I slowly stand up with my hands raised in surrender to the pissed elven face leering down at me. The woman has middling length straight light brown hair with a delicate coronet holding back the flowing tresses. Her furious green eyes seem to burn into my being with a mix of hate and disgust. Her armor is of the type that would have been hand crafted for a hunter, light yet with very few chinks where a blade or arrow could penetrate in.
"I should kill you where you stand for trespassing on Rohan land," she spits out, "I usually do. However, my commanding officer wishes to speak to the brave players who faced down the band of rogues."
Her voice drips with Sarcasm at the 'brave players' and I have a feeling she does not get along with her 'commanding officer' at all. She uses her bow to herd Erothar and I towards a player seated on a beautiful pure white horse. The player dismounts and removes their helm to survey the two of us. The woman's hair is pitch black and cropped short. Vivid blue eyes are a stark contrast to her hair, but they seem to be more curious than angry.
"I am Alyssa. Champion. I am the Commander of this group of riders. I was told that the two of you were the players who bravely faced down the rogue players as they pursued you."
"There were three of us." Erothar says. "But Baronlief died when the players fled and one threw a spear at him."
"I am sorry that we weren't able to come in time to save him." Alyssa replied solemly. "It is a sad day when a player is sent back. I am grateful to you though as those players have plagued our borders for the past few weeks. For that reason I will take you to meet King Théoden instead of banishing you from our lands."
"And we thank you for that kindness, Commander Alyssa." I say politely with a small bow.
"Shoyrue, find mounts for these two. Then assemble everyone for the ride back to Edoras." Alyssa says.
The elf with the bow, Shoyrue I guess, gives a small salute before prodding me none too gently in the back with the tip of said bow. Erothar and I follow her towards a group of horses tied to other riders mounts. She grabs two of them and thrusts the reigns into our hands. We mount up and are quickly surrounded by riders in a tight formation.
Even if we wanted to try to escape on horse there is no open path to do so. And even if we did manage to make a break for it, these riders would probably catch us before we could get more than a hundred yards away.
All of the players follow Alyssa and Shoyrue pulls the leads on our horses to make them follow as well. The column winds its way around the spurs of rock dotting the landscape. Everyone talks quietly around us, but every time I try to ask one of the riders something they give us a stern look which discourages further conversation. The silence drags on with only the sound of the horses as they wade through the tall grass to be heard besides the natural sound of wildlife.
One of the riders at the front of the column gives a shout and the riders hasten their pace. I look over at Erothar and he just shrugs as our mounts are pulled forwards faster by the surging stream of animals around us. We crest a small hill and see what has excited everyone. On the next rise, a small city sprawls across the slopes of a large plateau. The crest of which is dominated by a large hall that glints in the afternoon sunlight. Edoras. The City of the Golden Hall. Home to Théoden, Kind of Rohan. I can remember reading about this place in the books and seeing the version that the set builders had created for the movie trilogy, but I had never seen it for myself in-game until this moment.
The buildings had the same layout as the movie had presented them, but everything seemed to be more vibrant and alive in person. Several NPCs were moving about preforming their daily tasks essential to their lives. I also spotted several who were in uniforms signaling that they were part of the Rohirrim, the Riders of Rohan. Alyssa signals for the column to halt below the steps leading up to the Golden Hall. She signals to the banner carrier who waves the Rohan banner in a curious pattern. Most of the riders peel away from the column and scatter down various streets into the rest of the city.
That must have been her way of dismissing everyone. Handy as it keeps her from having to shout out her orders. I wonder what we are supposed to do. See Théoden perhaps. Hopefully be granted clemency as we were being chased by rogues. It was either cross the border or be killed so we didn't have much choice.
My mental preparation is cut short as Alyssa beckons for Erothar and I to dismount and come with her. Shoyrue takes up a position behind us as if we would still chance making a run for it.
How stupid does she think we are? We are deep in the Rohan lands and are in the center of Edoras! At least half of their army is scattered around us throughout the city. We wouldn't make it to the gates before we were caught. So do you really think we are going to run away?
Alyssa leads us up the steps towards the two intricately carved oaken doors that guard the entrance to the Hall. Four guards stand at their posts beside the doors and they cross their spears in front of the doors as Alyssa steps up to them.
"State name, rank, and intent." One of the guards calls out.
" Alyssa, Commander of Rohan. I am here to give report to King Théoden and to present some prisoners to him." Alyssa replies firmly.
