Bill Took, though timid in nature, is never one to back down from a chance to show off his knowledge of culture! At one point he unsteadily gets up on the table and leads the boys through a song. ("Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go / To heal my heart and drown my woe."😉 Through the laughter and singing, William insists that the man tell him all about the going-ons of Fornost, may brag a bit about his participation in the archery contest, but mostly see if word has gotten out about the sudden death of Erathran.
If it doesn't come up at all, William will bring it up in one of those grim telling-of-tales-over-a-pint ways. "Well, I haven't been here long, but I heard there was murder afoot! Certainly someone has passed. Found him in a maneur cart, so they did! I believe I heard he was named Erathran. Was he anyone notable?"
Many of them indeed yes, Elladil, though not all. It IS very much a noble's event though.
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Thart's the spirit, William! That goes down rather well- this is, after all, a time for celebrations, and forgetting thst which is bad in the world.
"We see few halflings in this city," says a reveller. "Why is this so? You little people should come to the capital more. Our King is your King, after all! But now you are here, why worry sbout some backstreet murder?"
"Ah, but friend, I am such a bad representation of my people! Here you see me dancing and singing in such jollity, but I only represent the youthful tomfoolery of the Took family! Most of us tiny folk prefer a good story and third breakfast as opposed to a song, a dance, and a pint." William hopes that this brings a bit of light-hearted laughter to his new companions, to keep their spirits bright. He does not wish to be a downer with his inquiries about Erathran, though it is a most serious subject.
"As for that murder, it is a tragic thing! This Erathran fellow was a Dunadan, and he died in a time of celebration! There should be a song or poem written about him, but I know not what to write of as I know him not. Come now, surely someone knew something about him?"
Well a murdered Dunadan does indeed seem a good enough subject for pub goers to gossip about. In the end, there is someone who has seen him around before, with others.
"Aye, a rich sod, that one," he says. "Some of these so-called leaders of men, all they want is to use their money for wine and sport. At night you'd find him and his like trawling the inns and bars, looking a drink, a song... and other things!" he says, knowingly, causing a surge of laughter.
The locals say he was the son of a wealthy Dunedain noble, part of the rich set. He'd even been seen with the young Prince sometimes.
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Menelacar rolls... 76 and 77! Not bad! A final socre of 103.
Your opponent rolls 28 and 38... no good! You are in your groove on this one, Menelacar, and you unseat him!