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The White Council

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Fine:
Seeing the head of his order arrive, Gandalf made a gesture of respect towards Saruman, bowing his head. His attention was soon turned towards the arrival of Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien, and Elrond, their host, who was entering shortly afterwards.

"It is good to see all of you, my friends," he declared, with a smile. He was glad that Galadriel had called this meeting of the Wise, feeling certain that they could accomplish many great things if they worked together. Gandalf was eager to hear of their ideas on the matter.

Taking a seat across the table from Saruman, he recalled the main reason why this meeting was taking place. The Watchful Peace had ended with the return of a dark presence to Dol Guldur, the ancient stronghold at Amon Lanc in the Greenwood, and war was brewing in the south and east. Gandalf had travelled many leagues in the last three years, gathering news from the realms of Men, Elves and Dwarves alike, without ever staying in one place for too long. He had many questions and only few answers.

While he was glad that Saruman had indeed joined the meeting, he was sort of disappointed to find out that, apparently, no other member of the Order of the Istarí had been able to come. He had not heard from either of the Ithryn Luin for many years, while Radagast the Brown was last seen near the borders of the Greenwood, enthralled by the creatures of Yavanna that dwelt there. The mission given to him by the High Ones of Arda, the Aratar, was still in Gandalf's mind, even though he was no longer named Olorín in this Middle-earth but went by many names, Gandalf being one of the more common ones. Seeing Saruman the Wise take part in this council emboldened his resolve, but left him with a slightly sad thought that the two Wizards that were present were the only two ones who had not abandoned their cause yet.

Shaking off the distracting line of thoughts, he focussed on the High Elves that now filled the council's plateau. Indeed, only the wisest and fairest had come, but Gandalf was confident that this first meeting of the Council of the Wise would be a great success and a boon to the future of the world.

Since the Grey Pilgrim was neither the host nor the leader of the council, he patiently waited for someone to officially open the meeting while filling his glass with the wine offered by the Imladhrim.

Walküre:
''Your praises are always of the purest benevolence, gentle Erestor. May I ask you now if you could accompany me to the agreed place of the meeting. As you know, there are matters that request our decisive response. I imagine we will have plenty of free time to indulge in cordial greetings; isn't this visit supposed to involve a few days? I'm nonetheless intended to linger here a bit longer than the other guests' intentions. May I also say that you have my sincere gratitude for having arranged your Lord's invitation so well. The messengers of Imladris are now safely resting within the borders of my holy realm. Pleasant news from heralds are always welcome, even though I have my own preferred way to communicate with the Guardian of this blissful valley.''

With a little smirk on her face, she then proceeded to follow the wise librarian to the indicated location. Erestor knew what she had just referred to, and, hoping that the Lady of Light would perceive it, he allowed his mind to immerse itself into profound admiration for the last (in the mortal world, at least) of a once legendary royal kin.

On the way to the summit, Galadriel briefly reminisces the encounter she and her escort made with a group of Elven pilgrims (who were heading to the Grey Havens), before arriving in Rivendell.

''Do I worry? Yes, I always do, for a watchful peace is nonetheless one of great concern and doubts. Not even the wisest could tell clearly what the width of Middle-earth hides in all its shades; and they would certainly make flawed considerations if they did so. It's my resolution to firmly remain in these mortal shores, whose decaying nature strangely fascinates me, until the fate of our immortal kind will finally be unveiled. Don't hesitate, and continue to stick to your defined path with serenity: you shall soon leave the heavy burdens of these lands and eventually reach places in which nothing withers due to the inevitable flow of time. Don't mind me. More than seven long millennia have passed since my arrival and dreadful sorrows I had to withstand as well; I won't let uncertainty divert me from my purposes. Go now, and may your journey not be faltered by any approaching threatening cloud.''

All the pilgrims then bowed to her and some even knelt, naming her the Queen of all the Eldar dwelling in the grey continent. They had now renewed their faith in what would have awaited them and in whom would have had the duty to face the future to come in Middle-earth (the feeble yet brave Men, in particular). They then resumed their slow procession and disappeared in the vastness of a near forest.



Galadriel reaches the meeting and the other guests.

They were all awaiting in their seats the host to show up. As soon as she got closer, all the guests saluted her and exchanged relieved looks among each other, given that they were to know that the presence of Galadriel was always a guarantee of justness and sound principles. She didn't speak to anyone, but her eyes were on every of them with intense interest, as she was contemplating their minds. The Grey Pilgrim greeted her from the opposite side of the marble-made round table they were sat around. The Lady replied with one of her typical enigmatic gazes; enigmatic to all but the ones who they were directed to. Gandalf smiled of genuine happiness and stared her too, as if he were answering back in ways not manifest to the others. Saruman seemed quite unmoved by her arrival; she would never try to pierce the mental barriers of the Istar and perceive his indecipherable thoughts anyway. But she knew that deep respect was between them, and if the White Wizard were to be mesmerised by something, he wouldn't display his feelings openly.

