Tapestry of Dreams, Part 2 Discussion

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

If the men are following the road south, they might find her, or if Bergil, southern Ranger that he is, found her first, the men and Bergil might meet on the road, him taking the little girl to Minas Tirith/Anor, them riding yonder-in-that-direction-in-which-they're-going...

She could fall asleep and dream before they split back up, or one of the Elves could see a mark of fate (you know, fun stuff like that) on her? If this wandering group want to keep her around, would Bergil just leave her?

How about..... Bergil is by the side of the road, pondering what to do with this mysterious and lost little girl-- and the menfolk ride up, and Raefindan is thereby haunted. Or fated or doomed or, well, you know. And the elves can chime in.

How about-- at that point-- Bergil, sensing some sort of doom on his own part, gallops off to find his commander, and gets permission to join the quest, and comes galloping back? Trying to think like a soldier here-- wouldn't want him accused of desertion, you know.

[mark12_30]

Golly. I'm sure doing a lot of talking. Makes me look like a chatterbox.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

How about-- at that point-- Bergil, sensing some sort of doom on his own part, gallops off to find his commander, and gets permission to join the quest, and comes galloping back? Trying to think like a soldier here-- wouldn't want him accused of desertion, you know.

The thing about being a Ranger (this is my reading here, not official in any sense) is that if Bergil is on his own at the time of finding Eledhwen, then he's probably got a certain amount of discretion with regards to where and how he fulfills he duty to protect the realm.

The way I've taken to picturing the Rangers (particularly those of Arnor, but I think applicable to those of Gondor as well) is that they are essentially independent agents, until and unless they should be called up.

Alternatively, if one sees the Rangers as being a bit more of a "company", then the issue is easily sidestepped by Bergil being on leave at the time of finding Eledhwen (possibly making his way to family in Lossarnach at the time? We know Bergil's grandfather dwelt there), and upon being embroiled in these great matters, he sends off a letter to his superiors informing them of what he's up to (so as not to expect him back soon). I'm sure a Ranger would have enough leeway that his normal patrol could be swiftly reassigned when he didn't show up after leave, and as the son of Beregond, Captain of the White Guard, and personal friend of Prince Faramir, I think Bergil would be able to pull a few strings, even if the hierarchy were inclined to be disapproving.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

How about..... Bergil is by the side of the road, pondering what to do with this mysterious and lost little girl-- and the menfolk ride up, and Raefindan is thereby haunted. Or fated or doomed or, well, you know. And the elves can chime in.

How about-- at that point-- Bergil, sensing some sort of doom on his own part, gallops off to find his commander, and gets permission to join the quest, and comes galloping back? Trying to think like a soldier here-- wouldn't want him accused of desertion, you know.

I'm a fan of this.

Only issue, and this might be sidestepped by the issue of the Elves' presence: she's a little girl, by herself, in the company of a bunch of guys.

If they wouldn't let grown women travel with them, surely they'd have trouble with the concept of a lone little girl?

*pondering*

What if...

How were the guys going to find out about the women leaving again? Gwyllion? Might Gwyll speak through Indil, and then... something?

Once the women are involved again, it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if everyone is that paranoid about the propriety of unchaperoned and travelling women...

[Celuien]

If they wouldn't let grown women travel with them, surely they'd have trouble with the concept of a lone little girl?

I suppose there would be fewer objections to a 5-year-old under the guardianship of a bunch of guys than unsupervised grown women hanging around with a bunch of also unsupervised guys to whom they are not wed.

(So long as the guys don't mind babysitting. )

EDIT: The main objection I can think of is that a small child might not do well on the road and that if the group isn't far from Minas Tirith, that they might prefer to deliver her to someone in the city for, well, babysitting.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Celuien

a 5-year-old under the guardianship of a bunch of guys

But none of them are related to her...

[mark12_30]

Here's the thing: (to be blunt)-- us 21'st century folk are thinking 'child abuse', because it's in the public eye more than it ever was. Whereas this wouldn't even cross the mind of Tolkien's generation. Think WW2 vets, or closer still, WW1 vets. Big brothers, or even dads.

"Where are you from, honey?"

"Dat way." Pointing south.

"Well, let's get you home. Do you have cousins?"

"Yup. Inna forest."

"Let's go find them, shall we?"

The only problem with this (now that I squint at the map) is that Lossarnach is tucked right under Mindolluin. Bummer. So they'd find her cousins in a day or two, drop her off, and that's the end of it.

(Can't she be from Pelargir, or Lebennin, instead?)

How were the guys going to find out about the women leaving again? Gwyllion? Might Gwyll speak through Indil, and then... something?

