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Broad Anduin beside, soft slumbers Stánford, grievances aired, bellies full, fires banked. 
Stireth then in darkness Williferd the wrongdoer, Tate and Esgalwen
Night-cloaked, pursued and pursuers, fall their footsteps soft as prayer.

Tate's suspicions are swiftly proven correct.  In the dead of night, as the dying embers shine in the breath of a cold wind, he hears the sound of furtive footsteps as someone passes the door of the grand hall.  His hand falls gently on Esgalwen, who sits upright, no more asleep than the Northman.  Wordlessly, they leave the shelter of the hall, to follow the star-lit path of Williferd as he makes for the boats. 

Above them, the clouds scud and schoon across the sky.  The crossing will be dark, and likely dangerous. 


:ooc: I'm going to roll Stealth to see how closely you're able to follow Williferd.  Tate gets a mulligan because of his Burglary speciality, so I'll consider him to pass with a basic success. 

Esgalwen
(https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
:00: 1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 6, total 7

 :ooc: Are we up to post, or are you adding more to this?

:ooc: I should add a little more, which I'll try to get to this morning.  Then you're good to go.

:ooc: Awesome! A great success.

---

The two companions watched as Williferd walked onto the small pier. The gurgling of the river and staccato clicks and cries of night creatures, their presence was unknown.

Esgalwen was familiar with boats - and the Anduin - having spent her youth with both father and grandfather along the river shore, as it wended its way past Minas Tirith. She was sure, too, that Tate had to be a good boatman, living as he did in Dale and near the lake. The Ranger looked around to see which boats were available as she whispered, "If he takes a boat, or if there is someone waiting, should we borrow our own or wake up Ava and ask?"

It was her intention that no matter what, the boat would be left safely tied on the opposite side of the river.

:ooc: Travel roll to take measure of the available craft -or- Awareness roll to try and see them (included a nighttime penalty):

TN 16 travel 3d


TN 16 awareness 2d



Paul, choose the skill result you think is most appropriate and adjust the TN if it is more difficult.

:ooc: once more the :~~: winks in my direction

 :ooc: I am just noting that my last post in the previous thread had Tate suggest he and Esgalwen needed to quietly secure the use of a boat. Unless there was no time, I'm hoping Tate and/or Esgalwen did so. Tate won't steal a boat from Grimbeorn's folk.

 :ooc:  (-D at least now we know where the line is.

:ooc: I don't think that's something we need to play out.  I'll do a retroactive Persuade roll to see how he goes finding a willing lender.

:ooc: Hmm.  People were suspicious, but you eventually found a fisherman willing to part with his boat for a short while.  It's not the best, or best smelling, that you've ever been in, but it will get you across.

:ooc: For some reason, I can't access the profiler site on my phone.  Go ahead and give Tate an AP for the Persuade roll.

:ooc: A couple rolls to make the crossing, pick up the trail and to follow closely, but stealthily behind.

River cross
TN 14 travel 3d



Find Williferd's path
TN 14 search 2d


Follow quietly
TN 14 stealth 2d

:ooc: Another FUC#$%^  :~~: !

In tests, I know it just means a 0 result, but crap!

Paul - do you want to rule any +1 or +2 modifiers for Aid Another type roll challenges? It only goes into it vaguely with Prolonged Actions, but I have always liked the rule in other systems where two characters working on a task - one rolls, the other provides a bonus (in SAGA the aiding PC must at least make an easy or simple roll of the task.)

Your call.

Otherwise, Esgalwen fails on the search by 2 and on the move quiet by 4...although Tate really can't help her move quietly.

 :ooc: Esgalwen: "Michael, row your boat a-shore, hallelujah!" Tate: "Seriously, Gwen, shut up! You're gonna spook 'im!"

Anyway, couple of rolls for me, I guess.

Travel Roll to Cross the River... Boating trait invoked, if needed



Can I roll an Awareness Roll to see if I can keep Williferd in our sights the whole crossing over, to possibly avoid having to search for his trail (or at least give us a bonus to pick up his trail)?



Search Roll to Pick Up Williferd's Trail...



Stealth Roll to see if Williferd hears me... Burglary trait invoked, if needed (that's almost guaranteed!)

 :ooc: I'm not 100% sure what I can write at the moment as I'm not sure what the TNs are for the checks.

The Anduin river is cold and midnight-black, and the sunken stones of the ancient ford from which Stánford takes its name create strange whorls and eddies in the water.  Tate has lived half his life on and around boats, but it is still all he and Esgalwen can do to keep it upright and pointed in the right direction.  Soon, the pair look up from their struggle with the waters and realise that Williferd, rowing with the confidence of one who knows this reach of the river well, has outpaced them and has vanished into the shadows ahead.  In their little boat in the middle of a broad river, however, there is little they can do but keep going, though the effort taxes muscles little used in recent months. 

Their efforts are rewarded when they reach the opposite bank and see Williferd's boat already pulled up and made fast to the shore.  When their own boat strikes the muddy bottom of the river, they disembark and pull their boat into the shallows, their feet slipping in the cold mud.  Before they can find another nearby bush or stone to tie it to, the calm of the night is split by the sound of an iron-headed shaft striking its strakes. 

"Hold," comes the voice of Williferd across the night wind.  "Is it not enough that you have unmanned me before my kin?  Must you harry my steps until life itself leave me?  Declare, you hounds of Beorn, why you have pursued me though I go of my own will into lone and solitary exile!" 


:ooc: Reading the above rolls, I think that you made a good job of bringing the boat across, but that Williferd heard you and was ready when you reached the shore.  So we're now doing another encounter.  No need for introduction rolls - he's already very well aware who you are - and TNs for all interactions are 16 until I say otherwise. 

Let's play this out and see what each side has to say for themselves. 

Tate sighed inwardly as he heard Williferd call them out. Stepping forward, Tate tried to place himself in the open. "You accuse me falsely, Williferd. I have naught spoken of our conversation to any of your kin. Only my companion knows, and her only enough to help our search for your friend.

"Come, Williferd! While we are emissaries of your master, we are not your enemy. You and I both know you are not out here seeking a lone and solitary exile. I know you have come in search of Oderic too. Let us make this search together and do the right thing, Williferd. You know Oderic must faced your master and the truth be spoken. Do the right thing now, and, perhaps, as he and you tell your stories, justice and mercy might embrace."

 :ooc: Come on, dice! Don't fail me now!

Persuade Roll = TN 16

 :ooc: Well... that makes me happy!  ;D

"Time is in short supply," added Esgalwen. "When we left Grimbeorn, he was leading another company north and east to deal with a marauding band of orcs. Williferd, I must get back to the master of these lands - t'is no sword oath, but that of friendship that drives me. Grimbeorn put it in our charge to see Oderic returned. I beseech you to look at what is going on. A husband is now buried, two men have been slain that were previously sent to your town. If Oderic is guiltless of these deeds, then it will be a restoration of his place in your community. Hence you will have a new - and free - opportunity to pursue this new life."

The lady of Gondor waited a moment, " If not, then justice will be found for men callously slain. Certainly you can see the rightness in this path. Yes?"

---

TN 16 persuade 3d

Esgalwen could see no change in the man's shadowed face to her plea. Frustration was growing again within her, like at the table earlier in the evening. It served her no good then, and it would serve her no good now. Tate had made a connection with this man; she would say no more and leave it to him to speak.

Either way, the Ranger was ready to continue pursuit of their quarry, and she would go through Williferd, if need be. Time was running out.

:ooc: Some Insight rolls, now that verbal swords are crossed:

Esgalwen

:00: 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 1d6 : 6, total 6

Tate

The darkness hides Williferd's eyes, and the curiously flattening effect of the night wind on his voice turn the man into a riddle not to be read by those who now face him.  His grip, in any case, does not shift on the bow in his hands, nor does the fleeting moonlight show that he has lowered the arrow nocked to the string.

