wildermods: (Default)
Wilderlands Mods ([personal profile] wildermods) wrote in [community profile] wilderlogs2018-06-01 11:22 pm

FLIGHT TO THE FORD ※ RIVENDELL ※ LOG 1


FLIGHT TO THE FORD

OOC POST

The foot paths are thin but seem to lead somewhere. Not far ahead, there is the sound of rushing water.

Someone is following them in the woods. They move with perfect quiet. If leaves are rustled, at most they sound like they're only shifting in the breeze. They keep circling around them, scouting to the front of them, scouting behind them.

They notice the great evil approaching from behind. Scaring away the horses of the Nazgul slowed them down, made it so they could safely rest in the city, so they could reach it without a fight, and so the magic encircling it went unchallenged by their evil. But they weren't going to stay behind forever. As they close in, the figure that has also been stalking them eventually reveals themselves.

A woman suddenly appears before them, leaping into the path ahead with a swiftness that is inhuman. She is shrouded in a silken cloak of light green. A sword is at her belt in an intricate silver sheathe. She calls out to them with a calm voice that rings clear like a bell.

"Hearken, weary travelers! Your coming was forespoke to my people and my kindred and I feared that you were in danger upon the road. I come offering refuge and succor."

She draws away her hood and reveals pointed ears and braids of black hair drawn up into silver net of gems. Her clear face is flawless and smooth, as if carved from the purest marble. The light of the stars burns in her bright eyes, grey as a cloudless night. Her bearing is that of a queen, fair and just and fierce and kind. Even among her kind, who are known for their beauty, she is counted among the most beautiful.

Her father is displeased with her willingness to travel forth into danger, but after the death of her mother, she too was trained to fight just like her brothers. In the strange new world that has been thrust upon them, Arwen Evenstar is no longer content with wiling away her days with needlework and song. There is too much that has changed in the world, too much that must be protected, and her long neglected skills with sword and bow have already been put to good use, sharpened by the many dangers of the Wilderlands.

"I can tell that some of you carry grievous injuries but you must hasten. The Servants of Sauron approach! The house of my father lies just beyond the swift waters before us. Once we pass over the ford your enemies can no longer pursue you."

Not far behind them there is suddenly an inhuman screech that makes the bright daylight seem as perilous as the darkest night.

Arwen unsheathes her sword and starts to run, leading them, moving swiftly but taking care to not outpace them entirely. There is no time for questions or explanations.

"Fly!" she calls out as she runs. "The enemy is upon us! Fly, ere all is lost!"

The waters of the ford are only knee deep when they cross it and the moment the last of them reaches the other side, the Nazgul appear on the opposite bank and then start crossing the waters, moving through them with mechanical ease.

Arwen raises her sword, glinting in the sun, and cries out:
Nîn o Chithaeglir
lasto beth daer;
Rimmo nîn Bruinen
dan in Ulaer!
In a great crush of frothing white, flood waters rush forth, and it seems as if the waves comes in the shape of prancing horses. The waters crash into the Nazgul right as they get close to the other side of the ford. They screech as they go under and get swept away.

She resheathes her sword.

"This way."


As they walk, the path descends into a gorge filled with warm sun and cool mists. The walls of the gorge are streaked with waterfalls pouring over the edges and the air is filled with the gentle sound of many rushing waters. Some of the streams thread through arches under the Last Homely House. The Elven settlement is spread over garden-covered terraces, with open buildings that mingle indoors and outdoors. The Art Nouveau style architecture is intricate, every bit of the buildings looking like a masterwork. A single stone bridge is their entrance to Rivendell.

Many Elves rush out as soon as they arrive in the first courtyard. Their clothes are made of fine fabrics, most of them colors found in nature, and some of them have silver ornaments in their hair. All of them are tall, slender, graceful and beautiful, almost exuding an aura of goodness, and the light of the stars and the moon is in their eyes. Their ageless faces are filled with genuine worry. Though the Elves are sometimes an aloof and distant people compared to mortals, they detest all evil, and seeing the haggard nature of the group seemingly has them deeply concerned for them.

The lord of the house leads them. The face of Elrond is ageless, neither old nor young, though in it is written the memory of many things both glad and sorrowful. His hair is the same color as his daughter's, like the deepest shadows of twilight and upon his head is set a circlet of silver; his eyes are grey as a clear evening. He carries himself with the aged dignity of king crowned with many winters, yet there's a lightness in his step, like he carries the energy of a young warrior.

"Daughter," he says, reaching for her first, taking her hands in his own. "I started to fear the worst."

"Father, some of them are badly injured."

Elrond nods, his expression stern and beckons to the squad.

