d20 Middle Earth "Eagle of the Star" [IC-2]

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Prologue: A Chance Meeting

October 15, the year 2953, Third Age of the World

Somewhere in the Wild


You walk along in the wild, your animal companions behind you. The autumn day is clear and blue and bright, and the songs of the birds fill the air. Quiet in your own thoughts, enjoying the joys of Yavanna's work, you almost miss the faint smell of smoke as it enters your nostrils.

Alarmed for a moment, the smell quickly registers upon your mind-pipeweed-you realize. Looking up quickly, you see a familiar form seated on a fallen log by your path. Clothed in mudstained robes, with a large grey pointed hat, the figure smiles at you. Taking his pipe out from his mouth and stroking his grey beard, he chuckles and rises.

"So Aiwendil," the tall grey figure says with a mock look of seriousness on his face," what sorcery causes you to stray so far from your home? Has wanderlust finally struck you and enchanted you to roam the wide world?" Gandalf the Grey laughs loudly. "It is good to see you old friend. What news have you this fine day? What are you up to?"

 

[Mirth]

"It has been too long since I have spoken in the tongues of men and that name you used is almost to old for me to remember, Stormcrow," Radagast says as he sits down on the log next to Gandalf. "Let me have a puff or two off your pipe before I talk any further."

Moments pass quietly but for the sound of inhalation and exhalation, as the two Wizards bide their time in contemplation. "Ahh, much better," Radagast proclaims as he passes the pipe back. "That's some of that dandygreen I gave you last time, no? Smooth, that."

"I can see by your knit brows you've no patience for weed talk, though," the brown one says as he turns and stares back down the path he's been traveling. "I should return to the matter at hand, I suppose. My reasons are my own, Old Gray, but suffice it to say that the Necromancer lived unnoticed in my domain too long for my liking. Now that the black spire is rising once again, I feel I should reacquaint myself with the free peoples and their plight."

Turning back to Gandalf, he asks, "But that doesn't explain why you're here? You never do anything without a purpose... Is there more you would like to share?"

 

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Gandalf nods silently, the smile fading from his face. "The Necromancer...." he murmurs. "Yes, that evil hid from us for too long. None of us are blameless in that regard, I fear."

The wizard studies his pipe. "But there is still time to correct old mistakes I think. I am heartened that again we may count in our number. I only recently left Isengard, Radagast, and our friend there inquired after you. He would be pleased to know of your change of heart."

"Ahh, but to the matter at hand. It is not by chance that I have sought you. I had heard word from Mirkwood that you had left your home, and have been seeking you, where I could. I have a favor to ask, or rather two favors-one general and one particular."

Gandalf stands. "First, given the fact that the Enemy begins to stir again, I would ask that you use your influence amongst the birds and beasts to establish watchers for us amongst the land. The Enemy has many foul spies, and if your friends would so aid us, it would be of great value to our cause."

"Second, I would wish you to take a message to Rivendell, if you are travelling in that direction. I by no means wish to turn you into a messanger old friend, but I have pressing business in the west, and cannot delay."Gandalf frowns and looks at Radagast, studying him.

"I left Minas Tirith some weeks ago, passing through Dunland. I made haste through that dangerous land, but as I travelled, I witnessed strange things there. By day great flocks of crebain filled the sky. At night I saw many torch bearing bands of Dunlendings marching to the north and west. I escaped Dunland without being noticed, but I find this troubling. Normally the Dunlendings attentions are turned to the south to Rohan."

Gandalf paces clutching his staff."I know not what is occuring in that land, but I would be relieved if Lord Elrond was informed of the movements of the hill-men. If informed, Rivendell can double its watch to the south and not be caught unprepared." The Grey Wizard laughs again. "It is most likely nothing-the tribes of Dunland are no doubt warring amongst themselves; but -"

"Forgive me Radagast-I am being long winded. Could you be persuaded to carry such a, I daresay- warning- to Imladris?"

 

[Mirth]

Radagast listens intently as Gandalf makes his request. When the Gray Wizard finishes, Radagast calls to Caramar and waits until the massive hawk lands on his shoulder. After a series of squawks and chirps are exchanged between bird and man, Caramar takes flight and rises through the canopy of leaves above.

