arrive at the inn at least 3 hours before departure for security checks
carry no more than the weight of a plump hobbit in their saddlebags
not get intoxicated during the journey
fasten their stirrups and girths before departure
adopt an alert stance whenever Captain Gil-Gandel says so
No responsibility for loss of baggage, delay or death will be accepted by your escort.
No refunds if the journey is cancelled or cut short.
Please make sure you have made a will and put your affairs in order before joining the party.
Have a pleasant trip!
More seriously, Ghân agrees with Thoroncir about all of this:
‘You will be contacted for a brief interview, if necessary. If accepted, you agree to obey the lawful orders of the party’s leaders; assist in any camp duties; share in equal measure any necessary expenses along the way; and provide your own provisions and means of transportation. The party regrets that those limited to travel afoot cannot be accommodated.’
However an interview (and perhaps Detect Evil, Detect Magic or ESP) is better than letters of recommendation.
Before we advertise for fellow travellers, should we ask the Royal Family if they need anyone escorted (or any message delivered)?
Gilraen has messages for both Edoras and Rivendell. They have nothing for Tharbad.
Gilraen has Detect Magic & Detect Evil always loaded and she can take Know Alignment to help out. She finds it unlikely that evil would show up and if they do, they are not to be escorted out, but arrested immediately pending further investigation. The Elf Stone Inn is a very good choice.
She also has a request from Eldarion, “He would like us to take the road through Stonewaith Valley and ensure it is safe. Patrols have been increased in the area, but as you were part of the group that uncovered the conspiracy, he thinks we are well suited to checking the area again and it is not out of the way as Ghân could lead you through the Druadan Forest.”
Ghân suggest that the number of travellers we escort should be kept low (we are an experienced combat group, but each extra person needs time to be integrated).
Also how much money do we charge?
Is the risk of someone panicking worth the payment?
He is very happy if the party go via the Druadan Forest. He is proud of his homeland and his small ‘offer’ to the party can be awarded there.
Miron suggests that if we are truly concerned, he and/or Brin might refrain from announcing their presence to potential travelers. It should be fairly easy for them to either act as outriders or shadow the main party, and such a tactic would give us a small advantage if anything funny happened.
Alternatively, we could always disguise one or more of our number as an innocent traveler, and have them surreptitiously observe any funny business that our clients take pains to conceal from their unwitting escorts.
All the traveler-screening suggestions sound good to me. I mentioned Gil-Gandel and Thoroncir so prominently in the notice because I knew that would probably scare off any out-and-out evil types (if any are even to be found in Minas Tirith). Having written applications come to the Citadel may also weed out some who don’t want to be involved no way, no how with anyone wearing the Winged Crown, Seven Stars and White Tree. Lastly, even strangers to Minas Tirith will probably have had dealings with merchants, innkeepers or locals here who could provide a letter of reference. If asking for three is too much, we could ask for two or even just one.
And of course casting Detect Magic, Detect Evil and Know Alignment makes eminently good sense. Remind me: if you have any of those spells cast on you, are you necessarily aware of it (assuming you’re not a wizard yourself)?
You are the main tracker.
Speaking of which, I forgot to update those abilities.
Tracking: 65%
Herbology: 59% Still 2hp per wound with herbs on average.
Ghân has:
Herbology: 84% We’ll now say 3hp per wound with herbs.
Woodland Tracking: 74%
Speak with Animals: 54%
Renee:
Herbology: 79%
I forgot to mention, many of the Magic Items on your update sheets include the hyperlink to where the item is described in the threads. EH: You cannot really use the Citadel, but the **Elf Stone Inn **is a good choice.
It might be hard to hide the Know Alignment unless it is done carefully. The Detections could be cast ahead of time, they have much better directions.
Ghân is happy to assist Miron in tracking in woodland, or offering Fang’s nose for a scent anywhere. But Miron is the main man!
Ghân agrees that Miron should either act as a chap we are escorting, or shadow the party.
If hte latter, Ghân could regularly look for herbs slightly away from the party and keep Miron informed that way.
This will not really work well. Miron has a draft horse more heavily loaded that even Gwaeler’s and I am pretty sure Gwaeler has a small anvil.
Miron’s horse is nothing special and not particularly quick so he won’t be able to keep up while the main group is traveling by road. Gil-Gandel on Cúran could do this on the otherhand.
You might be better off if worried, just not escorting anyone else.
Ghân explains to the party that he would like to show his respect for them all by making them honorary members of his Wose tribe.
There would be a short ceremony in the Druadan Forest, involving some drinking, brief speeches and facial markings (only herbal paint, not tattoos!).
He doesn’t know of anyone who has been given this honour (apart of course from King Elessar, who gave the Forest of Druadan to Ghân’s grandfather).
He asks if the party are willing to accept.
In particular, he asks Thoroncir if he could speak to the Royal family about allowing Renee (Ghân still thinks of her by that name) to take part.
Ghân asks Gil-Gandel if he could compose a song to mark the occasion. (There may be Wose poetry too :eek:.)
I’m looking at Miron’s supplies, and it looks like a lot of weight is taken up by his winter camping gear. If he were to leave his tent, blankets, whetstones, and torches in storage, that would take 94 pounds off of his pack horse- would that make it any easier for him to act as a shadow, perhaps if he left his packhorse with the main group and traveled only with his lightly-burdened riding horse?
I can’t allow this with a light riding horse. I am sorry. They party is going to going up to 40 miles per day and your horse would be taking a much tougher route. It would wear out and be much more prone to serious injury.
Thoroncir is certainly willing to do so, but is pretty sure that Gilraen can (and would prefer to) persuade the Queen herself. If Gilraen wishes to recruit the Sea-Knight to help, of course he will agree.
Run away!!! *
Using the Elf Stone Inn for interviewing prospective “guests” of the party is fine, if the Citadel would be inappropriate (I actually had in mind that the Citadel would just be Thoroncir’s address of convenience while in town, but no matter).
While we wait for applications to arrive, the Sea-Knight would like to partake of some of the capital’s vibrant culture. He asks Princess Gilraen if there are any plays, concerts, or other entertainments she would care to join him in seeing (I assume bear-baiting and the like is not popular in so refined a city, unlike in Shakespeare’s London). And perhaps a meal together… are there restaurants, or the equivalent?
And let’s plan that day trip to Osgiliath. Who’s interested?
I have this mental picture of the stealthy, lithe, athletic Ranger Miron moving smoothly around - then suddenly sprinting to mount … a fat carthorse! :eek::smack:
