Session 25: Fangs and Farmers

January 3, 2966…

Lodin kicked the dead spider several times, before reaching over and pulling one of its giant, venomous fangs from its chelicerae. “For the Reeve in Combe, should he doubt us,” Lodin said, as he carefully placed it into a bag. “Best have Arthanar tend to your wounds as well, Maethordan.” Maethordan nodded, and Arthanar quickly began to diagnose the amount of venom to counter and bandage Maethordan’s wound.

“Keep that bow at the ready,” Lodin nodded to Arthanar, as they helped Welton stand again. Though still violently ill from the venom in his body, the solution Arthanar had applied would soon counter it; but the way to Combe would be met with several stops and Welton vomiting uncontrollably from time to time. Hoplite was placed on Dolly’s back, who moved with the grace of a feline, through the woods, knowing the poor Hobbit was on the brink of death.

As they traveled, Arthanar kept the bow string pulled tight, even as he glanced at the moaning Hoplite on the back of Dolly. From time to time, it glowed blue, sometimes fading, sometimes brighter. “They watch us,” Arthanar said, “skittering in the treetops. What force has brought them here to Chetwood?” Hoplite moaned again, and Arthanar added, “The fact that the Hobbit moans in pain is a good sign. He may yet live. But he will be sick for weeks until the venom is out of his body. He will be able to stand in a few days, but his breath will come short, his endurance wiped from him, until he is fully cured.”

Though Chetwood surrounded much of Combe, the bow ceased glowing blue once they’d gotten several miles closer to Combe. Upon arriving, a wizened, older man greeted them by the name of Oswald Breeker. He looked and saw the Hobbit slung over Dolly and looked to Maethordan and the ill-looking Welton. He recognized both of them though they may not have recognized him. “Come! Come inside,” he gestured, to a large farmhouse.

Oswald Breeker, seeing Hoplite and Welton, whistled loudly - the kind of whistle that showed he was someone who clearly had workers who tended to his massive farms - and his whistle was so loud it seemed to reach the very edges of his massive estate. Three humans quickly rushed towards the house, panting. "Speak to the Elf," he gestured, "he appears to be a scholar. Find out what you must fetch to tend to these other two and do it quickly!"

Quickly, the three humans moved passed Oswald Breeker and spoke with Arthanar who noted what herbs he would need. The three humans, as quickly as they'd appeared, dashed out of the farmhouse and returned within minutes with what Arthanar had requested. Quickly, Arthanar began working on Hoplite, whose life was still in jeopardy. "He should live," Arthanar confirmed again, "but he will be ill and weak for months. The amount of venom injected into his body began the process of shutting his body down. I was able to neutralize the poison, but barely. So much of it burns through his veins. The other," he turned to Welton, "should be fine in a day or two. He will be nauseous from both the venom and the herbs I used, but he should otherwise be fine."

Oswald Breeker looked at everyone gathered. "Strider told me to expect you." It was then that Maethordan realized that Oswald Breeker was an agent of the Rangers of the North. Not a Ranger of the North himself, but someone whom Strider trusted and often came to, for resources, food, and often times, information. Oswald Breeker employed a great many amount of workers on his farm estate, and though he was a tough man to work with, demanding much from those whom he employeed, he also heard much from them as he listened to their conversations and passed their observations on to Strider.

Oswald Breeker gestured to the others, "Please, sit down. You are safe here."

As Lodin helped Welton stand, he looked to Oswald, "We have heard of the trouble you've been having here in Combe and have now seen it for ourselves. Are you the leader around here? Does Combe have a Reeve?"

"A Reeve," Oswald Breeker thought for a moment. "I am about as close to a Reeve you will find here in Combe. But no," he shook his head, "no one officially holds the title of Reeve here in Combe. And as much as many may hate to agree, I am the closest thing to a leader here in Combe."

Lodin took out the fang and places it before Oswald. "The forest is crawling with the spawn of Ungallant."

At the sight of the massive fang, Oswald Breeker grimaced. "I'd heard such rumors from my workers, saying they've seen things in the woods."

