Hello, this is Why Stephen from Table Story. If you'd like this podcast,
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slash discord. Thank you. Joy Strider appears over the top of the hill,
thinking an arrow into the nearest war rider to Hyper, felling it.
You hear Strider yell above the din of battle, You're not falter, You're
not fault. We will see light another day, and battle continues as war
riders a sail weathertop Wargriders surround Lnton. They chase Toddles across the roof of
a ruin as Hyper is struggling to maintain her composure, feeling and wins thirst
for battle through their cursed bond. Who is going first? Are we at
the top of the round? Here you turn? This is a eye of
the round. I do not like how things are looking over there. For
our hobbits with London and titles being surrounded. Also, you are not fine,
probably not at all. You are not fine. And I also tru
fully trust real to deal with this garbage down here. So I am going
to run and re engage over here into forward stance. I'm going to attack
this one here on London's flank. Okay, there with me one second time,
repositioning all of the many windows involved. Here we go die. Okay,
that is a great success. You've got one intra success. How would
you like to spend it? I will make this a heavy blow? Okay?
And which one were you attacking? This one right here? Unless one
of the others is already injured. I don't know if any of them have
been hit. It doesn't appear that they are injured from what you can tell.
All right, I'm just going for this one then for fourteen damage.
The warg and rider howl in pain as you strike for a heavy blow with
your great spear. Okay, who is next? I am also in full
stance, so I shall attack one of the the wolves nearby me. Which
one seems to be closest to talk to young miss took Kid, the one
probably to the north. Okay, this one mm hmm, but I shall
swing at it with my long hafted axe. I tucket. That is a
piercing blow with an extra success. How would you like to spend it?
Heavy blue? Okay? And what is your bonus here? Two? Oh?
My my strength rating is seven an additional nine. Okay, budle.
Another massive attack from Rios with his long halted axe, drawing thick icher upon
the ruins nearby the war grider and war howl in pain. Okay, that's
my tone. Okay, who's next? I'm also in for worth sense,
So wait a minute for a piercing blow, does it not have to do
the road for the protection or whatever? Yes, I'm sorry, Yes,
thank you, I apologize. I closed the window like a dooger. No,
okay, what is the geez twenty? Good luck? Good luck?
War grider? Nope, that's not gonna do it. Uh, how do
you kill nice? Okay? So there is a walk and a rider and
I'm killing both at the same time. That is correct. Okay. In
that case, the axe comes down on the small of the wall rider's back.
I think the shot kills him, but the axe keeps going down through
the saddle and does the same to the work and it's gruesome. It's grim,
but they don't move anymore. It might be dead, who knows.
Yeah, there's a horrible cracking sound. You might even see some of the
ruin below the attack, like it's sort of like that impact crater effect,
like there's some stone that kind of cracks under the force of the blow.
You feel the reverberation through your hands as you bring the long hafted axe down.
The makes three And I shout that loud enough that maybe perhaps sir and
now and can hear because there is a competition going on right this moment.
M hm, who is next? Well, I'm in forwards forward stance,
so I would be taken out the one that's in front of us. Also
now just to double check, Uh, can I use AND's sheets for attack
roles? But it's or is it only skills? It's for skills? Okay,
so you can you can Uh, basically if you if you hold the
same weapon as Andwin, then you could use that skill or you can use
one of those skills. And each time you do it, it's it's going
to be a role of a D ten for the endurance. Since this is
the first time that this has happened, though, you only have to do
it the the one time. Yeah, okay. And just to clarify,
I did the alle role on the previous group that we killed, correct,
Okay, that is correct. So I'm okay, So I'm going to take
the opportunity to do another alle role to try and scare all of these ones
also and make them weary. And that is forward stance right for that?
Yes, yes, I'm in forward stance. Yeah, okay, Hi,
And I'm going to use and and wins all once again and all well an
and all win okay. Oh no, it is still a success. Oh
however, two elevens by the way, okay, interests and things, yeah,
because it was a favorite skill. But they both were elevens from that
one, you know, Interestingly, that would have been a fail. But
for the horn she gave me, Oh very nice. That wasn't me,
that was that was London. And I'm sorry. The Hobbit horn. The
Hobbit horn made is a success that would have otherwise been a fail. Okay.
Uh. And this is going to make them weary for anyone that is
in the close stance, right, is anyone might one? Is it anyone
might one? Or is it. I feel like that is for a difference
what we did. Uh. It says on my success, and then if
you get a success, it's MIGHT two, and then if you get more
than that, then I believe it's everybody that says, on a successful role,
the enemy morale has been shaken, and all opponents with MIGHT one are
made weary on their next attacker role. Okay, what is the thing that
I'm thinking about that is like it's only in Is that for only the creatures
that are in the close quarters because that is no vicinity right, because there
is because there's creatures that are currently fighting the rear word stance. There's creatures
that are currently engaged in the rear word stance group. So if they're in
real world, that's the question. I don't believe there was anything specific when
I read it, but I'd have to double check. Do you have it
open right now? I'm looking for the page right now. I have the
page open now. It does not mention the enemy. Well, enemies don't
have stances. I remember seeing that though, like that there's a a section.
I must be thinking of something else, I will say there, Okay,
so there's a difference though using awe and using battle. They both affect
opponents with MIT one. But there's a different sort of bit of language for
forward stance and using all and it says intimidate their foes to make them waiver,
break, or even flee. I don't know if there's actual mechanics for
that, but it's not the same. If I roll battle, it doesn't
say that free. So if I may, the wording that you are thinking
of is for encouraging allies. They must be by the way. I'm sorry,
I did forget this and it should have applied. Uh, Strider coming
in has rallied comrades. Oh that was I forgot to add that bit.
So everybody fighting in a forward stance gains a one extra die, a bonus
die on their success die. Uh. I guess you can roll an extra
D six here. There are a way to mark that on the sheet.
