ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Jul 10, 2025 9:47 am

Oderic has heard enough to start making his way back, so as to be clear of any accidental notice by the goblin horde being beaten into discipline and order. They can them pack up all kit ready for the first leg of the trip.

He finds he wants to have a brief word with Cora to cheer and advise her for her own journey to come. And to have a few words taken to Rivendell on his behalf.

"I see that my old sword is in good hands. When you get back, have a word with the elf smith Damron, to see if he has time to adjust the handle somewhat. You have slimmer hands than me, and something might be done to make the sword smoother to swing still.

Take care through those Bogs: though doubtless Ahmo has a way round! And look out for any more signs of the Road the Enemy has been setting up.

Rolls

Travel - (1d12+4d6)

(10) + (6246) = 28

Cora

Dunheved

Jul 10, 2025 9:52 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

She feels he is fussing somewhat. Being selected by Ahmo to assist getting the Report to Elrond seems praise indeed.

She wishes to get away now as quietly as possible: but as Oderic turns away to join Jot, Aeglief and Larsi, she realises that she will miss being able to ask him anything - he doesn't seem so Stern or Lordly as the others, and so he is more approachable. (Again throw in a Courage point to Pass this.)

Rolls

Stealth - (1d12+3d6)

(8) + (112) = 12

Jot Walker

valentbr

Jul 10, 2025 4:02 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

OOC:

Jot needs to do the second Valour check TN 18,
and Jot needs to roll for the Wisdom check TN 18

Jot gathers the company quietly as they finish breaking camp, his voice low and steady.

"We’ve learned what we needed to here," he says, scanning the faces around him. "The goblins will be drilling tonight. They’re still untested, but we have no reason to risk a fight or any action that might alert them."

He pauses, emphasizing the next words.

"Our best chance is to slip away now—silent and unseen. No fires, no noise, no signs that we were here. If they suspect nothing, we keep the advantage."

Jot meets each gaze with calm certainty.

"We return to Rivendell as quickly as we can, warn them, and prepare for what’s coming. Any other move now only puts us in danger."

He shoulders his pack, ready to lead.

"Let’s leave this place behind—without a trace."

OOC:

not even sure a pt of hope can save these. Advice?

Fortunately, other PC s rolled 6s when they passed, allowing one extra d6 for the second Valour test. That is bound to be a pass then, as you are only 1 short. So XP for that, and no cowering, due to the stalwart efforts/examples of those around Jot.

However, like Cora, it seems the Corruption test is fail, Jot still gains 1XP for the experience of once more confronting the great evil scheme, but 3 Shadow for realising how bad this could be/how vulnerable Eriador is to a threat of this magnitude.

Last edited July 10, 2025 4:03 pm

Rolls

Wisdom - (1d12+3d6)

(11) + (254) = 22

Valor - (1d12+3d6)

(11) + (566) = 28

Stealth - (1d12+3d6)

(5) + (135) = 14

lazycat1984

Jul 10, 2025 5:43 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

(Jot is coming with Ahmo and Cora? Are Oderic, Aeglief and Larsi going to look for he Hillmen? )
Clarification please.

AFAIK he had the choice about which course is best to take. He can elect to join Larsi & Co and use what skills and Lore he has to encounter the Hillmen and warn them of the attack on their settlements OR he can have the opinion that the message of Laicamiril and Cora is too important to trust to just them, and so go with them straight back to Rivendell.

valentbr

Jul 10, 2025 5:57 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

lazycat1984 says:

(Jot is coming with Ahmo and Cora? Are Oderic, Aeglief and Larsi going to look for he Hillmen? )
Clarification please.

OOC:

Can we warn hillmrn on way to Rivendell? Ie. don’t split up

Dunheved

Jul 10, 2025 7:44 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Jot asks Ahmo to consider the time taken and the paths available to them:

Once clear of the goblin war camp and several hours away from Mount Gram, the Company stop to organise themselves and their kit for the next move.

It appears that as they walked through the dark into the coming dawn, Jot has been musing further!

As they pack and eat, Jot expresses some of his questions: Addressing Ahmo and Larsi principally, he agrees that if she & Cora go straight to Elrond, they will obviously be travelling quicker than when they came northwards, because for one thing they will not need to track the path of the spies who were scouting a road to Rivendell. And they have at least a day's start, whichever route is taken.

