Elendor
Information Gathering
Keldean and Arthamon have a conversation about Cordelia and Gray, Ada joins them.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Bree
Description: [Arthamon(#24624)] The sky is clouded over and promises more snow. Wind rattles the windowpanes. The common room is empty. Lunch is over and dinner won't begin for a little bit. The barmaid wipes the bar lazily, every once in a while her eyes peering over and the shadowy man who sits in the corner near the fire. An unlit pipe sits in his mouth, and in his hand he holds a half drunken pint of ale. His eyes dart from the door to the barmaid, who scowls at him then disappears behind the counter.
Keldean makes his way into the common room, covering a yawn. The young man looks exhausted as he drags himself across the room. Halfway to the hearth he pauses, looking sharply towards the corner where the man peers from the shadows. The teen takes a few steps towards the table with a sudden expression of interest on his face, "I need to ta-.. Oh. you're not Gray."
[Arthamon(#24624)] Rover turns. It is more of an unnatural jolt of his head. His gray eyes look over Keldean and he smiles. "No I am not. I remember you though, even if you do not remember me." Motioning to the empty seat next to him, the tall man tilts his head. "Would you like to sit down and perhaps take a guess at who I am? You were a smart boy, from what I recall. Got yourself into some trouble though..."
Suspicion immediately falls over Keldean's face when the man talks of trouble. He approaches slowly with a guarded expression on his face, dropping into the chair. "I don't remember you. Where did we meet?" He asks, frowning. "What's your name?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "I was called Wanderer when I returned to Bree, and when I left for...distant lands, my name was Rover. I was one of the "Rangers" as you call them, who helped keep an eye on Cordelia. Perhaps you remember her?" His gaze suddenly becomes hard, penetrating. Few are able to withstand his glare, and it seems as his eyes turn cold the light in the room dims as well.
Keldean any friendliness that the youth had on his face is gone when the ranger begins speaking. "Wanderer. Okay. I think I remember you now." The teen says, slowly crossing his arms over his chest. His clothes are fitting for a stablehand. Sturdy breeches and a worn sweater over a shirt beneath. "What do you want?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Want? I don't particularly want anything," Rover replies, softening his gaze a bit once Keldean remembers, "I have returned to Bree from distant lands. I was pleased to find that things have calmed down. I do not wish to bring attention to myself again, though. Seeing you walk through the door though...well, I thought I'd see if you remeembered me. You may still be angry with me. That's all right."
"What distant lands?" Keldean asks, slouching back into the chair and propping one knee up against the edge of the table. The aroma of a barn lingers around him, representative of his long day at work in the stable.
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Nobody in Bree would be familiar with them, I believe," Rover replies. "I was over the Misty Mountains, if you really want to know. I spent some time in the Trollshaws, and many months in the lands of the Beornings, although I suppose you know them better as the shape-shifters. I was other places as well, but even someone such as you would probably squirm if I began to describe what I saw and where I saw them."
"I've been through the Trollshaws." Keldean says defensively. "We're not all as dumb as you rangers seem to think we are." There's a trace of hostility in the teen's voice. He's silent for a moment, then asks with less attitude. "Do you know Gray?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "You were always full of surprises," Arthamon says with a chuckle. He nods to the Keldean, and finally takes a sip of his ale. "I do know Gray. He is a close friend of mine. Why, do you need to speak with him?"
"No.. I was just wondering what you could tell me about him. Where is he from?" Keldean asks, putting on a friendlier expression again. He lifts a hand to push some auburn curls from his face. "You're close friends?" There's some surprise in that question.
[Ada(#23113)] Ada watches Keldean hunch his shoulders in the defensive posture she has come to know so well. A wry smile twists her lips as she unwinds her scarf and stamps the little bit of mud clinging to her shoes. She is wearing her best cloak of fine blue wool over a dress of darker blue, good color for her pale skin the cold has given her pale cheeks a bloom and her dark curls have escaped her widow's cap and frame her thin face.
Without stopping to talk to anyone on the way she crosses to join the young boy only hesitating the last few steps when she sees the stranger at the table with him.
[Arthamon(#24624)] Rover shrugs. "I could not exactly say where he is from. Rangers are born and bred in the wild. I know most of the Rangers. We get to know each other on our travels. What else would you like to know?" The Ranger turns as Ada enters and offers her a brief smile before turning back to Keldean.
