USH'S LOTR RP Game part 2- The Fortress of Baranar

Ush I already have.... Aniica Woodland

Ah, you are sticking with Aniica? Ok, gimme a couple of days and I shall weave you in...

-

Rex- I have decided you DIDN'T say that, which is preferable to what I put here at first- the soldier would not take kindly to you hitting him and a dozen of his biggest mates are drinking nearby. I also added this note, which I shall repeat:

"Incidentally, why are you guys being so secretive about something that Arvedui was hammering into you guys is supposed to be a PUBLIC exercise... how on Middle-Earth is this alliance supposed to be a rallying point if you don;t tell anyone... furthermore, Bree is part of Arthedain. They KNOW. Everyone in Arthedain knows! It's all Arthedain has been concentrating on, other than building Embylosse, since the last summer!"

-

Just as with Palanfirith, you notice the cold chill outside, Aiwendil. It makes you cold, even throuygh your Elven senses. And a mist is coming from the south. You do not like it.

But domething else is disturbing you more. Your affinity for animals gives you a good sense for when they are around. Something is near, and it feels different to any nimal you felt before... cold- colder still than this chill. It almost makes you feel ill...

Thanks Ush

(Still, do they need to know our direct route?)

"We are going to the fortress of Baronar, a lord of Cardolan who has held strong against the Dunlendings and Orcs. Arvedui plans to use Baronar's help to fight off the Witch King. Ignore my anti-social dwarvish friend here, he's too insecure..."

They don't NEED to know as such, but nor do you have any reason to keep it from them.

They have all actually gone a bit silent when the soldier mentioned the Downs.

so..i'm up in my room meditating..

You know, even as you meditate, YOU feel cold as well, Vardalain...

BUT..probably not cold enough to break the concentration. He'll worry about it when he gets up.

Aiwendil leant against a tree to catch her breath, then snatched her hand away, as if it burnt her. Her limited connection to the trees and plants around her told her that they, too, sensed the strange prescence, the alien smell in the air. Falling to her knees, she cried out as she heard the animals scream around her. She scrambled to her feet and set out in search of another of the Elves of this company.

Aiwendil, as you turn, you see- perched out on an outstretched branch of a tall tree nearby- a large black bird, not unlike a huge crow. Its yellow eyes peer at you malevolently- this is the source of your feeling!

Aiwendil took a step backwards - there was no doubt about it, this creature was evil. But what could it be? She was really quite a sheltered Elf, knowing only of her small part of Middle-Earth, the rest of the world coming to her only as hearsay and myth.

The bird is watching you, Aiwendil. It is trying to unnerve you,. Birds should NOT do that!

It has been brought beyond the normal capabolities of wildlife- as the Elves teach animals- but no Elf taught this bird.

Aiwendil took another step back, and whirled round as a hand closed on her shoulder. She looked up into the face of one of the higher Elves - Palanfirith, she believed his name was.
"What in Middle-Earth is it??"

Palanfirith, you recognise it at once. It's a damned Crebain!

(Send a few arrows through it, it's a spy)

(rex NO metagaming 😛)

Well, Palanfirith can tell you what it is, Aiwendil- and you have vaguely heard of them. Crebain are birds of evil that the Dark Lord Sauron used to use as his eyes and ears millenia ago. Apparently, the Witch-King is partial to the same methods...

Problem is., none of you are quite sure how Crebain WORK. Only that they are very nasty...

"Aye, well," say the locals. "Downs not been too safe lately neither. Travellers been vanishing down that way. No sign of the bodies."

The solider frowns.

"Dunlending raiders in the downs? What a pain. Scattered bandits probably, though. They won't go near an armed convoy."

Aiwendil could feel the animals stir in the area around her, and clamped down with her will. The 'Crebain', as Palanfirith told her, caught her eye contact, which broke her concentration. A tawny escaped her grasp and flew, talons aimed for the creatures eyes. The Crebain screeched, and aiwendil fell to her knees once more, her senses raw and hurting.

The Crebain flutters and quickly takes flight. In the misty night it almost toally disappears very quickly.

This bodes ill...