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The creature lay dead in the center of the Elf camp.

Esgalwen moved to Morirúsë, but the Noldo waved a hand in dismissal. He was scraped and cut, as well as winded, but he was okay.

Around the company, the Elves began to return and they quickly went to Orophal. The leader of the hunters was wounded badly and his body looked broken. To everyone's pleasure, he stirred when he was called and his eyes opened. Great was his pain and the others tenderly shifted him into a more comfortable position, as they tended his wounds.

Grimbeorn breathed heavily from the quick encounter.  The blood was still wet upon his blade.  A fire still burned with this son of bear.  "This creature is dead, but has it's essence been vanquished?  It felt not do much."

"Nay, we have but accomplished what Orophal had before us. Our quest is not complete. Thank you for your kindness Lady of the Dunedain, your aid too was helpful, let us see to the wounded."

The elf strode to the table and downed a vessel of wine and washed his wounds with a vessel more.

"Cousins, will you show or guide us to the liar of the beast? What's more I have need of a shield, but more so the use of one or two of your lamps.

 "Ahh I must rest a moment," said the elf sitting.
"that was terrible work and I strove the beast in body and will."

Arbogast nods at the mention of lamps.  "To try to track a shadow into the depths of Mirkwood is pure folly, but I am certain that it shall come once again to visit its wrath upon lamps such as these."  And I hope that, by setting them out as bait, we can keep the beast away from a greater lamp still...

:ooc: I am working on the HOF webzine today.

I will update our story later today or tonight.

Doug,
I think we need a lead or a clue.
What the characters know right now:

1. The werewolf is a roaming across all of Mirkwood and can travel at great speed.
2. It is attracted to the light of the Elf Lamps.
3. It is a pretty vicious opponent.
4. The wolf form houses a fell spirit that when slain will return at full strength a day later.
5. It's liar is in the Heart of the Mirkwood Mountains.

The rate of return far out strips our ability to combat it. If it came after us everyday it would destroy the party easily. We need more information and it doesnt appear that Thranduil or Doobie Smoking Brown Wizard has any information other than to wish us good luck.

Morirúsë sat breathing heavy at the board.

"Truly that was a wearying fight, but what are we to do? The beast will return, and that quickly. Unless we find a way to defeat its spirit or to banish it to the void. That power is not known to me. To retreat is wise, I agree, but to what end? for our strength alone will not vanquish the beast."

Thinking quickly, Arbogast replies "the lamps draw it as it if were a moth.  If we could draw it with one or more of these," he waves a hand to indicate the undamaged lamps about the glade, "we could lead it away from the dwellings of the Free Peoples and perhaps find somewhere where it may gnash its teeth fruitlessly at a lamp just beyond its reach.  This might distract it for long enough for us to discover a way to defeat it permanently."

"I thought too to lure it with lamp,if one will be lent. Though I know not how long it would occupy its attention before hunger over ruled hate."

Esgalwen shook her head as she listened to the two speak, "Is it not dead? Did we not just slay the monster?"

Quick was Morirúsë's reply as to how the monster is a spirit unbound to any body, and quick was Esgalwen's understanding.

She shook her head, "Then we either return to our homes and wait for it to come once more, or we find its lair and see if there is something there that holds the foul spirit to our world. Either way, I fear that it now knows us and we will no longer be safe from the thing."

"Yea, those are the courses we are at present debating. We will gain no rest here in the wood...."

The Elf rose from the board, tired as he was and much worn from the struggle.
"Two lamps we will need, and direction or guide to the liar of the beast. Now that we are on its trail I am loathe to turn aside and let the beast slay where it will or feel free from pursuit."

Grimbeorn became more and more irritated with talk and indecision.  "Take this," he says to Moriruse, handing him his elven shield.  "Looks like you need it more than I for a time.  Arbogast can lead the group with a lamp and I will follow with the other.  Now we need to get moving lest both strength and resolve are lost."

Esgalwen made a grim face, "I appreciate your resolve and immediate decision making, Grimbeorn, but we still must wait. Morirúsë will need to rest a bit to recover from his wounds. This is not a comfortable holding, but it is more of a camp then what we can make deeper in the woods. We might as well take advantage of our Elven hosts' accommodations."

