SirGalrim's Adventure Summaries

[SirGalrim]

Spring 2948 T.A. - Dark Tidings
In Dale Mr. Grayshaft and Lomund made a trade deal with Grayshaft supplying wares from the south-east, and Lomund taking them west of the forest. We agreed to travel westwards together, to help Dindy of the Easterly Inn and hopefully to see Rivendell. Una did not come with us this time. We had heard rumours of the Werewolf in Mirkwood killing a dwarven company last autumn, so we decided to stay clear of the forest and take journey through the Narrows instead. On the way we first stopped where we had seen the lights in the forest one and a half year earlier. It turned out it was Omal the Lampmaker that had experimented with elven magical lights. He reluctantly agreed to be more careful in the future and offered his help in general with magic items. But he could not give us any lanterns without the permission of King Thranduil.

We continued our travels, and after almost a month we arrived in the Easterly Inn, but Dindy had already left by then! After some days we continued south and met three strange characters asking about the inn. We got a bad feeling about them and hurried back to the inn. There the strangers behaved really bad. So we chased them away and threatened them to never harm the inn again, else we will come after them. Hildebrand sneaked after them and overheard that they really had planned to rob the inn. We decided that the inn needed more official protection, and made a sign saying "Protected by the Sword of Dale". Yes, we decided on the name for our company there and then.

We continued our travels south towards the Old Ford. One evening we came across a boat with two Beorning Thanes killed by orcs across the river. It was our friends Merovech and Odo! They seemed to have carried a prisoner that had escaped. We took the two Beornings and one dead orc with us to see Beorn. We walked through peaceful gardens and entered Beorn's farmstead. Dogs approached us, sniffed and howled mournfully as they noticed the dead Beornings. They took us to their master, Beorn himself. He did not seem joyful to see us. But after out courteously introduction and briefly telling of what we had seen, he invited us inside to tell the whole tale in detail. Hildebrand told about how mighty Merovech had killed two orcs in one throw with his spear before he fell. Then we shared news of the lands. Beorn told us that though the orcs are still weak and their raids are few there has been some orcs movement spotted in the south lately. Orcs moving out of Mirkwood towards the Misty Mountains. Later in the evening other Beornings joined us for supper. They where in a sombre mood, but we lifted the spirits by singing proper songs of mourning and of the heroic deeds of Merovech and Odo. They where grateful and we where allowed to stay in the hall for the night. But we where told to stay inside no matter what... During the night we heard some mysterious sounds outside. We did not investigate.

Next morning we where awakened to a delicious breakfast served by Beorn and his animal servants. In the middle of the floor lay near a dozen orc helmets! Beorn told us he had tracked down the orcs who killed his Thanes and killed them. He then tasked us with finding the escaped prisoner, and to find a pouch of silver coins Beorn had given to Merovech. But he asked us to stay for the evening to attend the funeral of Odo and Merovech. We recited the deeds of Merovech and sung songs to their honor. Next morning we left the gardens of Beorn. We felt our bonds as a company strengthened. Though we had come with dark tidings to the Beornings, we had not let it rule us. Compassion, honour and fellowship had taken hold in out hearts instead.

Through tracks, people and other clues we tracked the prisoner south along the river. We learned that the prisoners name was Oderic from Stonyford. We passed the Old Ford and after several days travel came to Stonyford. Here we where met outside the village by three persons. The lady who talked the most was Ava. She was not very friendly and said that they had suffered enough sorrow in recent days and begged us leave them in peace. We kept calm and courteously insisted on entering the village as we where tracking an escaped prisoner named Oderic on behalf of Beorn. They accepted us then and said we could sleep in Oderic's old house! We ate supper with the villagers around an outdoors fire. They where in a grim mood and had lot of different stories to tell about Oderic. We suspected that not all that was said was true. At least we gathered that Oderic was raised in Stonyford by Helmgut, the previous chief warrior in the village. Helmgut has a daughter named Brunhild. Oderic and Brunhild was close, too close according to some. A man named Rathfic moved to the village some years ago, became the new chief warrior and married Brunhild. Oderic never liked him and they argued a lot. Oderic became more distant and was even less liked in the village. Near two weeks ago Oedric and Rathfic fought, and Oderic killed Rathfic. Oderic surrendered to Helmgut afterwards, and he was sent with Merovech for trial at the Carrock. The villagers had not seen him since, and was shocked by the news that Merovech was dead and Oedric had escaped. Disturbed by the villagers tales we had an uneasy night rest at Oedric's old house.

Next: Kinstrife, then Vales of Gundabad / On Forgotten Doorsteps

[SirGalrim]

I've fallen quite far behind on this one. But here is the next instalment. I'll try to get out the next part that's a home made adventure in the Vales of Gundabad out during Easter week.

Spring 2948 T.A. - Kinstrife

The next morning we continued our investigations. Lomund and Farald sought out Brunhild at the grave-mound of Ratchfic where she was putting fresh white flowers. She was still mourning and reluctant to speech with us. She explained that her brother Oderic came one evening and told that he was tired of the village, and that he intended to leave and seek his fortune in the wild. He asked her to come with him, and then Rathfic came home. Oderic and Rathfic had never liked each other, and they immediately began arguing. She tried to stop them, and Rathfic struck her, knocking her down. Oderic attacked him, one of them drew a knife, they struggled – and then the knife was in Rathfic’s chest, and there was blood everywhere. She screamed, and her father Helmgut came running, and hit his foster-son with the flat of his axe. Oderic did not even try to fight back; he just dropped the knife and fell. Farald felt that something was amiss with this story, and he had a vision of Brunhild holding the bloodied knife. But we didn't manage to get anything more about it from Brunhild, and rest of us weren't so sure about Faralds vision either. Brunhild admitted seeing Oderic again. Se first thought it a ghost as she never expected seeing Oderic again. He said fate had given him a second chance and that he would leave west. She did not want to come with him, and she said goodbye once more never expecting to see him again.

We went to find Helmgut. He was at home sleeping of a hangover. He had taken to drinking hard after the kinstrife. We managed to avoid upsetting him and he answered our questions. He explained that he heard his daughter scream, and came to investigate. He found Oderic standing over Rathfic’s body, and assumed that Oderic killed Rathfic out of jealousy. He struck Oderic, knocking the dagger from the boy’s hand. Oderic was always a difficult, angry young man Helmgut claimed, and he now seems to blame himself for failing to raise the boy.

We decided to head into the western vales to see if we could find Oderic there. The boatman that took us across Anduin could inform us that a boat went missing some days ago. We went a little down the river and found the boat hidden on the western banks. We found tracks of one person that we followed west at first and then more and more south. After some days we found a site with signs of struggle. Narur reasoned that the person we had been tracking had put up a brave fight against several ambushers, but that they overwhelmed him, spared his life, bound his hands and led him off south to the nearby forest. We where a bit shocked by all Narur could read out of some broken grass. But followed the trail to the forest. There we came upon an patch where a lot of woodcutting had been going on. We continued into the forest and came upon a big camp.

Hildebrand sneaked into the camp and saw that there was about fifty rough men there. Most seemed to come from far away lands, and some of them had families with them. Hildebrand spotted Oderic sitting in the centre and being treated well. Hildebrand didn't want to risk sneak into the centre and got back out to the rest of the company. The following events are not worth recording. Its enough to say we used a long time making some complex plans that did not go our way. We learned the men where bandits. And had just escaped them when for some reason we decided to go back and openly confront them to get Oderic. We met their leader, Valter. He was well-spoken and well equipped compared to the rest of the men. We where allowed to speak with Oderic alone, but Oderic did not want to come with us. Even if we said we thought he was innocent of the murder. We said to Valter we where to take Oderic prisoner on command of Beorn, but Valter seemed to harden. He refused us. Lomund used charm and persuasive arguments to get Valter to let us leave. Hildebrand who had hidden in the forest hang back a little. As Valter was turning back to camp he said to one of his men “Kill them”. Hildebrand hurriedly sneaked back to us and we ran!

We pressed on the next days to get to Stonyford quickly. We anticipated Valter and his men coming for us. We convinced the town to prepare for battle, and spent the next days setting up defences. We sent the women and children away to the Old Ford, and a messenger to Beorn. We had scouts out in case bandits where coming. And a few days later they came. They attacked one early morning, but we where ready. Out thirty men of all ages and varied battle skills seemed a weak defence against fifty outlaws trained with weapons. But with our leadership and new defences we held stand against the bandits the first minutes. They where taken by sunrise, excepting an easy plunder of Stonyford. But then after the initial shock they started to overwhelm us, some got past our fortifications. And as we lost more and more men we realized this was not going well.

Valter yelled commands from the back. With him was Oderic. We decided to try to get to Valter. We pushed through the front, and the archers aimed for him. But his guard countered us and he joined the fray himself, proving to be a trained swordsman. Oderic assisted him. But we would see that Oderic hesitated. Lomund and Farald yelled to Oderic, trying to make him realize he was massacring his own people. He stopped attacking but did not turn on Valter. With Oderic's aid gone we managed to overwhelm Valter and kill him. Farald was knocked out but the rest of us where standing. We shouted at the outlaws that their leader was dead. And now we got Oderic to help us fight the outlaws. Some of them fled, while other held their ground for a while. After a long battle we where exhausted and frail, but stood victories! The villagers had took great losses, we helped those we could. Many bandits had survived too, and we took them prisoners. Oderic just sat staring into the ground. The villagers spat at him but we stopped the from doing any more fighting.

Two days later Beorn himself and his warriors came. After hearing what had happened Beorn told his men to escort us and the prisoners north. He disappeared out into the wild. Later we learned that he rounded up some of those bandits that had fled. Days later in Old Ford a trial was held for the twenty something surviving bandits. Lomund chose to speak up on the matter that some of them had women and children in the Wolfswood. Beorn was very thoughtful, and said he was reluctant to have any more blood shed. He believed they had been deceived by Valter, but had to be punished for their actions non the less. He sentenced them to serve as thralls the rest of their lives. But he extended an offer that those who have families could bring the families to Beorn's lands. They would have to serve also, but treated well. After 10 years of serving both the men and their family will earn their freedom.

We spent some days at Beorn's house resting and getting to know the Beornings better. Then came the time for the trial of Oderic. It was held on the top of the Carrock. Ava spoke up on Oderic's crimes and retold the events. Beorn asked is some one else wanted to speak. Oderic held his tongue, as did Brunhild. We could not stand idle. We spoke about how Oderic did turn side in the battle. And that even if he had done really stupid things we would not have won at Stonyford without him. But Farald was still not satisfied that Oderic would take the blame for Brunhild. We were pretty sure by now that Oderic was taking the blame for Brunhild. We asked questions about the night of the murder. Then we realized that the stab wound of the dagger was in Rathfic's chest, but he was lying face down when Helmgut entered. We pressed Brunhild on whether she really wanted Oderic to take the blame for her. Then she fell down on her knees, cried and confessed her crime. Oderic tried to stop her from telling, but Beorn commanded her to tell the whole truth.

Oderic and Rathfic had brawled, she had yelled at them to stop. When it didn't help she had drawn Rathfic's knife from his belt. She held it up and screamed at him to stop. It was true that Rathfic had hit her before, mistreated her. That was why Oderic was so mad. Rathfic knocked Oderic back and advanced on her now. Told her to put down the dagger. She became uncertain and lowered it. Then Oderic came running into Rathfic from behind. The next thing she knew Rathfic was on top of her and the dagger was far into Rathfic's chest. She pulled aside and screamed. Rathfic fell to the floor. They both just stood there in silence. Then they heard someone come running and right before Helmgut burst in the door Oderic snapped the dagger out of Brunhild's hand.

