(Archive) The Strange Adventures of Numandil, Naerdil, and Huan 6

Foothills of the Misties - South of Cloudyhead
The height of these mountains foreshadows the world about your feet in a blanket of ominous shadow, while frozen tangled briars gather what nourishment they can from the edging cliffs and rocky terrain which mark the foothills. By the light, slowly moving clouds travel up the mountains. Clearly visible are the ridges which scar the mountains. The flora can do little but hope for spring under the icy, snow ridden fields. Trees blanketed by frost and snow gather conspicously in clumps, shivering in the cold breezes which sometimes rip through this depression.

Above you, the sun attempts to bring warmth and comfort to the frozen world below. The mid morning winter air is frosty and sharp.

Contents:
Althea
Grey tent(#2504Vehn)
Tuonoorwen
Huan, Wolf-Hound of Dol Amroth(#29314n)
Numandil aka Indilzar
Naerdil aka Aearwen
Elven travel party
Broken Signpost
Obvious exits:
West, Southwest, and East

[Numandil(#10108)] Numandil is at the Elven camp, quietly eating and speaking softly to the elf-maid Althea.

Althea

Before you stands the elf Althea. Her long dark hair flows down past her shoulders, hightlighting her pale skin. Green eyes look out at the world thoughtfully. She is dressed in long brown pants and and a soft grey tunic that is belted at the waist. Over it all is a grey cloak that is held together at the neck with a black pin. On the pin is the form of two crossed arrows.Along the neckline of her cloak are braided blue and gray threadsThese threads show that she is a member of the 1st Wing of the Lorien Diplomatic Corps. A heavy silver thread is intertwined in the blue and grey showing her to be the Minister of the 1st wing.

Althea smiles suddenly, like the sun coming out from behind a tree "May your guard be long and untroubled although" and here smile slips away "I fear that the Shadow, name him not, reaches out over your lands and ours once again."

Numandil nods, "As do I Lady, which is why I go on this mission from the Steward."

Finished with his own morning meal, Naerdil strides through the campsite picking up an item here and there, stowing it in the saddlebags. A scowl upon his brow is clear indication of his mood as he tosses snow on the last embers of the fire. Down comes the tent with little effort, rolled up and carefully tied across the back of the horse. From time to time his sea grey eyes glance to Numandil, as if willing him to come forth and be ready to ride on Northward.
Althea raises her eyes to the angry Gondorian in his camp but says nothing to him asking instead "And what brings you so far north out of your homeland, surely they need every sword they can get."

[Numandil(#10108)] "My Lord Denethor commands my kinsman and I to go forth to find the land of Erebor," says Numandil, "Along the way we are to record the nature and customs of what folk we meet and see if any are fit to ally with us in our need. Though I little hope we shall find what we seek, for the leagues are far to Gondor and the people who we pass have their own problems. Still, I must do as my Lord commands." He then rises and bows, "Now, the time for setting out has come. I thank you Lady for your kindness, but I fear my errantry must continue, and many months I must yet go until I come to the Land I seek."

Althea rises also and bows "And I thank you also for your speech, it is not often that Men are knowagable about life outside their own people. May the Valar smile upon your your journey and may you find what you seek. Namaire

Numandil bows slowly once more but he does not speak. Rather, he turns to his kinsman and walks to the steeds. Giving out a whistle, the hound Huan appears. He then says to Naerdil, "Is all ready my nephew?"

The booted foot of Naerdil stamps through the ashes of the once burning campfire, making certain that not one ember is left glowing. Silvery orbs rove the campsite one last time before he unties his steed from a small tree. His gloved hand reaches up to stroke the mane as the soft sound of his voice lilts across the breeze, "Another day of travel begins, my trusty stallion.", fondness clearly written in every tone. Turning at the sound of his Uncle's voice he nods solemnly and says, "Let us make haste, already the sun is high in the sky. Winter is fully upon us."

Numandil nods and then mounts his steed, "Then let us ride forth!" With that he clicks his boots into the horse and speeds northwards...
Numandil takes Huan, Wolf-Hound of Dol Amroth.
Numandil goes east, towards the rising sun.

Foothills of the Misties - Near Caradhras
Caradhras sparkles high in the Misty Mountains to your west, the rest of the mountains continuing endlessly from the south to the north, their rugged peaks gleaming. To the east the valley levels out slowly, while directly around you the undulating landscape is mottled by the frost and the ice. There is a path which runs to the north and south, while the ground underneath you is frozen and hidden underneath the snow-cover

Above you, the sun attempts to bring warmth and comfort to the frozen world below. The late morning winter air is chilly and frosty.

Contents:
Numandil
Boundary Stone
Obvious exits:
East leads to Anduin Vale, North of Lorien.
West leads to Foothills of the Misties - South of Cloudyhead.
North leads to Foothills of the Misties.

