Bruno says, "Concentrate on the big one" and charges him.
If another orc stands near the brute, Bruno will try to cleave both.
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Bruno says, "Concentrate on the big one" and charges him.
If another orc stands near the brute, Bruno will try to cleave both.
Yes, Tom would indeed have cast Shield and Dancing Lights before the party went in.
Now that battle is joined Tom will repeatedly cast Magic Missiles at the leader Orc. (If he falls, then Magic Missiles at any Orc who is coming towards Tom and Rowena; else an Orc who has injured one of our front line.
Tom will also try to keep his Dancing Lights a) helping Eli sneak b) distracting an Orc.
Rowena, startled at finding the orcs so quickly, freezes for a second until she hears Bruno. She has no clear view of the orcs from behind the much larger trio of fighters, and if a melee begins she worries she won't see what's happening or who's doing what to whom.
Biting her lip, she tries to pluck up the courage to find a better angle--perhaps she can nimbly scramble up any boulders, or craggy parts of the cavern walls to give herself a boost?--before attempting to send their enemies to sleep once again with her most convincing, lulling whisper.
OOC: So I guess the official words would be an initiative check, then using her pretty good dexterity stat, and finally her bardic performance to put someone to sleep?
Tom casts a magic missile at the leader Orc, striking soundly home OOC: 5 points, maximum! but it doesn't stop this one.
Gade closes on the nearest of the lesser orcs and swings his stout oaken staff, scoring a well-aimed hit, not quite with the sweet spot of the weapon but good enough to drop his foe OOC: also 5 points; that's enough for a non-leader
Rowena, finding herself able to glimpse the enemies between the moving bodies of her friends, begins her sleep spell OOC: it is a full round to cast and will take effect just before she begins her next action
Arewe stabs with her short sword but the blow is turned by the creature's shield, despite her extensive training at combatting such creatures.
The leader Orc accepts Bruno's silent challenge and moves into space, bracing his spear to receive Bruno's charge. Two of the three lesser orcs remaining are in hand-to-hand combat with Gade and Arewe, and one barely nicks the druid for a single point of damage while the other ventures a panicky slash at the warrior of Rohan and hits nothing but fresh air. The third has reached cover and ventures a shot at Tom with its small bow, missing badly and apparently finding the eldritch glare of the dancing lights interfering with its aim. OOC: A "fumble", rolling a natural 1 on its attack followed by a confirmatory miss, means in this case it will take an attack penalty on its next few shots. Also, usefully, the dancing lights spell does not require "concentration" to be maintained or even for the lights to move as Tom wishes.
Bruno charges, axe upraised, testing the leader Orc's nerve... which holds: Bruno is hit OOC: for 6 points of damage but keeps his feet, scoring a hit of his own OOC: 9 points! which leaves the Orc visibly on its last legs, but the savage ferocity of its kind will keep it on its feet a few moments longer, desperate to take an enemy with it.
Eli, having made excellent use of the flickering shadows, blindsides the archer with a vicious sneak attack that drops it on the spot! OOC: Again, the extra damage die from executing a successful sneak attack more than offsets Eli's indifferent hand-to-hand damage rating
Eli Proudfoot will, with another sword thrust, make sure the orc archer is dead, and then see if can make himself useful elsewhere in the melee.
Tom fires a Magic Missile at the injured orc leader, whilst keeping his Dancing Lights both illuminating the cavern and helping Eli sneak.
Tom continues with another magic missile on the leader orc, another blazing bolt tears into it OOC: 4 points and this is more punishment than it can take.
Gade tries his luck again with his staff but the blow misses.
Rowena's sleep spell takes effect. One of the lesser orcs emits a mighty yawn but stays on its feet, while the other crumples, leaving only one to face the combined might of Gade and Arewe. With her bow to hand, the woman of Dale looses off, carefully avoiding hitting her allies, and lands a well-aimed shot directly on target. The orc takes an arrow to the fleshy part of the thigh but keeps its feet OOC: 3 points won't quite do the job . Barely a fraction of a second behind, Arewe skewers the creature with a businesslike thrust of her shortsword.
