NARRATOR: (so there you have it)
CIMORENE: (Indeed. Where are we, oh fearless leader?)
NARRATOR: (where are you headed?)
CIMORENE: (Does Melendar seem to know where he is goin g?)
NARRATOR: (just threw the forest towards the looming mountain really)
CIMORENE: (All righty then. Do we meet anyone as we go)
NARRATOR: *3 days pass with no change but the mountain getting larger*
NARRATOR: *it is cloudy again and there is something of a wind as you go along*
CIMORENE: *pulls her pretty new cloack around her*
NARRATOR: (it's not really pretty)
NARRATOR: (but i get it)
CIMORENE: (*shrugs* She thinks it is)
NARRATOR: (k)
NARRATOR: *the third day comes*
NARRATOR: (observe check)
NARRATOR: *fourth day i meant*
CIMORENE: (16)
NARRATOR: *you hear distant whispering*
CIMORENE: *she pulls her horse to a smaller pace and whispers to him* Something's out there...
NARRATOR: Melendar:*whispers too*Is there now?...
CIMORENE: *she glances off in the direction of the whispering* There are voices on the wind
NARRATOR: Melendar:*starts moving off in the direction slowly*We will see where they come from...
CIMORENE: *she blinks and follows him, grabbing her staff tightly in her hand and putting her hood up*
NARRATOR: *melendar stalks into the trees further and disapears*
CIMORENE: *she growls to herself and tries to follow*
NARRATOR: (stealth roll?)
NARRATOR: (conceal is the affinity bonus which means +1)
CIMORENE: (Do I need one?)
NARRATOR: (are you stealthing or not? your call)
CIMORENE: (No)
NARRATOR: (k)
NARRATOR: (observe check)
CIMORENE: (15)
NARRATOR: *there is a poke in your back*
NARRATOR: voice:do not move
CIMORENE: *she sighs a little and pulls Bard to a halt*
NARRATOR: voice:what is your business here?
CIMORENE: I'm on a mission from the city to check on the watch tower on the mountain. And you're keeping me from that mission.
NARRATOR: voice:Oh am I now? How unfortunate for the city.
NARRATOR: voice:If you wish to see the tower than by all means see it. I will not hinder you.
NARRATOR: *the point in your back is gone*
CIMORENE: *she whirls almost instantly, trying to see her attacker*
NARRATOR: (observe)
CIMORENE: (10)
NARRATOR: *you see forest only*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*from behind you*Wasn't he pushy now?
CIMORENE: *she sighs and turns to glare at Melendar* And you! Rushing off like that! You could've gotten yourself killed!
NARRATOR: Melendar:*big smile*I doubt it. Besides it is best if it is not known that you are being accompanied.
CIMORENE: *she stares at him for a moment, then pushes on through the forest* It's a shame Belegar had to miss that...
NARRATOR: Melendar:What are you talking about? *moves along with you*
CIMORENE: Belegar. It was like that time where you and I were chasing each other through the streets... you were so silly! And Belegar was so mad!
NARRATOR: (making up past events?)
CIMORENE: (Nope... just exxagerating them to get him to admit that he's remembered something)
NARRATOR: Melendar:I imagine he'd be upset with me*smile*. Did I ever catch you?
CIMORENE: *she glares at him playfully* No... you ran away.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*confused*Odd, that does not sound like me...
CIMORENE: You couldn't get me into a place all alone, so you left
NARRATOR: Melendar:That sounds underhanded of me. *frankly*I'm a devious fellow aren't I?
CIMORENE: *she shrugs* YOu used to be.
NARRATOR: *he smiles at that*
CIMORENE: *she spurs bard forward with a wink to Melendar, and races off towards the mountain*
NARRATOR: *he runs close behind*
NARRATOR: *you two go on for another week before you reach the foot of the mountain*
NARRATOR: (i assume you have now run out of food)
CIMORENE: (yup)
NARRATOR: (k)
NARRATOR: Melendar:The foot of the Orocarni...
CIMORENE: *her stomach grumbles*
NARRATOR: *the mountain range seems to go on and on to the left and right and you cannot see the top above the clouds right now*
NARRATOR: (stamina roll)
CIMORENE: (13)
NARRATOR: (you're okay, but you're hungry)
NARRATOR: Melenadar:Shall we?
CIMORENE: *she speaks softly* Melendar.... before we go up the mountain, we need some food
NARRATOR: Melendar:*feeling his own stomach*I think you have a good point. Ready for hunting? *he takes out a bow*
CIMORENE: *she takes out her own bow* Indeed.
