Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

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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Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Vardaen » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:01 pm

Image It came to pass that in the middle of the Third Age Durin was again its king, being the sixth of that name. The power of Sauron, servant of Morgoth, was then again growing in the world, though the Shadow in the Forest that looked towards Moria was not yet known for what it was. All evil things were stirring. The Dwarves delved deep at that time, seeking beneath Barazinbar for mithril, the metal beyond price that was becoming yearly ever harder to win. Thus they roused from sleep a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: a Balrog of Morgoth. Durin was slain by it, and the year after Náin I, his son; and then the glory of Moria passed, and its people were destroyed or fled far away.

The Return of the King, appendix A, III, "Durin's Folk."

A black darkness loomed beyond, and in it glinted, here and there, cold, sharp, remote, white as the teeth of ghosts, the peaks of Ered Nimrais, the White Mountains of the Realm of Gondor, tipped with everlasting snow.

TTT, Book IV, Ch 6 TheForbidden Pool

July 2nd, 2957, Forty Days Since Isengard

It has been over a month since you left Isengard, and Aravule, behind. The trip south has taken its toll, but at last you found what you were looking for -- the doors to Fundin's Lost Colony of Dwarves. Along the way you've picked up a few guides, faced more than a few fights, and even met some of the strange Druedain that call the White Mountain home.

The great door, guarded at all times by the Woses, has just closed behind you. The Chieftain of those people has kept the door sealed for decades against a great Shadow that lives down below. That is exactly where you have decided to go! Into the pit itself, the dangers and darkness could be your end, but you set out to find this place and the mystery behind it.

A few torches flicker in the darkness, showing a passage, carved by the hands of dwarves that tunnels straight into the mountain. A terrible feeling of dread is in the air, it pushes down on you, it threatens to put your torches out which now seem like meager attempts as light.

The stone and the darkness are your only clue to what's happened Fundin.

From the outside
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Welcome to Book 2! We continue on into the darkness. You guys are full on Endurance, but not things like Hope or Fellowship Points. Lets see what we can find!
"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 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Muskrat » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:18 pm

Halleth looks at the dwarves and says, "It was your kin that made this city under the mountain. Do you have any sense of how it might be laid out? I'd rather explore with some sense of where we're going than wandering aimlessly. Though I suppose we could just make enough noise and eventually the wraiths we're hunting will find us easily enough. But it might be best if we could gather more clues as to what happened to them. Finding someplace where the leaders of the colony might have kept records would probably be our best bet."

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Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Wbweather » Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:43 am

As the door closes behind them, Hartley fights down a brief panic as he has a sense that he has been cut off from the world of the living. Any show of boldness he had made stepping through the door seemed to fade away with the light. He was sealed in a tomb. Then he thought of his pony Nobs. He hoped whoever was tending him was treating him kindly. What if he never made it back? What would happen to Nobs. He began to dispair, but then suddenly there was a shift within himself. It was subtle at first, but he felt a steadily growing resolve. He would return from this dark place, he would see his Nobs again, and oh the stories he would tell back at the Pony. No one would believe a word of it, but they would gather around to hear them told.

"Time to pull yourself together, Mr. Sandheaver", he told himself."You signed on to this adventure and you are going to see it through to the end. People are counting on you and you aren't going to let them down."

With a new resolve, he straightened himself up and with the best smile he could muster, he said to the dwarf, "Well Mister Blain. It is a fine place your grandfather built. Care to show us around?"

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Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Thu Oct 05, 2017 2:55 pm

"Yes, that's a good idea," adds Telurin. "Show us the way to the comforts of the Dwarves, Blain. I'm sure there is a hall with warm fires, ale, and all the records we need to look at right?" He says with a smile.

Inside though, he wondered if Elrond would have counseled him against coming here. As committed as he had felt to completing this task, even with the approval of Saruman the Wise, he started to feel that the reason Imladris had lasted so long is because its Master did not enter into foolish errands, no matter how compelling they might be.

He took comfort that they were not wholly dependent on the torches for light. His lamp and the light therein would help them find the way out again.

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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by HunterGreen » Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:03 pm

It was only after the door slammed shut behind them that the full enormity of the situation closed in on Dŵrgi. She had never even been underground before. She'd become accustomed to being indoors, somewhat, while within the tower of Orthanc, but even there, she'd often snuck back outside to sleep under one of the great oaks within the Circle. But even the darkest chambers in the center of the tower were nothing like this. The darkness seemed undaunted by mere torches. And the stone above her head... She reasoned how, while at the ground floor of Orthanc, much more hung in the air above her than right now, and her heart stayed unconvinced. This was unnatural. Wrong. Only an hour ago she had yet to see these dwarves and here she was, joining them in their tomb. Without meaning to she found herself watching Dubhthach as if he might know the secret of pretending this was tolerable, natural, and she could emulate it. "Wh-what are the records we seek?" Her voice only shook for a moment before pride put steel in it.
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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Seosaidh » Thu Oct 05, 2017 11:49 pm