The guard post, if that's what this cave can be called, has been secured. Gade has a slight nick but Bruno a more severe puncture to his favourite belly which, however, has not reached the vitals and is more messy than life-threatening, at least for now. There is a sleeping orc which will either wake up or meet a more permanent fate within the minute.
From some way further in, a strange yammering sound can be heard; it's difficult to know what all the fuss is about or whether the orcs deeper in the cave are alarmed, celebrating, or even now engaged in some life-or-death struggle.
Tom congratulates the party and swiftly suggests they:
- guard the way further into the caves (if Eli feels comfortable, could he scout a little ahead?)
- cure Bruno
- prepare to either advance or nip back out (do say which you prefer!)
- deal with the sleeping orc (either mercy slay or interrogate)
If it's safe to do so, Tom will:
- cast a replacement Dancing Lights (for when the current one expires)
- cast Detect Magic on the orcs (starting with the leader)
- listen to the yammering within (as he speaks orc)
- interrogate the orc (if that's the party decision)
Rowena breathes deeply as her heart races after the melee. Though sickened by the death surrounding her, she is glad the others in her party were successful, with no apparent serious injuries. She curbs her instinct to help Bruno--her attending to his wound the other day wasn't needed, or appreciated. Gade will put him to rights.
Privately she frets over the weakness of her song, only affecting one of the enemies. Maybe she chose the wrong one, or... then again, maybe she wasn't in the right frame of mind. Her own fear probably undermined her ability to becalm others--at least, other than just the orc.
...Who is likely to be killed now. Rowena turns away and swallows back her emotions. "Um... well met, everyone," she says enthusiastically. Encouraging others and boosting morale is a big part of a Bard's duties, even if she can't quite do the same for herself. But that's why acting is such a vital skill in her would-be profession.
"I ask the same question as Tom. Do we go further on our own? Sounds like a very large group down there. You all fight bravely and we've met every challenge so far. I'm sure you'd vanquish anything when faced with groups of similar size to ours."
She licks her lips and continues to face away from the others, focusing instead on the path they just took to get here. "But if we're outnumbered, and we're in the orcs' territory that they know better than we do... what do you think we ought to do?"
Tom thanks Rowena for her Sleep spell - always helpful against low-level troops. :cool:
Tom agrees with the Bard that going in against an unknown number of opponents in their home is jolly risky. But if Eli can give us information, we can make a wise decision. (Of course we may need to retreat to heal and recover spells first...)
Eli nods briskly. "Right, then," he says. "Off I go. Wish me luck."
He heads deeper into the cave system to scout ahead, with his usual caution and powers of observation.
Gade can and does oblige the wounded Bruno with a Cure Light Wounds, restoring the gruff Beorning to full health.
Tom does find a potion bottle on the leader, but it does not seem to be a Cure potion as encountered before. With an excellent application of his Spellcraft skill, Tom is able to discern that it is a potion of remove fear.
Eli makes his stealthy way deeper into the cave system and finds himself, a little later, on a ledge at the top of a short flight of rough-cut stairs leading down into a larger cavern. There he sees, making a good deal of noise, a band of about eight of the larger orcs similar to the one who was leading the detachment in the entrance cave; also three very strange figures indeed:
- a Man, but with skin unlike any Man's that Eli has yet seen, pale yellowish-brown in colour, robed as Wizards are sometimes said to be robed, in cloth that shimmers strangely in the light of several burning braziers and seems to be pale blue in colour
- another Man, similar in appearance to the other, but shaven-headed (while the first wears a long dark queue topped by a small round hat), wearing loose-fitting trousers of similar-coloured cloth and a tunic that leaves his arms bare
- a large Orc whose head is adorned with a large pair of curly horns, as if they had grown there (and this is not a thing of which Eli has heard even in tales)
As Eli watches in fascinated horror, the first-mentioned Man says to the horned Orc, in heavily accented but comprehensible Common: "Now it is done! Go then, take three with you and journey to the Lone Rock. Convey our greetings to the Grey Wolf and tell him the Sky-Blue hails him and bids him welcome. Bid him and his band approach! Flesh, blood and plunder await". Then to the others: "Rest now. Be armed and ready by the time the sun is upon the horizon. I go to my refreshment."
