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FELLOWSHIP PHASE:

:ooc: Mechanically, everyone receives seven XP and as many AP as are marked off on your sheets.  :csu:

I note here that 2E dispenses with the 'marking off' requirement and just allocates 3 skill points per session attended.  I'm happy to go with that rule for AP on the grounds that it would simplify book-keeping quite a bit, but just as happy to leave things as they are for flavour and familiarity reasons.  I agree with Doug and Tom's observations that the new edition seems to be much more generous with its advancement than the current one! 

There are five points of Fellowship to divvy up (from memory, nobody used any as a replacement for Hope - I'm happy to be corrected here).  Esgalwen can't take one, so that's five among three.  Tom, Hathcyn probably needs at least two to keep him from Misery's door, as I'm sure you're aware!

Unless you guys particularly want to do otherwise, the next adventuring phase will kick off about three weeks from the current point - late August 2958 - at the Fox's Tale (which is on your way into Mirkwood).  That gives you time enough for a single Undertaking. 

Yeah I need to do something about my Hope situation.

:ooc: Alternatively, you could run him into the ground, suffer a bout of madness and see what comes after...

:ooc: With our rewards, Esgalwen now has 18 XP available and 10 AP. I will tell you how she spends them and what Undertaking she will do, as well as give narrative very soon.

As for trying to wedge 2e rules into this game, I would just as soon not. I have not been sold on the new rules as
a better replacement for the original. The 1e rules feel more like Tolkien to me, if that makes sense - not the new throw a bunch of dice at it 2e.

I will have to get back to you on the totals, allocations, and undertaking.  Are there any company undertaking efforts remaing?
Grimbeorn would like at least 1 of the pool for Hope.

:ooc: Okay here is the breakdown on Esgalwen's advances...

• After the struggle she had to fashion a couple torches, I think it wise to up her Craft skill to 2 pips. That will  cost her 8 AP and she will bank the remaining 2.
• With her 18 XP, she will spend 16 to increase her Valour to 5 and bank the remaining 2 points. It will also gain her a Reward and she will add the Close-fitting quality to her Armour of Rangers gaining a +1 to protection tests.

I am not sure the armour is the best option, but when she gets hit, she gets hit! I may rethink this, Paul, before we get into too much with the next chapter.

I will add her undertaking soon - I need to read through them.

:ooc: Matt, if you download your character sheet from the Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/home/Gaming), it'll have his totals already in place.  Since the completion of the Road, there are no more company-level undertakings, so your time is your own to spend. 

Doug, don't stress too much about your Rewards - I'm quite open to people swapping them around between adventures if you can come up with an in-story reason for it to happen. 

On the subject of rules, I'm also a bit iffy on the 2e approach, but that may just be the grumpy old man in me.  I definitely like the look of the new Journey rules, though.  I'm going to propose that we try them out in the coming adventure (which, as you might imagine, is pretty journey-heavy).  If anyone black-balls them after that, I will grumble and groan and switch back to the revised 1e system without any real trouble.  If we like 'em, then I'm cool with running a hybrid game.

:ooc: Yes, the Journey rules are definitely better in 2e, so I would support that option.

:ooc: Arbogast will drop 12 AP on increasing his Insight from two to three, and with 15 XP is one short of what he needs to increase his Axe skill, so he'll just bank those. 

For an Undertaking, I would suggest opening the Fox's Tale as a sanctuary, but that'll take the whole group.  Any other takers?

:ooc: As the only Undertaking that makes any sense to Esgalwen right now being Collect Marsh Herbs (which I was going to see if I could get a LM caveat to allow it to happen along the Anduin) - I am fine with the Fox Tale sanctuary instead.

Xp 22
Ap 13 -> Spend 12 Ap for +1 Awe (Favored) -> 1 remaining

Undertaking: Search for Answers
Grimbeorn consults with his father and knowledge of his ancestors regarding the Arbogast's errand.  Does this have a chance of working?  He is torn in his absolute and total loathing for the spiders of Mirkwood and his fealty and love for his friend and brother.

3 + 1 (Lore: Enemy -Spiders) + 2 Great Success = 6

6-7. Precious information : The Loremaster must
provide two useful elements of information about the
researched subject.

Well played Matt. Hathcyn is 100% not sold on this mission either. I'd like to explore alternatives too.

Paul, what will the sanctuary opening do for the group?

If Hathcyn is going to be of any use he needs to get his Hope sorted out.

:ooc: Matt, the lore of the Beornings regarding the spiders of Mirkwood is patchy - the Woodmen, or better yet the Elves, would know more, but you have to work with what you've got.  And what the greybeards and grandmothers know boils down to this:
1. The spiders of Mirkwood are not bound by ties of kinship in the same way as Men are, and it is common both for squabbles to erupt between them, and for these to turn deadly very quickly.  If other spiders know where the Weaver keeps her lair, then they may be all too happy to tell you, if there's something in it for them. 

2. The eldest among the spiders are unknown to the Beornings, save the lore that Grimbeorn himself has brought back.  But old tales brought by the rare Elves who have passed through their lands on their way west tell of shining gems, treasures of that folk from when the wood was green and wholesome, borne by noble heroes who fell before great spiders, themselves the children of some horror from the beginnings of the world.  The spiders were said to have shared the appetite of this elder thing for the light of gems, so preferring this delicacy that they declined to pursue Elves fleeing from strongholds deep in the wood in order to enjoy it. 

Tom, it looks like we're not going to be opening any Sanctuaries this phase, but if we were to do it later my thinking is this: normally, opening a place as a Sanctuary means forging good relations with the prominent personages of a place in order that you can make use of its resources if and when you need to.  In the case of the Fox's Tale, you are the prominent personages, so this would be a collective process of ensuring that the inn is appropriately fortified, with stocks of food and an armoury you could draw from.  It would also mean ensuring that there are people around who can be relied upon as healers, messengers etc.   

Im going to be taking, there and back again for a Hope boost.

Paul, did you add the checks from my sheet into my character totals?

:ooc: Yep, everything's in there.

Ok. So I have 5 hope. I have 2 from the fellowship pool, I gain 1 for my fellowship focus, Grimbeorn not being wounded, There and Back Again lets me add 1/3 my total so 4.3333. Soooo I have 11 Hope?

I think I have neglected Hope management this entire game. Anyway.

I think I am also going to take Search 2 and bank everything else.

:ooc: Tom, I make it 12 Hope by counting on my fingers.  Bear in mind that There And Back Again also gives you a permanent point of Shadow. 

Arbogast regains a point of Hope from his Fellowship Focus, and will take another from the Fellowship pool, bringing him back up to 11. :csu:  That leaves two Fellowship for Grimbeorn, plus another if he has a Fellowship Focus (it's not noted on his sheet). 

Doug, I believe Esgalwen regains a point of Hope for her Focus, as well. 

No I didn't but will next time, it would be Arbogast.  Hope is updated on the sheet.

Narrative inbound on my fellowship phase. Need to work it out

:ooc: If we're not opening any sanctuaries this time around, Arbogast will spend his Fellowship Phase guarding the Millfort (mechanically the same as guarding the Old Ford, but closer to the Fox's Tale).  Roll for the outcome of this (see Heart of the Wild, p 41) follows:

:ooc: Well that's appropriate.  :roll:  His efforts generate absolutely fuck all of any use. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Mar 23, 2022, 07:29 PM:ooc: Well that's appropriate.  :roll:  His efforts generate absolutely fuck all of any use. 

You must have used the player roller instead of the LM roller.

The days go by at the Fox's Tale, each one after the last, but Radaghast does not appear, and nor does any word reach the Fellowship from beast, bird or Man of when he might appear.  Arbogast, seeking to be of use and knowing that his skills are scarce in need amid the bustle and noise of the ever-expanding inn, finally removes himself to the Millfort along the Forest Road, lending his shield to the small garrison that guards the waystation and secures the road from incursions from the darker parts of Mirkwood. 

There, he keeps silent, watching and listening.  Were I the Enemy,, he thinks over and again, I would seek to know who ventured along this way that violates one of the great dark places of the world.  And so this way, surely, is watched.  But who among those who abide here, or those who make their way back and forth with wains and laden ponies, skulks forth in the dead of night to hold parley with the thralls of the Shadow? 

It is a question that he cannot answer, despite the wisdom that he has gained since his youth to read the signs upon Men's faces and the weight and tremor in their words.  He returns to the Fox's Tale with his troubles unresolved, and his heart uneasy. 

Hathcyn had returned from the north with a purpose and on the journey back, he was always in the fore hastening to return home. The battle with the nameless horror underground had inadvertently forced him into action. He desired no longer to tarry in making Aestid his wife. The battle in the deep had shown him the fragility of his life and that the passing of time was a thing that once lost did not return. Back at the Beorn's Hall he made his intentions known and she readily assented.

