The Thieves of Tharbad by AliceNWonder000137  

The Witch-King launches his great war against the north in 1409 and splits the armies of Arthedain and Cardolan.  King Ostoher of Cardolan retreats to the Barrow Downs to regroup but the troll warlord, Rogrog has force marched through the night to do battle.  Amon Sul is surrounded, trapping King Arveleg of Arthedain and the Wardens of the Stone with the Palantir.

This chapter covers the War of 1409 to set up the story of Cardolan after.  Some of the text are quotes from the RPG game module to set the scene.  As the story advances, it will be more and more original writing.  

Our adventurers return to Tharbad and see that it is not what it once was.  City layout courtesy of the RPG module.

In the aftermath of the disaster of the Barrow Downs, Chancellor Nimhir, regent of Cardolan, tries desperately to hold the kingdom together.

The City of Tharbad begins to devolve in the wake of the war.  Refugees pour into the surrounding area and disease and famine begin to set in.  

The money that was stolen threatens the very existence of the Houses of Healing and Valandil and Firiel struggle to raise the money.  Valandil and Mercatur find a job.  A benefactor for the Houses emerges.

Valandil and Mercatur move their investigation of the drug smugglers along.  Anariel becomes too afraid and Nimhir has a confrontation.  Firiel and Kaile devise a plan with Haedorial the bard.

Valandil and Mercatur find critical evidence of the smuggling ring.  Eardil authorizes the roundup of the perpetrators.  Sort of a Law and Order, Middle Earth.

Mercatur has been seriously wounded and needs care at the Houses of Healing.  Haedorial the bard meets Nel and her true nature is revealed.  A protection racket grips the merchants of Tharbad.

The protection racket moves to collect but Valandil has a plan to stop them.

The dwarf regroups with one of the instigators of the protection racket but is pursued by Valandil and Mercatur.

The investigation is finished with a final fight.  But whose influence caused it?  As the dust settles, desperate rioters from the shanty town stage an insurrection.

Yule arrives in Cardolan.  Small festivities break out in Tharbad but Hir Girithlin continues to plot for power.  Events unfold in Arthdain that may alter the course of Cardolan.

Festivities ensue for the New Year after the crisis passes.  Princess Nirnadel entertains guests as political intrigue evolves in the face of peace.  A LOTR character makes a cameo appearance.

King Araphor of Arthedain rides south to Cardolan where mistrust between the kingdoms is still rife.  The Witch-King of Angmar plots anew.  

Nirnadel leads an official delegation from Cardolan to Arthedain to entertain Araphor's proposal of marriage to reunite the two kingdoms.  Mercatur reveals his last job in Rhudaur, tying in with The Dark Mage of Rhudaur.

The delegates from Cardolan tour Fornost Erain and attend the Royal Council where an adventure is proposed.  Agents of the Witch-King move to counter them.

The party departs Fornost and travels to Annuminas as the snow deepens.  They search for sacred tomes of the history and lore of Arnor and Numenor but they are being hunted themselves.

The party discovers much of the lore of Arnor among the ruined library but the force that hunts them attacks.  Still, the party has a valuable ally.

The battle for the arcane tomes ensues.  Silmarien meets her match in a magical duel.

The tables have turned on the forces of Angmar and they are fleeing towards the northern border of Arthedain with the magical tomes, the men of Arthedain and Cardolan in hot pursuit.

The pursuit of the dog beast and the elven witch crosses into Arthdain, but is the party truly on friendly turf?

The tomes are returned to Arthdain and King Araphor proposes a new quest.  But the tainted seer has other plans.

A dispute of succession arises in Cardolan.  Will political maneuvering dethrone the Princess before she even receives the crown?

Chancellor Nimhir is wounded in an attempted assassination.  Should he and Princess Nirnadel be killed, the realm would devolve into civil war without a line of succession.  The Princess calls for a vote to determine a successor to the Chancellery where she meets with Gondorian representatives, including Lord Castamir, the Master of Ships of Gondor.  

Mablung Girithlin celebrates his political victory and plans to consolidate power in Cardolan with designs on the Princess.  Nirnadel meets with Castamir, Gondor's Lord of Ships, to hammer out a trade agreement.  Firiel receives a letter from her mother, who lives in Lindon and she sets out to meet her.  But danger arises in desolate Tyrn Gorthad.

The party is joined by an elf but then attacked by a pack of warg riders and retreats to the Barrow Downs.

The party retreats towards the Old Forest but the snow and the pursuing warg riders force them into the barrows.

The party retreats into the barrows where they find treasures from the First Age and fallen Edain lords and ladies.  But the warg riders are upon them.

Chancellor Nimhir sways Princess Nirnadel to secure an alliance but Hir Mablung Girithlin has other plans.  The Witch-King of Angmar plots behind the scenes.

The party arrives in Bree to meet Firiel's Sindarin mother while Haedoriel sings for the inhabitants at the King's Rest Inn.

The expedition to Lond Daer sets out amid the steady downpour of Spring in Cardolan.  They search for the fabled Mithril Room of Tar-Telemmaitë and find the entrance to the catacombs.  But something has been living there.

Beneath the ruins of Minas Mellon, the party explores, looking for clues to the location of the Mithril Room.  They find evidence of the excavation of Prince Braegil a few years ago, but something awaits them in the dark.

In the catacombs of Minas Mellon, the party flees the demon.  Princess Nirnadel journeys down the Gwathlo River to see the excavation, but they meet unusual strangers who wish to parley.

Beneath the ruins of the home of Aldarion, once the Crown Prince of Numenor, the party desperately tries to escape the demon, known as the Nurga.

