Númenórean Blood Runs Black Planning/Discussion Thread

[Dunwen]

Thanks for the welcome back, Cap'n -- it was a pain in certain body parts to be AWOL so long.

Dunwen - Glad to see ya! Great post. And not to be nit-picky, but I think the corsair archers were in a line on deck, not in the masts. I think Arry called it a firing line in one of his posts. And it'd be a rather dangerous keeping lit braziers in the rigging.

Bother! Off to do a re-write :) Thanks for pointing that out!

[Thinlómien]

Great post, Dunwen. I think the reference was okay. I even quite liked it. :p

One thing: I think it's Lebennin, not Lebinnin. (I might be wrong.)

And "spawn of Sauron" amuses me. :)

[Firefoot]

Well, the fight has been going on for a while (RL time, that is) - I think we need to start looking at who still wants to get up fighting posts and then move on. Maybe that's what this game needs is a change of pace. As far as I can tell, what needs to happen is the Gondorians need to be forced back off the F&F (ideas, anyone?), and the rest of the Corsair ships need to make their escape. And after that...? I don't think Perky was ever very specific on what he intended to happen past the Corsair city being taken and them defeated. So would we like to look at anything else happening in between?

pio - did Perky have some sort of timeline of events?

[Durelin]

Alack... Quoth the teenager, "school sucks."

I'm going to get that post up, I swear. It will not drag the battle on, though. And if someone wants to end it before I can get my post up, that's fine, too, of course: I'll just make it a little recount and then continue on to anything in the aftermath.

[piosenniel]

Firefoot

Perky gave no timeline for events. So whatever you remaining gamers decide will be fine.

~*~ Pio

[Kath]

*grumbles at being prodded*

I'm here Alcarillo! Just got a little distracted. And, like many others, I wasn't sure exactly where this game was going.

Could we perhaps develop a more detailed plan? Just so we know what's supposed to be happening and when.

[Folwren]

Let me look over what Perky said when he was here, and then peer at the time line and appendixes in the book, and then what we've talked about and written already and I'll try to get a more detailed time line out on the this thread for the game.

It doesn't help with we have most of the Gondorians here and hardly any Corsairs over there. :rolleyes: Maybe when school ends and Anguirel's back from Italy. But when that happens, I'm going to be busy...but perhaps not too busy.

Don't expect it today. My soon to become Aunthood is causing me to make a dress for my darling sister-in-law, and I've got to get that done today.

-- Folwren

[Firefoot]

I'm pretty sure that Telumehtar's plan in post #32 was as explicit as Perky ever got:"...Now, obviously, here is Gondor. The river runs here, and Umbar is down here. Now, here are our forces, and here are the Umbarian raiders. I've created a small blockade to guard the coast in the event of their arrival. Should they arrive, I've set up a small flare system for the word to travel. We can assume that so long as we have no heard word via flare, the Bay of Belfalas and the River Anduin are clear of enemy ships. We then go down the river, and gather in Tolfalas. It's a long journey, and I have no doubt you'll pick up many things on the open seas. Once we reach Umbar, I will send my men to the harbors, and to the main capitol building. Once the capitol is taken, we secure the city, and light our beacon atop the lighthouse in the harbor. This plan should work so long as the seas on our journey are clear. It's a rough outline, of course, and will take much more planning." Pretty much everything Tolkien gave us is here:Post #2 (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=418461&postcount=2)

So a rough outline of what needs to happen:
Remaining two Corsairs ships (F&F being one) escape Pelargir
(?) Gondorians stop for a short time in Pelargir to set things to rights, or at least set the people there working on it
Potential for something to happen at Tolfalas for Gondorians and/or Corsairs?
Corsairs arrive back at the Haven of Umbar - do they expect Gondorian attack? What have they figured out?
Gondorians arrive at the Haven of Umbar, lay final plans, attack, are victorious
Aftermath/Conclusion


As near as I can tell, the distance from Pelargir to the Havens of Umbar is somewhere around 500 miles. I'm not sure how long this will take to travel by ship - two weeks? one week? Depending on the wind, of course. Some of that can probably be skipped over.

The other thing to look at is that the rest of the game is very heavily centered around fighting - do we want to add any other events, or just let the interactions between characters go where they go? I would be inclined to think the latter, unless someone comes up with a good idea. Right now, it seems the game is suffering from both a lack of over-planning and under-planning. I don't think everything needs to be planned out play-by-play; I'd rather see what we can just come up with as we go.

Thoughts? Ideas? Agree/disagree?

I think it might be a good idea for people to check in and let us know you're still here, as well, if you haven't posted sometime within the past week or so.

