12-31-2019, 02:52 PM
So after taking a meal with the merchants, the heroes set off again to where the elves have been attacked.
How is the landscape there?
Yieldingly / Disagreeable
For me that conjures the image of a rocky mountainside with lots of small brooks, lots of loose rubble and sparse fir trees, digging deep into the stone to hold fast against the unpleasant wind whipping over the harsh landscape. Why was the hunting party there?
Harm / Good
They wanted to investigate why some of the brooks are no longer carrying clear fresh water - instead, the water was now harming the animals in the hunting grounds further down. Did the elves mention that fact?
(50/50) No
It seems they were too angry about the bandits - Eriathorn probably thought they went there just to check that everything was in order, like he would have done.
Does Galwenion feel a change in the air? He is not the most attuned of elves, but this is his homeland. I am never quite sure what to roll for these tests, so I am going with different things for each character and situation. Galwenion would probably tap into his healing powers, feeling the sickness, so I’ll go with healing (+7) against TN 15.
13 = 5[d6]+1[d6]+7
There is something just outside his grasp that bothers him, but he cannot say what it is. Eriathorn has weather-Sense, which in Middle-Earth probably means that he can also pick up on strange things in the air (it makes the skill more useful, too), at +6.
12 = 2[d6]+4[d6]+6
While he can’t really feel anything wrong, he is not exactly sure that everything is fine either. Naturally cautious, he is on his guard anyway, even more so, when he notices that Galwenion looks around several times, a faint frown on his face. Theolin is neither particularly sensitive nor well acquainted with the landscape, so he will take his clues from Eriathorn, clutch his spear and shield more firmly and move to Melea’s other side. The landscape, with all that loose rubble, gets harder and harder for Nightfirn to safely navigate, so when it becomes clear that this will not change any time soon, he advises to stop and leave the horses in a safe spot, rather than risk them breaking their legs. The others agree - that is the one area where Theolin is the undoubted expert, and he would never be parted from Nightfirn if he did not think that having the horses around would be more of a hindrance than help. Eriathorn scouts for a save spot to leave them, this time with Theolin helping - the horseman wants to make sure that the spot is not only safe, but comfortable and hat the horses have a way to get back should their riders not return.
Eriathorn is good enough and knows the land, so I will take an automatic success - he finds a nice enough spot for the horses that meets Theolin’s standards, but there is nothing special about it. Nightfirn is trained for these situations, Galwenion can communicate with the other mounts, so their bridles are taken off and they are left to their own devices.
Melea meanwhile has had time to notice something - while she is not attuned to the land, she is attuned to magic and can sense power. As she is not actively casting a spell, I will go with insight (+7) though, and give her +2 affinity bonus for her magical powers.
16 = 2[d6]+5[d6]+9
Intuitively, she feels that things are not as they should be - the forces of nature are disturbed, and it seems to become worse where they are heading. After a moment of indecision, she touches Eriathorn’s arm and quietly tells him: “Let us be careful - something here is not right, and I think it is coming from where we are headed. I cannot tell what it is, but ... there seems to be something foul in the air.” The ranger is set to press her with questions - while he has gotten used to Melea’s strange flashes of intuition, he is also rather suspicious of them - but Galwenion stops him before he can speak, confessing: “I can feel it as well, though I was not sure before.” Theolin just shrugs and grumbles: “Well, whatever this foul thing is, it certainly has chosen the right landscape to be foul in. In all my life I have never seen a terrain less suited to moving over it.” Galwenion, amused despite his feelings, points out that oceans are usually considered even more of an obstacle, but Theolin counters that it is easy to build a boat, but nobody has devised anything to easily navigate rubble yet, and no, dwarves simply tunnelling under it do not count.
The two enter into a friendly squabble while Eriathorn moves up ahead, now fully on guard, trying to find any clue about what happened here while keeping an eye out for an ambush. Melea is quietly sticking with the two others, wishing she could help more and once again troubled by the things she still has not confessed to Eriathorn.
Is there an ambush waiting for them?
(Unlikely) No
Is there anything else of interest before they reach the place of attack?
(50/50) No
What is there to find at the place of attack?
Usurp / Magic
Is something perverting the natural magic of the water?
(Likely) Yes
What is it?
Break / Love
In contrast
Is it a body of somebody the sorcerer loved, but has now killed?
(Likely) Yes, and...
Carelessness / Travel
So the victim had travelled somewhere without the sorcerer’s explicit permission, perhaps talked a bit carelessly on the way, and when he got home, the sorcerer killed him in a fit of rage for that. So has perhaps somebody seen this person before?
(50/50) No +Event: Release / Legal matters
It seems not, but the person was away to deal with some legal matters, so perhaps there are some clues to that?
(Likely) Yes +Event: Communicate / Weather
The first thing Eriathorn actually spots are some papers that are tumbling in the wind, getting caught on stones and firs, then being swept on.
How fast does he spot them (Observe +6, +1 for wilderness, TN 10)?
12 = 2[d6]+3[d6]+7
The ranger spots them quickly enough, but not before they are already past an excellent spot to catch them. With a quick shout to his friends to stay put, he dashes after them.
He will have to run to get them (+5, +1 for wilderness) over rather challenging terrain (TN 15).
16 = 5[d6]+5[d6]+6
With a quick sprint that sends lots of rubble down into the valley, Eriathorn dashes after the papers and catches them the moment they eat tangled in another fir. The others are quite startled by this sudden and unexplained activity, and Theolin and Galwenion wipe out their weapons, ready for an attack, but settle down again when they see the ranger returning more calmly with some wet, crumpled papers in his hand. Spreading them out over some of the larger stones, they try to read them - Melea has already taken out her notebook and her small magnifying lense she uses to read very cramped script.
What’s in the papers?
Pursue / Competition
It seems our jealous sorcerer has started some legal proceedings to either harm or take something away from someone he sees as his competitor.
Release / Goals
Does it concern some kind of inheritance?
(50/50) No +Event: Haggle / Investment
Okay, so he seems to have been in business with somebody, and now he wants the other person out at presumably unfavourable terms to the other investor. Who is this other investor?
Shrewd and friendly expert who is as strong as you and whose motivation is to administer ghosts and is focused on your community.
It must be some sort of magical goal they had in mind, since the other is, if not a magical, at least interested in ghosts. I think they both formed a partnership to explore a place where ghosts are - probably a tomb or another ruined tower?
Majestically / Ancient
That sounds like one of the old fortresses of the second age - majestic even in ruins. It is probably rather inaccessible, though. Is it in the Midgewater Marshes?
(Likely) Yes, but...
Miserably / Smelly
[i]It is in the most miserable and smelly part, where nobody ever goes and even Eriathorn’s knowledge of the region fails. The other investor was likely the financier of the expedition.
Melea makes a note of all the information in the papers, then carefully folds them between dried leaves to preserve them. Meanwhile Eriathorn, gauging where the papers must have come from, sets out again to investigate.
I will have one drill down a bit more to find out that actually happened.
Did the bandits come up here simply to drop the body?
(Likely) Yes
Was the foul water caused by Frell’s body, then, who must have been murdered and disposed of some weeks prior?
(Likely) Yes
Are the bandits just dropping the bodies?
(50/50) Yes, but...
They are dropping them into a ravine - nearly as good as burying them. I imagine this is just under the lower end of a glacier, so they probably went up a bit further and dropped the bodies into the first fissure in the glacier proper - quite a good hiding place, actually, and probably their version of being respectful to the dead. Did they get rid of their current body before they met the elves?
(50/50) Yes, and...
Mistrust / Pain
To put it differently
They were quite glad about it - after all, he had been the favourite and they had occasionally suffered for it, so they were not unhappy that he is no longer around, but on the other hand, it was a vivid reminder of how unstable their master could be. They must have fleeced him before dropping him in, but discarded the papers as unimportant or they were told to bury the papers with him, but were careless. Was he the same as this other investor?
(50/50) No, but...
Decrease / Goals
He too was part of the consortium - probably not completely on the side of the sorcerer in all things either. Was the whole expedition a sham to get money?
(50/50) No +Event: Spy / Joy
No, there really is this place, and something is there that the sorcerer has seen there that he greatly wants. Back to our group of heroes:
Following Eriathorn, they carefully climb further towards the glacier. It is heavy going and especially Melea will have a difficult time, but she is stubborn and Theolin will always end when needed, so they will manage to get to the place where the hunting party was attacked without any further incidents. There they rest a moment while Eriathorn reads the signs, trying to track the way of the bandits directly from here.
( Tracking +8, +1 for wilderness, TN 10 for where the bandits went to (blood trail) and 15 for where they came from)
16 = 6[d6]+1[d6]+9
Eriathorn easily picks up the blood trail some wounded bandits left behind after the encounter - the elves on their horses had obviously decided to retreat instead of fighting an uphill battle in unfavourable terrain. But after some careful searching, the ranger also can discern where the bandits have come from. Motioning for his comrades to close up again, he tells them of his findings. As the trail the bandits have left on is comparatively simple to follow, Eriathorn suggests to first see where they have come from and what their business had been - more climbing up that hill, but nobody protests. Up here it starts to get very chilly, especially in the wind, and Theolin and especially Melea huddle into their cloaks, but Eriathorn sets them a pace that will soon warm them up again. Galwenion as usual looks completely oblivious to the harsh conditions. The closer they get to the foot of the glacier, the more uneasy Melea becomes, looking around as if expecting something to happen. The others pick up on that and grip their weapons more firmly, although Eriathorn tells her harshly to watch her footing.
Once they reach the actual glacier, the tracks become quite clear, but crossing the glacier is dangerous and exhausting. To see how well the heroes do, I would call for a strength roll against TN 15. They have a rating of 10, 8, 12 and 4 respectively.
20 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+10
I remembered that Galwenion actually walks on the snow, so I'll give him +5 - it is far easier if you do not have to pull your legs free all the time - and take the automatic success. Using his advantage, he will run up ahead anyway to keep a lookout, so helping the others is not an option for him anyway.
18 = 3[d6]+3[d6]+12
8 = 2[d6]+2[d6]+4
As expected, the tall Rohirrim has few problems navigating the snow, despite the fact that his weight makes him sink in up to his thighs. Eriathorn has even less trouble, easily moving about without seeming to tire at all. But poor Melea, who sometimes is up to her waist in the cold stuff and has to scramble more often than not, is soon exhausted. Eriathorn notices and lends a hand, but even that is not enough to keep her going for much longer. Deciding that he is pretty useless up here anyway, unless there will be a fight, Theolin offers himself as a packhorse - he will be slow, but with his spear to help him, he is reasonably certain that he can manage.
15 = 1[d6]+2[d6]+12
I think this is the point where I will use his special ability Favour of Fortune, which allows him one reroll per gaming session (Solo, I usually interpret that as per act).
20 = 6[d6]+2[d6]+12
It is not as easy as he had hoped, but Theolin manages even with the added burden of Melea clinging to his back. After half an hour, they reach the large fissure in the snow - fortunately Galwenion has already scouted and warned them of similar ones, so they reach it safely.
Is the fissure deeper than they can easily climb?
(Likely) Yes
Is the fissure deeper than they can climb with the help of their rope?
(Somewhat Likely) Yes
Is it at all possible to climb this thing?
(50/50) Yes, and...
Vengeance / Good
They have a much easier time of it than the bandits - at least one of them. Further up, Galwenion finds a spot where the edge has crumbled - a gentle slope impossible to walk on for anybody but an elf, but no challenge at all for him. They quickly discuss what to do, but there is not much alternative to Galwenion going down alone. Borrowing the spear off Theolin and handing his own bow to Eriathorn, the elf light-footedly sets out. As he progresses deeper into the fissure, the others (apart from Melea, who has stayed where the tracks ended, both to mark the spot and to leave Theolin free to move) follow on top.
Can they keep sight of the elf?
(50/50) Yes
They have to stay clear of the edge - after all, it would not do to make it crumble and bury their friend, but Theolin is tall and the fissure wide enough that he can keep an eye on Galwenion's progress. A wary Eriathorn has put an arrow to the elvish bow in his hand and keeps an eye out for danger - neither Theolin nor Melea have enough experience in these surroundings to be reliable lookouts. Not that Theolin is known for his powers of observation anyway, and Melea's lips are slowly turning blue. She has taken to leaning over the edge, though - her slight stature for once an asset - and calling out directions to the elf below.
