DMDM's Adventures in Mirkwood

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Roleplaying in Middle-Earth, using the 5e Middle-Earth rules from Cubicle 7.


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Female Hobbit of the Anduin Vales | Treasure Hunter (2) | HP: 18/18 AC: 14 Spd: 25ft| Init: +3 Perc: +7 PP:15 | Short Bow: +5 (1d6+3), Shortsword +1: +6 (1d6+4) | Exhaustion: 0, Inspiration: No

As soon as Faem finds a private moment, she takes out the ring she found and examines it carefully.


If you can make a DC 15 Perception followed by a DC 10 Intelligence (Riddle) check...

Here's a question:

The painter on the boat is intact, not torn or cut.

How'd it come to be bumping along on the wrong side of the river in the middle of the night?


A bit later, at Amalina's

The injured man is coming around at last. Now that you have a chance to examine him...

DC 12 Medicine check:
The Spider venom was keeping him unconscious, but that's far from all of his injuries. He has marks of a beating, several days old, and there are rope burns around his wrists.

...his eyelids flutter open.

"Ra... ruh. Rrr.

"Radagast."


Female Hobbit of the Anduin Vales | Treasure Hunter (2) | HP: 18/18 AC: 14 Spd: 25ft| Init: +3 Perc: +7 PP:15 | Short Bow: +5 (1d6+3), Shortsword +1: +6 (1d6+4) | Exhaustion: 0, Inspiration: No

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Oh well.

Assumed it was just poorly tied off, and who's to say what side of the river is the wrong side, currents, boulders, bends, etc. Missed Perception so doesn't matter to Faem.

About that ring...


Faem wrote:
As soon as Faem finds a private moment, she takes out the ring she found and examines it carefully.

Ring? What ring?

Faem only, honor system, come on don't make me use PMs:
It's not a ring. It's a pendant.

The chain is gold, and very finely made. The pendant itself is a stone in a golden setting. The gold alone is valuable, and the work makes it much more so. Some cunning hand has wrought the massy gold into a shape of simple beauty. Yes, the setting alone is a thing of great beauty and craft.

But the stone...

At first it looks black. But when you stare at it for a moment, you realize it's really green. A very dark green, with darker veins running through it. And if you look more closely, there's a hint of a red gleam at the center, like the night-glow of a banked fire.

It is absolutely gorgeous and utterly fascinating.


Female Hobbit of the Anduin Vales | Treasure Hunter (2) | HP: 18/18 AC: 14 Spd: 25ft| Init: +3 Perc: +7 PP:15 | Short Bow: +5 (1d6+3), Shortsword +1: +6 (1d6+4) | Exhaustion: 0, Inspiration: No

DM:
Faem has never held anything so enchanting. The closer her inspection, the deeper the veins of color run. She and her brother played games collecting pretty river stones, but none compared to the luster of this gem! The gold alone is worth more than the whole of her village; the pendant is surely more valuable than every Hobbit settlement west of the Great River! Faem is unaware of the Shire. But does it belong to that woodman? Is this what Dagmar and her band were looking for - why they called the woodman a "thief?" She clutches the pendant to her breast, then thinks it best not to let this secret out yet. She hangs the chain around her neck, the stone cold as it rests above her heart. Then she tucks it under her leathers and shirt, satisfied it is hidden from view. In the excitement she has lost track of time, her mind is racing and her body is flush and tingling. She will keep it secret for now - keep it safe.

Shaking herself and taking a few deep breaths, she hurries back to where the others have gathered with the woodman she rescued.


Faem:

1) Take a point of Shadow.

2) Let me know under what circumstances you might take it out ("never!" is an acceptable answer) and/or whether you want to do anything with it ("no, I just want to keep it" is fine too).


