One morning the hobbits woke to find the large field, south of Bilbo's front door, covered with ropes and poles for tents and pavilions. A special entrance was cut into the bank leading to the road, and wide steps and a large white gate were built there. The three hobbit-families of Bagshot Row, adjoining the field, were intensely interested and generally envied. Old Gaffer Gamgee stopped even pretending to work in his garden.
The tents began to go up. There was a specially large pavilion, so big that the tree that grew in the field was right inside it, and stood proudly near one end, at the head of the chief table. Lanterns were hung on all its branches. More promising still (to the hobbits' mind): an enormous open-air kitchen was erected in the north corner of the field. A draught of cooks, from every inn and eating-house for miles around, arrived to supplement the dwarves and other odd folk that were quartered at Bag End. Excitement rose to its height.
Bilbo Baggins called it a party, but it was really a variety of entertainments rolled into one. Practically everybody living near was invited. A very few were overlooked by accident, but as they turned up all the same, that did not matter. Many people from other parts of the Shire were also asked; and there were even a few from outside the borders. Bilbo met the guests (and additions) at the new white gate in person. He gave away presents to all and sundry . the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate. Hobbits give presents to other people on their own birthdays. Not very expensive ones, as a rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system. Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year it was somebody's birthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least one present at least once a week. But they never got tired of them.
On this occasion the presents were unusually good. The hobbit-children were so excited that for a while they almost forgot about eating. There were toys the like of which they had never seen before, all beautiful and some obviously magical. Many of them had indeed been ordered a year before, and had come all the way from the Mountain and from Dale, and were of real dwarf-make.
When every guest had been welcomed and was finally inside the gate, there were songs, dances, music, games, and, of course, food and drink. There were three official meals: lunch, tea, and dinner (or supper). But lunch and tea were marked chiefly by the fact that at those times all the guests were sitting down and eating together. At other times there were merely lots of people eating and drinking continuously from elevenses until six-thirty, when the fireworks started.
The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, but designed and made by him; and the special effects, set pieces, and flights of rockets were let off by him. But there was also a generous distribution of squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf- fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps. They were all superb. The art of Gandalf improved with age.
There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices. There were green trees with trunks of dark smoke: their leaves opened like a whole spring unfolding in a moment, and their shining branches dropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits, disappearing with a sweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces. There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes. And there was also one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceedingly, as Gandalf intended. The lights went out. A great smoke went up. It shaped itself like a mountain seen in the distance, and began to glow at the summit. It spouted green and scarlet flames. Out flew a red-golden dragon, not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, and many fell flat on their faces. The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion.
At this point Gandalf gathered four about him, four whom he knew to be brave and courageous and worthy of a great responsibility, and he drew them into the darkness behind the Grand Pavilion.
"I have spied some movement to the north," he said in a quiet and somber voice. "For better or ill Mr Bilbo Baggins has invited practically everybody to this little party of his, so there should be no movement and no lights to be seen, not here, not in the North Farthing, not anywhere in the Shire. Make haste and uncover whatever it is that..."
Gandalf's face stiffens suddenly, and he pauses a moment. "Gather your weapons and go, but do not bring any concern to these people here. I intend to leave the Shire by morning, so look for me at the inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree in two days hence. I want to know what it was that you uncovered."
And with a swirl of his cloak Gandalf leaves and disappears into the pavilion.
***********
You collect your things and meet at the North end of the field, near to Bag End, within a few minutes.
Khazak is big for a dwarf. He stands 4 feet 4 inches tall and weighs in at 199 lbs. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes. He wears his chest length beard in one large braid that has had several small ornaments attached to it. One of them is a miniature representation of a heavy crossbow.
Khazak's leather armor is dark brown in color. Most of the items that make up his explorer's outfit are in various shades of brown. The main exception is his cloak which is grey in color.
Khazak would look something like a walking arsenal. He would be carrying his heavy crossbow loaded and ready. His battleaxe is on his weapon belt on his right hand side, he carries a morningstar on his belt on his left hand side set up for a cross draw. He carries a sickle thrust through the center front of his weapon belt. He has a small quiver with some throwing darts in it slung off his left shoulder and carries the bolts for his heavy crossbow in a case hung off the right side of his weapon belt behind the axe.
