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

Started by Mithlond132 pages

Well, I guess I'd better talk to him anyway. See if I can offend any more nobles.

"Well, I'd better introduce myself on a personal level, as I'm new to Arthedain. Could you point me in his direction, my lord? And...apologies again."

He is in the Lord's enclosure, so easily reachable.

-

Dunedain live two or three centuries, sometimes one and a half.

"No-one ever really saw the Witch-King, so who knows?" says Elendur. "I'd be willing to believe he is some Black Numenorean. He could have extended his life in some unnatural way. Probably crippled himself though. There is a reason these things are considered unnatural. Anyway, Ocs always look for a leader. Some Man comes to Gundabad, tells the Orcs he will deliver them the world... if they don't kill him on the spot, they might listen."

"Lord Annphor? Menelacar of Gondor. Pleasure to meet you."

Annphor, like Gorlim, is well dressed and speaks with a distinguished voice.

"Well met, Menelacar of Gondor," he says. "How can I be of service?"

"I've recently arrived from Gondor, and Lord Gorlim suggested I make your acquaintance. Are you enjoying the festivities?"

"Of course! Very much so. Come now, you must tell me all about yourself. Even though our King's father- may he sleep in peace forever- was first to bring word between our two Kingdoms many decades ago, still travellers between our lands are few and far between. Tell me of Gondor."

"But if he really is such a powerful being, it could make the diffrence in helping to bring allies to Arthedain. My kind doesn`t care much about wandering bands of orcs, but this Witch King is constantly revealing himself as yet bigger threat."

Originally posted by Ushgarak
"Of course! Very much so. Come now, you must tell me all about yourself. Even though our King's father- may he sleep in peace forever- was first to bring word between our two Kingdoms many decades ago, still travellers between our lands are few and far between. Tell me of Gondor."

Menelacar launches into a description of the geography, fauna and flora of Gondor, especially Southern Gondor, and the Elf Haven of Edhellond.
Soon, however, Menelacar switches the topic to less cheerful things...

"But, of course, much of Gondor has of late been under threat. It seems we just get over a civil war, then have to fight for our lives against the combined forces of our enemies. At present is a time of relative stability and peace, but the wainriders are a constant threat. This is why few make the journey currently."

"So, it seems our two nations find themselves in similar situations, but with different enemies! Gorlim told me you and him had a close shave yourselves not too long ago..."

90 is a much better roll this time. Gwilwileth. A big discount from your d10 roll, which rolls low, and hence...

In the black!

That's the spirit!

---

"Odd you should mention a similar threat," says Annphor. "That's exactly the connection King Araphant made. Still! From what I hear, the Wainriders are s spent force now. Your... King saw to that."

(slight hesitation before the word 'King'😉

"But yes, Gorlim means our trip through the Downs. Very hairy, that!"

---

"Oh, well, people say that sort of thing," says Elendur, "but for all this talk, the wars over time have been won and lost on the battlefield, steel against steel. And I am sure you will agree, centuries of strangeness emerging from Carn Dum has done little to stir the Elves."

"Indeed," says Morsire. Other people of the prince's entourage look uncomfortable at the ue of the name just spoken.

Originally posted by Ushgarak

"Odd you should mention a similar threat," says Annphor. "That's exactly the connection King Araphant made. Still! From what I hear, the Wainriders are s spent force now. Your... King saw to that."

(slight hesitation before the word 'King'😉

"But yes, Gorlim means our trip through the Downs. Very hairy, that!"

"Well, they're not a threat at this precise moment, although no-one can predict the future! How did you escape the Downs? Do tell, I love a good yarn of battle!"

"Oh, we fought like wild dogs through the mist and pushed our way out of there as soon as possible. That dwarf fellow had some stuff with him that warded off those... strange spirits. Still, nothing to ward off Orcs. Of course, now we know they were assembling for the attack on baranar, but bumping into them there was a shock at the time."

"Mmmm, yes a marvellous victory at Baranar was tempered by the loss of Embylosse... it obviously leaves Arthedain a touch more exposed than would be liked..."

"Quite possibly, but my own lady Galdriel has taken an interest in Carn Dum. Also the orcs that attacked the fortress of baranar, arrived by means of the Downs. Many of my current party fought them in the downs, before continuing to Baranar.

Oh yeah... on that point... turns out Galadriel isn't running the show in the Golden Wood at this point in time. Nvm, she's still a very important Elf.

Oh, and I suspect that in a hideous piece of verbal drift, Embylosse should be Amon Los; I've used both words over time.

Ok, that's my failures out the way.

---

"Certainly," says Annphor, "and something should be done about it. That the Orcs can strike at will inside Arthedain is ridiculous."

---

"They were just hiding there," says Elendur.

"Her interest be damned," says Morsire. "Either aid is sent or it is not. And no aid for Man ever comes from Lorien."

Who rules Lorien then? Galadriel is last from Noldor Royalty in Middle-Earth, and she is ancient.

And yet she does not assume control in Lorien until 1981.

Lorien is currently rule by King Amroth, son of the previous King, killed in the war against Sauron. Sindarin, no less.

However, my plotline for Palidan still works 100%. As I had a memory of, Galadriel IS very interested in rumours of strange doings ever since Dol Guldur was built, and she came to Lothlorien to use as a place to investigate from many centuries earlier.

Of course, what I meant is that propably she is the mightiest elf who hasn`t left Middle-Earth- her family was trully badass in Slimarillion- best example being Fingolfin duelling Morgoth. I would be wary of her if I were Witch King.... she may be no warrior, but learned from Meliana, whose powers were enough to protect entire Doriath if I remember correclty... damm, I should really reread Silmarillion.....

Elladil speaks: "Yet always when the great forces of evil threatened the world, be it Sauron or even his banished Master, elves and descendants of the Edain were able to unite at the end... some of us may have lost hope, but I haven`t, and it seems neither had King Arvedui. If this Witch King has some dreadful powers on his disposal, and he is strong enough to prevail against the legacy of Arnor, than he could become a potential danger to all, even Rivendell or Lorien." -He strides gracefully and turns to Pallidan:

"If Lady Galadriel herself sent you to investigate the matters, than we shouldn`t undestimate all those rumors and bad omens.... perhaps we could form an expedition to those Barrow Downs to find the truth?"

(Note: As I said, Elladil is elvish equivalent to teenager, and hasn`t learnt elven patience yet. And he doesn`t have much perspective for history- it is basis for all his knowledge, so he may not fully comprehend the diffrence coming from the fact that events like fall of Numenor and fall of Rhuduar occured in diffrent eras. But he certainly is very enthustiastic, well-meaning and willing to help.)

Originally posted by Ushgarak
"Certainly," says Annphor, "and something should be done about it. That the Orcs can strike at will inside Arthedain is ridiculous."

"What do you suggest? Perhaps a strong general for the northern army is called for?"

"True," says Annphor, "but hardly the point. I think Amon Los was attacked from inside Arthedain. The problem is elsewhere."

-

"You say 'unite'" says Morsire. "But what you mean is- Man came to the aid of Elf, who were otherwise lost. Long lives, but short memories, it seems."

My knowledge of Middle-Earth is rusty, so pardon me, but what is Amon Los? I would have Anglomir ask in character, but I don't want Annphor to think him an idiot if it's something terribly important that everyone should know about...