Farmer in the Dale RPG

[Fallinel]

Rhysdan had not walked far from the Fairlake homestead, when he was greeted by another farmer, Skylden Oakwain, who was a leader and market organizer in the local community. “Rhys!” cried Skylden, “I’m so glad to see you-we’re desperate for a level head and livestock experience, in the wake of the monster. Your son Elian told me that you were on your way down from the foothills.”

Skylden explained to Rhysdan that he had spoken with Elian earlier, and that Esmerelda and Daisy had gone to stay with the Millwinds. The Whitfield homestead was intact, and the livestock had been herded into the largest paddock, with plenty of water and even a bit of cover from a small group of trees. Rhysdan let out an audible sigh of relief, and tried not to show his disappointment and exhaustion when Skylden enlisted him and Hawkweed to help round up frightened livestock, and to put out any remaining smoldering fires. This necessary work, which tested the limits of Rhysdan’s physical reserves, extended throughout the night, and it was sunrise before Rhysdan made his weary way to the Millwind farm.

As the shepherd and his dog approached the homestead, Hawkweed began running in tight circles and barking. Rhysdan thought that the dog was merely excited about returning to familiar territory, or that perhaps he had seen or smelled one of the children. A sudden loud rushing, roaring noise dispelled that notion-the dragon had returned, and was flying overhead. Rhysdan could not resist the temptation to look up as the monster sailed past, golden-red scales gleaming in the morning sun. The shepherd watched with a mixture of fear and fascination as the dragon disappeared in the distance, and then, as if released from a trance, he began to move once more. Rhysdan and Hawkweed ran up the path to the farmhouse, and rushed in through the front door.

“Papa! Hawkweed!” shrieked Daisy, very nearly upsetting her bowl of porridge in her haste. She ran to Rhysdan, who enveloped her in his strong arms and lifted her up in a hug. Father and daughter were soon joined in their affectionate reunion by Elian and Esmerelda, and all laughed and cried in their joy and relief. Hawkweed waved his feathery tail, huffled and whined and grinned a doggy grin.

“Where have you been, Rhys? Your face is covered with soot!” scolded Esmerelda, as she wiped some of it away with a dishcloth. “I’ll bet Papa has been helping put out fires all night, and that Hawkweed has been rounding up lost sheep,” said Elian knowingly.

“You’re a clever lad, Elian, and you’re absolutely right about my overnight absence. I met Mr. Oakwain, after I’d rescued some animals at the Fairlake farm, and he asked for my help. There was so much confusion, terror, and destruction-but I’m sorry that you all had to worry about me,” explained Rhysdan, shaking his head. The shepherd sank wearily into one of the chairs, and gratefully accepted a bowl of porridge. Daisy sat in his lap, and began to speak rather hesitantly, “Papa, we’ve found you now, but cousin Eric is missing. We looked for him in the dark-all of us-but we couldn’t find him. I know you and Hawkweed can find him, Papa, please let’s go look for him now!”

****************************

Child of the 7th Age's post

Despite her worry over Eric, Elanor could not help but smile broadly when she saw the reunion that was taking place in front of her. She glanced up at her mother and was not surprised to see Willow also smile, her eyes mirroring the solemn hope that there would shortly be a second occasion for all of them to celebrate. Even the wyrm's hovering threat could not erase Elanor's sheer relief at seeing her Uncle safely beside them.

It did not take long for the two families to reach a number of quick and sensible decisions. Esmerelda would stay home with Daisy and Eli, while the others went out to track down Eric. The two young children were simply too tired to push on without a rest. And Esmerelda had put forward a very good point. A large contingent of rescuers might inadvertently draw the dragon's attention, something that should be avoided at all costs. Once Eric had been found, they would all gather back at the house before deciding what to do.

Quickly, they picked up the satchels of food. Elanor also carried a packet of herbs and other healng remedies. She dearly hoped that she would not have to use these, but she reasoned that it was best to be cautious. This time both family dogs accompanied them; the hounds ran eagerly in circles, halting periodically to put their noses to the ground, as they bayed and sniffed and tried to pick up the scent. Walking out into the farmyard and heading towards the gate, Elanor noticed a steady stream of men, women, and children, tramping down the public path in a southerly direction. Many of them carried parcels of clothing or dragged along carts with other belongings; a few were leading the only sheep or cow they had managed to save.

Several women that she knew from the city beckoned to Willow and urged her to come over and talk. Willow explained about Eric, and hastily inquired to see if anyone had seen him. Once she and then she listened to what the women had to say. "It's bad in Dale," Goodwife Plunk confided in a gruff voice. "Some buildings are still burning and the few cattle still alive are all at loose ends and roaming the streets. That flying monstor struck two or three times, diving in and making a path of fire through the city. Some folk have decided to stay and fight the blazes."