[The Perky Ent]

This is Perky Speaking....


So, where do I begin. My life has been a whirlwind of emotions and events right now. Last I remember (sometime in January?) I was still deposed as Katrina had wrecked my neighborhood. I got finished with that around Febuary/March.

Come back to the Downs, right?

Heh. My dad's condition (and for those of you who didn't know, he had cancer) got worse. Constantly we were going back and forth from New Orleans and Houston. And the hospital. Well....every week it got worse. Around 2:10 pm, 4/3/06 he passed from our lives. He will be missed and remembered. Over 300 people at the funeral. He touched a lot of lives.

So, right now, I guess the reason why i'm here is because someone was talking about how, get this, perky he was as a kid. And guess what popped into my mind.

I am so sorry for having to abandon my time here with you all on the downs. my writing has improved quite a bit. I just thought you should know a bit more why I was gone. I'll try and look on the game if I get the time, but, as stated, many things going on.


Best wishes,

~*~ Perky ~*~

[Thinlómien]

EDIT BY PIO:From The Shire Rules -

Quote:
18. Please note: A game which hasn't been posted on in 2 weeks signifies a lack of interest in the game, and the Moderator may choose to close the game and remove it.


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Does that mean that the game is completely lost? Or is it negotiatable? (or whetever the word is...)

[Firefoot]

Well, if people start showing interest we can continue, I would suppose. But there really doesn't seem to be that much interest. In two weeks, no one has even responded to my post above, much less posted. It's been like this for several months, too...

[Anguirel]

We really need Aman, or if the worst comes to the worst a replacement, though that would be rather a disaster...

[piosenniel]

Since the game is missing the majority of its Corsair contingent, would it be possible to bring the game to a close here? If there were sufficient interest, another game could be planned at some time to cover the 'invasion' of Umbar and the defeat of the Corsairs.

You could work with Firefoot's two suggestions:

** Remaining two Corsairs ships (F&F being one) escape Pelargir
** Gondorians stop for a short time in Pelargir to set things to rights, or at least set the people there working on it

The remaining Corsairs, which are Anguirel and Arry, and Durelin the slaves could write final posts as the Corsair ships sail south toward Umbar.

The Gondorians can write about sending ships after the Corsairs to chase them from the Bay and out of Gondor waters, then if you wish can finish up helping the people of Pelargir set things to rights, or however you'd like to close the game.

This closing up part can take as long as you wish - as long as players are willing to post.

I also liked Firefoot's suggestion: "I'd rather see what we can just come up with as we go".

Is this something the players for this game would be interested in doing?

~*~ Pio

[Anguirel]

Pio, the height of good sense as always. I think many of us will breath a sight of relief if we round this off as not a painstaking squib, but an epic Part 1.

I'd be extremely happy to help finishing things off. Sangalazin will party in the midst of the defeat!

[Kath]

This sounds like an excellent idea. Perhaps Perky will be able to continue with part 2 when he can return, and we'll have left him with a good base to go from.

[Folwren]

Alright, that sounds best. I would love to continue the story, but it's impossible when the Corsair RPers are not in action.

To finish it up, however, we still need posts from that side. So, Anguirel, Arry - if you're the only two around, please write about the F & F's luck during the battle. . .

As for us Gondorians, those on the Raca can post about the battle, if they still want to, however Firefoot and I really fought our little skirmish rather too quickly, maybe, and we have pretty much nothing to write, until after the Corsair's escape. When that happens, we'll go to the Pelegir and wrap up this Part 1.

If we ever do Part 2, hopefully Perky will be able to come back and join us. And perhaps Aman and Durelin will be less busy, too.

-- Folwren

[Arry]

Day after tomorrow I can write the F&F and the Castamir away from the battle; escaping to the bay. The Tarkos, from what I can see, has been taken by Gondor. I'll make this my final post for my character.

Anguirel - can you do a final post then getting the ships to Umbar . . . or whatever you'd like to do for a final post . . .

Does this sound alright with you?

[piosenniel]

I'll open the game thread back up.

Once I see how the posting is going, I'll set a date by which all final posts must be on board.

~*~ Pio

[Firefoot]

however Firefoot and I really fought our little skirmish rather too quickly, maybe, and we have pretty much nothing to write, until after the Corsair's escape. Too true... especially with Menelcar being injured, it's difficult to do much of anything with him until the battle really is over.Anguirel - can you do a final post then getting the ships to Umbar . . . or whatever you'd like to do for a final post . . . I would suggest that you Corsairs would probably want to end before you actually land in Umbar. If and when we decide to do part 2, you could probably start there, landing in Umbar.

