Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nerindel · 01-08-2010, 07:55 PM

Name: Matrim Astalder, Son of Lord Mordavim of Arnen

Age: 22 Race: Gondorian Gender: Male

Appearance: Matrim is of average height and build for a young man of the Arnen, he has a medium complexion and his hair is usually a mid golden brown but at the moment it is a dark golden colour as it was lemon rinsed so that he and Balvir could go among the Rohirrim without drawing to much attention. (At least until they spoke! :P As their strong Southern Gondorian accents would be quite difficult to mask.) His soft grey eyes convey a gentle calmness that belies the depth and strength of his emotions.

At present Matrim is dressed in the attire of that of a Rohirrim man at arms (again for afore mentioned reasons.) Belted about his waist and hanging at his left side is a gondorian long sword, with no sigils on the pommel and only a leather bound grip, it looks the same as any other, giving nothing away about the young man’s true rank and status but about his neck on a plain leather thong is a solid gold ring with the sigils of his house (Crossed sword and arrow for house Astalder against the white tree of gondor) which he keeps carefully hidden under his shirt.

Character/History: Nestled between the river Anduin and the road south to Harad, under the shadow of Emyn Arnen are the lands that Matrim calls home. Although born there he spent much of his younger years behind the protective walls of Minas Tirith, as it was a time of uncertainty and unrest with the dark shadow of Mordor infecting the land of his birth his grandfather (the then Lord of Arnen) thought it safe to move the women and children to the safety of the white city. While Matrim’s father and many of the young men of Arnen where called to aid Lord Faramir in northern Ithilien , his grandfather and what men he had left defended the people of the Arnen as best they could. Matrim was nine before they returned, were his father became the new Lord and they buried his grandfather, along with honouring all those who had died in the defence of the Arnen. The years passed quickly and like the lands of Arnen; Matrim flourished and grew into a fairly well disciplined and honourable young man, with not only a fine education in diplomacy and governance, but also at his father’s behest he trained under Captain Balvir to gain discipline and leadership skills with a small hope also to curb his son’s more impulsive and sometimes overly passionate nature. Currently Matrim is charged by his father to protect Lady Æðelhild during her temporary self imposed exile. So that he can gather evidence to disprove her uncles ludicious claims and prove her innocence beyond reproach and restore to her the comfort and security her late father and his best friend had always intended for her.

Here you go I finally figured out where I had put Mat's Bio, I hope it doesn't throw to much of a spanner in the works ;P now to catch up on the thread and see if I cannot re-introduce my troop into the story.

---------------------------------

Linked ~*~ Pio

Nogrod · 01-09-2010, 06:56 PM

Nice to see you back around Nerindel! If you have any complaints on how Matrim is used while you have been away, please let us know. They can be changed - unless it is old enough and has consequences with the basic storyline and thus is being past redeeming (not that I remember there being such instances further back there).

I'll write something in tomorrow.

Also I've finally had time to sent Groin a PM. Let's hear what he says.

But meanwhile - as I said earlier - there is a lot we could do without referring to Groin's last post as that is something that happened a bit later than where the thread is right now and the things described there could be found out even later. That would also give Groin time to consider, whether he wishes to come back and change a thing or two - or not.

Actually I think now that if he doesn't wish to come back we should at least try to think how we could deal with it and not bother Pio. We can take the post as his last challenge for us to overcome together.

And what a challenge would it be! A murder and a get-away! Erbrand and Lithor would be declared outlaws by king Eomer for manslaughter - and making peace with the two groups would be much harder (it wasn't looking hard already?) as lord Athanar and those coming with him would now think the "original MeadHallers" as murderers... for a reason.

How to get over that? Any suggestions?

If it feels too hard, we'll call for Pio to delete Groin's post and just make Erbrand and Lithor to run away, but let's think of it first. It would be sad to call for deletion of such a laboured post

But if it destroys the future of this game we have no other chance.

So any ideas?

How would the character's of you older writers react to the news?

I can say readily that Stigend (and probably Garstan as well) would be appalled and reconsider what they thought of Erbrand... and looking at how Lithor behaved... also him. They had honoured them both but would now... well, reconsider to say the least.

How about the character's of you others?

I'd like to hear from you all actually as to hear whether it is possible to continue with that post by Groin or not (eg. do we have to contact Pio or not).

But as I said, we have lots to write before anyone has to pay any attention to that post.

So let me see it!

Heh, a funny idea... is there a thing that brings people together better than a common enemy? No there isn't.

So could Erbrand and Lithor (and Scyld) work as scapegoats to all the possible rivalries thus uniting the people? It would of course not be as easy or straightforwards as that, but in the end that might be actually believable...

