Bloodstained Elanor Planning/Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

DISCUSSION THREAD FOR GAME BEGINS AT POST #135


This thread is being opened for the purposes of planning an RPG:

Bloodstained Elanor/ Elanor Agarwaen (working titles)

_______________________________________________


Use of this Planning Thread is restricted to these writers for now:

Durelin (RPG Proposer/Owner)

Fordim Hedgethistle

Roa_Aoife

Arvedui III

Amanaduial the Archer

Aylwen Dreamsong

No other writers may use this thread with the exception of the Shire Moderators.

All posts by those other than those listed above will be deleted.

[piosenniel]

First time Shire Gamers:

Fordim Hedgethistle

Linnahiril Tinnufinwen

Roa_Aoife

You can’t at this time be listed as ‘owners’ for this RPG. Once you have successfully completed a game in the Shire, then you can propose/own a Shire RPG.

Your names will be submitted at the completion of the game to the Rohan moderator, for consideration to become eligible to play in the RPG’s in Rohan.

Also, should you decide to propose/own a game in the Shire once this one is completed, then, at the completion of the game run by you, your name will be submitted to the Rohan moderator for consideration to also be able to propose and run games in Rohan.

[piosenniel]

Proposed Basic Storyline

The War of the Ring was battled on countless fronts across Middle-Earth, not only on the Field of Pelennor or the slopes of Mount Doom. One such front, small in comparison to other lands, and with its past greatness quickly fading into legend and myth, is the Elven realm of Lorien. The power of Nenya, one of the Three Rings, that dwells within can only protect it from so much darkness. Orcs have come from Dol Guldur twice before, drawing closer and closer to penetrating the inner patrolled borders of the forest.

The orcs have come again, and the patrols on the outer borders are slaughtered, and the orcs that remain, a small number in comparison to the beginning force, wait for reinforcements before they push on to the inner borders. As there has been no word from the outer patrols, a scout troop is sent to discover what has made the patrols so silent.

[piosenniel]

This is the form that will be submitted once your planning is finished. All sections will need to be completed before the proposal can be reviewed by the Shire Moderators - Piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age.

Once your proposal is accepted for play, then I will open a Discussion thread for the game and you can take on the other players you need.

When the Characters Needed list is all filled, then the RPG will be opened as the owner requests.
_______________________________________________


At the end of your planning process - Please leave the completed form on the Planning Thread - don't send it to me by PM. It will be easier for me to work with it on the forum.

_______________________________________________

SHIRE GAME PROPOSAL FORM

Title:

Historical Background (This is necessary only for Games set in a time before The Lord of the Rings. It can be 2 to 3 sentences that give some basic facts about what is going on in that time period. This will help clarify the setting for the prospective players.)
__________________________________

Basic Storyline:

__________________________________

The purpose of the story is to:

This means we will know the story is over when:
__________________________________

Starting Location:

Likely destination:
__________________________________

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the ____Age at around year _______.

The storyline itself or plot covers _____ days, weeks, months.

This game requires a time commitment of _____ from me, the game owner and from the major players.
__________________________________

Characters needed: – be specific as to type (eg., Lothlorien Elves, not just Elves, if that’s what you need; or any other characters types from specific regions) and please indicate the number of each type you will need.

Please note for each character type needed: Race – number needed – and gender needed

Character types which would not belong:

__________________________________


Are there any writers you have invited to play on the game and are saving spots for them? If so, please list their names under Dedicated Characters for me.

They will need to submit their Character Descriptions Forms and First Posts to me before I will open the Discussion Thread:

Dedicated Characters:

Fordim Hedgethistle

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Linnahiril Tinnufinwen

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Roa_Aoife

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

GaladrieloftheOlden

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Arvedui III

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Amanaduial the Archer

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Aylwen Dreamsong

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

__________________________________



The game owner(Durelin + ?) will play ____ character(s).

OWNER CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST FOR THE GAME TO BE PLACED HERE

__________________________________

USE THIS CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FORM TO PRESENT YOUR CHARACTER:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE:

GENDER:

WEAPONS (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.):

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Other information of special interest that you would like to include:

Do you want first posts for the game when the players submit their characters on the discussion thread? - YES/NO

Please note that this will mean NO character descriptions will be accepted without First Posts accompanying them. All character descriptions posted without the required First Post will be sent back to their writers.

[piosenniel]

Have fun planning!

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

Howdy all!

Here's some starting points, as well as a possible direction in which we could go.

Background Info:

TA 3019, February - March

Lorien attacked three times from Dol Guldur

"...but besides the valour of the elven people of that land, the power that dwelt there was too great for any to overcome, unless Sauron had come there himself."

The borders undergo much, but the orcs are driven back. With destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur: Galadriel throws down its walls.

Mirkwood is invaded, in the end they overcome the orcs. On the day of the new year Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduial keeps northern Mirkwood. Celeborn takes southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien.

--------------------

Fordim - You said that the armies did unite, though I cannot find that said anywhere. Where, from what did you learn this?

If we united the armies of Mirkwood and Lorien, it would open up many possibilities, and we could then have several ‘stories’ running at the same time. The story of Elves in Mirkwood and Lothlorien, male and female, warriors (from the inner border, the scout troop, an envoy to Thranduil, the united Elven army, etc.) and ‘counselors‘ (perhaps). With this wide range of perspectives you gain a much fuller effect, of not just the story, but the events of Middle-Earth around them.

What we would not receive from this is any true interaction between orcs an elves besides meeting them in battle, which would be something most interesting. ;)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Hello All.

You’ll have seen that this is all new to me so I hope that I do this right. At any event, I have had some ideas about the game, and without further ado, here they are:

Given that the setting is going to be the lands between Lorien and Dol Guldur, I think this gives us a great chance to explore some elements of Prof. Tolkien’s mythos that were left rather unfinished. The particular thread I’m thinking about are the seven Dwarven rings (to match the three Elven and the Nine for Men). One of the few things that is revealed about Dol Guldur in Tolkien’s works is that Thorin Oakenshield’s father Thrain was held prisoner there when it was still the fortress of choice for Sauron (before the White Council attacked him there and he retreated to Mordor). Sauron took from Thrain the map that led Bilbo and the Dwarves to the secret door in the mountain, as well as the key. But in the Unfinished Tales (or somewhere in the appendices to LotR) it also says that Sauron also took from Thrain the last of the Dwarven rings of power that had not already been taken by Sauron or consumed by dragon fire.

This has always intrigued me. If Sauron had some – although apparently not all – of the Dwarven Rings why would he not have attempted to use them in the War of the Ring? Presumably, the ambassador to Erebor (in LotR) who promises “Rings of Power” in return for news of Bilbo and the Shire was talking of these, but that’s the only mention they get. I propose that we work these Rings into our story…and unsurprisingly I have a suggestion how:

The scouting party is sent out to find the lost border patrols, but there is no sign of them – only telltale signs that they have marched away from Lorien and toward the Anduin. Our scouting party follows. We find the patrol all encamped on the bank of the River; they are all acting very strangely – talking about their imminent attack on Dol Guldur as a first move, and then about the attack that they will launch on Morder. We find that they are led by four extremely powerful Elves, totally unknown to anyone. Somehow, we figure out that these guys are actually allies of Sauron – they are the final remnant of those Firstborn (so WAAAAY back from the First Age) who sided with Sauron. They have been given the four Dwarven Rings recoverd by Sauron, which gives them the ability to confuse the minds of their brethren. This has been the Big Plan for Dol Guldur all along! These four evil Elves are leading this small army into an ambush. The ambush happens (so, Epic Battle Number One), and the deluded Lorien Elves are all but slaughtered. Just before the battle, we manage to convince a few of the deluded Lorien Elves of their folly and send them back to Lorien to warn them. Our scouting party, stays behind to save as many of our kind as we can in the battle. We manage to save only a few and escape the slaughter with them. We pursue the orc army and the evil Elves to the verge of Lorien where they attack on 22 March. (This date is from the appendices to LotR – I know, I’m a total Appendices Geek: I also have the Atlas to Middle-Earth, and refer to the Unfinished Tales relentlessly – so if you find this sort of thing annoying, please let me know now!)

This is where I think things get cool. While the ‘big battle’ is going on the edge of Lorien, our scouting party, which is behind the orc army see that things are going poorly for our kin, because they cannot resist the unseen power and will of the evil Elves. So we decide, with little hope for success, to attack the evil Elves – who are keeping to the rear of their army.

Now, somehow or other, we defeat them, leaving the Rings ownerless. As they cannot simply be destroyed and we do not want to leave them there, four of our party take them – one each. The destruction of the One does not take place for three days (on 25 March) so we could have some real fun as the four with the Rings slowly succumb to them, while the rest of the party tries to decide what to do with them. Things could even get really ugly amongst the party (they are about to start fighting with one another??) when, on the 25th, the One is destroyed and the Rings in our possession lose all power.

Again, according to the appendices, the combined forces of Lorien and of Thranduil in the Mirkwood attacked and destroyed Dol Guldur on 30 March – I would say that our story end there, with our scouting company participating in that.

I hope that this isn’t too much (or too little, or whatever) for a first suggestion. Like I say – I’m new to this!

Fordim

[Durelin]

Wow. That is some creative thinking!

First of all, since it is so creative, there are a lot of holes to fill in. Second of all, there are a lot of explanations to be made. And there is a lot of improvising to be done.

Now, the idea of the Dwarven Rings being given to followers just as the Rings of Men were, pulling followers of Sauron even farther under his power, is intriguing, I must say. And the idea that evil elves would be sent to lead a complicated attack on Lorien is interesting, plus it makes sense.

But then we come to a problem: the magic involved with the Rings of power, and the idea of immortals bearing them.

Magic is complicated, as it can be stretched too far, and it is hard to set limits. The magic of the Istari is impossible enough to determine all the extents and limitations of, but the power of the Rings of Power. I mean, they're called 'The Rings of Power'. That name radiates power!

That was what they were made as, the Dwarven Rings of Power, but now that they have been in the hands of Sauron for several millennia, what powers to they have now? And with the One Ring holding power over them? Are they corrupted, just as the One Ring is? Are their powers now limited to evil, or...?

There are so many questions to answer, and not just concerning the rings. (For instance, who are these evil elves? I must ask that one, at least!) Now, we could answer all these on our own. But that will be an immense chore that will easily stray far from Tolkien. I'm not sure if I'm up to it, to tell the truth!

Now, somehow or other, we defeat them, leaving the Rings ownerless.

This shows that you must be aware of the holes to fill. Somehow...the ringbearers must be defeated. That might mean bringing in Galadriel, who might face these rings. I doubt that would work, though. I doubt that four Rings of Power + an orc army from Dol Guldur could be defeated, even with united armies of Mirkwood and Lorien, and the possible power found in Nenya.

There are some aspects of that idea I truly do like, though. The ending, though, is not one of them, I'm afraid. What a depressing way to end, with more people scarred for life then just poor Frodo and Sam! :p

Think about it! But I'm not forgetting the idea, believe me!

-Durelin

[Arvedui III]

Wow, lots of good ideas all around. This game's gonna rock. I really like the Rings of Power idea and the multiple story lines from both Mirkwood and Lorien. So maybe combining little bits of them would fill in some of the plot-holes. (Although, knowing me I'll probably add three for every one I try to fill in . :rolleyes: )

We could follow two scouting parties, one from Lothlorien, which is trying to find a lost patrol after the second assault on Lorien, and one from Mirkwood, which has been splintered, some of the elves being lured to Dol Guldur by some mysterious force (insert dwarven rings of power here) the other half, which was not effected, following them. Our Lorien scouting party discovers the third wave of orcs, and then has to frantically return to golden wood to warn the other elves. The party is then sent to Thranduil for aid, and runs into the Mirkwood patrol, which is battling both the fallen elves who were seduced by the rings, with more of the patrol becoming lured every day, and all manner of black creatures from Dol Guldur. The combined party has to hold out long enough for Celeborn and Thranduil to meet up and destroy Dol Guldur.

And about the magic is complicated thing- Tolkien never gives us a real discription of the how's or why's or to what extent's of any of the rings of power. So this means we can improvise and give whatever (reasonable) powers to the fallen dwarven rings we want. Maybe they're held by fallen elves who corrupt others. Maybe they're born by orcs. Maybe they're just sitting in Dol Guldur putting out a siren call. I dunno. But we can fill in whatever we need to make the plot work.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

An emendation, a retraction, some responses:

The emendation first -- it was not Sauron, of course, who took the map and key from Thrain, it was Gandalf ("Bad Fordim; no donut!").

The retraction -- the points regarding fighting and defeating the Ring Bearers and having our characters taking them for themselves: OK, not such a good idea.

The responses -- I like the idea of two storylines (Mirkwood and Lorien), but that might end up being too cumbersome, mightn't it? If there are to be two, they should be combined very quickly.

As to the 'powers' of the Dwarf Rings: in UT it says that Sauron made them at the same time as he made the Nine, and there doesn't seem to be any distinction between them and the ones he gave to Men, at least insofar as his purpose for them. I've always just assumed that they had the same effect on the bearer. When Sauron took Thrain's Ring it drove him insane, which would seem to be in keeping with what we know of the 'possessive' power of the Nine. I don't think we could have them in the hands of orcs (Sauron would never trust them to orcs!), nor with any evil Men in his service (who would presumably end up as more Nazgul). That's why I thought Elves would be a good idea: they would be able to weild the Rings and serve Sauron without 'fading' like Men do, so it wouldn't be another group of Nazgul, but something entirely different and new.

Fordim

[piosenniel]

I want to share this passage from Morgoth’s Ring; The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II); “Laws and Customs among the Eldar”; ‘Of Re-birth and other Dooms of Those That Go to Mandos’:

This concerns the fëar (spirits) of those of the Elves who, when their body dies, refuse the call of Mandos to the Halls of Waiting. It gives some precedent for Evil to have overtaken some of the Elves.

If you do plan to use Evil Elves, I would like to see them based along these lines – not Elves who chose to do evil but who made the unfortunate choice to refuse the summons to the Halls of Mandos at their bodies’ death and whose Houseless fëar were then called in by whatever incarnation of Shadow there was at the time. I would also like their number to be limited – though you could perhaps have some of them who have come from the Necromancer at Dol Guldur, or they may have been Houseless spirits who overcame the Elven guard that’s gone missing at the border – taking their bodies as needed and killing the others with the aid of the orcs.

The fëa is single, and in the last impregnable. It cannot be brought to Mandos. It is summoned; and the summons proceeds from authority and is imperative; yet it may be refused. Among those who refused the summons (or rather the invitation) of the Valar to Aman in the first years of the Elves, refusal of the summons to Mandos and the Halls of Waiting is, the elder say, frequent. It was less frequent, however, in ancient days, while Morgoth was in Arda, or his servant Sauron after him. For the fëa unbodied would flee in terror of the Shadow to any refuge - unless it were already committed to the Darkness {its fëa already having answered the summons of Morgoth - my edit} and passed into its dominion. In like manner even of the Eldar some who had become corrupted refused the summons, and then had little power to resist the counter summons of Morgoth.

{There is then a passage on how in these after-days (4th Age and beyond) more and more of the Elves refuse the summons and wander houseless in the world – causing mischief to mankind}.

. . . For the Unbodied, wandering in the world, are those who at the least have refused the door of life and remain in regret and self-pity. Some are filled with bitterness, grief, and envy. Some were enslaved by the Dark Lord and do his work still, though he himself is gone.

. . . Some say that the Houseless desire bodies, though they are not willing to seek them lawfully by submission to the judgment of Mandos. The wicked among them will take bodies, if they can, unlawfully. The peril of communing with them is, therefore, not only the peril of being deluded by fantasies of lies: there is peril also of destruction. For one of the hungry Houseless, if it is admitted to the friendship of the Living, may seek to eject the fëa from its body; and in the contest for the mastery of the body may be gravely injured, even if it is not wrested from its rightful habitant. Or the Houseless may plead for shelter, and if it is admitted, then it will seek to enslave its host and use both his will and his body for its own purposes. It is said that Sauron did these things, and taught his followers how to achieve them . . .

__________________________________

Now, about the Dwarven Rings of Power:

I’m not sure how you are planning to use them – and how many you are planning to have in the possession of the Evil Elves. One would be preferable as a maximum in my opinion.

They were all under the dominion of the One Ring of Sauron. So Sauron will be aware of their use, even if he does not at the moment have the Ring of Power on his hand. And any who wears one, he can bend to his will and in the end utterly enslave them.

. . . But even if he (Sauron) did not wear it (the One Ring), that power existed and was in ‘rapport’ with himself: he was not ‘diminished’. -- The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien; 'Letter #131'
_______________________________________________

Tolkien does discuss the powers of the lesser rings in Letter #131, also.

I do want any appearance of unusual or greatly overpowering magical abilities conferred on the wearers of the lesser rings of power. Tolkien states in the same letter as above that the chief power of all the rings alike was:

. . . the prevention of or slowing of ‘decay’ (i.e. ‘change’ viewed as a regrettable thing), the preservation of what is desired or loved, or its semblance – this is more or less an Elvish motive. But they also enhanced the natural powers of the possessor, - thus approaching ‘magic’, a motive easily corrupted into evil, a lust for domination. And finally they had other powers, more directly derived from Sauron (‘the Necromancer’ . . .): such as rendering invisible the material body, and making things of the invisible world visible.

This last power was shown when Frodo slips on the One Ring. So I’m assuming if a lesser ring of power were worn by an Elf, evil or not – he/she would become invisible and see the invisible, shadow world of Sauron.

The 3 Elven rings of power, it is stated in this same letter, did not confer invisibility. And they remained unsullied by Sauron.

__________________________________

So, a couple of questions here, to consider as you plan the game:

1.) How will you introduce the idea of these evil Elves into the game? Their origin, and how they now fit into your storyline, I think, will need to be documented in the History section that precedes the Storyline section of the Proposal.

2.) How many will you introduce into the game? Will they be carry-along characters or will some one actually play one.

If there are to be evil Elf characters played – then I want them to be done by the game’s planners, so that the other moderator and I can see those character bios and histories prior to putting the Game up as a Discussion Thread. We will require that these characters be very carefully done, and do not stray beyond the bounds that Tolkien crafted for his Elves.

3.) How many Dwarven rings of power will your evil Elves have?

4.) What specific powers do you see being conferred on the wearers? How are their natural Elven powers enhanced.

5.) Since none of this finding of a lesser ring of power or evil Elves is mentioned in the LotR or its Appendices, how are you going to wrap this game up so that such an incident passes out of memory and is not recorded?

__________________________________

While I have you – I have another request concerning Elven characters. Hair color is preferably dark (black or dark brown) or yellow. Eyes are grey as Tolkien specified (though we will accept variations of grey-blues). No red-haired, green or violet eyed elves from Lothlorien or Mirkwood.

Also, Tolkien’s female Elves do not usually go into battle – so most of your characters will need to be male if they are involved in the battles.

Just some things to consider.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio, Game Moderator

[Linnahiril Tinnufinwen]

Just a question. If the evil Elves were orginally Elves whose spirits were enslaved by the Dark Lord because they refused the call of Mandos, how are we to be certain, when they do again take a physical from, that they will be in the form of Elves at all? Wouldn't they be more wrath-like being, like the Nazgul? They may not be able to help being in that form, unless Sauron, when he enslaved them, still had the ability to create "fair" forms of evil to decieve the Elves, and other races of Middle Earth. Such as he did when he "tricked" the Elves into making the Nine Rings. If this is the case, these "evil Elves" were taken in by Sauron somtime during the beginning of the Second Age.

[piosenniel]

Good Question -

They don't make bodies for themselves.

They can inhabit the bodies of others (And I am assuming Tolkien meant other Elf bodies, though this is not specified) in one of two ways, according to Tolkien:

They either try to drive out the other fëa and take over the body, or they plead for shelter from the other person and if it's granted, they overwhelm the other fëa and enslave both it and the body that houses the fëa.

I am supposing here that they would have the 'look fair, feel foul' air about them to other Elves.

Some of the Elves who refuse the call of Mandos at their body's death do remain in spirit (fëa) form.

[Linnahiril Tinnufinwen]

I have a suggestion for the story, be it but a slight one. What if a few of our scout members get captured and taken to Dol Guldur, and a few of us have to save them. I'm not sure whether this would be an impossible feat or not, to actually penetrate into Dol Guldur.

One may ask why orcs would capture rather than immediately kill an elf. Perhaps they have orders from the "evil Elves." This can take place towards the end, before Celeborn has marched out of Lorien, and the Elf-wraths, feeling a little insecure about victory, would capture the scout "leaders," in the hope that this will buy them a bit of time to "negotiate" a surrender, or at least give them more time, so that they may wait for reinforcements. Of course, we save them before anything like this can take place. I'm not sure whether this would be a silly idea or not, but its just a suggestion, and it might add a bit of variety into the story.

[Durelin]

I believe we need to get away from evil elves as well as rings of power. Neither are at all spoken of in appendices, and little is known about the Rings of Power. It can be questioned if there were any dark elves in Tolkien's world. Are elves actually corruptable?

These are interesting ideas, but I don't believe they are proper for an RPG, especially one in the Shire.

About the possibility of capture:

This would become a more gruesome story, though it would allow the orcs and elves to deal with each other closely. This will not be a pretty sight, though, to focus on hatred from both sides. We could have a minor character captured, with the mission to rescue him, but then I'm afraid we enter into entirely another story in the proposed setting alone, one completely separate from the war, and also a rather generic one.

Also, Tolkien’s female Elves do not usually go into battle – so most of your characters will need to be male if they are involved in the battles.

That is why I believe a more basic approach to the war is needed, so battle is focused on less, and a true story is created. The possibility of an envoy, and some focus on other than soldiers in battle gives more flexibility, and makes it more interesting and funn to play.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Lots going on -- and lots going through my mind. . .hmmmmmm

OK -- I'm willing to concede that the combination of Evil Elves and Rings of Power is perhaps too much here; I cannot agree with Durelin enough on the point that we should strive as much as possible to move away from battle and toward more character development.

That having been said, and in an effort to simplify, how about doing away with the Dwarven Rings (one day, when I can be an owner of my own thread, look for their return :cool: ), but I think that there is lots of interesting stuff to be done with the 'possessed Elves' suggested by Pio.

For a new scenario suggestion: the 'scouting party' is transformed into an envoy from Lorien to Mirkwood. This party is composed of men and women (cause I really want to play a young she-Elf, not sure why. . .). They have been sent by Galadriel to ask Thranduil for help in repulsing the orc armies. They find the patrols have been slaughtered, but some Elves have apparently survived and fled toward Dol Guldur. They follow and find that the 'survivors' have been taken over by the houseless. . . and we evolve the story from there. . .

[Roa_Aoife]

This may be beside the point now, but I seem to remember reading in the Silmarillion that the dwarven rings were mainly ussed to increase treasure. But anyway, I like the ideas of possessed Elves, and an envoy of Emmissaries. But why not do some more combinations, and have the Envoy find the Orc patrol, or vice versa. The scouting party from Mirkwood could be traveling near by, and come aid in battle. Both parties take casualties and then are somewhat stranded in the area between Mirkwood and Lothlorien. They have to survive through the darker areas of the forest, becuase the "safe passages are blocked off. What do you think?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ooooooooooo -- I love Roa's idea.

So if I'm getting this right, Roa, the envoy from Lorien finds the dead patrols, tracks the 'survivors' to Mirkwood, are attacked by orcs, and are rescued by a scouting party of Mirkwood Elves? Where do the possessed Elves come in?

I just thought -- how about we do away with the orcs and fighting them at all for the time being (save that for later in the story) and just Elves -- THREE groups of Elves -- all meeting up in the middle of Mirkwood. We could have the Envoy from Lorien, the Scouting Party from Mirkwood AND those Elves from Lorien who have been taken over by the Houseless. The possessed Elves capture the Envoy and take them toward Dol Guldur. On the way they meet the scouting party from Mirkwood. The big "struggle" for the first part of the story, then, is 'saving' the 'possessed' Elves (and here it could be rich with plotline -- many of those taken by the Houseless are friends of or known to the Elves in the Envoy?).

The whole party is then attacked by dark nasties from Dol Guldur and they have to hold on until Celeborn and Thranduil get there to save them.

At any rate, much as I like the idea of exploring the Houseless, I am still open to removing them from the story entirely as Durelin is suggesting. I think that there is good textual basis to have them in the story, though -- when Sauron was in Dol Guldur he was called the Necromancer: wouldn't it make sense that he was doing something 'necromantic' by preparing the Houseless to enslave the Elves of Lorien? If we do use them, we should avoid having them as fighting-enemies, and use them instead for personal/character conflict. If we go with my three-group approach, would it be too unweildy to have THREE story lines with gamers playing the Mirkwood scouting party, the Lorien Envoys and the possessed Elves? The advantage to having us play the possessed Elves is that they could interact with orcs and other servants of Sauron -- which as Durelin pointed out would be fun! There would also be ample opportunity to do interesting stuff when the Houseless come to the Elves and ask for 'admittance' and then overmaster their will.

Fordim

[Roa_Aoife]

I like where Fordhim is going. It gives everything a more rounded feel. The idea of the houseless is kind of sketchy, but we could make it work. Plus there's lot's of chance for charachter development. There should be more in between though. For an example, though we could keep it if you like, we could start with the parties being comissioned. We could also hold off the capture for a little bit.

The Lorien Elves could find the possessed Elves, and bring them into their party. Then a series of murders and/or attacks could take place. Also, the possessed elves could work as spies in the group. Of course this would only work for so long until the lorien elves figured it out. Then they would have to be captured for further questioning. This whole time, the mirkwood elves could be finding all sorts of strange signs, as though the enemy was makiong bizarre movements.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Here are a few of the original things bandied about in the PMs between myself and Durelin (I don’t have some of the things, as they are on PMs I sent to her, and I therefore don’t have direct quotes etc):

The original story plan along with a little extra from a further PM:
The War of the Ring was battled on countless fronts across Middle-Earth, not only on the Field of Pelennor or the slopes of Mount Doom. One such front, small in comparison to other lands, and with its past greatness quickly fading into legend and myth, is the Elven realm of Lorien. The power of Nenya, one of the Three Rings, that dwells within can only protect it from so much darkness. Orcs come from the Misty Mountains in almost constant waves, drawing closer and closer to penetrating the inner patrolled borders of the forest.

The patrols on the outer borders are slaughtered, and the orcs that remain, a small number in comparison to the beginning force, wait for reinforcements before they push on to the inner borders. As there has been no word from the outer patrols, a scout troop is sent to discover what has made the patrols so silent.

To let you know a little bit about where I'm considering going with this...Well, I was told of an alliance made between the elves of Lorien and Mirkwood, marching against the orcs supposedly on March 30 during the War of the Ring, and this opens up many possibilities which I had not considered before.

I had considered…the scout troop finding the orc army already on the move. For some reason (a. it's too late, b. they can't find a way to get past the army), they cannot go back to warn the inner defences of the forest. And from there....they could call on the aid of Thranduil. There are so many options. We could even…go earlier in the defences, before Frodo even leaves the Shire, for instance.

I do like this idea, and what you have made of it, but I am not entirely sure about using the ‘Houseless’ to possess the elves; it seems a little too X-files rather than Middle Earth. However, as it seems to be a popular idea, and if we could make it work, it could probably prove to be quite interesting.

Just a question: would the Houseless be travelling alone? How would they appear to other elves when they did not have bodies?

It leads onto issue though: character types. We could, of course, keep purely with elves, and this way we already have several different viewpoints. However, what about the bad characters? (I’m getting around to how it joins on, don’t worry ;) ) If we wished to expand, we could have orcs played – or humans. The easterlings were known to join the orcs, and to have some of these Haradrim played would increase the diversity of the game, meaning there were the good elven viewpoints, the viewpoints of the ‘evil’, or enslaved, elves possessed by the Houseless, and, instead of the straightforwardly and almost automatically twisted, brutal and almost beast-like natures of the orcs, you could also have the viewpoint of the humans, on the side of the orcs but not necessarily ‘evil’ so to speak. What do you think?

Now, the link I mentioned:
They can inhabit the bodies of others (And I am assuming Tolkien meant other Elf bodies, though this is not specified) in one of two ways, according to Tolkien:

They either try to drive out the other fëa and take over the body, or they plead for shelter from the other person and if it's granted, they overwhelm the other fëa and enslave both it and the body that houses the fëa.

I am supposing here that they would have the 'look fair, feel foul' air about them to other Elves.

Do you think it would be possible that the Houseless, if they weren’t able to find a suitable ‘host’ elf, for whatever reason, would take over the bodies of the Haradrim? This could also enable some rather interesting twists: these elves would have hundreds of years experience, and would probably even be enable to manipulate the orcs and other easterlings; the chances are that the orcs, and even the humans, would not be able to notice so easily the difference, to identify the ‘look fair, feel foul’ air that the elves would have when they encountered elves taken by the Houseless. Only those very close to the taken easterling/easterlings would know something was different with him/her/them – for example, a brother.

Now, to address a few points you made here, Roa:

For an example, though we could keep it if you like, we could start with the parties being comissioned.[/quote

There are numerous games already starting in this exact same way – for example, Search for the Lost Messenger, Kidnapped!, Roll Out the Barrels, to name just a few that actually start with elves (the first two actually start in Lorien). I think therefore we might just skip to when they are setting off from Lorien to Mirkwood – there can be references in private thought or in conversation maybe to their sending off, if players wish, and certainly references to the reason: there would be a leader of two of the group, and they would probably feel inclined to make some suitably dramatic and rousing speech in which, hopefully, he(/she - if they were going to Mirkwood to ask for Thranduil's help, rather than purely as a warrior force, I don't see that there is any reason why there could not also be female elves as well) would outline the brief idea of their purpose (just for those who were flicking elastic bands and flirting with the person next to them in the meeting ;) Ok, ok...). But I don't really see that there is a particular need to go through the whole largely pointless and a little samey stage of 'commision', especially as they would be commisioned by NPCs in this case, Galadriel and Celeborn.

[quote]The Lorien Elves could find the possessed Elves, and bring them into their party. Then a series of murders and/or attacks could take place. Also, the possessed elves could work as spies in the group. Of course this would only work for so long until the lorien elves figured it out.

This does not fit really with the idea that the Houseless elves would someone have a different, and maybe slightly evil, air about them to other elves. Would we be keeping with this idea, or shall we drop it? I like that concept, it would make the Houseless somehow different, but certainly, as Roa has said, to have them really seeming the same as others could lead to some interesting twists and consequences, such as the spying and attacks Roa mentioned.

What do you think of these ideas? Please bear with my horrifically long sentences and try to make some sense of them:)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

There are so many good ideas and thoughts that I will never be able to stay on top of it all -- oh well, beats working. . .

I think that the impulse to 'keep it simple' expressed by Durelin is a good one -- for that reason I would think it best to keep things 'strictly' Elves and avoid all Easterlings etc. Also, the armies that attack Lorien from Dol Guldur are specifically said by Tolkien to be composed of orcs, and I see no reason to change that. (And didn't Pio say in her informative email that the Houseless would not 'take over' anyone but other Elves. . .? Note to self: check that.)

I'm not so sure about the idea of the 'possessed Elves' joining up with and murdering the Lorien Elves -- any Elf so unfortunate as to be seduced by one of the Houseless would be immediatly identifiable to a 'normal' Elf.

So at any rate, in the interests of keeping things simple -- why not severly restrict the number of Elves who get taken over by the Houseless: say, three? (That would appeal to Prof Tolkien I think: Three Houseless to oppose the thee Elven Rings). The Lorien envoys could follow these Three into Mirkwood where they meet up with the Mirkwood Elves, and then they have a great stand-off/showdown with the Houseless in which there's no fighting, but a very Elvish kind of give and take as the unaffected try to drive the Houseless out of their friends and kin -- with song and story, enchantments (but not magic!), memories of home etc etc. When the Houseless are driven out, the three freed Elves find that they have some of the memories of the departed spirits and they reveal a 'secret' army of orcs being sent against Lorien, so the Lorien Envoys and Mirkwood Scouts head like H*** for Lorien to warn them. . .

This way we could still have three groups of gamers: Mirkwood Scouts, Lorien Envoys and Houseless-taken Elves (who could maybe interact with orcs, etc).

I think it's a good idea to begin in media res with the three groups already 'on the move'

Having fun thinking about all this. . .

Fordim

[Amanaduial the archer]

I would prefer to have easterlings as well as orcs - partly because, if the Houseless elves are going to communicate with the 'bad guys', I suspect they wouldn't, even at the stage of real evil, be too keen on using the orcs. They are despicable to all elves. And yes, Durelin said keep it simple, but frankly, we have possessed elves and the fear of elves included here - a few easterlings - not many, mind, doesn't have to be many - and bear in mind these aren't the parties that attacked Lorien and therefore easterlings aren't automatically excluded by that reference of them being completely composed of orcs - a few easterlings into the bargain won't, on this scale of things, really complicate things very much. It just gives a wider viewpoint.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Oooh, I show up just a tad late and so much has happened! This is all so very interesting to read, great job everyone...impressive...:)

I think that the impulse to 'keep it simple' expressed by Durelin is a good one -- for that reason I would think it best to keep things 'strictly' Elves and avoid all Easterlings etc.

If we wished to expand, we could have orcs played – or humans. The easterlings were known to join the orcs, and to have some of these Haradrim played would increase the diversity of the game.

I actually really like the idea of having easterlings as well. It seems more diverse, as Aman mentioned and it also allows potential players to have a medium between elves and orcs. It would be more appealing for them to be able to choose and have a variety with which to create their character.

Fordim! Your idea is excellent! I love the confrontation idea, in general. Keeping the Houseless not only out of their friends, but also out of themselves...also your idea of the memories giving off a warning seems a very good way to get the orcs back into the picture. However, this would shift the focus almost entirely on the Elves, meaning that the whole game until the end with the battle would leave the orcs with nothing to do. Unless we wanted them to just post about their movements, or have some internal argument over something, the orcs wouldn't have anything to do. This could be where the easterlings could come in handy, perhaps? Fights, etc? In any case, even if the orcs were minor characters we'd have to bring them in late in the game if it was all about getting the Houseless out of the Elves.

*takes a breath* Whoo, we really are getting along quickly here, eh? This already sounds really promising!

-Aylwen

Edited because I was a meanie. ;)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

OK OK OK -- so orcs and Easterlings, eh. . .

Aylwen's point about the orcs and Easterlings having nothing to do is actually easy to solve with the Houseless around: at the beginning of the game we can have three groups all joined mid-march:

1) the Lorien envoy on the way to Mirkwood, finding the slaughtered border patrol, following the trail of the orcs who slaughtered them toward Mirkwood

2) the Mirkwood Scouts heading south toward Dol Guldur to check out rumours of a new and dangerous threat

3) a party of ORCS and EASTERLINGS :) with three Lorien Elves who have been captured by the Houseless, high-tailing it back to Dol Guldur for re-enforcements. The Easterlings are taking orders from the Houseless, and the orcs hate this whole thing and are getting very orcish about it all.

Things evolve from there as Roa first suggested (Lorien Elves catch up with Houseless et. al. Big Battle; going badly for Lorien Elves; Mirkwood Elves to the rescue -- ta ta ta daaaaa), then things go as I suggested (with the Lorien and Mirkwood Elves rescuing the 'possessed' Elves); meanwhile the orcs and Easterlings chuckly evilly as they fall back to Dol Guldur and join the army going for Lorien; the Elves rush back to raise the warning having found out about the plans from the 'revived' Elves now new Houseless-less.

So lots of roles and stuff for a wide variety of characters and types!! Lorien Elves, Mirkwood Elves, 'Houseless' Elves, orcs and Easterlings.

Am I properly summing up where this has been going? Or have I got it totally backward? Or are there a dozen equally good or better plots out there nobody's brought forward?

Hmmmmm. . . this is beginning to sound good. . .

Fordim

[Amanaduial the archer]

Things evolve from there as Roa first suggested (Lorien Elves catch up with Houseless et. al. Big Battle; going badly for Lorien Elves; Mirkwood Elves to the rescue -- ta ta ta daaaaa), then things go as I suggested (with the Lorien and Mirkwood Elves rescuing the 'possessed' Elves); meanwhile the orcs and Easterlings chuckly evilly as they fall back to Dol Guldur and join the army going for Lorien

A thought: you said the orcs 'hate this whole thing and are generally getting very orcish about it' - well, I don't think there is much honour among orcs, and resentment between the easterlings, the houseless and the orcs would probably be pretty rife - I wouldn't doubt that the orcs would, at some signal from their leader, abandon the rest sharpish and head for Dol Guldur to join the party heading at a grand old speed for Lorien, leaving them in lurch possibly just after the Mirkwood elves arrive - ie. a much smaller baddie force against the suddenly much larger elven force. The easterlings and remaining orcs, plus the houseless who would soon be captured, would continue to put up a fight, of course, but have a feeling at times like these it becomes somewhat every man/possessed elf/orcish beastie for himself, and they would probably flee - say this was taking place in Mirkwood, where the spiders are at large (?) - when the easterlings flee, I doubt the elves would follow, assuming the spiders would get them. The spiders don't necessarily need to, of course. The capture of the Houseless follows - but what if one Houseless got away, hmm? Maybe it abandoned its body and fled in spirit form, ready to cause further mischief and be back for revenge later...

[Roa_Aoife]

I like where this is all going. Let me see if this is how we have it so far (correct me if I'm horribly off!) We begin mid-march with Scouting Party, Envoy from Lorien, and the badies. There is a skirmish when the envoy runs into the Badies, then they're rescued by the mirkwood elves. Conflict arises between the orcs and veryone else on the bad side, and they high tail off to Dol Goldur. Then, the good elves free the possessed Elves (with a possible escapee.)

The formerly possessed Elves have memories of a large force moving toward Lorien. From there? How 'bout the envoy continues to see King Thranduil, and asks for his help. The scouting party hightales it south to warn Celeborn about the coming danger. Of course we could have the parties break up and form new groups. I don't know what the orcs would be doing this whole time- except marching, alot. Do I have it right?

[Durelin]

We like Houseless, eh?

I believe we lost the Lorien scout troop a long time ago, and picked up a Mirkwood scout troop, plus four derranged elves, and a pack of orcs and easterlings, who will all meet in Mirkwood: so, bring in Spiders, as well. I'm more than slightly confused, but, ah well. I will attempt to sort all this out.

Here's a brief story outline for the possiblities so far:

Houseless Possibility:

Lorien envoy/scout troop (which one?) find inner border patrols gone, without any signs of dead or with signs of slaughter obvious, and follow tracks to Mirkwood.
-Tracks: Lead into a trap?
-The work of careless orcs and easterlings?
Mirkwood scouts carefully make their way south toward Dol Guldur, perhaps following the trail of the orcs and easterlings sent to take prisoners back to Dol Guldur, and to gain reinforcements?
-Catch up: confrontation, elves freed, learn of Houseless (or just that there’s more of an army back in Mirkwood), run back to help out Lorien group
-Catch up: confrontation: one or some of the Houseless are with the party of orcs and easterlings
a. defeated: cannot face power of Houseles
-Captured?
-Killed?
-Become Houseless?
b. win: orcs and easterlings refuse to take orders from Houseless?
-this seems unlikely, unfortunately
Meanwhile, with Lorien group: come to Mirkwood
-Find ambush awaiting them
Or
-Just catch up with Houseless and crew
-Confront Houseless
-Bring back from dark side
(somewhere in that battle the Mirkwood elves could come to rescue)
Envoy makes contact with Mirkwood elves, at last, and so we come to the united army bit
Army marches from Dol Guldur
Last Stand
Destruction of Ring
Victory

~

shuts eyes Agh! So many fragments!

Examine this very basic and sketchy plot for a moment.

Already, we have lots of battles going on, and lots of running around in the wilderness (a bit confusing right now, and chaotic, though it can be fixed up), following trails of orcs and easterlings. What does this exclude from the story entirely? Females. Now, I I know at least one of you has already said that they had a nifty female elven character in mind.

Plus, we have the Houseless, an incredible power, it seems, for two ‘scout’ or ‘envoy’ parties, even four or five (or ten) united. This kind of excludes us from any kind of believable victory whatsoever. Now, what we could do is have the elves hold out until the destruction of the Ring…but…?

Really, I think we need to define the power of the Houseless. I consider them powerful spirits, perhaps on a level with the Nazgul…though they could be like the Barrow-Wights… If we are going to use the Houseless (they do seem like they belong on X-Files, or perhaps in a movie like ‘The Exorcist’)

Question: What is the beginning purpose of the Lorien envoy/scout troop? Why do they set out? The scout troop could have set out to search for the lost border patrols, but an envoy certainly would not set out to do so.

______________________________________

United Army Possibility #1:
Scouts find the army:
-already on the move
-Preparing to attack
Report back
Seek aid from Thranduil
-Envoy: incorporate more characters, of more types than elven warrior/scout
-Inner borders must hold
-Aid gained from Thranduil: united forces drive back orc army
-End here
or
-Move on to destruction of Dol Guldur

~

In going in this general direction we gain many possibilities, and can have several ‘stories’ running at the same time. The story of Elves in Mirkwood and Lothlorien, male and female, warriors (from the inner border, the scout troop, the envoy, the united Elven army, etc.) and ‘counselors‘. With this wide range of perspectives you gain a much fuller effect of not just the story but the events of Middle-Earth around them.

We could also insert the Houseless in here without too much trouble, perhaps even infiltrating among Thranduil’s counselors and so convincing him that he cannot spare any of his troops, as the onslaught from Dol Guldur has also been a beating for them, and still remains a threat. But, then, we may just have another Wormtongue.

______________________________________

United Army Possibility #2:
Scouts encounter Orc scout troop:
-Skirmish
-Capture orc
-Learn plans of army
From here:
-Move to above possibility,
-Above possibility + Houseless
or
-Lorien stands alone

~

This would enable interaction between orcs and elves beyond meeting them in battle. An interesting possibility, and it can still contain all the aspects of the above general storyline, though it will add time to the playing of the storyline. It gives us an earlier, smaller battle.

______________________________________

Possible capture of scouts:
This would become a more gruesome story, though it would allow the orcs and elves to deal with each other closely. This will not be a pretty sight, though, to focus on hatred from both sides. We could have a minor character captured, but then we enter into another story, one completely separate from the war, and also a rather generic one.

Though, if members of the scouting party were captured, then released with evil spirits within them, we could do the capturing bit, and then move onto one of the storylines containing the Houseless.

______________________________________

What I like concerning the Houseless is Aman’s idea:

Do you think it would be possible that the Houseless, if they weren’t able to find a suitable ‘host’ elf, for whatever reason, would take over the bodies of the Haradrim?

Men already ‘seduced’ by Sauron, already under the power of evil would be a much more cooperative ‘host’, as Aman called it. Then we have an evil power hidden within the army, perhaps with its own agenda separate from that of the army of orcs and easterlings it marches with.

But, this doesn’t allow the same twists as a ‘possessed elf’ would.

I don’t know if that is what you meant, Aman, but that’s what what you said made me think of!

~

Now, here are the possible character types we have discussed so far:

Possible Characters:

Elves:
Warriors: (must be male!)
-Scouts
-Trackers
-‘Bodyguards’ (envoy - could be minor or major)
-Inner Guard
-‘High Guards’ of Caras Galadon (could be minor)
-Soldiers of Mirkwood (could be minor or major)
‘Counselors‘: (can be female)
-Thranduil
-Members of envoy
Minor parts:
-Residents of Caras Galadon (female or male)
-Wives, sisters, family of soldiers
-Messenger
-As part of envoy, etc. (very open part)
-Any of the above parts could be minor parts
Evil/Possessed Elves
Orcs and Easterlings: (all could be minor or major)
-‘Captain’ of Army
-Soldiers
-Scouts
-Captured orc or easterling
-Possessed easterling or orc

______________________________________

Okay...I lied when I said 'brief'. Sorry, I know all that is a lot to take in! (My brain hurts from typing it all…) But, we’re moving really quickly, so I think we need all possibilities laid out for everyone to truly consider them all. Of course, these are only possibilities so far… (the Lord help me! ;) )

Keep up all this creativity (it borders on madness!) :D

-Durelin

P.S. - It would have looked better if it allowed me to ident. It wouldn't even let me use the space bar... :( Sorry, tried.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

{This got cross-posted with the above from Durelin, but I'm too lazy to edit it fully -- F}

That seems to be about where we're at for the moment Roa, but I expect Durelin will have a lot of useful comments -- and there are a couple of planners out there I've not even seen post yet!

For my money, I'd like to see the Mirkwood and Lorien Elves stick together as they track the orcs toward Lorien. As for what the orcs have to 'do' -- well, at a thought: travelling across the Anduin river valley, being orcish, sniping amongst themselves, arguing with the Easterlings, launching snap raids at the pursuing Elves, planning their attack on Lorien and then, of course, getting destroyed by the Lorien army (on 22 March).

It looks more and more as though the sack of Dol Guldur is being left out of the story (on 30 March), which makes sense given that the action is concentrating on the attacks and the 'main players' in that sack would be NPCs like Thranduil, Celeborn and Galadriel. Maybe the game could end with a 'flashforward' kind of epilogue where all of our characters could be present for the destruction of the fortress?

