Session 06: Short Cuts And Deep Cuts

November 9, 2965…

The first day’s travel out of Bree, had been pleasant enough. Fay had been thankful that the rain – and especially the thunder – had finally stopped.

The second day of travel, however, would not be so kind. The rain had initially come down gently, but it had not been long before the dark clouds above, that seemed to follow them, opened up and unleashed pouring road, roaring thunder and lightning that split the skies with blinding brilliance.

The rain had slowed them down considerably. The normally hardened, well-travelled path of the Great East Road was now a muddy trail that clutched at their boots, grasping and grabbing, as if given life.

By the time the night had fallen, the moon hidden behind the thickness of the storm clouds, the shadows of night were darker than any Fay had remembered, there was no light to be seen anywhere – the stars and moon were all gone. The roads bore no travelers, save for themselves, so not even lanterns or campfires could be seen.

The second night on the road had proven difficult for Fay, as she swore that she could hear howls to the south, but the others had assured her that it was nothing more than the wind howling, violently, through the trees.

Her mind had gone back to the first night, before the rain had opened up from the skies to fall so relentlessly upon them. There had been warmth and a campfire. She recalled Lodin sitting at the edge of the campfire, stroking the flames with a stick as he’d asked, “Are you an apprentice of Gandalf’s?”

She had thought the question was odd, and had chewed at her thumbnail, before answering, “No,” she shook her head. “In truth I barely know him. He had come to Bree from time to time, for celebrations – or he would visit my grandfather if he was in need of herbs and plants. He and my grandfather seemed to know one another well,” her voice trailed, “when my grandfather was still alive.”

She had stood to approach Lodin’s horse, which she had heard him refer to her as Dolly. She allowed Dolly to sniff at her hand, before running her hand up Dolly’s head. Dolly’s tail had flipped about in approval of the attention she was given. Fay had turned to Lodin, “How is it you know the old man?” she had smiled, before asking, “And where is it you are from?”

Lodin nodded, giving both her response to his question, and her own question back at him, some thought. “Not too different from you, it would seem. He knew my grandfather who fought in the Battle of the Five Armies with his King. Gandalf visits the Court of King Bard from time to time. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to call upon me – least of all while in an abandoned tower on my way here to Eriador. I’ve been asked to ensure everybody’s safety,” he patted his weapons.

Maethordan looked over at Fay as Lodin patted his weapons and asked, “What experience do you have with fighting?”

Fay winced – she had not wanted to be thought a burden. “None,” she finally said after a moment of silence. “Though I have some experience with a bow, when I have done some hunting.” She was silent for a moment longer, “I have not been one to fight. My mother was a peaceful seamstress, my father a Warden of Bree, but he did not teach me to fight. My grandfather, he spoke of some battles, but he too was not one to show me how to fight. He taught me herbalism.” She had looked between Lodin and Maethordan, unsure of how to phrase the next thing, so she simply had spoken the words, “I respect those who protect us, but I find fighting pointless.”

Maethordan had smiled at her – had it been the first time she’d seen the Ranger smile? His voice was gentle, but stern, “Unfortunately, creatures such as Orcs and Trolls do not share your opinion and if you are lucky, they will just try to kill you. I would suggest Lodin,” he gestured with a bow to his head, “run you through a few techniques for close defense.”

Lodin had sighed and poked the figure with the stick again. “That will have to wait for when we’re not traveling. Basics are not easy to learn on the road. But,” he looked up at Fay, who had been standing next to Dolly, “the first thing to be aware of is your surroundings. Knowing where your allies and enemies are even with sword skills can be the difference between life and death, even more so for those trying to stay out of the fight. Sticking to your bow will most likely be the safest thing for all of us.”

“I do have a dagger,” which she had pulled from her belt, “but I did not think I was asked to come to kill things. Dead creatures ill or ally mans more ghosts.” Her voice had trailed off, just in time as Hobart had re-entered the camp, holding the remains of a boar, unaware of the conversation that had been transpiring while he’d been out hunting game. 

“Look at this thing,” he threw the boar’s carcass near the campfire, pleased with himself. “This should give us a few days of extra rations, at the very least.” Despite his cheery demeanor, even as he threw the boar carcass down, he was stretching out his shoulder, and a quick wince of pain had shot down his body. It had mostly gone unnoticed by the others, but Fay had seen it.

Thunder cracked and lightning split the sky, bringing Fay back to the present. The rain seemed to give one final burst of rainfall, before the rain finally relented, turning into a lighter rainfall. 

Fay had been assigned to be the look-out, and she had been the reason they’d slowed down before during the rain, because she believed they were being pursued by howling creatures – in truth the rain had played a larger part to the party’s decreased speed, but Fay could not help but feel responsible for their pace – she wanted desperately to be the reason to pick up the pace when she heard Lodin’s words in her mind again:

“The first thing to be aware of is your surroundings.”

That’s when she saw it – just off the path – an undiscovered, hidden road, that seemed to move towards the direction of Weathertop. Had the rain not relented, there was a good chance she might have missed this hidden road. She was excited to find a short cut to Weathertop!

Moving off the road ever so slightly, up ahead in some ruins of a tower, she saw black smoke rising upward. She peered ahead and saw it – a man was talking to someone else – someone she could not see from here, because part of the tower’s ruined stones was blocking her view. She then saw three other men, moving around the camp, but she could not see who the man was speaking to.

She gestured for the others to come look. They could see a group of three men, near a campfire, another speaking to someone that they could not see.

“Travelers?” whispered Fay. “Traders, perhaps?”

But then the figure came into sight.

Even on this dark, moonless and starless night, there was no mistaking it.

The person had been speaking to an Orc.

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Event – Look-Out – Shortcut – Fatigue DC +1

Fellowship Points:

4 (1 per player) + 2 (Gandalf) = 6

Fellowship Bonus: Gandalf

You can spend a Fellowship point to roll an additional d20 after a saving throw (but before the outcome is determined), and choose which of the d20s is used.

Eye Awareness: 2

Any rolls you’d like to do (such as Perception checks), feel free to do. I assume (but don’t want to force) – but if the player-heroes want to engage in combat, also roll for Initiative.