Chapter 2: Book 1 - Hills of Dunland Travel Thread

[Boronind]

I have an idea that is, as is my custom, a "day late, a dollar short, and out of breath," that I needed to check out w/ V before attempting it. I've been negligent in making good use of my starting Virtue, Ravens of the Mountains. I used Körbl only once very early on and have now regretting using him since. I would like to see if it is possible/permissible to use him now beyond the door. I realize that I didn't think about using Körbl sooner, and that birds probably don't do well/like being underground, but I'd like to use him to aid us in not *DYING*--which may not be avoidable--if I can.

So V what do you think? Is there a way to make it work or is it too much of a stretch? Anybody else can chime in as well.

BTW, @HunterGreen, thank for the RP bio. I could tell that your were a RP lifer from the skill you've exhibited so far. Feel free to offer me suggestions as I am not as experienced as you nor as eloquent.

[Vardaen]

How do you plan to use him? Explain your idea and we can go from there.

[Boronind]

Right. As the TOR manual writes the Raven can be used to "Investigate: the raven can be sent to gather information on a specific subject. It must be something naturally accessible to one of its kind." (p. 108) Though this is not outdoors I'm guessing the raven can still fly and hop in the underground. Basically I would be asking him to help carry out what Halleth and the others suggestion Blain can/should do: Use his knowledge of dwarven architecture and design to help find a place where records might be kept, following the future example of what Blain's father, Balin, ends up the Chamber of Marzabul. Körbl could do this and upon his return we could either have him squawk it out in Common Tongue (as indicated in the manual) or continue w/ the practice of pecking it out on the tablet (that I invented as an RP while back)--either way is fine, especially since the former is supported by the lore.

Another wrinkle is this: "Usually, the raven is eager to please you, but an unusual or less than reasonable request might put their faithfulness to the test and require a Courtesy roll against a TN of 14." I'm guessing such a request would fall into this category and Blain has only a Courtesy of 1, though I would spend Hope if needed.

In trying to figure out how to best answer this I found a really interesting analysis/speculating on the dwarves relationship w/ these exceptional birds: (http://www.theonering.net/torwp/the-hob ... ters/roac/) Even if Körbl won't go, to have him say something ominous/prophetic like "“The treasure is likely to be your death, though the dragon is no more.” would be really cool.

A really gorgeous drawing: http://aminoapps.com/page/lotr/3995163/ravens

[Vardaen]

Well, getting him to fly around down here is possible, its not like he can't fly around, but talking him into it will have to happen since the place is so obviously malicious and full of Shadow.

[Wbweather]

Hartley bumps the edge of the well, knocking a loose stone free and sending it careening into the dark abyss below. The group listens in silence as the stone ricochets off the walls of the well. They strain their ears for the sound of a distant splash, but none comes. Instead, after a few anxious minutes, they hear what sounds like the beat of a large drum. Then another. Then a constant rhythmic drumming that rises from the opening and fills the room with a pounding threat of doom. They race for the door, but it is sealed tight. Banging their fists, they soon realize that the Woses either cannot hear their pleas or else decide that they are lost to whatever evil lies within. It is not long before it comes, drawn to the scent of their warm blood. The last thing the hobbit sees are glowing eyes of red flame.

The end.

[Blubbo_Baggins]

"Fool of a Sandheaver!"

[Vardaen]

So who's up for a new game now that Hartely has killed you all?

[HunterGreen]

I get to play the ninja.

[Vardaen]

Far Easterling Campaign!

[Muskrat]

I want to play a sociopathic blood-drinking elf.