One more thing: like I said before, this is all new to me so I don't know if it's even appropriate yet, but IF we do decide to go with the Houseless Elves, I would REALLY want to play one of those guys :smokin: (I'm having so much fun being all evil and conflicted and not 'good' with my Green Dragon Inn character).

Fordim

[Amanaduial the archer]

What I like concerning the Houseless is Aman’s idea:


Do you think it would be possible that the Houseless, if they weren’t able to find a suitable ‘host’ elf, for whatever reason, would take over the bodies of the Haradrim?




Men already ‘seduced’ by Sauron, already under the power of evil would be a much more cooperative ‘host’, as Aman called it. Then we have an evil power hidden within the army, perhaps with its own agenda separate from that of the army of orcs and easterlings it marches with.

But, this doesn’t allow the same twists as a ‘possessed elf’ would.

I don’t know if that is what you meant, Aman, but that’s what what you said made me think of!


Durelin, yes that is what I meant, especially the part about the 'hidden agenda' as you put it ;) - I'm glad you liked it. Think we can include it?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I have to say that I don't like the idea of having the Men as the ones seduced by the Fea of the Houseless. First, it really wouldn't provide the kind of 'wrinkles' that a seduced (not a 'possessed' -- that is a little too X-Files-ish) Elf would provide; with the Elves being seduced then their friends from Lorien could save them. Also, a Man taken over by a Houseless Elf would hardly be much of a struggle -- a centuries-old Fea would make mincemeat of a Man and not provide much of interest in terms of internal struggle.

We could split the difference and have the Houseless Fea consume some Easterlings after they are ejected from the Elves(?). That way, the Houseless wouldn't just disappear from the story.

Ooo I just had a thought -- we could have different players for the Houseless and for those whom they seduce. For example: we have three characters, each written by a separate player: an Elf, one of the (bodiless) Houseless, and an Easterling Man. For the first part of the story, the Elf and Houseless players vie for control of the Elf's "will and body" and the Easterling is 'on his own'; then, after the ejection of the Houseless from the Elf, it flees to the Easterling and the two writers vie for control (or whatever) of that single body. Does this make sense?

This, obviously, increases the number of potential players as well as the complexity of the game. I would therefore suggest that we have one Houseless only, seducing first the Elf then the Man.

And one point, in response to a query from Durelin made waaaay a the top of the page. I wrote to her early on that Thranduil and Celeborn join forces in the destruction of Dol Guldur. Durelin then went and checked the appendices and found no such merger -- she queried this, sending me scrambling for the appendices and *gasp* I had, indeed, misremembered the events! The armies of Mirkwood and Lorien met after the destruction of the fortress -- by Celeborn and Galadriel -- "on the first day of the Elven New Year" and renamed Mirkwood Eryn Lasgalen (sp?). This might make the involvement of the Mirkwood Elves a little more tricky -- certainly a scouting party is still possible, but I don't think we need move toward having a whole army of Mirky Elves.

Fordim

PS Not posting too much, am I?

[Arvedui III]

The houseless elves struggle idea is a cool one. Lots of chances for angst and profoundness and epic clash-of wills-ness there. But, I don't think, if we have the evil feas, that we need Easterlings. We could concentrate more on the struggle between the feas, their hosts, and other elves. There's all kinds of possibilities there. (the one that came first to my mind was kinslaying :D :rolleyes: ) That's story enough. Plus, that way, we could have more houseless spirits, which could go away when Celeborn and Galadriel throw down Dol Guldur.

As to the Mirkwood and Lorien elves: Well, if we're going with the idea of an envoy or a patrol, then the multiple storylines would be fun. If we mix in the evil houseless elves, then it might get far too complicated, and a single type of elves would be better. Either way is cool.

P.S. Not at all, Fordim. :)

[Roa_Aoife]

I don't think it would be too complicated at all- indeed, if we leave one of the groups out, it could be terribly under complcated. I do like the idea of the struggle for control. I don't know about the easterlings though. Would an ancient Fea stoop so low as to seduce a mortal? Even good elves tend to look down on mankind- what would a tainted elf think? Of course if they were really desperate they might.

Then again- the idea of posting from an easterling's pers[ective would be intriguing. I believe it was Faramir who pointed out that not all who served the Dark Lord were willing to do so.

[Durelin]

...a seduced (not a 'possessed' -- that is a little too X-Files-ish) Elf

Ah, now there's a problem: never in Tolkien's works has an elf been seduced by an evil power (as far as I know), and I believe it is widely accepted that elves cannot be corrupted, or at least, seduced by evil powers, or any power at all, truly. The taking over of a body is too X-Files, and the seduction of an elf is just unbelievable, in my mind. That is why I believe the Houseless settling down in an Easterling is much more realistic, and much more doable.

I'm afraid Easterlings are a definite. Sorry, but Aman, Aylwen, and I like 'em too much! And both Aman and Aylwen are wonderful Easterlings, as I well know. Truly, it gives more variability in race. Then we have interaction between orcs and men, orcs and elves, and elves and men.

...not provide much of interest in terms of internal struggle.

If I was an evil spirit, I wouldn't look for a struggle for some fun, I'd look for a willing candidate that I could easily use to the full potential of my power. An elf will never be defined as an 'easy candidate'.

...what would a tainted elf think?

I believe you need to explain yourself on that one, Roa. ;)

I believe it was Faramir who pointed out that not all who served the Dark Lord were willing to do so.

Yes, but that was movie Faramir. Still, I believe the fact that they are men, not creatures like orcs, can mean that they truly are not all that willing to fight for Sauron, even if they are (which they probabkly are) truly evil. So, yes, it is interesting, adding another perspective.

Durelin, yes that is what I meant, especially the part about the 'hidden agenda' as you put it

Good, I was pretty sure, until I looked at it again when I went to quote it and went 'wait a minute...that's what she meant, right?' One of those last minute uncertainties. :D

Think we can include it?

I hope so, though it seems it is being rather slammed by several people... ;)

I had, indeed, misremembered the events!

Thought so. This, of course, means that we could do things with fighting in Mirkwood as well, as, most likely, the two realms were fighting at the same time at some point. Then we could always rap up with a nice little ceremony in the middle of Mirkwood renaming. I like happy endings...though I do like happy endings with a twist even better...

Three different players for only two actual bodies...but...how on earth do you roleplay a evil spirit floating between being in a body and out of a body...existing, not existing... Afraid it can't be pulled. And how is a soul, mind, supposed to fight for its body, battle back a spirit... Its all very abstract, and borders on religious beliefs.

I believe someone talked about 'well-rounded-ness' (made up word, I know...they phrased it differently...). I believe that comes from a good number of perspectives, and a story that fits into the world around us. I'm not trying to slam your ideas, I'm justing trying to see what fits: I'm trying to get a well-rounded game created. So thanks for understanding, as I know I have been questioning and sort of turning down ideas a lot. It is all constructive, believe me, and I much appreciate all the ideas.

Thanks again!

-Durelin

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Well, I guess I can live with a few Easterlings ;) -- but I've got to keep banging the seduced Elf drum here:

There does seem to be something of a bias in the Downs toward Elves -- which is understandable, I suppose, seeing as they are pretty cool and the nearest and dearest things to Professor Tolkien's heart; but they are far far FAR from perfect beings! Feanor himself -- he of the Silmarils -- led the Kinslaying for heaven's sake!! And Celebrimbor was so keen on making the Rings of Power that he didn't even notice that the person who was helping him to do so was Sauron. And let's not forget Galadriel who came pretty darn close to taking the Ring for herself when given the chance -- if we are simply to dismiss the idea out of hand that the Elves can be seduced by the forces of darkness, then we utterly undo the victory scored by Galadriel at that moment. If there's no 'real' danger of seduction by the Ring, then what's the big deal in her being able to resist it?

So if Galadriel can be threatened with seduction by the Ring of Power, then I don't see why a lesser Elf could not be threatened with seduction by a dark spirit. There's a big difference between seduction and corruption -- a good person can be seduced into doing something very bad of which they later repent (like Feanor). A good person can be seduced into doing something that they don't even know is bad (like Celebrimbor). A good person can be seduced to the point of thinking about doing something bad and then pulling back at the last moment (like Galadriel). It's even possible for a good person to be seduced into doing something evil and having to depend upon Providence to intervene and save him (like Frodo). In none of these instances has the good person been corrupted or rendered 'evil'.

And wait a minute! I just remembered orcs -- they were 'made' by Morgoth who took some captured elves and then, and I think I'm quoting here, "corrupted" them!!

It's precisely for this reason that I like LotR so much (now getting wildly off the topic of planning an rpg. . .) It's not a story of perfectly-unbelievable goodies (Boromir? Saruman? Denethor?)fighting utterly-unredeemable baddies (Gollum? The Haradrim that book-Sam/movie-Faramir speculates about?). There is good and evil, but EVERY character in the whole mythos of Middle-Earth is a moral agent who must make the choice between good and evil him- or herself. Sure it's probably extremely rare -- especially in the Third Age -- for an Elf to be seduced by evil, but if it were impossible then wouldn't it have made a whole lot more sense to give the One Ring to Elrond or Glorfindel rather than leaving it to a hobbit??

As to the problem of how to write this sort of conflict -- I would think that it would be easy to do some very interesting things as two minds argue with one another, decieve one another, trick one another (Gollum-Smeagol comes to mind here. . .) Anyone who has even been seduced, or done some seducing, can attest to how interesting the whole process can be. . .

(I can see Durelin's point, though, about having two writers for a 'single' character (fea and host) -- it would be cool, but would probably introduce more difficulties than not. . .)

At any rate, I think I might have got that out of my system. To sum up:

1) I like the idea of Easterlings

2) I would really like to have some Houseless fea seducing some Elves (but I am happy to play the game without this element should people be dead-set against it)

3) I'm ambivalent to one group of Elves from Lorien versus two groups from Lorien and Mirkwood; whichever is going to work best in whatever scenario we end up with

4) I really like the 'happy ending' proposal by Durelin; the ceremony would be a good chance to wrap up the story lines I suspect

5) I don't like the idea of the spiders

6) I'm never going to be able to keep track of all this

7) I'm having fun

[Amanaduial the archer]

You leave me with no choice but to reply in a bulletted form of my own ;)

- Easterlings stay - Aylwen is most certainly an excellent easterling, Durelin likes them, and playing my easterling character, Kane...well, he's still one of my favourites (obviously I won't be playing him here - it would involve going back in time...)

- Spiders - they're topical, and they would only be a sidenote, maybe a few posts, that's all really. The point would be that it would give the easterlings a way to get away (however narrowly), as if they were headed towards a spiders' den, the elves, who would know the forest well, probably wouldn't chase them, dismissing them as being done for ERGO they have a chance of escape - although maybe not all of them will get away *snickers* Goodbye NPCs...

- Elves - they are a favourite on the Downs and on any role-playing site because they are so much 'better' than men, and have the ability to be so much more powerful, experienced, wise, ancient...etc. Welcome to the legacy of the 'Mary-Sue'.

- The Houseless - how did they really come into this even?! ;) Ok, anyway, they are apparently staying. But a thought about the Houseless being played seperately...all I can say is that it would definitely have to be a secondary character for most of the time, or some people would spend a heck of alot of time doing absolutely nothing. But I like the idea of it. And, as Durelin said, elves are not easy targets - the weaker and much less experienced Haradrim would be much easier, and when you're desperate for a body and there are some nearby...well, I would take the chance, no matter whether they are mortal or not. I suspect the easterlings wouldn't be too keen on this, either - the Houseless might work like a parasite on its much less experienced human 'host', and when finished with it, might kill it. So picture the scene once the Haradrim (sorry to hearken back to them again, but...) have been forced to flee from the battle - they would be in mortal, almost uncomprehending fear of these things which they can't see or identify until it's too late...well, I'm seeing a plotline there.

- Elves groups - go with one from Lorien, one from Mirkwood...and some of those from both would have to jump on speedy steeds (try saying that when drunk) to save the day when they learn of the Dol Guldur force a-heading straight for the Golden Wood.

- Seduced v Possessed - possessed is x-filesish, yes, but seduced isn't really...correct. Technically they probably wouldn't have been seduced into it by promises (ooh, maybe actually - think about that), they would (in general) have probably been tricked into it. So possessed?

[Roa_Aoife]

Sorry 'bout the quote mistake. :D I had my Fun Faramir Phrases all mix-up. I don't think the term possessed is too X-files-ish at all. It is a term commonly used in fantacy to mean that a bodiless spirit has taken over an unwilling host. With that definition, it fits perfectly. And I don't recall a single episode of X-files (I watched my fair share;)) that dealt with possession. But anyway, I can see how the Houseless would consider the easterlings (any body in a pinch).

I would like to keep the three groups. And I still say that it would make things far more interesting to have possessed Elves- even if the Housless are secondary. But perhaps the possessed could be secondary and the Houseless main players. Once taken, the possessed elves couldn't really do much- the houseless would be in control.

The groups- as I said- I would like to keep. Of course, some would need to be able to get to where they're going quickly- that would be the emmissaries from Lorien. The scouting party wouldn't use horses; too many details would be lost to the scouts. They could split the horses after they meet up. Some would ride to warn Celeborn, the others would go to Mirkwood for help. If it's such a big force from Dol Guldur, then Lorien would need the help.

Am I on the right track?

[piosenniel]

I’d like something clarified:

. . . For the Unbodied, wandering in the world, are those who at the least have refused the door of life and remain in regret and self-pity. Some are filled with bitterness, grief, and envy. Some were enslaved by the Dark Lord and do his work still, though he himself is gone.

. . . Some say that the Houseless desire bodies, though they are not willing to seek them lawfully by submission to the judgment of Mandos. The wicked among them will take bodies, if they can, unlawfully. The peril of communing with them is, therefore, not only the peril of being deluded by fantasies of lies: there is peril also of destruction. For one of the hungry Houseless, if it is admitted to the friendship of the Living, may seek to eject the fëa from its body; and in the contest for the mastery of the body may be gravely injured, even if it is not wrested from its rightful habitant. Or the Houseless may plead for shelter, and if it is admitted, then it will seek to enslave its host and use both his will and his body for its own purposes. It is said that Sauron did these things, and taught his followers how to achieve them . . .

--- from Morgoth’s Ring; The Later Quenta Silmarillion (II); “Laws and Customs among the Eldar”; ‘Of Re-birth and other Dooms of Those That Go to Mandos’:


Tolkien specifically says that the Houseless do one of two things in order to attain a body (what sort of body isn't specified):

1.) The Houseless eject the other fëa from its body and inhabit the new body, using it for their own purposes.

OR

2.) The Houseless plead for shelter and if admitted, will try to enslave both the will and body of the host.

Is this where the idea for the game’s Houseless is going? What you’re talking about when you mention “possession” and “seduction”.

__________________________________


Also, if you proceed with these characters, please limit the playing of them to the planners only. That way, when the character bios for them are submitted, the other moderator and I will be able review them as remaining true to Tolkien’s parameters for them.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I was very much thinking of the Houseless operating in manner 2 -- pleading with the host for shelter, gaining it, and then 'seducing' the host (i.e. convincing the host to submit to the Houseless by tricking the host, lying to the host, scaring the host, threatening the host -- in short, doing everything that one mind does to another to convince/cajole or manipulate aquiesence rather than simply 'taking over' -- which, so far as I can tell, never happens in Tolkien's mythos).

[piosenniel]

Thanks, FH!

That's doable for me.

[Durelin]

First off, I am afraid I have some bad news:

Linnahiril Tinnufinwen will no longer be able to take part in the planning of this RPG. She has many commitments and is a very busy person, and so she has most sadly, though most considerately, stepped aside, rather than committing herself further and not having the time to post. I have asked her if she would like me to perhaps keep a part for her when it comes time to play, if I may, Pio. Hopefully she will be much less busy (does that make sense...much less busy?) when the time comes to play this darn thing. Darn thing, as fun as it is.

She will be greatly missed! :(

~

Pio: Number 2 is what I was thinking, as well, and what I interpreted from all that Fordim spoke of the Houseless.

It does look like houseless are staying....

And here we go... (more and more quoting!)

And let's not forget Galadriel who came pretty darn close to taking the Ring for herself when given the chance

Again, I believe that was more of movie Galadriel. And, of course, we are dealing with a desire here, a desire to hold power, which is evil, yes, but it is a desire, not a complete spirit and mind, a bodiless being trying to convince someone to let it have their body.

If there's no 'real' danger of seduction by the Ring, then what's the big deal in her being able to resist it?


Yes, but, again, evil bodiless beings have nothing to do with the Ring, except for the fact that they're evil. It isn't like these spirits were created by Sauron. Plus, many people being able to resist seduction by a voice inside their head does not make it less dangerous. The fact is, a fight would rage between the owner of teh body and the bodiless for quite a while. As the houseless persists, fear and exhaustion could leave to giving in. But I will speak more about that, and my new idea that stems from that, later.

The Houseless plead for shelter and if admitted, will try to enslave both the will and body of the host.

See, the word 'plead' is used their. First this bodiless being must ask permission to get into the persons head! (I assume that's where they'd go...) Rather tricky, when the body you are trying to steal is that of an immortal whose soul is good (and probably rather clean, if you know what I mean).

they were 'made' by Morgoth who took some captured elves and then, and I think I'm quoting here, "corrupted" them!!

Ah, but that took Morgoth time, and a good amount of trouble, I'm sure, as I said the overcoming of a body holding an ultimately good spirit would.

Sure it's probably extremely rare -- especially in the Third Age -- for an Elf to be seduced by evil

I'm glad you recognized that, as well. So, hopefully, you will agree that one houseless is a good number? One houseless: one easy elf? Sounds pretty believable, I guess.

~

Okay, now I will wrap up my idea:

If we must have houseless, as it seems we must (or I will have a mutiny! ;) ), I’d like it if we have only one, and...I believe it might be best if the Houseless does not gain entrance to the body, throwing out the spirit, right away. Perhaps a war could rage between the two spirits for much of the game. Also, the elf must be in some way easier to seduce than others. As Pio suggested before, this might be one of the elves in the outer border patrol, as the houseless would have more easily gain access to the mind, and so the entire body, without the original owner. Perhaps, in the end, once the Houseless has exhausted the other fëa in fear and struggle of the mind, it does not seduce the other fëa into departing from the body or anything, but moves onto #1 in Pio's clarification, ejecting the weakened spirit from the body.

But, the problem with this is that it brings in a tormented character, and 'voices in the head'. It brings in psychological nasties that can be interesting...but, they can also be, as I said, nasty. A story can delve too deeply into the tormented mind, and that, to me, is not an enjoyable thing to write or read about. So, this would be a very tricky thing to accomplish, if perhaps more believable and...as 'down to earth' ( or should I say 'down to Middle-Earth?) as these Houseless can get!

Of course, anything with the Houseless is going to be tricky to formulate and maintain.

possessed is x-filesish, yes, but seduced isn't really...correct

Yes, I know what you mean. I'm having trouble choosing. At first, I argued against possessed, and in this post (and I believe in my past one as well) I argued against 'seduced'...It doesn't seem right, does it?

You know what? You're going to hate me for saying this, but...I think it's a combination of the two!

I do like the Spider idea, though it would almost be a fun little tidbit just thrown in there...still, it does leave an option open for a cameo of someone as a Spider. That would be interesting...I hate real Spiders, but fantasy ones are interesting!

Welcome to the legacy of the 'Mary-Sue'.

Yes, elves are hard to play, without any evil spirits in the mix, as actual Tolkien elves. That is why I made this largely invitational, and part of the reason why I wished to go through all this planning. And why I am being so meticulous and perhaps disagreeable. I just have a great desire to do this right!

And that brings me to another bit that I must notify you of:

If the storyline of the game continues in the direction it is heading, then there will no longer be the option of female characters. Sorry, but right now there is no room for them, it seems. We can't have them traipsing around the woods where orcs might be lurking, and, of course, they can't be scouts or warriors, etc. Also, there has been no room left for any even secondary perspectives from back in Caras Galadon, or so it seems to me that this would make the story far too...cramped.

Anything I forgot? …Probably… Oh well. I’ll be back soon!

-Durelin :D

P.S. - I’m glad you’re having so much fun, Fordim!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

*whew* Just reading your posts tires me out, Durelin. Where do you possibly find the time?

As always, many interesting points that a) intrigue me and b) promise to make the game fun.

OK, first, I simply have to make a point about Galadriel and the Ring and temptation (and then I swear I will shut up about this -- in this thread at least). The temptation of Galadriel by the Ring is real and a very near thing in the book just as in the film -- in fact, I would argue that the temptation is even 'worse' for the book-Galadriel than for the movie-Galadriel inasmuch as b-Gal is more overtly 'aware' of what the destruction of the One will mean to her own power in Middle-Earth and for Lorien. In both book and movie, at any rate, she admits that "I do not dey that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come into my hands", which makes perfect sense since she came to Middle-Earth with Feanor not to recover the Silmarils ("No oaths she swore") but because "she yearned to see the wide unguarded lands and to rule there a realm at her own will".

The only other beings who left the West for Middle-Earth to do that were Morgoth and Sauron! Galadriel is a VERY dangerous person, and the trial she faced when Frodo offered her the Ring was the most significant threat to the Quest (I believe).

But enough of this. . .on to my (beloved) Houseless.

I'm glad that this idea has a chance of staying in the game, but I realise that the conversation about it has a) been somewhat too vaguely defined and b) begun to derail planning the other elements. In order to give this some kind of context then, with the hopes of moving past it to other topics, these were the ideas I had for this thread:

The host is an extremely powerful and ancient Elf: one of Celeborn's longest serving retainers from out of Doriath. He is proud and 'fey': he has little respect for Men, save, perhaps Aragorn, and none for the other peoples of Middle-Earth. The only thing that keeps him from taking a ship into the West is his loyalty to Celeborn and his respectful love, bordering on adoration, for the Lady Galadriel. He is in command of the border patrol that is attacked by orcs. In and amongst this attack, the Houseless fea of his brother comes to him to plead for admission. His brother was killed by a balrog in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad so even though the host is well aware of the dangers, he is unable to say no. At first, the 'merger' is a happy one as the Houseless is able to convince the host that his presence will allow them to travel with the orcs to Dol Guldur where they can see what preparations are being made against Lorien. But slowly the Houseless gains more and more control and it is only by the greatest act of will, and with the aid of his companions from Lorien who have followed him, that the host escapes.

The Houseless then flees into the body of an Easterling (gotta love them) and the host takes it as his duty to slay the Easterling host so that he can 'free' his brother's fea. He hopes that there is something Galadriel will be able to do to give his brother peace, at long last.

At any event -- is this the kind of idea that you are happy with Durelin? And, Pio -- is this within the parameters of what you were thinking of? And, would it be poor form for me to ask -- nay, beg -- that I be considered for this part, should it end up being included in the game?

[piosenniel]

The host is an extremely powerful and ancient Elf: one of Celeborn's longest serving retainers from out of Doriath. He is proud and 'fey': he has little respect for Men, save, perhaps Aragorn, and none for the other peoples of Middle-Earth. The only thing that keeps him from taking a ship into the West is his loyalty to Celeborn and his respectful love, bordering on adoration, for the Lady Galadriel. He is in command of the border patrol that is attacked by orcs. In and amongst this attack, the Houseless fea of his brother comes to him to plead for admission. His brother was killed by a balrog in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad so even though the host is well aware of the dangers, he is unable to say no. At first, the 'merger' is a happy one as the Houseless is able to convince the host that his presence will allow them to travel with the orcs to Dol Guldur where they can see what preparations are being made against Lorien. But slowly the Houseless gains more and more control and it is only by the greatest act of will, and with the aid of his companions from Lorien who have followed him, that the host escapes.

The Houseless then flees into the body of an Easterling (gotta love them) and the host takes it as his duty to slay the Easterling host so that he can 'free' his brother's fea. He hopes that there is something Galadriel will be able to do to give his brother peace, at long last.
__________________________________

This sounds good (read 'allowable' here by me) . . .BUT - I need this section explained more fully:

His brother was killed by a balrog in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad so even though the host is well aware of the dangers, he is unable to say no.

You will need to give me a well thought out explanation of why the Ancient Elf/Host’s brother had decided to refuse the call of Mandos after his death at the hands of the balrog and now wanders as a Houseless fëa. What makes him so different from his brother - who I’m sure would never refuse Mandos’ call should his body die?

And why would the presence of this Houseless Brother in the Ancient Elf’s body allow them to travel with the orcs to Dol Guldur?

Whose influence is the Houseless Brother's fëa under? Sauron?

And what do you have in mind for Galadriel’s intervention?

[Roa_Aoife]

Sorry, Durelin, but you seem to have forgotten about the envoy from Lorien. And this is also to let you know that I won't be posting agian till sunday night.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

You will need to give me a well thought out explanation of why the Ancient Elf/Host’s brother had decided to refuse the call of Mandos after his death at the hands of the balrog and now wanders as a Houseless fëa. What makes him so different from his brother - who I’m sure would never refuse Mandos’ call should his body die?

As it happens, I've been wondering why any Elf would refuse the call. In the case of this fellow, however, I would think that he refused it from a mixture of pride and the refusal to accept change (which were the downfall of all-too-many Elves in the First Age). First, he died when the threat from Morgoth to Middle-Earth was still very real and he was still very attached to it. Being of the Firstborn but not one of the Noldor, he had already made his decision in favour of Middle-Earth rather than the Valar a long time before. He decides to remain in Middle-Earth from a refusal to accept that his time to leave the story had come; and he was proud enough to believe that he could resist the powers of darkness. He even thought that he could lend the Elves some aid in their wars, and for a time he was even able to do this to a certain extent by hindering the wills of their enemies and 'whispering' (so that it felt like inspiration or instinct) to his friends.


And why would the presence of this Houseless Brother in the Ancient Elf’s body allow them to travel with the orcs to Dol Guldur?

Whose influence is the Houseless Brother's fëa under? Sauron?

The Houseless is under the control of Sauron, but his pride is such that he thinks that he is fooling the Dark Lord, and he is able for a time to convince his brother-host that they are merely 'playing along' with Sauron's plans. In reality, Sauron has decieved the Houseless into seizing control of his brother in order to bring back someone to Dol Guldur who will be able to provide the Easterlings with information about the Lorien defenses. The orcs and Easterlings in the raiding party are very much aware of this plan and of their mission to return the Elf to Dol Guldur unharmed (mostly).

And what do you have in mind for Galadriel’s intervention?

I don't imagine that Galadriel will be able to do anything -- the host Elf, though, is hoping that she might. I am assuming that with the fall of Sauron his control over the Houseless, like his control over all of his slaves, will be broken and the Houseless will be 'free' once more.

[Durelin]

The Houseless is under the control of Sauron, but his pride is such that he thinks that he is fooling the Dark Lord, and he is able for a time to convince his brother-host that they are merely 'playing along' with Sauron's plans.

Hmmmm...the basic idea is great (I really don't know where you get those things!), but, as Pio said, there are questions that must be answered. And, unfortunately, I don't believe that is a suitable explanation. It just doesn't...make sense.

I have always believed that there is no question when someone has complete control over someone. And, as this elf is now a spirit who has refused to return to the Halls of Mandos, a spirit full of pride, injured perhaps by his death (even at the power of a balrog: perhaps fear overcame him at facing such a demon). It makes sense that it has been a good number of years since this elf died. With even a year wandering as a rather angry spirit (great pride, broken pride, both can make one pretty angry), this spirit has got to be an easy target for Sauron, and easily reduced to a servant. Most likely the spirit would have sheltered in several bodies, perhaps even that of an orc: an easy target for a Houseless desperate for the shelter of a body. With practice at taking over bodies, and perhaps even evicting evil souls, this spirit is going to lose much of its former pureness and strength. Perhaps the pride would continue, even once the spirit is under Sauron's powerful grip, but I believe that this pride would be reduced to the pride of serving Sauron. I'm sure there would be much more satisfaction in being proud of serving the Dark Lord than trying to deny that he is under Sauron's control. So, this may not work: except that, the fact that he is his brother, still leaves the option of sympathy open.

Unfortunately, the elf host you described, though truly, he is a pretty good host, he doesn't seem the type to feel sympathy, even for a brother who got himself killed by a Balrog.

Of course, once corrupted by the power Sauron has over the dead (he does have power over the spirits who linger, doesn’t he?), the spirit might then (in pride) wish to deceive his master, so that he may be the master (of himself, at least). This does not change the fact, though, that he is under the power of Sauron. I doubt that the spirit would even be able to take over a elven body without accepting Sauron’s power over him. Denying it would cause complications, I believe, with the Houseless fighting an inner battle. He also denies a dark power he might have when following Sauron’s wishes.

Okay, I kind of blathered there. I had a lot of thoughts, and its all so abstract. It’s like trying to come up with a definition of truth. I mean, the question I was attempting to answer is quite absurd sounding, really: ’What would a angst-filled, proud wandering spirit without a body do and not do? What could it do?’ That was two questions, I know, but both are decidedly odd, to say the least.

The basics are on the lines of what I thought, though I believe you took it a step beyond. It’s an amazing idea, though, if it will work. I’m not so sure at this point, as I am doubtful of everything right now. Sorry, but…it’s part of my personality, I guess.

We may not even need the spirit to be the host elf’s brother, as there is the option for the Houseless to force the host out of its body. Any way it works, it is going to take time and…it’s going to be insanely, murderously complicated!

I’ll be back with more, soon, but that’s a lot of thought for one post…so…

Sorry, Durelin, but you seem to have forgotten about the envoy from Lorien.

I’m not sure what you mean by that…unless you are referring to my saying that female characters can not be a part of the game at this point?

Well, if that is the case: I was really not sure if that would work. First of all, someone had spoken like the envoy was traveling with the scout party. Women aren’t to be tramping around in the woods with orcs around looking for the traces of the lost border patrols, even if that is just a ’side trip’. Still, if the envoy simply went straight to Mirkwood, there could only be one, or at the most two (maybe!) female ’counselors’, and they would be under a heavy guard, I’m afraid. And they would not scorn this, either.

Just reading your posts tires me out, Durelin. Where do you possibly find the time?

Glad I’m making you have to think, Fordim! Sorry, but that always is great fun for me. I’m a fast typer, I believe, and have had much practice at getting my thoughts down at least somewhat coherently. Perhaps the fact that I do it so quickly makes it all the more challenging and confusing! But, I actually don’t have the time, in truth, to post that long so often. Somehow, I do. I shouldn’t have the time.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Unfortunately, the elf host you described, though truly, he is a pretty good host, he doesn't seem the type to feel sympathy, even for a brother who got himself killed by a Balrog.

Of course, once corrupted by the power Sauron has over the dead (he does have power over the spirits who linger, doesn’t he?), the spirit might then (in pride) wish to deceive his master, so that he may be the master (of himself, at least). This does not change the fact, though, that he is under the power of Sauron. I doubt that the spirit would even be able to take over a elven body without accepting Sauron’s power over him. Denying it would cause complications, I believe, with the Houseless fighting an inner battle. He also denies a dark power he might have when following Sauron’s wishes.


:D *Fordim falls off his chair laughing * Welcome to my world Durelin! It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who's getting his or her head entirely messed up with this. . .

The complications you point to are precisely the reason why I think this idea will work so well in this game, and why I want to explore it. You seem to want to have this all 'nailed down' before the game starts, but I'd much rather let these sorts of details be worked out as the game goes on -- better yet, I'd like to see them all 'in play' but never really 'resolved'. Again, that's where the real brilliance of LotR lies: is Gollum evil for craving the Ring, or good for having had an unwitting hand in destroying it? Is Frodo evil for taking the Ring (or was he even operating according to his own will)? The orcs are Sauron's slaves, and yet they are always fighting amongst themselves and going against orders -- does he have total control over them or not? Is Boromir corrupted by the Ring, or is he an already corrupt Man responding to the Ring? Everyone can (and usually does) find their own answers to these questions.

But your points, as always, are well taken and I shall attempt to address them. Sauron is absolutely in control of the Houseless, but -- you are right -- the Houseless is so proud in spirit (get it? spirit? proud? I kill me) that he feels he is in charge and that he is fooling the true master: think Denethor and Saruman, both of whom were doing the Dark Lord's bidding, convinced that they were doing what they wanted (not to mention Frodo who thought, when he put on the Ring, that he was making a decision of and for himself rather than succumbing to the Ring).

So it does get rather complicated -- but such is the nature of power in Middle Earth: Sauron controls the Houseless; the Houseless thinks that he is in control; Sauron knows this and lets the Houseless continue in his fantasy of self-determination as it makes the Houseless more easy to control -- "I'm not really the slave of Sauron" says the Houseless to himself, "so I'm not harming my brother, I'm helping him"; host Elf at first believes that the Houseless is not Sauron's slave -- "heh heh, good plan bro', you've really fooled that Dark Lord"; host and Houseless discover their mistake -- perhaps when they do, the Houseless is able to manage just enough 'energy' to help pull himself out of the brother before succumbing entirely to Sauron??? [New thought, let me mull further. . .]

As to the brother's sympathy for the Houseless -- he would, naturally, feel great sympathy for his brother, as any brother would. But I imagine that the even more compelling reason for his acceptance of the Houseless would be a decidedly Elvish sense of familial duty and loyalty; what's more, the promise of being able to 'team up' with his brother and to strike a real blow against Sauron (and here imagine Sauron laughing maniacally at how he has fooled them both) would be more than he could resist.

Totally Unrelated Thought -- has Sauron ever appeared, either as a character or NPC, in an RPG. . .might be a fun idea for another totally different game someday.

I'm afraid I agree with the comments re: Elvish women coming along for the ride in this one -- looks like it's going to have to be a boys' adventure. . .

[Durelin]

Here comes a record short post for me on this planning thread!

Okay, Fordim, before we go any further, I'd like to hear from you just how you envision this spirit as a being, and how you believe it gains access to a body. In the case of this spirit, how is he to convince his brother? Through pity? If he is full of pride, can he lower himself to asking for pity without actually being truthful to himself concerning his loyalty to Sauron?

I think your ideas are quite amazingly creative, Fordim, and you're definitely the one who's contributing the most at this point. Most likely because you seem to have the time!

I would also like you to consider one thing Fordim: how are we to express the Houseless as an actual character in the game?

That is one of the foremost reasons why I have been so reluctant to accept the Houseless. They are not the kind of things that can be easily fit into roleplays. Elves are already hard to roleplay as it is.

Anyway, I am a bit busy, so I will be back with a much longer post later!

Unfortunately, we have slowed down on the planning thread. I hope everyone can keep contributing, and perhaps a little more than they have been. I understand Aman and Aylwen's position, and GaladrieloftheOlden is unable to reply to threads because of a technical problem. But, this feels like a 'one-on-one' discussion with Fordim!

Thanks!

-Durelin

[Roa_Aoife]

Hiya! Sorry bout the delay, school's been rough lately. I really like the idea of the houseless. However, could we also look at the other groups a little more. The houseless idea has dominated the discussion, and the other groups aren't really being addressed properly. I understand the scouting party from Mirkwood, but did we ever come up with a reason for the Lorien group other than envoy? I also see your point point about female elves getting in the way, but don't underestimate them. Luthien was able to place Morgoth under a spell. Not mention she killed a vampire and wore it's skin... well, you get the point.

[Durelin]

I know it is dominating the discussion, and that's why Fordim has PMed me to help clear things up.

He is right in one point: many things should be allowed to just be played out in the game. Everything can be set down, or it's just no fun.

So, I believe we can continue to discuss possibilities concerning the houseless, anyone who wishes too, over PM. That way, the planning thread can return to being more open to discussion.

Soon (I promise), I will get a sketchy RPG proposal filled out. Fordim suggested one with the Houseless a part of the story, one without. These will be general, of course.

And, actually, the Lorien scout party is the one that has the reason to be out wandering. The Mirkwood scout party does not have a defined purpose, as far as I remember. A Mirkwood scout party was only really mentioned, as I recall.

Here, I will post these outlines again (with some revisions and additions), as they sum up much of the options discussed:

Houseless Possibility:

Lorien envoy/scout troop (which one?) find inner border patrols gone, without any signs of dead or with signs of slaughter obvious, and follow tracks to Mirkwood.
-Tracks: Lead into a trap?
-The work of careless orcs and easterlings?
Mirkwood scouts carefully make their way south toward Dol Guldur, perhaps following the trail of the orcs and easterlings sent to take prisoners back to Dol Guldur, and to gain reinforcements?
-Catch up: confrontation, elves freed, learn of Houseless (or just that there’s more of an army back in Mirkwood), run back to help out Lorien group
-Catch up: confrontation: one or some of the Houseless are with the party of orcs and easterlings
a. defeated: cannot face power of Houseles
-Captured?
-Killed?
-Become Houseless?
b. win: orcs and easterlings refuse to take orders from Houseless?
-this seems unlikely, unfortunately
Meanwhile, with Lorien group: come to Mirkwood
-Find ambush awaiting them
Or
-Just catch up with Houseless and crew
-Confront Houseless
-Bring back from dark side
(somewhere in that battle the Mirkwood elves could come to rescue)
Envoy makes contact with Mirkwood elves, at last, and so we come to the united army bit
Army marches from Dol Guldur
Last Stand
Destruction of Ring
Victory

------------

United Army Possibility #1:
Scouts find the army:
-already on the move
-Preparing to attack
Report back
Seek aid from Thranduil
-Envoy: incorporate more characters, of more types than elven warrior/scout
-Inner borders must hold
-Aid gained from Thranduil: united forces drive back orc army
-End here
or
-Move on to destruction of Dol Guldur

-------------

United Army Possibility #2:
Scouts encounter Orc scout troop:
-Skirmish
-Capture orc
-Learn plans of army
From here:
-Move to above possibility,
-Above possibility + Houseless
or
-Lorien stands alone

------------

A Summary of the Basics:

The outer border patrols of Lorien have disappeared. A scout party is sent to investigate. An orc army is discovered to be near or even inside the edges of the forest. - or, a survivor is found: Houseless. Either way, an army is preparing to attack Lorien from Dol Guldur. It may be that Mirkwood is also being attacked. But, Lorien needs aid. An envoy is sent to Mirkwood to ask Thranduil for aid. While the envoy is gone, the soldiers of Lorien must hold back the orcs. (another viewpoint) They return with soldiers of Mirkwood, surprising them from behind. Perhaps they could intercept the orc/easterling patrol we spoke of returning to Dol Guldur with hostages - or with the Houseless (as he now has a body, so he's done his work??). The orc/easterling (an easterling leader work well) army is defeated. Skip to the meeting in Mirkwood renewed, the renaming.

------------

What I do not want everyone to be so set on is 'plot twists'. Plot twists should not be set down during planning, an they should not be entire events or characters added as a twist. If that is what you wish to add the Houseless for, I hope you will reconsider. 'Plot twists' are formed as characters develop, once we actually begin to roleplay. How characters act, react, think, feel: that is what makes a story interesting, as well as a strong, sensible, good storyline.

No, I have not thrown out the idea of Houseless. Of course not. But, I want the discussion to become much more of a planning thread for a RPG, rather than a discussion about these spirits. Once we reach an idea of a storyline, we will see if the Houseless fit, and are still desired as an aspect to the story.

I hope I didn't sound nasty or anything. I'm just trying to get things straightened out...but I feel so nasty doing it! ;)

~

Concerning females: I do not doubt their power, I merely know that it is not realistic for elf women to be running around in the forests during the War of the Ring when orcs were practically closing in. I most likely would have accpeted this fact, as well.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

United Army Possibility #1:
Scouts find the army:
-already on the move
-Preparing to attack
Report back
Seek aid from Thranduil
-Envoy: incorporate more characters, of more types than elven warrior/scout
-Inner borders must hold
-Aid gained from Thranduil: united forces drive back orc army
-End here
or
-Move on to destruction of Dol Guldur

For what it's worth, I prefer this scenario to the others. It's clean, simple, and allows for the greatest variety in characters.

I'm no longer keen on the Houseless (for reasons that are too tiring for me to get into here -- I've already PM'ed with Durelin on this and *whew*: in brief, though, there's no way that I can see having any Houseless without them becoming what the rpg is all about, and that's not what I think this rpg should be about).

The second united army scenario I don't like because it's too 'easy' to capture an orc and have it spill the beans. Besides, how would the Elves do that? Torture???

The outer border patrols of Lorien have disappeared. A scout party is sent to investigate. An orc army is discovered to be near or even inside the edges of the forest. - or, a survivor is found: Houseless. Either way, an army is preparing to attack Lorien from Dol Guldur. It may be that Mirkwood is also being attacked. But, Lorien needs aid. An envoy is sent to Mirkwood to ask Thranduil for aid. While the envoy is gone, the soldiers of Lorien must hold back the orcs. (another viewpoint) They return with soldiers of Mirkwood, surprising them from behind. Perhaps they could intercept the orc/easterling patrol we spoke of returning to Dol Guldur with hostages - or with the Houseless (as he now has a body, so he's done his work??). The orc/easterling (an easterling leader work well) army is defeated. Skip to the meeting in Mirkwood renewed, the renaming.

That's some good work of distillation Durelin! I think to tighten this up we should:

1. remove the Houseless

2. have the orcs and easterlings take prisoner the envoy from Lorien to Mirkwood

3. have these hostages freed by the Mirkwood scouting party ("hey, where were those orcs taking you?" "To Dol Guldur, there's an army attacking Lorien -- we need your help" "an army attacking Lorien?! Let's go!").

4. Lorien Elves hold out until Thranduil can get there.

This would give us a lot of options for players perspectives:

The envoy
The orcs and easterlings
The Lorien army holding off the orcs and easterlings
The mirkwood scouting party
(The army of Thranduil?)

[Roa_Aoife]

I think I agree with Fordhim. And Durelin, I know you're right about the females... just holding out hope, you know. ;) We should definitely move towards variety in charachters. While the Houseless could be a plot twist, they also create many interesting scenarios. Not to mention loads of fun. I'm still holding out for the Lorien group to be an Envoy. it gives more purpose to their presence, and an intial mission besides the usual business of scouting. For all of you to know, my spring break is this week. I'll post when I can.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I'm incredibly sorry for my sudden absence - just a tad busy this week is all. So sorry!

Anyway, I like the United Army #1 idea, as well:

The second united army scenario I don't like because it's too 'easy' to capture an orc and have it spill the beans.

Exactly. It'd make a very very short game, I think. Spot on, Fordim! :D

About the Houseless...I'm not really for or against them really, more indifferent than anything else. It's been an ongoing idea, it seems, and I hate to see so much good planning go to waste, but whether you decide to add the Houseless or not, I'll go along with it.

This is so excellent, and coming along so well! Impressive...:)

-Aylwen

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I've been thinking (uh oh. . .) and this idea of having Thranduil come to the rescue of the Lorien Elves is perhaps not such a good one.

First, there's no mention made anywhere of Thranduil marching out of Mirkwood -- or even a sizeable army of his having to do so. It also doesn't make much sense -- I mean, Lorien is guarded by Galadriel and Nenya: if anything, they're in a better position than Thranduil. Finally, Thranduil's kingdom is a long long long way away, so for there to be time for him to send aid, there would have to be an army of his already heading south through Mirkwood for some reason.

So how about this: no Mirkwood army, but a scouting party. They spot a large army of orcs and easterlings heading for Lorien. They then free the Lorien envoy (which could have some females ;) ), then the freed Envoy and the Mirkwood scouting party have to try and race back to Lorien ahead of the easterling/orc army to warn of the attack.

Lots of potential for plot there I think: evade the orcs and easterlings, get across the Anduin (with the only fords held against them?); before the freeing of the envoy, there could be lots of interaction between the captured Elves and the orcs and Easterlings; and the potential for three groups/scenarios (Envoy, Mirkwood scouts, and orcs/easterlings).

Of course, the Elves get to Lorien ahead of the baddies and raise the alarm succesfully! Here's a thought -- perhaps they could do some 'spying' or something on the way and give some precious intel to Celeborn and Galadriel: something that really makes a difference in the battle?? (Could an Elf be successfully disguised as an Easterling. . .? A huge stretch, I know, but it would make for some interesting plot lines -- maybe not that big a stretch really: Frodo and Sam were able to pass for orcs!)

[Durelin]

I see your point about the orc capture. I just wanted to see if there was a way we could have interaction with orcs and/or easterlings and elves, without elves being captured, as that could become too much of a generic rescue story.

But, where you're going, Fordim, is not a generic rescue story.

Let's see if I can build on that. Here we go. And don't laugh, I'm thinking and trying to type at the same time.

~

Dol Guldur is in Southern Mirkwood, correct? Very far south. Would scouts be keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance? If they would be, then it is possible that a scout party from Mirkwood could detect movement at Dol Guldur, and observe the army as it marches toward Lorien.

At this point a desicion must be made: to report back what they have seen, or, to continue following the army. The latter would allow them to aid Lorien, while the former would not allow them time to reach their bretheren before they are attacked.

They decide to continue to follow the army. At some point, when they have entered the edges of the forest, or are about to enter, they catch up again enabling them to spy on the army once more. The reason they have caught up. they find in their spying, is because the army now has captives. Or, they have caught up only to a party of orcs and easterlings heading back to Dol Guldur with captives. These captives are elves of the envoy/scout troop from Lorien.

The party has just divided from the army, and the army is still in sight of the Mirkwood scouts. If they continue on, they will remain within a spying distance of the army, and may have the chance of overcoming them. But, this means they abandon the prisoners. They decide to try and free the captives, as they are in immediate danger, and the scouting party's information will be valuable even if the battle begins before they can reach the Lorien elves. (Possible 'information' listed after plot summary)

They lay in wait for the party heading to Dol Guldur, a small skirmish follows, and the captives are rescued. From the Lorien envoy/scout troop they learn more of Lorien's plight, and more of the inner workings of the army, filling in the gaps within the information gathered during their observation of the army. With a larger 'force', they head to Lorien. Unfortunately they are slowed by wounded prisoners.

Upon reaching Lorien, they use their information to aid Lorien to victory. They either make their way across the Anduin, looping around to the north (or south) a bit and coming into Lorien north (or south) of the battle and give their information to the defenders. Or, they come up from behind the army from Dol Guldur and use their knowledge to effectively scatter the orcs and easterlings with such a small force.

~

Much depends on what exactly the information is that they gain from observing/trailing the army. Here are some possibilities:


Dead orcs/easterlings are found while trailing army: fights between the two races - think Uruk hai vs. normal orcs (this is used often to the free people's advantage!)

Dead orc/easterling leaders are found while trailing the army: fighting among the leadership - this would be confirmed by the rescued captives (alone it is not a very strong advantage to know this without complex planning ahead of time, but combined with other knowledge it could prove more than important)

Deserters are discovered while trailing the army, and are killed or avoided by the scout party: leadership has stirred mutiny among the grunts - this would be confirmed by the rescued captives (again, probably not easily a strong advantage)

All the army's strength has been placed in a certain position: think Greek phalanx - the best troops were placed on the right, then finally Alexander (or Philip...one of them, I believe) put his strength on the left to face this (alone it is not a very strong advantage to know this, but combined with other knowledge it could prove more than important)

Army swings to the north (or south, but then they'd have two rivers to cross): perhaps Lorien is less protected there - if the scout party is able to reach Lorien before the army, the defenders could meet the army at the Anduin, using the river to their advantage, and surprising them (because the number of troops available to defend Lorien is most likely is not too many, this may not be too efective without more intel/another advantage combined with it)

If the army went to the south and the defenders were alerted of this, the need to cross two rivers could give them even more of an advantage.

As long as the scout party reaches Lorien a good time ahead of the army, the defenders will be able to use the Great River to their advantage, no matter which direction the army comes from really. (Yes, there are exceptions, but I doubt the army would use any of them, as they would waste time. For example, crossing the river far to the north/south.


~

One more big question that must be answered:

You will notice that I put 'Lorien envoy/scout troop'. This is because, with a unification of Mirkwood and Lorien gone from this particular plot option, the purpose of an envoy needs to be found. The only type of envoy I can think of might be one that is reporting to patrols, and that one would not contain any females, so it might as well be a scout troop. Also, I doubt an envoy would be beyond the borders of Lorien (which they would have to be, I am thinking, ot be captured), as the outer patrols remain within the forest. Right now, I can't think of a reason for an envoy, though I believe such a party, containing at least one female character (with an actual part) would be more than excellent.

~

I hate to see so much good planning go to waste

I know what you mean, Aylwen. I suggested it be saved for another game if it is not used in this one, as it seems it will not be right now. It would be interesting, but I think it would be best if the Houseless were included in a game in Rohan, or even Gondor. The Houseless are just something that kind of must be the center of the story, so...we sort of started planning another story in the planning of this RPG. A pretty nutty story, in a fun way, if you know what I mean.

You know, I do feel stupid now completely getting rid of the Houseless after all that, but I believe it is the only way.

That's all the thoughts I can type for the moment.

Now it's your turn. ;)

-Durelin

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

How about this for the 'inside information' gained by the joint Mirkwood Scouts/Lorien Envoys:

This army has a whole phalanx of the 'new and improved' trolls bred by Sauron that can stand daylight (this much is learned from the freed envoy -- "that sounds terrible, but even though they are tough, one group of trolls alone won't make the difference. . .hmmmm. . .they must be up to something: we should follow them. . .")

As they follow they realise that the orc army is heading for a point along the shore of the Anduin that is uncrossable -- but when they get there (horrors!) they see that the trolls aren't for fighting but for engineering: they are able to construct a floating/pontoon bridge that gets the army across (also with the help of the more sophisticated -- than the orcs at least -- Easterlings).

"Oh no! This army is headed for Lorien from a direction they will never be expecting! We must get across the River -- but how? -- and get ahead of that army -- but how? -- and warn Celeborn!"

As to the Envoy -- how about they aren't heading to Thraduil at all, but to the Woodmen (maybe even Beorn)? They are a lot closer than the Mirkwood kingdom. This envoy then is captured by the easterlings (who are accompanied by a smaller group of orcs, who want to kill them on the spot -- hey, plot stuff there as the Easterlings and orcs argue).

[Durelin]

I really like that idea. It adds an interesting aspect to the army of Dol Guldur, and it explains how the army would cross the Anduin to attack in a place the elves would not expect. That fleshes out the last bullet on my list.

but even though they are tough, one group of trolls alone won't make the difference

Actually, the fact that a group of trolls would make a difference would speed the scout troop on to try and reach Lorien ahead of the army.

Obviously, the scout troop would cease to follow the army after they learned their plans, and take a more straight route to Lorien. So, the envoy must be captured before the army starts making their way in a loop around.

I like the idea about the Woodmen. It is likely that Lorien understands that Mirkwood is in the same position as they are, if not worse. But, the fact that they are sending out an envoy: does that mean they know already that an army is marching from Dol Guldur? Or is this in response to a previous attack that did great damage?

I believe the latter is more convincing, but...it emphasizes the fact that Lorien is weak. And so it is going to take a lot of speed, skill, and luck for them to use the knowledge of the army's 'surprise attack' to their advantage'. But, I think that will add to the story, actually. The desperation of the elves of both Lorien and Mirkwood will be much more dramatically expressed. And I have always loved a story where good overcomes the odds!

If we wish to make it more 'realistic', and not allow the elves to just overcome all odds and defeat the orcs, we can have the destruction of the Ring drive the orcs away after the elves hold them for a time, perhaps drawing back closer and closer to the forest itself, since I expect the plan will be to meet the army at or as close to the Anduin as is possible.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Problem with waiting for the destruction of the Ring is that according to the appendices the last attack on Lorien was before 25th March (I can't remember the exact date and I'm too lazy to look it up now).

But something new (oh dear :eek: ) has occured to me. Rather than it being a whole army attacking Lorien that our envoy/scouting party runs across, it could be a large raiding party composed of trolls (for getting across the River), Easterlings, and really tough orcs. They're going in a secret direction (across the River) and their plan is to go around the big battle between the Lorien army and the big orc army (the third and final wave recorded in LotR).

So our job is now to get ahead of the raiding party and hold them off as long as we can until we get re-enforcements. Possible twist: no reenforcments available: hold them off ourselves!!

The purpose of the raiding party??? The first two attempts to take Lorien have failed because the Lorien Elves are sustained by the power of Nenya. Sauron's idea? Send a third army against Lorien, the sole purpose of which is to draw off the border guards in a big battle to hold off the orcs; also, to distract the attention of Galadriel and Celebrimbor from the REAL threat, which is the super-tough band of 'commado' orcs-trolls-easterlings that our Lorien envoy/Mirkwood scouting party finds. The commando mission is a suicide attack on Caras Galathon itself to *gasp* kill Galadriel!!!

This might also explain the slaughtered border patrols found by the envoys at the beginning -- patrols of orcs from Dol Guldur have wiped out the border defenses in a very narrow stretch where the commando force will invade Lothlorien in a few days. When these orcs stumble on the envoy, they are afraid that their plan has been discovered so they take the envoy prisoner to return them to Dol Guldur where they can be questioned.

This will allow our Elves to follow and interact with the orcs/easterlings/trolls throughout the adventure -- which will allow all the groups in play to be characters we write (what about the trolls? anyone ever played a troll?)

[Amanaduial the archer]

Once again, I must apologise - I have been following, of course, but haven't actively posted because there didn't seem much point unless I really had a good amount of time to put into it.

Anyway, a few thoughts...

- The Houseless - it does seem a pity to leave them entirely after all the planning which was getting quite exciting, but if you wish to leave them, well, alright. They were becoming the central plot and this maybe isn't what was required for this RPG - but hey, when we're done with this game, if anyone else wanted to continue along that line I don't think they would fall short of volunteers to play :)
1. remove the Houseless

2. have the orcs and easterlings take prisoner the envoy from Lorien to Mirkwood

3. have these hostages freed by the Mirkwood scouting party

4. Lorien Elves hold out until Thranduil can get there.

I like this plan, actually, very much.
The purpose of the raiding party??? The first two attempts to take Lorien have failed because the Lorien Elves are sustained by the power of Nenya. Sauron's idea? Send a third army against Lorien, the sole purpose of which is to draw off the border guards in a big battle to hold off the orcs; also, to distract the attention of Galadriel and Celebrimbor from the REAL threat, which is the super-tough band of 'commado' orcs-trolls-easterlings that our Lorien envoy/Mirkwood scouting party finds. The commando mission is a suicide attack on Caras Galathon itself to *gasp* kill Galadriel!!!

Maybe 'commando' isn't the word that might be used in Tolkien, but I think this idea could be nicely worked on. Sauron has realised that to get into the wood sucessfully he is going to need a little more than one attack based on brute strength, especially as he has used mainly just orcs before. He is going to need something more special and some sort of troops that can work from more than simple orders, as these aren't going to take the elves in, as has been proved from the previous failed attempts to break into Lorien. He also knows, obviously, that the power of Nenya is 'sustaining' the elves, and is getting irritated by their defiance; his plan is maybe not to take down Galadriel, although it is of course a plus ;) - the elf is one of the oldest still in Middle Earth, and knows too much about Sauron's ways; to eliminate her would be excellent for him because of this and also because all the elves, not just those of Lorien, look up to her. If she was killed, it would lower moral considerably, and would weaken the elves' confidence in themselves, making them more vulnerable. His plan might be simply to destroy Nenya.

The easterlings are more intelligent than the orcs, who rely on brute strength, and are able to use initiative, something thatwhich is why they have been drafted in, along with some of the stronger and fiercer uruk-hai (maybe?) - this could understandably bring about quite a bit of resentment from the orcs at the insinuation that they are not good enough, which could make for interesting playing, obviously. The mission (as Fordim said) will probably be a suicide one...but the easterlings and orcs carrying it out don't necessarily need to know this when they go in *evil*

Imagine, the outside patrols have been distracted and are occupied by the bulk of the force that was sent ahead for that very purpose, and a smaller group can then break through the skeleton guard which has been left on the boundaries with the intent of getting to Nenya and destroying it (or that's the theory - to add yet another twist, maybe a few of the more intelligent easterlings have worked out that with the help of the ring to their own devices, they could get more out of this war than bargained for - just a thought). But they hadn't bargained for the elves who have remained deeper within the wood, guarding the Lord and Lady - but there are not many of them. When others on the boundaries hear the sounds of battle starting up from within the forest, they call to the elves already fighting the bulk force of baddies, and all who can be spared rush back in to the aid of the Lord and Lady, hemming in the easterlings and orcs, who may come to the sudden realisation that they have been tricked, at which point some of them may attempt to hot-foot it out and, pretty inevitably, be slaughtered in the process. But there are a fair number of baddies there already, even without the deserters, and things do not look good for the elves and the ring Nenya...

Meanwhile, the other elves are rushing back to Lorien as fast as possible against all odds - but will they get there in time?! (Tune in for another episode of 'Bloodstained Elanor' to find out.. *cue theme music*)

What do you think?

[Arvedui III]

Yeah, in the face of such monstrous posts, all I've been able to do is just follow it. Sorry about that. Anyways, I'll try and add what I can.

I agree with Aman on the houseless. It makes more sense, much as it pains me to see the idea go. I have a question though. ...the other elves are rushing back to Lorien
Forgive my stupidity, but what other elves? The scouting party? The elves fighting the 3rd wave of orcs? The envoy and the Mirkwood patrol? Are we abandoning the scouting party and envoy idea all together? I'm just a little confused.

I like the idea of Orcs and Easterlings not getting on, and the attack on Galadriel and Nenya, though. Sounds like slightly more simple (simple, ha) plan.

Tune in for another episode of 'Bloodstained Elanor' to find out.. *cue theme music*
*Shakes head and laughs* We should definitely have theme music. :D

[Amanaduial the archer]

I have a question though.
Forgive my stupidity, but what other elves? The scouting party? The elves fighting the 3rd wave of orcs? The envoy and the Mirkwood patrol? Are we abandoning the scouting party and envoy idea all together? I'm just a little confused. I meant the envoy and the Mirkwood patrol when I said the 'other elves' - the ones referred to by Fordim in his last post. Would this work?

*Shakes head and laughs* We should definitely have theme music. I shall get to work immediately, Arvedui...;)

[Roa_Aoife]

OKay, just got back from break. My, you have been busy :D . Alright, I'm really with Fordhim on this. Aman, I think the idea of the inner-guards is good, but that may add more complications than we can can deal with. That's all I have to contribute for now. You guys say everything for me...:p

We should definitely have theme music. Can it be the theme to the Darkside of the Force?

[Arvedui III]

Soo....let me see if I've got the plot right.

Lorien has been assalted twice, and now sends out an envoy to Thranduil asking for aid. This envoy is captured by a party of Easterlings and orcs and is subsequently rescued by a scouting party from Mirkwood. Meanwhile, during the 3rd attack on Lorien, a elite party of Uruk-Hai and Easterlings are sent to kill Galadriel and destroy the defenses that Nenya provides. They must get past a very small force protecting the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, who are fighting vailently against the incursion of orcs and Easterlings. At this point, its a race against time for the combined party of Mirkwood and Lorien elves to get back to Caras Galadhon and stop the baddie elites from taking the Golden Wood and killing Galadriel.

Right?

Ohh, this sounds fun. And as to the theme music...The Empire March, huh? That might work. I'll give it all some thought. :)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Lorien has been assalted twice, and now sends out an envoy to Thranduil asking for aid. This envoy is captured by a party of Easterlings and orcs and is subsequently rescued by a scouting party from Mirkwood. Meanwhile, during the 3rd attack on Lorien, a elite party of Uruk-Hai and Easterlings are sent to kill Galadriel and destroy the defenses that Nenya provides. They must get past a very small force protecting the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, who are fighting vailently against the incursion of orcs and Easterlings. At this point, its a race against time for the combined party of Mirkwood and Lorien elves to get back to Caras Galadhon and stop the baddie elites from taking the Golden Wood and killing Galadriel

This is pretty much what I was after -- yes. But the envoy really should probably be to the Woodmen (Thranduil too far, and in too much trouble of his own). And there really should be trolls (again: anyone ever played a troll?).

I REALLY like Aman's ideas for the Easterlings and orcs sniping at one another during the attack.

My vote for the theme music would be the anthem from "Gladiator" -- not a great movie, but the music was to die for!

PS Welcome back to My Lady Roa! I shall be seeing you soon at the Inn.

PPS As to the Houseless, I am already planning my submission for a game based around them -- just as soon as I can ascend to the lofty heights of "Game Owner" in Rohan.

[Amanaduial the archer]

That plot sounds about right. Then are we agreed on this part of the plot?

(again: anyone ever played a troll?). There is always a first, Fordim, there is always a first...I don't suppose it would be a particularly intellectually challenging part to play ;)...

My vote for the theme music would be the anthem from "Gladiator" -- not a great movie, but the music was to die for! I disagree on the analysis of the film (so sad...I cried...), but yes, I was going to say that! Track three, 'The Battle'?

[Arvedui III]

Yes, yes, yes. It sounds great, trolls and all. Now we need to hash out characters and stuff.
(so sad...I cried...), but yes, I was going to say that! Track three, 'The Battle'?
I'm with you, Aman. Great movie, even greater score. The Battle would be good, maybe the Barbarian Horde, forgot what track that was. That, or something out of Children of Dune, mayhap. :)

[Amanaduial the archer]

'Barbarian Horde' is number 10 - the last few minutes of it are the best, from about 7 minutes onwards. And we should have some of 'The Black Pearl' from Pirates of the Caribbean, and 'Barabosa is Hungry' maybe...

Ahem...

So, the plot so far is (just to check I have this right):

- Lorien has been assalted twice. Although both attempts have failed, Galadriel and Celeborn know that the power of Nenya which sustains them cannot keep forever, and so they send out an envoy to Thranduil asking for aid.
- Envoy is captured by a group of Easterlings and orcs.
- Envoy is rescued by a scouting party from Mirkwood. (should we add something else in here?)
- Meanwhile, during the 3rd attack on Lorien, a elite party of Uruk-Hai and Easterlings are sent to kill Galadriel and destroy the defenses that Nenya provides.
- They must get past a very small force protecting the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, who are fighting vailently against the incursion of orcs and Easterlings.
- At this point, its a race against time for the combined party of Mirkwood and Lorien elves to get back to Caras Galadhon and stop the baddie elites from taking the Golden Wood and killing Galadriel.


Right?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Aman -- I still think that the envoy should be to the Woodmen rather than Thranduil, but this is unimportant to the plot

The only major thing I would like to change from this excellent summary is the

very small force protecting the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood, who are fighting vailently against the incursion of orcs and Easterlings

I would think it much more dramatic if there were NOBODY standing between the elite force and Galadriel, making it absolutely imperative for our party to get back to Lorien to save the day. The border guard who would have been protecting Caras Galadhon was wiped out by advance parties of orcs (the same ones who capture the envoy).

[Roa_Aoife]

Again, I'm with Fordhim on this one. The extra guards not only add further, adnperhaps too much, complexity, they also remove some of the urgency from the story. Already we have four groups:

Lorien Envoy
Mirkwood scouting party
Main force of badies
Elite Easterlings and Orcs


If you really desire a fifth point of view, surely ther are some non-warriors in Lorien. We could have brief looks from them about the waiting they must endure. They could also give a look at the mou nting tension in Lorien, as well as shock when the surprise force shows up.

[Amanaduial the archer]

It would add urgency, yes - but it would also probably be a little unrealistic. Think of any ruler - they wouldn't be left completely alone without and backup help, especially in a time of war. Even if it wasn't a very big force around Galadriel and Celeborn, there would still have to be some sort of force. This means it is still imperative that the envoy plus their help get back with the utmost haste, but it also means that the Lord and Lady will not be cut down as soon as the easterlings and orcs enter the palace.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Point taken -- but things might get out of control if we have too many groups being played. I would recommend that we keep it to three:

1. Lorien envoy
2. Mirkwood scouts
3. Orcs and Easterlings (a smaller band of these -- the played orcs and Easterlings -- captures the envoy, goes back toward Mirkwood, is attacked by Mirkwood scouts who free the envoy; all the "player" orcs and Easterlings then get away and link up with a larger force of NPC orcs, Easterlings and trolls to assault Lorien).

One more point :D :) (any urge to throttle me yet?) -- the elite force is launching a surprise attack, so the envoy/scouts have to get back to defeat them as nobody will know they're coming! When we get back to Lorien we could send for re-enforcements to the 'personal guard' at Caras Galadhon (you are utterly correct Aman, there would have to be some there!) and they could come to our rescue -- but again, these would probably be NPC, as for most of the game, these characters would be waiting around to get called to the front.

Is it time yet to work out characters, etc???

[Arvedui III]

Once Durelin gives the ok, I think so, Fordim.

I agree about the too-many groups. Keep it simple, keep it sane. We have the Lorien Envoy, the Mirkwood scouting party, the various baddies, plus secondaries, maybe the personal guard or Woodsmen or something. That should be enough.

I agree about Barbarian Horde, last three minutes are awesome. Well, the whole soundtrack is, really. So...so far we have Star War, Galadiator and Pirates of the Carribean? Might as well throw in Mask of Zorro for good measure. :)

[Roa_Aoife]

Once Upon a time in Mexico had better music than the Mask of Zorro. Bad movie- good music. So Durelin, ready for charchters, yet? Or should we summarize first?

[piosenniel]

Bringing this forward - perhaps you can begin filling in some of the needed information:

This is the form that will be submitted once your planning is finished. All sections will need to be completed before the proposal can be reviewed by the Shire Moderators - Piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age.

Once your proposal is accepted for play, then I will open a Discussion thread for the game and you can take on the other players you need.

When the Characters Needed list is all filled, then the RPG will be opened as the owner requests.
_______________________________________________


At the end of your planning process - Please leave the completed form on the Planning Thread - don't send it to me by PM. It will be easier for me to work with it on the forum.

_______________________________________________

SHIRE GAME PROPOSAL FORM

Title:

Historical Background (This is necessary only for Games set in a time before The Lord of the Rings. It can be 2 to 3 sentences that give some basic facts about what is going on in that time period. This will help clarify the setting for the prospective players.)
__________________________________

Basic Storyline:

__________________________________

The purpose of the story is to:

This means we will know the story is over when:
__________________________________

Starting Location:

Likely destination:
__________________________________

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the ____Age at around year _______.

The storyline itself or plot covers _____ days, weeks, months.

This game requires a time commitment of _____ from me, the game owner and from the major players.
__________________________________

Characters needed: – be specific as to type (eg., Lothlorien Elves, not just Elves, if that’s what you need; or any other characters types from specific regions) and please indicate the number of each type you will need.

Please note for each character type needed: Race – number needed – and gender needed

Character types which would not belong:

__________________________________


Are there any writers you have invited to play on the game and are saving spots for them? If so, please list their names under Dedicated Characters for me.

They will need to submit their Character Descriptions Forms and First Posts to me before I will open the Discussion Thread:

Dedicated Characters:

Fordim Hedgethistle

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Linnahiril Tinnufinwen

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Roa_Aoife

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

GaladrieloftheOlden

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Arvedui III

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Amanaduial the Archer

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

Aylwen Dreamsong

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST TO BE PLACED HERE

__________________________________



The game owner(Durelin + ?) will play ____ character(s).

OWNER CHARACTER DESCRIPTION AND FIRST POST FOR THE GAME TO BE PLACED HERE

__________________________________

USE THIS CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FORM TO PRESENT YOUR CHARACTER:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE:

GENDER:

WEAPONS (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.):

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Other information of special interest that you would like to include:

Do you want first posts for the game when the players submit their characters on the discussion thread? - YES/NO

Please note that this will mean NO character descriptions will be accepted without First Posts accompanying them. All character descriptions posted without the required First Post will be sent back to their writers.

[Durelin]

Outlined Summary Thus Far:

Mirkwood scouts (whether by orders from Thranduil or not) have been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance. They detect movement at Dol Guldur, and observes an army as it marches toward Lorien. They also observe a smaller force making its way in a loop to reach the forest on the northern/southern side. (Either the ‘Sauron special forces’ party remains with the army for a time and then breaks off, or they head off on their own right away.)

At this point a decision must be made: to report back what they have seen, to continue following the army, or to follow the smaller party. The scouting party from Mirkwood decides to follow the smaller party, as it is much more stealthily making its way to Lorien. Also, the fact that it contains easterlings and uruk-hai (and the main force does not?) could be seen as something that is due attention.

-Of course, the Mirkwood elves could receive information from the rescued envoy we talked about earlier. See ‘Concerning the envoy and its rescue’ below.-

The scout party moves with the greatest possible speed to Lorien, to reach the forest ahead of the ‘Sauron special forces’. They warn of this special, unforeseen attack. Most likely after studying the evil party’s movements for a time, they could guess approximately where they were headed. So the troops holding Lorien are prepared to resist both attacks. (It could be that by the time the scout troop reaches Lorien, the main force marching from Dol Guldur has reached, or is about to reach, the line of battle, as they would be marching in a much straighter route.)

From here, the battle could work out in many ways:

The scout troop from Mirkwood and soldiers that could be spared from Lorien’s lines successfully fend off the ‘Sauron special forces’ party, then:

The survivors of this skirmish could then make their way around to attack the attacking army of Dol Guldur from behind, and using the cover of the trees, scatter them. (Think ‘The Patriot’… ;) )

Or, the soldiers of Lorien could fend off the main force, for as they continue to fight, and there is not sign that the separate evil party was successful in their mission, morale wanes until they flee or are driven back.

Concerning the envoy and its rescue:

The ‘Sauron special forces’ party remains with the army for a time. The Mirkwood scout party follows the army. The army finds the envoy and captures them. Then what happens to them? If they are taken back to Dol Guldur, the Mirkwood scout party cannot follow if they are to reach Lorien in time to either warn of the separate evil party, or to come to the rescue.

Concerning trolls:

I know you love your trolls Fordim, but now that everyone has come to like this story, the trolls do not work out as well. Of course, if the scout party moves fast enough, they could reach Lorien in time to warn the defenders of the odd movements of both the main forces (the main force to the north – the ‘special forces’ to the south – with trolls to set up the pontoon bridge as you said) and the ‘special forces’. Again, though, this completely rules out the possibility of the envoy, as far as I can see. Well, maybe that’s not too far…

To bring all the summary, the ‘concerning envoy’ and ‘concerning trolls’ together:

If we do have the ‘special forces’ loop rather widely to the south to surprise attack the center of Lorien, and have the main force looping to the north and setting up the pontoon bridge using the trolls, I believe the delays these loops and river crossings will cause will give the scout party enough time to high tail it back to Lorien after rescuing the envoy, in time to either warn or come to the rescue of the defenders.

~

who may come to the sudden realisation that they have been tricked, at which point some of them may attempt to hot-foot it out and, pretty inevitably, be slaughtered in the process.

I don’t understand what you mean by that, Aman. They most likely were not aware that this would be pretty much a suicide mission (though most likely many of them would still volunteer for it!), but I don’t understand why this realization would cause them to run. Sauron (or whoever is ultimately leading this army) would not have bothered to send the party if there was no chance of success. It seems that when the easterlings and orcs come to believe they have been tricked that the whole plan was to get rid of them. Though they could believe that they had been tricked, and then give up.

Okay, now I’m blathering.

~

The Player Groups (expanded from Roa’s nifty list):

Mirkwood scouts (open story)
Lorien envoy (to Woodmen? - captured)
Main force of Dol Guldur
‘Special forces’ party of Dol Guldur
Defenders of Lorien: Front lines & Elite Guard/Bodyguard(minor roles/NPCs)

~

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party follows army for (days 1 – 3?)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (days 3 – 4)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (day 4 or 5?)
Race back to Lorien (days 4/5 – 8/9?)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (day 9 or 10)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9 or 10)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)

How does that sound?

~

We’re almost ready to being working on characters…promise. And I’m sorry for my lack of presence, but I’ve been extremely busy. I have been checking up on the thread, but have not had the chance to post until today. Unfortunately, it always works out that no one is able to post when I am able to post…and then I am not able to post when everyone else is able to post…If you follow me.

~

I dearly hope that much of this post made sense. My life is pretty crazy right now (crazy in a good way, but crazy!), and I also have a great deal of trouble collecting my thoughts. Most likely some of the things present in this post are irrelevant, but that is just an example of my way of thinking. I hope you can sift through all this rather random contemplating for the actual important information.

~

A Pending RPG Proposal:

Title: Bloodstained Elanor/Elanor Agarwaen

Historical Background: TA 3019, February - March

Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back.

Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood.

With destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.

On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Mirkwood, and Celeborn receives southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.

This story tells of one of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.
__________________________________

Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus bringing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain the beautiful leaves of the mallorn.
__________________________________

The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur and reach Lorien in time. Drive back the orcs from Lorien.

This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.
__________________________________

Starting Location: Mirkwood(?)

Likely destination: Lorien
__________________________________

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.

The storyline itself or plot covers 11(?) days, weeks, months.

This game requires a time commitment of 3 months(?) from me, the game owner and from the major players.
__________________________________

Characters needed:

_#_ Elves:
Soldiers
Scouts
Envoy members
Female?
Of Mirkwood
Of Lorien

_#_ Orcs:
Elite Orcs (of some kind)
Uruk-hai
Grunts(?)

_#_ Easterlings:
Elite
Leader of ‘special forces’ party?
Male and Female??

[Amanaduial the archer]

Wouldn't Lorien be the starting place, or just setting out from Lorien?

[Durelin]

It all depends on whether we want to start out with the envoy or the scouting party: the former would be setting out from Lorien, the latter from Mirkwood, following the army. Both groups will be pretty main major parts of the story, but I believe we must decide which will be the set main characters.

Just another tidbit that needs to be worked out...and that can stimulate another page of discussion. ;)

That one line post was very much a blessing, Aman!

Fun, fun, as always! :D

-Durelin

[Arvedui III]

Well, we could have the Mirkwood scouts start off the story. But yeah, I'm with Aman. Shouldn't it be Lorien?

As to everything else, it looks great. Now come the days of tweeking the story.

Concerning characters:
The only groups I've been able to get my head around are the baddies. Until we hash for sure the envoy and scouts and stuff I'm gonna leave the elves alone.

I think we should despense with the female easterlings, just to make it easier and avoid Shieldmadien baddies (though that would be kinda funny).

The elite orcs could be Uruk-Hai captains, and the other orcs just regular ones. As to Grunts...they would be pretty cool, but I can't understand why a 'Sauron's Special Forces Unit' would bring them along, save maybe as armor-bearers or something.

And the trolls, sorry Fordim, but I agree with Durelin. If we have them at all they should really be NPCs. (But hey, there's something you can put into your Houseless RPG thingy)

As to the numbers: This is gonna be a big RPG. For the baddies, well, here's what I think.

2 Captains ( 1 Orc and 1 Easterling)
2 Easterling Warriors
2 Special Unit Orcs
2 Regular Orcs (Maybe one of them could be a Grunt?)

Once Upon a time in Mexico had better music than the Mask of Zorro
Really? I never went to see that. I've lost all my faith in Robert Rodriguez since those Spy Kids movies. *sighs*

[Roa_Aoife]

The starting point could be either one, really, with out changing the story too much. Is it possible to have two starting points? Like have the first post cut between two points of view?
As far as charchters go, I don't have much to say on the baddies, but the Envoy should have an ambassador (or two), two guards, and a membor of the honorary escort (agian- maybe two.) The Mirk wood party should have at least two points of view, it not more, and they would of course all be scouts.

Arvedui III, do you mean Antonio Banderaz? Any way it's a bad movie, but the music was good. All Mariachi band stuff.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Roa - Arvedui was probably actually referring to Robert Rodriguez, the director.

I will post more later, sorry about this short post...

[Durelin]

Arvedui - I agree that 'grunts' would not be a part of the 'special forces', but we also have a large army heading towards Lorien less steathily, which will be mainly made up of grunts. Most likely we should have very small parts roleplayed among this army, just so the movements of the army are followed, and why the army flees at the end can be explained.

RoA - Actually, if we keep both the envoy and the scout party small, both groups could be roleplayed as 'main' parts. We could, we would be able to, but do we want to? Would having so many 'main' characters take away from the story?

The only problem I can see with starting in Lorien is that the scout party has, in my mind, the most important part. They come to the rescue twice, they follow the army, they are the ones that see pretty much all that is going on with this attack...I believe that, how we set up the story, we're going to have to focus on the Mirkwood scout party. Still, the focus is largely on Lorien because the scout party is focusing on Lorien.

Of course, that doesn't mean we must open the RPG in Mirkwood. The envoy is going to set out before the scout party, so we can begin with after their departure, and then move on to the scout party.

Sorry if much of that was obvious information, but, again, I start at a certain point in thinking, and then must type everything in between to reach my desired end.

As Aman said, I'll be back to post more.

[Arvedui III]

Um, is everyone still alive? The thread kind of died. And yeah, Roa, I meant the director, but I'm not gonna go into that.

Anyways, the grunts thing makes sense. So now as far as baddies go we're up to 2 captains, 2 elites, 2 regular orcs, and 1 (maybe more) grunt(s). Right?

[Durelin]

Yes, I'm pretty disappointed at how slow this has been going along recently. I understand that many of you are very busy (I am very busy myself), but it has been quite a while. I ask for your input, and I desire it, but you have to give me some... We're almost there everyone; I understand that this has taken quite a while. But please, stick with me for a little while longer.

Thanks guys!

Here, I will put some information on this page to make it easier for everyone to refer to:

Outlined Summary Thus Far:

Mirkwood scouts (whether by orders from Thranduil or not) have been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance. They detect movement at Dol Guldur, and observes an army as it marches toward Lorien. They also observe a smaller force making its way in a loop to reach the forest on the northern/southern side. (Either the ‘Sauron special forces’ party remains with the army for a time and then breaks off, or they head off on their own right away.)

At this point a decision must be made: to report back what they have seen, to continue following the army, or to follow the smaller party. The scouting party from Mirkwood decides to follow the smaller party, as it is much more stealthily making its way to Lorien. Also, the fact that it contains easterlings and uruk-hai (and the main force does not?) could be seen as something that is due attention.

-Of course, the Mirkwood elves could receive information from the rescued envoy we talked about earlier. See ‘Concerning the envoy and its rescue’ below.-

The scout party moves with the greatest possible speed to Lorien, to reach the forest ahead of the ‘Sauron special forces’. They warn of this special, unforeseen attack. Most likely after studying the evil party’s movements for a time, they could guess approximately where they were headed. So the troops holding Lorien are prepared to resist both attacks. (It could be that by the time the scout troop reaches Lorien, the main force marching from Dol Guldur has reached, or is about to reach, the line of battle, as they would be marching in a much straighter route.)

From here, the battle could work out in many ways:

The scout troop from Mirkwood and soldiers that could be spared from Lorien’s lines successfully fend off the ‘Sauron special forces’ party, then:

The survivors of this skirmish could then make their way around to attack the attacking army of Dol Guldur from behind, and using the cover of the trees, scatter them. (Think ‘The Patriot’… )

Or, the soldiers of Lorien could fend off the main force, for as they continue to fight, and there is not sign that the separate evil party was successful in their mission, morale wanes until they flee or are driven back.

~

The Player Groups (expanded from Roa’s nifty list):

Mirkwood scouts (open story)
Lorien envoy (to Woodmen? - captured)
Main force of Dol Guldur
‘Special forces’ party of Dol Guldur
Defenders of Lorien: Front lines & Elite Guard/Bodyguard(minor roles/NPCs)

~

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party follows army for (days 1 – 3?)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (days 3 – 4)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (day 4 or 5?)
Race back to Lorien (days 4/5 – 8/9?)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (day 9 or 10)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9 or 10)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)

------------

A Pending RPG Proposal:

Title: Bloodstained Elanor/Elanor Agarwaen

Historical Background: TA 3019, February - March

Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back.

Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood.

With destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.

On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Mirkwood, and Celeborn receives southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.

This story tells of one of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.
__________________________________

Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus bringing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain the beautiful leaves of the mallorn.
__________________________________

The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur and reach Lorien in time. Drive back the orcs from Lorien.

This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.
__________________________________

Starting Location: Mirkwood(?)

Likely destination: Lorien
__________________________________

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.

The storyline itself or plot covers 11(?) days, weeks, months.

This game requires a time commitment of 3 months(?) from me, the game owner and from the major players.
__________________________________

Characters needed:

_#_ Elves:
Soldiers
Scouts
Envoy members
Female?
Of Mirkwood
Of Lorien

_#_ Orcs:
Elite Orcs (of some kind)
Uruk-hai
Grunts(?)

_#_ Easterlings:
Elite
Leader of ‘special forces’ party?
Male and Female??

-------------------

I will be away from Wednesday April 7th till the following Monday April 11th. I will have internet access, but I doubt I will be able to get on very much, and if I do, any posts will not be lengthy.

~

If everyone can tell me what type of character they would like to play, that would be great. Hopefully you have started thinking about your character. We can soon begin focusing on characters and other details more soon. But there are still a few things that need smoothing out.

Thanks again guys!

-Durelin

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I take it, then, Durelin, that we are ready to start working out characters???

At any rate, it seems like there's some kind of consensus building around the baddies in the special forces unit:

2 Captains ( 1 Orc and 1 Easterling)
2 Easterling Warriors
2 Special Unit Orcs
2 Regular Orcs (Maybe one of them could be a Grunt?)

That's already eight which means this game might be getting a bit too big already. I've seen over in another rpg starting up ("Search for Ruhn") the owner's been having a bit of trouble getting enough people. That being said, I would suggest we keep the number of player 'groups' restricted to the baddies, the Mirkwood Scouts and the Lorien Envoy to the woodmen. Even if we keep it to just the three groups, though, and give each of them an equal number of players (8), that's still a total of 24 players!!!!!!! Perhaps we could make it a bit more modest and keep it to four players per group (total of 12):

Barad Dur special forces:

1 Easterling captain
1 Easterling grunt (servant of the captain)
1 orc captain
1 orc grunt (slave of the captain)

Mirkwood scouts: 4

Lorien Envoy to woodmen:

1 ambassador (female?)
1 ambassadorial assistant person handmaiden/thingee/friend (female?)
2 guards

I also see no problem with beginning the game with official first posts from all three groups. The Mirkwood scouts picking up the trail of the special forces baddies and having to decide whether to follow the trail or not. The baddies bickering amongst themselves as they head toward Lorien. The Lorien envoy finding the slaughtered border patrols and deciding what to do. . .

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Amanaduial -- I've been trying to PM you for a couple of days, but your messages are "Full and unable to accept more"! :(

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Fordim is right, and I agree that we shouldn't let the game get too big. If it gets too big, players and characters tend to get lost or feel like they are no longer needed to pull the story along.

Besides, we can have a few main characters in each group, especially in the bad guy's section, and then their minions could be carry-along characters that pop in here and there.

Yup...that's what I've got...:D

-Aylwen

[Arvedui III]

Ack! Guess I wasn't counting. :rolleyes:

I like Fordim's numbers, 12 is good. And as to where the first post will be, maybe we could have one big combined first post with a part for Mirkwood, Lorien and the baddies so that we don't have to start the game in one place or the other.

Will write more later.

[Durelin]

Yes, it is definitely time to work on characters, as putting on the final touches has taken way too long...

Four is definitely a good number, and the three main groups of the Lorien envoy, the Mirkwood scout party, and the Orc 'special forces' unit. I believe we will also need a couple minor characters roleplayed among the orc army. Having these extra roles is not only very important to helping the story along, but it will give people who cannot commit a great amount of time to the game a chance to roleplay. I believe that would be an excellent bonus, and I do not see how the story could flow without at least a small view point from the army, so that its movements may be followed (as they will be separate from the Orc 'special forces' unit). It will give everyone much more of an understanding of what is going on and when. I know I need that...

Also, I think it would be very nice to have a cameo role among the soldiers defending Lorien. Again, this would help the story along and make it much easier to follow, as it would give us a view point from which we could see how Lorien is faring in the attack, and would help even more in the understanding of where the orc army is and what it is doing. The reason this is so important is because this is a big group of orcs running around, and they are a large part of the story. Yet, the focus is away from this force (and for many a good reason). So, though we should keep the character number limited, there are some small, even 'extra' roles that should not be overlooked. I believe the biggest problem concerning a large number of characters is just what you mentioned, Fordim: the lack of roleplayers for the roles. I had that problem with Dark Seduction. Still, I believe we should wait and see if 4 characters per group is too much.

Concerning characters: it looks as if we have smoothed out most of the problems concerning the kinds of roles that would be involved. I believe one, maybe two female roles are available: a female ambassador or a female maidservant to the ambassador, or both. There are plenty of options for baddies and warriors, as you know. I believe Fordim's list is superb, and here it is (with a few additions of my own):

Barad Dur 'special forces':

1 Easterling captain
1 Easterling grunt (servant of the captain?)
1 orc captain
1 orc grunt (slave of the captain?)

Mirkwood scouts: 4

Lorien Envoy to woodmen:

1 ambassador (female?)
1 ambassadorial maidservant/manservant (female?)
2 guards

Or

2 ambassadors (one female)
1 ambassadorial maidservant/manservant
1 guard (as we do have lots of the 'sword-wielding' type)

Secondary Characters - Barad Dur main forces:

1 Orc/Easterling captain
1 Orc/Easterling grunt
(it would be preferable if it turned out to be one Easterling and one Orc...)

Cameo:

1 Lorien warrior of the defense

~

And as to where the first post will be, maybe we could have one big combined first post with a part for Mirkwood, Lorien and the baddies so that we don't have to start the game in one place or the other.

Concerning this, I believe it would be wonderful if the first post of the game be only from the owner(s) character's(s') point(s) of view. This should be a member of the Lorien envoy: setting up the story before the scouts discover trouble. Then each player that is a part of the game, beginning with you guys who have put up with me and my planning thread, would start off the story from the other points of view. That might get a bit tricky, but if we can get the game to open smoothly, I believe we're home free.

Note that the above paragraph was just an idea, and now one that I doubt will work.

~

Good to see people back and posting!

Thanks a bunch everyone!

-Durelin

P.S. - Fordim: when you said 'Barad Dur special forces', I just assumed that you meant 'Dol Guldur special forces', and I went ahead and changed it, but then I realized you might have meant Barad Dur. So, am I right or wrong...?

Thanks again!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

P.S. - Fordim: when you said 'Barad Dur special forces', I just assumed that you meant 'Dol Guldur special forces', and I went ahead and changed it, but then I realized you might have meant Barad Dur. So, am I right or wrong...?

Bad Fordim, Bad. No donut!

You are quite right Durelin, I meant Dol Guldur special forces. Although, really, all of Sauron's servants are directed by the Eye, so wherever you have Sauron's forces you have Barad Dur, so I was right, in a manner of speaking. . . ;)

One more thing:

dibs dibs dibs on one of the Lorien guards!!!! (Never played an Elf -- I guarantee, this guy is NOT going to be a Mary Sue. . . heh heh heh)

[Roa_Aoife]

Glad the numbers were straightened out. Sorry it's been so long, been really busy. I agree that we should have the minor charachters point of view. It'll really add to the story and make more rounded. If necessary, some roleplayers could double up, and have one main charachter and one minor. Love the idea for the cameo. Oh, and I so call dibs on an ambassador. :p

[Amanaduial the archer]

Well, if you're calling the ambassador, I 'call' the easterling captain ;)

[Durelin]

Actually, Aman, I prefer the second option for the Envoy, which contains two ambassadors, so you could be the second ambassador. Or, if the majority prefers the first option (with only one ambassador and 2 guards), then I know you are a wonderful easterling... :D Whichever you would prefer.

[piosenniel]

How does this look? And let me know which Lorien Envoy scenario you decide on.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Character List

-------------------------------------------------

Dol Guldur/Barad Dur ‘Special Forces’

1 Easterling captain ‘Special Forces’ - Amanaduial

1 Easterling grunt ‘Special Forces’ (servant of the captain) - Aylwen Dreamsong

1 Orc captain ‘Special Forces’

1 Orc grunt ‘Special Forces’ (slave of the captain?)
~*~

Elves of Mirkwood scouts

1.) Male Mirkwood Elf

2.) Male Mirkwood Elf

3.) Male Mirkwood Elf

4.) Male Mirkwood Elf
~*~

Elves of Lorien Envoy to Mirkwood Elves/Ambassadors from Lorien

SCENARIO I

1 ambassador (female Lorien Elf) - Roa_Aoife

1 ambassadorial maidservant/manservant (female Lorien Elf)

Guards

1.) Male Lorien Elf – Fordim Hedgethistle

2.) Male Lorien Elf
OR

SCENARIO II

1.) Female Lorien Elf – Roa_Aoife

2.) Male Lorien Elf

1 Lorien Elf ambassadorial maidservant/manservant

1 male Lorien Elf guard – Fordim Hedgethistle

~*~

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

Dol Guldur/Barad Dur ‘Main Force’

1 Orc/Easterling captain

1 Orc/Easterling grunt
(it would be preferable if it turned out to be one Easterling and one Orc...)

~*~

CAMEO

1 male Lorien Elf (warrior of the defense)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

In support of the second Lorien Envoy scenario -- I fully intend my "guard" to be a pretty doughty fellow (not a Noldor, but a Firstborn who cut his teeth fighting orcs and other assorted baddies alongside Celeborn and Thingol before the Noldor arrived 'back' in Middle-Earth). Given the kind of presence that I hope Pio will let me give him, having him go along as 'just' one guard would be believable.

Note to Pio -- I have read the Redbook for the Shire, and intend to follow it. No magic weapons, no special abilities, just a really ancient and strong Elf (with some interesting -- I hope -- character flaws).

[piosenniel]

Please Note:

We are looking at at the very earliest, the end of May, and more likely the first of June to open this game.

This gives you plenty of time to tighten up the proposal, choose your character and get ALL of your Character Bios and First Posts onto THIS THREAD.

Both Child of the 7th Age and I will then review the proposal and get our suggestions back to you.

~*~ Pio

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USE THIS CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FORM TO PRESENT YOUR CHARACTER:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE:

GENDER:

WEAPONS (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.):

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

~*~

(Accompanied by:)

"Your Name" 's post:

[Amanaduial the archer]

I actually prefer the first scenario - there isn't really much difference between them, but I prefer the first.

(and I would so like to be an easterling! ;) )

[Durelin]

Thank you much, Pio, that's wonderful! Though it looks like, either way we go with the envoy scenario, Aman will be an easterling. Which I am certainly happy with!

