First session (Edited) (includes character descriptions)

Here's our first session. It includes character descriptions, and some rules examples used in play, so reading through it would be a good idea all together. If we want to keep going with this campaign, I'll start another post to continue the story in.

DM Raven: Our story begins in the evening, on a stormy night in the Prancing pony. Lightning flashes in the windows and thunder roll in the distance, but the laughter and music of the inn, as well as a hearty fire and a pint to drink, keep the setting merry. Rhymen Butterbur and his cook, Aine Sandheaver, are busy providing food and drink for a larger than average crowd. A thick mutton stew bubbles in the kitchen and it's aroma mingles with that that of pipe smoke in the common room.

In said common room is a bit of an odd sight - a Hobbit, in his middle years, wearing chain armor and a sword at his side, has set about cooking his own food, using the common room's fireplace and a black kettle oven buried in the coals. He removes the green feathered hat he's wearing - a symbol identifying him as a Bounder to Hobbits and those in the know - and wipes the sweat from his brow while waiting for his food to cook.

(Please describe your characters and where in the Prancing Pony they might currently be sitting. Yes we really are starting in a bar Like all good RPGs do.)

Malimac: Malimac (a Hobbit himself) sits quietly by himself, as close to the fire and yet far from the loud groups of people as possible. He cups a mug of warm milk between his hands. The place is a bit crowded and loud for him at the moment, but The Prancing Pony is definitely the best place to stay in town. He notices the armored Hobbit and watches him curiously, but he keeps his distance. The firelight flickers in his blue eyes, and he brushes some light brown curls out of his eyes. He doesn't think he'll stay in the common room much longer.

The fact that he came from the Shire is clear to any Bree Hobbit, based on his clothing style and accent and wariness of the Big Folk. He is clearly a more well-to-do Hobbit as well, and his long, fine fingers are slightly stained with ink.

Dinenithil: At the bar itself, stands a tall figure still wearing his cloak and hood. It doesn't seem as though he means to hide himself, but more that it is a symbol of his desire to be separated, to be left alone. He is fair skinned, silver haired, though he does not seem old. In fact he seems unearthly young, strikingly beautiful. Only close scrutiny betrays his pointed ears, the style of his clothing the craftsmanship of his bow. All tell of an elf. His garb is mostly earth tones, dark greens, browns and blues. At his belt are a pair of scimitars. His eyes are blue-tinted grey, and they contradict his youthful look. They contain the wisdom and years of one who has seen much, learned much and suffered much.

DM Raven: Most of the patrons keep their distance from Dinenithil, and even Butterbur is wary of speaking to long to him, for fear of offending the Elf. He refers to him as M'lord, and the like when he speaks to him and tries not to look directly at him.

It is VERY rare to have an elf anywhere near a human or hobbit settlement.

Malimac: (all the more reason to treat him with deference)

DM Raven: The Hobbit by the fire looks up at Malimac and smiles pointing to the oven in the fire.

Toffer: "My mothers recipe" he says. "No slight intended to our host, but I've been looking forward to this since I set out for Bree."

Malimac: Malimac nods. "I completely understand. What is it?"

DM Raven: Toffer: "Rabbit stew. With taters "

Dinenithil: (How precious.)

DM Raven: Toffer: "And a fair amount of pepper." He nods sagely. "I'm Toffer by the way. Toffer
Brandybuck. You're from the shire aren't you?"

Malimac: "Sounds delicious." Malimac smiles. "I am indeed." He stands and bows. "Malimac Brandybuck, at your service."

DM Raven: Toffer: "Ah! Kin! Well, I didn't think you looked like a Bree halfling. If you'd like you're welcome to some of my stew. Can't say no to kin."

Malimac: Malimac walks over to him and stands beside him. "That is very kind of you, thank you. I would love to try it. Can't say no to a good meal, if you know what I mean. And if it's from kin, then all the more!"

DM Raven: Toffer: "Course not, especially while traveling. Why I only had two breakfasts this morning because I was in a hurry to get into town."

Malimac: "Only two?!" Malimac cries incredulously. "Well, I guess it's bound to happen now and then. As long as it doesn't become a habit."