The guard nods and singly enters the Hall while we must wait outside. The wind is starting to pick up and I can feel the temperature dropping as we stand there exposed at the top of the hill. After what seems like forever, the guard returns and waves Alyssa in through the door. Shoyrue prods my back as if I am not walking fast enough for her. I hasten my pace to be directly behind Alyssa as we pass through those heavy doors. I am struck breathless as I behold the interior of the fabled Hall. Intricate carvings like those upon the doors course their way around almost every facet of the building. Immense columns support the ceiling, creating a central walkway with two smaller alcoves upon either side. A great hearth contains a smoldering fire, giving enough heat to make the room pleasantly warm. Directly at the head of the room sits a great chair that sports the finest carvings of them all. Horses' heads arch over the back to touch with foreheads butted together. Their manes flow down the chair to the armrests. The rest are no doubt beautiful as well, but I can only see half of them as they are obscured by the figure of the man sitting upon the throne. Théoden, King of Rohan. A golden helm glints through blonde hair, which frames a friendly yet stern face. I hastily drop to my knees below the dais and Erothar is quick to follow. I watch as Théoden's eyebrows rise at our response, but he turns his attention to Alyssa who is standing just to my left on the first step ascending towards the throne.
"Commander, your patrol went well I gather?" he asks her.
"Yes sir. All was quiet until we caught up with one of those groups of PKs just over our northernmost border. We rescued these two players whom were being attacked and dispatched most of the rogues. A few of the scoundrels fled and we made sure they had crossed the border before heading back to Edoras." Alyssa replies.
"Very good Commander." Théoden says before turning his attention to Erothar and me.
"The two of you were found trespassing onto Rohan land without an escort. Are you aware that such acts are not tolerated in my lands?"
"Yes sir we were." I reply. "We didn't have a choice but to do so. It was either cross over the border or stay and allow those PKers to send us back to the beginning."
Théoden nods.
"I can understand that you only came here under threat of your lives. That is why I shall be lenient this time. I can't allow it to go fully unpunished though as others may attempt to cross in if they hear I let a few players go."
Erothar and I exchange looks.
What is he going to do? Leniency yet punishment?
"I will give the two of you a chance to prove yourselves worthy of standing on Rohan soil. You shall each spar off against one of my player officers until one of the combatants is unable to continue. If you are the victor, I shall give you entrance into my army. If you fail you shall have all of your gear removed and be escorted outside our borders to fend for yourself. You have one day to prepare before the match. Alyssa, please escort them to the lower cells and send them an armorer so they may attend to their gear before combat."
Alyssa bows and gestures for us to follow her. As we exit the hall I look back to see Théoden watching us leave with an expression of curiosity displayed on his face. Instead of going out the main doors, we turn right and descend a set of stairs leading to a lower level. Torches light the way as we silently march down the corridor, out boots sending echoes off down to who knows where. We take another turn and come to a row of four cells, two on each side. Shoyrue greets one of the guards who were playing cards off in a corner. He (Koria) has _. Alyssa opens the only empty cell and Shoyrue shoves us in. The look on her face shows that she enjoyed doing that as she locks the door and tosses the keys to that same guard she greeted earlier.
"I shall send one of the armorers to come and repair your gear. Rest up and I bid you good luck tomorrow on your bouts. May your arms be strong and your sword not fail you." Alyssa says as she leaves the room.
"Great help that is. How are we supposed to prepare when there is barely enough room to move in here, let alone swing our swords?" Erothar grumbles.
"We will have to do the best we can." I say with a sigh, knowing that won't be easy either.
The armorer arrives and repairs our armor and weapons, which Alyssa had told Shoyrue to stack outside of the cell door. Once everything is repaired, the guard unlocks the cell door and hands us our armor. I briefly contemplate trying to overtake him and escape, but there are two other player guards in the room and I would rather not have to send them back to the beginning if I can avoid it, which I wouldn't be able to guarantee in this circumstance. The young guard locks the cell door once more and leaves us to our own devices. It feels good to have my armor equipped once more. The knowledge that more than a cloth shirt and trousers protect me gives me strength to start to think about tomorrow and what trials it will bring.
I lay on my back on one of the cold stone benches that serves as both a seat and a bed for prisoners in these cells. The armor protects me from the brunt of the cold, but I can still feel it begin to seep through the thick plating as I ponder our options for the morrow.
