"The Gathering-In" discussion thread

[Birdland]

Gandalf the Grey linked me to this very charming “history” concerning the founding of the Shire, and I thought that a part of this history would make an wonderful, new RPG. It deals with the early settlers of the Shire sending out a group of messengers into the Wilderness to find all the scattered tribes and clans of Hobbits, let them know about the founding of a new country for the Halflings, and leading them back home to the Shire. If you’d like to participate in this new RPG, please go to the link below and read the Shire Post's Shire Post History (http://www.shirepost.com/HistoryPractice.html) particularly “of the Gathering of the Hobbits.”

OK, here are some rules. (no groaning!) Yes, there are some rules to this RPG, but not many, and not too horrible.

RULE ONE:

If you want to play one of the 24 Messengers, then your character will have to be a MALE HOBBIT! OK, is that clear? THE 24 MESSENGERS ARE ALL MALE HOBBITS. Any guy or gal at the Barrow Downs can play the role of a Messenger, but your character must be a MALE HOBBIT. No, your Messenger character cannot be:

A plucky female Hobbit.
A plucky female Hobbit disguised as a male Hobbit
A Dwarf, Elf, Man, Ent or Wizard
A Dwarf-Elf-Man-Ent-Wizard /Hobbit hybrid.

Repeat after me: If you want to play one of the 24 Messengers, your character must be a MALE HOBBIT!

RULE TWO:

See Rule One.

RULE THREE:
If you are one of the 24 Messengers, you must travel with a “buddy”. This buddy must be a MALE HOBBIT! (See Rule One) The 24 Messengers were sent out in groups of two. (12 groups) You may join up with a friend on the board and “travel” together, or you may make up your own “buddy”. Once you have set out, all bets are off: Your traveling companion may get get lost, captured, killed, whatever, Stuff happens in Middle Earth. You may decide to go on without him, or stop your search for the lost hobbits and try to find your friend. The choices are up to you. You may lose a buddy and find another companion on the road. But when you set out from the Shire, you will be traveling in groups of two. No Messenger may set out alone. When you leave the Shire as a Messenger, you must have a MALE HOBBIT companion with you.

(I’m very serious about these rules. If I find a Messenger in the thread who is not a bonafide Male Hobbit, or sets out from the Shire alone - and that includes plucky young hobbits who try to “follow” the 24 Messengers - I will ask Elenna the Freestyle RPG Moderator to boot them out.)

RULE FOUR:

When the Messengers find Hobbits, they are responsible for them, in a way. You can’t just point West and say, “The Shire is that-a-way. Good luck finding it.“ You will be like the Wagon Master in a Western Movie, you will have to lead the Hobbits you find back to the Shire, while trying to find other Hobbits on the way. (Don’t forget to ask the Hobbits you find if they know of other clans and where they are.) The more Hobbits you find, the better. Remember, these are your people. Don’t leave them behind in the Wilderness!

RULE FIVE

Stick to your duties! None of the 24 Messengers may desert their quest. If you decide that this looking for Hobbits thing isn’t your cup of tea, and you’re gonna go look for the One Ring or Smaug’s gold instead, I will have Elenna the RPG Moderator boot you out. You will be counted among the six Messengers who never returned to the Shire, and you can go off and start your own RPG.

RULE SIX

If someone speaks to you, please respond! One of my pet peeves with many RPG is characters who “snub “ other characters because their idea what they want the character to do is “better”. Of course, the opposite holds too. If a story line is developing, please try to respect it, and don’t throw off-the-wall events at them in order to get the story to go in a “better” direction.

OK, that’s the rules. See, that wasn’t so bad.

Now, are there other roles besides the MALE HOBBIT Messengers? You bet. You can play:

A LOST HOBBIT:

There are still many hobbit tribes and clans out there, living a semi nomadic existence. Life in Middle Earth was probably pretty hard for a small people with no war-like tendency and no country to call their own. You might be living in a very small community, or with just your immediate family, or you might be living alone. But you are probably not living real well. Most of you might be very glad to hear the decree brought by the Messengers. Free land! A real country founded by Hobbits, for Hobbits? Great! Where do I sign?