DM Raven: Toffer: "I fear the longer I travel the more common it'll become. I may, horror of horrors, eventually get used to eating only three or four times a day."

Malimac: Malimac's eyes widen. "You'll become as thin as a rail if you do that!"

DM Raven: He (Toffer) pulls two tin cups out of backpack set by the fire and uses a ladle to fill each with the strew.

Toffer: "Or as fit as a man, which is more what I am hoping."

Dinenithil: The elf at the bar, a small glass of untouched wine in his hand allows his eyes to stray to the two hobbits. Curiosity leading him after a stir of something else at the sight of a pair of previously unknown soles striking up a conversation, even comradary so quickly, merely at the mention of a surname. A small smile spreads across his face and his eyes return to his wine. Reputed by the owner to be the 'best in the house' but by standards set by better wine makers... well, he thought the smell might be more then enough of a sampling. All the same, he takes a sip, not wanting to seem rude - And his suspicions are confirmed.

Malimac: "You just make sure you take care of yourself." Malimac takes a deep whiff of the stew. "Mmmmm!"

DM Raven: He (Toffer) laughs

Toffer: "I seem to have gotten it into my head, after hearing some of the reports, that I can go off on adventures like a mad Baggins."

He suddenly stops and side-eyes Malimac.

Toffer: "Oh... uh... my apologies. I forgot myself for a bit. Not being a bounder yourself, you likely haven't hear the reports, and I'm not supposed to be spreading them around. Could cause a panic or something."

Malimac: He chuckles but tilts his head. "What reports? I promise not to tell anyone. You can't tease my curiosity like that."

Dinenithil: The elf keeps his eyes on his wine but his ears follow more keenly on the hobbits, tuning out the rest of the humdrum conversations. The name Baggins is not unknown in his home forest and the mention of reports of a secret nature, that may cause panic, intrigue him.

DM Raven: He mutters something into his mug, then looks over the rim at Malimac and sighs.

Toffer: "There's... been sightings of orcs in the shire... Up north near the Greenfields... Orcs! In the shire!"

Malimac: Malimac feels his blood run cold. "P-pardon me?" he sputters, sure he must have heard wrong.

Dinenithil: (Would Dinenithil have heard of such rumours as he travelled?)

DM Raven: (He might not know orcs were in the shire, but it wouldn't be a suprise either. Only the Shirefolk and Breelanders try to pretend the darkness isn't coming. Pretty much everyone else in the world, from Elves to Dwarves have figured it out by this point.)

Toffer: "The bounders chased them off, but you can be sure more will come. Something's going on in this world. And it's starting to creep even into the shire. That's why I left. I must know what this nameless fear is that seems to exist beyond the warmth of the hearth."
He looks somewhat guilty now.

Toffer: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the evening with talk of darkness. I doubt we've anything to worry about tonight, and the stew and fire do the heart good."

Malimac: Malimac appears in complete shock. "In the Shire...IN the Shire..." He shakes his head, his eyes wide and staring into the fire. "This is really not good..." He shakes himself then leans in closer to Toffer, lowering his voice. "What is being done?"

Dinenithil: The elf suddenly looks at the door as if he can hear something. His mind wanders to old battles in Mirkwood and he puts down his wine. He continues to stare, weighing several weighty possibilities in his mind, swayed by that same feeling that apparently drew him all the way to the edge of land mostly untrodden by Elven feet, and certainly not his own.

DM Raven: He scoffs.

Toffer: "Nothing. The bounders are playing it off as a random event. They don't even want to tell anyone for fear of ruining their supper. "We're to keep the peace and QUIET" I was told. Well. I couldn't stand for that. I'm a bounder! I protect the shire! I can't pretend there isn't something wrong in the world that's starting to reach us too."

Malimac: "Nothing?!" Malimac shakes his head again, this time in disgust. "This could be worse than the wolves of that terrible winter long ago. We have some hardy folk. Have any of the Tooks been approached for help?"

Dinenithil: The elf turns to watch the two hobbits openly now. The small smile plays across his face once more. He admires the courage, from one that might be seen as weak by others. But Dinenithil knows better then to judge by size.

