VsDM Eotheod Campaign Synopsis

It is the spring of year 1982 of the Third Age. A few years ago the Kingdom of Arnor was destroyed by the Witch King and in turn, the allied forces of Gondor and the Elves destroyed Angmar and forced the Witch King to flee. Last year Nain I was killed in a last ditch defense of Khazad-dum and Durin’s bane has driven out Durin’s folk from their vast underground city. Thrain I and his people are currently wandering, some heading across the Misty Mountains to Erid Luin, some east to the Iron Hills and some can be found throughout northern Rhovanion. Amroth and Nimrodel have left Lothlorien on their ill-fated journey, and Galadriel and Celeborn are now the Lords of Lothlorien. There are rumours of a powerful being in Southern Mirkwood and now that Khazad-dum has fallen many orcs and goblins are gathering on the east side of the Misty Mountains.

Éothéod History -

After the Battle of the Plains (T.A. 1856), the Kingdom of Rhovanion was subjugated by the Wainriders and its people were enslaved. To escape this fate, many of the Northmen fled Rhovanion; some north to Dale, others south to Gondor. Marhwini, son of Marhari, led one such band of refugees north between the eastern bank of the Anduin and the western eaves of Mirkwood. Along the way they were joined by additional fugitives who had fled through the forest. They ended their journey in the Vales of Anduin between the Carrock and the Gladden Fields, where they settled for the most part on the west side of the river. There they became known as the Éothéod (Horse People).

With their current home in the vales of the Middle Anduin subject to increased Orc and Goblin attacks and a resurgence of the Easterlings, Lord Frumgar led his people north to the lands near the headwaters of the Anduin. The destruction of Angmar removed a threat to these vales, and the Eotheod began settling between the rivers Langwell and Greylin. Fasthálla is the new capital, established along the Langwell River two days ride from where it joins the Greylin to form the Anduin.

Adventure Begins -

Lord Frumgar has returned to Avabárg to continue moving the Eotheod north to their new homeland. He has put out a call for those interested in helping to root out the remnants of the Angmarim. You and your fellow adventurers have traveled to Avabárg, a fortress and former Capital of the Eotheod on an island in the Anduin about 15 leagues north of the Gladden Fields. Avabárg looks empty, and you are aware most of the population has migrated to the new lands in the north. Lord Frumgar has invited you to meet with him to discuss the challenges the Eotheod face in their new homeland.

Responding to Frumgar’s call for adventurers, Karock, Pavól and Modrig meet for the first time in an antechamber of the Avabarg fortress’ Great Hall. Led into the Great Hall, they meet around a table with Lord Frumgar, his son Prince Fram, and Frumgar’s Chancellor, Marhleod. After introductions, Marhleod explains that before the Eotheod accept the adventurers for the job in mind, there is a problem to be addressed in the eastern reaches of this realm. There are a number of remaining farmsteads just beginning their final harvest before packing up and moving north, and these crops are critical to feed the final Eotheod on their journey north to the new capital of Burh Fram. The adventurers are to investigate and resolve the matter of the stolen crops.

After a day and half’s ride the party reaches the farmstead in question and meets the Elder of the locus of farms, Rolf. He explains someone is harvesting a variety of crops during the night and escaping to the east towards the eaves of Greenwood. The party sets up night watches to catch the thieves, but the thieves steal crops from fields further afar. The Party found and followed the tracks of the thieves due east towards the Greenwood.

After a day’s ride following the tracks the party set up camp. They inadvertently attracted the attention of a large wild boar which attacked them. The boar is killed, but not before it gave out a wound or two. Dinner was hearty that evening.

The next day the party rode half a day and reached the edge of the Greenwood. Continuing to follow the trail into the forest eventually led to a small, timber walled village of Woodmen about two miles inside the Greenwood. The villagers are hesitant to admit the party into the village, but Karock’s offer of the boar meat gains them admission and an audience with the village Elder.

The village Elder, Drengsul, listens to the party’s explanation of why they are there, the investigation into the missing Eotheod crops, and the party listens to Drengsul’s response. They discover the villagers of Isbrand full of fear and despair, with two villagers missing likely due to dark forces, foraging and gathering sites becoming dangerious at peak harvest while is winter approaching with not enough food yet in storage. While Drengsul has counseled perseverance, his son Eldrek, whose wife is one of the presumed dead, has led the raids on the Eotheod to help build up winter food stores against his father’s wishes after informal requests for aide from the Eotheod were denied.

The party decides to investigate the disappearances that afternoon. Karock, Pavól and Modrid plus the village’s lead forager Vigvar, his apprentice Hartaric, Eldrek and another villager, Thorgier, went to the foraging site where Eldrek’s wife Lytharia disappeared.

Nearly two leagues south of Isbrand is the large clearing/meadow where Lytharia was last foraging. Long strands of spider webbing is apparent in the treetops along the eastern edge of the meadow. Vigvar spots a spider in the treetops apparently watching the party and biding its time. The party attacks the spider with arrows and stones and the spider flees south and east. The party follows, attacking at every opportunity but despite hits from arrows and stones and being stunned at least once the spider keeps fleeing. After pursuing the spider through through thickets, across swales and creeks, over downed trees and sharp rocks, the party eventually loses sight of the wounded spider and darkness is approaching. The party decides to return to Isbrand for the night.