LoTR in the 4th Age

May 15 th , Cirdan’s Library : With their heads spinning with the flood of information about the Dark Queen Caelindur, Kyan broke Cirdan’s daydreaming stare out the window, “ You say Belemir arrived 4-6 weeks ago…alone? No mention of another ranger named Calanlas? Can you show us what he was researching ?” Cirdan led them up a long flight of stairs to a larger windowless library, with walls lined by tall/long bookshelves (books, scrolls, parchments, maps) interspersed with regional tributes (racial shields with crossed swords or spears or bow/quiver) and even displays of mannequins in appropriate armor. Candles mounted along the walls and torches hanging from the center pillars’ sconces lit the room. Cirdan pointed at the tables stacked with books and maps and scrolls, “ I’ve been too busy with the king to put things away. Those are what Belemir studied .” Riddle : Where to begin? Each member chose a table and sat down to read. It was long hours of research before Theo spoke up, “ He...

May 15th, Over a Month Late ! The scruffy group of adventurers rode up to the gates of the fabled elven city (Mithlond to elves) where they were told to dismount before entering because the streets and dock were abuzz with festivities. “Haven’t you heard? King Elessar and the hobbits Merry and Pippin are escorting Sam Gamgee and his wife Rose Cotton to the docks for their departure across the seas. Sam and Rose leave behind their 13 children (Elanor, Frodo I, Rose I, Merry I, Pippin I, Goldilocks, Hamfest, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo I, Ruby, Robin, and Tolman).” Margo slipped into a shop to change into her Hugo clothing as she explained to her associates, “Let’s just say Margo left a mess in the Shire. No need to let these hobbits recognize her. I need to earn graces if I’m ever to show my real face there again.” With a crowd already formed, they didn’t stand a chance of getting close enough to see the procession. So, Kyan led the group to the king’s encampment wh...

The Plan : They hunkered behind the cliff where Kyan plotted, “Thran and Margo will return to the tower while Theo and I creep closer to the entry stairs. When you two give the signal (loud noise) that you are attacking from their rear, we’ll charge in from the front.” Entry Assault : Their hearts were in their throats as the elf and hobbit climbed the outside of the tower to get into position. Thran signaled to the others below by dropping a coin outside the arch lookout. When he turned around, he found Margo putting on the armor of the dead goblin she’d dragged under the table. A little modified plan, “I’ll lead you down the stairs as my prisoner.”  It almost worked… till one Orc doubted a goblin could subdue an elf. And the look on Thran’s face gave them away! In a loud orcish rage, that orc charged at the elf and swung his mace: Thran was just able to raise his broadsword in defense. Was that the loud noise Kyan was expecting?! The dwarf and Beorning charged up the entry step...

JOURNEY/EMBARKATION (Peril 2 for riding across unmarked trails) [Rolled 16 – 2 peril = 14: Favorable Beginnings - gain an Advantage on each of your encounters.] Each settled into their own saddle (each had a horse) which meant Margo could eat as she rode. And the bag of tart apples from the Wose meant loud crunches to announce their passage. Kyan put an end to that! The grassland along the river soon turned to a desert environment with shifting sand-dunes. Theo pointed out plants to dig to collect water at their roots to fill their waterbags. They gave up riding abreast as one horse’s steps cascaded down over the adjacent horse’s hoofs that made its walking more exhausting. Single file. Hours until Kyan thought he heard a voice in the wind. Theo attributed it to the howl of the wind but Kyan swore he could barely make out a faint cry. With Margo holding the horse reins, the others dismounted. Kyan crawled on his belly to the dune lip from where he spotted a sinkhole about 30ft w...