A Tale from the First Adventure

[tmepyans]

I was encouraged by the gents on the Facebook page for The One Ring to post this tale here. This is the story of my group's first adventure; and I hope it can encourage or inspire other players and Loremasters!

TA 2946: October 3 - November 1
A fellowship of four set out from Esgaroth for the southern eaves of Mirkwood to search for a dwarven emissary and his companion at the behest of Gloin the dwarf. The pair had set out at the end of September to extend an invitation to the anniversary celebration of the Battle of the Five Armies to the Lord of the Eagles in the Wilderlands near the House of Beorn. They never made it there.
The fellowship - made up of Seregon of the Wood Elves; Sari of the Woodsmen in the Wilderlands under the western eaves of Mirkwood; Adrik, son of Padrig, a soldier and warden of Dale; and Saradas Brandybuck, also called Seamus, a hobbit of the Shire visiting Lake Town - were informed by Gloin that the emissary was none other than Balin, son of Fundin, and Oin of the original companions of Thorin Oakenshield; and that Gloin had experienced a dream where he'd seen Oin drowning in dark waters. Promising a princely reward for their safe return; Gloin sent the fellowship on their journey with his blessings and hopes.
Adrik, being originally of Lake Town before the rebuilding of Dale, was a skilled boatsman and guided the group on the day's journey south across the lake to the portage near the falls of Girion's Stair. After spending the night in the hospitality of the Lake Men at the landing and sharing stories, songs, and food with them the party continued on down the river toward Mirkwood.
Ill fortune befell the fellowship on the second night as a roving band of orc raiders, fresh from whatever mischief they'd been about, ambushed them in their camp. Seregon was nearly struck down by an orc spear, taking a grievous wound in the side even as the foul creatures charged into the camp. Valiantly the companions gave battle, Seamus dashing to the side of the stricken elf to protect his flank as Adrik and Sari rushed forth with axe and sword. The battle was fierce; but Adrik's wrath was kindled and he shouted as he fought his enemy, "You dare strike a soldier of Dale and the boon companions and allies of King Bard? You were scattered and slaughtered upon the slopes of Eribor! Flee now or face the same fate as those the crows feasted upon on that field!"
So grim was the countenance and bearing of the warrior that the orcs broke and fled, leaving the fellowship to care for their stricken comrade until the dawn broke the next day. Although Seregon strove to continue the quest at all hazards at no regard for his own well-being, Sari was able to staunch and bandage the wound enough to return to the landing at Girion's Stair where he could regain his strength and continue on. A week later they were able to set out once again, apprehensive that too much precious time had passed and their chances of finding the dwarves alive was dwindling with each day.
The journey to the marshes of southern Mirkwood took five days of hard travel, and the oppressive darkness of those eaves wore upon the hearts of the fellowship, dimming hope and raising shadows of doubt. On their second day afoot, Seregon realized that the group was being followed through the marshes, though even his keen elvish senses were unable to determine who their trackers were or what their purpose was. Sari returned from an early morning hunt, after a meager breakfast cooked by Seamus with a brace of conies for the fire; but a voice rang from the nearby trees and fog, "Stand fast and stay your hands from your weapons!"
Wood elves of King Thranduil had followed them into the forest, led by the disgraced former butler of the king (who was disgraced due to the fact that thirteen dwarf prisoners and an invisible hobbit had escaped the dungeons while he was in a drunken stupor). Adrik spoke to the elf, explaining their purpose, but the elf was cool, not caring about the lost dwarves at all due to his injured pride. Seamus, who had silently puffed his pipe until that moment, lost his patience, scolding the elf for obviously letting his pride get the better of him even after the animosity between elves and dwarves had been put aside in the face of a common enemy five years before. Chagrined, the elf dispatched two of his troop to escort the fellowship to a camp that they believed had once belonged to Balin and Oin.
In the camp Seamus found an ivory case with a white gem inside at the end of a woven gold chain; a kingly gift for the Lord of Eagles. Sari and Seregon could feel the pull of desire as they looked upon it, as this came out of the hoard of Smaug.
That night, as the fellowship rested around the fire and Seregon kept watch, the elf saw lights dancing among the trees in a glade not far from their camp. Seregon and Seamus slipped into the shadows to investigate with Sari and Adrik following. Peering through the trees into a clearing, they could see a pool glowing with faint yellow light. It was then that Seregon's elven ears picked up the faint sounds of breathing behind them. Spinning, the elf loosed two arrows at the great stone troll, both bouncing off it's rigid hide. An instant later the great bow of Adrik snapped, the force of the arrow causing the troll to grunt and stumble even as Sari's spear and Seamus' own arrow flew wide of the beast. Drawing swords and axe the fellowship engaged the roaring troll in close battle, desperate to bring the creature down before it could bring its massive club to bear against them. Seregon's sword rang, glancing off the stoney skin and shivering his arm even as Sari's axe struck a trunk-like leg, nearly buckling it. With a great shout, Adrik gripped his sword in two hands, the blade biting deep and bringing a gout of black blood pouring down the side of the beast. An instant later the hobbit's bow sang, the arrow flying straight and true into the great eye of the troll. With a groan and a thundering crash the foul troll fell, Seregon running it through to end its death throes. Afterward the hobbit gave his bow a name, calling it "Eyebiter".
The following day the fellowship discovered the sunken boat of the two dwarves, smashed and sunk just below the surface of the water. Following Seregon's tracking, they were able to trace the two dwarves to an old ruin, the former way station along the old trade routes from Eribor to the lands west of the Misty Mountains. The eerie stone ruin was partially swallowed by the surrounding marshes, fog lying heavily around it. Spending a night in the center of the ruin, they started anew in the morning, noticing the ever-present eyes of grim Gore-Crows that seemed to be watching their every move.
Adrik called to his companions, seeing a dark pool beyond a stone archway where the dwarves' tracks lead. As they watched, the ghostly sound of a bell echoed in the fog. Entranced by the fell magic, Seregon and Adrik began to move into the water. Desperately, Sari grabbed Seregon and dragged him back from the brink, holding him down while Seamus darted for Adrik, using his unstrung bow to trip him before falling upon him. Both elf and man continued their attempts to escape and return to the water, and Seamus frantically tried to think of a way to stop them before he and Sari were overwhelmed by their greater strength. A song his mother had sang for him when he was frightened as a child entered his mind:

"Shadow falls outside the door,
the candle blazes light to pour,
fear not, my child, the shadows flee
fear not, my child, my light's with thee.

Shadow falls upon the pane
the lantern's glimmer shines through rain
fear not, my child, the darkness flies
fear not, my child, light stills your cries."

Adrik an Seregon relaxed as if in slumber, then opened their eyes, smiling at the now-blushing hobbit who stammered that he didn't know what else to do. Seregon smiled and assured him that the elves know well the power of song, and Seamus' voice had called them from their stupor. Shedding his cloak, Seamus plunged into the water, emerging moments later shivering with the chill but telling them of an underwater tunnel. Tying a rope around his small leg, the hobbit dove beneath the surface again, entering the tunnel. After a tense moment or two of waiting, there was a tug on the rope, Seamus' signal for the others to follow.
They emerged, wet and cold, into a large stone chamber with steps leading from the water. Seregon, seeing a vision of the past - a waking dream of sorts - saw the ancient city as it was, and as it fell to the armies of Sauron before the end of the Second Age. The structure they had entered had once been used for storing goods underground, along with a wine-cellar. To their left they saw a chilling sight: a tunnel that had not been hewn by dwarf tools; but by claws and hands.
After a quick search, Seregon determined that the dwarves' trail led through the greater storehouse, past the side chambers, to the wine-cellar. Leaving behind Adrik and Seregon to cover them from the entryway; Seamus and Sari slipped through the shadows toward the wine-cellar. The wooden door bore deep scratches; testament to something that tried getting to what lay beyond. Seamus knocked gingerly, getting a gruff reply from Balin before the dwarf realized that rescue was at hand. The dwarves were half-starved, hurt, and dehydrated, but they had survived.
Balin explained to them, as he and Oin quickly at Cram from the hobbit's pack, that they had been attacked by the same troll the fellowship had defeated before they were pursued by horrid creatures called Marsh Dwellers; former men - or so they believed - who had become corrupted by the shadow in southern Mirkwood centuries before and waylaid travelers for murder and theft. Seregon wished to explore the area a bit more, hoping to find the bell that had nearly lured he and Adrik to their doom in order to destroy it and save others the same fate. Down the narrow passage near the entrance they came upon a wooden gate. Leaving Sari with the dwarves they gave her instructions to flee with her charges should fighting break out and make her way back to the boat at all possible speed. Opening the gate, Adrik, Seamus, and Seregon were stunned to see mounds of treasure strewn on the floor of a great cave, glowing with a pulsing golden light. The pull of enchantment was strong in their hearts, a compelling that wanted to draw them in; but they were able to resist the urge, recognizing it as the fell power that it was even as the first dozen Marsh Dwellers emerged from the shimmering light and began to move toward them, arms extended to slay them with cruel claws. It greatly pained Seregon to fly before an enemy; but Adrik assured him it was a fight they could not hope to win, and their duty was to warn others of the danger they'd discovered. It would have to fall to Gandalf or Radagast to destroy this cursed place for good.
Eight days later the fellowship returned to Esgaroth, met by the Master of the town's great boat and Gloin himself. Great honor and accolade was piled upon the four, and all were invited to winter at Lake Town if they were of a mind to. Two weeks later, as the first snows of winter began to fly, the fellowship gathered once more before two of their members took their leave in order to return to their homes for awhile. Seamus' small townhouse was full of light, music, story, and food - not to mention pipe smoke - and he toasted his dear friends' health and safety before allowing them to depart in the morning. Sari chose to stay in the upper room of the home until spring drew near before she returned to her people; but Seregon left for northern Mirkwood, and his kin therein, even as Adrik traveled north to Dale and the duties he'd left behind there. The year 2946 has drawn to a close, and 2947 has dawned; what awaits our fellowship in this new year even as the Shadows in Mirkwood grow longer?

[Indur Dawndeath]

Welcome to the forum tmepyans and thank you for the nice story.
Looking forward to reading the next adventure of your fellowship

Cheers

[tmepyans]

Thank you so much for reading the story and your input! I am actually a semi-professional writer of fantasy fiction (self published) so I love to write the tales of our adventures in whatever game we play; but Middle Earth holds such a special place in my heart that I wrote much more than I normally do. I'm looking forward to keeping a journal like this and possibly family trees for the characters similar to what Tolkien himself did in the Appendices of LotR. Here is a poem/song that I wrote as I was preparing for our next adventure (pipe clenched firmly in my teeth...LOL)

THE ADVENTURER

And now I hear the road call me
to sweep us off to who knows where
with wondrous things for eyes to see
the joy of journeys if I dare.

Through mountain pass and hilly Shire
and forests dark with shady bough
the spark within my heart shall fire
my hood I pull up o'er my brow.

Come walk with me, my dearest friends,
and spin the tales of magic fair
of men and elves, and evil's ends
the song 'tis never ending there.

Dwarven hammer, hobbit hearth
does fill my soul with yearning strong
to walk these paths of Middle Earth
return, return, where I belong.

[Majestic]

Excellent summary of The Marsh-Bell, tmepyans; I greatly enjoyed reading it!

It's remarkable how many of your PCs have names that start with the letter S.

Welcome to the forums!

[Wbweather]

Enjoyable read. Welcome to the forum and keep the stories coming!

[tmepyans]

I never noticed the fact that three of our characters have "S" names! LOL
I chose Saradas because he was a Brandybuck listed in the family tree that had no children or spouse listed (I figure that leaves it wide open for a character in the hobbit family I really wanted to play with); Seregon is elven for "man of blood" and he's actually an elf that lost wife and child to trolls and actively seeks revenge; and Sari is a new player to Middle Earth that wanted a biblical name for her character.
Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them and glad I'm able to play along with them as well as being the Loremaster

[jamesrbrown]

Thank you so much for reading the story and your input! I am actually a semi-professional writer of fantasy fiction (self published) so I love to write the tales of our adventures in whatever game we play; but Middle Earth holds such a special place in my heart that I wrote much more than I normally do. I'm looking forward to keeping a journal like this and possibly family trees for the characters similar to what Tolkien himself did in the Appendices of LotR. Here is a poem/song that I wrote as I was preparing for our next adventure (pipe clenched firmly in my teeth...LOL)

THE ADVENTURER

And now I hear the road call me
to sweep us off to who knows where
with wondrous things for eyes to see
the joy of adventure if I dare.

Through mountain pass and hilly Shire
and forests dark with shady bough
the spark within my heart shall fire
my hood I pull up o'er my brow.

Come walk with me, my dearest friends,
and spin the tales of magic fair
of men and elves, and evil's ends
the song 'tis never ending there.

Dwarven hammer, hobbit hearth
does fill my soul with yearning strong
to walk these paths of Middle Earth
return, return, where I belong.

Excellent song tmepyans! If you wouldn't mind a late-night hint from a humble fool, he might say change the word 'adventure' in the first stanza to simply 'journeys.' But, that is only if you wouldn't mind.

Also, I have already sung the lyrics twice and have a thought as to a melody on the strings. Would you mind if I worked on it and presented it here for everyone's hopeful amusement? I'm not sure if or when I would actually accomplish this, but I figured I would get permission early just in case.

[tmepyans]

jamesrbrown I would be deeply honored for you to take my song and improve it like that! You're right, now that I look at it; journey would be a better word than adventure (I had a short moment to write it after getting the inspiration and I normally don't do poetry. LOL)

[mirkwoodfalcon]

Great summary you've written up here! Enjoyed reading it very much. My group ran through The Marsh Bell half a year ago. We weren't nearly as prepared (and indeed, it wasn't nearly as polished as your playthrough, but then again 6/7 of us were new not only to The One Ring, but also tabletop roleplaying in general, including the LM ) I hope you write up more summaries as you have more adventures, I would love to read them!

[tmepyans]

Glad you enjoyed it! The storytelling gets easier, especially if your players are just as interested in sharing the story and making it their own Btw, I'm on Landroval as well; I play Sarodas and Frolin, a hobbit and a dwarf respectively.