Round Up! Ån RP Game

Where now are the horse and rider? In here, probably.
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Arien
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Round Up!! An RP Game

Oh no! Gandalf is visiting Rohan - well is he named ill-news; because although he’s brought Shadowfax back to visit (Yay)! He hasn’t learned how to close doors.

Stable doors.

As a result, half of the horses in the stables have made it out and are now having a party around Meduseld...

It’s YOUR job to round them up and lead them back to the stables and fields where they belong! (Or alternatively, steal them and herd them off to wherever you choose.)

PLACES TO HUNT:
Éomer’s Bedroom, Throne Room of Meduseld; Cellars; Kitchens; Paddocks; Training grounds; Behind the archery butts; Apple orchard; The Well; Drinking at the Snowbourne; On Meduseld’s Roof; In Éowyn’s Bathtub; At the Laundry; In the Courtyard; The Rose Garden, Next to the Sun Dial, Cavalry Barracks

HORSES: Brego, Rochallor, Hasufel, Arod, Snowmane II, Shadowfax, Roheryn

TREATS: Everyone may choose to take an Apple; Carrot; Sugar-cube. Each treat may be used on only one horse. You may have only three treats but can choose any combination of the above.

HOW IT WORKS:

Post in a location looking for a horse!

You may also use a Treat: if a horse favours a particular treat and it is NEAR to where you’re searching, you may be able to lure it over!

Points gained for each horse caught!

The horses can and will MOVE AROUND; only TR will know where the horses are at any time!
There may also be more than one horse in each location but they are so feisty that you’ll only be able to take one back each round.

If you are looking for a specific horse and you catch that specific horse, you’ll get an extra point!

RULES

- don’t godmode anyone else. You may godmode a horse but can’t catch it until GM confirms.
- Only one area to be searched per round, but post as many times as you like during a round.
- Post as anyone you like but don’t take a Tolkien character if someone else is already posting as them. You are ENCOURAGED to use Tolkien characters as well as your own! You may be multiple characters if you wish (but only search one area per round as above). Minions must be in disguise or Sneak Mode.
- Mark OOC as OOC. No need to white out. No all bold.
- At the bottom of your post state in bold: the area you are searching, the horse you’re looking for if applicable, the treat you use if applicable, any treats remaining. E.g; looking for Brego in Éowyn’s Bathtub, using a sugar cube. One apple and one carrot left
- The places you search may come with RP prompts!

Any questions, @ me
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High Lord of Imladris
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Three Raccoons and the never ending quest for food.

By this point it should have been absolutely no surprise to anyone when three raccoons, waddled into Edoras, stuffed full of angry bird and some nuts. They heard they were handing out apples and carrots and sugar cubes in Rohan and ever the opportunist for a free meal the three brothers were there.

Of course when Hob realized they might be able to get a horse to lead them to MORE food if they bribed the horse with a treat then he quickly stole the sugar cube back from Reginald the Third and he and and Bob began working on a plan in order to try to get a horse to help lead them to more carroty goodness. And Apples. And possibly sugar cubes because Reginald the Third was already crying about the whole sugar cube being taken away before he had a bite. Not that it was more than a bite.

They decided the first place to look was in the kitchens, where they could possibly get their own hands on some more food as well as a horse. Horses had to be pretty smart right? After all what other point would there be to escaping a stable where one was fed if not to go to where there was even more food?

With that they snuck in and quickly stuffed their faces with several small loaves of bread, some chicken, or what they thought was chicken and a bit of soupish stew.... that was ABSOLUTELY terrible. To the point they poured what they had stolen of it back in the pot. All the while Hob looked about the kitchen for a giant horse holding onto the carrot hoping to draw the beast out.

Searching for Brego in the Kitchens using a carrot (Treats remaining apple and sugar cube)

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Fionn

The dust of the road was beginning to get so caked on his shoes, he could have sworn he was an inch taller as he neared Edoras then when he’d set out. His feet were tired. He was certain when he took his boots off tonight, he would find at least two new blisters. The temperature was cool but staying out in the weather all day was exhausting, he wiped his brow and it came away wet. With every step, his legs begged him to sit and rest, and with each step he told them they were nearly there. He turned back, shielding his eyes from the sun. His sister was still a bit behind, but she was still within seeing distance. He could see the red of her hair capturing the sun and turning it into a brilliant gold. Despite his exhaustion, he smiled. “Hurry up Derdriu! Keep lagging behind and I’ll leave here!” He smiled.

Inside the walls, the city seemed to be in an uproar. Fionn stood to the side of a conversation between three or four older men, all muttering about horses and Gandalf. There was a lot of handwringing and tsking but none of the men seemed willing to commit to saying what had actually happened. There was a lot of “I always knew something like this would happen” and “was only a matter of time” and “glad my Bessie was locked up tight”. The longer he listened, the more Fionn felt confused. Something was afoot, something that old men were more willing to nag and whine about than jump into action. That was the way of the Rohirrim though, Fionn knew. Older men enjoyed the sport of whining more than the young girls.

He thought about waiting for Derdriu to join him; he turned around, thinking he’d see her standing right behind him, but she wasn’t there. He pursed his lips. He’d seen her enter the gates, but once they’d started moving through the great press of people, he’d lost track of her. He had wanted to ask her what she thought was going on. Likely, she was already talking to people and had much more information. She had an easier time talking to Rohirrim, she didn’t have the memories of them that he had. Talking to them, even the idea of talking to them, made his stomach twist into knots. He hadn’t even wanted to come through here. He wanted to bypass Rohan altogether, but his sister insisted. And he could never say no to his little sister.

He ducked through alleyways, and behind buildings, doing his best to listen to the indistinct conversations of the crowd as it passed by. He was just starting to get a picture in his head of what the stir was when a horse walked up to him. The beast looked skittish. Fionn rubbed his lower lip. His hands began to feel around in the pack he had on his back for a carrot. Horses liked carrots, right? It was worth a shot. He extended his hand, walking slowly and nonthreateningly toward the great horse. “Hey there, something tells me you might be part of all this fuss, yeah? Come on then. I’m Fionn. Who are you handsome?”


Searching for Rochallor next to the Sun Dial (using a carrot)
Last edited by Akhenanat on Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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What a day! Lothiriel shook her head when she heard the news. How on earth was a wizard so incompetent as to let the horses get loose from the Royal Stables? She muttered something unintelligible, though hardly good-natured, under her breath and exited her bedroom, quickly tying her hair back. It would not do to have hair in her face while trying to find some horses. "Whatever will Éomer think of his?" she mumbled. "Where is my husband anyway?"

Where would be the best place to start hunting for the horses? And what was up with horses in Meduseld? She had heard something about horses showing up in a few of the shops in the Riddermarket not too long ago. "Is there something in the water that is making our horses too smart for their own good?" she wondered. Stopping in the stables to get an idea for which horses had gone missing, she pocketed a few horse treats in the hope of using them to lure a horse or two from wherever their horse hinds had gotten to. With treats acquired, she made her way towards the Rose Garden and pulled out the apple.

