010 - Meet the Yocals

On the bank of the Isen River

October 4th, FA 15

Most of the company was arrayed in the eat-in tent to have breakfast. Araliniel was one of the last to get in. She scraped the bottom of the pot and sat at the end of the table. "I've had a powerful vision in a dream last night", she said. Galdor turned his sight away, uninterested. Finbert prompted for more information.

"I have seen a sword, under a few inches of dirt. It was in the cellar of a tower, in a ruined fort. Built somewhere on a wide river." She proceeded to describe the fort in as much details as she could. It became clear to Finbert that he had seen this fort in the ruined city of Tharbad. Further descriptions seemed to corroborate with descriptions of Tharbad that many other company member had ran into in their research. The company, satisfied that their path was leading directly into Tharbad, made a note to drop by the fort and check the tower out. "Did you say a Gondolin sword?", asked Galdor.

The company broke camp, which attracted the attention of the other craftsmen camping near the ford. They were most intrigued that the company was not going to wait for the Red Company to escort them through Dunland, but Arnadil failed to sway anyone to join them in the possibly dangerous crossing.

The company lined up by the ford, bid the Rohirim guards goodbye and entered the Isen. Arnadil, Halin and Galdor were on their horses, leading the cart which was driven by Kasper. Finbert and Araliniel were sitting on the cart's bench, beside Kasper. Quickly their attempt to cross the river was detected by a watch of Dunlendings. One of them left and came back with about a dozen other wildmen. They menacingly arrayed, arms in hand, across the road as it crept out of the ford.  The company was resolute that the wildmen would be swayed by a strong show of resolve, and simply plowed ahead. The wildmen, used to deal with cowed tradesmen got taken aback and let the leading horsemen go through by opening their ranks. However, the rank closed by by the time that the cart was pulling out of the water. Some grabbed the horses' harnesses, some inserted the butt of their spears through the spokes of the cart's wheels.

The leading riders realized that the assertive stance's success did not extend to the lumbering baggage. The largest and greasiest wildmen declared in a broken Westron: "Us no sign treaty. This is my home. You pay 12 small silver coins." Sir Galdor, in disbelief, smiled and declared that he would pay the toll and get on their way.

"No, we're not paying. We are the representative of the King of Gondor, and we are on the road, we are not paying any fare.", declared Arnadil in his best mission leader voice.

A lithany of confusion then erupted around the cart as most company members began to argue against Arnadil with varying conviction. Arnadil's opinion essentially was that the Dunlendings were in no right to charge a toll at the gates of their land, and that some 20 wildmen could be dissipated by a small contingent of  cavalery. The problem mainly is that there is no such cavalry, and that any delay would set the company back further into winter. The wildmen could not understand the argument, but were satisfied by the donation of the silver by Galdor and simply walked away. The agument was cut short when Arnadil fell like he was about to faint. He had to get off his mount and catch his breath. After about one minutes, the fog in his mind lifted up and all was back to normal.

Arnadil and Galdor prolonged the heated argument well into the riding day, and relented only by lunchtime.

008 - The fords over the Isen

There shall be no separate stories for the stop-over at Glittering Halls. Lord Gimli welcomed the company and his dear friend Halin. Much role playing happened as the characters tried to established whether good quality wine could be found in a dwarven mountainehome. Arnadil also attempted to snatch magic weapons from Gimli: which didn't worked. 

The company has reached the Isen River.

October 3rd FA 15 - The Edge of civilization

After a stop in the Glittering halls over the holiday of Yaviere, the company resumed their journey to the fords of the Isen. To their left, the peaks of the white mountains while to their left they could see the spire of Orthanc and the extreme south-end of the misty mountains. The journey happened without incident, although at a slower pace since they now had a covered cart that was to limit their overland speed. They were also escorted by four Rohirims who much enjoyed the opportunities to see the inside of the Glittering caves.

The arrived on the banks of the Isen on the third day of October. The temperature was cool and dry. A wind is blowing from the East. What was once a wild area has changed substantially. Since King Elessar has pledged to rebuild Tharbad, more overland traffic is coming through Rohan. The crossing of the Dunland is complicated by the tumultuous history between the Rohirims and the Dunlendings. King Lessar brokered a peace agreement with the Chieftains of the south, but this peace is very fragile. According to the treaty, the Chieftains agree to leave all travellers unmolested for as long as they remain on the road that runs from the fords to the town of Tharbad. It is not unheard, however, that some tribes have collected tolls for the passage of caravans through their lands. This toll is not legal according to the treaty, but there is not a lot that can be done without starting a war with the wildmen.