Me likey.

Once the women are involved again, it shouldn't be much of a problem, but if everyone is that paranoid about the propriety of unchaperoned and travelling women...

It'll be a Looooooong way til the menfolk are re-united with the womenfolk. Much travail & cold in the mountains, etc. Can't count on them.

I think it's better that Bergil chooses to escort her back home-- and falls in with a large group of elves & men, because there's safety (especially for a little girl) in numbers. So I'm back to pleading for Pelargir or Lebannin or someplace near Edhellond/ Dol Amroth. How about a 'suburb' of Dol Amroth?

Formendacil-- OK, sounds well thought-out. Sending a ltter back home (or something) makes good sense. And have I told you yet-- your title is hilarious?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

How were the guys going to find out about the women leaving again? Gwyllion? Might Gwyll speak through Indil, and then... something?

Whoa....

We WANT the guys to know that the women have left?

That solves the problem of Bergil's entry into the story and permission to be there:

Girls leave Minas Tirith.

Mellonin's parents report this to the Steward.

Rangers are sent out from city.

Bergil goes south (and, being alone, will eventually overtake Erebemlin et al).

Bergil meets Eledhwen on the road (whither she's wandered a day or two AFTER Erebemlin et al have gone by).

Being a mere five year old, it's impossible to get straight directions out of her.

Deciding the safest thing to do is to take her with him, and leave her in the care of someone further along the way, Bergil takes the girl with him.

Bergil and Eledhwen catch up to the Company.

Raefindan has some sort of weird recognition/deja vu thing regarding Eledhwen. It is decided to take her with them. The Company learns of Bergil's mission- and of the departure of the womenfolk.

That resolves it all rather neatly... I was under the impression that we DIDN'T want the menfolk to find out the womenfolk had left- but if we DO want them to find out, I'm very much in favour.

[mark12_30]

Okay, Formendacil of the seriously hilarious title...

Yes, I like it. But there's something unsettling about letting the men know for certain-- via messenger-- rather than shadowy suspicions that grow over time-- via dreams and impressions. A growing uneasiness would be less likely to make 2/3 the company turn around and go back. (Ædegard, Liornung, Ravion, Raefindan, Nethwador, Mellondu would all be inclined. Only Taitheneb and Erebemlin would wholeheartedly continue south.)

With a clear message that the women are missing, and the group only out a day or four from the city, all but the elves would go north again-- or be very seriously torn about it. So either we have a bickering and divided company of men, or, we need to delay the news til they can hope to find the women on the south side of the mountains. So I'm thinking the women then have to leave late enough, and Bergil would have to leave late enough, so that it's too late for the men to turn around and go back. So that will stretch the ladies' plot out a bit more, methinks.

[Imladris]

How were the guys going to find out about the women leaving again? Gwyllion? Might Gwyll speak through Indil, and then... something?

I had thought that Gwyllion would kind of mention it to Aeron. Gwyl is shy, she wouldn't speak to another and the flower from the river daughter binds her to him.

I was thinking Aeron could wake up, tell Ravion, who will tell him to tell one of the elves...maybe then one of them could brush of Aeron until he dreams again the next night?

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by Imladris

I had thought that Gwyllion would kind of mention it to Aeron. Gwyl is shy, she wouldn't speak to another and the flower from the river daughter binds her to him.

I was thinking Aeron could wake up, tell Ravion, who will tell him to tell one of the elves...maybe then one of them could brush of Aeron until he dreams again the next night?

That sounds right to me, too. How about you do all that-- complete with elvish brushoff, from Erebemlin of course; then when Bergil shows up a day or three later, Aeron can have a nice "I told you so" moment-- and the elf STILL won't care.

Am I painting Erebemlin too icy-cold, Alak? Let me know if I am. I see him as sheer devotion, laser-focused on Amroth and immune to everything and everyone else except the river-daughter. Perhaps I go overboard?

[Imladris]

I will post the dream scene when the ladies leave.

[Formendacil]

So that's a nudge to get posting then. Okay, here's the schema I made a couple of pages back, which seems to have been approved:

Girls leave Minas Tirith. -DONE

Mellonin's parents report this to the Steward.

Rangers are sent out from city.

Bergil goes south (and, being alone, will eventually overtake Erebemlin et al).

Bergil meets Eledhwen on the road (whither she's wandered a day or two AFTER Erebemlin et al have gone by).

Being a mere five year old, it's impossible to get straight directions out of her.

Deciding the safest thing to do is to take her with him, and leave her in the care of someone further along the way, Bergil takes the girl with him.

