Book 2: Chapter 2 - The Lost Colony

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Telurin raises an eyebrow and responds to Halleth,

"It is true that Free peoples do hide when they could be out, fighting against the Shadow. But they all need a home to come back to, a safe refuge to hide in. We cannot win an open war against the Enemy. Those days have long passed, if they ever existed.

But war shall come some day, and then must the Lords of Middle Earth stand firm, trusting in the courage of their folk and the strength of their walls. Until that time, Thranduil must keep his Halls secure, Elrond his Vale hidden, Minas Tirith her gates shut and her soldiers at watch. And the Rangers must do their part to keep the places like Hobbiton and Bree safe, which could not defend against an assault.

Let us not rail against the Wise, who are the only reason the Shadow has been held back for more than an Age. It was not due to the weakness of Elves nor the Istari nor of even the Dwarves that we must face an enemy whose arm grows longer... no it was due the weakness of Men. I was not there, but Elrond has told of the weakness of Numenor that has allowed this Enemy to survive and continue. . . more than once."

He pauses a moment, then adds, thinking better of his conclusion, "But we Elves have had our own weaknesses and failures in the Long Defeat. So do not take offense at my words, Halleth. But let us not judge the Wise until we are counted by all Free folk as Wise as they."

[Muskrat]

Halleth harrumphs and says, "I'll put my faith in the Courageous, rather than the Wise, thank you very much. Wisdom won't keep the Enemy at bay if it stays holed up." He shakes his head and thinks to himself that the others were clearly fools who had been impressed by the power of Elrond and Saruman and couldn't see that they unwilling to engage the Enemy.

[Vardaen]

Vara snorts, "Yes yes Halleth, you are brave and strong, and would go and fight and die! Where then will your children live? And your pregnant women? Who will feed them when all your warriors have gone off to Mordor to perish courageously! Bah, you are as much a fool as any of those you mock, more so for you are blinded by your own strong arm."

Airic interjects, "Well before we all come to blows, perhaps we should get some place more hospitable." He points and you see a small abandoned Wulfling camp up ahead. "We near the outskirts of the hunting lands of Frecasburg." You are still 6 days from Frecasburg but over the course of those days you sky small hunting camps of the Wulfing here and there, and on the last day a few small farmsteads. Finally, nine days after leaving Fundin's Colony you reach the "large" Wulfing town.

Wulf’s heir Frána sits in Frecasburg as Lord of the Wulfings. The fortress was built by Freca more than two hundred years ago, where the river Adorn roils out from the mouth of a high, narrow valley and down to green foothills. At the floor of the valley a tall artificial hill rises where the river makes a loop rushing in its deep bed. A palisade made of sturdy trees encircles the lower perimeter of the hill, and a great hall stands halfway to its top. Beyond the hall, on the summit of the hill, sits a squat, sturdy tower of stone, the work of giants and the birthright of the heirs of Freca.

To the people of the West-march, Frecasburg is a work of cunning and power. A visitor who has seen the stonework of Gondor in Isengard, or the work of Dwarves and Bardings in Rhovanion, would find the tower primitive, and the great hall drafty and leaky – but would be wise to keep those observations to himself.

Warriors stand guard on the gates of Frecasburg and in a little house high above on the valley’s heights, atop a winding and difficult trail, where they can sound a horn in alarm should they spot enemies approaching. Guards open the gate each morning when day breaks over the hills outside the valley; visitors who come in the night must wait.

As you approach the wary guards look on your company of men and dwarves and elves, and one calls out. "<Common Speech> Hold right there! Who be you and what are you doing in Frecasburg?"

Guard

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[HunterGreen]

Stepping out of the dream, and out of the dark, had lightened Dŵrgi's mood and set her ubiquitous anger below the surface for several days. It was enough for her to keep silent as the others argued, but not enough for her own thoughts to remain in the sunlight. An argument with courage on one side, and the value of a safe home on the other, she thought could only arise amongst those so soft and pampered that they mistook their homes for safety, ignored that even their stone walls and towers could fall from within or without at a moment's notice. In time their voices turned to the sound of grinding rocks and bitter winds, and she listened instead to the flowing streams and songs of birds; and thus, the journey was pleasant.