[Amanaduial the archer]

...I promise you, before youse all attack me (and rightfully so, I guess), that it was certainly not lack of interest that stopped me from posting: rather lack of time and then lack of internet connection for nearly a month. I do apologise :( You have all managed quite wonderfully however - the battle posts are excellent. I shall get up a post as soon as I can as soon as this post is replied to just checking: a continuation of events and battle, and then beginning to turn the ships to get the heckers out of there? Just so I don't get things horribly wrong...

Part 2 sounds good, I would be very interested - just give a few months while I lie low and attempt to get my AS Levels out of the way...

- Captain Rakin, back at your service

[Arry]

Aman

Yes - please do that as soon as you can: finish off the battle with Alcarillo's ship and get the Corsairs on their way to escaping.

I'll then write a last post for Bahir.

[Anguirel]

Aman, just to reassure-nary a shadow of condemnation from me. I'm ASed out too. I'll do some revision tonight if you will!

Italian vocab for me methinks...

[Amanaduial the archer]

Ooh, I can probably dredge up a french reading and listening if you insist...;) Thanks.

[Durelin]

Argh...I hate life...well, "RL," that is. :D

If we're wrapping up the game here, would it be possible for a few of the slaves to manage an escape? Perhaps accidental in some way?

Basically I guess the ending is up to each of us, right? Hmm...but now I have to come up with something good for Chakka...

[Alcarillo]

Let the Gondorians take him aboard the Raca! We still need a slave to set free and take along with us, so Curamir can find out that his dad is alive.

[Kath]

Yes indeed for if Part 2 ever gets up and running.

[piosenniel]

How about someone actually posting to the game thread . . .

[Alcarillo]

Alrighty then. I've got a post saved somewhere on my computer about Vorimandur and the battle. I wrote it a long time ago, and would've posted it after a corsair posted, but that never happened and it has since lain stagnant deep in the labyrinthine files of my computer. I'll find it, polish it up, and post it now.

[Kath]

Right, I've made a slightly implausible post in which I have accidentally freed a slave. It needed to be done and to be honest I couldn't really think of any other way!

[Alcarillo]

Wait, is this the slave we planned on rescuing? If so, could he not be Gondorian? You see, the only Gondorian slave played by somebody is Ferethor, but we don't want to rescue him (for story purposes, not that we want him to suffer! :eek: ). Instead, we should rescue one of the southron slaves, and decide which of the other characters he exactly is later.

But if the slave you rescued is not the slave we were planning on rescuing, then he can be a Gondorian.

Edit - And the party of soldiers (or at least most of them) are already belowdecks, freeing slaves. So, um, good job taking initiative, Kath. ;)

[Firefoot]

You know, I'm probably in the worst position of all to end the battle, but if no one posts, I just may end up doing that, probably some time within the next couple of days.

[Alcarillo]

Firefoot, may I post the battle's ending? I'm not busy and can post in the next couple of days.

[Firefoot]

Please do - you're in an entirely better position to do so than injured Menelcar... :)

[Alcarillo]

The battle is over! The Fame and Fortune is sailing away down the Anduin, the Gondorians are still at Pelargir, and Vorimandur's probably having his wound bandaged up by now.

So... now what?


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EDITED IN:

I think this is a lovely place to lay to rest this part of the story.

The rest of the story-line can be picked up later, in another game, if you wish.

~*~ Pio

[Thinlómien]

So is this game officialy or unofficially finished?

What about us first-timers? Does it mean now that we have officially played in one Shire rpg?

[piosenniel]

Thinlómien

Yes, I think I will officially close the game. And yes, this will be considered your first played game in the Shire.

What Child of the 7th Age and I will do now is look at the posts the first-time gamers did for the game and at the posts written in The Green Dragon Inn. On that basis we'll decide whether or not a game player can be put on the Rohan List for game playing.

Playing in a game in the Shire, or even several games for that matter, does not automatically qualify a gamer for Rohan. It's the quality of the writing and the ability to interact with other players during the RPG that we base our decision on.

~*~ Pio

[Durelin]

I'm so sorry everyone! I am especially sorry to Fordim, for I did not play his character as I should...I barely played him at all.

That's what I get for signing up to be stage manager for a play...I end up being basically the director. (Though technically I'm only assisstant director.) Heh. *Excuses*

I'm very sorry. I look forward to seeing a continuation of this game, and hopefully seeing Fordim play Chakka, who is an extremely awesome character who I wish I had gotten more of a chance to RP as.

[Thinlómien]

Thanks for the info, pio.

I, too, look forward to the second part of this game and hope this gstory won't be left unfinished. It would be sad.

[piosenniel]

~*~ Finis ~*~


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