The Orc addressing Gil-Gandel, “I truss you elf, yur werds sound truthlike. If promise to get me away from Dwarves, I’ll answer yur questions.”
Assuming that Gil-Gandel will and ending bad English approximation of Orc in Westron.
Ghân, “Where are you from?”
The Orc, “The misty mountains, the western most mountains in Dunland. We call it Grakor.”
Ghân, “Under whose immediate command is he?”
The Orc, "I think you killed him, he rode a larger warg. He was with us but hung back with his three guards. "
Ghân, “Under whose ultimate command is he?”
The Orc, "I guess he is under the King in Moria, but he don’t really report. He is our chief at Grakor. "
Ghân, “Are there any orc-lairs nearby?”
The Orc, "Moria is the nearest orc-lair I know of.”
Ghân, “Where did the wargs come from?”
The Orc, "The live in the hills, mountains and woods of Dunland. They are our allies from long back. "
Ghân, “What may we expect to find on the road to Tharbad?”
The Orc, "I don’t know a tharbad, what’s a tharbad? "
Ghân mutters that waving weapons is not for Deor (or Ghân). However some of Deor’s spells (though not truly dangerous) can make a strong impression.
Levitate? One of your cantrips?
Gwaelur understands and respects Ghan’s feelings on the matter. But this is an Orc, and it isn’t enough to simply tell them that they will go free, just as it isn’t enough to tell them that they will die. They need to know that if they don’t co-operate they will deeply regret it, but if they do co-operate the angry Dwarf won’t touch them.
It’s a philisophical difference I suppose and one we can discuss later when we are not mid interigation. That bell can’t be unrung right now. Gwaelur would also be quick to note that with non Orcs he wouldn’t necessarily feel the same way, and hopes that Ghan doesn’t hold this minor difference of opinion on the treatment of Orcs, against him.
Gwaelur also likes to refer to himself in the third person. But you may have already noticed that about Gwaelur.
Ghân confirms to the orc that he will be released if he answers all our questions.
The ones so far have been excellent, so Ghân adds:
what promises (if any) have your leaders made to you?
“Promises? What Promises? We don’t need promises when we are starving. We try to take out those that are much weaker. Attacking your group was a bigger risk than normal, but we were getting desperate and should have had surprise. Instead you were ready and had wizards. The warg that scouted tried to warn us off, but we were desperate. No more problem I guess. Might I drag one of the wargs off behind me when I go? Should be some good eating.”
have you ever worked with other orc bands nearby?
“We have not worked with other since Sharkû lost, it actually seems safer not to work with others.”
are there any dangerous monsters nearby?
“Them horseriders are dangerous alright.”
are you expected back?
“Yes, we were to bring food for the women and few children.”
is the King in Moria an orc … or something else?
“I think he’s an orc. It can’t be a troll. Can I go now?”
Since the prisoner doesn’t recognize the name Tharbad, Thoroncir suggests that Ghan describe the town in terms of its direction, distance and population. Does the orc know of any other hazards between here and there?
And why couldn’t the lord of Moria be a troll?
Otherwise the Sea-Knight has no other questions to suggest. He would have wanted to take the orc as a prisoner to Tharbad for use as a captive laborer in the King’s service (he and his comrades did attack us, after all), but the promise of freedom having already been extended, he will not gainsay the Elf-captain on that point.
He will make sure that Gilraen and Lorliana are all right, and then go speak to the dwarves. Are they in good spirits and good health after the battle? He would like to get to know them a bit better. Are any of them more friendly/approachable/talkative than the others?
Even with describing Tharbad as the city on the river with the bridges the Orc knows nothing about it and did not know the bridges had been rebuilt. He does not know of any other hazards others than other travelers.
As to the King of Moria, Trolls are too stupid to be Kings. Orcs are Kings not Trolls.
The girls seem fine and Lorliana appears to be petting a purring invisible cat. Later Gilraen will thank Ghân for the suggestion, it was excellent.
The Dwarves are in good spirits overall. Several are less businesslike than normal and even Drogan the most dour normally seemed to enjoy scaring the orc. Bammar is probably the friendliest and least dour. He is actually excited by the battle and very pleased with the outcome. “78 less orcs and wargs and no one hurt seriously. A good night, a good night. Haro is a good leader for joining up with your party for escort. The outcome tonight would have been far different with just a dozen human merchants I think.”
A reminder on the Dwarves: The Leader is Haro son of Tamin. He is 3rd level. The others are Frenin, Krenin, Ganil, Dumin, Janin, Drogan, Hartur, Bammar & Tumin. They have 15 ponies for themselves and 20 packhorses. Most of them are 1st levels including Bammar who appears to be one of the younger Dwarves.
"If you are hungry enough to eat Warg then you may have as much as you can carry - we will allow you time and tools for the butchering, as you might as well leave the useless parts behind, and we can help rig something up to take it away.
“There are some others of your kind who have set up a colony in the East, and they may have room. You might find it better than starving. You would have to work, but no worse. It is for you to choose - but in the lands the King of Men claims, it will be death soon or late for robbery or murder, while in the colony I speak of, you might find the ways not strange or hateful to you.”
Gwaelur, I may have said this before, but do not forget that for every score the Dwarves have to settle with the Orcs, the Elves have a longer one - and have had since before the Sun rose.
To Haro and his party: “That was a splendid effort. We are pleased to have provided the archery and the wizardry, but courage and stout shields counted for much, too. And it rejoices me greatly that all have come through alive.”
I am aware, and no harm will come to the Orc as he was compliant. But given your racial history you can’t tell me you would object to us making the Orc regret his decision should he have chosen differently, or, at the very least, suggesting that we might do so. You have never been opposed to Bad Cop in the past.
Ok, just making sure we were still on the same page. And I think we are. I would never actually harm a captive after they had been helpfull. But putting the fear of their god into them never hurt.
Thoroncir also thanks the dwarves for their skilled preparation of the battlefield and for their fighting prowess. In a friendly way, and without seeming to interrogate him, Thoroncir will talk more with Bammar. Where is he from, originally? How did he join up with Haro? Has he often had to fight orcs? What are his interests? Does he have a family elsewhere? The Sea-Knight will answer any of the dwarf’s questions, too, of course, and will invite Gwaelur to join in the conversation, if he wishes.
I tend to capitalize Dwarf and Elf and Orc, but recently noticed that Tolkien didn’t in The Hobbit, FWIW.
As for Miron, he has no resentment over the decision to let the Orc go, but had it been left to him he probably would’ve preferred killing it after the interrogation. Experience will probably prove him wrong, but at present Miron is unconvinced that Orcs are capable of anything but despicable and thoroughly evil behavior.
Ghân appreciates the depth of hatred that Orcs have created in decent folk, and is grateful that his companions let him try a merciful interrogation. Sometimes very evil orcs would rather die, but we have gained in the past from this approach.
Ghân is unusual amongst his own people in not using deadly poison.
Perhaps learning from Radagast has changed his attitudes. And Gandalf showed mercy to Gollum…
July 19[sup]th[/sup]: The rest of the night passes peacefully. The party sleeps a bit later to ensure the spellcasters are at full. The Dwarves very carefully collect up their traps, barb wire and caltrops. They do a final search to recover a many more bolts. Much ruined and broken orc gear is gathered to be displayed along the road. Ghân gets word out to some carrion beasts and the bodies are left for nature. The party heads north again. The Orc hauls off the butchered parts of many of the wargs and a few of the coats.
July 20[sup]th[/sup] to 22[sup]nd[/sup]: The weather is hot but good for traveling. A single horseman with a spare horse comes from the south on the 21[sup]st[/sup]. He is from Minas Tirith and he is delivering a message north. He is glad to join you for lunch, but unwilling to talk about his mission. He does avail himself of the Dwarves to see to the shoes and barding of his excellent Light War Horses. He is happy to hear the local Orcs were dealt a devastating blow. He relies on speed and speed alone. Well that and some good Aglarian Armor.
Over the next few days of travel as the party heads north, Thoroncir will slowly learn the following from Bammar. He is indeed a young Dwarf. He is only 52. He hails from the Blue Mountains and is missing them a bit. He found that summer in Gondor and crushing numbers of men about to be a bit much. "No offense, it is clearly the greatest of human cities and very clean, but it very hot in summer and I had never been to a larger town than Bree before. 500 was a large gathering of Men, Dwarves and Hobbits for me, so tens of thousands was hard to deal with and take all in. That and the men are taller and somehow different than those of Bree. In Bree I did not feel particularly young, in Gondor I felt like a young bumpkin.” A later conversation reveals that Haro is an older Dwarf that has seen many battles before last night’s. “He is the son of an important smith and decided there was much money to be made in trade from North to South. He put out word he was looking for some sturdy adventuresome folks that wish to make some money and see the fabled cities of the South and Aglarond. I am glad I came along. This was the largest battle I have ever been in and my first against our most ancient foes.” One conversation reveals he had always lived in the Blue Mountains and had never been further than Bree before. “My family has been in the Blue Mountains for centuries beyond count. I had a grandfather that fought at Moria though under Thráin son of Thrór.” His main interests appear to be making a small fortune and eventually either running his own merchant business or setting up shop in Fornost perhaps.
He does ask questions of the sea and of pearls. He asks, “Is Gilraen your betrothed? Is it true she is one of the daughters of the King? Who is your family that you can marry into that family? Are your family rich ship-lords? That Gil-Gandel seems like a rather exception Elf, is he related to Legolas or something? I thought they all acted more like Miron or worse. Have you met the King?” July 23[sup]rd[/sup]: The party should make Tharbad on the 25[sup]th[/sup]. That day a large troop of 224 men are marching south. The Dwarves are happy to makes some sales and make some repairs. They even move several of those orc short swords they have been cleaning up and sharpening at night.
Please feel free to add more questions/comments to any of the events; none seem major enough for me to pause the game, so I have moved it along to get us closer to Tharbad and where the real adventure should begin. As to Elf vs. elf, I usually favor the capitalization for the Free People but I use in inconsistently for orcs and wargs and their ilk. I also try hard to get the diacriticscorrect.
Sir Thoroncir is pleased to talk, and to find out more about dwarves. He rides alongside Bammar on the road to Tharbad and they converse out of Gilraen’s hearing. “No,” he says, “Gilraen is not my betrothed, although I have hopes that someday… well, perhaps best not to speak of that. She is indeed a princess, the second daughter of the King, and I am but a humble knight. My family have long been mariners and fisherfolk, honest and respectable, but not nobility. I ought not to set my sights too high, but in truth she is so lovely and wise, such a skilled healer and a gentle soul, that I cannot help myself. I confess I love her, friend Bammar, more deeply than I would ever have believed possible. I have sworn a great oath and would die before I saw her come to harm.”
Aware that he’s perhaps revealed too much to a recent acquaintance, he changes the subject. “Gil-Gandel is certainly exceptional, even for such an exceptional people. He is a skilled bard and is mighty in battle. I do not believe he is related to Legolas, but I could be wrong. You should ask him; I think you will find him friendly and approachable. What was your other question? The King? No, I have not met him, but I have had the honor of meeting both the Queen and her son Prince Eldarion, the heir apparent, and the other royal daughters.”
“Tell me, do you have skills in working with pearls, mithril and the like…?”
Elfstan has fallen back into the routine of the journey: wake, prepare food, eat, saddle Flower, travel, eat in the saddle, travel, eat in the saddle, tend to Flower, prepare food, eat, smoke a pipe, keep watch, sleep, etc. He talks to Curunauth when possible and keeps an eye on him, feeling oddly protective of the old Elf after their misadventure.
Thoroncir asked, “Tell me, do you have skills in working with pearls, mithril and the like…?”
Bammar replied, “Not yet, not yet, but maybe someday. Honestly I am not even a very good blacksmith. I am young yet and have a strong back and I am eager to work hard for my share. Haro appears to appreciate this. I guess I am an apprentice merchant rather than a smith. I asked about the Pearls* as I see a good trade possibility if a fairly inexpensive supply was available.”
Pleasant country for travelling through at a very easy pace for my horse, whom I am spared the labour of unnecessary saddling and off-saddling, and all the more time to spend on further exploring the capabilities of this Wild Man’s flute, which is rough and yet has an innocent rustic charm of its own. It is good to see young Elfstan enjoying the company of the master-smith, and no doubt their shared peril has forged a bond between them.
If the music should chance to blow a little sweeter whenever Thoroncir’s duty sees him fall in beside Gilraen every once in a while, who could blame an honest minstrel?