Arthanar stepped forward. "It's true." He slung his short bow from his shoulder, showing off Liantefaikar, the Spider-Bane. "When I saw this I could scarcely believe it was truly what it appeared to be. This is Liantefaikar, the Spider-Bane, forged by none other than Isilmë, Lady Moonlight, herself, during the Second Age. The legend states that in an effort to amend relations with dwarves, she'd traveled to Moria and learned that the dwarves had been plagued by Thlingril, one of the favored children of Shelob herself. Isilmë, a great huntress herself, tracked down Thlingril and slew her - and from her, drew the silk web, which makes this bow string. When pulled taut, it illuminates and spider-ilk who bear witness to it, hear Thlingril's death-cry. When she returned home, she forged this bow as a gift to the dwarves, a token to amend their differences, and a gift to them, should any spider-kin ever dare enter Moria again."

Maethordan carried Hoplite into the home and set him down gently on a bed and turned to ask Oswald, "How long has this been the case? Has anyone disappeared and if so where?"

Oswald Breeker gave the question some thought. "I am a difficult man to work for, I expect much from the people I employ," he admitted. "It's not uncommon that they stop working for me. I suspect, some after," he gazed down at the venomous fang on the table, "that some could have gone missing. I've hardly time to keep an eye on those that work for me, my estate, and providing Strider, who," he gestured towards Maethordan and Welton, and their clothing, "I assume you both know based on your attire. He'd described you and you," he gestured again to Maethordan and then to Lodin, "but he said a dwarf would be in your company. So the elf," he nodded to Arthanar , "and the Hobbit," he looked at Hoplite whose flesh was colorless, but his chest still rose and fall, "were a bit of a surprise. But I suppose, folks could have disappeared. I know livestock has been an issue, even for myself."

Oswald Breeker turned to one of the farmers who'd gathered herbs from his farm for Arthanar. "Camellia, fetch Timmothy Thistle. If there's anyone whose heard any such things, it would be him. Keeps his ear in everyone's conversations, he does!"

The woman named Camellia stood up straight at the mention of her name, and patted down her soft, light brown hair. Her green eyes locked with Oswald, as she listened to every word - and waited only a moment to see if he'd been done talking to her before she raced out the door.

It was a few short minutes later, when from outside a male's voice could be heard, "I don't know what Oswald wants with me! I've been doing my leg of the work!"

As Camellia opened the door, the man known as Timmothy pulled himself up - seeing several strangers in the room, including one sickly human, and a Hobbit that looked closer to death than life.

Timmothy cleared his throat, "What can I do for you?"

Oswald repeated Maethordan's question. Timmothy listened, and after a moment, he nodded.

"Indeed, there's been some news," Timmothy admitted. "One of the Stoneacre twins came running through Chetwood - looked terrified, they did. Said something was chasing them in Chetwood. It was only Fred, which if you know the twins, they're never apart. Fred said something got his brother in Chetwood - and Harry had screamed to run, before his voice was muffled. The twins were traveling in the dead of night, avoiding something; but you know the Stoneacre boys as well as I do, Oswald - if they were hiding from something it's because they got in trouble with Bree guards again. But the way Fred was speaking, he was filled with dread. And," Timmothy looked from the Hobbit, to the venomous fang on the table, "I can now see why. Fred kept running after I ran into him in the fields. Said something else was chasing him and that it may already be too late for his brother. Wild it was to see Fred leave his brother behind, however."

Lodin asked, "Does anyone know where Fred is now?"

Timmothy shook his head, "Afraid not. Never seen quite so much terror in a young man's eyes before. I don't know if it's from that," he pointed to the fang on the table, "or something else. But for him to leave his twin brother behind is very unlike him. They were like the moon and stars they were - always together, moving around in the dark."

Lodin looked from Hoplite then to Welton; thankful that it looked as if Welton might recover soon, but Hoplite did not look well. His eyes then focused on Timmothy, "And when exactly was this?"

"This," Timmothy gave it some thought, "was about two weeks ago. Just after the Winter Yule rain began to die down." He nodded, "It was raining quite a bit during the Yule, more than usual, as I am sure you know if you were around here."

Knowing the Stoneacre twins, Lodin looked at Maethordan. "If that is so, there is little chance Harry is still alive, and even less chance any tracks remain in this weather. You couldn't track Fred 2 weeks after the fact can you Maethordan?" He shook his head, "In any case, whether we locate Fred or wait for Cirion to recover, Hoppy will not be well for quite a while. Would you be able to house him while we try to solve your spider problem?"

Oswald seemed as though he was a bit frustrated about being put out, but Camellia spoke up, "The elf," she pointed to Arthanar, "I apologize," she quickly amended, "in all the excitement I did not catch your name."

"Arthanar," the elven scholar smiled as he stood.

"Yes, Arthanar," she quickly added, "has shown me what herbs are needed to address the Hobbit's venom cure. I will take him on and tend to him."

"I won't pay you for the time you're tending to him," Oswald grumbled. "I pay my farm hands to tend to my farms, not to the wounded."

She nodded, standing her ground bravely. "I accept that," she said, matter-of-factly.

It's clear, she's never stood up to Oswald - a good chance that most have not stood up to this older, wizened man.

Seeing her stand so firmly, he muttered. "Fine. Tend to the Hobbit. Use my herbs on the farm. I will still pay you. But if either of you breathe a word of this," he looked from Camellia to Timmothy, "and especially you, Mr. Thistle - because you're mouth is just as active as your ears - I will send you far from Combe. You hear me?"

Both nodded emphatically.

Lodin noticed the miserly attitude of Oswald Breeker. He thought to himself that he'll do this one thing as a favor to the community, but in the future he will not help this man if he is not being paid. "Well then,” Lodin said after a moment, “the question remains do we track down Fred or just track the spiders outright. There is bound to be a nest."

Lodin recalled - back when he'd initially gotten the summons from Gandalf - he had traveled North from Lake Town to Dale, where he had rested for several days. From there, he’d spent weeks traveling North East, before reaching Skarháld, where he spent several nights in the company of dwarves. It was there he first heard about news of increased attacks by goblins in the area against the dwarves. In the three nights he’d spent there, the goblins had indeed made one attack against the dwarves, and Lodin had been there to help fend off the attack. From there, he traveled East with several dwarven merchants who were headed for Annâk-khurfu. The dwarves shared stories of their skills at the forge, while Lodin shared some of the story of his past, and his desire to one day find a worthy foe, such as a dragon, to destroy, similar to how Bard had done. From there, he traveled North to Grúmachath, where yet again, he would spend time in the company of Dwarves.

He had heard several stories about how the dwarves had battled against the goblins; but there'd been time to time, where the dwarves mentioned "the glory days of their ancestors."

Having heard Arthanar speak of Isilmë, Lady Moonlight and the legend that had stated in an effort to amend relations with dwarves, she'd traveled to Moria and learned that the dwarves had been plagued by Thlingril, one of the favored children of Shelob herself. Isilmë, a great huntress herself, tracked down Thlingril and slew her - and from her, drew the silk web, which makes this bow string. When pulled taut, it illuminates and spider-ilk who bear witness to it, hear Thlingril's death-cry. When she returned home, she forged this bow as a gift to the dwarves, a token to amend their differences, and a gift to them, should any spider-kin ever dare enter Moria again.

Thlingril's own spider-kin spawn fled from Moria and into Lothlòrien, and there had been hunted by the Elves. 

Some fled from Lothlòrien, north along the mountains, then West through High Pass, finding more resistance in Rivendell. But many managed to escape into the Trollshaws. Others had fled East, knowing Elves would be waiting in Rivendell and made their way to Rhovanion and Mirkwood. Those that had fled West into the Trollshaws had thrived, often feeding on the scraps left behind the trolls who dominated the woods. The Dwarves had shared stories that they'd heard from the Elves about the increasing number of Giant Spiders in the Trollshaws; most notably a Shadow Beast, a Spider Queen named Henuvacarch, who was capable of Dark Speech and greater wisdom.

Trollshaws, a place full of trolls, and shadow; he could deduce - had the Cargûl recruited Henuvacarch, the Spider Queen, to come to Combe after its attempt to poison Bree had failed?

"These spiders may have migrated from the Trollshaws,” Lodin said after a long moment of silence. “They may also be in league with the enemy. Dealing with them is an even higher priority now. Mr. Breeker, we will need to put together men from Combe to seek out the lair, there is safety in numbers with a threat like this."

