1.0 - The Marsh Bell

It is early spring, 2946. The Battle of the Five Armies was five years past. You meet here after an exciting summer last year in which Gilly and Robin Took joined a caravan east for "adventure" -- much to the dismay and disapproval of many of their kin. Inar and Thovetar met up with this caravan as it entered the High Pass and joined on for security in numbers. For while the Enemy had been badly hurt years ago -- evil still walked the Wild.

The journey over the High Pass and down into the Vales of the Anduin was uneventful and the caravan happily traded what they could with the Beornings who kept watch over that part of the Wild before moving on to the Woodman at Woodland Hall and a bit more south to Woodman Town before looping north once more along the western edge of Mirkwood and across towards Esgaroth (Lake-town) and Dale along the Old Forest Road. There, the caravan was set upon by a raft of nasty spiders and each of you acquitted yourself well -- even the Hobbits! For this, the caravan expressed immense gratitude and left each of you with an extra gold coin at the end of your journey.After the winter, your fellowship has returned to Esgaroth, or Lake-Town, to reconnect after the winter back home. In the five years since the attack by the dragon Smaug, Esgaroth has rebuilt itself upon the water of the Long Lake. Free people of all the races are seen regularly throughout the town - bustling about their business plying trade between Erebor and Dale to the north and the Woodland Kingdom to the west.

You are all well-familiar with Esgaroth as it is today, having spent some time here last year after successfully guiding the caravan hither.

You sit at an outdoor table in the Merchants' district, having put away a healthy meal and a tankard or two of good drink. Lounging over some remaining bits of cheese and freshly baked bread and a half-consumed jar of honey.

Inar sits back and takes a long pull on his ale, feeling relaxed and satisfied after such a meal....he knows such feelings are fleeting, no matter what victories the majority in these parts think they have struck against the enemy. As he sits there he glances across he sees a human watching their table, the figure smiles and nods in greeting before turning back to his companions, how long was he watching us? Inar thinks to himself looks harmless enough....looks can be deceiving though!.

His thoughts take a dark turn as he starts dwelling upon the fact the enemy could have eyes anywhere. Realising his appetite is gone he pushes his plate away, knowing full well the hobbits will finish off anything he has left. "Well laddies, as good as nice meals and comfy beds are I feel the need to be out in the world. Do any of you have any ideas on where we should be heading next? Guarding the odd caravan isn't the most exiting work in the world....well, not normally at any rate!' he finishes with a chuckle

"Oh, well," Robin replies with his Shire accent and slightly higher pitched voice, "I don't know about that, Stoutfoot. Guarding caravans gets you such a view of the world. Think of all we saw last Summer, and all the places we traveled." He laughs, "I've never been to so many places in m' whole life!" Robin had already eaten his plate and drank his ale, and now he relaxes back in his chair, a lit pipe in his hand, and the smell of fragrant pipeweed floating about him in thin, wispy tendrils. His bare, hairy feet hang off of the chair and swing back and forth, unable to reach the ground. He sits up when the dwarf pushes his food away, and Robin asks with an eager look on his face, "Are ya full already?" He points at Inar's food and asks, "May I?"

Inar chuckles at the hobbits seemingly insatiable appetite "Be my guest laddie" he says as he passes the plate over to Robin "Well caravan's will only get ya to some places, there's a whole lot of world out there to see off the beaten track"

Gilly deftly snags several choice pieces as the plate passes by her on its way to her brother. Between bites she agrees, "There is so much more to see, and to learn! I'm excited to get out there again. And glad to see you, my friends!" she smiles at her companions.

At an adjacent table, a man leans over towards Inar. "Haven't you not yet heard the news? Gloin has had a Raven from the Mountain." Deciding that Inar's look is one of confusion, he adds, "Sinister news indeed good friend from the Mountain. It seems two of your kin -- messengers of the king -- have gone missing! Gloin himself has spread word that he's looking for any news of the lost messengers."

"I'd be willing to look into this, of course. I would need any sort of information that is already known about these two. But I would be willing to go and look for them. Anyone else interested?"

"Aye lad, seems as good a bet as any" Inar starts to gather his things before turning to the man "Do you know where the message was delivered to? Or any more information about where they went missing?"

"It sounds worthwhile," Robin says with a smile, though he looks toward his sister for confirmation. "Gloin.. wasn't he one of those warriors that cousin Bilbo mentioned?" Robin's expression grew somewhat serious and he shook his head in a disappointing manner, "I can't always keep up with that fellow's tales."

The man shakes his head at Inar's question. "I've heard only for the call for information and news that your kin were missing. I was surprised to hear you ask about what was next on your travel plans. If you've guarded caravans, I suspected you'd be stout-hearted enough to be investigating this if you but knew..." He smiles as he delivers the unfortunate news with his compliment. "Perhaps Gloin has more information?"

Inar nods at the mans words "My thanks" he says to the figure before turning back to his companions "Gloin has a mansion in town. If he's put the call out there is the best bet to get some more information about the disappearances"

"Aye. Should we head to the mansion then?"

Gilly pauses in taking notes to flip back through her book, "Yes, I believe...ah yes, here it is...Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, and of course, Thorin." She closes the book with a satisfied snap, oblivious that the conversation has passed on while she was engrossed in her book.

Robin exhales a thin line of smoke, looking pleased with himself that he remembered the name correctly.

Inar nods "Aya laddie, lets head over now" he says as he gathers the last of his things and starts heading for the door, his eyes flicking about in their usual wariness as he moves to the exit.

"Alright then. Let's go." Thovétar gathers his things and heads for the door.

Gilly wraps her book and returns it to her satchel, together with her quill and ink. She stands to follow the others, turning to her brother with a broad grin.

The trip to the mansion is short -- Lake-town, or Esgaroth, is not that large after all -- even rebuilt to greater glory as it has been these past five years. Gloin's mansion is near the town-hall, so finding your way is straightforward. It is a stately home, with broad double doors and pillars to give testament to its greatness. Gilded carvings here and there -- none of dragons -- hint at the richness of the home and its occupants. At your knock, a dwarven manservant answers the door and peers at the four of you with some curiosity.

"May I be of service to you?" He seems to be explicitly asking Inar, given he's a Dwarf.

Inar coughs to clear his throat, trying to sound as formal as he can which isn't vastly different from his usual gruff tone "Greetings, I am Inar Stoutfoot. Myself an my companions heard word about town of a message that had recently been received by Lord Gloin about some missing messengers. Whilst we do not have any information about this we wanted to offer our assistance if it would be welcome".

The manservant nods and opens the door to let you all in. Thovetar gets a sidelong glance while the Hobbits get a friendly smile. You are led into a receiving room that is richly appointed, "Master Gloin shall be here shortly," the manservant intones before backing out the door and closing it before him, somewhat pompously.