Land of Darkness Discussion Thread

[Novnarwen]

Sorry for my abscence, but I have posted now.

Rhând is planning to betray you all. (Bwahahahaha)

Fordim - I don't know what you have planned, but I'll PM you with something.

Let me know if my post need revision!

Cheers,
Nova

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Greetings all

I join the chorus of people apologising for being so inconsistent in my posting. While I am not physically away from home, I am taking an actual vacation which means spending as much time with my family as possible. Also, I find that my need for Barrow Downs relaxation/distraction is quite significantly reduced when I am not at work!

At any rate, I appreciate the intriguing posts of those who are around and facing up to the power of the Stones! We shall be continuing with the current scenario until Sunday night, when we shall be moving past the stones and heading up the Morgul Vale to our next encounter.

For those who might like a bit of a sneak peek. . .as it has just been revealed in Grash's latest post, all of Sauron's armies are being summoned to the Morannon. This includes the remnants of his forces in Minas Ithil, and seeing as we are heading west on the Road that will lead that army from the Dead City to the gate, we can expect to be bumping into them at some point. . .

IF we manage to get past that (and let's hope that our orc disguises are good!) then it will be up onto the mountain path and toward Ithilien!

Nova -- PMing you right now!

[Kransha]

Many apologies, El Capitan Fordim,

I just put up a post for Bror, in which he faces the Stones, etc. I did not place it up last night, through mine own absence of mind. I forgot to put up a Save, so it is now after your post for moving on. I can only 'politely' ask you to move your post when it is made, since I can't move mine back, and it would seem rather odd for Bror to still be at the stones while everyone else is moving on through the Vale. I hope this little switcheroo doesn't inconvenience you too much, or rather, at all.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

No inconvenience Kransha, the post, she's been moved.

At any rate, as you can all see, we're now into our next adventure -- I hope that we can have some fun with it.

Feel free to wander through the army either alone, or as part of a small group. And feel free to have whatever adventures you may wish along the way. Just remember, everyone is supposed to be headed to the small path in the southern wall.

Some plot points/suggestions: orcs frequently fight amongst themselves and nobody seems to care too much, so if you're wanting to get in there and mix things up a bit, by all means do so, all I ask is that you keep it brief and isolated (we can't afford a general dust up here!).

Also, there's some members of the party who might be tempted to use this opportunity to betray the rest of us. . .best keep our eyes open for signs of treachery.

Finally, the "captain" I spoke of in charge of this army is. . .wait for it. . .that's right! A Nazgul! With the destruction of the Witch King, this particular fellow is his second in command. He's lurking somewhere hereabouts in the army and might just stumble on some unlucky member of our little party. He should be pretty easy to spot on his winged fell beast and all.

NOTE -- If there are any more 'stone posts' place them here in the discussion thread and I can paste them to the beginning of my post getting us away from the Stones, or we can perhaps ask Pio to insert them earlier (if we're really really good that is).

[Novnarwen]

I just filled my save. Sorry for not filling it earlier, but I've been quite busy.

I will probably not be able to post again before Saturday, as my computer time is limited. I'll try though!

Nova

[Bêthberry]

My computer access over the pond was erratic and, in fact, one post I made on another thread has disappeared, so . . . I will be catching up tomorow and hope to work on a "stones" post. I'll post it here once I have it and know where it should best be placed. Then I'll work on this next adventure.

[Bêthberry]

Fordim,

Here is my "Dark Stones" post. I think it will coordinate with yours and so I would ask you kindly to place it at the end of your "Stones" post, just before you lead our little band into the midst of orcs once again.

I hope my next post I can place myself--that is, if you don't move on to a new adventure over the weekend.

Bethberry

>>>

** EDIT: PLACED ON THE RPG THREAD - Post #126 ~*~ Pio **

Bethberry's post

Something had deranged the various members of the group. Darash could feel muscles hardening in the air, tendons snapping into tightness, rates of breathing either slow or quicken. The odour of fear exuded from bodies as they moved towards these carvings which Grash had called the Dark Lord's Stones. But who was this Dark Lord? She looked over at Grash and would have asked, but she saw that he was in no mood to converse, wrapped up in some strange dream of his own, his hand reaching out and touching her arm. She could not understand what this power was, but she did not repulse the touch of the former slave. Instead, she watched all the others as they went into dream raptures as they confronted these pillars. She did not understand who or what this Dark Lord was, but she sensed abject fear and horror in those around her. Their bodies were almost becoming grass before the wind. She could feel herself melting into passivity.

Then she faced the Stones herself, hearing her called by the name of "Darash" in a sonorous voice, low and melodious but she caught a vague sense of sneering in its patronising plea. She shook from her head the sound and spoke to herself a name none had ever heard her mention, Kashtia Ma'at-Ka-Re, Kashia Ma'at-Ka-Re. Kashtia Ma'at-Ka-Re. Grash looked at her for a moment, but she did not think he heard. Especially did He who knew every way to appeal to those whose servitude he wanted not hear, but she did, savouring the click of the consonants. Then she raised her eyes against this man-god who called to her in the name of her pain, Kwenye darasha. She felt a soft cooing go through her, as if an arm were placed around her shoulders relieving her of her responsibility so she could rest.

Come to me and I will show you the way home, I will bring you back to your tribe, I will give them the strength to resist their enemies. In me you will find the weapon to fulfil yourself as warrior.

Kashtia remained silent, listening to his words.

Your silence already shows you have decided for me, the voice continued. Join me and I will raise your people high. I will call upon them to join me here in my victory.

Words teetored on the tip of her tongue, and her cracked lips she held still. He knew not the words of her people but spoke in this tongue that the slaves did here, not the foul speech of the orcs but that of the northern men. She fought against the dream he was placing in her head, for she realised he was trying to grab her story, to write her into his story and bend her to his way, to twist her into a mere handmaiden to power. Kashtia would not relinquish her voice; she refused to speak to this man-god who perverted people's stories to his own narrative. For the first time she began to understand the depravity of these northern men who were slaves even in the open air, and she began to feel compassion for them rather than hauteur or disgust. She understood as she had not previously what were the chains which held Grash even as he was free of the prison. They were not and had never been agents of their own lives.

Aloud she spoke one word, Kontu!, that is to say, "Story". "Herstory", with its warning not to speak to the Trickster man-god. Then, to herself, in her head so none could hear, particularly this Dark Lord, she repeated the old stories of courage and cooperation. Unaenda wapi, nyumbo yetu. Kurro. "Run," she translated, "Run," she said to all near her and began to move her springing feet forward, beyond the stones.

To her side, she suddenly heard Grash call out. He grasped her arm tighter and then rushed with her through the stones. He stumbled, almost falling at her feet, but she grabbed his arm this time and steadied him so he would not fall upon the black earth and bruise himself upon the cruel edges of its rocks. She saw in his eyes he had seen a dream of his own, a frightening dream, but a hope he had never known before in his life. Then she looked away at the road which lay before them