The Hills of Evendim Planning/Discussion Thread

[Elora]

OK, here's Falco Boffin's Profile:

Character Description Form

NAME: Falco Boffin

AGE: 54

RACE: Hobbit

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS:

Falco carries a dagger and a short sturdy blade of dwarvish origin. Both are serviceable and part of his equipment as a Shiriff. He also has a cudgel that he tends to use as a walking stick.

APPEARANCE:

Falco is a rotund hobbit, well padded as precisely a Hobbit should be. He has flushed cheeks, bright blue eyes and brown, wavy hair. He wears the uniform of Shiriff, brown pants, cream shirt with red braces, a blue waist coat and a green jacket. The jacket has seven small stars embroidered on each lapel, and silver buttons. His feet are large and hairy, his step light when he wishes it to be, as is customary for Hobbits. He is particularly stout, with a stomach that reflects his unflagging love of ale and vittles.

PERSONALITY:

Falco is a Hobbit who takes his responsibilities very seriously, sometimes a little too much so. He has a fundamental dislike of strangers and Big Folk. He views them with suspicion, seeing them as noisy and prone to causing trouble. Falco wants nothing more than to preserve the Shire’s peace, and Big Folk have a habit of upsetting that in his experience. Falco is not a mean spirited Hobbit. He can be as cheery as the next. His determination to see his responsibilities lived up to can come off as overbearing pride. Certainly, Falco enjoys the certainty of his point of view.

STRENGTHS:

Falco is a determined and steadfast individual. His persistency often bears fruit. He has a strong sense of loyalty and kinship with his folk and will do astounding things in the name of Hobbits, particularly his family. He is dedicated to ensuring the peace after the disruption of Sharkey and will brook neither impediment nor disturbance to the harmonious serenity of the Shire. Falco knows the Shire and each farthing well, and loves it dearly. He can be fierce indeed when protecting that which he loves and is a force to be reckoned with at such times.

WEAKNESSES:

Falco’s fondness of chatter and extolling the virtues of civic responsibility and pride can make him wearisome company. He can be intrusive and clumsy of speech, giving offence, without even realising it. This is his bane when dealing with folk not of the Shire. He is suspicious of the lands and all who inhabit them beyond the Shire. He has a less than flattering opinion of Big Folk. His experiences with Sharkey’s ruffians soured his view on Men. They’re either violent or noisy or unruly. As for Elves, he thinks all they are concerned with is fine food and merriment. When things turn grim, they run for the open sea. In short, all Big Folk can ever hope to be for Falco is at the best a inconvenience and at worse a despicable craven or ruffian. This prejudice colours all his views and words and is a serious disadvantage for one venturing beyond the Shire.

Falco’s stubborn, muleheaded pride is also a prickly thing that often takes a hold of his collar and drags him down strange “adventurous” paths that normally he’d have no interest in at all, being a sensible hobbit as he believes himself to be.

HISTORY:

Falco had a peaceful childhood and tweens, as did most of those blessed to be born into the Shire. His family comes from Bywater, adjacent to Hobbiton and Tookland. He grew up surrounded by the infamously rambunctious descendants of the Old Took. However, Falco prided himself on his level headedness. He did not get up to the same sorts of exploits, save where his pride was at stake. It was then that Falco Boffin was as tookish in his tomfoolery as the famed Peregrin Took. Such incidents were blessedly few and far between, else Falco would have been hard pressed to survive his childhood.

He was part of a large family, the third eldest of three brothers and two sisters. In such a busy house, Falco learnt that it paid to make a place for yourself. His life was largely untouched by the events of the wider world until Saruman arrived in the Shire at the end of the War of the Ring. In the year 1419, or 3019 for any who did not use Shire Reckoning, Falco found his mettle tested by Sharkey and Sharkey’s ruffians.
Falco saw his mother, father and most of his brothers and sisters imprisoned and enslaved. He chafed against the Big Folk that came as a scourge to his beloved Shire. When Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry rode into Bywater to rouse the folk to fight back, Falco astonishingly was one of the first to answer their call. Folks laugh now as they recall what he was heard to say in response to a jibe about turning into a ruffian himself. “It may be disturbing the peace, but we’ll have none to disturb tomorrow unless we break it today.”

