THE PATHS OF THE DEAD
April 16 - 18, 3020
Far away to the southeast, the long call of a single hunting hound cut through the stillness of the night. Ceolwulf heard it first, and instantly he was on his feet, reaching for his sword belt, and then buckling about his waist, he shouted, "Vardamir! Fetch the horses! Get the women mounted! We must ride! They have found us!"
Moving quietly among the horses so as not to frighten them, Ceolwulf helped Debanni into her saddle as Vardamir helped Adibe onto her horse. When Vardamir had mounted his own, Ceolwulf handed the boy, Candon, up to him, and soon the boy was on the back of Vardamir's horse. Then taking the reins of his horse and the lead lines of the two pack horses, he was quickly in the saddle. "Keep close together and follow me!" he shouted back over his shoulder, and with a wondering thought, he questioned whether he could find his way through the dark woods at night or not. Above the trees the stars were shining brightly. To the north he saw the Ringalóke, the Ice Dragon of the North, and using the star around which all the others pivoted as a guide, he led them north with the sound of the chilly waters of the Blackroot River to their left.
His horse's footsteps moved rapidly through the woods and crunched through twigs and branches, making it easy for them to follow. Trusting to the horse's good sense not to crash into trees and fall into holes, he led them forward. On they rode through the dark, the faint cries of the hunting hounds behind them driving them ever onward. The Easterlings liked their sport of hunting men, and they had bred great beasts with keen senses of smell to do their bidding, and eagerly the dogs trailed their prey, their noses to the ground, baying now and then in their excitement.
Ashtum's men-at-arms had been promised a rich reward for finding the outlaws and bringing back Ashtum's daughter, for he had had worthy offers from other lords for her hand in marriage, and he was desirous of forming an alliance with another powerful lord. As high a reward for the return of Debanni had been placed on each head on the outlaws who had kidnapped them. Little had been said about a reward for his wife, but one had been offered, far less generous than the one for Debanni. Lord Ashtum himself, still recovering from wounds received at the hands of the outlaw captain, stayed in his sickbed, and young Lord Atar fell into a fit of rage when he was told that he could not go with the soldiers, and pouted when he was denied of his grand adventure. Swearing vengeance when he grew up, he vowed that someday he would hold the heads of the outlaws who had taken his mother and sister.
After they had passed the boundary of Mittalgondor, they had encountered the soldiers of Lord Argante and the lord himself rode at the head of his troops. After explaining their mission of capturing members of an outlaw band and returning the kidnapped wife and daughter of neighboring Lord Ashtum, Lord Argante had dispatched fifty of his soldiers to join in the hunt.
On and on, the men of Ashtum and Argante had followed the hounds as they trailed their quarry and they had rejoiced when they had found Ceolwulf's lame horse wandering in the woods around the hill of Erech. Holding torches aloft, they found the last campsite of the outlaws near the Erech stone around midnight and their glee was increased for they knew that the pursuit must go slower than they because two of the members of the outlaw band were riding double.
By noon, they came to a deep and narrow ravine and Ceolwulf led them up it, the river, now a small stream, trickling on the left. The baying of the hounds was closer.
Debanni portrayed by Madurz
Adibe and Candon portrayed by Eowyn
Vardamir portrayed by Hobbitness
Narrator and Ceolwulf portrayed by Angmar
Vardamir: *Vardamir's keen eyes
dart constantly across their surroundings, his ears pricked for
the whereabouts of their pursuers. The flight seems as though
they are bound in a single moment for eternity... A moment of
panic, of intense exertion, but of high adventure as well. Flushed
and perspiring, Vardamir tries not to look at the water, for he
longs for a drink, and he is sure his horse does as well. Candon
was frightened at first, but as time wore on, he felt safer with
Vardamir and began to enjoy the excitement of the chase. Now,
however, the exhausted boy leans back against the man...ready
to fall asleep despite the danger of the situation.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir looks down at him with a little worry...he
has had little food and drink and almost no sleep. Vardamir contemplates
asking Ceolwulf to stop for a drink...but no, that would be madness.
