Fly The Fellowship! ån RP game

[Galadrihell]

... all the way to Mordor, just as should have happened in the classic story!

As we all know, obviously Elrond should have simply summoned the Eagles to Rivendell and the fellowship could have flown directly to Mount Doom and dropped in the Ring, maybe Frodo, thus avoiding all of the nonsense we have come to love and dissect in detail. Here we’ll play it out How It Should Have Ended style...

How will this work?

You will progress around a board in order to get to Mordor! In theory this will be a straight line, obviously, because Eagles can travel as the crow flies. Even faster, in fact. Except that, of course, every round there will be prompts to respond to based on a die roll, which may not result in the smooth and efficient trip that you may have hoped for...



What do I, the keen and enthusiastic player, do?

Sign up by making your opening RP post! You may play either as an Eagle, or a member of the Fellowship, or Gollum, or ... well, literally anyone, I don’t really care (although I do think it would be extra fun to have people playing the Fellowship and Eagles). But I will have full godmode powers, and nobody else will.

You are set in Rivendell in square F1.

You don’t need to choose a square - I’ll just use this to tell you where you are.

RULES

No all bold, please!
Mark OOC as OOC
Sil will GM, nobody else to godmode
First Eagle/Fellowship member to make it all the way across the board “wins”
Why yes, you may RP multiple characters during this
State your last square location in bold at top of post

[KingODuckingham]

Rivendell F1

Gandalf the Grey

Well, Elrond had finally seen the light. When Gandalf had come zooming in on an Eagle all the way from Isengard, it had opened everyone's eyes to the advantages of air travel. It was now uncontrovertible, undeniable proof of the power of the eagles. Gandalf had been urging Elrond to get on board, literally and figuratively, for years, but it had been excuse after excuse. Oh, it's too expensive. It's too dangerous. What if the eagles crash into each other? Won't the powers of evil notice? Et cetera, ad nauseam, and other such Sindarin or whatever phrases in whatever garbage language these thrice accursed Elves spoke. The time had come though, as it usually does: as a crisis. The silver lining of this whole end of the world because Sauron will get the ring business was that the Fellowship could finally take eagles to Mordor! Now where was his dratted Fellowship, and for that matter, where were the eagles? He would have sworn one was right there last he had turned around, but now...

Gandalf removed his hat to scratch his head wearily.

[Baphởmet]

Starting at F1, naturally

Unceremoniously called up from his well-deserved time off, Laiquaninwion flapped angrily toward Rivendell. When he was learning to fly, his mother would often tell him not to fly angry, but as he grew older, he decided he knew better and flew angry most of the time. They hadn’t even told him why he was supposed to go to Rivendell, which only served to increase his annoyance. The eagle lords couldn’t just leave him in peace with his rat collection, could they? No, it was not weird that an eagle had a rat collection, thank you, and no it’s not a phase. Grownup simply didn’t understand him, and they never would. He would have rebelled and flown even further south if he could, but it was none other than Gwahir that voluntold him to go, suggesting that the journey and the mission he would receive later would be “build his character”. What a farce! What was he supposed to tell the Lord of the Eagles though? No? One didn’t tell the Lord of the Eagles no. It was a terrible, bleak, depressive fact of life. He would never be out from under the thumb (foreclaw?) until he was older. He screeched his unbridled angst at the sky. The harsh cry pierced the air and sent a flock of doves scattering in all directions. That brightened his mood, but he was still sullen and grumpy. This had better be good and there had be something good to eat, he heard they had the best lamb in the world at Rivendell. Though that was probably a lie to, another way for the Eagle to keep him down, keep him scrambling and clawing for something that doesn’t exist.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb the Eagle at F1

Maecheneb had been waiting her entire life for this! It felt like forever, but as an Eagle who was considered less than an Adult by avian standards still, it was not quite forever. In fact, it was not even close.

Still, she wanted to be sent on a magnificent Quest in which she, Maecheneb, would star as the ultimate Savior of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. And so, with a few short wing-flaps from the heights of the Eyrie, she found herself in the Valley of Imladris. The time of the Elves is over...time for the Eagles to take Center Stage in this drama comedy adventure? I guess we'll see how it pans out.

She landed with grace and elegance, tucked her wings in about herself and lifted her beak with pride. Then she preened her talons as if she had not a care in the world. It was all an act because her attention was rapt and intensely focused on one Gandalf the Grey, whom she really wanted to call dibs on before anyone else got to. She ignored Laiquaninwion for the moment. More than likely, that reluctant Eagle had to be pried from his nest to fly all the way here. She'd shake her head with disdain at him if she were not attempting to look calm, cool and casual.

[Menolly]

Samwise Gamgee starting at F1

Sam sighed as he stared off to the east, squinting at the faint line of mountains in the far distance. He had agreed to this, had persuaded the Big Folk in charge to let him come along even, but he still felt misgivings gnawing at him. His heart belonged in the Shire, and his feet belonged in the soil of his garden, and while this elvish food and drink was all quite good, his stomach had some objections to how fancy it all was. There were no more feasts waiting for a while once they left Rivendell though, that was for sure and certain.

He was checking his pack again, making sure it had as many provisions as he could possibly manage, when an enormous bird (Maecheneb) landed not too far away and fixed its stare on Gandalf. Sam's eyes grew wide and he tugged on Gandalf's sleeve. "Is that an eagle?" he whispered, unnerved by its enormous beak and talons.

[Galadrihell]

Elrond looked around at the assembled Fellowship and Eagles and beamed beneficently. Weeks of Gandalf’s nagging had finally paid off and Elrond had come round (as had the Eagles). Why hadn’t he seen it before? This plan was absolutely foolproof and would completely smash the Enemy out of the water.

Absolutely Fool of a Took-proof.

“Well,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “we have at least some of the Fellowship, and some Eagles... so why don’t you get cracking and I’ll send any latecomers after you?”

(No doubt available characters Boromir, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Frodo, and Bill the Pony were simply indulging in Second Breakfast.)

UPDATE ONE!

@KingODuckingham Gandalf rolls a 5 and moves to F2.
You are off to an excellent start! You stride off and vault up onto your eagle: apparently without a second glance or thought for Frodo you and your feathery friend soar dramatically into the distance.

Not too long later you find yourself stopping for a rest in the Mountains... close to Goblin-town. What do you do, how do you prepare for possible Goblin trouble?

@Call of Bearthulhu Frosty Eagle rolls 2 and moves to E1!

You also soar dramatically out of Rivendell not far behind Gandalf, but you seem to have taken a wrong turning - all these mountains really look quite similar, don’t they? Hmm, it appears you’re in the Trollshaws... let’s hope you don’t meet any trolls.

@Lailyn Maecheneb Eagle rolls 3 and stays put at F1!
Responsibly, you decide to wait around - perhaps for the actual Ringbearer, perhaps you’d just like some second breakfast before you go on your Quest? Feel free to ask Elrond any personal or accusatory questions whilst you wait.

@Menolly Sam rolls 2 and moves to E1 - and flies off with presumably Eagle Laiquaninwion in the direction of the Troll-shaws! Oo-er, this is a new and probably terrifying experience for Sam. Good job you’ve packed for the journey, right?

NEWCOMERS STILL WELCOME! I wonder who even has the Ring? If Frodo doesn’t turn up we’ll pretend one of youse has it.

[Baphởmet]

At E1

It would serve all of the eagles that sent him on this mission right if he were to die. Stupid mountains that all look the same! If he had fists, Laiquaninwion would be shaking them right now. Of course he didn’t and none of the eagles would care if he did so anyway. They just didn’t understand him. “Screw it!” he screeched as loud as he could before realizing exactly where he was. “Well shire,” he tweeped. Yes, a majestic golden eagle tweeped. He had nothing better to do. He was going in the wrong direction. He was sure his father would make a very bad pun about there being only One Direction and Laiquaninwion would want to die of embarrassment. He was in the Trollshaws. Hopefully they were all under bridges or dealing with goats. Mmmmmm goat. Maybe that’s what he needed to help him focus Self-care and all that.

[Galadrihell]

Update 2

I can, from this, clearly conclude that the Eagles would have failed to get the Fellowship to Mordor because, in their immortal complacency, they would have all slept in

@Ambivalent Octopus Frost rolls a 5 and Lai avoids the trolls- moves to E2! Here you may rest in the Eagles’ Eyrie and have some food, overlooking Goblin Town. Can you see what they’re up to?

@KingODuckingham you didn’t update: attracted by your inattention you are being assaulted by goblins oh no what do you do

@Lailyn you did not update and have eaten so many elvish blueberry waffles you feel sick! Best ask Elrond for a tonic or quietly go throw up somewhere.

@Menolly Alas sweet Sam, your eagle flew off without you when you slept in! Do something to attract the attention of another Eagle!

[Nessa Saelind]

The Left and Honourable Peregrin "Pippin" Took dragging his cousins Frodo and Merry along for the Eagle Express ride
Starting at F1

It’s a truth universally {by universally the chronicler of this adventure, of course, means Hobbits} acknowledged that a Hobbit in search of an adventure {The concept and definition of adventure vary depending on whom you ask. Some, and by some We mean elves, men and dwarves, define adventure as going to steal, pardon, return shiny jewellery to their rightful owner(s) and slaughtering a couple of million creatures along the way… But what’s is killing millions of creatures compared to the incandescent light of shiny objects? Clearly, when you put shiny objects (jewellery especially) and lives on a scale, for some (who shall, of course, remain nameless), shiny things trump lives… It is what it is. Truth is truth. What you do with it is up to you. Now, for others and adventure is walking to Mordor and throwing a Ring of Power (notice that it’s also a shiny piece of jewellery), which is in Our opinion a completely idiotic plan (the walking to Mordor part, not throwing a Ring of Power into a volcano; that deserves an essay in which I shall… of its own), but alas, nobody asked this chronicler’s opinion. Yet I’m still giving it to you, for it is I, your chronicler, who is writing down this saga so I might as well insert some interesting marginalia on these pages. For education purposes, not because the chronicler is salty or anything… Clearly, the grand adventuring folk of all races have never adventured on a shortcut to mushrooms, because if they had we wouldn’t be having this discussion would we now?} needs to fortify themselves with breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, and if all possible lunch too.

