A5S1: Weldon’s Kidnapping

July 2nd, The Prancing Pony Inn: (Thanks to Thran’s spell attempt to call lightning on a clear day?) Outside it was getting dark as a storm began to roll in. Thunder crackled from cloud-to-cloud as the skies grew darker even though it was barely 3pm. Patrons shook rain from their cloaks as they rushed inside seeking warmth by the fire and by ale in their bellies. The aroma of thick mutton stew mingled with heavy pipe smoke seemed to whitewash the storm outside. Kyan was already into deep plots as to Thorn’s absence, “Obviously kidnapped. Thran, we’ll use you as bait asking the same questions about Belemir the kid might have asked. A sting operation to catch whoever’s responsible.”

As if a premonition: The door opened and was blown wide as a wall of storm-driver rain followed in whoever entered. Suddenly, the exhausted young boy Dusty jumped up on their table to announce, “THERE’S BEEN A KIDNAPPING!” As Dusty collapsed unconscious, a watered-down pool of blood began to form on the table. Thran rushed to the boy’s side to heal his nasty head-wound as another patron shut the door. Dusty slowed revived to tell his story, “When the storm came, Uncle Weldon and I rushed to his house on his cart. I unhitched and settled the pony in the stable. Despite the storm, I heard voices and saw the door open and candlelights inside the house outline men wrestling with my uncle. I heard my uncle protest it was HIS treasure. Next, I see an army of men storm out of the house dumping my uncle in the back of the cart. They must have heard me for they came toward the stable. I ran out of the back but slipped in the creek striking my head on a rock. Not sure how long I was out.”

Weldon’s Home: Kyan already pictured Belemir involved and called for all to get their horses. The bartender Rymen said it would be faster on foot, “I’ll get some men to help and we’ll bring your horses to the house.” Kyan tossed Rymen a coin before leaving, “Lead the way boy.” At least the rain slowed as the storm broke up. Soon they stood before the hobbit-hole house: no pony in the stable, no cart out front, and the door wide open. Rain-soaked prints outside confirmed it was a mass of men. Muddy prints inside showed signs of a struggle. Theo entered and turned left to follow a single-set of mud tracks into the dining room, kitchen, and back bedroom. Everything was tossed as someone obviously searched for something.

Thran and Kyan turned right toward Weldon’s office that was also tossed. Parchments, papers, books, and maps were scattered about as if the room were struck by a tornado. Rainwater, ink, mud, and blood combined to turn the strewn papers into pulp. A shelf on the wall opposite the desk once contained map scrolls. Some were still in their labeled slots, but most were part of the muck on the floor. Kyan took the time to return the scrolls to their proper slots. They soon discovered two empty slots labeled Barrow Downs and Amon Sul (WeatherTop).

Which way to go? Rain made any cart tracks almost useless to follow- were they made today or last week? The Downs were west while Amon Sul was east. Kyan thought about the earlier Wight encounter in the streets and directed them westward. But by the time they reached the fork-in-the-road, he changed his mind, “Belemir’s been heading east all along. To Amon Sul!”

The East Gate: closed and securely braced. The unlit gatekeeper’s shelter revealed an inebriated guard asleep on his watch. A wagon full of bellowing drunk dwarves could have passed unnoticed. Fortunately, there were no cart tracks. But why did they need a cart? Maybe they abandoned it in town and carried Weldon out by the scruff of his collar?

The West Gate: also shut and braced with a stout beam. But this guard-hut was attended by a grizzled old man in a woolen cloak tending a small but inviting fire inside. He looked up, “Say, I remember you. Not many elves around these days. What brings you out and about in this rain? About an hour ago, a gruff large man (hidden inside his raingear) and a dozen others came through with a cart and pony. One of the men seemed to stagger as he walked, but the big man chalked it up to too much of Butterbur’s ale. That’s when I recognized the big man as Brandel. Said they had a new job with deliveries to make despite the rain.”

