The Fellowship of the Fourth Age (Part 1): A New Beginning Discussion Thread

[Durelin]

Hey Child! I hope life hasn't been treating you too badly. :)

Yeah, I'm not sure how we want to leave things, either. Though, thinking about it, I would like to have the decision made before Part II. Maybe it's a good note to end on, the slaves tending to feel they've seen the last of those orcs and vice-versa? But I guess how we wrap things up depends on who is around to wrap things up.

I will gladly send some PMs out (I'm on summer break and don't have a job yet, I gots time...I have actually managed to be fairly busy somehow, but not that busy, hehe.). I know Folwren is still interested, but she will have limited ability to post, as she is working at a camp for 8 weeks and will only be home on the weekends. So I don't know if she will be able to commit to wrapping things up. I'll send her a PM though to see what she thinks.

Yay, we have Hilde and Firefoot! :D

[Nogrod]

I'm around as well... I've had the busiest springtime ever. But I'm very much interested in carrying this to an honourable end or at least a partial one. :)

My summer vacation starts tomorrow!!!

I'm hosting a DW ww game and I need to get a firm hold on the Scarburg Mead Hall as I'm going to be modding it with Lommy soon enough. But I'd think I have time for this as well the next week.

Let's give this the boost it needs!

[Durelin]

I cross-PMed with your post. Yay, Nogrod! :D

[Nogrod]

I cross-PMed with your post. Yay, Nogrod! :DMe too! I mean cross-posted with your PM... :D

[Undómë]

I'm here! My two sisters are good to go.

[Brinniel]

I like your idea, Durelin. Things seem to have been moving slowly for the past year or so and are now really at a complete halt. I'm kinda glad nothing happened over the spring as I was quite busy myself, but now I have time and would like to see this RPG started up again.

It's been so long since I've written for this game...I can quite honestly say I forgot a lot what was happening towards the end. I really need to reread...and I also think starting a part two will help recap things. Also I love the idea of bringing in new faces...it'll be nice to have more people with characters (especially when we have to carry so many NPCs). Plus, I think ending this game then restarting will bring back a much needed energy to the RPG...rather than trudging along like we have been, I'd like to see frequent posts and the excitement I experienced during the first months we started. :)

[piosenniel]

The errand rider from Gondor dismounted quickly and strode purposefully into the thread. He unfurled a parchment and nailed it to one of the walls:

***

Come one, come all, you denizens here and in far lands!!
All those who enjoy the reading of a good tale and the playing out of one.

A new name has been added to the list of storytellers in Gondor:

~*~ littlemanpoet ~*~

Come and give your congratulations to this wonderful wordsmith!

~*~ Free drinks/ free food/ & plenty of good company ~*~

***

Come to The Seventh Star (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5666) Inn in Gondor and lift a glass to littlemanpoet.!!!

[Durelin]

So...I did something amazing, and finished my post started over four months ago.

I hope my (Khamir's) take on events is okay. Lots happened all at once...

I kinda feel prepared to just start this up again, but I still think it's best to do the two part plan. Part of what may determine how we wrap up 'part 1' is how much everyone is able to do and/or wants to do. Cause it's going to take a bit of posting still to get to a sort of reconciliation with the orcs, I think. Is anyone up for that?

Because I do think it would be best to bring things to a reconciliation. If we try to 'end' it quickly, picking it up again might be even harder, because we will all be trying to figure out what exactly is going on. ;)

[Child of the 7th Age]

Good for you! Let me read the post over and see if there is anything I can add. I'll let you know if any ideas hit me.

[Durelin]

I tried to not do anything with anyone else's character, and not interrupt anything anyone had in mind. But I also realized soon after posting that we might want to get the orcs involved in this rescue. So, I was wondering if there should be a messenger sent to get help who would say that there are not only a number of the children of the slave group trapped in the pit, but also an orc child.

Azhar I suppose could continue to spread the word. Or I guess I could put forward Vror for this, as I've imagined him spending time among the wounded for a while and then helping Athwen when he was on his feet again, and it would be a little battle for him to remember precisely what Azhar or whoever told him to tell the others...but I don't want to monopolize.

