Tapestry of Dreams, Part 2 Discussion

[littlemanpoet]

Thanks, Formy. One caution though: posting speed can suddenly ramp up and you may find yourself with a dozen or more to catch up on before you know it. It has happened here.

[Firefoot]

I don't have any conflicts in the next three months to cause significant changes in my posting schedule - there might be a weekend or two that is bad, but nothing more than that.

I've sort of been waiting around with Rugh, but I think I'll try to come up with another post soon.

[littlemanpoet]

I was just thinking about all this in terms of who might be able to take the slack on various characters, and came up with this list. This list includes a lot of interpretation on my part, in terms of how primary, or not, a given character is. Feel free to differ with me and correct me if you feel the character you write should be placed elsewhere than where I did.

There are 23 characters here, all of which will be, and have been, written for. That's a lot of characters! They represent 11 writers, also a huge number for an rpg. How unwieldy is that?

My main point is that we have got to do this kind of delineation so that we have a sense of what's going on, because if all these characters are equal in our minds, we're carrying much more weight than we ought to be. The next questions to be asked are (1) what is the character's motivation for doing what s/he is doing in the broad sweep of the story? & (2) what is the character's purpose within the story? & (3) Which characters could leave the story with no harm to the story?

Main Characters

Primary

Mellondu/Amroth ~ Helen
Mellonin ~ Helen
Raefindan/Imrazor ~ Elempi
Aeron ~ Imladris
Ravion ~ Orual

Secondary

Liornung ~ Nurumaiel
Argaleafa ~ Nurumaiel
Bellyn ~ Aylwen Dreamsong
Ædegard ~ Elempi
Gwyllian ~ Imladris
Erebemlin ~ Alaklondewen
Nethwador ~ Helen

Minor Characters

Primary

Tharonwë/Maegeleb ~ Elempi
Jorje/Tirril ~ Elempi
Taitheneb ~ Alaklondewen

Secondary

Marigold ~ Elempi
Erundil ~ Orual
Mithrellas ~ Elempi

Not sure yet

Bergil ~ Formendacil
Indil/Angela ~ Feanor
Sæthryd ~ Celuien
Rugh ~ Firefoot
Avarien ~ Helen

[littlemanpoet]

Now that the holidays are over, perhaps more of us are around to have this discussion.

One more alternative is that those writers who are active can simply be the main characters, and those who are not around, are carried along as minor characters by those who are actually writing.

I would venture to say that posting once per week would be construed as "active".

[Celuien]

Despite the insanity of the coming month (sample schedule: driving to Providence Thursday, driving back Friday, most likely working on Saturday, driving to Pittsburgh Sunday and coming back Monday, repeat for the next three weeks), I will definitely keep an eye out to keep Sæthryd active as she may be needed. But if things move for her before February, posting any more frequently than once a week will probably be difficult for me.

I must be crazy. :rolleyes:

[littlemanpoet]

... of the activity level of our writers; this is only a test.

If you reply to this by seven days from this post's date, you are considered active.

(Except for Celuien & Elempi who have already posted.) :rolleyes:

As you can see, I really, really want to get this going, and would appreciate a little help doing so.

[Imladris]

I am going to be moving out of state in about three days. After that, I will be free to be as active as you please.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

If you reply to this by seven days from this post's date, you are considered active.
I'm working on it.

[Firefoot]

Here.

[Formendacil]

Present.

(And posting once a week should be doable for the foreseeable future... though with school about to start again, that will be about it.)

[Nurumaiel]

I'm also here.

Things are quieting down for me now, and once a week at least should be very do-able.

[mark12_30]

Honestly, I think I count as not-here. Posting is going to be increasingly difficult.

And where oh where is alak...?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

To be dead honest, I count as not really here either. I'm almost around, but not in writing ability. Since that's what we're doing, lurking irregularly isn't helpful.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Double posting... I'm so naughty.

Save filled, and the cheering commences.

Formy, you're up.

Maybe I am around.

But I should warn in advance that my involvement in the 'Downs as a general thing won't be what it was. I'm slowly extracting myself from everything, but I am still interested in continuing this particular commitment.

[littlemanpoet]

But I should warn in advance that my involvement in the 'Downs as a general thing won't be what it was. I'm slowly extracting myself from everything, but I am still interested in continuing this particular commitment.Hmmmm.... seems to be true for both of us.

Mark "not here", however, really calls this entire project into question. How does one carry on the story if the two main characters aren't around? It doesn't work.

So if "slogging on" is not an option, what then, Mark?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

How does one carry on the story if the two main characters aren't around? It doesn't work.
There are two ways to write about a cat.

Option 1: You have the cat. It's right there. Everybody knows the cat is what the story is about, and you have this lovely fluid story pertaining to the cat. For example, you have the cat, you get the cat in the tree, you get the cat out of the tree. And, ta da, the cat story is simple.

Option 2: Slightly harder. You build the cat out of claws, fur, purring, screeching, hissing, the scent of fish and dead mice, a scrap of yarn, and a few chirrups. You show the sunny window and the sound of scratching furniture. If the story is about the cat getting in and out of the tree, you also build the tree. The bark, the leaves, the breeze making the branches shiver as the cat holds on for dear life, because even though cats always land on their feet, you've built a distance between the cat and the ground. To change my metaphor without warning, it's like studying DNA by watching its shadow.

We don't have the main characters without Mark, but we have their shadows. We have the claws and the purring. We can build the story around them, if we know what to build.

Can you describe the sensation of "sizzling bacon" without discussing meat or grease or cooking? If so, you can write a story without somebody talking about the main characters.

What we can do without them, is build around them. As a sequel, if we were publishing, we'd need to give the audience a bit of introduction to the story anyhow. We can nudge memory into place, build up the scene. Give the readers the smell of a dead fish-- er... purring. We can give the readers purring.

We'll need Mark eventually, obviously, but we aren't bereft if she needs to disappear.

At least not unless I'm wrong.

[mark12_30]

Fea, you are hilarious. And, I hope, correct.

True confessions here: I was counting heavily on alak to do a great many things. She and I have worked on the Amroth/Erebemlin/Mellondu/Taitheneb foursome for so long that either of us can carry it. "Neither of us", however, might be a bit of an issue as elempi states. Or-- not, as Fea counters.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, Fea, I'm game.

I'm willing to 3rd person Mellondu, Amroth, Erebemlin, and Taitheneb.

Current Active List:
(giving us the following characters as pov----->

Elempi ----->Raefindan/Roy Edwards/Imrazor,
-------------->Ædegard,
-------------->Maigeleb/Tharonwe,
-------------->Jorje/tirril
-------------->Marigold
(How'd my characters get so many names?!?)

Celuien ------> Saethryd
Feanor ------> Indil/Angela
Imladris ------> Aeron, Gwyllian
Firefoot --------> Rugh
Formendacil-----> Bergil
Nurumaiel-------> Liornung, Argaleafa

Third Party Character List (so far):
Erebemlin
Taitheneb
Mellondu/Amroth
Mellonin
Bellyn
Averyll
Nimrodel
Mithrellas
Ravion

So far so good?

[alaklondewen]

I'm pulling out of the chaos of life now. I have had many many things happen pretty much simultaneously that had brought my coming online everyday...into coming online once a week to check my email and that's it.

Over the last few days, I've been feeling the fire to write and Erebemlin is calling to me. I want to catch back up and be a part of this game; however, with that said, I don't want to say I can definitely be here everyday, but as everything seems to be working out...I would like to say I can write once a week.

I'm sorry for my unexpected absence, but my heart is in this story...and I hope to be able to meet the obligations of the story.

~Alak

[mark12_30]

GLEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

And celebration.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Hm.

I'm here...but it's not like Bellyn is a super important character or anything.

I'll try to get a post up for her, and I know I said I would after my surgery, but the holidays got to me. Sorrrrrry!!!!

[littlemanpoet]

Ahhhhh. :) Now I feel like I can relax a little bit. I think that if we all commit to posting once per week, we'll have a very good experience. Now, if only Helen will commit to this too.... Helen? ;) The only person we have not heard from yet, within this week, is Orual. There's still time.

Okay, now that I've committed to once per week, I'd like to suggest that Jorje is going to make it to the mountains a couple days after he leaves Marigold. Firefoot, what do you say to Jorje happening upon Rugh? Would that be workable?

Tharonwe is ready to be posted for, but I need the ladies to follow, and in order to do that, one of the ladies' writers needs to post. I'm waiting .... er .... patiently.... :rolleyes:

Ædegard and Raefindan can respond to Aeron at any time, but not at all to Aeron's liking. Actually, if, Immy, you want to post for Aeron again pretty soon, you could add in replies from Ædegard and Raefindan, that they have sworn to stick with Mellondu.

[Formendacil]

Okay, is there any reason as of now for Bergil and Indil NOT to reach Mellondu's company in my next post? Reasons like: things need to be posted first, days are discrepant, too soon artistically... or anything.

Not that I'm up to it tonight, or even tomorrow, probably... but soon I'll probably be ready to post, and I'm a "catch me while the catching's good" sort of guy.

[Firefoot]

Firefoot, what do you say to Jorje happening upon Rugh? Would that be workable?Sounds good.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, is there any reason as of now for Bergil and Indil NOT to reach Mellondu's company in my next post? Reasons like: things need to be posted first, days are discrepant, too soon artistically... or anything.

Not that I'm up to it tonight, or even tomorrow, probably... but soon I'll probably be ready to post, and I'm a "catch me while the catching's good" sort of guy.
The only thing I can think of is that it would be good to heighten the conflict regarding Aeron's dream versus Erebemlin's will. That involves Immy and me; I'm happy to write another post for Ædegard and Raefindan to that end instead of what I suggested above. Since Erebemlin has made himself clear already, it's not trouble to write him 3rd person, which either Immy or I could do.

Okay, Firefoot, I'll work something up for Jorje.

[Celuien]

I'll try to put something up for Saethryd by Sunday. Not tomorrow Sunday since I'll be back on the road, but a week from tomorrow. ;) Changes in her visions and sensing that things are going on near her "realm" and the like...

[littlemanpoet]

Aylwen, where does your last post place Bellyn, in general?

For that matter, where are Mellonin and Leafa? And that other new Elven woman of Helen's?

[Nurumaiel]

lmp, I must admit, not only am I unsure as to Leafa is at this present moment, I'm even rather doubtful of where she's supposed to be.

Has she run away? Or not, but still needs to?...

Hopefully once I get Leafa's whereabouts down, I'll be more clear on what I need to do, and able to participate a bit better!

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Uh, in my mind, it's been something around a day and a half or more since Bellyn left (she left sometime around midnight or right after, traveled for a day, and now it's mid-morning of the second day?) based on the posts that I put and Helen put for Mellonin. I'm kind of assuming this because I'm not 100% sure how fast horses can go, but I'm assuming Bellyn has ridden somewhere in the vacinity of sixty miles? If that's the case, she'd be somewhere near...uhm, Nordol, or near the Stonewain Valley...but that's just in my head (she may have ridden farther or ridden less, depending on how wrong I am about horses). And I assume Mellonin is somewhere behind her?

[littlemanpoet]

I must admit that I was rather surprised that the three - now four - women all left separately. I had expected that they would tell each other about their dreams and leave together for strength in numbers. But maybe that's just me. Get a bunch of introverted characters in the same city, have them dream the same dream, and they're likely not even to consider that others might need to know about it. :p

So okay. I'll assume then that Leafa has also left on her own, which seems desperately out of character for her; she had better have one whopping dream, seems to me.

So okay (hmm I already said that); I can post for Tharonwë then; just not right now. :rolleyes: - short break.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

must admit that I was rather surprised that the three - now four - women all left separately.

Bella was pretty upset that the guys left, and when she told this to Mellonin and Argeleafa, they were cheery/optimistic but not very helpful/comforting (except to offer tea). I wouldn't go back to someone for comfort if last time they had said, "We all do; but there it is..." even if Mellonin was just trying to be strong on the outside. In my mind Bellyn left because she probably didn't think anyone would listen to her - really listen to her. Also probably because she was in a frantic state after the dream. I guess.

I'll assume then that Leafa has also left on her own, which seems desperately out of character for her; she had better have one whopping dream, seems to me.

Do you want us to go back and change what we have so they all leave together? It would be a lot of deleting/rewriting but we could do it...it sounds like you want to change it.

Just wondering... :confused: :)

[littlemanpoet]

No sense trying to sweep the spilled milk back into the bottle, though one may wish to cry over it.... :p No, don't change it. But Nuru, you are going to need one incredible dream for Leafa, or else she is going to have to be very convincing to get a bodyguard to go with her (which seems just as out of character....) (LMP shrugs). So no, don't change stuff. It's hard enough keeping this going without going back and editing. Ick.

[Nurumaiel]

Well, I'll have to think about it a bit. It seems to me that the more incredible the dream gets, the more likely it is that Leafa would go to someone about it.

Now, are all the ladies lodging together? Because if they are, and really if they aren't, and Bella has left nearly two days ago, I'm sure Leafa would have noticed by now. Or is my post supposed to be inserted somewhere earlier?

If the latter is the case, in other words all the ladies left the same night and I just have some catching up to do, then I might be able to come up with a possible scenario to get Leafa away without a wild dream.

If she had a dream, she would be the sort of girl to tell someone about it before she did anything. In that case, I could picture her going to Bella, finding that she's gone, and setting out after her, thinking she couldn't have gone too far. At that point Leafa could perhaps catch up with one or the other of the ladies, they could converse, and resolve to go on.

