Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

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...

Run by the Loremaster Vardaen
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Muskrat
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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Muskrat » Thu Oct 17, 2019 5:28 pm

Varuthil nods and says, "I an interested in the market."

When she arrives, she simply wanders about for a bit, studying the people around her--sometimes intently enough to make people uncomfortable--and wondering about their lives. Eventually, she looks to see if there are any book shops. She is interested in almost any kind of lore.

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Wbweather
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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Wbweather » Sun Oct 20, 2019 8:39 pm

"I am not one for crowds. I might enjoy hunting herbs along the banks of the river though. I would be grateful for some company, if I go."
So is it possible to do the undertaking Collect Marsh Herbs in page 12 of the Lake-town sourcebook?

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Vardaen
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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Vardaen » Thu Nov 07, 2019 8:44 pm

And a month later...
For some Lake-town is the largest settlement that they have ever been too. There are no towns like this in the Vale of Anduin, and rare are those that have ventured south to Gondor or west to Bree. Esgaroth is booming, since the death of the dragon Smaug it is a hub of traffic and commerce between the East and the West. Trade comes down from Dale and Erebor, it arrives from the Iron Mountains and Dorwinion, and even from the west where Woodmen and Beornings dwell.

Anything is possible here. Varuthil finds herself a book seller, there are no books of ancient age however. When Smaug attacked the city of wood burned, and its books along with it. Anything that didn't burn was lost to the waters. Still there are copies and texts from all over the region and she could spend days in here looking about.

The shores offer all sorts of adventure and with the right guide and knowledge Gerwald finds himself collecting herbs for himself. Some are of high quality, others just for seasoning pork. He spends a day in the wilds and returns with a good collection of Kingcup bright yellow flower used by farmers as lucky charms.
Rolled 4

If you collected Kingcup during your last Fellowship phase, for the duration of the following Adventuring phase your EYE results do not trigger Hazards while on a journey.

Since this is not really a Fellowship Phase I'll allow for this bonus to negate the First EYE result you get on a journey this adventure
Finn spends days in preparation, he finds a boat, and has it repaired, collects supplies and otherwise handles all the things required for this trip. That includes writing up contracts and sale ledgers and documents that his father wants him to take along. By the morning of the forth day he has gathered you together to set out on your venture.
Go ahead and RP whatever else.

I didn't post here for like a month, I know bad, but during that time only 3 posts were made: BB, WBW and Muskrat. Anyone else still playing?

We need to work Graven into the game, he's a Woodman, so either we can meet up with him there, which makes sense or along the road, or maybe he signs on with the company now for some reason of his own
"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

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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Othniel » Thu Nov 07, 2019 11:21 pm

For his part, Glirion spends his time among the boat-builders of Esgaroth. He is interested in their shared craft, and would know more of how their boats handle. He willingly shares a few tricks of elven woodworking as well.
Not sure if there's a pertinent roll here, but Glirion is just trying to be friendly an indulge in an interest of his.

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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Wbweather » Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:52 am

Gerwald finds some solace in the fields and marshes around the lake. It is good for him to get away from the bustle of the town from time to time. He is ready to set out again, finding it difficult for him to stay in any one place too long. Once the boats are acquired, he begins making preparations to set out.

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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Muskrat » Mon Nov 11, 2019 7:59 pm

Ultimately, it's the player's call, but I'd be in favor of working in Graven as soon as is reasonable.
Varuthil is eager to set out--to do something about the threat they know is coming, even if they do not know from where or when. "Well, then, let us be on our way," she says to the others.

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Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Fri Nov 15, 2019 7:03 am

Would be great to meet Graven on our way out of Laketown, and if he's from Ceawin's steading or close-by, he could offer to help guide us there!
As the time approached to depart, Hild began to be of great help collecting supplies for their trip. For most of the company's days in Lake-town Finn's servant, or friend, or love interest (no one could quite tell, and if asked Finn might not have been able to say, either), had been away on business of her own. But at just the right time (arranged between the two of them) Hild had reappeared, both quickening the company's preparations and bringing supplies (most assumed now) for trade with the Woodmen - axe heads, flint boxes, tanned leathers, salt, ceramic jars, iron nails, and finally most surprisingly, a few bottles of Dorwinion wine. That last item seemed most unusual, and in fact only one bottle was actually packed onto the boats; likely the rest had been brought to the Wyngard's cellar.

After Glirion finishes spending time among the raft-Elves, Finn is glad for his company making minor repairs and preparing the two boats for the journey. Soon the day comes for the company to set out down the River Running.
If applicable, we should use rules from the Journeys & Maps book on traveling by boat!

