A1.3 Shroud of Mystery

Theobard (Theo), 27yo Beorning Wanderer [Aaron], Thranduil (Thran), 250yo Elf Scholar [Joey], Kyan, 97yo Dwarf Warrior [Mike], Hugo, 28yo Hobbit Adventurer [NPC]

Tinneas’ Farm: Before they departed, Tinneas asked them to bury the now rotting horse. Kyan assigned their captured thug (Lon) the task. “By myself?! That will take all day.” It took 4 hours for him to hack up the horse into manageable parts to move and bury; in the process, he was drained of any fighting spirit.

JOURNEY (to Minas Tirith)

Alona cooked them rations for their 6–7-day trip (3-4 days back to the Inn then another 2-3 days to the city; faster without a cart and elder couple). Once again, Theo was their Guide with Thran the Scout and Hugo the Lookout. Kyan would be their Hunter (once their supplies ran out) as he also kept watch on Lon who carried the extra supplies. Tinneas reminded them about the bridge out, “I guess when my mule panicked on the bridge, he must have cracked some boards that finally gave way. The thug leader Torg mentioned their own detour to the southern bridge near the village of Berthand.”

Distrusting Lon and cautious of any surprises enroute, Kyan quickly fashioned another coffer as decoy to the iron-coffer that held the shard.

Embarkation (8: Ignore 1^st level of Exhaustion): Maybe removing the shard from underground removed any taint on the lands, because the snow began to melt and plant life began to bloom. Even the sun came out to warm their spirits as they said their goodbyes, “Your son Thorn will be surprised to receive such a fine ancestral blade. He will surely honor the family name.”

As they made camp that first evening, Thran used the last sunlight to search for herbs within the wetland. [Fumble] He soon returned with a clutch of blue flowers with 5 pedals. He took the time to brew them into a tea which he stored in an extra vial Alona gave him.

Event: They awoke to a layer of fog that blanketed the land and was high enough to hide the hobbit. At least there was a path to follow. They soon came to the foot of a stone bridge that arched across the river Sirith just below its fork of the Celos river. They saw Hugo’s head rise as he climbed the bridge then disappeared when he reached the other side of the arch. Thran stopped to inspect footprints near the riverbank on their side of the bridge. And that’s when Theo heard voices from the other side of the bridge, “Londil, is that you boy?” With his head above the fog, Theo could see a large crowd of villagers who carried (pitchforks, scythes, shovels, clubs, bow).

And they saw him towering over the fog! “Who goes there?! Show yourself! What have you done with our boys, Londil and Nathyr? They’ve been gone 2 days now.” Theo could see another villager holding Hugo aloft; “What a queer looking kid with hairy feet. He must belong to that Wildman.” Thran and Kyan had been out of sight per the fog (and also hiding). Thran rose and stepped upon the bridge to be seen, “Well met strangers. We are returning to Minas Tirith on urgent business. We mean no harm; we come in peace.” And that’s when Kyan also stepped forward, “You mentioned kids. There are small prints this side of the bridge.” And that’s when a frightened villager fired an errant arrow that fell harmlessly into the river.

Audience/Parley: The socially awkward elf struggled to keep the conversation calm. Theo’s brutish presence didn’t help, nor did the armored dwarven warrior present a peaceful gathering. The villagers were suspicious, but their leader Nathan was drawn by the mention of childish prints. “Perhaps we could trade: your boy for ours. Lower your weapons and I’ll come over.” Theo insisted, “Release and send over the hobbit… my boy first.” He realized they had never seen a hobbit before and thus claimed Hugo as his boy to ease the situation. Most villagers took the center of the bridge to watch Nathan interact with the strangers. Thran explained how they had come from Tinneas’ farm to help the elder couple rid their land of evil. Mention of evil stirred fear in the villagers, “Yolirian, our local herb mistress, declared the boys’ disappearance tied to an evil spirit she saw walking the marsh weeks ago!."

