The Fellowship of the Fourth Age (Part 1): A New Beginning Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Tevildo · 11-25-2006, 10:40 AM

Nogrod -

I've thought about your idea but decided to stick with my original plan. Here's more explanation than you ever wanted.....

In Dorran's mind, the most important thing was avoiding detection. His own horse would have been a dead giveaway. Forgoil (Yes - Dorran has a wild sense of humor.) was a large battle hardened steed who would have stuck out like a sore thumb. (For similar reasons, Dorran couldn't borrow Lindir's horse.)

What Dorran was doing was risky. The slavers numbered just two dozen and would have known each other on sight. Dorran stayed near the back to minimize his chance of being caught. His only real option for keeping his own horse would have been not to ride with the slavers. Since he didn't know if Athwen might be caught some distance away from camp, he refused to do that. Dorran had little time to "try out" Rôg's horse since Lindir came up with his idea at the last minute. All Dorran could do was make the best of a bad situation. Forced to make a choice between two imperfect options, he chose the one he thought would let him keep his wife safe.

As the 'horse person' in the fellowship, he would have gained a basic understanding of all the horses. He had helped care for them every night during the long trek. Dorran purposely chose a nondescript mount with a steady disposition but made the mistake of overestimating his own abilities. As a gifted rider, he thought he could squeeze more out of Rôg's steed than was possible and ended up taking a fall.

Firefoot · 11-25-2006, 10:57 AM

If you want to look at it from a different angle, too, you can look at jockeys... racing strange horses certainly isn't something that they would be unfamiliar with. The conditions are a bit different, granted, but comparable, I think.

Folwren · 11-25-2006, 12:37 PM

Oh, I think it's definitely doable and probably best the way it is.

-- Folwren

Durelin · 11-25-2006, 04:43 PM

I took some liberties in my post, so I hope it's alright...but I am also completely prepared to change any of it.

First thing: I decided that Khamir and the 'rear' 6 of the fighters were toward the end of the tunnel opposite the one the 'front' five of the fighters are closer to, and are further away from where Athwen is. Khamir has no idea what's going on on that end.

Second: I had an NPC fighter named Tareef sort of 'disappear' he can either be dead, or he could simply have ventured farther away from the others.

Third: I had Khamir realize that there was something amiss, and think of their basically unprotected 'rear.' For now, only three men have been sent to cover the rear, and I imagine hopefully gather some others that can be spared. This was the part I was most uncertain about, because I didn't want to infringe on any plans you had, Child, or any plans anyone else had. So, just let me know if there need to be minor or major changes.

Fourth: Vror has been taken care of...well, sorta. He's at least above ground again. And I managed to mutilate Adnan.

So, he's not dead. Just...in lots of pain.

Finally, I was really wondering how we're ever going to keep the slaver casualties realistic. (Just as an amusing thought I wanted to share, not actually as a concern.) We have determined there's 25 of them, but I wonder how true to that we will be able to remain in our posts about our characters killing them. I guess that's why I remained pretty vague except for Khamir taking one down with Adnan's help, and then Adnan managing (barely) to take one slaver down on his own.

Anyway...That is all, I think.

Edit: Oh...eight pages!

Nogrod · 11-25-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durelin

Finally, I was really wondering how we're ever going to keep the slaver casualties realistic. (Just as an amusing thought I wanted to share, not actually as a concern.) We have determined there's 25 of them, but I wonder how true to that we will be able to remain in our posts about our characters killing them.

Just my concern too. And yes, I began it with killing 2-3 in my first post (two definitive, one open case) but I must defend that with the argument that my post had the only moment when the slavers really were taken unawares and in clear disadvantage (both my "kills" were slavers who had just dropped from their horses and had had no time to come back to full capacity). Although I think the tally will change as we get the slavers running over the women, children and the elderly, though...

Durelin: good thinking concerning Khamir. And anyway, someone had to come up with it as otherwise there would have been a catastrophe there...

Tevildo & al.: Surely, as I said earlier, this opens possibilities and is good. I have nothing against Dorran riding a stranger horse myself... just mentioned it.

Folwren · 11-25-2006, 08:17 PM

I have no scruples against killing all the bad guys with few casualties on our own side. Consider movies and books in general - none of the important good fellows get hurt or killed. They simply plow through the bad fellows and kill them with a single blow. That is, until it's time for a little bit of loosing to go on and then suddenly it's the good fellows who can't fight and the bad fellows who can, and then it's the other way around with the bad guys plowing through the good and killing them with one blow.

Alright, so I'm kidding. We should definitely try to make things as realistic as possible. How we're going to do this, I really don't know. It should be possible, though.

One thing I would suggest is slackening the wind and sand force. All this sand blowing around is making it very difficult for me to figure out to make my little boy find his way to the battle and fight. Also, considering the circumstances, whoever has the most experience in fighting (which in this case is the slavers') will have the upper hand of a battle fought in such poor weather. Since we are the weather gods, we need to help our little band of slaves as best we can, needn't we? Has not the weather served as much purpose as it can, or did you have more thoughts on it?

I have no other suggestions at present. Sorry. And I sincerely hope I didn't sound grumpy. I don't want to be grumpy, but I feel so and I'm afraid it might come off in a post on accident.

