Tidings Upon the Wind

============== Lord of the Rings Calendar ==============

IC time is:    Early Evening < About 7:20 PM >

IC day is:     Sunday

IC date is:    February 6

Moon phase:    Full 

Earendil:      Gil-Estel is not visible.

IC year is:    Third Age 3049

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RL time:        Tue Feb 02 21:26:56 2010

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Gladden River, North Bank

Here the river comes boiling from a gorge, and slows, winding in meandering courses ever toward the Anduin. The Misty Mountains glimmer to the west, their peaks reaching toward the heavens. Gently rolling hills stretch to the north, each foothill bearing the weight of the soft snow and frost. The light breeze around feels cold and dry and the frozen ground crumbles beneath your feet. The ford is a morass, trampled like a cattle wade. Anyone attempting to cross can expect to get muddied and wet.

The sky is clear. The early evening winter air is cold and dry around you. The moon is full.

Contents:

Haldir

Obvious exits:

Upstream, NorthEast, South, NorthWest, and East

[Haldir(#25231)]

Dusk sets strong colors upon the horizon, to be swallowed up by the tall forms of the Misty Mountains. There is little to be found here: no settlement or lamp disturbs the oncoming night. Only starlight, unimpeded by cloud, falls into the river Gladden and is carried away to the east in the shallows.

Here, Haldir has crossed. Hefting a longbow over his shoulder, the grey-cloaked Elf spares a single glance to the new stars before stepping confidently to the north.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

The magnificent sky-canvas of colors fades as the night settles in, and with it comes a sharp wind of dry bitter winter. Within the deepning gloom of early eve there passes a darkling shadow, elongated on either side. Overhead it bears down from the northwest, away from the gleaming peaks of the Misty Mountains. The twinkling stars are blotted out, and there comes a distant whooshing sound above the flow of the Gladden.

[Haldir(#25231)]

The Elf stands stone-still, reaching for a hidden quiver the river still ripples slightly from his recent crossing, but otherwise he is like a misplaced, large rock upon the bare ice-littered ground. The sharpest eye might, however, catch Haldir\'s gaze looking up from his hood...

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

Rocks--these are preferred landing places for this creature of the sky. But unfortunately this rock is neither large enough nor tall enough to be a perch. Amber eyes that flicker downward catch the tiny gleam of another pair down below, and Sulgirion tilts his head to peer closer.

Now it can be discerned: a giant bird flying through the air, his path due south. The eagle angles its massive bronze wings and the tail shifts, bringing the avian closer to the ground. A shrill caw sounds, rolling unhindered by this open land until it echoes dimly off the mountainsides to the West. \"A hand reaches for feathered shaft, Master Elf,\" a voice calls in raspy Westron. \"Let it lie at ease, and fear no evil of the night.\"

[Haldir(#25231)]

In response, the Elf casts down his hood, revealing a head of long, fair hair to the night. \"I did not discern you in the darkness, sir Eagle,\" calls Haldir in the same tongue. \"I roam this land for tidings of field and plain and peak have your far-seeing eyes found many?\"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

Performing a half-circle overhead, Sulgirion folds the wings, closing the last distance between raptor and First Born. Outward the black-tipped claws reach as the Great Eagle settles down into the hard frozen earth ahead of the ellon. For a moment the golden head dips to fix a few feathers, and it is a time before the creature answers.

\"Tidings, yes, though they bear not good news. From the High Pass I come. It seems the yrch activity has renewed once again.\" The neck rises and the eyes stare unblinkingly. \"You are headed north? If you venture nigh the Mountains, then I fear you shall in fact need those arrows.\"

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"Is that so?\" queries Haldir, raising an eyebrow at the tall, landed eagle. \"Has there been unrest and trouble, then? I shall have to venture there, for the matters of the mountains concerns me as well. Thank you, master Eagle.\"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

\"Indeed,\" Sulgirion bobs his head in an avian nod. \"A group of humans I was seeing across the Pass, and the mountain-rats waylaid them in the midst of a coming blizzard. The orcs have gotten craftier, attempting to flatten the human encampment with a percarious boulder.\"

A new pause, and the curved beak returns to preening. \"Perhaps your paths will converge,\" the eagle muses through a mouthful of feathers.

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"Not men of Beorn? They are wiser to avoid the Pass in the winter,\" muses the Marchwarden, looking restlessly to the eagle-ploughed ground. \"Perhaps I shall meet them, then, though I sought tidings and not Men, or Orcs.\"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

\"No, they are not the shape-changers near Mirkwood the Fearful, but rather Men from the South--emblems of Swans they bore upon their raiment. Where they head now I cannot guess, for they did not say, and nor did I ask where it was not my place to do so. I have guided them a long way, but my time with them is finished. A party of Beornings arrived to lead them over the last parts of the Pass. I leave them in good hands.\"

Feathers are ruffled, and Sulgirion stretches his wings, peering into the night sky briefly, ere looking down once more to Haldir. \"Tidings you seek? I hope I have satisified you in some way regarding them, Master Elf?\" The large beak clacks open and shut at odd intervals, and yet it seems fully capable of emitting the words in the Common Tongue. \"I am known as Sulgirion,\" he says. \"Wind-sailor.\"

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"The sigil of the southern Swan,\" echoes Haldir, his brows coming near to each other. \"I understand. Thank you, Master Sulgirion you have given me great news. I shall soon go to find if they are good or ill -- my name is Haldir,\" he finishes, bowing to the large avian.

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

\"Haldir,\" repeats the avian, as though tasting the name on his tongue while simultaneously commiting it to memory. \"Well, Master Haldir,\" the eagle yields a bow in return, \"I wish you well on your travels, for now I must continue my own. To the south I go, but perhaps I can tarry in the Wood for a time upon my return.\"

[Haldir(#25231)]

\"I would gladly meet you there again, sir,\" answers Haldir, stepping back to allow the Eagle to spread his wings. \"Be well, and may the wind bear you to the great heights.\"

[Sulgirion(#16643)]

\"And may your sword stay sharp, and your arrows swift and true,\" replies Sulgirion, turning so that his downstroke does not send the Elf toppling back into the ford which he has already crossed. A beating of his wings propels the enormous bird into the sky, and once again his shadow stretches out to veil a section of Varda\'s gems in the inky heavens. A fresh caw is sent in a final farewell, and off the vassal of Manwe drifts, outspread wings soaring the cold air currents of the water-less sea. The faint flapping noises can be heard for a moment, and then Sulgirion\'s shape is lost amid the cover of darkness.