"We've trampled around enough to make hiding our tracks troublesome", grumbled Kharrum, last to arrive at the camp. He kept his eyes on the surrounding wood, unconsciously letting his pony nuzzle at his hand

06:15, Today: Kharrum Stonesinger rolled 44 using 1d100+8 with the Role/Spacemaster system (fumble range of 1 to 5) with rolls of 36.  (Conceal) Tracks. – 44

Not being the best to help carrying large people, Bosco looks around the ground before the leave a gathers any odd interesting object lying around including the famous lock.  He trails his companions by a few meters while watching for anything following them.  Back at the camp, he finds a vantage point to keep an eye on the surrounding area when Elly tends to the injured and Kharrum tries to hide our tracks.

Kharrum does his best to cover up the tracks and conceal the camp.  Bosco does not find anything of value, it seems the goblins took everything from the men.

Rhûniel watched curiously as Elly removed her armor and tended to the wounded man.  She sat nearby in the shade of a tree with her knees up and together, her arms wrapped around them.  The wounded man recovered some color to his face and then fell into a more peaceful sleep, her ministrations having gone as far as they could.  From under the tree, Rhûniel asked, "what do you plan now?  Where will you take us?"

"Where is it you were headed before?", enquired the dwarf, politely, "It seems the Rohirrim would be best taken to their kin, that they may mourn or tend to these wounds.."

" I guess our mission has already failed, so I guess what Mater Dwarf says has sense, for us at least... Berthold said, with sad tone, looking at Einar. "Any assistance would be welcome, but please, don’t feel compelled to help us, you’ve already done more for helping us than we could ask."

He stayed in silence for a moment. "Then I’ll have to go to Lorien to return Galen’s broach to his family, I guess…"

Elly says simply, "I agree. Repatriate the Rohirrim and return the heirloom to Lorien need to be done. But where are you from, Rhûniel? if given a free choice where would you go to now?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 19:31, Fri 26 Apr.

Rhûniel looks confused for a moment.  "My people lived by the waters of the sea of Helcar, known as Nen Echui.  But it is now lost, since the first cataclysm.  I was born under the moonlight many days journey to the South and East of the Inland Sea, the Nan Dolen we call it, where men and orcs cannot find us," she explains.  "I was called to explore to the West, and wandered for many seasons until I reached the Great Wood, dark and foreboding it seemed.  Turning South there I came upon the Great River Anduin; but it led into lands ruled by men with fierce countenance and always ready for war, so I turned West again and was caught by those orcs in this land.  It seems sad somehow," she looks around at the last, her voice trailing away.

---

Elly, Bosco and Kharrum speak varying amounts of Sindarin.  Nen Echui is the Sindarin form of Cuiviénen, the place of awakening where elves first woke up in the First Age, before the sun and moon were created.  "Nan Dolen" means "hidden valley" in Sindarin.  The only inland sea you guys know is the Sea of Rhun, but as "rhun" means "East" it stands to reason that she would not call it that, having come from east of it.

"War comes even to those who wish not for it, Miss Rhûniel", offered Kharrum gruffly, trying to piece together where her folk hailed from, "And sometimes men ... and dwarves ... musty be schooled for it lest it catches them unawares"

"Is anyone still suffering blood loss?" asks Elly, prepared to try and cast another spell but very aware that magic is not a trivial thing to be squandered and is not without peril.

If there is no reply confirming ongoing bleeding then she re-armours and suggests, "We should be on our way! Distance between us and the orcs before night falls is desirable."

Kharrum muttered a bit then, looking sheepish, held out his bandaged arm, "Got a bit of a nick earlier; I think the bleeding has stopped, but..."

OOC: He suffered a 1/rnd bleeding wound that I think was fixed, but not 100% sure

"I am fine as I was shooting from afar.  I'll continue keeping watch while you look after people." says Bosco before returning to his vantage point.

This message was deleted by the player at 12:43, Tue 30 Apr.

Elly decides to keep her remaining spell in case of an emergency. "Right, nobody is bleeding so let's get those we're taking that are immobile fastened onto horseback and we be on our way."

======
OOC: If there's no intervening drama, happy here to do a skip forwards. (Fastening unconscious
folks onto a horse, while important, isn't so interesting).

"I don’t believe you can heal my damages more than you have already done" Berthold said to Elly. "And I can also help on treating wounds, albeit without magic…"

Indicating the unconscious fellow she says, "He may have internal damage, Berthold. Are you able to do anything for that?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 11:20, Wed 01 May.

Elly points to the east, "We should take him to Westhold. He can get rest and time to recover there."

She starts to break camp and urges those around to make ready to travel eastwards.

Berthold looked at the others, and at his wounded comrade. Not that he liked the idea to return in failure to Rohan, but his comrade needed more care than he (or Elly, for what he was seeing) could provide him…

"It’s hard to return to base on shame…" he commented to the others. "I mean, I lost my horse, my eye and a comrade in this my very first mission, and I had not gone far, less so accomplished it…" he added. "But I guess it will be the best for him, and losing another comrade due to my pride would only add more shame on me…"

He took a deep breath. "Westfold will then be. " he said. "I’ll have to face the consequences of my failure and live with them, for the best of my comrade. Then, if allowed, I’ll move to return the broach to Galen’s family and to accompany this Lady to her home, if she so desires" he finished, looking at Rûniel.

"I may be a failure as warrior now, but I’m going to give my life in needed to attune me by returning you home, if my superiors allow me" he vowed to her.

"I will join you in the journeying, if you welcome that, Berthold," Elly offers.

"Aye, lad, I will come too", offered Kharrum, "And I would not count the rescue of your comrade as failure, but stoutness of heart and wisdom. After all, you return with new friends and have ensured the Rohirrim are not as reduced by this as they might have been"

Elly nods at the dwarf's wise way.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:58, Sat 04 May.

"For my part, I have no desire to return home," Rûniel said.  "I left the East to explore the lands to the West, and mean to travel to see where the sun goes in the evenings," she added.  "But I will travel with you, out of gratitude as it seems from your manner that I am not your prisoner," she seems genuinely surprised that the group does not treat her as a prize won in battle.

Elly, in turn, expresses suprise, "I see absolutely no reason to hold you as prisoner, Rûniel. You are as free to leave as you are to travel with us." She looks earestly at the elf and continues, "But I would rather you did choose to travel with us. That's not to say there are too many males here, but I would find your company welcome. Perhaps on our way to Helm's Deep you may assist me with my Bethteue or Quenya?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:22, Sun 05 May.

Bosco is mildly confused by Rûniel expectation of being a prisoner. "I really thought I had removed the chains the bound you. Did I forget any?" he says while looking around the elf.  "Of course you are not our prisoner.  That's why I freed you.  I am much better at feeing people than enslaving them.  And I much prefer it that way." he continues jovially.

Rhûniel shrugged, though seemed relieved.  "Things are different in the East," she said with a smile at Bosco's statement.

"What do you mean, Madam?" Berthold asked to Rhüniel, surprised by her words. "In the East people use to take prisoners without a reason? Or they see others’ prisoners as slaves that can be looted?"