A6 - I'm not buying what you are selling

As Ladee searches the dead for potential maps or identifying items, Rambler gathers their discarded axes. Meanwhile Rowlie splashes water on the prisoner to revive him for interrogation. We soon learn this brigand (Ubar) is a member of a rag-tag collection of survivors who fled their homelands in eastern Ruhn. Driven out by the Wainriders (who have been in perpetual war with Gondor). Ubar continues, “Join us. I’m sure our leader Valter would welcome your skills. Our ranks have grown during our yearlong trudge southwest, welcoming many individuals abandoned by their own kind. This Oderic you mention could well be our newest member.”


Caution has us tying up Ubar before tracking to his camp. Well over 100 people (60+ warriors and their families) poorly organized; not an invading army. We return to untie Ubar who leads us into his camp, “Tell Valter I bring new recruits.” Our weapons tied down (but not taken), we are led to their leader. Rowlie becomes our spokesman explaining our search for Oderic who stands beside the leader. Valter intercedes, “But as you can see, this man has found home and doesn’t want to leave.”

Mention of him being an escaped prisoner has no bearing, “He explained his crime, killing a drunken attacker. Accidents do happen. Unlike his father and clan leader, I find just cause for his freedom. Thus I’ve already sworn to protect him. Turn him over to Beorn, who rules with an iron fist? Who’d surely execute him without trial? I rule with offers of freedom and desires.” Valter easily slides into appeals to each of our weaknesses in an attempt to win us over, “Join us to strike out against the wrongs of this world. You dwarf to access gold and riches. You hobbit to gain unfathomable knowledge. You elf to see the luster of your forests restored.”

Rowlie continues trying to convince Oderic to return with us, even calling Valter and his followers bandits and brigands to their face. But Oderic is set in his decision, “That’s not my real father back in Stoneyford. I was given a 2nd chance to live when those beorning wardens were slain by orc. My home is here now; but you can tell father I’ll be seeing him soon once more.” Surprisingly we are allowed to leave, even after Rowlie admits we’ll tell Beorn himself this threatening horde upon his lands. Yet as we hustle out of camp Oderic follows asking about Brunhild, warning she may be in danger.

Our departure is hurried and double-time as we race back to Stoneyford where we relay Oderic’s threat of visit, “He’s not returning alone. Pack and move NOW else be slaughtered.” And so the journey north is set: Rambler and Brackrog double-timing to sound the alarm and tell Beorn of the intruders. The rest of us prodding the slow wagon-train of refuges (wagons, carts, cows, pigs, etc.). A growing trail of discarded furniture and ware as the two-dozen villagers realize the urgency now that they see smoke rising from the southern direction of Stoneyford. Days of despair till arrival at the Old Ford guardhouse. Ladee and G-non remain behind to create a delaying action if the brigands follow. Rowlie driving the caravan onwards toward Beorn.

Days later horses arrive from the north: 40 beorn horsemen accompany Rambler (and Brackrog holding onto his horse mane for dear life). G-non mounts a spare horse then pulls Ladee up behind him as the group rides south to face the brigands. Along the ride Brackrog summarizes their meeting with Beorn. How the man-beast was absent upon their departure. It’s dusk when the group stops to rest; a night of celebration before the coming battle. And the arrival of a weary Rowlie.

Morning brings a red eastern sky, “Blood will run today. Let it be theirs!” The plan set: a pincer move with us the center strike, “You will be the anvil upon which we will crush these intruders.” So it is, we stand upon a rise peering into what was once Stoneyford; now pockets of smoldering huts and collapsed stone walls. A dozen brigands await positioned with cover. Already in a fevered pitch, Brackrog charges into the ruined village screaming his dwarven battle-cry. Galanon spies Valter leading from the rear and takes careful aim, loosing an arrow into his side. The battle unfolds.

Brackrog is the porchlight attracting the moths who swarm to him. Meanwhile, two foe charge up the hill to engage Rowlie and Rambler+dog, which allows Ladee to flank. G-non’s arrows finally prod Valter to send other warriors forward; Oderic and his protector Thorne charge to engage Brackrog. The battle ebbs and flows in stalemate as Brackrog’s armor deflects axe swings. But the dwarf’s own attacks miss just as much. The combat atop the rise finally resolves such that Rambler+dog and Ladee rush to aid the dwarf while Rowlie engages a lone archer hiding among rubble to the side.

But the headstrong dwarf is set in his efforts to slay the wayward Oderic, despite the more advantageous flank of another foe. As the battle flows, Ladee moves to aid Rowlie.

And that’s when Valter himself rushes forward to raise his troops’ morale. Rowlie’s foe (now encouraged) lashes out dropping the Breeman. Leaving Ladee to fend for himself; torn between killing his attacker or aiding his fallen comrade. At disadvantage trying to stab his foe who uses the rubble to his advantage. The hobbit near death himself till another Galanon arrow wounds the leader; Valter retreats. Which ripples discord among his troops. Which provides the distraction Ladee needs to drop his assailant. And distracts Oderic enough for Brackrog’s axe to find its mark, dropping the wayward murderer. But the dwarf cheers too loudly and boldly, exposing himself to an archer; Brackrog falls.

And that’s when the large bear appears before Valter…ripping the easterling’s head clean off! The bear continuing its onslaught mauling other brigands. Soon the battlefield is quiet except for Ladee now bent over Rowlie, healing the unconscious Breeman. Rambler too smearing Kingsfoil salve on Brackrog to revive the dwarf. The silence is short as beorning war-hoots echo their own victory in the pincer-move.

As Ladee tends his own wounds, the hobbit muses, "Surely Beorn won't slaughter the brigand families. I must find him to council for the leaderless outcasts."