Does that sound plausible? I'm hoping to come up with something that doesn't involve an incredible dream... aside from the fact that even such an event probably wouldn't inspire Leafa to just leave, I don't want to worry about coming up with something astounding. :D

[littlemanpoet]

I'd say that we're looking at Leafa dreaming and leaving the same night. Thus, your scenario looks like it ought to work fine. I'd suggest that you post it to this thread, figure out where you want it on the story thread, and ask the person whose post precedes the location you desire, to add it to the end of his or her post. Agreeable?

[Nurumaiel]

That will work fine. I'll try to get a post done soon, after a rather stupid question... :o

What exactly is the nature of Leafa's dream supposed to be?

I'm afraid I've always been a bit fuzzy on the dream aspect of the story.

[littlemanpoet]

Well, that's a very good question, actually, because the nature of all of the dreams in this Tapestry have been such that the dreamer has a personal connection to the subject.

Aeron dreams of Gwyllian, his dead sister.
Raefindan dreams of Mithrellas because (according to Tolkien's system) he is Imrazor reincarnated.
et cetera.

So what would Argaleafa's connection be to anything having to do with Amroth's story?

I have but one suggestion that just creeped into my head based on one of the new characters in our Book 2: Celuien's character, Saethryd (Sæthryd), is Eorling, I believe. Perhaps Argaleafa and Sæthryd are related? Step-sisters? cousins? Second cousins? Third? Just imagine what kind of backstory might arise out of such a combination....

thus, Leafa could dream of Sæthryd....

[Celuien]

I have but one suggestion that just creeped into my head based on one of the new characters in our Book 2: Celuien's character, Saethryd (Sæthryd), is Eorling, I believe. Perhaps Argaleafa and Sæthryd are related? Step-sisters? cousins? Second cousins? Third? Just imagine what kind of backstory might arise out of such a combination....

thus, Leafa could dream of Sæthryd....
I really like that! I'd thought of a cousin who died wandering near the Paths as her connection to the dreams, but if it's okay for her to be related to Leafa, that would be very, very interesting.

[littlemanpoet]

I don't see as one must rule out the other. So, Nuru, does that help?

[Celuien]

Okay. I'll keep the other portion too, but more as background for Saethryrd's inital visions that helped drive her to her current state. I think being related to Leafa is a better way to account for her having these particular dreams, since Leafa is the one who is involved in the current story events. :)

[littlemanpoet]

If you don't need the Paths of the Dead - dead cousin - don't feel like you have to use it.

Good writing strategy: Don't need? Drop it.

[mark12_30]

Aylwen, where does your last post place Bellyn, in general?

For that matter, where are Mellonin and Leafa? And that other new Elven woman of Helen's?

Wherever Mellonin is, the "other elven woman" is right with her-- because Mellonin is dreaming her, 'hosting' her more or less, just like all those other 'pairs'. Mellonin is strongly submerged (that's what the fever was about). I'm not against her resurfacing. Makes things interesting.

And anyone can connect with Mellonin anytime. I left it vague in the hopes that all three ladies would end up on vaguely the same road headed over the mountains someplace, vaguely towards Saethryd and Rudh.

[littlemanpoet]

You mean that Avaryn (or whatever her name is) is Mellonin, like Amroth is Mellondu? :eek:

[Nurumaiel]

lmp and Celuien, I love the idea!

Celuien, Sæthryd is older than Leafa by a few years, in which case, even if they lived close by one another, Leafa wouldn't remember the incident of Sæthryd's disappearance. My thought is that perhaps Leafa's father was partly inspired to become a wayfarer because he was ashamed of Sæthryd's wild wanderings. I picture him as the fellow that would be deeply effected by something like that. He's a very proud man, in a very odd way.

I imagine they would have left while Sæthryd was still quite young and Leafa was little more than a baby, and, that is to say, they left the immediate vicinity. If my memory of Leafa's history serves me correctly, they didn't go off with the wayfarers until much later. As a child, Leafa would have no doubt heard her father tell the story many times, and it would have made a deep impression on her.

Briefly put, the two families lived close to one another up until the time when Sæthryd went mad, at which point Leafa's family left, as her father became ashamed of the connection. Leafa would have no memories of Sæthryd, but would have heard much about her. Does this sound all right with you? As for the precise nature of their connection, I have no strong feelings about it. Would cousins do?

lmp, thanks for the wonderful suggestion. I'm beginning to feel inspired again. :D

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I also have this question, and it's been bugging me for a bit...

Are the men going to go and try and find the women eventually?

Just curious.

[Celuien]

Briefly put, the two families lived close to one another up until the time when Sæthryd went mad, at which point Leafa's family left, as her father became ashamed of the connection. Leafa would have no memories of Sæthryd, but would have heard much about her. Does this sound all right with you? As for the precise nature of their connection, I have no strong feelings about it. Would cousins do?
That all sounds fine. :)

I think cousins would be a good way to connect them. Far enough apart to be plausible given what we already know about their immediate families, and close enough to give them a solid connection.

[Imladris]

Are the men going to go and try and find the women eventually?


Aeron will push for them to do so.

Speaking of which he's probably due for a post again...will try to get one up soonishly.

[littlemanpoet]

I've been waiting for Formy to post for Bergil and Indil, to get them to cross the paths of the Elves and Men. If that does not happen in the next two days, I will write a 3rd person matter of fact version of it myself so we can get this plot moving again, and the Men chasing after the women.

I've also been waiting for the women to all leave Minas Tirith and figure out where they are (in a general way) before posting for Tharonwë.

And I don't really know where Jorje and Rugh are going.

Fooooooooormeeeeeee! Hellooooooooo? ;)

[Firefoot]

And I don't really know where Jorje and Rugh are going. Neither do I. And neither, I think, does Rugh.

[Formendacil]

I've been waiting for Formy to post for Bergil and Indil, to get them to cross the paths of the Elves and Men. If that does not happen in the next two days, I will write a 3rd person matter of fact version of it myself so we can get this plot moving again, and the Men chasing after the women.

I've also been waiting for the women to all leave Minas Tirith and figure out where they are (in a general way) before posting for Tharonwë.

And I don't really know where Jorje and Rugh are going.

Fooooooooormeeeeeee! Hellooooooooo? ;)

Sorry... I've been following the discussion and posts, but my implicit understanding was that there was more that needed/wanted doing ere Bergil rode up. (Well, I was also content to wait on it, but that was incidental...)

Now that I know otherwise, you can expect something in the next day or two. I think.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

If I'm even more not around than usual, it's because my computer died a tragic death over the weekend and I currently don't have it. I'm going to try to get it back in my ish-possession tonight, but I'm not sure exactly how to go about fixing it, or how long it will take, or if I'll ever like my computer enough again to use it, given it spazzed out and lost every single thing I had saved (and not backed up) on my hard drive. Yeah. Welcome to my life. :(

Feel free to carry Indil (it's not like she's hard to write... she's a quiet kid that cries at random) as long as I'm off on a technology/academic crusade.

[Formendacil]

Post up.

--As always, any comments to the improvement of the post, the correction of the characterisation, or the continuity of the plot are much appreciated.

[littlemanpoet]

I wonder what the proximity is between Rugh and Saethryd? Rugh would be somewhat near the forest of the Woses, whilst Saethryd would be probably a little farther west, but not much farther? Or is that wrong? You see, I'm wondering if it's possible to have Jorje sniff out Saethryd too?

[littlemanpoet]

Nicely done, Immy. :)

And so we have ourselves a bit of a pickle. Ædegard and Raefindan are going to stay true to their word despite what they might WANT to do. The only way out of this is for Mellondu to decide to go after the women. ..... right?

[Formendacil]

Depends what you mean by "a way out of it"... Is it fact, then, that the menfolk are going to pursue the ladies? It wasn't exactly clear thus far...

~Bergil's Writer, who now has no plot, but will drift until some decision is made~

[Celuien]

I wonder what the proximity is between Rugh and Saethryd? Rugh would be somewhat near the forest of the Woses, whilst Saethryd would be probably a little farther west, but not much farther? Or is that wrong? You see, I'm wondering if it's possible to have Jorje sniff out Saethryd too?
I need to look at a map again, but she probably is a little bit to the west.

[littlemanpoet]

Depends what you mean by "a way out of it"... Is it fact, then, that the menfolk are going to pursue the ladies? It wasn't exactly clear thus far...It had always been my understanding that the men would go after the women; but that need not be so. In fact, the party of men could "break their fellowship"; the notion does have precedent. :p

~Bergil's Writer, who now has no plot, but will drift until some decision is made~Do you have interest in continuing to write in Tapestry?

[Formendacil]

Do you have interest in continuing to write in Tapestry?

If Tapestry is willing to keep me, that was the plan...

My "plan", so far as I had one was to get Bergil to the menfolk, and see what happened from there. Well, I'm there... now to see what happens. Basically, I was saying that I'm done all that I had prepared for mentally. Not knowing what the menfolk are doing, I can't really say I know what Bergil's doing.

[littlemanpoet]

What drives Bergil? Why does he do what he does? What does he care about? What doesn't he care about? Whom does he respect highly, and why?

See, you need some motivation for this character beyond plot, or else he will remain passive, which seems out of character for the Bergil we read of in LotR.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Let me know if I should change anything/everything...

[littlemanpoet]

I like it! A lot! I have only one minor request for change. As you have seen from my post just above yours, I'm shooting for Raefindan to be frankly dense to any such possibility as Angela standing before him in the person of Indil, for at least a while. Maybe for a long time. Despite all the signs. So he's not going to connect them on his own.

Raefindan looked from Bergil to the elves and back to the child, kneeling to her height. Her eyes... why did her eyes look so...

I like this, a lot, yet it suggests that Raefindan is actually open minded enough to consider that maybe, just maybe, he should know these eyes from somewhere. He simply isn't going to get it. So perhaps if I may suggest the following, though I will not hold you to it, exactly; in fact, feel free to debate me:

Raefindan looked from Bergil to the elves and back to the child, kneeling to her height. Her eyes were soft brown. He liked her eyes; maybe because they were so curious and open-to-life.

So she's not a dead ringer for Angela after all, is she?

Here are some interesting things to keep on the front burner now that we're finally to this point (can you tell I'm excited?):

I know we're not this far along in building this line of the story as the actual character is not yet created, but...what if Erebemlin & company discovered a fevered woman...somewhere...and Erebemlin (or Taitheneb as he's more understanding of humans) tries to bring her out and steps into her dream and...and find Mithrellas or more clues as to Nimrodel's location or something that makes them realize this woman needs to be kept around...


I need a plausible reason for a female to be able to wander ME w/o family or well-meaning folks taking her in for the sake of propriety.

young orphan? 4-7

as a child, she'd be open to more things...

open-minded toward the supernatural; not yet given to the prejudices of her society

also more likely to ask questions
to bind the group against Thoronwë's desires
to be controlled by Thoronwë's mind

would need Elvish supervision?
and female travelling companions

dreams of Mithrellas & Imrazor through bloodline
nightmares of dying parents
and of Angela

And for my own sake, I'm making THIS (http://www.forums.barrowdowns.com./showpost.php?p=481084&postcount=104) available here and now.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So perhaps if I may suggest the following, though I will not hold you to it, exactly; in fact, feel free to debate me:Works for me. I'll edit it in now.

[littlemanpoet]

So would it be feasible for Jorje in his travels with Rugh to somehow sniff out Saethryd?

[Celuien]

So would it be feasible for Jorje in his travels with Rugh to somehow sniff out Saethryd?
I think so. She's definitely a presence.

[Firefoot]

As long as Saethryd wanders a fair way east from Dunharrow now and again (Rugh doesn't get that far west...), I think so. Like... is it plausible that she would ever get as far as Firien Wood? Because I think that initially you and I had imagined our characters' typical domains as being on opposite sides of the mountains.

[Celuien]

My mistake. She is, in fact, on the other side of the mountains (the Gondor side). She wanders, but it's probably still a fairly long walk to the wood. I don't know the exact distance - maybe about a day.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, therefore, if I understand the Rugh and Saethryd characters, to be loners and wanderers only in their own domains, then Jorje would have to leave Rugh in order to find Saethryd ... which isn't realistic unless Jorje starts having dreams. :rolleyes:

Therefore, it seems to me that it is going to be the women who run across Rugh and Jorje, and then after that Jorje and the women (presumably with Rugh) will happen across Saethryd about a day later. Does that make sense?

[littlemanpoet]

Tomorrow, when I get a chance (or as soon as I get a chance), I'll write a post in which Jorje, with Rugh, is almost run over by a horse with a female rider. I'll leave it vague so that one of you can choose to be the rider.

It occurred to me, also, that this rpg (character, or plot based?) may be suffering from a lack of enemies. Thoughts?

[Imladris]

Wouldn't go so far as to say enemies...but I will say that we need conflict.

The only real conflict that I can see right now is Aeron vs Ædegard and the elves. When that one bad elf (name escapes me at the moment) enters more on the scene that'll add some action.

But yes. Definately more conflict is needed between the good guys.

[Nurumaiel]

I'd like to apologise for not having yet written up a post for Leafa. Last weekend, the weekend I intended to do so, I landed the wrong way on my wrist, and though there were no broken bones, it was rather badly sprained and is currently in a splint. I'm just beginning to use it again, but it will be about another week until it's really better.

I'll work on the post, however, bit by bit, and sooner or later it will be done.

