ROTN: Chapter 2. Mount Gram

Waiting until the rays of the sun have no more yellow in their colour, and the western sky is a hot orange red glow, the Company follow Jots cautious steps forward: seeing broken ground ascending slightly as they wend their way to the eastern side of the main mountain mass.

Still a good mile to cover across this ground before they start climbing upwards, and at the pace they are moving it will be half an hour or more to reach the foothills that are the edge of Mount Gram. The sun will be almost gone by then, and proper twilight all around.

Creeping carefully, and staying broadly in the shadows of the sides of these gullies and dips helps then go a long way. Sometimes Jot makes a mild hiss and sinks to the ground: by agreement, none look up - if Jot has picked up on the approach of any bird, their upturned pale faces - even under their hoods - would be an easy spot. The breeze from the west carries any scent over to their right, away from Mount Gram.

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Lets try a Stealth or a Travel roll each TN14.
Btw: close to the time we moved from TK to GP, we had a Fellowship phase where all of us picked up a Luminescent elf Dagger. They will give us some warning if goblins are "nearby" - by nearby we can assume within bowshot?

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The Company move carefully: Unsurprisingly, those with the most experience find it the most straightforward to glide over the terrain. The advantage of moving in the dim light is something that the Rangers exploit regularly when avoiding unnecessary notice.

In this forsaken place, there are very few animals other than those spiteful quarrelsome birds: even the smallest mammals are not to be found living within walking distance of the mountain - rats in particular, being a common goblin delicacy, will not be anywhere nearby. Jot is confident that not even frogs or small snakes will be able to survive in this environment; if such ever did, the birds or the goblins would notice their nests soon enough to catch them.

Insects there are aplenty however: some feed on the scant rotting vegetation, while others feed off them. A few are around that can exist on goblin blood, but tolerating such a diet (fortunately) makes the blood of others totally unattractive.

As the night finally comes in, Jot moves around to make physical contact with all the others: he gathers them again into a patch of ground he has chosen.

It is time to halt forward progress and to simply lie still and watch. For Goblins, orcs and trolls the "day" has begun. Their routinue activities will start up, patrols and the like will be made.

In the middle-late period of the night, the moon will veer into the sky and re - illuminate the area until dawn.
It is Jot's view that they should observe for an hour or so and then retreat before that happens, or act on their observations.

The success of their stealthy approach will mean that the guardians of Mount Gram are not aware of these spies so close to the base of operarions.

As such, only typical goblin movements will begin as twilight settles into night. They will take no especial care while moving around, and will not increase nor curtail other routine behaviour.

The Observers will find that the difficulty to see what is going on is not challenging (TN 12)

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Use Hunting, Explore and Awareness to notice what is going on.

At the very least they will see red glows emittted from within the mountain as gates or doors are opened whenever some of its "citizens" enter or return.

After an hour, or a little more , there is a loud brash call of several trumpets or horns from the mountain. It comes from the western side, and the Company are some way around to the south and the east of this action.

Harsh singing and shouting follow and the tramp of many feet.

Fascinated by this new event, it is hard not to creep up the western side of the gully to peer cautiously over the lip and look away to the area where all the hullaballoo is coming from - is it an attack?




The extra glow of yellow-orange torches carried by more than a hundred goblins is spread over the side of the mountain. Already several lines of goblins are assembling at the western foot of Gram; and a long line is descending to join them.

There are not simply goblins here though: several of the torches are held aloft by beings the size of Men; and shadows of (very few) mounts can be seen as they cross in front of some of these torches, carrying officers or commanders around the space. Figures on the horses point and seem to be shouting: issuing orders to the line of descending goblins and men.

And Trolls. Even at this distance, and in this light, anyone can see the trolls. Jot silently counts six. Oderic is less sure; reaching seven, then possibly eight as they move in and out of different pools of torchlight.

The spectacle continues, and it soon becomes most likely that the Company are looking at a parade or assembly for some purpose.
Suddenly the orders and the mounted figures seem to get frantic: rushing around and ordering the lines into straight ranks and - for goblins - truly impressive discipline.

From above there is a sharp call of horns; and the lines start to rapidly settle down into a quieter and stiller anticipation.
The horn call is replaced by the beat of what must be a very large drum.

Douf. Douf-douf.

Douf. Douf-douf.

A line of green lanterns on poles appears, illuminating the path down the mountain. The reduced noise down below freezes into motionless silence.


The Observers at the edge of the dark gully can sense the terror in the ranks. The minds of all those waiting minions of the Shadow seem to be all thinking.... "HE IS COMING.."

A sense of Dread begins to slide up the spines of the members of the Company. And it intensifies as the sounds of heavy horseshoes echo across the extreme silence that has descended...

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FIRST Dread (Fear) Test: since this is only at the start of the proceedings - and the company cannot yet even see what is coming - this Test is a Valour Test set at TN 16. Failure at this test will mean that a PC cannot spend Hope to assist any future Fear(Valour) test while this scene progresses.

Any PC who fails with an Eye result must retreat down into the gully and can no longer bear to watch what is happening.
Any PC who passes and rolls a '6' can permit a re-roll of a single 1d6 for any Pc who fails this first test.
Any PC who passes with a Gandalf can permit another Player to re-roll their Feat die (d12)

v

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she has also rolled one '6'. Her example here will inspire any such waverer, just a little. If any subsequent PC fails, ONE of the d6 Success dice can be re-rolled if it might lead to a Pass.

valor 18

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v

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At least she didn't hide though!

