Elrond (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summerlord) wrote2013-07-11 10:23 am
summerlord) wrote2013-07-11 10:23 am
Entry tags:
character info
P L A Y E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Your Name: Kel
OOC Journal:n0teworthy
Under 18? If yes, what is your age?: over 18
Email + IM: kellenanne [at] gmail + gaerwn [AIM]
Characters Played at Ataraxion: n/a
C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Name: Elrond
Canon: Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy; more specifically "The Fellowship of the Ring." (Note: He appears in The Silmarillion and The Hobbit as well, but his canon point is during the LotR trilogy.)
Original or Alternate Universe: Original (and book!verse)
Canon Point: Third Age 3018, just after the Fellowship leaves Imladris
Number: I am fine with an RNG roll.
Setting: Middle Earth!
History:
Elrond's personal history encompasses a few thousand years and so this is somewhat bare-bones and attempts to highlight the most important aspects of Elrond's history.
Elrond and his twin brother Elros were born to Earendil and Elwing - both of whom were half-elves - in the year 532 in the First Age. For a time, they lived in Sirion, in Beleriand. Elwing had in her possession a great treasure that wars had been waged over and, unfortunately, that violence came to Sirion. While Earendil was away, the Sons of Feanor, who had sworn an oath to claim the silmaril at all costs, attacked Sirion. Elwing throws herself to the sea to keep the silmaril from their hands; though she is saved by Ulmo, who rules the sea, she leaves her sons behind. Maedhros and Maglor, Sons of Feanor, took captive Elrond and Elros. At first, the relationship was troubled (to say the least) but both Meadhros and Maglor came to care for their young charges. Elrond and Elros may not have had the most stable of families or upbringing, but they were loved. Sometime before the War of Wrath began in 545, Elrond and Elros had already parted ways with Maedhros and Maglor. It is noted that, at this time, the Sons of Feanor are working alone; Elrond is presumably in Lindon by now (and actually fighting in the War of Wrath, something that very few elves who still remained in Middle Earth in the subsequent ages can claim.) Both Maedhros and Maglor met with unfortunate ends after finally stealing two of the silmarils at the end of the war.
It is also at the end of the war -- at the end of the First Age -- that Elrond and Elros are given a choice: as half-elven, they must choose whether they will be counted among elves or accept the Gift of Man. (Aka, a mortal life.) Elros chooses to accept his calling as a king of men while Elrond choose to be counted among the elves. When the Second Age begins, both know that they will soon be separated until world's end -- and so soon after losing those who raised them.
Elrond chose to remain in Lindon, serving under Ereinion Gil-Galad, the High King of the Noldor. Elros sailed to the isle of Numenor, where he is crowned king. In year 442 of the Second Age, Elros dies. Elrond is still serving as the King's herald. In the meantime, Sauron rises and begins to stir. In 1695, Elrond led a force to Eregion in an attempt to protect the city from Sauron's army. He was forced to retreat and subsequently founded Imladris as a safe haven. Imladris remained under siege by Sauron's force until a year later, when Elrond combined forces with Gil-Galad and a host of the Men of Numenor defeated Sauron. A council was held and Imladris was established as a stronghold, with Elrond serving as its lord, but still under Gil-Galad's rule. It was in Imladris then that Elrond met his future wife, Celebrian, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. It was also during this time that he may have inherited Vilya, one of the three Elven rings of power from Gil-Galad. (Another account tells of Elrond received Vilya nearer to the end of the second age; I tend to fall in line with the first. Logically, if they were seeking to make Imladris an military stronghold, then Elrond would need the powers of Vilya at his disposal. He was already a trusted captain in Gil-Galad's army and did not need to prove himself.)
But Sauron still lived and still caused trouble. He established himself in Numenor and waged war once again. A Last Alliance of Elves and Men (and Dwarves, picked up along the way), of which Elrond not only was a part but was also a commander in the army of Elves, marched on Mordor. It took Elendil, the king of Men, and Gil-Galad, the king of the Elves, two years to gather an army. This army arrived in Rivendell, to join Elrond's forces, where they stayed to prepare for another three years. Obviously, marching against Mordor wasn't a spur of the moment decision. As they marched, they both gained allies and fought battles. It culminated in a great battle at Dagorlad, outside the Black Gates of Mordor. The Alliance took heavy losses -- including Gil-Galad and Elendil, as well as many of the Silvan elves -- but the day was ultimately won. Sort of. Isildur, son of Elendil, took Sauron's ring and claimed it as his own. (Isildur would die two years after the end of the war and the ring would be lost for some time.) With the end of the battle at Dagorlad, another age ends.
It is the beginning of the Third Age and, once again, any victory Elrond could claim is tempered by loss. Many of the Noldor elves that followed Gil-Galad had left the shores of Middle Earth and the king that Elrond called a friend -- and whom he served for over three millennia -- was dead. Again, victory is tempered by loss. It seems a recurring theme.
The Third Age brings with it joy, at first. Elrond marries Celebrian in 109. Twin sons Elladan and Elrohir are born in 130 and daughter Arwen in 241. Imladris flourishes, though darkness grows in Middle Earth. Gondor goes through a period of strife and the line of kings broken. Elrond takes it upon himself to seek out and give safe haven to those descendants of the king (who are his nephews many times removed.) Sauron returns to Middle Earth and fell creatures once again roam the lands. Sometime near TA 1400, Rivendell was again under siege; Elrond helped to lead the counteroffensive that subdued Angmar.
In 2509 of the Third Age, the darkness gathering over the land hit Elrond's family personally. (As if everything else wasn't personal enough.) Celebrian, traveling between Lothlorien and Imladris, was taken by orcs. Though she was later rescued, her wounds were severe and her spirit shaken. Elrond was unable to heal her body or mind and, a year later, Celebrian sailed for the shores of Valinor, where she might seek healing in the elves' ancestral lands. Elrond did not follow her. There would be no communication between them during this separation, though he knew that he would sail for Valinor one day.
It would not be soon, however, and he knew it.
Giving safe haven to the sons of Numenor was not a new thing for him - he had been granting safe haven to the descendants of his brother for some time and had even retrieved the heirlooms of that family from Arnor -- but in 2933, Arathorn II was killed, leaving young Aragorn fatherless. Aragorn was renamed Estel (meaning "Hope") and grew up in Imladris -- indeed, according to Tolkien, fostered in Elrond's house itself. Aragorn was not told of his lineage until he was twenty. Elrond served as a member of the White Council, with Gandalf the Gray, Galadriel, and Saruman and played an instrumental role in Thorin's endeavor to take Erebor back from the dragon Smaug by deciphering moon-runes on a dwarven map. When the One Ring was brought to Rivendell, Elrond led the council that decided its fate.