The Battle of Bywater is now part of Shire history, and Falco played an honourable role in that. He did not do murder, but took his far share of thumping the skulls and anything else in reach of the Big Folk that preyed upon them. His part was recognised when he was later made Shiriff. Since then, Falco has gone hither and thither in the name of his office, which he takes very seriously. He himself has seen what happens when Big Folk are allowed in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_____________________________________________

Elora's post - Falco

Falco slid off his pony with a sigh of relief that he barely remembered to repress lest anyone hear him. He stretched his aching legs and hitched his mount next to a row of other horses. He saw that Uien's was tied up along with Lumiel's and he huffed his way into the Prancing Pony as quickly as he could.

Falco spotted the table easily. He puffed his way past the bar and the barkeep directly towards where Doderic and Gorby sat. Falowik was there also, as was Uien and the other Elf, Lumiel. He noticed that there were others, some he knew and others he did not.

Well, at least one is a sensible hobbit, he rumbled to himself as he neared. There were two more Elves that he recognised from Uien's recruitment. He nodded stiffly at both. Also there were two more Big Folk that Falco studied unabashed, one a burly looking man and the other a woman.

"A fine mess, no mistake.... but maybe these won't wander off every time the sun sets and the stars peek out." Falco was not happy at being one of the last to arrive at all. He was a Shiriff! His comment was a mutter but it drew the attention of Uien. He saw her gaze shift, but she said nothing for at that moment the two new Big Folk, which Falco had renamed as Big Trouble already upon first sight, were volunteering. If he'd had gotten here sooner, perhaps he'd have been able to send them off. As it was Doderic was busy accepting their offers to help. Falco sighed heavily, turned and lifted a hand for a pint of ale.

He'd need it, he reckoned, with this search party.

"Shiriff Boffin," Doderic said, "Pleased to see you could join us." Falco turned back to the Master of Buckland's second, cast a long look around the table of predominantly Big Trouble and nodded stiffly as he took a seat.

"Well, you will be needing folk with common sense if young Eodwine is to be gotten out in one piece." Falco privately wondered why anyone would want to retrieve a messenger so lax as to allow himself to be taken. Like as not, the lad had been daydreaming at the time. Still, it lay not to him to gainsay the Master of Buckland and Falowik had first brought the dubious news to him. So if the Master said they were to fetch this Eodwine, he'd be at the forefront doing exactly that.

Assuming this Eodwine really existed. Falco wouldn't put it past Big Folk to make up tales for the sake of mischief. His scepticsm was shielded by the delivered half-pint of ale that arrived on the table. He took a long grateful draught and set himself to listening to the talk at the table. They'd have need of his expertise and opinion, him being the Shiriff and all.

_____________________________________________


I'll get the PM's done shortly and a list of character post order to you. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ October 23, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[ October 24, 2003: Message edited by: Elora ]

[Elora]

Alatariel, please clear out your PM's.

[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[piosenniel]

HERE ARE THE PLAYERS AND CHARACTERS:

Elves

• Elora - Uien - female
• Imladris – Lira Nen – Sindar – female
• Esgallhugwen – Esgallhugwen Elenglin – Sindar – female
• Lumiel – Lumiel Rovalhir – female

~*~

Humans

• littlemanpoet - Falowik Stonewort - male
• Alatariel Telemnar – Finwë – Ranger – female
• Meneltarmacil – Thoronmir – Dunedain/Ranger – male

~*~

Hobbits

• Imladris – Gorby Brandybuck – male
• Nurumaiel - Anson Brandybuck - male
• Elora - Falco Boffin - male

_____________________________________________

The Game is now open for play! Have fun! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Remember to remove all signatures from the Game posts - including any 'SAVES' you do.

Those of you playing more than one character:

At the top of your posts - put the character's name you are writing for.

Thanks!

[piosenniel]

Elora and lmp

Is Doderic to be an ongoing character - played by both of you?

If so - please get a short Character Bio up for him on the Discussion Thread.

Thanks!

[Elora]

Doderic will not be going with the party, but merely see that they set out as per the writ of his superior, the Master of Buckland.

As such, I had seen him as a short term, NCE that would be stored away once the search party departed Bree.

Such is my opinion though. LMP may have a different point of view.

[piosenniel]

To all players

I would like to see the gamers for this RPG posting at least twice a week. I think that will be doable for you, and it will keep the storyline flowing well.

