Hunt for the Palantíri RPG

[piosenniel]

Lalwendë's post

Tarn looked out of the door at the brewing storm with an angry look on his face. He had to go and feed his seals and leave the warmth of his new stone hut behind him. He felt such pride in having been able to build this humble dwelling that he did not like to leave it. One of his cronies, Talsson, was slumped by the fire in a drunken stupor. They had been playing knucklestones and Talsson had lost his money to Tarn. The agreement had been that if Talsson wanted another game then he would have to offer the labour of his son, Thynne, to Tarn. The man, drunk as he was, knew that the labour would not be handsomely rewarded, and he knew that he could lose the profits he normally gained from hiring out the lad, but he would not lose face, so the deal was done.

Thynne, a well-fed fourteen year old, sat in the corner of the hut on a pile of furs, staring at Tarn, wondering whether his new job was a good thing or a stroke of bad luck. Tarn looked at the lad and motioned with his head towards the door.

“Get yourself wrapped up, there‘s a storm coming in. You will come with me now and start by learning how to feed the seals” Tarn watched as the youth scrambled into his warm clothes. “I suppose you can swim?”.

Tarn was the seal handler, but he rarely went into the water these days. He paid those with little hope, such as Thynne, to do this for him. He himself had survived by carrying out hard labour such as this when he left the family, so he didn’t see any harm in others making a living this way. Sometimes, he thought he was doing them a favour. If he’d had any children of his own then he’d have had them working with the seals as soon as they could walk, and that would be for free. But this lad looked strong and bright enough, he might have hired him anyway, had his father not been such a drunken idiot and offered him at half the going rate.

*********

Tarn stood a bucket of fish on a flat rock by the side of the water and let out a long, piercing whistle. The lad pursed his lips and tried to copy him. Tarn laughed. “I suggest you get some practice in, though I doubt you’ll ever truly master it the way I have. Watch me.”

Again he whistled, and ten sleek bodies came towards them through the water. The dog-like faces of the seals surfaced; they could smell the fish and came right up to the edge of the rock, circling and crying. The smallest one heaved itself out of the water, and his head bobbed up and down expectantly.

“This is the youngest, I think you could start with him,“ Tarn said to the lad, who had stepped back a little from the creature. “No need to be afraid of him, he’s learning just like yourself”. Tarn put one of the silvery fish into Thynne’s hand and the lad gingerly offered it to the young seal, who carefully took it, and slipped back into the water. Tarn quickly threw more fish out to the older seals, to keep them from taking the fish from the youngster.

“Why did he have a golden tag in his ear?” said the boy, suddenly finding his voice.

“That,” said Tarn, “Is how they are identified as my own seals. As soon as one is born I put the golden ring into his ear, and then anyone knows that he is mine. If one were to be hunted, then that hunter would have to pay dearly, probably with more wealth than that of five chieftains.” Thynne looked shocked. “But that, thankfully, has never yet come to pass. And these fine sailors, they seem to appreciate their worth as much as I do.” Tarn looked solemnly towards the cliffs, where the masts of the Corsair ship were rolling to and fro in the swell.

Tarn admired the Corsairs, with their proud bearing and fierce talk. He was eager to do well for them, partly because he might get greater rewards, but also because he wished to earn their respect. He was starting to form notions of making some kind of allegiance with them. Tarn did not exactly fawn around the Corsairs, as grovelling was not in Tarn's nature, but he made sure to impress upon them how invaluable he was, and made great show of both his skill with the seals and what he considered his status among the other Lossoth.

Tarn and Thynne threw out more fish, and several seals came out of the water, nudging Tarn’s legs with affection, which prompted him to scratch their necks. He started to do a few of his training rituals while the lad stood and watched, shivering in the driving rain and wind. He was hungry and licked the remains of the fish from his gloves. Having finished this, he squinted out to sea, where his attention was caught by a ship being tossed about on the waves.

Tarn soon noticed that the lad wasn’t paying him any attention. “Look sharp, lad, or it’s just the diving you’ll be doing. Thought you were brighter than that.” He looked up to see what Thynne was peering at and he soon picked out the shape of a white ship trying to tack into the bay.

“By the stars…”

[piosenniel]

Rinfanawen's post

Diera stood in the tight hall below deck trying to concentrate on the ship and what needs needed to be met. She was cold. Long had her journey to this forgotten land in the North kept her in freezing temperatures, but she tries not to think of it very often. The ship continued to toss violently on the waves. She felt her nerves rise inside of her as she thought of the rolling waves and pouring rain outside.

