Blood Run: A Terror Returns RPG

[Durelin]

Parkun was too annoyed that no one even noted his question to pay much attention to anyone else. Kuric’s first words were difficult to ignore, as he suddenly burst out something about trolls of all things. Trolls, creatures of legend...who was this Dwarf? Just the fact that he was a Dwarf was odd enough to the young man - not that he had not seen at least one or two before – but his greying hair and wrinkled face made Parkun wonder how many years this being had walked Middle-earth.

At least one too many, he thought, as Kuric boisterously rambled on. At the Dwarf's final words, an order to Master Mugwort, the young man had to suppress a laugh. Something wasn’t quite normal in this stranger’s head, to say the least. Erling responded to the Dwarf in his characteristically mild way, but Parkun thought Kuric might challenge even Erling’s patience with just a little time.

What would happen if they really offended this old Dwarf? He seemed to usually be at least a bit high strung, and sensibility probably wasn’t something he understood. If they pushed him over the edge in even the slightest…

Could he…? Parkun wondered. Trolls, indeed. Had Kuric arrived around the same time the attacks had started? The young man couldn’t remember when he had first seen the Dwarf in his father’s inn. He’s crazy enough, perhaps. That, at least, Parkun knew.

“Parkun, does your father keep one around here, perhaps...?”

The young Master Felderth jumped slightly when he heard his name and was dragged from his thoughts. Keep one…one what? He wracked his brain for anything he might have heard, and as a result he simply stared dumfounded at Farmer Mugwort for a moment or two until the word came to him: map.

“Oh, yes, he and his maps…” Parkun paused and glanced around him, feeling a little uneasy. If he went to get one of the maps, it would take him nearly an hour to just convince his father to let him bring it to the town hall. “Err…well, seeing as some have voiced a desire for food and drink…perhaps we should head over to my father’s inn, where we can see all of his maps?” More time could easily be wasted there, as well.

[Finduilas]

Ash was sorry to see that there was already contention among the Defenders. He disagreed with the dwarf, and was glad that Toby said something, but he hoped that Kuric wouldn't get insulted by his being put into place. After all, they all needed to work together, and there was no way to tell how long they would have to bear with each other.

Ash hoped that people would agree with Parkun, for he believed that food would improve the humor of the group, even though that sounded like a hobbitish idea. But even though he agreed, he didn't want to say so, seeing as there were enough opinions voiced, without him saying anything. So he waited silently, and desperatly hoped that tempers wouldn't flare.

While all had talked he had observed the other Defenders. He knew many of they himself, or at least had seen them before, and recognized them. But the dwarf, and a strange man, who had fingered his sword as he spoke. Ash hoped that he wouldn't cause any trouble, or prove dangerous.

[Newsman]

Madoc just sat and shook his head. This is the group thats gonna stop this...this...thing? He couldn't help but realize that the contention had obviously come from the Dwarf's comments, both on the nature of the creature as well as his attempt at ordering Toby. With a sigh he filled his pipe and lit it before drawing in a large whiff and puffing it out, staring into the smoke.

A terror of this sort was new to him, and truth be told he was scared out of his wits. After all his family was important to him, and if this menace began targeting people...He shuddered at the thought. As he gazed absentmindedly about the group, his eyes locked on to the man who was half hidden in the shadows. Madoc quickly averted his eyes and turned to the young man next to him.

"Ash isn't it?" A nod from the boy proved him right. "Lad, between you and me, I have a sneaky suspicion that this creature could be right here among us. Now dont get me wrong and all, I'm not the suspicious sort, but one has to cover all the bases."

Before the boy could reply, Madoc addressed the group. "I think Parkun is right you know, never knew a group who could think well on an empty stomach. I say we eat and try to find out what connects these attacks if anything." He was hoping someone else would agree, eating would make things less formal, and give him the time to tell his suspicion to Toby without drawing unneeded attention. Madoc inhaled from his pipe again and waited for things to play out.

