Land of Darkness Discussion Thread

[Bêthberry]

Hmmm. Alaklondewen and I are a bit confused by the time frame here, as our characters are in the midst of a battle with the seven orcs which Nova's Rand sent out after us in #143. Fordim wrote about the orc tiff:

Everyone should be making for the path with all possible speed. As a guideline: it's early morning, and this adventure will be wrapped up before midday. By this point everyone who's escaping will have to be on the path.

Yet, as Himaran has said, in #146:

1. In my post, hours passed. It is night. Thus, by this time the company is either safely away from the orcs or, more realistically, dead.

Shouldn't we still be approaching midday rather than in night? And, as a bit of a wrench, Alak and I have not yet finished dispatching those seven orcs. I know I could do a retrospective, but I think that would ruin the pacing and the excitement. And I think our posts are already long enough that editting them to finish it off woulld rather ruin the lovely drama our dear traitor set up for us. (I mean, really, seven orcs in just two posts? For women?)

Master Game Founder Hedgethistle, what do you suggest? Can we ask Himaran to split up his post #146, to move the second half after Alak and I have done? I have put up a save now and await your gravel.

Bethberry

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Good questions all, Bb.

To clarify --

The game-time is somewhere just after dawn (believe it or not, but the company has been with the army for no more than 30-60 mins game time! Go back through the posts and you'll see that not much time has passed).

Himaran has indeed been 'flashing forward' a bit but I think that this is OK, so long as we all keep in mind that his posts are looks ahead, past the point at which the rest of us are working.

So we are still on track to have the company on the path and heading upward a ways before midday. The plan is to have the company reassemble (minus Dwali who at this point is still unconscious in a ditch) and then rest for the rest of the day in order to press ahead at night.

Does that help? Sorry for the confusion.

Oh! And as to those orcs, I hope that Darash and Lyshkia won't be left on their own with them for too much longer -- Zuromor, Bror, Jeren, Raies and a wounded but still mobile Morgoroth are still there to lend a hand (right guys?).

[Himaran]

Yes, Master Fordim is right on.

Your posts are all fine, (and excellently written, btw). In my post, Dwali struggled on during the daylight hours when the events of all your posts were occuring.

Because Fordim wanted your little battle done by Midday, I assumed that the company (minus Dwali) would have made it to the mountain passage and be safely away from the orcs at that time.

So, in essence, ignore my post and carry on.

Himaran

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

OK -- so I've just put up a post that deals with a third slice of time, so I just wanted to make sure that we're all clear with what's happening.

The company is still in the morning, and we are all moving toward the path (right? RIGHT??).

Dwali is still unconscious. He will be waking up at dusk, then stumbling along the path to where the company will have been resting since midday. He will come upon the rest of the prisoners just as we are getting ready to set out for full night of marching.

Lurg (for whom I've just posted) has been sent to get the prisoners in the afternoon -- he will reach the path just after nightfall (so after Dwali has gone along the path, and the company has set off on it's march).

Rhand has been revealed as a traitor so he will be leaving the party now. . .but we've not seen the last of him *ominous music*

I do hope this makes sense.

Can I ask that anyone who wishes to post about the orc army adventure do so today, as I will be posting for Grash tomorrow and in that post we will be assembling on the path (minus Dwali of course), marching for a couple of hours, and then resting at midday. We can then pause for conversations, lamenting the 'loss' of Dwali, thinking about Rhand, blaming Grash for leading you smack into an orc army, whatever. . .

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

I have edited into my last post a new bit that puts to an end (sadly) the episode with the army. The prisoners, minus Dwali and Aldor/Rhand, are now resting at midday high in the mountains.

For this next bit. . .

Himaran and Nova will be posting soon to get their respective characters moving toward the company. For the rest of us, there's a lot I think we need to discuss:

1) Dwali's supposed death

2) our betrayal by Aldor

3) Aman and Sarin - please give us more about the burgeoning relationship between Raies and Zuromor (what is it with your characters, Aman, and romantic plots with the dangerous 'other'?!?! )

4) Aylwen and CoD -- I sort of threw your characters together, just because I had to find someway to get them both back on the path. Feel free to pursue this or not as you wish. I am also willing to edit, of course.

We can pursue these kinds of things, and whatever else you wish, until Dwali returns to the party at nightfall -- then it's on to the last leg of the adventure!

[Bêthberry]

I have filled in my save. I notice it is full of typos but as I must dash out of the house now, they wait for their just reward.

The post does little more than get my character up the path towards Grash, but I have worked a small detail into it which will aid Alaklondewen's character. Working backwards from Fordim's later post, I have also used some details from it intentionally.

Next I guess I will think how to tell Grash of Aldor's treachery so he will listen. He probably is not the most astute of men at following up vague hunches and suppositions, so I expect Darash will have her hands full with him. She might turn to Lyshka for support, but whether that is forthcoming or not, only Alaklondewen will say.

In haste and hoping to be back by 2ish.

[Amanaduial the archer]

(what is it with your characters, Aman, and romantic plots with the dangerous 'other'?!?! )

I know! Oh, come on, it's not my faul...*trails off* Ok, maybe a little my fault. But hey, this one wasn't even at my instigation! They often aren't! It just...happens! This time it wasn't my intention even! I'm going to stop babbling as now as I am using far more exclamation marks than is humanly decent! Shock!

Ahem...

