Eorling Mead Hall Planning/Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nogrod · 07-16-2007, 04:33 PM

Nice move Eala... even if I think it may have not been the best one for Ghem...

Just think of Stigend's point of view to begin with... Of the three Ghem is now the most dangerous as he can move without a hostage and behind the Alder Court door there must be people of the Hall waiting... So he probably shouldn't attack Withold (holding Ginna as a hostage) but Ghem who is now near enough - unlike Ulric & Rowenna (I think lmp needs to settle that anyway as Rowenna is his character).

But even more gravely (to Ghem): there should be one or two people running in the corridor to enter the kitchen any second now... at least Garstan and Garwine (yes he's ordered to guard the body but this kind of alarm is a different thing and surely lord Eodwine would have at least showed with his hand for him to follow when he passed him running in to the passage)?

It's sad Celuien and the more so Alcarillo have been with us so little lately but their characters still would need to take a stance, wouldn't they? And where's our dwarf?

What I try to say is that the passage from the hall to the kitchen is full of armed men... So getting Ghem out requires something else... but what...?

It will be interesting to see how we will get ourselves through from this set up. If I remember it correctly from somewhere (a PM with Eala or a discussion here) but Ghem should be able to get out and with others it's more ambivalent - Rowenna surely is another matter and we probably won't be killing lord Eodwine, Ginna or Stigend either...

I might do my part by making Stigend to act stupidly and trying to save Ginna from Withold first and thence leaving Ghem alone - but that would mean that Falco and Thornden would need to wait yet for a moment to get into action from the Alder Court...

What do you think?

Or surprises anyone?

littlemanpoet · 07-16-2007, 07:53 PM

I should think that the Eorl of the Middle Emnet has more than just one man at arms after a couple months - so what if they haven't been named yet? So let's assume that there are a few others besides Garwine. How many, I don't know; something that seems reasonable.

As to the situation in the kitchen, I thought Ghem was pretty stupid and overly loyal in not just ducking out the Alder Court door and leaving Ulric and Withold in the lurch; I would probably have had Falco not see him until too late. But that option was not chosen, for some reason that is beyond me; he's not my character. Anyway, Rowenna is taking a "wait and see" attitude, especially since she has not got any free movement at all, and she has now decided that holding her tongue is probably the best course of action for the nonce.

As to Eodwine, he doesn't see much point in attacking either Withold or Ulric because he has no interest in endangering the lives of Ginna and Rowenna. So he's willing to maintain a defensive and holding posture until more of his House show up to tip the balance against Ulric and Withold. Speaking of which, I would expect that Ulric and Withold, and Ghem for that matter, realize that time is of the essence, and they are losing it rapidly the longer they just stand there and hold the two women hostage. So as time progresses, the initiative and advantage will switch to the Eorl's House, away from the outlaws. It's like a siege only without trebuche's and all that good stuff.

Nogrod · 07-16-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I should think that the Eorl of the Middle Emnet has more than just one man at arms after a couple months

Exactly to the point. Stigend was hired for two purposes, because he was a handy craftsman but also because he had served in the men at arms... but surely there are others beside Thornden and Garwine...

Quote:

How many, I don't know; something that seems reasonable.

Will we try to be historical (whatever it is?) or "Tolkienish" (whatever it is?) or just plain "fanfic-writers" (whatever it is?)?

I'd say 3-5 would sound realistic to me as permanent household knights / men at arms, whatever. To these would be added people like Thornden and Stigend with their respective roles in the Mead Hall. Not to say the quests...

Quote:

As to the situation in the kitchen, I thought Ghem was pretty stupid and overly loyal in not just ducking out the Alder Court door and leaving Ulric and Withold in the lurch; I would probably have had Falco not see him until too late. But that option was not chosen

As I said earlier: a nice move, but not the best for Ghem. Now we need to think something different...

One suggestion would be: we have never said how ready the kitchen was. I mean that has been all the way under construction - the oven and the fireplace are made as Garstan has done that and the passage from the Hall is ready as well as Stigend has done that but maybe there is some unfinished work in the kitchen Ghem might use for his escape?

Quote:

Speaking of which, I would expect that Ulric and Withold, and Ghem for that matter, realize that time is of the essence, and they are losing it rapidly the longer they just stand there and hold the two women hostage. So as time progresses, the initiative and advantage will switch to the Eorl's House, away from the outlaws.

That's the reason why I thought Eala should post asp but his latest post didn't kind of solve the problem - even if it was an imaginative one and pretty good as such.

But we'll surely solve this.

One thing coming to my mind - and probably the best I have right now - would be another miscalculation of Stigend (I can write that, surely - easily tomorrow = under 24 hours). He could try to take on Withold and saving Ginna with a risk. That would leave a path open for a "quick reacting" Ghem to unbolt the door and run away to the Alder Court. Then it would be a question only how Falco and Thornden fail to catch him...

Nogrod · 07-16-2007, 08:26 PM

A quick addenda...

Seeing lmp's last post I don't think Stigend would disobey his lord's word and try to attack Withold... really... he would not.

We need to get into the structure of the kitchen then?

Nogrod · 07-16-2007, 08:38 PM

Okay, one more idea.

If it's okay with Lhuna that Ginna will be wounded we might go this way...

After the general rant described by lmp Withold would get overloaded with tension and cut Ginna's throat with his knife (well not mortally anyway as possibly Ginna would be spirited enough to make a last moment duck away from the mortal wound or something) to show they mean it and should be set free... stupid but understandable.

