Club Eclair III: Off to See the Wizard

[Craiden]

The group Pooch now travels with most of the time had reached Lhanuch, the largest settlement of the natives in Enedwaith. He looked around uneasily at the brown-skinned people with all the tattoos. They tolerated them, but were not overly friendly and highly distrustful, calling them "duvodiads", which to Pooch's knowledge means something like stranger. He in a way understood it, they had been hard-pressured by certain events that the adventurers in the group did their best to set right. They were encircled by other hostile clans and half-orcs who had slaughtered their livestock and burned most of the farms outside their village.



The Rangers, including Saeradan, were not there. They preferred to stay in various smaller camps around Enedwaith, trying to keep their passage through the lands as secret as possible. Still, establishing some sort of a bond with the locals was deemed necessary.

He hadn't seen much of Saeradan recently. They found him in a camp high up in the Windfells, overlooking the valley and the great North-South Road below.



Pooch was overjoyed to be reunited with him, but Saeradan had changed. He was friendly as usual but all dressed in black now and clearly had his mind on more important matters than a mere assistant. He was together again with members of his kin, the Dunedain, and seemed pretty happy about it. He could see him sitting around the campfire with his friends, drinking tea, and discussing things that he obviously did not want to be known to others, including Pooch. It felt like he and Saeradan had become somehow estranged, which made him sad.

So he started to spend most of his time with the group of adventurers that were also around, trying to help the Rangers in their own way. He had kind of settled in with them and felt more comfortable around them. He tried to make himself as useful as he can be, gathering firewood, picking berries, sometimes hunting game for food. And he enjoyed going out on patrols with them. He sometimes runs a bit ahead of them to scout, and at other times on the sides to protect their flanks. He is mostly focused on the safety of the hobbit who was leading the group. And every day brought something new, every day seemed to be filled with excitement and adventure.

In Fordirith, the first area they had travelled through, they entered a cave full of shadow-wolves, who appear only after darkness has fallen, are bigger than normal wolves and with fur as black as the blackest night. In the Windfells, while gathering provisions and herbs for the Rangers, the group found a camp of Dunlending goat herders who were plagued by what they call "druggovar", black goats akin to the shadow wolves further north. Even though these men were not very welcoming, the hobbit's group of adventurers chased the goats off, which changed the natives' perspective on them remarkably. They now regarded them as heroes!



In the process they encountered a tiny, old woman, some kind of witch, who the locals call a "gurach". She seems to summon and hold some power over these ghostly spirits. This brought even Saeradan out of his camp and he went with the group up a forboding valley to her house. He thought she might be a sorceress in league with Saruman, sent by him to trouble and weaken those that would not follow him. And he was right about that. When they found her by her shack and Saeradan demanded that she leave the Uch-lûth alone, she immediately became aggressive: "The White Hand shall crush the life from the filthy riders, just as I will crush the life from you!", she said and sent several of her ghostly animals against them. She was quite a handful to deal with, but in the end she just ran off. It was not clear where to, but Pooch had a feeling that this might not have been the last they saw of her.

A bit later the group travelled westwards to scout a possible path for the Rangers to take. The entered an area riddled with red boulders and bluffs and deep canyons. The light was different there and strange animals roamed around, especially some white deer with brightly glowing eyes. And tucked away in a far corner, they found a small hobbit village, of all things. Pooch, and apparently the others too, even the Hobbit among them, were surprised to find hobbits so far away from the Shire. Hedgerow was all aflutter to meet kin so far away from home and greeted them all happily.



One could see however that these hobbits were nowhere near as well off as those in the Shire. The land is harsh and they seem to just scrape by. They don't have fancy clothes and are not as well-fed as their cousins in the Shire, but looked rather ragged and scruffy instead. They also did not trust them at first, and one of them asked Pooch if he was a giant and going to eat them, but Pooch just smiled softly and shook his head.

The group helped them with some chores, such as collecting meat, flowers, and a lot of boar droppings that they like to use as fertilizer. Hobbits are quite good at assigning others to do their work for them, Pooch thought, remembering his time in the Yondershire. At least in that regard those here were not very different from them back home. And after all that was done to their satisfaction, they warmed up and became more friendly. They showed them a beautiful hidden pond where the group spent an afternoon fishing, and one of them, Meillion, spontaneously decided to join the group on their adventures. She is still with them to this day.

Not too far away was another village that the adventurers at first took for another hobbit village. Its inhabitants, who also roamed the wilderness, looked like hobbits from afar and had a similar stature, but as soon as they approached them, they threw spears at them and shouted unintelligible gibberish, like "Khinio!", or "Trenghi!". Pooch wondered what that meant. During their first encounter, a mishap occurred and the group killed one of them, whereupon Hedgerow was inconsolable and thought the whole thing was a big misunderstanding. However, Meillion assured him that they did not belong to their village and that their mayor had been trying for a long time to make peace with them, but without success. It was funny, as it turned out later they were actually goblins who had become a bit more "human" due to their isolation, while the hobbits themselves had become a bit more "wild", also due to their isolation. Anyways, the group determined these goblins would not pose a significant threat to the Rangers should they decide to pass through these lands.

They also went on another scouting mission far to the east. It started to snow as they got closer to the foothills of the Misty Mountains and soon the ground was all covered in white powder. Giant lizards roamed the land, with dark green skin and boney spikes growing out of their backs. They had wings, but could not fly, but they could breathe fire. Pooch thought they must be somehow related to dragons and they were quite a handful to deal with. He himself would have never been able to, but the seasoned group of adventurers took care of them rather quickly.