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The River Running: Stairs of Girion

Post by Vardaen » Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:06 pm

Guide - None
Scout - Glirion
Huntsman - Varuthil, Gerwald
Look-out Man - Finn

Lore Rolls: TN14

I'm going to give Finn +1 Skill Die because he's a Lake Man and in home territory. But I debated not because he's been away so long.

Finn: Rolled:
Feat Die: 8*
Success Die: 5,5
Totaling: 18 = +1 Die

Gerwald: Rolled:
SAURON
Success Die: 4,2
Totaling: 6 = Fail +1 Eye Awareness (Spys in Lake-town know you are leaving to go south!)

Glirion: Rolled:
Feat Die: 3*
Success Die: 3,1
Totaling: 7 = Fail

Varuthil: Rolled:
Feat Die: 1*
Success Die: 5,5,4
Totaling: 15 = 1 Die

We will meet Heva the Hornet along the road
The course is plotted, the plan is to take the boats as far as the edge of the Long Marshes. It will make travel south fairly quick, and far more comfortable than the alternative march through the swamps. You load into two boats, Finn, Hild and Gerwald in one in the front. Glirion and Varuthil in the other. Its some 100 miles from Esgaroth to the edge of the Marshes and the place you plan to leave the boats and take to foot. From there you'll skirt the edge of Mirkwood Forest for another 130 miles until you reach the region known as the East Bight along wide open terrain. You hope around there you'll find signs of Woodmen activity as you turn west another 50 miles or so to Sunstead.
You go 20 miles a day in a boat on the river. Finn has the Boating Trait, and Glirion does also. So I'm going to say you need to make 0 Traveling Rolls while on the river. Its well traveled, not that difficult, and you both are good at it. So that means the first 100 miles (5 Days) you travel with no Fatigue, no Travel Rolls!
April 3rd - April 8th
It takes a day to cover the fifteen miles that separate Lake-town from the southern end of the lake, close to where its waters pour out over high waterfalls (their loud roar can be heard slowly increasing in volume as the adventurers get nearer to the falls). Travellers going south usually disembark on the western shore of Long Lake, where several wooden piers jut out from the shingles. There, a number of huts huddle close to the lake and fires can be seen twinkling in the dark at night. These are the homes of the Lake-men that sometimes serve as porters for the Stair of Girion.

The Stair of Girion is a paved portage trackway, built long ago by the Lake-men with the help of Dwarven masons, allowing for the swift transport of boats and their contents from the lake down to where the Running River resumes its course beyond the falls (or up to the lake from the river, for boats coming from the south). Entire boats can be loaded on wheeled carts, that are then pulled along grooves dug into the paved trackway.

The Stair of Girion hasn’t seen a lot of traffic in the past few centuries. Not even the death of Smaug has provided the chance to put it to much use, as only well-armed and courageous merchants (a rare breed...) dare to approach the lake directly by boat. Fearing to enter the darkest parts of the Long Marshes, they prefer to unload their wares 90 miles south of the lake, where the Running River enters Mirkwood and the marshes, and then continue their journey overland along the eastern borders of Mirkwood.

You they arrive at the Stair at the end of the first day of you journey, and load your light boats on the trackway to proceed south the next morning. This will forces the Fellowship to camp close to the lake shore, and Finn asks for seats around a fire with the Lake-men. The porters are young and simple men; they are easily excited by the sight of such adventurers as yourselves daring to go south on a boat, and jump at the chance of hearing a good story or a song of the old days.
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"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

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The River Running: Stairs of Girion

Post by Muskrat » Wed Nov 20, 2019 11:13 pm

Varuthil sits uncomfortably among the strangers, keeping her thoughts to herself. Any songs she knows are in the elven tongues and she fears the history she finds interesting will be dull to men such as these. Still, if asked, she will try to respond politely and is willing to sing in elven if the men are willing to listen to a song in a language they do not know.

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The River Running: Stairs of Girion

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:45 pm

Actually Vardaen, I think Finn is the guide now; we're in need of a lookout. He has a 3 in Travel, and as Hild is acting as his porter, it let's him reroll the Fate die on Travel rolls. And welcome to Graven, whenever you show up!
"Good men, thank you for your welcome," says Finn as he sits down by the fire.
Though she has been noticed by the porters, Hild remains in the shadows close to the gear.

Finn continues, "Our journey takes us south along the Running; tell us what news you've heard from there, or from the forest." As he speaks Finn draws his lyre from his back and begins tuning it, wordlessly hinting at the promise of a song of some adventure in exchange.

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