I know we talked about the little disaster as really bringing the humans and orcs together as they all try to rescue the children, orc and human. Any ideas regarding how we want to go about doing this?

At this point, it would be easy for the orcs to just take off, if enough of the slaves are distracted by the children being in danger. I guess they could do that, but then be stopped by one who realizes that Gwella is missing?

[Durelin]

I am the last person who is justified in prodding (I mean, really.), but I do want to see if there can be anything done to help get things moving again, at least to wrap up a part 1. (No, this is not a prod!)

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Well, it's no great shakes and is probably riddled with faulty logic, but the crew is getting out of the pit. Since I didn't know the exact catalyst for the co-operation between orcs and men, I had an orc as the rescuer mentioned. My humble rationale was that they are stronger and can see better in the dark.

Out of curiousity, is Tevildo still around? I have a distinct feeling he has been swept up by RL.

If anyone needs me to revise this, just drop me a line. I might not get back to you for a few days, but I will get back.

Here's wishing everyone a great Autumn!

[Nogrod]

I'll try to come back to this as well... It's been some time anything has happened around here to be sure. Thank's Dury & Hilde to get this alive!

[Durelin]

Woo, Hilde! Great post!

Hmm, it has been a while since I've seen Tevildo around (last logged June 1st it says)...everyone else has been very busy but around now and again at least, I think.

I need to get Vror involved again.

As Hilde said, I think the only thing we really need to sort out is how the men and orcs come to cooperate. Well, of course that's the whole point of this part, that coming together of the groups. But I guess all the circumstances that bring them together need to be fleshed out pretty completely.

I guess the orcs would find out that Gwella was trapped with the human children? How they should was something I was trying to figure out before. I guess if she's just missing...?

Yeah, I really want to do things other than homework right now... :D

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I'm wondering if the Men would feel comfortable leaving the orcs to rescue the children? I think not. But then again it would be harder to keep an eye on them during any sort of chaotic sequence, if they join them at the pit. But...if they did, they could simply hear poor Gwella trapped down there.
I could see an impatient orc implusively going in to the rescue, especially hearing Gwella over the confusion as the others waste time arguing how to go about the rescue and still guard the orcs.

[Nogrod]

I hope my decision to rush Gwerr and Ishkur to the place and fill the place of an orc bringing the people up (like in Hilde's post) is not too far-fetched. I was kind of counting on the idea that the people were too confused to act - and that they didn't have the ropes there.

Regin: I hope Ishkur is alright by you - and hope to see you post as well in here!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Nice Nogrod! Everybody, just let me know if I need to move my post down a bit. I'd be only too happy to.:)

[Child of the 7th Age]

You guys are great! I'm back in my house. The contractor is supposed to come Monday to make repairs. I got some internet and cable back a few days ago, though it keeps going up and down. I'll try very hard to read this over after the weekend.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Yea! Glad you're back Child! :D

[Durelin]

So is it just the Orcs getting the kids out? I figured some of both the humans and orcs would end up helping each other do so? Just the way I was picturing it was that Khamir and probably others took off in the direction of the pit already (and some were already waiting around there to start).

Don't want to be picky or anything, was just feeling that leaving the humans out completely is a little much. And that being forced to work together is better for relations than the orcs doing all the work. ;)

I may also be completely off on what's going on. >< :D

[Nogrod]

Don't want to be picky or anything, was just feeling that leaving the humans out completely is a little much. And that being forced to work together is better for relations than the orcs doing all the work. ;)But wasn't that just what happened? The humans had to help the orcs making the rescue? Ishkur could not have held the rope alone - and I wrote there that some men came helping with it as Gwerr jumped in.

Sorry if I was hasty but I only wanted to get the ball rolling...

But anyone could now write on behalf of the humans involved pulling the rope and seeing people (and the orc-child) to come up from the pit - or standing aside and watching things unfold.

And after all we need to make the two parties to reach their hand over the aisle - and now the orcs have done something of their part and it depends now on how the humans react to it.

But if you Dury think that solution to the problem was too hasty I'm ready to delete it and construct it differently. As I said, I just wanted to make things happen so that we could go forwards.