At one point, Pooch disturbed a clutch of eggs and a particularly big "gwiber", as the locals call them, appeared out of nowhere. Pooch looked around, but his new friends were not nearby. He ran away screaming, the monster in hot pursuit, until he found them fighting... giants? He stumbled and fell to the ground, and the giant lizard was right on top of him when a well-placed arrow hit it and he heard a scream from the woman captain. So they saved his life, but he was greatly ashamed of his carelessness.

Oh, yes, and the giants! You could see their houses high in the mountains, built of large, square stone blocks. The giants down here were three times the size of a normal man, maybe even four, and incredibly strong. They were half naked, only wearing a loincloth, so the cold obviously didn't matter to them. They threw large stones at the group and tried to stomp them, but it was quite easy to dodge their attacks. Still, it would have never occurred to Pooch to attack them. The group didn't seem to mind though, and he had the impression that these weren't the first giants they'd faced.

On the north side of the valley they found a tree that served as a bridge over a river, and they followed a path that led higher and higher, past a beautiful waterfall.



From up there they had a wonderful view into the valley below and they found an old dwarf fortress. However, this dwarf fortress was not completely abandoned. Inside was not only the biggest library Pooch had ever seen, but also a very old, blind and obviously disoriented dwarf named Nar. And living there with him was his friend Frithgeir, who took care of him in his old age.

With this scouting mission also completed, they all returned to Lhanuch, where things had deteriorated greatly in the meantime.

[Tiempko]

Father:

We are travelling again.

It turns out that our efforts at Nar's Peak were naught but a big distraction arranged for us by the chief villain, Saruman. Saruman is also responsible for the brigandry in the east and north farthings. He is no friend of the Shire. It is my hope that Aragorn will put an end to this menace once he gets his army together again.

Though we have to keep the army together. Not only has Saruman delayed us any number of days, he also managed to get two of our number slayed - including Candaith. I do not know iffen you recall from my earlier letters, we met Candaith camping below Weathertop and he helped us to fight off of Saruman's invaders east of Bree. But he got frustrated with the ghosts we found here and commanded their obedience by claiming to be Aragorn.

It was a mistake. He should never have done that. He ended up getting himself killed and one other Ranger that I saw fall when the ghosts rejected his claim. One tragedy adds to another. We were delayed getting duplicates of Aragorn's ring being made so as to confuse the enemy. That delay brought us to Candaith using the fake ring to declare himself Aragorn, and his death. There is no other conclusion to draw than that the delay to get the rings made itself was a delay that, instead of providing us with a benefit, led to the loss of two good Rangers.

Well, we're going around the Ranger-slaying ghosts. We have been told that the forest to the west has a pass into Dunland that we may take without being noticed. So, we are making our way through the forest. Currently, we are camped with some Rangers at the edge of that forest. The forest is south of us, but that is the direction of our travels.

The name "Mournshaws" filled us with some dread. However, it is turning out to be tolerable. Mirkwood was much, much worse than this. It is scarcely even mournworthy. Wood trolls live here and they provide something of a menace, but it is not so difficult. We're trying to find somebody to guide us through this forest and into the pass that will take us to Dunland. Apparently, there are some Elders living in the forest that want to speak to us and will, no douibt, seek to pass judgment as to whether we are worthy to continue on our mission. So, that is our next stop.

I know that I said I would be better at writing. However, I fear that the wilds we are about to enter may have no place for me to post a letter. Do not fret if you do not hear from me. I will write as soon as I am able, but that may be a few days away. With luck, the Elders will let us pass and we can find our way through the pass quickly enough. There's a town on the other side, I hear. It's an Enedwaith-folk tribe. I do hope that they are friendly. Things tend to go much more smoothly if they are friendly.

I have good company. I'm travelling with a bearfolk what is as big as a smial. This bearfolk can certainly keep us all safe. Bohregard and Meillion - a hobbit from a nearby community - travel with me. Bohregard with is bow and Meillion, it turns out, is a good person to have around in a brawl. And Thorfaniel is about. Thorfaniel is good to have in the wilds. She's a staff wizard, and seems to be at home among such surroundings. Mayhaps Thorfaniel should be the one to talk to the elders. They may speak the same language, as it were. I will recommend that to her.

Another nice thing . . . we are right next to a river. I can go fetch a supper without even leaving the warmth of a campfire. This is a luxury. We're in the wilds again. It's tents and cooking on top of an open flame again. But it is fishing and the weather has been good so far.

So, you should know that I am safe.

I will write again soon.

Love,

Alphred Troute

[Tiempko]

To: Meadowlarke Sweetweed
Chief, Bounders of the Shire - Addernotch Station


Sir!

It is my honour to report our progress in delivering the Rangers to Rohan for Aragorn (Strider). When last I reported we had decided to take a western route through the Mournshaws rather than the direct road to the south. Halbarad broke the Rangers into two groups - one group going in each direction. I fear for the group heading directly south. They have already lost two Rangers on that road.

