Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Folwren]

Well, that could be fairly easy if Nogrod is too easy to post. I just means you'll stay out of a job. Thornden's not a lord, but is he too high up in the hierarcy?

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Well, that could be fairly easy if Nogrod is too easy to post. I just means you'll stay out of a job. Thornden's not a lord, but is he too high up in the hierarcy?

Certainly not.

[Folwren]

Alright I posted a very summary-ish summary. I'm not quite sure what form the taxes are taking. Are the landlords going to send wains of grain, along with some livestock to Scarburg? Or should they be handing over bag-fulls of gold?

Let me know if anything needs to be changed, anybody.

In the mean time, everyone else can start posting their response to stuff that has happened. In a few days, someone can get a post up covering the trip to the second landlord. I can do it, but it doesn't have to be.

-- Foley

[littlemanpoet]

Confession: I don't have any patience left, waiting for Eodwine to be able to make his appearance at Scarburg. I really didn't think, when I first posted back in October, that I'd still be waiting in April to get Eodwine into action. So i had a thought, and would appreciate some feedback. How would it be if I back-date all of my Eodwine posts, since returning, to "ten days ago" - put that in the title - and have him arrive on this Night?

Thanks,
Elempi

[Folwren]

I'm for it.

-- Foley

[Thinlómien]

LMP, I understand you want your beloved character back asap and I also see this RPG is currently not moving much. However, bringing Eodwine back will cause complications because Scarburg cannot have two eorls at the same time, and many of the active players' characters are (sometimes irreversibly) tied to the current eorl. That is why I would not rush headlong into the confrontation, because we don't have even an idea of the general future timeline of the RPG (and also because it'd be kind of weird that Eodwine appeared only two days after Athanar - does that make sense with the travelling to Minas Tirith and back?).

Does anybody have any brilliant ideas how to keep the "new" characters in the game and let LMP have Eodwine back at the same time? Please discuss.

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine isn't coming back to be Eorl. He's coming back to be Saeryn's husband, and father of his children. Yes, he'll find out to his surprise that he's been replaced, and he may have to take a little while to process his new situation, but he'll give way to Athanar. That's how he is.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Well, it's hardly of my business of all people, as I haven't been around by the time of the first game, but just generally speaking, I think bringing Eodwine in now is not very, well, logical - basically what Lommy had said. I mean, of course it's a pity if you, LMP, wanted to bring him back and we have been slow, but I guess nothing much can be done about it, unless we wanted to e.g. skip and jump somewhere in time, or something (although there are still present issues, and several of them, which I think people would still like to solve, in personal stories of their characters etc. - even thinking of your own).

But from the purely in-story perspective, I think it would really be a bit too much of a stretch, for logic... say, even if Eodwine suddenly miraculously got well on the very same day Athanar came to Scarburg (while just a day before he must have looked like dying - otherwise Éomer would have known that he is okay and thus he could have waited just a while and simply put him back into place, without the need to bring Athanar!), it still would take at least a while to get from Minas Tirith to Scarburg... not to mention, wouldn't Eodwine still be left for some time after his apparent recovery for "rest" at the Houses of Healing? (And if he already was in the process of recovery, strolling the gardens like Faramir, that would logically clash with what I have said above about Éomer - if Eodwine's been healthy already for several weeks, Athanar wouldn't have been sent to Scarburg in the first place, or at most sent in as a temporary replacement for a week or two, until Eodwine can come by himself - which it apparently wasn't.)

I don't want, of all things, to be a slave to some story or logic - a story, especially a fantastic one, can always be altered to fit us if we need it, but I think this would possibly be stretching it a little bit too much... beyond believability. Sadly, here it conflicts with the appearance of one character... but I would say that's what the RP brings with itself, if you took some role of such an important character like Eodwine. Tolkien would have said that the character you have created has its own life now, at some point you cease to become its full master. There is an "objective reality" of our "Faerie" world, here represented also by the fact that the time flows according to how the other players post. I don't know-perhaps you could still focus rather just on other of your characters, and simply wait a while longer? Perhaps with the lords' matter being cleared up, it won't take us that long to move forwards in time. For now, I can very well understand how much you'd like to post for Eodwine, but then, it was also your choice to make him leave in the first place.

Just my opinion in general. Like I said, though, I'm probably the least of all to have anything to say about this...

[Folwren]

Okay, that sounds good, Nogrod. I'll plan on posting the cotinuance only if you don't post in the the next two days or so. I won't have time to post before then, anyway, so it's just as well.

