Game session report: Okay, yesterday I was actually able to get a game running! However, as much fun as we had, we didn't get very far.
For those who've played through the House of Margil, you know that Elrond gives you a mission to seek out a Ranger who has gone missing, Margil. He's about an 8-10 day away march away from Rivendell. Our intrepid heroes consisted of Aegnor, a dunedain magician; Argeleb, a dunedain noble (subject to change); and Scanthac, a female dunedain rogue (also subject to change). The heroes graciously accept the mission from lord Elrond and start off on their travels. However, on the first days hard march, Scanthac has a disastrous accident marching out of the valley and twists her ankle, causing the party to make camp early. This injury would slow the party significantly, adding days to their estimated time of arrival.
The next day , overcast and slightly windy, brings a trying march and the party nears exhaustion 5 hours into their their travels. The importance of their mission causes them to push on, though, even when coming to a long and deep ravine. Exploring the edge and side of the crevice, Aegnor believed he found a relatively safe area to begin descent. He was mistaken. The party slides into the ravine down the sides, incurring numerous injuries on their way down. Still feeling the importance of their mission, they soldier on, finding what looks to be a safer path some distance through the ravine, through a patch of darkness.
As the heroes begin to march into the darkness, they notice the ground to be somewhat soft and a little sticky. Argeleb attributes this effect to the presence of water making the ground muddy. To prove his claims, he attempts to cut some of the foliage growing at the bottom of the ravine free, only to have it get stuck. At this moment, he notices a chittering sound the others do not. In order to assist Argeleb in finding his weapon, Aegnor lights the tip of his staff and, to the party's surprise, illuminates a giant spider. As Argeleb was leading the party, he is immediately sprayed with web by the spider and is poisoned, a wound that will prove to be great. Aegnor's attempts to battle the beast with magic fail and he results in using a sword. Scanthac will eventually brain the creature, but not before she suffers a wounding, poisonous bite herself.
The party then decides to make camp next to the still twitching body of their fallen enemy. This battle has tested their courage and fortitude, but the coming day will prove to be their greatest challenge.
After recovering their stamina, the heroes asses their wounds. Scanthac and Argeleb have received many wounds and all attempts to heal them made by Aegnor have come to not. Yet, the ever stubborn Argeleb, insists on marching forward. As Aegnor is the only party member who has not suffered any major injuries, he attempts to scale the wall with great success. At the top he ties a silk rope, gifted by Elrond to a boulder in order to securely anchor the line. Scanthac climbs up next with little trouble and the two await the arrival of Argeleb. His injuries would prove too great for the task of climbing and, even assisted by the help of the rope, falls down the face of the cliff several times, incurring more wounds. Aegnor determines to help his friend, but on the way down, the knot he tied slipped and Aegnor falls down the side of the cliff. Scanthac, in a huff, mentions she should have tied the knot and begins to climb down the cliff face once more in order to retrieve the rope and re-anchor it to the boulder. Her injuries have also been more damaging to her body than she thought and she tumbles down the cliff face.
Having to start, once again, from the bottom of the ravine, Scanthac and Aegnor climb back to the top, re-anchor the line, and await the arrival of Argeleb. Yet, the noble's wounds still prove too great for the task and he body gives way to disastrous consequences. He slips on the cliff face and dislodges a boulder on the way down, which opens a flowing wound in his body. Immediately, Aegnor and Scanthac descend into the chasm once again to help their friend, but the speed of the descent makes Scanthac lose her hold upon the rope slide down the cliff face, narrowly missing Aegnor. At the bottom of the ravine, Aegnor manages to stabilize Argeleb before they determine to rest for a few days to regain some strength.
This is where the first session ends. The heroes have had a rough go of things thus far, and are camping at the bottom of a dark, damp, and cold ravine. As one player was unable to make it to the first game session, let's hope his appearance is a boon to the group, and not a hindrance. I don't think the party could stand more disappointment. All things considered, we had fun.
Wed Apr 16, 2014 3:13 am by Eiweing
