Middle-Earth Role Playing Campaign

"At least we should see no more snowstorms," said Bradlegar, cheerily.

"Those were the doings of the Witch-King," said Mîriel. "We're out his range now."

"Out of his range we may be," said Dennenor, "but I would prefer we not mention that name so close to his realm."

They cleared the forest by mid-morning. With the trees behind them, Luinár suggested to her sister she try to reach the channeling again.

"I cannot," Mîriel replied. "So whatever it is that affects me, it is not related to the woods."

They continued their ride, enjoying the warm, sunny day. The moors themselves seemed alive, so many were the creatures they could see upon it: rabbits, squirrels, and birds of all description. Once they were forced to come to a halt when a large, cranky badger decided to take its time crossing their path.

In the early evening, at the summit of a hill, Rhôn called a halt when he spotted the remains of a campfire near the trail. Searching about, they determined a single Orc riding a wolf had stopped here just the night before and had built a large fire.

"Strange place for fire," said Rhôn, "when night so nice. Orc used bad smelling stuff to make fire burn better."

"And he used wood on it, too," said Luinár. "But there are no trees around, so where did his wood come from?"

"He would have had to carry it on his wolf," Mîriel replied. "That still does not tell us why he built the fire in the first place.

"A signal, perhaps?" asked Bradlegar, scanning the area for other hills from which the fire could be seen. There was a good number from which to choose.

"Possibly," replied Bauglir. "Orcs do use fires to send simple signals, but I cannot tell what this fire may have said."

"In any event," said Araquenval, "we are close to the time where we must find a place to camp, and this place is as good as any."

They agreed, for they had ridden much of the day in warm weather, and the horses needed rest, perhaps more than did their riders. Taking up his bow and arrow, Bradlegar announced he was off rabbit hunting. Araquenval stored a light spell.

Bradlegar returned some time later with no rabbits, but with a bouquet of flowers consisting mostly of violets and pansies. The sun set, the stars came out, and one by one they entered their tents. Like the day, the night was warm, so most of them did not even bother getting into their bedrolls, preferring instead to lay on top. Mîriel and Dennenor kept watch, fighting off mosquitoes.

After the camp had settled down, Bradlegar made his way over to Luinár's tent and looked in. "Mind if I come in?" he asked.

Luinár was taken aback. "Well, just for a minute," she said. "There are some proprieties here ..."

Bradlegar entered and presented the flowers to her. Red yarn held the bouquet together, and at one end was attached another note. Luinár read it with Bradlegar looking anxiously on.

What gifts can a poor Hobbit give
To one so rich from a dragon's trove?
A bunch of bright flowers for a Warrior Maid,
And a ring of gold to show my love.

"A ring?" asked Luinár. Glancing again at the bouquet, she saw the Hobbit had placed within it a golden ring. She slipped it out from among the flowers, examined it intently, then turned her gaze to her suitor.

"Thank you, Bradlegar," she said after an awkward silence. "I'll have my sister braid these flowers into my hair tomorrow. But the ring ... I'm not prepared to put it on just yet. But once we destroy that shard, I'll marry you."

Bradlegar went red as a beet. Although very much smitten with Luinár, he felt himself unworthy to marry such a lady, and had resigned himself to saying farewell to her after Rivendell. And now she was proposing to him! He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came.

"You may go now," said Luinár, and Bradlegar fairly bolted from the tent.

Like the night before, the watches were quiet, save for a clamour on the river in the early hours of the night from a party of twenty or so Orcs on wolfback, probably on its way south to a raid of some sort. Mîriel and Dennenor roused the camp, but so intent were the Orcs on their mission that they passed by without noticing.

The group made its normal hand-offs on the watches, Araquenval replacing Mîriel, then Bradlegar replacing Dennenor. Before retiring, Dennenor again asked Araquenval for the olorkorna. The Hobbit kept to himself, and to Araquenval seemed he was having trouble keeping his mind on the watch.

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Guided Tour

Day 29: A Town in Trouble

Day 27: A Day of Rest

MERP Campaign #2: Index

MERP Campaign #3: Paul's MERP Campaign

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Brian Lowe / Winnipeg PC User Group / blowe@wpcusrgrp.org
Based on events played to March 20, 1998. Accesses since September 30, 1998: