The Iron Wolf

[afro-elf]

ERUWYN

Eruwyn gazed southward. She stood high upon the Mts. of Mirkwood. Her bright elven eyes looked across the countless leagues to Dol Guldor, the Tower of the Necromancer.

In her distant youth she once gaily traveled there. At that time, the whole forest was called Greenwood the Great. But since the Shadow, Mirkwood had become its name. However, today, her hatred was soothed. On the lower slopes, she heard the victory songs of her troops. They had just completed a summer campaign against the spiders that dwelt nigh the Old Forest Road. With the reestablishment of Erebor and Dale, the need to keep the road safe for traveler of all types was greatly increased.

King Thranduil, promised that his Elves would take care of the initial clearing of the area and after that The road would be patrolled by Thranduil’s Elves, the Beornings and Woodmen. The Dwarves had agreed to rebuild the road. Eruwyn had been given the duty to command the initial clearing of the area.
Today was the last day of the campaign. As she looked at the Dark Tower, she smiled. By slaying the spiders she felt that she had won a personal battle against the Necromancer.

Suddenly, she heard a bird call her name. Racing towards her was a swift messenger hawk. Raising her gloved hand the bird landed gently and informed her that she was need at the king’s hall.



GALLASTOR

Gallastor stood by the front gates of Erebor. Being on rather friendly terms with the Dwarves and a master of herb lore, he was sent by Thranduil to trade medicinal herbs for weapons. He rather liked the Dwarves. They where rather taciturn like himself, and not so frivolous like those Mirkwood Elves who were incessantly trying to cheer him up.

A young Dwarf came up to him and informed him that King Thranduil requested his presence at court as soon as possible.

HAWAIR

Hawair and a small troupe of Elves were enjoying themselves by the forest river. They had divided themselves it to males and females and were engaging in a contest of banter.
Hawair was the front man for the males and Findulias was the leader of the females. The Two were cousins and there had always been a friendly rivalry between them. Findulias had just spoken a little rhyme which Hawair was afraid he could not match. However, as he paused trying to think of a witty comeback, an Elf came into the clearing informing all that Hawair was requested by the King. Hawair breathed a quiet sigh of relief and wondered what Thranduil wanted.

ARADIR

Aradir was deep in the libraries as was his wont. Several tomes and scrolls lay before him. His head rested in his hands. He heard the approach of a young Elf-Maiden. He turned to face her and recognized her as one of the King’s messengers…

[Legolas]

Standing on the riverside, Hawair looked around. Trees, trees everywhere, birds in trees, a river, a stream, and many other so known thngs. So many songs and rhymes made about them. What other idea may he get? He will lose the contest, and bring shame to all males... No! This cannot happen.
- Let me think a bit, Findulias. - he said.
- Yes, please, - she replied, smiling.
Hawair sat down on the grass, slowly nodding his head. Not knowing what to compose, he started to think of all his experiences, hoping to find some idea.
But then, suddenly...
- Hawair! Hawair! Are you there?
- Yes I am, who wishes me?
- I am sent by the King, your King Thranuil. He said he has urgent matters to discuss with you. You should proceed immediately.
- Yes, I will, of course. The King's will is above every else. Sorry, Findulias, but we will have to continue our contest some othe time.
- No problem, Hawair, - Findulias replied.
Hawair sighed in relief and went with the messenger.

***

The song goes on anf forth,
down from the lips of Elf.
Meant to me it was from birth,
Until my body lays on shelf.

That was the best rhyme Hawair could think of. Of course, this would not be anything to compete against Findulias, so Hawair was pleased not to continue the contest.

[Nariel Starfire]

As the hawk informed her that the King required her presence, Eruwyn stroked his brown feathers and whipered "thank you, friend." Then, with allspeed, she ran to the courts of the King.

[Elvellon]

“I thank you, Oin, son of Gloin” Gallastor said in sindarin. The young dwarf bowed low and returned to his underground city.

Gallastor felt apprehensive. What may be the reason for the summoning? He pondered.
He felt slightly uncomfortable with the idea of being in the presence of the king. His people hadn’t kings, being ruled by the elders of their clans, with the agreement of all adult elves.
Gallastor had met the king before, twice, when he and his people asked for sanctuary, and later, when the king requested him to go to Erebor. He found the king an agreeable person, but the idea of so much authority concentrated in a single man was somewhat unsettling.
The king had learned of Gallastor knowledge of herbs, and, more importantly, that Gallastor kin had maintained long and friendly contacts with the dwarven houses of the east. This made him an excellent choice to send with a small group of elves to Erebor. To trade medical herbs for iron tools, and the precious stones the king is so fond of. That the king would summon him back, not waiting for his return, seemed to imply something grave might be at hand.
His old friend Vielyn stood by, looking at him. They had known each other all of their lives, and had started the journey west together. As the oldest of their small band of avari, Gallastor and Vielyn had acted as the elders of the group during the long journey west. Now, in the safety of the forest kingdom, his company returned to their old ways, roaming the forest without fear of the evil outside.