Looking for Snowmane II in the Rose Garden using an apple (treats remaining are sugar cube and carrot)

Thain of The Mark
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Sighard was beginning to hate trips to Edoras. The first time, it had been missing children--dead children, some of them. Now... it was apparently loose horses, courtesy of that Bema-damned wizard, and as Sighard bit back a frustrated growl, he fetched some treats and wondered where to start.

The Cavalry barracks, he supposed. Maybe he'd get lucky and one of the loose horses would be there, and then he could take it back where it belonged and then head back to the barracks himself for a nap.

Looking for Shadowfax in the Cavalry barracks, with an apple. One apple and one carrot left.

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Derdriu heard her brother calling, and waved an arm at Fionn to tell him to go ahead. She had been crouched over a particularly interesting variety of toadstool in the field beside the road, and wasn't about to be hurried away from her determination as to whether it was a new and edible fungus to add to their stores, or a specimen to be dried and added to an entirely different set of stores! In the end she pulled several up by their roots and stuffed them into a linen sack to be dealt with later, and took off at a swift trot after Fionn into the city, her wild mane of fiery curls bouncing in her wake. It was unusual for them to come into the big city, but there were things they needed and other things and persons of interest. It wouldn't be so bad, and then they could be on their way- at least that was what Derdriu had told her brother who he complained about it. Upon entering Edoras however, it became clear that something unusual was afoot. Some of the most famed horses in the entire Mark were missing? Set loose and needed to be rounded up? Well, Derdriu wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for the reward that would come along with that... or maybe just the opportunity to make off with such a splendid horse for herself. Sliding a hand into her pack, she withdrew an apple- sure to tempt even the mighty beasts they were looking for. Not seeing Fionn immediately, she determined that he must be on the hunt too, and started her own in a place that seemed likely to contain other tempting snacks for horses.


Searching for Brego in the Rose Garden with an apple. Treats remaining: an apple and a sugar cube
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Arien
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Update One

The Three Racoons, searching in the KITCHENS, hear a clip clop... The carrot is snatched out of your paws by - not Brego, but Rochallor! He looks like he would normally try to trample you three, but the carrot has appeased him. Where will you lead him?

Fionn, searching by the SUN DIAL, doesn’t find Rochallor - but your carrot is crunched up by Roheryn!

Lothiriel checks the ROSE GARDEN, but no horses currently here. Instead you run into Derdriu - who also doesn’t find any horses here.

Sighard checks the BARRACKS, but no horses currently here.

Horse board:

@Fuin Elda: 1 (Rochallor)
@Fleeg 1: (Roheryn)
@Dimcairien Luiniel: 0
@Taethowen: 0
@Moriel: 0

GAME STILL OPEN TO NEWCOMERS AT ANY TIME
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Bran de Argosy

If a year ago someone told Bran that he would be spending the winter in Rohan with his sister he’d accept that statement as something that could come to pass. Now, if that same someone told him that during his sojourn in Edoras he would be rounding up escaped horses, in all likelihood, he would politely ask that someone for directions to the pub said person liked to drink. Clearly, said pub had a selection of spirits of legendary quality.

And yet here he was doing exactly that. Rounding up horses that is, not sitting in a pub with a legendary selection of spirits. The story of the flight of the horses from the royal stables because a wizard forgot to close the stable doors spread through Edoras like wildfire. Perhaps that was not the best choice of words considering what happened to Rohan’s capital, but it was an apt description for the weird billferny that started occurring in Rohan on a semi-regular basis.

Having dressed drably (as his sister liked to point out) but warmly and practically and filling a small pack with essentials: a canteen filled with water, cram for snacking as he wandered about, a pocket knife and some treats for the horse or horses. After double-checking that his astrolabe and compass were securely packed he went out. Bran was a sailor, not a horseman, but as he walked he tried to think where would a horse who recently gained freedom go. If he were a horse he’d gallop? Trot off? outside the settlement… Perhaps to the banks of the Snowbourne? It seemed like a good idea as any, and if it didn’t work out at least he’d stretch his legs.

Looking for Shadowfax at the Snowbourne, using a carrot. One apple and one sugar cube left.
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Three Raccoons and the never ending quest for food

Hob looked up at just how massive Rochallor was his eyes dilating and his ears laying back as the normally brightest of the three raccoons was shocked. He'd never been this close to a horse before. They were big they were stompy. Reginald the Third let out a delighted raccoon squeal like a 4 year old girl that had just spotted a brand new pony would let out and jumped on Rochallors back and the horse seemed to be quite happy about the gently little scritches that raccoon hands could do on their back. After all a roll was only so good in comparison. So it was time that they moved on. Hob and Bob gingerly got onto Rochallors back having stollen several more carrots to keep the steed happy.

While they rode along on Rochallors back they ended up braiding the horses mane and tail... Well braid was a very generous description of what they were doing it was more like making odd knotted patterns in it but the horse seemed to like it and they headed off to find more horses.

Bob let the horse chose where they were going, and that dictated what they decided to try to bribe the horses with. More because none of them really knew how to ride a horse so they were mostly just trying to stay on the horses back.

The Apple Orchard, looking for Shadowfax using a sugar cube (Apple left)

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Sighard was relieved there were no horses (at least currently) in the Cavalry barracks. That would have been a nightmare to clean up after. And as much as he wanted to crawl into one of the bunks for a nap, Sighard sighed. He should go at least try and help round up the horses.

So he swapped the treats out, and strolled out into the sunlight toward Meduseld, hoping to find a horse.

The Courtyard, searching for Hasufel with a carrot. Treats remaining: 2 apples

@Sil I'm assuming that if we haven't caught a horse yet, we still have the treat we were using? If not, I'll edit my treats remaining.

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Fionn


He smiled to himself. Nothing too smug (he’d learned that even if he couldn’t anyone, if he was smug, someone would see him), but very pleased with himself. The horse was gorgeous, royal almost. Despite not having much horse knowledge, he knew this horse was someone important. He even carried himself like a king. He snatched the carrot and munched it down before Fionn had a chance to pull back.

“What to do with you, eh?” Fionn tentatively put a hand on the horse’s neck. When the beast did not bolt, Fionn exhaled. He hadn’t even realized he was holding his breath. “We can’t leave you here. But if we walk out like we are, we are likely to get in lots of trouble. You look like the horse of a king, I look, and probably smell, like I haven’t seen the inside of a bath in a month. Know any secret ways to the barracks perhaps?”

Tentatively, the Dunlending took the horse and began to lead him through the back alleys, hoping to find a way to the barracks.

However, having not been to Edoras in a very long time, Fionn soon found himself getting lost. Somehow they ended up in the laundry, surrounded by drying sheets flapping in the wind. He could swear he heard the neigh of a nearby horse. How as Derdriu doing? Had she caught on to the horse related emergency? Likely if she had, she already had a dozen horses following her. He rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a sugar cube.