It would be as the Fellowship formed at that council left Imladris that Elrond arrives on the ship.
Personality:
"He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind as summer.”
Bilbo Baggins describes Elrond thusly in The Hobbit. It cannot be argued that Elrond makes a pretty good first impression, but there's a good bit more to Elrond Peredhel, lord of Imladris, than an awestruck quote. Elrond is known for his hospitable land and generous nature. He is every inch a high-elf and leader of his people. Why wouldn't he be, with over six thousand years of experience to draw upon?
Elrond is many things and those many years of experience -- be it in sorrow, pain, or joy -- has molded him into the being he is now. Given his history, it would be understandable if he had lost all hope in all good things and withdrawn from the world. Elrond, however, takes a different path; though his soul is sometimes weary with all the darkness it has encountered, he still finds joy in life.
It's a conscious decision, sometimes. He is world-weary, but he also believes that even small acts of kindness are important in the grand scheme of things. He believes wholeheartedly in the inherent goodness in people. When he was but a few years old, the Sons of Feanor attacked his home -- targeted his mother, in point of fact -- and he and his twin brother Elros were taken captive after their mother abandoned them. (It was a difficult choice and one that Elrond does not resent her for.) Maglor and Maedhros then took the children with them and came to love them. Though not the most demonstrative (or stable, to put it frankly) of caretakers, the twins were saved. Elrond takes this as a personal example of how even the worst offenders can still hold kindness in their hearts. The Sons of Feanor were kinslayers, bound by oath -- and yet they cared for small, defenseless children. Not only that, but children of the woman who defied them. While others might let these events harden their hearts, Elrond is encouraged by it. He will never defend what Maglor and Maedhros did, but he has forgiven it.
He loves them and that is enough. He lets his past define him, in that he knows that small acts of kindness saved his and his brother's lives. How remiss would he be if he did not do the same for others? That hospitality and generosity that he is known for has its roots in the destruction of his first home and sundering of his family. (And the rebuilding of a new, albeit somewhat strange, family.)
Elrond brings new meaning to the word "even-keeled." He is not easily riled, nor is he insulted easily. He will counter vitriol with invitations to dinner. He is not easily trampled over, however. His kindness is not weakness and his way of deflecting any offense is a tried and true diplomatic tactic. While his generosity is near legendary, his stubborn nature almost eclipses it.
He will not be easily turned from any path. It's deceptive, his particular way of staying his course; he will, insofar as he can, remain as gentle-souled as possible while adamantly seeking the path he thinks is right. Only a select few in Middle-Earth could ever halt his steps. (Galadriel is one, Gandalf another. Celebrian could, sometimes.)
Elrond has held many titles through the years and each of these reflects another facet of his personality. As such, I feel it only appropriate to begin each section with a title he has held.
Healer
This is, perhaps, the most important thing he has managed with his life so far, in his mind. Elrond is an accomplished healer, relying on both mundane knowledge and elven mysticism to treat wounds to both body and spirit. Elrond has taken his role in Middle Earth seriously. He is a protector. The weight of all of the peoples of Middle Earth rests on his shoulders. These are duties that weigh so very heavily on him -- but he cannot imagine not caring. If he simply must do so by saving one life at a time, so be it. Perhaps one of the lives he saves will lead a free people to a time of harmony. It was natural for Elrond to gravitate toward healing. He cannot even begin to think of trying to protect all of Middle Earth from darkness if he can't start with soothing a child's scraped knee.
Warrior
Wars have torn the lands apart. As seen in the (brief) history given, Elrond has participated in many a skirmish. Again, this ties directly to the fate given him: he protects. He stands in the gap. He will do whatever needs done in order to accomplish this and if that means taking up a sword from time to time, so be it. Elrond has led armies, has fought in many a battle, and been both besieged and on the offensive. He knows, intimately, the horrors of war. He's watched his home destroyed. Even as a child, he knew death all too well. One cannot stand idly by and let it come. He is a Healer, yes, but sometimes one must be proactive rather than reactive. Elrond can -- and will and has -- fought ruthlessly against the forces of darkness. Do not let this generous soul fool you: he will behead an orc in less time than it takes to draw a breath.
Master of Lore
Elrond firmly believes that, in order to keep from repeating mistakes, one must learn from them. He has lived through a good bit of the history of Arda. He has gathered stories and accountings of events; it is not just the hobby of a bored elf. He collects these stories in the hopes that someone will learn from them. That he will learn from them. He collects them so that he can remember all the kindnesses done in the past. It's so very easy for the grief, guilt, and sorrow to swallow up all the heroism and bravery. To learn the tales of those who came before is to know their struggles and to know that, no matter how dark the path may become, there is a way home. Elrond keeps these tales close to his heart in order to ward off the weariness that too often seeks a residence there.
In addition to this, there's also the implication that Elrond is studious and curious by nature. Canonically, he knows several languages -- even dead ones -- and is well-versed in the history of Middle Earth, including his own people's and other races' histories. A personality who is not naturally (and maybe insatiably) curious would not have this knowledge -- and especially not by choice.
Peredhel
Half-Elven. It is both a blessing and a curse -- and representative of the many people Elrond has lost to time and violence. He has been no stranger to loss. His father sailed away from them when he was very young. His mother sacrificed her family to keep a great treasure out of hands that would misuse it. Maglor and Maedhros were driven so mad by the Silmarils that they eventually succumbed to exile and death. Elros, Elrond's own twin brother, chose the Gift of Man, a mortal life and grew old and died. He left behind a beautiful legacy and Elrond cannot be more proud of what Elros did with his life. It still hurts, to think of him, but he remembers Elros with fondness and pride and love.
It's the same way that he'll remember Arwen, after he has sailed and she has died. This choice given to his children echoes painfully in his heart; he wants nothing more than to keep them with him forever, but their lives are their own. He will not interfere. He holds his family dear enough to let them go when it needs done. He did the same for Celebrian, his wife, when she declared her need to leave the shores of Middle Earth to seek healing in Valinor.
She was his greatest failure. He couldn't heal her after she'd been beset upon by orcs. Her body was too broken, her spirit too torn; she was never weak. He simply failed her -- and as a result, he had to let her go.
He loves his family fiercely. He wishes he could hold them so tightly that he'd never lose another. But that is one thing that he cannot do. He's come to accept that love is loss. If you love someone, you take a risk.
There is no greater joy than seeing one you love happy, after all.
