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Another Scout camping trip. This time with the troop, like is supposed to be normal. Going back to the site with no cell coverage. My allergies are hitting me hard enough I want to just crawl into a ball and do nothing. All the boys can't get there unless I drive.
Last posts from DM Ragnarok was on 1 Mar. He made 2 of them at about 0530 East Coast US time. One of them was to declare that he had taken pretty sick. Other than the continued absence, that's what I know.
More scouting. Helping run a training course that will keep me occupied through late Sunday. I am in cell range and might get a few minutes like this every now and again.
DM Ragnarok indicated in a recruitment thread that he is sick. Just in case anyone else was wondering what's happened.
Time for another BSA Campout at the facility with no cell signals. I head to work in the morning and then go meet the troop and head to camp. I'll be back on Sunday.
"Armpits? While he's fighting? He is serious, isn't he?" The elf watches the beast's movements until he feels them, and then takes a shot at the beast's neck . . ..
And the shot flies true and powerful right to where the beast's neck SHOULD have been . . ..
Seeing the ranger step to Aeddan's aid, he shrugs and lets only one arrow fly at the orc threatening Galadhon.
Oh yeah. And rearward stance.
Rearward combat stance.
As Ayluin's words are absorbed, Caunlaigdir adds to them. "He speaks true, but you will need extra labor to get the work done quickly enough. Given that the outer villages and farms are poorly defensible, you should gather those men here, bringing what supplies they can carry." He looks uncomfortable and glances around the table. "The enemy fears fire, but they respect it as a weapon. Fire could destroy the hedge while forcing people out of the fortification. Some of your extra manpower should go to firefighting details, in order to stay a step ahead should they choose that tactic. This will dangerously overflow your fortifications, I fear. One way to reduce that overcrowding is to take a force of volunteers to hide in the countryside, returning to attack the enemy's flank after they engage the assault. Such a group will face a great number of losses, but if they avoid early discovery they will simplify your main defense effort. Great risk for a small chance of great benefit."
FAR too big an event to skip!
The young elf looks distinctly uncomfortable. "The training you have provided for me about the opponent suggests that any who are left for the Shadow to claim will be turned against those who still stand in opposition. If we do not help our neighbors defend themselves, then our neighbors are likely to be turned against us. That makes the risk of doing nothing greater than the risk of helping, right?"
"I am just one of your soldiers, my king, so I am certain there are many things about our world I do not understand. But it seems to me that as we have watched the Shadow seep into our forest, into our home, it has shown us that the more territory the Shadow controls, the more powerful it becomes. We could leave these men to their own devices and watch to see if they defend themselves well or if their homes are claimed by the Shadow. If they lose, though, then the power of the Shadow will continue to grow, and the task of defending our homes and our people from it will become more onerous. I would ask that you encourage our people to defend themselves and their homes. Such defense may require helping others as they oppose the Shadow in their own homes."
"My king, he did not give us the specifics, but he did tell us he was requesting your assistance, and asked us to plead his case should you hesitate."
"My king. Radagast chose to give us this message for you after we saved one of his agents, both from men of dark intent and powerful venom, and then we helped him heal most of the men in a settlement. These companions have displayed strength in the face of shades and skill at helping others."
"But delay was not indicated, and, so." The young elf extends the missive in his right hand, bowing above it.
"No pupils here that I know of, but you know as well as I that a messenger who hands over his message to anyone else has failed in his task. If this is the only way you can feel powerful enough to let us deliver the message, than so be it."
"Take us to him and hold our arms and armor while we deliver the message if you must, but you will not insult us by relieving us of our task as though you are better suited to pick who serves the needs of the Istari than the Istari themselves."
"Only to announce our presence with his message. I thought I was clear that he tasked us to ensure delivery, not to hand the task off to others."
"Had I not lived it, I am uncertain I would believe it myself. We met the Brown Wizard, and he gave us words for King Thranduil. I am leading my companions to him so that we may discharge the Wizard's purpose."
"Mae govannen! I am glad not only to see your patrol, but also that you appear unharmed. I am Caunlaigdir, and have spent some time working patrols such as yours."
Last week was a shooting sports event for the local BSA council. This week is a district camp-o-ree and I'm off to camp with the troop. See everybody on Sunday!
Headed to a Boy Scout Shooting Sports campout to run the archery range. In the Hill Country and a valley, so there is no cell service after I get there. Will be back Sunday night.
The native of the Mirkwood spends a few moments considering the season and beasts commonly on the Western side of the forest, and adjusts his gear slightly for the expected weather and likely creature encounters.
"We thank you for your trust, and will deliver the message to Thranduil with all haste."
"They should be dealt with. Are we enough, or should we aid the locals as they clean out their own troubles?"
The young elf misses the desire, but knows to follow the example set by his companions. He looks more confused at Ayluin than shocked. Maybe he's not quite past the revelation of Galadhon. "A pleasure to meet you, great wizard. I am Caunlaigdir. How can my bow help you?"
