LOTR RP Game part 1- Journey to Fornost

"Sorry, my Lord," Will says, bowing to Lord Morsire. "This is my first time in Fornost-Erain, so I don't know much about what goes on here."

He offers his hand to Morsire. "I am William Took of the Shire. I'm here to talk to the King about protection on trade routes with Darud-Mor. I was with that group that was protecting the Princess, and I was one of her last defences."

"Quite alright, Lord Gorlim," Talin replies with a smile. "The Capital is a great place. Did Rhudar and Cardolan once have such splendor?"

Vardalain walks back to aranarth, to ask some more questions

Sure, Aranarth will speak to you Vardalain.

-

Gorlim looks unhappy, Talin.

"Once, yes. When it was all Arnor, many times more so. Rhudaur was always... awkward. Bordered Angmar, of course, poor sods but they made it worse for themselves. One of our Kings died at war with THEM, you know? How ridiculous. They had virtually handed their land over to the Dunlendings long before the Witch King invaded and made it official.

"Cardolan, though... that was once the meeting point of the world. It stretched down so far south that a week's determined ride from the limits of Gondor would take you to it. On the east the Elves lived, on the west the Dwarves.

"But it became very common. The Dunadan became weak blooded, mixed with others. They couldn't stand against the Witch King's forces. I know they blame us for withdrawing from the battle of Amon Sul but they had cocked up that war so much already that all that would have been achieved by us standing there is that we would have died as well, and the Witch King would have the Palantir. As it is it is safe with us.

"If it had not been for your Lord Elrond intervening it would have been destroyed then. And whilst it was ill fortune that finished Cardolan as a true state when the whole Dunadan line fell to plague, frankly- and we don't like to say this too loud- the Witch King is only now finishing something you Elves delayed him from finishing centuries back- Cardolan's ruin. If Cardolan had been worth anything any more it would have re-built in that time but it never did. That said, go far enough south and some of Cardolan stills exists whole. Not even the Witch King can be everywhere at once.

"No, only in Arthedain was the true glory and splendour of Arnor kept whole, and that is why we still exist. And shall continue to! Our very name made our inheritence and right clear."

-

Morsire snorts.

"You can trade wherever you like; the pay is good. But there will be no men for your protection. None."

(You had Gorlim call me an Elf)

"Our Fellowship made a promise to Cardolan camp to inquire the King about such matters. The camp is slowing moving towards Arthedain for shelter from the storm, but I am afraid they might not make it. They have few soldiers, and while we were there, Captain Kumar, the leader of those soldiers, had been slain by the same Orc that I fought in the battle protecting the Princess."

"My home is in Darud-Mor. We tried to build it in the likeness of Khazad-Dum, but it is still to small, and we produce very little. I had succeeded in making an offer to the Hobbits, but it looks like that Lord over there is denying my fellow trader over there some protection. You see, trading caravans are usually attacked when they carry Mithril. It is quite tragic really."

(He has had a long day)

"Yes indeed," says Gorlim, "but there is nothing to be done about it. If we could keep the trade routes open we could but we cannot, That is why the mithril shipment from Gondor is of such vital importance!"

"What plans do you have for the mithril?" Talin inquires.

"Arms and armour, dear chap! Not much good making plates out of it, what?"

vardalain tries to open a discussion about malbeth.
"who is he, your highness?" (i couldn't think of anything more subtle 😛 )

"Malbeth?" asks Aranarth. "He's a Seer. He has the fabled sight that some of our forefathers on Akallabeth had. He's never wrong."

"he must be of some accuracy indeed, to be in the court. it's god to have him on your side, your highness" says vardalain

"No," says Aranarth. "Actually, I would prefer he had never come. It was he who named my father."

"what do you mean?"

"His name, Arvedui." He turns towards you, Vardalain, and stares.

"It means Last King."

"An ancestor of mine fought entirely clad in mithril armor; mithril helm, mithril chainmail, and a mighty mithril axe. My grandfather who I am named after plans to give me that mithril-helm once he passes, but the chainmail and axe have been lost during the years. I'm not really sure, but can mithril be punctured by anything?"

"I am sure I do not need to lecture a Dwarf on Mithril!" says Gorlim. "But yes, it can be punctured, and not just by other mithril. It is far from indestructible, but nothing is so strong AND so light! One of the great Elven Kings of old wore a helm of Mithril." Gorlim frowns. "Wasn't Balrog-proof though, sadly."

Well, that's Malbeth and Arvedui's name revealed... now you only have to find out about Arthedain's lack of action...

Now Vardalain has moved on, Elendur turns back to you with a smile, Firiel.

"Well, I must say that this gathering is considerably enhanced by your enchanting presence... and you have been invited for this meeting? What is it you plan to ask the King, my father?"

"what don't you like about your familly's royal blood, your highness. Why would you rather he had never come?"

(The fact that the name Arvedui means Last King might have something to do with it...)

"I have never done battle with mithril equipment on me or any of my fellow dwarves, so I surprisingly do not know much. And I forgot about the Balrogs...terrible fell beasts those things are. My grandfather suspects a Balrog might live in Khazad-Dum, but nobody believes him. They would know if there was a Balrog."