The Brown Wizard turns to look at his friend once again, "The first of your boons has been granted, although Caramar was troubled to hear of the ravens' possible collaboration. Regardless, your missive will shortly be passed on to Gwaihir and Beorn, who will see that the task is taken care of."

"As for the other," the mage continues, "I had no destination in mind when I set out from Rhosgobel, so Rivendell is as good as any other. Given your need of me, it seems to be better than most."

Radagast steps forward and puts his hand on Gandalf's shoulder. "It is good to see you, old friend. I hope our paths will cross again quickly, but I have a doubt that they will. Until then, keep yourself well and give my greetings to the White, when you see him." He lets go and steps back, whistling.

Soon, Rochalhun appears. Radagast grabs hold of the great grey clydesdale's mane and pulls himself up onto the horse's bare back. "The road ahead is long and if I am to fulfill your quest, I must be off."

 

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Gandalf waves as Radagast leaves. "My thanks to you and to Caramar. Fare thee well Old Friend! May we see each other soon! And if you come across any dandygreen in your wanderings, think of me, eh?"

Time passes uneventfully, and days later Radagast is upon the Great East Road, two days from Rivendell. The sky is overcast as the Brown rider makes his way upon the path. Ahead, the land rises bit by bit to the horizon and the Misty Mountains to the east. To the north, the rough wooded hills of the Trollshaws stand bleakly, almost threateningly.

As Radagast rides along on, he spots six dark figures along the left of the road as it crests a small hill, some 40 feet ahead. The prone forms appear to be those of orcs, most of them lying face down, unmoving.

Nearby, on the opposite side of the road from the orcs, Radagast sees a small mound of dirt about four feet long beneath a small stand of trees. There the earth is a slightly different color and seems to have been disturbed in the recent past.

 

[Mirth]

"Hold, Rochalhun," Radagast says to the horse and dismounts near the dead Orcs. The mage inspects their bodies and the weapons used to kill them before moving over to the earthen mound and trying to discern what has happened.

 

[zug_zug]

Radagast studies the bodies. The orcs are indeed dead, and the wizards can see many great wounds upon the corpses. All of bodies have been stripped of arms and equipment, and only 2 of the 6 still wear any sort of armor. Although it is difficult of judge, the orcs look to have been dead for a few days.

Moving over to the earthen mound, Radagast can see that the pile of soil of a different color than the surrounding area. The dirt here is only piled a few inches high, and the mound is about four feet long and a little under 3 feet wide.

Nothing else can be seen along this stretch of the road except the corpses and mound. In the sky above Radagast also notices a murder of crows circling slowly overhead, interested in the corpses below.

 

[Mirth]

Well, this grave is either that of a child, hobbit or dwarf. Given the destruction wrought on these Orcs, I warrant it was the latter and the survivors of this battle are the same. After all, someone had to dig the grave and bury their comrade... Radagast ponders as he inspects the mound awhile longer. Knowing their two favorite pastimes, the Wizard then caws to the crows above, [beast]"Come. Eat. Talk."[/beast] Radagast sits and waits for the birds to begin digging at the carrion before asking them, [beast]"Dwarves still alive... Gone where?"[/beast]

 

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In response to the Brown Wizard, two crows, one larger than the other, alight catiously near the grave. The smaller crow waggles its head and shakes its wings-an expression Radagast, through long experience with the land's fauna knows to be the crow equivilent of "I don't know-And dont care".

The larger crow replies squawking in the rough, simple tongue of crows. [beast]"Dwarves? Know of no dwarves. Many northgoblins come many this far. If you look for death follow path of northgoblins, fine pickings where they walk."[/beast]

The small crow laughs (for while clever, most crows are simple coarse creatures, after all) and hops upon the mound of turned earth. Pecking at the soil, it caws [beast]"No dwarf here....manflesh."[/beast]

 

[Mirth]

At this new information, Radagast pulls himself to a standing position with his staff, cawing to the crows as he motions for his horse, [beast]"Very well, yes, of course... Thanks oh so much... Don't stuff yourselves..."[/beast] As he mounts Rochalhun again, he thinks to himself, Orcs, Goblins and Men? Very strange... I had better redouble my efforts to reach Rivendell safely. I hope that Caramar returns to me soon, for I need his eyes to watch my path. Who knows what danger lies before me on this road? With that, he kneads the horse's sides and they trot off towards the Last Homely House East of the Sea.