And became more so as their travels took them farther from the mountains and into land more akin to her home. With Frecasburg just a point in the distance, she made her way to walk beside Dubhthach, to speak with him in the Dunlendish language.

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"You spoke of coming from these lands in the south, did you not? Do you know this fort we approach? Are we near to your tribe?"

[Seosaidh]

Dubhthach responds to Dŵrgi in their shared tongue,

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I was born in the lands slightly north of here, but yet still south of the Wizard's Vale. Although I haven't returned home in many long years, having traveled long through these lands, as well as the lands of our brethren to the north, from whence you come. From these travels, yes I do know this fort; it is Frecasburg, where sits Frána, Wulf's heir. We passed through here on our way south,
and this is Airic's home.

Turning to Airic, Dubhthach asks, "It is good to see home again, is it not?"

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Telurin sees that Halleth has equated wisdom to foolishness, forgetting that many times it is through wisdom an army is led to victory, equipped, and morale kept strong in the face of overwhelming odds. Wisdom was the source of courage. But he did not feel it a discussion worth further pursuit. His concern about Free Folk cowardly hiding was true; just not of the specific leaders he named.

Frecasburg was the town that Telurin had traded for his new Great spear, a weapon that had proven deadly against the orcs they had faced in the White Mountains.

He was glad that Airic would be returning home safely; the loss of the Dwarves was terrible but it had at least been their quest; Airic was merely their paid guide, and it was good to see him return, in spite of the wounds.

[Wbweather]

The hobbit for his part avoids the arguments about the wise and the mighty. While he appreciates their role in the world, more so than other hobbits might, Theirs is a world so far removed from his, that he can hardly comprehend it. He prefers to remain attentive to Airic's wounds along the journey, pleased that they are healing well. He practices what words the Dunlendings will teach him of their tongue and his heart grows lighter as they make their way east.

[Vardaen]

Airic nods to Dubthatch as he limps along, getting better each day. "I am happy to be home once more. I need a good drink and good meal and a good bed."

So you arrive and pass the gate guards and spend the day at the Inn once more. You did not realize how much you needed civilization, even Wulfling civilization. To be served cold ale, a warm meal, and have sheets on a bed is a pleasure you are all happy for after all this time away from it. It refreshes and restores you. Come morning you speak your fair well to Airic, he is home now at last. Last night you made your final payments to him for his aid in guiding you south. The trip north should be easier, if you encounter no troubles from the mountains.

So waving to the Dunlending, restocked with food to last you, a few new pairs of boots, a cloak for Balwain, and some other simple gear replaced, you head out north. It is a fortnight of travel in the lands, always the White Mountains on your right. After a week you come to the narrow land between the River Isen and the White Mountains and are in the Gap of Rohan now. You decide to avoid Grimsdale, with Dwirgi and Dubthatch with you feel it best to avoid any tensions with the Rohirrim there.



At the Fords of Isen you encounter no guards, no Rohirrim manning the east bank and you are thankful for that. You cross west over the Fords and then turn north up the road into the Vale of Curunir. You are three days from Isengard and Saruman and Aravule now.

Oxdis clicks his tongue, "I wonder how Aravule is doing, sitting here in the lap of luxury, behind the Ringwall, while we were off tramping around dealing with trouble." He glances at Halleth wondering how the vocal ranger feels about his liege 'hiding out' in Isengard with Saruman.

[Blubbo_Baggins]

Telurin was surprised to hear the Dwarves still holding a grudge against Aravule. But, he was interested to see what Halleth would say. Oxdis was voicing same complaint the Dunedain had lodged against the Wise, after all.

[Muskrat]

"Oh, don't you worry, my liege Aravule will be back in action before too long," says Halleth confidently. "And I never said there wasn't value in what the wizard has to teach. Indeed, I think there is much value it in, which is why I wish he would do more to act on it." Still, the thought nags at Halleth--would too much time in Isengard make Aravule go soft. But he had not been there long--and, if it ever seemed like he had gone soft, Halleth would have words with him.