IC Story Thread: Ch.1,Ad.2 - The Far Reach

Spring is wearing on into summer, and on this morning you can already feel that the heat of the day will mix uncomfortably with the humidity that sweeps into Gondor from the Bay of Belfalas.

Before sunrise, you each received a message from Lady Blackridge that her agents have completed their task. And she asks that you to meet her as soon as possible for a debrief.

In the intervening days between when you last saw the Lady and now, you heard through the town criers that she was offered a position at the Great Hall of Records (which sits right across the plaza from the seat of power of Minas Tirith and Gondor - the Tower of Ecthelion), as Mistress of Historic Archive, and she accepted.

It would seem she has not been idle with her time either.

The message asks that you meet her at a tea house, 'The Long Strand', on the 6th tier of the city.

You each know of it, perhaps by reputation only, as it is a famous unofficial meeting place of the People's Council to the Steward of Gondor.

Duinhir

Stefron

Jan 24, 2024 10:35 pm

Duinhir is surprised at how fast they have risen to the upper echelons of Minas Tirith. Now an invitation to a fancy tea house. It is a long way from getting sullen looks sitting at the table in the back of the The Pracing Pony in Bree.

The waiting had been long once they had settled in in the city. At least it felt that way to Duinhir. He was excited to hear what news the agents would bring.

Jan 25, 2024 3:20 pm

The Long Strand is a small place (again, space is a premium in Minas Tirith, and on the 6th tier it is particularly so). And, rather reminiscent of the Lady's house, in that it is sparsely furnished but everything in there is of a very fine quality, however the tea house has the natural light to allow well kept plants to grow, taking the edge off of the austerity.

There is only seating for 8 in the entirety of the place; two tables of four, close together, built of thick timbers low to the ground in perhaps an elvish style. The historic size of the People's Council was 7, and that limited space is supposedly what made it appealing to that group.

They could meet and be the only one's in the room.

Lady Blackridge is there with her youngest, the boy, whom you each can remember snatching up from essentially blade and arrow-point with fires growing around you all and him... But now he is smiling and making horse noises, galloping a toy wooden horse around the bulbous pillows that are sat around the two tables.

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jan 26, 2024 6:48 am

Éothain dismounts from Skunktail and ties her loosely to the common post outside the Long Strand. He gently pats his horse's neck and offers her a hearty mix of grain and apples. "Enjoy the scenery, girl. This may take a while."

The Rohirrim warrior slowly opens the tea house door and smiles when he sees the boy riding his own horse. He bows when he sees his benefactor. "Hail and good morning, Lady Blackridge. I am glad to see you and your son are doing well. Will your agents be joining us today?"

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jan 26, 2024 7:27 am

Cirion is wearing his recently purchased finest clothes for the occasion. Entering the Inn, he greets the Lady and is pleased beyond words seeing the boy well recovered, not showing signs of the ordeal he went through, finally doing what children are meant to do.
"My Lady! And a young Horserider!" addressing the boy, "I am glad to see you playing happily, young master. Is your sister well, too?"

Jan 26, 2024 8:56 pm

Seònaid is last to arrive, a bit hot and bothered after her rush to get there. She has not been in this part of the city before so was not aware how long the walk was going to be.

"Greetings everyone," she looks about the inn, impressed that it matches the gossip she has heard about it. Smiling at the young boy, she wonders why her ladyship has brought him to the meeting.

Duinhir

Stefron

Jan 27, 2024 9:54 pm

Duinhir greets his friends as they enter. He has spend some coin on new fine clothes to better fit in. Not that he feels very comfortable in the new garment, it is not very sturdy, practical or durable, but it serves as an urban camouflage and makes him blend in.

Duinhir exchange pleasantries but it doesn't take long before he says "So, Lady Blackridge, any news from your agents?"

Jan 28, 2024 1:09 am

Lady Blackridge stands as you all begin to trickle in and smiles to each of you, her son holds the wooden horse out in both hands and has it wicker at you menacingly.

"Welcome, all of you.", she says.

"And, no, the agents are not here in person, but yes, their word is...", she holds up a delicate, thin scroll.

