IC Story Thread: Ch.1, Ad.3 - Black Hand

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Jun 30, 2025 4:38 pm
Also relieved to get out of the spotlight for a while, Cirion nods to the villager and stands up, following Stefron to the indicated tent.
"That was... very uncomfortable... You did well..."

As they confabulate, they enter the tent, lifting the flap to take a look inside.
Jul 1, 2025 7:05 am
"I prefer my battles with my sword on the plains, instead of with words. I will be ready to go as soon as we find out what their plans are."
OOC:
I have 3 shadow points on Éothain’s sheet. Do I add the one point to those or did they go away over time?
Last edited July 1, 2025 7:22 am
Jul 1, 2025 2:31 pm
OOC:
Good question, so Shadow points only go away if you devote a Fellowship Phase to getting rid of them (and even then, only if you succeed on a save). And I think we've only had one or two Fellowship Phases. So probably still have them.

But you can also accumulate up to your WIS score in Shadow points before anything happens so no real worries.

In game terms, this is an opportunity to Short Rest, if you need it, and all also to conduct any further investigation, questioning, or preparations that you might want to before dusk or whenever you guys make your next move.

At the least Cirion has mentioned getting help understanding the text.

Eothain mentioned finding out their plans.

If these are things that you'd like to pursue before dusk, put together a narrative and one or more Skill Checks regarding how your do it.

Remember your Exhaustion and that Helping each other can negate that Disadvantage.

I'll do a little ground laying/scene setting...
The tent you've been directed to has two women inside of it, as promised there is a broth simmering rich with the clean, buttery smell of rabbit fat and root vegetables. Waxed cloth bags and baskets of provisions - mostly grains - and dried or drying meats on hangers line the walls.

The women converse idly in the language of the Dunlendings but when they meet you they switch to a passable Westron, and when you walked by it, the fire pit outside circled by four men were all also conversing in Westron.

The two children playing outside the tent giggle and chide each other in Dunlending.

From idle conversation you learn that there are pack horses down by the stream, "Bangdu Caun and his priests" up in the fortress ruin, and only apparently "the Southron warriors" expected yet to arrive.

There is plenty of space for you three to have private conversations if you wish.
OOC:
What do you do?
Jul 2, 2025 7:07 pm
"That broth smells wonderful" Duinhir compliments the two women. "I would love to have some to strengthen me on"

As he sits and eats he tries to pick up some more from the various conversation.
OOC:
Rolling perception but it is the same bonus as Insight if that is more fitting

Rolls

Perception (disadvantage) - (2d20L1+3)

(93) + 3 = 6

Jul 3, 2025 12:36 pm
Cirion listens to locate a Westron speaker who could help with the scroll text. Once he finds one, he will politely approach and ask to help him with the scroll, showing it to the other.

"...To my shame, I am not good with this language... It is new to me. I thought somebody here could help me read the whole text? You see, it will not do, to be found unprepared by Bangdu Caun! That would be disrespectful... "
Jul 7, 2025 3:10 pm
Duinhir finds that many, but not all, of the Westron speakers will shift in and out of the language of Dunlendings. But he doesn't pick up much more or new upon casual observance.

Cirion finds a sympathetic person eager to share their knowledge of the Black Speech. They read the paper out to him, and it is basically a recruitment pamphlet. It reads rather like something the Gondorian army might say when they send out officers into small towns or poor neighborhoods to recruit young men into service, but also has tones of religiosity, touting the glory of Morgoth - the name of an old god that Cirion is only familiar with as a part of the creation myth of elves and men, an evil force - and also a God-King sorcerer, whom it professes as the King of Men.

This Bangdu Caun says in the paper that they are a general in the growing army of this god-king sorcerer, and he is tasked with raising an army here in Andrast. He speaks of how he has been given the ability to speak with the dead, control lightning, and even raise the dead, by the god-king sorcerer.

And says that he will demonstrate these powers to willing folk who will follow him and gather here at Cuilen Marnhir...
Jul 8, 2025 7:11 am
OOC:
Do the Dunlendings and the Rohirrim have a mutual hatred at this time? I assume Éothain is recognizable by many as being from Rohan.
Éothain avoids the Dunlending speakers and wanders to the area where the pack animals are kept. Are there any horses nearby?

When he has a private moment with his companions, he says, "I believe that we should stay for the demonstration. We need a better idea of what powers this Bangdu Caun has."