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I call dibs on a leftover easterling! (Man, you guys and gals are fast! :))

Unless someone else really really wants to be an easterling, I suppose. But I do so love easterlings...;)

-Aylwen

[piosenniel]

Aman, Aylwen, Roa, Fordim:

Take a look at the Character List and see if you have been put where you want to be.

~*~ Pio

[Roa_Aoife]

I'm fine with where I am. I like the second scenario better, becuase it would make more sense. Twoa= ambassadors are better than one. And don't froget Fordim- there are NPC's, so just becuase only one Lorien Guard is a main charachter, that doesn't make him the only protection.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Durelin -- I've been thinking about the nitty-gritty details of how to move these three groups about, and I think I might have had a bit of an epiphany in the shower (where I have all my strokes of brilliance).

I've never really been happy with the idea of the Easterlings/orcs capturing the Lorien envoy at the borders of Lorien, then taking them all the way back to Mirkwood, then turning around and attacking Lorien again (even though I did propose this very plot myself!): so how about this. . .?

The story begins in three places: the baddies heading south along the River to join the larger force of Special Forces getting ready for the attack on Lorien -- the baddies are themselves returning from a scouting mission up the River; the Mirkwood scouts heading south through Mirkwood; the Lorien envoy leaving the borders of Lorien and heading roughly north-west toward the woodmen.

The Lorien envoy gets to the borders Mirkwood all on their own and are then captured by the Easterling/orc baddies who happen to stumble on them. They take the Lorien Envoy to join the Special Forces; during the trip, the envoy figures out the plan to attack Lorien away from the main assault and get at Galadriel. Meanwhile, the Mirkwood scouts have spotted the main group of Special Forces and are following them. They then spot the baddies taking the Lorien envoy to join the main body of Special Forces, free the envoy, and then we go as planned (Elves of Lorien and Mirkwood race to warn Lorien, hold off the attack of Special Forces as best they can while they wait for reinforcements).

I realise that there's very little difference here from what we've talked about already. The main thing I wanted to address was this capture of the envoy near Lorien (why in the world capture them, only to return them to Mirkwood, and then turn around to go back to Lorien to attack?) The 'chance' meeting of the baddies and the envoy right near Mirkwood not only makes more sense in the story, but it will also give the envoy time to write about their journey to Mirkood, the baddies to write about their journey south after raiding along the River, and the Mirkwood scouts a chance to write about following the main force of baddies out of Dol Guldur.

Hope this makes sense. Really looking forward to playing this game!

[Durelin]

You know, I never did think about location...I took for granted that the Lorien envoy would be captured by the baddies...somewhere in the middle... The middle of what?, you may ask, and I really can't answer that. I don't know what I was thinking!

That makes perfect sense, and though, yes, it is relatively the plan we had, the few differences help to smooth out the story. Instead of the 'special forces' (okay creative minds: come up with a name!) separating from the main forces after they depart Mirkwood, they meet up before the attack, with only the main forces departing from Mirkwood (and the special forces already out on a scouting mission). Then they separate for the attack, as they draw near to Lorien, correct?

Excellent! Yes, I think there are many new possibilities. And thank you, Fordim, for that...you have solved a problem that I was not even aware of! I have found that I am quite oblivious at times...usually the hard way.

I need to get working on finishing up the proposal form, fleshing it out and correcting problems. I will soon, working around my biology project and theology paper. So, anything you see that you object to or you'd like to have more discussion on, please let me know!

So far: the second scenario for the envoy seems to be favored, but only really 2 to 1. I no longer am sure if I will vote...I believe either scenario would be fine, and the second one no longer seems as easily done, as one guard is a bit of a stretch for two ambassadors, and although I did think of NPCs, they would be a bit tricky to carry along as actual characters in such a small group. The interactions kind of demand a player for all the characters. Anyway, I hope I can get more input on it, if anyone really sees a difference. If not, we'll go with the second one.

Thanks again, everyone!

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I'm just checking in on everyone. . .

Still alive?

[Durelin]

I hate to sound mean, but...please, everyone, I ask you to stop posting such posts. If you have nothing other to say than to ask why no one is posting, when you have not been posting comments trying to keep the thread alive yourself, then...please, just try and revive discussion. :) Really, I'm not yelling.

Thank you, though, for being concerned with everyone's well-being. ;)

I have been swamped by school work, and have just worked through most of it. Just have that test to make up... So, I will be working on finishing up the proposal form very soon. I will then submit it to Pio and Child, and it will be final. It has been postponed too long, and I apologize for my slothfulness. This means that if you feel that anything needs to be changed or added you must let me know.

Another thing we need to have decided is what we will name the RPG. Right now the choices are: Bloodstained Elanor or Elanor Agarwaen ("Bloodstained Elanor" in Elvish). If anyone has another suggestion, please go ahead and post it.

Thanks again, everyone. And forgive me for yelling, and lacking time.

-Durelin

[Roa_Aoife]

Personally, I like the first one better. Sorry bout the lack of posting, but I'm swamped with end-of the semmester work. At the moment, survival seems a dim hope...

[Durelin]

Okay. I guess we're done.

~

Title: Bloodstained Elanor

Historical Background:
TA 3019, February - March

Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back all three times.

Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood. Still, the evil his held off in Mirkwood, as well, at least till the destruction of the Ring.

With the destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.

On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Mirkwood, and Celeborn receives southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.

This story tells of the last of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.
__________________________________

Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus bringing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. In their pursuit, they discover a plan that will surely kill any hopes of this stronghold of beauty standing against the power of Dol Guldur any longer. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain the beautiful leaves of the mallorn.
__________________________________

The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur, and reach Lorien in time to drive back the orcs from Lorien.

This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.
__________________________________

Starting Location: Mirkwood/Outside Lorien

Likely destination: Lorien
__________________________________

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.

The storyline itself or plot covers 11 days.

This game requires a time commitment of 3 months from me, the game owner and from the major players.
__________________________________
Characters needed:
Dol Guldur
1 Easterling captain – Amanduial the Archer
1 Easterling grunt (servant of the captain?) – Aylwen Dreamsong
1 orc captain
1 orc grunt (slave of the captain?)

Mirkwood Scouts:
1 Male Elf scout captain - Durelin
3 Male Elf scouts

Lorien Envoy to woodmen:

1 Female Ambassador – Roa Aoife
1 Male Ambassador
1 ambassadorial maidservant/manservant
1 guard – Fordim Hedgethistle (+ carry along character)*

Secondary Characters – Dol Guldur main forces:

1 Easterling captain
1 Orc grunt

Cameo:

1 Lorien warrior of the defense

~

*It would be great if a second guard could be carried along by you, Fordhim, as there is just something wrong with having only one guard.

--------------

And here's an improved detailed outline:

Army prepares to march from Dol Guldur (day 1)
Mirkwood scouts discover army (day 1), and, as it begins to march toward Lorien, they decide to follow (day 2 – 3)
Lorien envoy is on their way to the Woodmen (days 1 – 3), a good ways outside Lorien on day 1
Envoy crosses path of army (the two are heading in opposite directions, and it is hard to avoid a large army), and are captured (day 3)
Small force breaks off to take the captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Mirkwood scouts, following, are able to ambush (night day 3) this force and rescue the captives
The scouts learn of the plans: a special force will attack from another direction and assault Caras Galadon (day 4)
The elven party races back to Lorien from the north at the greatest possible speed – the trolls slow the baddies down (days 4 – 7)
When they arrive (night day 9), the battle is about to begin:
When the army reaches the Anduin around mid-day on the 9th day, they stop to put up the floating bridges. They plan to begin the attack soon after dawn the next day. The Mirkwood scouts + Lorien envoy reach the borders of Lorien a little before dusk, and reach Caras Galadon soon after dusk. A council of war then follows during the night.
The plan of the special force is foiled, and the entire army retreats (day 11)


--------------

Here's the adjusted timeframes:

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party scouts out and follows army (days 1 – 3)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (night of day 3 – day 4)
Race back to Lorien (days 4 – 7)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (night of day 7 – day 8)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)

--------------

Arvedui - I still need to know what role you will play. Thanks.
Everyone else, just keep working on the bios.

See you at the party!

-Durelin

[piosenniel]

Durelin, Roa_Aoife, Aman, Aylwen, Fordim, Arvedui

I've sent you all a PM, but I will also place this here:

The RPG proposal form is now complete – with the exception of the Character Bio and First Post for your chosen character.

Please get those onto the Planning Thread ASAP so that I can fit them into the proposal form.

Here is the basic storyline with which you are working:
__________________________________

Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus causing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy from Lorien has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. In their pursuit, they discover a plan that will surely kill any hopes of this stronghold of beauty standing against the power of Dol Guldur any longer. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain their beautiful leaves.
__________________________________

The game will not be considered for play by the Moderators until the bios and posts are on board.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio, Game Moderator

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ok, here we go then:

The Easterling Captain

Name: Koran Cenrbyt.

AGE: Around thirty.

RACE: Haradrim.

GENDER: Male.

WEAPONS: Koran can work well with the bow and arrow, or with a crossbow, and carries a smaller crossbow with him - it is about two thirds of his arm. However, close combat weapons are more practical: he is very profficient with a one handed sword, which is more nimble and light than a broadsword. The sword he carries is not particularly fine, fairly plain: the blade is about 80cm long, five centimetres across, and does not bear any special inscriptions or runes; the handle is carefully bound, wound leather and the pommel, the only decorative part of the sword, is a metal disc, rimmed around the outside and carved with a fire motif in the centre - the stigma of Koran's clan, the Cenbryts. However, despite its plainess, the sword is well-balanced and excellent to fight with, and fight well he does: Koran has used this sword since he was twenty five or so. It is fairly plain because although a weapon can save your life, he knows that it is not worth getting attached to an inanimate weapon - although the the careful binding and the way the blade is always perfectly sharp bear witness to the fact that he knows the sense in taking care of it. However, such dullness of deisgn does not extend to his other special weapon: a blade about the length of his forearm and hand together, slanting to a point all the way along. It is rather too short to be a sword, but too long to be a dagger or knife, so rests somewhere in between. The blade is made of some far finer material and the hilt, it has been said by several others, is silver: it is metal rather than leather, but fits perfectly into Koran's hand from use. The pommel is a stone the size of the ball of your thumb, bound over the top and sides with leather, which is a strange, dangerous, smoky red. Koran fights excellently with both of the two close combat weapons, sometimes simultaneously. He never lets the smaller blade away from him.

APPEARANCE: Koran is typically dark, like most of his people - his almost black hair is kept short, although it curls a little at the nape is his neck and around the bottom of his ears. His dark eyes are quite narrow from a life in the sun, and seem naturally hard and cynical, although hardness is not all they can show. His skin is quite sallow, tanned from the sun, and firm, a strong jaw and fine cheeks making him quite good looking, charismatic. However, one side of his face is marred: a slanted scar runs from across the middle of one cheek, slanting down from the top of his left ear to about an inch to the side of his left nostril. He is quite tall, standing at about 5 ft 11, and is not built very chunkily: rather, his build is athletic, slim but very, very well-muscled, and although he is slim, it would probably be fatal to underestimate his strength and speed. Besides, his shirt is usually left open at the neck to about 10cm below the centre of his collar bone, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and is usually a dirty white colour. At his neck he wears a traditional, simple brown bead necklace with the crest of the Cenbryts on the centre bead again. On his right (sword) arm, visible because of the usually rolled-up sleeves, is a black tattoo of the Cenbryt flame. Over the shirt he wears a leather jerkin, again usually open, and if it is particularly cold he will wear a black, rather stained leather coat over this. Leather riding boots are worn to the knee over dark trousers.

PERSONALITY: Not naturally fiery, Koran nonetheless has a volcanic temper on him when the need arises, such as in the incident with Vlad (see History). He resents being thrown around or stepped upon, and when his fighting prowess is so high, he won’t stand for it. His skills are quite well known, gaining him enemies and allies, although he has as yet no wife or life-partner – he spends much time fighting away, a lifestyle that suits him very well, and his focus makes it difficult for other things. However, Koran is prone to dreaming and thinking deeply when he has spare time – he is not unloving although those who do not know him might think him cold. However, his close friends and those he has fought with know him well enough and would trust him with their lives in battle and in life (provided clan-feuds are not involved). His reputation has not made him overly cocky, as he knows that carelessness can cost much – for example, arrogance and cockiness in a fight once nearly cost him his sight, as can be seen from the long cut across one cheek, marring his good looks. He is naturally quite charismatic and once well known is good company – however, to get on his bad side is a fatal mistake. He is not altogether pleased to be on this mission and, as he is far from stupid, knows exactly why his cousins manipulated him into it – however, he is from a proud line, and would not let anyone know his feelings about this.

HISTORY: Although his relatively young age might make it seem strange, Koran is the head of his clan – this could be guessed from the carved necklace and sword-pommel, and also from the tattoo of his clan’s stigma on his sword arm, mandatory for the leader of the tribe. Koran’s family have always been a fighting one, but have sustained great losses more recently: his father, the then-head of the tribe, died when Koran was twelve or thirteen. He was one of six, four brothers and two sisters. Koran was third in line to become head of the tribe and had no real wish to become head, as it is a tying and dutiful job despite the rewards, and he could have lived as he wished more easily without the title. But, one by one, his two elder brothers and his one younger brother, along with one sister, fell in battle, and the title fell to Koran when he was twenty five years old. By this time, however, he already had a reputation, of a sort – he fought and rode well, had done since he was in his mid-teens.

When he was younger, from about the age of fifteen, he worked in a small group of youths around his age to scout out villages or settlements for raids or ahead of a larger group. However, this group had a very set hierarchy, and Koran fell foul of the oldest boy, a fiery-headed loudmouth nineteen year old called Vlad, more than once. Vlad took pleasure in beating the younger boys, but when Koran was seventeen, he got into a full fight with the older boy, then twenty one, and told him exactly what he thought of him – Vlad lost an eye in the fight, but Koran did not get away without a fight, and bears a long scar from the side of his ribcage to the opposite hip still, a faded white line. Although he was beaten for his trouble, Koran was admired for it, and, now the head of the group, he won admiration from many…but was not, of course, without enemies.

His two cousins, Ferach and Cortim, are two of the most notable of these – after Koran, the last son of his family, dies, they will be in line to inherit leadership of the Cenbryts. They are therefore fairly keen to get rid of their young cousin – and their influence was the main reason he is now leading the group in Mirkwood. His cousins sent him saying it was only proper that the head of one of the most affluent (hardly!) clans was sent, as a note of morale – and they very much doubt they will ever see him again.



I am not sure what to post on the first post - where will we be starting?

Hope you approve,

- Aman

[Durelin]

Of course I approve! Excellent, as usual, Aman. His history is marvellously done, his description is deeply detailed, and Koran is perfect for the job. ;)

Regarding the first posts, for everyone: I really never did specify where exactly we would start out. Here's the best I came up with:

The game should start out with posts from everyone, placed in a specific order from group to group. In writing your posts, this order shouldn't be worried about. The importance is where you begin:

The Mirkwood scouts will begin in southern Mirkwood, and the first post should have them first discovering the army. It would seem likely that observations of Dol Guldur would lead them to further invesitgation, as the fortress would seem largely quiet. It is a possibility that troops (or even the trolls, perhaps) could be seen marching out of the fortress (in the trolls' case, be lead out of the fortress) to gather with the rest of the army. These troops could be followed to discover the gathering place of the army.

The baddies within the army will want to post of preparations for departure. They will be waiting to depart for Lorien. The exact location of where they gather outside the forest, to the north of Dol Guldur (I'm looking at a map right now, so it may sound more reasonable to me...). They will be heading west and slightly south toward Lorien, ready to cross the Anduin. At the River is where the special forces will break away from the rest of the army. Perhaps some excitement might arise from trying to get the trolls settled in...

The Lorien envoy will begin outside Lorien, perhaps having left that morning, with it now being midday in your post. You will be heading north, and so it is inevitable that you will cross the path of the army. How exactly that will happen has yet to be fully decided, of course.... But you guys don't know you're going to be captured yet, much less that there's an army at all.

I hope that helps. This should help everyone some more (again, I hope):

Army’s Attack Plan

Army departs from Dol Guldur and heads straight west, and a little south, toward Lorien. Among the army are trolls to build a floating bridge across the Anduin. When the Anduin is reached, and the building of the bridge begins, the special force separates, heading around to attack Caras Galadon from the South, timing their attack to as soon after the army moves in as possible.
The elven party will make their way around to the north, avoiding any chance of coming across the army. Since the army, and the special forces (till the Anduin is reached) will be slowed by the trolls, as well as the large numbers, the elven party has a pretty good chance of reaching Lorien before the army attacks.

Okay. We're getting there. And watch me be the last to get my bio and first post up. :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone. You're patient and hard working. I'm anxiously awaiting bios and first posts from everyone, but don't rush yourselves. Again, wonderful job, Aman.

I believe we're getting there...still think we can start up around the 1st of June? I think so. :D

-Durelin

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

OK, here it is -- I didn't win the race to get the first bio and post up, even though I've been working on it diligently for over a week now! -- thanks to the request that I come up with a couple of carry along guards (which I had to incorporate into the post).

I'm happy to do it, of course, I just rankle at the lost opportunity to be first -- curse you Aman! :mad:

I wasn't sure what kind of info I had to give for my carry-alongs in addition to what goes in the post. There's not much more than you see there, really, but at any rate:

Megilaes and Caranbaith are fraternal twin brothers. They are young Elves, only about three hundred years old, who are being taught the ways of Lorien warfare by Ambarturion (my guy). They are both armed with bows and the short daggers favoured by the Silvan Elves. They are both fair haired, but Megliaes is the taller of the two, while Caranbaith has the fairer singing voice.


NAME: Ambarturion

AGE: 7060

RACE: Elf (Silvan)

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Ambarturion bears a bow of the Galadhrim and an ancient sword of Doriath. The sword is made of white steel and engraved in such a manner that when drawn in moonlight it appears to glow like a descended star. Its blade is long and tapered, as was the manner of weaponry for Elves in the First Age, and the pommel is wrapped in tightly bound cords of supple leather. Upon the crosspiece there is mounted a single pale gem – the last heirloom of his house.

APPEARANCE: Ambarturion is very tall and very graceful, and even among the Elves of Lorien he is known for the extremity of both his beauty and the severity of countenance which mars it. His raven-black hair is cropped just below the shoulders and his keen grey eyes shine with the memory of the fearless dark. His face is stern and proud, but possessed of great nobility and lineage. He wears the grey cloak of Lorien over a simple tunic and doublet of forest green, and his long legs are clad in supple breeches also of forest hue. He bears neither ornament nor jewel. Ambarturion rarely smiles or laughs.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Ambarturion bears himself as one of the Noldor, for he has spent almost his whole life in the company and service of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. His life is defined by the love that binds him to his Lord and Lady, and this is the source both of his greatness and of the distant pride that many remark in him. But for his loyalty to them, Ambarturion would long ago have forsaken Middle-Earth and made the journey to the Grey Havens – as he is ever counselling the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim to do. He cares little for the other folk of Middle-Earth, and is convinced that whether Sauron conquer them or not is of little purpose, for none of their works or deeds has rivalled those of the Elves in the Elder Days. Of all the Free Peoples, he values only the Ents and the Dunedain, but even they are the fallen remnants of a once mightier race.

HISTORY: Born in the First Years of the Sun, Ambarturion was raised within the protection of the Girdle of Melian where Thingol reigned as High King. When he was old enough to enter the service of a lord, he swore fealty to his kinsman Celeborn and to his Lady, beautiful and glorious beyond bearing. Since then, his fate has been bound to that of his Lord and Lady and his life has been the chronicle of his people’s long defeat. His tears at Ninaeth Arnodad were shed for his brother and father who were slain by balrogs in the first charge of the Elves. He beheld with wonder the host of the Valar and their destruction of Thangbad. He marched under the banners of Thingol and Gil-Galad in their defeats of Sauron, and was among those who Galadriel sent to welcome the Faithful back to Middle-Earth at the fall of Numenor. It was upon his return from this journey that his mother told him of her decision to leave Middle-Earth, and he had longed to follow her, for he loved her greatly and their parting was grievous. But the love he bore for Celeborn and Galadriel overcame this desire and his mother departed alone.

Through the long tale of years since then, his thoughts have turned increasingly to the Undying Lands. For the faint echo of the West that he had seen within the Girdle has grown with the years until it has become as a waking dream for him: ever present before his eyes, dulling the small world of mortal folk and leading him further and further away from their troubles. It was a sore trial for him to know that the One Ring had been within the very grasp of his Lady, but that she had let it slip away from her and into the hands of Sauron, borne thence by a race of witless folk unsung and unheralded in any song or tale. His weariness with Middle-Earth has been made more unbearable through the Ages by the constant loss of those companions of his youth who had, like him, sworn fealty to Celeborn in Melian. Many of his friends fell in the endless battles against the servants of Thangbad and then Mordor. The rest have taken their place in the ships that sailed away from these shores. Of all those who had once gathered about Celeborn as his Companions, Ambarturion alone remains.

On the day when he first came to Lothlorien with his Lord, he made the ways of the forest his study, and spent all his energies in preparing for the land’s defence. None among the Elves bore a steadier hand with the bow, and his sword, already tempered by two Ages of service in the war against Melkor and his servants, had been sharpened and renewed through countless years of careful practice. For centuries he has been entrusted with the instruction of younger Elves in the art of war, but he wearied of teaching only, and has taken to wandering the fringes of the Golden Wood for weeks on end, relentlessly prowling and hunting for their enemies. His journeys have taken him further and further afield, as far as the fringes of Mirkwood to the East, and to the Gladden Fields and the Brown Lands to the North and South. And always in these journeys is his purpose the same: to slay the servants of Sauron in order to forestall their inevitable victory for as long as he might, in the hopes that Celeborn and Galadriel will cease their fruitless quest to save Middle-Earth and follow his counsel to take the straight road into the West.


FIRST POST

The light of midday cast Ambartrion’s shadow before him as he strode easily through the long grass of the Vale of Anduin. The party had left the eaves of Lorien in the morning and as always happened when he walked in the outside world, the dull reality of it settled upon him like a fine ash. The trees that stood in clumps about the plain were naked sticks that clung to life in a chill and desolate landscape, little different to him than the Brown Lands to the South. There came to his keen ears from time to time the falling cry of desperate birds and the rush of troubled waters over impertinent stones. He sought the solace of memory, moving in his mind across earth that seemed more real than the solid ground beneath his feet. More and more had he done so of late, to the point where the few companions that he allowed to join him in his journeys outside the Golden Wood became concerned that he was withdrawing from the waking world of Middle-Earth to a point where he could not, perhaps, return. And, indeed, he was always reluctant to leave the lands of memory and rejoin the fallen and stale world of the present reality, and was often curt with those who called him hither.

This time it was his student Caranbaith who called him back. With a light touch on his master’s shoulder, the youth pointed to the distant horizon saying, “If I see aright, the Mirrormere lies before us, and we are heading a bit west of north. Do we not take the long way round to the Woodmen of Mirkwood by this route?” Ambarturion sighed at the youth, impatient with his question. Megilaes, Caranbaith’s brother and also student to Ambarturion, caught the manner of their master’s reaction and quickly held his tongue.

“Your eyes do not deceive you,” he replied quickly. “There is great need of haste put upon us, but these lands are dangerous and we must take what care we can. I intend to lead the ambassadors somewhat west of the Anduin for a day before turning toward the River. There is a place two days’ march from where we shall stop this night where we can ford the waters and then strike north and east to the Woodmen.” Caranbaith nodded quickly and fell silent before the manner of his master. He and his brother had been in his tutelage for only a short time, barely one lifetime of mortal Men, but in that time he had found his master to be impenetrable in many ways. On some days he would answer their questions with patient forbearance of their youth, gently instructing them in the ways of war. On days such as this appeared to be, however, he resented any intrusion to his thoughts and would quickly put down any attempt to interrupt his inner life. Sensing that he would say no more that day, the brothers fell back to walk a few paces behind their master.

And thus did the company proceed through that afternoon. Ambarturion strode along out front, his pace never slackening or changing, his eyes fixed straight ahead, alert to all possible danger, but unseeing of much that passed before the eyes of the others, lost as he was in the world of his youth. Behind him followed his students, who diligently swept the horizon with their keen eyes as they had been taught, ever vigilant against the threats of this uncertain world. Behind them came the ambassadors, with their servant in the rear of the little column keeping watch behind.

[Durelin]

Excellent as well, Fordim. And I am very sorry about the request for a couple carry-alongs...but, it was only a request. :D Thank you a thousand times over for taking on that request.

It's interesting, I planned for my character to be greatly concerned for the wellfare of Middle Earth, and in love with the land still.

Great, now I must get working on mine.

Arvedui - I still need to know what character you wish to play very soon, and hopefully get a bio from you soon thereafter. I understand that people get busy, but I just want to keep reminding you. :)

-Durelin

[Arvedui III]

Sorry *pant* I'm *pant* late. Lots of junk has been about, but I won't go into that. Herm...may I play one of the Mirkwood scouts? I'll have the profile up by tonight.

[piosenniel]

Arvedui

Have put you on the proposal as one of the Mirkwoodians. :)

~*~ Pio

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

*Yawn* All righty, I'm here, with one Easterling servant in tow. Let me know what you guys and gals think. I'll get a first post up soon, but for now I'm exhausted seeing as how it's two in the morning. In any case, do you have plans for your first post, Aman, that might be affected by my first post? I just want to make sure. :)

Name: Ehan Fazian

Age: Early twenties

Race: Haradrim

Gender: Male

Weapons: Ehan likes to think that he can do anything with his light, thin rapier. The blade is inscribed with prayers and blessings in his native tongue, while the hilt and pommel are unadorned and carved of plain, dark, but well polished wood. Ehan also carries two daggers given to him by his brother, but rarely, if ever, does he use them. He’s useless with the bow, and could kill himself just trying to get an arrow to fly much less trying to get it to hit any sort of target. Ehan fights like everything is a game, and enjoys every minute spent with his sword in hand.

Appearance: Standing just below six feet, Ehan is built tall and lean like most men of his clan. His brown skin and athletic build are both testament to her heritage and upbringing. Ehan’s face has a noble bone structure, with the stubborn chin and high cheekbones that many of his proud tribe possesses. Only a slight scar beneath his right eye, scraping all the way to his temple and hairline, mars Ehan’s face. His thick, wispy crop of soft, black hair is cut to the bottom of his neck and often falls in his face, framing his boyish face. Ehan’s black eyes are playful and bright, and his lips are often seen upturned in a smile or infected with laughter.

Personality: Ehan takes few things seriously, for at heart he is still the young, wild boy in spirit that he used to be in body. He treats everything as a game and a new experience, even if it is a task he accomplishes everyday. Ehan likes to make light of any situation, looking on the bright side or at least making a joke about any subject he deems too serious. Ehan never wonders if his childlike persona bothers others, for even if it does he will not change the person he loves to be. He is not so much carefree or happy, as much as he is just simple and blunt. Ehan sees everything in black and white, no greys or in-betweens, for Ehan sees everything with the clarity and simplicity of a child. His inability to take many things seriously might be his downfall, but it hasn’t cost him yet, and has just given him more fuel to do anything he does. When Ehan fights and uses his rapier, he battles in a gallant, brave manner as he thinks a warrior of old would, or perhaps fiercely and passionately as he thinks a squalid corsair would. Ehan’s life is a mockery and imitation of the excitement and adventure he wishes his life really had. Dying does not frighten Ehan, and the only fear that springs from death is the fear that he might not have lived and done all he could.

History: When Ehan was born, his grandfather Faziar was the leader of the clan. He headed a group of mentally and physically strong-willed men and women. Faziar, the namesake of the clan, passed away in battle, along with Ehan’s mother and several others when Ehan was not yet ten years old. At this point, Ehan’s father took over, leading the clan and his four children. Ehan was youngest of three boys and one girl.

Ehan spent a good deal of time with his older sister, who had seniority over him by three years. His sister spun tales and weaved stories of the highest caliber, and these themes and morals were always in his heart. Ehan’s older brothers taught him all there was to know about swordplay, but were at a loss when it came to teaching him how to send an arrow flying. This brought much comedy to the youngest generation of the Fazian clan, but it also brought a few minor injuries until it got to the point where Ehan was not allowed near a bow and quiver.

Ehan’s father passed away in battle when Ehan was fifteen, as did his eldest brother and beloved sister. After losing his best friend, Ehan kept her memory alive by living as the heroes in her stories, or living with the values he thought they would possess. Ehan’s remaining older brother took over, leading the clan with brash abandon that came with his arrogance and cockiness. Ehan’s brother liked to spread his people as thin as he could, dabbling the strong Fazian clan in any skirmishes or situations he could. So, Ehan was sent as representative and leader of a small group of his clan to work with the forces entering Mirkwood, working under Koran.

He sees it as another adventure.

--

'Night, all!

-Aylwen

[piosenniel]

Bringing these forward – so that Aman and Aylwen can coordinate their first posts:

Aman:

I am not sure what to post on the first post - where will we be starting?

----------------------------------

From Durelin:

The baddies within the army will want to post of preparations for departure. They will be waiting to depart for Lorien. The exact location of where they gather outside the forest, to the north of Dol Guldur (I'm looking at a map right now, so it may sound more reasonable to me...). They will be heading west and slightly south toward Lorien, ready to cross the Anduin. At the River is where the special forces will break away from the rest of the army. Perhaps some excitement might arise from trying to get the trolls settled in...

Also:

Army’s Attack Plan

Army departs from Dol Guldur and heads straight west, and a little south, toward Lorien. Among the army are trolls to build a floating bridge across the Anduin. When the Anduin is reached, and the building of the bridge begins, the special force separates, heading around to attack Caras Galadon from the South, timing their attack to as soon after the army moves in as possible.

[Durelin]

Here's my bio, with a first post soon to come. BIO ON THE PROPOSAL FORM ~*~ PIO

Name: Calenvása

Age: 4,276

Race: Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood

Gender: Male

Weapons: Calenvása has never had need of learning the arts of war, nor has he ever wandered far from his home in Mirkwood. Since it has only been a short time that his homeland has been in danger, and Calenvása has found it hard to bring himself to defending his land, though it be his, he has never picked up a larger weapon than his hunting knife. It is a fairly long blade, slightly curved, with the sharpened edge along the back of the curve. Engraved in the dark oak handle is the Sun, her rays running both up and down, twisting and encircling both the handle and the blade. Calenvása has always found the Sun to be the greatest beauty of the Earth, this Middle-Earth that he holds dear in his heart, still. Its picture being on this weapon, which he carries at all times, now, does remind him that it sets in the West, as well. The other weapon he carries is a shortbow, another hunting weapon, and very useful within the forest. Both these weapons are useful now that he has given his service to Mirkwood as a Scout.

Appearance: Fairly tall, though not so tall among his kind, standing at 6 feet, 2 inches, he has the light complexion of the Sindarin elves, with typical grey eyes and blonde hair, which is allowed to grown down to just below his waist. He dresses in a tunic and leggings of dark forest colors, soft boots of brown leather, as well as bracers upon his arms.

Personality: Calenvása is still in love with Middle-Earth, and still mesmerized by its beauty. He is able to find so much more wonder in this world than many others, and dreams of nothing more. Never has his thoughts drifted to what he does not have, to what lies beyond. He has never left his own land, though he has wished to for many years. And when Elves and Men fought the Shadow thousands of years ago, the Shadow that has rose again, he remained in his land. His love for the World has never been great enough to overcome his fear. It is hard for Calenvása even now, though he is but a scout. He has no wish to face death, a concept he and his people have had little understanding of for many years, safe in their immortal haven. Even now, when the Shadow has been present within his home itself, he is unable to pick up any weapon more than the ones he has hunted with for many a peaceful year. As a scout, Calenvása predicted that he would not have to face his fears, but his prediction has been proven wrong several times since he first offered his service to Mirkwood. And now that his troop’s scouting has led him closer and closer to Dol Guldur, a pit of evil among part of which was the Elves’ glorious home, he is concerned that he will be forced to face much.

Though this fear has been ever present within him, Calenvása’s intelligence and ability to hide his emotions has allowed him to keep the fear from showing at all, except when he must use his knife or bow. It is mainly because of this that he is still only a Captain. He is a quick thinker, when fear does not prey at his mind, and his wisdom from many years is great. Another thing that impairs him is that he is not much of a leader, as he is reluctant to take command. He is readily able to make decisions, but is very often afraid to act upon them. Calenvása is never found lacking words, and he can be a very charismatic person. Also, he tends to be a very cheery person, always ready with a smile. This cheeriness stems from an insecurity, though, as he is unable to take things too seriously.

Calenvása cannot even think seriously of his fate. He knows only of Middle-Earth, and wishes to know nothing else. He keeps his ears closed to the sound of the Sea, and refuses to follow the Sun into the West. For now, he is content with this denial, as there is much yet to do for his Middle-Earth.

History: Calenvása has dwelt in Mirkwood and watched the Shadow grow over it, doing nothing, for quite some time. But when the fortress of Dol Guldur was made a stronghold of evil within the forest itself, Calenvása decided that it was time he gave his service. He rose to the rank of Captain among the Scouts very quickly, mainly because of his long ties with Mirkwood and its King, Thranduil. He once was offered a position among Thranduil’s councilors - which was offered because of a combination of Calenvása’s wisdom and family ties with the King - but declined it. He would have declined the offer of being made Captain, if he could have.

Authority, responsibility has never been a wish. Being involved in anything has been of little interest to Calenvása, as living has been enough. For years he has fought a war within himself, fighting against his fears with the love he has for Middle-Earth. He still fights it now, but has made much progress. Becoming Scout Captain has been one step, and he has steadily become more determined to do what he can. Unfortunately, he believes that what he can do is very limited.

The men he serves with still wonder about him, but they have grown to know him as of good spirit and good intention. They follow his lead, and lead when there is need of it.

~*~*Durelin's First Post*~*~

As leaves were disturbed in the underbrush of the forest, a cold finger came down to touch Calenvása’s skin and run down his neck. The drop of dew had clung to the leaves well into the morning, hiding from the sunlight of the early morning. The elf forced himself to remain still, though a tremor threatened to run through his body and his hand desired to brush away the itchy stream of water. As he had come to learn after years of practice, becoming someone else was the only way to escape feelings. Calenvása let his mind focus on what his eyes observed, and let it free to view the scene from whatever direction it wished. It of course was impossible for his mind to literally wander freely; it felt so odd only because this was true serenity.

What his eyes observed through thick growth and scattered branches and leaves hanging down into his line of sight was, in particular, a rather large orc garbed in an assortment of leather armor that still left quite a bit of dark skin bare sit and sharpen a huge slab of metal that was obviously thought of as a sword. Not two feet away another orc stood; and another; and another. It had been quite some time since this many dark creatures had been gathered in one spot. In this case, their numbers were so great that they had to gather outside the forest. Because of this, Calenvása could not get close enough to see how large a force was actually gathered here. But his eyes proved keen enough to tell that this was an army, and one comprised of thousands of orcs…

A flash of gold far away before him and to the right caught Calenvása’s eye. An army comprised of thousands of orcs…and easterlings. A more sophisticated type of armor could only mean that evil Men were a part of this force as well. That was to be expected, of course, if this force was meant to carry out specific orders. These specific orders were one of the most important things to be learned from observing this force. For now, though, the most specific Calenvása wished to get was what this army’s destination was.

Calenvása decided to break the serenity and turn his head slowly to each side. He could see the elves that crouched beside him and behind him in the underbrush. They had been intently observing the movements of every single creature assemble among the swiftly clearing trees on the edge of the forest, but Calenvása’s slight movement had brought their eyes to him. Slowly bringing his hand up where it would be visible to all around him, he motioned to them and gestured behind him. They would need to meet to discuss their observations and decide on a plan of action.

One by one the elves moved deeper into the forest, deeper into the cover of the trees. Calenvása waited quiet and still for several minutes to make sure that he was the last to move. All the while his thoughts tried to piece together any clues he might have seen, going through the pictures in his searching for any information that was not obvious. All the while he could only wonder which route the army would take. Would they head north, to attack the part of Mirkwood still held by his kindred? Or would the army head east and south, to the Golden Wood, a sanctuary of beauty and home of his brothers?

It had been several years now that the darkness had been growing, and the role of Calenvása and these elves as scouts had become of dire importance. Much rested in the hands of Calenvása, who had been given command of this scout troop or Mirkwood. He wished with all his heart to help Mirkwood fight back against the Shadow, but he could not help but be discouraged, especially with the image of thousands of orcs assembled just outside the boughs of his home.

Finally feeling that he had given his comrades enough time to make their way a safe distance from the creatures that so tainted the forest. He carefully made his way through the underbrush still in a crouch, and sheathed his belt knife as he did so. He had felt safer with it in his hand as he stared at that orc sharpening his sword.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ok, here we go, see what you think - Aylwen, I am of course open to all changes you wish to make. The reason I have portrayed Ehan as being quite stiff and formal is because he does not currently know Koran very well and as Koran is his immediate superior, would therefore probably not be completely easy with him.

~*~Amanaduial's Post~*~


Koran Cenbryt brushed at a curl of dark hair that crept from behind his ear as he leant over his pack, checking for anything he may have forgotten and running over in his head the route that the army would take. West verging a little South from the North side of the fortress, towards the Wood of Golden Leaves, where...

This was not by any means the first expedition he had been on, and neither was it one that he especially wished to be involved with; but, ironically, it was the one that would probably be most important in the future. The young Haradrim warrior shook his head wryly at the thought, his hand reaching to the beaded necklace he wore, feeling the delicate carving of the flame on the central bead. ’I won’t let anything go wrong…the Cenbryt clan is mine, mine by right, and so it shall remain, no matter what my cousins plot and scheme together…

Koran was not against the rest of the clans, of course: such a thought would be foolhardy, especially when his was waning so much, especially in the last few weeks and months – his cousins, although set to gain his clan for their own, were nonetheless slowly eliminating by sending off on foolhardy missions many of the older warriors who were close to Koran. At this rate, if Koran as to fall, they would inherit a clan without any warriors left! Still, although it was of course a diplomatic move that he saw the sense in, Koran nonetheless felt uneasy about the mission – there was something not right, something that was being hidden from him in all this, even though he was commanding the separate force that would then split off from the main army. That would, of course, include orcs – he curled a lip slightly at this. He detested working with them – he steadfastly believed beetles to have more intelligence than the filthy Uruks. And when he was actually meant to be commanding as an equal with one of them…he shook his head again bitterly. If my brothers were still alive…

“Koran Cenbryt?” The words made the warrior look up to see a younger man standing nearby, at a respectful distance. He rose from his crouch to be level with him, squinting against the sun from the high outpost. The man looked to be several years younger than Koran, and had a surprisingly boyish face, although it was currently all seriousness. As Koran rose, wiping one hand on the back of his trousers, the younger man touched the back of two knuckles of his right hand to the centre of his forehead - a respectful salute. Koran inclined his head - the man was obviously not his superior then, although he still didn't know who he was.

"I am Ehan Fazian," the man continued by means of an introduction. "I will be joining you in the force that splits off from the main army and we will, I gather, be together for most of the journey."

Koran nodded again. "Koran Cenbryt," he added, just to introduce himself personally, although the other obviously knew who he was. Ehan grinned suddenly. "Not a man of very many words, hmm?"

Koran, surprised at the casual tone and phrasing, raised an eyebrow, and the other man raised his chin very slightly, defiant if it came to it. Then he grinned. "If we are to fight together, you may think differently by the end," he replied, his voice soft but more friendly now. "Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?"


~*~*~

Hmm, see what you think :)

[Durelin]

Durelin's first post is up! I placed it with my bio, hoping that would make things easier for you, Pio. (Sorry if they don't...) :D

Very nice, Aman! I hope Aylwen approves of it.

The following is still needed:

Arvedui III's -
Character Choice - Has Chosen See Proposal Form - Pio
Character Bio
First Post

Roa Aoife's -
Character Bio
First Post

Aylwen's -
First Post

Thanks everyone, we're getting there!

-Durelin

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

First Post:

---

"Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?" Ehan relaxed visibly as the man called Koran began to speak in a more friendly manner. The younger easterling let did not hide his amiable expression anymore, though he had already begun to wonder how well his personality would match Koran's. Ehan feared the worst, perhaps a head-on collision and clash between Koran's persona and Ehan's light-hearted simplicity. Still, Ehan pulled himself from the short look into the future and back into the present where he knew his head always belonged, and decided to cross all bridges when he got to them.

"Of course I do, sir!" Ehan cried gallantly, drawing his rapier dramatically and pointing it in the direction of the pathway that led down to where many easterlings had set up camp. Where the orcs were, Ehan did not know, but the thought intrigued him anyway. Seeing such ugly monstrosities brought rise to the blood-thirsty warrior in Ehan, despite the disappointing fact that these 'ugly monstrosities' would be on his side in this whole expedition. What a shame...to think how much fun I could have slaying those things. But there are other enemies. Snapping out of his reverie and realizing that he still stood motionless with his rapier held in the air, Ehan chuckled, embarrassed, and continued, "Yes, right. Onward!" and sheathed his sword.

Ehan led Koran down the path that went downward from the slight hilltop they had formerly been standing on, even though Ehan realized that Koran must have known the route as well. Trying not to kick up dirt on the excursion to the campsites. Ehan looked back once to see Koran looking off into the distance, and the young man wondered if Koran was in another time and place. When the two reached the bottom of the rocky, dusty hill, Ehan turned to face Koran once again. This time, the man hit Ehan with a question before Ehan could say aught else.

"How many has your clan sent with you?" Koran asked, looking at Ehan momentarily before stealing a glance at the sturdy men (and some women) behind Ehan, all the warriors from different tribes and clans.

"Well...I would imagine close to five and ten men...or, well...maybe almost twenty men and women. You know, the Fazian clan has rather strong-minded and strong-bodied ladies, as well. My sister-" Ehan stammered at first, but what should have just been a simple answer turned into a lengthy explanation. When Ehan noticed that Koran didn't seem to have much time for stories, Ehan quieted. "Yes. Well, I would say fifteen strong men and women come from the Fazian clan."

"Right. Good," Koran mused, a light smile playing on his lips.

This is going to turn out to be very interesting...Ehan thought. Yes, I can tell already.

--

Aman, if you have any objections feel free to tell me and I can edit.

-Aylwen

[Amanaduial the archer]

On the contrary, that's lovely, Aylwen :) Thanks.

[piosenniel]

Aylwen

Have moved your post to the proposal form. :D

[piosenniel]

This thread has been opened for the purposes of planning an RPG:

Bloodstained Elanor

_______________________________________________


Use of this Planning Thread is restricted to these writers:

Durelin (RPG Proposer/Owner)

Fordim Hedgethistle

Roa_Aoife

Arvedui III

Amanaduial the Archer

Aylwen Dreamsong

No other writers may use this thread with the exception of the Shire Moderators.

All posts by those other than those listed above will be deleted.

[Arvedui III]

Sorry for the delay. Here is my character. Hope it works.

EDIT: Have put this on the proposal :D ~*~ Pio
------------------
Name: Targil

Race: Sindarian male, of Mirkwood

Age: 3016

Weapons: Born and bred for the hunt, the curve of a blade seems to Targil as the sight of a mountaintop sunrise must seem to others. And of blades he has many. Targil carries two arched hunting knives, and a long, tapered razor, which he employs as throwing edge with great efficiency. Although he also bears a bow and a quiver of arrows, he prefers not to use it in matters of the chase. His knives, unadorned with worn leather grips, seem more fair. And although a light, plain dirk in a black sheath rests at his side, he will only draw it for one type of game: Orcs.

Appearance: Targil is like most Sindarian elves in that has fair features and fine blonde hair that falls to about the middle of his back, save for two braids which hand to his shoulders. He stands about 5'11", making him a little shorter than most elves, and his light blue eyes call even more attention to him. As with all scouts, he wears forest colors, usually a green tunic, brown breeches and soft leather boots.

Personality: Intensely quiet, Targil prefers the stillness of the forest to most anything else.. He is young for an elf, and has never left Mirkwood, but does not care for the world beyond his home. It is not that he fears what lies beyond the woods, but that it just is not important to him. With hunting as his all-consuming passion, he couldn't even begin to imagine how leaving Mirkwood would be worth his while. Targil is simple-hearted, and can't quiet grasp the bigger picture, intelligent though he is. He knows the importance of acting quickly, and knows also that this makes him a bit impulsive, even for an elf. To counteract this, Targil tries to keep his world as simple as possible, relishing in the pleasure of his woodland home and becoming no more than a scout. He has never given thought to much else, and wouldn't have it any other way.

History: Born at the beginning of the second age, Targil fell in love with martial crafts when he was very young, and started training at the tender age of 50. Since then he has seldom been at court, though his father is a merchant who deals with the men of Esgaroth and has some influence. He started serving as a scout when he was 2114, where, as he likes to put it, "There is much more honor than necessary for hunting." Several times he has been offered commissions as a lieutenant, but each time has turned them down, preferring others to make decisions, although he won't hesitate to disobey a stupid order. Quite comfortable in the role he plays, he continues to practice his art, unperturbed by the gathering darkness in Mirkwood. Whatever appears, he will hunt it.

