[Durelin]

The Houseless is under the control of Sauron, but his pride is such that he thinks that he is fooling the Dark Lord, and he is able for a time to convince his brother-host that they are merely 'playing along' with Sauron's plans.

Hmmmm...the basic idea is great (I really don't know where you get those things!), but, as Pio said, there are questions that must be answered. And, unfortunately, I don't believe that is a suitable explanation. It just doesn't...make sense.

I have always believed that there is no question when someone has complete control over someone. And, as this elf is now a spirit who has refused to return to the Halls of Mandos, a spirit full of pride, injured perhaps by his death (even at the power of a balrog: perhaps fear overcame him at facing such a demon). It makes sense that it has been a good number of years since this elf died. With even a year wandering as a rather angry spirit (great pride, broken pride, both can make one pretty angry), this spirit has got to be an easy target for Sauron, and easily reduced to a servant. Most likely the spirit would have sheltered in several bodies, perhaps even that of an orc: an easy target for a Houseless desperate for the shelter of a body. With practice at taking over bodies, and perhaps even evicting evil souls, this spirit is going to lose much of its former pureness and strength. Perhaps the pride would continue, even once the spirit is under Sauron's powerful grip, but I believe that this pride would be reduced to the pride of serving Sauron. I'm sure there would be much more satisfaction in being proud of serving the Dark Lord than trying to deny that he is under Sauron's control. So, this may not work: except that, the fact that he is his brother, still leaves the option of sympathy open.

Unfortunately, the elf host you described, though truly, he is a pretty good host, he doesn't seem the type to feel sympathy, even for a brother who got himself killed by a Balrog.

Of course, once corrupted by the power Sauron has over the dead (he does have power over the spirits who linger, doesn’t he?), the spirit might then (in pride) wish to deceive his master, so that he may be the master (of himself, at least). This does not change the fact, though, that he is under the power of Sauron. I doubt that the spirit would even be able to take over a elven body without accepting Sauron’s power over him. Denying it would cause complications, I believe, with the Houseless fighting an inner battle. He also denies a dark power he might have when following Sauron’s wishes.

Okay, I kind of blathered there. I had a lot of thoughts, and its all so abstract. It’s like trying to come up with a definition of truth. I mean, the question I was attempting to answer is quite absurd sounding, really: ’What would a angst-filled, proud wandering spirit without a body do and not do? What could it do?’ That was two questions, I know, but both are decidedly odd, to say the least.

The basics are on the lines of what I thought, though I believe you took it a step beyond. It’s an amazing idea, though, if it will work. I’m not so sure at this point, as I am doubtful of everything right now. Sorry, but…it’s part of my personality, I guess.

We may not even need the spirit to be the host elf’s brother, as there is the option for the Houseless to force the host out of its body. Any way it works, it is going to take time and…it’s going to be insanely, murderously complicated!

I’ll be back with more, soon, but that’s a lot of thought for one post…so…

Sorry, Durelin, but you seem to have forgotten about the envoy from Lorien.

I’m not sure what you mean by that…unless you are referring to my saying that female characters can not be a part of the game at this point?

Well, if that is the case: I was really not sure if that would work. First of all, someone had spoken like the envoy was traveling with the scout party. Women aren’t to be tramping around in the woods with orcs around looking for the traces of the lost border patrols, even if that is just a ’side trip’. Still, if the envoy simply went straight to Mirkwood, there could only be one, or at the most two (maybe!) female ’counselors’, and they would be under a heavy guard, I’m afraid. And they would not scorn this, either.

Just reading your posts tires me out, Durelin. Where do you possibly find the time?

Glad I’m making you have to think, Fordim! Sorry, but that always is great fun for me. I’m a fast typer, I believe, and have had much practice at getting my thoughts down at least somewhat coherently. Perhaps the fact that I do it so quickly makes it all the more challenging and confusing! But, I actually don’t have the time, in truth, to post that long so often. Somehow, I do. I shouldn’t have the time.