Female Hobbit of the Anduin Vales | Treasure Hunter (2) | HP: 18/18 AC: 14 Spd: 25ft| Init: +3 Perc: +7 PP:15 | Short Bow: +5 (1d6+3), Shortsword +1: +6 (1d6+4) | Exhaustion: 0, Inspiration: No

DM:
Faem would show it to Radagast in private, and is keen to do so, but no one else. She has no plans to part with it, but that could change.


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

Veig looks over the wounded man.

Medicine DC 12: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

"There was not just spider venom afflicting this man. A days-old beating and rough rope burns on his wrists also!"


AC 16 (14 w/o shield) | Init +2 (+7 nr forest) | Per +5 (+7 in KL; Advantage nr forest); PP 15 (+2 in KL, +5 nr forest) | STR +3, CON +4, DEX +2, WIS +3

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
INT: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

While pulling the boat ashore, Radegund notices for certain that it's not the one they took over.

She mutters, Hmmmmmm. The painter on the boat is intact, not torn or cut. How'd it come to be bumping along on the wrong side of the river in the middle of the night?

"Could someone have sent this one bumping toward us intentionally?"


Alias "Polish" I Male Akorosi Cutter I Insight 1 (Study 1) I Prowess 3 (Prowl 1 Skirmish 3 Wreck 1) I Resolve 2 (Command 1 Consort 1) I VICE: Luxury I STRESS 3/9 I HARM: Lvl 1 (stab wound; bruised by leviathan)

Hooray for the honours system! Reminds me of school

Finraeth listens closely as Radegund muses on the state of the boat. "That is curious indeed, in a night of curiosities that will surely have us speculating many a day and doubtless more, for it seemeth to me that we have no clear answers as yet to many of the riddles we have encountered. But I have heard tell of many creatures in the rivers of Mirkwood, some benign and others very much not. Mayhap one of them took the boat for their own use, which would explain the assailment of my person when we repurposed the craft for our own needs."

No idea what - if anything - Finraeth would know about such things. Does Middle-Earth even have water sprites and suchlike?


Finraeth wrote:


No idea what - if anything - Finraeth would know about such things. Does Middle-Earth even have water sprites and suchlike?

Tom Bombadil was married to one!


Meanwhile: short of actual Fellowship activities, there are things you can do now! Talk to the injured man, talk to Woodmen in general, ask questions (within reason).

The three strangers are going to attract attention, though for different reasons.

-- Finraeth: this is a little tricky. Wood-elves are well known to the Woodmen, and they are generally FRIENDLY. However, nobody has seen a Rivendell-Elf before. I'd say your culture is UNKNOWN. So people will be cautiously friendly and a bit confused by you.

-- Veig: Woodmen are NEUTRAL towards dwarves, of Erebor or anywhere else. They know about dwarves and won't find you strange or exotic. They have a fairly standard view of dwarves: good fighters, shrewd merchants, greedy, keep to themselves. You won't be welcomed with open arms but you won't be viewed askance either. People may wonder why you're here.

-- Faem: Hobbits are UNKNOWN to the Woodmen. The halflings of the Gladden Fields are shy and reclusive; a few folk of the river Anduin have trade-dealings with them, but very few, and anyway the Woodmen don't spend much time around the great River. So people will have no idea what to make of you.


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

"Man, who are you? Do you know where Radagast is?"


Female Hobbit of the Anduin Vales | Treasure Hunter (2) | HP: 18/18 AC: 14 Spd: 25ft| Init: +3 Perc: +7 PP:15 | Short Bow: +5 (1d6+3), Shortsword +1: +6 (1d6+4) | Exhaustion: 0, Inspiration: No

As Faem has continuously been confused for and treated like a child by her own human companions, she takes advantage of this automatic disguise while in Rhosgobel so that the larger folk pay her no heed, except perhaps to give her a bit of food off the stand should she approach with a practiced smile and a hand out. If any question her identity, she runs away laughing and hiding. Faem may attempt to listen in on conversations between groups of woodmen, learning of the Wood and the dangers within. At all times she looks for word of Radagast and attempts to make his acquaintance.