Or maybe you won’t. Will you trust this strange Hobbit, since you are a Stoor and he is a Fallohide? Does Grandpa want to stay where he is, ‘cause he wants to die by the banks of the Anduin? Is Mama, (or Papa) afraid of the journey? Is your sweetheart living with another clan, and if you go you’re afraid you’ll never see him or her again? Setting out on a long journey can be a very scary thing. There is no guarantee that your clan will even make it to the Shire. (Remember that only 18 of the 24 Messengers ever returned.) Is “the Balrog you know better than the Balrog you don’t know”? Most of you will probably want to go West. But there is no guarantee that everyone will want to go. Messengers: it’s your job to convince the wary and frightened, and to give heart to those who may fall along the way.

FRIENDS AND FOES:

There should be plenty of roles for people who are not Hobbits. You know who lives in Middle Earth. You may choose to be a friend, or foe, or you may think: “Hobbits! Yuck!“ and really not want to have anything to do with them one way or the other. You may be a friend or foe to the Messengers, or a friend or foe to the Lost Hobbit clans. You may play a temporary foe in one instance, then later in the story decide to play a different role as a friend. Just try to remember that not all conflicts on the road have to be full-fledge sword fights. You might just be rude. Or be so overly friendly that the Messengers will try to lose you! You can be any kind of friend or foe in Middle Earth that you want. Including an animal, or a mean, ol’ tree. Your friend or foe character might show up for a few pages, then be vanquished or disappear, or you may follow the characters all the way back to the Shire (But you won’t be allowed INTO the Shire, unless you are a Hobbit.)

Please, we don’t need dozens of Elf Lords and Ladies in this RPG. Just a few will do. Please, I‘m begging you. Try a different character besides an Elf Lord or Lady.

OK, that’s my RPG. I’m not going to play a long term role in this, though I may pop in with a character now and then. I hope you all enjoy it. Now, let's go hunt some hobbits!

[Ithaeliel]

This is an excellent idea, Birdland! Ingenious! I hope you don't mind if I join you this time. I might learn something from it smilies/wink.gif.

Name: Adro Baggins (I'm assuming there were Bagginses around in the early days of the Shire)
Age: 44
Race: Hobbit (Fallohide)
Personality: Mild and polite, although somewhat eccentric at times, his motto is "one can never be too careful/prepared." He is well-liked by many.
History: His family was one of the few Fallohides who migrated to the Shire (although in the beginning it was only because they wanted to see if it really was what people said it was), but they left behind many relatives who wished to remain migrant. Now he wishes to convince them otherwise, knowing now that the Shire is the place where he wants to stay for the rest of his days.
Weapons/gear: He carries with him on the journey all the things that the other twenty-three messengers have, with a few extras: a 'sword,' really a large dagger similar to Sting (although not forged by the elves), a blank notebook with quill and ink to record what happens on the journey.

If someone wants to be my 'buddy,' just tell me, or I'll ask to be someone else's 'buddy.' Thank you; I hope the profile is acceptable.

[Birdland]

Ardo, go join the festivities, and kiss your wife or sweetheart good-bye. Try not to drink too much ale tonight, for you will all be leaving at dawn!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Bird -- I will definitely join in on this. Give me a night to sleep on it, and see what kind of hobbit pops up in my dreams.

sharon

[Cimmerian]

How Quaint! I love this idea, big bird smilies/biggrin.gif .
May I join... I can't be anything less than male... heh heh! And I do play a good headstrong hobbit, I do.

Oh yeah, I promise not to get mushy with the female hobbits, if any, in this game. smilies/wink.gif

If you okay me, without lopping my big, fat head off smilies/biggrin.gif, I will post my character stats here.

Cheers!

[Birdland]

Welcome Cimm. I take it you want to be one of the 24? I promise not to lop of your head just so long as you don't use "conversion by the sword" on the hobbits you find:

"Whadya mean you don't want to go? The Shire is a loverly place, it is! (Whap!) Right! Now who else don't wanna go?"

Go join the Mid-Year festival and find your traveling mate. You'll all leave at dawn!

[ August 26, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[Elenna]

Umm, I know you want me to be the strongarm here, and I'm all right with that. Can I play too, though?

Name: Dinodas Millbanks
Age: 23
Race: Fallohide and Stoor mix (loves water)
Appearance: Dark red curly hair, 3'7"
Personality: Young and merry, not very experienced in travelling.
History: Came from a milling family on the banks of a river. Decided to leave home and have an adventure.

[Birdland]

Great Elenna! Go post your character at the Mid-Year fest and prepare to leave at dawn.

