Hunt for the Palantíri RPG

[Niluial]

Sun rays entered the cabin early in the morning. Elwë stretched out his arms and yawned, quickly covering his eyes as they were not used to the light.

“Are you awake?” Andtuariel whispered from across the room.

“Yes. Good morning” he smiled sweetly at her. It had been odd lately after their kiss and yet that had said nothing about it, though one could see they wanted to talk about it.

“Breakfast is being served in ten minutes! I can’t wait for today.”

“I know…” Elwë shot out of bed, “You aren’t coming with!”

“My leg is much better, I will come with.”

Elwë eyed Andtuariel suspiciously. It was rather typical of her to prove that she was strong and by now Elwë knew not to argue and just let her do as she wished.

Everyone was jittery about the day ahead. Elwë had an odd feeling inside, a gut feeling as if something was wrong, something was going to happen. He brushed the feelings away probably just anxiety or nervousness kicking in.

[Arry]

Once they had departed from Elwë and Andtuariel, Carandû motioned for his brother to follow him down the passageway to the Captain’s quarters. He stopped just outside the door, as he had done the previous night. Once again the door was slightly ajar, and a lamp burned within. Carandû tsk’d, thinking the Captain had perhaps again left his cabin and left the lamp burning. But there was a noise inside, as of someone walking in the room, and the sounds of papers shuffling and a drawer being closed.

Annû squeezed past his brother, giving him a questioning look. ‘You were going to knock, weren’t you?’ he asked, raising his hand and tapping soundly on the door. ‘Captain? You in there?’

The door creaked open at the pressure on it from the knocking and Luindal’s voice could be distinctly heard as he bade them come in. ‘Just putting a few things away in my desk,’ he said, taking out a key and locking the drawer he’d just shut. ‘Be with you in just a moment.’ Several flat pieces of parchment were unceremoniously scraped from the table top and into the shallow drawer. And again the Captain locked them away. ‘Now what can I do for you two?’ he asked, one brow raised as he looked from one to the other of the brothers.

‘It’s about the caves,’ began Annu. ‘Carandu and I talked it over last night.’ He nodded at his brother. ‘We thought you probably already had thought about it,’ continued Carandû, picking up on his brother’s words. ‘But we wanted to give you our thoughts on it, too . . .’

Both brothers talked at length about their suspicions. Why had the rocks piled so neatly and conveniently in front of the cavern’s entrance? Why had no one in the cave felt any tremors if that is what caused the rocks to slide? And from his quick glances at the hillside above the cave as they’d left to head back to the ship, it had seemed to Carandû that a number of the rocks were pried out of the ground by some fair sized force, as there seemed to be some indents in the ground where they had lain.

‘And what about those blurry figures I heard Rôg tell you he saw hastening away from the hillside?’ finished Annû. ‘Seems to us,’ he continued, looking to his brother for confirmation, ‘that there were others there who meant us harm.’

‘My brother is far too kind in his words,’ said Carandû, stepping forward. ‘What we mean to say is that it is the southrons who compromised our exploring of the cavern. And by doing so, they killed our two companions.’ Annû nodded in agreement.

‘We mean to be fully prepared on our next outing, Captain,’ Annû said quietly . . .

[Lalwendë]

Thynne worked hard hacking at the boreholes that Tarn had made. It was easy enough work for a lad of his age, indeed, he had done this task many times before, but he was making sure that he was seen to be putting an effort into his work. He thought again how lucky he had been when he had returned from his disappearing act. His father had boxed his ears, but Tarn had done nothing but act coldly towards him, and this was how the man normally acted even if he was pleased. And yesterday, as they walked up to the ice sheet, he had even told him some stories, about great whale hunts and cold journeys in boats, about fights and bets he had won, and about the treasures he pulled from the seas. His father never told him tales, he was always too drunk. He had been impressed and wished he could have adventures such as those he heard about.

He had been given some new clothes, too. They were old, and had been worn by someone else, but like most things Tarn owned, they seemed to be of good quality. His new fur breeches were thick, and best of all, they were made of pelts from the white bears. He couldn’t wait for the other lads to see him wearing them.

The holes in the ice widened easily, and as he completed each one, Thynne felt compelled to peer in to look for fish. It was habit. This was how fish was caught in the depths of winter, particularly in the northern reaches of the bay, and Thynne had joined many hunts, although none had been with his father. His belly rumbled; he hadn’t eaten for a few hours, and wondered if he could get away with dropping a line and fish hook into one of the holes to catch himself some dinner.

