Sailing Away Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Firefoot’s Character

NAME: Sondo Brandybuck

AGE: 14

RACE: Hobbit

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Like all hobbits, Sondo has exceptional aim throwing stones. His only other weapon is a belt knife confiscated from Brandy Hall. It is about eight inches long. Sondo thinks this to be a useful weapon for adventuring, but in truth he would be doing well if he doesn’t hurt himself using it.

APPEARANCE: Sondo is rather small, even for a hobbit. He is only 2'8", and light in build. His sandy brown hair is curly and usually unkempt. His eyes are dark brown, and don’t miss very much. His face is lively and expressive, and he is usually seen with a smile on his face.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Sondo sees everything as an adventure. He loves to hear tales of heroes that go off on adventures. As much as he likes the bustle of living in Brandy Hall, he also finds it rather confining. He dreamed of someday having his own adventure, and now that he has made up his mind to do so he has gone about preparing for it with fervor. Sondo fears very little and does not back down from challenges. Optimism and enthusiasm are two characteristics he by no means lacks.

Sondo has always been the leader of his group of friends, mostly other young hobbits also living in Brandy Hall, and with good reason. He has always been the one to come up with ideas for mischief and the ways to carry them out. He is quite clever, but he does not always use this intelligence for worthwhile causes (for example, stealing mushrooms). Despite his small stature, he has a presence about him that make people notice him and listen. He learned to read and write, but neither of these things interested him very much.

Sondo is also a touch arrogant, and usually thinks himself to be right. Without intending to, he can be callous and seem unfeeling. He is a very fun person to have as a friend, but a terrible person to have as an adversary.

HISTORY: Sondo has two older sisters (twins), two older brothers, and a younger sister. He is on fairly good terms with all of his siblings, but not particularly close to any of them. He has lived in Brandy Hall all of his life, though his mother is a Took and he has travelled to visit his Tookish relations many times. He does not fully understand hardship, loss, or death, because he has not had much if any experience in these things.

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Firefoot’s post FIRST FOR GAME

Sondo hurriedly shoveled down his breakfast. He was eating by himself this fine May morning, a rather unusual occurrence. His friends, scattered across the large dining hall, were likewise alone; they had all agreed it would be best if they were not seen leaving Brandy Hall together so as not to arouse suspicion. For this was the day that his adventure was to start! Sondo had been awaiting this day for some time, ever since he had decided on his newest and grandest exploit yet: to sail down the Brandywine and explore new lands and come back, maybe even with treasure like old Mad Baggins had.

Upon finishing his breakfast, Sondo stood to take his plate back to the kitchen. Such was his good mood that Sondo bid the cook a good day as he delivered his dish. She recognized him; Sondo had caused trouble more than once in her kitchen.

“Be off with you!” said the cook, smiling and shaking her long spoon at him. “And if you are to cause any trouble this day, make sure that it is not in my kitchen!” Sondo laughed and promised that he wouldn’t, for once meaning every word. As he threaded his way back through the long dining tables, he passed a few of his friends and exchanged discreet conspiratorial glances. Those who knew Sondo well would recognize the look on his face as the one he wore when he was up to something.

The hallways were fairly busy, but Sondo passed through them unnoticed - it was the start of a busy day and no one paid much attention to a young hobbit lad. He slipped out one of the side doors while no one was watching. It was the perfect day to start an adventure: the sky was deep blue and a light breezed caressed his face, carrying with it the sweet fragrance of spring. He struck up a fair pace and whistled as he walked, taking the road south past the turn to Bucklebury Ferry.

As he walked, Sondo allowed himself to review the past few weeks with great satisfaction at what had been accomplished. There had been much to do and plan before he could leave. He had first needed to convince his friends what a wonderful idea it was. This had perhaps been the easiest part, because Sondo could make even the most fool-hardy plan sound like a brilliant idea to his group of friends, and they had taken to the idea almost immediately anyhow. He could not even begin to count the near-misses and scrapes he had gotten them into, but still they listened to him, for often as not his ideas worked out excellently and they had a fun time carrying them out.

