The Fellowship of the Fourth Age (Part 1): A New Beginning Discussion Thread

[Firefoot]

If it's Orcs we're needing, I'd be glad to have one for my minor character. He can be male.

[Durelin]

To Everyone:

If everyone would like to simply finish the first post for their main character, the short bio for your minor character can wait until after the game has started.

We can then get things started sooner. We don't want anyone getting bored.

Thanks!

~Durelin

Edit:

The slaves escape from a plantation somewhere on the northwest shore of the Sea of Nurnen, correct? And now at the start of the RPG, they're camping out in the southern mountains? Does this mean that to get to the mountains they've already travelled about 100 miles (much of it being fertile land, granted), including crossing the west-east river that sticks out of the Sea of Nurnen (that's what I'm getting from looking at my map)?

Sorry, Firefoot. To answer your question: I was picturing the plantation being more Southeast. I am not sure if I was correct in this, though. I saw the most resonable place for the slaves to escape to to be the Southern range of the Mountains because otherwise they would have to cross the rest of Nurn, which means they would be much more likely to be recaptured.

What were you picturing, Child? And again, a thousand apologies if I've missed something...

[Firefoot]

Okay, that would make much more sense. Thanks for the clarification!

[Child of the 7th Age]

Durelin - Please clear your pms. when you get a chance.

Can't imagine why you'd have so many....

[Nogrod]

I don't know about you, but I felt I needed the lists this way to make myself comfortable with the host of people "starring" the roles in our game. Hopefully it helps you others too...

Btw. Should we have a list of important NPC's too - so of those people who would be in leading roles but would not be the ones we are writing? At least the slave escapees seem to me to be people who are mostly young and inexperienced - and surely there are some that lead those people. I don't think any 12-year old would take the lead. So should we just name a few leader persons, give them a character in one sentence and then see where we will take them as our common NPCs or something?

The inhabitants of Mordor

The Orcs, total of ?:
Regin Hardhammer - Ishkur, Orc rebel (male)
Undómë - Zagra & Mazhg, Orc rebel, sisters
Regin Hardhammer - Ungolt, Orc, female
Child of the 7th Age - Makdush, Uruk-hai
Nogrod - Gwerr, Orc rebel (male)
Novnarwen - Orc, male
Firefoot - Orc, male

The slave escapees, total of 56(?):
Nogrod - Hadith (aka Apples), slave escapee (male)
Firefoot - Slave escapee (female)
Undómë – Slave escapee, female
Tevildo – Azhar, slave escapee, 12 y/o female
Folwren - Kwell Dunfire, slave escapee, young boy
Orofaniel - slave escapee

The ex-slaves, total of 14(?):
Durelin – Khamir,Ex-slave
Orofaniel - Reagonn, ex-slave (male)
Novnarwen - Aedhild ex-slave (female)

[piosenniel]

If the fellowship crosses the mountains where the Poros River originates in the Ephel Duath - then they could have taken a ship to Pelargir (with a fair wind and with the river's current it would be less than 2 days.)

From Pelargir to the mountain crossing is a little over 100 miles on foot -- or horses could also be brought by ship.

~*~ Pio

[Undómë]

hmmmmm . . . Nogrod I'm not quite sure what you mean by NPC's.

Are you referring to the players' minor characters?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Undómë

hmmmmm . . . Nogrod I'm not quite sure what you mean by NPC's.

Are you referring to the players' minor characters?

Not indeed, but to the Non Player Characters. If the slave escapees total something like 56 people and there are 6 writers with characters, it means that there are 50 people "coming along" - and some of those would be quite important characters indeed (if we play only the young "hang-arounds").

So what I was asking, was whether we should have something like a shared understanding that f.ex. the leader of the slave escapees is named Quahan and is 36 years old fiery character with a 10 year old child whom he protects over all else - or is she Dûmin, a 56 year old lady, the renowned maid of a chieftain killed long ago... or whatever. So that we would be writing the same people and the same story. Of course we may go on writing and then the first to write about the slave-escapee -leaders will get to invent their names and such, but we could also discuss them before they are actually written into the story...