In addition to this, please try to check the Discussion Thread once a day, or at least every other day, as well as the Game thread, so that you will know where the plot is at present.

If you are going to be gone from the Game for a while - please post the dates on the Discussion Thread that you will be gone, so that others will not be waiting for your character to post. Also, let others know if they may carry your character along in their posts while you are gone.

Thanks!

~*~ Piosenniel, Shire Moderator

[Elora]

Great work everyone! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I have the feeling that this is shaping up to be a fine tale.

Piosenniel, thanks for that outline. We have a lot to get through in 13 weeks or so. I think it'll be essential we stick to your request if we're to do justice to our characters and the tale.


Oh, and an excusatory note for Falco. I hope he hasn't inexcusably offended any of you or your characters. He's just... confident... of his abilities as a sensible Hobbit of good character and social standing. He means well, really he does...

I'm sure that, in time, Falco will have cause to rethink his prejudice of Big Folk... especially if one plucks him from an inconvenient and troublesome predictament on the way to Eodwine. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]


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

[littlemanpoet]

Doderic is an NCE. He'll stay behind in Bree.

[piosenniel]

For General Reference:

NCE, NPC, and NCC refer to characters that are brought into a game and are not controlled or played by a single player. They can usually be used as needed by any player.

[Meneltarmacil]

especially if one plucks him from an inconvenient and troublesome predictament on the way to Eodwine.

I see what you mean. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Though I'm not sure how grateful he'll be...

[littlemanpoet]

I guess I don't really have a problem with others using Doderic as long as they do so in keeping with the role he's been given by Elora and me. It probably would help to have that fleshed out, so here goes:

Doderic Brandybuck is Meriadoc's first cousin, and his "right hand Hobbit" in the affairs of Buckland. Doderic resembles Merry in ways one might expect of first cousins. Doderic is serious and businesslike, having a high regard for his first cousin. He is level headed and can tend toward curtness when he feels time is slipping away quickly. Like his first cousin, good manners come second nature to him, and he is respectful of all free peoples according to their likes, as much as he knows them. His goal is to make sure every one in the search party understands what their goals are, and make sure they have a clearly defined leader and enough provisions. Doderic will stay at The Prancing Pony, waiting for the search party's return.

Elora, if there's anything I'm missing, please include it.

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]

[Elora]

I think you've covered it well, LMP. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Thank you for that.

Has anyone heard from Lumiel lately? If you know anything, please P.M me. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Alatariel Telemnar]

She leant to whisper to her roan gelding in soft elvish words that elicited a whicker of pleasure from Thalion.

I hope no one minds me asking, but did they do that to horses then?

[Elora]

Indeed Elves did speak to their horses.

For example, In the Fellowship of the Ring, Glorfindel urged his horse, "Noro lim, Asfaloth, noro lim!"

That was an invective (command) to ride on, spoken in Sindarin and the horse responded by doing exactly so. The Elvish bond with nature, plants and animals, seems to be one that enables such things.

Based on that precedent, I thought it fair that Uien would praise her horse and her horse would respond well pleased, either by her words or her tone. However, even did that precedent not exist, horses are perfectly able to respond to the tone of our words according to their own mood at the time.

Hope that makes sense, Alatariel. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

(Personally, I've never been blessed with such a sweet natured horse as Thallion. Mine have always been sturdy, hard working stock horses that very much dislike working and hence consider it their duty to discourage you to work them. Becomes a bit of a challenge for them over the years, bless them. I swear the treasures giggle and laugh when one scheme is sucessful and they slip out of a day's mustering.

Still, they know when you're happy and when you're not and they respond in their own unmistakeable way. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] )

[Alatariel Telemnar]

I think you misunderstood what I was asking there, maybe I should have reworded it... I was referring to the word 'gelding', isnt that a horse that has been fixed so it can not reproduce? or have I gotten really mixed up? the question was, did they fix horses then?

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: Alatariel Telemnar ]

[Esgallhugwen]

They probably did fix horses then. But I don't think the Elves would do that (or the Rohirrim for that matter) to their horses unless of course they got the horse from somwhere else. Because Elves as Elora said are in-tuned with nature and I don't think they'd want to disrupt what is natural. Hope that answers your question [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Edit: and yes a gelding is a fixed stallion

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: Esgallhugwen ]

[Elora]

Ah, yes I did misunderstand.

I do believe that it may well have been practise amongst the Edain to manage their horses as such. They may have kept stallions for breeding and war horses, but also they would have required horses for other things that perhaps a stallion is less suited to than say a mare or gelding.

Uien obtained her horse from a trader in the Shire. It was likely she obtained a horse raised by Men. I've yet to come across any literature that discusses in detail the horse management practices of Elves or Men that would suggest otherwise.

I'm sure Rohan and the Elves have unique practices, for both normal horses and Mearas, but I've to find any specific discusion of that, and it's not applicable to Uien's non-Elvish non-Rohirrim horse bought in the Shire from a trader that visited the Green Dragon Inn.

In my opinion, it's likely that Men managed their horses in such a way as to have mares, geldings and stallions, as there's sound practical reasons to do so.

I'm happy to revise this if it becomes evident that there were no such things as geldings in Middle-earth.

[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Hopefully, that answers your question.

[Alatariel Telemnar]

Ah, well that explains a lot of things.. I was just unsure if they did that then...

[Lumiel]

I must apologize to everyone about my not posting! I had no control over it, but I feel horrible still! I hate doing that, it's one of the worst things to do in an RP!!!

*Smacks head several times over...this has occurred previously as well...*

Hopefully the circumstances that led to my predicament will not repeat themselves in the near future...

Again, I apologize profusely, especially to Elora and littlemanpoet.

[img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

[Elora]

I'm just glad and relieved to see you're still with us Lumiel. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Great post and welcome aboard. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Meneltarmacil]

I thought that Falowik didn't want to be the leader and it now seems like it's between him and Falco. Did my character disappear or something!? I really want to know...

[Elora]

Erm, I didn't read it like that myself.

I thought Doderic was conveying the Master of Buckland's thoughts on the matter, but Falowik remained unaltered in his wishes to not lead.

So that left Falco and your character. Falco is of the opinion that he and only he could lead, even though that would disasterous for the group. Uien thinks Falowik would make a fine leader and takes umbrage at Falco's insults.

So, to me, seems like your character is the only one willing to lead the group that will not lead them into disaster.

[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[littlemanpoet]

Lumiel's latest post, enjoyable as it is, is mistaken in one regard, as Meneltarmacil (did I get that right?) has suggested: the leadership of the group is still not decided. Falowik has indeed reluctantly allowed himself to be nominated for the job, but even in the act of doing so has reminded the group of Thoronmir's obvious ability and willingness. His words seem to have gotten lost in Falco's hyperventilations. :P

So go ahead and post for Thoronmir as if the issue isn't yet decided. And Lumiel should edit her post to that effect. Okay everybody?

[Lumiel]

I fixed my post and added Lumiel's vote as soon as I realized that we were casting votes...sorry it's short but I have to get offline right now so I don't have time to fix it up as I'd like. I'll upgrade it tomorrow hopefully.

[Imladris]

I don't know if this bothers anyone, but as you know, I've posted rather...frequently...for secondary characters. I am doing this to reveal character. If this is bothersome, please let me know.

[Elora]

I'm sure that should be fine, Imladris. It's good to define and reveal character both for other writers and for those reading along.

So long as we all remain at the approximately same time/day for our characters in the main, I can foresee no issues.

[Elora]

OK, great work everyone. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

It's time to wrap up the leadership vote so we can move the story along. I thought the party would set out at first light the following day.

That means you have a free day for your character, in a manner of speaking.

Could anyone who has yet to vote, and Meneltarmacil, please post for your character so we can move on?

Thanks, folks. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Elora]

Here's the plot outline, which I thought might be helpful. This outline is a guide which we'll use to move our story along and keep on track.

Meetings

• Characters arrive at Prancing Pony and word of the search party to be formed reaches those at the inn courtesy of Falowik and the Master of Buckland's Second, Doderic Brandybuck. - [/I]DONE[/I]
  
• A party is formed of the disparite races, and the beginnings of both friendship and conflict begin. Not everyone will get along amicably. Each joins the party for their own reasons. Meneltarmacil is chosen as leader, and in that some differences emerge. - [b][I]WE ARE HERE
  

Journey into the Wilds

• The party sets out, provisioned, to search the surrounding lands, heading west and north towards the Hills.
  