Everyone on the Carrock went silent. Only small sobs could be heard from Brunhild. Beorn stared into the horizon. Then he spoke. “Kinslaying is the worst of crimes...”, he said as if reciting some old teaching. “Grim is it that you did not tell the truth at once. Your actions has led a darkness over our people. Many have paid with their lives for your lie. I believe you speak the truth now. The murder was not intentional. But the lie was. The consequences was not intentional. But still led to a dozen dead of our men. Oderic fought bravely in the end, but he is still guilty of a crime.” Beorn paused.“Oderic is to choose his fate. Exile and life as an outlaw, or the life as a thrall.” Lomund tried to nudge Oderic to go to Dale. But Oderic ignored him, and said to Beorn: “I will rather take my life than live as an outlaw again. I will serve as a thrall.” Beorn only gave a nod and then turned to Brunhild with sad eyes. “Brunhild is sentenced to be cast out of the lands of the Beornings, never to return, condemned to live as an outlaw. Every free man is given the right to slay her, would she defy her exile and dare to return.”

Our hearts where filled with sorrow after the judgement. After all we had done it still came to this. But we understood that sentences had to be passed. Later back at Beorn's house, he thanked us for recapturing the prisoner and repelling the outlaws at Stonyford. He promised us the friendship of the Beornings for as long as there are honest men in those lands. We spent the following summer at the Easterly Inn and in Beorning lands. Narur, Farald and Lomund all chose to become Thanes of Beorn.

[Vuriche]

These are truly a great read and a fantastic inspiration for my own campaign. Thank you!

[SirGalrim]

These are truly a great read and a fantastic inspiration for my own campaign. Thank you!

Thanks, that means a lot! I've too got some great ideas, tips and heads up by reading other peoples adventure summaries here on the forums.

[SirGalrim]

Summer 2948 T.A. - The Vales of Gundabad

It was a warm summer day and we where working on our patches of land that we had been awarded by Beorn. Then Farald heard a voice of someone humming. He spotted an tall but old man walking a horse. The man was clad in grey robes and had a pointy hat. Farald hailed him and learned that it was Gandalf the Grey himself. We asked him to come to the Easterly Inn with us. Something he was more than happy to as he was already on his way to see these peculiar hobbits that had set up an inn the wild. Gandalf seemed to have heard about our endeavours in Stonyford and with the beornings. We told him of all of our adventures. He seemed amused and intrigued. He listened intently, but still sometimes it felt like he already knew parts of our story. Though he claimed to never have heard about us until Stonyford. He was especially surprised and amused that a Hobbit travels with the group. Gandalf seemed to think of it as a great matter for the success of our endeavours that a Hobbit was with us. He made Hildebrand tell why he had set out on adventures, and nodded and smiled when he heard about Bilbo. When asked about what Gandalf himself was doing here he was less willing to share, and said he had certain enquiries to make. When Lomund pressed Gandalf on the matter the wizard starred at Lomund and said “Have you ever heard the saying “Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards?” Lomund went silent.

Gandalf was heading north and then east through the Grey Mountain Narrows. We asked him if he knew abut Lomund's medallion, and the symbol of a shield with a sword and seven white stars in a half circle above. He told us that it is the symbol of an outpost of Gondor. He said it was a peculiar symbol to have this far north. He told that he knew of only one place that would have had such a symbol here in Widlerland. A watchtower close to Mount Gundabad. But Gondor abandoned it long ago. And what had happened to the tower in the following centuries he did not know for certain. He encouraged us to investigate further, and said “I believe it is no accident that this amulet is in your care. You where meant to find it.” We decided to travel with Gandalf northwards. As we where travelling he asked us what we thought about the rulers in Wilderland; Beorn, Bard, Dain, Thranduil and others. When asked he did not say why he made such enquiries.

