RPG 1 - The Lost Flame of Ormal

[Ancalagon]

I have set the scene and the title, so please feel free to take this story where you will. If it seems not to be going anywhere in particular we can easily remove and pop another in its place; enjoy!

The Lost Flame of Ormal.

This tale tells of a sad and desperate journey upon a road, seemingly lost since the destruction of the great lamps of Aule. Ormal and Illuin had given light to the world with such splendor and majesty, yet they fell foul to the destruction of Melkor, who tirelessly tried to undo the greatest works of the Valar. The Age of the Trees had been and gone. It was a great woe that had befallen them when again Melkor, who with Ungoliant had destroyed the light that had shone so brightly across Valinor. Yet, even though all had lay in darkness across Middle-Earth, hope was rekindled with the new light of the Stars that signaled the awakening of the Firstborn of Iluvatar.

A race, beautiful to behold, immortal within the confines of Arda and blessed with gifts of wisdom, skill of hand and music that was a wonder to behold. Of the Quendi (or Elves in common tongue), after the fall of Utumno, many heeded the call of the Valar to come to the Undying Lands in the West. These were the Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri, who traveled a great many leagues to come at last to the Western shores to be met by Ulmo, Lord of the Waters and taken to the lands of the Valar.

A great multitude of the Elves chose to remain in Middle-Earth and call it their own. These peoples were known as the Dark Elves, for they had never beheld the Light of the Trees of the Valar. Counted among them were the Nandor, Laiquendi, the Falathrim and the Sindar.

So the ages passed, until the first rising of the Sun brought with it a new creation. Like the Elves, who had awoken with the rekindling of the Stars, so too did Men awake with the new Sun. They were known as the Edain by those Elves who had witnessed their awakening and taught them speech. Among them arose three great Houses; The Houses of Beor, Haladin and Hador of whom the greatest deeds of Men were spoken and of whom the greatest woes befell.

This tale tells of one such man of the House of Beor. It is of him that we must concern ourselves, for this tale recounts a feat of bravery, wonder and sadness unparalled in Middle-Earth. This tale is of Lathir Brodwine and his epic journey to recover The Lost Flame of Ormal.

[Ancalagon]

Aloren Brodwine had married Mirien who was the cousin of Morwen Eledhwen, Mother of Turin Turambar. They had travelled to Dorthonion, on the Northern borders of Doriath, leaving behind the uncertainty of Estolad in the hope of beginning a new and more secure life for themselves and their unborn child. Aloren and Mirien had joined with a number of other skilled woodsmen and their families seeking to build a small, self-sufficient community, living on the outskirts of the great forests.

Yet all was not well in Dorthonion, for those people who had travelled were constantly harried by Orcs and bands of raiders that still roamed the lands in search of plunder. Unhappy days followed these simple folk, who seemed unable to find peace to settle while seemingly moving from place to place. This had taken its toll on Mirien who fell ill with but a short time until the birth of her first child.

[chrysophalax]

Greetings to you, those of you that shall read this tale! I am Lathir Brodwine, son of Aloren and Mirien, at one time a promising young bard in Dorthonion...but that was before the dream, of course!

I had always considered myself a young Man of reasonable talent and intellect. One to whom the stories and legends of Nom were just that, fanciful tales from my grand-sire's youth. How wrong the Gods were about to prove me!

As I lay sleeping one night in my parents' dwelling, there came to me a vision of a beautiful woman, terrible in her grief. She reached out her hands to me, imploring me to find something for her. Her distress was so strong at I awoke, staring about me in the night. Of course she wasn't there, but her image continued to haunt me through-out the days to come. Each night she visited me and each night her sadness became more and more desperate until finally, I found myself starting awake, weeping as though my heart would break!

Soon, I found myself afraid to go to sleep, fearful that my weeping Lady would find me and torment me further...alas! there was to be no escape! She began appearing to me in waking visions, begging me to restore to her a Lamp. An object which contained a Light of surpassing beauty and which she wanted desperately!

The people in my village began to notice my increasingly strange behaviour, until finally some of the Men came to speak to my father, who, not being most tolerant of Men, gave me to see in the most strenuous terms possible, how my actions were bringing shame on his House and more importantly, on him. Try though I might however, I could not persuade my Lady to leave me be.

At last, exhausted and half-mad, I decided to undertake a search for something I really didn't believe existed. My father had become so enraged that my life had become an annoyance and so, with my harp tucked under my arm, I set out on what would prove to be the most dangerous and fool-hardy adventure of my young life. Little did I know the wonders or the dangers before me...

[Turgon]

For a long while I wandered, as if in a dream myself. These were the last quiet years Dorthonion was to see - the Battle of Sudden-flame loomed upon the horizon and Dark Days lay ahead for the people of Beleriand. But I get ahead of myself, forgive me, those dark days weigh heavily on an old man's mind. That summer Dorthonion lay brightly beneath the sun. Breezes blew there, pine-scented, gentle, the forests swayed softly at their touch. I, new realeased into this wide land, wandered wherever my mood took me.

I played my harp for bread and shelter in the little hamlets that I came across, and many tales were told to me by as I shared a cup with these simple folk by the hearth. It was there I learned of Turgon, and of the Hidden Folk, and though these people passed the stories off as legends and tall tales - others I met more learned in lore, who swore these tales were true. The Hidden City... how I longed to see it!

One night, as I lay sleeping beside a stranger's fire, I had the dream again. Only this time the Lady spoke with more urgency as if chiding me for my aimless wandering. 'When in darkness, seek the light. When in doubt, seek the truth. When the Follower does not know, the Guide may have an answer.' I thought on those words a long while. When morning came I took leave of my hosts and headed south through the pine-woods. The Follower? The Guide? I knew 'The Followers' to be a name given to Man by the Eldar, but 'The Guide'? Could she have meant the Eldar, the Firstborn... those who came before? It was then I made up my mind to seek the Hidden Folk.

[Ancalagon]

Yet seeking the Hidden Folk was a task for which I was little prepared. My days of roaming and wandering this land were easy, with little effort I might add. An undertaking of this scale was beyond me; little did I know in my younger days that fate deals a hand to those who lack understanding.

It was that evening in the village of Able where I had stopped to rest that I met my fate and understood how these things unfold.

As I sat deep in thought, contemplating my journey, a firm hand shook me to my senses. An Elder from the village stood before with a puzzled look upon his face;

'Are you Lathir?', he asked

I studied his face for a moment and wisdom was set in his eyes. He was bent over, weighed down by years of hardship and struggle. Yet, his furrowed brow was raised and excitement was in his voice.

'I am he, why do you ask my friend?'

He paused for a moment. I could feel his hand trembling on my shoulder when he said;
'I have been asked to seek you out and give you guidance on your journey to the mountains!'

'How do you know me? Who told you to seek me? I have only this moment decided to make this journey!' I replied perplexed.

'I am a Seer, my name is Gearon. I was preparing to sleep when a vision came to me as clear as day. Never before have I seen such beauty, such sadness..........sadness,' his voice tailed off and a tear welled in his eyes.

He recollected himself as if waking from a dream and continued his story;
'A woman appeared to me, majestic she was, and bade me seek for you by the fire. She intructed me to give you this council.
'Gearon, you must speak with Lathir Brodwine who, as we speak, sits by the fire in the clearing. He is about to depart on an arduous journey though doubts and uncertainties cloud his mind. Gearon, instruct him in seeking the Hidden King for I will show you the way'

Gearon then explained to me that the woman took him by his hand and led him from this place, across the wide forests of Doriath to the foot of The Montains of Terror. He spoke of this, as if he was lifted up by an eagle and flown across the land, recounting all he could see, landmarks, paths, hills and villages. He saw bands of Orcs gathering in the East, coming from the Blue Mountains. He saw a trail of destruction and burning across the lands, he saw a man with fire in his eyes and a Black Sword in his hand, and he could hear the voices of every living thing; and they spoke of war. He also saw two others whom, the lady said, would join with me on my journey. Grim faced was one, a warrior with a scar deep upon his brow and a life of battle in his eyes. The other was a woman, slender in form yet fiery in temperament. Yet, as he reached the Mountains and he started to climb upon the wings of the vision that had carried him so far; he found himself back in his home looking deep into the embers that glowed in his hearth.