NARRATOR: (survival roll)
CIMORENE: (13)
NARRATOR: *you find a nights food and some for tommorrow as well, but it did take 2 hours and it is now sun-down*
CIMORENE: *she returns to Melendar, then glances up the mountain* Well? Do we push on in the dark, or wait until first light?
NARRATOR: Melendar:That all depends. Do we expect orcs? Do we expect nothing wrong?
CIMORENE: We expect some kind of hoarde to appear soon
NARRATOR: Melendar:Correct but we do not know where they are from or what makes them up. A very curious situation wouldn't you agree? If you want my personal opinion, however, I suggest we go and with not a moment to lose.
CIMORENE: *she nods* I agree. Shall we? *spurs Bard forward again*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*sadly*Cimorene, do you truly expect your horse to climb the whole mountain?
CIMORENE: *she glances at Bard, then flat out asks him*
NARRATOR: *i will try my best*
NARRATOR: Melendar:You see, even bard is uncertain.
CIMORENE: *she dismounts and pats his neck, smiling a little* I think, for once, Melendar is right, old friend...
NARRATOR: *bard puts his head down*
NARRATOR: *i have failed you... *
NARRATOR: (btw your new spells are at -8)
CIMORENE: *she raises it back up* No... not for fear of failing, but for fear of your safety do I ask you to do this for me. *she hugs him* I couldn't bear it if you were hurt....
NARRATOR: *shall I wait for you here ? *
CIMORENE: Yes. Hide you and Melendar's horse deep in the woods, and run at the first hint of any trouble. Be safe, old friend.... *she takes off her pack and gear, petting his long mane*
NARRATOR: *he seems sad but complient*
CIMORENE: *she hugs him tightly, whispering elven farewells in his ear, then turns towards the mountain*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Then it is time. *he moves to the begginning*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*hardly audible*May the Valar protect us.
CIMORENE: *she follows easily, using her staff as a walking stick*
NARRATOR: *melendar breifly holds out his sword to find it not glowing and moves on more quickly now*
NARRATOR: *the initial climb is not hard, it is little more than a steep hike, but a slow one*
NARRATOR: *another day of this goes by*
NARRATOR: (you need more food)
CIMORENE: (Survival as we go?)
NARRATOR: (yes)
CIMORENE: (14)
NARRATOR: *you find another 2 days of food*
NARRATOR: (roll d6 on 2 arrows, this counts the last hunt too)
CIMORENE: (6 andd 2)
NARRATOR: *1 broke and one is fine*
NARRATOR: (climb check as you get to tougher grounds)
NARRATOR: *there is no real path up this mountain*
CIMORENE: (13)
NARRATOR: *none that you two find anyway...*
NARRATOR: *you keep find on the steep rocks all around*
NARRATOR: (stamina test)
CIMORENE: (15)
NARRATOR: (nice)
NARRATOR: (you're still fine)
NARRATOR: *anothe half day of these boudlers and you reach what can clearly be considered a wall to climb*
NARRATOR: *it is dark out now*
CIMORENE: (goodie)
NARRATOR: Melendar:Are you ready for more or do you want to camp?
CIMORENE: *she stares up the rocks, a look of sheer horror on her face*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*on the same track as you*It must be done. Much depends on this.
CIMORENE: *she sighs and nods* Let's each rest an hour, then go.
NARRATOR: *he agrees*
NARRATOR: (observe check)
CIMORENE: (15)
NARRATOR: *you hear whispering again*
CIMORENE: (On my watch?)
NARRATOR: (yes)
CIMORENE: (okies)
NARRATOR: (doing anything or not?)
CIMORENE: *she sighs* You could at least show yourselves instead of skulking in the shadows, you know.
NARRATOR: voice:Cimorene the Violet. It must be
NARRATOR: other voice:*snickers*introduce yourself then, i'll see you later
NARRATOR: voice:*to other voice*until then...*to you*Good evening guest.
CIMORENE: *she calmly ignores them* At least I have the decency not to follow good people around in the shadows and stick spears in their backs...
NARRATOR: Voice:You have the decenty to tresspass. Do not presume to lecture me on my rights.
NARRATOR: (i meant decency)
CIMORENE: We are not tresspassing. We were sent.
CIMORENE: (I know)
NARRATOR: Voice:sent to tresspass then. you wish to scale the cliffs now. True, this leads to the tower, but also true that it is close enough to this domain. I feel so much strength from you both that it is a concern.
NARRATOR: Voice:This is why I wish to know your intentions
CIMORENE: Introduce yourself then.