West towards the Barrow-Downs: After paying the gate tax, they rode west through the light drizzle. Dusty sat behind Kyan, “I remember Brandel. Another one of the bar men who always teased my uncle. Threw coins on the floor to watch him grovel.” They followed the narrower rain-soaked cart ruts which soon left the road and rolled into the Barrow-Downs where the ruts disappeared. The ground became increasingly rocky and barren, covered occasionally with patches of pale and sickly grass. An evil seemed to flow with the mist. [WISsave else Shadow] And that’s when the horses became edgy. Even Kyan’s wolfhound growled, which startled another animal in the distance. They crept closer to find the pony still attached to the abandoned cart with a broken wheel. As Theo tied the horses to a tree line, Thran convinced Dusty to stay behind, “We need to go on foot. It’s a lot to ask but are you brave enough to guard our horses while we are gone?”

They tried to follow the large group of human tracks but the dense mist limited their vision to a few dozen feet. Theo suddenly threw his arms out to stop the others as he pointed out the top edge of a sharply angle scarp where a rope was tied to a rock and disappeared over the edge of the scarp. Kyan untied the rope (“in case they come back before we find them”) then moved 100ft to the side for them to descend on their own rope. At the bottom, still in a mist, they crept toward the original rope.

Left Behind: “Who goes there?! Jack, is that you? Did you get it already?” Thran tried to bluff by answering as Brandel but got a wayward arrow in reply. Kyan sent his dog forward… “Help! Get him off me; I’m already injured.” They came upon Urian, “Bad enough that Weldon stabbed me when we confronted him, but then I fell down this scarp that came out of nowhere and broke my leg. Brandel said I was no got to him and just left me behind without help.”

After Thran treated his wounds and properly set his broken leg, Urian explained, “Most of us are fired workers in Falcor’s warehouse. Not good enough to be guards on his wagon deliveries, given all the recent reports of bandits. With Weldon’s bragging about a treasure, Brandel talked us into taking a share for ourselves. Have you heard of the Ballad of Harslan? Brandel roughed up Weldon to learn that the treasure is hidden in Harslan’s Tomb. Per the map, it’s a mound located between the fork of the dry riverbed.” They left Urian behind: Theo left him rations, Thran left bandages in case his cut opened, Kyan left him bound and gagged.

The Mound: They followed along the banks of the riverbed no longer dry from the recent rain. Within 30 minutes, the Barrow of Harslan suddenly appeared out of the fog, as if it were waiting for their arrival. The 60ft round and 20ft tall mound (with a flat top and standing stones) was covered in the same short (dead) grass that populated the rest of the Barrow Downs [blighted land from corruption]. Its sides were steep but scalable. A thin wisp of smoke rose from the top of the mound: the shape of a lone guard sat beside a campfire.

As the others crept around the mound, Thran called out, “Jack, it’s me.” The frightened guard quickly rose, “Who’s out there? Urian? We left you for dead! Are you his ghost?!” At least the elf created a distraction for Theo to climb the backside of the mound and capture the guard. They bound and gagged him after learning the others had gone inside the entrance at the standing stones. Behind the fire was a set of standing stones. A large carved square stone, that once covered the stairs, was tossed aside. Narrow stairs disappeared into the darkness below. Kyan lit his lantern to lead the way: a cold chill ran up their backs: without a doubt, Evil lurked inside!

They Enter: The narrow stairs descended about 20ft and turned left into a hallway (wide enough for 2 abreast) made of rough-hewn stone. Thick wooden timbers supported the roof and were carved with images of horses, game animals, and fighting hobbits. Which explained the low 5ft ceiling [DisAdvantage for anyone over 5ft tall or trying to swing a 2-handed weapon]. They stepped into freezing, brackish calf-deep water that added to their chills. [CONsave else 1 level of exhaustion]

The Trap: Kyan cautiously led the way: slow advance, stop to listen, then move. The outgoing waves of sloshing water caused concern of it warning anyone ahead. Busy chalking the walls to mark their passage, the dwarf didn’t notice the slight ripple of the backwashed wave. His next step was an extra 2-inch fall: he felt metal spikes bend under his metal boots. For anyone else it might have punctured skin if not put holes in their shoes [to increase the hyperthermia effect of the freezing water]. They laid shields for all to safely cross. Even then, Theo and the wolfhound were feeling the effects: they needed to get out of the water and herbs would only give temporary relief.

