Diagrama de Ciclos Causales

The companions don’t know quite what to expect as Gandalf didn’t give them a lot of details, mainly because no amount of warnings could quite prepare anybody for Tom Bombadil. As the companions approach where they heard the voice from, a short man with a bushy brown beard and happy blue eyes bounds out of the woods before them. He does indeed, have a bright blue jacket and yellow boots, along with a rumpled hat, crowned by a long feather.

Set Tolerance

The basic Tolerance for this encounter is based on the highest Wisdom rating among the company, modified by +2, for Tom already knows of the company’s quest and approves, after his fashion. Standing rating in any culture means very little indeed to Tom.

Evaluating the Outcome of the Encounter

The successes gained by the company over the course of their time with Tom Bombadil will determine exactly how much help he decides to give them on their quest. Once they exceed the Tolerance, Tom won’t boot them out, but he’ll have made up his mind on what he will do for them.

Introduction

The companions can introduce themselves to Tom using either Courtesy or Song. They quickly find, no doubt to their surprise, that he already knows something about each of them. He knows all about any Hobbit from the Shire, including details about their families. He also knows a fair amount about the company’s larger exploits throughout Eriador. If they try to explain themselves, or why they’ve come, Tom stops them, waggling a finger while casting his eyes eastward.

He’ll smoothly take the arm of any Ranger, especially those who typically hang back because they are used to disturbing “civilised” folk and says with a grin, as he drags them along:

Wandering fast, far, and free, between the mountains and the sea. Bright sword in shadows swinging! Ancient oaths in heart still ringing! Lay down your burdens for one night. Sing with us in the candles’ light!

Interaction

Tom swiftly brings the company to his home nearby, which rests at the top of a grassy knoll overlooking the Barrow-downs from the edge of the Old Forest. His home is solid, built of stone and the inside is filled with brightly shining lamps along with a wide variety of merrily burning candles. Tom sings out as they approach:

Hail lady of cheerful rains! Star of my days who never wanes! Fairer than the sun on water!

Queen of my heart, the River-daughter!

A beautiful maid, more like to an Elven lady than a mortal woman, welcomes the characters into their home. Her long bright gold hair is loose about her shoulders and she wears a silvery-green dress that almost looks like brightly coloured fish scales, twinkling in the many lights of the house. Water lilies float in earthen jars filled with water and set about the room. Tom introduces her as “My pretty lady, Goldberry”. Tom and Goldberry rush about in a merry, coordinated

small stable Tom keeps if the company has them), putting drinks into their hands, removing their cloaks and so on. Goldberry speaks in a melodious voice and seems gracious and kind.

At some point, someone will ask the obvious – “Do you know why we’ve come?” or something along those lines. Bombadil turns very solemn for a moment and responds: “Aye, Tom knows why you’ve come.”

Bold wights, mouldy wights, slipping out their hills. Running here, striking there, travelling where they will. Malice that will not rest, nor accept their ever after. Cursed souls walking in the night, cold fingers choking laughter.

He shakes his head sadly, but his mirth swiftly returns. “Time enough for such things. Eat! Drink!” Tom excuses himself to return with a crown of leaves in place of his hat. Hey dol! Merry dol! Caper or be stillo!

Sheath your swords! Choose your chords! Now it’s time to trillo!

Sing along, ring along, with Tom Bombadillo!

Tom laughs. “You want my help, noble heroes? First you sing with us!” Tom expects all company members to join in with him and Goldberry in a Song test. If someone tries to beg off due to lack of skill at singing, Tom laughs and says:

Come Orcs, come Trolls, never a quaver!

But ask for a jolly tune and your friend needs a saviour! All characters find they enjoy a free Attribute bonus to their Song rolls – even the most tone-deaf find that they can sing merrily in the House of Tom Bombadil. All of their successes directly add to their final success during their interactions with Tom.

After many hours of singing, drinking and good cheer, Tom and Goldberry insist that their guests spend the night. The company finds that beds have already been laid for them, ones appropriate to their sizes. In the morning, after serving the company a big breakfast, Goldberry

Tom speaks of the Barrow-downs as they are, Tyrn Gorthad as it was, and the hills as they were before the first of the Edain chose to bury their dead within them. His voice murmurs on, telling them great truths of the earth and old secrets that the characters can never after directly recall, but something of the wonder and the majesty of Bombadil’s words remains with them after.

Bombadil speaks of the Barrow-wights, their epic greed, and terrible loneliness. Finally, Tom tells the company that what they are to attempt is a noble endeavour, for many have been hurt and many more will be if the Wights are not confined to the Downs once more. He gives direct answer to few questions. He laughs if asked who he is. “Why, I’m Tom Bombadil of course! All that you see of me, I am! Eldest, that’s what.”

He concludes: “Tell Gandalf that he has tarried long enough. Mid-summer is when he must act, farthest from the winter in which they were bound. Tell him the Wight- king will come before the end.” Characters that make a Lore test (TN 18) know the Wight-king as a terrible legendary figure, the greatest among the Wights of the Barrow-downs.