NARRATOR: Wulf:I am Wulf of Orocarni
CIMORENE: You live on the mountain?
NARRATOR: Wulf:On and in, yes.
CIMORENE: We were sent by Mundin the BLue to the watch tower of Galtaire.
NARRATOR: Wulf:Flet sent you up did he? Then the rumors must be true. As you two climb I ask only that you do not dawdle in any caves you may find. To do so would risk your safety. Is that understood?
CIMORENE: *she nods* We have no time for dawdling anyway. How much farther is the Tower?
NARRATOR: (you haven't turned around have you?)
CIMORENE: (No need, I thought)
NARRATOR: Wulf:If I still know the way then it is a good 2 or 3 days climb. But you are not a mountain dweller and it likely will take you longer.
CIMORENE: Indeed... do you have any food?
NARRATOR: Wulf:*a pack is tossed to you*That should tide you over. You are quite a lucky pair I must say...
CIMORENE: (from behind?)
NARRATOR: Wulf:I will take my leave then. Luck to you on the climb it is trecherous....
NARRATOR: (yes from behind, right into your lap)
CIMORENE: (wait! What language are they speaking?)
NARRATOR: (high elvish)
CIMORENE: (ok)
CIMORENE: My thanks and gratitude.
NARRATOR: *no reply, no sounds at all actually*
NARRATOR: *the rest of the night is goes unneventful*
NARRATOR: (i assume you didn't tell him and that you are continuing the climb?)
CIMORENE: (I did tell him)
NARRATOR: (cool then)
CIMORENE: (I was going to, anyway)
NARRATOR: (you can)
NARRATOR: (wanna play it out?)
CIMORENE: (Not really)
NARRATOR: (k)
NARRATOR: (climb check)
NARRATOR: *there are many stones and cracks to hold onto at this point*
CIMORENE: (14)
NARRATOR: *you are climbing very well up*
NARRATOR: (stamina)
CIMORENE: (13)
NARRATOR: *you are not out of breath*
NARRATOR: (another stamina)
CIMORENE: (16)
NARRATOR: *the first day of climbing from morning to night has been very easy going as far as climbing goes and you can see good progress from it as you look down*
NARRATOR: *melendar has found a nice ledge for the two of you*
CIMORENE: *doesn't want to look down*
NARRATOR: (probably a good idea)
NARRATOR: Melendar:Afraid Cimorene?
CIMORENE: *glares*
NARRATOR: *puts his hands up submissivly*
NARRATOR: Melendar:It probably wouldn't be so bad in any event. Dying I mean.
CIMORENE: *shivers a little* I just don't like places like this.... places like this make me miss home... and we're NOT gonna die!
NARRATOR: Melendar:*saddened*You're right, we probably won't die...
CIMORENE: You don't WANT to die, do yu?
NARRATOR: *btw, in the pack is lembas bread*
NARRATOR: Melendar:I have lived so long, Cimorene. I just don't know anymore. But I do know I will not end my life myself. I wonder what could?...
CIMORENE: *she sighs and moves closer to him, wrapping her cloak around him and handing him some lambas bread before retreating again* I don't.... want you to die, Melendar.
CIMORENE: *with that, she rolls over and meditates*
NARRATOR: *the rest of the night goes fine and the next morning he is ready for more of a climb*
NARRATOR: (climb check)
NARRATOR: *the wall has grown more barren*
CIMORENE: *she smiles at him in the morning and rolls up her sleeves* Let's go!~(14)
NARRATOR: *the two of you are climbing very well. You are going a long ways up, it is midday on the wall*
NARRATOR: (stamina)
CIMORENE: (14)
NARRATOR: *the rest of the day and into the night things go just fine*
NARRATOR: *the breeze has grown more chill, much more. A mortal may be quite cold indeed in it*
CIMORENE: (heh heh heh)
NARRATOR: *Melendar admires the view*
NARRATOR: *you are by a cave tonight*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*staring over the cliff*It is beautiful.
CIMORENE: *glares at the cave, then moves over next to Melendar* Mmhmmm....
NARRATOR: Melendar:*suddenly realizing*The cave, we should see for ourselves what goes on here.
CIMORENE: What?
NARRATOR: Melendar:Did it not once occur that these may be the very enemy we are against?
NARRATOR: Melendar:That they could be happily leading us to our doom?
CIMORENE: They?
NARRATOR: Melendar:There was more than one voice. You said that.