I hope people don't think this RPG is going to be overly controlled. I just very much wanted it to be a story about the 24 Messengers, and good hobbit characters are hard to find!

Oh, and we don't literally need 24 hobbits, since you'll be scattered throughout Middle Earth in groups of two. The hobbits who have joined so far: Ithaeliel, Elenna, Cimmerian, and (very hopefully) Child, can team up, or make up their own traveling companion.

[Child of the 7th Age]

OK, Bird, I've got it. I don't want to be one of the messengers (sorry). I want to be a "lost" hobbit. Actually, you and the Shire say I am lost but I personally do not think so.

First, I am modelling my hobbit on the figure of Trotter in "The Return of the Shadow." Actually I am his ancestor, A Fallohide and a descendent of the Tooks. Like my great-great-great -great etc. grandson Trotter, I have even visited Mordor which was then a deserted land! The hobbit messengers would have been sent out about 1610, and the Nazgul didn't get back to Mordor till the fortresses were deserted in about 1636

I am about 40 years old. I wear a coat with a hood that can be pulled down over my face. Like Trotter, I am fond of apples and pipe tobacco (but I don't wear wooden shoes--I draw the line there.) I am on my own out in the wilderness, very knowledgable about the lore of nature, and able to defend myself. (I mean I don't kill balrogs or anything, but I'm pretty good for a guy who is three foot, eight.) I don't have much use for books or learning, but I do have a good heart.

My job is to act as a kind of "ranger", keeping the hobbits out in the wilderness as safe as I can. I travel on my own, or with friends and allies as I need them. I deal freely with dwarves and men, and even an occasional Elf. And just try finding me! It's not so easy. After all, this wilderness is my home turf!

I am very suspicious about the whole idea of the Shire. Believe me, I'm no farmer! I may or may not come in the end, but I carry a great deal of influence with the other "lost hobbits" whom I protect. If I tell them it's a good thing, they'll listen to me (and you). If I tell them it's a bummer, they'll throw rocks at you.

(By the way, you DO know where Aragorn and his folks got the idea of rangers from???.....)

And are you absolutely certain that all the people in the Shire want to be innundated by these "rustic" outsiders? The leadership was willing and able, but I have my doubts about some of the others. Your written down shire history may be missing some critical points! I bet there would have been a few grumblers and dissenters who had their doubts. You know --the ancestors of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins!! Maybe one or two of the messengers sent out would actually have come from this dissident party---maybe they had to include these guys to win their approval and get their support.

Tolkien gives us a description of hobbits outside the Shire at the time of the Ring quest. Think how much more this would be true in the earlier period. And please note how the Shire felt about these "uncivilized" dudes.

Not all the hobbits lived in the Shire by any means, but the Outsiders were a rustic, not to say (though in the Shire it was often said) uncivilized lot, and not held in much account. There were probably a good many more of them scattered about in the West of the world in those days than peope in the Shire imagined, though many were indeed no better than tramps or wanderers, ready to dig a rough hold in any bank, and stay only as long as it suited them The Return of the Shadow

Oh, yeah, my real name is Peregrin Boffin (that's a secret!), but I only go by Perry.

Is this alright? sharon

[ August 26, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Birdland]

I love it! Nothing is ever simple, is it? Especially when you are dealing with people.

Marcho might be considered a Joseph Smith type of character, bringing his people together into one place to support their way of life and protect them from "outside" influences. Some folk like that kind of life, (and I can't help but think if you are under 4' tall in a world of giants, the prospect does have its charms.)

But not everyone is gonna think that way. And you're right, there probably will be some grumblers in the Shire, who don't want to share the land with even more people. Although I imagine most of them are only one generation removed from the Wilderness themselves. I remember reading about Benjamin Franklin grumbling about the influx of Germans and French into the American Colonies, (as if he felt he was being crowded!)

You go, Perry, Conflict is good! At least in a story.

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hullo Birdland,

Congratulations on an excellent and exciting RPG idea! smilies/smile.gif

I'd very much like to participate. As for character(s), at this point, it's still in the planning phase.

Looking forward to a grand and rich adventure, * bows *

Gandalf the Grey

[ August 26, 2002: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[Bêthberry]

*Bethberry timidly raises hand.*

Me, too, please. Can I join? This sounds very intriguing. I guess you won't let Bethberry find any lost hobbits in the Old Forest smilies/wink.gif so can I take a bit of time to plan my character/s?