[littlemanpoet]

Fea, I'm making it so that your difficult post to write is no longer necessary. Feel free to delete your save.

I'm also making a Jorje post, inserting a nondescript woman on horseback. Hope this helps move things along a little bit.

Okay, Jorje is up to Saethryd, with a woman and her horse. Which woman, I don't know. I don't know if Saethryd is even at the cottage.

What Rugh is up to now that Jorje has left him, I don't know. Does he follow? Wait?

....hello?.....

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, I'm making it so that your difficult post to write is no longer necessary. Feel free to delete your save.*jaw drops*

Where did time go, how long was I sick, have I finished my American Lit paper yet, are midterms over, and why did nobody remind me I had an unfilled Save???

[littlemanpoet]

Hope you're feeling better and getting done what you need to. I've rerouted my edited post for a reply from Aeron or Bergil, or both, depending on who wishes to take the initiative.

[littlemanpoet]

I shall be off computer for the duration of Lent. I am hopeful that my absence will not have severe consequences for this rather slow-moving thread. Be sure that when I come back, I will continue to contribute as much as I feel I can without taking the thing over. ;)

[littlemanpoet]

Thanks for bringing Tapestry 2 back to life, Immy. :)

Formy!!!!! Your character has questions to answer!

[Formendacil]

Thanks for bringing Tapestry 2 back to life, Immy. :)

Formy!!!!! Your character has questions to answer!

So I see...

I should --hopefully-- have something up on that within the next 24 hours... I cannot honestly say I have anything better to do between now and Saturday. Thereafter... we'll see.

[littlemanpoet]

Well, I'm tired of waiting. If others can't or don't want to write much, then I'll just have fun around here as long as I have ideas. Lets see now, there are Leafa, the traitor Elfwoman, Melonnin, and Bellyn.

Eeny meeny miny mo,
time to make this plotline go
if it reads well let it go,
eeny meeny miny mo.

:p

Okay, the roll of the dice picked Mellonin. She is the one on the horse who has fallen near Celuien's character. Time to reaquaint myself with all of this. Anybody else who feels like joining in, feel free; but I'm not waiting anymore.

[littlemanpoet]

Yeah, I think it was in error (well meant for plot development's sake) to separate everybody this time. We need more writers interested enough to bounce off each other's posts, and the only way to do that is get all the characters back together. That's my goal. Hope to see more of you around some day not too far in the future.

[littlemanpoet]

I'm wondering if Formy and Celuien can do something about their 'saves' in the next couple days? Just in case you might have forgotten it was even there.... ;)

[Formendacil]

I'm wondering if Formy and Celuien can do something about their 'saves' in the next couple days? Just in case you might have forgotten it was even there.... ;)

See... I was GOING to fill that save on the evening of Saturday, April 21st... but as I was in emergency and the X-ray room, that didn't transpire...

Still, you have caught me on a guilty evening, with a very quiet few days ahead. If I haven't filled my save BEFORE Saturday, you have my permission to... um... I dunno, hit me or something. On my lower left leg.

[Celuien]

I can...it would have been filled before if not for some celebratory events here. ;)

Couple of days should do it. If not, throw a frozen herring (or something) at me.

[Imladris]

I'll try to post something soon...(something's been percolating...but you know how it is) when I don't feel so deadly exhausted.

[littlemanpoet]

I gue------ss I can wait that long. :(

[Formendacil]

Save filled.

Elempi's decision to have the menfolk take an about-turn has pretty much resolved Bergil's dilemma, which is fine with me since I couldn't think of a satisfying way to resolve Bergil's character with the idea of taking Indil into the wilds.

However, in reading on... I'd like to quibble with Elempi about the phrasing of Bergil's reply regarding the fastness of Elessar's prisons. The line currently reads:

"None can escape from the prisons of Elessar," Bergil asserted. "They are too well watched by the Tower Guard."

Something about it doesn't sound like Bergil to me. A little bit too... earnest maybe? I envision Bergil as young, perhaps naive, but he's a ranger who's been serving for some years now, and he lived through the Siege of Minas Tirith. I envision him as rather more serious...

Anyways, my proposed revision of the line is more one of wording than content:

"I doubt if he could escape the prisons of Elessar," Bergil asserted. "The Tower Guard watches them most vigilantly."

[littlemanpoet]

The change has been made, Formy.

[littlemanpoet]

I.

Am.

Slowly.

Dying.

Of.

Thirst.

That is....

When is somebody else going to do a post (or at least fill in their save)? ;)

[littlemanpoet]

Immy, that's the best post I've seen on this thread in a good long while. Well done! Let's hope we can spur this on a little bit now.

(wishful thinking elempi you dolt)

What! Who said that!

:rolleyes:

[Formendacil]

Question:

If I (and Bergil) advance the action to the point where they're back in Minas Tirith, is that okay? I'm assuming that as LMP is wanting to reunite the groups, this will be done as fast as possible. In any case, if Bergil (and Indil, come to think of it) are to remain with the company and not stay in Minas Tirith, there needs to be at least a post or two of permission-seeking (in Bergil's case. In Indil's something more creative would be needed...).

Is there anything that needs doing first? (Not that I'll get to this tonight, or probably even THAT soon... but you never know. Maybe Friday?)

[littlemanpoet]

I for one am all for it.

I don't think there's anything else that needs to be done first with the southward group.

Lots needs to be done with the women.

Helloooooo?

[Celuien]

Okay, okay, I really will write today. It will be up by tomorrow evening (revisions, revisions and more revisions from today's version)...

[Celuien]

Finally filled. Part of my problem was trying to figure out how to keep Saethyrd from automatically killing her visitor. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm going to be trying to finish job pre-job-starting things next week and then moving, so I'll probably continue to be slow. :(

[Formendacil]

Amazingly, I got a post up as I planned. All the usual things about letting me know how/where I can approve is appreciated.

I'm afraid that the impetus to have Indil accompany the company is going to have to come from someone other than Bergil. I'm assuming that it'll be something along the lines of her having dreams that the company considers very important. This might be a matter for Fea, or LMP, or maybe Alak and the Elves. But it certainly won't be me and Bergil.

Anyone is free to take over "the Guardsman" from this point. I'm not attached to him at all, and the post might better come from the point of view of a character to whom the escape of Tharonwë means something. Once the company is caught up on that news, Bergil will be reporting to either Faramir or Elessar (I've not decided which...), and getting a mandate to accompany the company, conveniently solving the issue of rationalizing his participation.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"Prince Faramir will want to know as soon as he can: did you see or hear any sign of the rouge Elf, Maegeleb?"
So much though I like having a rouge elf floating around ME, I think you might have meant rogue. I could be wrong... :)

I'm assuming that it'll be something along the lines of her having dreams that the company considers very important. This might be a matter for Fea, or LMP, or maybe Alak and the Elves. But it certainly won't be me and Bergil.
I'm happy to write a dream, I'm just not sure what sort of dream will best work in terms of causality. What, exactly, would cause a group of people who want to travel quickly with few complications to decide it's of utmost necessity to keep a very small traumatized child with them?

A dream of Mithrellas? A dream of Amroth? A dream of the whereabouts of the famed, mystical, mysterious, and possibly uncanonical Rouge Elf? :cool:

I'm also a little rusty on exact story details right now, just because I've been away a bit... :(

[Formendacil]

I can't believe I did that... since I remember actually thinking as I wrote that word to NOT mess it up...

Anyways...

I'll fix that.

[littlemanpoet]

I'm happy to write a dream, I'm just not sure what sort of dream will best work in terms of causality. What, exactly, would cause a group of people who want to travel quickly with few complications to decide it's of utmost necessity to keep a very small traumatized child with them?

Let's see.....

... a dream of Angela in the company of Roy Edwards (you may consult with me of course) would certainly attract Raefindan's attention, and give him personal motivation to stay in the little girl's company. This would mean that in order to fulfill his current responsibilities, he would offer to take responsibility for her care (which could get really funny as he has no experience). However, maybe this would be too obvious too soon.

... a dream of Mithrellas would affect Raefindan as he identifies with Imrazor, and would be more likely to impress him as of importance in terms of the quest whereas the above dream does not. In this case he would not quite so strong a personal motivation, and would probably not offer to take over her care. On the other hand, not only he but the Elves would be more likely to realize that she is actually a player in putting this puzzle (excuse me ~ weaving this Tapestry) together.

... a dream of Amroth would remove personal motivation from Raefindan and place it upon the Elves, and it would be clear that she has a role in the Tapestry. This could however cause conflict such that the Elves insist that Mellondu and Indil go with them in the south instead of north with the Men. It would be dreaming of the somewhat harrowing realities associated with the hero.

... a dream of Tharonwë would be even more extreme in terms of what I've already written about Amroth. It would be dreaming of the even more harrowing villain.

Of these four, a dream of Angela would be most personal and psychologically likely; a dream of Mithrellas would be not quite so personal and psychologically less likely but still probable. A dream of Amroth would be rather impersonal, potentially exceedingly traumatic, and very plot oriented. It could seem forced. A dream of Tharonwë would be more extreme trauma and even more plot oriented.

I see little attraction in dreaming of Tharonwë at this point. So despite the attractions of the two extreme choices (Angela or Amroth), I would recommend Mithrellas; unless there are other options?

[littlemanpoet]

Saethryd's motivations are most interesting, in regard to both woman and dog.

It occurs to me that Bergil has a ready-made "next mission" in hunting Maegeleb.

Disgust doesn't strike me as at all inscrutible. Maybe the cause of the disgust, but not the thing itself.

[Formendacil]

Saethryd's motivations are most interesting, in regard to both woman and dog.

It occurs to me that Bergil has a ready-made "next mission" in hunting Maegeleb.

Disgust doesn't strike me as at all inscrutible. Maybe the cause of the disgust, but not the thing itself.

Which is what was intended to be implied... I'll clarify in the post.

And yes, exactly: there is no confusion at all as to how I'll be getting Bergil permission to travel.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

As far as likelihood for dreams, Mithrellas or Angela are closest if only because Indil was created with them both in mind. Blood connection and all. She dreams of them already, so why not?

I could argue for a traumatic dream in that she just watched her parents die and all, and what's the difference between one nightmare and a couple blended ones? Amroth would be easy enough, but dreaming of Thoronwe would be a stretch.

But I agree that it's best to keep it personal and plausible.

Anyone up for suggesting a Mithrellas dream topic that will catch the interest of important decision-making folks?

[littlemanpoet]

Anyone up for suggesting a Mithrellas dream topic that will catch the interest of important decision-making folks?Important decision-making posts - does that refer to King Elessar & Queen Arwen in particular? Or to Erebemlin? Or to the Captain of the Tower Guard? Or the young blacksmith who is actually de facto in charge of this expedition (Mellondu)?

So it depends on who the decision maker is to whom you wish to appeal. Yeah, I'm being a virtual Elf, saying both yes and no, but it does depend. ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So it depends on who the decision maker is to whom you wish to appeal. Yeah, I'm being a virtual Elf, saying both yes and no, but it does depend. ;)
So you're going to make me work this out for myself, thereby become a stronger and more self-sufficient writer, or something like that? :p

[littlemanpoet]

So you're going to make me work this out for myself, thereby become a stronger and more self-sufficient writer, or something like that? :p
Snicker. :D But of course. ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Snicker. :D But of course. ;)
Oh fuss and bother.

:D

[Nurumaiel]

Hello to all...

I've been trying to find the time to write, and simply haven't been finding it. Things are dreadfully busy, and it doesn't look like that will be changing anytime soon. In short, I'm going to have to decide whether I can actually do this or not.

I'll be leaving for Ireland in a few days, and won't be back until towards the end of that month. During that time I'm going to sit back and relax, and hopefully restore mind, body, and soul. Upon my return I'll make a definite plan of what I'm going to do with the game. If it comes to the worst, I'll send Liornung home, pass Leafa onto someone else, and step down. I'd hate to it, but more than that I'd hate to hold the rest of you up.

But I was wondering... is there any chance that I could simply pass Leafa along to someone else and abandon the other steps? I feel fairly confident that I could handle just Liornung, as he's a pretty quiet fellow most of the time anyway.

[littlemanpoet]

Looking at all the options:

1. someone takes over Leafa.

a. I could, due to Ædegard.
b. Another more or less active writer who has a feel for the character.

2. Leafa dies.

Not trying to be cruel. What best serves the story? This would have much to do with Ædegard, who at various times I've tried and failed to get killed. Any thoughts?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

This would have much to do with Ædegard, who at various times I've tried and failed to get killed. Any thoughts?
Leafa dies, Ædegard dies of grief? Two birds...

[littlemanpoet]

Leafa dies, Ædegard dies of grief? Two birds...
Well not of grief, but he becomes "fey", as Tolkien calls it, and reckless, and gets himself killed. That's how I see it. But yes, "two birds".

[Imladris]

Tolkien calls it, and reckless, and gets himself killed

This seems like it could add some interesting things to the plot.

[littlemanpoet]

This seems like it could add some interesting things to the plot.
We shall have to see what Nuru thinks.

Fea, this is getting interesting and fun again. :) Reminds me of Prisoner of Numenor. I find your set ups challenging in a very, very good way. Huzzah!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, this is getting interesting and fun again. :) Reminds me of Prisoner of Numenor. I find your set ups challenging in a very, very good way. Huzzah!*blush*

I miss Prisoner. I had fun with that, except for some brief trauma killing Kath off.

