Lo! Beneath skies high and leaden, born atop the Misty Mountains, sun a-shrounding, rain denying.
Rousing are the mighty Beornings, furor of the hunt upon them.
Insults suffered unforgiven, steel and thunder for to answer!
Breakfast is a rushed affair as the young warriors of the three expeditions make ready to set out. The remainder of the guests, meanwhile, make ready to return to homes, where harvests wait ripe in the fields and herds fatten for the oncoming winter.
:ooc: I'll set up two threads for the two parties containing PCs in a bit, but I wanted to give you a scene prior to that in case Hathcyn's nocturnal scouting changes anything.
:ooc: i'll get a post up today.
Hear now the acts of lordship undertaken by Grimbeorn Wolfslayer in the season of his father's absence. Beset with many troubles the joy of the annual games was set aside for funeral and lamentation and soon the hot pursuit of vengeance. The thegns, tempered with caution to the young aehtling of Beorn were quick to anger, but slow to react. While the landless and the freeholders were quick to rise in the esteem of their Chief's son sprang into action, Hathcyn Longspear a freeman of the north was one such warrior...
Hathcyn awoke from his dream journey to see that Harhold was still by his side lightly dosing. He felt tired from the lack of real sleep, but also refreshed in a deeper way after running in the form of his ancestral animal. He was also armed with information that Grimbeorn would want to hear. The young man stretched and rinsed his mouth of sleep, rising quickly in the hall among the other sleeping guests. The long legs of the man strode around and over the pallets of the sleeping guests to find Grimbeorn, captain of the band that Hathcyn had pledged to join the day before.
The son of Beorn was already up and the Freeman found him awake and alert, already preparing for the day.
"Grimbeorn, I have news for you gathered in the night that you would wish to hear."
The aethling of Beorn looked up and nodded, sparing no words for the new man.
"Seeing your need for information I took it upon myself to see what information could be provided and I sought the aid of my totem to go where men had not yet traveled. I have learned that there are indeed a band of orcs in our lands. They forced a crossing of the Great River and were in great haste. They were not well supplied, but moved with great purpose. Also the charge of Merovech was found. He sleeps troubled and alone in the wild. He goes on foot and likewise is bereft of traveling gear or food in any quantity, only his youth and his hardiness have kept him going. Mounted parties should be able to overtake them, while those on foot would be slow to close the distance."
"How many were there and are they tracking the truant? Where along the banks was this?" queried Grimbeorn.
:ooc: need a Loremaster assist on this one.
:ooc: I hear and obey!
There were maybe two score orcs, who crossed right where Odo and Merovech's bodies were found. Hathcyn isn't sure where their ultimate destination was, but they first across were beginning to scout the way east as he began following the scent.
"Two score?!" Grimbeorn growls. "This changes things and not for the better." After a moment of thought, his mind was clear with the path forward. "The runners will still go to the halfling home and investigate there. With the horses available, I will lead warriors to meet these filth and rid our land of them. I am sorry, Rorin, for I cannot let this incursion pass."
Hathcyn Longspear shrugged, "perhaps the two threads of this story are woven together if we follow them further. The goblins are a threat to all. Once they are slain if leave be given I would still render my aud to Rorin Roadmaker and the friendship and prosperity between our people."
:ooc: Point of order - if you check the map, you'll see that the Easterly Inn is actually to the northeast.
Quote from: Eclecticon on Mar 07, 2018, 01:13 PM:ooc: Point of order - if you check the map, you'll see that the Easterly Inn is actually to the northeast.
:ooc:
Now that would make sense, wouldn't it? Statement amended./color]
Rorin is visibly shocked at the news of orcs crossing the river, and though he tries to conceal it, his disappointment is likewise plain to see for those who know him best.
"Nor can I ask it of you, in good conscience," he says, diplomatically. "You must see first to your own kin, and I to mine. I will go north with the young warriors as far as the halflings' inn, thence into the land of the Viglundings. It may yet be that they may be made to see reason."
At Hathcyn's words, his face brightens. Regarding Grimbeorn again for a moment, he says "We have worked well, you and I, to strengthen the bonds between the Free Peoples of Wilderland such that a Man such as this one would volunteer to rescue Dwarves without first asking for gold and silver in return!" To Hathcyn, he replies, "I accept your offer of aid, subject of course to my friend's leave, though I cannot imagine that it would not be granted once your current emergency has passed."
In a low voice, "more help than one will follow as well after the rout of these curs " assured Grimbeorn. "Your friendship and dedication deserves no less."
"All hail! We hunt!"
With a thunder of hooves, Grimbeorn rides out at the head of seventeen followers, each great of heart and strong of arm. A much smaller party shoulders its burdens and turns the opposite way, beginning the trek northward to whatever remains of the Hobbits' inn.
Though the skies have not cleared, and the air is cool in the lungs of the pursuers, the ride to the river goes without challenge, though the young Men whoop and cry as they spur their mounts onward, racing each other towards fancied glory. By midday, the band, led expertly by Hathcyn, arrives at the spot where Odo and Merovech were found, and where the orcs made their crossing. Crude rafts are plainly visible on the bank, and the many tracks leave an unmistakable trail toward the east, though it diminishes rapidly in the drier ground.
Though birds wheel far above, the riverbank is silent. It is as if the wild things still mark the scent of orc with fear, and remain hidden.