CIMORENE: They're not leading us anywhere, Melendar. We've recieved no directions and no communication besides the bread. ANd besides, I'm not so untrusting as you.
NARRATOR: Melendar:I've noticed that. Yes, I do not trust them. I have learned in my life that you cannot trust everyone or you can get killed.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*thinks a moment and with an ominous tone*In that case. Let us see what is in store at the top.
CIMORENE: *she smiles* Finding them is not our mission, Melendar. Please.... let's just sleep for an hour.
NARRATOR: *he says nothing and starts to meditate*
NARRATOR: *the night goes well and the lembas keeps you both well fed*
NARRATOR: (climb check)
NARRATOR: *the climb looks a bit harder today...*
CIMORENE: (not when you rolls 11..... that's a 15)
NARRATOR: (impressive)
NARRATOR: *the two of you set off and are going as quickly as ever, just burning up the wall as you go up and up and up*
NARRATOR: *you see some clouds around you at midday and the sun peaks out as you make it above them*
NARRATOR: (stamina)
CIMORENE: (16)
NARRATOR: *you feel fine and ready to go till nightfall and the two of you do just that*
NARRATOR: *it is another shelf you find yourselves on but there is hardly enough room for you both*
NARRATOR: (acrobatics)
CIMORENE: (.....)
CIMORENE: (11)
NARRATOR: (all 3 courage or fall to your death)
CIMORENE: (.....consider them used)
CIMORENE: (I still have one)
NARRATOR: (hehe, good girl)
NARRATOR: (good)
NARRATOR: Melendar:*smiles*Cozy don't you think?
CIMORENE: *is watching him like a hawk* (How close are we talking here, Jon?)
NARRATOR: (like 6 by 3 ft)
CIMORENE: (.......)
NARRATOR: (ya it's tight)
CIMORENE: *she bites her lip* Well.... if we sit back to back and lean up against each other.... I think we can watch and sleep
NARRATOR: Melendar:I'd like that.
NARRATOR: *he's ready for the lean*
CIMORENE: *is red as a tomato as she scoots over, wraps herself in the cloak, and waits for him to sit down*
NARRATOR: *he's sitting and all set*
NARRATOR: *seems very comfortable too*
CIMORENE: *is rigid as a post*
NARRATOR: Melendar:3 days of climbing. Are we as bad as Wulf suspected do you think?
CIMORENE: *she giggles a little* Probably.
NARRATOR: Melendar:I doubt it will be much further now, though.
NARRATOR: Melendar:It is refreshing, I doubt I have climbed so much for a few thousand years now.
CIMORENE: *she smiles, leaning her head back a little and relaxing aginst him* This is how it was suppsoed to be between us.... *almost to herself*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Then it is a pity that it was not.
NARRATOR: *he's dead serious*
NARRATOR: *the moon is out and it's a full one*
NARRATOR: (;-))
NARRATOR: (are you facing the cliff or the moon?)
CIMORENE: Yes.... yes it is. *she glances up and looks at the moon* It's lovely up here..... the sky is clear and bright.
CIMORENE: (I don't think we can face either, can we? Aren't we longways against the mountain?)
NARRATOR: (ya, you can cran your head a bit, though, and see him thatway)
NARRATOR: Melendar:I think the atmosphere is as warm as I feel it because of you...
CIMORENE: *she blushes again, then smiles* Sweet talker...
NARRATOR: Melendar:*in a "sweet tone"*The truth is sweet.
NARRATOR: *you feel his head move up as he checks out the moon*
CIMORENE: *goes very very red and hot. She turns her head with his to look, almost matching his pose*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*with half irony and half sweetness*I honeslty cannot remember a better night of my life...
CIMORENE: *she chuckles* You can't remember a lot of your life, Melendar... remember? *her voice is soft, almost sad* I can't imagine what you must feel like. Not being able to remember anything... forced to leave behind what you were. That's what it was like for me.... when I laid down my staff...
NARRATOR: Melendar:*happily*But you picked it back up I see. *wistfully*I can almost not bear living right now, I admit it. But I think I know what is keeping me centered and sane...
CIMORENE: What is it?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*EXTREME SHYNESS*It is you Cimorene. You are my compass
CIMORENE: (*is dying laughing here*)
NARRATOR: *he leans ever so close to you*
CIMORENE: (*prays for a troll*)
NARRATOR: (you're loving this i bet, hehe)
CIMORENE: (every minute of it)
NARRATOR: (sorry we gotta play this out)
NARRATOR: (unless you'll just say goodnight to him that is...)
