A4E3a: Onward to Fornost

May 18^th, Embarkation (5-2= Keen Eye of the Enemy): With a packhorse for extra supplies needed for their 17 day+ journey (320 miles) to Fornost, and Theo’s study of the library maps of the area, they set out on the king’s assignment to look for signs of Belemir around the North Downs. With Radagast’s theory the Dark Queen has spies everywhere, Kyan was on high alert and flinched at every sighting of birds, even the pigeons that claimed the rooflines of Grey Haven. Yet days into blazing their own trail eastward through rolling hills and pockets of thin forests, Thran’s sharp eyes (as Lookout) spotted a flock of crebain flying by: they hid within the trees.

Being on edge, compounded with continual light drizzling from an overcast sky, wore heavy on their constitution. At least Margo was in high spirits, “Think about it; the chance to prove hobbits came to the aid of King Arvedui (last king of the Arthedain realm) over a thousand years ago (TA1974).” But Thran was skeptical, “The books in the libraries of my home within the Halls of Thranduil only mention Fornost overrun by the armies of Angmar, thus putting an end to the line of Arthedain kings and wiping out the last realm of the Northern Dunedain. There’s no mention of hobbits being there.” Which only ruffled Margo’s hackles, “Elves don’t know all what happens in Middle Earth; you shuttered in your library only now setting foot upon the lands. You just wait till I prove you wrong! You can spend the rest of your life rewriting your fancy history books.” Kyan broke up the feud between the two, “Well, if this hobbit company of Green Archers were as skilled with the bow as you, then I’m sure King Arvedui welcomed their help.”

Dark clouds to their north threatened storms, but they only suffered a continual drizzle that soaked them to their bones. During their night camps, Kyan insisted on pit-fires to hide the flames from prying eyes. And insisted their campfires be set within the trees to help disperse any smoke. They found some respite from the drizzle when Kyan found shelter under a ledge. Game was plentiful to add flavor to their meals. Yet Thran struggled to find herbs that had not been eaten by animals or drowned by the rain.

Dwarven Ale: About a week into their journey the rain let up and the sun peeked through the clouds that still rolled south from the dark clouds to their left. Kyan decided to offset the foreboding tone of their travel by sharing ale during their next camp (Well, at least one round before the bottle become one with just his lips). With his dog Korundor snuggled at his feet, Kyan offered lighthearted stories to ease the mood. Theo became distracted by the fidgeting horses that began to snort and stomp. Thran also heard and joined Theo who got up to investigate while the drunk dwarf continued with another story to Margo.

A pale cloud seemed to hover near the horses. As they got closer, Theo heard the buzz of a swarm of flies. These were as long as his index finger and seemed to light up as if lightening bugs! Thran thought nothing of it till one landed on his arm and bit. “Ouch!” He slapped at the fly and screamed even more as the acidic guts burned his skin. By now the horses were fighting the rope-line that held them in check. Theo rushed to the horses and had to dodge their whipping heads and kicking hind legs as they tried to break free. He realized their swishing tails had slapped at the biting flies that had landed on their haunches and thus they too smashed flies that leaked burning acid. Theo grimaced at flies biting his arm and neck as he used a horse blanket to scoop up a few flies and stomp on them. And that’s when 2 horses broke free and ran away.

Kyan dodged one horse that ran thru the camp. Sobriety came quickly as he realized what was happening: he broke off a branch of green leaves and started them on fire. He rushed at the remaining horses and waved the smoking branch to quell the remaining flies. It took an hour to track down the runaway horses. But in that time Thran was able to gather enough stunned fireflies to pinch off their wings and stuff them in glass vials, “These will do as acid-bombs.” Only then did they realize the flies were drawn to their sweat and that of the horses. What had been a cheery moment was replaced by their gloom of the wearisome travel.

Dry Riverbed: Onward they plotted across grassland at the foot hills south of Lake Evendim. Days later they came upon an endless dry riverbed that stretched north to south. Kyan sensed the danger and warned everyone to hustle across, “The storms to the north only mean the mountain rivers are swelling: there could be a flashflood.” They dismounted (except for Margo) and led their horses across the rocky riverbed; halfway across when the dwarf’s prediction came true. Thran heard the distant rumble to the north and thought he saw an undulating snowcapped hill. Kyan sensed his toes getting wet and looked down to see water seeping from the rocky bed. “RUN!”

