Hunt for the Palantíri RPG

[Lalwendë]

Tarn was back at his stone hut and the fire was blazing. His damp outer clothes hung about the room, giving off steam as they dried, and a pot of stew was bubbling, ready to be served. Thynne took two wooden bowls and ladled out a serving for Tarn, who took it silently without any thanks. Beads of feverish sweat broke out on the man’s forehead. He stared into the flames as he ate, turning over the events of the previous day in his mind.

The Corsair man he had rescued had been dragged on a sled all the way back to his ship; he lived, but Tarn wanted to see if he had recovered yet. He was keen to get to the Corsair ship and learn the news but he had just woken from a much needed sleep after the hike back and he needed to eat first. Luck had been on his side after the battle, as Thynne had found not only a sled, but someone’s dropped water bottle and a spare fur. It turned out the lad had stayed with the archers and then they had directed him to search for anything of use which the elves had dropped or left behind; they could see he was not big enough for battle but that they would need supplies after the fighting was through. The water and the warmth of the extra fur had sustained Tarn during the hike home, where he could finally stop and tend to his wound.

The cut was not long, but it was deep, running laterally across his left bicep. He knew that untended, the wound could fester and sap his strength. As soon as he had got back to the hut he had boiled water while Thynne curled up in a corner and slept soundly, tired and overwrought from the battle and the march home. Before Tarn could sleep he had needed to tend to his injury. He had bathed the wound and then took some sphagnum moss and comfrey leaves and packed them around the gash in his skin, before binding it with a strip of clean woollen cloth.

He had crept into bed as a red dawn broke across the eastern sky and fallen into a deep sleep, untroubled by dreams. Now, as he ate, he remembered those he had injured and wondered if they too were sitting by warm fires or if they had succumbed to their injuries. There was no question about the elf he had felled with his harpoon. He had seen the life drain from his eyes and the blood spill from his body. He shivered a little as he thought of it, but then Thynne distracted him from his musings by opening the door and looking outside.

A cold wind blew in, making the flames in the fire shudder and Tarn winced at the icy draught as he turned his head to see what the day outside was like. Whatever the weather, and despite how he felt, he knew he could not and would not be staying in the hut today.

[Regin Hardhammer]

Marreth awoke by mid-morning in better spirits than he had been before, considerably refreshed from a good night’s sleep. Next time they were forced to camp away from the ship, he vowed to bring tents. The biting frigid winds had assaulted the crew all the way back to the ship. The storm had evidently died out overnight, or had not stretched this far south: the day looked to be clear and calm. The hours spun by quickly as Marreth and those of his crew who were healthy put in a full day's work tending to the ship and its rigging. By late afternoon, all the Elves and their band had returned to their ship. As evening approached, Marreth resolved to take a walk by himself out on deck so he could contemplate what he might try next.

His sabotage had worked, but the Elves had nevertheless managed to organize themselves and put up a good fight. The Corsairs did not score a decisive victory against their adversaries, but then again they had not lost mightily either. As Marreth considered what to do next, he saw three flashes of light coming from a patch of bushes on the nearby shore. He looked out and saw a red lantern, and crouched beside it a hooded figure. Of course, thought Marreth, our Lossoth friend may have some ideas what we should do next.

Hastily leaving the ship, he approached the agreed upon meeting place. Marreth trailed the Lossoth into a secluded clearing, a few feet away from the edge of the Bay; they were wholly surrounded by bushes.

Before Marreth could ask the Snowman about the Elves’ plans, the hooded figure spoke in a shaky voice, “The Elves know there is a Corsair spy. Rumors are flying around the Elven ship. I arranged a little accident on shore for one of their party, and made it look as if Alahseey was the one who did it. Still I am not comfortable. Too many people are asking questions. One minute they may blame Alahseey, and the next start looking for another to blame. I fear they will catch me and put me in chains. Yet I do not waver in my mission; I will continue to relay information to you as best I can. Even if I am found out, I can still be of great use to your cause. I know the Bay like the back of my hand, and can show you likely spots for your treasure hunting. I only ask that you send some men onto the nearby shore to keep an eye on the Elven ship. They can alert you if something happens to me and I am in need of aid or rescue.”

