Behind the clouds, the sun begins to wend its way towards the mountains on the far side of the Anduin valley.  Needing no further encouragement from their friend, Tate and Esgalwen turn their horses southward, following the trail described by Hathcyn Longspear.  Be he penniless vagabond or mighty hero, no fugitive would be permitted, once apprehended, to escape the judgement of the lord of the vales! 



But first, some mechanical preliminaries:

Lore rolls:

Esgalwen

1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 1d6 : 3, total 3

Tate

The journey works out at about eighty miles, taking two days and requiring a fatigue check. 

Esgalwen

1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 4, 1, total 9

Tate

The miles of easy country race by as the pair follow the landmarks described by the night-goer.  For Tate, the journey is an exhilarating novelty after a life spent on and around boats and water.  Esgalwen, though, finds herself somewhat embarrassed by a painful fall while mounting on the second morning that leaves her sword-arm bruised and stiff.  Despite the wound to her pride, she does now allow her pace to slacken, and by midday on the second day, the pair find the remains of the campsite described by Hathcyn. 

There is barely any need to search for a trail to follow further.  Such traces as the fugitive left the preceding day point like an arrow at a smoky smudge on the horizon that can only be the village of Stánford. 


for all fallout from the rolls above. 

my character's failings in skills that should be her primary abilities is ridiculous sometimes. Maybe this is why she was sent away...because she couldn't track, hunt, stealth, fish, etc. And now she is falling off her horse! 

Only way to get skill AP's, Esgalwen, is to succeed! Come on, you can do it.

---

Shifting her weight in the saddle to give her bruised bum - and ego - a break, Esgalwen looked out towards the village of Stánford. She looked to Tate, "Stánford...as you know, it translates to Stonyford. Such is the way that I have known its name, though I have not been. I passed it in the spring of last year when I made my passage south from the Northern Vales."

Esgalwen continued to stare.

"The fugitive's path leads there. Let us hope that he is still within and that he has not gained succor from these people by giving them false truths. Still, we carry the word of the Master Beorning, and the village is made up of that ilk."

She spurred her horse forward to the small village that once was the location of stone-tower guarded ford. Perhaps it was of Elven make or that of her own Dúnedain, or even the Númenóreans prior to the exile of the Faithful. Either way, the builders were lost to history and the only evidence of its existence was in a pile of stones and a name.

Esgalwen remained guarded, but directed her horse to the center of the village.

"Aye, M'lady" acknowledged Tate. "Perhaps the Lord Grimbeorn's folk have already caught this little ferret." He paused before giving the Ranger a grin, "But where would the adventure be in that? Come, m'Lady! Let us pillage ol' Stonyford of all it's secrets and find our ferret amongst them."

He spurred his horse forward towards the town.

As they came into the village proper, Tate deferred to Esgalwen, allowing her to take the lead. Her fair features and noble bearing were far more likely to loosen tongues than any question coming from the Northerner's mouth.

  Who is around that we can talk to or interview?

The approach of a pair of mounted strangers draws more than a few villagers from their work, and Esgalwen and Tate can feel suspicious eyes upon them well before they come close to the houses that cluster around the fallen stones like travellers around a campfire.  By the time they draw near, three of the inhabitants have stepped forward to meet them.  The first is a woman of perhaps Esgalwen's age, the grey beginning to show in her hair and her flinty stare speaking of a the troubles that life has brought her.  The second is an old man, stooped and leaning on a staff, his eyes distracted and mouth constantly moving behind a long beard.  The third is a young warrior, who holds an axe two-handed as if afraid it may try to escape at any moment. 

The woman speaks as soon as the sound of horses' hooves ceases.  "I am Ava, daughter of Hartwulf," she says, motioning toward the old man to introduce both at once.  "We have no use for strangers at our doorsteps with no honest business, and little hospitality to give to any but close kin." 

