Fiorla, Agent to the Court of Arvegil
 
My lord, I leave this note in the care of Dain Ironstaff, the smith of Daenost, for he is known to the King's messenger and I travel south to Gondor. I have to report that your servant Harald was slain two nights in the woods that he knew so well, by the hand of Sereth. Later, whilst searching for our fallen friend, the elf Cerilaragloras was also taken by that same fell blade.

We had earlier in the day met with Captain Ithil of the garrison and the Town's Reve, and having presented them with your warrant, they agreed that unless they heard word from governor Elasander by the evening, they would cede the town to Athmund. The assassin struck that afternoon as we waited and having killed our two ablest scouts effectively banished us from the forest. I imagine that he had hoped to strike from the edge that night, but as the keys to the town were handed over we were able to take refuge within.

In Daenost my lord Athmund billeted his men within the walls, and made a pretense of taking the great room of the tower for himself. In fact his man Sevenday laid an ambush there, and the Prince was secretly billeted in the town proper. That night the assassin struck but we ambushed and slew him with no further loss of life. Would that we could have entered the town sooner, perhaps no life might have been lost.

Hindsight is always clearest but perhaps if the smith Dain, who is well respected hereabouts, had been asked to affirm that he had received a message not five days hence from the hand of the king's messenger then Captain Etamir might have been persuaded of the governor's deceitfulness. Maybe that alone was the purpose of the mysterious note from Toreg - a mundane and unincriminating note passed on to his friend the smith would have proved that the messenger had been here.

The following morning we were woken by the sound of horns, for governor Elasander must have traveled through the night. At dawn, before the gates of Daenost he called out Athmund to face him in single combat as is the custom of the Rhudaur king's. He stepped forwards immediately, but it was his step-father that reminded him that it was his privilege, and Elasander must first fight him before he might challenge any of his sons. So it was that Athel took the challenge and stepped forwards to face the governor.

The fight was short, Athel is a man of great wisdom and not an inconsiderable number of years, and his foe wielded the great longsword that is named Iron Wind amongst men. Athel landed a single telling blow before he was struck down. Then Boreg, Athel's eldest son stepped forwards to take the challenge for such was his right - though Boreg was in always the chancellor not the warrior, but Athel would not hear of it and none would gainsay him.

So taking his grandfather's spear in one hand and his father's falchion in the other, he stepped forwards. The spear he threw and it struck true, it's great weight passing through the field plate to bite deep, deeper than he knew I suspect, for behind his back Sevenday had applied his most deadly venom to that blade. But even as the venom bit, so did Iron Wind, and even though Athmund lay several great blows on the governor, he could not withstand that blade and he also was cut down.

Now behind these two fallen stepkin the host of the Athel clan had mounted and were ready for war, Elasander could see this and spared them both from any coup de grace. Rather he banished them from these lands and they accepted the judgment and left forthwith. I now rest with the men one day south and await the womenfolk who travel south to join us.

There has been much talk of what right this Arthedain man has to claim any trail by combat from a Rhudaur King, but Athmund will not hear any such council and is bound by his honour and shame. I will travel with them to the borders of these lands and then return to make a more full report in person.

 

Harald Hradssen, Agent to the Court of Arvegil

My lord, though I send this message with all haste, nevertheless I fear that as you read it, the outcomes of our actions will be history. Surely the spring snows will mean that you can make no effective response before the thaw. Treat the messenger well for it will cost her dear to carry this report so far.

We have escorted the young prince Athmund south to his inheritance and he has met with stiff resistance. Elasander's court was forewarned and the ground well prepared though they deny having received word from your court. Further complicating matters was the presence of the Athel clan, and the Prince's stepfather held hostage by the governor.

We have however, elicited Athel's rescue and reunited him with his kin, having evaded a potentially lethal engagement. I have to report that, in an unlikely turn-about of fortunes, we managed to take several of our ambushers hostage including Captain Etamir and eight men-at-arms of the Elnost garrison. The ambush was turned when the crossbowmen holding the Northern flank were recalled from the fight, and I judge from Etamir's bitterness that this was not in the plan.