This is exactly what Pippin Took was doing. He had learned his lesson about meals and adventuring the hard way. Adventuring Big Folk didn’t really know or didn’t understand or simply didn’t care (he couldn’t decide what was worse) about civilised concepts of breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, tea, supper and dinner. It was all break your fast at dawn with something, then walk, walk, walk some more, walk almost until sunset… Then make camp and eat something before it’s your turn to sleep or keep watch… Folk might call him Fool of a Took behind his back and to his face, but Peregrin “Pippin” Took, son of Paladin Took, was no simpleton. He would not be going to this mission, quest, thing hungry. Furthermore, he would make sure his and everyone else’s packs were (for lack of a better word) packed with food. Sure flying on an eagle would get you to Mordor faster than walking to Mordor would, but that didn’t mean you didn’t have to eat. Who knew if there were going to be rest stops along the way? And where would they be and if food will be available at those rest stops? This “Absolutely Fool of a Took-proof” plan was beginning to show some Emmentaler sized holes in it.

After he had judged that he had fortified himself with enough food and that his pack was sensibly filled (the food to clothes and toiletries ratio going in favour of food) he put his backpack on and went to the prearranged departure spot. Only to discover that, to his shock and horror, amusement and surprise half the party left without Frodo! You know Frodo, Frodo Baggins the current Ringbearer, the one who was supposed to throw the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. Awkward much.

Pippin sighed. “There must be someone with intelligence in this party,” he said under his breath and went to look for Frodo and Merry. “So much for Gandalf and his remarks on my intelligence and being chosen for the Fellowship,” he said sotto voce. “At least I didn’t leave behind the most important person of this mission, quest, thing...”

Walking purposefully, but quietly as only Hobbits can he found both of his cousins relatively quickly. They were in one of the many dining rooms of the Last Homely House. It would appear that both of them had the same fortifying idea as he did, only he was way ahead of them. {Like We mentioned, someone with intelligence in this party.} And he chose the kitchens rather than the dining room. Why wait for food to come to you when you can come to the food.

“You’re late,” he told them as he entered the dining room properly. “A third of our fellowship has already departed,” he said and saw the surprised look on their faces. “So much for sticking together… Can’t be helped. Best finish your fortifications and follow me, we have an eagle or 3 to catch.”

[Baphởmet]

At E2

Great. Lai was called back the Eagle’s Eyrie. He was in trouble. Again. He was pretty sure he was innocent of any of the crimes they were going to accuse him of, but just in case he started to devise some excuses mid-flight. “It’s not my fault” only works a few dozen times before the elders start getting suspicious. Lai was innocent of course, unless they were going to bring up the time he exchanged Gwaihir’s orc bone collection with some smelly goat thigh bones, then that might have been him. Come on, it was just a bit of fun, they were making a mountain out of a molehill. Speaking of, before he arrived he wanted to eat something, there was no way they’d feed him up there, not without comments on his weight. Either he was getting too heavy or he was skin and bones. They were never happy, always picking at him. He swooped down, grabbed a screaming mole out from its hole and chomped it in midair. It was going to be messy, but if he was late he’d never hear the end of it.

He was in no mood to get lectured by a bunch of grey feathered on codgers on proper etiquette and manners and punctuality. Who cares about manners! Or being on time! They never get onto that wizard dude, he always “arrives precisely when he means to.” What a load of eagle shire. They never let him get away with anything, bunch of authoritarian mules!

He landed, intentionally crashing into several of the eagles on duty who were too busy watching Goblin-town to pay attention to him. Serves them right! Wait… what was going on over there? Maybe he could eat one. Hmm, but he’d just eaten. He puked up the mole bits (which landed on someone he was sure) and was ready to dine on goblin.

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck
Starting at F1

Where Pippin was Merry was sure to follow it was often that way, and of course between him and Pip they managed to keep track of Frodo very well in the Shire, and had managed to get him to Rivendell. More or less in one piece. There had of course been a small issue with some barrow whites and a Nazgul but honestly nobody had died. And that was nothing to sneeze at. After all while he was a Brandybuck his adventures did tend to stay much closer to the Shire up until Frodo had gotten some rather shiny and dangerous jewelry.

He wasn't entirely sure about this eagle plan, nor that it would be Fool of a Took Proof but he was quite small and the eagles were quite big and he wasn't about to say to an eagle that could very likely tear him to bits with beak and talon and he debated on going back to the kitchen to get some undried meat to make sure that his eagle was sufficiently bribed into not harming him. "Well Pip looks like we are about to be off, should we make sure Frodo gets on an eagle before we take off because he seems to be later than I am." He asked having studied several maps so at least if the eagle didn't know where they were going he would at least be able to point out where they should be going as long as well - the maps were somewhat accurate.

Things might look quite different on the back? In the talons? He hoped on the back, of an eagle. He did look around as Pippin mentioned that part of the fellowship had already departed. "So much for a Wizard never being late or early."

[Raisins]

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Starting at F1

Bill was quite content in his little stable stall eating the hay and oats that the elves had provided for him. He'd gotten a lovely brushing his mane had been de-tangled there were of course a few ribbons and bells in his hair but what could one expect of Elves? Exactly. So the little chestnut pony rested comfortably in his stall completely and blissfully unaware of the plan that was being dreamed up by Lord Elrond. If Bill had had his say he'd have said no. That walking was much better, and that ponies were not meant to fly on anything other than their own four hooves.

He heard the bell and pricked his ears and gave a snort sniffing at the air, thinking the Council of Elrond was beginning, he'd heard other elves talking about it, and figured that soon he would have to leave his rather comfortable stable with its nice clean and soft straw and oats and grooming and other horses to talk to. After all someone had to be the rock in this fellowship. It certainly wasn't that whinging child known as Frodo, and nobody carried their share and then some of the load like Bill did.

It was in fact a week after that bell rang that finally Bill, slightly fatter from putting away several good handfuls of oats and a large quantity of hay daily was led from his stable stall, and fitted with a bridal and some sort of strange harness and some supplies not nearly as many as he would have expected. He snorted suspiciously at this. Something was strange about this and he looked around the little bells jingling as he tossed his head looking about for Sam and that whingy hobbit Fro something. Bill disliked his whinging and his lack of carrying things. He stomped his little hoof just thinking about it only for his eyes to go wide showing their whites and his ears pinned back seeing a great blood eagle that looked like a dragon compared to poor small Bill the Pony. He let out a whinny and reared up letting the thing know that he was not for eating but Elrond of all people came and explained to him that no he was not for eating, that no he'd not been fattened up for this eagle to have a tasty horse treat but because they'd possibly need a ride home if the eagles got tired on the way to Mordor and decided to leave them there.

OF COURSE he was the back up plan. He kept his ears pinned back and bit at Elrond snorting and stomping angrily letting the elf know that 'I am not the back up plan. I am the plan what are you on about.' But Elrond and the other elves were having none of his complaining about it. And soon the unvalarly large eagle was in the air and had his great ruddy feet around Bills girth. and with a powerful blast and a terrified whinny Bill was airborne.

Gwaihir for his part worked hard to stay aloft, for Bill was a sensible well fed pony. "You didn't need to eat so much you're hurting my wing. I'm going to have a word with Gandalf about this, no amount of golden crowns or him fixing my wing after that nasty arrow makes me having to carry a fat pony to Mordor dignifying."

Bill for his part hung limply head down, somewhat wishing that the eagle would eat him. After all he was already whining worse than that Frodo character. Honestly this is what one gets for being reliable he thought with a dejected snort.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb the Eagle not getting very far, still at F1 feeling a little blue
"Why don’t you get cracking and I’ll send any latecomers after you?”

...

Elrond does not know that Maecheneb does not, cannot and will not take orders from Elves (Half-Elven, Full-Elven, 3/4 Elven, whatever) and certainly not from ones with the Eyebrows of Doom. Does he not know that she is a majestic Eagle who follows her own whims and is here on account of attaining her own glory? To earn the name Maecheneb the Mighty, to supplant Gwaihir as Wind-lord and to become Queen of the Skies herself!

But Elrond has something she wants...the valley had recently played host to a Culinary Contest and rumors of the delicious (and sabotaged) fare reached her at the Eyrie. Today, there are blueberry waffles on the menu. How did Elrond know waffles are one of her favorite foods besides her usual fare of lamb, sheep and deer?

When she thinks no one is looking, Maecheneb dips her beak in a bit of syrup, delicately drizzles it atop the delectable breakfast dish, and begins to eat. (Meanwhile, Gandalf, Laiquaninwion and Sam disappear into the skies. Oops.) Gwaihir arrives (because OF COURSE he does!) and she gobbles up the last of the food in a hurry to beat him to whatever he has planned.

It is a mistake. There is a swirling in her crop. Then again and again until she expels mushy blue goo everywhere. An Eaglet might appreciate it as a tasty meal. No one else is likely to. So much for Maecheneb the Mighty...

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

Frodo, the exhausted hobbit

When his quiet breakfast at Rivendell was interrupted by the arrival of Pippin saying something about being late and that some eagles had already departed, he sighed, and with one last longing look at the table full of food, he stuffed his pockets with some dried fruit and nuts and dejectedly followed Pippin and Merry out of the dining hall. He was still uncertain about this eagle plan, though he had heard tales from Biblo about his adventure with the eagles. They seemed to be interesting folk, but Frodo wasn't certain how he felt about heights and eagles soared to such high ones. In the distance, he could just see a few eagles up in the air and something deep down in him told him that on one of those eagles sat Sam. Frodo shook his head. "Sam," he muttered, "of course you could hop on an eagle's back the first chance you got."

Once again, he sighed and waited to be told which eagle he should expect to carry him and the Ring to Mordor.

[Galadrihell]

Update 3

@Nessa Saelind Pippin at F1, Rivendell. Roll 6, fly to G2. You’re making excellent progress and soar off, setting down by the River Ninglor just in time for lunch!

@Ambivalent Octopus Lai at E2, Eyrie roll 5 and fly off to F2. You’re going in the Right Direction, but you’re by Goblin town - be wary! Do you spot any goblins?!

@Fuin Elda Merry at F1 in Rivendell roll 6. You, with Pippin, make it to G2. It’s all going swimmingly!

Bill (and Gwaihir) at F1 in Rivendell roll 5 and also fly to F2. You meet up with Lai in goblin town. Bill doesn’t like the smell of goblins...

@Lailyn Maecheneb at F1 in Rivendell roll 4 - you still haven’t managed to leave Rivendell after your blueberry disaster. The kindly Elves have given you a draught to make you feel better, but it’s making you feel kind of.. spacey...

@Dimcairien Luiniel Frodo at F1 in Rivendell roll 1. Poor, sweet Frodo hasn’t managed to ask Gandalf which direction Mordor is and you and your Eagle are somehow in D1. The Ettenmoors. Which are also infested with Trolls. Good job you know how to deal with them from your uncle’s stories, right??

@KingODuckingham : Gandalf did not update is still being assaulted by goblins. Fading fast.