You both did it. Oh my god. I asked Piper to do the
role and you hit the button before it happened. Oh that's amazing. I
was actually rolling for myself because of the attack that I made. This turn
okay fair enough, which would which would make it a double heavy. So
I don't know if this thing lives through another eight died. It was also
killed. Wow. Okay, and Piper, Uh, how would you like
to spend your extra success? You did roll a souron rune, So I
think the only thing you can do you have two options. Basically, you
can either do a heavy blow or you can do at anything not just do
an awe. Right, so this will make it? Yeah, I think
everything is just weary. It would make might It would make Might two weary
as well, but uh, there might one in the rally also only really
says attack roles. I don't know if it even counts to the intimidate thing,
right, right, right? Fair enough, Okay, okay, that's
always nice. It's between myself and would you like to go? No,
you can go first if you want, all right, I'll say that I
am going. Okay, so with and running over? Can I try and
scrabble up and push? Is there any like loose rock? Can I actually
try to do that? Absolutely? There's definitely loose rock for sure. Yeah.
I wanted to give that a shot and see if I could I don't
know, break something's legs or something. So okay, let me see what
do you think you should roll in this case? Well, I know I
want to roll battle, but I'm not sure. I think athletics might be
more at just because it's it would be a feet of strength in order to
push it onto them. But I don't know how we would calculate that.
Let's see some reason I didn't put athletics in the skills list, and it's
drives me crazy every time, and then I always forget to add it.
Yeah, I'm like, yeah, I need to add that, and just
never do it. Okay, Athletics most of the physical activities a hero might
undertake while eventually including running, leap and climbing and swimming, physical prowess,
grace, and control. I think it is athletics in this case. Yeah.
The only thing I would say to that, which I'm fine to roll
the athletics, but I will say that I'm trying to I'm trying to get
both of these guys at the same time. Like I'm That's why I'm not
using the bowl. I am actively trying to get enough of this rubble going
so as I go up there, that is what I'm going to try to
do. If that's all right, you can try to get both at the
same time. I think definitely all right, there's consequences for any of your
choices, right of course. Okay, So I'm gonna give myself for a
little bit of hope. And what hope for the best there is the sourn
room. Okay, Lanton, mm hmm. Leave yourself vulnerable as you make
this attempt. I think as you try to like push the the sort of
ruins and debris, you try to balance yourself and as you do, you
lip, and now you are fall You've fallen down, prone on the ground.
Okay, okay, well that leaves me. Then I stumbled backward.
Uh, definitely surprised to see two riders all the way up here, and
I think I just loose my boat immediately without really thinking about it at the
one right in front of me. Okay, I'll take a hope for myself
as well. Oh that is an extraordinary success. You get extra success this
one. Okay, all right, piercing blow please, you are just shy
that you cannot do a Pierson blow. You do double heavy? Yeah,
you're all the three with the yeah feet guy, I see, and the
four doesn't allow me to do that either. Okay, I'll do double mighty
then, okay, double heavy blow. What is your strength rating two,
so three, this is gonna be four because bo is a two handed weapon,
use two hands to use it. Oh, so this is gonna be
uh four, so eight extra damage on this attack. So yeah, you
which one are you attacking? The one in the north of the south,
you see, the one in the south has taken, has already has an
arrow in it. Yeah, the one right like right in front of me,
that one, yep, Okay, you let an arrow loose. And
this is one of those like legalist type maneuvers where we see toddles scrambling and
quickly turn. You fire an arrow and there's a kind of sound as close
rain this arrow, which seems so much smaller than this massive creature. It's
just it's this hulking thing. It seems like a horse is chasing you down.
It's that it feels that imposing, that that that much above you.
You let loose this arrow and it sticks deep into the creature's ribs. There's
a sort of pained movement from the creature. And that is it, I
think for your turns the war riders. Okay, let's see, we're going
to do the ones that are engaged with our close combat friends first, I
think so. There are two currently engage with Rio and Piper down to the
south. As Strider is rushing up the hill. These war riders will attack
with some special bullshit. They are weary right now. They are currently dealing
with this with this awe of this hobbit who is basically screaming, gathering attention,
seemingly fearless in the face of these large creatures. And they are going
to attack Rio, Piper and and Awin. Okay, with spear attacks.
Okay, here we go. They're gonna spend some resource to do this.
Okay, first we're gonna start with and Awin spear attack on you. That's
a really long spirit that way over there. Yeah, that is a failure.
Failure. Then on re Old who that's oh I forgot realds reelds parrier
rating is not very high. That is a piercing blow unfortunately real. Okay,
gonna need you to make a protection role, okay, Uh. As
a dwarf, I do have this new cultural virtue. We dwarfs are stole
hard, which means that I can roll my protection favored. So I shall
do just that. And where do I find protection again? Bottom right?
Okay, and rule okay success, yes, very nice. You're cunning armor
and all of the freaking dice that you get on that run because you have
all of that armor have helped you tremendously. There were two ones in those
success die, but you did manage to roll five success die and a feet
die favored, so that was definitely a big help there. Okay, you
are still going to take some damage though. That's going to be three damage
from that attack as the spear does nick you as it passed. Yeah,
and let's see last one on Piper here. Oh, this is going to
be a heavy blow here, Piper as the war Writer gets an extra success
on you. Uh so that will be for damage. Okay, okay,
how about that war writer rushes past and quickly spears, couches the spear and
Andwins sort of deflexs it. Rio's partially deflex it. And Piper, as
you're raging and proclaiming your your bravery with Andwin's courage filling your veins. Uh,
the war writer catches you unaware and leaves you hurt. The next one,
which is badly injured, will attack and this is going to be hm
hmmm. Uh. It sort of rushes up to probably rios. I'm gonna
just roll for this. Uh. Now, it rushes up to Piper and
it will try to attack with its fangs here Piper. Uh uh, that
is a weary failure. It tries to take a bite out of you,
and you managed to just batter the creature away, just pushing it away quickly
with your with your sword. And the one that is up by our arranged
hobbits, We've got several that are up there. Two war riders on tottles.
Tottles. The one to the very north here will attack first, attacking
with a spear. The start off. That is a fail, weary failure.
Spear strikes out. You just kind of duck your head right under some
of the ruins. The spear clatters off the stone just above your head,
missing you. The next one, the war rider sends the war again.
