(Frankly, at this point, half the population of Arnor could have wonderede over by now)
Right, I have no intention of waiting for a decision on who does and doesn't go so you all can...
As you draw near, the two guards at the front gate at first look at you suspcious, preparing to ready their weapons, but they quickly see you are no Dunlendings. But... odd...
"Who are you?" one of them asks.
Aranui speaks to the guard"We are all on the same mission here, and the same side; be it elves, dwarves, men or halflings. The Dunlendings are our foes as well, and we're not safe spending the night out in these territories. It would be greatly appreciated if you would give us some help; we will leave when the sun rises"
"Gondor?" There are a few moment's silence. "Wait here," says one, and disappears inside.
A couple of minutes later, a taller man comes out with the guard, with a bushy beard and wearing smart chain instead of the ragged armour of the guards. He looks you over.
"I am Captain Kumar," he says. "And you are... Aranui, I am told? A Dunadan?"
"He doesn't look quite right for a Dunadan," says one of the guards. Kumar keep on looking you over.
"They say the Southern Lords look more... broad... than the Northern line..." He startes for a few moments more.
"But Dunadan he is, and welcome here. Please, all come inside." The guards pull open the gates again for you. "You must come and tell us your story."
He leads you in. Inside the whole place looks all the more ramshackle- it is mostly tents and VERY makeshift buildings. The only sign of true civilisation is a forge near the middle, where a large man works over some horseshoes.
Many people watch you come in- tired, scurfyy-,ooking people of all ages. Many huddle in fear and wonder, with a "Are those REALLY Elves?" expression on their faces.
"I hear you wish to stay but one night," says Kumar. "You should know that we move on each night in any case, making camp further down the road each day, so yu would only have stayed HERE the one night anyway..." He is leading you towards a large canvas-topped wooden building in thew middle.
"Come to our hall," he says, "and take refreshments."
This is a time to swap stories. You tell him of your tales, and he tells you of yours.
These people are abandoning Cardolan. Their homes are ruined or razed. Dunlending incursions are now more than just raiding parties- they are small armies. Kumar knows not where his company is- scattered or dead, he assumes. He gathered together what men under arms he could find- he has less than twenty- and gathered together the some 200 refugees he has here. Lacking Rangers like yourselves to navigate the wilds, they came North to the road, nad now plan to move west to Arthedain. Setting up this fort each night as they move meands they are going slow- less than then miles a day, and they are weary. But it is the only way to be safe. They tell you bad news- that Dunlendings regularly occupy parts of the road now, and not in squads, but in large groups. Only by setting up a camp like this each night can they deter attack as the Dunlendings search for easier fare.
They hear Orcs now strike in the east of Cardolan at night as well. They doubt any refugees will mkae it out of there alive now. These are the lucky ones.
You also meet Grum the blacksmith, a BIG man who tells you that the Arthedain military has decided to pull out of Cardolan and abandon it entirely. They wanted to petition Arvdedui personally for aid but now they know that by the time they reach him, Cardolan will have been razed. But yet on the west side of Cardolan, there is still civilisation. Some fortresses and even some towns hold- there is rumour that one Cardolani army still exists. Grum is also VERY interested at looking at Anglomir's sword- not to mention all that Elvish craft some of you have!
Thgese people are muchly glad of your presence and VERY glad to see friendly Elves- but you fear you may be raising false hope of intervention from Rivendell you know that Elrond will not grant.
And Gondor too? Kumar, who is descended from a man who was the Cardolan King's bodyguard, knows much of the Dunadan. He says you look different from the ones he has had described, and he speaks true- the Northern Line IS more pure than yours (but you don't like to talk about it. The recent (in the three centuries ago sense) Gondor Civil War was all about purity. Ironically the losing side have now become the Corsairs and are becoming as impure as they complained your side was!) Kumar has heard rumours of the Gondorian-Arnorian alliance. COULD a Gondorian army be spared? You really do not know, Aranui, bit you find it hard not to sympathise.
There is fun and laughter that night- the Elves and Hobbits are invited to sing, to dance (Hobbits) and read poetry (Elves). You can accept or decline as you choose. Anglomir, aside from talking to Grum as you hav eben all night, these people are people JUST like yourself, and you feel muchly at home here. You Elves find it all rather course and common, but reasonable enough. The Hobbits and Dwarf appreciate the wine and song0 there is atravelling group of minstrels with these people, and they 'appropriated' a vast wine cellar from a towen they passed through on the way here.
"Dunlendings would only have had it all anyway," points out Kumar. "Drink as much as you like, it's a pain to carry but worth it."
One man seems to be staying away from you guys, sitting constantly in a corner and refusing to be approached. He disappears out of the room as the night goes on.