[littlemanpoet]

I miss Prisoner. I had fun with that, except for some brief trauma killing Kath off.
But that was the best part. :p

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

But that was the best part. :pNever said it wasn't. But it was still traumatic: I'd never killed a character before.

You know, I'm getting nostalgic about old games now... Island of Sorrow, ATM, Prisoner of Numenor... I kind of want to go reread them. I know there was some great writing in all of them...

[littlemanpoet]

You know, I'm getting nostalgic about old games now... Island of Sorrow, ATM, Prisoner of Numenor... I kind of want to go reread them.Just so long as you keep writing in the current rpg's, pretty please.... ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Just so long as you keep writing in the current rpg's, pretty please.... ;)I'm working on that... Some are easier than others.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So now that they're in the city and Indil's dreams have been made an issue, and the Rouge Elf has escaped... what next?

[littlemanpoet]

Good question.

So far nobody has made the necessary connection between Indil's dreams and Amroth, Nimrodel, Mithrellas, and Imrazor. Until that occurs, the rationale for taking Indil with to hunt for the women has not occurred. Dense Raefindan. :rolleyes: :p

1. Raefindan (or somebody) realizes that Indil's dreams are about the Amroth quest.

2. It is determined which males are willing to be on the remainder of the quest. Liornung? (depending on Nuru) Erebemlin - yes; Taitheneb? (I don't think we need him); Ædegard - yes, for now; Raefindan - yes; Ravion? (where's Orual? and do we need him if we have Bergil and Erebemlin to track?); Mellondu - yes; Bergil - yes; Aeron - yes. Any men I've forgotten?

3. The males hunt for the women.

4. Saethryd succeeds in nursing Mellonin back to health.

5. Jorje returns to Rugh and somehow R figures out that he must go with Jorje back to Saethryd.

6. Tharonwë captures Leafa and Bella (nobody thought of this until this moment, but we need some suspense, no?)

Does any of these suggestions seem not good?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So far nobody has made the necessary connection between Indil's dreams and Amroth, Nimrodel, Mithrellas, and Imrazor. Until that occurs, the rationale for taking Indil with to hunt for the women has not occurred. Dense Raefindan. :rolleyes: :pSince this part most pertains to me...

Indil is most attached to Raefindan and Bergil, so they'd be the ones she's be speaking directly to. Of the two, Bergil is less likely to realize Indil's dreams are related to the quest, due to character and lack of association thus far with the quest itself.

She's downright nervous around Erebemlin, though his being an Elf makes for plausible understanding on this.

I doubt it would be Ædegard or Ravion.

Maybe Mellondu because of his own experience.

I would say maybe Aeron would figure it out because of Gwyllion showing up rather frequently, because he's a sharp fellow, and because he strikes me as the type to know and realize more than he maybe ought.

Of the male characters, I'd guess the most likely to catch the connection will be either Raefindan, Erebemlin, or Aeron.

Thoughts?

[littlemanpoet]

I had intended on another Raefindan post in which it finally dawns on him what's probably going on, but I wanted to get your reply first. If Imladris wishes to have Aeron take part, that could make a very interesting conversation between Raefindan and Aeron. Maybe we could even throw in a few of those old anacronysms from Roy Edwards' 21st century speech (remember those?). ;) Since Alak isn't around much to write Erebemlin, I'm content to let him remain and secondary character. What do you say, Immy? Want to have Aeron join Indil and Raefindan for a little bit of give-and-take mindplay?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I had intended on another Raefindan post in which it finally dawns on him what's probably going onYeah, I figured you were probably planning something of the sort.

Maybe we could even throw in a few of those old anacronysms from Roy Edwards' 21st century speech (remember those?).Not anachronisms again! ;)

What do you say, Immy? Want to have Aeron join Indil and Raefindan for a little bit of give-and-take mindplay?Yeah, Immy; come play?

[Imladris]

I'll come play :)

[littlemanpoet]

Cool. :) So who should post first? Immy or Elempi?

[Imladris]

I don't really have a preference, but I won't be able to make a decent post until Wednesday at the earliest, as I'm too burned out right now to make a proper post without a "jumping off" point.

[littlemanpoet]

I'll try and set something up in the next little while; but don't be surprised if you beat me to it.

[littlemanpoet]

Nicely and sweetly done, Immy. That should pierce through Raefindan's density. In fact, he'll even say so. ;) I hope to get a chance today.

And also to get Jorje back in touch with Rugh. Firefoot? You there still?

[Firefoot]

*Roused out of her role-playing stupor*

Yeah, I'm here. I'll try to write something up within the next couple of days.

[littlemanpoet]

How embarrassing. I owe a post here and forgot that I did. I'll do it today; partly Raefindan finally getting it, and partly Jorje to set things up for Firefoot writing Rugh.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know, while my computer is working, that I'm not sure how reliable I'm going to be able to be. I got back in town Friday to find no internet, then today I got home from a quick day trip to find it working again... :rolleyes:

So I'll be here when I can, I guess is the gist of it.

[Firefoot]

Just to let you know - I'm going to be out of town next week, and I'm not sure about how much internet access that I'll have.

[Nurumaiel]

Hello lads and lassies....

I've returned after a lovely trip, despite earaches and a nasty cough. I'm still suffering from a cold, along with jet-lag and the miserable prospect of having to unpack everything, so it will probably be another week before I can fully reappear (though I do want to keep going as Liornung... haven't decided about Leafa yet).

In the meantime, I'd ask you all to say a prayer for this young man and his family (http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardas-son-held-after-boy-stabbed-to-death-in-street-742964.html), and for my younger brother. The stabbing took place on our last night in Ireland, and my brother walked out from a movie with his cousins right onto the scene. He's the same age as the victim, and it's been very hard on him. Needless to say, we're trying to recover from this as well as the illness.

[Nurumaiel]

All righty...

I definitely, most positively want to continue on with Liornung. For one thing, it's just against his character to give up and go home when he resolved to do something... and secondly, I immensely like playing him and playing this game, and don't want to bid farewells.

But I do have a question...

Is anyone willing to take the character of Leafa?

If not, we can discuss potential fates for good or ill.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

No go for me... I'll miss her if nobody else can take her, but I also know I wouldn't be able to do a good enough job with her to please myself.

[littlemanpoet]

Nuru, during your absence we had a discussion regarding Leafa and other characters, starting with th is post: http://www.forums.barrowdowns.com./showpost.php?p=524980&postcount=354

As you can see, Leafa's possible demise came up as a viable option. Your thoughts?

[Nurumaiel]

lmp, yes, I saw the posts concerning Leafa. Her death is a potential option, but I want to see if anyone is willing to take her on or not.

And even if there's no one willing, I still have to figure out if it would be right or not. Both in books and movies of late I've been coming across deaths that were put in the story merely for a tragedy, but weren't right in any way. They weren't simply sad... they also came across as being all wrong. And not wrong in the sense that any violent death is, but wrong story-wise, if that is at all clear.

So... I'm still pondering. And of course I still would have to get over being sentimental about her, too. :p

[littlemanpoet]

Yes, Nuru, and I'd like to get rid of Ædegard. Why? Well, he's just not that interesting to me. Falling in love with Leafa helped a little bit, but I just don't find him very interesting. Maybe I would have more a few years ago; fact is, I created him as a fun and games character for a winter snowball fight in Edoras a few years ago and never meant him for more than that, but he got swooshed into this tale. I'd much rather spend my time on Raefindan and Jorje. So I'm not really keen on taking on Leafa at all. One of these times, Ædegard is going to bite the dust. And that would actually fit very well into that song of the lover's ghost coming back to the lover, but only if there's someone who cares about those two characters enough. Otherwise, I can't see much point in them even being part of the adventure anymore. Let them go to Leafa's papa, get approval to get married, and go be wainwright and wife in Edoras. That's my humble opinion.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I know what you mean about 'wrong' deaths. There's a difference between crying out 'That's not right!' on an emotional level and quite another looking at a death inserted into a story and wondering what its purpose is.

I definately agree that we shouldn't just kill her off, brush the dirt off our hands, and move on. Anything that happens to the two lovebirds needs to further the plot and be true to the characters, end of story.

Find a way to break what binds them to the quest. Maybe have an Elf intuitively see that they need to be an example of the hope and love that must live on unfettered. Send 'em off to get married and live happily ever after. It's a sweet illustration of what's worth fighting for. They've done all they can, now it's time for sweet reward.

Or... you know... not.

Whatever you end up choosing works for me.

[littlemanpoet]

Here's a thought. Have someone dream of Ædegard throwing his life away in a stupid and unnecessary fight against Tharonwe. Then have a different someone dream - same night - of Ædegard being told by Bethberry that his work is done - he has helped bring Mellondu to the Elves, and has met the woman he was meant to meet, and his task is now finished.

Ick. After getting that written out I could feel it was nonsense. It just seems to me that Ædegard is supposed to die, perhaps saving someone else's life. Hmm....

[Nurumaiel]

lmp, just because I adore happy endings, I'd love to see the two of them simply go back home and get married. And, of course, if you did it the dream way, you'd be able to write out a tragic and heroic death scene without having it actually come to pass. ;)

But regardless of what actually happens, it occurred to me that it would be a good thing for Liornung, or, rather, for me as the writer of Liornung. He's been sticking pretty close to Ædegard and Leafa. The former he swaps songs and stories with, the latter he sort of adopted when she joined them. If they make their exit from the story Bella will be the only one left who he really considers himself close to. And at this point in time she's off somewhere in the wilderness. This will make things interesting for him.

And along those some lines, if death for Ædegard or Leafa or both comes up, we also have to consider Liornung. He's very much involved in their story, and a sad ending for them would also have a deep effect on how his tale ends.

Oh, and I wanted to add as a last note... Fea, thanks for all your input on the Ædegard and Leafa story. It's very helpful to have the opinions and thoughts of one who isn't personally involved with the characters... though to me the story of Ædegard and Leafa is done, having known them for as long as I have, I get all wishy-washy whenever I think of them. When one devotes so much time and creative energy into creating a personality and a character, one sometimes has a slightly skewed vision of what serves the story best. :p

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

When one devotes so much time and creative energy into creating a personality and a character, one sometimes has a slightly skewed vision of what serves the story best. :p

Seeeeriously.

[littlemanpoet]

I like the solution, Nuru. I can make the dream as heroic and grisly as fits, and then we can have a mushy papa ending for the pair. I don't NEED to kill off Ædegard, I just need to be freed from writing him.

If this solution is acceptable to all, I'm willing to go with it.

[Nurumaiel]

Hurrah! It sounds great to me as well.

One question... I've been away so long that I'm not sure exactly what's happening in the story presently. Are we going to have to find some way to re-unite them before they can make their exit?

[littlemanpoet]

I just wrote that Tharonwe has captured Bella and Leafa on his way into the White Mountains. He is tracking down Mellonin.

Meanwhile, the Men are getting ready to leave Minas Tirith.

The upshot is that there will have to be a reunion, and this will occur with Tharonwe smack in the middle of it unless one of the characters can figure out a way to get Th's captives away from him without Ædegard getting involved, since he'll be spoiling for a fight.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

unless one of the characters can figure out a way to get Th's captives away from him without Ædegard getting involved, since he'll be spoiling for a fight.

Indil sleep walks away from camp. Thoronwe's interest has him trailing her. Somebody finds the women during their search for Indil while his attention is otherwise fixated?

?

[Nurumaiel]

Couldn't we somehow tie this in with Ædegard's dream of his death in a fight against Tharonwe? Say, for instance, that through a dream he finds that the women have been captured, and he goes in search of them... on the way he could dream of his death in attempting to save the women. And perhaps Indil could have a dream that is somehow connected, which leads her to leave the camp, which leads Tharonwe to trail her.

I don't know. It just seems that the fact that Tharonwe has captured the women is perfect for the idea of Ædegard's dream.

[littlemanpoet]

I like the sleep walking idea, and of Ædegard dreaming, but plans for this look a little early considering the current situation of our characters.

So here's a question: what do you think to skipping over a bunch of days between mulling over when to leave Minas Tirith, and pick up the Men's story as they're a few days into the White Mountains?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'm cool with it.

[littlemanpoet]

Anybody want to keep this going?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Sorry... I've been consistently out of town since probably the last time you heard from me. When did life get busy again? :rolleyes:

[littlemanpoet]

Well, Fea, I know that Celuien is busy beyond hope, which puts a major kink in her writing here; Firefoot seems to be occupied elsewhere by and large; Nuru has expressed renewed interest lately but sporadically. I don't know what's become of Formy. Immy is generally within reach and will post when "the fit takes her" or when prodded, according to my experience. And you have spoken of your own difficulties getting here. None of the other writers are active, period.

What I WANT is for this to gain momentum and turn into something powerful interesting and engrossing.

I don't see that happening. In fact, I don't see anything better than this continuing to crawl, at least not until the school year.

So I'm WILLING to just let it sit until others show interest in the only way that really counts, by posting to the story thread. Carrying it by myself just isn't appealing.

[Imladris]

I just don't think that a post from Aeron at this time would necessarily push the story along...but I'll try to scramble something together in the next few days. Started a new job and still getting used to the new schedule and have tests to study for (it's so nice getting payed to study :p)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So I'm WILLING to just let it sit until others show interest in the only way that really counts, by posting to the story thread. Carrying it by myself just isn't appealing.

Long story short, I'm still intimidated that I'm going to screw up your story if left to my own devices.

[littlemanpoet]

Please do not feel intimidated. I'm happy to help.