'I thank you Gearon, for you have aided me greatly, though I do not know the reason why?' I placed my hand upon his arm.

'Never have I had such a vision, never has there been such clarity both in sight and sound. I fear you have been chosen by a power, not of Middle-Earth, destined to fulfil a doom unknown to any in this land. You will be in my prayers Lathir, for this was no chance meeting or coincidence, a fate lies upon you that will bring both great sorrow and great joy; that I know in my heart.' Gearon turned and walked away, he looked older and more tired.

I looked around for a moment. Quickly I gathered my bed-roll and pack and took my leave from the fire.

[Chymaera]

I could not wait for morning, I had to get moving. Westward, to the mountains then up the high pass, there I will find my Guide.
O the seer did says to the mountains I go
for my destiny awaits
The Hidden City is my goal but it never was my quest
First companions and The Guide and others I cannot see

We'll quest from east to west and south to north, and never will we tire
The search is for the Owl's Lamp to keep the Lady's fire'Hehe, well that is going to needs some work.' I smiled to myself. 'But we must never let them know how rough the song is at the start, they must only hear the finished music.'
Many days travel took me up to the hilly shoulders of a great mountain range. I had left the villages far behind and was getting into wilder country, but Gearon's tale was a true guide. At last I crested the pass and found myself in a high meadow near a small pond.
'Ah, this is the place. I'll camp here and let destiny work her way.'
Camp was a small affair, with my cloak and pack for bed, and a small cook fire nearby. As I strumed upon my harp I heard a splash and saw a ripple on the pond.
'Hark!' I thought to myself, 'Is that my dinner that I hear.'
Hunting through my pack found some line and a hook, these I tied to my staff and I sat down on the edge. Just as I pulled my first fish from the water, I heard a noise, not aloud noise but one that shouldn't have been there. I stood up quickly and called.
'Hello out there, don't be afraid. I am Lathir Beodwine a bard out of Dorthonion. Come into the clearing and I will share my meal with you.'
All was quite.
'Very well, you don't know what you are missing.'
Just as I turned back to clean the fish. A mighty eagle come low and fast over the pond and pluck a fish from the water. I watch in awe as the giant bird sailed away and disappeared in the distance. I turned again to my task when a shape in the trees startled me.....

[Chymaera]

...It was her!
Walking out of the trees, My dream girl, well the woman in my visions, the one who had tormented me for the last four years, the one who had brought me here.

'You! Who are you? What is going on? Why have you brought me here? You haven't lured me up here to take advantage of me have you?' I looked at her hopefully, thinking to myself that maybe at last I can get some answers.

'Lathir, you have come at last. I had almost given up hope. Come sit down, we must talk.'

We sat down near the water. I was feeling a little stunned, here was the reason for my 'quest' in the flesh, this seemed too easy for me to believe, then when she started to speak things slowly started to become clear.

"Lathir you know the storys of 'The Beginning of Days' and you remember the 'Lamps of the Valar'"
I nod my head.
"Well, there is some more to the story. I was there when the lamps were made. I am Vi, handmaiden of Varda. Varda permitted me to be the 'Guardian of the Flame'. After Manwe, Varda, and Aule erected the lamps and were lite for the first time, I shed the body and form I had taken and became one with the flame of the Lamp.
For most of one glorious age I and my fellow guardian brough light to Arda. Until the coming of Melkor and the war of destuctions, Illiun was brought down first and then I in the Lamp of Ormal. I tried to fight them off but Melkor and his creatures of evil were much too powerful for me alone to defeat. They toppled my pillar and the Flame of Ormal was spilled over the land."