I assume this means that there will be multiple narrative directions, for each 'team' of messengers will have its own particular direction and group of hobbits?

*smiles contentedly thinking of all the wonderful hobbit characters to play with*

Bethberry

[Birdland]

Oh, cool! Welcome aboard, Gandalf and Bethberry!

Hey, once the Hobbits leave for their quest, they could wind up anywhere. If a couple don't stumble into the Old Forest, I'd be surprised.

[Cimmerian]

Thank you, Birdland.

Do I make up an imaginary partner or should he be another RPGer?

Here's my character... no wait, where is this mid year thing, we have to meet at? smilies/confused.gif

[Birdland]

You're already at the Shire's Mid-Year celebration, Cimm. Think of it as like a big July 4th party, minus the fireworks. (Gandalf hasn't introduced fireworks into the Shire yet, sadly.)

We have two other "real" Messengers: Elenna as "Dinodas" and Ithaeliel as "Adro". You can ask to team up with one of them, or make up a "fellow messenger" to travel with.

[Cimmerian]

Cool, I am with Elenna!

Here's my stats -

Name : Barocas Headstrong
Age: 29
Ancestry : Fallohide/Stoor (mix, maybe)
Height: 4 feet 3 inches (quite a big boy in hobbit standards, not unlike Bandobras Took the Bullroarer)
Weight : About 160 lbs (quite a well built fellow)
Hair : Black. shoulder length and curly.
Eyes : Blue as an evening sky.
Clothing : White tunic, black breeches and boots, studded belt buckle and large hat.
Weapons : A short sword and a dagger
Skills : Fights well, Strong and can ride a horse.

Will team up with Dinodas and go recruit hobbits for the shire... politely. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Bêthberry]

Birdie, I see that you and I are the only ones on, so let me quickly say that Gandalf and I have tossed a few ideas around re: characters.
I'll post them tomorrow as I edit this message.

Good night, good riddler.

Bethberry

[Birdland]

Looking forward to your ideas, Bethberry. Good night and good RPGing.

Cimm - Hmmmmmm. 4'3" and 140 pounds? No wonder hobbit doors are round. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Bêthberry]

What have we got in our mindses?
Birdie wants to know.
Askses uss. Askses uss.
Sss Sss Sss.
Stoors we be,
Gandalf and me.
Its tricksy,
for we won't see
The Baranduin,
Staying by the Anduin.
Where we fishes and fishes,
for some might hates us,
yesss yesss,
and not Gather usss.
Ancestors we be
of those nastiesss.
Wizard wantses Smeagol
and me takeses Deagol.

Bethberry

[ August 29, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Aradaewen]

Oooh, sounds GTM. (good to me) Looks like you need another Messenger. Check out AIM. lol. Here's me info:

Name: Pippin (really, it's no nickname, and I don't have a last name either.)
Age: 20's or 30's
From: dunno- no heritage, a wanderer and orphan
Weapons: Dagger and hobbit-bow
Horse: *actually, it's a pony smilies/wink.gif* Carad'naur (Red Fire)
Description: Friendly, always wearing green, loves his pony

[Birdland]

Aradaewen - Welcome aboard. Fine looking pony you have there. Looks like he'll take you anywhere you want to go in Middle Earth.

Ithaeliel - Would "Ardo" like to adopt Pippin as his traveling companion on the road? Sounds like Pippin could use the guidance of an older, more experienced Hobbit, or he's likely to get eaten by a dragon or something.

Elenna and Cimmerian - Can you say "Oscar and Felix"? smilies/biggrin.gif You two ought to make an interesting team.

Bethberry - Smeagol and Deagol? I love it! Too bad they didn't find there way to the Shire. Think of all the trouble it would have saved. Of course, then the Ring would have been found by somebody else. I guess it was all for the best.

[Aradaewen]

Thanks- I'll buddy up with anyone who'll take me. Eaten by a dragon? Sounds like fun..... smilies/biggrin.gif

[Bêthberry]

Hey, have a bit of pity for ole Gollem, Birdie. smilies/wink.gif He's old but only around 600 or so when he takes the Ring into the Crack of Doom. And he's around 25 when Deagol finds the Ring in the Anduin. We're gonna be their ancestors when the Gathering occurs. Sort of setting things up for the fall, so to speak. smilies/biggrin.gif

Bethberry

[Rose Cotton]

I really want to be a "plucky female Hobbit" so I guess I'll be a lost hobbit. Give me a while to think up a profile. Great idea Birdland.