Judging from your most recent post, you don't really need any help. ;)

:eek: What a way to twist the plot! Are the others close enough to hear Indil scream? Is the cruel voice Tharonwe?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Are the others close enough to hear Indil scream?

Dunno. I don't write the others. ;) And if they are, I can always move Indil out of hearing distance if the mood strikes. She makes such wonderful bait...

Is the cruel voice Tharonwe?

Depends on how many creeps are stalking small children who sleepwalk through the woods. Your call.

[littlemanpoet]

Indil sleep walks away from camp. Thoronwe's interest has him trailing her. Somebody finds the women during their search for Indil while his attention is otherwise fixated?Duh. I got lucky and saw this post. Nicely done. Shows how forgetful I am. :rolleyes:

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

He set her on the ground, but did not let go. "You will come with me and we will see the fair lady you dream about. Would you like to go see her?"

Oh you wicked, wicked man!

I'm positively wriggling in anticipation of writing her response.

[littlemanpoet]

Oh you wicked, wicked man!:eek: But I only write him. ;)

[littlemanpoet]

I've set it up so that Tharonwë is so obsessed with "this opacity in the girl's brain" that he forgets about Bella and Leafa and everything else. Not sure how realistic that is, but I hope it came off.

The opacity is, to my mind, a blockage that is there separating this young personality from Angela and all of her memories. Maybe this blockage will remain that way, maybe it will be broken through. Perhaps Tharonwë's curiosity will get the better of him and he will choose to break the girl's mind to find out what it is, and to his horror he discovers that this little girl is suddenly talking with the knowledge and wisdom of a young lady from the 21st century! :eek: :D Now that would be fun... but we don't want to get ahead of ourselves......

So anyway, the two former captives can be found by the men. And if Celuien's hectic schedule ever gives her a break, she can have Sathryd heal up Mellonin, and Firefoot can have Rugh confront Saethryd on her cruel means of survival. Hmmm.... that could be interesting.... ;)

[Nurumaiel]

I don't know if you're going to need Leafa to do anything over the next couple of weeks, but I've found that I'm going to be unexpectedly unavailable. I don't know if you recall our family's little hobbit with the medical problems, but he's going to have at least a brief stay in the hospital. He got the chicken pox. :( With his immune issues it could potentially cause problems, so prayers would also be appreciated.

[Celuien]

As of Monday, my schedule will be considerably less horrible. At least for a little while. :)

For now...back to work.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

You know...

The main problem with active writing when you're working with a group is that once you finish your piece, you have to wait for the response. :eek:

On a side note, just something I thought I'd share, I read some interesting writing tips the other day. The one that stuck in my mind was:

Just when you think your characters have it bad, make it even worse.

[littlemanpoet]

Wow, Fea! You know how the saying goes around the Downs: "I'd rep you if I could but I have to spread it around." :rolleyes: That was one aitch ee double toothpicks of a post! How do I follow that up? (Elempi scratches his head) I can only imagine that Tharonwë is going to go into throes of interior analysis, completely lost to the world. In particular I was just astonished with your idea of him noticing her hurt from reading her mind instead of hearing her. How right! How twisted! Awesome! Inspired! And not a little obscure with all those delectable dreams. Guess I'll go dive down into Indil's subconscious and see what a bit of a swim will produce.... ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

In particular I was just astonished with your idea of him noticing her hurt from reading her mind instead of hearing her. How right! How twisted! Awesome! Inspired! And not a little obscure with all those delectable dreams.

I'm absolutely delighted by your praise. You've no idea... There should really be a blushing smiley.

And I love handing you pieces of inspiration. I love seeing what brilliance you give back to fuel me further onward.

[littlemanpoet]

I'm sorry but I'm certain my last post isn't really up to snuff. It's late and I'm tired, but at least I like the beginning and the end. :rolleyes: Hope it's enough.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Not sure what comes next for Indil. But it seems like a really good spot to jump back to The Boys on their search for The Girls (euphamism for highschool romance?), since they've now had all day to look for Indil and find (or not find) things or people...

[littlemanpoet]

That would mean that of those who are more or less active, either Immy or I need to post next. Immy, would you like to? You need not feel yourself limited to only Aeron; there are other characters that could be written, at least at third person, such as Erebemlin, Liornung, Ravion, and Bergil.

[littlemanpoet]

Back to you, Immy.

[Imladris]

I'll try to get a post up by the weekend.

[Formendacil]

Wow...

That was a long two months.

Or a short two months, depending on how you look at it.

Anyway, I've been without internet for two months, and I'm nearly broken of the habit, though this sense of responsibility is prodding me into getting back into it. Fortunately for this RPG, there are a lot of new posts (from my point of view) to stir up the creative juices, but I have so much to respond to mentally that I'm not sure what I'm doing...

That being said, I'd like to be back enough by the weekend to have a post up, but if nothing happens--poke me. I don't plan to get kicked out anytime soon (it's a long story why I haven't had internet of late, but the simpleton's tale begins with me getting kicked out of seminary).

[mark12_30]

Ravion goes hunting for Mellonin! What a heartening thing to read while I'm stopping by...

It's good to see the game moving along. Slow tis true but moving. Erebemlin is as stern as ever-- heartwarming, that-- and Raefindan is still twentieth centuy misplaced. It's all good.

Warm regards. I do daydream about re-entering the game... someday. Too bad we no longer have access at work...

Grace and peace, --mark12_30

ps. FOrmie, did I get that right-- kicked out of seminary? THerein lieth a tale, no?

[Formendacil]

ps. FOrmie, did I get that right-- kicked out of seminary? THerein lieth a tale, no?

Well.... a pity-party lieth therein, anyway....

They're letting me back in, in a couple weeks, so it wasn't quite so drastic as it sounds, though it certainly had a catastrophic effect on any RPGing I was doing.

Meanwhile, now that I've been prodded into posting on the planning thread, I feel like I should get the process started on an actual RPG post... but I'm hitting a brick wall. I suppose I can always go introspective on Bergil, but the moment seems to call more for action, and I haven't a clue how I might move that along.

Suggestions?

[littlemanpoet]

What's Bergil's motivating core? What makes him tick? Does he have compassion for Indil? Or not? Does he like Elves? Or is he disappointed with Erebemlin as a representative of Elves? How does he react to other characters? What drives him? What skills does he possess?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'd probably stick with how he reacts to his first plan (finding Indil's family) being shifted into something far more complicated (find a rogue elf who's got the little girl he was supposed to be in charge of, return him to the authorities, make sure the girl's unharmed, find her family, help out with the quest, etc...). If he considered Indil to be his charge, then I can see him being a bit p'd that she slipped out from under his nose. Some Ranger he is, no?

Or you could just make things up as you go... Internal plight isn't that important.

[Formendacil]

Internal plight is well and good, but I'd rather it was framing an action rather than just being a post in and of itself, simply because we are hitting a point of action in the story, and that should continue to build, rather than to stagnate into non-action.

I'm hungry and lazy at the moment, so I think I'll spend my moments ere supper rereading the "recent" postage, and seeing if anything leaps out at me.

EDIT: Okay, I've gone back over the posts, and my mind is beginning to shift out of neutral. Can Bergil and I move the action forward so that the company is divided, or do we need more to happen ere that point?

[littlemanpoet]

Please do move the plot forward. That's a standing invitation. As I said to Fea a little while back, considering the circumstances of this rpg, if you're here and you're posting, your character is one of the main characters.

[Formendacil]

Well, it took me more like 66 hours or something like that, rather than the hoped-for 48, but I've got my Save filled. I didn't quite get the company on the road, simply because Bergil and I were a bit confused as to which company Aeron was travelling with. The indications in the text are that Aeron is planning to go with the Tharonwë-seeking crew, but it doesn't seem 100% decided, and to my mind it would have been more logical for him to go with Ravion and the lady-seekers, since he, through Gwyll, knows best where they can be found.

If I'm just being obtuse, let me know, and I can edit/remove/answer the question in-post.

Also, as always, any corrections to character, continuity, or flow that you can suggestion are appreciated.

[littlemanpoet]

Nice posts! :) More writers definitely enhance this rpg. I'll need some time to think about what's next for my characters.

[Firefoot]

Save filled.

I definitely love the edit post function on this new version of the site. :cool:

[littlemanpoet]

A most excellent post, Firefoot. :) I suppose with Helen and Nurumaiel not quite active, the next post falls to me. I'll give it some thought and try to put something together tomorrow after a good night's rest.

[Nurumaiel]

Apologies to all. It seems that as soon as I get myself ready to commit myself to this game again, something happens that throws it all off. This past month has been a rough one, and apparently it's had some effect on my general well-being, as I've been miserably ill for the past few days. Hopefully I'll be healthy once again come next week, and then I'll make a very strong effort to get involved once again.

In the meantime, thanks for being so patient with me. :)

[littlemanpoet]

Get well, Nuru. :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Apologies to all.

And a voice like thunder rumbles from the sky, booming: Thou shalt feel no guilt for things beyond your control.

[littlemanpoet]

I wonder, Celuien, if with you being so busy with RL, that maybe Saethryd needs to stay home, instead of accompanying the questers?

[Imladris]

Just to help us get our bearings....what needs to happen now?

[littlemanpoet]

From my viewpoint, at Saethryd's it's a matter of taking Mellonin back into the group and heading on. I don't see the use in Saethryd joining the group because Celuien won't be available to write her. For that matter, I'm not sure it's desirable to bring Mellonin back into the group, for the same reason. She has found her brother, so that part of her quest is over. Why is she still involved? - - - because Helen gave her a dream. What was her dream? I haven't the foggiest what it was, or how it impinges upon the plot, especially without Helen here to write the character. Thus, she's just baggage. Sorry, Helen.

What Rûgh does is up to Firefoot. Ædegard & Leafa may now depart from the quest and go home to her papa.

As for the other group, they are chasing down Tharonwë, and maybe they'll catch up to him before he reaches Nimrodel, maybe not. I can't imagine him wanting them to. I suppose he'll have to start setting up ways to put his pursuers out of commission. So that could mean the deaths, or at least the injury (and decommissioning for the sake of this plot), of a number of what have turned into NPCs, which I personally wouldn't mind, because it's hard to carry around all these extras.

Frankly, I'd like to wrap this up soon. I'm out of patience with it.

There is precisely one thing that will bring me back into patience with this story: those characters for whom there are active writers, are the only ones left on the quest.

Imagine, therefore, if we only have Bergil, Indil, Raefindan, Aeron, Jorje, Rûgh (and Liornung should his writer become active), and Mellondu (just because he's central to the plot). A nice tight cast for a nice tight plot. Wouldn't that be refreshing?

[Imladris]

Frankly, I'd like to wrap this up soon. I'm out of patience with it.


Agreed a thousand times over.

I've lost track of the story and the characters and carrying the NPCs I find annoying.

I like the idea of Tharonwe slowing them down. =] Conflict, action, bring it on.

I would post for Aeron, but I'd like something for him to react to (An Indil post or a Tharonwe post), but if time is short I will write a forwarding post from his Point of View.

[Firefoot]

What Rûgh does is up to Firefoot. I haven't decided yet... he'll probably follow them around for a bit, maybe helping, maybe hurting - he'll probably make his role more explicit once Tharonwe enters the scene - lesser of two evils and all that.

I've lost track of the story and the characters Much agreed. And not having actually participated in the original, I find it all the harder to remember who's who and how the dreams all fit into the story - especially since there was such a time difference between the start of the planning for this one and the end of the original one.

[littlemanpoet]

Thanks for the responses. :)

Based on who is still actually writing, our characters are:


Nuru: Liornung and Leafa
LMP: Raefindan, Ædegard, Jorje (Marigold too for what it's worth), and Tharonwë
Imladris: Aeron & Gwyllion
Fea: Indil
Firefoot: Rûgh
Formy: Bergil


Those characters that have lost their writers are:
Mellonin, sister of Mellondu (Helen)
Mellondu, within whom lives Amroth (Helen)
Ravion the Ranger and interested in Mellonin (Orual)
Saethryd (Celuien)
Bella (Aylwen Dreamsong)
Erebemlin (Alaklondewen) & Taitheneb (who is already dispensed with)

Here's my proposal:

1. Have Ravion, Bella, Leafa and Ældewynn discover that Mellonin has received a severe head wound and needs to stay right where she is until they are sure she will live, and then they determine that she must be taken back to civilization. So they stay.

2. But word must reach the others, so Liornung volunteers to follow them and Jorje goes with him; but Ravion's ranger skills will be needed to help Liornung find the trail; once this is accomplished, Ravion urgently returns to Saethryd's cottage. Of course, they don't know that Rûgh is watching all of this and could have shown Liornung the way without Ravion having to go through all of this back-and-forth-ing.

3. Traps and whatnot start waylaying the party, and Erebemlin goes down with a wound (mortal?). Mellondu is the only npc that remains, beause he's essential to the plot. Unless we have it that Mellondu is discovered as Amroth's host by Tharonwë, and naturally Tharonwë tries to kill him (and succeeds?). But in the nick of time, Amroth somehow (we can figure it out later) conveys himself to another of the group (Bergil? Liornung? Aeron? ... not Raefindan because he already has Imrazor to dream about). And things move forward.

What do you think? Are there any other questions as to plot outline?

[Nurumaiel]

lmp, no thoughts or questions, just a brief note to let you know that come Monday I should be up and, at long last, ready to go! And hopefully nothing happens this time around to sidetrack me.

