A Friendly Face Amidst The Darkness

General Summary

Hot on the trail of the orcish band that had massacred a family of farmers, the companions raced north through the woodlands. Rooty, covering the right flank of the march, heard faint cries coming from the nearby river. The group decided to delay their pursuit to investigate.
Reaching the water's edge, the companions spied a frantic goat tangled in debris in the center of the fast moving current. Hamish wrapped a rope around his waist and leapt into the water. Rooty and Elbereth anchored the other end of the rope on the riverbank. Hamish struggled to reach the flailing goat, almost going under before he managed to reach the animal and free it. With the aid of his friends, Hamish brought the goat to dry land safe and sound. The animal bayed at the three companions gratefully before skipping away on wobbly legs.
As the friends prepared to resume their search for the orcs, they heard a song coming from the woods. The trees hid the source of the voice but Elbereth recognized the song as an elven tale from the early days of Middle Earth. As the party listened, an old, stoop-shouldered man in brown robes stepped from the forest and approached. He thanked the companions for rescuing his friend and asked if, in their travels, they had met his colleague Gandalf the Grey. When the party answered they had not, the old man announced he would be returning to his home in Mirkwood.
Before he disappeared back into the forest, the man gifted Rooty a small silver bell on a delicate chain. "Should you find yourself short of hope, little hobbit, perhaps this charm can raise your spirits."

Report Date

30 Jan 2024