1XP for passing the first test.

If hope spent on second test to pass, then another 1XP, else nothing.
In fact we could offer you a Fellowship Pool point to get the Pass, which would then create a spare '6' for Aeglief/Jot/Larsi to use when they test for the Second Valour test.

Failure at the Corruption test is 1XP but 3 Shadow points.

total 4XP and 1 shadow

And now the Leader speaks their plans to his army. It is a terrifying speech to hear - being delivered in the Black Speech of the Shadow, most of the semi-hidden listeners have no concept of its actual phrasing: yet even so it disturbs the mind (Wisdom Check) raising visions unbidden of nightmares or of despair.

The vast majority of the listening army seems unable to react: however, it is noticeable that a few of the very largest Uruks - standing as commanders or leaders in front of their units understand every word. The effect is electrifying on them, they drool and slaver, they stamp their feet and clash scimitar or spear on shield. On two occasions, they are so agitated they spin around and "accidentally" decapitate one of their own orcs!

However, the vast majority of the rank & file, orcs and goblins of Mount Gram, or some of the other northern tribes: these troops simply do not speak this tongue.

Incredibly, part way through, the Dread Leader switches to the Common Tongue, and seems to repeat his plan or orders.

Now the listeners in the gully can pick up and learn his Purpose !!

All the while in this speech there is the repeating commentary that "The North will burst forth and Reconquer what was lost. "
Every time this slogan is repeated, the assembled goblins - as if a cue were given - stamp and cheer. It soon becomes apparent to all the Company that this is a message that has been circulating for some time with these minions.

These goblins are being given a Grand Plan. Tonight is a last rehearsal: a practice assembly before the first move in a series of steps to create a strong and united base further south. The goblin horde needs to get into marching order, and move off. This will be practised tonight before returning to the barrack-dungeons under Mt Gram before the Sun rises. The Horde will make one circuit of the mountain and reassemble here again.

But tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, they set off to the First Objective. The army will march south and east, closing into the foothills of the Misty Mountains. It seems there is an enclave of five Hillman tribes in two great canyons that back into the main mountains. In days long gone, these Hillmen fought Arthedain and Cardolan; but nigh on a thousand years since the Witch King was banished by the Elves of the Sea, these tribes now fight among themselves, and also attack any outsiders. Even the goblins are despised by these savage and unruly Men.
The First objective is to either overwhelm these descendants of Rhudaur Hillmen; or to get them to join the Dread Army of the North. They will be promised that they will be given the Kingdom of Rhudaur, resurrected and allied (i.e. vassal to) the new Kingdom of the North.

The Second Objective is straightforward: The rest of the year will then be set aside to build a new fortress in the same canyons; where recruits of further orcs - and trolls - from the Misty Mountains will swell the army anew.


After the thaw, but still in Spring, the goblin horde will sweep down south once more; to find the concealed cess pit that the Accursed elves, with their tark allies, inhabit. The Dread Leader nods as he declares that "a great path" is being prepared to make this invasion southwards fully possible to an Army, and to get close to the elves very quickly!

When this Third Objective is realised, the High Pass of the mountains will be closed forever to the foes of the Dark Lord. And new forces will arrive from the strongholds of Mirkwood. Up the Anduin and over the Pass.
New armies will be concentrated together then to clear all Eriador finally.

And with this comment the Leader lowers his voice and forces a cackle "As a particular Reward to the Fighting Forces of Gram - the halflings will all become your property - every goblin will have a peasant slave!"

The Fourth and Final Objective will be to push the elves into the cursed Sea, and then march along the coast, removing all folk who oppose the new rule. When that is done all of the North will be clear of the elves. The newly reinstated Hillmen of Rhudaur will then be the Kings of Men, to rule the North as vassals of the Orcs and their leaders. The dwarves will be subject to the orcs; and the halflings will be slaves or food!

use all necessary hope/
to not look like a dope

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So that's a total of 4XP and 1 shadow point for her at the cost of 1 Hope (and that Fellowship point, which was free)

The company have heard the plan given to the goblins.

They know that tonight will be a rehearsal to train the Mount Gram horde into some sort of marching arrangement. It may not be the only night spent doing this of course, but they do have at least one day's start on the goblins.

They know (approximately) where the goblin horde will go, and what it will be doing. There is a location where the Dark Leader has decided is the best place to launch a close assault on Rivendell from. It is inhabited by some Hillmen, and these have to be either neutralised or absorbed into his army.

What they have not considered is what to do with the time they have got...

Everyone can hear gears grinding as she thinks back to a map she transcribed of this area. There were some habitations tucked into the vales east of Gram. All she remembered was the mountain folk mistrusted any and all strangers.
"They've no love of orcs, but who knows what change of heart a chest of silver and promises of rapine and plunder could bring about.?"


And she adds that from Mount Gram, the canyons are to be found very close to a mountain with a double peak, the Southern peak standing above the Northern: called the "Father and Son Spears" if she remembers correctly.

All that is now needed is for the Company to depart unseen during the remainder of the night; and while the goblins begin their maneuvers.

Apply another Travel or Stealth roll to get away. Applicable traits may be narrated to apply.

(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.

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.

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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.

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