Searching the Laundry for Arod using a sugar cube
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

Arien
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Update Two

Bran catches Snowmane at the Snowbourne!! He eats the carrot.

The raccoons don’t find anyone in the apple orchard.

Sighard doesn’t find anyone at the courtyard. (yes that’s right Taeth: you have all your treats unless eaten)

Fionn doesn’t find Arod... but Brego comes trotting up to you for your sugar cube at the Laundry!

Horse board

@Nessa Saelind 2 (Snowmane II)
@Fleeg 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@Taethowen
@Moriel
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The Three Brothers Riding Majestically....

Well maybe not very majestically, Rochallor was still putting up with them because well they had gotten carrots for him from the kitchen and now he was in the apple orchard and enjoying some fresh apples while having his back gently scratched by the raccoons scrambling along his back trying to stay on which felt quite wonderful honestly.

However he was a bit curious where Hasufel and Arod were and decided to continue on to try to find them... the two of them tended to be good horses and Rochallor decided perhaps he'd head towards the Training grounds which the raccoons were not overly fond of but that was more because there was no food there and there were men there and men tended to NOT like Raccoons. Several guards decided to try to apprehend Rochallor and his contingent of masked bandits only to find the horse lash out on them sending the raccoons tumbling holding onto the much larger animals mane and tail while they shrieked in fear before Rochallor cantered off faster than the men could run to their next location and the raccoon mildly shaken reclaimed their spots on his back in time to start fighting over the apple that they had still to bribe horses out.

Looking for Hasufel at the Training grounds baiting with the Apple (Sugar cube left)

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Bran de Argosy

As Chance, Lady Luck and the finger of Bema would have it, getting out of Edoras and stretching his legs to the bank of the Snowbourne was the right idea. As soon as he approached the river he saw a horse as white as the snow on Mount Mindolluin. Surely this was one of the Mearas! Pulling out a carrot from his pack Bran stood still and waited for the horse to approach him.

The Mearas and the merchant’s son stood at the banks of the Snowbourne watching each other, the horse eyeing the carrot in the man’s hand and the merchant’s son watching the horse and thinking what to do now. The moment stretched like the graveyard scene in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A half-forgotten idea, a fleeting memory of something he thought he read or dreamt he read about the Mearas in one of his cousin’s book. Feeling like a right fool (although he didn’t particularly mind playing the fool, after all, there was a reason why in plays, the fool always knew everything and spoke the truth) he placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to the majestic horse, his left hand holding the carrot stretched forward.

Snowmane, the second of his name, neighed and approached the carrot holding vagrant. Taking the offered treat Snowmane (the second of his name) munched on the offered treat thinking about the unfamiliar scent of the carrot bearing vagrant. He smelled of unknown spices, not the familiar ones he smelled on the men and women of Rohan, and salt. He smelt the sea on the man, that blue expanse that he had never seen, only hear about from Arod. Snowmane moved his ears forward and allowed the man to pet him.

For his part, Bran watched the horse with delighted amusement and when the horse gave his permission he scratched his neck.
“Well now, Your Grace” Bran spoke to the horse wondering if he was going past foolish to mad hatter territory. “Would you allow this humble merchant’s son to escort Your Grace to the Royal Stables? I am certain your brethren miss you. Alas, that was my last carrot, and they will have carroty treats for you there.”

Snowmane’s comment on this silliness was a neigh. The vagrant who smelt of the sea and exotic spices was an oddball, but at least he had proper manners for a human. Polite and respectful oddball. He’d need to show this one to Arod, see what he made of him. Snowmane, second of his name, turned and started his dignified walk to Edoras. The oddball could follow if he wanted. Bran smiled and followed the horse. There was no question here who was leading whom. The only question was where to?

Looking for Arod in Éowyn’s Bathtub, using a sugar cube. An apple left.
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Fionn

Two for two? The peaked around the corner, sauntered up to Fionn as if he’d known him all his life and gobbled up the sugar cube. The Dunlending allowed himself a quick, smug smile. He’d earned it. This horse didn’t have the same regal bearing as the other, Fionn thought he’d have a better chance of taking this one than the other. He patted the beast’s neck and laughed. This was the first time he’d ever even tried to handle two horses. Normally the prospect of handling one horse was enough to send Fionn’s anxiety skyward.

“Well now it’s a crowd,” he said jovially. “Where do we want to go next? Shall we try for a third member of our little adventuring party?” He looked at the first horse and considered for a moment. “There’s no way I could take you with me out of the city. Look at you, you’re clearly meant to be a noble’s horse, maybe even a royal. I’d be arrested, convicted, and drawn and quartered before I made it to the gates with you.” He then turned to the consider the second horse, no less hardy. “My sister and I could use at least one horse, traveling by foot and carrying everything you own in a single pack can get very restricting, and there are so many horses here in Edoras to spare. A trade at the very least? After all, I’m doing more to find you all than the strawheads are. It’s only fitting.”

His mood dropped a bit, but he had to laugh when the second horse began nuzzling him. Fionn thought he was being affectionate until he realized he still had an apple in his pocket. He booped the horse’s nose. “No, don’t be greedy now. We have to save that one for our third guest. If we can’t find one soon though, I promise to give you the apple. Deal?” The horse seemed to understand and snorted.

“Right then,” he mused, looking around, “where to next?” Both horses whinnied unhelpfully. “Thanks.”

The trio continued, Fionn found himself surrounded by a herd of clopclopclopclopclopclop that after a while became a peaceful part of the ambience around him. As they searched, neither horse bolted or reared or caused any other sort of mischief, for which Fionn thanked his gods. Not knowing the lay out of the city, he meandered from place to place without any sense of purpose, only to look around corners and whistle if he caught sight of some horseflesh. That was how he managed to find himself nearing Meduseld. When he caught sight of the great hall, his nerves again began to increase. A Dunlending wandering about the throne room with a pair of horses? One doesn’t have to make a leap in logic to imagine what the guards would think and do. All the same, he reached for the apple.


Looking for Arod in the Throne Room of Meduseld, using the apple
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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As luck would have it, there were no horses traipsing about the Rose Garden, though Lothiriel did run into another horse hunter. She didn't say anything to him, for fear of accidentally spooking some horses that might be in hiding, but gave him a quick nod in recognition.

Leaving the gardens, she wandered into the apple orchard. If there was anything the horses of Meduseld loved, it was apples. And apples, combined with sugar, were certain to attract one of the beautiful creatures. Once all of these horses were rounded up, she would have to have a long talk with a certain wizard (and of course arrange a way to thank everyone who had helped capture the stubborn horses).

Searching for Hasufel in the Apple Orchard using a sugar cube. (apple and carrot remaining)

Arien
Arien
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Update three

Raccoons ride to the training grounds - plenty of horses here, but they’re all with riders, training for battle... who turn and stare at you. What do you do? Join in?! Run away?

