[Dictated]

[treeshepherd]

  [There is a sound halfway between the creak of ancient wood and a sigh.]

Hrooom.

The trees are young, here.  They sing to me, but they do not know much of this world.  Hoom, they remind me of groves I knew long ago.  Ah, the willows of Tasarinan in the Spring.  They were lovely when I walked among them.

Hm, but this is no time for an old Ent's memories.  Come.  Tell me what news you have of this world.

Comments

dictated

[treeshepherd]

Most peoples are too hasty to hear them. The Elves began it, you know. Waking the trees up and speaking to them. Always wanted to talk to everything, the old Elves did.

Ah, but that was very long ago. Even as I count time.

[doublethefun]

[...]

What are elves?

[treeshepherd]

By root and twig, you have never heard of the Elves? Hoooom, let me see if I can remember the lists of peoples I learned when I was young.

[He trails off into musical rumbles for a moment, before starting to chant.]

Learn now the lore of Living Creatures!
First name the four, the free peoples:
Eldest of all, the elf-children;
Dwarf the delver, dark are his houses;
Ent the earthborn, old as mountains;
Man the mortal, master of horses;

Soon, I must see about crafting a line for the hobbits.

[doublethefun]

[muttering] I suppose I should not be too offended.

Are they all different types of humans?

[treeshepherd]

[And he replies with a booming laugh.]

Not at all! Humans are one of the youngest races.

[doublethefun]

Then what do the others look like?

[treeshepherd]

Now that would be a lengthy description indeed. And one that I would not like to give in this language. It serves well enough for speaking. But for a language to truely know what a thing is, for that it is best to use my language. In the Old Entish, you might say. For in Entish each word describes what a thing really is. Because of that it takes a very, very long time to say anything in it. But then we never say anything unless it is worth taking a very long time to say.

[doublethefun]

[...]

Thy government must be tedious indeed.

[treeshepherd]

Hroom, we are never hasty about decisions.

[doublethefun]

At least thy kind seem to be too methodical for open conflict.

[treeshepherd]

We never make decisions without fully considering the situation.

[doublethefun]

[yup, she has gathered.

Dryly:]

And thou art not at all fazed at thy sudden change of scenery?

[treeshepherd]

It has been long, very long indeed, since I have been this far from my forest. I am not pleased at this separation.

Even so, there is no sense being hasty about it. Decisions must be made with a clear head.

[doublethefun]

[a shuffling of wings. This is slightly irksome.]

Thou art in the forest, yes? May I come meet thee?

[might be easier to go and see what Ents are than asking for a description]

[treeshepherd]

I am. Hooom, I will meet you if you wish.

[doublethefun]

I will see thee shortly.

[and off she goes, winging away towards the forest. It might take her a couple of passes, but she'll eventually find the Ent - i.e. something that's not human.

She lands on a nearby branch, peering at him curiously.] Thou art the Ent?

[treeshepherd]

I am.

[doublethefun]

Dost thou have a name?

[treeshepherd]

You may call me Treebeard.