Anyway you people like it. I'm still only at my second RPG here and am new to the ways these things are handled.

[Child of the 7th Age]

UPDATE ON LOCATION AND WHERE WE ARE GOING:

I've gone ahead and edited the proposal and all posts (both discussion and game thread) so that the slaves are all leaving from the foothills of the southern mountain range (and this is where the Fellowship will initially go.) The escape party will head to the western corner of the Sea of Núrnen and then north across the Ash Plain (as stated in the letter to Elessar), a trip of some 200 miles (assuming they are on the western side of the Sea) .

As far as the location of the original plantation goes, it's likely this won't figure much in the story unless someone describes their exact escape route. My guess is that it was to the west of the Sea, but I can live with anything. (This was never mentioned in the proposal itself or the posts that have gone up so far.)
__________________________________________________ ____________

Pio,

Great minds think alike....

Yes, I 've sent a draft of my post to Tevildo and Hilde (because I've used their characters at one point) and this is the route I had the fellowship travel: down the Anduin to Pelargir by boat and then on horseback across the mountain pass near the mouth of the Poros River. Then they go south and slightly east to the mountain range.

__________________________________________________ ______________

Re non-playing characters:

Nogrod,

You raise a good point -- that we have to remember this is a larger group (65 slaves of various types, about 15 orcs, and the 7 members of the fellowship). If we talk about the larger group, we'll need to be careful not to contradict each other concerning all these folk who do not have individual posters. However, my preference is to keep things flexible---not to try and define each subgroup and each leader prior to the actual game starting.

We've had a lot of stories that involve the migrations of large groups (especially hobbits in the Shire) and this approach has worked well. Sometimes when we need an extra speaking character or two, we invent "carry-along characters" in the middle of the game: minor characters for whom we put up a bio on the discussion thread. (Tevildo did this by inventing the healer Leod in the middle of the recent Flames game in the Shire..... ) Sometimes we just refer to other families or individuals in very general terms without naming names. You can definitely refer to other people or groups by name in your posts.....just don't have them speak or take an active role unless you put up a bio.

You never know where a game is going or where it will lead. It's good to leave some things undefined to build in a measure of flexibility that can be used to back up the plot as it develops. Plus, learning to coordinate this kind of thing as the story develops post by post is a mark of a well run game.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Child of the 7th Age

Nogrod,

You raise a good point -- that we have to remember this is a larger group (65 slaves of various types, about 15 orcs, and the 7 members of the fellowship). If we talk about the larger group, we'll need to be careful not to contradict each other concerning all these folk who do not have individual posters. However, my preference is to keep things flexible---not to try and define each subgroup and each leader prior to the actual game starting.

I agree with your point on flexibility - and it's always more fun when things are not too tied up beforehand. But the problem I see here is that there is no clear leader person in the slave escapees. Maybe Firefoot, Undómë or Orofaniel could come up with that kind of person as their characters haven't been revealed yet? Durelin's character seems to be one that in a way "leads" the ex-slaves, but without anyone to balance Khamir's lead, it might get a bit boring to Durelin... But surely, we slave escapees might be just a band of puzzled people who lost their elders as they sacrificed themselves to help these out from the plantation. I would just wonder if those elders didn't leave a single reasonable person to help the escapees on their flight.

[Firefoot]

the leader of the slave escapees is named Quahan and is 36 years old fiery character with a 10 year old child whom he protects over all else - or is she Dûmin, a 56 year old lady, the renowned maid of a chieftain killed long ago... or whatever.

Nogrod, I think I am now in awe of your ability to just come up with names like that. It takes me forever.

My first post is almost finished, I'm trying to figure out how to end it. Right now it just sort of trails off.

Edit: it won't be Johari to take note of a particular leader... she doesn't necessarily want to be with the rest of you escapees anyway.

[Firefoot]

A bio for my minor character is up.

Orc children... what an odd concept.

[Firefoot]

First post up - post #51.

[Brinniel]

Durelin has been kind enough to invite me to be part of this lovely RPG and I'm happy to join the roleplaying world again.

