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Two days passed for the companions, as they made their way back north towards Bofri and the Old Dwarf Road. The forest slowly loomed closer with each step until finally they passed once more under its eaves.

They followed their original route, the one that had led them to Geirbald and his folk and then passed them, all the while looking for signs of the Dwarf. The outlaws did not show themselves, or were no where near the Company, as they made quick pace of their journey. Their benefactor had said that he would camp along the trail and wait for them, but the only sign that could be found was the tracks of a pony.

Keeping an eye for an encampment, the Company pushed on faster until at long last, the soft clop of the horse hooves took on a brighter sound - one made when hoof strikes stone.

"We've found it!" exclaimed Rorin, who like his kin had been eager to locate this great work of his people. Jumping from his pony, the Dwarf scrabbled at the ground with a shovel until he uncovered cut stone. His fingers traced the dirt-filled runes engraved on the slab. Rorin grasped at the memories of his teachings about the old road and he announced, "Five miles east to the Millfort from this spot, maybe? Certainly none less, but not much more! Forty-five to the Beacon tower, and sixty-five west to where the Westfort once stood!"

The Dwarf craftsman could not help but feel jubilant - he stood upon an earthen work of his folk that had been started sometime in the early Second Age, perhaps even earlier. Unfortunately, any records that might have spoken of its crafting were lost. Perhaps in the dark halls of Moria or Gundabad writings, or ledgers, may have survived these many days. "Or maybe they, too, have been destroyed by the orc filth!" Rorin thought to himself, and then he spat.

Behind them and before them, the forest continued like a leafy tunnel. "The route before us seems easy enough now," said Esgalwen, "Shall we continue?" The Dúnadan took a forward position in their line, spurring ahead as she pulled forth her bow and quickly strung it. "Master Bandy! Care to join me at the lead?"

Two prepared archers would ascertain that nothing, or no one, would make an easy ambush upon them.

The Company rode for a ways until Esgalwen held her hand up to draw them to a halt. A fetid odor filled the area and the Company could see a large bulk laying near the moss-covered road's edge. Esgalwen slid from her saddle and moved closer to what was certainly a carcass - the smell grew worse and black flies buzzed all around. She got as close as she needed and said, "It is a pony."

Rorin felt a bit of relief but then his blood chilled. Looking up the Dwarf pointed, "What's that?"

Hanging from the limbs above, a large, web-wrapped object swayed in the faint breeze that moved the trees. It was large. Too large maybe to be a Dwarf?

Rorin's heart pounded in his chest as he clumsily dismounted his pony and pulled his hammer from it's sheath. He rushed to the rotting pony and searched for anything that might tell him what had happened here.

 :ooc:

Search

Rorin could immediately see the animal's condition, as it lay with its legs in precarious positions and its head looking as if it were upside down. Something large had either fallen on the pony, crushing it, or had briskly knocked it away. Though it had started to bloat from decay in the warmth of the forest, it had not laid here long. There were superficial wounds, but it was apparent that they had been made after its death - scavengers coming by to eat of the carcass. The flies were the worst defilers, having dug into the pony and laying eggs only to have the larvae emerge and spread over the area.

The saddle and gear were still upon its back - it was Bofri's mount.

:ooc: Esgalwen will search around for any other signs of activity...
TN 14 search 1d

:ooc: For a Ranger, she is none too perceptive!  (-D

I will have to remedy that when we get our next advancement.

"HO! Ready yourselves! Some beast of great size befell Bofri here."

Rorin readied his hammer and began scanning the woods around him as he backed towards the rest of the group.

"Can anyone release the web above us? I must know if it's him."

:ooc:

Do I get a advancement point for the extraordinary success on the search?

 :ooc:

And another search, this time looking for Bofri's assailant.

Searchi]

Quote from: disench4nted on Nov 15, 2016, 11:32 AM:ooc: Do I get a advancement point for the extraordinary success on the search?

:ooc: Yea, I had awarded the point for your successful Search and updated your sheet afterwards :csu:

You should have 1 check mark in Perception now.

Rorin cannot see anything new with his current roll - the TN is 14.

The Hobbit was wary, he had not soon forgotten the last time they faced the spiders of the wood.

"The back of this pony is nonplace for me unless we intend to fell. Perhaps I have spent too much time with Rorin, but the ground is a better place for a Hobbit."

