"Well, I'm back."

Hi everyone. You all seem to be having fun.

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/crying2.gif

Helen, that was so SAD!


Um...I was wondering what Rose is going to do during the rescue. I want to have her do some fighting.

Anee can help people in the locks.

Oh, and having Rose take Esta's place is nice. As long as she's not dragged off to be tortured. Actually, now that I think about it, Go ahead and have Rose be taken. She won't go down without a fight. I bet she could slay a few men before she died.

So are we going to save Gamba and Azraph?

Hm...Rose hasn't gotten into trouble lately. There must be somthing wrong. Well, I'll stop talking at get to work.

Wow, Bird! I'll travel with that one ringing in my ears.

Well, I'm packed and it's time to sleep so I can make my early flight. Have a great rescue, everybody!!!

Love, --Helen

Have a good flight and a good trip, Helen.

Welcome back, Rose!

(Boy, people just come and go around here.)

Rose--

This is Cami. No way you are dying. Don't even think about it. You and I have to adopt and take care of half the hobbit orphans in the tombs! You're going to the Anduin whether you like it or not. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

But do think about what you'd prefer to do in the rescue. You're welcome to join Cami in ferrying little ones to the river, but I have a feeling you may prefer the Locks or splitting throats in the hallway!

BTW, I am putting in a number of "back" posts. Some are before Helen's sad story. Some are in the middle of it, using the spaces. When I finish, I'll make a list of them on this thread.

sharon

Hey Cami! You're me already!!

I got ready to sleep, but then got back up-- can't sleep. Now I get to read some of your posts!! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Rose, there's four little orphans that need a genteel influence in their lives.
Not to mention Gamba. He'll need a good friend.

Good luck on your trip.

sharon

Sharon? (knock-knock) How did you get in Helen's little box?

[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

... is it live??? Or is it Memorex???

oooo WEEEEEEE ooooooo

guess who's here now???

Quit that! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] Hmmmmph! Can't even trust an avatar around here anymore...

Wait a minute...neither one of you has an avatar. ¿Que?

I just learned I won't be on too much this week. But Rose does want to do some fighting so make sure she does. She can do a bit of everything too if you want but please make sure she fights.

Child- check your pms.

edit: Bird, I'm just as confused as you are. All you have to do is pretend you know what's going on.
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ October 28, 2002: Message edited by: Rose Cotton ]

I am adding some relatively minor posts by editing existing posts or using spaces saved by Helen. I will do so throughout the day. You may wish to review posts from Friday evening through this morning to catch these. I note that others are doing the same.

Off to one last, long night among the denizens of the hospital.

All Pio has to do is don her mithril shirt, strap on her sword and knives, shove her helmet on her head, secure some dragon-fire at her belt in a net bag, and she will be ready to assail the caverns.

Shall we begin tomorrow, real time? Or do you need more time for other posts?

I have just one more post which involves Gamba and Cami and the children. I'll do that tonight. My own post is set in very late afternoon/early evening and leads into Helen's Candlestones post which leads into the taking of Gamba post.

Do you want me to paste Helen's in tonight after I do mine? Or would you prefer to wait? This would be late at night (real time). I have access to Helen's little boxes. Once the seizing of Gamba goes up, Bird will have to be ready to move in pretty fast with the dragon. (game time). They get seized at midnight and would be dead by 1 am.

One more question, here is something Helen raised:

Mith, Pio, Bird-- Do you need the game to go on longer? One of us will have to write this if it is needed. Please let me know.

BTW, I definitely do not have the strategy in my head as well as you folk. If Cami has her people do something "impossible" please tell me, and I will revise.

sharon

The "assault" begins at 11:00pm. If candlestones can run until at least 12:00, it will take some pressure off the troops, i.e. for a period of time they need only worry about guards coming from the tunnels, not the main cave (Hobbit's will also protect the troops' positions, taking out any stray guards wandering the wrong way).

For timing purposes, if Gamba is taken at 12, how are the guards going to take him out of the caverns? The Exit Tunnels will be covered by then. He'll have to be seized before 11.

As always, I'm on second shift (vacation's over), so I can't post after 2:30pm until 12:00 midnight. If it looks like there will be a problem, can someone please put some "place marks" in so I can fill in later? Pleeeeze? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Bird,

I don't feel very well tonight. Some kind of stomach bug. Not a good time to post if I want to be coherent! So I'm just going to reserve some spaces with some explanations. I can always leapfrog as needed later if anyone needs me to. I will definitely reserve some extra spaces as well that you could use Bird.