• The party follows the Brandywine River, observing the ban on travel through the Shire, uncovering a disturbing lack of trail and signs. Doubt as to whether Falowik really saw what he did begins.
  
• Whilst in the open land of the downs, the party undergoes it's first night attack. In the dark, chaos and confusion reign supreme. Doubt arises as to whether the source of aggression comes from within the group or from the mysterious men that were said by Falowik to have attacked Eodwine.
  
• Falco suspects Falowik and his "cohorts" are responsible for the night attack but says nothing for the moment as he lacks proof. He resolves to watch even closer.
  

Foul deeds will out

• They reach Deadman's Dike and discover old signs of camp amid the ruins of Fornost. Disturbing evidence comes to light of those that made use of those ruins. (the remains of missing scouts, Rangers and messengers but not Eodwine)
  
• The extent of danger is realised too late for the party to withdraw and summon more assistance. It is now ominously evident that they are dealing with something far more sinister than rougish bandits, although what precisely is still unknown to them all.

Wandering the Ruins of Men

• The party strikes west now, making for the Emyn Uial (Evendim Hills). They begin to discover the true extent of the menace in the north, but still do not know if Eodwine is alive or dead.
  
• A schism splits the party. One group thinks it would be wiser to return to Bree now whilst they still can and muster a force. The other refuses to leave Eodwine out there, the memory of the discovery at Fornost too vivid in their minds. The party decides to push on.
  
• The enemy has detected the party's presence at Fornost (Deadman's Dike) and now hunts them in a concerted, organised method.
  
• Those who press on, push towards Annuminas and Lake Nenuial. There they find the central settlement camp of the mysterous villian. The Emyn Uial are infested with a warren of murderous fiends. It is worse than even their darkest fears. The group is beset and the schism worsens under the pressure.

Valour in Desolate Places

• A few believe that Eodwine must be located, somewhere in the ruins of Annuminas, despite the peril. They locate him with much difficulty, given the terrain and the danger, and unaware of whether he is dead or alive, resolve to bring him out and make a hard strike against the brigands and evil Men that are responsible for so much violence in the north.
  
• They launch a raid, a small number against many, alone in the wilderness. Their aim is to retrieve Eodwine and incur lasting damage to the villians however they may. Not everyone in the group agrees, some have grave misgivings such that they ponder about turning back even then to seek more help. This goes far beyond the Master of Buckland's writ.
  
• The raid very nearly ends disasterously. The party is split, some managing to escape and others forced to take temporary shelter in the Evendim Hills around Annuminas. The enemy hunts them with a vengeance. They flee back, through the hostile lands with either an alive and very injured Eodwine or his body, in a desperate flight, attempting to meet each other again. The only thing likely is that they will each meet their deaths.

The Longest Road is that taken home

• Not all may emerge, depending on skirmishes and encounters with an enemy now intent on not letting word of their presence and numbers reach the Thain.
  
• Those that do survive flee to Bree in desperate flight. The Master of Buckland, aware of strife roused, is ready to receive their report.
  
• Once in Bree, their part of the venture is over. Injured, weary and heart sore after so much evil, The Master of Buckland stands them down with thanks. With his allies, he can move against the threat within the Evendim Hills.

[Nurumaiel]

I hope this is not too much of a problem, but I'm not going to be able to be active on the RPG for a few days. One of the youngest children in the family is in the hospital, you see. Feel free to use my character as you think appropriate, just so long as you stick to his personality. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] If anyone would like to actually play him during my absence, please feel free, on the condition I already mentioned. I am extremely sorry for any inconvenience.

[Elora]

Nurumaiel, I'm sorry to hear about your news. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] I'm sending my best thoughts and wishes to you.

Of course we will look after your character for you and look forward to you rejoining us when you are able to.

Take care. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[littlemanpoet]

I apologize in advance for my impatience in posting a plot-moving post. I do hope Meneltarmacil shows up soon; I certainly don't want to have to think about writing in Thoronmir's absence from the search party just when we're getting started! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

[Meneltarmacil]

You won't have to, since I just posted. I'm sorry for the delay, but I was just waiting for all the votes to come in.

