E-E-Eärendil’s armour, I cannot wear it. I do not fear it, I fear that I am not worthy of it. :eek:
Surely there is someone more suitable amongst the Elves who would put it to much better use than I. Someone more noble, of more experience, of more valour who could live up to the original owner than I ever could.
Hmmmm. Somehow I pictured Earendil, in his mortal life, being a bit taller than Mulligan… :dubious:
Gilraen laughs, “No one would fit it, Gondolin fell when Eärendil was 7. It is ideal for you but for few others. It was an odd gift, but a great gift. It was probably in Númenor for a while. I suspect you were meant to get it. It would not surprise me if it gave you some protection against some undead however.”
Glorfindel to Thoroncir, “Gondolin fell when Eärendil was but 7. You might need to study the history of the King’s of you nation a bit better I think as they all descended from Elros, Eärendil’s son and Gilraen here descended from both Elros and Elrond of course. I gave my first life to save Idril Celebrindal and young Eärendil. Though Tuor saved them from Maeglin even earlier that dark day. This was back in the days when I was chief of the House of the Golden Flower.”
How could I say anything other than yes?
When shall we be off?
Ack - I put it in green! In green, I say! And yet Glorfindel can read my thoughts now, in 2008?!?!?!?!?!? :eek: 
Then I guess I will have to do the best I can to live up to it. 
When the GM writes the next chapter and sends the updated character sheets out
Elrohir speaks, “Thank you all. Your help will be greatly appreciated. The Dwarves plan to take the brunt of the dangerous work and most of the Elves will be outside though several off us will be going in. The Hobbits will be supporting the Dwarves but mainly as archers and burglars including Ponto Took who is both.”
Ponto gets up on his chair and bows and Elrohir continues. “Most of out our people will remain out on the West side of the Mountains and Thranduil’s and the West Lorien Elves will main stay to the Eastern side. What we need parties like yours for is to go after key side entrances and hold them and lightly explore. You will be supported by a mix of Dwarves, Hobbits and a few Elves and Men. We will send at least one serious Dwarven vet or Elf warrior with you to increase the safety of Princess Gilraen. If things turn bad, please ensure you get her out. I don’t think Arwen would forgive me if she came to a bad turn in what was our request.”
He takes a good long look at Thoroncir and quietly says, “I see you will do your best and more to protect her. Good, but remember the future choice might not be hers even if you win her heart.” Somehow Thoroncir hears this and knows Gilraen herself did not.
To all he continues, “I think your group might be well suited to the Grave Door. I will send the other adventurers to the Wolf Gate with Glorfindel to lead them. I, Elladan, Elenwë & Captain Celepen (Swift Bow) will each be leading 24 Elves on swift Elven Horses to outride and rally wherever a horn for help is heard. Who can I best spare to send with you?”
Bofur, “My Grandson Bitur will be a good choice. He is probably ideal. In his Dwarven Plate he could hold a small passage with support nearly by himself and standing shield to shield with a steady veteran like Gwaelur here they should be able to hold for a long time. Bitur is quite accomplished with Hammer and Shield and an excellent orc slayer with some great skill at finding and operating secret stone works and pit traps or sliding walls.”
Elrohir responds, “Excellent choice is he coming from Erebor or Bree?”
Bofur, “He is coming from Bree, he was waiting there after traveling North from Aglarond and Lord Gimli who is off supporting the King Aragorn or Éomer yet again with Legolas.” The party will probably note a slight tone of disapproval.
Elrohir, “The Dwarves will do their best to supply your needs in arrows, bullets or extra armor. After this dinner please spear to Bofur himself of your needs. He will help where possible. Are there any questions?”
I need to start working up Experience over the next week and finalize Elfstan’s Swords and Equipment loans or trades.
Far be it for me to tell Princess Gilraen what to do, as I am sure is capable of making her own decisions, but by the way of keeping her safe what else might we encounter at the Grave Door.
Aside from the hordes of Goblins and Orcs of course.
Elrohir replies to Mulligan, “Forgive me, I am afraid I lost my train of thought a bit. The Grave Door is haunted by some restless dead. Gilraen and the rest or you seem well suited to handling the Undead. Many of you have items specifically to fight them. I was originally going to send Glorfindel through there but they could use him more at the Wolf Gate. I don’t expect this door to have hordes of Orcs but we would rather it was covered and the Dwarves need it cleared eventually to complete the clearing of Goblin Gate and Town.
Space The orcs have had several recent reversals. Gundabad had planted a secret colony about half way between Goblin Gate and Gundabad. It is gone. Gundabad itself had the lands around it raided and Angmar has had several scouting missions in force that causes disruption and problems for the orcs from Mount Gram to Carn Dûm.”
Thoroncir is troubled by these words but recognizes the truth of them, and nods slightly to show he understands. Although he is always reluctant to see the Princess Gilraen go in harm’s way, he knows that she and her cat have special talents when it comes to the undead. With his reforged and newly-enchanted sword, the knight-errant is quietly confident that Gil-Gandel’s band can hold its own against any such foes.
This all sounds pretty good- the Elves and Dwarves running the show have a pretty solid plan, it seems. I’d like to know a little more about communication between our group and the other surrounding groups. It seems as though we’re being asked to cover a possible Orc cave exit (the “Grave Door”) on the Western side of the mountains, while a group of hobbits and elves (under Ponto?) hold the “Wolf Gate”, a similar cave entrance nearby. In the event of an outpouring of orcs, a group of elves including Elladan and Elrohir will ride to support us. Otherwise, we should hold the Door against any evil force trying to enter or exit. I’m certain that Gil-Gandel’s newest musical instrument will suffice for us to call for help if we need it. How will Elladan and Elrohir contact us, or the Wolf Gate team call for help either from us or from Elladan and Elrohir? Finally, how will we keep in contact with those on the Eastern side of the mountains, where the Dwarves will be attacking from?
I quite agree with the choice of Bitur as an addition to our party- we’re already much stronger fighting at range than close up, and few in Middle Earth are better than a Dwarf at close-quarters fighting. He’ll round out our party nicely for this mission.
The big main gate will have over 100 heavily armored Dwarves blasting their way in with Hobbits, Elves, Beornings and Woodmen for support. Five more major entrances will have 80+ Dwarves breaking in and storming the tunnels. There will be many Elves stationed outside but more importantly there will be 4 troops of extremely fast Elven Calvary moving at 36” base on Elven Horses. Each led by a great Warrior or Archer. Communications will be by runner and Horn or Drum signal. Wolf Gate is like the Grave Door being given a different priority. These and two other even lesser exits are just to be blocked and lightly scouted. Sounds the Horn for help or signal some other way. If they need your help, they will send a pre-arranged signal by Horn or an Elven runner.
The group holding/scouting the Wolf Gate is actually being led by Glorfindel himself. He will have a Miregol the Noldo mage from the Grey Havens, two Elves of Rhûn, an Elf of Thranduil who was once the Captain of the Guard, several Dwarves of Erebor, a Beorning Druid named Bjorn who Ghân knows, some woodmen archers and a Dúnedain Ranger.
Bitur should come close to matching Gwaelur in battle. He might be even better armored. If and when you enter the Door, he and Gwaelur will make a good front line for the taller folk to shoot or cast over. If the passage is wide or Undead appear, then Thoroncir can aid them in the front. You’re party showing up in time allowed Elrohir & Elladan to assign Glorfindel to lead the other strong party.
There will also be two separate main field hospitals. A Beorning Healer is running the Eastern one and several Rivendell and Dúnedain healers are running the Western camp. More details will of course follow.
Sir Thoroncir is very impressed by the campaign plans so far, although he knows from hard experience that no plan long survives contact with the enemy.
When there’s an opportunity to speak to Glorfindel alone later, he says, “Pardon me if I intrude, my lord, but I have heard about you since I was a boy, and I wonder… what was it like to die, and to be reborn? What did you see, hear and experience when you were not of Middle-earth? Did you ask to return, or were you given a choice, or none at all?”
Later still, he asks one of the Elf-maids if there is a regular or even semi-regular post to Minas Tirith.
Glorfindel gives Thoroncir a puzzled look, “Ah, I see you are nearly as brazen as Beren in all you do and not as ultimately polite as Tuor. This is not something I speak of but I can tell you what many already know. I was effectively a precursor to the Istari.”
Feeling distinctly dismissed Thoroncir wanders off.
Later he runs across Mirwen, once Thoroncir explains what post is she says, “There is no regular post anywhere from the hidden valley. Just occasional messengers that do not carry extra. No messengers will beheading out before the war begins but I’m sure that there will be three messengers sent out after the main assault. One to Bree, Fornost, the Havens and Ered Luin, one to Minas Tirith and a final one to Old Fort Town & the Beornings, Thranduil, Dale and Erebor.”
Curunauth will be able to enhance and reforged both of Elfstan’s blades. Elfstan and his heirs may now will off Sting’s glow. It will be an additional +1 in their hands. The Kkósal bane has been changed for the better. It is a +3 weapon and now better suited to work with Sting. It retains the +5 vs. Undead and still allows for backstabbing. It will glow if they are near but not as strongly as Thoroncir’s blade Cirist.The glow may be willed off by Elfstan and his heirs. (Figure around 100’). The two are now paired and when used together one trained to use two short swords with a high dexterity will suffer no penalty. Finally Curunauth tapped some additional properties of Sting and can officially say that the blade is a Spider’s bane as thought but now will do triple damage against the children of Ungoliant.
