Would that be “morals” or “morale”? Both could occasionally do with some elevating in our party…
Sir Thoroncir claps the backwoods-Hobbit on the shoulder and says, “Many thanks, Gorbo, for your able guidance [and memorable name, piquant tastes and colorful dialect] along the way! I’m sure we would’ve been many more days reaching the Last Bridge, had it not been for your assistance. Are you sure you would not like to go on with us to Rivendell?”
He then privately asks Deor and Gilraen if perhaps Lorliana should no longer have access to the old book. Even if it’s no longer giving her nightmares, she seems to be taking it pretty hard, on top of the distress our journey has already caused her (had she known in Minas Tirith all that would befall us en route, surely she would never have agreed to come).
He asks Curunauth, “Did the house and fort of Vanimelde have a name, to your knowledge, O Elf-smith?”
The knight-errant wouldn’t mind having the magic bridle, but won’t insist and would be glad to let someone else have it, if they wish.
Deor is inclined to agree. The methodical alchemist in him thinks that someone else should carry the book- if Lorliana’s nightmares continue, or the new bearer begins having them, we’ll know something about the book. I’ll be happy to carry it for a while, if no one else objects.
Gorbo thanks Thoroncir but reminds him he has the rest of his pups to see to. “I coodint say no to some extry gold or silvry from the trolls.”
Gilraen on Lorliana to Deor and Thoroncir, "Actually the book appears to be helping her. Her only peaceful night was when she went to sleep with the book from the beginning of the night. I’m afraid she saw too many things she only read about and never expected to actually meet. She is rather naive and innocent*. You are correct that she never would have left the safety of Minas Tirith if she had known. I’m not sure how she will leave Rivendell when it come time or what will happen if they don’t accept her. I will put in a good word for her though. Sadly my uncles cannot be wheedled the way I hear most uncles can.
The *bridle *is of far more use to a slower horse than yours Sir Thoroncir; it probably would work far better on a Pony. Mulligan or Gwaelur would make the most sense or perhaps Miron’s poor pack horse."
Curunauth on the house, “I have been meditating on that, I believe it was called Aerdolan Kanotir on Amontiri. Roughly translated this would have meant Hallowed House of the Watch Commander on the Hill of the Watchfullness.
please note the slight irony in the fact that Princess Gilraen is at least 6 years Lorli’s junior.
“My thanks, Curunauth, for that information, and also to you, my lady, for your thoughts about both Lorliana and the ensorcelled bridle. Let us see that Gorbo is well-paid with coins from the Troll-trove for his work with us, particularly given the many unanticipated perils along the way.”
Thank you for the interesting journey Gorbo and may you reach your home safely.
As an aside to the party. “Is it worth giving him the Dwarven Steel dagger as he did fight alongside us and we did come away with quite a lot of stuff from the House.”
Does anyone else think that Lorliana stopped playing D&D and started playing Call of Cthulhu while we were not looking.
The bats told Ghân that they don’t know. He summoned them as he came down out of the North. Many flew all the way from the mountains.
Gorbo, “Thankju, hope we meet agin, I’ll missju the most. Good luck.”
It’s minor but what bonus is the party going to give him if any?
You might want to start talking about the magic item distribution.
Would 20 gold pieces be generous, fair or stingy as a bonus for Gorbo? I’d like to be generous. As to the magic items, Thoroncir does not wish to claim anything. Does the Princess Gilraen?
Deor has no objections to the claims being put forth- of the objects already identified, he’s mostly interested in the spellbooks and the ring given to him by the Lady of the Tower. He’s interested in the buttons as a trinket- they’d be helpful in holding materials bags closed, and he’d particularly like to try to reverse-engineer the spell involved, because it might come in handy in building a staff. But if anyone’s got a better reason to want them, I’m perfectly willing to give them up. I’ve done very well already.
I’m surprised to hear no hobbits laying claims to the Dwarven steel knife that aids climbing, but if no one wants it, it seems like a good gift to Gorbo as a bonus.
Ok, aside from the items we were gifted in the house, we also have the following magic items
Elven Cloak +1 of Rivendell/Hollin style.