"Rathfic is slain, and so too are Odo and great Merovech.  The ranks of the dead have swollen since this tragedy began.  What good will words do, be they mine, Beorn's or those of any other Man, to make this right?  It seems to me that all that is left to do is to bring this sorrowful tale to its sorrowful end, and let the doom that lies alike on Oderic and I be brought forth."


:ooc: So far you guys have one success and one failure, but there's more to be gained from talking, if you want to continue...

Tate heard the frustration growing in his companion beside him. Patience, Gwen! he tried to will his thoughts to her in the dark. You'll frighten our quarry away!

Williferd's response only affirmed the minstrel's fears... the Beorning warrior was despairing. Tate knew that if he could bring the man some hope, and quick, more blood was about to be spilt.

"Williferd," Tate began, trying to close the gap between himself and the Beorning while also trying to put himself between Williferd and Esgalwen. "Please, friend... listen. This night need not end in doom and bloodshed.

"You are right! There is sorrow in this tale... but it need not be how the story ends. We could weave a different ending. One where our words mourn the loss of the dead, yes... but also restores hope for those still living.

"Rathfic is dead, by Oderic's hands, but not by any ill will of Oderic. And Odo and Merovech are dead too, but I doubt it was done by Oderic's hands. Do you see the story is already changing? Our words could very well restore Oderic's honour.

"Come, Williferd. Where is Oderic? Let us go to him together. Let's tell a new story."

 :ooc: come on, dice!!  :SS

Persuade Roll. TN=16.



Invoke Merry trait if needed. Tate is trying to persuade Williferd out of his despair and towards a path of hope.

 :ooc: Tate will spend a point of Hope to add +5. Does that actually improve the result, if I'm stacking Merry with my point of hope? Or is that just being wasteful?

:ooc: I'll give it to you for the Merry trait (though no AP for you!). 

"I..."  Williferd's voice falters, and it is only after the wind drops to a whisper that he continues.  "I know not where he is, nor whether some dark fate has already befallen him.  Even if he were to be found, do you think that you could make such a proud man come with you, having once shown his unwillingness to meet the judgement of his folk?  Could you even keep him safe, you who bear swords at your sides, where two of Beorn's greatest could not?"

Esgalwen sighed in her resolution and said, "Oderic will be given his chance to come of his own accord - and reason will be the tool that we use, just as we speak here. If he refuses, he will be subdued and brought by force...and yes, we are capable of said task, Williferd. That said, we were not sent here as judge and jury, thus neither are we executioners. It will not be our hands that blood will be drawn, but we will not be kind in the method by which we subdue."

There was no braggadocio in her voice, yet it was stern as steel, "I owe much to the scion of Beorn, and it is his wish that Oderic be returned and it will be done. Help us so that no one is harmed in this task."

---

:ooc: with the slight crack in Williferd's resolve, I will try one more persuade...

TN 16 persuade 3d

:ooc: And that is three... :~~:  :|

As Tom always says, the dice are telling a story here. Well, I am calling this as I see it - Esgalwen's diminished Hope score that she has sacrificed along her travels in the north, especially in the Cave of the Werewolf, has made her pretty fey and it is evident in her demeanor that she is not caring how things go down.

I guess in her mind she is thinking, if this man doesn't loosen his grip on the bow her sword, Nimronyn, will be needed.

:ooc: I should have stayed with my initial thought and kept her freaking mouth shut.

The horror and grief in Williferd's voice are clearly evident as he says "help you?  I...  I cannot..." 

A faint sound carries on the breeze, one of shifting feet.  There comes yet no creak of a bending bow, but when his voice next comes it is fainter and his words more plaintive.  "Can there not be some short life for him here, on the edge of the lands of Men?  Here, where reign the wolf and the owl, surely a lone outlaw could be forgotten.  It need not be..."  A noise, perhaps a sob, cuts him off. 

"Beorn's tolerance need not last for long." 


:ooc: Two failures.  You're losing him...

"Your master's tolerance is what we must put our trust in, Williferd," Tate pleaded, continuing to place himself between the lad and the ranger. "And I believe that trust is not in vain. Master Beorn will wish to hear Oderic's story. Do you not believe your master to be kind and understanding? Do you not believe Master Beorn to be able to judge right and fairly? Why settle for a short life here on the edges of the wild when he could be restored to honour amongst your people?"

 :ooc: Sorry for the delay. My in-laws flight came in significantly later than expected.

Anyway... let's see how we do here.

Persuade Check (TN = 16)

 :ooc: Any way to make that a success? Merry trait as Tate's trying to counteract Williferd's despair?

 :ooc: this merry trait is getting a lot of action here  (-D

"Judge right and fairly, you say?  Surely that is to be feared!  Oderic is a murderer and I, fool that I am and ever was, have helped him to flee Beorn's law!"  The wind rises once more and snatches his words away into the darkness.  All that is audible as it die down is "... hope is only that a traveller one day will find our bleached bones lying together, and know naught of the unhappy story that laid them thus." 


:ooc:

Quote from: Posterboy on May 23, 2018, 05:47 AMAny way to make that a success? Merry trait as Tate's trying to counteract Williferd's despair?

Not now that you've rolled it, my friend.  In fact, I'd probably insist on a roll in any case, given the drama of the situation. 

One more failure and we find out how this ends. 

Esgalwen's hand went to her sword and her voice spoke in the darkness, it carried within it the strength and sternness of Númenor long gone. "Loose your quill, Williferd, and be done with it, or lay down your bow. I will no longer bandy words with you. Countless times we have tried reason. Countless times we have expressed it is the will of the master of these lands. Countless times you have evaded our counsel. So loose your string - but know it is you, too, who are now the outlaw."

Her ire rose slightly as she continued, "And know this, that we shall pursue you unto your goal whether that be Oderic's lair, or wherever else you lead. I promise, too, that you will also be brought before Beorn and his son to answer for crimes. So choose quickly, for our patience is thread bare! I have looked into the very blackness of the Shadow that haunts these lands and I promise you that you hold no fear for me...so make your choice."

---

:ooc: the man's answer has pushed her button. They have spent the last 'two days' trying to get information and the rub-his-shoulders, it's-okay, buck-up approach is getting them nothing. So...here is an awe roll to try and cow Williferd into submission.

TN 16 awe 3d

 :ooc: well...we have a succecss. Not a big one, but a success.

Tate heard the clear command of his companion behind him and, in the darkness, the minstrel's head hung a little and he sighed. He stepped out of the way so Esgalwen could confront the man directly.

Esgalwen could see the shift in her friend's posture. She knew things were progressing in a way he had not wished, and her thoughts spoke, I am sorry, dear Tate, but we can only play this game of words for so long.

The night was dark, but the stars shone above and gave them at least a shape that was Williferd. Her sword remained in its scabbard, but the Dúnadan began to move steadily forward towards the man.

---

:ooc: She will not say another word but let her serious gait and stance speak for her, as she continues to make try and make this man blink.

Awe
TN 16 awe 3d

:ooc: And that is an :%: :%: Extraordinary success!

:ooc: Depending on how Paul interprets this all, it seems that the dice are saying that Williferd just needs to be commanded; that he is weak-willed. Maybe that is why he failed so miserably on the battlefield way back when - he is scared.

That is how I am putting this all together based on results: 6 SUCCESSES 3 FAILURES I hope our GM sees it in our favor!!  ;)

The majesty of lost Westernesse echoes down the ages, manifesting in Esgalwen's proud bearing and un-cowed words, and the silver glint of moonlight on iron vanishes as Williferd at last lets bow and arrow drop to the ground.  He moves neither to resist nor to escape as she climbs the river bank and approaches him, motioning ever so subtly for Tate to follow.  The warrior of Stánford seems now much diminished from the Man he appeared to be when first they met him.  Pathetic in his despair he now stands, a man adrift and at the mercy of forces, both within and without, far beyond his ability to master. 

