The Pelennor Fields, Osgiliath, The Northern Fiefdoms (Free RP)

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Harlond - Autumn

That Abrazimir looked away from her searching gaze, that his shoulders lifted and fell in accordance with his sigh... was telling. When he agreed to abide by the conditions set forth by the King, he spoke in the singular and added a condition on behalf of Thormaetha. If she had not known him as a man on honour, the Lieutenant would have interjected there, about how she expected not only him but also his men to follow these orders, and that he would need to make sure that they would. But Arnyn did know Abrazimir Dimaethor as a man of his word. Therefore, she merely nodded, waiting to see if he would say any more as his eyes returned to look at her.

He confirmed once more to abide by the King's orders, then, speaking not only for himself but also for his warriors. And he made her a promise. The Lieutenant's expression grew serious but also appreciative in recognition of the effort she could see this required of the man in front of her.

Abrazimir's admission that it would be difficult, cast a faint, wry smile over her lips - one that did not reach the eyes. Yes, it would definitely be difficult. In more ways than one. Every aspect of it came with challenges. Some similar to what she knew, some very distinct. The latter ones... made it all the more demanding.

The knight's comment about cooler heads prevailing, made her draw in a slow breath. Would her rangers be able to keep their heads cool? Mourgan? Kaylin? Might even Pele slip at some point perhaps, despite how far she had come? Abrazimir had pinpointed one of the concerns that lay heavy on the Lieutenant's shoulders.

Cooler heads, superior in rank... So many who trusted in the guidance Pele and Arnyn would provide. Thankfully - for without such trust the mission would be doomed before it even began. Unfortunately concerning this particular endeavour, the trust that was being given to her - while Arnyn was one who usually thrived on trust - felt impossible to live up to. Like a weighted blanket pressing her down, threatening to crush every bone in her body.

Not that this should be known or seen by any. As ever, Arnyn was in control. Of thought, emotion and bearing.

And so, the Lieutenant nodded once more. "Several of the Rangers have a past with Umbar or some specific individuals within its borders," she spoke genuinely. "For them, it is a personal matter in case they were to find themselves in the presence of certain people. I believe - and hope - to have a good grasp on which of the enemy might provide a challenge to our own. For I think such knowledge is important for the leadership." She paused. "In your case, clearly Devedir Thormaetha will provide a challenge." That, she had not known. "Is this true for the rest of your crew, as well, Sir? And once we have taken their vessel and these pirates have been dealt with - will there then be anyone else who might tempt that sword on your belt beyond the absolute necessity? For I do know that Keket Halsad would go to great lengths to get his hands on you. I cannot help but wonder if the sentiment is mutual."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Tirdinen Duinion Raedor & Rangers Vorondil and Sarina
To Harlond, September 3rd

She filed the information about Unalmis and Domanol away - in case it should ever prove useful. She listened to Duinion's reasoning, nodding every so often. "You make a good point about Pharak," she agreed. The likes of him... would want those two alive. The bruised ego of an evil man begged for revenge. That was as true in the North as it was in the South. But he would not have them, Arnyn told herself stubbornly.

Alive... yes. But would Pharak still want them unharmed? Did he still wish to sacrifice them? Could he even, in this strange and twisted form of worship he had thought out? "Pharak might not mind an incapacitating injury. Unless he has plans for them in the temple, still," she added quietly. "Your points are valid, your arguments reasonable. I would tend to agree with them, if I did not intend to prepare for the worst, as you also said earlier, Duinion. We also need to consider any orders they might have been given regarding anyone who is not Unalmis, Domanol, or someone rather close to them." It would not be unimaginable to think that they were to dispose of anyone who might not be useful. "Rangers can be troublesome prisoners after all - as the Halsads and their accomplices might have noticed."

"Androllius," she replied, offering no more than the other name in response to Duinion's question about Naluthor. She was watching the Tirdinen as she spoke it.

[Hanasian]

#1 Private

(The next part is presented here)

Kin Strife of Gondor ~ The Reign of King Castamir
As told by

Halvarin and Amarwen.

Historical - Gondor - Years 1432-1448 of the Third Age


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Summary:
Of all of Gondor's long history, no chapter matches the tragedy or brutality of the Kin-Strife. This internecine conflict effectively started behind the scenes in the days of King Valacar when he married the Rhovanion princess Vidumavi. Their son Eldacar was the heir-apparent to the throne of Gondor, but with the death of King Valacar in the year 1432 of the Third Age, the subdued discontent erupted into rebellion. Castamir, claiming his pure Númenórean bloodline and a descendant of the Royal line, overthrew Valacar's rightful successor on the grounds that Eldacar was of mixed Gondorian-Rhovanion descent.

This tale is one of many. It tells of some of the people who got caught up in the dark and brutal civil war in Gondor and begins with Castamir claiming the crown of Gondor from the defeated King Eldacar.

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Notes:
The discontent that led to the tragic Kin-Strife in Gondor was caused by the actions of Prince Valacar, son of King Rómendacil II, but the seeds were sown long before this time. In King Rómendacil's reign, there was war with the Easterling warrior clans of Rhûn. He succeeded in developing a strong alliance with the Northmen of Rhovanion who lived to the east of Mirkwood and also suffered at the hands of the Easterlings. With their combined might and leadership, they were able to defeat the Easterlings in battle, and after their great victory, Rómendacil furthered this close friendship between Gondor and Rhovanion by sending his son Valacar to be ambassador to the court of their leader Vidugavia of Rhovanion.

Rómendacil had intended that his son should learn something of the language and culture of the Men of Rhovanion, but he could not know that Valacar would fall in love with Vidumavi, daughter of Vidugavia. They were soon wed and to them a son was born. He was named Vinitharya but was later given the name of Eldacar when Valacar returned to Gondor with him. As the firstborn son of Valacar, Eldacar was the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. The marriage between Valacar and Vidumavi would be the catalyst that would bring unrest in the future.

In Gondor, it was widely feared that the pure Númenórean blood of the Royal House would be lost with this mingling with the “lesser” men of the north. The men of Rhovanion were strong and fierce, but their lives withered much sooner than those of the Númenórean line and intermingling of Valacar and Vidumavi was seen by many as an unwise act. When Vidumavi died before Valacar became King of Gondor, this “weakness” was confirmed in the minds of many Gondorians of the Rhovanion blood.

Divisions in Gondor began to form, and unrest stirred, mainly in Pelargir and Umbar. The discord was muted under Valacar as king, as many held hope that he would marry again to a high Gondorian woman who would bear him a Númenórean heir. But no other would be named as heir to the throne. Eldacar would secede to the Gondorian kingship as Valacar, his father had wished. So began the Kin Strife of Gondor in 1432...

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The Kin-strife of Gondor
Prologue ~ The Defeat of Eldacar

Seeds of the Kin-Strife of Gondor

In 1432 when King Valacar died, unrest in the southern provinces burst into open rebellion with the coronation of Eldacar as King of Gondor. The powerful Mariner's Guild of Gondor, based in Pelargir and led by Castamir as Master of Ships, fanned the embers of unrest. Castamir was the great grandson of King Calmacil and claimed royal descent through that line. Castamir’s grandfather Calimehtar was the younger brother of Minaltar, later known as King Rómendacil II. Calimehtar had been content to serve his brother as Naval Commander and Master of the Mariners Guild. He maintained Gondor’s great fleet of ships in Pelargir, served as Governor of the province of Harondor, managed the affairs the tributary lands of Harad and the great port of Umbar. Through the line of Calimehtar, the Mariners Guild became a powerful faction and immensely influential within the realm of Gondor.

In later generations, when the line of Rómendacil mingled with the “lesser” blood of the Rhovanions, Castamir put himself forward as the rightful Numenorean heir of undiminished descent. He ignored Gondor's laws of succession and proclaimed himself the true King of Gondor. At Castamir’s proclamation, a rebellion in Pelargir erupted against Eldacar shortly after his coronation and it soon spread through the southern provinces to become a civil war.

For the next four years, a brutal war between Gondor’s people raged, each side convinced of their righteousness. The Governors of the southern provinces of Anfalas, Belfalas, Lebennin, Harondor, and Lossarnarch declared for Castamir, while those of Ithilien, Anorien, Dol Amroth, Edhellond and the rough and hardy men who lived in the western lands of Calenardhon and Enedwaith swore allegiance to Eldacar. Not all within these provinces agreed with who their Governor supported, and the fighting among the citizenry was grim. There were brutal raids and massacres of unarmed civilians by supporters of both sides in most provinces in that first year. After that, most of the dissenters had either been slain or had fled for friendlier lands.

