[30.12.2007]
Back in the Prancing Pony, Lindeman explained the findings of
his scouting trip.
"...so I entered the Gates of Norbury. There were orcs everywhere,
but I found the Camp of the Free Peoples among the ruins."
"From them I learned that there is plenty of Angmar troops in
the accursed city. Orcs, goblins, trolls, corrupted animals
and what not! Droves of them!"
"And shades!" Lindeman exploded. "By the light of Elendil!
When Arnor broke into three, everyone became an oathbreaker!"
"Worst of the shades are those that may belong to treacherous
guard-captains of the past. They are apparently bound to this world
by some form of headgear. 'Morgul Hats' they are called."
"So I say we go there and wrestle the hats from them,
and slay anything that comes in our path. We will burn the goblin camps
and throw the orcs into disarray! That will distract the enemy
from its plans."
"Where is Jeric the Unstoppable? We need to discuss timing."
[2.1.2008]
"The more the better", said Lindeman to Jeric. "But I
am sure we can accomplish something even without help"
"...steal a dagger from an orc"
[4.1.2008]
"And we will certainly return there," said Belgrandir to his companions, looking back at the high walls of the citadel of Fornost, then turned his back to it to return to the relative safety of the camp...
[8.1.2008]
So, the second attempt into Fornost had yielded little and there were no
messages of help waiting in Trestlebridge. The situation looked difficult.
To his surprise, Lindeman saw one of his squires approach.
"Clint? I told you to stay in Bree" Lindeman said sternly.
"I know that well enough" Clint sneered back. "In fact, I have been told stay
in Bree ever since Weathertop. The only squire you now use in the East
is Culver, Culver, Culver. In the North, Grant and Ikenberry get their chance
sometimes, but never me even there." Clint took a breath.
"And that is why I am ending my service to you. Here, take back this armour."
"That... that is foolish talk, Clint."
"It would be foolish to stay with you, Lindeman. It would be foolish to accept
the little wages of being on the call, for the call that never happens.
I was not trained to stay in Bree, without chance for the glory or riches
of the battle."
"If battle is what you yearn for, we can go to Fornost Erain right now.
I only need to call on my friends in Trestlebridge."
"It is too late now, Lindeman" Clint replied. "I have a new master."
"And besides, I do not think you could do what you just said. I do not think
you have enough friends here, or anywhere. I tried to gather people to your
cause in Bree, I really tried, but they were not interested in your story.
After all, you are not even a real captain."
"Of course I am a trained captain!" Lindeman stood up.
"You are not a captain from a real army, like my new master is.
You are just a part-time adventurer, who has appointed himself captain."
"Well listen you, you lowest-ranking squire, I never used you
because others were better! And you will see me walk into Fornost
with a fellowship so mighty that enemies will flee at sight of it!"
Clint said nothing, gave a quick salute and turned to return
to his horse.
The guards turned their heads as Lindeman raised his voice:
"We will seek out the most powerful shades and rip the Morgul Hats
from their heads! And pierce the hats with our swords and toss them
into the mud! And then we will burn them in a flame so bright that
all in the cursed fortress will cower in fear! Do you hear me, Clint?
Clint was not listening any more.
[...]
Belgrandir tried to draw one more arow from his quiver, but it was empty, with a curse he picked up his spear and charged forward to meet few surviving orcs head on. Few moments later it was all over - orc bodies sprawled all over the blood-soaked battlefield, and rest of the company exchanging satisfied glances to ensure they all are still standing.
Scout looked at the sun that was slowly falling behind the horizon and cursed again, seeing that they will never make it to the meeting point. Then he went on searching for any arrows that could be used again amongst the bodies...
[10.1.2008]
A steady flow of adventurers kept passing through Trestlebridge.
Lindeman sat on the stairs and looked at the sky. The time was drawing near.
[11.1.2008]
It was not until he was back in Trestlebridge that Lindeman studied
the items he had gathered in Fornost during the long day.
There were some pieces of armour but no hats or helmets. Of all the shades
they had encountered, repentant or not, none had carried what he sought.
There had been powerful shades among them, notably two of them, but he
had found no way to remove their head armour after they had been defeated.
A fellowship would have to be formed again to continue the search. First he
would have to get his equipment repaired and sell any items he did not need.
He wondered if the local vendors would see any value in the two strange
looking sword-hilts he had found.
[13.1.2008]
During his stay in Trestlebridge, Lindeman came to appreciate
the strategic importance of the village. If the enemy was to capture it,
they would be controlling the bridge Trestlespan and prevent anyone
from moving troops between Bree-land and the North-Downs.
Little wonder, then, that orc attacks were occurring almost every night.
The guards would often build barricades on the bridge to defend it,
but they had to clear it by dawn to let traffic through. The Tarkrip tribe
of orcs had been held back, and even the stronger Ongburz orcs,
but if the Blogmal from Fornost would came marching across the
Fields of Fornost, Trestlebridge simply could not stand.
The enemy would have to be given other things to think about.
The fellowship would have to go back to Fornost Erain.
[...]
"...and so, My Lord, we returned from the Fornost ruins. The Blogmal Orcs, however, are still at large, and their leaders are obviously preparing an assult. What are my orders?"
For a moment elf in front of Belgrandir looked at maps, thinking about something, then smiled:
"Return to the campsite, if we will not be able to direct more warriors to follow you, I will go there instead. Long has it been since I gazed upon the towers of Fornost last..."
[16.1.2008]
Lindeman looked battered as he sat down at the table with Farmer and Patron
in the Prancing Pony.
"...what madness! We ran up and down the courtyards and corridors,
sometimes in the pursuits of orcs and sometimes with them on our heels.
Lord Aranohtar himself was with us, cutting through the Blogmal like butter."
"But the fortress is immense and many adversaries came." he continued.
"Many times I retreated to the gates only to rush back when the enemy
lost my trail. And once I ran all the way to nearby Free People's Camp
to get quick repairs for my armour."
The Farmer looked surprised. "You abandoned your fellowhip for a while?"
"What could I do?" snapped Lindeman. "My armour was so damaged
it literally fell off and I did not want to show up in my underwear."
"Did you prevail in the end?" the Patron asked.
"We uncovered more evil things than we had expected. In the end, our advance
was blocked in one crushing battle. It was a struggle just to get out of the fortress
as some wicked sorcery followed our fellowship. We managed to escape
by splitting up and coming all the way to Bree before re-gathering.
"Did you get those Morgul Hats?" the Patron asked.
Lindeman looked embarrassed.
"It seems that there are no such things as the Hats" he said quietly.
"There may have been some misunderstanding between me and mistress
Istuienn of Esteldin. Damn the scholars and their unclear mumblings!
Luckily, Lord Aranohtar had the patience to listen to my story afterwards
and give counsel. I now have a better understanding of what has happened
in the accursed city. We have to keep up the pressure and dig deeper."
"I will let others do that until I have fully recovered from the wounds and the dread."
[22.1.2008]
Victory at last! Lindeman had rested well after the long journey to Rivendell
and he was beaming as he recounted the Fornost adventure at breakfast:
"Angmar's confidence will yet again be shaken by what happened in Fornost Erain
and they will never find the items we took from them. How could they
even trace us to Rivendell? Myself, Lord Aranohtar and the Unstoppable?
I do not think they can find the rest of our fellowship either."