As everyone gets settled she offers the contents of a kettle that already sits upon the table, in an iron holder with a small candle beneath it. Small porcelain cups are sat before blocky, firm cushions arrayed around the low table, she has a steaming one in her hands too.

"Thank you all for coming, I hope you have had a... recuperative few weeks... for I fear we have some work ahead of us."

She waits while you each get as settled as you want to be, tea or no, before proceeding.

"Well, my friends, Edhellon Dol Amroth it is to be... if you are all still with me.", she smiles bittersweetly.

"I don't know how much of the details are worth our while here, but to make a long story short, my agents had been following a vague trail linked to Astalor, that passed through Pelargir and then up into central Gondor and Edhellon Dol Amroth. They had tracked these records which appeared to be just loosely associated businesses and business people, to a small abandoned-looking warehouse in Edhellon Dol Amroth that, through a proxy, Astalor must have been using as a domicile, and possibly a business front.

Because there at the little warehouse in Edhellon Dol Amroth, the agents actually had an encounter with Astalor himself!", she looks both unbelieving and to be concealinga level of excitement.

Jan 28, 2024 9:22 am

OOC:

Edit

Listening to Lady Blackridge’s telling she tries to recall what she knows of Dol Amroth. It is not much, as her own travels take her mostly thru the border regions with Rohan, so she is relieved when Duinhir asks more about it.

Last edited January 28, 2024 10:40 pm

Jan 28, 2024 4:49 pm

OOC:

Sorry this is my bad, I guess it should be Dol Amroth.

I thought Dol Amroth was just the castle and Edhellon was the city, but Edhellon is "just" an abandoned elven ruin at this stage in the timeline, and Dol Amroth is the proper Gondorian settlement. 😅

Retcon!

Eh, I could proceed with answering Seonaid's question, as if it was regarding Dol Amroth, but don't want to be so presumptuous, as Dol Amroth - an active inhabited Gondor port city - might not seem so strange :P

Duinhir

Stefron

Jan 28, 2024 10:07 pm

"We are still with you, my lady" Duinhir hastily replies reassuringly.
He takes a sip of his tea. It is almost as good as the one the hobbit have in the shire though with more notes if something exotic, Duinhir can't place.

"But why Dol Amroth? Did your agents find anything that could hint at this Astalor's activities there?" he asks

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jan 28, 2024 11:09 pm

"An encounter with the man himself..." he ponders. "And did your agents survive this encounter, Milady?"

Jan 29, 2024 2:14 am

"Well, I had surmised this long ago just by the rarity of the books he had, but as our investigations went on, we found he is a man of no small means...

He has his own sailing ship, and a business in Umbar. The trail in Pelargir and Dol Amroth appeared to be just associates - they were different names - but I wonder now if they were aliases. They were loosely related businesses - durable goods shipping and warehousing.

As to why Dol Amroth?", she shrugs, "Umbar, Pelargir, and Dol Amroth are the only 3 ports, really, of any size on the entire coast of Middle-earth. It's ... I don't even know... 1,000 miles to the north? More? In Eriador, before there is anything close to even the size of Dol Amroth which is by far the smallest of the three."

She looks to Cirion, " That is an excellent question that I wish I had the full answer to... The agents were poking around outside of this warehouse in Dol Amroth, when the man himself came upon them...

They played it off as though they were interested in purchasing the property - and they are not warriors and so did not confront him - but instead left to dispatch their report immediately.", she holds the scroll up again.

"And of course, that is the last I know of it. The message arrived just this past night - and their intent was to set up observation on Astalor, while they await the arrival of our help.

Who knows what has happened after the message was dispatched, or what will happen yet before we arrive.

So, hopefully.... we... or rather, you all... will arrive in Dol Amroth - it will take three days by carriage. The agents will be alive. They will have established Astalor's routines, and where he's staying. And ... well, then you would be able to move against him."

Jan 29, 2024 4:10 pm

Seònaid looks at the scroll Lady Blackridge is holding, and considers her last statement.