Dubhthach also struggles being underground. Like Dwrgi, he hasn't been in tunnels very often, and his heart quails in the darkness. However, Dubhthach is no stranger to fear, nor to quenching it. Steeling his face, he does not yet trust his voice to answer Dwrgi's question. Besides, he was never quite as interested in the records as he was in serving Saruman and helping the ecletic group to which he was attached. So he leaves the response to those who know more of the matter, trusting that as long as he doesn't speak, he won't betray his fear.
“Do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know.” ~ Celeborn, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Muskrat » Fri Oct 06, 2017 12:08 am

Halleth seems unphased by being enclosed under the Mountain--but he had explored in many dark places looking for Numenorean artifacts and had always figured he'd come to an unpleasant end. He steps forward, holding up his torch, trying to get a better view of the abandoned underground city before them. In response to Dwrgi's question, he says, "In many settlements of dwarves, elves and men of Numenorean blood, it is someone's duty to keep a record of all that is important that happens. If we can find such records, we may learn much. Even if there is not such a record, once the settlers here realized their lives were in danger, they may have tried to record what was happening as an aid or warning to any who might come after them." In a grimly humorous tone, he adds, "That would be us."

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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by HunterGreen » Fri Oct 06, 2017 12:13 am

Though it's clear from her expression that Dŵrgi finds the idea of written records dubious, she simply nods. After all, she muses, she can hardly read signs in the wind or tracks in the mud.... Or can she? Leaning against her spear, she crouches near anyone with a torch or lantern, and studies the floor, drawing a hand through the dust there. "Might I have a torch for a moment?" she asks, creeping towards the head of the group and holding up one hand as if expecting a torch to be placed in it.
Might be unlikely that there'd be anything to find, but perhaps there are tracks in the dust that could reveal if anyone else has been here recently -- or reveal that no one has. I'm aiming to invoke my Tracking trait to get a try at finding anything of the sort, if there is anything to find.
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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Boronind » Fri Oct 06, 2017 1:29 pm

Earlier, outside, when everybody was preparing, a sleek black raven had alighted, some distance from the group, eating some meal that had mysteriously emerged from their supplies. The companions did not notice as they would have thought the bird part of the Chieftan's retinue. Even as they passed through the door, the raven hopped undetected beneath their feet, pecking at a trail of meal, except the dwarves who saw but said nothing as they silently processed as one into the darkness.

While the talk of "What to do next?" discussion ensues, the raven, hitherto fore unnoticed suddenly appears on Bláin's shoulders and gives a loud squawk. Bláin clears his throat as if to make an announcement. "My fellows, meet Körbl, a Raven of the Mountains. We dwarves of the Kingdom Under the Mountain bonded with his kin since as far back as memory records. They have been our eyes and carriers of messages in the outside world and in return we have given them shiny trinkets and gems which they use to adorn their rookeries with on what has come to be known as Ravenhill. I summoned Körbl earlier to see if he would be our eyes in this most dismal and dreadful of places. I did not make his presence know until now because I want him to decide when to reveal himself--I wanted him to hear what was at stake in what we are attempting. Since he is, like all his kind, noble and of good heart, I may be able to persuade him to explore these halls in search of a hall of records that may aid us in knowing the doom of Funduin's colony, without being detected. He may also be able to warn us in advance of any impending danger we might encounter. Though given the palpable horror of this place hey might decline my request."

Bláin turns to Körbl, feeding him a bit of dried meat from his hand, and whispers to the bird. in what is obviously Westron. When he is done speaking to the raven, he cocks his head and waits for the response.
Courtesy 1, spend Hope if necessary

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Re: Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

Post by Vardaen » Fri Oct 06, 2017 4:14 pm

Courtesy 1
Rolled:
Feat Die: 7*
Success Die: 5
Totaling: 12 + Hope 4 = 16 Success
Blain explains the appearance of the Raven, even as Dwrgi kneels with a torch and searches the dust and debris. The Dwarf spears to the raven, treating with him, and giving him a treat. He seems upset at the birds attitude and movement, but he promises him a bit more, and then Körbl squawks and takes flight flapping off down the passage into the darkness. It seems he's accepted Blain's offer.

The other dwarves shift from side to side, they hold weapons and torches in hand, and its Oxdis that first moves off before the company a bit to inspect the walls. The oppressive fear is pushed back with the desire of the dwarves to explore and to see what they can find here.

"I still can't believe its actually here."

"Or that we are here."

"What are we waiting for?"

They move along heedless of the dangers and begin to pick among the rubble, inspect the walls, and generally move forward looking and searching and exploring the entrance area. The area is narrow, a single tunnel that drives straight into the mountain. You could fit a wagon or a cart down the passage, and the floor is smooth and carved, but pitted with debris and crumbling ceiling and dust and cob webs. It goes like this for a bit to the edge of your torch light where you then see a few door arches on either side of the passage.
"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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