The next step had been to build a raft and secure supplies. After all, one could not have an adventure without proper supplies. Slowly, secretly, they had confiscated tools and food from the immeasurable resources of Brandy Hall. Someone had found an oilcloth to keep the needed supplies safe from water, because whatever they found had to be stored in their secret stash near the bank of the Brandywine. This was the same cove where they had kept the unfinished raft. Sondo had found himself a hunting knife, a weapon he deemed fitting for adventures. It was in his pocket now - he could not have worn it outwardly inside Brandy Hall because it would have been noticed for sure. The food, enough for several days, had been stolen from the kitchen over the course of the past week. Their sailing vessel was of simple design: logs roped together and caulked with tar, and a makeshift mast with a sheet tied to it for a sail. The hobbits had only finished and tested their raft yesterday, and found with great jubilation that it floated easily, even with all of their weight on top of it. Then they had secured their supplies to the raft and covered those with the oilcloth, ready for sailing.

It was not long before Sondo came to the little creek that crossed the road. The road was clear, so Sondo turned to follow the stream to the Brandywine. The land here between the road and the river was covered by a sparse forest, so the Brandywine did not come into vision until he was nearly upon it. The surface of the muddy river appeared to flow lazily, but Sondo knew that the current was much swifter than it looked. He turned left to reach the storage location of the raft. The place was a little inlet, invisible from every angle except the north, and only then at a close range.

Sondo was the first to arrive, and he was relieved to find everything exactly as it had been left. He resisted the urge to look and make sure the oilcloth was secured correctly. It had been checked several times already and the supplies had been arranged specifically so that the things that would be needed first were on top. There was no need to rearrange. Having nothing else to do, Sondo sat down on the raft with his back to the mast and waited for his companions to show up, dreaming of the adventures he would have, each one being more fantastical than the last.

[piosenniel]

Dedicated character --- Nurumaiel's character

NAME: Falco Brandybuck

AGE: 13

RACE: Hobbit

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS: Falco has no 'sharp' weapon, for his mother is somewhat protective of him. Yet he carries with him a simply-fashioned cudgel that he can wield with considerable force.

APPEARANCE: Falco's hair is brown, with a bit of a touch of auburn in it, and slightly wave, and his eyes are also brown. His cheeks are rosy from constant exercise, and sprinkled with just a few freckles. A very slight tilt-up of his nose indicates some arrogance. He's of average height and weight, but despite his not over-impressive stature, he carries extra strength than normal.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Falco is a generally cheerful lad, who amuses himself in typical boy's games. He enjoys the company of all his friends and companions, and has deep admiration and loyalty to anyone he looks upon as worthy. He could not be said to be an unnaturally adventurous boy, but he has a boy's natural inclinations towards fun and excitement. He's a very bold lad not easily intimidated, and is not opposed to throwing himself recklessly into dangerous situations. He has a deep fondness for any who are close to him, yet he hides it with a show of gruffness and an attitude of non-caring. Falco has arrogance of a certain kind. He will submit himself to another's will if he shares the same opinion as that one, but if the views differ Falco will immediately draw back and become assertive, and try to take the position as leader. Coupled with this is a stubborness, and so even if he realizes that the other is right he will still hold to his own ideas, and arrogantly tell others that he is right, despite his own sense that he is not. He also has an annoying habit of not paying close attention to what people are saying, so more than not he is left in a sort of ignorance of what is going on.

HISTORY: Falco was born to Merimas and Ruby (Gamwich) Brandybuck, and was raised in Brandy Hall. His father worked on the other side of the river, so most days he spent with his mother (who he loved very much, but didn't show it), his older brother (who he admired with a fierce admiration), and his little sister (who he thought very annoying, but also worthy of secret love). When he was younger he was very clumsy and was forever knocking vases off the shelves and running into walls, and tripping over his own feet and falling on his face, so his older brother gave him the nickname of 'Fally,' pronounced as if saying 'fall.'

