(Archive) - The Teachings of the Swan
From the archives of the Gondorian
Some squire and knight RP
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Weather: Clear
Time: Early Evening
Season: Spring
Date: Sunday - March 17, 3021
Real Time: Fri Sep 01 17:40:25 2000
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*Note - log supplied by Drenlyn*
Belfalas: Rath Aran - Grasslands of Dor-en-Ernil
The road, hard packed earth raised above the ground, cuts like a grey ribbon through the verdant green of the lush grasslands here in the Land of the Prince. The land, pristine in condition, owes its fertility and vibrant life to not only the high mountains to the west, but also to the River Gilrain, which can be seen winding it\'s way from the distant north, to join with the Serni to the east. To the south of the mighty confluence of these two rivers, is a great stone bridge at the western end of which lies the town of Linhir. The rich fields of growing things continues to the southwest, and the lands to the north, while no less green, lack their cultivation.
The road continues to stretch it\'s girth to the northwest, cutting through land that grows ever more filled with hills and high reaches. The southern spur of the White Mountains is merely rolling foothills there, though to both the north and south of that spot the ground is again rocky and high.
The Sun is marching slowly towards the distant west, as the shadows begin to grow long, reaching to the east.
Contents:
Thorondur
Maernus
White Pavilion
Obvious exits:
Linhir, Bridge
The road, hard packed earth raised above the ground, cuts like a grey ribbon through the verdant green of the lush grasslands here in the Land of the Prince. The land, pristine in condition, owes its fertility and vibrant life to not only the high mountains to the west, but also to the River Gilrain, which can be seen winding it\'s way from the distant north, to join with the Serni to the east. To the south of the mighty confluence of these two rivers, is a great stone bridge at the western end of which lies the town of Linhir. The rich fields of growing things continues to the southwest, and the lands to the north, while no less green, lack their cultivation.
The road continues to stretch it\'s girth to the northwest, cutting through land that grows ever more filled with hills and high reaches. The southern spur of the White Mountains is merely rolling foothills there, though to both the north and south of that spot the ground is again rocky and high.
The Sun is marching slowly towards the distant west, as the shadows begin to grow long, reaching to the east.
Contents:
Thorondur
Maernus
White Pavilion
Obvious exits:
Linhir, Bridge
Maernus glances at the Knight, \"Well, uh, sir...isn\'t that rather dangerous.\" He pauses, \"Hunting a mumakil, shouldn\'t we try to preserve as many people intact for when we reach our destination?\" He glances around, \"Maybe I should go find that squire to be a cook.\" He seems to be avoiding this hunt, \"I\'m sure there must be some easier prey around here, sir.\"
\"Oh, one won\'t find any Mumakil in Gondor, squire -- thank the Valar for that,\" Thorondur replies, offhand and candid as may be. Yet bending his gaze upon the southern horizon -- the Sea, visible as a faint line of blue beyond the fields -- he laughs, softly and to himself. \"Thankfully, we are not on a mission of war.\"
\"We may indeed find the time for such pleasant diversions.\"
Drenlyn, returning from his duties with the horses, approaches Thorondur, \"Excuse me sire, I have finished my duties, and am somewhat lost as to my purpose.\"
A look of embarrassment fills Drenlyn\'s face as he continues, \"To tell you the truth I am yet inexperienced in such long land journeys. Had we but a ship, I would be content.\"
\"You seriously expect this to stay a peaceful mission for very long, sir?\" Maernus says, as he unconsciously rolls his eyes at the words \'pleasant diversions\'. He glances to Drenlyn, \"Yes, ships are a rather quick means of transportation, but dangerous...there is maybe not even one ship of ours that is a beater to that of the Umbarian scum.\"
Smiling his distant, faraway smile -- touched, as ever of late, by ineffable sorrow unseen -- the Herald turns to regard the pair of squires, and says simply, \"No ship can reach the Oasis that is our destination. And I fully expect this to be a mission of peace. Any man who bares a blade without my leave--\"
Thorondur stops short of naming a consequence, but his meaning is clear.
Turning to the Knight-Herald Drenlyn replies, \"I do hope Lord that we shall not need to draw blade if we make for this Oasis that you speak of.\"
Drenlyn turns down his troubled brow, \"But, if any Umbarian scum dares to harm so much as a hair on a horse, I will let loose the rage that I have harbored for these past years.\"
Maernus chuckles lightly at Drenlyn\'s word, \"Do not worry, I am sure the Umbarian would be touching your horse out of one of their disgusting love habits and would really mean it no harm.\" He chuckles some more, then continues. \"However, Sir Thorondur, I was just saying, we don\'t have to be the ones to first draw blade for this to rather quickly become a military action.\"
\"You will hold your steel unless I specifically order it drawn,\" the Herald sharply replies, voice cool and suddenly authoritarian as he fixes keen, unyielding blue eyes on both young men.
Drawing up his head Drenlyn\'s voice turns cool and calm as his face regains its composure, \"Lord I will do as you ask, though evil may come of my inaction\"
\"Still it pains me to have to deal with the scum who murdered my brother.\"
\"My own brother died in Umbar, Drenlyn -- did you know that? I thought not.\" The Herald\'s words may be hard, yet his regard for the younger squire is not without sympathy. \"But if we allow old hatreds to dictate our present, then we sentence ourselves and our sons to similar deaths, in the future.\"
\"Many men have died in Umbar, many men have died in Gondor because of the scum who live in Umbar. I myself have sworn to see Umbar destroyed, but my first duty is to the Lord Prince and therefore the Knights whom act in his name.\" Maernus states this, towards Drenlyn. \"I do not have a close relation who lays dead in Umbar, my father was lucky, my only siblings are my many sisters.\"
\"Your words ring true Squire, my first duty is to the Prince and his Herald.\"
Drenlyn\'s eyes grey over in deep thought, \"Vengeance achieves nothing. That was the one lesson that I learned from my brother, I will not dishonor his memory by ignoring it.\"
Nodding, apparently satisfied, the Lord Thorondur regards the two for a moment further -- and then says, \"Very well. See that you both keep that duty in the forefront of your thoughts -- it will be sorely tested ere we have finished this errand, I fear.\"
And with those words, he turns and strides away toward his tent.
Turning to his fellow squire, Drenlyn remarks, \"I fear that the tests that the Herald speaks of will be great indeed. I am only glad that they will wait yet another day. Good night fellow squire, I must rest while I can.\"
With that Drenlyn turns and heads back towards the squires\' tent.
\"And a good night to you, squire. My test will be a great one indeed, my desire to see all that is Umbar destroyed is greater than most...some would call it an illness that burns inside me...but I will keep my oath the Lord Prince, even if I must die to do so.\" The squire glances around, looking south, towards Umbar.