All was quiet

[Stefan]

As the coward dashed into the darkness Nain turned and began walking in the direction that he'd come from.  Chances were that was where the trouble was and being the only armed one in the group, he'd be needed.  He carried his axe ready for trouble since that's about all that had come since the orcs had attacked those several days ago.

[Palandil]

Fengel stopped suddenly upon hearing speech that he could understand.  He turned towards the man that spoke, "Why would you expect us to stay!"  Fengel could not hide his anger that they left he and his companions in such a state without reason.  "It needn't had come to this, we had at one time, concern for your people!  Now we must be on our way, you have hindered our journey long enough!"  With that Fengel pushed their warrior captive on at a quicker pace.  Turning once more he added, "We will let this man go as soon as we are on our way.  If you try to hinder us again I will take his life!"

OOC: Just a little change to make it fit better.

[tomcat]

OOC: Hey Paul... just so you know, the Dunman leader had spoken in broken common to the Company earlier that day when you all were in the stockade. He ranted abou the Elves causing bewitchments to the land and bringing sickness.

But I really like your post and am hesitant for you to make any changes. 

[Wiseman]

Glad to be rid of the child Seriand gripped the spear and made sure that Hurd would follow directions.

Seriand shook his head.  The entire situation they were presently in could be traced back to a simple lack of communication by all parties.

Now here they were, taking a hostage in order to orchestrate their escape.  "Calm my friend."  The elven scout said to Fengel.

"We have been forced to stay here quite long enough.  Had you simply asked for our aid we would have most likely helped you out, but your treatment has been disheartening and thus we WILL be taking our leave.  Please do not make this any more difficult on all of us that it already has been."

Seriand continued to walk away from the camp, Hurd lead on by the tip of the spear.

[GandalfOfBorg]

Durgil felt a chill in his bones, yet a curiosity grabbed causing him to dismount and approach warily to the fountain with an eye out for trouble or anything out of the ordinary (other than the obvious).

Observe (Spot) - (5+4)+3+2-3=11
Observe (Hear) - (5+4)+3+2-3=11

[tomcat]

The fog revealed nothing to the Dunadan noble save the old structure and the fountain within. Durgil could hear the gurgle of water as it bubbled up from the center of the large stone bowl only to pour out where large pieces were broken out. Yet, he also seemed to hear a song faintly on the wind - but it was nothing he could make out. He refrained from telling his comrade thinking the Elf may consider him delirious from his fever.

Edrahil and Durgil stepped into the gazebo and looked about but all that they saw was stone fragments of the structure itself. Still, it retained the beauty inlaid by the Elven craftsman centuries before.

Dirnhael rode into the settlement with the horses in tow, coming quickly to a halt once he saw Fengel and Seriand appear from the fog. Before his two companions, the large Dunman warrior was prodded on by the spear in the Elf's hands.

Behind the Company members, the elders and gathered townsfolk watched as their protector was led away. While they watched, a sleepy woman entered the group and started to rapidly speak to the elders in their strange tongue.

"WAIT!" yelled the old man so that his former captives could hear and understand.

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael rode into the settlement with the horses in tow, coming quickly to a halt once he saw Fengel and Seriand appear from the fog. Before his two companions, the large Dunman warrior was prodded on by the spear in the Elf's hands.

Behind the Company members, the elders and gathered townsfolk watched as their protector was led away. While they watched, a sleepy woman entered the group and started to rapidly speak to the elders in their strange tongue.

"WAIT!" yelled the old man so that his former captives could hear and understand.

Dirnhael turned his horse towards the man, placing himself between the village and Fengel, Seriand and their captive. He was still unarmed, and this concerned him, but Fengel and Seriand had things in hand - he would make one last attempt to help these people, but not before showing his teeth.

*Intimidation (Power) +7
Roll(2d6)+7: 5,1,+7 Total:13

"We are leaving, but your men are unharmed. We have paid them greater respect than you have us. What do you want?"

Dirnhael's voice lowered to a growl as he spoke the last. He felt for these people, but he would not allow their captivity to continue - he had done so for too long already.

[Palandil]

With the arrival of their leader, it seemed that a parley would commence, though Fengel didn't much care what these Dunman had to say.  Fengel clapped a hand on the captive's shoulder, then kick him behind one knee sending him to his knees.  And there he held him with the point of his sword upon his back.  They were not free yet, and Fengel hoped that they were not just buying time for an offensive move.  So while his leader talked, Fengel kept a wary eye out for trouble.

Observe Spot:
skill +2; Per+1; Spot+2; -1winded
Roll(2d6)+4: 2,1,+4 Total:7

[Stefan]

Arriving on site just in time to hear the Dunman shout in plain language for them to wait Nain was somewhat shocked.  He looked to the humans that he'd been trying to rescue to see what they would do in response.  Since Jethro wasn't ahndy anyway He figured that he had some time.

[tomcat]

Looking at Dirnhael the oldman spoke...

"Answers..." said the old man in a whispered, yet exasperated voice. "My people are sick. They are dying. And there are those amongst you that must know something! The strange occurances?"

The other elder Dunman began to talk to his comrade in their indistinguishable language,though the words seemed to drip with contempt. Not realizing he still spoke in Westron, the leader addressing Dirnhael responded to his second's comments.

"Yes! This one too is of those that drove us from our land... but someone must know something!" Shaking his head for his error, the elder quickly corrected his speech and a small debate erupted, but then was quelled by the nursemaid.

