Tag: submission

My Lord and Master,

I find myself at a loss when it comes to bestowing a proper gift upon you. All riches are already yours, and any material thing you desire is readily provided. I am no craftsman to attempt a work in your honor, and I cannot even offer myself as you own me already.

What does one give to a spirit who already has everything?

If there is anything you desire, anything at all that I could retrieve for you or offer to you, as always you need only ask. I hope this season brings you victory and satisfaction.

-K

Khamul, Khamul, old friend. You owe me nothing for this season or any other– your abiding service is enough. 

But as you mention it, I recall there is something…

I’ve heard tell of a clever device built by the Men of old Arnor; I suspect with help from interested scholars in Rivendell. It is a kind of map and celestial clock combined, called an astrarium. 

There are many such astronomical engines of course (I recall there was a sizable planetarium in Umbar before its sack), but most of these are more decorative than practical– especially now that the world is globed, and the old maps of Varda’s heaven are obsolete.

The scale of such devices is often greatly skewed, given the vastness of the celestial sphere; but this one is just large enough to simulate the movement of the stars and planets with some precision. It takes up the space of a whole chamber, and is as complex and complete a model as can be made with the tools of men. I don’t doubt I could improve it if I had it in hand; nor do I doubt I could refine the accuracy of my own calculations with its help. 

I suspect it lies somewhere in Elrond’s kingdom, which would make it exceedingly difficult to extract, and more so to transport, given its size and the delicacy of the instrument… But if you truly wish to please me, and find something useful to my purposes, that would be a wondrous gift indeed.