DM Raven: Toffer: "Paladin knows. He's the one who issued the order not to tell anyone else. And when the Thain speaks, the bounders listen. That's how it works."

Malimac: "He does, does he?" Malimac's face becomes unreadable.

Dinenithil: (Sorry to break stride... er, but what is Elven-Sense (Sense power spell)?)

Malimac: He seems lost in thought.

DM Raven: (Means you can use the sense power spell as a racial ability. Basically it's detect magic. And you can use it at will. Even subtle magic will show up to it, such as another Elf.)

Malimac: "I must speak with him..." he mutters. He looks at Toffer again. "Is there any other help from...well..." He shifts his eyes to indicate the big people. "At least from outside the borders. I wouldn't want them in the borders of the Shire."

DM Raven: Toffer: "Well then you're in the wrong place. He's well back in the Shire. Besides, he's made up his mind."

Malimac: "Oh, I know where he is. He's my second cousin once removed, and I've spent some time with his son. I don't know if he would listen to me, though."

DM Raven: Toffer: "Outside the Shire is exactly where I think I can help. If I'm not allowed to do anything inside the shire, then I'll find out where the darkness is coming from and march right up to it's front door and use the knocker if I have to."

Dinenithil: The Elf's eyes sweep the room, sensing the near vicinity before he continues watching the hobbits.

Malimac: Malimac's eyes widen even further. "You would do that?" he utters in a harsh whisper.

DM Raven: Toffer: "Well, I would certainly hope it won't come to that. I'm not sure what good a single Hobbit can do against whatever is causing trouble for all of Middle Earth."

Malimac: "No, what can we do? We're just a little people, best left to ourselves. Why do they have to bother us? What business could they possibly have with the Shire? What could we possibly have that they would want?"

DM Raven: Toffer: "Wish I knew. If they wanted some of my stew all they would have to do is ask. I'm happy to share."

Malimac: Malimac smiles. "I don't think evil that that easily mollified."

DM Raven: Toffer: "Shame. Things would be easier if problems could be solved over a hearty meal."

Malimac: "Agreed!" He eats the stew that Toffer dished up. "This is wonderful." He ponders something for a moment, then speaks, "I...I don't really have much to offer, but I can't sit by and ignore it or let it happen. I will do what I can to help. Just tell me what I need to do."

DM Raven: Toffer smiles. He looks like he's about to say something when he's suddenly interrupted. The front door of the Inn suddenly slams open in time with a crash of thunder, and there in the door way, lit from behind by the lightning, is a Hobbit, soaked through. He quickly runs into the room near the fireplace and leaps onto the table Malimac was just sitting at.

Hobbit: "There's been a kidnapping!" he screams franticly, and then he promptly faints with a thud on the table.

Toffer: "... well... this night is certainly getting interesting."

Malimac: Malimac stares at the fainted Hobbit.

Dinenithil: The elf moves forward to check the hobbit, to be sure he isn't injured.

DM Raven: He's not, he apparently just faited.

Toffer: *jumps slightly when Dinenithil walks up* "Well what do you know. An Elf too. This night is getting very interesting." He also examines the Hobbit. "Should we perhaps wake him?"

Malimac: Malimac moves to help the fainted Hobbit. "I think we could use some water."

DM Raven: The rest of the patrons all move a few steps away from the strange hobbits and the Elf they're with.

DM Raven: Toffer: "Right you are! I'll go get some."

He runs into the kitchen and returns with a bucket of water with a drinking dipper in it.

Dinenithil: Dinenithil looks up as Toffer speak and takes a step back, watching. In a fair, mid range voice he utters; "A splash of water may do the trick, though I think we ought to give... yes, give him plenty of room." He notices the patrons unease and tilts his head curriously.

DM Raven: Toffer: "I could use some myself after that stew." He takes a drink for himself first, then splashes a dipper into the faited Hobbit's face.

Hobbit: "*sputters* What!? What!? *looks at Dinenithil* Oh by Arda I've died and gone to Valinor." He looks around. "Valinor looks oddly like the Prancing Pony."

Malimac: "You are in the Prancing Pony."

Dinenithil: The elf smiles. "And certainly not dead."

DM Raven: Hobbit: "Oh... well that would explain why it looks like it now wouldn't it!"