Search for the boys: Kyan wanted to go separate ways as he felt urgency getting the shard to the king. But Theo offered to help the villagers, “Do your boys normally go fishing on their own? Maybe they wanted to seek out the ghostly spirit you mentioned. We could divide up and search the banks for more tracks.” And so, it was at noon when they divided up: 2 groups of villagers took the eastern banks (north or south) while another searched north along the western bank. Nathan joined the adventurers going south along the western bank.

Thran called out the boy’s names as they searched along the southwestern bank. When Thran mentioned the thugs they encountered at the farm, Nathan worried, “Perhaps we should be more cautious. What if more thugs hold the boys?” And that’s when Theo found the cane poles stretched into the river. They found small footprints along the shore. Nathan recognized his boy’s initials on one pole. But more alarming: Nathan noticed more prints, “These are adult size. Looks like a scuffle. There! Only adult prints lead away; they took the boys!” Theo inspected the prints, “The walls have dried out; I’d say these are at least a day or two old.”

Kyan suggested Thran scout ahead, “Find out what lies ahead. How many. Don’t engage. Hugo, you go find the other villagers and bring them here.” Thran stealthed along the trail following the prints that wove through wintered brush and dried grass.

He came to a stream that branched off to the west. Almost 10 minutes sneaking until he heard voices ahead! And crept closer (within 10ft!) to find 2 brigand guards near a recently crafted wooden bridge. “Where’s our damn relief? I’m cold and hungry. Feyrun said we should be departing soon as he’s seen enough to report. Wonder what he plans to do with the boys?” [Stealth-failed] Thran tried to back away but snapped a twig. “You hear that?!” With bows drawn, one guard crept closer as the other readied a horn to sound alarm. [WISsave/Luck] And that’s when a pheasant took flight, surprising the guard who shot wildly. So much for a decent meal. [Perceptions: 2 and 2] At least Thran was able to slip away.

With Thran’s report, Kyan wanted to wait for the other villagers to arrive. But Nathan insisted, “This Feyrun could decide to depart any minute. I’m going now, with or without you!” Kyan offered Lon a chance to prove his trustworthiness, “I think you just joined up with the wrong crowd. You can gain pardon if you help rescue the boys.” And with that: Kyan gave Lon back his bow (plus 5 arrows) and his dagger. Kyan devised their attack plan, “Arrows first to take down the one holding the bugle. Then we’ll charge in to silence the other.”

Lookouts: the bowmen (Thran & Theo) approached from the trees (40 ft distant) while Lon & Nathan crept closer (25ft) along the path. Kyan kept his distance per his noisy armor. Even with surprise and aiming [gained Advantage] Thran missed while Theo hit the bugler. But not enough to kill him. The injured guard fumbled for his horn as the other guard turned in surprise before considering the bridge.

COMBAT (Order- Nathan, Kyan, Thran, guards, Lon, Theo): Nathan charged from his hiding and engaged the bugler. Kyan had to double-move just to get close. Thran notched another arrow but missed again. The 2^nd guard took off running and shouting, leaving his partner who struck Nathan with his short-sword. Lon thought about firing an arrow into melee, but feared hitting a potential friend. Instead, he closed with his dagger and struck the injured guard. Theo took a long shot at the fleeing guard: hit in the leg, he slowed. Since the surrounded injured guard quickly surrendered, Kyan proceeded across the bridge and threw his spear at the fleeing guard, who fell dead. Per Theo’s intimidating interrogation, they soon learned at least 8 pirates occupied the camp where the boys were held in the middle tent. “Capt Feyrun was readying the skiff to depart at dusk.” He drew them a quick layout of the camp.

Thran took time to heal Nathan who had been wounded, “Here, drink this potion I brewed from flowers.” Soon Nathan was coughing as bubbles formed around his lips that turned purple. Thran quickly applied Healing Hands, shoving his fingers down Nathan’s throat to force him to vomit up the poison. When Thran described the blue flowers, Nathan corrected the elf, “We know that as Flax- a poison that causes paralysis.”