Kinship with men leads to an understanding of men. It's true that Elrond counts himself among the elves of Middle Earth, but he does not forget his heritage. How could he, when his own brother was a king of men? He remembers how men and dwarves fought with honor and boldness during the Last Alliance. He sees that same spark of courage and honor present in every one of their kindred; that capability to fight for what's right and good and whole is present in every person. It's a difficult thing to believe sometimes, surrounded by darkness, but he must believe it, if he is to have any hope left at all.
He has given safe haven to every kindred in Imladris and has even fostered the line of the kings of Numenor. It's his latest fosterling that worms his way a little deeper into his heart, though. Aragorn's father was killed before the child was brought to Rivendell; in Aragorn, Elrond saw all the things that he hoped men could be. Estel, as Aragorn was named, would be raised in the house of Elrond. He carries Elrond's hope in man and, sometimes, all Elrond has to do is look at the man the boy has become and remember that not all of this was in vain. Estel has become, in every sense of the word, family -- and Elrond accepts the eventual painful parting that is part and parcel of that love.
Joy and heartache are one and the same. He strives to remember the joy, to not let the heartache overshadow it, but the losses he's lived through makes that difficult. He tries. He even usually succeeds.
Lord
Elrond was born into a line of kings. There was an expectation that he would fall into a leadership role, thanks to his lineage. Fortunately, he has a natural aptitude for leading people. His even-keeled demeanor and calmly delivered words of wisdom -- as well as his willingness to fight with his men -- helped to instill a trust in him that he strives to never break. His people have expectations of him and he will do all in his power to keep from letting them down. He is a born leader, and not just by virtue of his ancestry.
Herald
He was once called the Herald of Ereinion Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor elves. In some ways, this title indicates a rare ability Elrond holds that does define parts of his personality. Elrond is blessed with the gift of Foresight. It's a somewhat latent ability; he can't simply walk up to someone and start spouting off about their future, but he has been known to have visions. Some are fairly vivid, some are just premonitions. A stable person cannot have this sort of ability without also holding a strong will. These visions are not absolute and he knows that; therefore, he cannot react as strongly as he might want. He also must sometimes bear visions that range from simply unpleasant to downright horrifying. They sometimes tend to reinforce all the bad that is in the world. There are times when Elrond simply takes refuge in his books -- in those tales he's collected -- because he has to find a way to combat darkness that sometimes come with the possible futures that he is shown.
Ringbearer
Elrond is the keeper of one of the three Elven rings of power. Vilya is the Blue Ring, or the Ring of Air. (I will speak more of Vilya's actual abilities in another section.) This a great responsibility and burden. Though Vilya - along with Nenya and Narya, the other two Elven rings - was forged separately from the One Ring, it could still fall under the dominion of Sauron's One Ring. To keep it and to use it was to walk a somewhat fine line. Vilya is also, arguably, the most powerful of the Three, which could add an additional burden. (Note that while it is speculated that Vilya was possibly the most powerful of the three, it was held by the youngest of the three ringbearers.)
To hold a ring is to be tempted. While Elrond does use the ring to protect Rivendell, he could do much, much more with it. (Or attempt to.) Aragorn once postulated that Elrond was one of the few people capable of resisting Sauron's power of speech completely. Elrond may not always seem it, but he has an incredibly strong will and a rigid sense of duty. He wouldn't be able to wield a ring of power effectively otherwise.
Councilor
Elrond sat on the White Council with Galadriel, Gandalf, and Saruman. For all his accomplishments and all his wisdom, he is the youngest member of the council (and also the weakest, when it comes to straight abilities.) Even so, his wisdom is near-legendary. Elrond is not only intelligent, but also observant. He does not hesitate to speak when he feels it needed. He will argue a point if it needs argued. (Though he'll rarely do so in any sort of antagonistic way.) Every experience he's had is a learning experience, whether for good or ill, and he'll use every bit of it to come to a decision. His willingness to share his experiences and his wisdom in an unbiased manner makes his inclusion in the council pretty well justified.
While Elrond's generosity, hospitality, and wisdom may be somewhat legendary, there's a bit more to him than simply that. He is somewhat reserved, but not reticent. He's not so much stoic as just low-key. He tends to think before he speaks and there's not much about him that's impulsive. He is thoughtful and reserved but not always serious.
He does have a sense of humor that tends to dry and sometimes self-deprecating. (He cannot often bring himself to put down others, but he is fair game.) There is a love of music so ingrained into his soul that he cannot imagine a day without it. (That might be an elf thing, really.) He honestly believes that, even in the darkest times, a person can and should find something that can bring joy.
It's hard. He knows that. He is weary and his heart tends to grieve a little too often. He knows that things will change forever and it will come very soon. Even so, he has made a choice to remain faithful. He has chosen to still see the good in all things. He knows full well that he could take these things he has experienced and let the grief have him, but he will not. There is a dark path that he could take and, on some days, he sees it far too easily. Bitter partings have taken their tolls, but he remains steadfast.
There is too much love in his heart for anything else. Too much responsibility on his shoulders to let down the free people of Middle Earth in that way. He will not dishonor so many memories by doing anything different. And so he will continue to try to keep a light shining in Imladris for as long as he can.
Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:
As a note, Tolkien was the vaguest of vague when it came to explaining the abilities of elves. Inferences can be made from canon and I will gladly work with mods and fellow muns so as to have some consistency between canon-mates (and to negate possible godmode stuff, thanks to Vilya and its unexplained power.)
First and foremost, Elrond is not human. He's an elf; well, half-elf but there's little indication in canon that his human heritage offsets any of his elven abilities or hardiness. (Maybe the Maia in him balances out the human. When I say that Elrond is mixed-heritage, it's no misnomer.) Elves are hardier than your average human: weather changes don't affect them much, they move faster, have more strength and stamina and are generally just a little harder to injure. On top of that, if a wound doesn't kill them quickly, it probably won't kill them at all. It'll still hurt and recovery can really suck but if death doesn't come for them directly after the wound, they'll eventually be fine.
Elrond is a high elf of the Noldor, which basically means he's in the elven upper class. (Again, mixed-heritage. He's a lot more than just Noldor, but as he chose to align himself with Gil-Galad, who was the High King of the Noldor, he identifies as such.) He's not as old as some, but he holds a power that not many can seek to match. Canonically, he's a great healer and it's implied that that's partly because he can use that power he has to heal wounds of both body and spirit. He has the gift of Foresight; as stated in the personality section, he can't just turn it on and off at will and it isn't always foolproof. They are but possible futures that he sees. Sometimes they serve more as a warning. They can be either vivid or vague and can be unpredictable. While he can intentionally turn his sight toward the future, he never knows if the vision will be vague, vivid, or come at all. They have been known to come with no warning. Elrond has learned to heed them but not depend on them.