The fighting mostly settled between the opposing armies, quickly stagnating along a line across Ithilien south of Emyn Arnen to the east of the Anduin and along the Erui River to the west of the Anduin. For two years, the ships of Castamir tried relentlessly to break their line by forcing the Anduin River passage with his ships. However, Eldacar held most of the siege engines and had them well placed to fire on the ships from both sides of the river. Also, cross river chains and log barriers were set to impede the ships’ ability to move upstream. Castamir's attempts to thwart his rival were defeated until such time as Castamair amassed enough of a force to mount an attack on three fronts. In the beginning of 1436, Castamir lead his army himself to force his way through the Crossing of the Erui. This came after twelve days of fighting and at great cost, still it was a victory long denied to Castamir.

Eldacar’s army fell back in disarray and were not able to regain a defensive footing until they reached fortifications in the narrows between the east end of the White Mountains, just south of Harlond. Castamir’s army destroyed the siege engines on the west bank of the Anduin and disabled the cross-river defences. At the same time, fierce Haradian mercenaries drove up the eastern bank of the Anduin, driving a wedge between Eldacar’s army and the river. They were able to destroy the siege engines on the east side of the Anduin, but unlike Eldacar’s army on the west side, the Ithilien army was able to regroup and counterattack the Haradrim mercenaries.

Eight relentless days of fighting followed. The Haradians were, for the most part decimated. Those few who remained, most of them the Haradian leaders and Castamir’s officers, fled to the south. It was a pyric victory in Ithilien, for Castamir’s ships were now able to pass freely up the river. In Harlond, the quays were burned, and the riverfront fortified. The few remaining siege engines Eldacar retained control of were used to bombard the approaching ships. After much damage and loss, Castamir’s ships were again forced to retreat downriver. Castamir sought to continue his attack on the west side, but his men were exhausted and had suffered great loss whereas Eldacar’s defense was strong. Thus, his attack foundered, but they did not retreat. the frontlines stagnated for the next year.

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Osgiliath ~ 22 Girithron 1436 III

Eldacar stood beneath the Dome of the Stars, within the Great Library of Osgiliath. He held the Palantir in his gaze, unable to look away from what it might reveal. His position had become tenuous. He had few reserves of men and though a small army had come from Rhovanion to his aid, the best he could hope to mount with all that remained was a defense. He had no capacity to attack the armies of Castamir that amassed south of Minas Anor. His elder son, Ornedil, held the fortress of Minas Anor and the command of his western armies'. His younger son, Aldamir, held Minas Ithil and command of his eastern forces. Still, Gondor's true and loyal strength was fading and with it, his hope to retain Gondor and reunite her peoples. His vision was unclear and the Palantir held nothing he might look to. Stagnant as this war was, a divided Gondor could not hold forever. There had to be a way forward, but he could not see it.

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Minas Anor & Harlond ~ 4 Narvinyë 1437

It was late in the evening a few days after the New Year, and Ornendil was reviewing the defensive lines near Minas Anor. The chill air from the north had laid a thick frost overall and as the steam from his breath swirled about him, he listened closely in the quiet night. Something wasn’t right. It was too quiet. He waved for his line commander.

“Make sure the men remain watchful this night. Something is amiss.”

The commander nodded and sent a signal down the line, but as the next signaller turned, an arrow hit him in the neck. A cry went up and the Castamirian army began to bellow. A night attack!

Ornendil quickly ordered the archers to ready, but again an arrow took down his signaller. When his second fell and the sound of swords rang all along the front line, Ornendil realised his position was swiftly deteriorating. But how, for he had sent orders for the river and siege engines to be watched.

What Ornedil did not know is that despite his efforts and care, Castamir's spies had still managed to infiltrate his command. Instead of running Ornedil's river boats upstream, smaller boats that carried twelve men were sent along the river banks where Castamir's men could swiftly disembark and ambush the guards at strongpoints. With several of these groups along both sides of the river, the Castamirians caused much disruption and chaos behind Ornendil’s defensive line.

Before Ornendil could assess the situation clearly, his flank on the river was compromised. The larger ships moved upriver and disgorged a larger army into the Harlond itself. In the western end of the line, rugged highlanders of Lebennin managed to take the furthest stronghold which allowed men to pour in unopposed.

When reports managed to find Ornendil, he realised his line of defense was now untenable. Finding a lack of officers around him, Ornendil had to trust to unit leaders to try to organise a withdrawal from the centre of the line. But with his right flank crumbling and his left flank in Harlond already lost, time was not on his side. The assault on his communications was effective to the point that Ornendil could not reliably know if any of his commands had gotten to whom he had them sent to. Likewise, the few messages that he did receive were filled with ill news. For the gates of Minas Anor had fallen without contest to Castamirian raiders.

Castamir's soldiers took cloaks and emblems from dead and captured Eldacarian soldiers and disguised themselves. Their deception worked. At first, acting like they were reinforcements for Eldacar, they were able to walk in the open gates and take control from the unsuspecting city guard. They drew in as many of their men as they could before it became known that the gate had fallen.

At this, Ornendil's hope was shaken. No longer could he look to fend off the usurper from within the city. Gathering men to him, Ornendil had each man pass the word that they needed to assault the gates of Minas Anor. Likewise, the City Guard tried to re-take the gates from the inside, but the attacks were not coordinated, and the raiders were able to fend off both attacks. With the gates held, it was deemed time by Castamir’s sympathisers to take down the guards at the secondary doors and open them to Castamir’s men coming up from Harlond.

After a second attempt to storm the gates foundered, Ornendil saw that the city was lost. With the confusion and chaos of his army on the field, they had no choice but to retreat across the Pelennor Field toward Osgiliath.

Eldacar’s men trapped inside Minas Anor fought on, level by level into the morning, but when they were making a stand at the fourth level, the commander of the naval forces that had come up the river offered terms to Eldacar’s men. After considering the limited options, the ranking commander of Eldacar’s Minas Anor army, surrendered. The surrendering soldiers were herded into the courtyard where those who lived in the city were escorted to their homes. The soldiers who had no families, or were from outside the city, were immediately asked to swear fealty to King Castamir. Those who did were given a chance to prove their loyalty by fighting for Castamir in a penal unit. Those who would not were, along with any Rhovanions, put to death.

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Osgiliath ~ 4 Narvinyë 1437

By the time word came to Osgiliath of the fall of Minas Anor, it was already too late to sway the outcome of the war. Eldacar ordered his elite Royal Guard out to reinforce Ornedil in Minas Anor, but they could not reach him. When the Highladers that broke the west end of Ornedil’s line made contact, the Royal Guard were forced to stand fast, and they set a defensive perimeter a few miles out around the gates of Osgiliath. There they were able to fend off any Castamirians who were so bold to pursue of the remnants of Ornendil’s retreating army. With the Rhovanion Royal Guard on the forefront, the Gondorian Royal Guard aided stragglers from Minas Anor to reach the city.

The first attack toward Osgiliath by the pursuing Castamirians was stopped by the Rhovanions at great cost to both armies. With their strength spent, the Rhovanions retreated to hastily prepared defensive positions around Osgiliath while the Castamirians fell back to Minas Anor. There were still pockets of resistance inside the walls of the city. Against all expectations, Castamir's army had subdued and secured the city by the time morning light came.

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Minas Anor ~ 5 Narvinyë 1437

To have secured Minas Anor was a success beyond all expectations. Castamir expected to have to lay siege to the city, and he determined he had enough strength to stranglehold it while fending off attacks from Osgiliath. Thinking it would likely take many weeks if not months. Now, with the fortress secured, he could plan his move on Osgiliath, Taking the nation’s capital and Eldacar’s seat, would not be easy, but he was able to make his move much sooner than he had dared hope for. Wasting no time, he sent two of the river ships onward without disembarking in hopes they could press their advantage. It was a gamble, but if they could gain East Osgiliath, Eldacar’s eastern army would be cut off and isolated.

Captain Silares took command of this force as they pushed upriver, and trusted Halvarin, his navigator to take them through. The soldiers aboard were itching to disembark at Harlond, but when they heard they were the northern force making an assault on Osgiliath, they settled and grew determined to take their objective. But like the attack on Osgiliath in Pelennor, the two ships full of men were not enough. Though they had nearly achieved surprise, a company of Aldamir’s men in Ithilien spotted the ships in the dark as they passed by.

The commander sent word to Osgiliath by their fastest two runners that an attack was imminent on the city from the river. The company was also able to attack Silares’ lead ship with burning arrows. It did little damage, but it did illuminate the two ships for a time, so the attempt at a surprise landing in East Osgiliath failed. Silares ordered the ships back to Harlond, reluctant to risk both ships and men in an attack on a prepared city.

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Osgiliath ~ Nénimë 1437

It would be a week before Castamir could wage another attack against Osgiliath. It was time that served Eldacar well. The winds warmed and the cold rains made movement hard on the muddy field. Castamir’s attack ended a few days later, his men exhausted. Though the thrust failed to achieve much, it did cause Eldacar to pull his remaining forces back behind the city wall. Castamir’s men closed a ring around West Osgiliath but faced a battle with the elements of winter outside the wall of the city.

