It is the year 2946 of the Third Age, and the lands east of the Misty Mountains are astir. From the cloud-shrouded peaks above the High Pass to the spider-infested gloom of the forest of Mirkwood, paths long-deserted are trodden once again. Busy merchants carry their wares to new markets, messengers bring tidings from foreign realms, and kings send forth armed men to extend their influence and the rule of law. Some say that a new age of freedom has begun, a time for adventure and great deeds to reclaim glories lost in long centuries of oppression and decline.
But adventures are not really things that people go out and look for. They are dangerous and rarely end well. While it is true that a handful of valiant individuals set out to make their mark on the world, for others it seems that adventure chooses them, as though it is the path they are fated to tread. They are restless warriors, curious scholars and wanderers, always eager to seek what was lost or explore what was forgotten. Ordinary people call them adventurers, and when they return successful, they call them heroes. But if they fail, no one will even remember their names...
The King listens to Varuthil, "You are wise and persuasive Varuthil, you do your people, and me proud. You speak true as well."
He stands up and points at one of his attendants, in a loud and booming voice he orders his people, "Saddle my house! I will bring my personal guard and speak with Radagast myself!"
His attendants bow and hurry to do as ordered. The King turns back to the the Fellowship, "You will remain here with us tonight, and in the morning our combine host will ride south to Radagast and the Woodmen."
Persuade 2: 5,6t,6t=17 vs Tn16 Extraordinary Success
10 Successes!
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Varuthil bows again and says, "We would be honored, Your Majesty." A rare smile appears on her lips--she is rather pleased with herself that she managed to persuade Thranduil, a man notoriously set in his own ways.
"He's going to lock us in the dungeon cells," Borir thinks to himself as he listens to the king. "He's going to lock us up and then ride off." The dwarf grunts and grumbles and starts to speak as he raises his fist when --
"Borir," Aerth says, placing a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "That's enough." He squeezes firmly, trying to get Borir to take the hint and shut his mouth.
"It will be an honor," he says as well, "If the King will visit Woodland Hall, it will be much safer than if he does not. The host of elves that will travel with us will help protect it from any additional impending attacks."
"Kings have no friends, only subjects and enemies."
Borir gruffs and shrugs off the Aerth's hand. The dwarf isn't looking forward to traveling alongside an elven host and still suspects that the group, or at least himself, will end up in some elven dungeon or locked away.
The King takes his leave, and you are shown to quarters where you may stay. You are treated fairly but are not given leave to wander the citadel. Wren and Varuthil are allowed far more access to the place than you are, and they go and bring back food and drink and news of the host of the Elfking preparing for the trip in the morning.
Borir's fears are unfounded, you are not thrown in the dungeon, and if the dwarf's paranoid wasn't so great he could have noticed the fine stonework of the citadel, but as it was he's too preoccupied to really notice.
The morning of the 11th arrives, and you are brought forward to the gates and outside paths of the citadel. King Thranduil sits atop a great white stag which is rides like a man of Rohan might a horse. A gathering of Elves are collected outside, many scouts, and archers, and they have set out along the secret paths of Mirkwood. King Thranduil, from atop his mouth, addresses you, "You shall ride with me."
The host sets out south through the trails and paths of Mirkwood. With the elves leading you have no need to worry about dangers, or to act as look outs or scouts. The way is safe and you travel for days south and cross the Elf-path and then skirt the Mountains of Mirkwood wide to the west. Never leaving the forest you cross the Old Forest Road eight days after leaving the Citadel. Its only another two until you are at Woodland Hall.
Those two days pass quickly, and along the way you find the outlaying farms of Woodland Hall and pass them like whispers in the night. You see signs of many of them abandoned now, or fortified against attacks. One you find burned out, raided, and destroyed.
So it is that on June 21st, the first day of summer, that you spy Woodland Hall just up ahead. As the town comes into view you can see the outline of Radagast standing before Weduseld looking down on the gate as if expecting you.
With the elves, you have no need to make traveling checks.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Varuthil is grimly pleased that they were able to fulfill Radagast's mission so easily, but the sight of the abandoned farms weighs on her mind. She is glad they had some advanced warning of what was to come or otherwise they might have seen far worse on another trip.
Pipkin can hardly keep the smile off his face as he first stays as a guest in the Halls of the Wood Elf King, and then travels along with an elvish host through Mirkwood and to the Woodland Hall. It all seems like a dream to him.
Wren is more than happy to fetch the others drink when it requires access to areas they did not have. He tries to point out the intricate stonework to Borir but the dwarf is just to worked up about the thought of being placed in a cell to bother. The elf finds a quiet area and begins to work on a wood carving of the king and his throne. He ponders how it is nice to be within an elven sanctuary once more, but still doesn't yearn to be in one place for too long. The ten day ride is far less worrisome than it would have been, if not for the company of elves. Approaching the town, then Radagast, Wren is curious how the encounter between the two will go.
Number Two:"You are number six." Number Six:"I am not a number, I am a free man!" Number Two:"Muh ha ha ha ha!"
