[color=0072bc]”Good, good! Assemble here!”[/color] Ofnir said as the gang members began appearing at the randezvous point. He found it appropriate to sit on a rock and light the little weed he had remaining, [color=8dc73f][i]as if I haven't hand enough smoke for tonight![/i][/color], he thought filling his lungs with the heavy weed smoke. With the first puff he wished for a passing hobbit merchant to ride in from the south carrying a satchel of the fragrant, dry weed just for him. It was actually not his favourite substance. He remembered how during his travels in the east, he and his brother -- who was not as fond of intoxication as Ofnir became -- came in contact with plants that would bring otherwordly experiences to those who chewed on them or smoked them. The spices and seeds of the east were in some places worth more than any dwarvish gem, and the use of them was wide: he met oracles and seeresses who prophesised and looked into the future of those who sought them, he witnessed men occupy the minds of their animals from snakes to elephants and control them, he visited temples to false gods wrought with magic where illusions materialised on the altars filled with aromatic dust. [color=8dc73f][i]How far seemed the issues of the Middle-Earth in the warm lethargy of the desert and the steppe...[/i][/color] But the Shadow always lingered behind him. Whenever he'd turned back to see the sun set in the west, its disc would fix on him like serpent's eye and then sink into the darkness.

He poked his horse with the tip of his staff and the animal stirred. [color=0072bc]”You won't be moving far tonight, will you? Poor frightened beast.”[/color] With a sigh of a weak old man he rose and looked around. [color=8dc73f][i]Hmmm... We should better make camp somewhere not too far away. Better to rest a bit than drop dead-tired tomorrow.[/i][/color] 

[color=0072bc]”Come down, Calariel!”[/color] he said looking up at her.[color=0072bc] ”I've got something for you! And for all you others, too!”[/color]

He brought out a pouch from his robe and shook it in his hand, making the contents rattle within. [color=0072bc]”Gather around, gather around!”[/color]