of the west and the blood of Elendil has not grown weak. The night is not theirs, for it is in the dark of night that Elbereth shows her beauty and grace. Day or night, the West is on our side."

Dirnhael observed the mens' approach with trepidation. Though the castle itself was but a shadow of its former self, the depression it sat in ensured that once they were near it, any fight to get out would be an uphill one.

"These lands are too quiet," he whispered to Edrahil. "Something haunts this place; dead or alive."

He gripped Vorandur's hilt, tighter than he had intended.

Madoc nodded as he strung his bow and followed his Dunedan companion closer to Eldanar, doing his best to stay hidden within the grass.

Stealth (Sneak)

Stealth (Hide)

:ooc: Okay, I just want to clarify what it is you guys are doing...

Per your plan, you wanted Madoc and Durgil to advance towards Eldanar on foot. The rest of the companions would follow on and meet up with each other at the end of the day. So, this said, I have the two walkers finally approaching the depression in which the castle sits with the others closer now - staying within eyesight of Edrahil. Well, the eyesight of Edrahil is up to 10 leagues, which is 30 miles if not blocked. I am not assuming a thirty mile separation between walkers and riders but at least a mile or two.

When Madoc and Durgil start down into the depression, does that mean you guys are going to spur your horses on to catch up - as in what Tom posted? Or is there another plan?

 :ooc: not sure what the plan is at this point either.

 :ooc: How about this: if Durgil and Madoc signal that the coast is clear (enough - not teeming with hordes of Orcs or wildmen), then the remainder of the party joins them. If not, then Durgil and Madoc high-tail it out of there, and the group finds a shady spot to observe where the baddies have come from...

 :ooc: works for me

 :ooc: That works for me as well.

The signal was given. Edrahil spoke, "Madoc and Durgil move in now... it is clear."

The riders spurred their horses with his words. They had roughly two miles to cover to catch up with the duo. Dirnhael hoped his impetuous, younger brother would do nothing foolish. The sun was overhead somewhere, but the clouds hung low reducing the glow of day to a wan light. It did little to reassure the Men as they rode towards a shadowed ruin.

The descent into the caldera was not treacherous, but the two men were careful to maintain their balance. A fall would not kill, but neither wanted to experience the cuts and scrapes that would come from rolling down the slope. It took but a few minutes and they were once more upon level ground, albeit thrity plus feet below the plain above. With weapons in hand, they began to move across the expanse towards Eldanar.

They kept themselves close to the ground for fear of what might be watching from the walls, but their was little cover to aid them. Slowly the castle began to reveal more of itself. The moat around Barad Eldanar was still there but the bridge to the castle had fallen. It had probably burned away when the dragon Scatha had breathed upon it, taking their friend Lûnduf at the same time. The east wall was gone having also been destroyed by the dragon's arrival. Rubble littered the inner yard of the castle made up of the wall and the small buildings that had fallen. Stones also were scattered on the outside of Eldanar and into the moat forming a natural bridge from one side to the other.

Durgil could see the inner bailey still standing. His mind wandered back to the cold winter three years past when he and these same men had made their last stand against the attacking forces of Angmar, only to be saved by the arrival of the host of Camentir. Now that small castle was the home to a new, unnatural lord.

---

:ooc: I need Observe (spot) tests rolled TN 15. The other members of the party may roll, too.

Edrahil
:00: TN 15 Observe (Spot) +4, Keen-eyed +2, Specialty +2[/size]


Fengel
:00: TN 15 Observe (Spot) +4, Specialty +2[/size]

:ooc: I have just realized that I have not made mention of Ginnar since our return to this game... I think that I am going to write the Dwarf out of the story. I have two NPC's to run as it is and the less the merrier.

If someone wants to pick up the part and play two PC's, let me know and I will start including him again.

My two NPC rolls above are successful, but I will add my narrative regarding their success after I see everyone elses results.

Observe (Spot) - Roll(2d6)+5: 6,6,+5 Total:17
Roll(1d6)+0: 3,+0 Total:3
Final Total: 20

 :ooc:observe spot roll

 :00: Observe (Spot) roll:

Observe (Spot) +2

Durgil noticed that there was something alive around the castle - carrion birds either hung on the winds above or sat upon the crumbled stone. Madoc, too, stared at the distant structure but had yet to catch sight of any moving thing, but Durgil directed his gaze. They both now wondered at what would make large crows and buzzards cling so close to the castle, unless it be the corpses of men. Would the walking dead render themselves to be consumed?

The noble saw new movement amongst the stones along the western wall that still stood mostly intact. A large black bird flared its wings out to try and gain loft away from an attacker, which appeared to be a hound. Durgil squinted to see how big the dog was and saw that it was not alone. The animal was a large breed and it had three other companions - two of which laid upon the ruins while the third tore into another bird that must have gotten too close.

On the ridgeline behind, the other companions arrived at last. Edrahil scanned the depressions floor until he saw two gray figures moving towards Eldanar. The Sindar then looked to the castle and he too noticed the hounds milling about the entrance. He looked to Fengel who suddenly spoke and pointed, "Seems that the new resident of Eldanar has placed sentries at his door in the form of dogs."

Time has not come to confront these sentinels yet so Durgil motioned to guide Madoc around the perimeter of the ruined stonework to see if there are any other opportunities of ingress while keeping an eye on those savage dogs.

:ooc: Doug, I'll take over the character Ginnar unless someone else has contacted you about it.

Celdrahil reigned in his mount and observed the castle, waiting for a sign to proceed.

"Dogs," Dirnhael murmured. Such simple animals, but how difficult they were to slip past.
"What are they guarding," he thought. Camentir's entire army, gone without a trace, but no sentries in place, nothing but dogs to guard a ruined castle... and rumors of the walking dead.
They had to proceed carefully; they could be facing almost any dark vision the mind could conjure.

Madoc followed Durgil's lead, glancing back up to the edge of the hollow, where they had entered. "Let's just not take our time; I think we should return to our companions before too long."

"I don't plan taking any more time than needed but we must know what we are up against," whispered Durgil.

:ooc:  if needed again as we move around the ruins,
Stealth (Sneak) - (6+1)+4+2=13
Stealth (Hide) - (4+2)+4+2=12
Observe (Spot) - (3+2)+3+2=10
Observe (Hear) - (6+5)+3+2=16

Edrahil stared hard at the animals and even as Fengel spoke, the Sindar commented, "Aye, Fengel, but what wicked wardens these beasts be! T'is no natural hound that guards the gates of Eldanar! These curs have unnatural jaws and it looks as if their very bodies rot... and those eyes!"

The Elf's urgent words caused all five of the companions to start... after all, two of their companions were walking right into their lair.

On the lower plain, Durgil moved low across the grassland with Madoc in close proximity. The two began a circuitous route around the old keep moving to the east and the broken wall still coveredin old, tangled vines.

---

:ooc: Hey Matt, that is fine for you to take Ginnar. I will get character sheet transfered to you shortly.

I will need Madoc to also give me Stealth (Hide and Sneak) test rolls - the Observe tests are at your discretion. I am rolling the hounds Scent and Listen tests now. They will be used as opposed numbers against both PC's rolls.

Barghest Hear roll
:00: TN opposed Observe +10, Speciatly +2, Keen-eared +5, distance from PC's -10


Barghest Scent roll
:00: TN opposed Observe +10, Speciatly +2, Keen-eared +5, distance from PC's -8

"We must alert them," Dirnhael said urgently.
He hoped that the two scouts would peer back in their direction, but there was a very good chance that they would not.

"How many do you see," he asked Edrahil. "We may have no choice but to join them... or lose them."

Ginnar sat ill at ease even upon the sturdy steed that dwarves are wont to use.  "Gah!  My axe has cleaved naught but wood and mattock to dirt and stone for far too long.  It is restless in my hands boys and the blood of these devilish hounds will do.  What are we waiting for?"

:ooc:
oooo durgil and madoc are screwed  hehe

 :ooc:Stealth (Sneak) +9


Stealth (Hide) +6

Even as the companions discussed their options, one of the hound's ears perked up at a sound and it looked in the general direction of where the men scurried. Its snout tipped up to the wind and it sniffed for something that might not be the norm. The barghest rose to its feet when it smelled the scent of living blood. The hounds head still back, it let out a baleful howl that reached far across the plain around Eldanar.

On the ridgeline and within close proximity to the castle, the companions all froze when they heard the cry. It sounded as if it were the tortured cry of an infant and it chilled the blood of both Men and Dwarf, and even the Sindar looked disturbed. Edrahil cried out, "The pack is moving! And behold, a fog rises from the waters of Eldanar and moves before the hounds!"

Celdrahil heard the cry of the wolves and saw the growing mists. He was used to the eerie foulness of the dark enemy from all the time he spent as a Captain along the marches of Mordor, but it had been a long time. Having a clear and open foe before him the Dunedan became wroth with fell deeds filling his head. All the months of idleness felt like dead time upon his skills and he felt the urge to do battle, as if the sword itself whispered to him to enter the fray.

"They will be trapped in the open by these dogs! Come Ginnar, we have found something for your axe to nibble on."

With that the Dunedan loosed his blade Herth-hathol from its scabbard and couched his spear.

"ITHILIEN!"

With a leap the horse sprung forward to the aid of his comrades and as the wind began to tear through the mane of his horse and whistle in his chainmail the Prince of Ithilien laughed with the thundering hooves. Finally the knight was back in action against the dark arts of the eternal enemy of his people. The silver boss of his shield appeared as if it shown a silver light before him as he charged down the rim of the valley towards his isolated companions.

 :ooc:
So much for stealth and guile  ;D

"Khazad-ai-menu!"  Ginnar's blood boiled through the fear that had momentarily chilled it.  "Hang in there laddies, we have your backs!"

Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on May 01, 2012, 03:12 PM:ooc: So much for stealth and guile  ;D

:ooc: Sorry man, I tried to give you guys the opportunity, but the dude that wrote up these hounds gave them some outrageous abilities. What I have up there is a dumbed down version.

 :ooc: I prefer a straight up fight to all this sneaking around! ( I was going to blow my War horn, but i didnt want the whole castle to know we were here. =))

 :ooc:
No worries, on to making puppies into chow.

Madoc cursed and set an arrow to his bowstring. "I knew this was a bad idea!" he muttered, mostly to himself.

Quote from: Telcontar on May 01, 2012, 09:13 AM
With that the Dunedan loosed his blade Herth-hathol from its scabbard and couched his spear.

"ITHILIEN!"

With a leap the horse sprung forward to the aid of his comrades and as the wind began to tear through the mane of his horse and whistle in his chainmail the Prince of Ithilien laughed with the thundering hooves. Finally the knight was back in action against the dark arts of the eternal enemy of his people. The silver boss of his shield appeared as if it shown a silver light before him as he charged down the rim of the valley towards his isolated companions.

They were committed, then, Dirnhael thought, as he watched the Man and Dwarf break from their ranks and ride down the bowl towards the ruined castle.
He drew his sword and spurred his steed forward, looking to Edrahil and Fengel as he did.

"'Tis not the hounds that worry me. 'Tis the fog."

A grim look came across his face as they rode toward a certain battle, but an uncertain destiny.