Murals: As the hallway seemed to spiral inward, they came upon ancient murals painted on the walls that depicted the life and death of Harslan. Despite the vandalism of long, jagged claw marks raked across the images, they could still make out the story of the hobbit’s life and deeds.

Another Trap: Kyan used his spear to prob the water ahead for more spike traps. Which explained why he missed seeing: to anyone else the swinging horizontal blade would have beheaded the hapless adventurer. The blade bent the decorative horns on the dwarf’s helm and caused him a slight headache. They jammed a spike in it to disarm the trap before they continued along the curving hallway. And that’s when the backwash of water brought a lifeless body floating into view. Thran rushed forward as doctor, “Death by hyperthermia. Notice the holes in his boots.”

Harslan’s Thirteen: they climbed out of the water and stood in a 20x20ft room with alcoves lining the walls. Six skeletal warriors on the left and 7 on the right stood at attention, slightly leaning inward as if to impose their presence. Twelve of the bodies showed obvious signs of their violent demise yet they retained their nobility even in death despite claw marks that defaced their sacred resting. As they inspected the bodies, Thran noticed a thin wire that help them leaning inward (a trick to impose their presence) was tangled with webbing. Meanwhile, Kyan reached the end of the room and noticed the last body wasn’t a skeleton, but a cocooned body that still twitched. [Too bad they didn’t take time to remove their exhaustion now that they were out of the water.]

Everything happened at once: Thran saw the spider (as large as a dog) just as it lunged for the dwarf. Thran quickly notched an arrow and fired twice at the spider confronting the dwarf as 2 more spiders appeared in the room. The wounded spider still bit Kyan who felt the warm sting of poison he fought off. Kyan swung at that spider; as for his dog, it was still too lethargic from the freezing water. Another spider jumped at the elf as the other spun webbing at the Beorning. [fumble] Theo stumbled into spider webbing that threw off his own attack.

Thran switched to his blade to hit the spider that jumped him. The spiders continued their attack. Kyan risked their Attack-Of-Opportunity as he drank his latha potion to remove his exhaustion before he swung and killed his foe. Theo flexed his muscles to break out of the webbing and then fired at his foe, killing the spider, pinning it to one of the skeletons.

And that ‘s when they heard frightened screaming from somewhere ahead. Which fueled Kyan to kill off the last spider before he stooped to give his dog another latha potion. “Thran, take care of that cocooned man as we go forward to investigate.” Theo already had that uneasy feeling of evil as he moved down the hallway. He saw Kyan’s axe start to glow the closer they got.

Harslan’s Tomb: As they turned the corner, they saw flickering torchlight and heard screams and curses from inside. Opposite the entrance to the tomb, sat the desiccated body of Prince Harslan on an ornately carved wooden throne. Behind the throne hung a heavy tapestry. In the center of the room was a pedestal with a ball on top. 

And around that either stood or laid dead Brandel and his men frightened out of their minds as they faced an evil wight who cursed his dreadful spell [WISsave else frightened] as he attacked,

Over dark and moldy bones,

Under gray and wretched stones,

Watch I and guard and keep,

Hated, loved, would-be King,

No hand shall touch nor disturb,

My ever-living deadly scourge,

Damned be you and damned be I,

Your flesh shall rend, bleed, and cry,

In this tomb forever mine.

Thran hurried to cut the man from the cocoon and heal his wounds and remove the poison. He could only impatiently listen to the screams that erupted from the distant chamber.

An energy bolt sprang from the end of the wight’s (Siarl) fingertip and struck Kyan, who was the first to enter. Frightened, Kyan avoided the wight as he rushed around the room towards the hobbit bound in the far corner. His dog followed. Theo stepped forward with his axes when the wight attacked him: solid hits but the wight seemed to regenerate some of the wounds!