With a hop Bandy was back on the ground and examined the area and the bundle hung from the tree.

Search

Crap.

"Another casualty of those orc-loving filth!  I lay the loss of our guide at their feet as well," growled Grimbeorn.  He assists as he may to search out any signs of what befell poor Bofri.

 :ooc:
 :00:

With his greater height, Grimbeorn was able to reach his axe to where the webbing attached the bundle to the tree's limb. He could see no other evidence, but if it was desired, he could bring the body down. Unfortunately, it would fall the distance to the ground, which would be quite irreverent to the body within.

"Perhaps if a grab a hold of a cloak we can catch the bundle as Grimbeorn shakes it free? If it is Bofri I'd hate to suffer him an further indignity."

Arbogast, thinking along similar lines, is already unrolling one of the large, coarse-woven blankets that have kept them warm in the chill of the spring nights. 

"Of all of us, Grimbeorn," he says, "you know these beasts the best.  Might this unfortunate still live?" 

This site of the area is not unfamiliar to the Beorning for they dredge up memories from his younger years.  Stoically though, none of them show upon his face. "If we don't see a carcass or any trace of their foul ichor, then it appears he was caught unawares.  It is odd though that his body was left here as well as a pony; these creatures aren't wasteful with food.  I believe this is a warning to us specifically from yesteryear."

Grimbeorn cuts down the dwarven guide with as much as could be given.  "Rorin, what can we do for him as to your people's customs?"

"Let us cut him out first, to see if it is him and if he is in fact dead."

Surprise filled everyone as the silk-wrapped remains landed roughly on the ground, tearing open as it did.

Then came relief - Bofri's body was not inside.

The desiccated remains of a boar was easily distinguished within the webs. The evidence of how it died was clear to be seen, two large stab wounds on its back. With this information, the companions applied themselves once more to determine what might have happened to Bofri. Was he hiding? Had he interrupted the monster in it feeding and it then attacked and killed his pony, while he ran? Why did it not also take the pony?

They spread out once more in search of any clues that might help them.

---

:ooc: I am going to give all PC's one more attempt at searching for clues, which I will roll to expedite. The new attempt will also allow now for the use of either Search or Awareness.
TN 14 by skill

:ooc: I forgot to change the names to Grimbeorn and Rorin on the last two.

Results:
Arbogast - Success :csu:
Bandy - Great Success :csu:
Esgalwen - Success :csu:
Rorin - Great Success :csu:

The companions spread out further from where the dead pony, and now boar, lay beside the road. The comfort of knowing that Bofri was not within the web pleased them, but he could still be hiding, hurt, or possibly dead somewhere else.

The Hobbit and Dwarf moved to the north side of the Dwarf Road, while the others searched south of it or on it directly. Ten minutes of their actions brought a cry from Rorin, "It's here!" Which was quickly followed up by Bandy, "No...here!"

The Company gathered to the north of the road where they could see an apparent trail. Vegetation was crushed in large swaths, as if something heavy had moved over them. Silk web also clung to various branches and shrubs. Finally, a trail was discerned - the spider had thrashed off to the east and all of the companions were sure that they could see that it dragged something along behind its mass.

"Do you think he lives?" asked Esgalwen.

There was only one way to know. They all moved back to their horses and mounted up. Like a shot, the Company raced down the Dwarf Road in the direction that the spider had gone. Fear rose in them some, for the carnage that it had left in its track was big.

The road ran straight over the next few miles, and then the Millfort came into view. It was once a Dwarven way station, a fortified coaching inn where travelers could rest in safety and recover before continuing. A forest stream flowed past the back of the fortress, and a small mill wheel once turned there. Today, the mill wheel was long gone and the fort was entirely overgrown. The outer walls were still mostly intact, and the squat drum-shaped tower in the middle... had an absolutely gigantic spider sleeping on it. The biggest spider any of the companions had ever seen was sprawled across the top of the tower. The monster was at least fifteen feet across, with its huge hairy legs dangling over the edge.

Mutely, from within the tower, came the cry, "Help! Help me! Anyone..."