It would be another month before Castamir could attack again, for the brief warming had passed and winter fell hard a couple days later. Frigid north winds were relentless through the month of January 1437. The Rhovanions, wearing their traditional furs, managed to withstand the cold better than the Gondorians, but the snows that came with the winds were fierce. Castamir’s men froze in the fields and Eldacar’s men tried their best to stay warm in the city. There would be no fighting while the winter held.

Eldacar used the time to prepare defences, and his son Aldamir sent what men he could spare from the East Watch of Cirith Ungol to Osgiliath to help strengthen the city. Knowing that his southern reach was now untenable with the loss of Minas Anor, Aldamir anticipated Castamir would attack soon. He prepared a defensive line anchored in the east against the spur of Ephel Duath that reached for Minas Ithil, then from the city to the road.

At the crossing of the river, he fortified both sides, and to the west, he set a line along the north bank of the river. To the south he had his elite Ithilien Rangers hold the line to wait for the attack. When it came, they would harass the advancing Castamirians and fall back to Minas Ithil. Aldamir’s leadership gave the men east of the Anduin hope, if not in victory, then in strength. But Aldamir could see the dire position they were in. All he could hope for was to resist Castamir, and plan for the eventual need to flee north to Rhovanion. Eldacar was fortunate that his younger son had the foresight to make even the most rudimentary plans to evacuate.

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Osgiliath ~ Nénimë 1437

Eldacar was solemn, aware that the thaw would mean Castamir's next assault against the city was imminent. The field, still muddy with melting snow, prevented any siege engines to be brought forth. But the sun returned day after day and with-it warm winds from the south. Soon the ground would dry, and the fighting would erupt again. Aldamir had reported their delaying retreat had cost Castamir’s eastern army dearly, but they had gathered now on the line Aldamir had set. There would be no more reinforcements coming from the east. Their only hope was to the north, and any men Rhovanion could send.

Little did Eldacar know that with little if any Gondorian presence in North Ithilien, it fell to the Rhovanions to keep the Easterling clans at bay. Not yet strong enough to launch an attack of any significance, they had increasingly turned to harassing the Rhovanion farmer, not forgetting that they had aided their enemy Gondor in their great defeat years before. Vidugavia sent word to Osgiliath that no further aid could be spared at this time. The messengers had to travel treacherous ways through Dagorlad to North Ithilien to get to East Osgiliath, and word only came late in the month.

Eldacar and his sons stood alone against the rising popularity of the Numenorean-blooded Castamir, even though he officially had no right to the crown. It was he, Eldacar, son of Valacar, son of Rómendacil II, who was rightful king of Gondor, and if he fell fighting for the crown, so be it. He gave his sons the choice of slipping away to the north to dwell with their grandmother’s kin, but each stood tall with their father, preferring death if not victory for their father’s crown. So, the stage was set for the final battle.

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The Fall of Osgiliath ~ 5 Súlimë 1437

The first attack took place in the east. Aldamir’s line held the initial assault, and only gave way slightly to the second one. For five days he held his line and hoped to weather the onslaught. In the west, the heavy engines that Eldacar had used against Castamir’s ships had been repaired and moved to within range of Osgiliath, and Castamir wasted no time in sending both flaming and heavy solid projectiles. Eldacar had little to use to return fire, for most of the engines had been moved south in earlier years. The few he had were aimed at the river where Castamir’s ships would eventually come.

For three days, there was no attack directly on the city. But on the night of the third day, Castamir used the tactic that worked so well in taking Minas Anor and sent small boats of men up both sides of the river. Ornedil would not be fooled so easily a second time. At first sign, he sent the Rhovanion Guard to counter the raiders. Vilmiath led the Rhovanions toward the river. They had caught the raiders not long after they had landed, yet they fought with intense precision.

Vilmiath managed to match the raiders, but when Rhinnin was slain before her, she froze as she watched blood gush from Rhinnin’s neck as her head turned, eyes bulging and closing as she fell and bled out. It all seemed to happen so slowly in Vilmiath’s eyes. Of all the battles in the tournaments she had been in and had won, this fight was real, and it was the first death of a close friend she had experienced. The sounds of swords clashing; the yelling and the groaning seemed to pass through her slowly, yet Vilmiath could not take her eyes off Rhinnin. It was the hands of one of her Rhovanion countryman that grabbed her tunic and spun her around…

”Vilmiath! Rhinnin is dead! And we have need of you!”

His beseeching words sliced through Vilmaith's moment of shock. She blinked a few times and saw him staring into her eyes when the sword struck him in the back of the head. His blood splattered over her, and she lunged with her sword, killing the attacker as the Rhovanion man fell toward her and to the ground. As if the spell was broken, Vilmiath turned and deflected a sword aimed at her neck, then pushed forth with some other Rhovanions. The battle raged until sunrise, and the light of day found Vilmiath and the remnants of her Royal Guards victorious. They prevented the raiders from getting a foothold in the city. Just.

On the east side of the river, the raiders fared better. They had managed to defeat the Ithilien Guard that held the confluence of the Anduin and the Morgulduin and managed to breach the line Aldamir had set in place. Their penetration was not far, and losses were heavy for the raiders, but they held their hard-won key ground. It was to be the beginning of the battle of Osgiliath.

The armies of Castamir surged toward the gates of Osgiliath, and as the projectiles of the engines rained down upon the city, they managed to bring a ram to the gates. At the same time, ships led by Silares came upriver from Harlond carrying men who would land on both sides of the river. The engines Eldacar had managed to sink one ship and damage others, but most of the men were able to land on the east side. After three days, East Osgiliath had fallen, dividing Eldacar’s forces.

Aldamir tried to force his way to the city but ended up retreating to Minas Ithil. That same day, the gates of Osgiliath were broken and Castamir’s army poured into the city. After days of bloody fighting in the streets, Ornedil was forced into a pocket in the north of the city along with the Lord of Edhellond and his men. He and the Lord of Edhellond led a counterattack while Eldacar led the evacuation to Rhovanion. The city fell a day later, the crown prince and Edhellond’s Lord captured. In the east, Aldamir fought on, and with a great push against Castamir’s army, he had his Ithilien Rangers cover their withdrawal to the north. With Osgiliath in Castamir’s hands, they were forced to make their way through Dagorlad to east Rhovanion.

Eldacar had tried to get all his Rhovanion Guard out of the city, for he knew there would be no quarter for them. But they were fierce and would not stand down from a fight unless directly ordered. When he took account of his Guard in Rhovanion, too many had been lost. He knew not the whereabouts Vilmiath, or the twins Vilna and Vidnavi, the shieldmaidens of Rhovanion. He had no word of their deaths, nor were they with him in his escape. Eldacar was left now in exile among his mother’s people, and Castamir had forced his kingship over all of Gondor. And if that was not bitter enough, his eldest son was now Castamir’s prisoner and it was unlikely that the usurper would suffer him to live, not with two sons of his own to see to the throne.

Word from Gondor was sparse and chaotic. Confusion reigned in those early days of defeat. Those nobles that remained loyal scrambled north as best they could, harried all the way by Castamir’s forces for the usurper was eager to wither Eldacar’s ranks and supporters however he might. Those that survived told grim tales of vicious pogroms. The slaughter had not ended with Castamir’s victory. His thirst for power merely morphed to a thirst for vengeance. Those further afield stood little chance of escaping the usurper's heavy boot.

And so it came to be that Eldacar was alone, far from Gondor, surrounded by the battered remnants of his royal court, the remains of his loyal Gondorian Royal Guard and army, and the few remaining Rhovanion Royal Guards that had lived.

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List of Canon Characters Involved:

• Valacar
• Eldacar
• Castamir
• Ornedil
• Aldamir
• Vinyarion

List of Original Characters:

• Halvarin
• Amarwen
• Calamir
• Therald
• Alenna
• Vilmiath
• Vilna
• Vidnavi
• Rhinnin
• Silares

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Commanding the Bregolalph, docking at Harlond for an important meeting.
Autumn months, Fourth Age, after the joust in Lond Côl

It seemed the Swan-Knight of Lond Côl was not alone in his personal quest and drive for vengeance. It had been a long and dreadful war, with many acts of aggression taken by both sides. But none had been so devious or cruel as those carried out by Umbar. Their wounds went deep and though there was peace and a King again, those wounds were slow to heal. And even slower to be forgotten. He wondered what other tragic stories there might be out there, though if those that Lond Côl suffered was to be a standard, then they would be terrible indeed. And now it was time to ensure it never happened again to any citizen of Gondor. Or of any land.

He stayed quiet though, standing at the position of attention, hands behind his back and his shoulders squared. He listened to the Lieutenant discuss how it might be a problem, not just in Abrazimir’s case, but others, upon encountering certain individuals. They weren’t like orcs or wicked men, they were not going to Umbar to raid, pillage, kill. Certainly not without good reason or cause. Criminals faced justice in Gondor, not a swift and merciless end, even if that was the most their enemy had once given them.

”My crew will follow orders, mine and any other superior officers. Yours too, if I instructed it to be so.” He assured her of his crew’s loyalty and obedience. Himself, he could accept fault and flaw. But for his men? He was protective of their dignity and honour, as their leader. At the mention of his sword, his hand moved there, grabbing the hilt, thumbing the pommel. There was desire in his hand indeed to utilize it against an enemy of Gondor. It had been so long since they had gotten to strike back, rather than sitting aside and waiting for the enemy. Yeah, he might indeed require some help in not letting his emotions get the better of him. And lashing out at any and all foes.

”Indeed, it is mutual, though mostly out of common sense. I like being free and seeing my family. And Keket Halsad will do anything to bring destruction upon me. It is only reasonable I seek to end him before he ends me, in a most miserable fashion as is his way, whatever his little imagination can conjure.” Abrazimir admitted easily. ”But you said so yourself just prior, that he and others of his kin, will be dealt with outright. Unlike him, I will not play games with my prey, torturing them needlessly. It will be a swift and decisive judgement on my part, if I should encounter him.”

He held up his hand though and gave a small smile. ”Of course, if capture and apprehension is possible, I will endeavour to attempt that first, before any other…more violent course of action, Lieutenant.” He pointed out, remembering the lesson she just gave to him here. Orders were still orders. His duty would have to compete with his desires. But one thing he could not do is sit still and idle here. If there was a mission to be done, he wanted to be on it.

”You will send word when the time has come for this mission, yes? We should discuss a safe and secretive form of communication then, given the interception that had occurred with our letters.” He stated, thinking it would be no trouble at him to send a trusted messenger to deliver a verbal message instead of a written one, as that could not be so easily intercepted by the enemy. Might take longer, but the caution would secure the confidentiality of their objective here.

[Hanasian]

#3 Private

(the Last part of the Kin Strife story is Here))


Kin Strife of Gondor ~ The Reign of King Castamir
As told by

Halvarin and Amarwen.

Historical - Gondor - Years 1432-1448 of the Third Age


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Halvarin's Dilemma - Minas Anor
Víressë to Nárië 1437 III

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Halvarin maintained his silence as he wended his way through the White City’s tiers. With the truth so clouded, and so many dead at the hand of... by the order of the new King, he had been pondering his position at length after what he had witnessed in Osgiliath, and then, what he witnessed in Edhellond. He should have done more, certainly at Edhellond, but what he did not know. He had tried to defend the woman he loved, keep her safe, yet she refused to do what was necessary in these times to survive. Too proud to even pretend at bending her knee.

Their arrival at the chambers the Mariner’s Guild maintained in Minas Anor revealed many grim, if not outright displeased faces at the aftermath of Castamir’s rise to the kingship. Instead of mercy and wisdom, Castamir had responded with a show of force and mercilessness. Unsullied as his descent from mighty Númenor might be, he was set to rule from fear instead of love.

No sooner had their party dismounted did Guild members press in, demanding to know the outcome of Edhellond. A heated discussion sprang up and as it unfolded, Halvarin noted that a number of Guild stalwarts were absent. He stood back, listening closely as his father and other senior mariners traded terse words in hushed tones. When the words were spent, little had changed. The Guild remained steadfast in their determination to support Castamir. These men, who had stared down the might and power of the raging oceans had balked. His stomach twisted at the thought, and later that night as the fine wines began to flow, Halvarin found himself unable to take part. He shook his head at the offer of a glass and that would have been that if his father had not interceded.

He watched his father swoop up a glass of dark wine and hold to him with the admonishment, ”The King is victorious! We all should celebrate!”

Were it not for the flat note of his father’s voice, Halvarin would have missed the sarcasm altogether. Still, for all of that, he appreciated the wisdom of his father’s counsel. The absences in those gathered that night spoke volumes. Dissent was no longer a luxury any could afford in Gondor. Halvarin accepted the wine from his father and followed those present to lift his glass to salute the new King. Yet, he lagged in sipping at his wine, his thoughts again drifting to Edhellond. Amarwen’s pale, stricken face as she witnessed her mother’s death haunted him, her dismay and fear palpable even now. Inwardly, Halvarin mused, ‘To Lady Amarwen, now Lady of Edhellond. May you find your way through this storm to safe harbour.’

As the others finished their drink, Halvarin tipped his glass and took it all down in one gulp. There was a silence in the guild room which was only broken by someone speaking in a low tone. At that, those present in the hall resumed their usual chatter. Halvarin studied the base of his glass, swirled what remained and raised it to his mouth to drain the final drops. With that seen to, he set his glass aside and debated heading for the door as his father seemed set to speak further with the guildsmen.

Calamir paused and turned his head, watching Halvarin for a moment before he turned to one of the senior officers that stood by him. There was never any shortage of men seeking his father’s ear. The new Master of Ships was a very powerful man, especially now with the former Master of Ships sitting upon the throne of Gondor. Aware that his father would likely be talking of him at any moment, Halvarin hoped he would become preoccupied by such other matters for the remainder of the evening.

Unable to find any of his peers present in the hall, Halvarin considered his departure anew and wanted to slip out the door unnoticed. He was determined to find time for his own thoughts before his sour disposition was noted by these senior officers. He paused again with the hearing of the words from the captain of the Foam Cutter as he pounced on Halvarin's father, ”Impolitic to doubt our King now, even no one could possibly have anticipated this state of affairs.”

Calamir nodded, glancing toward Halvarin. ”The Mariners Guild have no role in determining the King’s course.”

Masterful, Halvarin thought, for such a statement could be seen in more than one light. The Foam Cutter’s captain nodded in agreement and with their continued conversation, Halvarin made his break from the Guildhall.

It was not long before he found himself at the White Tree Inn on the first level of the city by the gate. Halvarin ordered a glass of the strongest port wine they had. He knew it was no match for the Dorwinion wine they had been supping at the Guild Hall. Ironic, he realized, that the Mariner’s Guild even now were enjoying the fruits of the Northmen they had repudiated to such an extent that they had overthrown their King. Halvarin drank deeply from the rough wooden mug, his mind careening about. Drinking and thinking, he thought, a dangerous combination in these times. Still, for all of that, he could not pretend that he did not fear. What was happening to his beloved Gondor? His beloved Amarwen?


A few days and nights passed in this fashion before Halvarin received fresh orders. He was assigned to a large ship that would be leaving from Pelargir south to the rumoured woodlands of Far Harad. With these orders in hand, Halvarin felt a sense of profound relief. This he could do. Far better, far preferable, than the orders that had sent him with his father to Edhellond. As he set to readying himself for the river voyage to Pelargir, Halvarin found himself reviewing just how he had come to find himself in this predicament...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor with Lt Arnyn
and Rangers Vorondil & Sarina
September 3rd
On the road to Harlond

Duinion nodded as the lieutenant pointed out the fact that they should still prepare for the possibility of archers, he couldn't really argue with that logic. "True enough." He answered quietly. He had not intended to dismiss the possibility of being shot at, but he still felt it unlikely these enemies would want to kill them... he recalled what had been told to him about how a whole ship full of sailors were taken captive and sacrificed in that horrific temple. He'd never set eyes on the place, but already despised it. And from what he'd heard, he wouldn't put it past these people to want to capture as many extras as they could, for that same purpose. Yet, he could also understand taking precautions.

When Arnyn answered his question about 'Naluthor', with another name, he frowned as he took a moment to think of why that name rang a bell somewhere in his memory. Then it clicked, once he connected the name with a specific incident that he had heard plenty about, back when it happened. "Androllius..?" He repeated with a somewhat puzzled frown. "The guard?" He couldn't help feeling rather shocked, and a bit incredulous, to hear her connecting him with a man who was supposed to be heavily in league with Pharak. But, then again, now that he had recalled Androllius to his memory, he also couldn't help thinking about various other things that could possibly make sense with this added element included. He began to feel a little stunned by it all. How long had all of this been going on?

That thought led him to further concern as he pondered it. He took in a slow breath, then let it out even more slowly. There was so much racing through his head at the moment, and he needed to sort his thoughts a bit. A moment of silence passed while he was processing, and recalling what he could about... all of that. That incident had been bad enough. The Umbar stuff had been terrible, as well. But now, on top of everything else, this new piece of information.. that the two might actually be connected? It seemed like a lot to take in and fit into the bigger picture somehow.