His surrender complete, he kneels as Esgalwen comes close.  "Great is my shame," he says.  "Great indeed." 


:ooc: What a way to finish off a difficult encounter! 

 :ooc: Nice to see the dice in your favour, Doug!  ;) Way to turn it around!

Even in the darkness of the night, Tate could feel awe-ful presence of the ranger. He hadn't seen it often in Dale and Lake Town, but when honeyed words and an blessed smile were unable to persuade men, Gwen could draw up a fierce nobility from her ancient bloodline. A mix of fear and reverence was the typical response from witnesses. Tate could feel it welling up in him, felt his head lower a little more in deference, even as he watch Williferd crumble and submit before the ranger.

It was one of the few things about Gwen that troubled Tate. Every time she dug into her bloodline Tate felt it... he was not her equal. He was a lesser-born man. Any thoughts of a future together with the fair lady was fanciful wishing of a delusional man dreaming far outside his station in life.

Looking now at Williferd, Tate pitied the man. Coming alongside him, he put his hand under Williferd's arm. "Alright, now. Up we get. And I'll hold on to your weapons for you." Tate moved to alleviate the man of his weapons.

Esgalwen had seen many conflicts, some very recent, where the field was left with the dead and dying. It was a heart-wrenching thing to behold. But the sight of Williferd, broken as a man and kneeling in the grass under a starlit night, grieved her even more - partially because she knew that she helped in this outcome. She had been the one to bring low his spirit and will, and so anger subsided and pity filled her heart. Still, her voice remained strong so as to convey that Williferd now had few options.

Esgalwen watched as Tate assisted the Northman to his feet, "I see you have two choices, Williferd. One, you may lead us to Oderic so that we might return him to the House of Beorn. To this I invite you to come along, so as to offer your own words in the man's defense. If he is in the right, than surely any that bear him witness will aid in his judgment."

She let the words hang there a moment, "Your other option is to lead us to where Oderic hides and then return to your life in Stánford where you may continue to aid your village in growth and protection...a free man. Your people - all of them - need you. Mayhaps you can put a new life together, though your heart be sad, and find the redemption you seek.

"Bar these two choices, there is naught else I will offer you here. If you continue to obstruct us in any way, I will see you bound and carry out the duty of my warrant and see you back to Beorn, too, as an outlaw. There you will be judged."

Though it pained her, Esgalwen's hand never left her sword. "What say you to my offer?"

:ooc: No matter how Williferd concedes to our offer, we will immediately commence our next march after Oderic. If he is with us, it will hopefully go quicker. If not, then we shall hard march to where he says the outlaw was last hidden.

Williferd stands, though he does not meet the eyes of his erstwhile pursuers.  "I will go with you, until you have found Oderic at the least.  I not whither I will go then, but such chance of redemption as I have lies at your sides." 


:ooc: That's what six successes'll get you! 

I'm going to disregard your earlier Search rolls to find a trail, because there's been some amount of story in between and I hadn't actually asked for them in the first place.  I'll make some rolls for immediate pursuit (with a bonus for Williferd's assistance), but bear in mind that it's the middle of a cloudy night, and it is dark.  You were having a hard time seeing Williferd about ten feet away.  Good conditions for following a trail these are not. 

Esgalwen
TN 16 Search 2


Tate
TN 16 Search 3

:ooc: Looks like there's no sign of him in the darkness, unless someone wants to spend a Hope point...

 :ooc: I'll spend that point of hope.

A rule question: if I spend a point of hope to succeed,  do I still get the benefit of an extraordinary success?

Also: if I were to use a trait to auto succeed, would I still get the benefit of the extraordinary success?

:ooc: I've always taken the position that using Hope to achieve a success entitles you to all the usual benefits, including great and extraordinary successes, AP etc. 

Using Traits is different, though.  They're meant to speed up play and help players blow through things where failure would be boring.  They're an alternative to rolling dice, so they only ever provide a basic success (unless you use them to get a roll where one wouldn't ordinarily be allowed, which you can also do).

All this assumes a tabletop setting, of course.  It's a bit hard to pre-empt the need for a roll when the GM does some of the rolling for you.  So my policy will be to allow people to ignore the result of a GM roll if they have an applicable Trait.

 :ooc: Awesome! I'll still use that point of hope.

I'm out for the next few weeks. NPC as needed.

The three search in vain for Oderic's trail, confounded by the passage of time and the darkness of a cloudy night.  The cold wind is unrelenting, and it is with lips gone numb that Tate finally cries out for the others.  The light of a torch shows indentations in a muddy bank, several hundred yards downstream from the crossing, where a man pulled a boat ashore and then pushed it once more out into the current.  From there, his tracks head west into the lone lands before the Misty Mountains. 

The trail is plain, and Beorn's hounds are loosed. 


:ooc: A little travel montage follows.  First, Lore rolls:

Esgalwen


Tate

:ooc: Tate gets a bonus die to use in any travel-related roll.   

:ooc: Fatigue test:

Esgalwen


Tate

For several days, the three hunters follow the spoor.  The signs of Oderic's passage become harder to find as his path wanders, his destination unknown likely even to himself.  The clouds hang low and ponderous in the sky, and the wind that raced up the river valley disdains the lands away from the water.  Instead, the world is filled with the cries of birds flying southward, and half-seen movements as the beasts of the hills and fields make their preparations for the coming winter.  But a footprint here, a broken knife there and periodic signs of campfires lead them on as the trail bends southward, towards the land of the Woodmen.  These campsites are closer together than the hunters' own.  Oderic, it seems, was not pressing forward in any haste. 

On the third day after crossing the river, the three come to the side of a brook, barely a trickle in this dry autumn, where the trail of Oderic meets the footprints of many, and the trail dissolves into confusion. 


:ooc: Aaaaand now it's time for some Riddle rolls:

Esgalwen


Esgalwen

:ooc: I'll pause the narrative here to let Doug jump in with anything he wants to include before we get the results of Tate's roll. 

 :ooc: I will have a post up tonight, or tomorrow

:ooc: This pleases me.

Esgalwen enjoyed the march. The land here was very much like her own Ithilien, though at times it was more chill and the mountains did not seem so ominous. Still, the terrain was familiar and her boots were steady upon open rock, grassy field, and the scrub that clung to the land.

Occasionally, their quarry had found and used old hunter-paths, or broken roads of the ancients, and though good, he had not completely hidden from his hunters - they clung to his trail. At times, the Ranger felt her skill lacking compared to her companion. Tate had proven to be quite the outdoorsman, as well as a skilled man in social tact. Still, it was their combined effort that kept them on a clear trail.

Along their path, Esgalwen oft marveled at the totems that would appear - painted carvings that signified the many tribes of this land. Also they would come upon the works of her folk - great stoneworks that had been done by Gondorians long ago, or even the adventurous Númenóreans before them. Time had aged these works, and some were in ruin, but still they were evident. It was these times that Esgalwen would slow their pace to study the skills of her forebears, for she was passionate about old-lore. Tate would add a song or two when he saw her staring, and she would drift off to places long ago.

"C'mon, Gwen...we should be moving," he would gently say to bring her out of her reverie.

Poplars, maples, and fir trees sprouted up all around them and the wind would sing through their boughs. Rain fell and the autumn sun shone. It was everything that Esgalwen enjoyed... even her purpose. As a Ranger of Ithilien, they were tasked to hunt the lands for dangers of Mordor, and though Oderic was not such a threat, the task was the same.

On day three of travel, they came at last to the near-dry creek and the broken trail. She knelt close to the ground to observe the prints left. So many. They crossed over one another and mixed into a tangled riddle.

"Was it a scuffle? Perhaps a fight between two wandering companies? I see many heavy boots, but they are so jumbled that it is not easy to discern if they were the Men of this land, or something worse. What is worse, I cannot tell if Oderic passed the location by or if he were mixed within this disturbance."