The monstrous spider was still, not reacting to the cries from within, or seeming to not yet sense the companions approach. Was it asleep? Had it gorged itself on the boar that had hung in the tree? Or was it very much awake and watching? It was impossible to tell from the many glassy-eyes that sparkled from the daylight above.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/tauler.jpg)

:ooc: Any companion possessing Mirkwood-lore or Enemy-lore (Spiders) may invoke the Trait to be allowed a Lore roll: a successful TN 14 roll identifies the creature as Tauler the Hunter.
TN 14 lore by PC

:ooc: Easy to say, based on those rolls - the PC's don't know shit about the spider!  (-D

"D...Does it see us?" Rorin whispered as he glanced back and forth between his companions. He racked his brain for an idea on how to approach this beast, but his soldier's training had not prepared him for anything like this.

 :ooc: KILL IT WITH FIRE!

 :ooc:

DOUG!! WE NEVER SAID WE WERE TRAVELLING TO AUSTRALIA!

 :ooc: Are we standing beneath the trees or in/near a clearing?

:ooc: You guys still have cover of the wood. If it senses you all, it hasn't revealed that fact.

"Well I'm keen on introducing myself.  This foul beast cannot be allowed to remain to terrorize anyone else!"  Just looking at him, as his fury grew, Grimbeorn's seemed grow physically and perceptively take of more of his ancestors bear-ish traits.

Bandy gulped and looked from the spider to his companions. Idunn's spear was not with them this time.

"You wissh to fight that thing? I was going to suggest that I might sneak in, but your plan scares me more."

The Hobbit threw back his cloak and drew an arrow. He looked around to see if any spawn in ambush and then looked back at Grimbeorn.

"Grimbeorn son of Beeorn, Im with you. Say when. "

:ooc: Everyone is here! Almost REAL TIME gaming!  :tup:

Esgalwen still had her own bow in hand. She looked to the Hobbit as he spoke and then back to the spider. It was huge. Larger than any living thing she had ever seen. Her elders spoke of oliphants, but those were just tales. The Dúnadan swallowed hard and waited to see what her friends would do.

 :ooc:  so, battle rolls?

:ooc: I don't know.

Are you guys going to attack? Grimbeorn said he'd like to introduce himself. Does that mean with his axe, or is he trying to talk to the thing?

I was waiting on some sort of clarity.

 :ooc: i took that to mean with his axe, but I'll let him confirm that.

 :ooc: Unless calmer heads prevail, Grimbeorn will approach the creature.  Though our track record in this regard aren't on our side; we aren't a sneaky bunch really  ;D.

The halfling bent his bow as the son of Beorn went forward. He was worried that he was so far forward, alone, but the Hobbit knew his best way to support him was with his bow. If the spider so much as twitched the Hobbit was determined to let fly his arrow.

 :ooc: to combat! Or parley, but more likely WAR!

"Those who wish to stand with me, come.  Those who wish to stand from afar with arrows, spread out."  With that, the man with a grudge the size of this great wood and an axe with which to chop it down, strode forth to confront the great spider.

As the son of Beorn steps forth, Arbogast claps a hand on his shoulder.  As the much larger man turns to stare at him, his eyes full of grim determination to kill or to die, he speaks calmly.  "There are tales among the Woodmen of beasts such as these, ancient beyond the reckoning of Men.  In the tales, they are fell things indeed, but they prey upon orcs, and the foul things of the wood, as readily as anything else.  They also speak, though rarely with good intent." 

He scratches at his beard, pursuing a stubborn louse.  "I believe that, though creatures of darkness, the spiders are not yet servants of the Shadow.  Before blood need be shed, I say that you and I should try to negotiate." 

With that, he follows the Beorning out into the clearing. 

:ooc: Jeez, our decision-making process is unforgiving of my antipodean schedule!

The Hobbit looked at the two men and heeded the words of Grimbeorn.

Turning his head he looked at Rorin, "come Rorin, they may have need of us."

The Hobbit shouldered his bow and drew his small blade, "then sword work  it will be friends. I'll not stand back from this monster, better is my bow, but stouter still are hearts with companions that walk together. A sword day it shall be."

The Hobbit stepped forward to stand with Arbogast and Grimbeorn.

"Courage, my friend.  It may not come to steel and sting.  Who knows?  Perhaps all it wishes is for the noise to stop so that it may sleep uninterrupted!" 

He looks to his left and right, drawing confidence from the presence of companions who have shed their blood beside him a dozen times, and who stand ready to do so again. 

"HO, SPIDER!"