Tol-in-Gaurhoth CXIV – The Evil Breath of Morgoth in Dor-lómin, discussion thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nogrod · 05-01-2020, 05:52 PM

Just for the fun of it.

I've been reading the CoH to find everyone Tolkien gave a name in Dor-lómin, living there during the Evil Breath aka. just before Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Adding to those the people who are told to live there later under easterling-rule (during Morwen's time there and when Túrin came back) brought me to 12 characters. Then I added the three outlaws Túrin hooked up with years later, who were said to come originally from Dor-lómin (and who I'd gather were not outlaws before exactly these troubled times and Nirnaeth), to reach 15.

So unless someone comes up with some I have missed or any other ones from some "unfinished papers" that have not ended up in the CoH, please let me know. Otherwise I'll fill the rest with some like "Aerin's mother"...

I thought first it would be fun to give you all new identities for the game to use (and then randomize the roles on top of that), but then thought against it for two reasons. Firstly, it might get pretty confusing in a big village if people had two nomers (try reading a mammoth Russian novel!). Secondly it would be too easy to hide behind the character-play: "I'll vote Andróg because he's such a shady person" (even if disease doesn't, at least normally, pick on grounds of moral integrity, one could argue that one caused by Morgoth sure could

).

So I'll be using them basically just in the narratives (and one will thus be revealed in every narration). If the Cuties would like to use them in their own discussions, have your fun with them.

So here's who we have in the village (a few to be added). The characterisations are from Tolkien, I have added nothing of my own.

Dramatis Personae

Húrin, of the House of Hador, master of Dor-lómin
Morwen Eledhwen, of the House of Bëor, Húrin's wife
Túrin, their son, 5-years old
Urwen “Lalaith”, their daughter, 3-years old
Sador “Labadal”, Húrin’s one-legged woodwright
Ragnir, Húrin’s blind servant
Túrin’s nurse
Aerin, a kinswoman of Húrin
Indor, Aerin’s father
Gethron, valiant old man
Grithnir, valiant old man
Asgon, strong and hardy villager
Andróg, a hard-hearted man
Algund, an old warrior
Forweg, a big and bold man

Huinesoron · 05-02-2020, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Dramatis Personae

Húrin, of the House of Hador, master of Dor-lómin
Morwen Eledhwen, of the House of Bëor, Húrin's wife
Túrin, their son, 5-years old
Urwen “Lalaith”, their daughter, 3-years old
Sador “Labadal”, Húrin’s one-legged woodwright
Ragnir, Húrin’s blind servant
Túrin’s nurse
Aerin, a kinswoman of Húrin
Indor, Aerin’s father
Gethron, valiant old man
Grithnir, valiant old man
Asgon, strong and hardy villager
Andróg, a hard-hearted man
Algund, an old warrior
Forweg, a big and bold man

-Huor, brother of Hurin
-Rian, cousin of Morwen (they won't be married for another three years).

There's also a possibility Emeldir, mother of Beren, is still there. She was the one who led Morwen and Rian to Dor-lomim, and she'd only be 63 or so in the Plague Year. Nothing at all is said of her after her departure from Dorthonion other than that she reached Brethil, but it's certainly plausible.

Hareth, mother of Hurin and Huor, certainly should still be alive! She's only in her 40s or 50s, and it's not like her husband died of natural causes.

We know from Hurin and Huor that the children of the Lords of Dor-lomin were usually fostered in Brethil. It's hard to see how that could not be a reciprocal arrangement. You could argue that the Bragollach made it too dangerous, but if not, you have Brandir the Lame (age 4), great-grandson of the current Chieftain of the Haladin but in the direct line.

For that matter, Brandir's aunt and uncle, Hunleth and Hundad (children of the Chieftain's younger son Hundar) are 26 & 22 in 469; we know Hurin was still fostered at 16, so Hundad at least could be hanging out. Heck, Tolkien specifically outs him (through his son) as a coward, so he could just be scared - sorry, 'appropriately cautious' - of the trip home. (He'd also officially be 'fostered' by a man only six years older than him, which is hilarious.)

