What's happening to Gondor? Stuff is disappearing, empty threads are appearing? --worried

Helen,

Apparently, the whole forum is having problems. I hope this isn't what I think it is.

I don't think the hobbrim will be a problem. We intend to go to some deserted place for the drop off. We're not going near Minas Anor.

Also, unless any object, I am going with door #2 on Ancalimon. He will return with the Elven ships to Valinor, and will be waiting for us at the drop off point as Gandalf when the ships pull in near the falls.

Pat, I think we should make sure and get the Star printed off, either downloaded or printed on paper. This is what I presently have in paper: 6/6-6/7, 6/26-7/16, 7/27-7/30, 8/3-8/10. This weekend I will try and copy chapter 4 in paper. (the current thread).

Did you download some of it? What do you have?

sharon

[ November 23, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

Sharon - I am copying Chapter Four of LS to Floppy as a Word document.

Will work more on that, as I have been less attentive to doing that lately.

LATER NOTE: I have the first 5 pages copied to floppy.

May I ask - the copies you are making - are they text only. Have you put them on Word and then copied them off? The reason I'm asking is that it will be easier to manipulate them when I scan them to disc if they are in Word format.

[ November 23, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Cami

Idril's request for the quilt:

The faces of Holly and her young daughter within the circle of Holly's necklace - a silver chain with a holly leaf pendant.

Party day has arrived!

It is now the morning of the day of the party.

Last call - did anyone have any posts they wanted to make before we do this? If so, let me know I will move my 'the morning of the party' post.

Sharon, you can now begin with the gathering scene and the start to the celebration if you wish.

I am just going to start on a short and sweet exchange of vows, to post after you are done with the intro speeches.

Then the quilt, eh?! or are there speeches first and the quilt and Cami's thank-you speech are last.

Bird - did you want to stand up and say a few words?

Then - huzzah! Music, dancing, and good food!!!!

[ November 24, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

I would prefer to hold the quilt till later. I have not yet heard back from Helen regarding the pictures by Phura, Gamba, and Loremaster.

How about the vows first...then Loremaster and Andril's thanks....then Cami's thanks.

If necessary, I will save a space at that point for the quilt. Will try to post late tonight. If not then, tomorrow.

Pat, go save a space for exchange of vows. Then I'll save next.

sharon

OK, introductions and thank yous are up. I refuse to give those two the quilt until they finally tie the knot in public. I mean, you never know!

So go ahead and say your vows. Pat, when you come over to get your food at the refreshment table, there will be a slew of children, hobbit and hobbrim, waiting to presnt you with the quilt. (Cami thought that would be a better way to do it.)

You can handle that post if you like. Then let me do a description of what's on the quilt. I'll have Pio look it over, and give a listing of the different blocks.

Everybody on the Star....If I goof and forget anything, let me know and I'll edit. But I carefully saved all the e-mails I got.

Can we eat and have Bird's fireworks and music then?

sharon

Ok - the pair is officially and thoroughly wedded!

I'll write our going over the food tables in a moment - I need something to eat myself!

Sorry I've been hard to locate lately; I fly back to Seattle Saturday, and right now Nothing Works... welcome to Kludgeland and Stressville.

Pio and Mith, congratulations. (You know hte Irish blessing: "Long life, long love, and a kid every year.")

Er . . . thanks, Helen. But I think two will be enough! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Great quilt, Sharon!

Wish I really had it!

Can someone please carry the party forward - maybe get us to the fireworks. We'll wrap it up tomorrow.

Sorry about my absence today. Troll trouble and more trouble than its been worth. But I'm back I think.

Wonderful quilt, Cami! I wish we could find an artist on the Downs who could make an actual "quilt".

Unfortunately, I can only do clip-art "art".

Bird,

That would be really nice, but I am a real computer 'dunce'. That type of thing is way beyond me! sharon

Bird, if I ever DO throw a party I'm hiring you to run it.

(Birdie runs around passing out coasters, freshing drinks, and checking the canape' trays.)

Thank you Helen! But next year we're doing it at your place! Whoo!...Hey! Hobbits off the chandeliers - NOW!

Scene cut from the story by the redlining Editor:

Leaving the sleeping hubby on the Star, Pio makes her way back to the party which is still in full sway.

Grabbing a deliciously scented drink in some cleverly carved out fruit, she sticks the small paper umbrella behind one ear, and takes a long pull at the amber liquid within. A smile creases her mouth at the delicate fire now coursing its way through her veins.

'Mmmm . . . a few more of these, and I will have caught up!' she says, eyeing the passed out heaps of Hobbrim and Hobbits on the sand. the tiki torches blaze brightly as she picks her way through the sleeping masses.

