Year 2949: Kinstrife and Dark Tidings

[Vladim]

(At the trial)

Idunn breathed a sigh of relief. At last… justice. It felt good, if only for a brief moment, to know that all their efforts, and the numerous hardships they had endured, had not been for naught. But though she was vindicated, that moment did not last long.

In the coming days, her thoughts would once again drift towards Odo and Merovech, and to their loved ones. The Thanes were dead. Nothing anyone said or did – not even Beorn – could change that. The lives of those they had left behind would forever be tinged with sorrow. Then, when she was alone, she would try to compose a song or a poem to treasure and celebrate the memory of Merovech. It would avail her not, and she would give up the task when the words would not come, for her sorrow was still fresh. Then, after a few days had passed, she would try again, and fail again, until she would give up the idea for good. She was no bard or minstrel, and Merovech was too close to her heart; she would most likely never be able to transform tragedy into a poem of lament.

But there was hope yet for Oderic and his family.

Presently, as the bear-lord produced the skull, Idunn’s mind raced to the only explanation she could find. Clearly, the Necromancer had returned! This, and the lights at the Dwimmerhorn, and the clear evidence of sorcery that she had just witnessed: they all pointed to the same thing. ’I must tell Radagast!’ she thought, and instantly her mind wandered to dark places… if the Necromancer had returned, then dark days lay ahead for her people.

(In Rhosgobel)

On the very next morning, after having one of Beorn’s healers tend to her wound, Idunn departed for Rhosgobel. She was still weary and in pain, but she could not tarry here, not for a moment, not when such evil was afoot.

In Rhosgobel, the Brown Wizard heard her tale, and he was alarmed – so alarmed, in fact, that Idunn thought he had never seen him as worried, not even when discussing the fate of Beran, his scout, a long time ago. But there was nothing new that Idunn could learn from him, and thus her fears were neither confirmed nor denied. Perhaps the wizard had perceived her sorrow, and hoped to deter her from doing something foolish, like investigating the Dwimmerhorn alone, by keeping his deepest fears to himself. Still, he did promise to look into the matter, sending word to Hartfast of Mountain-Hall, ravens and other birds to spy on the Dwimmerhorn, and a message to the head of his order, of whom Idunn knew nothing but the name the brown wizard had spoken: Saruman the White.

After her task was completed, Idunn lingered in the lands of her people, and she joined old friends in Black Tarn Hall. Her humble holding, which she had left to the care of Cilderic, was in a sorry state, for Cilderic too had tasks to tend to. Thus, much of their time was spent on restorative works. There she also witnessed the comings and goings of Mogdred and his men, and thought that, if her fate was to wander Wilderland with her companions in search of troubles and dangers, then they should at least have horses, to travel more swiftly. But only Mogdred had horses here. And though he drove a hard bargain, and made Idunn promise that she would support him in any upcoming moots, he was eventually convinced to part with the steeds: four for Ingi, Annungil, Dahr-Ol and, of course, herself, and a pony for Nori. She would not return to the Vales empty-handed.

(Back in the Vales of the Anduin)

When she returned, she spent much time in the company of Oderic and Brynhild, tutoring them and teaching them all the skills she had acquired, and sharing tales of Merovech and of her folk. It was a welcome distraction, but at length, as autumn turned to winter, she took her leave of them to depart for the Easterly Inn, where the company was meant to reunite for the Yule.

 

OOC

I tried to make as few assumptions as I could, and wrote this based on a discussion with Diofant at Discord and my own thoughts. Here’s the mechanics, though:
-1 Treasure for ‘repairing’ her holding after that bad Upkeep roll.
-8 Treasure for the four horses (2 TP for each).
-1 Treasure for the pony.
Total: -10 Treasure.
Undertaking: Train with Oderic & Brynhild. She does talk to Radagast, but because I did not spend a proper undertaking on that, she does not really learn anything useful. Maybe Dahr-Ol will have better luck.
Regarding the horses / pony, which will be gifted to members of the fellowship, I will probably open a side-thread so that we can give them names and stuff. I’ll probably call it ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’

[Vladim]

Annungil listened more than he spoke and had to agree that the judgment of Beorn was just, if any resolution to this tragedy could be considered just. Good and evil were, Light and Shadow were clear, with their boundaries marked dramatically by the mountains that loomed to the East of his city. Yet with the events in the North unsettled, he knew he had a duty to bring tidings to the South, as quickly as possible.

As soon as everything was resolved, and the fellowship decided to disband meet come wintertime, he took to the river Anduin, borrowing a boat, and rowing south. Many days was the trip down the river, with hazards of its own, especially towards the falls and the rapids. But in the end, he made his way South, by river and by foot to the gates of Minas Tirith, and the gentle South, where he brought his message of unrest and potential sorcery to those who had need of such tidings.

They conferred among themselves and Annungil knew nothing of their speech or their decisions, but he was given leave to return to the North and do what he could to honor the name of Gondor and aid the Free People against whatever threats they faced.

And so for a time, he rested, recovering his strength, before retracing his journey back North along the Anduin to the Easterly Inn, in hopes of rejoining his companions at the appointed time.

[Vladim]

Upon completion of the trial, Nori said goodbye to his friends and left with Hunir, heading back to Erebor. Before entering the great mountain hall, the dwarf stopped in Dale to witness the wedding ceremony of King Bard and Una. The dwarf paid his respects and delivered a simple wedding tribute, but was so inspired by the beautiful and elaborate wedding gifts that were presented to the newly united couple that he was driven onward to Erebor with eagerness.

Not spending much time settling himself in, Nori quickly began work on a new axe. Many of his kin took note of the dwarf's fervor in perfecting the axe's balance and sharpness, starting over many times until he had the perfect template to work upon. A majority of his time was spent etching various drawings into his axehead from his adventures over the past four years. The illustrations became a personal work of beauty, causing other craftsman to flock and watch Nori’s efforts.

On one cheek of the axe, working from the poll, he carved a depiction of Beorn in his bear form followed by illustrations of Idunn (along with her hound) and Gramtyng and then smaller illustrations of Ellerina, Fundor, Dahr-Ol, Ingi, and Annungil. It looked as if the group were charging forth into battle, posed in readied stances to strike at whatever the bit of the axe was swung at.

On the other cheek of the axe, he engraved a rather romantic vision of Mountain Hall. Detailed caricatures of Hartfast, Merovich, Oderic, and Radagast flowed forth from the Woodman settlement towards the sharpened end of the axe. The perimeter of the axehead was then inscribed with a thin line of various dwarven runes while the top of the axe was imprinted with its name: Urzhad Roth (“The Bear’s Roar”).

The finished axe was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. Craftsman from Erebor and Dale came to admire the work and hear the stories behind the engravings. Nori became somewhat of a local celebrity, his kinfolk celebrating him with song and small gifts of appreciation for his services to the region. For the first time in his life, Nori felt “established” – that he was someone of note and no longer had to prove himself. It was a great relief, allowing the dwarf to relax and enjoy his remaining days in Erebor.

But the days passed quickly and the time soon came to rejoin his companions. Nori gathered his belongings and Hunir once again - rested, but restless - and joined the fellowship at their allotted time and place.

 

Fellowship Phase / OOC

Taking Barin as new Fellowship Focus
+2 Treasure from Mountain Hall
+0 Treasure from Black Tarn
+6 Treasure from Weal and Woe
-1 Treasure for King Bard’s Wedding Tribute
-6 XP for Valor 3 (Grievous)
-7 XP for completing Dwarven-Smithing (Superior Keen)
-12 AP for Persuade 1 and 2