Tales From The Beer Cart, Part 5 - A Sunny Day on the Greenway

So our caravan of heroes is travelling across the open plains of Minhiriath, where the only things to see are endless grasslands, the sky, and the road - the Greenway.
Minhiriath means the land between the rivers.
It was deforested by men a long time ago.
Any trees that survived, were burned by Sauron in his battles during the Second Age.  

Pickles:  Hmm.  According to the map, this whole area is also called the Great Grass Sea.  It also says... beware of Dothraki horsemen...  sounds ominous.

Merlin: I hear the horsemen are raiding Slaver's Bay this time of year, so we are safe from them.

Boromir:  This land was once the ancient kingdom of Cardolan.

Merlin: Thats right.  When Earendur, King of Ancient Arnor died, his kingdom was divided by his sons into the 3 Northern Kingdoms - Cardolan, Rhudaur, and Arthedain.  Rhudaur fell first to the evil forces of Angmar. Then Cardolan gathered its armies to the hills to the north - today known as the Barrow Downs.  But Cardolan's armies were defeated by undead armies there.  The last kingdom of Arthedain was the last to fall when the Witchking himself came and overthrew the capitol of Fornost.  Today, the Rangers of the North have rebuilt the ruins of Fornost and turned it into Ranger Headquarters.  From there Special Ops Missions are formulated and keep the whole of Eriador safe from the forces of evil.  Even with the supplementary Rangers at the Wall in the north, the Rangers are an outnumbered and embattled force stretched thin and fighting for their very survival.

"Oh let the sun beat down upon my face, stars to fill my dream
I am a traveler of both time and space, to be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed "

Boromir asks Pickles about Imladris.  Pickles says the common name for Imladris is Rivendell.
Pickles tells him once they reach Sarn Ford he can go northeast to Bree and head east to Rivendell.

Boromir shakes his head, he must first go with Merlin to the White Towers.  Pickles says they are going to the Blue Mountains which is in the same direction.

Boromir thanks the Swan Knights for putting their quest aside for awhile, until after Boromir's own quest is done.
The Swan Knights say Pickles has promised to help them find the Lady of the Lake on the Beer Cart's return trip. 

The Swan Knights mention that sightings of an unusually large swan might be the Lady of the Lake, or a sign that the Lady is nearby.

The Dwarves look uncomfortable when they think about how many Swans they roasted and ate during their sojourn in the Swanfleet Swamps.

Pickles starts thinking about Kyra, the Banshee of Ost-In-Edhil.  Maybe she would know about this Lady of the Lake. Or... could Kyra possibly be the lady herself?

Boren whispers to the other dwarves that next time they are in Tharbad they should try hunting this mystical dreaded Dire Swan. 
Chef Hormel says if it exists, he will find a recipe to cook it!

The clouds overhead part and a Ray of Healing sunlight shines down on the Dwarves and their allies. 
Suddenly the wounded are healed back to combat readiness. 
Even the Beer Cart pony neighs with renewed strength. 
The Dwarves stop for some relaxation under the clear sunny skies. 
They set up the food carts and break out the dining tables. 
Its time for a picnic feast!

These are resin cast pieces from Scotia Grendel.

Look at all the scrumptious foods in the food cart!

"Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely day
A lovely day"

Pickles overhears Merlin exclaim that the healing sunlight was powerful elven magic. 
Finlay is sure that it was Kyra's magic. 
Pickles isnt sure Kyra has that kind of magic, but perhaps she put in a good word to someone who does. 
Bugman harrumphs at the thought of Elven magic, but even he is glad of the healing magic.

Somewhere in Lothlorien, a tall Elven woman lowers her hand, a bright shining star might have been seen on her finger. 
The wise would call that star - Nenya the Adamant. 
Even if they dont know it,  Bugmans Rangers have earned the favor of the Lady of the Golden Wood.

Mochi, the Dwarven Ninja, mentions about how Merlin is helping Boromir with getting a sword.
Mochi asks Merlin to help him find him a mystic sword - it is either called the Bride's Blade, or the Widow's Blade. 
It is said to be the sharpest of swords and can slay the undead with ease.
Boren the Hunter says, so its like a valyrian steel blade then?
Mochi replies, the sword smith Hattori Hanzo said of it:  "I can tell you with no ego, this is my finest sword. If on your journey, you should encounter God, God will be cut."  
Boren replies again, so its like the Runefang swords, the ones the Elector Counts of the Empire have. 
Dwarven forged those are, by Alaric the Mad, gifts to Sigmar thousands of years ago.

Pickles asks Merlin if he knows anything more about his map. 
Merlin talks about his time as a professor at a wizarding school and how a young student found a magical map and called it the Marauder's map. 
That student was Radagast.
Merlin says his time as a professor was so long ago, he doubts anyone even remembers him over there.

Stilts thinks Merlin is a better wizard than Gandalf. 
Pickles doesnt agree and is loyal to the grey wizard, but even so... Pickles does like Merlin alot.

Ok party people, the party is over, lets get moving!
Sarn Ford is near.  Shire... here we come!

~~~~~

Ok another event that had no battle.
Imagine if the Dothraki showed up!
Well, looks like Galadriel healed up all the allies just in time for the final event in the Beer Cart mini-campaign.

Next post: Tales From The Beer Cart, Part 6 -  Sarn Ford