So, we are supposed to protect Princess Gilraen from the restless undead, when in fact, she is more likely to be protecting us. I hope she takes after her mother. 
Oh well, time to load up on things that take out things that go bump in the night. The smoke bullets are not going to be much use, I wonder if I can get some explosive versions instead.
Actually I think Gilraen is suppose to be protected from the goblins and and stray trolls and spiders. She is the main reason your group is being assigned to an area with undead. That is why Glorfindel originally was going to have that door. The Undead are actually afraid of him.
As far as bullets, they have nothing special but can give you a good supply of +3’s to use.
Before taking his leave of Glorfindel, Thoroncir says, in a voice colder than any of his comrades have ever heard him use before, “As I began my query with an apology, sir, I confess that I do not understand why you feel the need to resort to insults. If I overstepped my bounds, a more civil response would surely have sufficed. Truly, I regret causing any offense, just as I regret using the honorific ‘my lord’ in addressing you; I now see that was unwarranted. I have learned something from our conversation, at least: immortality does not necessarily endow one with either courtesy or humility.” With that, he bows and leaves.
He will then write a dispatch to the First Sea-Knight, summarizing the party’s adventures since leaving Minas Tirith, inquiring after the health of Riglo, and the disposition of the brigands whom the party captured before reaching Tharbad. He will ask the courier to Minas Tirith to take it there after the main assault.
Glorfindel looks a bit surprised but mostly amused. “It was meant that I perceive you as bold and normally comparisons to Beren are not looked at as insults. Though it is true that I do not think quite as highly of Beren as Tuor you I briefly took as my Lord. I do think very highly of him that won Lúthien Tinúviel’s heart, wrested a Simaril from the Crown of Morgoth himself and perhaps the toughest of his accomplishments, won the good will of Thingol when with his brazenness he presented the Simaril to Thingol but of course his hand that was holding the Holy Gem was in Carcharoth’s gullet. Westron is not my tongue of choice, please try to understand I was not insulting you.”
Thoroncir, seeing now the root of the misunderstanding, smiles warmly. “Thus I am fully satisfied, and I withdraw my perhaps-intemperate remarks. I hope this unfortunate exchange will now be forgotten in mutual goodwill. All that ends well is well, as a wiser man than I once wrote, O noble Glorfindel. I offer my thanks for your time, and wish you strength and honor in the battles yet to come against our common foe.” He bows again, and withdraws.
Late on the night of August 23[sup]rd[/sup] a horse arrives with two riders. It is Taurernal the son of Belem who leads the Elves of Rhûn and Faramir Took the Thain of the Shire and one of the King’s key Captains in the North. They report that Lord Tuln of Belegost is leading 300 Dwarves from Ered Luin and 80 Hobbit Archers. They should arrive by August 27[sup]th[/sup].
Taur reports that his party is with the Dwarves but Bjorn is critically injured and in a near hibernation state as a bear. Elrohir, Elladan and Gilraen will ride out to meet the Dwarves and help the injured.
The party sees little of the eastern Avari Taur but they do see Faramir often. He is delighted to see his cousin Angelica and nephew Elfstan. He is married to Goldilocks Gamgee a younger sister of Elfstan’s mother Elanor. He is a tallish Hobbit standing a bit over 4’ and 54 years old. He is well armored and armed. His bow appears Elvish as does his cloak, boots and rope. He carries a finely made quiver and wears a small green elf stone on his brow. It looks like a small version of the one that King Elessar wears. He is one of the most respected Hobbits outside the Shire and as a hero in the Battle of the Sanford in ’52 and very well off and already married with children his being an adventurer is mostly overlooked. He has ridden often with his Father and Meridoc and even the King himself. He has visited everywhere from Fornost to Minas Tirith and the Grey Havens to Rivendell.
Glorfindel, Celeborn and Erestor work on the preparations for war. Farofind continues to act as your main liaison for whatever questions you have.
On August 27[sup]th[/sup] a large party of Dwarves and Hobbits arrive near Rivendell. The Elves bring them out supplies and a Lord Tuln and several others are led to the Valley along with 6 of the Hobbits. Several Elves and Dwarves are carrying a litter with a large bear on it. Gilraen is escorting the litter with Elrohir leading it and Elladan following. A pretty Noldo maid is talking to Gilraen.
The Brethren and Gilraen work through the night and the Beorning is back on his feet on the On August 28[sup]th[/sup].
The army will be ready to move out on August 29[sup]th[/sup]. It should be three days to the main gate on the Eastern side.
Expectations are to meet more Dwarves, Elves, Beornings and humans on the other side. Beyond the 300 Dwarves and 80 Hobbits led by Faramir Took and Ponto Took at his side. There are the two adventuring parties one with Glorfindel and yours with Bitur, Bofur and several younger Dwarves, over 100 Elves led by Elladan & Elrohir.