@Menolly : Samwise did not update and has still not managed to grab another Eagle’s attention. Better step it up!

[Baphởmet]

At F2

At last! Lai was finally on the move and going in the right direction. He didn’t want to do this stupid mission but at least he didn’t have any other eagles looking over his shoulder and telling him to straighten his posture or stop frowning all the time. Yes, the quest was for the pigeons, why couldn’t the Fellowship just walk to Mordor? They had legs, right? This was a huge plot hole. If he cared (which he didn’t because this was all lame) he would ask one of the Elder Eagles why they had to continuously save the featherless folks butts when they did something dumb like willing go into the evil wizard’s tower. Anyway, on with the mission. Was he carrying anyone? Lai hadn’t actually bothered to check. He was holding someone but he couldn’t really tell who it was. They looked dead. Was it Boromir? No, it looked more like Ned Stark. Wait, no, it was Sharpe. But Sharpe wasn’t dead, maybe Ulrich, the guy from Black Death? Or 006 from Bond? They were all dead.

Wait… no, he wasn’t dead, just asleep. Good thing too, they were coming up on Goblin town and the goblins were out and about! Lai tried to fly higher to avoid the goblins but the weight he was carrying was making him unbalanced. He tumbled and fell and, yep, now he’s dead. There was a tense moment of awkwardness that settled over Lai. On the one hand, this was not his fault, the guy clearly ate too many lembas breads before taking off, and Lai never wanted to do this in first place! What did they think was going to happen?

Oh no. He’d been sighted! A goblin child (or puppy or kitten, what did one call a young goblin?) peaked out of the bushes and looked at him with intense, weird, yellow eyes. Lai looked back. The goblin kept staring. Lai stared back.

Had… had he just adopted a pet?

[Nessa Saelind]

The Right and Honourable Peregrin "Pippin" Took picked up by Meneldor, one of the eagle chieftains, heading in the right direction
Location: at G2

Pippin observed his cousins as they moved towards the designated takeoff site. {Please refer to Document 1 in your folders. For the record Document 1 is a partial map of Middle Earth at the end of the Third Age divided into 20 by 11 squares. Point A (marked with a red star) is the designated takeoff site located at F1.} Merry seemed cheerful enough, moving briskly and with purpose. Frodo, on the other hand, looked more like a hobbit who was going to be hanged by the neck for robbing the Shire’s food storage. Not exactly the mood you want to be in when you have to fly to Mordor on the back of an eagle to drop a shiny piece of jewellery into a volcano and save Middle Earth… Or perhaps exactly the right mind-frame when you need to fly to Mordor on the back of an eagle to destroy the Ring of Power by dropping said shiny piece of jewellery into a volcano and save Middle Earth…

Eh, to each their own. As long as this Fellowship and its Ringbearer finally got moving, preferably in the right direction. Speaking of moving {or at least writing of moving, well both is good since the Thain is speaking and I, Držiha the chronicler, am writing this down} the tripartite of hobbits arrived at the prearranged departure spot where 3 eagles awaited them. It was time for the hobbits to do a preflight check.

Preflight check consisted of:

• Choose your eagle/hobbit. – For this adventure, the Right and Honourable Peregrin “Pippin” Took had the privilege to fly on the back of Meneldor, one of the eagle chieftains.
• Greetings and salutations.
• Check your baggage and pockets to make sure the content of said baggage and pockets are ESA approved. Safety first and foremost!
• Check the weather conditions and consult your maps.
• Check if there are possible obstructions in the sky (other birbs, flying objects, winged beasts of foul nature and the like). If all clear, proceed to the next step.
• With as much dignity as you can, climb on to the back of your designated eagle, hold on tight, but don’t pinch!
• If one is so inclined now is the time to say a Hail Varda or Hail Manwë since you're riding on the back of his eagles.
• Soar off into the heavens!

Three eagles carrying three hobbits flew from Rivendell at the same time, the air rushing over their passengers. However, soon it became apparent that not all eagles and their passengers flew in the same direction. Perhaps someone had neglected to go through the preflight checklist, or the odds weren’t in their favour.

It was a fair day, with little wind. Perfect weather for flying, as Meneldor informed Pippin. The adventurous Took didn’t have a lot of experience with flying himself unless you counted flying a kite as flying experience… However, the hobbit did agree with the wise eagle chieftain's assessment. It was a fine day for flying, not too hot and not too cold. All you needed was a light jacket. Well, you needed a light jacket if you were a hobbit/human/dwarf/elf maybe? on the back of an eagle, because eagles certainly didn’t need jackets.

Meneldor flew too high, making reference points indistinguishable for Pippin. The hobbit wasn’t overly concerned for the eagle seemed to know where he was going, and besides maps and routes were Merry’s thing. Not that Pippin was a complete Fool of a Took, he was quite aware of the importance of maps and navigation, thank you very muchly. Hence the addition of an astrolabe and a compass in his backpack. Mind you they were stashed in a pair of clean socks that were wrapped in a clean tunic and tucked away under a lot of food, because hobbit priorities, but at least he had the good sense to bring them.

Navigational instruments aside Meneldor flew his passenger in the right direction. {The fact that the right direction happened to correspond with a good rest stop for lunch was an added bonus.} After a good while {however much time that is} Meneldor and Merry’s (currently unnamed) eagle saw the point they were making for and began their descent. Excellent eyesight those birds have! In addition to good timing and excellent rest stop location. 10/10 would recommend. The eagles landed by the river Ninglor {Please refer to Document 1 in your folders again. On the aforementioned map of Middle Earth the 1st rest stop is marked with a red dot, located at G2.} and Pippin and Merry descended.

“I don’t know how dear Frodo is faring, {Dear reader, I fear he is faring rather poorly ATM.}” Pippin said thoughtfully to Merry. “But it looks like we’ve landed on a fine spot to have some lunch. The weather is nice, we have plenty of water… So far, so good.”

{Famous last words.}

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: G2

Indeed take off went well Merry didn't even tumble backward, though he did get caught staring at Gwaihir as he took off with Bill the Pony. It was quite a sight. Of course he had been polite enough to ask the eagle his name. Merry also asked if he would like a snack as he'd brought some eagle friendly food as per the elves suggestions. The mighty bird twisted his head and looked at Merry and then at the pack on the tiny creatures back and then at Merry and said no that he would fetch his own snacks should he need one but it was kind of him.

Somehow both he and Pippin seemed to have the best eagles of the lot, though honestly Gwaihir was having to carry Bill who was quite a heavy load after being fed and rested in the stables so one should probably not comment on that the Windlord was being a bit slow with his own flight.

"I think we are doing quite good so far Pippin, we've already cleared the Misty Mountains, though I don't know where Frodos gone off to." Merry said looking around before the two birds that seemed to be flying together quite nicely began their decent so that the could have a lovely lunch and not get crumbs on the birds backs. Something that would honestly be quite rude given how well these birds were flying them, pity they didn't have the ring with them. Though they did hope that Frodo and his own eagle that they had not caught the name of would catch up shortly.

Indeed Merry pulled out an entire bit of lamb that he'd brought to offer his gracious flying companion, and at the site of it Landroval did in fact accept this treat (LAMB without being shot at by woodsmen. What a notion.) Before digging in to find his own biscuits and fruit and of course his pipe and pipeweed pouch. He had a lovely relaxing smoke offering a pinch to Pippin of course before putting it away so that they could be on their way once more.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location F2 Goblin Town

Bill was hanging limply from the talons of Gwaihir who was doing a quite impressive job of NOT dropping the rotund little pony. Occasionally Bill would look up at the eagle as he flew wanting very very much for this entire thing to be a terrible ordeal to all be a nightmare. Unfortunately so far it was not the least the elves could have done was make sure he had a feed bag on his muzzle to give him something to do during this flight. No snacks for the poor pony.

It didn't take long though and soon Bill found something far worse than being in the grips of a mighty eagles talons (which honestly were starting to poke at his belly uncomfortably but that was no longer the worst thing) Goblins. Bill could smell them from here and he let out a whinny and snort and shook his head. If he'd been on solid ground he'd have stamped his hooves and run away, instead he got told to quit moving around so much that he was making it harder to hold him.

'Bloody bird can't you smell the goblins?' Bill snorted and Gwaihir looked at him with a golden eye and then turned it to the ground. "No but I can see one." Gwaihir circled a bit. "I don't suppose you care to lighten the load abit?" Gwaihir asked the pony who blinked at the idea. That would be... interesting. With that he raised his tail and did as Gwaihir suggested. The goblin never saw it coming (after all who would expect horse manure to hit you on the head when you were up part of a mountain and there wasn't a horse in sight but there was a great big bloody eagle).

"Excellent shot." Gwaihir cried indeed this might be fun.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb the Eagle somehow still in Rivendell on F1

How nice of the elves to offer her a tonic! She takes the turquoise draught in a single swallow. At first, she feels much better…but then it hits her! The world swirls around her, sounds become distant and muffled like she is underwater (though has no idea this is what it is like of course) and all the colors become brighter and more vibrant...and a series of visions sear inside her head...

There are a great many questions in the History of Middle-earth, not least of all this burning one: Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell? One might ask the same of the Eagles...where were they when…

• -The Kinslaying Parts 1, 2 and 3 went down

• Nargothrond was sacked

• Turin Turambar...well...tried to make friends, married his sister, became an outlaw was born and existed and did anything besides just breathe

• Sauron made one shiny precious ring

• Have you been to Numenor? Yep me neither.

• gosh this list is so long an Ent (and me) will probably get bored soon..

• That time Maedhros was chained to a volcano...oh wait! An Eagle did show up that time.

• Also-- when Gondolin fell!! Haha so we Eagles have done SOME things. Guess we are the same level of helpful as most of the Valar...(not you, Ulmo, stay awesome )

Maecheneb sees these failings of her brethren as visions within the turquoise haze and when they finally finish, she is newly determined to see this thing Ring through to the fires of Mount Doom. Let no one ask where the Eagles were when the Ring needed to be destroyed!!!

“I will take the Ring to Mordor!”

Is that supposed to be someone else’s line? She flaps her wings to show her readiness.

OOC: watch her just stay stuck in Rivendell...

[Galadrihell]

Update 4

@Ambivalent Octopus Lai at F2, Goblintown rolls 1. Uh oh. You go off course 2 spaces and fly off to D2, the Ettenmoors! You’re almost in sight of Mount Gundabad. Also, why is there a goblin cuddled up on your back? Did you agree to take him to Gundabad? You’re not a bloody taxi service you know. Or ARE YOU?

