Galar looks back with a smile and pauses a moment for the hobbit to catch up.

Tomas leads Orodil out of the Pony, and down South, along the street, passing alongside the Green, where the Fair is being held: you see the bonfire blazing away, and hear people singing as they dance around it.

A great deal of people that were in the inn's main room are following along-- Mip & Galar probably among those.

You pass the South-gate, where the Watchkeeper looks at this crowd hurrying out of town with amazement, recognizing Tomas as the one who just came racing into town!

Then Tomas cuts to the East, moving away from the road, the Greenway.
For the people of Bree have buried their dead on a hillside south of the Great East Road, and East of the Greenway, and have done since time immemorial.

As you all approach, with the moat and wall protecting Bree to your left (the North), you that they raise mounds of earth over the corpses, and let the grass be their shroud.
This can be seen in the light of the torches carried by many in the crowd.

Those steeped in ancient lore can tell you that the oldest mounds are oriented to the north, towards Bree-hill and points beyond, and the newer mounds look back towards the West, towards the setting sun and the Undying Lands.

The mounds are not like the great barrows of the kings; they are little earthen piles covered in green grass, just long enough to house a corpse.

The graveyard is within sight of the lights of Bree, but is about ten minutes’ walk outside the town’s gates.
But, tonight, you rush, and so are moving rapidly down the well-worn path, lined with flowers, that seem to flicker red in the torch-light.
The path runs from the South-gate of Bree to the little cemetery that you are now approaching...

Keeping his nerve, with a lopsided smile matter-of-factly states, "Well there's no losing your nerve now.  Let's see what these monsters got up to."  Galar picks up a little speed as he marches towards the graveyard.

In reply to The Loremaster (msg # 15):

Aredhel winced as he made his way into the Prancing Pony, feeling several sharp pains in his knee as he made his way to a seat. He would order himself an ale - while it normally didn't come close to the wine of the Elves, it was at least something, and when he was feeling better he would order some wine, if available.

Orodil follows Thomas apprehensively and scans the graveyard as they approach, unsure of what to expect. He holds the torch in his left hand and flexes his right hand, itching to draw Biter from its sheath on his back but restrains himself. Odds are this is a figment of the youths imagination and he don't want to scare the villagers more than necessary.

Aredhel enters the inn, and is about to order some wine when--
--people go rushing out of the inn, jostling him as they do.
They are are all excited and talking loudly:
"Ghosts, whights, wraiths... in the graveyard!"
Half of the inn just moves out, past Aredhel, racing out.

As Mip comes running up to the graveyard, he stops calling out to wait for him, because he has actually caught up with the crowd, but also because it is an ominous place.

Mip looks up, and sees he is just behind Galar, who is looking around--

--easily spotting the newest mound, a spot of brown among the sea of green that is visible in the torch-light.

People point it out: it is the last resting place of Timeas Heatherton.

Up front, Orodil, his torch high, is close to this fresh grave.
Examining it, it is clear that the mound has been recently opened--
--and then closed up again.
But Orodil does have to look for these signs.
At a casual glance, the earth looks undisturbed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:35, Mon 03 Jan 2022.

Orodil is vaguely aware that several villagers and some of the others from the inn also follows the distraught youth. He ignores them, looks around and tries to make sense of the scene. Then he turns to Thomas. "What happened here?"

19:21, Today: Orodil rolled 12 using 1d12 with rolls of 12.  Favoured roll for Awareness.
19:21, Today: Orodil rolled a total of 8 (4 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 16 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 2, 2.  Awareness.

Orodil tries to avoid the distractions provoked by all the people milling about and talking about what is going-- "The ghost, I want to see the ghost!"

Success with the Gandalf rune.

As Orodil asks Tomas what happened-- he spots a spade, a clean spade with no dirt on it, lying on the ground just beside the grave.
Tomas glances to the spade, and then shrugs, apologetically:
"Err... yes, that's mine."
He then looks at Orodil:
"We must make a careful search of the barrow!"
This message was last updated by the player at 19:20, Tue 04 Jan 2022.

Looking the boy right in the eyes to instill the brevity of what it is he is asking, Orodil says "Easy now. Tomas, is it? Tell me exactly what it is you have seen before we go disturbing the dead."

Tomas tries to look away, but is forced to look up into Orodil's eyes.
He seems ill at ease and hesitant...

Orodil feels he should gain the young man's trust or, at least, calm him down.

Can you first make an Awe, Courtesy, or Riddle test, to get the conversation going?
This will help determine what goal to reach: the Resistance.

Then, Orodil and the others from the Company, can see how you try to befriend, calm, bolster, extract information etc. from Tomas, choosing which rolls you make.

Orodil stands tall and imposing, waiting for an answer.

00:59, Today: Orodil rolled a total of 17: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 12 ((8 (Feat Die), 1, 2, 2, 4)). Awe. Tall + Hope
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

As Orodil towers over Tomas, the young man glances at the Ranger, and seems to open up some.

