Aubree stepped forward, bow in hand, pointed at the goblin.
"You're spider masters are dead!  If you want to live to see the sun rise, tell us what you're doing here!!"

Her wounds, unfortunately, might have affected her eloquence.
OOC: 17:48, Today: Aubree Farwalker rolled 6 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,1,4.  logic, languages for interigation.

Like a genius, Aubree simply walks forward. As she crosses Ronald's magical line on the ground, the spiderling on her leg squeaks and falls off, dead.





Maybe it's Aubree speaking what she knows of goblin that makes the wounded goblin start talking, or maybe it's something else that loosens his tongue... "Those weren't our masters... that's part of the problem... Spiders don't care if they eat goblins, as long as they eat... so goblins don't want to ally with spiders without getting something out of the risk... But one big spider had treasure from his kills over the years... But it had to be moved so elves like you wouldn't find it... but the only goblin who knew exactly where it was hidden... got eaten by a spider!" He sinks to the ground, sitting now... "So close...! So close to an alliance that could drive men and elves from Mirkwood forever...!"

(You can try a follow-up question (without rolling further) if you want...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:13, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

Aubree tried to focus past her wounds
"Where are your leaders, and where are the spiders?"

"Hmph..." He gives a very small, derisive chuckle. "The spiders... are... everywhere..." This sounds like only a partial truth, but he keeps talking before she can press him on it... "My leader is... the newly-crowned... Queen of the Goblins... Long... may... she..." He slumps over. When he does, she can see the far side of his right leg clearly for the first time-- a big bite, fanged, and so purple around it as to be almost black. Poisoned by a spider! The biggest one must have been venomous! No wonder he was slow to fight, and didn't run...!

But he was starting to reach for something in a pocket right near the end, there... something important, maybe? Better search him...

Aubree will search the goblin, though she was wincing the whole time

In reply to Aubree Farwalker (msg # 161):

Olewyn isn't surprised by what happened. The spiders wished to be in control apparently. She approaches the goblins looking them over silently. If only she were a better tracker than she actually is.

"We need to track where they came from. We also now know they have a Queen they are following."

They had no idea before. Slowly they are beginning to discover the threats to Mirkwood. This Queen must be defeated as she is a threat to everyone here.

Olewyn attempts to look for signs that will help her track the goblins and where they came from.

(Olewyn rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,4.  Looking for goblin-related signs. )

Aubree sat down to rest.
"I fear, my friends, that I might slow us down if we wish to continue.  Those spiders can certainly bite hard"

 Marthine sighs as the goblin perishes.  While something was gained, most of it was more questions!  And, Aubree was wounded!

 The woman remains standing, pistol in one hand and staff in the other.

Aubree finds a note.

It's written in goblin, torn at the bottom, and written... badly. Whoever wrote this had terrible handwriting.

Aubree understands, and can speak, basic goblin, but reading it is harder. Sometimes the note also seems to use borrow-words from dwarvish, or something else...

The basic gist of the note involves the hidden treasure. Something about... It was too near the halls of the elven king of Mirkwood, so it had to be moved in a more southerly direction... It's somewhere on the tallest of the Mountains of Mirkwood... or that's where you start in order to find it...? Something about water... a river? A spring? A... hole? Or tunnel?

Lachriel and Tirien are looking over Aubree's shoulder. "This is terribly written," says Lacrhiel. "The part missing that was torn off at the bottom doesn't help, either. No wonder the goblins no longer know exactly where to find the missing treasure."

"We should take this note back to Lake-Town," says Tiriel. "I know an old dwarf there who should be able to make more sense out of it. And besides, we all need more rest and healing than I can provide in a hurry here."



Olewyn finds no such signs. Everything on the small battlefield is too confused, track-wise, and covered with webbing otherwise.

(You'll be getting some bad consequences for that roll sooner or later, Olewyn, but not quite yet...)


"The only monarch of goblins I have ever heard of rules from under the Misty Mountains," says Tirien. "Of course, he was slain almost three years ago when Gandalf the Gray led Thorin Oakenshield and his party, including Bilbo Baggins, through those tunnels. It's not surprising to hear that they have crowned someone new by now... The fact that it is a queen and not a new king is more surprising. She must be very fierce, if she has won the loyalty of the goblins. It would be strange to find her here in Mirkwood-- more likely she is giving orders from afar. But then, as I say, it is strange that they have a queen at all, so who knows."



