Blood Run: A Terror Returns RPG

[Durelin]

When they arrived at his father’s inn, Parkun dropped toward the back of the partying, so he would be one of the last to enter. He hoped that if his father was busy dealing with the others he might overlook his son. But the strawberry-blonde had little luck.

Master Felderth gave his boy a grin when he saw him enter, at which Kun dropped his eyes. And after the innkeeper had gotten the maps for Farmer Mugwort, he gave the young man’s hair a good ruffle before leaving the party be.

Parkun stared down at the table, mortified and seething with anger. He felt his face heat up and wished he could hide it, and so he did all he could and avoided eye contact with anyone. Even when Master Mugwort spoke he did not look up and did not really listen as he was too absorbed in his own embarrassment, his anger towards his father, and wondering why he was here.

I had best get more than a few pats on the head out of this, he thought. And there was no way he was splitting any of the glory or the reward with his friends, which was why they had no idea where he was at the moment. Luckily this was nothing really new.

It was a gamble and perhaps a waste of time to be a part of this little group, and it certainly meant a good bit of embarrassment for him, but still…even the embarrassment was worth it if his older brother heard and saw how his father was praising him. But if any of it was to be worth it, things still had to go well, so there was no sense in him just sitting there.

“There are a lot of woods around here,” Parkun spoke up rather quietly, only half hoping his father heard him, “and I know some of them alright, myself.” That was a bit of an exaggeration – he had played in the woods and ventured into some deeper parts of them on dares, but he could hardly navigate through any of them. “There aren’t just beasts who live in them, either,” he added off-handedly, though the statement was meant to be mysterious.

[Dimturiel]

It felt strange to Erling to be sitting at the table in the inn and be talking about dangerous creatures of the wild, talking and not only hearing about them from a report of things that had already happened, distant and therefore safe. It gave him an unpleasant feeling to speak about dangerous and unfamiliar things in that familiar and until then secure spot. Until then it seemed to him that he had looked on the world without Bree as from a safe and impenetrable wall, yet now it seemed that the wall had crumbled and he-or better said, they, the people of that comfortable little town where nothing happened-were left exposed and unprotected to face the perils of that unfriendly world.

Erling inspected the map with interest. Particularly long he looked at the many green patches that lay around Bree. Once, he had lost himself in one of those woods. A strange sensation had taken hold of him then as if…as if there was something there, something unfriendly, wicked even. But he said nothing to the others about that. He was a small lad when that had happened, and very fanciful too, it was likely enough to have been only his imagination playing tricks on him.

“There aren’t just beasts who live in them, either.” Parkun said then, and Erling found himself wanting to ask “How do you know?” However, instead of doing that, he found himself nodding in agreement.

“It seems so.” he said. “And I was just wandering about something. Why do these creatures leave never as much as a footprint? Master Kuric says it’s a troll, but, well, I have heard trolls are not too clever, would they bother to hide their footprints? And could ordinary beasts do that? Who knows what has crept into our forests.”

“But how can you be so sure it comes from the forest?” he found himself thinking, and he shuddered. “Perhaps it comes from your own safe town.” But no, thought Erling, energetically waving his head to drive such dark visions from his mind, it could not be. He did not even know how such a terrifying thought could have come to him. It could not be.

[Forest Elf]

Grimbeorn sat there, off to the side of the table. He looked up at the map's, part of his scar showing, though, he was unaware of that. He ran his finger over the area and then sat down, deep in thought. He didn't become a ranger for nothing. He sighed, he wasn't exactly familiar with this area, and he wouldn't know much about the landscape except for what the maps showed him.

Then a new thought came to mind. "Where have these creatures attacked?" Grimbeorn asked. "Perhaps there could be some sort of pattern? It wouldn't be unheard of...there have been series of attacks that do come in patterns."

[Thinlómien]

No one seemed to answer Grimbeorn. The foreigner looked a bit lost and if wondering whether anyone had heard his question.

Leanora turned to him. "I don't know much", she said and smiled, her eyes skimming the map, "but the latest attack was somewhere around here." She pointed the place where her family and their neighbours lived. Then she frowned. "The mare must have gone missing from the pasture, but... it's a good animal and valuable property. There aren't a lot of horses here in Bree. Old Maple - the farmer, that is - usually keeps an eye on her. I wonder when did she manage to disappear..." Lea realized that she was rambling and stopped, even though the foreigner was nodding politely.

