Disturbed by their discoveries on the frozen shore, Tyelcie and Elveaner decide to head inland to see if there are anymore of these people camped nearby. They elect a steep and difficult climb to avoid the route likely used by these potential intruders. This takes them under an impressive bridge built by the Lossoth over the steep ravine they are currently ascending. Elveaner notes the entire structure is wooden .. where do they find the trees? .. He shakes his head, smiles to himself and continues on up.
They reach the top with typical Elven grace, just lightly grazing the surface of the snow on the way. There is a stone structure in the distance, it seems to have resisted time and the elements well, originally of Dwarven construction probably. There are no immediate signs of life but conditions render even their vision a little hazy, they carefully approach.
Hazy images, some movement, unnatural and rather clumsy … They are men who are not used to moving in the snow, not local then! The pair feel confident to move up, and joke that they would have to jump around and shout before being noticed by these ‘scouts’ lumbering around at the edge of what must be their encampment. They find a place where they can watch but remain unobserved for some time, perhaps they were a little arrogant but it sprung from an age or two of being able to remain mostly unseen by mortal eyes if they chose.
There is a group of tents, some poorly controlled little fires and few people clambering around behind the stone structure, the pair settle in and asses the strength and numbers of the group. After a while they begin to chat in low whispers, their suspicions growing about the origins of the group, if they were right it would beg a bigger question of how the expedition actually got here. It is a very long journey from their suspected home by any path known, could they truly be from Angmar?
It is a delicate matter, they can’t just return to Suri Kyla, declare an invasion and have the Chief follow them blindly. They need to be absolutely certain and provide proof before they can expect any sort of co-operation, after all the Lossoth have done perfectly well without outside interference for a long time now.
As both are mulling these thoughts over, Tyelcie abruptly breaks the silence.
‘We need to take one prisoner’ she says in a matter of fact tone.
Elveaner nods in agreement saying ‘Well yes, there are a few wandering around out there’.
He casually points in the direction of the Bay allowing a smile to pass across his lips.
‘An arrow in the lower leg perhaps?’ she suggests with perhaps a little relish.
‘Hmm yes but maybe, a little messy though don’t you think?
Twang, woosh, thud, the unfortunate man crumples to the floor clearly dead with an arrow in his neck. The pair look at each other in surprise then instinctively follow the line back and spot the archer. He had previously gone unnoticed which in many ways was more of a surprise to them both than the sudden shot. He was clearly at one with the elements … a true Lossoth hunter if ever there was one!
He moves fast to take up another position, fells another scout and then a third as he works his way back toward the shore. Elveaner says ‘Er I think we are about to run out of potential prisoners, let’s try to talk to him and hope he doesn't loose an arrow this way’.
‘Indeed’ Tyelcie replies, ‘He is quite a shot’
The pair break there cover a little and as expected the Lossoth sees them and nocks an arrow, he stares straight at this new target for a little but then slowly lowers the bow. Elveaner and Tyelcie are careful to remain non-threatening and the Lossoth makes his way up the them with practiced skill.
He appears to be a hard man, middle aged with a weather beaten face, his eyes show strength but give nothing else away. They complement his shooting, remark on the possibility of a common enemy and briefly explain there expedition. The Lossoth remains stoically silent, impossible to read and they wonder if he understands them.
Elveaner indicates towards his own face ‘EL-VE-A-NER’ he enunciates and in the same slow and deliberate fashion Tyelcie gives her name.
A brief pause and the the Man lightly beats his chest with his right Hand and says ‘YO-NAS’ in exactly the same way as the elves had spoken. Quite a good imitation, it has to said! An awkward silence ensues until the ends of Yonas’s lips start to curl up … a smile … and then full but quiet laughter. His laugh is infectious and all three giggle quietly while any remaining scouts continue their patrol in blissful ignorance.
Then Yonas expresses his anger at these ‘intruders’, quite fluently of course, and offers his help to capture one. He agrees to return with the Elves to Suri Kyla to speak to the cheif, it would be in everyone's interest he explains. A simple plan leads to an ‘intruder’ being knocked unconscious then skilfully trussed up by Tyelcie, leaving only the question of getting him out of the area quietly and back to the settlement. But while the Elves consider this, Yonas bends down and hauls the limp body up onto his shoulders, like a deer for supper.
“FOL-OH JO-NAS’ he says and laughs as he starts walking.