We, however, got delayed - trying to get permissions to go through the Mournshaws from some monstrous elk-person called The Huntsman who thinks of himself as the king of this forest - or, at least, acts like it. The local folk look up to him as if he is some sort of deity. We had to earn the right just to appear before him and, even then, he gave us a set of tests to pass. Furthermore, each of us had to pass the test individually. We weren't allowed to show off our well-practiced teamwork

The tests themselves were not genuine tests. There were four wellsprings in the forest. Each had a kind of water bubbling up out of the ground and drinking from the pond caused the most wildest hallucinations. One of then, for example, had me dreaming of standing on a hillside what had a bull on it that got assaulted by whole packs of dogs. I had to drive them off and save the bull. They just kept coming. I would guess that there were three dozen dogs in the pack, and that is no exaggeration. The bull helped some - he was not defenseless. And it was a dream so I woke up following the test unharmed.

Anyways, the Huntsman just recently gave us permission to pass through. I hiked back to the Ranger camp to tell them. It seems the Rangers won't be tested - we passed the test in their name. I do not see how we could not pass the test in each other's name. I would rather send Bohregard or Thorcundo to deal with a pack of dogs than myself. I am just here to help.

Anyways, with permissions granted, we are now in Dunland. We came upon a nice, friendly group of villagers. It is a nice break from the unkindly folks what have dominated the lands elsewhere. They held a feast for us the very day we arrived. Well, honestly, it was not for us. It is an annual celebration. But we got invited to participate right off. There were no scowling and such until we earned some trust.

To be honest, Twostep made the initial introductions. While we were resting at the Huntsman refuge to the north, Twostep apparently came down to scout and see what was ahead of us. When she arrived, she was taken for a villain - one of Saruman's folk - and brought into a group of villains what were meant on doing mischief. Well, apparently, she played along so as to find up what they were up do and came upon a lass what was captured from the nearby village. She then freed their captive and, with her help, drove off the banditry without their prize. It turns out that the villagers were quite happy with the rescue and were willing to accept us as friendly on those grounds.

From here, we have to decide to go east to some particularly large village named Gultrev - or to continue south along the River. Tomorrow we will be scouting south. There's a farmstead down that way what may be suffering some sort of trouble. I figured it would be good to check that route anyways, and we can check up on the farmfolk while we are in the neighborhood. We'll be heading that way some time tomorrow or the next day.

That's all I have to report so far. Another step closer to Rohan. Then I can come home to my pony farm.

I picked up a few more ponies, by the way. They'll be arriving at the Shire soon. I hired folk to deliver them for me.

Bounder Hedgerow Shrewburrow

[Tiempko]

To: Meadowlarke Sweetweed
Chief, Bounders of the Shire -Addernotch Station

Sir!

We are leaving here tomorrow.

This is a sad place. Many of the folks living here have been killed in battles between clans. Half of the folks living in a farm to the South are dead. Them that lived fled up into the mountains. We scrounged up some food and weapons for them and drove the villainy from the farm. I am thinking that they may try to regain the farm and hold it. But that will mean more death.

And the town we were staying at has been attacked. We just got done burying the Chief; an elderly man who had kept the village unentangled with Saruman and his ilk. Specifically, the Dragon Clan.

With the village so weakened, we could not in good conscience heave it vulnerable, so we launched a raid of our own against their camp. I am afraid we were not kind, Pooch, who came with the Rangers, seemed particularly vengeful, and Burnheart and Wandrin seemed quite intent on vengeance. We freed a half dozen prisoners while we were there - folks what can help to keep the village safe.

But we must be gone. Out charge is not to protect the local villages. Out charge is to get the Rangers to Isengard. This route is blocked. The river flows into a deep and dangerous canyon. So, we must go through Galtrev. We have no choice. But it is commanded by tribes loyal to Saruman. We can’t just destroy a city -filled with the innocent.

Mention has been made of entering the town disguised as Saruman folk, sent to help defend the town from Eclairfolk. Mayhaps we can find a weakness we can exploit. It would certainly be nice havin* them folk fighting for us rather than against us. But can their loyalties be taken?

But first, the other group of Rangers have found trouble in the Bonevales. They have called for our assistance. That is what I meant when I said we would be leaving here tomorrow. We intend to meet up with the other Rangers and help them. But the obstacle that is Galtrev will remain.

I will let you know what we decide when we decide. In the meantime . . .

. . . In humble service,

Bounder Hedgerow Shrewburrow

[Tiempko]

To: Meadowlarke Sweetweed
Chief, Bounders of the Shire- Addernotch Station


Sir!

We are making dastardly plans.

As you know, we are trying to get these Rangers to Rohan. It seems, all roads lead through Galtrev. The locals tell us that Galtrev is under the control of the Dragon Clan of Dunlandites. And the Dragon clan of Dunlandites are loyal to the White Wizard Saruman. And Saruman is serving Sauron and wants to stop the Rangers from reaching Rohan.

So, how are we going to get the Rangers through or around Galtrev?

Well, we’ve been working on a plan.

Burnheart used to work for Sauron in a order, so he knows the ways of Saurfolk. The idea is that Burnheart will tell the folks at Galtrev that Sauron sent him to stop the Rangers and Eclairians, known to be up north and heading south. For this, he has a flock of loyal henchfolk and servants. I get to be a servant. Twostep stitched me up a cook’s outfit. Hobbit cooks are apparently in demand. I hope I do not have to cook something. I can’t actually cook.