Honing stone: Does not wear out, reduces sharpening time by 50%; when sharpen normal blade for 30r counts as +1for first hit.
Medium Shield: with the device of a Knight charging a Dragon. +3/+5 vs. Breath & ½ dam
Large ceramic pot: Restores rotten food to fresh once. Slow cooks ½ time.
2 brass buttons (Eagles): Buttons of Fastening. Button and unbutton on command.
Dwarven Steel Dagger: .+2 and will stab stone up to 6”. If used it gives a +25% to climb stone walls but noisy. It could be used to chip through a stone wall.
Magic Bridle: increase speed by 50% up to 25” +50% endurance (not for Elven/Unicorn)
3 Unknown Potions
Is there anything in there that party members would like or feel they would be useful to them?
I feel we should give something to Gorbo, the only question is what? Other possibilities could be the pot or the honing stone.
For me, though, if that Elven Cloak works with this Galvorn chainmail it would be really nice. I already have gloves of climbing (+15%) and the dagger is noisy when climbing walls, which kind of defeats the point of it really.
Gilraen, "I won’t begrudge Gorbo an item but there is a vast difference in value between 20 gold and a magic item. I would recommend more gold and not one of the items. Though honestly, we negotiated 25 gold for this escort and giving him an additional 25 gold seems very fair to me. We had found 390 silver I believe; we could give him all of those also. Other than the potions, none of the items matter much to me. So that would be eight items for 8 members. I am fine with any division. Perhaps I will get one potion.”
Ghân is happy giving Gorbo some gold. He did the job of a guide.
(If anything Curunath should be paying the party something for having acted as a ‘Monster Attractor’!)
Ghân is interested in the Elven Cloak (if it will work with his Wooden Jerkin), or else the Magic Bridle.
Curunauth in his rambling way[sup]1[/sup], “I actually do have an idea along the way of what Ghân mentioned[sup]2[/sup] in passing. I do have sharp ears you know. The party did me a greater service than I expected. I was already going to do some work for Thoroncir. I was planning to charge him much less than discussed, especially as he now had the most precious two components required. I have many items laying about my shop that might help the party. I do feel I owe the party more than we negotiated. I can also probably trade for another Elven Cloak or two. Other than the Bridle & Cloak which are very useful to the party and of no use to us, I take it all in trade and get you all equivalent items to the Elven Cloak or Bridle or perhaps upgrade one of your existing items. For example, I will complete the forging of your sword Thoroncir for no charge at all if the party is willing to make this deal. If no one wants the Bridle I can even work that into the deal. Some pony rider will want it. We get many Hobbits these days and a goodly number of Dwarves what with the planning of the war.”
Is the 25GP and silver bonus enough for Gorbo or is there some other amount? I would like to get the party to Rivendell.
The Elven Cloak does work with the armors and gives +1 AC and saves and the other typical abilities.
[sup]1[/sup] He really is an odd Elf. Very talkative and self-distracting.
[sup]2[/sup] Thank you Glee for the excellent setup, I was mulling this idea over already and you made it simple. It was best coming from you or perhaps Gwaelur.
Curunauth to Mulligan, "I am sad to say that I do not. They are most interesting but I don’t know where Peregrin Took got such items. I have never heard of such being crafted by Noldo or Longbeard. I would guess a human origin for those. I will gladly ask around though, you never know what one of the Brethren or Northern Rangers know about that I do not. Elrohir in particular has made a study of weapons of Arnor. It is he that helped Merry and a few others acquire a few extra blades from the Barrow Downs. No smith mind you but he has a brilliant mind that one. Elrohir that is not Merry, not that Merry is not bright of course.”
I think that the gold and silver bonus is good for Gorbo as a gift from the party, unless there is a specific item that he would prefer to have instead. Is there something on the above list posted by CIAS that strikes your fancy Gorbo? I will also throw in one of my kegs of fine ale as a personal thank you for putting up with the danger our party seems to attract.
I know how much Gorbo likes good ale, and he will need something to keep him from getting parched on the long journey back.
Gorbo appreciates the offer, he’ll be happy with the gold & silver but the Pot or Bridle would also be wonderful. “Thanju fur th’ale Gwaelur, most kind.”
