Galar couldn't keep the smile off his face, his dad's acknowledgement worth more than any prize.  Still, he likely still had to prepare for the next round of the Lord's Court.  The others' orations faded into the background as he perused his vade mecum again, looking through his notes of random collected snippets.  Something fun though heroic.  Hrm...defiant maybe.  There were dwarves from the East here...maybe something to show the Men of Bree honored and appreciated them?  Paging through his notes he had just the thing... perhaps a bit vulgar but it always gave him heart given the sheer bravado.

As the first round passed (and he drank a cider that was passed to him in appreciation) and the next round announced, Galar wished he could have listened to the other presentations.  He put most of his effort in the first one but had a sketch for others in the off chance he passed that round.  The young man took a deep breath as he stepped into the circle once more to make his delivery...

"Early in the dark days of Smaug's interregnum when that worm crept from the Withered Heath and crawled under the Lonely mountain, burning and consuming the Men of Dale and the Dwarves of Erebor alike, did the exiled dwarven King Thrór search for a new home for his people with but a lone companion, his friend and sworn-shield, Nár.  The pair eventually found their way to Gates of Khazad-dûm, the lost dwarven manses of his people from a bygone era under three of the mightiest peaks of the Misty Mountains."

Galar scanned the crowd as he searched for the right tone for the next bit.  Dwarves could be prickly at times and imagined doubly so for an outsider getting one of their stories wrong.  "Now named Moria, the Black Pit, for good reason, Nár bade his friend and king to beware and to seek another place for his folk.  Driven and perhaps desperate to restore a true home for his people, King Thrór walked to his doom and passed through Moria's gates, determined to reclaim his inheritance...alone."

"Nár hid nearby and watched the gates awaiting the return of his friend, but his fear was realized on the third day with the blast of a great horn and the body of King Under the Mountain was flung past onto the steps in front of the gate.  In the darkness a voice declared that he, Azog, had killed Thrór and now ruled Moria as king.  Nár was kept from retrieving the body of his friend so he could honorably join his ancestors and was further mocked when the orc chief threw a purse of copper coins and tin bits with the demand that he serve to deliver a message to King Thrór's exiles that they would suffer the same if they challenged him."

"The orcs despoiled his lord's body and fed it to crebain, large black crows of a evil aspect.  Nár returned to King Thrór's son, Thráin, in Dunland with the news.  Thrain called his kindred to war as such outrages could not be left unanswered.  For six long years Durin's Folk battled orcs under and around the Misty Mountains, taking the blood price for Azog's affront in what is now known as the War of the Dwarves and Orcs.  The War drew to a conclusion when the orc chief finally took to the field in the Battle of Azanulbizar outside the eastern gates of Moria."

"The dwarves paid a terrible price to claim their revenge with the lives of so many of their kindred including Frerin, the younger brother Thorin "Oakenshield" (and second son of Thráin) and Náin father of the current fifth King under the Mountain, Dáin Ironfoot.  So great were the casualties among the dwarves that there were not enough left to bury the dead after the battle .  But as terrible as the cost was in blood for the dwarves it was a lake of foul orc blood spilled in return."

"Seeing his army being slaughtered, Azog tried to flee back to the pits of Moria.  The orc chief had just felled Náin in his bid to escape.  But a stripling at the time, Dáin Ironfoot was in a wrath at seeing his father laid low by the orc's axe but was too far away to prevent the hated enemy's withdraw back into the mountain.  As he rushed to catch the coward, Dáin taunted the orc chief as he charged at him with his fateful axe."

Galar pauses a moment as he shakes his head sadly, "Forgive me for I cannot deliver what Dáin said in that decisive moment with the sheer invective and blistering burnished truth of a son who had just seen his father cut down and after long years of war.  And would not wish true knowledge of what Dáin felt at that moment on any good-folk.  But I will try to convey the unbowed Defiance of that moment given my limited capabilities so it may echo in your hearts like it did off the face of those mountains that day when you are faced with similar (and hopefully) lesser adversity.  His taunt is said to have gone thusly-"

"Oi bloated chief, orcish degenerate and damned demon's kith and kin, mealy-mouthed slave of the Base Lord of Treachery himself!  What kind of war chief are thou, your inbred and ill-considered blood so thin you quake and flee at the sight of true valor and abandon your misshapen warriors in the field?  So lame that canst not slay a hedgehog with your naked arse?  Trolls shit and your army eats.  Thou shalt not, thou afterbirth of a misshapen vagina, ever rule any home of Durin's People!  We have no fear of misbegotten orcs; above or below we will battle thee.  I'd enjoin thee to bury your bawsack in your mother but I see that you already have!"