They would be caught! Vardamir urges his horse onward in elvish,
and passes the time by translating the phrases for Candon.*
Adibe: *It was morning now; the company had been riding
since late the night before. For some time Adibe had heard the
long, baleful cries of the hounds following them - the search
party of Lord Ashtum. For a moment, she felt a vague sense of
surprise that her husband would send men to search for her, but
then she knew that of course he would for Debanni was with her.
Nothing lay behind her, death, perhaps, it would seem, lay before
her; and still the wild man led them onward on a mad race for
the head of the valley. There, he said, was the entrance to a
secret path through the mountains, one once filled with dire peril
and grave danger, but supposedly now cleansed from the evil spirits
who once haunted its dusty corridors.*
Debanni: *As Debanni rode on the horse with tightly clenched
hands on the reins and a rapid heartbeat, she had wished that
she was able to give into relaxation back at the camp and fall
into a most needed slumber by the fire. She had slept and eaten
little in her time as captive and she swayed slightly on the saddle
then righted herself. She looked to her mother and they exchanged
a knowing look and understanding about the hunting party behind
them. She knew not of her fate..only felt a deep despair. Debanni
felt helpless as she rode. She felt that no good would come of
this day at all. She looked to the others with her and tried hard
to keep her senses about her.*
Narrator: By noon, they came to a deep and narrow ravine
and Ceolwulf led them up it, the river, now a small stream, trickling
on the left. The baying of the hounds was closer. "Faster!"
Ceolwulf urged, but the slope led upward and was steep. Ceolwulf
cursed all the fates and slowed his horse. *
Narrator: *On they rode between two steep cliffs and then
they came to a broad gateway in the side of the mountain. It had
a high arch carven with runes, and a chill air whispered through
the opening. Ahead of them lay darkness. Ceolwulf called a halt
and was quickly off his horse.*
Narrator: *"Vardamir!" Ceolwulf shouted. "Get
torches from the pack saddle and light them with the tinder. We
go on foot from now on. You go ahead and lead the women."*
Vardamir: *Vardamir jumps off his horse and hurries to
the pack saddle. He pulls out two torches, rubs pitch onto the
cloth-covered ends, and frantically tries to kindle flame by striking
a tinder*
Vardamir: *He tries repeatedly--nothing. He groans in
frustration. Ceolwulf glares at him and is on the brink of yelling
at him to go on.*
Vardamir: *Finally a flame kindles. Vardamir shoots a
triumphant look at Ceolwulf.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir lights two torches and hands them
to the women, who have dismounted. Then he lights two more torches,
hands one to Candon, and carries the other himself.*
Vardamir: *Ahead into the doors of death, eh? Vardamir
thinks. How brave of you, my friend Ceolwulf. Well, if we do
not meet again until after we pass the circles of the world...*
*aloud he says* Farewell, Ceolwulf! Come, ladies, we must hurry!
