Pashaar

[Raithen Anar]

Well that rings true enough, except I don't think he would flee from anything, unless it suitd him for a specific reason Raithewn thought to himself,
' That's interesting, spectral creatures that can interact with the physical world, harm, but not be harmed, ' he mused, ' I wonder what power thought up such creaturs, for it would be a strong one, and a subtle, '

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

"Necromancy, no doubt," Bragol stated, "The Art of Raising the Dead. I hear Angmar's ruler is one of them, you know, the Istari. I wouldn't be surprised if he was behind it, but I bet you there are others who know that dark art. Maybe some hidden secret lies within the ruins of Karna. Or are the tales of the ruins and their Dimlokhi inhabitants merely myths?" He shook his head.

[Raithen Anar]

' Much that is supposed to be myth bs based on grains of truth, ' Raithen said, sipping his wine ' amongst the shorter lived races, they becomes tales told at twilight, to awe and afright, - but the older races know that behind the shadows of old stories, often lies a truth that sometimes is best hidden.
But there is nothing that may not be looked upon, when you open your mind to the knowing of a thing, whether it be good, or evil, there is no room for fear, ' He looked out at the tinges of dawn in the sky, his * mother * would soon be looking down on Harad as if she detested it, determined to scorch the land to ash for some ancient transgression.
' ...the Dîmlokhi,..and Karna... ' the oil lamps fluttered in a breath of spiced night air, as he spoke.
' I saw the towers and walls of that city long ago. But I did not enter it, and the tribes avoid it. There are too many tales of people going there, young, bold, brash, and never returning.
Power may bend laws but no break them, one cannot grow an orange on a pomegranate tree, and everything is ruled by certain laws, it is said that the Dîmlokhi answer only to a Necromancer. The King of Harad has powers, but not those, nor can he simply aquire them, so Karna is left, as it always has been, an evil legend of the desert.
But one who could command them....' he shrugged, ' they do exist, and he would have an army who killed for him alone, felt no fear, all their fury and violence channelled into war, - for him, or her, '

Karna... is that it, that is one damn place I can do nothing with, I could try and put my will on the Dîmlokhi, but it would mean nothing, they obey laws, too, we all do, even Morgoth, there were things he could not do.

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

"Aye, the art of Necromancy is a lost one. It has not been practiced in many years. Even Sauron, who was titled 'The Necromancer', had not a clue what the art truly was. The art of controlling the dead...a very tiring task indeed, I would think. Bending the will of hundreds, possibly thousands, to keep them as your servants. Then there is the task of keeping them on this plane." He shook his head yet again, "No wonder those who practice Necromancy often go mad."

"Yet, these terrors of Angmar and of Karna are not the only reports," He sipped his wine slowly, as if thinking, "There are tales from the Shire, of Wisps. Wisps that lure the unwary to their doom. Tales of shadowy men standing on the edges of forests at dusk, holding lanterns. They lead their poor victim for hours, until the midnight hour is at hand. When the Will'o the Wisp has blown out his candle, the victim finds himself near a precipice, in pitch darkness, as well as a long way from home." Bragol held his head in his hands, "It is not long before all the world is taken by these fell beasts."

[Raithen Anar]

' It seems like the myths of legend are crawling out of every corner, ' Raithen murmured, ' corpse candles, they used to call those long ago, leading people to their doom in a swamp or to fall from a high place, ' The sun came up, drawing answering fire from his shielded eyes and hair. ' Makes Pashaar look positively peaceful. ' he shrugged, ' I think perhaps a trip up north would be worth-while. interesting, - and Necromancy... Sauron, Sauron was a great disappointment to many - but we tend to forget he and Morgoth were not the only powers in Middle Earth, '

[Envin]

Thorongil was more astute than these fellows took him for, or at least more astute than he presented himself, listening to the music in the courtyard rather than to the talk of his comrades, and puffing contentedly upon his pipe as though at peace with the world. But he drank in the words he heard as though one drunk, and pondered them in his mind. The one spoke of spirits in Harad and the Shire, and spoke of them lustfully. The other declared that there were powers in Middle-earth other than the two greatest evils it had ever seen - did Harad's King have aspirations?

"Such talk of spooks and ghouls is unnerving, good Bragol. Such things are ... not wholesome to dwell upon - let us leave them for now." He shuddered, inwardly with the thought of seeming simple, but for an instant or two it appeared to the other two that his shudder was backed by memories, alone of them perhaps the worst. "When are these games of Harad to begin? For I would test my mettle. I fear it may be lacking against thine, good friend Bragol, but we shall see."

[Raithen Anar]

Raithen looked into the flaming golden disc a little longer, a challenge to his mother perhaps,
' They begin todays, sirs, for seven days, and I for one must be there, I never miss the Games, if I can help it, ' he flung his robe over one shoulder, ' well this has been an interesting meeting, be sure I shall look for you both in the arena, ' he strode to the door, inclined his head and left the inn.

[Morsereg Dîndaedel]

Bragol lifted his head to see Thorongil, smirking silently, "I shall see you at the games. I can not wait until it is time that we draw swords against each other, to see whom is the better swordsman." He stood, bowing his head to Thorongil before departing into the early morning.

[Envin]

Thorongil downed his remaining wine, and took a last few puffs on his pipe, and then emptied it. He sighed and stretched, snatching a last piece of cheese, and stood.

This was perhaps the most interesting conversation in which he had taken a part in many years, and all three of them had much which they did not share, of that much he was certain. The following day would be interesting, to say the least.

He left the inn and melted into the night.