Oswald Breeker had reported some of his suspicions about the odd activity of live stock going missing; though he'd no idea what, other than potentially large wolves, could be responsible. Giant Spiders seemed another matter entirely. When he'd reported to Strider, Strider himself had seemed preoccupied; he'd mention loosely, 'finding William' but hadn't gone into great length what that had meant. However, through Timmothy Thistle, he'd heard about the murder of a Ranger of the North; named Hergrim, whom Oswald was familiar with. Halldor, Strider had said, was now positioned around Bree watching over two herbalists (though Oswald was not told why a Ranger of the North would be dedicated to protecting two women in Bree). Sigurd, who had traveled with the sickly human now in his home (this is when Oswald had first seen Welton, was with Sigurd) - he was now out there with Strider trying to find William Stanwick.

Oswald finally broke from his internal struggles and said, "The problem is - the people of Combe... they're farmers... woodsmen... some are former miners, who mined Archet's mines... none of them are the soldier type. They're good with hand-held implements like scythes and sickles for harvesting, hoes for soil cultivation; but swords? Shields? The people of Combe are not that kind." He bit his bottom lip until he drew blood, then wiped it with the back of his hand. "But, I can gather them to my farm. You, or your friends, may need to give a speech and tell them why they might need to risk their lives, I dare say."

Maethordan looked between Oswald and Lodin, "Would it be worth going further a field for help, Bree maybe?"

"That means going back through Chetwood," Oswald commented, "and by the looks of things," he looked from Hoplite, who still looked closer to death than life, though Camellia was tending to him; then he looked at Welton, who was at least now standing, though still bleary eyed. "That didn't seem to go well for the lot of you." After a moment, he snapped his fingers, "Why, you could go up to Archet," he added, considering Maethordan's idea. "Captain Brackenbrook is an ol' sell sword. Some of his soldiers now live in Archet and have positions as guards. Though," he gave it some more consideration and added, "You may need to convince Captain Brackenbrook to 'borrow' some of his men, as that would leave Archet defenseless. Though, admittedly, they've not had the problems with the vanishing livestock as badly as we have had it here in Combe."

Lodin was firm, "These are not orcs, so holding a pitchfork, spear, or torch should be enough to cover each other. Though it may be worth asking Captain Brackenbrook first." Then added, "We could also take some wagons with us to provide cover and create a defensive posture."

Oswald Breeker nodded. "I have a few wagons around the estate for the farm you could use. Though," he muttered under his breath, "a small down payment would be nice, you understand I am sure, should you not return." His eyes go to Hoplite. "Because it does seem very dangerous."

Lodin turned to Maethordan and said, "Archet first?"

"Yes, sounds good," Maethordan then turned to Oswald and calmly explained, "Unfortunately we are not so well monied that we can pay for damage to items you are using to protect your land, all we can do is risk our lives to help you."

Oswald smiled, "Oh, it's not the fact you might damage them. I have workers who can fix a broken cart. It's the not coming back from this business, that is my concern."

Arthanar placed his hand on Lodin and Maethordan’s shoulder, “I’ve given the ingredients to Camellia to help Hoplite. It’s now fate whether he pulls through. Cirion looks good enough to travel again. He may get sick, but that is side effects from the herbs fighting the venom.”

The hunt, along the path from Combe to Archet is sparse. Undoubtedly the Giant Spiders have had a devastating toll on the wildlife balance; anything not caught in the webs has probably fled from the unbearable sense of evil that looms in the shadows; the movement heard, but unseen as giant spiders skitter through their webs, ever-watching, ever fearful of the faint glow blue of Liantefaikar - the Spider-Bane, whose taut string glowed a gentle blue in the presence of the Giant Spiders; even unseen the bow could sense when the Giant Spiders were near.

Unlike the previous time, upon arrival, the guard posted on Archet's gate called for the gates to be open and immediately escorted Lodin, Maethordan, Welton, and Arthanar to Captain Brackenbrook. The Captain looked up from his paperwork and gently pushed it aside as he stood. "I see you come with a new companion," he gestured towards Arthanar. "A pleasure to meet you," he added. "I see the dwarf who traveled with you is not among you. I hope he is well? There's been unusual things happening..."

That moment, a terrified scream ripped through the night. "Like that," the Captain sighed. "A young man from Bree named Fred Stoneacre was screaming inside of one of Archet's caves... the people thought it was a Wight... but it was just this young boy... I am not sure what ails him... but his mind is no longer able to find peace... the look in his eyes goes beyond anything I've ever seen... it reminds me of William before..." His voice trailed off.

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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.

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).