[Rimbaud]

We need to have a definite structure for who is crossing the mountains and when and how - if all do, succesfully. I'm actually posting about something else...

Thenamir's brief post made me think of something. The story should take a step forward emotionally. In this I mean we should think carefully about the rough plot that has fallen around us.

We are heading for a deserted city, having previously followed an odd band of men. We have growing suspicions of Saruman and the feeling around Isengard. There is a very good chance that the force driving the party towards Ost-En-Edhil is Saruman himself. One of the members of the group appears to have taken leave of his sanity, despite or perhaps because of flashes of brilliance. (To this end, I hope to have Elwood's party come across some dead Orcs, perpetrator - Guthrin).

Most importantly, all of the major protaganists have to die either before we reach the city, or within it. We may need to lose some characters before others, to keep some vague realism.

This doom laid upon the characters should affect them greatly. Thenamir's post mentioned Guthrin's departure as potentially aiding their eventual downfall. Let's work with that. Dissension and argument between members should break out, to some degree. Everybody is tense. We should build on that, IMO.

By its inherent nature, this story is to become very dark. Lets look for some premonitive writing to this end.

Back on the mountain crossing: it seems Esty, that you are moving far quicker than us, and that is understandable. I would judge that Elwood's and Thenamir's parties are still many posts short of actually passing through the mountains. Necessarily, Gandalf's distraction should be a few days in duration, at least. Esty, Taradan is to have an adventure! lol

My rapid babble halts here.