[Ithaeliel]

Thank you for the suggestion, Birdie, as I suppose that, though he may say being eaten by a dragon sounds fun, Pippin may not find it a pleasant experience once it happens to him. I suspect that I wouldn't either... *gulp*. I will team up with Pippin. Come along now, my friend! *Loops his arm through Pippin's and they stroll off to post in the RPG*.

Aradaewen, tell me you're kidding down there...

[ August 29, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

[Aradaewen]

"Kewl!" Pippin walks away with Ithaeliel but within seconds is back again. "What's the RPG name again??"

[Elenna]

Birdie: Of course Cimm and I will be an interesting team! You must have seen our other RPs!

Currently our relationship is proper little farmer boy (me) meets massive drunkard (him). It just doesn't get any better than that!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Hey Rose -- I'm a lost hobbit too. Do you want to tag along together sometimes? I've already done two posts so you can see who I am. sharon

[Birdland]

Welcome, plucky hobbit lass, Rose. Hope you enjoy yourself. But watch out for that Perry. No telling what he might be up to!

[Cimmerian]

Wuzzat? ...a hunnerd and sixty pound hobbit lad, tha's me. Well, round doors or no, they sure fall open when Barocas barrels through.

Who's your primary character, Birdie? Do we pick up any actual players on the way or do we create imaginary hobbits to gather up?

Let's go Dinodas, there's taverns and lasses aplenty we shall find....

YEEHHAAAH!

[Birdland]

Both, Cimm. (No, you cannot kidnap Bree hobbits and disguise them as "Savages"!) Hopefully, more characters will join in to give Shire Hobbits an eyeful of the wide world out there.

I'm going to be creating a small family that I will post tonight or this weekend. Of course, they are clear over on the other side of the Misty Mountains, but may have to do some fast traveling, so there is a chance that one or more of the Messengers will find them. (If Perry doesn't find them first! smilies/biggrin.gif )

[Birdland]

Aradaewen - "O.O.C." means "Out of Character". Means you're speaking in your own voice. Not as a character.

[Rose Cotton]

Okay, I've got it all worked out...I think.
Anyway,

Name: Rosie Took (I know I'm not very creative)

Race:Hobbit(didn't see that one coming)Fallohide

Age: um....23

Apperance: Blond curls, blue eyes, hobbit dress, blue/grey cloak

Personality: A plucky little hobbit lass. smilies/wink.gif

Bio: lives in northen Mirkwood with a small comunity of Fallohides. She has a mother a father and a younger brother. They are frequently in contact with elves and a hobbit ranger.

Something special: She loves to climb and is very skilled in the trees. This, from my knoledge is a very rare thing for hobbits.

[ August 31, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Birdland]

I've introduced Fina and Ceo. But I suppose I should give some background.

Race - Harfoots.

Age - 14 year old Twins.

They dwell with their family in various places, but they can be found in the Vales of Anduin, between the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood, just north of the Old Forest Road.

Their Family is:

Ruddoc - The Da.

Enid - The Ma

Osle - The Older Brother

Avice - Osle's wife.

(BTW, Child - "Ceo" is an Old Celtic name for "Jackdaw". smilies/biggrin.gif

[ August 31, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

[Bêthberry]

Hi Birdie,

This is just to let you know not to expect anything from me or Gandalf today.

Gandalf is visiting me!!! And we are spending all our time "wool"-gathering as opposed to Hobbit-gathering! smilies/smile.gif

Bethberry
Gandalf the Grey

[Rose Cotton]

Birdie- I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed the Big-Folk opionion on hobbits and the Hobbit opinion on Big-Folk.

Very clever! smilies/biggrin.gif http://www.plauder-smilies.de/party/luxhello.gif

[Birdland]

(Birdie takes a bow.)

Thank you Rose. It seems that little Rose has a much more comfortable life then poor Fina and Ceo. But remember: they don't call Mirkwood "Mirkwood" for nothin'!

[Rose Cotton]

Well your little family would be better off if they could find some quiet neck of the woods to dwell in. Far from the greedy hands of the Big-Folk.
Though, Rosie might start having troubled times if Perry decided he wants a female ranger.

[Birdland]

But Rose, that's the whole point of the Shire! smilies/biggrin.gif (And the story, by the way.)