As much as she tried to force her mind away from the pressing storm, the only though she could think to was the thought of the Lossoth. Strange creatures they were to her. Those who actually found comfort in such places as this land were certainly not those of her liking, but Marreth found success in them, so she had to continue to trust in the odd Snowmen of the North. Snowmen they were, indeed. Diera knew that they were sent to this land for a purpose, and perhaps that purpose was to help them recover the lost Palantiri. She only hoped.

Diera began to think strongly on the matter of the Palantiri. We've been searching for so long, she thought. Those hopeless natives have helped us little...but not anymore. As soon as this storm ends, I will take my request to Marreth to get more Lossoth to join in our search. They must help. They are the only ones who have adapted to this wretched land well enough to stay under the water long enough. Our people have suffered too much. Far too long...

Suddenly her thoughts were broken by footsteps coming down the hall. She jumped slightly, solely for the reason that she was torn so quickly from thinking, as her friend and fellow shipmate, Doyal, turned the corner. He seemed troubled as well. Water dripped from his clothing as he walked.

"It feels as if it's going to blow us over up there," Doyal sighed as he approached Diera. "The storm has picked up a bit."

Diera stared at him in shock. She spoke in great sarcasm, "Even more? Great, and I was just beginning to get my mind off of the tidal waves outside."

"What's your problem? I thought you loved the sea...more than anything, you say," said Doyal.

"There is no problem," replied Diera seriously. "I think we should get back on deck anyway now that the storm has worsened."

Diera and her shipmate began to walk towards the entrance to the deck, but they were stopped quickly by an order from Marreth...to follow him on deck. Diera said nothing of the order and did as her captain commanded. She barely made it out of the door before Marreth was at the rail and staring at what appeared to be an Elven ship on the rushing waves.

"Look there," Marreth said as he turned to Doyal and Diera. "We have company, and I fear they are up to no good."

Diera stared at the distant vessel in anger as she thought of the risk the Palantiri were in of falling into evil hands. The Elves were not going to find them...no matter what it took.

[piosenniel]

Kitanna's post

The wind was violent today and Nilak was relieved to finally be safe in the cabin of the Corsair ship. He had been out in the storm helping to secure the rigging. It had been a hard day and for Nilak it was only getting worse.

Sitting before him in the cabin was Sernir, who was whittling away at a piece of wood. His face was angry and his eyes were just little slits in his face. “You said you had the best trained seals in the land. Yet here you are with nothing.” Sernir put down his dagger and the piece of wood. His grey eyes bore into Nilak’s, but still Nilak held his ground. “You are as worthless as all the other Lossoths.”

“I am doing what I can.” Nilak responded in the calmest voice he could find. Sernir was testing his patience.

“Need I remind you what is at stake? If you do not find this treasure then you will get nothing.” The Corsair could tell he had hit a nerve. This Lossoth was driven by his greed and Sernir could use that as motivation. Sernir rose from his seat and walked to the window of his cabin. He was looking at nothing, just staring blankly into space thinking of all he would gain if the Lossoth found the Stones first. Then he thought of what he would lose if Nilak failed.

“It is getting colder every waking hour and the storm is getting more violent. Soon even my seals will not be able to dive for these precious stones of yours.” Nilak said. Sernir stopped gazing out the window and glared at Nilak once more. “You ask the impossible of me. What is so important about these Stones anyway?”

“That’s none of your business!” Sernir snapped. He was about to say something else, but Nilak had completely turned his attention away. The Lossoth was now looking out the window. “What are you looking at, scum?”

“That ship coming into the dock.”

Nilak could hear Marreth screaming out to the ship. “Infernal Elf vermin! Thou vain, milk livered coxcombs, may you sink to the bottom of the sea!”

Sernir’s expression had changed and now he too watched the ship intently. “Who are they?”

“Elves and now it is more pressing than ever that we find those stones.” Sernir looked back at Nilak. “Now we must crush the Elves or we will get nothing from this.”

Nilak nodded. “I will find your treasure before the Elves do. No matter what it takes.”

[piosenniel]

Imladris' post - Jarlyn

Jarlyn slammed his fist on the table. “These Snowmen,” he said, “are not doing their jobs.” He glanced at the empty chair opposite him. He wanted to complain to Marreth. Tell him that he thought that the Snowmen were purposely being slow. Why did they want the Seeing Stones anyway? Business was grand without them. Having them could only cause trouble. What one didn’t know couldn’t harm one.

Jarlyn grimaced and sighed. Marreth wanted to do Castamir’s bidding as a vehicle for revenge for his father’s death. But as far as he was concerned, it wasn’t Elessar’s fault that his dear daddy had died. It had technically been that dread army of the Dead’s fault but as one could not take revenge upon the Dead then Marreth had to content himself with revenging himself on King Elessar. Thought how that would make any difference Jarlyn was at a loss to fathom.

