Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Thinlómien]

Ahh... the Bostonmoot... *rips the nearest object in pieces in jealousy*Oh, believe it or not, me and Greenie have quite convinced ourselves that although it would be cool to be there, we wouldn't really enjoy it so much after all and besides, we're probably going to have even more fun on our tour of USA if we ever get to make it! :)

Folwren, I have replied. Feel free to continue chatting - or if someone wants to approach an ill-looking Saeryn and her half-Dunlending pregnancy-confidante that could be interesting too... Just whoever wants to continue next can do so. Just make Cnebba bring the tea quickly, I don't want him to upset his mum. ;)

Fea - would you like Rowenna to be the "other woman" in Loslote's post taking place in the kitchen? Since Kath and Lhuna aren't around, it is more or less the only option if we don't want to leave Lilige's question hanging in the air, which would be a shame. :)

[Nogrod]

Oh, believe it or not, me and Greenie have quite convinced ourselves that although it would be cool to be there, we wouldn't really enjoy it so much after all and besides, we're probably going to have even more fun on our tour of USA if we ever get to make it! :)Heh, "Sour!, said a fox of the rowanberries." - like the Finnish proverb has it... :)

But yes, beware USA, we might actually really come and haunt you the next June!

[Thinlómien]

Heh, "Sour!, said a fox of the rowanberries." - like the Finnish proverb has it...

But yes, beware USA, we might actually really come and haunt you the next June!It's partly that, but it's also partly quite reasonable. We can explain to you on Sunday... ;)

ps. This is crazy, I keep making up characters I could use here, but I don't manage to post enough even for my old ones, so it doesn't really make sense. :rolleyes: It would be just so cool for example to bring my first ever 'downs RPG character here, poor one, she never got much attention so maybe she could develop here. ;)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea - would you like Rowenna to be the "other woman" in Loslote's post taking place in the kitchen? Since Kath and Lhuna aren't around, it is more or less the only option if we don't want to leave Lilige's question hanging in the air, which would be a shame. :)

I surmised that she was, and intended to post, but I'm half crazy already with the amount of stuff I have to get done before Christmas/Bostonmoot. Seriously, eight days is not enough.

So I hereby grant permission for Rowenna to be used judiciously whilst I try to get my spastic life under some semblance of control. Basic tenets: while she's very opinionated on what's going on in the 'new' mead hall, she wouldn't say anything about it. She'll be helpful and cordial, but also a bit distant, since she doesn't really count herself as one of them. If anybody makes demands of her that aren't appropriate to make of a guest (since she's now a guest, not a member of the household), she'll be highly displeased at the lack of propriety being displayed.

Have at it, and just assume you're not going to see much of me for the next three weeks. If you need me, shoot me a PM or IM/e-mail me.

Foley and Nog, when Athanar puts forth his idea, feel free to write in Degas. He'll be delighted by the solution, though he'll obviously want to ascertain the extent of the situation, and get details and everything. He's thorough. But he'll be pleased.

See you when life stops being so hectic!

[Folwren]

I'll try to post and get back to the PMs today sometime. No promises, but I will try hard.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

I'll try to post and get back to the PMs today sometime. You could also bring the "nobility" into the table with Athanar - if Fea is not, as she says, around.

We could have the short talk between them to then kick the story rolling with the hearings... and then into the uncharted territory where anything could happen...

[Folwren]

You could also bring the "nobility" into the table with Athanar - if Fea is not, as she says, around.

We could have the short talk between them to then kick the story rolling with the hearings... and then into the uncharted territory where anything could happen...

Good idea. I'll do that now.

[Mnemosyne]

Wynflaed's awake... Lottie, if you want Lilige to come over and do her hair that's fine (you can handle the whole post); if not we'll just assume it's happened once she's out and about.

Nog, Lommy, if you could let me know when your PM boxes are free for another message that'd be great.

[Thinlómien]

Sorry Mnemo! There's space now. :)

[Nogrod]

Heh, I thought I posted here that I have room in my PM-box already yesterday evening. But it looks like I didn't (too much work... ;)).

Javan's hearing is almost ready and Lithor's is... well getting ready (it will be a short novel - at least what comes to the length of it :rolleyes:).

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Nog:

Hahahaha!

[Nogrod]

Heh, I couldn't resist putting that question there as Athanar didn't know it and he kind of had to inquire on Javan anyway... :)

The "jaw-dropper-post" is about to be posted...


The PM-posters: sorry but I have been busy; I try to move the posts forwards yet today. It would be nice to have the post for Javan's hearing in the thread before Christmas - and hopefully Lithor's not too long after the holidays (yeah, we probably should split it in two so that we could post the first part soonish and see what to add to the rest).

[Folwren]

Heh, I couldn't resist putting that question there as Athanar didn't know it and he kind of had to inquire on Javan anyway... :)

I, too, found it quite humorous, thought I had no time to say as much, and Fea expressed it so beautifully...and simply. :D

The PM-posters: sorry but I have been busy; I try to move the posts forwards yet today. It would be nice to have the post for Javan's hearing in the thread before Christmas - and hopefully Lithor's not too long after the holidays (yeah, we probably should split it in two so that we could post the first part soonish and see what to add to the rest).

It's no problem. I've been insanely busy since Monday, so I haven't had much chance to write anyway. I will try to get Saeryn's response up soon (as in, later today). No promises, though. I'm still crazy busy.

Also, I agree entirely - the two posts concerning Javan and Lithor should be separate.

[Nogrod]

Well I guess we all will have stuff preceding the Scarburg during the Holidays / Christmas so no problem there. We'll get back to this everyone as they have time.

Also, I agree entirely - the two posts concerning Javan and Lithor should be separate.Heh, I was thinking that the post concerning Lithor's hearing in itself should be separated in two... :)

[Nogrod]

If no one posts anything - or indicates a wish to post - in the next 24-48 hours, I will post Javan's hearing in to make things roll again...

But any reactions to Athanar's suggestion from Saeryn, Degas, Thornden (or even Wynflaed) - or general feelings before the hearings from anyone else would be appreciated.

[Folwren]

But any reactions to Athanar's suggestion from Saeryn, Degas, Thornden (or even Wynflaed) - or general feelings before the hearings from anyone else would be appreciated.

I really do want to post, but every time I sit down to, Mom calls me away. I'll see if I can do something tonight....but we've got family here, so I don't know if I'll be able to. But...if it doesn't happen tonight, maybe it will tomorrow...

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

I really do want to post, but every time I sit down to, Mom calls me away. I'll see if I can do something tonight....but we've got family here, so I don't know if I'll be able to.Don't feel rushed!

Btw. a question for everyone: do you feel that the way I keep pressing you to roll things forwards is like pressurising you writers over the top or am I too slow in calling for the advancement of the storyline?

I mean it's hard to say from my own perspective which way it is.

So do you wish for more easy time or more strict deadlines? The RL sure is an issue and holidays - *theBostonMootCough* - do play a part... but anyway.

I'm probably sending the hearing or Javan in 24 hours so anything you might like to post before that should be done before that. Unless there are posts that require answers & postponing the one we have done...

(=You can change the way things will go, anyone! Don't forget it. I mean even if some of us plan a few things in here every now or then, anyone can change the course of things by her/his posting... so do not fear of messing around, but do it!)

[Folwren]

Ah hm. I don't know, I don't know indeed. I tried to write a post today, but I could never quite get anywhere. Don't wait up for me. I think I am feeling that Degas or someone else needs to respond next.

I don't think you're being too pushy, generally. But that slight push on Christmas was a little much...otherwise, no, I think you're doing awesome. :D

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Since I caught strep and had to postpone my own Boston travels, I'll be around with little to do until Wednesday.

So Degas and Rowenna are available for now, and Degas has shared his thoughts with the group. And revealed that he uses ladies' lotion to soften his hands.

:Merisu:

[Nogrod]

Okay. The hearings are about to begin. I'll post Javan's hearing in the evening (12 hours or something from now). Meanwhile feel free to post.

I don't think you're being too pushy, generally. But that slight push on Christmas was a little much...Good to know. Please do everyone complain if I'm pushing things forwards too fast. That should be avoided so that everyone could enjoy writing while the story is hopefully not left to stall either.

[Groin Redbeard]

So Degas and Rowenna are available for now, and Degas has shared his thoughts with the group. And revealed that he uses ladies' lotion to soften his hands. Another chickified man.:mad:


Btw. a question for everyone: do you feel that the way I keep pressing you to roll things forwards is like pressurising you writers over the top or am I too slow in calling for the advancement of the storyline?
I don't know how to explain it, but whenever you start pressing us to write it is as if you are twisting my arm. Every time I want to protest and say that you are pushing us to hard I get this pain in my arm where the...Ow! OW! I give, I give! I'll post!:p

Let me know if my post for Erbrand is OK, I took the liberty of having the the peasants eat outside of the hall.

[Groin Redbeard]

Also, now that winter has arrived wolves will be coming in abundance kill what they can from the animals of Scarburg. If we need another activity to do in the RPG, a wolf hunt would not be out of order I do not think. Later, however, if you decide to, Nogrod. We have enough to right about now. :)

[Nogrod]

I took the liberty of having the the peasants eat outside of the hall.Peasants? :confused:

Now from where exactly did those people drop in?

I don't remember there ever been peasants in lord Eodwine's Hall and I doubt Athanar would bring ones around either. The countryside around the Hall is full of peasants so the lords don't actually need to carry "their own" around... :)

But... I think there is an issue here which this amazing appearance of peasants actually brings to light, and I think it has never been thought about.

So the surrounding countryside provides for the Mead Hall; the meat, the cereals, the wood etc. That's what the discussions with the local lords will be about besides swearing allegiance to the king via the Mead Hall. Lord Eodwine was not too enthusiastic about meeting the local lords but the fact that their supplies they had brought with them were running low was the reason he had to finally go on with it. And it was the promise of the lords that they would send them supplies. So clearly lord Eodwine didn't have peasants with cattle & stuff to keep the Mead Hall self-sufficent. And I think that is a good idea: a Mead Hall is not a peasant farm but king's institution dealing with law and order.

But it would actually be reasonable if the Mead Hall had like a host of chicken and maybe a cow or two (and a few pigs to feed on the leftovers and stuff), or something like that, just to get some daily supplies like eggs and milk the easy way.

Now do we need peasants to manage some chicken and a cow or two? I think we need to go only a generation back in Finland (or US?) where normal small-farmers handled a number of cattle & smaller animals as a norm. So I'd say the people in the kitchen could easily manage that - if it's a question of only providing eggs and milk.

Let's think about that.


Yeah Groin, a wolf-hunt is a good idea. I actually have an idea whom Athanar would order for the mission... ;)

I'm going to check the post for Javan's hearing and hopefully post it soon enough.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Another chickified man.:mad:

Yes, a highly trained warrior noble who can take out anybody in his surroundings with a sword and almost anybody with a Rohanian/Gondorian equivalent of Mui Thai, who's also beaten the tar out of pirates on the open seas, and happens to like having hands that are callused in the appropriate places so he doesn't mess up the notes when he's playing traditional songs.

He's clearly a sissy because he's into personal hygiene and understands he's attractive to the ladies.

My oh my, women just loathe clean confident men with no fear of... gasp! Lotion!

Anyway, Nog: I've always kind of assumed there was a cow or two on premises, and a collection of chickens. Maybe a goat to range around and keep the grass down and provide milk. In this sort of culture, it would be the norm for somebody to be going out and milking in the morning, for kids to be set to collecting eggs from wherever the hens have hidden them, for buckets of milk to be sitting in a cool place, and for girls about Aedre's age to be boredly churning butter.

I took it so for granted I never even mentioned it. As a center of business more than a farm, they certainly wouldn't have all their own livestock (whereas Degas is clearly the lord of a rural holding where the number of piglets and ladybugs is of massive import), but they'd have the basics: milk and eggs close enough that they needn't be transported.

[Nogrod]

In this sort of culture, it would be the norm for somebody to be going out and milking in the morning, for kids to be set to collecting eggs from wherever the hens have hidden them, for buckets of milk to be sitting in a cool place, and for girls about Aedre's age to be boredly churning butter.

I took it so for granted I never even mentioned it. As a center of business more than a farm, they certainly wouldn't have all their own livestock (whereas Degas is clearly the lord of a rural holding where the number of piglets and ladybugs is of massive import), but they'd have the basics: milk and eggs close enough that they needn't be transported.Like I thought as well. So the household-staff (basically the kitchen staff) could do it.


On another note: Are you guys willing to post in reaction to Javan's hearing or should we step forwards? Lithor's hearing (and W & W's) is more or less ready and could be posted as well. So what do we do: wait for reactions (or other possible posts), or bring things forwards?

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Like I thought as well. So the household-staff (basically the kitchen staff) could do it.

Yes. And if Nienna is interested/willing, gathering eggs and/or churning butter might be a very good task to keep Aedre out of mischief.

It can be safely assumed that Frodides (or someone else, if they want to have done it) has been milking the cow or cows (I don't see more than two, really; enough milk for baking would be all they'd need, and they wouldn't want so much it would spoil) in the mornings, and the kids have probably had to go looking for eggs unless there's a hen coop. Hens are jerks, really, about trying to get their offspring to hatch via stealth egg-laying in sneaky places. But it would be so much a matter of routine that it wouldn't likely be incorporated into story parts of the story, if you follow me.

Like eating or sleeping: it's just part of the normal day.

[Folwren]

Nogrod, I think it'd be interesting to have Javan and Raban meet. :D Just a thought. :)

I'm off to bed now, folks.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Ah, poor Javan. It's hard to realize the point of learning discipline until you've learned it.

[Groin Redbeard]

Wow, the trial turned out different than I imagined it. Where was Aedre? Where were the witnesses? One man jury and prosecutor and the accused is also the defendant. It was more of a show, it was already clear that Javan was going to be guilty all that needed to be found out was what on. Should not Aedre also share in a punishment for not behaving lady like? In this case I find Athanar's iron fisted rule to be anything but compassionate or fair. ;) :D

I do not find humiliation in-front of the entire hall to be a better punishment than a good swat and the bottom. The verdict was a clever and just one, but I think since the offense was private, Thornden, Wynflaed, and Athanar should have done it in private and not make a "trial" out of it.

Love the writing, but disagree with the outcome. :) Now you know where I am coming from.

[Folwren]

The offence wasn't private, and nor was there any question about who did it. They weren't concerned with why he did, only that he shouldn't have done it. So, I think that they didn't need witnesses.

You're right - we forgot Aedre altogether. Oh well.

As for the outcome, it came as much as surprise to me as it did to everyone else. I liked the decision. I don't think it was very humiliating. I think the fact the was tried by the eorl because he hit the eorl's daughter was fitting.

I agree, though, that Aedre does deserve some form of punisment.

Thanks for posting Groin...even if I did write back to refute all your arguments, I still liked hearing your opinion. :D I just wanted to try to explain things, not so much as argue things.

-- Foley

[Groin Redbeard]

As for the outcome, it came as much as surprise to me as it did to everyone else. I liked the decision. I don't think it was very humiliating. I think the fact the was tried by the eorl because he hit the eorl's daughter was fitting. I'm thinking of a Benjamin Franklin saying when I mentioned humiliation: "It is perfectly acceptable to humiliate people in private, they might even thank you for it later. However, when you do it in public they tend to think you are serious." ;) Love Mr. BF.

Thanks for posting Groin...even if I did write back to refute all your arguments, I still liked hearing your opinion. I just wanted to try to explain things, not so much as argue things. You have a good head on your shoulders. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well.:)

Nogrod, you ready to post Lithor's trial next? ;)

[Nogrod]

we forgot Aedre altogetherWell, I didn't... :p But it was clear lord Athanar would not wish to draw her there into any discussions. What he (and Wynflaed) would do with Aedre would be their personal decision - and a private one.

So it was not a question of a trial in a democratic society where impartial judges weigh all the parties to the row and then try to find a just verdict but - as Groin said - a show. But a show put up for a reason. If the bodily integrity of someone belonging to the lord's family is violated, there is no lord who could just leave the matter be. Such offences must be somehow dealt with in public.

Heh, I think if Athanar would be "an ironfisted" leader (as Groin so nicely puts it) he would just have announced the sentence after the breakfast, and it probably wouldn't have been such a considerate one either. :)


And as we're on our way to Lithor's hearing I'd like to point to the same issue. I don't think a medieval / Middle-Earthish / feudal eorl would have to consult anyone - or even hear anyone - when he makes decisions on disciplinary issues concerning his subordinates. So I think lord Athanar is showing some real consideration and goodwill letting Lithor speak publicly in the first place - and letting what he (and especially Thornden) says affect his judgement. That's why I have tried to use the word "hearing" all the time.

Okay. The mini-novel called Lithor's hearing will be posted soonish...

[Folwren]

You have a good head on your shoulders. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well.

Why, thank you, sir! I'm glad I did not offend. :D

So it was not a question of a trial in a democratic society where impartial judges weigh all the parties to the row and then try to find a just verdict but - as Groin said - a show. But a show put up for a reason. If the bodily integrity of someone belonging to the lord's family is violated, there is no lord who could just leave the matter be. Such offences must be somehow dealt with in public.

Yeah, that's how I see it. I figure that if someone hit the president's daughter in a schoolyard fight there would be more to-do than if the same bully had hit someone else's daughter. Of course, vastly different situation and rulers and courts and stuff, but still...that's where I'm coming from.

And as we're on our way to Lithor's hearing I'd like to point to the same issue. I don't think a medieval / Middle-Earthish / feudal eorl would have to consult anyone - or even hear anyone - when he makes decisions on disciplinary issues concerning his subordinates. So I think lord Athanar is showing some real consideration and goodwill letting Lithor speak publicly in the first place - and letting what he (and especially Thornden) says affect his judgement. That's why I have tried to use the word "hearing" all the time.

Right. I think that if I were writing an eorl it would be much different. :D I'm glad Nogrod is writing Athanar. He's turning out fairly nice-ish.

-- Foley

[Groin Redbeard]

Alright, I'll bite my tongue.... absolute power corrupts absolutely!:D

[Nogrod]

Okay! It's finally there!

Three cheers to you Foley and Groin (and Lommy)! It was so much fun to write that together!


PS. Did you know Groin that that quote of yours concerning absolute power corrupting is by lord Acton? A fitting title in this context. :D

[Folwren]

Indeed, Groin, that is why you should never give me absolute power in a character because I would soooo take advantage of that proverb...if it can be called a proverb. My power-holding character would be so corrupted.

[Nogrod]

Groin: good to see you posting but I have a few questions for you...

The next one is from the thread and I think there is something quite odd there. Now who's talking / thinking and where - I mean the underlined part?

However, the trial was not a total shamble. Quartermaster was not a bad job for an elderly soldier to have and Lithor was content with it. Thornden had been spared and for the most part Athanar’s sons had been spared, apart from being assigned job and a momentary scolding. Balvir and Matrim immediately came to join Lithor and offer their condolences. Let us be thankful, the misunderstanding was not worse. Quartermaster is not such a bad job really. At least the younger newcomers will not have to answer to him. Balvir, you are now my superior. Was it fair? It did not matter. Few things in this life are.
“Quit whining and accept it.” Lithor said his eyes fixed on Wulfric and Wulheard, lost in thought. “The one constellation is that I will be able to keep an eye on his sons.”


Secondly I'd think that Balvir (48y.), a sergeant of Gondor, would understand where lord Athanar is coming from and act accordingly - even if he wishes to be nice with / is a friend of Lithor.

Thirdly; have you thought of those peasants you wrote in a few days ago? I think there are no such figures around and the few comments here have confirmed it. It's always nasty to ask someone to remove something from the story but sorry, there are no such peasants around - and no outside camp-fires etc.


On a general note: I'm happy in general to see people have adopted new NPC's / side-characters from the ranks of the newcomers. That's good and something I'd warmly recommend to anyone.

But it seems you have only picked up some jerks and idiots... Looking at Groin's last post about those non-existent peasants brings the vision of PJ in the movie of the Prancing Pony to mind, like all Breelanders were baddies or half-wits...

Now lord Athanar, if he had peasants following him (which he doesn't), would have kicked that kind of guys off a long time ago. In that kind of society a lord is the one who has the chance to choose and will mercilessly leave the dim-wits or aggressors to suffer on their own and only bear with good people.

I can understand Athanar has some problematic characters around for the sake of storyline interests, like Aforglaed; he could be a son of a fellow lord or something, or a promising youth in arms even if a bit "teen" for his manners, or something like that. Also I think Athanar could stretch for Scyrr if he is an exceptionally good soldier - actually I don't see any other reason why he would have Scyrr among his ranks (he seems to be a kind of a guy lord Athanar would have gotten rid off in the first possible moment) - so beware anyone of you if you wish to try him with your character, he's going to beat you all as he still hangs around... :rolleyes:

So what I'm kind of missing are the "good guys"... :)

Lord Athanar is a high lord of the eorlingas, trusted by king Eomer, a war hero and a renowned leader from the Pelennor Fields. So his soldiers are not the lowest of the mob but among the best there is in whole Rohan. We can have one or two specialities to make twists to the storyline (like Aforglaed or Scyrr) but the overwhelming majority of them should be something like "on the level of Thornden" - if that helps you gain the picture.

So hero-characters available! Finders' keepers'! :D

The young and a bit insecure Baldwic (son of Baldwin) and the firmer & older Feargall come to mind... (see 614847) and others can be come up with.


Anyway, let's go forwards! Soonish...


How are your timetables, "Bostonmooters" & "Praguemooters"? Should we make a general pause for a few days or how are your scheduals?

[Folwren]

Thornden's so much your general 'good guy' that I really don't want to take on another. Saeryn is also pretty much understanding and Javan's my only outlet of 'fun'. ;) So I will continue my passive position on this and not take any more characters....though maybe it would be a good thing if I created a sort of NPC.
That would be fun. Then I wouldn't have to keep writing him, but I'd be able to develop him enough for others to use...hm hoom. Good thoughts. Thanks for the nudge, Nogrod.

I might post something in the near future, especially if I plan to form a 'good' NPC. I guess Thornden will need to go to the drill, too, so I could always post for him. But I don't know exactly what is happening, and as Thornden is not in charge, I feel no particular urge to figure out/decide what IS going to happen. So I may wait on writing a post for him...maybe until Dury or whoever is actually in charge (Legate?) writes a post or posts something here.