"Of course we will help!"
"I think your accusations against this man can wait. He needs tending by a healer, or your they won't matter. You would rather have a live thief to punish, wouldn't you?"
Ouch! I've got a coworker who pretty regularly can't walk because of how bad his back is. I'm sorry to hear that you have a similar problem, regardless of where it lies on the scale!
Hello? Was it something I said?
"Beran's two-fold message is especially grim. My healing abilities are unlikely to help him if he's got shadow spider venom pumping through his system after running to bring the message. We need to get him better help, now. Anyone know the closest useful help?"
Lack of response suggested to me that maybe the thing I found about hunting herbs may have come from an arcane source, so I tried to duplicate the Google search which discovered it. I got tired of looking around faster this time, I guess. The only herb search I found in the majority of references is tied to the marshes of Lake Town, and we ain't there, so, unless you have some idea where I saw what I didn't find this morning . . .. Drop it.
Caunlaigdir will spend the time learning about polite social interaction among the people of Mountain Hall, learning the basics of both Courtesy and Persuade, and hopefully making a few friends as he does. He will spend some time searching for herbs, hoping to find something useful. (Yep, found a reference online.) As I don't know what season it is, all I can do is roll the die.
Well, that should be something useful.
Makes perfect sense. Thank you for the clarification.
Okay, I get it, the character generator is not perfect, but it has been my main touchstone as I've been learning. The link includes "Gain New Distinctive Feature or Specialty", but the character generator only allows SWAPPING them, not adding additional. The conflict leaves me questioning the intent. Is swapping an old for a new truly the intent? That would make sense from a game balance perspective, in that it prevents people from taking them all, but the language choice creates uncertainty about that being the intent. What I'm thinking about, right now (my thoughts are still very fluid) are learning Courtesy and Craft, and adding Woodwright as a specialty focus while learning the basics of crafting. I have figured out that I need to fill in some of those common skill holes, though. Gotta save XP for now, though. Not sure if I want to raise Wisdom or Valour, or Bow. None are in reach right now. Any of the other players have input for me?
Yes. Bad corporate management not spending the money required to make the boards more stable, nor the money on having a techie on call to reboot them before the start of the next business day. <shrug> I'm familiar with this sort of decision, so I guess it takes longer to frustrate me too badly. Time for me to try to learn more, I think.
So, if I've got this right, since I spent no experience on magical treasures, I should have 5 XP earned since we started (to go with the leftovers I had from character generation), so that should take me to 7 XP. 1 short of being able to raise either Wisdom or Virtue and quite a few short of being able to improve the bow skill, but more than I need to improve Sword or Bow. Hmmm . . .. This should be when I refill my Hope score. My focus was Gori, and he took no damage, so my one used point of Hope is restored, yes? Advancement Points are converted into something I can spend on character advancement, to be added to what I had left after character generation. I show 7 marks, so that should take me to 8 AP, right? That would be enough to, say, add a rank in both Courtesy and Inspire or to improve Inspire to 2. Otherwise, it falls short of all desired points, I think. Google tells me I can do pretty much anything during the Fellowship Phase that I can justify, but that this is the "right" time to make character advancements.
The young elf looks from one companion to the other. "As you say." though he doesn't sound certain. "Are you sure, Ayluin? We can take all of the creature's hair, and we are unlikely to come back for more. He should be happier the more we can bring, shouldn't he?" As he talks, Caunlaigdir reaches down to harvest more of the hair.
"The remains of her last meal, and more gold than I think we could possibly carry."
As Caunlaigdir pulls his bow and returns to the mound opening, he sees the foul creature fall in two pieces. "I am afraid I found our thief. Or what is left of him. I'm not sure I would assume we are done. There is simply too much inside."
Taking the time to stow his bow and pull only his dagger before beginning to move into the open maw, "May the Valar guide my feet." He begins working his way in . . ..
"Either Aeddan or myself, his displayed skill matches my own." He looks at his companions, each in turn. "I have no objection to going in myself." Grinning, slightly, "We all know I'm less likely to try to go toe to toe with her by myself."
Bow at the ready, the younger elf turns to his companions. "Not many places she could be but in there. Think we can draw her out?"
I am STILL tired from this last campout. They made me stay up all night Saturday. When I opened up game tabs on Sunday, I missed this game. It took me two days to realize I was missing it. That has nothing to do with me not enjoying the game or not caring about it, I'm simply so tired I didn't remember . . .. Yeah, I'm fine with that kind of treasure division. I appreciate this quick demo of how to use treasure, too. Now, I should see if I forgot any other games before I start trying to make catch-up posts.
My 4th weekend of BSA camping starts tomorrow night. This time my wife is going, and she asked me to post my reminder messages tonight so she can push me out the door that much faster if I get out of work late.
I also prefer a spokesperson, and our most Courteous person is . . .. Rambler!
The Sindarin seems uncertain where to begin a search in this human settlement.
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