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Nurumaiel’s post

Falco Brandybuck sat up in the apple tree, picking the fruit and studying them carefully, and then choosing which he would eat and which he would cast aside as no good. Every now and again he would look out of the corner of his eye towards Brandy Hall, where his family was, more than likely, just finishing breakfast. He had had some difficulty in deciding which he preferred more: to go eat the fine breakfast with his family, or to climb the tree and sit nearer the sky, and dine upon his desserts at once. He knew well he would be scolded for taking his dessert before he had eaten a single meal, but he knew also that it would not take the taste of the apples from his mouth. He didn't know, or rather he had forgotten, that his mother was going to make apple pies that day. Having forgotten (for he had not paid her close attention when she was speaking), it never occurred to him that he would be punished in the manner of being denied his fair share of pie.

He was ignorant, and he was happy. The apples tasted fine, the clear spring breeze rustled through the leaves and through his hair, and he was at peace.

A little pattering of feet on the grass below called his attention, and he saw a head of waving brown hair below him. It was his sister. He choked back a laugh of excitement, for he was hiding and she was searching for him. He put a half-eaten apple into his pocket, in case she should find him, for he did not want to be caught in his guilty act, and he pressed himself against the tree trunk. She looked here and there with a perturbed frown on her face, pattered a little way further, and then returned, her hands on her hips and her head cocked angrily to one side. She looked here and there once again, and then she rolled her eyes upwards in a sigh of annoyance. She caught sight of his blue shirt, and was immediately at the foot of the tree, calling up to him.

"Falco, Mamma 'as been looking for you everywhere and she's very angry. Why do you run 'way from breakfast?" And then her big eyes widened and she said, "Were you eating apples up there?"

"Yes," said Falco, and brought himself to the ground. "But don't tell Mamma, Rosa, and I'll give you an apple too."

"Oh no, naughty boy," she said, shaking her finger (and looking just like her mother). "You are very naughty to be stealing those apples, and I won't 'elp you."

"Stealing?" said Falco indignantly. "Why, I was just eating them because I was hungry!"

"You should 'ave et your breakfast, naughty boy."

"Please don't tell Mamma, Rosa," said Falco, his voice pleading and his hands catching her own.

She pulled away from him and fixed her determined eyes on the Hall, but she did not move. Rather, she cast him a keen sideways glance and said, "Will you give me your piece of apple pie if I don't?"

"Apple pie?" said Falco, very stupidly.

"Yes," said Rosa. "Mamma is making apple pie and if you don't give me yours I will tell 'er that you et those apples!"

He had forgotten about the pie. Ah, well. Either way he would lose his share. It was better to lose them to Rosa and escape a scolding. He nodded. "You can have the pie, Rosa, but don't tell Mamma."

"Then I won't," she said.

"I'm sure Sondo and the other boys were looking for me?" he said, and he presented it as a question.

"No, no," she said. "But soon everyone will be looking for Sondo and the other boys."

"What do you mean?" said Falco, quite as stupidly as before.

"I saw 'im leave very quietly, and he ran 'cross the grass towards the river. I wonder if 'e's running 'way?"

Falco turned pale. How could he have forgotten? He recalled, vaguely, that Sondo had been saying something about an adventure, and something about the river, and the raft. Again he questioned himself: how could he have forgotten?

"Rosa, I have to go now," he said. "Don't tell anyone that you saw Sondo leave, or that you saw anyone leave, or that you saw me leave."

"What will you give me if I don't?"

"My piece of apple pie."

"You already gave that to me."

"Then you can tell Mamma about the apples." It didn't matter if she knew. He wouldn't be about to be scolded. "Tell Mamma about the apples, and I'll give you my pie for not telling about us going."

"Very well," she said, "but don't you be running 'way too."

"Of course not, Rosa," he murmured, and giving her a little pat on the cheek he turned towards the river and ran with all speed he could muster.