K, I've babbled on about very little for too long. Byea.

-- Foley

EDIT: P.S. I remembered something just now and decided I could take the opportunity and be one of those bratty little teacher's pet people who raises hand after the teacher scolds the class and says something to the effect of, "I've done it right, Miss Prism" with an innocent little face...

I did create a respectful NPC in a post long ago, who addressed Saeryn when Saeryn discovered Lord Athanar's horse in Flithaf's stall. Saeryn demanded what horse is this, and the soldier stood up from grooming his horse, stepped forward slightly, and politely responded. So, see, we do have some nice people involved. ;)

[Durelin]

I'll do my best to post today to start off with the soldiers.

What does everyone have in mind for these 'exercises'?

A good, long march; weapons drills...?

And what I've been wondering and keep forgetting to ask about is if these soldiers are foot-soldiers or cavalry, or mounted foot soldiers. I'm guessing at least the latter, because this is Rohan. Every soldier knows how to enter battle on a horse. So maybe they can do riding drills.

Think I'm going to have to do a little bit of research, hehe.

Though I know we don't have to have specific, technical detail or anything. I understand how to fudge things... :D

[Groin Redbeard]

Groin: good to see you posting but I have a few questions for you...Uh oh. Question? Doesn’t sound good.

The next one is from the thread and I think there is something quite odd there. Now who's talking / thinking and where - I mean the underlined part?Lithor is thinking aloud. I did not introduce any other characters, besides Erbrand, so I thought it would be obvious (ergo, the reference to Lithor being lost in thought). Sorry.

Thirdly; have you thought of those peasants you wrote in a few days ago? I think there are no such figures around and the few comments here have confirmed it. It's always nasty to ask someone to remove something from the story but sorry, there are no such peasants around - and no outside camp-fires etc.Uh… those peasants who don't exist are Girth and Hamrod. Sorry, I thought they existed, obviously not. :o The other “peasants” are the inhabitants of Scarburg listed in the post. Possibly one or two NPC characters as well, but that was not my intention.

As for the campfires and the kettles, that is a traditional Medieval/Dark Age way of eating (after all, Tolkien did model Rohan after the Anglo-Saxon culture). The kettle contains vegetables, roots, meats, and is constantly being added to as the days progressed, never depleting, never overflowing. The term “potluck” is derived from this eating style. I thought this fitted the bleakest time of the year (winter) well, I guess not. Peasant life wasn’t not exactly a bundle of roses. Ow! Thorns!



But it seems you have only picked up some jerks and idiots... Looking at Groin's last post about those non-existent peasants brings the vision of PJ in the movie of the Prancing Pony to mind, like all Breelanders were baddies or half-wits...First you blow one of my funnest characters out of the water, possibly ruining his chances from here on, and now you call my NEW characters jerks and idiots!? Yes, that large fellow holding the sausage in my post was Girth. What do you expect a man with a name like his to be holding, granola bars? Sounds to me as if Nogrod have some prejudices against peasants. Girth and Hamrod might not be as witty as some characters but they are mine and I love them. *sniff*


I can understand Athanar has some problematic characters around for the sake of storyline interests, like Aforglaed; he could be a son of a fellow lord or something, or a promising youth in arms even if a bit "teen" for his manners, or something like that. Also I think Athanar could stretch for Scyrr if he is an exceptionally good soldier - actually I don't see any other reason why he would have Scyrr among his ranks (he seems to be a kind of a guy lord Athanar would have gotten rid off in the first possible moment) - so beware anyone of you if you wish to try him with your character, he's going to beat you all as he still hangs around... Soldiers, how can you compare those buffoons to peasants? Peasants have way more class. And now you are corrupting Aforglaed. He is not supposed to be a baddy!

So what I'm kind of missing are the "good guys"... Is that a burn? I think that was a burn. Ohhhh! Your gonna get yours.


Now lord Athanar, if he had peasants following him (which he doesn't), would have kicked that kind of guys off a long time ago. In that kind of society a lord is the one who has the chance to choose and will mercilessly leave the dim-wits or aggressors to suffer on their own and only bear with good people.Cold, Nogrod, really cold.


Lord Athanar is a high lord of the eorlingas, trusted by king Eomer, a war hero and a renowned leader from the Pelennor Fields.He also beats up on peasants in his spare time.

So his soldiers are not the lowest of the mob but among the best there is in whole Rohan.Just look at their freshly pressed golden hair. More perfume peasant boy.

We can have one or two specialities to make twists to the storyline (like Aforglaed or Scyrr) but the overwhelming majority of them should be something like "on the level of Thornden" - if that helps you gain the picture.Yes, we get the picture: clone Thornden and beat up pig farmers!

So hero-characters available! Finders' keepers'! In other words, pig farmers are far from heroic and Hamrod doesn’t meet your approval as NPC. Hmmph!


So, see, we do have some nice people involved.Foley! Not you too!

All kidding aside, I'll edit my post. :D

[Folwren]

Groin, you're mad, aren't you? As in cranky, angry, frustrated, etcetra and so forth.

I didn't think Girth as an NPC. I knew he was good.

[Groin Redbeard]

Groin, you're mad, aren't you? As in cranky, angry, frustrated, etcetra and so forth.

I didn't think Girth as an NPC. I knew he was good.Sort of. Those comments were the result of a slap happy moment that I could not refuse to pass by. I'm mad nowadays period. See ya'll in a couple weeks, I'm going back to the real world to get cool down.

P.S. Use my characters all that you need to.

[Folwren]

What's that mean, Groin? How long until you're back? What do you mean, 'back to the real world' and 'you may use my characters'. Where are you going?

[Nogrod]

What does everyone have in mind for these 'exercises'?
A good, long march; weapons drills...?Well it's up to you Dury & Foley how you would make of it... Maybe some excercises with riding-in-formations and changing them, some games like the jousting in the middle-ages eg. riding against a dummy that swirls around; or wrestling, sword-fights (with wooden swords preferably), tactical manouvers (how to fight in different scenarios, like one against two, two against three etc.). So like basic practise - but aiming at the same time to unite the soldiers.

Your call!

And yes Dury, they're cavalry and most of their exercises should be on horseback, but they should also practise fighting on the ground as well.

[Nogrod]

I'm mad nowadays period. See ya'll in a couple weeks, I'm going back to the real world to get cool down.I'm really sorry to hear that. I'll send you a PM for this. I mean I really don't understand this but hopefully we can settle this...

Sounds to me as if Nogrod have some prejudices against peasants. Girth and Hamrod might not be as witty as some characters but they are mine and I love them. *sniff*I have nothing against peasants... but lord Athanar has no peasants to follow him! He's not into peasants as he is a nobleman and to him peasants are just labour - but labour outside his immediate surroundings. Peasants are to him like income... far away and hopefully obidient - and if not obedient, then they will be settled with soldiers...

Lord Athanar may think they're just scum - and looking at the characters you've introduced Groin, he seems to be about right with his judgement about peasants... :)

What I know of lord Athanar, he would never have looked at that kind of people for more than a week: they would have been thrown off immediately their character was found out. So as much as you might love them, lord Athanar would not have loved that kind of guys and would have kicked them off with no pain of heart - if he had peasants in his "crew" in the first place, which he doesn't. ;)


Really: lord Eodwine's Hall had no peasants in it and lord Athanar is not introducing ones either... I mean why would he? He would subordinate the peasants from the surrounding areas and that would be just enough for him. The peasants = food. No need to keep them near or about; just collect the revenue... like lord Eodwine would have done! :rolleyes:

[Loslote]

The peasants = food.

Now I'm alarmed...

Seriously, though, a place in the retinue of a nobleman, particularly one as important as Lord Athanar, would be an enviable position. No one with anything less than excellent credentials or character. Really, Aforglaed is toeing the line as to acceptable soldiers - he would have to be the son of a close friend of Athanar's (or Wynflaed's, I suppose).

Speaking of which, how *does* Girth fit in? I never quite understood how/why he was here. Not that I don't think he should be here - his perspective could potentially be very interesting, like Nain's - but what is the reasoning behind his character? Just wondering, because it wasn't clear to me before.

[Nogrod]

I know a host of you are in Boston right now - and a few are in Prague. And I grant you have better things to do right now but to post into Scarburg Mead Hall.

But could you give a hint or two as to when you'd be home again and able & willing to write? We have now basically everything open and we're set to go. So whenever you wish... And anyone not in Boston or Prague, feel free to jump on it! :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

But could you give a hint or two as to when you'd be home again and able & willing to write?

Week from Sunday. Well, soon after that, anyway. But I'll be home a week from Sunday.

[Folwren]

I think I thought of something to write last night, so today I hope to have time to write it. Harrah!

-- Foley

[Groin Redbeard]

Well, I have spent some time in the real world (actually read Tolkien books again) and I decide that I like it too much to return to the land of the dead. I hope that you will forgive me if I write one last post to sum up my characters. I could not resist giving them happy endings. :) All but Lithor and Erbrand—that story is up in the air if they are caught or not—however, that is up to ya’ll. Although the soldier’s are going to drill, I could not resist having Erbrand have one more brawl before he leaves. Sorry if I beat him up too much, but that can be ignored if you wish. I won’t be here to criticize it. ;)

This tale has been fun to weave and I am sure that it will continue to be fun, despite my absence. I’ll be praying for every one of ya’ll, pray for me.

Goodbye,
~Groin Redbeard

[Mnemosyne]

:eek:

[Folwren]

:eek:

Seconded.

:eek:

[Loslote]

This tale has been fun to weave and I am sure that it will continue to be fun, despite my absence. I’ll be praying for every one of ya’ll, pray for me.

Goodbye,
~Groin Redbeard

Oh my...:eek:

There's really not much more to say...

[Nogrod]

What on earth? :eek:

OMG


Okay. I feel both blame and being insulted at the same time. I'll send Groin a PM tomorrow (it's late today and I need to go to sleep).


But what I want to say publicly here is this.


We needed to remake the Mead Hall. There was no way we should have entered a lord similar to lord Eodwine into his place as lmp got out. To write a story one needs tensions and challenges. Who wishes to write about a normal life going fine as it has used to go? And don't get me wrong; the main feat of the Mead Hall has been the relations between people rather than achieving a goal or putting up a fight. And that's what's made me a fan of this. But this thread really needed some poking; to get the different characters to react to new conditions...

So I came up with lord Athanar who is different from lord Eodwine but still a good man, a staunch defender of Rohan, a true eorling war-hero, a part of the nobility of Rohan... And I wished to see how the characters of you old writers would learn to appreciate him - and surely how "the original Mead-Hallers" would change him and those who came with him!


Well, it seemingly crashed with Groin at least. And so early!

I'm very sad to see that - it was to be seen for some time though - but I never thought it was that serious. And as I say I do blame myself for it for being the introducer of that character he seemingly never got used to and decided to take it that way. But then again... my complaints I will leave for his eyes only, for now on. We'll see if we need to come back on them. Hopefully not.

Which doesn't mean I'd not love him back. On the contrary.

He has been a great writer of this Hall and I'll do whatever I can to get him back here - but to be dishonest with him.

[Folwren]

Nogrod, don't blame yourself. If Groin never writes back to you, at least allow me to tell you that it wasn't due to you that he left. I already sent him a PM, and from what he replied, it didn't sound like he was upset with you at all. I think he's above that sort of behavior.

I suggest we carry on...with his last post he left a lot of fuel to add to our fire. Scyrr is pretty badly beat up, but it doesn't look like he's dead. Lithor has run as well, and Athanar is not bound to be happy. Looks like fun. :D

Alright, I worked on a post yesterday and I think today I'll be able to get it up. I have writer's block, apparently, which is why I'm having so much difficulty getting a post up. But today I mean to add something to the thread.

Please, everyone else, don't let Groin's sudden departure stop you from writing! I know a lot of our players are gone at the Bostonmoot, but those of you who are still here - Loslote, Mnymosyne - PLEASE write something.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Whoa.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

...

What!??!

Seriously, what on earth just happened?

[Gwathagor]

I just read Groin's last couple of posts over on the story thread and they took me somewhat by surprise.

[Folwren]

...

What!??!

Seriously, what on earth just happened?

Roughly this: Groin left. He wrote out his characters and departed, apparently for good. No explanation has been left except, from what I can gather, that he did not like the amount of time he was spending on the BD and therefore he left.

I just read Groin's last couple of posts over on the story thread and they took me somewhat by surprise.

Yes, I was surprised, too. Mostly by the last one. :eek:

So...how are we to carry on? I didn't get my post written today as I had thought I would. I don't know if I'll have time this evening. I will work on it, though, and get it up as soon as possible. Due to the nature of the thing, it looks like I can't keep it as short as I would generally like, I hope you'll all forgive the length when it finally comes.

But apart from my post, what are all the rest of you going to do? I seriously hope this has not put a damper on things.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Get the drill going... all characters who are soldiers can do that as I think no one has the expertise to say what that would be. :)

So don't wait for Thornden or Coenred to start it - even if I think you Dury and Foley should start it if others don't...

Riding in different formations, dummy fights (on horseback or on foot), archery on horseback, swordplay, wrestling, running, creeping / crawling... whatever you come by.

Your choice. And really do not be afraid to start depicting that! Someone just open it with anything that comes to your mind - and the relations between the soldiers surely are the issue there... how can they drill together and how well they appreciate each other - not which tasks they will perform or which excercises they make!

Seek for your fellow-writers. The Bostonmoot & the Praguemoot are drawing to a close so peope should start being available in a few days... But making a beginning would be great.


Others might start with the reactions to the decisions of lord Athanar - or about the general mood. Or whatever a new day would bring for them...

Lord Athanar might wish to see the craftsmen but we're in no hurry about that. Anything more urgent someone of you would come up with him would surpass my interest for him, but if no one calls him (*coughSaerynDegascough*), he's good to go with the craftsmen.


Aedre, Wynflaed, Lilige? What are they thinking about all this?

[Mnemosyne]

I'm still too benumbed by Groin's Epic Post of Epic to figure out what to do... plus Wynflaed's been (and indeed has wanted to be) a passive player in the recent council. I'll reread things tonight and see if I can put up anything tomorrow, but for now I have a hunk of work to get done that has been put off too long.

[Loslote]

I'm still too benumbed by Groin's Epic Post of Epic to figure out what to do... plus Wynflaed's been (and indeed has wanted to be) a passive player in the recent council. I'll reread things tonight and see if I can put up anything tomorrow, but for now I have a hunk of work to get done that has been put off too long.

I totally second that. I think I'll sleep on it, see if I come up with any strokes of genius. If not...well, let's see what I can think of before I start with lame posts that say "Lilige is confused and thinks herself superior to those silly locals!" There must be something better, and I'll post when I think of it.

[Folwren]

Nogrod, I fully intend to post the beginning of the drills....the problem is that I started writing my post at home last night and then forgot to copy and paste and send it to myself to where I am currently. :( So...I'm back at square one, for the third time, with this post.

I need to run out and do chores now. I'll try posting later...again....I don't think I've ever had this much difficulty getting a single post on a thread!

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

I'm still too benumbed by Groin's Epic Post of Epic to figure out what to do... I have a suggestion to everyone concerning Groin's last post.

Let us for a short while (well, a few days "RL reckoning" at least) write about things that are not related to what Groin wrote.

The drill can be depicted without Lithor. One just doesn't mention him there (and Erbrand wouldn't have been there anyway as he's a craftsman). Also those wishing to post for the others don't need to pay any notice to what Groin wrote. What he depicts happens in the marshes and it only involves Ginna and Frodides - and Lhuna & Kath have not been around for a while anyway (if you guys come around it is of course your right to decide whether your characteres were there or not). So we can write whatever we wish as no one yet knows what has happened down the marshes - and as we the writers can't be yet sure about what the final result will be.

If Groin is reasonable he will edit the last posts of his a bit and I'd be good with that. I'm not especially crying after Scyld to be honest as I think he was not a man fit to lord Athanar's troops in the first place. So good riddance. But if he's not, then I'm afraid we need to ask for Pio to do some editing. I'd rather see Groin doing it himself but we'll see.

But there are lots of things to do meanwhile...

And let's hope Groin can be made to change his mind about leaving.

[Folwren]

Good suggestion, Nogrod. He took the time forward quite a bit in the morning, so I think we can afford doing that.

But I'm curious about what you want changed in his posts? About Scyld being killed? I kind of think that he's not actually dead but Erbrand thought he was...? I don't know. I'd like to see him live.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

But I'm curious about what you want changed in his posts?I wish to discuss that with him first before talking about it openly. But as I said, I have no problems with Scyld gone as he is kind of an odd person to be in lord Athanar's troops in the first place (for how I see lord Athanar he would never had hired such a person - we can of course explain it afterwards like that he was a new recruit who had managed to fool Athanar by playing a more professional and morally straight person). But whatever. That I think is not an issue.

I think it all depends on whether Groin wishes to continue writing this and then wants to take something back - or if he'd live with the consequences (which is hard to see as for manslaughter - or even for an attempt of it - Erbrand would be sent to Edoras to court and so out from the Scarburg anyway - and Lithor would be a deserter and that would probably be handled at Edoras as well...). Other issues, I think, are mendable and small in comparison to Groin's own decisions.

[Folwren]

I finally got a post up, but it is still incomplete...at least, it's not as complete as I would like it to be. But time presses on me again, and I know not when I'll be able to write again, so I wanted to get it up, in case I do not have a chance before tomorrow. It at least starts the ball rolling...maybe...

-- Foley

[Folwren]

Okay, I've posted again...sorry...got a rush, I guess.

I have left an obvious opening for Athanar. I have also made it possible for Degas to be posted for. Also, in my first post, it is clear for any soldier to post, especially Coenred.

I think that's all I'll post for this evening. :) Looking forward to action again on this game.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Man, I need to work harder at making Crabannan interact with other people. My introspection groove turned into a rut a while back, I think.

[Folwren]

Yeah, Crabannan does need to interact. :) The introverted posts are interesting, but I imagine you can only do so many of those before you burn out. I think it'd be fun if he and Javan started to get to know each other! :D I'm open and ready whenever you are.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Good idea. Crabannan could be a bad influence, if you like.

[Folwren]

Well...he hardly needs a bad influence, but it would be interesting, nontheless. Sounds fun. Shall we try it?

-- Foley

[Folwren]

Wow, things have really been quiet aroud here, and a WW game isn't even in progress. That's...scary...

-- Foley

EDIT: That is to say, there's one in progress, but it hasn't started yet.

[Nogrod]

Sorry. I've been really busy as the spring semester started but I'll be writing something on the weekend...

[Nerindel]

Name: Matrim Astalder, Son of Lord Mordavim of Arnen


Age: 22 Race: Gondorian Gender: Male


Appearance: Matrim is of average height and build for a young man of the Arnen, he has a medium complexion and his hair is usually a mid golden brown but at the moment it is a dark golden colour as it was lemon rinsed so that he and Balvir could go among the Rohirrim without drawing to much attention. (At least until they spoke! :P As their strong Southern Gondorian accents would be quite difficult to mask.) His soft grey eyes convey a gentle calmness that belies the depth and strength of his emotions.

At present Matrim is dressed in the attire of that of a Rohirrim man at arms (again for afore mentioned reasons.) Belted about his waist and hanging at his left side is a gondorian long sword, with no sigils on the pommel and only a leather bound grip, it looks the same as any other, giving nothing away about the young man’s true rank and status but about his neck on a plain leather thong is a solid gold ring with the sigils of his house (Crossed sword and arrow for house Astalder against the white tree of gondor) which he keeps carefully hidden under his shirt.

Character/History: Nestled between the river Anduin and the road south to Harad, under the shadow of Emyn Arnen are the lands that Matrim calls home. Although born there he spent much of his younger years behind the protective walls of Minas Tirith, as it was a time of uncertainty and unrest with the dark shadow of Mordor infecting the land of his birth his grandfather (the then Lord of Arnen) thought it safe to move the women and children to the safety of the white city. While Matrim’s father and many of the young men of Arnen where called to aid Lord Faramir in northern Ithilien , his grandfather and what men he had left defended the people of the Arnen as best they could. Matrim was nine before they returned, were his father became the new Lord and they buried his grandfather, along with honouring all those who had died in the defence of the Arnen. The years passed quickly and like the lands of Arnen; Matrim flourished and grew into a fairly well disciplined and honourable young man, with not only a fine education in diplomacy and governance, but also at his father’s behest he trained under Captain Balvir to gain discipline and leadership skills with a small hope also to curb his son’s more impulsive and sometimes overly passionate nature. Currently Matrim is charged by his father to protect Lady Æðelhild during her temporary self imposed exile. So that he can gather evidence to disprove her uncles ludicious claims and prove her innocence beyond reproach and restore to her the comfort and security her late father and his best friend had always intended for her.

Here you go I finally figured out where I had put Mat's Bio, I hope it doesn't throw to much of a spanner in the works ;P now to catch up on the thread and see if I cannot re-introduce my troop into the story. :D

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

Linked (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=551131&postcount=2) ~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Nice to see you back around Nerindel! If you have any complaints on how Matrim is used while you have been away, please let us know. They can be changed - unless it is old enough and has consequences with the basic storyline and thus is being past redeeming (not that I remember there being such instances further back there).


I'll write something in tomorrow.

Also I've finally had time to sent Groin a PM. Let's hear what he says.


But meanwhile - as I said earlier - there is a lot we could do without referring to Groin's last post as that is something that happened a bit later than where the thread is right now and the things described there could be found out even later. That would also give Groin time to consider, whether he wishes to come back and change a thing or two - or not.

Actually I think now that if he doesn't wish to come back we should at least try to think how we could deal with it and not bother Pio. We can take the post as his last challenge for us to overcome together.

And what a challenge would it be! A murder and a get-away! Erbrand and Lithor would be declared outlaws by king Eomer for manslaughter - and making peace with the two groups would be much harder (it wasn't looking hard already?) as lord Athanar and those coming with him would now think the "original MeadHallers" as murderers... for a reason.

How to get over that? Any suggestions?

If it feels too hard, we'll call for Pio to delete Groin's post and just make Erbrand and Lithor to run away, but let's think of it first. It would be sad to call for deletion of such a laboured post

But if it destroys the future of this game we have no other chance.

So any ideas?

How would the character's of you older writers react to the news?

