Varon777

Elhadron pulled his cloak tighter around his body and raised his hood above his face. There were many humans, all of them bold and curious, and inquisitive, but Elhadron did his best to be less noticed by them, trailing softly at the heels of his companions. In the ale house, he stood by the door, head tilted slightly, listening. Framsburg. So that was where they were. Where had the Lady gone and why was she now in the room and not before them?    It was uncanny. Evil, even, and he wished to be free as quickly as possible, but how, he could not guess. 

Elhadron bowed deeply at the words of the king of the eagles, reciting them three times to ensure the accuracy of the message, although of the warning of the fortress, he could make out little of its meaning. For he had travelled far and wide with the Errant Companies, but never had he passed through those regions, but he vowed to carry that message of warning to the Lord Elrond as well. Perhaps the Wise could make some sense of it.    But soon they travelled once again, to an old town, older even than him, though he knew the references of which Irime spoke. The riding of Eorl and his people had saved the sons of the Numenoreans, waylaid by the servants of the enemy in days long past. He aided his injured companions as best he could, though the wounds were grave and they weary, until at last sleep took him too.    Darkness fell in horror and he woke soon after, gazing around in dismay. "This is the work of some foul sorcery- these words you speak are older than the memories of your people. Some accursed memory is being forced upon us. Indeed, stay near the Lady and ward her." He reached to draw whatever weapons he may have been carrying, staring at them before shaking his head. "Although I know not what good they may do us."    He paused for a few moments, furrowing his brow, before speaking softly at first, then more loudly, "Aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima! This is some power beyond my ken." 

After the task was finished, Elhadron stepped away, sealing the small pot of ointment and turning to study the others in his party, before bowing deeply to the Eagles. "As I have said, I am Elhadron of Rivendell, though of late I have spent much of my time with the errant companies of my kin or bearing messages between my lords. Have my lords any message for me to bear my lord Elrond, should we reach the destination of our journey?"        

Healing Roll for Gaerthor         

Elhadron staggered to his feet and then bowed deeply among the eagles of the eyrie. "I am Elhadron, my lords, and these are my companions, several of whom are also grievously injured in defense of the Lady here, whose identity I cannot say is granted to me to share without her bidding. But I am a healer, certainly no master of the healing arts nor a sage of any great wisdom, but with your permission, I might treat the wounded, starting with your chieftain, for we owe a great debt."    He paused to pull out a small jar of healing ointment, awaiting permisison.   

Only if the dice like me! 

Yeah, Elhadron is definitely not set up as a combatant 😆 Very much more of a healer and support character. 

Elhadron shuddered under the impact of another blow against his buckler and he struck out again, breathing heavily with the effort as the hedge of spears pressed close, hemming him and his companions in closer around Irime and his horse.    His arm burned with the effort and he was splattered with blood, although whose he could not determine. His breath caught in his throat as he slashed and stabbed against the spear to break the points from the staves.    Then Irime was gone and he spun in panic, but it was the shape of great eagles he saw, rather than an orc, followed shortly by others taking the rest of his companions. Then great claws grabbed him and he felt the ground drop beneath him, and the land spread out before him like a map.    His head spun in surprise, but he could not keep his eyes away from the ground.     

Alright, no worries! 

Alright, let's try combat now that I survived the wedding 

Though the arrows sung as they sprang from the bowstring, they did not strike true, much to Elhadron's disappointment, but he paid it no mind, for the great horde of goblins and uruks surged towards them. He cast his bow behind him, to the saddle where his horse stood and drew the longsword from his sheath, staying in the rear, with the buckler on one hand. The sword steel sang against the leather and he clutched at it with his hand.    His eyes shone in starlight as the first orc came to meet him, trading blows back and forth, his own blade sparking against the crude armor of the orc soldier who hewed at him with a cruel fury. Elhadron stepped aside, parried, and riposted, dancing away from the heavy blows before lunging forward again to try and go past the defenses. 

The light flared from Irime and Elhadron nearly dropped his bow in surprise. What it was, he could not say, save that it was something of great power and struck fear even into the hearts of the stoutest of goblins.    It made his heart sing in some sort of way, although he could understand little of it. But it soon faded, and he strung an arrow on his bow even as his eyes readjusted to the darkness. His bow sang three times, loosing arrows into the night at the horde of goblins. 

Archery Rolls. Failed Valour Test 

Alright, let's see if any luck swings our way this time. 

Dread Test- TN 15  

Elhadron followed to the rear, keeping his eyes to the gloom behind them, watching for movement or the glint of starlight, but their paths were providential. They eluded the goblins both ahead and behind and reached something of a place to which they might hold out until the dawn. An old ruin, perched atop a hill, whose descriptor gave Elhadron the strangest sense of familiarity, but he had seen many such places in his time with the wandering companies of the Noldor and many a tale told of ruins within the mountains.    But that concerned him not at the moment. He guided his horse into the circle and let it roam free to graze at what grass might grow there. He loosened the sword in its scabbard and hung his buckler from his belt where he could easily reach it and tested the tension of his bow.    "A long night lays before us," he mused, "Although perhaps we may be fortunate. Beorn is said to wander these mountains, is he not? Or perhaps the eagles upon the peaks will render us aid."     

Well that's also a bad roll. 

Lore check to see if there's anything about this location we might be able to use to frighten off the goblins or otherwise use to our advantage? 

"Hold," Elhadron said, softly, speaking so that only the others could hear without his voice carrying far beyond the party. "We have been driven forth to an ambush, I fear, for the goblins of the Mountains lay in wait, lest my eyes deceive me." He slowed and gazed up at the mountains before turning to lack back behind. His heart sank beneath him for a moment as the implications rolled through his mind. "I fear it was some cunning mind that allowed us to see the bonfires of the Uruks of Mordor, to urge us further into the wilds away from the assistance of the Beornings."     

Awareness Dice Check 

Ooh that's exciting 

Sounds good! 

These lights were unnatural, Elhadron knew. Not starlight, nor moonlight, nor any other light made by the Valar when the world was young. No, these were artificial lights of some sort, flames. He stood quietly beside his horse, ready to give it the command to flee to safety should the need arise, his bow held ready and the sword loosened in its scabbard. He did not know what it was the companions would find, but he felt an ill wind in the air.    His head was tilted to one side, listening to any hue and cry that might ring through the night and give him some warning of what could be the source of the lights. 

Elhadron walked along behind the horse, alternating between humming and singing softly to himself. The journey was not long, and the terrain flat, with little cover nor rough ground to hamper their route.    As they came to the Anduin, he stopped along the edge, watching the river flow down from the mountains and towards the sea.    "Such would have been a remarkable sight," Elhadron considered. "A great bridge at the height of the powers of Men." 

"A bow?" Annungil shook his head. "I am afraid not, for I gave it as a grave gift for a fallen companion. I trusted it less than my sword arm and the strength of a shield."    Elhadron heard the continued conversation as they headed down the pace, walking in quiet just to the side and behind the horse, his eyes studying the landscape around them, roving across the horizon and down through the landscape as the sun set.    The light appeared in the gloom and the table appeared before them. Elhadron slowed and shook his head in wonderment. "It is delightful, my Lady. Your paths are well chosen."