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With surprising speed, the surviving troll lumbers away, its howls of pain beginning to vanish into the mist and the echoes of the mountains.  Arbogast allows himself to slump down to the ground, doffing his helm and wiping the blood that oozes from somewhere beneath his hair away from his eyes.  "That was a well-dealt wound," he says to Hathcyn, with a weary grin. 

Beneath the two Men, the voice of the troll is more than matched by another roar as Beorn confronts the wolf pack at the Fellowship's back, and it is toward this sound that Esgalwen now speeds, Gwaithlim wordlessly joining her.  Not far do they have to go before they find the great bear, its shaggy coat already glistening with gathered mist, rearing taller than any Man or Elf.  Before it lie the torn and broken bodies of a pair of wargs, their savage snarls forever silenced.  The two Companions nock arrows and begin to draw, but the rest of the pack is already backing away, disappearing into the thin undergrowth and thick fog on near-silent paws, though their growls linger well after they can no longer be seen. 

When all is silent, Beorn drops to all fours and, with a resounding bass grunt, stomps into the woods.  The two wait for perhaps a minute before he returns, once again man-sized and clearly favouring his left side.  "They've been shadowing us, as I knew they would, and they'll not give up easily.  So now we find ourselves with a choice.  I had planned on taking an easy way up the mountain side, but that'll let the pack follow in our footsteps and I don't doubt but they'll attack again if they can." 

He looks up the slope with a thoughtful expression, as if he can see the summit through the thick shroud in the air.  "The other way will be harder, but I'll be floored if those that go on four feet can follow."


:ooc: In case I forget (work is nuts again) please mark off any Endurance that you lost during the fight, but recover an amount equal to your basic Heart score. 

"Those were terrible beasts, and dedicated to something. We likely would have passed them by had they not attacked us."

Hathcyn checked the hurts of his friend and then to himself.

"And perhaps they had something to guard... Our companions below will I hope spare us a moment. Let's what we can find."

 :ooc: Hathcyn wants to look around and see if there is a troll liar nearby or find what it might be the trolls were keen to prevent outsiders from seeing or finding.

:ooc: This will be interesting, given the bad terrain, all-pervasive mist and the poor Search skills of the two guys doing the searching.  But still, let us roll (vs standard TN 14):
Hathcyn


Arbogast

:ooc: Aaaaaaaand this is why it's sometimes worth rolling anyway.  Narrative to follow after I've eaten lunch.

EDIT: All character sheets are updated.  :csu:

Quote from: Eclecticon on Sep 15, 2022, 05:22 PM:ooc: This will be interesting, given the bad terrain, all-pervasive mist and the poor Search skills of the two guys doing the searching.  But still, let us roll (vs standard TN 14):
Hathcyn
(https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
:00: 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

Arbogast
(https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/Themes/default/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
:00: 1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 1d6 : 5, total 5

 (-D

"As you wish, we shall secure the area. But let's not wander too far abroad lest we incur further attention from creatures of the Shadow," says Gwaithlim. 

Quietly, the elf says to his Dunadan companion, "Lady Esgalwen, please see to our patron here while I scout the area for signs of other foes and maybe retrieve some our errant arrows."

 :ooc:
 :00:

Esgalwen nodded to the Elf and looked to Beorn who gave her a sneer, causing her pause.

"Not sure what your intentions are, Lady," said the old bear.

"I am just going to look at that wound."

"It'll be fine."

Esgalwen slowly moved closer, "It needs appraised. If not treated, it could fester and then we have more to worry about than wolves and trolls, fog and mountains!"

Her voice rose the way it did whenever she addressed a subordinate in her command, to which Beorn stared at her unblinking.

The woman returned the stare - her face set in absolute determination. The two sparred silently with their eyes, but then Beorn looked away and said, "Check it then."

Esgalwen let out a soft breath and moved over to care for the sire of her dear friend. "He is like you, you know?"

"Wha??"

"Your son. He is just like you."