If we are to fight NPC officers, we shall both have an easy fight. If the officers are players, however, that is an entirely different matter. Almost every player past level 30 is stronger than the average NPC and both Erothar and I are higher than that. But a player officer could pose a very dangerous opponent given their level and class. It would probably be close quarters fighting so ranged players wouldn't fight very well, though at higher levels ranged players receive abilities to use some close ranged combat weapons which would be useful. My having to use a sword will hamper me a great deal against a properly equipped player. How I wish I had a staff to use. Erothar should be fine unless his opponent outranks him. Even then, he can hold his own fairly well.
"Do we even stand a chance?" I hear Erothar mutter under his breath.
"Depends on who we have to fight." I reply, equally quiet.
"I heard that there aren't any players in the Rhohirrim under level 50." He says, "We aren't even at level 40 yet. If we have to fight one of the player officers, we are doomed."
"Then pray that we fight an NPC officer."
"Théoden is too smart to do that. By now he should know that players of level to be around here could easily defeat a regular NPC."
Yes, but how much does he want us to fight in his army for him.
"We will just have to wait and see and fight to the best of our ability." I say.
"Or…" Erothar starts to say.
I sit up and face him.
"Or what?" I prompt.
Erothar takes a glance around before leaning towards me. I lean even though I know I would be able to hear anything he says, even if he whispers.
"We could try to escape. Leave tonight under the cover of darkness. Slip away and make for the border."
I sit back and shake my head, wondering why he would ever even think of that as being an option.
"There is no way we would make it out of the building let alone past the city defenses and to the border." I retort.
"We could try."
"And be signing…"
I pause as one of the guards stands up. He walks by our door and I pray he hasn't heard our conversation. I am relieved when I hear a set of footsteps come down the stairs as a new guard comes to relieve our previous one. This one settles herself into the same chair across the way and I turn my attention back to Erothar.
"Be signing our death teleports back to Archet for you and to Erid Luin for me! No thanks. I'll take my chances fighting. At least then I am going down with honor against an opponent instead of with an arrow in the back as I try and flee like a scared rabbit." I whisper back.
"It isn't cowardly to run when you have the chance. 'He who runs away lives to fight another day' as some say."
"That is only for when the odds are stacked against you to the point that surrender would be your only other option, which isn't the case here."
"Please, Taurieth. I wouldn't make it far without you. We have come all this way together."
"I'm not leaving. Try to escape if you want to, but I won't help nor will I hinder. It's up to you, I don't rule your life."
Erothar gives me a look at this as if he wishes I did. I lay back down on the bench and try to prepare myself for tomorrow. I try to review the different moves I know with the sword, still keeping an ear open to hear all of the happenings around me as is my usual. At some point, the guards change out once more and I hear Erothar settle down on the other bench. I drift off into a partial doze where dreams come in weird and twisted ways. I see Erothar and I falling under our opponents blades. Waking up in our starting areas, separated and alone. So alone. I don't have Erothar or Sarung by my side anymore…
I am awoken from my dreams by the sound of a key being turned in the lock of the cell door. I sit up immediately and see a guard opening the door as Alyssa stands outside it holding our weapons.
"It is time for you to have your final preparations. Come with me." She says as she turns and heads out of the room.
Guess one day meant the rest of the day and the night. Can't fix anything now.
I am swift to follow and a sleepy Erothar is quickly by my side. The player guards who were on watch file in behind us as we march up the stairs back to the main level of the Golden Hall. There are few people in sight as the morning is still early. Those who are about stare at our little procession as we wind our way outside and down the paths to a larger open training area. There are many more people here, almost a hundred if I had to guess, and not all of them are NPCs. They part ways before Alyssa and I see a large circular arena has been staked out on the ground with a rope running around its circumference about 6 inches off the ground.
Alyssa halts and bids for us to kneel as King Théoden makes his way through the crowd. He is dressed for light combat, making it apparent that he practices here as well with the soldiers. Both Erothar and I kneel down before him and he smiles down upon us.
"It is time for the two of you to face your opponents." King Théoden says. "They have been decided based on your level and weapon set. Remember, if you are victorious you may join the ranks of Rohan. If you fail, you will be escorted out of these lands without very little to save your hides should you run into trouble. Good luck."
We stand up as Théoden takes a place around the rim of the circle. Two players enter the circle; Shoyrue and a short man who seems to be eager to fight.
