I think that it would be a good bet to sell the armour. None of us need it but it is very fine and should fetch a good price.
I agree, selling the armor would be a wise move. On that note, would anybody like to borrow Miron’s Soft Lightweight Leather +1? Since it’s light I imagine he’ll be wearing his new chainmail during the day, but he’ll be happy to loan the leather armor to anybody who needs or want to use it.
Okay. I’ll want to restock on dwarf-made arrows - also I have a bow-stave a-seasoning. I still have no real interest in armour. Other things being equal I wouldn’t sniff at that ring of warmth but I am very, very happy with the ruby pendant for all the reasons outlined.
June 16th to 19th are peaceful. The party reaches the road. No signs of Gimli & Legolas and companies were seen.
In the time you have been out here, it appears the road has already progressed quite a bit. A few more days of good weather and you will see the shining gates.
June 20th to 23rd The road gets busier as you travel. You pass the guard fort near the gates and find out that the heavy infantry and Dwarves passed by 3 days ago. You must have just missed them.
All goes quietly and you reach the city. Now is time to call in a few connections and delivering Hodwain promptly to the Citadel.
Gwaelur is probably best suited to sell that set of armor and the scimitar, he knows the city, the merchants, and fine craftsmanship better than most of us. I’m going to drop by my professor’s workshop and ask his advice on the figurine.
Elfstan (and I hope Mulligan) will go in search of other Hobbits (such as Mulligan’s relatives) to try to get some news of the Shire. He will send word of his good health along with the deeds of his party back to his family. He will send it with a messenger to the North Kingdom if no Hobbits are going that way.
He would also like to look for a small lantern such as the one that I believe CiaS tried describing earlier in the mission.
Before being assigned to the party I believe Miron was quite heavily involved in helping heal and beautify the city, so he will try to make a walking tour of city. If he can get in to see Éowyn again he would like to tell her of his recent travels and of the brew Hodwain described when we were planning the assault on the orcs, and ask if she is aware of any herbs or unusual healing techniques that would be of particular use when dealing with the undead in the future.
No, that would be fine. Mulligan has no problems using an Injector dagger, considering it an effective way to stop people without killing them.
What Exit?. You were spot on with the ring as well 
As Uncle Pippin is resident in Minas Tirith, that will be first port of call. He will also be able to give us any news and send messengers back to the shire for us.
He and Uncle Merry will probably be delighted to hear any stories with have. 
A dwarf made bullseye lantern would be very useful for future wanderings. I’ll have to see what else I need as well.
Thoroncir is delighted to be back in the White City. After bathing, and cleaning his gear, he has a couple of errands:
- posting a long letter to his parents in the coastal town of Linhir
- submitting to the King, Steward or appropriate royal official his report re: what Hodwain told the party about Rhun’s terrain, political situation, diplomacy, etc.
- getting the White Tree, Seven Stars and Crown of Gondor painted on his spiffy new shield
- replenishing any necessary supplies from Citadel stores, where possible; otherwise paying out of pocket
- buying or having made a set of four waterproof message pouches, with attached jesses, for the party’s birds to use on future courier runs
He will also, without being pushy, try to spend more time in Renee’s company, if her schedule permits.
Ghân will await keenly the result of the ID on the Stone. He’s happy for Gwaelur to sell the spare magic items (but will help if asked).
He will restock his herbs and cast Goodberries to store for future.
He will try to sort out exactly which new animal / party member partnerships have formed and offer to translate if helpful.
Text preapproved by the DM….
The Sea-Knight takes his newly-acquired longsword to the chief armorer of the Citadel in Minas Tirith. The grizzled warrior is impressed by its fine craftsmanship and sharpness, but he cannot read the runes which appear on both sides of the blade. He suggests that Thoroncir visit the Houses of Learning.
There, a group of elderly scholars eagerly gathers around and examines the sword closely. All agree it is of Numenorean origin, and quite ancient. Rielle, the most accomplished linguist of the group, taps her nose thoughtfully. “The runes are in Adunaic, the tongue of Numenor, from which Westron arose but which is now spoken mainly – and in debased form, at that – by the people of Umbar. But on one side of the blade the runes appear in a form of Adunaic which I’ve never seen before. Are you willing to leave the sword here for a little while? I assure you it will be quite safe. Yes? Good. I shall send word to you after I have consulted the archives and prepared a translation. It is just possible that I will not be able to help you after all, but I will try.”
Thoroncir thanks her and departs. A day passes, and then two, before he receives a summons from Rielle. He returns to finds her at a table heaped with dusty scrolls. She looks tired but pleased; it is clear that she has scarcely slept since he last saw her. “This is a noteworthy sword, O knight.” She picks it up and carefully runs her thin fingers down the blade. “See, on this side, the words ‘Ne Veltir Cheph Ciryatur Izre Azra Kathuphazgan.’ That is simply Adunaic, and clear enough: ‘The sword of the third son of Ciryatur, beloved Sea-Conqueror.’ Do you know who Ciryatur was? No? Nor did I.” She gestures to the scrolls. “But I have learned that he was a Numenorean admiral during the reign of King Tar-Minastir. In the Second Age, in the year 1700, he led the great fleet which defeated and almost captured the Dark Lord in the Battle of Gwathlo. Some accounts say that the King, in gratitude, had wondrous swords forged for Ciryatur and each of his three sons, who had sailed with him and fought bravely. All of the sons’ names are now lost to history, alas, but it appears that you have come into the possession of one of those very swords. A noble blade, in truth, and fitting indeed for a sea-knight.”
Thoroncir can hardly believe his good fortune. Matching his grin with a wry smile of her own, Rielle turns the sword over. “On the other side of the blade, the inscription is apparently in the Mariners-tongue of Andunie. It was an obscure dialect, a patois if you will, of Numenorean seamen and shipwrights which is now virtually forgotten. The scroll from which I learned it virtually crumbled in my hand; I will now have it recopied, of course. I could not even begin to pronounce the original inscription for you, but was at least able to translate it: ‘Behold, the King’s strength and majesty are surpassed only by that of the Sea itself.’” She chuckles. “Perhaps Tar-Minastir was reminding Ciryatur and his sons not to get too high an opinion of themselves.”
He nods. “That wouldn’t surprise me, from what little I know of the kings of long-sunken Numenor. A proud lot, if memory serves.”
“Quite true. One more thing: I took the liberty of having a mage of my acquaintance, quite a talented wizard, look over the sword. He tells me that, mighty as it is, it would easily bear further ensorcellment of the White. You may wish to consider this.”
“I shall. My deepest thanks, my lady.”
Rielle hefts the sword, her eyes gleaming, before passing it back to him. She asks, “How came you by it, my young friend, if I may ask?”
He slides the sword into its scabbard, enjoying anew the deadly weight of it by his side. “An orc-trove in Ered Lithui.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Really? That is most interesting. I wonder how it came to be there? This is not a sword that would gladly suffer the grasp of an orc; no, not in the least. It has probably been very long unused.”
“I hope to remedy that, and have already made a good start, I think,” Thoroncir says, smiling grimly. “Moreover in coming days I shall not lack for further opportunities to do so.” He thanks Rielle again and offers a purse of gold for her efforts.
She declines with a weary smile, saying, “Learning is its own reward, and I am ever happiest immersed in the lore of bygone days, but I thank you. And now I must rest, having been too long a stranger to my own bed. Farewell, O knight, and may the Valar strengthen your arm as it bears that sword!” They exchange bows.
Thoroncir presently gives the purse to the Master of the Houses of Learning, for the benefit of all of the scholars, and then goes on his way.
Who escorts Hodwain to the Citadel? It sounds like Thoroncir is headed more or less that way. Renee would go with you after a quick change.
Renee, “Why don’t we leave Hodwain for a short time at the Elf Stone Inn”?
Ghân: The stone is fully identified; it was the figurine that required further checking. You do find the Stone has some residual magic in it. Playing with the stone carefully you determine that is has a single 5th level spell in it and you might need help safely draining it out. The senior priestess of Estë may be able to help you on this part. It might require a small donation of time or money. In the meantime you can store 4 spell points. Remember that it reduces casting time, so once it is cleared, it might be good to load a Call Lightning in the Stone along with the Neutralize poison. This will still leave room for 3 spell levels.
Mulligan and Elfstan go searching for the Hobbits. They find Pippin at the Elf Stone Inn nearest the gates where they first met him and Merry. Apparently he has become a regular and it appears his drinks are always covered.
Pip, “Ah, who do we have here; young Mulligan in travel gear and this must be Elfstan, Sam’s Grandson. Welcome, welcome, pull up a chair.” He shoos away several locals to make room at his table. An Elf and a Dwarf remain. “Tell me of your adventures.”
Deor find his master is doing well. He happily agrees to ID the dragon for only 50gp or you could wait to see if you made level and have another chance to do it yourself.
I think Gil-Gandel and Gwaelur head off to find some prospects for selling/trading the Armor and the Scimitar for Riglo.
Thoroncir is, of course, at Renee’s disposal, either with or without Hodwain.
Not THAT Elf and a Dwarf :eek:
Hello Uncle, how are you, we have so much to say. And once I have dumped my stuff you will hear all about it.
Once all my stuff has been put in my room, either here or in the Citadel, I think the next several hours are going to disappear in beer, tale and song.
Oh and make sure that I can find somewhere for Elfstan to stay as well.
What, go a-bargaining while the Took is in town? Fat chance. On learning that another of the Nine Walkers is here, Gil-Gandel loses interest in crude commerce on the instant.
Merry and Pippin have a large house near the Citadel where both you and your friends are again welcomed to stay.
The Elf is a stranger to the Hobbits, but rather you suspect might be one of the Noldor and not of Legolas’ people. The Dwarf is actually the Grandson of Bofur.
“Hail young Hobbits, I am Tobur son of Tofur. Tofur is the son of Bofur with whom your Bilbo journeyed. I was exchanging tales with Pippin here.” He points to the Elf, “This is Curunauth son of Celebrimbor. He is a traveler from Rivendell.”
Gil-Gandel sees the Hobbits sitting with the elder Hobbit and decides to join them.
Hodwain, “Might I join you and your friends? I am waiting on Thoroncir and Renee. I have a room for the week and I have stowed my gear.”
Gwaelur is happy to go off by himself to sell the objects. But would like to be able to make it to the tavern in time to speak with Bofur’s grandson (who I suspect is known to Gwaelur at the least if not a close friend)Catching up with what is going on with the other dwarves is somethign Gwaelur would very much like to do. He hasn’t heard anything from or about Gimli in a very long time now.
Gwaelur realizes that selling the items can wait a bit. He is surprised to see a familiar face, Tobur son of Tofur. Tofur was his company leader in the battle of Dale and one of the senior armorers with whom Gwaelur occasionally worked.
Gwaelur does not know Tobur well as Tobur is a young dwarf of only about 60 years of age.
Tobur, “Ah, Gwaelur right?” He pauses for a moment for conformation and then continues, “I am Tobur son of Tofur at your service.” He takes a deep bow.
On Gimli he says, “I understand that he set out a few weeks back with a large contingent of Dwarves and Men and he was off to plunder some Orc lairs. I am recently down from Erebor seeking the good work here in Minas Tirith and Osgiliath or perhaps in the many wars. I am eager to try out my ax.”
The fun memories aside, city life is not nearly as amusing as Miron had hoped, and if he manages to catch news about the gathering at the tavern, he will eagerly wander over to join his companions.