"He should be. He is my boy and I raised him in the way that I was reared."

The Ranger softly prodded the wound and took some wrappings from a pouch, along with a salve made by the hands of Radagast. She continued to talk softly to Beorn, with her soothing and feminine manner. "Well, you did good. He has become a great leader of men and a true companion. His heart is good and you should know this... you should be proud."

Beorn gave a grunt, almost of dismissal, as he looked out towards the woods. He let Esgalwen do her work and she could tell his mood had changed. She smiled at him when done and the old bear grunted again - maybe thanks? But he put his hand on her shoulder as he stood - a gesture Esgalwen knew he only rarely conveyed, and then he walked away.

---

:ooc: Going to roll a Healing roll just in case it is necessary. If it is and it's successful, I will mark an AP. If not, let me know and I will remove said AP.
TN 14 healing 3d

:ooc: I am assuming a TN 14 which makes me 1 away from a success. If it will help Beorn in any needed way, I will spend the Hope. If it was not necessary at all, let me know and I will just call it dialogue for the scene.

As Esgalwen examines the skinchanger's body, she is not reassured by what she finds.  Heavy and hard-thrown was the stone that felled him, and several of the Old Bear's ribs shift beneath her cautious fingers more than she feels that they ought.  How much pain did he go through to change his shape in this condition? she wonders as she applies Radagast's salve across the broad swath of the bruise that already darkens his skin, then binds his broad chest as much as she may.  Little does it seem that it will avail him. 

But Radagast is a wizard, and his healing arts surely surpass those of Men, she thinks, remembering the strength that returned to the bodies of her and her companions at the drinking of a mere sip of the Brown Wizard's Mirkwood cordial.  If anyone has the art to mend a broken rib before its time, it will be him. 

Higher on the slope, Arbogast flounders in his search, the mist and rugged, broken ground turning him around rather than reveal any secrets to him.  From away to his left, however, comes a low whistle from Hathcyn.  As the Fire-watcher hurries to his friend's side, the Longspear holds high a hand in a gesture of warning and points still higher.  Atop a fell that the occasional break in the drifting mist shows to grow like a canker from the side of the mountain, a great and carven stone has been raised.  The lines and whorls it bears are deep and dark, and both Men are glad that they are not closer to espy them more clearly. 

The Fire-watcher hisses through his teeth.  "From Radagast have the mountain clans of my people learned of such stones as these.  In elder days were they raised, when the witch-realm of Angmar bestrode the mountains east and west, and delved far beneath them.  I know not what purpose it serves, but I know that it bodes ill for the Free Peoples as long as it is left to do it." 


:ooc: Doug, I was planning on having Beorn's injury be a recurring issue, but I fear you've gazumped me.  Esgalwen spends the Hope, gains the AP (:csu:) and I'll find some other way to trouble you. 

Hathcyn cupped his chin in his hands and stared at it.

"I'm no stone worker by trade, you think we should try and topple it? I'd be happier if we did. My folk know a thing or two about stone raising. The Carrock is our biggest, so large in fact it goes unnoticed as a menhir of our folk. I have marked the forest gate with the green stone of Erebor. Casting down one of the dark powers seems just and fitting to me."

Quote from: Eclecticon on Sep 18, 2022, 09:05 PM:ooc: Doug, I was planning on having Beorn's injury be a recurring issue, but I fear you've gazumped me.  Esgalwen spends the Hope, gains the AP (:csu:) and I'll find some other way to trouble you.

:ooc: I was free styling, Paul. If you prefer that the scene didn't happen, nix it. I am fine with whatever you do.

Arbogast nods his agreement to Hathcyn.  "I know not whether it will greatly aid our cause, or harm that of the Enemy, but my heart shall be lifted by its downfall.  But I do not think that we two will be enough.  Come.  Let us show the others what you have found." 


:ooc: So, to recap after a bumpy few days: Hathcyn has found an evil standing stone (that Grimbeorn, were he here, would instantly recognise.  But he isn't, so he doesn't.) and wants to topple it.  Beorn wants to know whether you want to continue going the easier way, and face fighting a pack of wargs, or the harder way where the wargs can't follow, but is, y'know, harder.