I can say readily that Stigend (and probably Garstan as well) would be appalled and reconsider what they thought of Erbrand... and looking at how Lithor behaved... also him. They had honoured them both but would now... well, reconsider to say the least.

How about the character's of you others?


I'd like to hear from you all actually as to hear whether it is possible to continue with that post by Groin or not (eg. do we have to contact Pio or not).

But as I said, we have lots to write before anyone has to pay any attention to that post.

So let me see it!


Heh, a funny idea... is there a thing that brings people together better than a common enemy? No there isn't.

So could Erbrand and Lithor (and Scyld) work as scapegoats to all the possible rivalries thus uniting the people? It would of course not be as easy or straightforwards as that, but in the end that might be actually believable...

What do you think?

[Durelin]

I can't seriously respond to your post here yet, Nog (I'll have to think more), but I do think it could turn into a sort of bringing together of the new and the old, if they all indeed unite in a way against murderers. It could be a sort of rude awakening.

Also - I finally posted an attempt at drills...I was very vague and just got them well under way. I left it as they would be starting more individualized drills, so that's better opportunity for posting. I also left Thornden out because he's not my character of course (and I explained Coen's feelings hehe), so let me know Folwren if you want me to edit so Thornden can be more involved.

Basically let me know if there's anything wrong with my post, and if I am way off on things. I mostly fudged things, hehe.

[Folwren]

um...I don't think Scyld is actually dead. If you read Groin's post, after Erbrand leaves Kara sometime it mentions the two ladies helping Scyld back, which indicated, to me, that Scyld wasn't dead, but Erbrand thought he was...?

Otherwise, I think we can overcome it and just write. Things happen...accidental manslaughters do occur frequently in real life, and people run, from fear. I think the reactions to Groin's post will be interesting and wide in variety. I say let's just play it out.

But first, obviously, we have to decide if Scyld is actually dead. :D

Just my two cents.

Dury, I'll read your post, but I'm sure it's fine. I'll post a response today or tomorrow.

-- Foley

[Loslote]

Well, for the 'older' chars, it could serve as a reminder that the newcomers can be the victims, not just the bad guys. They might be able to work out that maybe they should give the newcomers a chance...

But the real problem is, the newcomers won't react that way. They'll view the locals with heightened suspicion and anger. Even if they didn't personally like Scyld, he was one of theirs. The soilders especially aren't going to take that lying down. They'd view it as an affront to them, like "oh, you guys are so lame, we can take you down!" and respond accordingly. Seriously, only a saint wouldn't be furious, and even then they'd still be plenty ticked off.

I think Scyld is dead. I'd have to check the exact wording, but I got the impression that they were bringing back his body, but I could be wrong. Still, medical treatment at the time probably isn't that good. There's a good chance he'd die anyway.

[Folwren]

I think Scyld is dead. I'd have to check the exact wording, but I got the impression that they were bringing back his body, but I could be wrong. Still, medical treatment at the time probably isn't that good. There's a good chance he'd die anyway.

Maybe, but I think there's enough doubt in it that we can say Erbrand thought he was dead, but he turned out not to be. If I were one of the two women, I would not bring back the dead body of a full grown man. That would be tough, plus gross. :eek:

I agree, though, with what Loslote said. This will add higher walls to the division between the old and new Scarburgians. It won't solve any problems. A lot of people will be very angry, but I think that the old Scarburgians will be angry and upset, too. It's not like they're going to try to justify Erbrand's actions.

In all honesty, I think what Groin's written adds fascinating fuel to our fire....we should be able to use it to our advantage.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Suggestion: I think "Scarburgers" might be more correct than "Scarburgians" - since Hamburgers, Frankfurters, and Berliners are the terms used to refer to the inhabitants of several Germanic cities, and the Rohirrim speak a basically Germanic language.

[Nogrod]

A Double-Scarburger with cheese? :D

[Gwathagor]

A Double-Scarburger with cheese? :D

Yeah yeah yeah. I know. :)

[Nogrod]

Fea: there is now a direct question to Degas in the ending of my last post.

It would be nice if you reacted but if you can't, I can just delete those two last lines. Whatever you wish.



Hamburgers, Frankfurters, and BerlinersThe fun thing for an European was that all these you gave as examples are actually food! :D

[Folwren]

It's not just you, Nogrod - we Americans, too, have Hamburgers and Frankfurters...though I personally have never heard of a Berliner foodwise.

[Gwathagor]

The fun thing for an European was that all these you gave as examples are actually food! :D

:rolleyes: Yeah. But only outside of those cities!

[Nogrod]

though I personally have never heard of a Berliner foodwise.Well to many of us here in Scandinavia at least it's a greasy doughnut with a melt pink-coloured sugar topping... :D

Or a sausage... back in the seventies. :rolleyes:

[Mnemosyne]

JFK: "Ich bin ein Berliner."

Literal translation: "I am a jelly doughnut" (the way to say what he wanted would have been "Ich bin Berliner).

And naturally, only Americans who knew the ins and outs of German grammar cared.

...As you were.

[Nerindel]

Nice to see you back around Nerindel! If you have any complaints on how Matrim is used while you have been away, please let us know. They can be changed - unless it is old enough and has consequences with the basic storyline and thus is being past redeeming (not that I remember there being such instances further back there).

No its all fine as you will no doubt see, ;) Matrim and Balvir have been pretending to be that which they are not. That is now about to change they are going to be forced to be themselves once more.

Durelin, Foley : Matrim is not at drill, I'm not sure if Ceon would realise this but Thornden should, also Balvir is a captian and a seasoned soldier of Ithielien and as such should have no trouble with anything the new commander throws at him. :D

[Nogrod]

That looks quite interesting Nerindel! Great!

Now what do you think Neridel, Foley, how should we handle the fact that lord Athanar does not yet know there are these two Gondorians around? Will they purposefully try to hide it - even if Athanar would sooner or later learn about it anyway. Would they come and introduce themselves? Would they discuss with Thornden about it first? What do you think?

Looking at lord Athanar's character I think he would wish to see Matrim attend his table as well with Saeryn and Degas, the nobleman he is. :)

[Nerindel]

As King Eomer is aware and has agreed to letting them stay in Rohan I would think he would have informed Athanar of the situation before he left Edoras. the question is how does Athanar feel about having a suspected murderess in Scarburg and the households healer at that. :eek: (even though the charges against her are false, he can't know that for sure as he has not yet met or spoken with her. :eek:) Matrim and Balvir strongly believe she is not guilty and she has already convinced King Eomer and Edowine in previous posts that she is not guilty. I would hope that their would be a few others in the hall that would also stand for her. As Eomer has agreed to Elessar's decree that she be exiled to Scarburg he will have no choice to keep her there, but he doesn't need to like it if you don't want him too. I'm sure many of the origanal mead hall residance will be upset by the deception, as with King Elessar's decree they will have no need to hide who they are.

Like I have said in my post both Balvir and Matrim will lend their swords if asked, but one of them will now always be with Æðelhild probably in shifts, Athanor may want to have his men watch her too but again that is up too you.

I hope to post Matrim and Æðelhild's encounter in the morning (GMT) I would think they would introduce themselves if Athanar does not summon them first.

[piosenniel]

If it feels too hard, we'll call for Pio to delete Groin's post and just make Erbrand and Lithor to run away, but let's think of it first. It would be sad to call for deletion of such a laboured post

But if it destroys the future of this game we have no other chance.

So any ideas?

Just to let you know -- when a post is "deleted", it's 'soft' deleted; that is, I can always retrieve it.

~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Just to let you know -- when a post is "deleted", it's 'soft' deleted; that is, I can always retrieve it.

~*~ PioGood to hear that.

We have still a lot to write before what Groin's post had in it needs to come to the light - so we have time for Groin to reconsider, which I think should be the solution number one.

So let's wait for a few days, a week perhaps, and come back to this then if we hear nothing from Groin before that? And really I'd hate to "delete" a post as laboured as his was... so I'm still willing to hear it from you others; could we live with that scenario if we consider we'd need to strive for somekind of peace between the older and newer "Scarburgers" in the end?

[Folwren]

Nerindel, I just read your post, and it was really, really good.

I will take note of what you say here on the discussion thread and have Thornden note Matrim's absence. I don't know when I'll get a chance to post, but I will eventually.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Drat.

I had thought I'd write a short meeting with the craftsmen and lord Athanar just to give you more perspective into his character. But then I realised that Erbrand is a craftsman and might have been called for the meeting as well...

Well, he was a tanner so maybe he wasn't called for it? Garstan, Stigend and Harreld would be called in anyway as they are in charge of the building-works... probably Náin as well as he is around now.

I'm probably not having time to write it today but I'll try to do it tomorrow. Any ideas if it would sound natural Erbrand was not called for?

[Folwren]

I think it would be reasonable if he wasn't called for, since he wouldn't actually be working on the building. So, what you said.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Just to report that I am alive... I can see, oh my, you have been incredibly productive over the holidays... I did not and do not have time to read anything anywhere since my last post, but you can expect me to be back in about a week... so let's see after that... let's see where we actually are :)

[Nerindel]

Ok Matrim has broke the bad news to Æðel and they are ready to introduce themselves to Lord Athanar, as I have stated that it took Æðel a while to get ready they could wait till after he has spoken to the craftsmen.:D

[Nogrod]

Or we can skip the craftsmen episode as that is kind of filling up anyway and can be done later as well... Your call Nerindel! If you want that meeting with the Gondorians and lord Athanar done more likely about now, then we'll do that.

I have two days with quite tight scheduals, but if you have any ideas you could PM me about them to begin with (like how they would present themselves - or even some lines already). We could work a shared post on that during the coming days.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Though I'm home, I'm in no mental condition to even catch up just now. So I wanted to stop in and reinforce my statement that you guys can responsibly use my characters until my return, that I'll be back when I can, and that I look forward to having the time and energy to write blithely for fun again!

[Folwren]

A new character. What fun.

Name: Quin

Age/Gender/Race/Where From: 19. Male. Rohirrim. Edoras

Appearance: Average height, thinly built, blond hair, blue eyes, round, childish face.

Bits of Character/History You Might Fell Helpful In Defining the Character: Quin is shy and mild, most of the time. He is still feeling his way through life and figuring out who he is. This is his first time away from Edoras, and he’s a little intimidated. He wants to please, but he can be clumsy.

He was born in Edoras to a soldier and his wife. His father went to war when Rohan went to fight at the Pelennor fields, and he did not return. Quin was five years old at the time. His mother found work where she could, but it was difficult to support herself and her son. When he was ten, she approached lord Athanar, a man under whom her husband had fought during the war, and asked him if he would take Quin as a page, to bring him up and raise him to be an eorlinga. Athanar agreed, and when Quin turned eleven, he moved into Athanar’s household.

He worked hard during his time there, and as he grew older, he was trained in the art of war and weaponry. He did not like being separated from his mother at first, and he did not like Athanar’s sons, who are about the same age as he. However, he got over his homesickness and learned to live in his new environment. Lately he has been officially added to the men-at-arms and he's still unsure of himself.

- - - - - - - - - -

LINKED (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=551131&postcount=2) ~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Yay Foley! That turned out quite nice!

[Folwren]

In my last two posts I left openings for Gwathagor to write and Durelin. And also, I mentioned Aedhel coming into the mead hall. :)

-- Foley

[Nerindel]

I would like to write a post for Iomhair before I get back to Matrim and Aeol, but I am having trouble deciding where she would be. As Scribe she would have wanted to be present at the trials so that they could be documented, but as Scribes where usually trusted members of a lords household I'm not sure if Athanar would have permitted her to be present at such matters until he got to know her better. So the question is, do I write Iomhair's thoughts on the trial or make it more interesting by having her brood about not being permitted? Any thoughts?

[Nogrod]

I would like to write a post for Iomhair before I get back to Matrim and Aeol, but I am having trouble deciding where she would be. As Scribe she would have wanted to be present at the trials so that they could be documented, but as Scribes where usually trusted members of a lords household I'm not sure if Athanar would have permitted her to be present at such matters until he got to know her better. So the question is, do I write Iomhair's thoughts on the trial or make it more interesting by having her brood about not being permitted? Any thoughts?It's probably good you raised the issue once again as I was not sure if it got clear between all these to and fro discussions and all the surprises...

So lord Athanar could have just called for Coenred and Thornden and give them executive orders to "punish" Javan & Lithor in the way he saw it fit as it is a domestic issue between the lord and his subordinates.

But as the situation was such a delicate one - well quite bad indeed - he decided he would create a hearing of sorts where he could show his leadership and fairness and make the decisions public.

So it was not a trial but a "hearing" where the people facing some consequences were allowed to speak for themselves before lord Athanar would bring on his verdict in public.

Looking at that, there would have been no reason for Athanar to ban or not permit Iomhair from attending. But neither was there any need to anyone act as a scribe to take notes of it. I think lord Athanar would have not paid attention to Iomhair actually as he's not probably even too aware of a scribe around there in the first place - so she could have attended or not and scribed something down or not.

So sory to not allow you the thrill of Athanar banning her from the hearings, but I can see no reason why he would have done that, as his intention was to make everything more open it would normally be. :)

We might think about the two meeting during this day fex.? Maybe when Athanar meets with the other Gondorians?

[Folwren]

Hm. I know patience is a virtue. But could I at least hear if someone was intending to post sometime? When they got inspiration? Or time? Or something? Fea, are you around? What about Nienna? Gwathagor? I know some people are busy in the WW game...but it's night now, so maybe someone will have a chance in the next twenty-two hours and forty-minutes to post (yeah, I keep tabs). Maybe?

Well...I'll go back to being patient.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Yeah, I've been meaning to post, sorry. I'll try to get something up this weekend.

[Nogrod]

I know some people are busy in the WW game...but it's night now, so maybe someone will have a chance in the next twenty-two hours and forty-minutes to post (yeah, I keep tabs). Maybe?I've been work-loaded for more than is good to my health so I haven't basically been able to play the werewolf either. Going to work early in the morning and going non-stop to 10-11 PM... But it should ease up a little now as a new week starts.

Lommy, Legate?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Well, I am here and I still have about six or something posts to read (ugh... it was some job to read it until now anyway), but that's already the training and all... I think I could post something after that (possibly, or maybe likely, I will get some inspiration when reading it... and that's something where Hilderinc definitely could figure...)

Anyway, a few notes to what's been discussed here before, even though I don't want to raise the matter again. I think it's good to have put the fuss around Groin's characters to rest and wait for his response, which I hope will come and I hope the situation could be solved in some good manner.

A few notes, though, to things I have noticed on the way:

I can understand Athanar has some problematic characters around for the sake of storyline interests, like Aforglaed; he could be a son of a fellow lord or something, or a promising youth in arms even if a bit "teen" for his manners, or something like that. Also I think Athanar could stretch for Scyrr if he is an exceptionally good soldier - actually I don't see any other reason why he would have Scyrr among his ranks (he seems to be a kind of a guy lord Athanar would have gotten rid off in the first possible moment) - so beware anyone of you if you wish to try him with your character, he's going to beat you all as he still hangs around...
First, I feel the need to step in for Scyrr here. Now if you read the posts both for Áforglaed and Scyrr (excluding Groin's last post, which I will speak about more below), I don't think they are really bad. I think they are open to interpretation, and whenever posting for Scyrr (as it had been really mostly me who was doing it), I was keeping him in lines of something Nogrod said on this thread just after Scyrr has been posted for the first time: something like "He's either rude... or maybe he's just straightforward about his opinions." Scyrr, in my vision for him (which left still 90% of him as blank spaces) was only this: slightly self-centered, not willing to see others' point of view and convinced that he is always in the right, and that those who are with "him" are always in the right (cf. his words to Hilderinc when there was this initial brawl: when the case was hushed up, Scyrr felt that the newcomers have been wronged, as it WAS the local soldier who had started the fight - i.e. did strike first - and Scyrr in his self-centeredness was just overlooking the fact that the soldier had been provoked. But that's all, I don't think that's any trait that would make him strikingly obviously wicked. Scyrr is also apparently blunt in his opinions, but certainly would watch his tongue when talking to his superior. And even if he was prone to not doing it, he would have learned by now that he cannot do it face to Athanar, if nothing else).

Same goes for Áforglaed - funnily enough, he may be even "worse" than Scyrr - but then, he seems a bit more "cowardly" (i.e. avoiding escalating the conflict if he can), which would explain how he would get away with whatever troubles he might cause. He seemed willing to admit his fault and accept consequences, if it meant saving him from something worse. He would be probably too afraid to dare to do anything too bad in front of the lord (and anyway, he does not seem to do anything evil by himself - more like "accidentally", or just by not watching his tongue enough etc).
Seriously, though, a place in the retinue of a nobleman, particularly one as important as Lord Athanar, would be an enviable position. No one with anything less than excellent credentials or character. Really, Aforglaed is toeing the line as to acceptable soldiers - he would have to be the son of a close friend of Athanar's (or Wynflaed's, I suppose).
The same goes for this. Now just let me see if you are not misinterpretating the poor people a bit :) I mean, what is so horrible about Áforglaed, too? He is certainly not a shiny example, he is perhaps a bit more negative than positive character, but still - only from what he has done this far - is he really that bad? I think maybe some of you have formed a box called "baddies" in your heads and after the guys have been thrown in there once, it's easy to label them as total baddies and interpretate all their actions in the worst way, but hey, the way I see them at least, they are not THAT horrible... I mean, they are negative, but not so that they would necessarily make me wonder how comes Athanar put such terrible people in his service... they are, to me, just "average bad soldiers, of which kind there are dozens"...

So that would be it for the "Apology of the Unknown Soldier" part... :) Although if Nog especially you think that the folks look weird from Athanar's POV, I would like to hear that, as the point is of course his perspective... but you didn't seem to protest in the beginning (quite the opposite) and they seem to have not changed (unless counting Groin's incident). Now on to another issue...

And that is the soldier whom Erbrand fought with (possibly killed). First, one general thing, which you might have figured out already if you were reading the above. In Groin's post, the soldier he wounded or killed or whatever was called "Scyld". Everybody on this thread has been hereafter talking about him as "Scyld". Of course. But from all that has been said in Groin's post and then also on this thread, I think he just meant Scyrr. Scyld is some soldier from the original Mead Hall, originally Firefoot's character, if I am not mistaken. Scyrr is this "bad" NPC guy of Athanar's household. Given that Erbrand said "I killed one of Athanar's soldiers", I assume Groin meant Scyrr, not Scyld.

That's just so to clear things up. Speaking of this, I would add a general reminder, as I have been thinking about something like that also a long time ago already. Whenever you are writing for somebody and you are not 100% sure about his identity, go and check the first page of the discussion thread. Most of the characters are described there (speaking of which maybe I, or somebody, could indeed make a bio also for these Áforglaeds and co. In any case, Scyld's bio is there if nothing else, so it should've been clear that he is not Scyrr).

And to the thing that has been asked here:

I think it all depends on whether Groin wishes to continue writing this and then wants to take something back

Indeed I simply think we should go with that, like I said, and wait a while for Groin.

Actually I think now that if he doesn't wish to come back we should at least try to think how we could deal with it and not bother Pio. We can take the post as his last challenge for us to overcome together.

And what a challenge would it be! A murder and a get-away! Erbrand and Lithor would be declared outlaws by king Eomer for manslaughter - and making peace with the two groups would be much harder (it wasn't looking hard already?) as lord Athanar and those coming with him would now think the "original MeadHallers" as murderers... for a reason.

(...)

I can say readily that Stigend (and probably Garstan as well) would be appalled and reconsider what they thought of Erbrand... and looking at how Lithor behaved... also him. They had honoured them both but would now... well, reconsider to say the least.

How about the character's of you others?

(...)

Heh, a funny idea... is there a thing that brings people together better than a common enemy? No there isn't.

So could Erbrand and Lithor (and Scyld) work as scapegoats to all the possible rivalries thus uniting the people? It would of course not be as easy or straightforwards as that, but in the end that might be actually believable...

What do you think?

Well, not that it didn't occur to me when I read it, a swift party sent to pursuit of the two fellows, but then, I think it's a bit over the top. From my part, I would rather want to avoid that. Just lay it to rest. Although there will be simply this "legend of two deserters" and now that would probably really just contribute to differenciating opinions (if I sort of exaggerate it, the worst two extremes would be "You old-Scarburgians are murderers and deserters!" and "Erbrand and Lithor were an example of honourable resistance against oppression! To arms!"). If Groin does not come back or make some changes there, I would prefer some other solution. But I would like him to come back, firstly.

Maybe, but I think there's enough doubt in it that we can say Erbrand thought he was dead, but he turned out not to be. If I were one of the two women, I would not bring back the dead body of a full grown man. That would be tough, plus gross. :eek:

And indeed. In the question "so is the guy dead or not", I would think he is not: it seems like that from Groin's account, and by all logic - the women would not carry him in, but ran in yelling "there is a dead soldier" if he was in really bad condition. They'd even call for help probably if he was very badly wounded, but since there are two women bringing him back, it implies actually that he is able to almost walk, so actually his state won't be even that bad, I think.

But anyway all in all, this whole scenario with two people attacking each other like that seems a bit over the top to me from the beginning.

[Thinlómien]

Hello darlings, I'm finally back - sorry about deserting you all for such a long time. But I'm going to post today, at least for W&W (they are definitely not happy!) and hopefully for Modtryth too, although there's less to say about her and I'm not sure if I have the energy to make something up.

As for all that's been happening, well, I can't say much, but I have to say all the drama is to my liking. So why not keep it? If it's not a murder, if it's just a bloody brawl and the ladies testify that both men were intent on killing each other, then I think it's ok.

[Thinlómien]

I wrote for the guys. Sorry, it's a novel, but I had no idea how angry they were until I started writing...

But I guess that will suffice for now, and I hope it will make people see their point of view too. They are not truly "baddies" any more than Scyrr or Aforglaed - or Erbrand or Rowenna!

I will write for Modtryth and/or Cnebba someday soon too.

Also I just realised we need to know whether Lithor is there or not when Wulfric and Wilheard's punishment is to be executed. Or what will happen if he is not there...

[Folwren]

I've been work-loaded for more than is good to my health so I haven't basically been able to play the werewolf either. Going to work early in the morning and going non-stop to 10-11 PM... But it should ease up a little now as a new week starts.

Ooh, Nogrod, sounds miserable. Hope your work load lightens soon!