You see its snout rushing towards you, trying to take a bite. Another
fail. The two down by Lawnton will attack now, and Lawnton, you
are prone on the ground. They are both engaged with you, Andwin has
finished one of them off that was under that was attacking you. You see
them rush up. They will be when London falls and I see him go
phone. May I yell at one of these things to try and divert their
attention. I don't think so. I would say you would be able to,
but I think like I would normally give that to you. Uh m
hm hm hmm, like I want to give you something. But you also,
you got to kill on the last one we had you roll that extra
success, so I feel like if you had another success, I would maybe
do that, but I'm gonna say no in this case. I think,
uh, wild dog. They are wild dogs looking at meat. I suppose
it makes sense. I really appreciate it. Yeah, no, I'm on
a platter coming down these rocks like oh used to be. You know,
I didn't say it. If they keep their back turned to me, I'm
I'm also okay with this, that's true. Yeah. Look, I'm the
bait, and you take them out, do your best to sound like a
dying rabbit squeak okay, with fangs. The first one will try to bite
you, Launton. They're going to get a bonus dye on their attack because
you're on Yeah, not that much like a dying rabbit. I'm gonna need
you to make a protection role. Uh okay, oh this is awful.
Can you give yourself hope on on these or no, I can't remember if
you can do that, I'm protecting you can. Oh yeah, right right
right, okay, Oh, great success there. Okay, that is very
handy because that's gonna give you one extra parry rating for the rest of this
round. Okay. The other one is bearing down on you. Okay,
this one will attack this time with a spear I think is. The other
one is kind of like trying to dig in on you. The war righter
on the top is just kind of yelling here, you are fresh meat.
Almost said, no, I'm a rabbit. But that's not gonna help.
I started moving around back and forth as much as I can try to avoid
this one. Okay, still get an extra bonus dye because you are prone.
That is a gandolf rune, however, and that is a fail for
them. As they strike out Launton, you just kind of roll out of
the way as the spear buries itself, like in between the rocks, just
beyond inside the ruins, you can see these people, uh, these escapeies
just kind of like huddled up looking uh shocked that this is that they that
the that these war writers have chased them here and that you are holding them
off, holding your own. You see creatures falling all around you, and
you can hear their voices from inside. You kind of let them simply flight
on all but half yourselves as they begin to emerge from the ruins. Oh
no, okay, new round? Who's going first? What did stry to
do in that last round? Striders round? Yeah? The rally? Okay,
so go on. I was just gonna say, before we do anything,
Uh do I see these people coming out? We all see these people
coming out? Uh yeah, I think so I'm going to I know how
ineffective they're going to be. So I would like to roll another of Andwin's
awe roles to both give the enemies wary and to scare these guys back inside.
No, we'll potentially allow that if you get extra successes, okay,
And I just want to do this right before anyone comes running out too far,
which is why I cut you off, Sorry, Ruth, or you
can cut me off. Okay. So I'm going to doing awe, and
I'm gonna use who's one of my hope for it? Can I do that?
You can use one of mine and you'll get to hope. Okay,
perfect Piper also has special bullshit though for giving uh giving yourself, So if
you want to use that, then Cherry rolled in. I already rolled.
Also, I don't know what special bullshit you're You have a strong and a
pinch or something. Yeah, yeah, you have like braveing a pinch,
right, I think that's only when you're weary. Yeah, she is weary
at the moment after that last hit. But I'm using Angelin's awe, so
I don't know how that how that works. I am well, you know,
okay, if you are weary, then that will affect things. Did
you roll with the two dice, the two the two bonus dice? I
added the hope, yeah, okay, so it would have been the same
dice anyway. Unfortunately you're all the three two two four three three, So
because that's weary. Yeah that is. That is a record settingly bad weary
failure. And the weary just negated five eight thirteen points off of the roll.
Yeah wow, okay, that's all that became. That became a twelve
total there same Yeah, So unfortunately that is a fail Okay, okay,
okay, all right, that's that's my turn. All right, what's next?
Okay, I shall swing up the creature that's closest to uh to young
miss took over here, So get again with root precision. As goes,
axe comes down and hits the four. Okay, A twenty eight A single
success? All right? And this is going to be which one the one
that is south? Yes, the south one, the one you said was
weak? Yes, that one is definitely heard. Yes, you slay this
one in quick fashion, real bringing down your long halted axe. You know
what I'm going to instead of up and down, It's going to be like
a golf swing. And I go for because that's my fourth quel. Now,
ok perfect, all right, who is next? I will go next.
I am acting with a sense of urgency since lawnson is being eaten in
front of me. Wait, wait a minute, I'm actually a rabbit.
You said be a rabbit, and I scrabbled right out from under him.
That's true, but I'm not sure how long the rabbiting can continue, so
I'm still going. I'm still going to try to kill it quickly. Thank
you. That's weird. I'm in forward stance, but it didn't give me
my bonus die by DeVault. Here we go. That is well, it's
a hit, albeit a mediocre one. Okay for six damage on this sky.
Your spear draws blood yet again and a win. And it's one of
those like situations where you see like a realistic sort of spear attack where it's
just kind of running forward with the spear out and you catch something unaware and
just you know, the spear kind of bounces off the ribs and leaves a
nasty furrow on the wargrider in the leg the wargin the wargrider, leaving that
trail of blood along the flesh. Okay, Strider's turn. Oh he has
three arrows queued up. Oh great, he's gonna take out three. That's
wonderful. Strider rushes through the ruins, dodging, uh, dodging the various
ruins, making his way over towards the downed hobbit. And when you drive
your spear into the side of this war rider and seemingly unnoticed, you see
this gray shape moving amongst the stone, spinning swords slashing. You see beautiful
swordsmanship unlike any you've ever seen before. It's almost like a dance is being
You see Strider spin and swing this sword. You didn't even hear it drawn.
The legs are taken out from the war The war rider falls to the
ground and he slices with a second strike, taking the head of the war
rider. The warg falls to the ground in a heavy thud ah, and
as he approaches, he rushes towards you, Lawton, lifting you up to
your feet. Thank you. How's not the time to be resting, young
hobbit? Yeah, the right you are. Whose turn you want to go
first, Hoshes or do you want me to go first? I'll go first.
I'll attack the one right in front of me again. Uh oh,
my lord, another piercing blow from Tottles uh oh, with an extra success.