@Nessa Saelind Pippin w/Meneldor at G2, Mountains rolls 3. Pippin enjoys his seconds at lunch - so much so that he falls asleep and remains where he is. When he wakes up, Merry and Landroval have gone! Oh dear!

@Fuin Elda Merry w/Landroval at G2, Mountains rolls 6 and is proceeding on course and on time - how unusual for a hobbit. You fly down on to I2, where you gaze upon the beauty of the Mirrormere, just outside Lothlorien. What do you see?

Bill w/Gwaihir at F2, Goblintown rolls 2. Feeling considerably lighter you flap up to E2. It’s not the right way, but Gwaihir is just dying to get to the Eagles’ Eyrie and have a rest. Maybe a wing massage. Bill is still heavy.

@Lailyn Maecheneb at F1, Rivendell rolls 4 and... you guessed it... she’s still staying in Rivendell. Incredible. You couldn’t make this up. Lindir is trying to rope you into a pyramid scheme and you have to evade him before you can be on your way. Do you sign up to Lindir’s Lovely Locks, the shampoo guaranteed to give you elf quality hair if you buy 30 bottles to distribute?!

@Dimcairien Luiniel Weary Frodo is at D1 in the Ettenmoors. Can he evade the trolls!?

@KingODuckingham Gandalf is still being beaten up by goblins,

@Menolly and no Eagles have yet rescued Sam...

Edit because I forgot where Frodo was oop

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: I2 The Mirrormere

Well lunch was over and Pippin seemed to be having a nap, Merry wasn't too terribly concerned they were making absolutely excellent time as far as he was concerned so he let Pip and his eagle have a rest.

Apparently the leg of lamb treat was well worth it as Landroval took off and Merry almost tumbled curly toe hairs over noggin off his back but managed to stay on the birds back. He did profusely apologize for pinching a few feathers in his attempt to stop his tumble. Honestly eagles were worse than boats. He wiggled his way back up to where he had been and sat and enjoyed another fairly quick flight all things considered this would have taken him weeks to get to get this far as they descended once more. This time to look into Mirrormere.

"Tea and BISCUITS!" Merry cried as he looked at the still dark pool which was exactly what he saw in the stars that reflected in the deep waters that had once shown Durins crown of stars. Immediately he took out a few biscuits he had packed and ate them there was no tea to be had and he didn't feel right about lighting a fire and using the Mirrormere to make a cuppa. Some sort of cultural insensitivity that would be he was certain.

Hobbits were simple folk after all but generally not one to be so rude as that. He headed back to Landroval who was preening himself.

"Onwards. I wonder if we'll catch up the the members of the fellowship that took off before us."


Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location E2 The Eyrie

Well this was embarrassing at least to Bill. They were going the wrong way he was certain of it the sun SHOULD be on his face and instead it was on his rump. Gwaihir should be embarassed but honestly when one is a poncy Windlord that does nothing but flap their wings just enough to soar and float about on hot air then really Bill should not be surprised that they'd turned homeward for the eagle. After all even he liked to turn back to the barn or stable at the end of the dday but it was not the end of the day nor anywhere near it.

He did not complain though when Gwaihir set him down on solid although rather HIGH solid ground. It was nice to have rock beneath ones hooves. Bill did have to give him that. The bird however was looking to see where Gandalf was. After all he'd fixed the whole arrow and wing issue perhaps he could give him a nice relaxation massage get the blood flowing in the wing relax the muscles that would be nice.

Unfortunately Gandalf and all of Gwaihirs messengers and other birds it seemed were all off on this bird brained well. Elf brained mission quest sort of thing. So the Wind lord Harumphed in giant bird sat on his nest and eyeballed the fat little pony that was looking at him in a most disapproving manner until he finally got up to get flying again.

[Baphởmet]

At D2

Where do I start? This mission was going poorly. I knew it would. The featherless folk should never have tried to make us carry them to Mordor. There were many reasons for this, foremost being, I have no idea where Mordor is. Not super happy to admit that. I didn’t pay attention in geography class. I was busy doing more important things like writing lyrics for my death metal band (Red Eagles of Death Metal, don’t be fooled by the band with a similar name). Why did it matter where Mordor was? It wasn’t like any of us were going to go there. It was almost as bad as math. I refuse to learn what a hypotenuse is and why right triangles are a thing. Stop trying to make maths happen, they aren’t going to happen. I was going in the wrong direction. I know this. At the moment, it was kind of on purpose. I needed to tell the elders about Boromir. Yeah… I mean, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t my fault he was dead. He was a giant man who squirmed and wiggled far too much. He was also Sean Bean, why saddle me with the guy everyone knows is going to die? That’s totally unfair. Gwaihir should have taken him, then they could blame him. They wouldn’t of course, but at least they wouldn’t be blaming me. I needed to come up with a good story, or at least find a way to tell them that the dude was dead and we were barely out of the gate.

There was also the matter of Jethro the Goblin. Yeah. Don’t ask. I have no idea. He kind of jus appeared out of nowhere and now won’t leave me alone. He jumped on my back as soon as I tried to take off and refused to let go. He just kept saying things like “Jethro like birb, Jethro need birb, Jethro no eat birb” and on and on and on. What was I supposed to do? I know orcs and goblins are “the bad guys” but then doesn’t that just play into the patriarchy that the elders have set up? Should I continue in a cycle of oppression and xenophobia based on misguided stereotypes and paranoia? What if Jethro wasn’t a bad guy? What if he was just an adorably ugly creature that wanted a friend? Should I deny him that based solely on his race? He also plays some mean drums (based mostly on his waving sticks about and smacking trees if I fly too low).

I can see Mt Gundabad from here. It’s a creepy place, dark and broody and mysterious. Jethro seems very nervous around it. I asked him if he wanted to go back home, but he clung on tighter. Maybe he didn’t understand me? He merely repeated his mantra of liking, needing, and not eating birbs. I don’t think he speaks common. I don’t speak it very well either, another class I didn’t think I’d need. I thought dropping him off at his home would be a good idea. Maybe it isn’t though. Jethro is nice, but how sustainable is a friendship between a goblin and a giant eagle?

You know what, I think I can make this work. He’s weird and ugly and shrieky, but so am I. Screw what the elders think. Right, the elders. Gonna have to tell them about Sean Bean, I mean Boromir. Maybe I can practice with Jethro. It’ll be a while before we catch up I’m sure.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb the Eagle
at F1 in Rivendell….still... and picking up Glorfindel, the obvious but overlooked 10th oops 11th member of the Fellowship

She lets Lindir get as far into his sales pitch just so he rubs the shampoo into her scalp-feathers while she croons with pleasure and wonders if he might open a spa in Rivendell. Uhhhh, was there another spa somewhere in the Middle-earth environs? She is much too relaxed to recall just now.

Until he asks her for what feels like the 300th time to buy 30 bottles of shampoo and she stretches up to her tallest height and sends the bottles away with a single swoop of her wing. “No! I have a quest to go on!” She looks around at the assembled elves (hmm no wonder Lindir is so desperate to sell shampoo, looks like everyone here has perfect hair already despite being thousands of years old how does that work?), searching for a good candidate...

“Glorfindel!” She scoops him up in her claws whether he likes it or not.

“We are going to become heroes, you and I! What are the chances we see a Balrog on this quest? I bet you never want to see another one of those again!” Er, was it still Too Soon to joke about Gondolin...?

Pink bubbles foam and fizzle on her head.

[Galadrihell]

Update 5

@Fuin Elda Merry at the Mirrormere I2 rolls 6. You move to M1: that’s right, you’ve flown into Fangorn! The only members of the Fellowship to have got so far, you explore the Forest for a bit... is Treebeard around? What does he have to say about local goings on? See if you can persuade the sleepy Ents to take positive action!

Bill at the Eyrie E2 rolls 1 and flies off to E4. Not quite the right direction, Gwaihir: you’re now over the outskirts of Mirkwood. It’s shadowy and dangerous in here. I think there might even be spiders. Big ones. What will you two do?

@Prometherion : Lai & Jethro at D2 rolls 6 and soar back to F2. This is goblin-town and probably Jethro’s stop. Right? Right?? See if you can find some nice goblins to take him in...

@Lailyn : Maecheneb and Glorfindel at F1 rolls 1. You’re finally off! But the shampoo fumes have made you dizzy (what is even IN that stuff) and you somehow end up at D1. Oh no, this is troll country! Do something, Glorfindel!!

@Dimcairien Luiniel : Frodo: you’re in the Ettenmoors too and see a baffled Glorfindel and Maecheneb nearby...

@Nessa Saelind : Pippin: still having naptime in the mountains!

@KingODuckingham -Gandalf: these goblins sure are tough

@Menolly Sam: poor old Sam.

[Nessa Saelind]

The Right and Honourable Peregrin "Pippin" Took with Meneldor, at G2 having a nap. As you do.

The salted pork was particularly good. The craft beer from the wee barrel that was originally filled in the Green Dragon Inn, then somehow found its way from the Shire to Imladris and from there to Pippin’s pack was even better. {I can see and hear the gears turning in your head. You want to know how the barrel of the Green Dragon’s finest craft beer managed to find its way from the Shire to Imladris? That’s an excellent question wee Timmy! The answer is trade. Contrary to popular beliefs and misconceptions Rivendell was not an isolated island in a sea of stars. It traded with other places in Middle Earth. Goods of all kinds (necessary and luxurious) came and went from the Last Homely House. Thus it came to pass that a variety of ales, lagers, stouts from the Shire found its way to the House of Lord Elrond, the Half-elven.} The sun was shining, the river Ninglor was burbling and the combination of salted pork, Green Dragon beer and a pipe filled with Old Toby was pleasant and relaxing. So relaxing that even before his pipe went out Pippin fell asleep.

~*~

Pippin was dreaming. He was aware that he was dreaming because of two things: in this dreamscape, he was wandering through the library of the unusually quiet Great Smials while holding an astrolabe in his hands. Second, he was looking for the Treatise on the Astrolabe by Theon of Rómenna. Pippin had never heard of Theon of Rómenna, the Númenórean scholar and mathematician whose Treatise on the Astrolabe had not survived the Akallabêth. Nor was it likely that such work would be found in the library of the Great Smials. However, the Tooks were a rather eclectic and eccentric bunch, so works on astrolabes finding their way to the Great Smials wasn’t entirely out of the question.

The silence of the Great Smials wasn’t heavy or oppressive, merely uncanny. The lack of noise in such a large and lively dwelling was unusual and as Pippin wondered about what it all means as he searched the rows of shelves for the manuscript that he knew he would not find. A small step, a movement from one shelf to another and he was no longer in Tuckborough. However, he was still in a library, or at least that’s what he concluded based on the rows of bookshelves that held various leather-bound volumes, scrolls neatly sorted and even clay tablets!