Whatever her comments had been, the Dunman who spoke Dirnhael's tongue slumped his shoulders, "Forgive us... we have only known oppression and war. Hurd thought your folk may have answers and so we brought you here. Though I feel we owe you and your folk nothing..." his last words he almost spat out. "We need help."

The man hung his head in a defeated manner, all the while the crowd looked on waiting for some sign of what they should do. Hurd, now on the ground, stared at the Eothraim with a hate-filled glare.

[GandalfOfBorg]

OOC: Are there any runes telling what this site is or anything like that?  A mark of the craftsman?

[BrianM]

Edrahil stayed at the perimiter of the ruin as Durgil inspected the fountain. The elf took in the entire scene, imagining the magesty of the place long ago when it was still tended by his kin. He had assumed that some foul magic was at work here, tormenting the Dunmen under the guise of elven "ghosts". But, seeing that this place was here, Edrahil knew that something else was afoot.

They were on the northern edge of Hollin, long ago a home of the elves. Edrahil knew that an "impression" was often left on the lands once occupied by his kin, but had never though that it could be so profound as to produce such ghostly images.

"Do not be afraid, Durgil. There are no apparitions here. What we see are memories of the past. Perhaps they will tell us something if we look carefully." He slowly began walking around the perimiter of the ruins, trying to sense what it was that made this place so special, and trying to remember anything he may have learned about Hollin and it's former inhabitants.

[ooc]

Observe: Sense Power
Roll(2d6)+5: 1,3,+5 Total:9 [Edit]+2 The Art = 11

Lore: History - Elves
Roll(2d6)+11: 5,2,+11 Total:18

[Wiseman]

Seriand stood there a moment and eyed the two that were speaking back and forth.  The silence that hung in the air was quite uncomfortable, and that was his intention, that and giving himself time to think.

"My kin are not actually here.  Had you asked for our assistance in the first place we would have been quite responsive to your requests."  Seriand put the butt of the spear on the ground and let it fall.  Walking closer to the Dunmen.

"The ghosts of my kin that you claim are responsible for this are not as you think.  What you are seeing are..." He trailed off trying to search for a word that they may understand.  "...inprints that the land remembers.  If you understand." 

Seriand looked around and then back to the chief.  "After our treatment by your hand why should we help you?  What is in it for us?  Can you speed along our journey that you have waylaid?"

[sdrotar]

Dirnhael waited for a response to Seriand's queries.
Although, if these were not truly spirits... then these people would have to move to a new land, although even this was a better option than what the Dunmen faced today.

He chose not to reveal Edrahil and Durgil's location - and decided to stall if necessary to buy them some more time. But Dirnhael knew that to do so, he'd need his weapons.

"Where was the skulking man that came with Nain?" he thought. Neither Fengel nor Seriand had returned with their weapons, even though that was their goal...

[tomcat]

To Seriand, the old man speaks...

"And what of the treatment of my folk by the hands of the Dunedain, or the Elves!" the elder spit through his teeth. "The coming of the men of the west drove us from our native lands, or took them like a thief steals your bread. The Elves offered nothing... forbidden to dwell among the eaves of the forest to the north!"

Seriand knew he spoke of Lorien; the migration of the wild men of the White Mountains due to the expansion of Gondor had caused these people to lose lands that had once been inherently theirs. Now they lived in the foothills of the mountains and such, knowing an even harder life.

"What do we offer you?" the elder asked angrily. "Nothing..."

A silent pause hung there as he resigned and turned away saying, "Take your road and begone! Take your weapons and mounts and leave here, but leave Hurd. We will not pursue you."

The old man turned his back on the Company and pushed into the throng of villagers that erupted into a chorus of voices, which were easily discerned to be questions. The Dunman leader just shook his hands above his head and walked away saying a few words in his native tongue. Whatever he had said, Hurd stood and picked up the fallen spear and held it in a non-threatening posture. He stared at Fengel, almost challenging him with his gaze, and then walked from the company to follow his leader. Only one of the Dunfolk remained standing there looking at the Company, it was the nursemaid, and she did not know how to speak to these strangers.

Dirnhael and his friends knew that whatever chance for dialogue there had been, was lost; maybe irretrievably. Was this the mission that they had set forth on? Or had the Dunadan warrior hoped to make new ties, and perchance build new relations? Dirnhael remembered that Durgil had proudly spoken of such things... as part of his noble duty to the throne of Arthedain.

The Dunlendings had taken the Company by force, and coraled them like animals. "But they are a simple folk, and the strange happenings in this land would make anyone uneasy," thought Dirnhael.

The woman finally turned from the Company as well, to run back to join her kin around the now roaring fire.

As strangely as the whole situation began, the Company was now abandoned by these folk and left there, in the early morning fog, to take up their road once again as they pleased.

OOC: Actions - and/or - Dialogue?

Brian - I will need a Search test from you to decipher any runes in the ancient, wind-eroded stone columns or on the worn marble floor. Minimum test success is on a result of 10, but you may glean more information on a higher result.

[EDIT] Hey Brian, I didn't see your lore skill there. Edrahil can easily tell from his knowledge of his folk that the gazebo is of Elven origin. He also knows that the Elves always built homes and other structures in compliment to the lands. This structure is very organic. Edrahil also know that many of the well-crafted structures of the Elves were built with purposes to enhance the natural resource that is there (i.e. view, listening, etc.).