I'd like to play an ex-slave, particularly a female. Now, I'm not sure how soon I can have my profile and post up. I'm pretty busy for the rest of the day and well, tomorrow's my birthday (yay), but I should have it done by Thursday.

[Novnarwen]

Hi!

My Post is now up. It's slot #45. (I'll probably make a few edits, still some proof-reading to do, but thought I'd let you guys know that the skeleton is up at least...)

I've also added some to Aedhild's history. I do not know whether she's what you, Durelin and Child, had in mind for an ex-slave and whether my additions helped to 'fit her in the gang', because to be honest, I don't really know how to make her fit.. (Durelin, please see your PM).

Minor character coming soon...

Cheers,
Nova

[Child of the 7th Age]

Pio.....

This isn't the official list. I just needed to see all the characters together....

WRITER/CHARACTER LIST

Major characters are identified with an asterisk


A. Group Sent Out by Aragorn

*Lindir, Noldor Elf (metal crafter, scout) - Child of the 7th Age
*Radagast (Aiwendil), istar (teacher) - Child of the 7th Age
Vrór, Dwarf (stone mason) - Durelin
*Rog, East & Harad - Piosenniel
*Dorran, Rohan (soldier) Tevildo
*Athwen, Rohan, Dorran’s wife (healer) - Folwren
*Carl Cotton, Hobbit (farmer) - Hilde Bracegirdle

B. Inhabitants of Mordor

Orcs

*Ishkur, Orc rebel (male) - Regin Hardhammer
*Zagra & Mazhg, Orc rebel, sisters - Undómë
Ungolt, Orc, female - Regin Hardhammer
Makdush, Uruk-hai male - Child of the 7th Age
Orc, male - Nogrod
Orc, male - SHORT BIO ONLY NEEDED - Novnarwen
Orc, male - SHORT BIO ONLY NEEDED - Firefoot


Slave Escapee

*Hadith (aka Apples), slave escapee (male- 18 yrs.) - Nogrod
*Johari, slave escapee (female) - Firefoot
Brenna, slave escapee, 51 y/o female - Undómë
Azhar, slave escapee, young girl - Tevildo
Kwell Dunfire, slave escapee, young boy - Folwren
Slave escapee - SHORT BIO ONLY NEEDED - Orofaniel

Ex-slave

*Khamir, Ex-slave - Durelin
*Reagonn, ex-slave (male) POST NEEDED – Orofaniel
*Aedhild ex-slave (female) - Novnarwen

Will play later in the summer:

Thinlómien (NO MAJOR CHARACTER) - ??? - SHORT BIO ONLY NEEDED

Still being edited.....

[Durelin]

Welcome, Brinniel!

Here's my post...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Durelin's post - Khamir


- Out of the Caves -


“He said two months, right?”

Khamir sat on a large rock that sat along the stream’s edge and stretched out into the water. The moving current had shaped it and smoothed it after hundreds of years of beating against it. The water merely babbled across the rocky bed, though perhaps at one time it had rushed in the form of a large river. Still the boulder stood strong and unmoving, forcing the current around it. Somehow water always found a way to get through. Khamir had to wonder, watching even such a small current, how the beaver ever managed to build such effective dams. Fire, water, and air – all pushed and shoved until it found a way to get through. For fire, it was perhaps simpler than pushing and shoving, but it still seemed to flow, if considerably faster than any water rushing over stones.

The one-armed man nodded in response to Reagonn’s question. There was a feeling of restlessness throughout the group that could not be ignored. Khamir shared the feeling, even though he expected he minded spending hours out of the day and night in a cave less than most of the others. He was used to caves and sharp, imposing rocks, and trying to sleep on ground or on stone that would never be comfortable, knowing that there was always the chance of being discovered, and forced to rely on whoever was on watch. That was one of many times when a man had trouble trusting anyone.

“We have a decision to make,” he said simply. Leaning forward, he kept his balance so that he remained on the boulder as he dipped his hand into the flowing water. Scooping tiny puddle out, he splashed it on his face. Even the least bit of water did wonders. He poured another small handful of water onto his head, and ran a hand through his thick hair. That was one large thing he would miss when they did head out: the river. They would be hard-pressed for finding water on the journey until the reached the wilderness farther north.