Esgalwen moved on the outskirts of the tracks, so as not to disturb any possible signs. A true hunter would know this story, she thought. You have spent too much time outside your duties, Ranger. In her head, the self-admonishment only increased her confusion. But then another voice spoke - her grandfather's - Gwen, we are always learning; always making better our skills. Treat every moment as book and not a hammer, for it is only the steel that prefers such reshaping.

"Yes, Grandpa, but I cannot decipher this book before me..." she said in a low-voice, to herself.

The two men heard her soft words and looked over to where she squatted near the ground. Their looks only made her more frustrated and she said, "Well?! Is there something that you two can discern from these tracks?"

When Tate answers, it is with the twinkling eye of one who fancies himself to be quite, quite clever.  "Our quarry," he says, oblivious to Williferd's pained expression, "most definitely met others here, and gave them battle, or they him."  He points out tiny slivers of wood, trodden deep into the loam and missed by the Ranger.  "See here.  Much would I wager that these were brast from a shield.  And there is this."

He moves his foot, revealing a scrap of waxed leather cord, the fresh cut at one end clear to see.  "From this, I hazard that he fought, but was overcome and bound, and borne elsewhere by his captors."

He smirks at Esgalwen.  "My ears are sharp, and little passes your lips an that I know of it.  Do not berate yourself so!  We cannot all be blessed with such insight."

The tension on Esgalwen's face faded at Tate's comment and a smile of her own bloomed at her cocksure friend.

"If only," she feigned a swoon and both gave a chuckle. Becoming serious once more, "Well then, it seems Oderic will now be less mobile. Williferd, who resides in these parts and might have had reason to take him captive? Do you know of any that Oderic might have caused offense? And Sir Bard, might you apply that keen insight further and see if a trail can be discerned as to the direction they went?"

The Lake-Man points, "south, it would seem."  Indeed, the trail of half a dozen men or more is easy to follow from here.  For the remainder of the day it wends its way among stony hills and across marshy dells.  Land and waters alike here slouch south-east, and it occurs to Esgalwen that they cannot be far from the Gladden Fields.  A chill takes her at the thought of that place of misfortune and ill-omen for the folk of Gondor, but her step does not falter, nor does her countenance betray any trace of fear.  Nonetheless, she cannot shake the sense that there is a wary watchfulness about the land, as if they trod across a giant of an elder age, now uneasily a-slumber. 

The going is harder than the fair lands across the river, and it is plain that Williferd, unaccustomed to long journeys far from home, is struggling to keep up with his more experienced travelling companions.  He shivers in the breezes atop the hills, and his legs are soon covered in mud from ill-chosen steps in the fens between them.  His breath is scarce, and he does not waste it on speaking. 


:ooc: Let's do some Travel rolls, shall we? 

Esgalwen

:00: 1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 1, 3, total 9

Tate

:ooc: Tate will use his journey die to turn that into a success:

At last, the trail leads into higher lands, where a wild forest, its leaves as brilliantly golden as the treasure-holds of Erebor, holds sway over the hills.  This, Esgalwen recalls from tales told around the hearth of Mountain Hall, is the Wolfswood, long a haunt of outlaws and desperate folk.  Though it is early evening by the time the three companions approach the outskirts of the wood, there is no call of birds, nor skitter and rustle of unseen animals among the branches and roots.  There is no sound at all but a low breeze raising a susurrus in the leaves.  It is as if every living thing capable of movement has withdrawn from this place, forsaking it in favour of the deeper woods. 

And yet, it is plain that Men have taken up residence.  The trail that they have followed for the past three days plunges into the trees, where it meets the footprints of others, all leading deeper in among the ferns and boughs. 


:ooc: Quick Lore rolls:

Esgalwen

:00: 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 1d6 : 1, total 1

Tate

"I seem to recall, M'Lady," Tate says, "tales of fortresses built around the edge of this wood by Men of bygone days, now long abandoned.  Could it be that our quarry has been taken to one of them? 


:ooc: Man, Esgalwen's luck with the dice isn't changing! 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Jun 14, 2018, 09:33 PM:ooc: Man, Esgalwen's luck with the dice isn't changing! 

 :ooc: I know the dice are a random thing, but I still play it on Esgalwen's (along with her friends) sacrifice of hope in the cave. Middle-earth may be saved, but not for everyone - as our good friend Frodo learned at the end of his experience.

I will have a post up in a bit.

"That is very much a possibility, Tate. My friends and I had traveled near these woods before, a year or so ago. We were traveling to Mountain Hall. I do not recall seeing these fortresses, but surely they must be easy to find. As we are at its northern border, let us commence a circuit using the mountains yonder west to position ourselves, until we come once more to the river on the forest's east side." Esgalwen sighed. "I fear that without some new news from an inhabitant of these woods, our search has become greater than what two people can accomplish. Oderic could hide in these woods for years and without a great host to beat the brush, we alone will have little success."

She stretches her back - tight as it was from the pack that hung there - and then motioned for them to begin. "This march will be quite a trek - prepare yourself, Williferd."

Once beneath the boughs, the light fades quickly, though the darkness is not so deep and complete as that of Mirkwood.  Nonetheless, progress is slow, even with the trail as obvious as it is, and it is not long before all three companions are squinting at the ground, trying to make out any detail in the half-moonlight.  Williferd drops his pack and is on the verge of giving vent to his frustration when Tate abruptly shushes him.  "Up ahead," he whispers, pointing a finger through the murk, "I see lights." 

Sure enough, through the trees and ferns can be seen glimmers of what can only be firelight. 

Loosening her bow from her back and untying the quiver cover to reveal the fletchings of her arrows, Esgalwen did not draw a shaft merely had them ready. She moved to the foliage and hunkered down to make herself less visible. She looked to Tate, "I will advance to see what I can see. Stay close but do let me scout forward. I will call at need."

The bard nodded and Williferd gave a tired snort, but both men moved for concealment.

"I will be back," she said in a low voice.

---

:ooc: Using my Armor of Rangers reward - on Stealth rolls roll Feat die twice and use the better result.

TN 14 (or will this be opposed?) stealth 2d

:ooc: Sweet!  :g: confirms an auto-success.

---

She advanced from tree to tree, keeping low as she did and allowing her cloak to mask her form. Before she had left Tate, Esgalwen had slid her backpack from her shoulders and unbuckled her sword belt. She refastened the belt and looped it over her back, like a baldric, so as to have Nimronyn hanging at easy grasp. In her left hand was her stout bow, and her right carried an arrow - ready to be nocked.

She approached the firelight, listening as she did, and looking for any threats. She sniffed at the air to see if any reek of foul-things was present. Esgalwen took on her full mantle of Ranger of Ithilien - and deadly were those that warded the boundaries of Gondor.

---

:ooc:
TN 14 awareness 2d

:ooc: If 14 is the TN, that is a great success!  :%:

Esgalwen hears Mannish voices before she can see those to whom they belong, and hears many more as she draws closer.  Their speech is that of the vales, though of a different mode that she has heard among the folk of Tyrant's Hill who originally came, so they said, from the region near southern Mirkwood.  Parting a pair of branches enough to peer through, she sees the light of campfires reflected from iron helms and strong mail, and the heads of spears and axes.  There are several score Men in a clearing, and women and children besides.  Their dress and braided hair match their speech, though once again it is subtly foreign to that of the Beornings and Woodmen.  Behind them, the stones of a fort jut out from the tree line.  No work of Númenoreans was this, built to stand proud through uncounted years, for it has long fallen into disrepair and overgrowth.  Smoke wafts from the space where its roof would once have stood, speaking of more Men within. 

The Ranger's attention is drawn back into the clearing as a pair of warriors emerge from the fort and settle themselves down among a group already gathered by a fire.  Prominent on both their shields is a blood-red circle. 