First Post:

He always liked this time of day best, and a thrill ran down his spine as the rest of the scout troop crouched among the shrubs and underbrush. The uncouth sounds of metal and iron shod moving in unison and the familiar but slightly harsh sounds of a force breaking came, filling him with mingled excitement and dread. This was a hunter's dream, this abundance of game. And yet, it was also quite disturbing that a troop he could not see the end of was moving near Mirkwood. His blue eyes flickered from one orc to another, not lingering on the grime and blackness of their arms, armor, their very skin.

Targil lithely rubbed the grey pommel of the dirk that hung by his side, taking care to make any noise in the dewy morn, grinning quietly at the prospect of the hunt to come. Well, if the captain thought it well to hunt. There was a great many of the foul creatures, but Targil had learned long ago that a good elf was worth at least twenty orcs. Perhaps he was being far too keen, and mentally berated himself for jumping to conclusions again. Whatever Calenvasa thought best to do was what he would do. Yet, of all the officers he has served with, that one was the most pensive. It tried his nerves sometimes, but most of the time the captain was right, so Targil was grateful for the exercise in patience.

A figure with golden armor passed and joined a party of about ten other similarly clad forms, apparently forming up for drill. Targil frowned. Orcs were one thing, but men were an entirely different matter. Now he gave up any thoughts of a hunt this morning. It would be folly to go after such a large party, he finally realized. His brow knotted in frustration as he sensed this troop of orcs and men were far beyond his area of expertise. So much was lately, it shouldn't have surprised him. If orcs and men were marching together, the reason for their marching had to be great, and so too must be their numbers. The group they had spotted today was probably naught more than a detachment in a host far more vast. The thought sent chills down his spine.

Quiet suddenly, he sensed his captain moving, and quickly looked over to see what was happening. Calenvasa glanced briefly around at the small band he commanded, and then motioned to withdraw further into the woods. Targil couldn't have been more grateful for the respite from the tenseness of the underbrush. He turned and tread softly back, making sure to give distance between himself and the other scouts. Relaxing and trusting his ingrained sense of stealth would protect him, Targil glanced back toward the vanishing camp, fear now being replaced by apprehension. He stopped, crouching between two roots, and looked to his captain, and then around at the others. All of them glanced nervously around at each other, each elf not daring to brake the silence, wondering what was to be done about the day's discovery.

Targil only hoped one of them knew, for he surely did not.

[piosenniel]

Has anyone heard from Roa_Aoife?

I've sent PM's, but no answer.

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

Haven't heard from her...let's see when her last post was... Hmmm...04-26-2004. It has been almost a month. I'd hate to lose another one, but we may just have to give her up as MIA. I guess I can just try and leave the spot open for her as long as possible, understanding that life gets in the way of everything. But would that be allowed?

[Roa_Aoife]

Hello, and I am terribly sorry about the long delay. No, I am not dead. However, I very regretfully inform you that I must withdraw. Due to complex family issues, among other responsibilities, I will not be able to give the game the time it deserves. For that matter, as I have informed Pio, I won't be posting in the Green Dragon either. I am truly sorry to have let you all down, but this is my only option at the moment. Thank-you for understanding. I hope to be back by middle to late summer, but I don't know. Good-bye for now.

Roa

[piosenniel]

Bloodstained Elanor

Historical Background:

TA 3019; February - March

Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back all three times.

Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood. Still, the evil his held off in Mirkwood, as well, at least till the destruction of the Ring.

With the destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.

On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood. Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Mirkwood, and Celeborn receives southern Mirkwood and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.

This story tells of the last of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.

__________________________________


Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus causing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. In their pursuit, they discover a plan that will surely kill any hopes of this stronghold of beauty standing against the power of Dol Guldur any longer. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain their beautiful leaves.

__________________________________


The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur, and reach Lorien in time to drive back the orcs from Lorien.

This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.

__________________________________


Starting Location: Mirkwood/Outside Lorien

Likely destination: Lorien

__________________________________


Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.

The storyline itself or plot covers 11 days.

This game requires a time commitment of 3 months from me, the game owner and from the major players.

__________________________________

DEDICATED CHARACTERS

1.) Durelin (Game Owner) – Elf Scout Captain from Mirkwood

Name: Calenvása

Age: 4,276

Race: Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood

Gender: Male

Weapons: Calenvása has never had need of learning the arts of war, nor has he ever wandered far from his home in Mirkwood. Since it has only been a short time that his homeland has been in danger, and Calenvása has found it hard to bring himself to defending his land, though it be his, he has never picked up a larger weapon than his hunting knife. It is a fairly long blade, slightly curved, with the sharpened edge along the back of the curve. Engraved in the dark oak handle is the Sun, her rays running both up and down, twisting and encircling both the handle and the blade. Calenvása has always found the Sun to be the greatest beauty of the Earth, this Middle-Earth that he holds dear in his heart, still. Its picture being on this weapon, which he carries at all times, now, does remind him that it sets in the West, as well. The other weapon he carries is a shortbow, another hunting weapon, and very useful within the forest. Both these weapons are useful now that he has given his service to Mirkwood as a Scout.

Appearance: Fairly tall, though not so tall among his kind, standing at 6 feet, 2 inches, he has the light complexion of the Sindarin elves, with typical grey eyes and blonde hair, which is allowed to grown down to just below his waist. He dresses in a tunic and leggings of dark forest colors, soft boots of brown leather, as well as bracers upon his arms.

Personality: Calenvása is still in love with Middle-Earth, and still mesmerized by its beauty. He is able to find so much more wonder in this world than many others, and dreams of nothing more. Never has his thoughts drifted to what he does not have, to what lies beyond. He has never left his own land, though he has wished to for many years. And when Elves and Men fought the Shadow thousands of years ago, the Shadow that has rose again, he remained in his land. His love for the World has never been great enough to overcome his fear. It is hard for Calenvása even now, though he is but a scout. He has no wish to face death, a concept he and his people have had little understanding of for many years, safe in their immortal haven. Even now, when the Shadow has been present within his home itself, he is unable to pick up any weapon more than the ones he has hunted with for many a peaceful year. As a scout, Calenvása predicted that he would not have to face his fears, but his prediction has been proven wrong several times since he first offered his service to Mirkwood. And now that his troop’s scouting has led him closer and closer to Dol Guldur, a pit of evil among part of which was the Elves’ glorious home, he is concerned that he will be forced to face much.

Though this fear has been ever present within him, Calenvása’s intelligence and ability to hide his emotions has allowed him to keep the fear from showing at all, except when he must use his knife or bow. It is mainly because of this that he is still only a Captain. He is a quick thinker, when fear does not prey at his mind, and his wisdom from many years is great. Another thing that impairs him is that he is not much of a leader, as he is reluctant to take command. He is readily able to make decisions, but is very often afraid to act upon them. Calenvása is never found lacking words, and he can be a very charismatic person. Also, he tends to be a very cheery person, always ready with a smile. This cheeriness stems from an insecurity, though, as he is unable to take things too seriously.

Calenvása cannot even think seriously of his fate. He knows only of Middle-Earth, and wishes to know nothing else. He keeps his ears closed to the sound of the Sea, and refuses to follow the Sun into the West. For now, he is content with this denial, as there is much yet to do for his Middle-Earth.

History: Calenvása has dwelt in Mirkwood and watched the Shadow grow over it, doing nothing, for quite some time. But when the fortress of Dol Guldur was made a stronghold of evil within the forest itself, Calenvása decided that it was time he gave his service. He rose to the rank of Captain among the Scouts very quickly, mainly because of his long ties with Mirkwood and its King, Thranduil. He once was offered a position among Thranduil’s councilors - which was offered because of a combination of Calenvása’s wisdom and family ties with the King - but declined it. He would have declined the offer of being made Captain, if he could have.

Authority, responsibility has never been a wish. Being involved in anything has been of little interest to Calenvása, as living has been enough. For years he has fought a war within himself, fighting against his fears with the love he has for Middle-Earth. He still fights it now, but has made much progress. Becoming Scout Captain has been one step, and he has steadily become more determined to do what he can. Unfortunately, he believes that what he can do is very limited.

The men he serves with still wonder about him, but they have grown to know him as of good spirit and good intention. They follow his lead, and lead when there is need of it.

~*~

Durelin's post

As leaves were disturbed in the underbrush of the forest, a cold finger came down to touch Calenvása’s skin and run down his neck. The drop of dew had clung to the leaves well into the morning, hiding from the sunlight of the early morning. The elf forced himself to remain still, though a tremor threatened to run through his body and his hand desired to brush away the itchy stream of water. As he had come to learn after years of practice, becoming someone else was the only way to escape feelings. Calenvása let his mind focus on what his eyes observed, and let it free to view the scene from whatever direction it wished. It of course was impossible for his mind to literally wander freely; it felt so odd only because this was true serenity.

What his eyes observed through thick growth and scattered branches and leaves hanging down into his line of sight was, in particular, a rather large orc garbed in an assortment of leather armor that still left quite a bit of dark skin bare sit and sharpen a huge slab of metal that was obviously thought of as a sword. Not two feet away another orc stood; and another; and another. It had been quite some time since this many dark creatures had been gathered in one spot. In this case, their numbers were so great that they had to gather outside the forest. Because of this, Calenvása could not get close enough to see how large a force was actually gathered here. But his eyes proved keen enough to tell that this was an army, and one comprised of thousands of orcs…

A flash of gold far away before him and to the right caught Calenvása’s eye. An army comprised of thousands of orcs…and easterlings. A more sophisticated type of armor could only mean that evil Men were a part of this force as well. That was to be expected, of course, if this force was meant to carry out specific orders. These specific orders were one of the most important things to be learned from observing this force. For now, though, the most specific Calenvása wished to get was what this army’s destination was.

Calenvása decided to break the serenity and turn his head slowly to each side. He could see the elves that crouched beside him and behind him in the underbrush. They had been intently observing the movements of every single creature assemble among the swiftly clearing trees on the edge of the forest, but Calenvása’s slight movement had brought their eyes to him. Slowly bringing his hand up where it would be visible to all around him, he motioned to them and gestured behind him. They would need to meet to discuss their observations and decide on a plan of action.

One by one the elves moved deeper into the forest, deeper into the cover of the trees. Calenvása waited quiet and still for several minutes to make sure that he was the last to move. All the while his thoughts tried to piece together any clues he might have seen, going through the pictures in his searching for any information that was not obvious. All the while he could only wonder which route the army would take. Would they head north, to attack the part of Mirkwood still held by his kindred? Or would the army head east and south, to the Golden Wood, a sanctuary of beauty and home of his brothers?

It had been several years now that the darkness had been growing, and the role of Calenvása and these elves as scouts had become of dire importance. Much rested in the hands of Calenvása, who had been given command of this scout troop or Mirkwood. He wished with all his heart to help Mirkwood fight back against the Shadow, but he could not help but be discouraged, especially with the image of thousands of orcs assembled just outside the boughs of his home.

Finally feeling that he had given his comrades enough time to make their way a safe distance from the creatures that so tainted the forest. He carefully made his way through the underbrush still in a crouch, and sheathed his belt knife as he did so. He had felt safer with it in his hand as he stared at that orc sharpening his sword.

------------------------------

2.) Amanaduial - The Easterling Captain

Name: Koran Cenrbyt.

AGE: Around thirty.

RACE: Haradrim.

GENDER: Male.

WEAPONS: Koran can work well with the bow and arrow, or with a crossbow, and carries a smaller crossbow with him - it is about two thirds of his arm. However, close combat weapons are more practical: he is very profficient with a one handed sword, which is more nimble and light than a broadsword. The sword he carries is not particularly fine, fairly plain: the blade is about 80cm long, five centimetres across, and does not bear any special inscriptions or runes; the handle is carefully bound, wound leather and the pommel, the only decorative part of the sword, is a metal disc, rimmed around the outside and carved with a fire motif in the centre - the stigma of Koran's clan, the Cenbryts. However, despite its plainess, the sword is well-balanced and excellent to fight with, and fight well he does: Koran has used this sword since he was twenty five or so. It is fairly plain because although a weapon can save your life, he knows that it is not worth getting attached to an inanimate weapon - although the the careful binding and the way the blade is always perfectly sharp bear witness to the fact that he knows the sense in taking care of it. However, such dullness of deisgn does not extend to his other special weapon: a blade about the length of his forearm and hand together, slanting to a point all the way along. It is rather too short to be a sword, but too long to be a dagger or knife, so rests somewhere in between. The blade is made of some far finer material and the hilt, it has been said by several others, is silver: it is metal rather than leather, but fits perfectly into Koran's hand from use. The pommel is a stone the size of the ball of your thumb, bound over the top and sides with leather, which is a strange, dangerous, smoky red. Koran fights excellently with both of the two close combat weapons, sometimes simultaneously. He never lets the smaller blade away from him.

APPEARANCE: Koran is typically dark, like most of his people - his almost black hair is kept short, although it curls a little at the nape is his neck and around the bottom of his ears. His dark eyes are quite narrow from a life in the sun, and seem naturally hard and cynical, although hardness is not all they can show. His skin is quite sallow, tanned from the sun, and firm, a strong jaw and fine cheeks making him quite good looking, charismatic. However, one side of his face is marred: a slanted scar runs from across the middle of one cheek, slanting down from the top of his left ear to about an inch to the side of his left nostril. He is quite tall, standing at about 5 ft 11, and is not built very chunkily: rather, his build is athletic, slim but very, very well-muscled, and although he is slim, it would probably be fatal to underestimate his strength and speed. Besides, his shirt is usually left open at the neck to about 10cm below the centre of his collar bone, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and is usually a dirty white colour. At his neck he wears a traditional, simple brown bead necklace with the crest of the Cenbryts on the centre bead again. On his right (sword) arm, visible because of the usually rolled-up sleeves, is a black tattoo of the Cenbryt flame. Over the shirt he wears a leather jerkin, again usually open, and if it is particularly cold he will wear a black, rather stained leather coat over this. Leather riding boots are worn to the knee over dark trousers.

PERSONALITY: Not naturally fiery, Koran nonetheless has a volcanic temper on him when the need arises, such as in the incident with Vlad (see History). He resents being thrown around or stepped upon, and when his fighting prowess is so high, he won’t stand for it. His skills are quite well known, gaining him enemies and allies, although he has as yet no wife or life-partner – he spends much time fighting away, a lifestyle that suits him very well, and his focus makes it difficult for other things. However, Koran is prone to dreaming and thinking deeply when he has spare time – he is not unloving although those who do not know him might think him cold. However, his close friends and those he has fought with know him well enough and would trust him with their lives in battle and in life (provided clan-feuds are not involved). His reputation has not made him overly cocky, as he knows that carelessness can cost much – for example, arrogance and cockiness in a fight once nearly cost him his sight, as can be seen from the long cut across one cheek, marring his good looks. He is naturally quite charismatic and once well known is good company – however, to get on his bad side is a fatal mistake. He is not altogether pleased to be on this mission and, as he is far from stupid, knows exactly why his cousins manipulated him into it – however, he is from a proud line, and would not let anyone know his feelings about this.

HISTORY: Although his relatively young age might make it seem strange, Koran is the head of his clan – this could be guessed from the carved necklace and sword-pommel, and also from the tattoo of his clan’s stigma on his sword arm, mandatory for the leader of the tribe. Koran’s family have always been a fighting one, but have sustained great losses more recently: his father, the then-head of the tribe, died when Koran was twelve or thirteen. He was one of six, four brothers and two sisters. Koran was third in line to become head of the tribe and had no real wish to become head, as it is a tying and dutiful job despite the rewards, and he could have lived as he wished more easily without the title. But, one by one, his two elder brothers and his one younger brother, along with one sister, fell in battle, and the title fell to Koran when he was twenty five years old. By this time, however, he already had a reputation, of a sort – he fought and rode well, had done since he was in his mid-teens.

When he was younger, from about the age of fifteen, he worked in a small group of youths around his age to scout out villages or settlements for raids or ahead of a larger group. However, this group had a very set hierarchy, and Koran fell foul of the oldest boy, a fiery-headed loudmouth nineteen year old called Vlad, more than once. Vlad took pleasure in beating the younger boys, but when Koran was seventeen, he got into a full fight with the older boy, then twenty one, and told him exactly what he thought of him – Vlad lost an eye in the fight, but Koran did not get away without a fight, and bears a long scar from the side of his ribcage to the opposite hip still, a faded white line. Although he was beaten for his trouble, Koran was admired for it, and, now the head of the group, he won admiration from many…but was not, of course, without enemies.

His two cousins, Ferach and Cortim, are two of the most notable of these – after Koran, the last son of his family, dies, they will be in line to inherit leadership of the Cenbryts. They are therefore fairly keen to get rid of their young cousin – and their influence was the main reason he is now leading the group in Mirkwood. His cousins sent him saying it was only proper that the head of one of the most affluent (hardly!) clans was sent, as a note of morale – and they very much doubt they will ever see him again.

~*~

Amanaduial’s post

Koran Cenbryt brushed at a curl of dark hair that crept from behind his ear as he leant over his pack, checking for anything he may have forgotten and running over in his head the route that the army would take. West verging a little South from the North side of the fortress, towards the Wood of Golden Leaves, where...

This was not by any means the first expedition he had been on, and neither was it one that he especially wished to be involved with; but, ironically, it was the one that would probably be most important in the future. The young Haradrim warrior shook his head wryly at the thought, his hand reaching to the beaded necklace he wore, feeling the delicate carving of the flame on the central bead. ’I won’t let anything go wrong…the Cenbryt clan is mine, mine by right, and so it shall remain, no matter what my cousins plot and scheme together…

Koran was not against the rest of the clans, of course: such a thought would be foolhardy, especially when his was waning so much, especially in the last few weeks and months – his cousins, although set to gain his clan for their own, were nonetheless slowly eliminating by sending off on foolhardy missions many of the older warriors who were close to Koran. At this rate, if Koran as to fall, they would inherit a clan without any warriors left! Still, although it was of course a diplomatic move that he saw the sense in, Koran nonetheless felt uneasy about the mission – there was something not right, something that was being hidden from him in all this, even though he was commanding the separate force that would then split off from the main army. That would, of course, include orcs – he curled a lip slightly at this. He detested working with them – he steadfastly believed beetles to have more intelligence than the filthy Uruks. And when he was actually meant to be commanding as an equal with one of them…he shook his head again bitterly. If my brothers were still alive…

“Koran Cenbryt?” The words made the warrior look up to see a younger man standing nearby, at a respectful distance. He rose from his crouch to be level with him, squinting against the sun from the high outpost. The man looked to be several years younger than Koran, and had a surprisingly boyish face, although it was currently all seriousness. As Koran rose, wiping one hand on the back of his trousers, the younger man touched the back of two knuckles of his right hand to the centre of his forehead - a respectful salute. Koran inclined his head - the man was obviously not his superior then, although he still didn't know who he was.

"I am Ehan Fazian," the man continued by means of an introduction. "I will be joining you in the force that splits off from the main army and we will, I gather, be together for most of the journey."

Koran nodded again. "Koran Cenbryt," he added, just to introduce himself personally, although the other obviously knew who he was. Ehan grinned suddenly. "Not a man of very many words, hmm?"

Koran, surprised at the casual tone and phrasing, raised an eyebrow, and the other man raised his chin very slightly, defiant if it came to it. Then he grinned. "If we are to fight together, you may think differently by the end," he replied, his voice soft but more friendly now. "Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?"

-----------------------------

3.) Aylwen Dreamsong – Easterling grunt soldier (servant of the Captain)

Name: Ehan Fazian

Age: Early twenties

Race: Haradrim

Gender: Male

Weapons: Ehan likes to think that he can do anything with his light, thin rapier. The blade is inscribed with prayers and blessings in his native tongue, while the hilt and pommel are unadorned and carved of plain, dark, but well polished wood. Ehan also carries two daggers given to him by his brother, but rarely, if ever, does he use them. He’s useless with the bow, and could kill himself just trying to get an arrow to fly much less trying to get it to hit any sort of target. Ehan fights like everything is a game, and enjoys every minute spent with his sword in hand.

Appearance: Standing just below six feet, Ehan is built tall and lean like most men of his clan. His brown skin and athletic build are both testament to her heritage and upbringing. Ehan’s face has a noble bone structure, with the stubborn chin and high cheekbones that many of his proud tribe possesses. Only a slight scar beneath his right eye, scraping all the way to his temple and hairline, mars Ehan’s face. His thick, wispy crop of soft, black hair is cut to the bottom of his neck and often falls in his face, framing his boyish face. Ehan’s black eyes are playful and bright, and his lips are often seen upturned in a smile or infected with laughter.

Personality: Ehan takes few things seriously, for at he is still the young, wild boy in spirit that he used to be in body. He treats everything as a game and a new experience, even if it is a task he accomplishes everyday. Ehan likes to make light of any situation, looking on the bright side or at least making a joke about any subject he deems to serious. Ehan never wonders if his childlike persona bothers others, for even if it does he will not change the person he loves to be. He is not so much carefree or happy, as much as he is just simple and blunt. Ehan sees everything in black and white, no greys or in-betweens, for Ehan sees everything with the clarity and simplicity of a child. His inability to take many things seriously might be his downfall, but it hasn’t cost him yet, and has just given him more fuel to do anything he does. When Ehan fights and uses his rapier, he battles in a gallant, brave manner as he thinks a warrior of old would, or perhaps fiercely and passionately as he thinks a squalid corsair would. Ehan’s life is a mockery and imitation of the excitement and adventure he wishes his life really had. Dying does not frighten Ehan, and the only fear that springs from death is the fear that he might not have lived and done all he could.

History: When Ehan was born, his grandfather Faziar was the leader of the clan. He headed a group of mentally and physically strong-willed men and women. Faziar, the namesake of the clan, passed away in battle, along with Ehan’s mother and several others when Ehan was not yet ten years old. At this point, Ehan’s father took over, leading the clan and his four children. Ehan was youngest of three boys and one girl.

Ehan spent a good deal of time with his older sister, who had seniority over him by three years. His sister spun tales and weaved stories of the highest caliber, and these themes and morals were always in his heart. Ehan’s older brothers taught him all there was to know about swordplay, but were at a loss when it came to teaching him how to send an arrow flying. This brought much comedy to the youngest generation of the Fazian clan, but it also brought a few minor injuries until it got to the point where Ehan was not allowed near a bow and quiver.

Ehan’s father passed away in battle when Ehan was fifteen, as did his eldest brother and beloved sister. After losing his best friend, Ehan kept her memory alive by living as the heroes in her stories, or living with the values he thought they would possess. Ehan’s remaining older brother took over, leading the clan with brash abandon that came with his arrogance and cockiness. Ehan’s brother liked to spread his people as thin as he could, dabbling the strong Fazian clan in any skirmishes or situations he could. So, Ehan was sent as representative and leader of a small group of his clan to work with the forces entering Mirkwood, working under Koran.

He sees it as another adventure.

~*~

Aylwen's post

"Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?" Ehan relaxed visibly as the man called Koran began to speak in a more friendly manner. The younger easterling let did not hide his amiable expression anymore, though he had already begun to wonder how well his personality would match Koran's. Ehan feared the worst, perhaps a head-on collision and clash between Koran's persona and Ehan's light-hearted simplicity. Still, Ehan pulled himself from the short look into the future and back into the present where he knew his head always belonged, and decided to cross all bridges when he got to them.

"Of course I do, sir!" Ehan cried gallantly, drawing his rapier dramatically and pointing it in the direction of the pathway that led down to where many easterlings had set up camp. Where the orcs were, Ehan did not know, but the thought intrigued him anyway. Seeing such ugly monstrosities brought rise to the blood-thirsty warrior in Ehan, despite the disappointing fact that these 'ugly monstrosities' would be on his side in this whole expedition. What a shame...to think how much fun I could have slaying those things. But there are other enemies. Snapping out of his reverie and realizing that he still stood motionless with his rapier held in the air, Ehan chuckled, embarrassed, and continued, "Yes, right. Onward!" and sheathed his sword.

Ehan led Koran down the path that went downward from the slight hilltop they had formerly been standing on, even though Ehan realized that Koran must have known the route as well. Trying not to kick up dirt on the excursion to the campsites. Ehan looked back once to see Koran looking off into the distance, and the young man wondered if Koran was in another time and place. When the two reached the bottom of the rocky, dusty hill, Ehan turned to face Koran once again. This time, the man hit Ehan with a question before Ehan could say aught else.

"How many has your clan sent with you?" Koran asked, looking at Ehan momentarily before stealing a glance at the sturdy men (and some women) behind Ehan, all the warriors from different tribes and clans.

"Well...I would imagine close to five and ten men...or, well...maybe almost twenty men and women. You know, the Fazian clan has rather strong-minded and strong-bodied ladies, as well. My sister-" Ehan stammered at first, but what should have just been a simple answer turned into a lengthy explanation. When Ehan noticed that Koran didn't seem to have much time for stories, Ehan quieted. "Yes. Well, I would say fifteen strong men and women come from the Fazian clan."

"Right. Good," Koran mused, a light smile playing on his lips.

This is going to turn out to be very interesting...Ehan thought. Yes, I can tell already.

-----------------------------

5.) Fordim Hedgethistle - Lorien Envoy guard + 2 carry-along guards


Carry-along characters:

Megilaes and Caranbaith

Fraternal twin brothers. They are young Elves, only about three hundred years old, who are being taught the ways of Lorien warfare by Ambarturion, my main character.

They are both armed with bows and the short daggers favoured by the Silvan Elves.

They are both fair haired, but Megliaes is the taller of the two, while Caranbaith has the fairer singing voice.

*-*-*-*-*

Main Character:


NAME: Ambarturion

AGE: 7060

RACE: Elf (Silvan)

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Ambarturion bears a bow of the Galadhrim and an ancient sword of Doriath. The sword is made of white steel and engraved in such a manner that when drawn in moonlight it appears to glow like a descended star. Its blade is long and tapered, as was the manner of weaponry for Elves in the First Age, and the pommel is wrapped in tightly bound cords of supple leather. Upon the crosspiece there is mounted a single pale gem – the last heirloom of his house.

APPEARANCE: Ambarturion is very tall and very graceful, and even among the Elves of Lorien he is known for the extremity of both his beauty and the severity of countenance which mars it. His raven-black hair is cropped just below the shoulders and his keen grey eyes shine with the memory of the fearless dark. His face is stern and proud, but possessed of great nobility and lineage. He wears the grey cloak of Lorien over a simple tunic and doublet of forest green, and his long legs are clad in supple breeches also of forest hue. He bears neither ornament nor jewel. Ambarturion rarely smiles or laughs.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Ambarturion bears himself as one of the Noldor, for he has spent almost his whole life in the company and service of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. His life is defined by the love that binds him to his Lord and Lady, and this is the source both of his greatness and of the distant pride that many remark in him. But for his loyalty to them, Ambarturion would long ago have forsaken Middle-Earth and made the journey to the Grey Havens – as he is ever counselling the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim to do. He cares little for the other folk of Middle-Earth, and is convinced that whether Sauron conquer them or not is of little purpose, for none of their works or deeds has rivalled those of the Elves in the Elder Days. Of all the Free Peoples, he values only the Ents and the Dunedain, but even they are the fallen remnants of a once mightier race.

HISTORY: Born in the First Years of the Sun, Ambarturion was raised within the protection of the Girdle of Melian where Thingol reigned as High King. When he was old enough to enter the service of a lord, he swore fealty to his kinsman Celeborn and to his Lady, beautiful and glorious beyond bearing. Since then, his fate has been bound to that of his Lord and Lady and his life has been the chronicle of his people’s long defeat. His tears at Ninaeth Arnodad were shed for his brother and father who were slain by balrogs in the first charge of the Elves. He beheld with wonder the host of the Valar and their destruction of Thangbad. He marched under the banners of Thingol and Gil-Galad in their defeats of Sauron, and was among those who Galadriel sent to welcome the Faithful back to Middle-Earth at the fall of Numenor. It was upon his return from this journey that his mother told him of her decision to leave Middle-Earth, and he had longed to follow her, for he loved her greatly and their parting was grievous. But the love he bore for Celeborn and Galadriel overcame this desire and his mother departed alone.

Through the long tale of years since then, his thoughts have turned increasingly to the Undying Lands. For the faint echo of the West that he had seen within the Girdle has grown with the years until it has become as a waking dream for him: ever present before his eyes, dulling the small world of mortal folk and leading him further and further away from their troubles. It was a sore trial for him to know that the One Ring had been within the very grasp of his Lady, but that she had let it slip away from her and into the hands of Sauron, borne thence by a race of witless folk unsung and unheralded in any song or tale. His weariness with Middle-Earth has been made more unbearable through the Ages by the constant loss of those companions of his youth who had, like him, sworn fealty to Celeborn in Melian. Many of his friends fell in the endless battles against the servants of Thangbad and then Mordor. The rest have taken their place in the ships that sailed away from these shores. Of all those who had once gathered about Celeborn as his Companions, Ambarturion alone remains.

On the day when he first came to Lothlorien with his Lord, he made the ways of the forest his study, and spent all his energies in preparing for the land’s defence. None among the Elves bore a steadier hand with the bow, and his sword, already tempered by two Ages of service in the war against Melkor and his servants, had been sharpened and renewed through countless years of careful practice. For centuries he has been entrusted with the instruction of younger Elves in the art of war, but he wearied of teaching only, and has taken to wandering the fringes of the Golden Wood for weeks on end, relentlessly prowling and hunting for their enemies. His journeys have taken him further and further afield, as far as the fringes of Mirkwood to the East, and to the Gladden Fields and the Brown Lands to the North and South. And always in these journeys is his purpose the same: to slay the servants of Sauron in order to forestall their inevitable victory for as long as he might, in the hopes that Celeborn and Galadriel will cease their fruitless quest to save Middle-Earth and follow his counsel to take the straight road into the West.

~*~

Fordim Hedgethistle's Post

The light of midday cast Ambartrion’s shadow before him as he strode easily through the long grass of the Vale of Anduin. The party had left the eaves of Lorien in the morning and as always happened when he walked in the outside world, the dull reality of it settled upon him like a fine ash. The trees that stood in clumps about the plain were naked sticks that clung to life in a chill and desolate landscape, little different to him than the Brown Lands to the South. There came to his keen ears from time to time the falling cry of desperate birds and the rush of troubled waters over impertinent stones. He sought the solace of memory, moving in his mind across earth that seemed more real than the solid ground beneath his feet. More and more had he done so of late, to the point where the few companions that he allowed to join him in his journeys outside the Golden Wood became concerned that he was withdrawing from the waking world of Middle-Earth to a point where he could not, perhaps, return. And, indeed, he was always reluctant to leave the lands of memory and rejoin the fallen and stale world of the present reality, and was often curt with those who called him hither.

This time it was his student Caranbaith who called him back. With a light touch on his master’s shoulder, the youth pointed to the distant horizon saying, “If I see aright, the Mirrormere lies before us, and we are heading a bit west of north. Do we not take the long way round to the Woodmen of Mirkwood by this route?” Ambarturion sighed at the youth, impatient with his question. Megilaes, Caranbaith’s brother and also student to Ambarturion, caught the manner of their master’s reaction and quickly held his tongue.

“Your eyes do not deceive you,” he replied quickly. “There is great need of haste put upon us, but these lands are dangerous and we must take what care we can. I intend to lead the ambassadors somewhat west of the Anduin for a day before turning toward the River. There is a place two days’ march from where we shall stop this night where we can ford the waters and then strike north and east to the Woodmen.” Caranbaith nodded quickly and fell silent before the manner of his master. He and his brother had been in his tutelage for only a short time, barely one lifetime of mortal Men, but in that time he had found his master to be impenetrable in many ways. On some days he would answer their questions with patient forbearance of their youth, gently instructing them in the ways of war. On days such as this appeared to be, however, he resented any intrusion to his thoughts and would quickly put down any attempt to interrupt his inner life. Sensing that he would say no more that day, the brothers fell back to walk a few paces behind their master.

And thus did the company proceed through that afternoon. Ambarturion strode along out front, his pace never slackening or changing, his eyes fixed straight ahead, alert to all possible danger, but unseeing of much that passed before the eyes of the others, lost as he was in the world of his youth. Behind him followed his students, who diligently swept the horizon with their keen eyes as they had been taught, ever vigilant against the threats of this uncertain world. Behind them came the ambassadors, with their servant in the rear of the little column keeping watch behind.

-----------------------------

6.) Arvedui III - Mirkwood Elf Scout

Name: Targil

Race: Sindarian male, of Mirkwood

Age: 3016

Weapons: Born and bred for the hunt, the curve of a blade seems to Targil as the sight of a mountaintop sunrise must seem to others. And of blades he has many. Targil carries two arched hunting knives, and a long, tapered razor, which he employs as throwing edge with great efficiency. Although he also bears a bow and a quiver of arrows, he prefers not to use it in matters of the chase. His knives, unadorned with worn leather grips, seem more fair. And although a light, plain dirk in a black sheath rests at his side, he will only draw it for one type of game: Orcs.

Appearance: Targil is like most Sindarian elves in that has fair features and fine blonde hair that falls to about the middle of his back, save for two braids which hand to his shoulders. He stands about 5'11", making him a little shorter than most elves, and his light blue eyes call even more attention to him. As with all scouts, he wears forest colors, usually a green tunic, brown breeches and soft leather boots.

Personality: Intensely quiet, Targil prefers the stillness of the forest to most anything else.. He is young for an elf, and has never left Mirkwood, but does not care for the world beyond his home. It is not that he fears what lies beyond the woods, but that it just is not important to him. With hunting as his all-consuming passion, he couldn't even begin to imagine how leaving Mirkwood would be worth his while. Targil is simple-hearted, and can't quiet grasp the bigger picture, intelligent though he is. He knows the importance of acting quickly, and knows also that this makes him a bit impulsive, even for an elf. To counteract this, Targil tries to keep his world as simple as possible, relishing in the pleasure of his woodland home and becoming no more than a scout. He has never given thought to much else, and wouldn't have it any other way.

History: Born at the beginning of the second age, Targil fell in love with martial crafts when he was very young, and started training at the tender age of 50. Since then he has seldom been at court, though his father is a merchant who deals with the men of Esgaroth and has some influence. He started serving as a scout when he was 2114, where, as he likes to put it, "There is much more honor than necessary for hunting." Several times he has been offered commissions as a lieutenant, but each time has turned them down, preferring others to make decisions, although he won't hesitate to disobey a stupid order. Quite comfortable in the role he plays, he continues to practice his art, unperturbed by the gathering darkness in Mirkwood. Whatever appears, he will hunt it.

~*~

Arvedui III's post

He always liked this time of day best, and a thrill ran down his spine as the rest of the scout troop crouched among the shrubs and underbrush. The uncouth sounds of metal and iron shod moving in unison and the familiar but slightly harsh sounds of a force breaking came, filling him with mingled excitement and dread. This was a hunter's dream, this abundance of game. And yet, it was also quite disturbing that a troop he could not see the end of was moving near Mirkwood. His blue eyes flickered from one orc to another, not lingering on the grime and blackness of their arms, armor, their very skin.

Targil lithely rubbed the grey pommel of the dirk that hung by his side, taking care to make any noise in the dewy morn, grinning quietly at the prospect of the hunt to come. Well, if the captain thought it well to hunt. There was a great many of the foul creatures, but Targil had learned long ago that a good elf was worth at least twenty orcs. Perhaps he was being far too keen, and mentally berated himself for jumping to conclusions again. Whatever Calenvasa thought best to do was what he would do. Yet, of all the officers he has served with, that one was the most pensive. It tried his nerves sometimes, but most of the time the captain was right, so Targil was grateful for the exercise in patience.

A figure with golden armor passed and joined a party of about ten other similarly clad forms, apparently forming up for drill. Targil frowned. Orcs were one thing, but men were an entirely different matter. Now he gave up any thoughts of a hunt this morning. It would be folly to go after such a large party, he finally realized. His brow knotted in frustration as he sensed this troop of orcs and men were far beyond his area of expertise. So much was lately, it shouldn't have surprised him. If orcs and men were marching together, the reason for their marching had to be great, and so too must be their numbers. The group they had spotted today was probably naught more than a detachment in a host far more vast. The thought sent chills down his spine.

Quiet suddenly, he sensed his captain moving, and quickly looked over to see what was happening. Calenvasa glanced briefly around at the small band he commanded, and then motioned to withdraw further into the woods. Targil couldn't have been more grateful for the respite from the tenseness of the underbrush. He turned and tread softly back, making sure to give distance between himself and the other scouts. Relaxing and trusting his ingrained sense of stealth would protect him, Targil glanced back toward the vanishing camp, fear now being replaced by apprehension. He stopped, crouching between two roots, and looked to his captain, and then around at the others. All of them glanced nervously around at each other, each elf not daring to brake the silence, wondering what was to be done about the day's discovery.

Targil only hoped one of them knew, for he surely did not.

__________________________________
__________________________________


CHARACTERS NEEDED

Dol Guldur special forces - male

1 Orc captain

1 Orc grunt (slave of the captain?)

~*~

Mirkwood Scouts – 2 males

1 Mirkwood Elf scout

1 Mirkwood Elf scout

~*~

Lorien Envoy to Woodelves

1 Ambassador - female

1 Ambassador - male

1 Servant for the Ambassadors - male or female

~*~

Dol Guldur main forces - male

1 Easterling captain

1 Orc grunt

~*~

Cameo

1 Lorien Elven warrior of the defense - male

[piosenniel]

Outline of game:

Army prepares to march from Dol Guldur (day 1)
Mirkwood scouts discover army (day 1), and, as it begins to march toward Lorien, they decide to follow (day 2 – 3)
Lorien envoy is on their way to the Woodmen (days 1 – 3), a good ways outside Lorien on day 1
Envoy crosses path of army (the two are heading in opposite directions, and it is hard to avoid a large army), and are captured (day 3)
Small force breaks off to take the captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Mirkwood scouts, following, are able to ambush (night day 3) this force and rescue the captives
The scouts learn of the plans: a special force will attack from another direction and assault Caras Galadon (day 4)
The elven party races back to Lorien from the north at the greatest possible speed – the trolls slow the baddies down (days 4 – 7)
When they arrive (night day 9), the battle is about to begin:
When the army reaches the Anduin around mid-day on the 9th day, they stop to put up the floating bridges. They plan to begin the attack soon after dawn the next day. The Mirkwood scouts + Lorien envoy reach the borders of Lorien a little before dusk, and reach Caras Galadon soon after dusk. A council of war then follows during the night.
The plan of the special force is foiled, and the entire army retreats (day 11)

--------------

Timeframes:

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party scouts out and follows army (days 1 – 3)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (night of day 3 – day 4)
Race back to Lorien (days 4 – 7)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (night of day 7 – day 8)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)

[Amanaduial the archer]

As we now have a complete proposal form, can I ask about when the discussion thread will open? :)

[piosenniel]

Child needs to look through it first.

I am pushing for some of the current games to move to closure by the end of this month. I would like to open this discussion thread in early June, then. And I believe Durelin mentioned sometime around June 6th.

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

Anytime in the first week of June is fine, but it would be nice if the Discussion thread could open on a weekend, so that I am (should be...) guarunteed to be there when it first opens and shortly thereafter. So June 5th for an opening date would probably be best. Does that work for you and Child?

Thank you, Pio, and Child, for all your work. We're almost there, but then I guess the real fun begins... :D

-Durelin

[piosenniel]

June 5th is fine . . . I'll put it up in closed form before that, and advertise that it's opening

~*~ Pio :)

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Yes, June 5th sounds like a wonderful day to start an RPG. ;)

Actually, the perfect day...

In any case, can't wait! I'm glad we all got this far, because this is going to be a great game (I can already tell!).

-Aylwen

[Child of the 7th Age]

This does look like a fine game. Pio - you should have a note from me on this game by now. It basically looks ready to go. So everyone have fun with it!

~Child

[Amanaduial the archer]

Glad this is starting soon :) However, although I don't expect a change of date, just so you all know that my exams start on 7th June - this means for the first two weeks of the game I may be a little absent - I will be there as much as I can, of course, but posting alot could be more difficult. Thanks :)

[piosenniel]

BEGINNING OF DISCUSSION THREAD FOR GAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Durelin invites you to play in this new RPG:

Bloodstained Elanor

Historical Background:

TA 3019; February - March

Lorien is attacked three times by forces from Dol Guldur, located in southern Mirkwood. Thanks to the combination of their valor of arms and the protection of Nenya, the assailants are held back all three times.

Mirkwood is also attacked several times, and they struggle to hold back the evil. So Lorien cannot call upon Thranduil for aid, and Thranduil cannot call upon them. Eventually the fight reaches the inner reaches of the forest of Mirkwood. Still, the evil his held off in Mirkwood, as well, at least till the destruction of the Ring.

With the destruction of Sauron, Celeborn leads forces over the Anduin and destroys Dol Guldur, and Galadriel throws down its walls.

On the day of the new year, Celeborn and Thranduil meet in Mirkwood.

Mirkwood is renamed Eryn Lasgalen, 'The Forest of Greenleaves'. Thranduil keeps northern Eryn Lasgalen, and Celeborn receives southern Eryn Lasgalen and names it East Lorien, and the forest is renewed.

This story tells of the last of these onslaughts against Lorien from Dol Guldur.

[piosenniel]

Basic Storyline: An army marches toward Lorien from Dol Guldur, in yet another attempt to overcome one of the few remaining fortresses of good. This time Sauron has plans of overthrowing the power of Nenya, and thus causing the strength and morale of Lorien to fail. An envoy has been sent to the Woodmen/elves of Mirkwood to seek aid in the defense of the forest.

In Mirkwood, a scouting party that has been keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance follows the movements of the army as it approaches Lorien, hoping to aid their brethren against the persistent evil. In their pursuit, they discover a plan that will surely kill any hopes of this stronghold of beauty standing against the power of Dol Guldur any longer. Whatever the outcome, a battle will rage beneath the great boughs of the mallorn, and blood will stain their beautiful leaves.

[piosenniel]

The purpose of the story is to: Gain information needed to aid in the defeat of the army of Dol Guldur, and reach Lorien in time to drive back the orcs from Lorien.

This means we will know the story is over when: The army of Dol Guldur retreats.

__________________________________


Starting Location: Mirkwood/Outside Lorien

Likely destination: Lorien

[piosenniel]

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at around year 3019.

The storyline itself or plot covers 11 days.

This game requires a time commitment of 3 months from me, the game owner and from the major players.

[piosenniel]

DEDICATED CHARACTER

1.) Durelin (Game Owner) – Elf Scout Captain from Mirkwood

Name: Calenvása

Age: 4,276

Race: Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood

Gender: Male

Weapons: Calenvása has never had need of learning the arts of war, nor has he ever wandered far from his home in Mirkwood. Since it has only been a short time that his homeland has been in danger, and Calenvása has found it hard to bring himself to defending his land, though it be his, he has never picked up a larger weapon than his hunting knife. It is a fairly long blade, slightly curved, with the sharpened edge along the back of the curve. Engraved in the dark oak handle is the Sun, her rays running both up and down, twisting and encircling both the handle and the blade. Calenvása has always found the Sun to be the greatest beauty of the Earth, this Middle-Earth that he holds dear in his heart, still. Its picture being on this weapon, which he carries at all times, now, does remind him that it sets in the West, as well. The other weapon he carries is a shortbow, another hunting weapon, and very useful within the forest. Both these weapons are useful now that he has given his service to Mirkwood as a Scout.

Appearance: Fairly tall, though not so tall among his kind, standing at 6 feet, 2 inches, he has the light complexion of the Sindarin elves, with typical grey eyes and blonde hair, which is allowed to grown down to just below his waist. He dresses in a tunic and leggings of dark forest colors, soft boots of brown leather, as well as bracers upon his arms.

Personality: Calenvása is still in love with Middle-Earth, and still mesmerized by its beauty. He is able to find so much more wonder in this world than many others, and dreams of nothing more. Never has his thoughts drifted to what he does not have, to what lies beyond. He has never left his own land, though he has wished to for many years. And when Elves and Men fought the Shadow thousands of years ago, the Shadow that has rose again, he remained in his land. His love for the World has never been great enough to overcome his fear. It is hard for Calenvása even now, though he is but a scout. He has no wish to face death, a concept he and his people have had little understanding of for many years, safe in their immortal haven. Even now, when the Shadow has been present within his home itself, he is unable to pick up any weapon more than the ones he has hunted with for many a peaceful year. As a scout, Calenvása predicted that he would not have to face his fears, but his prediction has been proven wrong several times since he first offered his service to Mirkwood. And now that his troop’s scouting has led him closer and closer to Dol Guldur, a pit of evil among part of which was the Elves’ glorious home, he is concerned that he will be forced to face much.

Though this fear has been ever present within him, Calenvása’s intelligence and ability to hide his emotions has allowed him to keep the fear from showing at all, except when he must use his knife or bow. It is mainly because of this that he is still only a Captain. He is a quick thinker, when fear does not prey at his mind, and his wisdom from many years is great. Another thing that impairs him is that he is not much of a leader, as he is reluctant to take command. He is readily able to make decisions, but is very often afraid to act upon them. Calenvása is never found lacking words, and he can be a very charismatic person. Also, he tends to be a very cheery person, always ready with a smile. This cheeriness stems from an insecurity, though, as he is unable to take things too seriously.

