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Bêthberry · 10-16-2002, 03:42 PM

FYI, here is the character I sent Thenamir, Ælfritha. I had assumed that you were going to the elven ruins of Ost-in-Edhil, and that Tharbad is a town of some size, since Tharbad is populated in LOTR. Thus, I thought she could live around there and you guys could catch up with her family there after you cross through the Gap of Rohan.

However, it might be difficult to work this in. For the time being, I will carry Ulfwine, although I would want to make his "conversion" much more troublesome. I assume that his defection is now known to the Dunlendings, so his family is at risk. Are they going to be slaughtered in retaliation?

Men of the Mark, here's Ælfritha:

She's created for Rohan, thinking about Rimbaud's comment that a strong woman character is needed. I wanted to avoid of course the three types you already have, the young innocent used unexpectedly as a spy or conduit, the old crone, and the cross-dresser. And before you start cracking jokes about girls and horses, I figure I should tell you that the idea of her came from a woman who is a horse trainer my brother hired for his horses in western Canada. Name comes from AÆlfthryth, second wife of King Eadgar and mother of Aethelred the Unready, but with no intention of picking up any historical allusions.

Ælfritha is late twenties or thirty-something. She is fit physically and well-controlled emotionally, psychologically. She is a major partner, along with a much younger brother, in the family enterprise of horse training and breeding, her parents being elderly. When very young as a child, the family fled Rohan to escape the brigands and its perpetual instability by traveling through the Gap of Rohan into Eriador; there could have been the cruel murders of her younger siblings, maybe a decimation of the village, which prompted this migration and which would allow for her to help run the family's work. (I cannot clearly find evidence in Tolkien to support such migration, but this is plausible it seems to me.) They established themselves somewhere around Tharbad as a family of talented horsemen, good breeders and trainers and smiths, even vets. (I'm assuming that such partial specialization would have existed back then.) As Rohirrim, they did not easily assimilate socially into the local culture, though. Ælfritha's defensive shell also isolated her socially from others and she has become the kind of person who is shy or uncomfortable with social chit chat but who communicates well on a business level. Sharp but not a diplomat.

Social isolation drew her into closer understanding with animals and she grew to be an excellent and skilled horsewoman, known for her ability to break problem horses and handle illnesses. From her deep understanding of horses, she has come to look skeptically if not with jaundice and short patience on those who cannot handle them or who do so through brutal means.

The relative peace of Eriador, compared to Rohan, has turned her family into something like pacifists. They haven't appreciated the work of the Rangers. An as yet unspecified event shakes her of this false sense of security and she rediscovers her Rohirrim roots, so to speak. This would be her dramatic turning point. She never becomes a raging warrior driven by hate and vengeance, for her connection with horses, with animals, grounds her firmly in a deep respect for life, but she comes to acknowledge the need for war and defense against the forces of evil. (Think of a liberal who comes round to understanding Bush is right?)

Physically, she is strong and fit because of her work with horses. Her skin is tanned, maybe even weatherbeaten from years of working outside and she could well have the rough hands and dry lines of the outdoors, as well as a few strands of grey if she is late thirties. She is self-disciplined rather than hardened or rough, not a tough cookie so much as skeptical and wary/untrusting. And edge to her humour as a way of distancing herself when she begins to feel out of control or uncomfortable with people.

What can she provide the group? Well, you gys are down to three horses and you are riding them hard. Barter some from her family, the local horse traders and breeders. She will be familiar with the land around Tharbar through the horse trading her family engaged in. A scout. Or perhaps her younger brother will be scout initially, her family will provide some shelter for the rag tag band of Rohirrim, maybe new horses (could there be a relational link with someone in the band or is this too implausible?), and his loss will force her into the band. She will provide sober second thoughts in terms of strategy.