The Beorning sighed audibly in minor irritation, but nodded.

Even as they made agreement to their plan, a Silvan Elf spoke, "You may take whatever comfort you can from our table and camp, but we must go. Orophal is wounded deeply and we must return him to our realm in the north. The lanterns are at your disposal and you may leave the rest, the others in our company who took your folk west will collect what is left behind, whence they return this way."

The Company could see that the Elves were busy gathering what was needed for their trip. A litter had been quickly constructed and Orophal was now placed upon it. He waved to them all to come to him, and so they did.

Morirúsë went to a knee next to the Silvan Elf and the hunter lay his arm on the Noldo. "Mighty has always been the swords of the Noldor," he whispered through a pained look. "If you track this beast north, you must pass the Haunted Hills which lay south of the Old Forest Road. From there, you can either cut through the pass of the Mountains of Mirkwood, or skirt them on their eastern side. The Werewolf's lair is at the feet of the northern-most promontory - the mountain we now call Saer Aeges. Among the pines, which cluster and hide the mountain's secrets, where the gentle sloping earth meets the cold rock, you will find the maw of the gaur. Death and evil reeks from the hole and you will know it once found."

The Silvan Elf hunters lifted Orophal, urgency now driving them. The wounded Elf spoke once more, "Good luck, my brethren. Avenge me...for I know that my life dwindles here within Middle-earth, no matter how desperate my companions be. Mayhaps we shall see each other again and know one another, at the end of it all."

And as busy and bustling as they had been, quickly and quietly did they depart and naught was left but the remains of the camp and the night noises of Mirkwood.

Morirúsë was now stern and resolute, the quick and hasty departure of the Elves confirmed many dark opinions of them that had had remained buried.

"So, we stand alone again. They have left us the lamps and if I can discover their working perhaps we can light them and snuff them to lure the beast as the Wood Elves have come to do to the Bardings in the north and so lure them where they will. I also have another thought. Were not some of your companions and allies reopening the Old Forest Road? Is there some haven where there we may rest a spell before pushing into the mountains?"

 :ooc: can we see where we are on the map or relatively?

 :ooc: Give me a little time, Matt, and I will have that posted after dinner.

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 09, 2017, 02:46 PM... I also have another thought. Were not some of your companions and allies reopening the Old Forest Road? Is there some haven where there we may rest a spell before pushing into the mountains?"

"At least one of the Dwarf-built forts still stands by the Road, but it has been sorely tested by fighting not more than two seasons ago, and I doubt that our friends from the Lonely Mountain have had time to begin repairs.  I would fain find some deep hole in the mountains and seal the creature in as best we may.  Though doing so may buy us but little time, as the longer-lived reckon it, it is apparent that the Werewolf will not be slain by force of arms alone, be we never so resolute nor fell-handed.  If we may have some months to consult the Wise, it may make all the difference." 

:ooc: Here is the map with location that you guys wanted.

The company is currently in the Elf Camp. I have also illustrated the two suggest paths that Orophal gave you.

 :ooc: thats a long way to go with four endurance.

:ooc: Well, you get back 3 END almost immediately. The rest will restore at a rate of 5 per prolonged rest in a sanctuary - or another secure location.

Go back to Woodmen Town for a few days. It's not like you need to leave at this moment.

I will count the Elf camp as a sanctuary for at least 1 night's rest.

Morirúsë was never actually wounded - he just gets run down quickly due to his Encumbrance and Endurance.

"There is always my people's outpost at Old Ford that could serve us for some time.  Staying at the Woodman villages would only serve to endanger them if the beast returns on the prowl for us," offered Grimbeorn.

Morirúsë looked around the camp that had been quickly vacated by the Wood Elves.

"Companions, I say we spend the night here and partake of the food and wine the Wood Elves left. Then if we decide to press on to the mountains I'll have rested and be ready to go. If you have no desire to head to the mountain liar I'll return to Woodman town or the Ford and head out on my own in two or three days."

"We all have but one task at hand: destroy the beast.  Where we stay or how long we tarry will not change that fact.  I, for one, am ready to depart when the group is ready.  Take all their food and drink as you see fit, my distrust of it and them still lingers."