[Rose Cotton]

Oh ya! I forgot. smilies/rolleyes.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

Re: the grey peddler

OK, I confess. I did it. You can have the moderator toss me if you want. But, Bird, you can't kill hobbits and expect Child to do nothing. Anyways, I just gave them directions. sharon

[Birdland]

Birdie killed no hobbits, nooooo. Doggie killed hobbits. Bad dog!

Actually, it should have been stretched to two posts, 'Chile. smilies/smile.gif

It works. I was gonna send the family South, anyway. Hmmmmm, but maybe I should send them North, so Cimm can find some Snow Hobbits.

[Susan Delgado]

It looks like a great RPG, Birdie; can I join, pretty please? I'll be a "lost" Hobbit too. smilies/smile.gif

Name: Amaranth
Race: Harfoot
Age: 34
Personal history: Originally from a northern village, but she ran away when the raids from the nearby village of Men became too frequent and destructive and she started fearing for her life. She's been wandering on her own for about two years now, gradually moving south. All she really wants is a place she can settle down where there won't be raids every other week, but so far she hasn't found anywhere she'd want to stay.

[Birdland]

Sure, Susan! Jump in whenever you think it is appropriate.

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hey! Hello! smilies/smile.gif

Now that my most recent travels are done, I've sent off to Bethberry some name suggestions for our respective ancestors of Sméagol and Déagol.

While coming up with names, the strangest song popped into my head: * drumroll please * ..............

Ever hear of a song called "Those Two Dreadful Children" by Cruella de Ville, played on the Dr. Demento Show?

* very evil grin *
http://www.john-wasser.com/CruellaDeVille/TTDC-Details.html

Gandalf the Grey

[Cimmerian]

Great to have you on, Susan.

Barocas and Dinodas are on their way to get you... heh heh! smilies/wink.gif

[piosenniel]

Hey Bird! May I join?

Name: Camlost

Age: 7 years

Race: Corvus brachyrhynchos (common crow)

Personality: Gregarious, but wary, as he is often mistaken for a crebain. Intelligent, curious, and given to taking small items which strike his fancy. Was once captive in his youth, and lost one foot to the family dog. Can talk.

Weapons: Brain; swift flight; sharp, strong beak; wicked sense of humor

[ September 05, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Bêthberry]

Hi All,

Just checking in to see how many messengers are left with the main group.

Ithaeliel and Aradaewen, I'm going to be writing a post which gets the Messengers to Bree. If I don't hear otherwise from you, I will be writing your characters into the post with Erling and Hob. After Bree, they will head south, looking for Stoors across the Mountains. Which way will you be heading? I'm assuming that Dinodas and Barocas will have the north covered.

pio, now, where did I leave Wyrd? *grins* Good to see you!

Susan Delgado, I don't believe we've met. Howdy. *curtsies*

Bethberry

[ September 05, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Child of the 7th Age]

Perry's going to the Old Ford. He wants to find out what's up among the big folk. Perhaps the human ranger can share some information.

[Susan Delgado]

Greetings, Bethberry. I've seen you around for a while but never spoke. Nice to finally meet you smilies/smile.gif

[Child of the 7th Age]

Hi Susan -- I don't think we'e met either. I'm Perry who is a ranger hobbit modelled on Trotter. So techically, I'm a lost hobbit, but I don't feel lost. I'm personally not much for living in a place like the Shire, but if it's good for the kuduk, I could be persuaded to help out and help others get there. I haven't made up my mind yet.

I've lived out here for many years. Right now I'm on the other side of the Anduin and the Mountains from you, but I'll eventually be heading back towards Bree.

sharon

[Bêthberry]

I've been scratching my head trying to figure out where we all are. Hob and Erling could get to Perry via Imladris (via Great East Road/ Old Forest Road), but I don't especially want to bring Rivendell into this. I had been thinking of going through the Redhorn Pass, farther south, which is the pass the Stoors took on their migrations. That means the Greenway to Tharbad and past Lothlorien (elves again! *gnashes teeth*). I am trying to use Fonstad's Atlas of Middle Earth but most of that is, of course, centuries later. I'm not even sure we should be talking about Bree. Wouldn't Staddle be more accurate?

Anyhow, this is a roundabout way of asking Susan, Elenna and Cimmerian where exactly their characters are, and Child if she wants to hitch up with Hob and Erling or if she has other plans for Perry. Birdie, where is the fatherless hobbit family? (Sorry, I've forgotten and should go back and read your posts.)