Legate...I kind of mostly read your post. I've had a long day, so didn't quite read in depth. I think I agree with what you said about the NPCs - they weren't ALL bad and maybe a little misunderstood.

I honestly don't think Groin will respond. I think he's gone...if not for good, then at least for a long time.

I wrote for the guys. Sorry, it's a novel, but I had no idea how angry they were until I started writing...

Don't apologize! I'm thrilled you posted at such length! It was great. This certainly thickens the plot, doesn't it. Two fellows who think they're father is mad and who plan to oust Saeryn out as soon as his madness disposes of him...oooooh bad. And they don't like her. A whining peasant? Heh. Your characters have a way of getting under my skin when they speak or think about Saeryn. ;)

Good post!

-- Foley

[Loslote]

That was excellent, Lommy! I would rep you, but it won't let me yet. :rolleyes:

[Gwathagor]

I wanted to post today, but I don't have the creative energy. Hopefully tomorrow!

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, are you around?

Not in any meaningful way. I'm trying to keep up with the discussion thread, but I haven't had a chance to read the story thread in ages. Being sick for so long (strep followed immediately by a cold that turned into bronchitis (which caused two weeks of laryngitis), with a nice healthy dose of shingles all while I was in Boston during Bostonmoot and going to school all day every day for ten days straight) killed my extra energy. And then, since I couldn't go to work lest I infect the children with chicken pox, I had to re-plan all my work so that it could be effectively done without me present (I have new appreciation for what teachers experience planning for subs), plus I just started a new semester and I'm trying to stay on top of the 45 or so pages of writing I've got to send in to a new faculty mentor each month. Oh, and I'm trying to start a writing program for local kids without any similar programs to build off of. And I'm in the process of buying my first car.

Which is all to say...

I'm trying to keep up with discussion and general plot, but actually reading what you guys are writing won't happen for a while, and my foreseeable writing future is dedicating itself to school for a little while.

Oh my god, when I write my life down like that it looks horrible. Haha.

Basically, I fully intend to be back, I'm just not sure when I can be back for real, if you follow me. I'm finally feeling healthy again (my voice has almost come back entirely), so now it's just a matter of catching up on everything (I'm almost caught up) and then scheduling my life so that there's time for everything.

And then you'll have me again.

In the mean time, if you need me or want my opinion or want to bounce ideas off me, either Facebook me or PM me or IM me with a Sparknotes version of what's happening and I'll get back to you within a day.

[Nogrod]

Ooh, Nogrod, sounds miserable. Hope your work load lightens soon!It will... Already today I will have the whole evening free - well within limits (there are a hundred things to do but none is necessary exactly today...) :rolleyes:

I honestly don't think Groin will respond. I think he's gone...if not for good, then at least for a long time.Well he actually responded. I have just read his PM. There seems to have been a host of reasons for him leaving and he sounds happy to have chosen to live more in the RL instead of hanging in the 'Downs.

I appreaciated his frank and open PM and think it is now settled, and he's gone for good. He wished we would leave his posts as they are and I'm inclined to grant that to him. Unless anyone comes up with a major issue that we couldn't settle because of them.

Also, if he wishes one day to come back to the 'Downs and start writing an RPG I'd wish him warmly welcome with new characters - or maybe bringing the two back again? :)



So Erbrand and Lithor have left the building... erm... the Mead Hall.

And Scyrr is not dead (it's just what Erbrand thought he was).

[Nogrod]

Thanks for reminding us about the characters of Aforglaed and Scyrr, Legate! I think many of us forgot a host of things in the thick of things running amok back there - at least I did.

But now I think it's up to you Legate to decide - as you have been the main writer for Scyrr - whether his actions in Groin's last post were ones he would take.

If they are out of bounds for Scyrr, we can probably change some things with Pio's help without totally deleting the post. If you come up with a reason why they would fight, then great (we can then just change a few lines from their speeches). If there is none, then we'll have to edit a bit more to make Erbrand and Lithor run away without Erbrand beliving he killed someone. I think both things are doable.

if Nog especially you think that the folks look weird from Athanar's POV, I would like to hear that, as the point is of course his perspective... but you didn't seem to protest in the beginning (quite the opposite) and they seem to have not changed (unless counting Groin's incident)There's no problem if there are one or two problematic characters - well whatever from the list of: dislikeable, hot-headed, brutal, proud, non-considerate, prejudiced, rude, idiot, aggressive, self-centered, warmonger, villaneous, vile, brutal... whatever. As you said there probably have been a host of that kind of guys in the military through ages (and I'm not saying Aforglaed or Scyrr would be especially bad). But at some point it seemed that all the characters who were written belonging to lord Athanar's retinue were that kind of guys - while of course all the old Scarburgians were the "good guys". Well Groin had a lot to do with that impression building up. So it was starting to feel that enough is enough.

The feeling I was getting at one time was that lord Athanar was surrounded by a mob of scroundels. And that would not do. Even if some (many) of our characters in the Mead Hall would dislike the newcomers to begin with (which they really should do), that doesn't mean the writers of the Mead Hall should start painting lord Athanar's retinue as a bunch of villains. They're still eorlinga, probably more like from the "better end" of them.

Now happily Foley has taken this new character Quin who's already a different character.


I do agree with you Legate that there should be no major "hunting-party" to go after Lithor and Erbrand - especially as Scyrr is still alive and not probably even so badly hurt. I think people of the Mead Hall would be informed that the two had left - and it will be interesting to hear how different characters will react to that. In due time - like the next time there is a courier to pass messages between the MH and Edoras - lord Athanar will inform king Eomer about a deserter soldier and that's it - I think. Erbrand sure is free to go, and beating someone up probably isn't a crime that would lead into major search-parties in the ME, but a soldier leaving his duty might warrant some notification - not that he would be actively searched for but if met somewhere he would be brought to face justice for deserting his post.

That's how I would see it - and hopefully / probably we need not bother with those issues if and when Lithor and Erbrand just are away.

[Folwren]

Oh, good. I'm glad to hear that Groin responded. :)

So...does this mean that soon we can move forward and start working with what he wrote in his post and how it affects our characters? For instance, Thornden saw Lithor leaving, I think that will warrant some action in his place, be it to tell Coenred, or for him to excuse himself and try to ride after them, or what.

But, I don't want to start doing that until others (Nogrod, Fea, Nerindel, Gwathagor) get a chance to write at least something.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

But now I think it's up to you Legate to decide - as you have been the main writer for Scyrr - whether his actions in Groin's last post were ones he would take.
Well, Scyrr is still an NPC - although a bit of "the" NPC as he was one of the few representatives of Athanar's soldiers in the beginning. I don't want to edit Groin's post or anything just because of him, at least not too much. Of course it seems a bit over the top at some moments, namely the start when the soldier throws a stone at Erbrand and then later the thing about the knife. But if we want to keep it like it is, maybe we could come up with some reasons for why the soldier would act like he did.

The initiation of the fight could have been explainable, and after all, it was Erbrand who really started the fight itself. Scyrr could have had good reasons to provoke him, even perhaps to throw the stone (if it was a bit of an impulsive action slightly "over the top" where Scyrr just didn't think of the consequences). Bullying locals would not seem out of character: from Scyrr's point of view, Erbrand is alone (i.e. in his opinion harmless) and stinks (a good thing to start mocking him about). Scyrr is generally thinking negatively about the locals, he probably dislikes being transferred to this middle of nowhere, he is the type who complains about everything and now the first impression is still fresh, so he had a long journey yesterday, his friend got beaten and the one who did it was not punished (unjust outcome, from Scyrr's point of view), Scyrr maybe drank a lot yesterday and now he did not get enough sleep today and the barracks are too small and he is supposed to go to training after this, add to this that he is simply in bad mood today and it's early in the morning and tada, we have a good basis for him to want to be nasty to any Scarburgian who appears nearby. And of all the people, the one who shows up is Erbrand, who is here with his stinking stuff and dares to gainsay to Scyrr, especially in front of for example Ginna, who is, after all, an attractive young woman. Scyrr would not have it, but he does not know Erbrand's temper, and before he can stop (there has been the warning from Coen about brawling after all), they are in the middle of a fight which turns out to be unstoppable.

The part where Scyrr draws a knife I'm also wondering about. We could perhaps pass it if we close one eye, as much as with the former. At least it was at the time when Erbrand was already threatening to break Scyrr's leg (from what I have gathered from the post), thus, once again it might have been an impulsive reaction - we may count in the fact that just before that, the women screamed "stop, you will kill him", which might have triggered something in Scyrr's mind: "kill" - is he going to kill me? - knife! And there it came.

So that'd be for the mind analysis ;) (I should become a psychologist it seems) My main concern is how it would be possible for a soldier like that, who has been warned particularly not to start any brawls, and who had been under Athanar's command possibly for years, to do what he did. I think we could really sum it in two basic ideas, first: Scyrr was a bit of a bully to begin with, but of course he kept himself in line as a soldier as not to get himself into trouble; second: the fact that he did what he did now is simply that moving into a new place was such a shock for him (maybe he never left Edoras before?) and the people just annoyed him immensely. Unfortunate set of coincidenes unforeseen by Athanar or Coen, who might have hoped that Scyrr (if he was already noticed as being on the "low end" of Athanar's men) would get more "fresh air" here and become more "tame" instead, but quite the opposite happened.

I do agree with you Legate that there should be no major "hunting-party" to go after Lithor and Erbrand - especially as Scyrr is still alive and not probably even so badly hurt. I think people of the Mead Hall would be informed that the two had left - and it will be interesting to hear how different characters will react to that. In due time - like the next time there is a courier to pass messages between the MH and Edoras - lord Athanar will inform king Eomer about a deserter soldier and that's it - I think. Erbrand sure is free to go, and beating someone up probably isn't a crime that would lead into major search-parties in the ME, but a soldier leaving his duty might warrant some notification - not that he would be actively searched for but if met somewhere he would be brought to face justice for deserting his post.
Indeed. In the end, it seems that Scyrr was only almost strangled to death, but not quite. And when it comes to it, even the wedge between the "old" and "new" Scarburg created by this does not need to have to be so strong as I have initially thought. In fact, there needs not to be any at all: people can have different opinions (hasn't Erbrand always been a bit rash? Why would he flee if it was all the soldier's fault? Etc. And on the other hand, Athanar's men probably know that Scyrr is a bit of a bully if he is one).

So in other words, I think it's the best to leave it like it is and indeed take it as an opportunity, if Groin's decision is as it is. After all, he can even return at least with Erbrand later, if he wants to. And I think we can leave his post without editing as he wished - unless the people posting for the other characters acting there appear and wish to edit that...

[Thinlómien]

That was excellent, Lommy! I would rep you, but it won't let me yet. :rolleyes:Well I hoped to rep many people for what they've written during the time I was away but I was unable too...

Fea, hope your life gets less chaotic! :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, hope your life gets less chaotic! :)

True story! I had to put off running a whole bunch of errands because I forgot today was a holiday and the bank was closed. :rolleyes:

Once I've got my new vehicle, it'll be a lot easier to organize my life since I won't have to organize my time based on everyone else's schedules. :eek:

Oh, and my real reason for posting: my favorite story that I've written is about an itinerant carney named Quin. I just submitted it for workshop at school, and just yesterday revised it into a new draft. So I'm thoroughly confused to have a new Quin around!

Which of course is poetic justice after I told Nienna that Degas wasn't pronounced the same way that French Painter Day-gahhhh is. She winces every time I say Day-gahss.

Anyway, I'm amused.

[Folwren]

I'm almost afraid to say anything, for fear my suspicions might turn out true, and no one answers. Is the place empty?

Just kidding. I know people are still about... er, that is... I hope people are still about.

I see the WW game ended yesterday. I was a little surprised, but I guess I shouldn't be. Time flew this week I guess, despite slow movement here.

Fea, how's life? Are you well?

Gwath, are you getting any inspiration to write?

Nogrod, has your schedule slowed at all? It's the weekend now. :)

Nienna, want to post something with Aedre? Although Javan is currently right next to Crabannan, I'm sure that we could arrange a meeting. Javan needs to say something to her.

Durelin, it'd be cool to see something posted for Coenred. I kind of don't want to write anything more there since I've written two posts for my characters at the training grounds already.

Soon, we can start integrating Groin's stuff, right?

Hope we can get this moving again!

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

My crazy days should be over for a while now. *knockknock*

I'll update myself with the thread today and intend to post as well.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Fea, how's life? Are you well?

My voice is still a little hoarse, particularly by bed time, and singing accurately is a joke. I really did beat up my vocal cords by being sick so long. I'm pretending like I sound sultry. My brother quashes my illusions by saying I sound like a chain smoker. But other than that, I'm quite well.

I bought a really fabulous chair - like this (http://blog.ebates.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/09/26/target_chair.jpg) one, except older, more hobbit-looking, beat up, and with truly hideous orange and brown plaid cushions - and I painted it sage green and re-covered the cushions in plum purple.

I should have my new vehicle in my possession by the end of this week, my job is going well, my deadline for school is frighteningly soon (next week and I've only got about a third of what needs to get done finished!)...

But I got the go ahead from my boss to use my work place as a location for the middle school writing workshop I'm designing! Woot!

[Nogrod]

Sorry to let you down today...

I have been planning our trip to the US. on summer '10 the time I've had and it's clearly too late now. But I'll be posting tomorrow. For sure.

[Nogrod]

Heh.. that's for the surety... I ended up making materials on the birth of Christianity to my students and totally lost my sight for time. :rolleyes:

But actually, are you around Nerindel? Would you like your characters to meet lord Athanar or not?

I'm not willing to write anything on that before I hear from you. So if you're not around I need to come up with other activities for lord Athanar - or just go for the craftsmen - or come up with a new character to take part in the drills...

[Durelin]

I've been planning to post, and then losing the time. I went straight from a January term to my spring semester and haven't been allowed time to adjust lol. I'll get a post up as soon as I can.

Though, shall we wrap up the drills? I don't think they're something to linger on. After the drills might bring more opportunity than the drills themselves (I know Coen and Thornden need to actually talk, and soldiers could interact.). I don't think we have enough soldiers being played to have even one-on-one drills be too interesting?

Just thoughts.

[Nerindel]

But actually, are you around Nerindel? Would you like your characters to meet lord Athanar or not?


Yes, sorry work has been a bit hectic lately and the preparations for last nights Burns Supper took up more of my time than I thought it would:eek: I should have some free time tonight, hopefully I can get Iohmair's post up, post again for Balvir and pm you my idea's for Mat and Aeol's meeting with Athanar. :rolleyes:

[Nogrod]

Yes, sorry work has been a bit hectic lately and the preparations for last nights Burns Supper took up more of my time than I thought it would:eek: I should have some free time tonight, hopefully I can get Iohmair's post up, post again for Balvir and pm you my idea's for Mat and Aeol's meeting with Athanar. :rolleyes:
Sounds like my life... although I have never actually made Haggis. :)

Just pick the interesting ones first. Anyway I'll be all ears for any suggestions concerning the meeting.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Though, shall we wrap up the drills? I don't think they're something to linger on. After the drills might bring more opportunity than the drills themselves (I know Coen and Thornden need to actually talk, and soldiers could interact.). I don't think we have enough soldiers being played to have even one-on-one drills be too interesting?

I have been kind of thinking around the same lines, or having a similar dilemma. I am really not keen on writing an one-sided description of Hilderinc having a fight with Random Soldier No.#13, and there is not much of a good choice to fight with somebody else, now that Lithor is gone and other characters who are sort of soldiers, like Crabannan, are not taking part. So the choice would be only if Foley's character (Quin) or eventually one of the bosses (Thornden/Coen) wanted to have fight with Hilderinc (but then, especially with the bosses it probably does not make that much sense). But if nobody wants to, we can as well just make it that there could be some more interaction after the training, like Dury said, possibly using something that happened during the matches as food for thought, resp. talking. And especially if we are faced with the news of the two runaways (and especially the deserting soldier, Lithor) right after the training, the reactions from various characters of ours at one place might be truly interesting.

[Folwren]

Legate, I'd be fine if your character fought Quin. I am not sure exactly if Hilderinc would wish to fight with him or if he wanted to fight with one of the Scarburgians. It may be that he sees Quin being less than eager to join, realizes he's never sparred with him, and engages him. Whatever you want to do.

Durelin, I'm open for anything, too. In fact, it wouldn't be inconceivable for us to write about Coen and Thornden talking even before Legate and I have fully decided or written about Quin and Hilderinc fighting.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Legate, I'd be fine if your character fought Quin. I am not sure exactly if Hilderinc would wish to fight with him or if he wanted to fight with one of the Scarburgians. It may be that he sees Quin being less than eager to join, realizes he's never sparred with him, and engages him. Whatever you want to do.

Okay, that's one possible thing. My kind of initial idea was that they would simply totally randomly stumble upon each other (i.e. found themselves next to each other and thus they would come to fight each other), but then, maybe especially if Quin seems reluctant, Hilderinc might indeed engage him. Well... if so, should we make it some sort of joint PM-post? That is, depending how much we want to dig in this... I do not necessarily relish in writing combat scenes unless I have some really brilliant ideas... or just showing the kind of basic encounter and how they think of each other at that moment, or what they can think about... which can serve as good food for thought for later... so it's just upon you if you think we should make it a joint post or if I should just start and post something and you later post yours... (I will try to come up with something anyway and then act according to your reply...)

[Folwren]

PM posts are fun. :)

I'm in class, so can't elaborate.

[Folwren]

Legate, I would be willing to do a PM post if you wanted to. If you think that would be worth while, you can go ahead and initiate it. It would be interesting to bring out more of both our characters' characeristics. :) I would like it.

-- Foley

[Mnemosyne]

I'd love to contribute something maybe on the more domestic side of the Mead-Hall at the moment, but I'm still confused by the timelines compared to the council and Groin's last post. Does anyone have any thoughts?

[Loslote]

I think his post is much later in the "day" than we are right now. It'd have happened before you guys ended the drill, though, so I think we can safely assume Wylflaed and Lilige would find out about when the drill ended...or at least, that's the assumption I've been under. Anyone else have a clearer idea?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Legate, I would be willing to do a PM post if you wanted to. If you think that would be worth while, you can go ahead and initiate it. It would be interesting to bring out more of both our characters' characeristics. :) I would like it.

-- Foley

All right, sounds good, I will try to make something... in about six hours from now, I'll look at it and see what I can come up with :)

[Folwren]

I think his post is much later in the "day" than we are right now. It'd have happened before you guys ended the drill, though, so I think we can safely assume Wylflaed and Lilige would find out about when the drill ended...or at least, that's the assumption I've been under. Anyone else have a clearer idea?

The drill, even if we don't write about all of it, will have taken several hours at least. So, even if we 'finish' the drill in our posts, and you all are still working on stuff that is happening soon after the hearing, in your character's sense, Groin's post hasn't occurred yet. The two groups, those in the drill and those at the Hall, are in two slightly different time zones, so to speak. We will refrain from joining the two groups until everyone is caught up, but don't let time restrain you from posting something. :)

Legate, I shall look forward with excitement to your PM.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Okay... by the way, while writing a part of the PM post for Foley, I have realised once again that maybe just a brief summary of the NPC soldiers of Athanar's household who have been mentioned this far might come handy. Thus, I have made just a short "list" now to sort of review their personalities, for everybody who might be interested in using them. I basically used all the facts we have "learned" about them (from their actions this far) and tried to make them fit into some logical frame. There have been, this far, unless I have missed something, two of these soldiers introduced by me and two introduced by Nogrod, all of them have participated in more than one post (I have used Nogrod's soldiers - Baldwic and Fearghall - in a really brief appearance in the first evening banquet discussion in Coenred's presence). Right at this moment I assume all of those, with the exception of Scyrr, are attending the training.

I will post the list as a separate post, perhaps pio could then link it to the character list just as NPCs, so that everybody can look it up if they want to? It's really very little in terms of actual information, but at least for now - until their personalities are developed better - it might be good, I think.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

A LIST OF SOME ATHANAR'S SOLDIERS (for the time being)

***

ÁFORGLAED - younger (in early 20s after the timejump), somewhat "unlucky fellow" whose main problem is that he cannot foresee the course of his actions and because of his tongue which he just cannot watch well enough he can easily get himself into bad situations. Got himself into a brawl with Matrim, later avoided punishment. Is a buddy with Scyrr. Áforglaed is a bit of a coward, but also in the sense that if saying "sorry" is the easy way to solve the problem, he does it. And in that, he is honest (i.e. not hypocritically just saying "sorry" to get away with anything, he usually genuinely feels sorry, only in many times apologizing just might not be enough). View of Scarburg: in the beginning somewhat negative, although he has the good chance of adapting himself.

BALDWIC SON OF BALDWIN - young, a bit insecure and unsure of himself. Had "sort of befriended Wilheard on the way to Scarburg" (Lommy) and the two of them had been recently training together. Baldwic seems to be fond of Wilheard, and same the other way around, even though Wilheard thinks Baldwic "still a bit of a baby". View of Scarburg: not specified.

FEARGHALL - possibly a bit older and generally more experienced, a rather balanced person, calmness is his name (this far, in every scene where he was present, his only attribute expressed was being "calm"). View of Scarburg: so far somewhat positive, had been expecting worse.

SCYRR - the type of person who speaks his mind openly, no matter what others think. A bit arrogant and self-centered. He can control himself in front of higher authorities (to an extent), but to his equals or, Valar forbid, to those below him in rank he can be just downright mean if there is even the tiniest thing which might annoy him about them. In other words: if you are being annoying (and you are not being a noble or something like that), you just deserve to be informed about that (in which way might depend on the circumstances. If you are too annoying and seem not to be willing to change your behavior, you may as well be "cured" from your lack of manners by physical punishment). Scyrr feels "on the same boat" with people he has known for a long time, and definitely now, in "hostile environment" he is more likely to stick to his comrades from Athanar's household (even possibly Hilderinc, whom he finds to be an annoying man who does not stick with the collective, but now he is still "closer" than the "foreigners").
His character traits got Scyrr to being almost strangled by Erbrand, when Scyrr, being annoyed by the smell of Erbrand's tanning and after Erbrand dared to gainsay to him, got into a fight with the tanner.
View of Scarburg: definitely negative (but from the objective point of view, Scyrr complains about anything that does not suit him, Scarburg is just not an exception - that, however, does not make any difference on the outside). Where there is but a single thing to criticise, Scyrr goes for it. (He would, however, never dare to criticise - certainly not openly - anybody who is superior to him, which would likely include even the original Scarburgian "nobility" like Saeryn etc.)