Adibe: *Adibe takes the torch from the other outlaw's
hand. She casts a glance towards the dark doorway, like an open
mouth waiting to devour them all. A shudder goes down her spine
and she draws nigh to her daughter, her presence a comfort in
this evil place.*
Debanni: *Debanni held the torch tightly and stayed right
at her mother's side. She sighed deeply and her lower lip shivered
a bit. What was she walking into? Behind her on their tail was
a search party for her. She should be hoping that they were found
and that she was returned to see her brother again. She also thought
of the uncertainty of this retreat. What would happen if they
were to be free? Could it ever be possible? Most likely, no. But
to be certain to be sentenced to live a life as her mother who
ached in all her time of marriage with her father. But what a
time was this to be thinking of such things!*
Debanni: *She was calmed only by the fact her mother
was near, and no matter what she would stay by her side. Through
any peril, she would not leave her. And so...onward*
Vardamir: *Summoning his courage, Vardamir lifts his torch,
takes Candon's hand, and smiles over his shoulder to the women*
Let us be off! *He strides into the dark entryway*
Adibe: *With one hand, Adibe holds the torch, and with
the other hand she holds the reins of her horse. She wishes instead
she could hold her daughter's hand, like she did when she was
a little girl and had awakened from a nightmare. Now they were
both like children, frightened and helpless, but these were not
childish fears. Neither knew what lay beyond that dark doorway;
it had an evil feel about it, and she wondered if the shades that
it had been said once haunted the inside of the mountain had really
departed from their abode.*
Adibe: *She bites her lip in her anxiety, and looks
to her daughter, smiling weakly in hopes to relieve some of the
fears, but knowing nothing could assuage them. Then she begins
walking forward, following the outlaw, whose form had been swallowed
up by the blackness of the doorway, and the only sign of him was
the dim light of his flickering torch. She steps inside the cool
chamber, and looks with concern to her daughter to see how she
is faring.*
Narrator: *Ceolwulf glanced down to the lead ropes of
the pack horses that he held in his left hand, and for a moment
thought of freeing the horses, but no, he thought, the gold is
upon their backs, so he led them onward. The lead pack horse stumbled
and the one behind shied, rearing, pulling the rope out of Ceolwulf's
hand. "Hurry, Vardamir!" he said as he led the one pack
horse that the other followed.*
Narrator: *On they walked through the wide tunnel. All
was dark except for the light of the flickering torches. Ceolwulf
looked over his shoulder and far behind them down the tunnel he
could see the light of other torches, the torches of the search
party.*
Ceolwulf: Hurry, Vardamir! *Ceolwulf says again, and on
they walk, looking ever backward at the lights behind them*
Vardamir: *Vardamir runs as fast as he can, practically
dragging Candon with him. "Vardamir?" Candon says, for
he thought Vardamir's name was Castamir.*
Vardamir: I will tell you later! *Vardamir pants to Candon
as they run* We're going as fast as we can, Ceolwulf! Come,
run! *he yells back to his friend*
Adibe: *She pads quickly over the dusty ground beneath
her feet; she wonders how many it has been since this place had
seen any water. The trickling of the Blackroot ceased long ago.
The air is cold, and there is a foreboding feeling all around
her; a place of great emptiness, yet not. She must not think overmuch
about it, for fear of spirits will only make her discomfort increase!
She keeps looking over at her daughter beside her, greatly worried
for them both, and then looks back towards the dim glow behind
them.*
Debanni: *Each deep breath Debanni took was heard loud
in her ears and as her feet pounded on the ground, they matched
her heartbeat. Loud thuds and the whisper of her breath becoming
louder still to her ears. The sound of her own fear perhaps? Amazing
how she found so much strength despite the lack of food and sleep.
Her hand, which held the torch, shook a bit and she looked over
to her mother with an equally concerned expression*
Narrator: *"By Bema!" Ceolwulf thinks. "What
folly possessed my mind to ever pick such a path as this!"
The loose pack horse snorts in fear and the other horses sense
this. Ceolwulf yanks at the rope of the trembling horse, who balks
and then rears, pawing the air. A shudder goes down his back as
the bolting pack horse pulls loose from his hands. "No!"
he screams as the two pack horses run past Vardamir and the women
and on up the cavern into the dark.*
Narrator: *Suddenly, they come into a great empty space
and there seems to be no more walls on either side of them. Something
glints in the torch light; a skeleton of a man clad in gold gilded
armor. He lies upon his face, his hand reaching up and clawing
at a shut door.*
Narrator: *Ceolwulf shouts* Go on! Go on! I will stay
behind!
Vardamir: Don't be ridiculous, Ceolwulf! Come on, run!
Vardamir: *Candon screams when he sees the skeleton clawing
at the door. Vardamir puts a hand over the boy's mouth and tries
to quiet him* Shh! It's alright! He's been there for many long
years. Nothing to fear! *he turns to the women and breaks into
a run again* Let's go, let's go!!
