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When last we left off…Chapter 3

Not to Strike Without Need

Our heroes; Nuri the Dwarf, Bungo the Hobbit and Forlong the Ranger gathered once again ready for adventure.  In a small fishing village of the folk of Lond Daer the crowd are angry.  They encounter a wild looking character known as Jon a Leaping.  The village cobbler Borlas has been held against his will in Tharbad which lies up river.  Jon has in turn been caught by the villagers as an outlaw, thief and bandit who has been preying on the villagers for some time now.  He claims to be a friend of the Lord and Master of Tharbad, Gurnow.  So the village leader asks the heroes to take Jon to Tharbad and ransom  him in exchange for Borlas.

They agree and over the next few days travel with Jon upstream along the river bank.  Jon escapes and is followed to the Watchful Stones where the group once again meet with Orothel the Ranger.  It transpires that Jon has been her messenger into Tharbad and she has been waiting here 5 days for him.  After some discussion they agree to continue with Jon to Tharbad and agree to help Orothel obtain a message from her mysterious agent in Tharbad.

The heroes visit Tharbad and during their time find an old Library maintained by an all but forgotten scribe.  Bungo searches about but resists the temptation to steal from her whilst Gimli and Forlong obtain her aid in future research as well as finding some useful maps and lore.  She receives a generous donation from Nuri.  Between them they learn more about the mysterious Hill of Fear to the North and Moria.  They find an ancient map of the Redhorn Pass. 

Eventually they meet Gurnow in his Hall.  Jon is handed over much to his dismay and placed in the prison awaiting execution.  They see Tharnow the Lord’s brutal son and learn more about Lady Stock.  They earn the Lord’s favour for bringing in Jon and use this to travel with relative freedom about the town.  They meet a an antiquarian or treasure hunter, again gleaning some more useful information and a potential future contact.  They find the message from Orothel’s mysterious agent. 

They set out to the prison and convince the gaoler of Garth Tauron, one Valandur to leave in a hurry with his guardsmen (on the pretext of urgent orders from the Master) whilst they investigate.  They find Jon and Borlas who have been brought up from the cells and are being loosely guarded due to the heavy rain flooding the lower levels.  Rescuing them both they head out of town using a secret route and reach Orothel.   However Forlong has taken a nasty blow to the head.  

Orothel reads the letter and is furious with Jon for causing the delay.  She accompanies the heroes in all haste after one Deor, a stranger to these lands.  He had been seen in the company of Dwarves, one of whom was named Flonar.  Then he had spoken with the Master and the Lady before setting off in a boat headed North.

They eventually find Deor’s body which grasps out at one of them even in death.  Dark spirits gather and a black cloud suddenly obscures the sun.  Orcs and Goblins attack in great numbers.  Orothel does her best to fend off the great host.  Forlong lifts Esterlang aloft and banishes the clouds and evil spirits,  half blinding the Orcs with the sunlight.  The heroes are victorious but Nuri is exhausted, Forlong injured. 

Orothel is badly wounded by an arrow.  Searching about and discovering the  Orc camp they find some clues.  Also, they are able to interrogate the Orcs who talk about one Snava, an  Orc Boss “Up from the Fire”. 

They discover two artefacts bearing the sigil of the Lidless Eye, bound with dark magics,  which Bungo takes into his keeping.   One an iron talisman and the other a circlet which he can use should he choose, to enhance his skills.   Also a small amulet which they later learn is from the far north made from the carapace of the fabled Fastitocalon.  This is a token of friendship from the Snowmen of Lossoth. 

They return to Bree at the Sign of the Prancing Pony where they find Balin once again and are re-introduced to the Dwarf named Floki, who has a small errand for them.  Simply to deliver a note to his brother…