Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

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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Vardaen
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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Vardaen » Fri Jun 03, 2016 8:02 pm

Image The land of Tharbad was almost flat, with sluggish waters tending to spread into fenland. Above Tharbad the river forked, with both branches having converged from out of a network of swamps, pools and eyots. It was populated by swans, and many other waterbirds. This huge fenland north-east of Tharbad, which the elves named 'Nîn-in-Eilph'.

...ceased in fact to be subjects of Gondor; the Royal Road was unkempt in Enedwaith, and the Bridge of Tharbad became ruinous, and was replaced only by a dangerous ford.

-Unfinished Tales
May 10th, 2957, Nine Months After Arriving in Tharbad

With the small gang of thugs lead by the former merchant Barkwell defeated the company has finally started to bump into the workings of the mysterious man on the Isle known only as "A". It seems that trouble in Tharbad is a way of life, and while some locals took the removal of the gang as a sign to start resisting for themselves they were quickly put down. Clearly the company will need more muscle and more backing if they hope to clean up this filthy town. Dúventrin a Ranger who goes by the moniker of Watcher has offered to remain behind to help keep an eye on things in Tharbad for the company. He has been doing that long before the group arrived anyhow.

The small fellowship has decided its time to dig further into the rumors of a dwarf colony on the western spur of the White Mountains. With a collection of maps, letters, and notes from Fundin himself the fellowship hopes to find Fundin's lost colony and use those dwarves to aid Aravule in cleaning up Tharbad and hence Cardolan itself. Watcher suggested that Saruman the White Wizard of Isengard too would be a good one to seek aid from. He is close to Tharbad, nearly on the way in fact if one travels the Old South Road through Dunland and the West-fold.

Over the course of the last few weeks the company has been preparing to leave. Supplies need to be gathered, food stuffs, tools, beasts of burden, maps and guides perhaps. What was learned could be built on, and what skills the group has are honed before setting out.
Welcome to the Fellowship Phase of Chapter 1. This is where you can explain/RP your various AP/XP spends, as well as do your Fellowship Phase Action - 1 per person. Keep in mind its only a month long this time.

You can also plan your route, if you like here once everyone has told their story for the last month.

I will see about refreshing Hope and the like.
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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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Blubbo_Baggins
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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:25 pm

During their month preparing for departure, Telurin spends time first with the merchants they know. Some of them have helpful supplies and some do not. Some of the merchants even give some of the supplies to the Company or sell at a reduced price, out of gratefulness for their restored fortunes.

At first the Telurin trades for gear they might need in the mountains - ropes, picks, lanterns, torches. Many of these things they do not have, or when they do they are broken, rusted, or old... After their stocks have been carefully picked over, Nomrel points the Elf to the river's edge market.

It is there Telurin realizes that the Dunlendings will have a supply of things that these city folk never do, and that if he only procures what the Dunlendings highly prize, he should be able to trade favorably. So he takes all the gold he can muster, and over the course of the month he trades at the market, gaining valuable things made more easily in a city - leather, wax candles, silver rings, bracelets & collars, knives, steel axe heads, and more.
Going to the Market. My AP/XP spend will be more easily explained during the Adventure, BUT raising Courtesy is simply due to learning how to trade at the market, and later the Dunlendings.

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Muskrat
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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:50 pm

As they prepare to go find the lost dwarven colony, Halleth practices sparring with the others. They will most likely run into all manner of trouble and he wants to be sure that he can deal with it.
Improve Sword skill
Halleth also carefully observes how Aravule deals with people. As a vagabond who has spent much of his time alone in the wild, Halleth has never really mastered the art of dealing with people, even if that just means intimidating them. So he looks to his liege and tries to follow the example Aravule sets with his lordly bearing.
Improve Awe skill
Halleth also visits the Swanfleet Marsh north of Tharbad before going. He carefully makes his way through it, looking for the some of the valued herbs that grow among it.
Improve Search skill.
Fellowship Undertaking: Collect Marsh Herbs.

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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Wbweather » Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:23 pm

As the group makes preparations to leave Tharbad, Hartley does what he can to procure needed supplies for the journey. He spends many long days hunting in the fields and mashes around the Greyflood to gather meat to dry as jerky for the journey. While he has always been good with a bow, he begins to notice that his ability with the bow has improved dramatically. Whether this is just because of a previously untapped skill or just through hours of practice, he cannot say. It is apparent that he has a good aim and seldom misses his mark.
Gains the cultural virtue Fair Shot
One other thing he notices is that people have begun to respect him more. Folk in Tharbad still often confuse him for a human child, but they take him more seriously. Maybe it is the way he carries himself. He has more confidence than he once had. He recons to himself that after spending all this time with these high born men and elves, some of their noble nature has begun to rub off on him. He is still a merry soul, but that merriness is now more tempered with the hard realities of life that he has experience in this less civilized part of the world.
Awe increased to rank 2

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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by TetNak » Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:35 am

Aravule seems remiss to leave. He had built something here, as small and as simple as it was. Yet, with the circumstances as they were, Aravule knew departing was the correct thing to do for the time being. The expedition of the dwarfs would be dangerous, undoubtedly, and he spent time with those dwarfs that were not trained fighters in giving them some basic instruction, particularly those that had been with him for some time.

Otherwise, Aravule aided Telurin with gathering supplies, and keeping up his contacts in Tharbad such as the other Dunedain that they had made contact with. The ranger even offers his share of coin to the elf, hoping to increase their spoils for when they return in order to hire men, feed them, and retake Tharbad by force if need be.
"Kings have no friends, only subjects and enemies."

- King Stannis Baratheon, First of His Name

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Blubbo_Baggins
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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:05 pm

Telurin returns from the market with a huge haul. Having received investment from Hartley, Aravule, and Blain, as well as his own Treasure, the merchants had not been expecting such a large buyer of wares. "Well friends," says the Elf, "If these things do not return to us quite nicely, this will be my first and last commercial endeavour." Telurin winks, showing his confidence. "These things are, I expect, highly coveted by the Dunlendings, and I hope we shall not only get a good return, but perhaps open doors for receiving their future support."

He drops the talk of trade for the moment and looks at the rest of the company. "How have your preparations gone? When can we be on the road?"

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Boronind
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Book 1: Chapter 2 - Departure from Tharbad

Post by Boronind » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:03 pm

Bláin for his part spends most of his time with his fellow dwarves gathering supplies by pooling their financial resources, mostly Bláin's, in getting a decent caravan of good and ponies for the journey away from Tharbad.

When not trading, bartering, and buying, Bláin continue to engage in two activities: one, throwing his muscle into improving the compound as a way of improving his stamina and strength and two, wandering around and outside Tharbad, honing his skills for discerning where would be a good place to camp and reading the sign of the pending cruel weather. At one point he even has his fellow dwarves lead him blindfolded to some unknown part of the city or the marshlands and see if after taking it off, whether or not Bláin can find his way back home. All of this is done in preparation for the long and arduous journey ahead to find Fundin's colony.
raise Valour by 1 and add the virtue of Resillience; raise Search from 3 to 4

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