Elrond would have soon appeared and officially started the meeting. Addressing all the White Council concerning matters of primary importance.


Participants of the White Council: Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor, Galadriel, Gandalf, Saruman, Círdan, noble Elven lords from Lindon and a herald of Thranduil.

Topic: The state of Middle-earth, threats of war in the South and recent shadows awakening in the vast woods of the East.

VectorMaximus:


Elrond and Glrofindel swiftly made their way up the stair to the council rotunda, Imladris burning with the light of the setting sun. Elrond walked with a heavy heart. Over an age ago, another such council as this had granted him Lordship of Imladris along with Vilya, burdens both he still bore. And never was Vilya so heavy as on days such as this, when council was taken among the wise, for such council was only taken at utmost need. How dearly he desired to be back in his study, or with his wife and children in the Hall of Fire. Much as the sun was setting over his home, he feared that the council would confirm that peace was setting on Middle-Earth once more.

As they approached the top of the stairs, the sentinel at the top stood at attention.

"My Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel" the sentinel intoned as he gave a small salute to the Lord of Rivendell.

"Leave us Aluran" Elrond commanded "Take up watch at the bottom of the stairwell and we shall call upon you once you are required again." While Elrond trusted all the inhabitants of Rivendell, this council was need-to-know only. Aluran gave him a short nod before brushing past him and Glorfindel down the stairs.

As they entered, Glorfindel and him took up respective spots in the council rotunda; himself taking the seat closest to the entry while Glorfindel opted to stand near one of the columns on the outer edges, gazing out upon the valley.

Elrond took in the council assembled before him with a deep breath. To the left of him sat Cirdan, whom he gave a short nod to, which the aged elf returned in kind. To his right sat Mithrandir, who after greeting him upon his entrance was now nursing a glass of wine.

Across from him sat Saruman, who met his gaze levelly with a slight incline of his head. The white Istari was not one inclined to shows of emotion nor rash action, but there was respect between him and Elrond, born of their comradery as seekers of knowledge.

To Saruman's left sat a Sindar Elf, a herald of King Thranduil. This was perhaps the most worrying part of the council. While the Sindar in general had no great love of the Noldor, Thranduil had always come in person to speak and take council with him in the past. Sending a herald instead of coming himself lended heavy credence to the rumors of ill tidings in the Greenwood.

Feeling a sensation of greeting and warm affection washing over him, he turned to the person on Saruman's right side. Galadriel, his mother in law, gave him a small smile, which he returned, sending a wave of warmth and welcome over the mental link. Her smile grew a slight bit wider.

On Galadriel's right was Erestor, and the council was rounded out with 2 members of the council of Lindon. While Elrond himself was nominal head of the Noldor in Middle-Earth and the final authority (due to his status as Gil-Galad's vice-regent and de-facto heir to the High-Kingship), the council, headed by Cirdan, was charged with overseeing Lindon in day-to-day affairs. It was composed of several Elven Lords and very well respected elves from throughout Lindon.

Seeing the whole council gathered, he took a small breath as he rose from his seat.

"Friends from lands afar, allies of old, you have been called here to discuss the grim tiding that have reached us all. Rumors have spread of the Greenwood becoming overrun by foul creatures (here, the herald gave a slight flinch, almost unnoticeable by mannish standards), an incredibly grave situation if this is true." He paused slightly here, before continuing on, staring to pace as was his want when he entered deep contemplation. "Indeed, not alone are these ill tiding. Rumors of war have come out of the south and the east. Gondor has grown weaker since the loss of the line of Kings; their enemies to the east ready for war, while to the south they are ever bit at the heel by the Corsairs. The Kingdom of Rhovanion, a close ally of both Gondor and the Kingdom of Greenwood, teeters on the brink of collapse, brought about by years of savage raids by the Balchoth. And finally the Goblins of the Misty Mountains have become far more aggressive of late."

He stopped his pacing, placing a hand on the back of his seat as he began to sit back down. "We are gathered here to share what knowledge and tiding we have, and to formulate a way to respond to these threats that even now may be growing stronger. I fear that if these rumors all prove true, it may be too late already to save this watchful peace in which we have dwelled the last 400 years."

