Quest:Chapter 3: Strange Companions

Chapter 3: Strange Companions
Level	77
Type	Solo
Starts with	Corudan
Starts at	Floodwend
Start Region	The Wold
Map Ref	[45.4S, 48.4W]
Ends with	Alwold
Ends at	The Wold
End Region	The Wold
Map Ref	[45.3S, 48.9W]
Quest Group	Vol. III. Book 8

Walkthrough & Notes

Several of the characters have additional comments during the quest. Elfsige Tell me about this Orc. 'His party came south along the Great River, I think, and they sought to cross south of the rapids. Several of the Orcs perished in the crossing, and the remaining creatures passed too near to Floodwend for Alwold to stand. He led us against them, and I slew the biggest and deadliest of them. I took this bow from him as spoils.' It is no Orc bow. You cannot deny Corudan's claim to it. 'Why? Because he is an Elf? That is not enough for me. You might as well say I should sit in the Golden Hall in Edoras because I am a man of Rohan. And yet Théoden King is the rightful lord of the Mark, and I am a mere rider of Floodwend.' But... You will abide by the wager? 'I will. I am a man of honour. I expect you to do the same, even if I cannot trust the word of a Dunlending savage or a peculiar Elf. I am trusting you and Horn to make them abide by the terms.' They will. Corudan Are you certain that is your bow? 'Of course I am certain. It has no name, but the winged pattern and the curved etching is unmistakeable. I would know it blind in the dark. That is my bow in that man's unworthy hands.' Are you willing to wager this? 'I resent the need to wager, but I am willing to do whatever we must to have my favourite bow back in my possession. This man Elfsige is arrogant and greedy. Perhaps that will work to his disadvantage.' What if Elfisge wins? 'If he wins I will abide by the terms of the wager. I am an Elf of Lórien, brother of Sigileth the Deadly, and my word when given is trustworthy. But I want us to win. It is my bow, and it is not right for this man to keep it, shooting it poorly if at all.' I hope we win. Nona What do you think of Floodwend? 'These towns we have seen, including this one, are more dense than those of my people. Perhaps that makes them easier to defend, but it also means a single burning brand from a foe might set the whole place ablaze. 'That may be worth remembering, if the horse-lords continue to treat my people with such scorn! 'Ah, that was a jest, my friend! Do not look at me like that.' I hope so, Nona. What do you make of Elfsige? 'He seems much like any other horse-man to me: greedy, arrogant, and selfish. I excuse Horn from this company, of course, for his deeds have proven otherwise. But he is the exception, and it seems Elfsige is what we should expect of most of the horse-lords.' Perhaps not. Can we win this wager? 'This man Elfisge has most likely spent his entire life on horseback. We are... less experienced. Make of that what you will.' Hmm. Horn What do you know of this area? 'Floodwend is a long way from my own home of Eaworth, in the Entwash Vale. I have only been here once or twice. Harding of Harwick is the Aldor of the Northmarch, and answers to Théoden King only for the defence of its people. This is among the rockiest stretch of the Wold, and the Great River flows swiftly south of the rapids.' Interesting. Will he honour this wager? 'I have not met Elfsige before today, but he is a man of Rohan and I trust that he will honour his obligations. If he agrees to the terms of a wager, he will uphold them in victory or defeat.' I hope so. Can we win this wager? 'Elfsige has more skill while mounted than any of you, and if he is making this wager he thinks he has more skill than I as well. I do not think our chance of victory is very high, but there is always a possibility of victory when good-hearted folk try their hardest to succeed. 'Even when newly-trained on the back of war-steeds against a seasoned veteran of the plains of Rohan. Maybe.' Uh oh.

Rewards
34  30   Legendary Item Experience ( 9,277 )  Enhancement Runes x2, Lvl 50 Rare

Quest Text

Bestowal dialogue 'This will not take long. Let us have some words with this man Elfsige. He is sure to return my bow when he understands the situation.' Background Elfsige claimed a high-quality bow from the body of an Orc he slew: Corudan's favourite bow, loaned to Fimloth and lost in Thinglad. Objective 1 Talk to Elfsige in Floodwend Elfsige is in Floodwend, north of the Mead Hall. You have heard that Elfsige has a bow that sounds like it belongs to Corudan, and should ask him to return it. Nona: 'That is the bow Corudan lost? No wonder he wanted it back! How many Orcs did the two of us slay in Thinglad, searching for it? And now this arrogant horse-man thinks slaying a single Orc entitles him to keep it for himself?' Horn: 'Surely Elfsige will see reason. That is clearly an Elf-made bow, and if Corudan says it belongs to him...' Horn's brow creases in thought. 'Of course, Elfsige did come into possession of the bow by slaying an Orc in defence of his town. He may not wish to part with it solely on the word of an Elf.' Corudan: 'That is my bow. I would know it anywhere.' Elfsige: 'I am sorry that your friend lost his bow, but it seems to me that anything taken from an Orc belongs to the one strong enough to take it. If your friend wanted it back, why did he not reclaim it from the Orcs when he had the opportunity? 'I am not unreasonable. What if I give your friend the opportunity to win it back in a contest of some sort? Alwold has given me a message to deliver to Elthengels in the Norcrofts. How about this? A test of your mounted skill: whichever of us first reaches Elthengels gets to keep the bow. If I arrive there first, your friend gives up all claim to it. Does he agree to this proposal? if he does, let us speak with my commander, Alwold, outside Floodwend. He will start the race.' Objective 2 Talk to Corudan in Floodwend Corudan is in Floodwend, north of the Mead Hall. Nona: 'Is Corudan really going to accept it if we do not win this wager? Will he be willing to give up his claim to his favourite bow?' Horn: 'I do not like this. Elfsige will be very, very fast while mounted. He will have trained on horseback for his entire life. It will not be easy to win this wager!' Elfsige: 'I will give your friend a chance to win this bow, but only one chance. I am not an unreasonable man! This is more than generous!' Corudan: 'This is a ridiculous requirement. Why should I have to engage in a competition to determine my right to posses property that is rightfully mine? If these are the laws of Men I am grateful to be one of the Galadhrim! But I am not worried, <name>. We will best this arrogant sapling that thinks it is a weathered oak, and my favourite bow will once again be in my possession. 'Let us speak with this Alwold outside Floodwend. The sooner this unnecessary race is begun, the sooner we will win it!' Objective 3 Talk to Alwold outside Floodwend Alwold is on the road outside Floodwend. Elfsige has agreed to race you to Elthengels, with the winner of the race taking all claim to Corudan's bow. His commander, Alwold, will start the race. Corudan: 'I am not worried. We will win this ridiculous wager. Let us go to speak with Elfsige's command, Alwold. He is outside the city.' Elfsige: 'Speak to my commander, Alwold, outside Floodwend. He will begin the race!' Alwold: You explain the terms of Elfsige's wager, and Alwold chuckles. 'I am not surprised. Times have been tough in the Wold of late, with Orcs and Easterlings and worse prowling around the borders. When my men are not fighting for their lives, they're engaging in fruitless wagers. I cannot stop them. Al long as they, and you, abide by the agreed-upon terms, I have no complaint. But I do not want any bloodshed! If you go back on your word, you'll have me to deal with!'