LoTR in the 4th Age

🕯️ A9S3: The Trap — A Cemetery, A Spellcaster, and the Shadow of Belemir August 16th, Bree. Word of their plan was sent to Radagast the Brown via sparrow, and to Margo on the road to Hobbiton via lark, courtesy of Halfred Brandybuck, Bree’s resident Hobbit scholar. They enlisted Rymen Butterbur (the  Prancing Pony innkeeper) to spread the tale of the fellowship's demise—poisoned by spider fangs. Caskets were loaded into a hearse and mournfully driven to the cemetery, then laid to rest in a mausoleum. The mourners returned to the Inn to drink and grieve.  But the fellowship remained, hidden in the shadows, waiting. 🌕 Midnight Whispers and Moss That Strangles Under a full moon, five hours passed in silence. Then nature called. Thran and Loegir stepped behind a tree—only to be ambushed by grey-beard moss, which stretched down to strangle them. Loegir escaped but Thran struggled as he gasped for breath. Kyan and Theo, focused on the trap, were too cautious in the...

Aug 15 th in Bree : After hearing Margo's departing words, they sought out Weldon who lamented the story of the dragon attack. " As you know, I gifted my tapestry to the great hall of Hobbiton. I happened to be in town delivering goods when a dark shadow flew over the sky. A dragon landed in the middle of the town square. I rushed to see what was going on and spied a woman sitting on a chair, directing a squad of hobbits to steal my tapestry! Other villagers stood as if paralyzed. Apparently, she didn't find what she was looking for, because she had her dragon torch my tapestry before she climbed atop the dragon who flew off carrying her chair. That's when everyone regained their senses and fired arrows at her departing dragon ." The fellowship looked at Loegir and remembered his vision before they departed Rivendell . As they sat at the inn, feasting on ale and food, Kyan pulled out his map to retrace their route and to consider Belemir’s and the Dark Queen’s in...

[We skipped section 8 due to the fellowship’s actions. Such actions that changed the campaign trail.] Aug 2 nd Alatopel : Their uneventful return to Alatopel atop the great eagles was bolstered by sunshine and a mild breeze. Even the woods seem brighter, drier and friendly all the way back to Alatopel where the villagers erupted with shouts of joy at the sight of the eagles. As the fellowship passed through the gates, Deoch and others of the court gathered with the common folk to welcome them back. With saddened hearts, they soon learned Lord Arnulf passed away during the siege and that his eldest son Malbeth now ruled. Thus, after formal greetings and blessings upon the new lord, Khalin laid claim to the tower of Amon Galenloth “ In the name of those dwarves forced to labor its construction ! We will be your allies to the north .” With Lord Malbeth’s blessings, Khalin sent forth a thrush (bird) messenger to the Lonely Mountains to recruit dwarves. Alatopel’s dwarven blacksmith Bo...

Riding upon the eagles, their uneventful return to Alatopel is bolstered by sunshine and a mild breeze. Even the woods seem brighter, drier and friendly all the way back to Alatopel. As the eagles land outside the wooden fortress, the village erupts with activity and the sounds of joy. As they pass through the gates, Deoch and common folk gather to welcome them back. Yet all is not pleasant as they soon learn Lord Arnulf passed away during the siege of Alatopel. How he led warriors who stood against an Orc band who had breached the walls.  Thus, they learn Malbeth is now the Lord of Alatopel with Calanhir and Deoch as his court advisors. Thus Khalin approaches the new Lord for his blessing as he claims the Tower of Amon Galenloth “ in the name of those dwarves forced to labor its construction !” Malbeth agrees, with the understanding Alatopel and Amon Galenloth will form an alliance of mutual defense. ·          Khalin sends word seeking ...

July 29 th within the bowels of Amon Garzak : Thran stood mesmerized as he watched the werewolf form of Yrreth burn from the inside out per his fatal strike with Hirnan’s magical sword Aglarelen . Kyan heckled him, “ Don’t just stand there admiring your work, you have patients to heal .” Khalin was too busy tending his brother Glom who had his hand bitten off by Yrreth and tortured all those years. When ready, Kyan reminded them of other dwarven prisoners. As they continued within the caverns, they soon heard the ‘tink, tink’ of hammer on stone, and soon came upon a dozen dwarves mindlessly laboring without guards around.  It wasn’t until Kyan began whistling a familiar dwarven tune that the slaves broke out of their trance. They hadn’t noticed their human guards turn to werewolves and depart. Theo came forward to break their leg-iron chains as Kyan (in Dwarven) explained what had transpired. It was the mention of trolls that renewed their energy as the dozen took off to face th...