A Gift for the North

"The Stone-troll of Rushock Bog… a terrible legend stalks the fens, enraged by the dwarves who seek to capture it…."

Background

You have travelled with Ulfar to the outskirts of the dwarf camp in the Rushock Bog. There you hope to put an end to the dwarf Olwir's plan to capture a Stone-troll and give it as a gift to the dwarf Skorgrím in the north.

Objective 1

• Speak to Ulfar
• Defend Ulfar

Speak to Ulfar and then defend him as he delves deeper into the dwarf camp.

Ulfar: 'All right, now be careful. We've got to get into this camp and slay the Stone-troll they may have captured.

'Also, when we get into the camp, be on the watch for that Olwir. He won't be too pleased to see us trying to slay his "gift".'

Ulfar says, "All right, let's go."

Ulfar says, "The gate is closed up tight…."

Ulfar says, "Ah, I know what'll get it open…."

Ulfar says, "Open up! You in there! Open up!"

Dourhand Tracker says, "Who goes there!"

Dourhand Tracker says, "Ulfar? What are you doing here?"

Ulfar says, "I know of Olwir's gift, and I'm here to slay it!"

Dourhand Tracker says, "Ulfar, this matter is none of your concern."

Dourhand Tracker says, "Leave now, if you value your life."

Ulfar says, "I will not leave."

Dourhand Tracker says, "You were warned…."

Ulfar says, "Augh…."

Dourhand Tracker says, "Take them!"

Ulfar says, "Ugh…."

Ulfar says, "Good job…Let's continue on…."

Ulfar says, "Guess the wound was more serious…than I thought…."

Objective 2

• Speak to Ulfar

Ulfar has been wounded in the battle. Speak to him to see what he would have you do.

Ulfar: 'Aye, I guess I've been away from battle for too long. The wound is painful, but not mortal. It will keep me from being much help, though.

'You must continue without me and slay the Stone-troll, if they've captured one. And don't forget to be on the watch for Olwir, he will do his best to stop you!

'I'll stay behind and make sure none of these lot escape.'

Objective 3

• Slay the Stone-troll

Ulfar has told you to continue on, deeper into the dwarf camp, without him and slay the Stone-troll, if you find one.

Ulfar was wounded in the fighting and was unable to continue on with you. He told you though that the Stone-troll must be slain, and to be on the watch for Olwir, as he will surely try to stop you from slaying the beast.

Ulfar: 'You have to go ahead and slay that Stone-troll. If they've captured him, he'll be somewhere deeper in the camp.'

Dourhand Tracker says, "Stop them!"

Dourhand Trapper says, "Intruders!"

Olwir says, "You dare interfere? Here you meet your death!"

Olwir says, "None can stand before my axe!"

Olwir says, "Enough of this!"

Olwir says, "This gift for my masters shall destroy you!"

Olwir says, "Nooo…"

Stone-troll says, "I'll squash you into jelly!"

Stone-troll says, "I'll pick my teeth with yer bones!"

Stone-troll says, "Oooof…."

Defeated the Stone-troll

Objective 4

• Speak to Ulfar

With the Stone-troll and Olwir dead, return to the wounded Ulfar and tell him what happened.

Ulfar: 'Well done! I got impatient waiting, so I had to see how you were doing, but it seems you did fine without me. That Stone-troll is slain, and it seems Olwir is as well. He paid a high price for his crime, stealing that cow from Filibert, didn't he? With him gone, these dwarves shouldn't trouble Rushock Bog much longer.

'As for Filibert, do not worry about him, I'll make sure he is given money to purchase a new cow.

'You have done well today, my friend. You have my thanks.'

Ulfar: 'Are you ready to depart?'

A Gift for the North

Bestowal dialogue

'Who would have thought the theft of a cow would uncover a plot such as this? We must foil Olwir's plans, and if he has captured a troll, we must slay it!

'Fortunately, I have learned where Olwir and his dwarves are camping. They can be found in the north of Rushock Bog. However, getting into the camp and slaying this Stone-troll, if they have one, will not be easy. We will need help.