Bran tries the bath tub - no horses in here, but you DO surprise Lady Éowyn clad only in her linens!! Explain yourself!!

Fionn dares the Throne Room: a guard stops you! Bluff your way out: what’s your reason for approaching the throne?

Lothiriel doesn’t see anyone suspicious in the Apple Orchard - wait, are those raccoons you’ve just seen leaving it??

Horse board

@Nessa Saelind 2 (Snowmane II)
@Fleeg 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@Taethowen
@Moriel
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Fionn

The man just showed up out of nowhere! He materialized out of the shadows like a wraith. Fionn was so caught off guard he dropped the apple and yelped. He couldn’t see much of the man’s face, covered as it was by the helmet’s cheek guards. But Fionn could see the eyes and they were angry. His voice was gruff, hoarse, and filled with suspicion. “What are you doing here, boy?”

Fionn could feel two responses warring within him to get out. One was the deferent, apologetic, get-out-of-there voice, the other was the get-on-his-face, confrontational voice. He’d been dealing with attitudes likes this from Rohirrim all his life. The natural air of superiority that came from all of them here. The military was the worst though. He was treated like his very existence needed to be justified to them.

“I’m terribly sorry, sir. I got a little, a lot,” he tried to laugh a little to ease the tension, that guard’s sword arm looked very twitchy. “lost. I came here because…” think fast, Fionn, think fast “… I, I thought this being the highest point in the city I could figure out where to go.” Underneath a calm exterior, he seethed. He hated being called ‘boy’ and hated how it made him feel and react. Distantly, he was happy he’d not brought the horses inside, he would be on the ground with the guard’s sword through his spine before he could say a word.

The guard looked at him for a long, suspicious moment. Finally, the eyes rolled with boredom. “Get out of here, boy. You aren’t supposed to be in here. No one’s supposed to be in here. If I see you again, there won’t be any questioning.

The Dunlending seethed. He clamped down on his teeth so hard he thought they might crack at any second. He clenched his fists so hard the bones popped.

He nodded, smiled, and bowed. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

He was out faster of the throne room faster than he’d ever moved before, leaving the guard and his ‘boy’ behind. He enticed the horses to come with him and left the great towering hall behind him. “Please Derdriu, don’t go in there. Please…”

He made his way through the tangle of streets, leading his pair of equine partners. His mood had soured from the confrontation and he wanted to blow off some steam before he continued his search. He found some archery butts with a target painted in bright colors with a bow and a handful of arrows laying beside it. Fionn hefted the bow and examined it, testing the draw power.

He was about to draw back the bow and fire the first arrow when he thought he heard something. Was that whinny? Cautiously he returned to his back and brought the apple back out.


Searching for Hasufel behind the archery butts with an apple
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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Bran de Argosy led to his doom by Snowmane, the second of his name, to the tune of Sentenza

Snowmane, the second of his name, pranced across the field to Edoras and the merchant’s son followed. Technically, Bran didn’t prance; he was walking rather briskly beside the horse. Potato–potahto. The point is that the horse and the man cantered together toward Edoras. The horse seemed to know where he was going and Bran was content walking beside him, snacking on the cram he had the foresight to pack.

Bran wasn’t familiar with Edoras, its streets, twists and turns. This was not Pelargir where all roads lead to the sea. However, Snowmane confidently cantered around, the sound of his hoofs echoing in the streets. Waling next to the horse Bran was watching his surrounding, taking note of the landmarks, absent-mindedly humming the tune of The Braying Mule. Snowmane’s response to the choice of the soundtrack was a rather unimpressed nicker.

As the horse and the man rounded up a corner they, well Bran did, stumble into an, well awkward didn’t even begin to cover it… A huge, sunken bathtub was set into a deep alcove. Said bathtub belonged to Lady Éowyn who had repurposed an animal trough and had it polished to a high shine. The outdoor bathtub would have been just a quirky piece of Edoras architecture had its owner not been there clad only in her underclothes. Bran swore and then flinched as Lady Éowyn placed her sword under his neck.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?!” The White Lady of Rohan, now Lady of Ithilien, asked with fury in her eyes.

Slightly confused by the Lady’s presence in Rohan, should she not be in Ithilien with her Lord husband, Bran carefully lifted his hands up trying to figure out how exactly was he going to get out of this one. It wasn’t the first time he was held at sword-point because of some foolishness or the other, but he did have a policy not to stumble into ladies’ bathing chambers. Although, technically he hadn’t really stumbled into a chamber, since this was outdoors… He was just walking next to the horse who appeared to be amused by his predicament. Was the horse sniggering at his expense? Can horses even snigger?!

“A thousand apologies my lady! I’m Bran de Argosy, from Pelargir,” he finally answered the question, realising that his silence could cause further ire.
“You’re a long way from home Bran de Argosy from Pelargir,” the Lady of Ithilnen said icily. “What are you doing here with Snowmane?”

The horse neighed at the mention of his name and nudged Bran’s arm. Keeping his eyes firmly on Éowyn’s face he placed his hand on Snowmane’s neck and scratch him. He got a satisfied neigh in return.

“Following him along,” he told her the truth, his lips quirking into a smile. He was aware of how foolish that sounded, and it wasn’t even the most foolish thing he’d done in his life, but it was the truth. However foolish it was. Éowyn’s eyebrow rose and he hastened to explain. “Ah… Some of the horses escaped the royal stables and I thought I could help… I found Snowmane,” he tilted his head to the horse. “At the bank of the Snowbourne. His Grace,” he said with a smile as the horse nudged him again. “Most graciously allowed me to tag along in an attempt to accompany him to the royal stables.” Bran paused for a moment trying to gauge if he was going to get decapitated quickly, hanged, quartered or turned into a eunuch. “It wasn’t my brightest hour…”

The Lady of the Shield-arm looked at him for a long time, and then glanced at Snowbourne who was next to him. The horse neighed. Whatever she saw in him, or understood from the horse must have convinced her he was telling the truth since she lowered her sword. “You’re a fool Bran de Argosy, but you’re an honest fool,” she finally told him. “You may keep your head,” she said and he breathed out a sigh of relief. He put his hand over his heart and bowed deeply to her.

“The Lady of Ithilnen is wise and merciful,” he told her with his head lowered. “I am eternally grateful.”
“A word of advice young lord de Argosy,” Éowyn told him and he slowly raised his head making sure to look at her eyes. “You might want to stop by the well before you escort Snowmane to the royal stables,” the Lady of Ithilnen told him with a smile and he could only nod before bowing to her once again and retreating the way he came from thinking that after these shenanigans he would have to draft a letter to his brother Roderic. A couple of bales of silk would need to be sent to Emyn Arnen in a chest along with spices.

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With a sigh of frustration at not finding any stray horses in the Courtyard either, Sighard took a few minutes to stop and think. Maybe he'd grabbed all the wrong treats. He probably should have grabbed a sugar cube, but there was nothing to be done about that now.