And, Gandalf the Grey, wonderful work on Borleg! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Bethberry,

Backbench Tippler,
Rohirrim Parliamentary Pub

[ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

10-16-2002, 03:42 PM	#331
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	FYI, here is the character I sent Thenamir, Ælfritha. I had assumed that you were going to the elven ruins of Ost-in-Edhil, and that Tharbad is a town of some size, since Tharbad is populated in LOTR. Thus, I thought she could live around there and you guys could catch up with her family there after you cross through the Gap of Rohan. However, it might be difficult to work this in. For the time being, I will carry Ulfwine, although I would want to make his "conversion" much more troublesome. I assume that his defection is now known to the Dunlendings, so his family is at risk. Are they going to be slaughtered in retaliation? Men of the Mark, here's Ælfritha: She's created for Rohan, thinking about Rimbaud's comment that a strong woman character is needed. I wanted to avoid of course the three types you already have, the young innocent used unexpectedly as a spy or conduit, the old crone, and the cross-dresser. And before you start cracking jokes about girls and horses, I figure I should tell you that the idea of her came from a woman who is a horse trainer my brother hired for his horses in western Canada. Name comes from AÆlfthryth, second wife of King Eadgar and mother of Aethelred the Unready, but with no intention of picking up any historical allusions. Ælfritha is late twenties or thirty-something. She is fit physically and well-controlled emotionally, psychologically. She is a major partner, along with a much younger brother, in the family enterprise of horse training and breeding, her parents being elderly. When very young as a child, the family fled Rohan to escape the brigands and its perpetual instability by traveling through the Gap of Rohan into Eriador; there could have been the cruel murders of her younger siblings, maybe a decimation of the village, which prompted this migration and which would allow for her to help run the family's work. (I cannot clearly find evidence in Tolkien to support such migration, but this is plausible it seems to me.) They established themselves somewhere around Tharbad as a family of talented horsemen, good breeders and trainers and smiths, even vets. (I'm assuming that such partial specialization would have existed back then.) As Rohirrim, they did not easily assimilate socially into the local culture, though. Ælfritha's defensive shell also isolated her socially from others and she has become the kind of person who is shy or uncomfortable with social chit chat but who communicates well on a business level. Sharp but not a diplomat. Social isolation drew her into closer understanding with animals and she grew to be an excellent and skilled horsewoman, known for her ability to break problem horses and handle illnesses. From her deep understanding of horses, she has come to look skeptically if not with jaundice and short patience on those who cannot handle them or who do so through brutal means. The relative peace of Eriador, compared to Rohan, has turned her family into something like pacifists. They haven't appreciated the work of the Rangers. An as yet unspecified event shakes her of this false sense of security and she rediscovers her Rohirrim roots, so to speak. This would be her dramatic turning point. She never becomes a raging warrior driven by hate and vengeance, for her connection with horses, with animals, grounds her firmly in a deep respect for life, but she comes to acknowledge the need for war and defense against the forces of evil. (Think of a liberal who comes round to understanding Bush is right?) Physically, she is strong and fit because of her work with horses. Her skin is tanned, maybe even weatherbeaten from years of working outside and she could well have the rough hands and dry lines of the outdoors, as well as a few strands of grey if she is late thirties. She is self-disciplined rather than hardened or rough, not a tough cookie so much as skeptical and wary/untrusting. And edge to her humour as a way of distancing herself when she begins to feel out of control or uncomfortable with people. What can she provide the group? Well, you gys are down to three horses and you are riding them hard. Barter some from her family, the local horse traders and breeders. She will be familiar with the land around Tharbar through the horse trading her family engaged in. A scout. Or perhaps her younger brother will be scout initially, her family will provide some shelter for the rag tag band of Rohirrim, maybe new horses (could there be a relational link with someone in the band or is this too implausible?), and his loss will force her into the band. She will provide sober second thoughts in terms of strategy. And, Gandalf the Grey, wonderful work on Borleg! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Bethberry, Backbench Tippler, Rohirrim Parliamentary Pub [ October 17, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ] __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.