"Lieutenant..." He spoke softly after a few moments, but loud enough for her to hear. It seemed that she had been watching him, possibly for a reaction, possibly trying to figure out what was troubling him. He didn't know which was the case, but he had made up his mind to tell her something, and hoped he wouldn't regret it. He took another slow breath in preparation. "It seems to me that you have pieces of this puzzle which I do not, and perhaps I have some which you do not. But in any case," He glanced over at her. "I think, perhaps, you ought to know why I made the choice I did, today." He cleared his throat lightly, feeling a bit self-conscious. "As much as I wanted, more than anything, to stay with my daughter right now..." He sighed, focusing his gaze ahead. "It was important.. in fact, necessary.. that I take part in this." He informed her. "You see, I.. I made a vow, several years ago." His eyes scanned the roadsides as they traveled, avoiding looking at her, nor either of the other two. "I vowed that I would do all that I could to ensure that.. Nal would remain safe." He explained quietly with a faint smile at some distant recollection.

He went on after a brief pause, with a faint note of sadness in his voice, "At the time, I did not fully understand the need for such a vow, nor why it was being asked of me. But.. with everything that's happened, and everything I've learned, since that day... and especially today..." he returned his gaze to Arnyn then. "It's becoming more and more certain to me that this is what that vow was all about." He paused for a moment, before adding, "I could be wrong, of course, but it seems far too coincidental, how much everything is beginning to line up and fit together. And it's a bit more.. convoluted and expansive than what I can properly put into words at this time." He cleared his throat again. "I don't know if that helps or clears anything up, or makes it more confusing... but there it is." He shrugged. "Just.. seemed as if it was relevant," He added, feeling a bit strange to be telling someone this, after all these years.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Harlond - Autumn

Her dark brown eyes held his grey gaze as he spoke of his crew, and of Keket Halsad. Arnyn could see no doubt in this man. Mostly, what she could see was a readiness - an eagerness, even, to be a part of this mission. Abrazimir Dimaethor was not merely offering his assistance because she had asked. If she were to suddenly deny him, she felt like he would at the very least protest, and quite likely, go over her head. The Lieutenant smiled faintly. There was no reason not to take up his offer. In fact, she had every reason to hope he would not withdraw it. This meeting had already been good on one count: now she had seen the look in his eyes, the set of his shoulders and his hand on his weapon. She had heard the tone of his voice. He would not be withdrawing from this mission. Not even in case his father might advise against it, part of her mind said. Though the only reason she could see for Lord Zainaben to wish for his son to sit this one out, would be to ensure his heir's survival. The danger, after all, was not to be underestimated.

She slanted her head, her gaze sweeping over the people on the deck below as well as over the docks before returning to the warship's commander. "All types of messages could be intercepted," she continued as they had been conversing - in Sindarin. "Whether it is a written or verbal. The only way to keep the message itself from betraying our plans would be to encode it somehow. Or to already agree on a next meeting, in person, this very day."

"Lord Abrazimir," she began, "Permission was granted to end the life of Keket Halsad outright. And while it is commendable that you would still seek to capture and apprehend even one such as him..." Arnyn frowned as she drew in a deep, slow breath. "I do not seek the same. I have heard too many accounts on the man, coming from people in whom I place my trust. If I were to encounter Keket Halsad, and I were to know it was indeed that man standing before me, I would give him no quarter. Hence, I will not ask nor expect you to do otherwise. And if you and yours capture him and do not end his existence yourselves, either Captain Alarion or myself would. Long before the ship would carry us home."

"Speaking of." The Lieutenant paused to run a hand over the railing next to them. She watched it and then took in some of the vessel's rigging, the sails, the mast... "The King's Rangers are no sailor warriors such as you and yours," she continued a bit more quietly. "Neither am I. Yet we have every benefit of preparing them, of preparing ourselves, as well as we may. Not that we literally need to learn all the ropes," she smiled faintly, some humour shining through despite the gravity of the subject matter, "But it would be wise for us to grow accustomed to being out on open water, to a ship's sleeping accommodations, to the way the vessel moved out on the water. I need to know who will get seasick and be next to useless to us in the first leg of the mission, when we set out to capture the pirates. I would have you and yours teach us how to pull our own weight on a ship. And how to board another vessel." She looked back at the Swan Knight. "Would that be too much to ask of you, Lord?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Tirdinen Duinion Raedor & Rangers Vorondil and Sarina
To Harlond, September 3rd

Duinion looked puzzled and honestly, really surprised. Arnyn could understand that part of it. She, as well, had needed a while to wrap her mind around the idea of a guard being tainted in such a profound way. When he said they might each have pieces of the puzzle the other did not, Arnyn tilted her head. Would she be needing to have yet another conversation about all things Umbar? She did not want to. But it seemed like she would have to.

Needing no more than the soft 'Lieutenant' and the look on Duinion's face, she fell back a little, letting Sarina and Vorondil take the lead. What Duinion told her next, about the vow he made, about ensuring Unalmis would be kept safe, the Lieutenant frowned in thought. She nodded slowly as she processed that this was the reason he had wanted to come here, instead of going back to the city with Erynneth. "It is relevant," she acknowledged quietly. "To whom did you make this vow, Duinion?" she wondered. Who would have asked such a thing from him? Domanol? Unalmis' father? Would they not have shared more information then, on why they had asked such a thing of him? Why would Duinion's best friend, if it had been him, not explain what such a vow was about?
"If I may ask," she added, belatedly realizing it might be too personal.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor with Lt Arnyn
and Rangers Vorondil & Sarina
September 3rd
On the road to Harlond

Honestly, he was a bit glad that Arnyn fell back slightly, and he did likewise so that the conversation would be a bit more private. While it wasn't exactly a huge secret, he still felt a bit self-conscious just bringing it up at all. He was glad she listened quietly while he said what he needed to say. But then, of course, she did have at least one question to ask by the time he had finished.

He had known she would be asking that. And yet, knowing it would be asked didn't seem to make it any easier when she did ask it. He let his gaze rest downward at the back of Buttercup's neck as he drew in a slow breath and let it out in a soft sigh. The addition she gave a moment later brought a tiny hint of a smile to his face. At least she was considerate enough to recognize that it might be either personal, or secretive. But it was not the latter, and... well, personal or not, he had not brought up the matter just to leave it half-told.

Swallowing down a little lump threatening to swell up in his throat, Duinion blinked a couple of times before he made himself look up and over at her again. There was a sadness lingering in his eyes. "A young man who.. I once trained. He was.." He paused as his words caught briefly in his throat, trying to think of the best way to explain it to someone who was not familiar. "He was as close to me, as I believe Trastion is to you." He felt that should give her some idea to the relationship he had had with this young man. "He.. asked this of me, as he.. died. In my arms." He forced the words out while struggling not to give in to emotion.

He had to take a couple of breaths then, and cleared his throat before continuing. "Eryn told me, before I parted from her earlier, that the man who did all of this.." He motioned in general at the trail and where they were heading, meaning 'this, today', as his jaw tightened and the sorrowful expression shifted to one of anger, "is the same person who killed Ryndir."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Tirdinen Duinion Raedor & Rangers Vorondil and Sarina
To Harlond, September 3rd

The vow had been made to a young man who had been as close to Duinion as Trastion was to her? Arnyn glanced at the Tirdinen. Had been? And just how much did he know about what Trastion meant to her, anyway? That this young man had died in Duinion's arms, made her heart clench. And Eryn had told Duinion that her kidnapper had also been responsible for this young man's death...

Ryndir. Wait. Ryndir? Ryn? Cali's brother? So if Arnyn's instincts were right about who this might be, if it was Androllius, then he had murdered the smithy's ranger brother as well?

Arnyn suppressed the urge to rub at her temples. She did already think that Androllius and Arkadhur would know each other, possibly even aid each other from time to time. Or rival each other - you never knew with these Umbarians. They thought so differently. It wasn't at all impossible for the murder weapon to change hands between them.

Focus, she reminded herself. On the task at hand.

"I understand." It was only a short sentence. Two words. But the weight of her tone conveyed she did not speak them lightly. The Lieutenant looked at the ranger next to her. Eryn, as well, had understood, hadn't she? That was why she had not fought her father on his decision at all. He had to be here. Not just for Eryn, or even just for Unalmis. But for Ryndir, as well. "Given this dimension," she spoke slowly, "will you be able to keep a level head? If you were to see the man responsible for the danger your daughter was in, and knowing that he was also the one responsible for Ryndir's fate?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor with Lt Arnyn
and Rangers Vorondil & Sarina
September 3rd
On the road to Harlond

Despite the few amount of words the lieutenant gave in reply, Duinion felt that she did, indeed, understand. He'd worked with Trastion plenty of times by now, and had heard the way the Recruit.. or, Trainee, rather.. talked about Arnyn. It was evident that he had developed a close bond with the lieutenant, and that was something Duinion understood, even if he didn't share the young man's enthusiasm for the woman riding next to him.