Adibe: *Adibe gasps when she sees the dust-covered
bones of the man. Somehow though the cavern is wider in this place,
the heavy air seems more oppressive, closing around them, to smother
and choke utterly, until they are like the poor man in the gilded
mail. She casts a glance at her daughter, her eyes wide with fear,
as she whispers* Hurry! Let us pass this evil place!
Debanni: *Chaos breaking out around them as the horses
dart past them. The shouts of the men back and forth to each other.
The scream of the little boy. A search party at their heels. And
there between it all...her and her mother. Debanni stands there
like stone or the skeleton nearby, through the moment of all of
that. It takes her mother's voice to shake her from this trance
and she bids her feet to move and carry on through*
Narrator: *Ceolwulf halts and takes the bridle off the
horse, then slaps it on the rump and the beast runs forward with
the others. Ceolwulf draws his sword, the red blade glowing and
turns and faces their pursuers, laughing wildly.* "Come to
doom!" he shouts. "Come to death!"
Vardamir: *At Ceolwulf's challenge, Vardamir halts for
a brief moment. He turns around and screams* CEOLWULF, COME NOW,
HURRY!
Vardamir: *But Ceolwulf does not answer. Vardamir longs
to stand and fight with him, but he has the women and the child
to think of...with his heart twisting, he leads them forward again
at a run.*
Narrator: No! Go on! Go on! *Ceolwulf screams* They are
almost upon us!
Adibe: *Adibe breaks out into a full run, pulling her
horse along behind her. Ahead she can see the torch of the man
wildly bobbing up and down as he runs. She keeps glancing over
her shoulder at her daughter, trying to run at a matched pace
with her. A glance behind reveals glowing amber orbs; the search
party is gaining on them!*
Adibe: *She tries to hasten her steps, fear and despair
descending upon her, like the oppressive darkness which looms
above them and enwraps them with shadowy arms.*
Debanni: *"What was Ceolwulf doing?" She wondered,
as she ran. She then figured he must have again slipped into his
madness which clouded his reasoning and prevented him from running
along with them.*
Debanni: *Her breathing sounded so loud and it seemed
more and more, a difficult task. Her chest heaved and she moved
her legs fast but they seemed heavy. Her mother, ahead of her
and she felt as if she just could not catch up. She blinked over
and over in the darkness. The light from the torches ahead leaving
fiery trails as they moved up and down. She tried to keep her
eyes focused and keep control and balance of her senses and concentrate
on just getting through.*
Narrator: *Ceolwulf hears the ring of steel as the closest
pursuers drew their swords and he rushes to meet them, swinging
the red sword, his hand burning with the heat of it. His blade
meets the closest and his attacker's sword breaks in his hand.
Ceolwulf slices into the man's neck and the man falls backwards,
screaming. Two come upon him next, and steel meets steel, but
they are slower and he outmatches them. Soon he has them down
on the ground.*
Narrator: *He laughs wildly at them and smiled as he watches
the sword glow as it draws blood. The others halt for a while
and watch in amazement. "It is a mad man!" they scream.*
Narrator: *"Kill him! Kill him!" their captain
shouts, but the men hesitate, for all feared the strange glowing
red sword. They stand and face each other, pursuer and attacker.*
Narrator: *Three dead men lie on the ground. Ceolwulf
holds his sword aloft and runs towards the closest ones and they
fell back. Ceolwulf laughs madly and shouts, "I am the ghost
of Baldor the Hapless come back to take you to hell! Come now!
My sword is thirsty!"*
Voices in the Dark: *"I can see them too," a voice
whispers in the dark somewhere up ahead, but none of Ceolwulf's
band hear the words, nor do their eyes see any living man.*
Voices in the Dark: *"I have seen them for a long time. They
are coming closer. Go back and tell the captain. We will be ready
for them..."*