I have an idea, but I'm just checking that it doesn't conflict with other plans. All being well, I should be able to post within the next few days.

Sorry folks, but problems with the computer have prevented me completing my post over the weekend. Hopefully, I'll find a "quiet patch" at work tomorrow so that I can finish it off. :rolleyes: :D

Well, it looks like I spoke to soon. Things have suddenly perked up at work, so I have had to forego sleep this very night to complete my post.

It seems that the Itship were back in the future for rather longer than they thought. Sauerkraut has overtaken them, as indeed have events once more ... :D

What can I say?
 

I can only explain my recent post by saying that I'd seen one too many Guinness commercials... :rolleyes:

Fabulous posts, guys! Saucy, I hope you made up for the lost sleep - your post certainly made up for the wait! Wonderful dialogues, a clever original name for Soregum, and Candyman, Sparkey, and the other Hobbits to boot. (Well, they do need boots in the mud...)

Kuru, what a fun post - I had mental images of a Hobbit saying, "This, my friend, is a six-pack!" :D

Thena, we look forward to your post! One request though - please check your plans with Squatter, as he has reserved the right to the final scene in the Mire and has ideas for it.

Guinness is good for you
 

I now have a mental image of our trusty (nay thrifty) Dwarf doing that crazy dance next to a pint of Guinness twice his height (although you will of course have no idea what I am talking about if that advert shows only in the UK). :D

Alas, while I know of much crazy dancing, and can clearly understand how Guinness could be associated with such, I have no knowledge of commercials combining the two.

The commericals I had in mind revolve around the excessive (and indeed annoying) use of the word "Brilliant!" over and over and over again.

Thena, Squatter, have you been able to coordinate your plans? It would be nice if we could carry on soon!

Squatter let me know to go ahead, and he'll make his post fit with mine. I will be posting within the next day or so.

I'm waiting for Thena's post, then Squatter's to finish off the Shire visit, before we go on to the Havens - I hope we can continue soon!

Pimpiowyn is getting really hungry....

*schniff*

Pimpi is *very* well fed now...

Wonderful post, Thena! Chock full of such wisdom as "you can catch more hobbits with hotdogs than halitosis". I especially enjoyed the "in and out" references. Strange, that wizard fight seemed so familiar...

I hope Squatter can continue soon with his planned post.

Oh dear. I suppose I asked for it, didn't I? But however did Pimpi get in a zombified state when there was no one manning (wizarding?) the cart to feed her hotdogs? *puzzled*

RE: Pimpi's zombified state

I deliberately let that detail remain vague, for the purposes of simplifying the tasks of whoever comes next. Any of several scenarios can be imagined.

(1) Pimpi became so maddened by the smell of the hotdogs that she broke into the cart and binged

(2) Pimpi was rescued by Vogonwe at the last moment, and is pretending to be zombified so as to get close to Sauerkraut without being suspected

Those are only two, and there must be other, more fanciful (and interesting) options. Have fun, and please accept my apologies for the delayed save-fill.

Thenamir

Are we to await Squatter's post, or simply make sure the Itship are still in the Mire?

I think that I have sufficiently embroiled the it-ship in yet another sub-plot such that as long as we stay in the Mire, a post or two should be OK.

I *will * be disappointed if Sauerkraut is disposed of in a single post...

Thenamir

Yes, as long as we don't leave the Mire, anyone can carry on for now. Post away, me 'earties!

Well, I set a good example by being the first to post today! I hope more will follow, as the end of the conflict has not yet been reached.

I most humbly beg JRRT's pardon for lifting most of my post (with amazingly few changes - it fit so well!) from the "Voice of Saruman" chapter of TTT; I shall toss an extra nickel into the Travestometer to pay for the necessary power...

I suppose that if Pimpi were accidently dispatched in the ensuing gout, er, I mean bout, it would save on the travelling expenses to Valleyum, since that is where we are all heading anyway. ;)

Yes, I know. I'm horrible and gross. :D

Forgive me Diamond for I have sinned...

