Originally posted by Fire
*pats Kevlar on the back* "You'll be fine lad"
*turns to Darvan* "You wanna give it ago?"
"Ah, my fearsome friend, I would be very happy to duel with you. Perhaps, if you manage to knock me down too, you would like to to play a two on one?" Darvan replies, smiling.
(Care to try the fencing, Fire? Since it would be nice to know what that's like. If not, no bother though.
Also, Ush, going away for a week on the morrow. May get access tomorrow and possibly the next day, but after that, I'm afraid not. When I get back, however, I resume normal service until Christmas!)
Talin can tell you a bit about Malbeth but that's not essential- you can discover more without Rexy.
The thing is, the main characters would be actively interested in your help with Arvedui's plan so it is not hostile to discover it.
And so noted, Trick! In which case we had better wait on the fencing.
You certainly can research Malbeth, yes. There is a Heraldric Records chamber in the Palace- which actsas Fornost's version of the Jedi archives. They are more than happy to let an Elven researcher in.
Malbeth, known as Malbeth 'The Seer', had no idle nickname, according to the Dunadain. The gift of foresight is very rare indeed, even amongst the Elves- notably, Elrond and Galadriel both partake in its art. But it is rumoured, every so often, that a Dunadan- a people who do have the potential for power, after all- has the gift of foresight as well.
According to the Court, Malbeth's skill at seeing the future was great indeed, and Talin can tell you how Malbeth gave him a collection of ancient herbs that repel the dead, shortly before Malbeth died.
Some half a year later, Talin was part of the party that found out, for the first time, what had happened to the Barrow Downs. Were it not for those warding herbs- not ever needed for some 2000 years- the group would not have survived the attack of the Barrow Wights.
The relevant point, of course, is that Malbeth gave them to Talin- saying that "you will need them more than I"- before the fog descended on the Barrow Downs, and hence before the Witch-King's curse.
The idea being to cement the credibility of Malbeth as a genuine seer, in the eyes of the players.
Malbeth was chief advisor to the last three generations of Arthedain kings- and rumour has it, Gandalf consulted with him as an equal.*
His most famous move was to name Arvedui at birth, overriding whatever choice Arvedui's father would have had.
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* Before you think 'holy shit, he was as powerful as Gandalf!' do remember that Gandalf's notable trait was a lack of pride. Still, he never suffered fools gladly so those he deals with so he certainly has respect for.