Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

It is the year 2946 of the Third Age, and the lands east of the Misty Mountains are astir. From the cloud-shrouded peaks above the High Pass to the spider-infested gloom of the forest of Mirkwood, paths long-deserted are trodden once again. Busy merchants carry their wares to new markets, messengers bring tidings from foreign realms, and kings send forth armed men to extend their influence and the rule of law. Some say that a new age of freedom has begun, a time for adventure and great deeds to reclaim glories lost in long centuries of oppression and decline.

But adventures are not really things that people go out and look for. They are dangerous and rarely end well. While it is true that a handful of valiant individuals set out to make their mark on the world, for others it seems that adventure chooses them, as though it is the path they are fated to tread. They are restless warriors, curious scholars and wanderers, always eager to seek what was lost or explore what was forgotten. Ordinary people call them adventurers, and when they return successful, they call them heroes. But if they fail, no one will even remember their names...

Run by the Loremaster Vardaen
User avatar
Muskrat
Level 21 Elite
Level 21 Elite
Posts: 10513
Location: The Secret Places Beneath the Earth
Title: Keeper of the Hidden Word
User Class: Scholar

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Muskrat » Mon Jan 20, 2020 7:45 pm

Varuthil shrugs and says, "My people have long been isolationist and many would return to those ways. Galion may well be of that mind, though, if the tales that circulate at the King's court are true, there is bad blood between Galion personally and the dwarves, or at least a particular group of them." If asked about it, Varuthil refuses to elaborate saying, "It does not effect our mission and the details of King Thranduil's court are not the business of outsiders." In truth, she does not want the trouble that might come with telling a story that makes Galion look like a fool.

User avatar
Othniel
Level 12
Level 12
Posts: 1545
User Class: Wanderer

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Othniel » Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:20 am

"My people are slow to trust men as well," Glirion agrees. "I myself was this way long ago before I set foot outside the Golden Wood. It is only in journeying with you younger folk that I have learned that there are trustworthy sorts as well."

User avatar
Vardaen
Admin
Admin
Posts: 66394
Location: Miskatonic University
Title: Great Old One
User Class: Unshackled AI

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Vardaen » Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:01 pm

You move on, staying in the boats. The rest of the day is spent in conversation about elves and men, of dwarves and dragons, and as the day is turning to evening you cross a small stream from the west that descends from the Mountains of Mirkwood to the west to join the Running River (the Rotting River). It is a brook of dark and muddy waters, mostly avoided by all life in these parts as it exudes a putrescent reek even in the coldest of months of the year. You look to set up camp on a patch of dry land rising to the west of the river's course. As you are setting up Glirion notices something odd, there are signs of another encampment having been here.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

User avatar
Othniel
Level 12
Level 12
Posts: 1545
User Class: Wanderer

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Othniel » Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:31 am

"Phew! What a reek." Glirion makes a face at the stench and examines the remains of the camp. "Perhaps Galion's dwarven friends did go this way."

User avatar
Blubbo_Baggins
Level 14 Elite
Level 14 Elite
Posts: 3767
Location: The Old Forest

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Thu Jan 23, 2020 3:58 pm

"What did you find, Glirion?" asks Finn. To be honest the Lakeman, and especially Hild, were not interested in pursuing the whereabouts of the Dwarves. It seemed like a distraction from his mission: to finally help the family business and establish a trading relationship with the men of the East Bight. But, he was curious to know if the Dwarves had stopped here on their return home.

User avatar
Muskrat
Level 21 Elite
Level 21 Elite
Posts: 10513
Location: The Secret Places Beneath the Earth
Title: Keeper of the Hidden Word
User Class: Scholar

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jan 23, 2020 7:02 pm

"Let us make certain it was the dwarves," says Varuthil. "If this is an orckish encampment, we should know--we do not want to be taken by surprise by the servants of the Enemy." Varuthil likewise is not concerned about what the dwarves are up to. She considers the bad blood between the dwarves and the Mirkwood elves foolish, especially when the Shadow is their common enemy.

User avatar
Vardaen
Admin
Admin
Posts: 66394
Location: Miskatonic University
Title: Great Old One
User Class: Unshackled AI

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Vardaen » Mon Jan 27, 2020 9:06 pm

A search of the hillock is made....
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

User avatar
Othniel
Level 12
Level 12
Posts: 1545
User Class: Wanderer

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Othniel » Mon Jan 27, 2020 10:58 pm

"It's been too long to be sure," Glirion says after searching the area for some time. "Not orcs at least, or so I don't think. It could have been dwarves, but it could just as easily have been men. More importantly it is a dry patch that we ourselves can use for a camp."

User avatar
Muskrat
Level 21 Elite
Level 21 Elite
Posts: 10513
Location: The Secret Places Beneath the Earth
Title: Keeper of the Hidden Word
User Class: Scholar

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Muskrat » Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:35 pm

Varuthil says, "As long as it was not orcs, I do not care. I do not share my people's feud with the dwarves." She starts helping to set up the camp.

User avatar
Blubbo_Baggins
Level 14 Elite
Level 14 Elite
Posts: 3767
Location: The Old Forest

Re: Book 8: Act 1 - The Troubles of Men

Post by Blubbo_Baggins » Tue Jan 28, 2020 10:47 pm

Finn shrugs and nods as Hild offers to help camp, he begins to explore the marsh around the camp, remaining within eyesight. He wonders if there are tracks leading elsewhere, or signs of other life nearby.

When finished he returns to the edge of camp, looking into the marsh. He says within earshot of the others though Gerwald is stacking what wood can be found in a pile, "Well Gerwald, I wonder if the distance between Laketown and Ceawin's Stead will, in the end, be too far for successful trade. If the roads up the Celduin are improved, it should work. Did you ever imagine yourself this far from the Vale?"

Post Reply