[X] He said to himself evil would to good lead. He took not the pure songs of Angband and did not sing in the Black Speech of Mordor. Yet these he took as base for a new weaving, great and terrible. And Halbarad was dismayed and knew not what to think. For what spilled from the mouth of the Orc was neither Music nor Discord but like to the Marred Music that made the world. It was a thing of the world as it is and not as it was to be.
[X] He said to himself evil would to good lead. He took not the pure songs of Angband and did not sing in the Black Speech of Mordor. Yet these he took as base for a new weaving, great and terrible. And Halbarad was dismayed and knew not what to think. For what spilled from the mouth of the Orc was neither Music nor Discord but like to the Marred Music that made the world. It was a thing of the world as it is and not as it was to be.
[X] He hearkened to the words of the Dunedain and held back much of the songs he knew. He did not summon the chill of the great north and the flame of the earth. He did not display the songs learned by his grandsire in Angband. He took the songs of Lindir, the songs who had been risen against the Shadow and thus turned to the strengthening of will rather than the destruction of things.
[X] He said to himself evil would to good lead. He took not the pure songs of Angband and did not sing in the Black Speech of Mordor. Yet these he took as base for a new weaving, great and terrible. And Halbarad was dismayed and knew not what to think. For what spilled from the mouth of the Orc was neither Music nor Discord but like to the Marred Music that made the world. It was a thing of the world as it is and not as it was to be.
For all we've changed, we're still an orc. We come upon an obstruction and wish to remove it through violence.
[X] He hearkened to the words of the Dunedain and held back much of the songs he knew. He did not summon the chill of the great north and the flame of the earth. He did not display the songs learned by his grandsire in Angband. He took the songs of Lindir, the songs who had been risen against the Shadow and thus turned to the strengthening of will rather than the destruction of things.
[X] He said to himself evil would to good lead. He took not the pure songs of Angband and did not sing in the Black Speech of Mordor. Yet these he took as base for a new weaving, great and terrible. And Halbarad was dismayed and knew not what to think. For what spilled from the mouth of the Orc was neither Music nor Discord but like to the Marred Music that made the world. It was a thing of the world as it is and not as it was to be.
[X] He hearkened to the words of the Dunedain and held back much of the songs he knew. He did not summon the chill of the great north and the flame of the earth. He did not display the songs learned by his grandsire in Angband. He took the songs of Lindir, the songs who had been risen against the Shadow and thus turned to the strengthening of will rather than the destruction of things.
Let's not start dabbling with Discord if we can avoid it. The stuff has a habit of dragging things down, including ourselves.
[X] He said to himself evil would to good lead. He took not the pure songs of Angband and did not sing in the Black Speech of Mordor. Yet these he took as base for a new weaving, great and terrible. And Halbarad was dismayed and knew not what to think. For what spilled from the mouth of the Orc was neither Music nor Discord but like to the Marred Music that made the world. It was a thing of the world as it is and not as it was to be.
Strategy and Rolls
Grey Song : 89+50(Sung from Memories) DC : 90/120: 139: And down come the wall.
Song of Dark Rage: 95+40 (Circle of Sorcerers+ Defiled Place) DC: 70/100: Critical Success: Five of Swords: What terror in their screams.
Servants of the Shadow get +20 rather than +10
Arrows of the Wild: 80+20 (Average between Valor of the Edain/Arrows of Darkness/Hobbit Archers): DC 40/60/80: 100: Slaughter from afar
A Fell Light: 58+40 (Song of Dark Rage): DC 50/70/90 (Blood of Numenor/Stout Folk/People of Shade): 98: Terror on the Downs
First Shock: 49+30 (Valor of the Edain/People of Shade) VS 91+40 (Troll Band): 79 VS 131: Great Victory for the Shadow
Heroic intervention: 94 (Hunters of the Wild)
Street fighting: 58+30 VS 38+20; 88 VS 58: Fornost reconquered.
Ghulgash heard the words of Halbarad of the Dunedain and his heart was troubled. For he had not divulged the words and deeds of Nienna the Mourner save to the wraith Lindir damned though faultless. Most present, be their hearts light or dark, thought he was moved by pride and desire to build something anew. For this could be borne by the heart, to see Orcs wishing to rule and not crawl in some ruins. Their thoughts were those of mortals and not those of the Powers. Still the Orc chieftain decided against renouncing to his greatest power. He knew some songs of Elves and Men. Yet these arts were tainted on his lips too for these were gained through pain or damnation. Still he would not sing the melodies of Angband and Mordor, the songs he learned in his youth and his life. Instead he sang something new and wove images most contrasting. He sang of winter's chill and the wheel of time crushing even stone underfoot. He sang of good times and bad times, summer's heat and autumn's cold. He sang of the first ruin of Fornost and how plague had descended into Arthedain. Yet before the swords of the Dunedain could be unsheathed against him and his host, he sang of the city's second fall when the Witch-King had fled before Glorfindel.
Grey was this song, not wholly of the light and not wholly of the dark. It was a song of Arda Marred who contains both the Music and the Discord, both pearls and dross. From it came its power for Ghulgash called upon the clouds borne upon the wings of Manwë and the floods born in the breast of Ulmo and the fury of the earth that Aulë fashioned. And yes he pronounced thrice the name of Melkor in his aspect of master of fire and cold. Strange was this sound to the ears of the Dunedain and much thought it inspired in Gandalf when he learned of it. For the Orc as he summoned powers sang of the work of the Powers in harmony and the dance of order and chaos and the march of Time. This he gathered and sent against the gate, reminding the walls they had already been overthrown. And cracks appeared on the metal until a tremor came from the ground and threw the gate asunder in fragments. And yet the army of the Free People did not rejoice at the sight for they heard other voices in the air. Belgrud's sorcerers, some who had learned at the feet of Ghulgash, had not risked themselves in a futile defense but called to the power of their masters.
Vile was their songs, full of animal sounds and bestial cries. For they remembered the claws and fangs of the Wolf who stood at the gates of Angband and sang of the Worm slain by Turin Turambar. They called scales, fangs and claws and the red fury of the chase and the pleasure of the kill. They called to the darkness unafraid and if Ghulgash named thrice Melkor for destruction, they thrice begged Ungoliant monstrous mother of spiders for venom and webs. And so their song entered the living flesh of those who gathered under their banners, and the fury of the beasts were in them until only the strongest knew themselves. There were many there gathered for this last defense. Not only Orcs but wild wolves and Trolls kept hidden from the sun. And they seemed many more, an army of beasts and monsters with the features of animals lost to frenzy. For the sorcerers of Fornost had called to the memories of the monsters of flesh and bone who had stalked the steps of the great Hunter. Memories only and yet all too solid.
They jumped out of their holes and through the ruined gates and received a rain of arrows in return. Breemen and Hobbit, Dunedain and Black Numenorean took to their weapons and let loose deadly shafts like drops in rain. Many died yet not all of Fornost's defenders drew breath. From the defiled halls issued a wave of shadows and in the flying darkness could be seen the echoes of ghosts long dead, they advanced with a wall of Trolls, terror to all living things. And the great beasts hurled themselves at the ranks of the Free People and such was their strength and rage, they trampled many underfoot and would have broken through if not for the valor of the dark Edain of Angmar who with cruel smiles, hewed their legs from under them and stabbed their bellies. They brought the fight to the ruined streets of Fornost-Erain who for the third time saws its paths stepped in blood.
And leading the wave was Ghulgash whose sight was inflamed. For the sorcerers had raised before the battle many creatures of the reign of the Witch-King and had not feared cast their eyes northwards and westwards and look to fouler things still. And these, wraiths of shapeless malice, some in the forms of great Orcs for they were once of the Boldogs, the great captains that died not, gathered around Bergrud who stood with his guard ready to make a last stand and accounting of himself. And he cried for a duel even as his follower breathed their last around him. And the shadows followed him and he drank them eagerly, fearing not the Houseless and relishing in their petty gifts.
Who stood against him at the last hour? Choose 1
[] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
[] Halabard of the Dunedain, messenger of the Chieftain of Arnor, trod the paths of his ancestors and struck down he who defiled them.
[] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things.
Note there will no combat, this decides the tone of the ending.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
You know the whole song that is both of the Music and the Discord thing is very interesting and a good contrast to Moriandor. Ghulgash was never a being of light, he was never one of the Ainu, an angel and thus he cannot simply burn away his corruption to become an angel again and it is not like he can set down his sorcery and become a mortal man, it is of him blood of Boldog and bone of the first orcs. The dream of Niena opened him to the Music, it showed him the way forward, but just because he walks forward does not change the past. While he walks the world he will remain a creature of Arda Marred for better and for worse, never free of temptation and that is where his compassion must come from.
[X] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things.