Toffer: "Sounds logical to me."

Dinenithil: "Perhaps a little wetter then when you came in."

Malimac: "What has happened?"

Dinenithil: (Someone set us up the Nazgul. We get scroll message.)

DM Raven: Hobbit: He looks down at his drenched clothing. "I don't think that's possible my friend. If it were raining any more than it currently is, I dare say I would have had to row here in a boat - and I'm no Took. You won't see me getting into a boat, not sober anyway."

Dinenithil: (Main fire place lit up.)

DM Raven: Hobbit: "My name is Dustor Proudfoot. I went to visit my cousin to discuss a spot of business we had, and I found his door wide open letting in all the rain! And worse yet, his house was in total disarray. I must say I am most put out by this. I was rather fond of my cousin, even if he is my cousin on my mother's side. And he makes the best tea cakes, which I was very much looking forward to."

Malimac: "Where does your cousin live?"

DM Raven: Toffer: "I imagine your cousin is more put out by being kidnapped than you are of missing a meal."

Dustor: "Too true I imagine, but both are valid reasons to go looking for him! I'll offer anyone 15 Silver pieces to find my cousin!"

He yells that last part into the room and a couple of people actually raise eyebrows. 15 silver pieces is a LOT of money for common folk. A horse only costs a single silver piece normally.

Malimac: "Where does your cousin live?" Malimac repeats. "Can you take us to his house?"

Dinenithil: Dinenithil clears his throat, quietly.

DM Raven: Dustor: "He lives up the hill, in the Hobbit section of the city. They have some very nice holes up there actually. Not as good as some of the finer ones in the shire really but -"

Toffer slaps Dustor.

Dustor: "Oh... uh... yes! Yes I can take you there. Will you help me find him then?"

Dinenithil: "Please forgive my interuption. Would you be opposed to my aiding in this investigation, Mr Proudfoot?"

DM Raven: Dustor: "Not at all! Like I said I can pay anyone handsomly for the help."

Dinenithil: "That is generous, but unessesary. Thank you."

Malimac: Malimac looks to Toffer. "Should we go now?"

Dinenithil: "I would suggest you rest a moment before we set off, but my thought is that time is of the essence. Perhaps a fortifying drink?"

DM Raven: Toffer: "I need no money, as a bounder this sort of thing is my job. And he needs no fortifying drink, just a cup of Hobbit stew!" He fills a cup for Dustor and hands it to him. "This will warm you gentlehobbit."

Dustor: "Ohhhh" He takes it, his eyes wide.

Toffer: "I shall leave the rest here under some coals to keep it piping hot. We may be in need of some later if we are going out in this rain. Soon as he's done with his stew we can be off."

Dustor: "Well we can be off then because I am indeed finished." He hands the empty cup to Toffer.

DM Raven: Anyone need anything else before you guys set out?

Malimac: Malimac nods. "I just need to get my cloak. I will only be a moment." He disappears to his room.

Malimac: Malimac comes back. "Ready."

Dinenithil: "Perhaps I ought to introcude myself. Dinenithil, of Mirkwood." He inclines his head.

Malimac: Malimac bows. "Malimac Brandybuck of the Shire."

DM Raven: Toffer: "Toffer Brandybuck, bounder of the Shire, at your service."

Malimac: He looks at the Elf with shiney eyes. "You're really from Mirkwood?"

Dinenithil: "I am. And may I say you are the first hobbits I've ever had the pleasure of meeting so close to your homelands."

Malimac: "If I may ask, what brings you out this far?" he asks as they move for the door.

DM Raven: Malimac, roll a Renown test for the Proudfoots. Not Dinenithil, it's unlikely he's heard of them. Roll 2d6+1.

Dinenithil: "Personal reasons. Forgive my rudeness, but for the moment, I have no means to answer properly."

Malimac: (8)

Malimac: Malimac nods. "I understand."

DM Raven: You think you've heard of Dustor and his cousin. Weldon Proudfoot, if you're remembering correctly. Weldon is a wealthy dye merchant, who also fancies himself a treasure hunter and often ventures into the Barrow Downs. A very unnatural thing for a Hobbit.