-- Foley

[Nogrod]

Well... erm... I've not only been overloaded with work, the choir and the national elections but I have also lost my laptop (and my home-PC takes some 45 minutes to just open up nowadays) - so I have been totally unable to even visit the 'Downs for the last two weeks. The last eight days I have been taken from early morning to midnight every day...

But I have returned the last essays to the students today and I have four days of easterholidays in front of me. So even if there are things waiting to be done - like cleaning up the mess at my home, washing the dishes for the last two weeks, updating my course-materials etc. - I will write us off, back to Scarburg during the vacation.

So anyone willing to add anythnig there, plese do it soonish.

Heh, my usual March-Madness turned out to be partially an April-Madness as well.

[Folwren]

Great to see you back, Nogrod.

I started writing a post yesterday morning and got stuck rather badly, so I'm glad you're here to take the helm.

-- Folwren

[Nogrod]

Foley: if you had ideas, please share them (either here or via PM). I'm quite at odds with how to wrap it up. Probably not with a bang but with a whimper of sorts.

A general question to everyone.

As it looks it's not too energising to write about these landlords and the relations between the Mead Hall and them (at least on this level), should I write our characters checking all of the three and decide on an overall outcome / arrangement? I think I could do it in a way that leaves doors open to any future tensions that might lighten up the storyline later on if wished, but which could stay behind if we did not wish to go for that direction in the general narrative.

So what say you?

[Nogrod]

After checking the last posts (so I have written the last time like over a month ago? Jesus!), I think there is quite little to wrap up as I hadn't noticed Foley's last post until now. She does a fine job in moving things forth there.

But still, if you have any ideas Foley (or anyone), let me know. I'll bring the men back to Scarburg tomorrow with some general ideas of the situation.

[littlemanpoet]

Cognizant that I was not asked, I offer my 2 cents humbly: perhaps it would be best in the future to handle "off Scarburg" storylines as separate, temporary rpg's so that they don't threaten to overwhelm the Scarburg happenings.

[Folwren]

Well, I was going to write a longer post, but there was nothing else to say. Ha.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Well, I was going to write a longer post, but there was nothing else to say. Ha.

Same here. Ha ha.

[Folwren]

Legate, I kind of pushed Hilerinc in Falco's direction, in a manner of speaking. You can do whatever you liked. I took the liberties of having him standing nearby from your post above which said that at some point you wanted Hilderinc to talk to the hobbit.

Elempi, I've sent Thornden in search of Harreld, Elempi. I didn't know where you wanted him, so I didn't say he was in the smithy, but I kind of indicated he wasnt' in the hall. But I could be wrong.

-- Foley

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Legate, I kind of pushed Hilerinc in Falco's direction, in a manner of speaking. You can do whatever you liked. I took the liberties of having him standing nearby from your post above which said that at some point you wanted Hilderinc to talk to the hobbit.

Yes, why not. We have been working on a co-post with LMP for some time now, so we can just as well prepare to post it now with Hilderinc approaching Falco just after Thornden leaves and nudges him. We just need to communicate about it a bit, but the opportunity looks good to me, Foley, so I am fine with you giving it to me here.

[littlemanpoet]

I've posted and PM'd. Back to Foley and Legate; I'd say our PM post is almost ready....

[Folwren]

lol...I don't know why, but this scene is so hard for me to write. If Thornden were a woman, I'd know exactly how to write it. Girls are good at prying for emotional information, but I've no idea how to wrie for a guy. Geez.

Anyway, I've posted again.

[Lhunardawen]

Far be it from me to make your life difficult, Foley, but it seems to me logical to have Saeryn ask Ginna about the letter as well. Is it feasible?

[Folwren]

Elempi, thank you very much for your advice. I will revise my post as you suggested. And I will not make another post for Thornden until you have decided whether or not you'll be re-doing yours. But in the mean time, I'll write a post for Saeryn, because Lhuna said...

Originally Posted by Lhunardawen

Far be it from me to make your life difficult, Foley, but it seems to me logical to have Saeryn ask Ginna about the letter as well. Is it feasible?

Absolutely! I'm on it.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Elempi, thank you very much for your advice. I will revise my post as you suggested. And I will not make another post for Thornden until you have decided whether or not you'll be re-doing yours.

There's no need for me to revise my post, upon rereading yours. Carry on!

Oooh boy, after reading the Saeryn post, if I were Ginna I'd burst into tears on the spot. This is getting terribly dire, isn't it?

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Oooh boy, after reading the Saeryn post, if I were Ginna I'd burst into tears on the spot. This is getting terribly dire, isn't it?

