USH'S LORD OF THE RINGS GAME PART 3- The Tournament and the Traitor

He's just watching.

"Ah, but for you, the stone be much larger..." says Bjorstrad.

"The same could be said of the Mountains of this world," Talin says, "but it is the Dwarves that mine them, more efficiently than another race could. Size is of no consequence."

Ok! Getting back into the RP swing of things all over!

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"Hah!" he says. "Take your axes to the mountains if you will. yet if you can lift those same mountains, then will I listen!"

Oddly enough, whilt loners, Beornings are known for being a hospitable people. This one must have bneen amongst other men too long. Also you suppose being partly Bear has certain influences...

Farael is taking a close look at the field, though he's not paying much attention to the Talin/Bjorstrad showdown.

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Well, the Stewards thank all of you guys for your help, and say you can leave now.

They seem rather hurried about it, actually.

"Especially to us," Anglomir laughs, patting Menelacar on the back.

Anglomir greets the other contestants, introducing himself and wishing them the best of luck. He decides to avoid Bjorstrad, however; he seems less friendly than one would assume a Beorning would be, the way he is speaking to Talin.

Anyone particularly thrilled at meeting a Gondorian in this competition?

I don't think you look obviously Gondorian; if you are not a Dunadan then Gondorians and Arnorians look much alike.

(btw do we know where Annuneryn's lands are?)

Somewhat out West.

Anglomir will be sure to wear his 'Kiss me, I'm Gondorian' sticker to the playing field, then! But that's understandable, since Anglomir is a mere mortal man.

In that light, I think my character has the shortest natural lifespan of all the characters...

Anyways, Anglomir will stretch and ready himself for the physical tasks. How do we start this contest?

Menelacar loosens himself up, going through the motions of the stone throw and lift in readiness. He eyes up the Beorning guardedly, wary of such a man of obvious size.

'I must not let myself of country down', he tells himself. 'Now, when are we starting...'

Ok then!

Three events, the top four people score 10, 6, 4 and 2 points respectively. Highest score after all three events wins, though winning the individual rounds is worth something too.

First, is the rock llift! You have a big bastard rock to lift, Your objective is to get it over your head... and hold it there for the longest time possible!

Though time is the greatest factor, judges will also be looking for technique and may discount seconds in which you are not holding it properly.

Do we need to do anything - make a pitch or something?

Well the balance is between being able to lift it (Strength) and holding it (Constituion).

Your decision is whethet to try and lifty it very quickly, maximising the time it it held aloft but at certain risks, of course, or take a slower series of movements to lift it, whih is safer, requires less Strength, buty you will be tiring during the lift before you actually have it above your head.

Anglomir will try to maximise his time by lifting the rock quickly, as he has a lower Constitution and does not want to tire himself in lifting the rock.

Well I have 3 in both, so guess I'll go for the 'snap' as well.

Talin, relying on his Dwarvish endurance to win him this part of the contest, will take the steady route and lift his rock into position slowly.

Elladil will ask the Stewards if he can help with anything.

Nope, they say, you have given all the help they need.

-

Ok, those doing the quick snap, I roll a d10 and half it. if it is under your Strength, you got it up... if not, you fumbled the lift and dropped the stone!

Anglomir rolls... 4! Halved to two... success!

Menelacar rolls... 9! Ohhh, misfortune... goes wrong on the day, I am afraid, and the stone slips from your arms on the way up.

Talin does the same but with a d6, so that is an auto-success for him.

Bjorstrad also takes the slow route, and gets it up.

You then manage to hold it for d6 + your Constitution in seconds... plus another two on the quick route!

Anglomir rolls a 2. He gets two added, giving him a 4. Constitution makes that a 5! Five seconds!

Talin also rolls a 2. A Constitution of 3 means he also gets a 5! Tie goes to Anglomir on the faster lift.

And Bjorstrad rolls a two as well! Dearie me. But he has a Constitution of four, and holds it for six! Victory!

The next closest is four seconds from one of the common men, who I shall call Marcus.

Scoring situation after the first round:

Bjorstrad: 10

Anglomir: 6

Talin: 4

Marcus: 2

Much applause, of course, which Bjorstrad takes well.

Next... the Carry! A hundred metres, taking the rock from A to B. Youu don't have to hold it above your head this time though.

Butterfingers!

Nevermind, Menelacar congratulates the winners, especially Anglomir, and prepares for the carry!

Do we have to pitch for that?

Slow and steady or fast and dashy!

It is actually a race- first to cross wins. But the faster you go, the more likely you are to drop, which means time lost as you pick it up again.

It's like an egg-and-spoon race. Well, a rock and spoon race. Without the spoon.

Well, Menelacar will go for slow and steady after his brashness last time.