I think I know how you want to spend this, But how would
you like to spend it? Piercing blow? Yeah you can't do a double
you can do yes, absolutely, we'll roll for this. Mm hmm,
just because give them a septum piercing That is a fail. You killed it
with the mighty blow, but I needed to roll just to see if it
actually succeeded on the piercing blow. Anyway, how extra spectacularly do you kill
this one? Oh? Lord? Okay, I think as I'm scrambling to
get away. This thing is snarling and extra close to my face now as
it's like biting. It's lunging at me, and I'm grabbing an arrow out
of my quill to knock back, but I can't really get the range right
to knock it fully back becaus this thing is snarling in my face. So
I grab the arrow, and I shove the arrow up through the wargs head
and then I yank it back out with enough space to then knock the arrow
and shoot it straight up above me at the gentlemen. Right, Do I
kill them? Yes? You kill them both? Yes? Then that's how
it's done. I love that, even in this the most intense is circumstances,
she still calls the goblin the gentleman. Yumy. It's sort of slumps
over the war tumbles off the edge, falling to the ground. Oh no,
okay, Lanton, it's your turn. Yeah, all right. So
after that bit of failure and with Strider pick me up by the scruff of
my neck like a cat, I'm going to hold my bow. I'm gonna
see the one that's close to me, And as much as I've tried to
avoid this, I'm going to try and put one right down its throat.
So let's see how that goes. Not the success, normal success, but
yeah, okay, feeling for damage, Laanton, you quickly draw your bow,
spun around by strider. You see the war rushing forward, and you
just kind of put one in its soft palate. I would like to say
that as it opened its mouth, I do let it go, and it
just moves and it's got a long scrape down its face and down its body.
Some I was just a little off enough to call some damage. Why
not kill it? Okay, war riders one on top of the ruins with
you Tottles will rush forward and it's gonna try and I think, I think
what we're gonna do is we're gonna do something special here. I'm gonna try
and charge you, knock you off of the ruin. Oh lord, Okay,
that's so bold as Gate, not so bultous Gate. It's a good
taxis not only now infected five E, but also the wondering. Okay,
so I think what I'm gonna do here is I'm going to roll the spear
attack as they're gonna also use up some of their hate to do this.
Okay, luck tittles, I can't lock. Oh lord, that is a
fit. As it rushes forward, tittles, you manage to get out of
the way, and it will because I called this beforehand. It scrabbles and
will fall off of the ruin. It's gonna take some damage as it lands
hard down below. It's still up and you can see it's kind of like
shaking itself trying to keep itself conscious. Basically, I'm gonna say the damage
that it was going to do to you, it's going to take. Okay,
oh, by risk, high reward. Okay. Uh. The one
that is next to you wanton that you have sunk an arrow into its soft
palate. With Strider stands next to you, sword twirling and trying to protect
you. It will try and attack you, I think with spear that is
a piercing blow. Again, he's just so pierceable. He's such a rabbit.
Hello hole right, he was a spin grossness previous life. Obviously,
give myself another week bit of hope? Could I could I lawyer for Toddle
to give me hopes? I can have two. Since you've scared this out
of one of them and it fell off making noise, you can have it.
Ye you would like to do that? Thank you? All right,
here we go. Oh great success with that, Oh just barely too.
Make sure to spend those spend those hope, Okay, up for me?
How much damage? I don't think I put it in for the last one
either, hit three for each? Would that have made you weary? Three
would have put me at seven? And my load is at seven? So
does it make her break or do I have to be under it? Change?
It puts me? No? No, that it puts me at eight.
That put me at eight? I'm sorry? Was that eleven? Did
nine to eight? But you said you didn't take the first one, right,
so it should be six the first one. The first one put me
at eight. This one would put me at five. So I wasn't weary
before this. I'm absolutely weary now. Yeah, you dodge most of the
attack, launton, but it still drags a furrow across your skin, leaving
a painful uh uh wound on your on your flesh, a new round.
It was first as the as the escapees begin to exit the ruin, Okay,
le see, okay, go ahead. I was just gonna say as
using the momentum of my previous swing, with the ford. So this the
ax is now in the sky. I guess I raise my left foot,
spin around in a circle, and land the axe on this creature here for
a piercing blow. Okay, the whirling dervish that is Real lands a nice
piercing blow. Let's see if this creature survives inating twenty. Good look,
buddy, god, it does managed to survive. Real. You land an
attack thinking that it will be fatal, but the creature sort of twists out
of the way and manages to avoid a fatal wound. Oh my god,
I look towards young mistook. What way did real do the eye thing?
And then you saw it as he I'm kind of in a rage over here.
On I'm not exactly take it for sons of the eye contact. You
smell blood in front of you. The thing is weakened. M okay,
I will now lunch forward and I will attack it with my sword. My
sword, my skills all right, and I'm going to use a hope here.
Uh question. I'm weary and that gives me brave at a pinch,
which means I'm inspired on all my rolls. Plus, I have small folks,
so I have plus two to my perry rating, but that's later.
Okay. So you basically can spend one hope for yourself and you give yourself
a bus or she can just roll again run and not care about any of
that. Okay, this is versus A sixteen. Okay, that's another sound
on Rune. This war specifically is the final boss. He's too piercing blows
avoiding another fatal attack. This war and Rider, seemingly rather seasoned, the
veteran of the group, manages to avoid this. Uh this attack, you
still draw blood, though, Piper. You can see that this creature is
weakened, and the war Rider looks a bit haggard looking around seeing most of
its fellows. Gowned, Hey, if I may, if she's getting to
borrow one of my skills, could she borrow a cultural virtue? Specifically,
hold on it is. I know what you're gonna say, splitting blow.
Enemies must make their protection rolls ill favored you wanting tribe knows where to plant
those weapons. So I'm gonna say again, this is the first time that
you're using this two, I'm gonna say, yes, you can. If
you'd like to spend an extra D ten, you can do this. This
is one D ten of your endurance. Yes, okay, well the D
ten. Don't roll a nine or a ten please, that will be very
awkward. Okay, three, three more of your endurance. Your focus is
intent on this creature, and I will roll another D twelve. Okay,
that will make it a fit. It's perfect hyper How do you kill this
war and war rider? Okay? So at this point, I'm raging,
I'm bleeding everywhere, I've got blood on my face, and I'm holding my
new little sword and it has not yet been cleansed with blood. And so
I take it and I scream into the air and I chop its head off.