 :ooc: well, shit...that's not good.  ':}

Several score! Plus more inside? We need to move on fast. I am not sure the hunt for Oderic will be a success.

I will post more in a bit.

Esgalwen's blood went cold and she restrained herself from releasing the gasp that wanted to explode from her chest. She knew those markings. The Blood Moon Raiders had attacked them some time back as her Company had moved north.

There were too many.

She did not know if a peaceful approach would even help, for surely she could not be recognized - none survived the last engagement. That said, would they try to apprehend her and her friends? If they did, what would she do? She did not have a horse to escape upon and there were just too many. Blood raiders from the south, orcs out of the mountains, and Viglundings to the north! It seemed their enemies grew and their allies thinned.

If Oderic were here, he was out of reach - if he still lived.

Esgalwen needed to make counsel with her friends. She would not make any decision without them. None of them had come on this chase to die.

Keeping a firm grip on bow and arrow, she began to move herself away from the camp-light and back towards her companions.

---

:ooc: again rely on Stealth to move away and her Rangers Armor virtue
TN [for Paul to determine] stealth 2d

:ooc: Well, I hate to use them because I don't have much left, but I think a :vv: is in order here.  :csu:

Stealth is favoured for Esgalwen, so that will add a 7 making my final outcome a 19.

I will wait to see what happens.

 :ooc: Doug, i looked on the character sheet, is Esgalwen miserable? Your hope score is a little low.

Also for everyone's future reference check out the Virtue Confidence. Its a good one to take when you are mid career.

:ooc: no, she is not miserable yet, but it is close.

The Miserable state occurs when Hope score is equal to or less than Shadow. I have been riding with 6 Hope for a while now, not wanting to use them due to the fact that a Dúnadan only recovers a Hope each Fellowship if her Fellowship Focus goes unharmed. Otherwise, once gone they are gone.

So no, she is not miserable, but I have been playing her pretty fey and irritable, not having any patience for anyone.

 :ooc: Confidence is an awesome find!

That is very useful for Esgalwen's continued existence. It is definitely something that will have to make narrative sense, but we'll see how this phase ends and if it is apropos for her to buy that trait.

Cat-like, Esgalwen follows the trail back to where Williferd and Tate await her.  In the darkness, it is impossible to make out anything but the vaguest silhouettes of the two men, yet Williferd's whisper speaks eloquently of the tension within him.  "Is he there?  Did you espy him?" 


:ooc: RP as much as you like, but you'll also need to decide what to do next. 

:ooc: I don't know Ayrn's status. I know he had said he had a lot going on for the summer, so I am going to post a narrative and dialogue here and fill in all the ideas.

If you oppose to anything I write, Ayrn, let me know and Paul can either retcon it or I can edit my post. Either way, if I don't move our part of the story on, the other guys are going to be waiting until September to see what happens with the Viglundings.

---

Esgalwen reappeared as a dark shape moving among the shadows. The two men were relieved to see her, but their mood quickly soured when they saw the grim look upon her face.

"Did you see him?" asked Willferd.

"See him?" replied the Ranger sharply. "I have never seen him, so I know not what he even looks like and thus would not know if I saw him."

Tate gave her a look to remind her that her thin patience was showing again.

She breathed in, "I am sorry, Williferd. No, I do not know if I saw him. What I did see was a camp filled with people. At least eighty - men, women, and children - and that is what I could see. More were within the old fortification. What is worse, they bear the mark of the Crescent Moon...Blood Raiders!" Her last words came out as a hiss.

Willferd immediately became anxious. "What are we going to do? We have to go! I have to let Stánford know that such a large raiding camp is on our borders."

The bard reached out a hand and placed it on the Woodman's shoulder. "Relax. We will. Message will be sent."

"I have to go..."

"No!" answered Esgalwen. "Not yet...our being hidden is paramount to our survival, right now."

Tate looked at her, "So...what do we do? Can we find him in their camp?"

"I guess," wondered the Ranger, "if I know who I am looking for. But what then? Try to sneak and capture him? Take him out? I doubt he would come willingly. I doubt we can get into the camp unseen."

"What of a diversion?"

The two hunters were surprised when the suggestion came from their unwilling guide.

Esgalwen shrugged, "Maybe that would work. It would have to be a good diversion, though. Then what? We have no horses to make a quick escape."

"The forest?" asked Tate.

Again a shrug, "Maybe...they have plenty of folk, though, to try and flush us out from a hide." She rubbed her hands together, trying to get the unseen dirt off of them. It was a nervous habit that Esgalwen had begun to do since she left the city of Dale.

"Then we need to leave and send warning," whispered Williferd.

Tate spoke over him, "What if we just enter the camp and say we are looking for an outlaw. Maybe it is just another settlement of people who mean no ill will. Perhaps we can justify to their leader our reasons and if he is hiding within their ranks, they will turn him over to us."

"I had given that a thought," admitted Esgalwen. "But I fear that might go in the opposite direction."

"They can't know who we are, nor would they have some vendetta towards us."

"I know, Tate. It is not that I think they have a mark out on us, but I do not trust a raider camp to have any good will towards strangers. Whether they call this wood home, or not, and their families reside with them. If they are truly Blood Moon raiders, they would just as soon take you to serve as entertainment until they bore, and take me and..."

Her voice trailed off. All three knew what they would do with a captive woman - especially one so fair. Esgalwen would end up a slave, or maybe more, a chieftain's concubine.

Esgalwen continued, "If we had more strength to back up any claims to Oderic, I would say the last option would be good. But we have no allies within three day's march!"

"So then what?" asked Tate, also beginning to believe their options were none.

"Mayhaps we find a place to hide? Watch them for a few days? If the raiders leave and go out on a raids, the number in the camp would diminish to only a few capable strong men. We would have a better chance to get into the camp then."

"But that would mean Stánford is in danger," said Williferd, "and I cannot do that! Besides, you don't even know if he is in the camp!"

Esgalwen stared hard at the Woodman, but then nodded. "You are right. We don't. That needs confirmed, and unfortunately you are the only one to do that, Williferd." With a sigh of resignation, the Ranger said, "You are going to follow me back to the encampment and look. If you see him, we make our decision. If not...well then you may leave for Stánford, and Tate and I will decide our own path."

"But..."

The bard nodded, "It is the only way."

The Ranger grabbed Williferd's arm firmly, "Strength, man! I need you to be strong. And I need you to be quiet!"

Once more they unlimbered themselves of anything that might reveal their presence. Tate nodded, "I will wait here."

"If we are captured, you run."

"No..."

"You will run, Tate. And you will warn everyone you see between here and the Carrock. Do you understand?"

Tate's throat suddenly became dry and he struggled to swallow.

"Alright...just make sure that you two are not heard, okay?"

Esgalwen gave him a reassuring smile, but neither believed it.

:ooc: Okay...I have no stats for Williferd, so Paul he is in your capable hands.

As for Esgalwen, here is her stealth roll to try once more to get close to the encampment. Again, I am assuming a TN 14 and my Armour of Rangers virtue applies. I am also calling on Esgalwen's Adventurous trait [your spirit is attracted to new experiences, especially when they put your mettle to  the test - TOR p.97]

I am pretty sure her mettle is being put to the test here.

TN 14 stealth 2d


Here's hoping...

:ooc: Okay! A 15 works.

Let's hope that the Woodman is adept at moving quietly.

:ooc: Williferd, like the rest of Stánford's folk, is a Beorning.  On the other hand, he's an experienced hunter even if he doesn't spend all his time among the trees.  Let's see how well he does:

Esgalwen sneaks once more toward the light, this time accompanied by the sure-footed Williferd, who looks over the folk in view before shaking his head.  "I do not see him here, but perhaps they have taken him within the walls.  I mark only two sentries.  Ought we perhaps try to sneak closer?" 

"Yes, let us get closer."

