LordoftheRings:ShadowoftheEast Chapter6 Scene1OutsidetheNackerLair(Personaarthafromlastgame) HallasisastoicandsomberSilvanElfandaskilledbardandwoodsman.Heassists GanoandAriintheconstructionofalitertohaultheDwarvesandtherescuedElfmaid throughthemarshes. o HallasdoesnotknowtheElvenwomantheyfoundintheNackerlair.Shelooks SilvanandhesuspectssheisfromoneoftheotherSirannimtribes. o Hespeaksofhiswifeonlyonce:IammuchgrievedtoleaveIdrilamongthose beasts.MaythelightofValinorguideherspirithome. Scene2WhatMayBe ThewindblowsgritintoThlorseyes.Hesquintsagainstit,tastingsand.Hesstands atthesummitofarockyhill.Theskyissteelgrayandswarmingwithcrows;the landscapeisbarrenrockandjaggedmountain.Hefeelscoldandeverythingishazyand dreamlike.

e.Zagsitsonanearbyrock,hisheadproppedagainsthisaxe,whichis notched.HepeersatThlorthroughawildtangleofhair,hisfacedirtyandsullen.He lefteyeisamassofscartissue. o Dontworry,Thlor.Wellgetherback.saysasilkyvoicebehindhim.A delicatehandappearsonhisshoulder.HeturnsandseesthatitsAriunaa.Shes dressedinblackandcrimsonleathersandholdsabrightsilverspear.Something onachainaroundherneckglintsinthepalelight.IttakesThloramomentto recognizethebrokenandcharredtipofEbonrath.Andafterwedo,wellgoeast. Finally.Wherebothofusweremeanttodwell.Arismiles,butitsastrangers faceherwarmthgone,replacedwithreptiliancoldness.Sheremovesherhand fromhisshoulderandsnakesherfingersbetweenhis.Forthefirsttime,Thlor noticesthatheswearingaring:Itscraftedofelegantlyworkedblackgoldand adornedwithastrangeandsolitarybrilliantbluegemboundtotheringwith threadsofMithril.ItstheDwarvenRingoftheIronfists!TogetherwithAriunaa, heapproachesthesummit,whichhenowseesisacliffoverlookingashallowand rockyvale.Suddenly,theresroarofmanyvoices.Belowarethousandsof Dwarves,raisingtheirweaponstothegraysky.Thlor!Thlor!Thlor!they shout.ButtheseDwarvesarestunted,malformed,hobbled,andcrooked.They admirehimwithyelloweyesandsallowfacesandtheirshoutsofexultation minglewiththescreamsofthecrowsthatreeloverhead. o WhenThloropenshismouthtospeak,granitepebblestumbleout.

Scene3Stock Gano,Ari,andHallsreturntoStockanddiscoveraveritablecontingentofshiriffs:18of themhavegatheredalongwith6stoutmen.Theyrepullingthecharredbodiesof dozensofNackersoutoftheruinedinnandlaidthemoutinthemarketsquare.First ShiriffHornblowerhasjourneyedallthewayfromtheSouthfarthing(andlastseen escortingThnetoMichelDelvingfortrial)andhisEastfathingcounterpart,First ShiriffGreenhandisalsopresent. o Hornblowerisdelightedtoseethem.Hewasworriedtheyweredead.Mayor ShapertoldhimeverythingafterhisreturntoWibblehamandherushednorth toassist.Creaturesfromthemarsheswhatsomehavebeencallingbythe fairytalenameNackersarerampagingthroughouttheEastfarthingandthe northernreachesoftheSouthfarthing.Theyreslaughteringlivestockand destroyingbuildings,butfornowhavestoppedabductingMenandHobbits. o WordwassenttoIachSarnwherePrinceMinastirdwells.Hepromisesafull investigation,butskirmisheswithbarbarianspreventhimfromsendingany sortofsizeablecontingent,especiallyifonlylivestockarebeingthreatened. HouseTarma,ontheotherhand,hassentsoldierswhovebeen instructedtoprotectthefarmsofMenonly. o HornblowerandGreenhanddispatchedmessengerstotheFirstShiriffsofthe NorthfarthingandWestfarthingandaremusteringtheHobbitryinArmsin Frogmorten.AfewbraveMannishfarmershavealsojoinedthem.Intwodays,as manyas150armedHobbitswillbeattheircommand.IfGanovethcanleadthem tothelair,theyllkillthebeastswheretheydwell. o Hallascommendstheirbravery,butdoesntcondonethis.Heonlysawglimpses oftheNackerlair,butitisexpansive.HesuspectsthemajorityoftheNackers wereawayraidingElvengladeswhenGanoveth,AriunaaandtheDwarves infiltrated.TheHobbitsthoughcourageousandstoutwillbeslaughtered. Theirwoundedneedhealingthatonlyhiskinsmencanprovide.Herecommends theyprocurefasthorsesandmakefortheEmynGalenwhattheHobbitscall theGreenHillsforthatsthelocationofhisglade,calledGlenIlwine.There, theycanrequestcounselfromhisgladelord,Slor. o HornblowerandGreenhandofferthemtheirponies,butthereareonlytwoand theyarentstrongenoughtobeartwoMen,twoElves,andnearDwarves. HornblowersayshewillaccompanythemtoFrogmorten. Youcertainlymakeforaconspicuousgangofhighwaymen! Scene4TravelingtoGlenIlwine