Malimac: (Indeed.)"What is your cousin's name, Dustor? I think I recognize your name."

DM Raven: Dustor: "Weldon! You very probably have heard of him, he travels a lot. And a lot of people, especially other Hobbits, talk about him a lot... he's a little eccentric."

Malimac: Malimac smiles. "Not the only one. He does do some crazy things, though. Doesn't he sometimes travel to the Barrow Downs?"

DM Raven: Dustor: "Sadly yes. I keep telling him it's dangerous in the downs, but he insists that's nothing but stuff and nonsense."

Malimac: "I wouldn't go there on purpose, that's for sure."

Dinenithil: Dinenithil waits quietly, looking politely interested.

DM Raven: Dustor leads the three of you up through the winding and sloping streets of Bree in the rain till you reach the Hobbit section of the city. A number of grassy but mostly treeless hills are grouped together and made as much out of gathered cobblestones as they are dirt. Set into each hill is a round wooden door with a knob directly in the middle. You pass through most of the Hobbit section, and near the back of it, where some of the hills look of nicer make, you come to a stop in front of a somewhat larger than normal hill.

Dustor: "Here we are. This is Weldon's home."

In front of it, surounded by a stone fence, is a garden of flowers.

Dinenithil: "Interesting arcitecture."

Malimac: "Beautiful garden."

Dinenithil: Dinenithil approaches the house, looking for signs that may indicate who was here.

DM Raven: Roll a SEARCH test Dinenithil. 2d6 is this game's version of a d20, so all tests are 2d6 + your modifiers. Also the game uses what RPGers generall call "explosive" dice, meaning that if you roll doubles you get to roll again. In this game if you roll a natural 12 on your d6s then you get to roll another d6 and add it to the result. If that d6 comes up a natural 6 then you get to roll it again and so on. So roll search. 2d6 + your search rank.

Dinenithil: Search: 6+2 = 8

DM Raven: You find what might be boot prints in the yard in the mud. They're quickly being washed away by the rain though.

Dinenithil: "Boot prints. Fresh, but they're being washed away."

DM Raven: Dustor: "What. Hobbit don't wear boots."

Toffer: "Quite right."

Malimac: "Where?" Malimac looks, too.

Dinenithil: Dinenithil indicates the location.

Malimac: Malimac nods.

DM Raven: There are indeed boot prints. They seem to be both coming and going from the house.

Dinenithil: Dinenithil turns and follows them back out.

Dinenithil: (Now track?)

DM Raven: (Yes now track.)

Malimac: "Did you notice anything in the house when you first arrived here?" Malimac asks Dustor as the Elf tracks the boot prints.

Dinenithil: (Dang! (6+5)+6) Track [15]

DM Raven: Dustor: "Well his stuff is thrown everywhere, but otherwise I didn't really look. I bolted for the Prancing Pony."

DM Raven: The footprints lead to the road in front of the house and stop in front of what seem to be fairly recent cart or wagon tracks. Those then head down the road towards the South Gate.

Malimac: "Should we check the house or follow the tracks before they disappear?" he asks Toffer and Dinenithil.

DM Raven: Toffer and Dustor kind'a follow along behind Dinenithil, watching him as he tracks.

Dinenithil: "You three check the house. I'll follow the tracks as far as I'm able." He moves off, following the tracks.

DM Raven: Toffer: "Don't go to far without us. Wouldn't be fair to go off on an adventure without us." He heads inside. Dustor follows him.

Dinenithil: "I promise I won't have too much fun without you."

Malimac: Malimac does, too, and does a quick look around.

Malimac: (3+6+2=11)

Dinenithil: The elf does his best to blend into his surroundings.
(Stealth (5+4)+10 [19])

DM Raven: The inside of his house is indeed trashed. The cloakroom is a mess, and Weldon's office has been trashed. While Toffer and Dustor search his office, Malimac finds bootprints similar to the ones outside tracking mud all through out the house. In Weldon's office Malimac find a dagger under some papers, stained with blood.

Malimac: Malimac gasps as he discovers the dagger.

Malimac: "Do either of you recognize this?" he asks the others.

DM Raven: Dustor: Dustor gasps as well. "That's Weldon's dagger!"

