Session 9

Heroes: Aerandir, Greyfox, Sparna, Ragnarr.

Year 2948 - Autumn

The Heroes are traveling along the edge of the Mirkwood, when they're approached by a party of elves. The elves have an important task to assign to them, and lead them deeper into the forest, where two noble elves and their party are waiting for them.

These are prince Legolas, son of king Thranduil, and the lady Irime, a fair Noldor on her way to the West. Legolas and his party were escorting lady Irime to the High Pass, where she's to meet Elrond's sons, but they were attacked by orc parties in the woods. He needs to take care of the orcs, and Irime herself has seen in her dreams that the Heroes must accompany her on this journey.

The Heroes accept the great honor, and travel west with Irime. On the road, she recounts stories of ages past, her tales always shrouded by melanchony and sadness. With the Old Ford behind them, the Heroes approach the High Pass, when Ragnarr receives one of his visions: orcs are hunting them, and soon they'll have to fight for their lives!

Forewarned, they travel to a defensible position on top of a hill, while darkness falls and hordes of orcs surround them, intent on killing them, and kidnap Irime. But the Heroes, bolstered by Irime's song, fight bravely, while Irime's magical ring bathes them in a pure light that hinders the orcs.

The orcs are just too many, and when the first Heroes begin to fall, salvation glides down on them on the wings of Great Eagles! The majestic birds fly away with the Heroes, but one of the eagles is wounded by an orcish arrow.

The Eagles bring the Heroes to a mountain ledge above the clouds. The morning after, the King of the Eagles arrives to confer with Irime. Greyfox heals Gaerthor, the wounded eagle, earning the friendship of the regal bird. The King is much impressed with the Heroes, and agrees to accompany them half-way to their final destination, promising he will come to their aid one more time during this season.

The Heroes and lady Irime arrive at the ruins of Haycombe, and ancient mannish town. They camp nearby for the night, when Aerandir feels a cold shadow creeping among them. When he lloks at Irime, he sees her bathed in moonlight, fighting off a dark creature trying to engulf her. Then all is darkness.

When they awake, Haycombe is no ruin, but a thriving trading town. Irime is nowhere to be seen. The Heroes enter the town looking for clues, and soon realize they're 500 years back in time, before the fall of Haycombe, stuck in a dreamscape created by Irime to fight the Shadows.

As they gather news in an alehouse, a dark army of undead and easterlings attack the town, and after a desperate fight, the Heroes are made prisoners.