Pippin turned around and walked back hoping to find his way back to the Great Smials, but whatever threshold he passed that brought him from the dreamscape library of the Great Smials to this dreamscape place that might be a library, might be a state archive, was gone. Or he could not find it, astrolabe in hand or not. Strangely he was not afraid, he felt calm and relaxed as he looked up and saw a blue dome…

“It’s full of stars!” the young Took exclaimed fascinated as his voice echoed through the serene space. He watched in admiration the familiar constellations arranged differently as if the artist observed the same stars from another place. Pippin got lost in the sea of stars. Familiar and unfamiliar. A mosaic ceiling, a silver star-chart on lapis lazuli.

In the soft hands of a child
even a map of the stars can withstand
forces that pull and crack.
Continuity persists: uncalloused fingers walk star paths

Verses of a poem, a chant, float in the air along with another melody. The sounds of exotic instruments: yalli tanbur, zurna, harmonium reach him, the arrangement of the melody somewhat familiar, half-remembered, half-dreamed… He does not know how he recognises all of this, but it is a dreamscape so he does. A tall woman of undetermined age, neither young nor old, steps out of the unseen space, her dark boots echoing on the marbled floor. The woman with quicksilver eyes is wearing an eerie black caftan with hellebores embroidered on it with silver thread. Her onyx hair is arranged in a neat, low bun.

“There must be some way out of here,” the words whispered spill out, unintentionally. “There’s too much confusion, I can’t get no relief.” Pippin doesn’t know why those words are the first words he spoke to this mysterious woman, but he feels that they are the right words.

“There are many here among us,” she responds her voice melodious despite its huskiness. “Who feel that life is but a joke, but you and I, we’ve been through that and this is not our fate…”

He blinks uncertainly, confused by her words. What did she mean when she said that this is not their fate and what was this that she was referring to.

“Let us stop talking falsely now…” she continued speaking but her words now come from a great distance. Pippin blinks, surprise and confusion clear on his face. The woman with the hellebores on her kaftan is gone, her words coming to him from a great height. “The hour’s getting late.”

He looks up to the blue dome with silver stars and everything spins. He falls. He wakes up.

~*~

Pippin opens his eyes and for a few heartbeats, he looks into the azure sky. The sound of the Ninglor burbling and small birds chirping reaches his ears. The green grass is soft beneath him and when he pulls himself into an upright position he sees that Merry and Landroval are gone. However, Meneldor was still here, patiently waiting for him to wake up.

“I had the strangest dream,” he says to Meneldor as he packs his things and prepares to fly off on the eagle’s back. “I was in a library…”


Author's note: The keen-eyed among you will recognise the lyrics from All Along the Watchtover, but the first verses mentioned are a slight adaptation from Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: m1 Fangorn Forest

"Ohhh that was a very very strange feeling like we skipped right over several letters." Merry said blinking as they began descending towards the birthplace of Limlight in Fangorn. "Are we going to see the Shepherds of the Forest?" He asked a bit excited he'd heard of them as childrens tales in the Shire but had never seen one. The elves of Imladris had spoken of them too a long time ago as if they were a faded memory. as he slipped off Landrovals back he went about the edge of the glade looking at the old trees, this forest felt very similar to the Old Forest back home.

So Merry decided to talk about the Old Forest to the trees as he'd learned long ago in the old forest that trees quite liked being talked to, and there were happy creaks and groans from the trees themselves and he thought for a moment he saw amber coloured eyes blinking at him as he talked cheerfully about the old forest and picking mushrooms and having picnics under the bows not far into the old woods. Of course he also went on to talk about how a dark menace from the East was threatening the woods and that he was afraid that if they couldn't get their mission, quest, thingy done, as Pippin had once so eloquently put it - that the Old Forest and all forests possibly might fall to the wrath of Saruman and Sauron, since he was no fool and he'd heard Gandalf talking about what Saruman had been doing. And why he had not been at the Prancing Pony when the four hobbits had slipped into Bree.

That seemed to darken the mood of the trees, and he patted the bark of one gently "I know quite a horrible thing, I hope we can save the forests from them, but after all what can one small hobbit and noble eagle do alone against an entire army of creatures much larger and fiercer than us. Well me. Landroval probably could take care of a good number of them but he's still one eagle alone right now." More creaking and groaning. "Well I hope that I'll see you again on my way home, we should probably continue our quest." Merry said giving the woods a wave, even as he thought he saw those amber eyes blink again as he looked at the woods one last time as he clambered back up onto Landroval.

'You are a very strange little hobbit.' The eagle ker kered out twisting his head about to look at Merry.

"I suppose, everyone is always saying the Brandybucks and Tooks are a bit strange, best to live up to the family reputation." Merry said cheerfully as they took to the air once more.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location E4 The Edge of Mirkwood

Honestly. Bill snorted his displeasure at Gwairhirs horrible navigation skills, he couldn't even read maps and he knew they were only vaguely going in a direction that might be correct. They were headed east at least but from his understanding they needed to go a goodly ways south as well. AND of course the eagle was whining about his wings being tired already. As if the great bloody bird was doing all the work. Bill had after all ended the reputation of a goblin by landing a well placed 'apple' on it's head from a height.

Now it looked like Gwaihir was fixing to land in a spiders nest. Nope that was right enough of that, Bill the pony was going to figure out a way to deal with this manically map illiterate eagle if it killed him. With that he twisted his whole neck and stretched his head out as far as he could quite happy that he was a rotund as he was, as it made for far less stretching and far easier to get his teeth onto the toe of the eagle holding him. He was going to steer this eagle by biting him if he had to. With that that he chomped down on Gwaihirs toe in an attempt to steer him south.

'OUCH!' Squawked Gwaihir in a most majestic manner keeping him flapping his wing thinking perhaps a high tree dwelling spider had tried to sting him saving Bill from having to be on the ground surrounded by spiders. Bill was very happy about that.

[Galadrihell]

UPDATE 6

@Nessa Saelind Pippin wakes from his beautiful dream at G2 an moves on course to I2, where you may gaze into the beautiful Mirrormere. What do you see there, dreamy one?

@Fuin Elda Merry and Landroval at M1 move to M2, ever deeper into the Forest. The Trees seem to be in a dark mood after all your depressing talk. There are ominous creakings and branches fall across your path... Quick, do something to cheer them up again!

Bill and Gwaihir at E4 move to F4! You escape from Mirkwood and reach the Carrock! Fortunately, Beorn is delighted to see you as he loves beasts of all kinds. Bill has a party with Beorn’s weirdly sentient ponies who try to convince him to join them in moving furniture and living the high life with Beorn, whilst Beorn plies Gwaihir with mead.

@Prometherion @KingODuckingham @Dimcairien Luiniel @Lailyn @Menolly

and newcomers still welcome!!! Missing Legolas and Boromir and Gimli here

[Lailyn]

Glorfindel with Maecheneb at D1

I did not sign up for this, Glorfindel thinks to himself as the Eagle plucks him up and flies away. I do not appreciate the Eagle’s comment about Balrogs. I avoided a Kinslaying or two, defeated a Balrog, died and returned again-- Go back to Middle-earth, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. You did such a good job the first time.

No one asked me if I wanted to come back! All I want is a nice vacation and a chance to put my feet up and relax for a little while! Killing a Balrog and coming back to life isn’t all that easy, you know.* My master plan has been foiled by a bird. I thought I was so clever. I’d attend the Council and send out these other fools on this hopeless errand to destroy the Ring (ha! good luck) while I got to finally enjoy some downtime, let my hair down and maybe try some of Lindir’s shampoo…on second thought, the Eagle smells a bit like turpentine, so maybe I’ll pass.

Honestly, I should have seen this coming. (Kind of like how I know the Witch-King will not be felled by a man. Don’t ask how I know I just do.) But I didn’t. Here I am in Troll Country with this backwards Eagle who obviously has no sense of direction whatsoever because she flew north instead of south.

“Is this the Ent-enmoors? Are there giant talking tree-people here?” Maecheneb asks and I put my face in my hands in exasperation, unaware how the shampoo has addled her already somewhat incompetent mind.

“It’s the Ettenmoors and there are trolls here, not Ents! Get us out of here quick before one comes out...I don’t feel like dying again today. Or tomorrow. Or anytime soon. And take me back to Rivendell! I am not meant to play a direct role in this story!”

Oh dear...Maecheneb sways a little side to side from where she’s landed for a wee rest and her eyes cross when she looks at Glorfindel. "Galadriel?!” she asks, bewildered and obviously confusing Glorfindel for the Lady of the Wood. “Where did you come from?”

* Author’s note: Gandalf will know eventually, maybe, it depends on how this alternate version of events turns out I guess. Perhaps something for them to bond over in the future?

[Calenaldawen]

Rivendell F1
Gimli

"YOU HAVE MY AXE!" Gimli stormed into the Council of Elrond, swinging his weapon theatrically, expecting to hear a solemn "aye's, the dwarf shall join the Fellowship" from Elrond the Elf. Except... the hall was... empty? Gimli pulled a stained letter from under his braided beard. It spelled "You are cordially invited to the Council of Elrond; Location - Rivendell; Time - when the eagles call strike noon on The Day". Gimli scratched his head. Without him and his Great Axe, the Fellowship would never succeed in reaching Mordor, that was as clear as mithril shone bright. The question was, was everyone else late, or had everyone shown up too early? A shriek from the skies pulled Gimli out of his thoughts. Eagles! The eagles were flying overhead! Gimli grabbed his axe and followed the eagles shadows, out of Rivendell. Squinting his eyes against the bright sunlight, he could make out a pointy hat in the distance. That must be Gandalf. So he was late, but not too late. "Fellows, wait for me!" He shouted as he sprinted towards the wizard's big pointy hat.

[Galadrihell]

UPDATE 7

@Lailyn Maecheneb at D1 moves back to F1! Obedient to Glorfindel’s request, you sail back to Rivendell with him. Hmm. Where is everyone? Wait, is that Gimli?

@Calenaldawen Welcome! We are nearly complete! Gimli at F1 rolls 1 and flies off to F3! You’re making a promising start for a latecomer, following the great Forest Road. It’s a bit unnerving being up this high though, isn’t it?