:ooc: I think we can tear through wargs easier than making Athletics rolls, but that is no fun either! I like the idea of testing out skills (more APs!), but will wait for the consensus.

Hatchyns thoughts on the question.

Beornings are known for speaking their minds, even to great persons like Beorn.

"I can counsel not for one way or the other. I do not know where we are going or what we are expected to do when we get there. The decision is not mine to make."

:ooc: Btw, anything significant that Gwaithlim found in his wanderings to secure/scout area and/or retrieve arrows?

"Though the way is strenuous, I believe avoiding further confrontations would be best for the health of our companions.  Where there are wargs, goblins, orcs, or worse there may be," says Gwaithlim.

:ooc: So, am I right in thinking that we have a tentative preference for the hard way (avoiding a warg fight) over the easy one? 

Matt, Gwaithlim finds plenty of what he's pretty certain are troll tracks - this is obviously their territory and that may have implications for getting back down once you've done... whatever it is you're here to do. 

 :ooc: I'm sticking to my story. Beorn won't say what they are doing or why they have set out, so wont ease the burden by making choices for him on the minor details.

The elf hailed the two men up above on the bluff.

"The great bear has pushed back a pack of wargs who trailed us. He asks whether we should take the hard road to throw them off our track or continue as we have been along this road."

His voice was deadened by the mists but carried up to the two men.

"We have found a standing stone." Called back the Firewatcher, stating a fact but not answering the question.

Hathcyn moved to the lip of the edge and called down.

"We shall cast it down, but are working on the lever by which to move it."

The elf frowned, "did you not hear my question about the road?"

Esgalwen and the old bear had worked their way up to the bottom of the bluff at this point and heard the words of elf and man as they were carried by the fog.

Hathcyn replied.

"I didnt choose this mountain I'll not choose how to conquer it."

The elf saw the great bear approach and looked above.

"Beorn has asked which road to take." He called again.

From the mists the voice of Hathcyn answered and though the fog cut the source it did little to deaden his tone.

"Tell him he was quick to tell his son to know one path from another with little instruction. He led us here so I tell him to lead us. I have no answer to his question. In the meantime I'm trying to cast down this menhir of the shadow. Deciding to do so and how is choice enough for my part of this journey. Let chieftains chief and labors labor. Now come and lend a hand."

The great bear heard his words and growled. Whether from the impudence or the truth of them remained to be seen.

:ooc: Well, that's put me in my place.  On with the narrative, then.

"You've a sharp tongue, Longspear," Beorn calls in reply.  "Mind you take care where it's pointed!  Now help a wounded man climb." 

After a short rope is dropped and Beorn climbs the bluff, wheezing and grumbling all the while at the pain in his side, he casts his gaze at the upraised stone.  In a much more solemn tone, he says "I knew there was one of these around here, but never before where.  You've done well, friends of my son.  We'll draw this thing out like a splinter from a putrid wound and the world will be the better for it.  But after that there'll be no taking the easy path, for I daresay the trolls will be all over the slopes after nightfall.  Our best hope is to go the steeper way and hope that they're not vengeful enough to try to follow." 

To Esgalwen and Gwaithlim, still making their way up the bluff, he calls "Never mind climbing!  We have strong hands between the five of us, but they'll amount to nothing without some sturdy levers!" 


:ooc: Okay, here's how this will work.  Casting the stone down will be an extended action requiring five total successes on Craft rolls (to estimate the length and girth of branches for levers, dig the buried part of the stone out and tip it over without crushing yourselves).  Everyone can roll simultaneously, but each roll represents about an hour's effort (scouting, cutting, digging, shoving etc.).  There's no time limit, per se, but there's only about seven hours until nightfall and you're on an exposed mountainside close to the snow line.  You don't need angry trolls for that to be dangerous. 