---

:ooc: not sure if you need another roll for that, Paul. If so, here you go. If not, you can ignore.

TN [not sure] stealth 2d

Quote from: tomcat on Jun 25, 2018, 09:21 AM:ooc: I don't know Ayrn's status. I know he had said he had a lot going on for the summer, so I am going to post a narrative and dialogue here and fill in all the ideas.

If you oppose to anything I write, Ayrn, let me know and Paul can either retcon it or I can edit my post. Either way, if I don't move our part of the story on, the other guys are going to be waiting until September to see what happens with the Viglundings.

---

 :ooc: None opposed here. Sorry, work still has me for this week. Came back to a death in the community and some fellow staff members in turmoil, along with regular catch-up after being away from my desk for 3 weeks. I'm out until Monday and then I'm all yours for 2 weeks!

I'd only say Tate's love for Gwen is pretty strong. I'd say he's split 50/50 on whether he'd try to figure out a way to rescue her solo if she gets caught, or head back and stir up Grimbeorn's wrath towards Gwen's captors.

:ooc: Paul, I got another :g: on my latest Stealth roll.

I would give you an awareness or explore roll if Esgalwen knew who she was looking for, but she doesn't.

Still, here is an explore check to look over the camp and see if there are any visible options to sneak in, or anything else that might be of value.

TN ?? explore 2d

Despite the cool of the night, both Esgalwen and Williferd are sweating as they creep around the circumference of the clearing, and the Ranger's heart is beating so loudly that she half expects one of the sentries to hear it.  Finally, though, they arrive at a spot where they can see part-way through one of the old arched doorways into the fire-lit interior of the fallen fort.  Nor is it long before a silhouette appears in the doorway that makes Williferd stifle a gasp.  The man is tall and strong of limb, and at his belt hangs an un-sheathed sword bound in thick straps of leather.  Though his features are in shadow, Williferd hisses "it's him!"  

Oderic moves quickly and surely from the doorway into the clearing and thence into the woods, not far from where Tate remains hidden.  His hands are not bound, but neither does he seem entirely at liberty.  A smaller, older man follows soon after, picking a stealthy way through the resting bodies to keep the young man ever in sight.  

:ooc: Sorry, Doug.  It took me a while to get this together. 

 :ooc: they are leaving the camp? Just two of them?

That presents some opportunities!

Tapping Williferd on his shoulder and motioning him to follow, the two moved off in silence towards where Tate waited, keeping Oderic and his companion in their sight.

Esgalwen began to put a plan together in her head. If the two men went out of the confines of the camp, perhaps they could incapacitate the older man and Williferd could convince - quietly - Oderic to come with them. Once away from the enemy, they could coerce the fugitive to return to the Carrock.

She waited until they were far enough from any ears to whisper her idea to the man from Stánford.

---

:ooc: I have made 3 successful stealth rolls so far, Paul - of varying degrees of success and :g: -runed. I am not going to roll another unless you need me to.

:ooc: Fine with me.  I'll post more soonish.

Williferd nods in response to Esgalwen, eager now that Oderic is close at hand.  Together, the two creep back they way they came. 

Tate, meanwhile, holds his tongue and his breath, for one of the strange Men has stalked from the circle of firelight into the shadowy woods.  Completely unaware of Tate's presence, he loosens, then drops, his trousers, and soon a splashing sound familiar to all men can be heard.  Gwen, he thinks, where in the name of the bright Lake have you gone?


:ooc: Awareness roll for Tate:

The man who follows the first moves as quietly as a dockside cat, but the slightest sound of fallen leaves brushing against each other alerts Tate that his new companion did not come alone.  Risking a look, he sees the faint outline of another Man, silhouetted against the dying fires.  While plain to him, Tate realises that the first man (who appears, by the sound if it, to be nearly finished) might be completely unaware of the presence of the second. 

Despite the clear danger to himself, and his anxiety over Esgalwen, he finds himself intrigued by their mysterious behaviour.  The thought springs unbidden into his mind: If only I could get closer...

 :ooc: I'm here, I'm here... sorry for the delay. Dang it, Paul! Why you have to play to Tate's weakness!!

The man of Dale searched the ground at his feet, trying to pick a quiet route that would afford him a better view. This is a foolish idea, Tate's inner voice chided him.

Just quiet down, you... no song to learn just standing around... this, at least, looks interesting!


 :ooc: Stealth Roll to move quietly closer... >>invokes Varda's blessing!<<

 :ooc: Can I invoke my Burglary trait in order to auto succeed? Tate's feet softly pad along the ground, quiet as a mouse.

:ooc: Let's go with that.  I wasn't going to call for a roll at all.  :)

From ahead and behind, the small party converges on Oderic and his shadowy follower.  The leaves barely rustle at their passage, and there are no night-beasts to give a warning cry.  Even their breathing seems to cease as they creep closer... closer...


:ooc: Okay, the ball's in your court, guys.  Williferd isn't going to attack without Esgalwen's say-so, and Tate, as far as he knows, is on his own. 

:ooc: not sure if you need it or not and I am not sure if it is opposed, but...

TN -- stealth 2d

:ooc: If TN 14 that succeeds and so...

---

Esgalwen slid the arrow back into her quiver and looped her bow over shoulder. She quietly moved towards the two men moving away from the camp.

"Follow my lead," she whispered to Williferd.

With her hand now free, she pulled the long-bladed dagger that was strapped against her left boot, and grasped it tightly. The sound of water being made urged her on and she quickly moved to where Oderic relieved himself, stalked by the other.

Coming up out of the foliage that grew close to the ground, she seized the guard from behind. Laying the razor thin edge of her dagger against the man's neck, Esgalwen hissed, "Make a sound and I will open your throat!"

At the same moment, Tate emerged from the woods to see Oderic in shock and Esgalwen grappling another. Behind her, Williferd also appeared with his own weapon at the ready.

"Oderic...you have nothing to fear. We have come to rescue you. Williferd is with us."

Tate smiled at Gwen. Quietly, he compliments her, "M'lady, your timing is quite excellent."

To the fellow held a knife point, "I'd keep still if I were you. She's quite good with the blade. And I'm sure we'll just be a moment."

To Oderic, "Oderic, ha! Good to finally meet your acquaintance!" Tate moves to give the Beorning an embrace common amongst their people. "Well met! I'm Tate, there's Lady Esgalwen. You know, Williferd. We've been looking for you for some time now! To be honest, I'd near given up hope." Looking around the setting quickly, he speaks in even more hushed tones. "But I forget myself. What do you say we clear some distance from this camp and so we can talk more freely?"

:ooc: Hey Paul, I just thought you might want one of these, too. This is both for the guard and Oderic...one to intimidate, the other to awe.

TN -- awe 3d

 :ooc: Wow! That could have been an almost perfect shit roll! Add in another 1 and an :~~: and Esgalwen might well have stuttered her words, dropped her knife, had it land in her own foot, cutting a major artery.

Fuck me... :roll:

 :ooc: Can Tate will try to back up Gwen's claim... awe for the guard, courtesy for Oderic? or persuade? And does Trader's Savvy come into play here? (looking it up now)

Oderic's shadow lets a knife, previously unseen, drop from his hand and fall with a dull thud to the forest floor.  "Foolish girl," the man hisses, "you don't know what you are doing!  You're making an enemy of Vidugalum, son of Valter, King of the Anduin Vale and Lord of the Toft!  His memory is long, and his heart is unforgiving!" 

Oderic, so surprised by the appearance of Tate and Williferd that he takes no notice of Esgalwen and her captive, merely blurts out "you, here?  What in Middle-Earth is happening?"

"Aye!" Tate affirmed Oderic. "Great question! Not sure now's a good time for answering it though. Why don't we go for a little walk... get some distance and then we can talk through some of your questions."

 :ooc: So, Trader's Savvy really only comes into play if there is some kind of tolerance for this encounter. If not, no effect.