Because of the tenuous situation through Dunland, a company of mercenaries called the "The red hand" is operating in the area. They are offering an armed escort to the tradesmen willing to travel to Tharbad, and back to Rohan. Much of the transport of goods is done by the sea lane up the Gwathlo river, however. The company is large enough that it deters the wildmen from approaching travelers. The trip to Tharbad is a 100 leagues journey, or some 25 days of slow slug with carts. The company leaves the fords of the Isen approximatively every 50 days.

Because the departure to Tharbad is rare, the Rohan side of the fords has transformed into a small village of temporary dwellers and opportunistic merchants. There is also a small contingent of soldiers of Gondor (Rohirim are not allowed there as part of the treaty). It is thought that there will be another departure overland in something like 20 days or so, and this should be the last for the year.

Across the fords, a small tribe of wildmen has setup camp across the road. They claim that they do not belong to any of the signatory clans and thus are in their right to demand a toll. These wildmen have been deterring travelers from entering Dunland without an escort since the last spring. The rumour in the village is that they may be paid by "The red hand" to convince travelers to pay for their services.

The company considered the options: winter is coming, they have food for about 30 days and they should be making haste if they want to get to Annuminas within a reasonable timeline. They plan to cross the Isen on their own on the following day, talk (or sneer) their way through the wildmen opposite from them, and make for Tharbad on their own.

006 - The worst crime is the slaying of a (my) horse.

Sept 11th: An unexpected delay

During the stable fire, not only a stable boy perished, but also about half of the King's horses that were used by the company. Sir Galdor and Kasper's personal palfreys died of smoke inhalation and severed burns. Also, the two smaller poneys used by Finbert and Halin died as well. 

It was decided that Sir Galdor, his squire Kasper and Arnadil as expedition leader would ride to Edoras and request more of the King's horses to resume the company's expedition. The alternative being that they ride back to Minas Tirith, which was 10 days away rather than 5. 

It was also agreed that the surviving ruffians, named Erwin and native of Minas Tirith, would be cared for until the local Sheriff could bring him to justice. Erwin woke up from his coma, both legs crippled, to be told that he was to be executed for his violent crime once Sir Galdor was to come back to the Inn of Grays.

Sept 16th : A brief audience with King Eomer

Nobody expected to meet with the King when they arrived in Edoras, but it must have been a slow day. They first reported to the gates of Edoras and were taken to the castle. Arnadil produced the Royal Edict supporting the mission, reported the tragedy in the Firien wood and requested three more horses for the continuation of the Royal Errand.  Edoras had been a home to Galdor for nearly 7 years, when, as a page of Dol Amroth, he had served in the retinue of Queen Lothiriel after her marriage to King Eomer in TA 3021. Galdor knew the castle very well, including the captain of the guard. Furthermore, Arnadil pointed out that the company also included a relative of Meriadoc Brandibuck. The captain of the guard seemed to be particularly angered by the slaying of horses. He also was surprised by the pedigree of the company members. He excused himself briefly and came back with the King.

It was agreed  that King Eomer was to release three of King Elessar's horses so the company can be reunited. He approved of the punishment exacted on on the bandits, although he pointed out that the crime had been committed within Gondor, although some 50 meters from Rohan's border or so. He bid the company farewell and made them promise to come back to Edoras for a feast.  

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Next Encounter.

Sir Galdor Ghent-Ylinen, Knight of Dol Amroth

Sir Galdor Ghent-Ylinen, Knight of Dol Amroth
Birthday: 22 December

Galdor is a hereditary knight of Dol Amroth. He barely has acceded to the age of majority and was sent by the Lord of Dol Amroth to Minas Tirith to gain some experience and perspective. He has lived a very sheltered life made of games and feats. As a result, the Lord of the land deemed that he would be of little use as a magistrate on the Gondorean coast until he acquires usable skills such as law. He is currently training as a man-of-law at the Estate office, but is definitively yearning for more. Galdor is hoping that the glory of finding a Palantir would get around the expectations set by the Prince in him.

