[the phantom]

The Downers stood rooted to the spot as the Witch King dismounted and stalked towards the portal, a sword in one hand and a long knife in the other. "He's coming! He's coming here!" shouted Mnem in panic, backing away towards the entry hall.

Everyone took a step back as the Witch King, dark and menacing, stepped through the gateway and onto the wooden floor of the pub. For a second he stood surveying them in complete silence, and then he spotted at his feet a sheet of paper- rules for Phantom's Werewolf game. Everyone watched as he picked up the page and read it, front and back. He sheathed his sword, and from somewhere beneath his robes he drew a glowing orb. A palantir.

"My master will be quite interested to see this," said the Witch King with a cold laugh. "It seems that the Isle of Werewolves he ruled in the First Age has been made into some sort of... game." The Witch King turned his head from side to side, looking at each Downer in turn, and then he spoke slowly, relishing his evil thoughts as he made them known. "I wonder if you would find this game to be entertaining if the deaths were real. I have learned much necromancy from my master, and can call up spirits. Perhaps I should call for a couple of Werewolf spirits, and a vampire." He looked down at the rules again. "Oh, and Grima, of course. His soul has long been in our keeping."

As it dawned on the Downers what the Witch King was suggesting, they dashed for the hall, but the Witch King raised his hand and the outer door slammed shut on the heels of Lalwende and Mnem, who alone of the group made it out in time. The Downers closest to the door began to beat upon it, while others ran to windows and attempted to break them. But no one could do any harm to the windows or door. There seemed to be some invisible layer shielding them, preventing them from exiting. Amidst the panic, the Witch King held aloft the palantir and let out a high piercing shriek. Through the portal four bright red orbs came flying, and each of them entered into a Downer. Due to the surrounding chaos, no one except the Witch King marked which four.

As Phantom ran back into the main room to try the rear door of the building, he spotted on the floor the very parchment that Christopher Tolkien had used to open the portal. He picked it up and grabbed Boromir as he went running past. "We can shut the portal with this!" he said.

"Maybe, but we don't want him in here with us," said Boromir.

"All right then," said Phantom. "You get a couple others to try and push him back through the portal, and I'll start reading. I'll save the finish for when he's on the other side."

"Do you know Quenya?" asked Boromir.

"Not really," answered Phantom, "But I know the pronunciation rules. I ought to be able to read it at least, even if I don't know what I'm saying. Besides, it's the only chance we have I'm thinking."

"Right!" said Boromir. "I'll see if I can get a couple people to help me."

The Witch King was still standing near the portal, and seemed to be deep in communication with Sauron using the palantir. He payed no attention to the Downers running this way and that, trying every potential exit. But suddenly Boromir's voice was heard shouting, "Now! Now!" and he along with Mira, Nerwen, and Lommy all rushed forward, bulling into the Witch King, pushing him back through the portal.

Phantom had finished reading all but the final phrase, and watched intently, waiting for the Witch King to fall back through the portal. But he stopped short of the gateway. The push was not enough. With a yell, Phantom charged forward and flung himself upon the Witch King. His extra push tipped the scales, and the Witch King toppled back through the portal. As they fell, Phantom shouted, "Antan vanda sa caruvantes!" As the Downers looked on, eyes wide, the portal vanished. The Witch King was gone.

Several fell to the floor and wept in relief, but those closest to where the portal disappeared rushed forward to the still forms of Nerwen, Boromir, and Lommy. They could not be revived. The Witch King had stabbed at them as they sought to drive him back, and his knife had dealt them mortal blows.

"But where are Phantom and Mira?" asked one.

"I think they went with him," answered another. "Through the portal."

Two Downers returned from the entry way with grim news. The spell had not worn off. They were still trapped in the pub.

"The question is, are there now evil creatures among us?" asked one Downer.

Then there appeared a great light high in the air, and out of it four glowing blue orbs emerged, and a voice spoke. "There is evil among you, and the spell sealing you in is strong. But there was room left in the enchantment for us to aid you with four spirits, even as it was written in the rules which the Witch King used to work the spell. The enchantment can only be broken by following the rules of the game. We hope that many of you survive."

Then the light went out, and all of the Downers fell to the floor in an enchanted sleep.