“Do you think something may have happened to our folk?” Vielyn asked, mirroring his own concerns.
“I don’t know” Gallastor said, “but probably not. Most likely my services as a healer are required.”
“Most likely” said Vielyn, without conviction.
The two elves saw a dwarven messenger advancing towards them, coming out Erebor.
“Were is Erestor?” asked Gallastor.
Vielyn frowned “speaking with those Sickly Ones from Dale” the elven maiden said. She shared Gallastor dislike for humans, a common trait among their people.
“Well, it is better he comes soon!” he replied.

Erestor run, he was late to the meeting with the dwarves, having spent too much time talking with the friendly traders from Dale. He knew Dévellon would not be pleased.
Being a native from Mirkwood, he disliked the temperament of the two avarim exiles.
They were too serious and silent for his taste. During their journey to the Lonely Mountain not even once had he been able to convince them to sing with him.
As he approached them once again, he noticed how similar they were, almost as if they were kin. Short for elves; with raven hair and dark eyes, and swarthy skin.

“Glad you could make it” Gallastor said, a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“I apologise” said Erestor “I lost track of time”
“ Never mind that” said Gallastor “ Lord Nori have sent a message; he is waiting for us inside Erebor, we should tarry no more.”
“You should know that I have been summoned by Lord Thranduil” said Gallastor as they walked ”I will not be able to complete our negotiations with Lord Nori , Vielyn will take over from now on”

Tonight they would dine with the dwarves and Gallastor would apologise to Lord Nori, the king’s steward, for his early departure. Fortunately he had prepared the batch of potions that the old dwarf had requested. Nori had broken a leg in an accident, and it had healed poorly. Gallastor potions would ease the pain of the old dwarf for a long time. Afterwards, Gallastor would leave, mounted in his worse “Wind”, to the Halls of the Elven King.

[afro-elf]

OOC: cool thanks. That was EXACTLY what i was looking for. I wish to have a VERY intercative STORY TELLING "game". It allows you to be creative and gives be more background to work with and entertains me.

Nariel you can be as as verbose and creative with your character as you want. So fire away young lady.


I'll post here again as soon as I can.

[afro-elf]

The great capital of the Wood-elves was modeled after long ago Menegroth, the capital of Doraith. Its polished wall and floors stretched for miles. Fountains and flora decorated the city. Great works of art from paintings and sculptures were throughout the city.
She was a marvel.

The four Elves were to meet The King in one of his small chambers.
The place was small but comfortable. Refreshments were set out for them and morning light shone in the room from a series of small mirriors that carried light from the outside.

Hawair was the first to arrive. He used his time to speak with he servants there. Hawair was well liked by all and was a master of conversation. It was rumored that he even managed to get some of the gloomy Elves to laugh. But, that was just a rumor.

Aradir was the next to arrive.
“Malathor,” exclaimed Hawair when he walked into the room. Though Aradir was his birth name most called him Malathor. ( golden eagle) This was due to the color of his skin and his eyes which were respectively brown like the soft down of the Eagle’s feathers and golden like their eyes.

Aradir greeted his friend with a hearty welcome. The two were fast friends of many years. Aradir, actually had a hand in the making of Darkness Slayer. He assisted Hawair in doing a lot of the magic research necessary make the great bow. Hawair introduced Aradir to the workers to which he was speaking.

Gallastor was the next to arrive. Upon entering, he noticed the two Elves who were deep in conversation. They acknowledged his presence with nods to which he returned his own. He sat at the far end of the table with the refreshments.

The blonde Elf he didn’t know. The other Elf he had met in passing once or twice. He was an Avari also, but of a different tribe who had entered Mirkwood well before his own had.

The last to arrive was Eruwyn. Though none of them had ever met her, they knew who she was immediately. The long, flowing, auburn hair, the bright eyes and the almost feral aura that seemed to radiate from her made it obvious to all that this was none other than the Captain Ranger of the Realm.

