Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Folwren]

Indeed, Groin, that is why you should never give me absolute power in a character because I would soooo take advantage of that proverb...if it can be called a proverb. My power-holding character would be so corrupted.

[Nogrod]

Groin: good to see you posting but I have a few questions for you...

The next one is from the thread and I think there is something quite odd there. Now who's talking / thinking and where - I mean the underlined part?

However, the trial was not a total shamble. Quartermaster was not a bad job for an elderly soldier to have and Lithor was content with it. Thornden had been spared and for the most part Athanar’s sons had been spared, apart from being assigned job and a momentary scolding. Balvir and Matrim immediately came to join Lithor and offer their condolences. Let us be thankful, the misunderstanding was not worse. Quartermaster is not such a bad job really. At least the younger newcomers will not have to answer to him. Balvir, you are now my superior. Was it fair? It did not matter. Few things in this life are.
“Quit whining and accept it.” Lithor said his eyes fixed on Wulfric and Wulheard, lost in thought. “The one constellation is that I will be able to keep an eye on his sons.”

Secondly I'd think that Balvir (48y.), a sergeant of Gondor, would understand where lord Athanar is coming from and act accordingly - even if he wishes to be nice with / is a friend of Lithor.

Thirdly; have you thought of those peasants you wrote in a few days ago? I think there are no such figures around and the few comments here have confirmed it. It's always nasty to ask someone to remove something from the story but sorry, there are no such peasants around - and no outside camp-fires etc.


On a general note: I'm happy in general to see people have adopted new NPC's / side-characters from the ranks of the newcomers. That's good and something I'd warmly recommend to anyone.

But it seems you have only picked up some jerks and idiots... Looking at Groin's last post about those non-existent peasants brings the vision of PJ in the movie of the Prancing Pony to mind, like all Breelanders were baddies or half-wits...

Now lord Athanar, if he had peasants following him (which he doesn't), would have kicked that kind of guys off a long time ago. In that kind of society a lord is the one who has the chance to choose and will mercilessly leave the dim-wits or aggressors to suffer on their own and only bear with good people.

I can understand Athanar has some problematic characters around for the sake of storyline interests, like Aforglaed; he could be a son of a fellow lord or something, or a promising youth in arms even if a bit "teen" for his manners, or something like that. Also I think Athanar could stretch for Scyrr if he is an exceptionally good soldier - actually I don't see any other reason why he would have Scyrr among his ranks (he seems to be a kind of a guy lord Athanar would have gotten rid off in the first possible moment) - so beware anyone of you if you wish to try him with your character, he's going to beat you all as he still hangs around...

So what I'm kind of missing are the "good guys"...

Lord Athanar is a high lord of the eorlingas, trusted by king Eomer, a war hero and a renowned leader from the Pelennor Fields. So his soldiers are not the lowest of the mob but among the best there is in whole Rohan. We can have one or two specialities to make twists to the storyline (like Aforglaed or Scyrr) but the overwhelming majority of them should be something like "on the level of Thornden" - if that helps you gain the picture.

So hero-characters available! Finders' keepers'!

The young and a bit insecure Baldwic (son of Baldwin) and the firmer & older Feargall come to mind... (see http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?p=614847) and others can be come up with.


Anyway, let's go forwards! Soonish...


How are your timetables, "Bostonmooters" & "Praguemooters"? Should we make a general pause for a few days or how are your scheduals?

[Folwren]

Thornden's so much your general 'good guy' that I really don't want to take on another. Saeryn is also pretty much understanding and Javan's my only outlet of 'fun'. So I will continue my passive position on this and not take any more characters....though maybe it would be a good thing if I created a sort of NPC.
That would be fun. Then I wouldn't have to keep writing him, but I'd be able to develop him enough for others to use...hm hoom. Good thoughts. Thanks for the nudge, Nogrod.

I might post something in the near future, especially if I plan to form a 'good' NPC. I guess Thornden will need to go to the drill, too, so I could always post for him. But I don't know exactly what is happening, and as Thornden is not in charge, I feel no particular urge to figure out/decide what IS going to happen. So I may wait on writing a post for him...maybe until Dury or whoever is actually in charge (Legate?) writes a post or posts something here.

K, I've babbled on about very little for too long. Byea.

-- Foley

EDIT: P.S. I remembered something just now and decided I could take the opportunity and be one of those bratty little teacher's pet people who raises hand after the teacher scolds the class and says something to the effect of, "I've done it right, Miss Prism" with an innocent little face...

I did create a respectful NPC in a post long ago, who addressed Saeryn when Saeryn discovered Lord Athanar's horse in Flithaf's stall. Saeryn demanded what horse is this, and the soldier stood up from grooming his horse, stepped forward slightly, and politely responded. So, see, we do have some nice people involved.

[Durelin]

I'll do my best to post today to start off with the soldiers.

What does everyone have in mind for these 'exercises'?

A good, long march; weapons drills...?

And what I've been wondering and keep forgetting to ask about is if these soldiers are foot-soldiers or cavalry, or mounted foot soldiers. I'm guessing at least the latter, because this is Rohan. Every soldier knows how to enter battle on a horse. So maybe they can do riding drills.

