The Yule Log RPG

[Koobdooga]

‘A good story, Master Andrail!’ Egil chuckled and shook his head, drawing some curious stares from those who’d been listening to the man’s tale. ‘Oh no, ‘ he said, ‘it’s not that I’m thinking the tale was in the least funny. It was chilling, to be sure. And especially in light of the other news those gathered here have brought.’ He chuckled again. ‘It’s just that I never held much with horses. Always thought them devilish beasts – too big, too ornery. But I must say, the one your Uncle Brimbor rode appeared the most intelligent creature in that party. And, well, I never thought to hear my self say that of such a beast!’

Egil called the server over and had his and Berrick’s cups refilled. ‘You said you might be leaving tomorrow, Master Andrail. I was thinking of heading out then, myself.’ He paused and took a drink, collecting his thoughts. 'I was going northward, but the news I’ve heard of doings there makes me think I ought to take another direction. If you don’t mind my asking, will you be heading back south? Or west, perhaps? And if so, would you like a traveling companion? I’m a fair fighter with my ax. And two to keep watch at night would give more sleep. But think it over, think it over. I don’t mean to pressure you . . . naught but an offer on my part.’

[Tevildo]

Pleased that he would be able to show off in front of the guests, Tevildo waited for the animals to be silent and then began to speak....

"In the First Age of Arda in the far eastern land of Hildórien, the Secondborn Children arose. Now many of the Vala were taken with these upstarts and believed they could do no wrong. Only Melko could see and understand the true state of things. He was impatient with the slow designs of the Music and warned the others that no good would come from the Aftercomers. Yet Manwe and the others paid no heed to his warning, but unwisely shut him out from the company.

Now, even in those earliest days, the Apanónar took great delight in themselves and often acted as if they were masters of all of Arda, though we all know this is definitely not true. And some of their number were so full of themselves that they decided to follow the course of the Sun and began journeying towards the West. Seeing the Secondborn Children struggling along the road, that busybody Varda decided to try and help, for the earliest Men did a very poor job of hunting and were constantly in need of food. It is also said that these Men were lonely and cried out for a companion.

And Varda travelled to the Secondborn in disguise and she brought with her a pack of giant hounds and made a gift of them to the leaders of Men. And she said these words to the Men: "Here is a companion who will be with you forever. These hounds will be a reflection of my love for you. Regardless of how selfish and childish and unloveable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do. And the hounds were pleased to be with the Men and wagged their tails in approval.

Now, when the wise Melko saw all this, he was sore distressed. For he knew what would happen. And he warned the others but they did not heed him. But one day Varda went again to the camps of the Men and what she saw filled her heart with sadness. The Men had all become filled with pride. Each one strutted and preened like a peacock and believed himself worthy of the rule of Arda. For every day the Dogs looked into the eyes of men and told them they were worthy of honor, and the foolish Secondborn Children believed this lie.

Varda did not know what to do to correct her mistake, and even Manwe was upset to hear what had happened. Finally, in desperation, the couple turned to Melko for help."

Cat stood up and pranced about the firepit, looking each of the animals directly in the eye. "And now, my friends, before I go any further, does anyone in this fine circle know whom Melko called upon to correct Varda's terrible mistake?" Tevildo glanced from one animal to the next and waited for someone to speak.

[Nerindel]

After hearing Wenda’s words regarding the unwight and as Maranwe had moved to listen to a tall grey-clad stranger who spoke of elves and battles gone by, Arato had slipped into thoughtful contemplation. The young woman’s words had troubled him as he was reminded of the same sense of some evil he had felt the previous night in the woodland just above the sleepy village, but as he chewed on the tip if his pipe, idly watching the flames lick hungrily at the Yule log, he reminded himself that whatever it was had not been as deathly silent as the unwight Wenda had described, no it had whispered of evil intent and tried hard to disguise it’s raspy hiss against the wind. His Gaze shifted momentarily to the shuttered window’s as they again rattled in response to the harsh winter winds outside.

The journey had been long, he was tired and near exhaustion in mind as well as body. He admitted as much to himself, although reluctantly, as he turned back to the fire. Perhaps in chasing shadows as long as he had he now expected them at every turn and was now seeing them where there were none to be seen, but there was no denying that wherever he went trouble seemed to find him. He seemed to drew them like moths to a flame, it was his curse and as yet he had allowed himself no rest from insuring that such creatures where returned to the void. It was a simple choice really them or him and like most he valued life especially his own.

Mara was right whatever it was, if indeed it was anything more than the harsh wind‘s call, it could wait and if it became over bold and looked for trouble he would be right here waiting to oblige! With an assured grin of satisfaction , he relit his piped and turned back to see what new tales where being recounted.

As it was he had rejoined the group as a new stranger was recounting to the dwarf a tale his uncle had once recounted to him, Arato listened with interest and even allowed himself to grin with mild amusement at the clever cunning of the fox . Not only had it managed to barter it’s freedom with it’s knowledge but also sought away of ridding itself of it’s pursuers possible for good. “A foe not to be taken lightly” he chuckled to himself. But his mood again grew sombre as the story turned the way he knew it must with death. He could fight monsters and vanquish demons, but the subtle evils that Melkor left behind to tempt and corrupted the hearts of all races he could not prevent. Each have to face that demon alone and only the strong of heart and mind can resist such manipulations, in the end greed had been their undoing.


‘You said you might be leaving tomorrow, Master Andrail. I was thinking of heading out then, myself.’ He paused and took a drink, collecting his thoughts. 'I was going northward, but the news I’ve heard of doings there makes me think I ought to take another direction. If you don’t mind my asking, will you be heading back south? Or west, perhaps? And if so, would you like a travelling companion? I’m a fair fighter with my axe. And two to keep watch at night would give more sleep. But think it over, think it over. I don’t mean to pressure you . . . naught but an offer on my part.’ the Dwarf was saying to his companion as Arato again resurfaced from his thoughts.

“If it’s west you go I’d be wary of the Mirkwood, elves protect those woods and a dwarf and his axe might not be too welcome,” Arato warned taking in the dwarves fine blade. “I’d keep to the road if I were you and tarry not. It is also said that dark things have made their home in the southern eaves of the forest, In fact this very morning I heard a chilling tale,|” he pause removing his pipe and taking a draw of his mead, both to wet his throat and to ensure he had the attention of both men and anyone else who wished to listen, then he began.

‘Three companions disturbed by news of strange disappearances in southern Mirkwood, decided perhaps a little too foolhardy to go and see for themselves what was going on. They searched for days and days for signs of those said to have gone missing but found nothing and were beginning to think nothing that had happened to them and that the missing had simply gone off wandering without telling anyone, or perhaps even decided to seek out new havens and didn’t know how to say good bye.

But sanding in a small clearing one of them suddenly noticed that the sway of the tree’s was moving against the wind and not with it. Unnerved by this and realising that something was not quite right they began to cautiously back out of the clearing, their eyes searching carefully for what could be causing such a strange phenomena to occur.

That’s when it began, a click, click, clicking sound , quietly at first, but growing louder and louder as it came closer and closer, quickly it came causing the third companion to panic and run off in fright straight into a huge sticky silvery web that hung between two tall trees, it held him fast and the more he struggled the more entangled he became . Quickly The second companion attempted to calm him down and cut him free, while the first companion kept watch just out of sight. His hands trembling as he knocked an arrow in his bow and listened fearfully as the clicking grew closer and closer. Then suddenly stopped, he looked around his heart beating fast as he expected an attack at any moment, but it didn’t come.

“I think it’s gone!” he cried back to his friends after a while.

“Let‘s hope so!” the second called back, as the third finally fell free from the sticky trap. “Right he’s free lets get out of here!” the second called back, but her words were lost to a blood curdling scream that they both recognised at once. They both rushed to the spot where their friend had stood watch, but there was no sign of him, both he and the clicking sound had vanished .

Off course they searched for him but found nothing but more webs and the bones of unfortunate souls who had been caught in the traps and been unable to free themselves. Then with the coming of night the clicking return and fearful the two companions fled to tell others of what they had seen and to warn them if they could.

“So from them I warn you be wary of the Mirkwoods!” he whispered leaning in close for emphasis and if he was honest to gain a little dramatic effect.

Off course the story was an adaptation of the news Mara had brought and she would no doubt pull him up on it later, but if it cautioned at least these two be wary, when travelling through the woods what harm was in it and if he was lucky these two would carry the warning to others with half an ear to listen.