CIMORENE: *her heart speeds up and beats so loudly that she's sure the entire mountain can hear it. Her face goes red again as she opens her mouth... but no sound comes out*
CIMORENE: (It's all right. I don't mind)
NARRATOR: (k)
NARRATOR: *he leans back a little unsurely*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Cimorene can I ask you something?
CIMORENE: *her eyes are as wide as dinner plates, startlingly bright purple in the moonlight. She nods slowly*
NARRATOR: (nods yes to him right?)
CIMORENE: (yes)
NARRATOR: Melendar:*confident*When we finish this do you think that.... *shy again*Do you think that things could be... different between us? ......................Better?
CIMORENE: *she just looks at him* Melendar.... I.... *she finally gives up and smiles at him. Turning around slowly on her knees, she kisses him on the cheek gently* We'll see.
NARRATOR: (do you speak with finality there?)
NARRATOR: (I mean are you signaling the night to end? or not?)
CIMORENE: (Joking finality)
CIMORENE: (nope)
CIMORENE: (No end unless Melendar ends it)
CIMORENE: (This is fun)
NARRATOR: (ah, hehehe, poor guy)
NARRATOR: Melendar:Cimorene I have to be candid with you now...*chokes on his words*
NARRATOR: *he seems flustered*
CIMORENE: *she blinks at him, still sitting on her knees* What is it?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*he turns to you and finally lets the words trickle out*I have feelings for you. I am not certain, but I think I have for a long long time now.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*blushes*I hope I never remember myself because being here with you as we are now is what I would like more.
CIMORENE: *she stares at him, letting him talk* You loved me once, Melendar... but your love demanded more strength that I could give... you scared me.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*shocked at the revelation*I am not that Melendar now and I may never be again. I do not think I could ever be him again.
CIMORENE: *she smiles* But I admired you too. More than anyone else knew.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*he is a tomato now*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Really?*flattered to the extreme!*Would you give me another chance?
NARRATOR: *he is on his knees in front of you as you are to him, very close of course*
CIMORENE: So strong.... so wise.... so powerful... you were everything that I strove to be. And in the caves.... in Moria... you protected me. *she sighs* Melendar, I really like you this way because you're kind and gentle... but..... but.... *she covers her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking* Without that other part of you, you're not the Melendar I love!
NARRATOR: Melendar:*he turns pale*I see then. It is a paradox. My love was too strong for you before and now I am not strong enough for you.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*he turns around again*Then I hope that when I realize what i've lost, you can love me for who I become then...
CIMORENE: *he should suddenly feel arms wind around his chest and something warm and soft pressing against his back*
NARRATOR: *his body is trembling terribly and you can tell he is weeping*
CIMORENE: *she whispers softly in his ear* Don't..... don't chase me away again. Don't leave me this time..... please, Melendar...
NARRATOR: Melendar:*the calms enough for a sentence*I don't want to leave you, but you are already pushing me away...
CIMORENE: *she squeezes his chest* Does this feel like pushing to you, you great fool?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*laughs threw his tears*No.
NARRATOR: *he puts a sure arm up on yours*
NARRATOR: Melendar:So what now then?
CIMORENE: Melendar.... if you stay the way you are.... I won't get mad.
CIMORENE: *she grins and hugs him tightly*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Really? *he stops his tears* Thank you. Then what are we to eachother?
NARRATOR: *he puts his other arm on yours now*
CIMORENE: *she blinks* Well.... it's not like you've kissed me or anything, so I have no idea. I think we're friends now.
NARRATOR: Melendar:Oh really? *he turns and gives you a kiss on your lips and looks into your eyes*
CIMORENE: (*dies*)
NARRATOR: *the moon is reflecting in his blue eyes now*
NARRATOR: (i know...)
CIMORENE: *she jerks back, touching her lips in shock. Unknowingly scoots back a bit more than she should.... closer to the edge*
CIMORENE: (*is laughing* First kiss first kiss!!!)
NARRATOR: (yay!)
NARRATOR: *he is there for you before you really start teetering. You are in his sure arms before danger really finds you and he stares you down with those blue moon eyes of this night*
CIMORENE: (*is blushing in real life*)
CIMORENE: *hides her face in his chest, shivering*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*reasuringly*It's alright *kisses your head once* You don't have to be afraid.
CIMORENE: *her voice is muffled* Why?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*complete confidence*Because i am here for you and I will protect you and love you if you will let me.
CIMORENE: *she giggles a little and then wraps her arms around his waist, meditating for an hour in his arms*
CIMORENE: (brb.... I gotta go cough up a hairball)
NARRATOR: *you have pleasant dreams*
NARRATOR: (;-) okay)
CIMORENE: (lol. I was being facisious)
NARRATOR: (i don't remember what that word means...)
CIMORENE: (Sarcastic)
NARRATOR: (gotcha)
NARRATOR: *i'm sure your watch over him is just fine*
CIMORENE: (lol.... let's killl something or climb some mountains)
NARRATOR: (done)
NARRATOR: *it is a bright beautiful day and he is just glowing*
NARRATOR: (climb check)
CIMORENE: (12)
NARRATOR: (courage needed)
NARRATOR: (1 will just make it)
CIMORENE: (damn)
CIMORENE: (ok)
NARRATOR: (sorry, you just aren't a climber)
NARRATOR: *the terrain is not much worse and by midday it feels less of a wall and more of a steep hill*
NARRATOR: (staminia)
CIMORENE: (13)
NARRATOR: (you're fine)
NARRATOR: *by sun-down you two find that you can actually walk vertically again and in the distance you see the little tower*
NARRATOR: *there seems to be a lantern in it*
NARRATOR: *that is lit*
CIMORENE: Yea!!
NARRATOR: Melendar:*laughs*It's about time
NARRATOR: Melendar:We did it. *looks deeply at you*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*comes out of his moment quickly*Lets press on, we have a job to do
CIMORENE: *she smiles at him and quickens her pace a little* I'm not sleeping on a cliff face tonight!
NARRATOR: Melendar:*smiles*No, not for my Cimorene tonight! *he keeps up*
NARRATOR: *you two go on till late at night*
NARRATOR: *you arrive near the tower at this time*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Shall we see who is home?*draws his scimitar*
NARRATOR: *it is not glowing*
CIMORENE: *picks up her staff and winks at him* INdeed.
NARRATOR: Melendar:I'll knock. *you two reach the wooden door and it is intact and in fine condition*
NARRATOR: *he knocks*
CIMORENE: *braces herself, looking around*
NARRATOR: *silence for a minute and he knocks again*
NARRATOR: (observe check?)
CIMORENE: (please)
NARRATOR: (please roll one then;-))
CIMORENE: (14)
NARRATOR: *you see nothing*
NARRATOR: *just night*
NARRATOR: *you hear the footsteps as someone finally arrives at the door*
NARRATOR: voice:Who goes there?
NARRATOR: Melendar:We are emmisarrys of Galtaire sent by Mundin the blue himself.
NARRATOR: voice:is that so?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*frankly*Yes sir
NARRATOR: voice:*noticible pause*You can understand if I am a bit skeptical can't you?
CIMORENE: *she steps up next to him, reaching out and squeezing his hand a little as she stares up at the doorway*
NARRATOR: (thinking of breaking the door aren't you? hehe)
CIMORENE: Open the gate. *her voice is flat and hard*
CIMORENE: (nope. Turning on the Cimorene charm)
NARRATOR: Melendar:*takes your hand in his*I understand you are skeptical but we must have entrance and now.
NARRATOR: *you hear whispering amongst occupants*
NARRATOR: voice:Very well.
NARRATOR: *the door slowly opens*
CIMORENE: *she grips her staff tighter and lets go of his hand*
NARRATOR: *you see 5 men with bows drawn right at you two*
NARRATOR: *the 6th is who must have been speaking*
NARRATOR: voice:*to bowyers*Careful boys. They may be back for more...
NARRATOR: *they size you two up real good*
NARRATOR: Melendar:I do not understand. We have never been here before.
CIMORENE: *she steps forward, her robes flowing* Who has been attacking this tower?
NARRATOR: voice:*squints hard at melendar*No....*thinks hard*No I think you're right
NARRATOR: voice:There have been others who look just like you with axes trying to get in but never at the front door...
NARRATOR: voice:Never many of them so we raise no alarm but for ourselves. This is no army.
CIMORENE: (These are no soldiers)
NARRATOR: voice:*to you both*What has the Elder sent you up here for?
NARRATOR: (lol)
CIMORENE: Can we come in first?
NARRATOR: Melendar:They could still be out here afterall*winks*
NARRATOR: voice:*quickly*Yes yes, come in at once.
NARRATOR: *you two enter with the bowyers still aiming at you and a couple more join them*
NARRATOR: *the man locks the door up*
NARRATOR: voice:Now *to you both again*What is it that brings you up to this altitude
NARRATOR: *you note the cold weather gear the mortals are all wearing*
CIMORENE: *she glares at the bows* Put those things away, for heaven's sake. We're not going to hurt you. The Elder sent us to warn you.
