Shadows Over Mirkwood - The Marsh Bell, Session 1

 

Dramatis Personae

Player Characters

Hallas, son of Findimir "Hunter" - Ranger of the North, Captain

Hallas, or Hunter as he's known in Eriador, a young ranger, travels to Lake-Town to find adventure and ensure that the peace brought about by the death of Smaug is lasting.  He travels light, with but a bow and spear and a simple, leather corselet.

Hallastur Ianbray Norbul Vinland - Dorwinion Scholar and Merchant Prince

Hallastur came west with the wizard Pallando at the behest of his cousin, Lady Una of House Vinland.  Lady Una wishes to travel to Dale in due time to expand her market reach and, perhaps, find a suitable husband among the Dalish noblemen.  Hallastur is tasked with scouting the area and ensuring her welcome will be pleasant and safe.

Elondril, son of Elrohir - High Elf Champion

Elondril, a grandson of Elrond Halfelven, travels to Lake-Town to witness first-hand the Dragontide celebration and to visit his kin in the forest kingdom of Mirkwood.

Lily Gardner - Hobbit Treasure Hunter

Lily grew up on stories of the deeds of Hobbit heroes, like Brandobras "Bullroarer" Took and, more recently, Bilbo Baggins of Bag End.  She set out east, determined to follow Bilbo's exact path and seek her own fortune and fame.  In Rivendell, she met the Ranger Hallas and the Elven Lord Elondril.  Impressed by her pluck and spirit, they gladly accepted her into their company and traveled together over the Misty Mountain to Lake-Town.  Lily travels with her trusty pony, Buttercup.

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NPC Characters

Pallando (Romestamo) - Wizard

Pallando, also known as Romestamo the Blue Wizard, has been residing in Dorwinion for an unknown length of time, consulting with and guiding the many merchant houses.  He travels west to Lake-Town for his own mysterious purposes.

Gloin, son of Groin - Dwarven ambassador to Lake-Town

Gloin hires the Fellowship to find two missing Dwarven emissaries.  The missing Dwarves just happen to be the famous Balin and Gloin's older brother, Oin.  He arranges for the Fellowship to secure a boat for passage down Long Lake and promised to reward them well should they succeed.  He is particularly worried about Oin as he has had a disturbing vision of Oin drowning in a pool of dark water.

Session One Recap

October 15th, 2946 T.A.

The Fellowship, having met in  Rivendell, decided to travel together to Lake-Town to observe the 5th annual Dragontide Festival.  At this point, the group consisted of Elondril of Rivendell, the son of Elrohir of the House of Elrond, Hallas, a Dunedain Ranger, and a young Hobbit adventurer by the name of Lily Gardner.  The journey to Lake-Town was uneventful.  The Fellowship found Lake-Town to be bustling with activity as the town prepared for the coming festival.  Many travelers from all over Wilderland were making the journey, many hoping to participate in the annual Tournament of the Black Arrow.  Excitement and interest were particularly high this year as the King of the Wood Elves himself had agreed to donate an Elven bow as the grand prize.  This perplexed many as the King had declared the contest beneath him and had forbidden Elves from participating. 

Shortly after arriving in Lake-Town, Elondril spotted a tall man in blue robes leaning on a slim staff.  He recognized the man as the wizard Romestamo, a figure not seen in Middle-Earth in a very long time.  Making their introductions, the Fellowship met Hallastur Ianbray Norbul Vinland, a Dorwinion scholar and merchant who had traveled to the town with Romestamo.  Hallastur was a bit surprised to hear his companion addressed as Romestamo as he had known him his entire life as Pallando.   The Fellowship agreed to allow Hallastur to join their group at Pallando's request.

While in town, the Fellowship began hearing rumors of a disturbance among the Dwarves of Erebor.  They set about finding more information and through various means determined that Gloin, emissary of King Dain Ironfoot, was seeking a trustworthy group to find a pair of missing Dwarves.  The Dwarves had gone south on some sort of mission for the King and had disappeared somewhere south of the Stair of Girion, in the Long Marshes.  The Fellowship met with Gloin at his estate and, through careful negotiation, were awarded Gloin's patronage.  It took a moving song by Hallastur and a rousing speech by Hallas, but they got the job done.  

Having received a writ from Gloin for a small boat, the Fellowship hired a young river guide, Finn, and set out southward on the Long Lake the next morning.  As the boat approached the Stair of Girion later that night, Finn lost control of the ship in the swift currents heading toward the falls that empty the lake into the Running River.  Elondril was forced to spring into action and help guide the boat safely to shore at the portage dock.

The Fellowship spent a pleasant night with the porters at their small collection of huts.  The porters, all young men of Lake-Town, were eager for news, story, and song, especially from Elondril.  Accompanied by Hallastur on his lyre, Elondril sang a song of such beauty that the audience was moved to tears.  Later, many proclaimed that they were so enraptured by the song that it was almost like they were re-living it.  Hallas, meanwhile, took several Lake-Men and gathered some herbs to help season the simple fish stew that the porters had prepared.  All shared in the now delicious meal and were greatly fortified.  

After the meal, the Fellowship was introduced to Old Nerulf, an ancient Lake-Man.  Nerulf, moved by the company, offered a cryptic warning about "gallows-weed".  While most in the fellowship were unfamiliar, Elondril shared a memory of a song he had heard that explained the nature of gallows-weed, a vine that could choke the very life out of anyone who got too near.  The Fellowship spread their blankets around the fire and spent a pleasant night under the stars.

End of Session One