About the Raeis-Zurumor relationship though - Sarin, my browser has reacted rather badly the times in the past five minutes when I have tried to PM you about this, so I shall post here. In one of your posts, you ended with the rather dramatically fiery line along the lines of "the burning heat like the burning of their hearts". Just a quick point: Raeis, having been imprisoned for so long and having her deep relationship with the other elven courtier so abruptly cut off, is kind of...well, emotionally stunted. Come on, I very much doubt she is completely sane. She does feel some liking towards Zurumor, and it is growing, much to her confusion (I will continue that, of course, and emphasise it more in my next post), but she does not (yet) love him. This may extend, certainly if you wish it to, but she currently doesn't have that sort of feelings - would you mind editting just that one line to 'his heart'? I meant saying this earlier but somehow the PM just got shoved to one side in 'My Documents'...

But play between them shall be very interesting....Zurumor falls under the elven spell...even if he picked a rather strange elf...

[Himaran]

Fordim,

Could you please put this post on the game thread, in (but above) your last post on Page 4 of the game thread. Thanks - sorry its late.


Himaran's Post

When Dwali finally reached the mountain passage, words could not describe his attitude - it was less pessimistic than suicidal. The orc army was gone at last, but so were his companions. There was nothing for him now. It was over. The dwarf sat down on the dusty earth, trying to ponder how he had been the last to survive. He, who had seemed the weakest, the smallest, the lest likely to make it out of Mordor. It was that sense of accomplishment that pulled him to his feet and walked steadily up the path. I made it! And may yet escape from this land of darkness...

Upon cresting the hill, however, a different sight met his eyes. The company, sitting in a tight circle, resting and chatting. Not all of them, though, the dwarf was sure of it. Some must have died in the battle. And then, at the height of his addreniline, it all gave way to utter exhaustion. Dwali collapsed, his throat as parched as the rocky grouond beneath him. A cry so weak it was but a murmur barely left his flaking lips: "Help..."

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Himaran: I've put your post in the requested spot.

Everyone: hate to sound like a cuckoo clock, but time is (once again) running out. Let's get those final posts up before Friday. I'm anxious to see how everyone reacts to their newfound freedom, as well as what their plans are for the future.

Pio: when should I put up the final post of the game? And, should I post it here so you can clip it on at the very end or put it in the game thread?

[piosenniel]

I'll leave the game open til Friday, midnight.

You can do a couple of things:

Put a save on the game on Friday, and then your final post. Last posts from other gamers can then be put on the discussion thread and I'll move them.

Or, leave your final post here on the discussion thread - and I'll move it to the end of the game when I close it.

Whatever you want to do is fine with me.

~*~ Pio

[Bêthberry]

My last post is placed. A bittersweet experience. Satisfaction and delight with a game well done and melancoly at its conclusion.

This has been a great game, challenging, fun, intriguing. I've never played a fighter before, nor killed in action. And I've rarely enjoyed the company as much as I have here. Thank you All for the pleasure of gaming with you, and particularly to Alaklondewen for the satisfying interaction, to Aman for subtle directions and interactions, and of course particularly to Fordim Hedgethistle for his astounding ideas. Thanks belong also to piosenniel and Child of the 7th Age for allowing such an expansive game.

You da best, folks!

[alaklondewen]

I, too, have placed my final post on the game thread. I have thoroughly enjoyed this game that has kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Thank you Fordim for allowing me the opportunity to experience this game. I think it is rare to have such outstanding writers come together in such a work. Bêthberry, I also thank you. It was a pleasure to work so close with you, and I look forward to gaming again with you in the future...that goes for all of you. Good luck in future gaming, and I hope to run into you soon.

~ Alak

[Kransha]

Hello and goodbye, I suppose.

It has been too long since I interacted on this thread. My schedule was actually very hectic, allowing only for some quick posts in other threads, other forums, and a few longer RPG posts. Tonight, in a matter of short hours, I will have completed my uncompleted Battle post, and posted a finale for Bror. It has been a great pleasure writing alongside you all, and, even if I never got to do everything I meant to do because of the time constraints, I still very much enjoyed this game, and it is officially one of my favorites. Bror's had his fun, and he's going to get home in the end, which is an optimistic end, but I always like bitersweet irony, so...

Farewell all, companions, compatrioys, comrades, brethren, kinsmen and women, and any other adjectives that might apply. I look eagerly forward to the prospect of writing with each of you again.

[Himaran]

Wow, what and excellent game. Rarely have I been able to collaborate with such a talented group of writers. It was a pleasure to play with you.

Fordim, you did a great job as game owner! I can't wait to play in another of your games...

See you all on the Downs! Fairwell from Dwali.


The happiest Barrowdowner,
Himaran

[Novnarwen]

Okay, just letting you know that the last post for Rhând is up now. (I have held a save for quite a few days, and not filled it before now.. Eeek.) Here it is: Rhând #163. Sorry for taking so long. To be honest, I had great difficulties writing this post. I don't think I've ever killed my character before, which means I've never written a death scene! So, yeah, it was hard.. even though Rhând/Aldor was evil.. (Please let me know if it needs edits.. )

Anyway...Thank you Fordim for a most enjoyable Game. It has been absolutely great. You have been a fantastic Game Owner.

Everyone else, it has been a pleasure. Hope to game with all of you again, as you are all wonderful writers and co-gamers!

Cheers,
Nova

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

With the last of those posts filled in, I have gone ahead and transferred the final post of the game into the game thread, and with that, The Land of Darkness is officially over (unless someone wants to sneak in one more post before Pio officially sends it on to Elvenhome ).

Let me just say what a pleasure and an honour it has been to write with you all -- this has been an extraordinarily rewarding experience for me. And let me add my voice to Bethberry's wise and judicious words of thanks to our noble and far-sighted mods Pio and Child, who were a big part of my first success as a game owner.

[piosenniel]

~*~ To Elvenhome ~*~