"But not us!" added Goodman Plunk, with a hearty shake of his head. "Enough is enough. You can see how many have decided to leave, to head south to Long Lake or even beyond." The sturdy tradesman cocked his thumb and pointed it towards the growing number of citizens of Dale who were scurrying along the path.

"And you?" asked the Goodwife. "What will you and your folk do?"

Willow hastily shook her head, "We're trying to find Eric. That comes first. Once we do that, we'll figure out the rest."

The group said their goodbyes and headed to the gate, departing from the path to cut across the fields.

[ArwenBaggins]

After noticing all of the farmers and herders heading south, Arinn's spirit's were dampened even more. None had seen Eric, out of all of the numbers. They would have to keep looking themselves.

The five searchers continued on in the early morning sunlight, this time guided by the yellow rays of the sun instead of the flickering orange of the torches. They continued solemnly along the fields of destruction, Arinn shaking his head slowly as he noticed the cows roaming madly and fires still flickering. "Let us go to the river again and pick things up from there," he said softly but audibly to anyone who would listen, pointing off toward the water with a yawn.

Now that he found that he was still tired himself, he was glad that Esmerelda stayed behind with the young ones. Although he was fine with carrying Daisy, he didn't think he could do it again. And Eli... he was already weak, and Arinn didn't want him to struggle any more.

They reached the river a few minutes later. Elanor pointed out the pot where they found the footprints, and they stopped for only a second to gather in which direction they should travel. Deciding to follow the path along the river, Arinn would stop them at various points to look around and see if there were any clues of Eric's visit. Finding no signs whatsoever, the group continued sadly on.

"Look! A boat!" Arinn cried only a few moments later, with a tinge of a luagh on his voice. If Eric had used this boat, maybe he was still around somewhere!? "This is the boat that was tied down the river a ways. Someone- Eric, hopefully- has used it lately."

Elian then pointed something out that made everyone even more excited. "Uncle Arinn, footprints. Eric's footprints."

[Child of the 7th Age]

They were now on the east side of the Running River, an area that was far less familiar to them than the western banks. Swiftly they followed the muddy tracks that led away from the water and met up with a path continuing towards a wooded copse. The trees and bushes were smaller here and spaced wide apart. It would have been possible for a small boy to wriggle through without too much difficulty.

Elanor felt her heart thump feverishly as Arlinn picked up the pace, frantically pushing the branches aside in his keen anxiety to find his son before any further mischief could befall him. They had been going on like this for only a few moments when Elanor spied something familiar at the side of the trail. A small jacket was caught up in the thorns of a spiny gorse bush.

"Look, papa!" she called out, racing forward to her father. In her arms, she cradled the precious article of clothing. Although wet and dirty, the jacket was intact, showing no signs of blood or ugly rips. She bent down and let the dogs pick up the scent. They responded by sniffing the ground and hurrying ahead.

The jacket was clearly recognizable as one that used to belong to Eli. Willow had recently given the jacket to Eric, since he always lost so many clothes and she hesitated to buy him anything new.

Without a word, the party resumed its chase. This time Elian sprinted ahead, trailing closely after the dogs. He ran down the path some fifty paces, rounding a bend where the path continued on towards a strand of pines. These were much more imposing than the ones they had just pushed through. Covering the ground was a thick carpet of needles. Eli trudged more slowly up the steep hill, which was also blanketed with pines. He hoped that the slightly higher vantage would enable him to spot his cousin, despite the grove of tall trees.

But before he could make it all the way, Hawkwood and Ruff began baying out a warning a few paces ahead, clearly excited by whatever they'd found. Elian raced towards the barking hounds, fearful of what might be causing the ruckus. He halted abruptly at the top of the hill, staring out in disbelief. A few pines still stood but many of their branches were severely singed or snapped in two, hanging down to the ground. The floor of the forest appeared burnt and scorched, leaving large patches of earth that were barren and black Not an animal or plant remained alive. It was as if a maniac had attacked and rearranged the very bones of the earth.

Yelling back over his shoulder, Elian cried out shakily, "Arlinn, Rhysdan, Elanor, I'm up here. Come quickly....."

[ArwenBaggins]

Arinn held in a gasp when he climbed to the higher point of ground and noticed the charred ground. There was a deep black hole in the forest floor, where the dragon had unleashed his firey fury. 'We can only hope Eric made it out,' Arinn thought grimly to himself shaking his head.

The dogs started to bark madly and rapidly. They ran off together farther down the forest path, baying wildly and sniffing the ground as they went. "Come on!" Arinn ordered, motioning that the group followed the dogs.