[Durelin]

Argh, I knew this would happen. I'd only read the discussion thread, not the new game posts yet, sorry. Gave me a different impression. Was attempting to multi-task when I decided to post that - always a bad idea for me. Sorry. Really shouldn't have posted anything without reading the game thread, obviously. Bleh.

Hope I can stop being an idiot and post soon, but life is somehow really busy right now even though I don't feel like I'm doing anything. Ugh.

Sorry again. Was disrespectful to question things without actually reading anyone's posts.

You guys are awesome to get this going again.

[Nogrod]

Sorry again. Was disrespectful to question things without actually reading anyone's posts.Don't blame yourself Dury! We've all being lazy for a long time. But let's now get this under action! It was nice to see you post Undomë! Let's hope others "not seen around for a while" will stick in as well...

[Durelin]

Hope my post is alright and follows with what's going on...about 2:30 am here so who knows... :D

Let me know if I in any way 'stole the show' or ruined someone's plans. I have all 3 of my characters involved somehow which is kinda obnoxious. :rolleyes: Heh.

Nogrod - I had Beloan tell the orc to "grab the rope." Not sure why exactly, just seemed to work. I pictured him as one of those helping with the rope, though he doesn't need to be and I didn't specify. Let me know if you think I should change what he says or that he says it at all. At first I thought Hadith should say it, but then I thought Beloan needed to be involved, so *shrug*. Either way they are your characters so let me know what you think.

Of course, anyone could say it, I'm just throwing out what was in my head. All I know is it seemed someone needed to say it. :D

Hope that covers everything. Going to bed!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

It was nice to see you post Undomë!

Much agree!:D

Nice post Durelin! I did so like the recognition of the pitfalls of pride :p. (Sorry, bad pun.) And the hint that it is a trait shared by more than just orcs.

[Durelin]

I hope I didn't totally kill the momentum. :o Just as long as it's not me doing something very wrong and it's simply that people are busy...or not interested? Have things gone totally stale? (Personally, I know it was difficult for me and rather daunting to try and come back to things after so long...) Is there any way to fix staleness?

Or is it just plain people are busy? Cause I definitely understand that.

(Once again, this is not a prod! Nooo way.)

Anyway, we're actually rather close to a point where we can wrap up a 'Part 1' like we talked about - if that's still something everyone wants to do. Really we *could* do so in just a few more posts...though of course it would be nice to give everybody a chance to get in on the action here.

I see the (new) decision to let the Orcs go as pretty much just the former-slave's/Mordorian's decision, and I see it as more of a quiet consensus than the earlier debate concerning the orcs' fate. Any opinions on that? Any ideas in general about how to handle that, where to go now?

Is there anything (else) anyone wants to accomplish before we wrap up a Part 1?

If we do continue to move slowly but surely toward wrapping up, perhaps we could have a 'save' spot or two put in in case people want to get their characters involved(-ish)? I don't want to cut people out of the 'end' here completely because they can't post in the (at all) near future.

I did so like the recognition of the pitfalls of pride . (Sorry, bad pun.) And the hint that it is a trait shared by more than just orcs.

Hehe. Well thank you, but Nogrod was the one who set that theme up very nicely! ;)

[piosenniel]

Undómë

I've left an opening for the two sisters to interact with Rôg. :)

Run with it as you wish.....:p

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Hehe. Well thank you, but Nogrod was the one who set that theme up very nicely! ;)

Nice job, Nogrod then! :cool:

I have another post for Carl started, but don't let me hold you up. I might be able to squeek it in before the close of "Book I". ;) In the mean time I will put in one of those dreaded SAVEs. Apologies for that, but I have been way too busy for my own good!

[Undómë]

Ball in your court, Pio!

:p

[Undómë]

I took the song lyric from this page on Arwen-Undomiel.com - HERE (http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/elvish/lyrics.html)

----------

“O Queen Beyond the Western Seas” (song of the Wood Elves)

A Bereth thar Ennui Aeair!
Calad ammen i reniar
Mi 'aladhremmin ennorath.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel
I chin a thûl lín míriel...

