Gelbard Girion

Title:

A High Lord of Girion, Lord Constable of Esgaroth, General of the King's Men

Description:

A tall, stately gentleman stands before you. Dressed in fineries and trappings of rank, the man's appearance is regal, if perhaps let down by the lack of austerity in his features. Sharp eyes of grey peer out from under greying brows, above a jagged yet not unshapely nose. His hair, brown but also greying heavily, is well groomed, and falls gently to his chin, which holds up a firm mouth, his cheeks worn and rough.

He wears the robes of high position, yet they are drawn up in a military fashion, suggesting a soldier's training, and possibly preference, and his head is held up proudly, his back straight. The crest of Girion sits as a brooch upon his breast, and his hands, when not gloved, sport a number of jewelled rings. The man's long-sword hangs at his belt, sheathed in a dark, silver trimmed scabbard.

History:

Early Life

Born in 2984 TA to Elebard and Hewense Girion, Gelbard was the distaff cousin of the Royal heirs. His grandsire Herd, younger brother to Bard the Bowman, had a family of 6, of which 4 were boys. The eldest of these, Elebard had served in the armies of Dale honourably, and felt most comfortable with fighting men than men of Court. He thus married for love rather than for politics, and although he carried the highest title amongst his family, his brothers and sisters amassed greater wealth, due to their own marital decisions. This seemed to matter little to Elebard however, and he removed himself from the arena of Royal politics to raise his own sons.

The eldest, Hirion, died whist young, an unknown illness taking him, but the second, Gelbard, seemed strong and full of life. His mother, a former diplomat for Taurdain, schooled the lad in social politics from a young age, and when old enough, his father began to train him in weaponskill. By adolescence, he was shrewd and quick with words, and also honed as a warrior, and actively displaying wisdom earned from both pursuits. Once a man, he chose himself to join the military, and rose quickly through the ranks.

A long history of border skirmishes hardened the still young man, and he lead several successful missions against both Easterlings and orcs as he became an officer. He then picked up a vicious wound from an exchange with a Jagun of Riavod, and was retired home for a spell, to regain his strength. Resting in the vicinity of Dale, Gelbard became interested in the workings of the politics there. Using the skills taught by his mother, he entered the arena his father had left, and became a formidable advocate of the military's human interests. A relationship was built up with various members of his House, and he became respected by his extended family, and their courtiers. An occasional visitor to King Bain, he met, and liked the Crown Prince Brand, although they never became overly close.

In time, Gelbard became bored with matters of State, and longed for the simplicity of the barracks again. He re-joined the army, fully restored to his position, and in the ensuing years, earned himself the title of General, fighting with the now King Brand's forces in one of the early engagements of Brand's reign. Impressed, the King stationed his removed cousin in Esgaroth, to aid with both political and military matters, having not formally discharged him from his military career. He remained in Laketown for a few years, representing Girion in the Noble quarter, and retaining respect from both the troops and noblemen alike.

First Defense of the Realm

All this came to an untimely end when the Kingdom was briefly invaded by the forces of Mordor; a sizeable number of orcs and trolls emerging from the Mirkwood under the command of the Witch King. A lengthy series of events ensued, bringing together both the men of Dale and Esgaroth with the elves of Amon Thranduil and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain; invading Mirkwood and hoping to eliminate the mutual threat to their peace. He spearheaded the Dale-lands contingent in this alliance, though in the end victory seemed it would elude the Kings cousin and his allies.

It was then that Esgaroth was visited by an elf from the west, during a break in the fighting, and Gelbard learned that a council was being called in a far off land named Rivendell. Determined to aid his people and bring help and hope from across the Misty Mountains, Gelbard resolved to travel to Rivendell to seek aid from the folk of Elrond. After arriving for this great meeting, it became clear to him, at least in his own mind, that little would be done there, and even less done in his own land to defeat the growing tide of menace from the Mirkwood. Leaving in disgust and despair, the High Constable of Esgaroth returned home to await the inevitable. He even left the Laketown altogether, retreating to his cousin's courts in Dale as though all hope was lost, and there did he spend several years drawing deeper inside himself.

Second Defense of the Realm

But during the last few months of 3034, a strange mood seemed to take this veteran of Dale's armies, and after a more hopeful demeanour in the affairs of State Gelbard was sent back to Esgaroth by Brand; in order to prepare the town for possible assault and keep a close watch on the great forest westwards. As a liaison to the city's defenses and their policing Watch, Lord Gelbard appeared to be engaging in the long wait.

He did not have to wait very long. As the weeks drew onwards, tales crept back up from the south of bandits and missing caravans along the Old Forest Road. It seemed some foul power was at work in the Mirkwood, and so Gelbard ordered a secret fort to be built underground at the entrance to the ancient road. Tunnels and trenches were dug at his behest underneath a small farm in Iach Celduin, and a large party of soldiers was stationed there. Word was sent to the Dwarves of Erebor, and also the folk of Thranduil and of Grimbeorn, though the Elvenking was not to be stirred from his woodland realm.

So it was that Gimli son of Gloin led the kin of Dain to the aid of the Bardings, as did Brynjolf of the Anduin Village come with a great many men from the Carrock, and Gelbard became strong allies with both, even though the elves were absent. Together they found that the Old Forest Road had been blocked off by a mighty force of orcs from the deep reaches of Mirkwood, and a great battle took place under the dark eaves.

