IC Story Thread: Ch.1, Ad.3 - Black Hand

Cirion follows the villagers to their fire and sits on one of the wide stones. The weak fire is still a welcome blessing, after their hard climb exposed to the winds of these wild lands.

Deciding that he might garner information by playing the card of youthful inexperience (a role that his looks lend truth to), he accepts the villagers' food, and wait for the right moment of the conversation to reply.
"Pelargir on the Great River is my home. I am far from my homelands of Gondor."

"Say, kind folks... This is my very first Bangdù Caun... I confess I'm a little nervous... You wise men, can you tell a green one what to expect? How should I behave?"

Jun 9, 2025 4:17 pm

The man raises an eyebrow and nods at Cirion, "Pelargir, eh? The border region, yes? Interesting."

He and another man then sort of chuckle at, seemingly, Cirion's phrasing of his question. The third man, a Southron based on his complexion, seems to be having trouble following along with the conversation in Westron.

"Well, none of us have met Bangdu Caun before, at least nothing more than in passing. And I suspect he'll want to meet you three soon, as well. He always wants to meet new arrivals...

As for what to expect, or how to behave? ... I think most of us are expecting to witness exactly the kind of miracles and works of Power that Bangdu Caun has promised in his letter!

If he proves to be even half as powerful as he claims? Then... well... I think no one here has made this trek if they are not prepared to pledge their life to him, as he asks, aye?

If he proves his power, then we will all be witness to the birth of a glorious Legion! And first among it's ranks.", you can hear excitement growing in his voice.

The Southron man then butts in, perhaps a bit angry, to say something, and the other two begin speaking to him in a heavy, slurring tongue that you 3 don't recognize, giving you a moment to speak amongst yourselves while they're distracted, if you desire.

Jun 11, 2025 9:27 pm

"Seems like we just entered the legion. Do we meet this Bangdu Caun or aviod?" Duinhir says in a very low voice to his companions.

OOC:

As I understand we can talk freely for a moment. Duinhir only says this if he is certain it is private.

Jun 11, 2025 10:43 pm

OOC:

Yes, I'm giving you the opportunity to process in character what you're hearing. The three men are talking over each other in a shared language that they have different skill levels and dialects of, so they're distracted for a few moments.

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jun 12, 2025 6:37 am

"I feel we must meet him. Why else would we be here? We need to find out what their intentions are."

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jun 12, 2025 6:44 am

He whispers in return, "This might be dangerous... We stumbled on their recruiting campaign... But it will be a unique opportunity to learn about their faction... I don't know..."

Jun 13, 2025 1:41 pm

OOC:

Not clear to me if everyone has said all they want to say, but I'll give you guys the weekend if there's anything else you want to communicate, before carrying on with the interaction.

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jun 13, 2025 4:07 pm

"We'll meet him, then. Let's try to learn as much as we can before he gets here."

Jun 14, 2025 6:08 pm

"Guess we better play along now we got so far"

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jun 17, 2025 6:12 am

"People from all over are gathering here. They will somehow send information back to their home countries. That is something we should try to stop."

Jun 17, 2025 3:59 pm

The man turns from his two comrades and returns to his conversation with you all, "My friend here cannot follow along with our Westron tongue. The only shared tongue between many of us here is that of Barad-dur...

Kramp lat flasz?"

Jun 17, 2025 8:55 pm

OOC:

Is the black speech totally unknown to us or can we do a roll to try to pass of as speaker of it?

Jun 18, 2025 4:05 pm

OOC:

If anyone has the Shadow Lore proficiency, they can make a check to speak/understand small bits of it each time it needs to be used. But otherwise basically totally unknown.

You could do things that don't require a skill, like try to repeat things you hear (although you may not know what they mean), or try to read it phonetically from writing (but that carries a risk of mispronunciation).

Jun 19, 2025 6:37 pm

Duinhir feels a pang of panick when the man adresses them in the Black Tongue. Is it expected of us that we are able to speak it? Duinhir wonders. This could turn out to be very dangerous.
Kramp lat flasz? A question. What could it mean? How to reply? Duinhir's mind scrambles for something to reply.

OOC:

Trying Shadow Lore. Duinhir is proficient.

Rolls

Shadow Lore - (1d20+3)

(14) + 3 = 17

Jun 19, 2025 11:43 pm

He thinks the question is something like, "Do you speak?"

Jun 22, 2025 9:05 pm

"Flasz!" Duinhir replies confirmingly hoping he picked the right word meaning speak. It takes an effort to of him to say a word in that foul language. The word leaves his mouth feeling sour.

It would be impossible for him to pass off as a fluent speaker of the black tongue, but perhaps he can show off some basic knowledge to satisfy the man.

Éothain

rpgventurer

Jun 23, 2025 7:37 am

Éothain says to the man, "I wish I were more fluent in the languages outside Rohan. I heard whispers of a great leader assembling warriors in this area. Some of us back home are tired of fighting for the king, only to be rewarded with scraps."

Cirion of Pelargir

Dr_B

Jun 23, 2025 8:29 am

Best to keep playing the green-around-the-ears newcomer role...

Cirion shakes his head at the villager's question on language. Pointing at the scroll, he says "I wish someone could help me fully understand this text, so I can be more worthy of encountering Bangdu Caun."

Jun 29, 2025 3:06 pm

OOC:

So there are only slight lies in there. But lies none the less, and also using the Black Speech, even if just to ultimately fight the Shadow.

And drawing closer to the Shadow even as we fight it is a theme of Tolkien. So please record 1 Shadow Point each.

The man nods at the replies and a thin smile creases his face as Duinhir understands and speaks the Black Speech.

He says in Westron, "It is not uncommon for only the leader of a sect to speak the Black Speech... And there are a few here who do not share in the Black Speech yet. You can find them over there..."

He points to a tent on the right.

"A woman in the tent will supply you with some thick broth and breads if you are hungry.

Go recuperate your energies, for at dusk Bangdu Caun is to conduct the first of his miracles tonight..."

Jun 29, 2025 9:10 pm