The fellowship decided what remaining two questions they should ask the dead mayor. After some discussion the party agreed to ask the mayor about whether he is able to contact the hags. Kifak stepped up and asked if the mayor was able to send messages and contact the hags. The mayor simply replied “Yes”.

Kifak spat a few Dwarven curse words and gathered himself to ask the last question. Forming a more fulsome question, Kifak asked how the hags sent messages back and forth. The dead mayor responded that messages were sent via Orc scouts.

The party agreed to rest in the ruins of Maethleburg before setting out in the morning. In the morning, Kifak again cast Speak with the Dead and they asked the mayor three more questions. They first asked about whether there was gold or treasure remaining in the city. Without any arms, the mayor’s head gestured an eyebrow towards the ruins of the coin house that used to be the bank of Maethleburg. The party acknowledged that was probably a no.

Kifak then asked about the names and locations of hags the mayor was aware of. The mayor provided the following details:

• Helka – Dula Kuladurth (Whom the party has slain)
• Ninque – Dol Goldur
• Losse – Bar-en-Bairanax (Who the party has slain)
• Nixe – Cirith Ungol

In a dark turn, the party then agreed to take the mayor’s head with them.

The fellowship set out for four days of travel to Bree if all went well. The first day would take them through a pass in the mountain to Rivendell. The day’s travel was uneventful, and they came to the foothills and climbed their way through the pass. Near the top of the pass they came upon a man kneeling in front of a long dead campfire. The fellowship cautiously approached and soon learned that the man was frozen and had been here for months or even years. They quickly searched the man but found nothing of value. Arbun used his boon and discovered no scent of any magic surrounding the man. It appeared that the man chose to freeze here instead of continuing on.

The fellowship carefully continued up the pass and soon found another long dead firepit. The fellowship examined the firepit and saw that there were claw marks on the logs in the long dead fire. The fellowship carefully continued and Hallamir and Arbun suddenly heard sounds from above and looked up to see two Abominable Yetis lurch forward with boulders raised above their heads. Two smaller Yetis then stepped out from behind the trees to block their retreat.

The battle was engaged with the Abominable Yetis above them hurling boulders and the smaller Yetis moving forward with razor sharp claws. The fellowship was able to quickly slay the smaller Yetis and Jesoc led the way up the slope to attack the Abominable Yetis.

Jesoc ran up the slope and screamed out – ‘Don’t be a wus!’

While Jesoc was engaged with one Abominable Yeti, the other one was hurling boulders at the rest of the party before jumping down and attacking them. Jesoc was the recipient of a vicious ice roar but was able to overcome the effects and slay the Abominable Yeti.

Jesoc let out a satisfied yell – “I told you so!”

Jesoc then jumped off the cliff onto the remaining Abominable Yeti and the entire party surrounded the Abominable Yeti and hacked away. Kifak quickly cast Banishment and the Abominable Yeti disappeared. Kifak organized the party to be prepared to attack once he summoned him back.

Kifak called him back and the party viciously pummeled the Abominable Yeti dealing death in mere seconds.

The fellowship the harvested 80 Yeti claws from the Yeti corpses for future crafting. The fellowship soon reached the top of the pass and could see Rivendell below in the distance. The party continued down and reached Rivendell in the early evening.

The Fellowship descended into Rivendell and were surprised with how warm it was. Unlike the other side of the Misty Mountains, it appeared to be spring in Rivendell. All the flowers were in bloom and the trees were green and lush. The fellowship tied up their horses and reverently explored Rivendell. To their surprise, Rivendell looked to be abandoned and left to nature. The building and houses remained in pristine condition but no creatures on two legs lived in Rivendell anymore.

As they approached Elrond’s house they noticed two trees seemed out of place. The party was shocked when one of the trees spoke.

“Welcome and well-met Elf Friends, please rest and recover in our lands. Anything we have is yours but for the asking.”

Kifak was a bit sheepish and tried to hide his axe. The Ent introduced himself as CedarStub and informed the fellowship that Rivendell was gifted to the Ents and Entwives when the Elves of Rivendell left for the Undying Lands.