NARRATOR: voice:Warn us? *motions for them to lower the bows**they all comply*
NARRATOR: bowyer1:Warn us about what?
NARRATOR: Melendar:We are to warn you of the great host coming to the city you protect. The city you are a beacon for.
CIMORENE: *she folds her arms undr her breasts* Come where I can see you, then we can talk. Speaking to shadows is hard.
NARRATOR: *a gasp from the crowd*
CIMORENE: And I hate shadws.....
NARRATOR: (speaking to shadows? i'm confused)
CIMORENE: (All we see are voices)
NARRATOR: (oh ya, it is a little dim)
NARRATOR: (sorry i didn't name the guy...)
CIMORENE: (lol)
NARRATOR: Cale:I am Cale of Galtaire and captain of this beacon. Come to the fire so that we may talk of these important matters. *motions you two to follow*Who is it that I talk to?
CIMORENE: Cimorene the Violet
NARRATOR: Melendar:I am Melendar
NARRATOR: Cale:Well met, friends. *shows you 2 open chairs*
NARRATOR: *it is a lounge like at a ski-lodge and a nice one too*
CIMORENE: *sits easily, crossing her legs and keeping one hand on her staff*
NARRATOR: *Melendar takes a seat right next to you and has a hand near his hilt*
NARRATOR: Cale:Please tell me of what you were before.
CIMORENE: Mundin has seen a great host of evil coming.
NARRATOR: *Cale is a man and a dirty one, in a bundle of furs that he sheds a bit of by the fire, he seems strong*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*to cale*They will be marching soon and there was talk of your post being compromised already. We are merely here to make sure an alarm is raised if need be.
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you both*As I say we have been attacked a scant few times by those invaders as of late. We have been not looking down the moutain recently.
CIMORENE: Invadres?
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you*Yes, the ones that looked like you but favoured axes. The ones who we believe dwell in the mountain
NARRATOR: *melendar shoots you a meaningful eye for a split second*
CIMORENE: *she looks hard at Cale* Why have they attacked?
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you*We call them invaders because that is what they are trying to do.
NARRATOR: Cale:*still to you*I am not informed of any transgression on our part. We believe these to be incredibly territorial people.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*to cale*So you think they just want you out.
NARRATOR: Cale:*to melendar*Yes that is it.
CIMORENE: So..... YOU invaded..... THEM?
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you*We had no knowledge of them until just yesterday. For all we knew they had only now made their home this mountain.
NARRATOR: *melendar is thinking*
CIMORENE: ....How long has this tower been here?
NARRATOR: Cale:This tower has been here since before I was born.
NARRATOR: *he seems to at least be in his early to late 20's*
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you*It has been used only once that I remember
CIMORENE: *stifles a comment about him being so young* When was that?
NARRATOR: Cale:*to all, including bowyers*When our fathers died*does a gondorian salute**to you now*In the fell winter of Orocarni
NARRATOR: Cale:*to you still*The sky flung snow for a long time, they say. Trolls and orcs and things worse still tried to destroy us. *to all*But we were not as weak as they thought*a hero's murmer from the crowd*
CIMORENE: *she grimly smiles* I'm sure.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*straining to think*I believe I remember something from that time.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*sure now*The one who led them was a beast unlike any seen these days; it was demon of cold worse than the sharpest pike of ice.
CIMORENE: (......)
NARRATOR: Cale:*very serious*Yes, that is how the story goes...
NARRATOR: *the room grows quiet and ominous*
CIMORENE: *listens raptly*
NARRATOR: Melendar:They never did stop it... *smiles again*But cheer up, for the snow is not falling and we come with word of a host that is not of snow.
CIMORENE: *she remains silent a moment, then glances at Cale* What will this tower do about this host?
NARRATOR: Cale:*coming out of being focused on your elf*Then tommorrow we must look over to our borders and if there is a host will will raise the alram. Not only raise the alarm but call all striders to our aid. We will resist what we can from here before they reach Galtaire. Futile as that may be...
NARRATOR: *he seems resolved*
CIMORENE: (striderS?)
NARRATOR: (ask him)
CIMORENE: Striders?
NARRATOR: *melendar does not seem puzzled about that*
NARRATOR: Cale:Those that walk our border lands alone and in the wild. Those that protect us when we know it least.
CIMORENE: But what are they?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*almost completley to himself*striders...
NARRATOR: Cale:They are a body of men and women that are capable in the wilderness and great warriors to boot. I believe that Igiwi of Galtaire is their head.