Jot asks Ahmo her opinion: it is shorter to go to the Hillmen canyons than to the maze of defences on the northern borders of the Hidden Valley - is it only half the distance or so?

He also points out that in fact, so far the goblins have only reached the start of Elrond's maze: they have not mapped a way through: else the goblins would be marching! And for sure, that Vile Lord would have boasted he knew the way in already too.
In fact, this lack of certainty may be the actual prompt for the goblins tackling the Hillmen - a practice attack or rehearsal for the ways to assault Rivendell after they find it?

In short, Jot wants Ahmo to imagine if it is of no consequence to her aim of warning Imladris if they all tried to persuade the Hillmen of the better course. "If we could determine how successful the goblin move into this area is likely to be, it can only offer Lord Elrond better information of how to react and what will be best."

Jot is careful to see how this idea sounded to Larsi and to the Silvan elf, Aeglief. He looks at them too.

Distances to consider (assume 15 miles per night goblin army marching: and at least 20 miles per day for the PCs if they just march)

1. Mount Gram to the escarpment ramp built by the trolls, close to 100 miles, almost directly due south-east. (And they will be some 20 + miles due south of the bog soldiers swamp)
2. Mount Gram direct to the Canyons is about 150 to 175 miles, the first 80 miles is common ground as the journey to the escarpment ramp. Then its more directly east and a little south.
3A. From the escapment, going due south, to the head of Elronds mazes - a more vague distance, as it is not simply one direction. At least 80 miles.
3B. From the Hillmen Canyons to a similar point near Elronds mazes it is a little less, being shorter than 80 miles (but not a lot shorter)

PLAYERS can decide how much their PC might know of these distances and directions. Cora and Oderic - not a bit!
Laicamiril has a much stronger case for being quite familiar with the regionfrom her participation in the wars against Angmar; and Jot of course may have the best case if he ever adventured this way. Larsi is unlikely to have traded up here, and Aeglief ... is free to narrate what she likes.
If Players want to try a Lore roll, they can.

Larsi

rrw360

Jul 10, 2025 10:05 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Larsi waits and walks quietly, for he knew little of paths, secret or not, through the shaws beyond what he had walked, and even having come to the Hidden Vale several times, it seemed to only be when led by the Elves.

Instead, his mind focussed on more solid work of stone on stone and words upon words. Convincing would not be enough, they would need to hold the mountain village against the goblins, or else nothing would matter. He put his mind to Stoneyford, to the defense and battle that happened there. He took a breath, remembering his fight with Valter. He did noy relish fighting the man, beyond freeing Oderic from his sway, but he had no such qualms against hewing goblin necks, or even the foul distant kin of Jot's.

OOC:

Is fighting in canyons similar to fighting in tunnels? If so then his experiences would be really useful.

lazycat1984

Jul 11, 2025 3:57 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

OOC:

got a lore roll so would have a good guess if it's quicker to get to the vale the hill people occupy than to Rivendell. This seems a bit like one of those 'DM really wants you to turn over this rock" hints

Jot Walker

valentbr

Jul 12, 2025 1:36 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Jot crouched over a rough patch of dirt, dragging a charcoal-blackened stick to sketch the terrain. The others gathered close, watching as he marked out key points — Mount Gram, the escarpment ramp, the canyons, and the edge of Elrond’s lands.

He stood and brushed his hands clean.

"We make better time together," he began, voice steady and low, "and for the first leg of the journey, our paths are the same."

He pointed at the line south-east from Mount Gram.

"From here to the escarpment ramp is just shy of a hundred miles — southeast, along the high ridges. That’s solid country, if we move carefully. Trolls built a path through it; they’re not clever, but they clear a road when forced to. We follow that."

Then, he traced two diverging lines.

"Once we reach the ramp, we split. One group continues due south. That’s another 80 miles or more through broken country to reach the head of Elrond’s mazes. It’s slow going — no clear trails, and the paths twist."

He tapped the second route.

"The rest break east and a little south — toward the canyons. It’s a longer route, 150 to 175 miles all told, but after the first 80 miles it curves toward the Hillmen’s lands. From there, it’s a shorter push to the same northern edge of Elrond’s territory."

He let that settle a moment before continuing.

"But here’s the point — if we go together for that first 80 miles, we stay strong, hard to track. No one walks alone through the dark behind us. Then we split. Two routes, two paths to the same end."

He marked a circle at a place where both routes would come near Elrond’s northern reaches — close to the hill-town known to trade with the Elves.

