Mar 30, 2017

Part 128 – The Cold Wind Arrives A strong wind blew in from the north. Its gusts raged through the hills all about as strange sounds began to fill the night air. Far off, a horn blew out in the blackness of the night. Many horns from far away and with every horn blow, the gusts of wind blew stronger. Nearby tents were ripped from their stakes as the wind...

Mar 23, 2017

Part 127 – The Cold Winds Blow The morning was bright and busy were the workers all about. Waving goodbye to the travelers heading out was Herion. The travelers were the Warriors of Eriador and it was the day they departed from Annuminas. As they departed, Herion waved goodbye as he had a sudden feeling of the weight of the entire city of Annuminas on his...

Mar 16, 2017

Part 126 – The Elves of Lin Giliath Morning had come to the lands of the North Downs. The grassy fields in the Kingsfell were bright green as birds chirped their songs all morning long. The vibrant sparkling of the morning dew on the leaves of the trees, tall and proud, sparkled as the branches held flocks of birds that took flight together up into the sky as...

Mar 10, 2017

A week later Zaradanoric felt able to travel again. He had spent much time while he was waiting with Katherine Oaklane, the intriguing lore-master. Partially, this was due to the manner of his wounds, which required expert skill that she had the knowledge of. After that night on the cliff fighting the possessor spirit, the two had grown closer as friends and...

Mar 9, 2017

Part 125 – The Blood Path The air was thick and sinister. A feeling of dread hung heavy in the atmosphere at the threshold of the path toward the Bonevales. No bird chirps could be heard for quite a while before coming to the edge. Only wind blew through narrow pass before the steps into the stone laden valley that connected the southern part of Enedwaith to...

Mar 2, 2017

Part 124 – Failure Too Far Afield Early it was in the ruins of Ost Guruth. Not a soul was awake save one farmer in the western part of the ruins who was tending his farm before the light of day came. The stars were still shining down on Lone Lands, full and beautiful they were as was the moon as it began to sink down toward the horizon. The rays of the sun had...

Feb 25, 2017

Zaradanoric was stirred to wakefulness by an argument outside the barrack walls. By the looks of the sky it was nearing evening. Zaradanoric stiffly sat up, stretched, and then removed his breastplate and shoulders. He laid his armor on the ground next to his bag and strode outside to see what the argument was about. Outside there was a group of people arguing...

Feb 23, 2017

Part 123 – Eastward Bound The rising sun in the village of Bree was bright and warm. All around, the patrons of the village bustled about on their work going this way and that as others sat and watched, chatting about the day and days gone by. The scholar’s way was no exception. Through the entirety of the way, men were selling meats to hungry patrons near the...

Feb 16, 2017

Part 122 – The Cruelty of Fornost “What is that?” Eleswith asked. She was staring at the nearby woods just outside the village of Dale. The sound was that of a child crying far off in the distance. “Is that a child?” “Please, Eleswith,” Helesdir said. He grabbed her hand and held it tight to his chest. “Please, do not push me away. I have traveled so far to see...

Feb 9, 2017

Part 121 – Midnight Incursion “When is the next group arriving, Pentsgel?” a man in a crimson halbark and fur cap asked another who was at the entrance of the tall rift of the Ram Duath. He sported a long beard that stretched down to the mid of his chest and held in his hand a pike which looked to be more than six feet in length. Above the two men stood the two...

Feb 2, 2017

Part 120 – The Threat from the North Darkness filled the lands of the Kingsfell. The hour drew late but the moon had already risen in the mid sky. The stars in the sky gazed down on the lands, brilliantly beside the light of the moon as they slowly passed over the stars and along the black background of the dark night sky. The breeze was cool and rustled the...

Jan 26, 2017

In the beginning, there was only pain. It came and went, like waves on the shore of the Anduin. It was the only sensation he knew. His eyes were darkened, whether blinded or not, there was only the pain. After what seemed like days, light began to creep in near the edges of his vision. Then, in a wave of blinding light, he could see again. Ancient and weathered...

Jan 26, 2017

Part 119 – Trials of Eleswith The hours of the day waned as the sun had already set over the western horizon. Only the moon illuminated the fields that laid out before the gates of the ancient fortress of Fornost. A light mist hung in the hills of the ancient land, slightly obscuring the light of the moon, giving the land a sickly strange ethereal glow. The...

Jan 19, 2017

Part 118 – Northern Allies Eleswith looked upon the hat of Helesdir. The brown, brim and base of the band were stained in dry sweat from the brow of Helesdir. The hat signified much more than just the clothing of Helesidr. It was the only material thing left over from him and Eleswith cherished it as an art collector would cherish a priceless piece of art. She...

Jan 17, 2017

Yes, after many months of self-imposed absence, we have returned. Life will not wait for anyone and as things have settled down now, it’s time to return to Rathbairn’s tales. I hope you enjoy the further adventures of our Beorning friend.   “Grandmother, wake up”. Sleep began to fade as the voice returned. “Wake up Grandmother.” Eyes opened and...

Jan 12, 2017

Part 117 – Hope Goes Forth The sky, which was clear, blue, and beautiful, began to cloud in the north while Theomin watched. Around him thatched rooftops covered large stone walls of huts that were placed in a gaggle along thin dirt roads that stretched this way and that from hut to hut up the and down the hills which were laden with green grasses. Everywhere,...

Jan 5, 2017

Part 116 – To Stem the Black Tide “I know I have asked much of you as of late, but I must ask you one more time, ‘Who is with me?” Theomin said as he stood and looked out from his fellow Warriors of Eriador for a rise to arms. “Please,” he pleaded, “we must stem the tide of black that will be flooding over our lands.” They sat, each...

Dec 29, 2016

Part 115 – Forthcoming Doom Just outside the Bree Prison, Theomin had gathered Eleswith, Sergee, Eotheron, Estonethiel and Magla. They all stood there as they waited for Theomin to tell them what he had gathered them there for. Theomin looked around at the men and women practicing their strokes on the combat dummies and their bow and arrow skills. He tried to...

Dec 22, 2016

Part 114 – The Father of Evil Smoke filled the room of the Inn of the Prancing Pony. Many patrons of the inn smoked their pipes as they loudly laughed and ate to their heart’s desires. They drank too. Many mugs of ale flowed into the room as the lady server brought mugs and mugs of them their drinks. Barlamin too brought many mugs of ale to the patrons as there...

Zaradanoric sat up quickly in bed his chest hurting and his brow sweaty. As he gasped for breath he realized that it was the same dream that had plagued him for nearly 15 years. He relived the flight almost every night and this was no different. He strode over to the dormitory window and looked out upon Esteldin’s inner court trying to settle his heart....