Kin-strife: Part 16
Apr. 26th, 2008 08:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
purplecatAll Diary Entries
Part 15
In which Ragnor and Brand recount events of the last 24 hours to Ilvren and Pimm; Ilvren hurries off to help Aerin fend off unwanted mercenaries; Ragnor, Brand and Pimm spend a pleasant evening in the company of intellectual women; we learn of two Adunaphels and Pimm's uncle's girlfriend; finally, at last actually becoming worried, Ragnor leads Brand and Pimm to succour Aerin; who, of course, is preening herself for having saved the little girl and foiled Hargen, the captain of mercenaries.
Evening April 29th 1441
After a moderately hard day in the Library, we get back to the Moonswan in the evening to find Ilvren and Pimm asking after us. We quickly advise them of developments since we saw them last, the previous afternoon: about our researches, the secret chamber in the Moon Tower, of Ranmes, her news and offer of employment, about the Karma of Aldarion, its probable location and our need to find it and finally about Aerin and her predicament.
Ilvren is horrified at Aerin's plight, berates us (well actually just me) for not running to her aid and immediately wants to rush off to her succour. Patiently, Brand and I explain the intricacies of the situation. I believe Hargen is trying to provoke a riot to provide a 'dagormen' while Brand thinks the young 'thief' may be his daughter. Whatever the situation, if I intervene, each side will expect me to act on their behalf and I cannot fail to disappoint at least one side, if not both.
I also outline the stratagem I suggested to Aerin. Ilvren still wishes to help Aerin but hopefully she's now mindful of the need for caution.
Ilvren gone, I ask Brand and Pimm for advice regarding Celebrindor but Lonnya and Balanglinthel arrive in response to Brand's invitation to dinner.
While we pass a pleasant evening with the librarians, Brand himself raises the subject of Celebrindor: Lonnya admits her objections are purely subjective but something about him gives her an unpleasant feeling. I suggest we invite him to the Moonswan tomorrow evening, where we can meet him on our own ground and assess how much he knows and his purposes for seeking knowledge of the sewers while giving as little away as possible.
Brand then turns to Adunaphel and Lonnya claims to know many legends of the woman. She commanded Sauron's southern flank and many arcane powers were attributed to her. Her body was never found and some legends claim she lived on after Sauron's downfall.
There was a Numenorean of the same name much earlier in the Second Age; she settled in Harad, rebelled against excess taxation but was routed by Tar-Ancalimon. Some link this woman with the later Adunaphel but 1500 years separate the two and the original was an old woman when last heard of.
The conversation then turns to Pimm's uncle Bergil and his link with the Mirror of Fire. Lonnya immediately recognises him as a poet renowned for his bad verse. She suggests speaking to Bergil's old flame, Morwen 'the Red', who is a seamstress with premises not far from Bergil's house, now owned by Pimm.
Having returned from escorting the ladies home, there is still no word from the Houses of Healing but it seems the mercenaries are still surrounding the place. I confess I am beginning to worry.
April 30th 1441
I introduce Pimm to Ranmes over breakfast and she seems to take a liking to him. They discuss the likely itinerary for the short to medium term; it seems, on returning to Pelargir, Ranmes will be going to Umbar for crucial budgetary negotiations. His role will be to see to the daily minutiae and run errands but the pay will be higher (3 crowns a week) and the post will provide a platform for yet greater things. I just hope he doesn't abuse his position.
As we rise from the table, Ranmes confides that she thinks she can get us a tour of the Tower of the Moon for tomorrow.
Brand then claims that he has learned a spell from the documents recovered from the Anwar Serni Vault that makes people and things disappear. I advise him to seek a career with the Cor Aran, as they also like to make people disappear but alas his spell only gives the 'appearance' of disappearance. No wonder magic is beyond most of us mere mortals.
I can leave things no longer; summoning Pimm and Brand to horse (or in Brand's case, a very meek pony) we ride out to investigate what has become of Aerin and Ilvren.
A ring of disaffected young men surround about a dozen mercenaries guarding the Houses of Healing. It looks a dangerous situation but there don't seem to be as many riff-raff as earlier reports indicated. Either they were exaggerated or interest in the situation is waning. It does seem as if there are 'ring-leaders' among them, though I hadn't enough time to spot more than one or two.
As we ride through the crowd, who part readily enough at a call, three healers emerge from the Houses. A stray sunbeam illuminates one whom I recognise as Aerin and I breathe an inward sigh of relief.
Aerin confirms that no one has been hurt and I can tell from her 'cat-that-got-the-cream' expression that she found a way to save the girl but she pointedly asks to be escorted in to the city.
Dismounting, I congratulate Hargen on resolving a delicate situation without bloodshed. He looks like he's eating limes and I cannot help taking pleasure at his disappointment. He will no doubt think I had a hand in all this but hopefully he is too low-placed to cause trouble.
We escort the healers back, leading our horses. There's no sign of Ilvren but I assume she was involved in last night's frolics and will turn up in good time.
When we get back, I reply to Celebrindor's letter, inviting him to dine with us at the Moonswan tonight. I advise everyone to be present and on their best behaviour.
Part 15
In which Ragnor and Brand recount events of the last 24 hours to Ilvren and Pimm; Ilvren hurries off to help Aerin fend off unwanted mercenaries; Ragnor, Brand and Pimm spend a pleasant evening in the company of intellectual women; we learn of two Adunaphels and Pimm's uncle's girlfriend; finally, at last actually becoming worried, Ragnor leads Brand and Pimm to succour Aerin; who, of course, is preening herself for having saved the little girl and foiled Hargen, the captain of mercenaries.
Evening April 29th 1441
After a moderately hard day in the Library, we get back to the Moonswan in the evening to find Ilvren and Pimm asking after us. We quickly advise them of developments since we saw them last, the previous afternoon: about our researches, the secret chamber in the Moon Tower, of Ranmes, her news and offer of employment, about the Karma of Aldarion, its probable location and our need to find it and finally about Aerin and her predicament.
Ilvren is horrified at Aerin's plight, berates us (well actually just me) for not running to her aid and immediately wants to rush off to her succour. Patiently, Brand and I explain the intricacies of the situation. I believe Hargen is trying to provoke a riot to provide a 'dagormen' while Brand thinks the young 'thief' may be his daughter. Whatever the situation, if I intervene, each side will expect me to act on their behalf and I cannot fail to disappoint at least one side, if not both.
I also outline the stratagem I suggested to Aerin. Ilvren still wishes to help Aerin but hopefully she's now mindful of the need for caution.
Ilvren gone, I ask Brand and Pimm for advice regarding Celebrindor but Lonnya and Balanglinthel arrive in response to Brand's invitation to dinner.
While we pass a pleasant evening with the librarians, Brand himself raises the subject of Celebrindor: Lonnya admits her objections are purely subjective but something about him gives her an unpleasant feeling. I suggest we invite him to the Moonswan tomorrow evening, where we can meet him on our own ground and assess how much he knows and his purposes for seeking knowledge of the sewers while giving as little away as possible.
Brand then turns to Adunaphel and Lonnya claims to know many legends of the woman. She commanded Sauron's southern flank and many arcane powers were attributed to her. Her body was never found and some legends claim she lived on after Sauron's downfall.
There was a Numenorean of the same name much earlier in the Second Age; she settled in Harad, rebelled against excess taxation but was routed by Tar-Ancalimon. Some link this woman with the later Adunaphel but 1500 years separate the two and the original was an old woman when last heard of.
The conversation then turns to Pimm's uncle Bergil and his link with the Mirror of Fire. Lonnya immediately recognises him as a poet renowned for his bad verse. She suggests speaking to Bergil's old flame, Morwen 'the Red', who is a seamstress with premises not far from Bergil's house, now owned by Pimm.
Having returned from escorting the ladies home, there is still no word from the Houses of Healing but it seems the mercenaries are still surrounding the place. I confess I am beginning to worry.
April 30th 1441
I introduce Pimm to Ranmes over breakfast and she seems to take a liking to him. They discuss the likely itinerary for the short to medium term; it seems, on returning to Pelargir, Ranmes will be going to Umbar for crucial budgetary negotiations. His role will be to see to the daily minutiae and run errands but the pay will be higher (3 crowns a week) and the post will provide a platform for yet greater things. I just hope he doesn't abuse his position.
As we rise from the table, Ranmes confides that she thinks she can get us a tour of the Tower of the Moon for tomorrow.
Brand then claims that he has learned a spell from the documents recovered from the Anwar Serni Vault that makes people and things disappear. I advise him to seek a career with the Cor Aran, as they also like to make people disappear but alas his spell only gives the 'appearance' of disappearance. No wonder magic is beyond most of us mere mortals.
I can leave things no longer; summoning Pimm and Brand to horse (or in Brand's case, a very meek pony) we ride out to investigate what has become of Aerin and Ilvren.
A ring of disaffected young men surround about a dozen mercenaries guarding the Houses of Healing. It looks a dangerous situation but there don't seem to be as many riff-raff as earlier reports indicated. Either they were exaggerated or interest in the situation is waning. It does seem as if there are 'ring-leaders' among them, though I hadn't enough time to spot more than one or two.
As we ride through the crowd, who part readily enough at a call, three healers emerge from the Houses. A stray sunbeam illuminates one whom I recognise as Aerin and I breathe an inward sigh of relief.
Aerin confirms that no one has been hurt and I can tell from her 'cat-that-got-the-cream' expression that she found a way to save the girl but she pointedly asks to be escorted in to the city.
Dismounting, I congratulate Hargen on resolving a delicate situation without bloodshed. He looks like he's eating limes and I cannot help taking pleasure at his disappointment. He will no doubt think I had a hand in all this but hopefully he is too low-placed to cause trouble.
We escort the healers back, leading our horses. There's no sign of Ilvren but I assume she was involved in last night's frolics and will turn up in good time.
When we get back, I reply to Celebrindor's letter, inviting him to dine with us at the Moonswan tonight. I advise everyone to be present and on their best behaviour.