Tadchaen-a-Eneg; backdated to before the plot

[inafadingcrown]

[Private]

[Page number]

Five other castles (at the least)- why have we seen so little of them?

-Libet: [page number]
-Enigma: [Same page number here] Nothing is known regarding this castle save its location on the map.
-Draconis: Notes from Lastlook indicate the presence of another castle, one which was brought down by the plague we ourselves experienced not long ago. [page number page number] There remains the possibility that this is the proper name for Cair Enigma. Given the name, it is likely linked to the “Dragon” of “The Five.”

We have, then, knowledge of three lesser castles, at the most, and two at the least. Two are abandoned, having experienced major disasters. It is also worth noting that, in both instances, records indicate the castles had ceased communication with their residents- as ours had until recently.

Do other castles remain undiscovered? Might they still be populated?

[And all of these notes leave her....not much further than she was before. Sigh.]

[End private]

[Galadriel hates December. She really does. No matter how she tries, she can’t seem to avoid the castle’s shenanigans this time of year. And, as much as she would love to, she can’t exactly spend the entire month in her room, nor can she hang off Celeborn’s arm constantly, in the hopes that he’d be the only one she’d kiss.

So, in need of some fresh air, she wraps her cloak about her and heads to the stables- it may be cold, but a ride would do her good. And it seemed a good way to escape people.

There’s only one problem with this plan: she has to get from her room to the stables and there are plenty of nutcrackers decorating the castle along the way.]

[ooc: open for kissing shenanigans]

Comments

[inafadingcrown]

In Mordor, before the Black Gates of Sauron's fortress, they were met by a vast army of orcs- millions, some say. This was meant to be the final battle- no prisoners would be taken that day and this knowledge lent a ferocity to each sides. The losses were for our side, but the odds slowly turned in our favor.

But then Sauron himself took to the field- a black, foreboding figure, in the shape of a man yet much greater in both size and power. He bore the Ring upon his finger and this only heightened what fell arts he already possessed. The Elven king Gil-Galad and the King of Gondor, Elendil both sprang to meet him. They fought long and hard, and dealt him many a harsh blow. Yet, in the end, both were slain.

As Elendil fell, his famed sword, Narsil, was crushed beneath him. Anguished, Elendil's son Isilidur ran to his father's side. Sauron loomed overhead, ready to end the son just as he had the father. But then Isilidur took up the remnants of his father's sword and struck out at him with all his might.

[And she'll pause here for dramatic effect.]

[persequor]

Did he do it? Did he defeat him? [ did isildur shank that hobag for killing his daddy? ]

[inafadingcrown]

The blow severed Sauron's ring finger from his hand, separating the Dark Lord from the Ring to which he had bound himself. He fell and, like a dark cloud, his spirit fled into the East, where it lay dormant for many centuries thereafter.

[persequor]

But he didn't die.

[inafadingcrown]

No. His spirit was bound to the Ring and the Ring was not destroyed as it should have been. And so he lingered in the shadows and gathered strength.

[persequor]

Did they not find the Ring after the battle?

[inafadingcrown]

Oh, it was found, but the Ring of Power has a will of its own. Isildur took it for himself, vowing to make it an heirloom of his family. But it betrayed him, in the end, and it was lost for many centuries.

[persequor]

The Ring betrayed him?

[inafadingcrown]

As I said, the Ring of Power has a will of its own. It may be that it chooses when and where to leave its bearers, often to their disadvantage.

[persequor]

What advantages does it give?

[inafadingcrown]

That depends a great deal on the nature of the bearer. It gives power in accordance of the power of its wielder.

[persequor]

What would it give you?

[inafadingcrown]

[She pauses, not entirely certain how to answer that.]

Likely it would enhance what gifts I already posses, possibly it would do more. But at the cost of myself and all I hold dear.

[persequor]

How was it found again?

[inafadingcrown]

That I can only guess- or rather, I can build on the suspicions of a dear friend. One way or another, the creature Gollum came by the Ring and took it deep into the heart of the Misty Mountains. There it consumed him, ate away at his mind and spirit until he became as much a creature of shadows and darkness as flesh and blood. It remained with him for many years until it slipped from his hand and was found by a very unlikely person- a hobbit.

[persequor]

The little people.

[inafadingcrown]

Precisely- and now we have come to the part of the tale which is more familiar to you, do we not?

[persequor]

I guess. A little.