Keldean turns to look as well, groaning softly under his breath at the sight of Ada. His brown eyes travel back to the ranger. "Is there anything specific that he likes.. doesn't like? Does he have any other close friends?" The teen hesitates, then explains, "He did a favor for me, and I want to repay him."
[Ada(#23113)] Without returning the smile Ada nods her head to the man then narrows her eyes as she considers Keldean's back. The barest smile lights her brown eyes and she says with no preamble, "You mustn't be talking about my brother. He does no favors without asking for return."
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Rangers as a whole don't have many things we like. I could not say for sure what Gray likes. As for close friends, well...all the Rangers you meet are really friends with any other Ranger. Bree is our meeting place of sorts, you know that, I'm sure. I have not seen Gray in a while myself. I am glad he is here in Bree." Rover pauses here, then quirks a brow. "What did he do for you, may I ask?" he inquires softly, briefly forgetting Ada's presence.
Keldean lets out a soft 'hmph' when Arthamon has no suggestions what the man may like. "I guess that makes sense, they come through here often enough." When the ranger asks about the favor, Keldean turns to respond to Ada. "No, I haven't spoken with the mayor at all, but I'm glad he won. I never liked Bywater all that much."
[Ada(#23113)] "Ah, the rangers," Ada says softly and makes no pretense of leaving. She hovers behind Keldean, perhaps in hope of being forgotten enough for them to continue the conversation. "There are a lot of them coming through here of late. Strange ones, those. And I suppose I should thank you for him. Bywater was..."she shrugs, "er, in office for too long."
[Arthamon(#24624)] "I did hear Bywater was ousted," Rover comments with a sigh, "I will admit he was a fool and somewhat of a bumbling weakling, but he did manage to keep the most roudy of his citizens in line." Winking at Keldean, the man now turns to Ada. "I apologize if I seem strange," he says with a laugh, "I do try to keep a low profile when I stay here though."
Keldean looks back at the ranger, narrowing his eyes again. "You're awfully opinionated for someone that doesn't live here." He states with a scowl on his face again. "Bywater was terrible. He was completely unfair about things. He was great friends with Cordelia.." The last is said with a bit of a jibe in his tone.
[Ada(#23113)] Despite her efforts to appear the hardbitten pawnshop owner Ada colors at the stranger's joke and she makes a small curtsey. "I didn't know you were one of them, sir. I suppose strange is as strange does, low profile or no." A bit of a smile creeps back and some of her natural ease. She addresses Keldean with the all the disdain of an older sister, "And it didn't take knowing Bywater for long to call him a bumbling fool, Kel, and you know it. His being friends with that easterner never made much sense to me though."
[Arthamon(#24624)] Finishing his ale, the Ranger stands and slaps down a tab on the table. "My knowledge and understanding of your locals politics is minimal, for I have encountered many different types of governments in this world. I can say that you're democracy is certainly very effective. I will leave you to your discussions now." With a small wave, the man glides from the room.
Keldean watches the ranger leave, then leans forward to rest his arms crossed on the table, frowning. "You shouldn't trust any of the rangers to be the same as any others. They're all different. Some are nice, some are terrible." He speaks to no one in particular, it seems, but turns to look at Ada. "I don't like him."
[Ada(#23113)] "Who? Him? How come? He looks nice enough." She watches the man's catlike grace as he leaves the room and her expression softens as her eyes linger on him.
"He pries into things that aren't any of his business. Everytime I talk to him he tries to find out about Cordelia. I think he wants to hurt her. He always asks about her first." Keldean lifts one hand to use as a prop for his chin. The youth looks tired today. "Gray is a lot nicer."
[Ada(#23113)] "You still like her, don't you?" Ada's voice, like her expression, is softer. She looks at him with sympathy. "Why do yu suppose he would ask about her? Is he interested in her, too? She asks the question without real conviction.
"What? No." Keldean answers quickly, growing defensive again. He sits up, watching the woman with a frown. "He asks about her because he wants to make trouble, probably. It's the same reason he asks me about things. Rangers.. some of them think they know everything and have to meddle in things." He looks angry for a moment, then the brief burst of passion fades. "She wouldn't want anything to do with him." The teen adds, muttering.
[Ada(#23113)] "So what were you doing with him if he is such a...a pryer? You said some of them are nice but he isn't. So why spend your time with him?" She comes around to the table and sits in the ranger's vacated chair pushing her cloak back. A server sees her and she holds up one finger saying, "A hot cider. Are you having anything Keldean?"