EDIT: Question for whoever can answer! Are these slavers wearing chain mail shirts?

-- Folwren

Folwren · 11-25-2006, 09:07 PM

And my save is filled! So sorry it took all day. Was quite busy.

-- Folwren

P.S. Never mind the question about chain mail. I changed my mind and didn't need it.

11-25-2006, 10:40 AM	#1
Tevildo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Curled up on Melko's lap Posts: 425	Nogrod - I've thought about your idea but decided to stick with my original plan. Here's more explanation than you ever wanted..... In Dorran's mind, the most important thing was avoiding detection. His own horse would have been a dead giveaway. Forgoil (Yes - Dorran has a wild sense of humor.) was a large battle hardened steed who would have stuck out like a sore thumb. (For similar reasons, Dorran couldn't borrow Lindir's horse.) What Dorran was doing was risky. The slavers numbered just two dozen and would have known each other on sight. Dorran stayed near the back to minimize his chance of being caught. His only real option for keeping his own horse would have been not to ride with the slavers. Since he didn't know if Athwen might be caught some distance away from camp, he refused to do that. Dorran had little time to "try out" Rôg's horse since Lindir came up with his idea at the last minute. All Dorran could do was make the best of a bad situation. Forced to make a choice between two imperfect options, he chose the one he thought would let him keep his wife safe. As the 'horse person' in the fellowship, he would have gained a basic understanding of all the horses. He had helped care for them every night during the long trek. Dorran purposely chose a nondescript mount with a steady disposition but made the mistake of overestimating his own abilities. As a gifted rider, he thought he could squeeze more out of Rôg's steed than was possible and ended up taking a fall. __________________ Now Tevildo was a mighty cat--the mightiest of all--and possessed of an evil spirit,...and he was in Melko's constant following; and that cat had all cats subject to him, and he and his subjects were the chasers and getters of meat for Melko's table. Last edited by Tevildo; 11-25-2006 at 11:03 AM.

11-25-2006, 12:37 PM	#3
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Oh, I think it's definitely doable and probably best the way it is. -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

11-25-2006, 08:17 PM	#6
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I have no scruples against killing all the bad guys with few casualties on our own side. Consider movies and books in general - none of the important good fellows get hurt or killed. They simply plow through the bad fellows and kill them with a single blow. That is, until it's time for a little bit of loosing to go on and then suddenly it's the good fellows who can't fight and the bad fellows who can, and then it's the other way around with the bad guys plowing through the good and killing them with one blow. Alright, so I'm kidding. We should definitely try to make things as realistic as possible. How we're going to do this, I really don't know. It should be possible, though. One thing I would suggest is slackening the wind and sand force. All this sand blowing around is making it very difficult for me to figure out to make my little boy find his way to the battle and fight. Also, considering the circumstances, whoever has the most experience in fighting (which in this case is the slavers') will have the upper hand of a battle fought in such poor weather. Since we are the weather gods, we need to help our little band of slaves as best we can, needn't we? Has not the weather served as much purpose as it can, or did you have more thoughts on it? I have no other suggestions at present. Sorry. And I sincerely hope I didn't sound grumpy. I don't want to be grumpy, but I feel so and I'm afraid it might come off in a post on accident. EDIT: Question for whoever can answer! Are these slavers wearing chain mail shirts? -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis Last edited by Folwren; 11-25-2006 at 08:56 PM.

11-25-2006, 09:07 PM	#7
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	And my save is filled! So sorry it took all day. Was quite busy. -- Folwren P.S. Never mind the question about chain mail. I changed my mind and didn't need it. __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

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11-25-2006, 10:57 AM	#2
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	If you want to look at it from a different angle, too, you can look at jockeys... racing strange horses certainly isn't something that they would be unfamiliar with. The conditions are a bit different, granted, but comparable, I think.

11-25-2006, 04:43 PM	#4
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	I took some liberties in my post, so I hope it's alright...but I am also completely prepared to change any of it. First thing: I decided that Khamir and the 'rear' 6 of the fighters were toward the end of the tunnel opposite the one the 'front' five of the fighters are closer to, and are further away from where Athwen is. Khamir has no idea what's going on on that end. Second: I had an NPC fighter named Tareef sort of 'disappear' he can either be dead, or he could simply have ventured farther away from the others. Third: I had Khamir realize that there was something amiss, and think of their basically unprotected 'rear.' For now, only three men have been sent to cover the rear, and I imagine hopefully gather some others that can be spared. This was the part I was most uncertain about, because I didn't want to infringe on any plans you had, Child, or any plans anyone else had. So, just let me know if there need to be minor or major changes. Fourth: Vror has been taken care of...well, sorta. He's at least above ground again. And I managed to mutilate Adnan. So, he's not dead. Just...in lots of pain. Finally, I was really wondering how we're ever going to keep the slaver casualties realistic. (Just as an amusing thought I wanted to share, not actually as a concern.) We have determined there's 25 of them, but I wonder how true to that we will be able to remain in our posts about our characters killing them. I guess that's why I remained pretty vague except for Khamir taking one down with Adnan's help, and then Adnan managing (barely) to take one slaver down on his own. Anyway...That is all, I think. Edit: Oh...eight pages!