:ooc: I need a Hunting or Search roll (from anyone) to follow the trail. Only TN 12 - there's quite a few orcs and they're making no attempt to conceal their tracks. On a related note, now is a good time to sort out travelling roles!
Hunting Roll
Rolled 1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 6, 2, total 9
The great long spear of the man was held at his side. Even while mounted it stood tall and almost touched the ground. In the south such men still used long spears to great effect while mounted. In the wooded and broken lands of the Beornings it was not quite so common. Hathcyn knew the way, for he had already traveled it once before as recent as last night. He took but a moment to lean from the saddle and to study the ground.
"They traveled heavy and took no care to their tracks. They shall rue the day that they came here with such reckless abandon and disregard for our folk. The pyre of their death will mark their error. This way! The trail heads east this way."
:ooc: Cheers. Nice profile pic, by the way.
Grimbeorn quickly assessed the area and agreed with spearman. "Forward and to their ruin!" he cried. The saddle wore on him and his men for they were no great armored cavalry of Gondor or horseriders of the far-removed brothers of Rohan. He yearned for the ground beneath his feet and enough room to swing fell the ancient blade.
:ooc: I am just chiming in here, so you know that I am around.
And this is not to be interpreted as an asshole post.
I have no idea where my PC is right now, along with Tate. What started as a three party search plan has turned into a mounted charge to kill orcs and is essentially Beorning-focused.
There were supposed to be two mounted parties, but Matt changed that plan and made the horses available just to the current thread.
Did Tate and I still have leave to use horses to hunt the escaped prisoner? Are we supposed to be chasing the escaped prisoner? Who went north to the Hobbit inn? Are we just riding along in Grimbeorn's entourage?
I will await for clarification.
The horses thundered across the grasslands of the river basin. Free of the overbearing nature of their ancient thegn's the gafolgelda who rode with the son of Beorn the great wolfslayer rose their voices in song. The thundering hooves of the horses would not alone announce their coming.
The great voice of Hathcyn Longspear led the men along with the great bass of Harhold Bladechipper.
"Whet the bright steel,
Iron Holders of the Mountain!
Kindle the torch,
Breast Biters of the Anduin!
The steel glimmers not for the carving of the banquet,
It is hard, broad and sharp pointed;
The torch goeth not to the bridal chamber,
It steams and glitters blue with sulpher.
Whet the steel, the raven croaks!
Light the torch, Grimbeorn is yelling!
Whet the steel, sons of the Wood!
Kindle the torch, breast biters of Beorn!
The sword cleaveth the helmet;
The strong armour is pierced by the lance
All will perish before us!"
Strong were their voices, and loud their cries in song.
From his side Hathcyn drew a small ram's horn that had been shaped and wrought to be fitted with a brass mouth piece carved and shaped by one of Durin's sons upon the wood road. He held his spear high to catch the sun light upon its point.
"On folk of Beorn! To death and glory!"
He blew a shrill, low, distinctive blast upon the horn and the singing began anew.
Quote from: tomcat on Mar 14, 2018, 08:38 AM:ooc: I am just chiming in here, so you know that I am around.
And this is not to be interpreted as an asshole post.
I have no idea where my PC is right now, along with Tate. What started as a three party search plan has turned into a mounted charge to kill orcs and is essentially Beorning-focused.
There were supposed to be two mounted parties, but Matt changed that plan and made the horses available just to the current thread.
Did Tate and I still have leave to use horses to hunt the escaped prisoner? Are we supposed to be chasing the escaped prisoner? Who went north to the Hobbit inn? Are we just riding along in Grimbeorn's entourage?
I will await for clarification.
:ooc: No offence taken, Doug. Since the logical place to pick up the orcs' trail was the riverbank, where Esgalwen and Tate were heading anyway, I've assumed that everyone not going north to the inn is now there. You now have a choice of whether to follow Grimbeorn and his men, and hunt orcs, or head south and hunt a fugitive.
When in doubt, ask what the man in charge wants you to do...
:ooc: I assumed we were all going towards the same place now that the orcs were of immediate threat and that was where your charge was taking you.
:ooc: Yeah, sorry, I had the same thought as Doug... maybe worse off, as I was sitting around waiting for a separate thread to pop up for Esgalwen and Tate and Company. Re-reading the posts, I see that this was my misread of the situation. My apologies for showing up late to the party.
Tate rode his horse well enough as he followed along with Grimbeorn's riders. This was not playing to his strengths, but the Barding faked it well enough. He had been on his fair share of hunting trips with Kolbeinn north of Dale. The thought of his friend and their present estrangement quieted Tate, while Grimbeorn's men took up their war cries.
:ooc: Does Tate need to make a search or hunting check to notice that the fugitive's tracks go a different direction than the orc party?
:ooc: No - Hathcyn has already seen that he went off a different way, and can point out the separate trail to anyone who cares to listen.
:ooc: I'm assuming Hathcyn has pointed it out then. Asking the man in charge...
As they approached the place where the trail of the fugitive split from the orc pack, Tate rode up next to Esgalwen and Grimbeorn. "Lord Grimbeorn... M'Lady, shall we take our leave in order to make a search for the fugitive?"
"Aye," answered Esgalwen. "Lest Grimbeorn needs our swords?"
"Ride swift to his capture and meet up with us. He can't be allowed to escape punishment if he or his comrades had anything to do with deaths of honorable men of this land. His tale must be ere this tragedy be given the justice it deserves."