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Child of the 7th Age · 10-22-2002, 01:29 PM

Pat--

Thank you. My connection seems to be working today, although it is not supposed to be. We'll see how long it lasts.

Mith --

Sorry I didn't respond earlier to your comments about the men in prison. Every time I tried to answer (which I did four times!), my internet connection plunged. I am vewing this as a serious warning from Ulmo that the Star is not intended to meddle in such things.

Still, the plight of the Faithful involves a challenge, especially for Mithadan who is their descendent. Although my concerns are different than Bird's, I too am questioning how far we should lean in this direction.

If we could throw open the gates of the Men's central compound with no added danger to ourselves, I would be in favor of such an act. Am I correct in stating it would be physically possible for these individuals to make their way to Romenna to board the ships of the Faithful before the flood? If not, it does not make any sense to rescue the Men since our ships do not have room for them.

But the critical question is this: Can we realistically assert that there is no threat to ourselves or our mission? Remember that we're not trying to alter the destiny of Numenor as a whole. Our central mission is limited to hobbits. If we can incidentally help others along the way, so be it. But if that helping involves the slightest peril to our main goal, or to any of our principal participants, then we should not do it. In fact, I would even say that we are morally obligated not to take up the cause, however righteous it may be.

There is a critical difference between the doom of Men and Hobbits in Numenor. The sad deaths of the Faithful were individual tragedies, but the demise of the Hobbits goes far beyond this to encompass the destruction of an entire people (two, if you count the hobbrim as a separate entity). This places the hobbit rescue in a different light.

Ulmo has already warned one member of our party that his fate lies hidden. That should be a strong incentive not to extend the rescue further. I am wondering if this particular character sees the plight of the Faithful as a personal responsibility. Perhaps, this individual may elect to "stick his neck out" beyond that which was originally planned.

If we are going to do anything with the rescue of the Men's compound, I believe it should be discussed at the hobbit meeting which takes place after you and Pio get through your river scene. It should not, in my opinion, be something done on the spur of the moment the night of the rescue itself.

I would think the hobbits themselves might bring up the issue. Once they meet Mith and realize he is not a monstor, they may begin to think briefly about the "good" men who've been dragged off and imprisoned. Someone like Phura may even privately wonder why the Elves and Ancalimon chose to help the hobbits, but not the Men. (In a cosmic sense, that's not an easy question.) Once the hobbits broached the topic, perhaps Mithadan would have something to say. Cami's attitude would be very similar to that stated in this post: extreme caution, if there is the slightest hint of endangering the main rescue or any of the crew on the Star who are needed to carry out that rescue.

How do you see this?

sharon

[ October 22, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

10-22-2002, 01:29 PM	#467
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Pat-- Thank you. My connection seems to be working today, although it is not supposed to be. We'll see how long it lasts. Mith -- Sorry I didn't respond earlier to your comments about the men in prison. Every time I tried to answer (which I did four times!), my internet connection plunged. I am vewing this as a serious warning from Ulmo that the Star is not intended to meddle in such things. Still, the plight of the Faithful involves a challenge, especially for Mithadan who is their descendent. Although my concerns are different than Bird's, I too am questioning how far we should lean in this direction. If we could throw open the gates of the Men's central compound with no added danger to ourselves, I would be in favor of such an act. Am I correct in stating it would be physically possible for these individuals to make their way to Romenna to board the ships of the Faithful before the flood? If not, it does not make any sense to rescue the Men since our ships do not have room for them. But the critical question is this: Can we realistically assert that there is no threat to ourselves or our mission? Remember that we're not trying to alter the destiny of Numenor as a whole. Our central mission is limited to hobbits. If we can incidentally help others along the way, so be it. But if that helping involves the slightest peril to our main goal, or to any of our principal participants, then we should not do it. In fact, I would even say that we are morally obligated not to take up the cause, however righteous it may be. There is a critical difference between the doom of Men and Hobbits in Numenor. The sad deaths of the Faithful were individual tragedies, but the demise of the Hobbits goes far beyond this to encompass the destruction of an entire people (two, if you count the hobbrim as a separate entity). This places the hobbit rescue in a different light. Ulmo has already warned one member of our party that his fate lies hidden. That should be a strong incentive not to extend the rescue further. I am wondering if this particular character sees the plight of the Faithful as a personal responsibility. Perhaps, this individual may elect to "stick his neck out" beyond that which was originally planned. If we are going to do anything with the rescue of the Men's compound, I believe it should be discussed at the hobbit meeting which takes place after you and Pio get through your river scene. It should not, in my opinion, be something done on the spur of the moment the night of the rescue itself. I would think the hobbits themselves might bring up the issue. Once they meet Mith and realize he is not a monstor, they may begin to think briefly about the "good" men who've been dragged off and imprisoned. Someone like Phura may even privately wonder why the Elves and Ancalimon chose to help the hobbits, but not the Men. (In a cosmic sense, that's not an easy question.) Once the hobbits broached the topic, perhaps Mithadan would have something to say. Cami's attitude would be very similar to that stated in this post: extreme caution, if there is the slightest hint of endangering the main rescue or any of the crew on the Star who are needed to carry out that rescue. How do you see this? sharon [ October 22, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.