CIMORENE: *her jaw drops momentarily, then she nods* I knew he was more than a guard....
NARRATOR: Melendar:You will be happy to know he walks the land still and is more than ready to come to your aid should you call.
NARRATOR: Cale:*seriously happy*That is a true relief.
CIMORENE: *she smiles* Yes.... he returned from his mission.
NARRATOR: Cale:Good then, it is decided. You two will stay inside with us the night and in the morning at first light, we see what is down this mountain.
NARRATOR: *he gets up to talk to the men*
CIMORENE: Wouldn't it be more practical to check for fires tonight?
NARRATOR: Cale:*turns back to you*Not to tell you off, Miss Cimorene. I have done this more than once and in the current conditions, you will not see past the cloudcover. On top of that we must factor in the invadors' prescence.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*to you*We can check tonight ourselves
CIMORENE: *bites her lip to keep from telling him off about the War of the Ring and the training at Orthanc and how she hates little young upstarts like him*
NARRATOR: (good call;-))
NARRATOR: Melendar:If you do not mind, Cale, Cimorene and I will take a look for ourselves before sleep.
NARRATOR: Cale:*to melendar*Very well. But do not say I did not warn you...
NARRATOR: Melendar:*to you*Cimorene? How about one look?
CIMORENE: *she looks gratefully at him and nods, straining hard not to glare at Cale*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*to cale*Then we will take our leave for now.
CIMORENE: *heads to the gate*
NARRATOR: *melendar in tow*
CIMORENE: *yup*
NARRATOR: *cale has them let you out*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*breathing in the night air*Well, let us see what we can see.
CIMORENE: *no sooner is she outside does she blow a raspberry at the door*
NARRATOR: (?)
CIMORENE: (She's mad)
NARRATOR: (oh okay)
NARRATOR: Melendar:*puts an arm around you*Don't worry about him.
CIMORENE: *is seething* Little upstart........ grrrrrr......
NARRATOR: Melendar:his kind does not stay where it is for long, I promise you. I have seen it once or twice *winks*
CIMORENE: *she smiles at him and heads toward the edge of the cliff, looking for fires of any kind*
NARRATOR: (observe, spot)
NARRATOR: (or is it a search?)
CIMORENE: (serach)
CIMORENE: (14)
NARRATOR: (conceal, observe, and stealth all give a +1 to search as affinity if you have the skills)
CIMORENE: (ok, 16 then)
NARRATOR: *nothing*
NARRATOR: Melendar:Cimorene I am not certain but I think I see a dot or two of flame down there...
CIMORENE: *she blinks at him* Where?
NARRATOR: *he points in a certain point*
NARRATOR: Melendar:*pointing for you*Do you see them?
NARRATOR: (new test)
CIMORENE: (17)
NARRATOR: *you see 3 dots of the color of flame down there*
CIMORENE: (Only three?)
NARRATOR: Melendar:*concerned*The trouble is we don't know if that is a host or if that is just strider fires or what...
NARRATOR: (ya 3)
CIMORENE: (Hmmm..... three fires don't seem like a host...)
CIMORENE: (oops.... that was suppsoed to be in character)
NARRATOR: (3 from far away, anyways)
NARRATOR: (ah)
NARRATOR: Melendar:Unless those are bonfires that seem small to us from here...
CIMORENE: *she sighs* I'm not sure..... but this is bad. Why would they put a tower all the way up here if you can't see anything?
NARRATOR: Melendar:Let us not count them out until the morning, my love. They may have more to offer than just the cliff.
CIMORENE: *she nods, still worried* All right.....
NARRATOR: Melendar:*smiles a little wildly*But in the meantime we can still spring the alarm can't we?
CIMORENE: No..... no need to spring it if there's no need. We'll only frighten people.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*shrugs harmlessly*Then we wait until the morning? Cale get his way tonight.
NARRATOR: Melendar:*his ears twitch*Did you hear that?
CIMORENE: *she tenses, listening*
NARRATOR: (observe?)
CIMORENE: (16)
NARRATOR: *you hear nothing*
CIMORENE: *she whispers* What?
NARRATOR: Melendar:*tense*I don't like this one bit. Back to the tower now! *he turns with his sword drawn and ready*
CIMORENE: *she raises her staff and follows him, keeping an eye over her shoulder*
NARRATOR: *you turn and go a few steps before you see them*
NARRATOR: *a group of figures all branishing 2 battle axes each*
NARRATOR: *elf figures*
NARRATOR: END