He was jolted from his musing by Marreth ordering him on deck to check the rigging. As he was checking a knot, to make sure it was secure, he heard Marreth shout, “Infernal Elf vermin! Thou vain, milk livered coxcombs, may you sink to the bottom of the sea!”

“Well, if they sink,” Jarlyn muttered, “then we’re very liable to sink ourselves…”

But Marreth didn’t notice this comment and said, “Look there, we have company, and I fear they are up to no good!”

Jarlyn chortled. Considering that elves were good it was a bit of an oxymoron that they were up to no good. He stifled his laughter and said, “Well, we haven’t been successful and we’ve been here for how long? Honestly, they won’t be able to find the Stones either.”

[piosenniel]

Imladris' post - Jynne

Jynne craned his neck to the shoulder, listening to the bone creak with morbid pleasure. He peered into the gloom, towards the coast where the duped Snowmen would be huddling together against the fury of the storm. A little sneer curled about his thin lips. He remembered their naivety as the Corsairs had pulled into harbour. Some had thought the Corsairs would be their friends, that they would actually make them chiefs over their various tribes. A laugh almost escaped him. If anything, a trusted Corsair would be made the Snowmen’s leader. But the more they were deluded, the better able were they to control and manipulate them as a potter at work with his clay.

Behind him, Nilak and Senir were arguing with each other. A thin smile stretched his thin face. These Snowmen had not been successful in finding the drowned Seeing Stones. Their silly seals had come up spluttering and breathless and empty handed every time they dived. His eyebrows shrugged slightly. But what else was to be expected? They were power mongers, grovelling at the chance for power and control.

The Seeing Stones must be found. With them Castamir could spy upon his enemies, listen to covert secrets whispered in the darkness.

[piosenniel]

Elves are a helpful lot, thank the stars . . . especially these two . . . This comforting thought slid through Rôg’s mind as Carandû and Annû grasped him firmly under the arms and walked him from the rail and down the hatchway steps to the galley below. Despite the buffeting winds, the protected waters of the bay were indeed calmer. He felt his stomach settle down into some semblance of normalcy as they entered the small kitchen area. His nose took in the steamy scent of new brewed tea.

‘Think I could have a cup of that?’ he asked, seating himself at the small table. The Elf at the stove looked him over, taking in the chalky appearance behind the normal olive tinge. ‘Peppermint, perhaps . . . and a little honey, for you,’ the Elf laughed, whisking the pot of regular tea out of Rôg’s reach. ‘What about you two?’ he said, waving two clean mugs toward Carandû and his brother. In the same breath, he asked about what they had seen above-deck. Others of the crew had come down with news of sighting the Corsair ship. From what he could glean from their hurried reports he knew there was only one . . . but how big was she, he wondered. And had they seen any longboats in the water or near the shore. Or any of the skin-boats of the Lossoth tied up to the ship?

Rôg shrugged his shoulders at the Elf’s questions. He actually hadn’t seen the ship, having been otherwise occupied with his perusal of the waves slapping at the sides of the Sea-Spirit. Accepting the welcome mug of honeyed tea from Elf’s hands, he blew across it to cool it a bit. ‘What about you two,’ he said, between small sips of the fragrant liquid. ‘You see anything like that?’

[Arry]

Carandû nodded his head to the offer of a hot drink. His brother chuckled under his breath as he hung all their oilskins on the pegs outside the galley. ‘I heard that!’ Carandû snorted, handing his brother a mug of the welcome drink when he’d entered the room. ‘I’ve not forgotten my taste for the brandy-wine, brother mine. Just warming up to it first.’

Annû sat down at the table, across from Rôg. ‘The ship was a large one, but sleek. Fast, I’ll wager, in open water. And set up for attack and defense I’d also say. She was between us and the far shore, though, couldn’t see if any boats were tied up to her port side.’ He took a gulp of his tea and raised his brows at his brother who leaned against the door’s frame.

‘No, I saw no boats.’ Carrandû shifted his back against the wood, trying to find a more comfortable position. ‘You know, though, I think we might have sailed far enough beyond their position to catch a glimpse.’ He gave up his quest for the perfect spot and sat at the table with the others. ‘Have you seen the Captain come below,’ he asked the Elf who’d made the tea.

‘Not yet,’ said the Elf refilling Rôg’s mug. ‘He’s the one we should probably be asking. I’d imagine he’s had his spyglass trained on them since first sighting.’