#iorlas

[ao3statistics]

Lord-of-the-Rings-Event Week: Day 1: Boromir

Welcome to my LotR charts event!

Date of creation: 10.05.2024

I expected the Aragorn numbers, ngl, but his brother...? Not so much.

I assume no guarantee or liability for the completeness, correctness and accuracy of this chart despite my best efforts.

Includes fanfictions in all languages available on Ao3, NOT English only.

Percentages were rounded up or rounded down to natural numbers for easier comprehension.

The results for female and male OC's were added up.

Poly ships were included.

Also, these had me laughing:

More charts will follow. :)

Want to have a chart for different pairings, headcanons etc. in your favourite fandom? Send me an ask!

[frodo-with-glasses]

'Avuncular' seems like a very Lord of the Rings-y word!

BOY does it! For those who don't know, Merriam-Webster defines avuncular as:

"suggestive of an uncle, especially in kindliness or geniality"

"of or relating to an uncle"

In layman's terms: uncle-related or uncle-ish. There's a lot of that going on in this book, and a lot to talk about!

Of course the epitomical example in LotR is Frodo and Bilbo. Now, pedants (like myself) will point out that they aren't technically uncle and nephew, but cousins; Frodo is Bilbo's first and second cousin, once removed on both sides. If I recall correctly—correct me if I'm wrong—Frodo never actually calls Bilbo his uncle in the books, nor does anybody else. It seems to be something the movies made up to fit their relationship into a neat little box and avoid unnecessary confusion in the audience. But given that Bilbo falls into the category of "too old to be a peer, not close enough to be a father, floating in-between in a vaguely mentorlike (but not particularly responsible) state", I'd say he definitely counts for the "uncle-ish" definition of avuncular.

The next uncle that comes to mind is 100% literal: Theoden! Fun fact, avuncular comes from the Latin word avunculus, which specifically means "maternal uncle" (as opposed to the paternal equivalent: patruus, according to one website). So, since Eowyn and Eomer are the children of his youngest sister, Theodwyn, Theoden actually fits the ancient definition as well! Appendix A tells us that Theoden "loved his sister dearly"—which I interpret to mean that he played favorites among his siblings and she was it—and that he took Eowyn and Eomer as his own after their parents died in quick succession while they were young. So, once again, he is both their uncle and kinda their dad.

The next uncle that comes to mind is Iorlas. To my knowledge, he is only mentioned ONCE in the book, but because I am obsessed with Beregond and Bergil and their family (and just have a general affinity for overthinking minor characters anyway), you BET I remembered him. Based on context clues, we can assume a few things about Iorlas: a) he is likely a maternal uncle as well, since everyone on the paternal side has a name that starts with "B" (Baranor, Beregond, Bergil); b) he might live in Lossnarch, which Bergil mentions as the place his grandfather lives; and c) he has a good relationship with his nephew. Bergil mentions him immediately upon hearing how old Pippin is, which to me says that Iorlas is a pretty constant fixture in Bergil's life, and is an adult that Bergil really likes. My personal headcannon is that Bergil idolizes Uncle Iorlas and thinks he hung the moon; only because he thinks Dad hung the sun.

And FINALLY, to round out this discussion of uncles in LotR, I will end with a mention of the uncle that I wish got to happen: Frodo, for Sam's kids. You can't tell me there wouldn't have been a lovely bit of poetic symmetry to Frodo getting to raise and mentor the little Gamgees in the exact same way Bilbo had done for him. I can't really see Frodo ever getting married and having children himself—like Bilbo, he seems to be an eternal bachelor, and I'm pretty sure if he wanted to get married he would have done it by now—but there's no doubt in my mind that he would have loved and nurtured and spoiled the heck out of all thirteen of Sam's little munchkins if he ever got the chance. Which is why the Magnolia AU exists. Because thinking about Frodo telling stories to an enthralled audience of little Gamgees (a few individuals of which are vying with each other for the coveted story-listening spot on his lap) just makes my heart feel whole.

WORD ASK GAME!

[hallothere]

i forgot they made 'Iorlas' the Citadel Guard from the movie and retconned him to be Beregond's BROTHER fellow Citadel Guardsman what a pro move

also... Citadel Guard? that was hit on the head by a 'flying stone'? that sounds. extremely like. like during Silent Street Beregond--

[sindar-princeling]

'Twenty-nine!' said the lad and whistled. 'Why, you are quite old! As old as my uncle Iorlas. Still,' he added hopefully, 'I wager I could stand you on your head or lay you on your back.'

'Maybe you could, if I let you,' said Pippin with a laugh. 'And maybe I could do the same to you: we know some wrestling tricks in my little country. Where, let me tell you, I am considered uncommonly large and strong; and I have never allowed anyone to stand me on my head. So if it came to a trial and nothing else would serve, I might have to kill you. For when you are older, you will learn that folk are not always what they seem; and though you may have taken me for a soft stranger-lad and easy prey, let me warn you: I am not, I am a halfling, hard, bold, and wicked!' Pippin pulled such a grim face that the boy stepped back a pace, but at once he returned with clenched fists and the light of battle in his eye.

'No!' Pippin laughed. 'Don't believe what strangers say of themselves either! I am not a fighter. But it would be politer in any case for the challenger to say who he is.'

listen I love kids but if a ten year old who's taller than me told me (mid-20s, 159 cm/5 ft 3) told me he could beat me up I cannot guarantee I wouldn't do the same

[ao3feed-tolkien]

Idis joins the Army

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/68URhdZ

by what_katy_did_1234

Idis of Emyn Arnen, fifth child of Éowyn and Faramir, has wanted to join the Army since she was six years old. War is brewing with Harad yet again as a new Emperor takes the throne. Now that Idis’s younger brother Ecthelion is in the Army too, and has been mentioned in dispatches, she’s determined to forge her own career. She disguises herself as Iorlas, but her fellow solders think there’s something a bit odd about her. Maybe she just doesn’t fit anywhere.

Trigger warnings: discusses suicidal thoughts and a thwarted attempt.

Words: 11021, Chapters: 5/5, Language: English

Series: Part 11 of LOTR fan fiction

Fandoms: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Idis of Emyn Arnen (OC), Captain Harlon (OC), Laston (OC), Faurion (OC), Istor (OC), Thilior (OC), Lieutenant Neston (OC), Faramir (Son of Denethor II), Éowyn (Tolkien), Beregond (Guard of the Citadel), Deldir (OC), Morwen of Emyn Arnen (OC), Dior of Emyn Arnen (OC), Daerien of Emyn Arnen (OC), Merenien (OC)

Additional Tags: Inspired by The Lord of the Rings, Post-Canon, Army, Gender Disguise, Angst and Drama, Depression, References to Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempt

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/68URhdZ

[sweetearthandnorthernsky]

no one: 

my brain at any given time:

Gondor

[arofili]

men of middle-earth ☀ misc. dúnedain ☀ headcanon disclaimer

          Baranor was a man of Gondor, originally descended from the people of Ithilien who then settled in Lossarnach when that land was overrun by orcs. He was a soldier, his work bringing his family to Minas Tirith, where he and his wife Pethriel had two sons, Iorlas and Beregond. Iorlas became a merchant in the city, while Beregond followed his father’s footsteps and joined the ranks of Gondor’s soldiers as part of the Third Company of the Citadel.           When the periannath Peregrin Took arrived in Minas Tirith and swore his service to Steward Denethor II, Beregond was assigned to show him around the city. Beregond’s young son Bergil quickly took a liking to Pippin and took him to the Great Gate to watch as warriors from the Outlands gathered to reinforce the city’s defenses against the impending siege.           During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Beregond was stationed as the sentinel at the gate of the Citadel when Pippin rushed to tell him that Denethor was attempting to burn his catatonic son Faramir alive. Beregond, who greatly admired Faramir, was distraught by this news and knew at once that his duty to protect his liege-lord was more important than remaining at his post. He ran to save Faramir and was forced to kill three of his fellow guards who would have prevented him from his noble task. When Mithrandir came to the rescue, Beregond warded off any attackers as Faramir was pulled from the pyre, and blocked Denethor in his attempt to kill his son with a knife. After Faramir was at last out of immediate danger, Beregond elected to stand guard over him in the Houses of Healing, and was present when he awoke.           Beregond served under the command of Imrahil of Dol Amroth at the Battle of the Morannon, where he was nearly killed by a troll, but Pippin killed the monster before he could be slain. Upon the coronation of King Elessar, Beregond was brought forth to receive judgement for leaving his post and killing Denethor’s guards upon hallowed ground. The usual penalty would have been death, but the new King showed mercy as his deeds were done out of love for Faramir, and instead Beregond was exiled from the White City. Yet though he could not return to his home, Aragorn granted him the position of Captain of Faramir’s Guard, the White Company, and Beregond brought his family with him to Ithilien, the land of his ancestors where Faramir now ruled as Prince.           In Ithilien, Beregond’s wife Fondil bore him a second son, Borlas. In his adulthood, Borlas married the orchard-worker Orosser, and together they had two children of their own: a daughter, Sammareth, and a son, Berelach, who served in the King’s Ships under the rule of Elessar’s son Eldarion.

[granddiscanist]

[theblueharlequin]

Chapters: 8/8 Fandom: The Lord of the Rings (Movies), The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types Rating: Explicit Warnings: Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, Underage Relationships: Boromir (Son of Denethor II)/Faramir (Son of Denethor II), Boromir/Original Character(s), Boromir/Iorlas Characters: Boromir (Son of Denethor II), Faramir (Son of Denethor II), Iorlas (Tolkien), Beregond (Guard of the Citadel), Denethor II, Original Characters Additional Tags: Romance, Angst, First Time, Boromir sleeps with everyone, Library of Moria, My First Fanfic, Third Age Series: Part 1 of The Shining One LotR Summary:

Boromir coming of age story. Boromir finds that the battles of the heart are the most perilous.

Begins in Boromir's youth and continues to Boromir's departure to Rivendell, with a brief flash-forward to the timeline of The Return of The King in the concluding chapter.

[jazzypizzaz]

‘Why, you are quite old! As old as my uncle Iorlas. Still,’ he added hopefully, ‘I wager I could stand you on your head or lay you on your back.’ 

‘Maybe you could, if I let you,’ said Pippin with a laugh. ‘And maybe I could do the same to you: we know some wrestling tricks in my little country. Where, let me tell you, I am considered uncommonly large and strong; and I have never allowed anyone to stand me on my head. So if it came to a trial and nothing else would serve, I might have to kill you. For when you are older, you will learn that folk are not always what they seem; and though you may have taken me for a soft stranger-lad and easy prey, let me warn you: I am not, I am a halfling, hard, bold, and wicked!’ 

Pippin pulled such a grim face that the boy stepped back a pace, but at once he returned with clenched fists and the light of battle in his eye. 