Calenvása cannot even think seriously of his fate. He knows only of Middle-Earth, and wishes to know nothing else. He keeps his ears closed to the sound of the Sea, and refuses to follow the Sun into the West. For now, he is content with this denial, as there is much yet to do for his Middle-Earth.

History: Calenvása has dwelt in Mirkwood and watched the Shadow grow over it, doing nothing, for quite some time. But when the fortress of Dol Guldur was made a stronghold of evil within the forest itself, Calenvása decided that it was time he gave his service. He rose to the rank of Captain among the Scouts very quickly, mainly because of his long ties with Mirkwood and its King, Thranduil. He once was offered a position among Thranduil’s councilors - which was offered because of a combination of Calenvása’s wisdom and family ties with the King - but declined it. He would have declined the offer of being made Captain, if he could have.

Authority, responsibility has never been a wish. Being involved in anything has been of little interest to Calenvása, as living has been enough. For years he has fought a war within himself, fighting against his fears with the love he has for Middle-Earth. He still fights it now, but has made much progress. Becoming Scout Captain has been one step, and he has steadily become more determined to do what he can. Unfortunately, he believes that what he can do is very limited.

The men he serves with still wonder about him, but they have grown to know him as of good spirit and good intention. They follow his lead, and lead when there is need of it.

~*~

Durelin's post

As leaves were disturbed in the underbrush of the forest, a cold finger came down to touch Calenvása’s skin and run down his neck. The drop of dew had clung to the leaves well into the morning, hiding from the sunlight of the early morning. The elf forced himself to remain still, though a tremor threatened to run through his body and his hand desired to brush away the itchy stream of water. As he had come to learn after years of practice, becoming someone else was the only way to escape feelings. Calenvása let his mind focus on what his eyes observed, and let it free to view the scene from whatever direction it wished. It of course was impossible for his mind to literally wander freely; it felt so odd only because this was true serenity.

What his eyes observed through thick growth and scattered branches and leaves hanging down into his line of sight was, in particular, a rather large orc garbed in an assortment of leather armor that still left quite a bit of dark skin bare sit and sharpen a huge slab of metal that was obviously thought of as a sword. Not two feet away another orc stood; and another; and another. It had been quite some time since this many dark creatures had been gathered in one spot. In this case, their numbers were so great that they had to gather outside the forest. Because of this, Calenvása could not get close enough to see how large a force was actually gathered here. But his eyes proved keen enough to tell that this was an army, and one comprised of thousands of orcs…

A flash of gold far away before him and to the right caught Calenvása’s eye. An army comprised of thousands of orcs…and southrons, and, as always, easterlings, too. A more sophisticated type of armor could only mean that evil Men were a part of this force as well. That was to be expected, of course, if this force was meant to carry out specific orders. These specific orders were one of the most important things to be learned from observing this force. For now, though, the most specific Calenvása wished to get was what this army’s destination was.

Calenvása decided to break the serenity and turn his head slowly to each side. He could see the elves that crouched beside him and behind him in the underbrush. They had been intently observing the movements of every single creature assemble among the swiftly clearing trees on the edge of the forest, but Calenvása’s slight movement had brought their eyes to him. Slowly bringing his hand up where it would be visible to all around him, he motioned to them and gestured behind him. They would need to meet to discuss their observations and decide on a plan of action.

One by one the elves moved deeper into the forest, deeper into the cover of the trees. Calenvása waited quiet and still for several minutes to make sure that he was the last to move. All the while his thoughts tried to piece together any clues he might have seen, going through the pictures in his searching for any information that was not obvious. All the while he could only wonder which route the army would take. Would they head north, to attack the part of Mirkwood still held by his kindred? Or would the army head east and south, to the Golden Wood, a sanctuary of beauty and home of his brothers?

It had been several years now in which the darkness had been growing, and the role of Calenvása and these elves as scouts had become of dire importance. Much rested in the hands of Calenvása, who had been given command of this scout troop or Mirkwood. He wished with all his heart to help Mirkwood fight back against the Shadow, but he could not help but be discouraged, especially with the image of thousands of orcs assembled just outside the boughs of his home.

Finally feeling that he had given his comrades enough time to make their way a safe distance from the creatures that so tainted the forest, he carefully made his way through the underbrush still in a crouch, and sheathed his belt knife as he did so. He had felt safer with it in his hand as he kept his eye on that orc sharpening his sword.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Revised post now on board - Pio

[piosenniel]

DEDICATED CHARACTER

2.) Amanaduial - The Southron Captain of the Dol Guldur Special Forces

Name: Koran Cenrbyt.

AGE: Around thirty.

RACE: Haradrim.

GENDER: Male.

WEAPONS: Koran can work well with the bow and arrow, or with a crossbow, and carries a smaller crossbow with him - it is about two thirds of his arm. However, close combat weapons are more practical: he is very profficient with a one handed sword, which is more nimble and light than a broadsword. The sword he carries is not particularly fine, fairly plain: the blade is about 80cm long, five centimetres across, and does not bear any special inscriptions or runes; the handle is carefully bound, wound leather and the pommel, the only decorative part of the sword, is a metal disc, rimmed around the outside and carved with a fire motif in the centre - the stigma of Koran's clan, the Cenbryts. However, despite its plainess, the sword is well-balanced and excellent to fight with, and fight well he does: Koran has used this sword since he was twenty five or so. It is fairly plain because although a weapon can save your life, he knows that it is not worth getting attached to an inanimate weapon - although the the careful binding and the way the blade is always perfectly sharp bear witness to the fact that he knows the sense in taking care of it. However, such dullness of deisgn does not extend to his other special weapon: a blade about the length of his forearm and hand together, slanting to a point all the way along. It is rather too short to be a sword, but too long to be a dagger or knife, so rests somewhere in between. The blade is made of some far finer material and the hilt, it has been said by several others, is silver: it is metal rather than leather, but fits perfectly into Koran's hand from use. The pommel is a stone the size of the ball of your thumb, bound over the top and sides with leather, which is a strange, dangerous, smoky red. Koran fights excellently with both of the two close combat weapons, sometimes simultaneously. He never lets the smaller blade away from him.

APPEARANCE: Koran is typically dark, like most of his people - his almost black hair is kept short, although it curls a little at the nape is his neck and around the bottom of his ears. His dark eyes are quite narrow from a life in the sun, and seem naturally hard and cynical, although hardness is not all they can show. His skin is quite sallow, tanned from the sun, and firm, a strong jaw and fine cheeks making him quite good looking, charismatic. However, one side of his face is marred: a slanted scar runs from across the middle of one cheek, slanting down from the top of his left ear to about an inch to the side of his left nostril. He is quite tall, standing at about 5 ft 11, and is not built very chunkily: rather, his build is athletic, slim but very, very well-muscled, and although he is slim, it would probably be fatal to underestimate his strength and speed. Besides, his shirt is usually left open at the neck to about 10cm below the centre of his collar bone, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and is usually a dirty white colour. At his neck he wears a traditional, simple brown bead necklace with the crest of the Cenbryts on the centre bead again. On his right (sword) arm, visible because of the usually rolled-up sleeves, is a black tattoo of the Cenbryt flame. Over the shirt he wears a leather jerkin, again usually open, and if it is particularly cold he will wear a black, rather stained leather coat over this. Leather riding boots are worn to the knee over dark trousers.

PERSONALITY: Not naturally fiery, Koran nonetheless has a volcanic temper on him when the need arises, such as in the incident with Vlad (see History). He resents being thrown around or stepped upon, and when his fighting prowess is so high, he won’t stand for it. His skills are quite well known, gaining him enemies and allies, although he has as yet no wife or life-partner – he spends much time fighting away, a lifestyle that suits him very well, and his focus makes it difficult for other things. However, Koran is prone to dreaming and thinking deeply when he has spare time – he is not unloving although those who do not know him might think him cold. However, his close friends and those he has fought with know him well enough and would trust him with their lives in battle and in life (provided clan-feuds are not involved). His reputation has not made him overly cocky, as he knows that carelessness can cost much – for example, arrogance and cockiness in a fight once nearly cost him his sight, as can be seen from the long cut across one cheek, marring his good looks. He is naturally quite charismatic and once well known is good company – however, to get on his bad side is a fatal mistake. He is not altogether pleased to be on this mission and, as he is far from stupid, knows exactly why his cousins manipulated him into it – however, he is from a proud line, and would not let anyone know his feelings about this.

HISTORY: Although his relatively young age might make it seem strange, Koran is the head of his clan – this could be guessed from the carved necklace and sword-pommel, and also from the tattoo of his clan’s stigma on his sword arm, mandatory for the leader of the tribe. Koran’s family have always been a fighting one, but have sustained great losses more recently: his father, the then-head of the tribe, died when Koran was twelve or thirteen. He was one of six, four brothers and two sisters. Koran was third in line to become head of the tribe and had no real wish to become head, as it is a tying and dutiful job despite the rewards, and he could have lived as he wished more easily without the title. But, one by one, his two elder brothers and his one younger brother, along with one sister, fell in battle, and the title fell to Koran when he was twenty five years old. By this time, however, he already had a reputation, of a sort – he fought and rode well, had done since he was in his mid-teens.

When he was younger, from about the age of fifteen, he worked in a small group of youths around his age to scout out villages or settlements for raids or ahead of a larger group. However, this group had a very set hierarchy, and Koran fell foul of the oldest boy, a fiery-headed loudmouth nineteen year old called Vlad, more than once. Vlad took pleasure in beating the younger boys, but when Koran was seventeen, he got into a full fight with the older boy, then twenty one, and told him exactly what he thought of him – Vlad lost an eye in the fight, but Koran did not get away without a fight, and bears a long scar from the side of his ribcage to the opposite hip still, a faded white line. Although he was beaten for his trouble, Koran was admired for it, and, now the head of the group, he won admiration from many…but was not, of course, without enemies.

His two cousins, Ferach and Cortim, are two of the most notable of these – after Koran, the last son of his family, dies, they will be in line to inherit leadership of the Cenbryts. They are therefore fairly keen to get rid of their young cousin – and their influence was the main reason he is now leading the group in Mirkwood. His cousins sent him saying it was only proper that the head of one of the most affluent (hardly!) clans was sent, as a note of morale – and they very much doubt they will ever see him again.

~*~

Amanaduial’s post

Koran Cenbryt brushed at a curl of dark hair that crept from behind his ear as he leant over his pack, checking for anything he may have forgotten and running over in his head the route that the army would take. West verging a little South from the North side of the fortress, towards the Wood of Golden Leaves, where...

This was not by any means the first expedition he had been on, and neither was it one that he especially wished to be involved with; but, ironically, it was the one that would probably be most important in the future. The young Haradrim warrior shook his head wryly at the thought, his hand reaching to the beaded necklace he wore, feeling the delicate carving of the flame on the central bead. ’I won’t let anything go wrong…the Cenbryt clan is mine, mine by right, and so it shall remain, no matter what my cousins plot and scheme together…

Koran was not against the rest of the clans, of course: such a thought would be foolhardy, especially when his was waning so much, especially in the last few weeks and months – his cousins, although set to gain his clan for their own, were nonetheless slowly eliminating by sending off on foolhardy missions many of the older warriors who were close to Koran. At this rate, if Koran as to fall, they would inherit a clan without any warriors left! Still, although it was of course a diplomatic move that he saw the sense in, Koran nonetheless felt uneasy about the mission – there was something not right, something that was being hidden from him in all this, even though he was commanding the separate force that would then split off from the main army. That would, of course, include orcs – he curled a lip slightly at this. He detested working with them – he steadfastly believed beetles to have more intelligence than the filthy Uruks. And when he was actually meant to be commanding as an equal with one of them…he shook his head again bitterly. If my brothers were still alive…

“Koran Cenbryt?” The words made the warrior look up to see a younger man standing nearby, at a respectful distance. He rose from his crouch to be level with him, squinting against the sun from the high outpost. The man looked to be several years younger than Koran, and had a surprisingly boyish face, although it was currently all seriousness. As Koran rose, wiping one hand on the back of his trousers, the younger man touched the back of two knuckles of his right hand to the centre of his forehead - a respectful salute. Koran inclined his head - the man was obviously not his superior then, although he still didn't know who he was.

"I am Ehan Fazian," the man continued by means of an introduction. "I will be joining you in the force that splits off from the main army and we will, I gather, be together for most of the journey."

Koran nodded again. "Koran Cenbryt," he added, just to introduce himself personally, although the other obviously knew who he was. Ehan grinned suddenly. "Not a man of very many words, hmm?"

Koran, surprised at the casual tone and phrasing, raised an eyebrow, and the other man raised his chin very slightly, defiant if it came to it. Then he grinned. "If we are to fight together, you may think differently by the end," he replied, his voice soft but more friendly now. "Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?"

[piosenniel]

DEDICATED CHARACTER

3.) Aylwen Dreamsong – Southron grunt soldier of the Dol Guldur Special Forces (servant of the Captain)

Name: Ehan Fazian

Age: Early twenties

Race: Haradrim

Gender: Male

Weapons: Ehan likes to think that he can do anything with his light, thin rapier. The blade is inscribed with prayers and blessings in his native tongue, while the hilt and pommel are unadorned and carved of plain, dark, but well polished wood. Ehan also carries two daggers given to him by his brother, but rarely, if ever, does he use them. He’s useless with the bow, and could kill himself just trying to get an arrow to fly much less trying to get it to hit any sort of target. Ehan fights like everything is a game, and enjoys every minute spent with his sword in hand.

Appearance: Standing just below six feet, Ehan is built tall and lean like most men of his clan. His brown skin and athletic build are both testament to her heritage and upbringing. Ehan’s face has a noble bone structure, with the stubborn chin and high cheekbones that many of his proud tribe possesses. Only a slight scar beneath his right eye, scraping all the way to his temple and hairline, mars Ehan’s face. His thick, wispy crop of soft, black hair is cut to the bottom of his neck and often falls in his face, framing his boyish face. Ehan’s black eyes are playful and bright, and his lips are often seen upturned in a smile or infected with laughter.

Personality: Ehan takes few things seriously, for at he is still the young, wild boy in spirit that he used to be in body. He treats everything as a game and a new experience, even if it is a task he accomplishes everyday. Ehan likes to make light of any situation, looking on the bright side or at least making a joke about any subject he deems to serious. Ehan never wonders if his childlike persona bothers others, for even if it does he will not change the person he loves to be. He is not so much carefree or happy, as much as he is just simple and blunt. Ehan sees everything in black and white, no greys or in-betweens, for Ehan sees everything with the clarity and simplicity of a child. His inability to take many things seriously might be his downfall, but it hasn’t cost him yet, and has just given him more fuel to do anything he does. When Ehan fights and uses his rapier, he battles in a gallant, brave manner as he thinks a warrior of old would, or perhaps fiercely and passionately as he thinks a squalid corsair would. Ehan’s life is a mockery and imitation of the excitement and adventure he wishes his life really had. Dying does not frighten Ehan, and the only fear that springs from death is the fear that he might not have lived and done all he could.

History: When Ehan was born, his grandfather Faziar was the leader of the clan. He headed a group of mentally and physically strong-willed men and women. Faziar, the namesake of the clan, passed away in battle, along with Ehan’s mother and several others when Ehan was not yet ten years old. At this point, Ehan’s father took over, leading the clan and his four children. Ehan was youngest of three boys and one girl.

Ehan spent a good deal of time with his older sister, who had seniority over him by three years. His sister spun tales and weaved stories of the highest caliber, and these themes and morals were always in his heart. Ehan’s older brothers taught him all there was to know about swordplay, but were at a loss when it came to teaching him how to send an arrow flying. This brought much comedy to the youngest generation of the Fazian clan, but it also brought a few minor injuries until it got to the point where Ehan was not allowed near a bow and quiver.

Ehan’s father passed away in battle when Ehan was fifteen, as did his eldest brother and beloved sister. After losing his best friend, Ehan kept her memory alive by living as the heroes in her stories, or living with the values he thought they would possess. Ehan’s remaining older brother took over, leading the clan with brash abandon that came with his arrogance and cockiness. Ehan’s brother liked to spread his people as thin as he could, dabbling the strong Fazian clan in any skirmishes or situations he could. So, Ehan was sent as representative and leader of a small group of his clan to work with the forces entering Mirkwood, working under Koran.

He sees it as another adventure.

~*~

Aylwen's post

"Come, we must join the rest of the force - I suppose you know the route already?" Ehan relaxed visibly as the man called Koran began to speak in a more friendly manner. The younger easterling let did not hide his amiable expression anymore, though he had already begun to wonder how well his personality would match Koran's. Ehan feared the worst, perhaps a head-on collision and clash between Koran's persona and Ehan's light-hearted simplicity. Still, Ehan pulled himself from the short look into the future and back into the present where he knew his head always belonged, and decided to cross all bridges when he got to them.

"Of course I do, sir!" Ehan cried gallantly, drawing his rapier dramatically and pointing it in the direction of the pathway that led down to where many easterlings had set up camp. Where the orcs were, Ehan did not know, but the thought intrigued him anyway. Seeing such ugly monstrosities brought rise to the blood-thirsty warrior in Ehan, despite the disappointing fact that these 'ugly monstrosities' would be on his side in this whole expedition. What a shame...to think how much fun I could have slaying those things. But there are other enemies. Snapping out of his reverie and realizing that he still stood motionless with his rapier held in the air, Ehan chuckled, embarrassed, and continued, "Yes, right. Onward!" and sheathed his sword.

Ehan led Koran down the path that went downward from the slight hilltop they had formerly been standing on, even though Ehan realized that Koran must have known the route as well. Trying not to kick up dirt on the excursion to the campsites. Ehan looked back once to see Koran looking off into the distance, and the young man wondered if Koran was in another time and place. When the two reached the bottom of the rocky, dusty hill, Ehan turned to face Koran once again. This time, the man hit Ehan with a question before Ehan could say aught else.

"How many has your clan sent with you?" Koran asked, looking at Ehan momentarily before stealing a glance at the sturdy men (and some women) behind Ehan, all the warriors from different tribes and clans.

"Well...I would imagine close to five and ten men...or, well...maybe almost twenty men and women. You know, the Fazian clan has rather strong-minded and strong-bodied ladies, as well. My sister-" Ehan stammered at first, but what should have just been a simple answer turned into a lengthy explanation. When Ehan noticed that Koran didn't seem to have much time for stories, Ehan quieted. "Yes. Well, I would say fifteen strong men and women come from the Fazian clan."

"Right. Good," Koran mused, a light smile playing on his lips.

This is going to turn out to be very interesting...Ehan thought. Yes, I can tell already.

[piosenniel]

DEDICATED CHARACTER

5.) Fordim Hedgethistle - Lorien Envoy guard + 2 carry-along guards


Carry-along characters:

Megilaes and Caranbaith

Fraternal twin brothers. They are young Elves, only about three hundred years old, who are being taught the ways of Lorien warfare by Ambarturion, my main character.

They are both armed with bows and the short daggers favoured by the Silvan Elves.

They are both fair haired, but Megliaes is the taller of the two, while Caranbaith has the fairer singing voice.

*-*-*-*-*

Main Character:


NAME: Ambarturion

AGE: 7060

RACE: Elf (Silvan)

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Ambarturion bears a bow of the Galadhrim and an ancient sword of Doriath. The sword is made of white steel and engraved in such a manner that when drawn in moonlight it appears to glow like a descended star. Its blade is long and tapered, as was the manner of weaponry for Elves in the First Age, and the pommel is wrapped in tightly bound cords of supple leather. Upon the crosspiece there is mounted a single pale gem – the last heirloom of his house.

APPEARANCE: Ambarturion is very tall and very graceful, and even among the Elves of Lorien he is known for the extremity of both his beauty and the severity of countenance which mars it. His raven-black hair is cropped just below the shoulders and his keen grey eyes shine with the memory of the fearless dark. His face is stern and proud, but possessed of great nobility and lineage. He wears the grey cloak of Lorien over a simple tunic and doublet of forest green, and his long legs are clad in supple breeches also of forest hue. He bears neither ornament nor jewel. Ambarturion rarely smiles or laughs.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Ambarturion bears himself as one of the Noldor, for he has spent almost his whole life in the company and service of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. His life is defined by the love that binds him to his Lord and Lady, and this is the source both of his greatness and of the distant pride that many remark in him. But for his loyalty to them, Ambarturion would long ago have forsaken Middle-Earth and made the journey to the Grey Havens – as he is ever counselling the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim to do. He cares little for the other folk of Middle-Earth, and is convinced that whether Sauron conquer them or not is of little purpose, for none of their works or deeds has rivalled those of the Elves in the Elder Days. Of all the Free Peoples, he values only the Ents and the Dunedain, but even they are the fallen remnants of a once mightier race.

HISTORY: Born in the First Years of the Sun, Ambarturion was raised within the protection of the Girdle of Melian where Thingol reigned as High King. When he was old enough to enter the service of a lord, he swore fealty to his kinsman Celeborn and to his Lady, beautiful and glorious beyond bearing. Since then, his fate has been bound to that of his Lord and Lady and his life has been the chronicle of his people’s long defeat. His tears at Ninaeth Arnodad were shed for his brother and father who were slain by balrogs in the first charge of the Elves. He beheld with wonder the host of the Valar and their destruction of Thangbad. He marched under the banners of Thingol and Gil-Galad in their defeats of Sauron, and was among those who Galadriel sent to welcome the Faithful back to Middle-Earth at the fall of Numenor. It was upon his return from this journey that his mother told him of her decision to leave Middle-Earth, and he had longed to follow her, for he loved her greatly and their parting was grievous. But the love he bore for Celeborn and Galadriel overcame this desire and his mother departed alone.

Through the long tale of years since then, his thoughts have turned increasingly to the Undying Lands. For the faint echo of the West that he had seen within the Girdle has grown with the years until it has become as a waking dream for him: ever present before his eyes, dulling the small world of mortal folk and leading him further and further away from their troubles. It was a sore trial for him to know that the One Ring had been within the very grasp of his Lady, but that she had let it slip away from her and into the hands of Sauron, borne thence by a race of witless folk unsung and unheralded in any song or tale. His weariness with Middle-Earth has been made more unbearable through the Ages by the constant loss of those companions of his youth who had, like him, sworn fealty to Celeborn in Melian. Many of his friends fell in the endless battles against the servants of Thangbad and then Mordor. The rest have taken their place in the ships that sailed away from these shores. Of all those who had once gathered about Celeborn as his Companions, Ambarturion alone remains.

On the day when he first came to Lothlorien with his Lord, he made the ways of the forest his study, and spent all his energies in preparing for the land’s defence. None among the Elves bore a steadier hand with the bow, and his sword, already tempered by two Ages of service in the war against Melkor and his servants, had been sharpened and renewed through countless years of careful practice. For centuries he has been entrusted with the instruction of younger Elves in the art of war, but he wearied of teaching only, and has taken to wandering the fringes of the Golden Wood for weeks on end, relentlessly prowling and hunting for their enemies. His journeys have taken him further and further afield, as far as the fringes of Mirkwood to the East, and to the Gladden Fields and the Brown Lands to the North and South. And always in these journeys is his purpose the same: to slay the servants of Sauron in order to forestall their inevitable victory for as long as he might, in the hopes that Celeborn and Galadriel will cease their fruitless quest to save Middle-Earth and follow his counsel to take the straight road into the West.

~*~

Fordim Hedgethistle's Post

The light of midday cast Ambartrion’s shadow before him as he strode easily through the long grass of the Vale of Anduin. The party had left the eaves of Lorien in the morning and as always happened when he walked in the outside world, the dull reality of it settled upon him like a fine ash. The trees that stood in clumps about the plain were naked sticks that clung to life in a chill and desolate landscape, little different to him than the Brown Lands to the South. There came to his keen ears from time to time the falling cry of desperate birds and the rush of troubled waters over impertinent stones. He sought the solace of memory, moving in his mind across earth that seemed more real than the solid ground beneath his feet. More and more had he done so of late, to the point where the few companions that he allowed to join him in his journeys outside the Golden Wood became concerned that he was withdrawing from the waking world of Middle-Earth to a point where he could not, perhaps, return. And, indeed, he was always reluctant to leave the lands of memory and rejoin the fallen and stale world of the present reality, and was often curt with those who called him hither.

This time it was his student Caranbaith who called him back. With a light touch on his master’s shoulder, the youth pointed to the distant horizon saying, “If I see aright, the Mirrormere lies before us, and we are heading a bit west of north. Do we not take the long way round to the Woodmen of Mirkwood by this route?” Ambarturion sighed at the youth, impatient with his question. Megilaes, Caranbaith’s brother and also student to Ambarturion, caught the manner of their master’s reaction and quickly held his tongue.

“Your eyes do not deceive you,” he replied quickly. “There is great need of haste put upon us, but these lands are dangerous and we must take what care we can. I intend to lead the ambassadors somewhat west of the Anduin for a day before turning toward the River. There is a place two days’ march from where we shall stop this night where we can ford the waters and then strike north and east to the Woodmen.” Caranbaith nodded quickly and fell silent before the manner of his master. He and his brother had been in his tutelage for only a short time, barely one lifetime of mortal Men, but in that time he had found his master to be impenetrable in many ways. On some days he would answer their questions with patient forbearance of their youth, gently instructing them in the ways of war. On days such as this appeared to be, however, he resented any intrusion to his thoughts and would quickly put down any attempt to interrupt his inner life. Sensing that he would say no more that day, the brothers fell back to walk a few paces behind their master.

And thus did the company proceed through that afternoon. Ambarturion strode along out front, his pace never slackening or changing, his eyes fixed straight ahead, alert to all possible danger, but unseeing of much that passed before the eyes of the others, lost as he was in the world of his youth. Behind him followed his students, who diligently swept the horizon with their keen eyes as they had been taught, ever vigilant against the threats of this uncertain world. Behind them came the ambassadors, with their servant in the rear of the little column keeping watch behind.

[piosenniel]

DEDICATED CHARACTER

6.) Arvedui III - Mirkwood Elf Scout

Name: Targil

Race: Sindarian male, of Mirkwood

Age: 3016

Weapons: Born and bred for the hunt, the curve of a blade seems to Targil as the sight of a mountaintop sunrise must seem to others. And of blades he has many. Targil carries two arched hunting knives, and a long, tapered razor, which he employs as throwing edge with great efficiency. Although he also bears a bow and a quiver of arrows, he prefers not to use it in matters of the chase. His knives, unadorned with worn leather grips, seem more fair. And although a light, plain dirk in a black sheath rests at his side, he will only draw it for one type of game: Orcs.

Appearance: Targil is like most Sindarian elves in that has fair features and fine blonde hair that falls to about the middle of his back, save for two braids which hand to his shoulders. He stands about 5'11", making him a little shorter than most elves, and his light blue eyes call even more attention to him. As with all scouts, he wears forest colors, usually a green tunic, brown breeches and soft leather boots.

Personality: Intensely quiet, Targil prefers the stillness of the forest to most anything else.. He is young for an elf, and has never left Mirkwood, but does not care for the world beyond his home. It is not that he fears what lies beyond the woods, but that it just is not important to him. With hunting as his all-consuming passion, he couldn't even begin to imagine how leaving Mirkwood would be worth his while. Targil is simple-hearted, and can't quiet grasp the bigger picture, intelligent though he is. He knows the importance of acting quickly, and knows also that this makes him a bit impulsive, even for an elf. To counteract this, Targil tries to keep his world as simple as possible, relishing in the pleasure of his woodland home and becoming no more than a scout. He has never given thought to much else, and wouldn't have it any other way.

History: Born at the beginning of the second age, Targil fell in love with martial crafts when he was very young, and started training at the tender age of 50. Since then he has seldom been at court, though his father is a merchant who deals with the men of Esgaroth and has some influence. He started serving as a scout when he was 2114, where, as he likes to put it, "There is much more honor than necessary for hunting." Several times he has been offered commissions as a lieutenant, but each time has turned them down, preferring others to make decisions, although he won't hesitate to disobey a stupid order. Quite comfortable in the role he plays, he continues to practice his art, unperturbed by the gathering darkness in Mirkwood. Whatever appears, he will hunt it.

~*~

Arvedui III's post

He always liked this time of day best, and a thrill ran down his spine as the rest of the scout troop crouched among the shrubs and underbrush. The uncouth sounds of metal and iron shod moving in unison and the familiar but slightly harsh sounds of a force breaking came, filling him with mingled excitement and dread. This was a hunter's dream, this abundance of game. And yet, it was also quite disturbing that a troop he could not see the end of was moving near Mirkwood. His blue eyes flickered from one orc to another, not lingering on the grime and blackness of their arms, armor, their very skin.

Targil lithely rubbed the grey pommel of the dirk that hung by his side, taking care to make any noise in the dewy morn, grinning quietly at the prospect of the hunt to come. Well, if the captain thought it well to hunt. There was a great many of the foul creatures, but Targil had learned long ago that a good elf was worth at least twenty orcs. Perhaps he was being far too keen, and mentally berated himself for jumping to conclusions again. Whatever Calenvasa thought best to do was what he would do. Yet, of all the officers he has served with, that one was the most pensive. It tried his nerves sometimes, but most of the time the captain was right, so Targil was grateful for the exercise in patience.

A figure with golden armor passed and joined a party of about ten other similarly clad forms, apparently forming up for drill. Targil frowned. Orcs were one thing, but men were an entirely different matter. Now he gave up any thoughts of a hunt this morning. It would be folly to go after such a large party, he finally realized. His brow knotted in frustration as he sensed this troop of orcs and men were far beyond his area of expertise. So much was lately, it shouldn't have surprised him. If orcs and men were marching together, the reason for their marching had to be great, and so too must be their numbers. The group they had spotted today was probably naught more than a detachment in a host far more vast. The thought sent chills down his spine.

Quiet suddenly, he sensed his captain moving, and quickly looked over to see what was happening. Calenvasa glanced briefly around at the small band he commanded, and then motioned to withdraw further into the woods. Targil couldn't have been more grateful for the respite from the tenseness of the underbrush. He turned and tread softly back, making sure to give distance between himself and the other scouts. Relaxing and trusting his ingrained sense of stealth would protect him, Targil glanced back toward the vanishing camp, fear now being replaced by apprehension. He stopped, crouching between two roots, and looked to his captain, and then around at the others. All of them glanced nervously around at each other, each elf not daring to brake the silence, wondering what was to be done about the day's discovery.

Targil only hoped one of them knew, for he surely did not.

[piosenniel]

CHARACTERS NEEDED

Dol Guldur special forces - male

1 Orc captain

1 Orc grunt (slave of the captain?)

~*~

Mirkwood Scouts – 2 males

1 Mirkwood Elf scout

1 Mirkwood Elf scout

~*~

Lorien Envoy to Woodelves

1 Ambassador - female

1 Ambassador - male

1 Servant for the Ambassadors - male or female

~*~

Dol Guldur main forces - male

1 Southron (formerly designated as Easterling) captain

1 Orc grunt

~*~

Cameo

1 Lorien Elven warrior of the defense - male

[piosenniel]

FIRST POSTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Please read the posts by the Dedicated Characters. You may want to use references in them for your post.

~*~

All character descriptions not accompanied by a First Post will be returned to their writers.

[piosenniel]

Please use this form for creating your character to post on the discussion thread.

It is a requirement that all potential game players in the Shire will have posted in The Green Dragon Inn or have played to completion an RPG on the Barrow Downs.

Those who have not played before in a Shire RPG will be given preference. Final preference, though, will be at the discretion of the Game Owner.
_______________________________________

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?

List them, please:

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES/NO

_______________________________________

For your character please include:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE:

GENDER:

WEAPONS (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.):

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

__________________________________


First post:


This is a requirement for this game. Character Descriptions without a First Post attached will be sent back to the writer. They may be submitted again, once there is a First Post to go with them.

[Firefoot]

I would like to play a

Mirkwood scout

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – No

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? None

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn? – Yes

_______________________________________

For your character please include:

NAME: Thorvel

AGE: 3,142

RACE: Sindarin Elf of Mirkwood

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Thorvel carries a large bow and a quiver of arrows on his back, which is his weapon of choice. He made it himself, and although the design is simple, it serves his purpose well. It has the designs of swirling vines and leaves. He has been using the bow for more than 3,000 years and by now has a deadly shot. He takes good care of it, and it has served him well for a long time. Each arrow has green feathers on the end of the shaft. He also carries a hunting knife, which from blade to handle is one and a half feet long. The handle is wooden and its only device is that of a landing eagle. The sharp blade gleams in the sunlight and is slightly curved at the end. Although he is not as skilled with the knife, he also finds this to be a useful weapon.

APPEARANCE: Thorvel has dark hair that extends about half way down his back. His gray eyes are piercing and expressive. He stands about 6'4" tall. He has an average build and is very strong. He wears the regular forest-colored tunic and breeches of a Mirkwood scout and comfortable leather boots.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Thorvel has always been interested in the goings-on of Middle-earth, and likes to keep himself as well-informed as possible. He is intelligent and clever with a good sense of humor. He has very strong opinions about most people and things, and isn’t afraid to let those opinions be known. He often speaks before he thinks and says the wrong thing, even making jokes out of serious situations. He enjoys being with other people, but he works much better by himself. His independence and confidence make him daring and always ready to take risks, even though it is not always the wisest thing to do. He is also very stubborn, and once he has decided something it is difficult to change his mind. However, he trusts his captain to make good decisions and he follows orders well - though he isn’t afraid to take an opportunity if he isn’t specifically told otherwise. He has an intense hatred of orcs (see history) and it is for primarily for this reason that he became a scout.

But for all this, Thorvel is very loyal, though his loyalties are not lightly given, and trustworthy. When he commits to something, he sticks to it, and he is known to keep his word. Once he decides to trust a person, he takes most everything they say seriously and will always stick by them.

HISTORY: Thorvel has lived in Mirkwood all his life. When he was still young, 117 years old, his father was slain in the Battle of Dagorlad. Only a couple years later, his mother died of grief from losing her husband, and it is for the loss of his parents that he hates Orcs so much. He vowed to avenge their deaths and committed himself to learning the art of archery and other skills he would need. He became deft at being unseen and unheard by others nearby.

When Thorvel was almost 1,000 years old he felt he had had enough training and was ready to become a scout. He tried it for a couple hundred years, but he was not very successful at it, as he was often at odds with his captains because of his independent streak. He never had any captains he felt that he could trust, and he decided give it a rest.

However, Thorvel never forgot his vow and when the Nazgûl emerged from Mordor and evil began to dwell in Dol Guldur again, his hatred of Orcs burned all the hotter and he decided to give being a scout another go. At first, he again had trouble with those in authority over him, but then he got placed under the command of Calenvása, who he got along with quite well. As Calenvása earned his trust, he began to excel at his position of scout.

Now, as Sauron was again rising and the evil forces mustering, he feels it will finally be time to really fight the Orcs that he so hated.

__________________________________


Firefoot's post

The Orc army was illumined in the late-morning sun - but not him. He was crouched in the dense underbrush of the forest, hidden in the shadows and invisible to all save the other Mirkwood scouts nearby. Careful not to make a sound, he crept forward and slightly to the right to get a better view of the Orcs he was watching. Cold hatred gleamed in his gray eyes. He reached up and fingered the feathered end of an arrow in his quiver. It was of no use at the moment, but later... then the Orcs would die, pierced with arrows.

Thorvel refocused himself on what he was supposed to be doing: observing the Orcs. The army stretched away in both directions, and from his vantage point he could not see either end. He had never seen so many in one place before. Smaller bands of Orcs, those could be dealt with relatively easily. But this? They had no facts as to what the army was planning on. Thorvel didn’t, anyway. So what are we going to do about it? he wondered. Fight them off, of course. Defeat them. All of his senses revolted at the sounds of thousands of Orcs all arguing in their uncouth languages and the clank of metal on metal.

As he turned his head away to the right, the large group of men garbed in golden armor caught his eye. Southrons! They were only slightly better than the Orcs, in Thorvel’s opinion. If at all. They were better fighters, too, not like the Orcs who delighted in and knew little more than killing. Suddenly the significance of this hit him. They must have some kind of great cause to be gathered together in such a way, and he wondered at that. They obviously had no intention of failing in what ever it was.

He supposed then that their first goal would be figuring out what the army was going to attempt. Were they going to attack his home in Northern Mirkwood? Or would they go after nearby Lorien? Either way, he was determined to fight them to the death.

It wasn’t long before Thorvel perceived his Captain moving in the stillness of the forest. He looked back around to Calenvása on his left and saw the other scouts doing the same. Calenvása lifted his hand and motioned for the scouts to retreat deeper into the forest to their meeting place. He saw some of the other scouts moving slowly away into the forest, disappearing even from his keen Elvish sight. He turned and followed them stealthily away, curving out to his left in order to maintain his distance from the others.

Thorvel came upon the other Elves and stood against a tree. His muscles were tense and he was at attention, aware of everything that was going on. His face was hard and his chin was set firmly, and his eyes, though flecked with uneasiness, held a smoldering fire. He took note of the other Elves waiting around. All of them were on edge, ready for anything. The final stragglers wandered in, and last of all came Calenvása. Thorvel considered him a bit queer, but he trusted that Calenvása could come up with a solid plan against the Orcs. The silence was complete but for the sounds of the forest around them. He almost spoke, but thought better of it. He could express his opinions later, after the Captain had said his piece.

[The Perky Ent]

EDIT BY MOD: CHARACTER WITHDRAWN FROM GAME

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, this game seams to have a good, plot, good characters, and good players, so I think I’ll apply. So, here’s my form. Hope you like it…and I’m hoping even more you’ll accept it ;)

I'll be auditioning for the:

Male Lothlorien Ambassador

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? –

Yes – Last Hope for Moria

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? one
List them, please:

Last Ride of the Heir

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES/NO
Yes
_______________________________________

For your character please include:

NAME: Galadion

AGE: 7543

RACE: Noldo Elf

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Galadion, protected by a guard, has little need for weapons. However, he has an ancient dagger of the noldo. He also carries another dagger he crafted himself. The dagger is called Angrûth, meaning “Iron Anger”, in memorial of his master, Angrod. The dagger represents Galadion’s eternal anger for Morgoth and his Iron Crown.

APPEARANCE: Tall and poised, Galadion has bright grey eyes. With short, dirty brown hair, Galadion has broad shoulders and wears very elegant clothing. He is a very clean and graceful elf. His mood is always, however, somewhat depressed, for the loss of his long time master. Galadion is very calm, and doesn’t get shocked very easily, if at all.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Galadion is very inquisitive and always follows the rules. When working on something of great importance, he becomes incredibly focused and finds little time for entertainment. Galadion takes much pride in himself, giving him strength in hard times. Everything he tries he excels at, with the exception of fighting. Although a good fighter, his name isn’t working being remembered in the area of heroes. When not on a quest, or being commanded my Galadriel, he takes time, walking slow and graceful. Galadion also has a problem in which he can’t get his priorities strait. He tends to work too hard to become content and healthy. Galadion, a little bit below an optimist, yet not a pessimist, never acts sarcastic. He takes great pride, not only in himself, but his race, and thinks little of others. This problem is particularly found when discussing dwarves. However, he doesn’t think the age of men is ending.

HISTORY: Born 500 years before the first age, Galadion’s father served Feanor. His father’s duty was to be one of the many to protect the simarils. Galadion’s father considered himself the reason the light of the simarils was shining, because without him, they could be taken. He considered this so much he sometimes called himself the light. Therefore, when he had a son, he named him Galadion.

250 years after he was born, Galadion decided to serve Angrod, becoming his servant. For the next 250 years, he learned much lore from his master. After another 250 years of service, his father fled Formenos when Morgoth came. He ran to the Teleri for a new home, ashamed for leaving Finwe to his death. He later found peace becoming a mariner. At the time of the kinslaying, Galadion’s father died in Alqualondë.

When the Noldor left Aman, Galadion went with them, all the time serving Angrod. When they reached Middle Earth, Galadion stayed with Angrod and Aegnor, defending Dorthonion. Then, 402 years into the First Age, Galadion drove back orcs trying to pass through the Pass of Aglon. In the process, Galadion was critically wounded. He went to Galadriel for healing, although it was against his will.

Then, after being healed, Galadion stayed in Nargothrond, learning much from the elves there. Subsequently in FA 455, both Angrod and Aegnor died in the Battle of Sudden Flame. Having nowhere to go, Galadion, telling his story, became a servant of Galadriel. Then, in FA 472, when Galadriel and Celeborn forsook Bleriand, Galadion traveled with them. He stayed by Evendim until Galadriel established Ost-in-Edhil.

Then, in S.A. 1350, when Galadriel left with Amroth and Celebriand for Lothlorien, Galadion, instead of serving Celeborn, gave his services to Cirdan. There in Lindon, he learned much about the ways of men. There, during the war of elves and Sauron, Galadion helped to defend Lindon from Sauron.

Later, upon hearing that Celeborn and Galadriel now ruled Lothlorien, Galadion left Lindon, swearing to Cirdan he would return to finish his works. After Sauron became presumably dead, Galadion became an advisor to Galadriel, giving suggestions on the general good of Lorien. After a long time of peace, Galadriel granted Galadion to go to Lindon and finish his works. His greatest work was a dagger that, if he never left Lindon before he could finish it, would glow when orcs are near. Eventually, when he felt he could learn nothing more from Cirdan, Galadion left Lindon and went back towards Lothlorien. But instead of visiting Galadriel, Galadion went in Fangorn Forest, for the purpose of finding ents. When he found one, he found out about the “lost” entwives, and went to Mirkwood to go look for them. Achieving nothing but failure, Galadion went back to Lothlorien to serve Galadriel. Over years, Galadion became a great servant of Galadriel, and later, an official ambassador.

__________________________________


The Perky Ent's post

The fair light of the sky radiated across Galadion’s glowing face. A slow, pulsing wind brushed across Galadion’s brow, his hair flowing in the wind. There was so much life in the world, that would never be discovered. Galadion, therefore, always tried to observe as much as possible. Looking over his shoulders, Ambarturion, who was very interested in his mission, went back to Galadion to ask him a qusetion. “Galadion, what is your plan for an alliance?" Ambarturion said, in an inquisitive mannor. "I think a strait foward apporach will work. We are, after all, allies" Galadion said, smiling as he looked at the many green trees. "Yes, now adays, in times of trouble, we elves stick together. I don't think it will take long to reach an agreement."

As Galadion lifted his eyes, he could see the shining waters of Mirromere. “Ah. Now that is a lovely sight for a change. If only there wasn’t work to be done. But never mind” Galadion said to himself, reminiscing about his various journeys that passed Mirromere. “Megilaes, we take the path by Mirromere?” Galadion said, knowing his question was rhetorical. “Yes. We head west of the Anduin for your protection” Megilaes said, treating Galadion just like Ambarturion. “And I thank you for it. The forces of the dark have been very active lately.” Galadion said, staring off into space. Galadion, although foreseeing his mission would be a success, couldn’t see if it would cost casualties. As the day darkened, Galadion kept his eyes wide to anything moving. He would not die in a disaster like his former master.

After a short period of time, Galadion took out Angrûth and began to move it around in elegant strikes. The blade was weightless, strong, and sturdy. Etched in the steel was an inscription, which translated into: “Forget not Angrod’s sacrifice. Revenge upon the Iron Crown.” “Galadion. I beg your pardon, but do not worry. I have you protected. You have no need-“ but then Galadion’s servant stopped, because Galadion had stopped. It was as if Galadion was in pain. The thought filled his heart will uncontainable rage. But Galadion had a strong will, and because he didn’t want to slow down the mission, he ignored the statement and continuted walking. “I will never forget your sacrifice.” Galadion said, putting his dagger away.

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Application for Bloodtsained Elanor

Mirkwood Scout

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES Which one? Legacy Of Traitors

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? One

List them, please: Last Ride of the Heir

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES

_______________________________________

For your character please include:

NAME: Lómarandil

AGE: 223

RACE: Elf

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: An elvish longbow with intricate carved designs, a quivver of leaf fletched arrows, two short bone-handled elvish knives.

APPEARANCE: Tall, almost 6'4'' with chest length flowing blond hair. Grey eyes, and often a wicked grin on his face. His face is narrow, with a reasonably pointed chin, and he is slender yet lean in build, with deceptively strong arms and legs. He often hides his face under his hood and scarf. He wears almost no armour, with leather bracers on his lower arms, and leather greaves. He wears a gold-chained necklace at all times, inset with a ruby and an expertly crafted pendant. His green cloak is held in place with a silver pin with a leaf design on it.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: He is often arrogant, unwilling to admit that an enemy is skilled, but fiercely defensive of all that he holds dear. He is an excellent knife fighter, although he prefers to use his bow whenever possible. He is most dangerous when he is angry, as he will fight without regard for his own safety, often fighting until his enemy is dead, no matter where that leaves him. He is also spectacularly aware of his surroundings, and is quick to spot potential ambush spots, cover and defensive positions. He is constantly pensive, although he laughs a lot, more as a defense mechanism. He gets angry quickly, but it is also quick to abate and he rarely holds grudge againt others. Always willing to do anything to help anyone else.