[Alatariel Telemnar]

Some people have spelt Finëwen's name with a regular e, and I just wanted to tell everyone how to get to ë ... I dont mind, but Finewen might be considered as whole different name from Finëwen... so to get the ë you hold down the ALT key, then press 0235 on the number keys to your right, if your keyboard is a standard keyboard.... after pressing the numbers 0235, let go of ALT, and you should have the ë ...

just letting everyone know... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Imladris]

Thanks for the clarification!

[Elora]

There's another way in Word too, for those of us who can't manage to hold down 7 buttons at the same time. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Open Word, type the name as you normally would until you reach the special character letter, i.e. F i n

For the ë press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [:] buttons all at the same time. Then press the e key. That should give you ë and you can then complete typing out the rest of the letters. Once you have the word, copy it from Word and paste it to your post.

Or, you can copy Finëwen from a previous post and paste it into your own post if that is simpler again. Highlight what you want to copy, press the [Ctrl] and C buttons at the same time to copy. To paste, press [Ctrl] and V at the same time.

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

[Esgallhugwen]

Ah! Oh dear Eru, so sorry for not being here for two days. I didn't expect to be away that long, much has happened thank you for saying I did vote. Very sorry again, you go trick or treating as an Elf and you don't know what happens to you.

[Alatariel Telemnar]

*snicker* Merry stole the Ring! *gasp* we're getting off-topic... so... how long does everyone think it will take to get them off on the journey?

[Imladris]

Hey, Lumiel, good idea for the dance! And three cheers for Elora for figuring out an easy way to write funny letters with squigglies over them for those of us without bigger memory chips! I've been hanging 'round my big brother for too long. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[piosenniel]

Please note I have deleted several off topic posts on the discussion thread.
_____________________________________________


Fellow Shire Gamers:

Please read before posting further on the Discussion Thread

Our gaming comes with a cost; it is time to reflect on this fact and make some changes to how we run our games.

We RPG’ers use the most Barrow Downs resources. We use a game thread, a discussion thread, PMs to plan games, and are constant visitors to the site, often returning more than two or three times a day to keep up with developments in the game in order to prepare our own posts.

Why is this a drain on BD resources? Please take some time to read carefully and reflect seriously upon the Barrow Wight's recent posts in the "Announcements >> The Barrow Downs" forum concerning storage space and bandwidth, chat and discussion, and the costs of running the site, and then change your posting habits. Click on: BANDWIDTH AND EXPENSES

What this means is that our Games, because we need to be so active in them, and because the Shire has so many going at once, cost the site much more money than other topics and forums on the Barrow Downs. In order for us to continue to have a good number of quality games for Shirelings to play in we need to make some changes:

What you, as participants in this game can do, personally:

What are the most beneficial changes in our posting habits? For one, we need to stop using the discussion threads for off-game-topic chatting, for personal comment. We need to restrict our posts to discussion of the games only, that is, to issues of plotting, character interaction, clarification, and notification of absences.

For most occasions, we don't need to make multiple posts about why we are absent or how we are doing and we don't need to make a string of 'see ya' posts in reply.

For personal comments, we can use the chat room or PM’s. (It’s ok to say a short ‘Nice post!’ or ‘Great post!’ if it is included with a post that has some other on-topic game information/requests on it.)

Please take the time to do several things:

Keep on topic for the Game.

Delete posts or run of the mill comments in the discussion thread that have no bearing on the game.

Refrain from such posts and comments in future discussions of the games.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ *+*

READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. ALL GAMERS WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING THESE CHANGES.

What we, as Shire Moderators, will be doing to insure these changes are being made:

We will be following the discussion threads more closely now. When we see an off topic post - we will delete it and leave a note on the discussion thread.

Posters who continue to post off topic comments may be asked to leave the game.

The Moderator also has the option to close the Game and Discussion thread if gamers cannot stay on topic in the Discussion Thread. It will then be up to the Owner and the players to sort out problems, by PM or email, and make an agreement to keep on topic. Owners may then contact the Moderator to reopen the Game.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

If we all help out, we can ensure that our games remain treasures in the Barrow Downs.

Thanks for being responsible gamers and conscientious members of the Downs!

~*~ Piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age, Shire Moderators

[piosenniel]

There is now a permanent resource in the Shire for those accent marks (diacritical marks)used for the Elven words.

~*~ Squiggly Marks for Elvish Words, etc. ~*~