The Threat of the Trees: Discussion Thread

[Bêthberry]

Ithaeliel, Mattius, Brinniel and Auriel invite you to play their game, The Threat of the Trees.

Title: The Threat of the Trees

Basic Storyline: Isengard was taken back and reinhabited by Gondor after the War of the Ring, and has since begun to heal the wounds inflicted upon it by Saruman. Those who live there do not trouble the lands surrounding Isengard; rather they have attempted to make them better as much as they can. The inhabitants of Isengard and Orthanc dwell in peace, never giving anyone or anything reason to harm them, but of late they have suffered ill occurences.

In nearby Fangorn Forest, the treeherders known as the Ents have retreated deep into the heart of the wood and to the north, and there are few of them in number still, and yet fewer who are aware of their surroundings. The huorns in the outer regions of the forest have been left to move rampant, to take their paths as they will; and for whatever reason they have become hostile, even vicious. Lately they have travelled quite close to Isengard. Strangely, at around the same time, small human children and infants have disappeared, while strong, grown men vanish strangely, only to be found a few days later-- dead and mangled, as though crushed by strong hands other than those of a man. The people of Isengard are sure the huorns are responsible for these acts.

Quite recently, the High King of Gondor has heard of these terrible happenings, and he has come to stay at Isengard, greatly upset and worried for his people. He is faced with a problem: the Ents are out of the reach of any one man, unaware of the danger that Isengard's people face, and he does not want to annihilate the huorns, who were once only the fear of orcs. The king has sent messengers out in all directions, to seek out and return with anyone who has the courage to find the source of the huorns' sudden change in demeanor.

The purpose of the story is to .... Find the reason for the huorns' hostility, find the Ents, eliminate the problem to protect the inhabitants of Isengard.

This means we will know the story is over when .... The huorns return to normal and/or the Ents are able to manage them.

Starting Location: We will come from our various locations and meet up at Orthanc.

Likely destination: Fangorn Forest

Timeframes :

i) This game takes place in the Fourth Age at around year 1048.

ii) The story itself or plot covers three to four months.

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

Characters :

Main character types are ....Men of Gondor/Isengard (both under the same king), dwarves, elves of Mirkwood and Ithilien, and any other of the free peoples common to Middle-earth at this time.

Secondary character types likely are .... Ents, huorns if you fancy a challenge.

Character types which would not belong .... There cannot be many elves from Lorien or Rivendell; there are few in Middle-earth by now from both those places. Also, hobbits- unless your character was wandering outside the Shire when he or she was caught by a messenger. Men are not allowed in the Shire at this point.

I (Ithaeliel) will be playing one character; a ranger elf who I played also in The Blue Mountains RPG.

Name: Endereth Naurelyr
Age: 3872 (2876 at time of Blue Mountains)
Race: Noldorin Elf
Rank: Commoner
Appearance: Icy blue eyes, fair of face, long straight black hair, wears heavy dark blue cape and hood and mithril mail under it.
History: She was born and raised in Lothlorien, but at a young age went a-shouldering with a small group of rangers to the western parts of Middle-earth (Shire, Lake Nenuial, Blue Mountains, etc.). After her fellows were slain while she was out on errand, she wandered alone, grieving for them. Endereth met her companions Mattius, Calentoliel, Rothalle, Radagast the Brown, and Faye Took in the forest below the Ered Luin not long after her companions were killed. While with them she discovered a gift of great magic (see below), and after they went their separate ways she returned to Lorien for a short while, then wandered alone to places she had not been before, in the south of Middle-earth.
Personality: Quiet and placid, yet independent. She is also a sad soul, and seems to carry a terrible burden. She does not believe she will be able to go to Valinor because of her abandoning Lorien.
Weapons/gear/abilities: She carries a long, deadly mithril-edged sword forged after her old one was shattered, some waybread, rope, and some medicines for minor injuries. She has extensive mental prowess; her greatest ability is to be able to see and speak to the dead in the Halls of Mandos, and when in need to speak to Mandos himself. She can cross the line between dead and living if her power is great enough.

The first post for the game: (Combination of Mattius and Ithaeliel's):

Mattius laid down into the golden foliage with a sigh of delight. The fall and autumn leaves crackled under his weight as the elf put his hands behind his head. The little river sang close by and birds harmonised beside it. Opening his eyes he looked up at the streams of brilliant sunlight breaking through the naked treetops. He still liked the Golden Wood; even a thousand years after Galadriel had left, Lorien still had something magical and elvish about it.

He sat up and looked for Radagast, the wizard was a few feet away, kneeling down and filling up a flask from the small stream. The birds were dancing about him as he chatted back to them cheerfully. With a straining groan he pushed himself to his feet and the birds flew skywards. Mattius jumped to his feet but spun around when he heard horses hooves on the ground. Indeed there was a tall man dressed in the garb of Gondor riding a tall brown horse.

"Greetings!" Radagast said as the rider slowed his stallion and jumped down.

"Good afternoon to the pair of you," he replied, "I am Arthos, Messenger of Gondor." The man removed his helm to reveal his shoulder length black hair and shook hands with the elf and Radagast. "I travel to the Northern Kingdoms of the Dale and The Lonely Mountain but came to these woods to search for a river or stream where I may refill my water supplies."

"Then you have struck luck good sir," said Mattius leading him to the stream and helping him fill his flasks. "May I ask why you are heading so far north of Gondor, for it is a long ride?"

"Indeed you may and indeed it is," Arthos said standing up to face the two travellers. "The King is in search of a hero, there has been problems in Fangorn." At this Radagast's mind sparked.

"Fangorn?" He asked in a calm voice.

"Yes I'm afraid so, people have been going in and are not being seen again. That wasn't so bad, people just tended to avoid it but just recently...." Arthos' voice trailed off.

"Yes?" Radagast said almost screaming.

"Well, bodies began to be found, ripped to shreds and now there are rumours of children being stolen from their beds during the dead of night. Things are looking really bad." For just a second Mattius caught the look in Radagast's eyes. Pure fear. "But I must be on my way, thank you for your help gentlemen." With that he put his helm back on, mounted his horse and rode north.

"What is wrong, Radagast?" asked Mattius.


The wizard looked up at the elf. "We need to go to Isengard immediately." Mattius nodded as Radagast began to walk south in deep thought. He would give Radagast time to speak his worries, one thousand years of being with him had let him know when to leave him be.

****************

It was dusk in Lorien.

The ever-darkening clouds loomed overhead, their grey mass turned different shades of pink in the wake of the sun. Far beyond, to the east, a vast canvas of sky gave off flaming auras of all the colors of a rainbow. Amid the painted wisps of cloud and air was an orb of dark gold, ever sinking further toward the deeps of the world.

It was on such an evening that Endereth walked through the woods of Lothlorien again, after many, many years. Only shortly after her escapades in the Blue Mountains had she even set foot in the land she had once called home. But long since then she was a ranger. She had no home.
In her travels she had descried many processions of her people on their way to Valinor. Her heart broke again and again each time she saw them, for she knew they would never have her among them. She was a lone wayfarer, never to find a home with the elves again. She had forsaken them for her own desires long ago.

Now, as Endereth walked through the Golden Wood, once great and lit with the magic of the Lady of Light, she was taken aback at the magnitude of its fading. No sunlight shone now through the trees, and the golden leaves of winter were not nearly so wondrous as they once had been. Still they fell in numbers at her feet as she wrapped her dark cloak tighter still about her chilled body. The whole wood seemed to shrink before Ender's feet as her clear, icy eyes beheld a land shrouded in dusky silver.

Ahead of her there was an opening in the trees, leading to the shining waters of the river Nimrodel. Beside it, a tall bey mare was leashed to a tree. She neighed and lifted her head slightly as Endereth approached. The ranger gave a wry smile and stroked the mare's neck. "Yes, I remember it too, Caeren. It used to be glorious, but no longer. Now, let us move on."

The elven ranger mounted her steed hastily and they made east, following Nimrodel upstream, as the last sliver of sun sank behind the hills. Its light still gave a golden hue to Ender's face as she left Lorien; for the last time, she thought. Her back turned to the forest, she was surprised to hear three voices speaking with serious tones. Sliding off of Caeren's back, Endereth ran to the source of the voices, though their persuns were hidden from view. As soon as she believed she was close enough, Ender gave a startled cry to see a messenger of the King of Gondor ride away quickly. Just a few feet away she heard the two remaining voices speak.

"What is wrong, Radagast?"

Ender stifled a gasp. Radagast? Was Radagast the Brown, wizard and bird-lover, truly here in Lorien?

"We need to go to Isengard immediately." It was the voice of Radagast. Endereth would know the commanding tone anywhere. And it must have been Mattius with him!

As Radagast appeared and began to walk southward, Endereth walked out from behind a tree, breathless, unsure of what to say. A strong-looking, fair-haired elf looked up as she appeared, looked down again, and did a double-take. "Endereth!" he shouted.

Radagast whipped around at Mattius' cry, his eyes growing wide, and he smiled in spite of himself. "Why, if it isn't the ranger Endereth! Mae govannem, my dear."

"Mae govannem, my old companions," Endereth replied, still reeling from the shock of seeing the two there of all places. "May I ask you both... what has just occured that requires a venture to Isengard?"

* * * * *

Other information of special interest that you would like to include: This is, in case you haven't already found out, a sequel to the RPG The Blue Mountains


Proposer/Owner (Please use your Barrow Downs ID): Ithaeliel, Mattius, Brinniel and Auriel (proposal sent in by Ithaeliel)

Contact : PM Ithaeliel please!

Thank you!

[ April 07, 2003: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[mark12_30]

Thanks to Ithaeliel for acceptance into the game, and pleased to be here...

Character bio:

LinGalad: song-tree (frequently also interpreted as song-light.) A comparatively young, common, Silvan Mirkwood elf on travel for the first time.

Looks: dressed in greens and browns of fair quality (not superb), blond and grey-eyed, and of reasonable (but not stunning) elvish looks. Average parents, average upbringing. (Reminds one more of the common Mirkwood elves in The Hobbit, than of Legolas.)

Craftsmanship: by trade LinGalad is a ropemaker and a rope-ladder maker, apprenticed to a master Rope-maker. LinGalad is quite good at ladder-knots and competent at rope-weaving-- if somebody supplies him the hithlain. He is, however, not skilled at harvesting hithlain himself, and cannot tell good hithlain from bad til he starts to weave the rope.

Main artistic skill: Singing. He's an above-average singer, under the tutelage of an older Mirkwood Songmaster. Most people find his singing quite enjoyable. His peculiar talent is that the trees in Mirkwood also have been known to enjoy his singing. About ninety-percent of the time, when he sings around the trees in Mirkwood/Greenwood, it's something they (the trees) like. Being young and inexperienced, occasionally he's been known to accidentally offend them, but he still can't figure out why or how.

Swordsmanship and knife-wielding: fair-to-middling and improving with practice.

Bow skills: Somewhat erratic. He never practiced at home. Good when he's lucky, which is often enough; but bad if he gets up on the wrong side of the flet.

Fears: the unknown. LinGalad doesn't know what he can and cannot handle. This adventuring business turns out to be more complicated than ropemaking and singing. However, he's not going home in disgrace and is determined to stick it out.

General description: he is normally eager to please; easy-going, and wants to be liked; doesn't entirely trust himself, and can hesitate under pressure. He is occasionally prone to pensive solitary brooding (hence his nickname, Linnornë: song-solitary tree) but he is easily brought out of it by cheerful company.

Why he comes to Isengard: When Mirkwood hears about the Huorn problem, the Mirkwood Songmaster considers LinGalad's tree-serenading skills, and convinces the Master Rope-Maker that it would be a good idea to send him, hoping to develop his potential (under pressure). LinGalad, being young and eager to please, swallows his uneasiness, musters up some courage, collects his (slightly dusty) weapons and obediently heads off to Isengard, having no clue what he will find.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Hello! I've been waiting for the sequel to the Blue Mountains, and I'm glad that the discussion thread is already up! If it's alright, I'd like to 'audition' for this game, so here's my character!

Name: Ajada
Age: 18
Race: Human (Female)

Physical Appearance: Ajada’s hazy blue-grey eyes shine mischievously above freckles that dot the girl’s cheeks, thanks to the summer sun. Her dark brown curly hair is unruly and sometimes frizzy, and is always pulled back and tied at the nape of her neck. Ajada hates being short, for it always limits her visibility over large crowds.

History: Ajada grew up in Minas Tirith, the daughter of a writer and a counselor to the king. Her father, the counselor, died soon after Ajada's birth, of some sickness that Ajada was never told about. Ajada's mother schooled her during her youth, and Ajada became quite the little writer, just like her mother. Her mother died when Ajada was fourteen, and Ajada and her older brother had to find a way to support themselves. Ajada became an apprentice to a record-keeper of Gondor, and continued her writing and work as she lived with the man and his family in their shop.

Personality: Ajada has little tolerance for people who keep their heads in the clouds, or who are blatantly uneducated. Ajada would like to call herself witty and clever, and as an actress would she tries her hardest to play the part perfectly. She often lectures others for what she’d deem as being ‘fluffy’, ‘unrealistic’, and ‘overly ambitious’. Ajada usually has a totally down-to-earth view of her surroundings and the world.

Ajada hardly believes in the classical fairytale or make believe, but loves to do an authors work in narrating her own daily life. Treating everything like a news report, Ajada has a good memory for details and events. Ajada’s opinion of almost everything is incredibly overstated and exaggerated, and it typically isn’t safe to take her word for things while she’s on the job. Ajada is really paranoid when she talks to people about a story she’s “cooking up”, and she tends to think that because she’s reporting something, everyone is out to get her. "Or so my sources say!" is a common phrase with Ajada, for she is deathly afraid of someone overhearing and quoting her to use everything against her. One might say Ajada works too hard, and that creeping down hallways on tiptoe or somersaulting across open doorways is too eccentric for her, but Ajada takes her job very seriously.

Mysteries and tragedies are Ajada’s specialty. She often hangs around the guards, dropping subtle hints about a possible thievery, or perhaps a conspiracy or plot to assassinate the king (or anything else her imagination can think of). Ajada, like any daughter of a well-known writer, knows several different languages and has a good mind for politics. Ajada has the bad habit of cursing in three different languages if she runs out of ink or gets into trouble with the guards. Ajada can be quite nosy, and overly suspicious of anything and everything. Ajada will jumps to conclusions more than she should, and enjoys a good suspect chase.

Weapons: Seeing Ajada with her ink, pen, and paper scares almost anybody away as if it were a great sword or bow. Ajada doesn’t know anything about weapons, as she never really needed to.

Reason for Going to Isengard: Her master, the record-keeper, felt the need to send one of his apprentices on the adventure to document the happenings. As Ajada's father was close to the King (Or the King's father, depending on how the game owners want to depict the man!), the King allowed her to go along and help all she could.


There! If anything else is needed, like a first post or something, just let me know! I'm glad you all got the discussion thread up (finally smilies/smile.gif)!

Aylwen

[ June 24, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Ithaeliel]

Hello all! I'm so glad we finally got the discussion up... I'm really anxious and excited to start! Thank you to the reviewers and the moderators.

Mark12_30: Great character! LinGalad is very realistic.

Aylwen: Scribing once again, dear Jemel? smilies/wink.gif Great profile; you're accepted. You might need a weapon once we get to Fangorn, though.

Great to have you both! Looking forward to more!

Sincerely,
Ithaeliel

[Brinniel]

I'm very happy to see that the discussion thread is finally up. It's exciting to see these new characters and I can't wait to get started.

Alright, here is my updated profile on Calentoliel:

Name: Calentoliel
Gender: Female
Race: Elven
Age: unknown, though it is believed she is over 2000
Family: It is believed that Calentoliel may be a distant descendent of Luthien (though how she is related is unknown).
Weapons: An old broadsword that appears to be quite ordinary and two daggers she conceals in her boots.
Talents: Calentoliel has the gift of song. By singing, she has the ability to bring harm to those who attack her, heal open wounds, and create illusions. Unfortunately, this comes at a price. Each time Calentoliel uses her magic, she loses a bit of her strength. Lately, she has been working on to improve her stamina and now is less affected by the results of the use of her magic. Still, she will only sing when she needs to.
Appearance: 6’2”, fair skin, black eyes, black hair that is loosely braided down to her waist. She wears black loose fitting clothing and a black cloak.
Personality: Calm, quiet, protective of her friends, and always aware. But she can be impatient and sometimes temperamental. She tries to be optimistic, but sometimes fails.
History: Calentoliel was only a child when her life was dramatically changed. The Black Beast (from The Blue Mountains RPG) attacked her and separated her from her sister, Rothalle. She was later found wandering near Rivendell, with no memory of her past.

Calentoliel’s life remained quite ordinary until she enter the Blue Mountains. It was there she took part in the quest to destroy the Black Beast, the creature that haunted her past. It was there she met Endereth, Mattius, Radagast the Brown, Faye Took, and Olo Gamwich. And it was there she was reunited with her sister, Rothalle, and rediscovered her past.

Since her adventure in the Blue Mountains, Calentoliel has traveled many places with her sister as they both became reacquainted with each other. Unfortunately, their paths parted ten years ago when Rothalle made the decision to leave Middle-earth. Calentoliel’s heart broke in two when she learned of Rothalle’s decision, for she knew she would not be coming with her. Her time on Middle-earth was not yet completed and Calentoliel felt more adventures awaited her. After Rothalle’s departure, Calentoliel has become quite lonely, for she has not seen her old friends from the Blue Mountains since they had destroyed the Black Beast. Recently, she had a premonition that the adventure she had been waiting for would be come to be shortly, and since then Calentoliel has wandered the lands, waiting for a new sign of this adventure.

