A5S3: Intercept the Wagons

Prancing Pony Inn: Already dark, they decided to wait until morning to follow Falcor’s wagon train. Thus, they used the Inn as their short rest healing as they formulated plans while smoking their pipes [Advantage Riddle]. Kyan puffed out a smoke ring with an arrow piercing it, but it more looked like the letter ‘Q’. Thran’s puff resembled a wagon with turning wheels that slowly dissolved into waves in a stream. Theo did his best to create a smoky Great Eagle, but his cough spoiled the image… “Is that supposed to be a flying squirrel?” Laughter gave them the relaxation they needed: “We can double the distance on horseback compared to a slow wagon.”

Rymen butted in, “If they were going to Sarn’s Ford, they would have exited the west gate. And that’s a 25-day drive by wagon. They left via the south gate along the Old Greenway Road. There are ruins of a town at the bridge over a stream out of the South Downs about 6-days out by wagon; 3-days riding fast on horses.”

Kyan realized their prisoner hadn’t told the whole truth; so, he went to the jail and waved RingRist in the man’s face. Enough intimidation to learn Rymen’s thoughts were true. And also learned Falcor’s wagons made this trip twice a month. This was only the second time Falcor rode along, “Usually when he is called to meet the big boss. Called, you know, when those black birds land and squawk at him. Anyway, we usually meet up with more Haradrium who bring wagons loaded with weapons and armor to be shipped north.”

Thorn finally revealed, “I’ve got carrier pigeons raised in Minas Tirith in a crate in the stables. We could send a message to King Elessar about the poisoned grain. Too bad Bree doesn’t have carrier pigeons to get word to the Shire and Margo and her new Green Company archers. We could task them to check into the wagon shipments going north toward Fornost.”

Next Day: They released 3 pigeons each with the same message. Kyan gathered stray pigeons to also send aloft as potential decoys if the black bird crebain were around. Weldon departed for the Shire to send word to Margo and the new Thain. At least Thorn had recovered enough to join the fellowship in their ride after Falcor’s wagon train (who had at least a 4-hour head start). Theo monitored the horses to avoid exerting them on the hard ride: a gallop, to a walk, and even an occasional stop for water and rub-down. It was nearly 2pm when they finally saw wagons on the rutted road ahead.

Kyan had hoped to spot the wagons to slow down and act like normal travelers. [Perceptions: Thran natural 20, wagon rider natural 20] They saw 6 horsemen flanking 2 wagons each driven by 1-2 men. Why was one of the wagon riders looking back? [They were expecting 2 more wagons from the warehouse to join them.] So much for surprise.

Onward into Battle: Thorn raised his horn [causes Disadvantage] and sounded their charge (only one driver was affected out of the 9 foe). He leveled his Greatbow and just missed the last driver as the arrow sank into the wagon’s tailgate. Thran lit a torch and rode into the thin forest in hopes of sneaking up on the foe. He cast his elf-light magic on the torch but then dropped it into the tall grass, hiding it from view of his intended targets: none were affected by the light [he did start a small grass fire]. The 6 riders wheeled about and rode towards the fellowship with their bows raised: 1 out of 2 arrows hit Thran, while 4 foe targeted Thorn (2 fumbles= bowstrings broke, 2 others hit). Both wagons stopped as the drivers grabbed their Greatbows. Theo also tried to ride off road into the thin trees but was seen by 2 of the enemy. Kyan let out his war-cry and charged toward the foe with his dog running beside Kyan’s horse.

[9 foe] Thorn fired again but missed as he bestowed Kyan with a Warden’s Gift-Die. Thran carefully aimed (stinging arrow) and critically hit his target while also healing himself. 2 horsemen fired but missed the elf, 2 foe closed into melee against the dwarf (1 hit), while 2 foe fired arrows at the dwarf but missed. Both wagon drivers fired at and hit Thorn. Theo closed and fired hitting one foe. Kyan slashed with RingRist: the flare blinded 2 of the 4 closest foe allowing the dwarf to kill one of them. His dog snapped at the legs of the horses.

[8 foe] Scholar’s Gift-Die and Warden’s Gift-Die were passed out as the battle became toe-to-toe with swinging blades. Thran and Thorn and Theo faced one foe each while 2 foe engaged Kyan. At least one foe was thrown when the dog nipped the horse’s legs. And the 3 wagon archers continued to fire at the taller Theo.

[8 foe] Too ambitious? [fumble] Thorn tried to blow his horn again but was thrown, giving his foe height advantage on his attacks. Thran was outmatched against a seasoned warrior and had to heal himself to stay in the fight. The foe dealt deep wounds but at least Theo was able to kill his foe. Kyan killed one of his foes and directed Theo, “I can handle this, engage the wagon archers!” Theo did as he was directed without pointing out he was severely wounded (4 HP left).

[6 foe] Thorn traded hits with his foe and was left severely wounded himself. Thran also traded hits with his foe while gifting Kyan. Theo rode hard which threw-off the archers’ aim. Kyan killed his foe and rode next to Thorn to engage his foe. His dog snapped at more legs throwing another rider.

[5 foe] Thorn’s blade bounced off his foe’s shield and was hit in the return swing. Thran hit his foe solid (natural 20). The wagon archers switched to blades and feinted a swing [feat], gaining advantage on their next attack: Theo fell unconscious and bleeding and failed his first CONsave. Kyan killed Thorn’s foe before riding toward the wagons, close enough to throw his spear that hit. His dog ran beside Kyan’s horse.

[4 foe, Theo down] Thorn killed Thran’s foe which allowed the elf to heal himself before riding (double-move) toward the prone Theo. Which made Thran the target of the wagon archers. Theo passed another CONsave as Kyan threw both his daggers before dismounting near the wagons with his shield raised high in protection. And his dog lept up to bit one of the archers.

[3 foe, Theo down] Thorn fired at one of the archers as he rode closer. Thran dismounted when he reached Theo’s side and laid his hands of healing to bring life to his ally. Which gave both wagon warriors (the driver wasn’t fighting) free reign to attack Kyan, who fell from his wounds. Kyan passed his first CONsave as his dog snapped at but missed one of the warriors.

[3 foe, Kyan down] Thorn fired again hitting his target as Thran stood over Kyan to lay hands of healing such that the dwarf stood back up for battle. [Power Attack feat-turn AC points into damage] Both warriors put their full weight into their swings: one hit Theo for 21 damage while the other hit Kyan for 19 damage. (fumble) Theo failed his CONsave twice while Kyan failed his once. With his master down, the dog viciously bit and killed one warrior.

[2 foe, Theo and Kyan down] Now in melee, Thorn swung and hit the last warrior as Thran knelt to lay hands on Theo. [Guardian reaction] Thorn blocked the warrior’s Attack-Of-Opportunity against the exposed elf but wasn’t able to block the attack against Theo when he stood. Once again Theo was down but saved his first CONsave. (fumble- Kyan failed his CONsave twice) Kyan lay dead which inspired his dog to go for the throat of his attacker. Which caused the driver to panic and jump/fall off the wagon.

As Thran laid hands on Theo a 3^rd time, he could only stand over the dead dwarf and cry. And that’s when Thorn recognized the stumbling driver, “That’s Falcor!” And that’s when Kyan woke.

[Call it the healer’s tears: to stay alive, Kyan had to lose his Inspiration, lose 10 Maximum HP, and took 6 Shadow which put him in the threat range of the Miserable Condition.]

The fellowship confronted a bewildered Falcor who held a gem in his hand with a broken chain, “Where am I?! Where did this gem come from?” Thran realized the necklace must have broken when Falcor fell off the wagon. Theo questioned him about the poisoned grain which only made the merchant aghast at such an accusation.

[Insight DC20: Kyan 19, Theo 9, Thran natural 20] They hadn't known Falcor long enough to believe his reaction; so, they cautiously kept an eye on him. Until Thran noticed a bulge under the man’s leather shirt. “Oh, that. A poor job of stitching from the doctor; I’ll be fine.” Per suspicions, Kyan put his axe to the man’s throat, “Open your shirt.” It took a few minutes, but when they cut off the real necklace, Falcor was released from the controlling amulet, “Where am I?!”

