Land of Darkness Discussion Thread

[The Perky Ent]

Fordim - I fixed the small problem. Hope it helps. If I need to fix it more, say the word.

[piosenniel]

CHARACTERS/PLAYERS:

• Slave of Mordor - Fordim Hedgethistle
• Slave of Mordor – Durelin
• Slave of Mordor – Sarin Mithrilanger
• Slave of Mordor – Novnarwen
• Southron – Aylwen Dreamsong
• Southron - Bethberry
• Easterling – alaklondewen

~*~

• Silvan Elf – Amanaduial the archer
• Silvan Elf - CaptainofDespair

~*~

• Dwarf – Kransha
• Dwarf – The Perky Ent
• Dwarf – Himaran

[piosenniel]

NO FURTHER PLAYERS NEEDED

Fordim, the Game Owner, will be looking over the last bios/posts for any edits needed.

Thanks, everyone, for your consideration and patience.

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Fordim

Once youv've sorted through all your posts and gotten the edits you want from the players - can you please arrange a list for them, in order by PLAYER NAME, - then I'll get them up on the game and open it for you.

Please just put your list and your next post here on the DT - it's easier that way for me.

Thanks!

~*~ Pio

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Thank you all for getting the game off to such a good start with those wonderful posts. I was hoping that this would be a character-driven story and it looks like it will be. There are some very interesting dynamics at play here already.

Oh, I should say formally, I suppose, that CaptainofDespair's bio and post is accepted for play. Also, welcome to the Downs CoD.

I will get right on the ordering of posts and the first-post-after-everyone's-been-freed and have that by early tomorrow morning (EDT), so we can look forward to starting the game within 24 hours (if I understand from Pio how this works). Just so you all know how it will begin:

Grash will explain to everyone that the orcs have killed each other, but that the front gate is barred by the Silent Watchers, so they're going to have to risk the Tunnel. . . (insert foreboding music here). But before we plunge into that, our characters will poke about the Tower a bit and gather what weapons, armour and provisions they can. Grash will suggest that the group break up into smaller parties to speed along the search, so start thinking now about who your character would want to band/bond with from the outset. (I would suggest that it would make psychological sense for the races to band together at this point: Elves, Dwarves and Men; although, perhaps gender would be a bigger factor? However you want to work it all is fine with me.)

Once more, thank you all for your interest in playing this game, and for the great posts. I'm really looking forward to this (just in case you can't tell). There are a couple of treats in store for us that will, I hope, make it an enjoyable experience.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Pio, could you put up the first posts in the following order:

Fordim Hedgethistle
Bêthberry
Amanaduial the Archer
Alaklondewen
Durelin
Aylwen
Sarin Mithrilanger
Novnarwen
The Perky Ent
Kransha
CaptainofDespair
Himaran

And after these, could you include the following post:

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Grash led them down the dark passage toward the storeroom at its end. They were a motley collection of folk and they were still adjusting to their sudden and unexpected freedom. Some were clearly joyous at their release, while others merely looked about them as though in a daze. All bore some mark of torment or abuse, and if Grash were capable of human feeling he would have been heartbroken by the pitiable state of them all. There was not a whole shirt or unrent garment amongst them: they were starved, exhausted, naked and entirely unarmed in the dungeons of their torturers. And yet they were free. Free – Grash let the word roll about in his mind, like a tasty morsel of meat about his tongue, tasting and relishing it. He had never known freedom, and was as yet unsure of its flavour. He felt it was sweet, but when he looked about him at where he was and who he had to rely on, his mouth went sour with the forethought of failure. Once more he thought about running away and hiding, and telling the orcs that the prisoners had freed themselves, but he knew they would never believe him. He had no choice now, but to continue with his plan of escape.

Reaching the end of the passageway, he led them through the low arch to the right of the Underdoor, behind which lurked the nameless terror that consumed all who dared venture into its lair. Never had Grash passed that door without a shiver, knowing that it was his fate one day to go through it, prodded on by the jeering insults and sharpened knives of orcs. He saw many amongst this ragged group glare at the door with similar feelings of horror.

When they were gathered in the storeroom, Grash turned to speak. At first, however, his heart failed, for in all his life he had never spoken to a group. Indeed, in the last three years the only speaking he had done had been to respond as curtly as possible to the rough commands of his captors. When he looked about him he saw the eyes of the prisoners glinting in the half-dark of the room, all of them looking to him for guidance and escape. Grash, hardened as he was by the long terrors of a life spent in servitude to the cruelest of masters, was afraid. He swallowed twice, though his mouth was dry, and began to outline his plan. “Krâzduk dakka, nit grankúl.” The instant he spoke he could see that few if any of them understood a word of what he said. It occurred to him for the first time that perhaps they did not speak the Black Speech of Mordor, which had been his tongue since birth. He switched into the Common Speech that the orcs used when speaking with members of other tribes. “Food,” he said, pointing at the sacks and casks that lay about. “Water,” and he indicated the small cistern. “We take some with us. From here, in skins and bags. Grik, need weapons, armour, clothes. Search bodies and find these things; try to look like orcs.” He saw that they understood him, as uncouth as his speech might be. He gestured at the group, making motions with his hands as though he were trying to part them. “In groups,” he said. “We look in groups. Two or three; go above into courtyard, fraz Tower. Then meet here, and leave…through Door.”

There was a slight murmur as they took this in, and Grash could see that his plan was not being taken very well. One of the Dwarves stepped forward. He was sinewy and tough, like all Dwarves, but this one was darker than most, even after his years in the Tower. Grash had heard orcs speaking of him once, and they had said that he had been prisoner here for nineteen years. “Why must we go out through that door?” he demanded. “The beast which lurks there will destroy us all!” There were sounds of assent from the rest.

Grash tried to explain. “Gate closed by terrible creatures of stone. Cannot go out, cannot get past great wall that cannot be seen. You go to gate, you see.” He pointed out through the arch of the storeroom, toward the Door. “Only way, only way out. You come with me through there, or go back to cell now and wait for orcs to return.”

The male Elf spoke, then. Grash was awed by the two Elves, for he had never seen one until he had come to the Tower, and all that he had heard of them had been from the orcs who ruled his life. He knew more than to trust the word of an orc, but still he was somewhat afraid of the Elves – afraid that they might kill him and take his blood so they could live forever. “Why must we find weapons?” he asked. “Where are the others rebels? Surely they are armed, to have killed so many orcs.”

“No, no,” Grash said, shaking his head. “No others. No rebels. Orcs killed orcs, fought each other. Some ran away, will soon bring others. Other orcs and maybe,” he dropped his voice to a whisper, “maybe even, Screechers – Screechers of the Dark Lord.” He shivered at the thought. “Hurry, hurry,” he said, “look for weapons, look for clothes. Go in groups, but come back soon; orcs coming, be here soon. We must be gone before they find us.”

[Novnarwen]

Hi!

Thanks for accpeting my character.

I'm really looking forwards to this game. It looks great!

Short note: Pio, I have done some few edits in my post. So the one which is up now, is the one which should be in the game. Thanks!

Cheers,
Nova

(Yes, I can delete this one afterwards...)

[piosenniel]

The Game is now open for play!

Have fun!

~*~ Pio

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From Fordim:

Grash will explain to everyone that the orcs have killed each other, but that the front gate is barred by the Silent Watchers, so they're going to have to risk the Tunnel. . . (insert foreboding music here).

But before we plunge into that, our characters will poke about the Tower a bit and gather what weapons, armour and provisions they can.

Grash will suggest that the group break up into smaller parties to speed along the search, so start thinking now about who your character would want to band/bond with from the outset. (I would suggest that it would make psychological sense for the races to band together at this point: Elves, Dwarves and Men; although, perhaps gender would be a bigger factor? However you want to work it all is fine with me.)