Middle-Earth Role Playing Campaign

They all assembled in the mess hall at mid-morning. The news was not good.

"We cannot go north," Bauglir reported. "Rhôn-Hari-Rhôn and I have examined the map, and this morning we went outside to look at the mountains. The snow is too deep, the mountains too high, and there is no sign of a pass through them to the Wild Lands."

"Should you decide to go south, I am not sure I want to come with you," said Eklath. "I am from Arthedain, and by all accounts Angmar is mustering for an attack on my country. I would prefer to go west and help my people."

"Where we go once we leave this mine is still open to debate," said Dennenor. "We did not decide last night if we wanted to take the south pass out of Angmar or the east."

"I thought about that last night," said Bauglir. "Both ways are perilous, but the way east is probably the more dangerous of the two, for it goes very close to Mount Gundabad."

"South is bad, too!" said Luinár. "Once we are out of Angmar we enter areas inhabited primarily by Trolls!"

"Trolls aren't that difficult to kill," remarked Baldôr. "You just need to plan it well. Before arriving in Rivendell, my friends and I killed seven of them."

"Not only is the south pass less dangerous," said Bauglir, "but once we are out of Angmar we are closer to areas inhabited by people. If the Elves come with us, we should be able to make it to Rivendell within a few days of leaving this accursed land."

"Provided we are not first killed by Orcs or mulched by Trolls," Mîriel observed. "But overall it does seem to be a better route. How, then, shall we get there? Strike out across the plain, or make the longer journey east around the mountains?"

"We discussed this last night," said Luinár. "It appears Orcs are simply too numerous around the mountains to make it safe. We would be better off on the plain."

"But we would stand out on the plain," piped up Bradlegar. "A fine sight we would be, so to speak, with those tall Elves towering above us all. We sure wouldn't look like Easterlings. They'd see us in a minute and ride over to check us out. And I don't much fancy our chances in a fight with people riding horses and us on foot!"

"The Easterlings ride in smaller numbers than the Orcs," said Bauglir. "Our chances could be better fighting smaller numbers."

"Then it looks like the only option left for us is to go south and take our chances on the plain," said Mîriel.

"I and my men will be going west to help my people," said Eklath.

Zaid said, "And I will join you that way, even though it takes me away from my country. I think the others are crazy for wanting to try to get out of Angmar on the passes."

"Crazy we may be," said Mîriel, "but we do not want to join Eklath in his war with the Witch-King. We will ride with you a little bit west, then separate when we reach the first trail that heads south. That should throw anyone pursuing us off our track."

Then Dennenor asked, "What about the others--the men that have been the longest?"

One of them, for all the former slaves had assembled in the mess hall for this conference, said, "Like Zaid, we will not join you on a perilous journey across the uncharted plains. We decided last night we would go with Eklath and his men. We are hopeful we can pass as part of the Angmar's army as far as the western border. Then we may be able to sneak across with Eklath's band and make our way free."

"We should collect things for our journey," said Mîriel. "Medicines and healing plants, for one. There are plants here that I may not be able to find anywhere else. Who here also knows plants that can heal?"

The Wose, who up to now had said nothing, spoke. "Rhôn-Hari-Rhôn knows many plants from home. May also find them here. Help lady look for plants that heal."

The conference broke up and Luinár and Rhôn-Hari-Rhôn went foraging for medicinal plants. They returned some time later with a useful collection: several darsurin leaves and eight mirenna berries that would help heal bruises, and eight arthond roots that could ward off disease. They also found two rare aldaka roots that could heal damaged nerves and ten megillos leaves. When eaten, said Mîriel, the leaves gave a temporary boost to people's eyesight.

It took the people the rest of the day to gather together all the supplies they figured they would need. After cleaning out Zaid's stores they had gathered enough food in the form of greatbread and iron rations for twenty-five days per person. They also collected ropes, bedrolls, cooking supplies, water skins, and tents.

That night the Elves again kept watch, and Eklath and his men joined them from time to time through the night.

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Guided Tour

Day 3: Flight from the Mine

Day 1: Insurrection at the Slate Mine

MERP Campaign #2: Index

MERP Campaign #3: Paul's MERP Campaign

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Based on events played to April 18, 1997. Accesses since September 30, 1998: