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RL (Arizona) time is Mon Dec 03 14:05:19 2001 (+time).
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IC time is about 2 PM on Sunday Foreyule (December) 14,
1424 S.R.
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IC Weather Conditions
The drizzle has changed to a light snow, drifting down in seasonably light
fashion over the hills and vales, just dusting the landscape on this
Foreyule/Yulemath day.
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Meadow, Before Great Smials
The Stock Road ends here in a large area, cobbled for the most part, and
surrounded by a field brightened with a flower garden and an old green
bench. There are trees all over the meadow, stately oaks for the most part,
their branches stretching out to provide shelter and shade. Surrounded by
endless rolling hills, the scenery is enough to cause one to lose their breath.
But far and away the most impressive thing about is right before you: a great
round doorway is carved straight into an enormous hill. The door itself is
stout, oaken, and ancient, bearing the scars of many years' peering out onto the
hills. A blackened iron ring is set in the centre of the door, but is rarely
used since the door is almost always open except in times of inclement
weather. On either side, the hill is spotted with round windows, allowing
glimpses of hallways and corridors and bedrooms. Off to the side, a dirt path
leads to a stout stable, for the mounts of the many Tooks and their guests, and
an expansive garden begins at the door to Great Smials. You notice a low-lying
window near the front of the smial with feminine looking drapes...so low one
might even climb in if they were so inclined.
A thick blanket of snow covers the broad expanse of the Meadow, and the trees
are barren of their leaves and silent, the birds having flown away. An unusual
quiet hangs over this usually lively field.
Contents:
Talvo
Ferridac
Egg Dueling Field
Great Smials Garden
Obvious Exits:
Door allows entrance to Great Smials through an impressive doorway.
Garden Path forms a trail of large circular stepping stones to a
formal garden.
Stables is a westward leading path to where you can leave your steed.
Road is a dirt causeway leading to the outskirts of Tuckborough.
To the right of the door, suspended from an elaborate looking iron hook, is a
pretty silver bell hanging with a cord. You might RING the BELL and let the
Tooks know you've arrived.
Ferridac
You see a typical Hobbit with a height of about 2'7", he's nearly brunette. His
deep, green eyes look out of a chubby, a bit reddish face. The little nose is
somewhat twisted, and the thick lips are wet as if he'd just finished a meal
moments ago. The striking cheek bones complete the friendly impression of the
Hobbit. A brown waistcoat which is worn-out but doesn't seem untidy wraps up his
chubby limbs and the trousers are carefully fixed with a dark-brown leather
belt. He wears a silver amulet with a big house and a river, most probably the
Brandybuck, and in the pocket of his waistcoat there sticks a violet. As you
take a breath through your nose, a familiar, domestic smell of tobacco, spice
and old furnitures obligingnesses you.
Talvo
Standing before you is Talvo Hornblower, a hobbit. He is 2'9" tall, with
long curly hair. His hair is dark, and some falls lightly over his face
making him look younger. You guess he is in his late thirties or early
forties. Talvo's feet have thick, pale soles and short, deep-brown hair
on the top, which curls slightly. His face is a deep, apple red at the
cheeks, but slightly paler elsewhere. It is chubby, as is his
stomach. His eyes are a shining blue.
Talvo dresses in a shirt of bright yellow, with the sleeves rolled up to
his elbows. In the breast pocket is a small, silver-pieced pipe. Over
this is a waistcoat of brown fabric. Its shimmering gold buttons, which
are engraved with a horn, are rarely used as the waistcoat is open. His
pants are a dazzling green, but with a few mud stains dotted around the
ankles. He has a belt of pale blue, with a large golden buckle fashioned
like a horn.
Attached to the belt is a large, sectioned pouch. In each section is a
different pipeweed, and the mingled smells float through the air. Also,
tucked under the belt neatly is a pair of deep, plum colored gloves,
also a little mud stained. The fingers are looking slightly worn, and
have clearly already been repaired once.
Omfast
A brown haired hobbit boy with freckles, a running nose and blue eyes. He is
barefoot (of course) and wears brown baggy trousers, a yellow shirt with olive
green patches at the elbows, and a big belt that must have been red a long time
ago. Around his neck there is a little leather thong with a wooden halibut
shaped talisman. In one of his shirt pockets, he has a small pipe. On his belt,
you can discern three little pouches, although it is hard to tell what they
contain. Perhaps a few pennies and some keys? It's hard to tell, the content
doesn't seem to make any sound. Perhaps it's just pipe weed.