‘No!’ Pippin laughed. ‘Don’t believe what strangers say of themselves either! I am not a fighter. But it would be politer in any case for the challenger to say who he is.’

I feel like I haven’t mentioned before how I love Pippin, but I do.  cute...

[therealpedrolee]

The power of the three rings is ended. The time has come for the dominion of Pabst Blue Ribbon.... "Here at last, on the shores of the sea, comes the end of our fellowship." - Gandalf Shot4Shot is a drinking game with a movie problem. Actors are blind cast and scripts handed out day of the performance. Anything can happen when we tackle your favorite films! This week's selection? We return to Return of the King. Saturday at 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM The Armory 312 West 36th Street, New York, New York 10036 CAST Stage Directions... Kent Morita (debut!) Drink Ref... Matt McFadden (debut!) Frodo... Jerry Burgos Sam... Chris Bouknight Gollum/Smeagol... Sarah Kim Gandalf... Marcus Haugen Aragorn... Alyssa Davis (debut!) Legolas/Soldier 2... Rachel Clayton Gimli/Iorlas... Sonia Nam Merry... Leah Evans Pippin... Matthew A. Schrader Arwen/Soldier/Gorbag... Joel Shaughnessy Eowyn... Dominic Russo Theoden... Cara Hayes (debut!) Faramir... Jason Specland Elrond/Madril/Grimbold... Pedro Lee Galadriel/Eomer... David Steele Saruman/Elf Escort/The Witch King/Rohan Soldier/Gate Guard... Alyson Cripps Eye of Sauron/Orc Commander/Gamling/King of the Dead/Liutenant/Shelob/Rosie Cotton... Erik J. Lundstrom Treebeard/Gothmog/Ranger/Soldier 1/Rohan Marshall/Guard/Shagrat/Elanor... Collin Knopp-Schwyn Deagol/Denethor/Bilbo... Amelia Morgan (debut!) On the keys/Nazgul.. Audrey Marie Sprouse Ticket link below: https://bit.ly/2Y4DiwG (at The Tank) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz-xsaiJuFt/?igshid=3f7uhhmga96b

[frodo-with-glasses]

What are your headcanons for the rest of Bergil's family? When I was younger I always imagined that maybe his mom was pregnant when she was sent away during the war, and then after she came back Bergil had a little sister. I think Iorlas is his mom's brother? and his grandfather in Lossarnach is his mom's dad. Iorlas and Beregond get along great. No idea what Beregond's side of the family looks like aside from "dad exists". Any thoughts? ~meg

Okay so I DID write an answer to this a couple days ago when you first sent it, Meg, but then tumblr ate my reply and I was too frustrated and busy and in pain to try to write it again. BUT I'M BACK!! LET'S TALK ABOUT MY FAVORITE GONDOR FAMILY!

Oh dude I am so glad to hear I'm not the only one who headcanons that Bergil has a baby sister! I dunno what it is about Beregond, but he just gives me "has a daughter" vibes, y'know? Like dads who've only raised boys are one way, but dads who've raised girls just have something different about their personalities, and I think Beregond has that.

Originally I thought that Bergil's baby sis was just a couple months old when the women and children had to leave Minas Tirith, but I think I like your take on it even more...just the constant anxiety thrumming in the back of Beregond's mind like "my wife is with child and I have to get out of this war alive so I can meet my new son or daughter" is just.....mmm. *chef's kiss* Tasty tasty angst, you love to see it.

*hums under my breath* Gotta go, gotta get the job done, gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son—TAKE THE BULLETS OUT YO GUN—

I think it's a safe guess to say that Iorlas is Bergil's maternal uncle. Families in LotR tend to pass down similar names (Baranor, Beregond, Bergil...Eomund, Eomer, Eowyn...Arathorn, Aragorn...you get the drift), so everyone on the paternal side of the family—that is, Beregond's side—probably has names that start with B.

.......Which then gives us a bit of a clue what Beregond's wife's name might be!! It probably starts with "Io"! And their daughter's name might too. 8-D

(LotR language nerds, what's a good feminine suffix for a Gondorian name?? Asking for a friend. Totally don't need it for fic writing or anything *cough* And don't say Ioreth, that one's already taken.)

It's also probably a safe bet that the maternal side of the family comes from Lossnarch. Beregond was probably born and raised in Minas Tirith, and when he got married, his wife came to live with him in the city.

ABSOLUTELY Beregond gets along great with his in-laws, how could he not?? :-D Bergil seems to speak of Iorlas as if he's a constant fixture in his life, so Uncle Iorlas probably comes to Minas Tirith pretty often. Maybe on business? Perhaps he has a job that requires a lot of travelling, like a postal courier? And sometimes Beregond and Bergil and the whole family to go Lossnarch to visit the grandparents too. Bergil thinks Uncle Iorlas is the coolest guy ever (second to Dad).

As for Beregond's side of the family...I dunno. I feel like if he had any brothers on active duty, we would've heard about it. But I also doubt that Beregond was an only child, given how most ancient cultures tend to place value on large families. Maybe he only had sisters?? Would explain a bit about him, actually. If his father and mother are still alive, said father was probably too old to be of any use in the City when the war started, and both of them left with the other refugees early on.

......I don't know why I feel like Beregond's mother is dead. Probably just because most of the women in LotR are either dead or missing. I really do feel like she's not around anymore, even though I have absolutely no evidence to substantiate it.

