The Return of the Entish Beings (REB III) Planning/Discussion - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 02-13-2007, 12:24 PM

Squatter, what an absolutely smashing (ahem!) post! It's wonderful - my favourite line has to be "boldly going where they’d quite often been before." There are way too many parodic references to mention them all - marvelous stuff! You've created a great new character, plus his intrepid crew. I look forward to whatever comes next.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 02-13-2007, 12:51 PM

Many thanks, Estelyn. I only hope that I haven't used up all the jokes in one post.

I've left Meanderin and his crew out of touch with Merisuwyniel and her companions so that other players can come upon them in whatever way they see fit. I notice that I haven't described Meanderin in any detail, so I'll give you a brief run-down here.

Meanderin is short, skinny, badly shaven and worse dressed, with ungovernable mousy hair, watery eyes and various Homeric accoutrements that don't suit him or, indeed, fit. His crested Spartan helmet keeps falling over his eyes (or dropping off his head entirely from time to time); there is a large gap between his impressively muscled breastplate and his actual breast, and his moth-eaten scarlet cape is ragged at the hem from trailing on the ground behind him. His crew are basically going to be a pastiche of the Argonauts, the sailors of Odysseus' fleet and anyone else from mythology or maritime fiction who can't get out of the way quickly enough. There are enough of them to allow plenty of latitude for names and personalities.

Incidentally, I'm all at sea with Gilligan's Island. I don't think it's ever been broadcast on this side of the Water, and if it has I missed it. I haven't followed Lost either for that matter. I suppose that there's enough fiction about people stuck on islands that even the most remote must be getting crowded by now. What horrors would result, for example, from Treasure Island having to share a mile-square atoll with The Island of Dr. Moreau? Heaven forbid.

***Thenamir*** · 02-14-2007, 11:38 AM

First Gateskeeper post is up. It's relatively short, and not up to my perfectionist standards, but I didn't want anyone to wait for me. I just couldn't come up with a decent parody episode yet, so it's rather bland. Hopefully, I'll be better inspired as the story progresses.

Estelyn Telcontar · 02-14-2007, 12:25 PM

It's a great post, Thena! I enjoyed reading it very much - length isn't everything, and sometimes less is more.

I laughed over Gatesy's fishing method and over your descriptions of the crab and fish - fun stuff! I do like his adding McGyver gimmick qualities to his already present PC abilities.

***Thenamir*** · 02-14-2007, 03:59 PM

Likewise, Esty, what an inventive way to watch TV (Tele-Velour). Will we be seeing more of Clint of the Eastern Wood? Or of the scantily clad warrior princess? Perhaps Xena could be Halfie's temptation on this Isle of Chastity?

And Squatter, Laetninrod of the Red Tunic! My guffaw generator burned out! Well done!

Estelyn Telcontar · 02-15-2007, 02:17 AM

We're off to a good start! There may possibly be other players joining us; negotiations are taking place behind the scenes. We have some time to explore the island, to meet Squatter's crew, perhaps to meet additional characters, and for Hal's test before we sail on to the next. I have not planned how much RL time this will take; we shall see how inspiration (not lightning, hopefully! *quickly changes her red sweater for a less susceptible color*) strikes us.

"Clint of the Eastern Wood" - now that's clever, Thena! Sounds like a character that should be played by Underhill! I had actually thought of that image as being the Marlboro man, but I like your idea much better.

I don't suppose I need to tell anyone here that the ending of my last post owes a great deal to Tolkien's own words in "The Breaking of the Fellowship"...

By the way, speaking of "Fellowship" - as I see it, the "Fellow/Galship" ended in Valleyum, breaking up when the majority of the members parted. (Of the original cast that started out at the beginning of the first part, only Merisu is left!

) I'm open to suggestions for a new name; you may have noticed that I cunningly avoided using a moniker for the group so far...

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 02-15-2007, 07:56 AM

We can't ask Underhill to take time out of his busy schedule just to write some comic homage to a Hollywood icon. Surely he would never wear such an imposition. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that others mean to join us in our bumbling progress through these mysterious islands.

I've discovered that my order for an internet connection was somehow lost, but I'm now assured that the equipment is on its way. I'm also working on some ideas for a temptation, at least for my lucky lads. Incidentally, I've been considering the earlier versions of the Hiding of Valinor, where a belt of enchanted islands bars the path from the Hither Lands. What I was trying to say in chat last night was that we could have stumbled on just such a defence, and be negotiating it in entirely the wrong direction. It seems typically REB to go through the cunning magical defences after having already visited the kingdom they protect. I think they call such dumb luck 'the Beren factor'.

I'm glad you liked poor Laetninrod's brief moment of fame, Thenamir. Somehow I get the impression that you organise an interesting fishing trip.