It had been over two months since the King’s letter reached them, informing them that help was on its way. The message had asked the Mordorians to wait two months for help to arrive, and they had sent a message back agreeing. Even if this ‘help’ had not left Gondor until after they received the message from the former slaves, they should have been here by now. Sentiment had been that they were not coming at all from the start. Few felt like really trusting Gondor. It seemed their only hope other than each other, and some rather far off wilderness, was in that country though, in that King.

As a Haradrim, Khamir was raised to have no love for Gondor. But it had been years since the man really thought of himself as a Southron, or as a person with any sort of allegiance. He had severed all ties almost as soon as he was landed in Mordor, and since then, he had buried the remnants of any links. They reminded him too much of chains.

His years as a slave had hardened him, making him callous to all kinds of death and hardships. But, it had softened him as well. It had taken a great deal of his own suffering for him to realize a great many things. Now more than ever, he cherished what good things life had to offer. And he cherished freedom in all its forms. There was no way he could have denied any help he and his men could give to those runaways. And now…they were sixty-five strong, and it seemed they might have a future.

With the help of Gondor, of the seemingly generous Elessar, or not, Khamir would count himself among those who ventured to the northwest. Suddenly rising from where he sat, Reagonn could only watch as the Southron made his way to the small cave opening, and crawled down inside through vegetation that hid the entrance formidably from the outside. The surprisingly large cavern was lit by several torches, numerous side tunnels branching off from the open room that most of the group camped in. He nodded, waved, and said a few words in greeting to those that were gathered inside. They only ever went outside in small numbers, and a sort of unspoken order to things came about in which everyone got a ‘turn,’ whether it meant they were on watch, were gathering water or food, were taking some children outside for fresh air and sunlight, or actually had a short time of rest to themselves. He left the cave with a bag in hand to sling over his left side, so that the bag itself hung at his right hip. Once outside, he pulled several skins out of the sack, and began filling them in the river.

“Tell everyone that who wants to can leave with me in the morning,” he said, turning his head to look at Reagonn while he held one of the waterskins under the flow, “It’s not yet midday. That should give us enough time to prepare.”

Reagonn hesitated, but the darker-skinned man knew that it was not because his comrade was not paying attention. He was similar to Khamir in a good number of ways, one of which being that he was always focused, even when he did not appear to be. The gang leader found him to be a good person to have guarding his back, though different things drove each of them on.

Khamir’s lips twisted slightly in what could only be called a smirk, though anyone who knew him in the least bit, like Reagonn, knew there was only either or kindness or amusement behind it, or both. “Unless you want to stay here, that is.”

[piosenniel]

Bringing this forward:

WRITER/CHARACTER LIST


Major Characters


A. Group Sent Out by Aragorn

• Child of the 7th Age
  • Lindir, b.1258 Age of Trees, Noldor Elf (metal crafter, scout)
  • Radagast (Aiwendil), istar (teacher)
• Durelin – Vrór Redfist, 91 y/o Dwarf (stone mason)
• piosenniel – Rog, 42 y/o male from the East & Harad
• Tevildo – Dorran, 39 y/o Rohan (soldier)
• Folwren – Athwen, 39, y/o, Rohan, Dorran’s wife (healer)
• Hilde Bracegirdle – Carl Cotton, 50 y/o, Hobbit/Bywater (farmer)

B. Inhabitants of Mordor

ORCS - MAJOR CHARACTERS

• Regin Hardhammer - Ishkur, age unknown, Orc rebel (male)
• Undómë - Zagra & Mazhg, about 36 y/o, Orc rebels (sisters)

Orcs – MINOR CHARACTERS

• Regin Hardhammer - Ungolt, 28 y/o, Orc, (female)
• Child of the 7th Age - Makdush, 35 y/o, Uruk-hai (male)
• Nogrod – Gwerr, age unknown, Orc (male)
• Firefoot - Grask, age 9, (male)

