USH'S LORD OF THE RINGS GAME PART 3- The Tournament and the Traitor

"Aye, a noble skill, that. My family have always been axemen, it is the noblest of Dwarvish weapons."

"I see," says Elendur, though his face suggests he really does not.

Originally posted by Ushgarak

"Take it from me," says Gorlim. "if your tone means that even I won't give you answers, no-one else will. I will also remind you of something. Arvedui has given you no authority at all. You have none. if you must rake up the past, you can at least do it with some decorum."

He sighs.

"This is a ludicrous situation. It doesn't make sense fore ANY of them to be the traitor. Annuneryn dedicates his life to trying to gain the King's favour. His whole outlook is based around trying to atone for his father. Why do all that only to throw it away?"

I think Menelacar's been treated a bit unfairly here... if Gorlim's going to get ultra-defensive about what was originally a minor matter, then I'm obviously going to get suspicious! Seems to me the pressure's getting to old Gorlim a bit...

"My lord, if you took my tone incorrectly I can only apologise, it was not in the least bit meant. You are quite correct in that I personally have no authority." Menelacar speaks calmly and softly. "But this investigation will have to uncover stones and ruffle feathers of people. I am deeply sorry if I spoke overly familiarly with you. Nevertheless, if there is something in Annuneryn's past that Arthedain's enemies could be using against him, then those of us conducting the investigation should know about it. Now, if you guarantee that it doesn't, then I am willing at this point to let it ride for now.

"And as you say, this is a ludicrous situation. Of course it makes no sense that there is a traitor on the Council, but there is one. It could be Annuneryn, it could be Seinost, it could be Annphor, or even Morsire. It could be anyone, apart from the King, and apart from you. Now, I heartily apologise again - it must have been the exuberance of youth - and I don't wish to be on bad terms or you to think poorly of me."

Menelacar offers the hand of friendship.

"Maybe not such a noble weapon for the kinds of Elves and Men," Talin adds, "but noble enough for such folk as we who mine the mountains..."

He sees that the Prince is not following.

"...well, anyways. Will you be partaking in any of the tournaments?"

Gorlim takes the hand.

"Well..." he says. "We're all feeling the pressure a bit, I think. As for Annuneryn being obsessed with pure blood- are we talking of Farael here?"

-

"Oh my, no!" says Elendur. "Those of the royal household cannot take part in the Tournament, Terribly impractical."

"Ah! Of course, what am I thinking," Talin replies. "I am not so used to the customs of Arthedain, it seems."

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Gorlim takes the hand.

"Well..." he says. "We're all feeling the pressure a bit, I think. As for Annuneryn being obsessed with pure blood- are we talking of Farael here?"

"Yes, my lord, that is where the subject originated, and he also seemed afterwards to implicitly cast aspersions on my heritage as he left. Perhaps coming from Gondor I am overly sensitive to such opinions, which is why I pursued that matter of his father to such an extent! Does he have purist tendencies?"

"Customs of Man, really," says Elendur. "Just a measure of the way people are. No-one plays properly if there is a Prince on the field. What if you hurt him?"

"Ah, too true, too true. I would be deathly afraid for my life if I were the man that harmed you, as it were! But I am sure you would remain untouched with your skill."

Originally posted by Mithlond
"Yes, my lord, that is where the subject originated, and he also seemed afterwards to implicitly cast aspersions on my heritage as he left. Perhaps coming from Gondor I am overly sensitive to such opinions, which is why I pursued that matter of his father to such an extent! Does he have purist tendencies?"

"That's his father talking about Farael. Pay it no heed. Though I do wish Farael would stop using such a commoner's weapon! As for you... well... it's nothing personal..."

---

"You're too kind!" says Elendur, smiling. Maybe patronisingly? Hard to tell.

"No, I'm sure, and nothing accurate, either! Now, I think there's only Lord Annphor who no-one has spoken to yet. What could you tell me about him? What is your opinion?"

"Annphor? Oh, he's completely innocent. Good man."

"Could you elaborate, my lord?"

"He's done nothing but good for this realm. Besides! he was with me when those Wights attacked us on the Downs near Bree. That area was full of Orcs ready to attack Baranar, that, if this is to be believed, the traitor made possible. He'd have been preparing to ambush himself! We nearly died there."

Is that verifiable, Ush?

(Sorry for pretty much ignoring this thread... Didn't mean to persay... But whatever)
"All this tournament talk aside. I have heard fleeting rumors from many regarding the Barrow Downs. I have heard that there is a dark, even Magical presence there, as well as hearing that the Orcs have been using it as a way to gain entry into the kingdom of men."
(Magical i think is uesed properly here, regarding evil doings and supernatural stuff..)

I think I can vouch for Annphor. If I remember correctly, we not only almost died, but the only reason my character did not die was because Malbeth gave me herbs that protected me from them, and one of the Lords had a Mithril sword that could fight off the Wights.

Talin nods to the Prince. "Well, I should be off to practice for the Melee round." He gives a deep, Dwarven bow. "I take my leave, your Highness." He gives a slight bow to Lord Morsire again. "Your Lordship."

Annphor, Farael, and Gorlim are not to be made suspects, right?

OK.... although I'd like this confirmed by Ush

Yes, Annphor was there. He's not been literally ruled out as he subsequently went home in time to receive information from the Council that could make him the traitor, unlike Gorlim.

But on that point, Talin might also remember that Annphor and Gorlim are buddies.

Basically, the Elves have no word of their own that is analoguous to 'Magic' in the way Humans use it.

"Something strange out there," says Elendur. "Some of those you fought alongside at Baranar saw it. Still, these things are known to happen. Orcs are pretty strange things, if you get down to it. Most of it is superstitious talk from the people at Bree. Anyway, what's this about the Orcs coming in from there? They'd walk traight past Bree, wouldn't they? I'd imagine someone would notice."

Elladil is amazed that Talin also was with the group that saved the Princess. That such people united is a good sign for Arvedui`s plan. But puzzled with Morsire`s hostile attitude, he joins the conversation with Elendur.

"Well, the Witch King is certainly a mysterious person. If it is true that it is still the same person since Angmar was found, than he has to be centuries old. It would indicate that he is a very dangerous and unusual being, and those news about Barrow Downs are certainly troubling. Perhaps his rumored powers are connected with the mystery of orcish mobility?"- Ush what is the current lifespan of pure-blooded Dunedains?