[piosenniel]

CHARACTERS NEEDED:

5 Hobbits - male: They should be young Brandybucks (13-15 years old) and should live either in Brandy Hall or very nearby.

• 1. Brandybuck male (13-15 y/o)
• 2. Brandybuck male (13-15 y/o)
• 3. Brandybuck male (13-15 y/o)
• 4. Brandybuck male (13-15 y/o)
• 5. Brandybuck male (13-15 y/o)

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Character types which would not belong: Anything other than character types listed above.

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[piosenniel]

Prospective Game Players:

Please use this form for creating your character to post on the discussion thread.

1.) It is a requirement that all potential game players in the Shire will have posted in The Green Dragon Inn or have played to completion an RPG on the Barrow Downs.

2.) Those who have not played before in a Shire RPG will be given preference. Final preference, though, will be at the discretion of the Game Owner.
_______________________________________

Character Description Form:

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in?

List them, please:

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – YES/NO

_______________________________________


For your character please include:

NAME:

AGE:

RACE: Hobbit

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS/EQUIPMENT (No magical, super-hero, mithril weapons. Just good solid Middle-earth weapons and armor only that is appropriate to the race of the character and the time period.): NOTE: Hobbits do not have swords. Slings for stone throwing, small knives, a stout stick, a very small bow for hunting small game, rope, little snares for game.

APPEARANCE:

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: (No half-Elven characters. No mixed-type characters. No super-heroes. No assassins. No one all powerful, martial arts proficient, or having any magical traits. Just regular characters with normal abilities for their races only):

HISTORY:

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First post for your character: (required to be submitted with Character Bio)

~*~

First posts should include “escaping” unnoticed and coming to meet Sondo by the raft

~*~

[piosenniel]

** Happy New Year to All! **

The Discussion thread is now open to take on players.

Please read the proposal carefully and submit your Character Bio with a First Post for the game.

~*~ Piosenniel, Game Moderator

[Firefoot]

Happy New Year, everybody, and hi! Just checking in. I have high hopes for this game and I think there will be some interesting characters and players. I'm really looking forward to this.

-Firefoot, Game Owner

[Boromir88]

1.) Have you ever played in an RPG at the Barrow Downs? – YES/NO - Which one?
Yes, Ungoliant's Children.

2.) How many RPG’s on the Barrow Downs are you currently involved in? One

List them, please: Siege of Gundabad

Please note you may play in only 2 (TWO) Shire games at one time. Exceptions to this may be made for this on a case by case basis by the Shire Moderators. (The Green Dragon Inn DOES NOT count as a game for this.)


3.) Have you posted in The Green Dragon Inn – Yes.

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NAME: Rorinac Brandybuck (Rory to his friends)

AGE: 15

RACE: Hobbit

GENDER: Male

WEAPONS/EQUIPMENT: A Short blade. It isn't very sharp, more suited for giving you marks and bruises then cutting through armor. Always carries a pouch full of sharp throwing stones.

APPEARANCE: Just over 3 feet tall, with slightly curled brown mop. Blue eyes and is thin compared to hobbit standards.

PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES:
You never see Rory with a frown on his face. He's always getting himself into trouble, his friends think he's clever and cheerful, but his parents only see him as a mischievous prankster. Anything his friend Sondo suggests, Rory is the first to pitch in, always anxious to find adventure (as well as trouble). Rory doesn't have a sharp understanding of the ideas Sondo conjures up, he just joins in because he thinks it sounds fun. Rory often gets himself into problems he can't handle yet, because he isn't at that age, as hobbits would say, and looks for others to get him out of sticky predicaments he has gotten in to.

HISTORY:
Rorinac Brandybuck, son of Filiburt and Daisy. He has an older sister Mirabella (Age 17) that is always snooping to try to get him into trouble. Also two younger brothers Rufus (8) and Madoc (7), who look up to Rory, and are constantly trying to join him and his friends. Rory is always finding himself into trouble, and is always forbidden to hang out with his friends. His mother is constantly telling him they are a bad influence, and she doesn't want to see him around them anymore. However, Rory is always finding new ways to slip out, and get himself into deeper trouble.