Numandil considers the soft ground for a moment..
.
[Numandil(#10108)] "It would be well if we can find our way back to the River," says Numandil. "I think it will be many weeks ere we find any folk in these lands."

[Boundary Stone(#26634)] Numandil bends down and studies the soft earth closely.

look boundary stone A large standing stone has been set upright here. On the north face of the monument runes spell out the name of 'Yog'. On the south face the runes read 'Razzgrak'. At the base of the boundary stone is an inscription.

[Boundary Stone(#26634)->Naerdil] You can see at a glance that this trail has been fairly well traveled over the last few days. Besides your own tracks, you can see at least one more set. Surely you could discern more information if you were to bend down and 'read the tracks'.

read the tracks [Boundary Stone(#26634)->Naerdil] You study the ground carefully for a while....

[Boundary Stone(#26634)->Naerdil] ==============================================================================
You lean down and inspect the ground here, after a few moments you determine that:

A traveler slightly smaller than a man, wearing metal-banded boots, and with a twisted gait, traveled by here anywhere from 2 days 5 hours to 2 days 11 hours ago.
A traveler slightly smaller than a man, wearing metal-banded boots, and with a twisted gait, traveled by here anywhere from 2 days 4 hours to 2 days 10 hours ago.
A man-sized individual traveled by here anywhere from 0 to 2 hours ago.
A man-sized individual traveled by here anywhere from 0 to 2 hours ago.

=======================================================================
REMINDER: The time displayed is IC time since passage of IC travelers only.

A deep sigh sounds as Naerdil looks briefly back over his shoulder at the rapidly disappearing Golden Wood and then clicks his heels into the sides of his steed, urging him on across the frozen plains.

Anduin Vale, North of Lorien
The ground slowly and graciously levels out before you, as the foothills to your west give way to the long, straight plains before the Anduin River. The river glistens brightly to the east, a snakey, hazy line of trees marking its path. All around you, the ground is becoming less rocky and less rolling. Trees dot the landscape, each one reaching high up to the sky. The ground is icy, yet retains a splendor all its own, the condensed water on each blade of grass, of each tree, crackling and whitened almost like snow.

It is snowing. The late morning winter air is cold and dry around you. The moon is not visible.

Contents:
Numandil
Obvious exits:
North, East, and West

[Numandil(#10108)] Riding on, Numandil says, "Winter is hard around us, but it will begin to warm soon enough." Then pausing he turns the steed north, following a broken path...
Numandil travels to the north, heading towards even more fertile land.

Numandil glances to the west and then reaching into his cloak pulls out a map, "It is as I thought. To the West is the Gladden Fields, where it is said Isildur fell."

Before you, the rocks begin to rise...

Foothills of the Misties
The foothills continue northwards and southwards before you in the late morning, frosty and sharp air. The hills themselves display little glow of warmth, winter encroaching upon the very ground around you. The compelling coldness puts a pall on the countryside, blending all colors to a single white: frigid and without comfort. The path continues before your feet, frozen and underneath the snow underneath you. The foothills seem to level out at a plain well to the east, while west grants your vision the awsome sight of the misties, glowing in the sunlight. Northward leads to a belt of trees that seem to run westwardly from the mountains in an endless line, many leagues away.

The pale blue sky is clear on this beautiful and frosty day, and the sun spreads her rays over the snow-covered mountains. The late morning winter air is freezing and icy.

Obvious exits:
East, South, and North
e You walk towards the east, the ground leveling out slowly beneath your feet.

[Numandil(#10108)] The pair ride on, silence enveloping their journey...

Gladden River, South Bank
A land of rolling hills stretches south of here, but directly to the north is the bank of the Gladden river, the noise of flowing water clearly heard. the thought of being near water repulses even the most avid swimmer in the prevailing cold and dry air and The ground feels decidedly snow-covered. To the west the ice-caped mountains of Mist tower above the horizon. The Anduin valley rolls out to the east, and the path travelling north leads to the steep, fertile and woody banks of the Gladden river, clearly visible and a brief walk away. Upon the banks all sorts of differing fauna can be seen, and shrubs dot the landscape in all directions, giving this area the look of a heath.

It is snowing. The late morning winter air is cold and dry around you. The moon is not visible.

Contents:
Numandil
Obvious exits:
North, East, and South

Numandil slows his pace and points north, "There Naerdil is the Gladden river. We should be able to ford it this close to the mountains, it is barely a stream.

Looking at the river with questioning eyes, Naerdil raises one brow and looks at his uncle with doubt, "Ford the river in the middle of winter? Let us hope it tis but a stream."

Numandil nods and urges his horse north.
Numandil heads to the north, where the ground is muddy and wet from the Gladden rivers' rushing water.

