[Nogrod]

Okay. A few things in general but taking as examples two parts of Groin's post and one from Foley.

Originally Posted by Groin

The soldiers holding shimmering spears glared at the settlers standing around. Erbrand met the stare of one and got the most unsettling smile he had ever seen. They seemed destined to kill. If they were any reflection on the lords that commanded them, lady Saeryn and Thornden were in for a rough counsel.

Let's just remember these soldiers are the riders of Rohan... They're not just a bunch of baddies roaming around bloodthirsty. And they serve their legally appointed lords with honour as good as they can. That sure doesn't include a thirst to get a chance to impale women and children of their own kin... or just kill anyone for pleasure.

And the same goes - with a lesser extent - to the landlords. They are appointed by the king to their settlements and are war-heroes from the Pelennor Fields, coming from noble families. With them there sure is the fact that power may have corrupted them during the years and they would not be so "good" anymore in everything.

But if a band of orcs - or any dark or foreign force - would try to invade West Emnet you'd see these lords fight with their riders in the first row - and to fight valiantly for home and country.

So let's make this a little less black and white among the Rohanians?

Also, I think you might wish to change the tone of this just a bit - looking at the things I've said above.

Originally Posted by Groin

Erbrand could only hear mumbling, but from the countenance that they bore, it was not flattering talk they were using to describe lady Saeryn.

First of all I don't think the nobles would be that foolish to be like that when talking of a lady that clearly seemed to be in charge of a place in that way. I mean it is a different thing to mock a gathering of a crowd in general than to make harsh remarks on someone in particular. Not to speak if that particular person is a woman of clearly higher stature than just a peasant's wife.

I think what Foley wrote would be just at the edge of believability:

Originally Posted by Foley

“We will not banter with a woman concerning our lands and our money,”

One of them might say that, but probably not all. I'll take it now for granted one of them will say it... it will probably be the young Faramund (and Tancred or Alboin will let him know how wise they thought that comment was afterwards)

Secondly, making degrading personal remarks on Saeryn would not help them in anyway if they would be forced into real discussions and they would know it. They're no fools. If they were, they would not have been landlords for too many days. But these ones have affirmed their reign around these lands for a long time.

It doesn't mean they would honour Saeryn or think highly of her, on the contrary they might scorn her in their thoughts, but it would temper their actions in public anyway.

Remember, they're not a bunch of brigands or bandits but noblemen from Rohan (with their vices to be sure).


Sorry if I sound like nit-picking here - and I will not do that later when we are once again writing together as the Mead Hall... But I just hope you wouldn't make the landlords just plain evil scum... or make the Riders of Rohan willing bloodthirsty butcherers of their own kin.

Or if it is a majority feeling we should do that, then we could go for it. But I think the oncoming twists our characters face (fex. their loyalties to the new eorl etc.) would be much more interesting if the neighbouring landlords were not just simply Morgoth's servants...


~*~

And if the main thing has been lost here with all this, then let me say it openly.

I liked the way you Groin took advantage of the situation writing Erbrand going for Kara to protect her - and I liked the way you Foley made Saeryn collect herself to play the role she is required to play.

On these more important issues you are doing great! Much better I could have ever imagined myself to write them. So even if this was a long post the issue is small after all... or a kind of a general one relating more to the general settings of the Mead Hall.