[Rose]

Tevildo is asked to continue

The old inn hound raised himself up from the ragged blanket that served as his bed. That is his hindquarters stayed sprawled on the ground while his head and chest rose up. He was half blind, his old eyes cloudy and the drooping ear he’d raised a hind leg to scratch at was notched from any number of skirmishes.

‘Speak up, cat!’ he growled. The muffled voices and smells from the gathering in the little courtyard had intruded on his dozing. At first only waking him fitfully. It was the voice of the cat that woke him fully. Some story the feline was spinning. And what was all that about hounds and men turning bad. He hadn’t caught it all, but he was sure the puffed up, self-important cat was telling lies.

Sneaky critters – butter you up on the one side, rub on you like you were their best friend, and the next their claws and teeth’d be in you.

‘G’wan . . . tell us the rest of your story.’ He gave a wheezy laugh. ‘And I’m just thinking you’re going to be telling us it was you as was asked to help out.’

[Undómë]

Goody sat hunched forward on her chair, staring into the fire. Her eyes drifted down the log, noting how much there was still to burn. She stirred her old bones, sitting up as straight as they’d allow, and looked about the room. Her eyes lit on a familiar face.

‘Birger! Come here, boy,’ she called. ‘Going to be needing more holly for the fire. Got to keep the log here burning. Take your saw out and gather us some, won’t you? A little rowan and yew make for a good blaze, too.’ She eyed the boy, stopping to consider the stories he’d most likely heard from the guests in the Inn. ‘Best you be leaving while there’s plenty of light. Take the dogs with you, why don’t you.’ She raised her voice a little so that those nearby could hear her.

‘Any of you good sirs be willing to lend Birger a hand? Many hands make light work,’ she cackled, trailing off as her gaze drew back to the coals that glowed red and shimmered beneath the log.

‘Carr!’ she called out, hearing his shuffling step somewhere behind her. ‘Who’s gone to fetch the boar for the feast?’ she asked. ‘Be a good night tonight for a fine, fat pig, it would.’ She smacked her lips a little, thinking of the cracklings, dripping with grease. ‘Heard the animals were gathering in the courtyard . . . best the boar be a big one, so’s they can have a bite, eh.’ She rocked a little, back and forth in her chair, humming some tune for a short while, then fell quiet.

[Nerindel]

"I'll go with the lad." Mara spoke up, thinking on Arato's uneasiness in the woods the night before, but she let little of her concern show on her face as she rose.

"That is unless of course you feel a mans company would offer more reassurance?" she grinned, a light of mild amusement reaching her bright eyes as she spoke, noting the lad glace uncertainly from her to the table's of strong looking men seated around the inn.

"Ai you needn't worry lad," Arato laughed, slapping the lad jovially on the shoulder. "Trained by elves that one, silent as a shadow and as fierce as a bear, no better woods woman this side of the iron mountains, I'll wager. She'll see you right lad." he grinned in a kindly assuring manner.

Mara nodded humbly at her friends kind praise, then turning back to the lad she patiently awaited his decision as to weather or not he would accept her offer of accompaniment and help in the task set him on this bitter chill afternoon.

[Huan]

Birger let out his breath in a whoosh, relieved he would not have to face the suddenly ominous woods alone. And yes he might have liked one of the men to come along, but he thought the woman looked able enough. More able than me! he thought in a passing moment of grim humor. Wouldn’t be more’n a mouthful for them creatures they were talking ‘bout.

‘You’ll do fine, m’am,’ he answered in a voice more bold than he felt. His fair cheeks reddened, hoping she did not take his acceptance of her offer as being too rude. Who was he to know her merits as a protector? His only skirmishes had been with crows he’d chased from the garden or the pup who’d got hold of Cook’s leg of lamb roast; his only weapons a little knife he used for whittling and perhaps the stick he used to move the goats out to a different patch of grass in summer.

Elf-trained, the man had called her. Strong as a bear. He sneaked a quick look at her. ‘Begging your pardon, m’am, but mayhap you want to . . . well . . . that, is . . . your dress, will it be warm enough for tramping about in the snow and such?’ He blushed again, this time a deep red, as red as her dress. It crept up from the collar of his tunic. He looked down hurriedly, examining the scuffed toes of his boots. Her hair had shone auburn where the firelight touched the curls and her green eyes were bright with amusement

‘I’ll just fetch my cloak and the saw and meet you at the gate in a little while with the hand cart,’ he stammered.