When she asked a question to follow up, Duinion wasn't entirely surprised. That was, in fact, the very reason he had hesitated so much to even mention this at all. But there was no way he was staying out of this. In that regard, he felt a little bad for keeping Unalmis and Domanol out of it, too. But he also hoped, by explaining about this vow, that perhaps Arnyn would also realized his reasons for ensuring that Nal would not be here to be put in any danger that might even be intended specifically for him.

"I will." He answered with a slow nod, his hazel gaze meeting with Arnyn's, for a moment. "I just thought it might be good for you to know that piece. I don't know how Eryn learned this information, but she would not say it lightly. Ryndir was a friend of hers.. in fact, practically family. She said she was sure, and I believe her on that. Which makes me wonder if this fellow might have said something to Ryndir before killing him.. something which made Ryndir worry that Unalmis was next." He frowned. "That.. would explain why he asked me to be sure that Nal was safe." He added with a thoughtful look. "I always did wonder about that. Unalmis wasn't even in the rangers, then."

He took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly. "I am angry, lieutenant.. don't get me wrong. This man killed a good friend of mine; a young man who had.. so much of his life ahead of him." He paused, swallowing down the emotion as well as he could. "Now, he dares to kidnap my daughter? And he has plans to do.. who knows what else.." He took a slow breath to regain the appearance of calm. "But, I want answers more than anything, right now. You don't have to worry about me losing my head and going berserk on him, if we find him." He offered a grim smile. "Though if we do, and he tries to run, I can't guarantee he won't end up with an arrow in his leg."

The harbor was not far off now, and the different sounds of a harbor were already audible. Duinion was keeping an eye out for the chandlery, which he had never seen before. But, he had heard enough to recall that it was somewhere by the harbor, and that there was a dock at the back, for loading cargo onto ships.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Commanding the Bregolalph, docking at Harlond for an important meeting.
Autumn months, Fourth Age, after the joust in Lond Côl

At the switch back to the elven tongue, Abrazimir could feel a finality fast approaching this conversation and discussion. To the notion of encoding messages or just plotting out their next steps here, he nodded in agreement to the suggestion. Though, they did live rather far apart and a lot could develop in that time, that could change the foundation of any plan left here. And then, would a message suffice, at the risk of interception? It could go any number of ways. Abrazimir was committed though. They would find a way.

He had tried not to be too zealous in his feelings towards Halsad. Often, in the pursuit and destruction of orcs and wicked men, it was not unheard of for a virtuous man to fall prey to the same hateful features that defined those evil folk. Hearing the Lieutenant express her own hatred and desire for Halsad’s end was rather comforting. ”As you say, ma’am. How it shall all play out reminds to be seen, but I will remember your logic and wisdom here, if such a scene should play out between myself, my people, and this enemy.” He informed her, before the Lieutenant changed to another topic.

She spoke of the inexperience of Rangers upon the water, which was to be expected. A good military had units and formations for every contingency. Abrazimir and his men, while veteran mariners, would fare poorly in a mountain battle or desert skirmish. He grinned and looked aside for a moment, trying not to laugh at her witty pun about her folk not needing to learn all the ropes, of which there were many on a vessel. He was quick to return his gaze attentively to her. Her statements though had a strong sense of pragmatism to it and he was already shaking his head to refute the notion that it might be an extra bother to teach and tutor the Lieutenant’s warriors in seaborne warfare.

”When I first learned to sail in my youth, seasickness was common even for me. But I learned, through repeat exercise and drill upon ships how to steady oneself and grow accustom to it. I believe yours will be quick to learn, as I was. It will be no bother at all to teach the contrasting details of warfare conducted upon the sea.” He nodded to Arnyn. ”I would suggest at least picking men and women who already know how to swim. And I know from my brief time in the Rangers that they are lightly armoured and equipped, as befits their form of warfare. It is similar for mariners, as you can no doubt see, if a heavily armoured warrior such as I were to fall overboard, we would sink faster than any stone. Being able to swim back to safety, to remain alive, is the first priority. To defeat the enemy, that can be learned after.” He said, keeping in line with their earlier talk about preserving lives, of his people and hers. A brief snippet of how he would conduct this training, starting with that. Staying alive.

”When would you like to begin this training? Normally it would take years to make an experienced seadog and veteran, but I see we do not have that sort of time. Do you have a roster of willing men and women, soldiers and officers, ready to go?” He inquired of her, looking and feeling ready to begin such a task right then and there, if necessary. ”A week or two, at open sea, without sight of land, that could be a great way to dive into the training.” He mused aloud, making his own pun, though not as witty or casual as hers was.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Harlond - Autumn

Her lips quirked at Abrazimir's own pun. It had been obvious before that he had caught her earlier one, given his grin - even though he'd glanced away at the time. But that he now made one is return, reinforced that he appreciated the humor, or was even possibly looking for some rapport with her. Her brown eyes lit with warmth even as she considered his question. When would she like to begin this training?

"My heart would say: as soon as we may," she said genuinely. She was concerned for her rangers and had a strong desire to prepare them as well as she could. "But my mind corrects me, I fear. I cannot make all the arrangements in the absence of my Captain. I am to finetune the plans, not in the least aided by this meeting with you. Once the plans have taken shape, the Captain and I will put the mission to our Rangers and see who will come with us." Given the King's orders, as she had made clear already, only those who were willing to go, could go at all. "Autumn is already upon us, and the winter soon will be. Which months, would you say, are suited for such training? To be out there?" she inquired, referring to the open sea, as he had. And part of her wondered if it would be beautiful.

---

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Tirdinen Duinion Raedor & Rangers Vorondil and Sarina
Harlond, September 3rd

The Lieutenant tilted her chin up slightly at Duinion's words, her eyes returning to the street. "Same," she said simply, after Duinion claimed he couldn't guarantee their adversary wouldn't end up with an arrow in his leg. After a few breaths, her gaze found Duinion's. "I do not intend to let anyone involved in this, to run and get away."

She led them toward the street where Trevadir had explained to her that this store would be located. Since she'd been meaning to come and take a look at it, anyway, but also had still been looking for a way to do so without dropping a clue to anyone involved that the King's Rangers knew about it, this gave her a good excuse.

"Duinion," she spoke quietly, to get the Tirdinen's attention again as they neared the street where the chandlery should be. "Thank you for telling me." After breathing in and out again, she added: "You said I need not worry about you losing your head." Arnyn nodded at him. "I now trust you will not."

Speaking louder, she addressed all three of the other Rangers, now. "We're coming up on the right street. To the right, behind that corner."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor with Lt Arnyn
and Rangers Vorondil & Sarina
September 3rd
Harlond - Arriving at the Chandlery

Duinion gave a tiny nod in reply to the lieutenant's words. He was glad they were in agreement about that; he had no intention of letting anyone get away. The fewer people working for Halsad that there were out there, the fewer there were who could hurt the people he cared about. Dom, Eryn, Unalmis.. all of them.

He quietly followed Arnyn's lead, as she seemed to have a better idea about where to go than he did. Then, as she addressed him again in a quiet tone, he looked toward her again and gave a small nod. He realized that this would be the first time that he and Arnyn had actually worked together in any situation, so he understood that she would not know what to expect with him.

As they neared the chandlery, Duinion kept his senses alert, looking around carefully. He scanned rooftops and alleys, and anywhere else that he could think of where someone might hide to ambush them. "Should we split up, and search the outside of the building, or stay together?" He asked quietly. Looking at it from the street showed an ordinary, two story building, a bit dilapidated-looking. The sign on the front, announcing it to be a chandlery, was faded and the paint was peeling. The windows were dusty and boarded up, and all in all, the place looked as if it had been shut up for at about five or six years.

There was a tall, wooden fence stretching out from each side of the building, wrapping around toward the back and enclosing the entire property to deter trespassers. Tall, overgrown grass, weeds, and brush grew up against the wooden boards of the fence, which were placed too close together to peek through any gaps. It seemed quite evident that there had been no maintenance upkeep on either the building or the property in some time. It was almost perfect for what the rumors claimed it was used for; the building was set a little further apart from the other businesses in the area, with the back of the building situated near the edge of a small cliff, overlooking the water.

The only drawback for the claim that smugglers had taken over the business, was that there was no apparent access from ships, and any vessel which came close to the cliff would be too obviously seen there by the port authorities. So, it would appear to be difficult to smuggle anything in or out of this business without drawing too much attention.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Commanding the Bregolalph, docking at Harlond for an important meeting.
Autumn months, Fourth Age, after the joust in Lond Côl

Abrazimir felt like he could have guessed the answer. As soon as we may. Like him, the Lieutenant seemed to share an eagerness for getting into the groundwork of any operation or scheme. Feet first, into the mud, so to speak. Or in this case, diving headfirst into the problem. He could appreciate that. But before he could get ahead of himself with the infectious enthusiasm, the Lieutenant drew them both back with some cold, undeniable logic. Organizing any body of men and women was no milk run. And there were other details to settle first. He nodded in agreement with her statements, not offering up any resistance, though his heart sank at the delay. What was he supposed to do for the next half-year with this dreadful anticipation now?

