A4E1: Grey Haven at Last!

January 15, 2025

May 15th, Over a Month Late! The scruffy group of adventurers rode up to the gates of the fabled elven city (Mithlond to elves) where they were told to dismount before entering because the streets and dock were abuzz with festivities. “Haven’t you heard? King Elessar and the hobbits Merry and Pippin are escorting Sam Gamgee and his wife Rose Cotton to the docks for their departure across the seas. Sam and Rose leave behind their 13 children (Elanor, Frodo I, Rose I, Merry I, Pippin I, Goldilocks, Hamfest, Daisy, Primrose, Bilbo I, Ruby, Robin, and Tolman).” Margo slipped into a shop to change into her Hugo clothing as she explained to her associates, “Let’s just say Margo left a mess in the Shire. No need to let these hobbits recognize her. I need to earn graces if I’m ever to show my real face there again.”

With a crowd already formed, they didn’t stand a chance of getting close enough to see the procession. So, Kyan led the group to the king’s encampment where they showed their gold medallions to the royal guards. “Please tell us you have a soldier named Thorn Halbarad (son of Tinneas and Alona from first encounter).” They waited almost an hour before the young soldier appeared. At least his sergeant allowed the soldier time off to meet with the strangers at a local tavern. Over mugs of ale and platters of ham and biscuits, Thranduil handed over the family heirloom sword. Kyan described the thugs and barfight and travel to the farm to help clear the land. He left out any mention of the crypt and shard. Thorn wanted to give the elf his provisioned sword but wasn’t sure he was allowed to give away military gear. When Thorn finally left, they settled into their comfortable beds at the inn for a long night’s sleep.

Audience with the King: Displaying the king’s medallions and Theo in his noble armor got them time with the king inside a great hall of the city. King Elessar listened to their story intently. He silently remembered secret records in Minas Tirith detailing the Angril and the shards. He called upon the elven scholar Cirdan to join the discussion. When Kyan expressed his concern over the empty shard alcove in Barad Cam, Cirdan tried to hold a poker face. For all their involvement, the king took the adventurers into his confidence, “Fear not dwarf. Your ancestors of eons ago feared Nogrod and the Blue Mountains cities were in threat from the evil forces and moved the great-axe and shard to Khazad-Dum (Mines of Moria). It seems the shard Belemir took from the Orc was the dwarven shard of Moria. RingRist must also have also been plundered; why it was in hands of Haradrium pirates is a mystery.”

The daydreaming Cirdan reacted to mention of Belemir, “He arrived alone a month ago, and I spoke with him little. He seemed anxious to research something important; a quest which the king bestowed upon him. Not his jovial self of the past; tight lipped. He wouldn’t even answer me when I admired the ruby amulet hung around his neck. When he departed, it was sudden and without any parting word to me.”

It was now the King’s turn to lament, “I did not assign him a quest. I do not understand why my friend Belemir did not seek me out. My heart is filled with sadness that Belemir’s fate has somehow become entwined with the rediscovery of this Black Crystal.” After a long pause, the king laid out his plans, “I must hasten back to Gondor via Rohan to solidify our position against the enemy. Sadly, I recently learned of the death of King Éomer of Rohan, succeeded by his son Elfwine. I must ensure that alliance is intact. I leave it to you and Cirdan to try to find out what Belemir was after.”

Upgraded Gear: Seeing Thran’s scabbard empty, the King added, “See my quartermaster for provisions. He will be told the urgency of matters and how you work for me. Armor, weapons, whatever you need.” And thus, another display of the King’s Medallion earned them upgrades:

· Kyan: Dwarf-Wrought Mail armor.

· Thran: a masterwork magical broadsword with Superior Keen quality.

· Theo: a pair of masterwork Hand-Axes with Keen quality, imbued with magical Warding.

· Margo: a quiver of Bane arrows and a magical shortsword imbued with Flame of Hope.

Cirdan’s Study: It was late evening when they finally found the advisor in his study, staring out the windows at the stars, his elder mind distracted by distant thoughts immune to the passage of time. When they interrupted his thoughts, Cirdan returned to the present, “I assume it would be best to start you out with some background history of the threat we face.” The scholar selected a few primer books from his shelves and offered, “Here’s what we know so far of the threat.”

As the adventurers settled at the table full of books, Cirdan returned his attention to gazing at the stars beyond the window. “A sea of lights,” he murmurs to himself, “Yes, the sea. Always the sea…”