Arbogast sets himself to the task with the patient zeal of one who, though himself no builder, has carried lumber and stones for the raising of hall and hearth, palisade and bastion, and knows that haste will avail them little.  Such tools as they have brought with them are ill-suited to digging, but a sharpened stick will at least begin the process. 


:ooc: I'll get the process started off with a roll for Arbogast:

:ooc: Holy crap - a success! 

You're now at 1/5. 

Quote from: Eclecticon on Sep 25, 2022, 06:26 PM:ooc: Well, that's put me in my place.  On with the narrative, then.

 (-D

Sorry man! I thought it would have been in character.

My craft skill sucks, but Hathcyn has worked on erecting the standing stones at the forest gate. Can I use insight instead to see if I can think of some improvisational tools with what is at hand?

 :ooc: Enemy of Sauron/Elven-lore, whichever would be the prudent specialty.  Gwaithlim wishes to recall anything he knows about these stones and the effects of just knocking them over or if there was a better way of destroying them in some fashion.  I want him to say his peace on this matter prior to lending a hand with some foolish errand.

Esgalwen shakes her head and says softly to herself, "Men, always willing to get moving but never an idea of their path..."

She looks to the tree line and calls up, "I will see if I can find some strong branches that will serve as lever and fulcrum, lest there already be a stone above that will serve such need?"

Without waiting for an answer, the Ranger moved down towards the tall pines that wooshed with the mountain breezes. Her goal was to find any limbs that might have fallen, but were still sturdy. She had no axe and there would be no other way to rend a branch, without Arbogast coming to aid her.

---

:ooc: I know you wanted a Craft roll and I will roll it, but I am also giving an Explore roll that seems fitting to her seeking out the needed parts. You use whichever skill you want, Paul, based on your design.

TN 14 craft 2d


TN 14 explore 3d

:ooc: As usual - Esgalwen's efforts in anything but combat is for shit.

Quote from: Telcontar on Sep 25, 2022, 11:16 PMMy craft skill sucks... Can I use insight instead to see if I can think of some improvisational tools with what is at hand?

:ooc: You may not.  Likewise Doug, no fancy-pants shifting about to use Explore!  Everyone's Craft skill sucks, but it's the only one that really fits what you're trying to do.  Between the fact that there's four of you - of us - rolling, with Hope to spend, and the fact that we can accumulate successes over multiple rolls, it's pretty achievable. 

Overall, the lesson here is don't neglect skils.  You never know when the one nobody has will be the one you need.

Quote from: GandalfOfBorg on Sep 26, 2022, 04:05 AM:ooc: Enemy of Sauron/Elven-lore, whichever would be the prudent specialty.  Gwaithlim wishes to recall anything he knows about these stones and the effects of just knocking them over or if there was a better way of destroying them in some fashion. 

:ooc: Let's do a Lore roll, shall we?

Impassively does Gwaitlim regard the short-lived Men about him as they scurry about their urgent business, for his mind sees the Hall of Fire in hidden Imladris, and hears the tales told by Glorfindel, Elrond and others of the ancient days before the destruction of the Two Trees. 

"By Morgoth himself were the Ered Hithui raised high," he finds himself repeating beneath his breath, his lips betraying barely a hint of his thought by their subtle motion, "for to hinder the rades of Oromë Aldaron and the journeyings of the Quendi.  Even in these waning days do they retain much of his arrogance and cruelty.  But long has their maker been held in durance, and time reduces the works of even one such as he, such that the peaks have strayed from their purpose.  So do the thralls of the Enemy seek to bind them in chains of sorcery with their upraised stones." 

Though he does not smile, his heart lifts at the memory, recalling the proud and shining eyes of those Elf-lords as they spoke.  "When you find these stones, cast them down!  Break them and the chains that bind the mountains to the service of darkness will likewise be broken.  And when they are, cry out to the sky 'Símen bime mauva, lanti yonwo Morgoth!  Násan mennai utúlie'n aurë yare teviëi voronda ilya ótesse nepántorne!  'Here by my hand is the wall of Morgoth broken!  So may it be until the day is come when the sworn hatreds may at last be laid aside.'" 