At this, the gathering begins to break up, and the horned Orc and three others begin to head for the stairs, in no great hurry it seems, while the other orcs disappear into deeper caverns as do the two Men.
Bruno, "Thank you Gade, thank you."
He then checks his axe that it is ready for the next battle.
Tom decides a lesser orc will have no useful information (especially compared to our super scout Eli!), asks Rowena to look away and slays the sleeping orc.
Whilst thanking Gade for his always useful Cures, Tom keeps renewing his Dancing Light spell.
He asks the party to help him move the orc bodies out of sight (so that any enemies from further within the caverns who turn up will not immediately realise what has happened to the guards.)
Eli commits the oddly-colored Man's remarks to memory, quietly slips back into the shadows and goes to tell his friends all that he's just learned.
Whilst awaiting the welcome return of Eli (and hiding the orc bodies), Tom mutters to Rowena "I'm sorry there's so much violence - but we are honestly defending ourselves against evil. And depending on what Eli finds out, there may well be more combat. Suddenly a group of tourists have been thrust into doing good on a local basis. Clearly You are a jolly useful member of our group, so do please carry on!"
He passes the Bard a Cure potion, explaining that it can only be used once - but could save a life. (Since Gade and Rowena can recover their curing spells daily, those should be used first...)
Rowena thanks Tom, both for his comforting words and the potion. She handles the latter with a light touch, eyeing it with a gaze that falls somewhere between reverence and wariness. "I will use this, and gladly, if you or Gade can show me how. But I don't think... I don't have any curing abilities. Other than basic wound care and so on. I traveled with a mentor, a proper Bard, and one of us had to know how to patch up cuts and scrapes. He chose me." Smiling a bit, she gingerly puts the vial* into her pack. "But thanks again. I'll do my best to use this gift."
* How are these potions contained? A phial or vial or something similar?
Eli hurries back into the cave where the party are waiting. While the orcs behind aren't in hot pursuit (and did not give any indication of having noticed the skulking hobbit), neither are they dragging their feet; they could be as little as half a minute behind Eli. As far as you know, this is the only way in or out and they must come this way if they're headed out.
Bruno will try to position himself in a way to gain some advantage when they enter the cave. Probably standing to one side of the entrance and waiting.
"Anyone have grease or something to screw up their footing?"
Tom will maintain his Dancing Lights and prepare to cast his last two Magic Missiles.
Rowena, uncertain how to be of use--especially if her ability to lull people to sleep is decreasing--stands toward the back and nervously plucks out a courageous tune on her fiddle to help the others maintain their fortitude.
As the four orcs -- including the sheep-headed one -- enter the cave, they appear momentarily confused by the lack of guard and the strange patterns of light in the cave. With an angry growl, Gade bursts into life, connecting with the left-most of the first three in (the leader is just behind them) with a blow that is less weighty than he hoped, but buoyed up by the strains of the fiddle behind him he still causes his orc to smart. OOC: 5 damage . A moment late Eli sticks his hobbit blade well into the same one's floating ribs, leaving it bleeding badly OOC: 5 points -- but like the orc you met earlier, this one can stay on its feet for a short while even though mortally wounded while Arewe engages the centre one of the trio, wounding it somewhat with a stab that didn't have her full weight behind it. OOC: 4 points Bruno's great axe strikes the third of the trio with crushing force a moment before it could react and drops it on the spot! OOC: maximum damage on a greataxe, backed by Bruno's great strength and the bardic inspire courage, will do that . Tom, unsure which of the first two orcs is worse hurt, impulsively chooses the one ganged up on by Eli and Gade to blast with yet another magic missile and leaves it still closer to death OOC: another 5 points, which sadly doesn't benefit from violin music .
Belatedly the orcs show signs of reacting to the unexpected presence...