"Quickly, bring the injured this way, to the Halls of Healing! I can sense a malaise in some of you, the taint of the Dark Riders, and know this must mean some of your number must have felt the bite of a Morgul-blade. You haven't much time; the shards must be removed and the wounds treated before you pass into the shadow-realm."

He gestures for some of the Elves to attend to the squad. Some offer a stable arm of support to the injured or any weak with hunger or illness, if they need to take it. Others offer cloaks to those who were sent into the Wilderlands under-dressed. Others bring gilded water jugs and golden ladles to those that appear thirsty, and offer to lead them to places where they can eat or where they can find creature comforts like baths and beds.

"My people will attend to your needs. The masters of those who pursued you are the enemies of all free people, and those innocents they would harm can find refuge in these halls. We will eventually hold Council, and all questions shall be asked and answered by all parties, but rest and healing must come first."


NOTES

Arrival Log: This is a log for people to play around arriving to Rivendell, so some characters can react to the Elves and players of injured characters can play out any drama of them reaching the last leg of the journey.

Post in actionspam format. Plots and mod-run events in the game are meant to be in actionspam format to keep a brisk pace.

Free-for-all Post. This event will be in "free-for-all" format, meaning that threadhopping is encouraged and that threading should be treated in the same conversational way as network posts.

Cursed Weapons/Powers: Players don't have to play it out unless they want to, but the Elves can sense cursed weapons and "cursed" beings, such as Necromancer mage types, vampires, werewolves, etc. If players want to play out their character having to talk the Elves into letting them in, they can and the mods will npc the Elves. Please hit the "NPC ENCOUNTER" post if you want to play this out and describe what your character is in the action brackets.
coiledscales: (I see you)

[personal profile] coiledscales 2018-06-05 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Alacruun is, of course, a dragon. A black dragon. Which means he doesn't exactly look like he belongs, especially since he's also brimming with those good ol' necromantic energies.

He doesn't stop to ask for permission, of course. He belongs with the rest of the group, doesn't he?
]
wildernpcs: (elves - Elrohir)

[personal profile] wildernpcs 2018-06-10 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
These are truly the strangest of all times, when dragons are chosen to save worlds instead of ravage them, and come expecting to freely walk my father's halls.

[The speaker would be clearly a son of Elrond even if he hadn't said as much, with his twilight-dark hair and night-grey eyes, narrowed in suspicion at Alacruun.

Another elf, identical in appearance to the speaker, joins him in barring Alacruun's way into the Last Homely House. The brothers arms are crossed, their stances not inviting battle, but neither do they invite Alacruun to pass.]
coiledscales: (I see you)

[personal profile] coiledscales 2018-06-10 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Am I not a guest?

[ Alacruun cocks his head to one side and then the other, examining the pair of elves with bright eyes and just a hint of a smile in his voice. ]

Or are elves, too, given to ignoring the rules of hospitality?
wildernpcs: (elves - Elrohir)

[personal profile] wildernpcs 2018-06-13 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Whether you are a guest or not remains to be seen.

[Elrohir folds his arms beside Elladan, the brothers' expressions identically stalwart as Elladan takes up his brother's speech left off.]

It may remain to be seen until such time as you have left this house. One who comes to our door in the form of a dragon we can hardly assume is our ally. No one whose magic carries such an air of death has ever passed these doors.
coiledscales: (Default)

[personal profile] coiledscales 2018-06-13 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
I was born a dragon, so I hardly think that it's fair of you to judge me on such - anymore than it would be on me to prejudge you for being elves.

[ Alacruun's voice carries the hint of a smile. ]

As for my magic - well. Death is a part of life; we all die. And if my magic taps into it, does that truly make me worthy of scorn?
wildernpcs: (elves - Elrohir)

[personal profile] wildernpcs 2018-06-18 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
In our experience - yes.

[The two brothers have not unbarred the way yet.]

Do you expect us to judge by your experience, or by ours? We would protect our father's house from that which has been nothing but a threat in the history of our world.

[Elladan nods as his brother speaks.]

If you are not that threat, then you are not worthy of scorn, yet necromancers and dragons in our experience have been worthy of only far worse. Your words say you have considered the same for elves, yet this is our father's house to protect, not yours. Understand, then, that we will be watching.
Edited 2018-06-18 05:20 (UTC)
coiledscales: (damned souls)

[personal profile] coiledscales 2018-06-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Of course. You have... a right to be wary of your halls. But I would like to be treated with courtesy, all the same.

[ His eyes flicker between them, studying their faces. ]

We come from vastly different worlds. Things are... not quite the same.