"No.. I'm going to bed soon." It's only just after lunch, but Keldean looks exhausted. He mulls over her question for a long time. "At first I didn't remember who he was, but when we started talking I did. At that point, I guess I was already sitting here." He shrugs. "I wanted to ask him some things, too."
[Ada(#23113)] "Well, I've never seen you turn a drink down. Are you feeling alright?" She purses her lips and considers him. "And I thought you were still friends with Cordelia - you seem awfully certain of who she would like and not like."
"I'm just tired. I was up late and had to work early. The animals don't care if you want to sleep in, ya know." Keldean leans forward to rest his arms on the table again. "I know her pretty well. We've been through a lot together. I know that she wouldn't want a ranger asking questions about her. Who would?"
[Ada(#23113)] "Sure you won't have anything?" The server, a hobbit not much taller than the table sets a tankard of steaming cider on the table. "You have a tab at the bar, Missus Fiddlehead, Mr. Butterburr says to tell you." He is off before she can answer.
"Like what have you been through together?"
"No.. I'm going to go take a nap." And now Keldean actually stands. "We've been through things... We were together, once." He murmurs, frowning.
[Ada(#23113)] Ada's eyes widen a bit at that. "You mean...courting?"
"What?.. Well, no. Not like that." Keldean is starting to look more uncomfortable. The young man has a pained expression on his face. "It wouldn't work out. We're too different."
[Ada(#23113)] She nods at that, a shadow of sadness moves through her eyes and she looks away a moment considering something. "Least you know," she says quietly after a moment. "It's terrible to be with someone you're not suited to, I should know."
Keldean looks down. "Maybe." He doesn't sound the least bit convinced, but it's not a tremendous secret that the youth still pines over the exotic woman. "It was better then, but you can't turn back time and not everyone wants the same thing." His voice is quiet and bitter.
[Ada(#23113)] "You can't make someone love you. And no they can't turn back time." She looks at him levelly a moment. "Did you find out what you wanted from that Ranger fellow?"
"I know.." Keldean says in a glum tone. He shoves his hands into his pockets, yawning and not bothering to cover his mouth. "No, not really. But I found out something." He smirks a bit. "I never knew that Bree was a gathering place for rangers." He turns then to move away. "Good night.."
[Ada(#23113)] Some of her habitual sneer returns but his words seem to have taken some of Ada's edge off. "Get some sleep. Good night."
Keldean makes his way into the common room, covering a yawn. The young man looks exhausted as he drags himself across the room. Halfway to the hearth he pauses, looking sharply towards the corner where the man peers from the shadows. The teen takes a few steps towards the table with a sudden expression of interest on his face, "I need to ta-.. Oh. you're not Gray."
[Arthamon(#24624)] Rover turns. It is more of an unnatural jolt of his head. His gray eyes look over Keldean and he smiles. "No I am not. I remember you though, even if you do not remember me." Motioning to the empty seat next to him, the tall man tilts his head. "Would you like to sit down and perhaps take a guess at who I am? You were a smart boy, from what I recall. Got yourself into some trouble though..."
Suspicion immediately falls over Keldean's face when the man talks of trouble. He approaches slowly with a guarded expression on his face, dropping into the chair. "I don't remember you. Where did we meet?" He asks, frowning. "What's your name?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "I was called Wanderer when I returned to Bree, and when I left for...distant lands, my name was Rover. I was one of the "Rangers" as you call them, who helped keep an eye on Cordelia. Perhaps you remember her?" His gaze suddenly becomes hard, penetrating. Few are able to withstand his glare, and it seems as his eyes turn cold the light in the room dims as well.
Keldean any friendliness that the youth had on his face is gone when the ranger begins speaking. "Wanderer. Okay. I think I remember you now." The teen says, slowly crossing his arms over his chest. His clothes are fitting for a stablehand. Sturdy breeches and a worn sweater over a shirt beneath. "What do you want?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Want? I don't particularly want anything," Rover replies, softening his gaze a bit once Keldean remembers, "I have returned to Bree from distant lands. I was pleased to find that things have calmed down. I do not wish to bring attention to myself again, though. Seeing you walk through the door though...well, I thought I'd see if you remeembered me. You may still be angry with me. That's all right."
"What distant lands?" Keldean asks, slouching back into the chair and propping one knee up against the edge of the table. The aroma of a barn lingers around him, representative of his long day at work in the stable.
