Eorling Mead Hall Planning/Discussion Thread

[littlemanpoet]

I have altered my post to leave Thornden and Léof back by the ruined tower with Rilef and their prisoner whose name escapes me. I have put Thornden's comment regarding only 11 outlaws accounted for in Stigend's mouth instead. And Eodwine now plans to return by way of the tower to meet up with Thornden and company.

[Celuien]

I've edited my post to redirect the question about Rilef to Eodwine.

[Folwren]

Thanks very much, you two. I appreciate that greatly. I'll probably write a post tomorrow morning... I guess there's a slight chance that I can write one tonight, but it's slight.

Can I bring the group back to the tower to meet Thornden and the rest ?

-- Folwren

[littlemanpoet]

I'll take care of getting the group back to the tower, Foley. Right now, I hope. Lessee I have 6 minutes before lunch break is over.....

[littlemanpoet]

Welcome, Ealasaide! Thanks for joining us! Great first post (as I mentioned via PM already....)!

Okay, there's a little issue of which I feel I'm guilty. I have made a decision as to how Garstan and Stigend will handle the situation vis a vi their boys and Rilef. It doesn't have to be set up the way I did, if you don't want. Sometimes I get on a roll and put words in the mouths of others, which is dangerous. Please know that you can always tell me, "My character wouldn't do/say that." .... as Foley did, quite appropriately, not long ago.

So let me know...

Now back to the new character business.

Below are a couple links that you might find useful to orient yourself to how things go around here. The first one is the List of Characters . The second one is a
General introduction . I've placed asterisks * by the ones that are pretty necessary background. Enjoy your time among the Eorlingas!

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

The first one is the List of Characters .

Just visited that link for the first time... possibly in forever... and I've noticed a factual error in Náin's bio: there's no way he could be a goodwill ambassador of Dáin, since Dáin died in the War of the Ring in the Battle of Erebor. Náin is the ambassador of his son, Thorin III Stonehelm.

Just being nitpickety.

And yes, yes I know I really should post something about Náin. Thing is, now that I'm back to a mental state where this is more possible... the rescue mission is over. 'twould be better, perhaps, to focus my energies on even more neglected RPGs for the moment. Maybe.

[Ealasaide]

Thanks, LMP! It's great to be back on the Downs and RPGing again after such a long hiatus. Thanks very much for the links, too. I was just wondering how to get oriented with everyone's characters. That will help quite a lot.

To help everyone in getting acquainted with the new character, here is a brief portrait:

Elián comes from Belfalas to the South. He is a slim and wiry young man of roughly 27 years. He is of average height and would be almost pretty but for the recently healed scar from a sword slash just above his left eyebrow. He is deeply sun-tanned with dark blond hair that he wears plaited, seaman-style, in a long qeue down his back, almost to his waist. He has piercing blue eyes and a quick smile, as well as a handful of large and colorful tattoos, all with maritime symbolic significance: a compass star on the inside of his left forearm so that he may never lose his way, an anchor on his left bicep so that he may always return to port, and the sinuous curves of a sea dragon on his right forearm for protection at sea.

Elián has a tendency to dress like a seaman as well, wearing loose linen trousers and shirt, the shirt being usually left open at the throat and cuffs. He also wears tall leather boots and a worn leather jerkin. He carries a leather bag like a messenger’s pouch across his left shoulder and a second, smaller leather pouch tied to his wide leather belt. He wears his sword in a baldric over his right shoulder that buckles over his chest, and a dagger in his belt behind him, concealed by his dark brown cloak. All leather items are stained with sea salt, evidence of a good bit of time spent at sea.

He is a good natured, generally pleasant fellow with a strong sense of self-preservation. He is currently on the run, which is what brings him to Rohan, from a very sketchy past.

*******************************

Okay, to help me keep things straight, please let me know if this is correct:

Two groups have just converged in a clearing over what appears to be the bodies of two dead young men: Group One includes Eodwine, Rowena, Garsten, Stigend, Garmund, Cnebba, two dogs, and two prisoners.
Group Two: Thornden, Léof, and one prisoner.

Is there anyone I'm missing?

[littlemanpoet]

Poor Celuien appears to have been rushed. Ah graduations, such a busy time of life.

The little business between Elián and Falco & Javan has me cracking up. What fun!

I'll do a Falco post. Anybody want to write into the tableau of Ritun and Lefun? Or should we move on?

[Folwren]

I have time before you move on, I can post concerning Rilef. But if someone moves on before I post, I won't squawk. I'd say, move on when ever is convenient. Do they get a funeral?

And do we actually get to have a part with Falco bringing up Thornden's behavior in the courtyard (and vice-versa) to Eodwine?

I find it humorous that you're laughing over our three's encounter. It is funny, but it hasn't quite made me laugh.