But I can DEFINITELY tell you 1000% that there was a heckin' baby boom in Gondor after the War of the Ring—it is an observable trend that humanity's first response in the aftermath of wars and other widescale tragedies is, for SOME REASON, to procreate—so Bergil very likely had a new baby sibling within a year or two after the Ring was destroyed. Hahaha giggidy

[hallothere]

last salty post i make about this because you already know it but

sad movie (trading card game) Iorlas-Imrahil: does nothing, goes nowhere, makes snide remarks, serves a narrative function (that's the best i can give him)

Literally Every Other Imrahil: Goes Everywhere, Does Everything, Makes Hilarious and Kind Remarks, Helps Save Eowyn, Helps Save Eomer, Helps Save FARAMIR, Rules Gondor (for like 20 min)

[hdrsee]

Herr der Ringe Charaktere – Überblick

Im folgenden Beitrag finden Sie als erstes eine Übersichtsliste der Charaktere und danach eine kleine Zusammenfassung mit den wichtigsten Aspekten, die Charaktere betreffend.

Die Gefährten Frodo Beutlin (Elijah Wood) Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) Sam Gamdschie (Sean Astin) Boromir (Sean Bean) Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) Merry (Dominic Monaghan) Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) Pippin (Billy Boyd) Legolas (Orlando Bloom)

Die Verbündete Arwen (Liv Tyler) Bilbo Beutlin (Sir Ian Holm) Elrond (Hugo Weaving) Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) Eowyn (Miranda Otto) Celeborn (Marton Csokas) Eomer (Karl Urban) Denethor (John Noble) Faramir (David Wenham) König Théoden (Bernard Hill)

Die Gegner Saruman (Christopher Lee) Grima (Brad Dourif) Gollum (Andy Seriks) Mauhúr (Robbie Magasiva) Lurtz (Lawrence Makoare) Sauron (Sala Baker) Uglúk (Nathaniel Lees) Saurons Mund (Bruce Spence) Grischnakh (Stephen Ure)

Die Legenden Sauron (Sala Baker) Elendil (Peter McKenzie) Gil-Galad (Mark Ferguson) Isildúr (Harry Sinclair)

Die Nebendarsteller Bauer Maggot (Cameron Rhodes) Haladir (Craiq Parker) Butterblume (David Weatherley) Háma (John Leigh) Rosie Hüttinger (Sarah McLeod) Haleth (Calum Gittins) Damrod (Alistair Browning) Gamling (Bruce Hopkins) Iorlas (Ian Hughes) Aldor (Bruce Allpress) Sandigmann (Brian Sergent) Déagol (Thomas Robins) Elanor (Alexandra Astin) Torwächter (Martyn Sanderson)

Bei „der Herr der Ringe“ gibt es die neun Gefährten. Hier sei von besonderer Bedeutung Frodo Beutlin (Hobbit), den er ist der Auserwählte, der den Ring tragen darf. Der Ring muss am Vulkan zerstört werden. Zu dieser Unterstützung haben die sich oben genannten Gefährten gemeldet. Darunter die drei Hobbits Sam , Merry und Pippin, die stets gut gelaunt und mutig sind. Aragorn (Landstreicher), Legolas (Elbe), Gimli (Zwerg), Boromir (Mensch)und Gandalf (weiße Zauberer) sind zusätzlich prominente Unterstützer ihrer Völker. Bilbo Beutlin ist ein sehr alter Hobbit, der den Ring zu Beginn der Bücher/Filme an Frodo vererbt.

Saruman ist ein Zauberer, einer von drei Großen. Er ist sozusagen der Gegenspieler zu Gandalf. Sauron ist der Gegner, der den Ring an sich reißen möchte. Hierzu stellt er ein Herr zusammen. Ugluk ist hier der Anführer eines Teils.

Zusammenfassend kann man es auf die Formel bringen, Gut gegen Böse. Viel Spaß beim Film oder den Büchern.

from http://www.hdr-see.de/index.php/2017/02/11/herr-der-ringe-charaktere-ueberblick/

[rashemen]

Nightbird House

The Nightbird Spring Collection was coming together nicely. Looking  around the room, Iorla Trablastar could see the clothes that every  noblewoman and wealthy merchant's mistress in Ravens Bluff would be  wearing in a few months. Suddenly there was a rap at the door, and  Annavel, who was nearest, set down her shears to answer it. As soon as  she opened the door, a short blur of silk and tweed rushed past her and  headed straight for Iorla's desk, set on a raised platform overlooking  the room.  Dressed up like a messenger-boy, but this was clearly one of  Jaq's little urchins. The manners alone made that clear.  In a moment he  stood before her, a folded paper sealed with wax (but no imprint) in  his rough little hand.  She took it without comment, broke the seal and  unfolded, and read a single word: "Terrace."

"Thank you, that  will be all," she said to the boy, who scampered out as hastily as he  had entered. She would have to send word back to Jaq to send his boys to  finishing school if he meant for them to pass themselves off in Sixstar  neighborhood without them attracting attention.

"Well girls, I  think that will about do it for tonight," Iorla said aloud to the room. A  few more snips sounded and then the bustle of drawers shutting,  mannequins stowed, and the babble of seamstresses giggling and gossiping  began.  Anyway, it was almost dark out, and even with sharpened shears  in their hands and mandatory self-defense classes, she worried about  them wandering the streets at night. Even in Sixstars with the Watch  patrols about. Perhaps, depending on the patrol, especially with the  Watch patrols about.