"You say move against him, but what does that permit Lady Blackridge? It is one thing to move against kidnappers in Umbar, who are not of Gondor. It is another thing to move against a man of Gondor, especially if he has the influence and power you intimate. Can you provide a letter of marque perchance, or authority, so that should he move the city authorities against us are intentions are not mistaken?"

Last edited January 29, 2024 4:11 pm

Jan 29, 2024 10:22 pm

She nods woodenly, staring into the depths of the city below you all, looking for an answer, "That is... a more than fair question, m'lady.

Part of the answer is, he is no citizen of Gondor that we have been able to find record of. Which, while that does not deprive him of human rights, if push came to shove - if he were to attack my agents or you all - that would tend to place the authority of Gondor well on our side.

It's possible - likely even, given what we know of his methods - that the agents will be able to unearth evidence of crimes. Particularly now that they have a solid link. But... that may not occur until they are able to dig into his property more... or it might not occur at all.", at this point her voice sounds like she's trying to convince herself as much as you all.

"Beyond that... I... am of course not law enforcement... And... I frankly have no proof that Astalor has broken any law. He delivered nothing in writing. I told Commander Andireg and the Guard of Minas Tirith only that an 'unknown party' tried to extort me for the lives of my children.

I did not reveal to them I knew who it was, again, because I do not know where the eyes and ears of the Shadow lay, and did not want to tip Astalor off...", she pauses to laugh wryly at herself, a look of disbelief growing on her face.

"I am... so sorry... in every way I have embroiled you all in a personal matter. I... I think perhaps this was a mistake...

I... cannot legally ask you to apprehend him, I have no authority. Much less to ... do something more than that...", she shakes her head vigorously to herself, and begins to gather her skirts to stand.

"I'm so sorry... eh... I... this... I think we should all forget this has ever happened.", she stands smoothing her skirts, her cheeks flushed, too embarrassed to make eye contact.

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jan 29, 2024 10:46 pm

He looks at the Lady, then at his companions. After a short glance at the Lady's child, he addresses his mother once again.
"But, Lady! If this man Alastor is behind the kidnapping... he's got to pay for that! We will follow his trail, and perhaps will discover evidence of his foul scheming. That will give us the authority we need to move against him, surely!"

He looks at Seònaid. "Or if we find the Lady's agents still alive, they might give us the evidence we need..."

Jan 30, 2024 2:27 am

Seònaid looks between Cirion and Lady Blackridge, then at the other companions.

"If we are all in agreement then we shall go on this quest Lady Blackridge," she sighs heavily. "But without the weight of authority behind us then we must all be prepared for more violence, and the spilling of more blood. Even for death among the enemy or our own number. I am in agreement with Cirion on this, the threats from Astalor will not cease due to this small setback."

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jan 30, 2024 6:38 am

"Lady Blackridge, I consider his actions against your family all but a declaration of war against Gondor. This Astalor must face justice. By the courts if we can -- by my sword if we must."

Jan 30, 2024 4:57 pm

She looks pained, "I appreciate your willingness to help me, I truly do, but... I fear I've been blinded by vengeance. What am I asking of you, good people? To be my assassins?", she scoffs at herself and it's a sound of disgust, "How can I ask you - or anyone - to take on that burden?

How can I do that and still claim to be any better than the Shadow itself?! Eh...", she casts about, struggling to find an answer.

She lets out a sharp breath, gathering herself, "So perhaps, it is as you suggest. ....

You still go to Dol Amroth, or rather we... for I feel I must be there for any resolution... in support of the final stages of the investigation. Prepared to assist with detaining him?

I will be delayed by my new position with the Hall of Records, but I should be able to follow on, after a week at the latest... And perhaps by that time we have evidence of the crimes that we can take to Gondor.

Or ... perhaps you just relinquish him to my personal custody.", her face is drained of blood and emotion, and all that appears to remain inside her is a void, by the time she works it all out in her head.

"I can compensate you each, just as I do my agents. A silver a day, each, plus expenses. Given travel times, I think that should be a minimum of 15 silver for each of you by the end of it... And I'd give your company a bonus of 10 gold for the... delivery of Astalor.

Do those sound like agreeable terms?"

Jan 30, 2024 6:57 pm