Game Thread: Werewolf- this time it's real!

[the phantom]

Originally Posted by Mnem

Mnemosyne's mind raced. "Father, father--he said father! Father used to be here, he talks like Gollum, he looks kind of-- Oh, holy Valar, phantom, please tell me I'm going crazy!"

Phantom looked closely at the man. "Well, he does kind of... but really, I mean... why in the world would Christopher Tolkien be here?"

At this, the man jerked his head so that he was facing Phantom and looked directly into his eyes. "Christopher... yes... that's what he used to call me. But he didn't know everything. He was wrong about it. He said it couldn't do anything here. But no, no, he didn't know. We've kept it longer. It got in our head, and we wants it out!"

The man grabbed Phantom's shirt and pulled him closer. "We've gots to do it! He said never to open it, or to try to find how, but we must! It hurts... in the head... and it won't let us take it off!" He waved his hand in front of Phantom's face, and on his finger was a simple golden ring.

Mnem rolled her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be invisible?"

"It doesn't work like that here," answered the man, and Mnem jumped in surprise, not expecting to be addressed. "Not in this world. Father didn't think any of it worked at all here. Thought it had no power at all, since it couldn't make him disappear. But no, it still has power. Just slower, and less. But it's too much for us! It told us to take it back, and if we don't...."

At this point such a look of pain and fear crossed his face that Phantom waved off the possibility of a joke. This man was clearly crazed. Just then Mira approached with her laptop.

"I thought he looked familiar," whispered Mira, "And look!"

On her computer was a picture of Christopher Tolkien. "Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Mnem. "He looks just like him!"

"Just like him?" said Mira. "It IS him."

[the phantom]

While the three of them were staring at the computer, Christopher Tolkien pulled from beneath his jacket an old battered piece of parchment, and proceeded to read from it in a low voice.

"What's he doing now?" wondered Mira aloud.

"It sounds like Elvish!" exclaimed Mnem, who knew a little bit herself.

"Can you tell what he's saying?" asked Phantom, but Mnem didn't answer. A strange bluish glow had begun emanating from a point in midair directly in front of Christopher. All three Downers stepped back from it and stared with wide eyes. Indeed, all the Downers in the room plus the pub staff were now giving their full attention to the perplexing scene.

There was a collective gasp as the small glowing point expanded quickly. It was soon several feet in height and breadth, every bit of it giving off the same eerie glow. It rippled, like a sheet of water suspended sideways in the air. Others recalled a flag in the wind, though no flag had ever looked so curious.

Phantom slowly edged around to the other side, and Mira followed. There they saw Christopher staring straight ahead, wringing his hands, his face changing back and forth between awe and disgust. Phantom could think of nothing to say, but it did not matter, for Christopher began conversing with himself.

"We mustn't do this. We mustn't!"

"But we doesn't like it! We must be rid of it!"

"No, we can't. Father said we must always keep it, and never seek to return unless they come for it. It would kill them all!"

"But they're not from here. We'd never have to see them. They don't matter. They're not even real. This is only a dream."

"It's not a dream! Father told me all about it. It's real!"

"No, it isn't. How can this be real? It's all in our head. And if we do this in our head, we'll be rid of the madness forever."

Christopher bent over and covered his head. Phantom slowly approached him. "Sir, are you okay? Christopher, do you-"

But Phantom was interrupted by Mira tugging on his shirt. "Look, look, look!" she hissed in an excited whisper. Phantom turned towards Mira, but stopped dead facing the blue glowing disturbance, or rather, what he expected to be the blue glowing disturbance. For on this side, it was not a glowing watery thing at all, but a window into someplace other than the pub. A rocky hill rose up out of sight, pines thick upon its slope. At the foot, thirty or forty feet straight ahead, a heavy wooden door was set in the stone, no doubt covering some sort of cave. Two sentries stood before it, mail clad with spears and girt with swords and shields slung upon their backs.

Even as Phantom and Mira stared, the sentries seemed to see them. The one upon the left lowered his spear but did not advance. The other turned and vanished through the door, so quick that the onlookers barely saw it open and shut.

[the phantom]

As Phantom and Mira continued to gaze in disbelief, more Downers began to crowd around onto their side of the portal. The room was completely silent, and they could hear the wind blowing through the pines on the other side.

Suddenly Christopher stood up straight and shouted, "Yes, we will go!" And then, as if every step was a pain, he advanced upon the portal. As he drew near, the Downers marked that he appeared to be fading, and just before stepping through, he could barely be seen at all.

And then he vanished.

Many cried out in shock, and at the same time the door in the hill burst open and several armored men came running out towards the portal. The one in front was very quick, his blond hair flying behind him, and as he came he pointed and shouted, clearly giving instructions to the others. The half dozen soldiers behind him fanned out and continued forward while their leader sprinted straight towards the portal. All the pub staff turned and fled, but the Downers stayed where they were, for strangely they felt no fear at all.

When the man halted but a few feet from the portal, the Downers knew in their hearts that he was not a man at all, for he was fair beyond the measure of this world, and his ears were of a different shape.