Can Galwenion reach the point without significant problems?
(Unlikely) No, and...
Carelessness / Rumour
When the soft snow from the crumbled edge runs out, Galwenion has to dance from one foothold to the next - sometimes sucking in his belly to get through narrow points. They also realise that the sidewalls amplifies, distorts and reflects sounds to a degree that makes it nearly impossible to communicate with their friend, once he is deep in the fissure.
Can Galwenion get through with his leather armour?
(50/50) No, and...
Divide / The public
After trying in vain to get through a particularly tight spot, the elf comes back to the top and rather scandalises poor Melea by divesting himself of nearly all his clothing, only keeping his underwear, his knife and a pouch - even Eriathorn, who knows quite well that the elf is immune to the cold, argues that he should protect himself against sharp edges, Melea is blushing and not daring to say anything, while Theolin agrees with Eriathorn, but points out that the man undertaking the risk should be the one to decide what to wear for it. "Besides, he seems to be doing rather a good deed already by warming Melea up again!", as the horseman slyly points out, making the girl blush even more fiercely and quickly look away.
Once again Galwenion makes his way down to the tight spot. He has Acrobatics +5 (also a speciality and a host of bonuses for balancing, so I did not even bother to roll for that part) and without any hindrance by armour and gear, the TN should be a doable 10.
13 = 3[d6]+5[d6]+5
Sucking in his belly and contorting his head sideways, the elf squeezes through, only suffering a few minor scratches. The sight that greeds him is not a nice one.
Are there more than two bodies?
(50/50) No, and...
Is one of them still alive?
(50/50) No
So it is only one body here - they must have disposed of Frell in another spot. What can Galwenion tell about the corpse (Healing +7, TN 10)?
20 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+10
That is a superior success - after carefully examining the man and going through what's left of his clothing, the healer has a pretty good opinion of what has happened to the poor sod, but he also has found some clues as to who he was. How did he die?
Loyally / Poor
There are no fightmarks on him, but fingerprints around his throat - it seems he did not see the danger or chose not to defend himself until it was to late. The strangulation marks are too faint and clearly defined, however, to explain the death alone. The sunken eyes, skin that looks as if the man had already been three weeks dead, the feeling of ... absence - the elf shudders. If what he suspects is true, his murderer stole the life-force of this man. No wonder the water was fouled by this fell magic. For a moment he looks up, searching out Melea - he strongly suspects that their scribe would be able to verify his suspicions. But then he shakes his head - even if she could come down here or he could bring the body up, he would not wish her to have to investigate that possibility. Instead he turns back to the body, carefully sliding his hand into the man's pockets.
Gemstone
Is it a signet ring?
(50/50) No, but...
Carry / Military
The man seems to have been a former soldier, still carrying his old military dagger with its characteristic pommel.
Was he from around here?
(50/50) Yes
Is he human? - Rather late to ask that question, but better now than never.
(50/50) No
Dwarf?
(50/50) No, and...
Attach / Technology
Oh ... his leg is not quite right - his foot has been replaced with a crude piece of machinery. Galwenion fights down nausea at the sight. He has seen what orc surgeons (more butchers than healers) tend to do with any severely injured limb. Only the remarkable recuperative powers of the orcs allow them to survive the crude replacement jobs those surgeons are doing. Carefully the elf studies the features of the man again - he looks remarkably human, but now he can see the traces of orcish blood. Perhaps a halfork?
Is there anything else to find?
(50/50) No, and...
Struggle / Possessions
The frozen body has contorted in a way that makes it impossible to retrieve the dagger without first having to break several of the man's joints, so Galwenion lets be and hopes that his description of the pommel will be enough to identify the daggers origins. He looks around some more, sliding a hand under the body, then climbing over it to explore for a short way on the other side, but the site does not yield any further clues. The way up is as difficult as the way down, but at least this time, he knows what to expect.
12 = 1[d6]+6[d6]+5
Sucess - once again free of the tight spot, he lightly runs up the slope to be greeted at the top by Eriathorn with his clothes. While he quickly dresses himself, Galwenion quietly tells his friend of what he has found - this was probably the ranger's reason to wait for him here anyway. As suspicious as he sometimes is of Melea, he still wants to shield her, so he wants to hear the news first and then decide how to impart them. When he hears Galwenion's suspected cause of death, his mouth settles in a grim line, but he says nothing and guides his friend back to where the two others are waiting. Seeing that Melea is slowly succumbing to the cold, despite being partly sheltered from the wind by Theolin, he decides that explanations can wait until they are in more agreeable surroundings, and orders Theolin to take Melea down and make camp where the horses are - he and Galwenion will scout the region a bit more, than follow. Melea opens her mouth to protest - not so much because she wants to stay here, but more because she suspects that once again the others are trying to protect her from something disagreeable - but a sharp glance and a curt "Later!" from the ranger makes her subside. Theolin once more takes her on his back - Eriathorn gives him a grateful nod for his willingness to go with his orders and the uncomplicated way in which he handles his packhorse duties without making Melea balk at the help - and starts on the most direct way down into the valley.
22 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+12
He does not seem to mind his added burden any more downward than upward, joking that with his spear as a walking stick and something on his back, he rather feels like he was on a walking holiday.
Does anything of interest happen until they are back with the horses?
(Unlikely) No
Galwenion and Eriathorn meanwhile continue to explore the glacier, hoping for some additional clues - the first question the ranger wants answered is whether the bandits came roughly from the direction they disappeared to again.
Did they?
(Likely) Yes +Event: Mistrust / Opposition
Eriathorn begins to mistrust the whole situation - first the bandits attacked the elves, something one does not do lightly, even if the terrain puts them at a disadvantage, then they leave a trail that even the youngest of his people can read, even though they must now that the elves will return in greater force to deal with such a thread, and then it seems to lead straight back to where their lair is? That smells very much like a trap. Galwenion already has postulated that the sorcerer can steal a man's life force - how much more would he get if he manages to lay his hands on one of the fair folk?
Do they find any further tracks?
(Likely) Yes, but...
Heal / A burden
The fissure they deposited the last body in has closed?
