Middle Earth [TA 2997]: The Phantom of the Northern Marches

[Inez Hull]

Artos is not sure of the exact details of where Aski is reported to have seen the Phantom, but advises the party that Aski was hunting in a large vale at the foot of the hills that build up to the Pen-Dredi, the highest point in the northern Drebiwyd. Artos suggests following the game trail will lead the party in a circuitous but easily navigable manner to the vale.

The animal prints thoroughly investigated, the party resumes its travel northward. The game trail picks its way through the somewhat sparse and hilly wood, veering around the contours of the land. After an hours travel a small creek is passed and the path seems to be less frequently used. As the sun moves overhead into the early afternoon, the shadows in the wood lengthen and several times you find yourselves double-taking at hints of movement or half shapes in the trees, but despite the keen eyes of the company, nothing tangible is found. After close to an hour's further travel nerves are once more stretched taut when Artos halts the party and states that the clearing where Aski was hunting lies ahead. Arathorn sends Breor and Grey ahead to scout and the horseman soon returns to report that the vale is occupied by a large herd of grazing Elk, with little else of significance visible.

More at ease, the party advances the short distance and gazes upon the clearing in the woods, perhaps several hundred yards across at its widest. A large herd of Elk are gathered on the western fringe of the vale grazing on grass and leaves and largely ignoring the group of men who have intruded on them....

...and then the three rangers notice a ripple of tension move through the herd, a restlessness and nervous shifting that sends alarm bells ringing.

 

[Festy_Dog]

Antroine hasn't the feintest idea what could be wrong, and not noticing the elks' tension, is still casually meandering his way towards the glade.

"Well, if animals are hanging around here that doesn't really give me the idea that some kind of freakishly deadly phantasm is also in close proximity," he watches a puff of smoke spiral away.

 

[Manzanita]

Valandil

"Put away your pipe." Valandil snaps at Antrione. "There's something afoot." The Dunedain draws his longsword, and his left hand clenches into a fist at his chest, feeling Itendûna, his family signet ring, close to his heart.

 

[rangerjohn]

Arathorn nods emphatically as he nocks an arrow to his bow.

 

[ferretguy]

Signalling to Grey to move out Breor states "Perhaps I can get a better view from around the herds flank of what can be disturbing them." He takes off to the left following Grey around the left of the glade, still staying within the cover of the forest.

 

[Inez Hull]

The two Dunadein bring their companions to alertness of the building danger and arm themselves as Breor swiftly flanks the herd of elk, keeping within the fringes of the wood. None of the rangers sense anything apart from your group and the elk, but something is obviously disturbing the herd, even noticeably to the Gondorian now. Arathorn and Valandil exchange a worried glance, both reading their concern mirrored on the others face - that the herd is on the verge of stampeding.

 

[Festy_Dog]

Antroine removes the pipe from his mouth, and looks around more carefully, having been startled by Valandil. His bleary eyes notice it this time, the animals were acting funny, he'd think they were scared of something even. Antroine tucks his pipe into a pocket and draws his rapier.

"Now if those things freak out, are they gonna run this way?" he asks, having become more observant with the tension in the air.

 

[Manzanita]

Valandil

"In case they stampede this way, find yourself a tree to flatten yourself against and sheild you from any impacts."

 

[Mirth]

Seemingly oblivious to the chatter going on amongst his companions, Artos drops to one knee, keenly eyeing the elk herd and their head movements, and strangely sniffs the air around him.

 

[Inez Hull]

Artos:

Spoiler

You only pick up the scent of your companions and that of the Elk, tinged with fear.

Arathorn:

Spoiler

I've given each of the rangers a wild empathy check to pick up on what is happening and try to influence it and only you were successful. At first you assume that the herd is reacting to the prescence of humans and you attempt to calm them down - unsuccessfully. However you realise upon closer inspection that there seems to be just one or two of the elk who are disturbing all of the others, spreading panic amongst them. Unfortunately the panic has spread too quickly amongst them and you get no opportunity to do anything about the elk generating the disturbance as the elk stampede and the culprits are lost to you amongst the rush.

As the herd of elk become increasingly agitated Artos drops to one knee sniffing the air, orc or animal-like. A stern faced Arathorn strides to the front of the party instructing you all to silence and stillness. He squats in front of the elk and slowly pans his vision across them as the party watches on in concern as the tension thickens to an almost tangible quality. Those of you watching Arathorn see a puzzled look cross his face followed by dawning comprehension and then fear as he turns and runs only moments before the herd erupts in stampede.

The elk surge forward en masse directly towards the party, raising a cacophonous thunder and a cloud of blinding dust as they swiftly cross the clearing towards the scattering party. Breor watches aghast from the safety of his position to the side as the tide of elk crashes against his companions.

Both of the Dunedain have reacted cannily, Valandil quickly back amongst the trees and Arathorn just outpacing the elk before swinging himself behind the cover of a sturdy bole.

Artos shifts his lumbering bulk with a surprising turn of speed but cannot outpace the frontrunners of the stampede and is slammed hard in the back by several elk before swiftly scrambling up a tree in a feat of prowess belying his size.

Antroine is caught off guard and is still yards from the tree line when the wave of stampeding elk breaks over him, knocking him to the ground winding him heavily. Several times he tries to rise from amongst the surging animals but is knocked down again. As panic sets in and he despairs of surfacing from the stampede Antroine finds a momentary lapse and springs to his feet finding that he has been buffeted and dragged to within reach of the trees. A quick stride and spring and the wiry Gondorian has caught hold of an overhanging branch and swung himself up from the press of the stampede where he collapses breathing heavily, contemplating his mortality.

The herd charges onwards and past the party scattering into the woods beyond until the rumble of their combined footsteps dies down and disappears. The dust slowly settles and you regather, some of you unscathed and others rather worse for wear [Artos 4 points of damage taken, Antroine 14 damage taken].