Thran’s snowcapped hill was the frothy leading edge of the flash flood! Theo’s weight only caused his feet to sink into the mud as he tried to lead 2 horses (he led the packhorse) across. Thran threw his grappling hook to the far bank and luckily snagged a tree root. He used the rope as leverage to aid his climb up the shallow bank as water rose quickly. Kyan gathered his gear from his horse and slapped its rump, “Get! Save yourself.” At least the dwarf had broad feet to offset the weight of himself and his heavy armor as he tried to hustle forward. With a shorter stride, he followed the idea of the elf and threw his own grappling rope as the river quickly rose. At least his dog easily bounded across the flooding riverbed. It stood on the far bank as if guiding the humans to safety.

Margo wasn’t as fortunate. Her horse lost its footing and tossed the hobbit into the swirling waters. She was carried downstream along with Kyan’s horse that had tried to retreat to the original bank. Once everyone else was safely across, Kyan stayed with the packhorse as Theo and Thran rode along the riverbank desperately following their friend who was getting swept out of sight by the faster river current, along with other debris. They must have ridden a mile downstream before they found horse and hobbit saved from the current by an unrooted tree caught in the flood onslaught. Apparently, a family of beaver had their upstream dam caught up in the flood. They scrambled across the tree trunk to the shore in constant chatter as if cursing the event.

Margo followed the beavers to safety and was on dryland when her friends arrived. “You can help me free the horse. I wonder if he enjoyed the ride as much as I.” With the rescue complete, they turned to ride back to Kyan. And that’s when Theo happened to look back and saw the tree stand and start to walk away! “An Ent!” 

They approached with Thran talking first, “Thank you for rescuing my friend. If there is anything we can do to help, just ask. What do you know about the shards of Sauron? We understand your kind has one hidden somewhere. Just a warning because the Dark Queen is after them. She has already found the dwarves’ shard and stolen the elves’ piece.” Margo wasn’t to be left out, “Hello. I’m Margo Thistleburr. What’s your name? Where did you come from? I’ve heard stories of your kind destroying Saruman’s Tower of Orthanc at the foot of the Misty Mountains. What are you doing way out here? Are you lost?”

There was a long pause before the tree spoke slowly with a bellowing low-tone voice, “I am Lonetree, the last of my kind. I think. I look and listen for others. The land and nature speaks to me. That is how I knew the river was swelling. Fish told me of this little-one caught in the flood. You hoo-mans should learn to listen to the land; it would make your travels easier. Just like the beavers who thanked me and apologized for chewing down my kind. I did not tell them those were just trees. As for my shard burden, I can hear the voices of the black birds and their endless search. They speak of a queen. Unlike you, I am one step ahead of them. I did not lose MY burden.” And with that, Lonetree left. When they got back to Kyan, the dwarf reasoned to let the Ent go, “We don’t want to follow as WE might attract the crebain. Then it would be like WE were leading the Dark Queen to the shards.”

June 5^th, Arrival [3 result] at Fornost: They were surprised when they crested a hill and looked upon the ruins of a city that stretched to the horizon. Verdant knolls and lush hillocks were interspersed with stone ruins. Margo spoke up with excitement, “Behold what was once known as King’s Norbury, which means ‘northern fortress’. You elves called it Fornost. Now it is known as Deadman’s Dike. Now where should we begin looking for evidence of my Green Company?”

Kyan already had his eyeglass out and scanned the landscape, “Did Belemir come here in search of a shard? I thought WE found the shard that belonged to the Dunedains. Perhaps we should look for blighted land as a telltale sign of its corrupting influence. Where would the Arthedain King hide his piece? Where should we start?” Margo had the answer, “At his castle and throne room where my fellow hobbits helped rescue his arse!” Kyan cautioned all to dismount per the loose stones and other threats hidden by the overgrown ruins, “Be careful. Remember the story of the Dark Queen’s ability to manipulate plants. Remember that assassin vine we encountered at the well near Barad Cam?”

Investigations: They worked their way eastward across the ruined city. Within the first few hours before noon, Theo [natural 20] found an area with broken short-swords and the rotted remains of shortbows. Margo insisted they were hobbit make but Theo had that eerie feeling they could be goblin. Maybe their argument distracted Thran: the elf lost his footing and tumbled down a long flight of stairs that ended at a cave-in and stinking puddle. At least for his injuries, the elf returned to the top with a clutch of Goblin Gold. Enough to make 2 potions of healing elixir.

Margo raided the packhorse for lunch as she had to combine fourth and fifth breakfasties. They compared notes before continuing the search. It was evident the city had been torched by the invading army of Angmar some thousand years ago. Spurs of burnt masonry jutted out from the ground. Long shadows seemed to reach out for the fellowship as the sun began to set. A chilling air slithered into their ears and down their spines which encouraged them to make camp. Kyan called for a defensive position and to even set traps.

