Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 1,209 Location: Melbourne, Australia Karma: 195
(007) The First Night « Thread Started on Oct 2, 2011, 6:07am »
The first expedition returns at last from the Mines of Moria.
They are a grim sight, for they bear with them the bodies of Barald of Mirkwood and Beranger of the North, both fallen in battle with the Orcs. And also Eohild of Rohan and Norin the Dwarf are too weak to walk, and are all but carried from the Mines, for their wounds were by poisoned Orc blades, and their need now is dire.
Outside, they find the camp swelled by an additional five Dwarfs, only recently arrived. All told, the following are now present...
Emerging from the Mines: Legandir and Elindir, the Half-Elves, Lomeluin and Telthalion, the Elves, Norin, Burmon, Sili, and Hepti, the Dwarves, Soval, Eohild, Nat, Eremin, and Arbenbard, all Men, Baraglin and Largo the shirefolk, with the bodies of Beranger and Barlad,
Already at the Camp: Celglin, and Elvish Seer of Rivendell, Vestri the torch bearer and Miodvitnir the animal handler, Dwarves in Sili's employ, Ymir, Norin's Dwarf physician, Hallam, Einar, Ran and Sutherland (Fighting Men in Soval's mercenary company), Dernfara of Westfold, Dalain and Balain, brothers (Man and boy) of Dale in Celglin's employ, Hrok, son of Brok, the Dwarf, Oin of Ironload, a Dwarf, Glorban, Yori, Ugrik, all Dwarves in the employ of Oin,
Frewine of Rohan (Lomeluin's groom) and Rohemnet (his horse), Deorwyn of Westfold, and Gleowine the rouncy; Eohild's groom and mare, Alf the guard dog and Frosti the mule, Sili's beasts, Fumbul, Hepti's mule, Tug, Vestri's mule, Ned, Soval's pack mule, Deor, Dernfara's courser, Piglet, Eremin's horse, Ladybird, Baraglin's mule, Doloris the nag, Largo's pony.
Joined: Jul 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 60 Location: Boston, MA, USA Karma: 8
Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #2 on Oct 2, 2011, 12:07pm »
"My goodness, what a day it's been!" exclaims Largo. He looks at the fire and then back to his boon companion. "Master Banks, I should very much like a pot of tea. What do you say to that?"
Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #3 on Oct 2, 2011, 2:19pm »
"Hot water! Quickly!" Lómëluin calls as he comes hastening out of the darkness of Hollin Gate. He tells the bearers to lay Eohild and Norin close to the fire where they can be best protected against the night's chill and he can have the best light to work by.
"Gorfang," he says quietly to Ymir as the Dwarf physician stumps across to the wounded Norin. He stands ready to assist Yimr should he require it, but if the Dwarf looks to have matters in hand he will concentrate his skills on Eohild.
As soon as the water has been brought he adds a number of strange herbs he takes from a leaf-wrapped package stowed in his backpack. After a few minutes he washes Eohild's wounds with the now-aromatic water and binds them with some of the freshest leaves from his collection. He then places his hand on her forehead, closes his eyes and sings a few words softly in Sindarin. After a while he removes his hand and looks down on the Shield Maiden with a weary smile.
"Rest now, Lady of Rohan. Let no shadow trouble your dreams."
If all is well with Norin, he will then turn his attention to the other wounded members of the Company; "Come now, my masters - your hurts, while not as grim, are sore enough, but I have the mastery of them, fear not."
He even finds time to murmur a few soft words to Alf in Nandorin: "Fear not, brother. The darkness you scent departs."
"My goodness, what a day it's been!" exclaims Largo. He looks at the fire and then back to his boon companion. "Master Banks, I should very much like a pot of tea. What do you say to that?"
"That, my good Hobbit, is a most sensible idea," replies Baraglin Banks, "I am run quite ragged by these long legged Elves. Up and down goodness knows how many stairs; Trolls; Orcs. Goodness me, if I were to mention even half it there's not a soul in the Shire who'd believe me!".
Unfortunately for the pair of Hobbits, there is only one small fire to the whole of the camp site for lack of any good fuel; and that has been commandeered by Lomeluin and Ymir as they tend to poor Eohild and Norin...
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 1,209 Location: Melbourne, Australia Karma: 195
Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #5 on Oct 2, 2011, 5:02pm »
Ymir comes swiftly to Norin's aid as Lomeluin attends to Eohild's hurt.
"Gorfang, eh?" he mutters into his beard, and then instructs Sili to "Get this armour off him!" while he crushes healing leaves and adds them to a clay bowl of steaming hot water. When this is done Ymir washes Norin's wounds and then prepares a salve of rare earths which he applies while uttering some incantation of the oldest Dwarf-speak.
Joined: Sept 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 1,209 Location: Melbourne, Australia Karma: 195
Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #9 on Oct 3, 2011, 4:36pm »
There is little fuel to be spared to build up the fire, and so it remains a forlorn little light under the descending curtain of night. When darkness comes it is accompanied by a swift and bitter-chill wind.
All at the camp site are thankful that their end of the valley is sheltered from the worst of it, but there is no denying it will be a cold evening. Everyone huddles as near as they may with their blankets drawn tight over their shoulders.
A meager meal of trail rations is made, and at last hot water is passed around for drinking (much to the pleasure of the Hobbits). The Dwarves also share their wooden tankards of beer and get to discussing lore, old foes, and stratagems against them like old friends in a tavern room.
Their enthusiasm seems undaunted by the losses suffered on the first trip into the Mines...
What watch, if any, will be set for this first night?
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Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #10 on Oct 3, 2011, 4:36pm »
Celglin congratulates the Lakemen who accompanied him on their adventures. As the night progresses, he will station himself at the entryway to the mines, keeping ear and eye trained to the interior.
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Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #12 on Oct 3, 2011, 6:44pm »
"Wake me up for last watch," grumbles Sili as he downs his last beer and slouches off to bed. Alf lounges nearby and will rouse him if the camp is attacked.
Re: (007) The First Night « Reply #14 on Oct 4, 2011, 5:26am »
Lómëluin will acompany Eremin on the middle watch. He spends the time prior to this tending to the wounds of the others, checking quietly on Eohild and Norin to make sure they are making the hoped-for progress against the Gorfang poisoning, and then slipping into the strange, semi-trance-like state that passes for sleep among the Elvish folk, sitting alone gazing up at the stars showing in the skies above the Misty Mountains and singing to himself in Sindarin very softly.