What do you think?

Durelin · 01-09-2010, 07:18 PM

I can't seriously respond to your post here yet, Nog (I'll have to think more), but I do think it could turn into a sort of bringing together of the new and the old, if they all indeed unite in a way against murderers. It could be a sort of rude awakening.

Also - I finally posted an attempt at drills...I was very vague and just got them well under way. I left it as they would be starting more individualized drills, so that's better opportunity for posting. I also left Thornden out because he's not my character of course (and I explained Coen's feelings hehe), so let me know Folwren if you want me to edit so Thornden can be more involved.

Basically let me know if there's anything wrong with my post, and if I am way off on things. I mostly fudged things, hehe.

Folwren · 01-09-2010, 07:34 PM

um...I don't think Scyld is actually dead. If you read Groin's post, after Erbrand leaves Kara sometime it mentions the two ladies helping Scyld back, which indicated, to me, that Scyld wasn't dead, but Erbrand thought he was...?

Otherwise, I think we can overcome it and just write. Things happen...accidental manslaughters do occur frequently in real life, and people run, from fear. I think the reactions to Groin's post will be interesting and wide in variety. I say let's just play it out.

But first, obviously, we have to decide if Scyld is actually dead.

Just my two cents.

Dury, I'll read your post, but I'm sure it's fine. I'll post a response today or tomorrow.

-- Foley

Loslote · 01-09-2010, 08:38 PM

Well, for the 'older' chars, it could serve as a reminder that the newcomers can be the victims, not just the bad guys. They might be able to work out that maybe they should give the newcomers a chance...

But the real problem is, the newcomers won't react that way. They'll view the locals with heightened suspicion and anger. Even if they didn't personally like Scyld, he was one of theirs. The soilders especially aren't going to take that lying down. They'd view it as an affront to them, like "oh, you guys are so lame, we can take you down!" and respond accordingly. Seriously, only a saint wouldn't be furious, and even then they'd still be plenty ticked off.

I think Scyld is dead. I'd have to check the exact wording, but I got the impression that they were bringing back his body, but I could be wrong. Still, medical treatment at the time probably isn't that good. There's a good chance he'd die anyway.

Folwren · 01-09-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loslote

I think Scyld is dead. I'd have to check the exact wording, but I got the impression that they were bringing back his body, but I could be wrong. Still, medical treatment at the time probably isn't that good. There's a good chance he'd die anyway.

Maybe, but I think there's enough doubt in it that we can say Erbrand thought he was dead, but he turned out not to be. If I were one of the two women, I would not bring back the dead body of a full grown man. That would be tough, plus gross.

I agree, though, with what Loslote said. This will add higher walls to the division between the old and new Scarburgians. It won't solve any problems. A lot of people will be very angry, but I think that the old Scarburgians will be angry and upset, too. It's not like they're going to try to justify Erbrand's actions.

In all honesty, I think what Groin's written adds fascinating fuel to our fire....we should be able to use it to our advantage.

-- Foley

Gwathagor · 01-09-2010, 08:57 PM

Suggestion: I think "Scarburgers" might be more correct than "Scarburgians" - since Hamburgers, Frankfurters, and Berliners are the terms used to refer to the inhabitants of several Germanic cities, and the Rohirrim speak a basically Germanic language.

Nogrod · 01-09-2010, 09:13 PM

A Double-Scarburger with cheese?

piosenniel · 01-10-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

If it feels too hard, we'll call for Pio to delete Groin's post and just make Erbrand and Lithor to run away, but let's think of it first. It would be sad to call for deletion of such a laboured post

But if it destroys the future of this game we have no other chance.

So any ideas?

Just to let you know -- when a post is "deleted", it's 'soft' deleted; that is, I can always retrieve it.

~*~ Pio

Nogrod · 01-10-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piosenniel

Just to let you know -- when a post is "deleted", it's 'soft' deleted; that is, I can always retrieve it.

~*~ Pio

Good to hear that.

We have still a lot to write before what Groin's post had in it needs to come to the light - so we have time for Groin to reconsider, which I think should be the solution number one.

So let's wait for a few days, a week perhaps, and come back to this then if we hear nothing from Groin before that? And really I'd hate to "delete" a post as laboured as his was... so I'm still willing to hear it from you others; could we live with that scenario if we consider we'd need to strive for somekind of peace between the older and newer "Scarburgers" in the end?

Folwren · 01-11-2010, 10:39 AM

Nerindel, I just read your post, and it was really, really good.

I will take note of what you say here on the discussion thread and have Thornden note Matrim's absence. I don't know when I'll get a chance to post, but I will eventually.

