After surviving a whole month with no adventures, the Bree Adventurers Association was finally hired for a job: mammoths hunting at Forochel! The idea of travelling and riding far north was all i needed to forget about some recent events in Bree.
After our last trip to the Mountains I knew i couldn't go with just anyone. The temperature at Forochel doesn't forgive and taking a rookie with me could mean loosing a man to the cold. Not to mention why we were going in the first time: to hunt Mammoths. Giant beasts, similar to the Mumakil of which i'd heard so much in my childhood. Only proven warriors would come this time. I was not to make the same mistake again.
I was joined by Desiare, Komatsu, Naris the Elf, Rothrian and Caithrin. We departed from Bree early in the morning and ride through the Shire, up to the beautiful shores of Lake Evendim. From there we continued North, until the snow surrounded us. After a few days of riding we had arrived, and i knew it when i saw one of the Lossoth (as the men of the Bay call themselves) getting his Mamooth ready for work. What a creature!
The group attacks a mamooth. After that they will sell their hides and ivory back at Bree for a convenient price.
We bought some provisions in the first town we found and continued the trip. Snow, snow, ice, snow, a distant moose and some more snow. We had to ride carefully, for the horses would walk carefully, avoiding to slip on the ice. The weather was excellent, at least for being Forochel: it didn't snow and the sky remained clear. After some hours of riding we saw them, a group of Ice-Crowned Mamooths. If i was surprised when i saw the first one for the first time, i was chocked when i saw the size of these wild creatures. Legs big as a all man, two tusks of 3 meters long, making it a bad choice to attack from the front and a layer of fur and fat that could stop any arrow.
We knew it wouldn't be easy, but we were ready. Six men, two of them seasoned warriors, we would be just fine. And we were. After the hunt, surrounded by the majestic creatures bodies, Desiare cried in silence. Komatsu hugged her, and i looked around. I would lie if i didn't say i felt ashamed. But a job is a job.
Rothrian poses with one of the fallen beasts.
After that we rested at Suri-Kyla, the largest town of Forochel. Fire and ale cheered us up again. The Lossoth were very nice to us, as we gave them the mammoth's meat in exchange of help to remove their hides and tusks, and carry these with us out of the bay.
As my wedding approaches i can't stop thinking in this travel for some reason. This was my last adventure as a single man. My last ride as a free man. I enjoyed every minute of this trip in a curious way, for i looked at the stars with awe, i drinked the cold and pure water with extasis and enjoyed the view of the colors in the sky in peace. For i know a part of my life has ended. But i can't wait for the new one to begin.
