Ilanin

[tomcat]

"Them..." replied the guard. "You'll do best to just avoid them. There's nothing to worry about while in Ilanin - they must follow the same laws as everyone else in town - but they have been roving south and west of the river now for months."

The guard then leaned in closer and with a whisper, "The Easterlings are none to hospitable and make for ill neighbors but they bring no trouble to our doorstep and so we leave well enough alone. Besides, they do bring in a bit of trade to keep our city a'thriving."

Durgil looked at the formidable structure that was Ulvanin and could see that it was strong enough to make any attempt by Harizän to take the city a foolish gesture - at least with the current force he had assembled. But it was obvious that Ilanin did not make any effort to exert its power beyond the limits of itself. The Dúnadan noble thought it immoral, especially with the suffrage that was being placed upon the Éothraim; but even those people had done little for themselves beyond Thergas.

It troubled the youth. His own kingdom lay next to a shadow that sought its utter destruction and here these people did little to rally against what appeared to be a common enemy. When would the peoples of Middle-earth stand once more together to oppose such invaders?

"Well..." Durgil thought, "at least it is not the threat of legends whom my forefathers had deposed - Sauron the Dark Lord."


[OOC:] The guard is still close by if you'd like to talk more... otherwise let me know what you'd like to do.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil felt ill at ease and it showed.  "How well are they received by the master of Ilanin?  Have they tried to co-opt your help in their conquests or terrorized your people?  Your fortress looks strong enough to fend off any siege they would wish to make, but that wouldn't stop them from razing everything else."

[tomcat]

The guard began to take on a look of discomfort as Durgil asked his question, "We are not at war with the Easterlings... nor are we with those of the west and so have no worries of fending off a siege. The people of Ilanin claim a kinship to the folk that reside around the Sea of Rhûn and so trust that their own will not attack them."

It was evident that he no longer wished to talk to Durgil as he stepped back and made closure to thier conversation. "Fear not, our town is safe for your short visit. Hurry on now so I may continue my task."

While Durgil and the city guard spoke, Nain squinted towards the north and his excitement grew - he saw merchants trading and bartering for wares and commodities. He wished he had his wagon and the many crafts that he and his brother had laboured on so that he might partake in the trade.

[sdrotar]

"We will want to proceed with caution," warned Dirnhael. "If there is a common bond, there will undoubtedly be some here that share Harizan's goals."

[GandalfOfBorg]

"I apologize, of course.  A mug of the good stuff for your troubles if ever we meet again in the city, my good man."  Now he rides off to rejoin his companions.

[tomcat]

[OOC:] Earlier the River Cross was the suggested destination... is that still the case?

[Palandil]

[OOC:] Earlier the River Cross was the suggested destination... is that still the case?

OOC: Sounds good to me.

[tomcat]

The guard gave Durgil one last cordial, albeit dismissive nod and went about his duties. The Dúnadan noble spurred his horse on to catch up with his friends who had proceeded down the road a bit taking in the scene that was Ilanin. The company rode past the few buildings that sat along the roadside that led towards the city proper but they were not missed by the local tradesman and drifters that milled about.

"Spare a copper, Lord?" asked one desperate man, to Dirnhael, as he trotted by. On his left, Edrahil was presented with a large fish, apparantly the fisherman's fresh catch. "Fine fish for you, sir! One silver penny will buy it for you! What say you sir?"

The Sindar smiled but shook his head. Undeterred, the fisherman went to the next rider in the party - Nain. The Dwarf grunted at the smell and kicked Jethro in his sides to move him along quicker. Seeing no interest from the Company, the man moved on to other passerbys.

They continued down the road towards the river. Carts laden with kegs, boxes, or some form of livestock (i.e. chickens in coops, to even a bee hive box) moved along with them or passed in the opposite direction. Ilanin was a bustling place despite the hardships faced by Fengel's folk to the south.

Nain took note of the structures; homes made of a variety of materials from baked-mud bricks, stones, or wood that seemed to grow in some abundance to the north and east across the Carnen. Some structures were well-maintained while others looked to be ready to fall down, but this did not determine how well the business merchant thrived within. Crowds gathered in front, or inside, some of the nicest looking of places as well as the worst. There were also residences along the way of varying levels of wealth and the ones with the most money had large privacy walls built up and around.

Fengel gave a quick smile as he was propositioned by a young, pretty woman with expensive looking garments and jewelry. Her hand lingered on his knee as he sat atop his horse, her smile inviting and warm - but then the image of his sister came to him again and any thought of taking pleasure from the woman was lost. He had to remember why he was here.

The road became cobbled as it entered into the main square of Ilanin. Although it was not the prime location of trade, it was evident that the square was used for that and more - the Company beheld a platform for auctioning of wares; a stockade for animals; and also a gallow and stock to render punishment. Lastly they saw a series of barges that were tied along the river that could be pulled across using the large ropes to which they were secured. The bargemen, muscular lads, pulled the rafts hand over hand from one side to the other allowing the merchants to carry great amounts of wares to and fro. Dirnhael could see that the river was low enough here to be forded, but the barges kept the travelers and their cargo dry.