Bird's band is laying down a fine beat as she wanders over to listen to the jam. Idril, a large white flower in her hair, sways in the arms of Tuor. 'Not bad!' she thinks to herself, 'For a stodgy First Age couple.'

Cami and Bird sit watching the band, discussing the finer points of cool jazz versus bebop. At a pause in the conversation, Bird's eyes are drawn back to that fine looking Telerin trumpet player, laying down some exquisite riffs. Pio notes him mentally as one she'll be sure to ask help sail the Hobbits back to the Anduin.

The song winds down, and Pio steps up to the band leader, whispering a request in his ear. A look of mild surprise crosses his features, then he shrugs and motions to the band. A few hurried murmurings among them, and the beat begins.

'Grab one of these! And gather round!' she shouts to the remaining party goers as she holds aloft the parasoled drink. Commandeering two tipsy Elves, Pio shows them the finer points of lightly holding the pole she borrowed from one of the party banners.

'Let's limbo!' she cries.

Hiking her skirt to her knees, she makes the first pass beneath the bar . . .

Piosenniel!

You are a married lady. Go back to your poor husband this instant. Anyone want to lay odds on whether the dear couple will make it to their first anniversary?

I dread to think!

Camelia Goodchild, guardian of the hearth

"How low can you go!" screams Birdie, pumping her fist in the air. She leans boozily over to the fine Telerin musician and slurs, "Y'know, I knew her before she was Noldor."

The Hobbits, not being up on popular 4th Age culture, miss the whole point of the game and start jumping over the stick. But nobody was much concerned with the rules by now.

The Teleri started a slow, sad riff and Bird started to croon "Come To Me My Meneltarma Baby". Cami was starting to cry into her ale, and Gamba was muttering in his cups about the unfairness of Eru.

Pio knew these moods of Birdie, introspection might lead to a catfight with an Elven shieldmaiden if things didn't change fast. Grabbing Anacalion around the waist, she started kicking out her feet and screamed "Bunny Hop!"

The band struck up the familiar beat, and soon there was a long line of Bunny Hoppers snaking along the sand.

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

As Piosenniel closed the cabin door behind her, Mithadan opened one eye. He waited ten minutes until he was sure she was gone, then dressed and proceeded up to the helm. Taking up the time crystal, he inserted it into its slot and the Lonely Star winked out. It returned less than a minute later...having been gone for six months on a Fourth Age journey to a small, little known tropical island off the coast of Harad.

And so we return to the final chapter of "As Middle-earth Turns."

Each of our characters is being true to their original goal and purpose:

Cami sits, morose and introspective.

Piosnniel has once again deserted her mate.

The good-natured Bird, giving no thought to the morrow, leads all in the Bunny Hop.

And Gamba groans under the misery of it all.

But most apt of all is Mithadan, who like all Men, has once again returned to his one true love, absconding with the Lonely Star, and leaving behind Bird and Pio, out of mind, out of sight..........

May one and all have a happy Thanksgiving!

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

Pio,

Don't we need a scene where the Elven ships sail off?

I believe I will wait on Cami's pony until she reaches the Anduin. Gandalf will be waiting there with her beloved steed.

Sharon

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

Yes I will post later about the Telerin ships.

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

Mithadan - Pio will speak to the ship's rats later - they are keeping an eye on you!

I'm only dancing with Bird and Cami - what are you doing?

Catching some rays and sipping margheritas. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Margheritas sound good......

Ahem, Miss Pio,

Please do not forget that Phura, Kali, and Daisy are hitching a lift as well to the east. Ancalimon will return to Amon for the time being. You will be dumping us off near the Falls. Cami's got her hiking shoes on.

Cami needs a goodbye scene with Andril and Loremaster. I will probably stick it at the end of my own post and before yours. But will probably wait until you get yours up.(maybe, maybe not)

sharon

Gamba and Cami had passed out long ago. The band had done one last swansong and packed up their instruments, heading back to the ships. Even Ancalimon lay gently snoring beneath a table.

Pio and Bird sat on the surf line, letting the foam break over their toes. 'You tired?' asked Bird. 'Not really.' replied Pio. grinning. The shapechanger motioned with a nod of her head to the Star. 'That time crystal still on board?'

The Elf looked closely at her friend, head nodding. 'Road trip?'

Phura's not going ANYWHERE without Azraph, so somebody has to negotiate that with Andril... curfews, guardians, chaperones... Andril will want to be quite sure that everything remains proper.

