The journey wasn't so hard now that I know the Trollshaws better. It still took me twelve days to get to Bree, mind. And three days from there to get to the border of the North Downs. Orcs are everywhere. Wherever you look there is an orc or warg nearby... When I finally found the gate to Trestlebridge, the town was in a sorry state. Smoke rose from burnt out homes... and carts were overthrown in ruins. Provisions lay scattered, and many were weeping.
I sought one of the guardsmen, but he had nothing to say to me about any relic. He looked me up and down and asked if I was there to help with the orcs. If they sent me from Bree. “No one sent me.” I told him. “I'm trying to find a relic...” He waved me away, not having the time for me. Well, I was not so happy about that, but he had his problems to deal with and I had mine. I went to find someone else who might be able to help me.
Finally one of the scouts across the bridge told me to head North East to Amon Raith. There was a ranger there who might know. So I got on my steed and carried on up the Greenway. Straight ahead was Deadmen's Dike, which I took care to avoid. I've heard stories about that place, so there was no way I was going up there if I could help it.
Atop a hill were some ruins and a few people, so I climbed it and spoke with the ranger. He told me the ruins were indeed Amon Raith.
“You are not wrong, friend.” He said. “A dark relic does indeed haunt one of the farms, not far that way, just before the bridge.” He pointed the direction. “Nathan Hodge's farm. I would be careful not to get too close... strange happenings it has caused.” The ranger gave me a grave look and I nodded.
He was right, it was not far to the farm. It was black with soot and ash, but beside the door I could just make out a wooden plaque reading 'Nathan Hodge's Farm'. But then where was the relic? I searched around the farm house. Had it been moved? Was it possible to move such a thing? It was described as a huge stone...
And then in the distance I could just see a few people crowded around something. I walked slowly towards them, unsure of what I would find. Between them I saw some red smoke... and a black stone. That had to be it.
I kept my distance, thinking it would be wiser. But something was drawing me towards it. I took a few more steps, and soon I was right next to the relic.
“Careful, lass.” One of the men said to me, watching. “Mind ye don't get too close.”
I nodded to him, looking at the relic again. A strange feeling came over me, and I took a step back, rubbing my eyes.
“Has it moved?” I said after a moment.
“I know not how or why,” said a woman. “Yet it has moved.”
My eyes were drawn across the land to a settlement in the East. Esteldin. The relic had been moved closer to Esteldin.
