Eorling Mead Hall Planning/Discussion Thread

[JennyHallu]

I'm afraid it's likely to prove necessary to kill off poor Marenil's wife at home, if I'm to keep him here. He's a difficult man to keep abed, and he'll be wanting to go home, whether the healer allows or no.

My current thought is in the next few days he receives a letter from home (that has obviously been following them a long time) relating the sad news, but far too late for him to attend any funeral services. His son is grown and capable of taking over his duties, and Marenil could then much more easily be convinced to stay with Linduial, who he loves like a daughter. I could torment the man still more by inventing a daughter who died in childhood (whose empty place Lin has filled quite nicely). Ideas or criticism would be lovely.

I really need to come up with something really really good to happen to Marenil as well. Working him into the Hall as a permanent fixture is giving me a guilt complex. My fault for writing characters I really like.

[littlemanpoet]

Sounds okay to me, short of the lost daughter. That feels to me like it approaches bathos, if you know what I mean. (shrug) Of course, you could include such a thing but make Marenil not quite so emotionally expressive; stiff upper lip and all that, if you take my meaning; shrug it off as a thing of the past, blithely deny any real concerns, etc. But he's your character. Just suggestions. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for a character is avoid the temptation to do the very first thing that comes into our head, and wait for that secret second thing which is actually better if we give ourselves half a chance.

[JennyHallu]

Sometimes the best thing is to realize the first idea you threw out immediately as ridiculous is exactly what you ought to do...but you're right about the daughter idea. It was an overly hasty. He can have fatherly feelings toward Lin without cheapening the feelings he would certainly had for any child of his own.

He's not likely to go in search of some formal responsibility until after he gets such a letter, (which may not happen for a couple of days, I haven't decided), when he needs something to keep his mind off things. I'd like to get him established before then as a behind-the-scenes helper, fetching and carrying for Frodides and Kara, aiding Leof in exercising horses, (enough recent arrivals, and Leof young enough, he may welcome some assistance in getting chores done early, especially as the weather gets beautiful, with so many other young people in the Hall), hanging clothes to dry alongside Aethel, perhaps drinking with Garwine and/or Manawyth (it would interest him, as a challenge, to help them get along together, but he is neither a bard nor an armsman, though he respects both professions profoundly).

Of course, I'm not sure if he can or would do all of these things, but if there is a informal plan to move him into the steward's role within the next three weeks game time, his ability needs to be wide in scope and firmly established, so as to give Eodwine the idea. The hall should be a more comfortable berth for him as he ages: plenty to keep him interested, but with young Thornden to train up into the role (and incidentally to help as tasks become more and more difficult with passing years).

Anyway...this is merely long string-of-consciousness ideas. If anyone has any ideas on how to get him involved in the day-to-day life of the Hall, post them or PM me, especially if you're interested in working up a post about it.

[littlemanpoet]

Sounds good, Jenny. Let's have Marinel do one thing at a time, of course, and I'll also create swarmy little issues that arise around Eodwine that he wants some wisdom about. Marinel will come in handy to him that way too, especially as Thornden's advice will (need to, Folwren) seem somewhat young mannish.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Jen, would you like a little "girl time" between Lin and Saeryn? Saeryn's having a nice cozy time in her room and isn't opposed to guests. It would give Leof a way to see a lighter-hearted side of her (perhaps hear giggling on the other side of the door). The same welcome extends to Gudryn, of course. I'd invite the guys, but it's slightly less proper for them to be alone behind closed doors with m'lady.

[JennyHallu]

Sounds like fun. Maybe I'll pop in with a question or something while Leof is hanging my things. OH! I know...Ok, sounds good.

[Anguirel]

I'm going to be off the scene for a while in a few days in Italy...I wondered, could Manawyth be sent off on a task of some kind? Or I could have him return home for a while, against the price on his head, hearing of some family saga...oops, another brother dead, that kind of thing...

Yes, might do that...

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Sounds good, Jenny. Let's have Marinel do one thing at a time, of course, and I'll also create swarmy little issues that arise around Eodwine that he wants some wisdom about. Marinel will come in handy to him that way too, especially as Thornden's advice will (need to, Folwren) seem somewhat young mannish.

Erm. . .Say again? I'm a bit confused as to what I need to do exactly. You want Thornden's advise to not be so safe, maybe? Those first few 'advise posts' that I threw out were still with the thought in my head that I had to earn the stewardship. Perhaps now I can slacken off a bit on his saintliness. Is that what you mean?

-- Folwren

[JennyHallu]

I think what he means is that occasionally Thornden's advice will reflect his youth rather clearly. Idealistic, perhaps, or overly harsh, where Marenil's experience and age will have given him a clearer view.

[littlemanpoet]

Anguirel: So did you ask the werewolves to kill you in XIX?

Folwren and Jenny: Yes, Jenny has it right what I'm suggesting. Are you okay with that, Folwren? (yike, I almost nicknamed you 'Folly' ).