Session 23: Stranger In The Woods, Death On The Road.

January 3, 2966…

Though Yule had officially come to an end, a dreary rain fell from the grey clouds that seemed to linger above, banishing the light of the sun from the morning. The people of Bree moved about, doing their normal activities, used to the rain. Several merchants, who were crafters and laborers, set up tents for protection against the rain and sold food or merchandise to those who had the silver for it.

Homes in Bree were made using wood harvested from the Chetwood and stone mined from the quarry. The Bree folk also collected stones from old ruins, at least enough to keep the town in repair. 

The humans of Bree built on the lower hillside, mostly above the road, their windows looking west, while the few hobbits of Bree, dwelled in the higher slopes of the hill instead, the part of Bree referred to as the ‘new town’, despite it being probably more than a thousand years old. But these differences aside, the people of Bree got along in a remarkably peaceful way, and are surprisingly welcoming to visitors, being ever curious about tales from beyond the gates of their town.

It was in the morning, in the Prancing Pony as Lodin, Maethordan, Welton, Arthanar, and Hoppy sat around eating breakfast, with Teelia providing them food and drink from the kitchen, they could hear the rumblings of several of the patrons.

Lodin looked at the others as he strapped Rukhsfelak (Orc Hewer) to his side. He slid the dagger, Draugfaikar (Wolf/Warg Bane), to Welton, who nodded appreciatively, feeling a sense of trust being built. Maethordan kept Azanfelak (dark hewer, goblin hewer) close to his side while Arthanar admired Liantefaikar (Spider Bane), which Lodin had given him. Arthanar immediately recognized the elvish script on the bow.

“It’s not safe, I tell you,” one man of Bree was saying as he bit into his mutton.

“I agree,” another man of Bree said, sipping at his soup. “Something’s in Chetwood now. I went out there to collect some lumber and felt like I was being watched. There’ s an uneasy silence in Chetwood. Not even nature sounds!” 

Lodin could not help but overhear the gathered patrons in the Prancing Pony, interested in what they had been saying, he signalled Teelia, who Lodin realized seemed to always be working, to  bring a couple of drinks to them. He approached and asked, "Tell me more of this news. I heard some time ago Combe was having trouble with the nearby woods and something was snatching livestock. Has that continued, or did it stop for a while until now?"

The human sipping at his soup, pushed it aside and welcomed the drink and introduced himself. "Name’s Allan Bywood,” he said with a nod of his head. Then, after a moment of looking at Lodin, he added, “I recognize you. You had that confrontation with those ruffians outside of the Prancing Pony several months ago!" 

Allan nodded, happy to see someone he had seen take care of business be  interested, as he now sipped on his beverage. Allan smiled at Teelia, suggesting that he would soon need another. "There's something... different about Chetwood. Sure, it's just past the Yule, and many animals hibernate, so it's usually a little quieter in the woods. But birds - there's not even a sound of birds! Your every step in Chetwood seems to be an echo or alarm to something in the woods to alert it to your presence. It's unnerving. From the folks in Combe, the livestock disappearances and mutilations have also continued. Something sinister has moved closer to us here. I know not what it is, but I feel it in my bones the way the Yule Rain seems unusually colder and biting."

Maethordan listened, then looked to Lodin. "Which do you think first, Chetwood or the caves?"

Lodin looked over his shoulder at Maethordan, "If what Brackenbrook told us about the caves is accurate I think whatever is plagueing Combe and the Chetwood is not coming from the mines. Even after we seal the mines it will remain and appears to be the more immediate need."

Arthanar nodded. "I am curious what they sense in Chetwood," the elf offered, standing and joining them.

Welton, who had originally remained at the table and stood to join the others. "When I met with Strider, he too made mention of things feeling uneasy around Chetwood, though he hadn't had much time to investigate further, as Gandalf has had him looking into where William might be and to try and spy William and track his movements."

"Maybe we should speak to the Reeve of Combe. However, if we're setting off, I must inform Captain Skyhawk as I have been helping with patrols," Lodin said after a moment. He looked over at their new companion, the Hobbit named Hoplite Glendoodle, and saw the small Hobbit hadn’t brought much and only unpacked a few things while cooking. Lodin watched as Hoplite double checked his gear before setting off with his new companions.

Stepping outside, Lodin noted, “I will be back.”

Finding Captain Skyhawk in his cabin, writing down notes as to how the Winter Yule had gone and what they’d observed, he looked up to see Lodin, who shared that he would be leaving now to investigate a number of things. Captain Skyhawk nodded, “I understand. You were a welcomed source for the Bree guards, Lodin, son of Brodin. I will welcome you back, as well as your stories and songs you shared.”

Lodin then returned to the stable where he brought Dolly around the front to meet the others on the exit of Bree.

Arthanar approached Dolly. "I've heard much about you," he said as he stroked Dolly's mane. "Master Gandalf says there is no other horse quite like you."

For a moment, there seems to be a moment in which Arthanar and Dolly are speaking to one another, more through gestures than words.

Arthanar smiled and turned to Lodin. "Dolly speaks highly of you, Lodin, son of Brodin. It is good to see that she is so loved and cared for."

"Family tends to be that way," Lodin responded, running his hand along Dolly’s neck.

Despite the fog and light rain, and the biting cold, travel was easy.

“You know these lands well,” Arthanar noted as they traveled down the road on the way to Combe. Maethordan made a brief comment about how he’d spent time studying maps that he had gotten from Anne Wintermoss, a teacher in Bree.

It did not take long, once inside Chetwood to understand what Allan Bywood had meant; the forest was unnaturally still. Not even the slight rain seemed to penetrate the dark, tree tops. That’s when Welton whispered, “Look!” His voice was filled with fear. The reason the rain had not penetrated the treetops became dreadfully apparent. The entire treetops seemed to be covered in something; something that prevented the light from entering the woods, almost as if an unnatural dark, murky cloud had clung to the treetops.

As the tension mounted something moved in the brush, that had nearly caused everyone to jump in alarm - and a moment later, a large, grey wolf came through the shrubbery and collapsed on the path before Maethordan. Arthanar quickly moved forward to examine the wolf. The wolf whined in great pain, its body shuddered violently as if it were convulsing. Arthanar seemed to be speaking to the dying wolf, until he drew his own dagger and shoved it into the wolf’s throat. He turned to whisper, “The wolf died of venom,” he said softly, looking all around him. “I fear a vile predator has moved into these woods.”

At that moment, three giant spiders descended from the darkened treetops!

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Roll for Initiative!

Fellowship Points:

3 (1 per player) + 2 (Gandalf) + 1 (Hoppy Strengthen Until Next Fellowship Phase) = 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.

Maethordan - Successful Travel Check (roll 21 on Advantage)

Event roll was for Scout, which was assigned to Welton.

Welton made an Explore roll successfully (roll 20 on Advantage, for being on a road)

Event - Find the wounded wolf (rather than be surprised by the Giant Spiders had the event failed!)

Yule Activities –

Lodin – Gather Rumors - Choose this undertaking to receive a rumor from the Loremaster. Until the next Fellowship Phase, Player-heroes in the Company have advantage on Intelligence checks related to the rumor.

Lodin – Write A Song - Choose this undertaking to compose a song, choosing whether it will be a Lay, a Song of Victory, or a Walking song (no ability check is required).