Boats also moved up and down the Carnen. They were broad and flat and were predominantly poled by one or two rivermen coming from some unknown location to the docks here to buy or sell merchandise.

There were many people milling about the square as the Company moved into the crowd, taking the northern road that led up to the River Cross Inn. Suddenly Edrahil felt a coldness in his heart and looked around - it was the same feeling he had had not so many nights past upon the top of the Three Tears.

The Sindar leaned over to Dirnhael and softly spoke, "He's here... somewhere. The foul sorcerer that attacked us in the hills to the south - the one who left Fengel's people dead within his pens."

Dirnhael scanned the crowd but saw nothing that looked like the creature that he fought - not that he expected to see such a beast here in the square. But then the Dúnadan noticed a group of Easterlings - warriors to be sure - haggling with a nervous-looking wretch of a merchant. He thought it looked more like the man was being terrorized by the brutish bullies, as they laughed and knocked his wares off his table. But one amongst them stood back, leaning on a staff, and only smiled as his comrades tormented the craftsman. He was a tall, slender man with a long face and a nose to match - in his eyes there was a look of pleasure, or maybe it was hunger?

In any case, the town guards who patrolled amongst the crowd and kept an eye on everyone paid the Easterling group no mind. There were just too many other things they needed to look out for besides a merchant that may have been getting teased.


[OOC:] Observe (Sense Power) TN 15
Observe +4, Specialty +2, The Art +2, Dazed -1
Roll(2d6)+7: 6,2,+7 Total:15 SUCCESS

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil bristled at the man being harassed while the guards turned a blind eye to it.  Justice was demanded and his tongue won't be still.  "Oi! You over there," he called to the small troop of Easterlings.  "It takes a mighty captain indeed to lead such a group of men who harass a poor man earning a living."

[sdrotar]

Durgil bristled at the man being harassed while the guards turned a blind eye to it.  Justice was demanded and his tongue won't be still.  "Oi! You over there," he called to the small troop of Easterlings.  "It takes a mighty captain indeed to lead such a group of men who harass a poor man earning a living."

Dirnhael smiled at the youthful noble's brash nature. It had gotten them in trouble before, and it looked at if it would again today, but his brother-in-law to be's heart was usually in the right place.
He shuffled himself in his saddle and cracked his knuckles while waiting to see what happened next.
"Remember," he said gently, "finding ourselves in the stockade will not speed our task."

[GandalfOfBorg]

He had considered this earlier but actions like these brought up hurtful memories of his youth -- him being the small and odd one out.  Durgil nodded at his friend's words yet kept his gaze upon the ruffians, the challenge in his words remained.

[tomcat]

The Easterlings stopped lauging as they realized it was them that Durgil was attempting to challenge. They turned in the direction of the Company, including the tall, slender leader to see who it was that was taking up the defense of the merchant. Both partys' eyes met and each took measure of the other all the while the east men began to move in the direction of Durgil, though no challenge was returned. Still, the folk in the square could feel the tension and everyone grew silent and began to separate from the potential trouble. Even the city guards took note and began to push into the crowd to stave off any problems.

Edrahil watched as the slender leader with the quarterstaff just stood staring at them and the Sindar could swear that he was sniffing at the air, as if trying to catch a scent.

Suddenly, across the river another great "HAAZZAH!" from a cheering crowd rose into the early afternoon sky. The slender leader broke his stare at Dirnhael and looked over his shoulder, "Come! Pay them no mind ... this is Ilanin. We do not break the laws."

The Easterlings stopped their approach and turned back to their commander. One of the ruffians grabbed up a bunch of grapes from the merchant's table and mashed them into his mouth. He laughed as he did and the group turned back to the river crossing and into the gathered crowd.

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael watched the Easterlings go without changing his expression.
More than likely, they were simply bullies - cowards - but he could guess who they were allied with, at least in part.
He would sleep lightly while in this town, he thought.

[tomcat]

The tension in the square quickly subsided as the Easterlings moved towards the river and people went back about their business. One elderly woman, strolled past Durgil pulling a small wheeled basket that contained fruits, vegetables and a clay urn of goat's milk.

"Now you fer sure don't wanna be makin' truble fer yourselves with folk like them," she said, shaking her head as she passed. "You'd be better to mind your own and so's not to get yourselves hurt."

She only briefly looked the Dúnadan noble in the face, turning quickly back to look at the ground before her, showing her manner of deference... or maybe fear?

[Nikitas]

"Lovely town this," Galudir sneered "where we have to pay for the privelege of quarreling with the easterners.  Perhaps later I can bribe a guard to beat me and throw me in a dungeon."