As they left, she straightened her own work  area and grabbed a pale blue shawl with intricate black embroidery from a  nearby rack. She glanced at the armoire that held her things, her  real things, the things of the sorceress Mara Wychlara, Witch of  Rashemen, not those of Iorla Trablastar, head designer of Nightbird  Merchant House. Deciding against it, she headed up the spiral staircase,  past the office level and up onto the roof terrace. She felt a chill  breeze on her bare arms, but resisted the temptation to put the shawl on  herself. Instead she looked around at the surrounding rooftops,  wondering what Jaq could possibly want, slightly annoyed as having been  summoned rather than calling the meeting herself.

Jaq's voice was  almost in her ear: "Tell her the Mountain of Torm has returned."  She  whirled, prepared to lecture him for breaking their agreement and coming  himself. He knew better and it endangered her identity! Plus, Jaq had a  knack for getting some of the more naive seamstresses into situations  Mara would rather not have to extricate them from. But instead of Jack's  toothy grin, she found herself face-to-beak with an amused-looking old  friend with the head of a large raven. Sootbeak Sam, none other. Sneaky  bastard. Jaq's lecture would wait for another day.

"Sam! Are you  trying to frighten me off the ledge?" she started, but then the the  words Sam had said came to her. "Wait, did you say Elyas is back?"

"Tell  her the Mountain of Torm has returned," Sam repeated, exactly as before  and again in Jaq's voice. Though possessed of powerful mimicry talents,  kenku like Sootbeak Sam had no voice of their own.

"That should  stir things up a bit..." she said, more to herself than to him. Sam  regarded her quizzically, tilting his head a little to the left. "OK,  anything else?"

This time Sam answered her in her own voice from a  few weeks ago "Sam, there's something I want you to acquire for me."  That was what she was hoping to hear, though it was always unnerving  hearing her own voice (or, in this case, the adopted voice of her  current identity) coming from another throat.

"Well, go on, let's see it..."

Sam  unslung a quiver from his back. There among the arrows was a man's  walking stick, which he now withdrew.  She recognized it immediately.  Capped with brass on the narrow end, it was a smooth shaft of Chultan  ebony, topped with a crystal lion's head at the top.  "Yes, that's the  one." He offered it to her.  She laid the shawl on the terrace at her  feet and motioned Sam to lay it on top, then gently rolled the cane into  it, careful not to touch it herself lest she leave some trace of  herself about the object.  "Thank you, Sam. Thank you."

The  corners of his beak turned slightly upwards, a smile. He jerked his beak  skyward, and she continued. "Yes, you shall have your reward." With a  few muttered syllables and a few dextrous hand movements she touched him  gently on the right hand. "Go on, fly then." Sam's smile grew wider and  he vaulted into the air, spreading his cloak as though it were wings  he'd soared with all his life and quickly disappearing into the lowest  of the clouds. Like most of his kind, Sootbeak Sam loved nothing more  than to be able to fly, and Mara was happy to oblige him for the work  he'd done on her behalf.

Back downstairs, she unlocked the  armoire and couldn't resist looking inside. There was the porcelain  mask, worn by all the Witches of Rashemen. She felt odd without it, even  though it had been almost three years since she had taken it off and  assumed a magical mask of Iorla's face instead. There, next to it, was  the gnarled staff, which looked like a delicate hornets nest at its top.  The dragonscale leather was there, too, and all the other things from  Mara's life. She took none of them, but laid the wrapped cane in among  them.  It was time to head to the meeting of the Merchants Council of  Ravens Bluff, dull as that might be. She tried to tell herself she  wasn't  going just to see Queldino again. Maybe that was starting to be  true.

----

When she arrived at Raven Hall, she saw  Queldino there, talking to Bendro Mundigrar, laughing together at some  little joke. Her stomach turned to see them together. Though almost two  decades her elder, Queldino Tasamber had been the love of her life, and  it was talking with Bendro that had crashed that life into the shoals  and set her adrift on the wreckage. After Elyas left a decade ago, Mara  had come to Ravens Bluff with her old companions Jaq and Jandar. At the  time she was in her mid thirties, a veteran sea captain and adventurer.   She had changed her name to Vaerma to start over, though she'd still  lived openly as a masked Witch of Rashemen.  Queldino was a kindly  toymaker then in his fifties, whose ready smile and unquenchable sense  of humor had won her over. They were married a year after they met, in a  simple ceremony at the temple of Lliira.  In the first five years of  the marriage together they built Vespers House from a simple toy shop  into the premier luxury brand of housewares, gadgetry, and decor in  Raven's Bluff. She had the sense for trends and fashion, he had a  toymaker's precision when it came to the financial agreements.  Everything had been going so well.

Then Bendro, the Chamberlain  of Tempest Rose Merchant House, the richest of all the houses, had  invited Queldino to meet him and his principle, the richest woman in  Ravens Bluff, Lady Lauren DeVillars. It seemed like a golden opportunity  - with a little extra financial backing from Tempest Rose, Vespers  could expand its operations into nearby Tantras or Procampur, and  everybody could make money.  But something had happened the night  Queldino dined with Bendro and Lady Lauren. Queldino had never been the  same since, though his knack for making money never waned. In public he  was as exuberant and kindly as ever, but in their home he was distant,  glassy-eyed, distracted, angry, and sullen. She tried to talk to him  about it, but that only made him angrier, and when she suggested it had  something to do with Tempest Rose and Lady Lauren DeVillars, he flew  into a rage and swore he would kill her if she ever brought it up  again.