I'm trying to chop its head off. There is a like that moment
when when like Aoin you know, decapitates the the Nasbuas, the the It's
flying mount. I can't remember what those creatures specifically are called, but uh,
you know where it's like you hack at it. You know, it's
just like that mad like hack. You attack like three four attacks and rapid
succession. You know, the first one is enough to to sever its carotid
artery and then like you see it like wobble and you just you know,
berserk like attack and attack the wound even more, hacking its head, and
it just it's like still connected, you know, and it's like ah,
and it just flops to the ground, falling. It falls on top of
the war rider. Okay, it was next. I believe I would be
up next. I think as this is happening. On the one hand,
I definitely turn and look because she's yelling, and I at first think,
oh, is she okay? And then I realized, oh, she's actually
just murdering this thing. But you just see when he was staring at her,
chopping down this goblin, he's just like hands on his axe. He's
just being sprayed with the backswings, just continuing. That's what you wanted.
Right on the one hand, kind of proud. I'm like a proud dad,
my little hobbits all grown up killing a ward. But on the other
hand, on the other hand, the whole battlefield stops to good so silent
son. I equal measure, however, or some concern because this is not
like Piper to be screaming and stabbing in a rage. But I'll have to
address that later. I have things to kill myself. As tempting as it
is to go for that one that fell off the roof. I still need
to get them off of long and so I'm going to go for this one.
Hello and goodbye piercing blow. Okay, let's see and roll it at
the disadvantage has to beat an injury rating of eighteen. That is a fail.
How do you kill it? I is this the one that was biting
Lanton? Is it not? I think while it's distracted with its teeth trying
to get ahold of his ankle, it sort of like points snaps the arrow
in half. You know, the one that like pierced its soft palate.
Right. I think from London's on point of view, you would see this
big pair of teeth and snarling jaws just getting closer and trying to get you.
And then a spear just comes down from above and nails that whole head
to the floor. Jobby, little child, you deserve that. As the
spear kills the warg the writer starts talking. For some reason, it reminds
me that he's alive to you, and I just grab him by the throat
and chuck him off this cliff out of here. Okay, alrighty, I'm
sorry, Strider. Strider will uh sort of use the newly downed worg Uh
as as cover sort of dancing around UH and win and the fallen ward as
it spins, and UH will leap and bring its bring his his long sword
down and will strike at the rider and the ward simultaneously. Yes, he
just one shots this one killing it falls to the ground as the battlefield starts
to fall quiet and the wind blows the echoes the battle fade. Okay,
I'm just gonna go ahead and say it that London is on a pile of
rubble, bleeding from a lot of different places. And I think you see
him just sort of holding his side with one hand and holding like his upper
arm with the other, and he's like, huh, hell, I don't
know how about this. I rush over, immediately, climb down, and
I'll do healing if I can. Okay, expa a minute to climb down.
Uh. You see that there are cuts and bruises and scrapes, nothing
uh super dangerous looking hair toddles. Not enough to warrant any sort of emergency
healing or anything. But you can sort of, you know, stop any
bleeding or anything along those lines. Go ahead and make a healing role.
I think you'd see me and This is only because my endurance is so low.
I am like rocking back and forth in pain. Oh okay, writing
tight, haing tight, Okay, success ease Landon's fame for now. Mm
hmm. You're right, you're right, okay, Okay, it's not too
bad. It could have been so much worse. Okay, We're just gonna
put pressure on that and I'll put some salve on it, and you'll be
right as raight right. Okay, he did good, though, we all
did good. The first group that attacked us, one of the goblins got
away. Were you able to intercept it? They did not get away?
Good? That should be all of them. Then, I fear not.
I believe there are more. I smelled other sin on the air at the
base of the hill. We must make a decision. So many of them
just to hunt a few starving men, I do not believe. So he
looks towards the escapees and he says, who are you? Uhh? I
told you my name is Matthias. There are far more than new wog riders
here. There is a taste for blood. There is more than a hunt.
What has happened? What have you done? Escapes look around at each
other, bony needs somebody to make a role for me. I would like
to ask them a question before this role is made, like in tandem with
Trier's last question, I would like to ask, or are you carrying something
they want? Okay, um, I will take an awe. I will
take a persuade. If it is awe, I have four pips in that
it's not favored. However, it has a low target number of thirteen.
Oh is arguably my best skill. It is for and favored by all means.
Uh, very well, all role. It is by all means.
That is a double extraordinary success with a gandolf run. Okay, how would
you like to spend your astra successes additional insight? And can I take additional
insight twice? I don't know what else I would be needed for here.
But when the seven foot man covered in warm blood approaches you and demands the
truth, you give it. They look about and they say, it is
not what we carry directly, it is what we know, which some would
argue is far more valuable. Out with the truth, then even dangered not
only your lives but ours. HM. We are not a simple group of
travelers. We were tasked, We were tasked to head to the north.
We've been on a grand journey. I'm Matthias. I've gone door. We
have been gone for a very long time. We were sent to the north
after hearing rumor and tail mm hmm, the tale of Horrible to Eat.
We heard the heeds of foul creatures acromancer. We did not know if it
would be a threat at Gondor. My Stewards sent me and my company here.
We were to seek out angm but we never made it. Mm hm.
Instead we were captured by goblins, far too many goblins. We heard
tale not of the goblins from weather Hills, but of a grand force from
Mount Graham amongst the head Moors. That is not all he heard. Stuart's
fears of Angmar are not unwarrant. We saw something follow use than goblin's.
There you hear murmurs amongst these escapees, whimpers, cries. We saw followers.
A creature robed in all black. It's amos twisted and black jack is.
A malevolence surrounded this creature. M h We could feel it in o
very bones. The goblins bowed before it. It rode a winged creature like
I have never seen strider takes a breath, you hear murmured, Naw school,
a Naw school once again amongst men. It are a wicked weapon.
There was a goblin that must have muttered something beheaded it without a second thought.