 ThejourneyfromStocktoFrogmortenisabout20miles(2daywalk),andthencutting crosscountrysouthwesttotheGreenGillsandGlenIlwineisabout25miles(afull daysride).Thewholetripis45miles. o StocktoFrogmorten Dayoneisclearinthemorning,becomingovercastandcoldinthe afternoon.Lightrainbeginsatsundown. HallaschecksontheDwarvesandsaysthattheirbandagesare holding,fornow. Atnight,Hallaswandersoffandtheyhearhisplaintivevoicesinging tothestars;adirgeforhiswife,Idril. Daytwoisovercastandwindy.Theraincontinuesandintensifies throughoutthemorninganditsstilldrizzlingwhentheyreachFrogmorten nearsundown. TheElfmaidawakensatdawn.Shesingreatpain.Hallasandshe converseinSindarinandheindicatesGanovethandAriunaa.The womanintroducesherselfasElwenandthanksthemforsavingher. ShesfromTaurnuFinMirkwoodandwanderedwestwitha partyofotherWoodelvestovisittheirkinfolkinLindon.Theyd heardtheselandsweresafeandwerentonguard.Theywere waylaidbytheNighthuntersinBreeland.AlltheotherElveswere slainandshewastaken. ThecitizenryofFrogmortenhaveopenedtheirdoorstotheHobbits ofStock.Hornblowerseestothetaskoffindinghorses.Theinnisfull, buthemanagestosecurebedsforthewounded.Theotherswillhave tomakedueoutside. Daythreestartscloudy,butthewindpicksupanditstartstoclearby noon.Thecloudsoverheadarepuffyandwhite.TomakeittoGlenIlwine bynightfalltheyllneedtoridehard.Itsoverland,butHallasknowsthe secretwaysthatshouldmaketraveleasierontheirhorses. Aftersunsettheystoptoresttheirhorsesandeatsomething.They buildasmallfireandAriunaamakesGanovethsometea.Ifhedrinks it,herstartstofeelverysleepy.Shesays:Dontworry.Youllbe abletofightit.Ijustdontwantyouchasingafterme.Ihaveto leave;Ihavetobealone.ImadangertoeveryoneandIcant leadtheNighthunterstothesepoorElves,too.Icouldntlive withmyselfGoodbye,Gano. Scene5GlenIlwine