Pat or Mith, if you need me to shift, I will

sharon

MITHADAN

The river is aproximately 200 miles long, from the mouths to where it enters the caverns. (per Fonstad's atlas). I assumed the Star to be 50 miles off the coast.

I'll start us off from our present position this game-day about midmorning. This should get us to the caverns by 11 pm. Ulmo is going to have to conjure something up to conceal the fact that 20 Elven ships are going up river.

The Star and Tuor and Idril's ship will stay in their present positions. I don't think it necessary they come with us. The ten Noldor they have brought with them can come on the first ship, as will the Hobbrim. I'm thinking we can also fit the twenty Teleri bowmen on board with us, Angara, Kali, and Ancalimon.

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Well, I've decided to do the running thing to escort the little kids. So, whenever your ready.

Rose,

You are AWOL on AAwtK. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] PM me if you want help with your next post. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Bethberry

at, Mith,

Could we have a rain (not a storm, just steady rain ) an a heavy fog? The latter would be especially helpful to me?

sharon

As Ulmo said, his power extends to the river. A fog, eerie and thick, is what the doctor calls for...

I inserted two posts into reserved spots this morning. Keep in mind that I can edit anyone's posts if need be.

The first post deals with the number and positions of the Elves aiding us in the caverns. The second addresses the Numenorean vessel which we captured.

Pio, don't forget Kali. He would not be left behind for Daisy's rescue.

Mithadan--

Fog sounds great. Could we have it for the whole duration of the rescue, with at least a bit spilling over onto the land?

I have a question. How "busy" would the Siril have been at night? Would there have been any other small boats chugging up the river? Would there have been any fishing boats quietly docked by the side of the river, perhaps with crew asleep? I need to understand this for my storyline.

Thanks.

sharon

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

We had not planned upon running into any company. Do you have a reason for this? I suppose that we could right it in, but the idea of fighting running battles on the river is not a happy one...

When Pio previously scouted the river, she noted that traffic on the river at night was fairly nonexistent.

Gorthaur's ship was her only perceived obstacle to advancing up the river - and that has been dealt with.

We honestly can't afford an encounter much less a hostile action with another vessel. Our resources are exceedingly thin.
*********************************************

Going to a meeting - will write the 11 pm arrival at the caverns later. I have saved a space for it. It will get us as far as deploying the elves and Pio, Mith, etc just heading up toward the Locks.

Should someone want to advance the action a little before I post - feel free!

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Pat and Mithadan,

First, regarding the ship traffic, I was asking this for a totally different reason. It would not have anything to do with the Elven ships or the Star coming up the river. I was kind of hoping for one small fishing vessel parked along the riverbank somewhere, not too far away. A one or two-man boat would be fine, and they could be sound asleep. They would never see ANY of our ships. (Trust me!) Maybe the Elf would never even have noticed such a small, insignificant boat. (I'll even take an empty boat, but would prefer at least one fisherman.)

Do you think this is possible? I promise you that this will not blow the story line away.

Secondly, as you know I have had serious ISP problems for the past 8 days. This has been frustrating beyond belief, and has involved repeated phone calls and several visits by technicians.

The good news is that the tech on Sunday came up with what I believe is the actual source of my problems--my lines outside are waterlogged. We've had 8 days of heavy rain. Parts of the city are flooded with people out of their homes. They are supposed to install new lines sometime tomorrow.

The bad news is that my ISP has totally crashed for most of the day. It is unlikely to come back until the lines are fixed.

I am typing this on a library computer. I do not know when or if I will have access to the Downs. I will try to check by the library now and then. So my part of the story is definitely going to slow down. I'll write some things on my word processor and hope I can fit them in, once I am up again.

Mithadan, I may need you to use your magic wand to put them in.

Whata bad week for this to happen!

sharon

Its your story too, Child. Do as you wish.

Don't worry about not posting. Its not as if we're moving like lightning right now. My magic wand is at your beck and call.

SHARON

Ah, so you need a docked vessel - there are plenty of fishermen tucked in bed at night, with their craft at anchor.

Er . . . ummm . . . just how close to 'someplace nearby' do you need it? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ October 29, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Sharon, your "end of candlestones" post and probably the "Daisy worries" post will need to be made later in the thread than where you have reserved a space.

Pat, don't forget Levanto! He should be waiting at the mouth of the river tunnel. He goes in first to announce our arrival to the Hobbits. Maybe he can cart some stuff with him.

Well, in we go, my friends...

Pio, where are Khelek, Veritas and Angara? I've not accounted for them in my recent post.

