Prelude: Many Meetings

It was in the beginning of the reign of Malvegil of Arthedain that evil came to Arnor. For at that time the realm of Angmar arose in the North beyond the Ettenmoors. Its lands lay on both sides of the Mountains, and there were gathered many evil men, and Orcs, and other fell creatures. The lord of that land was known as the Witch-king, but it was not known until later that he was indeed the chief of the Ringwraiths, who came north with the purpose of destroying the Dúnedain in Arnor, seeing hope in their disunion, while Gondor was strong.

Ruins of the North is a game set in the north of Eriador in the ruins of Arnor between the years of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Using the One Ring RPG system the game will explore the legacy of the Dunedain and the dangers returned to that part of Middle-earth.

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Gates of Tharbad, March 20th

Post by Vardaen » Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:54 pm

The man seems pleased at the attitude Bláin is showing. He steps forward to take the coins. "You can get yourself a meal and drink at the Empty Mug, north quarter of town on this side of the river. If you want a guide to the Mug little Jack here can show you, for a few copper." He motions for a young man about 14 to move forward. "You can ask them at the Mug any more of your questions. I'm not some nursemaid holding the hand of every one that comes this way."
"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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Gates of Tharbad, March 20th

Post by Boronind » Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:01 pm

Trying not to take offense at the gruffness of the gate keeper, Bláin smiles just polite enough and says, “That’ll do just fine.” Without missing a beat, he turns to Jack handing him the prescribed copper coins, “Young master Jack, would you be so kind to direct us to the Empty Mug? We would be grateful.” Bláin motions his company to follow him through the gate, passing through the tall Men.

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The Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Vardaen » Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:18 pm

Jack bits the coins and waves, "This way 'hen." He trots off into the ruins of Tharbad.

Tharbad has seen better days, much better days. Most of the city is in ruins, there are ancient signs of floods, fires, bandits, and simple neglect. The great Gwathlo cuts the city in half and an isle with a castle and more ruins dominates the center of the city. Boats go back and forth on the water, fishermen and ferry men to the far banks. There are the occasional structures in decent shape, wooden homes built over old ruins, or mud brick places here and there. There is even a bustle market where men, Eriadorian men of ancient Arnor, live and work. Its not unheard of to see dwarves in Tharbad, so while the locals give you a curious look they don't seem overly shocked at your small dwarf company.

There are dark men however watching you here and there. Men wearing heavy cloaks, with weapons hidden under them. You get the distinct feeling that about and hour after you arrived your presence has been told to any sinister forces at work in the ruins of the old city.

After a good long while Jack finally bring you before a waeather stained structure.

The Empty Mug sits on the edge of the water, a rather good sized riverboat docked right up along side it. The place is busy by the sounds of it, for shouting and what passes for singing drifts out of the windows. Smoke rises from the chimneys, and out of the front door a pair of drunk men burst forth. The two of them are punching and wrestling with one another as they crash into the mud and cobble stones. The skinnier of the two men pounds on the larger man, over and over in the jaw, and you watch as teeth spray out and you catch the glimpse of a pair of brass knuckles on the winning man. In only a few moments the fight is over, and the slender man stands up and kicks the other unconscious man in the side, "<Dunlandish Tongue>I told you once before donna ever look at mae woman!" He brushes his hair back and glances at your group, spits into the mud, and then strides back inside for a drink.

No one comes out to help the other man, and he just lays there (and will for hours until he wakes up if left alone).
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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 Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Boronind » Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:38 pm

Shaking his head at the sad state of the affairs of Men that surround him and muttering under his breath, “What a pity,” Bláin conducts his company past the unconscious man lying in front of the Empty Mug and toward the door. Opening the door, Bláin motions Jacks to go in first and says, “Good young master, can you introduce us properly to the innkeeper here?”

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The Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Vardaen » Wed Feb 03, 2016 5:45 pm

The boy looks back and forth between the Mug and the Dwarf, "You can 'andle it. I've done what you paid me for. Good luck." He then darts off without another word into the streets leaving you just like that!

Blain stands there holding the door open. Vara almost laughs, and takes the opening to go in first. "Men..." he mutters to Blain as he passes him.
"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 Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Boronind » Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:40 pm

Bláin shrugs affirming Vara’s comment while holding the door for the other three to go in. He follows the others in and looks around for the bar keep or someone who might be the proprietor.

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The Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Vardaen » Wed Feb 03, 2016 8:46 pm

Inside. That's where you head, and opening the door and striding in brings half the singing men inside to a cold stop. The other half are too far gone to give a wet rat's arse who just arrived and why. The inside is like many an inn, but also not. First its one massive room filled with tables and drinking men and women. Its rather high beamed with a high ceiling, from which fishing nets and harpoons and row boat oars are hung from as decoration, along with other river themed items (fish cages, buoys, etc). A bar back on the far side of the room is home to a pair of folks working, a man and a women, both rather tall, both with a no-nonsense look to them, they could maybe be siblings or cousins by the look to them.

Around the room are two serving girls, one busty, one not, but it hardly seems to matter the men grab and flirt and harass them both equally. A few doors lead to other chambers, and a stair well goes up to the second floor. This floor is filthy, there is some old sawdust on it, but for the most part its sticky with spilled ale, vomit, and even the occasional puddle of what you can only guess is urine. The smell inside would seem to confirm that, but mixed with the sweat of the unwashed fishermen the whole place just stinks worse than sour milk left out in the sun for a week.

The singing men keep at it, about a dozen of them, a song in a local dialect of Westron with a chorus of, "..and swim between their legs, and swim between their legs!" The other men that have taken notice of you talk to one another, and fingers point, and mugs shake at the arrival of so many dwarves.

Smoke fills the air from the burning lanterns and more than a few pipes spread out around the room, but the stink of the pipes is not a pleasant Old Toby or South Farthing Leaf, but some local herb that only adds to the foulness of the air.

One of the girls swings by, "Sit where'vr ye like! I'll see ta you soon enough."

Among the several dozen men total, there are two small tables that could hold your group, if you push them together, which would force you to move them around some others already seated between the pair of empty tables.
"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 Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Boronind » Thu Feb 04, 2016 3:02 pm

Bláin motions to his companions to rearrange the tables together without saying a word and without returning the gaze of the other Men in the tavern. He then indicates that they should sit down. Then as to not further bring attention he begins to make small talk with them hoping the onlookers will lose interest and return to their so-called merriment. They wait patiently for the bar maid to return.
We probably need to decide on the names of our other dwarves at this point. I propose Oxdis, his brother Skisdis and Fundar.

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The Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Vardaen » Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:33 pm

Works for me
Skisdis takes a chair and spins it around and sits backwards on it, he's just a bit too short for that, and so his beard hangs over the seat back rather at an odd angle. "Two silver pennies the ale here tastes just like river water."

The serving girl comes back over, the skinny one, "What can I get for you?" Taking your orders she asks for coin up front and then runs off to get it, returning in five minutes with your drinks and food. Its all rather below average fare.
"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 Empty Mug, March 20th

Post by Boronind » Mon Feb 08, 2016 3:40 pm

Not wanting to attract any more attention, Bláin encourages them to eat quietly and without complaint. After finishing the meal and the ale, he get up rather unceremoniously from his chair and walks over the couple whom he judges to be the proprietors. He clears his throat to get their attention and says, “Pardon me, are you the owners of this establishment? We require lodgings for the evening and would like to make arrangements with you.” Remember how such Men are uninterested in formalities, compliments, and greetings he omits making an introduction. Instead he puts down on the counter what he thinks might be sufficient coin to pay for the night and then some. He waits to judge their reaction before continuing talking.

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