"We regroup here, just north of the Hillmen town. Nearest place to Imladris where we can be seen openly without giving our game away. If all goes well, we’re in Elrond’s borders by dusk the next day."

He looked around the group.

"No detours, no heroics. We’ve seen enough. Our work now is to bring what we know back safely — and unseen."

Jot straightened, voice iron-quiet.

"Agreed?"

Last edited July 12, 2025 1:40 am

Rolls

Lore - (1d12+3d6)

(5) + (163) = 15

Oderic, the Apothecary (Kinslayer)

Dunheved

Jul 12, 2025 7:52 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

He stares as hard as he can at the Ranger's sketch in the ground: keen to commit it to memory.

He does not hold that he knows enough of these lands to add anything nor to question Jot's proposed routes. Like the Ranger he is not comfortable with the splitting of their party (though that could have more to do with Cora being in the other group!), yet there are definite advantages to doing both courses of action: and time was pressing on them for both objectives.

That Ahmo would go alone to Imladris first, if she had to, is certain. He can recognise a set mind when he sees one! And having Cora go their would benefit her too - that Vile Leader seems to have shaken her up.

But he does not wish to abandon the Hillmen to being annexed and forced into an Evil Purpose (or destroyed). He knows it is the right thing to do to warn them and give them a Chance.

Unbidden, he recalls the final moments of Atawulf; their friend and comrade who gave his life to protect the elf lady Irime. Atawulf was one who did what was necessary - and with a grin and a loud battlecry on his lips too.

"You know, Jot. Atawulf would have had a Song for a moment such as this. "

Oderic hums one of Atawulf's favourites, a drinking song with a story of a jolly Hunter pursuing a bear that turned into a brown-haired woman of great beauty. Not a surprising tale from a Beorning!

Rolls

Song - (1d12+3d6)

(3) + (144) = 12

Cora

Dunheved

Jul 12, 2025 8:12 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Her only questions are to do with the times involved. Jot again gives his best guess here as an answer. It is telling that the seasoned traveller, Larsi nods along with the Ranger's estimates.

Given fair weather and an even share of luck, it will therefore be 3 days and nights travel together; they would reach the splitting point on the fourth day. Another four days, but more like five or six would get Oderic and the others to the Hillmen it seems, while she and Ahmo might get to the edge of the elven lands in three or four days too - but such is the nature of the ground after they climb the escarpment with the troll- built ramp on it, that the journey could easily be twice as long.

Coming back from Imladris to the rendezvous at the village termed Crannach Brog by Jot? That depended on how long they took in Rivendell, and whether Elrond permitted them to return. But that village was a fair way south of the Hillman Canyons, sixty miles or so. Another three days most like.

Oderic, the Apothecary (Kinslayer)

Dunheved

Jul 12, 2025 8:16 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

As he listens to Jot answering Coras question about timings...

His group would reach the Hillmen in seven to ten days time. The goblin army would need about twelve nights marching, adding on some more time to get through their training period... they might have as little as three days to work with the Hillmen; or as much as a week: but no more can be expected.

And reinforcements from Rivendell might only arrive three days after the goblins reach the area.

How might the goblins be delayed?

Laicamiril "Ahmo"

lazycat1984

Jul 12, 2025 1:20 pm

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Let's be about it, then, she said, strapping on her ruck.

Cora

Dunheved

Jul 14, 2025 4:24 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Cora is ready to move, her few things were packed and organised while they were eating before they had their debate.

She cuts a slight figure next to the imposing elf woman. Her face is set, with a determined look: yet to Oderic he thinks he can see the tension that the responsibility of being a messenger - and with such an important message - creates.

Just before they set off he quietly approaches her and passes her a thin line of leather cord with a single pale blue stone threaded on it.

"This is a Bluestone, that a friend of mine gave me a little while back. She says that the militia of Archet, a village outside Bree, wear as a good luck token when out travelling in the Wild.
It makes me think of her and her partner, Ageric: and all the advice they ever gave me comes to mind.

Take it and wear it now, and it too can help you remember that your friends will have you in their thoughts.
Look after it, and you can carry it back to me after you have achieved your task."

Cora is somewhat surprised and very proud to receive such a gift: Oderic has not removed it before in all the time she has known him.

Dunheved

Jul 14, 2025 6:02 am

ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Please add any pre-journey posts here, then the travels can begin in Chapter 3!

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