After more than a few moments of contemplation of where to head next, Sighard looked around, and was startled to hear what sounded like a whinny from... above? On Meduseld's roof? How did a horse get up there? But he couldn't think of any noise-mimicking birds in the area, so it was worth an investigation!


Searching for Shadowfax on Meduseld's Roof with a carrot. Treats remaining: 2 apples.

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Three Raccoons and a noble Steed

They were in the training grounds, and there were a LOT of horses there. Even more men and the raccoons for their part sat on the back of Rochallor and blinked. Really what more could they do? It wasn't like they were in charge of where the horse was going after all they had no bridle, bit or reins not that they'd be able to do much with them, and their legs certainly were not long enough to give leg commands.

After several stunned moments of silence and a few horses and riders running into each other because they like the big loud man yelling directions stood no longer yelling but standing his mouth opening and closing like a river sucker out of water their eyes wide and focused on the strange sight before him.

"CATCH THAT HORSE!" He finally yelled and Rochallor took that as their cue to exist the training grounds and the raccoons were happy for their knotted little braids because going from a walk to a gallop sent all three of the brothers tumbling from the steeds back with Bob and Hob hanging on each side of the horses neck their little paws hanging onto his main with Reginald the third gripping onto the top of the horses tail all three of them shrieking in absolute horror that they were going to die.

They probably were not far from wrong as Rochallor headed for the archery butts next continuing their search for Arod. Once they were well way from the men and Rochallor slowed down allowing the raccoons to once again scramble onto their back where they gripped to the flat of it laid out panting from fear.

Arod with the sugar cube behind the Archery Butts (Apple left)

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Update Four

Fionn doesn’t find anyone at the archery butts... except three raccoons riding a horse!

Bran finds no one at the Well. Make a wish, Bran!

Sighard doesn’t find Shadowfax - but he does find Hasufel on the roof! Why, Hasufel? Why?

The Raccoons find Fionn at the Archery butts!

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@Nessa Saelind 2 (Snowmane II)
@Jorgy Underash 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@Taethowen 1 (Hasufel)
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Sighard shook his head hopelessly. How Hasufel managed to get on the roof, he didn't know. But after the horse nibbled up the carrot, Sighard gathered a couple Cavalry wigends--what better way to break the newest sperewigends, really--and assigned them the task of getting the horse off the roof. As they worked, Sighard looked around, and the cellar doors caught his eye.

"There was a horse on the roof, so why not?" he muttered, tossing an apple in the air and catching it with the other hand. He pulled open the cellar door, slowly stepping inside as his eyes adjusted to the dimness. Was that a whicker he heard?

Sighard looking for Shadowfax in the cellar with an apple. Treats remaining: 1 apple.

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Bran de Argosy with Snowmane at the Well

There was no one at the Well and the only sound Bran could hear (apart from his and Snowmane’s breathing) was an old pocket watch chime. It was eerily uncanny, especially since the Well didn’t look like it was in disrepair. Or weird in any noticeable way; if you excluded the fact that not a single soul was around but them and of course the chime. It was high noon, not the hour that was usually associated with weird billferny, but then again this was Rohan… Apparently they had weird billferny in spades here…

The merchant and the horse stood unmoving in front of the Well for some time, observing and reaching out with their senses trying to pinpoint the source of this weird scene. After a moment Bran turned and looked and Snowmane and the horse looked back. The horse and the merchant nodded to each other and carefully walked over to the well. They might have crossed the threshold from Edoras to Faerie, but thirst was still thirst and water was still water. Well, at least Bran hoped it was. He really, really didn’t want to get stuck in Faerie just because he drank water from an uncanny well.

Reaching the well Bran looked down and saw something glimmering in the water. No, it wasn’t the One Ring, we haven’t yet reached that level of weirdness. Yet. Give ussssss time preciousssssss. There were copper, silver and gold coins at the bottom of the well. Along with jewels, parts of armour and weapons.

“That was unexpected,” Bran muttered and Snowmane responded with an agreeing neigh. They both looked at the Wishing Well, because that where they ended up, and then at each other again. Bran removed his backpack and put it on the ground. Snowmane neighed in excitement expecting more treats. The merchant looked at the horse and smiled apologetically. “Apologies Your Grace, no carrots are forthcoming at the moment,” he told the horse who was not amused. Bran dug through his backpack looking for the pouch with coins. As he found it he extracted a gold one from it and closed the pouch and backpack. Securing the backpack he tossed the gold coin into the Wishing Well. “For luck,” he said and the horse snorted.

“Come on Your Grace!” Bran called over to Snowmane cheerfully. “Let’s continue this mission, quest, thing we’re on. With any luck, we’ll avoid further weird encounters…”

Snowmane snorted in amusement. With this oddball by his side, anything was possible.

Still on the quest looking for Arod at the apple orchard, using a sugar cube. An apple left.
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Fionn

Fionn stopped and stared at the raccoons, half in disbelief, half impressed. Were they…? Yes. Yes, they were. Somehow the three raccoons were managing to ride a horse. Fionn didn’t learn to ride a horse until he was in his teens. Somehow things three trash pandas were managing to look halfway regal on top of their horse. However, they all skittered away before Fionn could grab the reins of the horse and add it to his growing herd. He shrugged. If they could ride the horse, who was he to stop them? He put the apple back in his pack, keeping his eyes on the horses who both looked like they were about to grab the fruit for themselves. He waggled a finger at them and tsked. “No you don’t! We had a deal and I still have a couple more tries left before I have to give it to you. You know that’s the deal. Don’t try to back out of it now. Sneaky pants.”

He shot a few arrows and, when he hit the center ring three times in a row, decided it was time to resume his search for the horses. The sun was getting lower and lower in the sky, evening was beginning and with midwinter just around the corner, night would be coming quicker. He could feel a nip in the air. His breath fogged, the horses too.

“Right, I know, I know,” he said to them, patting each of their noses. “Let’s get a move on.”

The horses followed him willingly this time without much need for prodding. Fionn chuckled, was he getting good at this? Or were the horses just that bored? “Both? Both. Both is good,” he said to himself. He scanned the area around him. There were no signs of horses in area, but he felt something in the back of his head that there was a horse nearby. Perhaps he could go to the paddocks? At the very least he could eliminate it.


Searching for Arod in the Paddocks, using an apple
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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Round five

Sighard doesn’t find anything in the cellar! Except wine. Will you try some?

Bran finds no one at the apple orchard!

Fionn finds no one in the paddock!

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@Nessa Saelind 2 (Snowmane II)
@Beowulf 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@Taethowen 1 (Hasufel)
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Fionn

Nothing. Perhaps his early luck was a fluke? He tucked the apple back into his pocket, ignoring the protestations of his equine companions. He was running out of places to look. But that meant the horses were finding less places to hide. “Give and take,” he mumbled aloud. The horses, indignant about not receiving an apple, ignored him. “You act like my sister,” he said when the regal looking horse intentionally looked in the opposite direction. “She’s somewhere in this horse apple smelling city too. I have no idea what she’s doing at this point, I’m sure she’s found a pub or a shop or something to occupy her time. She’s much more friendly than I am.” The horse still ignored him. “And you keep on proving my point.” He shrugged.

