============================================================================== RL (Arizona) time is Mon Dec 03 14:05:19 2001 (+time). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IC time is about 2 PM on Sunday Foreyule (December) 14, 1424 S.R. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IC Weather Conditions The drizzle has changed to a light snow, drifting down in seasonably light fashion over the hills and vales, just dusting the landscape on this Foreyule/Yulemath day. ============================================================================== Meadow, Before Great Smials The Stock Road ends here in a large area, cobbled for the most part, and surrounded by a field brightened with a flower garden and an old green bench. There are trees all over the meadow, stately oaks for the most part, their branches stretching out to provide shelter and shade. Surrounded by endless rolling hills, the scenery is enough to cause one to lose their breath. But far and away the most impressive thing about is right before you: a great round doorway is carved straight into an enormous hill. The door itself is stout, oaken, and ancient, bearing the scars of many years' peering out onto the hills. A blackened iron ring is set in the centre of the door, but is rarely used since the door is almost always open except in times of inclement weather. On either side, the hill is spotted with round windows, allowing glimpses of hallways and corridors and bedrooms. Off to the side, a dirt path leads to a stout stable, for the mounts of the many Tooks and their guests, and an expansive garden begins at the door to Great Smials. You notice a low-lying window near the front of the smial with feminine looking drapes...so low one might even climb in if they were so inclined. A thick blanket of snow covers the broad expanse of the Meadow, and the trees are barren of their leaves and silent, the birds having flown away. An unusual quiet hangs over this usually lively field. Contents: Talvo Ferridac Egg Dueling Field Great Smials Garden Obvious Exits: Door allows entrance to Great Smials through an impressive doorway. Garden Path forms a trail of large circular stepping stones to a formal garden. Stables is a westward leading path to where you can leave your steed. Road is a dirt causeway leading to the outskirts of Tuckborough. To the right of the door, suspended from an elaborate looking iron hook, is a pretty silver bell hanging with a cord. You might RING the BELL and let the Tooks know you've arrived. Ferridac You see a typical Hobbit with a height of about 2'7", he's nearly brunette. His deep, green eyes look out of a chubby, a bit reddish face. The little nose is somewhat twisted, and the thick lips are wet as if he'd just finished a meal moments ago. The striking cheek bones complete the friendly impression of the Hobbit. A brown waistcoat which is worn-out but doesn't seem untidy wraps up his chubby limbs and the trousers are carefully fixed with a dark-brown leather belt. He wears a silver amulet with a big house and a river, most probably the Brandybuck, and in the pocket of his waistcoat there sticks a violet. As you take a breath through your nose, a familiar, domestic smell of tobacco, spice and old furnitures obligingnesses you. Talvo Standing before you is Talvo Hornblower, a hobbit. He is 2'9" tall, with long curly hair. His hair is dark, and some falls lightly over his face making him look younger. You guess he is in his late thirties or early forties. Talvo's feet have thick, pale soles and short, deep-brown hair on the top, which curls slightly. His face is a deep, apple red at the cheeks, but slightly paler elsewhere. It is chubby, as is his stomach. His eyes are a shining blue. Talvo dresses in a shirt of bright yellow, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. In the breast pocket is a small, silver-pieced pipe. Over this is a waistcoat of brown fabric. Its shimmering gold buttons, which are engraved with a horn, are rarely used as the waistcoat is open. His pants are a dazzling green, but with a few mud stains dotted around the ankles. He has a belt of pale blue, with a large golden buckle fashioned like a horn. Attached to the belt is a large, sectioned pouch. In each section is a different pipeweed, and the mingled smells float through the air. Also, tucked under the belt neatly is a pair of deep, plum colored gloves, also a little mud stained. The fingers are looking slightly worn, and have clearly already been repaired once. Omfast A brown haired hobbit boy with freckles, a running nose and blue eyes. He is barefoot (of course) and wears brown baggy trousers, a yellow shirt with olive green patches at the elbows, and a big belt that must have been red a long time ago. Around his neck there is a little leather thong with a wooden halibut shaped