[Legolas]

Riding through Mirkwood, Hawair was deep in his thoughts. He didn't even notice many strange things around him. No birds were singing. Nowhere.
But Hawair was thinking too much to notice this. 'What does the King need from me? What I may be of assistance?' he thought.
- Excuse me, - Hawair asked the messenger. - Don't you know why the King asked for me?
- No, I am sorry. Thranduil did not give me any other knowledge except that I must find you and tell you to go to the capitol as soon as you can.
- Ok then. Thank you.
- Not at all, sire.
Still deep in thoughts, the two travellers came to the capital. It always looked amazing, even to Hawair, who has seen it for many many years.
They arrived. They entered. And Hawair noticed Malathor, his old friend.
- Malathor! - he exclaimed. - My old friend! What brings you there?
- I was asked to go to our King. And what about you, friend? Why have you come so quickly?
- Me too, I was also given a message to come here. But anyway, what has happened to you in the years when we were apart? We haven;t seen each other for ages! Please, tell me everything!

[Elvellon]

Gallastor had travelled to the Elven King’s Court as fast as he could. Despite his desire of greater speed, he was limited by his horse stamina, and he didn’t wish to force the noble animal too much.
During the journey his mind returned to the same questions over and over again; what is the reason for the king’s summoning? Are my people all right?

Finally, after days of journey, when night was falling, he reached the great subterranean city-fortress of Thranduil. The guards saluted him and took his tired horse to the stables, for a well a well-earned rest. Apparently they were expecting him.
In his first visit to the subterranean city, Gallastor was overwhelmed with it, but now he barely noticed the wondrous beauty of the place, his concern superseding everything else. He accepted a cup of cold water that a guard offered him, to quench the thirst of the journey. As he finished his drink, an elf, in service of the king’s House, approached him.

“Greetings, Gallastor! Be welcome to our city” he said “I am here to escort you to our king. Are you ready? Perhaps you need some time to refresh yourself?”
“I thank you, but I am fine ”Gallastor said, “lets us not make the king wait. Please, lead on.”
The elf led Gallastor by a labyrinth of corridors to a pleasant chamber were he was told to wait. In the room were several elves, a few servants, and two other. The later were enjoying a warm conversation. Gallastor recognised Aradîr, an elf he met once, and greeted him with a nod before sitting by himself, enjoying the refreshments. He looked relaxed, but nothing could be more far from the truth. He listened the other elves conversation for a while, hoping that it would hint of the reasons for him being there, but to no avail.
Sometime afterwards, A tall elven maiden joined the group there. She had a commanding aura about herself, and Gallastor presumed her to be Eruwyn, the captain of the king’s rangers. He tried to read her face, again hoping it might reveal something, but he couldn’t perceive anything that he could make sense of.

[Nariel Starfire]

Eruwyn stopped running shortly before reaching the capitol. She was not out of breath, and felt the same as she had before she let the hill. As she entered the building, all conversations stopped. She didn't recognize any of the ELves already there, but they obviously recognized her. She nodded in greeting to each of them and looked around for a familiar face. Finally, she found one. "Linsul," she said to one of the servants. "What is the meaning of this summon?"
"I know not."
"Very well," said Eruwyn as she moved away from the others for a bit. She found a small sparrow pecking around on the ground and knelt next to it. Whereas normally such a small bird would be terrified of a large creature such as an Elf, this one showed no fear of Eruwyn. It hopped onto her finger and they began to carry on a seemingly amusing conversation.

OOC: I figure since Eruwyn is a loner, she doesn't talk much except to animals.

[afro-elf]

OOC: I figure since Eruwyn is a loner, she doesn't talk much except to animals.

no problem.

I hope to post in the next 24 hours

[afro-elf]

After some time the king finally arrived. Those who he had summoned slightly bowed their heads respectfully towards the king. Thranduil was not known for his jovial demeanor and today the Sindarin Lord seemed even more somber than normal. Taking a seat on a slightly raised dais, he spoke.

“ I have called you all here for there is a grave matter that is affecting the kingdom. The Woodmen have complained that …,” the king paused for a moment searching for the correct word, “ trouble,” he continued, “ has come since the Dellevon Avari started to inhabit a certain area of the forest.

The King paused to discern the reaction his words had on those who sat before him.

[Nariel Starfire]

Loriel's expression said nothing of what she was thinking. Inside, she tried not to smirk. She knew the Dellevon Avari would be troublemakers. But it was a somber occasion. Sad, indeed. She knew what the king was asking her.

[Elvellon]

As Gallastor watched, Eruwyn spoke with a servant:
- Linsul, what is the meaning of this Summon?
- I know not - Linsul answered.
- Very well.

“So she does not know”, he thought. With that he felt suddenly more relaxed; it would be difficult for the captain of the rangers not be aware of enemy presence inside the kingdom, and therefore it was unlikely that his people had suffered an attack.
“Too many bad experiences during the last years”, he considered, “I’ve came to expect only the worse”

The King entered the room some time afterwards. Gallastor rose from the chair and made a slight bow with his head, according with the custom of the Forest Kingdom.
The king sat himself in a large chair on a dais. to Gallastor he looked to be in a somber mood.

