LOTR RP Game part 2- The Fortress of Baronar
Fornost-Erain, 1972 TA
Winter comes and it is a cold one- they have been growing colder, lately. The cold makes supplied travel of forces nearly impossible. The flood of refugees fleeing from eastern Cardolan into the west or south, or Arthedain, becomes a trickle, and then stops. What has become of those remaining in the east of Cardolan is unknown. Raiders and warbands now swarm though the north and east of Cardolan with impunity.
But no occupying invasion comes. As the batte Lords of Arthedain knew, the Witch-King has no mind to waste his time further devastating Cardolan, a 'kingdom' in name only, already shattered and wasted. The west and south of Cardolan survives still, its people untroubled, even uncaring. Instead, his vast army continues to swell to the north, and it looks only one way- towards Arthedain, last of the once mighty human Kingdom of Arnor, and its capital, Fornost.
In Arthedain, ther eis much work to do. Work continues on the great row of fortifcations will keep the Witch-King at bay. For now, at least, the quarrel between those who want to take the fight to the Witch-King and those who want to stay at the walls and let the Witch-King come to them abates- during the winter, no offensive campaign is possible. The south of Arthedain is secure indeed- but a great swathe of it to the north is vulnerable, nearer to Angmar itself. Arthedain's northern army is hard pressed to patrol the whole border, far from its supplies. But nearing completion now is the great northern fortress of Embylosse, key in Arthedain's defensive strategy. The men work tirelessly through the winter to complete it. Meanwhile, new men are trained. Arthedain's armies slowly grow. They train, they patrol. Skirmishes are fought, men die, as do Dunlendings and Orcs.
In Fornost itself, great effort is made for life to carry on as normal. People go about their work. Foreign visitors are received, openly, as ever. People still willing to brave the roads through Arnor can find safety here. A mighty tournament is planned for later in the year. But the mithril shipment from Gondor has not yet arrived, and no more word is heard from Rivendell. Nor did anyone expect any.
Malbeth the Seer dies during the Winter. Gandalf the Grey attends his funeral, and then rides East, and has not been seen since, nor is expected. Vardalain, you hear rumour Gandalf rode to see Elrond to discuss Malbeth's death, but where he went hence, you know not. No-one speaks of the weight of Malbeth's Prophecy at his funeral.
Yet it is familiar to all here. King Arvedui- the Last King, named by Malbeth himself- a man with uncommon perception. He said to Arvedui's father:
"Arvedui you shall call him, for he will be the last in Arthedain. Though a choice will come to the Dunadain, and if they take the one that seems less hopeful, then your son will change his name and become King of a Great Realm. If not, then much sorrow and many lives of men shall pass, until the Dunadain arise and are united again."
Arvedui is a fair and just and wise and strong King indeed, but always has he had to deal with the legacy of his name an Malbeth's words- one of many prophecies he made, many still to be deciphered.
Arevedui has tried to beat the Prophecy before. When the King of distant Gondor died, Areveudi had good claim to the throne, and offered himself as King, to unite the two split Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor and create on firm Kingdom of man, to re-create the legacy of Elendil and Isildur. His marriage to a Gondorian Princess, finally opening up relations between the two Kingdoms again, had done much for his cause. Said Arvedui, when Gondor said that only by Isildur's brother could descent be claimed in Gondor:
"Elendil had two sons, of whom Isildur was the elder and the heir ofnhis father. We have heard that the name of Elendil stands to this day at the head of the line of the Kings of Gondor, since he was accounted the king of all lands of the Dundadain. When Elendil still lived, the conjoint rule in the South was committed to his sons, but when Elendil fell, Isildur departed to take up the high Kingship of his father, and committed the rule of the South in like manner to the son of his brother. He did not relinquish his royalty in Gondor, nor intend that the realm of Elendil should be divided forever."
To this Gondor made no reply- for they had none, only a great- though understandable- pride that led them to choose one of their own, the great hero Earnil, as King instead. Arvedui's dream of a united Kingdom was dashed- but Earnil at least is a fair man who is willing to send at least some material support north.
With no support from anywhere, Arthedain faces the great menace of Angmar and its Witch-King alone. Little hope can be seen in defeating those huge forces. Yet Arvedui has a new plan, to save Arthedain and defeat his prophecy. His efforts now look not east to Angmar, but south to ruined Cardolan. Arnor was long hence split into three, but now Arvedui plans to take this option of little hope- as prophecised- and attempt re-union with Cardolan, to make a new, strong Kingdom with him at the head. And Arvedui intends this Kingdom to be a rallying point for all of the free world to see how the Witch-King can be resisted, should those free peoples choose to come together as one and oppose him.
And so, King Arevedui, in pursuit of his plan, has made great effort to bring together those from disparate parts of Middle-Earth, to make their acquaintence nd afriendship and show them the peril he faces, so that they might come together and demonstrate his dream of an Alliance of Races. Most recently, a group of travellers coming to Fornost for various reason who helped save Arvedui's daughter from capture by a deep penetrating orcish raiding band have won his gratitude and agreed to help him. These are the players from the last story, but if you a new player, Arevedui has equally welcomed you and brought you into his plan.
Winter is giving way to Spring and the time to do things comes. There has been much diplomatic contact between Fornost and the northern landowners in western Cardolan, closest to Bree and where the Halflings live, Something is expected to happen with Arevedui's plan soon.
All of you players have rooms in the great palance at Fornost- as honoured guests you have luxtury accomodation. All of you now may talk of what you have been up to, your opinions, your plans, you may disucss matters with each other- and new players may introduce themselves.