"Thou midden-headed uruk thief, codswallop scribbler, paramour of goats, piss drinker, catamite of goblins, troll wallop licker, and fool of all the world and underworld.  And bampot before your betters, with a face like a slapped ass, you look like a dog licking piss off a nettle!  Frog eater, limp cur, slope brow!  Invertebrate worm, reveal thy chickenheart and run for all to remember!"

"So I Dáin son of Náin declare, you coward!"

Nearly out of wind from the continuous diatribe and red-faced from the loud prolonged projection, Galar returns to his normal tone and continues his enthusiastic delivery, "So shocked was Azog by Náin's castigation of his foul nature that he stopped his flight, frozen in uncertainty when faced with the truth and allowing the future fifth King under the Mountain to reach him and strike off his lumpy head in a single blow of his axe, thus avenging his father's death and that of King Thrór.  The orc war chief's head was left impaled on a spike with the same coin-filled purse he had flung at Nár stuffed in his mouth."

"With the honored dead assembled into a pyre and burned, the War of the Dwarves and Orcs concluded." the Bree-lander ends with a deep bow aimed at any of Durin's folk in the crowd.

OOC

06:46, Today: Galar rolled a total of 29: an extraordinary success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 17 with rolls of 7 (Feat Die), 5, 1, 6, 6, 4.  Courtesy 1 hope +2 due to distinctive.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:02, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

Homnir counts his luck, and plods on in the Ancient Game. There was something for being a stoic dwarf, in that you learned to tune out some simple distractions, but there were some missed opportunities before, when other contestants have managed to snatch a stone from him, just because they got to it faster. This time around, he would have none of that, and his stern face challenged those who remain in the game to so much as look at where he was looking.

Spending 1 Hope, and calling on his Stern distinctive feature.
14:11, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 24: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 16 ((3 (Feat Die), 4, 2, 5, 5, 5)).
14:11, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 5 (5 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 16 ((5 (Feat Die))).

For a total of 26.



After the Ancient Game, and taking his time in the previous round to answer the riddles, and nearly missing some, answering at the last possible second, Homnir tries to hurry with his answers.

14:14, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 18: a success with the Gandalf Rune using the The One Ring with a target of 16 ((12 (Feat Die), 4, 2)).

Noble Court
Kelda applauded heartily as the next contestants performed at the Noble Court, no less so for the young Breelander who put on an amazing display.  Cheerfully she bit her lip, considering how best to approach the next round to compete with such talent.  Repeating one's self would do more harm than good she pondered and was able to work out a second act that, while not quite as good as the first, was still well received by the audience.

07:51, Today: Kelda rolled a total of 15 (15 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 16 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 6, 5.  Courtesy, Favored, TN 16.

07:51, Today: Kelda rolled a total of 8 (8 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 16 with rolls of 8 (Feat Die).  Favored Feat Die for Courtesy.

- Success 19 with a single 6

Ah re-read rules on DFs and Inspiration.  Spent a point of Hope for last round since said she used it. :)

Uplifting Lay
The Barding woman began with Tommycock and His Mighty Flock, a pleasant, silly tune featuring a heroic rooster and his hens defending their eggs from a farmer.  But she quickly recognized that she had gauged the contest wrong, a more serious and hopeful song was expected, and thus the audience was largely unimpressed.


08:10, Today: Kelda rolled a total of 7 (5 if weary): a failure with the Eye of Sauron (complications) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 11 (Feat Die), 2, 5.  Enhearten, Favored, TN 14.

08:09, Today: Kelda rolled a total of 4 (4 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die).  Enhearten, Favored, TN 14
- Eye of Sauron, big NOPE
Weeeell FINE.   Guess I'll use that Hope for the other competitions then ;)

Great Hunter
Though her arrows found the target their grouping was poor and scattered compared to other competitors.  She happily congratulated those who would shoot again upon the morrow.