[Manardariel]

Hi! This RPG sounds really interesting- can I play, even though I wasn´t in The Blue Mountains? Here´s my profile, I hope it´s ok with you!

Name: Anarya
Age: 25
From: Minas Anor
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Weapon: sword
Rank: Commoner
Looks: pale face, dark brown hair and blue eyes- she´s certainly not beutiful, but has a look of spirit and determination in her face. She´s rather tall and thin. Her hair´s always braided, her face is usually dirty from her work (see down). Wears plain dresses in red, black or white

Character: As the oldest of five daughters, it was her who took over the family´s Blacksmith buisiness in Minas Anor. She loves her job and is a very talanted, concentrated worker. She´s a quite, yet passionate person, very determind and very self- diciplined. When life would hand her a lemon, her pragmatic and optimistic self would not even consider NOT making lemonade. Mostly on account of her job, she usually deals with men and knowns exactly how to do that. A very good haggeler, she can sometimes get very direct in her way of expression. She´s not a romantic person, and because she doesn´t see the need of having a husband, she doesn´t have one. This leads to another important trait: one of her biggest concerns is that people don´t take her work as a Blacksmith seriously because she´s a woman. That´s probably one of her greatest weeknesses.

Flaws: her fear of not being accepeted and/or respected because of her gender; her very direct and very undiplomatic ways

Why she´s come to Isengard: Blacksmith buisiness hasn´t gone well in Minas Anor this year. She decides to go to Isengard because she figures there might be need of blacksmith work to be done: The travellers will need armours, maybe a new sword hilt, horses may need horse shoes etc etc. When she comes there she decides to join the company after all- mainly because she just wants something new happening, also because there was some sort of missunderstanding.

Skills: all a blacksmith must know, oviously. But she´s also very good with the sword, and has a special connection to horses.

Posessions: her blacksmith things; a sword she´s made herself and named "Firespirit"; and her beutiful and loyal horse Daelinde.

Yeah, that´s her. Let me know what you think, ok?

[DayVampyre]

**Walks in and looks around somewhat nervously**

Hello all, this RPG sounds like a good one and I'd like to place an audition, if I may?


Name: Avery
Age:17
Eyes: blue
Hair: red[natural colored, not like fire
engine color]

Clothing:heavy black pants and boots, white shirt made out of light loose fitting material[the long sleeves have been ripped off and are about elbow length] when it is cold out she wears a large black coat

Weapons: a knife concealed in her boot, and a sword hanging off the left side of her belt

History: Avery was born in a small village in Gondor. She ran away from home when she was 10. Her reasoning was that her family were just farmers and Avery would just as soon cut off her right arm than be doomed to tilling earth for the rest of her life. She travelled to a nearby large city and there picked up the fine art of thievery. She soon became one of the most wanted thieves in the city and for up to seven years had not been caught. However during a bank raid, Avery was caught. Sentenced to hang for her crimes, Avery was offered a way out. Go into the Fanghorn and find out why the Huorns are being malevolent. Not knowing the dangers of the Fangorn, not knowing that she would moat likely not come out again, Avery took the judge's offer.

Demeanor: Friendly and enjoys a goodtime. But Avery can also be a ruthless crimnal, silent and steathliness is what had kept her from the guards clutches for so many years.

Other markings/traits: Avery wears three small sliver hoops in each ear and a tattoo of a dragon on the underside of her left forearm. Is a very pretty young woman[which has also gotten her out of a few scrapes] but however her life on the city streets has left her little time for studies, Avery is not even literate.

I hope you like it I'll be happy to fix anything if you like...

[Ithaeliel]

Manardariel: Wow, your character sounds a lot like me in personality... she's very good and we'll need her skills, considering what we're up against. Welcome to the RPG!

DayVampyre: Ooh, tough chick! Great profile! Avery's accepted as well.

My, but we do have a lot of young ladies from Minas Tirith,don't we...? smilies/wink.gif We'd like a few more male characters as well, though, to balance it out.

Brinniel: Good to see you here! *Ender gives Cal a high-five*

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Could I use a character that I used in an RPG in the shire please? the other RPG was set around the time of the war of the ring, so it is conceivable that he could have left Lothlorien to wander and end up in fangorn at this time.

Name- Telpeheled
Age- around 1500
Race- Elf of Lorien

Looks- typical Lorien elf with blonde hair and blue eyes, wears dark green and is expert at camouflaging himself with the trees,thoughtful face and demeanour for the most part though when with people he is almost always seen smiling.

Character- An ex-elf guard of Lorien, young and inexperienced of the world. Very curious of anything to do with humans, loves to talk to them, find out about them, etc. He also loves trees, in typical Elf-fashion. Wandering in Fangorn to try to meet ents, which he heard rumour of. Formerly a very happy person, into female elves, jokes etc so loneliness is starting to chafe now. So he'll be grateful to help if it means company, as long as he doesn't have to kill anyone.

History- Fought a big battle against orcs and easterlings which led him to grow tired of warfare and eager to know more about humans. He left his home to find out more about the world and has wandered since.

Weapons/gear/abilities- Fairly talented with bow and sword though doesn't like to use them much. He does carry his weapons everywhere though. His best ability is to get on with, and see the best in everyone, and cheer people up with a well timed joke! (or occassionally not so well timed)

Just to check, is this too similar to the other elf characters?

[ March 29, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Ooh, can I join? Pleeeeease? smilies/biggrin.gif
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Character: Elwing
Gender: Female
Race: Hobbit

Bio: Elwing has been a wanderer for many years. Her parents cast her off when she was a baby, but luckily she was rescued by kind Wood-Elves who took pity on her. They fostered her in their homes and taught her in the Elvish way until she was old enough to fend for herself. Elwing usually wanders around Rohan and Fangorn upon her black pony Dae, although sometimes she does visit further-off places. Elwing also has a hawk, Skeet, whom she healed and tamed.

Appearance: Elwing has long golden hair, which is rare among the Halflings, and dark green eyes. She has a deep blue cloak and is dressed in male attire, as riding in a skirt is not at all practical. Her trousers are knee-length and dark brown and her shirt is a creamy white with black buttons. Elwing does have a backpack, but it is small and only carries her most necessary things.

Weapons: As she was raised by the Elves, Elwing is an archer. She has a bow and quiver which is always full of arrows. The feathers on her arrows are her trademark, dark blue. Elwing also has a large dagger. It has a silver blade and the hilt is black, with green vines entwining around it. Her weapons are her pride and joy. She would be terribly upset if anything happened to them. She usually does not pick fights, as her weapons are only for defense. She is good with her bow and dagger. Elwing also likes to laugh and is always up for a pint, as is her true Hobbit nature.

[ March 29, 2003: Message edited by: Horse-Maiden of the Shire ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Scribing once again, dear Jemel?

You know me, Ith! I tried to find another pretty 'J' name, but all the ones I liked sounded too arabic for a Tolkien RPG. smilies/frown.gif Oh well!

C'mon, lets get some guys in this game!

Aylwen

[VanimaEdhel]

Brinniel said that I should type in my personality, so here it is:

Name: Kalir
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: twenty-three
Birthplace: near Isengard
Physical Appearance: Kalir is an even six feet tall and very strong from work in the fields. He has dusty, dark brown hair and grey eyes. He wears the garb of a farmer, dressed fairly simply, for that is what he is. He fights with his father's old sword and he can use a bow and arrows.
History: Kalir was born to farming in the year 1025 near Isengard, the former stronghold of Saruman in the Third Age. He has one sibling, a sister of fifteen years of age named Ziral, of whom he is very protective. He grew up with his family there, and planned to be a farmer too. However, one day his father and one of his best friends, Pharir. A few days later, their bodies turned up, dead and mangled. Rumors had it that the huorns were responsible for the deaths and that the Ents had lost control of them. Kalir, therefore, planned on doing whatever was necessary to solve the problems and to insure the safety of his mother and sister. Being the only man in the family now, he deemed it his responsibility to protect them and to find what evil was causing the deaths and disappearances.
Personality: Kalir has been raised his whole life to be a farmer. He does not know much of the outside world except through what he has heard in rumor and from tales from his father, who had, apparently, travelled briefly in his youth. He thinks of Elves as sacred, and is pretty open to all races that are considered to be "good" and not "dark" or "evil".
Strengths: Kalir is good at living off of the land and knows the area very well, as he lived near Isengard most of his life. He is physically strong and large.
Weaknesses: Kalir may have some naive views of the world. He still thinks of things as being strictly "black and white" with no in between. He may also be a bit overly awed with the Elves and their beauty.
How he would meet up: He would travel from his farm near Isengard to Orthanc, hoping for explanations to the problem. He could find out what was happening and promise to aid and come along on the quest.
Transportation: He has a swift family horse named Baragalap. Baragalap is a 17 hand bay horse with a white star. He is about 12 years old, so he still has fairly many good years left in him.

If you accept me, I can change anything you want from that. Thank you, again, everyone!

[ March 29, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Brinniel]

Lyra Greenleaf - Your character sounds fine. But if he lived in Lorien at the time of the War of the Ring, he needs to be much older (look at the time the story is set).

Horse-Maiden of the Shire- I'm afraid your character Elwing doesn't seem very realistic or believable to me. Perhaps you could try writing a bio for a character other than a hobbit.

VanimaEdhel- Kalir sounds great! It'll be interesting to see his reaction when he first meets the elves.

[Ithaeliel]

Horse-Maiden: I agree that Elwing does not sound too realistic, and hobbits were one of the races not recommended. Why don't you try the same personality, but as a human with a different history? Or, even easier, portray her as a wood-elf.

Wow, this discussion sure attracted a lot of people pretty quickly... I think we'll have a few more spots, though. Here's everyone on board so far:

Ithaeliel as Endereth- Noldorin elf
Mattius as Mattius- Elf/Wizard
Auriel Haevasawen as Radagast the Brown- Istari
Brinniel as Calentoliel- Elf(/Maia?)
Mark12_30/Helen as LinGalad- Silvan elf
Aylwen Dreamsong as Ajada- Human of Gondor
Manardariel as Anarya- Human of Gondor
DayVampyre as Avery- Human of Gondor
Lyra Greenleaf as Telpeheled- Elf of Lorien
Horse-Maiden of the Shire as Elwing(?)- Elf? Human?
VanimaEdhel as Kalir- Human of Isengard (territory of Gondor)

How about a few Ents? Entwives would also be acceptable. It would be incredibly interesting to see some of those types; I might double as an Ent myself. We also may want men of Rohan, since messengers were sent out to all inhabited lands of Middle-earth, save the Shire. Variety is good. I'm happy with the present turnout, though!

[Brinniel]

We also may want men of Rohan
Agreed. We need some humans that are from other than Gondor or Isengard.

How about a few Ents? Entwives would also be acceptable.
Didn't Auriel also want to play a side character as an Ent or Entwife? Of course, we do need more than one person playing them, though.

Where are Matt and Auriel anyways?

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Ooops, I read it as FA 100-and-something!
OK, edited. Do you want first posts?

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Okay! Change "hobbit" to "wood-elf" and I'm all set. Vroom!

[Bêthberry]

If I may briefly step in here with a modest suggestion, in support of both Brinniel's and Ithaeliel's comments...

Horse-Maiden of the Shire, the differences between hobbits and elves are substantial. A simple change in the wording to your character is not sufficient to account for these differences. You need to rethink your character and the nature of the backhistory and rewrite it substantially. Or, consider seriously the game owners' comments about the need for men of Rohan and Ents. Remember, the criterion for inclusion in a game is the need of the story rather than a gamer's desire to be a particular character or race.

This is one of the standards for gaming at Rohan. As is the requirement to be canon or Tolkien friendly. Please ensure that your character remains faithful to the contours of the characters which Tolkien has created and represents the wishes of the game owners.

Thanks in advance for taking these comments into consideration,

Bethberry,
moderator for Rohan

[dragoneyes]

You want a man of Rohan then man of Rohan I shall be.

Name: Aldor
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Birthplace: Edoras
Physical appearance: He has the golden hair typical of Rohan and green eyes. He is around five foot six and wears the armour of the Rohirrim and, being a soldier, can use his spear and bow well.
History: Aldor was born in Edoras in the year 1021, he has two younger sisters, both of which he adores. His mother died during child birth but his father looked after the three of them well. He became a soldier when he was 20 and has done that ever since. He was sent by the king, one of a select few, when he recieved word of the troubles at Isengard though he has not been personally affected.
Personality: He wouldn't usually be the one to start a conversation but once you got talking to him he's quite nice. He's very work orientated and it's very important to him that he does as he is ordered. Promises are also important to him and he tries as hard as he can to keep to his.
Steed: Of course, he rides a fine stallion of Rohan. His name is Brey, he is chestnut in colour and horse and rider are very close.

If anything needs to be changed, I would be only too happy to oblige.

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: dragoneyes ]

[Brinniel]

Aldor looks like a fine character. He's accepted.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

by the way, if you need huorn characters i don't mind doing it as long as it only takes, say, three or four posts. if you need it that is!

[Mattius]

Hey! Fisrt things first great to see this thread up at last! Second, sorry that I have taken a while to reply, weekdays I can get on usually but Fridays and Saturdays are slim to none!

Before I post my bio for Mattius just a couple of comments.

C'mon, lets get some guys in this game!

Don't worry Aylwen, my good pal Radagast the Brown will be here soon and he is the pin-up boy of all Middle Earth!

DayVamp, I really like your history as a convict and I thought a good way of devoloping it would be to have some sought of guard to go along with her. Their relationship could devop perhaps, only an idea anyway.

Okay, the moment has arrived here is Mattius!

Name- Mattius (his day to day name) or Firnlord (his true elvish name- like his Sunday best).

Age- 1019

Race- Elf but often mistaken as a human

Appearnce- Short spikey blonde hair with icy blue eyes. Six foot tall clad in black and dark green. His long sword is 'Angamarth'- Iron Doom in Elvish (his fathers sword, given to him by the Elves of Lorien 1001 years ago). He also carries many knives and a medium length bow. Attached to his belt and hidden under his cloak is his black mace.

History- Okay lets see. He was born in Lorien but at 1 years of age his parents were killed and he ended up being found by two humans and being brought up in Minas Tirith. At ten years old after the destruction of Sauron, he was returned to Lorien where he learned his true identity and at 18 he set out to avenge his parents deaths. This led him to the Black Beast and also Endereth, Calentoiel, Radagast and company. His sword Angmarth was revieled to be the Blade of Manwe and indeed Manwe conversed with Mattius and helped him and his friends finally destroy the Black Beast in The Blue Mountains. Following its destruction Mattius' power to converse with Manwe disspeared and as the group of friends split up, Mattius travelled with Radagast whom he is still with.

A millenium with Radagast has been of great value to Mattius. They now share a great friendship and the elf has even picked up on some of the wizard's teachings of small magical incarnations.

Personality- Mattius is quick to make friends and although he hardly shows it, misses his old companions dear.

Okay there you go! Only Mr R. the Brown left!

[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ithaeliel]

Do you want first posts?

First posts would be useful. We need to establish where our characters are located at the beginning of the story, and whether some of them in the same places are going to meet up, by accident or on purpose.

Just a tip for everyone: Don't take too long in being told about the problem or getting to Isengard. It should take you 1 to 2½ posts maximum; you'll have to paraphrase. We want this to move along well, without a slow start and a bunch of posts saying, "Where is so-and-so?"

So if you wish, you may put up your first post and we'll get organized. We have almost all our players and should be able to begin soon.

Edit: Welcome, Mattius! Good to see you (nice picture; we should all do that smilies/smile.gif). Now we're only waiting on Auriel...

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

[Mattius]

Auriel will be here soon I'm sure. Hey Ith, on the subject of pictures, did you ever scan your sketch of The Blue Mountain company?

[Brinniel]

nice picture; we should all do that
Yes, visual images are nice. In fact, I think I'll do one.


Calentoliel (http://jonathonart.com/cloakd1.jpg)


Surprise, surprise. It's my old avatar! That's kind of how I imagined her. Except she is wearing more clothing and I believe I said her hair was braided.

Hey, Ith- I thought you were working on a drawing of those from TBM. Aren't you done yet?

EDIT: Looks like you beat me to that last question, Matt.

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Hmmm...after looking around like a madwoman, I found a picture that might be a good representation of my character: Picture from the fanart at theonering.net (http://img-fan.theonering.net/images/art/1350.jpg)

EDIT: better than the picture?

[ April 01, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Bêthberry]

*coughs*

Folks, large pictures use up bandwidth. Barrow Downs tends to be about words, anyway. Please use links instead. It would be much appreciated.

Bethberry

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]

[Ithaeliel]

This (http://www.jonathonart.com/cath.html) would be the way I'd see Endereth, perhaps as she was walking through Lorien. Pretend she has blue eyes.

did you ever scan your sketch of The Blue Mountain company?

No, but I'm finished with it! Brinniel, could I possibly leave it with you at school so you could take it home and scan it? I'll need Auriel's email before I can send it, but the good news is, it's done!