Alphred is scowling at the whole project and refuses to don a disguise. He is proposing that Burnheart present him as a scout - it’s his job to keep track of the Eclairians and Rangers and make sure they do not surprise us. He can report each morning that the villains are still in the Bonevales. Maybe he will have them exploring some ancient crypt looking for long lost treasures or to confront some powerful underground villainy.

On that matter, there is a fortress near here called Ost Dunhoth. Normally, I would be anxious to go map and explore it. But the locals are insistent that we stay away. So far, I have listened to them. But I am most curious about the place. Given our reputation, mayhaps the local Dunfolk can be convinced that we’re paying that stronghold a visit. It would be in keeping with our reputation to leave no ruin unexplored. That is what Alphred can report - not that we are exploring it, but making plans to do so before heading south with the ruins at our back.

We do have work to do here in the Bonevales first. And for the reasons mentioned. We want to be secure that supplies and such can get through. And we need some time to get our disguises built and our stories straight. So, I will be here for a bit longer, in case you need to reach me.

Bounder Hedgerow Shrewburrow.

[Craiden]

Sitting quiety around the campfire with the Rangers, and sometimes the rest of the group, Pooch has listened to a lot of their stories and learned more about their mission and their background.



Saeradan and his group, the "Grey Company", are Dúnedain, direct descendents of the men and women who came to Middle-earth after the island they lived on sunk beneath the sea in some great cataclysm about 3,000 years ago. The survivors, led by Elendil, the Seafarer arrived on nine ships and established the kingdoms of Gondor in the south and Arnor in the north.

The northern kingdom split up (after one of its kings had died and his sons could not agree on who shall be his successor) and was ultimately destroyed by the Witch-king of Angmar's forces, and the last king, Arvedui, fled to the far north, where he perished when his ship sank in icy waters. But despite his epithet, he was not really the last king, he had a son who grew up among the elves in Rivendell, but the throne was never assumed again. Instead, the throne in the south, in Gondor, has since then be ruled by so-called "stewards" in the absence of their king.

Over all the following centuries, and during many twists and turns and wars, the line of the kings went on, and their current one, a man named Aragorn, a Dúnadan and Ranger himself, now is in need of help and asked the members of the Grey Company to meet him in Rohan. Saeradan himself had told Pooch at one point that "we are going to the aid of our chieftain, Aragorn, in the south, but we will travel through hostile lands".

It was the Ranger Candaith who seemed to have taking a special liking towards Pooch and told him a long story about the history of the Dúnedain, "so that you understand the weight of that which we are about to do". One of the sories he told him revolved around the Ring of Barahir, one of the heirlooms of his house. It was after the last king Arvedui was lost in the icy north that a few of the Rangers of old had travelled to Forochel and recovered it from the Lossoth, to which Arvedui had given it in thanks for the help they had offered him while he was in exile.



This ring is one of the oldest crafted objects in Middle-earth. It was forged by the Noldor in Valinor before the beginning of the First Age and then given to Barahir by Finrod, a High King of the Noldor, for saving his life at the Battle of Dragor Bragollach. And over the millenia it was passed down to Beren, Elros (who had brought it to Númenor), Elendil, the first High King of the Dúnedain, his son Isildur and ultimately to Arvedui. After it was recovered, it was brought to Elrond in Rivendell.

All these names, all these places, all these battles... Pooch's head was spinning. But he had a much better understanding of the importance of their mission and what he so unknowingly had gotten himelf into. They were going to help the rightful king reclaim his throne!

And about the ring... the Rangers had met a dwarf in Eregion, who happened to be a skilled jewel-smith. He had crafted several duplicates of the ring for them that are hardly distinguishable from the real ring, at least to the untrained eye. Many of them were now wearing this replica, and the idea is to sow confusion in the enemy's mind if one of them is slain or taken captive. "It may buy the true heir precious time", as Halbarad put it.

There are also two elves traveling with the Rangers, Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond of Rivendell. To his surprise, Elrohir had also opened up to Pooch. He thinks it might be because he doesn't speak, so people may think he is a good listener and will not retell anything, and therefore they entrust him with their most secret thoughts. Or they simply need someone to talk to and think he is kind of dumb and doesn't understand much anyways. But whatever the reason, Pooch was happy about it nonetheless.

Elrohir was worried about the words of his father just before they left Rivendell. Elrond had reminded his sons of the seer Malbeth, who had prophesized that Arvedui would be the last king "until the heir of him to whom they swore their oath would pass through the Paths of the Dead and call the oathbreakers at the Stone of Erech". Pooch couldn't make much sense of it, until Candaith one day told him the story of Isildur and the Oathbreakers.

When, after the cataclysm, the survivors had landed on the shores of Middle-earth and their kingdom was still young, they brought a big, round, black stone from their sunken island up a hill. It gleamed in the sunlight and looked like a giant marble. And it is supposed to be still there. That was the Stone of Erech.



They needed allies, if their new kingdom of Gondor was to florish. So they wanted to establish good relationships with the people that lived in these lands, to gain their trust and loyality. Isildur called them to the Stone of Erech and the King of the Mountain, Rioc, heeded Isildur's call. Isildur promised them great knowledge and riches if they would help them to fight Sauron, their ancient enemy, if should he ever return. And that is what Rioc did, impressed by the wonders the new arrivals had already performed, as he knelt by the Stone and swore his oath.