@Nessa Saelind @Prometherion @Fuin Elda @KingODuckingham @Dimcairien Luiniel @Menolly

[Baphởmet]

Back at F2

Admittedly, it had been fun to soar around with a creepily adorable goblin child (is it a goblinette or gobbling?), but I knew it was time I really had to get going. As much as I hated kowtowing to the nearest authority, I knew I would be in a heaping, steaming pile (we’re talking Thorondor sized) of shire if I didn’t at least look as though I was a part of this quest. Seriously, can I take a break and say who ever thought it was a good idea, having the eagles fly the fellowship didn’t account for… the eagles. We do what we want you featherless dips! You get what you pay for.

Jethro was fun. I couldn’t understand a single word he said, but he was a lot more fun to be around than any of the eagle elders. They were sticks in the mud. Jethro was too, in a more literal sense, the child was covered in mud and sticks, and gods know what else (boogers were copious as well), but at least he knew how to have fun. He filled a water skin with… well I won’t be crass, and dropped in the head of a troll as we zoomed passed. I thought I was going to choke from laughing so much! We knocked a few goblins off a mountain peak and watched them tumble until they popped like grapes against the rocks. A well-aimed stick from Jethro sent a warg into a raging stream. Oh, it was the best time. He knew how to have fun. But when mealtime came around I had a revelation. I had no idea what goblins ate, other the people, and I wasn’t sure how I’d get that for him three times a day. He also needed changing and, yeah, I’m not really up for that (with wings and no hands and all) so… I was heartbroken to have to realize that maybe Jethro was better off with his own kind, or at least until I was done with this mission (should be short since my fellowship member was likely already dead in the next franchise he decided to take part in). I flew to Goblin-town, or as close as I was going to get, and said a tearful farewell. I don’t think he understood a word I was saying, but he cried some pretty ugly snot tears, seriously what is it with goblins and nose drainage? Sorry, not the point. I said goodbye and gave him a wing tap. He gibbered something in a language (I use that term lightly) that I didn’t understand and gave me a rock. I took it and nodded. I had no idea where I was going to keep this rock, but you can be damned sure I was keeping it. I took off back toward Rivendell (I think) and prepared myself to get lectured about accidently dropping people from ten thousand feet in the air. Oh well.

I already miss Jethro.

[Galadrihell]

UPDATE 8

@Prometherion Lai, now unburdened by Jethro, flaps off to F4: the Carrock! Beorn is a great bird-friend of course, plenty of honey to feast on and friends to console you for the loss of Jethro. And there’s bear dancing going on too! Oh how exciting. Don’t forget about your quest though.

@Lailyn @Calenaldawen @KingODuckingham @Menolly @Dimcairien Luiniel @Fuin Elda @Nessa Saelind

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: m2 Fangorn Forest

Well they hadn't really taken off they'd more walked a bit in the woods and Merry realized that these trees seemed to be rather upset at the thought that horrible things might happen to the Forests of Middle-earth because of the ring.

"Ohhh I'm right with you no point in getting mad at me you fantastic looking trees. You may want to talk to your local representatives before the next Ent meeting." Merry said knowing full well about Tree Herders for he was quite a fan of them and had read up about them in Imladris and talked to quite a few elves about them and other things. "I bet you fresh ent draught if enough of you go and tell them you think something needs to be done they will march and perhaps even take you with them if you're so inclined to make sure that such horrible things don't happen. After all in a forest as lovely as this one, you surely must have fantastic ents." He said as bravely as a hobbit surrounded by grumpy angry trees could say anything of the sort. He looked at Landroval who also seemed to agree that it was basically time for them to get out of there. After all he'd just introduced the idea of democracy and beaurocracy to trees. He wasn't entirely certain that that was a good idea either.

"Right my fantastically old friends remember talk to your local ent representative let them know what you think about what's happening in the world to the Forests." With that he leaned close to Landroval. "I think we should get out of here perhaps we can stop in Gondor for another snack I've got another bit of lamb but I don't think this is the wisest place for a snack." He said and hoped that the great eagle would fly them further to the South east.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location F4 The Carrock

Well this was much better than any of the other places that the daft eagle had taken Bill who was happy to have grass covered ground under his hooves this time and other ponies to...

What in Nahars name were they doing? Moving furniture? Dancing about on their hind legs? The dogs were doing the same ridiculous things. Bill shook his head. Quite the sensible pony he simply enjoyed a meal of honey oat cakes - a new favourite though he had no way of making sure he could get the recipe so that he could have them when he finally managed to return safely home for that was indeed the plan when all of this nonsense was over. He also let Gwaihir have several beakfuls of Honey Mead, mostly because the Wind Lords sense of direction couldn't possibly get any worse than it already was. At least they were sort of going in the right direction, he wasn't sure if they were so far behind everyone that they might never catch up or if there were still members of this ridiculous quest behind him.

He of course was answered with the arrival of another eagle, though this one seemed... young. And like he wasn't actually on the mission at all. Bill looked at this newly arrived eagle with suspicion. After all what eagle shows up with NO rider in a quest about carrying the walkers to Mount Doom. Elrond half elven. more like Half drunken if he thought this was a good idea. That said Bill headed to Gwaihir, after all they needed to keep going and the pony wasn't about to allow the eagle to get so drunk that he couldn't take off and figure out which way was South. (thought that was already an issue it seemed) So he gave Gwaihir an nip and whinnied at him that it was time they got a move on. Beorn for his part let out a laugh saying he was a good and reliable pony to which Bill looked at the bear of the man and nodded agreeing with him entirely. He was reliable. Even if his ride was not so reliable. Perhaps the mead would make it so the bird wouldn't complain about how sore or tired he was.

[Baphởmet]

At F4

Well, this sucked. It was less sticky and less smelly now (Jethro wasn’t completely potty trained so there were so near misses), but the world was now a little less fulfilling. I didn’t want a goblette to look after. I still don’t. I just… whatever, it was time to get back on the mission and… what even was the mission anymore? Whatever the Fellowship was and wherever they actually were, they were far, far from me. I was pretty sure of that. So what exactly was I doing? Trying to catch up? Trying to go home? Trying to find Gwaihir and tell him about Sean Bean Boromir? This honey wine’s really, really, really good. And you’re a good listener. For a bear. I mean, not that bears are bad listeners, don’t mean to stereotype or whatnot, but you have a reputation for being a bit, a bit of a stick in the… what’s the word I’m looking for… mud. That’s it, mud. But you aren’t a stick in the mud are you? ‘S’really good mead. Like, really good. You know you should charge for this kinda thing. You’re really good at figuring… out problems. You got like a practice or something? Anyway, I dunno what to do man. I just want to scream and go break things, but I don’t think that would really get to the root of my problems, you know? I think it’s just a metaphor for, for something I dunno. More mead? Hell yeah. Can I rest here tonight? I probably shouldn’t, ah, drink and fly. There’s probably an eagle law against that sort of things. Who knows what, what, what I could run into. Hey, you know what you should do? You should sneak some of this mead into Gwaihir’s water bowl. Think he’d notice? You’re probably right, yeah, yeah responsibility. I got it. Beorn, maybe I was wrong, you are a bit of a stick in the mud. Wait, no! I wasn’t finished with that… well apparently… Cut off? What the hell does that mean? I’m not drunk you’re just a fuddy… duddy. I’m gonna go and do something and I don’t happen to care what you or any other “responsible” adult thinks I should do. Hey, stop it! Don’t tell me what to do! I will not stay here and listen! No! I’m gonna do whatever the hell I want and you’re…

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb with Glorfindel who she thinks is Galadriel at F1

“Well, my Lady of the Golden Wood, if you want to go to Rivendell, you shall!” Maecheneb stretches out her wing for Galadriel Glorfindel to climb aboard. (This is a very intimate gesture of trust from an Eagle; they don’t let just anyone ride on their backs but Galadriel definitely passes the test.)

With such precious and wise cargo, Maecheneb does her best to avoid turbulence, gliding on thermals when she can but a tremendous thunder cloud climbs the sky in a most suspicious manner (some kind of wizardly interference perhaps?) and she switches her Fasten Seatbelt feather to On. “Sorry, I will have to cancel the snack service for the duration of this flight.”

After a harrowing journey, they arrive in the Valley once more and before parting ways, Maecheneb bends down to whisper to Galadriel Glorfindel, “watch out for Lindir. He might ask for your hair.” That was it, right? Something about hair, anyway.

Pleased with herself, Maecheneb preens her ruffled feathers (that storm really was something) and wonders how many stars she will get on her most recent customer satisfaction flight survey. She imagines 7 out of 5, obviously!

[Galadrihell]

UPDATE 9

@Fuin Elda Merry at M2, Fangorn: You set off again but somehow end up drifting into J3 - enchanted by Lothlorien!

Bill at F4, The Carrock. You flap off to F6. You’ve reached Mirkwood! Oh dear, it’s very close and dark in here. Might that be... spiders?!

@Prometherion Drunk Lai at F4, The Carrock. You somehow make it to I4: just outside Lorien. Following the river, you wonder if you could catch some fish?

@Lailyn Maecheneb and Glorladriel at F1: at long last, you get moving... but only to F2. Welcome to GOBLIN TOWN, population, YOU + MANY ANNOYED GOBLINS. Don’t worry, you have a champion elf lord with you.

@Menolly @Dimcairien Luiniel @Nessa Saelind @Calenaldawen @KingODuckingham

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: j4 Lothlorien

well they were not going the right way but Merry reasoned at least the trees in this forest didn't want to kill them because their representatives were off being terribly treeish. At least that was Merrys thought on the matter. Landroval didn't seem to care any particular way about what the trees had been doing but he was after all a bird and there was not terribly much one could expect from a bird brain.

The Hobbit of course wondered if there was any of the other fellowship in Lothlorien they were a touch further east as well which was good they'd not really been having a good time going east yet mostly south which honestly was the majority of the trip. When they sat down the elves tried to blindfold the eagle which really was silly. The eagle had already seen Lothlorien many times they had better luck with Merry of course he was unblindfolded rather quickly because quite frankly it was easier for him to feed himself than for the marchwardens to feed him constantly as he was hungry about every five minutes.

Landroval for his part caught himself a deer and was nibbling on that as a bird might when trying to be polite around those not use to tearing bits of animals apart with their... well they didn't have beaks. After a quick splash in the river and a preening of his feathers he was ready to set off again as was Merry having eating the Marchwardens entire rations of a week worth of duties.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location F6 Mirkwood

Bill was very very much beginning to worry that this bird was going to sully his name as the most reliable member of the fellowship. The only upside was that they at least had gotten a good ways east now if they could get going south they would be in much much better shape for when the birds inevitably abandoned everyone and Bill had to help them all walk home.

Bill was just thinking about how much work it would be to get the whole fellowship back home when he realized that Gwaihir was going to land in Mirkwood and the pony stretched his neck about and bit down has hard as he could whineying (shrieking more) about how he was not going to land in that filthy spider infested hovel and he had better get flapping his wings and heading onward or Bill did not care, he would bite off his toe entirely.