[Brinniel]

Funny, Ith. I almost used that picture, but decided her hair was too brownish and her eye color was off.

Brinniel, could I possibly leave it with you at school so you could take it home and scan it?
Of course you can. Oooh, I'm excited to see it.

Where is Auriel? We need her.

[Manardariel]

First post you want, first post it shall be! Comig up as soon as I have time. And this (http://www.miranda-richardson.com/laurafraser/lfknight06.jpg) this is sort of how I envision Anarya. It´s from the movie "A knight´s tale", and the character on the pic, Kate, sort of inspired me to Anarya.

[mark12_30]

Uh, the game is still locked, so I'll put this here for now. Once the game opens, I'll delete this copy.

First post:


The green-and-brown clad elf paced steadily across rock and stream and field, all the while eagerly studying the vast expanse of trees on his right-hand side. He really wanted to go through Fangorn Forest itself, but Songmaster's instructions had been clear, and LinGalad reluctantly circled the fringes of the forest and did not travel or sleep within it. He could not resist peering into the eaves, however, and occasionally stepping close to one of the more majestic, older trees.

He was weary of the open. He had been in the open since he left the very southernmost tip of Mirkwood, now Lasgalen; the RopeMaster had counselled him to avoid Lothlorien in order to make good speed, and he had obediently done so. He promised himself he would visit it on his way back home.

He longed for shady forest depths, and it irked and saddened him that he could not enjoy the ancient trees now passing by on his righthand side. As he marched through the long grass of Rohan around Fangorn, he sang, more to motivate his weary feet than anything else. Sometimes the trees in Fangorn rustled in the wind. Sometimes they rustled without a wind, and then he was glad he had heeded the Songmaster's warning, and not gone into the forest. LinGalad marched on for weary mile after mile, passing barren rocks and (to him) uninteresting hills and grass, and then he crested a large hill that jutted out from the southernmost roots of the Misty Mountains.

In the middle of Nan Curunir rose a glossy black tower, thrust high into the air, dark and forbidding, cold and austere, and ending in sharp horns at the top. LinGalad's heart sank, and he stood for a while, glumly studying the tower and the ring of stone. He cast one more sad glance at the much more interesting forest, gave his weapons and his pack a cursory check and resettled them in place, and with a heavy sigh, turned towards the tower.

As he went, he heard music, and his pace quickened steadily til he broke into a joyous run. A river! That improved things greatly. He let the lure of the river draw him well off of his earlier course, and came to its bank with the excuse that his water bottle needed refilling. He topped off the bottle, sorely tempted to bathe in the beautiful river, but he contented himself with washing his face and his hands. The river, he reminded himself, ran down to the ring of stone. At least it could keep him company. LinGalad resignedly turned and followed it, and sooner than he wanted to, he had arrived at Isengard.

[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Hmm- the problem with short posts is theyre easily overlooked. So, I'll repeat, do you want me to play a huorn? I'm willing, assuming you only need say 5 posts.

[Brinniel]

I don't see a problem in that, Lyra.

I don't know if I can get my first post in today, but I will write as soon as I can. We should wait on opening the RPG until Auriel shows up, anyways.

[DayVampyre]

First post still in the works, hope thats ok, but I have managed to scrape up a pic that I like for Avery

Hope this actually works (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800018939&cf=pg&photoid=190318&intl=us)


Different outfit of course, and I'll get to work on that first post! smilies/cool.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Okay, here's my first post.


“Ajada! Jaedyn! Wake up NOW!” Mistress Halena called from the bottom of the ladder to the attic. She was too broad to climb it and wake her husband’s two female writing apprentices.

Jaedyn rolled over in bed, and Ajada groggily got up off her bottom bunk. Climbing the small ladder to the top bunk, Ajada could only see Jaedyn’s mouse-brown hair through the mess of blankets. Shoving Jaedyn off the bed, Ajada prepared for the loud thump that followed as Jaedyn hit the wooden floor.

“I’m up! I’m up!” Jaedyn cried, though her voice was muffled through the covers. Ajada rolled her eyes and got dressed, pulling on her comfortable breeches and an oversized tunic, borrowed from Josham, another apprentice. This was the day that she would set out for Isengard. Somehow, the Master of the house, Leo, had found out about serious problems involving attacks from the forest. Master Leo had been given leave by the King to send someone to document the journey to straighten out everything. Leo chose Ajada, not only because her father had been close counselor to the royal family, but also because she was his best reporter.

Grabbing her pack, Ajada looked around the dark room, which was only lit by the slight rays of sun showing through the round window. She had everything she needed for the journey to Isengard and Fangorn: her pen, ink, papers, clothing, and extras of everything. She also brought the things needed to brew ink, though few would be used to the stench if she tried to make it on the trip. Dismissing the memories of all her ink-making days, Ajada walked back over to the heap of Human and blankets that was Jaedyn.

“I have to go now! Don’t forget to finish the report on the new Gondorian Sewer Systems! Leo will have a fit if it’s late by more than ten minutes!” Ajada said goodbye to the other girl, and in return received a smack in the face as Jaedyn rolled over on the wooden floor. Ajada sighed and rolled Jaedyn towards the floor-door that entered down to the attic-ladder and towards the second floor of the home. Shoving Jaedyn through the hatch, Ajada watched as the girl bounced off the ladder and hit the second floor with a deep, resounding thunk.

Going down the steps of the attic ladder was no problem for her, and she walked down the upstairs hallway of the Record Master’s home in Gondor, stepping carefully over a grumbling Jaedyn. Walking by the first open door, Ajada waved to Master Leo’s son Marlen and the scribe’s other apprentice, Josham. Walking into the room, Josh was writing something, and Marlen was looking over his shoulder.

“I’ve got to set out soon, I’ve come to say goodbye!” As Ajada spoke, both boys looked up from what they were doing. A sad look overtook Marlen’s face, and Josh got up to hug his fellow writer. In her four years of apprenticeship, Ajada had become quite fond of Josh in particular. Mar began to fold a parchment and handed it to Ajada when she and Josh were done giving goodbyes.

“What’s this?” Ajada asked, and was about to open it until Josh stopped her and shook his head.

“Don’t open it until you get on the road! It’s a poem, for you. Good luck, and bring extra paper, for you always run out!” They said farewell one last time, and Ajada left the boys and went to say goodbye to Jaedyn, who had just walked down from the ladder to the attic.

“Halena is going to yell at you when you get down there, so you may as well go and get ink ingredients. Leo has almost run out of blue ink and has no more black. I have to go though!” Ajada informed Jaedyn and the other girl sighed.

Then, Ajada said one more goodbye, to Leo, the man who had taken her in after her father and mother died, and expanded on the things her mother, a well-known Gondorian writer, had taught the girl. He was a kindly, middle-aged man of humbler origins than those of Ajada, and he regretted inwardly the need to send her on the ‘adventure’ of sorts.

Continuing on to the kitchen, Ajada was given a tight hug from Halena’s eight-year old daughter. Halena sent the girl off to do chores and to get Jaedyn and the boys to work, and then the sturdy woman gave Ajada some food for the road.

“Now, Ajada, we paid caravan of Rohirric entertainers a tidy sum to let you ride with them as they return home, since we can’t afford a horse. But once they stop in Edoras you need to walk north to Isengard.” Halena ended as she shooed the girl out the door.

Great. Ajada thought. A trip with old clowns.


smilies/smile.gif smilies/evil.gif *Cough*Mattius*Cough*

If a post bringing Ajada closer to Isengard is preferred/more appropriate over this, no problem.

Here, I guess, is kind of what I thought Ajada would look like, only with more Middle-Earth-like clothing!

Here, (http://www.atpictures.com/display.php?cat=musician&path=/nelly&loc=serv1x&img=nelly03.jpg) but with blue eyes and more freckles. smilies/smile.gif

-Aylwen

[ April 01, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[mark12_30]

Down the ladder?? Ajada, bunking anywhere near you is clearly dangerous to one's health. Good thing elves don't need much sleep. Perhaps we should post a guard when we do... smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Really, it's the only way to wake up that darn Jaedyn! smilies/biggrin.gif But if any of the humans ever sleep late, we all know who to call smilies/wink.gif!

Aylwen

[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Mattius]

ARGH!! CLOOOWNS ARE EVIIIL! smilies/evil.gif

Apart from that I really like your post!

[ June 14, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Hold your horses, I'm here!
Sorry for my absence. I was only over in the Shire because I got lonely!!!
First, did I read that right Matt, did you call me a pin up? You cheeky young boy!!!
Secondly, sorry again for the hold up!

Right, here goes ye olde profile.
Name: Radagast the Brown
Race: Istari or Wizard
Age: He's forgotten!

Radagast is mainly concerned with living creatures and cares little for men, elves, dwarves and those who meddle in the equilibrium of life. He should be on his way to the Grey Havens but somehow is still quite litterally pottering about in ME with Mattius. He got involved in the destruction of the Black Beast (in the Blue Mountains) partially by chance and partially at the request of the Eagle king who thought Radagast was the man for the job. Radagast is full of self doubt and had forgotten most of what he learned due to his lifelong preoccupation with animals and plants. His meeting with the 'young' folk of the Blue Mountians reinvigorated him somewhat and slowly he is regaining his knowledge. The troubles in Fanghorn cause him great distress because it is close to his heart. With Mattius, he sets off for Fanghorn, secretly hoping to meet his former companions along the way. Although he'd never admit it, he developed quite a taste for adventure, he just doesn't always feel up to it.

There, I hope that's a useful post. I've read the others and am really looking forward to working with you. I send you my email Ith. I'd love to see that picture. Read you all soon.

[Carlas]

Are you still in need of an Ent? If so Ill make a profile!

[Brinniel]

We could definately use an Ent, Carlas.

Yay! I just scanned Ith's picture. It looks great. Ith, I'll email it to you shortly.

[VanimaEdhel]

A first post? Well, here goes:

Kalir urged the horse under him on. He could feel that the horse needed rest. Kalir, too, needed rest, come to think of it. He had been riding hard for a while now, trying to reach Orthanc as soon as he could. The events up until this point were still a blur, from the panic at the disappearance of his father and close friend to the actual discovery of their bodies. It had happened so quickly, and now there he was, farther from home than he had ever been, planning on doing who knows what to avenge the deaths.

Kalir slowed Baragalap to a trot as reached and pulled out the hide in which he kept water. He took a long drink and looked around. He should almost be there.

Urging Baragalap along, Kalir galloped over one last hill, only to rein up in surprise. There before him stood the great black tower. Kalir gaped in amazement. He had heard of buildings of this size, but he had never really believed they existed. Kalir proceeded carefully forward, trotting fairly slowly, taking in the new sights and sounds.

Kalir stopped and asked a villager to direct him to a stable. Kalir rode towards the great tower. Once he reached the stables, he left Baragalap in the youthful hands of a stable boy, but only after he gave the boy a bit of silver. One could not be too sure what another would do, given the opportunity and an available horse.

Who had said that? It was familiar. It was probably something Kalir's father once said. Kalir's thoughts went back to his mother and sister as he walked towards Orthanc. He hoped that all was well back at the farm. He also hoped they would not need Baragalap while he was away.

Kalir saw the guards as he moved towards Orthanc.

"What business do you have?" one guard asked.

"I have come about the recent killings...thought to be the work of huorns," Kalir said, tensing up, worried that he would not be admitted.

One guard sighed, "Well, get in line, then. They are going to discuss that very thing today, actually. You are in luck."

The guard moved aside, letting Kalir in.

Kalir moved through the tower. He followed the voices. He marvelled at the exquisite work around him.

He walked in on a council that was apparently already in session...

[DayVampyre]

Ok here be the first post, I'll most likey rework it a bit once the real thread is opened.

___________________________________________


The sun rose over the city buildings, but that was not what woke Avery from her revery. A sharp poking in the side of her ribs is what roused her into reality. She opened her eyes and saw a finely dressed man standing above her.

"Come on, now! I don't need you street rats in front of my place of business"

Avery scowled at the horrible man. She had fallen asleep on a wooden bench outside a store. Not that it looked like a store in the dark. She stood up and walked away. The rich man watched her until she was a safe distance away from his shop. Avery strolled down the city streets. The streets which she had called home for about ten years now. Soon, Avery would have to leave.

Being a thief wasn't easy. Avery was one of the best and up until recently had never been caught. A few close calls, everyone has them in the business, but Avery had gotten caught while trying to rob a bank. It had been a big job. But sometimes the fates turn on you and they turned on Avery. The judge had been about to sentence the seventeen year old to hang, but recieved a reprieve at the last minute.

"Or, if you so desire, you will travel to the Fanghorn, and try figure out why the Huorns are restless. Your, cleverness, might help you there"

Avery had agreed. She would have agreed to anything at that point. She had two days to leave the city. Avery was on the outskirts of the city when she noticed a stable. There was a sign next to the stables. What it said, Avery certainly didn't know, for she could not read, all she needed to know was that a stable had horses and horses meant faster travel. Avery smiled to herself.


With shouts of "STOP!" and "THIEF!", Avery sped away on a brown horse. She traveled about a day or so, gathering directions from locals and other wayfarers and she eventually arrived at Isenguard. She noticed a few people riding distance away from her. She decided to ride over and greet them...


___________________________________________


I figure thats not too shabby, openers are always the hardest, I think.

[Child of the 7th Age]

I tried to resist this game, but just read over the discussion thread for the third time, and find myself caving in! The original Blue Mountain was so good.

Do you still need players? Would it be possible to play a huorn, one who harbors deep grievances and whose memory goes back across the ages?

Please let me know if this might work, and I'll try to develop a profile.

Cami Goodchild

[Mattius]

Of course you can still participate, we (well I at least) would love to see a couple of huorn's!

Matt

PS- Ith or Brin, can you send that picture to princeofmordor@hotmail.com

[Manardariel]

Guys, I´ve been thinking, and I decided to change Anarya´s location from Minas Anor to Isengard. There´s two reasons: a) It would make much more sense, because why would a blacksmith from Minas Anor come to Isengard? I mean, they surely have their own blacksmiths there, so where´s ther point. And another reason is, I thought I might have her know one of the dissapearing people, so she has a real reason to go on the trip. Okay with you?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
First Post:
Mistress, listen to this!" An exited apprentice came bursting into Anarya´s forge, almost making her drop the knife she had been forging.

"Buck! Don´t you ever do that again, you hear? I almost dropped this!"

He hastily apoligized, then started talking again, going 200 miles an hour. Anarya let her attetion level drop to the barest minimum. Once again she wondered if it had been a good idea to make a boy this young her newest apprentice. Buck, who´s father was a poor craftman, spent ages telling her about the smallest incidences. Suddenly, however, she thought she had heard the words "dissapeared" "swords" "work".

"Buck, what did you you just say?" she asked, tentivly.

"I said, another child has dissapeared. And everyone´s sayin´ we should fight back, because the trees have gone to far. And that we should get to work and start makin´ swords and such, because everyone´ll want armour. That´s what I said, and now´ll be off, if you don´t mind."

Thoughtfully, Anarya watched him dissapear. He was right, if there was talk about fighting, paople would turn to her. Anarya´s forge "The Red Forge", on one of the main streets of Isengard, was one of the best of the city. For a moent, she thought of the tree´s victims. She knew one of them- Orodeth had been her nephew, only an infant, when he had been taken. Anarya forced her tears back. She needed to concentrate on her work. But while she heated iron for a sword she swore to herself:
"If there´s a way to get those trees under control, I will be part of it. I swear, I will."

[mark12_30]

Cami!!!! smilies/biggrin.gif Woohooo!

(Now if only I would hear from Gandalf.)

[ April 02, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Here's the first post. I don't actually get to anywhere but I'm heading to civilisation! By the way, for a picture of Telp, just think random Lothlorien elf in the film!
###############

The figure slipping through the trees would have been missed by most eyes, his deep green cloak blending with the light and shade of leafy branches. He walked slowly, enjoying the forest, occasionally stopping to lay his hands on a trunk. After a few hours he sat down and leant against an overgrown root, reaching into his pack to get out some food. He pushed back the hood of his cloak revealing a face which, for a man, might have been guessed at 25 or so, as well as long blonde hair and pointed Elven ears. His grey eyes looked thoughtful as he ate, and he sighed once or twice.

Telpeheled had been wandering without seeing anyone for almost a year, deep into Fangorn Forest. Before that he had spent almost a century in the city of Dol Amroth in Gondor, but they had many skirmishes with Corsairs which distressed him. He had planned to visit again the Rohirrim in Edoras, for their strength and beauty was widely famed, but they were a warlike people even in the relative peace that Arda was enjoying. Despite the sword at his belt Telpeheled was unwilling to fight except in greatest need. Although his skills had often saved the lives of innocent people, it was the lives he had cut short that stuck with him. Sometimes in his waking dreams he thought he saw them, calling to him. Trees may not be as interesting as quick thinking, quick living mortal men, but they did not expect him to draw his sword.

Telpeheled had hoped that he might meet the famed tree herders, the Ents, in Fangorn for he had heard much about them in his former home in Lothlorien but so far there had not been a sign. The face designed for smiling had been pensive for a while, and solitude was beginning to grate.

Turning with a smile he addressed the tree. "I thank you for your hospitality, but I believe that even in a forest such as yours a being may long for conversation. And so, I bid you goodbye"
With an elaborate bow he picked up his pack and began to walk towards Rohan. He chuckled as he went.
Talking to trees? he thought There's a number of people who have called you mad, and you come close to proving them right sometimes!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Thanks, everyone. I'm really looking forward to this!