Checking his pockets, he found some twine, but he had nothing which would serve as a hook. He looked towards Tarn, who was back with some of the Corsairs, listening to their chatter. He wondered if Tarn would have a hook, but then realised that he’d best not go and ask him. He might be pushing his luck. “No“, he thought, “I’d best leave things be.” Yet he still looked into the hole hopefully, watching the dark waters swirling beneath. He thought he could see a fish, and crouched down, in case it came in reach of his hand, but it turned out to be a piece of wood, strangely carved, and before he had a chance to catch it, the water swept it away. “It wasn’t edible anyway” he thought, standing up and hoping that there would soon be a break for something to eat.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Marreth pushed a heap of snow over the hole he had just dug with his ice pick and then evened it out to cleverly conceal all evidence of his meddling. The Corsairs and their Lossoth allies had riddled the snow-covered ground with a number of such holes. By tomorrow, a thin icy covering would freeze over the top of them. When the Elves came, some of their party would walk right over them and then with a crack fall through. The current underneath would drag them under the ice, where they would drown. The rest, Marreth planned to ambush during the confusion and send them to an early grave: no more meddlesome Elves putting their perfect long noses where they didn’t belong.

Their labor complete, Marreth addressed his crew, “Good job mates. Now we rest until tomorrow when the Elves arrive. At dawn, we conceal ourselves in the snow and wait for the enemy. If we have done our job with these holes, many of the Elves will fall through. During the commotion, we spring out and attack them while their guard is down. We shall not stop until they are all dead. Now get some rest.”

Marreth noticed that Jarlyn did not seem to look well. His face was pallid and he was shivering slightly. Marreth approached his friend and said calmly, “You don't seem well. Get some sleep. I don't want you to get any worse. I can’t afford to lose one of my most trusted officers. Here," he said gruffly, "I've an extra blanket you can take." He pushed it towards Jarlyn and then barked out an order in Jynne's direction. "Give Jarlyn a hand. Start a fire and get some broth heated to take the chill from his bones.""

With those stern words, Marreth retired to the ice hut he had made the day before. They had been careful to chose a hidden location back from the Bay where the Elves would be less likely to find them. Settling in for the night, Marreth mused that it was only a matter of time before they were rid of those pesky intruders for good. Just before he fell alseep, one of the Corsair sentries brought him news that their visitors had made it north and settled in less than a quarter mile south of their own encampment. Good, thought Marreth, they're here early so we have less time to wake. We'll get up early and be ready for them......

[Child of the 7th Age]

Luindal's eyes hastily strayed to the locked drawer where a number of things had been tucked away for safekeeping, including the mysterious button and fabric. He cleared his throat, nodding his head in agreement at what the brothers were saying. "I know little of landslides, but what you say makes sense. It is hard to believe those rocks came tumbling down so conveniently as the tide was pouring in."

"But that does not alter our plans for tomorrow. Our duty is to find the Stones. We will just need to be more vigilent as we carry out our task. As to our preparations for this journey, I have given that some thought. When we get to the northern shore, we'll be taking extra precautions, which I'll explain further at that point. And, as I said before, everyone is to come fully armed. In any case, I am glad that you're here, since you are the only ones who've come forward. If you see or hear anything suspicious on the ship or the trek north, just let me know."

"Suspicious?" queried Anû. "What would you be thinking of?"

Luindal shook his head and sighed, wondering how much more he should say. When he spoke, he phrased his words carefully, "Perhaps, someone on the ship who is someplace you wouldn't expect them, or doing something strange, maybe wandering off from the camp at night, or toting a map or book under their vest jacket. Just something that strikes you as out of character or odd."

"But enough of that. Finish your packing tonight and come down early tomorrow. We'll be starting out while it is still dark."

The brothers nodded and disappeared out the door. Luindal knew that the blankets and ropes had already been secured from the Elders and were being loaded onto the sledge in preparation for the morning's departure. He had managed to obtain an extra reindeer or two to pull a second sledge for those who might still need to rest for part of the trek. Several of the Elves most severely injured were being left back on the ship. He had tried to persuade others to stay behind as well, but they would hear nothing of it. Alahseey had assured him that the trek north would be easy, and that the sledge would give those with minor injuries another day for their wounds to heal. He hoped she was right.

About to settle in for the night, he heard a crisp knock at his door and beckoned whoever was there to come inside. Hilde appeared, carrying a load of blankets and a thick fur parka that she set down on the table along with a travelling pack. She backed away from Luindal and made an awkward curtsey, while fumbling nervously with the edge of her apron, "Master Luindal, I am but a humble Lossoth servant woman. Not the likes of you and the other Elves. But there was something I saw. Something I thought was strange, and I can't explain it. I thought if I told you that you might understand and could set my mind at ease. Last night, when you were off touring the ship and talking to Rôg, I saw that Elf. I don't recall his name, but he was the same one who was just here talking with you."

"Annû perhaps? Or Carandû?"

"That was it," she nodded vigorously. "The last one you mentioned. He was in here pouring over one of your maps. He seemed to be memorising it. But undoubtedly, you gave him a job to do that?"

Luindal looked at Hilde and smiled weakly, "Undoubtedly.....," he nodded, bidding her a hasty goodnight, not wishing to talk about this any longer. Yet, as he fell asleep, he couldn't help but wonder what Carandû had been doing in his room.

