Session 19: To Bree And Beyond


Finding a small alcove just off the Great Eastern Road, they unpacked. As the fire crackled, Welton Wayland looked, “I know that you’re leader up there,” he looked to Halldor and Maethordan, “gave the signal to end me, if I misbehave. But rest assured, the world is not black and white. There is grey... like the fog that lingers... no one likes it... everyone wants it gone because they’re afraid of what they can’t see that lingers there... but every chilled morning... the fog is back... cold and unwanted… that’s what my life was like. My father,” he shook his head, “useless. Beat me. Beat my mother. A hopeless drunk. I ran away young. No prospects. I learned to live on the streets surviving on trash and what I could steal. I was the fog of society. Unwanted. People wanted me to go away. But every morning, I was there, in the trash. That’s all I ever amounted to really, like my father said - trash. I tried a few times to do the right thing, but as soon as my past crept up, like the damn fog, I was exiled all over again, rinse and repeat. So yeah, I wish I had a,” he looked at Dolly, “a nice horse,” he looked at Lodin’s shield, “a nice shield. I wish,” he looked to Frerin, “I grew up as the Captain of some command and was loved and respected, but that’s not what I had. I had none of that. I had myself. Until I found other exiles like me. And like any pack of wolves, survival increases when you hunt in a pack and have others to help watch your back.” 


Welton poked at the flames, sending smoldering ash into the air. “I am not looking for a handout. I am just letting you know, the world has light, like Gandalf, it has shadow like the Cargûl, and in the fog between are people like me, who want to do better, but have no way to do so.” He set the stick aside, “So if you think I am going to betray you or run, you’re wrong. Like I said, the people I once knew are now dead, and survival depends on hunting in packs.” He smiled as looked at everyone, “This is now my new pack.”


Maethordan turned to Lady Anna and Lady Fay and asked, "If we have to carry the weapon of the enemy then we need some way to store it without handling. I was thinking that a heavy canvas sheet that we could use to wrap and then carry the weapon. Do you have suggestions to help curb its influence, perhaps a special tie to put around the canvas or herbs to sprinkle within the sheet when the weapon is placed on it? Anything will hel?"


Anna Wintermoss answered, "In truth, I am frightened to even suggest anything. The way Gandalf spoke... it sounded like... it needs magic... and the herbs, they are powerful remedies... but they are not magic... if we or anyone... encounters William Stanwick... I... I just wonder if we should avoid him entirely?"


Halldor nodded, "While I will defend Anna and Fay, for I've sworn such a vow - if William was able to best Hergrim ... indeed foul magic that blade possesses, for Hergrim was well trained and fearless. His loss to the Rangers of the North is a great one. We should, as Anna," he nodded his head towards her, "suggested, avoid William if we come across him. We can report his location should none of the three Great Eagles be near us. Their keen eyes are searching for both  William's location, even as they search for the Cargûl."


Lodin injected, "If we find favorable circumstances we might take him down at a distance, you and I, Maethordan. Then we could bury it without ever touching it."


Frerin shook his head, "I don't think burying the blade will do any good. It's either going to call to someone who gets near it, the way Gandalf said it called to William, or I'd wager the Cargûl can sense its presence and recover the blade, to curse another. It needs to be magically destroyed, like the other blades Gandalf mentioned."


"You misunderstand me.  It would only be a temporary solution.  However, it would be far better than leaving it lying on the ground if we must defend ourselves against the enemy,” Lodin said confidently. 


Maethordan shook his head, "I am not sure I agree with that. It will be quicker to move it away from the enemy and return to Weathertop to await Gandalf's return, even if he can track it best we fight the enemy where we want plus we could request aid if we need to. Also it may be the case that we can only watch and wait if he is carrying the sword."


Lodin countered, "Gandalf advised against touching it. So I won't and won't allow anyone else to touch it. Until Gandalf gives us a way to handle it we do not have the choice to move it."