Biography

Early Life in Dol Amroth (age 0 - 7, year TA 3014 - 3021)

Galdor claims elven descent as most of the Numeronean nobility of Belafast. Galdor was born in the small urban estate of Dollum Maru, in the heart of Dol Amroth and in the shades of the Prince's castle. During his hearly life, he was raised at the hard school of Dunedain's nobility: with tutors, lessons and the occasional beating with the cane by his instructors. Galdor emerged as a clever and strong willed child, ready for the next challenge.

During the war of the ring, Prince Imrahil set out with the Swan Company to defend Minas Tirith from the forces of Sauron. His father represented himself well, but eventually fell while charging an army of Haradrim. It is said that Sir Ghent-Ylinen and six colleague felled a Oliphaunt, but he himself succumbed to a mortal wound caused by the monster's tusk. A shard of the Oliphaunt's tusk was presented to Galdor as a memento of the greatest battle of his time.

Skills: Westron, native speaker [0], Sindarin, elven-tongue, native reader, accented speaker [5], bow [3], Falconry [1], Animal handling (dogs) [2], wrestling [3], riding, horse [1], Poetry [2], History, Eriador [2], Area knowledge, Gondor[4], Thaumatology [1] 

Trait: Elven Heritage [5], claim to hospitality [2], Status 2 [10], Code of Honor, Chivalry [-15], Dislike, commoners [-1]

Page in Edoras, Rohan ( age 7 - 14 , year TA 3021 - FA 7 )

By the time Galdor was ready to become a page, Prince Imrahil has agreed to wed his daughter Lothiriel to King Eomer of Rohan. galdor was sent to Edoras as part of the queen consort's retinue. He was placed under the tutelage of Sir Roman Ylinen, a cousin of his father and chief of Dol Amroth's guard of the queen. Galdor loved the Rohirim, despite their mundane Northernling origins. His life mostly consisted in tending to horses, hunting dogs and the queen's falcons. Galdor performed his duty with high distinction and was cited in most year by the queen in her letter to her father.

Skills: Falconry [5], Animal Handling, dogs [8], Animal handling, horses [6], riding, horses [10], Area Knowledge, Rohan [6], bow [4], Leatherworking [4], Armoury, armor [4], Armoury, melee weapons [6]

Squire in Dol Amroth (age 14 - 21 ,year FA 7 - 14 )

Completing his assignment as a page with flying colours, Galdor comes back to Gondor and becomes a squire to Sir Theros Ghent-Ylinen, a second cousin and husband to the Prince's older sister Ivriniel. His tenure as squire did not go as well as his time in Rohan: Galdor became complacent due to his birth and past records and slowly drifted into idleness. He was very dedicated to the hunt, but shirked on military arts. He became a wicked gambler, and a heavy drinker. Being an hereditary knight, he was waiting for his time to come. The Prince, however, was told to send the man away to make him a man of law: "He is not much of a man-of-war, but he is a clever man of words". 

Skills: Falconry [2], Animal handling, dogs [2], Animal handling, horse [4], riding, horse [2], Area Knowledge, Gondor [4], Thrown weapon, spear [6], Lance [6], Broadsword [6], gambling [10]

Knight in Minas Tirith (age 22, year FA 15)

Galdor reported to a relative in Minas Tirith and began his apprenticeship in the Office of Estates. There, he started to learn about law and politics. He did not get around to go on hunts, and became rather an urbanite by necessity. The Lord Chancellor has appointed him to the Palantiri commission out of pity for his idle soul, knowing that the commission was about to set on an expedition which could bring Galdor his much needed life experience. There is no need for him to have a retinue of squires at the moment, but he made the purchase of two good palfrey as well as maintaing a small kennel of three mature great danes.

Skills: Law [4], Politics [2], Area Knowledge, Gondor [2], gambling [2], 

The Great Danes : Fire (blond), Ice (blue), Storm (gray). All three are fully trained to: sit, fetch, attack, stay and "come back". 

The Palfreys : Luck and Kerbo, both as black, pure bred Southern Gondor. They are not combat trained, but have been used in hunts. They are both outfitted for hunts (briddle, saddles).