The Captain replied, “I will grant you this aid; it is no fault of your own that our plans to exterminate the Elves have failed. But I send you fair warning Lossoth that this is not some kind of trap laid by the Elves who have sent you here. If you plan to deceive us, I will bring down vengeance upon your head stronger than a raging blizzard. Very well then, you may go.” Marreth did not completely trust this stranger, but if the Lossoth was discovered, he would have no way of knowing the plans of the Elves. Worse yet, the spy might disclose something to them of his own plans and strategies. Better that the Lossoth should be with him, where he could monitor things. He concluded it was best to lend aid to this stranger but do so cautiously. Marreth would not have his men lured into an ambush.

"Return now to the Spirit," the Corsair captain continued, "and here is a coin or two for your pains. But see that you carry yourself carefully, and do not say a word to anyone of my plans..."

Mareth dropped two gold coins in the spy's hand and was about to turn away, when he glanced back and asked one more question. "The Elven ship must be low on supplies. Except for the special things they needed for the trek north, I've not seen them bring in large barrels with ale or herring or other needed foodstuffs."

"That is right," the Snowman nodded. "Not since the first day have they restocked their larders. I heard Luindal say that he has sent several large orders to Igal, a local merchant and procurer of goods, and that many items and workmen will be coming onto the ship in the next few days while they rest up and make their future plans."

Marreth nodded but said nothing more, although his mind was spinning very fast. He quickly returned to his ship, and summoned Jynne and Diera to be brought to him, since Jarlyn was resting as he had ordered. When the two arrived, he began “I must reveal to the two of you something. Since the arrival of the Elves, I have had a Lossoth spy on board the Elven ship to relay their plans to me. That is how we were always one step ahead of them. But now I have reason to believe that this spy, a valuable information source to me, may fall in jeopardy. At the very least, the Elves are suspicious of us so it will be harder to get information."

"Therefore, I am asking you to go and hide on the shore behind the rocks and the snow bluffs in one of the secluded groves. Take some trusted helpers with you and see if you can pick up any news. I understand that they will be having an inquiry tomorrow morning out on deck. One of the Elders is to be tried, although she has nothing to do with us. Possibly, some of our Lossoth friends may even care to pose as local traders bearing goods from Igal and offering to take these provisions onto the ship and store them away. That way they can get up close. You can't get away with showing your faces, but our Lossoth allies can probably do so."

Then he told them who the spy was and added, "Alert me if you see that the Elves have captured this Snowman or anything unusual is taking place. You are to leave immediately and take the seal skin tent with you. If the snow flares up like it did last night you will need it.” Marreth was exceedingly glad that he did not have to go camping outdoors again. He turned back to his cabin wondering how Jynne would react to the order that he again go camp out in the snow.

[Imladris]

So that was what Marreth had been up to in his secrecy: talking to his little spy on the elven ship. The problem, of course, was the fact that he had to babysit the fellow to make sure he didn't get caught. Well, he wasn't much of a spy, was he, if he was caught so easily.

"You are to leave immediately and take the seal skin tent with you. If the snow flares up like it did last night you will need it," Marreth was saying.

Jynne scowled. Not only did he have to babysit some traitor, but he had to to do it in the cold wet snow. If he became sick, all could be spoiled...

With a curt nod, Jynne turned on his heal and slipped into his own quarters. Taking a small oaken chest from underneath the cot, he opened it. Inside, tiny vials clattered brightly against each other as he sifted through them. Finally, he found what he was looking for: a concoction that would fend sickness from his flesh. Holding the green vial aloft, Jynne peered into the transclucent glass. The vial was only half full -- he would have to use it sparingly. Plucking the cork from the vial, he swallowed three times, and then replaced the vial with the others.

As he slipped from his room, clinging to the splotchy shadows, he thought about what Marreth had said. He had ordered them to bring along some trusted men. Jynne smiled thinly. Trusted men...did Marreth not know that men could not be trusted?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Alahseey paced nervously from one end of the cabin to the other before stopping to press her face against the porthole. From her vantage on the ship, she had only a limited view of the beach and surrounding waters. But she could see that the long night had given way to morning. In contrast to her own gloominess, the new day had dawned bright and clear. The Spirit was now moored in shallow waters in a portion of the Bay adjacent to the largest Lossoth settlement. Early this morning, Luindal had moved the ship and dropped anchor only a stone's throw from the shore.

Alahseey also observed a number of small boats rapidly approaching the Elven ship. Most carried Lossoth Elders, men and women she intimately knew who had been invited to attend the inquiry and hearing. Other long boats had drawn up alongside the Spirit bearing boxes of foodstuffs and small barrels that Igal's trading agents had agreed to bring on board to replenish the Elves' empty storage bins. Determined to head north as quickly as he could, Luindal had purposely carried a light load, and many provisions had been depleted during their weeklong voyage from the Havens as well as the subsequent days at the Ice Bay.

Despite her confinement, the Elder was in relatively good shape. The trek south had been bearable largely because of Freyn who made sure that she received ample food and water, and was not pushed beyond her physical means. Luindal's treatment of her had been firm but fair. The Captain had ordered her bonds untied as soon as she boarded the Spirit. She had been escorted to a small, comfortably furnished room with a single guard set outside the door. Food and drink were provided in ample measure along with changes of clothing. But the door was bolted shut and no one was admitted inside other than to drop off and collect her food dishes. The guards had not been allowed to speak with her.

Alahseey heard footsteps in the hallway, then watched as the bolt was drawn back. Two members of the crew stepped into the room: one a Lossoth, the other an Elf. Both were heavily armed. "You're to come with us, Elder Alahseey," the Lossoth directed. "If you come freely, we will not bind your arms or legs." She inclined her head in agreement, and stepped forward to walk beside them. The group continued down the corridor and mounted the ladder to the main deck where a large crowd had already gathered. On one side stood Luindal and his crew, including the Lossoth volunteers. On the other were the Elders and several trading agents employed by Igal who had been bringing provisions on board the ship since early morning.

Luindal stepped forward to start the meeting, addressing everyone in the common tongue. "We are here for two reasons. First, Hilde Halvardsdatter has brought formal accusation against Elder Alahseey, daughter of Ingrid the reindeer herder. Hilde charges Alahseey with slicing Galhardir's safety rope in two by using her own axe. After this happened, Galhardir plunged through the ice in rather suspicious circumstances and nearly lost his life in the swift currents of the Bay. Traces of shredded rope were later found on the Elder's axe, which she wore on a belt at her side."

Luindal sighed and shook his head, "I want this matter fairly and thoroughly investigated to see if Alahseey is guilty. But that is not all. Since our arrival at the Bay, it's clear someone on board this ship has been passing information on to the Corsairs. First, there was a mysterious landslide that conveniently covered up the door of the cavern while leaving everything else untouched. Surely, this was no accident. Outside our own group, only a few of the Elders even knew that we planned to search the caves that day. Secondly, I saw the Corsairs trudge northward in the early morning long before we ever left the ship and even before I told the rest of you where we were going. Either Marreth has the ability to read minds, which I think unlikely, or he has planted a spy in our midst. "

"While we can not be certain, the person who cut the rope is probably the informer. And all those old fishing holes that caved in are also suspicious From the beginning, I expected to have trouble with the Corsairs. But it concerns me far more to learn that we have a turntail in our own midst."

"I am asking for your help. If you have heard anything that suggests Alahseey's guilt or innocence, if you have any idea why the ice gave way, if you saw anyone acting in a suspicious mannner, or know why the Corsairs have so much knowledge of what we're doing, please come forward and speak up. Before Alahseey can be declared guilty, the Law of the Lossoth requires that at least two witnesses verify Hilde's claim as to the cutting of the rope or her part in the spying. I personally do not intend to leave here until we come to the bottom of this thing."

With that, Luindal stepped back and glanced around waiting for someone to speak....

[Rinfanawen]

"I am asking you to go and hide on the shore behind the rocks and the snow bluffs in one of the secluded groves."

Diera's heart jumped in glee at Marreth's words. Spying on the Elves again, are we? she thought. The rest of her captain's orders seemed like music to her ears, even if they were to camp on land again. It will be worth it all in the end, she constantly told herself. She soon returned to her cabin beneath deck.

She opened the door of her room quickly, smiling as she stepped inside. Diera stood over her bed, thinking of what she would need to bring with her. "You are to leave immediately," Marreth had said. Diera stared sideways in thought. No, there will be no time for packing. She picked up merely her long, leather cloak and hat. Both had somehow managed to dry in the elapsed time after the battle. Her small knife remained sheathed nicely within her boot. Her sword she left on her bed. Swords are not needed for spying, She thought, trying to comfort herself. She looked back at the sword upon exiting her cabin, almost going back to take the weapon. She shook her head. Turning away once more, she shut the door of her cabin and walked to the deck.