 Onlyabout30Elvesdwellhere.Thoughthelocationisntimpressive,Sloris:The gladelordisoversixfeettall,fit,anddarkcomplexioned.Heappearsyouthful butthepenetratingglanceofhisbrowneyesandcarefullymodulatedvoice betrayhistrueage.Hallaswhoyoususpectishundredsofyearsoldseems achild,bycomparison.Hesdressedinarabbitskintunicandlinenkiltand hisblackhairistiedbackwithamithrilring.Despitehiswoodlandgarbhe managestoappearkingly. o Normally,mywifeMeryalentertainsthetroublesofoutsiders;sheis youthfulandmorepatientthanI,butsheisawayvisitingher grandfatherinLindon,forwhichIamthankful.Siregalhasbecomea dangerousplacethesepastweeks.Hessurprisedand,unexpectedly, delightedthattheyvebroughtDwarvestohisglade.Herefusestodiscuss anythinguntilthewoundedaretendedtoandhebanishesallMentoa comfortableflet(platformlikehousesinthetreeboughs)andasksnottobe disturbed. o Slortendstothewoundedpersonallyinhisownflet.Fournightslater,he summonsGanovethandHallas:Elwenisstanding,lookinghaleandThloris awake!Azagriisntawake,butsnoreshealthily. o SlorsaysElwenwillbefitenoughtoleavewithinaweek,andtheDwarves havebeencleansedofthepoison,butZagwasworseoffandwillneedtorest forafewdays. o Thesituationisdireandgrowingworse.MessengershavetoldSlorthatthe ChetwoodElveswerecompletelymassacred.Ifanyescaped,theywere capturedandbroughttotheNighthunterlair.Elveswalkingthrough woodlandatnighthavedisappearedandmanyarenowholedupintheir glades.MostoftheSirannimtribesarereportingattacks,andatleasttwo othergladeswereoverrun.Slorhasaskedothergladelordsforawar council,buttheyprotestthattheirnumbersaretoofew.Thevulnerable amongthemwouldbeleftdefenseless.SomesuggesttheyfleewesttoLindon oreasttoRivendellwhereElvesstillliveingreaternumbers. SlorwaspresentwhentheprisonwasbuiltduringtheSecondAge.At thattime,theNighthunterswerecreaturesbredbyMorgothand forgottenafterhisdefeatbytheElvesandMenoftheFirstAge.Asthe ElvescolonizedregionsofMiddleearthafterthecataclysmthat destroyedBeleriandattheendoftheFirstAge,theydiscoveredthe NighthuntersintheregionknownastheShire.Enamoredwiththe naturalbeautyofthearea,theventuredintotheexpansiveNighthunter tunnelsandslaughteredthemallanddestroyedtheeggs.Theythen

contractedwithDurinsFolk,whobuiltaprisonjustincasetheElves missedsomeoftheeggchambers.TheDwarvesbuilttheprisonsothat thedoorwasunderalakeandanyattempttoopenitwouldfloodthe cavernsanddrowntheNighthuntersinside.Overthousandsofyears, thelakehasdrainedandbecomeamarsh. Evenso,theDwarfdoorswerestrong.Powerfulsorcerywouldbe requiredtoopenorbreakthem. TherearealsorumorsthatAngmarsagentshaveventuredopenlyinto Siragalforthefirsttimeinacentury.Theyaresearchingforsomecreature calledtheSpeaker. Slorbelievestheirbesthopeistoseekouthiscousin,whoistheLadyof theSirannim.Onlyshecouldcompelthemtomarch.Hewillspeaknomoreof hertoGanoveth.Sheisawandererandhehasnoideawhereshenowdwells. HewillsearchfortheLadyhimself. Slordoes,however,haveataskforHallasandforGanovethandthe Dwarves,iftheywishtohelp:Twodaysago,apackofswarthymenwasseen byhisscoutslurkingonthebordersoftheEmynGalen.Theywerenoton horseback.Hewantsthemtrackedandinterrogated.Hewantsthetruth concerningAngmarandknowledgewhattheSpeakerisandwhetherithas trulybreachedSiragal. Beforetheydepart,SlorwillspeakwithThlor:YouareoftheIronfists, areyounot,MasterDwarf?Slorsayshecountedfriendsamongthe Ironfists,andDurinsFolk,also.ThiswasbeforerelationsbetweentheElves andDwarvesdeteriorated,butitdoesntseemsolongagotohim. HewasfriendswithKingThlorVIIhimselfandwaswiththeDwarf kinginhishallsintheGreyMountainswhentheLordofGiftshimself visitedinS.A.2004andgavethekinghisRingofPower. HeaskstheDwarfifheknowsofZarakDm(Thlorwillknowthisis KhuzdulforWestMansion),aquaint,byDwarvenstandards IronfistdelvinglocatedinthenorthernreachesoftheMistyMountains. SpecificallyinthecragsnowencirclingAngmar.Slorvisitedoften duringtheSecondAge(thatswherehegothisDwarventrinkets),butin S.A.2797ThlorIXuprootedhispeopleandwenteast.Some,however, defiedtheirKingandremainedinZarakDm.Slorwasincontactwith someoftheirartisans,butaroundT.A.1200hislettersstoppedbeing returned.Hemeanttocheckonthem,butonlyacenturylaterthe WitchkingfoundedAngmar.