Smaug had been here, and it was obvious. The tops of trees were gone, and random burn marks spotted the flora like a disease. Out of the corner of his eye, Arinn noticed a clump of underbrush that had a large space missing in the front, so he grabbed Rhysdan's arm and told him to stop. "It looks like someone crawled in-or out- of there."

Without waiting for an answer, Arinn got down on his knees in the mud and looked through the brush into the dark hole. Nothing. Standing with a sigh, Arinn dusted off the seat of his pants (with a few giggle from Elanor) and continued walking. It was several more minutes before Arinn noticed something a bit unusual.

'It can't be! Is it?' On the far edge of the path, just before it slopped down a hill, Arinn thought he saw a small lone figure moving slowly over the hill. With a burst of energy that he hadn't seen in ten years, Arinn took off quickly toward the shadowy figure ahead of them.

His wishes had been granted. As he neared, he noticed a small boy without a jacket and muddy boots. "Eric!" he yelled, careless to anything now. He had found his son. Although he was already tireing, his ran faster to reunite with Eric.

Scooping the boy up into his arms, Arinn couldn't help but let a few tears of joy run down his face. Other than a few small cuts and bruises, the boy was well. "Rhysdan! It's Eric!" he called to the group that was rapidly approaching. He cradled the boy like a small child, but quickly put his down so he could be greeted by the others.

After many hugs and kisses, along with a few stern looks (even though it was hard to keep a straight face), they were on their way back to the Millwind farm. "We should gather some provisions and then..." Arinn stopped for a minute. Did he really want to leave Dale? Of course not, but he had too... for his family. "leave with the rest of the farmers. For the safety of us all." He looked directly at Eric then, to whom he had sacrificed his jacket.

As they continued back along the forest path, the air about them was a little lighter. Eric was explaining his horrific experience for the first of many times, and Arinn was smiling for one of the first times in a day. Eric had been found.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Eric had never been so happy to see his family in his life, even his sister Elanor. They, apparently, felt the same about him, as he was embraced and kissed so much that he thought he was going to fall apart. Eric didn’t care how they found him or how long they’d been looking; he was just overwhelmed with joy to be going home. He was especially looking forward to some of his mother’s chicken pie, hot out of the oven. By now Eric felt extremely hungry and his stomach rumbled so fiercely that he was about ready to start eating tree bark. No bark for me, he thought, I’ll get hot fresh food when I get home.

All of the fear that he had kept pent up inside of him came flowing out like the tears streaking down his soft face. “Oh mommy, daddy” he stuttered, “it was so bad. I started following this big winged thing. And then I got lost in the forest and I didn’t know where I was and it was getting dark. So I went on the river, because our house is on it, but when I got out I didn’t see it. So then the big monster came and attacked me and blew fire at me, but I hid and it went away. Then you came and I’m so glad to see you and I’ll never run away again, especially after flying scaly monsters.” With that he gave his mother a big kiss on the cheek and hugged his father and Elanor so tight that he thought his chest would cave in. He promised himself he would give Eli a hug as soon as he got him. He wouldn't even mind if his brother kept the rock.

On the long walk home, Eric thought about how much he had missed his family. Maybe they really did love him after all, even as much as Eli. Getting lost had been very scary, it had taught him how much his family meant to him. His parents had never paid so much attention to him, but Eric decided that there must be easier, safer ways of earning their attention than getting lost in a forest, especially one with a big hungry monster. With a start, Eric wondered what would happen if the monster was waiting for him when he got home. From experience, Eric knew that he could hide from the monster, but he was not so sure about the rest of his family. He could just envision Eli fainting as the monster roared and flashed its teeth.

But Eric wouldn’t allow the monster to hurt any of his family; they were too special to him. He would find a way to hide all of his family from the monster before he could gobble them up. Besides, thought Eric, I may not be as strong or scary as he is, but I am certainly smarter. As long as I am here, the monster won’t be able to attack Dale. I won’t let it. Eric hummed as he walked and watched the tall dark trees passing by on the sides of the path, not quite as scary as he remembered them.

[Pippin Pondlily]

Esmerelda was startled by a knock on the door. She had dozed in one of the chairs in the living room of the Millwinds' house while Eli and Daisy slept. It was still early in the day. The rest of her family had left to find Eric a couple hours ago while she stayed home with the two littlest ones. She stood and approached the door, swinging it open quietly.

"Willow?"

Esmerelda smiled. "No, Cherry, it's me."

"Oh, Esmerelda!" Cherry was a hefty woman in her mid-fifties, her children all grown and gone but a dear friend of the Whitfields and the Millwinds. "How is the family? I've just come by to see if everyone's alright before we get on our way."

Esmerelda frowned. "On your way?"