Brinniel, Auriel, Ithaeliel, Mattius --Just to confuse you all thoroughly, ignore my memoes totally and let me know on this thread about the three questions below. I think it's mroe clear cut. That should take care of things, so I can do the profile and post.

1. Just how nasty and bloodthirsty should I make my character?

2. How much should I reveal or hide of the reasons the Huorns have for going on this rampage? (Believe me, I have no idea at this point as to their precise motivation!)

3. Would you want me to do occasional descriptive, background posts showing the situation with the huorns from the very beginning of the story, or should I wait for later on to post anything, after you folk actually make your way into the forest?

Thanks.

[ April 02, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

The above questions are resolved. I got an answer from Auriel. Thank you very much!

Will do the profile and post soon.

sharon

[Ithaeliel]

Yay! Sharon is here! I'm glad you liked the Blue Mountains, and glad you could join us- as a huorn, no less! Sooo excited now!

Matt & Auriel: Brinn is apparently having a bit of trouble sending the pic in an email, so it may be a couple of days before it gets to you. I hope you like it!

Ith

[Child of the 7th Age]

I know this is a little strange, but my profile and first post are one and the same. But then being a huorn is different than other characters I've played. Unlike the Ents, these guys are direct and primitive, more like trees than intelligent creatures..
See if this is alright:

Brethil, the Great Birch, was the eldest and wisest of the sentient trees that belong to the race of the Huorn. He lived within the sweet dales of Fangorn Forest. None knew his exact age, but his memories ranged back for hundreds of years. The other trees paid him respect, both for his physical prowess and his innate understanding of nature.

Like others of his race, Brethil’s strength was immense. His roots burrowed deep in the soil, and his limbs towered up to the heavens, bending and swaying with the wild music of the winds. Like his cousins and brothers, Brethil was “limb lithe," and could move swiftly and surely from place to place while wrapped in shadow of darkness.

When enraged, the Huorn could be utterly ruthless, and Brethil was no exception. In the past, he had struck down Orcs and other evildoers who had dared set foot within Fangorn. Yet, towards others, Brethil had shown restraint and obeyed the dictates of the Ents, or tree shepherds, who urged the Huorn to let the travellers pass. Brethil was simple and primitive, his passions strong and direct, but he was not a creature of evil.

Now, all was changing, as older customs gave way to the new order of Men. The fading of the Ents deeply troubled Brethil, since the tree shepherds had always provided the Huorn with guidance. The Huorn could not understand why the Ents were going and blamed their departure on Orcs and Men.

For Brethil, the Age of the Dominion of Men only seemed to mean more travelers coming with axes and splitting mawls seeking wood to construct distant buildings and cities. Many of these Men came not from Isengard, but from Gondor and lands beyond.

Moreover, Brethil still had vivid memories of Saruman who had ordered the Orcs to murder trees. Unable to understand who Saruman really was, Brethil assumed he was another bad man, since he looked like one. While the number of Orc travellers had declined, men came in ever growing numbers. Brethil felt they often displayed an arrogance toward the land and a lack of respect for the trees.

Underneath all this, there was yet another reason for the Huorn’s rage, a great and sad secret which had only recently been revealed to Brethil. Brethil’s heart ached whenever he thought on it. But he kept his counsel hidden and would not reveal this thing to any outside his own people. It seemed too deep a mystery.

The end result of this was growing sorrow and anger. Like all the Huorn, Brethil was incapable of shedding tears and did not even know enough words to express his feelings. The only response open to him was to strike out physically in the manner of a small child. Unfortunately, he and the other Huorn wielded such power that any striking out was bound to bring innocent deaths.

As Brethil gazed about the woods, he saw Huorn after Huorn falling into savagery. Although Brethil himself had not killed any of the innocent travellers, that compulsion grew stronger every day. The Ents were gone, the old rules were gone, and there was nothing to take their place. He felt empty and angry and hungry for some kind of guidance and structure. It was only a matter of time until he could no longer resist the compulsion within his heart and would strike out with unreasoning hatred.

********************************************
I have revealed some of the reasons for the Huorn's anger, but have kept one big hidden secret. Hope this will work.

Hey, Carlas, I am looking forward to your character. As you can see, things have gotten a little out of hand with the Huorn since the Ents departed.

[ April 04, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Mattius]

I just had a quick idea that I thought I would run past you all. How about Radagast enters Orthanc either alone or with a couple of others? I say this because it may read better than everyone going gung-ho! into Fangorn. Also perhaps Orthanc could be locked an no-one has ever opened it since Saurman's leaving and as Radagast is the last Istari perhaps he alone can unlock the door.

Pretty lame but tell me what you think!

EDIT: Oh yeah another thing, C.o.t.7th Age's post is really good, I think that perhaps it should be the opening post and my own and Ith's should follow it. What do you all think?

[ April 03, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Brinniel]

I don't have time to respond to all your thoughts, Mattius, but I do think that it would be good if Child's post was first.

Ok, now here's my first post:

The sky was overcast and grey as Calentoliel brought her horse into a trot. She was headed for Isengard; her mind had been set on it for weeks now. The elf had hardly rested since she had left the Blue Mountains.

Since she had parted from her sister Rothalle, who had gone West, the Blue Mountains had been Calentoliel's favorite place to rest. The mountains and the forest that sat by it brought back memories; good memories of her friends that she had met and adventured with in that very place a thousand years ago. Save her sister, Calentoliel had not seen one of those friends since then. Faye Took and Olo Gamwich were long dead, but the others- Endereth, Mattius, and Radagast- still dwelled in Middle-earth and Calentoliel hoped one day she would see them again. The elf had grown lonely over the years. In fear that she would stand out too much, she rarely traveled into towns and cities and hardly spoke to anyone, save a friendly hello as she passed another by.

The motive for Calentoliel's travels to Isengard was the vision she had the night before she left the Blue Mountains. She had seen images of her friends; not images of the past, but of the future. She also saw new faces; those whom she did not recognize. Calentoliel wondered what this vision meant; perhaps a new adventure, she thought. Whatever the vision meant, Calentoliel had suddenly felt the urgent need to leave for Isengard. She called a horse, who was called Losthyando, and left the next day.

And now here she was, riding Losthyando, pondering over what the future would bring. Isengard was not far; tiny specks of building began to appear in the distance and Orthanc stood out particularly. Calentoliel was so into her thoughts, gazing out into the distance, she did not see what lay directly in front of her until she was nearly on top of it, her horse stopping suddenly.

What Calentoliel saw horrified her and brought back terrible memories. In front of her lay a human body, mangled to the point where it was unrecognizable. It took a moment for Calentoliel to register what she saw, and when she did, she slid off her horse with ease. The elf bent over the body, which now appeared to be a man, and observed him with curiousity. What had happened to this man? What thing could've possibly done something so gruesome? She had to know the answers.

Gently, Calentoliel placed her hands on the body and began to sing softly. She sang in the ancient tongue she knew, searching for the answers to her questions. The magic flowed from the elf and into the dead body. Images formed in her mind. The images were of fear, pain, and the presence of a hidden shadow. What was this shadow? Calentoliel also searched for this answer, but to know avail. The shadow remained but a shadow, clouded and vague.

Calentoliel stopped singing and relaxed as she felt the energy being drained from her. The man was from Isengard. Perhaps she could find out more about him and whatever had killed him once she arrived there.

Seeing no reason to bring such a mangled body into the city, Calentoliel buried the dead man, and marked his grave.

She mounted Losthyando and once again looked out into the distance. More than ever, she felt the need to continue for Isengard; there seemed to be more reason for it now. The elf looked even further into the distance, seeing a cluster of trees. The Fangorn Forest. Just looking at the forest caused a threat to grow in Calentoliel's mind. She had always feared that place. But now the fear had grown as she could feel the threat of the shadow. Whatever had killed the man had come from the Fangorn Forest. It didn't seem possible; how could the man been killed there and yet his body lay here? But Calentoliel knew it was so as the images of the vague shadow flooded through her.

Looking away, Calentoliel kicked her horse, and they took off in a gallop. Calentoliel would reach Isengard within the hour.

Phew! All done.

[Brinniel]

Looks good, Envinyatar. You're accepted. smilies/smile.gif

[Taralphiel]

Hello,
Ive spoken to Ithaeliel and I would like to ask to join your RPG. This is my characters profile

Name: Ishbel
Age: 22
Origin: Maiden in th keep of Isengard. Orphaned in attacks of Huorns, she is disillusioned by the current situation. Wandering the village and forest by day and night, she gives little thought for her own safety. Once a young maiden of beautiful talent in singing and weaving, Ishbel's mournful cries can be heard through the night.
Physical appearance: Pale blue eyes and corn xoloured hair. Wears dresses of mute colours, though recently has been wearing black. Village people say she needs comfort, but have not been able to succeed in quelling her grief.

I suppose thats it for now. I am still catching up on your posts and understanding the plot etc. I'll put in my first post in discussion first if I am accepted

Thankyou smilies/smile.gif

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Bio for a huorn? Thats hard! Is this OK as a bio? And is the first post for Telpeheled OK?

Name: Well, if he ever had one, he's forgotten it!

Age: 1000 years or more. Who knows?

Appearance: A beech tree, gnarled and bent, old and crabby, few new leaves, those he sprouts seem to look old before their time, around about 70 ft tall, though used to be much bigger or so it seems to him- age has bent his back, pitted and marked with all sorts of mysterious things, holes and what look like burnt patches

Personality/History: Once he may have been an Ent, long ages ago, but now he barely moves and barely thinks. He has more feelings than coherent ideas- and all his feelings say that something is wrong. Not inherently evil perhaps, he will do anything with no thought of whether it is good or bad, the consequences or even what it is he is doing. Little concept of memory, he doesn't know what happened yesterday or the day before, and earlier memories are vague ideas. Bitter at the world and its dwellers, only contact with an Ent might have any effect on him.

[Iarbarion]

Hi, I'm not sure if it's too late for me to create a character but I'll try anyways.

Name: Iarbarion (Coincidence?)

Age: Young for an elf (354 yrs.)

Race: Elf of the Mirkwood realm

Gender: Male

Weapons: A Longbow from Lothlorien... about 3/5 of his size and two small swords.

Appearance: Not small but not tall, somewhere around 5'10". Dark, brown, penetrating eyes and long blond hair (almost white.) Lengthy arms that make him a skilled sword handler. Extremely pointy ears.

Personality: Somewhat suspicios but extremely friendly once he is known. Very honest and reliable. Prefers bow over swords.

Strengths: Has lengthy arms which make him good with swords.

Weaknesses: Seeing non-evil creatures killed.

History: Has lost both parents in battle. Unknown birthplace but has resided in Rivendell.

[Auriel Haevasawen]

I'll open up Orthanc for ye Matt but better watch out what I spirits I may let loose upon those folk of Fanghorn and Middle Earth beyond. Remember this Istari maketh more errors than dilemmas solve!

I haven't got a first post. I prefer to build something from other people's writing and to fit in with the general feel and direction the story takes.
(You can tell I'm a Bohemian kind of lass.)

[Brinniel]

Lyra Greenleaf- You should probably give your huorn a name of some sort. It'll be less confusing that way.

I think we have plenty of characters now. Hopefully we can get started on this RPG soon.

[ April 07, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]

[Mattius]

Brinnel- Yeah I think 3 ents/huorns is enough to go along with.

Iarbarion- if you absolutely have to play an elf (we already have a few too many really) could you make him a bit older as it is 1000 years after the War of the Ring and therefore there are not any elf kingdoms left. You could make him a wandering elf like the others or just change him to a man of Rohan Gondor etc as we mostly (maybe only) have female humans!

Auriel- let them spirits fly. All those documents in Saurman's old cuboards must have some interesting things in, and I'd like to check what he keeps under his bed myself!

[dragoneyes]

(maybe only) have female humans

*ahem* It's not that bad, Aldor is very male.

[Mattius]

My apologies, I couldn't be bothered to look back over the thread so made an uneducated guess. Still, there is a strong female to male ratio.

Also, is this RPG ready to begin in ernest? I think it is, what do the other co-owners think?

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Does he have to have a name? I wanted to make him sort of shadowy and mysterious. Well, if it's necessary, what about Lim? Does this mean he's in otherwise?

[Mattius]

I don't think it is neccesary for him to have a name.

EDIT: Sorry I scan read your poast, yeah hes in.

[ April 06, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Brinniel]

Lyra- It's not necessary for the huorn to have a name, but it'd probably be best if you had something to call him by.

Iarbarion- Seeing that you are a Newly Deceased, I'm not sure if you're ready to participate in RPGs in the Rohan forum. I suggest that you check out The Green Dragon Inn (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=19&t=000046) located in The Shire and participate in some RPGs there first.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

How about "the ancient beech tree"? Otherwise, like I said, Lim

[Mattius]

Can we please have first posts from all those who haven't already done so, so that we can get this show on the road!!

[dragoneyes]

Is it a absolute requirement? Because I prefer to see how it would fit into the game and then write it, fitting it into others people's posts.

[Mattius]

Yeah thats okay, I know Auriel likes to work that way too, I will cross your name from the list. Let me just go back and have a look who we are still waiting on.

EDIT: Ah ha it seems upon looking back that everyone except Auriel and Dragoneyes have made a first post and these have expressed their wish not to until after the others have been posted. So I guess now its just up to which order we put the posts. Brinn, Ith, Auriel?

[ April 09, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Brinniel]

I've put posts in order before and it's actually quite easy. I don't know if I have the time to do so now, but I'll try to figure out an order by tomorrow.

[Ithaeliel]

Hey, I'm back momentarily! Brinn, are you going to email me that picture? I was hoping to get it out this weekend.

I'll be able to catch up with everything on Saturday, for those of you who I'm in other RPGs with! I'm not dead (yet)! smilies/wink.gif

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Here's a first post for 'the tree'. I waas thinking, perhaps after he interacts with others he might remember his name!

The light dappled the old beech, and the breeze gently blew its leaves. The old tree let out a groan. Anyone watching might have thought it was just the wind bending the branches, but it was the tree itself. There was a feeling of unhappiness and unease about the grove itself. Grudges built up for years and years, anger and bitterness. It was the huge beech that was at the centre of it all, just as his size overawed the smaller trees growing around it. Over the long years of his life he had kept a record of every time he had been burnt, hacked or damaged by a man. There was a vague recollection of better times, perhaps movement, even talking, communicating to the trees and…Ents. The word came to his head from the vestiges of old memory, back in the hazy past. It seemed to be an important word, something that meant something. He often felt this way, like there was a memory, a feeling, just out of reach. But it was all a long time ago. With another groan the tree settled down, but rage festered in his core, deep down.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

By the way, I'm going to be away for a week, would someone put up my 2 first posts for me?

[Faxon Spear]

Name: Algernon (Algy)
Age: 21
Race: Human

Appearance: Brown eyes and brown hair, his face is rarely shaven. Broad shoulders and strong legs, he wears generally commoner's clothing. He carries an axe and a heavy cloak.

Personality: Algy is loud and has a great love for women and ale. Flirts with any woman, from the plainest to the most beautiful, and is surprising well liked by everyone, even husbands. He is unpredictable and quick-witted.

History: Algernon was born in Gondor, the son of an innkeeper. He is a middle child, the brother of five sister and very well educated in the ways of women. By the time their last daughter was born, Algy's parents were growing old and would later decided to move to a more peaceful place, away from the inn business.
All of his sisters, besides his youngest, had been married off by his matchmaker of a mother and so Algernon agreed to help his parents move to Orthanc. In Orthanc Algy eventually decided to stay with his father, especially since his mother died soon after arriving. His father lay beside his wife soon afterwards and Algy settled down to a comfortable bachelor life.

[Ithaeliel]

Faxon Spear: I think we have room for one more man. Algernon sounds good; he's got a unique personality (I generally don't tend to think of big flirts as likeable smilies/wink.gif), he is named after a little white mouse, and overall he's a good character. There's just one detail missing: why is Algernon coming with us? Does he have a friend who died at the hands of a huorn? Did he meet the company unexpectedly on their way to Orthanc? We definitely need a motive; this is not something someone would normally "just do." Could you please supply that as well as a first post? Thank you.

As for order of posts- I definitely think that Child's should be first. It gives the RPG a sense of mystery, which will probably be evident throughout the story. I also agree that it could be followed up by my/Mattius' post. I'll leave the rest of the ordering up to Brinn, since she seems to be better at these things. As soon as that's done, I believe we can open the RPG.

Here are all the characters we have. The bolded ones are those who don't prefer to pre-write their first post:

Huorns/Ents:

Child of the 7th Age as Brethil
Evinyatar as Cuercus
Lyra Greenleaf as the ancient beech tree Lim
NO ENTS!!!!!!!!!! smilies/eek.gif

Questers (what would you call this type of party...?):

Faxon Spear as Algernon
Taralphiel as Ishbel
Ithaeliel as Endereth
Mark12_30 as LinGalad
Aylwen Dreamsong as Ajada
Brinniel as Calentoliel
Manardariel as Anarya
DayVampyre as Avery
Lyra Greenleaf as Telpeheled
VanimaEdhel as Kalir
Dragoneyes as Aldor
Mattius as himself
Auriel as Radagast

I think we have a quite sufficient number of "questers," but we need one or two more Ents. Auriel, are you still planning to double as an Ent or an Entwife? Also, bad news: Carlas has informed me that due to personal complications, she/he (sorry, I don't know!) will not be able to participate. smilies/frown.gif

We're not too far off now!