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Boromir88's post

This morning Rory was forced to eat with his parents, and siblings, because of the last incident. Rory convinced his youngest brother, Madoc, that Mirabella had taken his mushrooms they got from Old Maggot. Madoc ended up throwing his tea on his sister's dress. Like always Rory's parents found out he was behind it, and forced him to wash the dishes after every meal, and eat next to them, away from his siblings.

Rory sat eating next to his mother, who kept shooting glances at him. He wondered how he was going to be able to escape this time, his mom barely kept her eyes off him. Rory knew he had to escape, and sat contemplating how to do so. He already spotted Sondo had left, so he figured he better get out soon.

They already had food stocked by the river, but he managed to slip in some extra bread and berries into his pouch. Mirabella began to complain that she wanted some more tea. "I'm thirsty mama" she whined.

"Honey," Daisy said turning to her husband, Filiburt. "Could you get the kids some more drinks."

Rory perked up, this could be his chance he thought, "I'll do it." His mom looked at him suspiciously, but thought with all the trouble Rory was in, he should do it. "Ok, just don't you go causing any trouble for the cook. She fixes you these meals, you should be more grateful."

"Don't worry mama," he tried not to smirk, or appear he was up to something. He ran up to the cook and kindly asked, "May I get some more tea m'am?"

"Why of course you can, since you asked so nicely. I can't stand hobbits with no manners." She gave Rory a tray, with 6 cups filled with fresh, hot tea.

"Thank you m'am" he replied.

"Why anything for a generous little hobbit like yourself." she smiled.

Rory began walking back towards the table he was eating at, and figured it was now or never. Suddenly, he tripped over his feet and fell flat on his face, as the tray and tea cups went shattering on the floor. Every person dining in the hall turned their eyes on Rory, and the cook began to get red faced, she couldn't stand having to replace her precious china. Rufus and Madoc started cracking up laughing, acting out the scene, and Mirabella began to smirk realizing her brother was about to get it again.

Rory tried his best to keep a straight face, "Gee, I'm sorry m'am. This is all my fault, I'll go get a broom and sweep up this mess. I'm sorry, I'm just so clumsy sometimes." Rory let out a fake frown.

The cook's face which was flooded with red subsided back to normal color, "Oh it's ok, that sort of thing happens a lot around here. You're a nice boy. Yes, go get the broom, and sweep this up."

Rory spotted his parents rushing up to where he tripped. They had an expression of worry, and anger in their faces. Definitely worried they wouldn't have to compensate the cook, and angry at their son.

"Oh, I hope he hasn't caused you any trouble." Daisy pleaded with the cook. "Forgive him, he's constantly causing trouble." She let out a sharp glance at Rory. Rory bowed his head, knowing he was going to get in trouble, and probably be in more trouble when his parents found out what he was going to do.

"Not a bit," the cook responded, "your son was very kind, he even offered to clean this up. Don't worry about it." She then looked at Rory, "Just go get the broom, I'll sweep this up."

Mirabella had joined behind her parents, hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation. Daisy and Filiburt kept saying how sorry they were, and hope that Rory didn't cause her any problems. The cook kept reassuring them everything was ok.

Rory sprinted off, recognizing now was his chance. With his brothers occupied, fighting with eachother, and his parents and tattle-tale sister up with the cook. He bolted out of the door as fast as his feet could carry them, without stopping until he couldn't see the hall anymore. Oh boy, I'm going to get it when I get back, he thought. He quickly brightened, when he heard a faint chatter up towards the river, some of the hobbits must have already appeared. He figured they were waiting on him. He got to the hiding spot, Sondo and the other hobbits signalled him over, they were still waiting on a few others who said they would come. Atleast he got away, but he wondered if his parents knew he was gone yet, probably, it was a good ten minutes since he left the hall. He couldn't turn back now though, he knew he was already in deep trouble, might as well make the best of his opportunity.