"Before that, I think we should walk around the camp together to look for trails or other escape routes in case we need to flee suddenly. It will also signal we are not ‘lone wolves’ who can be harassed easily."

Rolls

Check for escape routes (Survival) - (1d20+4)

(12) + 4 = 16

Jul 8, 2025 2:28 pm
OOC:
It's a complex relationship between Rohan and Dunland. It's been nearly 200 years since the two nations last fought in open war. But there is a long history of enmity over land resources and border disputes before that. By now though Rohan has such military superiority that there hasn't even been a lesser kind of warring in at least a generation.

At the same time, the Dunlendings have fought side by side with Rohan against orc and goblin raids from the Misty Mountains to the north and the White Mountains to the south. And they are neighbors of many 100s of years and there is intermingling of blood.

So the actual hatred is usually on the Dunland side (they've always ended up with the short stick), and at this time that hatred may be dulled to a "deep bitterness" due to the weariness of time.

And yes, Rohan does have a bit of a distinctive look to it's armor and clothing, so it's reasonable for Eothain to assume he's recognizable as such.
Jul 9, 2025 6:45 am
Éothain searches for draft horses and their handlers.
Jul 9, 2025 7:28 am
He thanks his translator, pretending enthusiasm at the upcoming meeting. He partakes in some of the food on offer.

Once regrouped with the others, and out of earshot of the villagers, he shares what he learned.
"This magician... He is planning to impress these folks with demonstrations of his power, to get new recruits. I wonder... We will see him in action, but we are outnumbered to attack him. Could there be a way to sabotage his magic, or interfere with it?... If it misfires, his claim will be weak. I wish there was something we could do. Maybe he requires some ingredients, and we could tamper with them? "
Jul 9, 2025 2:19 pm
Eothain finds two pack horses and two mules tied up by a stream off to the east of the camp, down the mountain a short ways.

There is no one attending them at the moment.
Jul 9, 2025 3:01 pm
OOC:
And since it's been awhile since we've talked or thought about them, as players, but only a couple days for your your characters...

Do remember that you've each received a mystic ability, when you passed through the Ordeal of the Druedain.
Jul 9, 2025 9:38 pm
OOC:
I remembered. Hence the search for horses.
Éothain walks slowly toward the animals, stopping about six feet away. He tests his gift with horses that are not Skunktail. "Greeting, fair horses. I am the rare human that can talk with you. I hope your travels here were pleasant and uneventful. Where are you from?"
Jul 10, 2025 2:24 pm
OOC:
😁
The horses rear back at first, stamping and snorting in surprise, while the mules mostly just stumble away as far as their leads will let them as the man from Rohan begins to speak to them.

But then, intensely intrigued and interested they gather close.

Whinnying and neighing, one says, "Not since the time of the Mearas have I heard of such a thing...

Well met Stranger, we lost one in our journey... But all is well now.
"

The horses indicate that they are from Dunland, the mules from the East - a land called Rhun.
Jul 11, 2025 1:51 pm
Éothain looks around to see if the noise attracts any attention, then says, "I am sorry for your loss."

"In my country, Rohan, I’ve worked with many fine animals such as yourselves. Ate your traveling companions warriors like me?"
Jul 11, 2025 11:20 pm
The horses whinny and stamp, "Nay... we bear loads for the Manfolk."
Jul 12, 2025 5:53 am
"Horses work so hard. They are really Manfolk’s best friends, not dogs."

"So, what did you carry here? And where did your Manfolk go?"
Jul 13, 2025 1:34 am
"Their shelter and their food, mostly. They are nearby, they come to see us every morning, and every evening."
Jul 15, 2025 3:47 am
"Thank you for your time. What are your names, that I may greet you properly when we meeet again?"
Jul 15, 2025 8:22 am
Cirion goes in a quiet spot and starts thinking of ways he could sabotage, unnoticed, the enemy recruiters' magic.

He starts toying with the Idea of using water magic to give the impression that a speaker wet himself at a crucial point in their speech.That should undermine their intended purpose...

He inquiries around to learn where the meeting with Bangdu Caun will take place, and scouts the ground there to see if there are puddles - or if he can create one by stealthily pouring some water on the ground in proximity of where the speaker might be.
OOC:
intent is to have a small source of water to try and control near the speakers.
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