[ April 12, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

[dragoneyes]

I'll be an Ent!

Name: Lightleaf
Age: Old, very old.
Race: Ent
Appearance: He has the appearance of a weeping willow, around 80ft high and his trunk is about 4ft in diameter. He has a hole about half-way up his trunk which once had creatures living in it but it's now abandoned.
History/Personality: Slow to anger and long-thinking as all Ents are but Lightleaf is particularly peaceful and enjoys nothing more than settling on the banks of a river and conversing with the trees around him while drinking. He walks quietly yet swiftly when need be, which is how he got his name.

If anyone has any ideas as to why the Ents have retreated back into the heart of Fangorn, I would like to hear because I have no idea. Once I get an idea I'll probably add something more into the profile but is that ok for now?

[Mattius]

I think that they have retrated due to men living close to the borders and needing wood for their houses etc. Best wait for Ith's reply though, it was her idea mainly so she will be able to give a better answer!

You know me, Ith! I tried to find another pretty 'J' name, but all the ones I liked sounded too arabic for a Tolkien RPG. Oh well!

Aylwen I was so just looking under a name fantasy site and thought I would paste you the 'J' list in case you ever needed to use one again.

Jacor
Jaden
Jadzia
Jaheira
Jahrec
Jalasil
Jaligal
Janda'nan
Janix
Jarazal
Jarnagua
Jarvin
Jasara
Jaseve
Jasha
Javon
Jayce
Jayden
Jaylidan
Jayna
Jehryn
Jelyn
Jenantar
Jerec
Jesiper
Jesslyn
Jestyn
Jevist
Jezryanadar
Jhael
Jhaelen
Jhany
Jhardamòr
Jharkor
Jhary
Jihad
Jillian
Jingizu
Jintah
Jiriki
Jirnost
Jochan
Jomano
Jonaya
Jornadesh
Joscelyn
Jubini
Juntalin
Jura
Jurim
Juss
Jyresh

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ithaeliel]

Mattius is right; the Ents retreated because of the settlement of Men in Isengard and their need for industry. Also, they felt they were able to because the threat of Saruman and his orcs was gone for good, and they didn't need to watch out for the huorns anymore because they knew Men would not harm them (which they don't, really). So there's your explanation! And because they went so far north, they don't know about anything that's happening in Isengard.

[Mattius]

Yeah I knew I was rightr I just wanted to make sure!

Hey Brinn/Ith have either of you come up with an order of the initial posts yet? I have been reading the Blue Mountains RPG and its really good! Great epic final battle too! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I've been reading it too, it's really great! I'm only on the second page though smilies/frown.gif. When do you think we will be starting the game?

Aylwen

Oh and thank you very much, Mattius! I won't be running out of good old 'J' names anytime soon!

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Mattius]

Hee hee thought you would like it!

The game should start soon, as soon as we can get an order of first posts.

Glad to hear you are reading it, doing your homework on it so to speak! My favourite bit is where Mattius meets Pippin!

I have just added (what I think to be) a very Tolkien style end to the Blue Mountains, if any of the original postee's don't like it i'll delete it so just tell me if so.

Matt

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ithaeliel]

I like that little epilogue you added, Mattius! It's very cool; sets up the sequel quite well. Jolly good, then!

For order of first posts: I told Brinn that she could do that, and we'd all give our input upon seeing the list. Will that work? I think we have one more character coming; after that we'll start actually discussing.

[Brinniel]

For order of first posts: I told Brinn that she could do that
Oopsies, I forgot about that. I better get to work on it tonight.

[Brinniel]

Setting those posts in order was a bit harder than I expected, but I managed to do it.

Here will be the order of first posts:

Child of the 7th Age
Mattius and Ithaeliel (combined posts)
Aylwen Dreamsong
Lyra Greenleaf (Telpeheled)
Lyra Greenleaf (Huorn)
mark12_30
DayVampyre
Envinyatar
Brinniel
Manardariel
VanimaEdhel

If anyone disagrees with this order, let me know.

[Mattius]

That sounds fine to me, I guess its almost time to get the ball rolling!

[DayVampyre]

No arguement from me!

[Bêthberry]

PM me when you want the game thread opened. And if this is the order you want, I will have to add Child's post before the original first post from Ith and Matt.

Bethberry

[Faxon Spear]

My apologises but I will be withdrawing myself and character from this RP.
Good luck!

[ April 15, 2003: Message edited by: Faxon Spear ]

[Mattius]

What d'you think Ith, are we ready to go?

[Ithaeliel]

I think we are. Time to open the game thread! Yay!

[Envinyatar]

Who will place the first posts?

Mod, owner, or the individual writer?

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Yipee game beginning. I've been carefully reading all the details waiting patiently for the opportunity to get going again. Once all your posts are in place I can start weaving my descriptive passages in between the action.

(BTW I don't see my middle name on your J list Matt, but then again it's a bit more 'Eastenders' than 'Middle Earth' so you're forgiven.)

Anyway, far more seriously. I am looking forward to writing with friends old and new. Mae govannen to you all. Here's to another enthralling adventure.

[Ithaeliel]

Who will place the first posts? Mod, owner, or the individual writer?


That will be the moderator. The way it usually works then is after the owner(s) do a second post, everyone else is free to continue. So have fun!!!

[Bêthberry]

Okay, I'm tucking Child's post above Matt's and Ith's post and opening the thread.

Have fun.

Bethberry

[Ithaeliel]

I'd like everyone to add their first posts to the thread (I think we should also drop the order since that will be quite complicated), and then the owners will do second posts and we can consider ourselves to be RPing!

That said: Brinn, could you please send me the scanned picture? I'd like to get it out this week... thank you!

Ithaeliel

[Manardariel]

Just to let you know... I probably won't be able to come online untill wednesday... I posted my first post...sorry!

Oh, and one other thing, especiallzy for you game owners. How were you planning to "recruit" the travellers?? Mz idea for Anarya was this: maybe one of you comes in the forge and buys all this stuff, and then s/he start talking to Anarza etc. That ok? PM me, if not.

[VanimaEdhel]

I am watching, it's just that my post should really come when the Council over what to do finally starts. I'll pick an opportune time to hop in, if you don't mind! *Curtsies*

[mark12_30]

LinGalad's post is up. We naturally seem to be following Brinniel's plan? If so then that would mean DayVampire is next?

"Do not meddle in the affairs of huorns for you are crunchy and taste good with..." What? Not ketchup, dragons like ketchup. Soy sauce? Terriyaki? Barbecue sauce? Help me out here.

[Ithaeliel]

"Do not meddle in the affairs of huorns for you are crunchy and taste good with..."

Ranch dressing. It's more... woody and organic, while teriyaki and the like is more carnivorous. smilies/biggrin.gif

Wow! It seems we are following the order... that's pretty cool. Good job!

[DayVampyre]

I've already gone, I saw that we didn't have to follow the order...sorry if I jumped the gun.

[VanimaEdhel]

As soon as I see the words "gathering", "meeting", "council" or words that connote similar things, I'll post. Until then, I am watching! I'm just waiting for the talk before to be complete!

[Brinniel]

Alright, I got my post in.

Brinn, could you please send me the scanned picture? I'd like to get it out this week... thank you!

I can't send it! The file's too big. I'll try sending it again.

EDIT: Yay, I got it sent! Took long enough, though. Check your email, Ith.

[ April 19, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]

[Mattius]

Hey great to see the game open at last! Just a quick note, can no-one actually post about going into Orthanc itself. My idea is that it has never been opened since Sauraman left as his last act was to lock it with magic. Therefore only Radagast can open it and I wanted to have him and maybe a couple of other people go inside.

Also remember- lets make this a great story with a real feel of Middle-Earth!

ARGH! Clowns are evil, nice post Aylwen!

EDIT: AGRH ARGH AGRH!! I got your mail Ith but there was no attachment on it!!!

[ April 20, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ithaeliel]

Check your email again, you three game owners! smilies/smile.gif

Mattius, I'm a bit unsure of your idea. Considering we've made an entire community out of Isengard, one which the King of Gondor frequents, where else would he stay, really...? I don't know, it could work. It fits in with Saruman and Radagast's relationship, since Radagast sort of tagged along with Saruman to Middle-earth, and he might very well know the secret to Orthanc. Do you know how Radagast might do this? What about Auriel?

Vanima: it might be a while before you get to post, considering all the people having to get to Isengard in the first place. You could post a sort of introduction of your character; then you won't have to wait so long to post and you can still follow through with your 'post-council' idea.

[Mattius]

Hmmm, I'm not quite sure where the kingwould stay, perhaps another royal building could be invented...

Also, the mail hasn't reached me yet! Did you send it to princeofmordor@hotmail.com ??

[Auriel Haevasawen]

There is no reason why Radagast doesn't carry a 'spare key' as it were to Orthanc but it is also used by the king. Then again due to its past perhaps the king merely sets up a camp de tournai in its grounds rather than go inside, although he may? As a result the building has stood on the brink of ruin for some time. What do the rest of you think?
Boring historical thing - the Saxons would often camp in the grounds of Roman ruins rather than stay in them, even when they were still standing. As Tolkien was using this as his source material (Odin had a 'ruling ring' forged for him by the dark elves after all) perhaps this would be a way round it.
Sorry if talking my usual gibberish. That of course is why I'm a gibberish-talking wizard!

[Mattius]

I have been thinking about it and I guess that Orthanc doesn't have to be locked but perhaps there are some things in there that only a wizard can understand/comprehend. Also Auriel, I think it is a good idea if the village is around Orthanc and no-one actually lives in it, except the king if he visits.

[Auriel Haevasawen]

I have an entwife under construction. Profile to be posted soon. Name Alderburga. Weapons none. Give me a couple of days!

[Ithaeliel]

Evinyatar: Your Entwife sounds good! What kind of tree would Greengage be simliar to; an ornamental cherry, perhaps? Or a magnolia?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Yes, and I also have one....give me a day or two.

sharon

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Greengages make great jam but it's usually called Greengage jelly. (Sorry, being boring again.)
That picture still hasn't come through by the way. Nevermind. I'll just imagine it in the style of a Star Wars poster (original trilogy). Even the picture Matt found hasn't worked out.
Back to the plot, I now have a profile for little Alderburga.

Alderburga is a small and fairly timid entwife. She is shy and very easy bullied. All she really wants to do is tend hedgerows and she is particularly skilled if only she were left in peace. She carries no weapons and is not inclined to fight or do anything in haste. She is a good listener though and has picked up a great deal about Entlore and legend too just by listening. Her nature and her knowledge could make her a target for those who seek to cause an imbalance in the natural order of things.

I hope that will do, I can never write profiles in the conventional manner.

[mark12_30]

If you want me to do an additional ent (or entwife) just let me know.

Er... what's next?

[VanimaEdhel]

I'm back...I was gone because of real life obligations. I haven't found a place to enter yet, as we aren't having any meetings inside. I warn you, however, that I just found out that, due to rehearsal for my play, I will not be here Monday through Friday of next week. Manipulate my character however you please. I would like to request, however, that maybe I get my first post in before then?

[Envinyatar]

Due to the demands of RL, I am pulling my two characters from this excellent game before they are embedded in it and impossible to remove.

Sorry I could not stay to play. - E -

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Our cast is dropping like flies...and the action has not even started! (Count on me to be the overly dramatic one smilies/biggrin.gif)

Are we waiting on Ith? What should the people who are already at Isengard do?

Aylwen

[Mattius]

Well I don't know what Ith would say but I thought that maybe we could head for some Inn in Isengard where the people are discussing the problem. Ith might want something different though but we can just edit, I know we're used to it from when we started Search from the Book!

EDIT: Don't worry about the number of cast member, we managed to do The Blue Mountains with four people and at one time three when I went on holiday to the States!

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Matt is right. A small group can work well together because we get to know each other quite well as we are writing.

At any point you do not have to wait for someone to post to continue the action either. You can move about and talk about what your particular characters are doing or thinking just like the action moves location in a novel. It's those details which really make a story and not just drama, drama, drama.

No one minds if you are not always available to post. Just dip into the story whenever you can. I vanish for days on end due to work commitments and Brin and Ith are often over-loaded with homework. As he already mentioned, Matt went on holiday and we coped. Writing is supposed to be pleasurable, not stressful. You're not working to deadlines with this gang!

Unlike the mortal realm...aaaaagh!

[Mattius]

Darn right! Life has enough stresses, don't let RPGing add to them- just enjoy it. That reminds me, history essay in for tomorrow not started!

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Question rises because of your signature: Pheonix Nights or The Office?

Good luck with the history. I can do Anglo-Saxons and Vikings or some Tudors if that helps.

Right back to RPG, this should have been a pm.

[Mattius]

Hee hee, I sent you a PM because I'm too scared of being told off by someone of higher authority!

Anyways yes back to the RPG, can you tell me here Ith if its okay with you that we have some kind of meeting between a few people in an inn or whatever?

[VanimaEdhel]

The point in which my post starts is a good way ahead of where it seems you are now, so it should give me a good few days before I'm actually behind, as I will not be able to come on. If you wish, use my character as you will should it happen that you get ahead of him walking in on the Council.

[Mattius]

I have edited the last bit of my post, the part where Radagast speaks, to fit in with the meeting at Orthanc.

Matt

P.S. Remember to disable your sigs!

[Mattius]

Yeah damn post preview! You bring up a good poin to who will be speaking at the council but I thought a kind of open floor where people air their views and ideas.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Ajada and Avery are ready and waiting for any sign of "do-gooder" life out there, in the Salty Tear. Whenever everyone's ready...yeah...

smilies/wink.gif
Aylwen

[Mattius]

I haven't seen Ith or Auriel on here for a while so I will give them a couple of days and if they haven't posted by then I will continue the Radagast, Enderth, Mattius journey.

EDIT: I also haven't seen Brinnel in an age, where are you guys? I can't possibly run this game by myself!!!

[ April 29, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Auriel Haevasawen]

I'm here dear boy!

[Mattius]

I knew you would be along soon! As soon as I typed my last post I realised that you said before you have lots of job commitments and stuff. Ith also has a choir competition I think but I don't know about Brinn, just probably too busy!

EDIT: Great post Auriel, Radagast keeps getting better and better to read- and he started off great too! Well it may be 11pm but I'm pretty bored so I'm going to post and if it doesn't go well or fit in I will delete it or change it as appropriate.

[ April 29, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Ithaeliel]

An inn for a meeting? Sounds fine to me. The king would probably send his advisor instead of going himself, as some monarchs tend to do that if they're not confident of their own judgement (though it depends on the king's personality).

Evinyatar: I'm sorry to see you go. It was great to have you for a little bit. Please, no one else leave!

I have a couple of announcements to make, for better and for worse. The good thing is that today is my one-year anniversary of being a Barrow-Downer! Yahoo! But the bad news is that the real world is giving me more trouble than I can juggle with leisure, and henceforth I will be taking a leave of absence (a month and a week at the most). I'll be wrapping up all there is to wrap up in my other RPGs, posting in this RPG once more, and handing over my character/s to the appropriate person/s. I beseech you all: please don't go into Fangorn without me! I had a few plans as for what will be happening once we leave Isengard. Meanwhile, I'll leave the game-owning duties of the Threat of the Trees to Mattius, Brinniel and Auriel. I'll be seeing you all in late May/early June, then!

Miss you already,
Ithaeliel

[Mattius]

OK Ith, we will try not to go into Fangorn without you- wouldn't want to wander in there anyways without Middle-Earth's finest ranger. If things go a bit thin we could run a sub-plot or something.

[Brinniel]

I don't know about Brinn, just probably too busy!
You're right about that one! Life has been crazy for me lately. I'll be on these next few days, but I will probably be absent all of next week.

[Mattius]

Agrh I don't know where everyone has got to! I really want Brinn to post next but she hasn't been on for a while. If any of you want to post PLEASE DO SO!! I will post in the next couple of days if either Auriel or Brinn don't.

[Brinniel]

I was actually waiting for you or Auriel to post next, Matt. My next post will probably have Calentoliel run into Radagast, Mattius, and Ender, so I thought it'd be best to wait for them to actually arrive in Isengard first.

Unfortunately, due to a busy schedule I won't be online for a little while and my next post will have to wait until next week. smilies/frown.gif

[Mattius]

Ok then that sounds good, I'll post tomorrow or wednesday.

[Auriel Haevasawen]

Obviously I can't guarantee this but I will try my best to post more often to help carry the game. To the inn, mistress Cal, we will meet thee there.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Sorry everyone. I have also been remiss.

Lately, the Innkeepers have had their noses buried in the Barrow-downs party and awards. This will hopefully be over in the next two days so life and posting can resume a more normal course.

Cami

[mark12_30]

I've been assuming that this is finals week for many of you? I know it is for the colleges around here. I was figuring things would pick up after that. Don't anybody flunk an exam on my account! I can wait!

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Finals this early? School has been extended so far into the summer this year, we don't have finals until early June!

But I can wait as well, no worries. If we don't go too fast Ith will be back in no time.

Aylwen

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

So Mattius are you year 13 then? What Uni are you going to?(Sorry I nkow that sort of thing should be PM smilies/wink.gif I have a point, honest!)

OK, my point is: Can I reduce my characters to just the Huorn please? I think I was being overambitious. I love Telp, this is very hard for me...But I'll be a good tree (or I'll try!) I'll delete my first post.

[Mattius]

I'm going to be in such bad debt when I finish smilies/frown.gif Ah well...

Hey has anyone seen Brinn lately, I was hoping she would post soon.

[Manardariel]

I´m soooooo glad we don´t have finals- that´s the only good thing about German Schools!! smilies/smile.gif

Game-related question: Should Anarya join in the meeting, or are we/you going to stick with what I suggested earlier, about someone of you going into her forge and buying stuff. They start talking and in the end Anarya decides to join you guys into Fangorn. What do you say? Let me know, okay?

[mark12_30]

Did I make a mistake stuffing LinGalad into the tower or Orthanc so soon? (He's getting claustrophobic, I think.) How long til the rest of you join this council? Or are you going to skip it?

Calentoliel (sp?) are you headed into the council by any chance? Or should I have LinGalad bail out and come find you guys (somebody...?)

[Mattius]

Should Anarya join in the meeting, or are we/you going to stick with what I suggested earlier, about someone of you going into her forge and buying stuff. They start talking and in the end Anarya decides to join you guys into Fangorn. What do you say? Let me know, okay?


Well I think it would be better if we didn't all meet up at the council so I will have at least Mattius go into the forge.

Did I make a mistake stuffing LinGalad into the tower or Orthanc so soon? (He's getting claustrophobic, I think.) How long til the rest of you join this council? Or are you going to skip it?

I'm not sure yet but if you want a way out of the Council then DayVampyre has given you an escape route!

[mark12_30]

Thank you, Day Vampire. I'm on my way.

[Mattius]

Its also a good way for Lingalad to meet the others and perhaps tell them about what has been happening at the Council.

[DayVampyre]

**Sigh**

I do what I can smilies/cool.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Man, it's kinda fun playing a meanie for once smilies/evil.gif !

I was given a book today from a friend that he got at the book fair:

The New York Times: Dictionary of Misunderstood, Misused & Mispronounced Words.

Full of:

A) Words we know until someone asks us what they mean.
B) Words we never seem to use correctly
C) Words we can pronounce but not spell (or spell but not pronounce)
D) Words we understand when we read them but not when we hear them (or vice versa)

It's pretty cool. Helps with writing posts for the "Great Scribe of Gondor" everyone is annoyed with at the moment. smilies/smile.gif

Aylwen

EDIT: If Ajada ever says something insulting about your character, please, take no literal offense...Ajada is like that to everyone. smilies/smile.gif

[ May 08, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[DayVampyre]

Oh really Alywen, I never noticed that! smilies/tongue.gif


Hee hee, I so fall under the 'A' part of that post. I hate that!

[mark12_30]

Due to a combination of having a terrible memory for people and names, and since all the characters are new to me except Radagast, I'm (shall I say) hanging on for dear life as far as who's who.

I'm also wondering how this game will co-ordinate as we go along due to time zones. So, let me ask this: What time zone is everyone living in? (And if you've already mentioned it, I apologize; I forget that too.)

Anyway, here's the list so far; right? And if anyone is willing to admit their time zone, I'll add that to this table.

BD Member : Character : Race : Time
Sharon C7A : Brethil : huorn : USA Central
Lyra Greenleaf : Lim : huorn : British
Aylwen Dreamsong : Ajada : Human : USA Eastern
Dragoneyes : Aldor : human :
Manardariel : Anarya : human : MidEuro, Brit + 1; BD 12-2
DayVampire : Avery : human : USA Eastern
Brinniel : Calentoliel : elf : USA Mtn
Ithaeliel : Endereth : elf : USA Mtn
Taralphiel : Ishbel : human :
VanimaEdhel : Kalir : human :
mark12_30 : LinGalad : elf : USA Eastern
Mattius : Mattius : elf : British
Auriel : Radagast : istar : British

[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

I think a few or perhaps several of the people on your list have withdrawn from the game, mark12_30. But I'm also in the Eastern Time Zone (Barrow-Downs Time) but I'm usually on in the late afternoon.

Aylwen

[DayVampyre]

Yeah me too,

late noon sometimes later at night

[ May 22, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Brinniel]

I'm on Mountain Time (two hours earlier than Barrow-Downs time) and so is Ithaeliel.

[VanimaEdhel]

I am back and watching. Sadly, as no one else has noticed my character's "arrival" anywhere, I haven't been posting, but I'm watching until the time when the council is ready to bring Kalir in!

[mark12_30]

Vanima, didn't Kalir go into the council? (Brain like sieve sorry if I'm wrong) I was tempted to have LinGalad connect with him there but it would have been out of character for him to approach a human in the meeting, so I held off. It's nighttime... one possibility would be for Kalir to take a break from the neverending council and come to the inn to buy some food; there he could run into the crowd at the inn, in the common room? What do you think?

[Mattius]

I'm on British time, as is Auriel.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Could you cross me off the questors list please? Oh, and I'm on British time too.

[VanimaEdhel]

That sounds good. I was just hoping that maybe another character would realize that he was actually in the Council. I mean, a human farmer among all these people would stand out. I'll have him excuse himself from the Council and head over to the Inn. Be there in a jiffy! smilies/tongue.gif

[Mattius]

Manardariel, I led Mattius to your shop so that you can post! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Mattius]

Hey Auriel can you edit your last post a bit because mattius isn't in the inn at present, hes across the road at the forge!

[Brinniel]

I'll have Calentoliel run into you at the forge, Mattius, once I get the chance to post.

[mark12_30]

Oh, What a bonehead I am. And here I've been wondering why Endereth isn't playing along with my posts. No wonder she's been quiet.

Erm...is anybody carrying Endereth for Ithaeliel? Mattius, you're coming back from the forge in a bit, right? Are you ready to mentor (or tolerate, or however you choose to handle him) an airheaded naive insecure young elf?

I beseech you all: please don't go into Fangorn without me! I had a few plans as for what will be happening once we leave Isengard. Meanwhile, I'll leave the game-owning duties of the Threat of the Trees to Mattius, Brinniel and Auriel. I'll be seeing you all in late May/early June, then!

[DayVampyre]

Hey! Aylwen! What gives?


How am I supposed to PM you back an answer if I'm on your ignore list?

Oh, did I offend you?


smilies/wink.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Oopsies! smilies/smile.gif Wrong button. I meant to put you on my buddy list! Shows how good I am with computers...I'll try and fix it...

Aylwen

[VanimaEdhel]

I'm here! And I posted! Finally! Yay! Sorry: I'm just happy I had *some* free time.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Could someone perhaps PM me with some tree guidance?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Lyra and Auriel,

Regarding the Huorn.....please see my private message. This is a copy of what Auriel and I discussed earlier with Envinyatar.

Let me know what you think and if we want to go in this direction.

Cami

[ May 14, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

I've edited the list (on page 4, bottom) a bit, but could somebody tell me who else has dropped out that's still on the list? (if you know)

Thanks!

Also, I edited my last post so that it left the identity of the next tale-teller open.

Are we pretty much marking time and doing character development 'til Ithaeliel comes back, or what's the plan?

[Mattius]

Yeah, we can tell each other of our characters for a bit but not too much though, then we'll perhaps get a room at the inn and see whether Ith is back by then!

[VanimaEdhel]

Gotta love cross-posting! Don't worry: I edited so that our posts fit more.

[DayVampyre]

Errgrraaa!

That's such a pain smilies/rolleyes.gif


BTW, Alywen, it still doesn't work, I'm going to go and try again though,

Your PM's are getting through, however.

[EDIT]
Tried again, no workie, your profile bein' dorkie
[EDIT]

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

smilies/biggrin.gif

I think I figured it out, DV. I'm pretty sure it's working now.

I'll post soon. Soon. How long has it been for Ith? Two and a half weeks? She should be back in another one or two weeks I hope.

Aylwen

[Mattius]

I see her on every so often but she doesn't post on the RPGs. If you read this Ith could you PM me about some of the ideas you had like what would happen when we entered Fangorn?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Mattius, Ith, Auriel, Brinniel,

I'm wondering if some of the "good guys" and some of the "bad guys" need to coordinate a little behind the scenes regarding the question you raise in the space just above.

Don't we need to briefly touch bases on what the Huorn are doing, why they're upset, what could potentially appease them, etc.? Potentially, the early posts the Huorn do could have a major impact on what direction your company ends up going and what they are trying to do.

At the beginning of the RPG, Auriel and I corresponded briefly with specific ideas about why the Huorn were upset and some general things that could possibly happen in the game. Nothing too specific to squelch creativity, but a general idea of what direction we were heading.

It was at that point that Auriel told me she'd play a particular Entwife character. I also said I was available to play an Entwife later in the game. We haven't been in touch on this for some time. I was kind of hanging low to let the story develop and have you guys get closer to us.

A few days ago, I wrote both Auriel and Lyra (the other Huorn--see 5 or 6 spaces above) when Lyra asked about what the trees were doing. I included copies of what Auriel and I had talked about earlier. I wanted to confirm that Auriel still intended for us to go in that direction. If so, I was going to do a post to introduce some of that possible intrigue. (I also suggested Lyra do the same.)

So, right now, I'm holding off until Auriel gets back to me. Maybe it would be helpful if I also sent copies to Mattius, Brinniel and Ith of what Auriel and I discussed earlier? I'll go ahead and do that.

I am itching to go ahead with a post starting to outline the intrigue that's going on within the tree community, and what kind of outside people are approaching them, but feel I should wait to see if we're on the same page. If you have other things in mind, let me know and I'll have my chaacter adapt accordingly....

sharon

[mark12_30]

VanimaEdhel, I put Kalir on the spot with a tough question. If you don't like it, I can edit, but I thought it would be a good place to show the reader something more sinister, especially if the Huorns and Ents are going to speak up and tell us what's up in the dark forest!

If anyone else wants to chime in with thier own stories of loss, "while Kalir is considering his answer", go ahead. Or, Gamemasters, if I'm off-topic, just holler at me or throw something.

smilies/biggrin.gif

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Or, Vanima, if you don't like the question, Ajada can interrupt and cause more havoc with her suggestions of conspiracy and treachery. smilies/biggrin.gif

Aylwen

[VanimaEdhel]

No, I'm good.

Wow: what an informative response. I say we start to break off and go to sleep soon because Kalir's getting *yawn* tired.

[DayVampyre]

hee hee, Avery's ahead of you on that note! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Mattius]

Hey everybody, I just got a PM from Auriel and she has said she will not be on for a quite a while but i am confident we will all be able to carry the Brown bumbling wizard!

[Bêthberry]

Greetings All,

I'm just back from an absence of ten days and have been trying to follow events here. It sounds like there is a bit of confusion which is bogging down the game's development, so I hope you won't mind a few suggestions.

First, people need a stronger sense of what is motivating the trees so they can position their characters accordingly. This discussion can take place on this thread or via PM. The actual situation does not need to be identified in the game thread yet, but such a plot device should be discussed and clarified--not to the point of ruining creativity, but to allow all posters some sense of where the game is going. Right now there are many vague posts all circling around the issue, but no clear problem is developing. This, I think, is confusing for both the gamers and the readers.


Second, while it is great to have a game co-owned, but I have the feeling that plans for the game are not being forwarded and discussed among all the owners. Is is the case or am I reading too much here? Especially in the extended absence of two of the owners, it would perhaps be best if the remaining game owners clarified excactly how the characters of the absent gamers will be handled as well as provide some explicit discussion of plot development. A list of who is still gaming would be helpful, with their characters.

Game owners, get your motors running! (That's a Steppenwolf reference, for all you youngsters. smilies/wink.gif)

*curtsies*

Bêthberry

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]

[Bêthberry]

Fellow Rohan gamers,

Our gaming comes with a cost; it is time to reflect on this fact and make some changes to how we run our games.

We RPGers are the most voracious consumers of Barrow Downs resources. We use a game thread, a discussion thread, PMs to plan games, and are constant visitors to the site, often returning more than two or three times a day to keep up with developments in the game in order to prepare our own posts.

Why is this a drain on BD resources? Please take some time to read carefully and reflect seriously upon the Barrow Wight's recent posts in the "Announcements >> The Barrow Downs" forum concerning storage space and bandwidth, chat and discussion, and the costs of running the site, and then change your posting habits.

What are the most beneficial changes in our posting habits? For one, we need to stop using the discussion threads for idle banter, for personal comment. We must restrict our posts to discussion of the games only, that is, to issues of plotting, character interaction, clarification, and notification of absences. For most occasions, we don't need to make multiple posts about why we are absent or how we are doing and we don't need to make a string of 'see ya' posts in reply. For personal comments, we can use the chat room or PMs. A discussion thread that is far longer than a game thread is often a signal of a misuse of the discussion thread.

Please take the time to do several things: Delete posts or run of the mill comments in the discussion thread that have no bearing on the game. Refrain from such posts and comments in future discussions of the games. Limit your daily visits to the thread.

If we all help out, we can ensure that our games remain treasures in the Barrow Downs.

Thanks for being responsible gamers and credible members of the Downs!

Bêthberry

[Mattius]

Holy crap, all the other co-owners have seemingly dissapeared off the face of the Downs and left me(!) to run this game; the most inexperienced member of all. Dammit! Ah well, I am going to try my best although that is not so good.

Can everyone post about the night and then getting ready for Radagast's decision on what is to happen? When you have all done that I will post as Radagast/Mattius/Endereth and Calen too if Brinn's not posted (eek!).

Child of the 7th Age, I think we should go with your game plan, could you perhaps send it to me again in a PM as when I repiled to you it deleted the original copy! D'oh!!

All the best, Matt.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Matt,

I will resend the suggested game plan tomorrow,as I will be out this evening, and also contact Lyra and give her a copy as well.

Then I will do the first background post by sometime this weekend to begin paving the way for the action that Auriel and I discussed. As I noted, Auriel has given me permission to "carry" her Entwife character, but I will try to keep her mysteriously in the background for now.

Hope this helps.

sharon

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Hey Matt,

No worries, you'll do fine. smilies/smile.gif

I haven't posted in a while, but I promise to do so tonight. Promise, promise, promise.

Also, Mattius, do you know when any of the other game owners will be back? Will we have to wait for all of them until we enter Fangorn?

Aylwen

P.S. Ajada has never touched a weapon in her life (unless stabbing people with a quill pen is considered using a weapon) would anyone care to show her the basics before the troop enters the forest?

[DayVampyre]

Ooooohhhhh...

I sooo call dibs on that one!


Hee hee, lets have some fun with pointy objects smilies/evil.gif


Stupid Quill Poker smilies/wink.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

I have done the first background vignette from the Huorn.

Sorry for the doggerel, but those visitors in the woods couldn't do any better. This is actual fortunate, since I am no poet.

Lyra, please clear your mailbox so I can send you a pm.

sharon

[ May 25, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Mattius]

I think I read somewhere that Brinn and Ith's school year finishes June 6th so maybe they will be back then. Auriel is another mater, it could be a few weeks or never.

[VanimaEdhel]

I also get out of school on the sixth of June. Then I will have an empty week of freedom to hang out with you guys. Then I will leave on June sixteenth for Russia, Finland, and Estonia. I'm not coming back for two weeks, so you will have to do without me for the fourteen or fifteen days I will not be on. I just thought that you should know my schedule and know when I will be away! As of now, I'm pretty much free, except that I have finals coming up (and SATII tests), so I have a lot of studying to do. I'll try to come in at least once a day, at least once every two days, though.

EDIT: Auriel is another mater
Who's the pater? And was there an original mater? smilies/wink.gif

[ May 25, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Brinniel]

I think I read somewhere that Brinn and Ith's school year finishes June 6th
Actually we get out June 5, but I suppose one day doesn't make much difference. Finals are very easy at my school, so hopefully I'll be on more regularly during the first week of June. I do not know about Ith, though. I will have to check and see when she'll be able to get back on the BD.

BTW, is there any certain date we have to have this RPG finished? The proposal says we have three to four months (posted in March), and right now with all these busy schedules and considering we haven't even come close to entering Fangorn, I don't see that happening.

[dragoneyes]

Seeing as I haven't actually entered the game yet and that I'm busy as it is (what with being on holiday and all). I'm going to pull out of this RPG. Sorry!

[Mattius]

Thats okay don't worry about it!

[VanimaEdhel]

A-posting I finally did go. Now I think we should all wake up soon. Not long until I depart for two weeks to Russia (3 weeks).

[DayVampyre]

Battling little old me?


And I've already gone ahead and put in for a new day, cause it's been what a month? and we've covered all of one night in the RPG?

[ May 27, 2003: Message edited by: DayVampyre ]

[mark12_30]

Dear Storymasters,

What's up with the mysterious song by the mysterious man on the mysterious cart with the mysterious harp? Can somebody pretty-please tell me a bit about what's going on?

I'm hoping to have LinGalad ask some more innocently-stupid/ stupidly-innocent questions that help send the story more or less in the right direction....

--Clueless From Mirkwood

[Mattius]

Hey, seeing as though we seem to be procrastinating and Ith, is nowhere to be seen (she had the original ideas) I am going to post Child's PM (with a few minor changes) regarding the storyline. If Ith. comes back then we can change it accordingly but here goes.

In our minds the only way to get the Huorn from going beserk is to have the Ents come back and reassert their authority. In fact, my character's secret is that the Huorn will die off, become just non-sentient trees, if there are no Ents to guide them. The only way to have this actually work is to have the Ents stop fading. What this means is that someone has to rediscover the Entwives.

The Huorn are upset and not too bright and also hugely powerful. They are obviously in danger of being taken advantage of by some bad people, and this is what will happen in our post. There will be some agents from east of Rhun, a place that was under Sauron's influence. Sauron may be dead, but they still have large slave plantations and they are afraid The King will shut them down. The bad guys have decided to make life miserable for The King and defy his edict to get rid of the slaves. To do this, they will need a strong ally who can't be pushed around. The Huorn are perfect for this.

They will enter into an arrangement with the Huorn by conning them. These men of Rhun are not stupid. They know the best way to control a Huorn is through an Ent. They don't quite have an Ent, but they do have an Entwife. (I figure they are about the size of a tree in an orchard, smaller than the Ents.) Tolkien said if Entwives survive, they are enslaved in the south or east. This is just what we're assuming. The bad guys have threatened an Entwife into cooperating by telling her that otherwise all her people will die. She will be a tool that the evil agents use to get the Huorn to go along with their schemes. We don't want to spell out all the ins and outs in advance, since we would just see how the plot goes and how everyone reacts, and pitches in. But this one Entwife would be physically hidden by the baddies. Only when the good guys rediscover her would they learn that Entwives still survive and they desperately need rescuing out east. We would set up the bad agents and the captive Entwife in our first few posts, exposing the infomation a little at a time, so everyone could gradually see what was happening.

[Bêthberry]

About that deadline, folks: Three to four months really does mean three to four months. It represents a committment and a promise to your other game participants and to your readers.

Don't assume that you automatically can just keep posting. The game owners will need to discuss that possibility with the Moderator. Receiving an extension isn't a foregone conclusion.

Please work very hard to find your direction and move rapidly. Incorporating Child's suggestions into the game is an excellent idea, particularly since one of the game owners has removed herself without giving much aid or direction.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ith, I wish you were here.....

Hope this is alright, but we really need to go ahead, as Bethberry says.

I have made the following assumptions about the baddies.

1. They are descendents of the Easterlings, a general term given to a number of different cultures/nations supporting Sauron in the War of the Ring.
2. They live in the region east of the Sea of Rhun.
3. Their culture and method of fighting bear a resemblance to that of the Wainriders, although the latter all perished at the end of the Third Age.
4. They are followers of dark cults, apparently involving the worship of Morgoth, similar to the story depicted in the fragment "The New Shadow" which appears in HoMe, XII.
5. They have something very interesting in the wagon which they have brought with them.

If anyone has additional ideas, suggestions, or such, please feel free to send me a pm or spell out suggestions on the discussion thread.

sharon

[VanimaEdhel]

I have a question to the game-owners: do you have any idea as to how we are going to progress so that we are actually out investigating, or were we supposed to wing it? I would deliver a post advancing the plot, except that I don't really know exactly what plans you had for getting us going.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Important Notice

Bear with me. This will be long.

I am not a game owner, as you can well tell! However, at the beginning of the game, I wrote to the founders. Since I was a huorn, I wanted to have some idea why I was running about murdering people!

Ith and Mattius referred me to Auriel, who is a game founder. This is what we discussed.

1. First, as Mattius has stated above, the bad folk" have been inciting the Huorn to riot with lies and half-truths. Now, they are coming into the forest to make a formal alliance with them. They are doing this because they wish to strike back against Gondor. BTW, these are the same people who have held the Entwives captive on large plantations for many years.

2. The bad folk or Easterlings are using one of the captive Entwives to try and control the huorn. This is the figure hidden in the wagon. Auriel agreed to play this character.

3. Auriel said the company should come into Fangorn and find and free the captive Entwife. Exactly how you would do this would be up to the good people in the company. But please don't kill the people from Rhun. Let them escape.

For now, the baddies are going to be camping in Fangorn. Once freed, the captive Entwife would pesumably beg the company to rescue her sisters in Rhun.

4. Without guidance from the Ents, the huorn can not control their behavior. They would wreck havoc not only within the forest, but eventualy march out (as they did in LotR) and begin attacking others.

5. To forestall this, the company would head east and look for the Entwives. Auriel felt the main body of the game was not in the quest to get to Rhun, but in what happens after the company arrives.

The freed Entwives will be able to awaken the Ents. By implication, the Ents would resume their traditional role and the huorn would both survive and behave.

6. Neither the company or the captive Entwife know anything of the Easterlings' wider plans. It would be up to the company to ferret that military information out, once they get to Rhun, and then warn the King in Minas Tirith.

Mattius, (and everyone else) would this be alright? If you've got other ideas in mind, I'll gladly defer/delete.

Perhaps, as the company escapes, the Easterlings could give chase. The company would warn the King, with all coming to a head in a final battle.

Do we want to folk from within the game adopt these baddie characters (my preference), or go outside for others to join?

Here are some possibilities:

I've already created two characters of Rhun---the prophetess/priestess Saelonia and a warrior who is yet unnamed. They are both servants of the Khan who, in my mind, rules over the Easterlings in Rhun.

We would also need captive Entwives back on the plantation.

Finally, we need an Ent or two to come along with the company when they leave for the East.

Anyone have additional ideas?

Cami Goodchild

[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Ithaeliel]

Hello everyone!

I'm not quite "back" yet... right now I'm the busiest I have been all month, what with studying for end-of-course exams and tons of commitments- daily, almost twice a day there's something going on after school. I'm going to try and obtain a balance between life and here, though, during this home stretch to summer. I promise that I will post in the RPG and give my input on all that needs it as soon as humanly possible. Don't worry; I'm coming home soon!

With love to you all,
Ith

[VanimaEdhel]

Mattius, I have PM'ed you with a question about the immediate development of the game. If you could post it in here, that would be great, as I think it pertains to basically everyone here.

[Ithaeliel]

In our minds the only way to get the Huorn from going beserk is to have the Ents come back and reassert their authority. In fact, my character's secret is that the Huorn will die off, become just non-sentient trees, if there are no Ents to guide them. The only way to have this actually work is to have the Ents stop fading. What this means is that someone has to rediscover the Entwives.
The Huorn are upset and not too bright and also hugely powerful. They are obviously in danger of being taken advantage of by some bad people, and this is what will happen in our post. There will be some agents from east of Rhun, a place that was under Sauron's influence. Sauron may be dead, but they still have large slave plantations and they are afraid The King will shut them down. The bad guys have decided to make life miserable for The King and defy his edict to get rid of the slaves. To do this, they will need a strong ally who can't be pushed around. The Huorn are perfect for this.

They will enter into an arrangement with the Huorn by conning them. These men of Rhun are not stupid. They know the best way to control a Huorn is through an Ent. They don't quite have an Ent, but they do have an Entwife. (I figure they are about the size of a tree in an orchard, smaller than the Ents.) Tolkien said if Entwives survive, they are enslaved in the south or east. This is just what we're assuming. The bad guys have threatened an Entwife into cooperating by telling her that otherwise all her people will die. She will be a tool that the evil agents use to get the Huorn to go along with their schemes. We don't want to spell out all the ins and outs in advance, since we would just see how the plot goes and how everyone reacts, and pitches in. But this one Entwife would be physically hidden by the baddies. Only when the good guys rediscover her would they learn that Entwives still survive and they desperately need rescuing out east. We would set up the bad agents and the captive Entwife in our first few posts, exposing the infomation a little at a time, so everyone could gradually see what was happening.


I could not have put it better myself, Child. That will work well. However, would it be logical to say that these descendants of Easterlings had enslaved all the Entwives? If so, that would eliminate the need for part of the company having to split off and go search for the remaining Entwives in the southeast, ultimately cutting down our time. I like the idea of the climactic battle, though (two-part battle: Ents/Entwives vs. the Huorns, the company vs. the Easterlings).

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ith, Mattius, Brinniel---

First, Ith, many thanks for the note so we can see the general direction we're heading.

Perhaps my post was confusing. Let me respond to Ith's questions below:

However, would it be logical to say that these descendants of Easterlings had enslaved all the Entwives? If so, that would eliminate the need for part of the company having to split off and go search for the remaining Entwives in the southeast, ultimately cutting down our time. I like the idea of the climactic battle, though (two-part battle: Ents/Entwives vs. the Huorns, the company vs. the Easterlings.


Yes, I do think the Easterlings had enslaved all the Entwives. I envision these Easterlings, as Tolkien did, living near the Sea of Rhun in the east and having large plantations. This is why they would need farm labor. These Easterlings are ruled by an official called the Khan.

The particular two Easterlings that I describe --the prophetess and the soldier --are merely representatives of this group who've been sent over by the Khan to try and strike a bargain with the huorn for military purposes. Once they strike that bargain, they will head back to Rhun.

They've brought along one Entwife in the wagon to use as bait or leverage over the huorn. The huorn are more likely to obey and respect an Ent or Entwife than they would an Easterling.

That would mean the company would go to Fangorn and rescue the one Entwife in the wagon and find out about the other ones who are imprisoned. She would be the one to tell them of her enslaved sisters.

Then the entire company would travel towards the Sea of Rhun in order to free all the enslaved Entwives. The journey there would not be important in terms of the overall story line. It could be done by condensing time and space in one or two posts, a narrative stating that the journey had occurred and that they had arrived in the far eastern land.

Then the story would go forward with these three steps.

1. Freeing the Entwives and learning of the military goals of the Khan.

2. Fleeing from Rhun with the Entwives in tow and heading back towards Gondor to let the king know of the Easterlings' impending attack.

3. Some sort of final battle where the forces of good prevail.

If you'd like to cut back on this plot line more sharply, does anyone have specific ideas how to do this?? We're not wedded to any of this and can shift, chop, and prune as we need.

The only way I see to eliminate the compny's journey east totally would be to assume there was a whole brigade of Easterling soldiers who'd come near Fangorn herding the enslaved Entwives in front of them. But why would they do this? I don't think they could compel the Entwives to fight against the Ents and Gondor.

Any ideas?

Cami

[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

While the Ents, Entwives, Huorns, and Easterlings conspire, the company is making its was towards Fangorn-- but we just filled our water bottles at the river Isen, which flows from the mountains and not from Fangorn; so I have a question:

"Speaking of mountains, we must now either go over or around them, and I wonder which it is to be. "

Who's leading the company? Mattius? Which way do we go; around the southern tip of the Misty Mountains or do we follow the Isen up into the mountains and cut across eastwards to Fangorn? The first sounds easier.

[VanimaEdhel]

I think that, if Mattius does not know, we should certainly have a vote. If so, here are our choices:

Around: probably longer, but less action too

Over: action, and we could get to where we want to go more quickly, as long as we don't run into any serious problems

Kalir, himself, votes for around. I, personally, would vote for over, however.

[mark12_30]

While we are pondering our course to Fangorn, here's another cast list: am I missing anybody? Please speak up if so! I think we've added an ent or...?


Huorns/Ents:
Child of the 7th Age as Brethil
Lyra Greenleaf as the ancient beech tree Lim

Questers (what would you call this type of party...?):

Aylwen Dreamsong as Ajada (human) (reporter)
Manardariel as Anarya (human)
DayVampyre as Avery (human) (thief)
VanimaEdhel as Kalir (human)( male)

Ithaeliel as Endereth (elf)
Mark12_30 as LinGalad (elf)
Mattius as himself (elf)
Brinniel as Calentoliel (elf)

Auriel as Radagast (istari)

[ June 05, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Helen,

Could you remove Evinyatar's name? He left the game early on due to other commitments.

Thanks.

Cami

[ June 05, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[mark12_30]

Yes Ma'am, done... (and now I'm off to see if I can make it to weathertop during lunchbreak!)

[Mattius]

Hey sorry about not posting as frequently as usual but I am in the middle of exams and also practically posting for all the game owners!!

In my last post I put the route to the vote. Vote as you would like, either path leads us to fangorn in the end.

[Mattius]

Hey just to let you all know, the original Blue Mountains RPG is now a fanfic!

[VanimaEdhel]

Hi! Just letting you know that I am leaving for my trip to Russia on June 16th, and I won't be online until June 30th. Happy journeying (I'll be here until then, though)!

[Ithaeliel]

Hey just to let you all know, the original Blue Mountains RPG is now a fanfic!

Hallelujah! and I read the reviews; people are cliffhanging! This is l337 (sorry, I've been watching too much anime lately)... except my name is spelled wrongly. smilies/frown.gif

Yes, I do think the Easterlings had enslaved all the Entwives

Forgive me, Child, I was sleepy and didn't phrase that question quite correctly. What I meant was: what if the Easterlings had taken ALL the Entwives with them to Fangorn? Would it have been possible? Would it have been the least bit logical? If they did that instead of only one, as I said before, the gorup wouldn't have to split between Rhun and the forest. I don't have a talent for reasoning, so this may be a ridiculous idea, but it's worth a shot considering our time limits.

Oh, and one more thing: I won't be on until Saturday, due to music camp (today we were let out early, but not for the rest of the week) running for twelve hours and running ME for about thirteen. Toodly-doo, then!

Ith

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Oh: general note to all on the playing of Kalir (if you could) while I'm gone: you guys have been integrating him, so you basically already know what to do. However, just as a reminder for when I'm gone: he's becoming more comfortable speaking his mind, but he is still a farmboy, so some of his ideas may be a little closed-minded at times. And annoying Ajada has become one of his favorite activities on the journey. Oh, and he does not think much of his physical capabilities, as he doesn't know too much about fighting and he's never really been off the farm before.

[Child of the 7th Age]

More planning issues that need to be answered before we go ahead....


Ithaeliel and Mattius,

Thanks for explaining what you meant. Now I understand what you were asking me.

Upon reading over your post, I think you've raised two issues, perhaps without fully realizing it. One of these is openly stated, while the other is implied by the question you ask. I can understand why you were confused by my own answer because I assumed certain things about your second question without actally stating these things on this thread.

So we'll need to clarify both issues before we decide which way to take the plot.

Here are the two questions/issues I see:

1. Will the Entwives all be in Fangorn Forest, or will most of them still be back on a plantation in Rhun?

This is the question that you explicitly raise on the thread. However, there's another implied issue.

2. Will the company deal with the marauding Huorn who are attacking travellers in the forest?

I made a basic asumption on my earlier post and planning ideas which I didn't really explain. (Sorry!) Let me explain. When I suggested that the company go running off to free the Entwives in the east, I assumed they would not deal with the temporary problem of getting the huorn to stop bashing travellers on the head.

This is how that could be done. You might have a background post with the King reading a missive sent to him from those who went to the forest, describing how the Entwives have been imprisoned and requesting permission to go help them.

In that same post you'd have an answer back from the King. (The easiest way to do this is to have someone from the company reading the reply.) The king would tell the companions to go to Rhun and free the imprisoned Entwives and report back to him. He would also tell the companions that he was temporarily sending a band of soldiers out to patrol the forest and try to keep the violence in check.

Then the RPG itself would focus on the quest, not on the soldier-peacekeepers left behind. I made this assumption for several reasons. I honestly don't think it would be too interesting to have a group of posters left behind in Fangorn simply to do police-keeping duties with the huorn. All the mystery would be gone, since we already understand about the Entwives and even the fact that the people of Rhun are planning an attack. Secondly, I can say from hard experience that it is almost always a bad idea to have more than one central plotline going on in an RPG. No, I'm not saying you can't have subplots. You most certainly can. But it is very hard to keep two separate storylines running. Splitting the company would force us to do that.

So here's my opinion: whatever you do, don't split the main group of posters in two. My personal preference is to go off to Rhun because I think it could be much more interesting than staying in Fangorn. As I mentioned before, you wouldn't even have to deal with the actual journey. Just use the device of space/time compression: a single narrative post where the journey is summarized in a few paragraphs. Then pick up the detailed action just outside Rhun.

If you don't want to do that, you will indeed have to bring all the Entwives to the forest, driven there by the bad guys. But wouldn't someone have seen them on their long trip from the east? I don't think you can hide that many Entwives easily on a long trip. They're just too big! Also there's too many of them. We haven't discussed numbers but there must be at least 25 or so! I'm not at all sure how you'd get around this secrecy issue.

Also, you'd have to say why the bad guys brought the Entwives along. The only thing I can think of is to join the military forces and fight..... But would the Entwives fight? I doubt it. I think they would resist. Then the focus of the plot might become the tension between the bad guys and their prisoners, and some kind of secret plot to help release them on the part of the company.

My personal preference would be to go to Rhun and free them and come racing back. Please have the game founders decide and let me know. I'll be careful to keep my next post vague about this. If necessary, I'll revise my earlier plot ideas and posts to reflect the fact that an imminent force from the east is expected to arrive in just a few days with all the Entwives in tow.

Please let me know how you prefer to handle this.

Cami

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Uh oh, I'm confused about the roles for the trees again. Sorry, I just had a History exam and it's driven me mad and I didn't understand a word of that, Child of the 7th Age. What will we be doing?

PS, Mattius what is with that Avatar? That is terrifying. I miss the chicken.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Lyra,

Sorry about that! I was trying to respond to a question that Ithaeliel raised.

Ithaeliel asked if the Entwives should be captive in Rhun or in Fangorn Forest. I had originally said the company should go to Rhun. If the Entwives needed rescuing in Rhun, she was afraid that the company would have to split in half, with half staying in the forest to battle the Huorn and half going to Rhun to rescue the Entwives.