Gade strikes again, his orc still doesn't have its guard up and while the blow of his staff is once again less than he hoped it is still enough to floor the ailing creature. OOC: Orc ferocity can't prevail against taking a total of 20 points before the poor thing recovers from surprise and losing initiative. Eli wisely scurries away while he is still out of reach of the sheepheaded one, knowing better than to stay in a toe-to-toe fight with a large orc, heading for the rear and the questionable protection of his fellow hobbit and the fiddle-playing Dale woman. Arewe tries another stab but misjudges the distance, barely managing to duck the return blow as her orc whips out a scimitar and slashes at her, while the sheephead bellows a strange, bestial howl somewhere between a warrior orc and an enraged ram, closes the gap (but it is too close to charge) and butts Bruno squarely in the chest OOC: 8 points of damage . Still on his feet, Bruno snarls defiance in a voice hardly less bestial than the orc's, but more bear-like, and swings his axe a second time, barely glancing off the creature's hide. Tom, seeing his Beorning ally hard beset, helps out as best he can with a magic missile on which he focusses a little extra-hard, screwing up all his will to extract some additional effect from it... and he is rewarded by seeing the sheepheaded one not only take a glowing bolt where it will do him no good OOC: my dice seem to want to roll you maximum damage tonight... another 5-pointer!! but be actually blasted off his feet.
OOC: A creature damaged by a toppling spell must successfully make a saving throw or be knocked prone; from which it can either engage in combat at a large penalty for being off its feet, or first try to stand up and give everyone within reach a free hit. That's not something you like in a close-fought battle.
Gade manoeuvres to catch Arewe's orc between himself and her, and strikes again, missing, but providing a distraction at least. Eli readies his sling for action in case he sees an opportunity to loose at an orc not presently in melee, while Rowena maintains her fiddling, heartening the warriors still in the front line. Arewe, knowing well that a battleground is not a duelling field, takes advantage of the orc's temporary distraction OOC: it is flanked, with two opponents on opposite sides of it to stab the orc in front of her good and hard OOC: 9 points...! leaving it too at death's door.
As the floored sheephead makes to rise, Bruno hews at it, with a less-accurate but mightier swing OOC: The attack bonus for a prone target makes it well worth while using power attack in a bid for extra damage. 10 points. but the bestial creature still makes it to its feet. It is covered in its own gore but sets itself for a desperate charge.
OOC: The damage this creature has taken renders it staggered, allowing it to move or attack, but not both... and it had to use its move to stand up.
The orc pincered by Gade and Arewe steps adjacent to its leader, but prefers the slighter-built Arewe to the massive Bruno as a target, and its unsteady strike at the maid of Rohan goes wild. Moreover...
Bruno aims a cleaving blow at both enemies, aiming to cut down first the leader and then the other, and the greataxe swings as true as if it were wielded by a great hero of old. The blow shears the sheep's head from the orc's shoulders and the blow carries through into the last remaining enemy, slaying it less spectacularly but just as effectively.
OOC: Bruno successfully delivered a critical hit. That means rolling the damage dice three times and adding any bonuses three times over. Even allowing for this guy having many more hit points than a typical orc, 37 damage is brutal. Using Cleave and Power Attack against the other adjacent orc, Bruno rolled another attack which was also successful and, even if not a critical hit, was more than enough to finish the job.
Arewe picks up the severed head and inspects it with distaste, holding it up for the inspection of the others; it does indeed seem to be some vile, unnatural amalgam of orc and ram.
Tom congratulates the party on a well co-ordinated attack!
He suggests someone Cure Bruno now and that we prepare to leave the caves soon (e.g. as Tom is out of his main spells.)
Tom casts Detect Magic on the Orcs and also renews his Dancing Lights for illumination.
If someone will undertake the unpleasant task, Tom invites them to bring the Orc/Ram head - perhaps the Elves will know something about it?
Also (many thanks to Eli), the Elves may know what 'Lone Rock', 'Grey Wolf' and 'Sky Blue' mean...
Eli catches his breath and says, "Well done, everyone, and my thanks! Bruno, in particular, those were mighty blows indeed. And now victory is once again ours." He then gives the party a more complete report on what he heard and saw deeper within the caves, quoting the oddly-colored Man's remarks.
While Tom finds nothing on any of the orcs radiating magic, he does observe that three of them wore quite bulky wristlets of silver which contain enough of the metal to be valuable in their own right, while there is a torc of silver and gold lying by the beheaded corpse of the (formerly...!) sheep-headed leader.
