Ghân will happily pass Scout on to Gilraen. (He doesn’t remember what he paid.)
Ghân likes the look of Palafax (fast, doesn’t panic). He Speaks to the horse, asking if he will be happy with Ghân (who is not a trained rider) and also with Fang + Anca running alongside.
If Palafax is happy, Ghân will buy him.
Ghân will be pleased to translate for Elfstan.
Palafax likes the idea of visiting Rivendell, that you are a Druid and can speak to him in his own tounge. He does not mind your canine friends and seems happy with Ghân as his rider.
:eek: Scout was gifted to you by the Queen. We might want to back up a hair and replay this a bit. Perhaps we can just say you offered Scout to Gilraen and when you insisted she offered to at least pay 40 gold to help get Palafax.
Palafax is a 2+3 HD Horse Movement is 27" AC 2/N Attacks: 1-4/1-4 but usually will not. As mentioned he is 10 and he is too smart for Animal Friendship spell but is friendly and can learn some new tricks as if you had Animal Friendship on him.
DM, thanks for reminding me! (It’s a big help not to have to scroll through loads of posts…)
Ghân would not dream of taking money for Scout. He is honoured to present the horse to Gilraen.
(He would not want to insult the Royal Family by giving their gift to just anyone, but Gilraen seems very appropriate.)
Ghân will happily pay for Palafax, as he is getting just what he wanted (speed, acceptance of inexperienced rider + gruff friends, happy to adventure and can defend)
He spends his spare time getting riding lessons (e.g. from Gil-Gandel or Aldor).
P.S. Does Palafax wear barding? If not, presumably a Barkskin will work.
Gilraen does not appear willing to take no for an answer on paying Aldor 40 of the gold. Please accept it with good grace. She seems to feel very strongly that it is the right thing to do. Many are here that can keep giving you riding lessons. Even Thoroncir is a much better rider than he lets on with his talk. He has charged off a beach galley, lance lowered into battle against the Corsairs of Umbar after all. Deor is oddly enough the only one who probably cannot help you.
Palafax has no barding and [COLOR=“Blue”]Barkskin will work very well. [/COLOR]
Uncle Aldor was absolutely amazed by the levitated view of his farm and the hands are all amazed.
So with lunch and business completed the party heads closer to Edoras with the next stop at Deor’s Mother’s house where his oldest brother manages the family farm. As Dwarves ride on to Edoras as they have some business to attend to and feel that few rides could be safer. The rest of the party will probably stay only a short time and then ride on to Edoras to get there by the evening at the latest. Deor might understandably stay the night at his old home.
Sir Thoroncir is greatly enjoying his first visit to Rohan. He rides easily at Gilraen’s side, happy to be in her company as the miles roll by.
Pleased to be headed home, Deor quickly resaddles his horse and with many handshakes and best wishes to Uncle Aldor, rides off with the rest of the group.
Deor is happy to reach his mother’s house. His older brother has a large family of his own and nearly a dozen nieces and nephews will be working or underfoot. Deor’s mom still rules the ranch with a ovenmitted iron fist. …
Elfstan uses the short trip to become familiar with Flower’s quirks and to work on his pack load out.
“Mother!”
Deor runs into his house and hugs his mother, sweeping her off her feet and around in a circle as he hugs her. He is in turn nearly swept off his feet by the rush of brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews crowding around him. After the first crush of siblings retreats, his eldest brother Leod presses in, shaking his hand and slapping his back. Deor pulls the silks and spices out of his pack for his mother and makes a present of it, then settles into a chair (the good one by the fire that he never got as a child, it being reserved for guests and elders!) and begins to catch up on the happenings of Edoras while he’s been gone.
Deor’s large family greets and mob him. They greet all of his interesting and wonderful friends and some of the kids are amazed by the fact they actually have Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits and Woses and a Knight and Princess of Gondor.
Despite the wonder, most of the family are just proud of the youngest son and actual wizard. If anything they seem to find his companions to reflect all the more on his importance.
Does the party ride on to Edoras and does Deor plan to meet them in the morning or that night.
Deor himself sticking around for the night, regardless of what the party’d like to do. He’s been away from home for several years and may be leaving for several more. That said, this is a large house but a very full one- if a couple party members would like to stay, we can scrounge up some beds, but having the whole party here would be a bit of an imposition. Sticking around for Mother’s cooking is usually worth it.
Deor will formally introduce his companions, this time making sure to introduce Lorliana first!