-- Foley

Nogrod · 01-11-2010, 10:54 AM

Drat.

I had thought I'd write a short meeting with the craftsmen and lord Athanar just to give you more perspective into his character. But then I realised that Erbrand is a craftsman and might have been called for the meeting as well...

Well, he was a tanner so maybe he wasn't called for it? Garstan, Stigend and Harreld would be called in anyway as they are in charge of the building-works... probably Náin as well as he is around now.

I'm probably not having time to write it today but I'll try to do it tomorrow. Any ideas if it would sound natural Erbrand was not called for?

Folwren · 01-11-2010, 01:12 PM

I think it would be reasonable if he wasn't called for, since he wouldn't actually be working on the building. So, what you said.

-- Foley

01-08-2010, 07:55 PM	#1
Nerindel Spirited Weaver of Fates Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In an endless sea of dreams! Posts: 827	Name: Matrim Astalder, Son of Lord Mordavim of Arnen Age: 22 Race: Gondorian Gender: Male Appearance: Matrim is of average height and build for a young man of the Arnen, he has a medium complexion and his hair is usually a mid golden brown but at the moment it is a dark golden colour as it was lemon rinsed so that he and Balvir could go among the Rohirrim without drawing to much attention. (At least until they spoke! :P As their strong Southern Gondorian accents would be quite difficult to mask.) His soft grey eyes convey a gentle calmness that belies the depth and strength of his emotions. At present Matrim is dressed in the attire of that of a Rohirrim man at arms (again for afore mentioned reasons.) Belted about his waist and hanging at his left side is a gondorian long sword, with no sigils on the pommel and only a leather bound grip, it looks the same as any other, giving nothing away about the young man’s true rank and status but about his neck on a plain leather thong is a solid gold ring with the sigils of his house (Crossed sword and arrow for house Astalder against the white tree of gondor) which he keeps carefully hidden under his shirt. Character/History: Nestled between the river Anduin and the road south to Harad, under the shadow of Emyn Arnen are the lands that Matrim calls home. Although born there he spent much of his younger years behind the protective walls of Minas Tirith, as it was a time of uncertainty and unrest with the dark shadow of Mordor infecting the land of his birth his grandfather (the then Lord of Arnen) thought it safe to move the women and children to the safety of the white city. While Matrim’s father and many of the young men of Arnen where called to aid Lord Faramir in northern Ithilien , his grandfather and what men he had left defended the people of the Arnen as best they could. Matrim was nine before they returned, were his father became the new Lord and they buried his grandfather, along with honouring all those who had died in the defence of the Arnen. The years passed quickly and like the lands of Arnen; Matrim flourished and grew into a fairly well disciplined and honourable young man, with not only a fine education in diplomacy and governance, but also at his father’s behest he trained under Captain Balvir to gain discipline and leadership skills with a small hope also to curb his son’s more impulsive and sometimes overly passionate nature. Currently Matrim is charged by his father to protect Lady Æðelhild during her temporary self imposed exile. So that he can gather evidence to disprove her uncles ludicious claims and prove her innocence beyond reproach and restore to her the comfort and security her late father and his best friend had always intended for her. Here you go I finally figured out where I had put Mat's Bio, I hope it doesn't throw to much of a spanner in the works ;P now to catch up on the thread and see if I cannot re-introduce my troop into the story. --------------------------------- Linked ~~ Pio __________________ "Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live" ~ Mark Twain. Last edited by piosenniel; 01-09-2010 at 02:04 AM.*

01-09-2010, 06:56 PM	#2
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 to see you back around Nerindel! If you have any complaints on how Matrim is used while you have been away, please let us know. They can be changed - unless it is old enough and has consequences with the basic storyline and thus is being past redeeming (not that I remember there being such instances further back there). I'll write something in tomorrow. Also I've finally had time to sent Groin a PM. Let's hear what he says. But meanwhile - as I said earlier - there is a lot we could do without referring to Groin's last post as that is something that happened a bit later than where the thread is right now and the things described there could be found out even later. That would also give Groin time to consider, whether he wishes to come back and change a thing or two - or not. Actually I think now that if he doesn't wish to come back we should at least try to think how we could deal with it and not bother Pio. We can take the post as his last challenge for us to overcome together. And what a challenge would it be! A murder and a get-away! Erbrand and Lithor would be declared outlaws by king Eomer for manslaughter - and making peace with the two groups would be much harder (it wasn't looking hard already?) as lord Athanar and those coming with him would now think the "original MeadHallers" as murderers... for a reason. How to get over that? Any suggestions? If it feels too hard, we'll call for Pio to delete Groin's post and just make Erbrand and Lithor to run away, but let's think of it first. It would be sad to call for deletion of such a laboured post But if it destroys the future of this game we have no other chance. So any ideas? How would the character's of you older writers react to the news? I can say readily that Stigend (and probably Garstan as well) would be appalled and reconsider what they thought of Erbrand... and looking at how Lithor behaved... also him. They had honoured them both but would now... well, reconsider to say the least. How about the character's of you others? I'd like to hear from you all actually as to hear whether it is possible to continue with that post by Groin or not (eg. do we have to contact Pio or not). But as I said, we have lots to write before anyone has to pay any attention to that post. So let me see it! Heh, a funny idea... is there a thing that brings people together better than a common enemy? No there isn't. So could Erbrand and Lithor (and Scyld) work as scapegoats to all the possible rivalries thus uniting the people? It would of course not be as easy or straightforwards as that, but in the end that might be actually believable... What do you think? __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet... Last edited by Nogrod; 01-09-2010 at 07:00 PM.

