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

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

How about the next one? Athwen could be riding boldly to meet the slavers and act like being surprised and make a run away from them towards the camp - thus luring the slavers to follow her. There should be a fake camp with fires burning in the direction Athwen is riding towards so that the slavers would happily follow her.

Originally Posted by Nogrod

How about the next one? Athwen could be riding boldly to meet the slavers and act like being surprised and make a run away from them towards the camp - thus luring the slavers to follow her. There should be a fake camp with fires burning in the direction Athwen is riding towards so that the slavers would happily follow her.

Good thus far, yes...

Then, as she would know the exact location of the tunnel-trap, she would let the slavers come near enough her and in the last moment she would make her horse to jump over the trap and the slavers would have no time to react and the first row of them would fall into the tunnel (their horses stumbling and their riders cast off from them).

But here there is a problem. I thought of her jumping the tunnel myself, once, but realized that a horse won't jump unless there is something to jump over. They just won't, so far as I know. You might give a cue to jump, or you might be able to approach a jump just right, but a horse won't jump unless there's something there.

I thought about it and perhaps, if, as you said, Athwen knows just where the tunnel is, she can stop just before she reaches it, turn her horse around, wait until the slavers are very, very near, and then charge right through the center of them. Then, if they hadn't slackened their pace, they won't turn about and will charge right into the trap. That sounds unlikely, though...

Here are the problems with it...

• She might have to ride too dangerously close to one of the men and get herself wounded
• They might have bows and arrows that they know how to use on horse back (we could always say they didn't) in which case, any person riding before them to lead them on would be in danger of being shot...but even if they do have bows, we can still risk it.
• They might just be able to get a hint of her trick and pull their horses about before they reach the tunnel....
• And I'm sure there are more.

Then there could be a rain of arrows and pebbles from both sides of the slavers who would be confused enough as the leading row has just stumbled in a flash. And before they could rearrange themselves, the party of 5-6 riders would attack them from the flank, galloping through them and causing a maximum damage. Surely a gang of foot soldiers would have been part of the "fake-camp" and would spring to their feet the moment Athwen comes over the tunnel-trap and they would be the ones trying to bring down the unmounted slavers... Hadith could be one of those, maybe one of the the leaders of that party - alongside Khamir and Vrór?

And this rest looks good. The only problem, as I said, was making the horse leap the tunnel. . .

-- Folwren

[Child of the 7th Age]

We need Tevildo and Folwren to weigh in on these suggestions before we take this too much further.

Yeah! Half of our equation is here.

Folwren --

Hmm..... I doubt they would be trying to shoot you. In fact, Imak can give a strict order not to do this. Perhaps he announces that he wants to have the woman taken alive and unharmed, and will give a reward to whoever can do this. This should give the men plenty of incentive to follow close on her heels. So you likely won't be killed by an arrow or sword.

The question is would some of the slavers catch on and pull back their horses and try to follow Athwen instead of surging straight ahead and falling in the tunnel. If you wanted, you could actually incorporate this into your story line. Could you swerve right or left, and have one to two follow you as you ride out? You'd have to figure out how to deal with these riders..... Maybe coordinate with Tevildo and have him come rushing up to fight the brutes? Or figure out some way to "lose" them? The rest of the slavers would continue straight ahead.

Would this work???

[Folwren]

Alright, here I am....with a little bit of time under by belt. Yehaw.

Originally Posted by Child

Since Folwren's poster and character both have a lot of experience with horses, she would be the logical one to play this part, but we have to see if she would like to do it. I hope so.

Thank you, yes, I am quite willing to do it. It's something quite exciting and I think Athwen will be willing to do it, too.

I have to admit that the slavers would be more likely to follow an attractive woman, seemingly unarmed, with hair flying out in back of her, rather than a battle hardened man.

I think the thoughts in their heads would be more a bad thing than a good thing, but yes, you're probably right.

Hmm..... I doubt they would be trying to shoot you. In fact, Imak can give a strict order not to do this. Perhaps he announces that he wants to have the woman taken alive and unharmed, and will give a reward to whoever can do this. This should give the men plenty of incentive to follow close on her heels. So you likely won't be killed by an arrow or sword.

This would definitely be a convenient thing. That was the most that I was worried about. But how will the plan makers (Dorran particularly) guess or expect this? It's not so difficult talking myself into letting Athwen decide to do it, but I can't speak for Tevildo, or what Dorran will think about sending his wife into such a possition.

The question is would some of the slavers catch on and pull back their horses and try to follow Athwen instead of surging straight ahead and falling in the tunnel.

If Athwen allowed them to pretty much catch up to her, until they were on her very heels, and pulled up suddenly directly before the tunnel, they couldn't stop their horses in time if they tried. I'm sure that if this happened, someone would end up colliding with her and she'd make a wreck to help with the havoc. It's a dangerous business stopping your horse at the head of a race, but it's liveable, if you're lucky.

Another thing I just realized though was if a horse gets excited and is running as fast as he would be with other horses behind him, he doesn't always stop when asked. It was just today that a horse took off with me and I couldn't stop him for the life of me. I had to bale off.....If Athwen's horse doesn't stop, she'll fall in the tunnel, or swerve...in which case....

Could you swerve right or left, and have one to two follow you as you ride out? You'd have to figure out how to deal with these riders..... Maybe coordinate with Tevildo and have him come rushing up to fight the brutes? Or figure out some way to "lose" them? The rest of the slavers would continue straight ahead.

She could turn and run parrallel to the tunneling. I would figure out some way to either lose them or have her knight in shining armor come rescue her. Or I could simply go galloping to where the ex-slaves fighters are. They'd open ranks, allow her in, and shoot down or try to kill and stop the slavers chasing her. Then she'll hop off her horse and go wait for the wounded to come to be tended.

So, what do you think? Does she stop her horse and the slavers charge past her?

Does her horse not stop and she actually fall into the pit?

Or does she turn and get chased some?

If she is chased, my only other worry is that if some slavers could follow her on that turn, all of them could. BUT, if they see the slaves in front of them, maybe only two or three will follow her, the others will make a charge towards them and then fall plump into the tunnel.

And I think that's all I can think of right now..........if I do end up thinking of any more, or if any of you see any holes in my ideas or have more questions, I can always say more and do more thinking.

-- Folwren

[Child of the 7th Age]

So, what do you think? Does she stop her horse and the slavers charge past her?

Does her horse not stop and she actually fall into the pit?

Or does she turn and get chased some?

Folwren,

I like surprises. No kidding, I think we need to plan but not "overplan". Do whatever feels right and the rest of the characters will respond accordingly. Whatever happens, I'm sure Dorran and other fellowship members or freedmen will hurry to help you out.

I do have a suggestion for dealing with Dorran in the story (assuming that Tevildo likes this general plotline). I could easily do a post where Lindir is worried about the logistics of things. Obviously the tunnels or trenches we're building are "small". We can't possibly build trenches all the way around the camp, since we don't have enough time. We don't know the exact angle that the slavers will come in at. It is possible that they could go in a totally different direction. and miss the trenches entirely. The slavers might even decide to skirt around the camp and attack from the rear. There they would discover the sheltered enclave of unarmed women and children, which would be a disaster.

One way around this is to use a decoy or sitting duck to attract the slavers to go in the "right" direction. Because of her skill in riding, Athwen is the obvious candidate. There is also the fact that Imak will go running after an attractive unarmed woman more quickly than he would follow a grim warrior.

I can do a post for Lindir where he talks to you alone, or to you and Dorran together. I think it would work best if Lindir was talking to Dorran and the two men were worrying about the kinds of possibilities I've listed above. You would be within earshot of the conversaton. Slowly, they come to the realization that someone needs to go out there and try to lead the slavers towards the trenches. Yet they are reluctant to commit anyone to such a dangerous role. At this point, Athwen could come forward and "volunteer" (and then Dorran will probably faint).

Do you think this would work?

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I know that we don't want to overplan, but I have a thought that might work. Folwren , would a horse jump a trench? If so perhaps Athwen could jump the trench in an area were there was a break in the tunneling, marked for her of course. The mark could be something as unassuming as garment left crumpled on the ground. If the pursuers were fairly close on her heels they would not have time to realize that there was a certain safe place to jump.

The only problem with this is how would Vror know to make a break in the tunnel? Well one thought is that as the tunnel got longer perhaps some poor soul stepped in the wrong place and collapsed it? It could be filled in again with earth from the trenching but not be suitable for tunneling through.

Carl's pony is certainly up for any character to borrow, as the hobbit will be among the archers.

[Folwren]

Child, you're right. I shouldn't try to overplan. So sorry. What you said in your post above will work for talking Dorran and Athwen into it, I should imagine. But, Tevildo, of course, will have the last word in how Dorran reacts.

Hilde, I think your suggestion makes sense. I have to leave now for town, but later this afternoon I will be back and by the time it's time for the posts to be written about this, I will have decided what to do. If it takes other people writing more, I'll be sure to let you know in advance, of course.

-- Folwren

[Tevildo]

Folwren and everyone,

This looks good. I'd love to have Dorran fight on horseback. I also like the idea of Lindir and Dorran realizing the group's best chance lies with sending out an enticing figure who would lead the slavers to the trench.

Folwren -- Any way you handle the details is fine with me.

I do have a few requests. I'd rather have Lindir come up with the plan. I would agree but wonder who could possibly do such a dangerous thing. In fact, Child could use my character for that purpose in her post. After Athwen offers to ride out, I'd like to respond for Dorran. I'll probably consider many serious objections but in the end give Athwen my blessing and a promise to keep a close eye on her.
Would this work, Folwren and Child?