Ah Bare-ehth thar ehn-noo-ee eye-are
Kahl-ahd ahm-men ee rehn-ee-are
Mee ahl-ahth-rehm-meen ehn-nore-ahth
Ah Ell-bare-ehth geel-tho-nee-el
ee heen ah thool leen mere-ee-ell

O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O light to us that wander
Amid the tree-woven lands of Middle-earth.
O Elbereth Star-kindler
Your eyes and breath [are] like shining jewels...

---------

Use it as you will...

:)

[piosenniel]

I'm not sure "where" in the story line we were planning to end Part 1.

But I think I will have my character Rôg take up with the 2 Orc sisters, and possibly Undome would want to bring along Ungolt, too (?), and we will perhaps form a little group to continue on the journey to find an area of land suitable for setting up a place of their own?

So, I guess I'm asking how far shall my character and hers go in the planning of this joint venture?

[Durelin]

Wow, took me a while to notice this! Sorry!

Well, I don't know how much of an authority I am, but I know we discussed ending 'Part 1' just after the slaves and fellowship group and the orc group parts ways, the orc group given some supplies and sent on their way. I remember it being the plan that the groups would split up again until they both ran into some nasty "problems" and needed each other's help. I like this plan because I think the actual bringing together of the groups needs to be pretty gradual still (as in it needs more time). Of course everyone may want to bring them together sooner than that plan might mean simply because of time.

That can all be part of planning 'Part 2', if everyone decides ending 'Part 1' with the separation of the groups once again is alright.

Anyway...pio and Undome - If we go with the plan of the orcs and 'free peoples' separating again, would Rôg accompany the orcs? Would your orc sisters and Rôg form their own group, with maybe a couple others from the orc group and/or the slave/fellowship group?

That made a realization pop into my head - if the orc group could split up, and Rôg has joined up with the orcs sisters, and I know others are starting on some relationships between the free peoples and orcs, then perhaps the separation won't really work out? As in - it won't happen at all, or it will be decided but not really 'enforced' (not sure exactly how that will work, but...), or it will be a partial separation - most of the orcs aren't going to be ready very quickly to hang around with men and an elf, dwarf, and hobbit.

However we work it out, we're coming up to a point in the game, I think, where there will/could be the most splitting up into different groups, the most fracturing of the current groups, which we can bring all together again. So I think a lot of interesting things could happen. And I'd like to keep things open, so that each character involved can side with whomever they wish and cause any divides they wish.

We may not wish to have much splitting up, though, because we have taken longer than planned in the first place to bring everyone together for this... Also going to note: throughout this post, I've talked about all these "groups" as if they are clearly cut, easily definable and all that, which of course they wouldn't be. I know we have too realistic characters for anything to ever be clear cut, which would be boring!

Of course this is all making me wonder if we should wait on all of that, too, until people are more available.

I've rambled enough...anyone have input, ideas? I'll think on things and try and come up with more organized ideas, outlines maybe and all that. :D


Edit: Hmm, think I'm making things more complicated than they are/need to be.

Anyway, here are some options I see for 'the decision' or whatever it is:

If we end with the decision that the orcs are given supplies and sent on their way
This decision could be made (announced) by Beloan, representing the slaves
It could be made by Aiwendil for the slaves, who now will not argue...but I guess he would want them to stay together! (Perhaps if he thought they weren't ready yet...)
It is an unspoken, unofficial decision – the orcs get back together and leave once everything’s died down, some of the slaves giving them supplies before they go

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Carl's Save (#450) has been filled, with thanks to Durelin.

Nogrod, I refered to Gwerr as being by the pit now. I hope that this is Ok. I could easily make a change if need be.

[Durelin]

So, I posted, bringing things forward. The 'decision' was made - Beloan told the orcs they can go and the slaves will give them some supplies. If anyone has a problem with that being the decision, with how I handled it, and/or with the fact that I brought things to that point in general, please of course let me know. My post can of course be edited, and parts of it can be removed to be placed later.

Also, I 'used' Hadith briefly, Nogrod, just to say that he specifically helped Gwerr out of the pit. So let me know if that's alright. And please let me know if you think I handled Beloan alright.