Doyal and another trusted shipmate of hers were already waiting on deck. Diera gestured a ‘hello’ as she approached. Soon after, Jynne appeared from below deck, looking rather unsteady in his walk. Diera looked at him curiously. Her thoughts returned to a few nights ago when Marreth spoke to her about Jynne. Her captain himself had warned her of Jynne’s suspicious deeds, and now she was beginning to see them herself. Diera stared at Jynne. A thousand questionable comments went through her head to say to him, but she remained silent. A time for inquiring would come later. Their small group departed soon after.

The group quickly rowed to shore. Quickly they rowed, but quietly as to not draw attention to themselves. Diera stepped onto the earthy soil of the land with much hesitation. Ever since that cold night on the ice, she could not keep from thinking of her parents. She sighed. Don’t go there, she thought as she stepped off the boat. The rest of her crew was already on shore. She looked up at them with soft eyes.

“Let’s go,” she said. Her voice quivered and squeaked as she spoke, but she quickly cleared her throat and repeated the phrase in a more commanding tone.

The land was deathly quiet, apart from their own light footsteps. They were the only Corsairs to be found, and no Elf had been seen leaving the ship. The air was cold. It blew through what thin clothes they wore until it froze even the tiny hairs on their arms. Diera could sense the frost was coming. She could smell it in the air, as if snow had already touched the ground.

Their slow, cautious pace was quickened as they came nearer to the location of the Elven ship. Diera bent low behind a few patches of shrubs in the secluded area Marreth had pointed out. The Elven ship could clearly be seen, but nothing unusual was taking place at the moment. A light wind began to blow. Diera held her wide-brimmed, brown hat over her head as she peered out towards the deck of the hideously graceful ship. Soon a few Elves appeared in her view, followed a rather large crowd of Elves.

Diera closely watched the interesting scene that was taking place on the ship. The attention of every Elf and pro-Elf Lossoth was fixed upon a certain Elf in the middle, named Luindal, who seemed to be of a high order. Diera watched as the Elf spoke words she could not hear. Luindal then singled out an Elf of whom she did not know. Luindal spoke more words to the crowd, acknowledging the other Elf through the whole speech. Diera sighed. For the first time, she wished she had the vision of Elven eyes so she could at least try to make out what was being said. She soon let the absurd thought flee from her mind as she waited to see what would happen next.

[Arry]

Carandû had not meant to be late to the hearing. It was his turn for galley duty, though, and the pots and pans and dishes needed to be cleaned up. Lunch would follow soon after the meeting was done and clean bowl and spoons would be needed for the soup the cook had simmering. With a final swipe of the dish towel, he nested the last bowl on the cupboard. Tying his hair back a little more neatly, the Elf hurried down the passageway and up the stairs to the meeting place.

The crowd was large already. Carandû shoulder his way to where he could see Annû standing. ‘Your pardon,’ he murmured many times as he jostled his way through the throng, once stepping inadvertently on a Lossoth foot. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked in a hushed voice slipping in next to his brother.

‘The Captain’s just spoken of what Alahseey has been accused of,’ Annû replied. ‘And brought up, too, that he thinks there’s a spy in our midst.’

Carandû frowned at what he heard as Annû explained all that Luindal had said. ‘Is that why he set me to reindeer duty, do you think? Did someone step foreword and accuse me?’ Annû shook his head, saying the particulars of the part about the spy had not been addressed.

‘Who was it who accused the Elder?’ Carandû’s gaze swiveled about the room looking at those who stood near the front, wondering if the same person had fingered him.

Annû raised his arm and pointed to where Hilde stood. ‘Her!’

Carandû’s mind raced back to the evening he had found the Captain’s door open and gone in to shut off the lamp. It was after that that Luindal had assigned him to reindeer duty and would not let him join in the search parties that had gone out onto the ice. He looked to where Annû had pointed, his eyes going wide, as he remembered it was she, Hilde, who had seen him exiting the room. She was in profile, standing a little ways away from Luindal, and this view of her sparked another memory of that day Galhardir had almost drowned. ‘Brother, I must make my way to the front where the Lossoth stands accused. They have the wrong one!’