They milled about the streets for an unaccountably long time with Fionn finding nothing, not even a remote sign of where to go where to look. His mood was beginning to sour. He was hungry and his feet hurt. He wanted to go to a pub and have a pint of stout, a shank of beef with tomatoes and bacon and a thick, dark chunk of bread. His stomach growled, not helping his mood.

“Alright, time for you two to carry your own weight and help me out here, you pick where to go next.”

The horses seemed to understand him, he surmised they understood everything he was saying from the beginning, and began to move briskly back toward Meduseld. Fionn balked. “Oh no! if that guard sees me again, he’ll kill me before I have a chance to say or do anything. You two can waltz around the hall all well and good, they see a Dunlending, they kill on sight, or they might as well.”

But the horses were insistent and continued moving. Fionn sigh, said a silent prayer, and followed them.

Looking for Arod in Éomer’s Bedroom, using an apple
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Sighard sighed and pocketed the apple again. What was he thinking trying to find a horse in the cellar? It was stupid. He did, though, stumble into a barrel of wine, but as tempting as it was to try some, he had no cup and didn't fancy becoming a sticky mess.

When he emerged from the cellar, Sighard let his eyes readjust to the daylight for a moment, and then checked to see that Hasufel had safely made it off the roof. How the stupid horse had gotten up there, or down, without breaking a leg was beyond Sighard's comprehension.

He slipped a rope halter on Hasufel, dismissed the sperewigends, and pulled an apple from his pocket again as he looked around. Well, he was at Meduseld already, so he might as well see if any of the horses had wandered into the throne room. It seemed like the Lord of the Mearas would be right at home there.

"Come, Hasufel," Sighard said as they approached the main doors. "Let's see if we can help finish up this crazy wizard's mischief."

Searching for Shadowfax in the Throne Room of Meduseld with an apple. One apple remaining.

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Bran and Snowmane in the apple orchard – Episode: We eat apples and then We take a nap right here.gif

Bran and Snowmane found zero horses in the apple orchard (how rude!), excluding His Grace Snowmane, the second of his name, because he was in fact still a horse. At least he was last time Bran checked… Who knows, the well could have turned the Mearas into a unicorn, or a Pegasus, or heck even Prince Charming in disguise! To get to the point Bran (who still felt like Bran, human from Pelargir) and Snowmane, the second of his name (who was hopefully still a majestic horse), found 0 (in words: zero) additional horses.

However, they did find apples. Lots of apples. Well being in an apple orchard one would expect that you’d find apples. But as the narrator of this fine little adventure already stated throughout the course of this narration Rohan was a weird place. Well, not weird per se, let’s rephrase that shall we? Rohan was a beautiful, lush, green land in which weird billferny happened. Frequently. Just sayin’.

Since they were in an apple orchard and as the horse and the merchant’s son both liked apples, Bran decided to use this opportunity to pick some for Snowmane and him. He was kind of hungry, who knew walking around Edoras rounding up horses would be such a hunger-inducing activity. Having picked enough apples for himself and His Grace (and some for later, just in case) he sat under a tree, backpack beside him and divided the apples and gave Snowmane his share. The horse neighed in excitement and dove for the apple pile. Bran didn’t exactly dive into his pile, he fished a pocket knife from his backpack and cut an apple into quarters and extracting the seeds. He munched happily and mused about where a man could find missing horses.

As their bellies filled with apples, drowsiness overtook the horse and the merchant’s son. Before his head plonked down on the backpack and sleep overtook him Bran had a thought where he could look next.

Looking for Arod at the Cavalry Barracks, using an apple. A sugar cube left.
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Round 6!

Fionn doesn’t find any horses in Éomer’s bedroom - but there’s a mysterious pretty girl in there. She asks YOU what YOU’RE doing...

Sighard doesn’t find any more horses in the Throne Room!

Bran, full of apples, only finds cavalry riders in the Barracks! Let’s hope you don’t have a sore belly with all the apples you’ve eaten.

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@Nessa Saelind 2 (Snowmane II)
@Beowulf 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@Taethowen 1 (Hasufel)
@Moriel
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Three Raccoons and a magnificent Steed (Rochallor)

Well they headed on after seeing Fionn all three of them staring at the hairless beast that was looking at them almost in as much shock as they were in...and their horse managed to keep them safe, as it were as he trotted on the brothers did their best to talk to the horse (or at least try to communicate with the horse) as they weren't exactly fluent in Westron or Rohirric or able to control it using reigns or anything of that sort.

They were happy that the horse seemed to agree with them there was a lot of looking everywhere else and the brothers were quite pleased to return to the kitchens as it seemed like that would be a good place to find food even if they didn't find a horse. They still had a sugar cube so the figured if there was a horse to be found that they might find him. If not they would at least be able to steal some potatoes maybe some stew. Of course the kitchen staff would notice the horse hopefully before they noticed the brothers. They would have to get a few more carrots for their horse.

Looking for Arod with a sugar cube in the kitchens (Apple left)

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Fionn

Oh… oh… oh no! Fionn had really done it this time! How in the heck had he managed to wind up in the King’s bedchambers?! Those horses were a cruel lot, that was for sure. He could have sworn he heard them snickering outside the door. He would give anything to be on the other side of the door right now. After thirty years of living, the Dunlending had found himself in embarrassing and compromising positions on more than a few occasions but he always managed to get himself out of them. She hadn’t noticed him yet. That was a minor blessing. How could he have not only walked into the King’s bedchambers but walked in a lady who was there as well?! Doing his best to be sneaky, he crouched, then tried to twist his way back around so he could exit the chamber quickly.

“Excuse me? You don’t look like the man I sent to get my wine.”

DAMN!

Fionn’s good luck at the start of this day had turned into an absolute freefall into the abyss. He turned, hunching his shoulders over. “I’m sorry M- M- My Lady?” when he was incredibly nervous, Fionn developed a stammer. He thought he’d gotten rid of it when he was younger, but it decided to rear its head today. Regardless, he had to think fast. Wine? She wanted wine? Was she the queen? She looked young though, princess? Someone else? It wasn’t uncommon for kings to have mistresses. It would be the height of irony if the King of Rohan, bastion of right, honor, and fidelity had a mistress. Fionn wasn’t one to judge of course and he was getting very off track here. “Wine? I- I think they told me to get the wrong thing. I was told to bring you an apple?” He said a silent prayer to his gods and hoped it would work.

The pretty girl (she was distractingly pretty in fact) huffed and frowned. “Was it Winston that told you to get me an apple?”

