[The One Ring] The Marsh Bell

[JoeNotCharles]

[sblock=Traits and Rewards]
[MENTION=82643]CaBaNa[/MENTION]: For succeeding at your Courtesy skill check, Hobnob gains an Advancement Point. That means you fill in one of the boxes to the right of that row of skills.

At the end of the adventure, you can trade in your Advancement Points to increase your skills. The first point in each group is fairly easy to get, but each one after that gets harder (and you can't get more than three for each skill group).

So, now that you've done the medium difficulty task of impressing this fairly grumpy dwarf, if you want to gain another Advancement Point using Courtesy, Song or Riddle, you'd need to do something more difficult, like convincing a troll to sit down to a civilized dinner instead of cooking you up with Courtesy, or outwitting the king's smartest counselor with Riddle. To gain a third, you'd need to do something truly epic, like outwitting Saruman himself with Riddle, or singing the Dark Lord to sleep on his dark throne.

BUT you can also invoke one of your traits to make it more likely to get an Advancement Point. Not 100% certain - I might still decide the roll was not important enough to gain a point even with a trait - but it's one of the things I take into account when deciding.

So, to recap, the 3 things you can use traits for:

1. Automatically succeed at a roll (with minimal success, and no chance of an Advancement Point).
2. After making a roll, make it more likely that you'll receive an Advancement Point.
3. Allows you to make a roll in a situation where most people wouldn't even get one.

Does invoking my Fair trait cost me anything? I might as well try, otherwise why get it, right? I'll invoke it.

Nope, doesn't cost anything. The limits on them are that you only get a marginal success (which doesn't matter here, since you have no chance to get an extraordinary success, since you have no d6 skill dice to roll - in fact, the only way you can succeed is by rolling 12 on the d12, which is an auto success) and that you can't get Advancement Points if you don't roll. And that you have to persuade me the trait can actually help you - in this case, I'd be tempted to say that this dwarf is prejudiced against elves and isn't going to be swayed by elven beauty, but I'm not going to do that because it wouldn't help me demonstrate how traits work.

So, yeah, using the trait's a no-brainer for you.

FourMonos good luck with your difficult choice, auto-success via true-hearted, or a chance at an extraordinary success.

To make the choice a little easier, it's really not necessary for everybody to succeed. One of the two hobbits has already impressed Glóin greatly - that means he'll be very likely to help you with your new business venture. If the other one also impresses him, he'll be pretty much in your pocket, but if not, unless you really blow your roll badly and offend him, it won't be much of a drawback.

And in the short term, as long as a fair number of you impress him, he's not going to kick you out of his office or anything.

I'm REALLY enjoying this game all, thanks.

Ditto!
[/sblock]

 

[Voda Vosa]

Kurin makes the appropiate salutation according to the dwarven tradition, and speaks softly. "Master Gloin, I, artificer Kurin Stonehands have trade bussiness to discuss with you. The stone is patient, so attend to the elves and hobbits first, I prefer to discuss such matters more relaxed."

OOC: Invoking my dwarven lore, since I'm a dwarf to not roll.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

Glóin nods respectfully at Kurin, and turns his attention away from him.

His gaze darkens as it falls on the elves, but when Vardolas steps forward and the light falls on his face, the old dwarf is stunned by his beauty, and the scowl melts away from his face. "The stars shine upon our meeting," Vardolas says, and Glóin's gaze goes far away. His hand reaches up to pluck at the air beside his head, as if the stars are floating there. "Kheled-zâram," he mutters. He turns to look at the red-bearded dwarf, who is standing in the doorway watching the proceedings.

"The foresight is upon me, boy," he says. "For a moment I saw the stars of Kheled-zâram, the crown of Durin reflected in still water. I shall never see it in the flesh - but I think you shall, my son. One day, I think you shall." Glóin's son, looking awed, bows and thoughtfully withdraws.

[sblock=Walking Dad]
That was an allusion to a scene from The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gimli, son of Glóin, finds an ancient dwarven holy place, a still pool in the mountains which endlessly reflects a crown of stars, even in daylight.
[/sblock]

Glóin turns back to the Elves. "I think you for this vision, traveller," he says courteously, though without warmth.

Before he can say more, the Hobnob surges forward, marvelling over the dwarf's beard. Glóin laughs deeply, fingering its forked white ends. "Ah, youth! What exuberance! I have not seen any of your kind since my dear friend Bilbo left us. You are from the Shire, are you not? I passed through a time or two in my younger days - a pleasant country. I remember it well. With luck and hard toil, I hope to make the dragon-blasted lands around here as green and pleasant in my lifetime!

Ah, your eager tones have lightened a heart that has been under a heavy load these past few days. Be welcome, glady. Bilbo was the same - he kept our spirits up in the darkest hours. Do you know him? How has dear Bilbo fared since he left us?"

[sblock=OOC]I'm out of town until Wednesday morning, so I'll continue then. At this point each of the major groups have (elves, hobbits, dwarves) have been introduced to Glóin, so dealing with him will continue smoothly unless one of the others screws it up. You others can introduce yourself separately to try to improve your personal standing with him, or just stay silent and let the others' introductions speak for you.