~*~

SLAVE ESCAPEES - MAJOR CHARACTERS

• Nogrod - Hadith (aka Apples), 18 y/o, slave escapee (male)
• Durelin - Adnan, 15 y/o, slave escapee (male)
• Firefoot - Johari, 31 y/o, slave escapee (female)
• Novnarwen – Aedhild, 42-52 y/o slave escapee (female)

Slave Escapees – MINOR CHARACTERS

• Undómë – Brenna, slave escapee, 51 y/o (female)
• Tevildo – Azhar, slave escapee, 12 y/o (female)
• Folwren - Kwell Dunfire, 13 y/o slave escapee, (male)
• Orofaniel - Liviol, almost 20 y/o slave escapee (male)

~*~

EX-SLAVES - MAJOR CHARACTERS

• Durelin – Khamir, 37 y/o ex-slave (male)
• Orofaniel - Reagonn, in 20’s, ex-slave (male)
• Brinniel – Shae, 25 y/o, ex-slave (female)

Ex-Slaves – MINOR CHARACTERS

• Novnarwen - Eirnar, 29 y/o, ex-slave (male)

~*~

Mordor inhabitant - ??

• Thinlómien (MINOR CHARACTER ONLY) - ??? - SHORT BIO ONLY NEEDED

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by piosenniel

SLAVE ESCAPEES - MAJOR CHARACTERS

• Nogrod - Hadith (aka Apples), 18 y/o, slave escapee (male)
• Firefoot - Johari, 31 y/o, slave escapee (female)
• Novnarwen – Aedhild, 42-52 y/o slave escapee (female)

Slave Escapees – MINOR CHARACTERS

• Undómë – Brenna, slave escapee, 51 y/o (female)
• Tevildo – Azhar, slave escapee, 12 y/o (female)
• Folwren - Kwell Dunfire, 13 y/o slave escapee, (male)
• Orofaniel - Liviol, almost 20 y/o slave escapee (male)

~*~

Looking at the list, there seems to be different stories... 50+ slave escapees in question.

The major characters have written:
Nogrod: run with the people of his barracks who had a plan to kind of betray the others who uprised to make sure their own escape.
Firefoot: A loner who didn't want company, but found the other escapees after one or two days of lonely run.
Novnarwen: took her six weeks to come straight to the caves, so not one of the 50+ gang (or should be taken out from that?)

The minor characters had no specifics on their escape, but
Folwren: "joined the desperate group who tried to escape"

So Undómë, Tevildo & Orofaniel, what do you think? Should at least two or three of your minor characters come from that very same barracks who decided to let their friends down and just run for it without a fight and who thence succeeded, getting only a few other individual survivors on their numbers? (according to my narration, of course, but no one has protested - or read it - yet... )

In the utmost athmosphere of inconfidence we have written our slaves in (really, people do maintain their humour and manage to live in the worst conditions, but maybe our charachters (partly mine also) are just the only lunatics around... ), it would be nice to write with even one or two of us knowing each other beforehand, even fragmentarily. And surely knowing someone is no reason to trust anyone...

One possible tie that I thought of was Undómë's character who was said to be a "no-nonsense sort of woman with a helping hand for those who need it". I have written myself that my character had been taken care by the elders of the barracks because they pitied him for his rough fate. Then Granny Brenna might have known (or even been a friend of sorts) with either Hadith's father or mother, or both - they were roughly the same age-group, maybe a bit younger - and had been one of those who helped him. So she might be one with whom Hadith would have some trust - and possibly she would have some too for Hadith (well, never know)?

Or anything...

Do you think these should be discussed here or just individually via PM's?

[Durelin]

I've definitely noticed the instances where people don't exactly fit into any of the groups. I admit I did not notice so many until I got the chance to just sit down and read all of the posts over (finally had that chance).

I'm pretty sure these things are do-able - the only real issues with them are in the first posts.

I've been working on putting posts in order for going onto the game thread, but I found myself at a loss for where to place Firefoot's, Nova's, and Orofaniel's.

Question, Oro - what does your first post describe, exactly? It describes an escape. Were you envisioning that escape as recent?

In the utmost athmosphere of inconfidence we have written our slaves in (really, people do maintain their humour and manage to live in the worst conditions, but maybe our charachters (partly mine also) are just the only lunatics around... ), it would be nice to write with even one or two of us knowing each other beforehand, even fragmentarily. And surely knowing someone is no reason to trust anyone...