She waited, clearly expecting Fionn to answer. Who was Winston? Was Fionn going be getting someone in trouble? “Uhh, yeah. It was. Winston said you had requested apples but he didn’t… ah, tell me what kind you wanted so I came to ask…”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course it was Winston. That man never listens to word I say. For Bema’s sake, I’m the… never mind. No, dear boy. I do not want an apple. I want wine. Now go and fetch it for me?”

Fionn, breath held in anticipation of an arrest order, bowed his head and ducked out. “Yes My L-Lady, right away.”

He glared at the horses as he exited the chamber, they snickered their amusement. Fionn had to get out of there. He was nearly out when he noticed a wizened old man carrying a clay jug with two hands. That would be the wine. Time to huff it and get the heck out of here! A quick stop at the well to get the horses some water and he could be gone.


Checking for Arod at the Well with an apple
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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Bran and Snowmane

Bran dreamed. He knew he was dreaming because in this dream he was a Sanfratellano horse and was galloping around Edoras with the other horses of the Mark. His companions were exhilarated, he heard joy and laughter in their neighs. They called out to each other as they ran free and unobstructed. Even though he wasn’t one of them really, he understood what they were saying and they understood him. It was a strange feeling being able to understand what the horses were saying, but it somehow felt right.

A neighing sound came somewhere above him and in his dream Bran, the Sanfratellano horse, lifted his head trying to find the other horse. The neighing sound came again, and this time it was accompanied by a nudge and a wet feeling on his face. He opened his eyes and realised that 1) he was not having his horse dream and 2) Snowmane was nudging him to get up.

“I’m awake, I’m awake,” he mumbled as he got up. “And not a horse!” he exclaimed somewhat surprised. Snowmane, the second of his name, looked at the oddball of a merchant’s son and let out an exasperated neigh. The Mearas wondered if all the Sea Peoples were this odd, or was it just this one, or maybe it was the apples… But it couldn’t have been the apples, he ate them too, and he didn’t feel any different. Nor did he have strange dreams of being human. Snowmane neighed in horror and shook his head. Why would anyone want to dream a thing like that, when you can dream of carrots?

“I’ll tell you all about it, Your Grace,” Bran said as he stretched and picked up his backpack, placed it on his back and started walking to the Cavalry Barracks. The Mearas followed, intrigued to hear more about this horse dream. It’s not that there was anything else exciting going around, and who knows, maybe more food was forthcoming. That or watching the merchant get into all sorts of weird situations. He has proven to be somewhat entertaining when he wasn’t humming that Braying Mule tune.

As they walked to the Cavalry Barracks Bran told Snowmane about his horse dream. Personally, the Mearas thought that the human was waving his limbs about too much while he was telling this dream-story of his. But still, Snowmane thought, as he looked at Bran he wouldn’t be the worst horse he’d ever seen. Not great, but not terrible either. The storytelling entertained both man and horse until they reached their destination. In which, thankfully for everyone’s sanity, but especially the narrator of this wacky adventure, it was business as usual. The Rohirrim riders taking care of their horses, practising, the usual thing that soldiers everywhere in the world did… No runaway horses, no weird things going on, no one trying to kill Bran or turn him into a horse…

“Well that was anticlimactic…” said Bran, somewhat perplexed that he was feeling disappointed with everything being the way it should. Snowmane was unsure whether to agree with the human or tell him he should go visit one of those people who smelled of healing herbs, haelends – that was the term. He nudged the man, trying to get him to move on before someone spotted them and made an inappropriate suggestion that Snowmane, the second of his name, should be accompanied to the stables. How rude!

Looking for Shadowfox at the Rose Garden with a sugar cube. An apple left.
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Round 7

The three raccoons don’t find anyone in the kitchens - except the head chef, who is horrified as he believes raccoons and horses in the kitchens to be unsanitary. He comes after you brandishing a rolling pin, how do you escape?

Fionn doesn’t find any more horses at the Well, although you hear a distant neighing - a different treat might have attracted Arod! Make a wish, Fionn!

Bran doesn’t find Shadowfox - or Shadowfax - at the Rose Garden, but Arod comes running up and crunches up the sugar cube!

ONLY SHADOWFAX LEFT TO FIND!

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@Nessa Saelind 3 (Snowmane II, Arod)
@David Bowie 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
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Fionn

He was having some luck alright! Bad luck that is. Fionn glared at the two horses following him. He wasn’t sure how they’d done it, but he was quite certain one of them had whinnied and thrown their voice to make him think that there had been a horse over here. Fionn, for a hundredth time just that day, realized he knew very, very little about horses. Wicked at both ends and crafty in the middle. How much did he and Derdriu really need horses? They had made it nearly twenty years without horses and had survived just fine. The Dunlending looked askance at the horses, who, the actors that they were, looked totally and completely innocent. He narrowed his eyes and watched them. They pawed at the ground and picked at sprigs of grass, or they whinnied and began to turn in circles, doing anything they could not to look at Fionn. “Mmmmmmm-hmmmm,” he rolled his eyes. “Sure, you two are the picture of innocence. I think I’m just going to eat this apple on my own. You two have been leading me on a wild… horse… chase.” He leaned over the well and looked down into the Stygian depths. Wasn’t there a Rohan tradition of wishing in wells? Was that a think? Was it a special well, or was it just any well? Was there something he had to do to? Toss a coin in? He was sure he was supposed to toss coins to the witchers though. He’d never seen one or knew what a witcher was but if he ever saw one he would absolutely toss a coin to him. Coins were out then, a stone? That didn’t seem very geologically sound, enough stones in the well and the well is no longer a well…oh well. “Stop saying well!” he said aloud, startling the horses. Clearly this well was useless. “I wish I’d find a good place to eat some roast boar!” There. He said it. He pulled on the horses’ reins and stomped off. With the wonderful luck he was having, he’d likely be gored by a boar when he went around the corner.


Looking for Shadowfax at the Laudry with an Apple
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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Act 7, scene 1. The Rose Garden. Snowmane and Arod debating matters that really matter. Bran relegated to the supporting character of the food-bearing Fool.


Bran had the distinct feeling he was being led around Edoras on a wild horse chase by a horse. A very majestic horse. Mearas. However, when he thought about it he concluded that it wasn’t a bad thing. All things considered, Snowmane was an excellent travelling companion on this roundabout round up.

The next stop on their tour around Edoras was the Rose garden that contained an impressive variety of roses, including the blue winter rose. Mind you, not all flowers that are called winter roses are in fact roses. They might be called thus, but they do not belong to the Rosaceae family. The fact was explained to him by not one, but 3 healers. However, the blue winter rose of Rohan was indeed a rose by any other name.

Further horticultural musings were interrupted by a rather cheerful neigh followed by the clipity-clopity noise of horse galloping towards them.

“Arod!” Snowmane neighed happily at the galloping horse who came to a halt in front of them. “Come, have a look at this oddball here,” Snowmane continued talking. “Is he one of the Sea Peoples you met on your adventures?”