He also is the bearer of Vilya, possibly the most powerful of the three elven rings. It is said that he uses the ring to protect Rivendell, though what exactly that entails is pretty much the definition of vague. Vilya, though, is used as a last resort, what with the One Ring still out there floating around and can possibly be subject to mod intervention.
Elrond has a few powerful mental abilities as well. He can read and respond to thoughts (though not quite on Galadriel's level.) He can usually sense a person's intentions, for good or ill -- but only in very general terms and, again, it isn't always the most reliable. As a ringbearer in an age when the One Ring and Sauron still exists, he has to be able to protect his own mind. It would be very difficult for another character with telepathic abilities to read his thoughts unless he wanted them to be able to do so. Again, Galadriel-like, but not quite up to her level. Basically, Elrond is Galadriel-lite. Give him a few thousand more years and he might get there, but he's no slouch right now.
He's also a warrior of some renown. Having commanded armies and been under siege, he knows how and when to fight. He'd rather not but he can. He will. He's an excellent swordsman, good commander, and probably has some skill with a bow. He knows strategy and tactics as well as he knows how to wield a sword.
Elrond is not easily overwhelmed, whether in a physical sense or psychologically, but it has happened. The fact that he can see himself sinking into darkness weighs on him very heavily. He can be prone to morose thoughts and even the act of trying to turn them away can be trying for him. Elrond will also give too much of himself, without regard to personal comfort or safety, should the need arise. He doesn't require much prompting to overextend himself, unfortunately. When he is overextended and working on too many fronts, his mental barriers are less effective than they normally are. That he's hardier than your average human does not mean he cannot be injured; he'll just last a little longer and recover a little faster, come right down to it.
As for power limitations, I am all right with mods restricting the use of Vilya on the ship. I'd still like him to have it and have some sort of power. (My take on Vilya is that it sometimes acted to augment natural abilities.) As for that ring of protection reminiscent of Rivendell's protection, I do not expect that to work in-game. As for visions and premonitions, this would be done only with player permission and could be used in any mod-run or player-run plots as seen fit. I am more than willing to let that be a "power of convenience" should plot ever need it and leave it be otherwise. It can be a godmode-y power, so I'm willing to nerf it to that point (though I'd rather it were not completely gone.)
Inventory:
His armor, including the sword and crown. Vilya.
Appearance:
Despite being book!verse, I'm using Hugo Weaving's portrayal of Elrond from Jackson's Hobbit and LotR movies. It's just... easier. Canon tells of him as tall, dark-haired, and gray-eyed.
But this is pretty much what I'm going with.
Age: 6,518
AU Clarification: n/a
S A M P L E S
Log Sample:
They carried with them both the bane of all good and the hope of the world; Elrond could not help but wonder at the dichotomy. Would this work? Would they -- and all of Middle Earth with them -- meet a terrible end? He knew not and that sometimes accursed gift of Foresight told him nothing. For all his vaunted wisdom and foresight, Elrond felt very much lost in that moment. He remembered his hands tightening on a railing, watching without seeing in the direction the company had gone. He remembered longing to see some tangible evidence of the hope he had placed in all of them.
For all that he prided himself on a generally positive outlook, he was feeling somewhat less than hopeful. He tore his gaze from the distance -- from an uncertain future -- and turned away. Perhaps time spent among old stories would lift his spirits.
Perhaps he'd simply take the time to prepare. For what, he was not sure but there was something worrying at the back of his mind, something that told him to be wary, be on guard. So he was, carrying a tension in his shoulders the spoke to the premonition as he made his way toward a secluded alcove.
He never arrived. If he was asked, he would never be able to say what exactly happened from one moment to the other. He clearly remembered Imladris -- the gentle, powerful sound of falling water was ever in his mind -- and yet... Yet this was most definitely not any place in Imladris. He was deposited on the floor, a hand drifting toward his throat in the wake of a most unpleasant sensation. (What had been down his throat?)
For a moment, the sheer amount of wrong overwhelmed his mind: the absence of the sound of water, the still air where a breeze should be gently blowing, the cold metal beneath his knees, the steady, low hum of something he couldn't identify. Then, in a moment of inanity, one single thought pushed it all away: What am I covered in?
He raised a hand and peered at the viscous liquid. Aside from the rather unusual shade of blue, it bore a striking similarity to a warg's saliva; that thought sent his already troubled stomach roiling a little more. Ah, nausea. It had been some time since he'd felt such discomfort. It was natural to begin to catalogue aches and pains: a touch of nausea, slight dizziness, an aching in his temples. His heart was ill at ease, but nothing seemed immediately dangerous. (He rather hoped that was actually the case; naked and unarmed was not the way he'd like to find an enemy.)
Elrond stood with a grace that belied the unease in his mind and the weariness in his body (though those who knew him fairly well might see a slowness, a hesitance, that was rarely there.) His gaze was sharp as he sought out something -- or someone -- that might provide answers to questions he was not sure how to voice just yet.
Comms Sample:
[Elrond looks regal and dignified somehow, even while frowning at the comm device in his hand. This... technology is new to him, but it's fairly simple to use. Push a button here, tap the screen there and... oh. It's been turned on already. How fortuitous. Apparently, he did something right. His expression smooths into one that's thoughtful, frown disappearing for something a little more neutral.]
I have not been aboard this ship as long as most and so I know that my words will be taken with some caution, as is rightfully so. I know very little of the worlds you come from, of the lives that you have lived thus far. I know less of this ship. [There's no hesitation in admitting to it; Elrond is one of the Wise in Middle Earth, but here? Here he knows that all his wisdom could be for naught. The same rules may not apply aboard Tranquility.] You have been warned to guard yourselves. I will not disagree but I would add this one thing.
[He pauses, gaze going distant for just a moment as he mulls over just the right words to use. He'd thought he had this thought through before addressing the populace at large, but it occurs to him that better phrasing could be found.] Do not let such wariness define every action. In guarding yourselves too closely, you may find that you have lost sight of why you should.
[He looks as if he wants to say more -- there is still joy here -- but he lets it go. Instead, his thoughtful expression becomes less serious and more friendly.] I would ask a favor from some of you. As I said, I know little of your homes and of your lives here. Would you share a tale with me?
[The loremaster would like to start a collection here. All of his books are home and that's... very hard to bear, in some strange way.]