We came to the headwater of Anduin, where the Langwell River from Misty Mountains and the Greylin river from the grey Mountains meet and form Anduin. We had a last meal with Gandalf here, and bid him farewell. Gandalf told us to contact his cousin Radagast the Brown in Rhosgobel if we discovered something important or if we needed to contact him again. As Gandalf walked away, up a small hill, he stopped for a while, looking south. Something seemed to worry him. Then he turned back to us and smiled. He talked clear even at a distance: “It is a strange land you now enter. Spirits of forgotten days still linger there.” He pointed to the north-west with his staff. “Beware the fog from the mountains. Seek Amfossa the Trapper, up Greylin River. Tell her I sent you. She will know more about the current state of the Vales of Gundabad.” He started to turn around, then looked us one last time. “Remember, there is nothing like looking if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something - if you look - but it is not always quite the something you were after.” He smiled and blinked with his left eye. Then turned around. Walking steadily eastwards he soon disappeared over the ridge. The point of his grey hat was last thing we saw.
We followed the Greylin River on the east side for a day. Then we came to a place where the river was wide and saw a cabin built on wooden stilts in the the middle of the river. It had two small boats tied outside. We called over, and after a little while someone called back. We introduced ourself and said that Gandalf had sent us to meet Amfossa the trapper. Amfossa revealed herself and invited us in. The ponies we had to leave on the eastern riverbank fr now. It was a cosy cabin with room for a few guests. We told about out endeavours and that we wanted to learn about this land. She told us about Hill-men and their sorcery and fear of water, the many packs of wolves and goblins hunting in fog. Amfossa also told us about the City of the Éothéod, Framsburg, and a little about The Lost Watchtower. She pointed out that not all Hill-men are evil. And that she knows one with the name Hwalda that can serve us as a guide to the watchtower. Most curiously she told us that she encountered three Beornings two days ago. They where close to Framsburg, a day travel south-west. They where also prying her for information. Apparently they where treasure hunters. Beran the Seeker was their leader. She has also spotted another man in the countryside. But he was stealthy and disappeared. He was tall and lanky. He did not look like a Beorning or Woodman. He carried a longsword and a bow. Finally late in the evening she told us about the legend of the Steed of the Moon. Filled with information and food we had a good night rest.

We decided to go and fin Beran and his company. We went to the ruins of Framsburg and searched for the Beornings. The city’s earthen ramparts and protective ditches could still clearly be seen, as could the hollow ruins of the few stone structures. Of the buildings mostly just tumbled piles of stones and grassy fields pockmarked with post-holes remain. Though we found four sets of tracks of human boots. They had walked a lot around in the area and in the ruins of the city. And we found a camp about an hour away from Framsburg. One set of boots seemed to mostly go alone away from the camp. And instead of going into the ruins, mostly went northwards. As we where exploring we saw old orc and troll camps, and to our terror signs of more recent troll activity. Most ruins didn't not hold anything of interest. But finally we found a place where the tracks and entered into the underground, but did not leave out again.

This cellar was bigger than we expected and led deeper underground. We encountered some unsafe areas. Then we heard someone running towards us. Before we could do anything a young man came storming out of the dark. He cried in surprise who we where. Then looked scared back the way he came from, put his finger to his lips and points backwards and said in a whisper “Trolls”. This was the infamous Odo the Runner. He quickly explained that they where exploring the caves when Grimbald the Piercer stumbled on some rocks, and the floor disappeared underneath him. Before Beran and Odo could hoist Grimbald up they heard something heavy coming in their direction. Two trolls! They noticed Grimbald down there and one started to climb down. Beran took a shot at the troll climbing down, but that agitated them. The other troll ran back, and then they heard it come running back towards the gap. Beran jumped down to Grimbald and yelled at Odo to get help! So he ran looking for Shanker that was the mysterious fourth person in their group.

We sneaked down and saw that down in the cave-in there was a sitting a Hill Troll with a big club looking at a narrow crack in the wall. In front of the crack hang a roasted deer leg. We saw nothing of the other troll or the Beornings. We attacked the troll down in the cave in. Farald and Narur jumped down! Then the troll yelled and soon the other troll came running in the passage from the other side of the cave-in. But it did not hesitate to jump over this time. Luckily he did not make it, he hanged at the ledge by his hands. Lomund and Hildebrand stabbed at his fingers, and it fell down. Now Beran and Grimbald came out of the crack and helped fight the trolls. But Grimbald was wounded and could not offer much assistance. We took some hard beating but managed to fell the beasts.