Arewe sheathes her sword and readies her bow again, saying "We have done well, but hearing Eli's news, I believe Tom is wise in suggesting we withdraw ourselves; another such attack could be more than we could compass, and we have both information that perhaps should be more widely known, and perhaps uncovered the mystery concerning Mistress Barnes's sheep.
"I am curious, though, to know if even the Elves know in what wise such as this may have been worked," she adds, continuing her inspection of the horned head.
Were any of the orc-kind wearing any armor? This work is far more dangerous than scraping out a living in the woods. I'm currently in scale mail.
Bruno inspects the orc corpses but finds them clad in hides and the like - certainly no improvement on what he presently has, and rather the reverse, hardly worth the disagreeable labour of stripping them from their late owners. However, you do have a small collection of orc scimitars by now that may be saleable, at least. They're not worth much, but since this group is close to penury it's not necessarily a bad idea to take them along.
Rowena is morbidly fascinated by the grotesque ram-orc head. It's like something from a nightmare--Maybe one brought on by overindulging on ale and muttton, she thinks as she squints at the monster. The silver catches her interest as well, but when she takes a look around she sees that Gade has not yet healed Bruno. As much as she needs money, injuries take precedence over acquisition of treasure.
Uncertain, she steps closer to the wounded fighter while addressing the Druid. "I have that potion," she says hesitantly. "Is it better to use it now, or save it for some other instance if you are... unable to help?"
Gade smiles and in his usual strange lilting tones replies: "I will use my powers now, and we can save salves and potions for when I am too worn." OOC: That's 7 points restored to Bruno
OOC: I am seeing Stebb tomorrow to play Third Reich, I will remind him that this game is still current
With the plundered gear, such as it is, safely stowed, the six are ready to depart if they are set on doing so.
Tom arranges that the party carry between them:
- the Silver/Gold Torc
- the 3 Silver wristlets
- the Orc Scimitars
- the severed head (yuck)
and leaves the cave, heading for Idhrenion the Elf.
Perhaps the Elf can tells us about the ram-orc head (and even buy the jewellery / scimitars.)
Keeping her attention far away from the corpses, Rowena gladly agrees to carry the wristlets--maybe a bit too eager, but she can't pretend she doesn't like shiny things. Even if she only gets to admire them. She watches Tom as he departs so quickly. Is he confident enough to lead now? His magic is impressive, regardless of how much she dislikes and distrusts the craft. And there's no real reason a hobbit shouldn't take charge. Everyone knows the valor and strength of the two who destroyed the Ring.
Tom's courage and combat skills are certainly stronger than her own. So are Eli's. She's embarrassed by her meager contributions to the fighting. She didn't expect such violence; it's not what she bargained for. She can run, and sneak around, and her fingers' dexterity are equally capable of plucking a tune and plucking various useful items from carts or stalls, when necessity requires it. But full-on fighting? It's beyond her experience.
She scowls and pushes out her lower lip. She can just imagine Heribert's voice in response. Then, my girl, you'd better bloody well make it your experience. Or leave now. Else you're just an extra body getting in the way--maybe even a liability if you're hurt or captured and the others waste time on you, instead of their goal.
"'Captured'," she scoffs, then mutters under her breath to herself. "Ridiculous. Who'd want me? Casting myself the role of a damsel in distress now? And anyway everyone else says that Orcs kill their victims, they don't 'capture' them."
Somehow this doesn't lift her spirits. She edges closer to Eli on their way out of the cave. If he seems friendly she wants to apologize to him for providing no assistance or coverage when he needed it.
Eli always tries to be friendly to everyone, Rowena included. And if there's a sack available he will, with some reluctance, carry the severed head.
Tom thanks first Rowena for helping, then Eli for doing the unpleasant task (but it might be vital that the Elves see the accursed magic...)
He giggles as he remarks "That orc-ram was in charge of the patrol. But now he's lost his head and got the sack!"
Rowena almost regrets having sidled over to Eli, now that he's volunteered to carry the revolting head. Tom's words make her smile, however--humor is much needed right now. She should be providing it, as a matter of fact; she'll have to drum up some song or tale to lighten the party's collective mood. Right now she's drawing a blank.