((And with mod permission: A few voice samples))
Your Name: Kel
OOC Journal:
n0teworthyUnder 18? If yes, what is your age?: over 18
Email + IM: kellenanne [at] gmail + gaerwn [AIM]
Characters Played at Ataraxion: n/a
C H A R A C T E R I N F O R M A T I O N
Name: Elrond
Canon: Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy; more specifically "The Fellowship of the Ring." (Note: He appears in The Silmarillion and The Hobbit as well, but his canon point is during the LotR trilogy.)
Original or Alternate Universe: Original (and book!verse)
Canon Point: Third Age 3018, just after the Fellowship leaves Imladris
Number: I am fine with an RNG roll.
Setting: Middle Earth!
History:
Elrond's personal history encompasses a few thousand years and so this is somewhat bare-bones and attempts to highlight the most important aspects of Elrond's history.
Elrond and his twin brother Elros were born to Earendil and Elwing - both of whom were half-elves - in the year 532 in the First Age. For a time, they lived in Sirion, in Beleriand. Elwing had in her possession a great treasure that wars had been waged over and, unfortunately, that violence came to Sirion. While Earendil was away, the Sons of Feanor, who had sworn an oath to claim the silmaril at all costs, attacked Sirion. Elwing throws herself to the sea to keep the silmaril from their hands; though she is saved by Ulmo, who rules the sea, she leaves her sons behind. Maedhros and Maglor, Sons of Feanor, took captive Elrond and Elros. At first, the relationship was troubled (to say the least) but both Meadhros and Maglor came to care for their young charges. Elrond and Elros may not have had the most stable of families or upbringing, but they were loved. Sometime before the War of Wrath began in 545, Elrond and Elros had already parted ways with Maedhros and Maglor. It is noted that, at this time, the Sons of Feanor are working alone; Elrond is presumably in Lindon by now (and actually fighting in the War of Wrath, something that very few elves who still remained in Middle Earth in the subsequent ages can claim.) Both Maedhros and Maglor met with unfortunate ends after finally stealing two of the silmarils at the end of the war.
It is also at the end of the war -- at the end of the First Age -- that Elrond and Elros are given a choice: as half-elven, they must choose whether they will be counted among elves or accept the Gift of Man. (Aka, a mortal life.) Elros chooses to accept his calling as a king of men while Elrond choose to be counted among the elves. When the Second Age begins, both know that they will soon be separated until world's end -- and so soon after losing those who raised them.
Elrond chose to remain in Lindon, serving under Ereinion Gil-Galad, the High King of the Noldor. Elros sailed to the isle of Numenor, where he is crowned king. In year 442 of the Second Age, Elros dies. Elrond is still serving as the King's herald. In the meantime, Sauron rises and begins to stir. In 1695, Elrond led a force to Eregion in an attempt to protect the city from Sauron's army. He was forced to retreat and subsequently founded Imladris as a safe haven. Imladris remained under siege by Sauron's force until a year later, when Elrond combined forces with Gil-Galad and a host of the Men of Numenor defeated Sauron. A council was held and Imladris was established as a stronghold, with Elrond serving as its lord, but still under Gil-Galad's rule. It was in Imladris then that Elrond met his future wife, Celebrian, daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel. It was also during this time that he may have inherited Vilya, one of the three Elven rings of power from Gil-Galad. (Another account tells of Elrond received Vilya nearer to the end of the second age; I tend to fall in line with the first. Logically, if they were seeking to make Imladris an military stronghold, then Elrond would need the powers of Vilya at his disposal. He was already a trusted captain in Gil-Galad's army and did not need to prove himself.)
But Sauron still lived and still caused trouble. He established himself in Numenor and waged war once again. A Last Alliance of Elves and Men (and Dwarves, picked up along the way), of which Elrond not only was a part but was also a commander in the army of Elves, marched on Mordor. It took Elendil, the king of Men, and Gil-Galad, the king of the Elves, two years to gather an army. This army arrived in Rivendell, to join Elrond's forces, where they stayed to prepare for another three years. Obviously, marching against Mordor wasn't a spur of the moment decision. As they marched, they both gained allies and fought battles. It culminated in a great battle at Dagorlad, outside the Black Gates of Mordor. The Alliance took heavy losses -- including Gil-Galad and Elendil, as well as many of the Silvan elves -- but the day was ultimately won. Sort of. Isildur, son of Elendil, took Sauron's ring and claimed it as his own. (Isildur would die two years after the end of the war and the ring would be lost for some time.) With the end of the battle at Dagorlad, another age ends.
It is the beginning of the Third Age and, once again, any victory Elrond could claim is tempered by loss. Many of the Noldor elves that followed Gil-Galad had left the shores of Middle Earth and the king that Elrond called a friend -- and whom he served for over three millennia -- was dead. Again, victory is tempered by loss. It seems a recurring theme.
The Third Age brings with it joy, at first. Elrond marries Celebrian in 109. Twin sons Elladan and Elrohir are born in 130 and daughter Arwen in 241. Imladris flourishes, though darkness grows in Middle Earth. Gondor goes through a period of strife and the line of kings broken. Elrond takes it upon himself to seek out and give safe haven to those descendants of the king (who are his nephews many times removed.) Sauron returns to Middle Earth and fell creatures once again roam the lands. Sometime near TA 1400, Rivendell was again under siege; Elrond helped to lead the counteroffensive that subdued Angmar.
In 2509 of the Third Age, the darkness gathering over the land hit Elrond's family personally. (As if everything else wasn't personal enough.) Celebrian, traveling between Lothlorien and Imladris, was taken by orcs. Though she was later rescued, her wounds were severe and her spirit shaken. Elrond was unable to heal her body or mind and, a year later, Celebrian sailed for the shores of Valinor, where she might seek healing in the elves' ancestral lands. Elrond did not follow her. There would be no communication between them during this separation, though he knew that he would sail for Valinor one day.
It would not be soon, however, and he knew it.
Giving safe haven to the sons of Numenor was not a new thing for him - he had been granting safe haven to the descendants of his brother for some time and had even retrieved the heirlooms of that family from Arnor -- but in 2933, Arathorn II was killed, leaving young Aragorn fatherless. Aragorn was renamed Estel (meaning "Hope") and grew up in Imladris -- indeed, according to Tolkien, fostered in Elrond's house itself. Aragorn was not told of his lineage until he was twenty. Elrond served as a member of the White Council, with Gandalf the Gray, Galadriel, and Saruman and played an instrumental role in Thorin's endeavor to take Erebor back from the dragon Smaug by deciphering moon-runes on a dwarven map. When the One Ring was brought to Rivendell, Elrond led the council that decided its fate.