There was little time to plan, but as if the event were long expected and secretly planned for things began to happen quickly. Hathcyn was suspicious that perhaps his bride to be had not been as idle and disinterested as she feigned about their marriage. A rider that very day sped to the north and the hall of Viglund to invite him to the wedding of his only daughter. No response was expected, but Hathcyn insisted an overture to the northern lord should be sent. Any fear that Hathcyn had that the clan or honor of his
bride would be neglected was soon dispelled. The former slaves of the north that continued to dwell in the lands of Beorn rallied to Aestid as a
surrogate family. The free women took great pride in claiming her as their principle daughter and saw that the rituals and preparations were undertaken with all the care that a chieftain's daughter could have expected. The outpouring of affection shown by these people and the attachment that they had for Aestid was a marvel to witness and showed how respected she was. All viewed here as a more worthy daughter of a troubled and despised lord.

The Longspear rushed off to his own home, now the Fox's Tale, for his own preparations.  Men from the forest road heard the news and soon began work on the marriage platform. Before the standing stone, a small deck was quickly fashioned with rough-cut planks. Staves of wood protruded from the base allowing it to be carried or lifted and the platform decorated as if by trees to resemble the forest road the men had hacked through Mirkwood. Other men gathered food and drink from all over the area for the wedding feast. 

The day of the wedding arrived as fine as the season could expect. The crowd too was larger than the Longspear had expected. The Great Bear himself had come and so did some of the thanes including many that had been at the battle of Stonyford. Aestid appeared dressed in the decorations of custom and her totem of the mouse. She came to the stone with her head covered in a dark shawl blazoned in mice of silver thread in her hands she held an axe. The shaft of which was carved and decorated in mice and foxes, with the head painted in stripes of red and grey. The husband gift, a tool used to provide for and defend the family. She mounted the platform and stood by the side of Hathcyn before the green standing stone. The warrior wore a small shawl of fox fur over his shoulders with red and silver ribbons and bore in his hands a short sword. The pommel was wrapped in wire and the sheath was decorated in pressed zoomorphic images of foxes and nesting pups. This was a hearth sword, a wedding gift to his wife as final guardian of the home.

Grimbeorn 'the Wolfslayer' lifted her upon the platform and the two stood side by side and then turned to face the gathered people. The Speaker said the sacred words before the couple and the crowd. They exchanged the weapons they carried for each other. Then the shawl taken from Aestid's head revealed her brushed and unbound hair while the garment was folded and placed in her belt. Next, the ribbons were untied from Hathcyn's fur and worked into her long dark hair as it was braided into the braids of a married woman. Finally, the fox pelt placed upon her shoulders, the symbol of her adoption into the Clan of the Fox. Stout men appeared, the Firewatcher and Harhold among them, and they lifted the platform by the
poles. Once, twice, three times they lifted the couple to the cheers of the people. The last time with greater exuberance than the second causing a yelp from Aestid as she fell laughing against Hathcyn and she looked at him smiling for the first time as his wife. Hope sparked in the heart of the warrior; he had gone there and back again.

[Grimbeorn's narrative to come]

Esgalwen watched the marriage of Hathcyn and Aestid with hidden discomfort, but a feigned smile broad across her face.

She was happy for Hathcyn and his new bride. There was no denying that fact, but once more a companion of hers had taken the next step in life. A formal courting, a proposal, and a marriage. So would Hathcyn begin a family and they would soon be blessed, fates willing, with young children. They would continue on the blood lines of their clans and by doing so, make them stronger.

The married couple smiled at each other in their celebration and it was wonderful to behold, but Esgalwen only participated so much in the customs. These, too, were not hers and though she had spent many days with these folk, it was their ways. She looked to Grimbeorn - even he would be settling soon, as was the wont and need of his position. As the future leader of the Carrock, it would be on him to settle and rule.

Where did all of this leave her? Yes, the blood that ran in her veins promised her a long lifespan - greater than those of the common men around her, but she was far from home. And yes, she could step out of the customs of her people and maybe seek a relationship here, among the folk of the Vale, but how did that extend the blood of the Dunédain? It did not - and it was upon her to see that the blood of her people be continued. Long was it that Númenor sank beneath the sea and the lines of the Men of the West were shortening.

The ache in her ribs became present in her thoughts and she mentally counted the scars that now traced her body. It was not often the place of a woman to be the warrior - and she wondered how much more her body could take before there could be no future for her family.

Suddenly Esgalwen's gloom was interrupted, as a series of young wedding guests - both men and women - grabbed at her wrists and drew her into a circular dance that was common among the clans. It went one direction and then the other, with a clap of hands and a stomp of feet, before changing again. Everyone was laughing and enjoying the ceremony and the Dúnadan woman could not help but to be caught up in the reverie. She was glad for it and so left the gloom in her heart behind - at least for now.