:ooc: A nice success there.  Take an AP since you can tag either Enemy of Sauron or Elven Lore for it.  (:csu:)

Hathcyn frowns as he looks up from his labor at the stone.

"Would that I could smash my head against it and thereby prove my stubbornness. Strength alone is no aid to me here, we need a better way."

:ooc: Wait up - I want to see what Matt does before advancing things any further.

Lightly as only an elf can be, Gwaitlim makes his way up the hillside to join with the others. "Regardless of our path, the Shadow makes its presence known for other torog are..." his voice trails off as he finally sees what the Men have been yammering about. "I hend-o belegoth!" he spits in a white fury.  "That is a relic of the our greatest foe -- the one to whom the throne of Barad-dur was but a servant.  That *must* come down but touch it little lest its power corrupts.  Find whatever you can to break it.  It is little wonder the dark creatures have flocked to this area."

 :ooc:  Hmmm can luck prevail?
 :00:
If either Enemy of Sauron/Elven-lore can help with this as well, take all the help we can get.

 :ooc: Welp, that's where trusting to luck gets you

:ooc: I think that is a whole lotta nothing for all of us! Not one success to be seen, and an hour spent doing it. Okay, if it is still eligible, I will spend the :vv: on my last Craft test which should give us one success. Now for another...

---

Esgalwen continued to bring log and branches to the base of the cliff, helping to hand each up to the Men and Elf above, in hopes that one of the pieces would have the strength to topple the totem.

---

TN 14 craft 2d

:ooc: And BAM! :g: :%: With bases loaded and two outs, she comes through with the clutch.

I am not sure but that might be 2 successes? That would make 3 if my :vv: was allowed on her previous attempt. If not, I will update my sheet and put the point back. :csu:

Though the soil is hard and the stones many and large, still the company manages to dig the standing stone out until its base is revealed.  Back and hands sore, Arbogast stands and stretches, regarding the efforts of his friends to find timbers to lever the stone from its resting place.  These, however, have been fruitless.  Examined closely, the trees that grow so close to this waypost of the Shadow are sickly things, and their branches crack and crumble beneath the hands of Men and Elf, let alone the stress of toppling the stone. 

At last, however, Esgalwen returns with several long branches across her shoulder and triumph plain on her face.  "I've found a Rowan tree, ripped from the ground by a troll I'd wager.  These branches were snapped off, and their wood is strong but supple.  More could be shaped and sharpened with the firewood hatchet."   


:ooc: In fact, it's four successes with Esgalwen's Hope spend, three without - Arbogast led off with a completely unexpected success (https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/index.php?msg=34533). 

EDIT: I should've added that I've :csu: - ed Esgalwen's sheet for the AP for the second roll (https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/index.php?msg=34547).  Doug, let me know if you still want to spend the Hope point - it'll mean another AP but, y'know, also spending Hope. 

"The ranger finds a way!" This seems a better tool than our meager efforts. I have not the skill apparently, but direct where I should push and pull and I am at your service."

:ooc: Okay, now your roll (https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/index.php?msg=34542) and Hathcyn's reaction (https://rpg.avioc.org/boards/index.php?msg=34543) fit into the story. 

I'll drop in another roll for Arbogast, too:

Despite the use of sturdy levers, another half-hour of heaving and struggling establishes that the stone will not move without more of the hard-packed soil being removed from beneath it.  Cursing and sweating even in the mountain air, the companions take up their crude digging tools once again. 


:ooc: So, part way through hour two, you have three (possibly four - Doug, let me know!) successes, with Esgalwen and Gwaithlim still to roll. 

:ooc: I would prefer saving her :vv: as Rangers get back so little. I know it puts more strain on the task, but I have to be wary.

My sheet on my end has the point back and she has her 11 :csu:

Let me know if she is allowed to test again.

