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The Waiting Night
"We have prevailed upon the innkeeper to allow the residents of Herne to shelter within Crossway House for the night, for I fear that whatever evil came to this town will be back."
Background
The folk of Herne shelter within Crossway House for the night, fearful that whatever evil passed through Herne might return.
Objective 1
Meneldir wants to speak with you in Crossway House while you wait for the hours to pass.
- Meneldir: 'It is a relief to me that so many of Herne's folk listened to us, <name>. I hope the walls of Crossway House prove strong enough to keep them safe... or that the evil has moved on, and this plan is made unnecessary. But I cannot risk that.
- 'These first hours have not been difficult for the people of Herne, for Maddoc made the wise decision to let his ale flow freely, and to set plenty of food upon his tables. The real test will come in the hours ahead.
- 'Will you speak with some of the folk here in Crossway House and determine their mood?'
Objective 2
Meneldir has asked you to speak with some of the townsfolk who gather within Crossway House, and to assure them that they will be safe.
- Maddoc: 'I have not seen Crossway House this busy for many months! Would that it could be in better circumstance.
- 'Some of my neighbours believe this is some scheme of mine, cooked up to increase my custom. Ha! If only I could claim to have thought of it! Alas, I am not that smart.
- 'It does seem as if nothing will come to Herne this night. Still, you and your companions have my thanks. It is better to be safe than it is to be sorry, yes?'
- Aberthol: 'I will tell you the honest truth, <name>, for you and your companions have my respect, and I cannot keep secrets from you. I wish I had not come here tonight. Maddoc has been free with his spiced beer, and I appreicate it, but that changes nothing.
- 'I can see in the eye of my mind the crawling shape I encountered that night in town, and I know that if I look over my shoulder I will see its companion, sitting astride a steed black as night! They are waiting just outside the walls of the inn, waiting for me to emerge!
- 'Oh... I am sorry... it's just such a strong feeling. I was an adventurer, and now I am undone by the faintest whisper of a memory! I am shamed. There are so many folk here, and some of them heroes: Boromir of Gondor, Egfrith of Rohan... and I do not exclude you from that list, <name>!
- 'Forgive me. I will find my courage. There is safety among so many good folk, after all. Those shadows will not dare to trouble us here.'
- Bledri: 'There's nothing out there. At least, nothing I can see.
- 'I have given myself a couple frights already tonight, when the wind kicks up and throws back the shutters on the inn. But that is all... for now, anyway.
- 'I am glad to be in here with my neighbours, and not out there in the dark!'
- Aldyth: 'It is comforting to be inside on a night such as this, even if whatever came here before does not return.
- 'Sometimes, the conversation ebbs, and I think I can hear wailing outside the walls of the inn. But that's just my imagination... or perhaps it is the wind.
- 'We are safe in Crossway House, I hope. Your companions have their weapons, and so do you. You will keep us safe, if anything happens. Won't you?'
Objective 3
The residents of Herne are in fairly high spirits considering the dangers that may threaten their town.
- Meneldir says, "Pull up a seat, <name>."
Objective 4
Meneldir has invited you to sit at his table.
Objective 5
- Listen to the conversation of you companions
Listen to the conversation of your companions and remain on guard.
- Meneldir says, "We should rest while we can. Perhaps nothing will happen, but..."
- Boromir says, "I cannot remain idle, friend Meneldir, while danger approaches!"
- Boromir says, "My station shall be at a window, keeping watch."
- Meneldir says, "It will be some hours until dawn, Boromir."
- Egfrith says, "It is of no use, Ranger."
- Egfrith says, "I have heard this of the Men of Gondor: they lower their guard only when slain."
- Meneldir says, "You have heard it from them alone, I imagine."
- Egfrith says, "Aye, and loudly."
- Egfrith says, "Still, it is a trait the Rohirrim might have used, and spared some sorrow."
- Egfrith says, "The land of my people... is not what it was."
- Egfrith says, "A kingdom draws strength from its king!"
- Meneldir says, "Boromir spoke to us of Théoden's ailment. It prevented his audience."
- Meneldir says, "When we reach the Dúnedain, they will surely know some remedy you can bring back to Rohan."
- Egfrith says, "I... yes."
- Meneldir says, "Saruman the Wizard is a friend of Rohan."
- Meneldir says, "His knowledge of remedies and curatives might have proved some help to your king."
- Meneldir says, "What is it, Egfrith? You have gone quite pale."
- Egfrith says, "I did not want to say anything, but..."
- Egfrith says, "I fear the Wizard might no longer be a friend to Rohan."
- Egfrith says, "If Théoden King is to be cured, I would rather he recover on his own, without the aid of Saruman."
- Meneldir says, "Aye. That seems the wisest course."
- Egfrith says, "Perhaps you should see if Boromir has seen anything outside, <name>?"
Objective 6
Boromir stands at one of the windows. Has he seen anything outside?
- Boromir: 'There's nothing out there, <name>
- 'Just wind and darkness.'
Objective 7
- Return with Boromir to your table
Boromir stands at one of the windows. Has he seen anything outside?
Boromir says, If something is going to happen, then let it happen!
Objective 8
- Listen to the conversation of your companions
Listen to the conversation of your companions and remain on guard.
- Boromir says, "Curse this endless waiting! Will the sun never rise and put an end to it?"
- Meneldir says, "By tomorrow these dull hours will seem only a passing dream, Boromir."
- Boromir says, "Nay. It could be like another dream I have had, one that never releases its grip."
- Egfrith says, "We have all had dreams like that."
- Egfrith says, "Every day for the last half year, I have hoped I would wake from my own dream."
- Egfrith says, "I would rub the sleep from my eyes and see that Rohan is strong again!"
- Boromir says, "Would that it could be so for Gondor, as well."
- Boromir says, "But I speak of... another dream."
- Boromir says, "Have any of you ever experienced... dreams with the feel of prophecy?"
Objective 9
Boromir wears a concerned expression.
- Boromir: 'I told you of the assault upon Osgiliath in the days of June, did I not, and of the strange omens surrounding the battle? One of these was a dream, a dream with the feel of prophecy. This I withheld from you, for I did not know what to think; in Gondor we rely upon the bright sword and the sturdy shield, and we are right to do so! A dream is a fleeting thing, and what man would put his trust in something that lives only in darkness, and vanishes with the sunrise?'
- Boromir strokes his beard thoughtfully.
- 'I say dreams are fleeting, but this one was peculiar. It came to my brother Faramir on the eve of the attack upon Osgiliath, and then many nights afterwrad, always the same. It came once to me, and although my brother told me of the dreams, it was with mine own eyes that I beheld these details; they seem so real to me.
- 'In the dream I saw the eastern sky growing dark, and there was a rumbling as of thunder. But a light lingered in the western sky, and a clear voice called to me. "Seek for the Sword that was broken," it said, "in Imladris it dwells. There shall be counsels taken stronger than Morgul-spells."
- 'That is of great interest to any son of Gondor, <name>! Any means of countering the evils that pour from the Morgul Vale are welcome in Minas Tirith! But the voice did not stop there. Speaking of Imladris, it continued.
- '"There shall be shown a token that Doom is near at hand, for Isildur's Bane shall waken, and the Halfling forth shall stand."'
- Boromir stares at you solemnly.
- [If player is a Hobbit] 'I must apologize for treating you with such surprise when we met in Tharbad, <name>, but I confess I thought you might have been the Halfling spoken of in the dream. Perhaps you are still, but having come to know you I do not think you mean any harm to Minas Tirith or to Gondor!
- 'For my brother to dream of this doom, the doom of Minas Tirith, on so many nights... and then for the same dream to come to me... I fear that we are running out of time. Gondor needs the wisdom that lies hidden in Imladris. But now we waste the hours hiding in this inn, when we should be moving ever onward!'
Objective 10
- Listen to the conversation of your companions
Listen to the conversation of your companions and remain on guard.
- Egfrith says, "This is why you seek Imladris?"
- Egfrith says, "You did not tell Saruman the purpose of your journey."
- Boromir says, "Perhaps I was being foolish. Perhaps it is only a dream."
- Boromir says, "But if it is not... if the sword that was broken might save Minas Tirith..."
- Egfrith says, "You would do anything to save your home."
- Boromir says, "Aye, Egfrith. That I would."
- Townsperson says, "What was that?"
- Townsperson says, "I feel... cold..."
- Boromir says, "Something outside?"
Objective 11
- Go outside Crossway House and investigate
A feeling of dread has settled upon Crossway House. What has happened outside?
Objective 12
- Talk to Meneldir outside Crossway House
- Meneldir, Egfrith, and Boromir must survive
Your companions stand ready to defend the folk of Herne.
- Meneldir: 'The feeling of dread grows stronger! Prepare yourselves!
- 'Something approaches!'
Objective 13
- Survive until dawn comes to Herne
- Meneldir, Egfrith, and Boromir must survive
Your companions stand ready to defend the folk of Herne.
- Meneldir says, "The Dead! The Dead have risen!"
- Meneldir says, "Fell sorcery sends them against us!"
- Boromir says, "Fight on, my friends! Fight on!"
- Egfrith says, "Is there no end to this horror?"
- Meneldir says, "I think... I think that is all of them."
- Meneldir says, "It is almost dawn."
- Meneldir: 'It is over, <name>. We are alive.'
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![[50.3S, 43.9W]](/wiki/File:Cardolan_map.jpg){kind=link}