See Gandalf fix that. He couldn't. Bill knew that much he was a Wizard not a miracle worker especially if Bill decided to chew on it some more.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb w/ Glorfindel aka Glorladriel at F2

Maecheneb blinks and at last, her shampoo-brain is clarified. She is in Imladris again and wait a minute! Why is Glorfindel still here?

“But you are supposed to go to Mt Doom and become a Certified Third Age Hero! Not many can claim that, can they?!” She cries and... rewind but sort of also fast forward...

Here we are again, with Maecheneb lifting Glorfindel in her talons and carrying him off on their grand quest to destroy The Ring. If they can even find it. Which way did it go? Who even has it? (While flying east, at least in the right direction this time, Glorfindel looks down and contemplates falling. He could escape this hell right now if he chooses. But he still really wants a fruity drink with a little umbrella in it.)

There is no rest and no cocktail hour for the weary hero-elf. In Goblin-town wicked little creatures cackle and clamber and come out from just about everywhere! Climbing down trees, slithering from between rocks and even popping out from each other’s shirt-pouches like kangaroo joeys.

Between the majestic Maecheneb and Glorfindel, talons and sword, they sink into a surprising harmony of fighting this Misty Mountain scum as they are both filled with wrath at the sight of the creatures.

[Galadrihell]

Update Ten

@Fuin Elda

Merry and Landroval at Lothlorien make it to N4! You are the furthest on track of any of the Fellowship. Fuelled by the deer and the Munchwarden, I mean, Marchwarden's rations, you are now just outside Fangorn and drawing into Rohan territory. Do you spot any signs of Saruman's works? Or perhaps some of the Rohirrim?

Ol' Reliable Bill: you make it to F6, but, you're now in Mirkwood. yay? I hope you like spiders. BIG ONES. Also, avoid any fancy sparkly lights, it's probably those blasted Elves.

@Lailyn
Maecheneb with a clearly identifiable elf, you're finally on track (sort of) and have made it to F4 at The Carrock! Beorn has just put away his tea things but he's quite ready to get them out again for such fine guests as yourselves. MEAD ALL ROUND!

@Menolly @Dimcairien Luiniel @KingODuckingham @Prometherion @Calenaldawen @Nessa Saelind

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: N4 The Borderish area of Rohan

Yes that quick snack was quite tastey and honestly Landroval seemd to agree with Merry on that and they soared on with ease from Lothlorien towards Mordor as they should be. Quite punctual on this Mission, Quest, Thingy. Of course from where they were they soon spotted dark things moving about on the ground below them and Landroval gave Merry very little warning before he dove leaving Merry holding onto his feathers leaving the hobbit squealing in fear which was probably as terrifying as an eagle screaming to the Urukhai that (since the fellowship wasn't walking so couldn't overly be hunted by them) were raiding Rohan. Of course now they (the orcs) were very much aware of the large rather angry raptor bearing down on them thanks to Merrys terrified squealing.

Meters above the ground Landrovals great talons came out and he strafed the group with them picking a few up and with several hard and powerful flaps of his wings he was back airborn with Uruk-hai screaming and in pain from having eagle talons in their major organs. Of course the screams didn't last terribly long because... major organs. Landroval dropped the corpses on their friends hopefully killing several more as he caught sight of what looked to be riders. The eagle was also a few feathers lighter as Merry had pulled several small ones out as he attempted to stay on the giant birds back and had taken great handfuls of feathers.

"That was fun" Merry said with a gasping breath, he'd seen his life pass before his eyes. And the shear number of mushrooms that he hadn't eaten yet was terrible. After this mission, quest, thingy he was going to try more mushrooms.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord
Location F6 Mirkwood

This bloody useless bird. Was his wing hurting again or something that they were still in Mirkwood and getting lower? Bill could bloody well see Spiders individually now. He wanted very much to bite Gwaihir again but decided it was time to take the spiders lives into his own hooves since clearly Gwaihirs talons were busy and he did not want those sharp things moving around too much for he was just a pony with a soft belly.

he let out a whiney to let Gwaihir know that he was moving. A Spider lunged up towards them and Bill lashed out kicking the spider right in the face with his rear hooves before yelling in horse that if the eagle landed Bill had every intention of fighting his way out and leaving Gwaihir for dead. Legolas was from these woods perhaps he'd be able to find some elves and they'd take him in and give him food and then he could be escorted by some of their horses. Surely those elven horses would have far more sense than this blasted bird.

Gwaihir for his part had been in an absolute daydream and hadn't even been paying attention to what he was doing he caught sight of something off in the distance in the woods and flapped his wings a few times trying to get up and above the spiders to see what this glimmery thing was especially if it meant that this squirming fat pony would stop moving it would make flying far easier. He couldn't understand what the horse was on about and was about to scream at the pony only to see another spider jumping at them and the Pony having to kick it to keep it from grabbing onto his rump.

Right. Maybe the pony had a point. Time to start flapping his wings he put his head back up trying to find that glimmer but it was gone...

[Galadrihell]

Update Eleven
@Fuin Elda

Merry moves from N4 to P4: you've finally reached Rohan! But now that you're here, you need to have an audience with Theoden, who doesn't permit strangers to cross his lands without interrogation. And there seems to be trouble in the lands, as well. How do you convince him you're friendly?

Bill The Pony, you manage to get only to G6. Still in Mirkwood, still lots of spiders. In fact, it's spiders all the way down. If you get further in, you might be able to reach the Elven realm ...


@Dimcairien Luiniel @Menolly @KingODuckingham @Nessa Saelind @Lailyn @Calenaldawen

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: P4 The Theoden Inquisition

Nobody expects it. Something like that. Merry wasn't entirely sure if it was that a Brandybuck was traveling along on this mission quest thing at perhaps the best speed (unless he'd completely missed someone passing him when they'd had that slight hickup of direction in Fangorn and had headed back to Lothlorien. Or if it was the Theoden Inquisition, probably the Theoden Inquisition nobody ever expected the inquisition.

"What are you doing in my lands?" Was the first question.

Flying across them of course on eagle back. Was of course the answer why lie when one need not? This of course didn't seem to please Theoden so Merry went on a tale about the adventures that he and Landroval had gone on and that they'd killed several orcs on Theodens borders and that if he needed proof he could ask very politely (As he was a very large eagle and Merry was quite certain if he wanted to he could disembowl a good number of the Riders and possibly Theoden himself before they killed him but Merry kept that inner monologue to himself) to see Landrovals talons which undoubtedly still had black orc blood on them and the tiny bald patch on the eagles back (but to be sensitive about it because Merry really didn't mean to pull out any of his feathers - which he did say rather quietly to Theoden not sure if Landroval realised he had a tiny bald patch from dive bombing the orcs) and that seemed to at least fully satisfy that question probably because Theoden was more hoping that Merry would shut up than anything else.

However the King of Rohan was silly enough to ask another question.

"What is your favourite colour?"
The answer to that was yellow. But not a sickly yellow the sort of rich yellow that one sees in a very nice tall and healthy sunflower right near the center of the flower towards the middle.

This was fortunately as much as Merry got out before Theoden put his hand out to stop him from talking so he could answer a third and hopefully final question.

"What is the flight velocity of an unladen swallow?"

This of course confused the ever living dickens out of Merry what sort of questions were these? He didn't remember anything about a cup in the Council of Elrond, and why was there the sound of coconuts clopping together? He looked at Theoden sideways and decided the best answer to this question was 'Gondorian or Numenorean??" To which Theoden did not know the answer and was suddenly and very violents (and very confusingly) tossed by some unseen force out of the way so that Landroval and Merry could continue on.


Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord the laziest Bird King in the world
Location G6 Mirkwood/b]

Honestly If they didn't have so far to get of of Mirkwood with all these nasty spiders Bill would tell this lazy bird to just put him down he'd walk. After all he had a reputation to keep that Gwaihairbrain clearly didn't care on goat gut about. As it was though there were spiders. Lots of them and Bill absolutely did not want to walk through the mass of spider and possibly get bitten or eaten he was suppose to have made it home fine with no issues in the original story but this nonsense? This nonsense seemed to have other plans. It all started with Elrond and this Eagles plan. And that was when as Bill thrashed and kicked at even more spiders going as far as to bite one... the plot to assassinate Elrond was hatched by Bill the Pony.

Gwaihir for his part was complaining about added weight which really was the fact that Bill in his assassination rage had bit a spider and was chewing on one of it's limbs while the spider wriggled and struggled to escape in pain and shock at the brutality of the the little pony from Bree until finally its leg ripped off and it bowled down a good four other spiders who had been watching this pony EAT a spider leg for fun. Possibly for something to do with his mouth since smoking a cigarette wasn't an option.

If Gwaihir didn't want extra weight then Gwaihir should bloody well fly higher, and possibly farther so they didn't have to stay in this blasted forest to long. Who knew what would happen if Bill consumed an entire spider, and how fast he'd manage to figure out how to kill Elrond and make it look like Gwaihir did it.

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb w/ Glorfindel at F4

There is a cocktail hour on adventures after all!!! It is a dream come true for Glorfindel! Quests have gone soft these days, he thinks, but that's alright. He imbibes in his twelfth glass of mead and puts his feet up. "Any chance you've got a tiny umbrella?" he asks his host. "No? A parasol? Olive-on-a-stick?" Hmm. Seems Beorn has lots of mead but no fancy dressings for his drinks.

Meanwhile, Maecheneb has a taste for sweets, too, and she wanders into Beorn's trove of hives where she is unable to resist the lure of gooey sweetness...she sticks her beak in to swallow a sizeable mouthful but does not account for the bees.

BBBZZZZZ!!!!!! They swarm together and go on the offense! Bees vs. Eagle, Maecheneb is in a battle she does not want to fight. They might sting her eye, which will make it swell up and cause her to have a difficult time with depth perception.

"Glorfindel!" She calls, flapping her wings to take off (and whisk away the angry buzzing bugs). "Time to goooo!"

[Galadrihell]

Update Twelve
@Fuin Elda
Merry and Landroval at P4: Alas, this time the dice speak against you and you go nowhere. I guess Theoden has crawled back up from his nap and thought of MORE things to talk about. Have fun?

Bill at G6 is doing a little better and you make it down to J6! You are making excellent progress to Mordor, but OH NO, you are also on the doorstep of Dol Guldur and the Nasty Beasties are becoming even more prevalent. The servants of the Necromancer are all about you. Not all of them seem to be properly animated. What's a poor horse and his friend to do?!