It would be as the Fellowship formed at that council left Imladris that Elrond arrives on the ship.
Personality:
Bilbo Baggins describes Elrond thusly in The Hobbit. It cannot be argued that Elrond makes a pretty good first impression, but there's a good bit more to Elrond Peredhel, lord of Imladris, than an awestruck quote. Elrond is known for his hospitable land and generous nature. He is every inch a high-elf and leader of his people. Why wouldn't he be, with over six thousand years of experience to draw upon?
Elrond is many things and those many years of experience -- be it in sorrow, pain, or joy -- has molded him into the being he is now. Given his history, it would be understandable if he had lost all hope in all good things and withdrawn from the world. Elrond, however, takes a different path; though his soul is sometimes weary with all the darkness it has encountered, he still finds joy in life.
It's a conscious decision, sometimes. He is world-weary, but he also believes that even small acts of kindness are important in the grand scheme of things. He believes wholeheartedly in the inherent goodness in people. When he was but a few years old, the Sons of Feanor attacked his home -- targeted his mother, in point of fact -- and he and his twin brother Elros were taken captive after their mother abandoned them. (It was a difficult choice and one that Elrond does not resent her for.) Maglor and Maedhros then took the children with them and came to love them. Though not the most demonstrative (or stable, to put it frankly) of caretakers, the twins were saved. Elrond takes this as a personal example of how even the worst offenders can still hold kindness in their hearts. The Sons of Feanor were kinslayers, bound by oath -- and yet they cared for small, defenseless children. Not only that, but children of the woman who defied them. While others might let these events harden their hearts, Elrond is encouraged by it. He will never defend what Maglor and Maedhros did, but he has forgiven it.
He loves them and that is enough. He lets his past define him, in that he knows that small acts of kindness saved his and his brother's lives. How remiss would he be if he did not do the same for others? That hospitality and generosity that he is known for has its roots in the destruction of his first home and sundering of his family. (And the rebuilding of a new, albeit somewhat strange, family.)
Elrond brings new meaning to the word "even-keeled." He is not easily riled, nor is he insulted easily. He will counter vitriol with invitations to dinner. He is not easily trampled over, however. His kindness is not weakness and his way of deflecting any offense is a tried and true diplomatic tactic. While his generosity is near legendary, his stubborn nature almost eclipses it.
He will not be easily turned from any path. It's deceptive, his particular way of staying his course; he will, insofar as he can, remain as gentle-souled as possible while adamantly seeking the path he thinks is right. Only a select few in Middle-Earth could ever halt his steps. (Galadriel is one, Gandalf another. Celebrian could, sometimes.)
Elrond has held many titles through the years and each of these reflects another facet of his personality. As such, I feel it only appropriate to begin each section with a title he has held.
Healer
This is, perhaps, the most important thing he has managed with his life so far, in his mind. Elrond is an accomplished healer, relying on both mundane knowledge and elven mysticism to treat wounds to both body and spirit. Elrond has taken his role in Middle Earth seriously. He is a protector. The weight of all of the peoples of Middle Earth rests on his shoulders. These are duties that weigh so very heavily on him -- but he cannot imagine not caring. If he simply must do so by saving one life at a time, so be it. Perhaps one of the lives he saves will lead a free people to a time of harmony. It was natural for Elrond to gravitate toward healing. He cannot even begin to think of trying to protect all of Middle Earth from darkness if he can't start with soothing a child's scraped knee.
Warrior
Wars have torn the lands apart. As seen in the (brief) history given, Elrond has participated in many a skirmish. Again, this ties directly to the fate given him: he protects. He stands in the gap. He will do whatever needs done in order to accomplish this and if that means taking up a sword from time to time, so be it. Elrond has led armies, has fought in many a battle, and been both besieged and on the offensive. He knows, intimately, the horrors of war. He's watched his home destroyed. Even as a child, he knew death all too well. One cannot stand idly by and let it come. He is a Healer, yes, but sometimes one must be proactive rather than reactive. Elrond can -- and will and has -- fought ruthlessly against the forces of darkness. Do not let this generous soul fool you: he will behead an orc in less time than it takes to draw a breath.
Master of Lore
Elrond firmly believes that, in order to keep from repeating mistakes, one must learn from them. He has lived through a good bit of the history of Arda. He has gathered stories and accountings of events; it is not just the hobby of a bored elf. He collects these stories in the hopes that someone will learn from them. That he will learn from them. He collects them so that he can remember all the kindnesses done in the past. It's so very easy for the grief, guilt, and sorrow to swallow up all the heroism and bravery. To learn the tales of those who came before is to know their struggles and to know that, no matter how dark the path may become, there is a way home. Elrond keeps these tales close to his heart in order to ward off the weariness that too often seeks a residence there.
In addition to this, there's also the implication that Elrond is studious and curious by nature. Canonically, he knows several languages -- even dead ones -- and is well-versed in the history of Middle Earth, including his own people's and other races' histories. A personality who is not naturally (and maybe insatiably) curious would not have this knowledge -- and especially not by choice.
Peredhel
Half-Elven. It is both a blessing and a curse -- and representative of the many people Elrond has lost to time and violence. He has been no stranger to loss. His father sailed away from them when he was very young. His mother sacrificed her family to keep a great treasure out of hands that would misuse it. Maglor and Maedhros were driven so mad by the Silmarils that they eventually succumbed to exile and death. Elros, Elrond's own twin brother, chose the Gift of Man, a mortal life and grew old and died. He left behind a beautiful legacy and Elrond cannot be more proud of what Elros did with his life. It still hurts, to think of him, but he remembers Elros with fondness and pride and love.
It's the same way that he'll remember Arwen, after he has sailed and she has died. This choice given to his children echoes painfully in his heart; he wants nothing more than to keep them with him forever, but their lives are their own. He will not interfere. He holds his family dear enough to let them go when it needs done. He did the same for Celebrian, his wife, when she declared her need to leave the shores of Middle Earth to seek healing in Valinor.
She was his greatest failure. He couldn't heal her after she'd been beset upon by orcs. Her body was too broken, her spirit too torn; she was never weak. He simply failed her -- and as a result, he had to let her go.
He loves his family fiercely. He wishes he could hold them so tightly that he'd never lose another. But that is one thing that he cannot do. He's come to accept that love is loss. If you love someone, you take a risk.
There is no greater joy than seeing one you love happy, after all.