I just realized there's really nothing for Orin and Borin to do here, since we've established they already know him. Sorry, guys... It should kick into gear for you soon!
[/sblock]

 

[FourMonos]

Riggins walks forward, the pouch of pipeweed in his hands.

"Master Gloin, you do us great honor to put us in the same light as Bilbo Baggins. The tales of his adventures, and the brave dwarves he traveled with, are common fare around the Shire. Alas, Bilbo has kept to himself much since his return. Rumors abound he spends much time at Rivendell in the House of Elrond.

He bows deep before the dwarf, "My cousin Hobnob and I are on a much simpler quest. We have traveled here to bring Shire pipeweed to Laketown. We knew that if anyone here were to know the quality of our pipeweed, it would be the dwaves of the Lonely Mountain!"

With that, he offers the pipeweed to Gloin by placing the pouch on his desk.

[sblock=ooc] I think I'll pass on a roll, as it seems Hobnob did a great job. [/sblock]

 

[Iron Sky]

Authiel stays back and watches the proceedings. Even amongst her own people she is reserved and amongst strangers she can't let go the wariness bred of decades spent keeping the dark things of Mirkwood in check.

OOC: Authiel would probably do more harm than good in this situation.

 

[garyh]

Orin observes the newcomers, expressing more curiosity in the hobbits than the elves.

[sblock=OOC]No problem, JNC, still enjoying things.

Good news - Amazon has shipped my copy of the game, and I should receive it 10/14. It'll be easier to play with a copy of the rules. [/sblock]

 

[Walking Dad]

Borin

While Orin seems interested, Borin reaction is a bit more negative. He doesn't like the easygoing lifestyle of the Hobbits. It nearly as repulsive as the 'we are better and can proof it' attitude of the Elves.
At least they let not make Orcs paying visits...

 

[CaBaNa]

Glóin nods respectfully at Kurin, and turns his attention away from him.

His gaze darkens as it falls on the elves, but when Vardolas steps forward and the light falls on his face, the old dwarf is stunned by his beauty, and the scowl melts away from his face. "The stars shine upon our meeting," Vardolas says, and Glóin's gaze goes far away. His hand reaches up to pluck at the air beside his head, as if the stars are floating there. "Kheled-zâram," he mutters. He turns to look at the red-bearded dwarf, who is standing in the doorway watching the proceedings.

"The foresight is upon me, boy," he says. "For a moment I saw the stars of Kheled-zâram, the crown of Durin reflected in still water. I shall never see it in the flesh - but I think you shall, my son. One day, I think you shall." Glóin's son, looking awed, bows and thoughtfully withdraws.

[sblock=Walking Dad]
That was an allusion to a scene from The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gimli, son of Glóin, finds an ancient dwarven holy place, a still pool in the mountains which endlessly reflects a crown of stars, even in daylight.
[/sblock]

Glóin turns back to the Elves. "I think you for this vision, traveller," he says courteously, though without warmth.

Before he can say more, the Hobnob surges forward, marvelling over the dwarf's beard. Glóin laughs deeply, fingering its forked white ends. "Ah, youth! What exuberance! I have not seen any of your kind since my dear friend Bilbo left us. You are from the Shire, are you not? I passed through a time or two in my younger days - a pleasant country. I remember it well. With luck and hard toil, I hope to make the dragon-blasted lands around here as green and pleasant in my lifetime!

Ah, your eager tones have lightened a heart that has been under a heavy load these past few days. Be welcome, glady. Bilbo was the same - he kept our spirits up in the darkest hours. Do you know him? How has dear Bilbo fared since he left us?"

[sblock=OOC]I'm out of town until Wednesday morning, so I'll continue then. At this point each of the major groups have (elves, hobbits, dwarves) have been introduced to Glóin, so dealing with him will continue smoothly unless one of the others screws it up. You others can introduce yourself separately to try to improve your personal standing with him, or just stay silent and let the others' introductions speak for you.

I just realized there's really nothing for Orin and Borin to do here, since we've established they already know him. Sorry, guys... It should kick into gear for you soon!
[/sblock]

My cousin speaks true, as is his way, may hap we can help, with your lands cultivation while we open new trade. A fortuitous day, opportunity abounds! Hobnob can barely contain his merriment, but he quickly remembers his manners and yields the floor, bowing and stepping to the side.

Noticing the curiosity of Orin, Hobnob sidles nearer the dwarf, Pleased to meet you, Hobnob at your service, care for a pinch? offers the Hobbit, as he refills his own pipe again.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

Glóin smiles at Hob. "I would be glad to help you set up a trade in the Hobbit Leaf! Such an arrangement would benefit us all. But there is other business to take care of first. Pray excuse me a moment."

He turns to face the elves again. With a distinct lack of decorum, he says, "We've been waiting impatiently for word from your King. Have you brought it?"

 

[fireinthedust]

Vardolas feels no animosity towards the dwarf, needing no "warmth", as he is complemented by their host's vision upon seeing him.

He wastes no time handing over the package to Gloin. I have indeed. This is the sealed container that bears within word from the king of the elves of Mirkwood. It was given to me to deliver this to you, as envoy, that you may carry it to Dain Ironfoot, King Under the Mountain.