Deception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21


Faem wrote:
As Faem has continuously been confused for and treated like a child by her own human companions, she takes advantage of this automatic disguise while in Rhosgobel so that the larger folk pay her no heed, except perhaps to give her a bit of food off the stand should she approach with a practiced smile and a hand out.

Hobbit only look like children to a casual glance. On closer acquaintance, they're obviously something quite different. An experienced hobbit could probably disguise herself as a child, but I'm not sure that would be part of your skill set.

Quote:
If any question her identity, she runs away laughing and hiding.

This will work for a while, but in the long run it will make the Woodmen suspicious of you.

Quote:
Faem may attempt to listen in on conversations between groups of woodmen, learning of the Wood and the dangers within. At all times she looks for word of Radagast and attempts to make his acquaintance.

Mmkay, noted.

1d20 ⇒ 19


Veig Fairmane wrote:
"Man, who are you? Do you know where Radagast is?"

The man blinks at you, confused. Let's give Veig a Charisma check!

1d20 ⇒ 3

His expression becomes wary. "I am Beran, of the clan Lampbearer. I... believe you helped me? If so, you have my thanks." His gratitude seems sincere, but his manner is guarded.


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

"Well met, Beran of the clan Lampbearer. I am Veig, son of Svior, servant of King Dáin of Erebor. You home of kin of The Magpie of Rhosgobel."


AC 16 (14 w/o shield) | Init +2 (+7 nr forest) | Per +5 (+7 in KL; Advantage nr forest); PP 15 (+2 in KL, +5 nr forest) | STR +3, CON +4, DEX +2, WIS +3

I assume we'll have another earlier scene to play out too, when we arrive...but happy to play them both concurrently.

"Yes, I'm grateful to see you awake! As Veig says, I am The Magpie, and this is my family home in Rhosgobel. You're safe now."

She pauses and says, "This here is Finraeth of Rivendell, and this is Faem. Amalina helped tend you as well, but she's out at the moment.

"Pray, have some cool mint tea, you must be parched. When you're ready, I'd be curious to hear how you came to be in the company Spiders."

Persuasion: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Do I know clan Lampbearer?


You have a negative persuasion modifier? -- Hm: does this party even have a Face character?


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Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

Veig has a +2 to intimidation. ;)


AC 16 (14 w/o shield) | Init +2 (+7 nr forest) | Per +5 (+7 in KL; Advantage nr forest); PP 15 (+2 in KL, +5 nr forest) | STR +3, CON +4, DEX +2, WIS +3

...And The Magpie has +4 with Animals (and advantage in Known Lands)
.
Our Warden / Emissary will presumably be our main face (with +4 to Persuasion)...but among the Woodmen I can see Radegund stepping into a roll she's ill suited for, esp at the beginning. She'll be very happy when she doesn't feel she has to do the talk-to-people thing any more, and can focus on talking to animals & ranging.


Clan Lampbearer are from up north -- around Wuduseld, Woodmen Hall, at the northern end of the Woodmen-realm.

Beran takes the tea with a grateful murmur. Then, "I was traveling deep in the Wood. 'From forest's dark heart to Elven-King's throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone'. But so I had no friend at hand when I stumbled into the web of the Spiders. Well it was for me that you found me." He nods solemnly. "You have my thanks, Magpie. Yes, and your friends too."

You definitely have the feeling that much is being left unsaid here. On the other hand, is it good manners to press a guest, and an injured guest at that?


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

Veig nods.

"I sought horrors in the forest alone and paid the same price as yourself. Do you still have a task undone that you were in such haste, or returning from such?"


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Alias "Polish" I Male Akorosi Cutter I Insight 1 (Study 1) I Prowess 3 (Prowl 1 Skirmish 3 Wreck 1) I Resolve 2 (Command 1 Consort 1) I VICE: Luxury I STRESS 3/9 I HARM: Lvl 1 (stab wound; bruised by leviathan)
DM_DM wrote:
You have a negative persuasion modifier? -- Hm: does this party even have a Face character?