Kinship with men leads to an understanding of men. It's true that Elrond counts himself among the elves of Middle Earth, but he does not forget his heritage. How could he, when his own brother was a king of men? He remembers how men and dwarves fought with honor and boldness during the Last Alliance. He sees that same spark of courage and honor present in every one of their kindred; that capability to fight for what's right and good and whole is present in every person. It's a difficult thing to believe sometimes, surrounded by darkness, but he must believe it, if he is to have any hope left at all.
He has given safe haven to every kindred in Imladris and has even fostered the line of the kings of Numenor. It's his latest fosterling that worms his way a little deeper into his heart, though. Aragorn's father was killed before the child was brought to Rivendell; in Aragorn, Elrond saw all the things that he hoped men could be. Estel, as Aragorn was named, would be raised in the house of Elrond. He carries Elrond's hope in man and, sometimes, all Elrond has to do is look at the man the boy has become and remember that not all of this was in vain. Estel has become, in every sense of the word, family -- and Elrond accepts the eventual painful parting that is part and parcel of that love.
Joy and heartache are one and the same. He strives to remember the joy, to not let the heartache overshadow it, but the losses he's lived through makes that difficult. He tries. He even usually succeeds.
Lord
Elrond was born into a line of kings. There was an expectation that he would fall into a leadership role, thanks to his lineage. Fortunately, he has a natural aptitude for leading people. His even-keeled demeanor and calmly delivered words of wisdom -- as well as his willingness to fight with his men -- helped to instill a trust in him that he strives to never break. His people have expectations of him and he will do all in his power to keep from letting them down. He is a born leader, and not just by virtue of his ancestry.
Herald
He was once called the Herald of Ereinion Gil-Galad, High King of the Noldor elves. In some ways, this title indicates a rare ability Elrond holds that does define parts of his personality. Elrond is blessed with the gift of Foresight. It's a somewhat latent ability; he can't simply walk up to someone and start spouting off about their future, but he has been known to have visions. Some are fairly vivid, some are just premonitions. A stable person cannot have this sort of ability without also holding a strong will. These visions are not absolute and he knows that; therefore, he cannot react as strongly as he might want. He also must sometimes bear visions that range from simply unpleasant to downright horrifying. They sometimes tend to reinforce all the bad that is in the world. There are times when Elrond simply takes refuge in his books -- in those tales he's collected -- because he has to find a way to combat darkness that sometimes come with the possible futures that he is shown.
Ringbearer
Elrond is the keeper of one of the three Elven rings of power. Vilya is the Blue Ring, or the Ring of Air. (I will speak more of Vilya's actual abilities in another section.) This a great responsibility and burden. Though Vilya - along with Nenya and Narya, the other two Elven rings - was forged separately from the One Ring, it could still fall under the dominion of Sauron's One Ring. To keep it and to use it was to walk a somewhat fine line. Vilya is also, arguably, the most powerful of the Three, which could add an additional burden. (Note that while it is speculated that Vilya was possibly the most powerful of the three, it was held by the youngest of the three ringbearers.)
To hold a ring is to be tempted. While Elrond does use the ring to protect Rivendell, he could do much, much more with it. (Or attempt to.) Aragorn once postulated that Elrond was one of the few people capable of resisting Sauron's power of speech completely. Elrond may not always seem it, but he has an incredibly strong will and a rigid sense of duty. He wouldn't be able to wield a ring of power effectively otherwise.
Councilor
Elrond sat on the White Council with Galadriel, Gandalf, and Saruman. For all his accomplishments and all his wisdom, he is the youngest member of the council (and also the weakest, when it comes to straight abilities.) Even so, his wisdom is near-legendary. Elrond is not only intelligent, but also observant. He does not hesitate to speak when he feels it needed. He will argue a point if it needs argued. (Though he'll rarely do so in any sort of antagonistic way.) Every experience he's had is a learning experience, whether for good or ill, and he'll use every bit of it to come to a decision. His willingness to share his experiences and his wisdom in an unbiased manner makes his inclusion in the council pretty well justified.
While Elrond's generosity, hospitality, and wisdom may be somewhat legendary, there's a bit more to him than simply that. He is somewhat reserved, but not reticent. He's not so much stoic as just low-key. He tends to think before he speaks and there's not much about him that's impulsive. He is thoughtful and reserved but not always serious.
He does have a sense of humor that tends to dry and sometimes self-deprecating. (He cannot often bring himself to put down others, but he is fair game.) There is a love of music so ingrained into his soul that he cannot imagine a day without it. (That might be an elf thing, really.) He honestly believes that, even in the darkest times, a person can and should find something that can bring joy.
It's hard. He knows that. He is weary and his heart tends to grieve a little too often. He knows that things will change forever and it will come very soon. Even so, he has made a choice to remain faithful. He has chosen to still see the good in all things. He knows full well that he could take these things he has experienced and let the grief have him, but he will not. There is a dark path that he could take and, on some days, he sees it far too easily. Bitter partings have taken their tolls, but he remains steadfast.
There is too much love in his heart for anything else. Too much responsibility on his shoulders to let down the free people of Middle Earth in that way. He will not dishonor so many memories by doing anything different. And so he will continue to try to keep a light shining in Imladris for as long as he can.
Abilities, Weaknesses and Power Limitations:
As a note, Tolkien was the vaguest of vague when it came to explaining the abilities of elves. Inferences can be made from canon and I will gladly work with mods and fellow muns so as to have some consistency between canon-mates (and to negate possible godmode stuff, thanks to Vilya and its unexplained power.)
First and foremost, Elrond is not human. He's an elf; well, half-elf but there's little indication in canon that his human heritage offsets any of his elven abilities or hardiness. (Maybe the Maia in him balances out the human. When I say that Elrond is mixed-heritage, it's no misnomer.) Elves are hardier than your average human: weather changes don't affect them much, they move faster, have more strength and stamina and are generally just a little harder to injure. On top of that, if a wound doesn't kill them quickly, it probably won't kill them at all. It'll still hurt and recovery can really suck but if death doesn't come for them directly after the wound, they'll eventually be fine.
Elrond is a high elf of the Noldor, which basically means he's in the elven upper class. (Again, mixed-heritage. He's a lot more than just Noldor, but as he chose to align himself with Gil-Galad, who was the High King of the Noldor, he identifies as such.) He's not as old as some, but he holds a power that not many can seek to match. Canonically, he's a great healer and it's implied that that's partly because he can use that power he has to heal wounds of both body and spirit. He has the gift of Foresight; as stated in the personality section, he can't just turn it on and off at will and it isn't always foolproof. They are but possible futures that he sees. Sometimes they serve more as a warning. They can be either vivid or vague and can be unpredictable. While he can intentionally turn his sight toward the future, he never knows if the vision will be vague, vivid, or come at all. They have been known to come with no warning. Elrond has learned to heed them but not depend on them.