(Likely) Yes
Eriathorn can make out other, older tracks, but they lead to another fissure that has recently caved in - whatever had been dumped in there is now buried under tons of snow. Someone will have to find out what it was sooner or later, but to do so, one needs equipment the two friends simply do not have at the moment, so they decide to leave that mystery for now.
Any other interesting stuff?
(50/50) Yes
Attach / Riches
Has this something to do with Frell?
(50/50) Yes +Event: Proceedings / The public
Has he somehow managed to leave some last clue?
(50/50) No +Event: Extravagance / A project
He really is dead, is he?
(Likely) Yes, and...
Antagonise / Victory
Before he was discovered and killed, Frell did indeed manage to steal something - something that not only gives a clue on what the sorcerer actually does and what his mad final goal is, but also is needed for this goal. (By now, I feel quite sorry for poor Frell - he seemed to have been a very interesting character.) That very much sounds like a book - probably quite a small and simple one, as most things of great power in Middle Earth are deceptively mundane. It must have fallen out of the dead man's pockets when they carried his body up for disposal - at some point the sorcerer must have realised that it was missing, though. Quite likely the cave-in was caused when the servants of the sorcerer searched the body and the surroundings, but obviously the book had already been blown off too far for them to find. Does one of our heroes find it? Eriathorn has Observe +6 and gets +2 since this certainly falls under his specialisation "spot", and further +2 for his "keen-eyed" edge. Galwenion has +5, is keen-eyed as well and can also discern details at a great distance, and he has also the elven sense for magic (certainly a factor for a potent magic book), so I would guess +6 for bonuses. TN I would set at 20 - spotting a small book is certainly difficult.
16 = 4[d6]+2[d6]+10
22 = 6[d6]+5[d6]+11
Suddenly Galwenion cries out and lightly runs to a spot between two large boulders where something has caugth his eye. Carefully he pulls out a small, book that has been rather ill used by the elements. Even he is not keen to stand around in the wind and read it, so after glancing at a page to make sure it is relevant, he puts it into the pouch he still carries and continues his search. Finding nothing new, however, the two heroes decide to stop and rejoin their comrades a short time later.
Down in the valley, Theolin in the meanwhile has made a fire and prepared some tea and hot food - while he only knows the rough and ready recipes of a soldier, he can be relied on to produce something edible under most circumstances. Melea, once she is thawed out a bit, helps him prepare the food and care for the animals before pulling out the legal papers again, studying them in greater detail.
Does she find any further clues?
(Unlikely) No
Once Eriathorn and Galwenion are back and everyone has eaten, they all grab some more tea and start to pool their information. Galwenion first describes what he has found.
Is the dagger from the guards of Bree?
(50/50) Yes
Eriathorn has no problems at all identifying it from the description - and it makes a certain amount of sense to send someone who presumably had one point held a position of trust in the watch of the city where you are trying to win a legal argument. So if all else fails they now have something to investigate further - but they agree that they will have to find out first whether there is a trap laid for anybody investigating the attack on the hunters. Eriathorn is quite glad now that they met the party and that the managed to convince them to let matters lay for the moment - otherwise some elves might already been riding right into the trap.
Galwenion then hands the book he found to Melea, but quietly requests that she only studies it when he is with her - somewhat to Eriathorn's surprise (of course he could not help but listen), Melea actually agrees.
Now what is the book actually all about?
Delay / Nature
It seems the sorcerer actually is fighting his own decay - using the life force of others to keep himself alive. After a few pages, Melea closes the book and excuses herself - this cuts too close for her to face without some preparation. Galwenion is already on his feet to follow, Eriathorn, sword in hand and angry, starts to do the same, but Theolin stops them - whatever that book has done to her, what she needs now is a guard who asks no questions while she calms down and an uncomplicated shoulder to cry on if necessary, in his opinion. The other two might not like it, but they can see the wisdom of Theolin's words. After the tall Rohirrim disappears in the bushes, softly calling out to Melea so she does not get startled (and has time to warn him in case he has totally misread the situation and she is heading a call of nature), Eriathorn cautiously picks up the book. Galwenion opens his mouth to say something, but a very sharp glance makes him subside again, only warning in a low voice: "Do not read out loud from it."
Is the book written in the dark tongue?
(Somewhat Likely) Yes, and...
Release / War
Eriathorn is somewhat startled when he recognises the language the elvish runes form - despite all experience, he had still hoped that this might not be quite as dark and twisted. Unlike Melea, who seems at home in every language they have encountered so far (although her fluency in the speech of the enemy is another point that unsettles Eriathorn), the ranger does only know enough to understand the basics (Black Speech +3), so he struggles somewhat to find out what the book is about (TN 10).
5 = 1[d6]+1[d6]+3
A one on both dice - that means a fumble. Well, even the strongest of Dunedain can get tricked …
The ranger follows the letters that seem to slightly sway before his eyes, trying to grasp the meaning behind them, and before he realises, he has started to whisper the words . Without warning, the book is forcefully pulled from his hands and Galwenion, suddenly a bright and commanding figure, commands: "Enough!"
The ranger is too honourable to be corrupted that easily by the enemy, so once the elf intervenes, he immediately snaps out of it, but the danger that the book represents and the few bits he had actually translated - something about using the slaying in war to augment your own life-force - has left him reeling and he nearly cuts Theolin's arm off in startled reaction when the Rohirrim and Melea burst back into the camp, alarmed by Galwenion’s sharps command. It takes a moment to establish to everyone's satisfaction that there is no immediate danger, but then Theolin naturally asks what actually had happened.
Melea, spotting the book dropped to the ground next to where Eriathorn has sat, does not ask any questions - instead, she picks up the book and, under Galwenion sharp eyes, who is more unsettled by the incident than he would like to admit, closes it and sets it down near the fire. Eriathorn, not one to hide his mistakes, meanwhile admits quietly: "I wanted to know what so upset Melea - but the book managed to trick me." "Tricked you ? No wonder she was upset by it!" Theolin looks as if he is considering simply kicking the book into the flames, but Galwenion puts a hand on his arm and reassures him: "There is no damage done - I stopped him before he could utter more than a few syllables. And while I am deeply sorry for causing Melea any pain, she actually is the one best equipped for dealing with these kind of things - naturally, with certain precautions like friends who will keep an eye on her."
