Red Flows the Sirannon Planning/Discussion Thread

[piosenniel]

Folwren

I'm here and will most likely have a post up tonight, or the wee hours of the morning. Sorry for the delay!

I'll get you, my pretty . . . and your little dog, too . . . all in good time . . .

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Durelin

I put a heading on your post of 9/3 - the one that jumped the game ahead - just so it would be clear to all we are now 2 years ahead.

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Envinyatar

Enjoyed how you brought in the old great forests and the Ents!


Great posts everyone!

~*~ Pio

[Arry]

Pio

Can you put this up just before your post? Skald is enjoying Bror's dilemma.

-- Arry

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PLACED ON GAME

Skald was in two minds about this trap that Bror had set. It was elaborate, ingenious, even. A worthy response, indeed, from the baby brother. It had only taken him fifty years or so to bring the art of practical joking to this new pinnacle.

And best of all, to Skald’s way of thinking, it had rebounded on Bror in a way much better than any revenge Skald might come up with. The silly git had neglected the first rule of practical joking – make sure the target you aim for will be the one you hit. He chuckled quietly as he fussed about with the web of cords that entangled his older brother. Riv, for his part, was red in the face, his eyes narrowed dangerously, as he twirled like some great last leaf of autumn on its spindly stem.

‘Who do you think taught me the art of playing tricks on someone?’ came the muffled question from Skald as he fished about for the right rope to cut. He’d turned his head back for a moment to see who’d crept into the room behind him. ‘You are dead, little brother, so-oo-oo dead!’

He reached up with his knife and began to saw on a likely looking cord . . .

[piosenniel]

Arry

Have placed your post and followed it with one of my own in response.

Folwren

Unna, I think will counsel her husband to be more mature than either Bror or Skald. But once he's healed up a bit, I think you both had better watch your backs!

~*~ Pio

[Folwren]

Pio

Here's the post to go after Riv's offer of truce. I hope it is good enough.

Still working on the other post.

- Folwren

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POST PLACED ON GAME ~*~ Pio


‘That sounds good,’ Bror said, looking up for the first time since Riv arrived. ‘At least I won’t have to worry about it for a while.’ He looked with a deal of chagrin at Riv. His older brother was composed, but something in his face told Bror that he was still in some pain. The white bandage and cast around his shoulder made him wince and he looked back down at his half eaten breakfast. ‘I ought to be going. Jollin will be expecting me soon.’ He pushed back his chair and got up slowly, as though he were tired from his rather exciting night. He paused with his hand on the back of his chair and looked again at Riv. ‘I’m sorry, Riv,’ he finally said. ‘It wouldn’t have happened like it had it gone my way.’ A small smile came to Riv’s face.

‘No, I dare say it didn’t happen like you wanted it. I would have much rather have seen Skald up there than myself. But, ah well, it can’t be helped. Until later, little brother.’

Bror turned and went out. His spirit lifted and he actually smiled again.

‘You actually got out of there unscathed,’ he murmured to himself, turning his feet in the direction of work. ‘But it won’t last like that for too long, don’t expect it to,’ he added quickly. ‘Until Riv is better and Unna is her old sunny self.’ He smiled even broader. ‘By that time, I may have been able to invent something not quite so dangerous, but as equally fun! Every Dwarf for himself, he said. That joins him in the game.’

But then a voice from the other side of his head replied. ‘That meant you, Bror,’ it said. ‘He’s not going to show the least amount of kindness when it comes to luring you into some sort of trap. You can expect something rather uncomfortable.’

However that may be, Bror could feel no worry about it at the time being. There were many weeks between now and when Riv said the white flags would come down and until then, Bror put it out of his mind.

[Folwren]

Arry and Pio

My post is written. If anything needs changing, tell me and I’ll do so.

I’ve left a lot of the evening open. In fact, most of the fun is still before whoever wishes to write it. I didn’t do much with the dancing, however I started it. You, Arry, seem mighty interested in the subject, so I figured you might like to write about it. You know more than I do concerning it. I love dancing, to be sure, but haven’t done much research on the matter as you appear to have done.

– Folwren

[Durelin]

Everyone in the city will soon know that there is an army of at least 20,000 waiting to pulverize them all. They will tell everyone that they should evacuate the city to outlying lands in the West.

