The Feanorian Realms

[Confusticated]

The Feanorian Realms (RPG)

Feanorian Realms​

Not six years since the victory of The Glorious Battle the lands of the North began to quake, but smoke did not belch this time from Thangorodrim, and armies came not forth onto the plain in contest with Beleriand. Nonetheless Maedhros, standing high atop Himring, looked out in wariness to the plain of Lothlann, and the watchmen of Eithel Sirion in Hithlum grew uneasy. Therefore vigilant watch was kept across the the North, and as Autumn gave way to Winter more riders than usual were sent to venture the desolate plains spread wide before Angband, for it had been a wet Autumn and fogs did not relent.

"Yes, but you must also see it his way, Culfaron. I tell ye, and all who stand here now, that Morgoth will not strike suddenly out of the fogs. Nay contrary! More so than ever the going of our scouts will be unmarked—and so too will his it is true—but never could an army issue forth from Angband and set foot upon the plain of Ard-galen that we, small companies treading quietly some ways off, do not hear their clamour."

Cries of agreement went up outside the smithy. "Yea! Lord Maglor speaks truly and I would stake my Ring on it." Culfaron answered, and some laughter went up. "My son hunts now in the Greenwoods away south. I will ride to him ere long, so we may scout together in times to come." With that Culfaron bid them farewell.


He walked eastward along the foot of the hills. Built into the sides of them were many workshops and smithies. There were also great armouries build behind stone walls. Further east beyond most of the shops were the greater part of the dwellings of the people who lived in this area of the land. There were stone houses, some built into the hills and others near the base of them, and most of this was being fortified with the aid of Caranthir's folk. This is where a great number of craftsmen made their home.

There were also wood houses; flets and homes like cabins further off in the wooded areas and nearer to the land of Caranthir. It was here that most of the huntsmen and archers liked to dwell. And craftsman though he was, Culfaron also enjoyed the hunt, and though, of late, he worked his crafts more often than he worked his bow, he dwelt among the hunters because of the calm and quiet that it more frequently provided. Here, further from the plain and smithies, there were less hooves beating on the ground, less hammers falling, and the people were spread thinner.

At length Culfaron came to a place where a small footpath lead out away from the hills and into the forest. He followed this as it wound through the Sun-dappled sycamores whose autumn leaves fell, rustling through the forest floor on a chill breeze. As he went the Sun began to fall in the West, and the golden light turned to shadows. The forest thickened, the smell of breads filled the air when the occasional home was passed, and then at last near the bank of a stoney brook he reached the open door of his large cabin. A warm light glowed therein.

 

[Alatar]

As Eagil left the smithies, he saw a great crowd dispersing from the hilltop. When he asked what was happening he learnt that a great fog had came from the north and Ard Galen was wet with dew and an at attack had been suspected on the north. This was all false but nevertheless another troop of riders was being gathered for safety.
Hearing this Eagil went north to where the riders were being sent from and requested to join them.
Riding over the plain he beheld a terrible vision, where all of that green plain was covered with choking dust, and vast reptilian creatures brought ruin upon the Eldar. Where orcs slew all that moved and blood ran down the hills of Hilmring. Shaking his head Eagil looked up to the sky to catch a glimpse of the lights of Varda.
But the stars were veiled that night.

 

[Confusticated]

Nierwen sat gathering wafers from a board. She wrapped them tightly, then packed them into a bag that she tied over the top.

From the doorway Culfaron spoke. "Good evening Nierwen, how is it that you always know when I will be away?"

"I might not stand round forges or council with the warriors and lords but I know how they think about the siege. Anything out of the oridinary is looked into..." she paused for a moment, "...and too much of ordinary is cause for suspicion. Even more, I know when desire for hunting burns in your heart."

"And" she said with laugh, as Culfaron stepped up to the table and reached for a wafer "when the need of honey-wafers is in your belly."

"Indeed, and I thank thee for it. But perhaps you did not know that I am riding out at dawn to get Maegnor. Maybe you would like to ride with me." Culfaron raised a brow to her.

"I think I will stay this time. The ride is longer than I care to venture."

Sitting across from her, he answered. "Very well, though I only ask because you will not see much of him until we return.... from the North."

"Maegnor will go up there? I do not know why he should have to go near that horrible place."

"Well Dear Nierwen, he doesn't have to in any case, but he is a skilled huntsman and has long wanted to."

"So it will be..." she said with a sigh.

They sat in silence while Culfaron finished his bread, then taking her hand he kissed it and held it in his for a moment. "And now that I have sustenance, I must get rest."

Culfaron laid by the fire and slipped into dreams of ancient Eldamar. He strolled along the coast of the Teleri, marvelling at the gem-strewn sands. Then looking to the stars he beheld a new constellation. It was the form of a smith with a hammer and anvil. This picture delighted him immensely, and wakened a passion in him to fashion a gem that would embody all the love of all the Quendi for all of Arda. He gazed for some time, when suddenly the smith struck the hammer! Red sparks flew like falling stars and Culfaron's heart fell in his breast! His gaze followed them down and down until they landed at Alqualonde and bloodied the ships. At this they were engulfed in flames. Then turning away in horror, he witnessed a vision of pure dread! The soldiers of Feanor bore towards him the body of his deceased daughter. He closed his eyes and there was a great darkness, a horrible presence. Then a brilliant light shone shuddenly within and Culfaron knew that it would abolished the darkness.