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

LINKED ~*~ Pio (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=551131&postcount=2)

[Nogrod]

Thanks for the NPC-list & descriptions Legate!

I will post the list as a separate post, perhaps pio could then link it to the character list just as NPCs, so that everybody can look it up if they want to?I think that for a shortwhile they should be just here and we should use the NPC's a bit more to come up with some more characteristics to them. I mean if they are just scratches we shouldn't bother Pio with now linking them to the character-page and then with a need to edit them everytime we add on to their characters.


Also, feel free to "end the drill" if there is not so much to write there. You could write something between the soldiers after the drills - when they are just drawing breath on the fields they have been practising. In that way it would be easier to keep the timelines separate.

I mean if you write the soldiers back to the Hall we'll easily get confused with different timelines.


But that also means we should probably hurry up with any things that should happen at the Hall menawhile the soldiers are having their practise.

I'm kind of torn now between writing something for Athanar and waiting for Nerindel to come up with some ideas... Anway. I'll be having somewhat better time in my hands from Thu-Fri onwards so maybe I'll just wait for tomorrow at least before writing anything just by myself.

But yes, let's get this thing moving again... and I see you're doing just that.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Also, feel free to "end the drill" if there is not so much to write there. You could write something between the soldiers after the drills - when they are just drawing breath on the fields they have been practising. In that way it would be easier to keep the timelines separate.

Well, we are at least making a co-op post with Folwren now, which takes place during the training itself. But of course, if anybody wants to move on, it can be solved in some way... (but this far nobody seemed in particular hurry, and as you say, the other timeline is still somewhere else. And that said, we don't know how long it will take us to make this post - it can be quite fast, or not, it depends...)

[Nogrod]

Just post for any time of the day you see fit!

We can settle any time-frame issues afterwards to be sure - if those emerge in the first place.

Looking forwards to your drill-post!

[Nogrod]

Foley: I made the other kids to address Javan with a host of questions. Like kids do, everyone voicing their urgent desire for any news... So just think how Javan would manage that interest laid on him. :)

PS. If I don't hear anything from Nerindel tomorrow I will post something for lord Athanar to just get things rolling at the Hall (easing the task of bringing together the timelines of the drills and the Hall together)...

[Nogrod]

Add to Foley: I think the other kids hadn't wittnessed the last meeting of lord Athanar and Javan... so their imagination is based on the actual hearings themselves and thus have no idea about the latest events concerning Thornden beating him or what he had between lord Athanar and the apology accepted...

I think that would make a better storyline right here, but if you think differently, just go for it. I have no strong opinion on it either way.

[Folwren]

Great, Nogrod! I'll read it when I have time...I'm currently on break on class.

By the way, I have the impression that you're not so keen on corporal punishment, however well deserved. I won't defend Thornden or his actions, it doesn't matter, but I just want to say I didn't mean it to be a very bad thing.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

What's the deal guys?

Have you problems of engaging your characters or just tight scheduals?

The first problem can be addressed if you tell me what it is - then we can change a setting or two or open a new idea to get you all better involved. I thought this would be the place where the new and old characters could interact to get to know each other better before we start taking on the local lords and other more plot-driven things we might come up with. But if the interaction is hard or does not come naturally then we can just skip a bit forwards.

Nerindel and I are having a post planned and it will hopefully be posted in a day or two. How is your post coming Foley & Legate? Others?


PS. Foley: I didn't think Thornden was "behaving badly"... Indeed I think he behaved quite like an honourable person from that imaginary era would have acted. What comes to corporeal punishement as such; I've suffered it in RL when I was a kid and haven't ever been able to imagine myself doing it to others. But what happens in a Mead Hall in the ME is a different thing. :)

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Nerindel and I are having a post planned and it will hopefully be posted in a day or two. How is your post coming Foley & Legate?

I guess it could be more or less the same with us. We are quite good way through, it depends how far we decide to continue it, but personally I don't think we'd have to prolongate the post too much. Anyway, the ball - or, the PM - is on Foley's side right at the moment, so I cannot speak completely "up to date", but we are basically switching it on day or two-day basis at most, so I guess we might get some results soon.

[Folwren]

Yeah, it's due to tight schedule here on my end. I was unable to take any break for the BDs today at work, I was so swamped, and I was gone all weekend. I'll get a reply to Legate this evening, and hopefully a post up for Javan tonight, too. Sorry for the holdup.

-- Foley

[piosenniel]

Thanks for the NPC-list & descriptions Legate!

I think that for a shortwhile they should be just here and we should use the NPC's a bit more to come up with some more characteristics to them. I mean if they are just scratches we shouldn't bother Pio with now linking them to the character-page and then with a need to edit them everytime we add on to their characters.

I made the link before I read your post.

Just edit/enlarge Legate's descriptions as needed on his post - that way there is no need for me to edit the link.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

Just edit/enlarge Legate's descriptions as needed on his post - that way there is no need for me to edit the link.Okay, thanks!

Foley: are you thinking Javan is first going to find Aedre and then search for Raban? If yes, then I think we could write the other kids following him (heh, the only interesting action around there on that morning) - let's see how Javan reacts to them trying to follow him. And anyway, I'd like to see the scene where at least all the boys would end up with Raban, the two more than willing to learn things, and the one who would need to, being less enthusiastic... :)

[Folwren]

Foley: are you thinking Javan is first going to find Aedre and then search for Raban? If yes, then I think we could write the other kids following him (heh, the only interesting action around there on that morning) - let's see how Javan reacts to them trying to follow him. And anyway, I'd like to see the scene where at least all the boys would end up with Raban, the two more than willing to learn things, and the one who would need to, being less enthusiastic... :)

Sounds great to me. Yes, he's decided to find Aedre first and then Raban. :) This'll be fun.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I made the link before I read your post.

Just edit/enlarge Legate's descriptions as needed on his post - that way there is no need for me to edit the link.

I think it's good idea to do it that way. And Bilbo the silly hobbit started it, so Bilbo can also take care of editing it.

[Nerindel]

ÁFORGLAED - younger, somewhat "unlucky fellow" whose main problem is that he cannot foresee the course of his actions and because of his tongue which he just cannot watch well enough he can easily get himself into bad situations. Got himself into a brawl with Matrim, later avoided punishment. Is a buddy with Scyrr. Áforglaed is a bit of a coward, but also in the sense that if saying "sorry" is the easy way to solve the problem, he does it. And in that, he is honest (i.e. not hypocritically just saying "sorry" to get away with anything, he usually genuinely feels sorry, only in many times apologizing just might not be enough). View of Scarburg: probably somewhat negative, although he probably has the good chance of adapting himself.

Hehe I wonder how sorry he will be if he discovers he was brawling with a noble ;P

[Folwren]

Hehe I wonder how sorry he will be if he discovers he was brawling with a noble ;P

We could write about it and find out. :D

-- Foley

[Nerindel]

We could write about it and find out.

-- Foley

And Blow his cover! :eek: (you'll understand when you've seen mine and Nogrod's pm post ;))

Which reminds me would it be reasonable to assume that Lord Eodwine would have appraised Thornden of the situation between, Æðelhild, Matrim and Balvir?

[Folwren]

And Blow his cover! :eek: (you'll understand when you've seen mine and Nogrod's pm post ;))

Oh, okay. Never mind, then.

Which reminds me would it be reasonable to assume that Lord Eodwine would have appraised Thornden of the situation between, Æðelhild, Matrim and Balvir?

It's possible, but I know so little about it myself that I can hardly say. He may have been more likely to tell Saeryn. I don't know what kind of situation it was exactly, and if it wasn't necessary for Thornden to know, and if it was supposed to be confidential, then it probably was not told him.

-- Foley

[Nerindel]

It's possible, but I know so little about it myself that I can hardly say. He may have been more likely to tell Saeryn. I don't know what kind of situation it was exactly, and if it wasn't necessary for Thornden to know, and if it was supposed to be confidential, then it probably was not told him.

hmm, I think it would be important for Thornden to know but I will pm you the details and you can decide for yourself.:D

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Hehe I wonder how sorry he will be if he discovers he was brawling with a noble ;P

Now that's exactly what makes the story interesting, even if the characters themselves don't know it, but we as writers do :D

And as you all can see, I have posted our cooperative post with Folwren, which makes the training done at least from our part. Unless any other participants have something to do there (most likely from Durelin's side, if perchance Coen wants to say a few words or something), the situation is clear there and we can move on to post-training events - and tying up the loose ends with the Lithor/Scarburg "civilian"/whatever storyline.

[Durelin]

I'll post for Coen asap, wrap up the training from his perspective and start up a little conversation with Thornden. Unless you'd like to just move on completely, which is of course fine.

Sorry for the non-posting.

[Folwren]

I'll post for Coen asap, wrap up the training from his perspective and start up a little conversation with Thornden. Unless you'd like to just move on completely, which is of course fine.

A discussion has to take place at some point. You could dismiss the soldiers so that other players weren't kept hanging around, and then do it, if you like.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Nerindel: I ended up the meeting as planned. I hope I have used your characters observantly enough. If there are any problems please let me know.


It would be nice to wait for at least Dury's post before bringing all the soldiers back to the Hall and it's near environs. But meanwhile any soldier can post - as well as the kids, lord Athanar's household, Nerindel's characters, lady Saeryn, the kitchen staff, Modtryth... anyone.

[Folwren]

Ack! I'd forgotten that I had a post due for the kids! I'll try post this evening. Maybe for Saeryn, too.

-- Foley

[Folwren]

That post was written with extraordinary haste and has not much meat to it. Anyway, it sets the game up for the next meeting - that of Javan and Raban and possibly the other boys, too. Sorry to spoil their fun, but Javan was not about to go asking forgiveness of Aedre with a tail of three busybodies. Hopefully Thornden will see it his way if he gets back before Javan's had a chance to do his talking.

I will attempt to post for Saeryn later. If I do, Nerindel and I will have some opportunity to write some posts together.

I must trot, my break from class is nearly over. Later, folks.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

A very nice post for Coen, Dury - only *cough cough* Quin, with whom Hilderinc sparred, is one of Athanar's men as well, he's not from Scarburg...

[Durelin]

Oh darnit. I need to pay more attention! Going to edit now. Let me know if there are any other problems.

[Folwren]

Durelin, I posted a short post for Thornden. It is not very good, but I didn't know how to initiate conversation between him and Coen. Maybe you can do something with it.

-- Foley

[Durelin]

Foley - Feel free to wrap up the conversation as you see fit, or to continue it. I am up for whatever!

[Folwren]

I knew when I wrote that post that that question was worded in such a way that Coen could take it any number of ways, good or bad.

I am hoping to post something today sometime, but I'm not sure when.

-- Foley

[Durelin]

RL has eaten most of us, it seems. Anyone have a bit of time and interested in moving this ahead? Foley and I can always wrap up our conversation later on.

I guess discovering and dealing with the whole Scyld-Erbrand-Lithor mess is next? Perhaps Coen should meet with Athanar about the drills, to let them know how they went, and Athanar could ask how Lithor behaved or what have you (he was suppoed to be there for them, right?), and Coen will tell him that he wasn't there...?

Edit: Though I guess finding Scyld's the first thing. I guess I really should have had Coen notice he's missing. I'm not doing well with keeping track of people... Okay, so maybe I should have Coen find Scyld first.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Edit: Though I guess finding Scyld's the first thing. I guess I really should have had Coen notice he's missing. I'm not doing well with keeping track of people... Okay, so maybe I should have Coen find Scyld first.

Scyrr. Scyrr, Scyrr, Scyrr. Scyrr.

But I am definitely for kicking this up a bit. Let's start moving again. I guess some of the leaders should notice what happened or be informed about it, and then the information can be announced/leaked/whatever and all characters might react to the news.

Later today or tomorrow, when I have time, I might even recheck the thread to refresh my memory and start thinking what to write (and could even write something if nobody seems to be up to it...).

[Durelin]

Scyrr

Oh, that really clears things up for me! Lol.

I'll try to work on a post to go look for Scyrr.

:rolleyes: :p

[Nogrod]

But I am definitely for kicking this up a bit. Let's start moving again.Agreed.

Sorry, but I've been heavily busy lately. It happens every once in a while to me. But I'll try to get something in as well in a day or two.

Anyone wishing to write for her/his character get some fresh information should go for it.

[Folwren]

Yeah, that silence was really long. Wow.

I've had a post in the works since Feb. 16 (the last time I posted here on the discussion thread). It was only until today, though, that I summed it up....and it's not even an impressive length.

Durelin, I really want Coenred and Thornden to understand each other, but it sure isn't easy.

-- Foley

[Thinlómien]

*peeks in, looking slightly ashamed*

Me here. My life has been terribly busy for the start of the semester, so I haven't managed to be here almost at all.

Today I decided to spend my few free hours by checking the 'downs so I'm here, but unless I study extra quickly in the evening, don't expect me to post in a week though. (I have an essay due Monday, an exam due Tuesday and a presentation due Wednesday. SICK, I think, especially considering I'm spending the weekend in a training.)

But after Wednesday next week there should be no more deadlines for a while and my second half of the spring semester should be easier as I will have one less course which will basically mean for example no school on Mondays. Then I should be able to catch up with writing properly - weren't you missing Wulfric and Wilheard? ;)

So, looking forward to the latter part of next week! Great that you all have been keeping this thread going, there have been some excellent posts (but sadly I have been unable to rep).

See you guys soon, and that time I shall stick around. :)

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Hey there.

My life hasn't exactly slowed down, but I've forced it into reasonably organized submission. Which means time for some play.

My only problem is, it's been so long I've forgotten what my characters are doing!

[Folwren]

um....Degas is ..... um... Geez...I forget. Oh, I think he was pretty happy with how Athanar handle the court cases, but I don't think we've figured out what's happened since. Is he pleased with Athanar's proposal to Saeryn? Is he worried for her safety? Etc.

Rowenna...I don't think Degas has asked Rowenna to stay yet.

I can't recall any more particulars about your characters. so sorry.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Thanks, Foley! Now I remember.

Degas has asked Rowenna to stay, but she hasn't given an answer. He's planning on leaving in a day or two to check on matters at home, and to frolic southernly with the wife-to-be's kin (and hopefully bring what's his yap home).

And I *think* that was all I had going on.

Let me think on how I want to proceed, and then I'll post something, even if it's something small.

[Thinlómien]

We didn't reach any conclusion on Erbarnd and Lithor leaving, right?

The current confusion is kind of making it difficult for me to write. So what would you people think if I took Groin's parting post and checked it, and tried to make it make a bit more sense (correct Scyrr's name and maybe edit his actions a bit - and the women's, because I don't think Groin was portraying Ginna and Frodides fairly or coherently) but sort of respectfully to his original idea and keeping his characters' thoughts and dialogues and then posted the edited post on this thread so that Pio could replace Groin's original post with my slightly edited version and we could continue writing?

I'm all for Scyrr and Erbrand having a fight, and even the women thinking Scyrr is dead and Erbrand being scared by that... All kinds of suggestions are welcome from you other writers but I would prefer start working on it soon, so if I post something and you think it could be made better, just tell me and I will do further editing. ;) I will also try to contact Kath and get her revise Erbrand and Kara's parting scene because (with all respect to Groin) I have the feeling she might not approve thoroughly... :D

Once I'm done with editing, I will write for my characters, and I have the feeling I want Wulfric and Wilheard to be the ones to spot wounded Scyrr first.... :p

[Nogrod]

I do think that time has kind of settled Groin's post in it's basics - and that we should honour his wish to leave that way with his characters. But I do agree that what comes to other characters he has written there, some editing would be in order - especially hearing what Kath thinks.

Good to hear you're going for it Lommy.

What comes to lord Athanar he must have been seeing the craftsmen after discussing with Nerindel's characters in the morning.

But feel free to disturb him whenever you wish. :)

Also, now as the soldiers have come back from the drilling it could be lunch-/dinnertime if anyone of you thought it would be easier to go on discussing with others over a meal.

Or if you have other ideas...

Anything you'd wish to be said and/or done to help you out?

[Mnemosyne]

Wynflaed will want to discuss the domestic situation with Saeryn and whoever else she wants to bring in... and also possibly be a bit racist. :)

Really if people could let me know anything that would need to come to her attention and/or elicit a reaction that'd be helpful. But I still haven't been able to see a way to let her back into the action, and I haven't really had the time to look that deeply.

[Loslote]

Wynflaed will want to discuss the domestic situation with Saeryn and whoever else she wants to bring in... and also possibly be a bit racist. :)

Really if people could let me know anything that would need to come to her attention and/or elicit a reaction that'd be helpful. But I still haven't been able to see a way to let her back into the action, and I haven't really had the time to look that deeply.

Racism is fun! ;)

Really, though, I'm in the same boat with Lilige. Once they know about the Scyrr issue, though, there'll be more to go on.

[Thinlómien]

Ai ai, why did I ever choose a half-Dunlending character? Or why are dark genes more dominant? ;) Anyway, she will be wherever she is needed and I'm looking forward to stuff...

I'll take Groin's post now and see if there's something that should be edited. Once I'm done I will post it here. I will also try to spam Kath on Facebook and make her revise Kara&Erbrand's dialogue. :)

[Thinlómien]

Here's a slightly revised version of the scene by the river... It was more difficult to edit it than I thought because I didn't want to change Erbrand's actions or make him look like a total lunatic. Mainly what I did: 1) Scyrr's phrasings are slightly less offensive. 2) Scyrr doesn't continue the fight after he's already beat Erbrand quite badly without getting hurt himself. 3) Scyrr threatens to stab Erbrand with the knife if he doesn't let go of his leg (instead of just drawing it and intending to stab him). 4) The women act a bit more sensibly, not like two princesses or two hens. If you have further edits or edits to my edits, just go for it. And feel free to criticise my edits. :)

~*~

Erbrand noticed some ladies fetching water from the stream that flowed into the marsh. The women were upstream and there was no worry about Erbrand polluting anything other than swamp water; however, it did not take long for Erbrand to find out their opinions of his revolting work. They sniffed the air and covered their noses. He could hear them exchanging some remarks and one of them was laughing. Erbrand could not stand being scorned at and his work being so unappreciated. In a rage he threw down his pole and angrily marched to where they were gathering water. They were not alone—there was a man with them. The two women were Ginna and Frodides and the man was a soldier, apparently ordered to help the two ladies and not enjoying his job.

The soldier looked up, grimaced and gave a snort. “Phhew! I came for drinking water, but looks like you came for a bath. ” Erbrand felt his rage rekindled.

“And who in tarnation are you to scorn me?” Erbrand bellowed. “Would you warm your hands in leather gloves? Saddle or bridle your horse? Do you dance to the sound of the drum or lace the chords of your armor? What about the bellows that heats the forge? It’s leather! Stinking leather. Do you want good shoes or do you not? Shall I create padding for the lord’s chairs? I hunt and trap for animals and I feed Scarburg with their meat and give people tools that make it possible for them to do their jobs. Why then do you scorn me?”

The soldier simply stared at him. Frodides and Ginna were doing the same although they were a bit more surprised at the outburst. Erbrand let out a long breath before finishing in a calmer yet sill annoyed voice.

“Now, let me get on with my scraper and dung, you hold your nostrils and hold your tongues.” Erbrand turned to leave when a pebble hit him in the back.

“Hey, tanner, watch your tongue.”

“I’m not in the mood today, soldier.” Erbrand said with particular emphasized scorn on the word soldier.

“Name’s Scyrr. And looks like you need to be taught some manners for your betters.”

That was all the provocation Erbrand needed. He spun round and with a mighty yell ran at the Scyrr. The soldier, however, expected this struck a sidelong blow sending Erbrand spinning but not falling. Frodides and Ginna yelled at the two to stop. Blood was spilt, it was too late as Erbrand made apparent as he untied his leather apron and tossed it aside. There was a wild gleam in Erbrand’s eyes as he rushed again. He leaped, hoping to tackle Scyrr, but the swarthy soldier stepped aside. Scyrr laughed as Erbrand spat tufts of mossy grass from his mouth.

"Hope you learnt your lesson, tanner."

Another exclamation of rage escaped Erbrand’s lips. Again and again Erbrand was struck down until his nose was bleeding and his gums were cut. For the fifth time Erbrand arose, sagging, bleeding and weary. Scyrr had been unhurt, keeping Erbrand at bay with ease.
“Do you still wish to continue?” Scyrr asked, smiling.

Again Erbrand rushed at him in rage. Again the soldier stepped aside, tripping Erbrand.
“Enough! Stop this nonsense!” Frodides exclaimed.

The soldier regarded the woman and turned back to Erbrand giving him a kick on the calf. It was not hard, nor was it gentle, but it was enough to excite an anger that surpassed any that Erbrand had known up to that time. Such was the treatment one gave a disobedient dog.

“I’m done - for today”, Scyrr said.

Whether Scyrr said this to frighten Erbrand or whether he said it because it was true, Erbrand never found out. In a fight anger is as good as courage. With fingers extended like talons, Erbrand’s hands seized Scyrr’s left leg with an iron grip and twisted it. The soldier gave a howl and collapsed next to Erbrand (who lost no time in returning Scyrr’s punishment blow for blow). This time Ginna took up the chorus with Frodides.

“Stop it! Fools. Before somebody gets hurt badly!”

The cry was not heeded. A knife flashed in the sunlight, it was Scyrr’s.

"Get off my leg or I'll sting you with this!" the soldier growled.

Erbrand struck relentlessly and hard. Soon he found his fingers around Scyrr’s neck, pressing harder and tighter.

“I am not some dog you can kick. I am a man! I am a man!”

Soft small hands grasped his and beat his strong shoulders. Erbrand let go of Scyrr’s throat. Ginna and Frodides knelt beside the Scyrr. He was not moving.

“Fools!” Frodides cursed.
Ginna's face was pale when she tried to find his pulse. “If he's dead ... Erbrand, if he's dead, you will hang for this.”

~*~

I suggest Pio posts this edit after we either agree it's good or make some amendments and after Kath has done her possible amendments to the parting scene in the same post. I wrote on her wall in Facebook so let's hope she reacts in a few days...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Great job, Lommy. Looks fine to me.