You know the whole song that is both of the Music and the Discord thing is very interesting and a good contrast to Moriandor. Ghulgash was never a being of light, he was never one of the Ainu, an angel and thus he cannot simply burn away his corruption to become an angel again and it is not like he can set down his sorcery and become a mortal man, it is of him blood of Boldog and bone of the first orcs. The dream of Niena opened him to the Music, it showed him the way forward, but just because he walks forward does not change the past. While he walks the world he will remain a creature of Arda Marred for better and for worse, never free of temptation and that is where his compassion must come from.
Yep. Morianor was after redemption come back to his original angelic nature, wounded by the passage into evil but still having both the experienc of the greatest good*, the presence of God, and the greatest evil, rebelion against Eru. That was one of the challenges of the quest because it meant difficulty in setting temptation and even zealotry not being attractive to someone who remembered having struggled with the Powers while knowing full well it was wrong.
Ghulgash has been made with all the hax options of being a sorcerer which makes him into the 1% of Middle-Earth mortal and older than anyone not an Elf. (A hilarious thought is he is metaphysically nobler than anybody save the line of Luthien being of their evil equivalents) Yet he is still mortal, still hesitating. He doesn't even with Lore (Lindir knows everything in the published Silmarillion) know exactly the right solution. And unlike Morianor, Shadow would grant power to him still.
Hell Shadow-songs allow Ghulgash to bind lesser Umaïar, very lesser of course, to service. If he was still evil, the armies of Angmar would have Shades, Wights and Spectres to call upon.
[X] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things
[X] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things.
[X] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things.
Adhoc vote count started by ganonso on Sep 13, 2023 at 10:21 AM, finished with 8 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Nelineniel and Iorthondaer of the Black Numenorean, children of shadows and proud in sin and repentance both came at the chieftain, reminding him in the house of fallen Numenor where his kin stood in the great scheme of things.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
Shame on you thread to have no love for the Men of the West
Which is funny since the Black Numenoreans may even be more loathed than Ghulgash in an assembly of Free People. At least Ghulgash is not of the family, even if working on his genealogy he has several Elves in his family line.
Yeah, this could have been the moment to give Black Numenoreans some time to shine.
Nevertheless, glad to see Ghulgash's tale continue! Thank you for this story, @ganonso
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
[X] Ghulgash himself words of powers on his lips, chastising a rebellious vassals. His song bound the formless shadows and sent them away depriving the Chieftain of rage and feeling alike.
The War for Fornost: End
In the end the city fell for the third time and Ghulgash was there as he was of old. The armies of Angmar and the armies of the West came upon the streets and the old Orc had in mouth songs to drive away the formless dead who had gathered at the side of the Orcs of Deadman's Dike. His chants broke their power and he drove them on the eastern winds, pushing them across leagues and leagues until they met the Sea and the call of the Powers. This he did while smiting Bergrud and his guard at the head of his own forces. And so was Fornost delivered from the forces of Shadow. Momentous was this victory because this was the first time where Orcs had walked at the side of the Free People. Lore assured there was division among all kindred save Elves in the War of Last Alliance and it was long supposed Orcs had fought each other, but this was attributed to quarrels specific to their race. There Ghulgash the sorcerer who stood in the ruins of Carn Dum in the frozen wastes, had come down and helped the folks of Bree and the Dunedain of the West. This asked great questions even to the heart of Gandalf when he judged Bree protected and rode to meet the assembled captains.
There great talks were made and Halabard of the Dunedain was stricken with dismay and wonderment. For it was said among his people the heirs of Isildur would throw away their secrecy only when the time would come for Narsil to be reforged, who was broken under the foot of Sauron, and war to ignite across Middle-Earth. Long had they known that the Dark Lord held the offspring of his victor in deadly hate, long fanned by the actions of Ar-Pharazon and the stalwart defense of Gondor against his evil. Bergrud had forced the hand of the Men of the West for they had failed to stop him and had been reduced to levy forces in Bree. The folk of Eriador were happy enough to understand a kingdom could be reborn on the ashes of wilder ways but the Rangers hesitated. Arnor could rise again but it would be a kingless land before the Chieftain came back from his adventures and errantry. Halabard did not know he could decree the kingdom reborn without the aval of his liege and kinsman.