So she sticks to Eli. "I'm sorry I couldn't provide much cover for you, back there. I have no real experience in battle, except... well, running away, the few times I've gotten too close to a brawl." Or when she's caused one, for that matter--but that's a tale of dubious honor, and she won't be relating it any time soon.
"But you go towards the danger," she continues. "It's funny. People speak of Hobbits as being so content to stay in their own communities and avoiding adventure. But the ones I've heard about, and now those I've met, seem to be the exceptions. I'm beginning to think there are more exceptions than not." After a moment's thought, she chuckles. "Guess I wouldn't have met or heard about those who led homebound lives, would I?"
Rowena adjusts her pack, which is chafing her shoulder with the added weight of the bracelets and supplies. "Anyway, all that scouting and such... how did you get so skilled? And brave. You and Tom both," she adds, raising her voice slightly to include the other young man. "Please, I'd really like to know."
As the conversation continues, the six exit the cave into what is still quite early morning, with the shadows only shortened a little from when they entered, and hurry down the slope towards the forest. Tales tell that the orc-kind, though disliking daylight, will go to some lengths to pursue intruders, especially with a fallen chief to avenge, and it is with some relief that the adventurers (mere tourists no longer) mark the sight of Idhrenion himself stepping out from behind a tree considerably closer than Eli would have expected to have spotted him.
He conducts them quickly deeper into the forest by a mazy winding trail that should be hard to follow, and asks after their doings so far. When shown the horned head, he inspects it with the kind of distasteful interest someone might show to a rare but hideously poisonous insect in a glass case.
"This is no natural creature that I ever heard of, and these horns are truly ram's horns indeed if I ever saw the breed. Some vile art did this, but I know not what -- and it is a matter for concern that someone able to do this is about the place. But if, as seems plain to me, these horns be from the stolen beast you were searching for, then the shepherd should be told; it will be unhappy news, but it will put an end to uncertainty at least."
Invited to consider the plunder, the Elf looks it over and says politely "I carry little wealth about me, and have no use for Orc jewellery, still less their weapons. You should find them saleable enough in Dale though; with travellers of all sorts passing through in every direction, merchants seldom have trouble finding buyers for the strangest curios."
Tom thanks Idhrenion for his wise words and checks the Elf does not recognise 'Lone Rock', 'Grey Wolf' and 'Sky Blue' (which words Eli overheard in the Orc Caverns.)
Unless Idhrenion recommends otherwise, Tom suggests the party return to Briagha with news of her missing ram.
(Now that the Elf has seen the abomination, the party can thankfully bury the orc-ram head.)
Tom also hears Rowena's conversation and cheerfully replies "Honestly, I'm making things up as I go! :)
Danger comes so swiftly I don't have time to be afraid.
It also helps that I visualise our enemies as standing between me and a hearty breakfast. ;)
"Aye, I could use some Mead and Honey-cakes about now", says Bruno as his stomach growls.
"Do you want me to carry some of the load?"
Idhrenion says "Orc-cant. I could not tell you what it signifies, but the reference to a 'Grey Wolf' could be no more or less than it says: we heard wolf-song only a night past. As to which rock our foes might call 'Lone Rock', that would be but a guess.
"Oh, and perhaps your shepherd friend would care to see the evidence. It can hardly stink worse in the few hours it would take you to reach her.
"I recommend that you don't delay -- and I suspect we shall meet again."
Rowena wonders why the Elf brought them so far into the woods, and says as much to Eli. Now they have an even longer trudge to the shepherd. Honestly she'd prefer to go straight to Dale and cash in the loot, but that conflicts with her desire for adventure to provide fodder for future storytelling. Exonerating an Eagle might not currently seem the stuff of which sagas are made, but she holds out hope.
Meanwhile she can't help her concern that despite her genuine interest, her companions seem hesitant to tell her anything worthy of story or song. Usually Rowena's greatest skill is charming others, who are quite eager to converse with her at great length. Not here. They sure are a reticent bunch. Or excessively modest.
Or... is it possible they're truly just as raw and untried as Rowena herself? If so, they're acquitting themselves with extraordinary, admirable skill she wishes she could emulate.