Maethordan shook his head and said, "He did not say we could not move it, so If we use our heads then there is a way to handle the weapon without touching it."


Lodin replied, “"I asked if we could move it with gloves, or even tongs, and still his response was not to handle it. In any case, this is mere contingency. We are not hunting for the blade right now, though it would be good to decide what we will do if we find ourselves in that situation. From what Welton has said, I think it is likely there is an entrance to Felyadûr near Archet." 


“From what I understand, Felyadûr, runs under Bree, Combe and has an opening near Archet,” Welton nodded in agreement. “I’ve not been as far as Combe, so I know not where it is, but the others,” his memory drifts back to the other ruffians whom those traveling with him had killed, “they’d been as far as Combe, for reasons to spying. There’s a small mining operation near Combe that the orcs were interested in taking over.”


Lodin looked at Frerin then Welton. "What can you tell us about Felyadur Welton? How far do the tunnels go?"


At the mention of Felyadûr, Welton shook, despite the warmth of the crackling fire. "Felyadûr is a dreadful place. It's an expansive cave system that opens in the South Downs - I've been down deep in those caverns when the Orcs came and began to demand us to kneel to them. A few of us, myself, resisted them at first - but they met resistance with death to most who rose against the orcs. For survival's sake, we bowed to the knee to the orcs, especially after the Cargûl made its presence known. The... fear... that ... thing emanates is ... beyond words. The caves run deep... I've been as far as Bree through the caves, following an underground water that flows there and gives water supply to Bree. We've used some of the wells as ways to smuggle things in and out of Bree, through these caves in that manner. But it branches out in a thousand directions. I know it reaches deep into the Barrow-Downs... and I've been into a part of the cave system that goes there... and things walk in those caves... that are no longer among the living. Large wargs guard the depths of the caves, obeying the orcs and the Cargûl."


"I see,” Lodin said, listening to Welton. “First and foremost we must inform Captain Skyhawk, as Strider had requested, to warn him to turn away William Stanwick, no matter how desperate William may appear, and make sure we are prepared for what comes next in Bree."


Maethordan nodded in support. "Bree it is," he said as he then moved to sit next to Welton. "You are not the only one who grew up without a father, it was only discussed in hushed tones but my mother had little choice in my conception. I was luckier than you in the fact that I was raised by the Rangers, but if you honour your word and keep true to the company there will be a place for you in the Rangers."


The following morning, thunder rumbled across the sky as grey clouds moved in, and rain began to descend. “This is something I don’t miss,” Frerin growled as he packed his bags. “It never rains down in the Blue Mountains!”


The next three days were spent traveling the Great Eastern Road towards Bree, battling the light rain that followed.


Upon arriving at Bree, Halldor said, “Lady Anna, Lady Fay, I will patrol the borders of the town of Bree, until these matters are settled. I have vowed to keep you safe and I will not abandon my position.” He looked to Maethordan, Lodin, and Welton. “You should seek rooms in Bree before pressing on to Archet.”


“I am not sure I will be very welcomed,” Welton winced.


Halldor placed his hand on Lodin and Maethordan’s shoulders, “You travel with well known people whom Gandalf has called upon and calls friend. They will be able to clear any trouble you may encounter at the gates.”


Welton looked to Maethordan and Lodin. “If we’re going inside Bree, do you suppose I might be able to reach out to Fred and Harry Stoneacre. They’re a part of the now… defunct… organization. I want to warn them that the others are dead and the Cargûl may come for them. Have them get out of Bree and run far.”


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Rushed you guys to Bree, for the sake of speeding things up, rather than just doing Three Travel Rolls to get to Bree, since Maethordan’s last roll was a success. I won’t worry about the +1 Exhaustion DC increase, since you will be in Bree and could easily get a long rest.


Fellowship Points:

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


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.


Rolls for Old Lore in regards to burying the huine-blade:


Travel Roll - Maethordan: 16