But they never fulfilled their oath. Many years later, when Sauron showed again, Isildur summoned the Men of the Mountains to the Stone, and they refused to help. They had, in fact, swore allegiance to the Dark Lord instead. And then Isildur was angry and a dark cloud swept over the Stone. And Isildur laid a curse on them: "You will be the last king of your people. You will never rest until your oath is fulfilled. You will not know the restful sleep of death. You will be summoned again ere this war is over!", he cried.



And the Men of the Mountain fled to their home which is now known as the "Paths of the Dead". No one has ever heard anything from Rioc's tribe again and a shadow lies upon the hill of Erech, and no one has ever taken the path that runs through their mountain. This was the path Elrond had talked about. And since Aragorn is Isildur's heir, will they at one point enter the Paths of the Dead? Not a thought Pooch liked and he now understands Elrohir's worries.

Pooch also learned that the Rangers had been scattered all over the remains of the old northern kingdom of Arnor and some of them were notified of the mission by members of this other group Pooch now travels with. So this is the mission, to follow the Rangers and help them get through hostile lands to reach their king. And in doing so, secrecy is of utmost importance, for there is a great threat - the wizard Saruman has turned evil. He not only rules over Isengard, a large tower in the south, not too far from where they intend to cross the river Isen into Rohan, his influence reaches even into Enedwaith, another thing Pooch has learned.

[Kuronwen]

To Oltanwë Elestirnion
Street of the Jewelcrafters
Mithlond

Oltanwë ionnín,

Your letter, conveyed over the long leagues of Eriador by Hadhodrim merchants, did finally reach me. It delighted me to learn of all the excitement there in Mithlond, and in your home!

Our band of adventurers finished for the present in Mirkwood and returned to Imladris, where Elrond offered another mission to us: to assemble the people of Aragorn, the Heir of Isildur, and bring them to meet him, puzzlingly in Rohan. This we have begun to do, traveling south through Enedwaith and now, Dunland.

The halfling, Master Hedgerow, is still our leader-- leading from the rear when we go into battle, to be sure! Although Miss Liatri returned to the Shire, another halfling lass, Meillion, joined our party as we scouted near her home in Enedwaith. She is skilled indeed in close fighting. Sagla is still with us, stronger and more prudent than ever, as is Twostep the Clever, Mistress of the Stealthy Blow. We also have a man from Bree-land, who joined with Saeradan the Dúnadan, Pooch. He does not speak, and sometimes seems confused, but is an excellent fighter.

Several of the Hadhodrim continue on with us: Hroik, Burnheart, Wandrin, and Thorcundo. We found a former settlement of the Dwarven folk in Thrór's Combe in Enedwaith-- what a store of scrolls and codices! But alas, it is all crumbling away from neglect. (I gather that this Thrór was a Dwarf who perished a few years ago.)

In scouting these lands for the Dúnedain we have come to perceive some troubling coincidences and signs of betrayal. I do not wish to endanger anyone who will carry this letter back to Mithlond for me, but Círdan should be informed, that one whom we thought was a friend, is no such thing. We are trying to counter the effects of his betrayal, but the people of Dunland are slow to trust. (We ventured for a few days disguised as Master Burnheart's entourage, but this did not fool the Dunlendings for long.)

I trust that you will take good care of Gwaeleth, and may Elbereth bless you both in the coming year, as you await your child.

Your foster-mother,
Gwen

[Tiempko]

Father:

It seems like it has been months since I have written to you, though it has only been a few days.

I stopped writing for a bit because we were off on a mission among the villagers what had sided with Saruman. We had discovered that there was only one route for the Rangers to get through Dunland on their way to Rohan, and that meant going through the city of Galtrev. But Galtrev was under the influence of the Dragon clan, a group of Dunlandfolk what were siding with Saruman.

We couldn't lay siege to the city as there were innocent children about what would get caught in the battle, and there really is not enough of us to lay siege to a city and such. So, it was decided that we would go in under disguise to see what the conditions are like.

We have somebody amongst us by the name of Burnheart who has come from Mordor and knew the Mordor way of things. So, the plan was to make him our leader sent to Galtrev for the purpose of defending it from "them evil Eclairians" that were up north. Burnheart rode in with his warpony with all of this henchfolk and servants following along behind - including a pair of hobbits what were there to cook and clean. That would have been Hedgerow and Meillion. As for me, I was delegated to a "scouting party" that Burnheart had sent out to "keep track of" them pesky Eclairians.

Anyways, I couldn't exactly sent out a letter while we were in the midst of Sarumanfolk. And I didn't want to send out anything in advance on account of somebody might have read it and that would have been bad for any chances of our success. I do hope you can forgive me for any delay. But it had been only a few short days.

Well, it actually worked quite well. Burnheart arrived with his warpig and, as it turned out, the Dunlandfolk were behind on deliveries of vital war goods. That allowed Burnheart to announce that he was there to get everybody back on schedule. He ordered his hobbits and dwarves about to get the work done what needed doing. While all the while we were also working on subverting the very efforts we were helping him in. A happless hobbit set fire to much of their stored lumber. And when they went to investigate the lumber camp north of town they discovered "it had just been raided" and there were naught around but the bodies of the workers and guards. There was nobody left alive to tell the tale. And the villains had "taken" all of the tools and destroyed them. If only we had gotten there sooner.

You do realize, father, that we were the ones who destroyed the camp. That should go without mention.

Anyways, things got so unstable and confused that the villagers what opposed to being enslaved by Saruman rose up in revolt. And when they did so, we were right there to add our strength to the revoltfolk. The revolt was successful, and now Galtrev is occupied by the Rangers and friendly Dunlandfolk.