Child - I hope everything is well with you, and if you get a chance to be around the Downs at all let me know what you think about...well, the current position of the game in general I suppose! Everything! Anyway, we miss you.

Really, we can wrap up Part 1 very soon if everyone's okay with that -- those who wish to do a final post (epilogue-ish) go ahead or at least express your desire to do so here on the discussion thread. And I know Pio and Undome have some business to finish, at least.

I don't mean to bring this to an abrupt semi-end (just Part 1!) or sound at all harsh, and step on anyone's toes, but I don't think this is going to really move along much more until we regroup somewhere down the road.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Very nice post, Durelin.

When Part 2 rolls around just give me a holler, am only shouting distance from the Downs, though unfortunately I don't get to visit the barrows as often these days.

[Nogrod]

Wow!

This thing is moving on once again!

Great.

We had a brave try last time but somehow it just died away. Let's see this to the end this time!

I will try to both answer the questions addressed at my characters + have my two cents on the general discussion tomorrow (it's now almost 2.30AM and I really have to go to sleep mow).

Good to see you all!

[Durelin]

Thank you, Hilde, and will do! Yes, definitely unfortunate, though I'm very glad you hang around here as much as you can! :D

Very good to see you here, too, Nog!

[Nogrod]

I left a save to the actual thread but will not fill it before the proposal (Pio's save) is made.

And surely the other orcs should voice their views about how they would take the offer. So let's discuss that via PM's or here but let's do it.

My initial stance would be that Gwerr would accept the offer (they still have their loot on the back of that horse) but let's see...

[Undómë]

Pio

Will try to post tomorrow or possibly the day after - computer crashed and only have sporadic access to a friend's. :(

[Folwren]

Okay. I have rather abandoned Athwen and I can't feel that I can convincingly pick her up again. But I would like to know what the general happenings here are. Is this game being wrapped to a close?

[Durelin]

We are wrapping up a 'Part 1', with the hope that we may start a Part 2 whenever those who wish to continue are available and would like to begin (basically treating it as if it were a brand new game). I guess we will work out what happens to characters of players who do not wish to continue when anything like a Part 2 gets moving.

If a Part 2 never happens, it never happens, but we'll see, eh?

That is of course as long as this plan is alright with Pio and Child and all of the players (so far there have been no objections).

[Nogrod]

Sorry to have been such a slacker with this...

I'll try to write something to wrap things up at least for the adult male orcs as it looks like I'm the last remaining adult male orc-writer around.

Also if you Firefoot have any ideas with Johari & Hadith, please let me know.

[Durelin]

Hey Nog! No, not a slacker...this game has not really demanded attention for a while now. Btw, I apologize to all for the obnoxious PMs, but I just wanted to make sure of where we stood.

I talked to Pio, and she suggested we close it up around the end of May (basically I asked her if she wanted to set a date, as I wanted to, so there it is :D). Anyone who wants to do some sort of wrap up post should try to by then - if you don't get one done by then though I am sure Pio could insert it at the end cause she's so nice and endlessly patient! :Merisu:

She also said that she and Undome have talked and are going to leave their characters where they are and not fill in their saves, so don't worry about waiting on them.

I might do an overall wrap up post if it seems necessary (though anyone else can certainly feel free to do so if they'd like), but I don't know if it will be.

[Folwren]

I'm very sorry I haven't responded to your PM, Durelin, or posted here, but I've been very busy with school and other RL duties. I will see if I can not help wrap this game up in the near future.

-- Folwren

[Durelin]

Oh no need to respond! And no need to do a wrap up post unless you'd like to! I don't mean to pressure people, just let them know that this is actually "ending" and give plenty of opportunity to say "wait! I need to--"....yeah. And I'm trying to be a good little co-GM. ;)

[piosenniel]

*shakes the dust off this thread . . . hack . . . cough

Shall I move the game to Elvenhome . . . labeling it as Part 1?

I'll remove Nogrod's Save if that's alright with him.

[Durelin]

Certainly...as Part 1 or not!

[piosenniel]

~*~ To Elvenhome ~*~