It sounded as if there were a scream upon its strike. I could
feel in my head. Unconsciously, each of the escapees reaches towards their head.
I could scream for the creature like some massive worm, winged its teeth,
gnashing, screamed in unison. I have never seen it like the goblins
muttered amongst themselves, they said, falling one beloved of Sauron. The shadow
rises in the east. None of us are safe. We must return to
Gondo. We must ward them of this. I am sorry that we have
brought this upon you. This was brought upon me hundreds of years before you
were even born. Do not fault yourself. We must on our loads.
We must return. You can't dole. What do we do? Their paths
and ours go different ways. There is not much you can do for them,
Lord Master. When they mentioned the nas ghoul, does that strike recollection
for any of us? Mm hmm. Not going to make you make a
role on it. These descriptions fall online several that you've heard before describing these
creatures in the library far bad some of the dreams and visions shared by Annoin
Biber. It's Angmar is further north still by my own recollection, that is
not quite You're the last homely house. Snow, we shouldn't have to worry
about this. Yes, there was still shoveling sense on the air. Hey,
this is not our last fight. I must make a decision now.
If it's fight to protect a rear door, I can. However, I
am but one dwarf. If if the North is mobilizing, we two did
an army. Otherwise it's hopeless. You must think of the moment for now.
Hey, ok, we make our way to Rivendell. But I will
not leave these men their fates. You plan to escort them to Gondor.
I plan to lead the goblins away on your own if need be. Well,
no, wait minutes, And I'm not I'm not saying that. That's
not it. Oh, it's not important move like that. And I'm sorry,
it's just thought. We can't get the riven do without you. I
mean, I guess we can go in the right direction. But then,
but then what what is this decision to be made that you speak of?
Really, the decision does not fall with me, falls upon you. There
is much that has happened this night. You are burdened with a curse,
but all variat do are maybe in grave danger unless this news returns to Gondor.
I can do my best to draw the eye of these goblins away from
my time. Yes, and the rest we would do better together. Will
you join me? It's not a decision after all. Yeah, that's that's
not a decision. That's no offense, mister Strider, sir, But that's
that's We can't get to where we're going without you, So you know exactly
we have no choice, and you did pledged to help us. So yeah,
I'm just saying I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the heaviness of this whole
thing. Strider is a bit speechless for a moment. He looks at each
of you. There are not many that would stand against the dark. I
would stand against the shadow that rises, many would carol for it. You
are far braver than any than many I have met. Give yourselves credit this
day. Ka Well, I'm just saying, like, maybe maybe it'd be
all right, if we did a little bit of cowering. There's a rare
smile from Strider. Just and maybe we could build up, you know,
the fire, because it's a lot easier to deal with the chatter. So
when you got a bit of light, yes, when all else fails and
you feel your courage fleeing, remember always think about the next day. There's
the light and the sun. It's your weary skin, as it wakens you,
as it warms you, as it reminds you that you are alive another
day. One more day. That's and he begins to turn towards Matthias and
the escapee, and he says, one more day. They look at each
other. You fight for one more day. You must reach gondor we will
draw the eyes of the goblins. You will not be hunted this night.
Instead, we hunt the goblins. Now take off your clothes. They all
look at each other. Quickly, do wit. You must swap cloaks with
us if we will fool their scent. As they begin to disrobe, you
see scars and wounds. And this is a battered and bruised group of people.
They have been through hell. Begin to exchange bloodied and tattered rags for
cloaks. I would like to know who gives up what I mean, I
think that's as long as I could make some use of clothes, I'd give
up probably as much as I could. I'd give up a cloak, for
sure, But I don't know about a shirt. You know what I'll change,
And I don't know what I can give them. I'm too small.
Yeah, I was just gonna say that, Like, I don't think we'd
be able to really give anything of ours. The only thing the Hobbits have
that might fit for size men would be their cloaks. Perhaps could be like
a half a cloak or a pond show. And I, in turn,
I only own one shirt. I could give them that I suppose you know
what, Okay, Yes, I want to give these men some of the
money I have. I mean, we're nearish to Bree. It would be
ridiculous for at least one or two of them not to go in there and
try and buy some stuff for themselves, food supplies, whatever they can for
a brief respite. So I'd like to give up some of them a treasure,
right and for it. I can do that too, And I just
say, look, give us what you can don't make it so bad that
you can't withstand the night winds and whatnot. And you're here, take take
the cloaks, and here you're gonna have to buy yourself something you need,
food, you need, you need to do better. And yeah, I
don't know how much, but I'll happily pull out a good amount for them
to help themselves. Okay, anybody else chipping in, I will Yeah,
my own, my own treasure score is zero. I have nothing to give.
Okay. I suppose having a spare change of clothes is only common sense.
So I would like to think that Ruth has at least a spare cloak.
So you see him, I suppose, for the first time take off
his cloak. I suppose revealing he's boulding you see before you a I guess
now you get a grasp of maybe perhaps how old this dwarf before you actually
is. He's not a spry being by any stretch of the imagination. His
hair is scance and wind swept, and he's not making much of a fuss
about this. But he takes off his cloak and he passes it to the
nearest I suppose not the nearest one, but the leader, the one who
looks like the leader, and he gives him his cloak. He gives his
cloak to Matthias. And perhaps perhaps there's another way to do this. I
have no extra clothes or coined to give, but perhaps I can contribute in
another way. Oh Master, I will tell you what I have in mind,
and you tell me if this is something feasible. My people have become
quite adept at blending in with nature when needed, usually hiding from the eye,
but hiding from the nose too, is perhaps something that could be done.
I have the cultural blessing Bayan's enchantment. It allows me to achieve a
magical success on three different skills. The three skills that I chose were awe
in athletics because those are my strong suits and it made sense to play into
what I'm good at. But for the third I decided to do something a
little unorthodox. I'm not a craftsman, but I chose magical crafting as my
third palent. I would like to take their clothes and invoke my nature magic
to wipe the scent from it and make it smell like leaves and dirt alone.
Holy sh So yeah, this is so a Invoking this magic let's see
what do you think this costs you? I think to even be able to
attempt this in the first place, I must be of a serene mind.