It is getting extremely exciting, if not dire.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

It is getting extremely exciting, if not dire.

What, are you expecting a swift resolution?

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Oooh boy, after reading the Saeryn post, if I were Ginna I'd burst into tears on the spot. This is getting terribly dire, isn't it?

I shouldn't have read this before the actual game! I mean of course given everything that's happening Ginna's right about ready to burst into tears any minute, but I don't want anyone to think you sort of directed that. Anyway, I'm off to read the game thread. This is exciting!

[littlemanpoet]

In case anybody wants proof of Falco's seemingly tall tale, go here: http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=5614

[Folwren]

Alright, folks, what's up? We had a great spurt of activity for a matter of four days or so and then naught for over twenty-four hours. Not cool. I notice WW is back in the running. I won't say what I was going to say in respect to that. I hope the Day in that is drawing to a close so some players can come back and post here.

Elempi left an opening for Nogrod in his last post. Of course, Falco was just assuming Athanar wanted to speak. He may not have a speech to give after all. And we're still in the midst of the conversation between Saeryn and Ginna...let's not stall for an indefinite amount of time, now. We want to keep this moving.

-- Foley

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Folwren

AI notice WW is back in the running. I won't say what I was going to say in respect to that.

Good job of "not" saying it. XD

I have stuff simmering and ready for Harreld but we're not there yet. That's going to take Ginna showing up at the smithy.

[littlemanpoet]

Legate, I didn't see your post until after I did mine. I'll edit mine to take yours into account.

Post edited.

[Nogrod]

It seems we're back on track. Good.

lmp: I'll try to come in for Falco & Athanar later today...

[Lhunardawen]

Foley, would I be right in assuming that the darting shadow is Ginna? If so, then she wouldn't be entering the kitchen but leaving it. Or is my understanding that, to get to the smithy from the kitchen, one would need to go through the hall and out of it incorrect?

I love Saeryn's reaction to seeing Thornden, by the way.

[Folwren]

Lhuna, there is a door from the kitchen to the outside. I figured Ginna would rather dart through the kitchen with only Kara and Frodides to maybe see her (they probably won't if they're working over the fire or something) than go through the crowded hall. She and Saeryn had been talking in the women's quarters right across the way from the kitchen.

I can chnage Ginna's route if you want.

[Lhunardawen]

Huh, I didn't even notice that it was already long. Facebook messaging is misleading. Anyway, I have no problem with that, Elempi. I like that it breaks this...heavy post into parts.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Lhunardawen

Huh, I didn't even notice that it was already long. Facebook messaging is misleading. Anyway, I have no problem with that, Elempi. I like that it breaks this...heavy post into parts.

Yeah, well, I don't know if I like it. I like the post, but I don't like the wait to see what happens next.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, if that ended too smuschy, let me know and I'll change it.

[Folwren]

To whom are you directing that question, Elempi?

I wrote Durelin to ask her about Coen's movements, but I haven't heard back from her. I'm unsure what to do if she doesn't write back. I dont want to hold the game up... I think we still have time, but things are beginning to slow down for the evening.

-- Foley

[Lhunardawen]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Okay, if that ended too smuschy, let me know and I'll change it.

Thank you, Elempi. I love it. That's what I hoped Harreld would do, which is why I didn't write Ginna as having actually left.

And it was brilliant to use my words as Ginna's.

Anyway, so I was hoping that in between our Harreld and Ginna posts we would get to read from other characters. What's going on?

[littlemanpoet]

If you will accept my humble suggestions as to how a man would say what you have put in Thornden's mouth. One trick for writing men versus women is that, in general, once a woman's tongue is loose, it stays loose, whereas words come haltingly to men, especially in tricky situations like this. In general, whereas a woman would fill the silence in order to cover the discomfort, for men, the discomfort is in finding the words in the first place. The below might be more of a man's way.

Thornden opened his mouth but the words came slowly. “Saeryn didn’t know about a letter.” He tried to work out his thoughts before he said something he'd regret. “Ginna would have told her if it gave no blessing." He paused, trying to gauge his listener's reaction; there was none. "His disapproval never kept her from ... showing interest in you before. This cannot be final…unless…did he say she had to leave?”

The above is far from perfect as an illustration of what a man might say versus a woman. But maybe you can see the gist of what I mean? Another trick is using a euphemism for the word, "love". Harreld will know what he means, but be grateful Thornden avoided the word. In fact, I may want to edit my last post for Harreld if you revise yours. Let me know....