Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Nogrod]

Changed... It should suit fine I think.

[Nogrod]

Hehe... I love you Mnemo!

They sometimes claim there are RPG's where there are no tensions!

And then there are those where there are some... and those with quite a lot... even some with a host of tensions... and well, some even with more than that... and then there is Scarburg Mead Hall!

[Mnemosyne]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Hehe... I love you Mnemo!

Does this mean you'll go to bed now and get a healthy amount of sleep in you, just because I'm asking nicely?

There's nothing like a healthy dose of racism to keep the pot stirring... after all, the kitchens seemed pretty quiet last time I checked. Why should we have all the fun to ourselves? :evil:

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Mnemosyne

Does this mean you'll go to bed now and get a healthy amount of sleep in you, just because I'm asking nicely?

Maybe...well definitively... and it's only about 3AM (and I have classes only at 12...)

Thornden might break up the suspense, or Coen, or anyone of the previous Mead Hall just taking initiative and pulling Lithor (and Crabannan) out from the spotlight.

I'm going to sleep now and leave it to you.

And any others might post for their reactions anyway even if not willing to break the deadlock...

[Gwathagor]

Well, this IS fun. I haven't enjoyed myself this much in RPG-land since I got to write the part of the vampire in the Treachery of Men. All those murders...

[Folwren]

I had a thought. Since Lilige had worked with Javan while unpacking the wagons, would she know his name and be able to tell Wynflaed, even though Aedre didn't know?

time for dinner.

-- Foley

[Loslote]

She does, and can tell Wynflaed as soon as she gets back from the banquet. Lilige will be with Aedre...unless Aedre gave her the slip and went to the stables, but I think Nienna had decided against it? Either way, she'll probably be in her Lady's chamber. It would be natural for Wynflaed to ask if she'd seen who it was, and Lilige can and will tell her.

[Groin Redbeard]

Okay, I've deleted my post until Nogrod and I can get a PM post up together.

Also, as a side note, I would like to add that Lithor's boast was not unusual for the Anglo Saxons to make. It is a tradition that each warrior must do when introducing himself (as seen in Beowulf). Secondly, Lithor's spear throwing in the great hall was also not unusual. My inspiration for it was from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where something much more gruesome happened there. A game, song, story, or challenge was not unusual at Medieval banquets. Lithor is doing nothing out of the ordinary there.

[Folwren]

I don't really think it was the challenge itself that Athanar is angry with. It is the form of the challenge. The beginning of my post with Thornden kind of expresses, I think, what many people might be thinking - how the humor would have been right for Eodwine's time, but not now with this new lord and questions of authority still being bandied about.

Looking forward to your guys' post. Your last one was really good and I would've repped it, but they said I couldn't. Anyway, I'm sure this one will be great, too.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Folwren

I don't really think it was the challenge itself that Athanar is angry with. It is the form of the challenge. The beginning of my post with Thornden kind of expresses, I think, what many people might be thinking - how the humor would have been right for Eodwine's time, but not now with this new lord and questions of authority still being bandied about.

You're quite right Foley with the "temporary-rule" -issue that it's mainly the way it was said, quite mockingly from Athanar's POV. But calling Athanar and his household "guests", by a soldier, and in public, is actually also something more substantial Athanar can't just tolerate.

Like he has shown the King's decree giving him the eorlship for everyone to see and then hearing someone calling him a guest five minutes later... thus basically publicly denying his authority. No leader would tolerate that, but someone else might have acted less heatedly.

But as you say Foley, there are so many issues of insecurity and threat around him that he overreacts. If and when we get this thing straightened out during some time and more posting, you'll see lord Athanar has nothing against a merry party... Although I don't think him to be a "party-animal" -type of person himself.

[Folwren]

Yeah, I figured. It was even the 'temporary lord' thing that caught me off guard and not exactly the 'guests' part.

This incident will make it even harder for the new people to settle in and the old people to accept them. I've been kind of thinking about what Javan is doing and thinking all this time. I don't know what he'd be thinking. Sometimes my characters manage to confuse me.

And I may post some post for Saeryn and her thoughts, just so I can fill some time and space before you two get your post up, so it doesn't seem like the game is stalling.

-- Foley

[Gwathagor]

Hey, um, Nogrod - you keep saying "quests." Do you mean "guests?" Just curious.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

Hey, um, Nogrod - you keep saying "quests." Do you mean "guests?" Just curious.