Princess Nirnadel negotiates with the Beffraen Tribe as the party returns from the catacombs with news of the Mithril Room.  The Princess has an awakening as a woman and Hir Girithlin plots to undo her success.  

The party digs in the wet sand for the fabled Mithril Room of Tar-Telemmaitë, once King of Numenor.  A dispatch arrives from the Regent, summoning the Princess home to Tharbad for a matter of great importance to the stability of the realm.

A legal matter of great importance to the realm arises and Chancellor Nimhir convenes the High Council.  Princess Nirnadel's ability to rule is tested but she finds that she has unexpected allies during dance lessons.  

Mercatur sells trinkets at the Traders Bazaar.  Haedorial scribes for the Princess and the Regent as they create new laws and plan the way forward for the kingdom.  Nirnadel worries if she will be enough of a woman when she marries King Araphor.  Mercatur begins planning for the Rhudaur expedition.  Valandil pops the question to Firiel.

Warning - some adult themes and a scene of intimacy.  This arc is inspired by a reader, Gianna Aurora with some humor inspired by another friend, Tara.

Matters of the kingdom are put aside when news of the curse comes to the Bar Aran.  Valandil sets out for Rivendell for a cure.  Mercatur makes a grave decision that will affect his life.

The party departs from the manor of Lord Rhudainor, but as they approach the Vale of Imladris, they are stopped by an unseen force.  Firiel begins to weaken, succumbing to the curse as Mercatur tries to be of help.

I just couldn't resist a scene with Rivendell.

Time is running out at the Houses of Healing.  Kaile makes a critical discovery.  Mercatur breaks down.  Nirnadel rides like the wind to get back to Tharbad in time.

The realm settles down after the curse has passed.  It is a time for a celebration in the House of the King, but it is also a time for alliances, plots and political maneuvering.

The Witch-King feels tremors of evil, reawakening.  Mercatur drags Jaabran out of retirement to train the mercenaries for the expedition into Rhudaur.  

The Council of Cardolan prepares for the expedition into Rhudaur to take back Castle Amrodan and destroy the Blood-Wights.  Blogath feels her saviors approaching.  A new power dynamic rocks the north.

This chapter is a juxtaposition between two women, one kind and innocent, one perverse and powerful.  How do they each deal with power?  Warning for some adult themes.  I'm also introducing a horror element for Halloween.

The Witch-King meets a challenger.  The army marches into Rhudaur to retake Castle Amrodan.  Some old friends join Mercatur.

Thuringwethil takes over the north, but does she truly control it?  Blogath's faith is shaken.  The siege of Castle Amrodan begins and Nirnadel sees her first battle.

Mercatur and Baranor lead an attack from the culvert.  Nirnadel recovers from her injuries, reflecting on how much has changed in the north.  Castle Amrodan is given back to Éanfled and the expedition prepares to march to the Yfelwood.  Thuringwethil issues her challenge.

The bard, Haedorial shows his artwork of the events that they've endured.  Mercatur inspects the camp and makes final preparations for the expedition into the Yfelwood but he receives a visitor who peels through his thoughts and desires.

Warning - a scene of intimacy.

The expedition departs to fight the Blood-Wights in a tearful farewell, leaving Nirnadel at the Tirthon.  Feelings are revealed.  Nirnadel learns more about her past.  Baranor gives more training to the ladies and the stewards.  Things take a turn for the worse.

I'm adding a CODEX of terms and some background at the end.  I've done research on armor for the names of the parts and I'm just going to leave the names in the original French.  

Mercatur leads the expedition into the Yfelwood to eradicate the Blood-Wights and the mother of vampires.

Warning - a scene of intimacy.

An attack on the Tirthon forces an evacuation with Captain Baranor leading.  New allies allow them to follow Mercatur into the vale to put an end to Thuringwethil.  Nirnadel learns hard lessons on leadership.

Mercatur leads his force into the bowels of Blogath's Sanctuary to destroy the ancient vampires.  A second force comes in behind them, but Thuringwethil's illusions and deceptions take their toll.  Alquanesse finds solace in the past but is she being deceived.  

Warning for a scene of torment.

Alquaness, Nirnadel and Mercatur fight against Thuringwethil and her demonic children and sacrifices must be made.

(Some tie ins with The Court of Ardor and The Dark Mage of Rhudaur)

The battle in the Temple of Sauron rages as the forces of good fight the demons of Morgoth.  We look at the POV of three women involved in the fight, Morelen, who is a main character in the Court of Ardor, Alquanesse and Nirnadel.  

The threat of demons and undead has been defeated and there is time for a small celebration.  Haedorial goes back to composing and bringing culture to the realm.  Nirnadel shows her gratitude for the efforts and sacrifice of the people.  However, something stayed with her from the encounter with Thuringwethil.

After the horror of the demon of Morgoth, Haedorial returns home and sets to work on his life's projects.  Valandil trains with the Tirrim Aran and learns the intricacies of the sacred order of Royal Guardsmen.

Princess Nirnadel presides over the Council of the Sceptre, passing judgement on cases brought before the realm.  But an old spectre haunts her and offers her power and pleasure.

Princess Nirnadel got herself into a pickle and her friends are searching for her as a remnant of the past manifests.  In the aftermath of the expedition, politics of the realm creep back in.  Nirnadel continues to grow into an adult.

Warning - this chapter has some sensuality.  I want to give a character arc for the young women and men, showing them maturing, meeting new challenges and discovering life as well as their duties and responsibilities.  I also want to show the difference in maturity between Firiel and the younger women.