A22-Escape from Witch Mount…I mean Mount Gram

As we still quake at the "SCREECH" of a Ringwraith, Galanon hefts the covered Palantir over his shoulder and arrogantly proclaims, “This is meant for study and protection by the elves of Imladris.” But Rowlie is quick to counter, “We’ve already dropped the ceremonial sacrificial daggers in their lap; do you really think they need another beacon to draw the Shadow upon them?!” Reasoning wins out with Trusslebridge our destination to deliver the Dunedain weapons and Palantir. Assuming we can escape!

A21- “Baggins!”

[Rowlie/Denny and Dolomite/Rob are absent]

As we snuck around the 2-headed lumbering large orc, their hunched-over arm swaying indicated their feeble mindedness. Experimental outcasts. We continue trekking east-northeast before our shadows stretch beyond our sight. Camp and nightwatch without fire. Fortunate that only Rambler on 1^st watch sees the flock of crebain fly across the moon from our back. Ill omen? Or is Brackrog’s watch sighting more foretelling – the high-pitched scream of a long-necked beast flying south on its long wingspan?

Morning cold breakfast before our travels transition from tall grass plains to barren rolling hills. The mountains finally on the horizon suggesting a noon arrival at Mount Gram. Weapons checked and patient scan for glint of metal or indications of lookouts.

Last minute notice of a shoddy fence around a smelling feces packed pen backed up before a rock-wall cave. Watch dogs? More like warg pens. Care to check the wind to make certain we are downwind. A well-worn footpath leads to caves dotting the face of Mount Gram. Banners with the symbol of a raised hand holding a ring flutter in the breeze. Movement! Vikings we’d fought in the caves behind Mountain Hill! The hillmen of Gundabad.

A20: “See to the East”

It’s already late evening when we exit The Huntress’ caves; so, we make camp within the valley. Campfire to compare of notes and decisions of our next actions once we return to Weathertop. Morning sun cresting over the eastern rise bring glint of carved stones worth investigating. An ancient Arnor outpost, “Probably more of them north along the Weather Hills as a run of watchtowers and signal fires.” Now collapsed stones and a few rusted dagger blades.

By noon we reach the foot of Amon Sul and begin the rope-aided climb to the top. Pause for lunch (3^rd meal for some). “Did you scout for fresh tracks since we left?” Silence. With weapons ready we stand before the glyph and speak “Duin.”

The hand rises from the stone offering a handle…an awkward pause before Brackrog steps forward to grasp it, opening the trapdoor. The dwarf notices dark streaks (dried blood) on the backside of the door before peering into the dark below. His dwarven vision easily making out a withered orc body and its meatless fingertips (scraped to the bone in its frantic efforts to escape this tomb).

A19: Magical Lock

[Carl/Rambler and Darrick/Brackrog were absent. And we rolled so bad, you’d of thought we were writing binary code!]

Tarrin and the other rangers (Beleg, and the female Morwin) escort our group out of Rivendell on our journey west toward Weathertop. Dolomite in high spirits as he watches his Raven companion soar overhead. Before exiting the mountains, Ladee is able to find patches of Athelas to brew healing potions for all. When asked, the rangers tell of their foray into the Trollshaw forests south of Ettenmoors. “Orc and cave-trolls. And even a flying fellbeast.” Which launches Rowlie into storytelling of the fellbeast we spotted days ago flying north along the Anduin river east of the Misty Mountains, “One and the same?” We soon camp within a glade split by a fresh stream. Dinner of rations since the [hunter] hobbit’s arrow missed the grazing goats. More relaxed conversations as if the Shadow is but a dream.

It’s easy to tell the elven borders after crossing the last bridge, as the road soon turns into dis-repair. So bad, Ladee pauses to search for orcish pitfalls and traps. We are on edge when Galanon spots a lone traveler approaching from a distance. “Where? I can’t see him.” Ladee’s sight confirming the short nature of the traveler. His singing soon upon the winds, “The road goes ever on…”, “Bilbo?! Mr. Baggins!” An early camp for stories as Rowlie is eager to learn new tunes and tales. Surprise by most as morning rays reveal the hobbit’s departure. At least Ladee had time to give a parting gift; a potion of healing, “There’s orcs and foul beasts ahead.”

A18 “Drop It, And Walk Away”

[Correction to the last blog entry A17: Rowlie did not break the dagger blades, but rather wrapped them in cloth and put them in his backpack.]

[Rob/Dolomite the dwarf joins us. He was being held prisoner by Madric within Mountain Hall.]

And so we retrace our steps thru the tunnels exiting on the west side of the Misty Mountains. Chased out of the tunnels by the dust cloud caused by the early collapse of the dead-fall trap performed by the miners of Mountain Hall. After dusting the grit from our cloths, we head north toward Rivendell, about 3 days away. Rambler as guide blazes a new trail, finding a ford in the small river crossing our path into the Lone-lands. Come dusk, Dolomite as scout finds a copse of tree to camp (safe and secluded). Ladee as hunter fails to find herbs but does return with a large Tabor for a fine pork meal. Rowlie tucks all in with bedtime stories, as we set watch for this moonless night.

A17 - "Move Along!"

“So how exactly did your master Hardfast die?” An older Hillman speaks up, “Hardfast was working side-by-side other miners when Madric reported gems within a side tunnel that had been secured. Yet when our master entered the area, boards gave way burying Hadfast under the cave-in. That was when Madric took command, deeming the boy there too young to rule and needing his guidance.”

As we look to the new ruler, young Hardfell is consumed by the clamor of freed Hillmen seeking a renewed leadership within Mountain Hall. He looks to us who have rid the fortress of Madric, “I put you in charge of securing the lower mines of this goblin intrusion.” As we are excused, we ask Grundovald what forces and gear are available for such task [dynamite has not been discovered yet], “What few loyal men that are able-bodied best stay above to secure the walls. I can send 3 of my men with you. Your dwarf would know best how to collapse the tunnels and goblin outpost you found.”

A16- Restoring Rightful Power

King Thranduil was pleased with our reported kill of the goblin and his Basilisk. So much so, he provided Lembas bread for our next trip southwest to Mountain Hall to investigate reported problems. We’d already told how mayor Hardfast  was under false influence by the evil Madric we’d encountered in the Gladden Fields oh so long ago. But latest news was even more troubling.