'Gather a party of warriors -- if there are any to be found in this land -- then return here. Make sure to gather sturdy warriors, for the battle ahead will not be easy.'

Background

From the orders you found, Ulfar has learned that Olwir plans to capture a Stone-troll that stalks Rushock Bog and deliver it as a gift to the Dourhands in the north. The cow he stole from Filibert was bait to trap the creature.

Objective 1

• Speak to Ulfar

Olwir's camp is in the northern reaches of Rushock Bog.

Ulfar has decided that Olwir's plan must be put to an end and has asked you to gather a party of warriors to accompany him to the camp. Once there, he plans to inflitrate the camp and slay any Stone-troll Olwir's dwarves may have captured.

Ulfar: 'Are you ready to leave?

'Make sure your party is ready as well, as we'll surely need their help to slay this Stone-troll.'

Objective 2

• Talk to Ulfar

Ulfar is back in Needlehole.

Having succeeded in your quest, you should return to Ulfar to tell him what happened.

Ulfar: 'Well done. You certainly deserve this reward.'

The Dwarves of Needlehole

Bestowal dialogue

'I've got it! There's a dwarf by the name of Ulfar, with whom I've had some dealings in the past. He might be of some help. I think he's a sort of overseer for the dwarves, or some such.

'In fact, just the other day there was a bit of a tussle between two of his folk, and Ulfar waded in and broke it up. The other dwarves seemed to respect him, so he might know something about his people here that will be of use to us.

'You should be able to find Ulfar up among the dwarf buildings north of Needlehole. Tell him what you told me, and hopefully he'll be able to help us.'

Background

According to Filibert Bolger, his cow, Daffodil, was stolen by a dwarf named Olwir; however, Bounder Chubb hesitates to accuse a dwarf of cow-theft without evidence.

Objective 1

• Talk to Ulfar

Ulfar is at the dwarf buildings north of Needlehole.

In order to avoid angering the dwarves with accusations of theft, Bounder Chubb told you to obtain the aid of the dwarves through their overseer, Ulfar. Chubb believes that Ulfar might be able to point out any potential thieves among his folk.

Bounder Chubb: 'The dwarf Ulfar seems to be an overseer or some such over the dwarves in Needlehole. You should speak to him among the dwarf-buildings on the north side of town and see if he can help.'

Ulfar: 'Aye, it doesn't surprise me that Olwir is involved in this. A number of dwarves passing through lately are of low character, and he's the worst!

'I wish I could tell you where he was, but I've not seen him about for a few days. Those other dwarves might've seen him. In fact, just the other day, I saw a bunch of them crowding around a parchment of some sort. I didn't catch what they were talking about, but I did hear Olwir's name mentioned.

'That parchment could have been their orders. If you could go out to Rushock Bog and acquire a few of those letters from the dwarf-hunters out there, we might learn what Olwir is up to.'

Objective 2

• Collect orders
• Bring the orders to Ulfar

The dwarf-hunters prowl the northern and eastern sections of Rushock Bog. The bog lies to the south-east of Needlehole.

When you told Ulfar the tale of Filibert's cow, and Olwir's involvement, he wasn't surprised. A number of dwarves of low character have been passing through Needlehole lately, and Olwir seemed to be the worst of them. Ulfar has asked you to acquire letters from the dwarf-hunters that he suspects of working for Olwir.

Ulfar: 'Have you found any orders yet? Look to the hunters and trappers in Rushock Bog, for they likely have some form of instruction on their persons.'

Bounder Chubb: 'So Ulfar suspects this Olwir leads those rascally dwarves? Well they did seem a bit organized, so it wouldn't surprise me at lal.

'Perhaps if you can find those orders Ulfar spoke of on one of the dwarf hunters or trappers, you might find out where Olwir is, and he can be made to pay for his crime.'

Collected orders

Ulfar: 'Aye, good, you've found them. As I told you, that bunch is up to no good! Now, hand the letters over, I'd like to look over them....