Stigend would run on Withold and attack him and just then Ghem might try to slip away from the bolted door (as Stigend is no more in his way) - and all these Eodwine's men he sent outside to the Alder Court would not yet be in place... So he should only manage to get past Falco outside (and possibly Thornden - not easy that one!)?

What do you think?

As I have a few days left of my luxurious holidays I would be happy to write a post staging that situation tomorrow.

littlemanpoet · 07-17-2007, 03:59 AM

Sorry Noggie, I haven't time to read your posts right now. I'm not satisfied with my last post. I'm going to change it a bit in about 5 hours when I'm on lunch break. So hang in there. I'll explain more later, but "punch in" is in just moments.

Lhunardawen · 07-17-2007, 05:41 AM

Isn't it too much for Ginna? And I forgot she still had her bandage on! I don't mind personally, if she has to be wounded again, though, if it's really necessary.

I was thinking she could probably do some brave but stupid move to save herself or something, but I don't know how. I'll just follow what happens for now.

07-16-2007, 04:33 PM	#1
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Nice move Eala... even if I think it may have not been the best one for Ghem... Just think of Stigend's point of view to begin with... Of the three Ghem is now the most dangerous as he can move without a hostage and behind the Alder Court door there must be people of the Hall waiting... So he probably shouldn't attack Withold (holding Ginna as a hostage) but Ghem who is now near enough - unlike Ulric & Rowenna (I think lmp needs to settle that anyway as Rowenna is his character). But even more gravely (to Ghem): there should be one or two people running in the corridor to enter the kitchen any second now... at least Garstan and Garwine (yes he's ordered to guard the body but this kind of alarm is a different thing and surely lord Eodwine would have at least showed with his hand for him to follow when he passed him running in to the passage)? It's sad Celuien and the more so Alcarillo have been with us so little lately but their characters still would need to take a stance, wouldn't they? And where's our dwarf? What I try to say is that the passage from the hall to the kitchen is full of armed men... So getting Ghem out requires something else... but what...? It will be interesting to see how we will get ourselves through from this set up. If I remember it correctly from somewhere (a PM with Eala or a discussion here) but Ghem should be able to get out and with others it's more ambivalent - Rowenna surely is another matter and we probably won't be killing lord Eodwine, Ginna or Stigend either... I might do my part by making Stigend to act stupidly and trying to save Ginna from Withold first and thence leaving Ghem alone - but that would mean that Falco and Thornden would need to wait yet for a moment to get into action from the Alder Court... What do you think? Or surprises anyone? __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

07-16-2007, 08:26 PM	#4
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	A quick addenda... Seeing lmp's last post I don't think Stigend would disobey his lord's word and try to attack Withold... really... he would not. We need to get into the structure of the kitchen then? __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

07-16-2007, 08:38 PM	#5
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Triple posting... Okay, one more idea. If it's okay with Lhuna that Ginna will be wounded we might go this way... After the general rant described by lmp Withold would get overloaded with tension and cut Ginna's throat with his knife (well not mortally anyway as possibly Ginna would be spirited enough to make a last moment duck away from the mortal wound or something) to show they mean it and should be set free... stupid but understandable. Stigend would run on Withold and attack him and just then Ghem might try to slip away from the bolted door (as Stigend is no more in his way) - and all these Eodwine's men he sent outside to the Alder Court would not yet be in place... So he should only manage to get past Falco outside (and possibly Thornden - not easy that one!)? What do you think? As I have a few days left of my luxurious holidays I would be happy to write a post staging that situation tomorrow. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

07-16-2007, 07:53 PM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	I should think that the Eorl of the Middle Emnet has more than just one man at arms after a couple months - so what if they haven't been named yet? So let's assume that there are a few others besides Garwine. How many, I don't know; something that seems reasonable. As to the situation in the kitchen, I thought Ghem was pretty stupid and overly loyal in not just ducking out the Alder Court door and leaving Ulric and Withold in the lurch; I would probably have had Falco not see him until too late. But that option was not chosen, for some reason that is beyond me; he's not my character. Anyway, Rowenna is taking a "wait and see" attitude, especially since she has not got any free movement at all, and she has now decided that holding her tongue is probably the best course of action for the nonce. As to Eodwine, he doesn't see much point in attacking either Withold or Ulric because he has no interest in endangering the lives of Ginna and Rowenna. So he's willing to maintain a defensive and holding posture until more of his House show up to tip the balance against Ulric and Withold. Speaking of which, I would expect that Ulric and Withold, and Ghem for that matter, realize that time is of the essence, and they are losing it rapidly the longer they just stand there and hold the two women hostage. So as time progresses, the initiative and advantage will switch to the Eorl's House, away from the outlaws. It's like a siege only without trebuche's and all that good stuff.

07-17-2007, 03:59 AM	#6
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Sorry Noggie, I haven't time to read your posts right now. I'm not satisfied with my last post. I'm going to change it a bit in about 5 hours when I'm on lunch break. So hang in there. I'll explain more later, but "punch in" is in just moments.

07-17-2007, 05:41 AM	#7
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	Isn't it too much for Ginna? And I forgot she still had her bandage on! I don't mind personally, if she has to be wounded again, though, if it's really necessary. I was thinking she could probably do some brave but stupid move to save herself or something, but I don't know how. I'll just follow what happens for now.