Ford at the Gladden
Here the river is wide and slow over stern stone, and may be passed by foot or hoof or paw. The light of the sun glistens off the Gladden, which flows by ancient battlefields and through soft reeds that float in the day's gentle embrace. A few animal trails run alongside her gentle, curving lines.

No clouds can be spotted anywhere in the cold and pale blue winter sky. The late morning winter air is frosty and sharp.

Contents:
Numandil
Obvious exits:
South Bank, North Bank, and East

Rorgan pages: How do I do what?

[Numandil(#10108)] "It is as you say Naerdil," says Numandil. "All is well."

Numandil nods slowly as he watches Huan shake off the icy water. At length he says, "Let us head down to yon track."

Western Vales of Anduin
You are at the western lip of a very broad, very shallow river valley. The grassy banks gently recede east down to the edge of a wide, swift flowing river: it is the Anduin. To the southwest, the faint track you stand upon continues its journey, and might very well reach the eastern slopes of the Misty Mountains which are easily visible as a dark wall on the horizon. To the east, the track connects to a great bridge, which fords the Anduin. Another path leads northwards towards a small settlement whilst to the west can be seen the opening of a small mine.

It is snowing. The late morning winter air is cold and dry around you. The moon is not visible.

Contents:
Numandil
Black Steed
Obvious exits:
SouthEast leads to Gladden River, North Bank.
East leads to West Bank of Anduin, Bridge for Old Forest Road.
North leads to Wooded Glade.
West leads to Mines.
NorthEast leads to Outpost in Repair.
SouthWest leads to Gladden River, North Bank.

Outpost in Repair
Holding the ground at a local hill is an outpost of quarried stone, roughly 50 square meters to the side and with sloping exterior walls. Walls more than half again a man's height run between four towers on the corners that are nearly six meters high. The construction is of the finest dwarvish stonemasonary the walls look to be two meters thick at the current height, and sit so solid into the ground as to belie a deep foundation. The paving in the central courtyard is heavy cobblestone from the nearby Anduin river. A couple of log sheds, constructed not by dwarves but by Beornings, rest in the courtyard. There is quite a bit of scaffolding and wooden bracing still in place.

The light of day shines upon the outpost, revealing men and women carrying wares and other goods from the trade traffic that runs through this Outpost. More Beornings typically lie about here, especially guides resting from their long trips to the High Pass.

Contents:
Gonkich
H'ruin
Zijgy
Religious Followers(#23031IVn)
Dajil
Orc Camp
Obvious exits:
Northeast leads to Anduin Valley - West of the Carrock.
North leads to Vales of the Anduin.
Northwest leads to Vales of the Anduin.
Storage Shed leads to Storage Shed.
Headquarters leads to Headquarters.
Barracks leads to Barracks.
Southwest leads to Western Vales of Anduin.
West leads to Wooded Glade.
[Orc Camp(#4488)->Naerdil] You see a camp surrounded by orc sentries.
They do not appear to have seen you.

sw You head southwest, entering the Western Vales of the Anduin.
Western Vales of Anduin

You are at the western lip of a very broad, very shallow river valley. The grassy banks gently recede east down to the edge of a wide, swift flowing river: it is the Anduin. To the southwest, the faint track you stand upon continues its journey, and might very well reach the eastern slopes of the Misty Mountains which are easily visible as a dark wall on the horizon. To the east, the track connects to a great bridge, which fords the Anduin. Another path leads northwards towards a small settlement whilst to the west can be seen the opening of a small mine.

It is snowing. The late morning winter air is cold and dry around you. The moon is not visible.

Contents:
Numandil
Black Steed
Obvious exits:
SouthEast leads to Gladden River, North Bank.
East leads to West Bank of Anduin, Bridge for Old Forest Road.
North leads to Wooded Glade.
West leads to Mines.
NorthEast leads to Outpost in Repair.
SouthWest leads to Gladden River, North Bank.

[Numandil(#10108)] As they approach Numandil holds up his hand, "What do you make of that to the northeast, Naerdil?"

Shrugging his shoulders the younger man says, "One direction looks about as good as the next Numandil, save that of south, of course."

Numandil nods and says, "There seems to be the rumour of evil to the northeast. I like it not."

Numandil says, "lets go up to the glade north of here"

Wooded Glade
As you pass under the eaves of the wooded glade, the woods hound in about you. The trees have grown more sparse than some forests, but denser than others. This glade appears to be once connected to the great Mirkwood forest a long time ago. The tree branches above filter the view of the sky a bit, but when a light breeze rushes from the mountains and the pass to the north, they spread their branches to let more sky in.

The sun high above filters through the green canopy that laces above. Rays of sunshine stream down on the forest floor and on those under the branches. The light hits a wooden blockade that has been built up under the trees it appears to be an outpost. A few men are seen walking about.