I have the feeling that we have several "grey" areas we can fill in here, since there are "forgotten villages".

Bethberry

Edit: okay, got it; near Old Ford.

[ September 05, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Bêthberry]

Birdie,

Gandalf the Grey is going to be posting as Erling Greenhands from now on, so don't think he is 'taking over' my character.

Gandalf,

Feel free to change Erling's name and anything else about him. I can go back and edit my post. I can't edit him out completely, because the relationship is what draws Hob out, so Erling needs to be there. But he's yours to play with. If there are substantial things you want me to change or add, PM or email me. But remember, Hob is mine, my love, yess , yess, he's my precioussss. *grins*

Bethberry

[Birdland]

Pio - YAY!!!! Welcome aboard. Did you know that my very first RPG character was a crow name Corvu in "Simian Shadow"? (May it rest in peace) Nostalgic tears spring to my eyes.

Bethberry - Post! Post! Post! We are looking forward to your and Gandalf's further participation. Redhorn Pass is doable. I always wondered what Ost-In-Edil is like this time of year. I am also considering the Gap of Rohan, since it would be fun to work Pukel-Men into the mix. I'm still thinking how the misused family will respond to their "Gift From the Maia".

Will your "evil" Stoors be living in Dunland, or near the Gladden Fields?

Child - You're walking into he middle of a "murder mystery". Wanna play "Good Ranger/Bad Ranger" with the miserable Cadda? smilies/biggrin.gif

Susan - Crack that whip!

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Bethberry:

Many thanks for taking me on as your messenger-partner Erling Greenhands and entrusting his character development to me. It is quite an honor, and one I hope I can be worthy of. * bows low in the Hobbit fashion *

Gandalf the Grey

[Rose Cotton]

Ya, and I'm Perry's faithfull sidekick.
I'm there to mess things up. smilies/biggrin.gif
I have no idea where my nickname came from.

Perry: Since you handle the bow so well I'm gonna call you Arrow. smilies/rolleyes.gif
(Rose isn't a very good archer)

Of course Perry probably will make me wait outside and stuff. Oh well. Someday I'll be a big scary Ranger and other people will have to listen to me. smilies/wink.gif

[Cimmerian]

'Crack the whip???' smilies/eek.gif

Is this that kind... er... nevermind. smilies/biggrin.gif

Off to bree, and yes, Barocas was a bit drunk and he asumed he was walking when in truth he was seated on the pony. smilies/wink.gif

[Birdland]

An honest mistake Cimm. Could have happened to anyone. (Oh Dinodas, you've got your hands full with this one.)

BTW - Where IS Dinodas?

[Elenna]

Reading books on how to deal with alcoholics, friend Birdie.

And I feel especially bad for Barocas's pony - if he can't tell whether he's riding or walking, that poor animal must be in a living nightmare.

[Bêthberry]

Hey, Ithaeliel,

It's good to see you back and posting! smilies/smile.gif

I hope it was okay that I carried Ardo and Pippin in your absence. Let me know if you want me to change anything. Right now, Ardo and Pippin have reached Staddle along with Hob and Erling and most of the other Messengers and are having home-cooked meals with various hobbit families. I picked Staddle rather than Bree because there are more hobbits there according to LOTR.

One thing maybe I should suggest. I noticed in your last post that you have Marcho riding along with the Messengers on the Quest, but in one of Birdland's early posts she makes clear that Marcho does not accompany the Messengers on the Quest, so you might want to change that.

Bethberry

[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Ithaeliel]

Yes, will do... thank you Bethberry. I will be changing that up.

[Cimmerian]

Birdie, don't be mad at me... I love you and your funny posts. Aw, lemme play here, I'll be nice. smilies/biggrin.gif

Was that a pony old Barky was riding? smilies/wink.gif

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hail and Well Met Ithaeliel,

* bows a friendly greeting *

I notice that Ardo Baggins has just met someone named Goodbody. Meanwhile, even as we speak, my character Erling Greenhands is currently a guest at the Goodbody residence where they have a modest hole in Staddle. Is Ardo in Staddle and has just arrived at the hole where Erling is, or has Ardo found another family named Goodbody in a different town? Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide. * bows *

Gandalf the Grey

[piosenniel]

Camlost the crow is in search of the Messengers. Can every one please post exactly where they are at the moment, and where they are headed.