But, before the dust had even settled, a hobbit came from the Shire by the name of Ayrhawk. He's actually the nephew of my employer, Meadowlarke Sweetweed of Addernotch. He said he had a special mission for us.

He spent the evening telling us of horrors what were taking place up north since we and the Rangers had left. Gad, father, it frightened me to no end to hear about the fate of North Cotton Farm. Goblins and such poisoning pies and slaying hobbits like sheeps. I am glad you live far away from there.

The villainy what is responsible for those horrors apparently is holed up in a castle near here. After Ayrhawk informed us of the horrors, he organized us and marched us here to where I am now - at some ruins with a name of Ost Dunhoth. The villainy is inside.

I swear, father, that I will do what I can to put an end to this menace to the Shire. That is why I am out here, truth be told, to deal with this villainy before the whole of the Shire is made to suffer.

Well, we have a trip into the ruins planned for the near future and I had better get some rest. I just figured I was due you a letter. I hope you and the girls are doing well.

Do not worry. We Eclairians can take care of this menace.

Stay safe.

Alphred Troute

[Craiden]

Pooch was sitting at a small fishing hole in Galtrev, in the northern reaches of Dunland and its major town. His group had recently helped the town's residents rise up and break free from a horde of half-orcs who had taken over Galtrev and put the inhabitants to work, crafting weapons and armors and gathering supplies for the wizard Saruman.

Doing so, they had employed a ruse to get into the town, acting as the wizard's followers and bringing more slaves to do their work. Thinking back to it, Pooch had to laugh at the acting skills of the hobbit Hedgerow, who pretended to be a cook, all dressed up in shabby clothing, and especially the dwarf Burnheart, who acted as their malicious and rude overseer from Mordor. He still chuckled at the names Burnheart had given them. Even calling the half-orc's overseer a leprous son of a dog's bottom! The half-orcs were clearly terrified of him.



Shortly after, another hobbit had appeared, Ayrhawk, telling them gruesome stories of things happening back in Eriador. Strange relics appearing out of nowhere, and several places being attacked by gaunt-lords. The source of all this was traced back to a large fortress, Ost Dunhoth, in southern Enedwaith, and now Ayrhawk wants to lead the group there to investigate. They are about to set off tomorrow.

But now Pooch had some time to reflect on them traversing the land of Enedwaith... a very strange place, full of mysteries. Even the night skies and some of the animals they had seen were outlandish, with their white furs and glowing eyes. Pooch was thinking back on how they first entered Enedwaith and met a relatively friendly, young Dunlending named Wadu. A few days later they sadly found his dead body, pierced with arrows.



They found his murderers and the sword they had taken from him. Saeradan identified it to be very old, probably from another age, and crafted in Rohan. Dunlendings and Rohirrim are not the best friends, so how did Wadu get in posession of the sword? That was the first mystery.

They brought the sword and news of Wadu's death to his father in Lhanuch. He was a rather gruff and unpleasant person, called his son a useless coward and didn't seem much saddened by his death. Pooch liked to think it was more of self-protection from his real emotions, but wasn't too convinced. They also spoke with his sister Nona, who too reacted kind of cold at first, but one could tell the distress the news caused her by a brief flicker in her light brown eyes when she said she wished she hadn't treated him the way she did and how she now regrets the last words she said to him.

Lhanuch itself was beset by half-orcs and other hostile clans who had slaughtered their livestock and burned down most of the farms outside their village. While Pooch and the group of adventures were there, an emissary of Saruman appeared, trying to coax Glynn Brenin, the chieftain of the Ox-clan of Lhanuch, into an alliance with Isengard.



A lenghty discussion followed where he promised them great riches through trade and commerce by rebuilding the old road and protection from the invading half-orcs. In exchange he wanted the chieftain, or Brenin as they are called here, to accept Isengard's sovereignity over the lands and the levy of troops and resources "for the defense of all of Dunland", as he said. The brenin and his councellors, the brehures, where hesitant, saying they don't have enough resources and men to fight in far-away lands.

Also, evidence had been found and presented by Pooch's group of adventurers that the half-orcs that trouble them had actually been sent by Saruman to force their hand in this council.







No, it didn't go well for Saruman's emissary. In the end he left, calling the Brenin a fool and threating to come back and claim their village by force. The Brenin was concerned, but also thought that the wizard's main purpose is likely to be with the Horse-lords of Rohan and he will not send more troops to a poor, backwater place like his.

Then there was the matter of Ergothorn, another mystery. They found letters addressed to the Rangers pinned to trees with knifes. He claimed to be a man from Gondor, a "friend to all good folk". But if he was, why was he hiding? The first one told of a messenger sent by Lheu Brenin, from another Dunlending clan in the south, opposing Saruman. That messenger was assailed by "a beast" and dragged into a cave near the Lich Bluffs in the south.

The group went out to rescue him and Glynn Brenin was filled with joy to learn that the Ox-clan does not stand alone against the wizard, but the Falcon-clan does so as well: "I am glad to hear that we are not without friends". They later found another letter, warning them of an Uruk-hai attack on Nar's peak, which also turned out to be true and the group arrived just in time to save Nár and Frithgeir from being killed or abducted.

