Ganthran smiled as the letters on the cover danced in the candlelight, shadows playing across them in a slow intricate pattern. It was time to write. Slowly, carefully, he opened the cover of the book and turned the first page. He breathed in deeply, skipped a few pages, and then copied the information on the cover to an inner leaf. Then, dipping his quill in ink and adopting an objective mindset, he turned to a blank page and began to write.
[Content from the New Chronicles of Middle Earth]
The Fifth Month of the year 1372 was filled with interesting events. This book will tell the story of an angel discovered by Brother Nathard in his temple at this time. Several adventurers were gathered in the Temple of the Sun Maiden that day when all of a sudden, a Brother of Illuvatar burst into the temple. He came to summon the Cardinal Donall to the Temple of Illuvatar to see Nathard. The adventurers in Nienna's temple accompanied the Cardinal on his journey.
At the Temple of Illuvatar, Nathard told the gathering that an angel had appeared. At first he had thought it a miracle, but, on visiting the angel, he saw that she was weeping constantly and could not speak. Furthermore, she emitted a sense of pain and grief so powerful that no man could bear to remain in her presence for long. The adventurers wished to see her anyway, regardless of this grief. They stayed below in the dark cellar with her for quite a while, but they learned little of what ailed her or what they could do. They were finally forced to quit the cellar as the grief became too much to bear.
Once safely out of the cellar, they decided to split up into three parties and search for information, querying the wise folk of the land. The first party, which travelled to Lothlorien and Ettenmore, consisted of Belawyn Earebril, Jacob, Elrendur Knoll, Brother Bulghe Tarrowsill, and Zrong. The second party, which explored the docks, contained Bhanuch Bladesinger, Kata Marris, and Torin. The final party, which met the with the Brown Wizard and Tigan Xylor, consisted of Goga, Ghirota Millenka, Mathias Templar, and Ganthran Tolaran. All spent days exploring and questioning and many fell during these difficult times. Eventually, all returned to the Temple of Illuvatar to report their findings.
The first group found little: only that the Ents felt great pain and anger, pain they had not felt since the First Age and anger that they had never felt before. From Lothlorien, they were given the promise of an answer from Galadriel when she had finished meditating. The second group reported nothing from the docks, though they searched diligently and carefully. The third group brought two questions from Radagast and news from Tigan Xylor. Radagast said he could help them if they discovered more about why the angel was in pain and who was causing her to suffer. Tigan reported increased undead activity along the Great East Road. Another party of adventurers led by Brother Bulghe a few days later confirmed this report.
The adventurers could think of nothing to do and decided to disperse and search individually with the promise to meet again in Illuvatar's temple in a few days time.
Several days later, a new group met in the Temple of Illuvatar. Many of those from before returned, but there were new faces as well. Once again they split up, into two groups this time. The first, to Lothlorien, was composed of Goga, Jacob, and Brother Bulghe Tarrowsill. The second, to see the Brown Wizard, consisted of Bhanuch Bladesinger, Triel Dy'ner, Kerin Klastor, Mathias Templar, and Ganthran Tolaran. Again, many people fought and many died. L?thien M?riel joined the second party in Last Bridge. The first party arrived in Last Bridge soon after, and together the adventurers all made their way to the Temple of Illuvatar. On arriving, they discussed what they had learned.
The first group had spoken to Galadriel and had been told a story of a war in the First Age, a war where every city was crushed, every people decimated, but Gondolin. Gondolin survived, though was later betrayed by servants of Morgoth. This story interested the second group, as they too had encountered mention of Gondolin. The first group had met with the Brown Wizard and had, with his aid, summoned an undead creature and forced it to speak. The undead gave little information. However, after it was gone, the little girl that haunted the Prancing Pony appeared. She told the adventurers that she spoke for many people, those betrayed at Gondolin. She further told them that the traitors, presumably those that betrayed Gondolin, had sentenced her and those she spoke for to eternal pain. She explained that the pain the angel felt was theirs. She then advised the adventurers to speak the word "Gondolin" to her mother, the angel, to release her. Then she disappeared. After much debate, it was decided that the angel would be spoken to, the word would be said. Bhanuch Bladesinger was chosen for the task and everyone accompanied him to the cellar where it was to be done.
He approached the angel, and then, spoke or rather sang the word, "Gondolin," and the angel was freed of her constraints. She could contain her grief, and she could speak. She spoke, thanking the adventurers for aiding her and confirming what they had heard from the little girl and from Galadriel. Then, she took them to an old building in West Tharbad, the former guild hall for the Guardians of the Silmarils. She gave them the guild hall as a place of refuge for those of good. Then she left, leaving the weary adventurers standing about the hall.
The adventurers eventually made their way to the large table at the center of the guild hall and sat to discuss their plans for the guild. There were nine of them, with Jacob sitting at the far right end, then Goga, Triel, Bhanuch, and Ganthran at the head. To the left of Ganthran sat Mathias, then Luthien, then Brother Bulghe, and Kerin at the end. This group, this conclave, then discussed the election of a council, a council of five to guide the guild in its goals and ideals. They extolled the virtues of many that sat around the table and some that did not. They set a date for a conclave to hold this election and devised a temporary method for recruitment of members. And then, the First Conclave, the Conclave of Nine, dispersed into the world, knowing that the Guardians of the Silmarils would be there, a haven, a refuge, always open to them.
[End content from the New Chronicles]
Ganthran smiled and sat back in his chair, waiting for the ink to dry. When it was dry at last, he closed the book and stood up, stretching. There were still many pages left. He would add information about the conclave, he nodded to himself. Until then, there was a world to explore, people to talk to, and a guild to protect. He grinned broadly and murmured a few charms sealing and protecting the book before carefully dropping it into his backpack. It was time to go adventuring again.