Etamir is the King's man as always, however the stubbornness and loyalty that earned him this posting ensure that he will not accept Elasander's disloyalty until he sees some proof. This is a cause of some vexation because a word from him and the keys to Daenost would be ours.

Daenost stands half a mile beyond our campfires for we have now formed a warband with the fifty cavalry of Athel's clan and by threatening this small town hope to draw Elasander from the fortress at Elnost and into the open. If we could take Daenost with little or no loss of life then he will be forced to confront us and we would have a much stronger position however, I think Athel is loath to cast his fifty against the thirty garrison here. In the first instance it may cost him dear, and in the second these thirty garrison are his to command if he can come into his inheritance.

My main concern now is Sereth, as we lie out here in the night, I know that serpent could be within an arrowshot of my bedroll. I do not sleep easy.

 

Fiorla, Field Agent to King Arvegil

The party has divided, Prince Athmund remains at Daenost with myself, Bonehead and the thrall, Davy. The remainder, head to Elnost with the intention of releasing the captive Athel and his sons by stealth. The concern is that upon detection of their rescue, at a signal between the fortresses, action might be taken against the womenfolk of Athel's clan. We wait on word from our fellows or a sign of danger and we will rescue the women.

Meanwhile the rescuers will lead Athel in the freeing of his men, in the knowledge that their kin are likewise led to safety and the two, reuinited can rearm. It is a risky plan, and I do not like it, but to his credit Athmund will not countenance assasination and that leaves few avenues open to us.

We await news nervously.

Fiorla, Field Agent to King Arvegil

We travelled south from the confrontation with the Nebbelscrath to meet with the absconded sellsword, Gilfin. Athmund had offered the mercenary quarter in return for service and Gilfin had taken the oath. In the first battle, having stood over the fallen prince, in his own mind, he had returned the favour. He then departed taking with him the Prince's hereditary symbol - The Herufa leaving a note instructing us that it would be exchanged in returned for his property. The exchange was made and Athmund, on the southernmost peak of the Emil Thule sent the traitor hence.

Following the conclusion of this business, the Green Man - a shepherd of the forests that once covered these parts - revealed himself as witness to the events and good to his word restored the sundered spear 'Great Oak' to it's former glory. Athmund now bears his grandfather's spear rustling with a weight of leaves that seeems to have some mastery over wooden things cast in anger against him.

The spear soon prooved it's value, for travelling south we were set upon by bandits, the great majority of their arrows seemed destined only for Athmund, and though many were turned aside through the power of the spear, on found it's mark and prooved later to be poisoned. The young king prooved that it takes a great dose to keep him from the saddle and the force of nearly a score were ridden down. None escaped and one was taken prisoner - though he knew little, the Arthedain coin that he and the others all bore spoke volumes to me.

We have now reached the town of Daenost and our scouts have reported that there is an encampent of Athmund's kinfolk held under guard on the outskirts. From the state of the camp, they are held under duress and have been there for about a week. The menfolk, we have discovered are held separately at Elnost though their arms and armour rest here and they are bound to good behaviour by order of their clan leader Athel, who with his son's rests at the pleasure of Governer Ellasander.

As we entered the town we have also witnessed a hanged man, pinned to his breats, this message: "This theif and imposter hanged for conterfeiting the name of the King, treasonous encitement, bearing false witness and perjury. By Order, Governer Ellasander." It appears, coincidentally that someone came before us with some incredible claim bearing the stamp of King Arvegil - the message seems clear enough.

What will the young prince order? It seems a perilous cause to approach the governer directly - and yet there is no other authority of the royal court here. I doubt that they have not received the command sent by the King's messenger, and yet to ignore it would be treasonous. Arvegil knows what a nest of vipers rule the court here, my reports have been dangerously frank. But this prince has shown courage and resourcefulness before - I suspect that he can prevail, though he must now learn caution.