With a shrug she decides to stick to 'barding'--humming or picking out tunes if the mood strikes her. Plucking a fiddle, she thinks with a scowl while absently rubbing the calluses on her fingertips. Not for the first time, she bemoans how unwieldy a bowed instrument is for travel. Why on earth did her master choose it for her?
One thing's sure: Any coins she gets from her share of the treasures will go toward buying something more practical. "Loot for a lute," she says, chuckling, though the words must seem nonsense to the others.
Tom thanks Bruno and passes him the Orcish Scimitars to carry.
Following Idhrenion's advice to return to the shepherdess Briagha, Tom cheers up Bruno (and himself) with the thought that she should have some decent grub.
Tom also notices that Rowena is looking thoughtful again and gives her a 'thumbs up' gesture of good cheer.
When he hears her witty 'Loot for a lute", he reassures her that she is .... plucky. ;)
Finally Tom ushers the party back towards Briagha, reminding them to keep to the previous marching order...
(Rowena's direction sense is a little off. The wood was on their way back to the farm. In any case the Elf's chosen route should make it harder for enemies to follow.)
Based on Idhrenion's advice, Tom will ask Eli to carry the Orc-Ram head back to Briagha.
Tom also asks Bruno if he still needs a minor Cure.
"Hasn't Eli already volunteered to hold that... thing?" Rowena murmurs, not looking up from the neck of her fiddle. She's paying more attention to figuring out the correct position on the fingerboard to properly match a chord she's been hearing in her head for the past week or so. This tune will be the setting for a semi-raunchy poem she heard in the inn back in Dale--the same inn where she met this group.
Tom explains that he briefly suggested burying the head, but is happy to follow the Elf's advice instead.
He's looking forward to showing Briagha that the party did find what happened to her ram (even if its bad news) and that the thieves have been dealt with.
Perhaps Briagha will sell us some good food (and may even want to buy either a piece of jewellery or even a scimitar...)
Eli will continue to carry the head (hoping he had a sack to do so all along).
He says to his friend, "Thank you, Rowena. I'm not particularly brave, as hobbits go, and many of my people will show plenty of courage when put to the test, as Frodo's Companions showed all of Middle-earth, winning great renown. But I am more adventurous than most, I suppose, and learned much of scouting and fieldcraft as a shirriff and even more when I served in the Royal Army of Arnor." He makes a face. "Carrying severed orc-heads wasn't part of my training, though. Not ever. This is a first for me, and if the Valar be willing, hopefully a last, too."
"A shirriff!" Rowena's eyes widen, then she shakes her head. "One Hobbit a sorcerer, the other a former shirriff and soldier! I've heard shamefully few stories about your people, aside from Frodo and Samwise and the rest. To be honest, I've traveled to lots of villages and towns, and I'm sorry to say the old beliefs about Hobbits linger on. You deserve to have your tales told, and not just ones from ages and ages ago."
As she contemplates the unfairness, it strikes her that Eli's also getting stuck with some of the worst jobs. Going out in advance, risking his hide all alone in that cave. Now that disgusting orc-ram... thing. "Um... if you want, I'll carry that... the sack."
Eli considers for a moment, then says, "No, thank you. Very kind of you to offer, though. I've gotten it this far; I'll take it as far as I have to."
Tom thanks ex-Shirriff Eli (feeling somewhat frustrated that he can't think of a pun with 'neck' :smack ) and then reassures Rowena that he (Tom) was originally a simple peat farmer (a 'bog-standard' profession!)
With cheery chatter to speed the way, and a reasonable assurance that the road is now clear, the party come to Tupsmead Farm by early afternoon, where all seems to be business as usual. They are sighted as they approach and, in response to a summons, Briagha soon puts in an appearance. Looking you up and down, she has little difficulty recognising that you have been in a fight since she last saw you -- possibly several.
"Welcome back," she says guardedly, perhaps not having expected you back so soon, or disappointed to see Bellin the ram not with you. "What news?"
Tom carefully explains that orcs did indeed abduct Bellin and slay him.
He mentions the party executing many orcs responsible for the theft and then warns Briagha that there is foul magic afoot.
Tom then asks Eli to empty the sack, revealing the orc-ram head horror.