The Beornings was very grateful for the rescue. Beran explained had brought Odo and Grimbald to search for the Lost Watchtower. On the way they met Shanker that told them about forgotten treasures still hidden in Framsburg. So they decided to join him and look for treasure here for some days before continue on towards the tower. Inside the narrow passage from the cave-in the Beornings had discovered an ancient room. There was a large strong iron door in the room, and two side rooms. One side room was caved in. The other had a smaller iron door that have been forced open once. The small room inside had four small pedestals that goes into a stone slab along the wall. On the strong iron doors Beran noticed that it was engraved with old markings saying “Chambers of Lord Gitsere, the Wolf Hunter”. We also spotted that three of the pedestals had symbols. We interpreted the symbols to each represent an attribute; “Fast”, “Strong” and “Cunning”. We tried to press down the pillars in different ways but it did not seem to have any effect. After some time we started to clear the caved-in room and found old statuettes of different animals. Some of them where broken. Putting the statuettes on the pillars made the pillars sink down a little. After trying different combinations we finally got the door to open. Inside we found a untouched treasure chamber with a treasures including gems, gold, plates and jewellery. We shared the treasure with the Beornings.

We figured we could not bring a wounded Grimbald to the Lost Watchtower. So we travelled back to the cabin of Amfossa. She was not at home. We spent a night there and hoped she would not we angry that we left Odo and Grimbald there. We then travelled back south-west to find the guide Hwalda. We travelled alongside Langwell river, and did the signal Amfossa had thought us. Hildebrand howled like a Grey Horned Owl and we come out unarmed on the riverbanks. After a while a strong woman with simple clothing of fur and hides met us. She seemed a bit sceptical to us, but we managed to convince her to be our guide. She warned us that we are travelling to dangerous territory and close to the fortress of the orcs, Mount Gundabad. While we travelled north we asked more question about her people. She answered that they usually try to avoid strangers and should not pose a threat unless we threaten them.

Hwalda said that even though she knows the area where the tower is located it can be hard to find. Not only because there are often fog coming down from the mountains, but the tower is strangely difficult to spot at a distance. We helped helped being on lookout and explore the land, and found the tower fairly quickly. She was right that it was hard to she at distance. But when we came close it was no question about it being the tower. There was an old path up to the tower, but it was still steep climb. We left the ponies behind and asked Hwalda to guard them for us. Parts of the path was easy to walk, others we had to climb or jump over chasms missing bridges. With some good use of robes and Beran's climbing skills we managed to get up. The tower itself still stood strong, and seemed untouched by the enemy. But the front gate building was desecrated. Orcs have been her long ago looting and destroying doors, statues and everything else possible to destroy. They had even spoiled the place with their own crude paint and shit. Narur said the signs shows it is primary the Burzath tribe of Mount Gundabad that's been here. But it seems a long time since there was any orc here.

Narur curiously noticed that a large symbol outside the gate house was an orc symbol of warning. Seems the orcs thinks this place is to be avoided. The basement of the gate house seemed to have been used as an orc camp. There was also some orc skeleton bones there. We noticed it was only bones of the torso and up. In the back of the room we found a hidden door. With a lot of trying and failing we managed to pushed the door to slide up, and to stay up and not fall in our heads. Out the door came a stench of death. Inside the room was a lot of long dead orcs. They had been trapped here. In the very end of the room was an open chest. In the room Narur found some shining boots, and Lomund found some sturdy gauntlets. They where both of Westernesse quality make.

The bridge over to the main keep also showed signs of orc art. But the doors to the keep still remained shut. There was ugly orc paint on and above the door. But we spotted another sign bellow. The shield, sword and seven stars symbol. Same as on Lomund's medallion and Beran's ring. We discovered small openings in the wall on each side of the door. Those seemed perfect fitted to put the medallion in one and the ring in the other. We did but the door was still locked. The door itself also had a keyhole. Narur looked at it, but thought it near impossible to open without good tools or the right key. We decided that our mission is complete for this time. We have located the tower and knew it still standing strong. We either have to somehow find the key, or bring good tools and a craftsman that can help us open that lock.

