Marching Towards Annuminas: The Forochel Envoy

9/12/23 Marching towards Annuminas - The Forochel Envoy:

In the chill winds of the North, a figure cloaked in furs and blue cloth approached the imposing keep of Tinnundir. She was Loja of the Mummuti-Haimo, a tribe from the distant lands of Forochel. With a voice carrying the frost of her homeland, she spoke of a prophecy heard by her elders - that the Krunuuton, "the Crownless", once mere myths, had risen anew. Thandanar, upon hearing her words, surmised that these 'Crownless' were the Dunedain, a revelation that stirred the air with anticipation. Achillenor, taking the mantle of leadership, proposed a bifurcation of their efforts: Halfaeron would lead a scouting party to Annuminas, while Thandanar would interrogate Harzim, a task that uncannily mirrored the leadership style of Belenir, observed Thandanar. In the main hall, a tense assembly gathered. Harzim, flanked by the stoic Axe-Men of Lossarnach, stood before a council comprising Thandanar, Aelwynna, the enigmatic wizard Midhanarth, Loja, and others. Thandanar, seeking unity in purpose, prompted Harzim to reveal his identity - a Corsair of Umbar, bound to the Kindred of the Coin, seeking vengeance for his fallen kinsman Narmonen. Harzim spoke of two relics he sought for the Kindred - the Echoes of Valandor and the Lament of Eärendil - but withheld their details until Loja, driven by a surge of impatience, landed a decisive blow upon his jaw. The Echoes, fragments of a relic from the realm of the Valar, could enhance one's abilities when assembled. The Lament, a harp of silver and pearls, bore the power to soothe and evoke memories with its melodies, a tribute to Eärendil, the brother of Elrond and father of Elros. Midhanarth, his patience frayed, cast shadows around Harzim in a display of power, an action that Thandanar viewed with disapproval. Yet, one question remained - how did Harzim know these relics were here? His answer was Toragol, the Angmarim sorcerer of Elvish lineage, though the location of the Lament remained a mystery. A bargain was struck. Harzim would be exchanged for Belenir. Upon his reunion with his crew, Harzim was to return to Umbar, never to set foot in Eriador again, under the threat of a bounty on his head. At Tinnudir's dock, the exchange was made. Belenir, now free, revealed the Angmarim's leadership: five commanders including Toragol, an unnamed Black Númenórean, Mulwag, and the Titan of Tyl Annun. While this transpired, Halfaeron led a reconnaissance mission with Gelilthor, evading Zôrzagar's patrol and rescuing Ranger Cudhaer. They uncovered the Angmarim's formidable defenses: archers, ballistae, and a catapult, all poised for destruction. A frontal assault on Annúminas was deemed suicidal. Having gathered this crucial intelligence, Halfaeron and Therdis returned to Tinnudir, alerting the Men of Gondor and the Rangers to the Angmarim's overwhelming presence. The stage was set for a conflict where strategy and cunning would be as vital as the sword and shield.