AiME S1E3 The Folk-Moot

"The Folk-Moot" (1x03) is Fabled42's third episode of the "Adventures in Middle Earth" campaign. Finding safety within the haven of the Elven King's Halls, the fellowship take time to recuperate and learn that a feast is to be had to celebrate the triumphant return of Olothar the hunter. The group must overcome the xenophobia of the elves and perhaps something even more insidious as all is not as it seems...

Player Characters Present
Iorwyn, Berenor, Imrahil, Oldhin, Turin, Wren

Synopsis
The group finally make it out of the southern Mirkwood and are stood before a gate guarded by golden armored elves. The guards ready their spears as the heroes approach. Oldhin steps forth, with his hood down so the guards may see that he is kinfolk. The guards seem suspicious and warn him that actions that the group undertake while within the protected grounds of the Elven King will be his actions; Oldhin will be punished should there be any transgressions.

A second set of guards within the city stand before an archway of beautifully carved mystical wood, magical runes etched across its surface. This grants them entrance to the Great Tree, where the elves make their home. Thandruil the Elven King sits upon his elegant throne, carved from the antlers of mighty forest beasts. Oldhin catches himself fumbling a greeting to his lord, and feels great shame. The king grants Oldhin and Iorwyn, whom he recognises, safe harbor but says the rest must leave.

Oldhin shows the king Istin’s amulet, and this brings a measure of compassion from the Elven King, while maintaining face. The King is well known for his disdain of other races and especially hates dwarfs. Turin gets scowled at. Guards escort the party to quarters for them to rest within. They are accommodated in old store rooms, two to a room, with Turin and Wren having little but straw to rest upon.

Imrahil decides he wants to do the tourist thing in a city full of immortal snobs. Oldhin meets with one of his old friends at the archery range. Imrahil stumbles upon the range at the same time and decides it would be a good idea to pull his greatbow and shoot at the target. Perhaps not wise in a city full of skilled warriors suspicious of travelers. Imrahil outshoots everyone and then begins to sing ‘The Fall of Gil-Galad’, which makes the elves wistful for a moment.

Wren seems upset that the elves would treat them so poorly. Turin and Berenor cheer her up and she decides to go for a walk with Berenor while Turin sits and smokes his pipe, wondering where his next drink and smoke will come from.

Iorwyn, searching for her friend Gil-halad, a renowned herbalist, finds her in the vinyard. She finds out that an elven champion by the name of Olothar has returned triumphant from a quest to slay a wretched beast; a werewolf! News of the south worries her. The spiders they encountered in Mirkwood seem to be growing in numbers. Worryingly, it could mean that the Necromancer whom Gandalf the Grey had defeated may have returned to plague the lands once more.

Everyone seems to be talking about the return of the hunter and Oldhin is keen to point out to his elven friends that he and Olothar were rivals because the hunter wanted it so. He is, however, keen to greet his old rival upon his return. But to do so he must look his best. So he procures a chest piece adorned with the symbology of his house and proudly wears it to the feast that will happen that evening as a celebration.

Wren, using her polite hobbit ways, manages to procure Turin a bottle of elven wine and brushes off the wine seller’s patronising tone. Everyone seems to find themselves invited to the feast which will take place in a glade to the far edge of the city.

After purchasing some equipment, Imrahil chats with the armorer and is given disturbing news. Dark stirrings in the south, a plague in Mirkwood and poisoned lands to the east. Again the werewolf is brought up. Olothar is heralded as a great hero, the werewolf defeated by the master huntsman to bring peace to the lands once more!

As the feast begins, the party gather around and catch Olothar describing his own heroic deeds, how fantastic he looked as he slayed the werewolf that was troubling the folk of the forest. Clearly drunk on elven wine, his deeds sound enormous as they tumble from his mouth! The dead werewolf is skinned and tethered to a tree, a trophy being displayed to all who wish to join in stroking the ego of Olothar ‘the fantastic’. Olathar appears to have been wounded in the encounter, his leg bearing a fresh bandage. Oh boy! The wound appears to bleed even now and is soon noticed by Iorwyn.

In a private moment, Wren and Imrahil discuss the visions that she gets through her dreams. Wren seems worried that darkness approaches. She has observed it encroaching on her land and her friends and shares her concerns with Imrahil. He tries his best to comfort her and offers to share his dreams with her in future so that they may interpret any that may portend to future events.

Imrahil tries to steal the trinket that belonged to Istin, but Oldhin catches his wrist and ruthlessly destroys him verbally for showing him great disrespect. At this time, the boasting of Olothar comes to a sudden halt, as his wound, still bleeding, combined with way too much ‘strong’ elven ale, makes him feel faint all of a sudden.

While Olothar is tended to, Turin is challenged to a series of arm-wrestling bouts. It would seem that his opponent, who had the strongest arms in all of Mirkwood, must have done something to anger the gods, for Turin surely would have bested him with nothing more than his pinky finger!

Olothar is treated with King’s Cup after Iorwyn recalls Radagast telling her that the bite of a werewolf, if not fatal, can infect a wound with a poison. Olothar seems almost delirious, seeing things that are not there. He begins to see the dead wolf alive once more and even the bearing of his old friend and rival Oldhin takes on an evil countenance in his poison-addled mind. His screams become manic and he believes he sees evil red eyes all around him.

As the party goers disperse and the group discuss moving Olothar to his residence, there is a blood curdling howl and suddenly the companions are beset by dark shadows. Dark shadows with wicked, red eyes! Have the shadows followed the hunter somehow? Iorwyn and Gil-halad run for cover with the wounded hero and Iorwyn cleverly uses an herb to mask their scent as they hide from the shadow beasts.

Short of stature, stout of heart, brave Wren stands her ground and pierces the werewolf with a sureshot. Imrahil sings as he runs in to face the beast down and his allies take swift advantage. Berenor leaps from behind a tree and sinks his dagger deep in the beast’s flank. Turin uses Berenor as a step up and launches himself at the wolf’s head. Heavily wounded, the beast slinks off into the shadow before the heroes can defeat it. Or so it thinks!

Iorwyn, a skilled survivalist, tracks the beast through the shadows and directs the group toward it. Imrahil however, considers for a moment that he’d rather embed his sword in the nearest tree. And so successful is he at doing so that he stands there and allows the darkness to hide his accomplishment and shame! The werewolf, ruthlessly efficient, stalks his prey, before tearing poor Imrahil to shreds with teeth and claws. And there endeth the tale of Imrahil, Warden of Minas Tirith. The werewolf lets out a deep, long howl to signify claiming its victim. As the wolf hunkers down ready to pounce on Wren she lets fly with a second true shot and skewers it dead, shot through the maw!

After Turin beheads the corpse of the skinned werewolf, an insidious mist escapes from its corpse and drifts off into the darkness of the wood. A shadow spirit had possessed the wolf causing it to fight again, even after death. Necromancy!

The band mourn the loss of their friend while Gil-halad goes to warn the Elven King that his home is not safe. Gandelf must be contacted. If the Necromancer is back then all of Middle Earth may be in danger.

The Elven King and his retinue arrive and Thandruil questions the companions. The guards begin to investigate the dark wood while the Thandruil allows Iorwyn to berate him for the worthlessness of his guards during the attack. He does however agree to contact Gandalf. As Imrahil is buried, Wren sadly recalls a riddle that had comes to her in her dreams, a portent perhaps of the future, of terrible events yet to happen!

Berenor speaks on behalf of Imrahil before pushing the boat out into the river that flows through the Great Tree. A single arrow, lit with flame, ends the funeral, alighting the boat to send Imrahil onward on his journey. A sad but poignant end to a brave warrior.