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Nobody in Bree would be familiar with them, I believe," Rover replies. "I was over the Misty Mountains, if you really want to know. I spent some time in the Trollshaws, and many months in the lands of the Beornings, although I suppose you know them better as the shape-shifters. I was other places as well, but even someone such as you would probably squirm if I began to describe what I saw and where I saw them."
"I've been through the Trollshaws." Keldean says defensively. "We're not all as dumb as you rangers seem to think we are." There's a trace of hostility in the teen's voice. He's silent for a moment, then asks with less attitude. "Do you know Gray?"
[Arthamon(#24624)] "You were always full of surprises," Arthamon says with a chuckle. He nods to the Keldean, and finally takes a sip of his ale. "I do know Gray. He is a close friend of mine. Why, do you need to speak with him?"
"No.. I was just wondering what you could tell me about him. Where is he from?" Keldean asks, putting on a friendlier expression again. He lifts a hand to push some auburn curls from his face. "You're close friends?" There's some surprise in that question.
[Ada(#23113)] Ada watches Keldean hunch his shoulders in the defensive posture she has come to know so well. A wry smile twists her lips as she unwinds her scarf and stamps the little bit of mud clinging to her shoes. She is wearing her best cloak of fine blue wool over a dress of darker blue, good color for her pale skin the cold has given her pale cheeks a bloom and her dark curls have escaped her widow's cap and frame her thin face.
Without stopping to talk to anyone on the way she crosses to join the young boy only hesitating the last few steps when she sees the stranger at the table with him.
[Arthamon(#24624)] Rover shrugs. "I could not exactly say where he is from. Rangers are born and bred in the wild. I know most of the Rangers. We get to know each other on our travels. What else would you like to know?" The Ranger turns as Ada enters and offers her a brief smile before turning back to Keldean.
Keldean turns to look as well, groaning softly under his breath at the sight of Ada. His brown eyes travel back to the ranger. "Is there anything specific that he likes.. doesn't like? Does he have any other close friends?" The teen hesitates, then explains, "He did a favor for me, and I want to repay him."
[Ada(#23113)] Without returning the smile Ada nods her head to the man then narrows her eyes as she considers Keldean's back. The barest smile lights her brown eyes and she says with no preamble, "You mustn't be talking about my brother. He does no favors without asking for return."
[Arthamon(#24624)] "Rangers as a whole don't have many things we like. I could not say for sure what Gray likes. As for close friends, well...all the Rangers you meet are really friends with any other Ranger. Bree is our meeting place of sorts, you know that, I'm sure. I have not seen Gray in a while myself. I am glad he is here in Bree." Rover pauses here, then quirks a brow. "What did he do for you, may I ask?" he inquires softly, briefly forgetting Ada's presence.
Keldean lets out a soft 'hmph' when Arthamon has no suggestions what the man may like. "I guess that makes sense, they come through here often enough." When the ranger asks about the favor, Keldean turns to respond to Ada. "No, I haven't spoken with the mayor at all, but I'm glad he won. I never liked Bywater all that much."
[Ada(#23113)] "Ah, the rangers," Ada says softly and makes no pretense of leaving. She hovers behind Keldean, perhaps in hope of being forgotten enough for them to continue the conversation. "There are a lot of them coming through here of late. Strange ones, those. And I suppose I should thank you for him. Bywater was..."she shrugs, "er, in office for too long."
[Arthamon(#24624)] "I did hear Bywater was ousted," Rover comments with a sigh, "I will admit he was a fool and somewhat of a bumbling weakling, but he did manage to keep the most roudy of his citizens in line." Winking at Keldean, the man now turns to Ada. "I apologize if I seem strange," he says with a laugh, "I do try to keep a low profile when I stay here though."
Keldean looks back at the ranger, narrowing his eyes again. "You're awfully opinionated for someone that doesn't live here." He states with a scowl on his face again. "Bywater was terrible. He was completely unfair about things. He was great friends with Cordelia.." The last is said with a bit of a jibe in his tone.
[Ada(#23113)] Despite her efforts to appear the hardbitten pawnshop owner Ada colors at the stranger's joke and she makes a small curtsey. "I didn't know you were one of them, sir. I suppose strange is as strange does, low profile or no." A bit of a smile creeps back and some of her natural ease. She addresses Keldean with the all the disdain of an older sister, "And it didn't take knowing Bywater for long to call him a bumbling fool, Kel, and you know it. His being friends with that easterner never made much sense to me though."