Well, when we open the game, the slaves will have been in the caves for over two months, and will have been on the road for a little while after that. So between the first posts and the start of the game, relationships could have easily formed.

Relationships before the escape are possible, too, and can certainly arise after the start of the game. In your first post, you normally don't establish too much about your character, because obviously what happens in the game is what is going to be important.

And I will say (hopefully Child doesn't mind me sharing this) - we've both noted that the slaves are in-fact less mentally sound than the Orcs seem to be, which is interesting indeed...

Okay, so for the loners, we'll just say that the 50 slaves include them as well, I think.

And I think such things can be discussed through whichever form of communication everyone feels more comfortable with.

And Nogrod, your narration works well, I think. I'm still not sure exactly where to put it, but its a good point to work from for arranging other posts around it.

Mostly I think the loners posts will stand on their own, reflecting the fact that they're loners, which, personally, I don't have a problem with. About the only issue is the one you bring up about relationships, Nogrod, and the kind of 'coincidences' that are involved. Those are as much a part of RPing as they are of life, though...

Sorry if any of my explanations were jumbled (and I do hope I answered at least some of your questions, Nogrod...I'm currently listening to my friend singing along to 'King of Spain'...

[Nogrod]

Durelin, and others too: I'll try to "streamline" Hadith's first post in less than 24 hours - meaning tomorrow for me, as it is 3AM here right now. I also think the basic story is okay, but I'd like to make it a bit more believable and correct the language a bit.

Just a question. I'm not sure if I have been a lazy reader, but is it true, when you say that (underlining mine):

Well, when we open the game, the slaves will have been in the caves for over two months, and will have been on the road for a little while after that. So between the first posts and the start of the game, relationships could have easily formed.

So does that mean all of the slaves or only the so called "ex-slaves"? I was just wondering that if some 50+ people would have lived together as refugees for over two months in a cave of sorts, there should be quite established relations between them already with likes and dislikes and so on...

I like surprises and being forced to react to new situations, but when writing the first posts in the actual game it would be nice to refer to some people you see positively or negatively - or at least recognizing them from the mass as you are on your own in the new situation. The normal human psyche seems to be quite fond of anything that is familiar... At least to my eyes it makes a bit better story and helps to establish every writer within the on-forming new community.

(When you just gather total strangers and start a "quest", it's different, but if the storyline says these people have been together for months or even their whole life, it would sound weird if they couldn't relate to each other but only via trial and error...)

[Child of the 7th Age]

Yes, the two month period was intentional. What required us to do this was simply the practical demands of travel. There is a note earlier in the discussion thread in which I calculated rates of travel. In this note I did not even include the additional miles that the slaves would have to travel to get down to the southern mountain range, which would have added on extra days. It would take at least two months for the slaves to go to the southern mountain range, for a merchant to convey their message over to Minas Tirith and for the fellowship itself to travel from Minas Tirith to the caves where the slaves were.

I think it's excellent if you want to talk to other posters and establish your character's relationship with them prior to the game. I also suspect that some of this will come about quickly once the posts start going up--characters reaching out to other characters. Either way is fine. The only point that everyone will need to be careful about is not to post as if their slave just wandered into camp five days ago.

Yes, Durelin and I discussed the fact that the Orcs actually seemed "healthier" than some of the slaves. Maybe it's partially our own perception of what orcs and humans should be. It doesn't seem odd that an orc would say he routinely "bashed " other orcs and people. Plus, the orc does not feel particularly guilty about this. He's just doing what orcs do naturally!

We react more strongly when we see a human slave striking out physically at other slaves out of the blue. Our brains label the action as "wrong", indicative of some underlying problem. Humans just aren't "supposed" to do that.

It's almost like differences in gender that still exist in the society even today. When a young boy gets in a fist fight, we often rationalize it with "boys will be boys". When a girl does the exact same thing, we look at that a bit more askance. Girls aren't "supposed" to fight like that.