Kyan changed tactics and closed within spear range to help Theo fighting for his life as Brandel and his surviving men cowered in the corners. And that’s when Thran arrived, also frightened by the wight which threw off his arrow aim. Siarl’s morgul blade caused permanent shadow drain on the Beorning as they traded hits with the wight regenerating more of his loss. Finally free from his fright, Kyan charged with a battle cry as he swung RingRist that flared as it hit: while the wight was unaffected, Brandel and his men blindly peed in their pants as the battle raged around them. But Theo also got in fatal blows that dispatched the wight.

The Palantir of Harslan: Silence filled the room other than the crying of the kidnappers. Kyan rushed to free Weldon as Thran came forward to inspect the 2ft tall pedestal that held a 2ft diameter black crystal globe, “As I suspected, a fake as there is no energy aura about it. Records showed faux Palantirs were spread across Middle-earth to complicate Suaron’s efforts to spy upon his enemy.” Theo also inspected the pedestal (natural 20), finding a hidden compartment. Inside: an ancient leather glove with metal strains woven around the fingers and cuff. From the cuff hung orc-scalps!

Kyan finally came over to inspect the pedestal and quickly wondered how the Beorning avoided the electrical trap that could have killed him [6d6]!

Lore/Shadow Lore: [Even with his Scholar die gift for adjustment] Kyan had no clue what the glove meant. [Lore 30] Than remembered it in his readings about the early numenorians, "Carangor- forged by Celebrimbor before he made the rings of power. Notice it included orc-scalps to horrify his foe. He gave it to the hobbit Harslan Underhill (same last name of Weldon) for his heroic participation in the fall of Sauron." [Shadow Lore 21] Theo remembered, "The Ballad of Harslan mentioned the orc leader Siarl whom Harslan killed.  Someone evil must have opened this tomb just after the burial to add Siarl's body to haunt his mortal foe. No wonder there are scratch marks on the murals."

Thran announced in the tomb, "Harslan, if you are here, come forth and explain." A ghostly spirit rose from the throne chair, "Sauron himself placed Siarl’s bones upon my dead lap to torment my rest. I am indebted to your service for cleansing my tomb. I can tell you are honorable men, unlike those who tried to rob me. You may keep my glove but send those men away before I tell you more of which you should know. And burn those bones of Siarl!"

Kyan sent the men on their way, “And take your dead with you, even the one you cowardly left floating in the freezing water. We have your names; don’t dawdle as there could be more spiders out there. Turn yourself in to your town reeve, Twyc Greenleaf (Bree’s sheriff and stern judge). Do yourselves proper, and we’ll put in a good word for you. We might have business for you later. Run, and know that a dwarf never tires in pursuit.”

The Tapestry: They all looked back inside the tomb and saw Weldon climb through his ghostly ancestor and onto the back of the throne to take down the tapestry, "Well don't just stand there, help me collect my rightful inheritance. What’s so special about this rug anyway? I mean yeah, it’s busy with the history of the hobbits coming to the Shire. So many details overlap; you’d think they could only afford more than one tapestry rather than cramming it all onto one.”

With Carangor strapped to his belt, Kyan walked towards Weldon as he tried to reason, “Your ancestor Harslan was a great warrior who deserves to be left to rest in peace. If anything, you should be proud of your heritage and make it a point to honor him by tending to his grave and protecting it. Your real treasure is a rich family heritage, not some ancient relics you can pawn off for a few pints of ale. Your grandson braved the barrows to come to your aid. Be an example for him and teach him right from wrong and of true honor.”

Metal stands within the tapestry reacted to the closeness of the glove on Kyan’s hip (also woven with metal strands). All gasped when the scene of hobbits transporting a shard into the forest sprang forth from the overlapping scenes crammed onto the tapestry. The ghost of Harslan recognized their familiarity, “So, you know of the division of the 6 shards. It was my duty, and my men, to find a safe and secure hiding place. You say others have been found. I beseech you to keep our secret safe. I warn you that if you pass the glove over the rest of the tapestry you will learn where we laid ours to rest.”

What do you do?

NEXT SESSION: https://lotrwjr.blogspot.com/2025/03/a5s2-warehouse-wagons.html