[Arthamon(#24624)] Finishing his ale, the Ranger stands and slaps down a tab on the table. "My knowledge and understanding of your locals politics is minimal, for I have encountered many different types of governments in this world. I can say that you're democracy is certainly very effective. I will leave you to your discussions now." With a small wave, the man glides from the room.
Keldean watches the ranger leave, then leans forward to rest his arms crossed on the table, frowning. "You shouldn't trust any of the rangers to be the same as any others. They're all different. Some are nice, some are terrible." He speaks to no one in particular, it seems, but turns to look at Ada. "I don't like him."
[Ada(#23113)] "Who? Him? How come? He looks nice enough." She watches the man's catlike grace as he leaves the room and her expression softens as her eyes linger on him.
"He pries into things that aren't any of his business. Everytime I talk to him he tries to find out about Cordelia. I think he wants to hurt her. He always asks about her first." Keldean lifts one hand to use as a prop for his chin. The youth looks tired today. "Gray is a lot nicer."
[Ada(#23113)] "You still like her, don't you?" Ada's voice, like her expression, is softer. She looks at him with sympathy. "Why do yu suppose he would ask about her? Is he interested in her, too? She asks the question without real conviction.
"What? No." Keldean answers quickly, growing defensive again. He sits up, watching the woman with a frown. "He asks about her because he wants to make trouble, probably. It's the same reason he asks me about things. Rangers.. some of them think they know everything and have to meddle in things." He looks angry for a moment, then the brief burst of passion fades. "She wouldn't want anything to do with him." The teen adds, muttering.
[Ada(#23113)] "So what were you doing with him if he is such a...a pryer? You said some of them are nice but he isn't. So why spend your time with him?" She comes around to the table and sits in the ranger's vacated chair pushing her cloak back. A server sees her and she holds up one finger saying, "A hot cider. Are you having anything Keldean?"
"No.. I'm going to bed soon." It's only just after lunch, but Keldean looks exhausted. He mulls over her question for a long time. "At first I didn't remember who he was, but when we started talking I did. At that point, I guess I was already sitting here." He shrugs. "I wanted to ask him some things, too."
[Ada(#23113)] "Well, I've never seen you turn a drink down. Are you feeling alright?" She purses her lips and considers him. "And I thought you were still friends with Cordelia - you seem awfully certain of who she would like and not like."
"I'm just tired. I was up late and had to work early. The animals don't care if you want to sleep in, ya know." Keldean leans forward to rest his arms on the table again. "I know her pretty well. We've been through a lot together. I know that she wouldn't want a ranger asking questions about her. Who would?"
[Ada(#23113)] "Sure you won't have anything?" The server, a hobbit not much taller than the table sets a tankard of steaming cider on the table. "You have a tab at the bar, Missus Fiddlehead, Mr. Butterburr says to tell you." He is off before she can answer.
"Like what have you been through together?"
"No.. I'm going to go take a nap." And now Keldean actually stands. "We've been through things... We were together, once." He murmurs, frowning.
[Ada(#23113)] Ada's eyes widen a bit at that. "You mean...courting?"
"What?.. Well, no. Not like that." Keldean is starting to look more uncomfortable. The young man has a pained expression on his face. "It wouldn't work out. We're too different."
[Ada(#23113)] She nods at that, a shadow of sadness moves through her eyes and she looks away a moment considering something. "Least you know," she says quietly after a moment. "It's terrible to be with someone you're not suited to, I should know."
Keldean looks down. "Maybe." He doesn't sound the least bit convinced, but it's not a tremendous secret that the youth still pines over the exotic woman. "It was better then, but you can't turn back time and not everyone wants the same thing." His voice is quiet and bitter.
[Ada(#23113)] "You can't make someone love you. And no they can't turn back time." She looks at him levelly a moment. "Did you find out what you wanted from that Ranger fellow?"
"I know.." Keldean says in a glum tone. He shoves his hands into his pockets, yawning and not bothering to cover his mouth. "No, not really. But I found out something." He smirks a bit. "I never knew that Bree was a gathering place for rangers." He turns then to move away. "Good night.."
[Ada(#23113)] Some of her habitual sneer returns but his words seem to have taken some of Ada's edge off. "Get some sleep. Good night."
Players: Arthamon, Keldean, Ada