Miss Helen,

Rumor has it that Mistress Cami makes a very strict chaperone. She'll crack the whip quite nicely. I will set it up when I speak with Andril.

sharon

Ah, that sounds good.

I added a section to your most recent post, before your last heading. Is it all right by you?

--Helen

You do all realize that when Kali and Daisy and Phura and Azraph are put into the skiff with the time crystal(once we have deposited the Hobbits at Rauros and returned to the open sea) that there will be no chaperone.

So, if this is, indeed, a problem, then it will need to be worked out before I load the ships.

Thanks!
*******************************************

Just a thought - If a chaperone is needed - then we will need to bring Andril with us, and then let her go back with the four in the skiff.

[ November 26, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Pat,

That's actually a good idea. And it has nothing to do with chaperones.

It is Andril who now has Idril's journal with the tale of the Star. If she were to sail to the Anduin, she would then be able to record the last episode of the hobbits dispersing in the Third Age. Otherwise it would be Phura recording (that doesn't seem right) or the page would be blank.

I vote for Andril to come as chaperone and, even more importantly, as recorder of the tale.

sharon

Sharon -

Can you put the 'Good-byes and chaperone arrangements' after the post I'm doing now?

My post will cover getting the Telerin ships and the Star ready to go.

We will leave tomorrow, game time.

Once you post your 'goodbyes and chaperones', I can get us loaded on the boats - Pio and Mith won't know until then the Phura and Azraph also intend to go. Then I'll head us to the Anduin.

Sound ok?!

will do

I'll probably throw up a rough post tonight and edit tomorrow, as I often do. But you should have no trouble going on and posting after me.

Since I am dragging Andril along, there will be fewer good byes and more arrangements.

Helen, if you want to add any hobbit goodbyes, you can always append them in my box.

sharon

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

Helen,

How do you want to handle Kesha? Do you want to write a farewell post now, or have him sneak onto the Star, and have him discovered by Cami after the ship begins to sail? This will de deja vu for her a la Daisy. I personally like the latter, but decide and let me know.

You are always welcome to use my space as you need it.

Also, what about Loremaster's good-bye to Gamba? That is prety important and has to be done somewhere.

I hope you can do these, but if you're busy with real life, let me know and I can help out, although Loremaster/Gamba won't be easy. Or you could append to my own posts and add it on later, if you need to.

Sharon

OK, Kesha sneaks. :-D

I'll do Gamba/Loremaster; I'll reserve the space & get to it when I can. Thanks for the notice!

love ya-- Helen

Pio-- any chance you could please leapfrog your list of departure stuff past my latest save? If not I guess i can pirate a spot in Sharon's space... thanks, --Helen

Helen - Done.

Will probably post the farewells to Ancalimon, Khelek and Veritas sometime today.

Bird - any farewells you want to stick in - I can always move the 'Let's go to the Anduin post'

Let's save posting the trip to Rauros until after the holiday if we could. Friday or the weekend would be better.

Yes, let's slow down the game after the farewells. I can do some posting on Friday, and then not too much till Monday.

I am a wee bit bogged down. I have Thanksgiving, Hanukah (all the presents for the kids), and my daughter's birhday party happening in the next few days! Help!

sharon

((Sharon)) - let's put it off til Minday, then.

I have guests arriving in 2 hours - the house still looks like someone lives there who has spent too much time on a 4th age sailing ship! Why don't houses come with handles like toilets - just one flush and it's all clean!

*bats at the dust bunnies, and wonders where the vacuum has disappeared to*

Yes, I sympathize. Right now I have a turkey frozen rock solid. We are going to a friend's and I'm supposed to bring the bird. Hope they like frozen raw poultry!

I will continue on Cami's goodbyes. They are turning into a small book! I just keep adding to that one long post. At the rate I am going, I will fill the whole thread.

sharon

My post before the departure is indeed turning into a small book. Cami has a little different problem than the others on the Star. Not only does she need to say her goodbyes, but to set up a credible backdrop for her people's arrival on the shores of the Anduin. So a lot of that long string has to do with future hobbit destiny and trying to tie things together with the later information Tolkien gives us, e.g., the crazier Tooks feeling compelled to go to sea without knowing they are really searching for their lost hobbrim relatives.....as if Gamba were still grieving for Phura.

Also, Pat, please note that there will be a group of people waiting to meet the ships when they land, in addition to Gandalf.

Perhaps, we might want to make camp, and spend one night greeting these folk and hearing their tales, before the ship sets sail the next day for the Fourth Age. There may be a familiar face among them. I couldn't resist and it is logical.

[ November 28, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]