Sands of Harad: RPG

[Curubethion]

Lady Willow's voice drifted high into the sky, as she sang an elvish lament. She stood in Rath Dinien, at the fore of the procession. The white stone felt cold under her feet, and the wind blew coolly before her. Behind her, seven men carried the litter with Curmaar's body on it. The moon shone pale over them all.

As they slowly walked down the Silent Street, they were followed by others: Elnar, Faramir and his sons, Acalewia, Alatar and some rangers, Gimli, Makoin...and at the fore was King Elessar. As they came within sight of the doors of the Hallows, the crowd stopped, and the eight people entered alone, bearing Curmaar with them. Their steps rang hollowly on the stone floor, and they seemed to glide over to an alcove inside the house.

"Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'," she whispered as the litter was lowered onto a shelf. "My heart shall weep until it sees thee again."

Curmaar's eyes were closed in a peaceful sleep; his hands were folded across his chest. The procession left the building, slowly, led by Lady Willow.
~~~~~~~~
"Hold!" shouted Curamir, and the rangers stopped. Slowly, they eased the bier that carried a man-Curmaar-to the ground. The hot wind blew around them, stirring up the sand. Sweat dripped down the brow of Faramir's son. He looked around, and turned to his men.

He asked, "Where's the map?"

Each of the rangers uncomfortably looked around, shuffling their feet. Curamir repeated the question, and waited for a response. Finally, Atarion, the young one, stepped forward. He looked from side to side, and then stared directly at his captain.

"We've lost it, Curamir," he told the Ranger. "Now what?"

Curamir growled. "Look what you've done. This is likely to be the death of us all. Come on-let's head west. I saw what may be some water that way, on the horizon."

The procession started again, slowly crawling in that direction. The sun beat down upon the cloaks worn by all of them.

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa Oronar walked briskly, a cheery bounce in her step. The flaming sun bothered as little as the burning sand that her bare feet trecked across. Her skin was tanned and her hair rivaled the sun for redness.

The wandering lady caught sight of an oasis and began to run in that direction. Nothing like a bath to ease the occasional aches of travel.

[rohirrim TR]

"Lord, someone approaches" called out Hluor

"aye, I see you and arhor watch my back and I will welcome them to our oasis, stay sharp though whoever it is might be a decoy" replied Curamir his eyes narrowing.

As nessa approached the spring she noticed that the ground was stirred up in a peculiar way when out of the few trees that surround a ranger materialised.

"hold yon stranger, be ye a friend I deem? or foe? though I for one hope the former given your beauty and familiarity with the surrounding area."

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa smiled gently, having long ago gotten used to the appearance of new things.

"I mean no harm to you if you mean none to me. After all, I'm just a humble wanderer." She walked toward the ranger with an easy, loping gait. "My name is Nessa Oronar and it is my very good pleasure to meet you."

[Udukhaturz]

Deep in the land of Harad, Bayhas, son of Beli, watched from a high knoll as the flock of sheep and goats owned by his brother and him cropped the short grass. The bell on his lead goat played a merry tune as the goat browsed.

The sun had now risen to her zenith, the signal that it was time for the mid-day meal. Tethering his horse in a small clump of cypress, he made preparations for his small meal. Milk fresh and warm from the she-goat, bread and dried meat, and a small piece of goat cheese were his repast. He relaxed and watched as the flock grazed.

He would spend the afternoon alone, watching the herds as he did every day. Little changed in his life. He would be glad when the day would be at its close, for then he could turn his duties over to his brother and his brother's son. Then he would go back to the village and eat his evening meal with his widowed mother and younger brother.

[rohirrim TR]

"so let me get this straight, were about forty leauges from Umbar 'as the crow flie' but closer to fifty by the Harad road that is just west of this oasis?"
asked Curamir of Nessa who had agreed to help them find their way for the present.

"correct, except I don't think you realize how large the country of Harad really is, if you're going to Near Harad you have only to cross the river Harnen and your basically there however if your goin to Far Harad you'll have to follow the main road other wise you'll have to make your way along the small paths scattered about the country to the west and east, where in Harad are you going?"

"yeah Curamir, where was Cumaar from anyway" asked Hluor

"er...well...Oh! look! a shooting star" he replied pointing upward

"no....don't tell me we've just started a hopeless mission"

"don't worry I'm not goin to tell you that, but anyway it can't be hopeless, we just have to find a local, someone who knows all the different clans and tribes and what not and I'm sure we can find his family or his clan. Do you know about that kind of thing Nessa?"