"Impossible," gasped Boromir. "An elf!"

And then the elf hailed them. "I am Glorfindel of Rivendell. Who are you, and what have you to do with the portal? And where is Tolkien, and why has a stranger entered this land with the great Ring upon his finger?"

[the phantom]

It was Phantom who finally got past his surprise and answered Glorfindel. "That stranger was Tolkien's son. He opened the portal."

"But who are you, and why did he open the portal?" asked Glorfindel.

"I am Pha- I mean Philip. I don't know anything about this. Chris Tolkien came in and was talking crazy and acting weird, and then he opened the portal and went through. That's all I know."

Glorfindel moved closer and and questioned Phantom again. "So, you did not know Tolkien at all? And that was his son? But where is Tolkien?"

"Tolkien is dead," answered Phantom. "He died many years ago. I never knew him. Though I've read most of his books. The son finished the books the father never finished. But..." At that moment, the absurdity and strangeness hit Phantom full for the first time. Here was in front of him, Glorfindel? This is ridiculous he thought. How is this happening?

"But of course, he'd be dead now," said Glorfindel. "His final visit was long ago, and he was not young even then. But- you know nothing of the portal, or of this world?"

"No," said Phantom, "I told you I didn't know anything about the portal, but I do know about that world. I read Tolkien's books about it. But... it's not real. I mean- he made up Middle-Earth."

Glorfindel's eyebrows raised, and he smiled briefly. "So, Tolkien was a god, was he, and gave me and my friends life?"

"What? No. That's not what I meant," said Phantom. "I mean, he wrote stories about you, and he made up the stories... from in his head."

"He may have invented stories about Middle-Earth," said Glorfindel gravely, "But that does not mean he invented Middle-Earth or its people. He knew it was real. He visited several times. Otherwise I would not be able to speak your tongue."

[the phantom]

Boromir stepped forward to stand next to Phantom. "Wait, earlier you said that Chris Tolkien had the Ring upon his finger. The 'great' Ring. How is that possible? The One Ring was destroyed! It was cast into the fires of Mount Doom."

Glorfindel started at the name of the fiery mountain. "How do you know that name, and of the plan to destroy the Ring?"

"Tolkien wrote all about it," said Boromir. "All about Frodo, and how he brought the Ring to Rivendell, and Elrond and Gandalf determined it should be destroyed, and then Frodo and eight others undertook the quest."

Glorfindel's mouth opened in surprise as Boromir continued giving details about the quest. The attempted passage of the Misty Mountains, the journey through Moria, and on to the Anduin.

"It seems that my old friend did indeed write many tales of this world," said Glorfindel. "Frodo did bring the Ring to Rivendell, and he and eight companions did follow the path you outlined. The Ring, however, was left behind in Rivendell, and it was certainly not destroyed."

"But why didn't you try and take it to the fire?" asked Mira, who had at last recovered her voice.

Glorfindel looked at her incredulously. "What? Take the Ring to Mordor? With Sauron's armies dwelling there, thick as ants, and Sauron himself ever watchful and alert? Surely you jest!"

"So you never decided to destroy the Ring?" asked Phantom.

"We did indeed decide to destroy the Ring," answered Glorfindel, "But we had not the strength to force Sauron from his realm and assure the Ring safe passage to the mountain. We needed first to gain the upper hand."

"But how could you gain the upper hand without destroying his Ring? Sauron's might was too much to contend with," said Boromir.

"Ah, now you have come upon the reason for the Ring being in your world," said Glorfindel. "Elrond and Gandalf both studied the portal and its workings extensively, and it was one of them, or both perhaps, who theorized that if the Ring were to be taken out of this world and into yours, and the portal closed, that Sauron would lose a greater part of his power, no longer being able to draw upon the Ring. Some of us even went so far as to hope it would destroy him completely, but alas, it did not."

"So, it didn't work?" asked Mira.

"It did work," answered Glorfindel. "After Tolkien left with the Ring, Sauron's designs went astray, and he was greatly weakened. He continued to hold the upper hand for many years with his vast armies of orcs and trolls and his alliances with the cruel peoples of the South, but every year we made some headway. As it stands now the dwarves have a firm foothold in Moria, the elves of Mirkwood have taken back most of their forest, and Ithilien has been cleared of evil. Everywhere we are drawing tight the noose, and we hope to begin assaulting the Black Gates and Minas Morgul soon."

"So things are going well?" questioned Mira.

"I would say yes, if not for what has happened here today, for it appears that the Ring has returned to this world, and Sauron's strength is sure to grow quickly. And if he recovers his Ring...." Glorfindel's face fell.

As he stood there in silence, one of the elves under his command approached bearing tidings. The Downers looked back and forth between the two as they traded hushed words. "Any idea what they're saying, Mnem?" whispered Phantom.

"No, it's too soft, and too fast," said Mnem.

Soon the other elf retreated back towards the door in the hillside, and Glorfindel turned his attention back to the Downers on the other side of the portal. "He has escaped," he said. "My scouts have found his trail, but he appears to be moving quickly- too quick to be caught until he stops to rest. Let us hope that he does so soon."