Back down with the ponies Hwalda told us that there had been someone sneaking about there, but Hwalda confronted the person. It was a man and he asked about what we where doing here. She chased him off, and he left heading east. We said goodbye to Hwalda and decided to track this person. He was good at hiding his track, but it was no match for Hildebrand. When we finally caught up to him he had made a camp and fireplace. He invited us to sit down. It was Shanker. He claimed he was just intrigued about what we where doing, and showed special interest about whether we found any treasure. He claimed to be heading towards the trappers along Greylin river now. We didn't know what to do with him so we decided to travel together with him east. We regretted the decision when he aired his stinky feet. He did not want to meet Amfossa for some reason. Claimed he knew other trappers further north better. It was strange, but we did not press on the matter as we where happy to see him gone. We picked up Odo and Grimbald. Amfossa was not angry at us, but she seemed quite happy to see them leave. We travelled back to the Easterly Inn.

[SirGalrim]

Great recap! It's fun to read these stories, which very much remind me of our playing through these adventures.

Late reply. Hehe. But that might be because those first adventures was heavily influenced by your very own adventure summaries. Thank you! It was nice to have someone's experience to lean on when I was a new Loremaster. I must say that it took me some time getting used to run TOR. Even if I've been a GM/DM/Keeper/Storyteller etc. for many different groups for 15 years.

[Dunkelbrink]

Thanks for sharing, SirGalrim. Truly inspirational, and it seems you managed to make something more of an non-linear "adventure zone" out of the material in the sourcebooks (if there is one thing one could have second thoughts about regarding the adventure sourcebooks it is that they are quite linear). If you have notes or written material of this adventure I'll be happy to read it.

[Majestic]

Great recap! It's fun to read these stories, which very much remind me of our playing through these adventures.

Late reply. Hehe. But that might be because those first adventures was heavily influenced by your very own adventure summaries. Thank you! It was nice to have someone's experience to lean on when I was a new Loremaster. I must say that it took me some time getting used to run TOR. Even if I've been a GM/DM/Keeper/Storyteller etc. for many different groups for 15 years.

Thanks so much, SirGalrim! I've greatly enjoyed reading your recaps as well, and I'm sure they'll provide inspiration to others, too!

[SirGalrim]

Spring 2948 T.A. - Dark Tidings - Loremaster notes
"In Dale Mr. Grayshaft and Lomund made a trade deal with Grayshaft supplying wares from the south-east, and Lomund taking them west of the forest."
Some of the other players absolutely hate sing any time of the game talking about trade relations etc. And it's not the most interesting to me either. But Lomund's player wants Lomund to live up to his profession and be successful merchant. So it's a difficult balance in the game sometimes. In this case I could further my plot by having Greyshaft dealing with Lomund. Both trying to fish information out of Lomund, and as a tool to get the company to travel west of Mirkwood. (I gave them some loose hints about other things to investigate east of Mirkwood but they did not seem interested.)

"[...] Dindy had already left by then! After some days we continued south and met three strange characters asking about the inn. We got a bad feeling about them and hurried back to the inn."
I wasn't quite ready to explore Eriador yet. I wanted to progress the adventures in Wilderland a bit further first. But a trek all the way to Bree or the Shire is getting more and more tempting for me. And I think for the players too. So it most likely will come up soon. With the bad trio harassing Easterly Inn I took the idea out of a hazard suggestion in Kinstrife even if we hadn't fully started on the adventure. It was not a hazard this time. But it seemed a very interesting theme to explore. The company did catch on that these guys might have evil intent. And it pushed the company to become official protectors of the inn and choose a name for their company. So I felt this event was very successful. And as a bonus I made the trio join up with Valter later so it became obvious for the company that Valter and his men was not particulary nice people.

"[Beorn] asked us to stay for the evening to attend the funeral of Odo and Merovech. We recited the deeds of Merovech and sung songs to their honor."
I was anxious if the players would be successful in their encounter with Beorn. They tend to stumble around in important conversations and just say the wrong things. But I think that the death of Merovech and Odo got to them. They had just briefly met them before as the representatives of Beorn at the Gathering of the Five Armies.. But just knowing them briefly, combined with a crime mystery and the awe of visiting Beorn set the right mood. The Beornings where encouraged by the respectful and hopeful words and songs of the company.

[SirGalrim]

Spring 2948 T.A. - Kinstrife - Loremaster notes

"Farald felt that something was amiss with this story, and he had a vision of Brunhild holding the bloodied knife. But we didn't manage to get anything more about it from Brunhild, and rest of us weren't so sure about Faralds vision either."
Some time ago Farald found a circlet of seeing. Giving him a blessing to Awareness and Insight. The player decided to use a point of hope for the first time to get a magical result on the Insight. Until this point I had treated the murder as bit of a mystery myself. Running it was written in the adventure, but not decided on all details. I was tempted to complicate the plot by Brunhild doing the murder but was afraid the players never would pick up on it. When he used magical insight the choice was easy. And it was an interesting interaction between him, Brunhild and the rest of the characters that was not sure what was going on. Even if it much later was proved that Farald was right I think the rest are still sceptical to his supposed ability of reading someone's mind or having visions of past events. I think that is perfect. to me that's how magic should feel like. Not obvious abilities that always works in a certain way. Mysterious to both the user and especially to others, but can still be greatly beneficial.

"Hildebrand sneaked into the camp and saw that there was about fifty rough men there. Most seemed to come from far away lands, and some of them had families with them. Hildebrand spotted Oderic sitting in the centre and being treated well. Hildebrand didn't want to risk sneak into the centre and got back out to the rest of the company."
The following was a frustrating event that took a long time to play. The players where so unsure what to do. They went to several plans but did not dare to execute them. They finally decided on something that did not go their way as they made some terrible rolls and not so great decisions on the fly. So it ended up in they just openly asking to see Oderic. I of course did not want him to just attack them. They would all be dead. I could have had Valter take them prisoners as several have mention on the forums for a solution. But in the moment it did not seem so tempting. We had already spent so much time at the place. Maybe it was a bit out of character of Valter. But my reasoning is that as Valter did not trust Oderic yet he would not kill men sent by Beorn in front of Oderic. In case that would make Oderic not show the crossing. And also just in case the company got away they could not say to anyone that Valter gave order to kill them; "It was just some bandits that came after them".

"[The bandits] attacked one early morning, but we where ready. Out thirty men of all ages and varied battle skills seemed a weak defence against fifty outlaws trained with weapons."
It was an epic battle with no help from Beorn! Luckily the characters had been very successful on their ideas and rolls for the battle preparations. I mad my own simple mass battle rules. Just a bit more complex version of the examples in TfW when you have allies fighting. Of course the company had a hard time after the first rounds. Too many bandits. Then they where smart and targeted Valter. Too bad he was so though. Then I gave them some hint after some successful rolls that Oderic seem having a hard time fighting is own people after all. As they managed to convince (of confuse?) Oderic to hold back they slew Valter and that changed the tide.

" Then came the time for the trial of Oderic. It was held on the top of the Carrock. Ava spoke up on Oderic's crimes and retold the events. Beorn asked is some one else wanted to speak. Oderic held his tongue, as did Brunhild. We could not stand idle."
This was a difficult and great scene to play. The players had a hard time speaking up first. What could they say at an "internal" trial? But they realized none else would tell the truth and their confidence increased as they spoke and finally got answers. Playing all the different npc was demanding as a Loremaster. I only went into character for a few of them, the others I just described. It was hard to find the sentence Beorn would make as I had complicated the plot. But in the end the verdict felt right there. And even if the players felt it harsh I think they also understood. In hindsight I am wondering if I should have done it different.