Days passed after the wedding and each of her companions went in their own respective directions. Arbogast, whom she believed would head back to the Tarn, surprised her with word that he would be going to the Millfort for a time. "The road does not defend itself," he had added with a smile, as he began his march alongside ten other able men.

Hathcyn was busy with his new bride and Grimbeorn was gone - back to his father's house. Esgalwen wondered at how much longer the young atheling would journey beyond his own territory. And so, with the summer just waxing, the Ranger took to her horse and went west to journey down the Anduin River for a while. It was the river that ran through the heart of her country and it soothed her - it made her feel more at home. Along the river grew many of the rare plants and rich herbs that were needed for medicines and other poultices that might aid them in their many journeys. It was not a critical chore, as many of the folk living near the river collected these things, but it gave her something to do.

She did not spend just a day along the river, nor a week, but tarried there for a while. Camping under the stars that wheeled across the sky, disappearing behind the Misty Mountains further west. She sat beside the river, listening to the frogs and insects, and watched as the fauna of this region made its way to the water to drink and bathe.

After her time spent and herbs collected, Esgalwen waited a bit longer until a herd of wild pigs that frequented the banks made its way there once more. With her bow, she made a few clean shots into one of the larger boars, piercing it quickly and causing the others to scatter. The animal ran a while, trying to save itself, but the arrows had done their job. It soon fell from exhaustion and blood loss, and the Ranger then prepped it for travel.

She had been gone a few weeks and her mind and soul had found some peace, but she was certain she would be welcomed back with more heart with the large boar across the hind end of her horse!

:ooc: Hey Paul, I am using the Collect Marsh Herbs from the Laketown book (page 12). It says you just roll on the table to see what you find, but I thought I would add a little bit to this by making an Explore Roll and then if successful, I get to roll on the herb table for the undertaking, plus an additional roll for a :%: or two additional rolls on a :%: :%: success.

This kind of seems more in line with her narrative and spending the weeks exploring along the river. If you do not agree, feel free to change it as you please.

Here is my Explore roll...
TN 14 explore 3d

:ooc: And instead - the boar gores her and she bleeds out along the river's edge!

Freaking another :~~: !

Paul, feel free to adjust my narrative based on the roll, or call the roll a failure which limits me to just ONE roll on the herb table, or whatever you like. I will wait to see.

:ooc: Hey, Doug.  I think a better way of reading it is that, in the absence of anyone else prompting her to rise and venture forth, she spends long days just idling by the river and letting her thoughts turn over as they will.  It's pleasant, but it does limit her to a single roll on the table. 

Grimbeorn addresses the table of elders and local thanes known to have wide knowledge of their lands and beyond.  "I have called you here to discuss a matter that affects my friend and our allies of the Tarn.  If you haven't heard but their lands are dying, besieged by a spirit corrupted once a patrol of theirs.  He has come with a plan, which consists of seeking treaty with the spiders of Mirkwood in effort to remove this spirit.  The first of part, retrieving a light-gem of ancient days as a bribe, has been successful.  Yet I seek your counsel in the wisdom and viability of this plan."

"As is well-known to you all, our eastern borders have been besieged by these filth for ages, losing many of our folk, my mother among them.  I cannot in good conscience support this plan any further but my heart is also torn by my affection for the suffering people as well.  Can you help ease this strife?"

The table erupts in murmur and side discussion as the heir and his father look on. He answers questions they have and poses more back to them.  After a bit, it calms down and Aelfgar the Blind stands, the eldest of Beorn's advisors. "Our lore and knowledge regarding the spiders of Mirkwood is lacking -- the Woodmen, or better yet the Wood-elves, would know more.  We all share in your disgust of those creatures and don't envy your predicament."

"Great Bear, what we do know is the spiders of Mirkwood are not bound by ties of kinship in the same way as Men are, and it is common both for squabbles to occur amongst them and turn deadly very quickly.  If other spiders know where this Weaver keeps its lair and there's something in it for them, they may be all too happy to tell you, should you survive long enough to entreat with them.  Hush, Magla, I heard that -- you know full well his last encounter with them."

"Now that gem you acquired from the dead city has promise.  Our people know little of the eldest of spiders, save what you have brought from your travels, Young Bear.  But old tales brought by the rare elvish traveler passing our way have told of shining gems, treasures of that folk from when the wood was green and wholesome," the old man waxed, "borne by noble heroes who fell before great spiders, themselves the children of some horror from the beginnings of the world.  The spiders were said to have shared the appetite of this elder thing for the light of gems, so preferring this delicacy that they declined to pursue Elves fleeing from strongholds deep in the wood in order to enjoy it."