The strength and ferocity of my people is useful only when it is tempered by
wisdom. As Bayone taught me, strength without wisdom is simply bullying in tyranny.
So I must have a serene mind. And also this does cost me
hope, if that's what you're asking. From a more mechanical standpoint in the
game, I have to spend hope to do this. Okay, what's the
cost of the hope for this? Is it just the one normally as far
as I'm aware, Yes, it's the same as Riot's dwarf and travel magic
that he's used many times. Now, okay, I can do something similar.
Okay, I'll tell you what. Let's make a craft role. And
I know that this is automatically a success, but I want to see what
the crafting role is for reasons. Okay, please, And you can spend
the hope like you would to cast this, so you can give yourself a
bonus die ah, Okay, okay. It would be an eight on the
feet to die, and then a three and a one. Okay, this
takes you a little bit of time to do. What does it look like
to everybody else? As you do this, I gather up all of the
clothing that these men took off, clothes, shirts, pants, et cetera.
And I lay them out. And this does take time to do,
but I lay them out as if they were still being worn, like the
pants laid out flat, and then the shirt above it, with the sleeves
out to the side, so it looks like the outline of a man on
the ground. And if they took their shoes off, I would put them
down at the base of the pants where the shoes should go. And I
do this for every man in the group, so as you look on the
ground, it looks like seven or eight men lined up next to each other.
And then from there I would take several handfuls of dirt and leaves and
scatter it lightly. You could still see the clothes, but it's underneath this
layer of dirt and leave. And then when it is done, I simply
kneel into the meditation stance that I don't know if the whole group has seen
it, but I know at least Piper has. The way I kneel in
the morning, and as I kneel and take a deep breath, the dirt
and the leaves on top of this clothing dissipate into the clothes and become part
of it. And as this is done, the clothes are protected by nature's
veil. Only the scent of dirt and leaf can be detected, and it
will remain this way for at least a day or two before their own scent
starts to shine through. Strider watches you do this, and once you are
done, he says, that was similar Welven magic. It may have ben
Helven magic, or all I know, I learned it from the head of
my house, adopted father bay Onn, and in turn, who knows where
he learned it? I look up at and down with newfound suspicion. Ah,
you see, master Dwarf, you are not the only one who knows
a magic trick, Aye, but not Elvin magic tricks. Sorry, as
I hand the clothing or well, I'll take the clothing and bring it back
in a big pile and hand it to the other men. But I'll look
to Strider and Rioth and say, note that I did not cleanse the scent
of our own clothing. With these men sent gone, every single goblin will
know exactly where we are. Their walks will sniff us out. You will
be harried. They'll have little time to rest. Looks down towards you want.
And I have my little coin purse as it were, and it's open.
I'm I'm wins and through this, but I've poured out a good chunk
into my hand, and I'm like, oh, well, I mean you've
got those clothes, and when with those will those clothes last very long?
I mean, I know the smell, but can they continue where I I'm
after this should protect them for at least a day or two, long enough
to get far to the west. If the goblins suspect that you were going
south back to Gondor, you may throw them off by heading west to Brie,
which you should do. You buy food and more clothes resupply of Bree
with the money that's the Hobbits and Brioth have donated. Yeah, so I'm
definitely counting out money for food and for clothing. And I guess I'm looking
they what they had sticks when they came in, right like they had like
nothing, So say, I'm like, well, there's a Blacksmith and I
I definitely tell them about the Blacksmith and I'm like, you know, it's
good, it's a good, good person. You definitely want to have talked.
Oh in the bower and or they the Fletcher there. And I'm continuing
to count out. I'll probably count out the majority of my money for this
group. Okay, don't forget that the goblins switch just attacked us have left
a good number of spear and bow on the ground. May not be the
greatest quality, but there is enough here to arm all of you that there
are London. Mm hmm. I'm gonna say you give up ten treasure rating,
okay, but in return you may cleanse three shadow points. Yeah,
I think you can. You can cleanse two shadow beats. God, that's
the first shadow I've removed in a long time. I needed it. I
hand over this, I'll take it back. I'm sorry, I totally forgot
that you did give me. I also chipped in as well. Yeah,
absolutely, Yeah, we'll say, uh, it can be all five from
me and five from London rather than all ten from him. Yeah. I'm
definitely gonna stealth put this back into their their parts when they're not looking.
Sorry, I have to get so yeah. Uh, Toddles removed two shadow
points, and Hyper removed to shadow points. Re Oath remove one shadow point,
and I would like a stealth roll from Lnton. Thank you very much,
very fair. Okay, uh Lonton they catch you doing this. Uhlnton
add five treasure rating back, and Toddles and and Piper remove five treasure rating
from yourselves. All right, yeah, I'll just make a cheapest face as
I'm trying to put the money back in both of your like your pouches and
fine, Piper, Yeah, pick one of our water skins, put it
in a pot over the fire and boil me some water. I will need
it shortly, Okay, I do wors He says, I have to climb
up here and retrieve the man that died fighting with us. Oh m hmm.
It's only just now that Matthias and the group of escapees know that this
happens. You hear the You hear Mattia say a word. Oh we're so
sorry. They just they came so fast. It was my comment that he
joined the fight, and it was my suggestion that he stay up here where
I thought he would be safe. There are first creatures we've lost many since
we have left our board. Is not the first. They will all be
missed. Lest A suret he died a warrior's death. Indeed he did,
which is why he must be honored in the tradition of my people dying under
my command. Unless Matthias, your people have your own funeral rights to observe
instead, I will defer to you that is the case. But you also
haven't much time begin moving west. They look at each other and they say,
normally you would burn the body, but I do not believe we have
time for that or the oil. You may rest easy, then, knowing
that the rights of my people will also involve a funeral pyre. It is
in the scattering of the ashes that our ways differ. I will climb down
from the building, carrying this man he died so that the rest of you
may live. Carry your message to Gondo with haste. We will do a
strider compellance. Stall the goblins here the veil of nature that God's your scent
will not last long, But as much distance as you can between yourself and
the goblins, between today and Tomi Moral, your own scent will start to
shine through again soon enough. Thank you, Strider is on waters boiled.
Thank you. So as you begin to clean the body and set this up,
everyone sort of getting themselves together, getting ready to leave and such.
