Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Mithalwen]

Scutifer is of similar etymology to Esquire also meaning shield bearer I found it when looking for a less French alternative to Esquire but it is not unfrench enough really being so latinate... Armiger (armour bearer, senior esquire) has the same problem. Of course it may not be appropriate to translate too closely the chivalric tradition but the Rohirrim clearly trained ... some may be born fighters but soldiers have to be made.

And yes I want him to live, I am fairly hopefuk he will get to grow old on his beloved farm eventually but I don't know so much what happens to him in the meantime.

[Folwren]

I am leaving today for a long trip. I won't be on the Barrow Downs for a few weeks. Carry on without me! I hope it all gets started in my absence! I'm excited.

[littlemanpoet]

Firefoot and I have decided that Scyld's and Rowenna's efforts to uncover the identity and murderer of the dead man found in the curing shed did not turn out: all leads led to dead ends.

What I know, then, is that Scyld is absent from Scarburg for a few years; is that sudden and unexplained, or not? I don't know, that's up to Firefoot.

During this time, I presume that Rowenna will have stayed at Scarburg; she has no reason to go anywhere else, unless Scyld had told her of his plans, in which case she might have been tempted to join him, but probably not as he has not yet given her enough reason to trust him enough.

So Rowenna stays at Scarburg, and also remains unwed as she is unwilling to marry anyone at all, deeming none of the men quite to her liking. Whether she admits it to herself or not, this is because she is comparing all men to Scyld and finds them wanting.

Meanwhile, she has become as close to Saeryn as she is capable of doing, and has served as one of the babysitters for the twins. Has she been the only one? Has she made it so by alienating everyone else from the task? If so, could her influence be one reason why the little girl is so wilfull? Just some thoughts to mull.

[Firefoot]

What I know, then, is that Scyld is absent from Scarburg for a few years; is that sudden and unexplained, or not?

Mostly. He's not going to leave unannounced because he's not such a good woodsman that he'll want to leave without good provisions. I think he will say to Rowenna something along the lines of, "I talked to some of those living nearby and could find nothing out about the fire or the body, but I did find out about some things from my past that I need to see to. I'll be gone for a while, but I plan to return. See ya, bye." If you want to co-write some dialogue, let me know; otherwise I can let you know what I actually come up with when I write the post - this week sometime (this weekend was Leof and Cerwyn's turn, so they're ready to go now). I think he could be enticed to tell her about the letter from his brother as well.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Firefoot

I think he will say to Rowenna something along the lines of, "I talked to some of those living nearby and could find nothing out about the fire or the body, but I did find out about some things from my past that I need to see to. I'll be gone for a while, but I plan to return. See ya, bye." If you want to co-write some dialogue, let me know; I can let you know what I actually come up with when I write the post - I think he could be enticed to tell her about the letter from his brother as well.

What say we co-write the dialogue on the Scarburg thread?

[Firefoot]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

What say we co-write the dialogue on the Scarburg thread?

Sounds good.

[Nogrod]

I managed to contact Celuien on Fb and she promised to tell what she thinks about her characters' (Garstan, Garmund & Leothern) fate soon enough.

That said, are there any ideas coming from those still writing as if any of their characters might be dead or just gone, or are all the characters still alive and around?

I like the idea that the "mystery of the dead body" remains a mystery - there's some fodder we could come back later on if we came up with a way to integrate it back to the storyline. And if not... well then it remains a mystery.

And cool you guys are making this Rowenna & Scyld stuff. I think that's the right way to address any things that would be left unsaid and undone otherwise.


Then some practical questions.

1. What do you think lmp: would you like to write the "offiicial narrative" for the jump or should I do it (as my last duty as the caretaker of the earlier thread), or should we do it together?

With the last option, which I might prefer (as the full general outline people seemed to have accepted was kind of my making), I could give you something like an initial post (or the barebones of it) for you to then edit, add, delete, change, rephrase... as you wish.

2. Should we try to give ourselves a deadline as to when everyone should be ready? Of course people write when they have time - and they have some major (like Foley now) and minor (like me the past few days) hindrances or force majeure to not being able to write at any given target date - but a target-date in general?

Next week? Two weeks from now? Before the Midsummer? In July?

I'd suggest something like two weeks / before Midsummer. What do you think?