From there, it had been simple. She had been scheduled  to travel to Westgate to scout fashions and furniture, and almost three  years ago she had sailed away on her ship The Tiger's Daughter as  planned. With some prearranged help from Jandar Chergoba, she wrecked  the ship in the Pirate Isles and sent word back to Ravens Bluff that she  had been killed by pirates.   Jaq had arranged for her to make her way  back with some kenku smuggler friends of his who called themselves the  Nightbirds, the sneakiest of whom was Sootbeak Sam. She spent a few  months with them, and it was then that she'd taken off her witch's mask  and assumed a borrowed face and a borrowed name. When she showed up  again in Ravens Bluff, it was as up-and-coming fashion designer Iorla  Trablastar, who quickly founded Nightbird House and began churning out  daring fashions that turned heads and inspired knock-offs even in the  shops run by Vespers House and the Tempest Rose.

But when Jaq had  filled her in on what she'd missed in town, she broke down crying.  Not  only had Queldino not mourned his wife Vaerma's passing, he pretended  to all that she was alive and well, if more reclusive than before. Jaq  knew the high-end call girl who Queldino now hired from time to time to  dress in his wife's spare mask and old clothes and attend functions with  him. Jaq had refused to help Mara kill the escort, wisely pointing out  that it would only blow her cover. Was Queldino still himself? Was he  changed forever? Could he still love her? Could she ever forgive him?

She stared at him now across the table at Raven Hall, and then he turned to look at her, and she saw his lips move.

"Iorla?  Your thoughts on the motion before us?" He stared at her, unblinking.  She felt the blood begin to rise to her face, then quickly adjusted the  magical guise to avoid showing her embarrassment.

"I, uh, I  think it needs more discussion. I'd like to hear what the House of Whelk  has to say before the vote." 'No idea what we're talking about', she  thought.

After the meeting was over, Bendro Mundigrar approached  her, a wide grin on his face. She wanted to stab it. "Iorla! I've been  meaning to talk to you... I'd like you to come by the Tempest Rose  offices to discuss what I think will be a mutually beneficial  arrangement. Are you free tomorrow?"  She wondered if those were the  same words that had sealed Queldino's fate three years ago. The urge to  stab his face did not lessen.

"Unfortunately I'm due to embark at  6 bells to catch the tide." she answered. Let him wonder where to or  why. "But I can come visit you on my return."

His smile began to  fade, then came back just as strong "Sure! Sure. It can wait, sure."   His stupid grin would look great with a stiletto in it.

----

Mara/Iorla  rushed back to Nightbirds and unlocked the door, then locked it again  behind her once she was inside. She grabbed a long thin box and went to  the armoire, quickly putting the shawl and cane into the box and rushing  down the stairs into the basement.

A few moments later, a young  sea captain emerged from the nearby alley, smoking his pipe and  carrying under his arm a long slender box, of the type one might carry a  cutlass in before presenting it to a fellow officer.  He headed  southwest toward the harbor, a perfectly normal direction for a mariner  to go.

At the edge of the sea and the mouth of the Fire River, he  approached a tavern, box still under his arm. "Nice to see you again,  Captain Fairweather" said the doorman, a huge gray goliath with black  markings on his face. Gath the Grim may as well be an official ships  registry, and it was his job to ensure that only real sea captains drank  at the Silver Lady.

Inside, though the hour was late, the  captains were drinking and revelling and flirting with the owner,  Desiree. And why shouldn't they? Even those who had visited many ports  rarely saw a face as pretty as hers. Mara studied it, looking at the  symmetry and the angle of the eyebrows. She thought she could design a  gown that used that same angle... "Something to drink, Fairweather?",  Desiree asked.

"Sure, I need two cases of beer, whatever you've  got in bottles, preferably still in their crates," Captain Fairweather  answered.

Desiree raised those eyebrows, making an even more intriguing angle out of them. "Thirsty, are we?"

The  captain's eyes twinkled, but he chose not to elaborate.  Instead, he  said "Brought you something, and I have a job, that is, a request for  you." Her eyebrows continued to rise toward her hairline.

"Back  in a moment with your beer," she said as she turned on her heel to head  to the back room. Most of the men and at least half the women at the bar turned to watch her go.  Captain Fairweather laid the slender box on the bar. He took quill and  ink and a scrap of parchment from a nearby table and began to write.

She  returned with two crates of 12 bottles, and traded them for the box.   "Thats for you, love. But there's something else wrapped inside. I need  you to have Gath take it over to Seekers Hall for me, and deliver it to  Agatha Tennison of the Diviner's Guild, nobody else. Do it after I'm  gone." He folded the note he'd scrawled and handed it to her. "With  this, please," he added.

"You're an odd one, Captain Fairweather," said Desiree Nadeaux.

"You don't know the half of it," replied the captain with a wink.

She  wandered off then to another customer, while the captain opened one of  the crates and took a bottle out.  After carefully removing the cork, he  drained it all in a breath and quickly scrawled another note on a new  parchment.  He rolled it up, shoved it in the bottle, and replaced the  cork. Then he put it back in the crate and, using the butt of a dagger,  hammered the nail back in to seal the crate again. That should do it. He  left his payment in silver on the bar.

After a few minutes  Captain Fairweather left carrying a crate of beer under each arm,  bidding goodnight to Gath the Grim and trusting Desiree to do what he'd  asked discreetly and before dawn.

----

The sea captain  headed upstream along the riverbank till he could see the Ladyrock in  the middle of the river, and the waiting ferrymen along the bank. He  approached a ferryman at random and, flipping him a silver piece, said  "Take me to the Rock," as he settled himself and the beer into the bow  of the rowboat.

Midway to the Ladyrock, Captain Fairweather  nonchalantly dropped one of the crates into the river's flow, watching  it sink as the boat's wake overtook it. If the ferryman noticed, he  didn't say anything. ''I wonder how Jandar even finds them,'' Mara  thought to herself. Poor Jandar. Shortly after she had returned to  Ravens Bluff as Iorla, Jandar had foolishly followed Jaq into the  dwarven ruins of Sarbreen somewhere underneath the city. When they had  returned, Jandar was unable to speak and Jaq was unwilling to talk about  what had happened. Some kind of encounter with the Fair Folk, she  suspected, not least because she knew that Jaq now carried a dagger of  cold iron wherever he went. Jandar had been unable to speak for a year  and a day, and spent every day of that year drinking and gaining weight.

As she thought about it, Mara realized she hadn't really  forgiven Jaq for what had happened. She was mad at Elyas, too,  irrational as that may be. Because when Elyas had been around, that kind  of thing wouldn't have happened. Elyas always kept Jaq and Jandar from  getting into situations they couldn't get out of. But now, Jandar had  grown fat, had gone from one of the most popular entertainers in town to  a joke and a byword, and ultimately retreated under the harbor, where  he spent his time salvaging wrecks and drinking whatever he could get  his hands on.

As she climbed the trail from the riverbank up to  the lanternlights of the Ladyrock, Mara changed visage again, this time  to a simple barefoot sailor in cut-off pants, carrying a crate of beer.   At the Red Sail, a sailor carrying beer would always be welcome, and  the party lasted till dawn. This party appeared well underway.

It  was nice to just drink a bit again, with no contact to meet and no tail  to watch for. Maybe she'd do a little talent-scouting, keep her eye out  for who might be useful on a future crew or who to watch out for in a  barfight or a dark alley.  Just a sailor with some brew.

Well,  that wasn't true, for a couple of reasons. First, Mara was no simple  sailor, though she had loved the sea all her life. For one thing, she  was wearing an invented skin. For another, she knew why she'd come  there, and it wasn't  just to get drunk.  Pretty soon she found him  there among the crowd. Reavin' Steven, the drug dealer.  "Hey, Steve-o,  can I see you a second?" the sailor asked as he slid into the booth  across from Reavin' Steven.

"Do I know you?"

"Nope. But I  know'd where to find you on account of the Wizard told me to come get  him somethin' from you." She was being intentionally vague here, hoping  Steven wouldn't ask too many questions.

"Never heard of no wizard. Scram."

"Three  doses Mordayn Powder. I knows you has it and I knows what you charges  for it. Wizard says to give you this." With that, the sailor produced a  small ruby and laid it on the table.

"I said scram." But  Reavin' Steven took the ruby, and laid a small leather pouch on the  table. The sailor grinned stupidly, took the pouch, and scrammed.

----

At  nine bells the next morning, Captain Fairweather strolled back into  Uptown and found his way to the Seeker's Hall. He signed in with the  front desk, and when the clerk said "What is the purpose of your visit?"  he replied "Well I thought you'd know that, seeing as this is the  Diviner's Guild!" He guffawed at his own joke, and saw from the way the  clerk's expression had soured that he wasn't the first to make it,  probably not even today. Eventually he answered "Appointment with  Tennison." The clerk motioned icily at some chairs, beckoning  Fairweather to sit, and wait.

Eventually Agatha Tennison emerged  from a nearby corridor and came to greet Captain Fairweather.  "Did the  package arrive?" he asked.

"Oh yes. Interesting specimen,  actually. Follow me back to the laboratory and we can discuss it."   Agatha was an attractive woman, colorfully dressed but, Mara noted, with  fashions from several seasons ago. Mara knew that she sometimes worked a  fortune-teller's booth down in the Silverscales neighborhood, but also  that Jaq swore she had real divining talent to draw from when the  situation required it. When they reached the laboratory, Agatha sat down  behind a large desk cluttered with jars, equipment, and papers. ''What a  mess these wizards make when they practice magic,'' Mara thought.   Agatha motioned for Captain Fairweather to sit opposite her.

"Well,  I think I can tell you what I suspect you already know, or you wouldn't  be asking," Agatha said. "The owner of this cane is definitely under  enchantment or domination of a magical source."

Finally, some  answers. Captain Fairweather spoke hesitantly, not wanting to reveal the  depth of Mara's knowledge of creatures that could be responsible.  "Vampire? Dragon? What are we talking here?"

Agatha looked  slightly surprised, then said "Could be. Could be either one, or  something else entirely. Impossible to tell, given the artifact here  present."

"For this I pay with diamonds?" Captain Fairweather asked testily.

"Well, while we're on the subject, there's something a bit odd about you, too, isn't there..." Agatha countered.

"I'm  paying you enough not to care about that, and not to bother finding  out." Captain Fairweather laid three pouches on the desk. Pointing to  each, he said "Diamonds. Diamond dust. Mordayn Powder. Can you tell what  the source is if I bring you something that belongs to the dominator?"

Agatha  smiled as she grabbed the third pouch and looked greedily inside, then  stuffed it into her robe. "Yes, I think that would shed more light on  the subject. See you again soon?"

As Captain Fairweather  wandered the streets, looked down at the ground, barely past his feet.  Mara burned with anger now. So, Queldino's change was magical,  continuing, and the work of some powerful magical enthrallment. Was he  still himself under there? Could he be freed? Did she even love him  anymore, or was she driven only by hate and a desire for revenge? What  power could maintain that kind of enchantment for so long? What was Lady  Lauren DeVillars truly? The desire for wealth seemed maybe draconic  (Mara had a touch of that herself), but the malice seemed far deeper  than any dragon she had known. Now Mara had to steal something  personally connected to Lady Lauren, and pay Agatha with more drugs and  gems to find out. But how could she get close to DeVillars without  exposing herself to the same danger that had taken Queldino?

----

Under  the Fire River, Jandar Chergoba slept in a grotto, protected from the  current but still able to hear the rushing water. Under moving water he  was safe from the hallucinations, the nameless dread, the shadows at the  corners of his vision. Under the river he was free to hear himself  think and to contemplate his failure, his cowardice. He had never been  afraid when Elyas had fought at his side, but that night in Sarbreen, he  had been terrified, and the terror had stayed with him the year and a  day afterward, just as They said it would. Even when he slept under the  waters, his dreams were restless. Better than the waking nightmare of  venturing above the waves, though. Where They would whisper to him,  taunt him.  He stirred in his sleep.

A large eel nuzzled him  gently, its snout entering the small bubble of air that stayed around  his nose and mouth when he wore his magical helmet. His eyes snapped  open and he spat. "Try to kiss me will you?" The eel backed away, then  swam in a circle around Jandar as he stood, its sign for him to follow.  He grabbed his trident and swam after it.

There, resting in the silt of the riverbed, was a crate of beer. Good old Mara.

As  he pried the crate open, one of the bottles began to rise to the  surface. Jandar grabbed it quickly and brought it to his lips, uncorking  it to find a rolled-up parchment inside. He sat on a moss-covered rock,  the current at his back and the eel undulating quizzically before him.  As the ink began to lift from the parchment he read the words "Elyas  back at House of Loyalty. Maybe he can help you?"

Maybe. But this  beer wasn't going to drink itself. He'd go see Elyas later, if he could  bear to walk the streets and remember Mara's message after the other  eleven bottles.

[anghraine]

Dear, do you have Baragond headcanons? Apart from Bergil, he has another son called Borlas (from The New Shadow). Bergil has an uncle, Iorlas, whon Kate said could be a brother-in-law. Do you have thoughts?

I actually don’t have many, though I can think of some because he’s a sweetheart

I remember that he had a younger son, who presumably was evacuated with the others to Lossarnach, while Bergil remained behind in Minas Tirith. (Poor little Borlas, can you imagine?) I expect the family is from Lossarnach (and ofc ultimately Ithilien) so Borlas may even have gone to some family homestead.

I’m inclined to think Iorlas is Beregond’s brother-in-law and not his brother, though either is possible, and I assume Borlas was named for him (recycling components rather than whole components is pretty common). Mostly it’s because of the ages.

Beregond presumably is (or was) married, with at least two children, one of whom is ten. We know that early to mid-twenties is considered inappropriately early for a woman of their people to marry, and the men are pretty much always older. So, supposing that he’s typical (and Beregond is pretty much Gondor’s resident Everyman Hero), Beregond would have likely married at ~30 or older, and then would be at least 10-12 years older than that. Iorlas is twenty-nine, quite young for a Gondorian. If he’s Beregond’s brother, there’s a large age gap. OTOH, Beregond’s wife would likely be younger and Iorlas could be her younger brother.

Otherwise, hmm. I think Beregond himself, and probably his father (Baranor), was born in Minas Tirith—he’s got a grandmother in Lossarnach though. He’s fairly content in his life, I think, despite the terrible circumstances; he likes the military life, likes his post, he’s got a good marriage and family, admires the Lord Steward and as terrible as Mordor is—right there, every day of his life—he can’t quite believe that they’ll ever prevail. He’s engaging and has quite a lot of friends with whom he mostly agrees. His most unpopular opinion is that he admires Lord Faramir more than Lord Boromir (which in Minas Tirith is kind of like being the Star Wars fan who likes Luke more than Han). 

He wasn’t ever a Ranger, but he has several cousins who were. He’s only seen the furthest parts of it, but he’s still drawn to it—he’s fond of gardens and woods, and passing by the dead Tree isn’t the same at all. Still, he’s a decidedly urban creature, not someone who wants to live out in the provinces. Not yet. He thinks that if he survives the war, perhaps he’ll retire to Lossarnach. Or—perhaps—if all goes well—if Ithilien is resettled someday— 

He thinks wistfully of that, now and then. Not often; he’s too down to earth to waste too much of his time on might-bes. But he would have been profoundly delighted to be appointed to the White Company at all—much less Captain. He serves proudly and loyally. I think he’s a bit anxious about serving a foreign lady, a shieldmaiden, but also idolizes Éowyn the Wraithslayer.

When she comes to Ithilien, he’s very stiff and Gondorian at first, but he ensures that if there’s any talk about her heritage, no one breathes a word of it in Emyn Arnen, and she values his courage, duty, and faithfulness. She frankly has more to do with the administration of Ithilien than Faramir, often preoccupied with national affairs (e.g. as Aragorn’s chief advisor and even more after the restoration of the Great Council, of which he is head—or as regent himself when Aragorn is at war or in Arnor). Beregond ends up more or less directly serving and consulting with her and becomes her most trusted advisor.