*waves*

Finraeth raises an eyebrow as it becomes clear that Beran is not saying everything, but no matter. He offers the Woodman a refill of his hot drink, and takes a puff on his pipe while he considers things. "Well it was indeed, that we found you, but in truth we were not the only ones. A group of Woodmen - for so they called themselves - from Tyrant's Hill, an ill named place indeed, did disturb us most rudely as we sought to return to this place, and their leader, Dagmar, did claim that thou hadst stolen from her something that she owned, although in truth she did not state what that was. Naturally, we declined to hand over one who was not in a fit state to offer a defence. The matter became somewhat tense." He waves a hand in airy understatement.

He gives the man a quizzical stare. "Knowest thou a reason why someone from that fell place, in all proximity to Dol Guldur, wouldst make such a claim against thee?"

Persuasion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24


Beran's eyes widen... dum de dum dum, just rolling a die here... 1d20 ⇒ 12 ...and he sits up straighter. "Sir... you are not an elf of the Woodland Realm!"

1d20 ⇒ 19 Huh. "Well, Sir Elf... in truth, yes. This matter lies close to Dol Guldur..."

More tomorrow.


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AC 16 (14 w/o shield) | Init +2 (+7 nr forest) | Per +5 (+7 in KL; Advantage nr forest); PP 15 (+2 in KL, +5 nr forest) | STR +3, CON +4, DEX +2, WIS +3

Radegund smiles at Finraeth's words, and feeds a cricket to the magpie chick perched on her shoulder.

I am glad The Elf is on our side. I swear, I don't know how I could say no to a voice like that, were he to ask me to give him my own mother. Let us see what this Beran has to say...


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

The words of the elf are potent indeed!


"The Forest Beneath The Shadow is as terrible as they say." Beran's voice is calm and slow, but there is a shadow on his eyes; and on the coverlet, his pale hands tremble just a little.

"Darkness has dwelt for too long in Southern Mirkwood, and the whole forest carries its taint. Black firs grow tangled and twisted, their branches laden down with strands of old man’s beard and black ivy. The murk is darker here, so that no light penetrates the leaves, and one stumbles half blind even on the brightest days. The ground underfoot might be a sucking bog, or shards of broken stone, or choked in thorns. Many of the trees themselves are dead, strangled by the poisons in the soil. The few beasts are venomous, or mad, or cunning as no beast should be. And whatever does grow... grows wrong.

"Still, it was to the bounds of Dol Guldur that I was sworn to go. For there were rumors of strange comings and goings, and of the sound of voices and footsteps where there had been only silence and the calls of beasts.

"And so I came most quietly to Fenbridge Keep."


All Woodmen know of Fenbridge Keep: the northern outpost of Dol Guldur. The evil stronghold is surrounded on three sides by impenetrable bogs; only from the north could a force of any size approach it. And so the north was guarded by Fenbridge Keep.

"Five years has the Keep stood empty -- five years since the Necromancer fled. Then Ingomer Axebreaker led five hundred fighters to Fenbridge Keep, Woodmen and Leofrings and even some of the followers of Beorn. And the goblins fled at the first assault. And we freed the slaves that were held in that place, and burned everything that would burn, and tore as many stones down as we could. And that was a day's work well done." All Woodmen know this story, too. Everyone has a family member who took part in the Scouring of Fenbridge.

"Five years has the Keep stood empty -- It is empty no more. There I saw Forest Goblins -- dozens of them, at least a hundred. They have returned, and they are rebuilding the Keep.

"And they are not alone. Goblins of a different sort I saw as well -- great fighting Orcs in black armor, with keen weapons. And a great beast moved among them by night, a thing of troll-sort perhaps, though I could not see it well.