08:38, Today: Kelda rolled a total of 10 (8 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 2, 4.  Bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:42, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

At the Noble's Court (Courtesy) --
--Galar launches on his tale of the diatribe Dáin made against Azog, and, when finished the crown applauds him loudly, as he bows any of Durin's folk in the crowd.
Once again the Bree-landers speech was very good, and everybody is in awe of the well-spoken man!
Galar succeeds (with another extraordinary success!), and can move to the last part of the contest.
Can Galar please make another Courtesy roll. This time the TN is increased by +2 once more (+4 total).
(I edited the above post)



Kelda succeeded in a fine second act and the audience likes her very much! Applause for her as well.
She is ready to go to the finish!
Great Success!
Can Kelda please make another Courtesy roll. This time the <b>TN is increased by +2 once more (+4 total).
(I edited the above post)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:24, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

Out in the Seeking Field (Scan)--
--Homnir plods on in the fied, stoic and unrelenting. He keeps on collecting baubles and stones.
Homnir succeeds again. Can you please make another Scan roll. This time the TN is increased by another +2 (+4).
Edited the above post



At the Ancient Game (Riddle)--
--Homnir
In the Ancient Game Homnir hurries his answers to the riddles... but manages to pull it off!
Homnir succeeds again with the Gandalf! Can you please make another Riddle roll. This time the TN is increased by another +2 (+4).
Edited the above post
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Tue 14 Dec 2021.

Seeking Field
By the third round, Homnir is getting too tired, and his throat is parched. And he misses several stones. The good news are, he can't wait to go to the Prancing Pony to slake his thirst with some ale.

20:40, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 13 (11 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 18 ((2 (Feat Die), 5, 2, 4)).
20:40, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 4 (4 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 18 ((4 (Feat Die))).

So total of 15.


Ancient Game
For the third round, Homnir intends to go back to taking the time to answer the riddles. they're becoming harder, and more human-centric, and he's not that familiar with their idiosyncrasies. But he's not ready to give up.

20:42, Today: Homnir rolled a total of 8 (3 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 18 ((3 (Feat Die), 2, 3)).

Lordly Homnir makes his way past the first group of contestants, remaining in the game, and then joins the few who make it to the end-- but, then, both out in the field seeking stones, or on stage trying to guess the answer to harder and harder riddles, he bows out at the very end.
Out for both games... (((

Who else is interested in joining:
• Uplifting Lay (Enhearten) - Kelda
• Torch Run (Athletics) - Vidar ; Aredhel
• Great Hunter (Bows) - Kelda
• Shepherd's Pie (Brawling) - Vidar

I noted Kelda and Vidar's posts, and will bring them up in a bit.

Mip enjoys the rest of the day, having lots of fun especially by eating 3, excuse me, my bad, 4 minced pie, how delicate they are!
He is not willing to participate in any other game for he is easily disappointed.
Losing in the first round of a riddle game, that is a real shame.

What has to be broken before you can use it?
An egg.

I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I?
A candle.


"You moron!"
He kicks away a little stone.

"This is the real world, the world of men and dwarves and elves.
No kindergarden, maybe I should go home soon."

He shrugs. Maybe another piece of pie would help....

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 51):

14:17, Today: Aredhel rolled a total of 18: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 15 ((10 (Feat Die), 3, 5)). Awareness.


Aredhel will focus intently on the game at hand, hoping to win - or at least, to do well and make his father proud.

[Private to GM: Sorry I couldn't think of a longer post, not super familiar with how the game works.]

Homnir sits down close to the Hobbit. He hasn't seen many of his kind before, but he felt sorry for the little guy for failing the Ancient Game so early. "Don't worry about it young Hobbit, I feel that it only my long life that has given me the knowledge to answer some of those riddles." And he leans in to the Hobbit before adding, in what amounts to a whisper among dwarves, but was still probably quite loud "And most of those riddles are based on the lore of Man, which out kinds aren't fully learned in."

Mip gets terrified and answers quickly:"Yes, Master Dwarf, you are certainly right."

By all the Gods, a dwarf is talking to me, what does he want, what should I say?
Mip tries to hide his head as deeply between his shoulders as possible.
Maybe he will go away?
"I am Mip, by the way, a hobbit from the Shire."
Where did that come from? A hobbit? Oh, buhu, what news from the world? Three feet tall and a hobbit! I thought you are a big rabbit.
Mip blushes.

In reply to Vidar son of Flar (msg # 57):

Áski nodded amiably to his kinsman and shook his head. "Apart from numerous recitals of extemporaneous verse and prose, nothing of significance." He subtly directed Vidar's gaze toward the alleyway where occurred the oddly suspect meeting which Old Mág previously espied. "Do you see one of our folk in conference with a rather brutish local? Recognize the Dwarf?" Áski then described the Man to the assembled elders. "Do any of you fine gentlemen perchance know aught of this individual? A mere name would suffice, but I'd nay begrudge more."

Mip wonders: "What is 3, then 4, then 5, then nothing?"
As he eats his fifth pie... and has nothing but crumbs left, he smiles.


Aredhel plays the game of Thimblerig, not sure if his father would be proud of him fiddling around with cups facing a little Hobbit?!
But the Elf is swift, and knows his father will not be saddened for sure, since-- he won!
Nice... now, to focus more-- as the game goes on!
You can make another Awareness roll, but at +2TN

[Private to Aredhel: No problem about the length of the post.
It is fine. You are active, and I am sure you will get a feel for your character and what to post as we move along.]
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 07:33, Wed 15 Dec 2021.

Vidar sees the two people talking, the Dwarf and the Bree-man. But cannot even see enough of a face to recognize the Dwarf.
Nothing in his clothes gives clues-- other than the fact that he seems a traveler.

Áski addresses the Bree-landers around him--  who are not sure they are fine gentlemen, but, well... and why is a Dwarf asking about their kind?
A roll, maybe, to coax the wary Festival-goers into opening up.

Disappointed in the results of the hobbits game but still smiling from the memory of his father Orodil positions himself in the shade of a wagon parked in the outskirts of the Green, crosses his arms and leans against the rough wood while scanning the crowd for his ranger friend.

Homnir offers a slight smile "It has been long since I was addressed as Master Dwarf, my name is Homnir, of the Grey Mountains. And what brings you to this Fair?"

The dwarf's clothing is sturdy, and rather dull brown, except for the braids in his hair and beard, and for the silver ring with an amethyst inset.

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 72):

23:18, Today: Aski Adisson rolled a total of 18: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 5 (Feat Die), 4, 1, 5, 1, 2.  Hope spent to get +2d Inspiration from Cunning, +1d from shared Old Toby.

Orodil looks around, and spots Theorondil, now and then, moving through the crowds, most probably looking for the Ranger you seek...


Áski's shares a smoke, and the old folk know that anyone sharing Old Toby just has to be reliable! And her cunning words manage to get information from the gaffers.
"- That man?
- No, THAT one!
- Oh, that's Granger.
- No! Granger passed away.
- I don't mean Granger, I mean Granger.
- Oh?! Granger! Why didn't you say so instead of saying t'was Granger?"
Áski finds out the brute is indeed a Bree-lander, called Ham Granger.
"- A local troublemaker, if you ask me.
- All the Grangers are troublemakers.
- Not Bill Granger.
- Well, no, because he's dead too."


People move around the Fair grounds.
You hear them excitedly talking about the great orators they heard, about the upcoming games to be held, the Archer's competition.
Lots of things purchased - nice rare goods such as furs from the North, great toys, or just sweets and special pies! - and many things to see - the rare animals, the horsemanship display, the soothsayer who can tell the future!
"- She said I'd grow bald!
- Give me a coin and I can foresee you'll grow a gut too!"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 07:39, Thu 16 Dec 2021.

"My mother came here for trading. It is my first time being out of the Shire, everything is so different and new. It is fascinating but also a bit frightening. It is good to be with my mother."

There's a bit of a pause to Homnir's response, as he memories of his mom come to him, and his voice takes on a bit of sad tone "It is good to cherish such moments, there's plenty of time to be on your own in life." And he takes a swing frim his flagon of ale. "How did you fare in other games?"

Out in the Seeking Field, the game went on without any of the future Companions taking part any more, just as did the Ancient Game, even though Homnir went quite far in both competions.


As the little Hobbit's fleet hands move cups around, Aredhel remains in the race, trying to make his father proud by not giving up and winning!
You can make your second Awareness roll at +2 TN


On the stage where the oratory challenge continues, both Kelda and Galar remain among the final contestants of the Noble Court.
Who will be among those lauded and appointed as King or Queen of the Fair?!
You can both make your third Courtesy roll at a total of +4 TN


Orodil, having caught a glimpse of Theorondil still searching for the Ranger you seek, looks around-- also go looking for Mallor, also called Tarry-Mack by the folk of Bree?


Áski is with the older Bree-folk, watching a suspicious duo, learning names, and seeing if Vidar notices anything about the shady duo.


While Homnir is unwittingly scaring poor Mip, who seems to be calming down, and maybe even enjoying meeting a Dwarf. A real-life Dwarf?

If anyone else is interested in joining:
• Uplifting Lay (Enhearten) - with Kelda
• Torch Run (Athletics) - with Vidar ; Aredhel
• Great Hunter (Bows) - with Kelda
• Shepherd's Pie (Brawling) - with Vidar
Or any of the other contests, just say so.
I will wait just a little bit before starting them.