"Um.. Maybe others can tell you more. I would be interested in hearing that too. I mean, hearing things once again might help." Only then did she notice the scar on the young man's face. "What happened to your face?" Before he could reply, she added hastily: "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Meanwhile, Orin used his sister's conversation with the stranger to his own advantage and without anyone noticing, he slipped in and under the table.

[mormegil]

Mutterings and curses were all that was escaping Kuric's mouth for the moment. So infuriated he was that he refused to help anymore. "Simpletons", he curtly muttered but nobody heard him, "what do they know about hunting in the wild. Only one looks like he has much sense here and he's not even from here either." With that he let out an exasperated sigh and muttered "Hobbits, every time I give 'em a chance to prove themselves ta me, the end up letting me down."

Kuric was aware of the many stares that were coming his way due to him talking to himself but such things never bothered him. Fortunately for Kuric and the others, little if any of what he was saying could be heard as it tended to be rather rude and offensive to Bree and it's inhabitants.

"I'll have to show them in the end why I volunteered, ruddy peasants they are; don't know a warrior and leader when they see one." He coldly spat.

This would go on for quite some time only broken up by his taking long draughts of the ale presented him. He no longer cared for what was being planned, he needed no such plans, "Just show me what to kill" was his motto now.

[Forest Elf]

"I don't know much", she said and smiled, her eyes skimming the map, "but the latest attack was somewhere around here." She pointed the place where her family and their neighbors lived. Then she frowned. "The mare must have gone missing from the pasture, but... it's a good animal and valuable property. There aren't a lot of horses here in Bree. Old Maple - the farmer, that is - usually keeps an eye on her. I wonder when did she manage to disappear..."

Grimbeorn looked at the place where she pointed on the map. I wonder why it would have gone after a horse? That is...if it went after the horse...then how much longer will it be before it starts going after beings other than animals? he thought to himself.

"Um.. Maybe others can tell you more. I would be interested in hearing that too. I mean, hearing things once again might help. What happened to your face? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Grimbeorn looked at her. He had hoped to keep it hidden, but, in seeing that the question had been asked, there was no use hiding it now. "No, I don't mind," he said with a small smile. He raised his head so that it was fully visible. "I got it awhile ago, back when I was tracking a few orcs roaming about. I attacked and, if it weren't for an old friend of mine...my injuries would have killed me." He didn't like talking about his injuries, well, scars much...he felt as though it were bragging in a way.

[Dunwen]

Sam felt decidedly out of place as he listened both to the dwarf’s unhappy mutterings and to Grimbeorn’s casual explanation of his scar. Of the two, he was more impressed with the Man. At least the Big Person was trying to find out exactly what had happened. And he looked like somebody who could face down a pack of Orcs.

‘What am I doing here,’ he wondered to himself, feeling helpless. ‘I’m a smith, not a hero.’ But he thought of Farmer Maple's horse. She had been a dainty, sweet-tempered creature. Sam had shoed her not three months ago. He'd volunteered for this; he'd better try to contribute something useful. Grimbeorn talked of finding a pattern in the attacks. Sam thought this idea quite sensible. With an effort, he spoke up on his own.

“I think Mr. Grimbeorn is right,” he said loudly, surprising himself at how calm he sounded. “And Miss Leanora,” he added hastily, not wanting to be rude. “Maybe we should take a take a look at where the attacks happened and see if we can learn anything. I mean, something big enough to kill a cow or a horse should leave some kind of a trail, shouldn’t it? Whatever this is, it attacked my dad’s farm twice a few days ago. Got a cow and a cat."

[Finduilas]

“What an absurd idea,” thought Ash, when someone mentioned it might be a Breelander who had killed the animals. But when Parkun brought up Jak, and Leanora mentioned Owyn, it no longer seemed like an impossibility. Others apparently agreed, since Sam spoke up, telling of a time when a friend and himself had heard some strange things in the forest. Leanora repeated a few of the well-known tales of Owyn.