The brothers made their way to the front amidst the grumblings of those pushed aside for their passage. Luindal saw the two Elves and bade them step forward, asking if they had anything to say. Annû spoke a few words in his brother’s ear, then pushed him forward.

‘That day that the lines were cut, Captain,’ Carandû began, his gaze shifting from a close study of Hilde’s face back to Luindal. ‘I wasn’t supposed to be near the operation. I’d been assigned to see to the reindeer. But my brother was out on the ice and I was not one to be parted from him should danger arise. And I was worried that it might, given our previous mishaps in the cave search. Needless to say, I left my charges in the care of a Lossoth and climbed to a vantage point where I could watch what was going on. I saw my brother and the others already on the ice when I arrived at my vantage point, and I traced their lines back to the tree where they were secured, wanting to make sure all had been done properly. My eyes followed my brother’s group and periodically I would sweep back to see the ropes that kept them safe. Just before Galhardir went in I saw a Lossoth with an axe in hand standing by his party's rope. I swept out again to see my brother slipping along, when the cry went up that a rope had broken and one of the searchers had slipped into the water. Then the Corsairs attacked, of course, and the chaos of battle ensued.’

At the word ‘Lossoth’, the crowd had begun to mutter and look hard at Alahseey.

‘So,’ began Luindal, ‘it was Alahseey you saw with the axe definitely in her hand . . .’

‘No,’ said Carandû, firmly, in a loud voice, as to be heard above the swell of harsh talk. Luindal looked at him expectantly. ‘The Elder was standing some ways away from where the rope was severed, or so I have pieced together from the rumours I sorted through of where the cut was made.’ Annû had made his way round to where Hilde stood and now grasped the woman firmly by the arm. ‘It was her I saw, standing near the rope, axe gripped in her hand,’ Carandû continued. ‘Hilde, the Captain’s confidant, the one who had knowledge of all the plans, and free run of the ship.’ He took a step closer to Hilde who drew back against Annû.

Annû pushed her forward, his grip still hard on her. ‘And tell them how you saw my brother leaving the Captain’s cabin after he’d gone in to turn off a lamp left burning on the desk. Tell how you accused him of being the spy.’ ‘Tell them!’ he commanded in a wrathful voice, his tall frame looming over her.

[Orofaniel]

Galhardir gazed.

Could it really have been Hilde who had done it and nearly killed him?

"Please, will you let me speak?" Galhardir then said out loud and got up. Luindal ordered the Lossoth and the elves to be quiet. "Please do," he said and looked at Hilde. Annû tried to be quiet, but Galhardir noticed his eyes glanced over at Hilde constantly.

"My memory from that horrible day is still a bit unclear, but I do think my thoughts and those memories I have are important for you to hear," he started. "I remember handing over the end of my rope to Alahseey and Hilde, so I think it’s most certain one of them cut it too..." Some of the elves started to mutter, looking back and forth at Hilde and Alahseey as they were trying to vision the event. "When I noticed I had lost Luindal on the ice and I was surrounded by thick fog I panicked. I remember pulling my rope slightly, to see if it could lead me back to the bay. As you all know, the very reason we're here is because it was cut off. Alahseey has been chraged for this terribl action, although I do not think she is the guilty one...." Voices of great confusion was to be heard. Galhardir didn't expect anything else either as there was now several people charging Hilde instead of Alahseey for the terrible deed. "The rope had been cut only a short time before I got lost, or so I think. To be able to cut my rope one had to use an axe..."

"Get to the point," one of the elves muttered.

"What better way of hiding your own traces by pointing the suspicion to someone else is there?" Galhardir then asked the crowd. "I've bee asking myself this question since the very moment I heard that Alahseey had been charged for this deed. Please do think about it...A spy would do something as horrible as that, but only a spy. I tell you, Hilde is that spy. Not Alahseey."

As he had finished, great anger and accusations came from Hilde. Annû smiled mischievously because he knew Hilde would have to pay for what she had done. It was like a victory. Galhardir sat down again, waiting for Luindal or some of the Elders to say something regarding Galhardir's accusations and thoughts. "Oh, one last thing. If it hadn't been for you," he said, looking at Rôg and some of the elves, "I wouldn't have been here today," Galhardir continued, pausing. He sighed. "The person who has betrayed us should be punished for this and not walk away thinking she can fool us by leading another innocent person into her own miserable level."