The fighting was fierce, and many brave soldiers of Dale fell to the wicked yrch blades, but in the end the forces of good began to have the mastery. Gelbard himself was saved from a great uruk warrior by a young soldier named Jobrand, and once the orc captain was slain the tide of the battle was turned for true. The orcs were routed utterly and chased from the nearby forest. The Old Forest Road was clear once more, and the Mirkwood was clean. Victory was theirs.

This deed done, Gelbard returned with a lighter heart to Esgaroth, and the lord engaged himself in the internal politics of the Laketown anew. Though he never forgot his quest to seek out the nature of the black riders, he and his advisors felt he had earned some breathing space at least.

Of course, such things never last...

Abduction by Bandits

Soon afterwards, a dwarven caravan led by Dalur the Master of the Iron River trading company and by Gimli, son of Gloin, passed through the Dale-lands to take advantage of the newly opened Old Forest Road, but before they ventured south of Esgaroth they fell victim to an unusual and vicious ambush. Bandits fell upon the dwarves and only by chance was Gelbard and his entourage riding by. They rode at once to the khazads' aid, but the Girion Lord was overcome during the struggle and taken prisoner by the thieves.

Little did anyone know at this point, but the Lady Aewidhrin, Hiril of Amon Thranduil had also been nearby, and captured alongside Gelbard. The pair were held for a time by the brutish bandits, and put to task by their ring-leader, the rarely seen yet oft-named Ceriee, and though they tried many times to escape the bandits were well organised and efficient. Things looked grim for both the King's cousin and the noble Lady of the Ndaedeldhrim, but as they were to be ransomed in Esgaroth they were eventually moved thither for the trade. The plan was thwarted in the end by the combined efforts of the dwarves of Erebor, the elves of Mirkwood and the stern resolve of Captain Reidar of the Laketown Watch.

Rescued and freed at last, Gelbard now shared a friendship with Aewidhrin that might well serve his people in the future, and became all the more resolved to rid the land of both bandits and the foul orcs that lurk outside King Brand's borders. To this end he set about strengthening the ties between the Esgaroth Watch and his Kings Men, to bolster the upholding of the King's law. A chance encounter with Absaroka would prove to be important, and the half-orc left Gelbard with wounds and a name to think about: Raven.

Third Defense of the Realm and the Grooming of Leona

Time passed by with little event for the Girion nobleman, though he spent a year or so in Celebannon, learning a little of the language of the elves and earning the title of Elf-friend. This lasted until the start of the year 3039, where he was once again called upon to defend the kingdom from its foes. Sadly for him, Jobrand, by now his second in command and closest bodyguard had left suddenly to satisfy some need, and Gelbard was forced to hastily promote the Karath's cousin, Leona to the same rank. This was to prove quite influential in months to come, and many now regard it as a turning part in the history of the Kings Men.

Indeed, his new Captain having quickly gained the respect of the rank and file, the General felt more able to devote his time to grooming her for high command. Indeed, even as her betrothed, a healer named Geirvarr was taken captive by a band of river bandits, Gelbard let Leona take charge in the search for him; contenting himself with gathering information to aid her. With the help of Wyldan, a boat-owner, they eventually tracked these pirates to North Port and fought a brief but bloody battle. With Geirvarr rescued, but missing an ear alas, it was hoped that this would be the end of the year's troubles...

Alas, it was but the beginning of a greater woe to come. New reports leaked from the south lands of orcs on the move, and new banditry along the Old Forest Road again. Gelbard was not even full returned from North Port when news from one of his agents reached him. Having sent a small party to Iach Celduin and the garrison in the hidden fort, as the Girion Lord came back to Esgaroth he was greeted with the news that orcs had indeed been sighted in the far south.

With Leona and Geirvarr taking some time away to visit the elves and recover from their ordeal, Gelbard at once mustered up the greater strength of the Kings Men and marched south at once. Lord Halwinder of Girion joined him with his Knights of the Black Arrow, as did Captain Reidar; bringing many of the Esgaroth Watch with him. Five thousands all told sallied forth, and it was believed that such a force would crush the orcs entirely.

They had reckoned not with the might of Mordor however. For twelve thousand yrch had slunk north from the fell fortress of Dol Guldur, with Jareth at their head. The fighting was fierce, and after a great battle the forces of Dale were pressed back to Iach Celduin itself. Things seemed grim indeed, for no word had been sent to the folk of Erebor, nor to Thranduil himself to lend aid, and the Bardings were sorely outnumbered. But hope was given at last as from the north arrived Geirvarr and Leona, fresh from the Elvenking's realm, and the healer bore a horn that would call the aid of the elves.

So it was that the horn was blown, and in the township was fought the final battle of the war. Even as the Mordain looked to have won, suddenly from the west came a great host. Elves of the Ndaedeldhrim, of Lothlorien, and even far off Rivendell came thus, with dwarves of the Blue Mountains and even the folk of Gondor. Roused from their various lands by hope of trade they all had been in Thranduil's halls when the summons came. With help from the great Eagles also, this host and the men of Dale fought back fiercely against the beleaguered hordes of the Eye, and Gelbard met Absaroka a second time in battle; for the Raven was on hand for reasons of his own. And yet more surprises came, for even as victory was in the balance, from the south came yet another force; the Easterlings of Rhun. But they came not to war with Dale, and turning upon their orc neighbours they joined the fray. The uruks were routed utterly and with a great cheer the Dale-lands were kept safe once more.