“Do we even know if Jak is around? I’ve heard that he hasn’t been seen for about 10 years. Of course, that could mean he is anywhere. But how on earth are you expecting to find out about these people? Owyn is so rarely seen anyway, I don’t think it would be likely that we would see any of him if he were at all connected to this thing.”

[Finduilas]

Ash was greatly relieved when no one seemed put out by Orin's performance. But he still needed to talk to him. Ash looked over at Leanora and signaled her to follow, as he retreated to a corner dragging Orin along.

“So Lea, what are we going to do with him? It might be dark before he gets home, and these days it isn't safe for a child to be alone at dark. We might have to take him with us for today, and return him home tomorrow. I hope father doesn't get worried about you,” he said, turning to Orin, who was still sputtering about being called a child.

“Oh, that's no problem. He said I could stay at Derin's house tonight, so he wont be expecting me back till late tomorrow,” Orin replied, as if well satisfied with his brilliancy.

Ash rolled his eyes then turned to Lea to hear what she thought.

[Groin Redbeard]

For the first few minutes of walking Gorin was digging into his pack and presently retrieved a stained and tattered, but still usable, hooded cloak, which he threw on his pack and pulled the hood tightly over his head. He was marching next to Kuric.

The brother and sister were up ahead with Erling along with Orin who despite his eagerness had to be helped along more than once by his siblings. Gorin had no bone to pick with with them, but bringing a child so young on a journey which could prove perilous seemed very foolish to him.

He observed the movements of each of the company, apparently some were more accustomed to the forest than others, but all of them seemed hardy folk. Lea seemed to move with considerable ease in her male clothes and gave Gorin the impression that she dressed in them regularly. That would certainly give an explanation to why she didn't think it strange to be wearing such things when he asked her about it.

Gorin could smell the scent of smoke and knew that they were drawing very near the house of this Edin Cengal and came upon it in no time at all. Erling stopped and faced the party but mainly stared at Gorin and Kuric. He gave each of them a warning of the Edin's behaviour towards strangers, and also of the ferocious dogs that he kept. A second later a snarling dog came up to the fence and attempted to jump it, but failed.

“Master Cengal!” Erling cried over the clamour of the dogs. “Master Cengal, can you hear me?”

In due time the man came out and for a minute Cengal and Erling shouted back at each other before finally the man exclaimed.

"My goodness it is you," he said to Erling in a crackling voice, "Come on in than can't stay out here shouting all night!"

Then he called off his dogs and went inside the house. Erling opened the latch on the gate and presently the line of travelers filed into the house and the door was shut behind them. Gorin stayed near the door and folded his hands across his chest, waiting for the Cengal or Erling to speak.

[Dimturiel]

Once they were all in, Cengal set to make his guests comfortable. He placed them in a room where a fire was burning brightly and served them some food and also some of his wine-“to warm you after coming from that cold dark place outside”, as he told them. While he was doing all this, Erling was telling him about the decision of the villagers to form a group of “Defenders”-the farmer noticed that Erling spoke the word on a very important tone and could not help grinning to himself at that-to try and get to the bottom of what was happening.

“That is all very wise.” Edin Cengal said when Erling had vanished, although he thought it far from wise that such a party had been accepted for the job. Why most of them were so young, and there was a girl also, and a small child and…and three foreigners! Were they fit to be entrusted with the safety of their own land? He did not think so. He would have thought twice before employing such a party to such a grave job. “And what have you done as Defenders?” he continued, trying to hide any traces of mockery from his voice.

Erling looked suddenly uncomfortable. He glanced at his companions, hoping one of them would speak in his head. But then he changed his mind and thought that, since Erling knew him, it was better if he talked.

“Well,” he began hesitantly. “Well, nothing, but…”

“Just as I thought” Cengal told himself. No good putting too much trust in such a party of youngsters and girls and dwarves! Yet aloud, he said:

“Well, that’s not too good, is it, Erling my lad? But what can I do for you brave Defenders?”

“Well,” Erling said. “You….you live here and I have heard you have suffered because of these creatures. We thought perhaps you could tell us some things. I have heard they attacked your flocks twice.”

“Not twice, my lad.” Cengal replied, shaking his head. “But three times actually. So you want me to tell you how it was…”

At this the farmer paused and went to the window to look outside. He stood long like that, staring at the darkness, although it was doubtless he was actually seeing anything.