The light snow is falling and covers the meadow. You see a lone hobbit
approaching, coak wrapped tightly about him. As he approaches, you see a red
nose and small eyes peeking out. The hobbit sniffs and starts looking around. He
doesn't ring the bell and starts looking at the garden instead. "Dread full
weather. Unbelievable cold. Brrr..."
Ferridac nods to the Hobbit, putting the hands in the pockets deeper, "That's
right, I wish the winter would pass as quick as it came. May I ask you what you
are doing here?
The front door of the Great Smials opens, and a warm air flows into the garden,
though its soon lost in the winter of the land. With a shiver, Talvo Hornblower
steps out onto the porch, pulling his cloak around him closely. He pulls the
door closed once more and leans on in carefully, smoking his pipe. He smiles in
the direction of the Hobbits in front of him, but for now says nothing.
Surprised, Omfast turns around. "A good sunday morn to you, mister. And to you
too, mister! I, I wasn't trespassing now, was I? I just came to take a closer
look at the gardens, sirs. You see, I heard about a job opening. And so I
though, eh, uh, you know, being a farmer's son, that I, the me uncle, could,
ah..." His voice trails off. You actually hear his teeth rattling, now.
The other Hobbit smiles back, "And I greet both of you too! What's about the
offered job? I mean, I don't head to take it, but it's interesting how things
flow in our lovely Shire." He takes out his wooden pipe and some Pipeweed, and
starts puffing big, blue smoe rings into the cold air.
Ferridac's eyes glance around as his look get catched by three pouches, hanging
on the belt of Omfast. Due to the shyness he hesitates to ask him, but finally
the words flow out unintentionally, "Omfast, ehm, M..., May I ask you what's in
the pouches? Sorry about my curiousity...
Talvo smiles to Omfast politely. "No sir, not trespassing. The Thains gardens
are open to all Hobbits of the Shire, as is his home most times. But may I ask,
what job is that? I thought I had my ear to the ground, but there you go!" Talvo
starts to chuckle to himself, but it soon turns into a cough. Wrapping his cloak
tighter around him, he ventures cautiously towards the others. "I'm Talvo
Hornblower, pleased to meet you lads! Call me Tal, though." He draws on his pipe
again, smiling as he does so.
Omfast says, "Ah, yes, I am Omfast Cotton. Call me me... ah, Omfast." He laughs
nervously. "My uncle wants me to find a job so I started listening around. At
the Lucky-Tucky I met a very nice, ah, young lady. Her, her name was
Ms. Smallburrow, ah, if I remember correctly. She talked about a position as a
gardener being available." As he talks, he stuffs his pouches back under his
coat where they belong. He turns around and points at the gardens. "I wanted to
take a, ah, look before a- applying, you see."
"Oh, I see! Well, might be best to look through a window today, the weathers not
too good. I was just taking some food, after I'd filled my lungs. Would you two
care to join me?" Tal rubs his hands together fast as he looks around the snow,
dusting the land. He then thrusts them into his pockets in an attempt to keep
them warm. Talvo grins, and says "C'mon, Omfast. Nice warm fire? And you, eh, I
didnt catch your name, I'm afraid..."
Tough he wants to disappear in the soil, since Omfast refused his impertinent
question, Feridac turns around to Talvo, greeting him and self-conscious
returning his friendly smile. "My name is Ferridac, Tal." He feels like Omfast
would just destroy him by his look. How could he asked such a question?
Ferridac says, "That would be nice Tal! I can't stand that cold breeze, and the
weather seems not to turn this afternoon. Oh Why can't the winter pass? I love
the summer, the festivals under the sky, the forests, the flowers....""
Omfast grins, visible relieved, "Ah, yes, wouldn't that be nice, a warm
fire. And some food, you said? Very friendly of you, thank you very much for the
invitation." As he hears Ferridac speak, he chuckles, "Aye, yes, yes, sunny sun
and flowers, hehe."
Just as Omfast turns around towards the smials, a voice calls in the the
distance, "Omfast!! Where are you, Omfast, you knuckle-head?" Omfast shrinks
back as he hears that voice. "Uh, Talvo, I guess my uncle be wanting to see me
right now... I'll be glad to accept your invitation another day, though." He
smiles awkwardly. "A find afternoon and enjoy tea time, however." He then turns
around and starts jogging back through the snow towards his uncle under the big
oaks.
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