The Fall of the North Planning/Discussion Thread

[Saurreg]

I'm in this RPG for the long term and I think Osse also. I would like it if we all contribute to keep the story flowing as best as we could until a satisfying ending can be achieved. But if majority interest has waned and everybody wants to pack up early - fine by me also.

[piosenniel]

How about a "specific" suggestion for where you'd like to see the storyline go next, after the Elves and Men have regrouped and are out of the mountain tunnels.

Anyone have a suggestion?

[Mithalwen]

Well I don't want to give up on it and leave Erenor and co in a tunnel forever.....

I while Erenor's intention was to attempt a break for Mithlond if a western exit was found, the troll and spider fighting episodes has bonded her more with at least the Dunedain she fought alongside and assuming she survives her current injuries, she may be less likely to take the " every man (elf) for himself approach given the chance. However she would not be keen on going north.

Just a factual question .... do we know how Arvedui's sons were alerted to their father's plight to send the ship north for the disastrous rescue? Is there scope for some of our people being the messengers or was it done by palantir? Feel quite sad about everyone meeting a chilly and damp end but I guess that was what we signed up for....

[Garen LiLorian]

That sounds good to me, Mithalwen. I'd posted something similar to that here
which was responded to in here
But that seems a little irrelevent now. However, I don't think it ever says when or where Arvedui's sons left their father, or indeed how they knew he was heading to the north. We could, at the end of this little cave adventure, talk to Arvedui's sons and convince them to go to the Havens with us. Anyone still desiring a watery grave could still go on the ship to pick up the king and company
Either way though is ok with me. We did indeed sign up for such an end, so marching into the snows is cool too.

[Mithalwen]

ah yes I do remember that now..... so long ago!!!

So who is still active? You, me, Saurreg, Osse Nilp is back and I guess Aman will be too soon enough..? Lal?

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

I would like Bethiril to be left with the King. I've always envisioned him dying sometime in this game. But she's still alive, so I guess this is the place and time to kill her.

[Mithalwen]

OOOh interesting..... sorry for delay -WW5 Sunday? Sorry

[Amanaduial the archer]

If no one minds terribly, Faerim had decided to drop in on the battle. Terribly sorry for any inconvenience and all that.

Watery death sounds good to me. Or not. Either way. I like that idea, Garen, it opens up a different perspective; I don't have any particular preference, although I certainly don't want this game to end yet. I am alive, blessing or curse as that may appear. Does anyone know, out of interest, where Kransha has actually gone? Haven't seen Lalwende for a while though... Not sure exactly how we've managed to end up as a rather depleted group of six, but hey, that's not too few

[Mithalwen]

The fewness perhaps makes the splinter group option viable?

[Saurreg]

I have entered a TGV speed summary post of the battle and delivered the characters to safety above ground again. Go me!

Alright now, you may all start stoning me for the horrendous post. But at least we've left the tunnels behind us.

[piosenniel]

It’s my understanding that the two sons of Arvedui left their father during the capture of Fornost. They were driven westward over the Lune by the King of Angmar’s forces.

Arvedui and some of his guard went north to the North Downs just above Fornost and battled Angmar’s troops. Then Arvedui and his small remnant fled northwest & eventually hid in the old dwarven tunnels at the far northern end of the Blue Mountains.

Aranarth, Arvedui's son, and his group of Dunedain must have reached Cirdan about the same time his father reached the Snowmen. I don't think the king could have used the palantir to signal Cirdan and his sons, since it would require them to have a palantir. It seems to me that Aranarth knew his father was heading north and Cirdan sent a ship with a search party to Forochel to start the search there. It was sheer chance that the king and his men had kept a signal fire on the beach of the Ice Bay and that it was spotted by the sailors.

Appendix A; Return of the King:

In 1974 the power of Angmar arose again, and the Witch-king came down upon Arthedain before winter was ended. He captured Fornost, and drove most of the remaining Dunedain over the Lune; among them were the sons of the king. But King Arvedui held out upon the North Downs until the last, and then fled north with some of his guard; and they escaped by the swiftness of their horses.

For a while Arvedui hid in the tunnels of the old dwarven mines near the far end of the Mountains, but he was driven at last by hunger to seek the help of the Lossoth, the Snowmen of Forochel. Some of these he found in camp by the seashore; but they did not help the king willingly, for he had nothing to offer them, save a few jewels which they did not value; and they were afraid of the Witch-king . . . But partly out of pity for the gaunt king and his men, and partly ut of fear of their weapons, they gave them a little food and built for them snow-huts. There Arvedui was forced to wait, hoping for help from the south; for his horses had perished.

When Cirdan heard from Aranarth, Arvedui’s oldest son, that the king had fled north, he sent a ship to Forochel to seek for him. The winds were contrary and it took a number of days before Arvedui and his remnant were spotted – they had kept a small blaze going near the shore as a signal fire. It was March by then and the ice only beginning to thaw.

The Lossoth were amazed at the sight of the ship. They could not remember ever seeing one in the Bay. They took some of their sliding carts and went out onto the ice as far as they dared with the king and his men to meet the boats from the ship. The Lossoth smelled danger in the wind and counseled the king to let the boats bring them supplies of food and other things so that the king and his little band could wait until summer, when the power of the Witch-king wanes – “. . . but now his breath is deadly and his cold arm is long . . .” the chief of the Lossoth told the king.

Arvedui did not heed the counsel. In parting he gave the chief his ring (the Ring of Barahir), later ransomed by the Dunedain. The Dunedain got on the ship. A great storm of wind with blinding snow from the North came up before they could leave they bay. It drove the ship back onto the ice and piled up ice against it. In the night, the ice crushed the hull of the ship and the vessel foundered. All were lost including the 2 palantiri – the Stone of Annuminas and that of Amon Sul.

[Mithalwen]

Cheers Pio..

Saurreg's post does seem to have made the decision though.. surely a splinter group would have sought a western exit?

[Garen LiLorian]

I like the idea that the Dwarves led them to a western exit, far from the camp of the king. It provides a good chance for Belegorn and the guardsmen -assuming they want to rejoin the king- to have some conflict with the Elves, who'd probably see this as the perfect chance to break for civilization. And bringing the message to the sons of Arvedui at Mithlond seems as good a way to end the game as drowning in the bay. It seems like everyone who's weighed in has agreed with that sentiment, thus far at least. Any strong supporters of marching north?