Rohan Ramblings 80: in which Gryfflet arrives at Helm's Dike—twice?
17Gryfflet has spent a delightful week hanging out with Éowyn but now it's time to get back to work. Gryfflet sets off over the mountain pass from Dunharrow, past the burned-out town of Marton. He arrives at the Deeping-coomb and is just admiring the fortifications when he is reminded that he has an outstanding "breadcrumb quest" which was supposed to spark some more quests here. He decides to talk to Gamling the Old who seems confused about the progress of the Rohirric army but sends him off to talk to various folks, not all of whom he is sure he remembers. He quickly examines the infamous culvert and the impressive Wall, noting some puzzling architectural features, before venturing inside to meet Háma and Déorwine who are glad to greet him. He seizes the opportunity to ride back to Edoras to pick up that missing quest, whereupon Gandalf sends him back to Helm's Deep from the opposite direction! He bumps into some refugees who could do with hurrying along a bit before actually passing through Marton and then catching up with Théoden and his army. Éomer tells of their journey, which includes the meeting with Ceorl that we have been anticipating from the book, and Gandalf's sudden urgent instructions to change course. Gryfflet is then given some chores, as is now traditional, including cheering up some unhappy soldiers, and inspecting the progress of preparation with Gimli and Legolas. He is appalled at the state of the fortifications and initially confused as to how the cheering should go, but at least there seem to be plenty of arrows…and the statue of Helm Hammerhand is nice. His inspection complete, he reports the results, and his reward is to be sent off to search for the missing Erkenbrand, starting in Marton where he picks up a number of quests. While he works on them we lay initial plans for this year's Signum University LOTRO Marathon, always a popular event for those of us who can manage to stay awake! This occupies us long enough that we don't notice that we have gone way over time, but that does mean that we have a plan for next session.
"I totally remember you?"
"Oh, look at that!"
"What's going on up there?"
"This isn't a fortification, this is a highway!"
"I'm sorry, it's not strong!"
"It is so easy to foresee all of the running back and forth!"
"I know a much better place for this barricade!"
"I was seduced into it!"
"This is not the well I'm looking for!"
"Oops, didn't see that coming!"
"It's a good thing that this isn't tedious or anything!"
"Why would they start up fires far away from the well, that would just be obnoxious!"
There wasn't much time for Lore this week what with all the excitement, but we did manage to discuss the question of how LOTRO has changed the size of various items in the game, with particular reference to the Stone of Erech and the Púkel-men statues at Dunharrow, and how JRRT enlarged upon his earlier thoughts in "Unfinished Tales". We also answered a query about Sam's excursion into Elvish at Cirith Ungol and revisited the question of Saruman's use of the White Hand as his symbol.
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