Eyeing the swords by the two companions' sides, she adds "if you seek to sell your sword-arms, you will find eager buyers at Woodland Hall, but a few days east of here, beset as they are by the horrors of the wood.  But leave us in peace.  We have sorrows enough already." 


Okay, it's Encounter time!  Insight rolls a-coming:

Esgalwen

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 1d6 : 6, total 6

Tate

Despite the fact that she confronts two well-armed and mounted warriors, there is no quaver or hesitation in Ava's voice. 


Esgalwen gets a great success, giving her two bonus dice for the following interaction.  As it ties nicely in with her Folk Lore speciality, it'll also qualify her for her third Perception AP.  She can also tell that Ava will be hard to impress, and is best dealt with using Courtesy rather than Awe. 

  Going to roll some rolls first before I add any narrative/dialogue, so that it will be representative of the dice results.

I would like to ask if Esgalwen can invoke her Fair trait to succeed at Introduction (Courtesy) check? I have always thought it applying to her comeliness, but also how she is also perceived as to her personality and friendliness.

If it doesn't apply, here is the rolls:

• Two bonus dice available at need

Introduction
TN 14 courtesy 2d

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 2, total 7

I will use a bonus dice:

Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

Seeing the cautious stances, Esgalwen gave a smile that was friendly and genuine, "Good afternoon, Ava, and forgive us our approach to your town center unheralded. I am Esgalwen, daughter of Eradan, and this is my friend, Tate of the city Dale. We do not come with any ill-intention and have no need for any hospitality, beyond maybe a drink from your well and a few moments of your time. Nor are we sell-swords in search for work." Esgalwen paused only a moment to ascertain whether her words were accepted as truth. "In truth, we have come from the house of Master Beorn on an errand for his son, Grimbeorn, who now sits in his father's stead."

Again a pause as she looked at the trio's eyes to see whether her courtesies were accepted and to allow Tate to introduce himself, if he desired.

Ava says nothing, but her bearing changes almost imperceptibly as she prepares herself for conversation and not conflict. 


Take an AP out of petty cash. 

Ayrn has been gone for 7 days now, so I am going to continue. If he comes back and you want to retcon any of this, feel free. He does have the lion's share of social skills, though.

---

"Might I dismount?" asked Esgalwen. With a slight nod from Ava, the Ranger smiled and slid from her saddle.

With her weapon still hanging from her mount, Esgalwen now stood before the trio and spoke. "As I said, we are on an urgent errand of the Master Beorn's son. It would be best if we could speak to the master of this town, or its elders, or whomever has charge. If you be those masters, might we go somewhere private - I do not wish to have stray ears hearing the message that we bring."

INTERACTION

Esgalwen will make a Persuade roll to her hosts to see if they will comply to her request:

TN 14 persuade 3d

1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 3, 2, total 7

Son of a #$%^&*!!

She will use her second bonus die

Rolled 1d6 : 4, total 4

All right, we have 1 success towards the encounter (unless you include the introduction test).

If the trio are the elders, or counsel of Stanford, then we move into a private area.

---

Now out of the town's center, Esgalwen began to tell the tale of the fallen - Merovech the Mighty and Odo Peace-Speaker - and the cruel fashion in which they died. "It would seem that orc-raiders had forded the Anduin and mayhaps set upon the two travelers. Black orc arrows were found pinned to the sides of their boat." She paused in her tale for a moment to allow the others to speak their curses and grief for the dead, for many in Stánford knew these renowned Beornings.

"Grimbeorn and a small host of his house have ridden east in pursuit of these raiders and we are certain that they will catch them ere the foul yrks make the safety of the wood. But for us, Master Grimbeorn sent us west and south to follow a mystery. You see, a part of the tale yet untold is that of a captive within the boat. There were cut ropes, as if fashioned to bind, in the craft. This fugitive had fled south in this direction, himself crossing the river, and fleeing here. We know this, as he was seen prior to his arrival in Stánford.

"So I ask, do you know if any strangers have come into town within the last two days? If so, is he still here?"