I gave her my view on the situation: whatever happened, the company should not split. It is too hard to keep up two separate storylines. My own preference is to have the Entwives captive in Rhun and to have the company go rescue them. The King could say he was going to have his soldiers keep order in the forest, and that would not be an active part of our story.

I asked that the founders make a decision on this. I will try to carry out whatever plot they tell us to do.

Lyra, I'll try to post this weekend. Then you can follow my lead. We can go ahead with what we're doing, talking to the two agents from Rhun. They will try to persuade us to side with them against the King. We just won't say decisively whether or not the Entwives are staying in Rhun, or being brought to Fangorn. We can say the Khan hasn't decided what to do yet.

Cami

[Ithaeliel]

Dear Cami,

Thank you for answering my question so thoroughly! I've just looked back at the post that you wrote right before I initially came back from my hiatus, and with the clarification it has suddenly all dawned on me! *cue heavenly music* *cutoff* Altogether, I think that your ideas make for a very interesting plotline. I like it. Thanks, I believe that we should proceed with the plot now; after we discover the Entwife (in a clever manner, of course) we will send our request to the king via one of our company and await his reply. May I request one small change, though: we need to keep "soldier-peacekeepers" in Fangorn. It could be a small group of our RPers who don't post religiously or want something of a break (despite what you think I won't be one of them!), so that it won't take the focus away from the Rhunward-bound (haha) bunch. The huorns kind of need to be babysat so that they don't enter Isengard or any other residential area around the forest. If that's not a highly disagreeable idea, then I'd request two or three volunteers for that. I must go to bed now, so I will catch you all later!

Ith

[VanimaEdhel]

That was my last post until the 30th. I wish you luck until I return (as long as you wish me luck smilies/wink.gif )! Да свидания (da svidanya)!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Vanima

We'll miss you. Have fun!

********************************************

Ithaeliel,

Glad we got that cleared up so quickly.

That's a good idea about letting a few characters stay behind who prefer to post more infrequently. You can ask for volunteers once you get in the woods and find out that you will need to go to Rhun.

Another possible way to approach this..... If we don't have enough volunteers, there may be a few ambitious posters who wouldn't mind caring a secondary character who would only post infrequently to report on what's going on in the woods.

********************************************

Everyone-

Hey! We're two months into the story, with two months to go. Please try to get to Fangorn quickly!

Saelonia is threatening to get nasty! And you will want enough time to develop an interesting plot in Rhun.

Child, Bard of Rohan (My new title from the White Horse!)

[ June 15, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Bêthberry]

Everyone, please welcome Child as the new Bard of Rohan. She will be helping out by developing mentored games and helping on various games where there are plotting or writing confusions.

And she just happened to be a gamer already in this game!

Bethberry

[Mattius]

Ith and the brand spanking new Bard I agree with the storyline you have set out. I will post tonight, witht he company beginning to move over the mountains.

[Ithaeliel]

Hallelujah again!

I've posted on the RPG thread again... finally! I'm so relieved to have gotten that done. I just hope my skills haven't oxidized too much, and I hope I didn't bunny anybody.

I know there are a few posters around who are infrequent, so if any of you would like to volunteer to a) have your pre-made character stay behind in/around Fangorn or b) create a new profile for a character to stay behind while the other one goes to Rhun, that would be great. I highly recommend the former, though, since if you are already infrequent about posting then it'll be quite hard to carry more than one character. But if you do choose to make up a new character just to "babysit" the Huorns and make sure nothing goes wrong, I'd ask you to create a profile for a male who was "sent by His Majesty to keep the peace." It needn't be incredibly detailed (history-wise), but just so we may get a general idea of personality, occupation, anything that shows outwardly. We'll deal with getting rid of the person when the company is about to return.

Now I have a bad feeling that most of the above was useless rambling, but I'll just say that I recommend the volunteers use the character they already have. And don't worry, absentees: I won't volunteer you unless you want me to!

Ith

[Child of the 7th Age]

Ith, Mattius,

I received a message from Mark 12_30 stating that she's withdrawing from the Downs for personal reasons.

Just wanted to let you know, since she plays one of the characters in this game.

Child, Bard of Rohan

[Mattius]

Thanks Child, we can have LinGalad stay in Fangorn then, doesn't seem too out of characher.

The rest of you, can you write one post about crossing the mountains then I will post our entry into Fangorn.

Thanks

Matt

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Mattius ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Mattius,

That's a good idea about Helen's character.

I know you'll be crossing the mountains in just one post, but about how long would it take (game time) for the company to reach Fangorn.

I want to try and coordinate with you by indicating the passage of time, even if I only do it in a sentence of two.

Child, Bard of Rohan

[Mattius]

Hopefully we will reach Fangorn by this Sunday.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Child grins.....

No, I meant about how much time in Middle-earth terms will it take for the company to reach their destination. I do understand that posters will represent that journey in one post, and that you hope the posts are up by Sunday.

But about how long will the journey take for the company to reach Fangorn?

Child, Bard of Rohan

[Mattius]

Oh I see, sorry, well we set off early morning and it must be around noontime by now so lets say early hours of the next morning entering Fangorn at the wee hours. o0o0o0 spooky.

Since Auriel is unlikely to come back anytime soon I say hat we leave old Radagast in the woods using the excuse he is too old for adventuring in far away lands. If Auriel returns she can always have him catch up but since shes not going to be on, what do you others think?

[Child of the 7th Age]

Mattius,

I think your idea of leaving Radagast in Fangorn is a good one.

But you might not want to say Radagast is too "old." I'm not even sure what "old" means in relation to the Valar who do not seem to age, even in incarnate bodies. Also, if Auriel does come back and want to use Radagast again in this and other adventures, she might not appreciate if you call her character "old." smilies/biggrin.gif

Radagast loved the woods and the animals in them. Perhaps he can be very aware of how "injured" all the inhabitants of the forest are because of the departure of the Ents and the evil that the Easterlings have brought there. He may decide to stay behind because he wants to try and bring healing there. There will, of course, be soldiers sent by the King (which we mention just in passing) to put down any armed insurrections, but more than that is needed to mend the underlying damage. Radagast would have seen and understood that.

If you decide that's a good idea, you can put those thoughts into some kind of goodbye post between Radagast and the other members of the company. (Of course, if Auriel comes back, she can decide that she's done enough "healing" and follow after us....)

Just an idea....

Child, Bard of Rohan

[Ithaeliel]

Good idea having LinGalad and Radagast stay in the forest. I agree with Child that it is better to say that Radagast wanted to heal some of the creatures in the forest... and perhaps stay there for his own contentment ("I don't wanna go to Rhûn! You can't make me!" smilies/wink.gif).

So we'll be in Fangorn by Sunday, huh? Darn... just when it's getting better, I have to leave again! My family is leaving for Washington tomorrow and I'll be gone until late Sunday or early Monday. I'll get back here as soon as possible, though. I'm sorry I have to leave again! There are no more major vacations this summer, I promise!

Ith

[Mattius]

Cool stuff, so Radagast and LinGalad to remain in the woods together then and the rest off to Rhun.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Hey everyone!

Note: Late this Friday evening I will be going on a road trip/ vacation. I will be gone from June 27th - July 7th.

I trust everyone not to harm Ajada physically (I honestly don't think she minds verbal abuse, she'll ignore it unless its from Kalir or LinGalad), and I know that you all are pretty used to how she'll act. She loves to torment Avery and seriously suspects Kalir and LinGalad of poisoning the water and trying to overthrow the powers of Middle-Earth.

-Aylwen

Aylwen's Words of Wisdom ~ Sixteen hours seems like a long time to drive when you could just fly for an hour and a half!

[ June 27, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

[VanimaEdhel]

I'm back. There was nothing to contribute at the moment, so I'll wait for another post or 2 from the party so that I have something to talk about.
EDIT: I posted...

[ July 01, 2003: Message edited by: VanimaEdhel ]

[Bêthberry]

All gamers and game owners,

Mattius has contacted Cuthalion (owner of another game Mattius was in) saying he must withdraw from the Downs.

I assume this means Mattius is also withdrawing from Threat of the Trees. Could the other game owners please discuss here what will happen to the game? Who will be taking over as main owner? Will the game continue or will it be forfeited?

Please resolve these issues by July 12 or the game will, sadly, be closed.

Bêthberry,
Moderator for Rohan

[Brinniel]

With Auriel gone, Ithaeliel missing, and Mattius withdrawn, I realize I'm the only original owner of the game left at the moment.

I have to admit I have not been living up to my standards smilies/frown.gif ; I should be posting here and on the RPG more often and I will try to do so in the future. Also, I will announce that I'll be gone from July 11-13, then again July 20 - August 2.

I really want to keep this RPG going, but I honestly don't think I can run this alone. I will email Ithaeliel to see what she's up to (where are you, Ith?) and hopefully she'll be back soon. And perhaps Auriel will turn up sometime in the near future. Are there any regular posters willing to help take over this game if neither of them turn up soon (especially when I'm gone)?

Again, I apologize for my lack of participation; I've had a busy summer. Once I see where this RPG is going, I'll start posting more.

[Ithaeliel]

Greetings,

I'm back, and I'm sorry I took so long to get back. Wow, it looks like we've lost over half of our players- and half the owners- in this RPG. We still have something, though. We'll struggle through!

I may have a few spontaneous answers here. First, here's the list of all the people we still have with us:

Child of the 7th Age as Brethil
Ithaeliel as Endereth
Aylwen Dreamsong as Ajada
Brinniel as Calentoliel
DayVampyre as Avery
VanimaEdhel as Kalir

We've got quite a few UPCs on our hands, the most central of which are Radagast, LinGalad and Mattius. As we were going to leave a few to watch over the Fangorn area in the first place, I believe it should be these three who do that (though we'll need a person to play them all). As for ownership of the game: Brinniel and I would be able to take care of most of it, but one more hand would be most helpful. Therefore, since she has been so instrumental in the development of the plot, I would like to nominate Child of the Seventh Age. If everyone approves and she accepts the position, we'll have sufficient ownership for the game and will be able to continue developing the plot and urging the quest forward.

Please tell me if you think these are good ideas or not! Again, I'm sorry for my absence.

Ith

[Lyra Greenleaf]

I'm still here too! I haven't posted on the Discussion thread for a while, but I have on the game.

Just for clarification, I play the Huorn Lim.

[ July 06, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Brinniel, Ith,

I'll be glad to help out if I can. My time should be a little freer as I'll be finishing up a Shire game in about a week where I've been playing and moderating.

It may not be necessary to name me as a game founder. I'm already a moderator on this thread. In some games as a moderator, I just sit back and enjoy the ride, but in others I've acted in tandem with a founder when they felt the need for some definite help. I'll be glad to do this here but only if you feel the need.

Lyra, you've been a great huorn. Would you want to play an Ent, enslaved Entwife, or baddie once we manage to get out of Fangorn and head east? I assume that most of the huorn activity will be behind us then, except for a background post or two, at least till near the end of the game.

Unfortunately, I am also heading out on vacation from July 23-28, with computer access unlikely. In the first week of August, I'll be home, but busy with out-of-town guests. I will post but more erratically.

Would you want to try and get an additional person or two to try and take up one of our missing characters, or possibly to play an Ent, Entwife, or a baddie? We have no Ents, and I'm doing the huorn, the baddies, and the one Entwife at this point. I can continue doing that, but we might have more depth with an additional person or two. I am willing to do some pms to some of the people on Rohan's list, if you think this is a good idea.

In the Shire we routinely post notices in the Inn regarding game openings. I don't know if that is allowed her, but I could ask. Again, this is only if you wanted me to, so please let me know.

Finally, do you think it would do any good to go back to the original folk who did a profile and then vanished at some point without leaving us a note. (Are there some of those?) Again, in the Shire, I routinely do notes to those who haven't posted in two weeks. Sometimes it helps and sometimes not.

I do have one suggestion. If we are really short on people, we might be better off focusing our posts in one area rather than two. In other words, having most of us focus on the activity in Rhun which involves the freeing of the Entwives rather than delineating what's happening in Fangorn itself. It's always difficult to keep two subplots going. As it is, we're going to need to cover the good guys, the captives, and the bad guys. It may be hard to stretch further unless we pick up another poster or two.

Do either of you have ideas on this or other suggestions?

Cami

[VanimaEdhel]

It turns out I'm leaving around the 23rd or 24th rather than 25th or 26th, so that's a few less days I'll be here. However, if there's any way you can think that I can help, I'll try! I'm only in one other RPG at the moment, so I'll have free time to help in any way you want.

[Child of the 7th Age]

VanimaEdhel,

How long will you be gone? Maybe you posted that before, but I can't seem to find it.

Cami

[Lyra Greenleaf]

I'm leaving on the 26th of July, returning on the 9th of August (although if I'm lucky I will post once on each of my RPGs on saturday the 2nd(?)- well the saturday in the middle!)

I will play an Entwife and a baddie as long as I can post as (in)frequently as I currently do. Doing an Ent too might be stretching it...

[ July 06, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Brinniel]

Ithaeliel- Thank goodness you're back! Good timing, too. smilies/cool.gif

Child of the 7th Age- Ith and I appreciate any extra help we can get, so thank you.
Would you want to try and get an additional person or two to try and take up one of our missing characters, or possibly to play an Ent, Entwife, or a baddie?
That'd actually be quite nice if we could get some more people into the game. I don't know about someone taking over missing characters. Taking over Mattius or Radagast would require reading The Blue Mountains, though I don't think it would be a problem if someone took over LinGalad. We could definitely use an Ent and perhaps another baddie.
Finally, do you think it would do any good to go back to the original folk who did a profile and then vanished at some point without leaving us a note. (Are there some of those?)
There is one: Taralphiel, who wrote a profile for her character Ishbel then disappeared afterwards.

It would be unlikely to bring back those who withdrew from the RPG with a note, though I have noticed that it was several months ago that they withdrew and perhaps there is a slight chance that they would be able to rejoin. Here is the list:

-dragoneyes withdrew her character Aldor on May 25 because she was too busy.
-Evinyatar withdrew two characters (whose profiles I cannot find) on April 25 due to demands of the real world.

I kind of doubt we can bring these withdrawn characters back, though I suppose we could try.

If we are really short on people, we might be better off focusing our posts in one area rather than two. In other words, having most of us focus on the activity in Rhun which involves the freeing of the Entwives rather than delineating what's happening in Fangorn itself. It's always difficult to keep two subplots going.
I agree. I've always found two subplots a little confusing. Focusing on one area would be much easier to deal with.

Here is a list of dates players will be absent:

Brinniel: July 11-13, July 20 - August 2, August 5-12
Child of the 7th Age: July 23-28
VanimaEdhel: July 23 (or 24)- August 24
Lyra Greenleaf: July 26 - August 9

[ July 13, 2003: Message edited by: Brinniel ]

[DayVampyre]

I'll also be gone the last week of July but I'll be back early August.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Just noticed on another thread that VanimaEdhel will be gone till August 24th.

Aylwen is supposed to return tomorrow. (Yeah!)

Cami

[ July 07, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[VanimaEdhel]

Yes. That's when I will return. I may not get to post that particular day, as I'll be running around getting myself resettled in my house. Believe me, if I had my way, I wouldn't be going at all. I'll try to post as much as I can in the time that I have left, though.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

You could try Envinyatar, maybe. He just joined another RPG I'm in a couple of weeks ago- maybe he has more time? And what about Manardariel? Wasn't she in it?

[Bêthberry]

Just a little reminder that the first post in The White Horse Inn, Act II, lists all the gamers eligible to play in Rohan games. Gamers on the list in Gondor are also eligible to play in Rohan games.

Game owners can review these lists and check out gamers' posts if they wish to find replacements for the game here.

As gamers move up from The Shire, their names will be added to the Rohan list. If a gamer's name is not on the list for either Rohan or Gondor, he or she can join games only in The Shire.

Bêthberry
Moderator for Rohan

[ July 07, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]

[Brinniel]

And what about Manardariel? Wasn't she in it?
Manardariel is currently not available for gaming.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Envinyatar is also not available.

Cami

[Brinniel]

I just found out that I'll also be gone on vacation August 5 - 12. Just giving everyone a heads up. smilies/smile.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

Here are the list of current players:

Child of the 7th Age as Brethil
Ithaeliel as Endereth
Aylwen Dreamsong as Ajada
Brinniel as Calentoliel
DayVampyre as Avery
VanimaEdhel as Kalir
Lyra Greenlead as Lim

Now, here is who will be on vacation:

1. Brinniel: July 11-13, July 20 - August 2, August 5-12
2. Child of the 7th Age: July 23-28; limited access August 1-10 because of houseguests
3. VanimaEdhel: July 23 (or 24)- August 24
4. Lyra Greenleaf: July 26 - August 9
5. Day Vampire, ca. July 21 - early August

That means Ith and Aylwen will be the only ones posting in late July, the beginning of August.

Question: There are so many of us gone. Would it make more sense to lock the game till about August 12 and then reopen it? I always hate to see a game sitting open and dead in the water. You get the feeling it's going nowhere. I don't have strong feelings about this, however. What do others think? Has this happened before in Rohan?

Meanwhile, I will try and recruit one or two folk from the Rohan list as potential Entwives or baddies once we do reopen.

Perhaps Bethberry can offer some advice?

Child

[ July 14, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]