01-09-2010, 07:34 PM	#4
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	um...I don't think Scyld is actually dead. If you read Groin's post, after Erbrand leaves Kara sometime it mentions the two ladies helping Scyld back, which indicated, to me, that Scyld wasn't dead, but Erbrand thought he was...? Otherwise, I think we can overcome it and just write. Things happen...accidental manslaughters do occur frequently in real life, and people run, from fear. I think the reactions to Groin's post will be interesting and wide in variety. I say let's just play it out. But first, obviously, we have to decide if Scyld is actually dead. Just my two cents. Dury, I'll read your post, but I'm sure it's fine. I'll post a response today or tomorrow. -- Foley __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

01-09-2010, 08:38 PM	#5
Loslote The Werewolf's Companion Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Moon Posts: 3,021	Well, for the 'older' chars, it could serve as a reminder that the newcomers can be the victims, not just the bad guys. They might be able to work out that maybe they should give the newcomers a chance... But the real problem is, the newcomers won't react that way. They'll view the locals with heightened suspicion and anger. Even if they didn't personally like Scyld, he was one of theirs. The soilders especially aren't going to take that lying down. They'd view it as an affront to them, like "oh, you guys are so lame, we can take you down!" and respond accordingly. Seriously, only a saint wouldn't be furious, and even then they'd still be plenty ticked off. I think Scyld is dead. I'd have to check the exact wording, but I got the impression that they were bringing back his body, but I could be wrong. Still, medical treatment at the time probably isn't that good. There's a good chance he'd die anyway. __________________ I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Double Fenris

01-09-2010, 08:57 PM	#7
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Suggestion: I think "Scarburgers" might be more correct than "Scarburgians" - since Hamburgers, Frankfurters, and Berliners are the terms used to refer to the inhabitants of several Germanic cities, and the Rohirrim speak a basically Germanic language. __________________ Stories and songs.

01-09-2010, 07:18 PM	#3
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	I can't seriously respond to your post here yet, Nog (I'll have to think more), but I do think it could turn into a sort of bringing together of the new and the old, if they all indeed unite in a way against murderers. It could be a sort of rude awakening. Also - I finally posted an attempt at drills...I was very vague and just got them well under way. I left it as they would be starting more individualized drills, so that's better opportunity for posting. I also left Thornden out because he's not my character of course (and I explained Coen's feelings hehe), so let me know Folwren if you want me to edit so Thornden can be more involved. Basically let me know if there's anything wrong with my post, and if I am way off on things. I mostly fudged things, hehe.

01-09-2010, 09:13 PM	#8
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 Double-Scarburger with cheese? __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

01-11-2010, 10:39 AM	#11
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Nerindel, I just read your post, and it was really, really good. I will take note of what you say here on the discussion thread and have Thornden note Matrim's absence. I don't know when I'll get a chance to post, but I will eventually. -- Foley __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

01-11-2010, 10:54 AM	#12
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	Drat. I had thought I'd write a short meeting with the craftsmen and lord Athanar just to give you more perspective into his character. But then I realised that Erbrand is a craftsman and might have been called for the meeting as well... Well, he was a tanner so maybe he wasn't called for it? Garstan, Stigend and Harreld would be called in anyway as they are in charge of the building-works... probably Náin as well as he is around now. I'm probably not having time to write it today but I'll try to do it tomorrow. Any ideas if it would sound natural Erbrand was not called for? __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

01-11-2010, 01:12 PM	#13
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I think it would be reasonable if he wasn't called for, since he wouldn't actually be working on the building. So, what you said. -- Foley __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis