When last we left off…
Messing about in boats…(Spoilers)
Our heroes (Bungo the Hobbit, Nuri the Dwarf and Forlong the Ranger) had accompanied Scylda Heather back to Bree hoping to leave her with some family. However they were soon left in no uncertainty about their continuing responsibility when a furious Orothel arrives. Apparently the relatives in Bree were unsuitable and Scylda needed to be taken to her distant relatives to the South. These were fisher folk and resided at Lond Dear.
First they bought an injured Pony from John Fierny and packed it with supplies from Barliman Butterbur, generously purchased by Nuri the Dwarf.
Travelling to Lond Dar they had some adventures on the road. Bungo the Hobbit found a short cut which shortened their journey. Forlong the Ranger, alone Hunting in the woods slew a mighty wild boar with his keen spear. Nuri rescued the ale (and the Pony) when a sudden noise caused the beast to panic and flee. Forlong healed the Pony with Scylda’s help. Bob soon turned out to be looking a lot healthier and more valuable than John Fierny had realised after all.
In Lond Dear they met the Queen, Nimue and her loyal Halfling Knight. They were introduced to the Seer who had visions of Forlong upon an Isle. Eagre the Sailor persuaded them to join him on a journey to the Isle of the Mother. The Knight would accompany them.
There they encountered Jagat and the Lossoth who were impressed by Nuri. Eagre and the Knight stayed with the ship, Seawing in order to defend it in case the Lossoth or other enemies unknown dared to attempt to take it.
Our heroes found an old forge in a ruin from the days of Numenor. They came across a ghost, mourning in a tower, who failed to turn them from their path.
Finally they came across the grove in the woods.
During their previous journeys they had learnt the tale of Tarandis, the Knight of Arnor
“Oh, once there was a king who lived in a golden palace by a lake,
and many knights served him, and the greatest of these knights was
Tarandis. Elven-fair
she was, maiden of polished steel, and with her
companions she went on errantry across the lands, fighting Trolls
and Dragons and such things. Then the king of Angmar arose, and
all the land fell under shadow. In those days, Tarandis was like a
blazing beacon all along the hills; wherever the day was darkest
and the foes thickest, she was there. Her star fell in the north, the
stories say, but I’ve heard that she’ll come back when she’s needed.”
Tarandis’ ghost recognised Forlong as the Heir. He took up her Sword, that which she had forged in the Numenorean Stronghold and her Oath. They ignited the bonfire and discovered Elwing lying in the mud. Eagre’s daughter was maddened but alive. Now the furious spirits and Wights attacked! Aided by Tarandis’ spirit, Forlong took up the sword forged by her in life and with Nuri’s help and the bright light from the bonfire, drove off the Undead. Bungo searched the hollow and found some gold.
Together they travelled back and Bungo was able to diffuse a tense situation with the Lossoth. Eagre agreed to take the Lossoth safely to the mainland and then the heroes returned to Lond Dear. Nimue was clearly impressed as were the townsfolk. Glad to see the return of both Scylda and Elwing our heroes had achieved some celebrity.
The Halfling slept badly one night. In his previous dreams, a vast bleak Hill rose like a great dark wave, looming over the land, rising above the lights of Bree or the Shire threatening to snuff them out with its shadow. Now he also dreamt of the Isle becoming a dark and terrible hill, the Hill of Fear. As the shadows rose up and crushed their little boat Bungo woke with a sudden start.
Forlong had determined that their destiny lay not in returning quickly to Bree but to the East. He needed information and a library would contain valued Lore. They learnt from a rich merchant who once hailed from Tharbad that there was indeed a library there, in his days at least. The merchant warned them about the new Captain, who had driven his family away and was he claimed an outlaw. But it was clear he was holding some secrets back as he spoke about his reasons for leaving Tharbad himself.
Forlong wished to know more about the Hill of Fear, which he now knew from Tarandis to be Amon Gurothos. He had sworn the solemn Oath of his ancestor to see it destroyed.
So with Bob the Pony our heroes head off towards Tharbad following the river upstream. Scylda’s family would take them part way as far as they could in their boat. So it would not take long before they reached the famous bridge and discovered the truth about the crumbling citadel and it’s new Captain. Bandit or Saviour? They would find out soon enough for themselves…
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