talisman. In one of his shirt pockets, he has a small pipe. On his belt, you can discern three little pouches, although it is hard to tell what they contain. Perhaps a few pennies and some keys? It's hard to tell, the content doesn't seem to make any sound. Perhaps it's just pipe weed. The light snow is falling and covers the meadow. You see a lone hobbit approaching, coak wrapped tightly about him. As he approaches, you see a red nose and small eyes peeking out. The hobbit sniffs and starts looking around. He doesn't ring the bell and starts looking at the garden instead. "Dread full weather. Unbelievable cold. Brrr..." Ferridac nods to the Hobbit, putting the hands in the pockets deeper, "That's right, I wish the winter would pass as quick as it came. May I ask you what you are doing here? The front door of the Great Smials opens, and a warm air flows into the garden, though its soon lost in the winter of the land. With a shiver, Talvo Hornblower steps out onto the porch, pulling his cloak around him closely. He pulls the door closed once more and leans on in carefully, smoking his pipe. He smiles in the direction of the Hobbits in front of him, but for now says nothing. Surprised, Omfast turns around. "A good sunday morn to you, mister. And to you too, mister! I, I wasn't trespassing now, was I? I just came to take a closer look at the gardens, sirs. You see, I heard about a job opening. And so I though, eh, uh, you know, being a farmer's son, that I, the me uncle, could, ah..." His voice trails off. You actually hear his teeth rattling, now. The other Hobbit smiles back, "And I greet both of you too! What's about the offered job? I mean, I don't head to take it, but it's interesting how things flow in our lovely Shire." He takes out his wooden pipe and some Pipeweed, and starts puffing big, blue smoe rings into the cold air. Ferridac's eyes glance around as his look get catched by three pouches, hanging on the belt of Omfast. Due to the shyness he hesitates to ask him, but finally the words flow out unintentionally, "Omfast, ehm, M..., May I ask you what's in the pouches? Sorry about my curiousity... Talvo smiles to Omfast politely. "No sir, not trespassing. The Thains gardens are open to all Hobbits of the Shire, as is his home most times. But may I ask, what job is that? I thought I had my ear to the ground, but there you go!" Talvo starts to chuckle to himself, but it soon turns into a cough. Wrapping his cloak tighter around him, he ventures cautiously towards the others. "I'm Talvo Hornblower, pleased to meet you lads! Call me Tal, though." He draws on his pipe again, smiling as he does so. Omfast says, "Ah, yes, I am Omfast Cotton. Call me me... ah, Omfast." He laughs nervously. "My uncle wants me to find a job so I started listening around. At the Lucky-Tucky I met a very nice, ah, young lady. Her, her name was Ms. Smallburrow, ah, if I remember correctly. She talked about a position as a gardener being available." As he talks, he stuffs his pouches back under his coat where they belong. He turns around and points at the gardens. "I wanted to take a, ah, look before a- applying, you see." "Oh, I see! Well, might be best to look through a window today, the weathers not too good. I was just taking some food, after I'd filled my lungs. Would you two care to join me?" Tal rubs his hands together fast as he looks around the snow, dusting the land. He then thrusts them into his pockets in an attempt to keep them warm. Talvo grins, and says "C'mon, Omfast. Nice warm fire? And you, eh, I didnt catch your name, I'm afraid..." Tough he wants to disappear in the soil, since Omfast refused his impertinent question, Feridac turns around to Talvo, greeting him and self-conscious returning his friendly smile. "My name is Ferridac, Tal." He feels like Omfast would just destroy him by his look. How could he asked such a question? Ferridac says, "That would be nice Tal! I can't stand that cold breeze, and the weather seems not to turn this afternoon. Oh Why can't the winter pass? I love the summer, the festivals under the sky, the forests, the flowers...."" Omfast grins, visible relieved, "Ah, yes, wouldn't that be nice, a warm fire. And some food, you said? Very friendly of you, thank you very much for the invitation." As he hears Ferridac speak, he chuckles, "Aye, yes, yes, sunny sun and flowers, hehe." Just as Omfast turns around towards the smials, a voice calls in the the distance, "Omfast!! Where are you, Omfast, you knuckle-head?" Omfast shrinks back as he hears that voice. "Uh, Talvo, I guess my uncle be wanting to see me right now... I'll be glad to accept your invitation another day, though." He smiles awkwardly. "A find afternoon and enjoy tea time, however." He then turns around and starts jogging back through the snow towards his uncle under the big oaks.