Bloodstained Elanor Planning/Discussion Thread

[Durelin]

I see your point about the orc capture. I just wanted to see if there was a way we could have interaction with orcs and/or easterlings and elves, without elves being captured, as that could become too much of a generic rescue story.

But, where you're going, Fordim, is not a generic rescue story.

Let's see if I can build on that. Here we go. And don't laugh, I'm thinking and trying to type at the same time.

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Dol Guldur is in Southern Mirkwood, correct? Very far south. Would scouts be keeping Dol Guldur under surveillance? If they would be, then it is possible that a scout party from Mirkwood could detect movement at Dol Guldur, and observe the army as it marches toward Lorien.

At this point a desicion must be made: to report back what they have seen, or, to continue following the army. The latter would allow them to aid Lorien, while the former would not allow them time to reach their bretheren before they are attacked.

They decide to continue to follow the army. At some point, when they have entered the edges of the forest, or are about to enter, they catch up again enabling them to spy on the army once more. The reason they have caught up. they find in their spying, is because the army now has captives. Or, they have caught up only to a party of orcs and easterlings heading back to Dol Guldur with captives. These captives are elves of the envoy/scout troop from Lorien.

The party has just divided from the army, and the army is still in sight of the Mirkwood scouts. If they continue on, they will remain within a spying distance of the army, and may have the chance of overcoming them. But, this means they abandon the prisoners. They decide to try and free the captives, as they are in immediate danger, and the scouting party's information will be valuable even if the battle begins before they can reach the Lorien elves. (Possible 'information' listed after plot summary)

They lay in wait for the party heading to Dol Guldur, a small skirmish follows, and the captives are rescued. From the Lorien envoy/scout troop they learn more of Lorien's plight, and more of the inner workings of the army, filling in the gaps within the information gathered during their observation of the army. With a larger 'force', they head to Lorien. Unfortunately they are slowed by wounded prisoners.

Upon reaching Lorien, they use their information to aid Lorien to victory. They either make their way across the Anduin, looping around to the north (or south) a bit and coming into Lorien north (or south) of the battle and give their information to the defenders. Or, they come up from behind the army from Dol Guldur and use their knowledge to effectively scatter the orcs and easterlings with such a small force.

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Much depends on what exactly the information is that they gain from observing/trailing the army. Here are some possibilities:

• Dead orcs/easterlings are found while trailing army: fights between the two races - think Uruk hai vs. normal orcs (this is used often to the free people's advantage!)
  
• Dead orc/easterling leaders are found while trailing the army: fighting among the leadership - this would be confirmed by the rescued captives (alone it is not a very strong advantage to know this without complex planning ahead of time, but combined with other knowledge it could prove more than important)
  
• Deserters are discovered while trailing the army, and are killed or avoided by the scout party: leadership has stirred mutiny among the grunts - this would be confirmed by the rescued captives (again, probably not easily a strong advantage)
  
• All the army's strength has been placed in a certain position: think Greek phalanx - the best troops were placed on the right, then finally Alexander (or Philip...one of them, I believe) put his strength on the left to face this (alone it is not a very strong advantage to know this, but combined with other knowledge it could prove more than important)
  
• Army swings to the north (or south, but then they'd have two rivers to cross): perhaps Lorien is less protected there - if the scout party is able to reach Lorien before the army, the defenders could meet the army at the Anduin, using the river to their advantage, and surprising them (because the number of troops available to defend Lorien is most likely is not too many, this may not be too efective without more intel/another advantage combined with it)
  
  If the army went to the south and the defenders were alerted of this, the need to cross two rivers could give them even more of an advantage.
  
  As long as the scout party reaches Lorien a good time ahead of the army, the defenders will be able to use the Great River to their advantage, no matter which direction the army comes from really. (Yes, there are exceptions, but I doubt the army would use any of them, as they would waste time. For example, crossing the river far to the north/south.

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One more big question that must be answered:

You will notice that I put 'Lorien envoy/scout troop'. This is because, with a unification of Mirkwood and Lorien gone from this particular plot option, the purpose of an envoy needs to be found. The only type of envoy I can think of might be one that is reporting to patrols, and that one would not contain any females, so it might as well be a scout troop. Also, I doubt an envoy would be beyond the borders of Lorien (which they would have to be, I am thinking, ot be captured), as the outer patrols remain within the forest. Right now, I can't think of a reason for an envoy, though I believe such a party, containing at least one female character (with an actual part) would be more than excellent.

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I hate to see so much good planning go to waste

I know what you mean, Aylwen. I suggested it be saved for another game if it is not used in this one, as it seems it will not be right now. It would be interesting, but I think it would be best if the Houseless were included in a game in Rohan, or even Gondor. The Houseless are just something that kind of must be the center of the story, so...we sort of started planning another story in the planning of this RPG. A pretty nutty story, in a fun way, if you know what I mean.

You know, I do feel stupid now completely getting rid of the Houseless after all that, but I believe it is the only way.

That's all the thoughts I can type for the moment.

Now it's your turn.

-Durelin