We had a rather chilly and wintery-feeling morning today, and I threw on a warm coat, sat by the empty fireplace, and played my violin... and all of a sudden I found myself missing Liornung, and most anxious to get back to him.

[Formendacil]

Interesting ideas... Alas, but I'm not seemingly able to add anything at the moment, possibly due to this being the first day of classes, and I'm brain-dead as a result...

Anyway, I certainly agree that there is too much deadwood on this RPG, and a serious pruning needs to take place--drastic as some deaths might be, they would probably help the plot a lot.

That being said, my character is probably the least-affected by the changes, unless Amroth DOES somehow transfer, which is a very interesting proposition, and one that both intrigues me and scares me, as a writer. That being said, I'd think the story BETTER if we could ideally preserve Mellondu, but only if he can remain an essential character. If he becomes baggage for the company, or a mere shell for a once-removed Amroth, then he might serve no good purpose to remain, and might be better killed--and would possibly provide a nice artistic contrast to Mellonin, who drops out of the story into a happy, quiet life.

Just some random musings on one of LMP's tangents, really...

At the moment, I'm sort of in the state of mind that it makes the most sense to have some postage about Tharonwë and Indil as they move on before bringing Bergil in after them, so I'm not so much procrastinating about posting, as procrastinating with a reason.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Hi. I'm here, just tired. First week of classes. Moving in, and classes, and homework, and meetings, and... :rolleyes: Was it this stressful the last few years I did it?

I can post an Indil/Tharonwe moment this weekend (I'm afraid probably not before then), unless you (LMP) want to.

Though I like each character in turn, I'm all for culling to simplify the story and the writing. Theory is, if we're confused and bored writing it, how the x are casual readers going to feel? It's not like everyone has to die, they just have to get shunted out of the plot in a reasonably (but believably) fast manner. Once we're excited, the writing will reflect it.

And though I think it would be tragically pretty to have Mellondu kick it (especially if contrasted with Mellonin; just think: the innocent are those who suffer most), I also think he's a wonderful Amroth-carrier, and it would be superficial at best for us to remove him.

A side note: Indil's blocking out deaths. It's tugging at my mind that if she witnesses or finds out about deaths of those who have taken her in, and is forced to come to terms with it, it might toss her deeper inside her own mind's capabilities. Anything from insanity to more control over visions, to simply weeping helplessly out of fear and pain.

[littlemanpoet]

It'll be good to have you back, Nuru. :)

I can post for Tharonwë pretty soon, certainly by Saturday.

My problem about Mellondu is that I remember when Helen was writing him, how interesting and plot-enriching that was; and now that's totally gone. That's not good. We need an active writer to either write Mellondu or have Amroth in him/her.

[littlemanpoet]

Without comment, our dear Helen has posted as Avarien who has taken residence in Mellonin. I guess I finally figured that out. I'm stunned by the depth of it. See what I mean!?!? THAT's what we've been missing. Helen? Are you going to come back again soon? If so, this could take a completely different direction than we've been casting about to take it. Sigh.

[Imladris]

This is probably stupid of me but there are too many pages to weed through to find my answer:

Who is Avarien?

And, I've been wanting to ask this for a very long time now (ever since mark said she could not be involved with the rp) but I didn't want to be a wet blanket: would it be wise and fruitful to the story to continue without mark12_30?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Hey Elempi, feel free to answer me on here or via PM, but do you have any ideas/requests for the save that is possibly more likely to be filled tomorrow than today, due simply to how much homework I have?

[littlemanpoet]

This is probably stupid of me but there are too many pages to weed through to find my answer:

Who is Avarien?

And, I've been wanting to ask this for a very long time now (ever since mark said she could not be involved with the rp) but I didn't want to be a wet blanket: would it be wise and fruitful to the story to continue without mark12_30?
Very astute questions, all of them.

Avarien is apparently an Elvish woman Helen dreamed up who, as the name suggests, was "Unwilling, a Refuser". She refused to go over the Sea with Amroth and his kindred; so unlike Nimrodel, who wanted to but tragedy overcame her desire, Avarien is one who refused to go and may have hindered Nimrodel. So the sense from Helen, I believe, is that Avarien is guilty of having hindered Nimrodel from following Amroth, and is now very sorry for it, and is now willing to make amends in whatever way she can. I don't know if Avarien's féa is in Mellonin after years spent in the Halls of Mandos, or not. I'm not sure Helen had that worked out.

That Helen posted tells me that she still cares about it enough to follow it if she can't find time to post. That she made no comment to accompany her post tells me that she really is short of time. No wonder, with a family that has doubled in size (from just the two of them to 4, the additions being 2 very, very active young Russian boys who keep them very busy).

That Helen posted at all, and without comment, suggests to me that she is willing to let us make decisions we deem appropriate in order to write the story the best way we know how, in order to achieve the ultimate plot goal. Sometimes that means leaving characters behind that are no longer useful.

Hey Elempi, feel free to answer me on here or via PM, but do you have any ideas/requests for the save that is possibly more likely to be filled tomorrow than today, due simply to how much homework I have?Only that if you can think up some deviously evil thing that Tharonwë might do to hinder, injure, maim, or otherwise be nasty, to various and sundry members of the party, be my guest, because so far I haven't thought of anything.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Only that if you can think up some deviously evil thing that Tharonwë might do to hinder, injure, maim, or otherwise be nasty, to various and sundry members of the party, be my guest, because so far I haven't thought of anything.

Right then. I like my poetry class enough to pay attention, but I'll brainstorm evil in my two undesired hours of 17th century lit. ;)

[Nurumaiel]

It's Monday and, as promised, I'm ready to go again.

But I've been absent for such a time that I must admit I'm a bit uncertain as to what is needed of Leafa and/or Liornung. What ought I to do?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

And a nine hour day turned into a thirteen hour one that just, finally, ended, and tomorrow is twelve hours straight again...

So I have no real idea of when I'm actually going to be mentally or physically capable of writing a post. :(

[littlemanpoet]

It's Monday and, as promised, I'm ready to go again.

But I've been absent for such a time that I must admit I'm a bit uncertain as to what is needed of Leafa and/or Liornung. What ought I to do?

We've kind of established that Leafa and Ædegard are going to stay with the recovering Mellonin, and that Liornung is going to volunteer to continue on, but needs a Ranger's assistance to get back to the others, so Ravion will help him find his way back to the others before he returns to Mellonin.

If you need more info than that, please ask.

Fea, thanks for the update. I can be patient. Maybe I can even try and come up with something nasty for Tharonwë to do.

[mark12_30]

Avarien is apparently an Elvish woman Helen dreamed up who, as the name suggests, was "Unwilling, a Refuser". She refused to go over the Sea with Amroth and his kindred; so unlike Nimrodel, who wanted to but tragedy overcame her desire, Avarien is one who refused to go
yup
and may have hindered Nimrodel. So the sense from Helen, I believe, is that Avarien is guilty of having hindered Nimrodel from following Amroth, and is now very sorry for it, and is now willing to make amends in whatever way she can.
You put it better than I thought it... ;)
I don't know if Avarien's féa is in Mellonin after years spent in the Halls of Mandos, or not. I'm not sure Helen had that worked out.
True, I haven't

That Helen posted tells me that she still cares about it enough to follow it if she can't find time to post. That she made no comment to accompany her post tells me that she really is short of time. No wonder, with a family that has doubled in size (from just the two of them to 4, the additions being 2 very, very active young Russian boys who keep them very busy).

That Helen posted at all, and without comment, suggests to me that she is willing to let us make decisions we deem appropriate in order to write the story the best way we know how, in order to achieve the ultimate plot goal.
I'm kind of guest-posting... thinking that it seems to be moving slowly enough that I can drizzle in once or twice a week? I hope?

Only that if you can think up some deviously evil thing that Tharonwë might do to hinder, injure, maim, or otherwise be nasty, to various and sundry members of the party, be my guest, because so far I haven't thought of anything.
Creepy danged dark-elf... brrr.

Regarding Ravion leaving-- oy! FOr how long? Mellonin will sink again without him. Ain't love grand.

[mark12_30]

....it's vewy vewy quiet.....

[littlemanpoet]

Nice to have you back and saying such things, Helen. I've been bloody busy at work lately. I'll have time to post something quite soon. Actually, I did earlier but I saw Fea's save and so halted in midstep, and am now waiting for her.

[mark12_30]

OK! Firefoot, Roheryn just scented Rugh's presence.

Nuru, would you like to have Liornung and/or Leafa try and catch Roheryn? He'll be aloof and reluctant, knowing that he is waiting on an elvish lady for orders. And there's Rugh out there waiting to be discovered (by the humans anyway.)

What will our wild mountain people do next? Once Mellonin/Avarien are travelable again, do they join us as we head over the White Mountains by the path Nimrodel took? COuld be fun.

Girls: No, THIS way. Mountain folk: You crazy, that way big icy rocks. Guys: Sure, pick the toughest route. Girls: fine, let's go home. GUys: Nothing doing. March! Girls: We're cold. GUys: Egad, whose idea WAS this? MOuntain folk: Ask big icy rocks.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Actually, I did earlier but I saw Fea's save and so halted in midstep, and am now waiting for her.

Egads, don't wait for me! If you beat me to a post, seriously, have at it and I'll work off of you.

It takes 12 hours per week inside a classroom to be called a full time student. I worked out my schedule last night... this term I'm in a classroom with a teacher for 27 hours a week. That's not counting homework or my part time job. And I love to sleep at night. So yeah, seriously? If you have time and energy and inspiration, feel free to jump in ahead of me, even if I've got a save up.

[littlemanpoet]

OK! Firefoot, Roheryn just scented Rugh's presence.

Nuru, would you like to have Liornung and/or Leafa try and catch Roheryn? He'll be aloof and reluctant, knowing that he is waiting on an elvish lady for orders. And there's Rugh out there waiting to be discovered (by the humans anyway.)

What will our wild mountain people do next? Once Mellonin/Avarien are travelable again, do they join us as we head over the White Mountains by the path Nimrodel took? COuld be fun.

Girls: No, THIS way. Mountain folk: You crazy, that way big icy rocks. Guys: Sure, pick the toughest route. Girls: fine, let's go home. GUys: Nothing doing. March! Girls: We're cold. GUys: Egad, whose idea WAS this? MOuntain folk: Ask big icy rocks.

Thanks for giving this some focus, direction, and motivation, Helen. :) Have you read much of the past discussion? There has been general agreement that we're tired of carrying characters of those who have not been writing at all in the past six-plus months, and we'd like to drop them. What are your thoughts on that?

[mark12_30]

Thanks for giving this some focus, direction, and motivation, Helen. :) Have you read much of the past discussion? There has been general agreement that we're tired of carrying characters of those who have not been writing at all in the past six-plus months, and we'd like to drop them. What are your thoughts on that?

I've been checking in on the story, but not the whole discussion thread. It's twelve pages...

Whom did you have in mind for dropping? Some can't, I think; can't drop Ravion, too tied to Mellonin; can't drop Erebemlin, Taitheneb, or, ah, Mellondu/Amroth. Who else has been among the missing?

~After reading lmp's post~
Hey! I know I've been absent, and all that, but you're going to kill off the title character??? Dang that darkelf!!!

[mark12_30]

OK, I scanned back a bit.

Avarien (I realized a few minutes ago) was Nimrodel's guide across the White Mountains. Only she got Nimrodel to the top of the pass, pointed, and said, "There's Edhellond; go your way. But I shall turn back; I would rather have the Waters of Awakening, than these waters that will part from me all that I have loved." She then spent several hundred years searching for Cuivienen, but the shape of the world has changed, and she never found it. Whether she died of a broken heart, or whether she is languishing somewhere dreaming, Amroth's searching crossed her awareness and she came looking for Nimrodel again.

The idea of dropping Erebemlin makes me sad, but there it is. (Taitheneb is gne already? Guess I didn't read everything...) Real life intervenes, and extra characters are difficult to deal with. The only character totally essential (for me) is Mellondu/Amroth (and of course Nimrodel.) I"d like Mellonin to come too (better for the ending I had in mind.) Somebody's got to dream Imrazor and Mithrellas.

Have we managed to separate Mellonin from everyone who could connect Avarien's comminication with Nimrodel, and get that over to Mellondu-- or Erebemlin? Amroth would cheerfully resurface, given some hope about Nimrodel; it would be a tussle with Mellondu, I'd have to ponder that a bit.

End ramble. Did I answer any questions?

[Imladris]

Have we managed to separate Mellonin from everyone who could connect Avarien's comminication with Nimrodel, and get that over to Mellondu-- or Erebemlin? Amroth would cheerfully resurface, given some hope about Nimrodel; it would be a tussle with Mellondu, I'd have to ponder that a bit.


If I'm understanding you right we could have Gwyllion notice it and casually mention it to Aeron who'll mention it to Raefindan if you would want to do it that way.

[mark12_30]

Hey Immy! Dreams, good, I like it. SO Gwyllion 'walks' with the White Mountains group but reports to Aeron via dreams? Okay.

Going over the mountains: right now we've got Ravion, Liornung, Bella, Leafa, and Ædegard, with Avarien/Mellonin, and Saethryd and Jorje all at the hut. Periphery: Roheryn and Rudh.

Who turns around to go back, who stays at Saethryd's hut, and who crosses the mountain path? I had envisioned Avarien/Mellonin crossing over the mountains, but she won't make it all on her own-- especially with her injury (how bad is it?) Although Roheryn will be a big help, he'll have a struggle at the icier parts near the top.

