Prelude: Wool and Steel

[Grimbold]

These are bad times for Eriador. Orcs are becoming more numerous and ancient evils stir.
Yet in bad times prices go up, and there is some money to be made for a bold and enterprising young man.

This is the story of Traek, a merchant from Dunland. In this hot summer of 3010, he is walking north on the Greenway, the old, abandoned road leading north to Bree. The Greenway is little travelled nowadays and dangers lurk on every bend of the road. Traek leads his pack mule with an assortment of goods north on the road.

The mule is heavily laden with woolen cloaks from Dunland, some bottles of wine from Gondor, and - underneath - a dozen iron swords and daggers forged in Minas Tirith. He acquired those from a contact in Larach Duhnnan named Breca. The same man has been paying high prices for pipeweed from the Shire. Traek has been buying the weed from Brano, a Bree merchant and selling them to Breca in Dunland. Traek is going to sell the weapons to some "Rangers" who are in dire need of weapons (and the cloaks) and pay good prices. They are a secretive lot, though and do not want these transactions made public.

Although he has made this trip a dozen times, he knows that things change fast in the north and what might be a safe route in one year might be infested with bandits the next. These are his thoughts as he walks north, nearing the ruined town of Tharbad, hoping that the bridge over the Gwathla has not yet collapsed. It is late afternoon and he can see the town in the distance.

Display

Welcome TetNak to the game! This thread is for Traek and only Traek. Enjoy!

[TetNak]

Sweat drips down the brow of Traek. His coarse hair is as wet as his face, and the clothes on his body. He leads the mule along, wishing badly he would have brought one of his horses. Traek's dark eyes shift about, looking out for anything, bandits particularly. Most Dunlendings have no been this far outside of Dunland, or outside at all, actually. The merchant was considered strange, but what Dunlendings think of him is hardly of any concern. Coin is the chief concern for this man, regardless of nationality. He had never sold anything to any Forgoils, or the Horselords, because that could get him killed quickly. The Rohirrim were as likely to just kill him upon sight, and Dunlendings would definitely string him up if they found out he was associated with their hated enemy. Better just leave all that alone. In the North, Dunlendings cared less, far less. Even still, he keeps much of his doings to Bree, or at least that is what his countrymen think.

"Tharbad," Traek mutters to himself in Westron. He typically does not speak Dunlending unless in Dunland itself. He sigh heavily and pulls the mule behind him as he continues on his way. He wants to get past the dilapidated city before nightfall ..

[Grimbold]

As Traek gets closer, he can see the smoke of the odd fire, nothing unusual in these times. Some refugees have propably taken shelter in the ruined buildings. He makes his way down towards the river, driving the mule along to get to the city before nightfall.

When he passes the outer walls through the smashed south gate, he looks at the fallen city walls and ivy covered buildings and suddenly feels a bit sad. He knows that Tharbad was left once and for all just a hundred years ago, and signs of the great flood still can be seen in the ruins: Walls and roofs shoved out of place by the masses of water. Some of the buildings even have an intact upper floor, though.
Now all kinds of plants grow among the ruins.
He makes his way through the rubble and can see the River Gate in the distance.

Display

Some players do not like it if I write about what they are feeling. I just thought this is appropriate in this context. Tell me if you prefer me to limit this.

[TetNak]

Traek decides that it might be safest to pass during the day. In fact, he knows that to be true, but perhaps he could get through during the night. He considers it, sneaking a bit closer to see what he can along the River Gate. He may still try to camp here, instead of pushing through what is sure to be a bandit filled ruin, and merchants and bandits do not typically get along very well ..

[Grimbold]

Traek sneaks a bit closer, passing through the ruined streets. The main street is filled with rubble and vines, but he can quietly make his way on. In the distance, near the bridge, he can see a large fire and he hears grim voices, not all of them human!

Tharbad

Traek has been here several times before, the last time about 11 months ago. He knows the basic layout of the ruins. This image shows Tharbad as it was before. Just imagine everythign ruined and the parts near the river flooded.

[TetNak]

"Goblins," Traek grunts to himself, expecting the worst. The last thing he wants to do is get eaten. He considers another way around, because Fording the Gwathlo here does not seem an option if the creatures are guarding the bridge and looking for dinner. The Dunlending considers trying to find a low spot in the river and just cross himself ...

[Grimbold]

Traek knows that crossing the Gwathlo here is the easiest option if the bridge is unguarded. Tharbad was built at the best ford for miles. In the north are the marshes of the Nîn-in-Eilph and the river is far wider and deeper in the south as the Glanduin meets the main river just north of Tharbad. Another option would be to go north on the eastern side of the river and cross it much further north, but that would cost weeks at best.
Traek knows that goblins (if these are indeed goblins) do not like sunlight. Perhaps the creatures will stay somewhere else during the day?

Regional map

Look for Tharbad at the bottom middle. Traek knows the region a bit.

[TetNak]

Traek sighs, turning his mule around and heading down the road a ways. The merchant tries to find somewhere that he and his mule are not very visible. He can wait until the morning. There is no other option unless he wants to see Bree any time soon. He grunts, also knowing no fire will be sparked tonight and his sleep will be anything but restful.

Action

Go back and try to make camp

[Grimbold]

The ruins offer good cover and hiding places. Traek's gaze sweeps from the ruins to a patch of forest about a mile down the road, trying to decide where to hide.

[TetNak]

Traek leads his pony toward the woods. He keeps an eye out knowing that there could be goblins here just as easily as in Tharbad.