IC Story Thread: Ch.1,Ad.1 - A Sensitive Matter

Still standing, Andireg looks to Eothain and Duinhir as they approach and gives them a nod in greeting, "Well met. ... Rohan? Thank you, our old ally. And Duinhir is it? Welcome...", he rumbles in a basso tone and smiles a kind and genuine smile, and gives his own name again.

He begins motioning for people to have a seat if they've not already, and he casts his eyes out over the tavern room a final time. He had hoped this Duinhir - the armed man in a dark cloak marked with many many miles of travel he had noted in the corner when he walked in - had come to help. He had hoped there would be more, but this would have to be enough...

His attention returns to the table before him and sighs and nods resolutely, the table could seat twelve, but he offers a smile to the six who have joined him. It's a smile that looks like it had to cut through a bitter taste first but a smile nonetheless, "It looks as though this may be it. Again, welcome and thank you all for coming..."

He settles into his chair now, leans in over the table and begins speaking more quietly than he had before...

He runs his fingers down his jawline, pulling at a neatly trimmed beard and speaks on, "I cannot express how grateful I am, for you fine people to have answered such a call as this... I am Commander Erdan Andireg, of the Royal Navy, Third Fleet under Steward-King Turgon, First of His Name.

Allow me to explain some things.

As you have either assumed or surmised, I am the man, who issued this summons, such as it is. And I have done so because Gondor needs your aid...

You may be asking yourself; what problem could there possibly be, which Gondor's own military cannot address, that... five... disparate Free Peoples could possibly hope to fix?

Well, my friends - for true friends I hope you be, it is this...

Two days ago, a barquentine from Umbar, under a Southron state flag of trade, was docked at the commercial docks of Harlond outside Minas Tirith. A contingent of... unknown actors... from that ship made there way into Minas Tirith and abducted two children of a Gondorian official, while they played in a park."

He draws in a slow breath only briefly gathering his next words, staring through the table into the depths of the earth, but it presents a moment for any immediate questions or interjections from the five...

Andireg's eyes are pulled from the distance, below, to Ragnarr and Seonaid, he nods grimly at the exclamation.

To the woman of Minas Tirith, he replies, "She is a diplomat... THE diplomat, at the head of relations to the principalities of the Harad. And I agree, it is likely either an obvious attempt at provocation, or at the least to gain influence over her.

She is stationed in Umbar, and does not yet even know...

The ship had the river current and favorable winds, but a rider rode through the night, more than 100 miles, pushing their mount and themself to the point of collapse. And while they were not able to raise the alarm with our navy in time to stop the ship here, in Pelargir, we were able to track it's bearing. And it went south down the coast.

Again, you may ask, why not send our navy after it? This is where you all come in.

Now is... a sensitive time. And this is... a very sensitive matter.

There has hardly been a time in the past thousand years, like there is now, with relative peace between the Harad and Gondor...

And although I am a military man - duty and battle have made me who I am and provided for my family - although I am a military man, I do. Not. Love. War... My friends."

He pauses to the meaning behind his tale and words sink in.

"M'lady... the very fact that your are here indicates it, and you just said yourself, that you have the will to help. And, as a man that has made his life in battle, you may just have to trust me when I tell you that will is the vast majority of victory when there is a fight at hand."

"The ship was of a type that was, and is still, commonly used by the Corsairs in war. Shallow of keel, good for rivers, death for all aboard on the open sea in a storm. Following the last war, it was common for such raiding ships to be converted to merchant vessels... often under the same captain.

But, so, yes, we figure it is very likely that it is south-bound for Umbar which is still ruled by the Corsair-Kings and the center of everything for their ilk.

Of the captors, we know little. Their descriptions were of Southron men, no distinguishing marks visible. The ship is the distinguishing thing. Find the ship to find the children, it's our only link.

We hope that they are some sort of rogue-actors amongst the Corsairs... If it was a larger plan, that would mean they all wanted war, and if that was the case, they could just start pirateering in our seas or raiding the coasts and it would actually immediately profit them as well as achieve that goal.", he wags his head.

When he speaks on, he sounds as much as though he is trying to convince himself of the truth, as you all, "No. This must be some sort of maneuvering. Which we hope will mean that we have time, for you all to succeed.

The Harad benefits from a peace just as we do. And so if their first goal is to immediately provoke us into war, and we don't take the bait, then they'll have to use the children as political leverage to achieve anything with them. And politicking takes time."

Looking to Eothain, he nods sharply, "I'm certain I can scrounge up some manner of map by morning. And I have access to a small war-chest from which I can furnish you with some funds.

We hope we have time, but it is only a hope. I would urge you all to leave for Umbar as quickly as you can complete any preparations."