”The winter months brings storms over the high seas. Shifting, icy cold winds create swells and squalls that can be extremely dangerous and fatal to survive. The delay is prudent. It will have to be spring and throughout the summer, when the ocean is tranquil and in the embrace of our Lady Uinen.” Abrazimir said, not normally superstitious, but having seen the ocean, in all seasons and months, he knew summertime would forever be the kindest to the race of sailors and mariners, of any species.

”Though, if you think your group of volunteers is hardy enough to dare the winter seas, there would be no better occasion to learn all the ins and outs of the profession. But, it might be costly, in more ways than one, Lieutenant.” Abrazimir also stated, knowing it would be a challenge, even for his sea-captaincy talents. But if that’s what it took to prepare for a successful assault against the pirates, who themselves have and could survive in the high seas during the winter, the Gondorians had to do equal or better if need be.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Harlond - Autumn

Even though it was expected, the confirmation of her suspicions was still irksome. She did not like it. While she did not dream of setting sail to capture pirates in winter, she would prefer not to wait to prepare the King's Rangers until spring. If they waited that long to prepare, who knew when the actual mission could take place? Silence reigned as Arnyn listened to Abrazimir's words, to then mull them over in her mind as her gaze drifted back to the knight's sailor warriors.

"I will request of Captain Alarion to start preparing the Rangers in winter," the Lieutenant finally said as her dark eyes flicked back at the ship's commander. "So that we may embark on the mission sometime in the spring." She raised one hand, as if to forestall a response from him. "I do not know whether she will approve of it. As you say, delay would be prudent. Then again, if we train in the rougher winter seas... then it stands to expectations that we will do all the better in the calmer waters brought by the spring. And I do like that thought."

"As I said earlier, the plan is to start with Devedir and his crew. To find and to neutralize them, first. One way to engage the pirates could be, if you manage to find and salvage that flag, to use that same flag Thormaetha flies in order to get a ship of our side close enough to them so that we may board their own. Overcome them that way."

"However... There are also means open to us, here in Harlond, to lure Thormaetha's attention to us. If we parade interesting supplies past the right location, past the right person - speaking loudly enough of where those supplies are heading... Then the pirates might just come to us".

She was pretty sure she knew what the best option was. "I have my own idea about which plan is likely to work better." Not to mention that the first plan was moot anyway, if the flag could not be found. "For when you are looking for a predator in order to end their killing, you do not try and make it think you are a friend. You lure it in, and you have it thinking you are an easy meal. Before revealing your own claws."

Arnyn watched the knight's expression attentively. "I have been advised to involve you in both the preparation and execution of any plans. Tell me, Lord Abrazimir, what are your thoughts on this matter? You have dealt with this man in the past. Which would be the better option in your opinion? To try and pass ourselves off as some Umbarian ally, or to present ourselves as too much of an interesting quarry to let sail away?"

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Commanding the Bregolalph, docking at Harlond for an important meeting.
Autumn months, Fourth Age, after the joust in Lond Côl

After having said his piece, Abrazimir moved both his hands behind his back in an informal style of being at attention. His eyes observed back cooly as the Lieutenant fixed him back with her own stare, musing over her options. It all depended on how Captain Alarion might respond to this information too, to which he was about to suggest that he could meet with her as well if necessary, though the Lieutenant halted him before he could say anything, thinking a winter training session would prove more fruitful.

In any case, beyond the training, would be the operation. And how shall they begin it? With some sort of assault upon the smugglers and pirates already within the bounds of Gondor. That would be prudent, removing a potential stream of information about Gondor’s activities from reaching back to Umbar. And while it seemed a good idea to strike first at that thrice-cursed Devedir Thormaetha, there was the problem of actually finding him and luring him into such an ambush. The Lieutenant had some ideas, which included offering some sort of bait to draw the pirate in. Something bountiful and rich. He hummed thoughtfully in agreement, having some ideas, but waited for the Lieutenant to relay all her thoughts first, as was proper.

”You have my full involvement, for all stages of this, Lieutenant. You know that.” Abrazimir declared first. ”The two options are effective and yet full of holes in their own way. It is the methodology of this particular pirate to use disguises and falsehoods, to sneak in among our lines and cause havoc and chaos. And always, as he expects and we do without fail, we reacted brashly and strong-handed, rushing in. It might be a dramatic irony to use this same tactic against them. Though, it is also equally possible he might see the telltale signs of a trap, having done so many times before, that it’s second nature to him.” He concluded with a frown, gazing off towards the south, where the Anduin stretched down past Harlond, towards Pelargir and then to the sea. And thus to Umbar.

”What if…” Abrazimir began, wondering if this next idea might be wiser, or more dangerous, ”yes, I have encountered him many times. We have lost and caused losses to one another. If we are to offer an easy meal…why not me and my men? The desire for revenge could be a powerful motivator and if we could, say, present my ship in some false sense of disrepair and seemingly immobilized, he might take the chance to fall upon me to finish me off, or worse.” Enslave him for humiliation and torture and who knows what else. But that wouldn’t be anything new in his experience. He had been there a few times before, at the near-risk of becoming servile to their cruel enemies. He knew what to expect by now.

”We know the pirate has the capability to intercept our messages. I could pretend to scuttle my ship near the mouths of the Anduin, send a missive requesting aid to salvage the ship. The message may be intercepted and lure Devedir and his ilk to my position, where we can lay an ambush.” This presented two problems however. One, the message may not be intercepted at all and Abrazimir might end up waiting for a long time in some deserted coastline for nothing. Or secondly, it did lure Devedir into assaulting his immobilized vessel, to which Abrazimir and his men would be the first line of defense, to take the bulk of the pirate assault, while the Lieutenant and Captain brought their own Ranger forces in to conduct an encirclement and trap. That would take time. And in that time, many lives could be lost. Including his own.

But…he was ready. He was always ready. He knew it would only end one way between himself and Devedir. And he would rather get it over with.

”Or, if not my battleship, then a merchantman, that we can exchange letters stating contains a very sensitive shipment, to which I will personally oversee. The pirate might feel bolder to assault a less defended merchant vessel than a battleship. But instead of precious cargo in the hold, we stack as many armed and eager warriors as we can, so when the pirate unhinges his jaw to take a bite, he’ll get more than he bargained for.” He suggested as a possible improvement to his plan. What would the pirate be more eager to take? Revenge on a hated foe and the removal of a powerful naval asset? Or give in to his greed and strike a lucrative cargo on a more vulnerable ship? He looked back to the Lieutenant finally, after gazing out along the Great River, having concluded his initial thoughts. What did she think of that?

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Tirdinen Duinion Raedor & Rangers Vorondil and Sarina
Harlond, September 3rd

"If they would be looking to capture you or Unalmis, they would probably be inside, other than perhaps a sentry," Arnyn thought out loud, her eyes focused and thoughtful as she took in everything around them as inconspicuously as she could. "Four of us," she added, still thinking out loud. "One building and one outside area. But if it is set up as an uncreative trap in the sense of it just being multiple people who would be trying to get at us, it would be best to stay together. If the trap is more intricate, smarter - then it could be good to split up so the pair who walks into the trap can be aided by the pair still untrapped."

The Lieutenant fell silent for a moment, considering the advantages and disadvantages of each approach in silence. "We're expected," she finally said, coolly and calmly, as she looked over at Duinion. "And we're expected to act rashly." Given that the man had been trying to lead them here in the first place. "But we have also taken longer, perhaps, than expected. It's a gamble either way. But I think I would prefer for us to stick together in this scenario."

"What are everyone's thoughts on this?" she asked all three of them.

Vorondil looked unsure, and he made a bit of a face to emphasize that. He gave a little shrug. "I don't know, Lieutenant. Like you say, it depends on what might be waiting for us. There might just be one or two people in there. There might not be anyone at all. But if some sort of trap is sprung without people present to attack us, I think we should be smart enough to get out of it, right? So in case there are people waiting for us... yeah, I think I'd like to stick together."

Sarina frowned. "I'd prefer to keep more of a distance and back you lot up if need be. But if you three were to go inside, there wouldn't be much to do for me from the outside. Other than be a look out. And even then... what could I do? I couldn't shoot people just for entering a building. Not enough due cause, right?" Her eyes found Arnyn's, who gave a reluctant nod. "Right," Sarina continued. "So I'll go in if that's the consensus."

Arnyn's brown eyes now rested on Duinion. "Raedor?"

---

@Lantaelen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Harlond - Autumn

As she listened to the knight's ideas, her intial reaction was no more than a pensive frown as she looked from Abrazimir to their surroundings, nodding every so often to show he still had her full attention. She was merely mulling over everything as he was presenting it all to her.