Once again it made me think what reasons would Scyrr have to actually start attacking Erbrand like that - once again remembering that Coenred himself had specifically warned the soldiers against starting brawls - but hmm... now that I think of it... I actually started to recount possible reasons and it might as well be good for a post, some of Scyrr's inner thoughts after he's being transported to Scarburg... That would be quite good in this situation, wouldn't it? Speaking of that, who is going to meet him first? Who is he going to be "forwarded to"? I can make it so that the women will carry him there and then they will go to fetch somebody... and then "somebody" will definitely need to cope with the situation... and start solving it. I guess anybody could approach him, if you want to...

So I'm going to make a post for Scyrr. I assume we are not going to make any drastic changes in the course of events with Erbrand, and if so, I can always edit it.

[Thinlómien]

Sounds cool, Legate. :) If no one has anything against it, I would love to make Wulfric and Wilheard meet Scyrr first - after all, they are also coming back to the hall grounds from a bit further away, so they could spot him & the women before anybody else if they were coming from the same direction...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Sounds all right to me. Feel free to have W+W come there and see Scyrr, I have written the women going away to fetch somebody, but you can choose one or both of them to reappear there or you can have W+W encountering Scyrr alone, whatever is better for you.

[Durelin]

Finally posted, sorry it took me so long...hope it's alright Foley that I basically wrapped up their meeting (still left it for you to respond to finish it of course). Let me know if you wanted them to talk more. Or we can always start working on the next meeting, eh? ;)

So Lithor and Scyrr were both absent from the drills -- was anyone else that I completely missed? I'm sorry I've not been on top of things at all.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

So Lithor and Scyrr were both absent from the drills -- was anyone else that I completely missed? I'm sorry I've not been on top of things at all.

Nobody else that I know of.

It's nice to see things starting going again :)

[Folwren]

Dury,

I'll look at that post, I just wanted to put my two cents in here, first....

Lommy, good job with the post. I can not remember Groin's clearly now, so I'm not precisely sure about what you changed, but I liked it.

This is looking really fun again, folks. Thanks so much for bringing it back to life.

-- Foley

[Nerindel]

ok I am slightly confused are we all back to the same timeline again? if so we now have the soldiers in the stables who will be alerted to the commotion, Thorden and Ceon returning from the field, as well as Matrim and Adhel the healer going to find Balvir (hopefully in the stable), then W&W returning to the hall to come across Scyrr first. does this sound about right? perhaps Ginna and frodides could find Adhel???

Also Matrim was missing from drills and one soldier at least would notice :rolleyes:

[Nogrod]

ok I am slightly confused are we all back to the same timeline again? if so we now have the soldiers in the stables who will be alerted to the commotion, Thorden and Ceon returning from the field, as well as Matrim and Adhel the healer going to find Balvir (hopefully in the stable), then W&W returning to the hall to come across Scyrr first. does this sound about right? perhaps Ginna and frodides could find Adhel???

Also Matrim was missing from drills and one soldier at least would notice :rolleyes:That's about how I see the situation.

But,

I think W&W should actually find Scyrr first as the story-timeline goes.

We others sure can go on posting before Lommy has time to do that as long as we just keep those three out of our posts. So we can write of things happening "now", like when everyone's back at the hall (for dinner?). Lommy can write W&W in a way which starts with the reminiscence of - or telling others - how they met Scyrr (or they can come up with something together, she and Legate).

Does that sound okay? Or understandable in the first place... :)


Also Nerindel: let me know when your characters are willing to take their places at lord Athanar's table eg. when he should introduce their real status to others in the MH (like this day or maybe the next, or...). Or if you think they will not do it in the near future, let me also know that.

[piosenniel]

Let me know when to insert this post - HERE (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=625656&postcount=2434) - and exactly where you want it placed.

~*~ Pio :)

[Folwren]

Ooooh, now I'm all excited and I want to post again! But I don't know what to post, and I don't know how to post it... So I'm going to do a lot of reading and hopefully post something during this spring break! I can't wait!

Nogrod, I know you're busy, but d'ye think we can get something together for Javan and the old man? (I forget his name at present.) I'd love to.

And I need to post for Saeryn in regards to Erbrand's departure and Scyrr and all that jolly stuff....plus Thornden is coming back. Except, Thornden comes back well after Erbrand has left, so I'm really quite confused on all this.

Oh, oh, by the way - what happened with Erbrand and Scyrr probably did not end until about half way through drills. As I see it, Lithor had gone out with the men, but was sent back because his horse had a pebble in his foot and the others thought he was lamed...which means, our timing is not all that far off.

Oh, and another thought, but this more directed towards Lommy - Your two willians said that they were going to make sure their sister is alright, seeing as their father wasn't doing such a great job (or that was the jist of it). Does that mean that Javan is in some sort of danger? ;) I'm awaiting anxiously to see what exactly you meant, because this isn't the first time you've talked about it.

-- Foley

[Thinlómien]

Okies, I posted for the idiots/lads/brutes/guys/boys/cuties.

Hooks for other people:

Soldiers in the stables - there was Will's brief visit. Did that cause any reaction?

People on the yard - if you have keen eyes or listen to shouting military voices, you would know there's something slightly wrong.

Rowenna - can be the woman assigned with the duty of finding the healer. But if Fea is busy and we need dialogue, it can be Modtryth too.

Aedhel - is being looked for by people, probably by Ginna and/or Frodides and also by Rowenna/Modtryth. No one is writing Ginna and Frodides right now so if they find Aedhel the post-writing is up to you, Nerindel. :)

Scyrr - if you Legate want to continue, Wilheard is with him now, probably not talking much though, but I don't think it's necessry to follow them right now.

Athanar - *ring ring* you're being called, sir. I think you Nogrod can decide if Wulfric's news were already delivered to Athanar by Ginna and/or Frodides or not and then it's also sort of up to you to continue the plot.

Feeling very much like organising stuff right now as you can see. :D


And before I forget, I talked with Kath on FB. In short, she is very busy and not returning any day soon :( and Groin's post is okay with her for now, but she said: "Kara doesn't want to have married him, can tell you that much." and "If I ever come back, someone can just ask Kara about what happened and I'll just say she was so confused by what was happening she took the ring without thinking."

Mmh. I guess I'm sort of currently responsible of all the "kitchen clique", that is Kara and Frodides (Kath's characters, the cooks), Ginna (Lhuna's character, a maid) and of course Modtryth. I have nothing against the reponsibility, but it's a pity Lhuna and Kath can't be around and their characters would definitely deserve more attention than to just be random carry-alongs...

[Thinlómien]

PS. Foley, don't worry, I don't have any plans yet. ;)

[Folwren]

Okay, wow. I posted. I do not like it at all, it's uber long, but I did it anyway. If it doesn't make sense, PLEASE tell me. I wrote it while I was super tired...

The end there...I figured if a pregnant lady was ever going to faint, now would be a good time. If it's ridiculous, let me know and I can take it out. I feel like it's kind of dumb, but it amused me, so I kept it.

I think I'm viewing the timeline like this:

The trials end

While Coenred and the men at arms go out and start their drills:

Lithor goes out with men-at-arms.
Javan apologizes
Saeryn and Athanar finish their discussion
Matrim and Balvir give their message to Adhel.
Erbrand works on his tanning stuff.
The two W's are riding.

The drills continue while:

Saeryn goes to her room.
Javan finds Raban, the other kids do what ever.
Adhel and Matrim go to speak with Athanar.
Scyrr and Erbrand fight.
Lithor fakes the lamed horse and starts to bring him back.

The drills continue......while:

Adhel and Matirm leave Athanar.
Erbrand flees back to the mainhall to get his horse and leave.
He and Lithor meet, they talk, they plan, they pack. . .they leave.

The drills end probably not long after Erbrand and Lithor leave the settlement.
Scyrr is dragged back to the courtyard while the men are returning from drill (that means he is dumped somewhere not in the middle of the courtyard, otherwise, everyone would notice - it's more like on the edge, isn't it? By the kitchen?)
The two W's return...

And I think that's where we are, right?

I believe a lot of time can actually pass between the trials and when Erbrand and Scyrr fight, because Erbrand was working for some time before Scyrr even comes near.

I may not be remembering things right, plus I know I am not thinking very clearly anyway, so correct me if I'm wrong. What I wrote above is my impression of how the time is working out....this way, everyone can be back where they need to be and we have no confusion of time, no bouncing back and forth.

-- Foley

[Folwren]

What happened, did I scare everyone away with my post? :( Please say something, someone! I'm lonely. Plus, I'm excited about how things could continue. :D

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Don't worry, don't worry! :D I, for instance, haven't read your post yet, as I want to have proper peace for that and as I am sure it will make me want to post (I want to post anyway, for Hilderinc in the stables for instance), I want to be sure I have time after I read it - and I had a lot of stuff for school to do now. So just wait a while, hopefully tomorrow will do it for me :)

Oh, aside from that, only one thing. As I assume Scyrr would have wanted to participate in the drills (well, not wanted, but he was supposed to!), I actually thought that the encounter with Erbrand happened earlier, something like the soldiers were about to leave in a minute, Scyrr left to the stream, sort of hoping he won't be late or not too late, and then he got sort of stuck... But I guess we can sort of "hush up" the logic of the timeline and leave it be :)

[Folwren]

Legate, I had forgotten that Scyrr would have to be at the drills. I don't know. It seems to me that if he were going to the dirlls, he would not have been down by the water to even start a fight. We obviously have to bend the timeline somewhat, but I don't know how. :confused:

Still looking forward to people's posts...

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Well I think we can just brush it under the table, really. Nobody would have noticed it unless we started to make a timeline ;) I mean, I think it's okay to think that it happened just before the soldiers left, then Scyrr was dragged back to the camp, lying there for a while and whatnot... I think let's not think about it.

And for that matter, yes, I am sorry, I didn't get to read/write anything yet. I was totally busy up to yesterday... now let's see, I am sure I will post something... eventually... but hey, am I the only one around here anyway?

[Mnemosyne]

but hey, am I the only one around here anyway?

No, but see above...

[Nogrod]

Okay. Sorry for missing the thread for just a too loong a time. :(

But I have now posted for lord Athanar and looking at the ending of my post some people are coming... feel free to be the ones... or post for Will or Scyrr.


It might be a technical question, but how about we just said that Scyrr took part in the drilling in the first part of it and then - for some reason - had to come back to do something (he was the one to be the "kitchen-aid" to carry water or something, he slipped away to get some snack while there was a short pause, his horse was injured slightly and he had to get some balm for it, some of his gear broke and he went to find a replacement... whatever).

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

It might be a technical question, but how about we just said that Scyrr took part in the drilling in the first part of it and then - for some reason - had to come back to do something (he was the one to be the "kitchen-aid" to carry water or something, he slipped away to get some snack while there was a short pause, his horse was injured slightly and he had to get some balm for it, some of his gear broke and he went to find a replacement... whatever).

That sounds actually good and would make sense, and would settle our problems, unless there was something we overlooked. Agreed.

[Thinlómien]

I will try to post for W&W tomorrow if I have time, if not, then as soon as possible. :)

ps. Nogrod - I know it's confusing, but Wilheard is spelled only with one L even though his nickname - Will - has two. ;) No need to edit but remember it in future. :p

[Eorl of Rohan]

Eeeeh.... Do I have to read all 18 pages of post in order to join the Meadhall, Lommy?

[Folwren]

Oh, no, Eorl. Don't even attempt it. Um...what kind of character are you thinking of introducing? Allow me to give you a summary of what has occurred, and then you can form your character accordingly and join.

About a month ago, Lord Eodwine, the realy eorl of Scarburg, fell sick. No one realized how sick he as until he positively collapsed, and no one in Scarburg could do anything about it, so they took him to Edoras. King Eomer, who had granted Eodwine his position as Eorl and given him Scarburg, did not think Eodwine likely to return soon, so he decided to set a new eorl over the place, despite the fact that Eodwine had a wife, Saeryn, who the people of Scarburg thought perfectly capable of ruling in Eodwine's stead until his return.

The new eorl is Athanar, who has just arrived in the game the previous day, game time. We are currently playing the day after his first night. The day of his arrival proved full of conflict, his people did not mix well with the Scarburg people. There were some fights and disagreements. Some of the Scarburgians think that Athanar and his people are usurpers of power - they especially resent the fact that Saeryn is being ousted from her place of lady of the hall by Athanar's wife. Tension, as you can imagine, is high.

Where we are now in the game - all the men-at-arms have just finished a drill type thing under the new captain/commander, Coenred. Thornden, the man who Eodwine had put into the position of captain, etc., is Coenred's .... lieutenant, you might say. He's under him, anyway.

One of Athanar's men-at-arms was for some reason unable to be with the others at the time of the drill, and he got into a fight with the Scarburgian man named Erbrand. Erbrand in the heat of the moment nearly strangled Scyrr to death and when he thought he was dead, he came to himself and realized his own danger and ran. Before he could leave he was met up by another Scarburgian man named Lithor (a man-at-arms who quite unintentionally got mixed up the wrong way with Athanar the previous night) and he and Lithor left together...

So, right now, Scyrr has just been found, Athanar has been allerted about what happened to him, Lithor's absence has not been verified, and I have a vague feeling the place is about to errupt. Good luck slipping unnoticed into the story. ;)

Does that help? Anything else I should add, anyone?

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Does that help? Anything else I should add, anyone?

You have basically summed up the most important general events very well. I would only add that if you want any help with introducing your character into the story, Eorl, you might as well try to ask us around here. I mean: it's probably the easiest if you come up with a character to your own likes, and then unless you have a good idea yourself, you can ask around and we might help you to find his place. Basically there can be "old" soldiers, "new" soldiers* (including soldiers from Edoras from the King himself, who however are expected to leave back home later - though that's still some time and certainly an excuse could be devised for a single person who'd wish to stay, or something :) ), (old) peasants, whatnot... and of course you can even introduce somebody from the outside, if you really wanted (though that'd prove a bit more tricky, but only a bit)...

*There are a few "half-NPC" characters who don't have much of a character up to now and whom you could pick and develop if you didn't have any better idea - though I assume you'd have an idea of your own, too.

[Thinlómien]

Nice to see you're interested, Eorl. :) I hope Folwren and Legate have satisfied your curiousity for starters, if not just ask. We like new writers. :D

[Eorl of Rohan]

The Shire Roleplay Form that I sent Piosenniel have been received with profound silence, so I decided to tackle the 18 pages of the Meadhall in the meantime. I'm on page 9 as of now. Heh. Rowenna is so cute! And so is Eodwine. And Erbrand. And Dan, too, he's adorable. :D And Oeric. And Scyld!

PS. shaggydog? Winterfell?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

The Shire Roleplay Form that I sent Piosenniel have been received with profound silence, so I decided to tackle the 18 pages of the Meadhall in the meantime. I'm on page 9 as of now. Heh. Rowenna is so cute! And so is Eodwine. And Erbrand. And Dan, too, he's adorable. :D And Oeric. And Scyld!

PS. shaggydog? Winterfell?

Now you have set yourself a really demanding task, Eorl :) But if you manage to read it all, you'll probably be better "updated" than many of us (also with having it all fresh in the memory).

I think the relevant part most related to today starts somewhere in about half of page 13, in the lower half there is a post by Nogrod entitled 11th November, that's where many of the new characters who are active now come into the picture. Sadly, many of the old characters have disappeared (basically all you have named are not around anymore... their players are not, at least). Anyway, so if you feel you can read all the thread, I think it'll be brilliant, however if you felt you cannot, maybe it'll be better to focus more on the later pages (but given that you've made it this far...)

[Eorl of Rohan]

Now you have set yourself a really demanding task, Eorl :) But if you manage to read it all, you'll probably be better "updated" than many of us (also with having it all fresh in the memory).

It's 3:16 in the morning and I have just finished. Wow. You've all certainly played an exciting RPG, haven't you? o_o
Though the question remains, how am I to integrate a new character into this hopelessly bizarre and completely absorbing storyline?
Although I would be glad to take charge of Scyrr, he seems my type of character. Is it okay for me to take him as my character?
.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Hey, if you want to take him, I would be happy to give him to your custody :) And at least I will have a good counterpart for Hilderinc there. In that case you could also decide what exactly is his condition. I will entrust him to you in hope that you will not treat him with any discontinuity with his previous personality, but looking positively forward to how you are going to unfold his character...

If not, otherwise, you can easily invent a soldier of your own, too.

And yes, it's been an interesting one. You've made quite a feat in reading all the stuff... so if you are decided, welcome among us and I am looking forward to your posting...

[Nogrod]

Welcome Eorl!

Sorry it took me this long to welcome you but I have been overloaded with both work and werewolf... :rolleyes:

I like the idea of you taking Scyrr into your hands. I'm looking forwards to have you in the company!

[Eorl of Rohan]

I will entrust him to you in hope that you will not treat him with any discontinuity with his previous personality, but looking positively forward to how you are going to unfold his character... If not, otherwise, you can easily invent a soldier of your own, too.

Thanks, I will try my best. I wanted to slide seamlessly into the picture without the disconnected confusion created by the introduction of a new character and Scyrr seemed to perfectly fit the bill. Besides, Scyrr is wounded. I love playing wounded and slightly feverish characters :D

SCYRR - the type of person who speaks his mind openly, no matter what others think. A bit arrogant and self-centered. (...) Scyrr feels "on the same boat" with people he has known for a long time, and definitely now, in "hostile environment" he is more likely to stick to his comrades from Athanar's household (even possibly Hilderinc, whom he finds to be an annoying man who does not stick with the collective, but now he is still "closer" than the "foreigners"). (...) View of Scarburg: definitely negative. (...) Where there is but a single thing to criticise, Scyrr goes for it. (He would, however, never dare to criticise - certainly not openly - anybody who is superior to him, which would likely include even the original Scarburgian "nobility" like Saeryn etc.)

So the QUOTE above is your assessment of Scyrr's character, isn't it? I will certainly take this into account and try my best to not to mess up the continuity of the character, though having almost died by Erbrand's hands might have taken the wind out of him. So, with your permission, I will post a Profile for Scyrr soon and then jump into the fray.

Welcome Eorl! Sorry it took me this long to welcome you but I have been overloaded with both work and werewolf...
I like the idea of you taking Scyrr into your hands. I'm looking forwards to have you in the company!

You're the one who plays the new Eorl! You write so well, it would be an honor to roleplay with you :) :) !
.

[Thinlómien]

One more thing, Eorl!

If you're interested in Scyrr, you could check my edited version of the scene with Erbrand and Scyrr:

Erbrand noticed some ladies fetching water from the stream that flowed into the marsh. The women were upstream and there was no worry about Erbrand polluting anything other than swamp water; however, it did not take long for Erbrand to find out their opinions of his revolting work. They sniffed the air and covered their noses. He could hear them exchanging some remarks and one of them was laughing. Erbrand could not stand being scorned at and his work being so unappreciated. In a rage he threw down his pole and angrily marched to where they were gathering water. They were not alone—there was a man with them. The two women were Ginna and Frodides and the man was a soldier, apparently ordered to help the two ladies and not enjoying his job.

The soldier looked up, grimaced and gave a snort. “Phhew! I came for drinking water, but looks like you came for a bath. ” Erbrand felt his rage rekindled.

“And who in tarnation are you to scorn me?” Erbrand bellowed. “Would you warm your hands in leather gloves? Saddle or bridle your horse? Do you dance to the sound of the drum or lace the chords of your armor? What about the bellows that heats the forge? It’s leather! Stinking leather. Do you want good shoes or do you not? Shall I create padding for the lord’s chairs? I hunt and trap for animals and I feed Scarburg with their meat and give people tools that make it possible for them to do their jobs. Why then do you scorn me?”

The soldier simply stared at him. Frodides and Ginna were doing the same although they were a bit more surprised at the outburst. Erbrand let out a long breath before finishing in a calmer yet sill annoyed voice.

“Now, let me get on with my scraper and dung, you hold your nostrils and hold your tongues.” Erbrand turned to leave when a pebble hit him in the back.

“Hey, tanner, watch your tongue.”

“I’m not in the mood today, soldier.” Erbrand said with particular emphasized scorn on the word soldier.

“Name’s Scyrr. And looks like you need to be taught some manners for your betters.”

That was all the provocation Erbrand needed. He spun round and with a mighty yell ran at the Scyrr. The soldier, however, expected this struck a sidelong blow sending Erbrand spinning but not falling. Frodides and Ginna yelled at the two to stop. Blood was spilt, it was too late as Erbrand made apparent as he untied his leather apron and tossed it aside. There was a wild gleam in Erbrand’s eyes as he rushed again. He leaped, hoping to tackle Scyrr, but the swarthy soldier stepped aside. Scyrr laughed as Erbrand spat tufts of mossy grass from his mouth.

"Hope you learnt your lesson, tanner."

Another exclamation of rage escaped Erbrand’s lips. Again and again Erbrand was struck down until his nose was bleeding and his gums were cut. For the fifth time Erbrand arose, sagging, bleeding and weary. Scyrr had been unhurt, keeping Erbrand at bay with ease.
“Do you still wish to continue?” Scyrr asked, smiling.

Again Erbrand rushed at him in rage. Again the soldier stepped aside, tripping Erbrand.
“Enough! Stop this nonsense!” Frodides exclaimed.

The soldier regarded the woman and turned back to Erbrand giving him a kick on the calf. It was not hard, nor was it gentle, but it was enough to excite an anger that surpassed any that Erbrand had known up to that time. Such was the treatment one gave a disobedient dog.

“I’m done - for today”, Scyrr said.

Whether Scyrr said this to frighten Erbrand or whether he said it because it was true, Erbrand never found out. In a fight anger is as good as courage. With fingers extended like talons, Erbrand’s hands seized Scyrr’s left leg with an iron grip and twisted it. The soldier gave a howl and collapsed next to Erbrand (who lost no time in returning Scyrr’s punishment blow for blow). This time Ginna took up the chorus with Frodides.

“Stop it! Fools. Before somebody gets hurt badly!”

The cry was not heeded. A knife flashed in the sunlight, it was Scyrr’s.

"Get off my leg or I'll sting you with this!" the soldier growled.

Erbrand struck relentlessly and hard. Soon he found his fingers around Scyrr’s neck, pressing harder and tighter.

“I am not some dog you can kick. I am a man! I am a man!”