Strider is keeping a vigil sort of on the surroundings, often trying to catch
a scent here and there, and eventually get things ready. Robart, everyone
prepares. Would you like to describe how this happens? Yes. I will
take a collection of twigs and sticks and leaves and build a funeral pyre to
place the party on. And then I will take a moment to give the
men of Gondor a chance to pay their final respects to their fallen comrade.
And then I will set at a light. Birds of my ancestors, I
come before you, adele red toor noble. Return the one who died in
defense of others. May the fire burn away whatever impurities were left in his
soul. There's a gentle humming that begins to come from Strider. Muscat my
lot uh tale to Celia, the lot table, my ahmatra a reman yea
can Daria. As Strider hums his song, I will explain to the group
what is happening. You have heard me say before many times. Return to
nature. This are we return to nature. It takes a while, but
eventually, as the fire begins to reduce what is left of this man to
mostly ashes, I will collect a handful of those ashes. My people believe
that life stems from fire and water. Just without fire, we could not
cook, it could not stay warm, and we could not purify wounds.
And likewise, without water, we would die of thirst, and we could
not grow crops, not clean ourselves with the purity of fire to burn away
our impurities. Purity of water brings new life. And I will take the
boiled water that Piper made, which is now purified of its imperfections, and
I will walk down to the base of weather top and find a sturdy tree.
I will dig several inches deep into the dirt before I take his ashes,
and I plant them there like a seed, then rebury it like a
farmer planting a crop. And then finally, pure water then pour over the
ashes at the base of this tree, before turning to the rest of my
comrades. He has been returned to nature as it is intended by the cycle
of life. His spirit forever watch over this place. Thank you for that,
Thank you for your kindness. Be safe on the road we traveled west
Spree and to Gondor. No they you will always have friends there. You
will not forget your names, and knowing of the river Youth where istween London,
hyper and tottles of the shire. He say, on your journey,
oh well, and the one yours. Mattias turns to Strider and he begins
to speak, and he says, I have heard of a strider, one
who carries a great burden, a burden of men. The Strider puts a
hand on Mattias's shoulder and says, we all carry great buttons. H kah,
be safe, be smart, very well, model h Attias in the
escapees head bless h. Strider turns back to all of you and he says,
you're married. We have arrested as much as we can. The journey
to riven Down will not be easy. We will be plagued by these goblins
and may be worse. Steal yourselves and dig deep. You will need every
ounce of strength that you have. But I have seen bravery in each of
you, a ferocity for life. You are trustworthy, and I see in
each of you a reason, a purpose, and an understanding. I can
know cause your friend, it is rare to mean such people and such kindness
in this world. Use that know that, because we will be tested,
we must leave with all haste. Are you ready? I am all right.
Could someone kindly then get my pony please and cut me upon it?
Think, thank you, thank you. I go back to Rusty and get
prepared for the journey ahead. I follow over yourth to his horse, to
a word with him privately. Okay, if we are working in tandem now,
then I think you'll hear me say to you and Darwin, if I
were to die in combat. Mm hmm, you will do well to just
leave me in a ditch, maybe a cave. Is that the tradition of
your people? Close enough? So it shall be in turn? Mm?
Could I fall on this journey? You have not seen how my people return
to nature? Okay, swear to know you will do me this last favor.
You. You don't expect me to sing like Strider, do you?
No? I think he was singing in Elvin. I know better than to
ask that of you. Hey, hmm, I can do one better.
So what do I owe the purpose of this company? Then? As I
say, as we walk towards the horse, that was all I had to
say, should I die here return me to the spirits of my ancestors.
Now that you have seen how we do it, we are of a mind.
Then I wanted to tell you privately there's no need to scare the Hobbits
by mentioning our deaths. Consider it done, but not anytime soon now.
Also, I killed five, Yeah, I got a four here about you.
You see the young miss Hobbit. She's vero voracious. You need to
do something about her. Oh yes, I'm glad you reminded me. Actually,
I need to speak with her, though in truth there is nothing that
can be done except to wait whilst she learns to master it. Hey.
See, when the spirits of nature come over my people, the ferocity of
a wild animal is not a sensation that most men feel, not normally.
It takes time to master it. Stay calm. It is our wisdom that
sets us apart from animals that can be tard. That can be somewhat hard
to do when the rage of a cornered animal is taking over your mind.
Duly noted, I have grown up with it is not hard for me anymore,
but for her, I'm sure it is quite overwhelming. Well, I
am sure she'll be able to deal with it eventually, as long as it
takes. You don't suppose if and when this curse is released, so will
this? Oh you mean, my connection to her day. I can only
guess that when the curse is broken, so would our bond, at least
one of our bonds, The bond of friendship remains. But I do not
think she will have to feel what I feel or see what I see anymore.
But I could be wrong. I know very little of curses and magic,
as do I. All Right, well, I've got some preparing to
do. But hey, good talk as you will. Strider ready's his horse,
Hyper approaches a mister Strider, sir, Yes, could I ask you
a small silly question. The song you were singing? What does it mean?
Ah? Yes, it is a an elderly song, Go one of
the dead. Loosely translated, it means in the moon's soft blow, we
gather here to one of those we hold so dear In forests, deep in
skies, above their spirits, dwell endless love beneath the stars. The light
does gleam, and dreams and memories they still seem. With hearts entwined,
we'll never part in Helven's song they live in our heart. Oh, the
words aren't tasad as you sung eemsa sada song I've ever heard for Helvin kind.
The death is sad, yes, but they do not have the same
lives that we do. The story continues. It is said, well,
it is said that we were given gifts, the gift of an end to
our story. Elves remain. They live far longer than we can imagine,
and when it is their time, they travel west eleanor across the seam,
across the sea. Hm. Hm. You must be careful, young Hobbin.
The curse that binds you an Andolin it is dangerous. I know.
Do you think it's more dangerous in me or out of me? You have
taken upon yourself something that was not your us to begin with. This curse
is bound to and the Wind's bloodline. It was not meant for you.
You must be careful, and we must reat driven down as soon as we
can. Otherwise places a hand on your shoulder, you may fall into shadow.
Hello, this is why Stephen from Table's story. If you'd like this
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