By the time he finished, however, her frown had faded to an expression of focused interest. And her lips even bore a smile that hinted of slyness when she returned her gaze to the warship's commander. A smile that would tell him she liked at least one of his suggestions. Her eyes glinted with something that was difficult to pinpoint. Perhaps it was satisfaction at the way his suggestions showed his commitment. Perhaps it was pleasure in how they could exchange ideas and possibly arrive to a better plan together than they might have alone. Perhaps it was both.

"We cannot rely on the possibility of a message being intercepted," she began, "for it might waste too much time, and time is of value to us." The smile and the glint in her eyes, however, already told him she was not about to discard all of his ideas. Not in the slightest. "A merchant ship, with a cargo that would be both very valuable to the pirate and that would also make sense for you to oversee it in person," she repeated - agreed. "We will have to think of what exactly that cargo should be," she reminded him, probably unnecessarily. "If word reached Thormaetha, it would be too much for him to resist. Value in goods and value in his desire for revenge against you."

"Luckily, we need not rely on the interception of a message. I know just the person, or perhaps even people, in Harlond who need to hear about this merchant's ship that is in need of aid and repairs. We drop the information, the bait - and all we need to do is wait for word to reach the pirate. With such an irresistible combination... Why would he not come, if he had the chance? Then let him ruin his teeth on our blades." Arnyn intently watched Abrazimir's eyes for his reaction. What would he think of this adjustment to the plan? With the knight's idea about combining the lure of money with revenge, and her knowledge about Devedir's contacts in Harlond, they could set a near perfect trap. Couldn't they?

[Rillewen]

(private)

|
September 3rd - midmorning
Harlond - The Chandlery

Mar yelped and yanked his arm back when Merilda poured some alcohol on the wound, then with the other arm, backhanded her, so that she fell out of her seat and onto the floor. “Easy with that stuff!” He growled, before wincing as he realized he’d caused his other arm to hurt a bit.


They had sneaked into a supposedly disused building, and once there, he had ordered Merilda to stay put for a moment while he went to secure the door behind them. She looked around the front room. It had apparently once been the sales room; there were shelves where candles had once been displayed for sale all along the walls, with some other display tables in the center of the room. There was a counter where the clerk would have waited on customers and made the transactions. The windows were boarded up, and she stood absently scratching around her ears and forehead while trying to resist the temptation to wipe the dust off of the panes, so as to allow more light into the room through what few gaps there were.

After making sure the door was secure behind them, Mar ordered her to come along with him. Behind the counter was a door which opened to a set of stairs. Up the stairs they went, and found an abandoned living area up there. Pausing at a cabinet, Mar took out a bottle of liquor from a surprisingly well-stocked cabinet, as well as some rolls of bandages from another shelf. Merilda was surprised, watching him gather these supplies. She had no idea why such things were here in a candle-making place, nor who would have left them there. It actually looked like someone kept the place well stocked of such things, but why?

They continued toward a front room, which was probably the room where a family would have gathered for the evening, to spend time together. Now, however, there was only a simple table with four chairs around it. A deck of cards rested on the windowsill, along with stacks of checker pieces and some dice and other things of that sort. It seemed as if there were a few options for games to be played, as if to allow someone ways to pass the time. She thought that a little bit odd, and wondered who these were for. Before she could think any more about it, however, Mar shoved the bottle and a roll of bandages at her and ordered her to tend to his arms. She didn’t really know what else to do; who was she to question the orders of her liege?


It seemed that, while he seemed to delight in dishing out pain to others, he did not take it very well, himself. While Merilda cowered down, sniffling and holding the side of her face after being struck, she was alarmed to notice several men burst into the room bearing weapons. She gasped and looked up, wide-eyed as she sat up swiftly in surprise. She had not heard them ascending the rickety old stairs. Were they guards, coming to help her? One of them was dressed as a guard, and she almost dared to hope for a second, until that hope was snatched away.

“Nâluthor?” Dev spoke in surprise, stepping in front of the group. He had not expected to find the temple acolyte here, at the Chandlery. He waved to the other men in a ‘stand down’ sort of fashion.

“Ah, Dev.” Mar replied, actually pleased to see him here. “Good to see you.” He remarked with a little smirk. He had not reacted with startlement when they entered, but had merely looked up as if he'd almost been expecting the intrusion.

Merilda’s spirits sank yet again, and she wished for the thousandth time that she had stayed at the castle and continued to tend to Aderic. She really couldn’t see how any of this was helping him at all. She looked at these new men hesitantly, wondering who they might be, and how Mar knew them. They looked scary, and none of them looked very nice.

“The lookout told me a couple had sneaked in,” Dev smirked and glanced at the guy dressed as a guard. “Seems like you might have investigated a bit more, before raising the alarm.” He told the guy with an eyeroll. He folded his arms as he looked at the scene before him. Mar’s arm had apparently been chewed up pretty badly, by a dog, if he was right. He had it resting on the table, and it seemed as if the girl, who now sat on the floor, had been bandaging it before she.. fell? Doubtful. More likely, was knocked to the floor, judging by the red mark on her face. “Looks like you need a proper healer.” Dev commented, returning his gaze to Mar.

“Well, yes, that would be preferable than this..” Mar motioned to the girl, and followed with a word in some other language that Merilda didn’t understand, although if she had understood, she would have known that it was a language of Umbar, and that it was an insulting way to reference a female.

“What.. exactly are you doing here?” Dev wondered, tilting his head.

“Well,” Mar made an effort to pull out of his ill-temper. “Looking for passage to Lond Col, at the moment. But I needed to get this bandaged, first. In fact,” He paused, looking at Dev, and at his men. “I wouldn’t mind a favor, if you would give it.”

Dev smiled in a not-so-pleasant way. “I don’t do favors, Nâluthor.”

“It’s for Pharak.” Mar told him, narrowing his eyes. “I’m sure you’d want to stay on his good side, wouldn’t you?”

Dev’s smile faded, but wasn’t quite a frown. More of a neutral expression as he folded his arms. “I’m listening.”

Mar swiftly debated how much he wanted to tell the pirate. “Firstly, I need to get a message to him. Quickly.” He explained. “But also..” he paused, thinking. “I want to make some arrangements for a couple of rangers to become a..guest.. of Pharak’s.” He raised an eyebrow. “Interested?”

Dev tilted his head thoughtfully. “Perhaps. Why don’t you manage it yourself? Like you did before, with Unalmis?”

Mar smiled, though he didn't correct the man in the fact that that incident was mainly Pharak's doing. “Oh, I would. Believe me, I’d love to be able to handle this personally. But.. I have somewhere else I need to be, as soon as possible. Oh, and.. speaking of Unalmis, he may very well be one of the ones to come here.” He added. “I’m hoping, at least.”

Dev rubbed his chin thoughtfully, considering this. Unalmis meant a lot to Trevadir, he recalled. As far as he knew, they were still friends, despite all of Dev's efforts to turn the boy against his friend and forget him. Perhaps.. he could use that somehow. “Well, perhaps we can work something out. But it’ll cost you.” He warned. He was well aware of the fortune that Mar had managed to take over for himself. Why not get a little of that for himself?

Mar refrained from rolling his eyes. He had plenty of money, but didn’t like having to part with it if he didn’t have to. “What do you want?”

---

@Arnyn

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor with Lt Arnyn
and Rangers Vorondil & Sarina
September 3rd - several hours later
Harlond - At the Chandlery

Listening quietly, Duinion thought over all of what the others said. He privately agreed with Sarina's thoughts, about how she would prefer to keep distance and provide backup. Mainly, he preferred being able to use his bow. But he also agreed with her conclusion; they couldn't just shoot people randomly, and they also couldn't do much from out here if the threat was inside. And they couldn't really find out what the threat was, exactly, until they got inside.

He considered Vorondil's words, too. If there was a trap set up inside, he hoped he would be able to spot it, but there was always the chance he might not. But the lieutenant had made an excellent point about the fact they were expected, and they were likely expected to act rashly. If anyone was waiting inside.. and he had a hunch there were.. then they probably would be expecting him to be coming, demanding his daughter, or at least half-panicked, seeking for any trace of her. They wouldn't know that they had already found Eryn, and that she was safe.

He nodded slightly to the lieutenant when she asked his opinion. "I agree. Though, I'd like to a check of the property, and find out how many entry points there might be," He added thoughtfully, frowning. "If there's a back door, for instance, or a side door.. I think I'd feel better entering a less likely door than the front one, since that's probably where they're expecting us, don't you think?" He suggested, and glanced at the building.

"Besides, if we get involved in a fight, and there are doorways we haven't secured, the enemy might manage to surprise us somehow in an unfavorable way. Suppose they slip out and bring in reinforcements that are waiting somewhere nearby.. or someone could simply escape if the fight seems to be going our way, or.. whatever." He shrugged, unsure what exactly to expect. "But, I will follow your lead," he concluded quietly, still looking at the lieutenant.