So he asked of Gandalf but the Grey Pilgrim shook his head and said to those gathered : "There is only a throne I serve and it's neither of Arnor and Gondor." Few even among the high men descendants of Numenor understood he spoke of holy Taniquetil where Manwë sits in majesty. "There is only a war I make my care and it's against Mordor. I have not been sent to labor on the earth to solve the intrigues of Men. Ask counsel from another mouth. Send for your kinsman Elrond at Rivendell if you want, or gallant Elladan and Elrohir. They are wiser than me on these subjects."
So spoke Iorthondaer of the Angmarim : "If you want advice, you can have it nearer to your heart cousin." How this word soured in the heart of the Dunedain all accurate as it was. "Here stands Ghulgash of Angmar who led our people through the long centuries. Even I and all my company, proud descendants of Numenor, pledge him our allegiance and his wisdom never failed us." Gandalf and Halabard did not miss the black gaze the Orc cast at his herald for Ghulgash would judge his counsels ill-appreciated by those he judged years ago the chiefs of his foes. Yet when he said it, Halabard answered listening to advice was not to heed it.
Long did Ghulgash think. Bergud was slain and with him most Orcs and Trolls who haunted fallen Arnor. Yes there were horrors still haunting the sunless hills and the deep woods and the barrows of Cardolan. Yet they were no threat to the building of cities and the gathering of villages and a kingdom could indeed purge them. Yet if Arnor rose again, what place would be to Angmar. The Dunedain would accept to cut from their old demesne the land of Rhudaur and the Ettenmoors but never Rivendell would loosen the watch on Eregion and Arnor would take all the lands of the West even to Lindon. The captains of Angmar would have to look either to the Misty Mountains and their crevices and the remnants of Goblin-Town, or to the East. And in this direction would only be the Withered Heat and the Grey Mountains. Harsh lands even if one did not go north to try and join the ruins of Angband.
Unwise he is he who strengthen a future foe. And yet Ghulgash made a decision. Choose 1
[] He advised for the rebuilding of Arnor amputated from Rhudaur and stopping at the Weather Hills as it was during the time of the Wars. He would accept for his people the land of stone, the land of harshness and winter and either descend through stone deeper even than the dwellings of the Dwarves, or go eastwards so that his people would dispute their prey with dragons and ascend into Forochel where one of the Nine had long his kingdom under the sun.
[] He advised for Eriador to remain as it was, a debatable lands protected by the Rangers. Yet he spoke to the Breemen who are far kin to the folks of Dunland and Enedwaith to build something awaiting the return of their king. They could live free as cities tied through trade and hosting the travelers who walked through and from the lands. Yet in his heart he held still the thought of grasping these lands through conquest or negotiation perhaps even proposing one of the Black Numenoreans as lord.
[X] He advised for Eriador to remain as it was, a debatable lands protected by the Rangers. Yet he spoke to the Breemen who are far kin to the folks of Dunland and Enedwaith to build something awaiting the return of their king. They could live free as cities tied through trade and hosting the travelers who walked through and from the lands. Yet in his heart he held still the thought of grasping these lands through conquest or negotiation perhaps even proposing one of the Black Numenoreans as lord.
Hmm... tough choice. I think that for the Free People, for those who are not orcs at least, it would be best if Arnor would rise again, a light in dark places, perhaps something to offer a spark of hope to Denethor in Gondor, certainly something to give the Dark Lord for all his power cause for concern. By this point in time timeline it is the paranoia of Sauron that is out greatest ally, he is probably strong enough to take all comers or near enough, but he does not think he is and the more we keep that true the more time we have to come up with some other answer for the dark riddle that is this war.
That said I also think that would be the worst choice for the orcs, not for Ghulgash specifically, he is old and canny, a lord and a sorcerer, but for the common orc who has to make their livelihood with hunting and fishing, farming or trading. If we go to harsher lands they will live harsher lives.
So here I think is a question more weighty than even the kind of song we sing: Do we care about the fate of the world more then the suffering of our people?
Edit:
I think that in the end it is worth it, not so much because it gives the Dunedain a kingdom. What after all are the Dunedain to us, but because in sending the orcs wandering it also sends them in search of others like themselves. Perhaps we can spread the word eastwards that not all those under the shadow are damned. Even if only a few listen that is more than we would have gotten otherwise and even a single soul saved is worth it.
[X] He advised for the rebuilding of Arnor amputated from Rhudaur and stopping at the Weather Hills as it was during the time of the Wars. He would accept for his people the land of stone, the land of harshness and winter and either descend through stone deeper even than the dwellings of the Dwarves, or go eastwards so that his people would dispute their prey with dragons and ascend into Forochel where one of the Nine had long his kingdom under the sun.