The Ents then introduced themselves:

• CedarStub – Ent
• Yewneedle – Entwive
• Yewstump – branchling
• CedarEye – branchling

The fellowship asked many questions of CedarStub and soon learned the following:

• The Ents are aware of the cold weather outside of Rivendell
• The Ents sensed a coldness emerge from Mirkwood months ago and shortly after became aware of more activity from emerging Orc and Hobgoblin hordes.
• The Ents are also aware of crones that have been crossing the woods.
• Crones and Orcs have not encroached into Rivendell
• CedarStub also shared that Ents are able to communicate telepathically at a great distance.

CedarStub was also curious of their journey and listened as Kifak explained their journey from Mirkwood to the Grey Mountains and back down through Mirkwood. CedarStub was especially interested in the fellowship finding the open grave of Thuringwethil in northern Mirkwood.

• CedarStub was very troubled upon hearing the name of Thuringwethil. CedarStub shared what he knew of Thuringwethil:
  • She is rumoured to be a vampire that can take the form of a bat, wolf, or raven.
  • She seems to recover any damage instantly and was defeated only when wearing the Shackles of Manwe
  • The Shackles of Manwe haven’t been seen for ages but are rumoured to have been recovered from Gondolin by Urial.
• CedarStub is also aware of the emerging evil in the Barrow Downs.

The fellowship rested in Rivendell overnight and said farewell to the Ents in the morning. The day of travel was easy along the East-West road. The party travelled by the Trollshaw Forest without any hint of trouble. Near sundown they approached the last bridge and saw the light from a campfire across the bridge.

The fellowship approached cautiously and saw that there were three figures around the campfire – a wise man and two women – Mildred Tasker and Daisy Sadler. The party would find out later that they were from Bree. The fellowship asked if they could join them around the campfire and they were welcomed with open arms.

The women explained that villagers from all around came to visit Amarth, a Fate Mage, and for the gift of blood and hair, Amarth would provide a reading and perhaps a blessing or curse the following morning. After some discussion, all of the party members agreed to have a reading by Amarth.

• Arbun drew the Star and Death cards
• Hallamir drew the Tower and Hermit cards
• Jesoc drew the Devil and Emperor cards
• Kifak drew the Magician and Chariot cards

The party thanked Amarth for his reading and asked the woman about happenings in Bree. Mildred Tasker told the party about the following rumours they have heard:

• An old crone and a band Orcs were looking for something in the Barrow Downs – unsure if they ever found it
• They have seen Orcs warriors come back hardly recognizable. Once fierce warriors they came back emaciated, clumsy, and weak.
• Hundreds of Orcs have been defeated and have now gone away.
• Guards are now stationed at the Prancing Pony because of recent troubles.

Kifak asked the women about a locals ales he should partake of when they arrive in Bree.

Daisy Sadler mentioned that Lone Wolf Brewing and Aurora Aleworks are two of her favourites in Bree. Kifak thanked her and gave her some gold pieces for her troubles.

The fellowship excused themselves and set up camp off the road away from the camp of Amarth.

The night passed without incident and while Arbun felt no different in the morning, Kifak dropped a hand axe and was deftly able to catch it with uncanny speed. Jesoc found himself more introspective and thoughtful while Hallamir had a healthy glow and impressive stride in his gait.

The party set off in the morning to Weathertop. It would still be two days before they reached the town of Bree.

They first spotted Weathertop from five miles away and spotted a fire and smoke from the top of Weathertop. As they got closer they saw that the fire had been extinguished, and all was quiet once they approached. The fellowship decided to send Arbun and Hallamir up to scout around and they found evidence of recent activity but no one was here now. Arbun and Hallamir called the others up and they all looked around the summit of Weathertop.

The fellowship explored the glory of the mosaics that was once the fortress of Amon Sul and without warning a horde of Hobgoblins climbed up all around the summit and surrounded the fellowship.

The Hobgoblins immediately attacked but they were easily defeated by the fellowship as Kifak summoned Spirit Guardians and Hallamir summoned a fog cloud. Jesoc smartly pushed Hobgoblins into the Spirit Guardians, hastening their demise.

Once this battle was over the party discovered that the horde seemed to wear scars from previous battles. This seemed to be the reason they were defeated so easily. But what could have weakened the Hobgoblins so drastically?

The party examined the bodies and saw that they were covered by claw marks that they couldn’t identify. Jesoc also noticed they all wore the black lightning bolt insignia.

The fellowship decided to rest for the night here before undertaking the last day of travel to Bree in the morning.