How is the landscape there?
Yieldingly / Disagreeable
For me that conjures the image of a rocky mountainside with lots of small brooks, lots of loose rubble and sparse fir trees, digging deep into the stone to hold fast against the unpleasant wind whipping over the harsh landscape. Why was the hunting party there?
Harm / Good
They wanted to investigate why some of the brooks are no longer carrying clear fresh water - instead, the water was now harming the animals in the hunting grounds further down. Did the elves mention that fact?
(50/50) No
It seems they were too angry about the bandits - Eriathorn probably thought they went there just to check that everything was in order, like he would have done.
Does Galwenion feel a change in the air? He is not the most attuned of elves, but this is his homeland. I am never quite sure what to roll for these tests, so I am going with different things for each character and situation. Galwenion would probably tap into his healing powers, feeling the sickness, so I’ll go with healing (+7) against TN 15.
13 = 5[d6]+1[d6]+7
There is something just outside his grasp that bothers him, but he cannot say what it is. Eriathorn has weather-Sense, which in Middle-Earth probably means that he can also pick up on strange things in the air (it makes the skill more useful, too), at +6.
12 = 2[d6]+4[d6]+6
While he can’t really feel anything wrong, he is not exactly sure that everything is fine either. Naturally cautious, he is on his guard anyway, even more so, when he notices that Galwenion looks around several times, a faint frown on his face. Theolin is neither particularly sensitive nor well acquainted with the landscape, so he will take his clues from Eriathorn, clutch his spear and shield more firmly and move to Melea’s other side. The landscape, with all that loose rubble, gets harder and harder for Nightfirn to safely navigate, so when it becomes clear that this will not change any time soon, he advises to stop and leave the horses in a safe spot, rather than risk them breaking their legs. The others agree - that is the one area where Theolin is the undoubted expert, and he would never be parted from Nightfirn if he did not think that having the horses around would be more of a hindrance than help. Eriathorn scouts for a save spot to leave them, this time with Theolin helping - the horseman wants to make sure that the spot is not only safe, but comfortable and hat the horses have a way to get back should their riders not return.
Eriathorn is good enough and knows the land, so I will take an automatic success - he finds a nice enough spot for the horses that meets Theolin’s standards, but there is nothing special about it. Nightfirn is trained for these situations, Galwenion can communicate with the other mounts, so their bridles are taken off and they are left to their own devices.
Melea meanwhile has had time to notice something - while she is not attuned to the land, she is attuned to magic and can sense power. As she is not actively casting a spell, I will go with insight (+7) though, and give her +2 affinity bonus for her magical powers.
16 = 2[d6]+5[d6]+9
Intuitively, she feels that things are not as they should be - the forces of nature are disturbed, and it seems to become worse where they are heading. After a moment of indecision, she touches Eriathorn’s arm and quietly tells him: “Let us be careful - something here is not right, and I think it is coming from where we are headed. I cannot tell what it is, but ... there seems to be something foul in the air.” The ranger is set to press her with questions - while he has gotten used to Melea’s strange flashes of intuition, he is also rather suspicious of them - but Galwenion stops him before he can speak, confessing: “I can feel it as well, though I was not sure before.” Theolin just shrugs and grumbles: “Well, whatever this foul thing is, it certainly has chosen the right landscape to be foul in. In all my life I have never seen a terrain less suited to moving over it.” Galwenion, amused despite his feelings, points out that oceans are usually considered even more of an obstacle, but Theolin counters that it is easy to build a boat, but nobody has devised anything to easily navigate rubble yet, and no, dwarves simply tunnelling under it do not count.
The two enter into a friendly squabble while Eriathorn moves up ahead, now fully on guard, trying to find any clue about what happened here while keeping an eye out for an ambush. Melea is quietly sticking with the two others, wishing she could help more and once again troubled by the things she still has not confessed to Eriathorn.
Is there an ambush waiting for them?
(Unlikely) No
Is there anything else of interest before they reach the place of attack?
(50/50) No
What is there to find at the place of attack?
Usurp / Magic
Is something perverting the natural magic of the water?
(Likely) Yes
What is it?
Break / Love
In contrast
Is it a body of somebody the sorcerer loved, but has now killed?
(Likely) Yes, and...
Carelessness / Travel
So the victim had travelled somewhere without the sorcerer’s explicit permission, perhaps talked a bit carelessly on the way, and when he got home, the sorcerer killed him in a fit of rage for that. So has perhaps somebody seen this person before?
(50/50) No +Event: Release / Legal matters
It seems not, but the person was away to deal with some legal matters, so perhaps there are some clues to that?
(Likely) Yes +Event: Communicate / Weather
The first thing Eriathorn actually spots are some papers that are tumbling in the wind, getting caught on stones and firs, then being swept on.
How fast does he spot them (Observe +6, +1 for wilderness, TN 10)?
12 = 2[d6]+3[d6]+7
The ranger spots them quickly enough, but not before they are already past an excellent spot to catch them. With a quick shout to his friends to stay put, he dashes after them.
He will have to run to get them (+5, +1 for wilderness) over rather challenging terrain (TN 15).
16 = 5[d6]+5[d6]+6
With a quick sprint that sends lots of rubble down into the valley, Eriathorn dashes after the papers and catches them the moment they eat tangled in another fir. The others are quite startled by this sudden and unexplained activity, and Theolin and Galwenion wipe out their weapons, ready for an attack, but settle down again when they see the ranger returning more calmly with some wet, crumpled papers in his hand. Spreading them out over some of the larger stones, they try to read them - Melea has already taken out her notebook and her small magnifying lense she uses to read very cramped script.
What’s in the papers?
Pursue / Competition
It seems our jealous sorcerer has started some legal proceedings to either harm or take something away from someone he sees as his competitor.
Release / Goals
Does it concern some kind of inheritance?
(50/50) No +Event: Haggle / Investment
Okay, so he seems to have been in business with somebody, and now he wants the other person out at presumably unfavourable terms to the other investor. Who is this other investor?
Shrewd and friendly expert who is as strong as you and whose motivation is to administer ghosts and is focused on your community.
It must be some sort of magical goal they had in mind, since the other is, if not a magical, at least interested in ghosts. I think they both formed a partnership to explore a place where ghosts are - probably a tomb or another ruined tower?
Majestically / Ancient
That sounds like one of the old fortresses of the second age - majestic even in ruins. It is probably rather inaccessible, though. Is it in the Midgewater Marshes?
(Likely) Yes, but...
Miserably / Smelly
[i]It is in the most miserable and smelly part, where nobody ever goes and even Eriathorn’s knowledge of the region fails. The other investor was likely the financier of the expedition.
Melea makes a note of all the information in the papers, then carefully folds them between dried leaves to preserve them. Meanwhile Eriathorn, gauging where the papers must have come from, sets out again to investigate.
I will have one drill down a bit more to find out that actually happened.
Did the bandits come up here simply to drop the body?
(Likely) Yes
Was the foul water caused by Frell’s body, then, who must have been murdered and disposed of some weeks prior?
(Likely) Yes
Are the bandits just dropping the bodies?
(50/50) Yes, but...
They are dropping them into a ravine - nearly as good as burying them. I imagine this is just under the lower end of a glacier, so they probably went up a bit further and dropped the bodies into the first fissure in the glacier proper - quite a good hiding place, actually, and probably their version of being respectful to the dead. Did they get rid of their current body before they met the elves?
(50/50) Yes, and...
Mistrust / Pain
To put it differently
They were quite glad about it - after all, he had been the favourite and they had occasionally suffered for it, so they were not unhappy that he is no longer around, but on the other hand, it was a vivid reminder of how unstable their master could be. They must have fleeced him before dropping him in, but discarded the papers as unimportant or they were told to bury the papers with him, but were careless. Was he the same as this other investor?
(50/50) No, but...
Decrease / Goals
He too was part of the consortium - probably not completely on the side of the sorcerer in all things either. Was the whole expedition a sham to get money?
(50/50) No +Event: Spy / Joy
No, there really is this place, and something is there that the sorcerer has seen there that he greatly wants. Back to our group of heroes:
Following Eriathorn, they carefully climb further towards the glacier. It is heavy going and especially Melea will have a difficult time, but she is stubborn and Theolin will always end when needed, so they will manage to get to the place where the hunting party was attacked without any further incidents. There they rest a moment while Eriathorn reads the signs, trying to track the way of the bandits directly from here.
( Tracking +8, +1 for wilderness, TN 10 for where the bandits went to (blood trail) and 15 for where they came from)
16 = 6[d6]+1[d6]+9
Eriathorn easily picks up the blood trail some wounded bandits left behind after the encounter - the elves on their horses had obviously decided to retreat instead of fighting an uphill battle in unfavourable terrain. But after some careful searching, the ranger also can discern where the bandits have come from. Motioning for his comrades to close up again, he tells them of his findings. As the trail the bandits have left on is comparatively simple to follow, Eriathorn suggests to first see where they have come from and what their business had been - more climbing up that hill, but nobody protests. Up here it starts to get very chilly, especially in the wind, and Theolin and especially Melea huddle into their cloaks, but Eriathorn sets them a pace that will soon warm them up again. Galwenion as usual looks completely oblivious to the harsh conditions. The closer they get to the foot of the glacier, the more uneasy Melea becomes, looking around as if expecting something to happen. The others pick up on that and grip their weapons more firmly, although Eriathorn tells her harshly to watch her footing.
Once they reach the actual glacier, the tracks become quite clear, but crossing the glacier is dangerous and exhausting. To see how well the heroes do, I would call for a strength roll against TN 15. They have a rating of 10, 8, 12 and 4 respectively.
20 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+10
I remembered that Galwenion actually walks on the snow, so I'll give him +5 - it is far easier if you do not have to pull your legs free all the time - and take the automatic success. Using his advantage, he will run up ahead anyway to keep a lookout, so helping the others is not an option for him anyway.
18 = 3[d6]+3[d6]+12
8 = 2[d6]+2[d6]+4
As expected, the tall Rohirrim has few problems navigating the snow, despite the fact that his weight makes him sink in up to his thighs. Eriathorn has even less trouble, easily moving about without seeming to tire at all. But poor Melea, who sometimes is up to her waist in the cold stuff and has to scramble more often than not, is soon exhausted. Eriathorn notices and lends a hand, but even that is not enough to keep her going for much longer. Deciding that he is pretty useless up here anyway, unless there will be a fight, Theolin offers himself as a packhorse - he will be slow, but with his spear to help him, he is reasonably certain that he can manage.
15 = 1[d6]+2[d6]+12
I think this is the point where I will use his special ability Favour of Fortune, which allows him one reroll per gaming session (Solo, I usually interpret that as per act).
20 = 6[d6]+2[d6]+12
It is not as easy as he had hoped, but Theolin manages even with the added burden of Melea clinging to his back. After half an hour, they reach the large fissure in the snow - fortunately Galwenion has already scouted and warned them of similar ones, so they reach it safely.
Is the fissure deeper than they can easily climb?
(Likely) Yes
Is the fissure deeper than they can climb with the help of their rope?
(Somewhat Likely) Yes
Is it at all possible to climb this thing?
(50/50) Yes, and...
Vengeance / Good
They have a much easier time of it than the bandits - at least one of them. Further up, Galwenion finds a spot where the edge has crumbled - a gentle slope impossible to walk on for anybody but an elf, but no challenge at all for him. They quickly discuss what to do, but there is not much alternative to Galwenion going down alone. Borrowing the spear off Theolin and handing his own bow to Eriathorn, the elf light-footedly sets out. As he progresses deeper into the fissure, the others (apart from Melea, who has stayed where the tracks ended, both to mark the spot and to leave Theolin free to move) follow on top.
Can they keep sight of the elf?
(50/50) Yes
They have to stay clear of the edge - after all, it would not do to make it crumble and bury their friend, but Theolin is tall and the fissure wide enough that he can keep an eye on Galwenion's progress. A wary Eriathorn has put an arrow to the elvish bow in his hand and keeps an eye out for danger - neither Theolin nor Melea have enough experience in these surroundings to be reliable lookouts. Not that Theolin is known for his powers of observation anyway, and Melea's lips are slowly turning blue. She has taken to leaning over the edge, though - her slight stature for once an asset - and calling out directions to the elf below.
