Book 1: Act 1 - Don't Leave the Path

[Shurijo]

Borir stands up and dusts himself off. "You darn elf-man. What are you doing wandering off and jumping down a hole with a darned crazy tenacle tree monster living inside? If you're going to be consorting with such, at least give us fair warning."

The dwarf is half-teasing and joking, but it's clear he's a bit upset or maybe he's just a grumpy dwarf. "We're losing time. It's getting dark. We need to get back on the road and get moving out of this darned forest. The longer we stay, the more problems we'll have."

"Let's get back to the camp. Catch yer breaths and head out."

[TetNak]

"I do not know what happened," Aerth admits, "I do not really remember. But we need to take care of this before it gets the next travelers that are not so lucky as we were."

[Muskrat]

OOC

Tet, the plan to torch the thing was Varuthil's, not Pipkin's.

Varuthil says to Wren, "Think nothing of it." Her voice is cold, but it is almost always cold and she is obviously focused on the task of trying to destroy this creature of Shadow with fire.

To Aerth, she says, "Something in this forest addled your wits--and those of Wren and Belgo as well. Belgo apparently saw his mother instead of a monster." As she says this, her voice is filled with pity. "It may be that monster was able to cloud your minds to draw you in to make you its prey--or it may just have been taking advantage of the general evil of the forest." She shrugs and watches the bonfire in the pit. "We've done what we've can. Borir is right--we had best move on. The sooner we are in friendlier territory, the better."

[Vardaen]

The well burns, a bonfire and a pillar of smoke rises from the stone lined pit as the group turns their back to it. Walking back through Mirkwood to the path, and the ponies is only a short walk. No one is very talkative, each had their own experiences, and for some it was a dangerous time, and not just because of the lashing tentacles.

You need a rest, a real one now, and so Borir, Wren and Aerth sit for a time by the ponies as the others make ready to travel. After the short rest Wren and Aerth aren't so weary but Borir is still drained. He was crushed pretty badly in the tentacles and just can't seem to shake it, even as hardy as he is.

But its time to move on, no one is eager to stay near the Well, even with te smoke vsisible above the trees, so Borir stands up and marshals the group to get on the move. Baldor and Belgo have done a great deal now to make the horses ready and you are back on the road traveling easy and slow till night falls and you make camp right in the center of the road.

Morning arrives, and you start to wonder how much longer Mirkwood is. From all estimates you are about a week from the edge of the forest is all, and this is the last push through this terrible land.

Hit Points

You get a 1/2 hour rest in, so everyone recovers Endurance from the fight equal to your heart score.

Aerth 23/17
Borir 20/23, Weary
Wren 17/14

Then its sleep time:

An uninjured hero recovers two Endurance points, plus a number of points equal to his Heart rating.

Wren 22/25
Borir 25/32

Map

You are 1 day closer to the end.

[Eilandor]

As they travel the path once more, Wren has taken his usual position on a barrel scanning the woods for harm. His mind wanders, as it always does and he can't help but wonder if he is growing fond of Varuthil despite her cold demeanor. A smile crosses his face when he reflects back on the moment Pipkin and he nearly forced a smile from the she elf after telling a joke. A movement in the forest catches his attention and brings him back to his task. Seems it was nothing that wanted to harm the caravan and his mind wanders again...

[Trogdor]

Pipkin has traveled this road before on his way east. But somehow it seems longer this time. Maybe that was part of the magic of Mirkwood - it always seemed like a long trip no matter how many times you made it.

"There can't be more than a week left," he says in a cheery voice to the others. "Soon we'll see the sun again and feel the fresh breeze on our faces. Won't that be a treat?"

[TetNak]

Aerth is fatigued, he wakes slowly and rolls up onto his side with a yawn. When he is fully awake, he approaches the others. "The forest has become more dangerous than ever. Spiders are one thing, but whatever the thing in the well was ... it is beyond my knowledge and understanding. I am of a mind that returning through Mirkwood is a trip we should consider carefully."

[Muskrat]

Varuthil says, "You are right enough about the danger, but not returning through Mirkwood may mean not returning at all. Mirkwood stretches far to our south and a journey along its borders would be a long one. And if go round the northern border, we would be going close to the mountains, which are filled with goblins."

[Shurijo]

Borir grunts, "I'd rather face goblins then whatever that foul thing was." The dwarf looks to the others as he continues to press them onwards hoping to complete the journey a day ahead of schedule if possible.

[TetNak]

"Yes," Aerth agrees with Varuthil, "I am simply stating that we should pay more care whatever is decided." He shrugs, getting onto his feet now, "Either way, we are still not finished." He nods to Borir, "I will scout for us." The half-elf takes to the edge of the path and begins walking ahead.