Shadow of the West Discussion Thread

[Bêthberry]

Indeed, a superb idea, Fordim, to borrow Piosenniel's method. I hope you will continue her wise ways. In keeping with your wishes to avoid a bio or history now, I offer these responses of the Queen to your issues.

Queen Bekah, once Princess Bekah of Alanzia, and now known also as "Mayiam, "Lady of Cool Water", is the quietly competent consort of King Faroz. She arrived in Pashia as a young adolescent as part of a dynastic marriage intended to secure peace between her country and Pashia. She faced considerable hostility and mistrust upon her arrival and has worked assiduously to earn the trust and respect of the Pastians without being seen as a traitor to Alanzia. To this end, she has not courted issues of power and politics and has instead sought to identify herself with social and cultural issues, focusing upon her role as mother and the higher issues of statehood and just order. To this end, she has educated her children thoroughly in the culture of both Pashtia and Alanzia, drawn around her a small retinue of people from both countries and many ranks; she has been mainly responsible for helping to establish trade between the two countries. She has wisely not displayed her personal feelings but has always been guided by the question of what is best for continued peace, which she sees as proceeding from a strong central monarchy.

Her response to these three issues is based upon that main criterion: what will ensure the greater good and a strong monarch.

May the Queen humbly ask where the King stands in relation to these questions or is that part of secret game strategy?

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Ah, the appeal of royal priviledge.

Unlike my. . .er. . .Faroz's subjects, the King gets to remain silent on these issues until such time as he has decided them. Suffice to say that his decisions will be made based upon what his subjects have to say on the matter.

Of course, as he becomes more and more drawn by the Ring, who knows what that might do to his decision making abilities. . .? *insert ominous music here*

Sudden Note

Which reminds me! In the highly enjoyable Bloodstained Elanor there was some heated discussion relatively early on about appropriate theme music for the game. The final determination (for myself at least) was the big heroic battle/theme from Gladiator which I hummed to myself obsessively as I wrote and/or thought about the epic battle sequences that I indulged myself in during that game.

So I must ask -- what should the theme music be for Shadow of the West? I myself am a bit partial to the more eastern-inspired music of Loreena McKennit's latest CDs. Moody, etheral, but with some nice earthy/folksy/roots-music bases to keep them steadied, It's kind of like the more new agey stuff of Enya but much more energetic and historical-sounding.

[Nurumaiel]

Like many others, I didn't want to play in another game, but when it came to this game, I really, sincerely, desperately wanted to. So may I introduce a likeable ( ) fellow:

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Korak is a lord with great wealthy and little brain. That is to say, while he isn't out and out stupid, he doesn't care to use the intelligence he's been given, but prefers all things to be handled in a manner which uses physichal strength, not mental strength. It's a bit contrary to the general idea of his people, his disregard for intellect, for cultivation of the mind and of skills, but he doesn't care. In fact, you may say he doesn't have enough intelligence to notice that he's very much different. He harbours no feelings of love for the princess he intends to marry, and is only interested in her for the sake of alliances and for the sake of having an 'heir,' so to speak, to inherit his wealth and lands, whether it be his wife or a son. A very brief description of his outward appearance would be that he has semi-long hair of a dark colour that is braided, and his long beard is also braided. His skin is a rich brown, and likewise his eyes. He shows no outward sign of his 'stupidity.' It must be carefully noted, by the way, that Korak is not completely dense, but he is not completely intelligent, either, and he holds muscle over mind.

i) The King has been asked by several of his nobles to erect a new temple in the city to the honour of Rhais. This party hopes that such a temple will help their cause to have the sky god worshipped above the goddess of the earth. Does the player?s character support or oppose the construction of the new temple?

Korak is for the building of the new temple. He feels that a woman's place is that of wife and mother, and that a woman should not hold a position of power, even if it's a goddess concerned. Promoted worship of the sky god, he is sure, will 'put women in their proper place.' It's unlikely that Korak is one of the nobles that came up with the idea, for he wouldn't be really able to think of such a thing, but he probably was one of the nobles who petitioned to the King.

ii) For the last few years there have been calls for a law that would limit the term of service of any Avari in a royal posting to ninety-nine years. There are many amongst the nobility who feel that too many of the highest positions in the kingdom are closed to humans by the immortals who currently occupy them. Does the player?s character think that such a law would be just?

Short and simple, Korak doesn't care, because he's more than a little ignorant of the calls for such a law. If he was fully aware of it, he still wouldn't care, as long as it didn't hurt him.

iii) The King has yet to declare his heir. Does the player?s character think that it should be the King?s son, who is the younger child, or should the King choose his daughter, in which case the noble she is promised to in marriage will rule?

Naturally Korak wants the daughter to be heir. After all, he's going to marry her. Need more be said?

In short Korak is very handsome, a little dense, a bit of a brute, and rather power hungry.

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I'm all for Loreena McKennitt, Fordim, though I've got only one CD of hers. (*slaps forehead* Why didn't I listen to her while I was writing out this 'bio?')

EDIT: Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention: this blighter here is that one lord that was still available.

[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Having learned from the master herself, I want here to lay out, in full piosenniel fashion, an updated list of characters:

The Royal Family

King Faroz (FAR-osz): Fordim Hedgethistle

Queen Bekah: Bêthberry

Princess Gjeelea (Jill-laya): Aylwen

Prince Siamak: Firefoot


Members of the Royal Court (human)

The Lord Korak: Nurumaiel

The Lady Arshalous: Imladris


Members of the Royal Court (an Avari family)

General Morgôs (Elrigon): Kransha

Arlomë: Alaklondewen

Their grown child, male or female


Priests

One male

One female: Amanaduial the Archer


Still needed:


Members of the Royal Court (an Avari family)

Their grown child, male or female


Priests

One male



OK -- so that's two votes for McKennit.

[Kransha]

Fordim, put me down for Loreena McKennit as well. I'd say those tones have the proper 'foreign' feel, so that we do not become grounded in Howard Shore's ever familiar canon-musicality. We're doing a different thing, a different beat, and we need a different tune to carry us along.

But, might I also suggest a mere sprinkling of Bizet, for the more exciting and lively moments, and a tempermental douse of Rimsky-Korskov for the...umm...exoticism?

My 2 kopeks, take and/or leave, as you will.

P.S. Each day my patience thins as to the beginning of this game. T'would be best, Mighty Fordim, to be apt and swift with thy arrangements - if thou knowest what my meaning is (I shan't be a-wanting to send you the way of Rosenkranz and Guildenstern).[/bad-shakespearean-english]

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

Oh, Nuru!

Hmmmm *evil grin* This will indeed get quite interesting! Two power-hungry people...where will it lead?

I admit to not knowing much about Loreena McKennit. The only song I've heard from her was her rendition of "Highwayman" but that was back in 7th grade when we were reading the poem.

I guess my vote goes for McKennit, though, since everyone else is voting for her.

-Aylwen

[Nurumaiel]

Thank you kindly, Fordim, for accepting my character.

Personally, Aylwen, I wouldn't marry such a man as my character is, so I hope your own character differs enough from me that she'll continue to have at least some reason to marry him! He had to be handsome, for your (character's) sake.

While looking over the list of current players, I'm thrilled to see that I 'know' all of you at least a little bit. It makes me feel quite at home.

And, before I skip away, let me say, as Kransha did, that I'm more than eager for the game to begin, especially when I reflect on what a stunning cast of players I see thus far!