"Aye, elder of the youngest," came a voice from the corner, one of a lilt rarely heard in these halls, let alone this side of the Misty Mountains.  "I was there," a grievous sadness was etched across the face of the newcomer.  "Like a chittering fury they came upon us, black and grey, like a wave of shadow less the pale glow of their eyes innumerable.  Few did not quail at this sight.  Craftsman I am not, but the bleeding of those creations as flies in a web stabbed at my heart for their light shall not be seen again in this world conjured by our hands or yours."

After a moment of quiet reflection of memories, the person, tall and eminently elvish in appearance, stood.  "Many pardons Lord Beorn, my manners escape me.  I am Gwaithlim, 'Swift Shadow' in Mannish speech.  Lord Elrond Half-elven requested I turn my steps east from Imladris and into the Wilderland.  Word of and from kin of ours, Morirúsë and Laeral, and our cousins of Eryn Lasgalen, have spoke of your people's troubles with the Shadow reemerged.  I have come seeking word in person but it seems bringing my aid as well -- I am always amazed at his prescience."

:ooc: My herb collection roll...

:ooc: She collects Reedmace...

Reedmace is a tall grass with long leaves that flowers in spring. At that time, its top part develops into a mace-like head. Reedmace often grows taller than a Man. Farmers harvest Reedmace for food, and cook its leaves or grind the plant into flour. Wise women learned to boil its rootstock to make a salve capable of speeding up the healing of wounds.

• If you collected Reedmace during your last Fellowship phase, for the duration of the following Adventuring phase every time you make a Healing roll to treat a wound, the difficulty of the roll is lowered by two levels (TN -4).

So that is pretty useful! Thanks, Paul!

:ooc: Nice introduction, Matt.  Are you looking to bring Gwaithlim in on this adventure? 

Doug, I live to serve.

For the record Hathcyn is not over keen on the spider plan either.

Yes, now is a good a time as any.

Yikes. Ok, I think we need to meta and PC this part. Not sold on the Spider plan and I am not sure how it solves the River Maiden issue.

:ooc: Can do.  Feel free to set a scene and we'll play out the dialogue. 

So Grimbeorn is out for this one? That changes our power output

I leave that to the powers that be, I was just asked to introduce the new character at some point and found this the best place to do so.

:ooc: If you would prefer, Gwaithlim can opt out of the coming adventure because he knows that the Shadow will be extra watchful of a group with a High Elf in it.  As we've seen, the attention of the Eye is to be avoided if at all possible.

:ooc: I personally would love to see the new PC enter the game, but you choose, Matt.

I was figuring that he'd probably not go with the group to the spider parliament, as that would enflame the situation.  Either accompany to Mirkwood while he bows out to visit the Woodland-realm while others are dealing with spiders but rejoin for the final against Weaver, unless that's all tied together in one.

Also, did you say there was additional points beyond chargen to apply to the character?

Ya get the character gen points in the rule book. Welcome to the Grind!

ok then, the character sheet is ready.

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 29, 2022, 07:07 AMYa get the character gen points in the rule book. Welcome to the Grind!

:ooc: I will note that this includes the Heroic Heritage points (see the table on p 282 of the rulebook).  If the count on Grimbeorn's character sheet is right, that gives Gwaithlim an additional 10 build points (calling them 'experience points' is needlessly confusing) to play with.  Have you included them?

Quote from: Eclecticon on Mar 29, 2022, 10:51 PM

Quote from: Telcontar on Mar 29, 2022, 07:07 AMYa get the character gen points in the rule book. Welcome to the Grind!

:ooc: I will note that this includes the Heroic Heritage points (see the table on p 282 of the rulebook).  If the count on Grimbeorn's character sheet is right, that gives Gwaithlim an additional 10 build points (calling them 'experience points' is needlessly confusing) to play with.  Have you included them?

No I haven't.  I wanted to confirm that.  Are these spent in the same way as points during char gen are spent or are they considered AP or XP for advancement purposes?

:ooc: They're spent like char gen points, so Gwaithlim can be, if not the equivalent in competence to the other PCs, at least able to hold his own in the areas he focuses on.

Focus is the key word here. Hathcyn was behind the power curve for awhile.

In mechanical terms points in weapons, valor, and wisdom will make things less deadly, but will limit other skills.