'But how can that be? How can you be here now if you were one with the flame, how did you come to be here with me now?' Of course, I knew the story but there was no mention of any guardians. Not that I didn't believe her, her story was one of the kind that you just had to believe.

She just put up her hand to stop my babble.
"You must listen carefully, your questions will be answered. After the flame was spilled from the lamp it spread everywhere and I had no control I was swept along with the flame. The world was consumed in gold and silver flame. Ormal's golden flame rushed north with amazing speed, and then the fuel for the fire was gone everything was burnt. I scrambled to save myself, in a cave to the far north the last of my flame found a fuel source.
One small flame, smaller then then your finger was all that was left of the great golden flame of Ormal. In a hidden nook in a cave in the Iron mountains of Angband. It took many ages for me to recover form the violation that was done to me. I was to weak to call for help and and still am really. You Lathir have been the only one who I've been able to talk to and that is the time that I have now. You must rescue me for this cave and get me to the West. Only there with the Valar can I recover my former strenght."

'So what am I supposed to do to help.'

"Bring me a Hallowed Lamp of Aule. I will enter the lamp and you will take me to the west."

'Lady Vi what you ask for is impossible, there was only the two lamps of Aule and they were both destroyed. '

"No there are two other lamps, and they are both near to you, seek the Dwarves and the Sons of Feanor. One of them has the Lamp that you need. Then take the Lamp to the King of the Eagles, and he will take it to my lord Manwe to be hallowed."

Just then two figures came walking out into the clearing, both looked to be very old men with long white beards. They each had grey wide-brimmed hats and long cloaks of blue. They did not notice us yet and would pass very close to us.
'Great Lady who are they?'
She just put a finger to her lips. The pair had come even with us and then they stopped. They looked at me and the Lady and bowed.

"Vi good to see you again."
She nodded to the pair and smiled.

"Young man would you please do a favor for me?" said on of the men in blue.

I nodded.

"Take this ring and give it to the first person who shows an interest in it."

I took the ring that he held in his hand and put it on my finger. I was feeling very confused at the moment. Then the two smiled and nodded and continued walking out of the clearing. I turned to the Lady.

'Who were they? They knew you.'

"You can call them the men in blue. That is how I think of them. We knew each other when the world was new. They are part of the Boss' troubleshooting team."

'So what do you need me for? O Great Lady. Could not these men in blue save you.'

"Lathir don't you understand, it is your fate to help me. They have other duties that take them into the far east and cannot interfer even to send a message of help. You are the one that knows that I am still alive, even the Valar think me destroyed. I have not the strengh to call them for help. I will talk to you now in this spot because it was blessed by Queen Melian. I must not be discovered by the Enemey Melkor Morgoth, even he does of know me here within his borders. Most of my energies go to keeping myself hidden. If here found me I would be helpless, and who knows what new evil he would cause.
I will help you as I can, but this is the only time that I may speak to you. Seek the Lamp."

'But which Lamp do I get how will I know.'

"I do not know which one to chose, you will have to see them both. The true Lamp should reveal itself to you."

'How do I find the King of Eagles?'

"Come back to this spot and you will see. Fear not Lathir as I said I will help as much as I can Seek The Lamp." Then the Lady slowly fade away right before my eyes.

'You shouldn't do thing like that to a man with my condition.' I shouted to the air. ' I might just convince myself that it was all another hallucination, all your visions made me half mad you know, and anyways you haven't finished answering all my questions yet.'

"Yes I know, and I apologize I tried to be gentle. I will try to answer your questons as I can, Seek The Lamp" came the Lady's voice out of thin air then was gone.

***rewriten***

[Chymaera]

So there I was on a high mountain pass just been visited by goddesses and such, there was only one thing for me to do. I went and cleaned my fish ans had dinner.

The next morning I packed up my camp and started to head south down the pass. My hope was to find someone who could give me directions to the Sons of Fëanor or to the Dwarflands.

As I follwed the stream down the I got on to the east side of it, deaming that I would have to head east after I got down on to the plain.