[Imladris]

SO Gwyllion 'walks' with the White Mountains group but reports to Aeron via dreams?

More of a caught in between worlds as a dream ghost (I think?)...anyway, no one can see her and as she wanders she hears Avarien....or something.

Anywho, I am pretty much exhausted tonight, so the post will probably be up by tomorrow since thank god it's the weekend.

[mark12_30]

More of a caught in between worlds as a dream ghost (I think?)...anyway, no one can see her and as she wanders she hears Avarien....or something.

Anywho, I am pretty much exhausted tonight, so the post will probably be up by tomorrow since thank god it's the weekend.


Works for me! Okay with the rest of the team, I hope?

[Imladris]

I took the liberty of going ahead with the post. If it is unsatisfactory let me know and I shall edit accordingly.

I was also re-reading (or skimming rather), this discussion thread, just to re-oil the gears as it were, and I came across the thoughts for Aedegard, specifically the dream in which he gets himself killed but then when he wakes up he goes with Leafa.

Was that still going to happen, or is there a new plan in place?

[littlemanpoet]

That's an amazing post, Immy! :eek:

Ædegard and Leafa are leaving the story. Unless Bellyn's writer comes back to us, she will leave the story....unless Nuru is willing to take her up.

Helen, if you're back now, then Ravion can stay because you can carry him. And you're the writer for Mellonin and Mellondu, so they stay.

Erebemlin has lost his writer. However, if he's the ONLY character that doesn't have a writer, anyone who wishes to can fill him in; the only problem is that Alak would do a better job, including the Marigold connection. Frustrating.

Liornung's writer is still around, although she has not yet written a post.

My earlier thought, before you returned, Helen, was that Mellondu could be killed and
Amroth switch to being hosted by Bergil, whose writer is still with us, but that won't be necessary now.

Nevertheless, Tharonwë sees an obvious strategy in trying to permanently get rid of the black smith. Remember, the Elf has learned how to use his mental abilities to put people in trances so that they do what he wants them to. I just can't remember the word for either ability off hand. :rolleyes:

[mark12_30]

Whoa, Immy, good one.

I'll be happy to carry Ravion, and Erebemlin as needed. THe gypsy lad and his tall red horse seem to have vanished-- he'd be after Bella if something hadn't happened tohim-- so if Bella goes (and he isn't gone yet) then he goes too. I liked him; ah well; I like Ravion more, and he's key. As is Erebemlin. Shoot, it was Ravion got me back in the game. "Ain't love grand."

I am in a flurry of posting these past couple of days, but it will probably slow to two or three times a week. Is everyone okay with that? I don't want to slow things down.

Immy, before I post again I'll reread yours a couple of times. Plenty of delectable possibilities in it. Was Avarien holding Mellonin, or was Nimrodel holding Avarien/Mellonin? It's good stuff, either way.

[littlemanpoet]

THe gypsy lad and his tall red horse seem to have vanished-- he'd be after Bella if something hadn't happened tohim-- so if Bella goes (and he isn't gone yet) then he goes too. :eek: Nethwador. I clean forgot about him. Except something kept nagging at my mind that I'd forgotten someone, I just couldn't think of whom.

I don't know what to do about him. He never would have decided to stay in Minas Tirith, obviously. Maybe he never was willing to enter Minas Tirith in the first place?

By the way, 2 or 3 posts a week is an improvement over what has been happening for most of us here anyway, so it won't be seen as too infrequent. Count on that. :rolleyes:

I like Ravion more, and he's key. As is Erebemlin. Shoot, it was Ravion got me back in the game. "Ain't love grand."Glad he brought you back. Okay, Erebemlin stays. I wish Orual was still with us. :(

[Imladris]

Immy, before I post again I'll reread yours a couple of times. Plenty of delectable possibilities in it. Was Avarien holding Mellonin, or was Nimrodel holding Avarien/Mellonin? It's good stuff, either way.


Please take it whichever way you wish -- at the time I had thought that it was Avarien holding Mellonin (to show the connection), but I also find the idea of Nimrodel holding Avarien/Mellonin intriguing. Gwyllion's vision is becoming clouded, as she is dead, yet held in an inbetween world. So please take the possibilites you see and run with it.

I wish Orual was still with us.

Me too. I really miss the Aeron/Ravion friendship that was developing.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

LMP: I've got a post up for you to play with. Raefindan and a stranger lady saying things Indil doesn't understand. Indil hearing voices the Elf doesn't. Do with it what you like.

[mark12_30]

Nice, Fea! We cross-posted. Where exactly are Indil and Nastyelf?

If there are any issues with the Ravion post, sing out.

Immy & lmp-- I wish Orual would come back too. SHe writes a much better Ravion...

[mark12_30]

Immy,

Can Gwillion interact at all with landlubbers? Can Avarien somehow see/hear her, or is Aeron the only one?

All, what's the status of Erebemlin's group? Frantically searching for Indil? Where are they?

[littlemanpoet]

I am loving the new depth we have back with Helen writing again and others picking up on it. Thank you very, very much for coming back. :)

All, what's the status of Erebemlin's group? Frantically searching for Indil? Where are they?

Do you have Barbara Strachey's "Journeys of Frodo"? If so, then I'm basing things on map 43.

If not, I'll try and describe what I'm looking at. From Minas Tirith the Great West Road runs due north for toward the Anduin and after 25 miles enters the Grey Wood. After perhaps 10 more miles the road rounds the foothill called Amon Dín, on which is set the first of the seven Beacons. (From the eastern foot of this hill is a small tributary that runs into the Anduin; where this river meets the road, is the new village where the "Four Hobbits Inn" (created in this rpg) is located, about 10 miles north of the beginning of the Grey Wood.) From Amon Dín the Great West Road now runs west, into the Drúadan Forest, which surrounds Eilenach, the foothill on which is set the second Beacon. Amon Dín and Eilenach are about 15 miles apart. Due south of Eilenach is the great Mount Mindolluin, the first of the White Mountains, at the eastern foot of which is Minas Tirith. The peak of Mindolluin is 25 miles west of Minas Tirith and 20 miles south of Eilenach,which is itself 5 miles south of the Great West Road.

It was never established where the women came into the White Mountains, but the most reasonable guess is that they followed the same road that the Riders of the Rohirrim took through the Druadan Forest (to bypass the orc encampment), which intersects with the Great West Road in the middle of the Grey Wood, about 5 miles south of the "Four Hobbits Inn" village. From this road the women slowly moved south and west until they were at the southernmost reaches of the Druadan Forest (where Rûgh lives), which climb the feet of Mindoluin as high as 2,000 feet.

What I'd like to suggest is that the cottage of Saethryd is just beyond the western edge of the Druadan, near the source of the river that flows out of the White Mountains about half way between Nardol Beacon (the 3rd) and Eilenach; this puts the cottage at roughly 2,000 feet high and 14 miles west-southwest (that means halfway between west and southwest) of Eilenach.

Tharonwë is moving quickly upward and south-southwest, to the pass between Mindolluin and the next unnamed peak, which is at least 5,000 feet up but less than 6,000. Mindoluin rises to above 11,000 & the next to over 9,000.

Tharonwë is about 10 miles north-northeast of Nimrodel and 7 miles south of Saethryd, and Raefindan and company are a half day's march (2 miles) behind him. The way is getting steeper and the time it takes to climb a mile will lengthen, so we are still perhaps a few days away from the climactic events. The longer the group is with Saethryd, the farther behind they get. One problem to solve is how to slow down both Tharonwë and the Raefindan group so that the Ravion group can catch up. The only thing that comes to mind is that Tharonwë injures someone and the rest have to halt; but that doesn't slow down Tharonwë, which maybe is okay because that gives time for his attempts to woo Nimrodel without the others around time to be told. That would be very interesting to write.

Actually, the way these maps look the way does not get very much steeper to the pass between the two peaks, so maybe we should have Nimrodel somewhere up higher on Mindolluin?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

One problem to solve is how to slow down both Tharonwë and the Raefindan group so that the Ravion group can catch up. The only thing that comes to mind is that Tharonwë injures someone and the rest have to halt; but that doesn't slow down Tharonwë, which maybe is okay because that gives time for his attempts to woo Nimrodel without the others around time to be told. That would be very interesting to write.

Don't forget that Thoronwë's not alone. I can get very creative about ways having a small visionary child around could affect things.

[Imladris]

Can Gwillion interact at all with landlubbers? Can Avarien somehow see/hear her, or is Aeron the only one?


I remember Gwyllion interacting with Mithrellas at first after she died, so yes others can see her. I think, since she has been dead for such a long time, she is a bit faded (does that make sense?) so if Avarien would want to see her she'd have to be very observent, for at this point in time, Gwyllion is weary and sad, and chooses to deliberately show herself only to Aeron.

[mark12_30]

Wow.

lmp, yes I have Strachey. Cool.

So NImrodel was right on our back porch this whole time and we NEVER KNEW IT--- waugh! Amroth has been running away from her (frantically) at the very time he was searching for her. How very ironic.

I had always pictured her living (still) in the paths of the dead, so much further west, and south of Rohan not GOndor. But-- okay. I can go with this too. I think. If her mind is closed, it doesn't matter where she is geographically. SHe's still unfindable. Right?

I had always pictured this winding up at Edhellond, or nearby, or at least on the ocean. Is that too far? I need seaside, I think. A dead, empty havens, with no elves and no boats. Is that possible on our current map, sitting on Mindolluin? If not-- brain scramble. HOw to get to the ocean? Aragorn did it in three days... right??? Gah.

Wow, so far east. LIke I said, brain scramble. Okay.

Immy, I'll be thinking about Avarien and Gwyllion. THey could both be sad together. Whatta pair!

[littlemanpoet]

Don't forget that Thoronwë's not alone. I can get very creative about ways having a small visionary child around could affect things.Cool. :D

I had always pictured her living (still) in the paths of the dead, so much further west, and south of Rohan not GOndor. But-- okay. I can go with this too. I think. If her mind is closed, it doesn't matter where she is geographically. SHe's still unfindable. Right?

I had always pictured this winding up at Edhellond, or nearby, or at least on the ocean. Is that too far? I need seaside, I think. A dead, empty havens, with no elves and no boats. Is that possible on our current map, sitting on Mindolluin? If not-- brain scramble. HOw to get to the ocean? Aragorn did it in three days... right??? Gah.Oh dear. This is probably my fault. I seem to recall Celuien talking about Saeryn living near the Paths of the Dead, but I failed to take that into account. Do we need to correct what I've been thinking? Has it gotten hard-wired into too many posts? I'm afraid it might be, because Rûgh has to be near the Druadan forest, and then we have people running into Saeryn, a mere day's journey west, which simply wouldn't work. So we'd have to create a reason for Rûgh to even come with the party, and to travel clear over to the Paths of the Dead. Arg. I'm not sure what to do.

Um, pray tell where's Edhellond? :confused:

Hmm... I see how this probably happened. When I imagined Imrazor and Mithrellas, I took a look at a map and saw Dol Amroth, and followed the River Gilrain straight into the White Mountains. So in my imagination Mithrellas with Imrazor was nowhere near the Paths of the Dead. So I always pictured Nimrodel as being somewhere due north of Lebennin. Then enter Rûgh as a new character, and things just sort of shifted even farther east in my imagination.

What do you want to do, Helen?

[mark12_30]

So we'd have to create a reason for Rûgh to even come with the party, and to travel clear over to the Paths of the Dead. Arg. I'm not sure what to do.

All is not lost. It's possible that Avarien, knowing what a tough time Nimrodel had in crossing by the river Gilraen, chose to ty crossing by Celos instead , and then planned to travel west in relative southern comfort.


Um, pray tell where's Edhellond? NOrth of Dol Amroth, actually. Where Morthond (flowing out of Erech) and Ringlo, and Cirill all flow together. If we cross over at Celos, and then cut straight west under the foothills of the white mountains, then we can get to Edhellond through a gap in the hills (that go down to Dol Amroth.).


Hmm... I see how this probably happened. When I imagined Imrazor and Mithrellas, I took a look at a map and saw Dol Amroth, and followed the River Gilrain straight into the White Mountains. So in my imagination Mithrellas with Imrazor was nowhere near the Paths of the Dead.

Which is good, because she wouldn't have been... Nimrodel in her crazy despair went there later, and MIthrellas joined her (reluctantly.)

We have options. How about this: Tharonwe has been drawing Nimrodel westward ever since she started taking him seriously? She's been inching westward now for -- weeks? Months? I don't know how long since she turned to THaronwe, do you? (Egad, what season is it? What month is it? Good thing it's warmer down south.) Anyway, she could be in the mountains, or south of them, or working her way along the foothills. Perhaps she will be found lingering at one of the streams.

I always sort of imagined Nimrodel finding the body of Amroth, washing in some shallow salt-water estuary or swamp or something, like one of the Dead Marsh fellows, only not foul and not rotting. It's not neccessary to the plot, but would be kind of fun.
Either way, body or no body, I always envisioned the ending of the story to be at the ocean. Edhellond (being the most ancient of the southern elf-havens) seemed best, but Dol Amroth would work, or even just a barren coastline somewhere in Lebennin. As long as there are gulls, real salt water, and a far horizon.

[Imladris]

I would love for the story to end by the sea as well. All this geographical stuff makes my head whirl....but if it's at all possible with however much tweaking...

[Celuien]

I had placed Saethyrd near the paths originally. However, my descriptions haven't been particularly precise from a geographic standpoint, so there's no problem with adjusting her location if that helps the plot.