HISTORY: Young for an elf, born in 2796, he quickly learnt how to use a bow, and he was always cheerful. When his mother and father were killed by orc scouts while walking deep in mirkwood, he vowed revenge, despite the fact he was barely adolescent. He trained himself how to fight with knives, practising on wheat sheafs and with his older brothers. When he had come of age he became a scout for the elf king of Mirkwood. His early years were uneventful, being that he was a fresh scout, and he was told to stay near the back by the more experienced elves. Eventually he was allowed to help on a scout patrol to a site of rumoured orcish activity, and soon became respected due to his nerve and skill. He always wished no more than to serve for his land, and to destroy the orc menace and he has performed to that, and only to that. His arrogance became noticable, and he was soon fighting more as a sport. Only recently did he decide that a concerted effort was needed, and since that day has not wavered once.

__________________________________


Hama of the Riddermark's post

Lómarandil was hidden under a carpet of leaves. Seeing Calenvása raise his hand, he slid backwards slowly and crawled on his stomach out of earshot of the orcs, then he stood up to a crouch and ran as fast as he could, his light elvish feet making little imprint on the leaves and twigs beneath. Reaching a clearing he sheathed his two knives that he had kept drawn since the orcs had been sighted. He kicked a tree in disgust, “Foul creatures! Utterly worthless hunks of meat!” he spat the last word out with bitterness as he turned to face Dol Guldur. “Damn Morgoth to the deepest pits of misery for creating them!” he said with a sad look on his face.

He sat down and took his bow off his back. He took out a knife and began to carve a design onto it. He smiled as he saw all the others he'd carved over the years. This time he cut out the shape of an orc, incredibly detailed, and carved an arrow going through its head. Chuckling he stared into the woods. He heard a faint crunching sound, like a clumsy foot breaking a twig...

Lomarandil was gone in a flash, up a tree. He looked over and saw an orc, closely followed by two others. Lomarandil smiled as he heard them start to talk, listening intently for any more information.

"Bloody trees!" he heard the orc say, "I hate them, I hate elves as well...stupid bloody animals." Lomarandil couldn't supress a grin as he heard the orc say this. He raised a single eyebrow in mirth, as the orcs continued to talk.

"We gotta stay 'ere for a while." a second orc said. "Them elves mustn't know that we aren't attacking them here." a second orc grunted loudly, "Yar, stoopid elvish tarks can't know we goin' for tha' uther wood, tha' big one!" he said, obviosuly pleased with himself for making this deduction. Lomadrandil nodded slowly. "They are heading for Lothlorien..." he said quietly...

"Hur?" he heard an orc say, "I heard something, stoopid tarks hiding in trees..." he looked up and started to turn in a circle, scanning the treetops for the elf he'd heard. Failing to find him, he grunted loudly and turned back, shouting at the others to follow. Lomarandil breathed out heavily. That was close...he dropped to the ground when he was sure the orcs had gone. Silently he made his way to the designated meeting place, as he entered the clearing he saw the others. "Mae govannan." Calenvasa announced. Lomarandil nodded and walked up to the group...

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Perky Ent -- I like your proposed first post, but I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask that you alter it somewhat.

You have Ambarturion behaving in what seems like a bit of a submissive manner to your character. Ambarturion will always be extraordinarily polite -- particularly to the ambassador that he's been assigned to protect -- but he would never cow-tow to anyone! He's very very proud (to a flaw, actually). Also, he would never turn away from somebody in embarassment -- he's far too self-possessed.

If you would like there to be some kind of friction between the two, that's fine with me (I love friction!) but as far as Ambarturion is concerned, he and Galadion are equals and peers (if anything, he would probably disapprove of your character somewhat for 'abandoning' Celeborn for Cirdan!). The only people in the whole of Middle-Earth whom he looks up to as being his superiors are Celeborn and Galadriel. . .this rather unpleasant aspect of his character will come into play as we go along.

[piosenniel]

Please use this description from Tolkien to craft your Elven characters:

Return of the King – Appendix F: Tolkien’s description for the Quendi (The Speakers) – the name given to the Elves by themselves after they first awoke in Middle-earth.

“They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as Kings, who now are gone: the People of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finrod; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that is now heard . . .”

Please use this as a guideline for crafting your Elven character’s appearance.

Blue-grey eyes are also accepted in the Shire games for Elves.

[The Perky Ent]

The first post for The Perky Ent's character has been revised - please see the original character post

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Everyone making revisions - GO BACK AND PUT YOUR EDITS ON YOUR ORIGINAL POST, PLEASE.

Then just put a new note on the Discussion Thread that you have revised it.

It is too much work when I set up the game thread to look around for the latest revision.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edits by me to your submissions are just setting up your first posts for transfer to the game should your character be chosen for play.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Edited my character's eyes to grey...

EDIT: Thanks! ~*~ Pio

[Amanaduial the archer]

Just checking in to confirm my prescence and get notifications working from this topic. By the way, the profiles so far look excellent - a fine hand of players and subsequent characters, in respect, of course, to whatever Durelin decides :)

‘Too many filthy men.’ snarled Thrákmazh through the dank catacombs of his sharpened mind, breathing raggedly and harshly like a furious predator after his prey has eluded him. ‘When this is over, and we have the blood of the elves on our blades and our bolts they can fall too. The Great Eye has no need of traitorous mortals in his service. Slaying them would be a service to Lugburz.' Oh excellent *cracks fingers* Thrakmazh, meet Koran...*evil*

[Durelin]

Thank you, Kransha, Firefoot, The Perky Ent, and Hama of the Riddermark. I will be looking over your bios and will get back to you as soon as possible concerning them. I am glad to see so much interest!

From what I have read so far, we are looking pretty good. :)

And a big thank you to Pio for all your work in opeing up this game, and for all the work you will do until its end. It is much appreciated.

Fordim - I should have asked you ahead of time, but the thought did not come to mind, as it should have. I told The Perky Ent that he could use your carry-along characters and perhaps even your main character in his post, in reply to a question he asked of me. It seems this is alright with you, as long as those proper corrections are made, but please forgive me for not asking first.

-Durelin :)

[The Perky Ent]

Problems fixed...hopefully. Hope I didn't cause a big problem!


-Perky

[Orofaniel]

Hello!

This seems like such a great game. :)

Okay, I had actually worked on an Orc Captain for some time now. Yesterday I sat all morning waiting for the game to open so I could post my character. I left my computer for one hour and when I came back it had opened. Unfortunately, or unfortunate for me, Pio had posted an Orc Captain character for another Player. :( Bummer.

Anyway, I decided to just make a new character. So, here is for another Captain; Easterling Captain, Dol Guldur Main forces.

Didn't turn out that well, since I'm still holding on to that Orc Captain thing. Heh. Anyway, I'll give it a try.

_______________________

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES, - Hunt for the Dragon, Flight from Rohan, C&C, Haunted, Breelanders All, Last hope of Moria and I co-owned Setting Sails for Valinor.

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? None

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn? – YES- Long ago though.

_______________________________________

Southron Captain - Dol Guldur Main Forces

NAME: Herding Gratnas

AGE: In his middle thirties

RACE: Haradrim

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Almost anything is suitable for this Haradrim. He has the strength and knowledge to handle any weapon that might suit for any occasion. He always carries, however, his bow and sword in battles. They were both stolen from other warriors that were of high rank. His sword is beautifully decorated, and some may think that a sword as powerful in it’s making and as strong as this has nothing to do in a foul man's hands, which is also true in this case. Those markings and decorations that shone brightly from the sword before are hardly seen now. This is caused by the old blood, from his enemies, which still linger in its curves.

His bow is just like any other bow, neither printings nor any form for decoration. The function of the bow is however, remarkable. Even though the shooter may not be of highest quality the bow guarantees a nice and clear shot. With this bow, Herding, has reached many a man and brought them to shadow.

Apart from that, Herding is quite good with his daggers/knives. They are usually easy to use, and they are very reliable.

APPEARANCE: Herding is quite tall and he has a stealth body. His skin is dark like all of his kind. His eyes are hidden beneath his dark eyebrows, and if you are so lucky to notice them at all, you will see nothing but emptiness. Yes, for they are empty indeed. There is no colour whatsoever, and the light and happiness cannot be found within. Apart from that he has strong features in his face; cheekbones high, mouth wide and a black beard. His hair is neither short nor long, all that is certain I that the colour is black as the night itself.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Herding takes things very seriously. He feels no sympathy with those who fail because they simply are too childish or too naive to see the consequences of their actions. Herding hardly feel any sympathy with anyone but himself. He is of that opinion that people deserve what they get and the other way around. When it comes to himself though, he isn't that cheeky. He hates defeats, whether it's on the battle field or in other circumstances.

Herding is very selfish. He puts himself before others. He is cynical, and everything he does has some sort of thought behind it. Herding knows how to take advantage of people. He has done it ever since he can remember. The result is often good, but it can be devastating, something Herding doesn’t handle very well. Herding always try to find a solution to the problems he meets, but still he want to find a solution that will, if possible, be best for himself even though there are others involved. He doesn’t care as long as he gets it his way. He always waits for the right moment and then he strikes, but of course it is carefully calculated. Herding is quite proud of his own "cleverness", which leads to nothing but humiliations and defeats. This is definitely one of his weaknesses. He is simply too proud and selfish. Even though he is selfish and proud his own kind respects him, part of if because he is a great warrior.

Herding is quite good at hiding his intention towards others. But even though he laughs with others, and not of them, and socializes, there is always something he hides. Apart from that, he loves to watch other people mistakes and then later on use it against them. This man is in other words nothing but trouble and scam, so watch out.

HISTORY: Herding can't really remember much of his past, nor does he care. The only thing he really cares about is the future and the presence and how he is going to take advantage of the people around him. But if there is something to be told about this young man's past then here it is; Herding was always reckoned to be a very clever boy. Already from his childhood he showed sign of great leadership, terrible, but great. He leaned to handle weapons from a young age, and he was good at it. It made him feel strong and unbeatable. He was an only child, and therefore he was used to getting things his way. This has of course, has it's marking today.

The Southron Captain, as he is, is now a part of the Dol Guldur main forces.
__________________________________


Orofaniel's post

The rays of sun hit Herding in the face. He spit and looked down. His eyes needed some time to get used to the light before he looked up again. It wasn't hard for him to imagine a world without any light, not just a little. The thought was ever tempting, he figured. Maybe it would come too pass? he thought as he got up. He smirked. His hand moved to his forehead and he then removed his yet black hair that was ruining his vision. Now it was clearer.

The sight that met him was the usual; Haradrims. He despised them all, but he knew that they were excellent to use for his own purposes. And since he, himself was a powerful Captain everything was perfectly fine. Although Herding was a cruel man, he was respected by his followers. Well, after all, it was expected of them to respect their Captain. He moved slightly from his spot and he noticed that a Hardarim was now walking towards him. "Captain," he said as he approached him. His face was slightly miss formed (probably from earlier battles), and his voice was harsh and unfriendly. His armour was dirty and slightly too big for him, which made him move slower than usual Men - It wasn’t hard to spot. "Who will lead the force that splits of the main army, sir?" He asked now sounding a bit friendlier than before.

Herding looked at him for a moment. "Koran Cenbryt, will lead them, if I remember correctly," he said stiffly even though he had no difficulties remembering who was going to lead them. His voice inflicted nothing but jealousy. Herding was jealous indeed; he had hoped that he wouldn't have to stick around with these foul men for eternity, but it looked like he would, even though he wanted to or not. "Why do you ask such a question?" Herding asked suspiciously. "No reason, sir," the man said and was about to turn away from Herding. But of course, such an answer wasn't acceptable with Herding. "I want a real answer!" he said sternly and looked at him with great disgust. The sweat from his forehead was now pouring down his face. He used his hand to wipe it away. The man looked astonished by what the Captain had said, since he didn’t mean anything is specific by the question. He kept quiet for a moment.

"We, me and the others in the camp, were just discussing it, that’s all, sir," he forced unwillingly. He was also sweating now. It was probably because of the big armour he was wearing, but Herding wasn't certain. Herding didn't want to discuss the matter anymore so he raised his hand and told the Haradrim that he was free to go. "Thank you sir," he said calmly and bowed.

Herding was left alone again as he watched the Haradrims slowly awakening from their deep sleep.

__________________

Okay, that was it. :)

Cheers,
Orofaniel

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Not to be picky...but Haradrim are Southrons, not Easterlings. In fact Haradrim means 'people of the south' or so i believe...

It would be helpful to clarify if indeed southrons are present in the dol guldur main forces, or whether they arent...also it strikes me as a little strange that a captain would despise his own people...

Anyhow...I'm not the owner, moderator, co-founder or anything like that...so it isn't my opinion that matters, just asking a few questions...

[Orofaniel]

Not to be picky...but Haradrim are Southrons, not Easterlings. In fact Haradrim means 'people of the south' or so i believe...
Hm..... When I wrote the character profile I was inspired by Aman and Aylwen who used Haradrims as an Easterling Captain/Solider....I don't know how to answer that question, since Herding isn't too willing to tell his "History". :p

...also it strikes me as a little strange that a captain would despise his own people... I did think about that too while I was writing the character profile of Herding. The truth is, that Herding thinks he's better than everyone else, also his own kind. He is too proud to see that he isn't that different from the others. He puts himself above everyone else; part of it because it's him by nature, but also because he's a Captain. He thinks that everyone else is of lower rank, less gifted etc. He doesn’t' realise how similar they are, because if he did realize this he would admit that he hated himself. So, if you look closer, (or maybe I'm just putting too much into it), that quote tells a lot about himself: He despised them all...

Herding is very selfish. He puts himself before others. He is cynical
He would rather go around and fool himself than admit something like that.

If you don't approve my character, I'm sorry. But I don't think I'm going to change it until further notice from the Game owner, Pio etc. After all I'm not sure they have seen it. Hope some of your questions regarding Herding has been answered, Hama. :)

Anyway, Durelin, just tell me if you want me to re-write my character profile.

Cheers,
Orofaniel

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

I wasn't saying I disapproved, I was just curious...

[piosenniel]

Durelin

How about I just change the word 'Easterling' to 'Southron' in the Charactrers Needed section? Both Aman's and Aylwen's characters are of the Haradrim race, also - and they are supposed to be 'Easterling' militia leaders.

Easterlings would be mostly the Dunlendings, peoples around Rhun, etc.

Sound ok?

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

Pio - If this will mend any controversies that might arise, and it will not effect the characters of either Aman or Aylwen, then this is certainly fine with me. I do not believe that a minor change such as this will effect the game, but, as it mainly effect's their characters, it is really up to Aylwen and Aman.

And please know that I am going over these bios thoroughly, and, unfortunately, rather slowly. I have been doing so in between studying for exams, so I thank you for your patience.

Kransha - Excellently written, and a good, nasty orc character. He fits well in his position and in the game. Very nicely done. Consider yourself a part of the game! The one thing is that I originally had the army gathering away from Dol Guldur, though I like how it was used in your post, and I realize that it is not necessary for the game for the army to assemble elsewhere.

Would it be alright with everyone if we changed the army's starting location once more? *sigh* I know: make up your mind! But trying to deal with some obscue location just isn't necessary. I hope this doesn't require editing for Aman's and Aylwen's posts...?

Firefoot - A very good job, as well. I like your character's personality very much, and his history is relatively well devised. I hope that, as the game unfolds, his good relationship with Calenvása will remain so. Welcome aboard, as well.

Don't panick, Hama Of The Riddermark or The Perky Ent! I am still working on going over your bios. I will get back to you on them soon.

And thank you, Orofaniel, for submitting a bio. I'm very glad you're interested in playing.

*Note to all those who have submitted bios, particularly those already accepted(and already dedicated characters might want to, as well!) - Please go over your bios and first posts again to check for errors. I know I sound very picky, but I believe it is worth the little bit of effort to make things professional! Call me a perfectionist! :D

-Durelin

[Firefoot]

Thanks very much! I am really looking forward to playing in this game. :)

I have also made one or two very minor changes in my post about the Southrons etc.

[Kransha]

As, Firefoot stated, thanks! I must duly apologize to Orofaniel for...ummm..'ousting' the desired position. I hope my meager, yet evil character shall do the position justice, as I have long looked forward to writing someone more than a little evil (ah, the fun I'm going to have).

In reference to what Durelin said, I have noticed some errors, but I am unfortunately unable to fix them, since the post containing my bio and first post was posted by pio and not myself. Luckily, there are only a few (one being the presence of an adjective surplus), and perhaps someone could suggest a quick solution. If not, there is little need to quibble over such a small matter.

Yet again, thanks, Durelin, and I profusely look forward to RPing alongside all of you.

P.S. If I discover a way to edit, I would be willing to somehow alter the location, while still leaving in the descriptive paragraphy about Dol Guldur. Whatever you prefer.

[piosenniel]

Kransha

I have PM'd your Character Bio and First Post to you. Please edit and then place the edited version on the Discussion Thread.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Kransha]

Here is the edit, with thanks to pio for re-sending the bio.

Durelin, this new version has it that the camp is near Dol Guldur, but not at it. Since I've already edited thus, feel free to nitpick anything else and I'll willingly oblige.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kransha - for Orc Captain

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? - Yes, The Legacy of Traitors and A Land to Call Their Own

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? - The Legacy of Traitors

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn or in The White Horse in Rohan? - Yes, the Green Dragon Inn and the White Horse

-------------------------------------

NAME: Thrákmazh

AGE: Unknown

RACE: Orc

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Thrákmazh carries a number of weapons, but uses his bow most. He has an orcish short bow with bolts that still have the lingering dried blood of his slain foes on their jagged tips. He uses tough, leathery animal hides for his quiver and bow’s handgrip and has smeared the life blood of his enemies over the wood as a sort of prize (some say he can still remember the owner of each dulled scarlet path on it). He rarely obtains new arrows, instead retrieving the original shafts after combat. He also carries a common orc scimitar, rusty and chipped in many places with contorted, twisting, gnarled curves designed to elicit the utmost pain from those foes smitten down by it, which he uses in close combat, and a smaller dagger-like scimitar for emergencies that is always tucked into his belt beneath the folds and dangling fringes of his tattered excuse for armor. He carries no shield, rarely coming into close combat. He can adapt to most lightweight swords and knives but is not half as good with them as he is with his bow.

APPEARANCE: Generally orcish in appearance. He is very thin, almost emaciated, but still muscular. He is stumpy-legged, long-armed, has piercing red slits for eyes and has skin the color of charred wood, though it is still lighter in color than many orcs. He wears pilfered metal plates and patches of chain mail riveted together to make a crude kind of armor with some leather, cloth, and fur to keep it in one piece as a primitive hauberk and tunic. He bears one full plate of armor which he patched onto his chest and painted, in bright red, the heraldic device of his master, the Eye of Sauron. Spikes and an assortment of blades are also attached to his ‘uniform’ to make him more intimidating. His eyes are narrow slits of green, despite the fact that he only has one. He lost his left eye in a fight and still bears a jagged scar across that side of his face, but it is rumored that the loss of his eye actually made him a more acute archer. He is swift and has a steady arm, but is otherwise weak and small. His face, minus the one eye, is bird-like in its sharpness. His nose is like a hooked beak and neck is craned forward. His mouth is filled with broken yellowed teeth, with many bicuspids missing. He has a small hump on his back with skinny arms and legs that hang down limp when not in use.

PERSONALITY: Thrákmazh is a cold and calculating orc who probably talks too much for his own good. For an orc, he is clever, and always seems to have the right response for everything, even though he’s really very dim-witted by human or elf standards. He knows a lot of big words in the common tongue, which impresses some orcs. He has a sniveling and disgusting nature, seeming to crawl around everywhere and always be right behind when you least suspect it, but that is overshadowed by his growing ego, which he has developed into an art form. He is a particularly sadistic orc, to back up all his talk, and gets a sick sense of pleasure out of causing pain to anyone, including other orcs. His strength lies in his archery prowess and cunning, but his overly talkative and insulting attitude, as well as the fact that he often leaves opponents alive for too long, toying with them before the final blow, serve as major weaknesses. The latter flaw cost him his right eye, but he continues to indulge it despite that.

Thrákmazh was once rarely overconfident, but his firm backing by other orcs sometimes goes to his head. He likes to come off as stronger and more regal than he appears, though it is harder for someone of his irrepressible nature to seem the least bit noble. After numerous minor war wounds, he has become a little stiffer, and is probably older than many other orcs, though he does not know his own birth date anyway. He is not wise in his age, but maintains a youthful orcish verve and all the experience he gained after many years in the field, mostly battling elves. Above all other things, he despises elves and trees, and would take any chance he got to dispose of either one entirely. He thinks himself (and others agree) that he is a mighty orator among orcs, and an equally strong booster of orcs’ bloodthirsty morale with his fanatical devotion to his master, Sauron.

HISTORY: A devoted servant of Sauron, Thrákmazh worked his way up through the disorganized ranks of the orc military by gaining ill-gotten respect from his uruk peers. Those who serve under him and share his position talk of him with a legendary air, as if he is some mythic enigma among orc-kind. Thrákmazh always knew that he was not, but there are many tales told about him that were true.

Before Thrákmazh had seen many battles, he entered a battle with elves that overwhelmed a large raiding party of which he was a member, during the days long before the Necromancer occupied Dol Guldur, an age prior. During the course of the battle, the orc party was forced to flee deeper into the forest. Only Thrákmazh and a few others remained, by now forced to embrace defeat but not submitting. Thrákmazh, in single combat with one of the Silvan elves, was gravely wounded, losing his eye in the process. But, amazingly, he continued to fight. Using his bow, he slew the elf had who had wounded him and several others before being forced to flee the field himself, an eye shorter and several Elvish looted trinkets richer. Other stories abound about Thrákmazh, like how the loss of his eye honed his skill as an archer, making him, supposedly, on of the best orcish archers who ever lived. He also knows this to be a fabrication, but he is one of the better archers in the orc forces of Dol Guldur. He is a skilled uruk warrior, and well-renowned for being so.

When the Wise discovered the Necromancer’s whereabouts in Dol Guldur, he was forced to flee to Mordor. Thrákmazh and the orcs who had fallen under his command as Dol Guldur began to organize had to disperse as the surrounding lands of Middle-Earth took notice of Sauron’s presence in Mirkwood. For roughly ten years after the discovery, many orcish companies were reduced to becoming primitive raiders in Mirkwood, taking stabs at the Elves of the wood with several unsuccessful ventures. After ten years, in the year 2951 of the Third Age, the Nazgul of Sauron returned to recapture the fortress of Dol Guldur. They easily did so, bringing many of their own commanded uruk parties with them. Thrákmazh, by now leading many of the dispersed orcs who’d remained in Mirkwood, gathered together those who followed them and went to Dol Guldur, vowing allegiance to the Nazgul. Though Thrákmazh did not appreciate the presence of the Ringwraiths, he paid lip service to them all the same and was repaid with a second promotion.

Now a renowned figure among orcs of Mirkwood, Thrákmazh began embellishing his own image. He developed that image carefully, molding himself into a formidable role model for other orcs. He became, unlike other orcs, a cleverer, less blunt military figure, a tactician and strategist looked up to in some ways by those he commanded. He remained an orc at heart, as cruel and as single-minded as ever, but was trusted by the other uruks of Dol Guldur to command many. He was swiftly given command of a section of the army mustered on Amon Lanc, which was headed for yet another, stronger, more decisive attack on Lorien.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kransha's post

One cold eye, a narrow slit set deep into the bare skull of the eye’s owner, scanned the tranquility and peace around them. The eye, though icy like winter frost, bore a shrouded fire behind it that glowed like a dying ember, still persistent enough to glow with pale and sickly light. The limpid orb moved from side to side, over viewing the surrounding area, the eyelids that held it narrowing further each time the looker saw something that displeased him. His single dark pupil would focus and shrivel into a precise dot as it scoped out the undesirable object obstructing his line of sight. The hill of Amon Lanc was devoid of trees, a piece of barren rock and earth jutting up from the forested plain of Mirkwood not too far from where the orc squatted contemplatively. From that hill spurted Dol Guldur itself, the malevolent fortress, its reaches stretching upward into the cloudy sky and its shadow looming over all things nearby. Unfortunately, some trees, though in their final days of life, still stood at the bottom of the hill.

Like many other of his kind, Thrákmazh hated trees, even the broken, dead ones. He hated all trees, every solitary leaf, arching branch, twisting root, and wooden knothole, everything about them. There were too many blasted trees in Mirkwood and Thrákmazh had long dreamt of taking a sturdy ax to all of them. As he knelt, rough-skinned knees creased beneath him, he could almost here the snapping of splinters from great trunks and the whistling in the wind as each column on natural beauty plummeted from its niche in the earth and crashed into Mirkwood’s rich soil. Slowly, the uruk’s hand lowered, the gnarled branches jutting from his dangling hand, which some might call fingers, and his jagged-nailed digits dug thoroughly into the dirt, closing slowly and drawing a handful of the crumbling substance out, lifting it into the air and letting stray particles slide out of his ruthlessly clenched fist and back onto the ground.

Slowly standing, Thrákmazh’s fist tightened around the dirt, stopping the meager slippage. He stood fully, still hunched over as he took a step forward, letting all the crumbs of earth fall. He was surrounded by others of his species, still lingering and talking in tense whispers in the dirt, just below the vaguely looming mound of the hill of Amon Lanc far off. They were slowly gathering, with the reinforcements of wretched men in the service of the Lidless Eye who had camped on the dusty, forested plain some unknown distance from the fortress of Dol Guldur. It was to be a great force indeed, rivaling many armies rallied in the Misty Mountains and the South, but still not as great as the grandest of Sauron’s hosts. To Thrákmazh, it was merely an event, an event in which he could shed all the blood he wanted, ever standing out from the blind, raging hundreds of orcs who swarmed into this foully shrouded clearing of what had once been Greenwood the Great, on the slope of Amon Lanc. They were to depart shortly, heading from the place that very few of them had ever considered calling home to the detestable woodland home of the Elves, Lorien, which Thrákmazh had already fantasized about razing to the ground, severing every one of the grandest trees from their hold on Arda and setting flame to the land. At this shadowy thought, he grinned, lips peeling back grotesquely. He let the rest of the gripped dirt loose, opening his palm to the ground as he began to speak aloud.

“This earth lacks something” he growled through a mouth of dagger-like teeth, his raspy, deep voice resonating like the hiss of a serpent and the croak of a toad as its volume slowly swelled. The other gurgling uruks, perhaps fifty who heard, turned to him, his cold and grim tone too recognizable to many of them. Thrákmazh, as if he hadn’t noted that their deep-set eyes had turned to him, continued with a kind of excited sobriety, “…It lacks the seasoning of blood…This soil has gone too long without tasting death upon it.”

At this, the other orcs nodded in agreement, some smiling horrible smiles, other simply acknowledging his ‘correctness’ about the matter. Many responded with orcish jubilation, thumped their hands and weapons on the earth to signify their support. Those orcs sitting or reclining sluggishly out of earshot still picked up the brief reverberation, and answered with thrilled grunts and roars of their own. Thrákmazh’s grin widened murderously, but it was brimming with an unusual self-satisfaction as he continued pacing, kicking up the dust. Making these melodramatic tirades against the foes of Sauron was a gimmick, one that furthered his persona. At first, it had been a morale booster, which was something the conniving uruk was good at, but soon enough the habit swelled into a method of casting a new façade over himself, which made him all the greater in the eyes of those around him. He could cultivate his persona, re-inventing it daily, and bring more eager young orcs to him seeking advice on who to slay elf scouts, or to ambush patrols from the north, all because of the pseudo-epic mythos he’d allowed to spring up. The orc captain did not care for glory, but the feeling of hearing orcs behind him and only him, comparing the number of kills they had to his own, heaping praise upon him for things he new to be false, but still filled him with that same satisfaction of knowing that, to a world of villains, he was a hero. As he paced away through the ranks of resting orcs, seemingly countless in their number as the dotted the innards of Mirkwood, he feigned serious contemplation as he shot a roving glance back at the orcs behind.

Some of these, Thrákmazh knew; orcs who’d followed him for a longer length of time than these new recruits, who seemed to be spilling into Mirkwood these days, but Thrákmazh didn’t care. He had orcs to do the will of the Eye, and he had himself to issue those commands that the Eye required. He had all he needed in Mirkwood, all he needed that his masters in Mordor would ever give, and was content as long as he could still kill men and elves and dwarves as the monotonous days passed. One thing he did not need, or want, were the foul things that had infected Mirkwood…men, Easterling men, suddenly spurting up from the ground like those confounded trees. They had mostly populated this camp, were the army was preparing, and more came by the second. Their forces were not as great when compared to the numbers of the uruks, but they were formidable all the same. They had gathered in camps that speckled Mirkwood, mostly centered on a single camp where the weak mortal clans were congregating.

‘Too many filthy men.’ snarled Thrákmazh mentally, breathing harshly like a furious predator after his prey has eluded him. ‘When this is over, and we have the blood of the elves on our blades and our bolts they can fall too. The Great Eye has no need of traitorous mortals in his service. Slaying them would be a service to Lugburz.'

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Added a little to my first post, a bit o inspiration just hit me, I hope that its alright...

[piosenniel]

Oro - PLEASE CHECK YOUR PM'S

I’m trying to bring these characters in line with what was asked for. I’ve PM’d Aman and Aylwen so that I can change their character designations to:

Southron (formerly designated as Easterling) Captain of the Special Dol Guldur forces: – Aman (See Dedicated Players List for this)

Southron (formerly designated as Easterling) grunt soldier of the Special Dol Guldur forces – Aylwen (See Dedicated Players List for this)

Since both of their characters are also described by them as Haradrim (Southrons)

Easterlings are Dunlanders, Men of Rhun, Wildmen of the Hills – they are not Haradrim.

----------------------

So, Oro, I am changing the designation for your character – to Southron Captain of the MAIN Dol Guldur forces. You will not need to change your bio or post, then.

Your character as described right now is one of the Haradrim - not an Easterling.

He will be, should your submission be accepted, a Southron captain - I'll go back and edit Easterling out completely.

-------------------------------------

There are 2 Dol Guldur forces in the Game:

Your character is captain of the main Dol Guldur forces. He needs to be a Southron Captain if you are going to have him be Haradrim

The other Captain (Aman's dedicated character) is of the special Dol Guldur forces

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s either this – where no one has to change their bios or first posts – or all the supposed Easterlings will need to bring their characters in line with what someone of the Easterling designation is supposed to be like.

[Durelin]

Orofaniel - Please disregard my PM. I was in a rush, and, once again, my thoughts were unorganized. If the part of a Haradrim captain of the main forces is what you still wish to play, I will be getting back to you on your bio shortly.

The Perky Ent - I find your character a very interesting one, and the history is extremely well done. But, I think a little more is needed to describe both your character's appearance and personality, with more needed the latter. Also, as always, I remind you to review it and be nitpicky! :D

Hama Of The Riddermark - I think more is needed for your character's personality as well. I'd like a little more of an idea what Lómarandil is like. And concerning your first post: I ask you to go back and read my first post, as yours contradicts a good bit of what went on in mine. I like the orc dialogue, but...well, you'll see what I mean. Also, we would not be taking word to Thranduil.

Here, for the reference of those constructing on reviewing bios:

Outline of game:

Army prepares to march from Dol Guldur (day 1)
Mirkwood scouts discover army (day 1), and, as it begins to march toward Lorien, they decide to follow (day 2 – 3)
Lorien envoy is on their way to the Woodmen (days 1 – 3), a good ways outside Lorien on day 1
Envoy crosses path of army (the two are heading in opposite directions, and it is hard to avoid a large army), and are captured (day 3)
Small force breaks off to take the captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Mirkwood scouts, following, are able to ambush (night day 3) this force and rescue the captives
The scouts learn of the plans: a special force will attack from another direction and assault Caras Galadon (day 4)
The elven party races back to Lorien from the north at the greatest possible speed – the trolls slow the baddies down (days 4 – 7)
When they arrive (night day 9), the battle is about to begin:
When the army reaches the Anduin around mid-day on the 9th day, they stop to put up the floating bridges. They plan to begin the attack soon after dawn the next day. The Mirkwood scouts + Lorien envoy reach the borders of Lorien a little before dusk, and reach Caras Galadon soon after dusk. A council of war then follows during the night.
The plan of the special force is foiled, and the entire army retreats (day 11)

--------------

Timeframes:

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party scouts out and follows army (days 1 – 3)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (night of day 3 – day 4)
Race back to Lorien (days 4 – 7)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (night of day 7 – day 8)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)

Kransha - All that you said sounds good, but I will read your edited bio over. Thanks for the changes!

And thanks to all, especially the submitters of bios that I am so pestering! :)

-Durelin :D

[The Perky Ent]

Figured as much. This is a very high profile game, and didn't think I'd get away with it ;) I'll work on it.

[Arry]

Submitted for the Orc character – Dol Guldur Main Forces

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?

No; this is my first here.
----------------------------------

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?

None
----------------------------------

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn

Yes

_______________________________________

For your character please include:

NAME: Gromwakh

AGE: One year is much like the next to him . . . but he’s at least five – beyond that he’s unsure; birthdays not being celebrated among the members of the Orcish race. He only knows he and his tent-mate, Snikdul, have gone hunting in the dark forest once a year at midsummer since they came to serve at Dol Guldur. Got five black squirrel heads each they wear on filthy, twisted cords about their waist. Looking to add a few Elf fingers if they can get them.

RACE: Orc, originally from Mount Gundabad

GENDER: male

WEAPONS: A rusty, but serviceable filet knife he never cleans, other than to wipe it hastily on the thigh of his breeches – long thin blade: good for sticking, skinning, and general slice-work. Main weapon - a hefty hardwood cudgel studded with raggedy iron spikes. Brainbash, he calls it.

APPEARANCE: Squat in stature, dark skinned, with patches of greasy hair on his head. Thin, wiry-muscled arms and legs. Protuberant belly. His eyes are dark brown, and rather bulbous. His feet and hands are large with long, ragged, yellowed nails. Snaggle-toothed, pimply skinned, and stinks of the mouldy concoction of onion and rancid bird eggs he likes to spread on his bread, when he can get it. Wears a stiff leather jerkin pieced together from some small animals best unknown; a pair of cast-off breeches with more holes than material. No foot covering; no head-gear. Has a small leather pouch strung on the cord round his waist for carrying messages as needed.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Not exceedingly bright; but has the cunning of the put-upon. An excellent follower only if the leader keeps him under his watchful eye and his back within reach of his whip. He has proved himself able at running messages between one staging area and another. Runs fast and for long periods without tiring (though not without grumbling). Cowardly by some standards, though he sees it as pure self preservation. Very good at hiding during a fight. Can defend himself ably, though, if attacked.

HISTORY: Most of his life has been spent in the dark, Orc-warrens beneath the Misty Mountains. Keeping the ways open for the Dark Lord’s traffic and free of the occasional unfortunate Dwarf or man who ventured beneath the roots of the mountains. Nice there, he thought. Not much to do, and there was always some tasty rat or bat to be had for snacking when the mood struck him.

Just five years ago a large number of his fellow Orcs, himself included, had been driven south and then east to Dol Guldur, putting an end to his relatively easy life. Something about the Dark Master needing troops for a big fight he was planning. He couldn’t be sure. The big Orcs that captained them drove them day and night beneath the mountains, when they could, and out beneath old Yellow Face when needed. The pace was too fast for idle questions, and the looks on the faces of the brutes with whips discouraged any questions as it was.

**********************************

I’d like very much to carry along Gromwakh’s companion, Snikdul; if I might.

Here’s a short bio for him:

NAME: Snikdul

AGE: somewhere in the vicinity of Gromwakh’s – maybe a bit younger

RACE: Orc from Mount Gundabad

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: A short, curved blade sword with a hook at the end – he’s named it The Ripper. A medium length, thick iron bar he can wield with his left hand while his right holds the sword. ‘Slash ‘em and bash’em’ is his motto.

APPEARANCE: Short and dark like Gromwakh. Long armed, thick legged, muscular. Slant-eyed. Yellow fanged. Wears a tattered leather vest of unknown color - greasy, grimy, and sewn with a number of pockets, inside and out. Equally greasy breeches bearing numerous unnamed splotches. In battle, he sports a battered helmet whose craters and crevices match the contours of his misshapen skull. And he has a rather large nose that drips quite often and a lot.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Very talkative, likes to prattle on at the most inopportune moments. Follows along after Gromwakh as if he were a younger brother. Dangerous as a cornered badger when threatened, but prefers, as does Gromwakh, to avoid being cornered at all.

HISTORY: Much the same as Gromwakh’s

__________________________________


Arry's post:

‘I heard it was old One-eye going to lead most of us this time.’

Gromwakh muttered something unintelligible in return as his ratting companion, Snikdul, nattered on about the rumored plans for the upcoming battle. They were down in the depths of the cellars and passageways beneath Dol Guldur. Hunting was good down there, the rats plump from the horde of foods stored for the use of the fortress’ little army. The small burlap sack the two Orcs had dragged down with them was filled with tasty morsels . . . some of them still squirming.

‘You gonna stand there and talk while I do the work,’ Gromwakh growled, casting a nasty look at his companion. ‘Think you can talk your dinner to death, do you!’ he picked up a clump of mouldering dirt and threw it at Snikdul.

Silence and the scrabbling of the two-leggeds after the four echoed in the dim, dusty recesses of the main storeroom. Unable to help himself, as he methodically wrung one of his catches’ necks, Snikdul found himself speaking again. ‘Well whatta ya think of that?’ he asked, continuing on, as if there had been no pause.

‘Think about what?’ rasped Gromwakh. ‘One filthy Uruk’s the same as any other. It’ll be “Scum do this!” and Scum do that!” and ours’ll be the backs that bleed when the whips are laid to them.’ Gromwakh looked up, glaring as Snikdul Shhh’d him. He chucked a squealing rodent against the stone wall for emphasis. ‘Stop your sniveling! Whatta ya going on about? Think the stones down hear have ears? Think again!’ He waved a stiff rat’s body over his head, pointing it up toward the top of the hill. ‘All them high-and-mighties are somewhere up there making their plans. And it’ll be our snaga-hides the nasty Elf-blades’ll be cutting on the front lines.’ Snikdul wiped the back of his arm across his dripping nose, giving a resigned shrug to his companion’s comments.

Gromwakh motioned for Snikdul to follow him down the dirt tunnel. Their shuffling steps were muffled by the loose dirt of the floor as they loped along. Dried, twisted roots from the few trees still clinging to life on the hill poked out here and there from the tunnel’s roof – snagging the hapless hunters on the head as they passed. Just before they reached the steps up to the surface, Snikdul spoke up again. Another observation had bubbled up to the surface of his thick stew of half-formed thoughts.

‘Hey . . . I heard something about that man-Captain . . . Herding they called him. Clever, he is . . . he hates them southern pushdugs much as we do. Snikdul snorted with laughter. Gromwakh grunted and slung the rat sack over his other shoulder. ‘Quiet now. We’re here at the top. Filthy walls do have ears up here . . .’

The two Orcs slunk low, half hidden in the shadows afforded by the scraggly bushes and the rough-hewn sides of the fortress. They kept their eyes on the ground before them, fervently hoping no one would notice their passage.

----------------------------------

Hope this will do! Will change any of it as needed (I did mention Orofaniel's and Kransha's characters if that's alright).

Looking forward to play, if possible. Thanks for your consideration!

-- Arry

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Durelin,

Added to my personality and changed my first post. Hope you like :D

[piosenniel]

Please note that all references to Easterlings in the Character's list and in players bios/post have now been changed to Southron.

You may of course throw a few Easterling troops into the mix if you wish in your posts, but the main 'baddies' will feature Southrons - Haradrim, under the able command of their Southron Captains.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Alaksoron]

Alaksoron - Check your PM's (Private Messages), please

Please read the Discussion thread carefully. Note how the other players have done their Character Description forms, and how they have written their First Posts.

Then, you may, of course submit a character and First Post for an Elven Warrior of Lorien - but you must follow the rules to do so:

1.) Use the COMPLETE CHARACTER DESCRIPTION FORM - ON PAGE 1, POST # 12.

2.) YOU MUST SUBMIT A FIRST POST WITH YOUR CHARACTER DESCRIPTION - GIVING US AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR CHARACTER IS DOING AT THE START OF THE GAME.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will await your completed submission. You may repost it here if you wish, using the edit function.

Thanks!

~*~ Piosenniel, Game Moderator

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Done some editing of my first post under Durelin's guidance. The end should make a little more sense now... ;)

[Amanaduial the archer]

Durelin, check your PMs please :)

[The Perky Ent]

Durelin - Very sorry to say this, but I must leave the game. In the process of managing my time, I found I couldn't do two games at the same time at the moment. Thank you very much for considering me. I hope you can get someone better to replace me.

Once again, sorry!

The Perky Ent


PS: :( sorry

[Durelin]

Arry - Thank you for submitting a bio! You most certainly can have both Gromwakh and Snikdul! They are two wonderful characters. They're so very different from the rest of the baddies, and this is a very good thing - they add so much flavor! You gave such a lovely and accurate explanation about orc ages :D , and your first post is just fine, mentioning other characters.

Hama - Thank you for all the changes! Looks pretty good now. Lómarandil is accepted! :)

The Perky Ent - I am very sorry, too! But I understand completely.

Orofaniel - Herding seems like a good baddie! ;) He is accepted! One thing, though (I am mainly just curious, but it would be nice if this was added to the bio): Herding can certainly hate his own people, but is there a reason why? I couldn't find one in the bio or the first post, though it was clear that he hated them. Was there something in his past that you had in mind, or is it caused by something in his personality?

Alaksoron - Thank you for your interest in this game! I hope you can follow Pio's guidance an make it into an RPG soon.

Pio - Please forgive my slothfulness! I saw it, but failed to say so... Oh, and, unfortunately, there are 5 characters still needed, rather than just four. Both a male and female ambassador are needed.

[Arry]

Looking forward then to playing with you all!

[Alatariel Telemnar]

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? - Yes, The Hills of Evendim

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? – None

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn or in The White Horse in Rohan? - Yes, the Green Dragon Inn

-------------------------------------

NAME: Urkrásh

AGE: A few years or so

RACE: Orc

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Urkrásh carries an orc bow that has seen too few battles. He uses his own arrows, and often takes others as he finds them. Also, he carries a short lengthed metal bar, a short dagger, and a short curved sword for close combat.

APPEARANCE: Urkrásh looks like a common orc. His skin is dark of colour. His left cheek is puffier than the rest of his face. His eyes are red with black slits. His right hand is limp from him tripping over a tree root. He is short, like any other orc. His legs aren’t as strong, but his stronger arms make up for it. Urkrásh wears brown rags, along with a belt to hold his weapons. He has good aim with his bow, and can fight with a sword just as equally. He wears little armour, and what of it is worn down and nearly falling apart, for he got the scraps of what there was.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Urkrásh is not very smart and would not make the best leader, for he was born that way; thus, his moves in battle might cause severe damage to any numbers he would lead. He follows the orders of his captain and master, Thrákmazh, and will do whatever he says when he says to do it. He doesn’t talk very much, in fear of someone getting mad and hurting because before he was under the command of an orc that got mad at him even if he did a little thing wrong. He follows Thrákmazh around like a dog, and often has angered him for asking him if there is anything he could do, but lately has shut up altogether, unless spoken to. He finds ways to suck up to Thrákmazh by complimenting him on every decision he makes, or doing anything to help, though he makes compliments small, short, and to the point in fear of being punished for annoying him. Urkrásh has hated trees ever since he tripped over a tree root which appeared in front of him and fell on his right hand, causing it to go limp, weakening him in battle.

HISTORY: Urkrásh is still a fairly young orc, and started out basically as Thrákmazh’s slave, not counting the little time before that where he dwelled in Mordor. His limp hand could have been the cause of his low ranking, or just because he is not very smart. But ever since he tripped over the tree root traveling through a forest one day, he has hated trees more than ever. Now he wishes to see all the forests of Middle-earth chopped up and burned. He was quite often punished by his former orc captain for noting out obvious things (him not being too bright), complimenting too much, and doing just about anything he can to suck up, including asking if there was anything he could do several times a day. A few days before he joined with Thrákmazh, he angered his captain by complimenting him, despite his captain failing, and the captain went so far as to try to take a knife to him, but Urkrásh threw him off and ran away.

He has seen little of battle, besides what he had gone through with Thrákmazh. Urkrásh had joined with his orcs after they had returned from Dol Guldur to Mordor, where he had lived for most of his young life. When he met Thráshmazh, he started to cling to him, doing whatever Thráshmazh asked of him. Slowly, Thráshmazh accepted him. There he remained, under Thráshmazh protection; in return he became his slave, welcoming the position.

-------------------------------------

Alatariel Telemnar’s Post

Urkrásh stood, looking upon the Dol Guldur, waiting for his next orders. Staring at what was left of the trees, he pictured them in the back of his mind burning, despite they were barely living. Orcs chopping at their roots, hacking them down, and setting torch to them all. All that he wished to do was of such, burn the trees and kill those who don’t. A glint entered his red eye at the thought. He looked down upon his own limp right hand, and growled to himself in hatred of them. Urkrásh wished to hack and burn them all down, every last one, from the root to every green leaf. Imagining them burning, Urkrásh stared.