"But that was not the worst. On the third day of my watch, a party of Men came to Fenbridge, let by a great broad-shouldered man in red and green. They held parley with the Orcs, and then reached some agreement and departed.

"So then did I leave too, to make my way carefully home and report what I had seen. And then..."


"The reeks have begun to rise again, around Fenbridge."

Everyone knows of the reeks. Thick fogs, that rose out of the bogs around Dol Guldur. But more than just mists. There is a malice in them, a dark will that blinds and confuses, so that even the most most experienced woods-runner will find herself turning in circles, stumbling into bogs, gasping into madness... or worse yet, emerging from the reeks to see the pale towers of Dol Guldur, too close, too close.

"I avoided the worst of the reek, but it left me lost and wandering. And then I heard the voices of Men in the forest... Woodmen, my own folk!"


"I did not know them, but Woodmen they were. And at first they seemed friendly enough. But when I told them what I had seen, their manner changed. Dagmar, their leader, said that I should come with them to Amon Bauglir, to tell my tale to her master, Lord Mogdred. When I refused, they beat, seized and bound me, and carried me with them.

"Two days we traveled north through the Wood, almost to Tyrant's Hill. Two days I worked on my bonds, quietly and carefully. And then, at a moment's distraction, I slipped the rope and fled.

"They pursued! But I have walked the Wood for thirty years, man and boy. No living Man knows its ways better. I eluded them.

"But then..."


Beran's hands are trembling quite visibly now.

"I heard... music. That seems mad, I know. Music in the Wood? But I heard it. And then it seemed that... that I did not walk alone." He looks up at you, and his eyes are filled with dread. "Master Elf, I cannot describe it. It was not like the mazing of the reeks. It was as if... some other will, not my own, bent my steps away from the paths I knew." He shakes his head. "When the Spiders came, it was almost a relief. I had no weapon, but I could pick up a stick, and try to fight!"


"And so I was taken by the Spiders. And I thought that was the end, until you came." He looks at each of you, in turn. "You have my thanks. And my troth: if ever I can help any of you, no matter how great or small the matter, I shall. So I swear."


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

With the tale ended, Veig cuts to the chase.

"A fearsome tale and your troth appreciated! Dagmar claimed that were you a thief. We found his manner that of an overeager brute, not at least willing to travel with us here to ascertain identities. Did you take anything that would give a shred of truth to his words?"


1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Beran frowns a little at the question, but answers somberly. "Nothing. In fact, they stripped me of my pack and weapons."


Male Dwarf of the Iron Hills Slayer (future foe-hammer) HP: 3/15 | Temp HP: 0/0 | HD 1/1 (d12+3) | Battle Fury 0/2
Stats:
AC 15 | Str +5* Dex +2 Con +5* Int +0 Wis +0 Cha +0 | Initiative +2 | Perception +2 | Insight +0 | Inspiration? No
Conditions: Poisoned

"I thought as much. They seemed like scoundrels to me."


AC 16 (14 w/o shield) | Init +2 (+7 nr forest) | Per +5 (+7 in KL; Advantage nr forest); PP 15 (+2 in KL, +5 nr forest) | STR +3, CON +4, DEX +2, WIS +3

The Magpie purses her lips with consternation and scratches her head through her thick, unruly hair.

"Everything you say rings true, Beran. I am grateful to whatever Fate led us to discover you.

"We too had the misfortune to encounter the hateful music that foul harp creates." She pauses and glances at the Elf. "Finraeth, you seemed to recognize something about that harp, yes?

"At any rate, by the strength of our numbers we were able to drive the Dagmar and the rest back toward whatever hole they crawled from in Tyrant's Hill...but these are Dire Tidings you bring."

Biting her lip, she exclaims, "Oh, how I hope Radagast returns from his wandering soon! He'd know what to do. But if he does not, we must bring this news to the council of elders."

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