The Path Splits, The Prodigal Returns

Osiris

Having successfully killed all the Wargs (Ceri and Osiris had to go off and track the final one) the party decide to press on. They are immediately faced with a dilemma howvever as the weather changes and snow begins to fall. The war horses will not survive in the snow. Athmund explains that his father's stead is only a half day to the east but Osiris reports that they may not have the extra time as the snow will make tracking the Angmar group impossible if they lose more time. As it stands it is only because the troll is trailing the group that they (Baran) can follow the scent at all.

In the end Osiris leaves with Baran, tracking the troll and arranges to meet the rest of the group further up the trail. The remainder then head off to Athelstead where they are warmly met by Athel, Athmund's father, or as it turns out Step-father, as Athmund it seems is an orphan with an illustrious heritage! After some discussions the group has a good night's sleep and leaves the next morning properly equiped for the weather, taking good time in reindeer-pulled sleds.

They meet Osiris on the trail where it parts around Tir Na Madoch the posioned hills. To the west lies Clearwater, the poisoned marshes (Mercury Oxide if we knew such things), to the east a clear path that the ponies can safely take. The problem - the group have split - the troll and a couple of others one way, the rest the other.

A fairly heated debate follows during which it becomes clear to all that there is some unhappiness about the leadership of the group. Braggi accuses Osiris of "always talking over everyone else" and Owain that he "never listens". Osiris tells them to be quiet and that they should follow the eastern route. Athmund does a good job of mediating and before long the group is, in fact, taking the eastern route so they can safely stay with their steeds.

Fearing ambush the group goes carefully before it is ambushed! A short fights ensues during which Athmund is hit by a poisoned arrow and weakened. The three
Easterlings are captured and questioned and reveal that the party are on the right trail. They also reveal they were told to shoot the 'leader' of the group with the poison. This poison turns out to be Ethain - mortal to elves. Obviously someone knew who we were and planned for Osiris to be killed first.

Collecting themselves and healing their wounds (a light fight this time) they press on to an abandoned tower where they smell woodsmoke and, sure enough, find the remnants of a camp not a few hours old.

As the group scan the horizon from the tower for any sight of their quarry they hear the sound of running feet and, looking down, see an army of goblins rushing up the hill towards them....

Tir Elenath

Narrator

The watchtower where we ended the session is at the top of a steep escarpment rising about ahundred meters from the moor, it is three stories high and topped by the green dome of an observatory. It towers over a path cut into the escarpment that ends at the base, and commands an excellent view of the area all around as well as commanding access to the path (were is occupied). Despite being delapidated it is still intact, and the party took some time cautiously approaching once within bow range.

There are two entrances to the tower, a main (double) door which has be smashed down at some point and a sally port on the level below. Once the rangers have briefly scouted the area, they report back woodsmoke from within but nothing else nearby. Next the thieves move up to the sally port and gain entry to the basement of the tower. Moving up tot he ground floor they discover an alarm bell attached to the inside of the main door and make the assumption that if their prey is within then they may be asleep.

The remainder of the party move into the tower through the sally port and close and bar it behind them. They cautiously move upstairs, again preceeded by the scouts and after a cautious ten minutes discover that the tower is empty but that a large fire is burning in the grate at the top level, and in the estimation of the rangers possibly made deliberately smoky with the addition of green wood.

At this point the great bow Amelon, begins to softly thrum, alerting Osiris to the approach of a large body of Goblins from the North side of the tower. If you are quick you may be able to get down tot he front doors before them.

One other point of note, the second floor of the tower is an archery level and there are buckets of old but still serviceable arrows in there. Ceri has already stocked up

Big Dog Fight

Owain

Osiris and Ceri confiscate the firestarter from Owain. He reluctantly hands it over, and tries (but fails) to get something in exchange. He sulks for a bit, but soon loses up when he climbs up on an enormous warhorse and tries riding it around (to Athmund's dismay).

We pursue the people who have the Palantir. It then seems that they are being followed by a troll too. We don't know why. They are slowed by the Palantir, and we are gaining. When within a day of them, the eagle of the Ranger (Harald) who is helping us is ambushed by about 40 ravens. We save the eagle and drive them off. Osiris, has a little stature of a dragon that breathes fire over many of them.

Harald says that our task is now harder, as they know we are after them, and declines to accompany us further. Owain, who has been bivouaking with the Harald (who seems best equipped to deal with the cold) struggles to hold back a stream of tears. Ceri is keen to see the back of the hillsman who he has never trusted. Harald's parting words are, "Keep an eye on the little one, there's more to him than meets the eye". The party move off without searching Owain for hidden magic items.

Camp is made, but the party is woken by the noise of worgs some miles off. A decision is made to transit to a camp that our quarry had used the night before. It was supposedly more defensible. We lit a fire in the firepit. It turned out that it hand been booby trapped, and Braggi (despite his hardiness) suffered from the inhalation of oxious fumes.

A big fight broke out. A defensive line was formed by Braggi, Osiris and Baron (Osiris's now ennormous dog). Athelden, mounted waited on the flank, but quickly charged in. The line held, and blows were exchanged. Ceri held back, and peppered the wolves with arrow fire. Owain was no where to be seen. Braggi fought defensively, holding of two wolves at one point, but inflicting no damage. As one worg went down, Braggi manouvered for a flank attack. But one worg broke through, and assaulted Ceri with some success.

Braggi Move to intercept,, happy when facing one enemy to strike, trying to hamstring the wolf with a crippling well aimed strike. One good hit, but then the worg turned on him. Braggi contunied the attack, alll the time yelling "Khazardum". But a series of unfortunate missess meant he started to wilt, with the worg gaining the upper hand. Eventually it was too much, and he passed out from multiple wounds. Athelden, having seen how worgs act before, yelled "Man down", to his rescue. All rushed to Braggi to prevent the defenceless dwarf having his neck ripped out. Osiris risking life and limb to get in a position standing over Braggi's body, and Owain seemingly tossed by a giant to land in the midst of the fight, plungining a visciously sharp dwarven shortsword in the Worg's ribs. Between the assmbled fellows, this worg was overcome, and the others fled....

Revenge

Osiris

Braggi, Owain, Ceri and Osiris, having recovered from their ambush by the trolls are sitting in the Trolls Head (ho ho) one evening when a woman approaches them. She introduces herself as Fiorla and tells the tale of her twin sister, Fiorna who was companion to Theoren and captured by the same trolls that ambushed the party.

Osiris explains that it is the groups intention to return to the trolls to remedy the situation and that if they free the sister they will of course return with her if she is still alive. Fiorla also tells the group that the
'wiseman' that the group have been talking to about the magic items taken from the temple of Morgoth is probabaly trustworthy but ultimately "his Lord's man".

They then notice an unlikely looking fellow at a nearby table staring wildly at them. Dressed in newly skinned but uncured deerskin he looks like a wildman, with rageddy hair and malnourished frame.

After initial suspicion it turns out that this poor fellow had been a captive of the Olog Hai for about a year and had just escaped. Athmund confirms
there was a woman captive at the troll caves and also that people are asking questions about our little group. Reparing to their room the party talk more with Athmund during which they catch a 'servant' outside the door eavesdropping. Osiris and Braggi give chase and corner the spy outside. At first he seems smug and unwilling to cooperate but a few growls from Baran, Osiris' hound and he comes to his senses and explains there are those willing to pay for kowldge of what we've been doing with regards to the Trollshaws and the temple. Braggi then follows the spy on his release and learns that he seems to be working for the Governor or someone associated with him but we're
unlcear as to their motivations.

In any case the group leaves the next day, pausing briefly to bury the evil Palantir outside town and travels through the woods to the location of the Olog Hai hideout. Athmund proves to be an erratic but ultimately reliable guide and the small groups finds itself within spitting distance of two cave systems on either side of a river.

On the journey, Athmund has explained that there are two brothers who control the beasts, each mages of some ability. One has power over the mind and has been controlling the Olog Hai therough an amulet stolen from Athmund as well as two other human slaves and the second mage a fire specialist.

Owain and Osiris approach stealthily hoping to get to a position where they can bring the others up and rush in to surprise the trolls but spring a trap and narrowly avoid a spiky end. The trap also lets out a loud 'crack'! that the party are sure has warned the the trolls and their masters.

Sure enough on the hillsdie opposite a big troll appears and seems to start beating the bushes as if trying to flush out anyone hiding. At this point Owain decides to use the ring and declares that the troll on the hillside is an 'illusion' and that Osiris should act as bait, running back to the others to give Ownain a chance at the mage hiding in the shadow realm. No sooner has Osiris started running than his chainmail suddenyl blazes red hot and he's forced to pull in from hiself and jump in the river. Luckily at this point Owain manages to catch the mage unawares and he is dispatched in a few short rounds, erupting in flame as he expires.

Hoping that they are not caught in the open the group then charges into the nearest cave and finds a sleeping troll. Without hesitation Owain and Osiris strike the evil creature, which jumps up beloowing in rage and backs off to the entrance to the cave calling for it's fellows. In a slightly desperate but quick struggle the group try to bring the beast down as quickly as possible but are hampered by the poor space and some bad luck. Osiris is fianlly able to bring his greatsword to bear however and skewers the beast through the neck, only to see the lumbering hulk of a huge troll, the bigest so far approaching the cave entrance.