Book 3: Chapter 2 - Into the Cold North

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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This way!

Post by Vardaen » Mon Feb 24, 2020 9:34 pm

You run like wild foxes into the tunnels, racing to escape the mess of orcs and men from the chamber. Halleth leading as you retrace your steps back through tunnel and passage until he's about lost the markings you left. Then there is a shout from Essylt, "Halleth! This way!" the woman is standing behind a half open door, "Hurry!" You pile through the door and she and Hwalda slam it closed behind Telurin and slide a heavy bolt across it locking it. You are in a broken and half collapsed chamber that may once have been some sort of ossuary, but a blood stained stone table sit in the middle of the chamber. Three passages exit, one buried under rubble, but the other two offer escape into the maze of the passages under Carn Dum. You could seek back out the door, and hope to follow your markings risking the goblins and orcs, or you can explore one of the two other tunnels out of here that lead into shadow and fear.
For the time you have lost the goblins behind the door.
"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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This way!

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:11 pm

"Thank you, Essylt," says Telurin, dousing his lamp. "Perhaps this quest is not lost entirely. The orcs will be on the lookout for us, but we may yet have time to find Arphan and the captives."

He turns to the Hill-men, "Are you all safe; have no further enemies seen you?"

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This way!

Post by AndyDez » Tue Feb 25, 2020 10:14 am

After catching his breath Hugo resumes the watch near the closed and locked door, pressing his ear against it and intently listening for the sounds of any approach. "Quietly now everyone, we may have given them the slip for a moment!"

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In the Maze

Post by Vardaen » Tue Feb 25, 2020 4:57 pm

Freach shakes his head gazing down one of the dark tunnels, "There are no foes here, not right within reach of my torch light." He holds a torch, now the only light in the chamber with the silver lamp doused.

Hugo's keen ears hear the orcs screaming and searching. An armed party races past the door, a rough hand grabs the handle from the outside and tugs at it, but its locked, and the foe moves on with haste and more cursing and shouting as the noise of slender feet, goblins perhaps, race by.
"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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In the Maze

Post by Muskrat » Tue Feb 25, 2020 7:01 pm

Halleth says, "In for a penny, in for a pound. If we try going back that way, we'll likely just got caught up in a nasty fight. I say we keep exploring from here, marking our way again. Hopefully, by the time we come back this way, our pursuers will have dispersed. And hopefully they will assume we're trying to escape, rather than go deeper in," he finishes with a wry grin.

He turns to look at the two open passages, trying to discern any clues as to their frequency of use or their purpose.
Search 3 + Keen Eyed trait

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In the Maze

Post by Wbweather » Wed Feb 26, 2020 6:45 am

Hartley is ready to go find the missing children, now that it seems they have a second chance. "Let's perhaps be a bit more careful from here on out." It is meant to lighten the mood, but as he says it, he realizes that the joke is lost on the others.

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In the Maze

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Thu Feb 27, 2020 4:39 pm

"There will not be another chance," Telurin says in reply to Hartley. He begins urging the others forward, this time keeping the Hill-men in front of him and taking the rear. He would not let them simply run away if there was trouble; not that he'd force them into danger, only that if they split apart again, they might never find one another again.

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In the Maze - The Luck of the Valar

Post by Vardaen » Tue Mar 10, 2020 7:05 pm

Everyone steels themselves, you have been lucky so far, extremely lucky but you can't count on luck any more. Halleth picks a tunnel, hoping its the right one. You and your Hill Men allies proceed. It is a dark and winding passage, and after a time Telurin relights his lamp to give you a soothing blue light to travel by. Still Freach has a torch of his own held aloft.
You have joyfully entered into the maze, and I've had to roll to see where you end up. Halleth's Search/Keen Eyed I was going to give you a boost on... then you went and rolled a Gandalf!
You traverse the passages, up and down, through ancient chambers, some old prisons now devoid of prisoners save ancient bones. The smell in the passages starts to change. It has been dusty, dry, stale, but there is a new smell now that your hobbits notice first. Its moist, and musky, like wet dogs, or wolfhounds perhaps?

Sound comes to those keen eared, a gnashing and gnawing, like something chewing bone. A snarl here, and growl there. At the very edge of your light you xcan see a recessed archway along the passage, and slight movement before it.
"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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In the Maze - The Luck of the Valar

Post by Wbweather » Tue Mar 10, 2020 8:06 pm

Hartly whispers to the others, "Perhaps I might be able to slip up quietly and see what is going on up there. It certainly would be easier for a hobbit to slip ahead unnoticed than for this whole group."

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In the Maze - The Luck of the Valar

Post by Muskrat » Tue Mar 10, 2020 9:33 pm

Halleth nods and whispers, "Aye, go ahead. Call us if you get into trouble you can't get out of."

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