Anyways, the fellowship members will have a lot of fun figuring out how to react/respond not only to the orcs but also to the slaves. Their life has been so much harder than most of the members of the fellowship. It will be interesting to see how relationships develop.

Nogrod - go ahead and do your revisions tomorrow. Durelin is still working on the order of the posts.

[Durelin]

So does that mean all of the slaves or only the so called "ex-slaves"? I was just wondering that if some 50+ people would have lived together as refugees for over two months in a cave of sorts, there should be quite established relations between them already with likes and dislikes and so on...

We wanted to differentiate from the 'slave escapees' and the 'ex-slaves' only to begin with because they are actually very different, even though once the game starts, they're all thrown together into one story. The slave escapees are simply a group that escaped together (well, that's not the case with the characters some people came up with), and the ex-slaves were actually a part of a gang well before the slave escapees escaped, having escaped at some point probably long before. They're going to be rather different characters, so the differentiation is necessary, even if they are all technically 'ex-slaves' by well over two months by the time the game starts.

But the first posts deal with before this - they're more prologues than anything else, at least in my understanding of them (this is just in this game; I'm not trying to define them overall). So relationships don't need to be established in them, since they are prior to the two months in which many relationships were probably established. And of course relationships were probably established long before that, but its not necessary to cover them in your first post.

So, working those kinds of things out sounds like a good idea - and really, Ive found in the past that mostly those things fall into place too with good gamers (which we've got here). Someone perhaps takes the lead to talk about how they know the person from some other event(s), and the other person flows with it. And if they have a problem with it, they'll probably let you know.

Roleplaying needs its spontaneity, even though you often have to shed it of some in order to have a good experience.

[piosenniel]

Folwren

Dorran's age corrected. (though it was rather fun to think of Athwen as a cradle-robber! )

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EVERYONE

The posts are all on the RPG Thread.

The game will open Monday, July 3 -- very early, Pacific Time, U.S. (when I get home from work)


~*~ Pio

[Tevildo]

My apologies, Folwren. I have finally made the correction in the profile.

Many thanks Pio for setting up the thread and giving us the opening date. Durelin, Child - I will be back on Tuesday.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Here is the list of current "away" dates that I have. If I've missed yours or put something down in error, please let me know and I will add.

July

• Novnarwen: a few days in late July
• Folwren: July 10-14
• Brinniel: July 16-28
• Hilde: July 8-9
• Firefoot: July 20-29
• Nogrod: July 18-20

August

• Hilde: possible short dates in August
• Nogrod: first week of August
• Folwren: August 13-28
• Child: August 23-28
• Regin: August 23-30
• Tevildo: roughly the last week in August
  
  
• Thinlomien: joining the game in August

So far it looks as if our biggest problem will be late in August with at least four out.

I have not listed the coming weekend since we already know who will be missing: Tevildo, Child, Folwren, Regin, Novnarwen, plus Hilde for Saturday and Sunday.

[Firefoot]

I mentioned this to Durelin but I guess it didn't make its way here - I'll be gone from roughly the 20-29 of July.

-----

EDIT -- OK, you're on the list

~*~ Pio

[Nogrod]

I'll be away some three-four days in the middle of July (between 15th and 20th, about). We're getting into middle of nowhere with Lommy & her friends + her little sister...

Was there a plan how the orcs start posting? The slaves start both groups as one as they have met, but where are the orcs when the game begins?

********************

EDIT

Thanks, Nogrod. I added the dates. - Child of the 7th Age

[Child of the 7th Age]

Maybe the Orcs meet and set out from the redezvous point where Regin's character Ishkur is already stationed? Perhaps they are afraid about being followed?

Since we are physically behind the other two bands, let's assume we were on a plantation that was slightly more towards the east on the northern border of the Sea. That means we head west and north in the game. (Undómë mentioned walking west in her post, I think, and Regin mentioned north so we'll combine those and go northwest.) Let's stick fairly close to the banks of the Sea to begin with and then swing north once we've cleared the Sea, thus following in the footsteps of the slaves and fellowships.

Unlike the fellowship and slaves, I don't think the orcs have a clear idea of where they're trying to get to (other than the direction). They basically want to find someplace to the north where there is good game and not too many other Orcs around to bother them.