One last one... Gildis, wife of Hador Lorindal, grandmother of Hurin. Her husband would only be 79 in the Plague Year (were he not long dead), and wives of noblemen are often younger than their husbands. She could be of an age with Emeldir, and easily still alive.

Some of these are a bit of a stretch, but they're there if you want them.

hS

Nogrod · 05-02-2020, 04:40 AM

THE Ka and Sally!

What a party this is turning out to be!

And thanks for nice suggestions hS.

I was actually thinking of one possible narrative sub-plot last night, namely that Halmir had promised the House of Haleth would join the Union of Maedhros, but he died a year before Nirnaeth, so he must have been planning things before that - and surely he'd consult the brothers Húrin and Huor? And where would that take place? Naturally at Húrin's place!

Halmir would take his son and heir Haldir with him to be sure - and Glóredhel would insist she joins to meet their dear foster-children. And they would have naturally set on the trip (probably visiting other villages on the road) before there were any news of the Evil Breath...

That plan would then also make it possible to add Huor (and Hareth and Rían) in the village.

Putting Brandir as a foster-child to Húrin's village was an excellent idea. I'm so going to use that!

Let's see how many do we need (we're at 21 players already!) and how big a revision of the Beleriand Legendarium are we willing to risk. (think of Húrin and Huor dying already before Nirnaeth!)

Let's close one deal already now. We could possibly start the game already today, but as we have spoken of Sunday, let's stick with it so that no-one misses the start.

So Night1 starts on Sunday evening / afternoon, depending on where you live (and for Lhuna, on Monday).

Any comments about the exact DL are welcomed (thanks Brinn for letting me know your situation: I could possibly push the DL one hour further, but let's still hear if there are other wishes, or ones to support the move).

Rune Son of Bjarne · 05-02-2020, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Two questions.

The Deadlines.

I checked the timezones. If the Deadline would be Midnight here in Finland (GMT/UTC +3) I could write the narrations immediately after the Day has ended. Pushing it any further might start giving me problems to stay up and fresh everyday (there will be days I really need to get up early). That would make it one hour earlier (11PM) in continental Europe, and two hours earlier in London (10PM).

In the US the deadline would be according to the Eastern Time -7 hours (from Finland) aka. 5PM (Central Time would then be 4PM).

That's if I read the Daylight Savings stuff correctly.

How do these sound for you?

Anyone from somewhere else?

Deadline sounds perfect, but I could live with it being pushed.

I have no opinion on the details of the rules. I am sure I will enjoy the ride no matter what, even if it will leave me dazed and confused.

Lhunardawen · 05-02-2020, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

So Night1 starts on Sunday evening / afternoon, depending on where you live (and for Lhuna, on Monday).

Any comments about the exact DL are welcomed (thanks Brinn for letting me know your situation: I could possibly push the DL one hour further, but let's still hear if there are other wishes, or ones to support the move).

Thank you, kind sir. Unfortunate place on the globe, yes, but like you said I'm already used to it.

Pushing the deadline back an hour will just make my vote come earlier in the Day. No problem with me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune

I am sure I will enjoy the ride no matter what, even if it will leave me dazed and confused.

Ditto.

Looks like I have one day to reorient myself to CoH.

A Little Green · 05-02-2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune

I have no opinion on the details of the rules. I am sure I will enjoy the ride no matter what, even if it will leave me dazed and confused.

This is more or less how I feel too, but just for the sake of appearing constructive:

Re: cobbler - I don't have a preference either way, as I don't like being one myself but find it quite entertaining when someone else is

Re: deadline - suggested 10 PM GMT (midnight Finnish time) is doable, though I probably won't be around that late every Day - and even less often if it's pushed one hour later since 1 AM is already very late for me. But more importantly, since there's no DL that's going to work for everyone, I second Lommy's suggestion of trying to keep all the important action from happening at or around that time where possible. So -

Re: tie breakers - I'd be happy with either first to get the votes or even *gasp* double lynches to keep things interesting.