Grifo approaches the the group at the north end of the field. He stands a full foot shorter than Khazak and is quite slight in build. He's got scruffy brown hair with sideburns. He clinks as he walks looking slightly uncomfortable in a mail shirt. He wears a green long coat over his armour and has a Morningstar bouncing against his left leg and a small crossbow slung over his right shoulder.
He nods to Khazak. " A lovely night for a wander... " he says scanning the area to north.
You see Tobold approach from a distance as the local baby will-o-wisps seem to light his path whenever he wishes . Dressed in nice clothes befitting an artisan he carries a long spear, which he uses as much as a walking stick as a weapon, with a dagger in his belt on one side and a sling on the other. You see many containers which you are sure contain his ever-present infamous acid. He has curly red hair on his head and feet.
Good evening gentlemen. You must be the other fine gentlemen Gandalf has gathered for the festive evenings extracurricular entertainment.
Tobold then stares off to the north trying to see what is afoot.
" Yes, Grifo Hedgehopper, at your service " bowing slightly to Tobold and Khazak.
Khazak nods towards the hobbits who have gathered with him and says "Khazak Ironaxe here to help you all out. I'm not sure what all the fuss and bother is about, but Gandalf usually doesn't jump at shadows."
Peony ate one last handcake from the party as she sauntered across the field towards the others, a bit miffed at all this drama. It was a bit of paranoid hoo-hah, as far as she was concerned. Stepping into the circle, she pulls down the cowl of her cloak.
"Hello again, probably best we make formal introductions. My name is Peony, Peony Boffin. I usually keep an eye and an ear on the roads between Hobbiton and Bree."
A fair hobbit lass, Peony stands a mere 3'3", with stringy locks of deep auburn hair. Her pale complexion and sparse freckles only accentuating her slate blue eyes that glint deep and dark in the moonlight. She is wrapped in a heavy cloak sewn from brown linen and wolf furs, underneath which she sports an old battered Chain Shirt over a set of thick pale green traveler's clothes. Though it appears that as a ranger she dresses conservatively and modestly on purpose, one may notice her rather shapely hips through it all. She comes armed with a Bow & Blades, her bow well notched from battles passed.
The four of you group together and head North through familiar land, eyes and ears peeled for anything unusual against the fading backdrop of fireworks and cheers.
You crest a rise, Bag End and the party barely two miles bends you. All seems quiet and peaceful with the moon high in the sky.
Grifo bows low to Peony, " Grifo, at your service. " he says winking as he rises from the bow... " I'm certainly glad that Gandalf had the... Ah wisdom to ah... You look very experienced. " He finishes a little lamely. A slightly silly grin on his face.
Khazak says, "There's somebody in that house over there." Temporarily shifting to a one handed grip on his crossbow so he can point at it with his then free hand.
I saw it as well. Everyone should be at Bilbo's. Good time for someone to do some stealing. Let's see who it is.
Grifo looks slightly upset at the focus being taken off of him so quickly but then he remembers they've a job to do. " Right. Let's go see the only person in the shire who felt Bilbo's party wasn't good enough for them. "
Khazak says, "I'm not only stealthy, I can see in the dark. If no one objects I'll take point."
She cocka an eyebrow at Grifo, taking a sip from her wineskin. "Yes, yes, thank you kindly."
Time passes.
"I'm right behind you, Khazak"
I'll hang back with Grifo a little and guard the rear
" Yes good plan. We'll guard the rear. Good luck you two, sing out if you need us. " As Grifo says good luck he reaches up and thumps Khazak lightly on the shoulder.
As Peony and Khazak creep away Grifo loads his crossbow.
" Nice pun... " He says to Tobold.
Pun? I have noooo idea what you are talking about.
Khazak and Peonie dart between hedges, trees, wagon and barrels as they approach the house.
Keeeeer-choooooo!
You hear a sneeze followed by several more in quick succession coming from the house. There are three lights on in the house (a hobbit-hole and that means comfort) and evidently there is fire warming the house in the main fireplace.
You then hear some hoarse and croaky voice grumbling. It seems he is talking to himself, and it is probably the same person sneezing.
You heard a sharp crack, like a branch being broken. It wasn't nearby, probably a large crack at some distance. It might have been a firecracker, though you can tell it wasn't from behind you, so it couldn't have been a firecracker.
" Did you hear that? Like a branch braking " Grifo says quietly to Tobold. Suddenly very serious.
He looks about, craning his neck to see if anyone is sneaking up on them or on Peony and Khazak.