Bergil and Eledhwen catch up to the Company.

Raefindan (CHANGE: With the Aeron dream, this'll likely change slightly, but that's probably not going to be my post anyway...) has some sort of weird recognition/deja vu thing regarding Eledhwen. It is decided to take her with them. The Company learns of Bergil's mission- and of the departure of the womenfolk.

Okay, in the post coming up, Bergil shows up in Minas Tirith with a company of Rangers concurrently with Mellonin's parents reporting the disappearance of the girls. Elessar will tell Faramir to make sure something is done. Faramir will order the Rangers out in various directions. Bergil will get the southern road, and will depart.

Sounds good? Excellent, 'cause that's what I'm doing. Won't come tonight, or probably tomorrow either, but I'll try and have it done by the end of the weekend (if not preferrably earlier).

[littlemanpoet]

Thanks, Formy.

Based on Helen's most recent half-post/half-save, it appears that the three women will leave separately and find each other somehow along the way; is that what we are to understand? If so, then ALL THREE must dream and react to their dreams in like manner. I'm fine with it, just trying to make sure I'm understanding this and that we all are.

[piosenniel]

Bêthberry has offered a seasonal RPG in Rohan – The Veil is Lifted.

It’s a 7th Age game, based loosely around Hallowe’en and open to all comers.

Come join us and have a little fun!

Game Thread – HERE
Discussion Thread – THERE

~*~ Pio

[Formendacil]

Okay...

So it hasn't happened yet, my post. Recollection came up here, and it was "no talking or viewing of the outside world" in basic content- meaning I refrained from the Internet (for the most part) all weekend.

I'll put up a save, to prod me into it... but it won't be tonight.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Oh Formy, I like that. I like that a lot. I'm very content now.

Can we hurry so I can start writing?

[mark12_30]

No reason you can't start now. Tell the story:

But the road proved deadly and her parents were lost to an accident upon it, and Indil was lost and alone, and she was afraid.

What accident? How do they die? Does she see it? Is she traumatized? How does she eat once they die-- from the saddlebags/ packs? She can even hide from Erebemlin's group for some little-girl-reason.

Dive in, girl!

Old timers: I've lost the date, by the way. Does anybody remember what day it was, and when it was that day...? Is it springtime? Not much for Eledhwen to eat on the roadside. She'll be hungry-- especially by the time Bergil comes by.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

No worries about me diving in. I will. You'll want to get rid of me by the time I'm done diving in.

I'm just waiting a bit, since Bergil's got to find her, but first he needs to be dispatched to find the ladies, so first the ladies need to leave.

Though if I decide that I really don't want to do the insurmountable pile of homework I've got, I might do exactly what you said and tell her story instead of waiting to do it in retrospect.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Immy, I love it.

Formendacil, does this count as being the appropriate time to work on that post together?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Immy, I love it.

Formendacil, does this count as being the appropriate time to work on that post together?

Fea, dear, you can start anytime... but before Bergil and Indil meet in our presumably-the-post-you-are-wanting-to-work-on-here post, Bergil has to have a post in which he is sent from Minas Anor with news of the ladies being gone. And, as near as I can tell... that's not happened yet.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Fea, dear, you can start anytime...

You and your continuity...

I'm currently in the middle of a death struggle over writing passively and actively. I need you so that I don't go insane.

[littlemanpoet]

HellOOoooOOOoooo??? Anybody out there? Should I start double/multiple posting? Surely there is some interest amongst the old salts to get this thing to where the eager newbies () can give it a kick in the bootle?

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Hum.

Can the women leave now? I can get a post up as soon as possible with Bellyn having her nightmares...she can leave during the night, if that's what you want.

Oh, but before I do...where the heck would Bellyn have put her horse? I didn't even think about that.

-Aylwen

[mark12_30]

Er....

.... same place Leafa put hers??????

Good question.

I suspect they'd have kept them close, out of sheer love. There is a stable attatched (or associated with) the Seventh Star. It's as good a place as any, at first. Maybe Leafa's horse and Bella's horse are in stalls next to each other.

Where's Mellonin going to get her horse? I think she steals one, actually. One of the Errand-Riders can donate one. THen Elessar will be doubly interested in "what happened to those girls!"

Bottom line: Fire ahead, girl. Whatever Bella does, Mellonin will do something not-too-different (she ahs to be crazy to steal a horse, so...) Leafa will be the only one with a nera-term chance at sanity.

Last time it was a crazy blacksmith. Now it's a crazy laundry-girl and a crazy mapmaker!

Wheeeeee!