Toffer: Toffer gasps so as not to feel left out. "Well it looks like either he stabbed someone or they stabbed him with his own dagger. Neither is a very good thing I would think."

Malimac: Malimac shakes his head. "We may be losing time. Perhaps we should follow after Dinenithil now. If he's injured, he'll need help right away."

Malimac: "Your cousin, that is," he adds, nodding to Dustor.

DM Raven: Toffer: "Probably a good idea."

Dustor: "Indeed!"

DM Raven: Meanwhile, Dinenithil has followed the tracks to the South gate of Bree, which he finds is currently closed due to the weather. Next to the gate is a small lean-to with a fire pit burning invitingly inside. An old grizzled man sits in it tending the fire... the lean-to that is. He's not sitting in the fire.

Malimac: The Hobbits follow after the Elf.

Dinenithil: The elf approaches. "Good evening... relatively speaking. May I make an inquirey of you?"

DM Raven: Man: The man looks up. "Well hello there. What can I do for you?"

Dinenithil: "Did a cart pass through this gate recently?"

DM Raven: Man: "Why yes, yes one did. About two hours ago now I opened the gate to let a cart through. Six, maybe seven men were pulling a hand cart with a big trunk on it."

Dinenithil: "A trunk, you say? Did you notice which way they went?"

DM Raven: Man: "Yeah... they went towards the downs." He shakes his head. "Not a good idea. Especially not in this weather."

Dinenithil: Dinenithil tilts his head. "The Downs... in any case, I'll need to pass through the gate, if I may?"

DM Raven: Man: "Were you with them?"

Dinenithil: "I wasn't, but I am trying to find them." He looks up to see the hobbits approaching.

DM Raven: Man: "May I inquire why? It's my job to ask questions."

Dinenithil: "You may, but I am not at liberty to discuss it. I'm acting on behalf of a client. But as I said, I must pass the gate."

Malimac: "Dinenithil!" The Hobbits rush up to him.

DM Raven: Man: "Very well, very well. But you'd better not be bringing any trouble this way." He opens the gate to let everyone through.

Dinenithil: "I hope to prevent trouble, my friend."

Malimac: "Thank you, sir!" Malimac says as they go through.

Dinenithil: Dinenithil heads on through.

DM Raven: Toffer waves as he hurries to catch up. Dustor does as well. The old man shakes his head and goes back to his fire after closing the door.

Malimac: "I'm afraid we found some bad news," he murmurs to the Elf. "We need to find Dustor's cousin as soon as possible. There was a bloody knife in his study."

DM Raven: Toffer: "The knife was his, so it's not certain he's been hurt."

Dinenithil: ("I sense that man is destined to be crushed by his own gate...")

Dinenithil: "Dear me..." He hurries on, following the trail toward the Downs.

Meta: At this point Drahc's character makes a comment about not knowing about the downs, since Drahc didn't know it's history. We then got into a discussion about weather or not any living elf could have somehow avoided knowing about Cardolan and the War with Angmar. I then recounted the history as seen below. We then decided now was a good cliffhanger moment.

DM Raven: I really doubt there's an Elf in the world that wouldn't know about the War with Angmar honestly.

History in Brief: Gondor had a sister kingdom named Arnor that used to cover everthing from the Blue Moutains to the west to the Misty moutains in the east. Arnor eventually split into three kingdoms due to civil war. Cardolan is probably the most famous of the three. The Witch King, who had been trying to take over Arnor for a while, had an especially evil method planned for Cardolan. He used a plague. A very powerful plague. It started killing everyone in Cardolan, and they started building mounds to house the dead. Eventually everyone in the country died from the plague and all the was left was a ruined land of graves and tombs. But the plague doesn't end there. The plague leaves a taint of darkness that makes it especially easy for undead to arise and evil spirits to inhabbit the bodies. These mounds and their restless dead are the Barrow-Downs. Undead haven't been seen around here for a long time mind, but most people don't go anywhere near the area and all roads have been diverted well north of the Downs for a long while.

Dinenithil: "It seems that these tracks and the testimony of the gate keeper suggest that the cart is heading toward the Barrow Downs."

Malimac: Malimac looks at the other Hobbits.