Think I'm going to have to do a little bit of research, hehe.

Though I know we don't have to have specific, technical detail or anything. I understand how to fudge things...

[Groin Redbeard]

Groin: good to see you posting but I have a few questions for you...

Uh oh. Question? Doesn’t sound good.

The next one is from the thread and I think there is something quite odd there. Now who's talking / thinking and where - I mean the underlined part?

Lithor is thinking aloud. I did not introduce any other characters, besides Erbrand, so I thought it would be obvious (ergo, the reference to Lithor being lost in thought). Sorry.

Thirdly; have you thought of those peasants you wrote in a few days ago? I think there are no such figures around and the few comments here have confirmed it. It's always nasty to ask someone to remove something from the story but sorry, there are no such peasants around - and no outside camp-fires etc.

Uh… those peasants who don't exist are Girth and Hamrod. Sorry, I thought they existed, obviously not. The other “peasants” are the inhabitants of Scarburg listed in the post. Possibly one or two NPC characters as well, but that was not my intention.

As for the campfires and the kettles, that is a traditional Medieval/Dark Age way of eating (after all, Tolkien did model Rohan after the Anglo-Saxon culture). The kettle contains vegetables, roots, meats, and is constantly being added to as the days progressed, never depleting, never overflowing. The term “potluck” is derived from this eating style. I thought this fitted the bleakest time of the year (winter) well, I guess not. Peasant life wasn’t not exactly a bundle of roses. Ow! Thorns!

But it seems you have only picked up some jerks and idiots... Looking at Groin's last post about those non-existent peasants brings the vision of PJ in the movie of the Prancing Pony to mind, like all Breelanders were baddies or half-wits...

First you blow one of my funnest characters out of the water, possibly ruining his chances from here on, and now you call my NEW characters jerks and idiots!? Yes, that large fellow holding the sausage in my post was Girth. What do you expect a man with a name like his to be holding, granola bars? Sounds to me as if Nogrod have some prejudices against peasants. Girth and Hamrod might not be as witty as some characters but they are mine and I love them. *sniff*

I can understand Athanar has some problematic characters around for the sake of storyline interests, like Aforglaed; he could be a son of a fellow lord or something, or a promising youth in arms even if a bit "teen" for his manners, or something like that. Also I think Athanar could stretch for Scyrr if he is an exceptionally good soldier - actually I don't see any other reason why he would have Scyrr among his ranks (he seems to be a kind of a guy lord Athanar would have gotten rid off in the first possible moment) - so beware anyone of you if you wish to try him with your character, he's going to beat you all as he still hangs around...

Soldiers, how can you compare those buffoons to peasants? Peasants have way more class. And now you are corrupting Aforglaed. He is not supposed to be a baddy!

So what I'm kind of missing are the "good guys"...

Is that a burn? I think that was a burn. Ohhhh! Your gonna get yours.

Now lord Athanar, if he had peasants following him (which he doesn't), would have kicked that kind of guys off a long time ago. In that kind of society a lord is the one who has the chance to choose and will mercilessly leave the dim-wits or aggressors to suffer on their own and only bear with good people.

Cold, Nogrod, really cold.

Lord Athanar is a high lord of the eorlingas, trusted by king Eomer, a war hero and a renowned leader from the Pelennor Fields.

He also beats up on peasants in his spare time.

So his soldiers are not the lowest of the mob but among the best there is in whole Rohan.

Just look at their freshly pressed golden hair. More perfume peasant boy.

We can have one or two specialities to make twists to the storyline (like Aforglaed or Scyrr) but the overwhelming majority of them should be something like "on the level of Thornden" - if that helps you gain the picture.

Yes, we get the picture: clone Thornden and beat up pig farmers!

So hero-characters available! Finders' keepers'!

In other words, pig farmers are far from heroic and Hamrod doesn’t meet your approval as NPC. Hmmph!

Originally Posted by Folwren

So, see, we do have some nice people involved.

Foley! Not you too!

All kidding aside, I'll edit my post.

[Folwren]

Groin, you're mad, aren't you? As in cranky, angry, frustrated, etcetra and so forth.

I didn't think Girth as an NPC. I knew he was good.

[Groin Redbeard]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Groin, you're mad, aren't you? As in cranky, angry, frustrated, etcetra and so forth.

I didn't think Girth as an NPC. I knew he was good.

Sort of. Those comments were the result of a slap happy moment that I could not refuse to pass by. I'm mad nowadays period. See ya'll in a couple weeks, I'm going back to the real world to get cool down.

P.S. Use my characters all that you need to.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Durelin

What does everyone have in mind for these 'exercises'?
A good, long march; weapons drills...?

Well it's up to you Dury & Foley how you would make of it... Maybe some excercises with riding-in-formations and changing them, some games like the jousting in the middle-ages eg. riding against a dummy that swirls around; or wrestling, sword-fights (with wooden swords preferably), tactical manouvers (how to fight in different scenarios, like one against two, two against three etc.). So like basic practise - but aiming at the same time to unite the soldiers.

Your call!

And yes Dury, they're cavalry and most of their exercises should be on horseback, but they should also practise fighting on the ground as well.