He gazed out upon the council once more; surely all these mighty wizards and great lords could find a solution to the problems facing them? Feeling marginally more assured he finished, "I now declare this council begun and leave the floor open for any who wish to begin. What tidings do you bring? What do you know of the situation afar that others may not? Together, we will piece the picture together, and find a solution."

Here begins the record of the Second Council of the Wise, as recorded and recalled by Erestor and Elrond Peredhil, with anecdotes from Galadriel and Olorin  - Grand Archive of New Imladris, Aman, 7th Age

The_Necromancer0:
A moment of silence fell upon the council, this news was grim indeed. This did surprise Saruman, most of this was already known to him, although he had not realized that Greenwood was also under attack. His project would have to wait till another time.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond. The news seems terrible indeed. I would like to bring some of my knowledge to the table to help this council better understand the situation. The East is unlikely the rise although they seem to show otherwise. Two wizards were sent into the East with mission to hold back this rebellion it is unlikely that they fail unless Sauron himself was to supervise the operation, you need not to worry. No attack will come from the desert. As for the globins I would worry not, they are always aggressive, it is just a matter of whether or not we notice it."

All the council was now turned towards Saruman, his words seeping through the mind of those less mighty, reassuring them. Saruman had not done this out of evil means, it was simply necessary that fear be kept out of their heads in order for a rational solution to be found. As he prepared to continue he observed each of the wise, one by one. Gandalf seemed uneasy, he was likely to say something that was going to contravene Saruman's initial analysis. Elrond seemed to listen carefully, his mind registering what was being said and linking it with what he knew. As for Galadriel, her mysterious glance could mean any number of things but Saruman knew that the White Lady of Lorien would surely bring many great things to this meeting. And so, he continued:

"Our main concern is indeed Rhovanion and Greenwood. Those two important kingdoms that cannot be allowed to fall. While the thought of these fell things crawling in the woods is frightening the main threat comes from the Wainriders, their heavy chariots have been known to be a mighty force against the Riders of Rhovanion who cannot trample them and lack an effective way to slaughter them."

With that he went silent again, he had said his mind on the matter and open a way to further the debate but he would not lead it. In his mind, many thoughts were bouncing around, possible solutions, new machines and his "project" although that was currently the least of his concerns. The machines and contraptions that were on his mind were meant to aid against the chariots but he would to return to his dwelling first to test them. For now, he must wait to see what the others have to say.


DieWalküre Small note: as this is the first meeting of the White Council in the Third Age, Saruman was not nominated yet as the head of the council; the leadership issue will be brought up later in the debate. I will edit two previous passages of this game that refer to Saruman as the chief.

Fine:
Rising from his chair, Gandalf picked up his staff and turned to face the council.

"Before this period of peace began, I entered Dol Guldur to learn more about the Necromancer that had taken residence there. I initially thought he might have been one of the Nine, the wraiths who had brought war to the realms of men in the years prior to my visit in the Greenwood. 'Indeed,' I said to myself, 'was it not the Captain of the Nine who had ruled the dark land of Angmar and orchestrated the doom of Arnor? And were it not the forces of the Ring-wraiths that seized Minas Ithil where Eärnur was lost?' But before I could identify the presence at Amon Lanc, it fled eastward, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell of a castle. In ages past, the people of Oropher had dwelt atop this mountain, but when I got there it had become a place of great evil. And now the darkness has returned there. Already the men and elves that live in the central and northern reaches of the Forest name it the 'Mirk-wood', and they fear what lurks beneath its trees. Radagast - Aiwendil, I mean - could surely tell us more, but he has not yet joined this council."

"It seems to me that the threat of war is greater than even Saruman the Wise senses - " he turned his eye towards the head of the Order - "for I have heard rumors of a new tribe that stirs near the Sea of Rhûn, named 'Balchôth' by the few remaining elves who inhabit nearby Dorwinion. They tell of a warlike horde of men threatening to push west and north. I share the concern about Rhovanion and Greenwood, if these rumors are found to be true. The wainriders posed a great challenge to Gondor, and with the loss of Anárion's lineage, the realm has been significantly weakened. Steward Denethor, the heir of Dior, is a wise man, but I do not know if he can deal with the threat from Minas Ithil and a possible invasion from the east at the same time."
Having spoken his mind, Gandalf sat down again, wondering what reactions this would cause.

The envoy from the Woodland Realm confirmed Gandalf's report about the growing darkness upon the Greenwood and added that Thranduil's people now dwelt only in the northernmost reaches of the forest, beyond the Mountains of the Greenwood.

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