"I'll beat you black and blue sucker." He says, pointing at Erothar as he does.
And I get Shoyrue…great. She already hates me it seems. I highly doubt her selection was random at all.
Alyssa motions for Erothar and Hautyfool to step forwards.
"The first to fight is Erothar and Hautyfool. Here are your weapons, the first player to exit the circle or to have their health hit below 20% will be declared defeated. We don't want to send anyone back to Eriador."
She hands Erothar his sword and shield while giving the other man a fancy dagger and a hammer. Alyssa places a hand on my shoulder and directs me to stand back behind the rope circle, out of the combatants' way. The two men square up to each other and take ready positions. A horn is sounded and Erothar charges forwards, bearing down upon the short man. I start to think Hautyfool will be crushed under his onslaught, but just as Erothar is about to hit him with his shield he quickly sidesteps and strikes down upon Erothar's passing back with his hammer. Erothar hits the dirt but is up quickly, only a small amount of his health removed. He advances again, much more slowly this time. Hautyfool lunges forwards attempting to bring his hammer down upon Erothar's head. Erothar manages to duck out of the way and retaliate with a stab at his opponent's side. The fight continues in this fashion as they exchange blows, each managing to land a few on the other. Erothar is receiving the heavy end of the fight as his health is twice as depleted as Hautyfool's is. I am starting to think that Erothar will lose this fight when his stance changes. Erothar pulls his arms in close behind his shield and charges at Hautyfool. Hautyfool catches Erothar's shield with his hammer, but hooks it behind the shield in the notch near the top. Erothar takes advantage and wrenches away the weapon and strikes out with his sword. The strength of the blow forces Hautyfool to his knees and before he can get up again Erothar waylays upon him, quickly reducing his weaponless opponent to 20% health.
Alyssa steps forwards with a hand upraised, announcing the end of the bout. Erothar sheaths his sword and reaches out his hand to Hautyfool.
"Good fight. You almost had me a few times." He says.
Hautyfool eyes the proffered hand before accepting Erothar's help up. He smiles at Erothar and claps him on the shoulder.
"That was a good fight. I will have to remember that move for my next battle." Hautyfool replies.
They exit the circle as Shoyrue steps out of the crowd. She has he bow across her back but is also wielding a one handed sword and a long spear. I step into the circle as well and am handed back my single one handed sword.
This is gonna suck so much. I have only my sword with no skills to back up my attacks. She has a spear to fend me off plus her sword. I am so screwed it isn't funny.
Alyssa re-announces the stakes at hand and gives our names. I take on a ready stance and study Shoyrue as Alyssa steps out of the ring. As soon as the horn is sounded Shoyrue attacks. She stabs at me with her spear which I deflect with my sword only to narrowly avoid being skewered with her own blade. I try to attack with a slash to her head, but am blocked by her sword and am rewarded for my ineffectiveness with a hit to the helm by her spear shaft. My vision blurred as I backed away to try and regain some ground.
This isn't gonna work. I do not have the skills or strength to defeat her. I only have one other option…
I work my way towards the edge of the circle as I ward off her spear thrusts and sword slashes. I am only a step away from the rope when Shoyrue smiles and charges at me. I brace myself for her charge. She is almost on top of me when I quickly side step and hit her across the back with my sword. She loses her balance and trips over the rope, outside of the circle. She jumps up to charge back at me but Alyssa grabs her by the arm.
"Taurieth is the winner." She announces.
"She cheated!" Shoyrue shouts, effectively silencing the cheering crowd.
"She used her mind instead of her strength." King Théoden says as he approaches the circle. "That gave her the victory. You cannot win every battle by mere feats of strength alone."
"Yes, both Taurieth and Erothar win the duels. By your permission, King Théoden, they may join the Rohirrim and fight for Rohan." Alyssa says as she brings Erothar forwards.
"They have proven themselves worthy of the crest of Rohan. They may fight and join your soldiers if they wish to do so, Commander Alyssa."
Erothar and I nod our acceptance and salute King Théoden and Alyssa. The crowd begins to disperse and we follow our commander to the barracks assigned to her soldiers. She gives us directions on what to do to outfit us with the necessary gear and to await orders on what to do in the morning. We salute her once more as she leaves us to relax for the remainder of the day. I collapse onto the bunk assigned to me and sign with relief. I had made it. I am now a member of the Rohirrim.