I actually do, mean "guests" that is... That's an age old letter-blindness with me...

[Gwathagor]

Oh, good. Everything makes much more sense now.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Folwren

And I may post some post for Saeryn and her thoughts, just so I can fill some time and space before you two get your post up, so it doesn't seem like the game is stalling.

That's a good idea.

We're actually writing the post (we've had two rounds) but I'm not sure when Groin is going to be back - and especially while he has deleted his earlier post there could be a specially good spot to post something in the next hours... (I mean those reactions can of course come also after the dialogue between Ath & Lith but they would be even better posted before.)

[Groin Redbeard]

Our post is up. Thanks Nogrod!

[Nogrod]

Thanks Groin! It was a lot of fun indeed!

It's so different when you can't just decide what happens yourself but someone actually puts you in a tight situation and requires you to really think how your character reacts - and throws your character into a situation you wouldn't have imagined yourself!

As said earlier, this kind of posting is strongly recommended to everyone who just has time!

[Thinlómien]

I will continue for the two rascals later (this weekend) and get them more involved with stuff. That's there as a sort of reminder that they exist.

As for what I posted for Modtryth, if someone wants to hear Modtryth's remark and continue, feel free to. If not, I will continue from there myself (I can very well do that).

[Folwren]

Wow, Lommy, in one post you managed to make me have two different reactions while thinking about two different characters. Worry for Javan and righteous indignation in defense of Saeryn. I just about screamed when I read their comments about her. Good job!

Nogrod and Groin, great post! Poor Lithor! Poor man, having insulted him at the last. Oh wow. Yippee! Posts can get back online. I am SO excited!

-- Foley

[Thinlómien]

You love my new characters, Foley, don't you?

[Groin Redbeard]

I got a post up in defense of Lithor. It is obviously bias, but I could not stand to watch everyone tare him up without some type of defense. I'll have to think hard on how to change Lithor's attitude back around, I don't want him to be a depressed angry character (that is what Erbrand is for). I'll have Lithor lay low for a while, stay in the shadows and pop out every now and then when needed.

Durelin, Lommy, nice posts. I like Coen a lot and I hope that we hear more from him in the future and I want to see those twins interact more with original Scarburg characters.

Nogrod, are you going to post for the grumpy old man character soon? I want to see how he fits in with his new surroundings.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I'll be out of touch for a bit- my computer got sick and needs some organ transplants, so I won't have it for a few days at least.

Make good art while I'm gone!

[Folwren]

I posted the post that Groin and I wrote together. I would have waited for Legate to post, but I don't know if I have internet at home and I will not be anywhere with sure internet again for a few days. Legate can still post, though.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

The boys know that Saeryn is as much a noble as they do, right? They're just being crude creeps?

Don't get me wrong, I love the problems they cause, and every time I see them trashing Saeryn I want to go slap them silly, I just want to make sure they know that if Degas heard them refer to his sister like that, he'd be torn between either pounding the snot out of them or going to Athanar to report their behavior.

Hey now... *has idea*

Not now, though. No time now for ideas... Sigh.

[Folwren]

Your post was good, Groin. I'll think of a reply later today and post it. Mnemo, if you want to overhear them talking to Lithor, you can take over after my post (if that's ok for Groin). Actually, wow, that would be really cool, Lithor sort of "saved" by Athanar's wife. Ooh...

I had a thought. Any time now, Javan and maybe the other boys will be slipping away from the tables....they could come across them first and then run in for help, maybe...if Lithor is being maltreated.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

You love my new characters, Foley, don't you?

Love is hardly the word I would use to describe my feelings for them.

Groin, I don't think that Lithor need become a depressed, angry sort of character. His actions, words, and behavior thus far in the game seem to make him out to be the sort of man that eventually, he would let his ill feeling go. If he indeed knows he's not guilty, then he'll be more likely not to be depressed. As for the angry...well, I can see him being angry as long as Athanar and others continue thinking he was guilty and he feels he wasn't. That will make him think he's being unjustly judged and condemned. But if he's a responsible fellow, he'll do his best to get rid of the anger and carry on with life, allowing them to be wrong in their impressions of him.

Don't hide Lithor. Take the opportunity to build his character.

