Ungoliant's Children Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Timeline for the Game:

1. Elves get lost after they chase the spiders south--going in circles. (3 weeks play time)

2. The hunters become the hunted, and the spiders kill off several Elves. There is much argument, with some Elves wondering if they should have come. (3 weeks play time)

3. Elves develop a plan to counterattack. Perhaps they discover the place where the spiders hatch and devise a plan to destroy it. Return to court. (3 weeks play time)

~*~

Obstacles: For the first week the "group" are going around in circle without realizing it until Thranduil notices it. Some arguments may break out between some of the members and their leader. A few may believe that perhaps Thranduil isn't the best elf to be leading them.

After a week of game play and the second "campsite" a few of the carry-alongs go missing during the night. All that remains are a few swords and spider legs.

After chasing a group of spiders the group then realizes they are not familar with their surroundings anymore. The Spiders have led them far south into a part of Mirkwood they are not familiar with. Plus not to mention the fact that the group is no longer the hunters but instead they have become the hunted.

[piosenniel]

This means we will know the story is over when: the group of elves have successfully eliminated the spider's nest surrounding Mirkwood.

Starting Location: Mirkwood

Likely destination: Sea of Rhun

[piosenniel]

Timeframes:

This game takes place in the Third Age at the end of year 2941 (This is the year that Bilbo and the Dwarves set out to recover the Dwarven treasure from Smaug.)

The storyline itself or plot covers 1 month.

This game requires a time commitment of 9 weeks from me, the game owner and from the major players.

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Game open on 9/27

END DATE FOR GAME: 11/29

[piosenniel]

Characters needed:

7 Mirkwood elves – male (each character may have at least one or two carry-alongs, if they choose - a short character description will need to be given for the carry-alongs.)

~*~

NOTE: Prospective Players - Please use this as a guide for your Elven characters:

At the end of The Return of the King, Appendix F, is Tolkien’s description for Elves that we try to use in the Shire as a model for Elven appearance:

'They were a race high and beautiful, the older Children of the world, and among them the Eldar were as kings, who now are gone: the people of the Great Journey, the People of the Stars. They were tall, fair of skin and grey-eyed, though their locks were dark, save in the golden house of Finarfin; and their voices had more melodies than any mortal voice that now is heard.'

[piosenniel]

Character types which would not belong: hobbits, men, dwarves, Rivendell/Lothlorien elves.

[piosenniel]

NAME: King Thranduil

AGE: 7000 years old

RACE: Silvan Elf

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS:Thranduil has a black long bow and two swords. He has red armor with a white star on the center of the chest piece.

APPEARANCE: He has golden hair down to his elbows. His hair is always hanging loose with a few strands of hair in braids. Upon his head rests a crown of leaves. His grey eyes look as if he can see through the disguise of his enemies. On his face are a few stress lines which only add to his majestic look.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Even though he is seen as a "know-it-all" leader he doubts his decisions in life. Some times what he does is for the benefit of Mirkwood but deep down in his heart he can't decide if it is to better his own role in Middle Earth. Thranduil cares deeply for his child and doesn't want to see any harm done to his family or his kingdom. He doesn't allow his ego to get to him. Thranduil is more of a friend to everyone rather than a King. You could say his concern for his kingdom is his only weakness.

HISTORY: Thranduil has one child, Legolas. Thranduil is a strong king and loves his people very much. A few months prior to this "spider" invasion Thranduil had to put up with 13 dwarves and 1 unseen hobbit.

~*~

Witch_Queen’s post ------ FIRST FOR GAME

Thranduil was sitting alone at the back door to his home watching the birds play in the near by trees. He heard his name being called and turned to see that his dear friend Faurry had come to join him. Still up set about the dwarves escaping Thranduil had distanced himself from the others.

Thranduil sent out a scout to investigate the dwarves' story of increased spiders in his forest. It had been a couple of days and they still hadn't heard a word from him. He feared that the dwarves were right. "Still no word about Eruever?" He turned to face Faurry, who seemed to be reading his every thought. The women were frightened that the spiders were going to take over Mirkwood. That was something Thranduil wasn't going to let happen.

The two sat there talking about the previous years when the news came. Eruever's sword had been found along with his armor. The story was true, the spiders had been awakened.

Thranduil organized a meeting with all the men. HE had underestimated the number of elves there were. "Elves of Mirkwood, what you have heard is true. There is a growing threat of spiders in the forest. The spiders are no longer cowards. They are coming out of the deeper parts of the forest and are coming closer to our city. I have decided to lead a group into the forest to reclaim the safety we have lost. I am not requiring for everyone to take up arms with me to solve our problem. I am asking you all as a fellow elf, help me. I only need a few men. The others will have to stay back and see to it that if and I mean if we shall fail, that our great land isn't over-run by those eight-legged monsters." He paused to catch his breath.

The room was silent and Thranduil didn't know what to think. Now what? I know silence is deadly but this is takes it too far. He changed the tone of his voice, "If anyone has a better idea, I am open to suggestions. All I know is that the longer we delay, the bigger the chance of the group not returning. So what do you say?" Thranduil took a step back and sat down in a near by chair.

At about that time a few women came in with a barrel of ale. Thranduil wasn't sure how long the meeting would last so he had drinks brought in for everyone. After wetting his throat, Thranduil returned to his chair. "Well?"

[piosenniel]

Please use this form for creating your character to post on the discussion thread.

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1.) It is a requirement that all potential game players in the Shire will have posted in The Green Dragon Inn or have played to completion an RPG on the Barrow Downs.

2.) Those who have not played before in a Shire RPG will be given preference. Final preference, though, will be at the discretion of the Game Owner.

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Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?

List them, please:

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES/NO

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For your character please include:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE:

GENDER:

WEAPONS (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.):

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

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First post:


(This is a requirement for this game. Character Descriptions without a First Post attached will be sent back to the writer. They may be submitted again, once there is a First Post to go with them.)

For your First Posts - take a look at Witch_Queen's First Post for the game, and use it to bring your character in.