Regin, Undómë, Nogrod, Firefoot - if you have other ideas, hope you'll share them on the thread or by pm. I am away this weekend till Tuesday, and Regin's name is also on the away list.

Nogrod and Firefoot - I definitely hope you'll feel free to pitch in and post with your minor characters since we have just two posters who took orcs as major characters. I am especially looking forward to seeing Firefoot's 9 year-old orc.

[Folwren]

I'm sorry, everybody. . .I was going to be here this morning, but as it turns out, I wasn't, and I'm only here now, fifteen minutes before dinner time. I am just checking in now and later I'll have to read the game and write a post. Hopefully I'll be able to do it all this evening.

The reason I'm eleven hours later than I intended to be was because our horse, in another pasture for camp this summer, injured himself very, very badly. If any of you would, please pray, 'cause he'll need everything he can get. The cut is on his right hind leg and is very nasty and very dangerous to his health - and life, even.

Till later, all.

-- Folwren

[Durelin]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Folwren! That's horrible!

Don't worry about being gone; I just hope everything will be alright. Our prays are definitely with you and your horse.

[Nogrod]

Folwren, my praying for you and your horse would probably not be counted as I am no christian, but I will have my thoughts with you and your horse. They may not help in that framework, but I hope they might comfort a bit.

So sorry to hear that.

I wish your horse all the best.
(How clumsy one is with a foreign language... but I hope you got the idea)

[Firefoot]

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Folwren.

(How clumsy one is with a foreign language... but I hope you got the idea)

Don't I feel silly... I knew, of course, that you lived in Finland - but I never followed the thought logically through that English isn't the native language up there. I admire you people whose native language isn't English and I can't even tell. That's seriously amazing.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Folwren,

I am sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

_____________________

I have just gotten back and must read over the discussion thread and the game. I promise to post in the story and to respond to questions on this thread, hopefully tomorrow.

[Firefoot]

So I'm going to be out until the 29th. You shouldn't need to do much with Johari; carry her as needed. Grask will likely just escape quietly back to the Orc group, now that Azhar and Kwell have been put out of sight. So I guess he probably won't be needed much either... but if he's needed, don't be afraid to use him, just don't kill him. Or Johari for that matter.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Thanks, Firefoot. I've sent you a pm about something in the plot line. If you're still about, let me know. If not, it can wait till after you return.

_______________________

EXCUSED ABSENCES - WEEKLY REPORT : Brinniel is away through July 28; Firefoot through July 29

Nogrod will hopefully be back this weekend.

______________________
The decision for the fellowship is up. If you have any immediate questions or comments for poor Lindir, post today or tomorrow and he will attempt to respond quickly. If not, I will do a time condense post that gets the entire fellowship on the trail north late tomorrow evening (real time).

[Child of the 7th Age]

Updated General Absence List, or the Joys of Summer Gaming

Brinniel: July 16-28
Nogrod: July 18-22
Firefoot: July 20-29
Novnarwen: July 23-29
Nogrod: July 17-22; July 28- August 4
Child: July 30 - August 4 (should have access); August 23-28
Hilde: August 4-7
Durelin: August 8-16 (will have some access)
Folwren: August 13-28 (will have some access)
Regin: August 23-30
Tevildo: roughly the last week in August

Thinlomien: joining the game in August


If anyone has any extra dates that need to be added to this list, please let me know.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Brillant post for Khamir, Durelin!

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Originally posted by Hilde Bracegirdle

Brillant post for Khamir, Durelin!

I'll second that! It was excellent.

-- Folwren

[Folwren]

In the post I'm about to place, I used Shae a bit, Brinniel. If you need anything changed, let me know, of course, and I'll be quite happy to change it.

Hilde, I'd gotten from your last post that Carl was going to tell Athwen about Shae's hands. That's what he was speaking to her about when Aiwendil walks up. (Anyway, it will be, once I place my post.) I did not think that he would have mentioned the stone just then. If you want him to tell her sometime, you can write it.

And I think that's all. If not, I'll edit this again after I finish and place the post.

-- Folwren