The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - THE LONELY STAR (Contd. from BD birthday party)

Birdland · 07-02-2002, 07:12 PM

From an auspicious start, the voyage seemed to have taken some rather odd, irritating turns.

First there was Mithadan finally guessing the riddle, and the dragon's petty refusal to reveal the second riddle. She shook her fist at the golden wyrmlette as he went about his business, flitting across the waves away from the ship. "You are nothing but a cheater. Angara. We don't have time for your dragonish airs! Come back here and tell us that second riddle, you...you...salamandar!" But Angara flew on, though he turned his head back and blew a smoke-ring at Birdie. It came out in a very rude shape.

"Dragons!" muttered Birdie, "Bad enough that Eru had to give us cats. But then he had to top it with dragons."

Then there was the panic that Kali had displayed when he noted what direction the vessel was going. Birdie thought he understood that everyone was trying to help him, and hoped that he trusted his shipmates no to take him into deliberate danger. But his reaction to sailing to the West was surprising.

Birdie sought out Child, to ask if he had given further hints as to why he was so opposed to their course. "Do you think he remembers the Corsairs? I'm sure they sent many a ship to the bottom in their day, but their fleet was destroyed by King Elessar during the War of the Rings. There are no Corsairs now."

"I don't know", pondered Child, "I could see where the sinking of ships, and the death of the men on them, might frighten and sadden the Hobrim. But I can't see the Corsairs of Umbar attacking Hobrim, or even being aware of their existence."

And what he shouted at me: ' Ba kitabdahe!' What language is that? His own?"

I suppose we could ask the Elf-folk, or Levanto; if it is a sea-tongue." Birdie mused. "But Child, I think it is time we sat down with Kali and really asked him what he knows. 'Many tales' he says he knows, and he seems to think we know them, too. He doesn't offer much information, trusting us to know where to start and where to search. But we really don't know anything! We don't even know really why the Hobrim scattered and fled to the open ocean."

"We don't even know when all this happened. Kali could have been alone for years in his sea-cave. He may have even been a child when the Hobrim fled. And if that is the case..." Birdie stopped and looked down at her feet.

"What?" said Child, "What's wrong."

"If Kali was I child when all this happened, wouldn't someone have searched for him? Look!" Bird pointed out the porthole to the vast sea surrounding them. "There may be no other Hobrim out there to find."

07-02-2002, 07:12 PM	#20
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	From an auspicious start, the voyage seemed to have taken some rather odd, irritating turns. First there was Mithadan finally guessing the riddle, and the dragon's petty refusal to reveal the second riddle. She shook her fist at the golden wyrmlette as he went about his business, flitting across the waves away from the ship. "You are nothing but a cheater. Angara. We don't have time for your dragonish airs! Come back here and tell us that second riddle, you...you...salamandar!" But Angara flew on, though he turned his head back and blew a smoke-ring at Birdie. It came out in a very rude shape. "Dragons!" muttered Birdie, "Bad enough that Eru had to give us cats. But then he had to top it with dragons." Then there was the panic that Kali had displayed when he noted what direction the vessel was going. Birdie thought he understood that everyone was trying to help him, and hoped that he trusted his shipmates no to take him into deliberate danger. But his reaction to sailing to the West was surprising. Birdie sought out Child, to ask if he had given further hints as to why he was so opposed to their course. "Do you think he remembers the Corsairs? I'm sure they sent many a ship to the bottom in their day, but their fleet was destroyed by King Elessar during the War of the Rings. There are no Corsairs now." "I don't know", pondered Child, "I could see where the sinking of ships, and the death of the men on them, might frighten and sadden the Hobrim. But I can't see the Corsairs of Umbar attacking Hobrim, or even being aware of their existence." And what he shouted at me: ' Ba kitabdahe!' What language is that? His own?" I suppose we could ask the Elf-folk, or Levanto; if it is a sea-tongue." Birdie mused. "But Child, I think it is time we sat down with Kali and really asked him what he knows. 'Many tales' he says he knows, and he seems to think we know them, too. He doesn't offer much information, trusting us to know where to start and where to search. But we really don't know anything! We don't even know really why the Hobrim scattered and fled to the open ocean." "We don't even know when all this happened. Kali could have been alone for years in his sea-cave. He may have even been a child when the Hobrim fled. And if that is the case..." Birdie stopped and looked down at her feet. "What?" said Child, "What's wrong." "If Kali was I child when all this happened, wouldn't someone have searched for him? Look!" Bird pointed out the porthole to the vast sea surrounding them. "There may be no other Hobrim out there to find."