'The fools! These orders you found weren't written by Olwir. Some dwarf named Skorgrím promises riches if Olwir can deliver -- I hardly believe it -- a Stone-troll! I've paid no mind to the old wives' tales of such creatures in the Bog, but Olwir must have listened and promised one as a gift.

'I cannot imagine what a dwarf would want with such a vile creature, but it can't be for any good purpose.'

Tell Bounder Chubb

Bestowal dialogue

'That Olwir has to pay for stealing my Daffodil and for leaving her out in the bog to be killed like that.

'The dwarves who pass through Needlehole may not pay any mind to ordinary hobbits, but I reckon they'll listen to a Bounder of the Watch! You go tell Bounder Chubb about this, and maybe you two can keep that dwarf from getting away with this!

'Bounder Chubb is on the south side of Needlehole. Tell him about my poor Daffodil and do something about this Olwir!'

Background

While searching Troll's Knoll for Filibert Bolger's cow Daffodil, you came across the poor creature, dead. She was the apparent victim of some sort of large beast. Filibert blames the dwarf, Olwir, for both stealing the cow and leaving her out in the bog.

Objective 1

• Talk to the Bounder Chubb

Bounder Chubb can be found on the south side of Needlehole.

Filibert Bolger, angered by the death of his cow, has asked you to speak with Bounder Chubb about the incident.

Filibert Bolger: 'Please go speak to Bounder Chubb here in Needlehole. He needs to do something about what happened to my poor Daffodil!'

Bounder Chubb: 'What? Filibert's cow is dead, and he suspects a dwarf? This is outrageous!

'Most of the dwarves who pass through here are an agreeable lot, but lately there's been more than a few rascals about. I don't know this Olwir, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was one of that bad lot.

'The problem is I can't go off accusing dwarves of being thieves without proof. That would upset the whole lot, and we'd probably never find the one responsible. What to do....'

Daffodil is Missing

Bestowal dialogue

'Gracious me, am I glad to see you! You see, my cow Daffodil, she's gone missing, and I suspect some foul play!

'Yesterday, a dwarf came by my farm. Olwir was his name, and he wanted to buy my Daffodil. Well, I couldn't sell her...she's the only cow I got. He didn't seem to take that well. I think he may have come back and stolen her!

'Now, I don't know where he might have taken her, but I do remember that his boots were caked in mud. I'll wager he was out tromping about in Rushock Bog! Maybe that's where he took her! Start looking at Troll's Knoll, south-east of here.'

Background

Filibert Bolger told you that his cow, Daffodil, has gone missing, and he suspects that a dwarf named Olwir stole her.

Objective 1

• Find Daffodil

Troll's Knoll is in Rushock Bog, south-east of Needlehole.

Filibert suspects that Olwir took Daffodil out into Rushock Bog somewhere. He suggested you start searching at Troll's Knoll.

Filibert Bolger: 'I am sure it was that dwarf, Olwir, who took my Daffodil! You've got to bring her back, if you can.

'If I were you, I would start searching atop Troll's Knoll. It's about the highest point in the Bog. From there, you might be able to spy something that'll lead you to my Daffodil!'

Objective 2

• Examine the cow

As you searched Troll's Knoll on behalf of Filibert Bolger, you came across the corpse of a cow. A closer examination of the cow should reveal if it is Filibert's cow, Daffodil.

Cow-corpse: This poor cow looks like it was attacked and partially eaten by a large beast of some kind. Around its neck you find a bronze bell.

Collected the cow bell

Objective 3

• Bring the cow bell to Filibert Bolger

Filibert Bolger can be found in Needlehole, north of Troll's Knoll.

In your examination of the dead cow you found atop Troll's Knoll, you came across a bell. Perhaps Filibert Bolger will be able to tell from the bell whether the cow you found was his Daffodil.

Filibert Bolger: 'Oh, aye, this is my Daffodil's bell. What could have attacked her so horribly, and why did that dwarf take her? Poor Daffodil, poor, poor thing....

'Someone needs to pay for this! Please, you need to do something.'