Then Ergothorn's dead body was found by an Ox-clan scout and brought to Lhanuch. He wore Gondorian armor and was not slain by sword or arrow, but strangled by some unknown enemy. In his hand he held another letter he could never send, telling the Rangers to seek out the Forsaken Road in the Lich Bluffs. Apparently a group of Oath-breakers had fled there from the Paths of the Dead to escape their curse, but in vain. Halbarad decided to go there and investigate if the Oath-breakers can indeed be compelled to fulfill their oath to the heir of Isildur, information that would be very valuable to Aragorn.

But is it all as it seems to be, or was Ergothorn just a ploy by the enemy to endanger and delay the Grey Company? Pooch still has his doubts. Another unsolved mystery, he thought.

Part 2 will follow soon. I am very sorry that I am so late with my posts and hopefully find more time in the future to again post more regularly.

[Debris]

To My Family,

I miss you dearly, but our work has proven to be important beyond what we at first believed.

Ost Dunhoth is a place of great evil, that we did not even expect to encounter when we came into Dunland from Enedwaith on our journey to the White Wizard's lands.

We bested giant oliphaunts chasing us down narrow hallways in its Wound Wing.

Then we finally defeated a Balrog past an Endless Stair in the Fear Wing, despite massive evil and destructive force emanating from it.

As we go deeper into Ost Dunhoth, we now approach the bowels of the fortress where corruption in the form of poison and disease are rampant.

We came upon a cavern with two badly corrupted trees, and despite their attempts to confuse us with their hounds and lurker infections, we finally destroyed them as well.

But it was getting late and we ran into Raging Trolls and poisoned waters that we could not get past, so for now we have retired to rest and think on how to defeat them on returning.

- Jaytull

[Craiden]

Another mystery revolved around Nár, a very old dwarf, near blind and whose mental capabilities had greatly deteriorated. He mostly spoke of the past in ways nobody could make sense of, not even Frithgeir, his loyal servant. They lived in a large library near the top of a mountain and Nár, Hervin and his son Frithgeir remained behind when the rest of the dwarves moved on to the Blue Mountains. Hervin had died later and now Frithgeir takes care of Nár, who wouldn't surive long without him. Pooch learned from Halbarad that Nár had been King Thrór's loyal servant and was with him when Thrór was killed by orcs when he entered the Mines of Moria a long, long time ago. A very sad tale from what Pooch can tell.

They went there on behalf of Nona, for that was where her brother Wadu had been not long before his brutal death and where he apparently found his "courage" and possibly also the sword from Rohan. Frithgeir made a brew from herbs found in the valley below which helped to clear up Nár's mind for a brief time. He led them down into the mine beneath the mountain to the carcass of a large gwiber. Pooch wondered how that gwiber even got down there, maybe there was a tunnel leading into the mine on the slopes outside. Here Nár lost his clarity again, but Elladan, one of Elrond's sons, observed that the gwiber's wounds were made by a sword, still fresh, and the creature could not have been dead for more than a week. He concluded that Wadu found his courage here in the mine and slew the beast.

Nona believed him and covered her face: "My Wadu", she mumbled, "he mastered his fear even after the terrible things my father said to him, and what I said to him in my frustration. And now he is gone, slain by cowards who waited in hiding". Where he found the sword is still unknown though.

And then Nár said something very peculiar... it seemed as if he knew something about the Grey Company's mission: "I know your road, son of Elrond. That way lies death. You who walk the Paths of the Dead, beware!"



Elladan and the Rangers were alarmed and demanded to know how Nár could possible know what Elrond had said to his sons before they left Rivendell, but Nár's mind had fogged again and he would say no more. Another great mystery, which was, at least partially, solved later. Pooch and the group tried to trace Nár's recent activities, but except from looking at some inconclusive books, he hadn't done anything unsual.

Then the attack on Nar's Peak happened that Ergothorn had warned the Grey Company about. Pooch and the others raced to the top of the mountain where they overheard two Uruks asking themselves "what the boss wants with this this dwarf?" They arrived just in time as their leader demanded to know from Frithgeir, who had come outside, where Nár is. A great skirmish ensued where the Rangers prevailed over yet another group of Uruks. After the battle was over, Nár appeared with an axe in his hand: "Uruks? Ha ha, I am ready!" Pooch, still sitting in Galtrev, had to chuckle thinking back about it.



After that event Corunir had enough. He says he will not leave without answers, so he forced Frithgeir to make another brew for Nár. When asked how he knew about Elrond's words and the Paths of the Dead, Nár said a "friend" told him. This friend turned out to be Saruman, the White, and Nár obviously wasn't aware of recent developments: "He has long been a friend of my family, and he is the wisest of the Wise", he said. "He came to visit me from time to time. And he was very interested in the cave systems, the Rangers and the Dunlending tribes that live nearby. He said he was trying to save them from the Uruks, and so he did! You saw the group that attacked us. He also spoke occasionally of someone doing his work in Enedwaith".

Pooch often thought about these words, but could not make much sense of it. How did Saruman then know of Elrond's words and why would he tell Nár about them? And this agent of his, was it Ergothorn, or someone else who slew Ergothorn? If that someone else could move stealthily about, he or she may have listened from hiding to some members of the Grey Company, or even someone of Pooch's adventurers, talking about these things. The wizard could have used Nár to confuse, delay and endanger the Grey Company, maybe even make them reconsider taking the Paths of the Dead. Enedwaith... truly a land of mysteries.