I'm thinking a Persuade roll here... Tate's trying to convince Oderic to come with them into the woods and after from the camp.

Persuade Roll = TN ??

"No fool am I, for I know your master. I have been to the Toft and I have seen nothing but the idles of evil Men - Men that aspire to a greatness of their forebears to the south. A greatness that they cannot achieve...not by pillaging and slaying their neighbors." Esgalwen let the knife slide just enough to draw a thin line of blood.

"Believe me, I have no fear of your keeper. I will stand, along with all of my friends, in direct opposition of the likes of you." Her anger was growing and she clenched the blade tighter. "The Shadow has bled into your hearts and I despise it, and you!"

"Gwen!" came an insistent word from Tate. Esgalwen breathed and looked to her friend. The point of her dagger now pricked the throat of the guard, poised as it was to be driven into his larynx. Still, she did not relent.

"On your knees cur!" she hissed. "I will leave you for wolf-bait in these forsaken woods!"

If her previously spoken words had not been enough to intimidate the man, her actions were speaking much louder and he knew she was ready to kill. In her mind, Esgalwen still wondered at the raiding party that had attacked her ranger encampment those many nights gone. Were they Blood Moon Raiders out of the Toft? Did these Men consort with the Orc's out of the mountains, or Southern Mirkwood?

Either way, the Toft-man had played the wrong card and done naught but raise her blood-lust - a trait that was becoming more prevalent.

The man Esgalwen holds sinks to his knees.  His reluctance is plain, however, and there is a readiness about him for bloodshed as soon as his circumstances might improve.

Oderic, meanwhile, goes with Tate and Williferd into the woods, well beyond the circle of firelight.  His expression is concealed by the darkness, but his voice conveys his bemusement as he says "You should know, of friend, that I require no rescue.  I am here of my own will, and have been treated with much honour by mine host.  I will make no apology for your pains in reaching this place, for I asked for none of them, and no good will they..." 

He trails off, and when he speaks once more it is with a hard edge to his voice. " Unless you were sent by Beorn!  Then know that I shall not willingly go to the Carrock!  The crime of which I am accused is a farce, and the law that would punish me is an injustice!"


:ooc:  Doug, in the absence of Aryn, would you like to take over Tate?  It'll save me the bother of having to talk to myself. 

"Aye, you have guessed our reason for being here correctly," Tate states plainly once they've move a little ways from the camp. The minstrel tries to calm Oderic before the Beorning can bolt. "But hold on before you go running back.

"It's true that my companion and I have been sent on your master's behalf to escort you back to the Carrock to share your story before him and face whatever judgment that may be yours. Williferd has come, though with some resistance.

"Wait though... listen... if you do not desire to come with us, I have no desire to cross swords with you. Especially not here, with the camp so close. And if you be here by your own free will and feel as though you are being treated well enough, I am fine with putting off our rescue mission.

"However, if you would show me a kindness, I would be eager to hear your story, from the death of Rathfic to the deaths of Merovech and Odo, to your run in with the Toft, until our present time. I have heard bits and pieces from others, but I would rather hear it from your own tongue. It would be a kindness to me... so I might something to take back to Carrock."

 :ooc: I'm thinking another Persuade roll:
Persaude TN = 14(?)

Sensing the guard's tension and knowing that he was a dangerous liability, Esgalwen quickly knocked his helm from his head all the while keeping the dagger poised at his throat. Reaching up with her free hand, she slid Nimronyn from its scabbard and then smashed its pommel down on the Toft-man's unprotected pate. It was a painful stroke and it might cause him to bleed, but she would not kill him outright...she could not, no matter how little her compassion for such folk had ebbed.

---

:ooc: let's hope this works! I really need a homerun, right now!

The goal here is sub-dual damage only - I am not trying to kill this guy, just make him sleep for a good number of hours.

TN -- longsword 4d

:dmg: 9    edge: 8    injury: 16

:ooc: that is a 23 :%: great success

Esgalwen would do 15 damage to the guard. If for some reason he is a Shadow-creature, my sword's edge is reduce by 4 making that a wounding attack, too.

I will wait to see how you rule it, Paul. If it all goes according to her plan and he is now face down in the dirt, the following is the continuation of my narrative...this will fall in after Tate makes his persuasive roll and is given whatever information Oderic reveals.

---

The guard gave a muted groan when the pommel struck and then he saw blackness. Esgalwen gripped his upper torso and tried to lay him down in the foliage as quietly as possible. She slid her dagger back into its sheath and pulled the guard's sword from his own and laid it plainly near his outreached arm and hand that she poised just so. If anyone found him, it would look as if his charge got the better and dealt him a knock-out blow, then disappeared into the woods.

She cleared any other traces of them being there, as best she could, and then moved quickly to where Tate spoke to Oderic. Esgalwen caught the few words from the Beorning, even as Tate made his plea for information.

[insert this after Oderic reveals what he will to Tate - and even later than that if Tate makes headway with the man]

"I cannot assume your relations with these people, Oderic, but it would appear your welcome here is baring thin," Esgalwen spoke as she appeared from the shadows - her sword still in her hand. "I do not know who your companion was, but it would seem he had a permanent solution to your evening task." The ranger held forth the dagger that had been in the Toft-man's hand.

Tate looked to Esgalwen with a curious and concerned eye, which clearly asked, Where was her prisoner?

She nodded at her friend, "He is alive but will wake in the morning with a terrible pain. If he is found by his companions, it will look like Oderic subdued him and made off into the night." Her remark made the Beorning stare at her incredulously. "Yes, Oderic...it would seem now that you are a fugitive from these folk, as well. I suggest your best odds are with us and that we move on right away. I can promise you, at least, that you will not find a blade between your ribs if you come with us now."

 :ooc: oooo... Gen is getting so dark!

:ooc: I am not saying she going dark, more that her patience is at an absolute low. She has had all the arguments that she will about why the fugitive must be left alone. Grimbeorn gave her a task and she will see it done - no more pleading. If it need come to weapons, so be it. She is at that point.

All this said, her low patience, weariness, and low hope/shadow ratio makes her very susceptible to impulsive - and dangerous - actions.

Esgalwen has nearly died a number times - once to the undead at Dol Guldur, once to a warg in the northern vales, and once to the Beast of Mirkwood. This does not include the wounds sustained from orcs and spiders. She has seen children being taken as slaves; spiders massing in the forest; and an evil man that cannibalized all he could...so yea, she is weary of chat.

All of this places her in a precarious position to lose herself completely to that which she resists.

Bandy truly was the heart and positive thought of the party.

:ooc: First things first, let's have some more Insight rolls:

Esgalwen

:00: 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 1d6 : 5, total 5

Tate

At first, Tate's request is met with sullen silence, but when the young Beorning at last begins, his words gush like a fountain.  It is as if he has held them in as long as he might, but can hold them no longer.  "Until I was taken up the river," he says, "the village was my whole world.  When my parents were slain, Helmgut took me in but never did he love me as a son.  Only Brunhild ever had kind words to spare for me... and him," he adds, his dim silhouette indicating Williferd.  I determined that, were I never to be loved, my skill at arms would ensure that I was respected, or if not, then that I would be rightly feared.  And I was!  As Helmgut slowly sank into his cups, I surpassed him as a warrior.  And though none ever spoke of it aloud, I had only to await the day when I took his place." 

He spits, and when he speaks again it is with such bitterness that it seems to sour the very air about him.  "Then Rathfic came from the mountain folk, and was given Brunhild for a wife.  He was hardly my equal at arms, but it mattered not.  He was judged as his own man, but never was I allowed to step out of the shadow of my foster-father!  His idiot smile and easy ways won him undeserved admiration from all who knew him, while I was ever unjustly shunned!  Then, when insult had been heaped upon insult, he came to me and offered to lie with me as he did with Brunhild!  I, who had every cause to hate him and was twice the man he ever was!  I fought him and slew him that night, and regret it not at all, for no sound man was he, and he would have failed my folk at the pinch." 