Pulling her rope from the pack on her back, Esgalwen wraps it around the totem and pulls it taut in the opposite direction of the lever. The Ranger made to stand just out of the way of any pieces that might roll down towards her and she called to the Elf, "Gwaithlim - aid me in pulling as the others try to topple the stones."

---

[<
TN 14 craft 2d

:ooc: Damn! this world really wants her to spend her resources! All right - I commit to one for sure. My Hope score is back to 10 :csu:

That should have us at 4 successes in two hours (?)

Gwaithlim offered a prayer to Aule for strength and Elbereth for courage as he put is ageless back to the task.

 :ooc:
 :00:
I'll toss a Hope if it will help; this is a task demanded of him by his soul.

 :ooc: Invoking Skill of the Eldar brings my roll to a great success at minimum because of rolling a  :g:

:ooc: Nice! Great success - does that make 6 total?

With a crash that resounds from peak and cliff, and repeats over and again, lower and lower, until finally it ends in a crash of shivering trees, the stone topples from its place on top of the fell to vanish in the thick mists below. 


:ooc: Matt, if you want Gwaithlim to bust out the Quenya, you can make an Inspire roll.  There will be a consequence for success.

An uplifting of his heart was mixed with the concern of unwanted attention.  He still spoke the words that echo down the ages anyway with a resolute heart, "Símen bime mauva, lanti yonwo Morgoth!  Násan mennai utúlie'n aurë yare teviëi voronda ilya ótesse nepántorne!"

 :ooc:
 :00:

No  :~~: please  [<

:ooc: :-B  :-B  (>d
 Invoking Skill of the Eldar brings my roll to a great success at minimum because of rolling a  :g:

 :ooc: This elf is doomed now

Though the words of the greatest of the Firstborn are strange to his tongue, voice of Gwaithlim rings out clear as a hunting horn in the hushed silence after the toppling of the stone.  Moments later, a wind rises out of the west, tearing away the shrouds of mist that cling to the slopes and valleys such that for a while the Fellowship of the Helm looks out over the wide expanse of Wilderland in the dazzling sunlight of a May afternoon. 

Streaked with sweat and grime from their labours, each one turns to gaze eastward.  So clear is the air now about them that they fancy they can spy the figures of shepherds and cowherds grazing their beats on the the rolling hills.  The great Anduin is a shining strip of silver across the land, and beyond it, the massed leaves of Mirkwood seem green and wholesome as they stretch forth to touch the slopes of the Lonely Mountain and the far horizon beyond.  For a time, none speak, savouring instead this glimpse of Wilderland as perhaps once it was, when the Greenwood was great, and perhaps it might one day be again. 

Then the mists begin to gather slowly once again, and Beorn grunts at the breaking of the spell that held them at bay, turning away from the fading lowlands and towards the upward slope. 


:ooc: Well done, guys.  For what you've just done, and seen, everyone recovers a Hope point (:csu:).  I'll possibly forget by the end of the adventure, so this is here to remind me that you've also earned two bonus experience points.

"I feel that our efforts were not in vain. A good has come from our work here that I think shall out last us. Well most of us."

Hathcyn looked at the peaks and the mists as they rolled back in.

"Beorn, where shall we follow now?"

"Up!  A hard way indeed awaits us now."

"Not by chance came we here today and this was no minor feat rendered.  Only a little effort though it may seem, further breaking the bonds of the Shadow of this world can only allow for the more wholesome to expand," explained Gwaithlim.

And up he looked as he followed the Men in their ascent for still the patron's mission called for them to press on.  A silent missive he gave to the land and honor to the Valar as they proceeded for West they were facing and that is also the direction of the Undying Lands.

:ooc: Thanks for the bonuses, Paul!

Hope :csu:
2 bonus XP :csu:

:ooc: I'd already updated everyone's Hope - you put that back, sir!

:ooc: She has 11 Hope on her sheet. That is what she had before she spent the point to topple the totem.

:ooc: You are entirely correct, and I withdraw my snarky comeback.