It would save on the amount of wing-flapping the poor, one legged bird has to do if he doesn't have to fly about in circles.

Thanks!

[Bêthberry]

PM sent, Camlost, but here's notice for all:

Hob and Erling are setting out on the Greenway to Tharbad and then over Swanfleet towards the Redhorn Pass. There's Stoors in them there hills.

pp. 74 and 80-81 of Atlas of ME.

Hob and Cob the pony

Edit: BTW, I have edited my last post on the game thread. The Underhills of Staddle are now Mr. and Mrs. Broadbelt, names more in keeping with the characters as they turned out. If you have made any references to "Underhill" please change them to "Broadbelt." Thanks! And I have added more undertones of conflict between the hobbit groups. Bb

[ September 12, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Ithaeliel]

Greetings, Gandalf,

Indeed, Ardo has just encountered a man named Goodbody, and he is in Staddle with other messengers. Perhaps this Goodbody is the brethren of your Erling's Goodbody. He has a small family, I believe about three children, but no immediate family living with him. I'll make post to state that his brother lives nearby, as I must be composing one soon anyhow. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I seem to be making a lot of errors here, but I'm improving as I go.

Sincerely,
Ith

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hey piosenniel ---

Check your PMs. smilies/smile.gif


Gandalf the Grey

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: Gandalf_theGrey ]

[Bêthberry]

Hmmm. Plots thicken. *curious smile of delight in intrigue*

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Meanwhile, I just felt an overwhelming need to go back and edit my post again (for the millionth time) ... this time, overpowered by the urge to describe that the color of the blanket given to Erling is blue! smilies/smile.gif

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Betbherry:

Please feel free to have Hob be the one to first respond to Camlost's grand entrance. smilies/smile.gif

~~ Gandalf

[piosenniel]

Bethberry & Gandalf

Don't be offended that Camlost called your characters 'simpletons' - the dratted crow has an exceedingly high opinion of himself. smilies/wink.gif

[Bêthberry]

No prob, pio. Isn't part of the charm of hobbits that they are, um, simple? smilies/biggrin.gif *ducks for cover in case Child is around* smilies/wink.gif

Bb

[Rose Cotton]

*Wacks Bethberry for Child*
Hobbit's are not simple!
smilies/wink.gif

[ September 16, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

[Lugbúrz]

Hallo Everyone,

I'm about to begin reading this role-play. I feel that I shall have time to enjoy the reading. I'm also hoping that I will find a little time to join in for a short while, maybe a cameo of some sort. If this is agreeable with everyone, I shall gladly accept suggestions for such a role.

Bethberry speaks very highly of this Gathering. I'm looking forward to making an acquaintance with you all.

Yours,
Tower vs. Tower smilies/wink.gif

[Birdland]

Welcome Lugbúrz! Travelers from far-off web sites are always welcome at the Downs. In fact, you might say they're "dying" to get in here! Mu-WA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA...ha-ha...hehhhh...ehhh...yeah...

OK, enough with the "dead" jokes. Draw yourself a pint, have a seat, fill your bowl with Longbottom, and tell us your part of the tale.

[Bêthberry]

Still waiting for Pio and Gandalf to finish their birding adventure.... (It's not like you have nothing else to do, eh?)

That snow's gonna start ta fall on them high mountain passes purty soon. smilies/wink.gif

[ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

[Bêthberry]

So what are we going to do to kick start this, Bird, or shall we wait until AAwtK settles down?

The idea is too great to lose.

A hawk could come to frighten off Camlost, but what about Erling? *waves to Gandalf*

Bethberry

[Birdland]

At this point I've told Mith to go ahead and close it at the two-week notice. Maybe we can return to it later when the "muse" strikes us - or The Lonely Star finally wraps up. smilies/biggrin.gif

But it's still open now, so carry on if you like!

[Susan Delgado]

It is a great idea, but AAwTK combined with RL have taken up all my time...I can barely keep my own RPG going. smilies/rolleyes.gif

Anyway, as soon as things settle down, I'll gladly come back to this, just not right now smilies/smile.gif

[piosenniel]

BETHBERRY

Aren't you playing Hob? I thought Camlost directed a question to you. If he can learn where you might be headed he will point you in the right direction.

Barring that he can point you to Mirkwood if you like. Or just fly off to find another group to harass! smilies/smile.gif