Corsair Camp: With the guard tied and gagged, they crossed the bridge to the camp about 1/4^th mile away. And once again, Kyan laid out their plan of attack: him to torch the skiff as distraction while the others rescue the boys.

Kyan grimaced as his armor creaked as he edged closer to the skiff. Surely the lone brigand onboard heard him! Not as close as he wanted but not worth the risk of being spotted, Kyan threw his vials (tied together) that held the combustible material collected in the crypt cavern back at the farm. [Throw-DisAdvantage at extra range; had to use Inspiration for better roll] The vials hit the deck at the feet of the lone brigand and caught both he and the deck on fire. It became a hornet’s nest of activity in the camp…

COMBAT (Order- Skiff pirates, Thran, Theo, Lon, guards in camp, Kyan, Nathan): per the screaming pirate on fire, 3 more pirates emerged from the skiff’s hut. One stood and gave orders: another jumped off to swing at the dwarf while another went forward to hack at the mooring line. Thran charged from his hiding to swing his broadsword at one of the 3 pirates around the campfire, [natural 20] killing him outright. Theo knelt behind the middle tent to cut the canvas to enter, where he found 2 boys tied up but not gagged. They were about to scream at the sight of the brute till Theo introduced himself, “You father waits outside.” With the 2 remaining campfire pirates focused on the elf, Lon fired a surprise arrow at one of them before closing with his dagger drawn. That pirate fought back as the other pirate engaged the elf cutting him badly. Near the skiff, Kyan swung at his adversary but missed. Nathan entered the tent to hug his boy Londil as he told both, “Follow me to safety as they deal with these pirates.”

The first pirate off the skiff hit Kyan solid [natural 20 for 7 damage]. Those aboard ship finally put out the fire as the skiff moved out into the river current. Thran thought to heal himself but realized he needed to kill his adversary first. Theo exited the tent to lend Thran aid, dispatching the foe. Lon traded swings with his foe. And Kyan hit his foe with a solid mattock swing.

Corsair skiff

Feyrun

As the last surviving pirate surrendered, Thran and Theo crafted fire-arrows from the campfire and rags to set the departing skiff’s sails ablaze. Feyrun stood on deck giving them a finger salute as the current carried the skiff out of range. At least now Thran had time to heal himself and those also wounded. And a grateful Nathan led the adventurers back up the stream where they came upon the hobbit bringing the calvary, “We would have been sooner, but had to stop for 3^rd lunch.”

Berthand: Nathan insisted that the adventurers journey into Berthand with the boys in tow. Townsfolk poured into the streets at the sight of the procession, all wanting to celebrate and hear the entire story from beginning to end. Old ones nodded sagely, young ones insisted on detail, and mothers and fathers held their children close at the sight of the intimidating Theo. Yolirian (the village priestess) healed those who needed it.

Gron (the lame blacksmith, father of Naythir) almost shook their arms off. “Come, we may not have much to offer as reward, but ale will flow free tonight at The Trident pub!” Ale was enough reward for Kyan who kept his beard wetted throughout the night. Thran asked Yolirian about local herbs: she repeated the true nature of Flax but also added, “It’s out of season for now but look along the banks and marshes for Reedmace. Grass talker than man, that has a bulbous cap. Harvest it both as a healing potion and as a stimulant for needed long marches when you need to stay awake.”

As for their pirate prisoner, the townsfolk recognized his armor from the last war. And ale freed his tongue. He was an Umbar corsair from south of Gondor sent to spy on the realm’s defenses and river traffic. “Many within our lands speak of another Saruman who beats the drums of war.” Meanwhile, it was Theo who asked Nathan, “Could you spare a horse? Not for myself but for the older couple to the west. Tinneas’ horse was killed, and they need another to plow their field come spring.”

[Such action above could reward you another Inspiration or bonus per honorable deed. Or by playing your character per his background Despair and fears.]

Come morning, most walked in silence per their pounding heads from all the ale they consumed. Kyan turned to grumble at the hobbit munching on an apple, “Damn it Hugo, can’t you find something quieter to eat!”

NEXT SESSION: A1.4 Audience with the King