The Hunt for Gollum, October 3010 (open)
Oct 21, 2017 11:55:43 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2017 11:55:43 GMT -5
These were dark times, a shadow had been rising in the east for many years now and all who were paying attention could feel it. Aragorn was used to the wild lands, he'd lived most of his life this way. For nine years he had been searching, searching for a creature that few had ever seen and most didn't believe in. Gandalf had come to him that night, long ago in Bree and had told him of his suspicions. The Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins had found a magic ring many years ago when he set out with the company of Thorin Oakenshield to reclaim the mountain of Erebor. At first the wizard hadn't paid much mind to it but after years of seeing the way Bilbo changed he began to grow concerned about the true nature of the ring. Eventually Bilbo had told Gandalf the whole story of how he had found the ring and won his game of riddles with the creature called Gollum in a cave far below the Goblin king's hall.
Gandalf had approached Aragorn with his concerns and suggested that Gollum be found so that he might learn where the pitiful creature acquired the ring. "Every year there are fewer and fewer Dunedain left Gandalf, the burden of holding back the shadow from reaching the Shire becomes ever more difficult". Aragon had said, from beneath his hood in the smoky corner of the Prancing Pony inn. He often frequented this inn and he had developed something of a reputation of being a quiet but dangerous man. All sorts of rumors followed his chosen name of Strider, many people believed he was a murderer on the run, others that he was some sort villain, it didn't matter since they were all too afraid of him to get too close. "Yes my friend I am well aware of the sacrifices your people have made over the years and that is why I came to you. This is a matter of some great importance to me and indeed it may prove to be nothing yet my heart fears that there is some darker power at work here and I'm afraid I cannot trust anyone but you with this task". The old wizard's voice was grave and his brow seemed heavy. "We need to find this creature, Gollum, and determine if this ring is just some trinket he acquired or whether it is something more sinister...you know the wilds of this earth like no other and I have no doubt that if anyone can find him...it is you". Strider sighed, Gandalf was right, even among the Dunedain there was no better tracker than him. He had learned the skills of his craft well.
"Very well" he said after a long pause, "I will seek this creature, I will direct my kinsmen to protect the shire more vigorously in my absence". And so for the last nine years he had wandered back and forth across middle earth chasing stories of monsters in the night. Any whisper of something unusual drew his attention. Finally he picked up a strange trail on the western side of the misty mountains, small villages had reported some nocturnal beast would make off with food cooling on the window sills or sometimes even slaughter small livestock for sustenance. Many had claimed to see it, some strange thing that was smaller than a goblin and moved about on all fours but yet was not a beast any of them knew. Despite his great skill Aragorn always seemed to be just a few steps behind the creature, sometimes arriving just days after the last sighting of it.
Gandalf had approached Aragorn with his concerns and suggested that Gollum be found so that he might learn where the pitiful creature acquired the ring. "Every year there are fewer and fewer Dunedain left Gandalf, the burden of holding back the shadow from reaching the Shire becomes ever more difficult". Aragon had said, from beneath his hood in the smoky corner of the Prancing Pony inn. He often frequented this inn and he had developed something of a reputation of being a quiet but dangerous man. All sorts of rumors followed his chosen name of Strider, many people believed he was a murderer on the run, others that he was some sort villain, it didn't matter since they were all too afraid of him to get too close. "Yes my friend I am well aware of the sacrifices your people have made over the years and that is why I came to you. This is a matter of some great importance to me and indeed it may prove to be nothing yet my heart fears that there is some darker power at work here and I'm afraid I cannot trust anyone but you with this task". The old wizard's voice was grave and his brow seemed heavy. "We need to find this creature, Gollum, and determine if this ring is just some trinket he acquired or whether it is something more sinister...you know the wilds of this earth like no other and I have no doubt that if anyone can find him...it is you". Strider sighed, Gandalf was right, even among the Dunedain there was no better tracker than him. He had learned the skills of his craft well.
"Very well" he said after a long pause, "I will seek this creature, I will direct my kinsmen to protect the shire more vigorously in my absence". And so for the last nine years he had wandered back and forth across middle earth chasing stories of monsters in the night. Any whisper of something unusual drew his attention. Finally he picked up a strange trail on the western side of the misty mountains, small villages had reported some nocturnal beast would make off with food cooling on the window sills or sometimes even slaughter small livestock for sustenance. Many had claimed to see it, some strange thing that was smaller than a goblin and moved about on all fours but yet was not a beast any of them knew. Despite his great skill Aragorn always seemed to be just a few steps behind the creature, sometimes arriving just days after the last sighting of it.