Soft small hands grasped his and beat his strong shoulders. Erbrand let go of Scyrr’s throat. Ginna and Frodides knelt beside the Scyrr. He was not moving.

“Fools!” Frodides cursed.
Ginna's face was pale when she tried to find his pulse. “If he's dead ... Erbrand, if he's dead, you will hang for this.”

I say you can keep either Groin's original or my revision since you're the writer of Scyrr now, I just tried to make him a little less evil and a little more understandable. But in any case I want to keep what I revised about the women's behaviour because I think Groin mistreated them...

(Just fyi, I revised Groin's post because we had problems with it because he left with that and couldn't edit it himself and we couldn't quite agree with his character portrayals. But now it's of course up to you which Scyrr you'd like to keep, of course. We'll ask Pio to replace part of Groin's old post once we're decided what kind of edit we'd like to have... :))

PS. Great to see someone so enthusiastic! :D I can't believe you read all of the thread though! :eek: Cool.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

So the QUOTE above is your assessment of Scyrr's character, isn't it? I will certainly take this into account and try my best to not to mess up the continuity of the character, though having almost died by Erbrand's hands might have taken the wind out of him. So, with your permission, I will post a Profile for Scyrr soon and then jump into the fray.
Yes, it is. You can of course (and I would expect to) further explore that. So, looking forward to posting a profile for Scyrr... :)

I say you can keep either Groin's original or my revision since you're the writer of Scyrr now, I just tried to make him a little less evil and a little more understandable.
Indeed - speaking about that, Lommy's presentation of Scyrr makes his behavior also a bit more logical, as I don't think any sensible man would make a fight in such a provocative manner after they have been specifically told yesterday by their commander to avoid all brawls (I tried to show some reasons for Scyrr being annoyed and thus more easily provoked in one of my posts earlier on, when he's being brought back).

[Folwren]

Wow, this is really exciting! I'm glad you're so interested, Eorl. It's been quite a while since we've had some real movement on this thread. I hope people can find time soon to pick things up again. :D

Looking forward to seeing how you handle Scyrr!

[Eorl of Rohan]

.
Name: Scyrr Silvershield
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Where From: Edoras

Appearance: I have closely read the posts involving Scyrr, and I have found only one description of his appearance: swarthy, that is, of a dusky skin color. But a rider of the Riddermark would be golden-haired and blue-eyed, unless Scyrr is of mixed blood, in which case the haughty personality would not make much sense. Developmental Psychology tells us that unfortunate disadvantages such as a funny name, or a different skin color in a mostly homogeneous culture, tend to put a damp on the development of I-am-of-a-higher-rank-than-you kind of attitude. I would assume that he is actually quite handsome and more importantly typically Rohirrim in appearance. The personality that is outlined in Legate of Amon Lanc's biography of Scyrr can be developed by a strong sense of affiliation with his heritage and an awareness of where he stands in the social hierarchy, and if this trait is so evident, then, well, he probably *looks* Rohirrim to the Core. This includes long and flowing golden hair and limpid blue eyes (I know, cheesy, but there you have it).

Scyrr is likely to be slender, quick to move out of his opponent’s range, relying on his nimbleness and dexterity to keep him out of harm’s way should it come to a direct clash. This is in continuity with the description of the brawl between Erbrand and Scyrr. He moves out of harm’s way and attacks from the side. Techniques over pure muscle, so to speak of. And people who *have* muscle don’t bother overmuch with techniques or keeping out of harm’s way. Scyrr does his best to do so, therefore, he must needs be a slender man – with fuzz on his chins, hardly more than a boy – who would never cut an imposing figure even if his swordskill is on par with those more experienced than himself. Of course, the technique-oriented style might be because he is yet young, who have learned fighting only from fencing masters and mock duels instead of engaging in real battles where his life is always on the line. He could have an aversion to actually getting his hand dirty, so to speak. But even so, the ease with which Erbrand pummeled Scyrr when they were both on the ground (and therefore had equal advantages, even considering Scyrr’s broken leg) suggests that Scyrr doesn’t have muscle enough to acquit himself well when it comes to a physical brawl.

Personality: He is not someone who endears himself to many. But at the same time, he is one who speaks his mind openly about all matters, so he is not an obnoxious snob who bows and scrapes in front of his betters and takes out all his frustrations on his lessers. An honest man, even if that honesty is not to the liking of many. If he is seen as arrogant and self-centered, perhaps it has a measure of truth, but it comes from the brashness of youth rather than a fundamental flaw in his personality. He is conscious of the social hierarchy, perhaps unwisely overmuch, so that he would not be patient with having his authority challenged by tradesmen and craftsmen who is of lower rank than he. This is probably what sparked the brawl between he and Erbrand. Not to mention that he has a tendency to speak whatever he wants to. Being young, he also has the tendency to see the world in black-and-white: for instance, enemy-and-friend, or good-and-bad. Perhaps age and experience might teach him otherwise, and beat patience and understanding into the proud flash in his eyes, but for now he is nothing but a brash young soldier who doesn’t know where to draw the line. He feels a certain kinship with those that he has ridden alongside for many a month, however, and would listen to their counsel… albeit grudgingly. And in the same way he considers himself above the common tradesmen and craftsmen as a soldier of Lord Athenar, he genuinely respects those with authority even if their morality or intelligence is suspect. He follows the law, and does his duty faithfully. He has a good heart - if badly misguided, arrogant, and brash – but still that of a true Rider of the Mark.

As an aside, Scyrr is going to be my character, so I wanted to interpret him in such a way that was enjoyable to play for me. I hope this interpretation of his personality is not too jarring or discontinuous, because, well, I could always make a new character if this doesn’t suit you. I am from an East Asian country, where the last thing that anyone would even dream of doing is to say what they are thinking, and I am not at all sure whether I could roleplay a character who spoke what he wanted to for sheer childishness. Now if it was a matter of rank and social hierarchy (which my culture is intimately familiar with, considering that you’re supposed to bow every time you come across some bloke in your class who’s two days older than you just because he’s two days older than you), then I could understand exactly what kind of problem he had with Erbrand and why he acted the way he did. I hope this isn’t too much of a problem with you.

History: Scyrr was born the second son to Lieutenant Roryn, a Rider of the Mark. (Well, I’m thinking a middling rank. With perhaps fifty men under his command? I don’t know what military title to apply, since ‘captain’ seemed too high for someone who just held a position of an officer who led a patrol squad.) Roryn was one of the poor unlucky sods who were executed by Wormtongue for insubordination when he refused to carry out a redoubtable order that might have ended in a lot of his own men getting killed. He had a public trial, but a farce of a one with Theoden repeating what Wormtongue whispered in his ear, and was summarily hanged. There were a lot of men who were chagrined at this – for he was a good man, and a faithful one – and the widow and her two sons and a daughter received financial and emotional support from those who were his friends. Enough for Scyrr to have a decent education and a good fencing instructor, apparently, (or he wouldn’t have been able to dodge Erbrand’s blows with such ease). When Scyrr came of age, he followed in his father’s footsteps and pledged himself to a lord’s service in his own right. In Lord Athanar’s service, in fact, as Athanar knew of his father and kindly accepted the young and yet unproven youngster into his guard.

However, Scyrr has strong ambivalent feelings toward his father – who got himself killed for insubordination, no matter for what just cause, and left his young wife a widow pregnant with a third child and his two sons fatherless – which has left him somewhat obsessed about duty and social hierarchy and following orders without question.
.

[Eorl of Rohan]

*looks at everyone with puppydog eyes, hoping her profile of Scyrr wouldn't be rejected*

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Eorl, sounds good! Just maybe for a few remarks (well, I assume that's not what you'd have expected anyway, but I hope it will be for good :) ).

Firstly, I wholeheartedly agree with your interpretation of the social status view-thing, and that resonates basically with the idea I had about Scyrr myself. And if you have such cultural background, it might be even better for sort of "getting into" Scyrr.

Maybe, however, the thing about speaking his mind openly - if I understood you right, you don't feel like you could write for such a character, but well, there are several ways to handle it while keeping it still consistent with the previous. The thing is that this was sort of one of Scyrr's trademarks, if not "THE" trademark. The occassion where it originally started from was that first brawl when the soldiers have arrived, and Áforglaed was hurt. What Scyrr saw was that the first to attack was the other guy, and therefore, by Scyrr's logic, he should have been punished. The fact that Áforglaed insulted him before was not taken into account. I sort of see the parallel to this in Scyrr's brawl with Erbrand. This could be explained by that in both cases the attackers were of lower class, so they effectively didn't have the right to attack like that, so there we'd be back with the social class explanation thing. (Or maybe Scyrr just puts more weight to actions than to words? But whatever, just a thought.) So back to speaking his mind openly, back then Scyrr considered it unjust that something like that had happened and the person wasn't punished, and so he did speak his mind aloud. That was sort of the basic core. It's not supposed to be any childishness, but the fact that whenever Scyrr considers something should be said (even though others might disagree) - and nobody seems to say it - he says it. So if it was taken this way, maybe you could still handle this trait in him?

(Take this as a dialogical contribution... maybe you will think of a way to incorporate this, or handle this in a bit different way and put it into the personality of Scyrr when writing for him.)

Then, just one physical thing... I have (and I think others did too) imagined Scyrr a bit older - perhaps around 25 or something like that. I certainly didn't think he would be a young unexperienced man, maybe sort of "mid-experienced" at least, but not any newbie when it comes to social contact. More like the opposite - if he has his own views on social contact, rather settled, and that's why it's hard for him to get used to any new or different ways.

Otherwise, basically agreed with all you have said. By the way, not sure if I understood right that you don't think Scyrr is too much muscular, if you wanted him to be, then I think the story about Erbrand is not necessarily denying that - because Erbrand was, actually, supposed to be a very strong man, so even if Scyrr was relatively strong, Erbrand just might have been even stronger. But if you want to have him like that, of course that's up to you - just saying that what is said does not dismiss the option.

[Eorl of Rohan]

Scyrr would probably come after Kara now. Poor Kara. :p

But really, I'm sorry, this post is the best imitation of his personality that I could come up with.
.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Nay, I think it was nice. :) I think it's good you have come here.

By the way, maybe you could edit away the italics in your post, though, as it's generally rather confusing (maybe also harder to read, as you have noticed we normally write everything in normal letters and use italics usually only for characters' inner thoughts at some point or such...). But that's just a technical thing...

[Folwren]

Kara! Oh! that is SO not fair. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it. I think that even though Erbrand was completely mistaken about Thornden being interested with Kara, I think he will still protect her like a sister. Therefore...if Scyrr does anything to her, he'd better watch out. This'll be fun. :D

-- Foley

[Durelin]

I posted, and I hope it makes sense.

If Wulfric would like to be included, feel free to have him speak up...Coen doesn't really know how to handle the boys. Their boys, so he should be able to just order them around, but they're his lord's sons...so he tends to just leave them out of things. ;) Not sure what you had in mind for him, if anything, Lommy

Folwren - Let me know if you object to Coen taking the lead there. Also feel free to have Thornden object to his plan.

Nog - Is Athanar a sportsman? Would he have brought dogs with him? :D

[Eorl of Rohan]

By the way, maybe you could edit away the italics in your post.

Done. Though italics are pretty. :p

Kara! Oh! that is SO not fair. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it. I think that even though Erbrand was completely mistaken about Thornden being interested with Kara, I think he will still protect her like a sister.

Yep, I'm looking forward to it, too! But first Scyrr has to get well, has to find out that Erbrand had a sweetheart, then find out how to catch her off-guard and alone in the woods. Hmm, I don't think Scyrr would be fool enough to come after her where other people are there to interfere. Scyrr wouldn't want to add to the cares of his lord by starting more fights where other people can *see*. Especially since I'm pretty sure Lord Athanar just bought Scyrr's eternal loyalty with Nogrod's last post! Though Thornen could always come upon the scene on chance.

And a Question: Am I the person who should write the healer scene? Do I just make up a healer NPC? Now that the question has come up, what about the other NPCs? For instance, I noticed that the Athanar's soldiers (which included Scyrr) were listed in the NPC section in the beginning of this thread, but they were consistently played by Legate alone.

It has been a long time since I've roleplayed in Barrowdowns, it seems that even the basic mechanisms of roleplaying and furthering the storyline eludes me. :eek:
.

[Eorl of Rohan]

SCYRR'S INJURIES:

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

[1] Crushed larynx (More specifically, Bilateral injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Symptoms include respirational difficulty and may cause permanent hoarseness. By the way, Lord Athanar made a surprisingly good call, telling Scyrr to concentrate on breathing and hushing him. Bilateral injury rips open more and more every time the patient attempts to speak.)

[2] Severe tear of muscle fibers and related tissues in the tendons of the semimembranosus, also known as a pulled hamstring. (Full recovery takes up to 4-6 weeks)

[3] Ruptured Spleen (Splenic rupture permits large amounts of blood to leak into the abdominal cavity which is severely painful and life-threatening. Shock and, ultimately, death can result. Someone with a ruptured spleen typically require an urgent medical aid, although one could simply monitor Scyrr to make sure the bleeding stops by itself and the spleen heals itself.)

[4] A number of bruises, and rib fracture (Broken ribs are often indicated by the following symptoms: Pain when breathing or with movement, a grating sound with breathing or movement. The rib fractured in Scyrr's case in the 7th rib, thankfully a crack instead of a clean break. Time will heal it... hopefully.)

[5] Obviously, Hypovolemic Shock (This is the most common type of shock and based on insufficient circulating volume. Its primary cause is loss of fluid from the circulation. Causes may include internal bleeding, in Scyrr's case a ruptured spleen. The symptoms include intense thirst, and quickened breathing in order to compensate for the loss of blood, but the latter is probably countered by difficulty of breathing from Scyrr's rib injuries and crushed larynx. Might result in oxygen deprivation - Scyrr *has* to breathe, no matter how difficult or painful it is.)

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

Leastways, that's my assessment of Scyrr's injuries from the initial posting of Scyrr's brawl with Erbrand, taking Erbrand's strength into account. The initial rush of adrenaline may have prevented Scyrr from feeling the intense pain, but Eru help him when the adrenaline wears off...
.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Done. Though italics are pretty.
I agree, but they get messy when reading after a while :) Writing the "normal" way is easier to read (and gives you the chance to use italics for more expressive parts of your posts), you'll get used to it after a while around here ;)

And a Question: Am I the person who should write the healer scene? Do I just make up a healer NPC? Now that the question has come up, what about the other NPCs? For instance, I noticed that the Athanar's soldiers (which included Scyrr) were listed in the NPC section in the beginning of this thread, but they were consistently played by Legate alone.
Well that's more because my character was the most often among common soldiers and I had to make him interact with some, and nobody else's character usually was just among common soldiers.

Anyway, as for your question, I am not sure, maybe somebody else who's been around for longer than me will answer you - as I don't know myself who would be in the position of a healer in Scarburg. But if it is not any of the major characters, or if people do not want to post for anybody like that, I think it will be up to you. But I suggest first waiting if anybody who has better information replies here.

edit: :eek: Do you see? Was this my 5000th post? I-am-scared!!! And I haven't even noticed...

[Eorl of Rohan]

I am sure that there haven't been any healer characters in Meadhall RPG. Leastways, I don't remember reading about one.
In case someone wants to roleplay the healer, I detailed Scyrr's injuries in the above post.

[Eorl of Rohan]

I picked up a copy of "The Prince" of Machiavelli to see if there's any way this Scarburg situation could be resolved peacefully. This is what Machiavelli says:

Chapter 5. The Way to Govern Cities or Dominions That, Previous to Being Occupied, Lived Under Their Own Laws

When those states which have been acquired are accustomed to live at liberty under their own laws, there are three ways of holding them. The first is to despoil them; the second is to go and live there in person; the third is to allow them to live under their own laws, taking tribute of them, and creating within the country a government composed of a few who will keep it friendly to you. Because this government, being created by the prince, knows that it cannot exist without his friendship and protection, and will do all it can to keep them. What is more, a city used to liberty can be more easily held by means of its citizens than in any other way, if you wish to preserve it. (...) And whoever becomes the ruler of a free city and does not destroy it, can expect to be destroyed by it, for it can always find a motive for rebellion in the name of liberty and of its ancient usages, which are forgotten neither by lapse of time nor by benefits received; and whatever one does or provides, so long as the inhabitants are not separated or dispersed, they do not forget that name and those usages, but appeal to them at once in every emergency, as did Pisa after so many years held in servitude by the Florentines. (...) But in republics there is greater life, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance; they do not and cannot cast aside the memory of their ancient liberty, so that the surest way is either to lay them waste or reside in them.

Current Situation: Scarburg, Free Republic, is Occupied by Lord Athanar, and there is an undercurrent of local dissent that shows itself in petty brawls and raised voices.

The rule of the former Eorl was more of a 'Free Republic' than the rule of the current Eorl. I think quite a few posters mentioned that the discipline and order around here were less than that of the Capital. For instance, locals murmured over Athanar's anger at Lothar's boistrousness, saying that the former Eorl would laughed and let it slide. The locals resent the introduction of new authority and the change that it heralds in its wake, and have showed their resentment in ways that could not be passed over. So, how to hold Scarburg? The second means suggested by Machiavelli is already in effect: the Eorl Athanar is living in Scarburg. The third means of creating a friendly government is also in effect: Thornen, the local official and magistrate, has been set up as the second-in-command. This apparently isn't enough. There's only one other way: despoil. Now it's time for Lord Athanar to show some cruelty, perhaps.

17. Of Cruely of Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved or Feared

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness. Cesare Borgia was considered cruel, but his cruelty had brought order to the Romagna, united it, and reduced it to peace and fealty. If this is considered well, it will be seen that he was really much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid the name of curelty, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed. A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful; for, with a very few examples, he will be more merciful than those who, from excess of tenderness, allow disorders to arise, from whence spring bloodshed and rapine; for these as a rule injure the whole community, while the executions carried out by the prince injure only individuals. And of all princes, it is impossible for a new prince to escape the reputation of cruelty, new states being always full of dangers. Wherefore Virgil through the mouth of Dido says: "Res dura, et regni novitas me talia cogunt / Moliri, et late fines custode tueri." Nevertheless, he must be cautious in believing and acting, and must not be afraid of his own shadow, and must proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious, and too much diffidence does not render him intolerant.

From this arises the Question: Is it better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved?

The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanted. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt. And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined; for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through nobility of spirit is bought but not secured, and at a pinch is not to be expended in your service. And men have less scruple in offending one who maketh himself loved than one who makes himself feared; for love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose, but fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails.

But everyone in a Tolkienesque Universe is so *nice*, I wonder if this cynical view could be applied to Rohan or the Riders of the Mark. Hm... Ah, well. Lord Athanar will decide, I suppose.
.

[Thinlómien]

Ok, I basically agree with all Legate commented on Scyrr's bio. Good work and I'd consider the few points he brought up. Also, Eorl, are the corrections I posted to Groin's post ok for you or would you prefer the original version?

There's a healer - the very same Aedhel who just turned out to be a noblewoman in trouble at her home. She's written by Nerindel.

And what, is Scyrr going to assault the local women before Wulfric and Wilheard? Blasphemy! :eek:;)

Haven't seen your post yet, Dury, but I'm off to check it now... :)

[Thinlómien]

Ah Durelin that's brilliant, I had nothing particular in mind but somehow what you wrote amuses me... Wulfric will be off to do something else. :D

Eorl - two things I thought of:

1) if Scyrr has seemed like a bit more experienced soldier this far and you don't want to make him older, maybe you could just have him been a soldier for a few more years (since his teens). I have no idea when the soldier-training would be completed and when started, and whether it's an official thing or not. Of my chracters Wulfric who's 21 is a soldier (yet obviously not a very experienced one) and Wilheard who's 17 is theoretically still in training, although quite capable of everything a soldier should.

2) about Kara - just warning that a) her writer is not and will not be around, b) there's also a Dwarf and a hot-tempered northener who are quite fond of her so someone who's to assault her is going to be in big trouble - also I think she is one of the best liked people in the whole Hall. :p

I'll try to post for at least Wulfric today, hopefully for Modtryth too (I miss her) and possibly also for Wilheard if there's something to say. Foley, should you continue about the kids? :)

[Eorl of Rohan]

Also, Eorl, are the corrections I posted to Groin's post ok for you or would you prefer the original version? And there's a healer - the very same Aedhel who just turned out to be a noblewoman in trouble at her home. She's written by Nerindel.

I think I'll go with your version, Thinlomien!
As for Scyrr's age, I will go with the flow and make him twenty-four.
And Aedhel completely slipped my mind; I suppose I would have to wait for Nerindel in order to get Scyrr healed?

And what, is Scyrr going to assault the local women before Wulfric and Wilheard? Blasphemy!

Heheh. He's eeeeeeeeevil. But Wulfric hit someone *his father's age*.
From an ethical point of view, that's a thousand times worse than Scyrr going after a defenseless woman. :D

About Kara - just warning that a) her writer is not and will not be around, b) there's also a Dwarf and a hot-tempered northener who are quite fond of her so someone who's to assault her is going to be in big trouble - also I think she is one of the best liked people in the whole Hall.

Eeh... It's no fun threatening an NPC! Wait, who's that hot-tempered Northerner? Certainly not Thornen. He's the very definition of level-headed.
.

[Loslote]

Heheh. He's eeeeeeeeevil. But Wulfric hit someone *his father's age*.
From an ethical point of view, that's a thousand times worse than Scyrr going after a defenseless woman. :D.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree here. Rohan would still be operating under a code of honor. According to that code, it's a man's job to protect (NOT attack) women, and it's perfectly acceptable for a man to test and challenge the honor of someone who is his equal. As it happens, Wuilfric did exceed the proper boundaries of the challege/response format, but his actions almost fit within society's guidelines. Attacking Kara would most definitely not.

I'm not saying it's something that Scyrr would never in a million years do...I'm just saying that it's not something that would occur to most men as a course of action at all. Scyrr might think of it, though, in frustration over not being able to avenge himself with Erbrand himself.

Sorry about the rant on honor. It's sort of a family obsession. ;)

[Eorl of Rohan]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree here. Rohan would still be operating under a code of honor. According to that code, it's a man's job to protect (NOT attack) women, and it's perfectly acceptable for a man to test and challenge the honor of someone who is his equal. As it happens, Wuilfric did exceed the proper boundaries of the challege/response format, but his actions almost fit within society's guidelines. Attacking Kara would most definitely not.