-I have called you all here for there is a grave matter that is affecting the kingdom. The Woodmen have complained that …– the king paused as if looking for words – trouble, has come since the Devellon Avari started to inhabit a certain area of the forest - the king paused, apparently to evaluate the reations of the assembled elves to his words.


Outwardly he remained calm, yet Gallastor felt a sudden hanger rise in him. He could see were this was going. He disliked the Sickly Ones and deemed most of them to be treacherous and vile. That the king had called his people Devellon Avari didn’t improve his disposition neither. He accepted the nickname but disliked it. His people name was the Windan, yet few in Thranduil’s kingdom had learned it.

[Legolas]

Hawair was waiting for the King to arrive. Suddenly, some servant passing by slipped, fell down, taking Hawair with him. Hawair stuck his head with some sharp thing, and all colours around him became pink, pink and pink! He hated pink, and tried, shaking his head, to make such colours disappear. Nothing happened, however. 'Dammit', Hawair thought to himself. 'Eru is playing with us oncemore!'
Still trying to get out of that nasty colour scheme, Hawair noticed King's arrival. He jumped on his feet, and nearly lost conciousness. 'That wound is more than I thought...'
- Malathor, - he whispered. - May you look what's with the back of my head?

[afro-elf]

Aradir took a moment before the King reached the dais to check Hawairs head.

" You'll be fine." he said and then turned his attention to the king...

...As the King paused the word trouble seemed to hang in the air.

"Trouble My lord?" queried the brown skinned Elf.


The King continued, " Yes. I called you all here for your skills. Eruwyn you are a tracker, Hawair you are an archer, Aradir you are a swordman and a mage, and Gallastor these are your people.

The woodsmen say that the Devellon have brought a curse into the forest to drive them away from there homes. The Devellon say that it is the Woodmen who are to blame for the coming of the curse and it is the Woodmen who wish to see them leave.

Both sides seem to be plagued by some horror. There are even whispers, whispers that a werewolf may have come."

Again the King stoppd letting his words sink in.

[Legolas]

Hawair waited for Malathor to look at his head.
-You'll be fine.
-Thank you, Malathor. I feel much better now... the pink is disappearing from my eyes.
Then, Hawair listened patiently to what the King said. After hearing him, he fell down to his thoughts. 'What may have happened?', he thought. 'It is obviously something unnatural. The woodsmen are not so fearful that they would be scared by some wolf or something. Only dark magic can make them run in fear.' But Hawair did not say this loudly. He waited for others, especially Gallastor to say something.

[Elvellon]

Gallastor pondered the words of the king. A werewolf? Never, in living memory, had the Windan face one of those creatures. Only the oldest legends of his people spoke of such a terror.
He didn’t believe any of his people was responsible. It was not the Windan way to strike first, but it was to strike last. He knew that some, among his people, were masters of illusion. If the Sickly Ones attacked them, they might have use illusions to scare them of, but he also knew that they wouldn’t hide this from the king. The Sickly Ones? With these anything was possible, but he wasn’t certain they were responsible neither. For once, it might be that they were as much the victims as were the Elves.

Gallastor spoke:
- If indeed this isn’t the doing of the Sickly Ones, then some foul creature from the south must have slipped the vigilance of the kingdom border guards. That it can remain hidden from my people speaks of its skill, and suggests the reason of its presence. Wouldn’t it serve the sorcerer of Dol Gundur if Elves and Sickly Ones were at war?

[Nariel Starfire]

Eruwyn listened to the king. A werewolf? Indeed, she thought, no such creature had ever been seen in her time or anyone that she knew. One thing she did know, however, was why the king had required her presence. As leader of the King's Rangers and a master in tracking, stealth, and communication with the earth and animals, she would be the only one of the group able to find the beast without alerting it of her presence.

Gallastor spoke.
"If indeed this isn’t the doing of the Sickly Ones, then some foul creature from the south must have slipped the vigilance of the kingdom border guards. That it can remain hidden from my people speaks of its skill, and suggests the reason of its presence. Wouldn’t it serve the sorcerer of Dol Gundur if Elves and Sickly Ones were at war?"

"That it can remain hidden from me," said Eruwyn, "can only be explained by the assumption that the beast has access to some type of sorcery. For if the birds and beasts have not told me of its presence, then all who have seen it are dead, or under some spell. As for the sorcerer who makes his hiding in Dol Gundur, nothing would bring him more joy than to see unrest within those who give him the most strife."

[afro-elf]

just letting you know it MIGHT be a few days

before i can post

[afro-elf]

THranduil contiuned...

The area is called Fel-haven. Both parties live in this area. I urge to find the truth of this matter. You may act with my full backing within reason.

Do you have any questions?