"I can attempt to heal you," says Tirien, "but perhaps we should rest here-- not even for half an hour, but a little while, while I attempt to do so...?" he suggests, looking at the faces around him...
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

The elven scholar nodded, wincing in pain. "I've no problem getting assistance with the note.   My Master always says that it's not weakness to get help when it's needed.   And while I'd mislike to be the cause of a delay in our journey, a rest would perhaps be for the best"

(11:22, Today: Lachriel rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Take Courage!

11:22, Today: Tirien rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Healing Aubree.

I was willing to have Lachriel burn Fate points if needed, but she (and Tirien) (each) aced it on the first try!)

While Tirien starts trying to heal Aubree, Lachriel softly sings a ballad of ancient times to occupy Aubree's (and everyone else's) attention, to help her (and everyone else) relax for the moment, about the beauty of The Greenwood before it became Mirkwood Forest in winter (and elven forests in general).

It ends:

Listen, the snow is falling ev'rywhere
Listen, the snow is falling ev'rywhere
Between your bed and mine
Between your head and mine
Listen, the snow is falling ev'rywhere

Between Rivendell and Lorien
Between Nivrim and Arthórien
Between your love and mine
Listen, the snow is falling ev'rywhere

Snow dream, snow fall, snow fly...



(

quote:

Take Courage!
Courage can be found in many places.

--If you sing and/or play a song, recite a verse, or tell a story of heroes of yore while in a dark and dangerous place, roll Rhyming.

--If you drink an excellent brew or vintage, and/or cook and/or eat a delicious meal while in a dark and dangerous place, roll Carousing.

On a success, each player involved (even if just listening, drinking, and/or eating) chooses to get 1 Fate point or 2 Toughness back. (The GM may offer other choices.)

The best subjects for Rhyming are natural wonders, bountiful feasts, humorous anecdotes, and tragic tales of lost love or great sacrifices.

Everyone, choose: Each of you may get up to 2 Toughness back, or 1 Fate point back.

You cannot get more than your maximum.

ALSO, THOUGH, Tirien is successful in healing Aubree for 1 Toughness.)

Aubree loses herself for a while in the hauntingly beautiful singing, letting the magic of the Land and their Fellowship restore her energy and her spirit.

 "My sincerest thanks, my friends. Your words and skills have revitalizedby very being.  "

Looking to the Spider falling of Aubree's leg as it cross his magical ward line, he nodded to himself, smiling, it had done well, as had his now broken bracelet, which had caught a Spiders leg earlier, his bands, not so good but could have. Speaking quietly "Must sort these out again and practice more"

As the Goblins note was read out, Ronald just listened before ... "Does anyone have a map that would show the area?". If anyone did, there may be enough information to cut a search area down.

Ronald looked for some finger width sticks that he could whittle down and make Rune Sticks to read and see what Fate or Destiny had to show. Maybe that will bring some hope, more Courage!

In reply to Ronald R. Dodaden (msg # 169):

"Hold off, friend. I believe we should decide if we are pressing forward or going back. We... have worked hard thus far but some of us have tapped ourselves."

Olewyn could keep going if they needed to. She is just aware magic is a finite thing and the others may need to get a proper rest.

"I do not have a map. I never needed one... which makes me wonder if perhaps we should go get one?"

(You can get a new bracelet for free (that is, without having to roll to craft it) back at a Haven.)



Lachriel shakes her head. "Of the Mountains of Mirkwood? Not particularly, I'm afraid..."




There are plenty of sticks of the right thickness.

In fact, Aubree takes an interest in all the webbing around. Some of it is... stretchy. And losing its stickiness. She gets an idea... it might be useful for a sort of... hand-held... missile weapon... it could shoot stones...

She should collect some of the stretchiest strands of webbing...




"I think it would be hard to find one-- and I'm not sure there is one, even in the halls of the King of Mirkwood." (She refers, of course, to Tharanduil, the Elven king of Mirkwood.)

(I've decided Tirien is a Star Elf from Rivendell and that Lachriel is a Wood Elf from Mirkwood.

So anyway, if you guys have a great map of Mirkwood, especially of the north half of Mirkwood, especially of the Mountains of Mirkwood, feel free to link me or something, but I don't have one I super like at this time. But if you do, feel free to hit me up with it)

While the others debated, Aubree collected webbing and sticks, experimenting

Ronald collects stick, enough to make a good set, strong wood so when the Rune stones/sticks are dropped, they won't break. He collects a few wider bits too for carving.

Seeing Aubree collect webbing... "Aubree, do you think the Webbing would be useful for something? Won't it degrade or do you think it could be used for lightweight string and rope too? Sees strong."  If it was strong and could be treated to not degrade or just not degrade too fast in general, making the thin lines so thrown blades could be retrieved or lightweight rope for climbing or getting a captive Goblin, could work well for them. He collects appropriate pieces and lengths, coiling as he goes.

"Since we were scouting gir the towers, we aren't that far from safety, some of you were could by the spiders, maybe worth getting you checked out so you don't end up like this Goblin" He points to the last Goblin that the captured "Back to safety to recover sounds good don't you all think, OR have I misjudged the situation?"

He felt he needed time to recover too but not so badly, he did however want to take his broken bracelet so he can repair it and get a new one so he can make more trinkets.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 09:18, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

  Marthine is regaining 2 Toughness.

 Marthine, at the time still surveying for trouble, softened a bit when she heard a possible return to Lake-Town being mentioned.  The mention of a Goblin-Queen intrigued her, however, and she turned to face her companions, listening...

 Oh, but then came a song!  Any thought of Goblin-Queens left her head, and instead she came to yearn for more pleasant scenery... and a nice, warm bed.

---

The deliberations and discourse of her companions brings her back to reality, though.  A very dire reality...  "Perhaps we should turn back around, for now..." The woman then looks at the poisoned goblin, and the spiders.  "If only we had something that could prevent us from becoming poisoned... or, that could counter-act them." She frowns, idly tapping the butt of her staff on the ground.

(08:18, Today: Lachriel rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,6.  Guiding..

A 6! She's done it!

Olewyn, the trouble the dice owe you will have to be paid back at some future time...)

Lachriel carefully guides everyone back to the Old Forest Road. She has to go around big spiderwebs a few times, but she manages to lead everyone safely.

All the people working on the towers agree that if the treasure can be found and therefore kept away from the goblins, then, well, obviously preventing a unified goblin/spider alliance would be in the best interests of the already-extant Man/Elf/Dwarf alliance. They also agree that your adventuring party is just the group to do it!

But they also agree that you look worn out. Best to go heal up in Lake-Town. So, you go back to the east end of the Road, and hop on a boat back north.

(Well, it turns out we didn't need Take Courage-- but who knew? If Lachriel had failed her Guiding roll, I probably wasn't gonna have her burn Fate, and then you absolutely would have needed more health.

But that's not what happened, so everyone return your Toughness and Fate to their maximums.

BUT ALSO... You survived dealing with more danger! So you get a new XP point!

So let's see... Goblins-at-riverside plus First Spider plus Spi-Gob battlefield plus Dagger plus Lachriel's first song... Aubree, Marthine, and Olewyn can level up now!

IF you so choose! You can also save up your XP more. (What if someone rolled all-sixes again but didn't have 3 xp to burn to get a Critical Name?!?!)

But if you do so choose, then remove 5 xp, and then either:
--raise your max Toughness by 1, or
--raise your max Fate by 1, or
--Get a new Trait you don't already have, or
--Get a new Skill you don't already have in a Trait you do already have.

If you get a new Magic skill, just talk to me about what you want.

Doodad, buddy, it's gonna take you just a little longer, but if everyone gets 4 xp between now and the next Haven visit, you'll be leveling up and they'll be twiddling their thumbs.)

Everyone rests in the Elven Quarter, eats more honey-cakes and sweetbreads and has coffee in the mornings, and receives healing befitting heroes.

Aubree talks to various Elvish and Dwarven craftsmen, and soon she has a sort of stretchy stone-thrower that she calls a "sling-shot."

(Aubree, add your slingshot to your gear list. It starts with Ammo 3/3, a bag full of excellently-rounded stones and dwarf-made metal bullets.

Oh, and everyone top off your Ammo for all weapons to 3/3.)

Aubree also takes the note to various learned people in Lake-Town, most of them dwarves. They conclude the following:

The way to find the treasure is to start at the tallest of the Mountains of Mirkwood. They aren't really tall mountains like the Misty Mountains, they're really just very big hills, so that's not so bad.

Then one goes west, and looks for "the bushes above the spring."

There's reference to "the cauldron," but the author used an old dwarven word for it that has magical connotations. When this is explained, Lachriel says it's a big cauldron-shaped rock that she knows the location of.

Then, however, the message got torn off, and the rest is missing. "It's a start," says Lachriel. She feels that it's enough to start looking based on what is currently known.

"There also may be other goblins looking in those hills," says Lachriel. "What if one of them turns out to have the bottom half of the note?"

(Okay, let me know when you're ready to go out again!)

ALSO, the runes are analyzed on the dagger Olewyn found.

It's enchanted to be a more effective weapon against spiders, seeking out their weak spots.

It's even enchanted to point toward the nearest giant spider (spiderlings count) if any are nearby. You just hold it in the palm of your hand, and the point should turn in a given direction. If one is very close, the point should actually pull the hand in the right direction.

(When used to attack giant spiders (spiderlings count), this dagger does normal damage, but the wielder gets to roll one EXTRA 1d6 to try to hit. Yes, even if they were already getting 3d6 for combat with weapons-- now they'll get 4d6.

On the other hand, it could give someone who's no good at combat with weapons a useful edge against spiders.)

It's impossible to say what the spider-detecting range of the dagger is, but there are no spiders close enough in Lake-Town to test it. The dwarf who analyzes the dagger guesses that the range is perhaps 100 yards, but might be more, or less. Also, the size of the nearest spider might be a factor. (In other words, the bigger the spider, the more the dagger will be "interested.")
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:34, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

On the way back to Lake-Town, Ronald whittles away at sticks, teeth an bone, almost bumping into the others as they walked back.

Spider fang arrow heads, Giant Spider fang Dagger, Rune Sticks, leaving the Spider silk cords for later.

The Trinket that becomes a Ward on his wrist, he uses some bits from the Spiders to fix for him, to enhance the resistance to the Spiders and other pointy things like arrows and daggers. It worked before and he is made up about that, some work needed on the straps though. In town he'll get a new bracelet too, just in case.

Aubree, depsite her love of forests and wilderness, was happy to return to civilization.  Perhaps it was the influence of Radagast, but she almost prefered the hurdy gurdy tumult of the bustling mostly human town even more than her beautiful elven home of Rivendell.
She thoroughly enjoyed the restful night in the elven quarter, despite the loud nearby shenanigans of men and dwarves. To relax, she made a few spider web sling shots for her and her friends. In the morning she felt refreshed, her magical essence returned on full.   She enjoyed a large meal, one that would impress a Hobbit, and went out to replenish her herbs and powders on her alchemical supplies.
She'd learned a bit from there guide about how to forage for various plants and mushrooms, adding to what She'd picked up from Radagast, who, truth be told, was a better magic user than a magic teacher, as the eccentric man tended to do things by instinct rather than written rules.

It was strange how the straps had reacted around the Spider, trying to reach for the leg that unfortunately for Ronald and fortunately for the Spider, was one of the missing ones, not the ones he had retrieved.

He wondered what he could make, what amulet or Trinket could be fashioned that could protect against spiders on a larger or multi-use way, something to think about and consider.  He'd heard of Trinkets not breaking when used...his thoughts of achieving...anything. I will do it

RESERVING XP for later.

 Marthine is happy to see Lake-Town again, even if it is so soon.  Bed-rest with familiar scents and sounds, food from familiar sources, and even familiar sights, were all very welcome to the woman.

 A few spare bullets for her noisy, but very effective pistol were procured, and she briefly considered purchasing a quieter means of striking from a distance.  But, then she recalls all the times her companions quietly dispatched foes, and resolves to only use the pistol when truly pressed.

 When it is convenient, she will definitely convene with her companions on what supplies to bring, given that everyone has seen what Mirkwood has to offer...

In reply to Marthine (msg # 180):

Olewyn is a stark contrast to her companions. She requires little to keep her happy. Instead once she is done learning about her dagger she seeks out a few locals that she is friendly with. They spend some time together as Olewyn learns more about fighting up close.

They run her through a few drills until she is happy enough. She departs from them before too long and quietly rejoins the group. She had no intentions of worrying them over her lessons, she simply wanted to be better at protecting them.