This is where the action in Eregion starts picking up. Those who can fight or refuse to leave the city (well, or both) can stick around and prepare for the worst. Others can evacuate...perhaps someone is going to try and make this organized, as Celebrimbor is incapable of doing so himself? Maybe someone will get together as many people as they can find, or everyone they know and get out with them? Most likely everyone will gravitate to a certain area to the West of the city, gathering in the woodlands.

Alcarillo, Nurumaiel, Mithalwen, and Esgallhugwen (who I think we have definitely lost) - It has probably seemed like a boring and pointless game for you so far. I am sorry for that. But now the action begins in Eregion, so now is the time when we need all of your characters to add to the action and give us their various perspectives. And...it's just time to really have fun.

Arestevana and Seth Cotton - It's been a while since we've heard from Seth, and less since we've heard from Arestevana, but I hope you're both still able to play. The fighting is going to begin soon, and we need someone representing our Lorien cohort.

Pio, Arry, and Folwren - Keep doing your own thing.

Encaitare, Kath, and Firefoot - You keep doing your own thing, too...you'll get action soon enough, I promise.

Evinyatar and Orofaniel - The Lindon forces are of course still unable to reach Eregion very soon. When you do, though, be prepared for chaos...

Speaking of chaos...I think my entire post was a prime example of that.

Thanks everyone for making this game so awesome!

-Durelin

[Folwren]

Originally posted by Durelin:
Pio, Arry, and Folwren - Keep doing your own thing.

lol! Yes, we do seem to be having fun doing our own thing, don't we?

And directed mostly towards Durelin and Aman:

I'm sorry to complain - your guys's posts have been awesome, well written, and everything - but Celebrimbor just seems too wimpy to me. I mean, sure, I know he's under a lot right now, but I don't think he's takinig it quite as well as he would have. But, then, I could be very wrong. I haven't read anything that Tolkein wrote about this history - I know nothing about Celibrimbor. But considering who he is, forger of the Rings, and master of the city and all that, I've a feeling he would have been stronger.

Just my thoughts. Otherwise, your posts are great, and I love both your characters.

- Folwren

[Amanaduial the archer]

Fair enough. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinion. If they must.

Like you, Folwren, I haven't really read any of the histories, and what little I have read (which consists entirely of the Silmarillion - yup, that's it) I must admit, I don't remember in great detail, so Tolkien's version of Celebrimbor is pretty much a closed book to me. However, as far as I am aware, that particular character is not really described in so much detail as far as his feelings are concerned - which is a good thing, as it gives the RPGers a rather freer rein as to how he is played. He isn't my character, certainly, and even Durelin has said that she wouldn't exactly claim him as her own, her main character being Maegisil, obviously - and this allows us yet more freedom. In a game, it's all about perception, I suppose - there are rules that govern us, rules about Canon, rules about RPG etiquette towards other players and their characters...but when they don't apply, as in this case, it may kind of come to being a first-come, first-served basis: this is how Durelin and I have chosen to percieve him.

That having been said, I actually don't consider Celebrimbor to be 'wimpy' as you put it; remember, in these posts, he is with his closest advisors, so he is more likely to show his true feelings rather than simply acting as a leader; these are the few people who he can be more...free with. And faced with twenty thousand orcs at short notice, wouldn't you be maybe a little despairing? And besides, to an extent, we are going on what is written about Celebrimbor: he knew about the danger the rings were going to cause for over a century, and he did nothing. Does this really imply a strong and decisive leader? I actually really liked Durelin/Maegisil's way of phrasing it: "You spent one hundred years wallowing in self-pity."

And yes, it is a different take on a historical Tolkien character - but there are strong leaders a-plenty, and this seemed a rather interesting, not to mention rather fitting, twist to the character. And it is a take that I am rather enjoying playing with, really.

[Durelin]

I'm sorry to complain - your guys's posts have been awesome, well written, and everything - but Celebrimbor just seems too wimpy to me. I mean, sure, I know he's under a lot right now, but I don't think he's takinig it quite as well as he would have. But, then, I could be very wrong. I haven't read anything that Tolkein wrote about this history - I know nothing about Celibrimbor. But considering who he is, forger of the Rings, and master of the city and all that, I've a feeling he would have been stronger.

When faced with the circumstances such as they are, I think it's safe to say that no matter how strong Celebrimbor was in the past, the events concerning the Rings and the destruction of Eregion could easily have broken the strength of anyone, particularly the one who is in many ways the 'most responsible' for what happened.

Also, in my experimenting with Celebrimbor as a character (not my character, but Tolkien's character who I really have hijacked.... *shifty eye movement), I felt some innate desire to stay away from the more traditional elf-lord, who would act with perhaps more strength and better judgement than Celebrimbor. And in that sense, I see Celebrimbor's failure to see whatever Gil-galad saw in 'Annatar' as a sign that he is quite different...not necessarily weak, just different. And thus, his actions and how he receives the fact that his city is about to be destroyed are going to be different.

Those are just my feelings, though. This has all just been an interpretation of Celebrimbor's character.

-Durelin

EDIT: Hehe...cross-posted with Aman...

[Folwren]

Alright, that works for me. Your explanations make sense. It wasn’t terrible, or anything, you understand, just at some parts that how I perceived him. But it’s all good.

Hope I didn’t offend either of you at all in saying what I did.

- Folwren

[Folwren]

Save filled. Go ahead, Pio.

- Folwren

[Durelin]

Sorry, everyone. It has been a busy week, and I will be gone most of this weekend. I will get my post up, with Celebrimbor's announcement, very soon, to follow up Aman's wonderful post.

Just wanted to let you know before I ran away for a very long day.

[piosenniel]

Dwarves

The King has called for counsel about the events that have just occurred.

Feel free to offer up advice to him both as your own character and perhaps taking on the mantle of some of the other families gathered in the Hall.

Some Dwarves, I'm sure will want revenge, some will say 'leave the Elves to see to their own safety', some will want to play it safe, etc.

Let's hear a little of all those thoughts.

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Elves

I've had a messenger from Celebrimbor killed, along with two of the Dwarves who attempted to save him, as he was bringing a request for aid to King Durin III.

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Orcs and other baddies

I've had some of you kill an Elven messenger on his way to the Dwarves and two of the Dwarves who attempted to hold you off while the others escaped into the mountain. (firmly shutting the door against you, of course!)

I'm sure you can do something Orcishly foul to the fallen . . . if you wish . . .


~*~ Pio

[Child of the 7th Age]

I have also been out of town for several days with limited computer access but should be able to post again by Monday.

[Folwren]

I've posted yet another reply for the council of Dwarves, this time using Viss Stonecut. Hope I didn't cut in front of you, Pio, or anything in writing it...Arry's post from the Glitterfists got me so riled up, I couldn't sit still until I'd written a reply. (An hours late in getting to school...)

Anyhow, I had Viss work with the pride issue that Dwarves always seem to have. It always struck me that Dwarves couldn't stand being called names from outsiders, and this may stir them to some sort of action.

-- Folwren

[Durelin]

Durelin

I put a heading on your post of 9/3 - the one that jumped the game ahead - just so it would be clear to all we are now 2 years ahead.

Thank you! When posting that, I sat there for a few minutes trying to come up with a brilliant title, but...it didn't happen. Meant to get back to it.

[Folwren]

I TOLD you to have Bror let you down nice and soft like!! I tried to warn you! Now you've done it.

Should I let it be, or shall we continue this line of story until we're needed with all the other people? I'm willing to write another post.

And great posts, both of you. Poor Riv, though. I honestly didn't mean for him to be hurt and now Bror's both sick with worry for himself and Riv. Yes, he knows he's dead.

-- Folwren

[piosenniel]

Folwren

Oh, let's continue - this little scenario is rather fun

~*~ Pio

[Folwren]

Pio,

I think it is, too! Excellent. I'm working on my post now. I'll have it before too long.

Arry,

You're character was supposed to leave for some reason to go show somebody your rune stuff. (I wasn't exactly sure why or where or to whom he'd be going, but I wanted him up early for some reason.) Is he still going to go, or will he cancel it because he wants to stay home with Riv?

Let me know as soon as you can...I may or may not be able to post before you have that decided, we'll see.

- Folwren

[Folwren]

Are we going to just keep putting the posts here for you, Pio, to insert into the thread before the time jump? Mine is done. It was quickly written.

Arry,

If you want Skald to still be here, then I can edit it and change it so that it is. It's easily cured.

- Folwren

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Bror turned away from Riv and walked quickly and half blindly towards the door. He stumbled against Skald and looked up. The blood that had left his face when he first saw Riv instead of Skald hanging from the ceiling, came flooding back. He grabbed his shirt sleeve and before Skald could resist, had pulled him in silent furry into the hall outside the kitchen.

‘You great blundering idiot,’ he fumed, ‘anyone would know how that trap works if you only stopped to think for a moment. Where’re your brains? You should have known that cutting that confounded rope would have brought him down faster than a boulder. Now I’m off to get the healer ‘cause Riv thinks he’s broken his collar bone.’

‘It’s not my fault!’ Skald replied shortly.

‘If you weren’t such a -’ Bror seemed to stumble on the next word - ‘fool then it wouldn’t be your fault and none of this would have happened. At least he wouldn’t have fallen. Do you think I’d rig such a thing and be stupid enough to not have a way to let you back down when you stumbled into it? Why was he there, anyway? Why weren’t you? Oh, never mind,’ he growled, and before giving Skald a chance to reply he turn and ran off as quickly as he could go. He tore up the hall to his own room, dressed himself properly as quickly as he could, tugged on his boots, and headed back out to get the healer.

The dwarf doctor was very surprised at being woken by Bror pounding on his door so early in the morning. He came out and as soon as he heard Bror’s report, hurriedly got what he thought would be needed and went out with him.

‘How on earth did Riv Stonecut break his collarbone before dawn this morning?’ he asked as he and Bror hurried along the dim corridors and halls. ‘Did he fall out of bed?’

‘No,’ Bror said sourly, ‘he got tripped up by some ropes.’

‘Ropes, was it?’ the old dwarf repeated, glancing shrewdly at Bror.

‘Well, I set a trap for Skald,’ Bror admitted, wanting to talk too much to keep silent, and being completely unable to tell a lie just now, ‘but Riv stumbled into it and Skald, the bloke, cut a rope and sent him tumbling. I didn’t even have a chance to tell him he could just untie the thing and let him down as safely as...well, the upshot of the matter is, Riv fell and says he thinks he broke his collar bone and I was sent to get you and I don’t think he wants his wife and son to know because he told them he was just fine.’

‘Ah. I see.’ He asked no more questions for the rest of the way and Bror remained silent.

When they arrived at Riv’s kitchen, Skald had gone. Unna was there, dressed and prepared for the day, making breakfast. Leifre sat at the table with his hands on the table in front of him and his eyes wide and moist. Unna looked up from the stove where she was frying eggs and her eyes were sharp and piercing as she looked at the healer.

‘He’s in the other room. I think he’s waiting for you.’ The dwarf nodded and went off. Bror began to follow him, but Unna’s words stopped him. ‘You can’t go in there, Bror. Riv wouldn’t like to see you just now I don’t think. Besides,’ she added in a gentler voice as a look of pain crossed Bror’s face, ‘Leifre needs company. He’ll be alright, though,’ she said even more quietly.

Bror nodded and turned to go to Leifre. ‘Want to help me take down the rest of these ropes while we wait for breakfast?’ he asked. The boy looked up at him and then got down from the chair. Bror was surprised when he came and took his hand and practically led him to the pantry.

‘Yes. Will you tell me what happened? Papi wouldn’t tell me.’ They stopped in the doorway and Bror looked with fallen and crushed pride on the ropes that hung loosely from the ceiling and lay limp on the ground.

‘I was trying to catch Skald, but your Papi stumbled into it instead. Then when Skald cut the wrong rope...well, then you know what happened. Come on.’ He dropped the lad’s hand and bent to work. Leifre stood still with his head to one side.

‘It was supposed to be a joke?’

‘My dear Leifre,’ Bror replied with his back to him, ‘this was the best prank I’ve completed ever. It was pure bad luck that it was Riv who happened to land in it. And it was even sorrier luck that Skald got to him before I did.’ He stopped and bit his lip, coiling a length of rope as he thought. The bad luck hadn’t stopped. He had known as soon as he saw Riv hanging there, before Skald had told him he was as good as dead, and long before Riv had just about confirmed the statement by telling Skald that he probably was dead, too, that his prank had gone wrong in more than just one direction. He knew that Skald may have been angry with it, but he wouldn’t have been into very much trouble, but Riv had done nothing to deserve this. Bror would never have dared to intentionally hang Riv upside down like a ham. Now he’d done it, accidently, to be sure, but he’d done it nonetheless, and Riv had gotten hurt, which made it ten times worse, and he had no idea what his older brother would say (or do) once he was in some sort of state to do so.

All he could do now, though, was wait. Leifre was there by his side now, untangling ropes and helping him coil them and when they were finished, they took them back to Bror’s room. When they returned, breakfast was ready and Unna invited him to eat with the two of them. He accepted her invitation.

[Durelin]

I'm sorry, Dwarveses! You should've said something...I could've held off the time jump just for a little for your antics.