-- Folwren

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

I have time before you move on, I can post concerning Rilef. But if someone moves on before I post, I won't squawk. I'd say, move on when ever is convenient. Do they get a funeral?

Yes. I think Nogrod might want to have Stigend and Cnebba have a word in.

And do we actually get to have a part with Falco bringing up Thornden's behavior in the courtyard (and vice-versa) to Eodwine?

I'm looking forward to that.

I find it humorous that you're laughing over our three's encounter. It is funny, but it hasn't quite made me laugh.

You are much too serious, my dear Foley.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I'm looking forward to that.

I am, too.

You are much too serious, my dear Foley.

Well, not really. I laugh a ton, usually. It really isn't hard to make me laugh. And it is humorous, I'll admit that, and your post did make me laugh. And I guess his first comment about Master Bunny-rabbit probably did make me laugh, I just forgot...or something.

-- Folwren

[littlemanpoet]

Snicker! Javan mistaken for a girl. Hee hee! Good one, Ealy (we're kind of in the habit of nicknaming each other with shortened forms of our monikers, so if you have a preferred form, please let us know.). Perfect characterization, by the by, Foley.

Oh, Foley, it may be true that we writers know Elián's name, but Javan does not. It looks awkward seeing his real name used in your post.

Shall Elián be the next one to speak, or Falco?

[Folwren]

Thanks! My little brother is Javan's age, about, and I also have a cousin here who's ten, so I have some good examples about how such a one would react.

Oh, Foley, it may be true that we writers know Elián's name, but Javan does not. It looks awkward seeing his real name used in your post.

Yes, I thought about it. I guess I can change it. I wasn't sure what would be more awkward, using his real name, or the name Javan knew him by...

-- Folwren

[Ealasaide]

Thanks, Elempi! heehee

Nicknames are great. My preferred form is Eala.

I'd like to post first in response to Folwren -- thanks for asking! I've got a post half-written, but it is a short one. I should have it up sometime later this afternoon.

[Folwren]

Okay. I'm back. Partially. Still somewhat weak, but I'm getting over it.

I need to tell you, though, Thursday night I am leaving for camp. Below, I have written out what days I will be here this summer. It's pretty meager. I'm very sorry. I get to work at camp six weeks, though!

June 8 (after 6:00) to June 10 (until 3:00)
June 15 (after 6:00) to June 17 (until 3:00)
June 22 (after 6:00) to June 24 (until 3:00)
Jun 29 (after 6:00) to July 5
Maybe July 7 and 8 for about 24 hours.
July 13 (after 6:00) to July 15 (until 3:00)
July 20 is the last day of camp. And we'll be leaving for Virginia sometime between the 23 and the 27, I think, but I'm not sure when.

Now...I don't believe there's anything I have to post right now, so I'll get back to all the work that I have to catch up on. Being sick for a week is not fun, so I don't advise it.

-- Folwren

[Ealasaide]

Glad that you are feeling better, Foley!

Wow, looks like we won't be seeing much of you over the summer. Have lots of fun!

[littlemanpoet]

Augh! I'm dying of thirst! Water! Water! Somebody help me!

Ahem.

In other words, how long am I going to have to wait before someone else posts?

[Ealasaide]

I should have something up tonight. They actually expected me to work at work today. (Of all the nerve!!)

[littlemanpoet]

Good posts, Foley and Eala.

I just remembered we have a cavalry from Meduseld that needs to make its arrival. I'll make that post at some point in the next day or so.

Big Festival in my home town may keep me away for much of the next three days.

[littlemanpoet]

Oooh, I love a good plot turn! Nice one, Eala! But your sailor most certainly has made an enemy of Foley's bandit (sorry for already forgetting names of characters).

I guess I'll have Eodwine reply to the Captain of the guard's social miscue, soon as I can figure out who the devil the chap is. Anybody have an idea for a name for this bloke? Or do we already know? I'm supposing he's the replacement for the dearly departed Haleth, right? Not Hama either. Hmmmm! (Elempi mulls....)

[littlemanpoet]

Eala, I goofed. Somehow, I missed reading the paragraph in your previous post that refers to Elián having stepped over to Rowenna and telling her. Had I actually read that the first time, I would have written from her perspective instead of Eodwine's. I'm going to copy and save both my last post, and yours, to this post, and then we have the option to delete those posts and start over again giving Rowenna the chance that you were trying to give her. And we have the old posts here if we want them after all.

Are you willing to do that?

formerly post # 801

Eodwine looked up at Haleth, for so the captain was named, and furrowed his brows.

"You would speak differently had you known these two as did we, Haleth. These were Lefun and Ritun, friends of ours, killed by these outlaws."

Haleth's eyes widened and he looked about him. "Oh! Hm!" He coughed into his fist, his face reddening. "Forgive me. I did not know."

"Will you help us return Lefun and Ritun to the my mead hall?" Eodwine asked.

Haleth gave a curt nod and gave his closest warriors quick orders. While they began the work of hoisting Lefun and Ritun amongst six men, the new stranger spoke up.

“Don’t ask me how I know,” he said barely loudly enough to be heard over the snarling of the dogs. “But this man has not been properly searched. If you value your life, check behind his buckle and bracers. He still has the tools to free himself.”

Eodwine narrowed his eyes at both the speaker and the outlaw whom he had just betrayed, the wiriest and weakest looking by far of the three bandits. "Thornden, check him."

As Thornden searched the outlaw, who was staring balefully at the sailor, Eodwine spoke again.

"You tell me not to ask how you know. But that begs the question, friend, if so I may call you. You know each other." Eodwine meant his words to be statement of fact rather than question. "Do you know any of these others? Are you perhaps the odd one of their number that we cannot find? Speak quickly or you may find yourself bound and taken by my law."

formerly post # 802

The muscles along Elián’s jaw line clinched as the Eorl overheard his remarks to the woman holding the dogs and rounded on him, firing the volley of questions that Elián had been hoping to avoid. He had chosen to address the woman because she had seemed the least likely to interrogate him, but had forgotten to take into account his sea-farer’s voice. From necessity, he had developed the sort of voice that could carry from one end of a ship to the other in a gale. While he could speak as quietly as the next person – after all, it was the only way to have any privacy whatsoever aboard a small ship -- oftentimes ashore he found that he had been speaking louder than he had intended. This, apparently, was one of those times.

Ignoring the baleful glare of the outlaw that he could feel drilling into the side of his face, Elián turned toward the Eorl with an expression of calm equanimity.

“Begging your pardon, milord,” he said politely. “I only pled not to be asked out of embarrassment over an act of very poor judgment. I do know this man, but only in passing.”

“Liar!” muttered the outlaw behind him. Actually, they had done quite a lot of business together. And drinking.

Elián pressed on regardless. “He has a set of lock picks and a miniature dagger hidden on his person. I know because I sold them to him.” That much, at least, was the truth. “I had won them at dice and, being in need of money and having no call for such things myself, sold them rather than destroying them... as perhaps I should have done.” Another lie. Before running away to sea, Elián had spent several years apprenticed to an unscrupulous cutler who had taught him, among other things, how to craft a very efficient set of lock picks. The tiny dagger had been Elián’s own invention. He had made at least fifty sets of both with his own hands over the years and sold all of them for a tidy profit. For all he knew, the rest of the outlaws had them as well. For his own sake, he hoped that they didn’t, but the other two were beginning to look vaguely familiar as well.

“Oh, you liar!” said the first outlaw even louder. By then, the other two outlaws were watching the proceedings with interest as well.

“I speak the truth,” lied Elián confidently. “I am not an outlaw. If I were, why would I turn on my friends? If I chose, I could have killed the Shirrif here and his young friend with ease when I encountered them in the woods, yet I did not. In fact, I offered them my aid.”

He paused, looking innocently from face to face, trying hard to judge how far his bravado would carry him. “Also, I could have chosen to remain silent and let this fellow use his picks and his blade to free himself. I did not. So, arrest me if you must, milord, but do so with the knowledge that it is an ill way to repay a stranger for a service rendered.”

[Ealasaide]

Oh, I don't mind leaving things the way they are or, if you would like to get Rowenna into the picture, I don't mind doing the rewrite. I'm agreeable either way. It's all good fun for me!

[littlemanpoet]

I'd prefer to do the rewrite featuring Rowenna. I have reasons.

However, I don't know when I'll be able to get to it as I'm going on a 25th wedding anniversary 4-day vacation this weekend. And I'm busy tonight. So this may not happen until Tuesday night. Sorry.

[Ealasaide]

Sounds good to me. Have a great time on your vacation!

See you on Tuesday.

[littlemanpoet]

I'm back.

I had more than half of my new edit typed when I inadvertently deleted the whole mess. I'm really ticked off at the moment. Maybe I'll finally start typing on wordpad and saving, then posting the finished thing here. This usually doesn't happen to me, but once like this is too often, thank you very much.

It was a long post.

I'll try again tomorrow.

[Ealasaide]

Okay! No hurry.

[littlemanpoet]

My edit is up.

[Ealasaide]

Okay, my new post is up, too. I did want to point out a little confusion that occurred between old posts & new posts, though.

In your post, Elempi, you say:

Ghem's talk had been as if he'd snitched his lockpicks off their previous owner unbeknownst, which might or might not be true; so either Ghem or this Elborn was lying ... about that.

I'm guessing that refers to Elián's tale of having sold Ghem the lockpicks after winning them at dice. Unfortuately, that entire speech of Elián's got deleted in the re-write, so, at this stage, Rowenna has nothing on Elián other than his phony name.

I'd be happy to work the dice tale back in somehow, but at the moment, Rowenna's ahead of the game.