*******************

Just as the first rays of the sun stretched across the Bay, they had said their goodbyes to their Elven comrade who had lost his life in the caves. "He was a decent Elf with a good heart who volunteered to come North," Luindal confided to Rôg. "He'll probably spend only a short time in Mandos before going on to Valinor. Still, for those of us in Middle-earth, it is a grievious loss. For our numbers are small and grow seemingly fewer every year."

With that Luindal raised his hand and signalled the procession to begin its trek to the North. Alahseey and Hilde jointly took the lead, since they knew the land better than any of the other Lossoth. At the end of the line were two reindeer pulling sledges, one burdened with supplies, and the other carrying those who preferred to ride at least part of the way.

In one important respect, Alahseey was correct. The journey north was relatively easy. They met only one or two Lossoth hunters and a caribou herder and his family who were all heading south. By late afternoon, they had nearly reached the northern shores where they were to camp tonight and begin searching for the Stones in the morning.

[Arry]

The two brothers were assigned to the end of the caravan. More precisely, they were to see to the reindeer which pulled the sledge for bearing passengers. For the most part of the journey north, their only passenger had been Rôg. All bundled up in his thickly fur-lined leather breeches and overtunic, the skin changer seemed to be enjoying himself - commenting as they went along on what he knew about the ice formations and the wildlife they hid.

‘I see you’ve brought your blades and bows,’ Rog noted, about a quarter of the way into the trek. ‘Planning on hunting something?’

‘Protecting’s more like it,’ chimed in Carandû, his breath sending out great plumes of frosty air as he strode along. ‘You keep your eyes open, too. Let us know if you notice anything.’ Rôg looked at Carandû whose face seemed quite serious, then turned his gaze to Annû. ‘What’s that about,’ he mouthed at the younger brother.

Annû glanced down at the man. ‘We’ve a theory about the rockslide at the cavern,’ he began, pitching his voice a little lower – though what, other than the reindeer, could hear him was dubious. In quick phrases, he told Rôg about their suspicions and wondered if he’d remembered anything more about those two vague figures he seen. The man’s answer was ‘no’, though he assured them he’d gone over his memories time and time again.

Most of the day was spent in pleasant conversation. At lunch time a brief rest was called – time for food and drink and a chance to sit down for a while. But soon, the Captain had them on their feet again. The sun had moved past its zenith and he wanted to reach the camping grounds the two Lossoth had told him about before it grew dark.

Five more hours brought them to their destination on the northern shores. As Carandû and his brother drew up with the two reindeer and their sledges they could see the two Lossoth women – Hilde and Alahseey, pointing out to those in front the best places to camp. Annû shivered at the expanse of ice and snow that was meant to serve as the place to pitch their tents. ‘Ah,’ he said, watching his brother take the thick bearskins from the sledge where Rôg had been sitting. ‘I doubt even those will not protect our bones from the hard mattress the Captain has chosen for us.’ Carandû nodded as he began to put up the hide tent, then piled the bearskins within.

‘Why don’t you two see about getting us a fire going . . . and find something for us to eat,’ he went on, his fist clasped round a large hammer from the tent chest, ‘I’ll just get these pounded in, then I’ll see to the reindeer. The animals eyed him at this comment, as if they understood his intent, and their hooves struck the ground once or twice in anticipation of a handful of hay and dried grasses that were packed a the back of the sledge.

Annû helped Rôg to his feet, and the two of them went off to rifle through the supplies for food and then were off on a small venture to find water. ‘The sun is hastening toward the horizon,’ said the Elf. ‘Let’s not loiter too long in any one place. I want to be back at our own campfire before darkness falls.’

[piosenniel]

‘Sorry to be such a bother!’ It was not only Rôg’s arm that was stiff today, but all his joints seemed to ache from the strain of having pushed them through the crack in the rock and from the unrelenting cold. He leaned on Annû’s arm as they walked on the icy ground, his steps careful so as not to fall. The little fire they had built was from the small amount of kindling wood they’d brought from the ship and from the supply of dried reindeer droppings the Lossoth had so thoughtfully brought along.

For food, they looted through the supplies of dried strips of meat the Lossoth had provided along with a few handsful of dried grains - barley, mostly – and some dried peas that they could cook into a stew. It was plain fare, to be sure – but it would keep them warm through the frigid Bay night. Now all they had to do was find fresh water for tea and for the cooking pot.

It was Galhardir, who had come along with them, that showed them where water could be gotten. Little Rodhal had stayed behind with Carandû. He was to be the guardian of the fire, Annû had told him, laughing. ‘Guard it from the wind; keep it fed with fuel!’ the Elf had instructed him with a grin. ‘We’ll hurry back with water for hot tea and thick stew.’ As they left the camp, the boy was squatted down by the fire, a serious look on his face as he fed the little tongues of flame.

Rôg’s thought was just to scoop up a bit of fresh snow and heat it up to be their water. But Galhardir recommended they walk a little ways away, to where a great glacier edged its way to the waters of the bay. ‘We’ll chip some of the clear ice from it and bring it back for cooking. It’s pure and sweet tasting, no hint of saltiness from the bay.

Galhardir took the lead and the three headed in the direction he pointed out . . .