Or words to that effect. ;)

Oh, Esty...my sides...the double entendres...the mere thought of Merisu being ravished by Sauerkraut...and then you have her refusing his hotdogs :eek: ...I *know* it must be just my filthy little mind, and that such could not *possibly* have been in your lily-white imaginations... :D

:eek: Would you believe me when I say that it was entirely unintentional? I don't know what some people manage to read into my innocent words! Go on now, nothing to see here...

I know you would never lie to us, Esty. ;)

As so often in life, if you don't want to be believed, tell the truth - it's too strange to be believable.

Anyone object to me putting in a save (I PROMISE I won't take as long to write it!!) to carry along Esty's line of thought in "The Voice Of Saruman"? It would be a real stretch to have Gateskeeper break Saruman's staff, but perhaps he can make the wheels fall off his Cart? Cause his sausage boiler to explode?

Of course, if anyone else has a great idea on how to carry on, please by all means carry on!

Diamond is always ready to hear confessions
 

I'm shocked beyond words. Or maybe just laughing too hard to breathe.... And yes, we all believe you, Esty. Indeed. Completely.

Thena, I had some inklings of ideas about what to do with Vogonwë and Pimpi in light of her zombification, but nothing concrete enough to write up.... So long as you leave her zoned out (and alive *coughKurucough*) I should be able to pick up from anywhere.

Thena has wisely chosen not to put up a save, since he's not sure how soon he can post, so anyone who wants it has the floor. This is a good opportunity to carry on the 'Voice of Saruman' dialogue with your character!

*Sigh*

I watch too much Python (Monty).

And I spend too much time on the computer...

If my post conflicts with anyone's plans or ideas, I'd be glad to delete or modify it.

Otherwise, what's next and what shall we do with Gatesy?

Fabulous posts, guys! Thanks to Kuru for that - umm, interesting contribution! ;) Thena, an inspired continuation, and that after so short an interim! Mith, what a wonderful contribution! I'm still chuckling...

Who wants to carry on?

Gateskeeper is expecting the full 3rd-degree interrogation on the purposes for his secretive presence in the What-now-ship.

Can we haze him?

Not sure Gatesy would appreciate that.

Hey, next REB post is a milestone, #200!! Woohoo!

That's the whole point. ;)

Besides we would not hurt him or anything. We might just quietly pull his power cord out of the outlet and tell him his hardware is obsolete, nothing major.

Ahhhhhh, the power of suggestion
 

My save is filled in. ;)

(It's a bit hasty, but I had the fear of the Stalled RPG put in me).

Hey, I didn't say a word! I'm a patient respectowiggle; it takes more than a days' wait before I start writing prodding PMs. Thanks for your fun post, Diamond!

I put up a save for a brief interrogation post, to be filled today; I hope Thena, Mith or someone - anyone - will answer those questions. As of tomorrow, I'll be away in London et al for a little over a week, so I won't very likely be writing, even if I should get a chance to read. (You never know, though - there have in the past been some slight complaints about my tendency to hijack BD get-together conversations to brainstorm REB plotting, but they are of course much exaggerated! No, no, don't ask Sharkey - I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of it last summer... :rolleyes: )

edit: Save filled in

Congratulations to all, the Sauerkraut-subplot turned out even better than I'd expected. A fitting ending for the Head-Dork at Dorktank.

When I saw Mithadan's save I was reminded of something, WAYYYYYY back in post #52...

Are we now going to fill in this little plot hole? Connect the dots between Gatesy and Grrralph? I am looking forward to the forthcoming post!

Another let's-not-call-it-loose-so-much-as-free thread I am reminded of, is a comment from Page 1, pertaining to one Leninia the Deceivingly Little:

I am left to wonder if Leninia's father recently passed away?

My save is filled in. What? You expected a cogent explanation from Grrralph or something?

Your turn Thenamir! Time for Gatesy's song and dance.... Hopefully before Labor Day?

In reality, things at work have hit a snag (through no fault of mine :D ) that prevents me from doing much of anything that could be called "productive."" If that trend holds for today, and all indications are that it will, I should have a post up by later today.

You mean *I* have to fill in for the loose end *you* left dangling? :rolleyes: I'll do what I can. <sighs>