Delegated Responsibilities

Men Carmayar

In a room wrought entirely of stone, there is little warmth to be felt. A great hearth blazes at one end of the Hall, lit summer and winter. The stone itself is grey and dull, but it is hung with tapestries worked over the long years by the hands of many Carmayar women. They depict scenes from Gondor\'s long history, battles and triumphs and even her losses.

The floor is of the same grey stone, albeit highly polished. The furniture is of solid oak, uncarved or embellished the chairs are laid with bright cushions and the tables spread with cloths in shades of red and gold. Despite the grim stone, there is much wealth on display. The stair that rises to the gallery above is laid with a red carpet, and banners are hung from the balustrade in the colors of the Carmayar and of the united Mormegil. Armor stands along the gallery wall, polished and hung with shield and sword and spear, all worn by Carmayar fathers long since gone. It is, without doubt, the home of a martial family.

Contents:

Tuivegil

Phallanath

Obvious exits:

Out

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Weather:            Clear

Time:               Midday <13>

Season:             Spring

Date:               Ormenel - May 3, 3046

Real Time:          Tue Mar 03 09:08:17 2009

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The great hearth, spanning almost the whole width of a wall, blazes even at mid-day, casting shadows and warmth through the cold stone hallway, crackling and spitting at imperfections in the wood that burns. Before it stands Tuivegil, staring into the fire with arms clasped behind his back, watching, but not seeing, the play of flames as his eyes stare through the fire.

Here, inside, he has taken off his usual cloak, and wears clothes more fitting to court than to woods, but none the less utilitarian and plain.

Thingalad arrives in the house of the Carmayar, interest written upon his face. He of course knows the home of his family in Minas Tirith, but he seems unused to the finery of the place even so. The scout wears his garb and gear for the forests of the Garden in the City of Stone as a nod to his ever-ready sense of duty. Seeing Tuivegil, he pauses and waits.

Spring has not come to the Men Carmayar. Here an ancient cold holds firm with its steely grip. Even though cleaned, it still appears worn and old. It\'s finery tarnished by age and wear, for few lords have put much care, least of all its present nor he who preceded him.

But even then, that self-same lord, who by marriage and the grace of elders of both Elder and Younger house has risen to the title Lord Mormegil, arrives. He arrives silently, without any of the fine garments of the city to mark him.

He wears the Green Gauntlets of the Rangers and a hood upon his brow. Regal alone is the weapon he bears - Ambardring, the troll\'s bane, forged in the Hills of Blood in Rhun that were Carmayar\'s of old.

His dark grey eyes reflect the firelight as he stands in the shadows as he regards the men within the hall. \"You have come as I have bidden,\" his grim voice entones, filling room with more than the fire\'s dancing shadows, \"That is well. For this is much of import I would discuss.\"

A blink of an eye, and Tuivegil is back from whatever thought he had been deeply within. He turns and bows \"Lord Mormegil, I am your servant, as ever.\" He spys the scout, Thingalad, and inclines his head in greeting.

Thingalad nods to Tuivegil and then turns to the Lord Mormegil and bows much further than a mere nod. \"Great things of import, yes. My lord, your wise words and counsel are as always greatly appreciated. The Carmayar listen.\"

\"Do not play courtier with me, Thingalad son of Dunthir,\" Phallanath says raising a finger, his dark eyes flashing, \"Well do I remember the words you spoke last to me.\"

The firelight throw dancing shadows across his face as his jaw clenches. He lowers Ambardring, holding it between both gauntlets as he glares at both men. Between clenched teeth, he utters, \"However, the House of my fathers has a more pressing need than some fool\'s courtesy.\"

Turning his hard gaze on Thingalad and then on Tuivegil, he adds with dark tones, \"Your Lord has been too long absent, yet still lives. This house needs leadership and you have been deemed worthy of the honor. What say you?\"

Tuivegil pauses for a few moments, studying the Lord Mormegil closely, \"I believe myself capable of taking up this burden, \'though only time shall tell.\" His eyes light upon Thingalad, \"And I consider myself worthy. But how will this responsibility be divided between us?\"

Thingalad looks directly at Phallanath with a calculating look. \"I say this: I wonder if this helps my suit or not. I serve Gondor and the house of Mormegil in the East as well as furthering my cause. What do I gain by entering into politics here in Gondor?\"

\"What do you gain by serving your house, son of Dunthir?\" Phallanath scoffs, \"More than your father ever managed, that is certain.\"

His tone is full of ire and it is mirrored in his looks as they are turned on Tuivegil, \"Perhaps you recall the ancient title of Lord Lieutenant of the Carmayar.\" He looks away towards the shadows and continues, \"We have grown in power since the days when we skulked alone and landless on the fringes, serving as soldiers of Gondor, merely.\"

Clenching his gauntletted fist before him, he adds, \"Now we have grown in strength and power.\" He turns a sharp gaze on Tuivegil and then on Thingalad, saying, \"This must continue.\"

Thingalad considers well these words. \"Why two instead of one?\"

\"To grow the power of Carmayer is surely within the hearts of both of us\" Tuivegil clasps his hands, idly tapping his fingers on the back of his hands, \"I can but mirror Thingalad\'s question, my lord, why two Lieutenants, and how shall the running of the house be divided between us?\"

\"We have lands enough now that we may divide their governance between the two of you,\" Phallanath says through clenched teeth, \"The title shall be elevated to Lord Lieutenant and you shall be granted lands and titles befitting the rank.\"

fLooking at Tuivegil, he says, \"One shall command the West and be responsible for overseeing all that is demanded of Mormegil House Carmayar in the Court of Denethor and the Council of Pelargir.\" Turning a hard gaze on Thingalad, he adds, \"The other shall command the East and vouchesafe our claim upon the losses we\'ve sustained over the lives of our fathers.\"

Crossing his arms before him, the Ambardring being cradled over one shoulder, the Lord Mormegil says, \"I offer much and demand much. Can you answer those demands?\"

\"I know well the high prices you demand, my lord. I accept this offer.\" Thingalad nods his head in affirmation and then adds, \"As I look to the east and the brideprice it holds, I will take that lieutenancy if that suits you.\"

\"I too shall accept this offer, and this title, and shall honour them to the best of my abilities.\" Tuivegil nods also, \"Where shall the boundary of our realms fall?\"

\"You each shall be granted lands of 3 leagues by 3 leagues from those aportioned to Mormegil House Carmayar,\" Phallanath says, turning to Tuivegil, he offers, \"To the Lord Lieutenant of the West shall be given those lands which abutt the Rammas Echor and continue south along the road.\"

He turns to Thingalad and entones grimly, \"To the Lord Lieutenant of the East shall be granted lands along the Anduin that overlook the Emyn Arnen, so that he may know what was lost and what now needs be reclaimed.\"

Raising up the Ambardring in one hand, his voice takes on the tone of ritual as he says, \"If you do accept this charge, kneel now and take your oath to me in place of the absent Mormegil Lord Carmayar!\"

Thingalad kneels readily and waits

Tuivegil joins Thingalad, kneeling before Phallanath

\"Here do I swear fealty and service to Mormegil House Carmayar,\" Phallanath says, holding over the heads of the two men the haft of the ancient weapon, \"To name its Lord as Marshal of my people in times of War and Arbiter of Justice in times of peace. To answer when called as it will serve Mormegil and the good of Gondor.\"

Looking down the two men, he continues, \"To heed judgment duly rendered and to carry it forth when bid. With this oath I bind my will to Mormegil House Carmayar as its doom is bound to mine.\"

He lets these words hang a moment as the fire cracks in the shadows between them and then pronounces, \"Swear this by your name, Tuivegil son of Erethiel and Thingalad son of Dunthir.\"

Tuivegil repeats the words of the oath after Phallanath, after which he proclaims, \"By my name, Tuivegil, son of Erethiel, do I swear.\"

\"So I sear, Thingalad son of Dunthir! So be it!\"

Retrieving Ambardring to his shoulder, the Lord Mormegil declares, \"Then stand and be recognized, Tuivegil son of Erethiel, Lord Lieutenant of the West of the Mormegil House Carmayar!\"

Looking on Thingalad, Phallanath pronounces, \"And you, Thingalad son of Dunthir, Lord Lieutenant of the East of the Mormegil House Carmayar, stand and be recognized!\"

Glaring at them both, he adds, \"Serve the house of your fathers well and do not dishonor them, your you shall be doomed to wander nameless in the lands beyond our knowledge or care!\"

Thingalad rises and smiles. \"Lands and titles, but none in the east, hmmm.\" The new lord lieutenant seems oddly subdued despite his new lordship.

Tuivegil stands, brushing down his trousers where they were knelt on, he does not smile, but rather looks grim as the responsibility falls upon him, \"Fare well, Lord Phallanth, I shall departnow to put my estate in order.\"

Nodding, Phallanath bestows upon Tuivegil an honor he offers few, saying, \"Farewell, Lord Tuivegil.\"

Looking at the newly created Lord Thingalad, the Lord Mormegil turns away without saying another word and disappears into the shadows of the hall.

Thingalad turns to the fire and says, \"Soon you will be mine.\"

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TO: (Gnews)

SUBJECT: MINAS TIRITH: Oaths Sworn

MESSAGE:

In the ancient mansion of Men Carmayar far from the main paths of the City, THINGALAD and TUIVEGIL met with PHALLANATH the Lord Mormegil. Words there were spoken of leadership and the governance of the Carmayar. The three were left alone and the few servants of that house far up Maiden Street heard little, but saw much of proud, grim visages and kneeling for the swearing of oaths. What these signs portend only the three know.

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