@Lailyn You two finally tear yourselves away from the mead - and the bees - and trek down to H4, just shy of the Gladden Fields. however, you both seem to have hangovers - Maecheneb has a sugar headache and Glorfindel has consumed a lot of mead, even for an Elf-lord. Any thoughts about how you make yourselves feel better, or just complaints?

@Dimcairien Luiniel @Menolly @KingODuckingham @Nessa Saelind @Calenaldawen The quest stands upon the edge of a knife! Yet it can still succeed, if the fellowship stays true or something? idk.

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: P4 The Theoden Inquisition

Well then that was an interesting. Just when Merry thought that he had managed to get away from Theoden and his questions, there were more question. Something about size of clothing and if he wanted to become an esquire of the Mark. Strange thing. But one had to suppose that fate had a way of making sure that what was suppose to happen in life did happen. He wondered where Pippin was and if his cousin could help get him out of this trouble. No. Pippin was no where to been seen. Terrible thing that was.

So he agreed to it under one condition that they make sure that he and Landroval had a good meal and that they'd be able to continue on their mission/quest before coming back to do his duties as an esquire if the Mark. Something that Merry thought was fantastically reasonable, and Merry promised that if he was successful Mordor would likely quit trying to steal Rohans dark horses a win win situation really for Theoden king.

Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord the laziest Bird King in the world
Location J6 Mirkwood

After much thrashing and fighting Bill and Gwaihir had made it to southern mirkwood which was mostly fantastic until Bill realized that Gwaihir was flying them low and slow over Dol Guldur. Honest to goodness this eagle was going to be the death of Bill, even if he didn't know that he as now as close to Mordor as Merry which was quite an achievement given how lazy Gwaihir was.

Bill did his best to keep kicking and thrashing thankfully so far it looked as if the Nazgul had no winged beasts yet to their name just spiders and was that a werewolf? Bill wasn't entirely sure but he did know whatever it was he did not want to get bitten by it and tucked his legs up as high as he could to keep them out of the reach of the nasty looking creature. There were a few other things but they looked, almost like they were in a trance why he wasn't sure wasn't the necromancer suppose to have been driven out of Dol Guldur already? He was going to have to have a word with the council of the wise about this. Council of the Wise indeed, more like council of the lazy Bill thought to himself with a nicker before looking up and whinnying at Gwaihir to keep flying or he'd end up having Gandalf giving him a massage which was just embarrassing in Bills eyes.


(Pretty sure I counted right both of my characters are 10 spaces away from that final pin on the map from what I can tell?)

[Lailyn]

Maecheneb and Glorfindel at H4
in the Disaster at Gladden Fields #2

The flight to the empty space near Gladden Fields is a bumpy one. Glorfindel staggers off the Eagle when she touches down for a rest. Both look and feel rather ill. At the banks of the Anduin, he sticks his entire head underwater. When he surfaces, his head is soaked and rivulets of water run down his cloak and over his brow. Even hungover, he is radiant in the light.

Too radiant. It hurts Maecheneb’s eyes. She flops down and closes them miserly. “Augh! Why is the sun so bright?” With her keen Eagle eyes, it’s like she has a first row seat to the Lighting of the Two Trees out here!! (It was a whole production in Valinor, right, with a full score and sound effects?)

She covers her eyes with her wings and wails in pain. “Keeeeer keeer” she screeches. “I cannot go on! I cannot!!! I must find a cave where we can lie in the dark and never come out! Forget about the Ring, this is a hopeless quest. Mordor is so far away even for an Eagle. We’ll never make it! I'd rather suffer more of Lindir's shampooooo!”

Glorfindel tells her to quit the dramatics, drink some water and get going if she intends to complete this (ridiculous) quest.

[Fane Mordagnir]

Legolas, Pointy Eared Elvish Diva! - Rivendell
F1

"Four thousand nine hundred and ninety nine, Five thousand. Perfect" Legolas put down his hairbrush and stood back gazing into the mirror he'd specifically asked for in his bedroom. His daily hair routine apparently needed to be cut back on this journey so he had compromised and reduced the brush strokes from twenty thousand to just five thousand a day. If he had to sacrifice anything else he was not going to be best pleased. Elrond hadn't even been able to get his room organized as he'd requested, there were Peaches in his fruit bowl and the water was only cellar spring cold not ice cold, no wonder the elves were leaving Middle Earth when this was the service they were troubled with didn't they know he preferred Nectarines

He flicked his hair over his shoulder one last time and decided that he should probably go and see what all the fuss was about. Something to do with a ring but he didn't understand why, it didn't have any gems set in it - not even a single diamond. Why anyone would refer to it as 'the one ring' clearly hadn't seen his collection. His father told him he wasn't allowed to take any jewelry with him, something about it getting stolen but Legolas didn't think anyone would dare try and take anything from him - didn't they know who he was?!

Legolas walked through the halls of Elrond and grimaced at the decor, why did they insist on decorating everything with murals of battles and more importantly why weren't there any portraits of that absolute dreamboat Glorfindel? He was the only reason Legolas had even thought about coming on this adventure and then to hear that he wasn't coming with them almost broke his heart. It was even worse when he heard that they were flying on the back of some stinking eagles all the way, his hair wasn't ever going to sit as nicely again as it did now.

Finally he made it to the platform with the Eagles and came face to face with Elrond. He had held it back for so long but someone had to say something and Legolas was feeling brave today (and a little bitter) "I don't know if anyone has ever told you but I think you might want someone to have a look at those caterpillars you call eyebrows, I have this amazing guy back home who could do amazing things. You can't have him but you should find someone!" He flicked his handbag onto his shoulder, just because it had arrows in it didn't stop it from being the highest fashion item in Mirkwood.

He chose one of the Eagles (or was it a falcon?) he didn't care about its name but hoped it would get him somewhere a little nicer than Rivendell before too long. We went to the front end (you weren't going to catch him anywhere near the other end and there was no way in Arda he was picking up its leavings, he had a servant to look after his dog's leaving back home) and tried to give it a pat getting nervous at the last moment. "Who's a good boy? Are you a boy? I don't know how to tell but I'm going to say you're a boy!" He put a pair of gloves on before daintily climbing onto the back of the birds shoulders, he didn't want the rough scratchy feathers to ruin his perfect manicure. The birds great wings began to beat and lifted the two of them off into the skies heading towards their destination. "Oh wait" he screeched "I've forgotten my travel mirror!"

Oh the calamity!

NPF edit: please enjoy these necatarines for the diva-prince!!

[Galadrihell]

UPDATE THIRTEEN
@Fuin Elda

MERRY AT P4
alas - an unlucky roll this time! Théoden, for some reason, flies into a fit of rage at your unsubtle mention of a good meal. “I knew you were only here to steal all the grub!” he shouts angrily, and has you thrown out. Back to O4 you must go - and think of a better route or a more charming routine!

BILL AT J6
entirely oppositely; Bill is feeling very lucky. You clear the Forest at last, making it to N6! Time for a break by the River - do you fancy a dip?

@Lailyn
MAECHENEB / GLORFINDEL AT H4
You carry on in more or less the right direction, entering Lothlorien at J3. No doubt Glorfindel and Galadriel can have a good time discussing hair care products?

@Fane Mordagnir
LEGOLAS AT F1
Welcome to the quest!! Perhaps you’ll catch up with Glorfindel your hero - but not yet. Your progress might be steady but you’re still far behind as you alight in F2: Goblin town. Oh dear. No doubt you’ll have many opinions on the poor grooming standards of the inhabitants.

@Dimcairien Luiniel @Menolly @KingODuckingham @Nessa Saelind @Calenaldawen

[Raisins]

Meridoc "Merry" the Right Questionable Brandybuck and Landroval
Location: O4 RETREAT RETREAT!!!!

Oh dear that had not gone well and if it were not for the quick thinking of Landroval he was quite certain he'd have been banished forthwith from the lands of Rohan permanently, something strange was up with that Theoden that was for certain. Honestly as if a hobbit WOULDN"T actually be there for all the snacks and food. It wasn't like that was some sort of secret about hobbits. Merry sat rather crossly the way they'd come which he also wasn't that terribly impressed with Landroval about honestly the bird COULD have flown the other way but there was nothing to be done about it now.

It's not like he'd suggested feeding Shadowfax to Landroval who for the most part actually did understand the meaning of haste. "Right then friend." Merry said looking at the massive bird that had saved him by the hair on his toes from any further faux pas with Theoden who was apparently rather touchy about food - maybe he was part Sackville-Baggins - that would make a lot of sense. Merry pulled out a bag of pipe weed from his pack and took a long draw. He offered some to the eagle though he didn't know how the bird might smoke it without lips but one should never be rude so something that can tear you to bits with just it's claws it was a bad plan it just made him hungry and he didn't have a lot of snacks left. Just a questionable ham sandwich with a bit of wilty lettuce like one gets from the Tesco down the corner with even more questionable mayonnaise on it.

Desperate times though called for desperate measures and he pulled it out and eyeballed it before taking a mouthful. Clearly he was far too hungry for his own good but he was still polite enough to offer half the sandwich to his flying companion.


Bill the 'most Reliable member of the Fellowship' Pony with Gwaihir the Windlord the laziest Bird King in the world
Location N6: You can fly a horse to water...

FINALLY they were getting somewhere, Gwaihir had caught a proper thermal it seemed and they were soaring along at speed, and much to Bills amazement. In the right direction considering the sun and where it was and how it was in his eyes most of the way they were travelling. They got to a river and Bill for his part was ecstatic that there were no longer spiders nipping at his hooves in that nasty dark forest and there was grass something he'd not had a mouthful of since they'd left Imladris. Nor a slurp of water. Indeed Bill let out a happy whinny as his little hooves landed on solid ground as Gwaihir came in for a landing and let go of him leaving Bill galloping like a mad man his flaxen mane and tail flagging behind him as he made a dash for the river.

Yes a nice cool refreshing drink was just the think he wanted and needed, Gwaihir for his part seemed to be having a nap as Bill happily drank and then went to find the most tender green shoots of grass he could possibly find and have a lovely long awaited lunch. Indeed he was happy to eat for a few hours before he finally got tired himself and decided it was time to doze off for a nap while standing next to Gwaihir who was snoring as only a giant bird could snore. Unfortunately for Bill, just as he had properly fallen asleep he suddenly felt like the ground was falling out from under him and he jolted awake.

Indeed the ground was falling away from him... well more like he was being lifted away from it. Gwaihir had decided to wake up and get going again, hopefully he could catch the same thermal he'd been on before so the could get this drat mission over with already.