Fellowship of the Dice

Varuthil whispers to a nearby bird which flies off over the hedge and into Rhosogbel as you near the gate. There sitting on his rump is a young man 'guarding' the entrance of the hedge. He looks up at you and smiles, "Welcome." He looks familiar, you've seen him around these parts, and he you, and so you head on inside without much more conversation. You pass through the small village heading for Radagasts home.

Radagast’s house is almost as elusive as the Wizard himself. If Radagast wishes to be found, then his house is here in this grove of trees at the end of a little twisty path of crushed white stone. If the Wizard is away or wishes privacy, then there is no house to be found. Today its there. Radagast’s cottage looks like an explosion in a mathom-house that was then colonised by woodland creatures. Squirrels and field mice scurry through piles of books and scrolls, and crows perch on rafters from which cloaks, weapons and gardening tools hang.

You arrive, and knock on the door frame as the door itself is open. A pair of skunks waddle out of the house and into the garden nearby. You hear the old wizard call back, "Yes yes come in, that's why I left the door open for you."

Borir doesn't comment or acknowledge the recent nightmarish dream event. The dwarf might pretend that it never happened, or maybe he just doesn't wish to dwell on the matter. Once they enter Rhosogbel, the dwarf seems particularly happy that their journey was uneventful and efficient - the way a dwarven route should be.

Finn is glad to be at the Wizard's house. He feels that finally, they have someone who will understand their experience and even give them insight into it. He smiles as they step in, looks around for a chair, and sees one that seems to be the home of a cat, curled up and sleeping.
He waits for their host to show them where.

Pipkin strides into the house, his eyes everywhere, taking in all that he sees. As he passes one table with a squirrel perched on it, the hobbit takes a few nuts out of his pocket - he'd been saving them for later - and feeds them to the cute rodent.

"We have tales to tell you, Radagast the Brown," he says when they face the wizard. "Terrible tales of the Darkness taking hold of the Woods." He shakes his head and shudders involuntarily at the memory of their recent experience.

"Aye, sir," says Varuthil. "The Lady Irime is traveling West to leave Middle Earth. We were accompanying her as far as the Misty Mountains, where we were attacked by ... I don't even know if it has a name. An ancient, evil spirit, that trapped us in the memories of horrific events of old. The Lady Irime defeated the evil, but she warned us that it is still at large--and urged us to come advise you that it had reawakened and was on the move again." Varuthil's voice is cool and level, somewhat urgent with worry, but not marked by her own sense of horror at what happened.

"The town was Haycombe." Finn adds, his face darkening. "If you were in these lands, you would remember it. Their leaders were betrayed, corrupted, and returned to the town, whose occupants were enslaved or killed. We were among those brought to the Dungeons of Dol Guldur, and were tempted to bow the knee to master of the place. We refused, and slowly were starved, beaten, and killed for sport."

Radagast gives a whistle and a few of the critters move to make room for you to sit in places. He then leans forward listening with very interested eyes. "And evil spirit you say..." he strokes his beard, "You better start at the beginning, and don't leave anything out."

He sits listening with rapt attention to your tale as you tell him what has transpired. He interrupts at times, and asked questions, mostly about the thing at the end, and of Irime when some of you saw her after waking. His smiles from your arrival turn to frowns the more and more you tell and he becomes greatly worried you can tell, his face is furrowed and wrinkles form. When the tale ends with Irime leaving with the sons of Elrond he stops you. From there he guesses your course to him and isn't as interested in it.

"What you tell me is quite worrisome, quite worrisome. I must investigate this matter in more detail. I am pleased to hear you drove this foul spirit off, but from some news I've been hearing from the Woodmen of Mountain Hall, what Gwaihir told you and your encounter itself there is some great danger afoot. I must investigate." He stands up and paces around the room, "As before you are welcome to say in Rhosgobel till you decide not to. I must..." he gets distracted and walks right out of his house without finishing his thought. You can see him wander up the small stone path until the curve of the path and the line of the trees around it blocks his going from view.

"Let's follow him!" says Finn, and is off, going up the stone path and past the line of trees.

Pipkin can think of nothing better to do, so he hops up from his chair and follows the wizard.

Finn suggests following the Wizard, so up you go to give chase.

Radagast walks all the way out of the small wood that surround his house before he realizes he's just left you there. "Oh my, yes. I have things to do, messages to send. News to collect." He turns and puts a hand on Finn's shoulder, "Stay, relax, you deserves some rest. I must see to a few things..." he smiles, strokes his beard and then again walks off half way through his thoughts.