Unfortunately for Bran, who wasn’t a Sanfratellano horse from his dream, all he heard was more neighing and nickering. However, one didn’t have to be fluent in horse speech or even understand it to know what needed to be done next. Once again Bran placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to Arod, extending his left hand holding the sugar cube. The sugar cube was enthusiastically crunched and Bran was allowed to scratch his neck.

“He smells of salt, pepper and saffron… These scents I smelled once in the city port of the Sea People,” Arod answered Snowmane’s question. “This one also smells of the Mark… Where did you find this polite, oddball you called him?”
“At the Snowbourne,” came the reply and the Mearas proceeded to regale Arod with the tales of their adventures.

Bran just stood there watching the horses talking, at least he assumed they were talking, for all he knew they could be divining the future from the position of the rose petals… Two hoses he had in his care now. The question was what to do now?

Looking for Shadowfax next to the Sun Dial with an apple
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Solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant
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Arien
Arien
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8th and final Round!

Fionn doesn’t find Shadowfax at the Laundry (just lots of cleaned bloomers), because;

Bran has found him by the Sun Dial- and won the game!

Congratulations Nessa, and thanks everyone for playing!

Final Horseboard:

Horse board final tally

@Nessa Saelind 5 (Shadowfax, Snowmane II, Arod)
@The King in Yellow 2 (Roheryn, Brego)
@Fuin Elda 1 (Rochallor)
@Taeth-on-Hiatus 1 (Hasufel)
@Dimcairien Luiniel
@A Son From Wish
cave anserem
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High Lord of Imladris
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The Three raccoons and noble steed

They may have not have found the most horses but Rochallor was having NONE of the chefs nonsense and had given him a hard hoof and knocked him back while Bob had started getting him way more carrots while Bob and Hob were stealing all the bread rolls they could get their little thieving hands on.

As far as they were concerned they had won. They'd gotten food. However they did hear that someone HAD gotten the most horses so they brought a bun that only had one bite out of it (quite impressive for the raccoons) for the winner Bran and chattered a congratulations to them as they and their noble steed loaded with baskets full of apples carrots and all the buns and breads and tarts (they weren't sharing their fruit tarts) they could get their little greedy mittens and hooves on.

(Congrats @Nessa Saelind )

New Soul
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Bran next to the Sun Dial, the Ecstasy of Gold theme playing in the background


Soon enough Bran’s dilemma was resolved for him. After they exchanged stories about their adventures, Snowmane and Arod had reached an accord. Bran was gently but firmly encouraged to follow the two horses. Finding himself in between the two horses, Bran decided that following along to wherever they were going, in his own pace (he certainly wasn’t planning on galloping to wherever because as has been established he was not a horse, and he couldn’t run that fast – that why we ride horses in the first place) was not such a bad way pass the time.

The trio consisting of 2 white horses, 0 princes on said white horses, and 1 Merchant Adventurer being encouraged to follow, strolled along from the Rose Garden to the Sun Dial. Where, lo! And behold! Another white horse awaited for them! Snowmane, the second of his name, and Arod greeted the chief of the Mearas, for it was Shadowfax that awaited them at the Sun Dial, with cheerful, but loud neighing. All things considered, Bran was beginning to wonder if he had indeed stumbled into some sort of Rohirric fairy tale if not Faerie itself.

Still, rules were rules, and proper etiquette needed to be followed. An apple was produced, and for the third time in The Very Strange Day of Bran de Argosy, he placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to the Lord of the Mearas. Apparently pleased with the proper protocols followed, Shadowfax came over and took an apple from the Merchant Adventurer and happily munched on it.

Greetings and salutations exchanged, proper protocols observed, the 3 horses began swapping stories of their adventures. At least Bran thought they did because he certainly wasn’t standing next to the Sun Dial waiting for someone to pass a shovel his way so he could dig up a stolen cache of elven gold… Although… If a stolen cache of elven gold was buried in an Unknown location next to the Sun Dial he wouldn’t mind digging up said gold. His musings of gold and digging didn’t last long, for the three horses had reached an accord. Which was rather swift, but then again the Mearas were known for their swiftness. Once again Bran found himself gently but firmly encouraged to follow the trio of horses. Which he did, in his own darn pace darn it, as we have already established.

The newly formed quartet consisting of 3 snow-white horses, still 0 princes to ride said snow-white horses, 0 princesses to await said riders of snow-white horses (shame really) and 1 Merchant Adventurer walked across Edoras from the Sun Dial to the Stables. They must have been quite a sight to see – the horses, not Bran. He was happy being outshined by the majestic horses. And apparently by 3 raccoons on a noble steed that were also heading to the Stables. Bran blinked… Was that a bun? Were they talking to him? Was he supposed to say something back? How did you say thank you in raccoon speech?! How did Rohan become such a quirky land? Was it something in the water? So many questions…

As the relieved grooms were trying to get the horses into their stalls Bran paused next to his faithful companion on this weird, but fun adventure.
“You know Your Grace,” Bran said quietly to Snowmane, the second of his name. “If you ever want to see the sea you and your brethren are more then welcome to visit Pelargir. You will receive a royal welcome,” he said smiling.
The Mearas neighed in pleasure and with a nod of his magnificent head let the grooms lead him to his stall. Bran wished them luck, knowing Rohan they were going to need it.

(Thank you @Sil this was so much fun! :smooch: )
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Solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant
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Balrog
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Fionn Mac Darragh

“Well I suppose that’s that.” Fionn rolled his eyes, wondering for the umpteenth time that day why he was allowing horses to lead him around like a… no never mind. That joke might have been funny earlier in the day, but now it was too depressing to even think. Surrounded by a labyrinth of sheet, bloomers, and gods knew what else, Fionn decided that it was beyond time for him to call this little escapade and find his sister. How had he been all over the city half a dozen times over and not run into her once? She was probably at the inn with Bergljót, gossiping like an old hen. He chuckled grimly. She’d likely made the right choice, all things considered. He returned the horses, receiving a generous reward and a few suspicious looks from the blonde bearded, helmeted guards. On his way to the stables he had considered tying up the older horse behind a house or something then bringing him back to surprise Derdriu. It was either his paranoia or his good sense (or both) that told him that that was a very poorly thought out idea.

Thankfully, Fionn managed to get enough coin for returning the two horses to the stables that he could perhaps purchase an older horse to help carry some of their wares. “And good riddance to you!” he muttered outside the stables. The coins clinked and clinked and clinked in the cloth bag on his hip. There was more than enough for a horse in here. A few pints of ale, a few more pints of ale, one last pint of ale. Derdriu was going to want to hear all about his misadventures, and as a good brother, he was bound to tell her, in all the excruciating and embarrassing details. Ale was definitely going to be needed tonight. And maybe some apples too.


(Congrats @Nessila! And thank you @Sil! This was a hella fun game)
Strange Fruit got holes in the flesh but it ain't gonn' spoil cause it never was fresh

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