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.

Run by the Loremaster Vardaen
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Blubbo_Baggins
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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Tue Jun 22, 2021 7:57 pm

Is this a private conversation between Halleth and Essylt? Just wanting to know if the other PCs are doing other things or if Hartley and Telurin are in on it.

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Muskrat » Wed Jun 23, 2021 7:39 pm

Halleth certainly has no objections to the others sitting in.

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:27 pm

Telurin whispers to Halleth, "I'm not sure she means what you think. At least, I have heard such alliances sealed with marriage; you might want to ask more questions, lest you agree to something whose implications are far more than you imagined."

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jun 24, 2021 7:08 pm

Halleth gives Telurin a startled look, but then nods. Her turns back to Essylt. "What are your people's customs around forming such alliances? What would be your expectations from the Dunedain? I want to make sure there's no misunderstandings. And feel free to pick my brain about the Dunedain."

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Wbweather » Fri Jul 09, 2021 8:07 pm

Hartley remembered little of the flight from Carn Dum. What he did recall seemed like overlapping scenes from some fevered dream. Always, orcs were chasing. He could feel them biting him, but wait, no, that was his wound burning with pain. Then there was the cold. He could not get warm. And he was always carried around like a sack of potatoes, at least that’s how he felt. It was several days before he once again began to regain some strength. Then his thoughts began to take a more rational shape. He was still too weary to walk on his own more than a few steps. He was remarkably hungry and there never seemed to be enough food to go around. He seemed to relate well to the children, who seemed intimidated by the larger members of their company. He knew it was his small stature that made him less threatening to them. He would sit and tell them stories at night and sing them funny songs he remembered from his childhood when they stopped to rest. Slowly, he was getting back to a sense of normalcy.
So, not sure what your thoughts were about Hartley’s recovery or how serious his wounds were. Also, I was on vacation and got behind a bit.

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Vardaen » Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:30 pm

Hahahha, got behind a bit, have you noticed my posting speed? No issue here. Its pretty serious wound, isn't going to heal here in these blighted lands of the frozen north.
Essylt sits a long time looking into the flames of the fire before replying to Halleth. "The traditions of my people are flawed and broken. Our customs give away women to men who win battles. They sell their children to the darkness. They make pacts with wolves and sorcerers. " She looks up from the flames, "Our traditions need to be remade and I shall remake them." The fire is reflected in her eyes, but you see there is more than just the image of flame dancing on her orbs, there is a fire deep inside her fueled by Sympathy, Sacrifice, Courage, Zeal, and Will put there by your examples shown to her. "Let us first leave these dark and cold places and find new hope in the light and the warmth of our lands, and then we shall make new traditions, better traditions and the people of the north, all people of the north might have a happier life of it."

A keen eye, Telurin's and Hwalda's, notices there is a look of admiration in her eye as well when she looks at Halleth, but her affections end there (though once perhaps there was more).

Hartley breaks the conversation by a loud moan and a fitful shiver in the cold, even next to the fire.

Freach stands, "It is enough talk for now. We must be going, there is a long road home. Come, we leave as soon as able." The man has come into his own, and he sets the other Hill-men to packing what meager supplies you have, and dousing the fires and making the children ready to march. Once ready he leads the way out of the valley and south away from Carn Dum and the cold dark north.
"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 Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:05 pm

Halleth grins and nods at Essylt. "As I said, you will make a far better leader of your people than any of your men."

He nods at Freach's words and, rising, says, "You are right as well, my ally. And many here will not truly recover until we make it to warmer lands, even if we could hide from the orcs and wargs and other unholy creatures indefinitely."

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Wbweather » Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:53 am

Hartley shivers in the cold and then is lost in dark dreams.

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The Red Valley: Dungeons Behind, Wilds Ahead

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Sat Jul 24, 2021 9:28 pm

"Though we are far from safe lands, to have come out of that place alive, and with many others, I consider it most unlikely result, and am thankful," he says to Essylt and Freach.

Telurin begins packing camp and seeing that the weakest are tended to and ready to depart, before he discusses how they will take turns carrying Hartley with Halleth and the Hill-men.

"At least it was a halfling, and not one of the men," he thinks to himself. "Hartley is not some small child, but I can't imagine trying to carry Freach out of here."

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A Fateful Meeting

Post by Vardaen » Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:13 pm

The company's way home is long and perilous and along the way a great sorrow strikes. Two of the rescued children perish from the cold and their maltreatment at the hands of the orcs. Worse yet is the health of Hugo the Hobbit. His wounds were festering and infected, and even the skills of the Rangers and Elves and North-men were not enough to save him. The three small victims are buried in rock cairns in a hidden place in a shallow valley just as the snow began to let up. It is a somber trip after that. There is no talk of victory or success, only of loss and the ever danger of the orcs behind. The small miracle that you are not tacked and found lies in the skills of your hunters and perhaps in a bit of fate.

You reach a point where the weather turns and the cold white snow is behind, and the browns of warmer lands are before you. You have come to a point where you debate your next move. East is the way Eysslt will take her peoples, but there is nothing there for you, and south is home for many of you. That is when fate once more intervenes for one day you spy a tall figure in the distance moving toward you from the south. There is no doubt that it is no orc, it is too fair in its movements. Then from among a rocky outcrop it emerges.

The tall cloaked figure emerges suddenly from the rocky stair. The stranger removes his hood, revealing golden hair and fair features. He is one of the Elven-folk! “Well met, wanderers. I have come from the house of Elrond over many dangerous leagues looking for you, even though I didn’t know you before this day. Several days ago a sad remembrance was stirred in my heart, and I left my home to find out the answer to this riddle.”

Those who have been to Rivendell know him as none other than Glorfindel.

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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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