[the phantom]

"So, how does this portal work?" called Lalwende from the rear of the group, "And how did Tolkien come to be in your world?"

Glorfindel shook his head. "I do not know all there is to know on those matters. Elrond and Gandalf know the most, and have deemed it wise to remain silent, saying only that which is necessary. The gateway has played an important role in resisting the enemy, and we do not wish for information to find its way to his ears."

"But we don't even live in Middle-Earth," insisted Lalwende. "And though you don't know everything, you can at least tell us what you do know, or guess."

"I will not share all I know," answered Glorfindel, "But I will tell you part." Everyone gathered closer to the portal, anxious to hear his tale, but not so much that they crossed the threshold. "Tolkien appeared on this spot for the first time many years before the Ring came to Rivendell. He was found by the sons of Elrond, who were on an errand in these parts. The wilderness north of Rivendell is vast, and there are few paths, and so we believe that it was fated to be so, that he would appear when he did, and that they would pass by within moments."

"To open the portal, he spoke words from a piece of parchment, in the language of the high-elves. Do not ask how he came by the parchment in his world. I do not know. But I do know that he could open the portal from any location with the words and force of will, and that if he opened it repeatedly from one location, it became easier. Elrond advised him against this, worrying that opening it enough times from one place might make the boundary so weak that it would not close properly. How he came to this conclusion, I do not know. As I said, he and Gandalf studied this matter in great detail, and have not shared their findings."

"Tolkien was brought to Rivendell, and there he learned to speak with us and we with him. He showed great interest in the history of this world, and he asked always for tales, and took notes. After a brief time, he returned to this spot and opened the portal again, promising to return. And he did."

"So, he had a way to close the portal?" asked Boromir.

"Yes," answered the elf-lord. "The words of shutting were also written on the parchment. I do not know them, but Elrond does. I have already ordered one of my soldiers to hasten to Rivendell immediately with tidings. Doubtless Elrond himself will come soon, and he will be able to close the gateway."

"But- I don't want it to close," said Mnem, and many others nodded in agreement.

"It will have to close," said Glorfindel firmly. "When my scouts bring back Tolkien's son and the Ring, he will be returned to your world and the way will be closed, and it must remain so until the path is cleared to destroy the Ring. At that time, we will open the portal from this side and retrieve the Ring."

"But where will the portal open?" asked Phantom, "And how will you be able to find the Ring here in this world?"

"I do not know where the portal will open, but Elrond and Tolkien knew somehow, and had the details worked out. Doubtless Tolkien passed on the plan to his son, but under the circumstances, I think it probable that Elrond will wish to form a new plan. Likely he will need to meet with one of you, and will place the Ring in your care, as its current guardian has been proven untrustworthy."

[the phantom]

Merignor the Easterling stood in his usual place, high upon the side of a rocky hill across the valley from the place where the elves had delved their cave. The sun was sinking, and soon all of the little valley would be in shadow. Another fruitless watch. He was about to turn and call for someone to fetch the next watchman when movement in the valley below caught his eye.

There was something glowing, shimmering blue and bright in the valley. One of the elf sentries had left his post by the door. Soon the door opened again, and out of it ran a group of elves. He could not be certain, but it looked to be the elf-lord Glorfindel of Rivendell leading them.

Merignor turned and called into the cave to his rear. "Go tell the master something is happening, and that he should come immediately." He turned back to watch the scene below. The elf soldiers were moving off in different directions, leaving the cave, and Glorfindel, unprotected.

Through his bird spies, Sauron had learned long ago that this spot was special to his enemies. Elrond himself and Gandalf even had been spotted here on more than one occasion, and there were always a few elves stationed at the cave, though their purpose had never been discovered. Sauron determined that he should place an outpost here to observe, and if possible, ambush Elrond or Gandalf if they ever came to that place again with few guards.

For the job, he had sent no less than the Witch King himself. He knew the North well, and an attack upon the greatest of foes could not be carried out by any lesser servant.

Merignor was surprised when he was joined by the Witch King in a few short seconds. The message could not have reached him so quickly. "My Lord. There is something going on down below. And that elf, Glorfindel, is there unprotected without his horse."

The Witch King gave his orders swiftly. "Tell the men to prepare for an ambush quickly. My signal will come soon. And have someone bring me my horse immediately."

As Merignor retreated down the passage, the Witch King shivered with anticipation. Finally something had happened. He had waited nearly a year, taking no action. Just watching. Waiting. But the situation had changed, more even than Merignor realized. For even as the portal had opened, his master, Sauron, began to recover his old strength and will. The Witch King had heard his thought clearer than he had in years only moments before, and that is why he was already on his way to the lookout when Merignor's message reached him. Things were moving on a grand scale, and just as his master had long suspected, it appeared that this place was important in some way.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Test post (the computer is glitching and keeps eating my posts).

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Still won't let me post properly.

Here's the gist:

probably going to vote this morning
probably going to vote for Brinn because I'll never know her alignment, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.