As said, I noted Kelda and Vidar's posts, and will bring them up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:45, Thu 16 Dec 2021.

Áski politely excused himself, claiming a need to visit the jakes, but instead sought out an unobtrusive place to call Old Mág back to him. He directed her to cautiously eavesdrop on the suspicious duo, following the strange Dwarf should they separate, and report anything overheard as well as their destination. Returning to his earlier vantage, he then resumed his socializing and people-watching.

Galar looked at his notes again a bit flustered.  He had a basic outline of what he wanted to do but he really didn't have anything solid for the last round having just focused on sharpening his first round presentation.  That and he had an idea to speak about some noteworthy event for each of the Free Peoples as a theme.  The problem was he didn't know much about Elves.

And regarding Hobbits...well...he knew a bit more about them but their historical events didn't lend themselves quite as well to the Noble Court.  Not to mention he was pretty sure he did hear a few snatches of a few suitable Hobbit stories used by other contestants already. There were more hobbits in attendance than elves, it had to either be about the little folk or he'd have to abandon the idea altogether.   Paging through his journal, he did have a few lines for what he called Ode to a Potato... no... the Noble's Court was supposed to be a Noble speech from a King of Old.  Galar rubbed his head as he stared at his journal, trying to will something to appear.

Biting his lip, a spark of an idea formed in the young Bree-landers head.  The words didn't have to be precise or even historically accurate.  Flourishes were almost required.  He could mash a few notes together and the sentiment would be true all the same.  Paging back and forth in his dog eared vade mecum he wrote out the key bits.

As the last round started, Galar stepped in front of the crowd again and spoke of the Fall of Fornost and then the arrival of Gondor.  The Gondorains were too late to save Arthedain, but with Elvish allies and even a detachment of hobbit archers managed to destroy the forces of Angmar at the Battle of Nenuial, finally breaking the evil realm.  Explaining that with Angmar destroyed and the fact Arthedain had ceased to exist, the Men of Gondor returned home.  Considering the wars, a number of horrible winters, and the Great Plague, Eriador was left with only a few remaining pockets of civilization and they now had to fend for themselves in the growing wilderness.

Galar then briefly spoke of Blanco and his brother Marcho founding the Shire after receiving permission by the Arthedain King Argeleb II at Norbury.  With Arthedain destroyed the Hobbit chieftains decided to call the first Shire-moot to settle what to do.  The Bree-lander described the first moot as a chaotic affair until finally Bucca of the Marish took his place on the mound to deliver his oration that would have him named the first Thane of the Shire.

"I am not one for long speeches, 'least not
on subjects you all should know.  But I think
We all should not forgot our gallant dead,
many of my own kin.  Many of you argued
that such matters be left to the big folk,
that it is a soldier's duty not
a Hobbit's to protect the King's subjects.
That dispute is past, now there is no King.
I ask you who should see to our defense
now?  The brothers Blanco and Marcho swore
to the Kings of Norbury, the Shire a
last portion of a lost Kingdom of Men.
I have heard these past days many quarrels
but few ideas.  It seems to me that there
is but one question before this great moot-
Are we Free People who can defend our
own Country?  Some have said we should find a new
Protector.  I ask, who would rule us but
leave us to our own affairs?  Others would
hope those outside our borders will ignore
us.  My reply is there would be no sur'r
way to see to the Shire's destruction with
our folk murder'd, enslaved, or driven to
exile, scattered and living in secret
as our ancestors did.  We do not copy
the Big Folk; we need no kings nor great lords
to gov'rn us.  If we look to our laws, they
afford equal justice to all in their
private differences; status and wealth of
no considerat'n to merit of a case.
We do not feel called upon to be angry
with our neighbor for doing what he
likes, nor engage in injurious acts as
usual with the Big Folk.  Hobbits are not
lawless by nature and our laws and
communities view the protection of
the injured as the foremost importance.
My own opinion is we should guard our
own boundaries.  That we should elect
a Thain of the Shire to oversee
our common defense.  Not to serve as some
King but answerable to the Shire-moot.
The Shire-thain should be one who sees what ought
to be done, to explain what he sees, and
one who loves the Shire beyond their own
personal comfort and safety to fight
for her hearths and homes."

OOC
04:57, Today: Galar rolled a total of 22: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 7 (Feat Die), 5, 1, 1, 4, 4.  Courtesy 1 hope +2 due to distinctive.

(TN 19)

This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Thu 16 Dec 2021.