-- Folwren

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Don't hide Lithor. Take the opportunity to build his character.

I won't hide him forever, but building his character might be dangerous to his reputation. The thing I like about Lithor is that nobody knows the intricate details of his past, so I can throw little tidbits of information in as I go. After the details of something is known, especially history, it loses its attraction.

Formy, that was an awesome line at the end of your post: "elvishily impractical." What a great line!

[Eorl of Rohan]

Eeeeh.... Do I have to read all 18 pages of post in order to join the Meadhall, Lommy?

[Folwren]

Oh, no, Eorl. Don't even attempt it. Um...what kind of character are you thinking of introducing? Allow me to give you a summary of what has occurred, and then you can form your character accordingly and join.

About a month ago, Lord Eodwine, the realy eorl of Scarburg, fell sick. No one realized how sick he as until he positively collapsed, and no one in Scarburg could do anything about it, so they took him to Edoras. King Eomer, who had granted Eodwine his position as Eorl and given him Scarburg, did not think Eodwine likely to return soon, so he decided to set a new eorl over the place, despite the fact that Eodwine had a wife, Saeryn, who the people of Scarburg thought perfectly capable of ruling in Eodwine's stead until his return.

The new eorl is Athanar, who has just arrived in the game the previous day, game time. We are currently playing the day after his first night. The day of his arrival proved full of conflict, his people did not mix well with the Scarburg people. There were some fights and disagreements. Some of the Scarburgians think that Athanar and his people are usurpers of power - they especially resent the fact that Saeryn is being ousted from her place of lady of the hall by Athanar's wife. Tension, as you can imagine, is high.

Where we are now in the game - all the men-at-arms have just finished a drill type thing under the new captain/commander, Coenred. Thornden, the man who Eodwine had put into the position of captain, etc., is Coenred's .... lieutenant, you might say. He's under him, anyway.

One of Athanar's men-at-arms was for some reason unable to be with the others at the time of the drill, and he got into a fight with the Scarburgian man named Erbrand. Erbrand in the heat of the moment nearly strangled Scyrr to death and when he thought he was dead, he came to himself and realized his own danger and ran. Before he could leave he was met up by another Scarburgian man named Lithor (a man-at-arms who quite unintentionally got mixed up the wrong way with Athanar the previous night) and he and Lithor left together...

So, right now, Scyrr has just been found, Athanar has been allerted about what happened to him, Lithor's absence has not been verified, and I have a vague feeling the place is about to errupt. Good luck slipping unnoticed into the story.

Does that help? Anything else I should add, anyone?

-- Foley

[Folwren]

Holy smokes, I leave for half a day and when I get back, I find the discussion thread in such an uproar that I hardly have enough courage to go read the game thread!!!!!!!!

Courage found, off I go!

-- Foley

[Folwren]

Oh my goodness. Oh. My. Goodness.

......

..............

......................

Gotta go finish reading. Still have two more posts by Gwathagor to read.

[Folwren]

You do realize, Nogrod (and everyone, for that matter), that all this was in jest? To my eye, Groin writing for Lithor meant Lithor to mean no harm, or at least little harm. But the way that other writer's appeared to take it and have their characters take it goes to show that even a jest may be taken terribly, terribly wrong.

That being said, the game has progressed. The joke has not been taken well, tempers are rising, and it appears that Lithor is in very deep trouble quite on accident.

I will try to post for Thornden tonight. I kind of wish we could have Groin post next, but now that Crabannan has interrupted, I think it would be appropriate for Thornden to try to say something.

Harping back on what you said earlier Nogrod:

After his own 12-year old daughter was beaten by the local "mob", lord Athanar is not in a mood to be easy or understanding with the locals any more if there is such a foolery... From his POV he was already too soft in letting the fate of his daughter to go unpunished - and he did that to show he can give in so that the locals would also give in, in turn.

Was he really going to let it go? I had thought he just didn't do or say anything yet because the banquet had to happen. Well, well. Javan turns lucky once more...unless Athanar changes his mind.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

I would recommend that even if Athanar lets Javan go, so to speak, that one of the original Mead Hallers devises a suitable punishment. Perhaps specifically Saeryn.

[Mnemosyne]

From my end, I know what Groin meant as Lithor... but I'm not Wynflaed, and her perception has been colored by what her husband just said. But taking things out of context and overreacting is fun.