Glancing around at the crowd, and then speaking a little low, to not be heard by all, Tomas addresses Orodil-- as well as Galar and Mip who are close by.
"I seen a ghost in the graveyard.
A ghost that--"
He shivers.
"That-- it looked right at me!
I was so scared I nearly fainted!
The next thing he knew, I was running in the door of the inn!
I must've gone and dropped the spade."

But he is obviously still wary, and it seems you need to coax him on, to win his trust if you are to find out as much as you can about events in the graveyard.
There are things he has not yet said... but he does seem inclined to open up.

Any of the Company - Orodil, Galar, Mip - may interact with Tomas. He is friendly (interested in cooperating) so you all gain (meaning you have +1d to these rolls).
Tell us how you push him to reveal more, and roll for whatever skill you feel works (with your +1d from the gain).
Enhearten, song, persuade etc.

Maybe each of you three can roll one Skill?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:23, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

Curiosity aroused Galar inquires, "What made you think your uncle buried something here?  And don't you mean 'me' and 'I' rather than 'him' and 'he'?  Was someone else with you?"

OOC
Riddle roll

04:52, Today: Galar rolled a total of 7 (4 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 3.  Riddle (favored).

04:52, Today: Galar rolled a total of 15 (12 if weary): a success (failure if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 7 (Feat Die), 1, 2, 5.  riddle .

Not sure if it's just a editing mistake or yokel-speak  but what I'm referring too...

Tomas Heatherton:

"That-- it looked right at him!
I was so scared he nearly fainted!
The next thing he knew, I was running in the door of the inn!

Galar asks--
Successful roll
--Tomas abouting me or him and other I's and he's:
"No, no, I was alone... alone with a ghost!
Maybe my uncle's unquiet ghost!
But it was a huge spirit!
Grey-skinned, and nine or ten feet tall, and that's despite it being all hunched over.
Oh, and it smelled like rotten meat."
Any of you, upon hearing this, may make a Hunting or Lore test, or just use your character's simple common sense...

When Galar then asks about mhat made Tomas think his uncle buried something, young man frowns, and glances around nervously--
This opens a second line of getting information out of Tomas, re. the "past", why he came here in the first place.
Any or all of you can roll for Insight, Awe or Persuade to draw Tomas out on this topic.

Not sure if it's just a editing mistake or yokel-speak
Please! How can you doubt your loremaster?
I did a lot of research into how young men of that era spoke in Bree and--
--yes, some type/confusion/editing blunder of mine.
Sorry (and I changed it above).

RECAP FOR CLARITY

There are TWO questioning threads:

• 1 • Orodil & Mip (and of course Aredhel when he arrives) may work at getting info' about what exactly Tomas saw (the Ghost)
For those rolls, everyone gets gain (++1d to your roll)
Galar has rolled

• 2 • any of the Company may roll for Insight, Awe or Persuade to have Tomas talk about why he was here in the first place

Galar casts a nervous glance at the ranger and out of habit pulls out his vade mecum.  Tomas's description vaguely fit a tale or two he put into his little book.  "Your recently dead uncle's walking corpse is nine or ten feet tall and smells that rancid already?  What was he wearing?  Was he armed?"

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
OOC
05:53, Today: Galar rolled a total of 7 (5 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 5 (Feat Die), 2.  lore (favored).

05:52, Today: Galar rolled a total of 14 (12 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 7 (Feat Die), 5, 1, 1.  lore (with useful item).

Heh....guess in Galar's book trolls live under bridges and smell more like billy goat musk;-).

---

Something was off about Tomas's story.  Not standing for your uncle's funeral is pretty scandalous behavior by Breelander standards.  Tomas was either a foolish lad driven by greed or perhaps driven by some other motivation.  Maybe he could entice (or shame) him into revealing what variety he was, "So what was worth embarrassing your family by missing the funeral, tearing up your uncle's place, and then coming to a graveyard in the middle of the night...with a shovel?"

OOC
spending hope and using cunning (playing the guilt card) to see if he can shake Tomas enough for a bit of Insight on his recent behavior.

06:13, Today: Galar rolled a total of 4 (4 if weary): a failure with the Eye of Sauron (complications) using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 11 (Feat Die), 4.  insight favored.

06:13, Today: Galar rolled a total of 21: a great success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 15 with rolls of 5 (Feat Die), 6, 1, 4, 5.  Insight with hope (cunning).

Galar feels that Tomas's description is off-- and it really makes him think of something, but he cannot remember what.
Failed roll
Tomas shrugs: "What was he wearing? Err... ghost things? Like a... I can't remember."

But, then, it seems he does feel guilty for not having attended the funeral.
Great success
So he looks up at Galar, and shrugs:
"You have to understand... I wanted to come to the funeral. But... you see, me late Uncle Timeas was a former treasure hunter. And he always had money when he needed it. He... he had this map, Timeas did, that pointed the way to a buried fortune.
A fortune hidden somewhere in Bree-land.
Timeas would go to the buried hoard when he needed coin.
So I thought that, well, what with the entire family at the funeral... there'd be no one at Timeas' home!"


______________________________
TWO questioning threads:

• 1 • Orodil & Mip (and of course Aredhel when he arrives) may work at getting info' about what exactly Tomas saw (the Ghost)
For those rolls, everyone gets gain (++1d to your roll)

• 2 • Orodil & Mip may roll for Insight, Awe or Persuade to have Tomas talk about why he was here in the first place.

And Orodil & Mip may roll Hunting or Lore to see what Tomas' ghost might actually be.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

21:09, Today: Mip Tanglefoot rolled a total of 12 (4 if weary): a failure using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 4 (Feat Die), 2, 3, 3.  Insight.

"Whoa, I envy you, Tomas, a real ghost! Huge like a tree! That IS something! A tale to tell, over an ale and a good bite, don't you think, I ant to hear the whole story. I must hear the whole story."

______________________________
TWO questioning threads:

• 1 • Orodil (and of course Aredhel when he arrives) may work at getting info' about what exactly Tomas saw (the Ghost)
For those rolls, everyone gets gain (++1d to your roll)

• 2 • Orodil & Mip may roll for Insight, Awe or Persuade to have Tomas talk about why he was here in the first place.

And Orodil & Mip may roll Hunting or Lore to see what Tomas' ghost might actually be.

22:30, Today: Mip Tanglefoot rolled a total of 21: a great success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 8 (Feat Die), 6, 5, 2.  insight.

"But please, young Tomas, you must elaborate, I can't stand the wait. give a little something before we head back to the inn. What happenend here?"


ooc: just to let you know: I used one more die again, like above, maybe this was wrong ..??
This message was last edited by the player at 21:45, Wed 05 Jan 2022.

As Mip asks Tomas to please elaborate, the young man looks down at the Hobbit, and, maybe feeling more at ease, being the bigger one, he opens up:
"Well, I went through my uncle's house. Looking everywhere... and, since there was no treasure map among Timeas’ belongings, not anywhere in the house, well, I thought my uncle must have arranged to be buried with the map!"
He shuffles his feet, looking distressed:
"I do not know why Timeas didn’t leave the map to me, to his family.
But..."
And he lowers himself down to Mip's level, and whispers:
"I suspect that my uncle Timeas was... trying to protect his kin.
The hoard may be... located somewhere perilous!"

I used one more die again, like above, maybe this was wrong ..??
Yes, I think that was wrong. But it we remove the last die rolled it still is a Success, with the extra 6.

Tomas feels more at ease now, having gotten a load off his chest.
If any felt that having Tomas admit what he was doing in the graveyard, one simply has to ask him politely... or scare him a bit!
Courtesy or Awe checks

______________________________
Again TWO questioning threads (one having closed, but another opened):

• 1 • Orodil (and of course Aredhel when he arrives) may work at getting info' about what exactly Tomas saw (the Ghost)
For those rolls, everyone gets gain (++1d to your roll)

• 2 • finished

• 3 • Orodil, Mip & Galar may roll Courtesy or Awe to get Tomas to open up as to what he was doing here

And Orodil & Mip may roll Hunting or Lore to see what Tomas' ghost might actually be.

16:55, Today: Mip Tanglefoot rolled a total of 16: a success (same result if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 10 (Feat Die), 2, 4.  courtesy roll.

"You are mighty courageous, young Tomas. Coming to the graveyard on your own, you are a true adventurer. So, did you find something already? Is there something else you want to tell us?"


ooc: no hunting or lore roll, not familiar with it, not at all...

Listening to Mip--
and his Success
--has Tomas puff up his chest:
"Yes, having not found anything in my uncle's home, and thinking he had hidden away the map with him-- I simply brought this spade, intending to dig up my uncle’s grave!
If one wishes to go on an adventure, one needs to get one's hands dirty!
I intented to find the map..."

________________________
Again TWO questioning threads (one having closed, but another opened):

• 1 • Orodil (and of course Aredhel when he arrives) may work at getting info' about what exactly Tomas saw (the Ghost)
For those rolls, everyone gets gain (++1d to your roll)

• 2 • finished

• 3 • Orodil & Galar may roll Courtesy or Awe to get Tomas to open up as to what he was doing here

And Orodil may roll Hunting or Lore to see what Tomas' ghost might actually be.

Galar manages to keep his shock off his face given Tomas' admission.  Collecting himself he asks, "Why are you certain he had a map?  Did you see it?  I mean why would he need it if it was buried nearby in someplace he was reasonably familiar and then how would it get into his casket unless he told someone to put it there?  Wouldn't someone else in the family know of the map if this is the case and couldn't you have checked first before showing up here with a shovel?"

OOC
12:02, Today: Galar rolled a total of 17 (13 if weary): a success (failure if weary) using the The One Ring with a target of 14 with rolls of 8 (Feat Die), 5, 2, 2.  Courtesy.

TN 15 but still success.

As a side note does Tomas have a bit of a 'reputation' in Bree or is this first time he's done something this...hrm...beyond the norms?
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Thu 06 Jan 2022.