He woke and it was long before dawn, but an urgency to hunt the enemy burned within him. Therefore without even waking Nierwen to say goodbye, he made ready and rode off on his grey horse. When he reached the open plain he looked north toward Maglor's Gap, the hills on either side scarcely visible in the morning's fog. On a whim he rode towards them, and went not to the greenwoods of Amrod and Amras.

 

[Confusticated]

As he entered the gap a watchman came up out of the fog, and stood at the foot of hill at its eastern end.

"Hail Eldahir!" Culfaron called, bringing his horse to a stop. "When is the next company due to ride out, and how are the compaines arrayed—and how many?—on Lothlann and Ard-galen beyond?"

"Greetings! A company of Maedhros's cavalry is set to ride out at dawn, and another is due back. There are presently nine companies patroling the plain. One at each of the two forts, and the others riding in an ever-changing design as they cover the plain. Scouts on foot are being sent in close to Iron Mountains and the gates of Angband. More than that I can not say."

"Like as not I will find a captain who can, but I thank you for the information. I will find a company to fall in with, Farewell!"

Culfaron continued through the gap and rode out onto Lothlann. Nine companies, he though, at two or three hundered each that is at least eighteen hundered elves. Six hundred more than there had been at Mid-Autumn. Quite a lot considering the lack of skirmishes of late! He rode exactly north, making for Minas Rhunen 'East Fort', located in the center of Lothlann. A lieutenant of Maglor would be stationed there.

 

[Alatar]

Eagil was troubled; it had been a day since he rode into Minas Rhunen from Minas Gond, the stone castle, named so as of its likeness to the hills in which it stood upon. Tall it was, to the north of the hills around Himling, which it dwarfed, two thousand feet above the Ard Galen. It was built as one tower, with many courtyards where the tower, every hundred feet, would sharply cut into its self, leaving a large open area. Houses were built there, and gardens so great that from a distance it looked like moss was creeping up a small figure of a tower. Thus it’s other name, Ard-Gonden, the green stone.
There he returned after riding over the plain for the night, till returning to the fortress herd news.
The lord of the tower, Aroch, and all of the hill forts of that land, was in the great courtyard, where a great hall was built. " Soldiers of Maedros,” he said," warriors of Magor, knights of my household, it is known to us that the mist was not caused by the dark one, as we had feared, but by the water of Ulmo. Though we have learnt that Fingon has ridden out with many companies, and so we will to. We can not wait and be idle, while the dark power builds up new power. We will never stop, we will be alert, and then the jewels of curufinwe will be ours!"
Now a day later he was troubled, why for all this? Did Aroch suspect somthing? What was Morgoth planning?

 

[Confusticated]

A grey horse galloped up to Fort Rhunen, and came to a stop. An elf with long red hair and a full quiver of arrows hopped down, and looked of towards the North.

"Culfaron!" a voice called from inside a hut

"Ah, lieutenant Aeglin…"

"Nay, nay. Now let me guess." The lieutenant insisted, as the two walked towards eachother in the fog. "You want to know if I have any news, and you want to know when the next foot scouts are going out."

Culfaron gestured for the lieutenant to continue.

"No news, and you just missed them." Laughed Aeglin. "However, you haven't missed dinner."

"No but thank you…" Culfaron began, and was cut off again by the lieutenant.

"I would just like to fill my skin?" Lieutenant Aeglin asked with a grin, and waggled his dark brow.

Culfaron sighed annoyance, and caught himself wondering what Aeglin ever did to become a lieutenant. Surely Lord Maglor did not believe Morgoth could be defeated with play? But he knew not the lieutenant's valour and under estimated his mind, as would later be discovered.

The two agreed on a mission while Culfaron filled his skin. Then the lieutenant tossed him a flask, and they parted.

As Culfaron rode out through a wide gate in the stone wall surrounding Rhunen, a harp was strung in the distance, and he knew that it was Aeglin. Not only was the lieutenant fond of harping, but he often made an issue of Culfaron's unusual fiery hair, so when the singing went up, this time it was a warning to the swordsmen of the Noldor that there was fire on the plain.

 

[Alatar]

" O golden red, O firey head"
Eagil was still in the top chamber of the tower, he had been sent by his lord, Aroch, to try to get Aeglin to send out more scouts. Scouts had been sent, but still he was troubled Aeglin was lord of the East fort, Galandil was lord of the west fort, togetherthey kept watch ove Maglors gap, with Aroch covering the north, and yet the sence of unease did not leave him.
He looked with his grey eyes over the land seeing a rider on a grey horse. He had not forsight, but it seemed to him that in his dreams, Ulmo sang of the resting of the Noldor and of Morgoth sudden asult from the north.
" He rides into the night,"
Aeglin was singing still, unknowing that his burst of song would make vain Ulmo's efforts persauding Irmo to send a warning to Middle earth.
Eagil smiled, Oft shall dreams reflect the dreamer, he thought, nay tis just my restless head needing suurety.
Eagil walked down to the hall, where the lord had a golden harp upon his knee. Eagil joined in the song.
"Culfaron, Culfaron! Your head so bright!" a round of good humored laughter went through the hall, memories of when their lord had sang in his merry making, of One handed Maedros, as Aeglin never knew that somtimes, his song's upset others.