Can Galwenion reach the point without significant problems?
(Unlikely) No, and...
Carelessness / Rumour
When the soft snow from the crumbled edge runs out, Galwenion has to dance from one foothold to the next - sometimes sucking in his belly to get through narrow points. They also realise that the sidewalls amplifies, distorts and reflects sounds to a degree that makes it nearly impossible to communicate with their friend, once he is deep in the fissure.
Can Galwenion get through with his leather armour?
(50/50) No, and...
Divide / The public
After trying in vain to get through a particularly tight spot, the elf comes back to the top and rather scandalises poor Melea by divesting himself of nearly all his clothing, only keeping his underwear, his knife and a pouch - even Eriathorn, who knows quite well that the elf is immune to the cold, argues that he should protect himself against sharp edges, Melea is blushing and not daring to say anything, while Theolin agrees with Eriathorn, but points out that the man undertaking the risk should be the one to decide what to wear for it. "Besides, he seems to be doing rather a good deed already by warming Melea up again!", as the horseman slyly points out, making the girl blush even more fiercely and quickly look away.
Once again Galwenion makes his way down to the tight spot. He has Acrobatics +5 (also a speciality and a host of bonuses for balancing, so I did not even bother to roll for that part) and without any hindrance by armour and gear, the TN should be a doable 10.
13 = 3[d6]+5[d6]+5
Sucking in his belly and contorting his head sideways, the elf squeezes through, only suffering a few minor scratches. The sight that greeds him is not a nice one.
Are there more than two bodies?
(50/50) No, and...
Is one of them still alive?
(50/50) No
So it is only one body here - they must have disposed of Frell in another spot. What can Galwenion tell about the corpse (Healing +7, TN 10)?
20 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+10
That is a superior success - after carefully examining the man and going through what's left of his clothing, the healer has a pretty good opinion of what has happened to the poor sod, but he also has found some clues as to who he was. How did he die?
Loyally / Poor
There are no fightmarks on him, but fingerprints around his throat - it seems he did not see the danger or chose not to defend himself until it was to late. The strangulation marks are too faint and clearly defined, however, to explain the death alone. The sunken eyes, skin that looks as if the man had already been three weeks dead, the feeling of ... absence - the elf shudders. If what he suspects is true, his murderer stole the life-force of this man. No wonder the water was fouled by this fell magic. For a moment he looks up, searching out Melea - he strongly suspects that their scribe would be able to verify his suspicions. But then he shakes his head - even if she could come down here or he could bring the body up, he would not wish her to have to investigate that possibility. Instead he turns back to the body, carefully sliding his hand into the man's pockets.
Gemstone
Is it a signet ring?
(50/50) No, but...
Carry / Military
The man seems to have been a former soldier, still carrying his old military dagger with its characteristic pommel.
Was he from around here?
(50/50) Yes
Is he human? - Rather late to ask that question, but better now than never.
(50/50) No
Dwarf?
(50/50) No, and...
Attach / Technology
Oh ... his leg is not quite right - his foot has been replaced with a crude piece of machinery. Galwenion fights down nausea at the sight. He has seen what orc surgeons (more butchers than healers) tend to do with any severely injured limb. Only the remarkable recuperative powers of the orcs allow them to survive the crude replacement jobs those surgeons are doing. Carefully the elf studies the features of the man again - he looks remarkably human, but now he can see the traces of orcish blood. Perhaps a halfork?
Is there anything else to find?
(50/50) No, and...
Struggle / Possessions
The frozen body has contorted in a way that makes it impossible to retrieve the dagger without first having to break several of the man's joints, so Galwenion lets be and hopes that his description of the pommel will be enough to identify the daggers origins. He looks around some more, sliding a hand under the body, then climbing over it to explore for a short way on the other side, but the site does not yield any further clues. The way up is as difficult as the way down, but at least this time, he knows what to expect.
12 = 1[d6]+6[d6]+5
Sucess - once again free of the tight spot, he lightly runs up the slope to be greeted at the top by Eriathorn with his clothes. While he quickly dresses himself, Galwenion quietly tells his friend of what he has found - this was probably the ranger's reason to wait for him here anyway. As suspicious as he sometimes is of Melea, he still wants to shield her, so he wants to hear the news first and then decide how to impart them. When he hears Galwenion's suspected cause of death, his mouth settles in a grim line, but he says nothing and guides his friend back to where the two others are waiting. Seeing that Melea is slowly succumbing to the cold, despite being partly sheltered from the wind by Theolin, he decides that explanations can wait until they are in more agreeable surroundings, and orders Theolin to take Melea down and make camp where the horses are - he and Galwenion will scout the region a bit more, than follow. Melea opens her mouth to protest - not so much because she wants to stay here, but more because she suspects that once again the others are trying to protect her from something disagreeable - but a sharp glance and a curt "Later!" from the ranger makes her subside. Theolin once more takes her on his back - Eriathorn gives him a grateful nod for his willingness to go with his orders and the uncomplicated way in which he handles his packhorse duties without making Melea balk at the help - and starts on the most direct way down into the valley.
22 = 4[d6]+6[d6]+12
He does not seem to mind his added burden any more downward than upward, joking that with his spear as a walking stick and something on his back, he rather feels like he was on a walking holiday.
Does anything of interest happen until they are back with the horses?
(Unlikely) No
Galwenion and Eriathorn meanwhile continue to explore the glacier, hoping for some additional clues - the first question the ranger wants answered is whether the bandits came roughly from the direction they disappeared to again.
Did they?
(Likely) Yes +Event: Mistrust / Opposition
Eriathorn begins to mistrust the whole situation - first the bandits attacked the elves, something one does not do lightly, even if the terrain puts them at a disadvantage, then they leave a trail that even the youngest of his people can read, even though they must now that the elves will return in greater force to deal with such a thread, and then it seems to lead straight back to where their lair is? That smells very much like a trap. Galwenion already has postulated that the sorcerer can steal a man's life force - how much more would he get if he manages to lay his hands on one of the fair folk?
Do they find any further tracks?
(Likely) Yes, but...
Heal / A burden
The fissure they deposited the last body in has closed?
(Likely) Yes
Eriathorn can make out other, older tracks, but they lead to another fissure that has recently caved in - whatever had been dumped in there is now buried under tons of snow. Someone will have to find out what it was sooner or later, but to do so, one needs equipment the two friends simply do not have at the moment, so they decide to leave that mystery for now.
Any other interesting stuff?
(50/50) Yes
Attach / Riches
Has this something to do with Frell?
(50/50) Yes +Event: Proceedings / The public
Has he somehow managed to leave some last clue?
(50/50) No +Event: Extravagance / A project
He really is dead, is he?
(Likely) Yes, and...
Antagonise / Victory
Before he was discovered and killed, Frell did indeed manage to steal something - something that not only gives a clue on what the sorcerer actually does and what his mad final goal is, but also is needed for this goal. (By now, I feel quite sorry for poor Frell - he seemed to have been a very interesting character.) That very much sounds like a book - probably quite a small and simple one, as most things of great power in Middle Earth are deceptively mundane. It must have fallen out of the dead man's pockets when they carried his body up for disposal - at some point the sorcerer must have realised that it was missing, though. Quite likely the cave-in was caused when the servants of the sorcerer searched the body and the surroundings, but obviously the book had already been blown off too far for them to find. Does one of our heroes find it? Eriathorn has Observe +6 and gets +2 since this certainly falls under his specialisation "spot", and further +2 for his "keen-eyed" edge. Galwenion has +5, is keen-eyed as well and can also discern details at a great distance, and he has also the elven sense for magic (certainly a factor for a potent magic book), so I would guess +6 for bonuses. TN I would set at 20 - spotting a small book is certainly difficult.
16 = 4[d6]+2[d6]+10
22 = 6[d6]+5[d6]+11
Suddenly Galwenion cries out and lightly runs to a spot between two large boulders where something has caugth his eye. Carefully he pulls out a small, book that has been rather ill used by the elements. Even he is not keen to stand around in the wind and read it, so after glancing at a page to make sure it is relevant, he puts it into the pouch he still carries and continues his search. Finding nothing new, however, the two heroes decide to stop and rejoin their comrades a short time later.
Down in the valley, Theolin in the meanwhile has made a fire and prepared some tea and hot food - while he only knows the rough and ready recipes of a soldier, he can be relied on to produce something edible under most circumstances. Melea, once she is thawed out a bit, helps him prepare the food and care for the animals before pulling out the legal papers again, studying them in greater detail.
Does she find any further clues?
(Unlikely) No
Once Eriathorn and Galwenion are back and everyone has eaten, they all grab some more tea and start to pool their information. Galwenion first describes what he has found.
Is the dagger from the guards of Bree?
(50/50) Yes
Eriathorn has no problems at all identifying it from the description - and it makes a certain amount of sense to send someone who presumably had one point held a position of trust in the watch of the city where you are trying to win a legal argument. So if all else fails they now have something to investigate further - but they agree that they will have to find out first whether there is a trap laid for anybody investigating the attack on the hunters. Eriathorn is quite glad now that they met the party and that the managed to convince them to let matters lay for the moment - otherwise some elves might already been riding right into the trap.
Galwenion then hands the book he found to Melea, but quietly requests that she only studies it when he is with her - somewhat to Eriathorn's surprise (of course he could not help but listen), Melea actually agrees.
Now what is the book actually all about?
Delay / Nature
It seems the sorcerer actually is fighting his own decay - using the life force of others to keep himself alive. After a few pages, Melea closes the book and excuses herself - this cuts too close for her to face without some preparation. Galwenion is already on his feet to follow, Eriathorn, sword in hand and angry, starts to do the same, but Theolin stops them - whatever that book has done to her, what she needs now is a guard who asks no questions while she calms down and an uncomplicated shoulder to cry on if necessary, in his opinion. The other two might not like it, but they can see the wisdom of Theolin's words. After the tall Rohirrim disappears in the bushes, softly calling out to Melea so she does not get startled (and has time to warn him in case he has totally misread the situation and she is heading a call of nature), Eriathorn cautiously picks up the book. Galwenion opens his mouth to say something, but a very sharp glance makes him subside again, only warning in a low voice: "Do not read out loud from it."
Is the book written in the dark tongue?
(Somewhat Likely) Yes, and...
Release / War
Eriathorn is somewhat startled when he recognises the language the elvish runes form - despite all experience, he had still hoped that this might not be quite as dark and twisted. Unlike Melea, who seems at home in every language they have encountered so far (although her fluency in the speech of the enemy is another point that unsettles Eriathorn), the ranger does only know enough to understand the basics (Black Speech +3), so he struggles somewhat to find out what the book is about (TN 10).
5 = 1[d6]+1[d6]+3
A one on both dice - that means a fumble. Well, even the strongest of Dunedain can get tricked …
The ranger follows the letters that seem to slightly sway before his eyes, trying to grasp the meaning behind them, and before he realises, he has started to whisper the words . Without warning, the book is forcefully pulled from his hands and Galwenion, suddenly a bright and commanding figure, commands: "Enough!"
The ranger is too honourable to be corrupted that easily by the enemy, so once the elf intervenes, he immediately snaps out of it, but the danger that the book represents and the few bits he had actually translated - something about using the slaying in war to augment your own life-force - has left him reeling and he nearly cuts Theolin's arm off in startled reaction when the Rohirrim and Melea burst back into the camp, alarmed by Galwenion’s sharps command. It takes a moment to establish to everyone's satisfaction that there is no immediate danger, but then Theolin naturally asks what actually had happened.
Melea, spotting the book dropped to the ground next to where Eriathorn has sat, does not ask any questions - instead, she picks up the book and, under Galwenion sharp eyes, who is more unsettled by the incident than he would like to admit, closes it and sets it down near the fire. Eriathorn, not one to hide his mistakes, meanwhile admits quietly: "I wanted to know what so upset Melea - but the book managed to trick me." "Tricked you ? No wonder she was upset by it!" Theolin looks as if he is considering simply kicking the book into the flames, but Galwenion puts a hand on his arm and reassures him: "There is no damage done - I stopped him before he could utter more than a few syllables. And while I am deeply sorry for causing Melea any pain, she actually is the one best equipped for dealing with these kind of things - naturally, with certain precautions like friends who will keep an eye on her."