At this Morirúsë threw back his head and laughed, despite his usual demeanor it was actually a pleasant sound and it was not mocking in the least to the Beorning.

"At long last son of Beorn, something we can agree on, I too am not overly fond of the Dark Elves. There is no dweomer upon this food and drink as they were not expecting guests and had no intentions of trapping or befuddling your senses. Let us take what we can carry for it will be a succor and aid to us in the woods, I shall at least take it with me if none others shall. Now, as for the lamps."

The Noldo elf inspected one of the lamps left by the Wood Elves and attempted to check the working of it. They were similar to the lamps of old that the Noldo had at the hands of Feanor, and he guessed at once that there craft came from Eregion, perhaps Ormal made them if he still tarried in the east of the world.

"If I can master the lighting of the lamps and the working of them I know that the Wood Elves can extinguish and light them at will. For by this they lure the unwary off of paths and away from their holdings. If I can do the same with these then we can lure the beast perhaps the same way."

 :ooc: Give me a Wisdom test TN 16, Tom.

I will post more tonight or in the AM.

:ooc: Now this will be interesting...

"Blasted Wood Elves! Give them the fashioning of a thing and they bend it beyond recognition. Such a contrary folk are the Sinda and the folk of Elu worst of all."

:ooc: Dude, I thought your PC was tanked in Wisdom, too, but it's just Valour!

Cool.

I like how you did that though with your dialogue.  :tup:

I will let you know for post purposes - Morirúsë will figure it out. The failure will just mean it takes him some time as he tinkers with the lamps. He might say Elbereth!, or sing a Silvan song, or whatever, until at last it blinks on (at some dramatic moment  >:D ).

Cool?

As Morirúsë hurls his vitriol at the lamps, Arbogast, a cup of wine in his hand now that the Wood Elves have departed, mulls over the coming journey.  From here, almost any route north will reach the Old Road, he thinks, which Bofri said runs beneath the shadow of the Mountains of Mirkwood.  Once there, we shall see what we may find.  We could not afford a boat to row up the Dusky River - oh, for the coin of Bandobras or Rorin! - so into the wood on foot, for as long as Morirúsë's body will hold, seems to be the best path.

:ooc: I am not sure if we went into it or not, but what happened to the chest of gold of the orc guard at the river crossing?

Did you guys bring it home after burying it?

BTW - the game is in a bit of a slow down, I know. I am finishing the first issue of Hall of Fire and it is taking some time.

It is my goal to have it released next week, so I should have our game back up to speed very soon.

Bandy and Rorin were going to get it off scene and send the division to the appropriate places, namely the Tarn for Arbogast.

:ooc: Where, hopefully, it's been kept in a strongbox and not spent recklessly by his feckless kin. 

The night passed again, for the companions, but morning only revealed the closeness of the forest. What had seemed quaint in Elven lamplight, was now a rooted patch of woods that offered no succor from the dangers that it contained.

Still, Morirúsë was able to get a good rest - in his strange Elven fashion. The Noldo awoke to the smell of cured bacon being warmed over a small campfire, its fat hissing and spitting. Esgalwen sat near holding the stick on which the meat was secured. She smiled at the Elf, "Feeling better?"

The new day would once more require the conversation of direction. The companions had three choices - return to Woodman-town; seek refuge at Grimbeorn's home; or pursue the shade of the werewolf north. Though arguments for and against had been made the previous night, it was still uncertain as to what decision had been made.

With the bacon slightly crisp, but heated through, Esgalwen set it on a flat stone and took a long dagger to it, slicing it thinly and handing the pieces to her friends. She looked at Grimbeorn and then to the rest of the company, "Grimbeorn, and I, have decided to pursue the beast north. I know it is still up for debate, but we have made our decision." The two had spoken quietly in the night while the other two rested. "We would have you on this journey, but we will certainly not demand it should your path lead elsewhere."

---

:ooc: Morirúsë has 8 :<3: points restored

I will start the new thread with journey rules if the consensus is to go north. If not, that is cool, too - you guys are directing the show.  ;)

"To the forest road, and then to the mountains of shadow."