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A Long Way From Gondor
"It was in the days of June that my father Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, called his sons to the White Tower..."
Background
Boromir has agreed to tell you the tale of his journey from Gondor.
Objective 1
In June, Boromir and his brother Faramir were called by their father, the Steward of Gondor, to the White Tower.
- Boromir: 'Long has my father kept watch upon the Black Land of Mordor, and at his command the soldiers of Minas Tirith never relaxed their vigil. The Steward's commands are respected, as is right, but what man from the high walls of Minas Tirith could not see smoke rising from Mount Doom, far away and yet still too near? In the taverns of the city they named it a fell portent, and in the high chambers of council, my father agreed with his folk, though they knew it not.
- 'But none could have foreseen the onslaught that emerged from Mordor. A great force swept through Ithilien, driving our soldiers before it, and at Osgiliath we slowed its approach for as long as we could, and destroyed the bridge behind us.
- 'There was something strange about that battle, my friends. There were... strange omens... before and during the fighting, but neither my brother Faramir nor I could understand their meaning. We spoke of them to our father.'
Objective 2
Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, wrestles with many difficulties.
- Boromir says, "What does it mean, father?"
- Denethor says, "It means these are strange times in which we live, Boromir."
- Faramir says, "But it may be a message!"
- Denethor says, "Speak to me not of fairy stories!"
- Denethor says, "We have always measured our strength by the bright sword and the sturdy shield!"
- Denethor says, "And so we will today."
- Faramir says, "I am sorry, father."
- Boromir says, "We mean not to question your wisdom, father."
- Denethor says, "This much is clear to me, my sons."
- Denethor says, "Gondor is strong, but even Gondor cannot stand forever against such evil."
- Denethor says, "Can it be that names out of legend may hold some key to defeating this enemy?"
- Denethor says, "Imladris. Can it be?"
Objective 3
- Talk to Boromir and hear what he has to say about the quest
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir: 'My father is wise in ways I could never be, for I am in my very bones a fighting man; the stories with which I grew up shaped me to be this. But the Steward of Gondor must be a learned man if he is to guide Gondor through such troubled times as these. What the name "Imladris" meant to my father he would not say, only that it was a place far to the north where lived Elrond the Halfelven, who was said to be the greatest of the lore-masters of Middle-earth, canny and dangerous. "Few or none in Gondor know where this place might be found," my father told us.
- 'My brother Faramir volunteered at once to seek out this place, and to ask Elrond Halfelven if he might know the meaning of the... many strange portents... we had seen in recent days. I knew the road would be full of danger, and took the journey for myself. My father was most wroth at my choice, and he argued against it, but at last he gave me leave to depart. He must have seen that I could find the secret dale in which Imladris lies and bring back knowledge to aid Gondor.'
Objective 4
- Talk to Boromir and hear what he has to say about Rohan
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir: 'Before I set forth, my father impressed upon me the need for secrecy. "Enemies could lurk anywhere, my son," he told me. "Remember that Gondor needs you. Return with the knowledge the Halfelven can provide, as quickly as you can. More quickly, if you deem the quest to be a foolhardy one!"
- 'I assured him I would not abandon the quest, and departed at first light, taking the west road into Rohan.'
Objective 5
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir says, "As is custom, I called upon Théoden, King of Rohan, upon arriving at his city."
- Háma says, "Greetings to you, Boromir, son of Denethor."
- Háma says, "You are welcome to Meduseld, ruling seat of Théoden King."
- Gríma Wormtongue says, "Hold. Who comes here?"
- Háma says, "It is Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, Captain of the White City."
- Háma says, "He is known to Rohan, and is a friend."
- Gríma Wormtongue says, "Is that so?"
- Gríma Wormtongue says, "These are dangerous times, and friends must be judged more carefully than before."
- Gríma Wormtongue says, "The king is indisposed, and will see no one today."
- 'I was denied my audience with Théoden, but I did speak with others of his court.'
Objective 6
Though he was denied an audience with Théoden, Boromir spoke with several members of his court.
- 'The man Gríma had a foul look. I did not like him.'
- 'Théoden's doorward is named Háma. He seemed a good man.'
- 'May Théoden recover from his illness. But if he does not, Théodred will be a good king.'
- 'I know not what to make of Éowyn, the king's niece. Are all women of Rohan so eager to fight?'
- 'I sparred for a time with Éomer, nephew of Théoden. A good man!'
Objective 7
- Talk to Boromir and hear what he has to say about his journey
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir says, "I could not tarry long at Edoras."
- Boromir: 'My obligation to call upon Théoden satisfied as best as could be managed, I left Edoras and continued my journey. I would pass through the Gap of Rohan and then turn north for lands I had never seen.'
Objective 8
- Talk to Boromir and hear what he has to say about the journey
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir: 'But as I neared the Fords of Isen, to my surprise I encountered someone I had not expected to see.
- 'I dismounted to speak with him.'
Objective 9
- Listen to Boromir's tale of his journey
Someone unexpected left his home to speak with Boromir near the Gap of Rohan.
- Saruman the White says, "Hail to you, son of Gondor!"
- Saruman the White says, "What errand brings you with such haste to my borders?"
- Boromir says, "It is an errand of some urgency for the Kingdom of Gondor."
- Boromir says, "But I should not speak of it."
- Saruman the White says, "I see."
- Saruman the White says, "There was a time when the wisdom of Wizards was much sought after..."
- Boromir says, "I mean no offence."
- Boromir says, "I fully understand neither the need for secrecy nor my journey's purpose!"
- Boromir says, "What power can there be in Imladris that might aid Gondor?"
- Saruman the White says, "Imladris?"
- Saruman the White says, "You seek the haven of Elrond Halfelven?"
- Saruman the White says, "Why?"
- Boromir says, "I beg your pardon, my lord, but I have said too much already."
- Saruman the White says, "Too much, and yet nothing at all, son of Gondor."
- Saruman the White says, "But I will not let you pass Isengard without the benefit of my knowledge."
- Saruman the White says, "The refuge you seek lies in a northern dale, guarded by sharp-eyed Elves."
- Saruman the White says, "If you plan to treat them with the discourtesy you have shown me..."
- Saruman the White says, "...you had best turn around and save your own skin!"
- Boromir says, "It has been said that Wizards are quick to anger."
- Boromir says, "Saruman, at least, did not prove an exception."
Objective 10
- Talk to Boromir and hear what he has to say about the rest of the journey
Boromir continues the tale of his journey.
- Boromir: 'I feared I had offended him, but I tried not to brood upon it. I had not called upon him at his home, after all. If he should leave his tower and the vale of Isengard to interrupt my quest, let him bear the burden of my unpracticed tongue. I am a fighting man, as I have said before, and am unused to the ways of Wizards.
- 'I resumed my journey. I was already a long way from Gondor, but there was longer to go.'
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