A6: Scene 1 – The Forsaken Inn

Understanding the Ballad: “It sounds like Belemir discovered a new objective for his Dark Queen, Caelindur: recovering the Rod and Throne the Blue Wizard Pallando crafted. Recovering the shards of the shattered amulet (Angril) offered a vessel for Sauron’s return to this world (dimension). The ballad describes him as the Goblin-King (as he created orc and kind) vanquished by the Brown Wizard Radagast. While Caelindur has her own amulet necklaces to control individuals, the Rod would give her control of an entire town. And if the Rod was placed in the armrest of the Throne, she could potentially control an entire region. An army to equal Sauron’s! With Rod and Throne in hand, she wouldn’t need Sauron to aid her domination of the world!” 

Embarkation [Theo as Guide= 10 less Peril 1 = 9: Paths Both Swift & True (all terrain types classed as 1 grade easier)] It would be a 2-week trip to the Trollshaw Forest.

11 July, The Forsaken Inn: It was a day’s travel east of Bree along the Great East Road when they came upon the Inn around 6pm. Breemen had talked of it as the last safehouse west of the Misty Mountains, run by an elderly woman, Marge, who ran an orderly waystation for weary travelers. They led their horses into the stable, puzzling about a stench. [fumble] Theo found the source when he walked under the fresh kill head of a troll mounted over the entry door. Flies swarmed around the head and the droppings of the putrid green fluid that dripped onto Theo’s shoulder. 

Inside, they found less than a half-dozen trappers & hunters sitting at the tables while a young man worked behind the bar. “Come in! Welcome to Jack’s Inn. Under new management, finders’ keepers since ole Marge passed away in her sleep.” Kyan scanned the trappers as he inquired, “So how did you men slay that foul beast whose head hangs outside?!” Jack proudly spoke up, “I did, single-handed, but the story will cost you. 2 silvers for ale & grub each. Another 2 silvers to hear the tale of my hunt.” The Fellowship begrudgingly paid up. One swig of the ale and they realized they’d been had with piss-water. And the grub was equally tasteless & unsettling! As for the tale: unbelievable to think scrawny Jack could sneak up on a troll and behead it all by himself two days ago. But the proof was hanging over the door. 

As one hunter traded a skunk skin for another round of drinks, all hunters were equally doubtful, “Probably came upon it trapped in the marsh bogs. Or near death when he stumbled upon it. But something has been scaring off the game out there. With the troll gone, maybe our catches will improve such that we’ll have more fur to trade. Not here at his outrageous prices; maybe in Bree.” Jack chimed in, “You’re lucky I’m not charging you for ridding your hunting grounds of the threat.” 

When Jack asked for another silver for room & board in a common room, Thran protested, “I’d sooner sleep under the stars.” The trappers laughed, “We’d be out there too if it weren’t for them dang Midgewater midges (nasty biting flies).” Instead of coin for the room, Theo offered a slice of his Honey-Mead bread. When the hunters tasted crumbs dropped on the bar counter, one offered a fox skin for the entire loaf; Theo declined. Kyan bartered with another trapper: coins for a bear skin crafted into leather armor for his wolfhound. 

Realizing their best bet was to trade, Theo left to hunt for wild bees to harvest their honey. Thran left to hunt for herbs. Both returned an hour later covered in midge bites! Kyan chided the elf, “Didn’t you tell me you found ASPHODEL around Chetwood that is a bug repellent?!” 

New Moon Night: Theo & Thran flopped all night from their bites that were worse than the bed-bug bites all suffered. Maybe that’s why Thran was still awake around 2am when he heard the horses in the stable beneath them stomping and snorting. He also heard a crying voice that almost sounded like Jack, and another unknown deep-throated voice, “Grab a needle and thread and quit whining! Don’t worry Wack, you’ll be good as new.” Thran woke the others before sneaking downstairs while they took time to put on their armor [1 round per 2-points of armor]. At the base of the stairs, the elf heard the voices from behind the bar, probably in Jack’s room. He pressed his ear to the door and heard the voices receding to outside. 

Theo made it downstairs in his leather armor and headed to the front door; he couldn’t see in the dark but heard voices coming from the right-side of the inn. Thran joined him and used his staff to cast Fog centered on the outside corner of the inn. With Darkvision to partially see in the night, he slowly exited the inn and felt his way along the side of the building. Theo followed with his hand on the elf’s shoulder to guide him. He could sense something ahead, but it wasn’t evil. And that’s when Kyan made it to the stairs to see them exit the inn as he too heard the voices. At the base of the stairs, he entered the door to the stable and headed for the backdoor.

Thran was at the corner when the deep voice called out, “I can’t see you elf but I can smell you. Any closer and I’ll bite Jack’s leg off. Jack, keep sewing. Wack, talk to me brother. It weren’t my fault he took your head. Keep sewing Jack and quit peeing on my feet.” And that’s when it dawned on Theo that the troll head that was hung over the inn door was missing. Out back, Kyan heard the conversation and edged around the edge of the fog. And the voice called out, “A smelly dwarf too?! Stay back if you want Jack to live.”

When the fog began to dissipate and drift in the breeze, they all saw: Jack nervously stood on a rain barrel in front of a troll who held Jack in his right hand while he held the troll-head trophy in his left on top of his left shoulder. “I said sew! Damn it Wack, talk to me!” All were awe struck and bewildered, until Theo realized, “It’s a 2-headed Ettin! Well, one-headed now. They normally reside in the Ettinmoors above the Trollshaw Forest.” Kyan teased, “Come on Jack, slay him. Two heads over your door. Hey, if you die, we claim the inn…finder’s keepers. And by the way, your ale sucks. When we save your arse, you owe me all the coin I paid and more.” 

Thran spoke up, “I’m a healer. Let Jack go and I’ll stitch your brother back on.” Thak countered, “Heal me brother and I won’t bite Jack’s leg off to let him feel what it’s like.” Thran wondered what the troll/Ettin expected as he laid his hands on the base of the extra head. Energy flowed from his hands into the troll skin that seemed to bind neck and stump.

[+40 heal] Suddenly, Wack’s eyes fluttered open and blinked in different directions, out of sync. And just as stunning, Wack mumbled. [skin attached and graphed but that didn’t mean the windpipe and vocal cords aligned.] Thak was happy to have his brother back as he dropped Jack to the ground, “We owe you elf. Only hunt in a certain area? And leave the trappers alone? Whatever you say.” 

Next Day: Jack was left in charge of the Inn, but the Fellowship required he hire one of the hunters as a cook and another as the brew-master. Later that day, the leather armor was ready for the wolfhound, complete with the bear head still attached. 

NEXT SESSION: A6: Scene 2 – Bandits