3pm, Return to Bree: After burying the dead, they tied up the extra horses to the wagons and began the slow 7-hour drive back to Bree. Falcor drove one wagon as Thorn drove the other. Within hours of their travel, they were attacked by a swarm of crebain! Did the Dark Queen sense the broken spell of the amulet removed from Falcor?! Whatever caused the black birds’ arrival, the fellowship killed a few before the swarm returned south.

But during that encounter, Kyan fumbled an attack which triggered a Miserable Condition. In a Bout-Of-Madness, Kyan concocted a Crazy Plan to deal with the Dark Queen’s mount, “We need to craft a large arbalest (crossbow) and mount it on the back of a wagon. When her Fell-Beast flies near, we shoot it down!” His allies pointed out the fallacy of his idea, “I don’t want to be stuck slowly driving a wagon across Middle-Earth on the slim chance we ever meet up with the Queen again. Besides, we don't have the skills to craft such nor the weapon skills to operate it.” And from that Bout-Of-Madness, Kyan gained Ornithopedia (fear of birds and all flying things).

Consequences of Corruption (PB page 184): When his Bout-Of-Madness finally passed, Kyan’s recent gain of 6 Shadow was transformed into a single permanent Shadow point. In addition to resetting his Shadow points, Kyan developed a new Shadow Weakness Flaw: his Lure of Power degenerated into Resentful (page 187: often bitter and angry with the people he should be protecting, “Why should I risk my life just so they can sit on their arses at the bar?!”).

10pm, Prancing Pony Inn: Those last hours driving in the dark was most stressful. But the lights of Bree was a welcomed sight as was the smell of brew and cooked ham wafting from the Inn. Calanhir hobbled toward them with open arms, “I was just talking with that hobbit archer. She told me about you finding my brother Calanlas in the ruins of Fornost. I can’t thank you enough for your plans to bring his sword back to our father in Alatopel in the Trollshaw Forest. The month travel will give me time to heal from those months of torture at the hands of Falcor and his men.”

The fellowship was caught off-guard when Margo appeared before them, “Don’t you remember Thain Faramir I directed me to form a new Green Company of archers to march toward Fornost to cleanse the area of the remaining Orcs and Wights?!” Kyan and the others pointed out the new information about shipments of weapons and armor sent north to arm a secret army, “If not Fornost, then somewhere northwest toward Angmar and Carn Dum.” Margo pondered, “Then perhaps I should enlist the rangers who guard our Shire borders. Surely your quest by the king to follow Belemir takes you elsewhere.”

But such plans could wait. Now was the time to relax and soak in all that they had recently encountered. They needed to testify against Falcor before Reeve Twyc Greenleaf. And they needed to enlist Breemen to join Thorn in his offered task of journeying to Rohan to intercept the latest poisoned grain shipment and warn the Rohirrim about the months’ worth of tainted grain that had already been delivered.

As for the amulet, they found a Master Scholar to help them analyze the tainted artifact. The hobbit Halfred Brandybuck could feel the evil pulsing within it, “Thank goodness you didn’t destroy it. Why the wave of negative energy that would have burst forth could have either killed you outright or tainted your very soul with evil thoughts and deeds. I’d say seek out guidance from the elves who remain in Rivendell. But keep it locked up in a metal box!”

Over the next couple of days, the adventurers engage in a Fellowship Phase. Thran could use the time to search for herbs as they ran out of their healing potions. Theo will probably search for wild bees to harvest their honeycomb to make honey-cakes for future exhaustion relief. Kyan is in desperate need of Corruption healing! And Calanhir needs "Recovery" time per his months of torture. They will also Level Up to 6th. I changed Thran's Scholar Feature to "Character Improvement" since I already created a "Scholar's Gift" option to replace the 5th level "Webs of Deceit" didn't fit our campaign.

NEXT SESSION: A5: Scene 4 – Fellowship & Level Up