He also is the bearer of Vilya, possibly the most powerful of the three elven rings. It is said that he uses the ring to protect Rivendell, though what exactly that entails is pretty much the definition of vague. Vilya, though, is used as a last resort, what with the One Ring still out there floating around and can possibly be subject to mod intervention.
Elrond has a few powerful mental abilities as well. He can read and respond to thoughts (though not quite on Galadriel's level.) He can usually sense a person's intentions, for good or ill -- but only in very general terms and, again, it isn't always the most reliable. As a ringbearer in an age when the One Ring and Sauron still exists, he has to be able to protect his own mind. It would be very difficult for another character with telepathic abilities to read his thoughts unless he wanted them to be able to do so. Again, Galadriel-like, but not quite up to her level. Basically, Elrond is Galadriel-lite. Give him a few thousand more years and he might get there, but he's no slouch right now.
He's also a warrior of some renown. Having commanded armies and been under siege, he knows how and when to fight. He'd rather not but he can. He will. He's an excellent swordsman, good commander, and probably has some skill with a bow. He knows strategy and tactics as well as he knows how to wield a sword.
Elrond is not easily overwhelmed, whether in a physical sense or psychologically, but it has happened. The fact that he can see himself sinking into darkness weighs on him very heavily. He can be prone to morose thoughts and even the act of trying to turn them away can be trying for him. Elrond will also give too much of himself, without regard to personal comfort or safety, should the need arise. He doesn't require much prompting to overextend himself, unfortunately. When he is overextended and working on too many fronts, his mental barriers are less effective than they normally are. That he's hardier than your average human does not mean he cannot be injured; he'll just last a little longer and recover a little faster, come right down to it.
As for power limitations, I am all right with mods restricting the use of Vilya on the ship. I'd still like him to have it and have some sort of power. (My take on Vilya is that it sometimes acted to augment natural abilities.) As for that ring of protection reminiscent of Rivendell's protection, I do not expect that to work in-game. As for visions and premonitions, this would be done only with player permission and could be used in any mod-run or player-run plots as seen fit. I am more than willing to let that be a "power of convenience" should plot ever need it and leave it be otherwise. It can be a godmode-y power, so I'm willing to nerf it to that point (though I'd rather it were not completely gone.)
Inventory:
His armor, including the sword and crown. Vilya.
Appearance:
Despite being book!verse, I'm using Hugo Weaving's portrayal of Elrond from Jackson's Hobbit and LotR movies. It's just... easier. Canon tells of him as tall, dark-haired, and gray-eyed.
But this is pretty much what I'm going with.
Age: 6,518
AU Clarification: n/a
S A M P L E S
Log Sample:
They carried with them both the bane of all good and the hope of the world; Elrond could not help but wonder at the dichotomy. Would this work? Would they -- and all of Middle Earth with them -- meet a terrible end? He knew not and that sometimes accursed gift of Foresight told him nothing. For all his vaunted wisdom and foresight, Elrond felt very much lost in that moment. He remembered his hands tightening on a railing, watching without seeing in the direction the company had gone. He remembered longing to see some tangible evidence of the hope he had placed in all of them.
For all that he prided himself on a generally positive outlook, he was feeling somewhat less than hopeful. He tore his gaze from the distance -- from an uncertain future -- and turned away. Perhaps time spent among old stories would lift his spirits.
Perhaps he'd simply take the time to prepare. For what, he was not sure but there was something worrying at the back of his mind, something that told him to be wary, be on guard. So he was, carrying a tension in his shoulders the spoke to the premonition as he made his way toward a secluded alcove.
He never arrived. If he was asked, he would never be able to say what exactly happened from one moment to the other. He clearly remembered Imladris -- the gentle, powerful sound of falling water was ever in his mind -- and yet... Yet this was most definitely not any place in Imladris. He was deposited on the floor, a hand drifting toward his throat in the wake of a most unpleasant sensation. (What had been down his throat?)
For a moment, the sheer amount of wrong overwhelmed his mind: the absence of the sound of water, the still air where a breeze should be gently blowing, the cold metal beneath his knees, the steady, low hum of something he couldn't identify. Then, in a moment of inanity, one single thought pushed it all away: What am I covered in?
He raised a hand and peered at the viscous liquid. Aside from the rather unusual shade of blue, it bore a striking similarity to a warg's saliva; that thought sent his already troubled stomach roiling a little more. Ah, nausea. It had been some time since he'd felt such discomfort. It was natural to begin to catalogue aches and pains: a touch of nausea, slight dizziness, an aching in his temples. His heart was ill at ease, but nothing seemed immediately dangerous. (He rather hoped that was actually the case; naked and unarmed was not the way he'd like to find an enemy.)
Elrond stood with a grace that belied the unease in his mind and the weariness in his body (though those who knew him fairly well might see a slowness, a hesitance, that was rarely there.) His gaze was sharp as he sought out something -- or someone -- that might provide answers to questions he was not sure how to voice just yet.
Comms Sample:
[Elrond looks regal and dignified somehow, even while frowning at the comm device in his hand. This... technology is new to him, but it's fairly simple to use. Push a button here, tap the screen there and... oh. It's been turned on already. How fortuitous. Apparently, he did something right. His expression smooths into one that's thoughtful, frown disappearing for something a little more neutral.]
I have not been aboard this ship as long as most and so I know that my words will be taken with some caution, as is rightfully so. I know very little of the worlds you come from, of the lives that you have lived thus far. I know less of this ship. [There's no hesitation in admitting to it; Elrond is one of the Wise in Middle Earth, but here? Here he knows that all his wisdom could be for naught. The same rules may not apply aboard Tranquility.] You have been warned to guard yourselves. I will not disagree but I would add this one thing.
[He pauses, gaze going distant for just a moment as he mulls over just the right words to use. He'd thought he had this thought through before addressing the populace at large, but it occurs to him that better phrasing could be found.] Do not let such wariness define every action. In guarding yourselves too closely, you may find that you have lost sight of why you should.
[He looks as if he wants to say more -- there is still joy here -- but he lets it go. Instead, his thoughtful expression becomes less serious and more friendly.] I would ask a favor from some of you. As I said, I know little of your homes and of your lives here. Would you share a tale with me?
[The loremaster would like to start a collection here. All of his books are home and that's... very hard to bear, in some strange way.]
((And with mod permission: A few voice samples))