Thoroncir favors making camp near Deor’s family’s homestead, if there is open land, and enjoying some home cooking before going to Edoras on the morrow. Seeing all the fuss Deor’s family is making reminds him, in a bittersweet way, of his own family in the seaport of Linhir.
It’s Rohan- nothing but open land! I’ll personally recommend the spot under the willow by the creek behind the house (it’s far enough away that you might actually get some peace and quiet!), but you’re welcome anywhere.
Gilraen very much wishes to get to Edoras. She has a few special messages she is delivering and in general would like to see the King & Queen who are like family to her. Éomer King gave her some of her earliest riding lessons and Queen Lothíriel and King Éomer sent Kali to her when she turned 14. Curunauth would prefer to get to town and will be happy to escort the Princess.
Gilraen, “Deor, please be sure to reach the Golden Hall early tomorrow. I expect there to be a small reception in the morning or afternoon before we leave.”
She says hello and makes brief small talk with many of Deor’s overwhelming family.
Gilraen to the party, “Will anyone else be escorting us to Edoras?”
“I am at your disposal, of course, my lady,” says Thoroncir, bidding farewell to Deor’s family and saddling up.
Between Deor’s mom’s fine cooking and Gilraen’s charming company, there’s really no contest! 
Gilraen smiles, Thoroncir does not and probably can not catch it, but some in the party will notice a small look of satisfaction on Gilraen’s face that could only come from someone that felt she already knew the answer. (Did I mention lately that she is still only 16?)
Heheheheheheh. The minx. She’s got him wrapped around her little half-Elven finger, doesn’t she? 
Of course, if anything happened to her on the road between here and Edoras when he’d stayed behind to chow down on Mama Deor’s corn fritters, he’d never forgive himself, so it’s just as well.
And of course an occasion like this is just begging for an Elven minstrel plodding gently along on his silver steed, totally absorbed in the music of his harp and not paying any attention to the light chatter going on a few yards away.
Elfstan is torn between staying for a fine home cooked meal and finishing another step of their journey. Being conflicted, he will follow the majority.
I’m just going to assume that everyone but Deor moves on to Edoras.
Edoras is a growing town that sits on a green hill green hill at the mouth of the valley of Harrowdale at the foot of the White Mountains. It has a strong wall and dike and an additional newer section of wall to the west of the old wall. Stone steps lead from the gate up the summit of the hill to the Golden Hall, Meduseld.
Harrowdale has grown into a large suburb of Edoras and there is a thorny fence closing off the entrance to the valley. Harrowdale appears bustling and still has many small farms dotting the sides of the valley and fine houses and businesses along the main valley road.
The party passes the Dwarves you are traveling with who are doing business with men and other Dwarves. A quick exchange is enough to make plans to stay through most or all of tomorrow. Upon reaching the gates to Edoras, Gilraen rides up and the two tall guards look quickly attentive.
Slightly taller guard, “Hail rider of Kali and child of the house of Telcontar, shall I send word to Meduseld and Éomer the King of your arrival?”
Gilraen, noticing that the guard is careful to avoid offense but does not know her name, “That would be sweet, please let them know that Gilraen brings messages from Prince Eldarion and one from Queen Arwen.”
The Guard jogs up the stairs and is gone for a bit. In the meantime the second guard introduces himself, “I am Edelwine, and may I offer you the use of our stables and pastures.”
The first guard returns in a quarter of an hour. “Prince Elfwine will be meeting you shortly; I am to lead you and your friends up to the Guest House and stables. Please follow me.”
He leads you about half way up the hill to a large two storied stone house with a stable attached that can handle 20 horses. “I must return to my post, there will be several stable hands here shortly to assist you and a few to act as servants in the guest house.”
In a few minutes the hands do arrive and shortly after that Prince Elfwine and 6 maids and 6 matrons arrive.
Prince Elfwine, “Welcome Princess Gilraen and friends. Mae govannen ar’ Saesa omentien lle” (Well met and a pleasure meeting you.) I hope you will enjoy the comforts of our guest house while we make arrangements for you to meet with the King and Queen. My Sire is happy you have returned and most curious about your friends, though he will be disappointed that Master Holdwine is not one of the Holbytla mentioned.”
After a very fast greeting to all, “I apologize, but I was just on my way out on a patrol. Mealoth will aid you in anything you need until later.”
Mealoth is one of the matrons. Many kids seem to be peering at the party at this point.