Khazak will stealthily approach the door to the hobbit hole and see what state the door is in (open, closed, broken down, lock obviously tampered with, etc.)
I heard nothing. But I'll keep an eye out.
Peony draws a dagger, hiding it beneath her cloak she skulks up to a window, peering inside(?)
Peony draws a dagger, hiding it beneath her cloak she skulks up to a window, peering inside(?)
There are several windows. Would you go up to a window with light inside, or a dark window?
Grifo reports on a mystery sound, but neither he nor Tolbold hear or see anything.
Khazak sneaks up to the door.
Khazak can hear an elderly hobbit mumbling to himself, "Of all the days in the year, why should it be tonight that I catch a cold. Ahhhh-choooooo! <sniffle, sniffle> How is it that we can market our leaf to Gondor but we can't cure the common cold?"
Peony skulks to the windows.
Khazak stealthily moves back to Tobold and Grifo to let them know what he has learned.
When he gets to them he will whisper, "Just some old guy staying home because he has a cold."
Grifo replies in a whisper
" Seems innocent enough. I heard a sharp crack, it sounded far away but not to the south. So not one of Gandalf's fire crackers. Maybe a branch breaking? Should we go further north? "
Khazak replies in a whisper, "As soon as the lady returns we'll move out."
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Maybe we should try and see if we can locate where that noise came from.
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Peony quickly disregards the gentleman, feeling a bit awkward for being so invasive of his privacy. She follows but a few paces behind Khazak.
"I'm sure Khazak filled you in. What's the plan? There's quite a bit of acreage in North farthing.."
Khazak shrugs. He whispers, "They say they heard something like a branch breaking somewhere to the north. Any place there more likely to have branches than any other?"
The party regroup and begin discussing plans.
" Should we just knock on this guys door? See if he's heard or seen anything strange? Other than that all we can do is keep heading north keeping our eyes and ears open. "
[Ooc] any likely areas north of here? Woods or something?
Khazak says, "I think leaving the guy alone is probably the best idea. Let's just head north and see what we find."
Peony looks at the others quizzically, gesturing at the woodlands that surround them.
"Sometimes a branch breaks with no sinister reason, don't jump at shadows. Aye, let's move Northward. Did Gandalf give anyone any sort of specifics?.."
Khazak says, still keeping his voice low, "The closest he got to being specific was telling us to bring our weapons."
Maybe we should search the area further on more and see if we turn up anything
You head North hoping to see what Gandalf was referring to. Barely 100 yards ahead Khazak hears a soft whimpering. Just inside a low picket fence is a white and brown terrior dog laying perfectly still on its side with its head almost at a right angle to where it should be. A trickle of blood seeps from its nose. The dog's eyes rove about wildly though its body still does not move.
Can anyone tell what happened to it? Are there any tracks from an attacker?
Can anyone tell what happened to it? Are there any tracks from an attacker?
Yes, there are tracks.
Khazak whispers, "Looks like we might need weapons after all."
" Hang in there feller. " Grifo says softly to the dog. " Peony I really want to help this dog see if there's any thing I can do for him... But I don't want to mess up any tracks. If you can read them please hurry. "
As soon as the others have had a chance to look over the tracks Grifo will step in and cradle the dog. Inspecting it's wounds and seeing if he can do any thing for the creature.
Heal check results: he has a repressed respiratory system, his pulse is weak and fading, blood pressure low. No visible injuries to his skin, no blood. His neck has been snapped at the fifth cervical vertebrae. You didn't know you were such a good vet. However, there is nothing you can do for him.
Peony's expression turns hard as stone, drawing her bastard sword with a silent motion she swiftly darts about the area, scouring the ground for tracks, broken branches, downed shrubbery, anything.
While everyone else is busy being useful Tolbold casts Detect Magic and then searches the area for clues.
Khazak whispers to Grifo, "You might just have to put the poor critter out of his misery."
Grifo cradles the dog. It's neck was broken, and in picking it up he could reasonable guess that the dog was tossed aside to land here with its broken neck, probably even tossed over the fence after its neck was snapped.
Khazak and Peony start to look about for tracks. It would seem that Khazak went in the wrong direction, though Peony makes out the tracks of three small creatures doubling back on themselves (to head back to the North from whence they came) just 40' south of where you are. They tracks are quite fresh.
Tobold stares about with his spell. He notices an aura near by and follows it to find a sturdy, golden ring. It radiates faint abjuration.