- 10 - The Riddle of the Grove, Columned Circles and Combe and Wattle Inn

- 10 - The Riddle of the Grove, Columned Circles and Combe and Wattle Inn

 

- TA 3018 - Hookworth -

 

It was with a heavy heart, and a troubled mind we gathered again - to continue our search for our Grandmaster.. And I must admit my heart grows more and more weary for what we will find in the end of this line of Riddles..

 

And how many more innocent people will have to end their lives to suit the twisted mind and humor of this lunatic..

 

And even more troubling - This chase keeps us from focusing on finding out more about this band of darkened minds, and why their hatred is focused on us.

 

The unfortunate hunter had been given a proper burying, and now that we had gathered, we then rode to the cave we found by the cobwebbed boulders, just east of Far Chetwood.

Here we followed the riddle clues - and after a long search, the next note was found up in a tree in a small grove at the base of the mountain ridge south of the cave.

 

It was the dwarf Iarfig who found the letter, and who passed it on to me.

 

I felt the hatred for the riddle making man grow as I read the letter:

 

The Riddle of the Grove Trees:

 

~ Good work my puppets - Amusing you are!

Arangilas might be near, Arangilas might be far!

 

But here you shall not linger, your journey will be longer..

Your task now draws you towards the war-monger.

 

Up, up you go - to the top of the mountain peak

Look out and down - Its the columned circle you seek.

 

But where goes the trail? - Where shall you and your Wolfir prowl?

Yes! Around the bends - and hear how they howl ~

 

The fact that the man used a named man of our order - namely Diraen Nythera, who through his clan is called Wolfir almost as a title - shows how much they know of us..

This riddle troubled me greatly..

 

Had they gotten to Diraen as well? Would we find his body around some bends as we followed the riddles trail?

We went up the mountain, and we spotted a old ruin in the distance - a Circlet of columns.

But it seemed we had to ride a long way around to find how to get to it..

We could hear the howls of wolves all around us.. and creatures lurking in the bushes.

 

We felt we were watched the whole time..

 

The more we rode the winding path down the mountain, towards the columned circle - the more I was sure of and at ease with that the riddle did not mention Diraen's name to indicate something had happened to him.. Though a small part of me could still not let go of the fear for his safety..

 

Finally we arrived at the circled ruin.. It was with no doubt remnants of the old Kindom of Arnor.. Now the few columns standing and the debris lying around - highly detailed stonework - was just a silent cry of the splendor it once must have held..

 

This time it was me who found the note - and it finally showed signs that our quest would soon be over..

 

The Riddle of the Columned Circle:

 

~ Well met, my hearties! A new quest draws near!

Now you shall enter the War-Master's lair.

 

On his table his parchments he holds

Look for the feather - and your new clue unfolds ~

 

The orc-camp was near, and we had to fight our way through it.

I am astonished of the skill our knights show. Iarfig the dwarf and Erielle Pilin fought with the strength of 16 oxen I am sure.

 

When the leader of the orc-camp laid slain, we searched his belongings - and on a table we found many parchments.

We just grabbed them on the run.. Reinforcements were coming to late to aid the dead war-master - but not to late to still be the end of us..

 

We managed to escape to safety, and there we started looking through the parchments found at the war-masters table.

And there.. one page - marked with a black feather at the top right corner..

I started reading the next clue.. It enraged me.. I could hardly believe what my eyes read..

 

The Riddle of the War-Master:

 

~ Thus ends the tale of the quest for the Grandmaster of Knights of Eriador….. And the small fellowship of disappointed knights went to the Combe and Wattle inn for a few ales and a not too good nights sleep.. Why are you still standing here….? Ale is waiting... And remember – only those who stay the night will see what tomorrow might bring.. ~

 

What was the meaning of this???

Had we failed?

Was this just part of this deranged man's evil humor?

Most important... was our Grandmaster already passed?

 

We left for Combe.. and its rather unpleasant inn - Combe and Wattle Inn.

Our spirits broken, and I see all of us are slowly loosing hope..

 

As we entered the Inn, we found a pleasant surprise.. Diraen Nythera.. Wolfir, was there.

He had followed our trails - as he had arrived late to Bree. He had halted here for the night to continue after us the next day.

 

Now he did not have to.

 

Now we will rest - while we take shift as guards.

We have no chance to just wait and see what tomorrow brings..

 

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