[littlemanpoet]

I went back to read where things went awry from Helen's vision. It starts, as I expected, in one of my posts, #50. In it, Jorje has just joined Rugh when the unnamed rider (Mellonin/Avarien) crosses theirt path. Jorje gives chase, and the horse falls, and Mellonin falls, and then I have Saethryd's cottage just around the corner. This is where we would have to start repairing the rpg if we choose to.

The reason I say this is that I really don't want to mess with key points of Helen's vision for this. Turns out there were more key points than I had understood. Oh well. :p

I'm quite willing to make it somehow so that Saethryd lives near the Paths of the Dead. In order to achieve that, Rugh has to either be convinced to join the search party, or has to have some reason to follow it. It would have to be a pretty persuasive reason, because it would mean leaving the mountains and the woods and moving along the open road, or more slowly off the road. The change would have to come within post #50, #69 (another one of mine), and #70, which is Firefoot's post, following my lead, in which Rugh follows Jorje to Saethryd's cottage. Post #71 was vague on location and would not have to be changed. Post #72 would have to be changed, to include a rather longish journey toward Edoras, but that leads to a problem: how do the men know where to look for the women?

Also, #72 needs to explain the absence of Nethwador; but I have no idea why he's not with the group, plot-wise. Some help there?

More changes would need to be done later, but at this point I'm only making suggestions.

By the way, Helen, I think you mean that Nimrodel's connection to Tharonwe would draw her EAST, not WEST.

On the other hand, Mindolluin is much closer to the salt water and gulls than Erech is.

[mark12_30]

By the way, Helen, I think you mean that Nimrodel's connection to Tharonwe would draw her EAST, not WEST.
Roger that. East.

I went back to read where things went awry from Helen's vision. It starts, as I expected, in one of my posts, #50. In it, Jorje has just joined Rugh when the unnamed rider (Mellonin/Avarien) crosses theirt path. Jorje gives chase, and the horse falls, and Mellonin falls, and then I have Saethryd's cottage just around the corner. This is where we would have to start repairing the rpg if we choose to.


I'm quite willing to make it somehow so that Saethryd lives near the Paths of the Dead.

How about she used to live there, but when they left it got boring so she moved a few miles w--- eh, EAST. MOre towards the pass that Avarien will use.

THen we could do something like this:
Rugh follows Roheryn & Mellonin for some odd reason for many many miles. Many miles. OUt of his forest, etc, He doesn't know why, really, except (I dunno) maybe the elf-woman calls him, or he thinks he heard some sort of call, or something. (Ideas please. Maybe Gwyll haunts him.) Jorje trots along. Avarien follows the trails toward the old pass she used before. (Ringlo? GIlraen? I believe GIlraen was the stream Nimrodel lingered by...)

THey get close to Saethryd's newish cottage: still very eeermy. JOrje THEN fritzes out, (Maybe Rugh does too) and scares Roheryn who dumps Mellonin. RIght next to the eeermy cottage.

There are holes in it but it's a start.



In order to achieve that, Rugh has to either be convinced to join the search party, or has to have some reason to follow it. It would have to be a pretty persuasive reason, because it would mean leaving the mountains and the woods and moving along the open road, or more slowly off the road. The change would have to come within post #50, #69 (another one of mine), and #70, which is Firefoot's post, following my lead, in which Rugh follows Jorje to Saethryd's cottage. Post #71 was vague on location and would not have to be changed. Post #72 would have to be changed,

DId I simplify this at all?

to include a rather longish journey toward Edoras, but that leads to a problem: how do the men know where to look for the women?

Also, #72 needs to explain the absence of Nethwador; but I have no idea why he's not with the group, plot-wise. Some help there?

I'll think about Nethwador for a bit.

They don't have to go all the way towrad Edoras; the pass towards RInglo would be an obvious choice for someone hurrying to Edhellond. Gilraen would also do since that's where Nimrodel originally lingered.

In terms of looking for the women, there's always basic tracking-- Ravion IS a ranger. Avarien is enough of a horsewoman to let her mount enjoy the turf, kindness to his feet & legs, etc. Let's say there has been enough rain, the hoofprints in the turf beside the road are deep and clear, and he doesn't have to work hard at all to follow them. Perhaps she could care less about being followed.

On the other hand, Mindolluin is much closer to the salt water and gulls than Erech is.

True. We don't HAVE to revisit Erech. As long as that's where she was, for a looooong time. I'm less tied to Erech than I am to Edhellond, but even that isn't set in , er, stone.

[littlemanpoet]

THen we could do something like this:
Rugh follows Roheryn & Mellonin for some odd reason for many many miles. Many miles. OUt of his forest, etc, He doesn't know why, really, except (I dunno) maybe the elf-woman calls him, or he thinks he heard some sort of call, or something. (Ideas please. Maybe Gwyll haunts him.) Jorje trots along. Avarien follows the trails toward the old pass she used before. (Ringlo? GIlraen? I believe GIlraen was the stream Nimrodel lingered by...)

THey get close to Saethryd's newish cottage: still very eeermy. JOrje THEN fritzes out, (Maybe Rugh does too) and scares Roheryn who dumps Mellonin. RIght next to the eeermy cottage.

There are holes in it but it's a start. I'm good with it, but what does Firefoot think? Rugh is her character....

[mark12_30]

THe other thing we can do, is just correct our outlook of where Nimrodel is-- GIlraen, or somewhere toward Edhellond or Erech or whatever; that should be easier to fix.

Then explain why Saethryd moved so far w-- eh, East; let that be that; and then just keep going. I don't mind re-situating Saethryd into Gondor if we can just extricate Nimrodel-- put her somewhere further west or southwest than Mindolluin, and I'll be happy. I can't imagine Amroth missing her that completely, starting out in Minas Tirith and she was just over the back of the hill, ya know?

But Avarien can cross the mountains however she likes, and then travel (cough) West to find Nimrodel. That'll do fine. Let's not kill our newly found momentum with a lot of backtracking and editing. Move Nimrodel, explain why Saethryd moved to Gondor, & I'm happy.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, I'm cool with that too. Celuien has already said she's okay with it. So okay, let's keep the momentum going, and have Nimrodel (map 45 now) near the source of the Gilraen. That way she has been consistently about 3,000 feet up, from the Paths of the Dead to near the Gilraen. I'm cool with that. That gives everybody a little farther to travel, which is fine too.

[mark12_30]

Sweet!

So who is next?

[littlemanpoet]

Not me. Not tonight. I gotta go to bed. :p I'm dizzy from all these alternate possibilities. :D

[Firefoot]

What I'm hearing sounds fine, but I'm also a little lost - does all this involve moving forward, or going back and changing...?

[littlemanpoet]

What I'm hearing sounds fine, but I'm also a little lost - does all this involve moving forward, or going back and changing...?

Good question. To me it means that what we've written can stay as it is. We only have to come up with a reasonable explanation of why Saethryd is way over by the Druadan forest instead of near the Paths of the Dead, as originally thought. The simplest solution I can think of is that, being a more or less a madwoman, she doesn't understand where she is. And now considering the minor role she will have, as a way-station for others, this seems sufficient.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

So who is next?

I vote Elempi with a Bad Elf post. :cool:

[littlemanpoet]

I vote Elempi with a Bad Elf post. :cool:

Fea, you're both Slinker and Stinker. ;) I'll see what I can do.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, you're both Slinker and Stinker.

Aww, you flatterer... ;)

[littlemanpoet]

There you go. Who's turn next? I've kind of set things up for Raefindan now, to spend more time with Mellondu. Hmmm...... But someone else needs to post next. Maybe get things moving down by Saethryd's place?

[Celuien]

Maybe get things moving down by Saethryd's place?

I'll do that.

[Nurumaiel]

My, so much has been discussed since I last checked the thread!

I was gone all day Saturday at a conference, all day Sunday visiting my older brother, and in addition to be exhausted from the long weekend I'm coming down with another cold. That doesn't mean that I'll be out of it again, because I really did mean it when I said I was coming back, but... it does mean that my brain is feeling rather fuzzy right now and if I could be told really specifically what I could/should write about, I would very much appreciate it!

[littlemanpoet]

In terms of your characters, Leafa and Ædegard, perhaps against Ædegard's own personal code of conduct, really want to go back to papa. You can write about how those two are ready to separate themselves from the quest, but feel guilty about leaving everyeone, and other matters that might run alongside that.

As per Liornung, he intends to rejoin the quest, and now clearly so does Ravion. And apparently the severe headwound to Mellonin/Avarien is not so severe, so Liornung could play "eye witness" to Ravion's healing prowess, not to mention a possible little bit of romantic conversation overheard by itching ears...... Just some (probably bad) ideas.

Does Liornung dream?

Since nobody is writing Bellyn, you could have a conversation between Bellyn and Liornung; this rpg hasn't experienced one of those in a long, long time.

[Nurumaiel]

A conversation between Bellyn and Liornung would certainly be a nice way to ease back into the game.

So... at the present moment we're in the little hut, correct? Is it evening?

[mark12_30]

Er-- Yes! Or late enough in the afternoon so that Ravion doesn't mind crashing.

Does Liornung still have his fiddle? Would that freak Saethryd out? Maybe she'd love it? BY the way Ravion should have said thanks to Liornung for his help, but he was overfocused, so to speak.

Amroth, by the way, misses Bella's singing. A lot. But he hasn't been able to say so lately.

lmp (nice new sig) or Formendacil-- Raefindan, Aeron, Mellondu, Erebemlin, and Bergil-- and who else?-- are chasing Nastyelf? Whither? Round the southeast of Mindolluin, or westward?

Firefoot, the King's horse is still patiently watching Rugh. A wind-shift might tell RUgh that the horse is there, if you'd like. I don't know what your plans for Rugh are at this time so I figure I'd jsut leave some possibilities?

Celuien, Should Saethryd have some reactions to this invasion of her cottage? Has she ever had so many "guests"?

How does our favorite hound feel about all this-- eermy or aroo?

[littlemanpoet]

lmp (nice new sig)Thanks. :)

Raefindan, Aeron, Mellondu, Erebemlin, and Bergil-- and who else?-- are chasing Nastyelf? Whither? Round the southeast of Mindolluin, or westward?Tharonwë leads them up the north face toward the pass between Mindolluin and the next peak to the west. I believe this is at just over 6000 feet up at its highest point. So their trajectory is across the northern face of Mindolluin, until they leave that mountain altogether and descend along the southern face of the mountain just to the west of Mindolluin.

How does our favorite hound feel about all this-- eermy or aroo?Thanks for the nudge. I'll check in with Jorje and see... or - er - smell.... ;)

[Nurumaiel]

Before I fill in my save, I was wondering ... is Bella going to be dropping out of the quest? If so, I could introduce that idea.... Liornung suggesting that perhaps she could accompany Ædegard and Leafa 'back to civilization.'

[littlemanpoet]

Before I fill in my save, I was wondering ... is Bella going to be dropping out of the quest? If so, I could introduce that idea.... Liornung suggesting that perhaps she could accompany Ædegard and Leafa 'back to civilization.'

Know what, Nuru? My sense is that it's up to you. If you consider yourself capable and interested enough to write Bella and keep her around, then whe can stay in the quest. So it's up to you, your Liornung character being about as close to the Bella character as any has gotten. So do you feel like you know what makes Bella tick?

[Nurumaiel]

Well, you see, that's just the thing. I 'knew' her well enough to have Liornung and Leafa interact with her, but she really is a rather deep girl and I don't know if I could do her justice.

And that question aside, I don't know if I have the time to commit to the additional character.

Would there be any negative impacts on the story if she went home? If so, I'm sure I could spend enough time on her to at least keep her in, even if I didn't give her too much attention. If not, I imagine I'd rather see her sent off safely in the company of Ædegard and Leafa.

[littlemanpoet]

Then it's best to send her home.

[mark12_30]

Mellondu, for the moment, is feeling a bit, well, lonely. Aedegard, Liornung, Bella-- he misses them. So Raefindan (as Mellonin's loyal friend) has a certain, well, appeal, perhaps. Hopefully. Maybe.

lmp, if you'd like to interpret this as playing into Tharonwe's hands, it'll be eermy but it's up to you.

Erebemlin ought to call an archery session soon. No shooting in the snow-- arrows get lost too easily; but draw and aim, yes.

PS what is the alt-code for AE again?

[mark12_30]

NOn-sequitur comment of the day: I am reading C. S. Lewis' space trilogy. THe first book too place on Mars. It was great. THe second took place on Venus. It was great too. So far, THe third book takes place on, of all places, Earth. Property sales, corporations and shady job offers, and profcessors hobnobbing about. DUde like how totally sleep inducing is that? He was off to such a great start. What happened, Jack??

And where is Ransom???

We return now to our standard TOlkien-oriented trains of thought.

[littlemanpoet]

Mellondu, for the moment, is feeling a bit, well, lonely. Aedegard, Liornung, Bella-- he misses them. So Raefindan (as Mellonin's loyal friend) has a certain, well, appeal, perhaps. Hopefully. Maybe.

lmp, if you'd like to interpret this as playing into Tharonwe's hands, it'll be eermy but it's up to you.I'll look into it. Crazy busy today. Tomorrow looks better.

Erebemlin ought to call an archery session soon. No shooting in the snow-- arrows get lost too easily; but draw and aim, yes.Could you write that, Helen?

PS what is the alt-code for AE again?0198

And where is Ransom???What, never read it before!?? :eek:

Don't worry, all will "out" in the end. ;)