"Then Brunhild came looking for her man," he continues, and just as suddenly the high dudgeon and wounded pride leave him, and in the darkness he sounds as the young man, his beard barely growing, that he is.  "Helmgut was with her.  Any other men in Stánford I would have fought for my freedom, but such was not the doom that awaited me.  They, I could not harm.  So I gave myself up, and in durance was held in the house of my childhood until..."

Then the branches part once more, and Esgalwen emerges, dagger in hand.  Tate practically hears Oderic's eyes narrow when the Ranger says that the Toft-man planned to murder him.  As she makes her harsh offer to the outlaw, Tate revolves the tale, and all else that he has seen and heard this night, in his mind. 

Though he has hurt his kin, he still loves them, the minstrel thinks, and he has little trust for his new companions...


:ooc: Make of that what you will.  In the meantime, you have two successes in the encounter, and Tate has two bonus dice to spend on interaction tests.  Doug, if you want any concrete results from Esgalwen's threat, you'll need to roll for it, and it'll count toward the (very low) Tolerance.  I haven't counted your previous failure, on the assumption that Esgalwen was out of earshot of Oderic when she tried to intimidate the watchman. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Jul 15, 2018, 06:49 PM:ooc: Make of that what you will.  In the meantime, you have two successes in the encounter, and Tate has two bonus dice to spend on interaction tests.  Doug, if you want any concrete results from Esgalwen's threat, you'll need to roll for it, and it'll count toward the (very low) Tolerance.  I haven't counted your previous failure, on the assumption that Esgalwen was out of earshot of Oderic when she tried to intimidate the watchman.  

:ooc: I am just reading through the previous posts, Paul, to find out where we started testing in the current encounter. You said we have 2 successes thus far - is that for Tate's two persuade rolls above? What were the Insight rolls for - success dice? If so, does Tate have 2 dice available?

Ayrn is gone now, so I can manage Tate for you. I am going to post now, but I will add some tests based on your response for the above questions.

Thanks!

Esgalwen strode across the clearing towards Oderic, which made the Man pause for fear of an attack, but the Dúnadan sheathed her sword as she did and handed the Beorning the dagger, pommel first. "A souvenir for you, which might have been your death."

Oderic took the blade and saw it was long and sharp, meant to pierce deep and quick.

"I do not know what has been discussed thus far, but I suggest we make our way from here - put distance between ourselves and the Toft-men. Most certainly they will seek you out, Oderic, if you do not return or if they find their unconscious assassin. We should move for the river as quickly as possible."

The Beorning shook his head in defiance, his face evidently pondering his next course.

"In Gondor," said Esgalwen, "there is a great library and many great documents that recount tales of the ages past - both the First and Second. I have always loved the old-lore and had spent many days of my youth learning to read the old texts and scrolls. There is a tale of the First Age, before Númenor...before Men...and it speaks of a great Elf Lord who led his people from the immortal lands to Middle-earth. When they arrived, he burned their ships so as to commit them to their choice. There was no going back..."

Esgalwen let silence hang there in the night-covered clearing for just a moment.

"Your ship has been burned, Oderic. There is no going back, now. I suggest you come with us."

Tate had been nervously picking at his hands, while his friend had spoke, afraid of what she would say. Gwen had been so harsh of word and spirit these past days. He was surprised to hear her words, calm and non-threatening or condescending, merely truthful.

"She is right, Oderic. You know Williferd and he has helped us to locate you - there is safety in numbers. Please come with us to the safety of the river."

All knew the river was a good three leagues from where they were, but the distance could be traveled through the night.

:ooc: Okay... here is another series of Persuade rolls

Esgalwen and can I invoke her Fair trait, because what man can resist a pretty face??  ;)
TN 14 persuade 3d


Tate
Courtesy roll to use Trader's Savvy and try to increase Oderic's Tolerance rating  ;D
TN 14 Courtesy 3d


Persuade roll to add to the plea for them all to get out of here and least find safer ground where the discussion can continue.
TN 14 persuade 3d


**I have assumed all TN's at 14 - let me know if something is different, Paul. The Trader's Savvy roll is made against a TN 14, just an FYI.

:ooc: Wow!! Awesome!

Esgalwen scores a 14! Hopefully a success.

Tate scores a 23 :%: :%: :%: extraordinary success on his Trader's Savvy, which should increase Oderic's tolerance by +3


Tate also scored a 20 on his Persuade, so hopefully we have 2 a total of more successes in our Encounter with Oderic!

*I cannot update Tate's character sheet for his Persuade success.

Quote from: tomcat on Jul 16, 2018, 10:45 AM:ooc: I am just reading through the previous posts, Paul, to find out where we started testing in the current encounter. You said we have 2 successes thus far - is that for Tate's two persuade rolls above? What were the Insight rolls for - success dice? If so, does Tate have 2 dice available?

Ayrn is gone now, so I can manage Tate for you. I am going to post now, but I will add some tests based on your response for the above questions.

Thanks!

:ooc: Right on all counts, and my thanks for taking Tate over.

EDIT: And great googly-moogly, what a roll!  Pity his AP for Custom were already maxed out!  :P  On the plus side, it got me to look over his sheet and see that Aryn hadn't given him any AP for his Persuade successes.  I've marked one off, and he may need more - I'll need to read back over the last few threads and check. 

"I... would go with you," Oderic begins, sounding as surprised as anyone by his words.  "But this you must know: Vidugalum and his folk have little grain set by, and no meat on the hoof.  By the silence of the wood, I fancy that they have hunted near all the game that may be taken.  The time is nearly come when they must either conquer or starve.  And from my own lips, they know that Stánford, and its herds and fields, are near.  I had no inkling that I was under guard, but now that my watcher is overcome, it seems I must fly with you." 

Tucking the dagger into his belt, he finishes, "Lord Beorn must be told of the host at our borders, and I would fight in defence of my family." 

Esgalwen's head came up at Oderic's words and a faint feeling of relief entered her heart, as if a flame had been kindled and hope renewed.

She nodded, "Then let us make as much haste as is wise and come once more to your town."

---

:ooc: Unless you need any more narrative/dialogue or tests, Esgalwen will lead off towards the river and then north.

:ooc: Righto, decision time.  It's a four-day march back to Stánford... unless you want to risk a forced march.  That would halve the time, but you'd need to make an Athletics test in addition to the regular Fatigue test in order to avoid additional fatigue.  There's also no guarantee that Williferd and Oderic would be able to keep up with experienced murderhobos adventurers. 

:ooc: Well our decision needs to be based on a bit more info from Oderic:

1 Do the Blood Moon Raiders have horses?

2 Were they preparing a raid - meaning have they been actively preparing weapons, missile ammo, and men?

If yes to both of these questions, we'll have to try the hard march. If no, then we'll move at best possible speed without overexerting.

Either way, Esgalwen will lead them at an angle to the river in hopes of finding any river-men (barge or skiffs) that can transport us north faster than we can go on feet. Also, if there are any potential horse herders along the way (I know, very slim), she will pay coin from her pocket to entice the herder to release a few mounts with further payment coming upon completion of their errand.

Lastly, they will spread word along their path of the hazard of the raider host lying undercover in the Wolf-wood.

:ooc: There's no horses in evidence (and the only Northmen with any real cavalry tradition live south of here), so any pursuit is almost certainly going to be on foot.  With a Battle roll...

:ooc: ... Esgalwen can tell that the Toft-Men are sufficiently well-armed to present a threat to almost any settlement west of Mirkwood. 

So, one of two.  I'll assume that you don't plan on a forced march to the river unless I hear otherwise. 

(And :csu: for the Battle AP).

 :ooc: Excellent!

Thanks for the successful roll, too.  ;D