 ZarakDmspreciselocationwaslosttotheIronfistsaftertheyleft Eriador,butThlorhasheardofit.ObscureHistory:Ob1Thlor basicinformationaboutZarakDm.Ob2themansionwasbuiltin secretinthelateFirstAgeOb3asavaultforthetreasurehordeof Glaurung,lootedfromtheElvenrealmofDoriathduringtheFirstAge. Scene6TrackingtheAngmarrim Ascoutleadsthemtowherehelastsawthemen.Takingintoaccountthetimethats passed,anOb4Trackingrollisrequiredtosuccessfullytrackthemen.Itwilltake3 daystotrackthem,subtracting1dayforeachsuccessovertheOb4(toaminimum ofoneday). o Theycrosshillsturningfromgreentobrowninlateautumnandthroughred andgoldwoodland.Theyweatherholds.Themenappeartobewandering aimlessly,untilGanovethcomesuponafamiliardaintytrack.Themenarent wandering,theyretrackingAriunaa! o Atnight,theyspotafireabout2milesdistantnestledinoneoftheshallow valesoftheGreenHills.Astheygetcloser,theyhearthesoundoffighting.Its Ariunaa,dodgingaroundhercampfireandholdingsixmenatbaywithher spear,twoofthemenhaveabignettheyretryingtosnareherwith.Fight! Twoofthemenaretheheaviesandareactuallyprettytoughhalf Orcs.(UsetheOrcHeadTakerforthem)andtheotherfourare trackersandnotaltogetherthreatening. o OncetheAngmarrimaredefeated,Ariwilldropherspear,snatchuponeof theirblades,andlopeintothenight.Shesgoingtotryandcommitsuicide! GanovethandThlorwillhavetostopherbutwillThlorwanttoafterhis vision? Scene7Interrogation ItwillbedifficulttotakethehalfOrcsalive,butthemenwillbemuchmoreopento surrenderifthingslookbad.Threeofthemspeakalanguageunknowntoanyof them,butoneasmall,wellbuiltandswarthymanwithaprominentnosespeaks Rhnic.HesayshisnameisMargz.Hewillbehesitanttogivemuchaway,fearful thattheWitchkingwilleathissoul.Itwilltakepersuasion.Evenafterthese measuresaretakenhedoesntknowverymuch. o TheirpartywasfromthefiftyslavetrackersanddispatchedfromAngmar underthecommandoftheAnglion.TheirtaskwastofindanEasterlinggirl travelingwithherbrotherandapairofDwarves,forsheisthekeyto unbindingagreatallyoftheWitchkingcalledtheSpeakerandwhohas

beencommunicatingwiththeirdarkmaster.Hedoesnotknowwhy.Theslave trackershavebeenscouringtheShire,usingtheirskillsaspeoplehuntersto findAriunaa. o IfhesorderedtolietotheWitchkinghewillreadilyagree;itsalltogetoutof it,hehasnorealintentionoflying. Scene8ReturntoGlenIlwine Unlesstheydrugher,Ariwillbeunwillingtogototheglade.Zagisawaketogreet them.Slorisdressedinwarmfurs,readytodepartinsearchofhiscousinassoon ashereceivesHallassreport.ThepresenceofAngmarrimagentsconfirmsthatthe returnoftheNighthuntersismorethanacoincidence.Sulorsuspectstheresa secretoffensiveunderwayinSiragaldesignedtoexpelthefewremainElvesand hastentheregionsfallintobarbarism,justlikeneighboringCardolan,andexpose Arthedainsvulnerableflank. o Hallaswillnotlietohisgladelord,andsoSlorwilllearneverythinghehas whichmaybealot,iftheyspokeopenlyaboutit.Thegladelordwilldemand toknowwhatismeantbyAriunaabeingthekey.Hiscousindoesntlike surprises! AelinialdidnttelltheElvesanyofthis,anditwillcomeasanenormous shocktoanywhoaretold;theydidntknowthiskindofembodiment couldbeforcedontheMaiar. o ZagwillwishtospeakwithThloraloneandofferaheartfeltapologyfor failingtoprotecthim. o AsSlorismountinghissteed,ascoutrushesinandreportsthathespotteda contingentofabout200menincluding20mountedknightspassing throughHobbiton(wheretheycausedquiteadisturbance)andturningeast ontheroad.TheylookedtobeheadedforthetowntheHobbitscall Frogmorten.Slorsinitialreliefisspoiledwhenthescoutrevealsthatthey wereflyingthecolorsofHouseTarma.ThegatheringoftheHobbitryin Armsmaygivethemaperfectexcusetoputdownarebellion!Attheir speed,thescoutestimatestheirarrivalinFrogmorteninfourdays. TheleaderofthemenisCaptainCalamir.Heisstubbornandcertainly innomoodtolistentoElves,Dwarves,orEasterlings.Hewantsthe Hobbitstolaydowntheirarmsorhewillcutthemoffofthem.