And likewise I'd like to avoid giving extra weight to last minute voting flurries so preferably not lynching the last person to get the votes in case of a tie.

Also did I mention how happy I am to be back here with you all? <3

05-01-2020, 05:52 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	Just for the fun of it. I've been reading the CoH to find everyone Tolkien gave a name in Dor-lómin, living there during the Evil Breath aka. just before Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Adding to those the people who are told to live there later under easterling-rule (during Morwen's time there and when Túrin came back) brought me to 12 characters. Then I added the three outlaws Túrin hooked up with years later, who were said to come originally from Dor-lómin (and who I'd gather were not outlaws before exactly these troubled times and Nirnaeth), to reach 15. So unless someone comes up with some I have missed or any other ones from some "unfinished papers" that have not ended up in the CoH, please let me know. Otherwise I'll fill the rest with some like "Aerin's mother"... I thought first it would be fun to give you all new identities for the game to use (and then randomize the roles on top of that), but then thought against it for two reasons. Firstly, it might get pretty confusing in a big village if people had two nomers (try reading a mammoth Russian novel!). Secondly it would be too easy to hide behind the character-play: "I'll vote Andróg because he's such a shady person" (even if disease doesn't, at least normally, pick on grounds of moral integrity, one could argue that one caused by Morgoth sure could ). So I'll be using them basically just in the narratives (and one will thus be revealed in every narration). If the Cuties would like to use them in their own discussions, have your fun with them. So here's who we have in the village (a few to be added). The characterisations are from Tolkien, I have added nothing of my own. Dramatis Personae Húrin, of the House of Hador, master of Dor-lómin Morwen Eledhwen, of the House of Bëor, Húrin's wife Túrin, their son, 5-years old Urwen “Lalaith”, their daughter, 3-years old Sador “Labadal”, Húrin’s one-legged woodwright Ragnir, Húrin’s blind servant Túrin’s nurse Aerin, a kinswoman of Húrin Indor, Aerin’s father Gethron, valiant old man Grithnir, valiant old man Asgon, strong and hardy villager Andróg, a hard-hearted man Algund, an old warrior Forweg, a big and bold man __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

05-02-2020, 04:40 AM	#3
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	THE Ka and Sally! What a party this is turning out to be! And thanks for nice suggestions hS. I was actually thinking of one possible narrative sub-plot last night, namely that Halmir had promised the House of Haleth would join the Union of Maedhros, but he died a year before Nirnaeth, so he must have been planning things before that - and surely he'd consult the brothers Húrin and Huor? And where would that take place? Naturally at Húrin's place! Halmir would take his son and heir Haldir with him to be sure - and Glóredhel would insist she joins to meet their dear foster-children. And they would have naturally set on the trip (probably visiting other villages on the road) before there were any news of the Evil Breath... That plan would then also make it possible to add Huor (and Hareth and Rían) in the village. Putting Brandir as a foster-child to Húrin's village was an excellent idea. I'm so going to use that! Let's see how many do we need (we're at 21 players already!) and how big a revision of the Beleriand Legendarium are we willing to risk. (think of Húrin and Huor dying already before Nirnaeth!) Let's close one deal already now. We could possibly start the game already today, but as we have spoken of Sunday, let's stick with it so that no-one misses the start. So Night1 starts on Sunday evening / afternoon, depending on where you live (and for Lhuna, on Monday). Any comments about the exact DL are welcomed (thanks Brinn for letting me know your situation: I could possibly push the DL one hour further, but let's still hear if there are other wishes, or ones to support the move). __________________ 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; 05-02-2020 at 04:44 AM.