[Forest Elf]

Grimbeorn listened to what the others had to say. He thought that Kuric was being too bold for a first meeting, well, that is, unless he isn’t a stranger. Then they’d probably have expected such talk from a dwarf. As for him, he could be considered a stranger easily. Lifting his face slightly, he listened to what the others had to say. He noticed that one of the hobbit’s looked his way, but quickly looked away. Raising his face slightly he looked again at the group which he had joined, consisting of men, hobbits, and a dwarf. I wonder what adventures this group will see…I wonder how many of the have actually faced combat before, he thought to himself.

After the mention of food, his stomach gave a small grumble. Somewhat embarrassed, he said with a slight, embarrassed laugh, “Well, I say that my stomach just gave my answer for me. Yes, let’s go somewhere to eat and try to figure out who or what is responsible for the killings.”

[Firefoot]

"I'd say we have an agreement, then," said Toby, realizing that he would have to be the one to announce a decision or they would all simply stand there talking about food while no one actually had any. "Let's head over to the Prancing Pony."

Toby led the way out of the Town Hall, assuming that the band would all follow. What a troop we must look! he thought. He was thankful that the Inn was only a short walk down the road, since he could still feel the thick tension in the air, only slightly lessened as small pockets of discussion broke out.

It was not long before Toby found Madoc walking beside him. "How've you been, Madoc?" he greeted. Then noticing the thoughtful expression on the other hobbit's face, added, "Something in particular on your mind?"

[Crystal Heart]

Eric sat back and watched all that was happening. When they mentioned food he gave a smile. Yes, he was hungry but he hadn't wanted to admit it just yet. He gave a nod in reply and hung back as the group headed off to the pub. As he hung back he contemplated what he had just gotten himself into. He had volunteered himself for a very dangerous journey. Would his family be angry with him? Probably. He was the man of the family, had been since his father's death. Losing him too would be determental to them all.

He shook away his worried thoughts. This was the first adventure he would be in on in a very long time. He should be looking forward to the adventure and the honor instead of fearing of how everything would end up for his mother and unwed sisters. He had them to take care of after all.

[Dunwen]

Sam brightened at the thought of the fine food and drink at the Prancing Pony. For the first few moments of their walk to the inn, his thoughts dwelt pleasurably on ale, bread and cheese. Shortly, however, they drifted to his companions and what little he knew about most of them.

Toby Mugwort and Madoc Hurnt he knew by sight; both were of an age with his Dad. The youngest hobbit, the Twofoot boy, he knew only slightly better from a few occasions when he and his dad had brought some of their tools to the smithy to be repaired. So far as Sam knew, all three of the other hobbits were solid and steady fellows.

The Men he thought were a mixed bag. For one thing, they included a female, Leonora. Her inclusion had surprised him greatly. Although Sam was aware of her hoydenish girlhood, when she and her twin had indulged in their fair share of hijinks in Bree, it seemed strange to him that a girl would want to leave her home for what could be a very dangerous job. He wondered if the twins were too young to be an asset to the 'Defenders', although he said nothing. Farmer Mugwort had accepted both of them, and he was the leader despite what the dwarf said.

He wasn't quite sure about Master Parkun, either. Sam had observed the innkeeper's second son during some of his periodic visits to the Pony. There wasn't anything he could put his finger on, so to speak, but the lad had run with a wild crowd when he was younger. And he wasn't a particularly friendly type either. Sometimes he acted like he was trying to hide something. Erling, on the other hand, was an outgoing, pleasant sort. Sam knew him from the inn, too. A friendly fellow in his early tweens, he was always hanging on new folk passing through, asking for travelers' tales. Sam liked what he'd seen of him up to now.

He reserved judgement on the strange Man, and the dwarf, who seemed pretty high and mighty going on about trolls and fighting and such. That Grimbeorn at least hadn't tried to boss everyone around.

Catching up to his friend Eric, he murmurred quietly enough so no one could hear, "Quite a group we've got here, haven't we?"