The Kinstrife

Part 56

In which Neithan seeks to prove his destiny in a duel and is killed; Ragnor’s dad starts thinking of Estel; the Benish Armon board the So Much For Subtlety in a night action on the Anduin but are repulsed by our heroes and Iriel, in cat form, is maimed by Ragnor’s Elven blade.

Session 56:

June 12^th 1442

Perhaps we were all just too tired last night but in the morning we seem more of one mind.

We discuss the Kuilëondo: Brand wants it destroyed and I cannot help but agree, but how? We could drop it in a volcano but the only one I know of is in Mordor and none of us relish the idea of crossing the Plain of Gorgoroth under the Kuilëondo’s baleful influence.

I recall Brand mentioning that the Mirror of Fire is rumoured to have been created by the fall of one of the Lamps of Arda (Ormal, set upon Mount Ringil, if I recall Brand’s lessons correctly) and I ask him if it might still be lit. He has no idea but if it is then its fire would almost certainly destroy the Kuilëondo, if we can get the jewel to it.

Failing that there’s dragonbreath, I suppose, but where could we find a dragon in this day and age? There’s rumours of them far to the north but that would be a huge trek, much farther than the Mirror of Fire, entirely overland and through hostile wilderness.

Brand would like the advice of a master artificer skilled in artefacts of power. The Elves of Edhellond were pretty aloof but Brand reckons they would be driven to take an interest in the Kuilëondo and its imprisoned maia. He thinks there might be Noldor still at Tharbad and definitely at the Grey Havens on the west coast of the Kingdom of Arnor. But that’s a long way north and I have a feeling the Elves will turn away anyone bringing such a thing. They have no interest in the doings of men, even when those men seek the undoing of past doings of the Elves.

Brand says there are Dwarves in a place called Moria, but again it’s difficult to get to and again we would be very unsure of our welcome. Brand makes the point that whoever we might approach we would need to be very discrete over mentioning the Kuilëondo – all of which makes me wonder if the advice of Elf Lords or Dwarf Kings is worth the risks in asking?

Eventually Brand decides that the senior loremaster in Pelargir, Parmendil, is the most reliable source of advice. Brand respects his knowledge and believes he’s honourable enough not to try to betray us. Ilviren doesn’t want to stop in Pelargir but we have to revictual for an extensive sea journey if we sail to the Raj and with the Benish Armon cult after us, revictualling in the Ethir is probably more risky.

And so we return to the subject of Neithan. Brand and Aerin now agree with my original suggestion to hand him over to Castamir’s justice but having thought things through I’m fearful that someone at Court would want Neithan freed – I still feel his appearance in Osgiliath may imply intervention from someone at Court.

My new solution is to challenge Neithan to a duel on board ship. If I win, he’s dead; if he wins he goes free. Sern agrees with me but Ilviren and Pimm think we should take him with us to Umbar or beyond. I don’t like the idea of having Neithan and the Kuilëondo with us so with the six of us split three ways I suggest we should put my challenge to Neithan and let him decide. If he refuses my challenge I’ll revert to my original idea of landing him at Pelargir.

So Ilviren puts my challenge to Neithan (the mere sight of him disgusts me so much I fear for my self-control to do it personally). He agrees, as I thought he might, to ‘prove my destiny in blood’! Tolma! [‘Knob’ - literally a protuberance contrived to serve a purpose.]

So at dawn, with Ilviren adjudicating and Sern as my second, Neithan and I square off. I put away my Elven blade – the last time I drew Celegmaeg it tasted orc-blood but I will not sully it with Neithan’s.

While consuming the lightest of breakfasts, I catch Aerin clumsily trying to slip something in my wine. She says it is a herbal concoction intended to improve my alertness and reflexes. The duellist in me is glad I shall have no unfair advantage but as Neithan and I cross swords I find he’s quicker than me – doubtless I’m unused to the heavier blade.

Thankfully Neithan’s ripostes are all over the place while mine are accurate and well-timed, only his footwork saves him. Again he flurries wildly in attack but parrying the wild slash leaves me unbalanced and my own thrust goes wide.

Then his point knicks my bicep and suddenly he seems to be finding his eye. Again his footwork saves him from my head-cut and my own saves me from his riposte. But his thrust leaves him over-extended and his recovery is far too slow. My thrust catches him high on the left side of his chest, beneath the collarbone. He falls to the deck and his ‘destiny’ dies with him.

Sern and Al-Han congratulate me but Pimm bemoans the lack of spectacle and narrative. Personally I am very satisfied with the result: Neithan will trouble us no more and I’ve spilt more blood shaving. We bury him on the banks of the Anduin without ceremony in an unmarked grave.

June 14^th 1442

We land at Pelargir a few days later and I call on my father first of all. I tell him about Neithan. Initially he frowns but I explain what sort of person Neithan was and remind father that the line of the ‘3^rd Candidate’ still exists. Of course he knows I mean Estel. I tell him that Castamir plans to marry her to Castarion and he returns that it may be time to open channels to Mordulin. Ah, politics! I warn father that Estel should be told of her brother’s death and my part in it, and why.

As I leave Sern arrives with a note from Ilviren: Brand has learned that Iriel is in Pelargir and Ilviren wants to sail as soon as possible. Well that won’t happen until dark when the tide turns and in any case we still need provisions for a long sea journey so I have ample time to brief Castaher.

Sensible that he’s made time at short notice to grant me an interview, I advise Castaher that Neithan is dead and buried, having committed multiple murders in Osgiliath and and admitted scheming with the same cult that slew Maeglin and Adrazor by sorcery with the aim of supplanting Castamir. Castaher asks for directions to Neithan’s grave in case it becomes politically necessary to display the body.

I tell Castaher that I’m off to the Raj and he gives me a credit note for 100 cr to be drawn from Cor Aran funds. I thank him and take my leave.

Back on board ship Ilviren raises anchor at dusk on the turn of the tide and moves ‘So Much for Subtlety’ out of the harbour and to the far side of the main channel, where we moor until dawn and, fearful of cats, set watches.

Brand and I take the last watch but we’re woken about midnight by the clamour of the ship’s bell tolling the alarm. Shocked to wakefulness, I roll out of my bunk, grab Celegmaeg, helmet and shield and rush up through the hatch to find a number of invaders on deck. Several crewmen seem frozen, in fear or by magic, and a couple more fall to a rain of arrows.

One intruder is before me. I hit him once but break off as Sern joins me to join Ilviren, who is fighting a large black cat. (I know this is Iriel!) Ilviren and I both land blows on the cat but a flurry of talons and teeth mauls Ilviren who falls back, sword arm limp.

Taking advantage of the cat’s focus on Ilviren, I land a very firm hit and the cat turns to flee. As she leaps my parting thrust maims her left foreleg but the darkness swallows her and I know not if she will survive. Ilviren, still white from her wound, headbuts another cultist and Sern drops his man and the fight is over.

To do list:

Sail for the Raj and the Mirror of Fire

Visit Minas Ithil – probably not going to happen now

Talk to the survivor of the 1st Mordor expedition before entering Mordor

Survey my estates and produce a plan to improve them – consider Pimm’s offer but be cautious