Hi, Loslote :D No, no, Scyrr wouldn't "attack" her. It would be like this:

Kara gathered the last armful of blueberries and wrapped them carefully in leaves, wide and cool, so that they wouldn’t be crushed and spoiled on her way back to Scarburg. This would make a wonderful blueberry pie. Perhaps she should gather some herbs as well? But no, the sun was going down, and she had entered too deeply in to the woods anyway. She should be heading back, right ab…

“It’s dangerous to be out alone in the woods these days, don’t you think?”

The voice rang out from above her, and startled, Kara looked up, to see a man perched on a high bough of a mighty elm with one hand on the elm’s trunk. He smiled wryly in a manner that struck a chill into her. His smile had a forced look about it, unbalanced, as if its maker had not decided whether he should smile or snarl, and his stare was cold and very hard. It took a moment before Kara recognized who he was. That rider… That man who was the cause of Erbrand going away. Scyrr. She had not recognized him at first because he had cast off his usual dark green and silver livery of a rider of the Mark, including his chain mail, and was clad in the dull brown of a commoner. The dull brown that matched the branches and the wood, as if he was in a camouflage. Who was the quarry? Oh, no, he wouldn’t dare. Or would he?

“What’s with that expression, Miss? I’m not going to hurt you. Or do you have some valid reason to be afraid of a rider of the Mark?”

Scyrr asked, alighting to the ground with easy grace. His injuries had taken a severe toll on his body, but he had always relied on his swiftness and dexterity and they did not let him down so easily. The injuries he caused. Erbrand.

Kara drew back, nervous. “No, no. It’s just that the sun is setting, and I have to hurry back. Perhaps I could better make your acquaintance later.”

She would have left; but then an instant later, a skinning knife whistled through the air and buried itself with a thwack in a tree beside her. It almost grazed her cheek.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Scyrr asked, his voice a dangerous purr. He had faith enough in his knife-throwing skill to know that he would not have hit her, but still, he had hesitated for a moment when he saw the fear in her eyes. He shook it off. They were all the same, these commoners, wild and feral, and who’s to say that the sweetheart of that tanner is not like him in spirit?

“I have been waiting here for you for hours. Surely you could spare a bit of time to aid us in our hunt for Erbrand.” Scyrr waited a moment, then said icily, “I heard you were on… intimate terms with the tanner. If anyone knew where he would have gone, it would be you. And yet you have kept your stony silence, saying that you knew nothing.”

“I…” Kara would have said something, but Scyrr interrupted with a snarl.

“I think you are lying, Kara. He wouldn’t have left you without a word. I think Erbrand has spoken to you before he left, has told you where he would be going, and where to find him after the hunt has died down. You are deliberately withholding information, and that, miss, counts as treason.”

“And the price for treason is death.” Scyrr said, his limpid blue eyes fixed on Kara, and his left hand dropped to the hilt of his blade.

*enter someone, preferably Thornen (probably the only one that Scyrr wouldn’t attack, out of respect for his rank), out searching for Kara because she was late, and stumbling across the scene*

*New Conflict Ensues*

More of a threatening kind, if you see what I mean. Scyrr wouldn't actually do anything to hurt her, but would say and do plenty of things to make her think that he would hurt her. Anyway, about that code of honor, Wulfric, a *young* man, attacked a *gray-haired* man! That's downright lowest of the low, even lower than attacking defenseless women and children. Only savages would do that. How is that code of... Wait. Is this one of those cultural differences?

PS. I am not sure. Is my post about Kara and Scyrr god-moding? I thought it would be okay because Kara is an NPC now, and I kept her speech and movement to a minimum, but still...

[Loslote]

Hi, Loslote :D No, no, Scyrr wouldn't "attack" her. It would be like this:



More of a threatening kind, if you see what I mean. Scyrr wouldn't actually do anything to hurt her, but would say and do plenty of things to make her think that he would hurt her. Anyway, about that code of honor, Wulfric, a *young* man, attacked a *gray-haired* man! That's downright lowest of the low, even lower than attacking defenseless women and children. Only savages would do that. How is that code of... Wait. Is this one of those cultural differences?

PS. I am not sure. Is my post about Kara and Scyrr god-moding? I thought it would be okay because Kara is an NPC now, and I kept her speech and movement to a minimum, but still...

Yeah, cultural differences. Lithor (it was Lithor, right?) had honor in terms of experience and age, but Wulfric had the inherited honor of social status. They were, basically, equals, and thus challenging the other's honor was acceptable and even, in some people's eyes, expected. Honor was sort of the currency back then - there was assumed there was a limited amount and that men were expected to challenge other men's honor, as well as respond to any challenges, or else their own honor was questioned. Wulfric did comply with society's expectations; he simply went a little overboard. (I am assuming a little bit that this was sort of like the society of the Romans, because they influenced majorly the culture of the Dark Ages...but I could be wrong, please correct me if I am. :) )

[Eorl of Rohan]

Oh, so that's how the western code of honor works. In my culture, if a young man hits a young man in the streets, or if a young man hits a young girl (such as Scyrr versus Erbrand or Kara) in the streets, then everyone's like "Okay, they're fighting. Maybe they are drunk. Let's leave them to their business. Let's pretend we didn't see anything, it will all work out for the best." But if a young man hits a gray-haired man in the streets (such as Wulfric versus Lithor), then everyone's like "That son of a... he dares to raise a hand against his father's generation! He must be insane, a murderer! Police! Police! Somebody stop him!" I think this incident happened a few decades back: a young man struck a much older man in the streets, and the furious passersby who witnessed this scene beat the young man into becoming a cripple with their bare fists. And then the man who led the passersby in this 'crusade' was awarded a medal of excellence from the president himself for being a model of virtue to all the upright and law-abiding citizens. Basically, our code of honor is like this: Young men hitting young men? Aah, the fire of youth. Young men hitting young women? Eeeeh... It's domestic business. Maybe a romance problem, better not interfere, let them sort it out among themselves. Young men hitting children? It's good to see that the old-fashioned ways of education are still in existence. Hitting old men? It's the end of the world as we know it someone call the police there's a murderer on the loose better yet let's mob the young fiend. It's interesting to know that it's considered evil to assault women but not older men in your society.

[Thinlómien]

Hey, it was Wilheard who hit Lithor, not Wulfric! But anyway, I think that if Lithor really was an old man not fit to fight anymore, it would be improper to start a fight with him, but as he was still a soldier, I can't see it as such a serious offense (you shouldn't trust W&W's opinion about him, they obviously think he's so old that he's soon in the grave because they're so young themselves, but really Lithor is like 50 or something...?)

Eorl, if Nerindel is around, you don't have to wait for her. You may use her character as a statist in your post with respect to what Nerindel has written about her (but I'd assume you know these basic RPG rules :D).

Eeh... It's no fun threatening an NPC! Wait, who's that hot-tempered Northerner? Certainly not Thornen. He's the very definition of level-headed.:p It's Crabannan (http://www.forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=556026&postcount=248).

Pio, could you replace this passage in Groin's post #691 (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=620373&postcount=691)
Erbrand noticed some ladies fetching water from the stream that flowed into the marsh. The women were upstream and there was no worry about Erbrand polluting anything other than swamp water; however, it did not take long for Erbrand to hear their opinions of his revolting work. They sniffed the air and covered their noses in disgust, moaning and groaning at the smell. Erbrand could not stand being scorned at and his work being so unappreciated. In a rage he threw down his pole and angrily marched to where they were gathering water. They were not alone—there was a man with them. The two women were Ginna and Frodides and the man was a soldier, apparently ordered to help the two ladies and not enjoying his job. The soldier looked up, grimaced and gave a snort.

“Phhew! I came for drinking water, but looks like you need it for a bath. ” He said and stepped back, waving the air with his hand. Erbrand felt his rage rekindled.

“And who in tarnation are you to scorn me?” Erbrand bellowed. “Would you warm your hands in leather gloves? Saddle or bridle your horse? Do you dance to the sound of the drum or lace the chords of your armor? What about the bellows that heats the forge? It’s leather! Stinking leather. Do you want good shoes or do you not? Shall I create padding for the lord’s chairs? I hunt and trap for animals and I feed Scarburg with their meat and give people tools that make it possible for them to do their jobs. Why then do you scorn me?”

The soldier simply stared at him in dumb silence. Frodides and Ginna were doing the same although they were a bit more surprised at the outburst. Erbrand let out a long breath before finishing in a calmer yet sill annoyed voice.

“Now, let me get on with my scraper and dung, you hold your nostrils and hold your tongues.” Erbrand turned to leave when a rock hit him in the back.

“Heh, tanner, I do not accept words like that from anyone.” The soldier was just as angry as Erbrand was—the soldier wanted a fight.

“I’m not in the mood today soldier.” Erbrand said with particular emphasized scorn on the word soldier.

“Name’s Scyld and looks like you need to be taught some manners for your betters.”
That was all the provocation Erbrand needed. He spun round and with a mighty yell ran at the Scyld. The soldier, however, expected this struck a sidelong blow sending Erbrand spinning but not falling. Frodides and Ginna screamed and shouted for the two to stop. Blood was spilt, it was too late as Erbrand made apparent as he untied his leather apron and tossed it aside. There was a wild gleam in Erbrand’s eyes as he rushed again. He leaped, hoping to tackle Scyld, but the swarthy soldier stepped aside. Scyld laughed as Erbrand spat tufts of mossy grass from his mouth.

“Get up!” Scyld mocked. “Do you wish to play in the dirt?”

Another exclamation of rage escaped Erbrand’s lips. Again and again Erbrand was struck down until his nose was bleeding and his gums were cut. For the fifth time Erbrand arose, sagging, bleeding and weary. Scyld had been unhurt, keeping Erbrand at bay with ease.
“Do you wish to continue?” Scyld asked smiling.

Again Erbrand rushed at him in rage. Again the soldier stepped aside, tripping Erbrand.
“Stop this nonsense!” Frodides exclaimed.

The soldier regarded the woman and turned back to Erbrand giving him a firm kick. It was not hard, nor was it gentle, but it was enough to excite an anger that surpassed any that Erbrand had known up to that time. Such was the treatment one gave a disobedient dog.

“I’ll be seeing you later in the stocks.” Scyld jeered.

Whether Scyld said this to frighten Erbrand or whether he said it because it was true, Erbrand never found out. In a fight anger is as good as courage. With fingers extended like talons, Erbrand’s hands seized Scyld’s left leg with an iron grip and twisted it. The soldier gave a howl and collapsed next to Erbrand (who lost no time in returning Scyld’s punishment blow for blow). This time Ginna took up the chorus with Frodides.

“Stop it! Fool. You’ll kill him!”

The cry was not heeded. A knife flashed in the sunlight, it was Scyld’s. Erbrand struck relentlessly and hard. Soon he found his fingers around Scyld’s neck, pressing harder and tighter.

“I am not some dog you can kick. I am a man! I am a man!”

Soft small hands grasped his and beat his strong shoulders. Erbrand let go of Scyld’s throat. Ginna and Frodides knelt beside the Scyld. He was not moving.

“Fool!” Frodides said. “You will hang for this. You will hang!”

with this
Erbrand noticed some ladies fetching water from the stream that flowed into the marsh. The women were upstream and there was no worry about Erbrand polluting anything other than swamp water; however, it did not take long for Erbrand to find out their opinions of his revolting work. They sniffed the air and covered their noses. He could hear them exchanging some remarks and one of them was laughing. Erbrand could not stand being scorned at and his work being so unappreciated. In a rage he threw down his pole and angrily marched to where they were gathering water. They were not alone—there was a man with them. The two women were Ginna and Frodides and the man was a soldier, apparently ordered to help the two ladies and not enjoying his job.

The soldier looked up, grimaced and gave a snort. “Phhew! I came for drinking water, but looks like you came for a bath. ” Erbrand felt his rage rekindled.

“And who in tarnation are you to scorn me?” Erbrand bellowed. “Would you warm your hands in leather gloves? Saddle or bridle your horse? Do you dance to the sound of the drum or lace the chords of your armor? What about the bellows that heats the forge? It’s leather! Stinking leather. Do you want good shoes or do you not? Shall I create padding for the lord’s chairs? I hunt and trap for animals and I feed Scarburg with their meat and give people tools that make it possible for them to do their jobs. Why then do you scorn me?”

The soldier simply stared at him. Frodides and Ginna were doing the same although they were a bit more surprised at the outburst. Erbrand let out a long breath before finishing in a calmer yet sill annoyed voice.

“Now, let me get on with my scraper and dung, you hold your nostrils and hold your tongues.” Erbrand turned to leave when a pebble hit him in the back.

“Hey, tanner, watch your tongue.”

“I’m not in the mood today, soldier.” Erbrand said with particular emphasized scorn on the word soldier.

“Name’s Scyrr. And looks like you need to be taught some manners for your betters.”

That was all the provocation Erbrand needed. He spun round and with a mighty yell ran at the Scyrr. The soldier, however, expected this struck a sidelong blow sending Erbrand spinning but not falling. Frodides and Ginna yelled at the two to stop. Blood was spilt, it was too late as Erbrand made apparent as he untied his leather apron and tossed it aside. There was a wild gleam in Erbrand’s eyes as he rushed again. He leaped, hoping to tackle Scyrr, but the swarthy soldier stepped aside. Scyrr laughed as Erbrand spat tufts of mossy grass from his mouth.

"Hope you learnt your lesson, tanner."

Another exclamation of rage escaped Erbrand’s lips. Again and again Erbrand was struck down until his nose was bleeding and his gums were cut. For the fifth time Erbrand arose, sagging, bleeding and weary. Scyrr had been unhurt, keeping Erbrand at bay with ease.
“Do you still wish to continue?” Scyrr asked, smiling.

Again Erbrand rushed at him in rage. Again the soldier stepped aside, tripping Erbrand.
“Enough! Stop this nonsense!” Frodides exclaimed.

The soldier regarded the woman and turned back to Erbrand giving him a kick on the calf. It was not hard, nor was it gentle, but it was enough to excite an anger that surpassed any that Erbrand had known up to that time. Such was the treatment one gave a disobedient dog.

“I’m done - for today”, Scyrr said.

Whether Scyrr said this to frighten Erbrand or whether he said it because it was true, Erbrand never found out. In a fight anger is as good as courage. With fingers extended like talons, Erbrand’s hands seized Scyrr’s left leg with an iron grip and twisted it. The soldier gave a howl and collapsed next to Erbrand (who lost no time in returning Scyrr’s punishment blow for blow). This time Ginna took up the chorus with Frodides.

“Stop it! Fools. Before somebody gets hurt badly!”

The cry was not heeded. A knife flashed in the sunlight, it was Scyrr’s.

"Get off my leg or I'll sting you with this!" the soldier growled.

Erbrand struck relentlessly and hard. Soon he found his fingers around Scyrr’s neck, pressing harder and tighter.

“I am not some dog you can kick. I am a man! I am a man!”

Soft small hands grasped his and beat his strong shoulders. Erbrand let go of Scyrr’s throat. Ginna and Frodides knelt beside the Scyrr. He was not moving.

“Fools!” Frodides cursed.
Ginna's face was pale when she tried to find his pulse. “If he's dead ... Erbrand, if he's dead, you will hang for this.”

? Thanks a lot already in advance! :)

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

Edited!! ~*~ Pio

[Eorl of Rohan]

I would prefer not to tinker with other people's characters if I could help it. Too much danger of ruffling other people's feathers. I will just make a new NPC healer character called Jaheira Lannister who is under the supervision of Lady Aedhel, and if Nerindel comes back and would like to involve her character in Scyrr's storyline, then I could always rewrite/edit my post so as to make it Aedhel herself who cured Scyrr. But what about my intended post with Scyrr and Kara, does that pass inspection?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

I would prefer not to tinker with other people's characters if I could help it. Too much danger of ruffling other people's feathers. I will just make a new NPC healer character called Jaheira Lannister who is under the supervision of Lady Aedhel, and if Nerindel comes back and would like to involve her character in Scyrr's storyline, then I could always rewrite/edit my post so as to make it Aedhel herself who cured Scyrr. But what about my intended post with Scyrr and Kara, does that pass inspection?

Well, maybe I would suggest patience for a while and waiting if Nerindel wants to post for Aedhel in this situation. After all, that way it would be a chance for her character to interact with Scyrr, which will be a good tool to develop relations between characters, which is, in my opinion, the main point of this kind of RPG. So maybe just wait with it at least a while to give Nerindel a chance to post (also it does not make sense to overflood the Scarburg with NPCs, especially if they will be just for "one use", when there are player characters who can have the same function).

[Eorl of Rohan]

Sorry, I didn't read your post until I finished posting. Besides, I have no intention of using one-time NPCs, Jaheira is now also my character :D Anyway, I left it open-ended. Jaheira is an assistant healer, a bumbling and confused one, in fact (okay, I admit it, her personality is exactly like mine), so her task is to keep Scyrr stabilized until Lady Aedhel comes.

As for the last appeal of Jaheira, asking someone to come and help keep Scyrr awake, any character in vicinity (and any roleplayer) can pick up on it! (If one of the Scarburg people, then Scyrr would owe his life to him and it might serve to heal the rift. If one of the Athanar's men, then Scyrr would try recruiting him in his crusade against the Scarburg people.)

[Thinlómien]

Good post, Eorl and I 100% approve of your enthusiasm, but I would still consider the matter of an assistant healer. I think Nerindel should have her say on any assistants her character might have, especially as it's something never before thought of.

Also, the introduction of an assitant healer creates some illogalicaties - no one has ever interacted with her before although she's presumably been around all along. Otherwise I wouldn't think it a problem but given the small size of the Scarburgian community, it's quite difficult to explain why she hasn't been mentioned at all at any point and hasn't been around when most needed (ie when Eodwine was sick, it was Aedhel looking after him, assisted by Modtryth - if there had been an assistant healer she would've been there instead of the all-around household maid who's also currently working as a kind of pregnancy consultant :D).

I would therefore suggest that if/since you want to keep Jaheira, we make her one of Athanar's party. She could even be the healer of his household, come with good recommendations but not really being ready or self-confident at all... or something like that. What say you Nog? And Nerindel? And Eorl?

Eorl, I'm sorry if I sound like I'm bashing your idea 'cos that's definitely not what I'm trying to do, but I think you're moving a bit too fast for us others to keep in pace. :D So (since we are in Rohan), please hold your horses for a second and we'll (and that "we" includes you, of course) sort out where your new character would best fit in.

Meanwhile, you can use your energy for coming up with a bio (http://www.forum.barrowdowns.com/showpost.php?p=551138&postcount=8)for Jaheira (still assuming you're intent on keeping her, sorry I didn't get a totally clear picture)... ;)

[Thinlómien]

PS. I'm not writing anything before the healer episode gets settled since my characters are more or less involved in the mess.

[Nogrod]

I would therefore suggest that if/since you want to keep Jaheira, we make her one of Athanar's party. She could even be the healer of his household, come with good recommendations but not really being ready or self-confident at all... or something like that. What say you Nog? And Nerindel? And Eorl?That would be an excellent idea. We hadn't thought of a healer belonging to lord Athanar's retinue, but surely there should be one. So I kind of like the idea. Would that fit your ideas abut her Eorl?

[Eorl of Rohan]

I would still consider the matter of an assistant healer. I think Nerindel should have her say on any assistants her character might have.

Sorry, sometimes I let my ideas run away with me, I'm afraid.
You bring up a valid point, Lommy, as always. I will edit my post so as to make Jaheira one of Lord Athanar's retinue.


Eorl, I'm sorry if I sound like I'm bashing your idea 'cos that's definitely not what I'm trying to do, but I think you're moving a bit too fast.

No, I appreciate it. :D And I will try my best to meld in with the general flow, too.

Would that fit your ideas abut her Eorl?

Sure! Just give me a moment to tweak her bio a bit...

[Thinlómien]

Good that things are under control :D

I shall post for Wulfric soon. He told a local woman to fecth a healer "if they have one" so I think he would've forgotten about Jaheira... which can of course be explained (given that he hasn't been around much at Athanar's place until the move to Scarburg) or then he'd have some reason to mistrust her. :D Shall think about it...

[Folwren]

Good heavens, I checked this last on Monday, and tons of stuff has taken place. Good gracious me. I don't know if I will ever read everything posted here on the Discussion thread, but I glanced over much of it, and I guess I'll have to check the game thread.

My two cents on the healer situation: I would say, don't use a new character or NPC. Athanar would not necessarily have a healer in his household as he came from Edoras, where there would be a healer in the city. Use Aedhel. There's really little reason to create another character who's position is already filled and who will probably be forgotten by the time we need her again.

About Kara being confronted...haha...when you first said, "find her alone in the woods' you can well imagine that my first thought encompassed the worst case scenerio (well, not WORST case scenerio, which would include death, but, you know). I'm glad to see that you weren't planning THAT.

I had forgotten Crabannan. But, then, I think that just about any old-Scarburgian man would be pretty much furious if they found anyone threatening her. (Or any of the women.)

Durelin and Nogrod: I understood Athanar's command to the commanders to organize the search parties, send them off, and then the two of them report themselves to him instead of going out with hte search parties. Durelin apparently understood it to mean the two of them go with the searchers... I'm thinking of having Thornden mentioning my position on the matter. but I'd like to know - what did Athanar mean?

I'll try to get caught up and get something posted today...........er..........maybe....

-- Foley

[Folwren]

Durelin, I posted, and as I did, I realized that what Thornden just said might be really contraversial. Oh boy.

I also spoke for Coenred, please tell me how to correct it.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Durelin and Nogrod: I understood Athanar's command to the commanders to organize the search parties, send them off, and then the two of them report themselves to him instead of going out with hte search parties.That was actually what I thought... Well, let's see how this works out.

No problem.

[Eorl of Rohan]

My two cents on the healer situation: I would say, don't use a new character or NPC.

Does this mean that I should delete my last post?
(Because I have no problems with deleting it if you think it best. :) )

About Kara being confronted...haha...when you first said, "find her alone in the woods' you can well imagine that my first thought encompassed the worst case scenerio. I'm glad to see that you weren't planning THAT.

Eeh... :eek: Scyrr hasn't fallen THAT far. Neither have I, for that matter.