As far as I can tell we're not looking into the matter of punishing Javan (we still don't even know who did it, yet) until after the banquet is over and we can make some discreet inquiries. And even then Wynflaed is going to want to hear the other side of the story, both because that's good policy and because she knows that these sorts of things don't happen without provocation.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Oh good heavens... I just wrote a post in which Degas... feels... sorry - gasp - for Athanar.

You know, I really didn't see that coming, but then I realized that the two characters are really foils for each other. Both are lords walking into a horrible mess that requires shows of power/diplomacy/etc and constant attention in order to regain stability, but Degas did it by showing his people that he is one of them, whereas Athanar seems hellbent on proving that he is their superior.

Degas's theory is that his people are already perfectly well aware of his title. The question is getting them to listen because they want to, not because they must.

So while he's massively irritated that Athanar doesn't seem to understand/care about tact, he's also totally on the guy's side when it comes to dealing swiftly with soldiers/commoners who appear to disrespect authority.

Hence him watching Lithor and Crabannan with what amounts to a bit of disinterest whilst others react with shock.

I'm actually quite certain Degas would like Athanar a lot if they could just work out Saeryn's future in an acceptable manner.

Ahem.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

I would recommend that even if Athanar lets Javan go, so to speak, that one of the original Mead Hallers devises a suitable punishment. Perhaps specifically Saeryn.

What would be a suitable punishment? I don't really know. My younger brother has never hit a girl before, and Javan's been mostly fashioned after him in a lot of cases.

Mnemosyne (I almost caleld you Wynflaed), I'm glad she wants to hear the other side of the story. Aedre really didn't do a good job of telling a very unbiased tale.

I posted for Thornden. Let's hope he succeeds in his plans to cool tempers and avert instantaneous death....I mean, arrest. Up until this moment, I don't think I quite realized that Thornden was a pacifier. Hm.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Folwren

What would be a suitable punishment? I don't really know. My younger brother has never hit a girl before, and Javan's been mostly fashioned after him in a lot of cases.

Hm... I'm trying to remember what happened the one time my brother hit me. *strains memory* I told my mom. Who told my dad. And then... I think I didn't have the guts to stick around and view his punishment. Which explains why I don't remember what happened.

I'm not thinking corporal punishment. I'm thinking more like... he can work off his offense. Perhaps this could be something that Wynflaed and Saeryn come together to work out? I was thinking perhaps Javan might be made to do tasks for Wynflaed's maid or something for a while. Sort of an assistant. So that through it he comes to know the ladies of the household?

Or not. Random thoughts, and I'm tired and don't feel good, so my random thoughts might actually be terrible, and I wouldn't even know it.

[Formendacil]

If being a semi-active writer again will permit me the insolence, I'd like to nitpick with the Mead Hall writers generally about a little spelling...

Namely:

"Court Marshal" is not what you think it is. A marshal is a person, and therefore a noun, and therefore, if combined with "court", it must be "the marshal of the court." Well, we all know that Marshals in Rohan are military officers, of the highest rank. Whomever Athanar served before coming to Scarburg, you can bet the Marshal of the Edoras Muster was one.

See... what you mean is "Court Martial"--with "court" as the noun, modified by the adjective "martial"--which you will remember from such phrases as "martial arts" or "martial law"--that is to say, "martial" could be considered to modify a noun such that it now has specific reference to war matters (being a related to the name "Mars"--the Roman god of war). As a soldier, Lithor would be Court Martialled, because he will be tried under martial law--the law that would hold in times of war, when soldiers order justice.

Personally.... I'm not entirely convinced that the Rohirrim of the early 4th Age would have had different judicial systems for commoner and soldier, because I don't think they had a "military" or "standing army" as such. Soldiers, yes--men directly in the employ of the King or Lord to serve martial duty, but I don't think that this would have meant a different relationship to the law than a common Eorling, who, after all, if able to serve and ride would be eligible to be raised in muster during time of war.

However, my personal quibbles about judicial matters aside, if you mean that Lithor will be tried as a soldier in a soldier's court, that court is a Court-Martial. Which is not the say that Elfwine, Erkenbrand, or whomever the Marshal of the Edoras Muster currently is, could not preside in such a court--indeed, I'd think them likely--it's just that they are different things.

~Formendacil - Wannabe Professor and Certified Nerd