Night Attack: They hunkered in for the night with assigned guard duty shifts. It was near midnight when a strong gust of wind renewed the chilling air, whipped cloaks and blankets, and extinguished their campfire. All rose to the interruption and swore they heard a high-pitched sorrowful whistle that preceded a volley of arrows that struck the camp. It didn’t matter that Theo’s 6^th sense didn’t tingle with alarm. Over 2 dozen arrows in flight: one struck Kyan while 2 struck Theo [fumbled DEXsave]. They quickly sought cover, but the arrows came from every direction: another hit Kyan and Theo. At least the dwarf got a glimpse of the attackers: just at the edge of his vision… small shapes (with bright glowing eyes) that raised their bows for another volley… that never came as the shadows melted into the ruins.

Kyan reached to pull out an arrow shaft that disintegrated in his hand. He dug into his flesh for the arrowhead that also disintegrated. But he saw enough to think goblin, and thus gladly accepted Thran’s healing in case of goblin poison. As Theo watched the elf performing his healing magic, he pondered, “I didn’t sense evil; could those have been hobbit ghosts?!” Margo mocked the idea, “Why would my ancestors shoot at us?” Theo was just as confused as his wounds seemed to disappear quicker than Thran’s magic normally worked.

Next Day: They continued their search. Maybe Thran was looking for more herbs: in a dark and dry corner of a sunken ruin, he found a cloth standard that was little more than a rotten rag now. Markings had long faded. Surprisingly the staff upon which it hung was still intact; barely 6ft long. Without success, Kyan tried pouring water on the cloth to bring out color or sigil. Thus, Margo couldn’t prove this was hobbit versus goblin make. She kept at it as the others resumed searching.

And that’s when the others heard Margo’s “Umph!” They looked back to see a black-feathered arrow sunk into her leg. [fumble] Thran was too engrossed in Margo’s healing needs to think of the threat; thus, he too took an arrow hit. The elf wheeled toward the direction the arrow came from and twanged (missed) his own arrow at the assailant in hiding. The next goblin arrow dropped Thran [now into Death Saves]. [fumble] Theo drew back his bow to launch a deadly strike…his string broke! He crouched and began to sneak toward the attacker.

Kyan rushed to the elf’s side with his shield raised high to protect them both as he bandaged Thran’s wounds [1 point of healing stopped the need for Death Save rolls]. Thran’s eyes opened wide at his recovery: he crawled behind a broken wall for cover as he healed himself further. Exposed to the goblin scout, Margo had lost her hiding advantage and thus missed with her arrow.

Snaga Tracker: The goblin’s next arrow plinked off of Kyan’s shield. Theo continued to sneak, now 50ft from the goblin. Per Kyan’s single word to attack, Korundor galloped across the grounds at the goblin. With his shield raised, Kyan followed the wolfhound. [nat 20] Maybe distracted by the snarling dog, Margo’s next arrow sank deep into the goblin. Now confronted by the dog, the disadvantaged goblin dropped his bow and drew his gnarly blade against the animal but missed [nat 20 and a 9]. Theo launched from his hiding and charged the goblin, tackling him. But his momentum slammed the scout into a stone wall. The goblin died instantly much to Kyan’s displeasure as he wanted to interrogate the foe.

Since it was near noon anyway, they took a short rest for lunch and healing. Theo was thoroughly convinced that the broken blades and the faded banner found earlier belonged to goblins. “But that battle was a thousand years ago. What is a goblin scout doing here now?” When they resumed their search, it was now for signs of more enemy along with signs of Belemir. Margo continued her search for signs of hobbits.

Found What they were Looking For: At first Theo assumed the leather skin was of a dead animal, but noting it was rolled instead of drawn tight from withering, Theo picked it up to realize he held an age-old map of the city! And marked near the center was the simple work ‘tunnels’. Margo remembered the story her ancestors told, “While under siege, King Arvedui used tunnels to exit his Hall of Earendur to reach his assembled army gathered in the North Downs. Maybe that's where we'll find evidence of hobbits!”

Hours later they reached the area marked on the map. Without the map, they would have assumed the area was just another site of ruins. [nat 20] As they searched the area closer, Kyan found an arrow with familiar fletching. He asked Thran for the arrow given by Calanhir all those months ago in Minas Tirith, “I think this arrow belongs to his brother Calanlas! This could mean Belemir was here. Spread out and look for more clues.” Theo soon called everyone to his side, “Over here! This stone has been moved, maybe half-a-year ago. Look at the dead moss on top: that means this stone has been turned over. And look, there is an opening to tunnels below!” 

NEXT SESSION: https://lotrwjr.blogspot.com/2025/02/a4e3b-dead-and-fallen.html