Back in Lhanuch, Nona took posession of Wadu's sword she had previously laid down by his favorite resting tree, saying she will now wield it in her brother's memory. She asked to join the Grey Company on their mission, stating it is "her desire to avenge her brother's death". Halbarad would have nothing of that though: "Absolutely not, and this is not open for debate", he commanded. Nona was quite angry about him turning down her request, calling Halbarad a fool, and the Brenin a fool for not taking further action, and her father a fool too and he should be ashamed for how he had treated Wadu. Hearing this, Pooch shrugged. He could understand her anger and frustration, but thought she was quite volatile and could be a danger to their mission which is mainly about secrecy.

Halbarad then wanted to visit the Forsaken Road Ergothorn's note had mentioned. They found the place and when they arrived, the dread hung heavy in the air. It didn't take long before they found themselves surrounded by a group of ghostly spirits, and they were not pleased about the intrusion. Their leader told them they may not pass and should leave while they still can. But then Halbarad bravely stepped forward and told them that their chieftain is the heir to him to whom they swore their oath. And he asked if they would honor that oath.



A skuffle broke out, but after a while the oath-breakers relented. They didn't need to, as it was obvious that there was no way for the Rangers to defeat them. They let them continue down the path, deeper into their refuge, where Candaith talked to their leader Britou. He told him that they would never escape their curse and find freedom if they do not fulfill their oath. Only his chieftain can lift the curse and redeem them. This angered Britou and he sent wave after wave of spirits against them.

Candaith and the rest fought valiantly, alas, it was hopeless. They could never hope to win. They knocked down one, two, three of them, only for them to rise up and attack again. Feeling their strength waning, Candaith, in an act of desperation, told Britou that he himself is the rightful heir of Isildur and presented the fake Ring of Barahir to him: "I am the heir of Isildur and I command you to fulfill your oath!", he cried.



The leader of the Dead seemed to buy it at first, but when Candaith had turned his back on him, the thrust his sword through his chest and slew him. "This is not the Ring of Barahir, and you are not the heir of Isildur!", he hissed. Full of horror, and tears streaming down their faces, the rest fled to the exit and managed to escape.

Pooch was angry and sad when he learned of the events. He had not known Candaith for long, but he had always been nice and friendly to Pooch, treated him well and conveyed much of his wisdom and knowledge of the history of the Dunedáin to him. Pooch had considered him a friend. He pondered if it was wrong or a mistake to tell the ghost that he was Isildur's heir. Why did he do it, was it desperation that they would all fall? They did get out in the end and might have done so even without him pretending to be the heir. Or was he so intent to accomplish their mission's objective, to aid his chieftain Aragorn and truly find out whether the oath-breakers would honor their pledge? Another mystery. Seeing that they were not going to get the answer, he took the great risk of presenting himself as the heir. Unfortunately, the leader saw through this and in hindsight it certainly was an unfortunate decision. Which cost him his life.

The loss of Candaith was a severe blow to the Grey Company. Disheartened by the events, Halbarad decided to set out for Dunland right away. There are two ways to go and it was decided to bypass the Lich Bluffs where the oath-breaker reside, but go through the Mournshaws instead, a spooky, dark forest that people normally shy away from. A few Dunlending shamans though try to establish a relationship with a sort of spirit who governs the Mournshaws, a being they call the "Huntsman". The shamans put them to work collecting things they need for their rituals, then opened a portal between two stone pillars to summon one of the Huntsman's spirit aides. She said the Huntsman wanted to see them, and then they stepped through the portal into his secret halls. How that worked and where they were was yet another mystery of Enedwaith.

And so was the Huntsman.


A very tall man, twice the height of Pooch, wearing a crown of antlers. His eyes shone with a white glow, like some of the deer they had seen in the Gloomglens. But was he even a man? Or a god? Pooch had no idea what he was, but he had the impression that he was an ancient and very powerful creature who could effortlessly and immediately wipe out the Grey Company and the group Pooch travels with. He never moved, but he spoke to them. He said the people of Middle-earth have proven their weaknesses too many times, the "hubris of the elves, the greed of the dwarves, the faults of the men". So they had to prove their worthiness to him, by joining, and surviving, the "Wild Hunt". The hobbit Hedgerow was a bit cocky, saying they have proven their worth countless times, by defeating a Nazgûl, an undead dragon, even a Balrog, but the Huntsman didn't listen.

For the Wild Hunt they traveled to various wells in the forest, glowing pools of water in circles of moss-covered stones. As they drank from the water, their vision blurred. They were still in the same forest, but it looked different, the light was an eerie blue and they saw giant, translucent boars, bulls or falcons. Pooch was not sure if this was real, or if he was dreaming, or if it was but a hallucination caused by the water he drunk. Then the spirit-animals spoke to him, and when he opened his eyes again, he was back at the pool, and so were his friends who had experienced the same thing. The hobbit Hedgerow didn't seem to be overly confused, was all business and asked if we had all passed the test.



In the end they all did pass the Huntsman's test. "It seems there is some spark of valor left within your kind. Very well then, the Dunedain may pass through my forest. Remember to save those whom you can, and endure the passing of those you cannot. Strive ever forward if you wish to see light shine upon the world again", he said when they parted.

They then followed the stream that flows south through the forest, and entered Dunland. The sky was bright and the air fresh and clean. Pooch was glad they had finally left Enedwaith. No more mysteries.