What's your schedule today? I'll be available to post until about 9:15 EST.

With Helen gone, I feel I'm wearing two hats! Cami (plus the children) and the general hobbit narrative in the tombs. I'm reserving a space for the scene where the hobbit "warriors" close the perimeter paths to the northwest (front prison and graveyard entrances) and the tunnels to the locks. These can be moved, and/or someone else can write this. If Helen were here, she would pobably do it.

Just wanted to remind us that someone needs to cover this.

sharon

MITHADAN

I am just finishing the arrival post, then will pick up on your post to enter the Locks. I will probably be on 'til 1 a.m. PST doing all that.

The Star and Idril/Tuor's ship are still, and will remain, in their original positions. Veritas is on the Star. Khelek is on the first ship with us, as is Angara.

BTW - I think you may have missed the earlier post of the rescue morning where Pio spoke with Kali and told him he would come with them to rescue the prisoners in the Locks. Pio has given him Daisy's sword which he will give to her once she is liberated.

I have included Khelek in our assault group for the Locks. I had also assumed we would liberate the Hobbits first, then the Men.

Once we have liberated the prisoners - where do you need the dragon-fire barrier placed to protect our retreat - are we blocking the path of any guards who may be coming up the western perimeter path toward us, or just the guards who may be coming at us from the Locks area itself? Are the freed Hobbits and Men going west to the main caves and retreating out that way through the river tunnel? Are we also doing that?

[ October 30, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Wow! I came home expecting everything to be done except the "mopping up." What with Helen gone and Sharon's problems with the elements, I guess the rescues going slower than I thought.

Pio and Mith - I fretted bout the arrival of the ships coinciding with Birdie's attack, but the big error I made was suggesting that "Candlestones" had been interrupted by the taking of Gamba and Azraph; only to find that the game had continued on! Should I edit my first post in some way to reflect this?

Pio - Thank you for letting Angara "roar". [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I edited (minor) your first rescue post to make it concide with our arrival and timeline, since the sacrifices don't start til late at night.

I PM'd you the details.

I'll change my Kali post, Pio.

As you suspected, the Hobbits should be freed first. Mith would want to make sure the Hobbits are out before messing about with the Men; that is his primary responsibility.

We would want to block the Locks Tunnel with fire. The Perimeter Tunnel can be dealt with later. The Hobbits/Men would likely retreat down the Western Perimeter Tunnel, accompanied by at least one guard (Khelek?).

The remaining rescuers will retreat as best they can depending on the circumstances. If one tunnel is overrun, Pio and the others would retreat down the other or through the Main Cavern, etc.

Very important: Mith needs to speak with the Mannish prisoners before they are allowed to depart.

With Helen gone until Friday, I guess I need to deliver the Hobbits and Men "at the door", but I don't know where. Should I put them down at the River tunnel, or is there another place you want them? Has Helen left any other posts concerning Gamba after his rescue?

And does anyone want me around somewhere? Being a neekerbreeker right now seems a little pointless; unless I'm riding on someone's shoulder, I would probably be squashed in the scuffle. I can morph into bird or change back to a woman at this point. Or I can stay a dragon and cover the tunnel exit. Which would be most helpful?

You need a skinchanger of intelligence on this mission...battle...thing. Now, where am I going?

Leave Gamba, et al at the River Tunnel entrance. If the Men wish and can find arms, they may enter and assist the escaping Hobbits and the Elves holding the south portion of the caverns. But if they go any farther into the caverns they will die.

I think you should probably also join the Elves as a woman. I assume that you have or can get a knife or sword. I would guess that Gamba and Azraph would also enter to assist the escaping Hobbits.

Bird - follow the perimeter road west toward the graveyard entrance. The freed Hobbits and the Men are coming down the road led by Khelek and one of the Noldor.

Your two rescued Men can join them and proceed down to where the river crosses the perimeter road. They can board the ships there.

You along with Azraph and Gamba can enter the tunnel which leads from the graveyard entrance to the main cave and join the fighting. Eventually Angara will join you there and you two can scour the place!

Flame on!!!!!

Pio: How did Gamba and Azraph join us? They were left at the River Tunnel by Bird and reentered the caverns there. Its not impossible. It just needs to get explained.

Follow the perimeter road?
"Follow the perimeter road!
Followohfollowohfollowohfollowoh..."

(Kali smacks Birdie across the face)

"Whooo! Thanks Kali, I needed that."

Oh, and Mith - what for you wanna kill off my extras? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]