Cherry nodded heartily and tightened her shawl about her shoulders against the rising wind. "Aye, there's no staying in Dale for my family. We're all going Southeast to Esgaroth. That dragon'll be back and with a mind for total obliteration. Don't want to be around for that ye know." She looked tired and frazzled, her messy brown hair falling out of its bun. "You should be coming too. I'd hate for two wonderful families such as yours and your brother's sisters to be left at the mercy of that thing." Esmerelda nodded, her eyes were sad at the thought of leaving. Cherry looked past Esmerelda into the house. "They're not here?" she asked, concern rising in her face.

Esmerelda shook her head. "No, they left a couple hours ago, Rhys, Arinn, Willow, Elian and Elanor too look for Eric. Daisy and little Eli are sleeping here though."

"Poor Eric!" cried Cherry clapping her hands to her face.

"Ah," said Esmerelda, "I think he's a brave boy and I have faith that he'll be found safe and sound. They're probably heading home even at this minute."

Cherry winked and smiled. "You're a brave woman, Esmerelda." She gave her a warm hug. "We'll meet in Esgaroth, then, eh?"

Esmerelda nodded slowly. "Yes, I guess so…"

"Goodbye dear, take care."

Esmerelda shut the door and leaned her back against it. Leave Dale. It made sense, it really did. But how, in what manner, would they do so? Pack a wagon and hitch up horses piling their belongings in the back? Would they walk with bags over their shoulders, their pockets stuffed with food? And what about crossing the lake? She definitely wasn't sure of how they'd do any of these things, but she was starting to get an idea of what they'd need. She could make herself useful by beginning to gather them up while the others were out.

She went into the small bedroom and roused Daisy. "My dear, I'm going to go over to our house and get a few things. Will you be alright here with Eli or do you want to come with me?"

Daisy yawned. "We'll be fine, Mum." Esmerelda smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead.

She ran quickly over to her homestead. She passed the laundry cauldron on its side in the lawn. The clothes that had been inside were strewn about, soaked in mud and ruined. There were but a few clothes, covered now in dust that hung on the line flapping idly in the breeze. She abandoned these and went inside, hoping there were at least some things that could be of use.

Luckily there were still a couple clean clothes in her children's trunks. These she took out and folded, placing them into a leather saddlebag along with a cloak apiece. She did the same for herself and Rhysdan, working as fast as she could. Once clothes were packed she went into the kitchen and rummaged through her pantry, taking things such as dried fruit, bread, hard cheese, and a block of tea--things that would travel. She ran about the house again picking up a handful of things that they would surely need and one or two that were of sentimental value.

In the end she had four bags: perfect. And who knew, maybe they would find a way to take all of their belongings--it all depended on when the dragon was to return.

Once back at the Millwinds she found Daisy and Eli awake and anxious about the missing family members.

"When do you think they'll come back?" Daisy asked.

"When they've found Eric, dear." Esmerelda said it with such assuredness that Daisy and Eli were quite convinced that the boy would be found. Around noon they looked to the west for their families …

[Child of the 7th Age]

The Millwinds and Whitfields who now trekked back to their homes were in considerably better spirits than when they had left that morning. Even so, there was still the problem of the wyrm. No one knew if the winged creature had made his last strike and decided to fly off to other parts, or whether he would revisit Dale shortly to launch another attack. Willow was careful to keep a close eye on Eric to make certain he did not stray too far from the path, all the while thinking and wondering what they should do next.

The answer came sooner than expected. Much of their return trek lay close to the river. The group intended to head south along its bank and then swing east directly to their farmstead. Just before they reached the spot where the path curved round, they were surprised to look back and see a contingent of small boats paddling speedily to the south.

"Haloo, there!" A voice carried over the water in their direction. "Farmer Millwood, is that you?" Arlinn turned about and recognized the face of an acquaintance. He waved a hand and stopped to listen to what the man was saying.

"You're heading in the wrong direction. Some of the Dwarves came to town this morning. The wyrm has taken up residence in the Lonely Mountain and sits on a hoard of gold. He has driven them out of their home. This creature--Smaug--calls himself the new master of Erebor and Dale!"

"Then, where shall we all go if this monstor will not leave? Where are you going?" Willow interrupted.

"Many in town have decided to travel south to Long Lake and the town of Esgaroth, hoping things will be safer there. Some have gone off on their own, but many are gathering in the city to travel in a large group, thinking that would be safer."

Willow and Arlinn exchanged a quick glance but said nothing out loud. After offering their goodbyes to the boatmen, they quickly turned, veered westward on the lane and, in a short time, had arrived back at the farm.

"What shall we do?" whispered Elanor to her mother. "Are we heading to Long Lake on our own or joining up with the group that leaves from Dale? Or should we just stay here and wait?"

Her mother sighed and shook her head. "We shall see what your father and Uncle Rhysdan decide."