02-13-2007, 12:24 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Squatter, what an absolutely smashing (ahem!) post! It's wonderful - my favourite line has to be "boldly going where they’d quite often been before." There are way too many parodic references to mention them all - marvelous stuff! You've created a great new character, plus his intrepid crew. I look forward to whatever comes next. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

02-13-2007, 12:51 PM	#2
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Landfall Many thanks, Estelyn. I only hope that I haven't used up all the jokes in one post. I've left Meanderin and his crew out of touch with Merisuwyniel and her companions so that other players can come upon them in whatever way they see fit. I notice that I haven't described Meanderin in any detail, so I'll give you a brief run-down here. Meanderin is short, skinny, badly shaven and worse dressed, with ungovernable mousy hair, watery eyes and various Homeric accoutrements that don't suit him or, indeed, fit. His crested Spartan helmet keeps falling over his eyes (or dropping off his head entirely from time to time); there is a large gap between his impressively muscled breastplate and his actual breast, and his moth-eaten scarlet cape is ragged at the hem from trailing on the ground behind him. His crew are basically going to be a pastiche of the Argonauts, the sailors of Odysseus' fleet and anyone else from mythology or maritime fiction who can't get out of the way quickly enough. There are enough of them to allow plenty of latitude for names and personalities. Incidentally, I'm all at sea with Gilligan's Island. I don't think it's ever been broadcast on this side of the Water, and if it has I missed it. I haven't followed Lost either for that matter. I suppose that there's enough fiction about people stuck on islands that even the most remote must be getting crowded by now. What horrors would result, for example, from Treasure Island having to share a mile-square atoll with The Island of Dr. Moreau? Heaven forbid. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne? Last edited by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh; 02-13-2007 at 01:00 PM.

02-14-2007, 11:38 AM	#3
*Thenamir* Spectre of Capitalism Join Date: May 2001 Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae Posts: 987	First Gateskeeper post is up. It's relatively short, and not up to my perfectionist standards, but I didn't want anyone to wait for me. I just couldn't come up with a decent parody episode yet, so it's rather bland. Hopefully, I'll be better inspired as the story progresses. __________________ The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius

02-14-2007, 12:25 PM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	It's a great post, Thena! I enjoyed reading it very much - length isn't everything, and sometimes less is more. I laughed over Gatesy's fishing method and over your descriptions of the crab and fish - fun stuff! I do like his adding McGyver gimmick qualities to his already present PC abilities. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

02-14-2007, 03:59 PM	#5
*Thenamir* Spectre of Capitalism Join Date: May 2001 Location: Battling evil bureaucrats at Zeta Aquilae Posts: 987	Credit where credit is due Likewise, Esty, what an inventive way to watch TV (Tele-Velour). Will we be seeing more of Clint of the Eastern Wood? Or of the scantily clad warrior princess? Perhaps Xena could be Halfie's temptation on this Isle of Chastity? And Squatter, Laetninrod of the Red Tunic! My guffaw generator burned out! Well done! __________________ The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~~ Marcus Aurelius

02-15-2007, 02:17 AM	#6
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	We're off to a good start! There may possibly be other players joining us; negotiations are taking place behind the scenes. We have some time to explore the island, to meet Squatter's crew, perhaps to meet additional characters, and for Hal's test before we sail on to the next. I have not planned how much RL time this will take; we shall see how inspiration (not lightning, hopefully! quickly changes her red sweater for a less susceptible color) strikes us. "Clint of the Eastern Wood" - now that's clever, Thena! Sounds like a character that should be played by Underhill! I had actually thought of that image as being the Marlboro man, but I like your idea much better. I don't suppose I need to tell anyone here that the ending of my last post owes a great deal to Tolkien's own words in "The Breaking of the Fellowship"... By the way, speaking of "Fellowship" - as I see it, the "Fellow/Galship" ended in Valleyum, breaking up when the majority of the members parted. (Of the original cast that started out at the beginning of the first part, only Merisu is left! ) I'm open to suggestions for a new name; you may have noticed that I cunningly avoided using a moniker for the group so far... __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 02-15-2007 at 05:22 AM.

02-15-2007, 07:56 AM	#7
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Into the East with Westwood, or something We can't ask Underhill to take time out of his busy schedule just to write some comic homage to a Hollywood icon. Surely he would never wear such an imposition. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that others mean to join us in our bumbling progress through these mysterious islands. I've discovered that my order for an internet connection was somehow lost, but I'm now assured that the equipment is on its way. I'm also working on some ideas for a temptation, at least for my lucky lads. Incidentally, I've been considering the earlier versions of the Hiding of Valinor, where a belt of enchanted islands bars the path from the Hither Lands. What I was trying to say in chat last night was that we could have stumbled on just such a defence, and be negotiating it in entirely the wrong direction. It seems typically REB to go through the cunning magical defences after having already visited the kingdom they protect. I think they call such dumb luck 'the Beren factor'. I'm glad you liked poor Laetninrod's brief moment of fame, Thenamir. Somehow I get the impression that you organise an interesting fishing trip. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?