He turned his attention back upon his master, who smelled the dirt, ‘This earth lacks something,’ Thrákmazh growled, as he rose slowly, causing the other uruks to look upon him: his voice was very recognizable among them, ‘…It lacks the seasoning of blood…This soil has gone too long without tasting death upon it.’

The uruks nodded, as did Urkrásh, others grinned. He had gone through too few battles, but still enjoyed the smell of blood, and awaited to smell it again. Urkrásh smiled to himself, showing teeth rotted and mostly black.

Urkrásh watched him as he paced through the lines of orcs, pondering to himself. Always alert, always waiting for orders, Urkrásh was. He nearly followed him, but didn’t, and stayed put firmly in his spot, shifting from one leg to another every so often. Life seemed to be going his way, Thrákmazh treated him well, keeping him under his protection, and in return Urkrásh has become his slave. Now he would get to see more of battle, and hopefully please his master.

Looking back upon what was left of the trees again, he pictured not only burning them, but what their task really was. At that Urkrásh smiled again. For as much as he hated trees, he still loved to kill. Urkrásh paced his eyes over the hills. While he waited, his mind wandered off once more, cutting down, hacking into pieces, burning. Every so often looking back at Thrákmazh to see if there was anything he could do to help.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Durelin]

Alatariel - Thanks for submitting a bio! But I'm afraid you are right: it did come up a bit short. I know it is hard, considering that your character is a lowly servant of the Captain, but he is also a main character, so a more lengthy bio is needed, I think. If you can find a way to add to both the bio and the post, I would be very grateful. I like what you have so far - a toady is always great fun to have around! :D

Kransha - I'm sorry it took me so long, but here's an official: You're bio and first post are now pretty perfect! :) Thanks again for the changes.

And once again...

*Note to all those who have submitted bios, particularly those already accepted(and already dedicated characters might want to, as well!) - Please go over your bios and first posts again to check for errors.

-Durelin

[Alatariel Telemnar]

I added more as well as changed a few things. I hope that's better! If not, I s'pose I shall just have to keep thinking up more to add. I reread it as best I could with others reading over my should (*glares at them*) and have to go soon.

Alatariel :)

[Durelin]

Alatariel - Thank you for all the changes you made. I look forward to possible changes to your first post, but will go ahead and welcome you aboard. Urkrásh is accepted.

There are some character openings that do not seem like they will be filled. I will, of course, give it more time, but I have dedicated players ready to fill in these roles the best they can. I will let everyone know when I feel that it has come to that point, which just might be fairly soon. I want to get this going, as I'm sure all of you do.

Also, can we get a quick head count here? Out of our dedicated players...which is only five, including myself, I have heard from all but Arvedui. I would much appreciate it if you posted very quickly on the discussion thread or sent me a PM to let me know that you're around, and still able to participate. Thanks a bunch.

-Durelin :D

[Amanaduial the archer]

Still here, still able to participate, and still ready to put plan B into action come....oh, tomorrow, actually :)

[piosenniel]

Request from Mod:

I have beat the bushes, as it were, with notices in the game forums and a great # of PM's - to no avail, it seems, in recruiting for the Lorien Envoy section.

I'd like to see this game in play by the end of this week or early next - so:

Bring on the additional Dedicated players, please.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

Tomorrow sounds great, Aman. :D

Aman will be taking on the role of the servant for the Ambassador

*calls in the reinforcements*

You've got the green light, Fordim!

Fordim and I spoke, and his original character, Ambarturion, will be switching roles. Rather than being the escort of the Ambassador, he will be the Ambassador himself. We will stick with just one Ambassador (two really was wishful thinking), and his two carry along characters will be enough to make an escort.

And I, will be taking the cameo role, since that seems to be necessary, as well, if not as direly so.

[piosenniel]

Here's what the game looks like now:

Full complement of players/characters for the game:

Characters submitted so far:


I - Dol Guldur special forces

Southron Captain of special forces - Amanaduial the archer

Southron grunt soldier of special forces - Aylwen Dreamsong

1 Orc captain – Kransha – accepted

1 Orc soldier of the Special Forces (slave of the captain?) Alatariel Telemnar - accepted

~*~

II - Mirkwood Scouts

Elf scout Captain – Durelin

Elf scout – Arvedui II

1 Mirkwood Elf scout – Firefoot – accepted

1 Mirkwood Elf scout – Hama of the Riddermark - accepted

~*~

III - Lorien Envoy to Woodelves

Carry along guards – Fordim Hedgethistle

1 Ambassador – male - Fordim Hedgethistle

1 female Amabassador and/or Servant for the Ambassadors - Amanaduial the archer

~*~

IV - Dol Guldur main forces

1 Southron Captain of the Main forces – Orofaniel - accepted

1 Orc soldier of the Main Forces + carry along Orc - Arry - accepted

~*~

V -Cameo

1 Lorien Elven warrior of the defense – male Durelin

[piosenniel]

Fordim

Have sent back your Character Bio/Post to be reworked into the Ambassador as needed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aman

Will await the placement of your Lorien servant bio/post to this thread.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Durelin

Once the bios and posts are all done to your satisfaction, then place a list by Player Name of the order in which you want them placed on the Game Thread.

I don't know when your cameo Lorien Elf is coming into the game - when he does, please post a brief bio for him; no first post needed.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ehm...

I had originally intended to place a profile for the female Lorien Ambassador, and have started some work on her. However, if you would prefer, I can instead create the servant. Would you very much prefer to make the servant rather than the female ambassador? I would rather write the female ambassador, but if you have Great Plans for the servant, I will of course oblige.

- Aman

[piosenniel]

Aman

If it's ok with Durelin, why don't you do the female ambassador. That might be more interesting - the interplay between the 2 ambassadors.

You can always have a servant you refer to as needed, without having to work up a bio for her.

I'll put you down as a servant/ambassador for now until all is sorted out . . .

~*~ Pio :)

[Durelin]

Aman - I have failed you! I believe I failed to listen to what you said. And it seems that I was foolish enough to delete your PM and forgot to download it to text. I am very sorry, and it is most certainly whatever you prefer.

So, put her down as the female Lorien Ambassador, and please forgive me!

-Durelin :(

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

So, Aman and I shall be the ambassadors together?!?!?!?

Hip hip hip huzzah!!!

Any chance of a high roof for them to dangle from? (Sorry, a terribly in joke there. . .just so happy to be RPing with Aman).

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Pio and Durelin -- here is my reworked first post; didn't really change a lot, but I didn't think that much needed changing! Let me know.

DEDICATED CHARACTER

5.) Fordim Hedgethistle - Lorien Ambassador + 2 carry-along guards


Carry-along characters:

Megilaes and Caranbaith

Fraternal twin brothers. They are young Elves, only about three hundred years old, who are being taught the ways of Lorien warfare by Ambarturion, my main character.

They are both armed with bows and the short daggers favoured by the Silvan Elves.

They are both fair haired, but Megliaes is the taller of the two, while Caranbaith has the fairer singing voice.

*-*-*-*-*

Main Character:


NAME: Ambarturion

AGE: 7060

RACE: Elf (Silvan)

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Ambarturion bears a bow of the Galadhrim and an ancient sword of Doriath. The sword is made of white steel and engraved in such a manner that when drawn in moonlight it appears to glow like a descended star. Its blade is long and tapered, as was the manner of weaponry for Elves in the First Age, and the pommel is wrapped in tightly bound cords of supple leather. Upon the crosspiece there is mounted a single pale gem – the last heirloom of his house.

APPEARANCE: Ambarturion is very tall and very graceful, and even among the Elves of Lorien he is known for the extremity of both his beauty and the severity of countenance which mars it. His raven-black hair is cropped just below the shoulders and his keen grey eyes shine with the memory of the fearless dark. His face is stern and proud, but possessed of great nobility and lineage. He wears the grey cloak of Lorien over a simple tunic and doublet of forest green, and his long legs are clad in supple breeches also of forest hue. He bears neither ornament nor jewel. Ambarturion rarely smiles or laughs.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Ambarturion bears himself as one of the Noldor, for he has spent almost his whole life in the company and service of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. His life is defined by the love that binds him to his Lord and Lady, and this is the source both of his greatness and of the distant pride that many remark in him. But for his loyalty to them, Ambarturion would long ago have forsaken Middle-Earth and made the journey to the Grey Havens – as he is ever counselling the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim to do. He cares little for the other folk of Middle-Earth, and is convinced that whether Sauron conquer them or not is of little purpose, for none of their works or deeds has rivalled those of the Elves in the Elder Days. Of all the Free Peoples, he values only the Ents and the Dunedain, but even they are the fallen remnants of a once mightier race.

HISTORY: Born in the First Years of the Sun, Ambarturion was raised within the protection of the Girdle of Melian where Thingol reigned as High King. When he was old enough to enter the service of a lord, he swore fealty to his kinsman Celeborn and to his Lady, beautiful and glorious beyond bearing. Since then, his fate has been bound to that of his Lord and Lady and his life has been the chronicle of his people’s long defeat. His tears at Ninaeth Arnodad were shed for his brother and father who were slain by balrogs in the first charge of the Elves. He beheld with wonder the host of the Valar and their destruction of Thangbad. He marched under the banners of Thingol and Gil-Galad in their defeats of Sauron, and was among those who Galadriel sent to welcome the Faithful back to Middle-Earth at the fall of Numenor. It was upon his return from this journey that his mother told him of her decision to leave Middle-Earth, and he had longed to follow her, for he loved her greatly and their parting was grievous. But the love he bore for Celeborn and Galadriel overcame this desire and his mother departed alone.

Through the long tale of years since then, his thoughts have turned increasingly to the Undying Lands. For the faint echo of the West that he had seen within the Girdle has grown with the years until it has become as a waking dream for him: ever present before his eyes, dulling the small world of mortal folk and leading him further and further away from their troubles. It was a sore trial for him to know that the One Ring had been within the very grasp of his Lady, but that she had let it slip away from her and into the hands of Sauron, borne thence by a race of witless folk unsung and unheralded in any song or tale. His weariness with Middle-Earth has been made more unbearable through the Ages by the constant loss of those companions of his youth who had, like him, sworn fealty to Celeborn in Melian. Many of his friends fell in the endless battles against the servants of Thangbad and then Mordor. The rest have taken their place in the ships that sailed away from these shores. Of all those who had once gathered about Celeborn as his Companions, Ambarturion alone remains.

On the day when he first came to Lothlorien with his Lord, he made the ways of the forest his study, and spent all his energies in preparing for the land’s defence. None among the Elves bore a steadier hand with the bow, and his sword, already tempered by two Ages of service in the war against Melkor and his servants, had been sharpened and renewed through countless years of careful practice. For centuries he has been entrusted with the instruction of younger Elves in the art of war, but he wearied of teaching only, and has taken to wandering the fringes of the Golden Wood for weeks on end, relentlessly prowling and hunting for their enemies. His journeys have taken him further and further afield, as far as the fringes of Mirkwood to the East, and to the Gladden Fields and the Brown Lands to the North and South. And always in these journeys is his purpose the same: to slay the servants of Sauron in order to forestall their inevitable victory for as long as he might, in the hopes that Celeborn and Galadriel will cease their fruitless quest to save Middle-Earth and follow his counsel to take the straight road into the West.

~*~

Fordim Hedgethistle's Post

The light of midday cast Ambartrion’s shadow before him as he strode easily through the long grass of the Vale of Anduin. The party had left the eaves of Lorien in the morning and as always happened when he walked in the outside world, the dull reality of it settled upon him like a fine ash. The trees that stood in clumps about the plain were naked sticks that clung to life in a chill and desolate landscape, little different to him than the Brown Lands to the South. There came to his keen ears from time to time the falling cry of desperate birds and the rush of troubled waters over impertinent stones. He sought the solace of memory, moving in his mind across earth that seemed more real than the solid ground beneath his feet. More and more had he done so of late, to the point where the few companions that he allowed to join him in his journeys outside the Golden Wood became concerned that he was withdrawing from the waking world of Middle-Earth to a point where he could not, perhaps, return. And, indeed, he was always reluctant to leave the lands of memory and rejoin the fallen and stale world of the present reality, and was often curt with those who called him hither.

This time it was his student Caranbaith who called him back. With a light touch on his master’s shoulder, the youth pointed to the distant horizon saying, “If I see aright, the Mirrormere lies before us, and we are heading a bit west of north. Do we not take the long way round to the Woodmen of Mirkwood by this route?” Ambarturion sighed at the youth, impatient with his question. Megilaes, Caranbaith’s brother and also student to Ambarturion, caught the manner of their master’s reaction and quickly held his tongue.

“Your eyes do not deceive you,” he replied quickly. “There is great need of haste put upon us, but these lands are dangerous and we must take what care we can. I intend to lead us somewhat west of the Anduin for a day before turning toward the River. There is a place two days’ march from where we shall stop this night where we can ford the waters and then strike north and east to the Woodmen.” Caranbaith nodded quickly and fell silent before the manner of his master. He and his brother had been in his tutelage for only a short time, barely one lifetime of mortal Men, but in that time he had found his master to be impenetrable in many ways. On some days he would answer their questions with patient forbearance of their youth, gently instructing them in the ways of war. On days such as this appeared to be, however, he resented any intrusion to his thoughts and would quickly put down any attempt to interrupt his inner life. Sensing that he would say no more that day, the brothers fell back to walk a few paces behind their master.

Ambarturion turned once more to his thoughts and was soon lost in the groves of Doriath even as his feet continued to pick out their careful way toward the mountains. He did not turn to Coromswyth where she rode. He had opposed her desire to ride on this journey, for horses were difficult to house and feed, and could be both seen and followed more easily across the wide open spaces of the vales that they must cross. But she had been insistent and he had deferred to her in this simply to avoid further discussion. He did not speak with her that day, for he saw no need of unnecessary words with her. Their route had been discussed and decided upon, so what need of conversation would there be before nightfall? And thus did the company proceed through that afternoon. Ambarturion strode along out front, his pace never slackening or changing, his eyes fixed straight ahead, alert to all possible danger, but unseeing of much that passed before the eyes of the others, lost as he was in the world of his youth. Behind him followed Coromswyth and his students, who diligently swept the horizon with their keen eyes as they had been taught, ever vigilant against the threats of this uncertain world.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Fordim - :)

Ok Durelin, I know I said I wouldn't, but man, some people have a stereotypical image of me playing an elf, so heck, I'll live up to that stereotype and play an elf! *strikes heroic pose* And what are you apologising about? :)

To play the female ambassador from Lorien

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? - Yes: Lets Have The Party Here!, Rivendell RPG, The Undying Lands, The Crimson Sword, New Mirkwood RPG, An Audience With The King, Cirith Ungol, Shadows Of Umbra, Roll Out The Barrels, Wolf Run, Brotherhood: a story from the last Alliance, Kidnapped!, Search for the Lost Messenger, Escape From Nurn, The Green Dragon, Gondorian House Call, The Ambassador’s Son, The Green Dragon, A Ride To The Dark Side, Last Hope for Moria, Legacy of Traitors

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? – None! But I have one coming up in starting in July.

3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn or in The White Horse in Rohan? - Yes, both.

NAME: Coromswyth (koh-ROm-swith)

AGE: 1057

RACE: Silvan elf

GENDER: Female

WEAPONS: Coromswyth is not a warrior, although she has often given advice concerning battle technique to the elf captains before they went into battle. However, she is able to handle weapons more than aptly. Her weapon of choice is a bow and arrows. Her bow is elegantly carved with a pattern of simbelmyne leaves and flowers, and made of yew, making it supple and less stiff to draw back and shoot with than some made of heavier woods, allowing the archer to focus more on accuracy whilst still maintaining a force only a little lower than that possible with heavier bows. She is used to shooting from a standing or riding position. She also carries a slim, lightweight dagger strapped on the inside of her left wrist, and a sword in the sheath on the saddle of her horse.

APPEARANCE: Coromswyth is not at all vain, but all who see her are immediately aware of her beauty. Her hair, like Ambarturion’s, is dead straight and jet black and most usually worn in a plaited half-ponytail or loose, and reached about halfway down her back. Her hair frames a face whose almost alabaster skin refuses to darken or burn even in the brightest sun, and her bone structure is defined but fine. Her sharp eyes are grey-blue. She is of about average height among her kind, standing at about 5ft 8, and her build is willowy but strong. Being not a warrior, and being on an ambassadorial mission, Coromswyth of course wears ladylike garb, her dresses beautifully made but quite simple, being only for travel for the time being, but the colours are strong. Her travelling garb is of green and light grey, with a wide skirt to allow her to ride easily. They are not particularly heavy, as the extra weight would be impractical, and all have long sleeves – they cover the hidden dagger at her wrist.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Coromswyth's self-conciousness can sometimes make her seem younger than she is, although she has little to be self-concious of really. She is of high birth and rank among the elves, and is admired by many for her knowledge on one level, and her beauty on the other, although she does not yet intend to marry, wishing to travel first, knowing that her time on Middle Earth grows ever shorter with each passing minute, sand running rapidly through her fingers though she tries to grasp it. The futility irritates her and sometimes she seems despairing, knowing she will never be able to see all that she has studied and take one of the ships to the Havens. For Coromswyth is a scholar, thought of as wise because of all she has studied and the way she holds herself, although this is of course different from the wisdom of the Noldor and the other ancients of the elves who remain in Lorien, and she would never profess herself to her so. She has studied especially the histories and manners of the people of Middle Earth, not only the elves, battle technique being an area that caused her to be picked as one of the ambassadors, although she prefers those topics less warlike. Another prime reason would be the approachability of the elf and the fact that she will always listen to what another has to say, even if she disagrees. In a debate or arguement, all self-conciousness vanishes from the elf and she becomes alive, vigorous and sharp, her persuasive and oratory skills strong and powerful. However, she has travelled widely in her years, and has not solely confined herself to studies, for she takes the opinion that there are also more important things, however much she devours all information, and has also devoted herself at times to more ‘practical’ studies: she has a love of singing, and of beautiful things. Mostly she is quite quiet, fair of voice and often light hearted, quietly curious to everything and, for this reason and others, always astute, watchful to everything.

HISTORY: Coromswyth, and her twin brother Merydhan, were the only children of a scout and a warrior, both high ranking and respected. Merydhan followed their mother and father, becoming a warrior, and his agility and strength, inherited from their parents, were quickly embellished by the skill he quickly developed with weapons, and he rose quickly, being sent out on missions unusually soon. However, Merydhan had inherited something else from their father: pride. In 2509, when an ambush in the Redhorn pass attacked Celebrian when journeying to Lorien, Merydhan took on more than he should have done one day, refusing to retreat and fighting until the very end, standing beside their father, although there was no need. Pride killed both of them, her brother not five hundred years old at the time.

It was a terrible blow to both Coromswyth and her mother, who withdrew from her position as a scout. Her mother and father’s love had been so passionate and strong always, both feeling all emotion so strongly, and they had passed it on to their children. But despite the grief that gripped her so strongly that she would barely eat or sleep, Coromswyth’s mother refused to let her daughter succumb to the same, and so she immersed Coromswyth in her studies of...anything, really. In her desperate attempt to escape the pain of losing the brother so close to her that they had communicated even without speaking often, Coromswyth devoured everything presented to her, and began to dwell on battle techniques and on Men, starting with the Easterlings who within a year had taken over the Redhorn pass, and the battle which had killed her brother. She studied every angle of it, but rather than become twisted and bitter about the poor organisation, the foolish politics and cowardly ambush the Easterlings had planned against the elves, Coromswyth’s fascination began to grow and, sensibly, she promised herself that if she could possibly help it, nothing of the sort would ever happen again.

Celebrian departed over the sea that same year, but not before she granted Coromswyth and her mother a chance to come with her, in gratitude for their family’s attempted protection with their lives. Ever fading in the constant reminder of her life with her passionate husband, Coromswyth’s mother took this opportunity, and in 2510 sailed to the Grey Havens with Celebrian. Although it was like losing another family member, Coromswyth decided to stay, to continue her studies, and she threw herself into them with ever more vigour. Her knowledge grew rapidly, as she had always been clever and was able to advance quickly, and she became a useful asset for the elves in various matters. Now, as Lorien was once more under threat, she presented herself to Galadriel and Celeborn as an Ambassador, for her knowledge would keep them steady and her persuasive prowess hopefully strengthen their cause.


~*~*~*~

Whew! Ok, I will add my first post probably later on today - apologies for the slight delay, she has taken me a fair while to write. I hope you approve, Durelin :)

- Aman

EDIT: I will have to post my first post seperately, as there are too many HTML markers in both together.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Amanaduial’s First Post

In the dismal setting of the Vale of Anduin, the sun beat down wearily upon the company of elves as they made their way through the long grass, the three at the front on foot and one, a woman, at the back, riding a grey stallion. A dry, lazy wind blew across the plain, ruffling the long grasses through which they strode and ruffling the stallion’s coat so a thousand different colours showed, sunlight playing across the crest of a wave. The stallion’s rider smiled slightly at the beauty of such a simple thing, then glanced backwards again at the path they had taken, her sharp grey eyes taking in everything. Like the pair of brothers who walked behind their master, Coronswyth was slightly uneasy at taking this route. It was some way longer than the more direct route possible. She waited intently, her eyed on her hands as they smoothed down the horse’s coat around it’s shoulders, as she listened to Ambarturion’s answer to his pupils.

“There is great need of haste put upon us, but these lands are dangerous and we must take what care we can…”

Coromswyth nodded slightly, satisfied, as she listened to the master’s reasoning. It had been the answer she had expected, of course, as it was what they had discussed, but she was curious as to Ambarturion, and to his pupils. The older elf was mysterious, so stern and proud, and Coromswyth had barely exchanged a few word with him since they set out from Lorien that morning. In fact, come to think of it, she mused with a slight bemused smile, she hadn’t actually exchanged a single word with him since they set out. But his dark grey eyes said all that they needed to: every time he looked at her, they fairly seemed to radiate disapproval. The elf smiled to herself: she wasn’t as yet sure of why exactly Ambartution disapproved, but was fairly ready to bet it would be because of her openness to other races – she had heard of Ambarturion, although she was not yet personally acquainted with him. He shared the view of many of the elder elves among the Galadrim: he wished to leave Middle Earth to whatever fate awaited it and it’s people. After all, Coromswyth added dryly, The Age of Elves is passing. Why should the elves defend the coming of the Age of Men?

There was both bitterness and gladness in the fact that the elves would soon need to leave Middle Earth, and Coromswyth was not sure which she felt more definitely. She had travelled far, and had seen some things that made her almost think that Men deserved the doom Sauron had in store for them: but then, what of the rest? Not all men were evil: they were weak, like children in their headstrong ways and instinctive manner, and children should be looked after, not scorned for their inevitable mistakes. And she had not seen nearly enough of Middle Earth: in a thousand lifetimes of men there would not be enough time for that. Maybe if she could just keep hold of a few more of them…

“My lady, are you keeping well?”

Caranbaith’s soft, courteous question brought Coromswyth back to reality and she looked down at the elf walking beside her, nodding. A swathe of black hair fell across her cheek and she brushed it back lightly. “Aye, thank you,” she answered, smiling at the elf. He nodded, inclining his head to her formally, before returning to walk ahead with his brother. Coromswyth watched them, a wistful tinge tinting her gaze. They were more than one hundred years younger than her brother had been when he had been ambushed with Celebrian on the Redhorn pass, and Ambarturion was to them what her father had been to Merydhan – their teacher, tutor, guide. Indeed, Ambarturion struck her as being like her father: a distant, proud figure, stern, wise and strong. Why, with their grey eyes, fine bones and black hair, she and Ambarturion even shared their beauty. How ironic then, she mused, that their opinions differed so greatly with respect to this beautiful Middle Earth.

Watching Caranbaith and Megilaes, she sighed slightly, unsually melancholy. They were younger than her brother had been when he had passed to the Halls of Mandos, but in the time between their age and his, who knew what would happen? For the elves do not have so much time left any more…the sands of time are running out for us, I fear, and the hour glass is almost empty...

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

NOTE -- I've edited my first post again (above) to bring it more in line with Aman's (brilliant) first post.

Aman -- I think that Coromswyth and Ambarturion are going to be a great pair to watch!

[Alatariel Telemnar]

I have added a wee bit to my first post, as well as changed a few tiny things in the character description. Although, I don't think it was as much as you wished for me to add, Durelin :(

Alatariel :)

[Amanaduial the archer]

Thanks Fordim :) Indeed, I can see this shaping up to be a rather...interesting relationship ;)

- Aman, she of the profficient smiley use

[piosenniel]

Okey dokey, Durelin -

Now all I need is the list of posts to put on the game.

By player name, please . . .

~*~ Pio :)

[Durelin]

Gotchya.

It think this order will be best…thanks Pio!

Durelin’s Post
Arvedui III’s Post
Firefoot’s Post
Hama of the Riddermark’s Post
Amanduial’s Post – Koran
Aylwen’s Post
Orofaniel’s Post
Kransha’s Post
Alatariel’s Post
Arry’s Post
Fordim’s Post
Amanduial’s Post – Coronswyth

Looks like we’re there…I hope!

[Firefoot]

Yay! This is going to be really fun. When will we be starting then?

[piosenniel]

Bringing this forward:

OUTLINE OF THE GAME:

Army prepares to march from Dol Guldur (day 1)
Mirkwood scouts discover army (day 1), and, as it begins to march toward Lorien, they decide to follow (day 2 – 3)
Lorien envoy is on their way to the Woodmen (days 1 – 3), a good ways outside Lorien on day 1
Envoy crosses path of army (the two are heading in opposite directions, and it is hard to avoid a large army), and are captured (day 3)
Small force breaks off to take the captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Mirkwood scouts, following, are able to ambush (night day 3) this force and rescue the captives
The scouts learn of the plans: a special force will attack from another direction and assault Caras Galadon (day 4)
The elven party races back to Lorien from the north at the greatest possible speed – the trolls slow the baddies down (days 4 – 7)
When they arrive (night day 9), the battle is about to begin:
When the army reaches the Anduin around mid-day on the 9th day, they stop to put up the floating bridges. They plan to begin the attack soon after dawn the next day. The Mirkwood scouts + Lorien envoy reach the borders of Lorien a little before dusk, and reach Caras Galadon soon after dusk. A council of war then follows during the night.
The plan of the special force is foiled, and the entire army retreats (day 11)

--------------

TIMEFRAMES:

Time Periods (for a basic idea of the order of things):

Mikwood scout party scouts out and follows army (days 1 – 3)
Envoy captured – a party splits off to take captives back to Dol Guldur (day 3)
Envoy rescued – Plans of evil forces made clear (night of day 3 – day 4)
Race back to Lorien (days 4 – 7)
Defenders warned/inner defenders rescued from surprise attack (night of day 7 – day 8)
Lorien front lines hold off main force (day 9)
Enemy held – Retreat (day 11)
__________________________________________________ _______________

PLEASE NOTE:

By request of the Barrow Wight, the Planning Thread and Discussion Thread for this game have now been merged.

The Discussion Thread begins at post #135.

~*~ Pio

[piosenniel]

Durelin

The RPG is now up and open for play.

Did you have any opening requests/instructions/pointers for the players?

~*~ Pio

[Kransha]

Ah, the smell of new roleplaying (is there really a smell? Could I really smell it?).

As I forgot to before, I must profess my thanks to Durelin, and others of course, for manufacturing such an interesting RPG. At the moment, I am plotting conspiritorially with myself about my first chance on the Barrow-Downs to be geniunely 'evil' *is unable to stifle numerous evil laughs*. I will trot off, if no one minds, and wait for a post from Orofaniel, Aylwen, or Aman before making one of my own. Good luck to all! *more evil laughter*

[Durelin]

No instructions, other than to have fun and use spell check! ;)

The above reminder is most definitely directed towards myself.

-Durelin

Oh, and Aman - note the avatar! I read that you liked it (which I'd like to thank you for saying so!), and I did so like it myself, so now its back, better than ever, thanks to my new magical photoshop! :D

[Orofaniel]

I' terribly sorry, but I won't have computer access from Friday, tomorrow, until Sunday evening. Maybe Monday; this means, of course, that I can’t do any posts. :( It's so stupid of me to miss the beginning of the game, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do; believe me, if I could chose, it would have been different.

Anyway, I want you to set up saves, where you think it's needed. I'll fill them as soon as possible.

Many thanks,
Orofaniel

[Amanaduial the archer]

Durelin - marvellous! Thanks sugar - and yes, it is still quite as lovely... *stifles a sob* ;)

[Firefoot]

I have a post up for Thorvel. I may edit in a response to Targil once Arvedui gets a post in.

[Durelin]

For now, I will be posting for Targil, since Arvedui has not posted on the discussion thread, and I have not received any PMs or seen posts from Arvedui around the forums. So...until Arvedui reappears, I hope I can successfully roleplay his character without completely ruining what Arvedui had in mind.

Firefoot - Check your PMs, please!

Orofaniel - That is fine. Thank you for letting us know of your absense; I understand completely!

And you're very welcome, Aman!

-Durelin :D

[Firefoot]

Okay, I have edited my post to bring it in line with Durelin's post for Targil. I think I have everything straightened out now.

[Arry]

Kransha

I'm a little unclear about your post - #25. I assume that Thrákmazh had come upon the little band of Mountain Orcs that Gromwakh is part of. Did you mean to refer to Gromwakh and Snikdul as Uruks?

I had intended for them just to be low ranking, army grunts, not Uruk. My mistake if I was unclear.

-- Arry

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

All right, my friends.

I just wanted to tell you guys so that you didn't think I was disappearing, though I've already informed Durelin of this absence. I'm leaving today on vacation. I'll be back for about a day on Thursday, and I'll use it to maybe (hopefully) get a post up. Then I'm leaving again for a few days. Whoo...

Well, I just wanted to let you all know! If I still have liberty to ask you guys not to kill Ehan...well, hopefully Aman will take care of him...;)

Have fun!:D

-Aylwen

[Kransha]

In response to what Arry said:

You're entirely right. That little fact slipped my mind. I'll go back and edit that post for clarity to identify them (nice posts, by the way).

Alright, in case no one noticed (which I doubt at this point), my second game post is up. Not that anyone cares to hear my drabbles, but it does feel strangely good to be horribly bad. Starting to like this 'evil' thing.

[Alatariel Telemnar]

I noticed Kransha: I kind of have to, I'm only playing your character's slave... :p

Well, anyhow, sorry for the save. Will have a post up in a bit.

[Amanaduial the archer]

but it does feel strangely good to be horribly bad. Starting to like this 'evil' thing. The bad'uns are often the best to play ;) And of course you were noticed Kransa :)

Excellent posts, by the way - I've been meaning to say this on the thread for a while but have contented myself with other means. Fordim - I hope my post was alright, I couldn't post on the discussion last night because the internet was acting up on my computer, but if I ever misinterpret Ambarturion, do tell me, I certainly wouldn't mean to. Your posts have been marvellous, by the way :)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

but if I ever misinterpret Ambarturion

Without wanting to set off a spate of bunnying, I have to say that one of the joys of RPing is allowing other people to help me find out what 'my' character is like. There have been lots of times when I've been reading someone else's post and found 'my' character saying or doing something that I find surprising, and I usually say "Wow, that is interesting, I wonder why he's acting like that?" Now, there have been occasions where I was a little, shall we say, too surprised by what my character was saying, and I've corrected those, but in most cases I very much enjoy the dynamic and co-operative way we create the characters.

So, Aman, fear not your posts about Ambarturion -- if you stray somewhat from my intentions, these will only serve to enrich the character! Just think how boring Snaveling would have become had he not been 'revealed' as the lost heir of Ar-Pharazon!!! (Again, apologies to others for the more PM-friendly reference to RP-ing in the past.)

BTW -- I too am extremely impressed by all the posts: there are some wonderful characters emerging in this game. I can't wait for Ambarturion to get into the thick of it with those orcs and Uruks (yeah Kransha, I'm looking at you: you want a piece of me? eh? Think you're tough? Come on, come on, gimme your best shot. . .)

[Orofaniel]

Hello:)

I'm back. Well, I know it's Wednesday...but, I needed some time to catch up. ;)

Um, so Durelin, do you want me to write a post for Herding that you could squeeze in somewhere?

[Durelin]

If you feel that a post is important somewhere in the prior posts, just let me know. If not, just post. Glad you're back! :)

So, currently, we are missing Arvedui III and Hama of the Riddermark without any word from either...I have already taken on Targil, and already started to use some freedoms when using Hama's character in my post. But now, I will say that Lomarandil is now officially a carry along character that you can use, as well, Firefoot. And anyone, though I hope the envoy and the scout troop don't meet up before Hama's back... :(

Thanks to everyone else for staying with me...must be difficult. :D

-Durelin

[Amanaduial the archer]

Durelin, elves, orcs and of course, Southrons,

I am afraid I will be away until Saturday on a camping award thing with school (Duke of Edinburough). Wish me luck, and apologies for my absence.

:)

[Firefoot]

Concerning Hama: I have seen him around the Downs, and I've been wondering why he hasn't been posting. But otherwise, sounds good.

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

I'll ba back in earnest on Friday afternoon. Until then, feel free to have Lomarandil do whatever. I'll read up on it and tell you if there's anything I don't like...

Sorry about my absence, GCSEs and revision has been eating at me recently, and I simply haven't had the time to put in a game post. As i said, I'll be back on Friday!!

Hama

[Durelin]

Glad to hear it, Hama! Look forward to having you back.

Aman - Good luck! :) , and thank you for letting me know ahead of time.

The army has begun their march to Lorien, and it is dawn, as far as the army and scouts are concerned, at least.

Sorry, but I had to get things moving. If anyone has a post that needs to go before that, just let me know and I can stick it on the beginning of mine. If there are several posts that need placing, I will delete and repost my post after them. That would be the simplest, I think, in that case. But, basically, I hate the idea of having three or four posts in the same post... :D

-Durelin

[Orofaniel]

My post is up. :cool:

If it doesn't correspond to the rest of it, in any way, I'll edit. :)

Cheers,
Orofaniel

[piosenniel]

Please remove your signatures from every post to the Game thread.

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Yay!! All my exams are over!!

I'm working up a game post as I speak...

[Durelin]

Hama - Your post is good, but I was wondering if it might be changed to fit mine, as there were some things that needed to be changed to fit better with Calenvasa's character. If moving my post could make your post fit in better, I am of course willing to move it. Thanks! And it's good to have you back!

-Durelin :D

[Amanaduial the archer]

Durelin - I apologise for not posting over the past few days. I tried last night...and my 3/4 of a page or however long was promptly swallowed when a slip of the finger refreshed the page. Gah! That is the world's most irritating thing...or at least the most irritating forum occurence...

I apologise and will try to have one up tomorrow night - I didn't have the heart or the time to redo last night.

[Durelin]

Oooo, that hurts! I know how that feels... :(

That's fine, Aman, I understand things can easily get in the way!

-Durelin :D

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Aman: [Sitting at her computer, staring blankly at a blank screen where before there had been a glittering example or her inimitable style] Note to self: use my word processor then cut and paste.

[Arry]

There is the possibility that at some point in the game, Gromwakh and company would consider selling a few secrets to the Elves. :eek:

They're not beyond looking after their own interests and the wholeness of their hides. Especially for the guarantee of safe passage back north through Mirkwood, toward home.

[Amanaduial the archer]

Aman: [Sitting at her computer, staring blankly at a blank screen where before there had been a glittering example or her inimitable style] Note to self: use my word processor then cut and paste. Ha, inimitable, huh? So that's what they call it now...;)

And there was little of the blank staring and more of the...*trails away darkly into insane mutter* But indeed, point taken, Fordim - I usually do, for RPGing, long posts or xanga entries...but you know those one or two odd times when you don't? Yeah...

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Bonjour, everyone!

I'm alive and back from Québec, and working on catching up...though it doesn't seem like I was missed much! ;) Great posts, and wonderful reading for me!

-Aylwen

[Orofaniel]

I'm alive and back from Québec, and working on catching up...though it doesn't seem like I was missed much! Great posts, and wonderful reading for me! Woha! Nice. ;) Did you have a good time?

**

My lack of posts in this RPG (so far) is really horrifying. :( I'm really sorry about that. And I'm afraid my computer access the next week(s) are going to be limited. I'm not sure what to do, but I'll try my best.

Just as you know.

Orofaniel

[Durelin]

Okay, believe it or not, we're only on day 2 in RPG time, based on the game timeline. Day two will soon be coming to an end, though, and that means that the next day, day 3, the envoy and the army can cross paths.

Day 2

...will wrap up with the scouts finding the army stopped for the night. They stop themselves, resting and waiting. This can be a good time for tensions to rise, and conversations to be finished.

The Captains of both the main force and the special force will discuss their plan of action that must soon be put into effect.

The envoy will still be rather bored, I'm afraid, but should be about a day from the Anduin at the end of Day 2.

Day 3

The big thing that must occur is that the envoy is captured. This can happen in many ways... I think the most realistic way would be for scouts sent ahead of the army to find the envoy making their way almost directly along the army's path. The scouts double back and report their findings. It takes a little time for the Captain (of the main force, Orofaniel's character), to put together a small party to overcome the envoy. This party's orders will be to try to take as many as they can alive with as little struggle as possible, and then escort the prisoners back to Dol Guldur after meeting back up with the army. It seems to me that 'Gromwakh and company', Arry, should be among this party.

The other way this could happen, I suppose, would be for the envoy to stumble upon the resting army that night. But this would need a reason for the envoy to be traveling at night, and would, I think, end up a little far fetched.

There are other ways that could work, but I will now simply ask everyone if they have better ideas, or at least ways to smooth these out.

The scouts would then need to make a decision. It seems likely that the scouts will take notice of a separate party breaking off. And it would not be unlikely that thye would decide to follow it immediately. The things they heard about a separate party could spur them to act quickly and follow this party. In following the party closely, I think they could discover that there are prisoners among it. From this they make another decision, and decided to continue following the party, hoping to be able to free the prisoners. A plan must be formed for this...

And then, once the envoy is freed, the real race begins to Lorien, with the scouts knowing most everything about the attack plans. I am hoping that there will be enough reason for a motly group of orcs and easterlings escorting spirited elven prisoners to move slowly...

~

Believe it or not, this was my attempt to straighten things out. I know that most of you are probably having trouble understanding what happens next, as I have been giving little direction as a game owner. I like to give everyone freedom to make the story their own, but I realize that I have also been slacking, and that many of you are finding little to do... I hope this all works out, but it seems it is going to be hard to make it work...

Thanks to everyone for sticking with me!

All questions and comments are welcome...and needed!

-Durelin :D

[Orofaniel]

The Captains of both the main force and the special force will discuss their plan of action that must soon be put into effect.
Heh..I kind of did that. Although the discussion turned into a...um..well. :eek:

I could edit my post though if Aman or Kransha would like me to add something. OR - If I put too much/little into your characters… :)

Cheers,
Orofaniel

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

The big thing that must occur is that the envoy is captured. This can happen in many ways... I think the most realistic way would be for scouts sent ahead of the army to find the envoy making their way almost directly along the army's path. The scouts double back and report their findings. It takes a little time for the Captain (of the main force, Orofaniel's character), to put together a small party to overcome the envoy. This party's orders will be to try to take as many as they can alive with as little struggle as possible, and then escort the prisoners back to Dol Guldur after meeting back up with the army. It seems to me that 'Gromwakh and company', Arry, should be among this party.

I like this option best myself. Kransha and I have already PMed a bit with ideas for the confrontation between the envoy and the orcs -- it will be a pretty bloody affair as Ambarturion is not just going to let himself be taken prisoner. But prisoner he shall be. . .after depriving a few orcs of their miserable lives.

Aman -- nudge nudge, dearie; Ambarturion's been waiting quite patiently for a reply to his question. . . :D (Don't make me throw all your wine on the floor -- ooops, wrong RPG.)

[Kransha]

*claps* Very good, post, Orofaniel. Nothing needs changing, as Thrakmazh was used well, and in-character. Only one thing, but you don't need to change it, since I am simply a man who loves to nitpick. Thrakmazh is one-eyed, so he doesn't have 'eyes' per se. But, this is really irrelevant, since no one would notice on first glance. Again, good post, and a good discourse between all the captains.

Durelin, I'm with Fordim here, but I'd like to make a request. If possible, could thrakmazh and Urkrash accompany that force, leading the orcs that go with Herding's Southrons? I have a *ahem* date with some elves and a very sharp knife, so to speak...

[Orofaniel]

*claps* Very good, post, Orofaniel. Nothing needs changing, as Thrakmazh was used well, and in-character. Only one thing, but you don't need to change it, since I am simply a man who loves to nitpick. Thrakmazh is one-eyed, so he doesn't have 'eyes' per se. But, this is really irrelevant, since no one would notice on first glance. Again, good post, and a good discourse between all the captains.
Thank your for such kind words. :)

About the eye - I think I'll change it, if it's alright with you. I must admit that even though I read through your character profile (and Aman's) while writing it, it must have slipped my mind. :rolleyes:

Cheers,
Oro

EDIT: Aman-
"Captain Herding's way of thinking is..." he hesitated, trying to formulate the right words, before giving up. "Frankly, the man reminds me all too strongly of a pair of the most despicable human beings I have ever come into contact with."
Oooo. o.0 - Very nice. I like it. ;)


EDIT II: Your Orc has one eye now Kransha. =)

[Arry]

Gromwakh and co. would be up for the interception of the entourage.

Would any of the Elves hear out a sniveling Orc were he or she to be approached by said Orc about trading favors?

[Firefoot]

Arry - Thorvel most certainly would not - he hates Orcs, and would probably send an arrow through him first. ;)

Edit: Arry, reading back on your post I'm not sure if you mean the Mirkwood or Lorien elves... Lorien Elves seems more likely and if so just ignore this. :)

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Arry -- I can think of a couple of Elves who are about to be captured who might be in desperate enough straits to listen to anyone: even a snivelling orc. They won't trust him, but they won't really have much choice other than to hear him out.

Just be sure to wait until Ambarturion is bound and defenseless before speaking with him! ;)

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Quote:
"Captain Herding's way of thinking is..." he hesitated, trying to formulate the right words, before giving up. "Frankly, the man reminds me all too strongly of a pair of the most despicable human beings I have ever come into contact with."

Oooo. o.0 - Very nice. I like it.

Dun dun dun! Tension! I like it toooooo....:D

The Orcs and Men are back in action!

-Aylwen

[Alatariel Telemnar]

Sorry, guys.. haven't posted in awhile... Will work up something tonight or tomorrow, though I doubt my writing was missed..

[Durelin]

Durelin, I'm with Fordim here, but I'd like to make a request. If possible, could thrakmazh and Urkrash accompany that force, leading the orcs that go with Herding's Southrons? I have a *ahem* date with some elves and a very sharp knife, so to speak...

Sure, Kransha!

Would any of the Elves hear out a sniveling Orc were he or she to be approached by said Orc about trading favors?

Arry - Calenvasa would; Targil would. :D

...though I doubt my writing was missed..

Of course it has been missed, Alatariel! :D But no problem.

-Durelin

[Firefoot]

Just a quick question: where are the Mirkwood Elves timeframe-wise? Is there anything more that will happen during the night, or are we moving on to the third day?

[Amanaduial the archer]

Arry -- I can think of a couple of Elves who are about to be captured who might be in desperate enough straits to listen to anyone: even a snivelling orc. They won't trust him, but they won't really have much choice other than to hear him out.

Would the orcs just be going for a straight out attack, or do you intend to use the 'trading' idea as some sort of distraction, Arry? I think the latter would work, if so - a few orcs distract the elves, who would not immediately attack two or three orcs due to Caranbaith's position, while the others take the advantage to surround them, thus making the attack all the easier for them and meaning there would be fewer losses.

What do you think? And would Koran and Ehan be accompanying them with Herding's southrons? I think Herding would probably seize the chance to possibly put Koran more in the way of danger, thus making his chances at Lorien smaller - what do you think, Orofaniel?

[Arry]

Gromwakh is looking after his own hide and those of his mates.

Their objective is to suffer few if any losses and return to the Mt. Gundabad region. They were conscripted for use in this foray against the Golden Wood and feel no loyalty to anyone but themselves.

What's in it for them? Nothing from Thrákmazh and his lot - he's already done one of them in. They feel the the Southrons are just as untrustworthy. The Orcs, they know, will be thrown into the frontal asaults and most of them killed. Their chances of getting home after this battle are slim, and they can see themselves being dragged off to some other battle they really have no stake in.

The Elves are an unknown quantity to them. They've heard stories of course, but never met one in the passages beneath the mountains. Getting back to the northern Misty Mountains would be easier if they had safe passage guaranteed either through Lorien or up through Mirkwood.

This is not to say they wouldn't kill any Elves who threatened them . . . or for that matter take a whack at any Southrons, Uruks, or other Orcs who stood in the way of their survival.

[Durelin]

where are the Mirkwood Elves timeframe-wise? Is there anything more that will happen during the night, or are we moving on to the third day?

Firefoot - It is night on the second day, and I think the discussion we were having should continue, and possibly allow Targil and Lomarandil to be a part of it. Allow...or they could force their way into it.

:D

-Durelin

[Hama Of The Riddermark]

*hits self* Must...put...up...a...post...

Seriosuly though, I've been so busy with other things, I'll try and have apost up for tomorrow...sorry I haven't been posting...